"He was despised and rejected by people. He was a man of sorrows, familiar with suffering. He was despised like one from whom people turn their faces, and we didn't consider him to be worth anything." Isaiah 53:3 (GWT)
Wednesday was a day of sorrows for me; the eviction court date, watching my son struggle with other kids for a fair shake, the continued disobedience and rebellion from my young daughter, and the ultimate stab; Wright's gospel of health............
There are days when swinging the sword of righteousness is as easy as slicing the air with a steak knife. There are those days when it is a bit harder to stand in a Spartan phalanx and dedicate yourself to your job of using the shield to protect your brothers. And there are still other days when the enemy you stand against delivers vicous and deep-cutting strikes, leaving you bloodied and bleeding profusely from the wounds.
Wednesday was a day of losing, hammered by blows that connected all over my body from an enemy that is familiar and 'loving', a 'brother Christian'.
I remarked to my dear friend, "I am at my breaking point" last night at dinner. I feel like I have fallen to one knee, sword point quivering with fatigue and shield broken, cracked and barely dangling on my arm, head bent down from the weight of a helmet much too heavy to carry upright anymore. The laughter of the enemy reverberates in my ears.
I feel defeated.
Where are the brethren who are called to fight alongside?
Some have dropped their swords, cast away their shields, and stalked away from the battlefront. They go a few steps and are swallowed into the darkness that surrounds the soldiers of Light. I don't know if I'll see them again.
Others stand back, as if watching a spectator sport...offering encouragement through shouts that barely register on my ears already filled with the sounds of battle; clashing steel, banging shield, and the sharp thuds of connection with spiritual flesh. Their words fall useless upon the littered ground, temporary bandages to mortal wounds. Except those who would decide that they are better warriors than I, and therefore more capable of calling out judgments and 'teaching techniques' on my skills. Those hurt the most, almost as bad as an enemy wound.
These two groups of warriors, the ones who have faded into the darkness that they once fought against and the ones who seem oblivious to the darkness gathered around them, they cause me to 'distrust' to a degree those brothers still with swords raised, shields at the ready, because both groups used to be as they were, "brothers in arms" standing against a common enemy.
Wright's spewing of 'doctrine' has pierced my side and left me wounded and bleeding. And for the first time in four years, I despair.....for the warriors in the Army of God are being led astray, being deceived, for a few grains of rice mixed in with the putrid taste of maggoty stew. There are enough morsels of 'good food' to nourish a solider for a moment, and by the time they hit the putrid decay, it is already too late. They are consumed by the quarter-slot Commander; demanding their due as soldiers from the storehouses of the King.
Now, not only is it a demon-infestation, that is clouding my mind that controls all function in the body....regardless of the fact that it is the heart that is the life-giving, and maintenance system that delivers whatever the mind dumps into the body AND something the mind itself relies upon for life. No, not only that, but it is my birth that has made me a target of the enemy and his servants. I was born out of wedlock. And, coupled with such a bastardly birth, it is the fact that I was undesired and a middle child that has caused further attraction from those forces that would oppose my King and my God. Oh yes, being an 'unplanned pregnancy' also adds another 'door point' for those forces to 'enter' in. Regardless the fact the Holy Spirit indwells within me.
No longer do I only have to contend with the Adamic sin, but I have to deal with the sins passed upon me by my father, mother, uncles, aunts, and others in my family tree. Sins from learned behavior from poorly modeled portrayals in my life have suddenly become spirit-infesting sins inherited through biology and mythical machinations.
These are door points in my life, entries that allow the demonic to pepper my body with influences and sickness. These are inherited, alleged 'sins of my father', that I only have to say a formulaic prayer, confess, and repent for all the wrong doing in my family past. New Age mysticism wrapped up in poorly translated scriptural meaning.
And it is closely enough to some biblical truths and has parallel paths to necessary waypoints in a Christian's journey that it is not that worrisome, not that 'bad', because there is some 'truth' wrapped up in the garbage. Instead of eating at the table set by our King, we want to eat the scrapes tossed in the pile to rot so to provide nourishment to seedling plants.
Of course, it is set up so that any 'objection' I can bring to bear is easily dismissed. After all, I am sensitive, feel unloved and unwanted in wounds from my past, have a difficult time receiving praise and compliments from others, get offended when gospel is misprofessed, and so on. Oh yes, I am also 'spiritual'.
Yet, this doctrine is supposed to prove with volumes and volumes of data and research that God wants us to NEVER be sick, healing is just a path to that declaration. And all I can see it doing is wounding the brethren more and more until such time as there won't be a group of true Christians gathered together to worship God, give glory to the Son, and listen to instruction through the Holy Spirit.
But it is the prophecy in Isaiah that brings me back to my feet, that cause me wearily to raise my shield tight against my body, and my feet to step slowly forward, a guttural moan escaping my lips as I start pressing the enemy back.
Christ faced so much worse than I ever will. He knew one was to betray Him, another to deny Him, and many to crucify Him upon a cross of wooden sorrow and metallic pain. He knew the hearts of the Twelve who walked with Him, despairing and rejoicing with them during His ministry, and even getting upset with them from time to time. Yet, after a night of sweating blood through His very pores, and a time of severe beating and torture, He dragged that cross to the hill where He knew they were going to put Him to death.
I will be glad when this teaching is over and I hope that I will find separation being taken place before it is retaught, as promised. I just want to find a biblically-based church to fellowship with.
Even if I have to build my own...........one person at a time.
Fight the GOOD fight, not a hopeless one. Keep your eyes upon the One who sits at the Right Hand of the Father, and the words His Father spoke through the generations.
Draw your line in the sand and declare that none will cross.
Hold yourself accountable through the Father, not some smooth-talking 'preacher'.
Stand firm!
I have ten days before the current crisis explodes in my face, but I will continue to struggle, fight, and declare my God until that final blow comes.
Your prayers, as always, are welcomed, desired, and cherished.
Showing posts with label Dave Bauer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dave Bauer. Show all posts
Friday, August 15
Friday, August 1
Put a refining fire to that which you hear.....
For I have given you this as an example, so that you should do [in your turn] what I have done to you. I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed and happy and to be envied are you if you practice them [if you act accordingly and really do them]. John 13:15-17 (AMP)
There is none in the Body of Christ that can judge another. Convict of sinful actions, yes; but only with the ultimate goal of restoration to grace and peace, which can only be achieved by the journeying alongside the 'sinner' in their journey of redemption. Too often, though, we isolate the fallen brother or sister and much like Adam did in the Garden, worry about God's ability to bring about restoration in that person's life. We abhor sin, rightfully so, but we also lump the person in the same boat. There are many warriors falling on the battlefield as the enemy's attack get more and more specific to the carnal knowledge he has of each of us.
Theologies, doctrines, and religious movements that pursue a false god and a false hope claim many who aren't willing to look deeper, to seek more, and to 'flex the muscles' of their spiritual Father.
I have been often one of those, who don't realize the abilities that God has developed into my faith muscle and I abhor the false doctrines, laced with some biblical truths in many circumstances, that seem to permeate the Christian Church in these modern times. It seems that the more we become 'technologically savvy', the less we are spirituallly pure.
It is my fear that we've reclaimed Adam and Eve's original outlook; surely there is more to it than this. We can handle being gods!
The prosperity doctrine that Pastor Henry W. Wright preaches, which is being taught in my current church home, is one such doctrine that is laced with biblical truths and form an all too-human desire to remake God into something that we can stomach. He wants NOT to heal us, but to have us never be sick. They point to twenty years of research, biased I believe (with good intentions), as their authority to declare such things. And some of the testimony, even one within the church family I fellowship with, is astonishing and astounding in its' declarations of God's power.
But, in the declaration God Himself made, that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, it seems that God Himself is making a stance that opposes such theology.
As I've written in a previous blog, God led me to a verse in Ecclesiastes, 7:14 "In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint. (DRB)." The whole context is that God is working our lives in such a manner that we will not have any lack of experiencing this life when our time to go home, or His Son's return, happens.
Which makes sense to me, when you look to the words of Christ, in giving us 'an abundant life'.
Of course, I could be wrong, which is why Christ tells us to test one another, like iron sharpening iron.
Does God heal? Yes, I believe that He does, in a multitude of ways. And, He doesn't heal, also for many reasons. Why? I think Carolyn Baker articulates it well in her prayer for today.
"I look all around me at the people You have placed in my life, and I am astonished at the very real condition of their hearts and souls, where You are consistently placed first in their lives as they refuse to sellout to anyone or anything. These great soldiers in Your army, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are everywhere. I look to my family, they are there. I look to my church, they are there. I look to the everyday “Saddleback Sams” and I see your passion and strength of character. I am so grateful for the glimpse You give us of those with whom we walk this path. I reflect often on how very human and less than perfect we are. Still, we are standing firm in our belief that we can make a difference and acknowledge that we are told by our Heavenly Father to never cease trying to make a difference.........We may fail, we may make wrong choices along the way, we may give in to our own selfish needs, but You still work through us - it astounds me. It is not over when we stumble and fall. I am learning to be grateful for these lessons you teach me because when I am able to stand up again I may be battered and bruised, but I am stronger."
Increasingly, though, in the Body....disagreements over doctrine is becoming a 'deal breaker' and there is no room for a diversity of leadership in what the 'bottom line' is. You either agree or you go somewhere else that is more aligned with your theology. I'm not saying that there aren't truces being made, where one just doesn't speak what they believe, but rather; there is no disagreement between teachers allowed to the degree where those who have opposing views are allowed to teach and the individual of the congregation makes their decision after prayer and study.
"These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, You are innocent"—peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them." Proverbs 24:23-25 (NIV)
We need to test each other, and not only do so in accord, but call a spade a spade and a orange an orange. This half-way doctrine of tolerance isn't tolerance at all, as we Christians are experiencing in the culture of the times.
"In each of our own lives, there are areas that need to be, or are already being burned up -- consumed by the "Refining Fire" of God's Holy Spirit. Yet God has also provided for a renewal in us...a "seed" of something brand new, which can only be birthed by intense heat." George, WorthyNews, writes in his devotional, "This new seed, however it manifests in our lives, represents the resurrection life of Christ, which emerges in the presence of His purifying fire. So the Lodgepole Pine is a picture for us, of resurrection and hope in the midst of fiery trials."
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)
Whether you believe the doctrine of Wright's 'God wants us totally heathly' or otherwise, there are some wisdom and understanding to be gained from such teachings. It must be held against Biblical truth, though, and that is where I find Wright lacking. But, the days of the 'hear it and believe it' are gone, regulated to the memories of times past.
You must, as you should always do, guard what you take in your heart and hold it up to the light of Scripture. Dig deeper, with your eyes upon the One who knows all things, and you will find what you seek......
Just remember; You should first seek God.
Otherwise you fall prey to your own motivations and perspectives.
There is none in the Body of Christ that can judge another. Convict of sinful actions, yes; but only with the ultimate goal of restoration to grace and peace, which can only be achieved by the journeying alongside the 'sinner' in their journey of redemption. Too often, though, we isolate the fallen brother or sister and much like Adam did in the Garden, worry about God's ability to bring about restoration in that person's life. We abhor sin, rightfully so, but we also lump the person in the same boat. There are many warriors falling on the battlefield as the enemy's attack get more and more specific to the carnal knowledge he has of each of us.
Theologies, doctrines, and religious movements that pursue a false god and a false hope claim many who aren't willing to look deeper, to seek more, and to 'flex the muscles' of their spiritual Father.
I have been often one of those, who don't realize the abilities that God has developed into my faith muscle and I abhor the false doctrines, laced with some biblical truths in many circumstances, that seem to permeate the Christian Church in these modern times. It seems that the more we become 'technologically savvy', the less we are spirituallly pure.
It is my fear that we've reclaimed Adam and Eve's original outlook; surely there is more to it than this. We can handle being gods!
The prosperity doctrine that Pastor Henry W. Wright preaches, which is being taught in my current church home, is one such doctrine that is laced with biblical truths and form an all too-human desire to remake God into something that we can stomach. He wants NOT to heal us, but to have us never be sick. They point to twenty years of research, biased I believe (with good intentions), as their authority to declare such things. And some of the testimony, even one within the church family I fellowship with, is astonishing and astounding in its' declarations of God's power.
But, in the declaration God Himself made, that His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts, it seems that God Himself is making a stance that opposes such theology.
As I've written in a previous blog, God led me to a verse in Ecclesiastes, 7:14 "In the good day enjoy good things, and beware beforehand of the evil day: for God hath made both the one and the other, that man may not find against him any just complaint. (DRB)." The whole context is that God is working our lives in such a manner that we will not have any lack of experiencing this life when our time to go home, or His Son's return, happens.
Which makes sense to me, when you look to the words of Christ, in giving us 'an abundant life'.
Of course, I could be wrong, which is why Christ tells us to test one another, like iron sharpening iron.
Does God heal? Yes, I believe that He does, in a multitude of ways. And, He doesn't heal, also for many reasons. Why? I think Carolyn Baker articulates it well in her prayer for today.
"I look all around me at the people You have placed in my life, and I am astonished at the very real condition of their hearts and souls, where You are consistently placed first in their lives as they refuse to sellout to anyone or anything. These great soldiers in Your army, my brothers and sisters in Christ, are everywhere. I look to my family, they are there. I look to my church, they are there. I look to the everyday “Saddleback Sams” and I see your passion and strength of character. I am so grateful for the glimpse You give us of those with whom we walk this path. I reflect often on how very human and less than perfect we are. Still, we are standing firm in our belief that we can make a difference and acknowledge that we are told by our Heavenly Father to never cease trying to make a difference.........We may fail, we may make wrong choices along the way, we may give in to our own selfish needs, but You still work through us - it astounds me. It is not over when we stumble and fall. I am learning to be grateful for these lessons you teach me because when I am able to stand up again I may be battered and bruised, but I am stronger."
Increasingly, though, in the Body....disagreements over doctrine is becoming a 'deal breaker' and there is no room for a diversity of leadership in what the 'bottom line' is. You either agree or you go somewhere else that is more aligned with your theology. I'm not saying that there aren't truces being made, where one just doesn't speak what they believe, but rather; there is no disagreement between teachers allowed to the degree where those who have opposing views are allowed to teach and the individual of the congregation makes their decision after prayer and study.
"These also are sayings of the wise: To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, You are innocent"—peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them." Proverbs 24:23-25 (NIV)
We need to test each other, and not only do so in accord, but call a spade a spade and a orange an orange. This half-way doctrine of tolerance isn't tolerance at all, as we Christians are experiencing in the culture of the times.
"In each of our own lives, there are areas that need to be, or are already being burned up -- consumed by the "Refining Fire" of God's Holy Spirit. Yet God has also provided for a renewal in us...a "seed" of something brand new, which can only be birthed by intense heat." George, WorthyNews, writes in his devotional, "This new seed, however it manifests in our lives, represents the resurrection life of Christ, which emerges in the presence of His purifying fire. So the Lodgepole Pine is a picture for us, of resurrection and hope in the midst of fiery trials."
Because we have these promises, dear friends, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit. And let us work toward complete holiness because we fear God. 2 Corinthians 7:1 (NLT)
Whether you believe the doctrine of Wright's 'God wants us totally heathly' or otherwise, there are some wisdom and understanding to be gained from such teachings. It must be held against Biblical truth, though, and that is where I find Wright lacking. But, the days of the 'hear it and believe it' are gone, regulated to the memories of times past.
You must, as you should always do, guard what you take in your heart and hold it up to the light of Scripture. Dig deeper, with your eyes upon the One who knows all things, and you will find what you seek......
Just remember; You should first seek God.
Otherwise you fall prey to your own motivations and perspectives.
Monday, July 28
Tides of Good and Evil......
“In the day of wealth have joy, but in the day of evil take thought: God has put the one against the other, so that man may not be certain what will be after him. These two have I seen in my life which is to no purpose: a good man coming to his end in his righteousness, and an evil man whose days are long in his evil-doing. Be not given overmuch to righteousness and be not over-wise. Why let destruction come on you? Be not evil overmuch, and be not foolish. Why come to your end before your time? It is good to take this in your hand and not to keep your hand from that; he who has the fear of God will be free of the two. Wisdom makes a wise man stronger than ten rulers in a town. There is no man on earth of such righteousness that he does good and is free from sin all his days.”(Ecc 7:14-20 BBE)
God creates both good and evil (rather, the potential for evil)? Dangerous theology to be preaching in the days of the emergent church or a loving God who wants nothing more than to have you totally healthy and totally rich, or even the God of Total Love (the best, never the worse).
Gone are the words Christ spoke of a rich man’s difficulties to get into Heaven. Gone are the thoughts that God wants us to be His, totally and without blemish, and brings that about through testing, trials, and tribulations. God only wants to love us our way, to be rich, to heal the world, and to be totally healthy, or even.....never sick.
A lot is said about Jesus’ words to his disciples, of bringing us life, life in abundance. Many pastors point to this as proof of the desire of the Almighty to give us health untold and riches beyond our dreams.
The properity gospel. The name-it-and-claim it doctrine. The emergent movement. The list goes on and on about the doctrinal teachings of an All-powerful vending machine God that only takes special tokens given to Christians "in the know", a God who doesn't want anyone to perish so we've nothing to worry about regardless of our "sinful lifestyles, rotten fruits, or self-serving natures"...God is hog-tied and cannot let us go or a God that is solely love that doesn't "use" evil to the means only He knows.
Job admonished his friends and family for such views that God only gives or allows good for us, even in his trials;
“Job replied, "Don't talk like a fool! If we accept blessings from God, we must accept trouble as well." In all that happened, Job never once said anything against God.” (Job 2:10 CEV)
Did God then create man to be evil? Is this just some cosmic bet that God seems to have lost in the domination battle that wages between the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the "Lord of the Air" (i.e. the fallen one, the usurper, Satan)? Or is it more of a cosmic roll of the dice, where God created and then got bored?
Why, if God is for us, do babies die within hours of their birth while their parents desperately pray for a miraculous healing? Why do adult Christians, spiritually strong in mighty proportions, die at 32 with a wife and three children left behind to carry on? Why do evil men, like the Iranian President, live freely without compulsion or fear? If God indeed uses His powerful righteousness not to spare evilness from entering a righteous man's life, why does He do it? Does He love us or just don't care, allowing the lucky to gain while the unfortunates wither from lack of nutrious food?
No, we were created perfectly by a righteous and holy God, in His Image, and we are living in the sin of Adam and Eve, who would be god. Though our creation was in perfection, a image of the Holy and Righteous God I AM, our minds became corrupted by the introduction of sin into the Garden.
That is why we struggle against our old nature even when the new has been born through the baptizmal of the Holy Spirit. That is why some succumb to the call of their old selves, still clawing for life within the unfruitful soil of the righteously redeemed. That is why some never achieve the peace that Christ left before His ascension to Heaven, His perfect peace. That is even why we, as did the great apostle Paul, "do what I know not to do and don't do what I know to do."
"I did learn one thing: We were completely honest when God created us, but now we have twisted minds." (Ecc 7:29 CEV)
One thing that Solomon consider one of the most important things he ever discovered was very simple and basic. So far a cry from the doctrine that is plying complexity within the humanistic and universalism view of who this God is. Either He is beyond comprehension or He is untrue.
The first family, Adam and Eve were made in perfection, in the image of God Himself, Genesis 1:27. They were made to be 'upright', to be "right and innocent before Him" in their soul, by which they were given knowledge, righteousness, and holiness to be children of God as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 4:24. We were created in original form, to be knowledgable of the Godhead, Three in One, to understand righteousness, to live in holiness because of a God-given knowledge of His mind and will, the manner of worship He desired, and perfect without defect.
We were created to have "understanding clear of all errors and mistakes, either about divine or human things; [our] affections regular and ordinate, no unruly passion in [us], no sinful affection, lust, and desire; [we] loved God with [our] his heart and soul, and delighted in him, and communion with him; the bias of his will was to that which is good; the law of God was written on his heart, and [we] had both power and will to keep it; and, during [our] state of integrity, was pure and sinless." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Sin didn't always exist. Even Solomon, the wisest person in all the world, could not find such timelessness but rather "the fountain of all sin, the origin of moral evil; namely, the corruption of human nature through the fall of Adam." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
It is not God who created sin or evil, rather it is the design that man was created with 'free will' and who fell into our own sin and folly through the originial sin of desiring more knowledge and happiness through unapproved methods to ultimately become as wise as God Himself, against the desires of God's design and through such action, against God Himself, as well.
And we have sought out theologies and doctrines that better give us an 'excuse' to give us gratification to the unending question as to 'why'? From Adam's blaming Eve for sin's introduction, Eve's throwing the blame upon the serpent, and our loss of that knowledge of righteousness, holiness, power to know good and do it, and even the prescense of God.
The original sin has been perfected through the ages as man sought out new ways of having the happiness that is genetically and spiritually written within ourselves. Decay of the moral standards to suit the living of sinfulness, pursuit of riches, self-value, decadent pleasures of the flesh, humanistic scientific knowledge in which to manpulate our world, or even doing good works for our own acolodaes.
But this generational knowledge, this 'measure of faith' that God implanted within His creation, has not been lost totally, which is why some have answered the cry of the heart and heard God's voice. A remenant of the image of God, the law that He wrote upon our hearts, and the cry in our souls that this is not right; we were born for greatness that we cannot achieve within the confines of our broken, sinful nature shows us that we were made for something other than what we are now.
It is those who find themselves discontented with the explainations of the world, who stand against the manipulation of the worldly knowledge to once again 'rediscover' that generational desire within us to be 'as knowledgable as the Creator' or to be 'god', and find themselves struggling in peace and mercy through the trials of this world that realize the wisdom that Solomon himself found;
“I know that God is testing us to show us that we are merely animals. Like animals we breathe and die, and we are no better off than they are. It just doesn't make sense. All living creatures go to the same place. We are made from earth, and we return to the earth. Who really knows if our spirits go up and the spirits of animals go down into the earth? We were meant to enjoy our work, and that's the best thing we can do. We can never know the future.” (Ecc 3:18-22 CEV)
By chosing our 'portion' in this world and its pleasures of self-indulgence and self-protection, we have declared ourselves to be nothing more than a random chance coupling of amno-acids and primordial soup bringing ourselves level with the beasts of Creation. And, by denying God, we have not only denied our salvational gifting but we have denied our spirit, that very thing that separates us from the beasts of this world.
We spend our limited knowledge and earthly wisdom in the pursuit of filling that empty space we've created by such denial. Like the beasts of the earth, if we seek only self-fulfillment, self-perservation, and self-contentment, we shall die like those beasts returning both in body and spirit into the dust from whence we were formed.
Such is why God is delaying His interference within the matter of mankind's redemption until the appointed time He has set and allows such trials, temptations, and tribulations to exists in the world of the righteous as well as allow good to come to the wicked.
Under the 'free will' development of man, with the introduction of sin and its progetity, the distinction of those of the world and those of the spirit will become manifest to the degree that man's sinfulness is visible under the condemnation and oppression of the faithful through so-called human justice, which is nothing more than human brutishness based upon the linear human process of thought.
"If one disregards the idea of God's interfering at a future time with the discordant human history, and, in general, if one loses sight of God, the distinction between the life of man and of beast disappears." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Those who raise themselves beyond the level of the beasts of the earth develop a sense of eternity based upon the revealed act of Jesus Christ, and through Him the desires and reality of God, His Father. In God's desire to perfect us and make us holy and blameless in His sight, His plan has developed to bring us to that place, in the course of His timing, in perfect condition whereas the imperfections born of sin are lanced from our souls.
German Biblical Critic Ferdinand Hitzig speaks of this mingling of good and evil in the life of men, “Because God wills it that man shall be rid of all things after his death, He puts evil into the period of his life and lets it alternate with good, instead of visiting him therewith after his death.”
In other words, “God causes man to experience good and evil that he may pass through the whole school of life, and when he departs hence that nothing may be outstanding (in arrears) which he has not experienced.” (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
As Matthew Henry speaks of in his commentary, "How an eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment?" is the question that we find the answer to in this journey home. This revelation of God's plan, design, and purpose is shown in the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the only Hope for all sinners, of which mankind is solely existent as.
This learning in the 'school of hard knocks' or the 'school of life' creates, in the words of John Wesley, a position where we “therefore might live in a constant dependence upon God, and neither despair in trouble, nor be secure or presumptuous in prosperity.” (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)
"Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly]." 1 Peter 4:12-13 (AMP)
"Someone once said, "A faith that can't be tested isn't a faith worth having!" Trials are meant to increase our faith in God – the greater our needs, the greater our trials – then the greater our dependence on Him," George of Worthy News writes in his devotional for today, "and usually its in this state of utter dependence upon Him that we enjoy the deepest, most intimate times with our God."
Carolyn Baker, devotional writer for AllAboutGod.com, said in her submission today, "The adventure of a lifetime begins with one surrendered step." We know not where we will be called to go, as children in the body of Christ and we cannot number our days with certainity and rigidiousness.
We can step out in faith, accept a gift that we are unworthy of obtaining, and submit ourselves in willing obedience to the One who purchased it with His own blood for our benefit. Enduring the process of becoming what we were intended to be, facing the persecution of those who would die like the beasts of the earth, and even facing those who would redefine Christianity into a non-threatening entity, we cast off the power of this world, its current lord, and find ourselves prepared for a life spent in eternal life with our Creator.
We discover, in the face of the trials that sorrow our hearts, challenge our faith, and manifest our weaknesses, that there is a hope that springs eternal. And as that wisdom and knowledge settles upon our very hearts, we show others the testimony and good news of our God, Abba Father.
We live a life without fear, for we know that if we seek to do what God calls us to do, He will either reveal our faithfulness or redeem our foolishness. And it will show when those who are of the world look at us, in our familiar sinful, broken body that is so like theirs, and ask, "Why are they peaceful and content in this?"
"As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19
If we see the design God intended for us, writing His commandments and Word upon our hearts, we will reflect it to the world and snatch those from the fire of the enemy's design.
God creates both good and evil (rather, the potential for evil)? Dangerous theology to be preaching in the days of the emergent church or a loving God who wants nothing more than to have you totally healthy and totally rich, or even the God of Total Love (the best, never the worse).
Gone are the words Christ spoke of a rich man’s difficulties to get into Heaven. Gone are the thoughts that God wants us to be His, totally and without blemish, and brings that about through testing, trials, and tribulations. God only wants to love us our way, to be rich, to heal the world, and to be totally healthy, or even.....never sick.
A lot is said about Jesus’ words to his disciples, of bringing us life, life in abundance. Many pastors point to this as proof of the desire of the Almighty to give us health untold and riches beyond our dreams.
The properity gospel. The name-it-and-claim it doctrine. The emergent movement. The list goes on and on about the doctrinal teachings of an All-powerful vending machine God that only takes special tokens given to Christians "in the know", a God who doesn't want anyone to perish so we've nothing to worry about regardless of our "sinful lifestyles, rotten fruits, or self-serving natures"...God is hog-tied and cannot let us go or a God that is solely love that doesn't "use" evil to the means only He knows.
Job admonished his friends and family for such views that God only gives or allows good for us, even in his trials;
“Job replied, "Don't talk like a fool! If we accept blessings from God, we must accept trouble as well." In all that happened, Job never once said anything against God.” (Job 2:10 CEV)
Did God then create man to be evil? Is this just some cosmic bet that God seems to have lost in the domination battle that wages between the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob with the "Lord of the Air" (i.e. the fallen one, the usurper, Satan)? Or is it more of a cosmic roll of the dice, where God created and then got bored?
Why, if God is for us, do babies die within hours of their birth while their parents desperately pray for a miraculous healing? Why do adult Christians, spiritually strong in mighty proportions, die at 32 with a wife and three children left behind to carry on? Why do evil men, like the Iranian President, live freely without compulsion or fear? If God indeed uses His powerful righteousness not to spare evilness from entering a righteous man's life, why does He do it? Does He love us or just don't care, allowing the lucky to gain while the unfortunates wither from lack of nutrious food?
No, we were created perfectly by a righteous and holy God, in His Image, and we are living in the sin of Adam and Eve, who would be god. Though our creation was in perfection, a image of the Holy and Righteous God I AM, our minds became corrupted by the introduction of sin into the Garden.
That is why we struggle against our old nature even when the new has been born through the baptizmal of the Holy Spirit. That is why some succumb to the call of their old selves, still clawing for life within the unfruitful soil of the righteously redeemed. That is why some never achieve the peace that Christ left before His ascension to Heaven, His perfect peace. That is even why we, as did the great apostle Paul, "do what I know not to do and don't do what I know to do."
"I did learn one thing: We were completely honest when God created us, but now we have twisted minds." (Ecc 7:29 CEV)
One thing that Solomon consider one of the most important things he ever discovered was very simple and basic. So far a cry from the doctrine that is plying complexity within the humanistic and universalism view of who this God is. Either He is beyond comprehension or He is untrue.
The first family, Adam and Eve were made in perfection, in the image of God Himself, Genesis 1:27. They were made to be 'upright', to be "right and innocent before Him" in their soul, by which they were given knowledge, righteousness, and holiness to be children of God as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 4:24. We were created in original form, to be knowledgable of the Godhead, Three in One, to understand righteousness, to live in holiness because of a God-given knowledge of His mind and will, the manner of worship He desired, and perfect without defect.
We were created to have "understanding clear of all errors and mistakes, either about divine or human things; [our] affections regular and ordinate, no unruly passion in [us], no sinful affection, lust, and desire; [we] loved God with [our] his heart and soul, and delighted in him, and communion with him; the bias of his will was to that which is good; the law of God was written on his heart, and [we] had both power and will to keep it; and, during [our] state of integrity, was pure and sinless." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Sin didn't always exist. Even Solomon, the wisest person in all the world, could not find such timelessness but rather "the fountain of all sin, the origin of moral evil; namely, the corruption of human nature through the fall of Adam." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
It is not God who created sin or evil, rather it is the design that man was created with 'free will' and who fell into our own sin and folly through the originial sin of desiring more knowledge and happiness through unapproved methods to ultimately become as wise as God Himself, against the desires of God's design and through such action, against God Himself, as well.
And we have sought out theologies and doctrines that better give us an 'excuse' to give us gratification to the unending question as to 'why'? From Adam's blaming Eve for sin's introduction, Eve's throwing the blame upon the serpent, and our loss of that knowledge of righteousness, holiness, power to know good and do it, and even the prescense of God.
The original sin has been perfected through the ages as man sought out new ways of having the happiness that is genetically and spiritually written within ourselves. Decay of the moral standards to suit the living of sinfulness, pursuit of riches, self-value, decadent pleasures of the flesh, humanistic scientific knowledge in which to manpulate our world, or even doing good works for our own acolodaes.
But this generational knowledge, this 'measure of faith' that God implanted within His creation, has not been lost totally, which is why some have answered the cry of the heart and heard God's voice. A remenant of the image of God, the law that He wrote upon our hearts, and the cry in our souls that this is not right; we were born for greatness that we cannot achieve within the confines of our broken, sinful nature shows us that we were made for something other than what we are now.
It is those who find themselves discontented with the explainations of the world, who stand against the manipulation of the worldly knowledge to once again 'rediscover' that generational desire within us to be 'as knowledgable as the Creator' or to be 'god', and find themselves struggling in peace and mercy through the trials of this world that realize the wisdom that Solomon himself found;
“I know that God is testing us to show us that we are merely animals. Like animals we breathe and die, and we are no better off than they are. It just doesn't make sense. All living creatures go to the same place. We are made from earth, and we return to the earth. Who really knows if our spirits go up and the spirits of animals go down into the earth? We were meant to enjoy our work, and that's the best thing we can do. We can never know the future.” (Ecc 3:18-22 CEV)
By chosing our 'portion' in this world and its pleasures of self-indulgence and self-protection, we have declared ourselves to be nothing more than a random chance coupling of amno-acids and primordial soup bringing ourselves level with the beasts of Creation. And, by denying God, we have not only denied our salvational gifting but we have denied our spirit, that very thing that separates us from the beasts of this world.
We spend our limited knowledge and earthly wisdom in the pursuit of filling that empty space we've created by such denial. Like the beasts of the earth, if we seek only self-fulfillment, self-perservation, and self-contentment, we shall die like those beasts returning both in body and spirit into the dust from whence we were formed.
Such is why God is delaying His interference within the matter of mankind's redemption until the appointed time He has set and allows such trials, temptations, and tribulations to exists in the world of the righteous as well as allow good to come to the wicked.
Under the 'free will' development of man, with the introduction of sin and its progetity, the distinction of those of the world and those of the spirit will become manifest to the degree that man's sinfulness is visible under the condemnation and oppression of the faithful through so-called human justice, which is nothing more than human brutishness based upon the linear human process of thought.
"If one disregards the idea of God's interfering at a future time with the discordant human history, and, in general, if one loses sight of God, the distinction between the life of man and of beast disappears." (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
Those who raise themselves beyond the level of the beasts of the earth develop a sense of eternity based upon the revealed act of Jesus Christ, and through Him the desires and reality of God, His Father. In God's desire to perfect us and make us holy and blameless in His sight, His plan has developed to bring us to that place, in the course of His timing, in perfect condition whereas the imperfections born of sin are lanced from our souls.
German Biblical Critic Ferdinand Hitzig speaks of this mingling of good and evil in the life of men, “Because God wills it that man shall be rid of all things after his death, He puts evil into the period of his life and lets it alternate with good, instead of visiting him therewith after his death.”
In other words, “God causes man to experience good and evil that he may pass through the whole school of life, and when he departs hence that nothing may be outstanding (in arrears) which he has not experienced.” (Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament)
As Matthew Henry speaks of in his commentary, "How an eternity of existence may be to us an eternity of enjoyment?" is the question that we find the answer to in this journey home. This revelation of God's plan, design, and purpose is shown in the physical manifestation of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the only Hope for all sinners, of which mankind is solely existent as.
This learning in the 'school of hard knocks' or the 'school of life' creates, in the words of John Wesley, a position where we “therefore might live in a constant dependence upon God, and neither despair in trouble, nor be secure or presumptuous in prosperity.” (John Wesley’s Explanatory Notes)
"Beloved, do not be amazed and bewildered at the fiery ordeal which is taking place to test your quality, as though something strange (unusual and alien to you and your position) were befalling you. But insofar as you are sharing Christ's sufferings, rejoice, so that when His glory [full of radiance and splendor] is revealed, you may also rejoice with triumph [exultantly]." 1 Peter 4:12-13 (AMP)
"Someone once said, "A faith that can't be tested isn't a faith worth having!" Trials are meant to increase our faith in God – the greater our needs, the greater our trials – then the greater our dependence on Him," George of Worthy News writes in his devotional for today, "and usually its in this state of utter dependence upon Him that we enjoy the deepest, most intimate times with our God."
Carolyn Baker, devotional writer for AllAboutGod.com, said in her submission today, "The adventure of a lifetime begins with one surrendered step." We know not where we will be called to go, as children in the body of Christ and we cannot number our days with certainity and rigidiousness.
We can step out in faith, accept a gift that we are unworthy of obtaining, and submit ourselves in willing obedience to the One who purchased it with His own blood for our benefit. Enduring the process of becoming what we were intended to be, facing the persecution of those who would die like the beasts of the earth, and even facing those who would redefine Christianity into a non-threatening entity, we cast off the power of this world, its current lord, and find ourselves prepared for a life spent in eternal life with our Creator.
We discover, in the face of the trials that sorrow our hearts, challenge our faith, and manifest our weaknesses, that there is a hope that springs eternal. And as that wisdom and knowledge settles upon our very hearts, we show others the testimony and good news of our God, Abba Father.
We live a life without fear, for we know that if we seek to do what God calls us to do, He will either reveal our faithfulness or redeem our foolishness. And it will show when those who are of the world look at us, in our familiar sinful, broken body that is so like theirs, and ask, "Why are they peaceful and content in this?"
"As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the person." Proverbs 27:19
If we see the design God intended for us, writing His commandments and Word upon our hearts, we will reflect it to the world and snatch those from the fire of the enemy's design.
Thursday, July 24
Be a true unsuspecting hero: Be a godly father
Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say, "But we knew nothing about this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done? Proverbs 24:11-12 (NIV)
HonorBound Devotional says this about the Proverb above, "Some of our world’s heroes are unsuspecting people. They are not much different from most of us; they just refuse to stand by and let others be humiliated, harmed or persecuted. These heroes will jump into raging waters at the risk of their own life to save someone they do not know. What is in their heart is a quality that will enable them to confront adversity or misfortune. May God give us all the insight to know what is right, and the courage to live by it."
Our world today is ripe with heroes of this 'unsuspecting' type, even in the highly visible professions of a Fire Fighter, Police, Nurse, and Doctor. We look to those visible heroes as if they harbor some secret gene, a gene we wish ourselves to have, that makes them do crazy and impossible things like rescue a family from a structure engulfed in flames and smoke, take a highly dangerous criminal off the public streets, or rescue someone from a deadly accident by their skill and devotion to healing. We do not believe that such heroics lie within our capabilities; we aren't smart enough, strong enough, or brave enough.
So we yearn for what we believe we do not have and never realize the abundance of power, strength, and courage we gain from our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our Kinsman Jesus Christ.
"He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He Himself is surrounded by light." Daniel 2:22 (NLT)
God knows what He has designed and created each of us for; beyond the simplistic purpose of being in relationship with Him. We each have been called; some to ministry, some to business, some to missions, and some to what we believe aren't very 'prosperous' positions....a mother in the home, a brother in a large family, or even a friend to another. Simple seeming 'positions' in life that we miss the vital importance of, the very purposeful need to excel at.
We cheer the heroes of 9-11, as I believe we should; as a nation, as a people, and as individuals. We should cheer those who have stepped into harm's way at the drop of a hat, voluntarily and without hesistation, to go to the aid of a nation so devastated and torn by the eviliness of a religion and a man. As the quote I've placed under the picture to the left from Marian Anderson says, "There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the first move. ... The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the openhearted and courageous way, many others follow," these are the heroes who have stepped out to honor the word of a nation and its desire for democracy for a people ravaged by dictators and false doctrines.
Those are right and honorable recognitions.
But what about the mothers of this nation; nuturing and providing comfort to those they have been blessed to parent, to love, and to devote their lives to.....the Proverbs 31 woman? What about the fathers, who discipline, train, protect, and provide a foundation of belief to those who they have been called to serve as servants? What about those who have only themselves; the single parent who continues to love, to struggle, to achieve; not only to give their children what they need but to show them, through their life, that there IS a God and He is the Truth?
Heroes.
Who can also be villians, if they follow the wiles of the world and live a life separated from their Creator God.
Last night, at Soul Quest, was the second of seven classes in the teaching of the "Life of Freedom". Although I have some reservations about Henry Wright's theology of 'abundant healing', there are some kernels of Truth that he seems to fall into; like a blind man stumbling in the dark. Last night's class was about God's love, a Abba's love for His children. With the disappointments of the day still weighing heavily on my mind, and knowing that the warriors in my life wouldn't let me escape for too long from being AWOL from attending, I dragged myself into the session.....though I must admit, God's fatherly love felt as comforting as the wind on a cold winter day, more painful than useful. More a burden than a blessing.
Familiar verses of God's love, touching on the depth, width, height, and even length of His loving desires for His created children; Luke 15:1-7, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Matthew 7:21 and more. John 8:38 struck me more than any other, though I had heard it spoken, read it myself, many times. Jesus says, "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father."(NASB)
The Father wound.
We are raising children who reflect who we, as fathers, have done our jobs...either with godly insight or worldly rejection. They speak what we've told them.
Have you told them that they are loved, valued, special, someone to be proud of, and desired???
Or have you told them something more destructive and evil, even if you didn't intend to?
I know about this father wound from my teaching with the Awakened Hearts Ministry's M3 program. If you are in the area of Troy, Michigan; I would highly recommend you come to a meeting (the next is Aug 16th) and explore this valuable garnering of the Scriptures in relation to men. There is a wealth of realization and releasing of the bondage men have placed themselves under since the time of Adam. But, I digress a bit.
One of the teachings of the Wright 'theology' which stumbles into Truth is the importance of a Father; not only to live a Godly design and purposed life, but to represent the Father to his children, to his wife, and to those in his community. Fathers, the earthly ones, have neglected that truth and have wounded their children who wound their children. The epidemic that started towards the end of the World Wars is seemingly suddenly appearing on the societal viewscreens, but this is a generational neglect that has eroded our cultural identity and our families; creating a generation that is incapable of realizing a heavenly Father's love because of the distortions caused by their earthly father's neglect to live GODLY fatherhood.
I volunteered to participate in an exercise last night, seemingly simple in its steps but powerful in its impact. I stood in front of a dear sister in Christ, M....., who had never heard her father say he was proud of her, loved her, or cherished her. It was a definate God-moment, as her name was the name of my mother (the one who raised me). Standing in her earthly father's stead, I expressed to her the things he had failed to say; either due to his own wounding or misunderstanding of what impact he had upon this dear soul. It was a powerful moment, and deeply affected all those who participated or sat silently in their seats.
My new sister in Christ, Holly, came up too and I was honored to step into that role that has been so abused in her life. To tell her how valuable she was, how loved she was, how special she was....things she should have heard in the days of her growing up....the younger years.....
Two women, two different lives, and at two different spots in their christian walk......
Wounded by the cupability of their fathers in surrendering their God-instilled purpose to cherish, love, and express pride in the precious life of their daughters and their sons, creating a generational disconnect with God's design.
And the world is reeling now from that neglect and disconnection. In a society that values what you have, how much of it you collect, and the 'boys and their toys' mentality, this is the pinpoint cause of the failing morality of America and its youth. This is why children, for too long told that they are lucky to have been given birth, are carrying guns to school. This is why, shown that they aren't uniquely created and preciously valued, that the society is into 'free-love' that isn't free and babies are being born to babies.......this is why; men since the time of Adam have given away their God-purposed design to protect and defend beauty and order......that beauty and order that is manifested in their daughters. They have neglected to raise their sons to take their role in society as future warriors to protect and defend.
Pastor Henry Varley once say that, "The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him."
Last night was a turning point for two women. And I was honored to be able to be a part of that realization that God's perfect love is something each man is called to show; reflecting his Heavenly Father in the raising of His children, gifted to us men for such a short time. To rescue from a life distorted and to open their eyes to a Father's true love. Deep, abiding, and unconditional.
"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain." 2 Corinthians 6:1
Instead, let us take heart to the promise given and reach out to those who have a wound that has festered within for too long and grown so deep. Let us realize that Heavenly Father's heart of love, grace, and mercy and extend it into the lives of our children, our wives, and our society.
Let us stand as men and reclaim the honor, glory, and purpose to which we were designed.......reflections of a true father's heart to the generations to come.
Ms Baker remarks in the AllAboutGod.com devotional today, ".....As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonment's and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
Fathers, your children need you to be a reflection of God's fathership.
TIME TO MAN UP.
Time to stand firm and reclaim those lost daughters' and sons' hearts.
HonorBound Devotional says this about the Proverb above, "Some of our world’s heroes are unsuspecting people. They are not much different from most of us; they just refuse to stand by and let others be humiliated, harmed or persecuted. These heroes will jump into raging waters at the risk of their own life to save someone they do not know. What is in their heart is a quality that will enable them to confront adversity or misfortune. May God give us all the insight to know what is right, and the courage to live by it."
Our world today is ripe with heroes of this 'unsuspecting' type, even in the highly visible professions of a Fire Fighter, Police, Nurse, and Doctor. We look to those visible heroes as if they harbor some secret gene, a gene we wish ourselves to have, that makes them do crazy and impossible things like rescue a family from a structure engulfed in flames and smoke, take a highly dangerous criminal off the public streets, or rescue someone from a deadly accident by their skill and devotion to healing. We do not believe that such heroics lie within our capabilities; we aren't smart enough, strong enough, or brave enough.
So we yearn for what we believe we do not have and never realize the abundance of power, strength, and courage we gain from our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our Kinsman Jesus Christ.
"He reveals deep and mysterious things and knows what lies hidden in darkness, though He Himself is surrounded by light." Daniel 2:22 (NLT)
God knows what He has designed and created each of us for; beyond the simplistic purpose of being in relationship with Him. We each have been called; some to ministry, some to business, some to missions, and some to what we believe aren't very 'prosperous' positions....a mother in the home, a brother in a large family, or even a friend to another. Simple seeming 'positions' in life that we miss the vital importance of, the very purposeful need to excel at.
We cheer the heroes of 9-11, as I believe we should; as a nation, as a people, and as individuals. We should cheer those who have stepped into harm's way at the drop of a hat, voluntarily and without hesistation, to go to the aid of a nation so devastated and torn by the eviliness of a religion and a man. As the quote I've placed under the picture to the left from Marian Anderson says, "There are many persons ready to do what is right because in their hearts they know it is right. But they hesitate, waiting for the other fellow to make the first move. ... The minute a person whose word means a great deal dares to take the openhearted and courageous way, many others follow," these are the heroes who have stepped out to honor the word of a nation and its desire for democracy for a people ravaged by dictators and false doctrines.
Those are right and honorable recognitions.
But what about the mothers of this nation; nuturing and providing comfort to those they have been blessed to parent, to love, and to devote their lives to.....the Proverbs 31 woman? What about the fathers, who discipline, train, protect, and provide a foundation of belief to those who they have been called to serve as servants? What about those who have only themselves; the single parent who continues to love, to struggle, to achieve; not only to give their children what they need but to show them, through their life, that there IS a God and He is the Truth?
Heroes.
Who can also be villians, if they follow the wiles of the world and live a life separated from their Creator God.
Last night, at Soul Quest, was the second of seven classes in the teaching of the "Life of Freedom". Although I have some reservations about Henry Wright's theology of 'abundant healing', there are some kernels of Truth that he seems to fall into; like a blind man stumbling in the dark. Last night's class was about God's love, a Abba's love for His children. With the disappointments of the day still weighing heavily on my mind, and knowing that the warriors in my life wouldn't let me escape for too long from being AWOL from attending, I dragged myself into the session.....though I must admit, God's fatherly love felt as comforting as the wind on a cold winter day, more painful than useful. More a burden than a blessing.
Familiar verses of God's love, touching on the depth, width, height, and even length of His loving desires for His created children; Luke 15:1-7, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20, Matthew 7:21 and more. John 8:38 struck me more than any other, though I had heard it spoken, read it myself, many times. Jesus says, "I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father."(NASB)
The Father wound.
We are raising children who reflect who we, as fathers, have done our jobs...either with godly insight or worldly rejection. They speak what we've told them.
Have you told them that they are loved, valued, special, someone to be proud of, and desired???
Or have you told them something more destructive and evil, even if you didn't intend to?
I know about this father wound from my teaching with the Awakened Hearts Ministry's M3 program. If you are in the area of Troy, Michigan; I would highly recommend you come to a meeting (the next is Aug 16th) and explore this valuable garnering of the Scriptures in relation to men. There is a wealth of realization and releasing of the bondage men have placed themselves under since the time of Adam. But, I digress a bit.
One of the teachings of the Wright 'theology' which stumbles into Truth is the importance of a Father; not only to live a Godly design and purposed life, but to represent the Father to his children, to his wife, and to those in his community. Fathers, the earthly ones, have neglected that truth and have wounded their children who wound their children. The epidemic that started towards the end of the World Wars is seemingly suddenly appearing on the societal viewscreens, but this is a generational neglect that has eroded our cultural identity and our families; creating a generation that is incapable of realizing a heavenly Father's love because of the distortions caused by their earthly father's neglect to live GODLY fatherhood.
I volunteered to participate in an exercise last night, seemingly simple in its steps but powerful in its impact. I stood in front of a dear sister in Christ, M....., who had never heard her father say he was proud of her, loved her, or cherished her. It was a definate God-moment, as her name was the name of my mother (the one who raised me). Standing in her earthly father's stead, I expressed to her the things he had failed to say; either due to his own wounding or misunderstanding of what impact he had upon this dear soul. It was a powerful moment, and deeply affected all those who participated or sat silently in their seats.
My new sister in Christ, Holly, came up too and I was honored to step into that role that has been so abused in her life. To tell her how valuable she was, how loved she was, how special she was....things she should have heard in the days of her growing up....the younger years.....
Two women, two different lives, and at two different spots in their christian walk......
Wounded by the cupability of their fathers in surrendering their God-instilled purpose to cherish, love, and express pride in the precious life of their daughters and their sons, creating a generational disconnect with God's design.
And the world is reeling now from that neglect and disconnection. In a society that values what you have, how much of it you collect, and the 'boys and their toys' mentality, this is the pinpoint cause of the failing morality of America and its youth. This is why children, for too long told that they are lucky to have been given birth, are carrying guns to school. This is why, shown that they aren't uniquely created and preciously valued, that the society is into 'free-love' that isn't free and babies are being born to babies.......this is why; men since the time of Adam have given away their God-purposed design to protect and defend beauty and order......that beauty and order that is manifested in their daughters. They have neglected to raise their sons to take their role in society as future warriors to protect and defend.
Pastor Henry Varley once say that, "The world has yet to see what God will do with and for and through the man who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him."
Last night was a turning point for two women. And I was honored to be able to be a part of that realization that God's perfect love is something each man is called to show; reflecting his Heavenly Father in the raising of His children, gifted to us men for such a short time. To rescue from a life distorted and to open their eyes to a Father's true love. Deep, abiding, and unconditional.
"As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain." 2 Corinthians 6:1
Instead, let us take heart to the promise given and reach out to those who have a wound that has festered within for too long and grown so deep. Let us realize that Heavenly Father's heart of love, grace, and mercy and extend it into the lives of our children, our wives, and our society.
Let us stand as men and reclaim the honor, glory, and purpose to which we were designed.......reflections of a true father's heart to the generations to come.
Ms Baker remarks in the AllAboutGod.com devotional today, ".....As servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonment's and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine yet regarded as imposters; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."
Fathers, your children need you to be a reflection of God's fathership.
TIME TO MAN UP.
Time to stand firm and reclaim those lost daughters' and sons' hearts.
Monday, July 14
An answer in the mist of the war......
''And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! ''Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:4-7
Amid the battle in this world, swinging the sword of God's warrior and taking wounds from unexpected quarters, God answered a prayer. One I've prayed since I first took up the sword and shield and answered the call to be in His Army as a leader, a minister.
It seems, lately in this battle over the old self and its sinful ways---fighting an enemy that knows me all to well from the past association we have shared when I once walked in the darkness of his world, that I have been battered from all sides and my faith has remained. Enough to raise the sword again, enough to raise the shield once more.
And in the mist of the din and clamor of war, for war my dear brothers and sisters is what this world has for us who call Christ King and Savior, a voice cried out ever so softly and so broken. Piercing my heart for the King, calling my attention to His purpose and His fight. And He answered a prayer in my response, stumbling and halting as it was, as I responded to that cry.
Pastor Dave spoke of Moses' call, the burning bush. He spoke of knowing who we are, not what we do. Moses was an man on the lamb, unable to go back to his previous life because of the murder that he committed in the land of Egypt. Yet God called him to be His answer to the cries of the enslaved people of Israel.
It is important, Dave said, that we know who we are, children of God, and who our Father is. At least, that is what God spoke to me. But Dave was burdened with a soul that was in need of this realization and he told the congregation that there was one who this was the cry of their soul.
And the answer was Jesus, the identity that we have but to claim is children of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
And this cry I heard was near me, a young woman that I have had the honor of getting to know and understand. Someone who has been burdened with the abuses of this world and those who have entered into her life, and left her broken. God whispered to her heart this Sunday morning past, and her heart recognized the call to His side. In my path to her side, I called two other warriors to join in this battle, which seems such a small part of the war, but is why we fight the fight of the King, to save one more soul...to seize one more from Satan's grip, to declare NOT THIS ONE!
I spoke later in the day to this tender soul, trying to answer the yearning of her heart. Speaking of my own journey from when God whispered to me until the moment in time where we stood, my shield given for service to the King surrounding her from the din of the fight. Raising the sword in praise and honor to the Lord I serve when the heart answered the call, recognized the need and accepted life. And the words of my fellow warrior echoed in my ears above the cry of joy, "This is your call, to minister" And I knew God had answered my prayer, my Gideon skin, through the salvation of another.
Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
Worthy news ministry's devotional for today references this verse. And George writes of most of the men of faith spending time in the wilderness of their lives; desperate and yearning, still and quiet to hear the voice of God upon their hearts in answer to their hunger and thirst. The hebrew word for wilderness is "meed-bahr", which means "to speak".
As I walk in my own wilderness, I hear the call of God more insistent and it is not only the call to minister, but it is full of a legacy of those who have walked in faithful living of the God they have served in heroic and humble fashion.......a revisiting of those 'rocks' that have filled my vessel and shorted the portion of God's love, mercy, and peace in my subjection of my will to His.
No expectation of a financial windfall to answer the demands of those who hold my home, utilities, and job in their hands. No sudden realization of how to be His child in this mess. A clarity of call to arms, to realize regardless that He has called me to serve, is shaping me in His way to serve, and therein lies a blessing that defies the burdens of this life. Growth in the wilderness and a source of thirst-quenching water in this desert portion of this journey.
And my heart sings out in the words of the Psalmist......
"For you, O God, have made answer to my prayers; you have given me the heritage of those who give honour to your name." Psalm 61:5 BBE
Today is a good day, and I swing the sword anew....fighting those demons that the enemy sends to attack my weaknesses and seeking those who cry out in the darkness of this world for the light of the Savior and the peace of His love.
Today is a good day to die again in the service to my KING!
Singing, "Give me Your eyes for just one second, give me Your eyes so I can see. Everything that I've been missing, give me Your love for humanity. Give me Your arms for the brokenhearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach." (Brandon Heath...Give me Your eyes)
AMEN!!
Amid the battle in this world, swinging the sword of God's warrior and taking wounds from unexpected quarters, God answered a prayer. One I've prayed since I first took up the sword and shield and answered the call to be in His Army as a leader, a minister.
It seems, lately in this battle over the old self and its sinful ways---fighting an enemy that knows me all to well from the past association we have shared when I once walked in the darkness of his world, that I have been battered from all sides and my faith has remained. Enough to raise the sword again, enough to raise the shield once more.
And in the mist of the din and clamor of war, for war my dear brothers and sisters is what this world has for us who call Christ King and Savior, a voice cried out ever so softly and so broken. Piercing my heart for the King, calling my attention to His purpose and His fight. And He answered a prayer in my response, stumbling and halting as it was, as I responded to that cry.
Pastor Dave spoke of Moses' call, the burning bush. He spoke of knowing who we are, not what we do. Moses was an man on the lamb, unable to go back to his previous life because of the murder that he committed in the land of Egypt. Yet God called him to be His answer to the cries of the enslaved people of Israel.
It is important, Dave said, that we know who we are, children of God, and who our Father is. At least, that is what God spoke to me. But Dave was burdened with a soul that was in need of this realization and he told the congregation that there was one who this was the cry of their soul.
And the answer was Jesus, the identity that we have but to claim is children of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
And this cry I heard was near me, a young woman that I have had the honor of getting to know and understand. Someone who has been burdened with the abuses of this world and those who have entered into her life, and left her broken. God whispered to her heart this Sunday morning past, and her heart recognized the call to His side. In my path to her side, I called two other warriors to join in this battle, which seems such a small part of the war, but is why we fight the fight of the King, to save one more soul...to seize one more from Satan's grip, to declare NOT THIS ONE!
I spoke later in the day to this tender soul, trying to answer the yearning of her heart. Speaking of my own journey from when God whispered to me until the moment in time where we stood, my shield given for service to the King surrounding her from the din of the fight. Raising the sword in praise and honor to the Lord I serve when the heart answered the call, recognized the need and accepted life. And the words of my fellow warrior echoed in my ears above the cry of joy, "This is your call, to minister" And I knew God had answered my prayer, my Gideon skin, through the salvation of another.
Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."
Worthy news ministry's devotional for today references this verse. And George writes of most of the men of faith spending time in the wilderness of their lives; desperate and yearning, still and quiet to hear the voice of God upon their hearts in answer to their hunger and thirst. The hebrew word for wilderness is "meed-bahr", which means "to speak".
As I walk in my own wilderness, I hear the call of God more insistent and it is not only the call to minister, but it is full of a legacy of those who have walked in faithful living of the God they have served in heroic and humble fashion.......a revisiting of those 'rocks' that have filled my vessel and shorted the portion of God's love, mercy, and peace in my subjection of my will to His.
No expectation of a financial windfall to answer the demands of those who hold my home, utilities, and job in their hands. No sudden realization of how to be His child in this mess. A clarity of call to arms, to realize regardless that He has called me to serve, is shaping me in His way to serve, and therein lies a blessing that defies the burdens of this life. Growth in the wilderness and a source of thirst-quenching water in this desert portion of this journey.
And my heart sings out in the words of the Psalmist......
"For you, O God, have made answer to my prayers; you have given me the heritage of those who give honour to your name." Psalm 61:5 BBE
Today is a good day, and I swing the sword anew....fighting those demons that the enemy sends to attack my weaknesses and seeking those who cry out in the darkness of this world for the light of the Savior and the peace of His love.
Today is a good day to die again in the service to my KING!
Singing, "Give me Your eyes for just one second, give me Your eyes so I can see. Everything that I've been missing, give me Your love for humanity. Give me Your arms for the brokenhearted, the ones that are far beyond my reach." (Brandon Heath...Give me Your eyes)
AMEN!!
Sunday, July 6
Sacred Trust
"So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful. I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." 1 Corinthians 4:1-4 NIV
"To whom much is given, much is expected" is a phrase I've heard lately, floating up in the back of my thoughts lately as I find myself increasingly uncomfortable at church. Uncomfortable because the topic seems to be directed to me, to pursue God's call and to fulfill what He's called me to do.
The secret things of God, a topic of contention within the body of today's church. God speaking? How do we know? What standard can we trust?
Pastor Dave said today that the Word of God isn't the only way the Spirit speaks to us in the world today. And he's right, but the standard is set within the Word for us to hold what we hear against what is known. God doesn't contradict Himself.
Things that are beyond human wisdom, defying human logic, and standing within the realm of what we do not know is what God is revealing to His people in these times. "No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began." 2:7 We will share in the glory of Christ, those who believe and confess His Kingship over us.
And, as we speak, we must remember that it is not our words that we confess with our mouths, but God's. It is a sacred trust indeed.
Just my thoughts on this celebration of our nation's declaration of Independence......
Have we declared ourselves independent from the world, relying on God's plan, timing, and grace?
Or have we declared ourselves masters of our own fates, independent of a God that loves us?
"To whom much is given, much is expected" is a phrase I've heard lately, floating up in the back of my thoughts lately as I find myself increasingly uncomfortable at church. Uncomfortable because the topic seems to be directed to me, to pursue God's call and to fulfill what He's called me to do.
The secret things of God, a topic of contention within the body of today's church. God speaking? How do we know? What standard can we trust?
Pastor Dave said today that the Word of God isn't the only way the Spirit speaks to us in the world today. And he's right, but the standard is set within the Word for us to hold what we hear against what is known. God doesn't contradict Himself.
Things that are beyond human wisdom, defying human logic, and standing within the realm of what we do not know is what God is revealing to His people in these times. "No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began." 2:7 We will share in the glory of Christ, those who believe and confess His Kingship over us.
And, as we speak, we must remember that it is not our words that we confess with our mouths, but God's. It is a sacred trust indeed.
Just my thoughts on this celebration of our nation's declaration of Independence......
Have we declared ourselves independent from the world, relying on God's plan, timing, and grace?
Or have we declared ourselves masters of our own fates, independent of a God that loves us?
Monday, June 23
Realized reality
Acts 12:6-10 (GWT) "The night before Herod was going to bring Peter to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers. His hands were bound with two chains, and guards were in front of the door. They were watching the prison. Suddenly, an angel from the Lord stood near Peter, and his cell was filled with light. The angel nudged Peter's side, woke him up, and said, "Hurry! Get up!" At that moment the chains fell from Peter's hands. The angel told him, "Put your shoes on, and get ready to go!" Peter did this. Then the angel told him, "Put your coat on, and follow me." Peter followed the angel out of the cell. He didn't realize that what the angel was doing was actually happening. He thought he was seeing a vision. They passed the first and second guardposts and came to the iron gate that led into the city. This gate opened by itself for them, so they went outside and up the street. The angel suddenly left Peter."
Dr. Larry Crabb, in Finding God, the follow-up or addition to his original book INSIDE OUT, speaks of 'the sinful nature' of man that was embedded in ourselves through the doubt of Eve and Adam. One who believed that God wasn't being 'good' by withholding the Tree of Good and Evil and the other, not believing God was 'good enough' to handle the introduction of sin through grace. We have spent the rest of human history doubting God could be good enough to do what He said, what He promises. So we turn to ourselves to deal with the reliance upon an unreliable world.
"The foundation of the fallen structure is our doubt in God's goodness, which creates the terror of aloneness in an unreliable world," Crabb states in Chapter Seven of Finding God, "which leads to rage against God for doing so little to protect us from suffering."
We don't believe perfectly in the love of the Father God to be 'good enough' for our struggles and therefore, seek to rely on our own abilities to see us through. Look at our 'recovery' and 'improvement' books that line the shelves of any bookstore in the American landscape; "Self" is the key word. Even in our recovery ministries at Church, we seek an understanding of our tendencies and motivations so that we can construct tripwires and flares to warn us when we are straying towards those destructive things. Recovery has become less about believing in the 'goodness' of God and more about our ability to deal with the addictions.
Pastor Dave, of Soul Quest Ministries, my new home church expressed this over and over in his sermon on Sunday (which you can hear, I believe, on the website www.soulquestministries.com). He pointed to the verse found in 1 John 4:17-18 (NIV) "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
We worry about our ability to take care of ourselves in a world that we feel should take care of us, should validate us, and should make life livable for us. It often takes one situation, one loss, or one trial in which the world opposes such notions and we are terrified, fearful of what the future is going to be like. I know, I face it each day.
The separation from my wife, a decision that was harder than she'll ever believe, has set me into turmoil regarding my ability to take care of myself and my children. Mounting bills, limited income, car repairs, and just the situational aspects of single parenting have caused sleepless nights, worry, and doubt to cascade into every other aspect of my life. Regarding the ministerial call, regarding my ability to be a good, CHRISTIAN father, and where the future of my participation in the Awakened Hearts Ministry, which is going 'full-time' (not my participation, but the ministry leadership). Financial stress, complicated by the rising fuel prices and the failing automotive industry (which my job is in), doesn't lend support to the vision that God is good, or at least good ENOUGH, to deal in these things for me. So I try myself, and I am failing.
Fray Juan de la Cruz, Friar John of the Cross, believed that struggle and suffering were necessary for spiritual growth. "Turn not to the easiest, but to the most difficult… not to the more, but to the less; not towards what is high and precious, but to what is low and despised; not towards desiring anything, but to desiring nothing." His life was a struggle, sometimes deliberately brought upon himself and other times by others. His two famous writings, "Cantico Espiritual" (Spiritual Canticle) and "Noche Oscura del Alma" (Dark Night of the Soul), were written in jail by the very Church he served as a friar in.
It is what we do in the situations we face that cause us to grow. We either turn towards God, believing and moving as Peter did when the angel appeared before him, entering the reality of God's goodness and provision as it happens, or we question the ability of God to even hear our cries for help and develop a spirit of fear and anger towards our own Creator.
"There are many believers who know they SHOULD be free in Jesus. They have a head knowledge of freedom ---but somehow they haven't grasped the reality of the freedom that is promised! They walk with the vision without living the reality!" George, author and minister of Worthy New Ministry, writes in his devotional regarding Peter's belief (www.worthynewministry.com). What would it be like for us to believe that God is good enough to be good to us? How many prescriptions for the things that ail us would go unfilled if that knowledge of freedom from fear, terror, and sin would implant itself within our hearts instead of being only residing in our minds?
Watchman Nee, in The Spiritual Man, gives us a glimpse of what that could look like, if we had the faith to believe in our hearts of the goodness that is inherently God. "We should inquire once again as to what the life of faith is. It is one lived by believing in God under any circumstance: "If He slay me," says Job, "yet would I trust in Him." That is faith. Because I once believed, loved and trusted God I shall believe, love and trust Him wherever He may put me and however my heart and body may suffer…..Emotion begins to doubt when it senses blackness, whereas faith holds on to God even in the face of death."
Do you have that kind of faith? Realizing that the key to overcoming our innate deception in believing in the goodness of God and collapsing what Dr. Crabb calls the 'fallen structure' that hampers our ability to find God.
"I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see."
What is the present you see? One with God in the details, or one with Him sitting on the throne impatient to finish you off?
If we are to know Him in the way He wants us to know Him; with joy, purpose, and self-control, then we must face the sin we carry from our birth and realize we are not worthy of His love, but given His grace.
We must turn from self-valued principles and rely on principles of God's value. Perfect love.....no fear.
That seems to be the theme of my many devotionals today, that God wants me to not fear the coming of the dawn, but face it with an eagerness of a child.
Carolyn Baker of All about God.com, chose this for her devotional today and I think it is fitting to close with it for mine:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. - Psalm 46:1–6
Dr. Larry Crabb, in Finding God, the follow-up or addition to his original book INSIDE OUT, speaks of 'the sinful nature' of man that was embedded in ourselves through the doubt of Eve and Adam. One who believed that God wasn't being 'good' by withholding the Tree of Good and Evil and the other, not believing God was 'good enough' to handle the introduction of sin through grace. We have spent the rest of human history doubting God could be good enough to do what He said, what He promises. So we turn to ourselves to deal with the reliance upon an unreliable world.
"The foundation of the fallen structure is our doubt in God's goodness, which creates the terror of aloneness in an unreliable world," Crabb states in Chapter Seven of Finding God, "which leads to rage against God for doing so little to protect us from suffering."
We don't believe perfectly in the love of the Father God to be 'good enough' for our struggles and therefore, seek to rely on our own abilities to see us through. Look at our 'recovery' and 'improvement' books that line the shelves of any bookstore in the American landscape; "Self" is the key word. Even in our recovery ministries at Church, we seek an understanding of our tendencies and motivations so that we can construct tripwires and flares to warn us when we are straying towards those destructive things. Recovery has become less about believing in the 'goodness' of God and more about our ability to deal with the addictions.
Pastor Dave, of Soul Quest Ministries, my new home church expressed this over and over in his sermon on Sunday (which you can hear, I believe, on the website www.soulquestministries.com). He pointed to the verse found in 1 John 4:17-18 (NIV) "In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him. There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love."
We worry about our ability to take care of ourselves in a world that we feel should take care of us, should validate us, and should make life livable for us. It often takes one situation, one loss, or one trial in which the world opposes such notions and we are terrified, fearful of what the future is going to be like. I know, I face it each day.
The separation from my wife, a decision that was harder than she'll ever believe, has set me into turmoil regarding my ability to take care of myself and my children. Mounting bills, limited income, car repairs, and just the situational aspects of single parenting have caused sleepless nights, worry, and doubt to cascade into every other aspect of my life. Regarding the ministerial call, regarding my ability to be a good, CHRISTIAN father, and where the future of my participation in the Awakened Hearts Ministry, which is going 'full-time' (not my participation, but the ministry leadership). Financial stress, complicated by the rising fuel prices and the failing automotive industry (which my job is in), doesn't lend support to the vision that God is good, or at least good ENOUGH, to deal in these things for me. So I try myself, and I am failing.
Fray Juan de la Cruz, Friar John of the Cross, believed that struggle and suffering were necessary for spiritual growth. "Turn not to the easiest, but to the most difficult… not to the more, but to the less; not towards what is high and precious, but to what is low and despised; not towards desiring anything, but to desiring nothing." His life was a struggle, sometimes deliberately brought upon himself and other times by others. His two famous writings, "Cantico Espiritual" (Spiritual Canticle) and "Noche Oscura del Alma" (Dark Night of the Soul), were written in jail by the very Church he served as a friar in.
It is what we do in the situations we face that cause us to grow. We either turn towards God, believing and moving as Peter did when the angel appeared before him, entering the reality of God's goodness and provision as it happens, or we question the ability of God to even hear our cries for help and develop a spirit of fear and anger towards our own Creator.
"There are many believers who know they SHOULD be free in Jesus. They have a head knowledge of freedom ---but somehow they haven't grasped the reality of the freedom that is promised! They walk with the vision without living the reality!" George, author and minister of Worthy New Ministry, writes in his devotional regarding Peter's belief (www.worthynewministry.com). What would it be like for us to believe that God is good enough to be good to us? How many prescriptions for the things that ail us would go unfilled if that knowledge of freedom from fear, terror, and sin would implant itself within our hearts instead of being only residing in our minds?
Watchman Nee, in The Spiritual Man, gives us a glimpse of what that could look like, if we had the faith to believe in our hearts of the goodness that is inherently God. "We should inquire once again as to what the life of faith is. It is one lived by believing in God under any circumstance: "If He slay me," says Job, "yet would I trust in Him." That is faith. Because I once believed, loved and trusted God I shall believe, love and trust Him wherever He may put me and however my heart and body may suffer…..Emotion begins to doubt when it senses blackness, whereas faith holds on to God even in the face of death."
Do you have that kind of faith? Realizing that the key to overcoming our innate deception in believing in the goodness of God and collapsing what Dr. Crabb calls the 'fallen structure' that hampers our ability to find God.
"I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see."
What is the present you see? One with God in the details, or one with Him sitting on the throne impatient to finish you off?
If we are to know Him in the way He wants us to know Him; with joy, purpose, and self-control, then we must face the sin we carry from our birth and realize we are not worthy of His love, but given His grace.
We must turn from self-valued principles and rely on principles of God's value. Perfect love.....no fear.
That seems to be the theme of my many devotionals today, that God wants me to not fear the coming of the dawn, but face it with an eagerness of a child.
Carolyn Baker of All about God.com, chose this for her devotional today and I think it is fitting to close with it for mine:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall. God will help her at break of day. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. - Psalm 46:1–6
Thursday, May 15
Preparation and response
"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus................Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -----and all the more as you see the Day approaching." Hebrews 10:19, 24-26 NIV
It has been a rough month, or to be honest a rough couple of months, and I have struggled with attending church, doing devotionals, writing my blog, and the ministries I have been involved with I haven't been faithful to in attendance, participation, and preparation. Many of my friends have told me that this 'withdrawal' is understandable due to the harshness of the storms, but I have been uneasy and out of sorts.
That old phrase, "Barely keeping my head above water" comes to mind when I reflect back upon the lack of movement that has characterized my past few months.
Sunday, I attended church for the first time in a few months. Pastor Dave was happy to see me and told me that he wanted to meet with me later in the week to catch up on things. He's aware of the trials that I am experiencing and commented that I am weathering them well. But, it was his sermon that threw me into fits for the week and as much as I have tried to write about what I am thinking, the words just have failed me. Until I read the section to a friend of mine who was driving me home from work yesterday due to the car problems.
This section of Scripture wasn't even part of the sermon Pastor Dave gave, but was immediately following what he had referenced in Hebrew about what a covenant is. He's doing a series on Ephesians and he wanted us to understand what the covenant is, what it is about, and the impact of it upon our lives. I must confess that I wasn't tracking well, and skipped to read a bit past what Pastor Dave was discussing.
And I haven't been able to let go of it all week.
I've been walking around for the last month like a whipped puppy, trying to stay out of the way of the semi that has been barrelling through my life. Trying to maintain; not excite or incite anyone. Just existing, not living.
My friend asked me last Thursday if I had been doing my devotionals, reading for the leadership program, or even spending my morning time with God. I had to confess that I hadn't. I've been on sabbatical, if you wish to call it that, from the chapel ministry for three months now. And the only devotionals I have done are the ones that I get in my email account. Too often, lately, I have been skimming through them, for God has been seemingly absent at the switchboard when I call. As if He too needed a vacation from the life of me.
Guiltily I struggled to restart my devotionals, write to my blog, and generally reengage in life, for even if it's feeling like it ain't worth living, it is the only one I've got. And I've tried looking at other Scripture, writing about what I feel is being pointed out to me in the words spoken there, but nothing has come of it....no easy flow of words to express my discontentment and weariness. These sets of Scriptural verse have captured my focus, and the meaning I was seeking in them seemed to be hidden in a dense fog............
A sailor will tell you that they train and train and train until the job; either as a military, sail, or powered sailor, takes over any required thought, any deep philosophical discussion that might be needed when faced with crisis, either foreseen or unpredicted. In the open sea, or even in an enclosed water system, seconds can cost you life, limb, or property as the sea is an unforgiving force that knows no grace or mercy to throw at those who are hapless upon its horizons.
Any sailor will tell you that even as the storm rages, catching you unaware, response times are of the essence and life or death will result in you fighting forward despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation.
So it is with followers of Christ. We must train and train ourselves to revert to 'natural' tendencies when the world around us hates us, ridicules us, and mocks us. We must seek out the truth when the storm clouds gather, or even in the midst of the storm.
We must fight against our natural human tendency to gather the wagons, separate ourselves from the pain and isolate ourselves from help. We must stand open, regardless of the situation, and rely on the confidence that allows us to walk into the presence of God. We must focus only on the promises of the One who is capable of delivering.
By staying in the Word, despite any reasoning not to. By gathering with brethren that know us, love us, and want to cheer us on through the difficulties. By being held accountable when all we want is a little 'grace'. Gathering despite the feeling that we really don't want to 'deal' with the community.
Movement, as Scott Engleman would say, despite the pain, the fear, and the desire to stand still.
And then we can start healing, overcoming, and be victorious.
It has been a rough month, or to be honest a rough couple of months, and I have struggled with attending church, doing devotionals, writing my blog, and the ministries I have been involved with I haven't been faithful to in attendance, participation, and preparation. Many of my friends have told me that this 'withdrawal' is understandable due to the harshness of the storms, but I have been uneasy and out of sorts.
That old phrase, "Barely keeping my head above water" comes to mind when I reflect back upon the lack of movement that has characterized my past few months.
Sunday, I attended church for the first time in a few months. Pastor Dave was happy to see me and told me that he wanted to meet with me later in the week to catch up on things. He's aware of the trials that I am experiencing and commented that I am weathering them well. But, it was his sermon that threw me into fits for the week and as much as I have tried to write about what I am thinking, the words just have failed me. Until I read the section to a friend of mine who was driving me home from work yesterday due to the car problems.
This section of Scripture wasn't even part of the sermon Pastor Dave gave, but was immediately following what he had referenced in Hebrew about what a covenant is. He's doing a series on Ephesians and he wanted us to understand what the covenant is, what it is about, and the impact of it upon our lives. I must confess that I wasn't tracking well, and skipped to read a bit past what Pastor Dave was discussing.
And I haven't been able to let go of it all week.
I've been walking around for the last month like a whipped puppy, trying to stay out of the way of the semi that has been barrelling through my life. Trying to maintain; not excite or incite anyone. Just existing, not living.
My friend asked me last Thursday if I had been doing my devotionals, reading for the leadership program, or even spending my morning time with God. I had to confess that I hadn't. I've been on sabbatical, if you wish to call it that, from the chapel ministry for three months now. And the only devotionals I have done are the ones that I get in my email account. Too often, lately, I have been skimming through them, for God has been seemingly absent at the switchboard when I call. As if He too needed a vacation from the life of me.
Guiltily I struggled to restart my devotionals, write to my blog, and generally reengage in life, for even if it's feeling like it ain't worth living, it is the only one I've got. And I've tried looking at other Scripture, writing about what I feel is being pointed out to me in the words spoken there, but nothing has come of it....no easy flow of words to express my discontentment and weariness. These sets of Scriptural verse have captured my focus, and the meaning I was seeking in them seemed to be hidden in a dense fog............
A sailor will tell you that they train and train and train until the job; either as a military, sail, or powered sailor, takes over any required thought, any deep philosophical discussion that might be needed when faced with crisis, either foreseen or unpredicted. In the open sea, or even in an enclosed water system, seconds can cost you life, limb, or property as the sea is an unforgiving force that knows no grace or mercy to throw at those who are hapless upon its horizons.
Any sailor will tell you that even as the storm rages, catching you unaware, response times are of the essence and life or death will result in you fighting forward despite the apparent hopelessness of the situation.
So it is with followers of Christ. We must train and train ourselves to revert to 'natural' tendencies when the world around us hates us, ridicules us, and mocks us. We must seek out the truth when the storm clouds gather, or even in the midst of the storm.
We must fight against our natural human tendency to gather the wagons, separate ourselves from the pain and isolate ourselves from help. We must stand open, regardless of the situation, and rely on the confidence that allows us to walk into the presence of God. We must focus only on the promises of the One who is capable of delivering.
By staying in the Word, despite any reasoning not to. By gathering with brethren that know us, love us, and want to cheer us on through the difficulties. By being held accountable when all we want is a little 'grace'. Gathering despite the feeling that we really don't want to 'deal' with the community.
Movement, as Scott Engleman would say, despite the pain, the fear, and the desire to stand still.
And then we can start healing, overcoming, and be victorious.
Monday, April 7
God's inspired Word....
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV
So, if we realize that there is a God that is beyond our human concept, how do we know Him? What do we know of God, this God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? We have a multitude of commentaries from religious giants of all faiths; whether truthful or with many errors. We have a dissimulation of information from pastors, reverends, and other church officials that we hear traditionally on Wednesdays and Sundays in most church settings. We are undulated with modern day translations, paraphrases, and both anti- and pro- religious literature. A multitude of information that is varied in its authenticity as to make it easy for anyone to find something that they can 'live' with.
What makes a God above human deception become known, when we know that the Bible was written by over 40 authors spanning 1,600 years who claim to have the authority and proper dissimulation of the Truth? After all, most religious movements--even the anti-Christian ones, claim to have the truth. Unique to the Bible, we can see that despite the personalities, cultures, environment, education, and on-going events in each of these authors' lives, there is an overwhelming agreement between each of them. If that isn't enough to convince us that Bible, the Word of God, is inspired and protected from His very lips to our ears, how can we prove it further?
After all, men wrote the books that comprise the Christian bible. And we all know what happens when man decides he knows what God would say; we see it in the religions of man that span the spiritual to the secular. Confusion, disagreement, and rewriting become relevant earmarks as one author's opinion clashes with another.
Soul Quest Ministries, led by Pastor Dave Bauer (www.soulquestministries.com), has started a study series entitled, "Discover Your Bible", on Sundays prior to the usual Sunday service. At the website are the MP3 downloads for the study, as well as other services. But Pastor Dave has sought to illuminate this question (which I won't rehash in its entirety here), although I will reference the material he gave in class on Sunday.
Most Evangelical Christians point to the Bible as the literal Word of God, which means that the story of a man being swallowed by a whale happened, and isn't just an allegorical or poetic waxing of an author's colorful description of the state of man's soul. The grammatical, contextual, and historical imprint that flows through the books as an imprint of the authors who wrote them under such Divine revelation doesn't affect such a view but further support it by showing why apparent 'disagreements' seem to exist as we realize authorial influence that doesn't affect the Truth that forms its structure.
The Divine act of communicating to mankind that which we would not know otherwise is the definition of revelation, which is the belief most Evangelicals have in regards to how the variety of authorship and time brought together such a powerful collection of books. God revealed Himself and His words to these men; through a host of ways that are still alive today.
According to Pastor Dave's notes, there were and are many ways God inspires us today as He did the authors of the Bible books; By the finger of God (Exodus 31:18), the voice of God (Exodus 33:11), dreams (Genesis 40-41), visions (Ezekiel 1:1), direct Holy Spirit movement (2 Peter 1:21), spiritual life experience (Psalm 51), types (Hebrews 7:1-10), history (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11), nature (Romans 1:20-21), and Angels (Daniel 10:1-21).
When we take the inspired Word of God and look at it through the grammatical, contextual, historical and literal viewfinder and seek God's revelation to each of us, we come to illumination….seeing and understanding the revelation that God has directed us to. Then we can apply the age-old question of "What does it mean in my modern world?"
Then the Bible truly comes alive with the inspired, written Word of God and we gain understanding like Job 32:8 "But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. (WEB)"
So, if we realize that there is a God that is beyond our human concept, how do we know Him? What do we know of God, this God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? We have a multitude of commentaries from religious giants of all faiths; whether truthful or with many errors. We have a dissimulation of information from pastors, reverends, and other church officials that we hear traditionally on Wednesdays and Sundays in most church settings. We are undulated with modern day translations, paraphrases, and both anti- and pro- religious literature. A multitude of information that is varied in its authenticity as to make it easy for anyone to find something that they can 'live' with.
What makes a God above human deception become known, when we know that the Bible was written by over 40 authors spanning 1,600 years who claim to have the authority and proper dissimulation of the Truth? After all, most religious movements--even the anti-Christian ones, claim to have the truth. Unique to the Bible, we can see that despite the personalities, cultures, environment, education, and on-going events in each of these authors' lives, there is an overwhelming agreement between each of them. If that isn't enough to convince us that Bible, the Word of God, is inspired and protected from His very lips to our ears, how can we prove it further?
After all, men wrote the books that comprise the Christian bible. And we all know what happens when man decides he knows what God would say; we see it in the religions of man that span the spiritual to the secular. Confusion, disagreement, and rewriting become relevant earmarks as one author's opinion clashes with another.
Soul Quest Ministries, led by Pastor Dave Bauer (www.soulquestministries.com), has started a study series entitled, "Discover Your Bible", on Sundays prior to the usual Sunday service. At the website are the MP3 downloads for the study, as well as other services. But Pastor Dave has sought to illuminate this question (which I won't rehash in its entirety here), although I will reference the material he gave in class on Sunday.
Most Evangelical Christians point to the Bible as the literal Word of God, which means that the story of a man being swallowed by a whale happened, and isn't just an allegorical or poetic waxing of an author's colorful description of the state of man's soul. The grammatical, contextual, and historical imprint that flows through the books as an imprint of the authors who wrote them under such Divine revelation doesn't affect such a view but further support it by showing why apparent 'disagreements' seem to exist as we realize authorial influence that doesn't affect the Truth that forms its structure.
The Divine act of communicating to mankind that which we would not know otherwise is the definition of revelation, which is the belief most Evangelicals have in regards to how the variety of authorship and time brought together such a powerful collection of books. God revealed Himself and His words to these men; through a host of ways that are still alive today.
According to Pastor Dave's notes, there were and are many ways God inspires us today as He did the authors of the Bible books; By the finger of God (Exodus 31:18), the voice of God (Exodus 33:11), dreams (Genesis 40-41), visions (Ezekiel 1:1), direct Holy Spirit movement (2 Peter 1:21), spiritual life experience (Psalm 51), types (Hebrews 7:1-10), history (1 Corinthians 10:6, 11), nature (Romans 1:20-21), and Angels (Daniel 10:1-21).
When we take the inspired Word of God and look at it through the grammatical, contextual, historical and literal viewfinder and seek God's revelation to each of us, we come to illumination….seeing and understanding the revelation that God has directed us to. Then we can apply the age-old question of "What does it mean in my modern world?"
Then the Bible truly comes alive with the inspired, written Word of God and we gain understanding like Job 32:8 "But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding. (WEB)"
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