Maybe you know people like this...they routinely say things like "God told me..." or "The Lord says...".
Sometimes it seems to fit. Other times it seems out of context. Especially when they say things about me, I want to be sure. I want to listen to the Spirit, but I don't believe that everyone who says they speak for God actually does speak for God. As the scripture says, we must "Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world." (1 John 4:1)
One man who was apparently 'legit' in this was Elijah. The first time we hear of him in 1 Kings is in ch. 17, v. 1. He is introduced, and says "As the LORD, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will neither be dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word." (1 Kings 17:1)
That's pretty bold! He's either going to be right, or wrong. There will not be any 'sort of' about that. This unambiguous language would not have been welcome to new king Ahab and hsi evil queen, Jezebel. These were evil people, who were systematically establishing the worship of a false god, Baal, in Israel, as well as promoting Asherah, a false religion.
God does not take kindly to rivals. He does not want us to be 'politically correct', if that means that we assume that all religions are the same. The bumper stickers I see with various symbols of various faiths that spell out the word "Coexist"...I don't believe God is quite as 'comfortable' with those as we are! In fact, if those stickers are meant to convey that 'all religions are equal', or 'all religions are the same', I believe that He would want us to be just as much against them as Elijah was against the prophets (and promoters) of Baal and Asherah worship!
It's one thing to be tolerant in a diverse society--I think that's good. But it should never confuse us to the point that we forget: The LORD--HE is God!
I find it interesting that, just before Elijah speaks this pronouncement, the Scripture doesn't follow the typical format saying "The Word of the Lord came to Elijah...". It does not tell us, specifically, that the Lord TOLD HIM to say that. Could He have, and it not be recorded? Yes, but that wouldn not be consistent with the pattern followed elsewhere in this book.
Is it POSSIBLE that Elijah pronounced the drought on his own? Is it possible that he saw so much of what Ahab and Jezebel were doing, and he was so close to, and passionate about God that he just 'had to' say something? Is it possible that his zeal for God compelled him to speak this kind of 'sentence' against Ahab and Jezebel, even though God had not told him to do so?
Yes, I believe it is. I believe the Holy Spirit was within Elijah, who apparently served the Lord already (v. 1), and moved him in this direction, even without 'telling him' to say it.
Here is the amazing thing: God backed it up!
God did not let it rain in the land for 3 years--just as Elijah said!
Apparenlty God was interested in backing up the message and mission of Elijah.
Does this mean that we can all go out and 'pronounce' things, assuming God will back us up? No!
To say something on behalf of God is a humbling experience. We want to be sure that we're not 'tossing God's name around' loosely (that is, by the way, the reason that false prophets--those who said something like 'Thus says the Lord...', and made a prediciton, only to have it not come true--were stoned to death.) It was a fearful thing to speak for God. You'd better make sure!
Yet, God DOES give the gift of prophecy to some people in the Church (Eph. 4), so we apparently can hear from God, and speak His words out in some cases.
I want God to speak to me; I want God to speak through me...but I do NOT want to take this lightly, or to throw God's name around flippantly.
If God moves me to say something, I will say it. If I am walking very closely to Him (as apparently Elijah was), I will hear His voice clearly. Then I will have the courage to speak it out and let Him take care of the rest.
May we all have the same closeness to God...and the same zeal...that Elijah did!
May we be so disturbed by evil--especially the worship of false gods--that we can't just accept the spirit of this world.
May we be God's servants, whatever personal cost necessary.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Friday, April 15, 2011
Sing 'till the earth shakes!
I like to sing in church.
There. I said it. I like singing.
I did NOT claim to sing very well, though.
Yet, not even I, on my worst day, could make the earth quake with my singing.
Paul and Silas did, though!
Paul and Silas had just delivered a demon-possessed girl (who happened to be making her 'masters' a lot of money), but the masters turned on them and brought them to the city officials...
Acts 16: 20-24.
"And when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion.
They encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe!
The crowd [also] joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods.
And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks."
No trail, no lawyer, no nothing...just stripped, beaten, and thrown into the 'inner prison'--essentially, the dungeon.
A bad day, to be sure! So where's the singing?
Look at the very next verse:
"But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them..." (Acts 16:25)
After all this--public humiliation, severe beating, thrown into a dungeon, hands and feet bound...at midnight they were SINGING!
How can that be?
How can they rise above their circumstances like that?
Sometimes if we get a hangnail, we can't do anything but complain! Yet, here they were, singing. "And the other prisoners were 'listening to them'.
I'll bet!
Probably at first, they tried to shut them up, but as Paul and Silas kept singing, gaining strength and volume, the prisoners had to be stricken with the circumstances of Paul and Silas, and wondered the same thing we would "How can they be singing?"
What happened next?
"Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened." (Acts 16:26)
Their singing made the earth quake!
True, it probably had everything to do with the God they were singing to, and not the tonal quality of their singing, but...
God went on to deliver them, to bring the jailer and his family to faith in Jesus, at which time they were baptized and became part of the new church in Philippi....and only the Lord knows how the other prisoners responded in the long run (we do know that, even though their chains fell off and they had the opportunity to escape, Paul and Silas had made such an impression that NONE had fled!).
But the point is this: Paul and Silas had such a close connection with the Lord, that--even amidst these terrible, unjust, unfair circumstances, they were singing!
There is strength in singing to the Lord in spite of your circumstances.
Keep singing! Keep walking in the victory and positivity that the Lord gives. Who knows? Maybe you will make the earth quake!
There. I said it. I like singing.
I did NOT claim to sing very well, though.
Yet, not even I, on my worst day, could make the earth quake with my singing.
Paul and Silas did, though!
Paul and Silas had just delivered a demon-possessed girl (who happened to be making her 'masters' a lot of money), but the masters turned on them and brought them to the city officials...
Acts 16: 20-24.
"And when they had brought them before the magistrates, they declared, These fellows are Jews and they are throwing our city into great confusion.
They encourage the practice of customs which it is unlawful for us Romans to accept or observe!
The crowd [also] joined in the attack upon them, and the rulers tore the clothes off of them and commanded that they be beaten with rods.
And when they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely.
He, having received [so strict a] charge, put them into the inner prison (the dungeon) and fastened their feet in the stocks."
No trail, no lawyer, no nothing...just stripped, beaten, and thrown into the 'inner prison'--essentially, the dungeon.
A bad day, to be sure! So where's the singing?
Look at the very next verse:
"But about midnight, as Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the [other] prisoners were listening to them..." (Acts 16:25)
After all this--public humiliation, severe beating, thrown into a dungeon, hands and feet bound...at midnight they were SINGING!
How can that be?
How can they rise above their circumstances like that?
Sometimes if we get a hangnail, we can't do anything but complain! Yet, here they were, singing. "And the other prisoners were 'listening to them'.
I'll bet!
Probably at first, they tried to shut them up, but as Paul and Silas kept singing, gaining strength and volume, the prisoners had to be stricken with the circumstances of Paul and Silas, and wondered the same thing we would "How can they be singing?"
What happened next?
"Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the very foundations of the prison were shaken; and at once all the doors were opened and everyone's shackles were unfastened." (Acts 16:26)
Their singing made the earth quake!
True, it probably had everything to do with the God they were singing to, and not the tonal quality of their singing, but...
God went on to deliver them, to bring the jailer and his family to faith in Jesus, at which time they were baptized and became part of the new church in Philippi....and only the Lord knows how the other prisoners responded in the long run (we do know that, even though their chains fell off and they had the opportunity to escape, Paul and Silas had made such an impression that NONE had fled!).
But the point is this: Paul and Silas had such a close connection with the Lord, that--even amidst these terrible, unjust, unfair circumstances, they were singing!
There is strength in singing to the Lord in spite of your circumstances.
Keep singing! Keep walking in the victory and positivity that the Lord gives. Who knows? Maybe you will make the earth quake!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Advising God (With video)
I am wise.
I know all things.
I can see the end from the beginning.
I know how circumtances should work together.
...or at least, this is the way I act sometimes!
There are many times that I 'Advise' God as to what should be...
"Lord, make this happen..."; "Lord, make him do that...";
Very often it would work out in my favor--if God took my advise.
But I am NOT God.
I do NOT know all things.
I can only see the here and now.
...and I can't possibly know how all circumstances will work together.
There is one ONE who can...
"33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36)
Rather than 'advising' God, I must submit to Him.
Rather than telling Him what to do, I must take the time to learn from Him, hear His voice, and follow His leading.
I know that His is the best way.
Now, if I could just live it out!
Lord, I love you and know that you are Wise, powerful, and sovereign over the circumstances in my life. Help me to trust you. Help me to submit my will, my desires, and my future to you. Help me to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's voice and follow in faith. Help me to learn to 'release' the circumstances and the outcome to You--in faith! Help me Trust in You alone!
I know all things.
I can see the end from the beginning.
I know how circumtances should work together.
...or at least, this is the way I act sometimes!
There are many times that I 'Advise' God as to what should be...
"Lord, make this happen..."; "Lord, make him do that...";
Very often it would work out in my favor--if God took my advise.
But I am NOT God.
I do NOT know all things.
I can only see the here and now.
...and I can't possibly know how all circumstances will work together.
There is one ONE who can...
"33 Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!
How unsearchable his judgments,
and his paths beyond tracing out!
34 “Who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has been his counselor?”
35 “Who has ever given to God,
that God should repay them?”
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things.
To him be the glory forever! Amen." (Romans 11:33-36)
Rather than 'advising' God, I must submit to Him.
Rather than telling Him what to do, I must take the time to learn from Him, hear His voice, and follow His leading.
I know that His is the best way.
Now, if I could just live it out!
Lord, I love you and know that you are Wise, powerful, and sovereign over the circumstances in my life. Help me to trust you. Help me to submit my will, my desires, and my future to you. Help me to learn to listen to the Holy Spirit's voice and follow in faith. Help me to learn to 'release' the circumstances and the outcome to You--in faith! Help me Trust in You alone!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Living with the Enemy
Who is your "Enemy"?
Most of us, I would guess, would not say that we have any "Enemies". That is, we don't have any people who are really 'out to get us', or who go out of their way to make things really rough on us. We may have had bullies who picked on us in grade school, but for most of us, those days are long gone.
So, who is your enemy?
Could it be someone much closer to you? Could it be someone you live with? Could it be your FAMILY?
Consider this:
Jesus taught, in the "Sermon on the Mount" one of the toughest lessons for His followers:
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."
(Luke 6:27-36)
This is the kind of teaching that makes me want to pull my hair out (and I can't afford to do that!)
This is the stuff that makes me go "I give up! I can't do it!" (That may have been part of His point--more on that another time.) Yet, this is Jesus' teaching about the new way of understanding faith, religion, and following God's will...LOVE your ENEMIES!
But here's the thing: I don't think I have any 'enemies' (other than 'The Enemy', but that's another story). If you're like me, you might be saying 'So...I'm off the hook...it doesn't apply to me!'
Not so fast.
Who is it that gets under your skin? Who is it that bugs you? Who is the one who can frustrate you most quickly, make you want to scream, pull your hair out, and so on?
Who is it that makes you want to throw up your hands and say "I give up!"? Who takes you for granted? Who criticizes you most, expects the most of you, and thanks you least?
For many of us, the "who" is...our family!
A shame, yes...but true anyway. (SHOULD it be that way? Of course not!...but it often is true that we are kind/polite/considerate to everyone outside our homes, but not to those within.)
So...what would it be like if you "Loved...your family"? If you 'prayed for those who persecute...mistreat...insult...take advantage of...are rude to'...you--INCLUDING your family members who do so?
What would it change if you--just you--decided NOT to keep score, decided not to try the 'passive/agressive' approach...decided to love--in lots of practical ways--your family without 'expecting' anything in return?
For many of us, when it comes to following Jesus and living this out, the rubber meets the road right at home, with our families.
How does 'following Jesus' change how you should treat them?
Most of us, I would guess, would not say that we have any "Enemies". That is, we don't have any people who are really 'out to get us', or who go out of their way to make things really rough on us. We may have had bullies who picked on us in grade school, but for most of us, those days are long gone.
So, who is your enemy?
Could it be someone much closer to you? Could it be someone you live with? Could it be your FAMILY?
Consider this:
Jesus taught, in the "Sermon on the Mount" one of the toughest lessons for His followers:
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. 29 If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. 30 Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. 31 Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
32 “If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! 33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate."
(Luke 6:27-36)
This is the kind of teaching that makes me want to pull my hair out (and I can't afford to do that!)
This is the stuff that makes me go "I give up! I can't do it!" (That may have been part of His point--more on that another time.) Yet, this is Jesus' teaching about the new way of understanding faith, religion, and following God's will...LOVE your ENEMIES!
But here's the thing: I don't think I have any 'enemies' (other than 'The Enemy', but that's another story). If you're like me, you might be saying 'So...I'm off the hook...it doesn't apply to me!'
Not so fast.
Who is it that gets under your skin? Who is it that bugs you? Who is the one who can frustrate you most quickly, make you want to scream, pull your hair out, and so on?
Who is it that makes you want to throw up your hands and say "I give up!"? Who takes you for granted? Who criticizes you most, expects the most of you, and thanks you least?
For many of us, the "who" is...our family!
A shame, yes...but true anyway. (SHOULD it be that way? Of course not!...but it often is true that we are kind/polite/considerate to everyone outside our homes, but not to those within.)
So...what would it be like if you "Loved...your family"? If you 'prayed for those who persecute...mistreat...insult...take advantage of...are rude to'...you--INCLUDING your family members who do so?
What would it change if you--just you--decided NOT to keep score, decided not to try the 'passive/agressive' approach...decided to love--in lots of practical ways--your family without 'expecting' anything in return?
For many of us, when it comes to following Jesus and living this out, the rubber meets the road right at home, with our families.
How does 'following Jesus' change how you should treat them?
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
The Good Stuff! (Bonus song by Chris Tomlin)
I like Ice Cream.
Usually, I'm most happy with a bowl of my favorite (Moose Tracks or Cookie Dough), but occasionally I like the pre-fab cones...the kind with the chocolate on the top, covered with crushed nuts. When I was a kid, we'd get those as a treat once in a while, but recently I noticed an improvement: Nowadays, at the bottom of the cone--when everything but the last bite is gone, I find that there's a chunk of chocolate on the inside of the cone--The Good Stuff! The Payoff! The Treasure at the end of the treat! I love it!
So...on a Spiritual plane, we've considered how we are to prepare, we consider our own "spiritual produce", we repent when we need to (see the last few blogs)...for what?
For the GOOD STUFF!
Jesus, having been baptized, having been tested by the devil and having overcome him by the Word of God, now goes into his home synagogue.
He gets up to speak, and the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah is handed to Him. He opens it and reads this:
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come..." (Isaiah 61:1-2)
These words, prophesied centuries before Jesus' life on earth, were a promise...part of God's promise to His people of Israel that He would send a Messiah--a Savior and Rescuer. He would send them One who would make everything new, and would release them. This was a promise they had all been looking forward to for centuries!
That's what made Jesus' next words that much more important:
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:20-21
Do you get what Jesus was saying to them? He was saying that, right then and there--in thier very presence--Isaiah's prophecy was coming true. In other words, He was saying that they didn't have to 'hope' any more--BECAUSE HE WAS THE MESSIAH AND THE SAVIOR they'd hoped for!
HE is the One who came to came to "bring good news to the poor"!
HE is the One who came to "Comfort the broken hearted"!
HE is the One who came to "Release the captives and free the prisoners"!
HE is the One who came to tell the mourners that "The time of the Lord's favor has come"!
Do you get this?!
THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF!
This means that Jesus was, is, and will always be, the Chosen One to bring us to God, and bring God down to us! He will comfort us, free us, and bring us GOOD news!
All of the talk we do about "considering the kind of Produce we produce"...the talk of "preparing a way for the Lord" in our hearts...all of that is pointing to this fact:
JESUS is the One who came to bring us the good stuff!
So...as you're going through your day today, as you're dealing with your own setbacks, discouragements, temptations, and struggles, remember: There is GOOD STUFF at the end! Jesus is the One who came to bring it, and He WILL bring it to YOU--if you turn to Him in true faith and follow Him with your life.
The Good Stuff...for this life, and for Eternity!
You gotta love it!
Seeking Him more,
Dave
Usually, I'm most happy with a bowl of my favorite (Moose Tracks or Cookie Dough), but occasionally I like the pre-fab cones...the kind with the chocolate on the top, covered with crushed nuts. When I was a kid, we'd get those as a treat once in a while, but recently I noticed an improvement: Nowadays, at the bottom of the cone--when everything but the last bite is gone, I find that there's a chunk of chocolate on the inside of the cone--The Good Stuff! The Payoff! The Treasure at the end of the treat! I love it!
So...on a Spiritual plane, we've considered how we are to prepare, we consider our own "spiritual produce", we repent when we need to (see the last few blogs)...for what?
For the GOOD STUFF!
Jesus, having been baptized, having been tested by the devil and having overcome him by the Word of God, now goes into his home synagogue.
He gets up to speak, and the scroll of the Prophet Isaiah is handed to Him. He opens it and reads this:
"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,
for the Lord has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted
and to proclaim that captives will be released
and prisoners will be freed.
He has sent me to tell those who mourn
that the time of the Lord’s favor has come..." (Isaiah 61:1-2)
These words, prophesied centuries before Jesus' life on earth, were a promise...part of God's promise to His people of Israel that He would send a Messiah--a Savior and Rescuer. He would send them One who would make everything new, and would release them. This was a promise they had all been looking forward to for centuries!
That's what made Jesus' next words that much more important:
He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the attendant, and sat down. All eyes in the synagogue looked at him intently. Then he began to speak to them. “The Scripture you’ve just heard has been fulfilled this very day!” Luke 4:20-21
Do you get what Jesus was saying to them? He was saying that, right then and there--in thier very presence--Isaiah's prophecy was coming true. In other words, He was saying that they didn't have to 'hope' any more--BECAUSE HE WAS THE MESSIAH AND THE SAVIOR they'd hoped for!
HE is the One who came to came to "bring good news to the poor"!
HE is the One who came to "Comfort the broken hearted"!
HE is the One who came to "Release the captives and free the prisoners"!
HE is the One who came to tell the mourners that "The time of the Lord's favor has come"!
Do you get this?!
THIS IS THE GOOD STUFF!
This means that Jesus was, is, and will always be, the Chosen One to bring us to God, and bring God down to us! He will comfort us, free us, and bring us GOOD news!
All of the talk we do about "considering the kind of Produce we produce"...the talk of "preparing a way for the Lord" in our hearts...all of that is pointing to this fact:
JESUS is the One who came to bring us the good stuff!
So...as you're going through your day today, as you're dealing with your own setbacks, discouragements, temptations, and struggles, remember: There is GOOD STUFF at the end! Jesus is the One who came to bring it, and He WILL bring it to YOU--if you turn to Him in true faith and follow Him with your life.
The Good Stuff...for this life, and for Eternity!
You gotta love it!
Seeking Him more,
Dave
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Produce Department
I remember when we lived in Pennsylvania. There were lots of neat things to see there (the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc.), and they had their unique food items, (cheese steak), etc.
One thing we regularly noticed, though, was that the Produce Dept. in thier grocery stores wasn't nearly as good as it was here. Meijer's had a lock on a good produce department--at least in comparison to southeast PA!
Have you ever thought that you and I have our own "spiritual produce"?
It's true! We 'produce fruit' every day, (whether we want to or not!).
The question isn't whether we produce fruit...the question is the quality of fruit we produce....do WE have a good 'spiritual produce department', or not?
Jesus said "by thier fruit you will know them; a good tree will not produce bad fruit and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. You will know them by thier fruit." (Matthew 7:16-20)
John (the Baptist), who took center stage in the "Preparation" of the people for the ministry of Jesus (see my blog on "Preparation" from last week) said that the people should "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8), or--put another way--'Show by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.'
What does "fruit in keeping with repentance" look like?
Depends--on the sin(s) you've been called to repent from:
Were you a thief in some way? Be honest and generous.
Were you lustful? Set your mind on pure things.
Were you angry and vengeful? Cultivate grace, mercy and forgiveness.
Were you greedy? Be generous.
Did you eat too much? Show self control!
Were you unfaithful to your spouse? Confess, repent, and love the faithfully, the way God calls you to!
Did you compromise your standards in order to 'fit in'? Repent! Turn back! Stand up for what is right in God's sight--no matter the cost!
There are no shortage of specific examples of the 'fruit of repentance' that may need to show up in your life (and mine).
Yet, I've had many people tell me at various times 'I AM repentant, and I DO want God to change me...but just not in THIS area' (they don't say it that bluntly, but that's what they mean, in practice).
The quality of their 'produce department' is lacking!
How do we do this? Through self-effort? Through Religion?
NO!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Prayer...worship...obedience...and learning to 'walk in step with' the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) will produce that fruit.
Today, ask God to show you the areas of your life that you need to repent of. Willingly give those over to God, and ask Him to work in you to "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance". Be willing to let Him do His work within...
...and your "produce department" will be very well stocked!
One thing we regularly noticed, though, was that the Produce Dept. in thier grocery stores wasn't nearly as good as it was here. Meijer's had a lock on a good produce department--at least in comparison to southeast PA!
Have you ever thought that you and I have our own "spiritual produce"?
It's true! We 'produce fruit' every day, (whether we want to or not!).
The question isn't whether we produce fruit...the question is the quality of fruit we produce....do WE have a good 'spiritual produce department', or not?
Jesus said "by thier fruit you will know them; a good tree will not produce bad fruit and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. You will know them by thier fruit." (Matthew 7:16-20)
John (the Baptist), who took center stage in the "Preparation" of the people for the ministry of Jesus (see my blog on "Preparation" from last week) said that the people should "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance" (Luke 3:8), or--put another way--'Show by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God.'
What does "fruit in keeping with repentance" look like?
Depends--on the sin(s) you've been called to repent from:
Were you a thief in some way? Be honest and generous.
Were you lustful? Set your mind on pure things.
Were you angry and vengeful? Cultivate grace, mercy and forgiveness.
Were you greedy? Be generous.
Did you eat too much? Show self control!
Were you unfaithful to your spouse? Confess, repent, and love the faithfully, the way God calls you to!
Did you compromise your standards in order to 'fit in'? Repent! Turn back! Stand up for what is right in God's sight--no matter the cost!
There are no shortage of specific examples of the 'fruit of repentance' that may need to show up in your life (and mine).
Yet, I've had many people tell me at various times 'I AM repentant, and I DO want God to change me...but just not in THIS area' (they don't say it that bluntly, but that's what they mean, in practice).
The quality of their 'produce department' is lacking!
How do we do this? Through self-effort? Through Religion?
NO!
Through the power of the Holy Spirit!
Prayer...worship...obedience...and learning to 'walk in step with' the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5) will produce that fruit.
Today, ask God to show you the areas of your life that you need to repent of. Willingly give those over to God, and ask Him to work in you to "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance". Be willing to let Him do His work within...
...and your "produce department" will be very well stocked!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Preparation
Preparation...one of the most important things we can do, but one of the ways we consistently try to take short cuts.
Think about it: "I want to run a marathon"...but I don't want to run every morning leading up to it; "I want to bake a cake", but I don't want to check beforehand to see if we have the ingredients; "I want to be closer to God", but I don't want to prepare my heart, or to discipline myself to spend time in His Word and in prayer.
So, what is the logical outcome of a failure to prepare?
Failure!
Some things just do not have shortcuts to them!
As I've moved into reading the Gospel of Luke (the part after the Christmas narrative), I come to Luke 3, which introduces the ministry of John the baptist.
John brought a message of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. He quoted from the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’” (Luke 3:2-6, quoting Isaiah 40:3-5)
In Isaiah's mind, this writing was about the restoration of Israel through the coming of the Messiah--the One who 'holds the nations in his hands', and for whom 'the nations are like a drop in the bucket'.
...so in Isaiah's mind, 'every mountain shall be made low', etc. is all about the Messiah's power.
...but John used it as a way of preparation.
John was the one 'crying in the desert' that we should prepare for the coming of out Lord. That WE should 'fill in every valley' and 'level every mountain' so that 'the crooked ways become straight and the rough places smooth'...and THEN "all will see God's salvation" or (as another version says it) "the glory of the Lord will be revealed".
Here's the important point: In John's mind, it's not something that happens 'out there', but rather something that happens 'in here'--in our hearts. This "preparing the way for the Lord" happens through repentance, confession, prayer and an oppenness to a move of God in our lives.
THAT is how the glory of the Lord is revealed within us.
It is part of the work of Preparation. We simply MUST pray, confess, and repent for our sins if we are to really experience God's glory and the power that comes with it in our lives.
IF we prepare our hearts, we WILL reap the benefits.
Later in that very chapter, Isaiah says these famous, inspiring words:
"The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
The Lord has more than enough strength to support you, renew you, and make you 'soar like eagles'!
But it won't happen, if you don't prepare.
Blessings,
Dave
Think about it: "I want to run a marathon"...but I don't want to run every morning leading up to it; "I want to bake a cake", but I don't want to check beforehand to see if we have the ingredients; "I want to be closer to God", but I don't want to prepare my heart, or to discipline myself to spend time in His Word and in prayer.
So, what is the logical outcome of a failure to prepare?
Failure!
Some things just do not have shortcuts to them!
As I've moved into reading the Gospel of Luke (the part after the Christmas narrative), I come to Luke 3, which introduces the ministry of John the baptist.
John brought a message of repentance, for the forgiveness of sins. He quoted from the prophet Isaiah:
“A voice of one calling in the wilderness,
‘Prepare the way for the Lord,
make straight paths for him.
Every valley shall be filled in,
every mountain and hill made low.
The crooked roads shall become straight,
the rough ways smooth.
And all people will see God’s salvation.’” (Luke 3:2-6, quoting Isaiah 40:3-5)
In Isaiah's mind, this writing was about the restoration of Israel through the coming of the Messiah--the One who 'holds the nations in his hands', and for whom 'the nations are like a drop in the bucket'.
...so in Isaiah's mind, 'every mountain shall be made low', etc. is all about the Messiah's power.
...but John used it as a way of preparation.
John was the one 'crying in the desert' that we should prepare for the coming of out Lord. That WE should 'fill in every valley' and 'level every mountain' so that 'the crooked ways become straight and the rough places smooth'...and THEN "all will see God's salvation" or (as another version says it) "the glory of the Lord will be revealed".
Here's the important point: In John's mind, it's not something that happens 'out there', but rather something that happens 'in here'--in our hearts. This "preparing the way for the Lord" happens through repentance, confession, prayer and an oppenness to a move of God in our lives.
THAT is how the glory of the Lord is revealed within us.
It is part of the work of Preparation. We simply MUST pray, confess, and repent for our sins if we are to really experience God's glory and the power that comes with it in our lives.
IF we prepare our hearts, we WILL reap the benefits.
Later in that very chapter, Isaiah says these famous, inspiring words:
"The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)
The Lord has more than enough strength to support you, renew you, and make you 'soar like eagles'!
But it won't happen, if you don't prepare.
Blessings,
Dave
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