You are the man! Thus says the Lord God of Israel I anointed you king... And if that had been too little, I also would have given you much more! Why have you despised the commandment of the lord, to do evil in His sight?..." 2 Samuel 12:7-9
These words were spoken to David by Nathan the prophet after David had killed Uriah the Hittite in order to cover his sin with Bathsheba and I don't know what you see, what you feel as you read these words, but what I see and feel at this very moment is the heart of the Father. I see a heart that feels pain, a heart that grieves when we don't trust Him, when we don't look to Him! ... "And if that had been too little, I also would have given you so much more..."
Even though Uriah was a Hittite he must have known and worshiped God. According to the Strong's his name meant; flame of God. David killed Uriah because as James 1:14-15 puts it; he was tempted and drawn away by his own desire and enticed. Desire was conceived and gave birth to sin; sin when it was full-grown brought death. Believe it or not but today's message isn't about David's sin its about God's heart.
Jesus said, and I know I keep coming back to this, but Jesus said, "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks"...And the thought that I had was this. Doesn't that apply to our Heavenly Father as well? Out of the abundance of His heart, doesn't he speak? I heard someone say this week that He used the words, "Fear not!" 365 times throughout the Bible. The opposite of fear is trust. Every time you see someone using the words, "Don't be afraid." in a movie, the words, "Trust Me" aren't far behind. Every time you see the words, "Fear not" in the word, look closely and you'll see the heart of the Father saying,"Trust Me, I'll do what I say I will!" in the words that follow.
David killed Uriah to cover the fact that he had despised the word of the Lord when he took His eyes off God and His direction for his life. He started turning them elsewhere and before He knew it he was standing before the prophet, Nathan hearing these words, "You are that man! ....And if it had been too little, I also would have given you so much more!"
"But truly, as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord---
because all these men who have seen My glory and the signs which I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and have put Me to the test now these ten times, and have not headed My voice, they certainly shall not see the land of which I swore to their fathers, nor shall any of those who rejected Me see it. But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it." Numbers 14:21-24
If you read this whole account in numbers you see clearly that the heart of the Father is once again grieved because of a lack of trust in Him. They had taken their eyes off of His word and His ability to bring it to pass. This account, like the one with David, shows us that His heart was grieved. They had seen Him on ten different occasions show His glory through signs and wonders, and still they didn't wholly trust Him. He said that Caleb was different and if you think back, Caleb had his eyes, not on the giants in the land, but the provision and the promise of God to give it to them.
How often do we like Peter take our eyes off of what He says and look at the storm? Jesus spoke one word. "Come." Peter was out of the boat. He was doing the impossible at one word from Jesus. He was walking on water! It was only after the miracle took place that he looked away and focused on the storm. It was then that he became afraid and began to sink. Jesus responds with words that we can all quote, "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?" Is their a touch of sadness with those words?
David killed or extinguished the life of Uriah (Flame of God) by not continuing to trust God. The people didn't get to enter into the Promised Land because they didn't trust God despite all He had done. Peter sank in fear because he stopped trusting in the word that Jesus had just spoken to him to come.
I don't know about you but I don't want to kill the fire of God in my life because I get caught up looking at the lusts of the flesh, cares of the world, or the deceitfulness of riches. I don't want to miss out on the abundance of all that He has promised and prepared for me because I take for granted all that He has already done. I don't want to miss out on something as amazing as walking on water, signs, wonders, and miracles because I'm afraid and looking at the storms. Most of all, I don't want His heart to grieve because my trust is not in Him!
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." He speaks! He spoke! He sent His word; His walking, talking, living, breathing word in the flesh! That we might believe! That we might put our trust in Him! ...And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 Every time we look at a word or a deed that Jesus said or did we should see the heart of the Father speaking, "I love you! Trust Me!" After all, He sent the walking, talking, living, breathing Word in the flesh... that we might have life, and that we might have it more abundantly! John 10:10
Jesus said, "Render unto God what is due God and to Caesar what is due Caesar." A lack of trust on our part brings grief to His heart because trust is something that we ought to render unto Him!
He has proved Himself faithful!
Friday, March 7, 2014
Thursday, March 6, 2014
The Stand of Your Life
Esther was out of time.
Three days had passed so quickly. Today was the day. The day Esther would go to the king. Possibly the last day of her life.
She stood on the balcony of her personal chambers, just trying to gather her barrings. Humidity settled on her like a blanket. Warm air filled her lungs, and consoled her heart, as if to say, "There, there, Esther."
"If I perish, I perish." Her words had haunted her every thought for three days. Hoping and praying for some other form of deliverance. An easier way that didn't involve her. Was it too late to get out of this? Probably so, but that wouldn't stop her from begging Yahweh for a way out of this mess one last time.
It was time.
Making her way back inside her chambers, the young maidens helped her dress. They hardly said a word. They had been praying and fasting with Esther for three days now, and they knew the weight of this decision. So instead of chattering, they brought her finest royal robes, and intricately wove her hair into an elaborate vision of curls and jewels. However, all too soon they were done.
Her palms were sweating, and her heart was beating so fast, she almost thought it would quit out of sheer exhaustion. She made her way towards the king's court, each step proclaiming her impending doom. The massive doors loomed before her, and the luxurious fabrics of her robes swirled to a stop around her legs. This was it. The herald looked at her expectantly, but she shook her head, signaling for him to wait.
There's still time to run and pretend like you never came. Oh, how Esther wanted to do just that! But there was no chance she would run. Mordecai was right; she had been brought here for such a time as this. She would do her part. She had given the outcome, and her life, into Yahweh's hands.
Esther nodded to the herald, and as he announced her unauthorized visit, she stepped into the king's court.
It was time to see what Yahweh had in store.
Based on Esther 4:16-5:1
This is Esther's big stand. As soon as those doors flung open and Esther went into the king's court that is when she made her big stand of faith. That is when Esther put some action behind her bold words. It's one thing to say, "I'll go to the king, and if I perish, I perish." It's another to actually put your life in the hands of an unpredictable king and his potential rage.
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10
This verse is normally used for it's obvious context, and I know we looked at that earlier, but this statement was never just meant to pacify, console, and admonish. It was also meant as an inheritance. If you are faithful in the little things, then you will get big things.
Esther had been faithful in the little things God had put before her. God was giving her a big thing, a call, a destiny. Would she be faithful to follow it?
There comes a day, a time, a place, when God calls upon each of us to make a stand for Him. It is not a little stand. It is not a training stand. It's not a stand for someone else. It is a stand God has given uniquely to you. Your "for such a time as this." If you have been faithful, that day will come.
What matters next is your action. Will you stand-even if it costs your life? We say we would be willing to die for our Lord, but what if that moment actually came?
Esther's stand said, "I am willing to die for this, for my God, for His will." All the fluff disappeared in that court room. She had given it all to God.
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" Luke 9:23-24
My friends, will you stand for God, even if it means losing your life, and thus finding it in God? It is the stand of your life, given wholly to God.
Three days had passed so quickly. Today was the day. The day Esther would go to the king. Possibly the last day of her life.
She stood on the balcony of her personal chambers, just trying to gather her barrings. Humidity settled on her like a blanket. Warm air filled her lungs, and consoled her heart, as if to say, "There, there, Esther."
"If I perish, I perish." Her words had haunted her every thought for three days. Hoping and praying for some other form of deliverance. An easier way that didn't involve her. Was it too late to get out of this? Probably so, but that wouldn't stop her from begging Yahweh for a way out of this mess one last time.
It was time.
Making her way back inside her chambers, the young maidens helped her dress. They hardly said a word. They had been praying and fasting with Esther for three days now, and they knew the weight of this decision. So instead of chattering, they brought her finest royal robes, and intricately wove her hair into an elaborate vision of curls and jewels. However, all too soon they were done.
Her palms were sweating, and her heart was beating so fast, she almost thought it would quit out of sheer exhaustion. She made her way towards the king's court, each step proclaiming her impending doom. The massive doors loomed before her, and the luxurious fabrics of her robes swirled to a stop around her legs. This was it. The herald looked at her expectantly, but she shook her head, signaling for him to wait.
There's still time to run and pretend like you never came. Oh, how Esther wanted to do just that! But there was no chance she would run. Mordecai was right; she had been brought here for such a time as this. She would do her part. She had given the outcome, and her life, into Yahweh's hands.
Esther nodded to the herald, and as he announced her unauthorized visit, she stepped into the king's court.
It was time to see what Yahweh had in store.
Based on Esther 4:16-5:1
This is Esther's big stand. As soon as those doors flung open and Esther went into the king's court that is when she made her big stand of faith. That is when Esther put some action behind her bold words. It's one thing to say, "I'll go to the king, and if I perish, I perish." It's another to actually put your life in the hands of an unpredictable king and his potential rage.
"One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10
This verse is normally used for it's obvious context, and I know we looked at that earlier, but this statement was never just meant to pacify, console, and admonish. It was also meant as an inheritance. If you are faithful in the little things, then you will get big things.
Esther had been faithful in the little things God had put before her. God was giving her a big thing, a call, a destiny. Would she be faithful to follow it?
There comes a day, a time, a place, when God calls upon each of us to make a stand for Him. It is not a little stand. It is not a training stand. It's not a stand for someone else. It is a stand God has given uniquely to you. Your "for such a time as this." If you have been faithful, that day will come.
What matters next is your action. Will you stand-even if it costs your life? We say we would be willing to die for our Lord, but what if that moment actually came?
Esther's stand said, "I am willing to die for this, for my God, for His will." All the fluff disappeared in that court room. She had given it all to God.
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.'" Luke 9:23-24
My friends, will you stand for God, even if it means losing your life, and thus finding it in God? It is the stand of your life, given wholly to God.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
"Clicker Thing?"
... for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart brings forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgement. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned. Matthew 12:34-37
You know that scene in Daniel where the hand shows up and starts writing on the wall? It says that ...the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosed and his knees knocked against each other. Daniel 5:6 He didn't know what the words meant until a little later when Daniel gave the interpretation but he knew he was in trouble. I feel like this word has an element of that sense of conviction. At least for me it did. So, before we get to the meat of this word I would like to stop and offer up a quick prayer. You may want to join me!
Lord, I just really feel the need to stop for a minute and say thanks! Thanks for the price you paid! Thanks for giving us the gift of repentance! Without it LORD I'd be feeling like that king, scared, frantic, and alone and instead I can come before you and offer up a heart full of praise and thankfulness. Lord, even now my heart is full of gratitude, not just for the conviction that this word has brought to me because of the times I've failed to speak life, but for your forgiveness and grace that the words, "I'm sorry, Lord!" have brought to my heart.
A few days ago I heard the song, "Speak Life" by Toby Mac. I didn't just hear the song but watched the video that went with it. It starts with a little boy being made fun of and then it has him laying in a chalk line like they use for dead bodies at a crime scene. The song goes on like that with different people and scenarios. The words 'speak life' have gotten in my spirit and as I have been pondering them the Lord brought the above reference to mind. I looked up the word idle. It means: inactive, i.e. unemployed; (by impl.) lazy, useless :-barren, idle, slow. This is where I got that sense of conviction. That knowing that not all my words are active and employed by furthering the kingdom. This verse implies that its not enough to just not say mean things to people but that our words should be useful and active ones. I had a job once where I did a lot of walking so I bought a pedometer because I was curious about how many steps I took in a day and,so I had this thought? I began to wonder, what if? What if I had clicker thing and counted every word that I spoke in a day. How would I do? Conviction and praise God, repentance soon followed.
Too often we are ready to talk for talking sake. We say things like, "Did you hear the one about..." or "Did you hear about so and so? They did such and such." How many idle conversations do we have in a day. You know the ones. Those are idle useless words. Not necessary to furthering the kingdom. As His people we need to spend more time on words like, "Did you hear about The One who cleansed the leper, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and healed lame." Did you hear about The One who stopped the sun and the moon in order to help His servant." "Did you hear about The One who was raised from the dead?" "Did you hear about the One who came as a mighty rushing wind? " etc... Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.....good treasure! According to these words Jesus considered our good treasure to be words that we speak and I'm pretty sure He meant the words that are actively employed and useful in furthering the kingdom!
What kind of treasure are we imparting to those around us? How would you do if you had a clicker thing?
Link: to "Speak Life" if your interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBv9r92VQ0&feature=share
You know that scene in Daniel where the hand shows up and starts writing on the wall? It says that ...the king's countenance changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his hips were loosed and his knees knocked against each other. Daniel 5:6 He didn't know what the words meant until a little later when Daniel gave the interpretation but he knew he was in trouble. I feel like this word has an element of that sense of conviction. At least for me it did. So, before we get to the meat of this word I would like to stop and offer up a quick prayer. You may want to join me!
Lord, I just really feel the need to stop for a minute and say thanks! Thanks for the price you paid! Thanks for giving us the gift of repentance! Without it LORD I'd be feeling like that king, scared, frantic, and alone and instead I can come before you and offer up a heart full of praise and thankfulness. Lord, even now my heart is full of gratitude, not just for the conviction that this word has brought to me because of the times I've failed to speak life, but for your forgiveness and grace that the words, "I'm sorry, Lord!" have brought to my heart.
A few days ago I heard the song, "Speak Life" by Toby Mac. I didn't just hear the song but watched the video that went with it. It starts with a little boy being made fun of and then it has him laying in a chalk line like they use for dead bodies at a crime scene. The song goes on like that with different people and scenarios. The words 'speak life' have gotten in my spirit and as I have been pondering them the Lord brought the above reference to mind. I looked up the word idle. It means: inactive, i.e. unemployed; (by impl.) lazy, useless :-barren, idle, slow. This is where I got that sense of conviction. That knowing that not all my words are active and employed by furthering the kingdom. This verse implies that its not enough to just not say mean things to people but that our words should be useful and active ones. I had a job once where I did a lot of walking so I bought a pedometer because I was curious about how many steps I took in a day and,so I had this thought? I began to wonder, what if? What if I had clicker thing and counted every word that I spoke in a day. How would I do? Conviction and praise God, repentance soon followed.
Too often we are ready to talk for talking sake. We say things like, "Did you hear the one about..." or "Did you hear about so and so? They did such and such." How many idle conversations do we have in a day. You know the ones. Those are idle useless words. Not necessary to furthering the kingdom. As His people we need to spend more time on words like, "Did you hear about The One who cleansed the leper, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind and healed lame." Did you hear about The One who stopped the sun and the moon in order to help His servant." "Did you hear about The One who was raised from the dead?" "Did you hear about the One who came as a mighty rushing wind? " etc... Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.....good treasure! According to these words Jesus considered our good treasure to be words that we speak and I'm pretty sure He meant the words that are actively employed and useful in furthering the kingdom!
What kind of treasure are we imparting to those around us? How would you do if you had a clicker thing?
Link: to "Speak Life" if your interested. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZeBv9r92VQ0&feature=share
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Stand in the Gap
Esther clutched the smooth back of the chair. Hathach was awaiting her reply to Mordecai's instructions. The lump in her gut made its way up her throat, and she could taste the bile in her mouth. Mordecai was asking her to go before the king and plead for their peoples' lives.
"I can't." She whispered to Hathach
____________________________________
Mordecai rubbed his dirty face. Esther was scared, he got that. He knew the law. He knew the king's moods were unpredictable, especially with his henchmen always giving their opinions. However, that didn't matter. Mordecai could see it. He knew Esther was God's key to their deliverance. She just needed to follow His will.
But what if she won't go to the king's court? The thought terrified Mordecai. He rubbed his forehead, using his thumb to apply extra pressure to his temple. All would be lost.
No! He would not allow this to sway him.
"Hathach, please tell Queen Esther that she will not be safe in the king's palace while her people are murdered." He locked eyes with the servant, as if staring into his eyes would convey Mordecai's message all the stronger to Esther. "You will not escape any more then the others just because you are queen. On the contrary, if you won't go to the king, God will raise up deliverance somewhere else, but you will surely perish." Mordecai's voice broke at the thought. "My dear Esther, consider that maybe Yahweh put you in this kingdom for such a time as this. Walk in Yahweh's path, or deny Him. The choice is ultimately yours."
____________________________________
Mordecai paced back and forth along the wall. He kept the king's gate in his view hoping Hathach would appear with a message from Esther soon. Hours had gone by and it was now dusk. He was trying not to take that as a bad sign.
He had done all he could do. He had called out the cowardliness. He had stood in the gap for her fear and doubt. He had offered the glimmer he had of God's plan for Esther's encouragement. Could he have done more?
Hathach stepped through the gate, and strode towards him. Mordecai held his breath; the following words could make or break his heart. Stopping close enough to prevent prying ears from hearing their conversation, Hathach...smiled. "Queen Esther has asked that you gather all the Jews you can find, and fast day and night, for three days. She and her maidens will do the same. At the end of the three days, she will go before the king, and if she perishes, then she perishes. But she will go."
Based on Esther 4:4-17
Before Esther rocked these stands, she had some doubt, some worry, some fear. In order to help her overcome that, God provided Mordecai to stand in the gap for her.
Think about what Mordecai was saying to her. He had raised Esther like a daughter, and he basically said that if she denied God and followed the cowards way, then she would perish. God would find someone else. Then he offered her courage to follow God's way. Truth that God had picked her and put her here for a reason. These were things Esther needed to hear, but they must have been difficult for Mordecai to say.
Mordecai said what God needed Esther to hear. Mordecai stood in that gap and spoke God's words. That's not an easy job to do.
Sometimes God will call us to stand in the gap for someone. There may be chinks in their armor that need covering. They may need prayer and intercession. They may need to be called on the carpet. But God needs His people to be willing to stand in that gap and speak His words.
We view this chapter as Esther's big stand, but for such a time, Mordecai was also put in that kingdom. To stand and speak on God's behalf is a weighty, difficult, lonely, and scary position. But it's a stand the Body of Christ needs to rise into wholeheartedly.
"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30
"I can't." She whispered to Hathach
____________________________________
Mordecai rubbed his dirty face. Esther was scared, he got that. He knew the law. He knew the king's moods were unpredictable, especially with his henchmen always giving their opinions. However, that didn't matter. Mordecai could see it. He knew Esther was God's key to their deliverance. She just needed to follow His will.
But what if she won't go to the king's court? The thought terrified Mordecai. He rubbed his forehead, using his thumb to apply extra pressure to his temple. All would be lost.
No! He would not allow this to sway him.
"Hathach, please tell Queen Esther that she will not be safe in the king's palace while her people are murdered." He locked eyes with the servant, as if staring into his eyes would convey Mordecai's message all the stronger to Esther. "You will not escape any more then the others just because you are queen. On the contrary, if you won't go to the king, God will raise up deliverance somewhere else, but you will surely perish." Mordecai's voice broke at the thought. "My dear Esther, consider that maybe Yahweh put you in this kingdom for such a time as this. Walk in Yahweh's path, or deny Him. The choice is ultimately yours."
____________________________________
Mordecai paced back and forth along the wall. He kept the king's gate in his view hoping Hathach would appear with a message from Esther soon. Hours had gone by and it was now dusk. He was trying not to take that as a bad sign.
He had done all he could do. He had called out the cowardliness. He had stood in the gap for her fear and doubt. He had offered the glimmer he had of God's plan for Esther's encouragement. Could he have done more?
Hathach stepped through the gate, and strode towards him. Mordecai held his breath; the following words could make or break his heart. Stopping close enough to prevent prying ears from hearing their conversation, Hathach...smiled. "Queen Esther has asked that you gather all the Jews you can find, and fast day and night, for three days. She and her maidens will do the same. At the end of the three days, she will go before the king, and if she perishes, then she perishes. But she will go."
Based on Esther 4:4-17
Before Esther rocked these stands, she had some doubt, some worry, some fear. In order to help her overcome that, God provided Mordecai to stand in the gap for her.
Think about what Mordecai was saying to her. He had raised Esther like a daughter, and he basically said that if she denied God and followed the cowards way, then she would perish. God would find someone else. Then he offered her courage to follow God's way. Truth that God had picked her and put her here for a reason. These were things Esther needed to hear, but they must have been difficult for Mordecai to say.
Mordecai said what God needed Esther to hear. Mordecai stood in that gap and spoke God's words. That's not an easy job to do.
Sometimes God will call us to stand in the gap for someone. There may be chinks in their armor that need covering. They may need prayer and intercession. They may need to be called on the carpet. But God needs His people to be willing to stand in that gap and speak His words.
We view this chapter as Esther's big stand, but for such a time, Mordecai was also put in that kingdom. To stand and speak on God's behalf is a weighty, difficult, lonely, and scary position. But it's a stand the Body of Christ needs to rise into wholeheartedly.
"And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none." Ezekiel 22:30
Monday, March 3, 2014
"Watchman's Call"
Expectation. Expectation is a good word to use in describing the heart of today's word. I'd like you to consider for a moment this scene found in Exodus 11. God has told Moses to go to the people and tell them he is about to do one more plague, and that after this one last plague, Pharaoh will drive them out. He even tells them to go to their Egyptian neighbors and ask of them 'articles of silver and articles of gold.' Do you suppose there was a level of excitement? Anticipation? Was there an expectation in the air as they prepared to travel, to be free from bondage?
Now consider this scene found in Joshua 6. It is the seventh day and they are getting ready to march around the city. Today is going to be different. Today is the day. They knew that because they had orders on the other days to march once. This day they had to get up and be ready at dawn because they would be marching seven times. Do you suppose there was a level of excitement about what was about to happen? Do you suppose there was some anticipation, some expectation that was in the air as they waited for the trumpets to blow and Joshua's call to shout?
Excitement, anticipation, expectation those are the three words that best describe how I am feeling right now at this very moment. In the last week, on three separate occasions, I have been in a place of worship when I have been drawn into a place where I have ended up singing a prophetic song about 'the watchman.' Obviously I can't sing the song for you but I would like to share with you what I saw and felt, as well as the message the words, that in all honesty, have awakened such a strong sense of expectation in me about what God is about to do.
...The watchman is on the wall and he is doing exactly what a watchman is supposed to do. He is scanning the horizon. This isn't a half hearted kinda looking either. He is looking intently, with a level of anticipation that you can almost reach out and touch. He is scanning, looking, searching intently when all of a sudden, if its possible, he looks even deeper. He has seen what he has been waiting for. He jumps into motion and starts running up and down the wall yelling as loud as he can, "Awake, Awake, Everyone, wake up its here. The new dawn is here. Its morning! Awake, get up. Its here, Its here! The new day is here!" ... As I watched He just kept running up and down the wall excitedly crying out to the people to get up because the dawn had arrived. That sign, the thing he had been searching the horizon for, a glimpse of that first ray of light, because it meant that the dawn had come.
In the natural you and I might be saying, "So what. Whats the big deal? Dawn comes every day." The thing is the watchman, he knew that this wasn't just any other day. This was a day you didn't want to sleep through. He knew that whatever made this particular day special, the cry to wake up was important. You didn't want to miss out on even a second of this day.
As I was singing the words about the watchman and as this scene was unfolding the words about the new dawn seemed to take on a life of their own. I feel like the Lord was showing me that he He is about to do something new! I don't know what, how, or when, but I do know that the word new has become an amazingly exciting word to me. You know how the baby leaped in the womb when Mary approached? That is what I feel, a leap in the Spirit every time I hear, say, or even think the words, new dawn. He is about to do something new and I believe it is something you don't want to miss.
So, in the words of the watchman..."Wake up! Wake up! Its a new dawn!"
Expectation. Expectation is a good word. What is your expectation for the new dawn?
Now consider this scene found in Joshua 6. It is the seventh day and they are getting ready to march around the city. Today is going to be different. Today is the day. They knew that because they had orders on the other days to march once. This day they had to get up and be ready at dawn because they would be marching seven times. Do you suppose there was a level of excitement about what was about to happen? Do you suppose there was some anticipation, some expectation that was in the air as they waited for the trumpets to blow and Joshua's call to shout?
Excitement, anticipation, expectation those are the three words that best describe how I am feeling right now at this very moment. In the last week, on three separate occasions, I have been in a place of worship when I have been drawn into a place where I have ended up singing a prophetic song about 'the watchman.' Obviously I can't sing the song for you but I would like to share with you what I saw and felt, as well as the message the words, that in all honesty, have awakened such a strong sense of expectation in me about what God is about to do.
...The watchman is on the wall and he is doing exactly what a watchman is supposed to do. He is scanning the horizon. This isn't a half hearted kinda looking either. He is looking intently, with a level of anticipation that you can almost reach out and touch. He is scanning, looking, searching intently when all of a sudden, if its possible, he looks even deeper. He has seen what he has been waiting for. He jumps into motion and starts running up and down the wall yelling as loud as he can, "Awake, Awake, Everyone, wake up its here. The new dawn is here. Its morning! Awake, get up. Its here, Its here! The new day is here!" ... As I watched He just kept running up and down the wall excitedly crying out to the people to get up because the dawn had arrived. That sign, the thing he had been searching the horizon for, a glimpse of that first ray of light, because it meant that the dawn had come.
In the natural you and I might be saying, "So what. Whats the big deal? Dawn comes every day." The thing is the watchman, he knew that this wasn't just any other day. This was a day you didn't want to sleep through. He knew that whatever made this particular day special, the cry to wake up was important. You didn't want to miss out on even a second of this day.
As I was singing the words about the watchman and as this scene was unfolding the words about the new dawn seemed to take on a life of their own. I feel like the Lord was showing me that he He is about to do something new! I don't know what, how, or when, but I do know that the word new has become an amazingly exciting word to me. You know how the baby leaped in the womb when Mary approached? That is what I feel, a leap in the Spirit every time I hear, say, or even think the words, new dawn. He is about to do something new and I believe it is something you don't want to miss.
So, in the words of the watchman..."Wake up! Wake up! Its a new dawn!"
Expectation. Expectation is a good word. What is your expectation for the new dawn?
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Standing in Sackcloth and Ashes
King Ahasuerus had readily agreed to Haman's plan. A mass genocide of the Jewish nation. He put a spin on it for the king, claiming they were a hindrance to his kingdom-to him even. Haman had taken some time, and learned the Jewish customs. When he found out they worshiped one God, claiming He was the one true God, Haman knew he had found his hook. At long last, his plan was in motion.
Haman smiled into his wine glass. At this very moment, the king's couriers were riding out to every province. He could almost see the people reading the decree, then rereading the decree to see if it was really true. Fathers flipping the tables in powerless rage. Mothers clutching their children in anguish. Young men and women overcome with fear. And Mordecai. Oh, what he would give to see Mordecai's face when he read the decree. He would know why. He would know who. Haman took another sip of his wine. Yes, Mordecai would know who.
When Mordecai woke that morning, it had been a day just like any other day. Now everything had changed. The King had issued a decree.
They were to die. All of his people. Sentenced to death like they were criminals.
His fists clenched and relaxed. Clenched and relaxed. Breathing in and out. This was Haman's doing. Did he cause this? Was this his fault? His refusal to bow to Haman had resulted in this?
Mordecai could hear the screams and cries all around him, and he joined in with a loud, gut-wrenching, lung-popping scream of his own. He dropped to his knees, and laid his face in the dirt. His tears mixed with the dirt, caking his face with mud. "Yahweh!" He screamed. "Yahweh!" He torn at his tunic and robes. Ripping the cloth over and over again, until it was shreds.
Mordecai knew he was wallowing in hopelessness and fear, but there was nothing else he could do at the moment. This was bleak. This could be their darkest hour. The end of the Israelite nation. He pounded his fist into the ground. He didn't know what to do.
He sat straight up. Esther! He couldn't see her; it was against the law in his current state of mourning. But Lord willing, maybe someone would tell her. He got up and started running for the king's gate. He would stay there morning and night. He would mourn and cry loudly. He would lay there in sackcloth and ashes. His feet pounded against the packed ground. He would trust and believe. He would fast and pray. "Yahweh, let your hand be in this!"
Based on Esther 3:7-4:3
There will always be people who stand against us and God. This was what Mordecai was facing. He hadn't bowed to Haman. He had stood for God. He had passed the test, right? So why were he and his people facing death? Sometimes we make a stand for God, and feel like that stand has come back to kick us in the rear, send us flying, and landing us in a pile of mud. Was the first stand worth it?
Absolutely.
"One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10
These are the moments when we find out if our seed is going to live. If we are going to continue to be faithful, no matter what the outcome. These are the times we need to turn to God, rather then sink into a pit of despair.
Mordecai planted himself in front of the king's gate, and as we will see from his conversation with Esther, He knew God still had his hand in this. God is bigger then our sackcloth and ashes.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23
Those moments are terrifying, but they are the moments when we rise from the ashes with our souls screaming, "My God is faithful! I will be faithful!" Don't abandon Him, because he has not abandoned you. Be the one standing for God despite the sackcloth and ashes. Stand your ground so that one day the Father can say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:23)
This is a link to the song, Stand in the Rain, by Superchick. I felt it really went with today's blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZjRMa7Pmj4
Haman smiled into his wine glass. At this very moment, the king's couriers were riding out to every province. He could almost see the people reading the decree, then rereading the decree to see if it was really true. Fathers flipping the tables in powerless rage. Mothers clutching their children in anguish. Young men and women overcome with fear. And Mordecai. Oh, what he would give to see Mordecai's face when he read the decree. He would know why. He would know who. Haman took another sip of his wine. Yes, Mordecai would know who.
When Mordecai woke that morning, it had been a day just like any other day. Now everything had changed. The King had issued a decree.
They were to die. All of his people. Sentenced to death like they were criminals.
His fists clenched and relaxed. Clenched and relaxed. Breathing in and out. This was Haman's doing. Did he cause this? Was this his fault? His refusal to bow to Haman had resulted in this?
Mordecai could hear the screams and cries all around him, and he joined in with a loud, gut-wrenching, lung-popping scream of his own. He dropped to his knees, and laid his face in the dirt. His tears mixed with the dirt, caking his face with mud. "Yahweh!" He screamed. "Yahweh!" He torn at his tunic and robes. Ripping the cloth over and over again, until it was shreds.
Mordecai knew he was wallowing in hopelessness and fear, but there was nothing else he could do at the moment. This was bleak. This could be their darkest hour. The end of the Israelite nation. He pounded his fist into the ground. He didn't know what to do.
He sat straight up. Esther! He couldn't see her; it was against the law in his current state of mourning. But Lord willing, maybe someone would tell her. He got up and started running for the king's gate. He would stay there morning and night. He would mourn and cry loudly. He would lay there in sackcloth and ashes. His feet pounded against the packed ground. He would trust and believe. He would fast and pray. "Yahweh, let your hand be in this!"
Based on Esther 3:7-4:3
There will always be people who stand against us and God. This was what Mordecai was facing. He hadn't bowed to Haman. He had stood for God. He had passed the test, right? So why were he and his people facing death? Sometimes we make a stand for God, and feel like that stand has come back to kick us in the rear, send us flying, and landing us in a pile of mud. Was the first stand worth it?
Absolutely.
"One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much." Luke 16:10
These are the moments when we find out if our seed is going to live. If we are going to continue to be faithful, no matter what the outcome. These are the times we need to turn to God, rather then sink into a pit of despair.
Mordecai planted himself in front of the king's gate, and as we will see from his conversation with Esther, He knew God still had his hand in this. God is bigger then our sackcloth and ashes.
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23
Those moments are terrifying, but they are the moments when we rise from the ashes with our souls screaming, "My God is faithful! I will be faithful!" Don't abandon Him, because he has not abandoned you. Be the one standing for God despite the sackcloth and ashes. Stand your ground so that one day the Father can say to you, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." (Matthew 25:23)
This is a link to the song, Stand in the Rain, by Superchick. I felt it really went with today's blog.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZjRMa7Pmj4
Saturday, March 1, 2014
"His Signature Look"
"And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong." Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." Luke 23:41-43
Have you ever stopped to wonder about this encounter? Why? What? What happened? What took place up there on the cross? What made this criminal choose to believe? What made him jump to Jesus' defense and rebuke the other criminal when he starts blaspheming Jesus. He rebuked him for it and then he addressed Jesus as, Lord. When? Why? How did he come to this realization. When did Jesus become Lord to him? What happened to convince him?
I have a theory, but first lets take a quick look at a couple of other scenes. In Mark 1:40-45 is the encounter of Jesus and the leper crying out to him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Jesus didn't just talk to him. He didn't just touch him. He looked him straight in the eyes and he said, "I'm willing." Not only did the man hear the words and feel the touch He saw 'the love of Christ' in the look Jesus gave him. There is no way that His heart for the man didn't show on his face as He responded to this man's plea.
In John 8:3-11 is the encounter of Jesus, the scribes, pharisees and the woman caught in adultery. There is a moment at the end of this encounter where Jesus speaks to the woman and says, "Women, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She responds with, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." I don't know about you but I believe that there was eye contact during this exchange. I can't even imagine Jesus using words like, "Neither do I condemn you," without Him looking her in the eye while saying them. I don't for a minute think that words alone would have been enough because of the situation. The shame, the humiliation. I know because I know that the look He gave her as He spoke those words, "Neither do I condemn you," was full of mercy, grace, compassion, and that it was a look of love!
In Luke 22:54-62 we see where Jesus is arrested as well as the account of Peter's denial. We are going to look at verses 60-61 ...But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." I don't know about you but I don't believe for a moment that there was even an ounce of an, 'I told you so' in that look when their eyes met. I believe that all Peter saw was love looking at him. I think it is why it says that he left and went and wept bitterly. If the look was an 'I told you so look' it wouldn't have provoked such a strong reaction. I think he wept bitterly because in the midst of his denial he came face to face with look at 'the love of Christ.' I don't believe for a second that Peter saw even an ounce of condemnation. What he saw was love, mercy, grace, compassion. The only look Jesus had for Peter was one that revealed His heart.
So, now you know my theory. I believe the answer to How? What? and Why? in the encounter of Jesus and the criminal on the cross is very simply this; Jesus got to him with His signature look! I think that every time their eyes met Jesus didn't look at him with condemnation or judgement. I believe that every time this man looked into the eyes of Jesus he got to see Jesus looking back at him with love, mercy, grace, and compassion. I find it to be an awesome thing that in the midst of the suffering such a gruesome death this criminal could also experience the 'love of Christ' and know the salvation of God. I find it to be an awesome thing that in the midst of suffering such a gruesome death, Jesus, our Saviour, was looking at not only him but us with eyes full of love, mercy, grace, and compassion. His signature look? The love of Christ!
Have you ever stopped to wonder about this encounter? Why? What? What happened? What took place up there on the cross? What made this criminal choose to believe? What made him jump to Jesus' defense and rebuke the other criminal when he starts blaspheming Jesus. He rebuked him for it and then he addressed Jesus as, Lord. When? Why? How did he come to this realization. When did Jesus become Lord to him? What happened to convince him?
I have a theory, but first lets take a quick look at a couple of other scenes. In Mark 1:40-45 is the encounter of Jesus and the leper crying out to him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." Jesus didn't just talk to him. He didn't just touch him. He looked him straight in the eyes and he said, "I'm willing." Not only did the man hear the words and feel the touch He saw 'the love of Christ' in the look Jesus gave him. There is no way that His heart for the man didn't show on his face as He responded to this man's plea.
In John 8:3-11 is the encounter of Jesus, the scribes, pharisees and the woman caught in adultery. There is a moment at the end of this encounter where Jesus speaks to the woman and says, "Women, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you? She responds with, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said to her, "Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more." I don't know about you but I believe that there was eye contact during this exchange. I can't even imagine Jesus using words like, "Neither do I condemn you," without Him looking her in the eye while saying them. I don't for a minute think that words alone would have been enough because of the situation. The shame, the humiliation. I know because I know that the look He gave her as He spoke those words, "Neither do I condemn you," was full of mercy, grace, compassion, and that it was a look of love!
In Luke 22:54-62 we see where Jesus is arrested as well as the account of Peter's denial. We are going to look at verses 60-61 ...But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are saying!" And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, "Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times." I don't know about you but I don't believe for a moment that there was even an ounce of an, 'I told you so' in that look when their eyes met. I believe that all Peter saw was love looking at him. I think it is why it says that he left and went and wept bitterly. If the look was an 'I told you so look' it wouldn't have provoked such a strong reaction. I think he wept bitterly because in the midst of his denial he came face to face with look at 'the love of Christ.' I don't believe for a second that Peter saw even an ounce of condemnation. What he saw was love, mercy, grace, compassion. The only look Jesus had for Peter was one that revealed His heart.
So, now you know my theory. I believe the answer to How? What? and Why? in the encounter of Jesus and the criminal on the cross is very simply this; Jesus got to him with His signature look! I think that every time their eyes met Jesus didn't look at him with condemnation or judgement. I believe that every time this man looked into the eyes of Jesus he got to see Jesus looking back at him with love, mercy, grace, and compassion. I find it to be an awesome thing that in the midst of the suffering such a gruesome death this criminal could also experience the 'love of Christ' and know the salvation of God. I find it to be an awesome thing that in the midst of suffering such a gruesome death, Jesus, our Saviour, was looking at not only him but us with eyes full of love, mercy, grace, and compassion. His signature look? The love of Christ!
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