Then one said to Him, "Lord, are there few who are saved?" Luke 13:23
Have you ever asked this question? Have you ever wondered? Seems to me it was a pretty reasonable question for the disciples to ask. I think they were looking for a little different answer though. One that contained a number or at the very least a "Yes," or "No." Instead Jesus answers like He did most often; in a way that makes you examine yourself!
In today's world it is pretty normal to have an annual doctors visit, just for a check-up. It is a pretty accepted method of staying healthy or at the very least catching things early so that they are not difficult to deal with. Paul, in a couple of places talks about going over the basics, the things they already know, just to make sure that things are all right spiritually. For example you'll see this in 2 Peter 1:12 Today's snack is all about examining ourselves; making sure that we are healthy spiritually!
When the Jesus answered their all important question these are the thought provoking words He answered with...
"Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.
"When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, 'Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, ' I do not know you, where you are from,'
"Then you will begin to say, 'We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.'
"But He will say, 'I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me, all you workers of iniquity.'
"There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
"They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
"And indeed there are last who will be first, and there are first who will be last." Luke 13:24-30
Jesus, in the telling of the parable of the ten virgins used similar words ...
"And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came,and those who were ready went in with Him to the wedding; and the door was shut.
"Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!"
"But He answered and said, "Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you."
"Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor hour in which the Son of Man is coming. Matthew 25:10-13
In both these examples there were people who used the word, 'Lord' to address Him but they were on the outside when the door was shut. The first because they didn't come through the gate and the second because they were without oil. We need to make sure we are part of those that have come from the east, west, north, south and that when we come, we are ready with oil in our lamps. In this way we may be sure that we are those that have entered in and that we won't be a part of those who are saying, "Lord, Lord, open to us!" when it is too late.
One last thought for today in our self examination is this...In Revelation 2:4-5 He is addressing an issue with the church of Ephesus and he tells them ..."that you have left your first love." He addresses their need to repent; He tells them to do the 'first works' or else He will remove their lampstand."
So, it is check-up time and here are the all important questions!
#1 - Have you entered through the gate? --------Jesus
#2 - Do you have oil in your lamp? ------- The Holy Spirit
#3 - Are you still serving Him with? ---- First Love's Passion
"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead,
I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14
God Bless and I'll see you there!
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
Stand and Fight!
Horse hoof's beat in the distance. Moments later a magnificent stead strode through the gate. Ah, one of the king's couriers.
I didn't pick up my pace. Ever since the king's edict to destroy us had come, life seemed pretty bleak. I felt like I was just going through the motions. What was the point? I had no purpose anymore. In a few days I would be dead. I was tempted to ignore this new message altogether, but curiosity got the best of me.
I caught up to the rider. A crowd had already gathered around him. He was still sitting on his horse, frantically waving his arms. Everyone was talking at once, and I couldn't hear anything over the dull roar.
I caught sight of a piece of parchment nailed into the building behind the courier. Pushing, shoving, and at some points, climbing over people, I finally made it close enough to read.
My eyes widen in disbelief. The letter stated that king was allowing us, the Jewish people, to defend our lives! We could kill, destroy, and plunder anyone who attacked us!
I tossed my head back and screamed for pure joy. I started dancing in the middle of the throng, arms flailing and feet kicking up dust. We were saved! We were saved! We could fight back! Yahweh had saved us!
_______________________________________________________________
The day had come.
Today I would take up my sword and fight.
Once the people realized we had been given the right to fight, a spontaneous celebration burst from the people. They sang and laughed. They feasted. Many danced in the streets just like I did-only worse. We were overjoyed at our chance. We had been offered deliverance. We had been given life.
My brothers, my family, my people had embraced Yahweh's deliverance wholeheartedly. In fact, ever since the decree, there had been numbers added to our people! Converts, afraid for their own skin. And who could blame them? With Yahweh fighting for us, we clearly had the advantage.
We had gathered together, prepared to fight as one nation with one accord. We were in the center of the city, where the streets flowed into a wide, open area. It was just after daybreak, and we were awaiting the first of our enemies to appear. I could hear footsteps; they were close. They starting spilling into the makeshift battle field. My stomach flip-flopped. They stretched before us as far as I could see.
Should I just turn and run? Hide? Would that be safest?
Shaking the thought from my head, I gripped my sword tighter. I would not allow the enemy to rule me!
A war cry was let loose, and immediately, both sides began to charge. Letting out my own shout, I raised my sword high, and charged into battle.
Based on Esther 8:10-9:9.
And he said, "Listen all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, 'Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God's'...You will not need to fight in this battle. Stand firm, hold your positions, and see the salvation of the Lord on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, and the Lord will be with you." 2 Chronicles 20:15, 17
"Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me; fight against those who fight against me! Take hold of shield and buckler and rise for my help! Draw the spear and javelin against my pursuers! Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation!'" Psalm 35:1-3
An edict was issued throughout the kingdom. The Jewish people were being given the right to fight back. Instead of just letting their enemies come to kill, plunder, and destroy them, they could fight back. Not only fight back, but kill, plunder, and destroy those who came after them.
When they got that decree, they had a choice. Would they take up their swords? Would they fight for a cause? Or would their enemies and death overtake them?
When we do not stand and fight for Jesus, that is exactly what we are doing. We are letting the enemy into our camp. We are letting him kill us. We are letting him control us. We are letting him shackle us even though we are holding the key in our hands!
"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses." 1 Timothy 6:12
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." Ephesians 6:11-13
God has already given us the key, the plan, the way out! Will we take it, or will we wallow? Will we really take up our swords and fight for Him?
Monday, March 17, 2014
"The Ultimate Doorkeeper"
These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. Revelation 3:7-8
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
Both these verses about doors can be found in the letters written to the churches in Revelation chapter three and that is pretty much all they have in common. They are written to two different churches and they both reveal some pretty interesting truths about the hearts of the churches involved. The first is written to the church of Philadelphia and the second is in the letter written to the church at Laodicea.
Just so you know, I'm going to make this declaration right up front, "You want the first to be the truth about you! You want the open door!" You want Jesus, the ultimate doorkeeper to tell you that He has left the door open for you! I know people often make jokes or allude to the idea that Peter will be standing at the pearly gates to let you in but the truth is Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus is ...He who is holy, he who is true, He who holds the key of David, and He who opens and no one shuts, and He who shuts and no one opens." Jesus is the ultimate doorkeeper and He is the one saying, "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it;"
In the second verse, and this is really important to notice; the door is closed and Jesus is standing outside knocking! This verse is quite often used in reference to the unbeliever but the truth is it is written to believers; believers that have gotten complacent about His presence in their lives. It comes on the heals of these words, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." It paints a clear picture as to where Jesus is in the scheme of things. Outside, knocking, and calling, "Let me in." Check out verses 14-17 These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. Because you say,' I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.'
The second verse is not written to the unbeliever in the hopes that they will get saved it is written to the church that has come to a place were they have stopped looking to Him and are operating in their own strength. They are busy thinking that they have accomplished their great work. They have become lukewarm towards God and full of themselves and their accomplishments much like a certain king in the book of Daniel who one day ended up eating grass as a beast in the field when he declared, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" Daniel 4:30
So the difference between an open door and a closed door?
Open - you have little strength (which means trusting in His)
- you have kept My word (which means welcoming His presence, listening, hearing, obeying)
- you have not denied My name (which means confessing Him before men; giving Him the glory)
Closed - lukewarm (which means don't care one way or the other if He is around)
- have need of nothing (which means doesn't need Him; thinks his own strength is enough)
- lays claim to the credit - 'I have become...' (which means denying His hand at work)
One last thought. A door has two functions. It gives entrance or it keeps out and wrapped up with that thought; think in terms or your home. Do you or the people who live there (your family) knock to enter? No. You have an open door. You are free to enter whenever because its your home. A stranger on the other hand, he has to knock and it is then that we decide to keep him out or let him gain entrance.
So, the question for today is? Has He left the door open for you cause your family or do you hear Him knocking because He has become a stranger?
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. Revelation 3:20
Both these verses about doors can be found in the letters written to the churches in Revelation chapter three and that is pretty much all they have in common. They are written to two different churches and they both reveal some pretty interesting truths about the hearts of the churches involved. The first is written to the church of Philadelphia and the second is in the letter written to the church at Laodicea.
Just so you know, I'm going to make this declaration right up front, "You want the first to be the truth about you! You want the open door!" You want Jesus, the ultimate doorkeeper to tell you that He has left the door open for you! I know people often make jokes or allude to the idea that Peter will be standing at the pearly gates to let you in but the truth is Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life, and no one comes to the Father except through Me." Jesus is ...He who is holy, he who is true, He who holds the key of David, and He who opens and no one shuts, and He who shuts and no one opens." Jesus is the ultimate doorkeeper and He is the one saying, "I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door and no one can shut it;"
In the second verse, and this is really important to notice; the door is closed and Jesus is standing outside knocking! This verse is quite often used in reference to the unbeliever but the truth is it is written to believers; believers that have gotten complacent about His presence in their lives. It comes on the heals of these words, "As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent." It paints a clear picture as to where Jesus is in the scheme of things. Outside, knocking, and calling, "Let me in." Check out verses 14-17 These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the Creation of God: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth. Because you say,' I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing'-and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.'
The second verse is not written to the unbeliever in the hopes that they will get saved it is written to the church that has come to a place were they have stopped looking to Him and are operating in their own strength. They are busy thinking that they have accomplished their great work. They have become lukewarm towards God and full of themselves and their accomplishments much like a certain king in the book of Daniel who one day ended up eating grass as a beast in the field when he declared, "Is not this great Babylon, that I have built for a royal dwelling by my mighty power and for the honor of my majesty?" Daniel 4:30
So the difference between an open door and a closed door?
Open - you have little strength (which means trusting in His)
- you have kept My word (which means welcoming His presence, listening, hearing, obeying)
- you have not denied My name (which means confessing Him before men; giving Him the glory)
Closed - lukewarm (which means don't care one way or the other if He is around)
- have need of nothing (which means doesn't need Him; thinks his own strength is enough)
- lays claim to the credit - 'I have become...' (which means denying His hand at work)
One last thought. A door has two functions. It gives entrance or it keeps out and wrapped up with that thought; think in terms or your home. Do you or the people who live there (your family) knock to enter? No. You have an open door. You are free to enter whenever because its your home. A stranger on the other hand, he has to knock and it is then that we decide to keep him out or let him gain entrance.
So, the question for today is? Has He left the door open for you cause your family or do you hear Him knocking because He has become a stranger?
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Stand and Persevere
Haman was dead.
He had been hung on the gallows designed for her cousin Mordecai. King Ahasuerus had given her the house of Haman. In return she had told him all about her family and how Mordecai was her cousin. He had summoned Mordecai immediately. Then her husband shocked her by taking off his signet ring, which a guard had pried from Haman's dead hands, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther then gave Mordecai the house of Haman. It only seemed right. Haman was Mordecai's adversary whom God had delivered into his hands.
Now she was on the ground, bowed before King Ahasuerus, pleading for him to revoke the evil plan Haman had devised against her people.
She peaked up to see the royal scepter extended towards her. Standing up, she issued her plea one more time. "If it please your Majesty, if I have found favor in your sight, and if it seems right to the king, and if I am pleasing in your eyes, please let a decree go forth issuing that Haman's letters to destroy the Jewish people have been revoked." She met the eyes of her beloved. "How can I bear to see my people destroyed?"
This was it. They had come so far. All they needed was for King Ahasuerus to give the order, and this whole ordeal would be behind them.
A real smile graced her lips for the first time in days.
The king started to speak, he deep voice resonating in the grand room. "I have given the house of Haman into your hands, and Haman was hung on the gallows as punishment for his plot against the Jews." His deep eyes held regret. "You may write as you please with regard to the Jews in my name, and seal it with my signet ring, for an edict...an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked."
The words took a moment to sink into her heart. Haman had written his edict in King Ahasuerus' name and sealed it with his signet ring. She choked on a sob. Meaning we cannot revoke the law. We've failed.
Sobbing, she dropped to her knees. Decorum and protocol were thrown to the wind. Pulling her hair and royal robs she moaned, "What was the point?"
A hand touched her shoulder. Mordecai was crouched next to her, "There is still hope my dear Esther. We, our people, can fight back."
"No," She started shaking her head.
"Yes!" He took her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "Right now, they are waiting to die. We can tell them to fight. Command it with the king's edict. Don't you see? Yahweh's hand is still with us. Don't despair now."
King Ahasuerus moved to look into her eyes again. "He's correct." He smiled, and Esther felt hope burn within her chest again. He nodded to a nearby servant. "Send for the royal scribes at once. You've an edict to write."
Based on Esther 8:1-9
They had taken care of Haman. Instead of being able to brush their hands off, and settle back with a feast for a job well done, they had to figure out this law. What must it have been like for Esther to plea that Haman's law to be revoked, thinking they had won this battle, only for the king to say that any law written in his name cannot be revoked?
Do you ever feel like it's one thing after another? You make it through one obstacle, and immediately another awaits. Bigger and badder then the first.
I imagine that's how they might have felt.
Let's face it. Life is exactly that way. The question is, how do we face those times?
It would have been so easy for Esther and Mordecai to throw their hands up declaring, "Well we tried! Apparently God's hand isn't in this after all."
But His hand was in that situation. While nothing written in the king's name could be revoked, they could add to it. And save their people.
God's hand is in our lives. And when we make it through one thing, He is prepared to use that hand to help us through the next obstacle court. We may get twists and turns and bombs dropped that we didn't expect...but He did. He already has the solution. We just need to trust Him. To keep standing for Him. Don't turn back or give up. He has that but-this-way-we-can-overcome plan waiting for us.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
When we stand before God and His host of witnesses, will we be able to say that we were immovable and steadfast? That we didn't give up? That we fought the fight? That we finished the race? That we kept our faith? Will He compare us to Job-who did not curse God and die, or Abraham-who did not lose his faith in what God had spoken, or Daniel-who did not stop serving God in a foreign land despite trials and tribulation from those around him? Will God say that He can see Jesus in how we lived our lives? Will He be able to declare that we stood in perseverance and strode towards Him no matter how bleak the situation looked?
Will we stand and persevere?
He had been hung on the gallows designed for her cousin Mordecai. King Ahasuerus had given her the house of Haman. In return she had told him all about her family and how Mordecai was her cousin. He had summoned Mordecai immediately. Then her husband shocked her by taking off his signet ring, which a guard had pried from Haman's dead hands, and gave it to Mordecai. Esther then gave Mordecai the house of Haman. It only seemed right. Haman was Mordecai's adversary whom God had delivered into his hands.
Now she was on the ground, bowed before King Ahasuerus, pleading for him to revoke the evil plan Haman had devised against her people.
She peaked up to see the royal scepter extended towards her. Standing up, she issued her plea one more time. "If it please your Majesty, if I have found favor in your sight, and if it seems right to the king, and if I am pleasing in your eyes, please let a decree go forth issuing that Haman's letters to destroy the Jewish people have been revoked." She met the eyes of her beloved. "How can I bear to see my people destroyed?"
This was it. They had come so far. All they needed was for King Ahasuerus to give the order, and this whole ordeal would be behind them.
A real smile graced her lips for the first time in days.
The king started to speak, he deep voice resonating in the grand room. "I have given the house of Haman into your hands, and Haman was hung on the gallows as punishment for his plot against the Jews." His deep eyes held regret. "You may write as you please with regard to the Jews in my name, and seal it with my signet ring, for an edict...an edict written in the name of the king and sealed with the king's ring cannot be revoked."
The words took a moment to sink into her heart. Haman had written his edict in King Ahasuerus' name and sealed it with his signet ring. She choked on a sob. Meaning we cannot revoke the law. We've failed.
Sobbing, she dropped to her knees. Decorum and protocol were thrown to the wind. Pulling her hair and royal robs she moaned, "What was the point?"
A hand touched her shoulder. Mordecai was crouched next to her, "There is still hope my dear Esther. We, our people, can fight back."
"No," She started shaking her head.
"Yes!" He took her by the shoulders and gave her a little shake. "Right now, they are waiting to die. We can tell them to fight. Command it with the king's edict. Don't you see? Yahweh's hand is still with us. Don't despair now."
King Ahasuerus moved to look into her eyes again. "He's correct." He smiled, and Esther felt hope burn within her chest again. He nodded to a nearby servant. "Send for the royal scribes at once. You've an edict to write."
Based on Esther 8:1-9
They had taken care of Haman. Instead of being able to brush their hands off, and settle back with a feast for a job well done, they had to figure out this law. What must it have been like for Esther to plea that Haman's law to be revoked, thinking they had won this battle, only for the king to say that any law written in his name cannot be revoked?
Do you ever feel like it's one thing after another? You make it through one obstacle, and immediately another awaits. Bigger and badder then the first.
I imagine that's how they might have felt.
Let's face it. Life is exactly that way. The question is, how do we face those times?
It would have been so easy for Esther and Mordecai to throw their hands up declaring, "Well we tried! Apparently God's hand isn't in this after all."
But His hand was in that situation. While nothing written in the king's name could be revoked, they could add to it. And save their people.
God's hand is in our lives. And when we make it through one thing, He is prepared to use that hand to help us through the next obstacle court. We may get twists and turns and bombs dropped that we didn't expect...but He did. He already has the solution. We just need to trust Him. To keep standing for Him. Don't turn back or give up. He has that but-this-way-we-can-overcome plan waiting for us.
"Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." 1 Corinthians 15:58
"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." 2 Timothy 4:7
When we stand before God and His host of witnesses, will we be able to say that we were immovable and steadfast? That we didn't give up? That we fought the fight? That we finished the race? That we kept our faith? Will He compare us to Job-who did not curse God and die, or Abraham-who did not lose his faith in what God had spoken, or Daniel-who did not stop serving God in a foreign land despite trials and tribulation from those around him? Will God say that He can see Jesus in how we lived our lives? Will He be able to declare that we stood in perseverance and strode towards Him no matter how bleak the situation looked?
Will we stand and persevere?
Saturday, March 15, 2014
"At Rest In Him"
And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, "Alas, my master!" What shall we do?"
So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who ARE with us ARE more than those who ARE with them."
And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain WAS full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17
As I was going to sleep last night my last thoughts were of the scene above. I could see this young man waking up early to start is duties for the day, seeing the army that had surrounded them in the night, and in an instant he is wide awake and he is afraid! He is afraid because of what he sees. You can see his panic and fear in his reaction and words to Elisha; but the thing is, you can see Elisha's reaction as well. Elisha isn't afraid. He doesn't panic. He simply speaks a word of encouragement to his servant based on his knowledge that God is with him. He tells him "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." That little three letter word tells us all we need to know about Elisha's reaction. That three letter word that Elisha spoke three times affirms, and declares his knowledge that God is with him. He says it with confidence because he knows that his ARE are bigger then their are!
He then prays and asks that the young mans eyes would be open and that he would see! The Lord opens the young mans eyes and he gets to see and know what Elisha knows; that God is with them! That is my prayer for us today. That we would see that our God is bigger than anything that the enemy would bring against us. Lord that we would not just see but know, with confidence that you are with us.
As I was going to sleep and contemplating this scene with Elisha, Daniel and the lion's den, the fiery furnace, Moses, Joshua etc. I was thinking about the fact that they knew, they knew He was on their side as they stood for Him. They didn't waver. There are times when your reading the word that you can see their passion, but you don't see fear, or panic, or a whole lot of stress and worry. What you see is that they are resting in Him. Their confidence and hope is in Him; in knowing that He goes with them; that He will battle on their behalf. They know because they know that He will do what He said He will. He will be with them. I was thinking about that look on their faces as they stand for God. (Personally I picture that look that Charlton Heston had in the Ten Commandments as He raised his hands and the water heaped or his stance as he went up the mountain to receive the tablets.)
I can see that look on Elisha's face as he is telling his servant, "Don't be afraid, Have a look." I can see that look on Daniel's face as he shoots one last look at the king that says, "Don't worry. It's all good. God's got it covered." I can see that look on the face of Noah as he builds day after day. I can see that look on the face of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, Stephen, etc. Its a look that is confident, content, and peaceful all at the same time.
As I was going to sleep last night contemplating all these men and the fact that they all seem to have that look. (As you read the word you can feel that look as they were about to do that big thing for Him.) I asked the Lord about it and He spoke one word. "Rest!" I looked the word rest up in the Strong's and it means to repose and it kept coming back to the idea of abode. To enter into His rest has to do with the idea of being at home, kicking back, being refreshed, being in a place of being at peace, and the idea of matrimony. That look of being at one with the will and purposes of God comes with entering into His rest. Being at home with Him and knowing that He is with you! You in Him and Him in you; sounds familiar!
One last thought about resting in Him is this: "What look did He have on His face as He rested on the seventh day? ...Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good...Genesis 1:31
So he answered, "Do not fear, for those who ARE with us ARE more than those who ARE with them."
And Elisha prayed, and said, "Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain WAS full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17
As I was going to sleep last night my last thoughts were of the scene above. I could see this young man waking up early to start is duties for the day, seeing the army that had surrounded them in the night, and in an instant he is wide awake and he is afraid! He is afraid because of what he sees. You can see his panic and fear in his reaction and words to Elisha; but the thing is, you can see Elisha's reaction as well. Elisha isn't afraid. He doesn't panic. He simply speaks a word of encouragement to his servant based on his knowledge that God is with him. He tells him "Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them." That little three letter word tells us all we need to know about Elisha's reaction. That three letter word that Elisha spoke three times affirms, and declares his knowledge that God is with him. He says it with confidence because he knows that his ARE are bigger then their are!
He then prays and asks that the young mans eyes would be open and that he would see! The Lord opens the young mans eyes and he gets to see and know what Elisha knows; that God is with them! That is my prayer for us today. That we would see that our God is bigger than anything that the enemy would bring against us. Lord that we would not just see but know, with confidence that you are with us.
As I was going to sleep and contemplating this scene with Elisha, Daniel and the lion's den, the fiery furnace, Moses, Joshua etc. I was thinking about the fact that they knew, they knew He was on their side as they stood for Him. They didn't waver. There are times when your reading the word that you can see their passion, but you don't see fear, or panic, or a whole lot of stress and worry. What you see is that they are resting in Him. Their confidence and hope is in Him; in knowing that He goes with them; that He will battle on their behalf. They know because they know that He will do what He said He will. He will be with them. I was thinking about that look on their faces as they stand for God. (Personally I picture that look that Charlton Heston had in the Ten Commandments as He raised his hands and the water heaped or his stance as he went up the mountain to receive the tablets.)
I can see that look on Elisha's face as he is telling his servant, "Don't be afraid, Have a look." I can see that look on Daniel's face as he shoots one last look at the king that says, "Don't worry. It's all good. God's got it covered." I can see that look on the face of Noah as he builds day after day. I can see that look on the face of Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Peter, Paul, Stephen, etc. Its a look that is confident, content, and peaceful all at the same time.
As I was going to sleep last night contemplating all these men and the fact that they all seem to have that look. (As you read the word you can feel that look as they were about to do that big thing for Him.) I asked the Lord about it and He spoke one word. "Rest!" I looked the word rest up in the Strong's and it means to repose and it kept coming back to the idea of abode. To enter into His rest has to do with the idea of being at home, kicking back, being refreshed, being in a place of being at peace, and the idea of matrimony. That look of being at one with the will and purposes of God comes with entering into His rest. Being at home with Him and knowing that He is with you! You in Him and Him in you; sounds familiar!
One last thought about resting in Him is this: "What look did He have on His face as He rested on the seventh day? ...Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good...Genesis 1:31
Friday, March 14, 2014
Turn Away
What just happened?
Haman thought he was going to be sick. His stomach twisted and turned, and he felt a bit woozy in the head.
She was a Jew?! How? What?
King Ahasuerus let out a brutal cry of rage, and stormed down a pathway into the palace gardens.
He's going to kill me. What was he going to do? How did this go wrong? Of all the blasted women Ahasuerus could have married, what were the chances of him marring a Jewish woman? Maybe I can beg the Queen to spare my life!
"Your Majesty please have mercy on your servant. I never meant for harm to come to you! Please understand. There is a evil man among your people. He has fooled the King about his true nature. I needed him gone-to protect the kingdom. Mordecai is the true enemy!"
Queen Esther looked taken aback. Anger clouded her face. For a moment Haman thought the demure queen was going to slap him.
"Mordecai is my cousin."
Haman felt the words punch him in the gut. Oh, kill me now.
He pulled at his hair and groaned. Taking a few wobbly steps towards the couch where Queen Esther sat, he tired again, "Your Majesty, please. I had no idea." Sobs started puncturing his words. "Please spare my life." He dropped to his knees before her, reaching out his hands-
"What is the meaning of this?"
This could not get any worse.
A hand grabbed his hair and yanked him backwards. He stared up into the faces of the king and several guards. Horrific rage contorted the king's face. "You would dare assault the queen in my presence, in my house?" Before he had even finished speaking, they had covered his face with a sack.
He heard a muffled voice say, "My King, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high."
"Hang him on that," said King Ahasuerus.
"No!" Haman screamed. "I was pleading for my life! Spare my life." He blindly kicked, and flailed his body at the hands holding him. Anything to keep from being hung on the gallows!
But they didn't stop. They didn't listen.
And that very day, Haman was hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.
Based on Esther 7:7-10
Haman thought he was going to be sick. His stomach twisted and turned, and he felt a bit woozy in the head.
She was a Jew?! How? What?
King Ahasuerus let out a brutal cry of rage, and stormed down a pathway into the palace gardens.
He's going to kill me. What was he going to do? How did this go wrong? Of all the blasted women Ahasuerus could have married, what were the chances of him marring a Jewish woman? Maybe I can beg the Queen to spare my life!
"Your Majesty please have mercy on your servant. I never meant for harm to come to you! Please understand. There is a evil man among your people. He has fooled the King about his true nature. I needed him gone-to protect the kingdom. Mordecai is the true enemy!"
Queen Esther looked taken aback. Anger clouded her face. For a moment Haman thought the demure queen was going to slap him.
"Mordecai is my cousin."
Haman felt the words punch him in the gut. Oh, kill me now.
He pulled at his hair and groaned. Taking a few wobbly steps towards the couch where Queen Esther sat, he tired again, "Your Majesty, please. I had no idea." Sobs started puncturing his words. "Please spare my life." He dropped to his knees before her, reaching out his hands-
"What is the meaning of this?"
This could not get any worse.
A hand grabbed his hair and yanked him backwards. He stared up into the faces of the king and several guards. Horrific rage contorted the king's face. "You would dare assault the queen in my presence, in my house?" Before he had even finished speaking, they had covered his face with a sack.
He heard a muffled voice say, "My King, the gallows that Haman has prepared for Mordecai, whose word saved the king, is standing at Haman's house, fifty cubits high."
"Hang him on that," said King Ahasuerus.
"No!" Haman screamed. "I was pleading for my life! Spare my life." He blindly kicked, and flailed his body at the hands holding him. Anything to keep from being hung on the gallows!
But they didn't stop. They didn't listen.
And that very day, Haman was hung on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai.
Based on Esther 7:7-10
"No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." Luke 13:3
Haman didn't care about the Jewish people. He wanted them dead and gone. He wanted his revenge on Mordecai. He wanted to win. So he devised his plan, and set it in motion. He thought he was golden. Everything seemed to be going perfectly and then Queen Esther drops this bomb: She's a Jew!
Haman knew that he was dog meat. So when the king stormed off, he tried to beg for his life-from one of the very people he tried to kill! Haman walked in sin. He made his choice, his stand for evil. He had reached the point of no turning back. Haman didn't try to repent until it was too late. In fact, he wasn't repenting at all. He got caught, and wanted out of the consequences.
Think about the woman caught in adultery. She was caught in the act, and was being brought out for judgement. Death. Jesus had mercy on her. He gave her grace and new life. Jesus said, "Go and sin no more." Do you think after this encounter with Jesus that she just went back to living her life the same way? Goodness, I hope not!
After all of our encounters with Jesus, do we go back to living life the same way? We should never take God's grace for granted. It is not a license to sin freely. There will be a judgement day. True repentance is turning from our sins. That's when we get God's grace, forgiveness, and healing.
"If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
"Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out." Acts 3:19
After all of our encounters with Jesus, do we go back to living life the same way? We should never take God's grace for granted. It is not a license to sin freely. There will be a judgement day. True repentance is turning from our sins. That's when we get God's grace, forgiveness, and healing.
We all have areas in our lives where we've walked in sin. God forgive us! From this day forth, we turn away from those things! Amen.
Thursday, March 13, 2014
"Purpose Of The Heart"
"Come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
In John 17:16-18 Jesus is talking to His Heavenly Father and He says these words, "They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
These verses and many like them throughout the Word tell us that we belong to God! We belong to a different kingdom and while we are strangers, aliens, and foreigners of this place we are here for a purpose. We are to live in the world but not of it! We are supposed to live in such a way that it shows we are separate from it; again for a purpose! I love the example that Daniel and his friends provide. They were taken from their homes and brought to Babylon. They were now living in a land that was not their own. Did they loose sight of God or the fact that they ultimately belonged to Him? No!
In Daniel 1:9 we see the use of a word that gives us a key as to how they stayed faithful to God and how, in the process of things, they fulfilled the purpose we are all called to. They brought glory to God and souls to the kingdom! The verse tells us that, "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine he drank;" So the word purposed is important. Purpose simply means; 'to put.' Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah put it in their hearts that they would not be defiled. They were children of the Most High God and they intended to stay that way!
They PUT it in their hearts that they would not defile themselves. The word defile(1351) means to soil or desecrate.; but the interesting thing here is that it goes back to the prim root word (1350) that means to redeem (according to the law of kinship) to be next of kin, to buy back property. This tells me that Daniel and his three friends had an understanding, an appreciation for the fact they they were a redeemed people! They put it in their hearts to not soil or desecrate that redemption?
They had purposed not to be defiled by food, wine, or the company they kept. The food and wine we see in the veggie test in chapter one. The fact that they separated themselves from the company they kept can be seen in chapter two. To sum up the king had a dream. It was a dream that scared him and it was a dream that he didn't understand. He called all the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans to come and explain it to him.vs.2 They asked him to tell them the dream so they could give the interpretation. He said, "No, you tell me the dream and its interpretation." They stall for time, he figures it out and basically tells them to come up with it or die. They informed him that no one could do such a thing. He gives the command, Destroy all the wise men!" verses 3-12
As you read verses 13-15 you see that Daniel and his friends were not there. When the call came from the king they weren't there hanging out with the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers. They were obviously living separate from them and no one went to get them. When they went looking for them to kill them Daniel had to ask ..."Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision know to Daniel. So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Daniel 2:15-16
At this point you know the rest of the story. Daniel goes to his friends tells them what is going on and asks them to seek God with him for the interpretation. God gives him a dream that reveals the king's dream. He goes to the king and shares the dream and its interpretation. This encounter ends with ... then the king fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." Daniel 2:46-47
Was this the last time they had to choose to not be defiled by the land they lived in? No! We know because we've read the book that they had other tests. We know that a lion's den and a fiery furnace still lay before them. These young men are such an excellent examples of what it takes to live a life separated and devoted to the glory of God in the midst of an ungodly land!
It takes a choice! It takes a choice every single day to 'put' in our hearts, "I've been redeemed! I've been redeemed at a price and I won't loose sight of that! I belong to Him!
I don't know about you, but I, like these young men, purpose in my heart to live my life as His child; redeemed for His will and purposes.
Lord, I pray that at the end of my days I could say as you did in John 17:4
"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."
In John 17:16-18 Jesus is talking to His Heavenly Father and He says these words, "They are not of the world just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. As you sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world."
These verses and many like them throughout the Word tell us that we belong to God! We belong to a different kingdom and while we are strangers, aliens, and foreigners of this place we are here for a purpose. We are to live in the world but not of it! We are supposed to live in such a way that it shows we are separate from it; again for a purpose! I love the example that Daniel and his friends provide. They were taken from their homes and brought to Babylon. They were now living in a land that was not their own. Did they loose sight of God or the fact that they ultimately belonged to Him? No!
In Daniel 1:9 we see the use of a word that gives us a key as to how they stayed faithful to God and how, in the process of things, they fulfilled the purpose we are all called to. They brought glory to God and souls to the kingdom! The verse tells us that, "Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine he drank;" So the word purposed is important. Purpose simply means; 'to put.' Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah put it in their hearts that they would not be defiled. They were children of the Most High God and they intended to stay that way!
They PUT it in their hearts that they would not defile themselves. The word defile(1351) means to soil or desecrate.; but the interesting thing here is that it goes back to the prim root word (1350) that means to redeem (according to the law of kinship) to be next of kin, to buy back property. This tells me that Daniel and his three friends had an understanding, an appreciation for the fact they they were a redeemed people! They put it in their hearts to not soil or desecrate that redemption?
They had purposed not to be defiled by food, wine, or the company they kept. The food and wine we see in the veggie test in chapter one. The fact that they separated themselves from the company they kept can be seen in chapter two. To sum up the king had a dream. It was a dream that scared him and it was a dream that he didn't understand. He called all the magicians, astrologers, sorcerers and Chaldeans to come and explain it to him.vs.2 They asked him to tell them the dream so they could give the interpretation. He said, "No, you tell me the dream and its interpretation." They stall for time, he figures it out and basically tells them to come up with it or die. They informed him that no one could do such a thing. He gives the command, Destroy all the wise men!" verses 3-12
As you read verses 13-15 you see that Daniel and his friends were not there. When the call came from the king they weren't there hanging out with the magicians, astrologers and sorcerers. They were obviously living separate from them and no one went to get them. When they went looking for them to kill them Daniel had to ask ..."Why is the decree from the king so urgent?" Then Arioch made the decision know to Daniel. So Daniel went in and asked the king to give him time, that he might tell the king the interpretation. Daniel 2:15-16
At this point you know the rest of the story. Daniel goes to his friends tells them what is going on and asks them to seek God with him for the interpretation. God gives him a dream that reveals the king's dream. He goes to the king and shares the dream and its interpretation. This encounter ends with ... then the king fell on his face, prostrate before Daniel, and commanded that they should present an offering and incense to him. The king answered Daniel and said, "Truly your God is the God of gods, the Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, since you could reveal this secret." Daniel 2:46-47
Was this the last time they had to choose to not be defiled by the land they lived in? No! We know because we've read the book that they had other tests. We know that a lion's den and a fiery furnace still lay before them. These young men are such an excellent examples of what it takes to live a life separated and devoted to the glory of God in the midst of an ungodly land!
It takes a choice! It takes a choice every single day to 'put' in our hearts, "I've been redeemed! I've been redeemed at a price and I won't loose sight of that! I belong to Him!
I don't know about you, but I, like these young men, purpose in my heart to live my life as His child; redeemed for His will and purposes.
Lord, I pray that at the end of my days I could say as you did in John 17:4
"I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do."
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