"Insistence" -Too

"Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?" (Psalms 80:12) Here is the thing that gets me, that pulls my heart apart, like something broken by my own stupidity and carelessness: I need to insist on being holy, because it is no longer a choice, it's who I have become! That is why God would tear down something that He has planted, because God is insistent upon His vine being holy, because it is! Jesus said, "I am the Vine, you are the branches." (John 15:5a) Jesus went on to say that we need to abide in Him, and in doing so, we would bring forth much fruit. But, if we do not abide in Him, then we are cast forth as a branch that is withered, which men gather and then cast into the fire to be burnt. Do I want to be burnt? I don't know, it seems that sometimes I really don't care whether or not I get burnt up or not; at least when I sin I don't. That's what I mean about being insistent upon being holy, because God would never ask us do something that He has not provided a way for us to do. But, if we refuse to even try, then God has a way of making us turn or burn, if you will. I don't believe that we loose our salvation, but we are surely not going to like how this life turns out. A little earlier in 1 John's letter, he speaks about not having shame at the Lord's return (1 John 2:28). Now, I heard a pastor speaking on this subject the other day, and the way he put it, those that aren't found doing right at His coming wont be left, they will be taken up with those that are found doing right, but they will feel shameful in the air. At first I didn't know what to think of that statement, because I was always under the impression that the five foolish virgins did not get in; then again, there is a inner and outer court in heaven too; at least that is what I have come to understand. Either way, if we have been bought by the blood of Christ, then He has every right to do with us what He will, because I have no rights at all. I hope we can all get the point of what that means, because we must abide in Him; we absolutely must...
"All wicked actions are sin, but not every sin leads to death. We know God's children do not make a practice of sinning, for God's Son holds them securely, and the evil one cannot touch them. We know that we are children of God and that the world around us is under the control of the evil one. And we know that the Son of God has come, and he has given us understanding so that we can know the true God. And now we live in fellowship with the true God because we live in fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ. He is the only true God, and he is eternal life. Dear children, keep away from anything that might take God's place in your hearts." (1 John 5:17-21) NLT

"Insistence"

"Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her?" (Psalms 80:12) The more I try to figure it out, the more complicated it gets. The thing that gets me most is how much God loves us, even though we are so hard headed and don't listen half the time to what He says, He still loves us. You know, sometimes love brings us to a place where we must listen. It might not seem like God is working things out for the good, but He really is a very good Father; the problem is that we are not always very good children. There is another thing that comes with restoration, and it's sometimes called, purification. I can only do so much on my own, but when God gets busy working in my life, you can bet that things start getting done! Sure, the devil knows all of my weaknesses, but God is my strength; and for some reason the devil just does not get that. I know we sometimes forget how important we are in God's sight; but that's mostly because we loose sight of how much God loves us. That is what idols do to us, they cause us to loose sight of who God is and how much He loves us...
"All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that the wicked one toucheth him not. And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true; and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen." (1 John 5:17-21) KJV

"Instinct or Not"

"She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river." (Psalms 80:11) I'm pretty sure that God has something to say about those who would lead people away from Him, but we are also responsible for our own salvation. In other words, we can't blame our being lied to as the reason for worshipping other gods. When you stop and think about it, you already knew when you were doing something wrong all along; you just made up excuses to justify what you were doing. I watched about ten minutes of a TV church service yesterday morning, and I have to say, I can see why people can get pulled into something they can't pull away from. The teaching of God's word is basically the mentioning of an address, and then it's all about what ever suits the world's view for the pursuit of happiness. Look at this picture that God presents in the Bible: Israel was at the prime of it's glory during the rein of king Solomon; yet look where they went from there; they were split up and started following all sorts of other gods. Don't think it is just history, because it's real stuff that happens to God's people today. How does it happen? Well, it's not like you plan for it, but there is a plan being played out; it's just that the planner is crafty and knows our weaknesses. Yes, you guessed it; the devil is real and he loves to destroy God's people. It happens because we take our eyes off the Lord and put them on the things of this world. Sooner or later, the things of this world become the desire of our heart, and God becomes less important. When that happens we start replacing worshipping God for worship of other things; things that bring us pleasure and temporary happiness. There is a movie that speaks to this, it's called "Holy Roller" and it shows a cross walking light pointing in different directions during certain times of the movie; when things were moving towards God the arrow pointed up, when they weren't it pointed down. Yesterday I heard a message from Pastor Ben; yes Jon's kid. Anywho; he happened to mention something that caught my attention; as he was speaking of evil, he asked his congregation a question, "Do you know what evil spelled backwards is?" I just thought it put everything into it's proper perspective...
""So why do you keep calling me 'Lord, Lord!' when you don't do what I say? I will show you what it's like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it. It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against the house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who hears and doesn't obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins."" (Luke 6:46-49) NLT

"Basic Instinct"

"The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like goodly cedars."  (Psalms 80:10) I guess you could say that I like to spiritualize the Text; not that I have not ever been accused of that, because I have, and I will wear that with honor. And why not? We are still talking about the "vine" that God has planted, so why not see where this vine grows? Or how it grows, might be the better question. Before I was a Christian I believed in God; I even read the Bible quite often, and even tried to study the Scriptures. But there was something missing in my life, something that I really had no idea what it was, it just was not there. Religion is pretty much man's why of trying to express his belief in God; but a religious man does not always have a relationship with God, it's just something they are trying to establish on their own, in their own ways. There was always something of a disconnected between me and God, and I knew that; not only did I know it, but I assumed that it was meant to be that way; after all, what am I that I could have fellowship with God? I prayed to God quite often; even though I did not think we could have fellowship, I still believed He was big enough to hear my prayers. Hey, if that's not you, don't let it bother you; I was a weirdo on drugs, so I did a lot of strange things to try and experience God; little did I know at the time, I was having fellowship with the wrong god! I guess the point I am trying to make, is that when you get right dome to it, we are all religious to a certain degree. People who say that they aren't, don't really understand what it is that they believe in; because even an atheist is a religious person; it takes a lot more faith to believe that there is not a God, than it does to convince yourself that there isn't. The theory of evolution is a joke, yet look at what they have grabbed hold of to teach to our children; you can't tell me that is not a religion, because I tell you it is, straight from the pit of hell. We were created to worship, so isn't odd how the powers to be have settled into worshipping the earth? No, it's actually not that odd at all; it's only fitting, seeing who it is that is god of this earth...
"Then the devil took him up and revealed to him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. "I will give you the glory of these kingdoms and authority over them," the devil said, "because they are mine to give to anyone I please. I will give it all to you if you will worship me." Jesus replied, "The Scriptures say, 'You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him.'" (Luke 4:5-8) NLT

"Our New Address"

"Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land." (Psalms 80:9) You see, whether you can except it or not, technically you are already in heaven. I know that for some, it's almost a no-brainer to accept it to be so; yet others, those that are a little less adventurous, they might not even want to explore the thought. But in reality, and in God's point of view, we are saints in a foreign land that is not our real home; so why not make it our point of view also? I know I mentioned the before, but I heard Dr. Chuck reference a movie called "The Thirteenth Floor" in one of his messages about 'Space-Time Continuum.' He really gets very deep into some very interesting thoughts about what is real and what we think is real; things like the spiritual world being much more real than the physical world that we see. I realized long before I was ever a Christian that God was real; if you spend enough time looking up into the sky at night, you will have no other choice but to reach that same conclusion. It not really a matter of just believing in God, it's a matter of accepting God's terms of restoration. How hard could be to just accept something that is freely given? Therein is the proof about the spiritual world and the physical! Those that are spiritually blind cannot see the evidence of the truth and their desperate need for redemption; they can't even see that they need restoration! We are not one with the universe; so you just need to get that silly notion out of your head; but you can be one with God! Do you know that you are one with God? Do you know it when your bad, as well as when your good? Yes, you know that you do! He's your Father in Heaven, that place where you call home; and no matter what, it's your home! That my dear friend is what restoration is to me: I have a Father in Heaven that loves me, and I have accepted His love; a love that was demonstrated to me by the fact that He gave His Son to reconcile me back to Himself...
"Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil -the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God's anger, just like everyone else. But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness towards us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 2:1-7) NLT

"Trasplanted Vine"

"Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it." (Psalms 80:8) Having seen what restoration looks like; having tasted what pure love feels like, I can honestly say that there is no other place I can see myself then where I am at, where God has me right now. That does not mean I have nowhere else to be, I am talking about security in Christ. This is the place where you know that whatever happens or whatever the world puts upon you, you absolutely know you are where you are safe and secure. It really does not matter where you go or what you might go through, when you are abiding in Christ, you are always in Christ, period! Dare I say this, but even when you are in the wilderness, or even if you have wondered back into Egypt, you still are in Christ! There is something buried with me that I can never dig out; it's not something that I planted, so it's not something that I can dig out. I hope you understand what I am saying, because there are so many people, well intended people at that, who would try to minimize the power of restoration through the blood of Jesus Christ. There is something that takes place in heaven the moment you give your life to the Lord, and that's where it's planted for all eternity. Somehow, what I have that is buried deep within me, is somehow connected to that which is in heaven; and one day the two will be united, in heaven; it's not a twin, and it's not my spirit, it's the Church! A glorious church is being built that is going to blow our minds; so much so, that no matter what you thought it would be, it will far more glorious that you could ever imagine. That's what I feel God speaking this morning, that we have already been planted in heaven; it's not a question about if I will make it to the other side, because Christ has already secured me there...
"All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ -everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united in Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan." (Ephesians 1:3-11) NLT

"Within and Without"

"Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." (Psalms 80:7) Yes, it's pretty much the same as verse 3, but a little different; but it is exactly the same as verse 19, except from a different perspective. As I was saying, there are people who are dependent upon you in more ways than you might realize; not that God could not work without you, but you do have a purpose in this life that has been determined by God, whether you know it or not. How you conduct yourself matters, because there are others who are watching your life. More than that, they are in need of something to be sure of, and it is our faith that will be the proof they are looking for. Don't think that it matters that much? well think again! It matters a lot! We don't know the half of what goes on outside of our little bubble; even though we think we don't matter all that much, we really do. Every encounter we have is another snapshot of our life presented to someone, whether good or bad, it's all about how we present ourselves to this world. This song just popped into my mind, "If you're saved and you know it, clap your hands." That's pretty much the point I believe God is making here in this verse; it's about something bigger than ourselves, bigger than just our little circle of life. The more of us that begin to let the love of God shine out of our lives, the more hope is presented to those around us that are lost. People need to see the proof, and our lives are the proof they are looking for! Are we going to represent Jesus or not? That's the real question being presented here today; because if we are saved people, then we need to start acting like we are saved people, and rejoice...
"I am glad when I suffer for you in my body, for I am participating in the sufferings of Christ the continue for his body, the church. God has given me the responsibility of serving his church by proclaiming his entire message to you. This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been revealed in God's people. For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for the Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory. So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me." (Colossians 1:24-29) NLT

"Shame Without"

"Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbors: and our enemies laugh among themselves." (Psalms 80:6) As sad as it might sound, it looks worse than we might think it does. We seldom realize how bad our appearance is, as if our mask is not something we can hide, even though we think it hides our true emotions. Sometimes the saddest looking people I see are those that claim to be Christians; it's like they hate life so much, they look like someone around them just farted. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that it's not okay to hate this world; but what I am saying, is that our focus needs to be placed on heaven, and we let that be the light that guides our emotions. If you doubt me, just try it! Put it into daily practice, and actually try to keep reminding yourself, 'I am going to Heaven, this is not my home!' So what if people laugh. When I first got saved, I had this saying among my fellow inmate brothers, that those guys that put on the hardest faces, were the ones that cried in their pillows at night; and so, I made every opportunity I could to witness to those kind of inmates. Did it go very well doing so? Not so much. But it really was not up to me to be the one who leads them in the sinner's prayer, my thing was to plant the seed, or maybe water a seed that had already been planted; it's the Holy Spirit that brings people to repentance, not us. There is one thing about being among people that are serving time for crimes they committed, they know that they have done wrong; no one needs to tell them that they are bad people, because they already know it to be so. Maybe that's why so many Christian wear the face that they do, they are constantly frowning at all the bad people around them, because they think that they are so good. Good or bad, people are always one prayer away from being one of our brothers or sisters; that's all it takes, one prayer spoken from the mouth of a sinner that believes in the cross of Christ, and they saved! What do you want to do today? Do you want to plant a seed? Maybe water a seed that has been planted? Or, do you want to sniff out farts? It's is totally up to us what we do with what we have been given. It is really easy to see the sin in others, but that's not what we are meant to be looking for; except maybe in those that are fellow believers. When it comes to dealing with the lost, we need to think restoration, not condemnation...
"I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you. But we must hold on to the progress we have already made." (Philippians 3:12-16) NLT

"Sorrow Within"

"Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure." (Psalms 80:5) As much as I would like to say that I have it all together, I am more of a wreck than I am anything else; if I wasn't working at least twelve hours a day, then I would probably be on some sort of medication. Work seems to be a way to cope, as odd as that might sound, it just makes me focus on something I know how to do, so I don't have to deal with the reality of my love life, or lack thereof. Is sorrow a good thing? Whatever happen to counting it all joy? That's the weirdness of it all! On the one hand I am full of sorrow in regards to this life, but on the other hand I am filled with joy for that which is to come. I actually groan inside; the more time goes on, the more frequent I seem to groan. But it's a good groan; or at least I think that it is; at least I can feel myself smiling after, as I think about all the good things to come. You would not believe how many times I get asked, How do you do it? I wish I could say that I say something like, 'Jesus gives me the strength,' or, 'God keeps me going;' but to be perfectly honest, I usually say, 'I'm just doing what I promised I would do.' We can never really expect to be used of God, if we are not willing to suffer some sort of discomfort in this life. I don't care what kind of ministry you are in, if you're always comfortable doing what you are doing, then you're not letting God use you fully. I know that some might disagree with that prognosis, but it pretty much comes down to trusting God. How do you know that you really trust Him, if you never really get a chance to practice your trust in Him? The way I see it, we all have our cross to bear; and it's that cross which produces the sorrow, even sometimes agony; but it is also that cross which brings us joy, unspeakable joy! It is our cross the brings into fellowship with the suffering of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and for that, we count it all joy...
"I once thought these were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done. Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God's way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" (Philippians 3:7-11) NLT

"Wrestle Within"

"O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people?" (Psalms 80:4) When it comes to prayer, most of our prayers are petitions, asking God for this or for that; which really isn't a bad thing, because the prayer Jesus modeled for the disciples had petitions within it. But there needs to be something expectant within our petitions, something that glorifies God, not us. Seeing that this Psalm is geared towards restoration, then is it restoration to our glory in God, or God's glory in us? I marvel at the way Jesus took on the cross. Here was a Man who was really more than just a man; in fact, He referred to Himself as "The Son of Man," yet He was God manifested in the flesh. When you study His prayer, that prayer He prayed the night He was arrested, He knew full well that what He was about to go through would be humiliating, to say the least. Yet He gladly faced what many would soon marvel at with great amazement. What holds us back from letting it all go? Pride is usually the primary force that prevents us from giving it all to God; just the thought of letting go and giving it all to God, it is hard to commit to that kind of a freefall. Will God catch me? Will I have any integrity left when it's all said and done? These are just a couple of the wrong prayers to be focused upon! Our focus needs to be on restoration with God, first and foremost! At whatever the cost, that needs to be the object of our concern, and the desire of our heart. Restoration is something that happens over and over; on many different levels, and in many different areas of our lives. When we first came to Christ, our soul was restored to fellowship with God, in that very instant. That was the eternal restoration which was manifested by God's gift of giving His Son, that we might have eternal life. Now that we have been reconciled to God, there are other restorations which must take place in our lives; like to our spirit and body, our minds and our hearts, our will and desires...
"What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don't they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don't have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can't get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don't have what you want because you don't ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong -you want only what will give you pleasure. You adulterers! Don't you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God placed within us is filled with envy? But he gives us even more grace to stand against such evil desires. As the Scriptures say, "God opposes the proud but favors the humble." So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor." (James 4:1-10) NLT

"With or Within"

"Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved." (Psalms 80:3) We don't necessarily start over; that's not what is being implied. There are lessons learned in every journey, some of which are very costly; and when I say costly, I mean that they were at the expense of others, not so much ourselves. If we are redeemed to God, I don't think that there is anything that we can go through that will matter in the long run; at least not to our eternal life we have in Christ. What does matter is what happens to those we influence with our testimonies; those that get strengthened and those that get shaken. Again, this is really not speaking about God's ability to brighten or for Him to make His face shine; this is all about man's ability to see God's face shine upon them. Turn away from your idols, and you will see His face shine! And I don't even think it's a matter of being saved or not saved; it's a matter of knowing that you are, by the relationship you know that you have with God. Whether you realize it or not, God really does love you! No matter what you might be going through, if you are already saved, you're safe and secure in Christ, and you are His for eternity. Now what you are, you are a Living Stone; a testimony of God's grace on display to the world, and to those whom God put's in your life. What I believe Paul was getting across in Colossians 3, is that even though we are still living in this human form and we can still be slaves to sin, it's not something we need to be subject to, because we have Christ living in us. The point is one of turning to Jesus Christ, fully and completely! We need to remove all doubt, which requires that we be taken out of the picture. The more we focus upon our own life, the more discouraged we can become; even to the point of doubting our own salvation as to whether or not we are even saved. I'm not that man anymore, I have Christ living in me, and because He lives in me, I can live out Christ in my life...
"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other's faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father." (Colossians 3:12-17) NLT

"Man's Great Need"

"Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us." (Psalms 80:2) If for what ever reason we are not feeling it, it's not God's fault, it is our own. I know that there are plenty of different thoughts on the manner by which we approach God for our need to be redeemed; but in a manor of need, is what I believe, is our greatest and most direct approach. In other words, we need to want it oh so much! This "stir up thy strength" thing that is being spoken of is not meant for God to get stronger, it's that our need for His strength might be manifested in the fact that we are weak. It's like a chain, any chain; a chain is only as strong as the weakest link. It really does not matter how strong you are in one particular area, or in many, there is always some area where you are weak. We must see our dependence upon God; not just for our weakest area, but our entire being; every single part of what we are. In other words, we don't leave anything out! Even that which you think you are strong in, you're really never as strong as you think that you are, and that's a fact. If you doubt me on that, then look at Peter, or Samson, or even King David; all where strong in there faith in the strength of the Lord, but they all three failed miserably by letting pride be their guide, if not but for a moment. That's really all it takes, just a moment; just one link in the chain can be weak, and the whole chain is ruined; the whole chain will not be good enough to perform what is expected of it. So, if you think you have some control over a certain area of your life, watch out, because that might just be the area which causes you to stumble. Why is that? you might ask. Really, you don't know why? Well, let's see. Maybe it's will be because it is the least area in your life given over for God's strength! It is the area where you think that you are strong enough to handle on your own...
"Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don't lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. Put on your new nature, and be renewed as you learn to know your Creator and become like him. In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in us all."
(Colossians 3:1-11) NLT

"God's Security"

"Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubim, shine forth." (Psalms 80:1) Before we can actually have any sort of victory in our lives, we must first realize that we cannot be victorious on our own. Simply put, if we think we have something within us that gives us power over the flesh, we are not quite getting the whole picture of what is going on. Sure, we have the Holy Spirit abiding within us; which is why this body is considered to be the Temple of God; but without complete obedience to the Spirit within, we are totally going to fail when it comes to having victory over sin. I heard a message by Pastor Matt that pretty much speaks to what God has put on my heart this morning. The message was dealing with two brothers, Joseph and Judah, and it was basically about walking like Joseph walked, not like Judah. Was Joseph perfect? No, but he tried to do what was right. Time and time again, he did what he knew in his heart was the right thing to do; even though for years, doing good seemed to cost him some suffering. But, here's the thing we must always remember about Joseph's suffering, he always still tried to do good in the midst of suffering! There was something of a detachment between where Joseph was and where God had him; regardless of his situation, there was always something else to look forward to that went beyond the current situation. Unlike Judah, who pretty much lived for the moment, Joseph had bigger and better things he looked forward to; even though at times those things were not very obvious in his sight, they were still in his heart. That is the primary gift that the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of us brings, a fellowship with heaven; the ability to live as though we know in our hearts that this is not our home. Does that mean we still don't live for the moment? No, not in the least! I wish it did, because there is always this stupid battle going on in the heart and mind. But God, the God who has snatched out of the fire, He alone is victorious! I can only hope to be victorious in Jesus Christ, not in myself! So, where, oh where is my victory found; well it's not here, that much I know...
"So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate. But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I don't. I don't want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. But if I do what I don't want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. I have discovered this principle of life -that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God's law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God's law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin."
(Romans 7:14-25) NLT

"A Prayer for Restoration"

PSALMS 80 [To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim-Eduth, A Psalm of Asaph.]
Do you feel as though I was not done? I'm not; the truth of the matter is that this continues to go on; only now we move on from what surrounds us, to Him that is above us. Whether you know it or not, idols are a pretty big deal in the way they cause us to turn away from following the True and Living God; even the most devout Christian can be somehow tangled up with idols, and they might not even realize that they are. Yesterday on the radio, someone called in with a question about why God would ask the men of Israel to put away their pagan wives, yet He would allow women like Rahab and Ruth to be listed in the lineage of Christ. I was waiting for either one of the pastors to give the direct answer, but their answers seemed to skirt around the real reason; not that it was because they did not have the answer, because I believe that they did, deep down in their hearts; but they came very close and it seemed that it was just a the tip of their tongues. The direct answer is one of belief, as in who did the women believe in, idols and false gods, or the True and Living God? The pagan women that God instructed the men of Israel to put away where following false gods, and would have caused those men to do the same; Rahab and Ruth were women that had turned from following false gods and wanted to follow the God of Israel. Obviously by now you should have guessed that the title of this post is the title above this Psalm in my Bible. Restoration is something that happens when we come to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, where fellowship with God is restored to our souls; but it also continues each and every day that we are living here on this earth. I think it's rather odd the way that it works, but I am truly glad that it does. What happens here is not totally the same as what happens in heaven; in other words, we have our version of what is going on with us, and then there is God's version of the truth...
"Then the angel showed me Jeshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD. The Accuser, Satan, was there at the angel's right hand, making accusations against Jeshua. And the LORD said to Satan, "I, the LORD, reject your accusations, Satan. Yes, the LORD, who has chosen Jerusalem, rebukes you. This man is like a burning stick that has been snatched from the fire." Jeshua's clothing was filthy as he stood there before the angel. So angel said to the others standing there, "Take off his filthy clothes." And turning to Jeshua he said, "See, I have taken away your sins, and now I am giving you these fine new clothes."" (Zechariah 3:1-4) NLT

"Lead to Feed"

"So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever; we will show forth thy praise to all generations." (Psalms 79:13) If you have been following this blog for any amount of time, then you may have figured out by now that I tend to get carried away some times; where to, I sometimes don't really know. But this morning, I feel God tugging on my heart over this one issue, the issue of doubt. Doubt is not always a bad thing, especially when it comes to our spiritual walk. Oh, I'm not talking about doubting God, not in the least. I'm talking about doubting ourselves, as in, having doubt about having strength enough to do anything. The best sermons I ever preached were the ones where I did not have a clue what God was showing me; I just got up and started to teach, and then God showed up and spoke through me. Those sermons that I taught where I had confidence in what I was teaching or preaching, seemed to fall flat and left off with more questions than answers. In other words, when we doubt our ability to perform in the spiritual realm, we tend to count more on God to perform something, not ourselves. After all, who wants to hear my opinion on anything, not me; I want to hear what God has to say on the matter! As to the point of this lesson, our need for being cared for by God is extraordinary, to say the least. That is part of the issue spouted by those in the world, that following Jesus Christ is a crutch, and Christians are all needy individuals that need to reach out to God in order to live in this world. Guilty as charged! I will gladly accept that insult as something I am proud of; because when you get right down to it, no one has any control of anything that happens to them on this planet. And as soon as we start thinking that we do, we take God out of the picture, because God is in control; He's the one calling the shots; He is the one who holds all matter together, and keeps the earth in orbit around the sun; none of us can do that...
""Present the case for your idols," says the LORD. "Let them show what they can do," says the King of Israel. "Let them try to tell us what happened long ago so that we may consider the evidence. Or let them tell us what the future holds, so we can know what's going to happen. Yes, tell us what will occur in the days ahead. Then we will know you are gods. In fact, do anything -good or bad! Do something that will amaze and frighten us. But no! You are less than nothing and can do nothing at all. Those who choose you pollute themselves."" (Isaiah 41:21-24) NLT

"Gain or No Gain"

"And render unto our neighbors sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord." (Psalms 79:12) Yes, we are a tool in the hand of a Mighty God! Do you expect something else to happen? Really? What if that's not what God has in mind? We really do not get to choose how God will use our life, or in what manner we will be used; as far as we know, we could be torn to pieces and left on the side of the road. But if that's what God allows, He allows it for His perfect purpose, whatever or for whomever that might be meant for. As I look back upon my life, there are times when I doubted why God would use me, thinking, What good am I to God? It's really not about how good or bad we are, not that we can change anything we have done; it's about how great God is and the fact that no matter what we have done, God can still do something great in us. The title this morning is one of those 'just so happens' kind of thoughts, like the one where you say, It really doesn't matter what, I will still follow Jesus! Even if I feel as though my life is worthless, I still have a life to look forward to after this! Right about now, you must be wondering what if anything this has to do with the verse above, right? Well, we are still on the revenging thing, so why not talk about what really matters: God's purpose for our lives! Just because our life is reproached does not mean God's not using us for His glory; as far as we know, maybe it's all about shinning where God has you. You can't expect God to bless you later if you don't feel blessed where you're at, in what ever you are in. One day I will be there, is not part of the journey; the journey is now, right where you're at! So, which one is it? Do we show up? Or do we stay where we are at? I'm confused! I'm sorry, I was being sarcastic. Do you remember the turtle and the wizard; the wizard was a lizard, but it was pretty much all about the turtle. The turtle always wanted to be something else, but it never quite worked out the way he thought it would. We need to just be expectant! No matter where we are or how God uses us, just expect God to show up in our situation...
"When the poor and needy search for water and there is none, and their tongues are parched from thirst, then I, the LORD, will answer them. I, the God of Israel, will never abandon them. I will open up rivers for them on the high plateaus. I will give them fountains of water in the valleys. I will fill the desert with pools of water. Rivers fed by springs will flow across parched ground. I will plant trees in the barren desert -cedar, acacia, myrtle, olive, cypress, fir, and pine. I am doing this so all who see this miracle will understand what it means -that it is the LORD who has done this, the Holy One of Israel who created it." (Isaiah 41:17-20) NLT

"Sigh of Appointment"

"Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve those that are appointed to die;" (Psalms 79:11) Good enough is alright by me; what say you? No, you're right; I don't want to be found good enough, I want to be great! I think we all would like to be found doing extraordinary things for God; isn't that what it's really all about, God using ordinary people to do extraordinary things? Yes, but do you want to know why? Because they chose to show up to be used by God! That's right, they just showed up and allowed God to use them. That is what we are meant for, to be used by God to perform His special purpose in our lives, so that He can perform His special purpose in the lives of others. We don't really get to choose what God's special purpose is, that's what makes it seem so difficult sometimes; and sometimes, it's downright painful! But if you are a tool in the hand of God, there are times when you get put to work, and the work sometimes requires your resistance to be tested. Having been in construction for most of my life, I know how it is to use the right tool for the job, and how it can be using the wrong one; it's all about time, the wrong tool takes for ever, but the right tool gets it done, quick and easy. Obviously, that's not the case in us! Oh, we might think it's the case, and we might say, "I'm not that person" or "I can't do that," but it does not work that way in the Lord's service department. If you have not noticed, these last couple of day's closing verses are speaking about something extraordinary, God's doing! Yes, it's He that does the work! It doesn't matter what you are or what you have been through, God can use you just as you are, you just need to show up...
"See, all your enemies lie there, confused and humiliated. Anyone who opposes you will die and come to nothing. You will look in vain for those who tried to conquer you. Those who attack you will come to nothing. For I will hold you by your right hand -I, the LORD your God. And I say to you, 'Don't be afraid. I am here to help you. Though you are a lowly worm, O Jacob, don't be afraid, people of Israel, for I will help you. I am the LORD, your Redeemer. I am the Holy One of Israel.' You will be a new threshing instrument with many sharp teeth. You will tear your enemies apart, making chaff of mountains. You will toss them into the air, and the wind will blow them all away; a whirlwind will scatter them. Then you will rejoice in the LORD. You will glory in the Holy One of Israel." (Isaiah 41:11-16) NLT

"What a Spectacle" -2

"Wherefore shall the heathen say, Where is their God? Let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed." (Psalms 79:10) As crazy as this might sound, but there is something seriously wrong with the way this comes across. In all seriousness, God needs to be displayed in our lives, not in revenging those that might harm us. If it is not the case, then our harm is self inflicted; maybe not directly, but we are the ones that have brought it upon ourselves. As I watch what is happening in this world currently, I can only imagine what some unbelievers might think, if they truly even consider God at all; they probably wonder how God could allow things to spin so far out of control. You can't imagine what it will soon be like, once the church is taken up; but if you are unfortunate to be left here to see it, be strong and prepared to die! Now that I have your attention, there was something in that closing verse that really spoke to my heart, the part about, "though he is walking over unfamiliar ground." You can't imagine what that might be like, to know no sin, yet to become sin; it is not something we can ever experience. But, it just so happens, we can experience the opposite; we that know sin, can be made pure and sinless! Talk about a spectacle! How does spotless sound to you? I know we can't see it for ourselves, because it's not quite complete in our own eyes. For the first three years of my new life, I must have given my life to the Lord at least six or seven times; each time I was hoping that, this time it will work! Face it, we are going to remain broken as long as we are here on this earth. But it just so happens that our God is not broken, and what He has done in us, although He is not done with us yet, it's good enough to be counted as done...
"The lands beyond the sea watch in fear. Remote lands tremble and mobilize for war. The idol makers encourage one another, saying to each other, "Be strong!" The carver encourages the goldsmith, and the molder helps at the anvil. "Good," they say. "It's coming along fine." Carefully they join the parts together, then fasten the thing in place so it won't fall over. But as for you, Israel my servant, Jacob my chosen one, descendant from Abraham my friend, I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, 'You are my servant.' For I have chosen you and I will not throw you away. Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand." (Isaiah 41:5-10) NLT

"What a Spectacle"

"Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? Let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed." (Psalms 79:10) If only we could see things through God's eyes, maybe we could better understand how it all works out. Usually the person who gets the most attention is the one who gets spoiled or thinks they have something special that others don't, like some kind to preferential treatment. I guess it only really matters how it all turns out in the end, but do you really think King Saul will be in heaven? I hope that he is, because there are plenty of people that I know who started off very well, but ended up messing up and died in the process. When you think about what is implied here in this verse, it would appear God's honor is being put into question. God's honor can never be questioned, not by the condition of mankind, or by any other spectacle that it displayed upon this earth. Man's honor is what comes into question, as in, What kind of a god do they believe in? or Where is their faith? Here is a really good example of what this might look like, it is Jesus hanging on the cross. As he was hanging there, the religious leaders mocked Him, saying, "Where is his God now?" "If he were truly the Son of God, then let him take himself off that cross!" What they did not see, they could not see; because there was something very spectacular happening right before their eyes! In the midst of His suffering and pain, He was working the greatest work He had to date. All the other miracles and signs that He had done, none would hold a candle to what He did on the cross. Yet, they could not see it. What they saw was only punishment and cruelty on display; but what they did not see was deliverance and redemption on display...
""Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea. Bring your strongest arguments. Come now and speak. The court is ready for your case. Who has stirred up this king from the east, rightly calling him to God's service? Who gives this man victory over many nations and permits him to trample their kings underfoot? With his sword, he reduces armies to dust. With his bow, he scatters them like chaff before the wind. He chases them away and goes on safely, though he is walking over unfamiliar ground. Who has done such mighty deeds, summoning each new generation from the beginning of time? It is I, the LORD, the First and the Last. I alone am he." (Isaiah 41:1-4) NLT

"Out of Options"

"Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name; and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake." (Psalms 79:9) You know, having nothing left to loose is not actually a bad place to find yourself, not when you have a God that has already won! Really! None of this is for our glory; we might think it is sometime, but it's totally all about God's glory. And in case you need to be reminded, Jesus is God, and He is not only our Salvation and our Redeemer, but He is the one that will receive all the glory in Heaven. If you don't think that is correct, then read your Bible; read the Book of Revelation, which actually reveals stuff. Some people don't like reading that book of the Bible because they think it's hard to understand; but in reality, it's one of the easiest books of the Bible to figure out. Having said that, there is nothing God holds higher than His Word; His Word is far and above all else. (Psalms 138:2) In case you did not know this, "The Laver" in the Temple was the only instrument or furnishing which did not have measurement or did not get covered. Basically, it was a water basin that was used for washing, and in case you also did not know, water represents the Word of God more times than anything else in the Bible. Don't underestimate the reason for this to mean what it means, because God's word is more than just printed pages in a book, His word is alive; living, breathing, and full of life! Do not neglect reading God's word! It might be hard to get that planted firmly in our hearts, but His word breaths life into our souls! Do you feel like you might have had the life sucked out of you? Well, maybe it's because your not breathing in Life! Anywho, we always have an option; even when we think there is no other place to turn; even if we see that all roads turn towards destruction; even if giving up means total humiliation; it is safe to say, God is the one who will get the glory, so be on the side of God...
""But now, listen to me, Jacob my servant, Israel my chosen one. The LORD who made you and helps you says: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, O Israel, my chosen one. For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessings on your children. They will thrive like watered grass, like willows on a riverbank. Some will proudly claim, 'I belong to the LORD.' Others will say, 'I am a descendant of Jacob.' Some will write the LORD'S name on their hands and will take the name of Israel as their own." This is what the LORD says -Israel's King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven's Armies: "I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future. Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purpose for you long ago? You are my witnesses -is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock -not one!"" (Isaiah 44:1-8) NLT

"The Meeting Place" -2

"O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are brought very low." (Psalms 79:8) If you like numbers, then the number 8 stands out as the one that represents new beginnings, or so I have heard. Regardless, this verse marks something of a turning point within this whole "Sorrow Over Jerusalem" saga, because it takes time to consider the cause. What is the cause of the destruction? Better yet, what will be the result? When we look at the Bible from the point of instruction, we can determine right away that the commandments of God are not something we are good at following or able to keep. Basically the law was there to show us how much we need to be rescued, not to make us follow them; although they should be followed, it's just that we fail so miserably when we try, if we even try at all. That's where the love of God comes in. God loves us so much, His love demands our respect and commitment. If I had to put it into words, the center part of the verse above might somewhat describe what I am talking about: "let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us." It's that come to Jesus kind of experience, the kind where you just know deep down in your heart that you are so special to God and that He loves you so much, it just blows your mind! That's the experience we need to seek day after day; considering our failures and sinful desires, we reflect upon the fact that He loves us so much that He went out of His way to make it possible for us to have fellowship with Him. That is amazing! Fellowship with the Eternal God! And above all else, the fellowship that we have with Him is based upon His love for us, not our love for Him. In other words, we get to enter into His love, which is a place where all of our issues are dealt with; all of our impurities are made pure, and all of or iniquities are dissolved in an instant; a place where real love is established in our hearts, and we can actually worship the Creator of our souls...
"This is real love -not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins." (1 John 4:10) NLT 

"The Meeting Place"

"O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us; for we are brought very low." (Psalms 79:8) I was planning to revisit verse seven, but this will do just fine. As I said the other day, the hour it was I believed in Jesus as my Lord and Savior is always something that I never forget. It was more than likely that John wrote his Gospel towards the end of his life; some place the writing to be dated around 90 A.D., which would have been within ten years from the end of his life. In the account of his first meeting with Jesus, which I believe was recorded in John 1:39, he recalls the time of day that it was, and that it was "about the tenth hour." If you can't recall what time it was when you were saved, don't worry about it being counted against you, because many don't remember the exact day, let along the hour. Then again, if it was such a radical transformation and awakening, as the one that I had, you can never forget every little detail of that day, especially what it was that called you to seek Him out. That calling is what brought you to the meeting place; the place where you would actually meet Jesus face to face. Am I saying that I meet Jesus face to face? You can take it for what it's worth, but I am absolutely certain that Jesus revealed Himself to me, and I came to believe instantly, and without any hesitation in my heart and mind. The introduction was one that was based totally on love; that the Creator of the universe would love me so much, that He would come down from heaven to die upon a cross for my sins, it caused my heart to be torn apart. We can try hard to get back to the place where we first encountered the Lord, but it never quite becomes as absolute as it was the hour we first believed. That said, I do believe that we can always fall in love the same way we did, no matter how long a period of time has passed. It is that same "first love" that never leaves, but is some times forgotten; a love that comes not from within ourselves, but from where it has never stopped being, from God...
"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely. Three things will last forever -faith, hope and love -and the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:11-13) NLT

"Out to Lunch"

"For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place." (Psalms 79:7) It might not seem right, but who will stand when the others run and take cover? Maybe it might have been the passion of being made new, but I really did have several years of boldness and standing in the gap for the lost. If you don't know what that means, it is when you put yourself out there, being bound to nothing else but presenting the Good News that Jesus can set us free from sin. Not that we are not still able to sin, because we will and do all the time; but we are not bound by sin, because the chains of sin have been utterly destroyed. Can anyone see where this might be going? I know that I have shared this before, but in marriage, the husband is responsible for providing love to his wife; while the wife is subject to responding and loving him back, with respect. That might not fit well in this modern day culture, but it's the model of a good strong relationship between a husband and wife. Now, if it's gone bad over the years, and the marriage lacks love in the relationship, who is to blame? We can agree to disagree on the issue dissatisfaction, but when it comes to love, there is only one who holds the strings in that regard. You don't see it that way? Yes, it pretty obvious that you're not alone. I can't convince anyone who does not want to be responsible for their own actions, or lack therefor; but just when did you become so uninterested in winning the love of your wife? Don't feel offended, because the wife is not totally blameless in this picture; as a matter of fact, she is much like the church in relationship with the Lord. We have only one way to look for the answers to all of our problems, Jesus! If you can't find the answer, then you're not looking in the right direction...
"I ask then, has God rejected his own people, the nation of Israel? Of course not! I myself am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham and a member of the tribe of Benjamin. No, God has not rejected his own people, whom he chose from the very beginning. Do you realize what the Scriptures say about this? Elijah the prophet complained to God about the people of Israel and said, "LORD, they have killed your prophets and torn down your alters. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me, too." And do remember God's reply? He said, "No, I have 7,000 others who have never bowed down to Baal!" It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God's grace -his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God's kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God's grace would not be what it really is -free and undeserved." (Romans 11:1-6) NLT

"What Seek Ye?" -Too

"Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name." (Psalms 79:6) So, if you are wondering what yesterday had anything to do with this verse, it has plenty. The shinning city upon the hill is meant to be a light for those that don't know God, to point the way, the true way, to those nations that call upon other gods. That was the whole point of the question Jesus asked John and Andrew, "What seek ye?" In other words, He was asking them 'What do you want?', as if to get to the point of why they were following Him. It really is more about faith than any thing else. If you really think about it, any curse or action that I wish upon someone else, is really just a curse or action I place upon myself. Who am I to judge someone else? Who am I to call upon God to poor out His wrath upon a potential brother or sister? I am nothing and no good to God with that kind of heart. We are called to preach the Gospel message; regardless of what you might think you're calling is, first and foremost, you are to preach the Gospel. I know, you are saying, 'I can't preach; I can't get in front of people and do that; that's not my calling.' But you're wrong! Your life is the message; whether or not you ever even share your testimony, your testimony is your life. When you look at the Book of Ruth, that's the point you should take from that book, one of being an influence upon another life or lives. There were three specific areas shared the other morning where we need to seek change in our hearts, power, position, and pride. All three of these areas were problems that the disciples all needed to come to terms with, and they eventually did. We cannot be any good for God if we do not know that we are not any good for God! That is Paul's point when he says in 1 Timothy 1:15, "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief." What seek ye? If you are seeking after power, position, or some way to satisfy your pride, then it's not Jesus whom you seek. Jesus came for the weak and the humble; those that know that need salvation because their lives are missing something that only He can give them, life...
"But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, "How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!" But not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, "LORD, who has believed our message?" So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. But I ask, have the people of Israel actually heard the message? Yes, they have: "The message has gone throughout the earth, and the words to all the world." But I ask, did the people of Israel really understand? Yes, they did, for even in the time of Moses, God said, "I will rouse your jealousy through who are not even a nation. I will provoke your anger through the foolish Gentiles." And later Isaiah spoke boldly for God saying, "I was found by people who were not looking for me. I showed myself to those who were not asking for me." But regarding Israel, God said, "All day long I opened my arms to them, but they were disobedient and rebellious."" (Romans 10:14-21) NLT  

"What Seek Ye?"

"Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name." (Psalms 79:6) I am stealing a line from the Lord with this title, but I don't think He will mind. Anywho, I woke up this morning thinking the strangest thing; which is really not that unusual, considering how strange I am to begin with. Wouldn't it be really weird if everyone who was born that ever called upon the Lord ended up being in heaven? I mean, nothing is wrong with us thinking that God's mercy does not remain, even though the person might not remain close to God; after all, will we or will we not see King Saul in heaven? I think that it is very possible that we will. It's really not out of the question, because anyone who calls upon the Lord can be saved, and anyone who believes in the Lord will be saved. It is really about that connection between us and God, the one that was broken in the Garden when Adam sinned. Once that connection is bridged again, it's done! That is what you would call a spiritual birth, one which will last throughout all eternity, long after this sinful body is destroyed. The real question comes from whether or not we can destroy the spiritual birth with our flesh; in other words, can we destroy something that God has already established in heaven, by something that we do here on earth? Yesterday morning my friend and former Pastor was sharing at our Men's Breakfast, and he used this title to make a point about "Seeking God." During his introduction of the opening verse, which was from John 1:38, he said that one of the first two disciples was Andrew, but that we don't know who the other one was. The instant he said that, I quietly told the pastor sitting across from me, "It was John!" Now, we know from Matthew's gospel that Jesus called John and his brother James as they were mending their nets, but He also called two other brothers right before that, and they were Andrew and Peter. So what do you think happened? Because the way I see it, Andrew and John were the first two Disciples, but it just so happens that they still worked as fishermen. It wasn't until Jesus called them to be "Fishers of men" that they no longer worked, but began to constantly hang out with Jesus. So how do I know it was John? I am certain that it was, because John never uses the first person when speaking of himself. Besides that, in the King James version of the text of John 1:39, it says, "He saith unto them, 'Come and see.' They came and saw where he dwelt, and abode with him that day: for it was about the tenth hour." Did you get that? Do you remember the hour that you first believed? Yes indeed...
"For Moses writes that the law's way of making a person right with God requires obedience to all of its commands. But faith's way of getting right with God says, "Don't say in your heart, 'Who will go up to heaven?' (to bring Christ down to earth). And don't say, 'Who will go down to the place of the dead?' (to bring Christ back to life again)." In fact, it says, "The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart." And that message is the very message about faith that we preach: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. As the Scriptures tell us, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced." Jew or Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."" (Romans 10:5-13) NLT

"He is Jealous for Me"

"How long, LORD? Wilt thou be angry for ever? Shall thy jealousy burn like fire? (Psalms 79:5) One thing for sure, you really have got to respect the process. Jesus had no respect for those that were self-righteous, for those that thought they were better than anyone else, for the religious ones who worked to secure a place in the system. Isn't it obvious that we cannot ever win God's favor by works? We can not! There is only one way to the Father, and that is through the Son, Jesus Christ. He paid the price for our acceptance, and there is absolutely nothing left to be paid, not one single penny! I like the way Paul puts it in Galatians 3:1, as he asked, "O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?" As I thought about this again, I realized how easy it is to fall into the lie; and when I say the lie, I am speaking of anything that goes against the Truth, the Truth being the Risen Christ! To understand what took place when Jesus died upon that cross, we need to accept what He did as the payment to deliver us from the penalty of sin; in other words, there is no more payment to be made. That is glorious Good News! But it just so happens, it gets better! Because He rose from the grave, He has secured for us eternal life; not only are we forgive for all of our sins, but we are also delivered from death! That is spectacular! Talk about being made fireproof, that's the ultimate way to cheat death; and again, it's not something we accomplished, but rather, it was all God's doing. Maybe we just don't see the New Life we have in Christ well enough; maybe that's the reason we are so easily persuaded to follow the lie; you tell me. All that I know, is that I once was dead, but now I'm alive; I once was blind, but now I see! What is it that we see? I see my need! How about you? We all need to be set free, every single one of us. But for each and everyone, we need to believe...
"Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved. I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal. For they don't understand God's way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God's way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by keeping the law. For Christ has already accomplished the purpose for which the law was given. As a result, all who believe in him are made right with God." (Romans 10:1-4) NLT 

"Out of Sorts"

"We have become a reproach to our neighbors, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us."  (Psalms 79:4) Romans 8 is my favorite chapter in that Book. But, it just so happens, the whole Book of Romans is a masterpiece on the "Normal Christian Life." But you knew that already, so I won't go into that. Jerusalem was to be like the shinning city on the hill, much like you and I. It was to be the place where all the world would look to see God's prize, His pride and joy, the people 'governed by God.' Instead, it came to be the place where the world turned and shook it's head, saying, "How are these God's people?" Obviously nothing happens over night; it takes time for an entire nation to be turned away from God. But it usually happens faster when the leadership are the ones that are causing the turning; one leader in particular, Satan. Jesus called the religious leaders out for what they were, they were children of the devil. He called them that because they wanted to kill Him, because they hated Him. Imagine what it takes for a person who studies God's law and writings of the prophets, to be turned into someone that would murder a righteous man. I'm sorry, but there is no other explaination other than they are children of the devil. Looking at this nation I live in, we started turning away back in the 60's; not necessarily the people, because during the 70's we had a huge 'Come to Jesus' movement; but the government and the powers to be began aggressively turning the people as a whole. There were three major turning points that I can remember, abortion became legal, prayer was banded from school, and we were officially ancestors of monkey's. I know there were more things than that, but those were the three I remember happening during my childhood. It's hard to point to one of those as being worse than the others, but if I had to pick one, I would have to pick the monkey idea as the most damaging one of all...
"For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities -his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn't worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshipping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshipped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other's bodies. They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshipped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen." (Romans 1:20-25) NLT

"Out of Reach"

"Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them." (Psalms 79:3) I really don't think we have a clue want's going on around us; and if we did, we wouldn't know how to even begin to deal with it. Jesus warned Peter that he was in for something he would absolutely have no control over, yet he would not listen to the Master. You ever have one of those moments when you realize that something you thought you had under your control, could not be further from the truth. It makes me think of Nebuchadnezzar, when he spoke of all that he had built, by his power, and for his majesty; while the words were still in his mouth, his kingdom was departed from him. (Daniel 4:30-31) Yet he had been warned, but did not listen; he had been shown, but did not take it to heart. But, it just so happens, even our worst experience or trial can become a lesson; as it did with Nebuchadnezzar. I heard a message about learning to expect God's hand to move, and how some missionaries had gone from asking, "Will God help us in this situation," to stating, "I wonder how God will help us in this situation." It wasn't a matter of "If" any longer, it became a matter of "watch and see!" When we turn things over to God, anything can happen; but you can rest assure, it will happen for the good. But, it just so happens, it will not be our doing! We are just a tool in the hand of the Master. I know we would like to sometimes think we have a better handle on things, and that we have some control of everything that goes on around us, but we really don't. As a matter of fact, we need to be thankful every day for what we have been given, and we need to be humble enough to remember it's not really ours to keep. Do you understand the term, "out of reach?" It pretty much means that you can't reach it; even if you tried as hard as you could, it's not going to be within your power to make it happen. I was thinking about this Sunday, as I was watching a Golf Tournament. One of the guys covering the event made the claim about one of the players, "The win is now out of his reach." That did not mean that he still could not win, but it did mean that it was not within his power to win; he just needed to stay the course, and maybe the Leader might mess up; but there was nothing he could do any better in order to win. But it just so happens, that is exactly how our salvation works...
"Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. For if you live by it's dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God's Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, "Abba, Father." For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering." (Romans 8:12-17) NLT

"Sifted"

"The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth." (Psalms 79:2) If you were paying attention, the father never really let his son finish his plea; actually, he was having none of that, 'Let me be as one of your servants' kind of talk; as far as the father was concerned, his son was back home, and he never stopped being his son. The way I have come to understand things, we have consequence for our actions, but those consequences are actually part of the restoration process. In other words, they become the 'but it just so happens' part of the healing and the deliverance. If one could see a small example of what that might look like, we could look at Samson in the Book of Judges. He was a man who served God, but made many wrong choices in the process; and his final wrong choice was one that cost him his eye sight and his freedom, and eventually, his life. His example is one of the few where you have someone giving their life in the arena, almost as if it were suicide. But it just so happens, Samson killed more Philistines in his death than he did in his life. (Judges 16:30) If you wanted another, you could look a Simon Peter. (I hope I can get though this, because it's already tearing at my heart, and I haven't even started.) Simon Peter was the kind of a man's man, one who most people would want to have around in case there might be some trouble, or in case you needed a go to guy. I have no doubt that Peter truly believed in his heart that he was strong enough to not abandon the Lord in His hour of need; but as Pastor Matt explained yesterday, we are all never as strong as we think that we are. This flesh is weak and our hearts are deceiving; there is just no getting around it, we are corrupted to the core. And no matter how hard we might try, or how much we think otherwise, this flesh cannot stand up to the spiritual testing; it will break and be devoured in the spiritual arena. Jesus knew that, and He was trying to tell His disciples that, but Peter was not having it; Peter actually thought he had what it took, and that he could withstand whatever might come at him. The problem was not obvious, because the problem came from within...
"This is what the LORD, the God is Israel says: I made a covenant with your ancestors long ago when I rescued them from their slavery in Egypt. I told them that every Hebrew slave must be freed after serving six years. But your ancestors paid no attention to me. Recently you repented and did what was right, following my command. You freed your slaves and made a solemn covenant with me in the Temple that bears my name. But now you have shrugged off your oath and defiled my name by taking back the men and women you had freed, forcing them to be slaves once again. Therefore, this is what the LORD says: Since you have not obeyed me by setting your countrymen free, I will set you free to be destroyed by war, disease, and famine. You will be an object of horror to all the nations of the earth. Because you have broken the terms of our covenant, I will cut you apart just as you cut apart the calf when you walked between its halves to solemnize your vows. Yes, I will cut you apart, whether you are officials of Judah or Jerusalem, court officials, priests, or common people -for you have broken your oath. I will give you to your enemies, and they will kill you. Your bodies will be food for the vultures and wild animals." (Jeremiah 34:13-20) NLT

"Out of Control"

"O God, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps." (Psalms 79:1) As you might have guessed, the tile above this Psalm in my Bible is, "Sorrow Over Jerusalem." A real test of forgiveness is having peace, not so much the kind of peace you might feel, but more the kind of peace that you know. In other words, there are no more issues that need to be settled or dealt with, because it has been put to rest in your heart and mind. This is not just about us being able to forgive others, it is also about us being able to forgive ourselves. If only I had done it this way, or if only I had not done that, then maybe my life would be better, then maybe I could still have them in my life. Those are not just random thoughts, those are regrets, the kind of regrets that tear against the peace that comes with knowing true forgiveness. Not only does it harm the peace we should experience, but it robs us of the joy we should have in our hearts; joy that only comes from not having the baggage of regret any longer. What the new life we have in Christ is all about is just that, New Life! The old things have passed away; behold, all things are New! And the most beautiful thing about that newness, is that it's not our doing! O my goodness, He makes all things New!!! Why can't we just accept it and move on, on to living out the forgiveness we have been given? What does restoration look like? That was a question put to one of our elders at church Sunday; and he seemed to pause for an answer, until he finally said, "To have a Father." The more I think about that answer, the more I agree that it is true...
""When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, 'At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, "Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being your son. Please take me on as a hired servant."' "So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.' But his father said to the servants, 'Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and now he is returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.' So the party began."" (Luke 15:17-24) NLT

"Sorrow Over Jerusalem"

PSALMS 79 [A Psalm of Asaph.]
There sure was a lot going on in those several months of Psalms 78, as there is expected to be during these next two Psalms. This is one of those 'Not Much More You Can Say' Psalms. Whether it was written by Asaph or not is uncertain; it's not even known whether it was prophecy or a prayer, seeing how it is no doubt the description of the tearing down of Jerusalem and the Temple by the Chaldeans. Here is the thing we need to understand about all of that, that there is consequence for sin and refusing to follow God's instructions. Jesus said, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me; for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 19:14) The general idea is that of growing up in the Lord, because we are to remain as a child in need of instruction and guidance by our Heavenly Father. Basically that's where the children of Israel went off the path, when they stopped acting like the children of God. If you are a child of God, then you should be acting like a child of God. If you have been forgiven of your sins, then you should understand forgiveness, by wanting to forgive others as you have been forgiven. Oh, I have not left off with that subject yet; mostly because I believe it's a subject that continues to move under the surface in our lives, as well as the lives of these children of Israel. Here is the way I see things playing out, and please forgive me if you might have some other version of what unforgiveness might look like. Since there are consequence for the sins we commit, those consequences come with repercussions, repercussions can occur long after the actual sin has been put to rest; or least you might think that the sin has been put to rest, because it really never dies, or stop creeping through generations and generations. That's not to say there cannot be forgiveness, because there is most assuredly is; but forgiveness happens on a personal level between us and God. As far as God is concerned, if we have been covered by the blood of His Son, we are sinless in His sight; but sin still lingers here on this earth, just as death still is a factor in these bodies. Sure we have eternal life, but that is eternal life in our spiritual life, because this body will not inherit eternal life, it is corrupt. The way I see it, forgiveness must include the harm that has been done; and the only way we can forgive the harm, is by accepting the harm as good...
"You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls. This salvation was something even the prophets wanted to know more about when they prophesied about this glorious salvation prepared for you. They wondered what time or situation the Spirit of Christ within them was talking about when he told them in advance about Christ's suffering and his great glory afterward. They were told that their messages were not for themselves, but for you. And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen." (1 Peter 1:8-12) NLT