-
Sexual Immorality Is Synonymous With Self-Mutilation
Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body. (1 Corinthians 6:18 ESV)
Would you purposely stab yourself in the chest with a huge kitchen knife? Would you even think about jumping off the top of a 20 story building? If your answer is no, then I commend you for having enough sense to do the right thing.
You need to have the same smarts where sexual immorality is concerned. Don’t sin against your own body simply because you have an uncontrollable urge. You may have the urge, but it is controllable. I didn’t say it would be easy. But think about the kitchen knife the next time you’re tempted.
Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:12 – 10:13)
Do you think you’ve come so far, learned so much, that you no longer have any problem with a certain temptation? If so, you are in for one big surprise. It’s only a matter of time, and you’ll be sprawled out on the floor, trying to find a way to get back on your feet.
Take heed means to pay attention. Don’t go to sleep. Look around for at least two things.
One, find out where the enemy is lurking. Two, if/when the attack comes, have a plan already in place for escape.
If you watch for these two things, the enemy will never outflank you. But if you are overconfident, you’ll fall asleep and won’t notice the enemy’s advances until it’s too late.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57 NKJV)
Our ultimate victory comes from the Lord. But just as Proverbs says, “The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety (salvation, victory) is of the LORD” (Proverbs 21:31), we must do our part knowing God will add His strength to ours.
Excerpt from new book project – “Thirty Days to a Renewed Mind”
-
Why Are So Many Opposed To Love?
Love imposed on the devil’s territory, invading his lies and darkness with truth and light.Love deposed the enemy from his place of command, subjecting him to the authority of all who call on the Name of Jesus.
Love transposed spiritual authority and activity, so those who believe may establish righteousness throughout the earth.
Love disclosed the truth about the Kingdom of Heaven, that less is more, meekness is power, and trust is essential.
Love exposed the hidden secrets of our heart, while providing forgiveness, transformation and a new life for all who receive it.
Love proposed a peace which passes all understanding, so while even in the midst of life shaking storms the believer is kept with His calm assurance.
Love posed an invitation to “whosoever will…” Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved, delivered, made whole, and snatched from the clutches of the evil one.
So why is the world opposed to such love? Why does it close its heart and mind to an eternal love so grand?
Could it be they’ve never experienced such love?
Perhaps they would if those of us who have, would show it to them.
What do you think?
Oh, by the way, God is love.
-
Are Preachers Ever Guilty Of Jealousy?
The biggest day of the year for church attendance has come and gone. Easter Sunday, the number one day of the year when pastors and church leaders around the globe attempt to woo the masses into visiting their church, and hopefully, become a regular member.
Although I’m no longer a pastor, haven’t been for over five years, I can still recall some of the feelings I’d have to deal with on Easter; and especially the day after.
Through the years I’ve had the privilege of pastoring two churches for a total of about eighteen years. Both churches were growing churches; one grew upward in attendance, the other, downward. Try as we might to reach out to our community, I’d many times feel embarrassed and cheated by a low Easter attendance.
So I ask the question: are preachers ever guilty of jealousy?
Yes, they are. Is it good? No, but it happens. Has it happened to you? Is it happening to you?
Yesterday I looked at a number of Facebook posts from area churches, their pastors and members. I’ve divided them into two groups. One group told of the number of salvations, visitors, baptisms, etc. Very exciting to read. The other group posted a much more simple message; nice, but I’d hardly call it exciting. “Had a great Easter Service and breakfast”, pretty much defined the whole day.
I’m not putting anyone down for their Facebook post. Not at all. But as I read the first group’s gloriously glowing posts, I couldn’t help but think back to the days when Easter didn’t end up like I’d envisioned. For whatever reason, it wasn’t the “breakthrough service” I had prayed, planned, promoted, or preached for.
And before twenty four hours would pass, I would be filled with jealousy and resentment.
Sorry, I didn’t mean to burst your bubble.
Actually, a person doesn’t need to be a pastor, or even “in the ministry” to be guilty of jealousy. But just because a person is a spiritual leader doesn’t make them immune to those terribly sick feelings.
We need to recognize those feelings, call them what they are, and get rid of them. I know it’s hard to do, especially with the adversary whispering all the reasons why you deserve much more than you’re receiving. But something which might help you beat the jealousy demon back into its hole is to give thanks to God for the people you’re jealous of.
After all, shouldn’t each of us, regardless of the scope of our leadership influence, have just one primary focus? Aren’t you and I called to be faithful?
Faithful to our individual calling, not someone else’s.
I thought about adding a number of scriptures pertaining to jealousy and envy, but that’s really unnecessary, don’t you think? We all know it’s wrong to wish for something another person has, or maybe even worse, wish the other person or preacher wasn’t doing as well as they were. It only causes us to forget the things God has called us to do.
I remember the wonderful pity parties I used to throw for myself. I could sit for a couple hours “meditating” on how unfair ministry is; and instead of doing something creative, I’d end up wishing my life away.
I hope your Easter Sunday went well for you. I hope you were in the first group, the one with all the glorious pictures and comments. God’s good, all the time, and Jesus is still alive!
But if yesterday was kind of a drag, and all your effort seemed wasted, the Lord has a word for you, as well. He’d like you to remember He’s good, all the time, and Jesus is still alive.
Jesus is the One Who builds His church. Yes, we’re workers together with Him. Yes, it’s His desire to see everyone born again. Yes, yes, yes.
But He’s only requiring one thing from us. Faithfulness. Faithfulness to His call, direction, and everyday opportunities. Nothing more, nothing less.
So please don’t waste any part of your life giving in to feelings of jealousy. You’re part of something far greater than your own little world. You’re part of the glorious kingdom of God.
And God is just as much God in your neck of the woods, as He is in someone else’s. He’s STILL able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all you can ask or even think!
-
Why was Jesus raised from the dead? These truths will excite you!
It’s that time of year again; the time when life is celebrated as a holiday.
Easter.
I understand there are many Christians who can’t stand the word Easter, because of its pagan origin. Frankly, though I’m not wild about the word, I am okay with the concept of taking a pagan holiday and turning it into something new.
After all, it’s what the Resurrection of Jesus made possible for us all.
In fact, the death and burial of the sinless Son of God would have meant nothing without the resurrection.
“Who was betrayed and put to death because of our misdeeds and was raised to secure our justification (our acquittal), [making our account balance and absolving us from all guilt before God].” (Romans 4:25 AMP)
In other words, He died to pay for our sins, and the Father’s “Amen” was forever demonstrated to mankind by the empty tomb.
So whether you prefer Easter Sunday or Resurrection Sunday, God still says the same thing; “everyone’s debt of sin has been paid once and for all. If it were not so, I would have never been able to raise My Son from the grave. The devil would have kept Him in the bowels of the earth.”
But praise God, Jesus IS risen!
And child of God, the resurrection of Jesus means MUCH MORE than a simple receipt with PAID IN FULL stamped on it.
May these resurrection truths grow roots and bear fruit in our lives…
Truth #1 – Power to stand with God.
“And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33 ESV)
The word “resurrection” sounds like a religious word, but in plain, ordinary English it means, “to stand up again”. That’s exactly what the power of the Holy Spirit enables us to do.
To stand up again after being dead in sin, pushed around by our old nature, buried beneath our burden of guilt and shame. Yes, the same Spirit Who raised Jesus from the grave dwells in us and gives life to our mortal flesh; we stand up again and again and again.
Until we finish our course. Victorious in Him!
“If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you. So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh.” (Romans 8:11 – 8:12 ESV)
Did you see that? The Spirit Who raised up Jesus raises us up, SO THEN we don’t have to obey our flesh!
Truth #2 – Power to be led by God.
“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14 ESV)
Imagine what He can do through you and I as we learn to hear His voice and cooperate with His leading.
Jesus said something that pretty much blew His disciples’ minds. “It’s to your advantage that I go away.”
Really, Jesus? What could be better than the Son of God accompanying you everywhere?
His answer to that question blows MY mind…
Truth #3 – Power to do the works of Jesus.
What could be better?
Jesus said, “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.” (John 16:13 – 16:15 ESV)
Child of God, all things that belong to the Father belong to Jesus. AND EVERYTHING Jesus has is available to you and I through the ministry of the Helper; the Holy Spirit.
Facing death and destruction? Sickness and disease? Fear and torment? Testing and trials?
The One Who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you!
No wonder John wrote: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 ESV)
Resurrection power dwells WITHIN you!
“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.” (Acts 10:38 ESV)
Resurrection power is WITH you!
“You are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” (Ephesians 2:10 paraphrased)
Created, ordained, and equipped to do the works of Jesus – “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.” (John 14:12 ESV)
May this Easter Sunday, Resurrection Sunday, or whatever else you’d like to call it, find you understanding to an even greater degree “what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church…” (Ephesians 1:18 – 1:22 ESV)
No wonder the early Christ followers turned their world upside down with the power of God.
Doesn’t your world need to witness God’s resurrection power?
I know mine does.
-
Panhandlers, Street Preachers, and Jesus
I was certain the guy was in it for the money; trying to sell me his beliefs in order to get at my wallet.
I had it all figured out. Yep, I knew I didn’t need all the religious junk the guy on the street corner was trying to sell me.
Sure. I wasn’t perfect. Who is? But I was at least as decent as the guy standing in front of me.
Besides, the only reason he was telling me his story was because he was really just panhandling. He’d tell his story to those passing by, then hand them a paper, and ask for a quarter or some kind of donation.
Hey, I wasn’t against hitting people up for spare change. I’d done it many times; in Denver, Colorado Springs, and at a number of truck stops between Des Moines and North Platte. But I never thought of inventing some story to go along with it. What a great idea!But I wouldn’t have used such an unbelievable story. Really! Some guy named Jesus, who supposedly lived 2000 years ago, who loved me enough to die on the cross for me. Yeah, right.
What? Did I look that gullible?
I was eighteen when the Jesus nut tried to get my money and convert me at the same time. Eighteen and full of knowledge.
It wasn’t the first time I’d heard the fairy tale. I think I was sixteen when a white-haired pastor tried to brainwash me. Oh, he was a decent enough kind of guy. He seemed to genuinely care for me. And he was a fairly good ping pong player.
But he was a preacher. At one point in his life he got suckered into believing the Jesus story, and now he got paid to talk about it.
I figured he wasn’t that different from the street corner dude. They both talked about Jesus and they both got money for telling the story.
But I wasn’t going to buy it. I was smarter than that.
Besides, my friends and the people I admired were looking at a different kind of churchy stuff. Buddhism. Buddhism and dope. I couldn’t see why the Jesus trip was any better than the Buddha thing, and at least with the Buddha and dope deal I’d get something for my money.
Yeah, the Buddha and dope people wanted money also.
I eventually gave up on the whole “religion” thing: Buddha, Krishna, dope, and spare changing.
I was eighteen, married, and employed. I didn’t hurt anyone, didn’t put anyone down, and believed everyone should live and let live.
And I could do that without any help from Buddha, Krishna, drugs, or Jesus.
Especially Jesus.
But something happened. How it happened, I still don’t know. I mean, does a farmer know HOW his crop grows? He knows he plants, waters, controls the weeds, hopes for enough sunshine; but he can’t explain the how part.
Like I said, something happened. The things I’d heard from the white-haired preacher, the street corner Jesus nut, and a number of other Jesus followers began to take root.
Take root and grow.
Three years later, after moving to a different state and discovering there are Jesus nuts in other parts of the country, as well as in Iowa, I began hearing the Jesus story from a most unlikely source – my heart.
My own heart began telling me I was rejecting the only One Who really loved me. My own heart? Yes, my heart was convicting me, reminding me of just how evil I was.
Finally, after months of wrestling with myself and God’s word, I gave up. No, that’s not quite right.
I died. Not physically, of course, but the old Jan died and I realized it could have been me nailing Jesus to the cross. Because he took my sins upon Himself as He hung there.
I immediately became a new creation in Christ; the old passed away and the new started growing.
And still is.
That was over forty years ago. It still amazes me, after all these years, how such a perfect Man could love me enough to pay for my transgressions, my crimes against man and God; just so I could experience His love and life forever.
And believe it or not, He did it for you, too.
“But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth.” (Isaiah 53:5 – 53:7 NLT)
“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun.” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT)
The love of God has been demonstrated, the work of the Son is complete. There’s only one thing keeping you from experiencing everlasting life.
Turn from your way (repent) and choose His (believe the gospel).
“But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 NLT)
And you wanna know something? I’m not telling you this story so you can give me money.
Nope. I’m not a salesman; I’m a satisfied customer.
-
All You’ll Ever Need Is Found At The Mercy Seat
There’s a place in this universe, though it was created for every man, woman, and child who’d ever grace this planet, far beyond the reaches of the most powerful telescope.
A place not made with human hands, but a place where every sin-stained hand can find complete cleansing.
A place ignored by some and cursed by others. Yet it’s a place where never once has anyone been turned away.
Throughout the generations, many have attempted to destroy the very mention of its Designer. But those attempts have not frustrated Him, nor have they diminished His great love for each one.
A picture of that precious place was painted for us with words spoken by the author of Genesis, when recounting the events of man’s first transgression.
Moses wrote, “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21 ESV)
The picture was further developed when the Lord told Moses, “There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the testimony…” (Exodus 25:22 ESV)
Moses knew it as the Mercy Seat. The place created by God, for man. The place where man could meet with God; sinful man communing with a Holy God, at the seat of mercy.
The place far beyond our casual reach, but as close as a simple prayer for help.
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16 ESV)
Throughout the ages, man has attempted to erect a substitute for that special place. But even with all their logic and labor they’ve never created anything other than a false hope; a deadly delusion.
No, mankind can’t improve it, reproduce it, or make it go away.
The Mercy Seat; the Throne of Grace. The place where Heaven meets Earth; God fellowships with man.
Jesus told His disciples He was going to prepare a place for them (John 14). He did. The place of mercy; the place of propitiation and atonement.
Jesus is the place of mercy. The Mercy Seat.
Every one of us need the mercy of God, because every one of us is guilty of sin and rebellion. Each one of us has filthy hands, and a wicked heart.
But to all who will acknowledge their need, Heaven calls out to them: “Come and receive mercy, and find grace to help for every need.”
All you need to do is believe, and call.
“But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12 ESV)
-
Have You Ever Been Disowned?
How many times can a person be disowned without it affecting them?
Have you ever been disowned? Have you ever been told you’re no longer part of the family?
Maybe not a family, but perhaps a softball team, church, group of friends, or dinner club?
And why the announcement? Because you didn’t measure up in someone’s eyes. You were either too this or that; somehow you didn’t meet the expectations of the designated leader.
And it’s such a shame.
Or is it?How do you feel when you’re told in no uncertain terms, “You do not belong! You are no longer one of us”?
I know it can really hurt. I’ve experienced it several times in my life. I wanted to belong, because I believed I should.
There have even been times I felt it was my God-given right to belong; my birthright, if you will. But hey, what do I know? I wasn’t the one making the rules.
Even though I knew I was loved and appreciated by a number of other people, and I’d try to act like it didn’t matter, it still hurt to be disowned.
It hurt like crazy.
Perhaps you’ve experienced some of the same rejection. How does it make you feel? What are you doing with your feelings? Are you handling them well, or do you find yourself making excuses for the rule maker?
How many lifetimes will you have to live before you find the correct formula for making the grade?
And what if the rules change, like they sometimes do?
Can you maintain your vigilance, chasing the elusive right to belong, and still be who God created you to be?
I think I’m finally starting to understand that to some, unless I act exactly according to their rules, I’ll never belong.
What about you? Are there people who love to hold the coveted “you are finally good enough to belong to us” award in front of your face? They know you can’t live without it; you so want to belong to their group. Family, friends, team, whoever; you only want to belong.
But you can’t. Because if you have to change that much just to fall in line with them, are you really you?
I am so glad my Heavenly Father doesn’t treat His family that way.
“…those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” (John 6:37 NLT)
“The eye can never say to the hand, “I don’t need you.” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you.” In fact, some parts of the body that seem weakest and least important are actually the most necessary” (1 Corinthians 12:21-22 NLT)
Notice the Head (Christ) won’t say to the feet (you and I), “I don’t need you.”
Even when we don’t measure up, the Ruler of the Universe offers grace and mercy. Though we may have disgraced Him, His Name, and His Family, He says, “Come unto Me.”
And He’s always ready to help us with any changes we may need to make.
Though we may be disowned and cast aside like a used paper towel, God has promised to never leave us or forsake us. He says we belong.
His blood was sufficient for all our shortcomings, all our failures. That’s why He went to the cross.
Others may be too good to help someone as rotten as you and I measure up to their standards. But the Lord of All came in our stead, took our place, so we could become part of His family.
Disowned? It happens, and it hurts. But you don’t need to be alone. There’s Someone Who will receive you; all you need to do is receive Him.
“For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:21 NLT)
Will you?
-
How To Escape From Your Fantasy World
I can just hear some of your responses as you read the title of this post, “How to escape…”“Why would I want to escape? After all, I built my world as a place to escape TO, not from.”
Maybe if you read a little bit more you’ll change your mind.
Fantasy football, fantasy baseball, fantasy heroes and heroines, and of course, video combat games. These are some of the things we find in the world of fantasy.
Then, there is something else-one’s imagination. Incredibly more powerful than a Kansas cyclone, it can quickly transport a person from a world of ugliness and disappointment, to a world where everything is perfect.
And much quicker than Scotty could ever manage.
Is it any wonder that so many people have a hard time living in the real world?
But no matter how wonderful the utopian world is, there’s still one huge problem which must be addressed.
It isn’t real. And because it isn’t real, there’s no way it can last. And when it’s over, it’s gone.
Destroyed.
“A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty.” (Proverbs 28:19 NLT)
Those who face the world they actually live in, with all its flaws and problems, will eventually find a way to succeed. They can learn how to overcome obstacles, become a better person; whatever. They know it’s necessary to acknowledge one’s weaknesses and sins, instead of escaping to their enchanted world every time they face opposition of some kind.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 ESV)
The fantasy never solves problems; it only hides them. The longer that world exists, the more the problems are multiplied. Eventually it becomes a slave camp; its “visitors” lose their right to come and go as they please. They are trapped, enslaved by the very world they created.
Remember Dorothy from Kansas? She enjoyed her new world for a while, but she finally came to the conclusion, “There’s no place like home.”
Pornography, sexual addiction, is one such fantasy world that can begin with a seemingly innocent peek, as curiosity gets the best of a person. But soon curiosity is forcefully replaced by the demand to pursue and obtain the new, always pleasurable, never disagreeable, world of fantasy.
Then the day comes when the person spends more time in his fantasy world than real life.
Where are you living, these days? Do you have a place, a secret world that only you know about? A world where you can do anything you want, and satisfy any desire you have? You may say you can leave it any time you’d like. Have you tried lately?
Not as easy as you thought?
There are two things you’d be wise in considering.
One, if you don’t escape from your fantasy world it will eventually become your burial ground.
Two, you’ll probably need assistance in breaking out. Especially if you’ve spent much time there. Eventually Dorothy found someone who helped return to Kansas.
The real world is not a very nice place at times, and you definitely never get your way all the time; like in your fantasy world.
But it is a place where you can experience the love and forgiveness of God, and the genuine love of people who don’t judge, but come alongside you to help as you work to establish a new life in your real world.
How about it? Don’t you think it’s time to check out of the world you’ve created and check back into the world you were meant to be a part of?
I do.
Because there’s no place like home.
-
Are You Hiding In The Bushes?
I’d like to begin this post with two questions.
The first – “Are you hiding in the bushes?”
The second – “Who’s in the bushes with you?”
Not long after God created Adam and Eve, not long after He blessed them and told them to be fruitful and multiply, and shortly after telling them they had dominion over every bird in the sky, fish in the sea, and creepy-crawly thing on the ground, a certain serpent invaded their territory with a question.
“Did God actually say…?”
“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” (Genesis 3:1 ESV)
Notice the “serpent was more crafty…”, meaning he was cunning, conniving, and should never be trusted. We know that now, but Adam and Eve weren’t aware the serpent’s master was Lucifer, the adversary of God.
We know the devil can’t be trusted, but sometimes we act like Adam and Eve. We listen to his faith weakening, flesh enticing questions and suggestions.
And sometimes we end up in the bushes, just like Adam and Eve.
Many feel as though the serpent was crafty because he was able to manipulate the First Couple into disobeying their Creator. Yes, I’d have to agree; that was pretty cagey.
But here’s what really amazes me.
When they realized they were naked, and heard the sound of God walking through the garden, they listened to the serpent once again and jumped into the bushes.
Hiding from God with His adversary.
Hiding in the bushes with the devil.
You may think I’m reading more into the passage than I should. I don’t think so, and here’s why.
I know the devil was standing (slouching) with them because of something Eve said. She told God, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.” When she said that, I can picture her pointing to the serpent next to her.
God didn’t leave the pair to go snake hunting. He said to the serpent right then and there, “You’ve had it!” And, eventually, the devil realized he had bitten off more than he could chew.
You are probably wondering why I think it’s such a big deal, hiding with the adversary and all. So, I’ll try and explain what I mean.
It’s one thing to disobey God. Outside of Jesus, there’s not one of us since Adam and Eve who haven’t disobeyed Him at some point in our life. At least once (hah!)
Disobedience is a terrible thing, and affects so many. But there’s something even worse than sin.
What!? Something worse than sin?
Yes. Much worse, as far as I’m concerned.
What could be worse?
Hiding in the bushes from the only One Who can forgive and turn things around. Hiding in the bushes with the one whose whole agenda is to steal, kill, and destroy. As long as Adam and Eve stayed in the bushes, they were vulnerable to everything around them. They were naked, and they knew it.
They were now subject to fear, torment, and of course, the shame of disobedience. And the longer they hid, the longer the devil controlled them.
Are YOU hiding in the bushes? Have you, sometime in the past, either ignored or rejected the commands of God and, instead, swallowed the tempting bait the devil tossed at you?
Don’t you think it’s time to come out of hiding? God hasn’t quit calling your name. He knows where you’re at, but you have to take the first step toward Him and declare, “Here I am.”
Those three little words are enough to turn the forces of evil from you, as God draws you to His side and clothes you in His righteousness.
“Here I am, Lord. I step away from the bushes, away from my excuses, away from my habits, and into Your light and love.”
Sure, God will say, “What happened?” But He already knows. He’s asking you for YOUR benefit.
“Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” (Proverbs 28:13 ESV)
Yes, I believe it’s time, past time, to come out of hiding and into the light of His glorious love.
“He is faithful and just to forgive you of all sin, and cleanse you from all unrighteousness…”
What do think?
-
Have You Allowed Your Dream To Die?
Every once in a while I listen to what the preacher says.
Oh, I always hear them, like a lot of folks. But I sometimes actually listen.
Today was one of those days.
He began with the scripture, “Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint.” (Proverbs 29:18 ESV) Another translation says it this way: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.”
Even though the preacher soon moved on to another passage, I had already unpacked my mining gear. He had piqued my interest, and the Spirit of God let me know there was more for me to understand beneath the surface.
So it was time to dig, to excavate, and discern what I was supposed to find.
I eventually caught up to the preacher, but not until I had written myself a few notes; some thoughts I believe were from God. Allow me to open my valise and share with you my findings.
The phrase, “No prophetic vision”, can refer to a number of things: goals, dreams, and the like. The goals could be something for an individual or many. They could come as the result of planning and study, or prayer and fasting. How they come or appear doesn’t matter much; what does matter is their value. Are they worth the trouble and work necessary to see them become a reality?
If people devalue the goals and dreams, they will act as though they’ve never heard of them. They’ll reject them as unattainable, irrelevant, or not worth the effort. The result of such rejection is total chaos. No restraints. Wide open spaces where anything and everything can happen.
But not the original goal or dream.
Where are you these days? Do you have a life’s goal or dream? Are you guarding it as you work toward its fulfillment?
There have been times in my life I’ve looked at my dream of writing and ministering the gospel full time when I’ve thought, “Pie in the sky. Dreamland. I need to get back down to earth and take a bite of reality.”
I’ve almost given up on, what I believe, is a God-given dream. And to give it up means to throw off the disciplines and habits that have brought me at least as close as I am to the dream.
But I refuse to cast off restraint! I refuse to live without a dream!
And it’s how we must be with God’s word. His prophetic vision, His dream of what can happen if only… Let’s believe in “if only”. Let’s act upon the vision, the picture His word paints for us.
It is relevant. It is precious. It is attainable.
If only… Hold on to the dream. Let the dream give joy to your disciplines.
Your time is coming.
Jan Grace
adding God's Word into my world…
Jan Grace 