reading target list:
1) the pilgrims progress
2) a call to a just and holy live - william law
3) your god is too small jb phillips
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Prophet Samuel's Intercessions
1 Sam 12: 23
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
The Prophet frequently entered God's presence and spent time in the Holy of Holies, interceding on behalf of others asking for God to intervene for thier lives, even for a nation. He was trained to do so, sleeping in the holy of holies before the ark of the covenant when young.
1 Sam 3:3
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Even when the ark was taken by the Philistines, we do not see him in distress, unlike Eli who was worried for the ark when it was captured, he on the other hand was at peace. He knew that the ark could take care of itself. God will defend His own name and glory. nothing seemed to stop the man. he still continued to enter into the presence of the lord to pray and intercede for others as he had always done.
23 Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
The Prophet frequently entered God's presence and spent time in the Holy of Holies, interceding on behalf of others asking for God to intervene for thier lives, even for a nation. He was trained to do so, sleeping in the holy of holies before the ark of the covenant when young.
1 Sam 3:3
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was.
Even when the ark was taken by the Philistines, we do not see him in distress, unlike Eli who was worried for the ark when it was captured, he on the other hand was at peace. He knew that the ark could take care of itself. God will defend His own name and glory. nothing seemed to stop the man. he still continued to enter into the presence of the lord to pray and intercede for others as he had always done.
Jesus, majesty veiled in flesh
Savior, how much You have loved,
Veiling Yourself in this humanity,
Fearful in holiness, perfect in wisdom, majesty,
You chose to have mercy and teach us Your ways,
A man, who could be touched, whose hands could be held,
A man, whose word and ways,
Could be made known,
In flesh You came, the holiness of God,
Veiled in flesh,
God came to touch frail human beings.
Veiling Yourself in this humanity,
Fearful in holiness, perfect in wisdom, majesty,
You chose to have mercy and teach us Your ways,
A man, who could be touched, whose hands could be held,
A man, whose word and ways,
Could be made known,
In flesh You came, the holiness of God,
Veiled in flesh,
God came to touch frail human beings.
Fear of Failure
The fear of failure is a disease which stops venturing and endevour & keeps us in passivity and even worse- apathy.
Keeps men who were made in the image of God stupid, scared and cowardly.
Keeps men who were made in the image of God stupid, scared and cowardly.
A table
Jesus, You have prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You feed me with the riches of who You are, Your bread and Your wine. Partaking of the divine nature and being transformed into Your likeness. Your word Your whispers are food and drink to me to do Your will that is my strength that is my pleasure to serve You.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The gift of righteousness - a covering for a bold and confident relationship with God.
Righteousness by faith is that covering in Romans 4: 'blessed are those whose lawless deeds are covered.'
Though there may still be coruptions in the heart, this righteousness gives us the boldness to approcach the presence of God Himself. In His presence, God sanctifies us by infusing Christ Himself into our hearts, imparting His purity through a faith based relationship with Himself.
The quality of our righteousness perceived and received corellates to the boldness and sense of welcome that we can enjoy to receive of His gracce.
Though there may still be coruptions in the heart, this righteousness gives us the boldness to approcach the presence of God Himself. In His presence, God sanctifies us by infusing Christ Himself into our hearts, imparting His purity through a faith based relationship with Himself.
The quality of our righteousness perceived and received corellates to the boldness and sense of welcome that we can enjoy to receive of His gracce.
Grow, grow, grow
grow, grow, grow just keep growing - wisdom, integrity, character, santification, faith, knowledge, skill. just use of it for His glory.
Isaiah53: Christ's Ultimate and Total Present Victory
God's response to Christ's perfect sin atonement and sacrifice, quoted from Matthew Henry's complete commentary of the bible on Isaiah 53:
Because he has done all these good services, therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and, according to the will of the Father, he shall divide the spoil with the strong, as a great general, when he has driven the enemy out of the field, takes the plunder of it for himself and his army, which is both an unquestionable evidence of the victory and a recompense for all the toils and perils of the battle.
Note, (1.) God the Father has engaged to reward the services and sufferings of Christ with great glory: "I will set him among the great, highly exalt him, and give him a name above every name.’’ Great riches are also assigned to him: He shall divide the spoil, shall have abundance of graces and comforts to bestow upon all his faithful soldiers.
(2.) Christ comes at his glory by conquest. He has set upon the strong man armed, dispossessed him, and divided the spoil. He has vanquished principalities and powers, sin and Satan, death and hell, the world and the flesh; these are the strong that he has disarmed and taken the spoil of.
(3.) Much of the glory with which Christ is recompensed, and the spoil which he has divided, consists in the vast multitudes of willing, faithful, loyal subjects, that shall be brought in to him; for so some read it: I will give many to him, and he shall obtain many for a spoil. God will give him the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, Ps. 2:8. His dominion shall be from sea to sea.
Many shall be wrought upon by the grace of God to give up themselves to him to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him, and hereby he shall reckon himself honoured, and enriched, and abundantly recompensed for all he did and all he suffered.
(4.) What God designed for the Redeemer he shall certainly gain the possession of: "I will divide it to him,’’ and immediately it follows, He shall divide it, notwithstanding the opposition that is given to him; for, as Christ finished the work that was given him to do, so God completed the recompence that was promised him for it; for he is both able and faithful.
(5.) The spoil which God divided to Christ he divides (it is the same word), he distributes, among his followers; for, when he led captivity captive, he received gifts for men, that he might give gifts to men; for as he has told us (Acts 20:35) he did himself reckon it more blessed and honourable to give than to receive. Christ conquered for us, and through him we are more than conquerors. He has divided the spoils, the fruits of his conquest, to all that are his: let us therefore cast in our lot among them.
Because he has done all these good services, therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and, according to the will of the Father, he shall divide the spoil with the strong, as a great general, when he has driven the enemy out of the field, takes the plunder of it for himself and his army, which is both an unquestionable evidence of the victory and a recompense for all the toils and perils of the battle.
Note, (1.) God the Father has engaged to reward the services and sufferings of Christ with great glory: "I will set him among the great, highly exalt him, and give him a name above every name.’’ Great riches are also assigned to him: He shall divide the spoil, shall have abundance of graces and comforts to bestow upon all his faithful soldiers.
(2.) Christ comes at his glory by conquest. He has set upon the strong man armed, dispossessed him, and divided the spoil. He has vanquished principalities and powers, sin and Satan, death and hell, the world and the flesh; these are the strong that he has disarmed and taken the spoil of.
(3.) Much of the glory with which Christ is recompensed, and the spoil which he has divided, consists in the vast multitudes of willing, faithful, loyal subjects, that shall be brought in to him; for so some read it: I will give many to him, and he shall obtain many for a spoil. God will give him the heathen for his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession, Ps. 2:8. His dominion shall be from sea to sea.
Many shall be wrought upon by the grace of God to give up themselves to him to be ruled, and taught, and saved by him, and hereby he shall reckon himself honoured, and enriched, and abundantly recompensed for all he did and all he suffered.
(4.) What God designed for the Redeemer he shall certainly gain the possession of: "I will divide it to him,’’ and immediately it follows, He shall divide it, notwithstanding the opposition that is given to him; for, as Christ finished the work that was given him to do, so God completed the recompence that was promised him for it; for he is both able and faithful.
(5.) The spoil which God divided to Christ he divides (it is the same word), he distributes, among his followers; for, when he led captivity captive, he received gifts for men, that he might give gifts to men; for as he has told us (Acts 20:35) he did himself reckon it more blessed and honourable to give than to receive. Christ conquered for us, and through him we are more than conquerors. He has divided the spoils, the fruits of his conquest, to all that are his: let us therefore cast in our lot among them.
Dead end?
Though it looks like a dead end to me, it is not to you. You will show me the way ahead in Your time.
God's favourite friends
In the whole nation of redeemed Israel there was one man who spoke to God face to face- Moses.
In the whole nation of praying peoples one man interceeded for his nation to return to Jerusalem and saw heavenly visions of angels who would accomplish the word - His prayers 3 times a day irritated his generation. Daniel.
In a dark time where God was slient for 400 years, there were 6 people who sought His face - Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon, Zechariah, Elizebeth. Whose ordinary lives were changed in a day. Tho it tarries, wait for it.
Dont be afraid to stand out and stick out for Christ, you find yourself in good company.
In the whole nation of praying peoples one man interceeded for his nation to return to Jerusalem and saw heavenly visions of angels who would accomplish the word - His prayers 3 times a day irritated his generation. Daniel.
In a dark time where God was slient for 400 years, there were 6 people who sought His face - Mary, Joseph, Anna, Simeon, Zechariah, Elizebeth. Whose ordinary lives were changed in a day. Tho it tarries, wait for it.
Dont be afraid to stand out and stick out for Christ, you find yourself in good company.
Parachuter
Like a parachuter behind enemy lines, God knows exactly where we are, though we might be lost ourselves.
He knows our value to Himself, He gives us supplies of His love and grace and power to sustain us, He will rescue us and bring Him to Himself.
He gives us a mission and orders to carry out His warfare in the place He has placed us.
He knows our value to Himself, He gives us supplies of His love and grace and power to sustain us, He will rescue us and bring Him to Himself.
He gives us a mission and orders to carry out His warfare in the place He has placed us.
Prayer worship list
1) Offering
2) hear us
3) lord i offer
4) heart of worship
amazing love
*The universe is at your feet, I adore you
*I'm forgiven - amazing love
*Your majesty I can but bow.
Reserve
*At the foot of the cross
1) O the wonderful cross?
2) Lord i offer my life to you
3) All to us Chris tomlin
Sent from my iPhone
2) hear us
3) lord i offer
4) heart of worship
amazing love
*The universe is at your feet, I adore you
*I'm forgiven - amazing love
*Your majesty I can but bow.
Reserve
*At the foot of the cross
1) O the wonderful cross?
2) Lord i offer my life to you
3) All to us Chris tomlin
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Prayer meeting song list
Song wish list for prayer meeting
1) at the foot of the cross
2) run to the altar
3) ?
1) at the foot of the cross
2) run to the altar
3) ?
Reflections on Isaiah 53: God's honor
From Matthew Henry's commentary on Isaiah 53:
The honor that we owed God through acts of righteousness and the resultant dishonor and hurt we brought to Him through disobedience and sin
Jesus paid it back in full and more by making His soul an offering for sin and committing His Spirit as payment to God on our behalf.
The honor that we owed God through acts of righteousness and the resultant dishonor and hurt we brought to Him through disobedience and sin
Jesus paid it back in full and more by making His soul an offering for sin and committing His Spirit as payment to God on our behalf.
Reflections on Isaiah 53: grief,sins and sorrow
Surely He has borne our griefs (hebrew Khol-ee)
Malady, anxiety, clamity, disease, grief, sickness.
Malady: webster's definition:
1. Any sickness or disease of the human body; any distemper from impaired, defective or morbid organic functions; more particularly, a lingering or deep seated disorder or indisposition. It may be applied to any animal body,but is, I believe, rarely or never applied to plants.
The maladies of the body may prove medicines to the mind.
and carried our sorrow:
Hebrew (mak-obe)
Anguish, affliction, grief, pain, sorrow.
God fights for the salvation of those who are His.
God fights for the salvation of those who are His.
He is able to work in us exceedingly above and beyond all we ask or think according to the power that works in us.
Exodus 14:14 : The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
I am to forsake other things and meditate on You day and night.
Sent from my iPhone
He is able to work in us exceedingly above and beyond all we ask or think according to the power that works in us.
Exodus 14:14 : The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
I am to forsake other things and meditate on You day and night.
Sent from my iPhone
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Better to pay small prices to learn character lessons of the everyday than to crash and burn in a big way later in success.
Better to pay small prices to learn character lessons of the everyday than to crash and burn in a big way later in success.
Sent from my iPhone
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
My generation
People of my generation like comfort the word sacrifice is inconvenient Even an abomination to us.
The values of my generation are comfort, riches, security. Love we'll take if it costs us nothing. We don't question or seek for meaning because comfort is meaningful enough.
We work hard being very pragmatic about it 'what is in this for me?' is the key to the heart. And we want to know - does it work? work to give me good pay, work to give me the status i need, work to give me a sense of importance i struggle to attain everyday?
We don't like the word commitment. Church without commitment ok I'll take it, home group without commitment is alright, commit to a brother or sister to the death is a thought as foreign to our minds as Mars is to the planet earth.
Reading is horrendous torture, so is Investigating or seeking. We don't question why or where we are going as long as we are in motion we are satisfied. No one stops looks up to ask why is this so? Is this right? Courage in our day is foreign.
Reading the bible is even worse torture. For how can I understand something so foreign? How am I expected to seek resources needed to understand? Pray? I cant's stand silence or worse-boredom. PRay without sensation - just to believe are you mad? I already work so hard I will let a professional work to break it down for me so I can get an understanding without paying any price, let a professional pray for me i dont need to spend anytime to do that do I?
Hopefully the preaching the authentic gospel of Christ will change those things. Not the feel good prosperity gospel, not the success now gospel, not 'no cost Christianity gospel', not the 'you are everything, the centre of the universe' man exaulting gospel. But the compelling beauty of Christ Himself, saving lost human beings from sin, and a Christless eternity, with righteousness, holiness, integrity and compassion. Where the weary have a rest, homeless and family-less have warmth, acceptance and love and where we will commit ourselves to fight for one another as Christ poured out His life for us. We will commit ourselves to the word and prayer and not be distracted from receiving all Christ has purchased and live our lives in this world radically for Him.
Beneath the surface There is pain beneath the surface there is need, beneath this bright city there are cries for help, beneath the rubble of lives broken, seemingly together. Christ comes in power to heal and give true and eternal hope.
Sent from my iPhone
The values of my generation are comfort, riches, security. Love we'll take if it costs us nothing. We don't question or seek for meaning because comfort is meaningful enough.
We work hard being very pragmatic about it 'what is in this for me?' is the key to the heart. And we want to know - does it work? work to give me good pay, work to give me the status i need, work to give me a sense of importance i struggle to attain everyday?
We don't like the word commitment. Church without commitment ok I'll take it, home group without commitment is alright, commit to a brother or sister to the death is a thought as foreign to our minds as Mars is to the planet earth.
Reading is horrendous torture, so is Investigating or seeking. We don't question why or where we are going as long as we are in motion we are satisfied. No one stops looks up to ask why is this so? Is this right? Courage in our day is foreign.
Reading the bible is even worse torture. For how can I understand something so foreign? How am I expected to seek resources needed to understand? Pray? I cant's stand silence or worse-boredom. PRay without sensation - just to believe are you mad? I already work so hard I will let a professional work to break it down for me so I can get an understanding without paying any price, let a professional pray for me i dont need to spend anytime to do that do I?
Hopefully the preaching the authentic gospel of Christ will change those things. Not the feel good prosperity gospel, not the success now gospel, not 'no cost Christianity gospel', not the 'you are everything, the centre of the universe' man exaulting gospel. But the compelling beauty of Christ Himself, saving lost human beings from sin, and a Christless eternity, with righteousness, holiness, integrity and compassion. Where the weary have a rest, homeless and family-less have warmth, acceptance and love and where we will commit ourselves to fight for one another as Christ poured out His life for us. We will commit ourselves to the word and prayer and not be distracted from receiving all Christ has purchased and live our lives in this world radically for Him.
Beneath the surface There is pain beneath the surface there is need, beneath this bright city there are cries for help, beneath the rubble of lives broken, seemingly together. Christ comes in power to heal and give true and eternal hope.
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
The Glorious Gospel: Part 1: forgiveness , acceptance, love
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering, He has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
The grace of God in the gift of Christ - His death, resurrection, His gift of righteousness and holiness is greater - heavier in substance and power than indwelling sin, Satan’s dominion, the lusts of the flesh and all the temptations of this world. All the problems we face with ourselves, with the world and evil can be met through the provision of grace which has been provided us in the cross, through Christ.
Christ’s death - being made sin, (1) receiving the full outpouring of wrath against all the sins of mankind in His body (2) - destroyed the power of indwelling sin in us. The purity of his sacrifice, and the ultimate symbol of His finished work- His blood has secured eternal forgiveness and escape from God's righteous wrath.
His blood cleanses us from all sin. All our sins and lawless deeds are remembered before God no more, because they were all judged but once at the cross. How much did Christ forgive at the cross? How much sin did He take upon Himself? All.
Hebrews 8:12 esv : 'For I will be merciful toward their iniquities (KJV: unrighteousness) , and I will remember their sins no more.'
As we confess our sins to Him, turn from our sins to Him and put simple faith in Him to receive what Christ has done for us, God takes of the forgiveness and blood of the cross and applies it to us. (3) He forgives us fully, being 'merciful to our unrighteousness,' because of Christ's bearing of all sin and all wrath, God's wrath will no more burn against us to judge or condemn us.
The repeated appropriating of this truth destroys the power of indwelling sin by giving the Christian a humble knowledge of God’s free, total, but costly forgiveness. The blood of Christ replaces guilt and shame with acceptance, forgiveness and a tangible experience of being loved by God 'the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit'.
‘There is therefore now, no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ From sinners and enemies we are declared ‘not guilty’ and not only that, we have Christ’s own full righteous life credited to us as to our own account, and are declared ‘highly favored in Christ and loved in the beloved,’ through the simple agency of faith.
1. 2 Cor 5:21 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. Hebrews 10:12-18 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified...18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
3. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The grace of God in the gift of Christ - His death, resurrection, His gift of righteousness and holiness is greater - heavier in substance and power than indwelling sin, Satan’s dominion, the lusts of the flesh and all the temptations of this world. All the problems we face with ourselves, with the world and evil can be met through the provision of grace which has been provided us in the cross, through Christ.
Christ’s death - being made sin, (1) receiving the full outpouring of wrath against all the sins of mankind in His body (2) - destroyed the power of indwelling sin in us. The purity of his sacrifice, and the ultimate symbol of His finished work- His blood has secured eternal forgiveness and escape from God's righteous wrath.
His blood cleanses us from all sin. All our sins and lawless deeds are remembered before God no more, because they were all judged but once at the cross. How much did Christ forgive at the cross? How much sin did He take upon Himself? All.
Hebrews 8:12 esv : 'For I will be merciful toward their iniquities (KJV: unrighteousness) , and I will remember their sins no more.'
As we confess our sins to Him, turn from our sins to Him and put simple faith in Him to receive what Christ has done for us, God takes of the forgiveness and blood of the cross and applies it to us. (3) He forgives us fully, being 'merciful to our unrighteousness,' because of Christ's bearing of all sin and all wrath, God's wrath will no more burn against us to judge or condemn us.
The repeated appropriating of this truth destroys the power of indwelling sin by giving the Christian a humble knowledge of God’s free, total, but costly forgiveness. The blood of Christ replaces guilt and shame with acceptance, forgiveness and a tangible experience of being loved by God 'the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit'.
‘There is therefore now, no more condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.’ From sinners and enemies we are declared ‘not guilty’ and not only that, we have Christ’s own full righteous life credited to us as to our own account, and are declared ‘highly favored in Christ and loved in the beloved,’ through the simple agency of faith.
1. 2 Cor 5:21 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2. Hebrews 10:12-18 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified...18 Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.
3. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
The Glorious Gospel: Part 2: death for ourselves, to the world and to Satan.
Romans 6:3-4
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Dying He destroyed our old identity, our soul's sinful state, our old man's corrupted desires and lusts- He does not deal with desires, He deals with the whole soul of the person. He takes the soul – us, spiritually and individually into His grave. We now are baptized, immersed and conformed into His death through Faith in Him. Old things have passed away, having been baptized (immersed, buried) into his death, we are dead to the state of our old selves. God delivers us from ourselves - we who have become corrupted through the fall are now rescued from ourselves- God did it through providing a death for us in Christ.
We have rich spiritual inheritances through this death and resurrection: 1 Pet 1:4 According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. More on our inheritence later.
We also have security - God promises to guard us by His power until the last day - through faith, simple faith in Him, how precious and valuable is a blood washed saint in His sight. How amazing is the Grace of God?
Since we belong in heaven, in heavenly realms where we are dwelling spiritually, we should be more at home on our knees in prayer, communing with our Father in Heavenly realms than on earth, enjoying the 'unsearchable riches of Christ' in fellowship with Him.
Rising, He gives us a better, more majestic, holy, and superseding identity. ‘As He is, so are we in this world’ ‘If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature’, a heaven born being.
Hebrews 2:14, 15
14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
His death frees us from Satan’s dominion. Satan only has dominion over this world and the spiritually dead. Satan has no dominion or jurisdiction over beings that are dead and arisen in new spiritual life. Because we are dead to this realm of the world, we are freed from temptations in this world system and freed also from this world’s values as well. Appropriating this truth will help us in times of temptation - why would i want the riches of this world when I have incorrpuible riches in Christ and in heaven laid up for me? Why would I want the fellowship of this world when I ahve the welcome of the Father in Christ?
It is we who die, or have to die in order to be free from this world’s values. An appropriation of the truth of our death with and in Christ will make us more conscious of our heavenly affiliation with Christ and His world and His realm (heavenly places) and less and less with Satan or this world and this realm. In fact we have more affiliation with heaven than earth, being children of the Kingdom of heaven who died to this world through His cross,
We are now no longer enemies. As He rose again, He rose in us, making us His Sons, His bride, His friends, He gives us a new identity through a new life – His life. We are kingly in His Kingship, priestly in His eternal priesthood.
Our past God destroys, our future God writes with grace. ‘That in the ages to comes He might show us the exceeding riches of His grace in Kindness through Christ Jesus.’
In trials, we have new opportunities to appropriate His death to our flesh and selves though faith in His death. To realize more and more the effective working of His death in our own fleshly and selfish nature.
3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
Dying He destroyed our old identity, our soul's sinful state, our old man's corrupted desires and lusts- He does not deal with desires, He deals with the whole soul of the person. He takes the soul – us, spiritually and individually into His grave. We now are baptized, immersed and conformed into His death through Faith in Him. Old things have passed away, having been baptized (immersed, buried) into his death, we are dead to the state of our old selves. God delivers us from ourselves - we who have become corrupted through the fall are now rescued from ourselves- God did it through providing a death for us in Christ.
We have rich spiritual inheritances through this death and resurrection: 1 Pet 1:4 According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. More on our inheritence later.
We also have security - God promises to guard us by His power until the last day - through faith, simple faith in Him, how precious and valuable is a blood washed saint in His sight. How amazing is the Grace of God?
Since we belong in heaven, in heavenly realms where we are dwelling spiritually, we should be more at home on our knees in prayer, communing with our Father in Heavenly realms than on earth, enjoying the 'unsearchable riches of Christ' in fellowship with Him.
Rising, He gives us a better, more majestic, holy, and superseding identity. ‘As He is, so are we in this world’ ‘If anyone is in Christ, He is a new creature’, a heaven born being.
Hebrews 2:14, 15
14Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
15and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
His death frees us from Satan’s dominion. Satan only has dominion over this world and the spiritually dead. Satan has no dominion or jurisdiction over beings that are dead and arisen in new spiritual life. Because we are dead to this realm of the world, we are freed from temptations in this world system and freed also from this world’s values as well. Appropriating this truth will help us in times of temptation - why would i want the riches of this world when I have incorrpuible riches in Christ and in heaven laid up for me? Why would I want the fellowship of this world when I ahve the welcome of the Father in Christ?
It is we who die, or have to die in order to be free from this world’s values. An appropriation of the truth of our death with and in Christ will make us more conscious of our heavenly affiliation with Christ and His world and His realm (heavenly places) and less and less with Satan or this world and this realm. In fact we have more affiliation with heaven than earth, being children of the Kingdom of heaven who died to this world through His cross,
We are now no longer enemies. As He rose again, He rose in us, making us His Sons, His bride, His friends, He gives us a new identity through a new life – His life. We are kingly in His Kingship, priestly in His eternal priesthood.
Our past God destroys, our future God writes with grace. ‘That in the ages to comes He might show us the exceeding riches of His grace in Kindness through Christ Jesus.’
In trials, we have new opportunities to appropriate His death to our flesh and selves though faith in His death. To realize more and more the effective working of His death in our own fleshly and selfish nature.
'Thank God for you'
'Thank God for you'
Always struggling with a sense of self rejection, this was an odd thing to hear. psychologically i'm always comparing myself with others, seeing oftentimes their strength and value but not being able to see my own.
Was suprising to hear these words from my christian colleagues, almost grating to my ears.
I am precious, I was created to do something good. I just dont know it enough.
I still feel trashy now and then. I know you want to heal my heart.
I'm not a loser, im more than a conqueror.
I'm not unwanted, I am beloved to You.
Not an accident, i'm a planned miracle.
Always struggling with a sense of self rejection, this was an odd thing to hear. psychologically i'm always comparing myself with others, seeing oftentimes their strength and value but not being able to see my own.
Was suprising to hear these words from my christian colleagues, almost grating to my ears.
I am precious, I was created to do something good. I just dont know it enough.
I still feel trashy now and then. I know you want to heal my heart.
I'm not a loser, im more than a conqueror.
I'm not unwanted, I am beloved to You.
Not an accident, i'm a planned miracle.
Exclamation!
O God your cross is greater
Lord your blood is holier
Your victory is stronger
Your salvation is higher
Your Spirit is present
Your strength is power
Your rising is higher
Your love is mightier
Your wisdom unsearchable
Your grace an immeasurable measure
Lord your blood is holier
Your victory is stronger
Your salvation is higher
Your Spirit is present
Your strength is power
Your rising is higher
Your love is mightier
Your wisdom unsearchable
Your grace an immeasurable measure
The Glorious Gospel: Part 3: a new life
We are in Him. When He rose again, he carried us in His bosom to reconcile us to the Father, to cause us to rejoice in the glory the goodness the power and love of the Father.
Spiritually we are in Him, the Great High Priest, before the Father, ‘seated in Christ in heavenly places, blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.’ He is our right standing before God. We have this rock solid standing before God to build a relationship with this Father because of the mighty works that Christ has done to reconcile Sinners to Himself.
Not only this, when Christ rose from the dead in power and glory, His rising has given us the substance of His own pure holy, faithful and righteous Spiritual life to our hearts and Spirits. ‘Christ in us the hope of glory’, Christ, ‘who is our life’. Christ’s living power, He Himself, dwells in us – He who is in us is mighty, the Holy Spirit who is Christ Himself, energizes and empowers our spirit.
Christ’s own pure and holy and righteous life is given to us in substance, through the Holy Spirit as a gift, not in part but fully given in its full robustness. It is our appropriation of this is that is imperfect.
Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
As we appropriate and receive the life of Christ fully, its full outworking – changes our hearts and minds into His heart and mind, giving us power and desire to obey and follow Him, in the infilling of His love for us and for people in us. We thus are enabled to love Him with all our heart, soul mind and strength as we know that the Father loves us as He loves Christ.
Works of righteousness will automatically follow if we have 1) believed the gospel rightly so that guilt, shame, old identities and the past have no more hold on us 2) appropriated His love and work fully into our heart, 3) received the substance of all His working through the generous gift of the Holy Spirit. The person of the Holy Spirit is the only power there is to make all these things real in us – this is the supernatural stamp on the gospel – ‘the power of God for salvation for those who believe’, we cannot but change from ‘strength to strength’ and ‘Glory to Glory’ through this glorious gospel.
Romans 1: 16-
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
It is faith - the taking of these things by the heart of a man saying yes, these things are mine, the continual believing in this gospel that causes grace to abound to us in immeasurable measure.
Spiritually we are in Him, the Great High Priest, before the Father, ‘seated in Christ in heavenly places, blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ.’ He is our right standing before God. We have this rock solid standing before God to build a relationship with this Father because of the mighty works that Christ has done to reconcile Sinners to Himself.
Not only this, when Christ rose from the dead in power and glory, His rising has given us the substance of His own pure holy, faithful and righteous Spiritual life to our hearts and Spirits. ‘Christ in us the hope of glory’, Christ, ‘who is our life’. Christ’s living power, He Himself, dwells in us – He who is in us is mighty, the Holy Spirit who is Christ Himself, energizes and empowers our spirit.
Christ’s own pure and holy and righteous life is given to us in substance, through the Holy Spirit as a gift, not in part but fully given in its full robustness. It is our appropriation of this is that is imperfect.
Hebrews 10:14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
As we appropriate and receive the life of Christ fully, its full outworking – changes our hearts and minds into His heart and mind, giving us power and desire to obey and follow Him, in the infilling of His love for us and for people in us. We thus are enabled to love Him with all our heart, soul mind and strength as we know that the Father loves us as He loves Christ.
Works of righteousness will automatically follow if we have 1) believed the gospel rightly so that guilt, shame, old identities and the past have no more hold on us 2) appropriated His love and work fully into our heart, 3) received the substance of all His working through the generous gift of the Holy Spirit. The person of the Holy Spirit is the only power there is to make all these things real in us – this is the supernatural stamp on the gospel – ‘the power of God for salvation for those who believe’, we cannot but change from ‘strength to strength’ and ‘Glory to Glory’ through this glorious gospel.
Romans 1: 16-
16For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
It is faith - the taking of these things by the heart of a man saying yes, these things are mine, the continual believing in this gospel that causes grace to abound to us in immeasurable measure.
Monday, April 18, 2011
The need for modesty:
The need for modesty:
Because we know the sin that lies within the heart
We dare not trust our own righteousness but we are altogether bold and find the basis for living-entirely in the righteousness of another
That grace alone furnishes all noble qualities - we are devoid of all good virtue apart from grace, Our love is but a fruit of His love in us. our tone and spirit of living thus must be in line with the spirit of grace.
Because Christ himself veiled His majesty to connect with the poorest and most lowly esteemed of people. And by veiling our strength which is not our own to begin with, we can love and reach out all the better .
because Christ, not man is to be worshipped and honored. if we truly worship him we would not exalt ourselves, but cause people to focus on Him and bid people to enter into a full and true worship that we are enjoying with Christ, in Spirit an in truth.
Sent from my iPhone
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Phil 4:19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 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 14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 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.
Friday, April 15, 2011
The word, deeply plowed the agency to freedom
Only the word of God, deeply plowed, prayerfully considered and thoroughly pondered can give structure, form, flesh and bones to our conception of the majesty of God and inspire a living faith.
Only this can save us from narrow and hollow conceptions of God,
'Gods' which offer no comfort, no courage and do not in the least change us.
Nothing but this and this alone can save us and bring us to freedom, and turn our hearts from the worship of other things to a true worship of the living God, this is the only agency to knowing Christ, through which we can receive and experience the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, who alone brings true freedom.
Only this can save us from narrow and hollow conceptions of God,
'Gods' which offer no comfort, no courage and do not in the least change us.
Nothing but this and this alone can save us and bring us to freedom, and turn our hearts from the worship of other things to a true worship of the living God, this is the only agency to knowing Christ, through which we can receive and experience the mighty power of the Holy Spirit, who alone brings true freedom.
Commitment
I will seek Your face to realize Your victory in every quarter of my life. I will conform my mind and life to Yours.
I will get rid of sin and entanglements and distractions to come after you.
Hebrews
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
I will lay aside the weight of my own desire and satisfaction to seek your satisfaction. I will not overeat and overdrink to my own satisfaction but seek to live a spririt controlled life that i may seek you more.
I want to know what it fully means to walk and live as Your son.
Jesus you stand alone among the gods, victorious in Your majesty-
Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Make perfect Your strength in my weakness, make me patient, waiting and trusting on You. Help me to redeem the time. I will give myself and not be distracted from prayer. Help me to wait and trust even when it seems You are doing nothing. Help me to take pleasure in You. You fully form Christ in me, let me press on until I am fully fromed in You and You in me.
And the study of the word. I will not hold back from declaring the full counsel of Your word, not be ashamed in declaring Your gospel.
Eph 1:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 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.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
You will fully form Christ in Me in Your power, you help me to realize the authority I have in Jesus. You fill me with Your fullness.
Ephesians 4:7-13 (King James Version)
7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Jesus You have changed the game when You died and rose again - Your name is above every name, power, dominion, authority, every name that is named. You led captivity captive, you bind up bondage and set men free. You are my true freedom I want to know You more.
You are able to bring me to a more complete mastery over sin and the evil one.
Master me, fill me, give me more of Your freedom and joy in my soul.
I will get rid of sin and entanglements and distractions to come after you.
Hebrews
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
I will lay aside the weight of my own desire and satisfaction to seek your satisfaction. I will not overeat and overdrink to my own satisfaction but seek to live a spririt controlled life that i may seek you more.
I want to know what it fully means to walk and live as Your son.
Jesus you stand alone among the gods, victorious in Your majesty-
Exodus 15:11 “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods?
Who is like you, majestic in holiness,
awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
Make perfect Your strength in my weakness, make me patient, waiting and trusting on You. Help me to redeem the time. I will give myself and not be distracted from prayer. Help me to wait and trust even when it seems You are doing nothing. Help me to take pleasure in You. You fully form Christ in me, let me press on until I am fully fromed in You and You in me.
And the study of the word. I will not hold back from declaring the full counsel of Your word, not be ashamed in declaring Your gospel.
Eph 1:
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him,
18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,
19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might
20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,
21 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.
22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,
23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.
You will fully form Christ in Me in Your power, you help me to realize the authority I have in Jesus. You fill me with Your fullness.
Ephesians 4:7-13 (King James Version)
7But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
9(Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?
10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Jesus You have changed the game when You died and rose again - Your name is above every name, power, dominion, authority, every name that is named. You led captivity captive, you bind up bondage and set men free. You are my true freedom I want to know You more.
You are able to bring me to a more complete mastery over sin and the evil one.
Master me, fill me, give me more of Your freedom and joy in my soul.
Days You have planned
Ps:139:16
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
1 Cor 2:9,10
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
You have planned good for me, You have planed my days, before I was born you had a plan for me, You planned days in which Your goodness and grace shall be revealed, I hold to the hope that I have in loving You, that you are a good God and will show me all Your goodness.
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
1 Cor 2:9,10
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—
But unto us God revealed them through the Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
You have planned good for me, You have planed my days, before I was born you had a plan for me, You planned days in which Your goodness and grace shall be revealed, I hold to the hope that I have in loving You, that you are a good God and will show me all Your goodness.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Exodus 14: When the enemy attacks: God's Death Trap
Exodus 14:18 And the Egyptians shall know that I am the LORD, when I have gotten glory over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”
Exodus 15:6,7 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
ESV
18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
[2] which the wind of the Lord drives.
Israel was back faced to the enemy, and the Egyptians thinking it was their hour of Glory were baited into a full frontal assault into the exposed backs of the children of Israel near the red sea. It was God's trap, His intelligent scheme to gain His own Glory over Pharoh and his 600 elite, choice chariots and all the other chariots of the house of Egypt. (6,000 to 60,000? assuming 600 choice were 1-10% of the army).
Isaiah 59:19,KJV
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
When The enemy attacks, God has a counter attack plan to gain Himself the glory and power and victory. The enemy shall regret to have ever intended to touch 'the apple of His eye, the hiding place of His power.'
It was colossal foolhardness, madness which God had given him over to, For seeing the cloud of glory standing there which in the King James says it was darkness to his army but light to the children of Israel, seeing the very presence of God with us, he still madly attacks, so as with our present day adversary Satan who sees the angel of the lord standing by us, he still accuses us before God (as In Zechariah) and attacks us seeing God's presence with us.
Exodus 14:
14:1 Then the Lord said to Moses,
2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.
3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
They were back facing the enemy on God's orders, appearing vulnerable to the enemy as God's bait and His plan. It was God's holy trap to eliminate every spritual and natural enemy to Himself which opposed Him, 2 Cor 10: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. The word Every appears multiple times, God intends to gain Himself total victory over every enemy, non-one is to survive. Matthew Hentry on Exodus 14: 'What seems to tend to the church's ruin is often overruled to the ruin of the church's enemies, whose pride and malice are fed by Providence, that they may be ripened for destruction.'
Everytime the enemy attacks us, it can be construed as God's holy trap and scheme to counter attack and totally decimate the enemy if we will obey, have faith and move forward in Him, using His authority to speak over our diffculties.
Does not the word of God say: 'He whom defiles you, I will destroy' in Corinthians? Are you tempted, facing depressed thoughts, do you sense indeed a sinister presence hindering? This message then is for you.
The Song of Moses:
1Then Moses and the people of Israel(A) sang this song to the LORD, saying,
"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3The LORD is a man of war;
the LORD is his name.
4 "Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power,
your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
7In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
8At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9The enemy said,'I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'
10You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Exodus 15:6,7 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
ESV
18 According to their deeds, so will he repay,
wrath to his adversaries, repayment to his enemies;
to the coastlands he will render repayment.
19 So they shall fear the name of the Lord from the west,
and his glory from the rising of the sun;
for he will come like a rushing stream,
[2] which the wind of the Lord drives.
Israel was back faced to the enemy, and the Egyptians thinking it was their hour of Glory were baited into a full frontal assault into the exposed backs of the children of Israel near the red sea. It was God's trap, His intelligent scheme to gain His own Glory over Pharoh and his 600 elite, choice chariots and all the other chariots of the house of Egypt. (6,000 to 60,000? assuming 600 choice were 1-10% of the army).
Isaiah 59:19,KJV
So shall they fear the name of the LORD from the west, and his glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.
When The enemy attacks, God has a counter attack plan to gain Himself the glory and power and victory. The enemy shall regret to have ever intended to touch 'the apple of His eye, the hiding place of His power.'
It was colossal foolhardness, madness which God had given him over to, For seeing the cloud of glory standing there which in the King James says it was darkness to his army but light to the children of Israel, seeing the very presence of God with us, he still madly attacks, so as with our present day adversary Satan who sees the angel of the lord standing by us, he still accuses us before God (as In Zechariah) and attacks us seeing God's presence with us.
Exodus 14:
14:1 Then the Lord said to Moses,
2 “Tell the people of Israel to turn back and encamp in front of Pi-hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, in front of Baal-zephon; you shall encamp facing it, by the sea.
3 For Pharaoh will say of the people of Israel, ‘They are wandering in the land; the wilderness has shut them in.’ 4 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I will get glory over Pharaoh and all his host, and the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.
They were back facing the enemy on God's orders, appearing vulnerable to the enemy as God's bait and His plan. It was God's holy trap to eliminate every spritual and natural enemy to Himself which opposed Him, 2 Cor 10: 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, 6 being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete. The word Every appears multiple times, God intends to gain Himself total victory over every enemy, non-one is to survive. Matthew Hentry on Exodus 14: 'What seems to tend to the church's ruin is often overruled to the ruin of the church's enemies, whose pride and malice are fed by Providence, that they may be ripened for destruction.'
Everytime the enemy attacks us, it can be construed as God's holy trap and scheme to counter attack and totally decimate the enemy if we will obey, have faith and move forward in Him, using His authority to speak over our diffculties.
Does not the word of God say: 'He whom defiles you, I will destroy' in Corinthians? Are you tempted, facing depressed thoughts, do you sense indeed a sinister presence hindering? This message then is for you.
The Song of Moses:
1Then Moses and the people of Israel(A) sang this song to the LORD, saying,
"I will sing to the LORD, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.
2 The LORD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation;
this is my God, and I will praise him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt him.
3The LORD is a man of war;
the LORD is his name.
4 "Pharaoh’s chariots and his host he cast into the sea,
and his chosen officers were sunk in the Red Sea.
5The floods covered them;
they went down into the depths like a stone.
6 Your right hand, O LORD, glorious in power,
your right hand, O LORD, shatters the enemy.
7In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries;
you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble.
8At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up;
the floods stood up in a heap;
the deeps congealed in the heart of the sea.
9The enemy said,'I will pursue, I will overtake,
I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them.
I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.'
10You blew with your wind; the sea covered them;
they sank like lead in the mighty waters.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Joseph: Irrelevance and God's Secret Promise
A stranger in a strange land - Joseph would have felt this sense of disconnect with the Egyptian world around him. Having a different race, language, a different faith, a different culture His heart was not in Egypt - not its pomp, neither its prosperity, nor its mathematics or technology. He was a sojourner, one passing through, in a strange land. Let me remember that I do not belong here. Whether a slave or a prince. This is not my home.
He was shaped to be a leader, to represent Jehovah, to be different from the rest, to retain the rules and ways of the heavenly Kingdom on earth. I am to represent the Kingship, laws and practices of another land.
From a place of ultimate confinement (prison, slavery) He came to a place of ultimate freedom and blessing and authority (the palace) from a place where he had no say, to a place where he had all say. From no authority, to ultimate authority, being a judge over the whole nation.
He had to hold and maintain his integrity and kingly identity as one who was loved by God, possessing the covenant (with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob), and being one chosen for the particular work of ruling - his promise & his destiny whilst still in prison.
His character was shaped in narrow straits, to narrowly follow God and trust and obey so that he would do the same on the throne.
David also came from similar circumstances - from being a refugee and a soldier he came to a throne, the passage passed through trials and difficulties, where he also had to hold to the promise that He was the true king anointed by Samuel, learned to imitate God and stick close to Him in difficulty so that the same would be done when he received the blessing.
God is looking for consistency of faith and character so that He can use us, God wants us to hold fast the promises that He has made so that He can cause them to come to pass, He wants to shape our character to become wise and kingly. We are a royal priesthood.
What are the secret and precious promises He has made to you? To Abraham it was said 'You will be a Father of many nations, you will give birth to a son', what has He promised you which is so dear to your heart? Keep it and believe it for He shall yet make it come to pass. Hold on to Him, He will add much grace to you. He will flesh out the grace and strength and power and wisdom in you for its fulfillment.
The most beautiful part is that we don't know in detail how it shall come to pass or the full grasping of the meaning of the promise. I don’t think Joseph knew what the dream even meant, he would have scarcely known that he would one day rule the nation. I was a fuzzy general thing to him which he was not afraid to hold fast. I think God is pleased with fuzzy general faith that is tenacious.
Imagine his shock and surprise on the day of its fulfillment- that's what God wants to give to us, the blessing of the surprise. But God is the one who will make it come to pass. The most beautiful thing is the surprise that God will spring on us. Hold on to the promise. He who promised is faithful and will cause it to come to pass.
If we preach the gospel, study and labor in the word day and night, the world is apt to make us feel irrelevant and ashamed of the gospel. let us preach it and labor on anyway!
He was shaped to be a leader, to represent Jehovah, to be different from the rest, to retain the rules and ways of the heavenly Kingdom on earth. I am to represent the Kingship, laws and practices of another land.
From a place of ultimate confinement (prison, slavery) He came to a place of ultimate freedom and blessing and authority (the palace) from a place where he had no say, to a place where he had all say. From no authority, to ultimate authority, being a judge over the whole nation.
He had to hold and maintain his integrity and kingly identity as one who was loved by God, possessing the covenant (with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob), and being one chosen for the particular work of ruling - his promise & his destiny whilst still in prison.
His character was shaped in narrow straits, to narrowly follow God and trust and obey so that he would do the same on the throne.
David also came from similar circumstances - from being a refugee and a soldier he came to a throne, the passage passed through trials and difficulties, where he also had to hold to the promise that He was the true king anointed by Samuel, learned to imitate God and stick close to Him in difficulty so that the same would be done when he received the blessing.
God is looking for consistency of faith and character so that He can use us, God wants us to hold fast the promises that He has made so that He can cause them to come to pass, He wants to shape our character to become wise and kingly. We are a royal priesthood.
What are the secret and precious promises He has made to you? To Abraham it was said 'You will be a Father of many nations, you will give birth to a son', what has He promised you which is so dear to your heart? Keep it and believe it for He shall yet make it come to pass. Hold on to Him, He will add much grace to you. He will flesh out the grace and strength and power and wisdom in you for its fulfillment.
The most beautiful part is that we don't know in detail how it shall come to pass or the full grasping of the meaning of the promise. I don’t think Joseph knew what the dream even meant, he would have scarcely known that he would one day rule the nation. I was a fuzzy general thing to him which he was not afraid to hold fast. I think God is pleased with fuzzy general faith that is tenacious.
Imagine his shock and surprise on the day of its fulfillment- that's what God wants to give to us, the blessing of the surprise. But God is the one who will make it come to pass. The most beautiful thing is the surprise that God will spring on us. Hold on to the promise. He who promised is faithful and will cause it to come to pass.
If we preach the gospel, study and labor in the word day and night, the world is apt to make us feel irrelevant and ashamed of the gospel. let us preach it and labor on anyway!
Israel’s complaint for food, God’s grace revealed: though we are faithless He is faithful!
1 month into the journey in the wilderness after the red sea, the word says in Exodus 15 says that the bread which was brought along was finished. A lack of carbohydrates means a lack of energy. The people likely had herds and flocks but they needed bread.
‘Why have you, Moses brought us out to the wilderness to die of hunger?’ was their bitter complaint. They were low in resources, wandering around; the promised land not in sight and lack was their portion. Are there not seasons where we are in similar situations?
The Lord’s reply was ‘I will rain bread from heaven’ He takes note of our needs and fills us with bread, blessing and strength.
Not one word about why can’t you trust me after 10 mighty signs and wonders (judgments on the world), one fearful Passover night, (the cross and sacrifice delivering us from wrath on sin), miracles in the red sea parting, miracles in the elimination of Egypt in the sea (a symbol of Christ’s elimination of every enemy at His death and resurrection), the changing of bitter to sweet waters at Marah (miracles of provision), the constant presence of the cloud and fire (symbols of His presence with us).
Not a word about the condition of their hearts or unbelief. I wonder how God must have felt in that moment: out of the massive extent of His redeeming love, He was patient with them, bearing with their rebellions, dealing with the pain of thier distrust in return for His mercies. Instead of anger, He only showed greater faithfulness, love, provision and blessing. Abounding grace!
Though we distrust Him and are unable to give Him what He wants, which is faith, trust and love in return for His great love for us, though we forget His mercies and love, and start to rebel in our hearts to think Him hard and stingy in His discipline of us, He remains faithful to bless us. He sees right through into our hearts, takes note of our needs in His tender mercies, and meets them, but He wants us to trust.
The bread the blessing that was given, was to test them, ‘to see if they would walk in His ways.’ A testing to train them in obedience.
The big test of hunger for a nation was broken down into smaller tests of faithfulness to see if they would keep the command to gather everyday and rely on His faithfulness, go to sleep in trust and wake and know that He would himself feed them day to day – Do not worry abut tomorrow, Your Father loves You and will see you through! He is faithful loving and kind to bless and provide for you.
Let us not be like the children of Isreal, though they saw mighty signs and wonders, they could not believe. The miracles only hardened them further. They could not trust God having no faith relationship with Him. Miracles and spiritual experiences can either heal our heart and make them strong in Faith to enable us to know Him more or they can work against us. For Joshua and Caleb, the display of His glory only made them more strong, faithful and bold in faith, healing thier hearts of the bondage of slavery. The rest of Israel was hardened.
Let us be like those who though we see not, still believe and have the title of 'blessed' because of this. Lord strengthen our faith!
‘Why have you, Moses brought us out to the wilderness to die of hunger?’ was their bitter complaint. They were low in resources, wandering around; the promised land not in sight and lack was their portion. Are there not seasons where we are in similar situations?
The Lord’s reply was ‘I will rain bread from heaven’ He takes note of our needs and fills us with bread, blessing and strength.
Not one word about why can’t you trust me after 10 mighty signs and wonders (judgments on the world), one fearful Passover night, (the cross and sacrifice delivering us from wrath on sin), miracles in the red sea parting, miracles in the elimination of Egypt in the sea (a symbol of Christ’s elimination of every enemy at His death and resurrection), the changing of bitter to sweet waters at Marah (miracles of provision), the constant presence of the cloud and fire (symbols of His presence with us).
Not a word about the condition of their hearts or unbelief. I wonder how God must have felt in that moment: out of the massive extent of His redeeming love, He was patient with them, bearing with their rebellions, dealing with the pain of thier distrust in return for His mercies. Instead of anger, He only showed greater faithfulness, love, provision and blessing. Abounding grace!
Though we distrust Him and are unable to give Him what He wants, which is faith, trust and love in return for His great love for us, though we forget His mercies and love, and start to rebel in our hearts to think Him hard and stingy in His discipline of us, He remains faithful to bless us. He sees right through into our hearts, takes note of our needs in His tender mercies, and meets them, but He wants us to trust.
The bread the blessing that was given, was to test them, ‘to see if they would walk in His ways.’ A testing to train them in obedience.
The big test of hunger for a nation was broken down into smaller tests of faithfulness to see if they would keep the command to gather everyday and rely on His faithfulness, go to sleep in trust and wake and know that He would himself feed them day to day – Do not worry abut tomorrow, Your Father loves You and will see you through! He is faithful loving and kind to bless and provide for you.
Let us not be like the children of Isreal, though they saw mighty signs and wonders, they could not believe. The miracles only hardened them further. They could not trust God having no faith relationship with Him. Miracles and spiritual experiences can either heal our heart and make them strong in Faith to enable us to know Him more or they can work against us. For Joshua and Caleb, the display of His glory only made them more strong, faithful and bold in faith, healing thier hearts of the bondage of slavery. The rest of Israel was hardened.
Let us be like those who though we see not, still believe and have the title of 'blessed' because of this. Lord strengthen our faith!
Where is the God of Elijah?
Elisha at the banks of the Jordan asked the above question when His spiritual Father Elijah was taken from him in a chariot of fire.
What was He asking? Let me try to paraphrase to add depth to His exclamation.
'Where is the God who judges and acts for His own reputation, in the land of His people, who works and acts in righteousness, that His glory might not be sullied and hidden in the dirt.' 'Where is this God who rains fire on false priests, and false Gods and the armies of wicked men, who prooves and shows Himself evidently to the nation, who rebukes the nation for it idolatries in drought, who preserves the faithful, a loving God who raises the poor from the dead? it is a dire time, a time that we need Him to act, to show Himself now more than ever.'
Elijah was a father to the nation and carried the nation on his heart before God. Elisha was to walk in his footsteps to know this God and work His mighty wonders in the land. A modern day equivalent to Elijah in history would be Martin Luther who against armies and kings was passionate for his glory.
John the baptist also had an Elijah ministry to Father and turn a whole nation back to God. Let us remember the poor and lowly esteemed in man's eyes, like the prophet John, can be so preciously esteemed in the eyes of God. Who died in prison, poor, without a ministry, without material possessions. But totally fulfilling the pleasure of God in bringing a nation to repentence for the messiah who was among them. What then was His earthly reward? He says: to bring pleasure to the bridegroom. God's kingdom and our kingdom and worldviews are clearly at odds.
In the midst of a turbulant (Kings ascending and decending) and wicked generation, Elisha was asking for God's hand, mighty power and glory to be seen again. ''Where is the God of Elijah?'. Let that be the cry of our own hearts as well. Lord Jesus, come!
What was He asking? Let me try to paraphrase to add depth to His exclamation.
'Where is the God who judges and acts for His own reputation, in the land of His people, who works and acts in righteousness, that His glory might not be sullied and hidden in the dirt.' 'Where is this God who rains fire on false priests, and false Gods and the armies of wicked men, who prooves and shows Himself evidently to the nation, who rebukes the nation for it idolatries in drought, who preserves the faithful, a loving God who raises the poor from the dead? it is a dire time, a time that we need Him to act, to show Himself now more than ever.'
Elijah was a father to the nation and carried the nation on his heart before God. Elisha was to walk in his footsteps to know this God and work His mighty wonders in the land. A modern day equivalent to Elijah in history would be Martin Luther who against armies and kings was passionate for his glory.
John the baptist also had an Elijah ministry to Father and turn a whole nation back to God. Let us remember the poor and lowly esteemed in man's eyes, like the prophet John, can be so preciously esteemed in the eyes of God. Who died in prison, poor, without a ministry, without material possessions. But totally fulfilling the pleasure of God in bringing a nation to repentence for the messiah who was among them. What then was His earthly reward? He says: to bring pleasure to the bridegroom. God's kingdom and our kingdom and worldviews are clearly at odds.
In the midst of a turbulant (Kings ascending and decending) and wicked generation, Elisha was asking for God's hand, mighty power and glory to be seen again. ''Where is the God of Elijah?'. Let that be the cry of our own hearts as well. Lord Jesus, come!
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Achievements, materialism and performance.
In this achievement mad, performance oriented, materialistic, superficial and results-oriented world, it is my utmost peace and pleasure to know I am your child and that You are my father.
Help me to remember that my mission is to pour out my life as as offering that I may gain it in You.
Help me to remember that my mission is to pour out my life as as offering that I may gain it in You.
Hg worship/ music
Hosanna,
Your Majesty
thinking about these 2 songs lately
Katryn Scott's at the foot of the cross
&
Hillsong's at the cross i bow my knee
planning to get starfield's latest album at trumpet praise next month...
Your Majesty
thinking about these 2 songs lately
Katryn Scott's at the foot of the cross
&
Hillsong's at the cross i bow my knee
planning to get starfield's latest album at trumpet praise next month...
Prayer
I want to know Your heart, I want to hear Your voice, I want to see Your face and do all you ask of me.
The effectiveness of Jesus ministry - Doing what He saw the Father doing
There were a multiplicity of needs pressed around Jesus, yet He did not minister to all their needs.
What made Jesus Ministry most effective was that He spoke exactly as the Father Spoke, when the Father Spoke, was silent when the Father was silent, refused to do what the Father was not doing, He acted when God acted and ministered as God moved.
The effectiveness of Jesus ministry was primarily that God was with Him! God moved and worked mightily with Him and He with God the Father.
He saw the world around Him through His Father's eyes, that's how He knew the hearts of men, He understood with the mind of the Father, His heart beat with the love of the Father.
Nothing less than God Himself and the working of His Spirit can save those around us, if we are ministering with less than that, we either overesteem our human strength or underetimate our and the world's need for God.
Spiritual Discernment
Only God can know what word will lift up this soul, and the divine timing of when a soul is ready to receive salvation etc.
The only way Jesus knew was that HE spent time in prayer with the Father, knew the Father and obeyed as the Father showed Him step by step
What made Jesus Ministry most effective was that He spoke exactly as the Father Spoke, when the Father Spoke, was silent when the Father was silent, refused to do what the Father was not doing, He acted when God acted and ministered as God moved.
The effectiveness of Jesus ministry was primarily that God was with Him! God moved and worked mightily with Him and He with God the Father.
He saw the world around Him through His Father's eyes, that's how He knew the hearts of men, He understood with the mind of the Father, His heart beat with the love of the Father.
Nothing less than God Himself and the working of His Spirit can save those around us, if we are ministering with less than that, we either overesteem our human strength or underetimate our and the world's need for God.
Spiritual Discernment
Only God can know what word will lift up this soul, and the divine timing of when a soul is ready to receive salvation etc.
The only way Jesus knew was that HE spent time in prayer with the Father, knew the Father and obeyed as the Father showed Him step by step
Spiritual Authority
Spiritual Authority is speaking the word from the Holy Spirit, which comes from the Father.
The Father said to Moses: 'I will put My word in your mouth'.
Knowing and possessing the heart of the Father is critical, it allows us to think and feel like Him so that we can receive and speak His word.
The Father said to Moses: 'I will put My word in your mouth'.
Knowing and possessing the heart of the Father is critical, it allows us to think and feel like Him so that we can receive and speak His word.
Monday, April 11, 2011
Redemption: Shaking the experience under the old Pharoh and coming under the wings of God.
After 400 years of slavery in Egypt, for 10 generations, the people understandably had a hard time trying to shake off the old experience of slavery under the hard task masters of the Egyptians and to adapt to God the Father's redeeming love.
They complained at hardship, saying that they would rather have had Jehovah kill them in Egypt, which was exactly what Pharaoh intended. They supposed God was like Pharaoh and took His fatherly discipline as murderous intent which is how far they missed God's heart.
God knew that they had to see Him differently from Pharaoh and God would have to reveal to them His own heart, so He did so in majestic displays of judgment, redemption, love, rescue and victory.
The exit from Egypt and journey through the wilderness was one display of God's heart and character: of grace, patience and redeeming love. :'I am not at all like Pharaoh, I am loving, kind, mighty, powerful, holy, righteous and caring, can you trust Me?'
He wanted the people to catch His heart of love and obey him, to walk in His law and follow fully voluntarily, out of thankfulness and out of the experience of God's love. And through the repeated, continued and consistent displays of His own love, He fully intended to change them. And what majestic displays these were.
Are there old specters of Pharaoh, which cloud our relationship with God in our minds today? God intends to break them. He is not at all like Pharaoh - He intends to break past experiences of dark negativity.
Pray that you may understand pray for revelation of who He is, trust and follow Him, out of a response of a revelation of His goodness.
Are you weary in the wilderness? Remember all He has done. Remember the cross, His mighty forgiveness, the great price that has been paid and judgments of which He has totally spared you. Recount again His blessings and tokens of His love.
Renew Your trust in Him for He is fully able to bring you into the land.
They complained at hardship, saying that they would rather have had Jehovah kill them in Egypt, which was exactly what Pharaoh intended. They supposed God was like Pharaoh and took His fatherly discipline as murderous intent which is how far they missed God's heart.
God knew that they had to see Him differently from Pharaoh and God would have to reveal to them His own heart, so He did so in majestic displays of judgment, redemption, love, rescue and victory.
The exit from Egypt and journey through the wilderness was one display of God's heart and character: of grace, patience and redeeming love. :'I am not at all like Pharaoh, I am loving, kind, mighty, powerful, holy, righteous and caring, can you trust Me?'
He wanted the people to catch His heart of love and obey him, to walk in His law and follow fully voluntarily, out of thankfulness and out of the experience of God's love. And through the repeated, continued and consistent displays of His own love, He fully intended to change them. And what majestic displays these were.
Are there old specters of Pharaoh, which cloud our relationship with God in our minds today? God intends to break them. He is not at all like Pharaoh - He intends to break past experiences of dark negativity.
Pray that you may understand pray for revelation of who He is, trust and follow Him, out of a response of a revelation of His goodness.
Are you weary in the wilderness? Remember all He has done. Remember the cross, His mighty forgiveness, the great price that has been paid and judgments of which He has totally spared you. Recount again His blessings and tokens of His love.
Renew Your trust in Him for He is fully able to bring you into the land.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
1 Cor 10:14-22: Do we provoke the Lord to anger, are we stronger than He? Part 5: The indwelling King.
-Examples of people possessing a mixed spiritual influence: both the Holy Spirit and demonic spirits, both eating from the table of the lord and the table of demons: (eating of accursed things and abominations that God would have you not touch):
*New testament example: Simon the sorcerer, do you remember what Peter told him, though He was saved, though He repented and burned up all his demonic things to serve and follow Christ? ‘Your money perish with you, for you think by filthy mammon you can buy the gifts of God? I can see that you are still in the bitterness of bondage.’ Acts 8:20,23 paraphrased. Apparently the gift of spiritual discernment given to Peter worked to reveal the insight into the man’s heart. His problem was: Money He still served the God of this world, He was still materialistic and in the bondage of Sin whilst a follower of Christ.
*Old Testiment example: Balaam. This ‘prophet’ was well capable of uttering the accurate word of God from the Holy Spirit, but later in the story, God wanted to destroy Him – a destroying angel was standing on the path. The donkey had to rebuke him to ‘restrain the madness of the prophet.’ He was mad. Mad about what? Mad about money. He received bribes to corrupt his integrity to curse the people of Israel. Beloved, Flee from idolatry, ask of the Holy Spirit for Strength to fight and for the deliverance of Christ from sin’s power until you are free. Don’t stop short of total freedom.
2 Cor 6:
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
The solution to idolatries is to seperate, seperate from sin and the ways of this world and be joined: be joined to God and His love, to know God as Your loving Father, and be filled with His excellent love, Have Him indwell you fully, the majesty, power, wisdom and infiniteness of God will make sure there is no room for other things to reign.
Galatians 5:‘1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.’
1 Cor 7:23 ‘You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.’
Romans 6:16-20
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, (the gospel)
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
God is big on the freedom of His sons and daughters, He is mighty and powerful and might use trials and chastening out of His great love for us to cleanse our hearts. Proverbs says the man whom the lord is not pleased with will fall into the pit of the adulteress. Do not wait till it is too late, incorporate a lifestyle of repentance.
It is His great love, and a cultivation of a deep loving and fulfilling relationship with Him, that keeps us from sin’s enticements and idolatries. Beloved, flee idolatries, flee into the arms of God in prayer, into the comforts of His love and presence. God is for us and by His mighty strength, our hearts will be kept clean.
*New testament example: Simon the sorcerer, do you remember what Peter told him, though He was saved, though He repented and burned up all his demonic things to serve and follow Christ? ‘Your money perish with you, for you think by filthy mammon you can buy the gifts of God? I can see that you are still in the bitterness of bondage.’ Acts 8:20,23 paraphrased. Apparently the gift of spiritual discernment given to Peter worked to reveal the insight into the man’s heart. His problem was: Money He still served the God of this world, He was still materialistic and in the bondage of Sin whilst a follower of Christ.
*Old Testiment example: Balaam. This ‘prophet’ was well capable of uttering the accurate word of God from the Holy Spirit, but later in the story, God wanted to destroy Him – a destroying angel was standing on the path. The donkey had to rebuke him to ‘restrain the madness of the prophet.’ He was mad. Mad about what? Mad about money. He received bribes to corrupt his integrity to curse the people of Israel. Beloved, Flee from idolatry, ask of the Holy Spirit for Strength to fight and for the deliverance of Christ from sin’s power until you are free. Don’t stop short of total freedom.
2 Cor 6:
16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
17 Therefore go out from their midst,
and be separate from them, says the Lord,
and touch no unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
18 and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be sons and daughters to me,
says the Lord Almighty.”
The solution to idolatries is to seperate, seperate from sin and the ways of this world and be joined: be joined to God and His love, to know God as Your loving Father, and be filled with His excellent love, Have Him indwell you fully, the majesty, power, wisdom and infiniteness of God will make sure there is no room for other things to reign.
Galatians 5:‘1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.’
1 Cor 7:23 ‘You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.’
Romans 6:16-20
16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?
17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, (the gospel)
18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
God is big on the freedom of His sons and daughters, He is mighty and powerful and might use trials and chastening out of His great love for us to cleanse our hearts. Proverbs says the man whom the lord is not pleased with will fall into the pit of the adulteress. Do not wait till it is too late, incorporate a lifestyle of repentance.
It is His great love, and a cultivation of a deep loving and fulfilling relationship with Him, that keeps us from sin’s enticements and idolatries. Beloved, flee idolatries, flee into the arms of God in prayer, into the comforts of His love and presence. God is for us and by His mighty strength, our hearts will be kept clean.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Biblical Repentance and the Gospel- a heart transplant, war and the divine grace of God. Part 1
Biblical Repentance and the Gospel- a heart transplant, war and the divine grace of God. Part 1
When asked what they, the masses of people coming to be baptised by John the Baptist should do to prepare for Jesus coming, he replied: 'repent.'
The general principle involves a change of heart and direction - you were following the course and the spirit of the world, now worship God and pursue walk after the Holy Spirit. Turn from the wicked, self serving direction you were living and now walk and live for God and serve Jesus your master, now seek to please His desires, not your own.
Not only is it just a heart change, it is a change in particular deeds and works as well. He replied those of you with 2 portions of food, give some to the poor, those with clothing, share it out, do not exploit people in business -take no more than is required for your living. The words of John pierced and condemned the wicked, selfish deeds of his generation, which pointed to deeper heart attitudes which needed to be corrected, that needed much changing.
How do we then proceed to change the heart? How do we obey the call to repent?
No one can change the heart, only God. Sin is so far wound up in our heart, our selfish desires do far woven in that only a surgery of His Spirit can untangle the mess. Untangling is just the first step. Tracing the chords of sin, seeing the magnitude of the problem and cutting the chords of sin – that is the beginning of repentance but we don’t just need untangling - we need a whole heart transplant. First untangle, remove heart then replace heart. Simple. Impossible with man, but entirely possible with God. This is God’s work and miracle in repentance.
It involves a deliberate act of the will.
A doubled resolve and Holy Spirit empowered choice to obey the Lord. A choice when taken will take you to war with your flesh. It is a violent, bloody, all or nothing war. Bow before the enemy of sin and the flesh and be willing to accept your state of enslavement to slave to sin for life or die on the battlefield, gloriously or win everything and triumph gloriously in Christ, thus gaining your freedom from sin and adding that final seal of God's grace that causes you to walk worthy as a child of God, prooving in undeniable experience that you are, a child of God and that God’s grace is powerful in your soul to free you of the influences of your flesh. Prooving that God’s power to destroy sin in your life is perfect and powerful and effective.
It takes nothing short of the revelation of the divine grace of God, without which there is no resolve to repent, no strength to battle, no grace to empower any kind of change. Only God's grace can show a sinner where he goes wrong and cause him to understand 1) the error of his ways- the fact that you know you are wrong is God's grace to you, 2) grace reveals sin and the depths of its wickedness to a man
With the revelation of grace comes a grasping for hope a grasping in the darkness, a desire and desperation to be free - sin is so terrible and black, how can i walk free from it, how can I be holy? A desperate cry to God: "How then can I a sinner be saved!"
When asked what they, the masses of people coming to be baptised by John the Baptist should do to prepare for Jesus coming, he replied: 'repent.'
The general principle involves a change of heart and direction - you were following the course and the spirit of the world, now worship God and pursue walk after the Holy Spirit. Turn from the wicked, self serving direction you were living and now walk and live for God and serve Jesus your master, now seek to please His desires, not your own.
Not only is it just a heart change, it is a change in particular deeds and works as well. He replied those of you with 2 portions of food, give some to the poor, those with clothing, share it out, do not exploit people in business -take no more than is required for your living. The words of John pierced and condemned the wicked, selfish deeds of his generation, which pointed to deeper heart attitudes which needed to be corrected, that needed much changing.
How do we then proceed to change the heart? How do we obey the call to repent?
No one can change the heart, only God. Sin is so far wound up in our heart, our selfish desires do far woven in that only a surgery of His Spirit can untangle the mess. Untangling is just the first step. Tracing the chords of sin, seeing the magnitude of the problem and cutting the chords of sin – that is the beginning of repentance but we don’t just need untangling - we need a whole heart transplant. First untangle, remove heart then replace heart. Simple. Impossible with man, but entirely possible with God. This is God’s work and miracle in repentance.
It involves a deliberate act of the will.
A doubled resolve and Holy Spirit empowered choice to obey the Lord. A choice when taken will take you to war with your flesh. It is a violent, bloody, all or nothing war. Bow before the enemy of sin and the flesh and be willing to accept your state of enslavement to slave to sin for life or die on the battlefield, gloriously or win everything and triumph gloriously in Christ, thus gaining your freedom from sin and adding that final seal of God's grace that causes you to walk worthy as a child of God, prooving in undeniable experience that you are, a child of God and that God’s grace is powerful in your soul to free you of the influences of your flesh. Prooving that God’s power to destroy sin in your life is perfect and powerful and effective.
It takes nothing short of the revelation of the divine grace of God, without which there is no resolve to repent, no strength to battle, no grace to empower any kind of change. Only God's grace can show a sinner where he goes wrong and cause him to understand 1) the error of his ways- the fact that you know you are wrong is God's grace to you, 2) grace reveals sin and the depths of its wickedness to a man
With the revelation of grace comes a grasping for hope a grasping in the darkness, a desire and desperation to be free - sin is so terrible and black, how can i walk free from it, how can I be holy? A desperate cry to God: "How then can I a sinner be saved!"
Biblical Repentance and the Gospel- a heart transplant, war and the divine grace of God. Part 2
Biblical Repentance and the Gospel- a heart transplant, war and the divine grace of God. Part 2
God answers. He shows the value, the power and Holiness of the blood of Christ to the sinner, He reveals the lamb, the Son, the One perfect sacrifice to take away all sin, He shows the power of that sacrifice to destroy and cleanse every trace of a man's sin. ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow,’ only through the power of the blood of Jesus.’ He also teaches the only workable condition to receive this sacrifice, 'only believe'.
The man begins then to believe and put his full hope and trust in Christ alone to save, to forgive, to renew Him, to save him from so great a death, spiritual death in His being. He looks to the mighty risen Christ, His death on behalf of his sins, His blood, His Calvary, suffering, His cross, the price that was paid for sin, the empty grave, the gift of righteousness.
His eye then sees the indestructible power of the risen Christ seated on the throne, the risen High Priest, mighty to save, his eye sees the way to the Holiest made open through this Priest, the path red with the blood of the lamb. The more He concentrates on Christ, and the emblems of Christ’s mighty works, His immortal priesthood, the earthly life of Jesus clean and holy as a lamb, His perfect death and resurrection, the more his faith arises -He cries, God save me to the uttermost for you alone are mighty and willing and able to save! You alone can save me! I believe, help my unbelief!
God extends and begins to fulfil the offer of a heart transplant - spiritual renewal, a new heart and mind is transplanted into the man. The heart and mind of Christ Himself. He writes new desires into the heart of the man, writing the requirements of the holy law, and new desires to walk to please God in the heart.
God gives the power to please Himself to the man, imparting His strength, through the agency of the mighty working of the Holy Spirit which raises us up to life, in Christ, and makes you a heaven born creature.
A new identity is given to the man, no more a sinner, but ‘righteous, holy’, he calls us ‘children of God, born of Himself, born of heaven’, not being ashamed to call us the ‘the brothers of Christ’. ‘Old things have passed away, all things are become new.’ A total transformation begins that makes you fit for the battle.
‘God who works in you both to will and to do for His own good pleasure.’ God strengthens the will to fight against sin. And we use that will to refuse to compromise, to continue to believe and exercise our faith in Christ, we receive an abundant grace that abounds ever greater and more abundantly than sin. We fall, we stumble on the way, but Christ’s blood is sufficient to cleanse and forgive us and cause us to be accepted perfectly by God.
We find His love ever abundant and sufficient, more and more do we treasure His grace and depend on His grace alone. We then use that grace to destroy sin’s dominion as Christ has set you free from sin, taken the sin nature into himself and freed you by giving you a new heart and nature within you, so then sin is broken and defeated by Him for you, appropriate that.
Empowered by His Holy Spirit, we then make the tough choices to obey Him in every detail of our lives, brining our heart, our thoughts, our attitudes under the dominion of the working of the obedience of Christ. We walk, live and make choices to live more and more Holy before Him.
God answers. He shows the value, the power and Holiness of the blood of Christ to the sinner, He reveals the lamb, the Son, the One perfect sacrifice to take away all sin, He shows the power of that sacrifice to destroy and cleanse every trace of a man's sin. ‘Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow,’ only through the power of the blood of Jesus.’ He also teaches the only workable condition to receive this sacrifice, 'only believe'.
The man begins then to believe and put his full hope and trust in Christ alone to save, to forgive, to renew Him, to save him from so great a death, spiritual death in His being. He looks to the mighty risen Christ, His death on behalf of his sins, His blood, His Calvary, suffering, His cross, the price that was paid for sin, the empty grave, the gift of righteousness.
His eye then sees the indestructible power of the risen Christ seated on the throne, the risen High Priest, mighty to save, his eye sees the way to the Holiest made open through this Priest, the path red with the blood of the lamb. The more He concentrates on Christ, and the emblems of Christ’s mighty works, His immortal priesthood, the earthly life of Jesus clean and holy as a lamb, His perfect death and resurrection, the more his faith arises -He cries, God save me to the uttermost for you alone are mighty and willing and able to save! You alone can save me! I believe, help my unbelief!
God extends and begins to fulfil the offer of a heart transplant - spiritual renewal, a new heart and mind is transplanted into the man. The heart and mind of Christ Himself. He writes new desires into the heart of the man, writing the requirements of the holy law, and new desires to walk to please God in the heart.
God gives the power to please Himself to the man, imparting His strength, through the agency of the mighty working of the Holy Spirit which raises us up to life, in Christ, and makes you a heaven born creature.
A new identity is given to the man, no more a sinner, but ‘righteous, holy’, he calls us ‘children of God, born of Himself, born of heaven’, not being ashamed to call us the ‘the brothers of Christ’. ‘Old things have passed away, all things are become new.’ A total transformation begins that makes you fit for the battle.
‘God who works in you both to will and to do for His own good pleasure.’ God strengthens the will to fight against sin. And we use that will to refuse to compromise, to continue to believe and exercise our faith in Christ, we receive an abundant grace that abounds ever greater and more abundantly than sin. We fall, we stumble on the way, but Christ’s blood is sufficient to cleanse and forgive us and cause us to be accepted perfectly by God.
We find His love ever abundant and sufficient, more and more do we treasure His grace and depend on His grace alone. We then use that grace to destroy sin’s dominion as Christ has set you free from sin, taken the sin nature into himself and freed you by giving you a new heart and nature within you, so then sin is broken and defeated by Him for you, appropriate that.
Empowered by His Holy Spirit, we then make the tough choices to obey Him in every detail of our lives, brining our heart, our thoughts, our attitudes under the dominion of the working of the obedience of Christ. We walk, live and make choices to live more and more Holy before Him.
1 Cor 10:14-22: Do we provoke the Lord to anger, are we stronger than He? Part 1 : Desert parallels
1st Corinthians 10:1-9 parallels Israel's journey through a massive wilderness with our own journey. Paul relates it to us, as Christians to warn us of the danger of not making it into the promise land. He warns of certain spiritual diseases and conditions specifically purposed to bring us to defeat and block God's will and plans for our lives:
1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
-Cloud - the glory cloud of God, a symbol of His presence in the wilderness the pillar of cloud - a symbol His tangible help and presence in their lives.
-Water- a picture of water baptism through the red sea- associated with it is the often great challenges which attempt to block a christian's commitment to live for Christ, and baptism symbolizes the Christian's decision to commit all to Christ. A picture of dying to ourselves and living unto Him.
*Don't assume because you know God's presence, His Holy Spirit and are baptised into Him, that you will make it into the promised land.
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.'
-Simply put: Yes, you drink of the Holy Spirit and feed on Christ for strength daily but God might not be pleased with you.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
-IS not the heart full of evil? Is not our battle first with the sin of our hearts, to master our own hearts and lives before we battle external enemies and possess His blessing for our lives?
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
-Idols- the children of Israel though saved and delivered from the egypt a symbol of the world, really worshipped other Gods- bible says they brought symbols of the Gods of the Egyptians into the wilderness and performed their worship to these in the wilderness.
-Are we bringing the idols of the world into the church to worship them? materialism, selfish-ambition, worldliness. Is Christ a God among many other Gods in our hearts of does He stand alone, as our all consuming worship?
-'Sat down to eat, Rose up to play' Is self our idol? Me, my pleasure, my desires, my comfort, what I want, my will and my plan for my life or is it Christ, His pleasure, what He desires, His will, His plan. Do we have a passion for souls, for sanctification, for pure worship, do we make spiritual and natural sacrifices of worship and praise and repentance joyfully?
1 For I want you to know, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea,
2 and all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea,
-Cloud - the glory cloud of God, a symbol of His presence in the wilderness the pillar of cloud - a symbol His tangible help and presence in their lives.
-Water- a picture of water baptism through the red sea- associated with it is the often great challenges which attempt to block a christian's commitment to live for Christ, and baptism symbolizes the Christian's decision to commit all to Christ. A picture of dying to ourselves and living unto Him.
*Don't assume because you know God's presence, His Holy Spirit and are baptised into Him, that you will make it into the promised land.
3 and all ate the same spiritual food,
4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.
5 Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness.'
-Simply put: Yes, you drink of the Holy Spirit and feed on Christ for strength daily but God might not be pleased with you.
6 Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did.
-IS not the heart full of evil? Is not our battle first with the sin of our hearts, to master our own hearts and lives before we battle external enemies and possess His blessing for our lives?
7 Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.”
-Idols- the children of Israel though saved and delivered from the egypt a symbol of the world, really worshipped other Gods- bible says they brought symbols of the Gods of the Egyptians into the wilderness and performed their worship to these in the wilderness.
-Are we bringing the idols of the world into the church to worship them? materialism, selfish-ambition, worldliness. Is Christ a God among many other Gods in our hearts of does He stand alone, as our all consuming worship?
-'Sat down to eat, Rose up to play' Is self our idol? Me, my pleasure, my desires, my comfort, what I want, my will and my plan for my life or is it Christ, His pleasure, what He desires, His will, His plan. Do we have a passion for souls, for sanctification, for pure worship, do we make spiritual and natural sacrifices of worship and praise and repentance joyfully?
1 Cor 10:14-22: Do we provoke the Lord to anger, are we stronger than He? Part 2 : Testing God
8 We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
-What does it mean to test God? The context of this quote in Numbers 21:4-
5 'testing God' primarily has a root in ubelief amd the rejection of God's word.
1) They rejected His promise of bringing them into the land. God had promised an inheritence in the nations that He Himself would fulfill, a land flowing with milk and honey - natural provision and spiritual provision and victory over their enemies symbolizing natural and spritual victory on the condition of total obedience to His ways (commands) and His voice.
2) The incident related to 'testing God' in numbers was in the context of their rejection of manna, a symbol of God's word, a symol of His daily word which sustains - manna came daily. A rejection of the pure word of God which was intended to train them in His ways.
3) The manna was God's chosen 'lot in life' for them, in His timing they were to have more complete provision and they were to become economically self sufficient - land, houses, vines, agriculture etc were promised. IT was to be fulfileld when they possessed the land in canaan, but for now, as they were always moving from place to place, God provided 'temporary nomad food' which was in no way less divine, or less of a token of His mercy, love and grace, nor was it less of a miracle. But the people would have none of it and only complained against His love and grace for them, clamouring for more.
-Take heart lest you test God to the limits of His patience with You, He has been good to you, why can you not trust and believe Him? Is the heat and dreariness of desert life tempting you to curse God and His leader? 'why have YOU, God brought us out here to die?' No, God intends fully to bring you into natural and spiritual inheritance. Do you want it enough to get rid of your sinful ways and walk according to His ways? (see post on repentance)
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
-The time of trial in the desert can be summed into one idea – trials and temptations, but theses are not trials in which God has left us alone to face ourselves. He intends for us to be victorious in trials, He is faithful to see us through them, He is with us in our trials, He is also in total control of our trials. What comforting truths.
Deut 8:2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
-Don't stick around heart idols, do not stay in that state, in your heart, run to Christ who alone can save You, and is willing to save you, extricate yourself from this heart condition, flee to the worship and surrender to Christ.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
9 We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents,
-What does it mean to test God? The context of this quote in Numbers 21:4-
5 'testing God' primarily has a root in ubelief amd the rejection of God's word.
1) They rejected His promise of bringing them into the land. God had promised an inheritence in the nations that He Himself would fulfill, a land flowing with milk and honey - natural provision and spiritual provision and victory over their enemies symbolizing natural and spritual victory on the condition of total obedience to His ways (commands) and His voice.
2) The incident related to 'testing God' in numbers was in the context of their rejection of manna, a symbol of God's word, a symol of His daily word which sustains - manna came daily. A rejection of the pure word of God which was intended to train them in His ways.
3) The manna was God's chosen 'lot in life' for them, in His timing they were to have more complete provision and they were to become economically self sufficient - land, houses, vines, agriculture etc were promised. IT was to be fulfileld when they possessed the land in canaan, but for now, as they were always moving from place to place, God provided 'temporary nomad food' which was in no way less divine, or less of a token of His mercy, love and grace, nor was it less of a miracle. But the people would have none of it and only complained against His love and grace for them, clamouring for more.
-Take heart lest you test God to the limits of His patience with You, He has been good to you, why can you not trust and believe Him? Is the heat and dreariness of desert life tempting you to curse God and His leader? 'why have YOU, God brought us out here to die?' No, God intends fully to bring you into natural and spiritual inheritance. Do you want it enough to get rid of your sinful ways and walk according to His ways? (see post on repentance)
10 nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer
11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. 12 Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall.
13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
-The time of trial in the desert can be summed into one idea – trials and temptations, but theses are not trials in which God has left us alone to face ourselves. He intends for us to be victorious in trials, He is faithful to see us through them, He is with us in our trials, He is also in total control of our trials. What comforting truths.
Deut 8:2 And you shall remember the whole way that the LORD your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.
-Don't stick around heart idols, do not stay in that state, in your heart, run to Christ who alone can save You, and is willing to save you, extricate yourself from this heart condition, flee to the worship and surrender to Christ.
15 I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say.
1 Cor 10:14-22: Do we provoke the Lord to anger, are we stronger than He? Part 3: The Christian’s position
16 The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a participation in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ?
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
-Paul was appealing to the Corinthian’s position of being the very living body of Christ on earth, reminding them of the high privileges they possessed as those chosen by God to become part of His lovely, strong body on earth, the Body of Him who rules the universe, Christ Himself.
-He is reminding them of how they came to be: it was Christ who died for you, Christ who bled for you. He appealed to remind them of the source of their lives, the one whom they relied upon - like natural food and drink, Christ is food and drink spiritually to the Christian. Christ- the true source of all their strength, for ’without Him we can do nothing.’ The true source of all their righteousness. Only the blood of Christ can justify a guilty man and break the power of sin and temptation over lives.
-Pray to realize how privileged you are as one Chosen to Feed on Christ, as one chosen to stand in the Holiness and purity and power of that blood before God. This world and its temptations cannot compare with the blessing you already possess, pray that you might realize it, understand it, live in the wonder and blessing of it more fully.
18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
-He is appealing to the Corinthian’s priesthood: They had a priesthood that was more powerful and substantial than the Levitical priesthood. The Levites were the only ones in all Israel who were authorized by the law to eat of the altar of burnt, grain and other worship offerings in the temple.
-You and I are are the only ones on earth who are allowed by God to feed at the altar of His mighty cross, eating of Christ’s body, blood, receiving the 'food' of Him being made sin for us, we are the only ones who can ‘feed’ on revelations of His mighty resurrection and be filled with God himself living in us, the Holy Spirit.
-We can feed on the spiritual substance of deliverance from our enemies, as Christ rose victorious over all things, we can 'feed' on healing which has been provided, for ‘by His stripes you are healed’, we can receive the reality of sonship, for we through Him have been given high standing as sons to jump into the lap of the father, to sit on the throne of heavenly places in Christ, through faith in what He has done for us, through faith in the good news, the gospel. What wonderful feedings what wonderful truths! To feed, to live on. Let these transform the way you live your life.
17 Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.
-Paul was appealing to the Corinthian’s position of being the very living body of Christ on earth, reminding them of the high privileges they possessed as those chosen by God to become part of His lovely, strong body on earth, the Body of Him who rules the universe, Christ Himself.
-He is reminding them of how they came to be: it was Christ who died for you, Christ who bled for you. He appealed to remind them of the source of their lives, the one whom they relied upon - like natural food and drink, Christ is food and drink spiritually to the Christian. Christ- the true source of all their strength, for ’without Him we can do nothing.’ The true source of all their righteousness. Only the blood of Christ can justify a guilty man and break the power of sin and temptation over lives.
-Pray to realize how privileged you are as one Chosen to Feed on Christ, as one chosen to stand in the Holiness and purity and power of that blood before God. This world and its temptations cannot compare with the blessing you already possess, pray that you might realize it, understand it, live in the wonder and blessing of it more fully.
18 Consider the people of Israel: are not those who eat the sacrifices participants in the altar?
-He is appealing to the Corinthian’s priesthood: They had a priesthood that was more powerful and substantial than the Levitical priesthood. The Levites were the only ones in all Israel who were authorized by the law to eat of the altar of burnt, grain and other worship offerings in the temple.
-You and I are are the only ones on earth who are allowed by God to feed at the altar of His mighty cross, eating of Christ’s body, blood, receiving the 'food' of Him being made sin for us, we are the only ones who can ‘feed’ on revelations of His mighty resurrection and be filled with God himself living in us, the Holy Spirit.
-We can feed on the spiritual substance of deliverance from our enemies, as Christ rose victorious over all things, we can 'feed' on healing which has been provided, for ‘by His stripes you are healed’, we can receive the reality of sonship, for we through Him have been given high standing as sons to jump into the lap of the father, to sit on the throne of heavenly places in Christ, through faith in what He has done for us, through faith in the good news, the gospel. What wonderful feedings what wonderful truths! To feed, to live on. Let these transform the way you live your life.
1 Cor 10:14-22: Do we provoke the Lord to anger, are we stronger than He? Part 4: The table of demons.
19 What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything?
20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
-Yet with all the wonderful things we have in Christ, it is still possible to also partake of the spiritual influence of demonic forces through idolatry – is this not a fearful thing? We can have Christ, but we can also have idols in our lives as well as demonic forces influence us!
The theme Paul is highlighting here is ‘flee idolatry’. Idols give demonic forces the right, the portal access to our lives. So get rid of them by worshipping Christ!
22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
The Lord is a Jealous, righteous lover of His bride; He does not easily tolerate demonic influences along and mixed together with the influence of His Holy Spirit.
-We shall provoke the Lord to Wrath, if we are not careful. He is a consuming fire, Holy, righteous and mighty.
-Are we stronger than God? When shall we repent?
20 No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be participants with demons.
21 You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.
-Yet with all the wonderful things we have in Christ, it is still possible to also partake of the spiritual influence of demonic forces through idolatry – is this not a fearful thing? We can have Christ, but we can also have idols in our lives as well as demonic forces influence us!
The theme Paul is highlighting here is ‘flee idolatry’. Idols give demonic forces the right, the portal access to our lives. So get rid of them by worshipping Christ!
22 Shall we provoke the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
The Lord is a Jealous, righteous lover of His bride; He does not easily tolerate demonic influences along and mixed together with the influence of His Holy Spirit.
-We shall provoke the Lord to Wrath, if we are not careful. He is a consuming fire, Holy, righteous and mighty.
-Are we stronger than God? When shall we repent?
Friday, April 08, 2011
The value of waiting upon God - moulding, strengthening, faith building, hearing His voice Part 2
Isaiah 40:31
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
The word hebrew for'wait' according to strong's has the meaning of hope in, confident trusting and patient waiting. It has the meaning of becomming one with, 'to twist together as one.'
There is much value in waiting and trusting and hoping and submitting to Christ in our hearts, abiding in Him, making our hearts ready to obey Him through submission. There is much value in silent waiting as well as faith fired petitition, for it is in the place of waiting that we are strengthed by His Holy Spirit, Stilled with His comforts of His presence and taught and instructed and supplied with strength. Waiting is the place where we are supplied with God's power, instruction, readiness and strength for the obedience that is required of us.
He saves us from our impatient actions which cause more trouble than good, as we wait upon Him, we become more like Him, learning the ways of the Bull, to be strengthend in His power and effective in His dynamic working.
Let us pray for a a greater revelation of who God is while we are waiting. Leaning on His heart like the apostle John, we fall more in love with the mighty one and are transformed through relationship with His Spirit, moulding and shaping us to become more like Him.
My sheep hear my voice, is there anything more natural than hearing the voice of the bridegroom as you, His bride take time to hear His voice?
Let Him have full authority and reverence in our hearts, clear out all sin, flesh and Idols and the values of worldiness. Let The Spirit be enthroned within, we shall be filled with His victory!
Lead us not in the way of our vain ideas and imaginations, but put Your breath, Your Spirit and Your living breathing word and your commands be within our heart. Let the thoughts of our hearts honor and please You.
Either the waiting will crush our spirit and dwindle our strength and we will only grow more impatient or it will strengthen us and fill us with power and patience and we will become stronger and stronger, and have our weakness covered by God's power. Either the waiting will kill our impatience and give us deep peace and trust, or our impatience will kill the waiting and short curcuit God's work of patience and trust in us.
Colossians 1:
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy
God wants to fill us with immesurable power and wisdom according to His wisdom and power, are we willing to receive it through trust, faithful waiting, seeking and prayer?
Let us be precise and immediate in our obedience, doing exactly what the Father shows us in prayer.
I always wondered what the prophets and Abraham did in the desert, the answer is they grew in faith through prayer and waiting. Busy Singaporean can you wait?
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
The word hebrew for'wait' according to strong's has the meaning of hope in, confident trusting and patient waiting. It has the meaning of becomming one with, 'to twist together as one.'
There is much value in waiting and trusting and hoping and submitting to Christ in our hearts, abiding in Him, making our hearts ready to obey Him through submission. There is much value in silent waiting as well as faith fired petitition, for it is in the place of waiting that we are strengthed by His Holy Spirit, Stilled with His comforts of His presence and taught and instructed and supplied with strength. Waiting is the place where we are supplied with God's power, instruction, readiness and strength for the obedience that is required of us.
He saves us from our impatient actions which cause more trouble than good, as we wait upon Him, we become more like Him, learning the ways of the Bull, to be strengthend in His power and effective in His dynamic working.
Let us pray for a a greater revelation of who God is while we are waiting. Leaning on His heart like the apostle John, we fall more in love with the mighty one and are transformed through relationship with His Spirit, moulding and shaping us to become more like Him.
My sheep hear my voice, is there anything more natural than hearing the voice of the bridegroom as you, His bride take time to hear His voice?
Let Him have full authority and reverence in our hearts, clear out all sin, flesh and Idols and the values of worldiness. Let The Spirit be enthroned within, we shall be filled with His victory!
Lead us not in the way of our vain ideas and imaginations, but put Your breath, Your Spirit and Your living breathing word and your commands be within our heart. Let the thoughts of our hearts honor and please You.
Either the waiting will crush our spirit and dwindle our strength and we will only grow more impatient or it will strengthen us and fill us with power and patience and we will become stronger and stronger, and have our weakness covered by God's power. Either the waiting will kill our impatience and give us deep peace and trust, or our impatience will kill the waiting and short curcuit God's work of patience and trust in us.
Colossians 1:
11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy
God wants to fill us with immesurable power and wisdom according to His wisdom and power, are we willing to receive it through trust, faithful waiting, seeking and prayer?
Let us be precise and immediate in our obedience, doing exactly what the Father shows us in prayer.
I always wondered what the prophets and Abraham did in the desert, the answer is they grew in faith through prayer and waiting. Busy Singaporean can you wait?
The value of waiting upon God - moulding, strengthening, faith building, hearing His voice Part 1
Ps 131:1
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Be still and know that I am God,
This analogy came along as we were talking:
The inner heart of a man is like a rock cave with a small opening, the soul of the man is the water in the cave, when God speaks His voices comes from the opening of the cave, His word enters in, and reflects off the base water which is the soul of the man.
if the soul is disturbed - agitated, too much outside stimulus has come in, animals are playing in the pond - distractions and idolatries, the water is restless the soul is restless and so the man cannot hear the voice of the Spirit in his heart. The voice comes, but is lost in the din, the busyness of the waters makes the sound reflect badly off the rest of the cave. where the voice of God should be clear and resonant in the cave, the heart of the man.
Proverbs 4:23
"keep your heart with all dilligence for from it will flow the issues of life"
Ecclestes
5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
I think in our day we have a very hard time reigning in our heart and submitting to the lordship and thoughts of the Holy Spirit especially in our day. We face stimulus, stimulus, stimulus.
Was was said to Joshua? Let the word of God be your Stimulus night and day so that it will give you power to do all I command you to do! and the result: success, nothing less than God born success, Victory the result. God given victory born from the working of the word of God and the Holy Spirit within the soul.
Matt 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
The Donkey (those disposed to inertia and unmotivated, procrastinators, stubborn) and the Stalion (rushing ahead, impulsive, strong, uncontrollable, nervous) must be yoked with Christ the Bull, who is effective and victorious in His working.
We should work when He works, stop when He stops and rest when He rests.
O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
Be still and know that I am God,
This analogy came along as we were talking:
The inner heart of a man is like a rock cave with a small opening, the soul of the man is the water in the cave, when God speaks His voices comes from the opening of the cave, His word enters in, and reflects off the base water which is the soul of the man.
if the soul is disturbed - agitated, too much outside stimulus has come in, animals are playing in the pond - distractions and idolatries, the water is restless the soul is restless and so the man cannot hear the voice of the Spirit in his heart. The voice comes, but is lost in the din, the busyness of the waters makes the sound reflect badly off the rest of the cave. where the voice of God should be clear and resonant in the cave, the heart of the man.
Proverbs 4:23
"keep your heart with all dilligence for from it will flow the issues of life"
Ecclestes
5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil.
2 Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.
3 For a dream comes with much business, and a fool's voice with many words.
I think in our day we have a very hard time reigning in our heart and submitting to the lordship and thoughts of the Holy Spirit especially in our day. We face stimulus, stimulus, stimulus.
Was was said to Joshua? Let the word of God be your Stimulus night and day so that it will give you power to do all I command you to do! and the result: success, nothing less than God born success, Victory the result. God given victory born from the working of the word of God and the Holy Spirit within the soul.
Matt 11:29
Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
The Donkey (those disposed to inertia and unmotivated, procrastinators, stubborn) and the Stalion (rushing ahead, impulsive, strong, uncontrollable, nervous) must be yoked with Christ the Bull, who is effective and victorious in His working.
We should work when He works, stop when He stops and rest when He rests.
Exodus 19: To do well in the presence of the God of Fire - Part 3: Reverence
12 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death.
13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; [1] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’
-Do not take God for granted, do not be too familiar with Him thinking we can take liberties. Remember people died when they tried to look into the ark, treating holy things with calloused casuality is a sign of spiritual disease - the lack of the fear of God. Pray for reverent fear - the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord to fill us. Reverence Him.
When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.
-The prophet also does priestly duties to cleanse the people of God from sin - the role of Christian leadership is to go to God, obtain revelation and come down to present a clean and Holy Bride to Jesus.
15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
-Sexual sins and lusts point out that we do not love Christ enough, is He really our husband, do we enjoy intimacy with Him, are we filled with Him? watch out for heart adultaries.
16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
-A picture of resurrection Glory on mount zion- thunders lightings and thick cloud now are replaced with praising angels, perfected saints, God's throne and mighty glory. God still descends in fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit.
-loud trumpet blast likely from a ram's horn or the silver trumpet. in both cases announcing that 1) the ram had died, there is victory (as in Joshua) or 2) the ram is arisen, we are redeemed (silver trumpet). The proclamation of Christ!
13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; [1] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’
-Do not take God for granted, do not be too familiar with Him thinking we can take liberties. Remember people died when they tried to look into the ark, treating holy things with calloused casuality is a sign of spiritual disease - the lack of the fear of God. Pray for reverent fear - the Spirit of the Fear of the Lord to fill us. Reverence Him.
When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”
14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments.
-The prophet also does priestly duties to cleanse the people of God from sin - the role of Christian leadership is to go to God, obtain revelation and come down to present a clean and Holy Bride to Jesus.
15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
-Sexual sins and lusts point out that we do not love Christ enough, is He really our husband, do we enjoy intimacy with Him, are we filled with Him? watch out for heart adultaries.
16 On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled.
-A picture of resurrection Glory on mount zion- thunders lightings and thick cloud now are replaced with praising angels, perfected saints, God's throne and mighty glory. God still descends in fire, the fire of the Holy Spirit.
-loud trumpet blast likely from a ram's horn or the silver trumpet. in both cases announcing that 1) the ram had died, there is victory (as in Joshua) or 2) the ram is arisen, we are redeemed (silver trumpet). The proclamation of Christ!
Exodus 19: To do well in the presence of the God of Fire -Part 2: Concecration
8 All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.
9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”
-There appears the people had an appearance of Godliness an appearance of a will to obey but as you will see they could not carry through. 'an appearance of Godliness without power.'
-God validated the ministry of Moses and established it eternally by supernatural power. Amazing love that God had for the man.
When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
-Moses was not only a prophet but also a priest, who did holy service for the people - setting them apart, cleansing them for God in sacrifices, offerings, prayers, dedications etc. There is a requirement for holiness before we meet with the God of fire.
-Third day - interesting someone died and arose on the third day and was on earth to 'cast a fire'. An echo of resurrection power and glory of Zion.
-The third day will release revelation of God - preaching Christ's victory in resurrection will cause Him to show Himself.
10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments
-are we clean before His sight to meet with the God of fire? 'Hating the garment stained by sin.' Wear the robe of righteousness, the blood robe of the lamb, repent. A focus on the cross is essential
11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
-3rd day - picture of Christ's resurrection and appearance on the third day. Are we ready to meet the God of glory?
9 And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.”
-There appears the people had an appearance of Godliness an appearance of a will to obey but as you will see they could not carry through. 'an appearance of Godliness without power.'
-God validated the ministry of Moses and established it eternally by supernatural power. Amazing love that God had for the man.
When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
-Moses was not only a prophet but also a priest, who did holy service for the people - setting them apart, cleansing them for God in sacrifices, offerings, prayers, dedications etc. There is a requirement for holiness before we meet with the God of fire.
-Third day - interesting someone died and arose on the third day and was on earth to 'cast a fire'. An echo of resurrection power and glory of Zion.
-The third day will release revelation of God - preaching Christ's victory in resurrection will cause Him to show Himself.
10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments
-are we clean before His sight to meet with the God of fire? 'Hating the garment stained by sin.' Wear the robe of righteousness, the blood robe of the lamb, repent. A focus on the cross is essential
11 and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
-3rd day - picture of Christ's resurrection and appearance on the third day. Are we ready to meet the God of glory?
Exodus 19: To do well in the presence of the God of Fire –Part 1: The Great Invitation
God appeared in Holy flames of fire first to Moses and then to the children of Israel. Moses' revelation of God as a flame was replicated by God and expanded on a larger scale. The leader's revelation of who God is will pass to the people. As God told moses, I this is holy ground, please do not look casually, do not treat me casually, so God also told the children of ISrael the same to put the reverence of Him in their hearts.
Exodus 19 starts with God and moses talking. There is a theme in exodus focusing on God's very intimate relationship with Moses and God's distant relationship with the people.
Exodus 19:
4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
-Remember His goodness, judgement and great grace! HE delivered you in great expressions of His power, at the cost of much judgement.
-obedience and faithfulness (keeping the covenant relationship) will release intimacy: you will know you are most precious and treasured. do we want to know that we are precious to God? do we want to increase in intimacy? All the earth is mine - You will know that I control all things, and that of all things that I own, you are special and specially loved.
-You shall be to me a kingdom of priests - we are seated in heavenly places - obedience releases the revelation and power to walk in that authority. obedience releases God's cleansing power to make us a holy nation.
-Priests have the privillaged position of drawing near to God - they can come close to Him, eat of his holy things, enjoy His presence and blessing.
Exodus 19 starts with God and moses talking. There is a theme in exodus focusing on God's very intimate relationship with Moses and God's distant relationship with the people.
Exodus 19:
4 You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.
5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;
6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”
-Remember His goodness, judgement and great grace! HE delivered you in great expressions of His power, at the cost of much judgement.
-obedience and faithfulness (keeping the covenant relationship) will release intimacy: you will know you are most precious and treasured. do we want to know that we are precious to God? do we want to increase in intimacy? All the earth is mine - You will know that I control all things, and that of all things that I own, you are special and specially loved.
-You shall be to me a kingdom of priests - we are seated in heavenly places - obedience releases the revelation and power to walk in that authority. obedience releases God's cleansing power to make us a holy nation.
-Priests have the privillaged position of drawing near to God - they can come close to Him, eat of his holy things, enjoy His presence and blessing.
Exodus 19: To do well in the presence of the God of Fire - Part 4: Intimacy
17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.
-The whole point of this story is intimacy but the people failed of it as we see...
18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
-God who is a consuming, Holy fire is the Holy Spirit now. the Same God wants to cleanse our hearts and lives. the gospel's proclamation must get louder and louder. God will speak to us in His intimate mighty presence. will we ascend and press into where He is?
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.
-God was not pleased with the spiritual condition of the people,
22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”
-The priests were not yet concecrated, seperated from sin at this point. God saw this, in his mercy warned of judgement.
23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’
-An excuse, they earlier said they would do all, but now when the glory appeared they fond themselves stubborn and hard. they flipped between being casual and callous and rebellious and distant. they had no heart to revere God or to draw close to Him - God's original intention was to have the people experience what Moses Himself experienced - Intimacy with God but they refused it.
” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
-The sad ending to the story - God would have judged them for thier callousness and rebellion and indifference. but refrained in His mercy.
-The lord would have had baptized them in His glory and presence and fire but they would not. Would we welcome the Holy Spirit's purging influence in our day?
Isaiah 33:14-16
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
trembling has seized the godless:
“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
16 he will dwell on the heights;
his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
-The whole point of this story is intimacy but the people failed of it as we see...
18 Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly.
19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder.
20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
-God who is a consuming, Holy fire is the Holy Spirit now. the Same God wants to cleanse our hearts and lives. the gospel's proclamation must get louder and louder. God will speak to us in His intimate mighty presence. will we ascend and press into where He is?
21 And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish.
-God was not pleased with the spiritual condition of the people,
22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.”
-The priests were not yet concecrated, seperated from sin at this point. God saw this, in his mercy warned of judgement.
23 And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’
-An excuse, they earlier said they would do all, but now when the glory appeared they fond themselves stubborn and hard. they flipped between being casual and callous and rebellious and distant. they had no heart to revere God or to draw close to Him - God's original intention was to have the people experience what Moses Himself experienced - Intimacy with God but they refused it.
” 24 And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.
-The sad ending to the story - God would have judged them for thier callousness and rebellion and indifference. but refrained in His mercy.
-The lord would have had baptized them in His glory and presence and fire but they would not. Would we welcome the Holy Spirit's purging influence in our day?
Isaiah 33:14-16
14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
trembling has seized the godless:
“Who among us can dwell with the consuming fire?
Who among us can dwell with everlasting burnings?”
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly,
who despises the gain of oppressions,
who shakes his hands, lest they hold a bribe,
who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed
and shuts his eyes from looking on evil,
16 he will dwell on the heights;
his place of defense will be the fortresses of rocks;
his bread will be given him; his water will be sure.
Walking in the Spirit
What does it mean to walk in the Spirit?
I submit that it means walk, follow after the Holy Spirit, walk empowered by Him, walk in the understanding provided by him, and walk with the grace and love He provides to make us obedient to Christ's word, walk and obey the voice, promptings and wisdom, walk after the life and tone and mannerisms of Christ that the Spirit provides and fleshes out in you.
' and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in the Christ Jesus.'what is that transcending peace, execpt it be the action of the Holy Spirit keeping you in Christ?
I submit that it means walk, follow after the Holy Spirit, walk empowered by Him, walk in the understanding provided by him, and walk with the grace and love He provides to make us obedient to Christ's word, walk and obey the voice, promptings and wisdom, walk after the life and tone and mannerisms of Christ that the Spirit provides and fleshes out in you.
' and the peace of God that transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in the Christ Jesus.'what is that transcending peace, execpt it be the action of the Holy Spirit keeping you in Christ?
Supreme Pleasure
Ps16:11-12
Thou showst me the path of life;
In your presence is fullness of Joy
at your right hand pleasures forevermore.
Give us this supreme pleasure of Your Presence.
Thou showst me the path of life;
In your presence is fullness of Joy
at your right hand pleasures forevermore.
Give us this supreme pleasure of Your Presence.
Thursday, April 07, 2011
Unconcious Kindness
Paraphrased quote from Oswald Chambers: practice kindness until it becomes an unconcious part of your life, love becomes so interwoven and unconcious, un-self concious meaning your focus is on Christ and His Spirit within you.
Love becomes so interwoven in your character that when the lord asks you about it in that day, you wonder, Lord when did i do that?
visiting people in prison, giving people food, praying for people -did i do that? Wasn't just Your love flowing through me, wasn't that your voice telling me to do that, whispering to my heart to pray?
It was so unconcious so natural, it just flowed and now you are going to reward me? awesome!! Not calculatively looking for a reward just being full of His Spirit.
Love becomes so interwoven in your character that when the lord asks you about it in that day, you wonder, Lord when did i do that?
visiting people in prison, giving people food, praying for people -did i do that? Wasn't just Your love flowing through me, wasn't that your voice telling me to do that, whispering to my heart to pray?
It was so unconcious so natural, it just flowed and now you are going to reward me? awesome!! Not calculatively looking for a reward just being full of His Spirit.
Are the prayers of the saints like sweet smelling incense to you Lord?
Matt Redman's prophetic song... to please God with pure, faith filled and sincere prayer.
Let the prayers of the saints be sweet smelling incense to you, Lord!
Let the prayers of the saints be sweet smelling incense to you, Lord!
Wednesday, April 06, 2011
Identity Crisis - Sin's symptom
Sin is a symptom of identity crisis.
Do kings stoop low to prostitues?
Do ambasadors behave arrogantly? (well some do)
If I behave in a way out of my identity it is called "'unbecomming' of a man of his status." "He is behaving out of character".
If i know I am a Son i will walk to please my Father
If i know I am a beloved bride I will keep myself pure for Him who is to come.
If I know I am a king, i will behave dignified and with authority there will be a severity to me.
If I am a minister of fire for he makes his ministers flames of fire I will be firey.
I cannot behave outside of who I naturally am.
I am therefore I do.
Do kings stoop low to prostitues?
Do ambasadors behave arrogantly? (well some do)
If I behave in a way out of my identity it is called "'unbecomming' of a man of his status." "He is behaving out of character".
If i know I am a Son i will walk to please my Father
If i know I am a beloved bride I will keep myself pure for Him who is to come.
If I know I am a king, i will behave dignified and with authority there will be a severity to me.
If I am a minister of fire for he makes his ministers flames of fire I will be firey.
I cannot behave outside of who I naturally am.
I am therefore I do.
His death
As He was scurged and crucified the people watched with glee.
Subject to the constant plotting of man, He still gave His life to them.
Subject to the constant plotting of man, He still gave His life to them.
Cold cold cities
The love of many will grow cold - 'agape' will grow cold.
The age is designed to snuff our love for God and people, only Christians have unconditional agape in us.
The age is designed to snuff our love for God and people, only Christians have unconditional agape in us.
Why do you strike me?
John 18:23
NIV
"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"
NLT
Jesus replied, "If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me?"
God hatred -what is the reason why you hate Me?
Does it come for a love for evil or a hatred for righteousness?
Why do you pesecute Me? Are you more righteous than Me, God?
NIV
"If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"
NLT
Jesus replied, "If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me?"
God hatred -what is the reason why you hate Me?
Does it come for a love for evil or a hatred for righteousness?
Why do you pesecute Me? Are you more righteous than Me, God?
Holy Aggression
Prophet Samuel hacked a man to death with a hatchet.
Prophet Elijah killed many more men with holy fire.
Paul struck a man with blindness.
Prophet Elijah killed many more men with holy fire.
Paul struck a man with blindness.
Elijah's Father Heart of God Ministry
in Malachi: 'I will send Elijah who will turn the heart of the fathers to the children and the children to the Fathers.' Elijah's ministry is less about fire and more about the Father heart of God to love and be with His children love, purity, holiness and judgement.
Tuesday, April 05, 2011
Elijah in Zarepath
My impression on Elijah's training in Zarepath was simply to be a husband and father (in a dignified and strong way) to a strange gentile woman in their household. He was the only man of that house in the village and probably helped around the house when they needed his strength to carry stuff. Maybe he played with the boy. the scripture describing his praying for the boy and his resurrection is especially tender.
The woman was probably an outcast like him (whose discription has been rendered stranger of strangers in Tish in some hebrew versions) whose husband had died and son also had died. extreme poverty emotional berevement.
1) let him sleep on his bed - a dead body where the prophet lay, experiencing the presence of God in that spot in that house. in our own bed. compassion, sacrifice, hospitality, welcome.
2) head to head, eye to eye, hand to hand and feet to feet over the body - extending himself long in prayer for an outsider, stretching himself in prayer for an enemy of the sidonions the country -where baal was from! eye to eye, you see as I see, know as I know, you are not dead but alive. hand to hand is do as i Do, leg to leg - walk as I walk - in short to Father, to bring up a child.
3)sneezing 7 times. 7 - perfection, completeness, the world in 7 days a symbol of perfect work of faith, love and prayer. Love never fails and with faith is extremely powerful. a lovely picture, he has life, nothing more adorable than a child sneezing in those in series sneezes. (this is in Elisha's story)
The aim? to have compassion and faith of a father and husband for an outcast. before he was fully trained as a prophet.
There is a hint of this in the end - ELisha cries 'My father, my father' He completed the father heart of God and fathered the one with the double portion of everything.
The woman was probably an outcast like him (whose discription has been rendered stranger of strangers in Tish in some hebrew versions) whose husband had died and son also had died. extreme poverty emotional berevement.
1) let him sleep on his bed - a dead body where the prophet lay, experiencing the presence of God in that spot in that house. in our own bed. compassion, sacrifice, hospitality, welcome.
2) head to head, eye to eye, hand to hand and feet to feet over the body - extending himself long in prayer for an outsider, stretching himself in prayer for an enemy of the sidonions the country -where baal was from! eye to eye, you see as I see, know as I know, you are not dead but alive. hand to hand is do as i Do, leg to leg - walk as I walk - in short to Father, to bring up a child.
3)sneezing 7 times. 7 - perfection, completeness, the world in 7 days a symbol of perfect work of faith, love and prayer. Love never fails and with faith is extremely powerful. a lovely picture, he has life, nothing more adorable than a child sneezing in those in series sneezes. (this is in Elisha's story)
The aim? to have compassion and faith of a father and husband for an outcast. before he was fully trained as a prophet.
There is a hint of this in the end - ELisha cries 'My father, my father' He completed the father heart of God and fathered the one with the double portion of everything.
Calling down fire
Calling down fire was God's way to purge evil in the land in the OT and holy spirit falling in the NT is the now version.
The fire of God is strength to God's people and judgement to the world.
A heavenly air-strike brought down by prayer & repentance.
The fire of God is strength to God's people and judgement to the world.
A heavenly air-strike brought down by prayer & repentance.
Testimony of a colleague
Breifly heard a testimony of a lady colleague whose brother in law went to jail, got shot 4 times, found Jesus, preached christ to people and faced the gallows with courage and glory. the warden said he was not afraid to face it. how are we to boldly face death except to know Whom you are going to meet after death. 'I know Him whom I have commiteed all things' says Paul. Praise the lord.
Jesus the non-conformist - overturn the world, introduce the Kingdom
Jesus didn't follow anyone on earth - 'thats why we follow him!' my colleague said.
He didn't follow anyone's rules anyone's teaching - except the living word of God.
He did not follow any textbook written by the people of His day, if not we would have heard that expert praise him in the gospels.
He made His own rules - the sermon on the mount he got them from the Spirit of the Lord who taught him the Spirit of the law, which is the love of the Father.
He was the rule.
He was the law embodied.
He was extremely rude, calling a gentile woman a dog once, spit at people to heal them, threw out a person's family out of a funeral once, interupted a few funderal processions, turning water into wine, healing when specifically ordered not to do so, He was clearly a rule breaker and a fire starter!
was it a co-incidence that God choose to put him there at a time where the word stuffy cannot begin to descibe society - more like choking and stifling and tradition killing man's freedom, worship, dignity and original design. The poor had very little rights in those days thanks to the wealth of the pharisee who was not distributing to the poor.
He Only gave credit to the ministry of a fellow clothed in camel's hair - another non-conformist.
He would not be confined by human rules and laws neither by natural rules and laws, walking on water and multiplying food. CS Lewis says: He is wild, not a tame lion, a wild lion. Not a God we can control and works within our perimeters and expectations, not a God we can manipulate, can we handle that!
To outsiders He did not pay much respect to any of the institutions of his day - sometimes purposefully and deliberately attacking them. including stuff in the temple, (which looked like from the outside he disrespected the temple), priests and synagogue rulers, lawyers, scribes, pharisees, saducees (calling them a brood of vipers!) He seemed disrespectful to even the law (saying He the Son of man was above the law) or tradition. Family - (you must hate your family) life - (you must hate your life) and Governing authorities (receiving worship as a King).
But He did actually pay the utmost respect to the temple, family, marriage, religious leadership and to caesar in a godly, balanced way. He perceived the evils within each (the lords of this earth boss it over them etc) and rebuked them fully. refusing to allow loyalty to any institution to cloud His full worship and alliegiance to God.
And bringing God's full intention for each instition to its fullness in the church.
He frequently was not afraid to transgress the time valued traditions of his day, which he saw to not be in line with the Kingdom of God. (no healing on the sabbath! no eating on the sabbath!) He was clearly non-conformist kind of fellow. of the apostles who followed his mode of operation it was declared : 'they who have come to overturn the world have arrived on us!'. That should be the christian's job description: to overturn the world and introduce the Kingdom.
can we handle a God like that? can we get a grip of what it means to be His follower? It will throw us off. we need to be spiritually awake and agile. Jesus said to follow the Holy Spirit is like following the wind - totally unpredictable! you really have to listen hard and be very sensitive to the moving of God. He is one moment raising the dead, another moment, healing, practicing emotional healing and loving some one then casting out a demon then rebuking evil here and there, teaching etc - uncontrollable God!
He followed God's rules to the letter - angering and upsetting many earlings who held fast to earth culture. God's rule is God-like love. To Love human beings as God loves them - do not be afraid to rebuke them when they go wrong but in the right spirit and at the right time and with all boldness. have God's mind and eyes to see the world, be full of God's love to minister to people, to be led by love.
We must worship Him, and not add Him as an appendage to our lives, we must never box or limit His power through unbelief like the children of Israel who could not worship or follow but like spoilt children clamoured for Him to come down to their level. they never grew and lost thier lives prematurely.
He wants to break every chain and set men free! Free Spirited is a Godly thing when led by the Spirit.
Worship Christ, follow Christ.
He didn't follow anyone's rules anyone's teaching - except the living word of God.
He did not follow any textbook written by the people of His day, if not we would have heard that expert praise him in the gospels.
He made His own rules - the sermon on the mount he got them from the Spirit of the Lord who taught him the Spirit of the law, which is the love of the Father.
He was the rule.
He was the law embodied.
He was extremely rude, calling a gentile woman a dog once, spit at people to heal them, threw out a person's family out of a funeral once, interupted a few funderal processions, turning water into wine, healing when specifically ordered not to do so, He was clearly a rule breaker and a fire starter!
was it a co-incidence that God choose to put him there at a time where the word stuffy cannot begin to descibe society - more like choking and stifling and tradition killing man's freedom, worship, dignity and original design. The poor had very little rights in those days thanks to the wealth of the pharisee who was not distributing to the poor.
He Only gave credit to the ministry of a fellow clothed in camel's hair - another non-conformist.
He would not be confined by human rules and laws neither by natural rules and laws, walking on water and multiplying food. CS Lewis says: He is wild, not a tame lion, a wild lion. Not a God we can control and works within our perimeters and expectations, not a God we can manipulate, can we handle that!
To outsiders He did not pay much respect to any of the institutions of his day - sometimes purposefully and deliberately attacking them. including stuff in the temple, (which looked like from the outside he disrespected the temple), priests and synagogue rulers, lawyers, scribes, pharisees, saducees (calling them a brood of vipers!) He seemed disrespectful to even the law (saying He the Son of man was above the law) or tradition. Family - (you must hate your family) life - (you must hate your life) and Governing authorities (receiving worship as a King).
But He did actually pay the utmost respect to the temple, family, marriage, religious leadership and to caesar in a godly, balanced way. He perceived the evils within each (the lords of this earth boss it over them etc) and rebuked them fully. refusing to allow loyalty to any institution to cloud His full worship and alliegiance to God.
And bringing God's full intention for each instition to its fullness in the church.
He frequently was not afraid to transgress the time valued traditions of his day, which he saw to not be in line with the Kingdom of God. (no healing on the sabbath! no eating on the sabbath!) He was clearly non-conformist kind of fellow. of the apostles who followed his mode of operation it was declared : 'they who have come to overturn the world have arrived on us!'. That should be the christian's job description: to overturn the world and introduce the Kingdom.
can we handle a God like that? can we get a grip of what it means to be His follower? It will throw us off. we need to be spiritually awake and agile. Jesus said to follow the Holy Spirit is like following the wind - totally unpredictable! you really have to listen hard and be very sensitive to the moving of God. He is one moment raising the dead, another moment, healing, practicing emotional healing and loving some one then casting out a demon then rebuking evil here and there, teaching etc - uncontrollable God!
He followed God's rules to the letter - angering and upsetting many earlings who held fast to earth culture. God's rule is God-like love. To Love human beings as God loves them - do not be afraid to rebuke them when they go wrong but in the right spirit and at the right time and with all boldness. have God's mind and eyes to see the world, be full of God's love to minister to people, to be led by love.
We must worship Him, and not add Him as an appendage to our lives, we must never box or limit His power through unbelief like the children of Israel who could not worship or follow but like spoilt children clamoured for Him to come down to their level. they never grew and lost thier lives prematurely.
He wants to break every chain and set men free! Free Spirited is a Godly thing when led by the Spirit.
Worship Christ, follow Christ.
God's emotions
God felt angry, sad, sorrowful, compassionate and loving as a human being in Christ the bible says so!
In a perfect, Godly way.
In a perfect, Godly way.
Monday, April 04, 2011
The God that Bled
'to prove to the world God can bleed' - ironman 2 - mustachio to ironman.
He is the God who bled and did not strike back...
The God that bled
They really hated you,
we are the ones
because you were so different
and opposed to everything i was about.
everything i thought to be right
you said was all wrong
your actions condemned all my selfishness
selfish self abosorbtion
and i hated to come into your light.
It was more bearable, to kill the source of my pain
though all you did was true
and who you were was pure,
the darkness was more comfortable
everything i knew
told me to get rid of you
You were never into money
People found it strange
you didnt really like the popularity
or playing the power game.
Did I ask for your opinion?
i'll punch your gut- i'll spit on your face
he only looked at me
with a strange look in his eyes
what do they say about you
why dont you fight back!
He was silent, sober, alive.
the crowds cry out crucify the man!
long furrows they score
long bruising wounds on flesh
watching with delight
the floor turns red
Not a sound, not so much as a whimper
there he was silent through all the violations
he prayed but no one came
A crown of thorns for a head so pure
4 nails for limbs that only did righteousses and healed
Writhing, gasping, suffocating, coming
up for another breath,
this thing's not over yet,
Pushing up against a nail.
nails creating electrifying pain.
darkness a cover,
hour after hour,
finally a cry, Father forgive them,
another crazy cry.
who claimed to be God
What a perposterous thing
arrogance personified
the son of the dark king
pure and holy
compasisonate and kind?
An irritant, a mad man
Well we showed Him.
He is the God who bled and did not strike back...
The God that bled
They really hated you,
we are the ones
because you were so different
and opposed to everything i was about.
everything i thought to be right
you said was all wrong
your actions condemned all my selfishness
selfish self abosorbtion
and i hated to come into your light.
It was more bearable, to kill the source of my pain
though all you did was true
and who you were was pure,
the darkness was more comfortable
everything i knew
told me to get rid of you
You were never into money
People found it strange
you didnt really like the popularity
or playing the power game.
Did I ask for your opinion?
i'll punch your gut- i'll spit on your face
he only looked at me
with a strange look in his eyes
what do they say about you
why dont you fight back!
He was silent, sober, alive.
the crowds cry out crucify the man!
long furrows they score
long bruising wounds on flesh
watching with delight
the floor turns red
Not a sound, not so much as a whimper
there he was silent through all the violations
he prayed but no one came
A crown of thorns for a head so pure
4 nails for limbs that only did righteousses and healed
Writhing, gasping, suffocating, coming
up for another breath,
this thing's not over yet,
Pushing up against a nail.
nails creating electrifying pain.
darkness a cover,
hour after hour,
finally a cry, Father forgive them,
another crazy cry.
who claimed to be God
What a perposterous thing
arrogance personified
the son of the dark king
pure and holy
compasisonate and kind?
An irritant, a mad man
Well we showed Him.
Worship a window to look up
Worship and the singing of hymns is ancient - more ancient than the psalms, the prophets played music in which God's presence would come. see saul's story where he is 'baptised' with Spirit and turned into another man.
Worship is the window to spiritual realms, making people look up and not down at themselves but up at God the Father, creating a context that God can meet with them. it should be a 'look up' experience.
we must choose songs that declare heavenly reality - God's sanctuary, God's realities are real He is high priest and loving and saving, if we cannot feel them it does not make them less real. we must believe them, sing them and declare them until the reality burns in people's mind and hearts.
We cannot expect a uniform experience for everyone, everyone reacts differently to the presence of God. but we must create an undeniable God is there expereince that no matter how intellectual you are, the manifest presence makes you confess - 'there is something here in this room.'
that something is God.
worship and prayer are brothers.
Prayer is the unhappy version of psalm singing. Psalm singing is the happy version of prayer. Praying in tongues is praying for times when your brain is tired and you cannot form words.
James says if you are in trouble, pray, if you are blessed, sing thankgiving psalms, both keep the same commandment of: pray unceasingly keep talking God to God.
Worship is the window to spiritual realms, making people look up and not down at themselves but up at God the Father, creating a context that God can meet with them. it should be a 'look up' experience.
we must choose songs that declare heavenly reality - God's sanctuary, God's realities are real He is high priest and loving and saving, if we cannot feel them it does not make them less real. we must believe them, sing them and declare them until the reality burns in people's mind and hearts.
We cannot expect a uniform experience for everyone, everyone reacts differently to the presence of God. but we must create an undeniable God is there expereince that no matter how intellectual you are, the manifest presence makes you confess - 'there is something here in this room.'
that something is God.
worship and prayer are brothers.
Prayer is the unhappy version of psalm singing. Psalm singing is the happy version of prayer. Praying in tongues is praying for times when your brain is tired and you cannot form words.
James says if you are in trouble, pray, if you are blessed, sing thankgiving psalms, both keep the same commandment of: pray unceasingly keep talking God to God.
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