Our love for Christ is proven by our obedience to Him. We live to please those we love. those who love Christ in this way are the ones who experience the abiding fellowship of the presence of God in their lives. The very presence of the indwelling Christ burning deep within the soul (John 14:23).
We are deluded if we think we can abide in Christ and He in us apart from this love.
Friday, August 8, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
Rend The Heavens.
Oh, That You would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains would quake at your presence- as fire kindles the brushwood, as fire causes water to boil...
Isaiah 64:1-2 NASB
We cry out to you in holy desperation, we are dry, we are thirsty, we need a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost! Send the fire, or we die...
Isaiah 64:1-2 NASB
We cry out to you in holy desperation, we are dry, we are thirsty, we need a mighty outpouring of the Holy Ghost! Send the fire, or we die...
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Godly Sorrow.
What is our reaction to all the sin we see around us? Does it bother us to see the world overrun by gross wickedness, or have we grown insensitive to the moral filth around us?
The Psalmist wept tears because people did not keep God's law (Psalm 119:136). He was grieved in his heart because God was being dishonored, His holy name and character were being blasphemed by those who disobeyed Him.
Sin, especially that tolerated by those who profess to know Christ, brings a grievous reproach to our Savior. We should shed the same tears as we see many in the church fall into sin and error. We should weep over the barren condition of so many who once stood so strong for the Lord, but now have fallen away. We should weep like the son's of Korah, when the world says to us "Where is your God?" (Psalm 42:3).
Daniel gives us a wonderful example of one who grieved over the fallen condition of God's chosen people (Daniel 9:1-20). He recognized that they were in captivity for their sin, but that God promised to release them. Read this prayer of repentance. Daniel did not pray "poor us, forgive and let us go!" He prayed "Shame belongs to us, You are righteous and just in all that has befallen us. Forgive for your sake! We are called by Your name!" He recognized that the world looked at them in captivity, for their sin, and that reproach fell upon God!
A sin tolerating form of Christianity brings reproach to the name of the Holy God. Where are our tears?
The Psalmist wept tears because people did not keep God's law (Psalm 119:136). He was grieved in his heart because God was being dishonored, His holy name and character were being blasphemed by those who disobeyed Him.
Sin, especially that tolerated by those who profess to know Christ, brings a grievous reproach to our Savior. We should shed the same tears as we see many in the church fall into sin and error. We should weep over the barren condition of so many who once stood so strong for the Lord, but now have fallen away. We should weep like the son's of Korah, when the world says to us "Where is your God?" (Psalm 42:3).
Daniel gives us a wonderful example of one who grieved over the fallen condition of God's chosen people (Daniel 9:1-20). He recognized that they were in captivity for their sin, but that God promised to release them. Read this prayer of repentance. Daniel did not pray "poor us, forgive and let us go!" He prayed "Shame belongs to us, You are righteous and just in all that has befallen us. Forgive for your sake! We are called by Your name!" He recognized that the world looked at them in captivity, for their sin, and that reproach fell upon God!
A sin tolerating form of Christianity brings reproach to the name of the Holy God. Where are our tears?
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Active Prayer.
There are those who spend their lives praying for lost loved ones, revival, their neighbors, etc. but never do anything about it. They don't witness, they won't give a testimony of God's grace in a church service, they never think to confront a sinning brother in a spirit of love. They believe all that they need to do is to pray, and God will take care of it.
There are also those who plunge into these things, but never pray. They are always busy doing good things, but have no anointing of God on their efforts. They also see little if any results.
Jesus told the seventy to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers. He then sends them! (Luke 10:2-3). James tells us that true faith will produce works. What good is it to bless a needy person with good intentions when we have the ability to help them? (James 2:15-17). Likewise, how can we expect God to answer our prayers for loved ones when we have no intention to go to them ourselves?
The truth is we must pray and seek God for His presence and power in our lives. We must be willing to go where He sends us, and to do what He calls us to do, bathing it all in prayer. We go in the strength that He provides.
Who knows, Maybe you are the answer to your prayers for the lost, for the needy, for revival in your church or community?
There are also those who plunge into these things, but never pray. They are always busy doing good things, but have no anointing of God on their efforts. They also see little if any results.
Jesus told the seventy to pray that the Lord of the harvest would send workers. He then sends them! (Luke 10:2-3). James tells us that true faith will produce works. What good is it to bless a needy person with good intentions when we have the ability to help them? (James 2:15-17). Likewise, how can we expect God to answer our prayers for loved ones when we have no intention to go to them ourselves?
The truth is we must pray and seek God for His presence and power in our lives. We must be willing to go where He sends us, and to do what He calls us to do, bathing it all in prayer. We go in the strength that He provides.
Who knows, Maybe you are the answer to your prayers for the lost, for the needy, for revival in your church or community?
Sunday, August 3, 2014
The Great Commission.
I was reading about Joshua this morning. The account of God's commission to Him to lead the nation of Israel into the promised land (Joshua 1:1-9).
God gave him the incredible task of going in to take possession of the land. He was to drive out the inhabitants of the land, a thing that the Israelites had been to afraid to do years before (Numbers 14:1-10).
To encourage Joshua to be strong and courageous, God assured him that He would not fail, or forsake him. He would be with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:5,9).
This reminded me of the words of Jesus when He was about to ascend to heaven (Matthew 28:18-20). He has given us, His disciples, the commission to win the lost. We are to make disciples of every nation, baptize them, and teach them to obey the words of Jesus.
This is a daunting task to be sure! Who are we to accomplish such a serious charge? Fear cripples so many of us. What will people think of me if I try to witness to them? There are so many to reach. What can I possibly do?
To encourage His disciples Jesus told them That He would be with them to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Take heart! Be strong and courageous! Get the power from on high (Luke 24:49) and go!
God gave him the incredible task of going in to take possession of the land. He was to drive out the inhabitants of the land, a thing that the Israelites had been to afraid to do years before (Numbers 14:1-10).
To encourage Joshua to be strong and courageous, God assured him that He would not fail, or forsake him. He would be with him wherever he went (Joshua 1:5,9).
This reminded me of the words of Jesus when He was about to ascend to heaven (Matthew 28:18-20). He has given us, His disciples, the commission to win the lost. We are to make disciples of every nation, baptize them, and teach them to obey the words of Jesus.
This is a daunting task to be sure! Who are we to accomplish such a serious charge? Fear cripples so many of us. What will people think of me if I try to witness to them? There are so many to reach. What can I possibly do?
To encourage His disciples Jesus told them That He would be with them to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). Take heart! Be strong and courageous! Get the power from on high (Luke 24:49) and go!
Friday, August 1, 2014
An Invitation.
"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool"
Isaiah 1:18 NASB
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost."
"Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?"
Isaiah 55:1-2a NASB
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."
John 6:35 NASB
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."
John 7:37b NASB
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Revelation 22:17 NASB
This invitation is for those who are burdened with a load of sin. Repent, lay it down (Isaiah 1:16-17). You will find God's forgiveness. They will be washed away.
Those who hunger and thirst for God will be filled (Matt 5:6). We all have a deep yearning for our God and Creator. Sadly we try to fill this void with material things, vain things, and idolatrous things. We live in selfish pursuit of temporal happiness. Only in Christ Jesus will we find contentment and peace.
We turn to religion, self righteousness, out of fear. We try hard to impress and please others out of the fear of man. Jesus says "Come to Me." He is gentle, His yoke is easy, His burden is light. This is the opposite of all the striving and effort so many of us are burdened with.
The invitation is open to all, but you must come. Lay down your sin and guilt. Lay down your load of empty religion. Lay down your cares and worries. Lay down your life, your all. Come to the waters, come to Jesus.
Isaiah 1:18 NASB
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost."
"Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?"
Isaiah 55:1-2a NASB
"Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Matthew 11:28-30 NASB
Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst."
John 6:35 NASB
"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink."
John 7:37b NASB
The Spirit and the bride say, "Come." And let the one who hears say, "Come." And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.
Revelation 22:17 NASB
This invitation is for those who are burdened with a load of sin. Repent, lay it down (Isaiah 1:16-17). You will find God's forgiveness. They will be washed away.
Those who hunger and thirst for God will be filled (Matt 5:6). We all have a deep yearning for our God and Creator. Sadly we try to fill this void with material things, vain things, and idolatrous things. We live in selfish pursuit of temporal happiness. Only in Christ Jesus will we find contentment and peace.
We turn to religion, self righteousness, out of fear. We try hard to impress and please others out of the fear of man. Jesus says "Come to Me." He is gentle, His yoke is easy, His burden is light. This is the opposite of all the striving and effort so many of us are burdened with.
The invitation is open to all, but you must come. Lay down your sin and guilt. Lay down your load of empty religion. Lay down your cares and worries. Lay down your life, your all. Come to the waters, come to Jesus.
Thursday, July 31, 2014
Return to Me.
"Yet even now," declares the Lord, "Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning; And rend your heart and not your garments." Now return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness and relenting of evil.
Joel 2:12-13 NASB
We are living in a day when the heavens are shut up and we lack rain (2 Chronicles 1:13). The presence of God is largely absent from our assemblies. So much of our worship is lip service, our hearts are far away from God (Mark 7:6-8). We see our young people growing up and leaving the things of God. We have no power in our witness. We have no victory in our lives over sin. The church looks more and more like the world as time marches on.
I do not mean to seem harsh or judgmental. Just look around! It's true! We see a powerless, self centered, worldly form of Christianity being proclaimed that cannot deliver a soul from sin (2Timothy 3:5). It is a Christianity that caters to the fleshly desires of men. Prosperity and happiness are proclaimed from pulpits instead of holiness and self denial for the sake of Christ.
We teach others to come as they are, add Jesus to their lives, and He will someday take them to heaven. We fail to tell them that He demands all of us! He wants absolute control of our lives. It is all or nothing in God's economy (Mark 8:34-35, Luke 14:33, John 12:24-26).
Repentance is something that is no longer taught. Some change what it means to repent, others teach that it has no bearing upon salvation. Yet the scriptures consistently show that repentance is a turning from sin to God. It means we change our course! We turn from rebellion to submission. There can be no salvation without it. The New Testament consistently shows this to be true. John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus (Matt 3:1-2, Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3-14, John 1:23). Jesus preached it (Matt 4:17). Peter preached a message of repentance from sin (Acts 2:38, 3:19-20, 5:29-32, 8:22). Paul's theme in Romans 6 is that of dying to sin. It is a change of course. We are to stop presenting ourselves to sin, and instead present ourselves to God as slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:11-14). Paul states in Titus 2:11-12 that God's grace instructs us to deny ungodliness, and instead live upright, godly lives. It is repentance that leads one to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
In Revelation, Jesus stressed the need for five of the seven churches addressed, to repent. That is what we need today! We need to turn from our selfish wayward ways. We need to turn from our compromise of the truth. We need to repent of lukewarmness, dead orthodoxy, lack of passion, our unconcern for the lost, our loss of zeal for the glory of God!
If we humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us, and forgive us and bring healing to our land once again (2Chron 7:14). We must be sincere. We must be contrite, broken. When we are serious about God. when we mean business with Him, He will mean business with us. That is what it means to seek Him with the whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). We seek Him, we desire Him. We understand our sin has grieved Him and separated us from His presence. We are broken over this, we confess, we repent, we seek Him, His presence once again.
It is time to return to the Lord! We cannot go on without Him. We live in a dry weary land, we need Him to rain down righteousness upon us once again (Hosea 10:12). We need the times of refreshing once again (Acts 3:19-20).
Joel 2:12-13 NASB
We are living in a day when the heavens are shut up and we lack rain (2 Chronicles 1:13). The presence of God is largely absent from our assemblies. So much of our worship is lip service, our hearts are far away from God (Mark 7:6-8). We see our young people growing up and leaving the things of God. We have no power in our witness. We have no victory in our lives over sin. The church looks more and more like the world as time marches on.
I do not mean to seem harsh or judgmental. Just look around! It's true! We see a powerless, self centered, worldly form of Christianity being proclaimed that cannot deliver a soul from sin (2Timothy 3:5). It is a Christianity that caters to the fleshly desires of men. Prosperity and happiness are proclaimed from pulpits instead of holiness and self denial for the sake of Christ.
We teach others to come as they are, add Jesus to their lives, and He will someday take them to heaven. We fail to tell them that He demands all of us! He wants absolute control of our lives. It is all or nothing in God's economy (Mark 8:34-35, Luke 14:33, John 12:24-26).
Repentance is something that is no longer taught. Some change what it means to repent, others teach that it has no bearing upon salvation. Yet the scriptures consistently show that repentance is a turning from sin to God. It means we change our course! We turn from rebellion to submission. There can be no salvation without it. The New Testament consistently shows this to be true. John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus (Matt 3:1-2, Mark 1:4-5, Luke 3:3-14, John 1:23). Jesus preached it (Matt 4:17). Peter preached a message of repentance from sin (Acts 2:38, 3:19-20, 5:29-32, 8:22). Paul's theme in Romans 6 is that of dying to sin. It is a change of course. We are to stop presenting ourselves to sin, and instead present ourselves to God as slaves of righteousness (Romans 6:11-14). Paul states in Titus 2:11-12 that God's grace instructs us to deny ungodliness, and instead live upright, godly lives. It is repentance that leads one to the knowledge of the truth (2 Timothy 2:25-26).
In Revelation, Jesus stressed the need for five of the seven churches addressed, to repent. That is what we need today! We need to turn from our selfish wayward ways. We need to turn from our compromise of the truth. We need to repent of lukewarmness, dead orthodoxy, lack of passion, our unconcern for the lost, our loss of zeal for the glory of God!
If we humble ourselves, pray, seek God's face, and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear us, and forgive us and bring healing to our land once again (2Chron 7:14). We must be sincere. We must be contrite, broken. When we are serious about God. when we mean business with Him, He will mean business with us. That is what it means to seek Him with the whole heart (Jeremiah 29:13). We seek Him, we desire Him. We understand our sin has grieved Him and separated us from His presence. We are broken over this, we confess, we repent, we seek Him, His presence once again.
It is time to return to the Lord! We cannot go on without Him. We live in a dry weary land, we need Him to rain down righteousness upon us once again (Hosea 10:12). We need the times of refreshing once again (Acts 3:19-20).
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