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Tag: faith (Page 9 of 11)

“Birth Days…” Ps.139:13-16

February 12, 2017 /

“…For you formed my inward part you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them” (Ps. 139:13-16).

 

Why were you born? Why are you here—now? Have you ever asked yourself those questions?

Have you ever felt like some giant cosmic accident? A mistake even?

If so, please understand that what you are thinking or feeling is a lie spoken to you from the enemy of your soul. “Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).

Today’s Scripture clearly—emphatically, states that even as you were being made, God saw. He was there. He was your witness. More, He had predestined you—your birth. Everything about you was planned, unique, and, intentional. Regardless of how you may have been conceived, your birth—your life, was ordained by God…

And, as we see in 1 Peter, the enemy of your soul will do everything in his power to devour the Truth of God—and that Truth is found in verse 14, “…You are fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Imperfectly perfect, just as you are.

Whether you were wanted by those who were supposed to want you—or not. Loved by those who were meant—intended, to model to you what love was supposed to look,feel—taste like. Or not.

If you had a birthday—you are wanted. Needed—by God…

Intended and intentional.

Maybe you were born as the result of rape—or a so-called, “unplanned pregnancy.” Maybe you look at your life—one seemingly endless string of bad decisions after another—and see no point to it?

But the simple fact that you are here—were born at all, emphatically speaks volumes. It states you are not an accident. Not some pointless person meant to aimlessly wander—purposeless.

Listen to what your Creator says of you: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jer. 29:11).

Gianna Jessen was not supposed to live. Her mother was advised to abort her—even though it was late in the pregnancy. A saline abortion—intended to burn a child alive, both internally and externally, while still in their mother’s womb. Causing it to be delivered dead. That is what was inflicted on Genna’s tiny body…

But, Gianna survived—after 18 hours of being burned alive in her mother’s womb she was delivered alive. And she considers her Cerebral Palsy, the result of the botched abortion she survived, a gift.

“But I say to you, love [that is, unselfishly seek the best or higher good for] your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,  so that you may [show yourselves to] be the children of your Father who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on those who are evil and on those who are good, and makes the rain fall on the righteous [those who are morally upright] and the unrighteous [the unrepentant, those who oppose Him]” (Matt.5:44-45).

Thankfully, the abortion doctor wasn’t present at that time or she would most certainly had been left to die—or worse, been suffocated or strangled. But the nurse on duty called an ambulance—and though she was not expected to live—she did. You can listen to Gianna’s amazing testimony in full on You Tube…

But first, please listen to God’s Words for Gianna—for you and me.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument], And before you were born I consecrated you [to Myself as My own]; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5).

Perhaps your story wasn’t as factually life-threatening as Gianna’s was. Perhaps you being burned alive was the result of the corrosive, demeaning words spat at you daily? Maybe someone tried to end you with brutal careless fists that assailed you, body, mind, and soul—without cause. Or, perhaps you were starved to death—through withholding. Lovelessness, carelessness, hopelessness, the three-course meal you were fed—daily. When you were fed at all.

Pain causing pain. Brokenness replicating itself…

And so, you ask, “How can this be intended for anyone?” Is this why I was born?

It isn’t. And it wasn’t. Your pain is the result of the sin-stained world you live in. From birth, you are surrounded by those who both made and make decisions for you daily. And, as the expression goes, Hurt people hurt people.

Please, understand, I am not condoning nor making excuses for what you may have endured. It was wrong. I’m just asking you to allow me to help redirect your focus. Because thankfully, ultimately, you have a Creator—a Savior, who has the final Word. The last say over everything that has been undeservedly done to you.

If you allow Him to…

And, thankfully, you may have the implausible opportunity to have yet another birthday! A “do-over” day. The chance to have every pain, every scar, everything that has held you back—or down, removed from you!

Nothing magic. Rather Restoration. Wholeness. Oneness.

More, every sin you have ever committed, everything that has separated you from God, forgiven.

That’s Good News!

Listen to how Jesus explains it to a man called Nicodemus: Jesus answered him, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless a person is born again [reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified], he cannot [ever] see and experience the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter his mother’s womb a second time and be born, can he?” Jesus answered, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh [the physical is merely physical], and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:3-6).

Two births? Yes. And both are—or certainly can be, painful!

Even a man, who can never experience this type of pain first hand—can imagine it. Take it in…

He can be a witness to births pain.

He sees it with his eyes. Hears it’s screams with his ears. Birth pains become real to a man—evident, even though he will never experience them firsthand.

Or will he?

Think the second birth here. Our second birthday has the potential to manifest a pain all its own…

Just as our physical birth was painful—so it may be also with our rebirth. Birthing is a painful, messy business—however, “A woman, when she is in labor, has pain because her time [to give birth] has come; but when she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of her joy that a child has come into the world” (John 16:21).

The maternal death rate in the United States has risen since the year 2000. In 2014 24 mothers died per every 100,000 live births.

How many of us will die twice? Both the physical as well as a spiritual death?

There are no statistics to quote for this…

So, in place of these nonexistent statistics, I offer you the infallible Word of God. A plausible Scriptural account for these—dual deaths. “The pains of childbirth come on him; But he is not a wise son, For it is not the time to delay [his chance at a new birth] as the womb opens [but he ignores the opportunity to change]” (Hosea 13:13).

Plain speak—We bring ruin on ourselves by putting off—side-stepping, our opportunity for a new birth day through the repentance of our sins. Like a child whose mother doesn’t have the strength to bring it forth, and it stays so long in the passage of the womb that it runs the risk of death, so too do we when we refuse—ignore, the free gift offered us of being born again…

Perhaps the way you entered this world the first time was less than ideal. And perhaps your life has been a little more than a repetitive reflection of the circumstances that conspired to end you before you ever began…

But let me ask you, is the pain your experiencing right now labor pangs?

Are you becoming aware, full of God attempting to birth you afresh?

Are you feeling God’s Word spoken to Nicodemus being stirred up inside your belly? “No one can see the Kingdom of God unless he is born again” (J0hn. 3:3).

If so, squat where your standing, bite down and start pushing…

Birthing is a messy business, but oh the joy when the child is delivered!

Birth Days—is today yours?

 

 

“What Will You Choose?” Luke 10:38-42

February 5, 2017 /

“Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home.  She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.”  But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:38-42).

 

If you’re a Christian, there are very clear lines in the sand you mustn’t cross. The world around you will always tell you otherwise, that’s its job…“Did God really say” (Gen 3:1 NIV)?

Please, don’t take my word for this. Just listen to what the world itself has to say. Read the newspapers. Listen in on the conversations people are having. People of every walk of life are talking about how chaotic the world has become. For that matter, drive on any metropolitan highway. Talk about chaos! One wrong turn and you end up in places that your GPS doesn’t recognize!

Pay attention, also, to the billboard advertisements lining those freeways. To their not-so subliminal messages aimed at shanghaiing your choices and directing them towards what some ad company wants you to view as important, needed, crucial, to your happiness…

Within our scripture passage today we’ll witness, in part, the blessings missed when we make unwise or harried choices. Those precious moments with Jesus that we allow to be snatched from our hands daily, when we permit ourselves to get so caught-up in work that we get sidetracked from seeking God’s presence. And, how that often leads us into making the wrong choices at crucial moments.(James 1:13-16 NASB).

“When you have to make a choice and don’t make it, that is in itself a choice.” -William James

Statistics tell us the average adult makes approximately 35,000 decisions a day. Now multiply that times two. Remember, we had to choose between two options to reach our one decision…

So, about 70,000 choices are contending for our attention on any given day. Ranging from the mundane: what we will eat, drink, wear? To what brand of toothpaste will we purchase? Then on to the more complex choices. Spend or save, rent or own, marry or remain single. And we haven’t touched on the sundry issues of the heart. Or, deeper still, our most important of choices…

Where will we be spending eternity?

Let’s enter the home of Martha and Mary. It’s okay, we’ve been invited in along with Jesus and His disciples. Let’s take our place at the dinner table. Pay attention to Martha. How busy she is bustling about. Remember, this is her home and she’s our hostess tonight. Mary, her sister, has been right beside her throughout the day seeing to it that everything is just-so for each of their guests. From the dinner choice and preparation, right down to the flower selection. Martha has insisted everything be picture-perfect!

After all, Jesus, their Rabbi, and friend, will be in attendance…

Often, our choices may seem to be the right-thing to do. They’re certainly done made with the best of intentions. With a good-heart, and from a desire to please. Undoubtedly, we want to do our best and give our best to those we love. And how much more when that someone is Jesus?

It’s within this tension of choices that our two sisters diverge in their definitions of what the better portion is…

Everyone’s seated and Jesus begins to speak. And with that, Mary pulls up a stool and sits at the His feet to listen to Him. Oh, how she loves to hear her Rabbi speak. His simplest words are like honey to her ears! (Luke.10:39).

Yet while Mary sits listening to Jesus, Martha returns to the kitchen clearly irked! Mary unawares, is in her glory! There is nothing more, in this life, that she enjoys than time spent with Jesus. She could sit for hours and simply drink in every word that flows from the Masters mouth…

Martha also, but not now, not tonight.

Tonight, Martha has chosen to make work—her service to the Lord. Her priority. After all, she has worked on this meal and its presentation all day. There will be time to sit with the Master another day. Now there is still much to do. The bread, I must put out the bread. Where is that sister of mine? I must speak to Jesus about her. Surely, HE will make her get up and help me…

And with that Martha, in the midst of her distraction, knocks the basket laden with the warm bread to the floor. She is now beside herself and burst into the dining room in a huff to demand that Jesus help…

Just listen to her rant!

“Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  Now pay attention to how lovingly, tenderly, yet plainly, Jesus answers His frazzled friend… “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke. 10:42-43 NIV).

“Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life” (Pr. 4:23 NASB).

Martha had just been taught a very valuable lesson about her choices. The question is, was she listening to the Lord as He spoke to her? Are we? Or are we doing nothing more than walking about distracted? Praying for answers but half listening when the answers are given to us?

I’m reminded of the words of the prophet Micah concerning what it is God truly requires of us, “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you Except to be just, and to love [and to diligently practice] kindness (compassion), And to walk humbly with your God [setting aside any overblown sense of importance or self-righteousness] (Micah 6:8 AMP).

Martha was not an enemy of the Lord, she was His friend, and more, she loved Him and was a true believer. A follower of The Way. Scripture made that clear within the context of the conversation she and Jesus had. It had taken place when He came to her and her sister Mary after the death of their brother Lazarus. Jesus told Martha that Lazarus would live again. He asked her if she believed this. Let’s listen to her reply…

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world” (Luke 11:27 NLT).

Even the most fervent of us, those who hunger and thirst after Jesus, who crave time alone with Him, get caught-up, on occasion, in service to Him. We forget to come away from all the work of our hands. We forget to simply be still in front of Him (Ps. 46:10 NKJV).

Like Mary, our first duty to the Lord is to Love HIM above all else. To seek Him out—to purposefully set aside time to sit at His feet so that we might build a deeper relationship with Him. To know Him, love Him, to spend time and converse with Him.

And, like Mary, desire to drink in His every Word (Duet.8:3 NIV).

We would each do well to follow her in her desire to be in communion with Jesus. In her desire to saté herself in Him alone demonstrates that she had in fact chosen the better portion. Walking away joy-filled and refreshed.

Neither woman was wrong in their choice of how they’d worshiped the Lord. Though each demonstrated their adoration quite differently…

I believe the deeper issue Jesus was communicating concerning Marth was one of the leaning of her heart.

What is the leaning of your heart? Work or worshiping at His feet? Deeper, what is your motivation for each…?

The take-away, Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matt.22:37 NLT).

Let me leave you to ponder an excerpt from, Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary of our text. I believe you’ll find it to be not only eloquent, but more, enlightening, thought-provoking and biblically sound…

Here with respect to our Lord Jesus and right care of her household affairs (speaking of Martha). But there was something to be blamed. She was for much serving; plenty, variety, and exactness. Worldly business is a snare to us, when it hinders us from serving God, and getting good to our souls. What needless time is wasted, and expense often laid out, even in entertaining professors of the gospel! Though Martha was on this occasion faulty, yet she was a true believer, and in her general conduct did not neglect the one thing needful. The favour of God is needful to our happiness; the salvation of Christ is needful to our safety. Where this is attended to, all other things will be rightly pursued. Christ declared, Mary hath chosen the good part. For one thing is needful, this one thing that she has done, to give up herself to the guidance of Christ. The things of this life will be taken away from us, at the furthest, when we shall be taken away from them; but nothing shall separate from the love of Christ, and a part in that love. Men and devils cannot take it away from us, and God and Christ will not. Let us mind the one thing truly needful more diligently than all else.

“A Voice In the Storm” Lk. 8:24-25

January 29, 2017 /

 

And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him” (Lk. 24-25)?

It’s the last line of our verse that gives us the answer about why Jesus rebuked His disciples…

Their faith had wavered.

I can relate. There have been moments in my life that my normal “mountain moving” faith wasn’t strong enough to move my own doubts out of the way…

How about you? Have you ever experienced moments of weak faith? Days that even though you know that you know God is Sovereign you panic when a storm comes your way…?

They had been with Him. They believed He was the Messiah—these twelve, His hand chosen. They had read the Holy Scriptures or at least they’d heard the oral traditions told and retold them by their elders. They knew of the accounts spoken of during the time of the Exodus of their people. When Jehovah God delivered His first-born son, Israel, from under the ruthless oppression of Pharaoh—and his taskmaster’s flesh-splitting whips (Exodus 13).

God intervened and showed Himself the Sovereign Ruler over all men, believer, and unbeliever alike. He demonstrated just how all-powerful He is by taking charge over the elements…

They knew, these twelve, that God had split the sea in two so that His people could cross over on dry land and then with the same ease—folded this sea back over the Egyptian’s who were in hot pursuit of His people. Sending them all to a watery grave (Ex. 14:21-30).

And the disciples believed in this God of their Father’s…

But now their Master—their Rabbi, the One Peter had called the Messiah—God’s own Son (Matt.16:16), is sleeping in their boat.  While this sudden storm has arisen, and is raging!  And they panicked. Some were seasoned fisherman familiar with the sea. Accustomed to sudden, violent, stormy, weather.

Yet they panicked nonetheless…

So, what is it that caused them to be filled with this gripping fear? To doubt that Jesus, God’s Son, could save them from a certain watery death? Was it the sheer size of the storm that raged about them?

Or was it a deeper issue that swirled unanswered within them…?

Let’s talk about faith. Theirs’s, yours, and mine…

The Scriptures tell us that without it, this faith, it is impossible to please God: “But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him” (Heb.11:6).

Now we know that to please God we must have faith, so the next logical question follows, “What is this faith?”

“Now faith is the assurance (title deed, confirmation) of things hoped for (divinely guaranteed), and the evidence of things not seen [the conviction of their reality—faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses]” (Heb.11:1).

So, now that we know we need faith and we know what this faith is, wouldn’t it seem reasonable to think that these twelve men who had walked with Jesus for such a long while would have it in abundance?

Particularly if they truly understood—more, believed that Jesus was truly The Son of God—One with Father. God in the Flesh…

They’d heard Him say as much to the Jews who asked Him for a plain accounting of Himself back at the colonnade of Solomon during the feast of dedication (John. 14:22-38).

And they were His witnesses to so many of the signs and miraculous healings He performed…

There was the man with the withered hand that He fully restored (Luke 6:10). The cleansing of the leaper, (Luke 5:12-13). The healing of a paralytic, (Luke 5:18-20). The powerful teaching we’ve come to know as, “The Beatitudes” (Matt.5:1-12). And even raising a widow’s only son at his own funeral (Luke 7:13-15)!

They—these twelve, and all the Jews, had been waiting for Messiah to come and deliver them from the Romans and their cruel oppression, much like He did with their forefathers in Egypt. And they knew He would, just as He had during the days of Moses and Aaron.

So why was He sleeping at the bow of the boat while this powerful storm was threatening to tear them apart?

That was their question…

But perhaps what they should have asked, what we should be asking is: What was the Voice who spoke to the storm trying to teach that day? What was the lesson He needed them to understand—us too? What is it that He wanted them, and us, to be confident in? No room for doubts?

Let’s go back to our Scripture verses for that answer. He said to them, “Where is your faith?”

Faith…

Jesus was allowing their faith to be built up while simultaneously reminding them that He was the One who had complete control over all things, ALL things—always.

Jesus knew what His disciples would face shortly—how their faith would be tested repeatedly. He knew they believed Him to be the Messiah. But He needed them to continue to grow. To be stretched. He knew also, that He would only be with them for a short time. And He needed them solid—rock solid, unwavering in their faith.

He need them to understand that He was God. And what that soon would entail…

The future of His Church depended on it… (Acts 2:39-40).

In a moment of unbelief, the disciples implored Jesus for deliverance from the raging sea.  Much like when Moses called on God for deliverance as he and God’s people stood trapped at the mouth of the Red Sea, with Pharaoh’s army closing in, threatening to annihilate them…

He needed His disciples to know—have faith in, that He was the same God who demonstrated His power to deliver and save the Israelite’s. That it was He who commanded the elements then and it was He who would do it now, and for all time. “And the sea became as wall on their left and on their right” (Ex. 14:22).

He continues to demonstrate His mercy and His unfathomable power to save His chosen ones—His children. And, since this same Jesus cannot change, is it possible that the storm that is raging about you has been allowed?

Was it sent as a reminder that you must stay firmly anchored to Jesus? The One who will never allow the storms in your life to overtake you. Regardless of what things may look like. “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you” (1 Pet. 4:12).

Did your storm come to strengthen you? To build you up? To enable you to push through life’s situations and circumstances that clamor for your attention—the endless distractions? Those situations that frighten you and cause you to freeze drawing your focus away from Jesus? That negative doctor’s report, the loss of a job or spouse? Past hurts and disappointments?

That runaway child or addicted parent?

Did the storm in your life arise to strengthen your faith?  Or perhaps to expose your hidden doubt? Maybe it came to increase your understanding? Or to show you how to still yourself, and listen to the One whose Word commands all storms to end?

Jesus needed to remind His disciples that He was Sovereign over all His creation. That He was so much more than their narrow understanding of who Messiah was and the role He would play in His people’s lives…

He needed them to know that not one detail of their life, not one of their trials escaped Him—and we too, as witnesses, are remind, that if we will but anchor our faith to Him, listen for His voice to guide us, no storm will ever overtake us, nor separate us from Him…

“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord”(Rom.8:37-39).

Jesus is just as aware of what’s threatening to end you as He was of the storm that frightened His disciples. And the sea that needed to part for His children to cross over safely…

Allow me to remind you that Jesus is with you today. And anything that looks threatening around you cannot overtake you unless the Sovereign God of the Universe allows it to be…

“The LORD does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths” (Psalm 135:6).

 

“She Didn’t Want to Do It.” Lk. 8:46-48

January 22, 2017 /

“And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace”(Luke 8:47-48).

Our Scripture today concerns a woman who was desperate. The Bible tells us that for 12 years she had dealt with a physical issue that had not only ravaged her body, depleted her resources—more, it had caused her to live in fear, shame, and, isolation.

So, let me ask you, as we step into the closing weeks of this New Year—what “dis-ease”, are you carrying into this new season from times long passed? And what, if anything, has you in a state of desperate abandon for your right-now miracle?

You see for her, this woman with no name, it was a physical healing she was after—it’s what forced her fear right out her front door! She had been bleeding for 12 years. 12 years! And in those years of chasing after a cure, she had spent all that she had…

Now, broke, and still bleeding, she heard some commotion near her home. A crowd was gathering in the village. She Peeked out through the crack in her gate she saw Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue. He was on his knees before this new Rabbi, this Jesus. She’d overheard others speak of His miraculous healings…

What if He could…No! I couldn’t possibly. The law forbids it! He’s a rabbi, a Holy man—and the crowd, all those people, I’d be stoned!

These tempestuous thoughts were chasing each other around in her mind. Yet, in her belly—in that place of her knowing, there was a calm…

She began to recognized her need to take a step of faith. It was like something was beckoning her to come…

Is it possible that this Jesus may be her only hope?

If we’re willing to be honest, I’m certain we’ve all experienced living in that kind of tension. In the fear of having our issue—that thing that shames us, brought out into the open. Yet our want for freedom pushes us to the very brink of that fear. Leaving us teetering.

We may know what needs to be done, what must be done in order that we be healed…

Yet, we’re frightened. Because the first step required to receive our healing is confession. It’s bringing that thing, that issue, shaking and sniveling out of its comfortable darkness, out of its hiding place—and exposing it to the Light of the World…

You see, the law had kept this woman bound in fear and shame. To touch a woman such as herself made one ceremonially unclean until the sun went down. She was a thing to be avoided, shunned at all cost. She was defiled. “If a woman has a discharge of blood for many days, not at the time of her menstrual impurity, or if she has a discharge beyond the time of her impurity, all the days of the discharge she shall continue in uncleanness. As in the days of her impurity, she shall be unclean” (Lev. 15:25).

Seeing herself as such, how could she go out among normal people to see this Jesus? What if she touched someone—what if someone touched her? The shame of it…

Can you relate?

Have you ever felt like this woman?

Are you feeling like her today? Afraid? Uncertain? Ashamed? Isolated? Alone?

Are you, like her, frightened of being found out? Of having your issue exposed? How long have you been hiding your shame?

For her, it was twelve years. It may well have been a life time. It  certainly felt that way…

She had tried everything she could think of, to handle her business on her own. She saw anyone she thought might heal her—help her. But nothing. Twelve years had passed and she was still bleeding.

Now what she saw as her last chance to get her healing was standing only feet away. It was this Jesus…

She knew that if she could just touch His clothes—no, just the tassels of His outer garment as they slid past her fingers in the dust, everything would be okay—she’d be healed.

I’ll just slip into the crowd unnoticed. I’ll stoop down low enough to the ground to just touch His tassel as He passes by—He’ll never even know I was there! And hopefully, neither will anyone else. I’ll just stay real low to the ground and …

Shame will do that to us. It steals our dignity. It causes us to feel unworthy to even go before the only One who is truly able to heal us—save us, free us from our sin, wrong thinking, and, shame.

But Jesus was having no part of her worldly way of thinking! He was not interested in playing hide and seek. He was not going to allow this woman to live her life isolated any longer…

He was interest in healing far more than her mere issue of blood… “Who touched me?” Jesus asked (Lk. 8:45).

Her worst nightmare had just been realized. He had singled her out! Oh no, no, please, no, Lord I did not mean to... “And when the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him…” (Lk. 8:47).

Why? Why would Jesus call her out? Surely, being God—He knew who it was who had touched Him and why…

So why call her out in front of the very people she was so ashamed and afraid to be seen by? To touch…

Was He trying to shame her? Was He going to publicly rebuke her?

No. Quite the contrary…

Our first clue to Jesus’ motives in calling her out comes through His choice of words. He called her daughter. It’s a relational title. A title that infers privilege. A daughter has unfettered access to her dad—she shares an intimacy and bond with him that is not shared with just anyone…

Secondly, He declared her healed. Again, let’s look at His choice of words…

He uses the expression Shalom—which encapsulates; renewal, completeness, and, a blessing for peace…

Jesus knew that for His daughter to be truly healed—soul healed, she, as well as those around her, needed to hear Him openly declare her to be healed. From the root of  her need, not merely from her symptoms.

His words restored her, made her touchable once again, worthy of love, worthy of all the rights and honors a father confers, lovingly, upon his daughter…

In bringing her issue out into the open Jesus not only healed her physically, He released a life that had wasted away in a prison of religious isolation. She had skulked through 12 long years of shame—of others thoughtlessness disregard…

Jesus gave her, and indirectly those around her, permission to once again live communally, openly, equally. To live a life made whole. “And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace” (Lk. 8:48).

She didn’t want to do it—take that first frightening step into the all revealing light of Christ. That Light that would bring illumination to her secrets, and expose her hidden fears.

Overcoming shame, and the fear that often accompanies it, requires us to muster the courage to fall—to humble ourselves, at Jesus’ feet and confess openly to Him our “issue”…

We must be brave enough to finally walk away from—reject, both our own human thoughts and vain imaginings, as well as those imposed on us by others…

We must leave behind those ideas that caused us to close ourselves off from Jesus—and simply accept Him at His Word.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa.53:4-5).

 

He wasn’t interested in simply stopping her bleeding. Nor is He interested in just stopping yours. He wanted her restored to Him. And He wants that same restoration for you as well.

Now, and for all eternity.

It’s why He came into the world. Why He stepped across time and eternity to bring heaven to earth…

Why He would not walk away from such a pitiless death. “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour” (Jn. 12:27).

Won’t you, like the woman found in today’s Scripture, bring your issue to Jesus? Why squander another year of your life carting around something you weren’t created to carry…?

Give it to Jesus today. Receive His power in exchange for your weakness. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me” (Jn. 8:45-46).

 

He Is Doing A “New Thing.” Isa. 43:18-19

January 8, 2017 /

                                                                                                                           “Do not remember the former things,Or ponder the things of the past. “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert.”  Isaiah 43:18-19 (Amp)

   Living in Hawaii is a blessing. At any given morning you can wake up before the sun rises and drive to any beach and watch this beautiful art piece come alive that God creates for us every morning called the Sunrise. The sunrise is visible almost anywhere. But, there are several spots on the island that bring you closer to this special experience; where you can actually feel the sun as it’s coming up over the horizon. Experience it, brushing across your face like a warm gentle hand. Enlivening you, as it Ignites your senses. All the while its warmth runs from the top of your head. Resting, it kisses your checks. Finally, it moves its way down to the tips of your toes, and you are one…

Can you hear the waves pounding on the shore? Their rhythmic worship?And can you taste the tang of salt from the oceans mist… ?

I can feel it now as I write. All of it! All my senses coming alive. Every cell in my body awakened and I stand in awe of God’s glory…

You can worship anywhere, at any given time on this island. Anywhere in the world for that matter…

But, some worship experiences are as unique, as glorious, as my special spot on the eastern point here in Oahu. A place where the sunrise is clearer and far more majestic than on any other place on the island at that moment.

     Isaiah was writing a prophetic word to the Israelite’s in the verses above. They were not only cast out of Israel but now were being held captive by the Babylonians. In the above verses, Isaiah leads the Israelite’s into the realization that they are to, “forget the former things and do not dwell on the past.”

He instructs them that If they continued to hold on to their old way of doing things or seeing only how the Lord had once brought them out of Egypt, then, they will miss the “New Thing” that God was going to do now.

If I hold on to the memory of the way the sunrise looked yesterday, and I go expecting it to look the same way the next time I go to that same spot, I won’t appreciate and/or see the sunrise doing a new thing.

Every morning the sun will rise. I know this. I am sure that nothing will stop the sun from rising unless something extreme has happened to the earth’s natural order.

Yet, every morning, the sun is new. Every morning it offers a different experience…

God was not only delivering the Israelite’s from captivity, He was, also, sending His only Son. He was sending a permanent solution for the Israelite’s sins. For our sins.

The end of the verse 19 says, “Will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.” It wasn’t a condition of something they did.

Nor is it anything you and I have done that merits us this grace. It is who God is naturally. He wanted to create that road from sin to salvation in the wilderness. He said He would. Not could. Nor, would He possibly do it…

He said, “I WILL even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”

Imagine that.

Close your eyes for a moment and visualize this…

Your lost in the wilderness and you can’t find your way out of it. After searching, being tired and afraid, you find a road…

Wouldn’t you feel excited? Wouldn’t you think, “Okay now there’s hope!”

Jesus is our road to salvation. Our road to hope. Our verses also tell us that He will send rivers in the desert. And, that this river in the desert is the Spirit that God gives to us when we accept Jesus as Lord and Savior.

Jesus is referred to as, “Living Water” (John 4:10-15).

Jesus, Himself, told the Samaritan woman at the well that He had living water. He was offering her this water that would quench her thirst always. He told her that the water He was giving her would spring forth from within her to eternal life…

As we enter this new year, may you realize that God wants to offer you that very same hope…

That new way of looking towards Jesus. Of seeing, anticipating, expecting, the “new thing” that He is doing in your life.

Isaiah 49:8-10: This is what the Lord says, “In a favorable time I have answered you, And in a day of salvation I have helped You; And I will keep watch over You and give You for a covenant of the people, To restore the land [from its present state of ruin] and to apportion and give as inheritances the deserted hereditary lands, Saying to those who are bound and captured, ‘Go forth,’ And to those who are in [spiritual] darkness, ‘Show yourselves [come into the light of the Savior]. ’They will feed along the roads [on which they travel], And their pastures will be on all the bare heights. “They will not hunger or thirst, Nor will the scorching heat or sun strike them down; For He who has compassion on them will lead them, And He will guide them to springs of water.”

I just love what verse nine says above, “to those who are bound, come forth, and to those who are in [spiritual]darkness, show yourselves [come into the light of the sun of righteousness.”

Wherever you are in your walk with Him, wherever you are in the world. Whatever bondage has you hostage….

TODAY a “New Thing” can happen. Will you not recognize it?

The Lord is holding out his hand and asking you to Step into the Sunlight and see that He is doing a “New Thing.”

Written by: Angelica Kauhako

“Cracks In the Ice” Mk. 9:24

December 4, 2016 /

chain-937943_960_720 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than the father cried, “Then I believe. Help me with my doubts” (Mk. 9:24)!

This Father knew he was powerless to save his son—to heal him.  He had knowledge, however, of the one that could save him—you see, he’d heard those stories told in the village. “He healed a many of palsy”, one said. Another chiming in said, “And did you hear about the man blind from birth? I’ve heard it told that he can see now!” These words resounded within him—encouraging the whisper of faith that was in his belly…

He had to find this Jesus, he just had to—maybe He really could help his son?

This father is symptomatic of so many of us today.  We have known Jesus. We have witnessed His miraculous power in our own lives—certainly, via the wonders of technology, in the lives of others. We have a measure of faith. We, too, have heard the stories of His many miracles, His love. We know of His desire to want us whole and healed. Yet in this one—maybe several, areas of our lives, there is a crack in our proverbial ice…

Our faith waivers. We suffer from believing unbelief…

Crack. We hear it, that sharp cautionary warning that makes the hairs on the back our necks stand tall. That siren call that roar’s instantly. We’re standing on ice too thin to support our weight…

Isn’t that a great analogy ? Those weaker areas of our faith should always signal us to run back to the safety of the shore. Back to the loving, nurturing arms of Jesus. Back to where we’re able to rest in Him and be strengthened in our walk. Reestablished on a sure, solid foundation— the one that is required to walk with Christ. And what is that? Faith

Maybe we have areas where our faith is perhaps a bit too weak to support what God tells us He can and will do for us? Those things He wants to do with us and through us? We all have them. There’s not a Christian alive who doesn’t have that weak area in their faith walk. No one this side of eternity is exempt! Conversely, when our faith is solid,  like a pond frozen deeply enough to withstand the weight of  life’s unexpected circumstances, trials, and the day to day testing of our faith, even then…

Crack… We here that dreadful sound that inspires distress deep within…

They’re in the boat—these 12, battered by wind and waves and they see something—no someone, in the distance. It wasn’t until He spoke that they understood it was Jesus. Yet even knowing this, even after hearing His voice, catch what Peter says, “Lord, if it is you bid me to come to you on the water” (Matt.14:28).

If it, is you…? On the water? That’s a whole other teaching for a different time. For now, let’s get back Peter…

Wasn’t it Peter who had been the one given the Divine revelation from the Father? Wasn’t he the one who recognized Jesus as the Christ—his long-waited Messiah. And, wasn’t it Peter to whom Jesus was referring when He said that upon the rock of this Truth, this Divine inspiration the church would be built—and safeguarded?  Shouldn’t Peter have known it was Jesus? Quickly, without any shadow of doubt? “It’s impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that he exists and that he cares enough to respond to those who seek him” (Heb.11:6).

Some of us might be saying yes! Definitely! Yes! Of Course, he should have known it was Jesus! Duh!

To which I’ll ask you, “Have you ever missed sight of Him when he was standing right in front of you?”

I take it, much like myself, much like the father in today’s scripture verse, you’re no longer quite so emphatic?

“For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James.2:13).

Peter—Gods chosen. Peter, who spoke boldly in Acts 2 and three-thousand were added to an embryonic Church in one day. This disciple, whose simple shadow, by the power of the Holy Spirit, healed the sick. Peter, who saw being crucified upright, in the manner of his Savior, as something unworthy of himself. And so requested to be martyred upside down. (Acts 2:14-41; Acts 5:14-16; Ref. John, pp. 889,890, H. A. Ironside).

Perhaps our cracks occurred because we’ve walked with Jesus for so long that we’ve taken our relationship with Him for granted? Perhaps, we have become so busy serving Him that we can’t remember the last time we just stopped everything to simply be with Him? We’ve been weakened by busyness. Cracks in our faith have appeared.

Maybe we’ve become religious—haughty in our assumptions that our faith is safe—solid. So, we don’t seek Him—more of Him, as arduously, as ravenously—as we once did?

Or, perhaps our cracks exist intentionally. Perhaps they are a part of our Father’s loving plan—His design for us. Knowing us as He does, perhaps He allows us to experience these cracks to keep us reliant on Him. The One who both gives faith and increases its measure. Perhaps if we had no cracks in our ice we would grow arrogant—more, distant from the God we so desperately need…

And, if cracks appear with one such as Peter, and within believers like you and I who know the Lord. How much more clear will the cracks be in the one who has no personal relationship with Jesus? That one who desperately wants to know—are you real? If I stand on you, will you support my weight? Will you heal me? What about my child?

Can you truly be trusted—I’ve heard stories. But now I’m coming to you for myself…You see I’m desperate. I have this seed of hope—this whisper of a voice I call faith within me, but up ‘til now it has not helped my son. I can’t fix my boy. Can you Jesus? 

“Jesus said, “If? There are no ‘ifs’ among believers. Anything can happen” (Mk.9:23).

And, as it was with Peter,  so it was with this father who despaired for his son…

Just one Word from Jesus ignited that deeper level of faith they needed to strengthen their walk with the Lord—As it was with them, so it is with us…

Even though they had believing unbelief, God knew their heart—knew that at their core, they did believe. And Jesus helped them both to overcome the cracks in their ice. Mercifully, graciously—loving.

Cracks in your otherwise solid walk with the Lord. I beg you not to allow the enemy of your soul to cause you to focus on these conditions. I implore you, rather, look to the One who is telling you here—now, “Everything is possible for him who believes” (Mk. 9:23). Focus on what Jesus can do…

The father in our scripture verse did, read for yourselves how that worked out for him. (Mk.9:14-32).

Cracks in our ice, we’ll each contend with them until that day when we are transformed,” It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed” (1 Cor.15:52).

Only then friends will we be made complete—crack-less. “But when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away” (1 Cor. 13:10).  Ask Jesus into your heart now, as Lord and Savior of your life…

“Your Accountable.” Lk. 19:26

November 27, 2016 /

boy-854401_960_720 Our Chapter begins with correction—a setting straight of the record…

The people are gathered around Jesus slacked jawed. He’s in the house of that sinner Zacchaeus! Worse than a sinner—he’s a tax collector! You see Jesus was passing through Jericho on His way to Jerusalem. About 17 more miles and they would end up at His last Passover celebration with His beloved friends. Golgotha was calling. But before His Bloody ascent up that final hill—He still had things of great importance to teach those He would soon be leaving behind—momentarily.

They thought—mistakenly, that Jesus was about to establish the Kingdom of God on earth, right there and right then. They were thinking short-term and Jesus needed them to see the bigger picture. So, He adjusts their misguided expectations—gently, with yet another parable. An oblique method of teaching He often used—somethings can’t be taken in by all.

Jesus says it this way: “In them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled: ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has grown callous; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them’(Matt.13:114-15).

There was nothing wrong with their expecting the Kingdom of God to come. It is, after all, the hope, the promise—the anchor to which Christians should affix their lives. The problem rests not in expectation—but rather, complacency.

We need only turn to today’s parable for confirmation. Of the servants referenced—only two, not only used their talents, but more, multiplied them. Proving to the King that they could be trusted with what He had given them. That from His one gift they would labor to bring Him an increase. And this pleased the King—after all, it’s why the talents were given them in the first place! From the one, many…

They were forward thinking. Reverent. Obedient. So unlike the servant who buried what was given him in fear that he could never satisfy this King. They, instead, looked forward to the day the King would return and they could give Him a pleasing report—a profit on His investment in them.

In addition to a right heart, integrity, etc, the act of serving should include using what you’ve been given wisely. Whether money, gifting’s, or your time—after all, you’re accountable to the King! That’s what Jesus was trying to get those gathered to understand… Don’t sit around making excuses waiting on a  Kingdom that will come. Serve where you are until it appears…increase! Take what has been given to you and use it up right up until the day the King returns for an accounting.

Let’s pause here for a moment to take in the wonder of God’s loving kindness. Notice, however, that though these servants were equally gifted, each receiving one mina, their return was not proportionate. Even so, the King was equally pleased with each because they had whole-heartedly, invested what was given them. Each gained the praise and reward of their King, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!” It was all about their using what they had been given obediently and to the best of their ability.

This particular parable is found in only two of the four Gospels, Luke, and Matthew. Matthew references talents, Luke, minas. Money each—about three month’s wages. This was no small investment on the part of the soon to be King!

Throughout the parable—this allegory, we see Jesus as that King whom the people rejected. Yet, to their vexation, He was made King nonetheless. And, this money the King handed out to be invested by his servants is, some say, representational of the spiritual gifts God bestows on His children. And to the gifts a command is attached: “Put this money to work, He said, until I get back” (vs.13)!

Be obedient. Invest wisely what I give you (Matt.13:1-9).

And as it was with these servants, so it is with us today—not all are equally gifted. Yet, we are each equally commanded to labor until the King arrives…God loves His children equally—nevertheless, some have been set apart for works that not all are called to do. “In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use” (2 Tim.2:20, also, Eph. 4:11-12). Whether we possess a single gift or many, we are accountable to God to use our talent wisely—exponentially.

As commanded…

That is made copiously clear in this parable as we witness Jesus’ derision of the one who laid away his mina in a cloth—he didn’t take the King’s command seriously…Since he did nothing, he was judged according to his own heart—and its by-product—his words. Listen to the Kings rebuke: “He said to him, ‘I will condemn you with your own words, you wicked servant! You knew that I was a severe man, taking what I did not deposit and reaping what I did not sow?  Why then did you not put my money in the bank, and at my coming I might have collected it with interest?’  And he said to those who stood by, ‘Take the mina from him, and give it to the one who has the ten minas’ (Lk. 19:22-24).

Was this servant standing in judgement of this King? Was he truly fearful of Him? Did he, like the citizens, just not want to bother with this King and so gave a poor excuse to explain away his rebellion? What made him think he would not be accountable? It appears He suffered from the dangers of short-term thinking. The Word of God tells us: “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Lk. 6:45).

The Kingdom will soon be here, I’ll just wait for the King…

At the beginning of this parable, Luke told us that Jesus was trying to get those gathered to stop looking for the kingdom to come immediately. A “short-term” mindset discourages “long-term” vision.

There is a very real tension in Christian living. We must hold two truths concurrently as we seek to apply them. On the one hand, we live in the light of Christ’s imminent return. He may come at any moment, and we should both be ready and watching for His return. But we must also live wisely, making good investments for His kingdom, knowing that His return may not be as soon as we think or hope. We have been command by the Lord to use wisely—invest smartly, what we have been freely given, His good and gracious gifts. The choice has been presented to us all.

Are you being accountable? If not, it’s not too late. Ask the King where He will have you invest your minas…

Obedience.

The Lord requires this above all else. Why? We find that answer in 1 Samuel, listen:“And Samuel said,“Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.For rebellion is as the sin of divination and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry…”( 1 Sam. 15:22-23). Emphasis added.

“

“There’s Nothing Wrong With My Sight!” Jn. 9:16

November 19, 2016 /

alone-971122_960_720  “Some of the Pharisees said, “The man who did this is not from God because he doesn’t follow the traditions for the day of worship.” Other Pharisees asked, “How can a man who is a sinner perform miracles like these?” So the Pharisees were divided in their opinions” (Jn. 9:16).

If only the Pharisees and the religious leaders of the day could have seen what it was this man—blind from birth, saw. Perhaps the whole of Chapter Nine would not have ended up reading like a tragic comedy. Tragic—because it glaringly illumines the out-and-out blindness of the Pharisees and religious leaders present in Jerusalem in Jesus’ day. And comedic in its irony. It was the man born blind that can see the Truth of who Jesus is.

And, it is the man blind from birth who confirms their teachings concerning Messiah in his reply to their scathing, dissection of his miraculous healing at the hand of Jesus… Listen to him:“We know that God doesn’t listen to sinners, but he is ready to hear those who worship him and do his will.  Ever since the world began, no one has been able to open the eyes of someone born blind.  If this man were not from God, he couldn’t have done it”  (Jn. 9:31-33).

There is a familiar saying that goes as follows: “There are none so blind as those who will not see.” It’s believed to be taken from God’s conversation with the Prophet Jeremiah. (Jer. 5:21).  And it seems to rightly fit the mindset of the religious leadership of Jesus’ day.

It’s what Paul was teaching Timothy, his young son in the faith, to be on the lookout for—have nothing to do with them! Although Paul is talking to Timothy about the Godlessness that will permeate the last days, his list of reproachful descriptors certainly applies to those hard-hearted religious leaders who refused to acknowledge our blind friends miracle…Proud, boastful, lovers of self and of money—treacherous, and, rash—to name only a few. But,Perhaps, the most telling—the most revealing truth of their spiritual condition, is found in verse five. “They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that” (2 Tim. 3:5)!

Once, when He was teaching his disciples, along with those gathered at the temple courts, Jesus aptly instructed them that they must obey the Pharisees and teachers of the law—“because of the office they held. They sat in Moses’ seat” (Matt. 23:2-3). Paul basically mirrored to Timothy the litany of rebukes Jesus used to point out the character— or the lack thereof, of the religious leaders of His day (Matt.23:1-34).

Yet, neither Jesus nor Paul were gentle in their choice of words. Jesus called them snakes, a brood of vipers! He referred to the religious leaders of the people as blind guides! And, throughout John’s Gospel we see evidence of just how blind these so-called, “seeing” spiritual leaders were. Their obvious inability to see who Jesus truly is wasn’t  limited to their sinful mishandling of our blind friend and his miracle…

No doubt the religious leaders of the day were present in the temple courts on the day of Passover preparation. Surely they witnessed Jesus making a whip out of cords. Chasing those who were changing money and selling all manner of things out of what He claimed to be His Father’s house! They’d conceivably gotten word of His changing six, thirty-gallon, stone jars of plain water into the best wine served at the wedding feast He attended at Cana in Galilee…

Or, further back still, they were certainly walking among those gathered around the edge of the Jordan river in Bethany where John was baptizing. Perhaps even at the very moment that he proclaimed Jesus to be, “The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:26;29)! It’s safe to say that from the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, the religious leaders of the day knew of Him. That fact is evidenced throughout the four Gospels…

They knew of the transformative encounter He had with a woman—a Samaritan woman—at Jacob’s well. And, the effect that one encounter had on an entire town…

Yet, they could not relate to such an experience…

They knew of the royal officials’ son who, having been near death, was miraculously healed…

Yet, they knew nothing of True healing…

But that aside, it’s the healing done for an invalid of thirty-eight years that ushered in the proverbial last straw. It broke the backs of the Jewish religious leaders’ willingness to endure this one they labeled an interloper any longer…

Their protest? The source of their outrage? Jesus was healing people on the Sabbath…

Surely, if He was their long-awaited Messiah, He would have known better, the law is quite clear! And, doing anything outside of what the law states was after-all, is strictly forbidden! Besides, they were the ones in positions of great authority. And He, well, who was He?

Even when doing a thing was meant for good, still, it was forbidden… “One Sabbath day Jesus went to eat dinner in the home of a leader of the Pharisees, and the people were watching him closely. There was a man there whose arms and legs were swollen. Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in religious law, “Is it permitted in the law to heal people on the Sabbath day, or not?”  When they refused to answer, Jesus touched the sick man and healed him and sent him away.  Then he turned to them and said, “Which of you doesn’t work on the Sabbath? If your son[b] or your cow falls into a pit, don’t you rush to get him out?” Again they could not answer” (Lk.14:1-6).

So, it wasn’t that they didn’t see—couldn’t see, who this Jesus is, unlike our friend blind from birth. Rather, they hard-heartedly determined they wouldn’t see! They chose to adhere to what they knew. Laws. Rules. Rituals. Ceremony…Leaving no room for growth, relationship—or vision.

I ask you today—rather, our text challenges you, to check your vision. To choose what it is you’ll allow yourself to see…

Will your sight be born from a heart willing to step out with whatever faith you’re able to muster and say, “Who is this Son of Man? Tell me so that I may believe in Him” (Vs. 36). Or, will it narrowly focus on the familiar? On the way you’ve always done it? “We are disciples of Moses! We know that God spoke to Moses, but for this fellow, we don’t even know where He comes from” (Vs.29)! Will it be the way of the Pharisee who allowed for the lure of worldly power, the seeking of public recognition to overtake them. Blinded, by the lusts of their flesh, and, thus, their hearts waxed hard and cold.

Ridged, they could no longer bend to serve those placed in their care…

Or, hopefully—prayerfully, you will choose the path of the man born blind? The one given a sight beyond that of those who’d been sighted since birth. One who cared little for man’s judgement. Who chose to believe for the impossible that he might see beyond the inside of his own darkened world view. One familiar with pain, rejection, humiliation, with living beneath God’s intended best for him…

Why? Because blindness had eaten up most of his life. Fault, or not. Yet his heart remained pure, willing—open. Unlike the Pharisees and rulers of the law, his heart had stayed malleable. Thus, God could use this man who held no station—had no religious standing, to upset rulers and challenge their dogmatic laws.

How? By the Truth of his testimony…

Reality can’t be argued away. The Word of God says it this way; “A gift opens the way and ushers the giver into the presence of the great” (Pro. 18:16). God used the suppleness of our blind friends heart to bring him boldly—confidently, before the religious leaders of his day. Blessing him not only with what the Pharisees had possessed all along, their physical sight; but greater, Jesus opened the eyes of our blind friends understanding to the Truth of who He is!

A Truth that those who choose to sit in darkness, however sighted, will never see…

Our choices are simple and these…

To be—mimic, go after, live as, the Pharisees. Or, to be—choose, openness—malleability. To live as self-effacing as our once blind friend, that we too may gain our sight.

“Jesus heard that they had put him out, and finding him, He said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” He answered, “Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?” Jesus said to him, “You have both seen Him, and He is the one who is talking with you.” And he said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped Him. And Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” Those of the Pharisees who were with Him heard these things and said to Him, “We are not blind too, are we?” Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no sin; but since you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains” (Jn.9:35-41).

 

 

 

 

 

“Assurance, He Is Sovereign” Prov. 8:27-29

November 12, 2016 /

sunrise-1756274_960_720 “When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep, when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep, when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth” ( Proverb   8:27-29).

One of the purposes of God’s creation is to showcase both His majesty and power—His wisdom. This is how David explains it: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Ps.19:1).

Job, found in the Old Testament, saw great value in witnessing God’s power displayed through His creation. Even during the time of his great loss, Job displayed great patients. But, he also expressed a desire to understand the why of what God had allowed to happen to him—he could not understand God’s actions—nor his own losses (Job 1:13-19).

And so, Job goes to God asking why …?

And even though Job didn’t get the answers he was looking for, he did walk away with a greater—a renewed, appreciation for God’s Sovereignty.

We must never forget that though God is loving, kind, merciful, slow to anger, and, full of patients—He is, and will eternally be, Sovereign over all creation. He is God—we are not.

And Job knew God. Trusted in Him. In His Sovereignty. We see evidence of Job’s great faith in Job 1:20-21. “Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Job understood nothing  is owed us…

Yet, in response to Job’s faith—in the last chapters of this book, God comes and speaks to Job. But, not in the way Job thought He would—nor wanted Him too.  Rather, God spoke at length concerning His power demonstrated through His Creation…

Creation? Why are you talking  about creation when all I want to know is why you did what you did? Why did you take all I held dear away from me? Why did you change everything up on me God, I don’t understand?

As with Job, many today, the day after what will surely go down in history as a conflict-ridden election, are asking why? Many are seeking answers to ease their confusion, anger, and disbelief. Many are grieving today, feeling a genuine sense of loss…

And, as with Job, they want to know the purpose of it all.

Yet, God does not always answer people in the way that they would like Him to—nor expect. That is where faith comes in. Why it is so very needed. Faith that the God who created us, along with everything seen, and, that which is unseen—has everything under control…

He has a purpose for the momentary pain—the seeming confusion. Listen: “You are fortunate when God corrects you. So, don’t complain when God All-Powerful punishes you. God might injure you, but he will bandage those wounds. He might hurt you, but his hands also heal” (Job 5:17-18).

When speaking to the Prophet Jeremiah concerning the false prophets the Lord says of Himself, “Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God far away” (Jer. 23:23)? What is He saying?…

God is telling Jeremiah,  that He is right here with us in the thick of things. That nothing happens without His knowledge or permission. And, that as with the false prophets of old, many today are feeling that God is nowhere to be found. That He is unseeing, unknowing—unconcerned. I am certain Job must have felt this way for a moment or two himself…

Yet nothing is further from the Truth. And the creation spoken of in today’s proverb testifies to that. God is still in control, still on His Throne, still very involved and concerned with man and this world.

God’s Providence and Sovereignty—His ever-present Hand is clear daily in all His creation. And, as we witness it, we will find Him clearly evidenced throughout… If we are looking for the comfort and surety demonstrated in God’s consistency.

Creation is a gift to us—a declaration.

Job did in fact get answers to his questions, as we will get ours. But, we must first come to God as open vessels—tucking away our wants and ideas. Our limited notions of how it is we believe He will come to us—answer us. Remembering that our scope and knowledge are limited—finite…

He alone is infinite—Omnipresent, able to see the beginning and ending of all things…

Job says it this way, “I know you can do everything. You make plans, and nothing can change or stop them” (Job 42:2).

And, as with Job, when we are experiencing—witnessing, difficult times, we too can look to creation and take comfort—solace in, an ever-present God who indeed has all things in hand. We may not understand the reasons for the happenings going on about us—in the world, in our present sufferings or angst…

Why? Because of our limited knowledge—our finite minds cannot—will never be able, in their present state, to take in the thinking and plans that God has for us in their entirety…

But, we, like Job, can experience a renewed—refreshed, re-calibrated, relationship with God. If we choose to place and keep our focus—our trust, not on our circumstance, but rather on the greatness—the Providence of God.

Knowing the truth of creation and witnessing the demonstration of God’s powerful Sovereignty—His abilities displayed all around us, should strengthen our faith and encourage us to trust the One True God who is all-knowing and able…

And, it should guide us into trusting in each of His plans and promises for us—for our Nation, for our futures….

Yet,If you, like Job, find yourself questioning God. Asking where He is amid a world that seems to have temporarily been thrown into deep chaos, I suggest you listen to Job himself—follow his example…

Listen to his reply to God after He came to Job personally and revealed that He alone is God…

Additionally, that He alone created this world and all that’s in it… “I know you can do everything. You make plans, and nothing can change or stop them. You asked, ‘Who is this ignorant person saying these foolish things?’ I talked about things I did not understand. I talked about things too amazing for me to know. “You said to me, ‘Listen, and I will speak. I will ask you questions, and you will answer me.’ In the past I heard about you, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. And I am ashamed of myself. I am so sorry. As I sit in the dust and ashes, I promise to change my heart and my life” (Job 42:1-6).

Through God’s lesson Job figured out that God owed him nothing. No explanations. Yet, in His great love, He came and showed Himself. He explained Himself through His Sovereignty, His Omniscience, His Being the One True God all by Himself. Through His creation that surrounds us daily—for a season. That we might witness it and be reminded of His great nearness—His Omnipresence daily.

And through our witnessing— be assured and draw strength. Increase in faith, in relationship.

“The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made. Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power. You cannot hear them say anything. They don’t make any sound we can hear.  But their message goes throughout the world. Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth. The sun’s tent is set up in the heavens” (Ps.19:1-4).

 

“Unbending” Dan. 3:16-18

November 5, 2016 /

fixing-94085_960_720 “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, “Your threat means nothing to us. If you throw us in the fire, the God we serve can rescue us from your roaring furnace and anything else you might cook up, O king. But even if he doesn’t, it wouldn’t make a bit of difference, O king. We still wouldn’t serve your gods or worship the gold statue you set up” (Dan. 3:16;18).

Choices. We’re faced with them daily. From the mundane to the eternal, choices must be made. Even choosing not to choose—is making a choice!

What toothpaste shall I buy, use, try? Caffeinated or decaffeinated? Buy or rent? Stay single or marry? Obey or disobey?

You get the point…

To live a purposeful life, you must choose… or life will find a way of making your choices for you!

So, what do you do when you find yourself forced to make a decision that goes against all you stand for? Goes against your faith? When it spins your moral compass away from our due north?

What do you do?

To what will your faithfulness align itself?

Self-preservation—go along to get along?

Or will it be to do what’s right, and the cost be damned!

Let’s up the ante…

It’s your boss. And he says if you don’t do________, your job is on the line. You know it’s wrong…but what about your family, your responsibilities?

Or, what if it’s your best friend? You’ve been tight since the schoolyard, and they tell you they made a horrible mistake. Committed a sin! Now, they’re asking you to lie—cover for them, so their spouse doesn’t find out. I cheated, it was only once but now, if she finds out, man, my marriage is on the line.

Please! I’m sorry. You know I would never ask you, but…

Our three-main characters found in today’s verses, find themselves in such a place…

The place of choices.

That place, that fiery-furnace-of-a-place that tests not only our resolve to with-stand evil, but more, to defend—stand-up for, Truth. Our truth. That guiding light that lives in our hearts and directs  us towards right living, right choices.

And, as with my above examples, our friends are also being asked to compromise—walk out on, their Truth. Yet, straight away they said; Okay, death it is. Because we will never align ourselves with the likes of you, never vow allegiance to a counterfeit, a sin, a lie—when we know, have, The Original!”

Let that be our heart when asked to compromise!

But what was so important to them that they were willing to die rather than do what this King was demanding?

One word…God. Their God. This was personal!

Just as back in Chapter One, our three friends, along with Daniel, refused to defile themselves with the king’s food (Dan. 1:11-12). Now, once again, we find them each defying the king’s order to bow down and pay homage—show allegiance to, an image—an idol, he had made from gold (Dan.3:9-12).

They would not disown the One True God to worship an idol made of brass—by a mere man. King, or not! Job, or not! Friends, or not, life or not!

Let me ask you, is there anything in your life that you’d die for? Anything that is so precious to you, that as with our three young men, you’d choose death over losing it? Over betraying it? Over giving any other your fidelity?

Choices. We must make them. Or become swept away in their current. Slaves to their twisting and turnings…

Seldom is it popular to take a moral stand for what you know to be right. And in today’s culture, as with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, standing for God could very well get you killed…

Jesus certainly knew this to be true—so did the Apostles. John the Baptist quite literally lost his head because of his allegiance to God (Jn.12:27-28; Matt. 32-56; Acts. 7:59; Matt.14:10).

When it comes to our profession of faith, our relationship with Jesus—our witness to the Truth of who He is and what He stands for in our lives, we must follow the example of our three main characters.

Even, unto death…

We must be unbending—fixed, focused, on serving the One we love—honoring Him above all else. Come what may. Period.

Listen to how Jesus says it, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me; And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple” (Jn. 12:25; Lk.14:27).

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, along with their friend Daniel, had been violently removed from their country, their homes, and, their way of life in Jerusalem. They were taken captive by the pagan King of Babylon, King Nebuchadnezzar. Babel, the birth place—the very epicenter of confusion! (Gen. 11:9)…

Now, these captives, our three young friends, were no ordinary street boys—Scripture tells us that they were taken from the palace—from royal families, by this king (Dan. 1:3-4). He wanted the best, this King did…

If he was going to steal something and then invest his resources into indoctrinating it—them, into serving his purposes, it only made sense to steal the very best—the elite!

Sin is a master—not a servant…

That worth repeating! Sin is a master, not a servant…

It commands, and it directives are death. Though it’s bondage’s may be invisible for a time, be assured, it is an ever-present trap. It is set—fixed, on capturing and destroying the life it traps within its exacting grip… The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy… (Jn.10:10).

No one knew this better than Jesus, listen: “Once more the Devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world, along with their splendor.  He told Jesus, “I will give you all these things if you will bow down and worship me” (Matt. 4:8-9).

King Nebuchadnezzar had, because of their friend Daniel’s proper interpretation of his dream, promoted our three friends to positions of authority. But, as with the promises made to Jesus by satan, conditions applied.

Sin always has a hidden agenda…

That is why we, like our three friends, must follow the example of our Lord—the command given by the Father. We must have no other God before Him. The One True God (Ex.20:3).

We mustn’t’ show our allegiance to—give our hearts, lives, thoughts or desires over to anyone other than the One True God!

We must be unbending…

We must be willing to walk away from—to lose, anything or anyone that asks us to compromise the Truth. That wants us—is asking us, to allow our moral compasses to be tampered with. To sell out our God for the things of this world—whatever, or whoever they might be—or mean to us!

Again, Let Scripture—more the very words Jesus used on satan, be our guide when someone or something tries to take us captive—to hold our faith hostage. Tests our friendships, our loyalties, our livelihoods’, or our allegiances… Test if what we profess to believe is mere religious propaganda or genuine, life-changing faith in the One True God…

For the third test, the Devil took him to the peak of a huge mountain. He gestured expansively, pointing out all the earth’s kingdoms, how glorious they all were. Then he said, “They’re yours—lock, stock, and barrel. Just go down on your knees and worship me, and they’re yours.’’ Jesus’ refusal was curt: “Beat it, Satan!” He backed his rebuke with a third quotation from Deuteronomy: “Worship the Lord your God, and only him. Serve him with absolute single-heartedness” (Matt. 4:8-10).

Choices…we all face them. Who are you choosing to serve today? Yourself? the past? someone else? Or some way of living that has just sort of swept you up? How is that working for you? Remember, to not choose is to make a choice. And your eternity depends on the choices you make–now, today…

As with our three friends don’t hesitate when asked to compromise your beliefs, your Truth, your God. Stand firm, be unbending…Follow the pattern set by Jesus. The way chosen by Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego… Because it alone leads to life—eternal!

“But if you are unwilling to obey the Lord, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates (the gods of your past) or the gods of the Amorites here in this land (those things found here, in this world, now…)? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.” Quotations my own for emphasis.

 

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