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"Come follow me and I will make you fishers of men." Matthew 4:19

Tag: Transformation (Page 7 of 8)

New Gardens…

August 15, 2020 /
Kendra Santilli

Can you imagine never being able to look into a mirror but, instead, relying on the people around you for how you look? I would imagine we would be looking a lot different than we would expect. We might even have things about our appearance that may be ok for others, but not for ourselves. Well, reading the Word of God is a lot like looking into a mirror. When we crack it open, we begin to see ourselves differently. It has the power to expose both the beauty of our hearts and the parts that need adjustment in a way that only His Truth can. God knows parts of us that we didn’t even know were there! If we just give Him the chance, He uproots the weeds and plants new gardens within our hearts.

The great Gardner removes what inhibits flourishing and replaces it with life-giving substance. When the roots go deep, the storms can come but the core of who we are remains planted and rooted in Christ. There is just something about complete trust in Jesus that says, no matter what life looks like, He is still on the throne. He is still desiring to make beauty from ashes.

In Matthew 13, Jesus shares a parable that helps us to understand the impact humbling ourselves has on our being able to truly receive the deep Truths of God’s Word. The keys Jesus shares in this parable are so crucial He made sure to explain them plainly, that we all might understand them. “3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they can only follow Him so far. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the Word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke out the Word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the Word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding thirty, sixty or one-hundred times what was sown.

When anyone hears… Catch that, ANYONE! The message of the gospel is available to ALL. But, without possessing an understanding of what we hear, there will be no lasting transformation…

When I read this, I thought of times when people would share valuable information with me, which I would immediately forget it! I’m sure you can relate. I believe Jesus wants to ensure we all get it! That we don’t immediately forget. Rather, that it takes deep root. Hearing the word will only get you so far. If there is no application, the seeds of the Gospel will be snatched up from your soul instead of being firmly planted within it. Jesus goes on to describe rocky ground, places where seeds cannot form strong roots. Initially, when someone comes to the Lord, they may be excited about getting to know Him, yet may fall away quickly nevertheless, when difficulties arise because they are not truly rooted/ determined enough to endure difficulties for Christ’s sake. Pay close attention here- spending time with the Father is the most important ministry that you can be a part of. It is in the secret place that God is able to care for your soul and refresh your heart. THIS is where your roots grow deep. Desire more of God then. Or desire Him for the first time.

Don’t allow your heart to be a poor environment for growth…

Something occurs within us as we learn to endure. Tarrying with Jesus allows Him to replace our infertile soil with His good soil. When I bought my house, I learned that the soil on my land was not very conducive to growing new anything. The soil had been overtaken with roots of old bushes and weeds. I mean, what I thought was “soil” was a literal clump of old roots. Sure, I could have planted seeds, but I’m not sure if they would have grown. So instead, I got to work and shook out those old roots to release the healthy soil back to the ground. Then it was ready for me to fertilize and plant my flowers in. I believe God does the same for our hearts. Sometimes we find our hearts are like that rocky soil, a place the Truth of God cannot take root. We can be excited about Him and even desire to live rightly, but without roots, it’s easy for us to fall by the wayside. But the more time we spend with the Lord cultivating a relationship with Him, the more He will transform the ground of our hearts into a thriving environment.

Are you anxious? Confused? Filled with worry? Know this: those are seeds are not of God! While God certainly plant seeds in your heart don’t be fooled, so does the enemy. It is essential to your growth to know the difference! The enemy’s seeds are where the thorns come from! Remember, whatever you feed your heart and mind will grow. So, what are you feeding it? Feeding yourself seeds of anxiety, doubt, worry, fear, or confusion, will only reproduce more of the same. As I said, what you feed, grows. And the more you feed those harmful seeds, the less the wholesome seeds from the spirit of God are nourished; conversely, the more you feed the seeds planted by God, the less nourishment the unhealthy seeds will receive.

Spending time in the word of God nourishes your soul with the good things that come from Him alone.

The result: eventually, His seeds mature and produce “the fruits of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” –Galatians 5:22-23. Fruit takes time to mature, ask any gardener, but you will eat of this fruit and, it is good!

Friends, God wants to know you and to be deeply known by you. My hope for you is this: that as you get to know Him, your roots will become more firmly grounded in His Life-giving Truth; His Truth will firmly establish your purpose and water your very souls. Spending time with Him in prayer and His Word brings about a greater understanding of God, and that understanding brings transforms. There is no end to our being able to be transformed in Christ; no end to knowing Him; our roots then becoming immovable.

I pray that as you read this, you found yourself in this parable.

If you feel that your heart is just not good, you are in good hands. Surrender to the Lord today and allow Him to transform your heart into a beautiful new garden. Choosing the Gospel shifts us from depending on our feelings and moves us to live by the understanding that Jesus is our joy in suffering. We are, after all, the joy set before Him at calvary. If you are here today and have never asked Jesus into the garden of your heart, ask Him in today and watch what He can create in you…

Transformed. Acts 9:3

December 14, 2019 /
“Now as he was going along and approaching Damascus, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.”

Friends, for the remainder of Advent, I will continue to share shorter posts centered around Jesus as the “Light.” It is this aspect of Himself that He has been impressing upon my heart, and, I believe, wants to re-mind us of. In these dark days, these turbulent and uncertain times in which we live, be remind friends: Immanuel is here, still! He is sending His Word out in this season of hope to refocus our hearts and minds on Him. To rekindle our remembrance of His promise to, “never leave us, never forsake us.” My prayer for each of you in this season of hope is that you will look up and be refreshed, reawakened, or, perhaps, awakened for the first time, to His Truth. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5.

Suddenly: unexpectedly; happening, coming, made, or done quickly, without warning.

One moment Saul was intent on killing the leaders of The Way and taking anyone who even remotely smacked of Christianity captive. And in the next, he finds himself blinded by the Light of the glory of God. At that moment, Saul experienced the “suddenly” of God. Scripture states it this way: “Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem” –Acts 9:1-2. Armed with letters of authority from the high priest to commit these unspeakable atrocities, Saul had set off for Damascus to address the synagogues there. He was asking for their cooperation in the arrest of anyone they suspected maybe following The Way. He wanted them all, every man, woman, and child in chains that he might have them dragged back to Jerusalem.

Religion will do that to us. It will drive us into believing that even our wrongs are right. It will so blind us to the Truth, that we’ll dress up our sins and earnestly offer them up to God as a sign of our love, our loyalty, just as Saul did. Only the Pure Light of God’s Truth is able to remove these scales, this crust of religious ideology from our eyes, enabling us finally to see this Jesus who is standing right in front of us…

Little did Saul know, however, that he was, and would continue to be, an intricate part of God’s plan of salvation for the gentiles. As a result of his ravaging and persecution, these new followers of The Way fled Jerusalem. And, with them went The Truth. This knowledge of Jesus as their Savior. Of Him being The Way—the only way, back into right relationship with the Father. And this Truth spread with their every step. From one to another it passed, this life-changing Truth could not be contained. It passed from one to another, sating the thirst of each one it filled just as surely as if water had been given to one who is parched. In Saul’s attempt to silence the voice of those that now carried the Word of God within themselves, he had unwittingly become one of its greatest catalysts. But, before Saul could accomplish his insidious plan to bring an end to The Way, however, God would stop him in his tracks—literally. Listen to what God has to say about men’s plans: “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps” –Prov. 16:9. It was God’s plan, not Saul’s, that would prevail. It always has been, and it always will be…

The verse following today’s Scripture says this: “He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” –verse 4.

Saul, in the midst of his sinful, awful tirade, hears the voice of the Resurrected Jesus, and its Truth pierces him to his core. At that same moment, he is blinded by the Pure, All-knowing Light of this same Jesus. He has caught a glimpse behind the veil, been made a witness of the blinding Truth of God. All his misguided zealousness, his religion, must now give way to this Truth that exposes men’s darkest deeds. Saul will forever be undone by this one encounter. And so too, must we…

Saul was blinded, yet, in a very real sense, his eyes had never seen so clearly.

In Saul, we’re able to catch a glimpse of ourselves. Our desperate need for transformation, for reconciliation. In Saul we also witness great hope. The fiercest of sinners can be saved! It is not too late for you, for any of us, to turn to this Jesus and ask His forgiveness. Ask Him to come into our hearts, forever changing them. In Saul, we recognize our deepest need: to meet this Resurrected Jesus face to face. To be transformed, as he was, by this God whose Light is no longer swaddled and lying in a manger, a Christmas babe. Like Saul, we must be willing to leave our religion, our idols, and intellect, our traditions, and pride at the feet of Truth—our love offering, our due. We must come and bow before Him, fall to our knees, face to the ground, in humble adoration, in submission, in awe. Then, stand up, bold, and changed, and willing and wanting to tell anyone and everyone about this Light that pierced the deepest recesses of our hearts and minds.

The Light that is coming again, soon, and very soon…

 “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed” 1 Corinthians 15:50-52.

Jesus came to Saul just as He comes to each one who has, or ever will be, saved: suddenly and without warning. And, just as suddenly, He will one day call us back to Himself—eternally. No man knows that hour. Not even the Son…

Friend, this Advent, ask yourself this one question: If Jesus suddenly showed up today, are you ready to meet Him face to face? Don’t think it can’t happen to you. Paul’s experience alone ought to dispel that lie. Where are you spending your eternity? If you don’t know the answer to this question, please, I implore you, ask this same Jesus into your heart now, don’t delay…

Are You Willing to Climb? Luke 19:1-10

January 20, 2019 /

 “And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” So he hurried and came down and received him joyfully. “‘

Exactly when did Jesus know that this man would run through the thick of the crowd that had gathered and climb up into a tree—simply to get a look at Him? Zacchaeus, this chief tax collector, this marginalized, ostracized son of Abraham…

Was it while Jesus was teaching yet another crowd on another day in some other little village; concerning the Parable of the lost? The lost Sheep, coin, and son that is. Was it during His time of teaching His disciples about forgiveness and faith? Maybe It was after He had entered a small village somewhere between Galilee and Samaria and ten men covered in leprosy cried out to Him for healing? Or, perhaps it was in a Nanosecond of time somewhere in eternity? Was Jesus standing over the dark void perhaps when the plan to meet Zacchaeus under the Sycamore-fig came to be?

The Bible doesn’t fill in that particular blank for us…

Suffice it to say however, God knew the exact second this man of small moral and physical stature both would quite literally be found, “up a tree!” More, it had always been God working just below the surface of Zacchaeus’s knowing. Across the span of his lifetime; unnoticed by him, unrecognized, yet ever-present in every-thing that had ever-happened to him, or in him, or through him! God had used every-thing. Every joy, each smile, every pain, hurt, disappointment. Every rejection, each harsh word spoken, every bright ray of sun that had ever pierced the darkness of Zacchaeus isolation—and loneliness. God had used them all to pave the path that would eventually lead Zacchaeus to this exact tree, at this precise time.

The Holy Spirit is stealth—and intentional. There are no accidents with God. No almost…

God had a plan for Zacchaeus’s life. Just as surely as He had for Father Abraham’s. Different certainly. Each of ours are—different that is; those plans God has for you, and you, and me. Yet similar because we are One Body in Christ Jesus, if we believe. God has a plan for our salvation; if we are found in Him. He has a plan for our transformation. Just as He had a plan that would empower Zacchaeus to do what he had not done, probably, since boyhood. Climb a tree. God will drive us towards the most peculiar of tasks and, He’ll do it at the most inopportune of times. Our time that is, not His. “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” –Jeremiah 29:11.

There is no reason given us in Scripture as to why Zacchaeus wanted to “see” Jesus.

He, unlike the blind beggar that shouted out to Jesus from the roadside entrance of this same Jericho village had his sight; physically speaking that is. But in fact, it was the blind man who had 20/20 vision when compared not only to Zacchaeus, but to many others gathered together that day! He saw Jesus for who He was. But that’s best left for us to explore another day. The blind beggar knew he wanted to receive healing from Jesus. He stated it plainly. “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied –Luke 18:41.

Yet we never hear Zacchaeus crying out to Jesus for healing or forgiveness. Verse six plainly says that when Jesus called him down out of the tree that they might share lunch together, “Zacchaeus climbed down quickly and with great joy and took Jesus into his house.” Where’s the shame? The downcast eyes, heart, and spirit? Where’s the wailing and tearing of garments that might evidence Zacchaeus’ feeling the weight of his sins? Where is the sackcloth and ashes? Where’s the remorse? Thank God that He sees what mere men cannot! But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart” –1 Samuel 16:7.

In this account of Zacchaeus, I was reminded of yet another wayward son of Abraham—a son separated from his family and community as a result of his sins and selfish choices. We’re never told what drove Zacchaeus to become a chief tax collector—perhaps the vilest of jobs a Jew could have. Maybe we should ask the Apostle Matthew? Remember, he too was a tax collector up until the moment Jesus “just happened” to walk by him that day in the Temple.

In spite of their both being men and tax collectors I saw myself in Zacchaeus and Matthew. Broken and dead in sin. Separated from family and friends due to poor choices. Having lusted after the things of this world. Sullied by the sin of countless offences. More, I too was separated from God. Thankfully for each of us, God, unbeknownst to us, was never far from us. Plus, unlike blind Bartimaeus, it had never occurred to me to call out to Jesus! Sure, I knew of Him. Believed in Him even—at least I believed that He was. But I never opened my mouth. Never asked for what I needed most. How fortunate (such a pale expression of such an incomprehensible blessing!) I was that Jesus determined to walk past me—just as He did Abraham, Zacchaeus and Matthew, Paul too. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” –Romans 5:8.

For whatever His reason God chose each of us in Himself long before we had a clue!

While Zacchaeus and Matthew were swindling and cheating people out of their hard-earned money and goods and while Paul’s heart was burning with murderous intentions to kill those that believed in this Jesus, God had sealed each of them in Himself—as His own. Me too. Scripture is clear that Zacchaeus never cried out to Jesus. Never shouted out to get Gods attention. Matthew either. In each of their cases—Paul’s also, it was God who made certain He had gotten their attention. It was God who came to them. It’s always God. God whom presented Himself to each of them in such a way that to not follow after Him—not leave it all behind, not change their ways—not repent, was not an option. Me too. “Under what circumstances was it credited? Was it after he was circumcised, or before? It was not after, but before! And he received circumcision as a sign, a seal of the righteousness that he had by faith while he was still uncircumcised. So then, he is the father of all who believe but have not been circumcised, in order that righteousness might be credited to them” –Romans 4:10-11.

I don’t profess to understand the depths of God—or fully understand His ways for that matter. I see and understand in part.  I’m no biblical scholar. Just a simple sheep following after a God that is far too big—to marvelous—too brilliant, creative, deep, Holy, and pure for me to ever comprehend in full this side of eternity. Nor would I want to. I am incredibly happy being me and knowing that I serve a God who is far too big for me to get my mind, knowing—and heart around. What I am capable of doing, by His grace, is climbing whatever tree necessary to get a better look at—a more intimate understanding of—a deeper revelation of, the One I love. The One who stood over the void and said to himself, “This world will not be complete without my daughter in it.” The One who left the Fathers side that He might walk before me. Making certain that I don’t forget my way back home.

And I know that my brothers Abraham, Zacchaeus and Matthew and Paul, and all in that great cloud of witnesses, felt much the same as I do now.

How about you?

Are you willing to climb?

Beloved, I encouraged  you today to keep climbing! let nothing or no one stop your running after or seeking out our Lord. Especially not those lies the enemy of your soul whispers incessantly. Telling you you’re not saved, or good enough, smart enough, or that God could never love someone who has made the mistakes you’ve made. Sinned as grossly as you have. It’s a lie! God has chosen you. And He’ll never let go of you! See, even now, He’s passing you by…

And friend, if you’ve yet to ask Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, let today be your day. Look! Just there. He’s coming your way. Won’t you ask Him to come in and dine with you? HE will if you will…

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved” Romans 10:9-10.

If You’ll Just Follow… Mark 8:36

December 23, 2018 /

 “For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world [with all its pleasures], and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul and eternal life [in God’s kingdom]?”

If you’d be so kind as to indulge me for a moment or two—I promise you, by the time we part company today, we’ll have discovered some Truths together…

Today I was led to the book of Zechariah.

It’s where my journey with the Lord began this morning. But, before I get into what He revealed, allow me to share just how joy-filled it is to sit at the feet of the Lord and have Him open the eyes of my understanding to His Truth! It’s as humbling today as it was the very first time the proverbial light-of-my-understanding was flicked on! Just like that, out of seemingly nowhere, bam! Truth is realized! And, as a result, I am forever changed in some great or small way. And so are you! Or, you certainly can be! Take a moment to think about that the next time you’re in your Word. The Creator of the universe is right there with you whispering His Truth into your spirit; causing your belly to jump in response to His presence with you!

Elizabeth knew a thing or two about this…

But it was the mention of being “brought through the fire” in verse 9 of Zechariah 13 that caused me to pause today. It resonated with me. In its reading I was reminded of a Word the Lord had spoken to me almost a year ago now concerning my imminent relocation. Sitting with Him one morning I had heard the Word ‘crucible’ drop in my spirit. I knew this was a Word concerning the season He was leading me into.  Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve been walking with the Lord long enough to know that when you hear a Word like that drop in your spirit—buckle up! This was not going to be a mountaintop season—no refreshing time by the brook for this gal! This was going to be one of those walking through the shadow of the valley of death deals! Mine that is. I knew God was about to do a deep work in me. I also knew it was time…

Let us be re-minded that in this season of giving the very act of giving itself is designed to cost us something…

My first clue came in a “suddenly” moment. Standing at my kitchen island I heard the Lord say, “take your hands off of it.” Foolishly in the moment I thought He was referring to the new home He had just provided. In other words, “don’t get too attached to it.” See He’d dealt with me in the past about making idols of “things”. So, it was easy for me to see this as a reminder: This is a gift, NOT a possession!

Hence the hands-off thing…

I had no idea in that moment however, that in a just a few short months, not only would I leave that new home behind but with it my family, friends, my church family, my ministry work, and, the islands I so love. Those same Islands God has been bringing me back and forth between for the past 27 years! Would I ever come back?  Like I said, I had no idea this was coming. His ways are surely not mine!I would love to tell you that I was all super-spiritual and instantly—joyfully obeyed His command to pack it up, give it away, and go where He was leading me. But that would be a lie. However, I did pack. I did give away what I was told to, and I did go amid one of the worst hurricanes the Islands had seen in years. So severe was this storm that just 48 hours prior to my departure there were no flights off the islands due to the menacing wind. Only by Gods divine Hand was the storm turned away and literally swept out to sea.

His Word will not return to Him void…

Allow me to pause here and clarify something important: I was joy-filled to hear from God; that is my Spirit-man was. My flesh on the other hand, not so much.

Now you may be thinking, nice testimony, but what does this have to do with today’s scripture, or to your earlier reference of being led to the book of Zechariah? It’s here then that I will thank you for patiently following along. More, where I will start filling in the pieces of this puzzle for you…

In this season when everyone is running around searching for the perfect gift to give, it was in and through each of these passages that the Lord re-minded me of that one “perfect gift” He requires from us—from me, His children. A heart of obedience. One completely surrendered to His Lordship. After-all, it’s a large part of the reason He came for you and me. Why He chose us. Why He allowed Himself to be wrapped in milk rags and sleep in the leftover straw meant for animals. It’s why He gave up heaven and took on human flesh. It’s why that same flesh was ripped open by the Roman lictors whips. Why He held His Cross as one would hold their lover. It’s why He laid down upon it—willingly, stretching Himself wide; He wanted there to be room “for all who will” inside the Inn of His Body. It’s why this Spotless One took on every filthy thing I have ever done, said, thought. You too. He did this, and so much more, for us both. He did it for each soul that has ever been, is now, and those yet to be called by His great name.

Is there anything we might gain that is worth having outside of Jesus?

Is a fine home, a car, beautiful furnishings, cash in the bank, exotic destinations, the best of spouses or a house filled with children; never mind some finely wrapped gifts given us at Christmas worth having if our not knowing Jesus is the price we must pay to have them?

I say no. There is nothing. No thing I would exchange for knowing, and being both known and loved by my Lord. Nothing. And, that’s scary to say out loud. Though I know that I know He works all things together for my good—those “things He’s working with” are often exacting. Yet still, it’s on trembling knees I lovingly say, “not my will but Thine be done.” After all, I am His. Who else is there for me but Him?

It was in reading Zechariah 13 verse 8 that I was re-minded I have been chosen in Christ Jesus. Saved to serve my Savior. And, in verse nine how it is through this fire of adversity spoken of—this election of sacrifice and refining, that He burns off my dross. One day we will—I will, stand before Him spotless and without wrinkle. Oh, glorious day! It was during this same time that a verse we sing at this time of the year found its way into my heart. Thinking of it again now I am brought to my knees: “Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth…”

Oh, night divine! Oh, holy night…!

And there is it. My life, your life, the greatest gift we will ever receive laid out for us in nine simply profound and life-changing words. My worth—your worth, is found in Christ alone! Be re-minded of that in this season of hope beloved! Receive this precious gift friend. Is there any “thing” He might ask of us that is too great to give back to the One who came as Gods greatest, most costly gift to the world?

Friend, if you’ve yet to meet Him—to experience the life-changing joy of His birth, don’t let this Christmas pass without finding your way to His side and bow before Him in humble adoration. And, if you’re unsure just how to find Him, fear not, He is as faithful to guide you today as He was to those lowly shepherds so long ago… “And this will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a great multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favor rests” … Luke 2:12-14!

And, to my brothers and sisters I welcome you to join me in worshiping anew our King. The greatest gift we will ever be given, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. May His star burn brightly in your hearts. And, may it be used as it was that first night to lead those who will to Him…

 

Exposed. Genesis 2:25

October 28, 2018 /

 “And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed or embarrassed.”

So why do we lie? Cover-up? What makes us so afraid of being truthful? It’s not the way we were created—so what happened to us? Why the need for the fig leaves…?

The deepest of all mysteries is the origin of evil. Explain sin, and you explain everything. –MacLaren

Today’s teaching was inspired after reading an article on transparency within our primary relationships. At its core, the article asked this pointed question: Is it ever OK to hide anything from those we love? Principally, is it okay to lie? It pointed out that even the most pious among us have lied or still do. It went on to address the often-irrevocable damage that we do to our relationships when we lie. When complete transparency is not our fixed default, our knee-jerk reaction is to lie. We’ll hide what we’ve said or done in the hopes of escaping the consequences we know will surely follow our actions—or lack thereof.  Ask any husband or wife that’s missed their anniversary or their spouse’s birthday, they’ll confirm this.

This article addressed the stress experienced—the amount of energy spent in “hiding” our deceptions…

From not wanting our significant other to have access to our cellphones or computers because of the unacceptable content or conversations found within them, to some secret from our past we’re ashamed to show, or, it’s something we’ve done more recently and are afraid to own up to it. Afraid of the consequence owning it may bring to our doorstep. Our lie is born when we say one thing, feasibly with the best of intentions, yet we do another. Over time our inconsistent behavior erodes others ability to trust us. The article concluded that whatever our hiding might look like, deceit of any kind, in any relationship, will at best test the relationships permanency and, at its worst—will end it. Broken trust often leads to feelings of betrayal, anger, hurt, fear, and, confusion. This article pointed the reader towards a variety of reasons about why peoples lie: these reasons ranged from fear of rejection, to insecurity, anger, and entitlement issues, to narcissism, inferiority, right on down to unresolved early childhood trauma.

That’s how the world chooses to frame our lies…

It leaves us an out—a reason or reasons why we do what we do. And, sometimes, those reasons appear valid, sometimes, even kind. Yet, the article wasn’t asking if each of the potential “whys” it offered were valid. The article was forcing me to answer a fundamental question, “is it ever okay to lie?”

Conversely, as I pondered this question, it led me to think about my relationship with God. Have I ever lied to God? Sadly, my answer was yes. I’ve treated God’s trust in me as casually as I’ve treated that of others. How grateful I am for His Blood!

Adam and Eve understand how I feel. Of this I’m certain…

We’re told in His Word that God is all-knowing. We hear this attribute referred to as His being Omniscient. Psalm 44:21 informs us that God knows, “the secrets of our hearts”. So much for our hiding anything from God. From men maybe, never from God. He knows what we’re going to think before we ever think it—never mind before we do the thing! He knows the intentions of our hearts. So why would we want to? Hide anything from God I mean. What deludes us into thinking that we can? I have to wonder if Adam and Eve knew this about God? About His being Omniscient? After all, they shared a loving relationship with Him. Walked and talked with Him daily in the garden. So, you’d think they knew this about Him. And, if they did—why lie to Him? Why hide themselves? Why play the blame game? Why use something He had created and called good to cover-up those lies—their shame? Why tell God, “You’re not allowed to check our cellphones. Look through our pics— laptops, into our bank accounts? Why tell God, I trust you but. I give you my life except. Whatever label the world may attach to our rationale for lying—for blaming others or trying to cover-up our stuff—the Word of God calls it what it is, sin. Plain and simple. We can try to dress it up—but at its core it’s sin that causes us to lie.

We choose to lie—we’re not forced to…

“Did God really say?” That one question seemingly changed our destiny. Yet, God used the enemies lie, in part, that His Truth might be revealed to the world. God is Sovereign. He can use anyone or anything He so chooses to carry out His will. Does that mean it is right or good to lie? Emphatically, no. Does it then mean that God is a liar or capable of lying? Again, emphatically, no. It’s not in God’s character to lie. God is Immutable; therefore, He has never, nor will He ever be able to lie. However, being Omniscient, God knew that our first parents would not only lie about their sin—He also knew that they’d try to cover them up. That they’d avoid taking responsibility for what they’d done by playing the blame game. And, ultimately, that they’d try to pin their sin not only on each other but more, on God Himself! “The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate” Genesis 3: 11-13.

Among the various “reasons” listed in the article about why peoples lie, pride never made the list. Wanting to be like God never made the list. Wanting to be the captain of our own ship never made the list. “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it” –Genesis 3:5-6. Only a brief time before this both the man and his wife were naked together in the garden and they were unashamed—untainted. The moment they chose to disobey what God had commanded them and listen instead to what the crafty serpent had to say, they recognized they were standing bare before each other. In an instant, their nakedness was no longer a natural state for them and they ran to stitch leaves together to cover themselves up. “Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves” –Genesis 3:7.

Isn’t this what we do when we’re aware of our wrong doing being exposed? We try to avoid taking responsibility for our lies too…

Unless we decide in our hearts to follow God, His Laws and precepts—regardless the cost, we, like those mentioned in the article I read, will always run towards the “reasons” why we did a thing. We’ll forever run towards our justifications for betraying a loved one—breaking a heart, destroying a friendship—a marriage, ruining a partnership, obliterating trust, rather than learning to simply run towards the Truth; to just plain own up. We’ll never get to the place in ourselves—with God, where we’ll place greater worth on valuing other over self, on integrity, transparency, or building relationship, over self-preservation, momentary gain, and lying. We who claim to be followers of Christ are responsible for following Jesus’s lead in obeying Gods Laws. Did we forget that He didn’t come to destroy one iota of the Law, rather to fulfill it?

Adam and Eve walked with God and had no idea they were naked until the moment a lie was told. They were innocent. Suddenly, their eyes were opened, as was their awareness that they needed to cover-up. Deceit will always open our eyes to everything but the Truth. And guilt will send us running for fig leaves—quick fixes to help escape consequence. Only God covers us with what is lasting and pure, with Jesus, He that was intended from the foundation of the world to be the only acceptable place one should hide… “The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them” Genesis 3:21.

Friend, if you are here today the Holy Spirit of God called you here. He loves you and wants to open your eyes to His Truth. Only He can do this for you. You’ve come this far—please, ask Jesus into your heart now, while it’s still today. “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life” –Ephesians 2:8-10.

Complete Submergence. Luke 12:50

September 16, 2018 /

 “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished!”

A new season is being birthed. And, birthing is a very, messy and painful business. But oh, when that baby comes!

I’d heard it said recently that there’s a moment in each believer’s life where their faith must cross over from doctrinal, head knowledge, a learned faith—into a practical, determined faith. A faith that’s been tested. One that’s been tried in the fire of adversity, of loss. Tried when God says no. When doors are closed and no hint of God’s voice can be heard nor His presence felt.  Faith formed in moments of being pruned so deeply there is no end to our tears. The awakening of such tenacious faith however, often occurs only in the crucible of adversity…

Crucible. A Word that dropped into my Spirit back in early July of this year. And it’s been sitting in my belly until now. It’s defined as follows: a situation of severe trial, or in which different elements interact, leading to the creation of something new: a severe test: a place or situation in which concentrated forces interact to cause or influence change or development.

I am in such a crucible now. Many of us are. It’s one of those seasons when God is requiring us to dig deeper.  When the “fluff” of casual faith is being sifted away; leaving behind instead, a tried and tangible faith. Truth is, it’s so much easier to preach the Cross of Christ—teach about His Cross—than it is to heft it up on our own all too fragile shoulder and carry it. And yet, for those of us found in Him—called by His glorious name, we are expected to do just that. Carry our Cross that is. “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me…” –Matthew 16:42. And, although His life-extracting Cross was His alone to carry Jesus was never alone. The Father had ensured He’d been given a helper. Someone who would help Him carry the weigh of His cross. He does the same for us as well. “And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear it after Jesus” –Luke 23:26. The weight of our cross forces us to release the last vestiges of our will. Gods finger on any area of our lives will have that affect on us. And, in our moments of complete surrender the Holy Spirit comes. Our Helper places His shoulder under the weight of our cross. Making the carrying of it possible, sufferable.

So why then, are we so befuddled—feel so betrayed, let down when we’re asked by God to pick up our cross and carry it for a season? Why is this such a shocking thing to us? I by no means know the full answer to the question I’m posing. My purpose in asking it at all is simply to provoke us to think. To drive us into seeking the Lords answer in prayer. To go searching the Scriptures for answers. To start a conversation that might shake us from our sleep. Re-minding us that we were each told one day we’d have a cross of our own to carry. But we forget. Become comfortable in our every-day-ness until the moment that is that our waters are troubled!

Yet there is one thing I know about cross carrying. Of being asked to carry a cross I mean. And it’s this: It is all about Love.  His great Love for us. The Cross is a tangible reminder of love having come and revealed Himself to us—to me. It’s a privilege too. The Cross is our highest example. The most complete definition of Love we have—or will ever know. And we are blessed—honored, to be trusted in having any part of it all…

To be a partaker of His Cross is like witnessing a dad sitting across from his beloved child and, while looking them straight in their eyes, pouring out his heart to them. Filling their ears with every desire he has for them. Every hope and dream he’s ever thought towards them. Lovingly detailing every iota of promise, purpose, and potential he sees within them and all that he would do and give to help draw it out of them; being blessed himself by witnessing their gifts and talents used to change the world He alone created for them, one person at a time. But don’t take my word for it. Pick up your Bible and check out the conversations for yourself. Read the part that details the greatest definition of love ever written: “For God so loved the world…”.

Jesus knew the Cross would be agonizing. Extracting. He knew in the end it would kill Him. Rather, it would kill His flesh…

Nothing could touch His Life. From the beginning that has always been One with the Father. Guarded for all eternity. A sure promise. An Amen. But His flesh, His flesh would have to die in order that the purpose of His birth be accomplished, fulfilled. He would have to completely immerse His will into the Fathers. There is no other way to accomplish the perfect will of God. No half measure will ever suffice. “It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process” –Hebrews 10:14 MSG Bible. So too it is—must be, with us. A relationship with God is all or nothing. Done correctly, it’s an “all-in” commitment. The two become One flesh. His Flesh. Our crosses are intended to kill our flesh that we might, like gold being refined in the fiery furnace, be poured out, rid of those impurities that tarnish—preventing the pure image of Jesus from being seen in and through us to a lost a dying world.

We want the benefits of such a love: the salvation He died to offer us. The blessings and favor and forgiveness a relationship that results from such a love offers. But in our humanity, we run from—reel under, the weight of carrying its cross. We lose sleep. We’re tormented. We question and plead, bargaining with God to remove this cup of suffering from us. I know I did. Jesus understands this about us. He knows our weakness. Knows that though we love God—want to follow Him, we’re weak, frail, incapable, outside of Him to do anything—carry anything, of eternal value. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet he did not sin” —Hebrews 4:15. He understands that the harassment and oppression of anticipation can be as heavy, sometimes more so, than the real thing itself. He understands we just want it to be over. To have passed our test. To have this season behind us. He understands that though we want to do the will of God, the journey towards its end is agonizing. He, better than us all, understands agony. Hence, our Scripture verse today. “But I have a baptism to undergo, and how it consumes me until it is finished!” –Luke 12:50

He understands we want to do the will of God all-the-while hoping that His will might somehow be fulfilled minus the pain. “And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire” –Matthew 26:39. Yet it’s through Jesus’ impending death, in His total surrender, that we learn some of our greatest lessons about how to truly live. “…not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.” Jesus teaches us just how to drink of the cup that has been passed to us. A cup which, regardless of its bitterness, we are blessed to partake of. “Jesus told Peter, “Put your sword away. Shouldn’t I drink the cup [of suffering] that my Father has given me?” –John 18:11

After we have prayed, we must obey. And as surely as Sunday morning came and His tomb was found empty, so too are we guaranteed our own victory over all suffering. But first—we must completely submerge our will, ourselves, into Him…

Friend, if you have not repented of your sins, not asked God into your life as your Lord and Savior, please do it today! He loves you regardless of the sins you’ve committed. I am sure of this because His Word is True. Because He forgave one such as me, with all of my many sins. Call out to Him today…

 

God’s Work. Philippians 2:13

July 22, 2018 /

 “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.”

God. The beginning of every good thing.

He who has always been—having no beginning and no end. Sovereign. Nothing of any eternal value can happen outside of Him. And, anything—any thing that happens in our lives does so with a grand design in place to bring about that “things” best possible outcome…

Today I’d like to talk with those, all those, who have been deeply wounded.

Those, who, though saved—having a relationship with Christ, those possessing faith—even deep faith, still face areas in your life where the wounds of the past are the fetters of your present. Those who sit famished, Bible open, soaking up all that God has to say—wanting it the way a starving man uses his last crust of bread to lap up the bits of food stuck to his plate. I’m talking to those who show up early to church on Sunday, not wanting to miss one Word. Those who worship from their toes, their depths, who have felt the weigh, both of their sins and their forgiveness —those who give their tithes lovingly, serve because their heart demands that they do.

I’m talking today to me, first. And, if this fits, I’m talking to you too…

I’m talking to those whose midnight howl has been—is, “Jesus please!”

That belly howl, that sobbing, I need Thee, oh I need Thee, cry. If you’ve ever cried this cry I need not say more.

You love Him and trust Him. You’ve witnessed His miracles in your life time and again. Perhaps, like myself, death came for you—but Jesus stood blocking its icy hand from dragging you into an early grave? Perhaps drugs or sex or drinking had a grip on you? Maybe abuse, molestation, being given up as a child—abandoned as an adult, abused at the hands of someone so hurt themselves, they couldn’t see how tender the trusting soul they were bruising was? Has any of the above left you frozen—locked into a place and a time that Jesus died to set you free from?

Here me, more, here God: “It was not your fault”—if you were raped, molested, beaten, abandoned—it was not your fault!

In that moment a choice wasn’t afford you—you were robbed. Robbed of your voice, your identity, your innocence; just as surely as if a thief were to break into your house tonight and rob you! Would that be your fault too? Of course not! You were robbed! Stop blaming yourself!

Thank God however, for today…

For this new day—and the choices that are now yours—mine,  to make. Today, we have this new choice, this ability to never be robbed again—to choose freedom! And no, I’m not saying that nothing bad will ever happen again. Any more than I’m saying that what has happened was your fault. But, what I am saying—what the Lord has shared with me—is that everything you need to move past yesterdays residue, past those clinging, cloying lies that accuse you and rob you of self-esteem and true freedom, past those “things” inflicted upon you—and perhaps because of them, those things you inflicted upon yourself, is already inside of you—if, Jesus is your Lord.

God has spoken to me about forgiveness… again.

If you’re a student of Scripture, then surely you know when God sees fit to repeat something to us we are wise to pay special attention to it. What do I mean by that? He has put this message of forgiveness squarely in front of me as of late. The unconditional, unrelenting necessity of it. No matter where I’ve turned—this “theme” of forgiveness has been a thread God has used to connect one day, and its lesson, to the next. Weaving together this tapestry, this picture of what must happen in a life, our life—yours and mine, so that we might step out not only in complete freedom, but more still, to walk together with that freedom, forever forward, in the power and authority God has given us in Christ Jesus!

Unforgiveness is the fodder that fertilizes our seeds of bitterness, resentment, and hatred. And, when watered with our fears, shame, and guilt, they produce the fruits of our self-destruction. The roots of which must be pulled out—least they stay, spreading out, mocking us, just below the surface of our praises…

So important is forgiveness—so paramount, that Jesus, while looking down from His Cross at the very men whose hands were stained by His Blood, saw the need to teach us, one last time, about its law—its seed and harvest principle. He had done it earlier via the model prayer He gave us to follow and expand upon, but, how much more powerful impactful now with His last breaths? Jesus chose for us to hear about forgiveness with His dying Words: “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” If Jesus, the sinless Son of God thought forgiveness so needed to be modeled in His final hour, how much more should we, the guilty, model it in our daily lives…? “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.”

Plainly said, we will be forgiven according to the measure we forgive…

I am speaking today—rather, hear the heart of God for your life today. Please, listen, those who have been deeply wounded—robbed. In fact, we all are in need of this one lesson. Scripture informs us, and the Spirit within us will confirm, we serve a High Priest who is familiar with our every pain—our every sin, who knows us better than we will ever know ourselves, better than our parents, spouse, or best friend. He created us. Knit us together inside of our mother. He did not intend for us to carry unforgiveness.

We are, after all, made in His image, and there is no darkness in Him…

God knew—knows, how very toxic unforgiveness is. What a thief it is—what a liar. Dare I say a false idol? When we choose not to forgive, when God has brought to our attention an area in our lives, a person or situation that He is telling us we must forgive, and we chose instead to say; I know you told me that I will only be forgiven as much as I am willing to forgive, but I’m going to go with my feelings here over your Truth. Not only are we being directly disobedient we  are also blocking our own forgiveness, along with some of the blessings God is trying to get into our hands. Forgiveness is the authoritative, life-changing, galvanizing, stain-fighting, clog-busting, past eradicating, cathartic command that teaches us the true meaning of the, “free indeed” Jesus both spoke of and died for.

He wants so much more for you than your salvation alone…

And yet, a reminder here, a plea really: You must remember that even this desire to forgive and your ability to submit to it—is possible only through a relationship with God. Why? Because it’s not something we can do on our own. We’re not capable. It is only through His power—by His Holy Spirit at work in us, as our verse today so aptly describes, both willing us to forgive and, enabling us, through His power, the same power Jesus used on His Cross, to forgive.

Outside of Him we simply do not have it in us to forgive…

And, more, if we need further proofs of the power of forgiveness—the power love has over hate, over bitterness, self-pity, animosity, and revenge—on the third day, by this same power, He rose from the dead, putting an end to the powers of sin and death in our lives. Forgiveness defeated the fetters death tried to use to rob Him of His Life. God sent me here to share with you the Good News that this same freedom is within you—if, you are a child of God. I know you’ve been asking and praying and trusting. And God has heard and has answered.

Believe, choose to forgive, and let the cathartic process of moment-by moment forgiveness begin…

And friend, if You have read through this but don’t yet know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, don’t think this wasn’t meant for you. It was. It is. You’re not here by accident. God brought you here first, that you might ask Him into your heart, and then, from that, that you two might begin the work of forgiveness that needs to happen in your own life…

“Because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation.” –Romans 10:9-10

 

 

Stand-in Faith. Mark 2:3-12

June 10, 2018 /

 “Then they came, bringing to Him a paralyzed man, who was being carried by four men.  When they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Jesus; and when they had dug out an opening, they let down the mat on which the paralyzed man was lying.  When Jesus saw their [active] faith [springing from confidence in Him], He said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”  vs’s 3-5.

What might stand-in faith look like?

Along with the example of 4 faith-filled friends offered in our Scripture verses, we also see stand-in faith demonstrated in Queen Esther; Esther 8:3-5 and, in Father Abraham; Genesis 18:23-33. Yet most  certainly our greatest example of stand-in faith is witnessed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. God’s only begotten Son. Unique in Being, fully God yet fully man.(John 1:1;1:14;3:16;1 John 4:9; Colossians 2:9;1 Corinthians 15:4-5; 1 Peter 1:20). The Scriptures tell us He willingly left Heaven—stepped across time and eternity, donned a human body, all that He might offer Himself as a stand-in.

The Sinless Substitute standing in for a sinful world; a world He foreknew would reject Him –Hebrews 2:5-18. His Perfect example now established, let’s turn our attention to everyday men created in his image. Let’s examine the 4 friends mentioned in today’s Scripture. Those no different from Esther, Abraham, and others whose faith God recognized.

We’re told only that their friend is paralyzed…

That’s why they’re carrying him to see Jesus. Had his paralysis been from birth, as it was with the beggar outside the Temple (Acts 3:2), or was it the result of an accident as with Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 4:4)? In this instance, Scripture doesn’t mention the how or why of it so it’s obviously not something we need to spend a lot of time thinking about. He was paralyzed—whatever the reason. Rather, let’s focus our attention on his 4 friends. After all, they are the ones Jesus chose to focus on.  It’s safe to believe that at some point God had laid it on the hearts of these 4 friends to get this one in need of healing in front of Jesus the only One they believed would heal their friend. It’s also fair to imagine, it’s implied even, that each of these 4 were men of faith.

They believed God…

Surely as young Jewish boys they had spent time in the Temple? It’s also reasonable to say that they’d been exposed to the telling of many of the familial stories concerning the coming of Messiah? And, it’s also possible they had witnessed Jesus healing others the last time He was there in Capernaum? Perhaps they, like so many, had heard all about this Jesus bringing Peter’s mother-in-law back from the edge of death (Matthew 8:14-15)? Perhaps all of this, combined with witnessing their friend—one they obviously cared greatly for, wasting away, motivated them into action? The truth is we don’t know for certain the whole of why they came. Scripture doesn’t always explain every detail to us. It may have been a perfect storm of faith. A simultaneous collision of all the above at play in their lives that caused them to lower their friend to the feet of Jesus.

What is certain is this: God moved on each of their hearts to get their friend in front of Jesus. And they obeyed…

Jesus let nothing stand in His way of leaving heaven and coming to earth that He might open the way that leads us back into right relationship with the Father—back into the loving arms of God (Matthew 27:51). And, when reading this account concerning our paralytic friend—it appears his friends too, wouldn’t allow anything to stand in the way of getting their friend in front of Jesus.

Let those who have ears hear…

They had fixed their eyes on Jesus. And, if it took ripping  the roof off to get their friend in front of Him, well, so-be-it! Off it would have to come!

And it did…

While Jesus was busy sharing God’s Word— 4 friends were busy hoisting their friend, mat and all, up onto the roof.  Get that image in your mind.  They hoisted a grown man tied to a cot up on to a roof. Jesus is preaching in the room below where, Scripture tells us a, “throng of people” are packed in—shoulder to shoulder. These 4 men approach the house with their friend in tow and realize— “this isn’t going work. These people won’t budge—no one will make room for us to get to Jesus!” Yet, they weren’t deterred. Why? The burning in their hearts wouldn’t allow for it. That very burning is what had prompted this entire journey of faith!

And then it hit them, “the roof, we’ll get him in through the roof!”

Have you ever been so moved by the leading of the Holy Spirit of God that, come what may, you were determined to do what you know He was leading you to do? Even if doing it meant doing something as unorthodox, as risky, as bold as taking the roof off a place ?

These 4 had been so moved…

While Jesus was sharing God’s Truth with this room full of people—these 4 were busy digging up the mud roof.

Shards of ceiling were falling on the crowd—on Jesus, yet, there is no rebuke mentioned. No one looks up and cries out, “have you guys lost your minds, stop it! Where trying to focus on what Jesus is saying! Nor does Scripture mention a rebuke of any kind coming from Jesus. Rather, we witness Jesus recognizing a reflection of Himself in these 4 friends. He recognizes a “reflection”, a type, of His own inextinguishable faith. Faith that says, “come what may, I’ll do it, I’ll make a way…”

And, in that second of recognition—a miracle occurred.

The one they had carried all these years—the one they had cared for and fed, helped provide for and shared with—Jesus now looked at and said, “you’re forgiven!”, and he was. He was now healed, made whole.

He was made new…

That’s what happens when we have an authentic encounter with Jesus. We are made new, washed clean—restored.

Whatever sin had held him to his mat, for however long it had had a grip on him—it was gone now; eternally forgiven. God had used the stand-in faith of his 4 faith-filled friends that He might deliver , restore, make new this one who couldn’t quite get there on His own…

If you’ve been praying for—interceding for, a friend or loved one, you should be excited right now! If Jesus honored their faith—surely, He will honor yours too! Just keep on taking that roof off!

God has asked each of us to be a stand-in. Jesus commissioned us all—all who believe on His name, to be stand-in’s. “He said to them, “Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.” –Mark 16:15.

Friend, if you claim faith like one of today’s 4,  here’s my question to you: how far will you carry the one that isn’t quite able to get to Jesus without your help?

And, if you’ve not yet asked Jesus into your heart—to heal what may be “paralyzed” in your life, do it now. My faith has carried you this far, I’ve now laid you safely at Jesus’ feet—don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

Ask Jesus into your heart now…

“If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” Romans 10:9.

 

 

Restoration. Romans 5:10

June 3, 2018 /

 “ For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, it is much more certain, having been reconciled, that we will be saved [from the consequences of sin] by His life [that is, we will be saved because Christ lives today].”

John 3:16, one of the most quoted verses of Scripture assures us of the unfathomable, unplumbed love of God. Listen: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

And, God did this while we were yet His enemies—separated from partaking in, sharing in a loving, intimate relationship with Him because of our sin and rebellion. Yet so great is His love for His creation that even in our fallen state, He, this God we’ve denied, turned away from, rebelled against, said “no thanks” to, sacrificed the person He loved most—Jesus, His only Son. So that through Him—through His life, His death, and His resurrection—a way back to God—back to intimate relationship with Him, would be made for us…

Now I’ve been given many a gift over the course of my lifetime. Some that were downright amazing! However, never, never has anyone loved me so much that they were not only willing, but in fact went as far as, giving up their life—dying, to ensure that I was afforded the opportunity to have, share, partake of—life everlasting with God! Not even my momma, the one God chose to love me “the best”. Though I am certain that her mother’s prayers pierced His heart on more than one occasion—it is only Jesus who stood before the Father and said, Here I am Dad, I’ll die in her place.

And, in your place, and his, and hers, and theirs, and in place of the whole world…

Imagine if you will, the sacrificial love of both God and Christ towards us through this very pale light of comparison:

Most of us have heard of “Spiderman”. His name is Mamoudou Gassama. He’s the 21-year-old man who recently scaled a 5-story building to save the life of a little 4-year-old boy whose life hung—quite literally, in the balance. Now imagine further, if Mamoudou went to such extreme lengths to save this child, do you believe he would then deny this same child He had sacrificed so much for—”time for a visit with each other” if it was something the child he saved asked of him?

If a mere man—heroic and self-sacrificing as he may be, is capable of such extreme acts of sacrificial love, how much more God? “For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” Romans 5:10.

And, if this same God sacrificed His very best—His greatest, most precious possession, His only begotten Son so that He might have relationship with—have reconciled to Himself a people He knew beforehand would reject His gift—reject Jesus; how much more will this same God give to those who have, who will, opened their hearts to this sacrificial loving gift of His Son? We find the full weight of that answer in our Scripture verse today.

Since He gave so mush to us while we were yet His enemies, how much more will He save those He calls His friends!

Jesus, God’s gift freely given to a sin-soaked, seditious world for the express purpose of reconciliation to, and relationship with Himself. A relationship none of us can ever—will ever have outside of our acceptance of Jesus as Lord and Savior. “For no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me, and at the last day I will raise them up” John 6:44. Jesus, while speaking to His disciples—expresses this inextricable Oneness, this unity—the mystery of the Trinity between The Father and Himself. “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” –John 14:6 (emphasis my own).

God gave all—the very best He had to give while you and I were His enemies…

There is a perpetual bond that now exists between Mamoudou Gassama and the child who is known only as, “the child dangling from a 4th floor balcony.” Here is what this young hero had to say about his selfless act: I ran. I crossed the street to save him. He said he didn’t think twice. When I started to climb, it gave me courage to keep climbing.

If a perpetual bond can exist between a mere man—a stranger and a child, born from one heroic act of selfless sacrifice—how much deeper, wider, stronger is the bond between God and those that know Him—that call Him Father? “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” –Romans 5:6-8. Belonging to God—having a relationship with Him doesn’t guarantee us, as with the toddler in Paris, that we’ll never be in a life-threatening situation.

He does guarantee us however, that He will scale any wall, face any enemy, endure any suffering, sacrifice everything to save us. In fact, He’s already done it! “It is rare indeed for anyone to die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.…” Romans 5:7.

If you are a child of God take great comfort in the Father’s Providential love for you—in His promise of, “how much more”, found in Romans Chapter 8. “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, 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” 8:38-39.

Beloved, it’s no coincidence you’re here right now. If you have yet to call Him your Lord, today is the day! He’s just waiting for you to call out to Him, “Help, Jesus! Save me please!”  He hears your pray and is on His way before you even ask.  “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear” –Isaiah 65:24

 

Clean As A Whistle! Ephesians 5:27

May 26, 2018 /

 “… so that [in turn] He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy [set apart for God] and blameless.”

He’s doing a new thing in us! There’s not one of us who doesn’t have an unsteady stone in their foundation. Not one. We all have some area, that one area, that needs shoring up. We’re all in need of a little more mortar…

If you are a Christian, you are undergoing this process daily—moment by moment. This cleansing, this washing away of the “you-you’ve-always-known-yourself-to-be.”  This being made ready. This transformation.

The moment we are saved, (brought into right relationship with God through the saving works of Jesus Christ) in the blink of an eye we are made righteous—in right standing before God—in that same moment however; we are also propelled into a lifelong journey of transformation. One filled with moving ever forward—closer to, giving up and over to, this newness of life in Christ. All the while simultaneously surrendering those aspects of ourselves that aren’t aligned with this new life.

This is a mystery…

Perhaps it’s also a peek into the unfathomable mercy and grace of a God whose goodness and love we can scarce take in. “For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; it is not from works, so that no one can boast. For we are his creative work, having been created in Christ Jesus for good works that God prepared beforehand so we can do them.” –Ephesians 2:8-10

Conversely however, our “hard drives” aren’t wiped when we say yes to this salvation—to Jesus! We don’t become super spiritual, squeaky-clean, individuals who have every wrong learned behavior immediately taken from us. It is our “Spirit man” that is made instantaneously new.

Our flesh—the “you-you’ve-always-known-yourself-to-be”, our hearts, minds, and habits—our learned behaviors and choices, our sin; these all need renewing.

And, this renewing is a life-long process.

It’s one of mistakes, and missteps. Of getting it wrong before we get it right. Of midnight prayers and sleepless nights of surrender. It will involve tears, letting go of, and, letting in. Changing. Always changing. It’s a willingness to die—a wanting to be free of, far from, those sins and habits and choices we’ve made, and may be making still. Choices we know displease God. It’s those tears that stain our cheeks as we cry out to God in our weakness, “save me from myself oh God! It’s a hunger for holiness—a wanting of so much of God in you—there’s no room left for the “you-you’ve-always-known-yourself-to-be.”

It’s the complete surrender of our wills in exchange for His. It’s saying yes to God before He even asks the question or makes the request. And that’s just fine—perfect actually.

The moment we said yes to Jesus—rather the moment He said Yes to us, chose us, our lives and sin were imputed, charged to Him and His righteousness was imputed, credited onto us. A holy exchange took place. One far too great for this finite mind to fully take it in! “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God: our righteousness, holiness, and redemption” –1 Corinthians 1:30.

So how do we define this “clean as a whistle?” This set apart-ness? This ongoing process of transformative emptying that we might be filled again.

What does it mean for us to be without spot or wrinkle?

Let’s start at the beginning…

Firstly, we cannot achieve this state outside of Jesus Christ. Only a life in Him—one that has been washed in His shed Blood can ever be made blameless because He is blameless. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” –Ephesians 2:8-9.

God imputes or credits the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ to the believing sinner while he is still in his sin.

The purpose of this? Romans 3: 23-24 explains it: “…since all have sinned and continually fall short of the glory of God, and are being justified [declared free of the guilt of sin, made acceptable to God, and granted eternal life] as a gift by His [precious, undeserved] [a]grace, through the redemption [the payment for our sin] which is [provided] in Christ…”

Plain speak: there’s not chance for any of us to be reconciled—reunited with, have a genuine relationship with God, nor to hit the mark He has set for the eminent standards of His righteousness outside of Jesus. Ever. Jesus alone is sinless and perfect. Therefore, He alone is the only One worthy to offer His life in exchange for ours that we might be reunited, re-membered with God. Re-membered through His works, and not our own. “Unlike those other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices every day. They did this for their own sins first and then for the sins of the people. But Jesus did this once for all when he offered himself as the sacrifice for the people’s sins.” –Hebrews 7:27

And, though we must do all that we are able to do to rid ourselves of those corrosive, immoral, sinful habits and choices, our crude speech, and the ungodly relationships we’ve made friends with over the course of our lives. Those lifestyle choices we’ve preferred, up to now, over God; it is ultimately, solely, the work of the Holy Spirit—the power of the Living God within us that will “root out of us” all of these—if we are in fact truly His.

You cannot have a genuine relationship with the Holy Spirit and remain the same. It is impossible. Nothing can encounter the Living God and remain unchanged…

The Apostle Paul tells us in Colossians 3:12 that the fruit—the byproduct of our salvation is in part: compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

So, now, as we endeavor to be like Christ, to model in our everyday lives after all that He has commanded. To take His character on as our own—model His righteousness in our lives; it remains that it is Jesus who both wills and works in our hearts to produce a life that is worthy of a Holy God. “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose” –Philippians 2:13.

As Jesus continues to will and work in us, may our voice of assent be as that of our Brother Paul’s’. “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” –Philippians 3:8-10

Friend, if you’re reading this it’s no accident. If you don’t know Jesus as your Lord and Savior I’m certain it’s why He has you here now. Please, take a moment and ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. No big prayer,  no “churchy” words needed. Just a sincere heart asking Him in is all He’s looking for. He’ll do the rest. God bless you today. I’m praying for you…

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