Abound in Hope

I seldom wake all bright eyed and bushy tailed...  Before I move my body it seems to remind me it is
still there with these aches and pains.  Then with a little heave I lift my body and let my feet greet the cool tile floor.  Then somewhere between the bed and the bathroom, I am reminded of my need.

"Lord give me a living a word...  A word that will wake my soul." 

I don't want a word that is tasteless that I have to drag out of my head like not finding a clean shirt and having to resort to pulling on a dirty shirt from the laundry basket and trying to ignore the stench as I pull it over my head...  No, I want something "refreshing" that only God knows will touch the very root need of my soul.  Not a religious word but a "living" word that God puts power in... that is what I need.  Something that quenches the thirst and puts oil in my lamp. 

A living word that answers the:

Lord revive...
Lord refresh...
Lord energize...
Lord strengthen...
Lord enlighten...
Lord inspire...
Lord... I don't know what I need but I need you to touch my soul this morning.

The Spirit just said, "Seek first the kingdom of God...."

"For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:33-34

Seek His kingdom and His righteousness...

His kingdom that is supernatural.  His righteousness takes us beyond our understanding so we might live righteously in the real hope that has been revealed to us and empowers us as we genuinely seek Him in our most basic but important spiritual need as we live in these temporary bodies.  Remember God is looking for those who will worship/seek/abide in Him in Spirit and truth.

"God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of heaven is given to them."  Matthew 5:3

God is our daily hope to live beyond the confines of ourselves, to be let loose. 

"Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Joy and peace in believing...

It find the joy and peace often doesn't "carry" with us if we aren't mindful of Him, we slip into this mode where life in general can creep up on us.   We get lost in our own thoughts and tasks and fellowship ceases and we get bogged down.  When you think about it, how could anyone be renewed in their own thoughts?

"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31
 
 The word of God says, "Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17

It's this continual fellowship which allows us to live in joy and peace and abound in hope.   It's this exchange of giving up what is burdening and taxing on our minds which allows our lamp to burn and burn more brightly.   

Do you see your need? 

I see mine daily. Lord for those who see their need fill us with your joy and peace in believing, that we will abound in your hope through your Holy Spirit.  In Jesus name Amen.

Drizzled Light...

I can still hear the sounds of the riggers chiming in the soft breeze against their metal mast, the wet clapping kiss of the docks and the seagulls singing their hinging warble.  I remember looking down into the dark water.  The big reflections didn't catch my attention as much as the smaller ones that seemed like drizzled colors of light.  Thin ribbons of fragile light drawn momentarily on the dark moving canvas-

These spontaneous patterns coming from perfectly ordinary and even still objects were made beautiful by the undulating flow of salt water and sunlight.


"Be still and know I am God."

These reflections did not strive to make something beautiful or be something they were not but in the sunlight and water they became something they could not even imagine.

Think how that is also true in our life as we trust in God.

"Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world. " Psalm 46:10 





   
   

Morning Thoughts

Thoughts of the day.

“For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13

Both to "will" the soul
Both to "work" the soul

To empower the soul in another mindset besides it's own.

For his good pleasure....

'Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread." Matthew 6:10-11

That we might know his will... which is what?

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2

The sweet liberating spot in God not the influencing factors of ourselves (the understanding of flesh) or the world.

Your Spiritual House, A Palace for Whom? 4

About a year ago my youngest brother was living on his own.  A friend came over with an acquaintance (a person my brother did not know) to play video games.  My brother played video games for a while with them but then told them he was going to bed.  

Sometime later that night my brother awoke to a knock on his bedroom door.  My brother asked who was it and his friend answered.   Come to find out the friend’s friend was acting strangely.   My brother got up and indeed something was very wrong.   The young man was talking with a different voice and his behavior was anything but ordinary.  After several times of asking the young man to leave and him not doing so my brother called the police.   

When the police arrived they too asked the young man to leave.   The young man grabbed a knife from the kitchen.  The police seeing the threat drew their guns and ordered the young man to put the knife down.  He said, “ok” but resumed coming towards the officers with knife in hand.  Again the officers told him to put down the knife.   The young man rushed the officers and shots rang out in the night.
 

The young man incurred several serious gunshots was rushed to a nearby hospital.  I don’t know what came of him... if he survived his injuries he is probably in some mental hospital somewhere.

Knowing some law enforcement officers and being related to several these aren’t unfamiliar stories.                    

Jesus says, “For when a strong man like Satan is fully armed and guards his palace, his possessions are safe— until someone even stronger attacks and overpowers him, strips him of his weapons, and carries off his belongings. Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.

When an evil spirit leaves a person, it goes into the desert, searching for rest. But when it finds none, it says, ‘I will return to the person I came from.’ So it returns and finds that its former home is all swept and in order.  Then the spirit finds seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they all enter the person and live there. And so that person is worse off than before.” Luke 11:21-26
 

This scripture has repeatedly come to my mind often these past few weeks as we have discussed our spiritual house.

Jesus refers to a person influenced by evil as a “palace for Satan".

Only by the power and name of Jesus can one cast out and over power Satan and strip him of his weapons and free the people in bondage to Satan.

Jesus says "These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."

Jesus then says the evil spirit leaves the person to seek rest in the desert.  Interesting is the word “desert.”

A desert in most cases is a dry place almost entirely void of water. 

But water is also an illustration of the Holy Spirit, Who is the Living Water.

Jesus says the evil spirit goes to the desert to get away from God but can’t because God is everywhere.

“Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:24

David said, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?” Psalm 139:7

So finding no place to hid from God, it returns to the person it left.  Interesting it goes back to the person from in which it came.   It goes back to the person who can deny God as LORD of their life. It’s like a person can be a stronghold for an evil spirit and they, blinded by the evil spirit, aren’t even aware of it.  They are blind to what is real and God who is not only real but life giving.  

“And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Corinthians 4:3-4

A human, created by God, is given the ability to choose to love God or not love God, to accept God or deny God, to trust God or not trust God, to obey God or not obey God, to find life or stay lost to life.  He is either a vessel for God or a vessel against God.

When I gave my life to the Lord I remember looking for those dark influencing “feelings” I once had before but they were gone.   They were instantly gone but what had come of them?  I didn’t know at the time but the living power of the Spirit of God chased them away and kept them from coming back.  He then supernaturally put a seal on me telling evil I was now a child, possession and temple of the living God.

“And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promise of the Holy Spirit.” Ephesians 1:3

^“Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.” 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

When the Holy Spirit comes into us, who believe Jesus as Lord and Savior, He fills us up like a glass of water to the top so nothing else can be poured in and He, being Living Water, continues to keep that glass full. 

Jesus says “but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life." John 4:14

This is not true of someone who doesn’t give his or her life God.   

I have often wondered about those who hear the life saving news of Jesus Christ and they seem to accept it with joy in their hearts.  There is this moment of clarity in their life and they seem relieved of their spiritual pains but after a short time they go back to their old way of life and live more rebelliously then they had before.  So even though they had their spiritual house “swept and put in order” there was no genuine acceptance in their heart- so no seal was given by God and the seven more evil spirits then the first come in to their lives and they are worse off then before.  They live as the rest of the world or worse.

So a word of caution here... when praying over those burdened by evil.  Are they "only" wanting relief from the burden of evil or are they wanting Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior over their life?  If they are only wanting relief from the burden of evil then you are doing them no favor but could be be making their situation worse off then before.      

Jesus continues his thought with:

“But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” Luke 11:28

I find “putting the word of God into practice” is not just reading the word of God and trying to orchestrate those things on our own but us seeking and surrendering God to make those things become a reality in our life.  Where our spiritual house is His palace.   

Cosmetic Fixes to Our Spiritual House 3

We bought some deck paint to fill in the cracks in our aging sun baked deck.  It did a great job filling in the cracks.  But... after that year it started to show signs of cracking and peeling.  Now I am thinking we will probably have to start investing in some new decking material.

Painting with cosmetic paint is not all that different to what we try to do in our lives to cover up problems and issues in our life.

In our spiritual house we try to cover up the imperfections in some cosmetic manner but this fact remains the same… unless those underlying issues are dealt with, repaired and resolved they are bound to pop up and be exposed... again.

So what do people do to cosmetically to paint over the deteriorating or problematic underlying conditions in their life? 
      

Well each person is different so they deal with their underlying problems differently but here are some general ones.

•  Some avoid and deny there is a problem in their spiritual house. 
• Others pick up other habits that avoid the issues in their spiritual house. 
• Then there are others who prefer to numb their senses to the troubles.
• While there are others who see the issues in their life but place blame on everyone and everything else.
• Then we have those who like to rationalize things away... (Like everyone else does it.) 

The cosmetic “cover ups” might be gambling, excessive shopping, using antidepressants, engaging in risky behavior such as drinking, drugs, and engaging in adulterous and premarital sex, getting lost in work or working in excess to reach some financial pinnacle where they will feel secure and successful but the fact is the things of this world will never make us feel secure, then there are those who have “cosmetic surgery” done- they are not happy in the image God created them in so they change it, then there those who start having eating disorders, some withdraw, some hurt themselves, others bully, others lie and lie and lie, some become stubborn, … and we could make a list that goes on and on.  The fact is they are not dealing directly with the underlying issues in their life.

When we choose to cosmetically “cover up” something up in our lives we deny God from working in our life.  We are actually running from God or act like He doesn’t even exist.   We choose to sin and we choose to keep sin in our lives.
 

This is the scripture God gave me for this section.

"This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.  For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." John 3:19-21

You know some even become religious to cover up their imperfections and we see this with Jesus talking to the Pharisees.

Jesus seeing right through them said, "You blind Pharisee, first clean the inside of the cup and of the dish, so that the outside of it may become clean also.  Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs, which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Matthew 23:26-28

Isaiah 29:13 “Then the Lord said, ‘Because this people draw near with their words And honor Me with their lip service, But they remove their hearts far from Me, And their reverence for Me consists of tradition learned by rote,”

One might go to church to look good to others or to appease people but that is just cosmetic if you are going for those reasons.  God wants you to be with God’s people and that you maybe continually be built up in Him.  Don't go to church to get people off your back go to know what it means to be part of the body of Christ!

  

One might even go through the outward signs of giving their life to Jesus Christ to “fit in” but God is not some club.  He is an inward change and outward expression of His love working in you and I.
 

Restoration.

I find in all matters of life nothing is too small or big for God to fix.  If there is something wrong in our life that we want fixed, God can fix it, He knows every square inch under the roof of our spiritual house. 
 

How do we know this? Because those who have truly surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ and continually do so have experienced this first hand with dramatic results His unclogging and restoration efforts in our life.

Ezekiel 11:19-20 says "And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them. And I will take the heart of stone out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My ordinances and do them. Then they will be My people, and I shall be their God.”  

This means we may know the will of God that is good, pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:2) We can find the green refreshing pastures that Jesus speaks about in John 10:9 in the mist of this “cosmetic fix” world.   But you see we can’t have what is truly good, pleasing and perfect without Jesus Christ being LORD of our life.

It seems impossible to experience such a reality but what is impossible with us is possible with God. (Matthew 19:26)

Where Does The Spiritual House Sit? 2

--> My bride has a great aunt who used to have a house in the rural town of Robinson.   It had it’s own fishpond and several acres that she rented out to people who needed pasture space for a cow or a horse or goat. 

The house was a normal house but on several visits I noticed a particular situation with the floors of the house.   On one visit the floors seemed in unison and then on another visit some of the floors were in a discord of several inches.  

What was causing this sinking and rising of the floors? 

Come to find out part of the house sat on a fault line.  This fault line was not only causing problems to certain floors in the house, but cracking in the exterior brick, doors to drag or not close, windows to not open, cracks in the walls and ceiling, and so on….

I don’t know if the house is still there for when a house sits on a fault line there is no choosing of sides…  there is just separation.

House on Fault Line.

"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. Mark 3:25

So where does your spiritual house sit?

Is your spiritual house sitting on a fault line where there is this occasional or continual rising and sinking of disharmony?  Do your spiritual doors drag or not close or maybe they don’t open at all? Doors that don’t open don’t allowing God to come in and have satisfying meal with us.  Doors that don’t close allow everything to come in and overwhelm the soul.  Is there cracking in your ceiling and walls?  Are you continuing to have to go back and repair damage?  Damage you have allowed by not trusting in God? Do your windows not open, not allowing God to refresh your soul during the day?   Is there bowing in your floor jousts? Causing you to trip and misplace your steps? Where there is no knowing of assurance or security.  Is there this continual unsettling and unrest?

Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

Every human being, being Christian or not have found his or her spiritual house on a fault line.  Some people continually live on a spiritual fault line never finding rest. 

Many Christians have come to a situation where they have found their spiritual house isn’t firmly sitting on God and His word but a little on this world or people of this world or even themselves.  

Why the illustration of a fault line?  Because a fault line symbolizes two rocks not one.  God is one rock not two. 

“The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Psalm 18:2

God does not share His glory with any other type of rock, gravel, sand or dust.  God does not share His glory that stabilizes us and keeps us unwavering and persistent in Him.  He alone needs to be our strength.

"I am the LORD; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols.” Isaiah 42:8

Jesus said, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24

Let’s look at that word, “mammon” for a moment.  A lot of bible translations translate “mammon” as money/riches but looking this up in the concordance and seeking the Lord I find it encompasses a lot more:

·      Idols (Can’t serve both God and idols/lifeless objects.)

·      Things done for personal gain such as lies, deceit, slander, falsehood…

·      Religious activity that seems devoted to God but is not true in our heart & Spirit. 

·      Things done in selfish pride.  

·       Deeds done to prove one’s own self-righteousness to God and others.

·      Thing done to receive human praise or acceptance (To fit in, or to fit into a people’s standards.  To  make self look good by actions, appearance or material wealth.) 

·      To find security in our human ability or in the things of this world instead of God.)

·      Putting people before God in our heart, mind and soul. 

·      To “serve” anything that is not of God.

These things are considered mammon.   When we find ourselves trusting more in them then God, it leads to “faulty” damaging and a dangerous reasoning.   

And if we look at the entire section of where “mammon” is found, we find this to be true in Jesus’ very own words.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6&version=NIV

People build on fault lines not realizing these things are not only faulty but are temporary and even dangerous.  

“The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever.” I John 2:17

Thus says the Lord, “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart turns away from the Lord.” Jeremiah 17:5

When we allow people and the things of this world to have a greater emphasis in our heart over God -we have put our house on a fault line and if not realized and corrected will cause our spiritual house to crack and fall…   Hope in the things that are not lasting seems very irrational but yet people do this in a lack of real understanding of WHO is Life and what is not life.   Ever act irrationally, felt depressed, lost hope, feel deep wounds of hurt, live in only the mundane feelings of life- never inspired? Why?  Is the answer because we have trusted in our own feelings, others, and the things of this life more then God?  These things can have a powerful faulty effect on our life if we are not set firmly upon God who is to be our only ROCK.

For those who unintentionally find themselves in those situations, I hope they fall into the care and discipline of the LORD who is full of hope and mercy.  For I have seen and heard of many with resentful, hopeless hearts who have put their trust in people/things and when the things they trust give way they are broken, damaged and some even do the unthinkable in taking their own lives and the lives of others.   Some even blame the LORD.  They also lash out at innocent by standers and those who represent God.  It wasn’t God who told them to trust these faulty frailties but they did, giving over a trust that only God should have had.  I myself have been guilty of this more then a few times and it has been a hard lesson to learn and God has gracious helped me repair the damages.

Apostle Paul wrote, “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Romans 7:15

Why do we occasionally fall into this, “I do what we hate”?

·      We do what we hate because we fall into a faulty understanding of the flesh.  We find we haven’t secured our spiritual house as secure as we thought to God our immovable rock.  Instead we have slipped some on to faulty soil or ground.   If we find ourselves in this position we must repent/apologize to God and He (God/Jesus) is who just will forgive us of our sin.  But we can’t continue to return or practice that sin.

“Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.” Galatians 6:8

“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” 1 John 3:9

·      We do what we hate because we have not allowed the Carpenter (Jesus) to build and/or orchestrate His understanding in us through His life giving Word in that situation. 

·      We do what we hate because we take things in our own hands (even momentary)   not really comprehending the results and consequences of our actions.

 “Furthermore, it isn't good to be ignorant, and whoever rushes into things misses the mark.” Proverbs 19:2

·      We do what we hate because we don’t listen and obey the Spirit of God. 

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.…” Galatians 5:22-23

As we read last time, “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor is in vain.  And unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards watch in vain.”  Psalm 127:1 

We are spiritual house that is being built and we must let the Carpenter of our life build our spiritual house and not be tempted to take things into our own hands and build on things that are unstable and even dangerous.

For man may build and may even build quickly, but if it isn’t built in Spirit and truth/ the resonating empowering foundation of Christ, a man’s desires will not last.

“Delight yourself in the LORD; And He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.…” Psalm 37:4

Spirit and truth. 

A person may believe in the truth but they may act contrary to the way they believe because he/she is not living and submitted to the Spirit at that moment, time, and  understanding.

Have you ever done so?  Of course, we all have at several different points in our life.

Be glad God corrected you then instead of later for everyone’s work will be tested.

“By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames. ¹⁶ Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person; for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.” 1 Corinthians 3:10-16

Our spiritual house and God

“And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him, Let your roots grow down into Him, and let your lives be built on Him.  Then you your faith will grow strong in the truth you were taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness. Colossians 2:6-7

Just as the house of God (the people of the church) cannot stand and do what God wants and wills if it is not submitted to God’s Spirit so it with our spiritual house.  We must always be cognoscenti to see if we have allowed our spiritual house to slip and straddle that spiritual fault line between Jesus Christ and this world and the ways of the flesh.

We find ourselves in a cultural story, a family story, a story of circumstances and situations but though we may be in those stories that is not our story.  That is not our hope. 

This soon to be history and a future will come to an abrupt end but we are just passing through this experience- our story originates with our eternal God, our Heavenly Father and our LORD Jesus Christ who made us and transformed us as individuals in Christ and He will one day take us up into eternity in heaven where all is made right. That is our identity.  That is our hope.  That is our peace.  That is our assurance. That is our source of empowerment.  That is our story that lives in us if we allow it.  That is our life and our lasting foundation.  Anyone Christian who believes this experience is life is missing out.  They are missing the point that we died with Christ and our life is in God.  It is hidden from view to those in this life, those who only put an emphasis on the cares of this short experience or hold on too tightly to these days but one day our real life will be revealed to all those who were blind to this truth. God is the author of our life.   He breathes into the hallways and rooms of our life and transforms the mundane into something good, pleasing and perfect because our foundation is firmly standing upon Him.   

God alone brings stability to our Spiritual house.

“Just as it is written, "BEHOLD, I LAY IN ZION A STONE OF STUMBLING AND A ROCK OF OFFENSE, AND HE WHO BELIEVES IN HIM WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED." Romans 9:33 

Friend, remember where your spiritual house is to sit.

Echoes of the Spiritual House 1

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Have you ever stood in empty house?

What do you hear?  What do you hear when you speak?  What do you hear when you stand still and say no word at all?

Knowing or unknowingly we walk everyday in and about as a spiritual house.

Our spiritual house lives in the world but if we are Christian it isn’t suppose to echo the world -in fact I find it is suppose to echo back something entirely different.   Mystifying and perplexing enough it does not fire back hatred for hatred, vengefulness for vengefulness, bitterness for bitterness but for hatred it returns grace, vengefulness it returns mercy, bitterness it returns kindness and even pity.   It says to the world, “I respectfully have to be disobedient to the ways and rules of the world.”   It’s identity is not the world but in God.

“Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

“Follow God's example, therefore, as dearly loved children” Ephesians 5:1

Have you and I really taken a good look, “spiritually,” at what music plays in our house?   What kind of recordings do we keep on our voice mail?  What company walks in our halls and sits in our living room?  Are they mummers, complainers or motivators?  Do they bring out the best in you?   

What memories do we hang on the walls? What reading content do we put on our selves?

 But putting all that aside for a moment… let’s look at this spiritual house as a new house.  It is a new day in this new house.  You have just stepped into its blank space.  You stand completely still.  You have moved nothing inside yet.  What would you decide to bring into this new space?  What and who would you be drawn to and invite to in as company to your spiritual house?

Jesus says, “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.”  Revelation 3:20

If you don’t invited Jesus daily into your life, what then will be exalted in your life?

Psalm 46:10 says:

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

If the things that are being exalted in our spiritual house are not from God, but the world then what bondages, burdens, and freedoms are we giving up as we allow those things to live in our spiritual house?  If we allow things and people to be exalted over the Lord in our spiritual house then we become ineffective Christians because they become the gods of our life.

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.”  Luke 6:45

One might ask, is that to be ignorant to the sinful things around us or in the world…. such as human trafficking, the slaughter of the unborn, the slaying of innocent Christians, the wrongful imprisonment of Christians, the legalizing of homosexual marriage and drugs, lack of support for Israel, and the disregard for amendment rights that are to protect our freedoms?  The answer is simply… no.    We should not be ignorant of these things, realizing these are not just offenses to us as Christians but to GOD as well.  I am reminded to be angered as God would be angered but not let it become a fester of sin.

“In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Ephesians 4:26-27

“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Mark 10:14

We must not let the harsh reality of circumstances of this time be our god but God be our God.  For God is not ignorant of what is here now and is to come.  Nor was he ignorant of what has happened in the past.   And even though history seems to be repeating itself in many ways and manners, God does not ponder what to do next and have his hands tied behind his back.   He is not uncaring or unjust.  He is not unaware of the difficulties in our life…if we can even call them so considering the reality of other Christians worldwide.  But in all these things our spiritual house is suppose to be a house of prayer.      

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7  

We tend to think our life is in our circumstances in life but are they? I have known people dying of cancer who have more life, hope, joy, and faith in them then those perfectly healthy.  We all have “not so good” things happen in our life but does that mean God loves us any less? Are those “not so good” things suppose define our life where we start to act upon those things in a negative fashion?  Life is more about living, mind, heart, soul, in Christ.  Ever hear the saying “It’s not getting something done that matters but it’s in the manner in which you get something done that matters most”?  It the way we live life that matters.  It’s the spiritual richness and empowerment of God that enables you and I to do something successfully in a manner in which God approves.  We are called to do many things in this life but if do them in a grudgingly manner, what does that say about us?  Who really is or is not empowering us?  God wants us to realize the importance of Him in our life.

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6  

“Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God.  Keep your minds on things that are above, not the things that are on the earth.  For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God.  When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you too, will be revealed with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4 

I find being out of step with Christ just a little bit can make us feel miles away from Christ who is our rock and our anchor for our thoughts and emotions but when we surrender to God, all which is burdening about a situation, something awesome happens in our spiritual house.

“And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer” Psalm 78:35

“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

 ^“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5

People can have the tendency to love what they focus on even if it is negative.  They can love resentment, hatred, fear, anger, bitterness, vengefulness, pride, the opinions of others more then God and have consequences for the love of those things such as health problems, unrest, striving for and putting their hopes in what is temporal and sadly spending eternity in hell.

“Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.” Proverbs 25:28

God tells us to trust in Him, love Him, surrender to Him, learn from Him and the life giving things of God will be breathed and lived in our spiritual house.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.” Isaiah 12:3

“Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, 'Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.'" John 7:38

Let’s pray that God help us be mindful of what we allow to roam around in our spiritual house.  May we trust God with a surrendered heart that blocks emphasis of the things of this world out.  May we surrender to Him who is our source of encouragement and daily renewal.  And as He guides and directs, may touch and speak to those who need to know the awesome reality of our LORD Jesus Christ.  Amen.

“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor is in vain.  And unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards watch in vain.”  Psalm 127:1 

Spiritual House

These past few weeks, I have been in great thought over what the LORD has given to me.   It so deep I do not know if I could ever possibly write down in words and have it be as meaningful to you as I want for you.   Some things just have to be experienced and taught by God for you to really understand them but I will give you what the LORD has given me.

I want you to let the LORD speak to you about being a spiritual house as you experience your day in Him.  I want you keep an open mind.  I don't want you to presume but give God a chance to take you deeper into understanding.  Be mindful of your spiritual house.

I believe you will find the meaning of your spiritual house insightful and you may even want to have God help you be more aware of what lives and echoes in your spiritual house.


Here are some things you might want to think on about your spiritual house.

What draws you? What kind of light in your house?  Are the windows open letting in the warm sunshine and refreshing breeze?  Are your windows closed and curtains drawn?  Are the windows hazed over where there is some light and visible shapes but everything outside is still obscured?  How might light speak of your faith?  What recordings still play on your answering machine?  What pictures do you hang up on your walls?  What spiritual junk mail ends up in your mailbox?  What things do you keep that aren't yours? What kind of neighbors do you keep?  What's playing on the radio in your house?  What is cluttering up your house?  What satisfies and sustains your spiritual house? What brings peace to your spiritual house? Where does your spiritual house sit?  Who is the builder of your house? What power supply is your spiritual house connected to? Who comes to steal and rob your spiritual house?
       
Here are some verses that might stir up your mind as God is speaking to you about your spiritual house. 

Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

 

“Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7

“And they remembered that God was their rock, And the Most High God their Redeemer” Psalm 78:35

Jesus said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. ²⁵ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. ²⁶ But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. ²⁷ The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27

 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past." Isaiah 43:18

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding" Proverbs 3:5

 
 "But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them. But we belong to God, and those who know God listen to us. If they do not belong to God, they do not listen to us. That is how we know if someone has the Spirit of truth or the spirit of deception." 1 John 4:4-6 

 

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.  Jeremiah 31:3

  Jesus said, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:9-10

 ^“In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:4-5

I myself taught Israel how to walk, leading him along by the hand.
But he doesn’t know or even care that it was I who took care of him.  I led Israel along with my ropes of kindness and love. I lifted the yoke from his neck, and I myself stooped to feed him. Hosea 11:3-4

¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. ²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. ²¹ Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.  Ephesians 3:18-21

 

“You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.” Romans 8:9

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19

"Therefore as you received Christ Jesus the LORD, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving."  Colossians 2:6-7

 

“Therefore, if you have been raised with the Messiah, keep focusing on the things that are above, where the Messiah is seated at the right hand of God.  Keep your minds on things that are above, not the things that are on the earth.  For you have died, and your life has been safely guarded by the Messiah in God.  When the Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you too, will be revealed with him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4  

 

 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:21

“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Luke 6:45

"The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! Matthew 6:23

 ^“Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” Psalm 24:7 

"Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14

“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.” Matthew 5:14

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1Peter 2:9

"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, 'From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.'" John 7:38

The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.  Isaiah 58:11

Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul…

“When the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and not finding any, it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' "And when it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. "Then it goes and takes along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than the first." Luke 11:25-26

“Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:36

"Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control." Proverbs 25:28

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a might one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over  you with loud singing." Zephaniah 3:17 
 

"'And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,' declares the LORD 'And I will be it's glory within.'" Zechariah 2:5

"For God has not given us the a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline (sound mind)" 2 Timothy 1:7

"No one, after lighting a lamp, puts it away in a cellar nor under a basket, but on the lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. "The eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye is clear, your whole body also is full of light; but when it is bad, your body also is full of darkness. "Then watch out that the light in you is not darkness.…” Luke 11:33-35

 "Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor is vain.  Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain." Psalm 127:1