KNOW GOD is INFINITE

-->

On the way home, driving in the evening sun, I flipped on the radio to hear a pastor speaking… but what he was speaking made the Spirit rise up inside of me.   He was speaking that manifestations in the book of Acts don’t happen anymore.   I should have just turned the radio off but I thought what if people who were listening didn’t know those manifestations, that he openly denies, do still happen today.  God is not a god of religion and dry bones but a GOD of faith, who makes those dry bones come ALIVE.

He is God who puts muscle and flesh over those bones and gives us a new heart and Spirit.  He is one who feeds us, encourages us, establishes us and empowers us.   

How could he, a pastor… a man of God, not experience the manifestations of the Holy Spirit?  One might ask, “Does he really know God or has he just accepted an aspect of God? 

Knowing he doesn’t believe in the manifestations of the Holy Spirit, who then leads him in what to preach to his congregation?  Is it by his mere thinking, wisdom and reasoning?   

“But He (Jesus) answered and said, “Every plant which My heavenly Father did not plant shall be uprooted.  Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” Matthew 15:13

Seminary taught or not… Who is to be our TEACHER?  God is to be our teacher who knows what HIS children need to hear and see. 

“For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power.”      1 Corinthians 4:20

For when we brought you the Good News, it was not only with words but also with power, for the Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true. And you know of our concern for you from the way we lived when we were with you. 1 Thessalonians 1:5

Is it not God who removes the veil? Is it not God is who infinite? 

I do wonder how a person can speak of God’s life changing power and then flat out deny the gifts and manifestation of God’s presence.  Does that not seem strange?  Are we not a manifestation of His transforming love? 

I am sure everyone has an aspect of ignorance when it comes to God but I am thankful God helps us overcome that ignorance as we allow Him to reveal the wonderful things of Himself.  

We must not deny something in the bible just because we have never experienced it or told by mere men it doesn’t exist anymore? 

⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. James 1:5-8

   We know the Old Testament is the New Testament revealed.   And is God not the same God as in the Old Testament?   So why would God change from what we see in the New Testament to now? 

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”   Hebrews 13:8

God is same yesterday and today and forever… He is infinite.  He is unorthodox- granted but this doesn’t mean He doesn’t bestow the gifts of the Spirit and manifest Himself anymore….  God is ALIVE not dead!  And He does not conform to the ideals of men, no matter what their title may have. 

“Great is our Lord, and mighty in power, His understanding is infinite.” Psalm 147:5

“God is not a man, so he does not lie.  He is not human, so he does not change his mind.  Has he ever spoken and failed to act?  Has He ever promised and not carried it through?” Numbers 23:19

Can you think of what God knows?  Here is just a tiny list.

He knows our hearts.

“But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."  Jeremiah 17:10

He knows every detail of our bodies.

 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.  And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:29-31

He knows how long we will live here on this earth.

“You have decided the length of our lives. You know how many months we will live, and we are not given a minute longer.” Job 14:5

He knows when we are tried, tested and tempted.  He knows when we turn our back on Him.

“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat.  But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail.  So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32

He knows when we will fail.

But Jesus said, "Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me." Luke 22:34

He knows where every resource is to help His people.

“However, we don't want to offend them, so go down to the lake and throw in a line. Open the mouth of the first fish you catch, and you will find a large silver coin. Take it and pay the tax for both of us." Matthew 17:27

He knows where we are and where we will be.

“Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”  And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight.” Acts 9:10-12

UNDERSTANDING

And how often does God tell us and show us in various ways to not depend on our own understanding? 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
    do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
    and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6

“Don't copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God's will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”                                                                    Romans 12:2

For the word of God will never fail. Luke 1:37

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? Jeremiah 32:27

“These people come near to me with their mouth
    and honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
Their worship of me
    is based on merely human rules they have been taught.” Isaiah 29:13

Jesus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." Matthew 19:26

We are talking about our infinite God that is beyond the understanding and complacencies of men taught and untaught.  

God touch those who teach such falsies and believe in such falsies.  If I were to share with these men right now, the miracles I have experienced they would call me a liar and yet call God a liar.

I have seen Jesus.  I have experienced the varied presences of God.  I have experienced things as the prophets of old.  I have experienced heaven.  I have spoke and sung in tongues.  I have heard and told people things that only God knew.  Things I without a doubt spoke because God’s Spirit assured them to me in my soul that they were true.  Strongly directed by God, I have prayed over the sick and they have been healed.  This is not to boost about me for I know one of reasons I have been shown these things is due to of my lack of faith and ignorance.   I have been doubting Thomas, questioning Philip, hypocrite Peter, and religious prideful Saul who became the Apostle Paul.  I speak my testimony.  I speak of these wonders of God to only speak the truth about GOD.  I feel if I don’t many will not know the wonders that are revealed through Christ Jesus.  They might feel God is unreachable and unknowable.  It is God not me who has done and shown me these things and he has no favorites.      

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  The earth was empty, a formless mass cloaked in darkness, And the Spirit of God was hovering over its surface.  Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3

God had only to speak and the universe and the earth came into existence.   God had only to speak light over the earth and there was light.

And how we too were much like the earth.   How we were clothed and blinded in darkness until we surrendered to God and He breathed light into our life changing us from the inside out.  And He awoke us to the reality of Himself.  The same Holy Spirit that hovered over the earth testified mightily to our soul that Jesus is LORD over our soul.  How we need to remember that, how we need to remember our first love everyday of our lives.  How we need to remember our need for Him and how far He has brought us.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.   We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing great treasure.  This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”  2 Corinthians 4:6-7

"When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father--the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father--he will testify about me.” John 15:26

This same infinite Spirit, this Great Teacher, that people of this world aren’t even aware lives in us thanks to Christ Jesus. 

“that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” John 14:17

"But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” John 16:13

When I think of God being infinite I think of this verse in Ephesians,

“Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.” Ephesians 3:8-9

Think about it… the boundless riches of Christ. 

“KNOW GOD is LOVE.  KNOW GOD is Infinite,” flashed on the screen of my mind a few days back and now I am starting to understand why.

His infinite understanding is much higher then our ways and thoughts.

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

Where we might think appearance, human power, strength and some level of higher intelligence or education are necessary but God says, “No. It’s the heart and my Spirit that are important.”

Then he said to me, "This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel saying, 'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD of hosts. Zachariah 4:6

“Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7

“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”  Matthew 5:8

“But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.” 1 Corinthians 1:27

Think of David, a young shepherd boy who is anointed as king of Israel.  Do you remember what happened after he was anointed as king?

“So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David. Samuel then went to Ramah.” 1 Samuel 16:13

For David to be king of Israel he needed to be anointed by the Holy Spirit and David knew nothing else could sustain him to go into the role and do that role without the Holy Spirit in his life.

I love you, Lord, my strength.  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 18:1-2

“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.” Psalm 73:25

“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Psalm 54:4

It is no different for us as Christians.  The Holy Spirit needs to be active in our lives to sustain us to walk out our faith.    

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

No wonder why John reads,

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  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 1:1-5

Note: John is speaking of Jesus –the Word.

God is LIGHT.  Light that is never overcome by darkness.  Light that is infinite.  Light that wraps/clothes our eternal soul for eternity.

Why is it important to know God is infinite?

God wants us to rely and live in Him who infinite, so that we might live beyond our sometimes often burdening, shortsighted, limited understanding and circumstances.  God wants us to learn to continually abide in Him who gives us daily refreshment for our soul. Through Him come the companions of peace, joy, love, mercy grace, hope, and an empowering faith.

 for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:16

Think to know Him and experience Him… is walk the road less traveled (mentally/ physically and of course spiritually).  It is to see life in a whole different way/light.   It is to have manifesting presence active in our life by looking and submitting to God who is INFINITE.

“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.” Ephesians 3:20

Know God is Infinite.

Knowing You See Things Imperfectly

Paul wrote,  "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child.  But when I grew up. I put away childish things.  Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity.  All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me complete." 1 Corinthians 13:11-12

Can you trust your eyes? Can you trust your ears? Can you trust your understanding?

Was Jesus ever accused for things he was not? Can you think of when he might of been accused of being a cannibal, a liar, a false prophet, or being the prince of demons?  How about being guilty of something he was not guilty of because he spent time with Samaritans, drunks, and tax collectors?
People perceived him guilty by association, what they saw, what they heard and in how they understood?

Have your eyes and understanding ever let you presume something that was untrue? Have you ever jumped to conclusions?  Have you ever not heeded the Lord's warnings and did what you thought was right and/or justified? What fruit came of those actions?

Scripture says... "Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him."  Isaiah 64:4

 

.... Let me suggest a bit of caution to the idea of knowing enough of a situation or going it alone in your own understanding and suggest a bit of caution on any zealous acts - acts that come from any aspect of impatience, personal pride and prejudice.   Wait and be surrendered to God in thought and see how God directs and intercedes for you.

I remember before I was a Christian there were a couple Christians that didn't treat me with respect.  I didn't need their respect to  "agree" with me but I needed their  respect that I was a person no better then they were yet they acted as if they were better then me.   I saw pride and prejudice in their actions instead of the grace and love of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus said the flesh profits what...?

"It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." John 6:63

We should not claim to know all there is to know of God, His Word or a situation but seek God for discernment, wisdom, direction, and emotional stability in many of the opportunities presented to us in this life. Yet I feel this is not always taught or maybe it's not matured in our spiritual coverings.

"And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes." Galatians 3:27

We are to "put on Christ".  How did Jesus speak and interact with people?  

Yes let there be a confidence but not a confidence with ourselves but with God.
"Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God.  Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us competent to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit.  For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."  2 Corinthians 3:4-6

We are to be as children, but not children of ignorance, but children of our Heavenly Father.

The Word of God is a double-edged sword- you want to use it and use it to heal then let the Spirit of God direct you in "how" to use through your actions.     
     
Some may say being "persecuted, hated, resented, bullied, disregarded, and called haters and worse" are causes and effects in walking in pretentious ways but that is not necessarily true.

We could just as easily receive the same treatment for doing right and living a wholesome lifestyle then doing wrong.  And why might this be a problem?  Why might this offend others?  Why do those in the world want to force us to agree with things that go against God's word?  Why do they want to change us?  It's odd how conviction of sin comes in many ways and forms.  

Just a comparison of lifestyle can make one envious and feel guilty.   If everyone agreed with their sinful behavior- then they would not feel guilty but as God's representatives living in truth - this makes them feel convicted.   Just the goodness of God's Spirit working in our lives is conviction enough.  It's like a little song bird chirping on a tree branch in the morning and because a few want to sleep, those who want to sleep despise the little song bird.  The song bird did nothing to deserve such resentment.  It was just doing what it was created to do by God.    Ever notice how guilty people have to justify themselves causing them to fall deeper into sin?  They live in the law of sin/ law of their understanding.  They are trapped and they will do anything in their power to try to feel not trapped resulting to childish things as put downs, lies, manipulations, violence, curses, and name calling.  And because the world works in the same faulty understanding, the world agrees with them and makes laws and regulations against those who choose to live by the word of God.            

No surprise there.... Jesus said we would be hated because for our allegiance to him. 

Mark 13:13 “And everyone will hate you because you are my followers. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

We must speak the truth but be careful however to be sure we speak and act according to the Spirit in love not in some stuck up fashion that is not humble and does not remember where he/she stands- for we all have sinned and come short to the glory of God.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 2:23

"Let your speech always be with grace as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." Colossians 4:6

We must be "approachable" people that know what it means to have all the short comings of being human...  we have all had trouble, failed, hurt, won, lost, loved, been betrayed, doubted, been angered, fallen, not been understood, been enslaved and so on... but in these things we are to weave what it means to have Christ in those situations and share that with others in gracious speech.

 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

"... I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.  I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings."  Note: 1 Corinthians 9:19-23

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves." Philippians 2:3
 
"For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas world grief produces death." 2 Corinthians 7:10

Let us not just look at grief but other aspects of life as well.

We have all grieved...
We have all been angered...
We have all loved...
we have all... fallen short of the glory of God....

But it is in "how" we do those things that ends in life or death and it's "in" who or WHO we turn to that leads to life or death.  When we look to ourselves and the world, grief can turn to prideful self-pity ... anger can turn to resentment and unforgiveness and... love to ignorant shallowness, empty lust.   All which are sin in God's eyes.

 We find reasons to stay away and reject God because we want to stay in sin.  These sins become like shards of glass in the veins of our blood stream and we stay away from the very ONE who can give us LIFE.... GOD.

But when we look to God, grief can become things like hope and a stronger dependence upon God.  Anger can turn to godly resolve, living justly and putting God above all things and people.    Love becomes unselfish and a want to build up and encourage those around us and to love our spouse more deeply.

Again.... If we turn to just ourselves and our understanding of grief, anger and love- these things turn to darkness and death.  If we turn to God in our grief, anger and understanding of what love really is, it leads to life.

GOD is the strong thread that keeps all our life from coming all unraveled.
       
Paul who wrote the majority of the New Testament said: "I do not claim that I have already succeeded or have already become perfect.  I keep striving to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has already won me to himself. Of course, my friends, I really do not think that I have already won it; the one thing I do, however, is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight toward the goal in order to win the prize, which is God's call through Christ Jesus to the life above."

We should always strive to live for and as Christ, as we have the opportunity to share the love of Christ with others.  You and I can't be all that God wants us to be without Jesus flowing through our spiritual veins. 

How imaginative and undisciplined our minds are and how our thoughts float in all different directions.  How presumptuous they can be and how these very thoughts fade to judgments. 

In life, I could easily fill up the pages of my thoughts but to leave the pages as simple humble surrendered prayers of mediation upon God, I find God filling them and I can easily find what he has written on them.

Ever heard the saying, "You are the only bible some people will ever read"?

I am not saying to become so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good but how can one do the kind of good that survives the testings of fire if you are not heavenly minded, clothed and directed?

 What will stand when our works are tested by God?  Our salvation will still be there but if our works are not done in a manner that honor God in Spirit and truth what will stand when the flames touch them?  How might your actions towards others honor God or dishonor God?

"If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire." 1 Corinthians 3:14-15

From where does your inner compass start?  From where is it drawn?  From where is it pointed?  From where might it go?

We come upon situations and circumstances that present themselves as bitter water.   And anyone who drinks and partakes of this bitter water comes down with side affects of that bitter water but those who drink from Jesus the living water can speak into that bitter situation and help people taste what it means to drink God's sweet water- by your graceful actions and words seasoned by salt.

Serenity Prayer "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
 
So yes there will be those who still want to drink from the bitter water but let God grant us the wisdom to see what we can change and not change and not be discouraged by.

For Jesus said, "... but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil." John 3:19

 

"But to you who are listening I say:
Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you." Luke 6:27-28

Note: This doesn't mean to intentionally get walked all over but you turn the other cheek and not give pearls to swine because you know your value is not in your circumstances or in people but in God.

So do not cling onto these experiences too tightly but onto God who is your life of faith and allows you to give grace, have peace, know hope, be secured in love and have the mindset of Christ. 
  
Knowing all these things will help you become a better representative of Christ Jesus.

Ponder these things with the Lord as you watch this clip.

   

Root Bound

By Rebecca Brogan

Never claiming to know it all, I have assumed much in my life and about God and in that assumption lived out what I have assumed. 

I enjoy growing trees and plants… and as they grow I have to put them in bigger pots so they don’t become root bound or pot bound.  Root bound or pot bounds means they don’t have enough potting soil left to give them the nutrition they need to grow because the roots have taken up all the space in the container or pot.

 “I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God's marvelous love. 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 really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21 May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen.”  Ephesians 3:16-21

In a very real way God needs to take us out of the pot we have put ourselves into so we may grow in the fullness of Him not some varying degrees of Him or human rational of Him.   You see we can become pot bound in our understandings of God.  We can assume that just because we haven’t experienced anything different of God that “this” is the way it “is” or is suppose to be -not realizing outside the pot of our understanding is a universe God wants us to discover and experience and live in. 

ROMANS 1:21-23 "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures… ROMANS 1:21-23

We do not worship Buddha or the creation or worship some Hindu god but in what ways have we “professing to be wise, become fools, exchanging the glory of the incorruptible God for something more suitable to man’s liking?

 ”You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote,  ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me^.  Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’” MATTHEW 15:7-9

We claim to be wise in the things of God yet we deny the very things God wants us to know and experience and we ignore, do away with  and replace them with versions that we think are sound for this day and age.  We do so to make others and ourselves feel more comfortable yet estranging them and us of God and the things of God.   We claim God is the same yesterday, today and forever yet…some churches say God doesn’t have people work in the Spiritual gifts anymore…  

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.
¹⁸ Even on my servants, both men and women,
    I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
    and they will prophesy. Acts 2:17-18

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. ⁸ To one person the Spirit gives the ability to give wise advice; to another the same Spirit gives a message of special knowledge.⁹ The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing. ¹⁰ He gives one person the power to perform miracles, and another the ability to prophesy. He gives someone else the ability to discern whether a message is from the Spirit of God or from another spirit. Still another person is given the ability to speak in unknown languages, while another is given the ability to interpret what is being said. ¹¹ It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.”  1 Corinthians 12:7-11

What do you suppose a Pastor works in if he doesn’t work in the gifts given to him by God?

If he just works in “himself” … is his teaching done in Spirit and truth?

Jesus said, “ ….. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” JOHN 6:63

Jesus also said, “God is Spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth."  JOHN 4:24

For we know when a Pastor preaches it should do what?  His sermon should address the spiritual needs of God’s people.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”  2 Timothy 3:16-17

You are living what if not in Spirit and truth?

If it is raining outside and you say it is sunny outside – are you lying? If you are living in denial because of your want to sin does that mean you are not living in sin?

 Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin.  Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever.  So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.  I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word.   I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” JOHN 8:34-38

Ask yourself people of God: Do you have room for Jesus word in your hearts?  Or is it crowded and filled up with your own understanding?  Are you pot bound? Whose word do you go by- God’s or man’s?

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
    By living according to your word.
¹⁰ I seek you with all my heart;
    do not let me stray from your commands.
¹¹ I have hidden your word in my heart
    that I might not sin against you.
¹² Praise be to you, Lord;
    teach me your decrees.
¹³ With my lips I recount
    all the laws that come from your mouth.
¹⁴ I rejoice in following your statutes
    as one rejoices in great riches.
¹⁵ I meditate on your precepts
    and consider your ways.
¹⁶ I delight in your decrees;
    I will not neglect your word.”   Psalm 119:9-16

Are you just living in your pot of understanding?  Are you doing so because you have not considered all God’s ways, have you not considered all his decrees? What He said would happen and what he had done from before we know as the beginning?  Are you neglecting some of His word?

Have we become comfortable in our own understanding of God that we unwelcome God fully in how he wants to work in His people?

 "Then Jesus told them, “A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.” And because of their unbelief, he couldn’t do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their unbelief." MARK 6:4-6

Think about it?  I don’t think God is amazed of our unbelief but he wants to unbind us of the understanding and unbelief and plant us in the marvelous soil of His love.

Does God Challenge You? 2

THE UNTAMED GOD

It isn’t uncommon to hear about a pastor who experiences the gifts of the Spirit to be asked to step down or even leave the church. 

People filled with the Spirit have been asked to refrain from such actions or leave the church for far less… such as raising their hands during worship, speaking in tongues and even coming to the alter to pray… and it’s the alter for crying out loud.

Why do you suppose this is?  One explanation is no matter if we like to admit it or not, people like to control.  We like to stay away from anything that might make others feel uncomfortable or look “messy” or “out of place.”  We control for reasons from power to comfort to erroneous thinking.    And what we can’t control or doesn’t fit within the confines of our worldly doctrine or religious doctrine we want to get rid of.

JESUS CHRIST is LORD and SAVIOR.   He is the only way to heaven- to the FATHER. 

 Jesus said to him, “I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.”  JOHN 14:6

He is the same yesterday, today and forever.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” HEBREWS 3:18

Does God do ANYTHING that is unorthodox in your understanding?

Ask yourself- Do you honesty think you know how God works? – Do you really have Him ALL figured out?  Do you think any man or woman has Him ALL figured out?

Thus says the LORD:

“Cursed is the man who trusts in man
And makes flesh his strength,
Whose heart departs from the Lord.
 For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,
And shall not see when good comes,
But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness,
In a salt land which is not inhabited.” JEREMIAH 17:5-6

"Then Jesus told them, 'A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family.' And because of their unbelief, he could not do any miracles among them except to place his hands on a few sick people and heal them.   And he was amazed at their unbelief." Mark 6:4-6 

Is there also any root "Unbelief"?  Is there unbelief in the church?  Is Jesus, our LORD, not fully honored amongst HIS own relatives and own family (The children of God)? 

How have you and I excused, rationalized and explained away the things of God?

Again…. Why do you suppose we do this?  Does it go against what we feel God should do or not do?  Are we fearful of what we don’t understand?  Are we more comfortable in the religious doctrines of man then what God wants to reveal and show us outside the doctrines of man?  Do we not have the faith?  Are we putting emphasis on us then on God?  

I was telling a brother in Christ about a present day pastor who suddenly began to speak in tongues from the pulpit.   He was just as surprised as anyone else but the leadership of the church told him to step down and leave the church.  After the pastor left, God told him to share the gospel in the streets but he was barely making any money… so he decided to go farm.   He and his wife both received visions telling him to go back and preach the gospel in the streets but he stubbornly refused.   God seeing the man’s stubbornness, sent an angel before Him that put a double edge blade to his throat and said, “You will do as the Lord as commanded you to do or you will die!”

This idea of God sending an angel to put a blade to someone’s neck challenges our traditional thinking of God.  We want to claim it is a lie or a trick of the devil because it doesn’t relate to our understanding of a “loving” God.  And yet we say we believe God is the same yesterday, today and forever but do we really believe it?  

What was the purpose of this pastor in God's plan?  What is just about the pastor or the people God wanted to save through the pastor's words? 

My brother in Christ wanted to dismiss this challenging idea but then the Spirit of God quickened inside of him and reminded him of Balaam.  

Balaam in Numbers 22:31-33 

 ^“Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.

“Why did you beat your donkey those three times?” the angel of the Lord demanded. “Look, I have come to block your way because you are stubbornly resisting me.  Three times the donkey saw me and shied away; otherwise, I would certainly have killed you by now and spared the donkey.”

 

These challenging awakenings break the walls of our understanding about God.   We see just how little we know about the ways of God… We think we have Him somewhat figured out but we don’t.

This same modern day pastor was confronted in the streets by those practicing witchcraft.   They told him, “ If you don’t leave we will kill you…”

The man of God rebuked them and told them,” No! You will die if you do not leave”.

The next day those who threatened to kill him were either found dead or gone.    

This sounds like something out of the Old Testament but it is from this day and age yet God challenges our understanding and we want to disregard it. 

We read, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom” Proverbs 9:10. 

So what kind of rational do we characterize as fear of God/the Lord?  

Where on the scales of the human mind do you weigh the fear of the Lord?  What kind of “loving” bias do we think God has towards us when we read in his word, “God has no bias?”

 ^“For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt.6

FOCUS, LOVE & THE HEART

To overcome any obstacle is to have focus. We are told, “Stand your ground” (Ephesians 6:4) but it’s difficult to stand our ground in battle if we can’t hear God over the noise- external or internal.  It’s hard to stand our ground when we aren’t in the line of sight to see God.

Thank God he has given us as Christians his Spirit so when we focus on Him, we can partake in His wondrous reinforcements to inspire and encourage our soul.

“Your eye is a lamp that provides light for your body.  When your eye is good, your whole body is filled with light.”  Matthew 6:22

To live in contentment in any situation is to accept the supreme authority of God over our life… To find contentment is not dwelling on the dark side of the battlefields of life but remembering to look for the light of God’s faithfulness in the darkness.

 “And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness--secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.”  Isaiah 45:3


  It’s unanticipated in the human understanding, how in the challenges and trials of the Christian life- the hidden treasures of God’s love and faithfulness are given and revealed to us in a supernatural way or manner.    Fear is whittled away; the firm grasp on this life is lessened, the burdening baggage is abandoned, and the playground swings higher and higher as we are intimately shrouded in God’s love.  We are hidden in Christ (Colossians 3:3).

What the world considers absurdity becomes reality standing before them, as we trust God.   We may not even be aware of our testimony to world because we are so focused on God’s assuring love. What does this mean?  It will mean the crowing assurances in our selves and in this world have been shooed out of the canopy of our branches by a song, beautifully written and composed by God.   In these songs, our branches bear good fruit because of God’s assuring love.   The fruit will not be eaten or ruined by the crowing flocks but preserved and kept safe by God himself.

“For the LORD your God is living among you.  He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness.  With his love, he will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 


 Ever wake up singing a song or during the day a song comes to mind to remind you of God’s love?  Who do you think put that song in your head?

We all need to meditate and sing those songs in all the different circumstances that life brings.

“At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves.  The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them.  After they had finished off the army of Seir, they turned on each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the outlook point in the wilderness, there were dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see.  Not a single one of the enemy had escaped.  King Jehoshaphat and his men went out to gather the plunder. They found vast amounts of equipment, clothing and other valuables- more then they could carry.  There was so much plunder that it took them three days just to collect it all!”  2 Chronicles 20:22-23


Sometimes it takes us days to see all the good things God had done for us, after the battle has been won and we are humbled by all God’s goodness.

 Ever see a little child being steadied by their parent’s hands as they begin to learn how to walk?  God, as our Heavenly Father, is also there to steady us as we walk in the uncertainty of battle.

David writes, “He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along.”  Psalm 40:2

Do you see the little excited child in yourself, being led and held up by our Heavenly Father?

In the complexities of life we actually observe the great truth of the rod and staff of our shepherd that protects us and comforts us. (Note Psalm 23:4) They become as visible as the shadow of the tree trunks in the sun.

The LORD directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24


At times in life, we all want to know what is going to happen as we walk this path of life… and I don’t think that is bad.   We should always seek the Lord for guidance.  Conflicted or not, we should ask.   But more importantly God wants us to be abundantly aware of His watchful and provisional care of us.  He wants us to be surrendered to this empowering freeing truth as we are also surrendered to his will for our lives.

I find we as Christians know many truths in God’s word, the Bible, but they are no use to us if they are just words on the page that we have memorized and recalled having read them or hearing them many times before.   We are not to be just theologians.  The words of God are to have meaning and life in them. They are of have great value to us because God has shown them to be true and we sincerely mean them when we say and sing them back to the Lord.  The words of God are love letters to us – with so much depth we will probably not completely comprehend their entire meaning.

The words of God are to build a bond been our Heavenly Father and us as his children.    God not only gives us his word but provides proof to his word by his actions just as a father and mother are suppose to build a loving bond with their children.   But unlike our earthly parents, God knows us intimately and knows the story of our life- every detail, from beginning to beginning (from earth to heaven).

For God’s word to be active and of any powerful use to us we have to continually seek to have and live in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

Not a relationship with words on a page but a relationship that transcends the words on the page to a relationship with God and where the word of God comes to life.

A person is not in love with the love letters but the sweetheart who wrote the love letters.

The cry of my heart is to love God more - knowing the more I love God the more I will be able to experience the freedom of his love.  We won’t have to fear.  We won’t have to be afraid.  We won’t have to have anxiety.  We won’t feel less of a person.  We won’t have the circumstances of life manipulate and trip us up. We can be the person God wants us to be regardless of circumstances.  God can’t love you or me anymore then he loves us now it’s us that has to chose to live in his love more.

 Hillsong wrote a song years ago called “Show me your ways”.  I believe its was inspired by Psalm 25.   Here are some of the lyrics.

Show me Your ways
That I may walk with You
Show me Your ways
I put my hope in You

The cry of my heart
Is to love You more
To live with the
Touch of Your hand
Stronger each day
Show me Your ways

It is that the cry of your heart?  We all need God’s love to show us the way through this life.  We need God’s up close and personal presence, instruction and assurance in our life.   We all need to love God more so we can be stronger in his love. Jesus replied, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind” Matthew 22:37


God’s love doesn’t take affect because in our anxious we forget God is with us. We forget God is omnipresent.  He is always present.  God is the Jello/gelatin and we are the piece of fruit in the Jello/gelatin.   Plus in the believer, the Christian, God doesn’t just surround us but is inside of us- the Holy Spirit,

 “for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”  (Note Joshua 1:9, Deuteronomy 31:8)

That is why David wrote, “I shall not want.” in Psalm 23

That is why Jesus said, “Why be like the pagans who are so deeply concerned about these things? Your heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and he will give you all you need from day to day if you live for him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:32

I guess the question is, are we living for ourselves or for the Father? Are we living to glorify God in our life?  Do our thoughts to our actions glorify God?

Thoughts we should be having in our heart,  “I do not need to fret about tomorrow because I know the Lord has prepared everything I need for tomorrow.  LORD thank you for preparing and providing provision for me this day and for tomorrow.  Thank you Lord that you will be with me.  Thank you Lord you will be touching and guiding me every step of the way. Thank you Lord it is not my battle, but yours.  I shall not want.”

    Thank you Lord that by thinking and meditating on these things in our hearts we may live in your love, in the moment and glorify you, in Jesus name Amen.