The Sick Forest

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“This forest feels sick, as if a disease lies upon it.  Is there no way around?” J.R.R. Tolkien

This line struck a cord in my soul.

I have always had a special place for trees.  I grew up in a place where enormous evergreen and maple trees grow and stand.  I enjoyed playing in them and amongst them.  I have great memories of the trees that filled the greenbelts and woods of my childhood home. 

Today I like growing trees in pots on my back porch.  Some have grown from seed and acorn, others I have discovered while tending to my yard and garden.  Little presents from God. White crape myrtles and boxwood elders seem to be my favorite.  

Trees are beautiful things but that wasn’t the main reason why Tolkien’s sentence echoed in the chambers of my soul.    

It was the correlation that my soul drew upon.  It was the illustration that God Himself often makes in His word…  How trees symbolically represent people.

“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.”  Referenced from Isaiah 61. 
 

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“But as my people watched, I destroyed the Amorites, though they were as tall as cedars and as strong as oaks.  I destroyed the fruit of their branches and dug out their roots” Amos 2:9     

“Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear fruit, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing." Ezekiel 47:12

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD And whose trust is the LORD. "For he will be like a tree planted by the water, that extends its roots by a stream and will not fear when the heat comes; but its leaves will be green, and it will not be anxious in a year of drought nor cease to yield fruit." Jeremiah 17:8

Even our LORD Jesus Christ is referred to as a tree or branch in scripture.

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1

Then speak to him, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts, saying: “Behold, the Man whose name is the BRANCH! From His place He shall branch out, And He shall build the temple of the Lord;” Zechariah 6:12

How differently I think of the cedars of Lebanon that Solomon used to construct the temple of the Lord. For this event was to illustrate what was to come. It was to show us how the Lord and King, Jesus Christ, would use God’s forests (so to speak) to construct the living temple where he would dwell.

  “Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16

A temple that the red dragon, Satan, would love to destroy in as many ways as possible.

 ^“And the dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.” Revelation 12:17

Tolkien’s speaks of a sick forest, a forest that has been put under an evil spell, a poison that has allowed evil to undermine and weaken the forest of Mirkwood.   It has caused the trees, under closer examination, to become bare and fruitless and pale.   Evil has been allowed to weave its webs there and those assigned to task of overseeing these forests have been overwhelmed at the decline and condition of these once beautiful woodlands.  

It has reminded of such verses in the bible.

 “You say, 'I am rich. I have everything I want. I don't need a thing!' And you don't realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.” Revelation 3:17

  

“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Matthew 3:10

^“Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.” Matthew 24:12-12

Now it’s NOT hard to imagine why Satan, the deceiver, would try to convince many with his skilled poisonous whispers "division from God".  In fact Satan tried to separate God’s chosen creation, made in God’s image, by encouraging Eve and Adam to question God in the Garden of Eden.   Satan still tempts individuals with the temporal pleasures and foolish opinions of fallen men -that God is not all that important.   Satan uses items such as money and the securities and comforts of the world that never satisfy in hopes to keep many away from God.   Blinded by the dragon's sickness these people become disenchanted, selfish and close-minded about life.   

For how many... have you known, who inadvertently took their eyes off God and found themselves in a dark predicament?   

Have you ever thought everything is meaningless and pointless because you have failed to seek, surrender your perspective and been appreciative to God for the things He has given you?

Satan tries his hardest to get people’s eyes off of God, who is the sustainer and light of men. (Why do you think Satan works so hard to get God’s name out of “this” and out of “that”?)  For God is the LIFE giving Spirit and without Him we would be doomed to become like the Forest of Mirkwood or the still trees of Narnia. 

“And the trees, they retreated so deep into themselves that they haven’t been heard from since.”…. Narnia movie quote.

Ever been in the presence of such a tree or gathering of trees?  Their thoughts continue in same circular pattern that drives them into a dark deep hole.  They lose track of the path in which they were to stay on.  They don’t seem to remember to look up for a way out. 

  

Fortunately by the grace of God, we have been awakened from such dreadful heavy states just as David.

“Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God!” Psalm 43:5

Jesus said,

“God blesses those who are poor and realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.” Matthew 5:3

What a mighty verse to stop the dark allure of spreading its blight and causing inner spoil of blackness and rot. 

Here is another...

“³ Go back to what you heard and believed at first; hold to it firmly. Repent and turn to me again. If you don’t wake up, I will come to you suddenly, as unexpected as a thief.” Revelation 3:3

We need a good shaking from time to time to knock off the cold heavy snow from our branches that hasn’t allowed us to hear or see clearly.  We need a good wind to stir us to allow our roots to grow down into God's love. 

In transplanting my trees, I find some become root bound.  I have to cut the roots on the side of the root ball so they will grow properly in the ground.   We too can put ourselves in a pot of our own making and become root bound in our own understanding and stop maturing and becoming fruitful.  BUT God because He loves us took us out of that pot, cut the root bound away and placed us in His fertile soil with no pots!!!  God doesn't set limitations on us but we do.

   

 ^“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. ¹⁷ Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. 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.” Ephesians 3:16-19

So when you feel the allure to trust in something other then God or when all you seem to see is darkness, the mundane, and the meaningless of the world -submit to God and he will lift you up- James 4:10. 

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Remember Satan wants to undermine and sicken the forest of God.  He wants to destroy the tree that you are in God.  He wants to tear down the temple and it's beauty that God is creating in you.  He wants to contaminate your mind and heart with his dragon sickness just as illustrated with Thorin Oakshield in the Hobbit who exhibited hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, division, the feeling that everyone is wrong except those in your own little group, envy… these are just some of the symptoms listed in Galatians 5:19-21.  A sickness if not awakened and healed from, leads to no eternal life in heaven.   

Satan does not want you to become what God has planned for you.  He wants you to close and blockade the doors and shut them so no light comes in and darkness can have it's way with you.

Think of it this way, Satan knows…   

Who wants to look at a sick tree? Who wants to go into a sick forest? Would you use rotten trees to build a house?  Of course not! Get the picture?

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” James 4:7-8

“I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown. 'He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’” Revelation 3:11-13

For the Battle is Not Yours, But God's Pt. 5

FOCUS, TRUST & STAND

^“Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.” Ephesians 6:13

In my Christian faith I have found that 99 percent of the battle is keeping our focus and trust in God, the other 1 percent is standing.

ARMoR of GOD

Before we tune out, thinking we have heard about the Armor of God all before, let’s take a fresh look at these scriptures.  Their purposes are to edify and encourage our focus so we don’t lose heart, become weary, anxious.   They are written for us so we don’t become overcome by what we see, experience, or get entrapped in a destructive or paralyzing thought.  And they are recorded to remind us how important it is to have a relationship with God  

We know the armor of God is NOT worn in pride and arrogance but grace and humility and all godly conviction and sincerity.   

 For the word of God says:

  “Pride goes before destruction,
    and haughtiness before a fall.”  Proverbs 16:18 (NLT)

It also says:

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.” Romans 13:14 NKJV

No provision for doubt, fear, dread and no provision for pride and self-conceit.  Two very different faces but just as caustic.  Sometimes one even comes right after the other.   

The armor of God scriptures, as all scriptures in the bible, are to enable us to STAND in battle. 

The Armor of God is all about GOD the man/woman believes in.  IT is NOT about a level of trust one has in his or herself. 

We read: Jesus: “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name. ‘But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s law.’” Matthew 7:22

We read about the seven sons of Sceva trying to cast out a demon from a man and the evil spirit residing in the man says to them, “I know Jesus and I know Paul but who are you?”  Then they are overpowered and brutally attacked by the man with the evil spirit and flee the house naked.  (Note Acts 19:13-16)

What was the state of their mind and heart?  Was it in themselves or God?

^“So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.”  Zechariah 4:6

The Armor of God is the Holy Spirit in control not us.  It is God in control.

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.” Galatians 5:22-23

What causes a person who is persecuted, disowned, beaten, raped, tortured, and facing death to continue in the faith of Jesus Christ?  It is certainly not the will of the flesh but the Armor of God protecting the soul.

 

In the movie called “For Greater Glory” which depicts the Cristero War in Mexico in the 1920’s, were thousands were brutally killed for their faith - causing many to take up arms against their own government, a boy named Jose Sanchez Del Rio is captured, tortured and killed for his faith in Jesus Christ.  Jose could had saved his life several times by just renouncing his faith in Jesus Christ but he did not instead he is quoted as saying, “I will never give in.  Viva Cristo Rey!”  Which means “Long live Christ the King!”  To this day, in Mexico, Jose Sanchez Del Rio is known as one of the martyred in Christ.

 

Even when severely beaten and forced to walk on bleeding tortured cut open feet through the streets to his own grave, Jose did not renounce Christ but found strength in Christ instead.

 

 Strength comes when we realize we are not our own.  We are not keepers of our life.  The body is temporary the soul is forever.  God’s armor protects the soul while as it abides here on earth.  These pieces of armor that cloth the Christian soul; speak not of us, but of our God. (We are not our own.)

“Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.”  Ephesians 6:14

God wants us to remember the certainty of Himself.  What are MY ATTRIBUTES God asks? God is our Father, He is our Savior, and He is our Comforter and Counselor.  He is our friend.  He is abounding in faithfulness and love for us.  He is merciful and gracious.  He is goodness without measure.  He is life, truth, and righteousness.   He saves those who cry out to Him.  He carries out justice to those who trust in him.  He is trustworthy.   He is unchanging.   He cannot lie.  These truths allow us to grow and flourish in our God.

For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:15

God wants to remind us that he has given us his peace.  Jesus said he gives us his peace so our heart will not be troubled nor will it be afraid. (John 14:27)  Jesus’ peace is a lasting peace because we know to whom we belong and where our citizenship resides.   When people ask where do we get such peace we can tell them it through God and our LORD Jesus Christ.

In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Ephesians 6:16

Faith is the confidence we have in God even when we cannot see what is going to happen.  Satan and his army shoot their fiery arrows of lies and deceit hoping to burn and destroy our confidence we have in God.   A shield that stops such arrows of lies and deceit is the knowing God has made provision.  He is with us.  He already knows our needs and what is going to happen.  He is all-powerful; nothing stops the will of God and his promises in our life.

Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:17

God always want us to be mindful of our salvation.  He is the one who saved us and continues to save us.  He is with us continually.  He does not retreat nor does he leave anyone in the battlefields of life behind.  (2 Corinthians 4:9) He does not forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8).  As we turn to God, He gives us and reminds us of his words to counter the enemy’s strikes and discern truth from fiction.  None of this armor will work for us unless we have a relationship and trust in God.

Remember the Armor of God is not about us but all about HIM.  Knowing this we are able to focus, trust and stand.

Simple Stones

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.  For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, [are called].  But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.  But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God--and righteousness and sanctification and redemption--that, as it is written, "He who glories, let him glory in the LORD."  1 Corinthians 1:25-31

Simple stones.... not in our abilities but his working in us makes us qualified.  Our trust and faith alone in God allows us to overcome the restraints of ourselves.  I am limited in myself but not when I let the mind of Christ occupy me - nothing is impossible with God.   I hope for nothing but God.   To die to self is hope to gain more of Christ – that he might live mightily within me. 
 

”And if you will make Me an altar of stone, you shall not build it of hewn stone, for if you lift up a tool upon it you have polluted it.”  Exodus 20:25

Isn’t God the one who made these vessels to deem what he wills of them?  Isn’t it God who makes us right with himself by his Son Jesus Christ? Are we not to have the same mindset of Christ who said, ”I can do nothing on my own.  I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.”  John 5:30

Who also said, “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”  John 15:5

Simple stones know their weaknesses and knows where their strength lays within.

⁵ And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.
1 Peter 2:5

Living and Holy Sacrifice.

“And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.   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 12:1-2

 

BREAD pt.2

My wife made these rolls for thanksgiving that were delicious.   I told her that they were so good that she didn’t make enough for leftovers.  In truth I saw one in the basket after everyone ate and I snagged it for later that evening.  They were good!  I hope she makes them for Christmas dinner this year. 

When I think about it… thanksgiving never ends with God.  There is always something to be thankful to God for.  God always seems to have more then enough to sustain us.  Even when things are financially tight, God somehow provides for those physical needs.   When things seem challenging and not all that positive he provides for us the spiritual strength and nutrition to endure such times as we look to Him.

We can see that in the bible as well.   Let’s look the account of Jesus feeding the five thousand men not counting woman and children.  He feeds five thousand plus people with five barley loaves and two fish.   Seems crazy but he has done that when we pass out food in Mexico, at a church that God is using to transform what used to be cardboard village on a covered garbage dump into a neighborhood of actual homes.

“After this, Jesus crossed over the Sea of Galilee, also known as the Sea of Tiberias.  And a huge crowd kept following him wherever he went, because they saw his miracles as he healed the sick.  Then Jesus went up into the hills and sat down with his disciples around him.  (It was nearly time for the annual Passover celebration.)  Jesus soon saw a great crowd of people climbing the hill, looking for him.  Turning to Philip, he asked. “Phillip, where can we buy bread to feed all these people?” He was testing Philip, for he already knew what he was going to do.  Philip replied, “It would take a small fortune to feed them!”  Then Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up.  “There’s a young boy here with five barely loaves and two fish.  But what good is that with this huge crowd?” "Tell everyone to sit down," Jesus ordered.  So all of them- the men alone numbering five thousand- sat down on the grassy slopes.  Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks to God, and passed them out to the people.  Afterward he did the same with the fish.  And they all ate until they were full.  "Now gather the leftovers," Jesus told his disciples, "so that nothing is wasted."  There were only five barley loaves to start with, but twelve baskets were filled with the pieces of bread the people did not eat!" John 6:1-13

I want you to think about something and take it to heart.  Jesus took the bread, gave thanks to God The Father for it and passed it out to the people.  We are to thank God The Father for Jesus Christ, the Bread of Life and we are to pass Jesus, God’s love, out to others as instructed by the Holy Spirit.

 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.  They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.  It is the same with my word.  I send it out, and it always produces fruit.  It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I sent it.   You will live in joy and peace.  The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!  Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.  Where briers grew, myrtles will sprout up.  This miracle will bring great honor to the LORD’s name; It will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”  Isaiah 55:10-12

God’s bread (word) can only work in us if it is "in" us.  And in order for it to work in us we have to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of our life - and let us not forget -to continually go to God to receive spiritual nourishment from Him or else (if we don’t do this) we will be come dull and indifferent and lack spiritual nourishment to live in a Holy righteous conviction.   A seed can be planted, a plant can be planted, a tree can be planted but they still need water and nutrients to grow.    

So it is the same with us, we need the Holy Spirit and God’s word to grow and sustain us in all the conditions in this life.

  

“And the same God who cares for me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.  Now glory be to God our Father forever and ever. Amen.”  Philippians 4:19-20

Through the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, we cannot only go to heaven after we pass from this life but we can receive for our daily physical needs and spiritual needs as well from God. 

Notice they ate until they were full; they ate as much as they wanted but there were leftovers.  God provides and supplies “all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.”  

Spiritually there is so much of God’s truth, goodness and love that we cannot entirely grasp it all and consume it all.   It would overwhelm us but thank God Jesus breaks the bread into understandable parts so we can digest them by His Spirit (Holy Spirit) and live them by His Spirit (Holy Spirit) and still…. there is SO MUCH MORE. 

“Now we know only a little, and even the gift of prophecy reveals little! But when the end comes, these special gifts will disappear.  It’s like this: When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does.  But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly as in a poor 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 knows me now. There are three things that will endure- faith, hope and love- and the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:9-13

The SOURCE of faith, hope and love – never ends!!! AND He is GOD, Our Heavenly Father!

“I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.  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.   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.  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.  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.  May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through the endless ages. Amen.”  Ephesians 3:16-2

Just as there were 12 baskets full of leftover bread from five loaves of barley bread that is what God has for us spiritually.   There is the amount our soul can consume which the Holy Spirit helps us with and then there is more that God has for us- more then we can even imagine or even consume!  The amount he has for us is beyond our understanding and even spiritual comprehension and consumption.    That is why it is so important to understand God is only limited in working in and through our life by us.

Our Lives.
He can take those five loaves of bread and two fish in our lives and multiply them to feed five thousand people.  He has unlimited resources to help us live this life not beat down and discouraged by the challenges and circumstances in life but in victory by the love, hope and faith he gives us!  Where the power of the most high dwells (lives) in us -refreshing, confirming, directing, renewing, emboldening, and giving us clear vision -not clouded by the world but the vision and reality that HE REIGNS.   He is above all things!  And we can’t help but hunger and live by the mind of Christ.

There is a story in the bible of a woman named Naomi who was staying in the pagan land of Moab.  A land of not her people or her God.  There in Moab her soul served greatly. She was hungry for the bread of her people and when she heard the Lord had visited His people giving them bread she departed from Moab and returned to the land of Judah. (Ruth 1:6-7)    

Some of us are trying to live off the food of the pagan land but still very unsatisfied and hungry.   You crave the spiritual bread you were created for by your Creator.  You have tasted this bread before.  It is good. You have just heard the LORD is giving his people good bread, take Naomi's example, come back to the LORD and His people and receive from God the life saying renewing bread from God.
  
 she arose with her daughters-in-law that she might return from the land of Moab, for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited His people in giving them food. 7So she departed from the place where she was, and her two daughters-in-law with her; and they went on the way to return to the land of Judah.…When Naomi heard there was bread in Bethany
May God make this truth so alive in our hearts that we don't forget it- even for a moment.  In Jesus Name Amen.

Speaking the Truth as a Disciple of the Lord 1

What is a Disciple of Lord?
A disciple is a follower of Jesus Christ.  Jesus says: "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and follow me.  If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it.  But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life.  And how do you benefit it you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process?  Is anything worth more than your soul?  For I, the Son of Man, will come in the glory of my Father with his angels and will judge all people according to their deeds."  Matthew 16:24-27

Readers forget Jesus hadn't gone to the cross yet so this concept of carrying your cross meant to Jesus listeners "that the person carrying the cross was going to die."  They were on a death march to be crucified on the cross in which they carried.

Notice Jesus' words "You must put aside your selfish ambition, and shoulder your cross and follow me."   We as Christians know to put aside our selfish ambition is to deny what our flesh wants us to do and do what Christ has called us to do.

A person who isn't a Christ follower lives according to the flesh instead of the Spirit.  A person who shoulders their cross not only identifies with Christ but gains greater understanding and power to live according to the Spirit.  Life doesn't become some pointless cycle but a journey- to experience all that God has planned for us.

A disciple of Jesus Christ never forgets to see their "need" for Jesus Christ in every moment of their day of their lives.  They submit to God's authority and majesty and follow humbly behind God.  I say "behind" God because he prepares the way for us.  And we forget who we are called to be in Christ if we get lost in ourselves and try to control the direction of our life with our own selfish wants and ambitions.  We lose the power of God to work in our life because we are trusting ourselves and not God.

Having this "cross" illustration helps me understand that as we grow a deeper trust in God/ Jesus Christ and mature in his love - we don't just lose our life but gain a deeper relationship with God.  And having this relationship with him will supernaturally let us glorify him because we will be "in" him.

Don't Lie, Speak the Truth.
Pardon my redundancy.  I am going to repeat some things I posted in the last posts as God is continuing to build and expound upon these words he has given.

“Therefore putting away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.   Be an angry and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil.  Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need.” Ephesians 4:25-28

Telling the truth to your neighbor can be tough, it's even tougher if we are going about it in the wrong way.   Even telling another Christian what they are doing is wrong can be rough.

Note: Take careful care approaching and addressing those still young in Christ especially in "clothing".   Sometimes those young in Christ need to see what is appropriate and what is not by what is modeled by their peers.  (I am not talking about dressing in suit and tie or dress down to your ankles.   I dress in cargo shorts, t-shirt and flip flops.)  If what is inappropriate continues - those close to that individual and even a leader need to gently encourage them to find something more appropriate in their wardrobe.  Maybe even a good shopping opportunity!  

Reasons Why We Don't Want to Speak the Truth to Someone:
1. We don’t want to hurt their feelings.  
2.  Out of fear of conflict.
3.  Afraid to lose them as a friend.
4.  Afraid their heart won’t be receptive to what we need to tell them.
5.  What we say will have little or no affect.   They simply don't care.
6.  Because we really don't care all that much for them.... if that is true, check your spiritual vitals with God. 

Three things come to mind in speaking the truth with your neighbor.   They are a doctor, Jesus' approach to the woman at the well and Queen Esther.

A doctor would not tell a patient that they didn’t have cancer or some other kind of sickness out of some fear of how they might react.   A doctor would tell them the truth - of course a good bedside manner would certainly help and that is where Jesus and Esther come to mind.

How is Your Bedside Manner?

Jesus/God the great physician, how did Jesus approach the Samaritan woman at the well? (John 4)
He was humble.  He related to her water situation and how Jews and Samaritans worshiped the same God and then he presented the truth about himself and her life.

How did Queen Esther deliver the bad news to her husband, King Xerxes, that the man he trusted, Haman, was going to kill the Jews, which also meant he could kill her family and her?   What were the things she did to earn the king’s respect and a listening heart? Haman was an evil man and if she allowed anger and fear to get the best of her she wouldn’t be able to function or speak up to save her people or herself. 
 

Esther sought God who knows all hearts.  She prayed, asked for prayer and fasted so she might find favor in the king’s sight when she approached him without invitation.  Granted an audience of the king she wasn't self-righteous but humble.   She wasn’t hasty in her "immediate" request.  She was patient and respectful towards the king and even to Haman.  She showed a genuine interest in the king and what was important to him as king.  She was generous.  The king seeing goodness and godliness in her asked of a request from her “twice”.   Talk about God opening a door so she may plead for her people and herself.   She presented a beautiful banquet of all her goodness and godliness by her actions and she reaped favor for her and her people by the goodness she sowed.  Goodness and godliness she could not have given if she didn't trust God.  She trusted in God which produced godly actions.

When you disciple someone and share the Lord with someone you and I are stimulating something within that person.   How we live and how we deliver the truth to someone will make an enormous difference in how they receive what we are saying.   What we sow is what we reap.

Speak the Truth in humility and love and compassion for that person to whom we speak. Pray for the souls God will have you speak to in this life.  Pray that when you speak, the words will be from the Holy Spirit.   Some will except the truth you speak about God and needing Jesus and some will not but there will be no denying that what you speak is powerful.    We are to love the person but hate the sin.

Are you a thief?

“Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were seal for the day of redemption.  Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.  And be kind to one another tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Ephesians 4:28-30

Are you a thief and don’t know it? A thief is one who steals. A thief doesn’t do what is good… he steals what is good.  God says, “You must not steal.”  
         

After God made me take a real good look at this passage, it made want to watch my mouth even more and want to speak only good things about others and into and over people’s lives.   I would easily robe someone of right thinking and stimulate negatively by what I said or did or even stood around and agreed to.
 

You know that saying “If you have nothing good to say…say nothing at all”?

It’s easy to say nothing at all.  It’s easy to complain.  It's easy to drop connotation.   It’s more difficult to find something good to say.   It’s more difficult to look out for people’s best interests instead of our own.

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”

This is very important! Think about it! Does what you say tear down or build up.   Does it give God glory or does it not.   Those who don't know any different will follow in your negative opinion and follow you in your sin.  Follow you in presumption and opinion instead of fact. How about when you  give hurtful information that doesn't need to be heard about what others think of them?  That is not building up.  What we sow will either steal from or gift the receiver of our actions.  People's minds who aren't constantly seeking and submitted to the Lord will meditate and feed off your words and actions- so what actions and words are you feeding them to build them up in the knowledge and glory of the Lord? 

"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap." Galatians 6:7

Not only is our negative actions a total disregard for God's word but it is a sign of doubt and unbelief.  It is proof the word is not in our heart only in our mind.  If we knew better we would see we were not just disobeying God's word but treating the blood of Christ, which saved us from hell, as if it were common and unholy.  God's blood!  That should really make us shudder.
 

You and I cannot please God unless we have faith.  What we speak will determine what we believe in our heart.     Do we really believe God’s word when we murmur and complain and speak negatives about others?   Don’t let Satan put those negative things into your mind and you speak them without thinking.  Speak them not understanding the consequences.  Speak them not realizing what it will do to the person to whom we speak.  Satan is the thief you are not.  He is the destroyer you are not.  You are to be a child of God who refuses to let the world corrupt you.   That is what you were called to be and he (God) has given you, as the body of Christ, the power be that as you submit to his authority and love.

A righteous person lives by faith.  We are to trust God and walk humbly with God and live in the truth, the way and the light.  Curses and blessings are not right to come out of same mouth.   We are to walk in and pay attention and take heed of what the Spirit is saying.  We are the body of Christ not the body of some other identity.  We are to act differently then the world.  We are to draw from God’s unlimited resources to do what is right because what is in the vine should come and bear good fruit on its branches. We should be mindful of the present and the future.

What do you say to or about your siblings in Christ?  What do you say to your neighbor? 

Do you say and stand up for what is right or do we fall into the flesh?  Do we have fear your neighbor's response more then we fear God?  If no stands up for what is right who will?

We are to tell our brothers and sisters the truth especially if they are not being reverent towards what God's word says..  We are to humbly tell our neighbors the truth   We are to speak good things over people and into people’s lives.  We are our brother’s keeper, liability partner and we are to speak and warn each other of the righteousness we are to live not as religious sand paper full of abrasiveness but in love and humility. 
 

“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.  Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.  For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. “ Galatians 6:1-3

What are we stimulating in those around us.  Are we edifying and imparting grace?  The same grace God has given us?

Renewed Out of the Status Quo

“You are the salt of the earth.  But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?  Can you make it useful again?  It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.   You are a light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.” Matthew 5:13-14

You know how some people need their coffee in the morning.  I need God’s Spirit to renew me every day.  It’s like opening the windows first thing in the morning and letting God’s Spirit to blow out all the stuffy stench.   God’s guided word in the morning is a breakfast that isn’t too heavy and isn’t too light but keeps me going and focused throughout the day.   For me just living in the status quo is no encouragement at all.  I might as well be an electric car trying to fill up at a gas pump.

We only draw the warmth, goodness and boldness of God when we are in God’s light not the status quo of the world.  The moon would not be visible at night if it wasn't in the path of the sun's light would it?  We have to determine what we are going to stand in.  Is it going to be God's love, mercy, and power or darkness?

Jesus says:

“If you are thirsty, come to me!  If you believe in me, come and drink! For the Scriptures declare that rivers of living water will flow out from within.” John 7:38

Obviously if we aren't trusting Jesus then the water of the Holy Spirit isn't going to flow out from within.

“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil.  For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”  Luke 6:45
  
Belief/Faith, not doubt, keep the lights on in the glowing city.   When we humble ourselves and put God first and he lifts up our soul.
 

We look and anticipate God to direct our heart.  (After all he is the author and perfecter of our faith.)   Then as we receive, our hearts will be keeled and steered by God even in the dark storms of life.  Our hearts, knowing his heart, won’t want to turn wayward to useless things and ventures because they will be secure and satisfied in God with a healthy dose of respect.  We will know God’s heart and we will be all that God wants us to be.