Hindered Prayers Part 3

“The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or the water, trying to kill him.  Have mercy on us and help us.  Do something if you can.”

What do you mean, “If I can?” Jesus asked.  “Anything is possible if a person believes.”

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, ‘I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Mark 9:22-24

Have you ever said to God/Jesus Christ... “God touch this situation if you can?”

I have. And most likely in a difficult situation, like this one, you prayed in some kind of hope but not an expectant hope.

This word “unbelief” (in the text above) in the Greek is translated “apistia” (ap-is-tee’-ah).

Its definition is “a want of faith and trust”.

It is also means, “withholding belief in the divine power, or in the power and promises of God; in the divine mission of Jesus; in opposition of the gospel, with the added notion of obstinacy (stubbornness /inflexibility), and/or weakness of faith.”

Another way to define this idea is a “divided house” and/or a “divided mind”.

It’s being “double minded” which makes a person unstable in all their ways. James 1:8

Jesus made an interesting comment in Matthew 12:29

“How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his possessions, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder the house.”

The weight of doubt can lead to things like fear, depression, emptiness, and unfaithfulness.  Doubt is a way the “thief” of our soul blindfolds and chains us up to plunder what belief we do have.  Jesus says, “The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10

In doubt we can find ourselves in need of grace and mercy.  In doubt we can find ourselves in need and want of belief and trust in God.

And in part this is not bad.  For one of my favorite verses in God’s word is, “God blesses those who realize their need for him, for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

But if doubt stops us from “receiving” the things God has to give us that is problem.

For how can anyone walk in the authority of God, the love of God, the grace of God, the hope of God, the promises of God, the truth of God and so on… if doubt stops and ultimately robs us?

How can we expect to actually “receive” if we are hindered by doubt?

Jesus said, “Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.” Matthew 6:21

When we are faced with doubt we must consider carefully and honestly what we are treasuring in our hearts.  Are we treasuring doubt?  Are we treasuring to be a victim? Treasuring what people have said over what God has said... Or are we treasuring life and life more abundantly regardless of circumstances? Difficult to swallow but is this not true?

I had a friend who was living with a rare cancer, she fought the good fight, ran the race well and instead of becoming a victim- she trusted in God and gained a deeper relationship with Him.  People would come to see her and there was not this victim mentality but a warm, confident, courage because of deep trust in God.

In times of doubt and pain we might only see one set of footprints in the sand and think we are alone, but what if those footprints in the sand aren’t really ours but Jesus carrying us?

 If we realized this we might be healed from our doubt and see life differently. 

The man asked what of Jesus?

“Help me overcome my unbelief.”

Let us not become a victim but place our unbelief in Jesus hands- that he may transform them into “life and life more abundantly” amongst the challenges and difficult circumstances that come. May His mercy and grace abound in our life and we know His love more deeply.

Amen.

God Brings the Moral

Photo by Jeff Johnson

God has always given us the opportunity to walk with Him, in His ways- which are Life or choose a lifestyle of death that ends in the destruction of the soul.

We often don’t think about how our thoughts -control our actions or how they help us to receive help and guidance from God or not. 

God is only a thought away but it’s amazing how far that empowering thought can be from us at times if we aren't including God in our thoughts.

Vinegar by itself does nothing in a bottle but put some baking soda in with it and watch that mixture overflow the confines of that bottle.  We are like that vinegar and God is like that baking soda- alone our thoughts stay stagnant but with God we grow past the confinements of our understanding.

King David wrote, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and loving-kindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever…”
  

Jesus said, “He that believes in me, as the scriptures says, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”

Ever felt on edge, wary, fickle, frail, frustrated, burdened?  I have….

At times we can be our worst enemy.

So for those times, I have asked God to help me write some things down to help me regain and stand in the balancing rhythm of God’s presence, bringing moral -“LIFE” to my soul.

Jesus said to love God with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength (ability) but the only way I have found to have this “ability” is to surrender my heart to God in all matters of life which fits well with the words from book Zechariah.

“It is not by force nor by strength, but my Spirit,” says the Lord of hosts.

In other words, “Let go…”

The Apostle Paul learned it’s not by one’s strength or sure determination but an acceptance of “ones weakness” that allows God’s power to rest upon them… “For my grace is sufficient.”
(Repeat sentence if it hasn't sunken in.)

As I reflected on these passages written by Paul, I have gotten a sense of freedom and a certain contentment- he didn’t try to wrestle everything but had God use what came as an opportunity for God to show himself stronger and brighter and mightier then the circumstance.

Paul was driven to practice the art of losing the part of “himself” that hindered him from experiencing the liberating fullness of Christ.  In Paul’s mind, the sacrifice and resurrection of Christ and the promises that came with those things could not be out done- so knowing this he surrendered his “hindering life” for Jesus’ sake.

Do you remember Jesus saying, "to find life one must lose it for his sake"?

I find this “losing” of ones self is a continuous thing- and I have found that the “tender responsive heart” is handicapped from God’s leading and greatness in our life when we close ranks on ourselves -by accepting schemes and ideas that tire, wear, mundane, burden, assume and think we are in some kind of control.  For WHERE is the renewing power of the Spirit of Christ going to work and move if the space God wants to use is already taken up by our own faulty understanding?

2 Corinthians says, “Casting down imaginations and every high thing that exalt itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.”
 

When we do this "we make room" to receive the necessary things from the Spirit to make the soul abound and overcome.

Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

In being reminded of our supernatural birth in Christ Jesus to now- it is vital that our created souls be continuously "yoked" to the Spirit.  For our souls were specifically created to experience a fulfilling life in the Spirit of God.

Colossians says, “Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him.” 

We know the new self is created by the Spirit of God.  We need this engagement of the Holy Spirit daily or we may suffer a very shortsighted, drab existence, hindered not only by our understanding but whatever might come.  The things of life are no different then what anyone else goes through but it’s in WHO you and I focus in that gives moral to our soul.

With God- he helps us unfold and fold our thoughts in a godly manner.

Knowing Jesus’ Lordship over our lives gives us this settling affect in our soul- strengthening our inner man like tapping the weakening bubbles out of a substance.

In art school I often saw the havoc of air bubbles in ceramic pieces- causing vessels and pieces to shatter and crack in the firing process.

It is not different in us… God is the potter, he is the author and finisher of our faith- and he knows what “air bubbles’ to rid us of so we will make it through the firing process of this life.  Knowing this we look to Him to strengthen the inner man.

Psalms says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Galatians says, “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”

2 Peter says “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need to for living a godly life.  He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness!  And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises.  He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you and caused by evil desires and that you will share in his divine nature.”

Doubt can even become evil for not addressed.  That is why it’s important not only to believe but ask God to help us overcome our doubt... so that the edginess, worry, fickle, frail, frustration and burden will not reign over our hearts but God who brings moral.

Like a commander bringing moral to his soldiers before battle… this is what Jesus wants to do for us daily.  That we may “not” go out in the world with some kind of dread but go out with cheer and vigor and hope!

“For if God is for us, who can be against us?”         

In God's Country Pt.1

Ever have a song or a verse of a song just repeat over and over again in your head?  That is what happened a couple weeks ago.  I awoke in the middle of the night to the lyrics “crooked crosses in God’s country”.   Since then... it has been a running theme in my thoughts and what I have been reading in the bible and hearing from pastors on the radio.   

Here are the lyrics to the song, “In God’s Country”.

Yeah. Desert sky
Dream beneath a desert sky
The rivers run but soon run dry
We need new dreams tonight

Desert rose
Dreamed I saw a desert rose
Dress torn in ribbons and in bows
Like a siren she calls to me

Sleep comes like a drug
In God's country
Sad eyes, crooked crosses
In God's country

Set me alight
We'll punch a hole right through the night
Everyday the dreamers die
See what's on the other side

She is liberty
And she comes to rescue me
Hope, faith, her vanity
The greatest gift is gold

Sleep comes like a drug
In God's country
Sad eyes, crooked crosses
In God's country

Naked flame
She stands with a naked flame
I stand with the sons of Cain
Burned by the fire of love
Burned by the fire of love

Lyrics by U2

Paul (Bono), Dave (Edge), Larry and Adam

In God’s Country is a song that speaks to me of a spiritual famine.  People come to the country… the nation… the kingdom… the church, to find a new life, a new way of being that liberates their soul but after a while of being in this place these seekers find it to be another type of social club to be entertained and people’s vanity to be stroked.  “Church” is in its name but there is no liberating power there. 

I see this picture of billboard.  I mess of old and new words and images glued to it.  It is in bad shape.  It’s been neglected.  The posters glued to it are torn and tattered and about to fall off.  There is so much junk and mess- that the message is unclear.   What is being shared here?

Then I am reminded of Jesus going into the temple and knocking over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves.   Why did he do that?  

God wants that billboard for himself.  He wants us to give it to Him.  Where He can strip it down to it’s original content.  Content that was never to be dressed up, forgotten and/or covered up… but HIS EVERLASTING WORD. 

But will these people give it to HIM or will they just continue to presume in an attitude of indifference? 

 “Look! Here I stand at the door and knock.  If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends.” Revelation 3:20  

Churches in America and around the world are standing on the doormat of  the “Laodicea” age.  Sadly some have already stepped inside.  These have become the crooked crosses in God’s Country.

Just to summarize quickly, the Laodicea church is the church Jesus said, he was going to spit out of his mouth because it was lukewarm (Revelation 3:16).  The Lord then said, “You say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked.”

A naked flame, like an electric fireplace that looks at first to have real flame but under closer examination has no flame or heat at all.

 

It was spiritually bankrupt of God’s renewing oil that kept their inner lanterns burning bright in the night we call the world.    

  

The Laodicea church compromised the truths of God and did not take the doctrinal truths seriously.  It avoided controversial issues to appease and keep the peace with those who had worldly views.  And since the truth wasn’t living and active, there was no Holy Spirit power to drive and encourage people to share the life changing and saving message of Jesus Christ.   It’s conscious had died.   It assumed that since it was outwardly self-sufficient and wealthy it was ruler of itself.  It no longer looked to God for guidance, power, encouragement and discernment or correction but it’s own broken immoral self-satisfying compass.  It fell into a deep asleep.  It became a religious/ social club of the people not a church of faith “in” God that belonged to God.  It became a church of the world.

And since it was a compromising church it let itself become stripped of the righteous, goodness and true things of God.  Whatever flame it had spiraled down to be blown around and finally out by the world that it befriended.  It became a church that did not reverence or fear God. 

And since in did not reverence or fear God, it became what I read yesterday morning. 

“He turned rivers into desert, flowing springs into thirsty ground, and fruitful land into a salt waste, because of the wickedness of those who lived there.” Psalm 107:33-34

And as I was also reminded, 

“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God?  Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.” James 4:4

Their actions showed, like Cain, that they despised God.   They were like Balaam who sought profit not righteousness.  They presumed because they attended "a" church that they were righteous before God.  (And we know this is not always the case. Example, Just because you might work in a hospital doesn’t necessarily mean you are a doctor right? And just because you attend a church doesn’t mean you have given your life to Christ.)

Read with me,

“But these people mock and curse the things they do not understand.  Like animals they do whatever their instincts tell them and they bring about their own destruction.  How terrible it will be for them! For they follow the evil example of Cain, who killed his brother.  Like Balaam, they will do anything for money.  And like Korah, they will perish because of their rebellion. When these people join you in fellowship meals celebrating the love of the Lord, they are like dangerous reefs that can shipwreck you.  They are shameless in the way care only about themselves.  They are like clouds flowing over dry land without giving rain, promising much but producing nothing.  They are like trees without fruit at harvest time.  They are no only dead but doubly dead, for they have been pulled out by the roots. They are like wild waves of the sea, churning up the foam of their shameful deeds.  They are like wandering stars, doomed forever to the blackest darkness.” Jude 10-12 

Do you know what doubly dead means? It means they lost their divine nature just as Adam and Eve did when they deliberately disobeyed to God in the Garden of Eden.

Another river of thought came from the Spirit.  A church that compromises God's truth to keep the status quo acts just like the Sadducee's and Pharisees when Jesus was here in the flesh on earth.  They didn't want to upset the Roman government so they did things to appease the Roman government.   They didn't want the Romans to come after and persecute them.  When Jesus came He caused trouble for them.  He didn't keep the status quo.  His followers did not keep the status quo.  They were not politically correct.  And they were persecuted just as Jesus was.  They were obedient to God not society.  This caused a cultural backlash/war but in doing so many accepted Jesus seeing Christians "civil" disobedience. 

Jesus came not too keep the world's foolish and destructive status quo/political correctness but break it and set the captives free and bring about a spiritual everlasting revolution and revelation to His beloved creation. 

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because of which He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to send forth in deliverance the oppressed," Luke 4:18

Jesus also said,

"Do you think I came to bring peace on earth? No, I tell you, but division." Matthew 10:34

The lukewarm Laodicea church that chose friendship with the world is gone.  It is warning to all the Christian churches of the world.

Remember Jesus who is God loved this church SO MUCH, he rebuked it and warned it because He wanted to save it from it's own foolishness.   God disciplines those He loves.  It was their choice to continue down that destructive path or accept HIS life saving meal.  God is doing the same today.   Can you hear Him knocking?

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.

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.     

Pick up your Mat and Walk

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Ever been oppressed? Oppressed to the point you feel disabled and handicapped spiritually? Ever feel this burdening presence that closes in on you? You sense its weight. You sense its tension on your body as if you are wrestling something invisible as you try to do what needs to be done throughout the day. It is a presence that just does not leave you alone.

Most often we wrestle this presence with our physical and mental strength and it doesn’t go so well because we are up against something spiritual. We need to use spiritual weapons when we are up against spiritual weaponry and foes.

You are saved by Jesus Christ and because you are saved by Jesus Christ you have the authority in Him. You have spiritual authority in Him. You have been set free from the law of sin, which so easily influences the physical and mental sides of us. The physical and mental sides are often manipulated causing us to lose peace and rest- we move into areas of unbelief (sometimes unknowingly) which is a sin.

This unbelief in sin causes us to become captives to our oppressors. We sit handicapped spiritually on our mat and feel sorry for ourselves because "everyone is able to get into the pool of Bethesda before we do when the waters are stirred up."

We grumble and complain serving the law of sin not realizing we are falling into the same trap as the Israelites who had left Egypt. Though they had been set free – their hearts sank back into their old ways and desires. And we know what happened to them….

However those with Joshua had a promise. Joshua had the promise from God and we also have the same promises through Jesus.

Do these sound familiar? “ I will be with you. I will not fail you or abandon you. Be strong and courageous. Do not turn away from God and you will be successful in everything you do. Meditate on the word day and night and obey it- only then will you succeed. I command you- be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:5-9)

Jesus told the man at the pool of Bethesda after he asked him, “Would you like to get well.”

The man complained but Jesus ignored the complaint at first and simply ordered, “Stand up, pick up your sleeping mat and walk!”

Instantly the man was healed. He rolled the mat and began walking. When Jesus found the man in the temple again… Jesus then addressed the man’s complaint with this. “Now you are well, so stop sinning or something even worse may happen to you. (John 5)

We are to strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress- we do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish. Hebrews 12. Hebrews 4:14-16

Through the things we suffer we learn to be more obedient and dependent upon God- seeing our need for Him everyday of our lives.