Jesus was often challenged publicly by religious leaders. They would demand answers to their questions; Why was He doing what He was doing; By what authority was He doing those things? Well, when the appointed time came, Jesus stood trial before the religious High Counsel. What did Jesus do during that trial that threw the Counsel into a rage? What would cause the High Priest over all Israel to tear his priestly robe and send Jesus to the cross?
Some three years earlier, John had baptized Jesus in the Jordan River. As Jesus rose from the water the Bible records a voice from heaven saying, “You are My dearly loved Son, and you bring Me great joy.” God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth, affirmed Jesus as His Son!
Fast forward again to Jesus’ trial. The High Priest asked Him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” Jesus said, “I AM.” He simply agreed with what God had said. That agreement resulted in His crucifixion. However, without His death there could be no miracle of resurrection, no forgiveness of all our sins. You can say His life and ministry consisted of two things; agreement with the Word of God and fulfillment of the will of God.
Before you find yourself in a personal trial, seek the Lord (through prayer) and read His Word (the Bible). If you’re already in a trial, and need wisdom or direction…do the same thing. “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” (James 1:5) There in the Word of God you will find the Will of God. And yes, He wants you to know His will.
Inevitably, our willingness to agree with the Word will be tested. When God gives you a Word, stand firm on it. No matter what anyone else may say or how desperate things may seem, stand on it. Why stand? Because, circumstances do not determine whether or not the “Truth” is indeed truth. Isaiah 55:11 declares that no matter what, you can rest assured that the Word of God will, “…always produces fruit. It will accomplish all (God) wants it to, and it will prosper everywhere (He) sends it.” Even if you find yourself standing alone in an impossible situation, hold-fast to what God has given you. Then, lift up your eyes and see what He will do.
As for me, I have been guilty of much in my life. But now, if I am to be guilty of anything, let me be found guilty of agreeing with the Word of God. No matter what!
(Matthew 3:16-17 & Luke 3:21-22)
June 29, 2011 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: faith, jesus, knowledge, listen, scripture, understanding, wisdom | Leave A Comment »
Most of us hate the thought of being judged by others. The truth is…it happens all the time. Right or wrong, whether by our neighbors, our co-workers, or our family members, we can rest assured judgment is being passed. Similar to a defendant in an unwanted court case, we can do nothing to keep that judgment from being rendered. However, we can examine the fruit we are producing which affects that judge’s decision.
In Luke 6, Jesus taught that a person produces out of the treasury of their heart, “What you say flows from what is in your heart.” In Matthew 3, John the Baptist challenged those who were following him to, “Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God!” So, the fruit seen outwardly is produced out of an abundance of what we have sown and cultivated inwardly.
In Ephesians 5, Paul said, “Be careful how you live.” In other words be careful to produce godly fruit; “Take no part in worthless deeds of darkness and evil.” Cut away any rotten thoughts, feelings, and/or desires by exposing them to the Lord in prayer. Remove them because they will lead to action. Begin to sow the seed of scripture. Speak it over your life! When Jesus was tempted to bear bad fruit, He countered temptation out of the abundance of what He had in His heart, “No! The scriptures say…”
What we secretly sow, we will visibly show! What we privately entertain (or allow), will eventually be on display. Keep in mind God sees our secret sowing. His judgment is also coming. Once again we will be defendants unable to avoid judgment. BUT He has made provision for us in advance by offering the fruit of the cross: His love, His grace and His mercy. He has also given us the Word of God. Secretly sow it and cultivate it. It instructs us as to how we are to live so we need not fear God’s judgment, but await it with hope!
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” – 2 Timothy 3:16-17
June 28, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: christ, cross, fear, fruit, judgement, knowledge, life, scripture, secret, seed, sowing, understanding, wisdom | 1 Comment »
Here I am again, sitting in silence as the Word of God grants me greater understanding of what God has done.
A couple days ago I was reading John 5 and was struck by the words, “One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.” I too had been sick for thirty-eight years. Head sick…Sin sick. All those years I lived in denial that my past had any baring on who or what I had become. Sin truly has a way of deceiving its host. Yes, there were times when I fought sin’s pull. Shamefully, and quite tragically, there were times when I fully embracing it.
In verse six, we read that Jesus saw the guy and knew he had been ill for a long time. This man desperately needed a Jesus Encounter. So did I.
Jesus asked him, “Would you like to be well?” To which the man answered, “I can’t sir, for I have no one…” (John 5:6-7) It was almost as if he was admitting he was in bondage, but somehow it wasn’t his fault he remained sick. In late January 2009, When I was asked that question I replied, “But, I saw too much as a child! I indulged in too many things through the years. That’s why I’m this way. This is all I have ever known. How can I change?! How can I NOT think as I have always thought?! “
Jesus wastes no time discussing blame. Instead, He said to us, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk.” (John 5:8) He instructed us to “Stand up” because no event(s) nor person(s) should determine our identity, our abilities, or our worth except Christ and the cross. He instructed us to “Pick up” the Word of God, for it declares we ARE changed and we ARE free! Lastly, He declared us free to “Walk” as He had designed us to walk; walk in our new identity; in the freedom afforded by His blood; and walk in this new way of thinking.
Now in my thirty-ninth year, I am telling you that you too can be healed and be made whole! No matter your past. No matter the sin. Allow Him to change the filter through which you view all that you have experienced. Allow God to change the way you think! The time has come for you to FINALLY walk as you were intended to walk!
January 27, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: bondage, captive, christ, cross, failures, free, Freedom, jesus, life, past, scripture, shame, sick, sin, stand, truth, walk | 2 Comments »
Father, thank You that before I was born, You saw me. Every day of my life was recorded in Your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had past. (Psalm 139:16) The fact is, You knew me and set me apart before I was formed. (Jeremiah 1:5) You did not wait for me to choose You, You choose me and appointed me to go and produce lasting fruit. (John 15:16)
Thank you that You teach me and make me to walk along the path of Your Word, for that is where happiness is found. You have given me an eagerness for Your Word and have given me life through that Word. You turn my eyes from worthless things and help me abandon my shameful ways. I long to obey Your commands. (Psalm 119:33-40) By Your grace, I will walk in freedom for I have devoted myself to Your Word. (Psalm 119:45)
Again today, You have given me the choice between life and death, between blessing and curses. And again today, I choose life and reject death, I walk in blessing and no longer in curses. Everyday, I make this choice by loving You Lord, obeying You, and committing myself firmly to You. (Deuteronomy 30:19-20) For You are able to keep me from falling away and will bring me with great joy into Your presence without finding a single fault. (Jude 1:24)
You have reassured me of Your plans for good, for hope and a future. You ended my captivity. You are restoring what I allowed the enemy to take. (Jeremiah 29:11-14) You have breathed into these bones and brought my family to life again. Because You have raised us up and put Your spirit within us, our hope is in You. We know that You are the Lord, You have spoken and have done what You said You would do! (Ezekiel 37:5-6,9,14) Because Your call and Your spirit are upon us, we will see other captives released, blind made to see, and many oppressed set free! In the name of Jesus! The time of the Lord’s favor has indeed come. (Luke 4:18-19)
You have brought me to the place where I understand the Word for what it is… it is alive and active. I come to you, praying the very Word of God, in the name of Jesus. You said regarding Your Word, “I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” (Isaiah 55:11) As You lead me I will speak the Word.
January 10, 2010 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alive, captive, cross, faith, free, Freedom, jesus, knowledge, life, listen, past, righteous, sacrifices, scripture, sin, slave, slavery, sovereign, understanding | Leave A Comment »
The other day I was reading in Proverbs and was struck by 5:1-2, “Pay attention” and “Listen carefully to the Father’s instruction and wise counsel.” Not knowing what was coming, I grabbed my pen and journal. Here’s what the Father had for me that day…
“Pay attention” and “Listen carefully” to the Father’s instruction and wise counsel. “THEN you will show discernment, and will express with your mouth what you have learned. ” The Lord sees clearly what a man or woman does; whether it is holy or evil. He also examines each of their paths; whether it is Godly or fleshly.
Because of God’s wonderful grace and glorious power, we are NO LONGER…
- Captive to our sins (Prv 5:22)
- Lacking in self-control (Prv 5:23)
- Lost because of our great foolishness (Prv 5:23)
I then recalled Romans 6 that had explained that when I was a slave to sin, I was consumed by it. “And what was the result? You are now ashamed of the things you used to do, things that end in destruction. ” However, the Lord reminded me that I have been ransomed, because of the grace of God through the blood of Jesus. I am now FREE from the power of sin and have become a slave to His righteousness. Now, I do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but…BUT…the free gift of God is eternal LIFE through Christ Jesus our Lord. (v20-23)
Due to Jesus work on the cross, we are no longer bound by sinful desires. Those desires the enemy once used to hold us back from being the individuals God originally designed us to be. Proverbs 5:22 speaks of a man’s sins as ropes that catch and hold him captive. Those ropes have been severed in Jesus name! When Jesus died, He died to break the power of sin. Now that He lives…it’s for the glory of God. We too must consider yourselves dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.
The unshakable Word of God exhorts us, in Hebrews 6, to keep “moving forward to further understanding.” (v3) By the grace of God, we will “NOT be spiritually dull or indifferent” any longer. God bound Himself with an oath that we can be sure His calling, His election, His promises are SET! “He will NEVER change His mind” (v17) about us. He has given His promise and His oath, which are unchangeable.
I used to (…USED to…) ask God why He would even bother with a guy like me; a guy who would treat His love, mercy and grace (as well as some of His people) with such treachery and disregard. One day recently He became tired of being asked that question. I’m telling you it was almost audible. In my spirit I heard the Father say, “Enough. Do not ask that again. You know why.” I sat there for a few seconds then said out loud, “Because You love me.” Boom. I got it. An even greater freedom was realized at that moment.
Hopefully, I have been obedient to the Word today. As written in Proverbs 5:1-2, I pray that I have shown discernment in expressing what I have learned.
July 21, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: alive, attention, captive, christ, cross, fail, failures, faith, fear, forgive, free, Freedom, jesus, knowledge, lacking, life, listen, lost, past, proverbs, righteous, sacrifices, scripture, sin, sins, sovereign, tired, wisdom | 2 Comments »
How powerful it is to see how scripture is tied to scripture. You can have a Pastor or Teacher explain it or even demonstrate it by cross referencing the Old and New Testaments. However, it is far more impacting when you see it happening during your own readings. Here is what I mean.
I try to read the respective proverb for the corresponding day of the month. In addition, I happened to be reading through Hebrews also. So, my reading for July 9th was Proverbs 9 and Hebrews 10.
In reading Proverbs 9, the following really stood out to me:
- Wisdom says, “Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live..” (v6)
- “Fear (severe reverence) of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom.” (v10)
- “Knowledge of the Holy One results in good judgement.” (v10)
- “Wisdom will multiply your days and add years to your life.” (v11)
- Walk in wisdom, and “you will be one to benefit.” (v12)
As I read Hebrews 10, I found the Lord used Proverbs 9 to prepare my mind and heart for the following realities:
- Old Testament sacrifices, “actually reminded (the offer-er) of their sins…” (v3)
- The enemy will have you repenting of past sins that the Father has long forgiven.
- Instead of moving forward in freedom, we hear, “You failed and you’ll always fail.”
God “does not want…nor is He pleased with” our being held captive to (or identified by) our past failures.
Verse 10 states the Christ’s sacrifice was, “Once for all time.” He came to set us free! Go the the cross. Leave your simple ways there and live the life he has always wanted you to live.
- “He forever made perfect those who are BEING made holy.” (v14)
- “I will never…remember…sins and lawless deeds.” (v17)
According to verse 20, Christ Jesus opened a NEW and LIFE-GIVING WAY! A way into the presence of the Sovereign King and Most High God! He is sovereign enough to chose you despite your failures. Sovereign enough grant you all the rights and privileges of being a child of the king. Seek greater knowledge and understanding of the Holy One. Reap all His benefits as you embrace the cross of Christ Jesus.
Ongoing repentance (continual sacrifices) for our past sins are no longer needed. The grace of God through Christ Jesus and His ultimate sacrifice covers it all. Wisdom is found in our walking in the freedom afforded to us by the cross. Have faith that God is actually big enough and powerful enough to forgive your worst sins.
Again, wisdom says, “Leave your simple ways behind, and begin to live..”
July 10, 2009 | Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: captive, christ, cross, fail, failures, faith, fear, forgive, Freedom, jesus, knowledge, life, past, righteous, sacrifices, scripture, sin, sins, sovereign, wisdom | 1 Comment »
