Monthly Archives: February 2012
A state of being
I would love to recommend a book “The True Vine” by Andrew Murry. It is a short devotional style study of John 15, and the parable of the Vine. It gives a great insight into the term abide which we hear so much of in the bible. I do believe that abiding is progressive and grows in us. I believe that God reveals and draws us closer to Him as we pursue Him, revealing progressively more discernment and growth. I pray that you too will seek Him, seek Him in prayer and time in His word every day. This is truly the only way to abide. Abiding does not come by going to church alone one day a week. Abiding comes from consistently pursuit.
A state of being
1John 2:24-25 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that He has promised us–eternal life.
In the gospel of John 15, the term abiding is spoken much of in the parable of the vine. It is a great passage to study, and ‘abide’ is central in it’s meaning. Abide simply means a state of being. Abiding in Christ is walking with Christ, having Him inside you, that nothing can take away. How can you remove a ‘state of being’? This scripture above speaks of the Good News that dwells inside us, the Gospel of Jesus Christ whom has come to save the world. If we proclaim Him, He abides in us, rests in us, we are in-dwelt with His Holy Spirit. If we truly believe, we have the blessing and assurance of John 14:23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
I believe abiding is progressive. I believe the closer you draw to Him, the more you seek Him, the more He reveals Himself to you. We learn in the bible of being fed “spiritual milk” as infants in Christ, then we are spurred on to bigger things as we mature. With our maturity comes a discernment from the Spirit that resides in us. When we diligently seek those things of God, we begin to understand more, we begin to discern more, to understand and recognize false teachings that John was speaking of here. There are many being led astray today with cushy promises of worldly pleasures wrapped up in a soft gospel. The more we seek God alone, the more we begin to discern through the smoke. 1John 2:20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. The only way to receive this anointing is through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and all the eternal blessing that flow as a result of it for an eternity.
Muddy Dirt Roads
My family is in the middle of a large trial with many facets. We are not promised a life full of roses as Christians, and far from it to be honest. It is the people of this world, whom live in and for the world, that live the life of ease. If you are suffering, it may be an honor to Christ in how you respond. But it also may not be. Sit back and look at your situation, and pray for God to reveal why and where you are there. Respond how you feel Christ would.
Muddy Dirt Roads
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
There is only one place with streets paved of gold. There is only heavenly eternal paradise in our lives with Christ after our short time here. Now is a difficult walk, full of various trials, various tests, various hardships that we are called to endure. Think of the story of Job, whom was living a Godly life, and God was so proud He let Satan test him for He knew Job would not fail. When we are pressed during these trials, what is truly inside us comes out. If we have been seeking God and spending time in His Word, the peace that goes against the worldly grain emerges. If we have not, then our worldly spirit spills forth as they are expected. Where we invest ourselves will always rise to the top when the heat is applied. How do you respond?
1 Peter 1:6-8 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom you have not seen you love. You will honor Christ by your response to what you are facing. How can they not “lash out” as everyone else does? How come they don’t act as others do? You can possess something that the world does not comprehend. You can possess something that the world cannot take away. They will want what you possess, for they do not understand the hope that you have within you. Romans 5:3-5 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Faith and Hope are in dwelt in your soul, and no trial you must endure can take away that security that only Christ provides for eternal paradise with Him. These things are temporary.
Honor to Authority
This morning I was struggling with writing, bouncing all over the scriptures. I ended up praying again, with my bible open, praying diligently that God would speak to me from a passage on that page. I was almost scared to see where I was. As I read in Luke, and began to study all around it, God spoke regarding a specific situation in my life. I felt the conviction of it. I have dabbled in the ‘cardinal sin’ of mixing politics and religion – LOL! I pray that you too will see what God is showing me here, of submission to those above us, even when it is really hard to do or understand. It is a hard test, but reflects Christ inside that trial.
Honor to Authority
Luke 20:25 And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
It is the season. We can’t escape it for almost the entire year – Election Year. Everywhere we turn we are bombarded with politics, and they have mostly turned negative over the last couple of decades. It wears on all of us, but yet we can never forget this freedom we take for granted. It is the natural order of ruling bodies to avert chaos. We must submit to the governing bodies what is governed under their law. Even in the times of Christ, the Pharisees tried to trap Christ by twisting the law of the land, and to used His reply to prosecute Him in a court of law. They even lied concerning His reply in verses 23:2. That can happen even in our workplace.
We honor God by our submission to the authority of the land. We honor God even if we do not agree, we are showing respect for authority. 1 Peter 2:13-17 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men– as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. We are told that we as Christians should honor and model Christ in every thing that we do. These scriptures are just as applicable to our government, as they are to our every day lives in our workplace. How we respond to the authority at work, will reflect Christ in ourselves. How will He be seen in you?
Just Go
This morning I awoke not feeling too good, and have been in Genesis reading here, and studying the scriptures. I have had that “pit” feeling all morning like something is wrong. I hope that it is just the Holy Spirit working His conviction work in me, for my disobedience for going against what I am speaking of here.
Just Go
Genesis 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you.
We all know Nike’s famous slogan, “Just do it”. It seems as though God all the way back in Genesis coined that phrase when speaking to Abram, who will later be called Abraham, and a patriarch of faith. God was telling him to leave all he knew. He was with his entire family and is about to become the leader of the family when his father dies, and inherit all that he leaves. Only criminals in that time would flee their clans and run. He was going against traditions, but following God as an act of great faith. God was simply telling him to ‘Just Go’, and not laying out the entire plans before him, as a test of faith for Abram.
We get so scared when we feel God is asking us to do something out of our comfort zone, or even better worded as out of our control. As a business owner, I too struggled with God’s calling to just go, out of my control and comfort zone. The delayed obedience is an act of disobedience in God’s eyes. We can’t wait to move when we are ready. When you feel those tugs of God to move into the unknown, remember what Hebrews 13:5-6 says” Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me? We too can become a leader of faith by demonstrating it to those around us, and moving when God is telling us, by just going out on faith.
The Meeting
I have been up most of the night for many reasons. The pup made sure I didn’t get any early morning sleep too. As I lay there wide away, then the alarm started going off. I know right….toss it across the room? The thought did cross my mind I will admit for the dog had gotten to my nerves before 5am. But I took a deep breath and begin watching my favorite morning show that scrolls scripture and shows Gods glory. Psalms 5:3 came across the screen shortly…..wow….thank you God. I got up and spent some time there, and all around researching mornings, and daybreak, and expectations. Great word studies in the bible. Please hear my heart below. This simple sacrifice that you can make for God every day, will change your life for eternity. It did mine. If I can tell any believer one thing to do, it is to spend time with God every day. You cannot do that and remain the same as you were before. God will begin a work in you that you cannot begin yourself. Thank you Jesus!!!!
The Meeting
Psalms 5:3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O Lord; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up.
If there is one thing I can spur you to do with these writings, is to spend daily time with God. If you will do that ONE thing, God will take care of all the rest. I have been asked many times, “why do you get up so early every day?” The answer is found in Psalms 62:5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. It really is that simple. I expect God to show up for our scheduled meeting time every day, just like He expects me to be there. How could I not arise, how could I hit the snooze one more time, and miss that opportunity? What if today was the day I received a word from Him that was an answer to prayer, or that changed my life for eternity. Is it honoring God by placing more value on sleep?
There is no right or wrong time to approach God. I do believe there is a truth to the habit of the same time for your alone time with Him. The dedication of forming that habit shows the honor you desire to spend time with Him. Christ was pulled by all people, all the time. We would have called him today a workaholic. He poured Himself into the work His Father laid out for Him with 100% dedication. But even after pulling an a late night (probably all night) of healing in Mark 1, He disappeared to a solitary place to pray and have alone time with God. Mark 1:35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. Set a time, keep that time, and know that you will meet God there.
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