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Monthly Archives: September 2012

Imprecatory Prayers?

30 Sep

Imprecatory Prayers?

Matthew 5:44-45 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

The topic of imprecatory prayer versus a heart full of love is a difficult one in today’s society. We live in a society that breeds selfishness, instead of selflessness that comes with encompassing love for one another. Today we are told to reach for the goal at all cost and we can do anything we put our mind to. These drives push us towards these goals and sacrifice relationships along the way. Those who do not aid us in the pursuit become deterrents and most likely no longer friends. Many of these relationships may be moved against each other. There are many scenarios that cross our paths where others seem to go against the winds of our lives. If they become adversaries, are we taught we can use our faith to pray against them? – No.

When Christ paid the price for our sin at the Cross, we have moved to living under the law of Grace; getting something we did not deserve. On that principle cannot pray invoking judgmental prayers against anything. Christ has told us plainly in Mark that we are forgiven to the amount we forgive.  Mark 11:25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.” These are the hard things in life; to let go of our strong sinful desires to lash out at those who hurt us. To defend our honor, or most likely our pride that is being damaged. But when we look at our sins in God’s eyes; what if He took the same approach with us? Every part of our being may want to lash out, but the inner being of His Spirit can keep us still. He whispers to let it go, to let Him deal with the injustice in His Way and His time. We must rest in His Sovereignty, and understand there is most likely a greater work going on than just our pain. He can be using our pain to reach someone who is hurt more.

Luke 6:27 “But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. 29 To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. 30 Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. 31 And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. 32 But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. These things move you up the ladder of sainthood, and closer to God with every blow. A life full of His love and the denial of self is a life He will use to become a disciple that reaches many. You move towards a relationship with your Father that will release you of the pain that these sinful circumstances tend to bring.

 
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Posted by on September 30, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Dirt or Gold?

29 Sep

Dirt or Gold?

2nd Corinthians 4:8-10   We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed– always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

God knows our struggles even before we go to Him in prayer. He desires for us to come to Him in these struggles and prayers to draw closer to Him; to grow that relationship deeper. The world presses in with its busyness, problems, and demands that every day life bring. These daily trials bring about the mental strains that breed stress and anxieties. These are all tools of Satan to keep us from focused on God. These inner battles can affect outward circumstances, and the daily grind becomes inwardly overbearing. There must be a crutch to keep us from falling. I pray that crutch for you is Christ. 10 always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

It has been a rough week in many ways; I could pour out a lengthy explanation, but it is no worse than what you are facing yourselves; it is called life. But when my mind starts to wonder, when it struggles with the strain, I have to turn my attention back to Christ. There is nothing here that truly matters; for it will all fade away; I live with eternity in mind. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:14) All of struggles that life brings, all of the pain that life brings, is temporary. The roads of today’s despair will become streets paved with gold. Revelation 21:21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.

Paul has told us of being the light in this dark world in the verses prior. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. These strains of daily life can become on of your best witnessing tools for Christ to those lost around you. They see the strains you are under and yet how you can handle them differently. The natural inclination is to ask how or why you handle them differently. There is the open door through the darkness to let His light shine through.

 
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Posted by on September 29, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Heavenly Wisdom

28 Sep

Heavenly Wisdom

James 3:17-18   But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

As many of you know I entered seminary this year as a response to a call I felt on my life. I wanted to know more, a deeper understanding, yet school is against the grain of my past. I hated school and did just enough to get by. I am paying for those poor decisions now. The wisdom that James is speaking of here is not the knowledge gained in a book, but gained in a relationship and grown in the heart. The Gospel is where the change must begin, and only through Christ is the wisdom of the heart ever attained. We can fill our minds full of seminary knowledge, but unless it produces fruit from that relationship; it is a useless endeavor.

This passage in James in similar to the Gospel in that you must understand the bad news, (you are dead in sin without Christ), before you understand the good news, (Christ provided a way of forgiving that sin for eternity). The scriptures before in James show earthly, self seeking wisdom. James 3:14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. These passages speak of a prideful person who seeks the glory of their wisdom. They are more concerned with their opinions and beliefs that pointing the lost to Christ through their testimonies. This is a wisdom based in pride and straight from hell as James says.

Matthew Henry spoke of this heavenly wisdom: “It is gentle, not standing upon extreme right in matters of property; not saying nor doing any thing rigorous in points of censure; not being furious about opinions, urging our own beyond their weight nor theirs who oppose us beyond their intention; not being rude and overbearing in conversation, nor harsh and cruel in temper. Gentleness may thus be opposed to all these.” Humility is a backbone in heavenly wisdom. Pride cannot co-exist with heavenly wisdom. God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6). To attain this heavenly wisdom requires no college degree, but only a humble heart and the desire to draw near. The pursuit of God and the things of God, will make you wise and tug your heart to share what you have gained with others.

 
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Posted by on September 28, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Upward climb

27 Sep

Upward climb

Matthew 10:38-39  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.

My best friend (aka:adopted big brother) ends a chapter in his life today, and turns the page on a new chapter tomorrow as a pastor of a church. He stepped out of a successful career and has endured many large trials over the past few years following God’s plan for his life. Even in this new chapter he is going where we might see as unfitting, but he knows God sees him there, and that is where he must go. God has used him in my life over the past 4-5 years to teach me obedience. A special bond and deep friendship has developed in seeing God work in the acts of that obedience.

Why would God call you to where you were comfortable? How could God be glorified if it just seemed to “fit in” to your abilities and lifestyle? Following God will always require change. That change begins at Salvation with a new heart, and the lifestyle you lead before Him should remain in the past. Becoming a disciple of Christ requires these acts of obedience; Romans 6:16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?(ESV). God created you for a relationship with Him, but He requires an obedient heart in that relationship. You are rewarded for that obedience here with a peace and joy living in His Will for your life.

The steps of obedience lead up the ladder of a heavenly relationship. You must obey on the first step, to move to the next step closer to Him. The next step may be more difficult; may be requiring more sacrifice; may be requiring less of you and more of Him. Each step brings you closer to Him, and the ability to hear His voice becomes clearer. John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. Christ spoke of these steps of obedience in the Parable of the Talents (Matthew 25:14-30). Each step of obedience draws you closer to Christ. Matthew 25:21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ The testing of your faith climbing the steps of obedience is the only way you will ever move your relationship forward with the One who created you for it. Seek, listen, and obey.

 
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Posted by on September 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Rudder or Sail?

26 Sep

Rudder or Sail?

John 5:39-40   You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.

They were missing it; missing the Messiah they had been looking for that was standing before them. The Jews searched the scriptures, yet didn’t open their eyes to see God witnessing of Himself in their midst. What do you find yourself searching for? When that is asked the most common answer would be happiness. Another might be answers to questions; for those answers might bring happiness. Are eternal questions something that you seek? You are wired with that inquisitiveness by your Creator. You have that need to know to question of life after this one, embedded in your soul. We all have it for God “placed eternity in their hearts” (Ecc. 2:11).

“You are what you believe” a best friend once told me. That drive is what propels us down the road of life and affects every decision that we make. If we are pursuing happiness in careers it drives the ethics of decisions; if it is through possessions it drives the debt and idolatry; if it is through sexual pleasure it drives the hearts we destroy; if it is through Christ it blesses those He places in your path. Our faith should be the rudder of life, not the wind that drives the sail. Search your heart to find that core and examine it. Pray that God will reveal it to you, and change it through Him.

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Christ was speaking to Martha, and He was about to go raise her brother Lazarus from the dead. But in these scriptures is the Gospel, or the Good News of Christ. When you believe in Him you gain everlasting life. He demands a humble, repentant heart of your life as a sinner. Luke 13:3 I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. When you gain this Salvation, your heart is transformed, your faith is changed, and your eyes opened. You should see life in a different light, and should be humbly moved to a life of thanksgiving to the One who gave you eternal life. A life lived in that faith is a life headed down the path as a disciple of Christ and those daily decisions are made through the discernment He provides.

 
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Posted by on September 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Are you in the right gear?

25 Sep

Are you in the right gear?

Ecclesiastes 3:10-12   I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives,

Solomon, the wisest man to ever live is believed to have written Ecclesiastes. He is believed to have written it near the end of his life after his return to God through confession and a repentant heart after falling into deep sin. The book points to the very real pursuit of things of this world, things without God, and the futility of a life without God. It is full of wisdom just as many of the Proverbs, and speaks to our world today in the pursuit of all things that do not pertain to God. In the commentary it states this book should be read in the light of it’s conclusion: 13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all.

I have pursued all the stuff that the American dream dictates we do: careers, money, materials, success, excess, idolatry, and the list goes on. I have tried and poured my heart into these pursuits which may have brought temporal pleasure, but it always faded or failed entirely. I was in the end always disappointed in these pursuits. When God starts stirring in your heart you tend to loose the drive for these pursuits. You discern the eventual disappointment that will come, and your bent to Him that does not disappoint. That joy and understanding of a heart bent towards God and the things of God will drive you to verse 12; I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.

11 Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. By God’s design you are wired with an internal drive for your destiny of the future and eternity. This is a gear that drives the motion of your life. This is in everyone, and a heart that recognizes God in their plans is a heart that desires to follow God’s Will for their life. This small understanding of His Sovereignty produces hope, and this hope does not disappoint as earthly pursuits will. Romans 5:5 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. What are you going to pour your heart and energy into today; temporal or eternal?

 
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Posted by on September 25, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Symbols

24 Sep

Symbols

Colossians 2:11-14   In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

The apostle Paul is speaking to the Gentiles in regards to much of the false teachings prevalent in their society in many ways. The Jews were taught under the law that circumcision was a requirement as a public profession of faith, but Christ had fulfilled the law with atonement of sin at the cross of Calvary. The circumcision made without hands was the work done by God at the point of their Salvation. This was a separation from their lives dead in their sin, to a life in eternal paradise with Him. This is the Atonement of your sins; paid by Christ as the only pure sacrifice required for you as the central message in the Bible.

11: In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ. There is a direct reference to this scripture found in Deuteronomy 10:16 Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn. The outward markings or symbols of dedication to Christ is meaningless without an inward change of the heart. There should be an inner work in you first that will come to reflect an outward change. You can profess Christ however you choose to outwardly, but God discerns your heart; and their is no saving grace in outward appearances without Christ’s inward cleansing. Christ does His work from the inside out.

All these outward things we may do to profess Christ may look good, or even make us feel good about ourselves. Crosses around our necks, fish symbols on our cars, clothing we wear, Christian tattoos; all seem to profess we are Christian. But then we put ourselves under the microscope of the lost, and many times our testimony is weakened by our outward actions. A true change of heart needs not to profess Christ symbolically, but reflect Christ. This is how we should live and keep our focus on Christ. Romans 8:5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. A heart truly focused on God will need no symbol, for their heart for Christ will be shown through their chest, on their face, and in their deeds throughout their lives.

 
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Posted by on September 24, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

I wanna know more

23 Sep

I wanna know more

2 Peter 1:2-4  Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,  by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Has your life changed since you came to know Christ? Has their been a desire to know more, to seek Him out in prayer and His Word? Are you hungry for the wisdom that you hear so much about? It is all available to you, and it all began with your faith. The faith that you had in the saving power of Christ is the same faith that begins your walk into the pursuit and understanding of the things about Him. The first step of faith began your walk, and the next steps are leading you away from sin and down the path to eternal paradise.

Wisdom is the understanding of the things God reveals to you; knowledge is the application of that wisdom. Peter lays out the steps of your path in these next scriptures. 5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. Giving God our best (all diligence); is a desire to lead a better life; to take into application the wisdom that we are gaining in our prayer time and His Word. This knowledge leads you closer to Christ every day and He begins to reveal Himself to you more and more. Look at the promise of verse 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. The growth of your faith and wisdom is directly related to your pursuit of God. This world will provide you every distraction imaginable to keep you from dedicating your life to God. Satan will entice you with an ulterior motive in those distractions, but recognize that The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. (John 10:10). Satan is only out to rob you of what God has promised you, and the more time you spend seeking God and the things of God, the more clearly you can discern Satan’s tactics. That knowledge will provide you a peace in an out of control world, and a light unto your path to eternal paradise.

 
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Posted by on September 23, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Get up and get God

22 Sep

Get up and get God

Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!

Here where I live it used to be in the country. Our family farm was very large and the area was very rural. The only consistent noise was the low drone of air compressors in the milking barns. At night and early morning it was peaceful and still. Progress caught us the last 15 years and finding a quiet time is next to impossible. As I sit hear early each morn I get only rare moments when cars are not speeding down the road to destinations unknown. I am up early each day for my alone time with God; to seek that peace only early morning time brings; and with it intimacy.

1 Kings 19:11 Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. The great prophet Elijah was fleeing for his life, running from the pressures of life, desperate to hear God. He got alone and God came to encourage him. God is not in the static of the world, but in the peace of it. He demands a heart that seeks Him wholly, not a heart of flippant prayer and petition. He demands your undivided attention and He is most likely using circumstances in your life to get your attention. They are not by chance, but by His allowance or design.

Jeremiah 29:13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. All that noise and distractions in your life is like the speeding cars down the highway to nowhere. Satan provides all the daily distractions to keep your heart focus away from God. Do you rise late when all the distractions already have begun? Do you seek to find God in five minutes with the TV on; with the kids awake; with the cell phone at your side, etc? How can you hear the still small voice in the midst of all the winds, earthquakes, and fires? Be like Elijah and get alone and seek God. When you find Him, your ability to rise early will never be a problem again; but a expectant passion for your Creator to speak to you.

 
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Posted by on September 22, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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I am…….

21 Sep

I am…….

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

The apostle Paul had spent the chapters leading up to this addressing the differences in Israel and the Gentiles, and the lack of difference. God had allowed much of Israel to fall away and presented the Gospel to the Gentiles whom where beginning to believe. Many wandered if God had forgotten Israel. He has not, and His plans for Israel are to be fulfilled in eternity. Romans 10: 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Paul is trying to explain how we must be moved to a place of worship and reverent fear for God’s grace and mercy. In the middle of this writing he is moved to praise. 32 For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! 34 “For who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has become His counselor?” 35 “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?” 36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.

The next verse is Romans 12 above. When the Bible was written, there were no chapters, or breaks in chapters. Paul has been building to show God’s glory on all mankind and how that realization should move you to a place of humble, sacrificial worship. That work you feel inside of you once you realize your spiritual state of sin, will knock your knees out from under you with that realization.  The mystery is revealed and you realize you are nothing without the One who created you, and the One who saved you. 1 Corinthians 8:6 yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live. If you have not come to the understanding of sin, and the need for a Savior from that sin, the Gospel of Christ has not done its work in your heart.

A religion that does not give you the bad news is not a religion that saves. It is a religion that “tickles your ears” and feels good, which results in the leading away. Broad is the path that leads to destruction, but narrow is the gate that finds paradise.  Once God opens your heart through the realization of Him; the realization of you in sin without Him; you will be truly transformed. Becoming a Romans 12 Christian will be the sacrificial acts you naturally desire to be for eternity.

 
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Posted by on September 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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