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Eternally Delivered

12 Jan

Eternally Delivered

Philippians 3:20-21   For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Do you feel trapped in your current situation? There are so many ways that you may feel trapped. I have even used that term in describing my financial state and outlook over the last couple of years. You can feel trapped in bad marriages; bad work environments; families; illness, addiction. life…….we all can have these battles. We wonder why God has placed us in these situations of life. Many times He has allowed or designed these situations to ultimately draw us closer to him. When we are struggling we most likely are looking for help, and hopefully that help is looked for in Christ. We must look past this temporal situation and look to the eternal reward.

I had a great talk with a new friend yesterday; a brother in Christ who is really seeking God right now. He opened my eyes to the needs of the community for deliverance. That statement impacted me as I thought of how so many people feel trapped; they just want a way out. Paul is speaking to that reward that we must set our eyes and heart upon; that reward of heaven that awaits us. The new bodies that are promised us. No pain, no problems; every need met for eternity. A deliverance from the pains this current life brings. Paul describes that embedded desire as a child of God; that longing for eternity from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. This world that we live in is evil, and our desire is to be delivered from this world.

In the scriptures prior Paul is speaking of his constant desire to continue to mature, or grow closer to Christ. Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Paul was in constant pursuit of God and the things of God; therefore God was changing him constantly; maturing Him. He was delivering Paul from Paul’s old self; one full of religiosity, a prideful man steep in the ways of traditions of religion. God was delivering Paul to a place that he depended on God for every need for every day. God was showing Paul that no matter where he was for his days on earth, he was to keep his eyes and heart on the place he would call home for eternity.

 
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Posted by on January 12, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Who’s on First?

10 Oct

Who’s on First?

Matthew 24:44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

“Yea, I need to get back involved at church; but I need to __________; or I know I should be reading my Bible but I am so busy; or my work requires so much of me that I just don’t have anything left; or the kids have a game and ______________.” I have said and done them all. I have put everything you have before Christ and finally came to the realization of it. God started showing me all these things when He showed me the true idol I had in my life as a motorcycle. It was my God; where I poured everything, what my life focus was on. It is one of the first steps of my testimony of God’s life transforming power. It is now a recreation I still enjoy, but it is not an idol any longer. My idol is my God; my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

When God could stand the evil of the world no longer, He spoke to Noah to prepare and save His elected few. We all know the story of the flood; but what about those who were left to perish? They too may must have been busy with life; even the possibility of a desire to change, but it was too late when God moved. Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. These are the words of Christ of His return and the warning of it. Matthew 24 is a powerful description of the return of our Lord Jesus Christ with a warning the must be heeded.

It is never too late until it is. Do your excuses merit the ticket for the boat, or the perils of the flood in the days of Moses? Anything that you have in your life that you put before your relationship with Christ is an idol. The first of the 10 Commandments is, You shall have no other gods before Me. (Exodus 20:3) It is so serious that is it #1 on the list. Pray for God to reveal your idols to you; it will come with a sting, but that sting is the conviction of the Holy Spirit of that sin. A repentance of that sin and the desire to move your relationship closer is the beginning of a changed heart. Make God first in your life, not down the list after everything else as a leftover. The day is coming when we have to answer for our priorities for eternity.

He came. He died. He arose. He ascended. He is coming back.

 
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Posted by on October 10, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Our Paul’s of today

08 Oct

Our Paul’s of today

Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

I have spent a LOT of time in a few verses in Colossians preparing a research paper recently. The Apostle Paul had written the letter as a means of correction and direction in pointing them to the centrality of Christ. Epaphras had started the church who was predominately Gentile, but it had battled cultural influences and traditions. There were many false teachers that emerged leading followers astray with the injection of the tradition into the message of Christ’s Gospel. They had added to the requirements, and even steered many away with blasphemy. There were so many heresies, one particular was not named in the scripture.

I thought of our team in India this morning. God’s light has been shown and hundreds of small house churches have been started by very young preachers just as Epaphras thousand of years ago. They are battling the influences of their culture and a lack of knowledge on their own. There are many questions unanswered and those who are agnostic can gain an upper hand. Our team is the Paul of today; teaching, edifying, encouraging, and simply pointing them to the centrality and supremacy of our Lord Jesus Christ as Paul did throughout Colossians. 9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

The people of Colosse had entwined into the simplicity of the Gospel, the need to earn their salvation through their works in addition to it. They had moved to worshiping stars, angels, denying themselves, and many other influences of society and tradition. The Gospel or Good News of Christ is so simple we even complicate it today. We can never earn our way into heaven.  Living a good life will not outweigh your bad on God’s eternity judgement scale and get you into heaven. Salvation produces good works but good works do not produce salvation. The only way into heaven is through a humble repentant heart. A realization of your sin, the confession and plea for forgiveness of that sin, and the acceptance of Jesus Christ as the Lord over your life with the price He paid with His blood on the cross at Calvary.  John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

 
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Posted by on October 8, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Preach the Word…..today

20 Sep

Preach the Word…..today

2 Timothy 4:1-5  I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

The apostle Paul was in prison again and he seemed to know he was nearing his execution. There is urgency in his letters to Timothy whom he is investing so much in. He knew the society that Timothy was preaching the gospel to was a society that followed any wind that may blow. They were not strong in their faith, but followed whatever sounded good, or better yet was something that felt good. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. (ESV) A religion that does not point out the bad news has no good news to deliver. We must humbly realize we will all die in sin without God’s saving grace through Christ.

We find ourselves surrounded by a world far from God with countless religions and even the great heresy (false teaching) that they all point to God. We have a world in escalating wars in the heart of all these religions. We have here at home a heresy called prosperity preaching that says if you don’t have enough blessings in your life, you don’t have enough faith for God to bless you. God is never about materials possessions but about the heart. Once God truly comes into your life, and your humble heart begins to hear from Him, the “stuff” of this world will seem to matter now more. Your focus instead of possessions becomes accomplishing God’s will for your life.

2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. There will come a time when you feel the need to share your testimony, to share your faith, to share the difference that Christ can make with someone. The time that you spend with God every day prepares you for these times; prepares you to preach. You do not have to go to seminary to be Christ’s disciple. You are the church; and you are his preacher. You take Him everywhere you go every day, and He places before you those you can preach to. Do not be scared, but be obedient. Do not be scared to let God use you to draw others to Himself. Preach the Word to a world that desperately needs it…….today.

 
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Posted by on September 20, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Mystery revealed

30 Aug

Mystery revealed

Colossians 1:26 -27  the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

A biblical mystery is a sacred secret kept from the people of the Old Testament. The mystery that the apostle Paul is speaking of here is God reaching out to the Gentiles and not reserving His kingdom for only the Jews as they believed. This was the breaking down of the division between Jew & Greek, and the availability alike to everyone who heard the Gospel preached and heard. This continues today in an open call to everyone who will accept God’s grace. Their is no exclusivity nor sin, that a humble repentant heart cannot be forgiven.

There are those around us that seem different. It is a mystery to us why they have the outlook on life they do. They handle themselves and life’s situations differently. They seem to possess something, but yet we do not know what it is. Many times it is Christ; “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” That is the life application of the phrase, “You may be the only Bible someone ever reads” comes into practice. They watch and want to know what you possess that they do not have. In that moment God has opened the door for you and them; for you to share your faith and hope in an eternal Savior. He has used you to help solve a mystery.

The hope that we possess, is the mechanics of our inner soul. That hope’s work is the Spirit living in us, striving to make us more like Christ. The inner work when we walk a life of obedience is a life transformed and reflective on the outer shell to others. Romans speaks well of that summary of a life as a disciple of Christ. Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 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. Let it be known to those whom you influence of the mystery of the hope that resides in you. We live in a world full of disappointment, and we all need the eternal hope that never fails.

 
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Posted by on August 30, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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You can do it

27 Aug

You can do it

1 Thessalonians 1:2-4   We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.

I love how God works. The more time I spend with God, the more He reveals Himself to me each day in different ways throughout the day. This is not any special gift for me, but a realization that He gives to anyone who seeks Him daily. I am nothing, nor do anything special, that is not available to any one of you. All it takes is a heart for God and the things of God, that seeks God first in all things. Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. This pursuit will lead to a growth of the relationship that you were created for by Him. The heart is changed in relation to this time, and the soul is fed in this pursuit. They together are where you are changed from the inside out.

God loves you and created you for that relationship. You are unique and special in His eyes, so much so His Son sacrificed His life to reconcile your sin before God. Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. God is calling you to live outside of this world; to live for Him focused on the eternal and not the temporary. A heart that pursues God daily is a heart transformed as in 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.

Make today the day you start your “labor of love” in your pursuit of God and the things of God. You will begin to see He has been with you all along, and now He begins to reveal Himself to you through other believers, His Word, messages, “coincidences”, books, and media. You will not find Him if you surround yourself with unbelievers, or fill your mind with worldly media. He is not of this world and this world seeks to dull your senses to Him. But He has given you the ability to hear as Elijah did that “still small voice”.

 
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Posted by on August 27, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Mountaintops

01 Aug

Mountaintops

Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.

What is the mountains that lies before you? What are you facing that may be life changing? It could be relationships, careers, financial, physical, or any number of things. It is a big thing no matter what, that can change the game of life. Mine currently falls into the career and financial arena. These types of struggles are full of emotion and fears, and they can either drive us away from God, or draw us to God. Satan wants to drag us down with those fears, and God wants to pull us in for comfort. He has allowed and can work any situation in your life for good, and will comfort you in all of it. 2 Corinthians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

You hear the testimonies of people that go through great trials of life that the only thing that got them through it was their faith. These are consistently their stories. It is never one of self, but of the power of God and prayer. The worry that comes is part of the trial, for it is the hook that Satan casts. But the peace of God found during this times in prayer and His Word allows you pass by Satan’s bait if you focus on the things of God and not the problem. Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things.

Most likely you have heard the phrase, “What is bigger? Your problem or your God?” In the middle of all the strain, all the climbing of the mountain that lies before us, God is reaching down the mountain to pull us up to Him. If we keep looking at the size of the mountain, we will never see the glory at it’s peak. At the top is not the peak of the problem, but the victory in reaching it’s peak and the glory of our relationship with God at the top. When you are facing these great things, in what seems to be the worst, or the peak, you are the closest to God.

 
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Posted by on August 1, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Prayer for Aurora

21 Jul

Prayer for Aurora

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

I have really been struggling this morning on where to write. The thoughts in my head are dominated by the senseless tragedy in Aurora. As the days unfold we will learn many details of horror and heroism that unfolded that night. We will learn the media’s play on the killer’s life. There will be all sort of theories as to ‘why’. That is what everyone wants to know, yet it is not where our focus should be. There are evil people beyond our understanding near us every day, and they do not need glorified in their acts. The focus needs to be on comforting those affected as a result of their actions.

Many ask how could God allow this. I cannot begin to understand, but I can rest in the assurance of His Sovereignty, and the understanding of how evil can still be used to draw people to Him. Those that survived will realize the value of life, and many of them will change their lives for the better as a result with a humble thankful heart. The incredible story of the girl who had just survived another shooting months earlier, yet lost her life Thursday. There were some pics of people gathered in prayer that were gripping. Colossians 4:2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving. In times like these we can only seek God for prayers for the lost, for the injured, and for the emotionally hurting. We can show them the compassion that God has shown us.

Please take time over the coming days to earnestly pray for those affected. Pray for them to seek Godly counsel for help in their pain. Pray for them to feel God’s touch and comfort that they will find the peace of God in this. Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Pray for healing both physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Pray for them to seek God in all of this and not to fall into the snares of the world’s comfort. Let this tragedy bring them closer to Jesus. Amen.

 
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Posted by on July 21, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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Spiritual rest at your fingertips…sorta

03 Jul

Spiritual rest at your fingertips…sorta

Hebrews 4:1-3 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it. For we who have believed do enter that rest, as He has said: “So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest,’ ” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

The writer of Hebrews is speaking of how a generation of Israel had missed finding rest in the Promise Land due to their unbelief. Their unbelief is so hard for me to grasp when He had provided for them for 40 years, but an entire generation missed the opportunity. But what is this Spiritual Rest found in God? Matthew Henry puts it well. “He specifies this, that we have a promise left us of entering into his rest; that is, of entering into a covenant-relation to Christ, and a state of communion with God through Christ, and of growing up therein, till we are made perfect in glory. We have discoveries of this rest, and proposals, and the best directions how we may attain unto it. This promise of spiritual rest is a promise left us by the Lord Jesus Christ in his last will and testament, as a precious legacy.”

When you hear the Good News, does it stir your heart, or do you deny it? 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. A hard heart, a heart full of pride, will not allow you to enter that rest. You will remain away from God and all the anxieties that this life brings with it. There is a peace with God you will never understand until you accept the Good News. Philippians 4:7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. You have the ability for finding a peace in an out of control world at your fingertips, by reaching out with your heart.

 
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Posted by on July 3, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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A dark place, but with a great Light

26 Jun

A dark place, but with a great Light

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

I had a good friend, a brother in Christ, leave me a message yesterday about someone close to him that died. His voice told of how he was hurting as expected, but his voice spoke of the peace and comfort God brings. He asked me of writing about it, and I have struggled of how to write about one of the toughest subjects – death. We will or have all dealt with it’s pain in our lifetime. The pain that it brings many times seems unbearable, but how is it that some seem to cope better? Without a doubt they will tell you it is always their faith. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. When we are going through these difficult times resting on God’s comfort, He is glorified. Those around us are drawn to Him through the toughest of tribulations, by those of us who are held in His arms of comfort.

The scripture above speaks of walking through that valley, and Matthew Henry put it so well. “It is a walk through it; they shall not be lost in this valley, but get safely to the mountain of spices on the other side of it. Because there is no evil in it to a child of God; death cannot separate us from the love of God, and therefore it can do us no real harm; it kills the body, but cannot touch the soul. Why should it be dreadful when there is nothing in it hurtful? Because the saints have God’s gracious presence with them in their dying moments; he is then at their right hand, and therefore why should they be moved?” There is great comfort in those words to the believer without attaching all the cliche’s to them.

There is immeasurable comfort in God’s Word. Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. The Spirit will seem to press us into God’s Word during these difficult times, and we will find comfort in the Scriptures. There is no comfort to those who do not know God, but they may be drawn to God by how a believer copes. God’s plans are beyond our understanding, and death is a part of that eternal plan. But as a child of God we can rest in His Sovereignty and the comfort of spending time with our loved ones for eternity in paradise.

 
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Posted by on June 26, 2012 in Daily Devotions

 

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