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Apprehended

31 Jan

Apprehended

Philippians 3:12-13   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. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

It might be easy at a quick glance of this scripture to see a pride welling up in Paul. But it is far from that; it is a humbling revelation of the desire to attain that which he cannot. Paul had spent the prior verses speaking of giving his life wholly to Christ; of seeking to emulate Christ in all of his life. Paul pressed into sainthood as deep as anyone could, yet he understood he could never attain that goal in this life. It will only be when Christ returns and sin is wiped from this world, that we live in perfect union and conformity with God. It is that eternal goal, or prize, that we live our Christian lives in pursuit of. Our lives are bound by our faith, and works that are a product of that faith, are the levels of reward we seek. There is no greater reward that to stand at Christ’s feet and hear, “Well done my good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

You must understand that you didn’t “find” Christ. Christ sought you first, and you either responded to his invitation, or you denied him. 1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us. There comes with this understanding of His pursuit of you, a change of heart. You may well up in joy and pride of the revelation of Salvation, but a deeper understanding is found when you realize that it was nothing of your doing, but simply a response to a heavenly call upon your life. This brings about a new level of thanksgiving, a deeper desire of grateful service, a longing to give up the things that matter no longer for the eternal pursuit of what does. A heart that realizes that you are a chosen child of God, is a heart that desires to become a disciple of Christ in the pursuit of living their lives for him. Those things that mattered before, now seem worthless.

How much is Christ stirring in your soul today? Are you claiming to know Him, yet not living your life for Him? He gave his life up for you; is it not too much to ask for you to do the same for him? This world will distract you every day in every way from growing closer to Christ. This world is not living for Christ, so are you living for the world, or for him? If you will spend some time in alone with God in genuine, humble prayer; He will likely reveal himself to you and open your eyes through your heart. When he does, you either grow closer to him than ever before, or you run away. Pray and let Christ apprehend your life like he did Paul’s, and live your life in pursuit of him.

 
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Posted by on January 31, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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WORMWOOD!………. Try plan C

27 Jan

WORMWOOD!………. Try plan C

Philippians 2:12-15    Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. 14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

In the light of this scripture it must always be clear that Paul is not calling for you to earn, (work out) your Salvation. Paul has spent the prior verses pointing to the incarnation (God becoming man) of Christ, and his sacrifice on the cross to provide the salvation we cannot earn. Paul is encouraging us to develop, and work out the experience of the salvation; to draw closer to God as a result of it; to pursue God in all aspects of our lives in a loving response to it. This outpouring of a heart so moved by the realization of it, is a heart moved to service in thanksgiving for it. Even these tugs that we feel in our soul for these good works are planted there by God as shown in verse 13. He gives us these desires for good things; he provides this draw to God and the things of God from deep within.

Satan plants those selfish thoughts that we all battle. The “why me”, the complaining, the disputing, the list of the things that selfish thoughts distract. I have had my feelings hurt a few times this week in simple statements by friends; unknowingly by them, but Satan used them to hurt me. I could wallow in the pity; I could question and dispute; but I could also recognize it as an attack and give it over to Christ in prayer; Satan goes to plan B. If Satan entered the apostle Peter standing before Christ, do you not think he can use those closest to you to plant trouble in your heart? Matthew 16:23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” When Satan’s sting comes in those close to us, it is many times more powerful that what we may expect from the world. Knowledge is our relationship with God, and discernment is the understanding our our relationships with each other from that knowledge.

Matthew 5:14 You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. Paul reiterates the words of Christ and the example of light. Our world is dark, exceeding dark in these days it seems. Satan seems to be peaking in the mayhem that has become the norm. As a Christian you are a light bearer in a dark world; you stick out in the crowd; you must pursue God daily to keep your light bright. Satan is constantly trying to cover your lamp, to take your eyes off Christ. Know that he is coming with a plan to dim that light and if plan A or B doesn’t work, he is already devising a plan C. You must prepare yourself by remaining close to the light source in His Word and prayer every day.

(Wormwood is a reference to CS Lewis’s book The Screwtape Letters)

 
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Posted by on January 27, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Fill past the Full mark

24 Jan

Fill past the Full mark

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

Have you ever met a stranger that in less than five minutes you knew they were a believer in Christ? There was something about them that was different, something they could not hide, something they did not want to hide; Christ’s light shown through them for all to see. People are naturally drawn to them to experience what they have to give. People are always blessed by their presence, many may not even understand why. It is a blessing to stay in their presence as a friend and see Christ working through them blessing others. I have prayed for God to sanctify me into that strong of a disciple; for them to know me as a child of His at every encounter.

Paul was encouraging the Philippians to live for Christ in that way. To change their focus from the worldly to the eternal. Philippi was a Roman colony and many of it’s citizens modeled their lives after Caesar, but Paul was reminding them they should model their lives after Christ. If they were spending their resources focused on the requirements as a Roman citizen, they were lowering their standards as a heavenly citizen. Paul may have been speaking to some division in the church; he was encouraging them to stand together; that you stand fast in one spirit. Paul continues to encourage them how to live and remain together as a church in the coming scriptures. A group that shares the same eternal focus, and unity with that focus, shows the strength of God through it. Paul shows this example to those who don’t believe in verse 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. (ESV)

“You may be the only Bible someone ever reads.” That popular phrase carries eternal weight with it. There can be the power of Christ in you every day to all those that you meet. There could also be the destructive power of hypocrisy in your conduct of every day. The path of sanctification is a rough road to travel. Your enemy will give you every reason and detour to take your eyes off the eternal goal. Your motives, actions, reactions, are all relevant to where your focus lies; and how much time your invest in the pursuit of it. You cannot be a person with that light, if you don’t spend time daily seeking that Light in prayer and His Word. John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” To be that person that His light spills out of to bless all those He places in your path, you must first fill yourself with Him to the point you cannot contain.

 
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Posted by on January 24, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Knowledge & Discernment

20 Jan

Knowledge & Discernment

Philippians 1:9-11     And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul was writing the letter to the Philippians from prison. In a place where most would have seen  a huge setback and trial, Paul saw God’s work in it, and the ability to share the gospel and the joy he possessed in Christ. Paul saw God at work in every thing in his life; he knew that his paths were directed by God and he sought to serve him every day. A central theme in Philippians is Paul’s joy, and he expresses that joy in relationships. Paul used two Greek words to describe those types of relationships; knowledge for our relationship with God; discernment for our relationships with each other. The closer our relationship with God, the greater our discernment in our lives and relationships here.

What comes first; the earthly relationship or the one with Christ? We may hear the Gospel preached and come to know Christ; but at that point it becomes our duty to pursue Christ. We should desire to sit under good teachers that help reveal God’s Word to us. We should desire to spend time in the Word ourselves with daily diligence; to have a sincere heart for God. We should seek to know God and the things of God; in these things are found the knowledge of God. 9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment. In this knowledge is a relationship is nurtured; a relationship that you were created for by Him that you are now in pursuit of. You will never come to know more about God until you truly seek God with all your heart. God knows your heart and will reward you with opening your eyes and mind through your heart for Him.

The closer we get to God, the more discernment He may give us. Discernment is a key to unlocking a better understanding of the things that surround you every day. Paul is speaking of discernment in the light of person-to-person relationships, and we all need a better understanding of those realities. This world is full of darkness, and much of that darkness may lie in false relationships. God will open our eyes to these things the more time we spend with him. The promises that come in the scriptures that follow in verses 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.(ESV). With this gained understanding comes the joy that Paul possessed. He saw God at work in all aspects and relationships of his life. He sought to glorify God in all his life with that knowledge of their relationship, and the worldly discernment that he gained from it.

 
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Posted by on January 20, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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A voice in the dark

15 Jan

A voice in the dark

John 20:14-16    Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).

Mary Magdalene had visited the Christ’s tomb and found him missing. She had went to Peter and John to tell them, and they raced to go see themselves. They left the tomb and Mary to go to their own home; it is believed that John went to tell Jesus’ mother Mary the good news. Mary Magdalene remained and wept. When she got the courage, she peeked in the tomb only to find two angels there. They encouraged her, and suddenly someone appeared outside the tomb with her; it was Christ, but she did not recognize him. Then when Christ called her by her name she immediately recognized him by his voice that she knew.

How did she know? John 10:3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. There is theology wrapped into this, but simply stated it may have been dark and her focus was on what she was seeing in the tomb. But she instantly knew Christ’s voice calling her by name; she now knew who stood in her midst. She had spent so much time with Christ that it could have been pitch black dark and she would have known him.

There is so much in this world that deadens your senses to the things of God. Satan places every distraction in your path to take your ears away from slowing down to hear that still small voice of God. Satan will let you work hard, play hard, and feel good about yourself for giving God a couple hours on Sunday. He will let you feel good in your religiosity and he will continue to lead you astray. The way to hear God’s voice is to spend time with him every day. To seek him in his word and prayer every day. Doing these things will enable you to recognize the voice of God in the darkness of the world. You will know it is He, that is calling out your name.

 
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Posted by on January 15, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Breakfast of children

14 Jan

Breakfast of children

Psalm 63:1 A Psalm of David when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water.

I don’t know how it is for other people, but as someone who battles with anxiety and depression, the weight of the world can press in at the start of a new day. It can be a little thing; a thought that turns the key of anxiety, and once it is started it can be hard to shut off. This morning is one of those days……..it even comes in and tries to steal my quiet time with God. Satan is a prowling about trying to create havoc, and anxiety is a great weapon of his (John 10:10). There is only one offensive weapon to battle Satan; the Word of God. When you feel that demon approaching, find your Bible, pray, and begin to read.

Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” There is much theology wrapped up into this scripture, but it speaks of how we may come to God as a child. God gives us the spirit of a child so that we come to Him in our time of need. We seek him in prayer and his Word when we are troubled; in pain; in need of encouragement; in need of answers; in any and every thing in life. He is to be as a father to us. The prayer here is even spoken in the sense of crying out to God.

The weights you carry you do not have to carry alone. You can develop a relationship with God through consecrating daily time with him. The morning sets the tone for the day, the strength to face the day is found in prayer and God’s Word. How can you face the day without the spiritual nourishment found in these things? Without a breakfast you will become weak quickly at the days tasks that lie ahead. The nourishment that you find in your quiet time with Him will give you the mental strength to fight those inner battles the day brings. Matthew 6:33 Seek Ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

 
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Posted by on January 14, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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What goes in your ears?

13 Jan

What goes in your ears?

Philippians 4:8 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.

I used to be the headbanger at heart, the trash TV of all sorts, the filth that fills our airwaves I filled myself with. I struggled with porn for many years as many people do in a hidden sin that happens behind closed doors. My mind was a garbage dump of the trash of society. Early in my pursuit of God and the things of God, He began to show me the filth I had been putting in my thoughts. One of the very first steps I made was to listen to Christian radio instead of the typical head bangn’ music. God started a transformation of my thoughts that continues even today.

Paul was trying to live that example, show them on how to live; of what to think about; of what is good to put into their minds. Philippians 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Christ had given us the example of removing the filth of the world from our mind, to find the good in everything, to seek God in everything. A heart that seeks the good in everything is a heart after God. The more time that you spend weeding out the filth, and finding the good, the more you see God revealed to you. The noble that you seek is like a warning system for the unworthy that surrounds us every day. The Holy Spirit is that inner alarm that will warn you when you seek that which is unworthy and not of God.

Christ was speaking of the false prophets in Matthew 7; of how to enter into heaven by the narrow gate. In this passage he uses the analogy of the fruits that each tree bares. Matthew 7:16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Just as the false prophet may seem good, they bear bad fruit. The truth comes out of what they have been putting in. You cannot claim Christ and live for the world 95% of the time. When you speak, those that hear will know where your heart lies. A change as simple as the music that you listen to can change the course of your heart.

 
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Posted by on January 13, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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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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Love – doubt = Perfect Love

08 Jan

Love – doubt = Perfect Love

1 John 4:17-19    Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us.

I heard a powerful sermon yesterday on doubt. Doubt is really fear; fear of the unknown, of the unsure, of the uncertain. Doubt is a powerful tool of Satan, for it settles in slowly and takes root. It can gradually grow and effect the outer self. We move in relation to our faith and fears; we act on what we believe. Fear is never a tool of God, fear is always a tool of Satan. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. My mental strain is a great burden these days, the weight of it commands my thoughts during the day, and Satan sneaks into them with doubt and fear. It is a constant warring in my head of the battle of good and evil. It seems so hard some days…….

John is speaking of the power of love; the power of the security of our future wrapped up in that love. The boldness that we should know and feel in the security of our Salvation in Christ. We should have no fear if we rest in that perfect love that is eternally promised. Our lives here will be full of disappointments in people, careers, friends, society, ____________, you can make your own list. When we begin to place our hope in these things we will surely be disappointed. But when we place our hope in our love for Christ; these disappointments should become expected and trivial. They are nothing but distractions to take our eyes off Christ.

The way to fight these fears is found in the Bible. The Word of God is the only offensive weapon that we have against Satan. Christ set that example for us when he was tempted by Satan in the wilderness for 40 days (Luke 4:1-13). The more time you spend in God’s Word, the stronger your faith becomes and the more power He gives you to fight these fears. Your heart is moved to a place of thanksgiving, and love is grown out of that thankful heart. That love completes the circle to enable you the power to fight those fears. You begin to see verse 19 We love Him because He first loved us. Thank you Jesus.

 
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Posted by on January 8, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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Let that burden take you out

07 Jan

Let that burden take you out

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard it, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”

Pastor Alan spoke yesterday of burdens, of the burdens God will place on your heart. These things that tug at your heart can be many things, but only a few of them really grab you. They can create an urgency feeling with them; the need to move forward quickly in pursuit of them. They cannot be hidden from; they cannot be denied because God places them there. When God places these things before you, your focus will change. The things that seemed important will be in the shadows of those burdens. A heart focused on what God has burdened you with is a heart after God and the things of God.

Christ was early in his ministry, and Mark is recording the accounts of his early teachings and healing’s. Mark is describing Christ’s achievements in the casting out of demons, cleansing lepers, the lame walking, and the list goes on. He has been baptized by John and has began selecting his apostles. But the religious of society began to notice that he spends all his time hanging out with the dredges of society. Mark 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” Christ had not began pointing out the sin of those who fancied themselves religious; but showed Himself to those that knew they were sinners in need of a Savior; and possessed the humble hearts that recognized their sin. The pride of the religious builds the wall between their souls and their Savior.

Do you feel comfortable? Are you willing to go out of your comfort zone for God? God will always ask you to go where you feel uncomfortable. It removes the power and pride of yourself and lets God work through your scared humble heart shine. You will see God do things you know you cannot. It is very easy to stay in the comfort of habit; the ease of simple routine; but the lack of the power of God in your life in stepping out in faith is being missed. The commentary of my study Bible says of Mark 2:17 – “In this instance Jesus was speaking tongue-in-cheek when He used the word righteous. None are righteous, though some such as the Pharisees, fancied themselves as such. Instead Christ came to call all sinners to repentance.” Let that burden in your heart take you out of your comfort zone so that you can see Christ really work in and through your life.

 
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Posted by on January 7, 2013 in Daily Devotions

 

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