A Revelation of God’s Destiny for you
God spoke to Abram and called him out that he might enter into his destiny.
Gen 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.
2 I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed."
NKJV
Abram’s destiny was revealed to him that day and the scripture says that he departed, just as the Lord had spoken to him. Abram’s promises were totally dependant upon the word of the Lord. The very things God was asking him to leave behind ( country, family and inheritance) were also the things he was promised to receive. Sometimes God has to remove us from where we are so that we might become what he wants us to be.
God’s promise to Abram was the revelation of his future. But if we look closely we see that all those who are in Christ are the descendants of Abraham and are included in this promise.
Gal 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NKJV
We are promised a country and a family. We are to be a blessing to families and to nations. We are promised an eternal inheritance.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God NKJV
Though Abraham had promises that pertained to his present temporary life, he also knew it included an eternal heavenly city whose designer and builder was God.
We enter into the promises given to Abraham by entering into Christ. We also inherit promises that God spoke concerning the seed of the woman in Genesis 3.
Gen 3:14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
"Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel." NKJV
We are also included in God’s promise that the seed of the woman would bruise the serpent’s head. Jesus confirms this in Luke 10:19.
Luke 10:19 Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. NKJV
God has revealed in His word that we have an awesome inheritance and it is not only speaking of heaven. We are part of this great family now and we are a blessing to the nations, here and now. We are destined to tread upon the serpent’s head now in this life; figuratively speaking Satan is under our feet.
God has called us to come out from the world and to follow Christ into our destiny. We must leave our former worldly life and seek that heavenly country whose designer and maker is God.
Rom 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. NKJV
John 15:19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. NKJV
James 4:4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. NKJV
There is always an extreme application to scriptures that can be promoted by a spirit of religion. Paul clarifies this in 1 Corinthians 5. He says; “Though I told you earlier not to keep company with sexually immoral people, I did not mean you should not try to befriend those outside the church for the purpose of winning them to Christ. It stands to reason if we were to never have contact with sinners, we would have to totally leave this world.” My own paraphrase
1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. NKJV
Paul is drawing a distinction between people in the church who confess Christ, yet live an unrepentant life of immorality, and those who are serious about holiness. We should endeavor to get close to those who are lost, without entering into their sin, so that we can give them the good news of the gospel.
So, like Abraham was called to leave the familiar behind to discover what God had in store, we are called out of this world’s system and influence to become representatives of another kingdom. This is our destiny. Having a revelation of our destiny should fuel our passion.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Passion Fuel II
A Revelation of the Father’s Love
The scripture is filled with stories that depict the Father’s love for His children, but I would like to use the story of the lost son in Luke 15, and the definition of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 to explore the different qualities of love in this story.
The Parable of the Lost Son
Luke 15: 11-32 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'
20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
25 "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'
28 "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'
31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'" NKJV
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. NKJV
It would appear that both sons mentioned in this story were given their inheritance but only one of them acted any differently as a result. Though he did the wrong things, and spent his wealth on wild living, the father had great patience and long suffering towards him. We all would hope that our children would not make the same mistakes that we did but would take our advice and avoid a lot of heartache. It is evident that the father in this story did not chase after his son, to point out every wrong use of his new freedom, but was very patient to allow him to make mistakes and to learn from them. From my own experience as a son and a father, I can view this from both sides of the issue. It seems we learn more from our mistakes because of the reminders we experience in the ensuing suffering and heartache that results from bad choices.
Love is kind. The father in this story exhibited great kindness toward both of his sons. He was not harsh, to correct or scold, but was very open to listen. On the other hand, the older son complained about the party being thrown and suggested it should have been for himself because he had stayed around home and out of trouble. The elder son did not display the same love that their father did.
The father did not appear to be envious or covetous concerning the waste or loss of material wealth. I know it would have been very difficult for me to sit quietly by and watch my son waste an inheritance that was gained by much diligence and hard work. Sometimes eternal lessons need to be learned at the expense of temporal wealth.
We can see two opposing reactions: that of the father and that of the elder son. Though the father did not act arrogantly or proud, the elder brother did. He began to compare his good behavior with his brother’s lack thereof and began to question his father as to why he had never been given a party to commemorate his stellar performance. He was missing the point. Their father wanted to celebrate the return of his son back into the fellowship of the family; it was not about performance but about love.
We also see that the father was not rude toward his returning son and did not look at the situation to see what he could gain selfishly from it. It is somewhat common for a father to humiliate a son who is caught in a jamb and to take advantage of his dilemma. The hog farmer appeared to have taken advantage of the young man, giving him work but only rewarding him by what he could manage to eat from the pig trough. The father did not even mention his sin, or lack of wisdom, but welcomed him with open arms.
Love is not provoked or made to react in an uncontrolled manner. The father did not show a sign of anger, or even disappointment, toward his son. I am sure there were times any father would feel anger and disappointment, but love will temper those responses so that they not form a barrier to the return of his son.
Love does not think up evil schemes. The father had not been dwelling on the evil his son had been involved in, but trusted in the good that was instilled in him as a boy growing up. The father trusted the seeds that had been sown in his life to sprout up and produce good fruit. He was careful to reclaim the ground of the young man’s heart before the evil seeds that had been sown in him could produce a larger crop. A negative or harsh reaction could have been like a violent wind that spreads or reinforces the evil seeds that were present.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. The father was glad to see his son return home. Even before his son’s plea of repentance, he had his arms stretched out to receive him. The son was coming clean and being transparent and truthful. He did not try to make any excuses for his sin but completely threw himself upon his father’s mercy.
Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. The father waited a long time, continuing to believe, never giving up hope, but kept his eyes upon the horizon, so to speak, for any sign of his son’s return.
Love never fails. The father in this story walked in love and that love did not fail to reproduce after its own kind. Love never fails, so we must also walk in love and allow love to be defined in and through our lives.
Our passion is fueled by love and love will cause us to have the same heart of the father. The passions of the world are overshadowed by the passion of God’s Love. Like fighting fire with fire, we must be consumed with the fire of God so that the passions of this temporary life will have no place to burn in us.
The scripture is filled with stories that depict the Father’s love for His children, but I would like to use the story of the lost son in Luke 15, and the definition of love found in 1 Corinthians 13 to explore the different qualities of love in this story.
The Parable of the Lost Son
Luke 15: 11-32 Then He said: "A certain man had two sons. 12 And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.' So he divided to them his livelihood. 13 And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. 14 But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want. 15 Then he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would gladly have filled his stomach with the pods that the swine ate, and no one gave him anything.
17 "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, 19 and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants."'
20 "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. 21 And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' And they began to be merry.
25 "Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. 27 And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf.'
28 "But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. 29 So he answered and said to his father, 'Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. 30 But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him.'
31 "And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. 32 It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found.'" NKJV
1 Corinthians 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never fails. NKJV
It would appear that both sons mentioned in this story were given their inheritance but only one of them acted any differently as a result. Though he did the wrong things, and spent his wealth on wild living, the father had great patience and long suffering towards him. We all would hope that our children would not make the same mistakes that we did but would take our advice and avoid a lot of heartache. It is evident that the father in this story did not chase after his son, to point out every wrong use of his new freedom, but was very patient to allow him to make mistakes and to learn from them. From my own experience as a son and a father, I can view this from both sides of the issue. It seems we learn more from our mistakes because of the reminders we experience in the ensuing suffering and heartache that results from bad choices.
Love is kind. The father in this story exhibited great kindness toward both of his sons. He was not harsh, to correct or scold, but was very open to listen. On the other hand, the older son complained about the party being thrown and suggested it should have been for himself because he had stayed around home and out of trouble. The elder son did not display the same love that their father did.
The father did not appear to be envious or covetous concerning the waste or loss of material wealth. I know it would have been very difficult for me to sit quietly by and watch my son waste an inheritance that was gained by much diligence and hard work. Sometimes eternal lessons need to be learned at the expense of temporal wealth.
We can see two opposing reactions: that of the father and that of the elder son. Though the father did not act arrogantly or proud, the elder brother did. He began to compare his good behavior with his brother’s lack thereof and began to question his father as to why he had never been given a party to commemorate his stellar performance. He was missing the point. Their father wanted to celebrate the return of his son back into the fellowship of the family; it was not about performance but about love.
We also see that the father was not rude toward his returning son and did not look at the situation to see what he could gain selfishly from it. It is somewhat common for a father to humiliate a son who is caught in a jamb and to take advantage of his dilemma. The hog farmer appeared to have taken advantage of the young man, giving him work but only rewarding him by what he could manage to eat from the pig trough. The father did not even mention his sin, or lack of wisdom, but welcomed him with open arms.
Love is not provoked or made to react in an uncontrolled manner. The father did not show a sign of anger, or even disappointment, toward his son. I am sure there were times any father would feel anger and disappointment, but love will temper those responses so that they not form a barrier to the return of his son.
Love does not think up evil schemes. The father had not been dwelling on the evil his son had been involved in, but trusted in the good that was instilled in him as a boy growing up. The father trusted the seeds that had been sown in his life to sprout up and produce good fruit. He was careful to reclaim the ground of the young man’s heart before the evil seeds that had been sown in him could produce a larger crop. A negative or harsh reaction could have been like a violent wind that spreads or reinforces the evil seeds that were present.
Love does not rejoice in iniquity but rejoices in the truth. The father was glad to see his son return home. Even before his son’s plea of repentance, he had his arms stretched out to receive him. The son was coming clean and being transparent and truthful. He did not try to make any excuses for his sin but completely threw himself upon his father’s mercy.
Love bears, believes, hopes, and endures all things. The father waited a long time, continuing to believe, never giving up hope, but kept his eyes upon the horizon, so to speak, for any sign of his son’s return.
Love never fails. The father in this story walked in love and that love did not fail to reproduce after its own kind. Love never fails, so we must also walk in love and allow love to be defined in and through our lives.
Our passion is fueled by love and love will cause us to have the same heart of the father. The passions of the world are overshadowed by the passion of God’s Love. Like fighting fire with fire, we must be consumed with the fire of God so that the passions of this temporary life will have no place to burn in us.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Passion Fuel I
Revelation of the Cross and the Grave
If we can get a revelation of the cross and the grave, and know what it means for us today, it will add fuel to our passion. As was mentioned previously, Jesus’ Passion was displayed mostly in His suffering and death on the cross. Many of us tend to think of passion as an enthusiasm that propels us to accomplish a task or reach a goal. It is more than that. It is a strong desire that must be fulfilled, even in the face of suffering and death. Jesus’ strong desire was for His bride and to redeem the human race from their slavery to sin. His passion was to replace sin with righteousness.
Rom 5:17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) NKJV
Though sin is described as an act of disobedience or rebellion, it is also a condition or the state of lost humanity. In the same way, righteousness is often thought of as doing right, but it is also a condition, a position, a righteous standing. When the first man Adam entered into sin, all who were born of Adam were born into a condition or a position of sin. When the second Adam (Jesus) came into the earth, He brought in righteousness. Now, all who are born of God are declared righteous, not because of an act they performed, but by receiving the gift of His righteousness by faith.
Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, which included an abundance of grace. The payment He made for us on the cross surpassed our sin debt; it included an added deposit into our righteousness account, so to speak. His payment on the cross far exceeded the payment of the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant. They were a prophetic picture of what was to come in Christ’s sacrifice. Every year these sacrifices had to be renewed because they contained no extra deposit of grace for future needs. Those who offered those sacrifices were not freed from sin’s power, neither were their consciences cleared of guilt and shame. The enmity, or animosity, that existed between God and man was not destroyed. They could not enter His holy presence: that was reserved for the high priest and only once a year.
But now we are declared righteous through the blood of Christ. We can enter into His presence any time through that blood. We have been set free from the power of sin; our consciences are freed from guilt and shame. The payment of the cross contained, as it were, an overpayment that is available to us to draw upon in time of need. Just imagine someone who was so deeply in debt financially, with no possible way out, yet someone stepped in to pay their debt. That would be wonderful: words could not describe it. But, realistically, if that person is left without a positive balance in his account, it would be next to impossible for him to stay out of debt. He would have to borrow some operating capital, or something to live on, until he could produce income greater than his needs.
Using finances as an illustration: imagine a sinner having his sin debt paid in full, but without an extra deposit to his favor. If he has been given no power over sin, how will he remain free? The grace that is added to us by the payment of the cross is the good news of the Gospel of Christ. Grace is not only being set free from past debt, but it is also the power to remain free. We can spend grace like money to remain free of debt, but we must spent it wisely and not on our own lusts, or we will revert back to slavery and debt.
Grace is in the Cross
We can not exhaust God’s supply of grace but we can loose access to it. This is why an understanding of the cross is important. When Jesus said that we are to deny ourselves, take up the cross daily and follow Him, He was connecting us to His grace. We maintain our access to His grace through the cross. Grace is in the overpayment of the cross. The payment of old was a “just enough” payment. The animal sacrifices of the law were just enough to forgive sin, and save a soul, but not enough to overcome the power of sin, shame and guilt or to declare one righteous.
The grace of the cross was not intended for us to spend solely on ourselves. When we sin, His grace is there for us to be quickly restored, but it is also intended that we spend it on others. Many believers are walking in the realm of law instead of grace. Just because we live in the dispensation of grace does not mean we automatically enjoy the privileges of grace. Again we must stay connected to grace by the cross. The cross was a payment that exceeded the payment of the law. The law included forgiveness, with no added blessing or favor. If I forgive someone who wronged me, but do not extend favor and blessing to them, I avoid the cross and remain on legal terms. Their debt is canceled but there is still shame and guilt in my consciousness. Extending the grace of the cross is to bless those who curse you and to do good to those who misuse you and falsely accuse you. To give a gift beyond forgiveness to those who wrong you, is extending the cross.
This will be a test of our passion to see if it compares to that of Jesus. It is one thing to release someone from their debt but another to give them an additional blessing of favor, a gift they do not deserve. Another element of the cross is that it destroyed the enmity, or animosity, that existed between man and God. We who were enemies of God were brought back into right relationship with Him through the blood of the cross. When we go beyond releasing someone from a debt, by extending unmerited favor to them, we add to our account as well. We receive what we give away and with the same measure. Will we use the just enough measure (law) or the more than enough, running over measure, (grace)?
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." NKJV
Jesus extended grace to us through His cross. It was an overpayment in that it went beyond the payment of animal blood required by the law. It contained an abundance added to our righteousness account. We are justified by faith as we believe the word and act on it.
I have a personal testimony that may help illustrate this point. Many years ago I experienced several unfair business practices concerning some vehicles I had purchased. After being burned a few times, I decided not to ever trust car dealers again and to only buy from private parties. In my mind, I was protecting myself from being further taken advantage of. It was not a matter of new or used: I had had a bad experience with the new truck I bought as well. I was only trying to save myself more grief. Little did I realize at that time that I had made a vow based on my experience with a few and had included them all. I did not understand the implications of making a judgment against all auto dealers. I took, as it were, a legal stance against them and sentenced them all to life without the possibility of my business. I knew as a Christian that I had to forgive them but that did not mean I had to trust them.
Many years later the Lord helped me to see what I had done. Sentencing them to life did not really affect them, but it did me. Though I had forgiven and released them from any wrong, I had not extended the grace of the cross to them. I was the one who was suffering from my own judgment. I sentenced myself to a life of having to fix and repair old cars. Thankfully that sentence was shortened by many years as I came to understand what I had done. My desire to protect myself was, in effect, saving my own life rather than taking up the cross.
Jesus said in Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save. it NKJV
I had always applied this scripture to those who would not surrender their lives to Christ. Since I had given my life to Christ many years prior, I did not conceive of this verse having any application to my business dealings. We are to apply the cross to every area of our lives. It is not just a two thousand year old happening; the cross is a daily event for us. I had not seen the connection at all, but God showed me that I was saving my life and not applying the cross. Though I had forgiven or released them from a debt to me, I had not gone beyond that to pray for them or bless them in any way. In other words, I had not extended the grace of the cross to them. I was using, as it were, the old law system to get justice for myself. The new justice system requires me to lose my life, giving more than forgiveness to someone who did not deserve anything.
I came to the realization that the judgment and sentence I had handed down to them was also my sentence. I had reverted to the legal method of dealing with injustice rather than the cross. I had used the legal measure rather than the overflowing measure of New Covenant grace. The measure I used toward others became the one I was measured by. In effect, I had fallen from grace and had gone back to the inferiority of the law system. Those who used the law as their standard of justice were not freed from the power of sin nor were the guilt and shame removed from their consciousness. Enmity also continued to separate relationships. I found that these truths applied not only in my relationship with God, but with my relationships horizontally as well.
Because of my judgment of car dealers, I could not set foot on a car lot, or talk to a salesman, for fear of stirring up old memories or anger. I did not realize that I was experiencing what the bible refers to as the enmity that existed between two parties who have been at odds with one another. I also found that my conscience was not cleared of the offence of feeling abused by them. God showed me that my life experience was due to my legal stance of self protection. I needed to take up my cross and apply it to this situation. God said to me one day “I want you to go buy a vehicle from those who wronged you.” I understood that in doing so I would be returning good for evil and blessing those who did not deserve it. As I obeyed the Lord in this, something broke loose within me. I was freed from all the guilt and offence, even the animosity that existed for years was gone. I was free to talk to car salesmen and even buy without prejudice or fear of being taken advantage of. This whole thing was more for my freedom than anything else.
I was reconnected to God’s grace supply as a result of dropping the legal measure I had used toward them; instead I used a heaped up and overflowing faith measure to bless them. The term “fallen from grace” has often been used in reference to a Christian who has grievously sinned. Paul used it speaking to the Galatians who had been convinced they needed to keep the Law of Moses and include circumcision as a requirement for salvation. Paul reminded them of the weakness and inferiority of the law in comparison to the new way of grace through faith. We can not be justified or remain guilt free through the law, only through faith. We are only justified by faith in the work of the cross and that is demonstrated through the overflowing measure of grace.
The suffering of Christ, mentally, emotionally and physically, for our debt, was more than any of us could bear. He then added to that enough favor for us to live freely the rest of eternity? It is easy to misinterpret the intentions of God in this. He is not providing a way for us to live irresponsibly but to empower us to increase in grace as seed sown. Here again we see the cross depicted. Grace abounds toward us as we extend it to others: we reap what we sow.
John 12:23 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. NKJV
The cross leads to the grave. Jesus was sown as seed that fell into the ground, producing much grain. He loved not His own life but gave it up that He might reproduce and bring many sons into glory. Jesus faced the suffering of the cross to purchase saving grace for us. He took on our enemy, the grave, and won the victory. If we take up our cross, we will also lay down our lives as seed that reproduces after its kind.
2 Tim 2:11This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. NKJV
Our destiny is to rule and reign with Him forever. Our passion will be fueled by a determination to take up the cross daily and extend its benefits to those who do not deserve it. Extending a more than enough blessing of favor and grace to others will insure that we maintain our own connection to grace. As we love not our own temporary life but put eternal values first, we will be fruitful and multiply as seed overcoming the grave.
If we can get a revelation of the cross and the grave, and know what it means for us today, it will add fuel to our passion. As was mentioned previously, Jesus’ Passion was displayed mostly in His suffering and death on the cross. Many of us tend to think of passion as an enthusiasm that propels us to accomplish a task or reach a goal. It is more than that. It is a strong desire that must be fulfilled, even in the face of suffering and death. Jesus’ strong desire was for His bride and to redeem the human race from their slavery to sin. His passion was to replace sin with righteousness.
Rom 5:17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.) NKJV
Though sin is described as an act of disobedience or rebellion, it is also a condition or the state of lost humanity. In the same way, righteousness is often thought of as doing right, but it is also a condition, a position, a righteous standing. When the first man Adam entered into sin, all who were born of Adam were born into a condition or a position of sin. When the second Adam (Jesus) came into the earth, He brought in righteousness. Now, all who are born of God are declared righteous, not because of an act they performed, but by receiving the gift of His righteousness by faith.
Jesus paid a debt He did not owe, which included an abundance of grace. The payment He made for us on the cross surpassed our sin debt; it included an added deposit into our righteousness account, so to speak. His payment on the cross far exceeded the payment of the animal sacrifices of the Old Covenant. They were a prophetic picture of what was to come in Christ’s sacrifice. Every year these sacrifices had to be renewed because they contained no extra deposit of grace for future needs. Those who offered those sacrifices were not freed from sin’s power, neither were their consciences cleared of guilt and shame. The enmity, or animosity, that existed between God and man was not destroyed. They could not enter His holy presence: that was reserved for the high priest and only once a year.
But now we are declared righteous through the blood of Christ. We can enter into His presence any time through that blood. We have been set free from the power of sin; our consciences are freed from guilt and shame. The payment of the cross contained, as it were, an overpayment that is available to us to draw upon in time of need. Just imagine someone who was so deeply in debt financially, with no possible way out, yet someone stepped in to pay their debt. That would be wonderful: words could not describe it. But, realistically, if that person is left without a positive balance in his account, it would be next to impossible for him to stay out of debt. He would have to borrow some operating capital, or something to live on, until he could produce income greater than his needs.
Using finances as an illustration: imagine a sinner having his sin debt paid in full, but without an extra deposit to his favor. If he has been given no power over sin, how will he remain free? The grace that is added to us by the payment of the cross is the good news of the Gospel of Christ. Grace is not only being set free from past debt, but it is also the power to remain free. We can spend grace like money to remain free of debt, but we must spent it wisely and not on our own lusts, or we will revert back to slavery and debt.
Grace is in the Cross
We can not exhaust God’s supply of grace but we can loose access to it. This is why an understanding of the cross is important. When Jesus said that we are to deny ourselves, take up the cross daily and follow Him, He was connecting us to His grace. We maintain our access to His grace through the cross. Grace is in the overpayment of the cross. The payment of old was a “just enough” payment. The animal sacrifices of the law were just enough to forgive sin, and save a soul, but not enough to overcome the power of sin, shame and guilt or to declare one righteous.
The grace of the cross was not intended for us to spend solely on ourselves. When we sin, His grace is there for us to be quickly restored, but it is also intended that we spend it on others. Many believers are walking in the realm of law instead of grace. Just because we live in the dispensation of grace does not mean we automatically enjoy the privileges of grace. Again we must stay connected to grace by the cross. The cross was a payment that exceeded the payment of the law. The law included forgiveness, with no added blessing or favor. If I forgive someone who wronged me, but do not extend favor and blessing to them, I avoid the cross and remain on legal terms. Their debt is canceled but there is still shame and guilt in my consciousness. Extending the grace of the cross is to bless those who curse you and to do good to those who misuse you and falsely accuse you. To give a gift beyond forgiveness to those who wrong you, is extending the cross.
This will be a test of our passion to see if it compares to that of Jesus. It is one thing to release someone from their debt but another to give them an additional blessing of favor, a gift they do not deserve. Another element of the cross is that it destroyed the enmity, or animosity, that existed between man and God. We who were enemies of God were brought back into right relationship with Him through the blood of the cross. When we go beyond releasing someone from a debt, by extending unmerited favor to them, we add to our account as well. We receive what we give away and with the same measure. Will we use the just enough measure (law) or the more than enough, running over measure, (grace)?
Luke 6:37 "Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." NKJV
Jesus extended grace to us through His cross. It was an overpayment in that it went beyond the payment of animal blood required by the law. It contained an abundance added to our righteousness account. We are justified by faith as we believe the word and act on it.
I have a personal testimony that may help illustrate this point. Many years ago I experienced several unfair business practices concerning some vehicles I had purchased. After being burned a few times, I decided not to ever trust car dealers again and to only buy from private parties. In my mind, I was protecting myself from being further taken advantage of. It was not a matter of new or used: I had had a bad experience with the new truck I bought as well. I was only trying to save myself more grief. Little did I realize at that time that I had made a vow based on my experience with a few and had included them all. I did not understand the implications of making a judgment against all auto dealers. I took, as it were, a legal stance against them and sentenced them all to life without the possibility of my business. I knew as a Christian that I had to forgive them but that did not mean I had to trust them.
Many years later the Lord helped me to see what I had done. Sentencing them to life did not really affect them, but it did me. Though I had forgiven and released them from any wrong, I had not extended the grace of the cross to them. I was the one who was suffering from my own judgment. I sentenced myself to a life of having to fix and repair old cars. Thankfully that sentence was shortened by many years as I came to understand what I had done. My desire to protect myself was, in effect, saving my own life rather than taking up the cross.
Jesus said in Mark 8:34 When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 35 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save. it NKJV
I had always applied this scripture to those who would not surrender their lives to Christ. Since I had given my life to Christ many years prior, I did not conceive of this verse having any application to my business dealings. We are to apply the cross to every area of our lives. It is not just a two thousand year old happening; the cross is a daily event for us. I had not seen the connection at all, but God showed me that I was saving my life and not applying the cross. Though I had forgiven or released them from a debt to me, I had not gone beyond that to pray for them or bless them in any way. In other words, I had not extended the grace of the cross to them. I was using, as it were, the old law system to get justice for myself. The new justice system requires me to lose my life, giving more than forgiveness to someone who did not deserve anything.
I came to the realization that the judgment and sentence I had handed down to them was also my sentence. I had reverted to the legal method of dealing with injustice rather than the cross. I had used the legal measure rather than the overflowing measure of New Covenant grace. The measure I used toward others became the one I was measured by. In effect, I had fallen from grace and had gone back to the inferiority of the law system. Those who used the law as their standard of justice were not freed from the power of sin nor were the guilt and shame removed from their consciousness. Enmity also continued to separate relationships. I found that these truths applied not only in my relationship with God, but with my relationships horizontally as well.
Because of my judgment of car dealers, I could not set foot on a car lot, or talk to a salesman, for fear of stirring up old memories or anger. I did not realize that I was experiencing what the bible refers to as the enmity that existed between two parties who have been at odds with one another. I also found that my conscience was not cleared of the offence of feeling abused by them. God showed me that my life experience was due to my legal stance of self protection. I needed to take up my cross and apply it to this situation. God said to me one day “I want you to go buy a vehicle from those who wronged you.” I understood that in doing so I would be returning good for evil and blessing those who did not deserve it. As I obeyed the Lord in this, something broke loose within me. I was freed from all the guilt and offence, even the animosity that existed for years was gone. I was free to talk to car salesmen and even buy without prejudice or fear of being taken advantage of. This whole thing was more for my freedom than anything else.
I was reconnected to God’s grace supply as a result of dropping the legal measure I had used toward them; instead I used a heaped up and overflowing faith measure to bless them. The term “fallen from grace” has often been used in reference to a Christian who has grievously sinned. Paul used it speaking to the Galatians who had been convinced they needed to keep the Law of Moses and include circumcision as a requirement for salvation. Paul reminded them of the weakness and inferiority of the law in comparison to the new way of grace through faith. We can not be justified or remain guilt free through the law, only through faith. We are only justified by faith in the work of the cross and that is demonstrated through the overflowing measure of grace.
The suffering of Christ, mentally, emotionally and physically, for our debt, was more than any of us could bear. He then added to that enough favor for us to live freely the rest of eternity? It is easy to misinterpret the intentions of God in this. He is not providing a way for us to live irresponsibly but to empower us to increase in grace as seed sown. Here again we see the cross depicted. Grace abounds toward us as we extend it to others: we reap what we sow.
John 12:23 But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. 24 Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. 25 He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. NKJV
The cross leads to the grave. Jesus was sown as seed that fell into the ground, producing much grain. He loved not His own life but gave it up that He might reproduce and bring many sons into glory. Jesus faced the suffering of the cross to purchase saving grace for us. He took on our enemy, the grave, and won the victory. If we take up our cross, we will also lay down our lives as seed that reproduces after its kind.
2 Tim 2:11This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. 12 If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. NKJV
Our destiny is to rule and reign with Him forever. Our passion will be fueled by a determination to take up the cross daily and extend its benefits to those who do not deserve it. Extending a more than enough blessing of favor and grace to others will insure that we maintain our own connection to grace. As we love not our own temporary life but put eternal values first, we will be fruitful and multiply as seed overcoming the grave.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Passion Killers III
Unresolved Hurts and Disappointments
All Christians, at one time or another, will face the reality of hurts and disappointments. Our response to them is really the key issue. They can either make us bitter or better. In the church, many hurts are the result of being offended with another member of the body of Christ. I know, from my own experience, that unresolved hurts and disappointments are like an unhealed wound, very sensitive to the touch. Just as a physical wound can be hurt by bumping into it, so an emotional wound can be reopened by normal interaction with other people. If we are hurt by another’s words, it is likely because we still have an open wound from a previous incident. Only forgiveness brings closure to these types of hurts.
It is recorded in scripture that Jesus, Himself, offended many people. The great physician came to heal the broken hearted and to bind up their wounds. Just as a doctor can discover painful areas in our body during an examination, so Jesus wants to reveal painful areas in our lives for the purpose of healing them. It is possible to misinterpret what is going on when these things come to the surface.
Jesus’ disciples were seemingly embarrassed that the Pharisees were offended at His words.
Matt 11:6 ”And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Matt 15:12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" NKJV
The Pharisees thought they were exposing a fault in Jesus because He and His followers were eating corn while in the field. They believed a man was defiled if he ate without first washing his hands. Jesus made it clear that a man was defiled by the words that proceeded out of his mouth, not by the food that went in to it. By this response Jesus not only corrected the belief of the Pharisees but exposed their evil intentions to discredit Him. Jesus used their accusation to reveal their own ignorance and, in the process, caused them great embarrassment. Had their question come from someone who was teachable, and with honest intentions, I am sure Jesus’ response would not have offended them.
Jesus’ own followers were offended at Him on more than one occasion.
Mark 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.'
Mark 14:29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."
30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." NKJV
Peter was sure that he would never be offended, or stumble, concerning his association with the Lord. It is easier said than done; we only know our own hearts when the test comes. When God tests us it is not for His benefit but for ours. Peter witnessed Jesus’ might and power over sickness and disease”: even the wind and the waves obeyed His voice. Suddenly, it appeared, He had lost it all. Their champion had cast out devils and even raised the dead; now He was allowing simple men to order Him around and spit in His face. Previously Jesus had confounded them with His words and amazed them with His wisdom.
John 7:44-46 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" NKJV
These officers were sent out to gather evidence of wrong doing and to arrest Jesus and bring Him in. They were so overwhelmed by the authority of His words that they felt they dare not try anything against Him. On other occasions some asked Him questions hoping to catch Him off guard or to cause Him to contradict Himself, but they were not successful. In fact, they were afraid to ask any more questions lest they look even more foolish.
When the time appointed of the Father had come, Jesus changed His mode of operation, so to speak. Suddenly it was as if Jesus’ closest followers had wakened from a dream. He was no longer the powerful, wise King they had known. Peter was ready to chop heads in defense of Jesus when they came to arrest Him, but now things had taken a strange turn. The powerful lion of the tribe of Judah had become a weak and helpless lamb. Peter and the others that had walked close to Jesus were now backing away, not wanting to be associated with Him.
Peter was put on the spot and questioned concerning his association with Jesus: he denied ever knowing Him. His denial, in a sense, may have been truth. This was not the same Jesus he had been with for over three years. Peter had no problem identifying with the powerful Jesus but when He became like a lamb, that did not open His mouth to save His own hide, Peter may have felt ashamed of Him. How many of us would rather be associated with a popular and powerful minister than one who had been taken prisoner and put on death row for preaching the gospel? It is very likely that Peter did not want to be associated with Jesus in His time of weakness because he did not understand the battle plan of the Lord. God can use what appears to be defeat to win a great victory.
The apostle Paul was beset with weakness that the power of God might rest on his ministry.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NKJV
As we minister, as representatives of Christ, it appears there is a healthy tension between the ministry of The Lion and the ministry of The Lamb. So that men do not follow after the power of God more than the God of power, it is necessary that Christ’s ministers suffer various distresses and weaknesses, at times. It is also a safeguard against pride for those who minister the power of God.
Peter’s hurts and disappointments did not go unresolved. Even though he thought it was all over, and decided to go back to fishing, he was probably tormented in his mind. I can imagine Jesus’ words ringing continually in his ears: “before the cock crows twice you shall have denied Me three times.” Peter then saying to himself: “I am a failure and Jesus knew it all the time; what good was it to follow Him around all those years just to end up like this?”
God knows our weakness but will continue to pursue us to get us back on road to fulfilling our call and destiny. Peter had been passionate about walking with Jesus but that flame had been strangely snuffed out by hurt and disappointment. After the resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and John while they were out fishing. (See John 21) Jesus pursues Peter with the intention of restoring his confidence in who he was called to be. Though Peter had denied knowing Jesus, he had learned a valuable lesson.
We must also learn from our failures, disappointments and hurts and not allow them to take us off the mission field. No matter what we have done to fail the Lord, or what others have done to disappoint us, we dare not allow those things to send us back to where we were before we met the Lord or heard His call to come and follow. Like Peter or Paul, we can expect conflict and hardship to be part of our Christian walk.
The passion of the Lord Jesus was demonstrated primarily when He suffered and died on the cross for our sins. Saul’s great passion was a misdirected zeal for God but when he encountered Jesus on the Damascus road, he was dramatically changed. Even his name was changed to Paul and, thereafter, God showed him the things that he would suffer for the sake of Christ. I used to think he was getting paid back for all the pain he had caused, but I realized, later, that Jesus was allowing Paul to share in His sufferings at the hands of sinners. Without experiencing these sufferings, Paul would not have truly known the heart of God.
Knowing Jesus, and having the ability to identify fully with Him, requires that we be partakers in His sufferings. If ever anyone suffered rejection, it was Jesus. He was the stone that the builders rejected. He came to His own people but they rejected Him as an imposter. If ever there was a case for disappointment and hurt it was Jesus. But to those who received Him, He gave the power to become the children of God.
2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself. NKJV
We must not allow hurts or disappointments to kill our passion. On the other hand, we must understand that the passion of the Lord can be painful and can include hurts and disappointments. We must discern if we are suffering for our faith and walk with Christ or if it is for our own faults, including unhealed wounds.
1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: NKJV
There is no reward in suffering from unhealed wounds or unresolved disappointments; we have been called and appointed to suffer for the righteous cause of Christ. Walking in His steps will lead us there, but our reward will be great in heaven.
Matt 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. NKJV
All Christians, at one time or another, will face the reality of hurts and disappointments. Our response to them is really the key issue. They can either make us bitter or better. In the church, many hurts are the result of being offended with another member of the body of Christ. I know, from my own experience, that unresolved hurts and disappointments are like an unhealed wound, very sensitive to the touch. Just as a physical wound can be hurt by bumping into it, so an emotional wound can be reopened by normal interaction with other people. If we are hurt by another’s words, it is likely because we still have an open wound from a previous incident. Only forgiveness brings closure to these types of hurts.
It is recorded in scripture that Jesus, Himself, offended many people. The great physician came to heal the broken hearted and to bind up their wounds. Just as a doctor can discover painful areas in our body during an examination, so Jesus wants to reveal painful areas in our lives for the purpose of healing them. It is possible to misinterpret what is going on when these things come to the surface.
Jesus’ disciples were seemingly embarrassed that the Pharisees were offended at His words.
Matt 11:6 ”And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me."
Matt 15:12 Then His disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" NKJV
The Pharisees thought they were exposing a fault in Jesus because He and His followers were eating corn while in the field. They believed a man was defiled if he ate without first washing his hands. Jesus made it clear that a man was defiled by the words that proceeded out of his mouth, not by the food that went in to it. By this response Jesus not only corrected the belief of the Pharisees but exposed their evil intentions to discredit Him. Jesus used their accusation to reveal their own ignorance and, in the process, caused them great embarrassment. Had their question come from someone who was teachable, and with honest intentions, I am sure Jesus’ response would not have offended them.
Jesus’ own followers were offended at Him on more than one occasion.
Mark 14:27 Then Jesus said to them, "All of you will be made to stumble because of Me this night, for it is written:
'I will strike the Shepherd,
And the sheep will be scattered.'
Mark 14:29 Peter said to Him, "Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be."
30 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." NKJV
Peter was sure that he would never be offended, or stumble, concerning his association with the Lord. It is easier said than done; we only know our own hearts when the test comes. When God tests us it is not for His benefit but for ours. Peter witnessed Jesus’ might and power over sickness and disease”: even the wind and the waves obeyed His voice. Suddenly, it appeared, He had lost it all. Their champion had cast out devils and even raised the dead; now He was allowing simple men to order Him around and spit in His face. Previously Jesus had confounded them with His words and amazed them with His wisdom.
John 7:44-46 Now some of them wanted to take Him, but no one laid hands on Him.
45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why have you not brought Him?" 46 The officers answered, "No man ever spoke like this Man!" NKJV
These officers were sent out to gather evidence of wrong doing and to arrest Jesus and bring Him in. They were so overwhelmed by the authority of His words that they felt they dare not try anything against Him. On other occasions some asked Him questions hoping to catch Him off guard or to cause Him to contradict Himself, but they were not successful. In fact, they were afraid to ask any more questions lest they look even more foolish.
When the time appointed of the Father had come, Jesus changed His mode of operation, so to speak. Suddenly it was as if Jesus’ closest followers had wakened from a dream. He was no longer the powerful, wise King they had known. Peter was ready to chop heads in defense of Jesus when they came to arrest Him, but now things had taken a strange turn. The powerful lion of the tribe of Judah had become a weak and helpless lamb. Peter and the others that had walked close to Jesus were now backing away, not wanting to be associated with Him.
Peter was put on the spot and questioned concerning his association with Jesus: he denied ever knowing Him. His denial, in a sense, may have been truth. This was not the same Jesus he had been with for over three years. Peter had no problem identifying with the powerful Jesus but when He became like a lamb, that did not open His mouth to save His own hide, Peter may have felt ashamed of Him. How many of us would rather be associated with a popular and powerful minister than one who had been taken prisoner and put on death row for preaching the gospel? It is very likely that Peter did not want to be associated with Jesus in His time of weakness because he did not understand the battle plan of the Lord. God can use what appears to be defeat to win a great victory.
The apostle Paul was beset with weakness that the power of God might rest on his ministry.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NKJV
As we minister, as representatives of Christ, it appears there is a healthy tension between the ministry of The Lion and the ministry of The Lamb. So that men do not follow after the power of God more than the God of power, it is necessary that Christ’s ministers suffer various distresses and weaknesses, at times. It is also a safeguard against pride for those who minister the power of God.
Peter’s hurts and disappointments did not go unresolved. Even though he thought it was all over, and decided to go back to fishing, he was probably tormented in his mind. I can imagine Jesus’ words ringing continually in his ears: “before the cock crows twice you shall have denied Me three times.” Peter then saying to himself: “I am a failure and Jesus knew it all the time; what good was it to follow Him around all those years just to end up like this?”
God knows our weakness but will continue to pursue us to get us back on road to fulfilling our call and destiny. Peter had been passionate about walking with Jesus but that flame had been strangely snuffed out by hurt and disappointment. After the resurrection, Jesus came to Peter and John while they were out fishing. (See John 21) Jesus pursues Peter with the intention of restoring his confidence in who he was called to be. Though Peter had denied knowing Jesus, he had learned a valuable lesson.
We must also learn from our failures, disappointments and hurts and not allow them to take us off the mission field. No matter what we have done to fail the Lord, or what others have done to disappoint us, we dare not allow those things to send us back to where we were before we met the Lord or heard His call to come and follow. Like Peter or Paul, we can expect conflict and hardship to be part of our Christian walk.
The passion of the Lord Jesus was demonstrated primarily when He suffered and died on the cross for our sins. Saul’s great passion was a misdirected zeal for God but when he encountered Jesus on the Damascus road, he was dramatically changed. Even his name was changed to Paul and, thereafter, God showed him the things that he would suffer for the sake of Christ. I used to think he was getting paid back for all the pain he had caused, but I realized, later, that Jesus was allowing Paul to share in His sufferings at the hands of sinners. Without experiencing these sufferings, Paul would not have truly known the heart of God.
Knowing Jesus, and having the ability to identify fully with Him, requires that we be partakers in His sufferings. If ever anyone suffered rejection, it was Jesus. He was the stone that the builders rejected. He came to His own people but they rejected Him as an imposter. If ever there was a case for disappointment and hurt it was Jesus. But to those who received Him, He gave the power to become the children of God.
2 Tim 2:8 Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, 9 for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. 10 Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.
11 This is a faithful saying:
For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself. NKJV
We must not allow hurts or disappointments to kill our passion. On the other hand, we must understand that the passion of the Lord can be painful and can include hurts and disappointments. We must discern if we are suffering for our faith and walk with Christ or if it is for our own faults, including unhealed wounds.
1 Peter 2:20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: NKJV
There is no reward in suffering from unhealed wounds or unresolved disappointments; we have been called and appointed to suffer for the righteous cause of Christ. Walking in His steps will lead us there, but our reward will be great in heaven.
Matt 5:11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. NKJV
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Passion Killers II
Passivity / Complacency
Passivity is like being in neutral, not responding to outside force, remaining inactive when acted upon. A passive person has the “whatever will be, will be” attitude, believing they have no significant part in shaping their future or destiny. Complacency is being self satisfied, lacking desire. Both of these conditions will thrive best in a faithless atmosphere. Unbelief is most likely the root cause of passivity. The very nature of faith is change, growth, and movement, just like a fire.
Passion is strong desire, love, fervor, and anger. It is like an unsatisfied fire that will not stop until it has consumed everything. Passivity or complacency would act like a flame retardant, preventing its spread, like throwing cold water on another’s excitement.
In the book of Acts, it was the fire of the Spirit of God that erupted among Jesus’ disciples, which effectively led to multitudes being added to the Kingdom. The spread of the gospel could be compared to the spreading of a forest fire driven by the wind. The early church burned with the passion of the Spirit of God and it grew in numbers daily. Many rose up against the spread of the gospel but it seemed as though the more they tried to swat out the flames, the more it spread.
Passivity can be seen as a safe choice. If we are not sure what to do we choose to do nothing. We can stay out of trouble and preserve a favorable reputation by remaining neutral. There are some countries that choose to stay out of world conflicts and remain neutral, while others will not sit idly by, or look the other way, while injustice occurs. Over the years, the choice to be active and stand up in defense of other nations has proven to be very unpopular. In other words, passivity has become a preferred stance because it doesn’t cost in loss of lives, money, or reputations.
The same can be true for individual believers, as well as the church as a body. World opinion should not be a factor in what we do as Spirit filled, Spirit led believers. The fire of passion for the cause of Christ never has been a popular thing because it is not passive. It will not stay idle while injustice runs rampant across the world. On the other hand, what we do passionately must be led and fueled by the Holy Spirit.
God is love and love is passionate. He is also a jealous God that will not sit quietly by.
2 Corinthians 11:1-3 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. NLT
These are very strong and difficult words expressed by Paul. It was God’s passion through jealousy over His bride. Just as Eve had entertained the cunning ways of the serpent, the Corinthian church was entertaining a different spirit, a different gospel and another Jesus. Paul was feeling the jealousy of God over His bride, not because the fake gospel and another Jesus showed up in church, but because His bride was enamored with the imposter. The one who had been espoused to be married to Christ appeared to be openly considering other offers.
There is a Godly jealously and there is a jealously that has been perverted by the world. I have heard stories of husbands who were so insecure in their relationship with their wives that they were always checking up on them and suspicious of any interaction they had with other men. They were constantly questioning the motives of their wives and, in doing so, actually caused great division rather than unity in their marriages. This type of jealousy has even driven men to commit murder.
Anger is another godly passion that has too often gone awry. The scripture says “be angry but do not sin.” Like jealousy, uncontrolled anger can lead to murder. These various passions must be under the control of the Holy Spirit. We do not want to be like Saul of Tarsus, who being very zealous in the Jewish religion of his day, found himself fighting against the God he thought he was working for.
Love is another strong desire that the world has warped the true meaning of. Love is a passion, like a flame that burns within, but if we are steeped in the world’s understanding of love, we see it as a means for getting certain temporary human desires met. The true love from God causes us to focus on giving and looking after the needs of others first, especially our own family. As Christians we know what is of God and what is of the world, but it is not always easy to do things God’s way. The world promotes instant gratification; the church can easily be drawn into the same trap.
My past experience with passions has caused me to take a very cautious approach to life. Without realizing it, I chose passivity as a way to control the passions in my life. For many years I used the passion of anger in the place of a bold authority. As a boy growing, I observed two methods of expressing authority. One was a commanding voice that struck fear into the hearer and the other was violent anger that did the same. Either one got immediate action and the desired results. Though neither of these methods created a pleasant atmosphere, they were my only frame of reference. Since I did not have the booming voice of authority and since anger came to me so naturally, I resorted to anger.
The bible says to be angry but without sin. The trick for me was to know where the sin lie was. Anger seemed to be what worked for me. I got the desired results but they came at the expense of good healthy relationships. Though there is a boldness of God’s authority that can be expressed through righteous anger, I was only familiar with the unrighteous kind. As a Christian, learning how to express anger in a godly fashion has been difficult. The same can be said about love. In the world I learned passionate love in the grip of sin’s lustful desires. As a Christian, I have to learn love by the Holy Spirit and believe that He will lead me and guide me into all truth.
Coming out of passivity means that I must face all these difficult challenges head on. As a Christian I can not stay in a comfort zone of passivity or allow old mind sets to dictate my future. I must allow God to set fire to my life and allow those godly passions, that the world has perverted, to come alive again. I must trust that His fire will purify and cleanse me where the world’s passion flame has defiled and polluted me. I must trust that His voice of authority will be heard in me and that His righteous anger will rise up in me, when need be. I must allow His jealousy for His bride to flow through me, as it did through Paul, that I would not hesitate to communicate the true heart of God for His church in every situation. I must not be intimidated by worldly passions that would try to bring fear to keep me from expressing God’s love for people. I must trust Him to lead me and guide me into all truth.
Passivity is like being in neutral, not responding to outside force, remaining inactive when acted upon. A passive person has the “whatever will be, will be” attitude, believing they have no significant part in shaping their future or destiny. Complacency is being self satisfied, lacking desire. Both of these conditions will thrive best in a faithless atmosphere. Unbelief is most likely the root cause of passivity. The very nature of faith is change, growth, and movement, just like a fire.
Passion is strong desire, love, fervor, and anger. It is like an unsatisfied fire that will not stop until it has consumed everything. Passivity or complacency would act like a flame retardant, preventing its spread, like throwing cold water on another’s excitement.
In the book of Acts, it was the fire of the Spirit of God that erupted among Jesus’ disciples, which effectively led to multitudes being added to the Kingdom. The spread of the gospel could be compared to the spreading of a forest fire driven by the wind. The early church burned with the passion of the Spirit of God and it grew in numbers daily. Many rose up against the spread of the gospel but it seemed as though the more they tried to swat out the flames, the more it spread.
Passivity can be seen as a safe choice. If we are not sure what to do we choose to do nothing. We can stay out of trouble and preserve a favorable reputation by remaining neutral. There are some countries that choose to stay out of world conflicts and remain neutral, while others will not sit idly by, or look the other way, while injustice occurs. Over the years, the choice to be active and stand up in defense of other nations has proven to be very unpopular. In other words, passivity has become a preferred stance because it doesn’t cost in loss of lives, money, or reputations.
The same can be true for individual believers, as well as the church as a body. World opinion should not be a factor in what we do as Spirit filled, Spirit led believers. The fire of passion for the cause of Christ never has been a popular thing because it is not passive. It will not stay idle while injustice runs rampant across the world. On the other hand, what we do passionately must be led and fueled by the Holy Spirit.
God is love and love is passionate. He is also a jealous God that will not sit quietly by.
2 Corinthians 11:1-3 I hope you will put up with a little more of my foolishness. Please bear with me. 2 For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ. 3 But I fear that somehow your pure and undivided devotion to Christ will be corrupted, just as Eve was deceived by the cunning ways of the serpent. NLT
These are very strong and difficult words expressed by Paul. It was God’s passion through jealousy over His bride. Just as Eve had entertained the cunning ways of the serpent, the Corinthian church was entertaining a different spirit, a different gospel and another Jesus. Paul was feeling the jealousy of God over His bride, not because the fake gospel and another Jesus showed up in church, but because His bride was enamored with the imposter. The one who had been espoused to be married to Christ appeared to be openly considering other offers.
There is a Godly jealously and there is a jealously that has been perverted by the world. I have heard stories of husbands who were so insecure in their relationship with their wives that they were always checking up on them and suspicious of any interaction they had with other men. They were constantly questioning the motives of their wives and, in doing so, actually caused great division rather than unity in their marriages. This type of jealousy has even driven men to commit murder.
Anger is another godly passion that has too often gone awry. The scripture says “be angry but do not sin.” Like jealousy, uncontrolled anger can lead to murder. These various passions must be under the control of the Holy Spirit. We do not want to be like Saul of Tarsus, who being very zealous in the Jewish religion of his day, found himself fighting against the God he thought he was working for.
Love is another strong desire that the world has warped the true meaning of. Love is a passion, like a flame that burns within, but if we are steeped in the world’s understanding of love, we see it as a means for getting certain temporary human desires met. The true love from God causes us to focus on giving and looking after the needs of others first, especially our own family. As Christians we know what is of God and what is of the world, but it is not always easy to do things God’s way. The world promotes instant gratification; the church can easily be drawn into the same trap.
My past experience with passions has caused me to take a very cautious approach to life. Without realizing it, I chose passivity as a way to control the passions in my life. For many years I used the passion of anger in the place of a bold authority. As a boy growing, I observed two methods of expressing authority. One was a commanding voice that struck fear into the hearer and the other was violent anger that did the same. Either one got immediate action and the desired results. Though neither of these methods created a pleasant atmosphere, they were my only frame of reference. Since I did not have the booming voice of authority and since anger came to me so naturally, I resorted to anger.
The bible says to be angry but without sin. The trick for me was to know where the sin lie was. Anger seemed to be what worked for me. I got the desired results but they came at the expense of good healthy relationships. Though there is a boldness of God’s authority that can be expressed through righteous anger, I was only familiar with the unrighteous kind. As a Christian, learning how to express anger in a godly fashion has been difficult. The same can be said about love. In the world I learned passionate love in the grip of sin’s lustful desires. As a Christian, I have to learn love by the Holy Spirit and believe that He will lead me and guide me into all truth.
Coming out of passivity means that I must face all these difficult challenges head on. As a Christian I can not stay in a comfort zone of passivity or allow old mind sets to dictate my future. I must allow God to set fire to my life and allow those godly passions, that the world has perverted, to come alive again. I must trust that His fire will purify and cleanse me where the world’s passion flame has defiled and polluted me. I must trust that His voice of authority will be heard in me and that His righteous anger will rise up in me, when need be. I must allow His jealousy for His bride to flow through me, as it did through Paul, that I would not hesitate to communicate the true heart of God for His church in every situation. I must not be intimidated by worldly passions that would try to bring fear to keep me from expressing God’s love for people. I must trust Him to lead me and guide me into all truth.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Passion Killers I
American Idols
Gen 1:25-28 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." NKJV
God created man in His own image and likeness, then gave him dominion over all the earth and every other living thing He had created. Before sin entered, idolatry was not an issue. It would have been total ignorance and forfeiture of authority to bow down and worship the things they had been given dominion over. But, because of the depravity of sin, man has even worshiped the very dust he was formed from. God found it necessary to give man the commandments engraved in stone as a warning against forgetting God and the purpose for which He created man.
Ex 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me. NKJV
Man was created with worship as part of his DNA. Because of sin, man lost sight of God, resulting in his need for a visible god. Man worships the visible creation in place of the one who created it. Rom 1:20-25 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. NKJV
Instead of giving glory and honor to the invisible God who made all visible things, man, under the guise of wisdom, foolishly bowed to worship the things he was given dominion over. Our worship ascribes worth to the thing or person that we worship. We declare the object of our worship to be of much greater worth and power than we are. If we worship an idol, we are giving it power over us and esteeming it to be greater in value than we are.
If we consider the value of the sacrifice Christ paid for our salvation, we have to conclude there is no created thing more valuable than human life and our relationship with our creator. It would be a real slap in God’s face to give ourselves in submission to idols, esteeming them of greater value than what He paid for us. God is the only one that is greater and deserves our worship. Even though we are to honor and respect other created beings, be it man or angel, we are never to worship them or value them more than the one who created us all.
We become like the one we trust in. Ps 135:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 17 They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. NKJV
America’s idols are not likely graven images of silver, gold, wood, or stone but are more likely images printed on the pages of magazines or projected on a screen. Considering the amount of time Americans spend in front of a computer, or television, just to be entertained, we have to admit it fits the definition of idolatry. Of course, anything can become an idol: an automobile, a home, a person or anything we believe we could not live without. If our life is dependant upon anything more than God, we have made it an idol.
Idolatry kills passion for God. He is our source of passion fuel. Our passion flame is to be fueled by the oil of the Holy Spirit. Like a lamp that burns bright, we must have oil in our lamps to be ready for the coming of the bridegroom. The world offers us all sorts of passion fuels but we were not designed to burn with worldly passion.
A few years ago I was given a picture showing a believer like a fireplace, with a glass door over the opening. When we have the fire of God in us, the glass stays perfectly clear and the inner parts of the fireplace remain bright and clean, as new. The glass represents our vision and the inner parts represent our inner most being. As long as the flame continued to feed on the fuel of the Holy Spirit, we were made even more pure and had greater vision and understanding of truth. Then I saw a fire being fueled by the things of this world, the things the flesh lusts for. The fire began to smoke and soot began to build up on all parts of the fireplace. The believer’s vision was reduced to zero and their inner parts were defiled with the soot and ash from the burning garbage.
Like a fireplace we, as believers, are built to burn. Our lives are designed to run on holy passion fuel. If we do not get it from the right source, it spells disaster. The world’s passion fuel is supplied through covetousness which is equal to idolatry.
Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. NKJV
God says to cut off the fuel hose of the world and connect up to His Spirit.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; NKJV
Idolatry has a snowball effect. It robs us of vision and revelation, causing us to think we need more of the same, which only leads to greater blindness. Spiritual blindness causes God’s people to cast off restraints and enter deeper into sin and idolatry. It becomes a vicious cycle that only the intervention of God can break. God’s word equips us with an idol detection system, establishing Godly restraints to protect us from the enemy’s snare.
Psalms 106:35 But they mingled with the Gentile and learned their works;
36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons,
38 And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters NKJV
Doesn’t this sound familiar? Is America into idolatry or what? We desperately need the intervention of God.
They, in verse 35, refers to God’s people learning the ways of the unbeliever and entering into the same idolatry, becoming ensnared by it. It even led them into the unthinkable: sacrificing their own children to demonic idols.
All this is preventable; we need to be ablaze with a passionate love for God. We are the light of the world, but if our light be hidden because of idolatry how will the world ever see?
Matt 6:22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?
NKJV
The lust of the eyes leads to covetousness, which is idolatry. The covetous eye is made dark and the lamp is put out.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. NKJV
The devil himself has transformed into an angel of light, but he is of the kingdom of darkness and has no true light. If a believer is into idolatry, yet claims to have the light, the source of his light is from the kingdom of darkness and is doubly dark.
Gen 1:25-28 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." NKJV
God created man in His own image and likeness, then gave him dominion over all the earth and every other living thing He had created. Before sin entered, idolatry was not an issue. It would have been total ignorance and forfeiture of authority to bow down and worship the things they had been given dominion over. But, because of the depravity of sin, man has even worshiped the very dust he was formed from. God found it necessary to give man the commandments engraved in stone as a warning against forgetting God and the purpose for which He created man.
Ex 20:3 "You shall have no other gods before Me. 4 "You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me. NKJV
Man was created with worship as part of his DNA. Because of sin, man lost sight of God, resulting in his need for a visible god. Man worships the visible creation in place of the one who created it. Rom 1:20-25 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. NKJV
Instead of giving glory and honor to the invisible God who made all visible things, man, under the guise of wisdom, foolishly bowed to worship the things he was given dominion over. Our worship ascribes worth to the thing or person that we worship. We declare the object of our worship to be of much greater worth and power than we are. If we worship an idol, we are giving it power over us and esteeming it to be greater in value than we are.
If we consider the value of the sacrifice Christ paid for our salvation, we have to conclude there is no created thing more valuable than human life and our relationship with our creator. It would be a real slap in God’s face to give ourselves in submission to idols, esteeming them of greater value than what He paid for us. God is the only one that is greater and deserves our worship. Even though we are to honor and respect other created beings, be it man or angel, we are never to worship them or value them more than the one who created us all.
We become like the one we trust in. Ps 135:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, The work of men's hands. 16 They have mouths, but they do not speak; Eyes they have, but they do not see; 17 They have ears, but they do not hear; Nor is there any breath in their mouths. 18 Those who make them are like them; So is everyone who trusts in them. NKJV
America’s idols are not likely graven images of silver, gold, wood, or stone but are more likely images printed on the pages of magazines or projected on a screen. Considering the amount of time Americans spend in front of a computer, or television, just to be entertained, we have to admit it fits the definition of idolatry. Of course, anything can become an idol: an automobile, a home, a person or anything we believe we could not live without. If our life is dependant upon anything more than God, we have made it an idol.
Idolatry kills passion for God. He is our source of passion fuel. Our passion flame is to be fueled by the oil of the Holy Spirit. Like a lamp that burns bright, we must have oil in our lamps to be ready for the coming of the bridegroom. The world offers us all sorts of passion fuels but we were not designed to burn with worldly passion.
A few years ago I was given a picture showing a believer like a fireplace, with a glass door over the opening. When we have the fire of God in us, the glass stays perfectly clear and the inner parts of the fireplace remain bright and clean, as new. The glass represents our vision and the inner parts represent our inner most being. As long as the flame continued to feed on the fuel of the Holy Spirit, we were made even more pure and had greater vision and understanding of truth. Then I saw a fire being fueled by the things of this world, the things the flesh lusts for. The fire began to smoke and soot began to build up on all parts of the fireplace. The believer’s vision was reduced to zero and their inner parts were defiled with the soot and ash from the burning garbage.
Like a fireplace we, as believers, are built to burn. Our lives are designed to run on holy passion fuel. If we do not get it from the right source, it spells disaster. The world’s passion fuel is supplied through covetousness which is equal to idolatry.
Col 3:5 Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. NKJV
God says to cut off the fuel hose of the world and connect up to His Spirit.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; NKJV
Idolatry has a snowball effect. It robs us of vision and revelation, causing us to think we need more of the same, which only leads to greater blindness. Spiritual blindness causes God’s people to cast off restraints and enter deeper into sin and idolatry. It becomes a vicious cycle that only the intervention of God can break. God’s word equips us with an idol detection system, establishing Godly restraints to protect us from the enemy’s snare.
Psalms 106:35 But they mingled with the Gentile and learned their works;
36 They served their idols, which became a snare to them.
37 They even sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons,
38 And shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters NKJV
Doesn’t this sound familiar? Is America into idolatry or what? We desperately need the intervention of God.
They, in verse 35, refers to God’s people learning the ways of the unbeliever and entering into the same idolatry, becoming ensnared by it. It even led them into the unthinkable: sacrificing their own children to demonic idols.
All this is preventable; we need to be ablaze with a passionate love for God. We are the light of the world, but if our light be hidden because of idolatry how will the world ever see?
Matt 6:22 "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness?
NKJV
The lust of the eyes leads to covetousness, which is idolatry. The covetous eye is made dark and the lamp is put out.
2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. NKJV
The devil himself has transformed into an angel of light, but he is of the kingdom of darkness and has no true light. If a believer is into idolatry, yet claims to have the light, the source of his light is from the kingdom of darkness and is doubly dark.
The World is Watching
What influence do we have?
As Christians, we are the representatives of Christ to our world. Our mission is to lead lost people into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Some have focused on God’s laws and want to begin by confronting lost people with their failures. That kind of approach tends to make Christians look more like holy policemen rather than a search and rescue team. Confronting first will most likely drive lost people further away, not bring them closer. There is a time to confront people with their sin but, in most cases, they will not receive our correction until they sense our care and protection.
Jesus came to fulfill the law, not necessarily to enforce it. Love is the fulfilling of the law. The New Covenant uses new methods to deal with the sin problem. Rather than using the fear of punishment or death as a primary strategy, we use faith: seeing the things that are not as though they were. Rather than focusing on and speaking to the problem, we focus on the solution. Eradicating sin from our lives will only occur when we become like Christ; that takes place as we behold Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV
We are changed as we look upon the one who never changes. We are the canvas that the Spirit of God paints the image of Christ upon. As we position ourselves before Him, His image is reflected upon us by His glory.
James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV
There could be two implications for those who look into the word, then go their way without putting it to practice. Not only is it possible to overlook needed change in our lives, but also to miss being transformed by looking upon the glorious image of Christ. We can easily forget what manner of men we are intended to be as well.
If the world is having trouble seeing Jesus, it may be that our reflector is aimed in the wrong direction. Some years ago I sensed the Lord’s gentle rebuke concerning my use of the mirror of His word. I was holding it as if it were a rear view mirror, checking out my neighbor’s faults while overlooking my own; like trying to remove the speck from his eye while having a log in my own eye. I was like the one who looked into the mirror of the word and went my way without seeing my own condition. I was self deceived, thinking I was already presentable. Little did I realize, I was not seeing Jesus as the true standard of righteousness; I was comparing myself to my neighbor. Seeing his faults made me look good in my own eyes. I measured my own righteousness by the failures of men, rather than the glory of Christ.
Faith sees what we are becoming, primarily, yet does not deny our present condition. Faith must have action or it is dead. Faith that works is acting like the one we are becoming rather than the person we are leaving behind. Looking into the mirror of the word reveals our faults, but not for the purpose reinforcing defeat. It is to show us our need for a savior. We must not dwell on our faults, but look upon the glory of the perfect Son of God and see our selves in Him. Keeping our gaze on Him reinforces who we truly are by faith. Faith continues to believe and focuses on Christ, trusting in God to form us into His image.
Having a confident identity in Christ will greatly influence others to receive Him. The world is watching and looking for someone to follow. They will follow someone who can convince them they can produce what they promise.
As Christians, we are the representatives of Christ to our world. Our mission is to lead lost people into a relationship with our Heavenly Father. Some have focused on God’s laws and want to begin by confronting lost people with their failures. That kind of approach tends to make Christians look more like holy policemen rather than a search and rescue team. Confronting first will most likely drive lost people further away, not bring them closer. There is a time to confront people with their sin but, in most cases, they will not receive our correction until they sense our care and protection.
Jesus came to fulfill the law, not necessarily to enforce it. Love is the fulfilling of the law. The New Covenant uses new methods to deal with the sin problem. Rather than using the fear of punishment or death as a primary strategy, we use faith: seeing the things that are not as though they were. Rather than focusing on and speaking to the problem, we focus on the solution. Eradicating sin from our lives will only occur when we become like Christ; that takes place as we behold Him.
2 Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. NKJV
We are changed as we look upon the one who never changes. We are the canvas that the Spirit of God paints the image of Christ upon. As we position ourselves before Him, His image is reflected upon us by His glory.
James 1:22-25 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. NKJV
There could be two implications for those who look into the word, then go their way without putting it to practice. Not only is it possible to overlook needed change in our lives, but also to miss being transformed by looking upon the glorious image of Christ. We can easily forget what manner of men we are intended to be as well.
If the world is having trouble seeing Jesus, it may be that our reflector is aimed in the wrong direction. Some years ago I sensed the Lord’s gentle rebuke concerning my use of the mirror of His word. I was holding it as if it were a rear view mirror, checking out my neighbor’s faults while overlooking my own; like trying to remove the speck from his eye while having a log in my own eye. I was like the one who looked into the mirror of the word and went my way without seeing my own condition. I was self deceived, thinking I was already presentable. Little did I realize, I was not seeing Jesus as the true standard of righteousness; I was comparing myself to my neighbor. Seeing his faults made me look good in my own eyes. I measured my own righteousness by the failures of men, rather than the glory of Christ.
Faith sees what we are becoming, primarily, yet does not deny our present condition. Faith must have action or it is dead. Faith that works is acting like the one we are becoming rather than the person we are leaving behind. Looking into the mirror of the word reveals our faults, but not for the purpose reinforcing defeat. It is to show us our need for a savior. We must not dwell on our faults, but look upon the glory of the perfect Son of God and see our selves in Him. Keeping our gaze on Him reinforces who we truly are by faith. Faith continues to believe and focuses on Christ, trusting in God to form us into His image.
Having a confident identity in Christ will greatly influence others to receive Him. The world is watching and looking for someone to follow. They will follow someone who can convince them they can produce what they promise.
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