Monday, December 20, 2010

A Key to Spiritual Maturity...For God So Loved...

What is a answer or the key to obtaining spiritual maturity? What will allow a person to cross from carnal (living from their human perspective) to a grounded or mature faith? Is it passion for the things of God? Is it disciplining oneself in the things of God? Is it daily dying to self?

It's Christmas time and I'm musing over so many wonderful Christmas classics. I was a music major when I started college and loved going daily to choir rehearsal. We performed Handel's Messiah during the Christmas season and it was a highlight of my college experience. I was somewhat ignorant to the fact that these amazingly beautiful songs were written by a man who was inspired by the Bible and the truth in the scriptures. Previous to college I had barely read any of the Bible. I had a knowledge based on what others told me the Scripture said.

I did know a few scriptures and one was "For God so loved the world that he gave is only Son that whoever would believe on Him would not perish and have everlasting or eternal life." (John 3:16) Many people on the planet know this verse of scripture and I think most who do know it take it for granted. But there is power in this--the gospel. It says in Romans 1 that "gospel is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." Imagine for a moment if you had no knowledge of the Father's love toward you.

So if this truth--knowing of His love to send Jesus is so essential, why does it seem to be such a neglected subject in the Church? When was the last time we heard a sermon or a series preached in worship service about the Father's Love?

We hear about repenting and service and dedicating our lives to prayer. We have it preached many times a year about the importance of the Great Commission. All these subject are indeed important. But none of these subjects will penetrate and CHANGE or TRANSFORM the human heart.

Knowing or experiencing the Love of God is what will penetrate a heart. Knowing His Passion for you will bring you to life. Preaching it to others will ignite a zeal within you that cannot be quenched. All those other subject (all important) will not cause you to become intoxicated by His purpose for your life.

I challenge you this Christmas season to meditate and speak aloud "The Father loves me...He loves me...He sent His Son --my Savior--for me. He loves me and desires me." Speaking this aloud causes a fresh belief within your soul. It changes you...it will change you and bring you passion in your heart and soul.

Here is a new song I discovered that stirs the Gift within me. Beloved by Tenth Avenue North

And the Government Shall be Upon His Shoulder

Handel's Messiah is my favorite Christmas music and the song "For Unto Us a Child is Born" is top of the list in my opinion. The fluid harmony touches my heart in a profound way.... "And the government shall be upon His shoulders...." And then the list of the Names that we know Him by: Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, the Everlasting Father the Prince of Peace. There should be no doubt our God has plans to bless His people not curse.

But the phrase "and the government shall be upon His shoulders" does make one wonder the meaning. I used to thinking that Rome was cruel and the phrase meant that Jesus would be put to death by an actual government. That makes some sense... but it did not bring me hope. It was just an explanation.

The word dominion if you look it up in the original language is misrah which means "rule, dominion, government" This word misah is from a root word sarah which means "contend, have power, contend with, persist, exert oneself, persevere to persevere, contend with." So dominion shall be upon His shoulders.

His sacrifice conquered or took dominion over everything that appears to be a curse in my life.

I was worried this morning that some junk from my past would continue to follow me and my children for the rest of my life. It was heavy on my heart and I heard over and over the part of the song "And the government shall be upon His shoulders" So I looked up the word government...I will tell you it set me free. It did give me HOPE.

We have to accept as the truth that what Jesus did at the cross HAS given us ETERNAL life and that starts today. If it was meant just for heaven then it would be called life for tomorrow. But it's LIFE for NOW. If something looks like a curse in my life then I will just BELIEVE that my Savior carried that on His shoulders 2000 years ago and paid the price. I choose to believe that He already took care of it for me.

The scripture from Isaiah is prophecy about what our Messiah would accomplish...But we know He's already did it. All the promises of God are in HIM (Jesus) yes and Amen! Done! He said Himself from the Cross "It is finished". But will I choose to believe and receive or doubt and go without? I am not waiting for Him to save me from my ignorant mess....I've believing that what He did on the cross already delivered me and I am walking in a victorious life. He came to set the captives free and I declare I am free and so are my children! AMEN!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.

Monday, December 13, 2010

Psalms 37 Countering Worry and Fear

The beginning of this Psalm encourages us to not fret if people wrong us or if it seems like evil doers are getting ahead. To me fretting is a form of worry and can lead to feelings of anxiety. Anxiety robs the believer of the fullness of joy and living the way the Father intends for His People. Since I lived with severe anxiety for so many decades I want to know what the Word says about countering it.

There are seven verbs in the first few verses of Psalms 37 that help us to counter fretting. These actions should be building one upon the other with trusting or having confidence in our Heavenly Father as our firm foundation.

Trust: "batach" To have confidence in our LORD which should lead us to doing good. The trusting or confidence is in the character of our LORD. This doing good would be the same as a healthy plant producing fruit. The plant does not set out to work doing good but produces based in how the plant is rooted. This trusting should also lead us to dwelling where God intends for us and being fed properly. Isn't that what we all need, to feel established and satisfied?

Delight: "anag" To be delicate or to be pampered in the LORD which leads to Him giving us our desires. Delight also means to enjoy. It has an intimate quality like a husband and wife enjoying the company of each other. This word "gives" is the same as giving a gift or bestowing on someone a blessing. When you really enjoy the company of an other, it is a natural thing to desire to lavish them with gifts.

Commit: "galal" To roll away or roll together your ways to the LORD. This implies that you both have the same goals or plans. If two people have the same purpose they will not be countering what one another is saying or doing. Agree with God! Agree with Him that the relationship you both have is based on your trust in what Jesus accomplished for you through His sacrifice. If you are trying to work to please God and He is trying to show you that the price is already been paid for you then this will be counterproductive.

Rest: "damam" quietness, stillness, literally not speaking in the LORD and at the same time "wait patiently" or "chuwl" which is a word that means to dance or whirl about... one of the definitions is "to be born" like it's a struggle to get out of the womb. There are seasons when stuff is flying at you and it seems like speaking to it would be the best defense but this part of the structure (strong tower) of defeating anxiety is to just zip the lip and use your energy to see whatever it is that the LORD is birthing in your life.

Cease "raphah" from anger: which means to sink or slack. Forsake "azab" wrath....abandon venomous poison. There will be days you would love to be angry until you see 100% deliverance from whatever might be causing you to feel fretful. But this encourages us to just not attempt to fix it our self. Abandon poisonous stuff that would keep us bound to the situation.

The remainder of the Psalm is about knowing that God will deliver us out of our troubles and that evil will not win. Well, guess what?!!! I have really Good News for you. In 2 Corinthians 1 Paul explains that all the promises of God (all the Bible) are in Him (our Savior Jesus) yes and Amen! Jesus made it clear from the cross that what He accomplished by His sacrifice is a finished work. We don't have to wait for God to deliver us from evil or send healing or any other answer to prayer because Jesus did everything necessary for life and godliness. (2Peter 1:3)

As New Testament saints, we don't wait for Him to do anything more, but believe what He has already done. Believe and receive.

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Is Happiness a Choice?

Is happiness a choice? I will say, yes. If everything in our life is going along fairly smoothly and we hit a bump in the road, like a flat tire or an unexpected bill then, yes--Most of us can choose to be happy. Some of us have walked with the Lord long enough to know that He will carry us through these days of trouble.

But what if a person struggles with depression? Is it fair to say happiness is choice? A person with debilitating depression lives day to day with a feeling of physically carrying a burden on their body. They really do feel like they are wearing a lead blanket.

Is it fair to just tell this person, who may be a Christian that happiness is choice? If they had cancer, would way say "praise God you can choose to be happy"? No, most realize how very insensitive that would be.

What about sin? Is sin a choice? Again, I will answer yes. If we are faced with a choice in our life to lie or cheat on our taxes then I would say, YES that is a choice. But what about the person who is bound by sin? What about the person who craves to commit a sexual sin or is driven by greed? Even if that person is a Christian they may feel completely helpless to their fleshly desires.

When it gets right down to it, if a person--Christian or non-believer-- is bound by sin or sickness it is them same result. They will not see freedom just by choosing to be free.

What will bring freedom, you may ask? Freedom comes only one way. Healing comes only one way. Believing in the finished, complete and perfect sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ. He came to earth as a baby -- 100% man and 100% God to die a death meant for a sinner. He became our substitute for sin. He took all the wrath that was due to humankind so that we could have His Righteousness.

Many accept the fact that we need Jesus to save us from our sin, but how many are trying to do good works to try to please God enough so He will heal or deliver them completely out of their sinful lifestyle?

I did this for decades. I thought if I prayed enough, or served enough or gave enough of my time or money then it would get me ticket for my healing. I was jumping through hoops trying to prove my love and dedication to my God when the only thing He desired was for me to BELIEVE that Jesus already did everything for me.

It's not by might nor power but by My Spirit says the Lord...this mountain of sin or sickness or lack shall be removed. As New Testament BELIEVERS it's not obey and be blessed but BELIEVE and RECEIVE!

Sunday, December 5, 2010

If It's Not Good News, It's Not Jesus

I had a dream about five years ago and it is only recently that I understand it. It was somewhat disturbing at the time I had the dream probably due to the constant struggle of depression and the anxiety disorder that pummeled my mind daily.

I dreamed I was running from something or someone. I was unfamiliar with where I was at. I eventually realized I was in a maze of some sort. The people I saw were people I knew but no one would talk to me. It was like I was a stranger to them. I would ask them a question about how to get out of the maze and they all looked at me like that was a stupid question to ask. Some looked at me in disgust and acted like they were afraid to get too close. I began to feel a lot of shame and felt like people were pointing and whispering all the while I felt like something or someone would soon "catch" me if I didn't keep moving.

The dream was one of those bottomless pits of uncertainty. I felt anxious and confused. I am the type of person who prefers to plan my route and this was one uncertain turn after another.

I finally got to a clearing. It was like a round courtyard. There were several other openings that came from the same maze that I had just tried to escape. In the center of the courtyard, up on a small platform was who I thought was Jesus. His back was to me so I was unsure it was really Him. So I ran to Him. I cried out His name as soon as I saw His face. BUT He was scowling at me. There was a look of contempt on His face. I wept bitter tears, kneeling in front of my savior... I felt hopelessness and began to feel a dark gloomy cloud was settling on my body.

My dear friend of many years appeared to me in the dream as I was weeping before this angry god. She told me to get up and this was NOT Jesus.

I awoke with extreme emotion.

I now know that if it is not Good News, it is not Jesus. That dream was a revelation from my Savior that He is not hard to find and not angry with me. He paid all the price so I could come boldly before the Throne of Grace. I'm set free by His love and He would never leave me, reject me or put my to shame. All my sin was removed from me as far as the east is from the west. I now realize I do not need to feel driven by someone or something and I am free to love and be loved.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Sin Management Never Set Me Free.

Someday when I get my hands on one of those model skeletons that are used in biology or anatomy/ physiology class, I am going to use it for an object lesson about our sin nature being dead. I will drag it out on to the stage, set it up in a chair and tell everyone I dragged in my sin nature here for all of them to see. I will remind them that I had to go dig it up from where Christ was buried. You know it says in Col 2:20 that we all died in Christ and we know that means our original sin nature we were born with due to being good 'ol Adam's descendants.

Then just for kicks I will demonstrate how we do our best to fix up our sinful nature due to a misunderstanding of what it means to live the Christian lifestyle. With all the dramatic flair I can muster up, I will put on a pretty hat to show that I'm renewing my old sin nature so that it will finally understand God's will. Then I will put on pretty scarf or maybe a colorful wrap to show that I need to be clothed in Christ. I'll put on some jewelry to show I'm trying my best to look good to others and to the Father so I can impress Him and maybe some of those blessings I hear about will come my direction. Then the icing on the cake would be some make-up to make my DEAD nature look good to others... See how silly this really is to try to fix our DEAD sin nature.

What does the word say about who we are now? If our sin nature died and was buried with Christ then what happened at our new birth?

It is clear in Roman 6 in the Message Bible about why we use baptism as a public act of our belief in what Christ has done for us.

"That's what baptism into the life of Jesus means. When we are lowered into the water, it is like the burial of Jesus; when we are raised up out of the water, it is like the resurrection of Jesus. Each of us is raised into a light-filled world by our Father so that we can see where we're going in our new grace-sovereign country.

Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin's every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ's sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection."


This passage in Romans 4 makes it clear that our New Nature is due to the fact that we BELIEVED that what Christ accomplished to changed us. We have no need to fix up our old dead sinful nature... leave it buried where it belongs.

So what do we do since we still see sin in our lives? We don't want to have sin in our lives since we know it bring painful circumstances and really does not glorify our Father in Heaven. If we don't fix our old sinful nature what do we do to allow the Spirit to live through us?

When I realized that knowing what the Word of God says about me being completely accepted and hidden in Christ and that I died with Him, was buried and rose again to a New Life in HIm. I don't try to fix up my old nature. It says in Romans 1 that grace or the Gospel is the power unto salvation to all who BELIEVE. You may know from previous posts here that salvation or soteria is not just a ticket to heaven but the benefits of our Savior residing inside of us. We are vessels of the Holy Spirit which is Christ's Spirit. We believed in what Christ did for us and that caused us to be saved.

So the same is true of this process that some call sanctification. Sin management NEVER set me free. I tried to beautify my old nature and it never worked. I was only set free by the renewing of my mind and having REVELATION of what Christ did for me. SAVED by GRACE and SANCTIFIED BY GRACE never by my fixing or managing my old nature.

2Peter 1:3 This is about KNOWING His nature and who we are IN CHRIST...

"Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust."