Thursday, December 30, 2010
Walking on in the Power of His Might: "further up and further in"
Walking on in the Power of His Might: "further up and further in": "As I have aged in my walk with God, I have come to realize that many experiences are layered in nature. God will use a situation to reveal a..."
Walking on in the Power of His Might: A Piece of His Peace
Walking on in the Power of His Might: A Piece of His Peace: "Close your eyes and walk around your home. Make yourself recall where the furniture is placed. How many times were you tempted to open your ..."
Walking on in the Power of His Might: Walking in Peace of Mind and Soul
Walking on in the Power of His Might: Walking in Peace of Mind and Soul: "Peace of mind and soul is what we strive for daily. We pray for it, yet it seems the heavens are as brass. We work for it, only to find we a..."
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Walking in Peace of Mind and Soul
Peace of mind and soul is what we strive for daily. We pray for it, yet it seems the heavens are as brass. We work for it, only to find we are too tired to recognize it. What is real peace? How do we loose it? How do we find it again? Maybe a little digging in the Word will make it possible for us to regain what we "feel" we have lost.
First of all, Galatians 5:22-23 list peace as the third fruit of the Spirit. Romans 5:1 says, we can have peace with God only through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, the first step to real peace of mind and soul is a personal relationship with God by acccepting Jesus Christ as Savior and living for him as Lord.
Secondly, in John 14:27 Jesus states he would leave us his peace. Not the kind of peace the world can give, which is based only on feelings and good experiences, but his own peace. A peace that believes in the good of an eternal outcome regardless of the circumstances. A peace that knows the love of the Father and believes he is working all things for our good and his glory. A peace that understands the eternal value of difficult times.
Read Mark 4:35-41
Picture the scene. The sea is stirring in such a way that avid seamen are terrified they are going to die, while Jesus, the Creator of the storm, is peacefully asleep in the bottom of the boat. His peace allows him to know that all is well and will continue to be well for all eternity no matter what the circumstances may be on earth. He views the eternal value of the wind, rain and thunder not the finite, earthbound, time limited nature of things.
Note what Jesus says in verse 39 of Mark chapter 4: "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" Herein lies the key to discovering why we have little peace during the storm. We allow our minds to race with thoughts of how to row out of our own raging seas, instead of resting in the Creator of them. Just as Jesus spoke the words, "Peace be still," to the troubled seas, he wants to speak the same words to your troubled soul. To hear him, you need only to choose to view him as the Sovereign and believe he is the Lord of all your circumstances.
Psalm 4:4 "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
Now, read Psalm 46:11 "The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge."
Of all the patriarchs, why did God allow Jacob to be mentioned here? I believe it is because Jacob was a wrestler with God. Jacob had great difficulty finding peace with God because he sought ways to maneuver around difficult circumstances, often choosing to be deceitful. Lying is the sin that causes us to believe we have the power to manipulate our way around God's plan. We loose fellowship with God, thus loosing our peace with him.
We must stop allowing ourselves to be agitated and disturbed by our circumstances. We cannot allow ourselves to be fearful, intimidated and unsettled. We must choose to walk by faith, in true obedience to God's Holy Word and allow him to fill us daily with his peace so we can walk in peace of mind and soul.
First of all, Galatians 5:22-23 list peace as the third fruit of the Spirit. Romans 5:1 says, we can have peace with God only through Jesus Christ our Lord. Therefore, the first step to real peace of mind and soul is a personal relationship with God by acccepting Jesus Christ as Savior and living for him as Lord.
Secondly, in John 14:27 Jesus states he would leave us his peace. Not the kind of peace the world can give, which is based only on feelings and good experiences, but his own peace. A peace that believes in the good of an eternal outcome regardless of the circumstances. A peace that knows the love of the Father and believes he is working all things for our good and his glory. A peace that understands the eternal value of difficult times.
Read Mark 4:35-41
Picture the scene. The sea is stirring in such a way that avid seamen are terrified they are going to die, while Jesus, the Creator of the storm, is peacefully asleep in the bottom of the boat. His peace allows him to know that all is well and will continue to be well for all eternity no matter what the circumstances may be on earth. He views the eternal value of the wind, rain and thunder not the finite, earthbound, time limited nature of things.
Note what Jesus says in verse 39 of Mark chapter 4: "Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?" Herein lies the key to discovering why we have little peace during the storm. We allow our minds to race with thoughts of how to row out of our own raging seas, instead of resting in the Creator of them. Just as Jesus spoke the words, "Peace be still," to the troubled seas, he wants to speak the same words to your troubled soul. To hear him, you need only to choose to view him as the Sovereign and believe he is the Lord of all your circumstances.
Psalm 4:4 "Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still."
Psalm 46:10 "Be still and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."
Now, read Psalm 46:11 "The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge."
Of all the patriarchs, why did God allow Jacob to be mentioned here? I believe it is because Jacob was a wrestler with God. Jacob had great difficulty finding peace with God because he sought ways to maneuver around difficult circumstances, often choosing to be deceitful. Lying is the sin that causes us to believe we have the power to manipulate our way around God's plan. We loose fellowship with God, thus loosing our peace with him.
We must stop allowing ourselves to be agitated and disturbed by our circumstances. We cannot allow ourselves to be fearful, intimidated and unsettled. We must choose to walk by faith, in true obedience to God's Holy Word and allow him to fill us daily with his peace so we can walk in peace of mind and soul.
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Only....
While quoting John 3:16 a seven year old child said,
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only forgotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting live".
Children often replace unfamiliar words with words they believe mean the same thing as they present memorized materials. But since this child happened to be one for my students, I couldn't leave this one uncorrected.
Over my years of teaching, I have learned that to replace these familiar words, a child must be brought to a true understanding of the new word before the incorrect, familiar word can be replaced. So, instead of just correcting the word I choose to enter a conversation with the child. First, I asked him what the word forgotten means. He responded with, "something you don't remember." Next, I asked who the verse was talking about. He said, "I guess Jesus, cause he's God's Son." Then, I asked if he thought God would forget His only Son. "No, not after he went to all that trouble to get him here," was his replied.
Do we really have a true concept of the word begotten? Do we really understand all the trouble Jesus went through to come here? Can we grasp the emotion of the Father while presenting His One and Only Son to and for sinful man so He could buy back His own creation?
This Christmas choose to remember how much God loves you! He gave His only Begotten Son for you!
Bask in that love today as you serve Him in all you do and say in this holiday season.
Merry Christmas!
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only forgotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting live".
Children often replace unfamiliar words with words they believe mean the same thing as they present memorized materials. But since this child happened to be one for my students, I couldn't leave this one uncorrected.
Over my years of teaching, I have learned that to replace these familiar words, a child must be brought to a true understanding of the new word before the incorrect, familiar word can be replaced. So, instead of just correcting the word I choose to enter a conversation with the child. First, I asked him what the word forgotten means. He responded with, "something you don't remember." Next, I asked who the verse was talking about. He said, "I guess Jesus, cause he's God's Son." Then, I asked if he thought God would forget His only Son. "No, not after he went to all that trouble to get him here," was his replied.
Do we really have a true concept of the word begotten? Do we really understand all the trouble Jesus went through to come here? Can we grasp the emotion of the Father while presenting His One and Only Son to and for sinful man so He could buy back His own creation?
This Christmas choose to remember how much God loves you! He gave His only Begotten Son for you!
Bask in that love today as you serve Him in all you do and say in this holiday season.
Merry Christmas!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
A Piece of His Peace
Close your eyes and walk around your home. Make yourself recall where the furniture is placed. How many times were you tempted to open your eyes so you could see what was in front of you? Or to reach out you hand so you would not bump into something. Even with the familiar we become sceptical. That is just what happened with Moses is Exodus 6:30. But, in Exodus 7 we see God restating his plan to use Moses as the deliverer of Israel. God is ever patience with us and willing to reassure us in his peace if we are willing to settle ourselves down long enough to listen.
What tangible item did God use to help Moses and Aaron demonstrate God's power? Read Exodus 7:8-13. This rod was used numerous times in the history of the children Israel. It was with this rod the plagues were brought forth, the Red Sea was parted, and with it Moses brought forth water from the rock. I believe a key to understanding the use of this rod in the life of Moses can be found in Psalm 90:16-17.
"Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."
To establish the work of his hands, God allowed Moses to carry a rod for tangible peace. You might say he was allowed to handle a piece of God's peace. Moses was learning to follow God and allow himself to be used by the Almighty. He was much more at ease following the direction of the Unseen One with something in his hand to give him the confidence to lead.
In our dispensation what item of tangible peace has God placed in our hand?
It is rod, a lamp, and a sword.
The Word of God, the Bible is the piece of God's peace that has been given to us. We have been entrusted with the precious pages of Israel's history and the written story of the life of Christ as a visible example of how to live in this world in peace with God and man.
Now, settle down in Psalm 91. How can one read those words and not breathe a sigh of relief? Hold the Word, study the Word and cling to it. Let God confirm and establish His plan for you today in his Holy Word. Rest in a piece of God's peace!
What tangible item did God use to help Moses and Aaron demonstrate God's power? Read Exodus 7:8-13. This rod was used numerous times in the history of the children Israel. It was with this rod the plagues were brought forth, the Red Sea was parted, and with it Moses brought forth water from the rock. I believe a key to understanding the use of this rod in the life of Moses can be found in Psalm 90:16-17.
"Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. And let the beauty of the Lord our God be upon us and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it."
To establish the work of his hands, God allowed Moses to carry a rod for tangible peace. You might say he was allowed to handle a piece of God's peace. Moses was learning to follow God and allow himself to be used by the Almighty. He was much more at ease following the direction of the Unseen One with something in his hand to give him the confidence to lead.
In our dispensation what item of tangible peace has God placed in our hand?
It is rod, a lamp, and a sword.
The Word of God, the Bible is the piece of God's peace that has been given to us. We have been entrusted with the precious pages of Israel's history and the written story of the life of Christ as a visible example of how to live in this world in peace with God and man.
Now, settle down in Psalm 91. How can one read those words and not breathe a sigh of relief? Hold the Word, study the Word and cling to it. Let God confirm and establish His plan for you today in his Holy Word. Rest in a piece of God's peace!
Thursday, December 16, 2010
"further up and further in"
As I have aged in my walk with God, I have come to realize that many experiences are layered in nature. God will use a situation to reveal a hidden sin or he will allow a circumstance that will draw me closer to him.
In Exodus chapter 5 we find Moses and Aaron before the Pharaoh asking for the Israelites release. Pharaoh refused, and in turn, increased the labors of the Hebrews by requiring them to collect the straw needed to make the bricks. To understand the depth of this situation in God's sovereign layering system, I want to include a portion from Allan A. MacRae's, "The Relation of Archaeology to the Bible," in Modern Science and Christian Faith.
Archaeologists became interested early in examining Egyptian bricks of Moses' time to see if they contained straw. They found that, while many did contain straw, many also did not, leaving the impression that the Bible was wrong. But as usual in such cases, sooner or later it is shown that "the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Ps. 19:7)-who know no better than to doubt the truth of God's Word. It is now known that oat straw boiled in water, when added to clay, makes the clay much easier to handle. With out the organic material obtained from the straw, the difficulty of making bricks was greatly increased. The fact that brick makers of Egypt found the use of straw essential, whether visible evidence remains or not, is fully borne out, as various writers have asserted.
It is my belief that God allowed the Israelites labors to be increased to begin the process of revealing hidden sin and to unveil the layers of his character and nature to them. They must be broken from their dependencies regarding Pharaoh and learn to depend on God and God alone.
As the Hebrews worked for Pharaoh, he gave them a place to live and food to eat. They were physically oppressed and requested deliverance from him. They were spiritually oppressed and requested redemption from God. They needed to be able to view the Almighty, as both their Deliver and Redeemer. When Pharaoh increased their labor, they reported to him their frustration. He repeated his demands. As the officers of the Hebrews were returning to report to the people, they met Moses. The officers rebuked Moses.
Exodus 5:21- And they said unto them, the Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
Reading Exodus 5:22-23, I get the sense that Moses was feeling dejected. But the Almighty was about to peel back a page in his master plan that would allow all mankind to see redemption.
Up to this point the Hebrews had only known God as El-Shaddai, or God Almighty. In Exodus 6, we see him introduce himself to Moses as JEHOVAH or Yahweh, the redemptive name of God. He continues in chapter 6 to reveal his future plans for the redemption of the nation of Israel. But in Exodus 6:9, we see the Israelite's refused to respond to this redeeming plan. They were anguished in spirit because of their cruel bondage.
Had the Israelites allowed God to condition their emotional responses? No! Instead of standing in awe of his wonderful plan for them, they whined because of their labors and refused to except God's consolation.
How often do we do the same thing? We doubt the truth of God's word and refuse to believe that things will ever get any better. How exasperated God must become with us! Yet, he loves us and continues to draw us "further up and further in." (C.S Lewis)
In Exodus chapter 5 we find Moses and Aaron before the Pharaoh asking for the Israelites release. Pharaoh refused, and in turn, increased the labors of the Hebrews by requiring them to collect the straw needed to make the bricks. To understand the depth of this situation in God's sovereign layering system, I want to include a portion from Allan A. MacRae's, "The Relation of Archaeology to the Bible," in Modern Science and Christian Faith.
Archaeologists became interested early in examining Egyptian bricks of Moses' time to see if they contained straw. They found that, while many did contain straw, many also did not, leaving the impression that the Bible was wrong. But as usual in such cases, sooner or later it is shown that "the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple." (Ps. 19:7)-who know no better than to doubt the truth of God's Word. It is now known that oat straw boiled in water, when added to clay, makes the clay much easier to handle. With out the organic material obtained from the straw, the difficulty of making bricks was greatly increased. The fact that brick makers of Egypt found the use of straw essential, whether visible evidence remains or not, is fully borne out, as various writers have asserted.
It is my belief that God allowed the Israelites labors to be increased to begin the process of revealing hidden sin and to unveil the layers of his character and nature to them. They must be broken from their dependencies regarding Pharaoh and learn to depend on God and God alone.
As the Hebrews worked for Pharaoh, he gave them a place to live and food to eat. They were physically oppressed and requested deliverance from him. They were spiritually oppressed and requested redemption from God. They needed to be able to view the Almighty, as both their Deliver and Redeemer. When Pharaoh increased their labor, they reported to him their frustration. He repeated his demands. As the officers of the Hebrews were returning to report to the people, they met Moses. The officers rebuked Moses.
Exodus 5:21- And they said unto them, the Lord look upon you, and judge; because ye have made our savour to be abhorred in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of his servants, to put a sword in their hand to slay us.
Reading Exodus 5:22-23, I get the sense that Moses was feeling dejected. But the Almighty was about to peel back a page in his master plan that would allow all mankind to see redemption.
Up to this point the Hebrews had only known God as El-Shaddai, or God Almighty. In Exodus 6, we see him introduce himself to Moses as JEHOVAH or Yahweh, the redemptive name of God. He continues in chapter 6 to reveal his future plans for the redemption of the nation of Israel. But in Exodus 6:9, we see the Israelite's refused to respond to this redeeming plan. They were anguished in spirit because of their cruel bondage.
Had the Israelites allowed God to condition their emotional responses? No! Instead of standing in awe of his wonderful plan for them, they whined because of their labors and refused to except God's consolation.
How often do we do the same thing? We doubt the truth of God's word and refuse to believe that things will ever get any better. How exasperated God must become with us! Yet, he loves us and continues to draw us "further up and further in." (C.S Lewis)
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