“When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. ‘Oh lord, what shall we do?’ the servant asked. ‘Don’t be afraid’ the prophet answered. ‘Those who are with us are more than those who are with them!’ And Elisha prayed, ‘O LORD, open his eyes so he may see.’ Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:15-17
There are two basic Christian principles in this story which are instrumental in our Christian walk. The first principle applied to this story is the importance of having God-centered vision. If left to our natural vision we scan our circumstances and view them from our self-centered vision. This vision includes our will, our agenda and our fears. Our focus will be our perspective derived from our past experiences and future fears. The more intimate we become with God we begin seeing circumstances in our lives through his lens instead of our own lens. We see His footprints and fingerprints in places others cannot see. ‘Our natural sight interprets everything according to our own desires, experiences, purposes and preferences. God-centered vision interprets the world from God’s perspective, purposes, desires and activity. This orientation to God puts us in a position to walk with Him by faith.’ By Faith, p. 71.
The second principle for which to recognize is our ability to see God’s plan in the lives of others. Elisha prayed an intercessory prayer on behalf of his servant for God to show him the protection and provision that was right before their eyes. We should also pray for those with lesser faith to have the God-centered vision so they may be comforted. Both men were looking at the same hillside but were seeing very different realites. One saw fear and doom while the other saw provision and protection. We need to be very aware of our responsibility in helping others focus on God’s activity in their life.
‘Through the prayer of faith the Lord can open the eyes of our hearts to the reassuring fact that He is defending us and frustrating Satan’s destructive intentions.’ Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 397.
1 John 4:4b echoes the need to focus on the unseen hand of God rather than the visible circumstances that the world may produce. The unseen hand of God will always be more powerful than the visible hand of man.
‘…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.’
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
His Character, Purpose and Ways
How God Develops Consistent Fellowship
God develops consistent fellowship once we involve ourselves in a faith relationship with Him. This pursuit of intimacy will produce an emergence of faith and an awareness of God’s presence in our lives. The longer we invest in Him the more we come to know His character, His purposes and His ways. Through this knowledge we recognize who He is in our lives, what His goals are for our lives and the manner in which He will accomplish these goals.
Knowing God’s character is essential in our faith as we will experience times in which we will be unable to understand why God has allowed certain things. Once we learn God’s character through spending time with Him, and understanding who the Bible says He is, we can measure all things against the character of God. To trust God’s character means to yield to God’s decisions even if it contradicts our desires. By faith, we trust that God always works from a love foundation. His character will never be in contradiction to His love, protection and loyalty to His children. 'God is love.' 1 John 4:16. We either believe this or we don't. If we believe this about God's character then everything sent to us is sent through His love.
Knowing God’s purpose in our lives is also necessary in aligning our hearts with God. The Bible instructs again and again that His purposes are higher than our purposes. Our purposes will also come from an earthly standpoint where God’s purposes are anchored in a spiritual standpoint. ‘…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ Is. 55:11. Through spending time with God, we learn what His purposes are for our lives and move accordingly.
Knowing God’s ways are paramount in carrying out His work. We can know His character and His purposes but the recognition of His ways is the manner in which we move to accomplish His purpose. We must understand that we will not always understand! God uses ways that are sometimes unclear and uneasy. Following God and His ways will sometimes mean stepping out of our comfort zone and allowing God to be God. 'All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful.' Psalm 25:10.
In all these things we can take the advice of Charles Spurgeon:
‘When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.’
God develops consistent fellowship once we involve ourselves in a faith relationship with Him. This pursuit of intimacy will produce an emergence of faith and an awareness of God’s presence in our lives. The longer we invest in Him the more we come to know His character, His purposes and His ways. Through this knowledge we recognize who He is in our lives, what His goals are for our lives and the manner in which He will accomplish these goals.
Knowing God’s character is essential in our faith as we will experience times in which we will be unable to understand why God has allowed certain things. Once we learn God’s character through spending time with Him, and understanding who the Bible says He is, we can measure all things against the character of God. To trust God’s character means to yield to God’s decisions even if it contradicts our desires. By faith, we trust that God always works from a love foundation. His character will never be in contradiction to His love, protection and loyalty to His children. 'God is love.' 1 John 4:16. We either believe this or we don't. If we believe this about God's character then everything sent to us is sent through His love.
Knowing God’s purpose in our lives is also necessary in aligning our hearts with God. The Bible instructs again and again that His purposes are higher than our purposes. Our purposes will also come from an earthly standpoint where God’s purposes are anchored in a spiritual standpoint. ‘…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’ Is. 55:11. Through spending time with God, we learn what His purposes are for our lives and move accordingly.
Knowing God’s ways are paramount in carrying out His work. We can know His character and His purposes but the recognition of His ways is the manner in which we move to accomplish His purpose. We must understand that we will not always understand! God uses ways that are sometimes unclear and uneasy. Following God and His ways will sometimes mean stepping out of our comfort zone and allowing God to be God. 'All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful.' Psalm 25:10.
In all these things we can take the advice of Charles Spurgeon:
‘When you can’t trace His hand, trust His heart.’
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Misery No More
“Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD…And because the Israelites forsook the LORD and no longer served him, he became angry with them. He sold them into the hands…Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD… ‘We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now.’ Then they got rid of the foreign gods among them and served the LORD. And he could bear Israel’s misery no more.” Judges 10:6-7, 15-16
The word ‘again’ is essential in relationship to God’s patience. The Israelites were warned over and over again regarding worshipping false gods. This sin was more of an appetite for them than one infraction against God that needed repentance. It was the meal in which they continuously fed themselves even though God was crystal clear on the matter. Like the Israelites we all have an appetite for certain sins in our lives that we know will always serve as a barrier to receiving God’s best. Thankfully God is a patient God and slow to anger, but in the end God must be God and deal severely with our sin.
He knows the motivation of our hearts and our willingness to lay our sin down whatever that may look like for each of us. At some point he will give us over to our sins as He did in the lives of the Israelites. It took them 18 years of being oppressed to finally surrender and repent. We are no better than the Israelites as we return ‘again’ to our weaknesses in our lives. God acts according to our relationship with Him. If we are active in areas in our lives that come between us and the heart of God He will set up circumstances wherein we will be forced to surrender that area.
Notice in the case of the Israelites their cry included turning from their ways prior to God’s deliverance. ‘Then they got rid of…and served the LORD…And he could bear Israel’s misery no more.’ God will move on our behalf and deliver us when we move to re-establish fellowship with Him in all areas.
Our fellowship with God cannot be part-time and must involve His activity in every area of our lives. Once we align our hearts and actions with God’s heart, He will move Heaven and earth on our behalf.
‘…and he could bear Israel’s misery no more.’
The word ‘again’ is essential in relationship to God’s patience. The Israelites were warned over and over again regarding worshipping false gods. This sin was more of an appetite for them than one infraction against God that needed repentance. It was the meal in which they continuously fed themselves even though God was crystal clear on the matter. Like the Israelites we all have an appetite for certain sins in our lives that we know will always serve as a barrier to receiving God’s best. Thankfully God is a patient God and slow to anger, but in the end God must be God and deal severely with our sin.
He knows the motivation of our hearts and our willingness to lay our sin down whatever that may look like for each of us. At some point he will give us over to our sins as He did in the lives of the Israelites. It took them 18 years of being oppressed to finally surrender and repent. We are no better than the Israelites as we return ‘again’ to our weaknesses in our lives. God acts according to our relationship with Him. If we are active in areas in our lives that come between us and the heart of God He will set up circumstances wherein we will be forced to surrender that area.
Notice in the case of the Israelites their cry included turning from their ways prior to God’s deliverance. ‘Then they got rid of…and served the LORD…And he could bear Israel’s misery no more.’ God will move on our behalf and deliver us when we move to re-establish fellowship with Him in all areas.
Our fellowship with God cannot be part-time and must involve His activity in every area of our lives. Once we align our hearts and actions with God’s heart, He will move Heaven and earth on our behalf.
‘…and he could bear Israel’s misery no more.’
Monday, May 16, 2011
'...from that day forward.'
“Samuel took the horn of oil, anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD took control of David from that day forward.” 1 Samuel 16:13
The pages of the Bible are filled with ‘from that day forward’ experiences. Throughout the Bible we are introduced to a cast of characters without a recorded history. We learn of their lives at an intersection in which God calls them to act. We know little about from where they came or their childhood. We are introduced to them because God chose to shine a spotlight on their lives marking a defining moment wherein they would never be the same.
In Feb, 2006 God awakened me to Himself creating a dividing line in my life. When I am considering different parts of my life everything seems to be categorized in two areas. I relate to my life as either before I awoke or after I awoke. Every day is measured on that measuring stick. I have believed IN God, but it was at that time in my life when I starting BELIEVING in God. There is a big difference between the two. One is based in the knowledge that I will experience God in Heaven because of my salvation given freely by Him. The other is the reality of experiencing God on earth because of my intimacy with Him.
God will use each of us at different points of our faith, according to our faith, if we are consistently walking in fellowship with Him. I do not have to be perfect in my usefulness – just willing. Walking consistently in fellowship with God equips us with faith to fulfill future assignments. We learn to recognize Him at work in our lives and learn His character, His will and His ways. We learn to respond to Him immediately focusing on His agenda instead of our own. We learn that through ‘turning our eyes upon Jesus’ we are no longer blinded from our own self-focus. Once we awake into Him God will train us to consistently walk in fellowship with Him. ‘This stage of our faith walk is incredibly important because God has tied everything about our lives – our intimacy with Him, our blessings, our rewards, and our usefulness to Him – to our ability to walk by faith.’ By Faith, p. 56
‘…from that day forward.’
The pages of the Bible are filled with ‘from that day forward’ experiences. Throughout the Bible we are introduced to a cast of characters without a recorded history. We learn of their lives at an intersection in which God calls them to act. We know little about from where they came or their childhood. We are introduced to them because God chose to shine a spotlight on their lives marking a defining moment wherein they would never be the same.
In Feb, 2006 God awakened me to Himself creating a dividing line in my life. When I am considering different parts of my life everything seems to be categorized in two areas. I relate to my life as either before I awoke or after I awoke. Every day is measured on that measuring stick. I have believed IN God, but it was at that time in my life when I starting BELIEVING in God. There is a big difference between the two. One is based in the knowledge that I will experience God in Heaven because of my salvation given freely by Him. The other is the reality of experiencing God on earth because of my intimacy with Him.
God will use each of us at different points of our faith, according to our faith, if we are consistently walking in fellowship with Him. I do not have to be perfect in my usefulness – just willing. Walking consistently in fellowship with God equips us with faith to fulfill future assignments. We learn to recognize Him at work in our lives and learn His character, His will and His ways. We learn to respond to Him immediately focusing on His agenda instead of our own. We learn that through ‘turning our eyes upon Jesus’ we are no longer blinded from our own self-focus. Once we awake into Him God will train us to consistently walk in fellowship with Him. ‘This stage of our faith walk is incredibly important because God has tied everything about our lives – our intimacy with Him, our blessings, our rewards, and our usefulness to Him – to our ability to walk by faith.’ By Faith, p. 56
‘…from that day forward.’
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Up Strolls Jesus
“As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ‘Come, follow me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.’ At once they left their nets and followed him.” Mark 1:16-18
Jesus wasn’t anywhere on their radar screen. They were simply doing what they had done thousands of times before. I am sure that time of the day was when they always were casting their nets. No doubt they had a routine that marked every minute of every day. Since this was their trade it was something for which they were familiar and could count on for their livelihood. Then up strolls Jesus…and their lives are radically intersected with His! Nothing would ever be the same. Jesus knew where to find them and how to call them. He used terms that they would understand on some deep level. They didn’t understand the overarching call but they did understand the importance of the call, their conviction to surrender and their desire to learn all this man had to teach.
Jesus will stroll up in our lives in the same way – He meets us where we are and knows where our talents lie. Like our obedient fisherman, we must be willing and open to the intersections of Christ. At the point of our crossroads it is essential that we have three attitudes of the heart.
Become God-centered. ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…’ Hebrews 12:2. We must turn our self-focus outwardly and turn our God-focus inwardly. We must look to Him for guidance and focus on Him in all areas of our lives.
Surrender our desires. ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’ Luke 9:23. We must surrender the desires of our own heart and pick up the desires of His heart. “To deny self means to reject your personal choices, decisions, habits, desires, comforts and preferences if they conflict with God’s will.” By Faith, p. 42.
Have a teachable spirit. ‘Teach me your ways so I may know you…’ Exodus 33:13. We must lift this prayer to know Him and His will. Having a teachable spirit is paramount in our knowledge and education of God. Having an open mind and heart is essential in our fellowship with Him and enhances our intimacy with Him.
And up strolls Jesus…
Jesus wasn’t anywhere on their radar screen. They were simply doing what they had done thousands of times before. I am sure that time of the day was when they always were casting their nets. No doubt they had a routine that marked every minute of every day. Since this was their trade it was something for which they were familiar and could count on for their livelihood. Then up strolls Jesus…and their lives are radically intersected with His! Nothing would ever be the same. Jesus knew where to find them and how to call them. He used terms that they would understand on some deep level. They didn’t understand the overarching call but they did understand the importance of the call, their conviction to surrender and their desire to learn all this man had to teach.
Jesus will stroll up in our lives in the same way – He meets us where we are and knows where our talents lie. Like our obedient fisherman, we must be willing and open to the intersections of Christ. At the point of our crossroads it is essential that we have three attitudes of the heart.
Become God-centered. ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…’ Hebrews 12:2. We must turn our self-focus outwardly and turn our God-focus inwardly. We must look to Him for guidance and focus on Him in all areas of our lives.
Surrender our desires. ‘If anyone wants to come with Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me.’ Luke 9:23. We must surrender the desires of our own heart and pick up the desires of His heart. “To deny self means to reject your personal choices, decisions, habits, desires, comforts and preferences if they conflict with God’s will.” By Faith, p. 42.
Have a teachable spirit. ‘Teach me your ways so I may know you…’ Exodus 33:13. We must lift this prayer to know Him and His will. Having a teachable spirit is paramount in our knowledge and education of God. Having an open mind and heart is essential in our fellowship with Him and enhances our intimacy with Him.
And up strolls Jesus…
Friday, May 13, 2011
By Faith...
“God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them…They went around in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated – the world was not worthy of them…these were commended for their faith…” Hebrews 11:16, 37-39.
This morning I read an article about Brenda Langley, a woman in Rock Hill who had just buried her murdered adult daughter on Monday. Taking her three small grandchildren under her wings to raise, they were victim of another tragedy. The Wed. night storm claimed her house as a huge tree fell upon the roof as she and her grandchildren slept in their bed. First thing in the morning she took the children to her other daughter’s home and went into work for her normal shift. The article writes of her response to these horrific circumstances which were nothing short of how those champion Christians from ages past responded. If the Bible were still being written today, Mrs. Langley’s name would be one listed in the honoring of great faith responses. Not only was her faith one to be exemplified but the response of her granddaughter in light of a deceased mommy and her new home demolished shows me that this family holds Christ at the center of their lives. Their faith is not based upon the circumstances – it is based upon their God. As we read the two responses of this grandmother and granddaughter we will be unable to wipe this from our mind…for a while…then life will return for us. I hope to never forget this story, their faith and the image of Mrs. Langley out in the street with her hands raised to God praising Him.
“Yet Brenda Langley was undaunted, somehow, on Thursday. Langley, her home in shambles and one daughter dead and her bankbook empty, went to work Thursday. She worked a full shift, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Then, she came back to Cauthen Street and saw the carnage of her life. She hugged her granddaughter, 8-year-old Lizzie Ballard, the youngest of the three kids Langley is raising. The others are boys, ages 10 and 15.
‘The Lord shall provide,’ Langley said to that granddaughter, Lizzie, as she held the child's hand. ‘I know he will, and that Devil won't get us,’ said Lizzie, an orphan in the second grade, who somehow smiled as she looked at what was left of her house. She stood in the middle of Cauthen Street. She raised her eyes to the heavens that had seemed to crash down on her during the storm, and for days before, and she raised her hands. She said, ‘God, I believe in you.’ Then she left, to search for a place to live.”
‘By faith Abraham…by faith Abel…by faith Enoch…by faith Noah…by faith Isaac…by faith Jacob…by faith Joseph…by faith Moses. (Hebrews 11)…by faith Mrs. Langley.
Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/05/13/3065444/grandmother-raising-children-of.html?storylink=addthis#ixzz1MEocNfuh
This morning I read an article about Brenda Langley, a woman in Rock Hill who had just buried her murdered adult daughter on Monday. Taking her three small grandchildren under her wings to raise, they were victim of another tragedy. The Wed. night storm claimed her house as a huge tree fell upon the roof as she and her grandchildren slept in their bed. First thing in the morning she took the children to her other daughter’s home and went into work for her normal shift. The article writes of her response to these horrific circumstances which were nothing short of how those champion Christians from ages past responded. If the Bible were still being written today, Mrs. Langley’s name would be one listed in the honoring of great faith responses. Not only was her faith one to be exemplified but the response of her granddaughter in light of a deceased mommy and her new home demolished shows me that this family holds Christ at the center of their lives. Their faith is not based upon the circumstances – it is based upon their God. As we read the two responses of this grandmother and granddaughter we will be unable to wipe this from our mind…for a while…then life will return for us. I hope to never forget this story, their faith and the image of Mrs. Langley out in the street with her hands raised to God praising Him.
“Yet Brenda Langley was undaunted, somehow, on Thursday. Langley, her home in shambles and one daughter dead and her bankbook empty, went to work Thursday. She worked a full shift, from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Then, she came back to Cauthen Street and saw the carnage of her life. She hugged her granddaughter, 8-year-old Lizzie Ballard, the youngest of the three kids Langley is raising. The others are boys, ages 10 and 15.
‘The Lord shall provide,’ Langley said to that granddaughter, Lizzie, as she held the child's hand. ‘I know he will, and that Devil won't get us,’ said Lizzie, an orphan in the second grade, who somehow smiled as she looked at what was left of her house. She stood in the middle of Cauthen Street. She raised her eyes to the heavens that had seemed to crash down on her during the storm, and for days before, and she raised her hands. She said, ‘God, I believe in you.’ Then she left, to search for a place to live.”
‘By faith Abraham…by faith Abel…by faith Enoch…by faith Noah…by faith Isaac…by faith Jacob…by faith Joseph…by faith Moses. (Hebrews 11)…by faith Mrs. Langley.
Read more: http://www.heraldonline.com/2011/05/13/3065444/grandmother-raising-children-of.html?storylink=addthis#ixzz1MEocNfuh
Thursday, May 12, 2011
The Journey
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” Hebrews 11:1
My commentary states that “faith is believing in something we cannot see or prove, but which we trust to be true. It is a confidence in God’s plan and provision for our future (‘what we hope for’) as well as an expectation that God will fulfill everything he has promised, though we haven’t experienced fulfillment yet (‘certain of what we do not see’).” Women of Faith Study Bible, p. 2003. As Christians we experience many walks of faith in our lives on different levels and in different seasons. According to my Bible Study there are five stages of faith in every season. As I reflect over the past five years I can see these stages lived out in the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Stage 1: God initiates a faith relationship. I know that in 2/06 God called me into a deeper relationship with Him. It was a clear calling on His part that He was moving me from one level of faith and intimacy to another.
Stage 2: God develops fellowship with a consistent walk of faith. As several family members were diagnosed with terminal illnesses He made me dependent upon Him. Through this dependency I spent more time with the Lord than any other time in my life. Through this fellowship He taught me that He can be trusted.
Stage 3: God requires a faith response to the unveiling of His will. All of my family members were taken home to Heaven. Their healing would not be earthly but I chose early on to pray for His will for their lives and my own as well. Our faith response can never be tied into a certain resolution.
Stage 4: God matures faith through waiting. When we brought my father-in-law home to live with us his final year of life every day was about waiting. There was a beginning to this service without the knowledge of how long. It was a year of God holding a mirror up to me revealing certain holes in my faith.
Stage 5: God rewards completed faith. I am now in a season of blessings as God has me in a place of rest. It seems that my family is basking in His glory and His blessings as this walk of faith for this 5 year season seems to be complete.
Faith is what powers our lives enabling and sustaining in the toughest of times. Without faith our lives and circumstances seem random. Without faith our prayers simply consist of noise without substance. Without faith we are basically refusing to believe God, bringing into question His calling, His power, His character and His purpose for our lives. Our lack of faith implies that we believe He either will not or cannot come through for us.
Faith is not a formula but a journey that we must travel with God as our Guide.
My commentary states that “faith is believing in something we cannot see or prove, but which we trust to be true. It is a confidence in God’s plan and provision for our future (‘what we hope for’) as well as an expectation that God will fulfill everything he has promised, though we haven’t experienced fulfillment yet (‘certain of what we do not see’).” Women of Faith Study Bible, p. 2003. As Christians we experience many walks of faith in our lives on different levels and in different seasons. According to my Bible Study there are five stages of faith in every season. As I reflect over the past five years I can see these stages lived out in the fulfillment of God’s plan.
Stage 1: God initiates a faith relationship. I know that in 2/06 God called me into a deeper relationship with Him. It was a clear calling on His part that He was moving me from one level of faith and intimacy to another.
Stage 2: God develops fellowship with a consistent walk of faith. As several family members were diagnosed with terminal illnesses He made me dependent upon Him. Through this dependency I spent more time with the Lord than any other time in my life. Through this fellowship He taught me that He can be trusted.
Stage 3: God requires a faith response to the unveiling of His will. All of my family members were taken home to Heaven. Their healing would not be earthly but I chose early on to pray for His will for their lives and my own as well. Our faith response can never be tied into a certain resolution.
Stage 4: God matures faith through waiting. When we brought my father-in-law home to live with us his final year of life every day was about waiting. There was a beginning to this service without the knowledge of how long. It was a year of God holding a mirror up to me revealing certain holes in my faith.
Stage 5: God rewards completed faith. I am now in a season of blessings as God has me in a place of rest. It seems that my family is basking in His glory and His blessings as this walk of faith for this 5 year season seems to be complete.
Faith is what powers our lives enabling and sustaining in the toughest of times. Without faith our lives and circumstances seem random. Without faith our prayers simply consist of noise without substance. Without faith we are basically refusing to believe God, bringing into question His calling, His power, His character and His purpose for our lives. Our lack of faith implies that we believe He either will not or cannot come through for us.
Faith is not a formula but a journey that we must travel with God as our Guide.
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