What fruit have you been producing through your life? Do people see you on a regular basis and think, "they are different"? What sets you apart from the rest of the world? Luke 13, Jesus said, "A man planted a fig tree in his garden and came again and again to see if there was any fruit on it, but he was always disappointed. Finally, he said to his gardener, 'I've waited three years, and there hasn't been a single fig! Cut it down. It is taking up space we can use for something else.' The gardener answered, 'give it one more chance. Leave it another year, and I'll give it special attention and plenty of fertilizer. If we get figs next year, fine. If not, you can cut it down.' ...The door to heaven is narrow. Work hard to get in, because many will try to enter, but when the head of the house has locked the door, it will be too late. Then you will stand outside knocking and pleading, 'Lord, open the door for us!' But he will reply, 'I don't know you.' You will say, 'But we ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.' And he will reply, 'I tell you, I don't know you. Go away, all you who do evil.'"
I can look around me at what other people are doing in their public lives. I see others and I can easily see their faults and what they need to change. Honestly, it does not matter what they are doing. Every day I have to ask myself, "What am I doing?" They only real test to your faith, it is your fruit. If you go to church and listen to every sermon; if you can quote the entire New Testament, it does not matter. What matters is how you are living your every day life.
Many people will tell you that all you have to do is believe in Jesus and Him crucified and you will be saved or get baptized and you are in. This is true, but there is more. He is watching your life, on a daily basis, to see if you are producing fruit. Now this does not mean that if you make a mistake today, you are doomed. We all make many mistakes; Jesus is patient with us and gives us another day, every day. But He does say that it is hard to enter and it takes a lot of work. Just because you can quote His words, does not make you right with Him. Your life that you live; the trust that you have in Him; the faith that you express to Him through your life; your fruit, that is what He is looking for. He looks at my life to see if I am producing anything that He can gather. Can He come to me and know that I am alive? Or am I just existing; taking up space in His garden?
Luke 14:25-35. "And you cannot be my disciple if you do not carry your own cross and follow me. But don't begin until you count the cost. ...how everyone would laugh at you! ...So no one can become My disciple without giving up everything for Me. ...Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand." Are you willing to listen? Am I able to understand? He does say that it matters how you live your life. He wants you to change your living conditions, so that you can hear Him and follow Him. Start at home! How are you treating your spouse? It does not matter how they are treating you. How are you treating them? How are you treating your children? How are you treating the waitress at your table? How are you treating the cashier at the store? How do you treat the client that comes to your office? Do they see something different about you? What fruit are you producing? Is it ripe, ready to pick; or rotten, so that no one can use it?
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Selfless Marriage
As I think of all of the problems that I have had with my marriage, it all can be summarized with one word, selfishness. God has called us to be selfless not selfish. Luke 11:33-36, "...Your eye is a lamp for your body. A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul. But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness. Make sure that the light you think you have is not really darkness. If you are filled light, with no dark corners, then your whole life will be radiant, as though a floodlight is shining on you." There is nothing darker than the selfish ambition of our own desires. James 4:1ff, "What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Isn't it the whole army of evil desires at war within you? ...I say it again, that if our aim is to enjoy this word, you can't be a friend of God."
I have a wonderful marriage. We have worked very hard for our marriage. We have discussed selfishness often, within our relationship. Usually a fight starts with one person thinking about them self, instead of the other person. By letting that person know that "we" were impaired because of what they did, a fight is started. But here is the catch, in order for their to be a fight both parties involved have to be defending their own wishes. So in a fight there is usually two selfish parties, not just one.
Most of the time there is one person who is offended more often than the other. That person is the selfish party. In the beginning of our marriage, I was the selfish one. I was the one that was so wounded and I defended myself ruthlessly, whether I thought I was right or not. We both still have our selfish moments, but we do not have many fights. We have learned that in a relationship, no one wins, there is compromise. Many times we will just let something slide, in the moment. But we always address our hurt or concern; at the appropriate time. Proverbs 13:3, "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can ruin everything." If you defend your actions in the middle of another's hurt, you will only bury the knife deeper in them and they will come back defensively.
We have a rule in our house. We are safe to bring our hurts to each other, without the other person defending them self in the moment. We hear the others complaint; say that we are sorry, whether we feel we were wrong or not. After the moment has passed and we have given it some thought, then we can come back with our concerns about the issue. Most of the time, it is hurt feelings for the moment. Then later, both parties are more able to see things more clearly.
When there is fighting in a house, there is a selfish person living there. Luke 11:17, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A divided home is also doomed." Someone must be the one to grow up and stop being selfish. My husband took the hit for several years. Then I finally discovered that he never tried to hurt me on purpose. That is when I let down my defenses and stopped trying to fight with him. Now we both understand that we are working together trying to build a strong home for our family. There are moments of selfishness between the two of us, but that is a moment, not the whole.
If your spouse is the weaker person and cannot let go of their own selfishness, you will be strong. James 1:2-4, "whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." Fight for your marriage. Lay down your own selfish desires, and discover the character that God will give you.
I have a wonderful marriage. We have worked very hard for our marriage. We have discussed selfishness often, within our relationship. Usually a fight starts with one person thinking about them self, instead of the other person. By letting that person know that "we" were impaired because of what they did, a fight is started. But here is the catch, in order for their to be a fight both parties involved have to be defending their own wishes. So in a fight there is usually two selfish parties, not just one.
Most of the time there is one person who is offended more often than the other. That person is the selfish party. In the beginning of our marriage, I was the selfish one. I was the one that was so wounded and I defended myself ruthlessly, whether I thought I was right or not. We both still have our selfish moments, but we do not have many fights. We have learned that in a relationship, no one wins, there is compromise. Many times we will just let something slide, in the moment. But we always address our hurt or concern; at the appropriate time. Proverbs 13:3, "Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can ruin everything." If you defend your actions in the middle of another's hurt, you will only bury the knife deeper in them and they will come back defensively.
We have a rule in our house. We are safe to bring our hurts to each other, without the other person defending them self in the moment. We hear the others complaint; say that we are sorry, whether we feel we were wrong or not. After the moment has passed and we have given it some thought, then we can come back with our concerns about the issue. Most of the time, it is hurt feelings for the moment. Then later, both parties are more able to see things more clearly.
When there is fighting in a house, there is a selfish person living there. Luke 11:17, "Any kingdom at war with itself is doomed. A divided home is also doomed." Someone must be the one to grow up and stop being selfish. My husband took the hit for several years. Then I finally discovered that he never tried to hurt me on purpose. That is when I let down my defenses and stopped trying to fight with him. Now we both understand that we are working together trying to build a strong home for our family. There are moments of selfishness between the two of us, but that is a moment, not the whole.
If your spouse is the weaker person and cannot let go of their own selfishness, you will be strong. James 1:2-4, "whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." Fight for your marriage. Lay down your own selfish desires, and discover the character that God will give you.
Focus on Marriage
For the next couple of months I am going to focus many of my blogs toward marriages. Focus on the Family is presenting "Focus on Marriage." It is a simulcast presented in every state across the Country. http://www.ccn.tv/marriage/
Go to the web address and find a location near you so that you and your spouse can "learn to see your marriage through the eyes of God..."
Big day is February 28th.
Go to the web address and find a location near you so that you and your spouse can "learn to see your marriage through the eyes of God..."
Big day is February 28th.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
My Hosea
Last night I had the privilege of celebrating with friends on their 30th wedding anniversary. As they were renewing their vowels and going over their lives together, I had the best feeling. I could truly see myself in years to come standing beside my husband, looking into his wonderful face and expressing my deepest feelings for him. What an awesome experience this has been so far and how much better I see it becoming.
Most people when they initially think of marriages in the bible and how husband are supposed to treat their wives, they probably turn to Ephesians. This is not true for me. I turn to Hosea. My first true glimpse of God was through my husband. Just going over this in my mind, tears are streaming down my face. I cannot express the feelings that I feel for this man. He is my lover. He is my dream come true. I was Gomer. There was nothing holy about my life and this man, who I thought of as my adversary, took me in.
Hosea 2, "But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her out into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there... In that coming day, says the Lord, you will call me 'my husband' instead of my master. ...I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as LORD."
In all of this, I will try my best not to sound sacrilegious, but my husband is my lord. He is the first true glimpse of Christ for me. I worship him as my husband and my lover. He took me in, when there was nothing about me that was to be loved and he loved me better than I could have ever imagined. He is my heavy lifter, my rock and my shelter. When I think of being Christ's bride, it excites me, because I know how a man has loved me, I cannot imagine how truly wonderful His love must feel. Isn't this how it is supposed to be. We are supposed to feel so completely taken away by our lover that we would do anything for them and they would do anything for us. This is how I feel about my husband and my Lord. God knew that I needed to be able to feel His love and experience His strength, so He gave me the strongest man that I have ever met.
In the beginning I was fighting so hard against my husband and my God. I did not want him, I hated men. I saw him as weak and pathetic. My Lord opened my eyes to Him, through his strength. My Lord came into my life trough my lord and my savior came into my life through my Savior. They are intertwined. One is a man, and he sometimes fails me. We do not live in heaven, but on earth. One is my God, and He is always true to me. It took the love of a man to show me the love of my God. How grateful I am to them both. For I was stained as red as crimson, but now they have washed me white as snow. They protect me and care for me like no one I have ever known, and I did nothing to deserve any of it. Hosea 14:9, "Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by wanking in them."
Most people when they initially think of marriages in the bible and how husband are supposed to treat their wives, they probably turn to Ephesians. This is not true for me. I turn to Hosea. My first true glimpse of God was through my husband. Just going over this in my mind, tears are streaming down my face. I cannot express the feelings that I feel for this man. He is my lover. He is my dream come true. I was Gomer. There was nothing holy about my life and this man, who I thought of as my adversary, took me in.
Hosea 2, "But then I will win her back once again. I will lead her out into the desert and speak tenderly to her there. I will return her vineyards to her and transform the Valley of Trouble into a gateway of hope. She will give herself to me there... In that coming day, says the Lord, you will call me 'my husband' instead of my master. ...I will make you my wife forever, showing you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion. I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as LORD."
In all of this, I will try my best not to sound sacrilegious, but my husband is my lord. He is the first true glimpse of Christ for me. I worship him as my husband and my lover. He took me in, when there was nothing about me that was to be loved and he loved me better than I could have ever imagined. He is my heavy lifter, my rock and my shelter. When I think of being Christ's bride, it excites me, because I know how a man has loved me, I cannot imagine how truly wonderful His love must feel. Isn't this how it is supposed to be. We are supposed to feel so completely taken away by our lover that we would do anything for them and they would do anything for us. This is how I feel about my husband and my Lord. God knew that I needed to be able to feel His love and experience His strength, so He gave me the strongest man that I have ever met.
In the beginning I was fighting so hard against my husband and my God. I did not want him, I hated men. I saw him as weak and pathetic. My Lord opened my eyes to Him, through his strength. My Lord came into my life trough my lord and my savior came into my life through my Savior. They are intertwined. One is a man, and he sometimes fails me. We do not live in heaven, but on earth. One is my God, and He is always true to me. It took the love of a man to show me the love of my God. How grateful I am to them both. For I was stained as red as crimson, but now they have washed me white as snow. They protect me and care for me like no one I have ever known, and I did nothing to deserve any of it. Hosea 14:9, "Let those who are wise understand these things. Let those who are discerning listen carefully. The paths of the LORD are true and right, and righteous people live by wanking in them."
Friday, November 14, 2008
Anointing His Feet
Luke 7:38ff, "A certain immoral woman heard He was there and brought a beautiful jar filled with expensive perfume. Then she knelt behind Him at His feet, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet, and she wiped them off with her hair. Then she kept kissing His feet and putting perfume on them... Then Jesus told him this story; 'A man loaned money to two people- five hundred pieces of silver to one and fifty pieces to the other. But neither of them could repay him, so he kindly forgave them both, canceling their debts. Who do you suppose loved him more after that?' Simon answered, 'I suppose the one for whom he canceled the larger debt.' ...I tell you, her sins- and they are many- have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows little love."
How easily we can forget what our Lord has done for us as individuals. Yesterday morning, I woke up and had "spiritual moments with God" on my mind. I wanted the morning to run smoothly, so that I could spend my time with God. My morning went anywhere but smooth. My children were not "respecting my time" and I lost it. Well I didn't loose it and take it out on them, but I lost it. I came down stairs to write and my husband needed to email something for work. What was going on? I needed "my time." I stopped what I was doing and ran to take a shower, for fear that I would lose it on them. I lost it in the shower! I fell to my knees and cried, begging God to help me. So he sent my husband, to interrupt "my" shower time. My husband came in and pulled back the shower curtain and began to talk to me. He told me, very nicely and lovingly, to calm down and everything would be fine, "I just needed to go and get the boys hair cut and run by the office and once I got my mind off of "myself" everything would be fine." Stab. I wasn't thinking about myself, I wanted to spend time with God! Oh, how right he was. It wasn't that God was interrupted, it was that I was interrupted.
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Jesus didn't tell the woman to work at having a relationship with Him. He said to "go in peace." He didn't pull me out of the darkness to be blind to His love. He saved me so that I could live every day, every moment in peace. I shouldn't have to rely on "my" time. I am to rely on Him, in His time. Most of the time I can do this, but when I get myself on my mind; things go wrong.
Often people ask me about going back to my old life. If it is hard for me to stay away from my formal addictions. In the moment I often do not give them the answer that I truly believe. My answers, depending on the one asking, will usually go, "No, I like my life now; I wouldn't be a good witness to anyone if I did; No, that one more time may turn into all of the time..." When in reality; when I really think about it; these are not the true reasons that I would not want to get caught up in that life again. I don't want the addictions because I do not want them to get in the way of my relationship with my Lord. Sometimes I get caught up in the time when I can spend alone with God, but in reality it is not about the time. It is about my relationship with Him. I cannot thank Him enough for what He has done for me.
My God came to this earth as a dirty baby, being born with the animals. He walked on this ground being covered in dust. He died an atrocious, demeaning death. He fought with death for three days and conquered it, for me. He graciously allows me to cry at His feet, then He clamly and lovingly tells me to "go in peace." How thankful I am that I can have a relationship with my Lord. There is nothing here on earth worth losing that relationship for. As long as I am not thinking about what "I" want, then I can live everyday in peace. "Wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it." Every day is new, and every day I must ask myself, am I living with wisdom as my guide? Am I letting God speak to me and guide me? Are you?
How easily we can forget what our Lord has done for us as individuals. Yesterday morning, I woke up and had "spiritual moments with God" on my mind. I wanted the morning to run smoothly, so that I could spend my time with God. My morning went anywhere but smooth. My children were not "respecting my time" and I lost it. Well I didn't loose it and take it out on them, but I lost it. I came down stairs to write and my husband needed to email something for work. What was going on? I needed "my time." I stopped what I was doing and ran to take a shower, for fear that I would lose it on them. I lost it in the shower! I fell to my knees and cried, begging God to help me. So he sent my husband, to interrupt "my" shower time. My husband came in and pulled back the shower curtain and began to talk to me. He told me, very nicely and lovingly, to calm down and everything would be fine, "I just needed to go and get the boys hair cut and run by the office and once I got my mind off of "myself" everything would be fine." Stab. I wasn't thinking about myself, I wanted to spend time with God! Oh, how right he was. It wasn't that God was interrupted, it was that I was interrupted.
"Your faith has saved you; go in peace." Jesus didn't tell the woman to work at having a relationship with Him. He said to "go in peace." He didn't pull me out of the darkness to be blind to His love. He saved me so that I could live every day, every moment in peace. I shouldn't have to rely on "my" time. I am to rely on Him, in His time. Most of the time I can do this, but when I get myself on my mind; things go wrong.
Often people ask me about going back to my old life. If it is hard for me to stay away from my formal addictions. In the moment I often do not give them the answer that I truly believe. My answers, depending on the one asking, will usually go, "No, I like my life now; I wouldn't be a good witness to anyone if I did; No, that one more time may turn into all of the time..." When in reality; when I really think about it; these are not the true reasons that I would not want to get caught up in that life again. I don't want the addictions because I do not want them to get in the way of my relationship with my Lord. Sometimes I get caught up in the time when I can spend alone with God, but in reality it is not about the time. It is about my relationship with Him. I cannot thank Him enough for what He has done for me.
My God came to this earth as a dirty baby, being born with the animals. He walked on this ground being covered in dust. He died an atrocious, demeaning death. He fought with death for three days and conquered it, for me. He graciously allows me to cry at His feet, then He clamly and lovingly tells me to "go in peace." How thankful I am that I can have a relationship with my Lord. There is nothing here on earth worth losing that relationship for. As long as I am not thinking about what "I" want, then I can live everyday in peace. "Wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it." Every day is new, and every day I must ask myself, am I living with wisdom as my guide? Am I letting God speak to me and guide me? Are you?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Mary
The first two chapters of Luke are dedicated to a young woman from Nazareth, Mary. She was a virgin, engaged to Joseph who was a descendant of King David. The angel Gabriel appeared to her and said, "Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you! ...for God has decided to bless you! You will become pregnant and have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus..." Mary's response, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept whatever He wants. May everything you have said come true."
"You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what He said," Elizabeth told her. Mary responded, "Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl,... For He, the Mighty One, is holy, and He has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear Him. His mighty arm does tremendous things!... He has satisfied the hungry with good things... And how He has helped His servant Israel! He has not forgotten His promise to be merciful." After Jesus was born, everyone who saw the new baby were very excited, "but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often."
Mary had received the most exhilarating news. She was to be the mother of our Lord! What an awesome privilege to a woman of God. But with this privilege came many heartaches. Heartaches that no other could ever carry, and joys that no other could imagine. Mary was the only one at the birth of Christ, who was also present at His death. "She saw Him arrive as her baby son, and she watched Him die as her Savior."
How awesome it would have been to have received such a privilege. Many times we think of the wonderful privilege that God gave to Mary. How many times to do we truly think of the struggles, responsibility, and heart ache that this privilege brought. In the beginnings of the moment, before the truth was reveled, it seemed like nothing could go wrong. How exciting to be the mother of the true King. What her dreams for her son must have been like! He was the one who was to conquer their enemies. He was the one that would save them all. The catch is that no one can know the the path that God is going to take. He does things differently than we anticipate. What we think is best for us; often is not. No one knows the method of God. But she entered the task with this response, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept what ever He wants."
Mary knew the ways of the Lord in that, she knew the scripture and she knew His love. She quoted the Old Testament as she praised God for giving her such a gift. She knew Him enough to know He would help her through what ever was to come. She was willing to be available to God. She was an ordinary young woman that relied on her Lord. As I look at Mary, I have to look at her faith. She was a mother like I am a mother. She was called by God to raise His Son. She had the good fortune in raising a King, and "she quietly treasured these things in her heart." I must ask myself: Am I available to be used by God? Am I willing to be His servant? Does it matter what pain I must endure, in order to serve God? Even through the pain, am I still going to praise Him as my Lord? Can I look past the "right now" and see His good deeds working for His glory? Can I embrace every moment and cherish Him in my heart?
"You are blessed, because you believed that the Lord would do what He said," Elizabeth told her. Mary responded, "Oh, how I praise the Lord. How I rejoice in God my Savior! For He took notice of His lowly servant girl,... For He, the Mighty One, is holy, and He has done great things for me. His mercy goes on from generation to generation, to all who fear Him. His mighty arm does tremendous things!... He has satisfied the hungry with good things... And how He has helped His servant Israel! He has not forgotten His promise to be merciful." After Jesus was born, everyone who saw the new baby were very excited, "but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often."
Mary had received the most exhilarating news. She was to be the mother of our Lord! What an awesome privilege to a woman of God. But with this privilege came many heartaches. Heartaches that no other could ever carry, and joys that no other could imagine. Mary was the only one at the birth of Christ, who was also present at His death. "She saw Him arrive as her baby son, and she watched Him die as her Savior."
How awesome it would have been to have received such a privilege. Many times we think of the wonderful privilege that God gave to Mary. How many times to do we truly think of the struggles, responsibility, and heart ache that this privilege brought. In the beginnings of the moment, before the truth was reveled, it seemed like nothing could go wrong. How exciting to be the mother of the true King. What her dreams for her son must have been like! He was the one who was to conquer their enemies. He was the one that would save them all. The catch is that no one can know the the path that God is going to take. He does things differently than we anticipate. What we think is best for us; often is not. No one knows the method of God. But she entered the task with this response, "I am the Lord's servant, and I am willing to accept what ever He wants."
Mary knew the ways of the Lord in that, she knew the scripture and she knew His love. She quoted the Old Testament as she praised God for giving her such a gift. She knew Him enough to know He would help her through what ever was to come. She was willing to be available to God. She was an ordinary young woman that relied on her Lord. As I look at Mary, I have to look at her faith. She was a mother like I am a mother. She was called by God to raise His Son. She had the good fortune in raising a King, and "she quietly treasured these things in her heart." I must ask myself: Am I available to be used by God? Am I willing to be His servant? Does it matter what pain I must endure, in order to serve God? Even through the pain, am I still going to praise Him as my Lord? Can I look past the "right now" and see His good deeds working for His glory? Can I embrace every moment and cherish Him in my heart?
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Intercession
Isaiah 53, "Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal His saving power? ...I will give Him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because He exposed Himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners."
Last night I was able to spend a short amount of time with a friend, in rejoicing with her in her new home. She is a young woman that has had a hard path to God. She does not yet see the full reward of His love, but she is experiencing it. I met her one day while I was driving in town. She was walking and I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to give her a ride. We have been friends ever since. We would continually run into each other and we have remained in each others lives; not because of anything that we were doing, but because of God. She does not know it, but I have been praying for God to reveal Himself to her heart for over a year now, every day. I pray for her and through my prayers I have felt a very powerful bond with her, I love her with His love.
Genesis 15:17, "As the sun went down and it became dark, Abram saw a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day..." In the old customs when a covenant was made, the ones making the pledge would take an animal, cut it in half and walk between the pieces. What this was saying was, "If I do not fulfill my pledge to you, then you can do this to me; If you do not fulfill your pledge, I can do this to you." When God made the covenant with Abram, only God passed through; He knew that Abram and his descendants could never fulfill their end. So God took on the whole covenant responsibilities Himself. Jesus was the fulfillment of God's covenant. Isaiah 53:11ff, "When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish, He will be satisfied. And because of what He has experienced, my Righteous Servant will bear all their sins...He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners."
Christ has interceded for all of us. Mark 14:24, Jesus said, "This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people." My sins were many, but He bore them all for me. When we pray for others we do not know what they need. I do not know what my friend needs, but God does. I pray for her, then the Holy Spirit takes over from there. Romans 8:26ff, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words...the Spirit pleads for us...For God knew his people in advance and He chose them to become like His Son...And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him."
When I pulled over that rainy day and picked up this woman that I did not know, God knew her. I listened to Him and have been praying for her ever since. We do not have to do anything. Jesus has already done it all. All that we have to do is to lift up a name to Him; the Holy Spirit intercedes for us; and Jesus works. He has paid the price that we owed. We could have never fulfilled our end of the agreement, so He walked though it for us. He has already interceded for us, our part is to love and walk in His love. We are to pray. We do not have to pray specifics, the Holy Spirit does that part for us.
Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest", This morning!! "The Spirit of God uses the nature of the believer as a temple in which to offer His prayers of intercession. '...your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit...' Have we come to realize that our 'body is the temple of the Holy Spirit'? ...We have to remember that our conscious life, even though only a small part of our total person, is to be regarded by us as a 'temple of the Holy Spirit.' He will be responsible for the unconscious part which we don't know..." We are responsible for the things that we know. When we pray, He takes care of the part that we do not understand. Pray so that God can work for others in their lives...Stay open to God, so that He can work in your life. Christ has paid the price for all of us. He interceded, when we needed it the most. God knows His children; He is calling you to be like His Son. Pray and the Holy Spirit will intercede for you.
Last night I was able to spend a short amount of time with a friend, in rejoicing with her in her new home. She is a young woman that has had a hard path to God. She does not yet see the full reward of His love, but she is experiencing it. I met her one day while I was driving in town. She was walking and I had the overwhelming feeling that I needed to give her a ride. We have been friends ever since. We would continually run into each other and we have remained in each others lives; not because of anything that we were doing, but because of God. She does not know it, but I have been praying for God to reveal Himself to her heart for over a year now, every day. I pray for her and through my prayers I have felt a very powerful bond with her, I love her with His love.
Genesis 15:17, "As the sun went down and it became dark, Abram saw a smoking fire pot and a flaming torch pass between the halves of the carcasses. So the LORD made a covenant with Abram that day..." In the old customs when a covenant was made, the ones making the pledge would take an animal, cut it in half and walk between the pieces. What this was saying was, "If I do not fulfill my pledge to you, then you can do this to me; If you do not fulfill your pledge, I can do this to you." When God made the covenant with Abram, only God passed through; He knew that Abram and his descendants could never fulfill their end. So God took on the whole covenant responsibilities Himself. Jesus was the fulfillment of God's covenant. Isaiah 53:11ff, "When He sees all that is accomplished by His anguish, He will be satisfied. And because of what He has experienced, my Righteous Servant will bear all their sins...He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners."
Christ has interceded for all of us. Mark 14:24, Jesus said, "This is My blood, poured out for many, sealing the covenant between God and His people." My sins were many, but He bore them all for me. When we pray for others we do not know what they need. I do not know what my friend needs, but God does. I pray for her, then the Holy Spirit takes over from there. Romans 8:26ff, "And the Holy Spirit helps us in our distress. For we don't even know what we should pray for, nor how we should pray. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words...the Spirit pleads for us...For God knew his people in advance and He chose them to become like His Son...And having chosen them, He called them to come to Him."
When I pulled over that rainy day and picked up this woman that I did not know, God knew her. I listened to Him and have been praying for her ever since. We do not have to do anything. Jesus has already done it all. All that we have to do is to lift up a name to Him; the Holy Spirit intercedes for us; and Jesus works. He has paid the price that we owed. We could have never fulfilled our end of the agreement, so He walked though it for us. He has already interceded for us, our part is to love and walk in His love. We are to pray. We do not have to pray specifics, the Holy Spirit does that part for us.
Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest", This morning!! "The Spirit of God uses the nature of the believer as a temple in which to offer His prayers of intercession. '...your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit...' Have we come to realize that our 'body is the temple of the Holy Spirit'? ...We have to remember that our conscious life, even though only a small part of our total person, is to be regarded by us as a 'temple of the Holy Spirit.' He will be responsible for the unconscious part which we don't know..." We are responsible for the things that we know. When we pray, He takes care of the part that we do not understand. Pray so that God can work for others in their lives...Stay open to God, so that He can work in your life. Christ has paid the price for all of us. He interceded, when we needed it the most. God knows His children; He is calling you to be like His Son. Pray and the Holy Spirit will intercede for you.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Agape Love
This morning, I started the morning a little differently than usual. I have no rules to my worship time with God, that is precious time between us, no rules needed. I started by turning on the TV. On Wednesday nights Beth Moore is on and I had recorded her talking. I watched her instead. Proverbs 19:20, "Get all the advice and instruction you can, and be wise the rest of your life." So this writing comes from Beth Moore and myself.
Proverbs 19:22 (NIV), "What a man desires is unfailing love;" We are all made of DNA. I am a woman and nothing can change that fact. My husband is a man and there is nothing to change that. God is love and their is nothing that we can do to change Him either. He is love. We do not deserve His love; we can never make Him stop loving us, it is who He is. We have to rely on God to love us and we have to rely on God for us to love others. 1 Jn 4:18ff, "...We love each other as a result of His loving us first." We must rely on God's love in us, to love others. He has given us His love, so that we can go out and love others. We are not mere men, we are filled with Christ. We are free to love because Christ first loved us. I don't come to people to be loved; I love them because He loves me. I don't sit around and wait for others to love me, I fill my day with His love so that I can love others. It is not about what others can give me, I am so full. It is about what I can give back to them because He has given it to me. Do you get it? Rom 5:5, "For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." I can't love with a human heart. I must love them with God.
Psalm 51:10-13, "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me..." This does not say heal my broken heart, but create a new heart for me. "Restore to me again the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to You." What is the way of God? It is love, His kind of love. Make me new God! Create in me a new heart, so that I can love others with Your love. That way You can love them, through me.
Acts 9:4, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?" When we hurt one of God's children, you are hurting God. When you show love to them, you are loving God. When you know and rely on the love God has for you, you can learn to love with God's love.
There are two kinds of love talked about in the bible, Agape love and Philos love. Agape love is based on what is best for that person. We love them how they need to be loved. Philos love is based on common interest, friendship love. It doesn't matter how others treat you, love them with Agape love.
"You will get into the biggest mess of your life if you love unhealthy people the way they want to be loved." I know this is true. I loved my ex-husband the way that he wanted me to love him, and it almost destroyed the both of us. You cannot be a false savior for someone. Other people are not your Savior, either. Sometimes you must pull back, so that Christ can move in. Other times you must move in, so that they can feel Christ through you. Love others with the love of Christ. When you love someone, you are not loving them to get something from them; you are loving them to show them the love of Christ. How are you loving someone today?
Proverbs 19:22 (NIV), "What a man desires is unfailing love;" We are all made of DNA. I am a woman and nothing can change that fact. My husband is a man and there is nothing to change that. God is love and their is nothing that we can do to change Him either. He is love. We do not deserve His love; we can never make Him stop loving us, it is who He is. We have to rely on God to love us and we have to rely on God for us to love others. 1 Jn 4:18ff, "...We love each other as a result of His loving us first." We must rely on God's love in us, to love others. He has given us His love, so that we can go out and love others. We are not mere men, we are filled with Christ. We are free to love because Christ first loved us. I don't come to people to be loved; I love them because He loves me. I don't sit around and wait for others to love me, I fill my day with His love so that I can love others. It is not about what others can give me, I am so full. It is about what I can give back to them because He has given it to me. Do you get it? Rom 5:5, "For we know how dearly God loves us, because He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love." I can't love with a human heart. I must love them with God.
Psalm 51:10-13, "Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me..." This does not say heal my broken heart, but create a new heart for me. "Restore to me again the joy of your salvation and make me willing to obey You. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to You." What is the way of God? It is love, His kind of love. Make me new God! Create in me a new heart, so that I can love others with Your love. That way You can love them, through me.
Acts 9:4, "Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting Me?" When we hurt one of God's children, you are hurting God. When you show love to them, you are loving God. When you know and rely on the love God has for you, you can learn to love with God's love.
There are two kinds of love talked about in the bible, Agape love and Philos love. Agape love is based on what is best for that person. We love them how they need to be loved. Philos love is based on common interest, friendship love. It doesn't matter how others treat you, love them with Agape love.
"You will get into the biggest mess of your life if you love unhealthy people the way they want to be loved." I know this is true. I loved my ex-husband the way that he wanted me to love him, and it almost destroyed the both of us. You cannot be a false savior for someone. Other people are not your Savior, either. Sometimes you must pull back, so that Christ can move in. Other times you must move in, so that they can feel Christ through you. Love others with the love of Christ. When you love someone, you are not loving them to get something from them; you are loving them to show them the love of Christ. How are you loving someone today?
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Love God
Mark 12:29-31, Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.' The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, right before he was killed, the crowds loved Him. Mark 11: 1-11, "...He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around Him were shouting, 'Praise God! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in the highest heaven!"
What does it mean to love the Lord your God? What can we tell of our love? How do we know we love God? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves. Many people are praising God. They are excited about what the future holds for them. This is a time of critical change for our Nation, but are we praising God. Is God truly the center of that praise? Romans 13: 8-14, "Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting- and any other commandment- are all summed up in this one commandment: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements...Wake up...The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires."
You know you are loving God, by how you are living your daily life! You cannot say you love God, then turn around and join in with the majority. The road to Christ is narrow. You will not be surrounded by masses, if you are living for Him. You will stand out in the crowd, because you will not agree with the popular belief. Everything around us changes. What is popular now will not be popular tomorrow. Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, and I do not change." If you are constantly changing your mind; If you do not stand with Christ and His beliefs; If you do not base your decisions on Christ, first, then who are you standing with? The Lord is stable. He will not change. He has His own rules and He is the author of the rules. We must stand with God, for if we are not for Him, then we are against Him.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." If you do this you will make the right decisions in every day circumstances. You will not cause harm to any of God's children. You will do your best to walk with integrity. If you love God, you will love all people. This does not mean that we side with all of the people, people can quickly turn on you and harm you, but we love everyone. If you love, then you do not have to worry about breaking any of the other commandments. If you love, then you will do as God desires you to do, in everything that you do. Look at your life; Look at your beliefs, do you side with God? Do you love Him?
As Jesus entered Jerusalem, right before he was killed, the crowds loved Him. Mark 11: 1-11, "...He was in the center of the procession, and the crowds all around Him were shouting, 'Praise God! Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Bless the coming kingdom of our ancestor David! Praise God in the highest heaven!"
What does it mean to love the Lord your God? What can we tell of our love? How do we know we love God? These are the questions that we must ask ourselves. Many people are praising God. They are excited about what the future holds for them. This is a time of critical change for our Nation, but are we praising God. Is God truly the center of that praise? Romans 13: 8-14, "Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law. For the commandments against adultery and murder and stealing and coveting- and any other commandment- are all summed up in this one commandment: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' Love does no wrong to anyone, so love satisfies all of God's requirements...Wake up...The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So don't live in darkness. Get rid of your evil deeds. Shed them like dirty clothes. Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living, as those who live in the light. We should be decent and true in everything we do, so that everyone can approve of our behavior. Don't participate in wild parties and getting drunk, or in adultery and immoral living, or in fighting and jealousy. But let the Lord Jesus Christ take control of you, and don't think of ways to indulge your evil desires."
You know you are loving God, by how you are living your daily life! You cannot say you love God, then turn around and join in with the majority. The road to Christ is narrow. You will not be surrounded by masses, if you are living for Him. You will stand out in the crowd, because you will not agree with the popular belief. Everything around us changes. What is popular now will not be popular tomorrow. Malachi 3:6, "I am the Lord, and I do not change." If you are constantly changing your mind; If you do not stand with Christ and His beliefs; If you do not base your decisions on Christ, first, then who are you standing with? The Lord is stable. He will not change. He has His own rules and He is the author of the rules. We must stand with God, for if we are not for Him, then we are against Him.
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength." If you do this you will make the right decisions in every day circumstances. You will not cause harm to any of God's children. You will do your best to walk with integrity. If you love God, you will love all people. This does not mean that we side with all of the people, people can quickly turn on you and harm you, but we love everyone. If you love, then you do not have to worry about breaking any of the other commandments. If you love, then you will do as God desires you to do, in everything that you do. Look at your life; Look at your beliefs, do you side with God? Do you love Him?
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Trust of a Child
I have two little boys, they both possess very different personalities. My oldest son is more reserved and thinks about things before he does them. He is more like his father. My youngest son has more of my personality. There is no thought of what he is doing, he just does it. When I ask my oldest son to jump in my arms, he looks around then looks at me and knows that I will catch him. My youngest son does not even wait for me to get ready, he just jumps. I look at them and their faith in me and I know that I am the one who will guide them into their faith with God.
Mark 10:13-16, "One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother Him. But when Jesus saw what was happening, He was very displeased with His disciples. He said to them, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God.' Then He took the children into His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them."
When I look at my children, my faith is tested. No matter what is happening, my faith is tested! In disciplining them, my faith is tested. In teaching them, my faith is tested. In playing with them; in loving on them; in just being in the same house with them, my faith is tested. In watching their faith in me, my faith is tested. In watching their love of God and their belief in Him, my faith is tested.
Jesus loves the children; there is no real doubt in their hearts about Him. They believe Him and they know that He loves them. When I tell my boys to jump into my arms, they know that I will catch them. They know that I want the best for them. They know this and yet I make mistakes. They know this and yet they see me when I fail, but they still believe in me. My youngest son will walk around and when he sees a cross or a church, he will say out of no where, "I love God." He believe and yet he has never seen God. He trusts in God like He trusts in me, yet I will fail him and God never will. My children test my faith. Do I have faith in Jesus like my children have faith in me? If God says, "jump," do I? When God disciplines me, do I know that He loves me and is trying to keep me from more harm? Do I feel secure and safe, because I know He is right here with me, where ever I am? Do I have faith like my children?
There is so much to this one little story. Jesus is calling us to have faith like little children. He wants us to trust Him, to believe in Him. He wants us to feel secure and for us to know that He loves us and wants the best for us. He is also calling us to a higher standard so that we do not hinder the children's faith. How I treat my children; how I react to certain things; how I show my faith, these are all ways that I can either strengthen their faith or harm them. He wants the best for us and for our children. He wants me to trust Him like my children trust. I should not ever be afraid of taking a step with God. Even if I miscalculate my jump, He will catch me. My children believe in me and they know that I am not perfect, how much more should I trust in my God, who is perfect.
Mark 10:13-16, "One day some parents brought their children to Jesus so He could touch them and bless them, but the disciples told them not to bother Him. But when Jesus saw what was happening, He was very displeased with His disciples. He said to them, 'Let the children come to me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I assure you, anyone who doesn't have their kind of faith will never get into the Kingdom of God.' Then He took the children into His arms and placed His hands on their heads and blessed them."
When I look at my children, my faith is tested. No matter what is happening, my faith is tested! In disciplining them, my faith is tested. In teaching them, my faith is tested. In playing with them; in loving on them; in just being in the same house with them, my faith is tested. In watching their faith in me, my faith is tested. In watching their love of God and their belief in Him, my faith is tested.
Jesus loves the children; there is no real doubt in their hearts about Him. They believe Him and they know that He loves them. When I tell my boys to jump into my arms, they know that I will catch them. They know that I want the best for them. They know this and yet I make mistakes. They know this and yet they see me when I fail, but they still believe in me. My youngest son will walk around and when he sees a cross or a church, he will say out of no where, "I love God." He believe and yet he has never seen God. He trusts in God like He trusts in me, yet I will fail him and God never will. My children test my faith. Do I have faith in Jesus like my children have faith in me? If God says, "jump," do I? When God disciplines me, do I know that He loves me and is trying to keep me from more harm? Do I feel secure and safe, because I know He is right here with me, where ever I am? Do I have faith like my children?
There is so much to this one little story. Jesus is calling us to have faith like little children. He wants us to trust Him, to believe in Him. He wants us to feel secure and for us to know that He loves us and wants the best for us. He is also calling us to a higher standard so that we do not hinder the children's faith. How I treat my children; how I react to certain things; how I show my faith, these are all ways that I can either strengthen their faith or harm them. He wants the best for us and for our children. He wants me to trust Him like my children trust. I should not ever be afraid of taking a step with God. Even if I miscalculate my jump, He will catch me. My children believe in me and they know that I am not perfect, how much more should I trust in my God, who is perfect.
Monday, November 3, 2008
God in a Box
Mark 7:7-23, "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. Their worship is a farce, for they replace God's commands with their own man-made teachings.' For you ignore God's specific laws and substitute your own traditions.... It is the thought-life that defiles you. For from within, out of a person's heart, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, eagerness for lustful pleasure, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these vile things come from within; they are what defile you and make you unacceptable to God."
Wake up, oh Christian sleeper! Do you see what keeps you from experiencing the full glory of Christ? It is not the traditions that you adhere to on Sunday morning; it is not how you think you appear to other people that matters. It is your heart; your thought life that keeps you from Him, or that brings you into a deeper relationship with Him. So many people get caught up in how they are worshiping on Sunday, but they forget the rest of their life. Trust me, one day a week does not make you right with God. How are you living your life? This is the question that you must ask yourself, every day.
Mark 9:14-29, The disciples had been trying to cast out an evil spirit, but could not. "Jesus said to them, 'You faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."...The father said to Jesus, "Have mercy on us. Do something if you can.' 'What do you mean, 'If I can?' Jesus asked. 'Anything is possible if a person believes.' The father instantly replied, 'I do believe, but help me not to doubt!" ..."Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with His disciples, they asked Him, 'Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?' Jesus replied, 'This kind can be cast out only by prayer."
The disciples got caught up with one way of doing things, but Jesus showed them that there are many ways to work. Mark 9:38-40, "John said to Jesus, 'Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't one of our group.' 'Don't stop him!' Jesus said. 'No one who performs miracles in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us."
What are you getting stuck on? If you are focusing on the wrong thing; you will not be able to move forward with your relationship with God. Do not focus on what others are doing. You do not know their heart, they may just be on His side. What we must focus on, is our self. Make sure that your thought life is not defiling you. If you have doubt, but you believe, Jesus will help you with your doubt, if your true desire is for Him. Stop arguing among other believers in Christ. Do not get stuck on traditions. Look at what is really important. The only person we can really focus on is our self. Everyday I must wake up and purposefully seek Christ. I have to, I know me. I am constantly looking at myself and my relationship with Christ, because I know how easily I can be mislead. God works in many wonderful ways. If we ever try to put Him in a box, we will soon find out that the box we used was the wrong sized. He has His own boundaries; we cannot make boundaries for Him. Look at your own life; continuously seek God and always be thankful for His Grace. If we desire Him, He will help heal us. He will help us with our doubt.
Wake up, oh Christian sleeper! Do you see what keeps you from experiencing the full glory of Christ? It is not the traditions that you adhere to on Sunday morning; it is not how you think you appear to other people that matters. It is your heart; your thought life that keeps you from Him, or that brings you into a deeper relationship with Him. So many people get caught up in how they are worshiping on Sunday, but they forget the rest of their life. Trust me, one day a week does not make you right with God. How are you living your life? This is the question that you must ask yourself, every day.
Mark 9:14-29, The disciples had been trying to cast out an evil spirit, but could not. "Jesus said to them, 'You faithless people! How long must I be with you until you believe? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy to me."...The father said to Jesus, "Have mercy on us. Do something if you can.' 'What do you mean, 'If I can?' Jesus asked. 'Anything is possible if a person believes.' The father instantly replied, 'I do believe, but help me not to doubt!" ..."Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with His disciples, they asked Him, 'Why couldn't we cast out that evil spirit?' Jesus replied, 'This kind can be cast out only by prayer."
The disciples got caught up with one way of doing things, but Jesus showed them that there are many ways to work. Mark 9:38-40, "John said to Jesus, 'Teacher, we saw a man using your name to cast out demons, but we told him to stop because he isn't one of our group.' 'Don't stop him!' Jesus said. 'No one who performs miracles in my name will soon be able to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us."
What are you getting stuck on? If you are focusing on the wrong thing; you will not be able to move forward with your relationship with God. Do not focus on what others are doing. You do not know their heart, they may just be on His side. What we must focus on, is our self. Make sure that your thought life is not defiling you. If you have doubt, but you believe, Jesus will help you with your doubt, if your true desire is for Him. Stop arguing among other believers in Christ. Do not get stuck on traditions. Look at what is really important. The only person we can really focus on is our self. Everyday I must wake up and purposefully seek Christ. I have to, I know me. I am constantly looking at myself and my relationship with Christ, because I know how easily I can be mislead. God works in many wonderful ways. If we ever try to put Him in a box, we will soon find out that the box we used was the wrong sized. He has His own boundaries; we cannot make boundaries for Him. Look at your own life; continuously seek God and always be thankful for His Grace. If we desire Him, He will help heal us. He will help us with our doubt.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Silencing the Spirits
I've started reading in Mark. There are several times when Jesus was recognized by evil spirits and He would not let them speak. Mark 1:24,25, "A man possessed by an evil spirit was in the synagogue, and he began shouting, 'Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One sent from God!'
Jesus cut him short. 'Be silent! Come out of the man.'" Mark 1:35, "But because they knew who He was, He refused to allow the demons to speak." Mark 3:11,12, "And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of Him, they would fall down in front of Him shrieking, 'You are the Son of God!' But Jesus strictly warned them not to say who He was."
It would have been so easy for Jesus to allow the spirits to talk. The people would have listened to them, but this was not Jesus' desire. As I have looked at this, I wanted to know all the different reasons that Jesus may have had in silencing the spirits. Maybe, He was wanting people to see His life and how He could help them. Otherwise, it could have been the words that they believed, and people are very deceived by words. While the demons were speaking the truth; they are also covered with deceit. But if you will open your eyes to the things that you have experienced, when Satan tries to deceive you, you will know because you have seen it yourself.
At the bottom of my bible there are several different reasons why Jesus may have wanted the demons to be silent. "(1) By commanding the demons to remain silent, Jesus proved His authority and power over them. (2) Jesus wanted the people to believe He was the Messiah because of what He said and did, not because of the demons' words. (3) Jesus wanted to reveal His identity as the Messiah according to His timetable, not according to Satan's time table. Satan wanted the people to follow Jesus around for what they could get out of Him, not because He was the Son of God who could truly set them free from sin's guilt and power... The huge crowds were looking for a political and military leader who would free them from Rome's control, and they thought that the Messiah predicted by the prophets would be this kind of man. Jesus wanted to teach the people about the kind of Messiah He really was- one who was far different from their expectations. Christ's Kingdom is spiritual. It begins with the overthrow of sin in people's hearts, not with the overthrow of governments."
So many times we are deceived because of words. If we listen to someone enough we are liable to be caught in the trap of their lies. We must always base everything that we believe in, on Christ alone. Most all lies have some sort of truth in them, this is what makes them so powerful. If they were obvious, then we would not have to be careful. Satan knows what we want to hear and he will do everything in his power to make sure "that" is all that we hear.
Mark 4:23-25, Jesus said, "Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to pay attention to what you hear (another translation says, "look at carefully what you hear") The more you do this, the more you will understand..." "Look at carefully what you hear" do you see what is behind the words? Do you see truth? Do you see Christ? We are so easily deceived by words. We cannot rely on what anyone tells us. We must look at what we hear. The way we do this is by looking to Jesus first, then look at what the person is really about. Everyone reveals their true identity if we will truly be watching what they are really doing.
The most deceitful person that I must be careful of, is myself. Self-deceit is the easiest to fall trap to and the hardest to recognize. This is why I am so cautious with myself. I have lied to myself so much; I have believed what I told myself to the point of being truly blind to what reality was. You can convince yourself of anything, if you want to. I must always turn to the truth, the author of truth; in order to see myself for who I really am. If I am going against Him, then I know I am on the wrong road and I must stop and turn around. "Look at carefully what you hear," from others and yourself. There is only one that you can believe in. His words matched His actions. Look to Him for the truth.
Jesus cut him short. 'Be silent! Come out of the man.'" Mark 1:35, "But because they knew who He was, He refused to allow the demons to speak." Mark 3:11,12, "And whenever those possessed by evil spirits caught sight of Him, they would fall down in front of Him shrieking, 'You are the Son of God!' But Jesus strictly warned them not to say who He was."
It would have been so easy for Jesus to allow the spirits to talk. The people would have listened to them, but this was not Jesus' desire. As I have looked at this, I wanted to know all the different reasons that Jesus may have had in silencing the spirits. Maybe, He was wanting people to see His life and how He could help them. Otherwise, it could have been the words that they believed, and people are very deceived by words. While the demons were speaking the truth; they are also covered with deceit. But if you will open your eyes to the things that you have experienced, when Satan tries to deceive you, you will know because you have seen it yourself.
At the bottom of my bible there are several different reasons why Jesus may have wanted the demons to be silent. "(1) By commanding the demons to remain silent, Jesus proved His authority and power over them. (2) Jesus wanted the people to believe He was the Messiah because of what He said and did, not because of the demons' words. (3) Jesus wanted to reveal His identity as the Messiah according to His timetable, not according to Satan's time table. Satan wanted the people to follow Jesus around for what they could get out of Him, not because He was the Son of God who could truly set them free from sin's guilt and power... The huge crowds were looking for a political and military leader who would free them from Rome's control, and they thought that the Messiah predicted by the prophets would be this kind of man. Jesus wanted to teach the people about the kind of Messiah He really was- one who was far different from their expectations. Christ's Kingdom is spiritual. It begins with the overthrow of sin in people's hearts, not with the overthrow of governments."
So many times we are deceived because of words. If we listen to someone enough we are liable to be caught in the trap of their lies. We must always base everything that we believe in, on Christ alone. Most all lies have some sort of truth in them, this is what makes them so powerful. If they were obvious, then we would not have to be careful. Satan knows what we want to hear and he will do everything in his power to make sure "that" is all that we hear.
Mark 4:23-25, Jesus said, "Everything that is now hidden or secret will eventually be brought to light. Anyone who is willing to hear should listen and understand! And be sure to pay attention to what you hear (another translation says, "look at carefully what you hear") The more you do this, the more you will understand..." "Look at carefully what you hear" do you see what is behind the words? Do you see truth? Do you see Christ? We are so easily deceived by words. We cannot rely on what anyone tells us. We must look at what we hear. The way we do this is by looking to Jesus first, then look at what the person is really about. Everyone reveals their true identity if we will truly be watching what they are really doing.
The most deceitful person that I must be careful of, is myself. Self-deceit is the easiest to fall trap to and the hardest to recognize. This is why I am so cautious with myself. I have lied to myself so much; I have believed what I told myself to the point of being truly blind to what reality was. You can convince yourself of anything, if you want to. I must always turn to the truth, the author of truth; in order to see myself for who I really am. If I am going against Him, then I know I am on the wrong road and I must stop and turn around. "Look at carefully what you hear," from others and yourself. There is only one that you can believe in. His words matched His actions. Look to Him for the truth.
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