“The LORD will lighten my darkness.” 2 Samuel 2:29
“The deep things of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:10Who is YOUR lover now!?
Now thats one of the true benefits of a blog! You can ask very personal and intimate things that only the reader can honestly answer in their minds without uttering a word! Let it be known that God knows who your lover really is! He knows what really sparks your fire of desire! He is very familiar with what circumstances make you desire to be intimate! He considers the frame of mind that brings you the greatest satisfaction! The question really is: are we honest enough with our selves to face the real answers to the questions raised when we diligently be examining ourselves with the 15X mirror of the Word of God? You know, the way 1 Corinthians 11:28 instructs us to!
The rich young ruler spoken of in Luke 18:18-25 had to come to grips with the true lovers of his life! As must all those that God is calling to a higher level! The young rich ruler had it going on for God on the outside! but the inside was where the real issues lie. Outwardly, he liked what he did for himself with money. He may have enjoyed the power and influence he had gotten in his life. His outward testimony was important to him. He liked the respect he got in church. He knew how to get and keep more than he gave. He loved the life he was making for himself. Does this sound like someone you know well?
The Lord knew that his request was one of how he could “play church” better instead of what he could do to be what God wanted him to be! I mean consider his question: “what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 18:18. How often do we do things” without carefully considering what we are saying with our hearts? Especially to God! The Lord knew that his response to the rich young ruler would cause him to face his inward avoidance of the truth of his intentions! The Pharisees wereguilty of this condition that Jesus spoke of in Matthew 23:25! Jesus knows if our love for him is not completely fulfilling and compelling us to desire him with great pleasure! He is aware of what is really in the way of a love that causes us to do everything for him at our own cost, no matter what the sacrifice! He is able to pinpoint where and why our love for him fails! He plainly sees the areas of our lives that display an open show of infidelity in spirit of our love for him.
It that extra-marital love affair that seems to typify mainstream American Christianity. We MUST STOP that love affair with power, money, greed, status and ego! Jesus knows how to get to the heart of the problems of loving him that lie within the hearts of men! The Lord knew this kind of spirit and stated it plainly in Matthew 23:25! Is the spirit of obedience to love the Lord with all your heart, soul and mind just conditional and not volitional? Must we be so easily distracted in the affairs of this life to the point of hindering our ability to be soldiers for Christ? Yes, its true, marriage is a type and figure of the kind of relationship God wants with his bride! Sex is part of that process in God’s definition and sanctity of marriage. Consider the scriptural validation of this truth in the post titled accordingly. Godly marriage is something you cannot do entirely on your own, remember Luke 18:27! Matthew 23:25 points to who is responsible for cleaning the inside! Pastor Greg
Often what you see ISN’T what you get!
In the Spirit, often physical appearances are very deceptive. If you have trouble accepting this truth, simply look at the latest news events. Political scandal, the hidden evil of man, as well as spiritual wickedness exposed in high places are all revealed when the veil of appearances are pierced and parted. The Lord instructs his people on how to have the ability to discern such things within themselves as well as how to use this ability in the world around them. We find a portion of this revelation in St. John 7:24. Scripture cautions the believer to with hold judgment according to the appearance, but to judge with “righteous judgment”. We must know just what “righteous judgment” really is. It is the understanding, by discernment and life experience along with choice in direction of the Holyghost through God’s word. This dynamic in action will result in “righteous judgment”. Its primary active element is self control and should be constantly driven by the desire to maintain the same in the believer’s heart.. This is evidenced in being able to “hear swiftly, speak slowly, and be even slower to anger” as instructed in James 1:19. This character trait, when harnessed, contributes to the the ability to properly discern.
The Lord uses nature to teach and discourage us in judging according to appearance! Many plants and animals look harmless but in actuallity are VERY deadly! How many times have you heard something that wasn’t meant the way it was spoken? Or felt and even smelled something that wasn’t what you thought it was? Our five senses kept untrained spiritually, will lead us astray continually! Satan has garnered many a soul by the abuse and misuse of man’s five senses by his own choice and forfeiture! How long will we be duped, misled and manipulated by the enemiy’s lies, deceit and abundant evil subtlety?
Seek God to open your eyes through his Word! Ask God to guide your interpretation of ALL things through his Word! Look for the confirmation of all matters through his Word! Determine to create a more intense and intimate relationship with God! Finally, make the active decision to take God’s Word off of the printed page and put it in action abundantly in your heart and life! When you do this, buckle up my friend, my brother, my sister, my co-laborer in Christ! The ride is thrilling, wild and EXTREMELY rewarding! stay tuned, there is much more!
Struggling to find his way back…
The book of Nehemiah is one of the great “how to” books in the bible. The saying is true, “History is a great teacher”. The Word of God is chalked full of “do’s and don’ts” of which I am grateful. This particular book is an excellent “how to” in the methodology of repentance (you know, recognition, remorse and rejection of sin), godly leadership and the mindset of winning the battle. If you would, follow the articles written on this book in the blog and see if you too will gain the blessing of gold found therein! This first article is my partial interpretation of the first four chapters of the book of Nehemiah. The underlying perspective of interpretation used here is the Lord speaking to me interpretively of situational observation and life experiences. Perhaps He will speak to you along those same lines and more so as well! I will do my best to let you know what chapter and verses I am referring to as lines of interpretation are read. Thank you Lord for giving me some of the hidden manna found in your Word!
The name “Nehemiah” means: “Jehova hath consoled”. What a promise to those who are in the struggle to find their way back to that closeness with God they once took for granted, but now consider precious and of great value! Nehemiah was born in captivity at the time when Israel was in exile to Babylon. He was brought up in the favour of the Persian King and was made a prince as history records. His position was a most trusted and coveted one as cup bearer to the king. He was born and raised an Iraelite with all of the worldly conveniences and comforts the worldly king would give. Imagine being called by God to leave all that for a people who wouldn’t help themselves out of their own bondage! He heard the stories. He knew of his people’s testimony. I’m sure that there was plenty of blame to go around. Yet he felt that draw of God, he just could’nt ignore that conviction that was constant in his heart. He knew that something had to change, something had to give, the end just wasn’t going to be like that. His very name indicated this. He knew through heart crushing experience that there was no consolation in captivity, exile or bondage. He comprehended that every day brought new mercies from God. For this realization was part of his hope in God! He knew by faith that there had to be a way to discover, repair and make an acceptable sacrifice and offering to God.He longed for that consolation, closeness and security that had been lost by way of the breach in him and his people’s relationship with the living God.
Nehemiah’s call to godly leadership first required several focused hours of self assessment and active preparation for any reconstruction to begin that would result in honor and glory to God. Bringing honor and glory to God involves glorifying Him in your very body, soul and spirit. Nehemiah had to weigh out that prospect ensuring that the flesh is out of the way, to the point of being willing to walk to the very edge of the protective hand of God which kept him, trusting that He will put his other hand there to allow him to keep walking by faith! The key points of “self assessment” involved here are; owning up to the damage his own sin had caused in his life, as well as learning how to take what was learned from the past and extract what must be applied to the present for the honor and glory of God. Once these realities are acted upon, the next step is to identify the extent of repairs (both physical and spiritual) that are needed. Then the work starts! Getting rid of all the “rubbish”, the unnecessary, the wood, hay and stubble can be daunting! To do this work upon one’s self and then convince others to do the same can only be accomplished through one’s willing obedience of the timely inspiration of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is with that testimony that we know that God was with Nehemiah!
There is more to be discovered in the first four chapters! Stay tuned! Pastor Greg
When God gives you burden thats bigger than YOU!
Nehemiah’s call to leadership of Jerusalem’s restoration was discovered in the burden he had for the testimony of the people of God. Israel had been brought into captivity and Jerusalem was made desolate during the course of their captivity. He knew why the nation of Israel was in the condition it was in. The undealt with sin of God’s people weighed heavy on Nehemiah’s heart and conscience. In his intercessory prayer, he knew that he had some responsibility of this unresolved sin to God and sought for mercy along with forgiveness from God for himself and the sin of God’s people. It was his conviction to right the wrong of sin that caused him to have a heavy burden to make a difference in and change the testimony of God’s people. He had become the King’s cupbearer, so life for him was quite comfortable. yet he and his people remained in bondage, not free, enslaved because of the choices they had made. What God had given them was no longer satisfactory to their appetite for the things of the world that lay within their reach. So they chose disrespect, disregard and disobedience towards the God of their salvation. Nehemiah perceived that this kind of unresolved sin towards God resulted in reproach
A burden alone does not secure a calling. God often seeks a time of proving, the opportunity of participation and the ongoing result of production in confirmation of that burden and its leadership responsibilities. God confirmed Nehemiah’s leadership qualities in his burden in these three ways. First, he proved his willingness to give up his comfort zone, even to the point of risking his own life! Second, he allowed Nehemiah to display his committment through participation in careful consideration of the work that lie ahead. Finally, Nehemiah seized the opportunity to share his burden and vision with others who had the willingness to work for God and accomplish the production of fulfillment of the burden together! A burden is something one prepares to carry, handles responsibly, and produces fruit for the honor and glory of God. A burden from the Lord becomes a way of being, living and fulfilling life. Nehemiah had to go through some changes to accomplish this.
Nehemiah was not an Architect. Nor was he a General Contractor. He was not a military strategist either. Yet it seems that the nature of the task at hand would require all three professions to effectively accomplish this work! This intimidating truth did not dissuade him from the daunting task. He took it personally. He surveyed the damage. He examined what needed to be repaired. He knew what must be built. He realized the value of self assessment, reparation and rebuilding that a burden of the Lord requires to be effectively carried out! What we see thus far is that once a burden of the Lord is realized, it initially requires is a carrier of that burden be willing to position himself or herself where ever and how ever God requires without disruptive reservation! God always prepares others to help in His burdens! I find it interesting that the walls, gates and doors had to repared before any internal structures could be reconstructed. The restoration of Jerusalem, which means the apple of God’s eye, began with repairing the structure of what kept things in an d out, the walls, and what allowed things in and out, the doors and gates. Where are YOU at in your burden from the Lord? Does any of this strike a chord?
What was Herod’s deal with the wise men?
Why did King Herod send the three wise men on a government sponsored trip to find baby Jesus so that he might destroy Him as recorded in Matthew 2:1-13? Scripture reveals that he was an insecure man with a huge ego and very power hungry to boot! Not much has changed in the worldwide political arena huh? Yes, the spirit of Herod is alive and well today! Many men and women today feel threatened and resist the thought of submitting the status they’ve created in thier worlds into God’s power! They have even gone to extremes like Herod and killed off any potentially fruitful thing that may usher in any kind of surrender to authority in their lives that threatens their own power! Oh! By the way, Herod” means: “The son of a hero”, or, “the glory of the skin”. Needless to say, his father was NOT the kind of “hero” you’d want your children to admire and imitate! The details of this part of the history of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ are commonly overlooked perhaps because of their negative exposure, candor and impression man has had on such a marvelous event.
The kind of drama Herod created while he ruled is what Hellywood (opps, I mean Hollywood!) movies are made of! He was scandalous, treacherous, and an unscrupulous ruler as Matthews 2:1 & 2; 7 & 8; 12 & 13; 2:16 portrays him. Interestingly, not even the very manipulation of man by satan in high places can thwart the divine plan of God! Just that truth in itself should give us sufficient stamina and boldness to live for God without distraction! But the sad truth is that man without the proper rule, influence and guidance from God results in a heart that is desparately wicked and continually deceitful as Jeremiah 17:9 claims. The plain truth is that man cannot do any righteous thing that truly brings honor and glory to God without divine inspiration and intervention at some level! Isaiah 64:6 and Romans 3:10-12: 23 scripturally confirms this truth.
There are three divinely instituted truths we must comprehend and engraft in our being regarding the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. First, we find the Lord’s counsel of buying from him gold tried in the fire (Revelation 3:18) is a prerequisite to the reality of the deeper things of God in our lives. That is to say the truths and beauty of God become precious as gold only after the fiery trials and tribulations of life in the flesh has ran their course! Second, why the Lord exchanges beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:3). Its God’s all-enduring love that flows from the highest mountains to the lowest valleys will still make a way for sinful man toreconcile himself to him. Let it be known that the love of God will overcome the deepest hatred hell itself can manifest! Finally, the divine order of the natural running its course so that the spiritual can reign. In St. John 12:24 and 1 Corinthians 15:33-53, with a focal point of verses 46 and 47, we see a universal truth God himself initiated, and Satan does not know how to effectively deal with! You can’t do anything for God spiritually until the flesh, the natural, is out of the way! King Herod and his evil desires had to die with him in order for Jesus to do his work in the flesh completing it in the Spirit! Its hard to get someone to turn their back on the world if they are not tired of it!
Jesus said; “Be of good cheer, I have overcame the world!” in St John 16:33! Considering That Jesus knew that we would suffer great offenses and tribulation, I find the circumstances of King Herod and his evil intent cautionary to my task of doing the will of God in my life, not detrimental. The lion may roar (1 Peter 5:8), but through responsibilty and vigilance in obedience, faith and knowledge of God’s word, the Lord will deliver me as he did Daniel in the lion’s den (Daniel 6:16-24! The spirit of Herod may still live, but the Lord Jesus Christ is mightier than any thing hell can send against God’s church! Just remeber the end of the book of Revelation, we win!
The comfort of the Holy Ghost…
What a beautiful phrase of encouragement spoken under the anointing of the Holy Ghost! Just as times were in society if you were not Roman in Acts 9:31, gluttenous for the wealthy, desparate and hopeless for the poor, great tolerance for unrighteousness and immorality and financial pressures can cause one to realize that in apathetic times such as these, its good to pursue godly encouragement and enjoy the comfort of the Holy Ghost! The three elements of this comfort are found in Romans 14:17. They are; “righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” As matter of fact, they are what constitues the Kingdom of God! A dear man of God used to ask how I was, and I’d respond that I was ‘fine under the circumstances”, then he’d tell me that my problem was that I was “under the circumstances and not on top of them!”. At first, I interpreted his words of wisdom as “constructive criticism”, but life experience has taught me the true value and deeper meaning of his advice.
When we endure circumstance without godly interpretation we have a thousand reasons for not doing what should be done for God in our lives and so many others to point at for failures, hurts and offenses in our life experience. “Godly interpretation” is knowing what promises apply to each circumstance, as well as which which scriptures gives instruction, interpretation and encouragemt of the three elements of the Kingdom of God. This may require great addition to the knowledge base we have of God stored in our minds, Romans 10:17:; 11:33; Colossians 1:9 & 10. Or perhaps a redirection of things sought after pertaining to the kingdom of God, Matthew 6:33. Maybe even a change of heart in the intensity of our relationship with God, Matthew 22:37 & 38. Circumspectly, the more sensitives you are in the Holy Ghost, the more comfort you will receive! It is my observation and opinion that in our present age of information we suffer more wordly distraction and carnal fulfillment than ever before thus resulting inreceiving no comfort in the Holy Ghost.
The comfort of the Holy Ghost is embraced, nurtured and increased when God’s people are focused on His will in daily decisions. A thorough consideration of God’s will in our daily decisions can be found in the post of this blog titled: “Will you now!? Maybe you wont!” The comfort of the Holy Ghost is sustained in knowing that assurance from God that his will shall be done for our good, in everything, Romans 8:28. Maintaining your citizenship in the Kingdom of God keeps us surrounded with that comfort. Consider the wisdom given in the post on this blog titled: True illegal aliens aren’t citizens of His Kongdom!” The comfort of the Holy Ghost is knowing that you are a friend of a friend that laid down his life for you! Jesus calls us such in St. John 15:12-14. You must know that when the serpents of this world would try to inject their deadly venom into your soul, you must look to Jesus crucified and lifted up for your punishement, St. John 3:14 & 15; Numbers 21:7-9, and do as the apostle Paul did in Acts 28:3-5, and shake’m off into the fire with the confidence of Like 10:19!
Finally, The comfort of the Holy Ghost is knowing who you are in Christ. You are His child with great promise according to Romans *:16 & 17; Hebrews 12:5-8. You are soldiers, so remember your instructions as given in 2 Timothy 2:3 & 4! HEY! Whose battle is this anyway? Ah, yes, the answer is in 2 Chronicles 20:15; Ephesians 6:12; 1 John 4:4 and St. John 16:33! Remeber! The Lord exchanges beauty for ashes! There may be mourning for a night but joy cometh in the morning! In the midnight hour, at the darkest possible time, Paul and Silas praised and worshipped their way out of prison! Ah! and don’t forget Daniel’s three friends! Everyone got burned who tried to put them into the fiery furnace, but they came out unscathed!! My God is a GOOD God! Yes he is!
Calling all laborers for the harvest!
Current Status…Preparing for the harvest this year!
Shout out to…To the laborers of the harvest who know they are called by God!
Currently reading…St. John 4:5-38; 1 Corinthians 3:6 & 7 and 11:23 & 24
This is really interesting…Some men plant, some men water, but God gives the increase and His laborers gather the harvest!
The Soapbox:Jesus demonstrated the law of the harvest among his disciples! After reading the passages of scripture given, did you get it? Can you see the relationship of the Lord’s supper in it? God is calling His laborers to harvest souls! Can YOU hear him? He has given you all of tools you need to bring in the harvest! His word, your burden, your testimony and his anointing! So what is holding you back!? are you able to perceive the souls that are ready to be harvested for God? Raise your perception, planting is being taken by God, watering is being blessed by God, increase and harvest are the breaking and passing out by God! God accomplishes this miraculous repetitive feat through his chosen people! This year, dig up your fallow ground -Jeremiah 4:3 and Hosea 10:12, so that God can continue to do His marvelous work in your life! Pastor Greg
