October 31, 2015                                     FEARFULLY  AND  WONDERFULLY  MADE

Psalms 139:13-14: “For Thou didst form my inward parts; Thou didst weave me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Psalms 139:1-2: “O Lord, Thou has searched me and known me. Thou dost know when I sit down and when I rise up, Thou dost understand my thought from afar.”

Psalms 139 is one of those sections of scripture that test whether or not we believe what read in scripture because humanly speaking, it is impossible to get our mind around what we read in this Psalm. This is where we may have to pray the prayer: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief.” In verse six, David declares what we all feel when he said: “Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.” If we by faith can receive and believe what is presented in this Psalm; our life, our understanding of God, and our view of ourselves is changed forever. Is God intimately acquainted with all of my ways? Does He know my thoughts? Is it impossible for us to escape His presence? Will God’s hand lead us? Did He really form my inward parts? Did God weave me while I was in my mother’s womb? Did God see even my unformed substance? Does God know when I sit down and when I rise up? Whether we believe it or not, whether we understand it or not, all that is said about God and about us is true. We do have a magnificent God that goes beyond our comprehension and understanding, but by faith, we can receive and believe all that scripture declares. Our faith is not a blind faith, but is based on the sure word of God that has been proven over and over. It is our faith in the God of the Bible that separates us form those who do not know God; and even our faith is a gift from God. Because God is intimately acquainted with all of our ways and because we cannot hide anything from Him nor can we separate ourselves from Him, it would be foolish on our part not to be totally honest with Him. If we belong to God, He is always inviting us, drawing us to Himself, and He does so because He loves us no matter what we have done or not done, or what our present life or circumstances are like. The love that God has for His people is unalterable and it has our best interest at heart. We can find great joy and great peace in the fact that our God knows every thought we have, every detail of our lives, with nothing hidden from Him, and yet, He still loves us and desires fellowship with us! God is always after our heart. The only legitimate response we can have to the love of God, is to love Him in return-to yield our heart to Him. The things we do, the words we speak, and the thoughts we have flow out of our heart and because of that, our desire should be to have a heart that is pure and pleasing to God. The love of God has a way of purifying our hearts. True wisdom is to understand that having a heart that is pure before God is the greatest of blessings for man. God is in the business of transforming us to the image of His Son, and it starts by having our hearts being changed-and actually getting a new heart. So let us show gratitude, let us be humbled, let us awed by the fact that our God knows everything about us-and still pours out His love on us; and may we respond by loving Him with all of our heart.

Genesis 1:27: “And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

Ephesians 2:10: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

1 John 3:1: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called the children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him.”

Blessings,

Buddy

October 27, 2015                                          KEEPING  IT  FRESH

Galatians 5:16: “But I say to you, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh.”

Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in this present age.”

Philippians 4:9: “The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things and the God of peace shall be with you.”

In my last blog; “What Shall We Say?’, we looked at just how great is the salvation that we have in Christ and how secure we are in the love of God, and how God is at work in us transforming us to the image of Christ. We might wonder, we may even struggle with knowing how do we keep the things of God on “the front burner” of our lives. After all, most have to work 40+ hours a week, we have to maintain what we own, we have to take care of the kids, we have to mow the lawn and etc., and with the demands put on us, or the demands we put on ourselves, it seems we have to find time to work God into our schedule. There is a remedy to this dilemma; and this remedy is not difficult or burdensome, but is actually liberating. The remedy has to do with our view, our understanding of life being rooted in the gospel that Jesus introduced and demonstrated. (One word of caution: there is a lot of preaching and teaching today in “Christian circles” that is not in line with the gospel of Jesus Christ-so beware.)  From the Galatian verse above, we see that we either walk by the Spirit, or we walk by the flesh. To walk by the flesh does not necessarily mean we are committing some horrible overt sin, but it does mean we are not living according to the Spirit of God within us. If our focus is trying our best not to “walk in the flesh”, we will be defeated. The good news is that if we walk according to the Spirit-the ways of God-we will not live according to the flesh. So, the question is; just how do we walk in the Spirit? How do we keep God fresh in our awareness-on the front burner? I’m sure I don’t have the final answer; but I’m sure of a couple of the basics that must be a part of our lives if we are to walk according to the Spirit. It starts with our hearts; we must search our hearts and determine if it is our hearts desire above everything else, to know God. Should we discover that that is not the case, we should confess that to God and then ask Him to change our heart, and then begin to focus our heart on Him-seek Him. A second essential factor is that we spend time reading God’s word with the mindset of getting to know God and also discovering what it means “to be in Christ”. Our true identity in Christ includes knowing that our sins are forgiven, that we have been made new, that God is our real Father, that we are being transformed into His image, and that He is coming back to make our redemption complete. The third factor in keeping the things of God fresh is to obey, to apply, what we read in scripture and what the Holy Spirit puts in our heart. By not walking in what He reveals to us, we are choosing to walk according to our flesh and we grieve and quench the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 4:30). Let us be reminded that only by “practicing these things”, will we experience the peace of God. We do make the choice of whether we walk by the Spirit, or we walk by the flesh.

John 14:23: “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make our abode with him.”

John 14:10-11: “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Fathers commandments, and abide in His love. These things have I spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”

Jeremiah 17:7,10: “Blessed is the man who trust in the Lord and whose trust is the Lord. I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give to each man according to his ways, according to the results of his deeds.”

Blessings,

Buddy

October 24, 2015                                       WHAT  SHALL  WE  SAY

Romans 8:31: “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:28-29: “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the first-born among many brethren.”

In Romans chapter eight, Paul is conveying in detail just how great and awesome is the salvation that God brought about through Jesus. Even before we were born, God knew us, He loved us and He predestined that we would come to know Christ and be conformed to His image. Because God loved us, He did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us that we might be joined to Him (Rom: 8:32). Because we are the elect of God; who are what will bring a charge against us? Who is there to condemn us? (vs.33-34) God is the one who saves and the one who justifies and the one who reigns supreme. In light of all that God has done, in verse 35 Paul makes his point by asking: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?”  When we begin to get this truth deep within our mind, spirit, and heart, our lives are transformed-there is nothing more powerful and life changing than to know that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We will without a doubt encounter various trials and tribulations in life, but nothing we encounter has the power to sever us from the love of God. Some difficulties come as a result of our bad decisions and actions, while some come in the form of persecution because of the expression of our faith. However, even in the difficulties of our own making, God is at work conforming us to His Son, and it is for our good that we yield to what He is doing in us, and even desire that He be about changing us. To think that we will not experience some difficulties is an erroneous thought, and it will cause us to be confused or defeated when the trials do come. The salvation of God enables us and equips us to overcome and not be defeated by anyone or by any circumstance in which we find ourselves.  It is God’s intent to conform us to the image of His Son-for us to become “like Christ.” Really? Me be like CHRIST? For us to become like Christ may sound pretty unrealistic, and indeed it is in our own strength. The promise to us is that God will work in us, bringing about a transformation that will conform us to the image of Christ. Once we understand this transforming process that God is doing, every aspect of our lives is involved in the process. God’s desire, and plan, is that the thoughts we have, the motives of our hearts, the words we say, the actions we take, how we relate to people, how we respond, and the things we believe, will all resemble Christ. The critical thing for us to know is, that we can work with Him as He is in the process of transforming and molding us into the image of Christ; or we can resist His work in us. If we allow ourselves to get into spiritual “neutral”, just coasting through life, we will hinder the transformation process. Becoming like Christ becomes evident to ourselves and to others-it affects how I relate to my wife, to my family and friends, it affects my attitude, my outlook, my countenance, the words I speak-it affects everything about us. Let us look again at the life of Christ, knowing that He is our example, and knowing that God is in the process of transforming us so that the life we live will look like Christ. “What shall we say to these things?” Wow!

Hebrews 2:1-3a: “For this reason we must pay closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?”

2 Corinthians 3:18: “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”

Romans 12:2: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

Blessings,

Buddy

October 21, 2015                                                 WHY  NOT  ?

Matthew 4:4: “But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man Shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’”

We then to over analyze and complicate; making what is plain and clear difficult to grasp.  Someone has said that: “analasis leads to paralysis”, and that can be true when it comes to applying what the scriptures teach.  Certainly it is a good thing to “dig” into the word of God; to study and to compare scripture with scripture-God instructs us to do that. However, as we approach the word of God, we must remember that God has made His ways and His desires clear. God sent us the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to us, and it is the Holy Spirit who reveals the heart of the Father to us. Our study of the word of God is not like studying a subject we know nothing about; in our study of God’s word, we are actually discovering what God has revealed. The primary reason for studying the word is not for education, but rather to gain revelation, wisdom, and understanding. God had His word written in such a way that any one, regardless of their education or IQ, can glean truth from His word. As we read the scriptures, our focus should not be on trying to discover some “deeper truth”, but should be on applying and obeying what we read. As we apply and obey God’s word, He will reveal more of Himself to us. Very simply put; God sent His word in order that we might know Him, and as believers, might know how we are to live. Even though there are mysteries to be found in God’s word, the word is not complicated and is straight forward, not difficult to understand. For some reason I don’t understand, I fear we have come to a place where we enjoy hearing a great sermon, and yet not be impacted by what we hear. Sad but true, we can hear the great sermon, and then leave the service and soon forget what we heard. Also, we must not be guilty of twisting the scripture to agree with our own opinion and preferences.  What would happen if without question or hesitation, we simply do what the scriptures plainly teach?  For example; what if we loved our neighbor as ourselves-if we let no unwholesome word proceed from our mouth-if we encouraged one another daily-if we worked so that we could give to those in need-if we honored one another-if we exercised our spiritual gifting-if we put off the old self and put on the new self-if we took every thought captive to the obedience of Christ-if we were quick to forgive-if we visited and prayed for the sick-if we had the peace of God-if we spoke only the truth-if we preferred others above ourselves-if we trusted God for everything-if we acknowledged God in all of our ways-if we related to God as our real Father-if we understood that we are connected to other believers-and if we sought Him first? I am confident that if we as believers, with the right spirit, will simply obey what God has said, we will experience God working in ways that will amaze us. I also believe that when believers begin to live true to the scriptures; families, churches, cities and the nation will see the blessings of God; broken relationships will be mended, many will be made well physically, depression will be lifted, purpose and peace will be restored, joy and laughter will be a part of life, needs will be met, and His kingdom will be expanded. As discussed in a recent post, the eyes of the Lord do run to and fro throughout the earth looking for those whose heart is completely His-for those who love Him and keep His word. Obeying what God has plainly said is not difficult if we are living out of our new self, and as we keep His word we are blessed. To think that by keeping His word will somehow rob us of life, or cause us not to enjoy life, is without a doubt a false concept. “Jesus came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). Let us continue to read and study God’s word, but also let us be quick to obey all that our Father has spoken through the scriptures. Our goal is not the study of God’s word; our goal is to obey His word. Jesus made it clear that others would know that we are His disciples because we keep His word.

John 14:21: “He who has My commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves Me; and he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I will love Him, and will disclose Myself to him.”

John 6:63: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”

Blessings,

Buddy

October 18, 2015                                      WE  ARE  NOT  IGNORANT

2 Corinthians 2:10-11: “But whom you forgive anything, I forgive also; for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ, in order that no advantage be taken of us by Satan; for we are  not ignorant of his schemes.”

Matthew 6:15: “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.”

John 20:23: “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

One of the basic tenants of the Christian faith is forgiveness. Jesus came to earth announcing that God is a forgiving God and He taught that we are also to be forgiving people because we are the sons and daughters of God. Whether we forgive or not forgive has a huge impact on our lives as well as those that are near us. We find examples in scripture and we find examples in life of the devastation that comes as a result of not being willing to forgive others. Often, it is pride or a sense of entitlement that causes one not to forgive. We may feel that our very person and character has been violated when someone in some way does us wrong, and we just can’t forgive such a wrong-our pride has been offended. Or, for example, we may feel that we are entitled to a good reputation, and when someone says or does something to damage our reputation, we find that unforgivable. (It is possible to feel that we have been wronged because we have misjudged the words or action of others, while in fact they have done nothing wrong.) The fact is that being unwilling to forgive has greater consequences on the one who does not forgive than it does on the one who needs forgiveness. It is true, that un-forgiveness imprisons the one not being willing to forgive.  If there is anything that destroys and divides families, friends and churches, it is that of not being willing to forgive. Wars have been started, marriages have been broken up, and churches have been divided all because of someone not being willing to forgive.  The good news is that there is a “cure” for un-forgiveness and it is found in being aware of how much we have been forgiven. In Luke 7:47 we read: “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little.”  There is a connection between love and forgiveness; if I truly love someone, I am willing and able to forgive them. What if the one who wronged us is a stranger-someone we don’t “love”?  When our heart is full of the love of God, that love reaches to all people just as the love of God reaches all. Realizing how much we have been forgiven has a way of humbling us, causing us not to be so quick to judge, and be willing to extend forgiveness to those who wronged us. In fact, being wronged, gives us a great opportunity to express the love of God and an opportunity to demonstrate the kingdom of God. Actually, forgiving someone is not difficult when we understand the consequences of not forgiving, and the blessings that come as a result of forgiving.  Some say that they can forgive, but they can’t forget-and that is true to a degree. However, the forgiveness that is God-like, has a way of “swallowing up”, or overshadowing the wrong that was done. When our forgiveness is based on the forgiveness of God, we do not have to live with the memory of the wrong we suffered, and the wound can be healed. Our focus must not be on the wrong suffered, but on the blessings of forgiveness.  Forgiveness has a way of clearing the air, and in fact, has a way of strengthening the relationship with the parties involved. Finally, perhaps the most difficult forgiveness is that of forgiving ourselves when we fail, when we sin. It is the scheme of the enemy to remind us of our past sins and failures, and if we succumb to his schemes, we live defeated lives. It is a fact that we have all sinned-and sin is sin. When a past sin comes to mind, use it as a springboard to express thanksgiving to God for Him forgiving you. So let forgiveness be a hallmark of our lives; let us be quick to forgive others, and ourselves “in order that no advantage be taken of us” by Satan.

Colossians 1:13-14: “For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Blessings,

Buddy

October 15, 2015                                           THE  EYES  OF  THE  LORD

2 Chronicles 16:9: “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

2 Samuel 16:7: “But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at His appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart’.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

It is without question that the greatest thing that a person can gain is a heart that belongs wholly to God.  If the heart is compromised or divided in our relationship with God, the full blessings of God will not be experienced.  As we see in the verse above, God looks at the heart of man and He is looking for those who have hearts that are completely His. What a heart that is completely His looks like, and how we get that kind of a heart, is certainly a good question to explore. Getting a heart that is completely His requires the working of the Holy Spirit, but it also requires a choice, a desire on our part as well. If you have read many of my postings, you will know that I often discuss the fact that God has given us a new heart, a new mind, and a new spirit. To live or to express this new person that we are is not automatic-that is where we have a choice to make. God is pleased when the greatest and strongest desire of our heart is to walk in our newness-to be who He made us to be. There will be times when we are tempted to revert back to who we use to be, and at that very moment-how we respond-reveals the condition of our heart.  For example, if I respond with anger to a certain situation, then I am revealing the fact that I am living out of the old nature-not expressing the new heart that God has given. This is not saying or implying that if we have a heart that is completely His, we will be perfect in all of our responses. The key is that when we do respond out of the old nature-we quickly recognize it and we confess it and turn form it; and if we have wronged others, we are to ask their forgiveness. God is pleased with the heart that is quick to recognize when it is wrong and when it is quick to turn back to Him. As we mature in the faith, there should be fewer times when we revert to the old nature and there should be ever increasing times of expressing the very life of God. There is a false teaching that promotes the idea that “It does not matter what we do because we are saved by grace.” Yes, we are saved by grace and thank God for His graced toward us. But by His grace, He does not leave us who we use to be, and by His grace He transforms us into His image. God never looks the other way when a believer chooses to sin; there is no place or time in the Christian faith where we are to allow sin to reign. The believer is not to live in fear of sin; but at the same time, there is a healthy fear of God, knowing that God is not pleased when we sin.  Misunderstanding grace can lead to shipwreck. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). We need to know that we can gain a heart that is completely His, and it begins with the desire to have such a heart. Remember that the scriptures are given as instructions on how we are to live-how we are to think-how we are to respond-how to walk in holiness, etc.; so there is good reason to read and study the scriptures on a regular basis. “All scripture is inspired by God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16). Commit to express, or implement the instructions found in the scripture. Ask the Holy Spirit to point out any areas of the heart that are not pure or that do not please the Lord, and when He does, confess it and turn from it. Ask God to give you revelation concerning your new nature-what it means in a practical way to have a new heart. Let your focus in all of life be on the condition of your heart-is the heart desiring to be pleasing to the Lord-are the motives of the heart honorable and pure-does the heart trust in God-is the heart teachable and pliable-is the heart quick to confess when it is wrong. The believer is not called to live by a set of rules in order to gain God’s favor, but is called to live in relationship with our Father who is committed to transforming us into His image. Having a heart that is completely His is not a dream nor is it unattainable-it is God’s desire and His plan that our hearts belong to Him and He invites us to work with Him as He is in the process of transforming us. It is a wonderful and effective prayer when we know deep within our heart that God is the potter, and we are the clay. It is freeing to be the clay-telling God that you want Him to form you into anything He desires. It’s a great day when we have a total trust in our Father for every aspect of our lives.

John 7:38: “Whoever believes in Me, rivers of living water will flow out from his heart.”

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

Matthew 5:8: “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Blessings,

Buddy

October 12, 2015                                            BECAUSE  YOU  LOVED  ME

John 16:26-27: “In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I will request the Father on your behalf; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from the Father.

John 17:3,6: “And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent.   I manifested Thy name to the men whom Thou gavest Me out of the world; Thine they were, and Thou gavest them to Me, and they have kept Thy word. Now they have come to know that everything Thou hast given Me is from Thee.”

These verses reveal the unity that Jesus and the Father enjoys and they reveal the love that the Father and the Son have for us as believers. The Father loves us because we love His Son Jesus whom He sent on our behalf. The one factor that puts every individual in one of two categories is whether or not they love Jesus and believe that He came from the Father. One cannot know God, or be born again, without believing in, and receiving His Son as Savior. Believing that God is our Father in heaven and that He sent Jesus to redeem us, is the one belief that makes all the difference both in this life and the one to come. The Father sending His Son is the one cataclysmic event in all of history that unites forever with the Father those who love the Son. Our God is not a God who is looking down from heaven waiting and looking for us to do wrong so that He can execute judgement and punishment. Rather, God is first and foremost a God who loves. God knew, and Jesus knew, that to redeem man- to pay for our sin- would mean that Jesus would suffer a cruel death on the cross. Jesus endured the mockery, the lies, the rejection, and being nailed to a rugged cross; we can only imagine how the Fathers’ heart was broken as He saw Jesus enduring the cross and bearing our sins. As you read the book of John, you see the beautiful picture of the unity and the joy of the Father and the Son. We can’t understand it completely; but the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three, but yet they are one in perfect unity. The wonderful news for us is that both the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit desire that we share in this unity and joy, and they have made it possible for us to experience this unity with them and with each other. This unity among the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit and the believers is what the world will see, and it will ultimately bring glory to the Father. The natural mind cannot understand these things, but only by revelation that comes from the Holy Spirit, can we come to know that God has joined us to Himself and we are now a part of Him and we can now experience being in relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus calls us His brothers and sisters and He said that we have the same Father-what an awesome truth! When we begin to understand the reality of Jesus being not only our Savior, but also our brother, and God being our Father, life takes on new meaning and purpose. Because there is no circumstance nor power that can thwart or hinder what God has ordained, there is nothing for us to fear since we have been placed into His family, knowing that God does take care of His own. All that we do, all that we are, is to flow out of our relationship with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We no longer have to try to earn God’s approval or acceptance, for the Father loved us even before we knew Him, and because of His love for us, He sent His Son to redeem us. When Jesus returned to the Father, He did not leave His followers alone, but sent the Holy Spirit-the Comforter and Helper- to indwell each believer. Let us live in the awareness that Jesus has redeemed us; that Jesus refers to us as brothers and sisters; that God is our Father; that we have been joined to God; and God has indeed made us new creations who will live forever with Him. Finally, know that the Father invites us to make our request known to Him, and we can be assured that the Father will hear and He will give the response that is best for us-because He loves us. Yes! God did send His Son to make us one with Him.

John 17:20-21: “I do not ask in behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.”

Blessings,

Buddy