He's Faithful

God has provided.

God is providing.

God will provide

(Ge 22:8; Jer 29:11; Php4:19)

...Will You Not Be Accepted?

God does not show partiality or favoritism, but accepts anyone who chooses to show reverence for him and simply do what’s right (Acts 10:34-35; Ro 2:11).  He rewards those who believe in him, and earnestly seek him (Heb 11:6).  He honor’s those who honor him (1 Sam 2:30).  So, why is it that many people find themselves –like Cain- angry and downcast when the Lord looks with favor upon the Abels of the world (Ge 4:4-5)?

I believe they’ve chosen to accept Satan’s lie that it’s them who haven’t been accepted, as opposed to their paltry or lacking service, gift, or worship (While Abel brought God some his first and best, Cain merely brought some.  In other words, Abel brought tithes and offering, while Cain brought pocket change.  Cain showed his disdain for God in the way that he gave.)  And since they believe that lie, they consequently believe the lie that their brother is their competition for God’s love.  And degrading, insulting, or even eliminating their ‘competition’ is their only chance at being accepted by God.  And unfortunately, we see this played out in the lives of modern day Cain and Abels every day.  Insert your example here. 

No one’s perfect, but if you’re putting forth an earnest effort to please God, instead of man, by living according to his word, you will have people insult, persecute and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Jesus (Gal 1:10; Jn 12:43; Mt 5:11).  Daniel went through it, as well as the Three Hebrew Boys (Dan 3 and 6).  And David often prayed to God to deal with the folks who were after him unjustly (Ps 40:14; 63:9; 69:4).

We’re to rejoice and be glad when we’re persecuted because of righteousness because we’re blessed, and are rewarded for our faith in heaven, and on earth (Mt 5:3-12; 10:22).  When we follow God’s word, in faith, we have the opportunity to undergo trials with comfort and protection, and come out of them approved, unscathed, promoted, and prosperous (Dan 3:24-30; 6:16-28; 2 Tim 2:15).  We all suffer -in one way or another- but surely it’s better to suffer for doing good than for doing evil (1 Pe 3:17). 

    

 

After You've Done Everything to Stand...

Okay, it’s another day of battle soldiers, and we’ve been commanded to be strong in the Lord’s mighty power.  Our enemy has been identified as the Devil, who we are to stand against.  His tactic is schemes.  Don’t be misled by focusing on the tangible.  Human resources are not fitting for this struggle.  Our battle is not against flesh and blood.  Understand, our battle is spiritual against rulers, authorities, powers, and spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.  We are instructed to put on the full armor of God, so that we may be able to stand our ground, and after we’ve done everything to stand, we’re told to stand some more, but it must be with God’s full armor (Eph 6:10-14):

Belt:  Make sure every piece of armor is bound with truth, as well as the loins of your mind, so that nothing is ensnared.  Without a secure belt, you will not be able to move freely, and you’re in danger of stumbling and falling (Eph 6:14; 1Pe 1:13-16 KJV) .

Breastplate:  Make sure you’re righteous, both in status and in character.  Let your righteous character be the defense of your vital organs, such as your heart (Eph 6:14; Ro 3:21-23; Pr 4:23).  Don’t be like King Ahab, who’s questionable character caused a flaw in his armor, which was pierced by an arrow, resulting in his death (1 Ki 16:30; 21; 22:31-35). Without a strong and secure breastplate, any attack can prove fatal, but with it, strikes will merely graze the armor.

Feet shod:  Walk in peace, as Christ did, promoting unity (Eph 2:14-16; 6:15).  Reconciliation to God is offered to all.  And those who accept it have the peace of mind to walk freely as one approved by God (Ro 5:1; Mt 5:9; 1 Jn 1:9).  Peace protects the soldier of God’s feet, as the legionary wore heavily reinforced sandals that were as protective, and possibly more comfortable, than today’s combat boots.  They were made with thick leather soles studded with hobnails, enabling them to have secure tread on almost any terrain.  Leather thongs could be laced calf-high, and stuffed with wool for warmth and protection.

Shield:  The large, leather-covered shield, which is your faith, is to be soaked in water and carried to extinguish fire-tipped arrows (Eph 6:16 Heb11:1, 6; Pr 26:18).  Your shield itself -if not accompanied by a will to carry it- is useless (Jas 2:17).  Although it may be heavy, it offers a great deal of protection.  Don’t put it down!  A Roman soldier’s shield was curved to deflect the full force of an attack.  In the center was a metal knob, which enabled the shield to be used as an offensive weapon, by knocking the Enemy back.

Helmet:  Salvation is to cover your head as a helmet (Eph 6:17).  God designed this gift to be received, not earned (Eph 2:8-9).  The purpose is for reconciliation to Him, for the purpose of his predestined work for you (Eph 2:10).  Bronze, on iron, on leather, absorbed shock.  A back shield protected the neck.  A front ridge protected the face.  And pieces at the cheeks protected the face and ears. (I’m sure Malchus wished he had a helmet when he came across an angry Peter [Jn 18:10].)

Sword:  Success in battle depends on skillfully wielding our sword, which is the very Word of God (Eph 6:17; 2 Tim 2:15; Heb 4:12).  Don’t worry about how you will perform.  The Holy Spirit will bring to our remembrance all that you’ve trained in (Jn 14:26).

Prayer:  And don’t forget to communicate continuously with God, who will, lead, encourage, and ensure your victory (1 Co 15:55-57).  By (praying) God’s word you have the power to speak and make the Enemy flee, the power to speak and move mountains, the power to bind and loose (Lk 4:1-13; Mt 11:23; 18:18).

We’re more than conquerors through Him who loved us (Ro 8:37).  Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ (2 Co 2:14)!  With Christ we are guaranteed victory!  So, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, and stand, then stand some more (Eph 6:10-14).  With him we are able!

                    

Nevermind How It Looks

All throughout the Bible there are stories of how God showed himself strong in the lives of people who chose to trust in him, regardless as to how things looked.  And if we are to have any real, definite, supernatural victories in our lives, we have to follow suit.  We’re encouraged not to throw away our confidence because it will be richly rewarded.  We need to persevere so that when we have done the will of God, we’ll receive what he’s promised (Heb 10:35-36).  We’re told that the righteous will live by faith (Heb 10:38).  And faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not yet seen.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb 11:1; 6).  With God, you have what you don’t see, and it’s eternal, and what you do see is temporary (2 Co 4:18; 5:7).  We have to keep in mind that we see in part (1 Co 14:12). 

Abraham was blessed with innumerable descendants after trusting that God’s way was best.  When he obeyed God’s command to sacrifice his only son, he was provided a ram instead (Gen 22:1-19).  Here’s a man that waited his whole life to have an heir, and it looked as though God was taking back what he’d blessed him with.  And as a result of him trusting in God, Abraham not only kept his son, but also gained a countless amount of (spiritual) heirs to bear his name!  God doesn’t just do it; he overdoes it! 

It looked as though the things God had showed Joseph in his dreams wouldn’t come to pass after his brothers had sold him into slavery, but they did (Gen 37-42).  Joshua, a mill worker, became a military hero after following God’s direction.  With the power of God, he and a handful of men defeated the mighty army of Jericho by basically yelling at them (Joshua 1-6).  By faith, a shepherd boy, armed with nothing but a staff, sling and the name of the Almighty God, defeated an army, to include a giant (1 Sam 17:1-58, which is my three-year-old niece’s favorite Bible story, no doubt).  Job was restored twice the amount he’d originally had after trusting in God during his test (Job 42:10).  Satan said, ‘He will surely curse you to your face’, but Job’s response to all of this was, ‘Though God slay me, I will still hope in him’ (Job 1:11; 13:15).  Throughout his test Job testified that God was faithful and just, and if there was any fault at all, it was his own.  He knew who his God was, and stood on it!  It looked as though Mary had fooled around on Joseph, but God sent the angel Gabriel to put both Mary and Joseph at ease, and they were blessed with the responsibility of raising God’s very own son, by following the word that the angel spoke to them (Mt 1:18-25). 

And it appeared as though Christ was defeated on Cavalry, but in fact, he’s the victor, and so are we through him (Mt 27:32-28:20; Ro 5:1)!       

         

Be Anxious for Nothing

If this post isn’t for me, I don’t know who it’s for.  I’ve been obsessing (slightly) over the success of this blog (that I started less than THREE weeks ago.  I know! Crazy.).  It’s just that I’m so excited about it, and I want to see it succeed.  I can attempt to justify my attitude towards this endeavor as an earnest wishing all I want, but the Bible tells me to approach this situation -and those like it- differently.  Anxiety has no place in a Christian’s life, whether they’re uneasy and brooding, or ardently waiting.  It’s not fitting for those who call themselves spiritual siblings of the Prince of Peace.  So, based on his example, I’m trying to get some of that faith that results in peace like Jesus had when he was fast asleep in the midst of a storm.  No. Correction.  A furious squall (Mk. 4:35-41)!  We are not to be anxious for anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present we are to present our requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard our hearts and our minds in Christ Jesus (Php. 4:6-7; Matt. 21:22).

In the Parable of the Growing Seed (Mk. 4:26-29) the NIV note points out that, ‘whereas the parable of the sower stresses the importance of proper soil for the growth of seed and the success of the harvest, here the mysterious power of the seed itself is emphasized. The gospel message contains its own power’!  It’s God’s word that guarantees success, not my own ability.

Deep down I do know that what God has for us, is for us, whether it’s manifested today, or years from now (Ecc. 3:1-8; Isa. 55:6-11; 2 Pe. 3:8; Ps. 90:4).  I’m just glad to have this word hidden in my heart to pull up when I get a little uneasy.  But remember, as with any test, you can’t recall what you haven’t studied.  Thank you Lord for a mind-regulating word (2 Co. 10:5)!

Only By Faith

This subject is so rich! I’ll cover my immediate thoughts on it though.  Faith is defined as allegiance or duty to a person; loyalty; fidelity to one’s promise; sincerity of intentions; belief and trust in, and loyalty to God; without question; complete trust.  And I was in agreement with Merriam-Webster’s definition; until I got to their defining it as a firm belief in something for which there is no proof.  Correction Merriam-Webster: 

Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see, says God, who always has the final word (Heb. 11:1).  The proof of faith is in its sureness and certainty.  It doesn’t say that faith was or will be; it says that faith is.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him (Heb. 11:6). 

We cannot stand without faith (Isa. 7:9).  We cannot have peace without faith (Isa. 26:3-4).  With faith we can do great things (Jn. 14:12)! 

We are to imitate God’s faithfulness, which always expresses itself in action.  Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead (Jas. 2:17).  As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead (Jas. 2:26; Mt. 9:2, 22,29).  You doubt God’s faithfulness?  Consider that he’s preserved your life to this very moment.  How are you showing yourself faithful to a faithful God?    

The Great Restorer

As stated in the last post, Satan comes only to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).  And the result of sin is death; whether you interpret that as literal, physical death, spiritual death, death or loss of opportunities, or material blessings, etc., what is clear is that we will suffer for our wrongdoing (Romans 6:23).  That’s simply the appropriate response for a just God. 

The common response of wrongdoing is attempting to conceal them (John 3 19-20).  Our Accuser (Rev. 12:10) does not want us to gain from the restoration that results for a truly repentant believer.  Repentance is God’s plan for restoring us.  God says, ‘If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me…’ (Ps. 23:3; Jer. 15:19; Ez. 18:30-32; Nahum 2:2; 1 Pet. 5:10).  To be clear, repenting isn’t merely admitting to God that you’ve done wrong, but it’s also turning away form sin and dedicating oneself to the amendment of one’s life (according to Merriam-Webster Online).  God doesn’t merely offer an opportunity to repent, but commands it.  And he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins (1Jn. 1:9). 

Spiritual laws guarantees blessings (Ps, 1:1; 2:12; 32:2; 33:12; 40:4; 41:1; 84:5; 89:5; 89:15; 94:12; 106:3; 112:1; 118:26; 119:1-2; 127:5; Pr. 3:13; 8:34; 28:20; 29:18; 31:28; Isa. 30:18; Mt. 5:3-11; Jn. 12:13; Ac. 20:35Jas. 1:12; Rev. 1:3; 22:7).  We just need to trust that God will do what it says he will do in his word, and know and believe that ‘without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him’ (Heb. 11:6).

Learning to Flee

It’s good to see when you’re maturing spiritually.  And I’ve noticed that I’m more likely to flee from sin than I was before, not that I was so eager to do wrong.  But I do know that I’m abiding in the Word more, and that my walk is being affected.  I’m becoming more sensitive to sin, and as a result take more measures to avoid situations where I know I’m likely to fall into it.

The Bible is very clear in telling us to flee, or run, from sin (the love of money, false doctrine, sexual immorality, idolatry, and generally speaking, evil desires [1 Cor. 6:18; 10:14; 1 Tim. 6:3-11; 2 Tim 2:22]).  Don’t walk, swagger, or waddle, but RUN!  Christ spoke of the seriousness of the consequences that result from not running from Satan’s temptations, saying, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy…” (John 10:10).

But we can be encouraged knowing that we aren’t only to flee from potential danger, but to flee to assured safety in God’s word.  We’re told to ‘pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart’ (2 Tim. 2:22).  Look at that! We have company in this walk too!  And in John 10:10 Christ tells of the desires of the Accuser, but continues, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. 

God is denying us nothing but death, theft and destruction.  He is allowing us the opportunity to have LIFE!

Warning for the Mocker

When convicting –which is sometimes necessary in this spiritual war- I want to focus on the sin and not the sinner, so I don’t believe it’s imperative to point out the offender that inspired this post.  But I do feel it necessary to touch on the Accuser’s tactic of belittling the Christian faith, which is -more often than not- met with casual disregard, if not amusement. 

Although we are free moral agents, God’s will for us is to honor him with everything, to include our mouths.  We are to ‘set an example for believers, in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity’ (1 Timothy 4:12).  There is no such thing as a harmless word, because ‘the tongue has the power of life and death’ (Proverbs 18:21).

There’s bitter fruit to reap for the mocker, scornful, proud, and haughty (Pr. 9:12; 16:18; 30:17; Ps. 31:23; 138:6; Isa. 2:12).  (And they are contrasted by the righteous, blameless, upright, and faithful.)  ‘Do not be deceived:  God cannot be mocked.  A man reaps what he sows’ (Galatians 6:7).  And this is not only God by name, but includes all of his ways and characteristics, which are written in his word.  They are shown as the perfect example by his son Jesus, and are displayed by those who desire to live according to his word. 

God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).