Monthly Archives: June 2010

For a Moment…

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~2 Corinthians 4:16-18 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

I recall hearing a message about what happens to us at the moment of our salvation. At that very moment, we take our first step into eternity with the Lord. Our flesh will fail and eventually die, unless we are part of the blessed who experience the Rapture! Each day, we are blessed with the opportunity to start our walk with the Lord afresh. Our eternal life was purchased with a great price – our Precious Saviour willingly took the punishment for our wickedness. Eternity is already purchased for us but we walk this earth in a sinful body.  Our old man struggles with our new man.  We desperately need to renew ourselves daily.  When we are renewed, we recognize what Christ went through just to give us this blessed opportunity!  As a result, we are able to claim this promise!

~Psalms 103:4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

Christ redeemed us from hell’s eternal destruction and He crowned us with His love and tender mercy! It is by His mercy that we are not consumed by Hell’s fire! I am so thankful that my eternity is not dependent on me for I fail my Lord daily. My heart is filled with remorse each time I fail Him. But I am thankful that the Lord is full of mercy!!! I am reminded that He is faithful and He renews my spirit every day! I have faith that each day He will be there walking with me and helping me through the day’s events – whether they be filled with sorry or joy! I know that my Saviour is filled with compassion and He will restore my weary spirit each day!

~Lamentations 3:21-23 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

I can begin each day with peace knowing that even though my body will eventually die, my spirit will be renewed daily because I know what my future holds! My life here is but a vapor in the span of time. However, I glory in the fact that my Saviour will be there throughout my journey and will welcome me when I take that one step through that doorway between life here on earth to eternal life with my Lord!

~Psalms 89:1 Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.

Be Still!

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~Psalms 46:10-11 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.

How many times have you read these verses? I have been a believer for over 30 years and have read these verses countless times! Yet, they have never meant to me what they do now. The Lord impressed upon my heart to pick apart these verses and I was not disappointed!!

The first two words “be still,” – we would normally think that this means to sit still – don’t move.  The Hebrew word for still is:

H7503
רפה
râphâh
raw-faw’
A primitive root; to slacken (in many applications, literally or figuratively): – abate, cease, consume, draw [toward evening], fail, (be) faint, be (wax) feeble, forsake, idle, leave, let alone (go, down), (be) slack, stay, be still, be slothful, (be) weak (-en).

It’s as if God is telling us to be weak, to let go, to let alone, to surrender. Be weak, let go, let alone and surrender to what? When we recognize that we are weak and have no power, we are able to see God at work!  We tend to dive into our problems with our own solutions.  God encourages us to leave it alone and let Him work it out.  So we surrender in order to know that God is in control. We give up trusting in our own flesh and abilities and trusting in God’s power in our lives. He will be lifted up and glorified as the world observes the trials in our lives and they see His Hand at work! God promises that He will be exalted in all the earth!

As if that verse isn’t enough of a blessing, I absolutely love the next verse – the Lord wants to encourage us to remember that He is with us. The God who was a refuge to Jacob is the same God who will be our refuge in time of need.   We can run to Him to find refuge when the storms of life are all around us!  Our trials can blow circumstances around but we know that we are safe in God’s care!   So now when I am going through a trial, I will be quick to surrender myself in order for God to have control in the situation!  HE is God – He is able.  I am not!

Are You Going Through the Fire?

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~Zechariah 13:8-9 And it shall come to pass, that in all the land, saith the LORD, two parts therein shall be cut off and die; but the third shall be left therein. And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Whatever trial you’re going through right now, does it feel as though you are walking through a fire? Are you feeling tortured? Whatever it is that engulfs with flames of despair – cancer, finances, relationships – you’re not alone. Why does the Lord allow these times in our lives? Today’s text says we are refined with each trial we experience – but the Lord is right there with us when we call on Him.

~Malachi 3:3 And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.

Just how long must we go through this fire? When does the refining end? Does it ever end?  Why must we be refined? I thought of these questions when my beloved was going through the cancer treatments and surgeries. I was reminded of an account I once read of women who were studying the above verse.

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible Study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn’t mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver. As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about the verse that says: “He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.” She asked the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment.

Then she asked the silversmith, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

He smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy—when I see my image in it.”

This is where the Lord is when we are going through the fires. This is what He is doing. He is there right beside us and refining us until He sees His image!

I think of when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were thrown into the fiery furnace. They were not alone. The Lord was right there with them.

~Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

What great comfort to know that the same Lord who was there with these three young men is right there with us!!! Our end result may be death, but what greater joy is there than to finally be with the One who died for us – our Refiner?

So as we go through our day-to-day trials … as we carry the cross that has been designed just for us … is our Lord able to see His reflection on us? Can He see Himself in our actions? Oh God, I pray that this is so in me!

My Times…

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~Psalm 31:15a My times are in thy hand:

Nothing happens to us that God isn’t aware of already! He has seen the future and He is there to guide us and help us as we walk this path! Yes we will go through difficult times. God allows these times in our lives so that we may trust and rely in Him. He does not prevent the hardships but He will be there to help pick us up, encourage us and heal our wounds!

When we look at history’s Christians, we see men, women and children who have been persecuted beyond belief – unto death! God did not stop this action – but we speak of their martyrdom today bringing glory to our God! Their deaths were not in vain. Their testimony unto death is what believers speak of and are encouraged with to this day. Foxe’s Book of Martyrs describes what our Christian brothers and sisters went through for the Gospel. Our own actions during trials reflect our testimony for God. Our actions will show the world whether or not our God is right there beside us, helping us through it all. Encourage yourselves, therefore, and lift up the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ through your trials and tribulations! Rejoice Christian!

~Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.

~Isaiah 43:1-2a But now thus saith the LORD that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine. When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;

~Hebrews 13:5b-6 … for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Are You Part of this Group?

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~Matthew 7:21-24 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

A born-again believer has no problem doing moral inventory on his spiritual walk. In fact, staying on top of our sins (keeping a short list so to speak) is good for us. We acknowledge our sinful nature before a Holy God and we rely on Him to mold us into the image of His precious Son, Jesus Christ!

But to the “religious” person who claims he is born again, today’s Scriptures make it clear what will happen when he meets his Maker. Jesus made it clear that the path to Heaven is narrow and difficult and there would be few who would find it.

~Matthew 7:13-14 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Religion can lead people straight to Hell if one isn’t careful. It is God’s Word that is pure and full of truths! Is it any wonder that Jesus told the people of His day that there would be many going down the path of destruction but yet believe that their religion was good enough? In fact, their religion was so good that they did some of the same wonderful works of the true Christian! Today’s text is enough to cause anyone to do moral inventory and to be certain they are truly born again and not just being a religious person!

There’s nothing wrong with the born again believer doing this moral inventory. It helps us recognize that salvation is of the Lord, not of ourselves, and it keeps us focused! We acknowledge that we are vile sinners but by the grace of God, we are saved!

~Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Have you truly been renewed by the Holy Ghost or are you just religious? Good question!

Life’s Choices

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~1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The Bible clearly warns us that the devil’s ultimate goal is to exploit our weaknesses. If Satan is seeking to devour us, then we must not give him even an inch by placing ourselves in danger of being tempted! If a person struggles with pornography, then he needs to stay off the Internet, adult book stores and friends who indulge in that sin. If someone struggles with shoplifting, he needs to stay away from stores when he is not accompanied by someone who does not shoplift.

It is not the temptation that God condemns but it is succumbing to the actual sin itself.

~James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Just because we are born with a sin nature does not mean that we have to succumb to sin after we are born again. The Word says that we can resist sin. God is faithful and will always provide us with the help that we need when we need it.

~1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

To Complain or NOT to Complain?

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~Psalms 55:2 Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise;

Haven’t we all been down this road? “It’s just not fair!” – I can hear myself saying these words to God. We feel as though we are the only ones going through difficult times yet we know deep down that we are not. In fact, if we looked around long enough, we would find someone who was in a worse state than us.

So, when is it ever right to complain? Is pouring our hearts out to God and telling Him of our problems considered complaining? What does God’s Word say about it? As I read verses that contained the words “complained, complaint, complaining, murmured, murmuring(s),” I discovered that there are times when we need to pour our hearts out to Him and there are times when complaining is sin.

The Hebrew word used here is:

H7878
שׂיח
śı̂yach
see’-akh
A primitive root; to ponder, that is, (by implication) converse (with oneself, and hence aloud) or (transitively) utter: – commune, complain, declare, meditate, muse, pray, speak, talk (with).

This word denotes a conversation, a prayer, and talking with the Lord. God desires this with His children. He wants to know our needs. It does not pinpoint a dissatisfied spirit – it points to someone who acknowledges his “state” and maybe even questions it before His God. However, his complaints do not lead to sin.

In each of the verses below, David voices his complaint before God but doesn’t dwell on it. Each of these Psalms shows how David encouraged himself after his complaints by dwelling on God’s goodness, grace and faithfulness! These Psalms result in praising God for His omnipotence. It’s like a child going to his father pouring out his heart and coming away encouraged because his father comforted him. I can hear the father now, “It’s OK son, we’ll get through this together! Come here and let me hug you!”

~Psalms 77:3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah.

~Psalms 102:1 *A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the Lord.* Hear my prayer, O Lord, and let my cry come unto thee.

Murmurings, on the other hand, had fleshly motivations. Major attitude problems lay the foundation of these murmurings. The Greek word describes it as:

G1111
γογγύζω
gogguzō
gong-good’-zo
Of uncertain derivation; to grumble: – murmur.

This definition is very different when comparing it to the one found in Psalms. This is definitely negative. There is grumbling involved and a very dissatisfied spirit.

~Luke 5:30 But their scribes and Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, Why do ye eat and drink with publicans and sinners?

~Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.

~Luke 19:7 And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying, That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.

Whenever we hear murmurings, there’s always a motivation of jealousy and covetousness prefacing them. We are all guilty of this sin at one point or another in our Christian lives. We take our eyes off serving the Lord out of love and place them on our circumstances. Martha was a good example of this.

~Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

If Martha had remembered her love for the Lord and HE was the reason why she was serving, she would not have cared if she was serving alone.

The Apostle Paul exhorted the believers in this area so they would be held blameless by the unbelieving world.

~Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

If all believers lived every aspect of their lives, good and bad, out of love for their Saviour, there would be no need for murmurings. Amen?

Complaining to God about our circumstances is not sin. If we dwell there long enough, however, and turn our complaints into murmurings, then it becomes sin. We must do as David and encourage ourselves in the Lord after we have spoken to Him. We must allow the Comforter to do His work of uplifting us and pointing us to Christ who is our Shepherd! Our Shepherd cares!

~1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Offended?

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~Proverbs 15:32 He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding.

Do you get upset when you hear preaching on a certain topic that you don’t agree with? Why do you get upset?  Is it a sin in your life that you do not want to let go of?  Do you think the preacher is wrong?  As well, do you get angry at a friend who points out an area of your life that is not in line with God’s Word?

The Bible says:

~Psalms 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

When God points something out to you, rather than get upset, think on it. Ask yourself why you are angry.  You know that God allows things in your life for your best interest. He wants to mold you into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ!

~Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

Therefore, don’t be offended at the preaching or at the exhortation of a friend. Instead, meditate on it and seek God’s direction in His Word. He will guide and direct you in all things!  Getting on top of our sin requires that we allow the Holy Spirit to renew our minds through the cleansing power of the Word of God.

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

Transformation

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God formed us. Sin deforms us. School informs us. Christ transforms us.

What a great quote!! The Word supports it repeatedly!

~John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

~John 3:7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

~1 Peter 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

~Colossians 3:9-10 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:

~Galatians 3:26-27 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

~Colossians 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

~2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Have you changed since you claimed salvation? If you cannot read these verses and understand them, that should be a red flag because the born again Christian is given the ability to understand God’s Word. If you can understand them, then can you truly say you have changed? If you have not changed much from your previous life, you are quenching the Holy Spirit and not allowing Him to change you from within. Let Him be the Potter and you be the clay – let Him mold you into Christ’s image!

Position versus Church Membership

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~2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Are you relying on your church membership as your security for a spot in Heaven? The Bible is our lighthouse which points us to safe ground. It’s beam also shines on our sin and exposes it. The Scriptures also let us know if we are Christ’s or not. Let’s study out today’s text and see for ourselves whether or not we headed to Heaven.

What does it mean to be “in Christ” according to our verse? The word “in” denotes a relationship according to the Hebrew word used. See below for the

G1722
ἐν
en
en
A primary preposition denoting (fixed) position (in place, time or state), and (by implication) instrumentality (medially or constructively), that is, a relation of rest (intermediate between G1519 and G1537);

So the one who is “in Christ” is someone who has been given a position with Christ and a relation of rest. How can one have a relation of rest if one never knows for sure that he/she is actually going to Heaven? No organization can come to me and tell me that I am not the parent of my child – and vice versa. They cannot tell me that any child IS mine if the child is not. Only I alone can attest to the fact that this is my child. It is the same with our relationship with Christ. No church has the authority to place any particular person in a position as a child of the King! They can assist a person in finding their way to Christ but the responsibility ultimately rests on that person accepting Christ’s gift of salvation. Christ provided the gift and the individual accepts it.

The second part of the definition is the relation of rest. My child can rest in the fact that I will always be his parent and he will always be my child, no matter what. Granted, children stray, but that does not remove the fact that he is my blood. It is not a relationship that can come and go.

The latter half of today’s text speaks of the born-again Christian being a new creature. The Hebrew word means:

G2937
κτίσις
ktisis
ktis’-is
From G2936; original formation (properly the act; by implication the thing, literally or figuratively): – building, creation, creature, ordinance.

We are a new creation, thus the words “born-again” used in John 3:3. The many churches baptize its babies stating that they are born again at that point. However, how can a baby repent and be baptized?

~Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

The Greek word and definition for Repent is:

G3340
μετανοέω
metanoeō
met-an-o-eh’-o
From G3326 and G3539; to think differently or afterwards, that is, reconsider (morally to feel compunction): – repent.

How can a baby think differently or feel compunction? A baby does not realize it is a sinner until he has matured and can reason. He must know that he is sinning before he can realize he is in need of a Saviour. This baby cannot be a new creation until he (1) realizes he is a sinner, (2) accepts Jesus’ sacrifice as payment for his sins, and (3) repents from his sin. After this, he is baptized to symbolize the death of the old man and the resurrection of the new man.

So, my friend, are you a new creature in Christ? Look at your “fruits”! Which “father” are you resembling as you grow? Do you act more like your Heavenly Father by displaying the fruits of the Holy Spirit? Or do you look like your father the devil displaying his fruit? Today’s text is quite clear that there is a change in the born-again believer. Do your moral inventory and check it out for yourself! After all, no establishment, church or otherwise, will hold your hand on judgment day. You will be alone when you stand before God and will have to account for your own actions.  Let the light of God’s Word shine on your heart and expose its true intentions.