Are you going through a dark time? Take comfort - it will not always be this way. Life is about seasons. Seasons of darkness can be very painful and otherwise unpleasant. But realize that God has a plan for you to prosper 'while' you are traveling through.
Isa 45:3 MKJV
(3) And I will give you the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that you may know that I am Jehovah, who calls you by your name, the God of Israel.
Darkness is where treasures lay. Gold and diamonds are rarely found laying out in broad daylight. To obtain that which really has value, you have to be willing to brave the dark places. If you have been curled up in the fetal position waiting for the dawn, I would encourage you to straighten up, grab a lamp and a shovel, and make the most of where you are. For me personally, I am still living off the interest of the treasures I found in the darkest times of my life.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Where We Are Heading
If a foreigner were to land in America today for the first time, he or she might discover that we love sports. We love American Idol and we talk a lot about politics. Our world is largely work, sports, and recreation with an emphasis on sports and recreation especially when the weekend rolls around. For some, church plays a part, but to the casual observer Sunday morning looks just like Saturday morning. Most cars are still parked in the driveway and the sound of lawn mowers are heard everywhere.
In other nations it is much the same. In the third world, it's a struggle to survive every day for many. No day stands out. Holidays are non-existent. Dictatorships impose a type of king-worship that is strictly enforced. If you want an interesting read, check out what the internet has to say about life in North Korea.
When our traveler lands in China, or Russia, or Brazil, or New Zealand, or you fill in the blank, how much time will elapse before they hear the name of Jesus, and before they realize that He is the King?
There comes a time - and it will be soon - when everything will revolve around the name of Jesus. All commerce will be done in His name. All trips will be planned around His festivals. All Sabbaths will be celebrated to honor Him, and sports will only be done to exalt Him. All talent contests will serve not to reveal our skills and make us famous, but to glorify the One who gifted us. All promotions we earn will be for the sole purpose of throwing our new crown at His feet. There will not be a news cast given that will not mention Him. There will not be a weather forecast broadcast that will not acknowledge the One who gives rain, sunshine, or snow. The issues we have today may or may not exist, but instead of bickering over drilling for oil, or not, we will bring it first before the One who knows why He created oil, and for the purposes it should be used. All things will be done with Him in mind, and for His glory, and for the expanse of His Kingdom which will never stop expanding. Every first fruit will be brought into the King's house - for His table. Every first pressing of the olive will be His. Every fine vintage of wine will His servants carry. Yes - it will ALL be about Him. And I am His son...
In other nations it is much the same. In the third world, it's a struggle to survive every day for many. No day stands out. Holidays are non-existent. Dictatorships impose a type of king-worship that is strictly enforced. If you want an interesting read, check out what the internet has to say about life in North Korea.
When our traveler lands in China, or Russia, or Brazil, or New Zealand, or you fill in the blank, how much time will elapse before they hear the name of Jesus, and before they realize that He is the King?
There comes a time - and it will be soon - when everything will revolve around the name of Jesus. All commerce will be done in His name. All trips will be planned around His festivals. All Sabbaths will be celebrated to honor Him, and sports will only be done to exalt Him. All talent contests will serve not to reveal our skills and make us famous, but to glorify the One who gifted us. All promotions we earn will be for the sole purpose of throwing our new crown at His feet. There will not be a news cast given that will not mention Him. There will not be a weather forecast broadcast that will not acknowledge the One who gives rain, sunshine, or snow. The issues we have today may or may not exist, but instead of bickering over drilling for oil, or not, we will bring it first before the One who knows why He created oil, and for the purposes it should be used. All things will be done with Him in mind, and for His glory, and for the expanse of His Kingdom which will never stop expanding. Every first fruit will be brought into the King's house - for His table. Every first pressing of the olive will be His. Every fine vintage of wine will His servants carry. Yes - it will ALL be about Him. And I am His son...
Monday, July 11, 2011
The Heat Increases
There is a lot of nervousness in the world today. Uncertainty is a word that is used often. People strive to protect investments, retirements... you know, all the stuff that the Bible says not to worry about. The heat is increasing. How come?
For one, the end of the age is drawing near. We were given signs to watch for, and these are obviously transpiring in our days. But there is another reason that the pressure must be increased. It is so that those who are unaffected by it might stand out. The writer of Hebrews says that everything must be shaken in order to reveal that which cannot be shaken. That 'should' be us, Church.
God is not waiting on evil to hit a number on the evil scale. That is not taught in scripture about our day. Rather, God waits on a bride to prepare herself (Rev 19). The day which Jesus appears for His Bride will be just like the days of Noah, where God was not waiting on a fulfillment of evil, but a boat to be constructed. Are we pressing the Kingdom, or waiting for the sky to fall?
For one, the end of the age is drawing near. We were given signs to watch for, and these are obviously transpiring in our days. But there is another reason that the pressure must be increased. It is so that those who are unaffected by it might stand out. The writer of Hebrews says that everything must be shaken in order to reveal that which cannot be shaken. That 'should' be us, Church.
God is not waiting on evil to hit a number on the evil scale. That is not taught in scripture about our day. Rather, God waits on a bride to prepare herself (Rev 19). The day which Jesus appears for His Bride will be just like the days of Noah, where God was not waiting on a fulfillment of evil, but a boat to be constructed. Are we pressing the Kingdom, or waiting for the sky to fall?
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Miracles - Tools of the Kingdom
Mar 1:16-17 MKJV
(16) And walking along beside the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
(17) And Jesus said to them, Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men.
Jesus said these words immediately after He was baptized by John, and then came out of the desert from being tempted by Satan. Luke records that when Jesus left the desert, He "returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee". It is good to notice the sequence of events. First Jesus hears what His Father says when the dove descends: You are MY Son. Next, that word is tested by Satan: IF you are the Son of God... And finally, Jesus emerges from all of this IN POWER. No, Jesus did not have this kind of power as a boy who sat in the Temple. But now... He did.
And then Jesus walks along the shores of the sea calling His disciples. Why do you suppose He didn't just walk out to them (if they were in the boat) or approach them from the water? I would think recruiting teenage boys might have been much easier had Jesus just skipped on out to the boats and said, "Hey guys, do you want to be like me?"
He walked along beside the sea of Galilee. God established rules on earth. Rules such as gravity, weather patterns, harvest cycles, sowing and reaping - were rules that Jesus did not come to shatter just for the sake of being "one who could". Miracles are tools of the Kingdom to be used only when LIFE can be imposed where before death had a grip. Yes, it's all about life. It's not even about good or bad... it's about LIFE. If there is any question about this, refer to the garden of Eden, where there were multiple trees to choose from. Don't try to figure out good and bad - just eat from the tree of life! Joshua said... choose life! Life comes from seed.
This raises a question. When Jesus did walk on the water, how was He imposing life? You could ask this to the disciples who at that time were in a vice of terror over that storm. Remember, not all of the disciples were fishermen. Some were accountants and politicians. What they learned from that miracle was that the One in which they had placed their faith was capable - even above the power of death and the abyss. There were seeds sown during that episode that bloomed into every sign and wonder that those young men performed later. Life!
(16) And walking along beside the sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.
(17) And Jesus said to them, Come after Me and I will make you fishers of men.
Jesus said these words immediately after He was baptized by John, and then came out of the desert from being tempted by Satan. Luke records that when Jesus left the desert, He "returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee". It is good to notice the sequence of events. First Jesus hears what His Father says when the dove descends: You are MY Son. Next, that word is tested by Satan: IF you are the Son of God... And finally, Jesus emerges from all of this IN POWER. No, Jesus did not have this kind of power as a boy who sat in the Temple. But now... He did.
And then Jesus walks along the shores of the sea calling His disciples. Why do you suppose He didn't just walk out to them (if they were in the boat) or approach them from the water? I would think recruiting teenage boys might have been much easier had Jesus just skipped on out to the boats and said, "Hey guys, do you want to be like me?"
He walked along beside the sea of Galilee. God established rules on earth. Rules such as gravity, weather patterns, harvest cycles, sowing and reaping - were rules that Jesus did not come to shatter just for the sake of being "one who could". Miracles are tools of the Kingdom to be used only when LIFE can be imposed where before death had a grip. Yes, it's all about life. It's not even about good or bad... it's about LIFE. If there is any question about this, refer to the garden of Eden, where there were multiple trees to choose from. Don't try to figure out good and bad - just eat from the tree of life! Joshua said... choose life! Life comes from seed.
This raises a question. When Jesus did walk on the water, how was He imposing life? You could ask this to the disciples who at that time were in a vice of terror over that storm. Remember, not all of the disciples were fishermen. Some were accountants and politicians. What they learned from that miracle was that the One in which they had placed their faith was capable - even above the power of death and the abyss. There were seeds sown during that episode that bloomed into every sign and wonder that those young men performed later. Life!
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