Judges Chapters 1-3

I was praying for Abraham Matthew and Rick Kingham who are doing ministry this week in India. I started reading Judges, chapters 1 -3. God had instructed the Israelites to wipe out all the nations in Canaan and they had made great progress under Joshua as their general. After Joshua passed away the Children of Israel began to compromise and never totally drove out the Canaanites.

Although God had commanded they drive out all the inhabitants of the land, He must of knew this would not be accomplished. In Judges 3:1-2 we see the deeper strategy of the Lord, 

^“Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it),”

The Lord has given us a battle field on purpose. We must learn warfare. The Lord knows that in our human nature we seek the place of comfort, but He also knows we don’t mature in that place of comfort. I look at my son as an example; he left the comfort of home, he went into the military, he went to the battle field and he matured. He relied upon the power and influence of the United States backing him up. Likewise we are not only backed up by a mighty God and the heavenly host but He even goes before us.

Eph. 6; 10-12 ^“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

As if I knew the mind of God I would say He wants to make us overcomers in this life, and also develop an appreciation in us for when we will be with Him. After seeing and experiencing the crud of this earth, why would we want to sin.

Get the Plan

Get the Plan

Have you ever been in one of those places of turning? Things are changing and you are just not sure what the change will look like. This seems to be what I am going through now. I have many questions for the Lord but He is not letting me see clearly. I can feel He is doing a realignment in the things around me. It is not so much a change in schedule but a change of direction or focus (a change in what is important in this season).

Nehemiah Chapter 1

I feel like the Lord just led me to the Book of Nehemiah. Nehemiah, the kings cup barrier, got a word that eventually changed his direction and focus. First he was refocused and then he was redirected. This word that came to him so effected him emotionally that his boss the king noticed. The major reason of the king noticing and making enquiry was God’s plan.

I have watched as God has done, or is doing a realignment in missionaries lives this year. Like Nehemiah’s time, this realignment is for something major God is about to do in the earth. We see signs; America is losing its dominance, the Far East is being organized and materially blessed, Africa is the main Muslim-Christian battle ground, South America is for once at peace and Europe is being shaken.

Nehemiah had a burden from the Lord. A burden from the Lord will effect you emotionally. This is something God has ordained for you to be concerned about. Something in your skill-set is useful to the Lord for the object of this burden.

I’m sure Nehemiah felt he was powerless to do anything about his object of concern. He did do what he could. His burden, object of concern, was the redemption of his people, God’s people, the Jews. He remembered the promises God had made and Nehemiah fervently prayed into those promises. He sought the Lord, knowing God had the power to rectify the situation. Although the text does not speak of this, I believe as Nehemiah prayed God downloaded a plan to him. When the king (who was the powers that be at that time) lined up with God’s plan, Nehemiah had the plan.

So we ask ourselves, do we have God’s plan yet for the burden He has placed before us.

·         Let us do an inspection of where He has brought us to.

·         Ask for Him to clarify the burden.

·         Listen for the sent word from Him that deepens our emotions.

·         Repent and get right with God.

·         Pray into the burden.

·         Anticipate God to release His plan to you.

The world is changing, get ready for your release.

We are to be His Witnesses

We are to be His Witnesses

“I, even I, am the LORD, And besides Me there is no savior. I have declared and saved, I have proclaimed, And there was no foreign god among you; Therefore you are My witnesses,” Says the LORD, “that I am God.” Isaiah 43:11-12 NKJV

God spoke this to the Jewish people to reassure them of His power, position and faithfulness. Then He says, “you are my witnesses” even to the point that you prove “that I am God”. This is also true of all that have become Christians.

All God has done in our lives is to prove His attributes to those who do not know Him. Those that are serving false gods should be able to look at us, His people and see Him. We should reflect one or more aspects of His Glory. Others should not be able to see foreign gods in our lives.

This comes to commitment, dedicated to learning to be like Him. Then we act out before others what we have learned. They see Him in/through us, therefore we are His witnesses. He even trains us to be a blessing to others. He shares with us His gifts for helping others. Therefore we not only can show Him to others but we can be a vessel He uses to bring redemption to others.

Romans 12: ³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

Watch out, handling God’s gifts carries a high responsibility. Paul wrote, “not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly,”. We need the right attitude before handling His gifts. It is all about being His witness. In all we do are we pointing people to Him?  The founding pastor of my church has been my pastor for over thirty years now and I have watched him be a faithful witness. He never exalted himself but rather through his exhorting, teaching, prophesying, etc, he showed me Jesus. Even if I tried to exalt my pastor, he deflected that exaltation to the God he faithfully serves.

We as the church, that were grafted into the spiritual nation of Israel, are to be His witnesses.

Restoration (Prophetic word)

Restoration has been decreed by the King. (Prophetic word) 

2 Kings 8: 1) Then Elisha spoke to the woman whose son he had restored to life, saying, “Arise and go, you and your household, and stay wherever you can; for the Lord has called for a famine, and furthermore, it will come upon the land for seven years.”

 2) So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God, and she went with her household and dwelt in the land of the Philistines seven years.

3) It came to pass, at the end of seven years, that the woman returned from the land of the Philistines; and she went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land.

4) Then the king talked with Gehazi, the servant of the man of God, saying, “Tell me, please, all the great things Elisha has done.”

 5) Now it happened, as he was telling the king how he had restored the dead to life, that there was the woman whose son he had restored to life, appealing to the king for her house and for her land. And Gehazi said, “My lord, O king, this is the woman, and this is her son whom Elisha restored to life.”

6) And when the king asked the woman, she told him. So the king appointed a certain officer for her, saying, “Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now.”

There has been a time of drought for Christians and for the Church but now Restoration has come and is coming. Restoration is a continuing thing, with the total restoration being when we are restored to His arms. The Church has been through a time of waiting on restoration; a drought. This is not so much a time of restoring things Satan has stole from us but rather a time of restoring things the Lord actually had to put aside for us until He could reposition us.
Now the famine is over and from heaven God has said “Let there be rain” The time of famine has given us a new perspective. Now we are being given new position and new tools to work with.

The heavens are open to you; make your appeal to the King. Just as He appointed an officer to assist the woman whose son was raised from the dead, He is appointing angels to assist you.

Now add this:

It is the Jewish Rosh Hashanah, “Head of the Year” Jewish New Year.

Rosh Hashanah thus emphasizes the special relationship between G‑d and humanity: our dependence upon G‑d as our creator and sustainer, and G‑d’s dependence upon us as the ones who make His presence known and felt in His world. Read More at http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/4762/jewish/In-a-Nutshell.htm

The bottom line here is that it is a new year, a new day and most of all a new season. Have a healthy relationship with the Lord, and expect His perfect restoration for you.

The Sinner is Waiting

The sinner is waiting on the Gospel but he doesn’t know it. Actually his spirit-man is subconsciously and constantly reaching out to God. Jesus gave us the example, we are to go walk among them. Jesus walked among them and their spirit-man was activated.

The Devil is very crafty; he is a master at hiding the spirit-man of our triune nature. Man is made of three parts: flesh (body), soul (personality) and spirit. In the spirit-man is where we meet with God and He transforms our soul. Also the flesh can affect our soul in an ungodly way. The Devil is a master at coming at us from the flesh. Jesus is a master at activating the spirit-man.

Who were the people attracted to Jesus? Not the righteous but rather the sinners and children. The children came to Jesus because He opened His arms to them and put them on His lap. Any children worker knows the joy of having children cling to you. The sinner, why would the sinner be attracted to Jesus? They did not feel a threat when He entered their world. He was good at freeing up their spirit-man while not condemning their soul-man. Jesus had a way of establishing trust and the unrighteous just opened up to Him.

We can do likewise. We are to be in the world but not of the world. The sinner needs redemption and we have the Redeemer living in us. We have been reconciled to God and we are commissioned to reconcile others.

1 Cor. 5: 18-20 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.

The sinner is unknowingly waiting for a sincere friend.

The formula seems to be:

1)      First let the Holy Spirit create Jesus’ character in you. (Make sure you know your place in God. Know that you and Jesus have dominion over Satan and his works.)

2)      Go seek the lost (pray for direction)

3)      Build a relationship (sometimes this takes time, finding ways to serve them can be an open door)

4)      Just let the Holy Spirit flow through you to them. (Don’t let your plans or past performance get in the way) Watch the Holy Spirit use you to reconcile them.

You will have so much fun doing this that you will enjoy hanging out with the lost.

The Lord is my Manager - Saturday 8-13-2011

I heard a song, and the words said, “those that wait on the Lord will not be put to shame”. I did a search through the Bible to find the scripture that is from but couldn’t find it. I know I have read it before but I just can’t find it now.

I look at my life and there is something I have been waiting on for many years. Sometimes I think I am waiting in vain and that people are talking behind my back about my foolish ideas. But that is not what God says. I must wait for His perfect timing. His wisdom can be trusted. Sometimes I ask myself, “am I wasting time”, then His reassurance comes. He assures me that I am right where He wants me. He assures me that I am learning valuable lessons right where I am at. I ask Him what should I be doing? Sometimes I hear His next step for me and sometimes He just wants me to figure it out. I understand we are in a partnership. The Lord is unfolding a master plan and He is slowly letting me in on it. The Lord is such an amazing manager. (Just thinking about this blows me away)

The Lord is my Manager – Wow!

There are things He trusts me with and there are things He knows I would screw up. I do see development in my life because I don’t screw up as much as I use to. The Lord is developing His trust with me. (Actually He is not threatened by me) As long as I am willing to learn, He will develop me so He can trust me with parts of His creation.

Saturday Morning Reflections 8-6-2011

I’ve been in the 13th chapter of Hebrews this week. Paul or whoever wrote Hebrews, is coming to the end of the letter and he is mainly mentioning things in short form likely to make sure they are shared before closing the letter.

I was on my way to go get Joy yesterday and I was listening to a preacher on the radio and he was recounting the martyrs over time and the sacrifice they gave. He mentioned that even today, there is an average of 150,000 people being killed each year because they are Christians.

Heb. 13: 3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also.
Heb. 13: 5 For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say:
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

Reflecting on these scriptures, I think of those in Muslim lands that are trying to live for Jesus in a suspicious culture. I remember felling this spirit of suspicion when I visited Romania back in 1985. At this time it was under Communism and the government really relied upon citizens informing on fellow citizens. Now I was living in Yugoslavia back then, but in Yugoslavia the communist government was looser in their control. At the Romanian border they questioned me as to what I was going to be doing in Romania, where I was going and who I was going to see. I didn’t lie, but I told them I was living in Yugoslavia and I just wanted to see Romania since it was close by. From that point on I never felt like I was followed although I was doing some things of a suspicious nature. (God’s protection is amazing when you are on a mission for Him) One thing for sure, my prayers for Romania went deeper. Thank the Lord for the fall of communism because when I was able to once again go back to Romania earlier this year, after 25 years, I did not sense that spirit of suspicion at all.

My thoughts on this is; that these countries that are real restrictive, they are that way because they have accepted the anti-Christ spirit. Apostle John talks about the anti-Christ spirit:
1 John 2:18
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1 John 2:22
Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.
1 John 4:3
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
2 John 1:7
For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. (KJV)

These martyrs are God’s front line attack against this anti-Christ spirit. Let us pray that they be able to stand in what Paul said,
“The LORD is my helper;
I will not fear.
What can man do to me?”

I reflect back on living in Yugoslavia and that visit to Romania in 1985; In Yugoslavia, I always felt I would have the US government to back me up, but in Romania I felt like the US embassy would not have been able to help me.

God in His Creation and His Revelation







Christian theists believe that God has revealed Himself to people in a general way through creation and in a special (personal) way evidenced by His divine words and acts contained in the Bible and especially in the person of Jesus Christ.
FROM: Noebel, David (2005-01-01). Understanding the Times: The Collision of Today's Competing Worldviews (Kindle Locations 1395-1397). Summit Press. Kindle Edition.

Just thinking about the above statement in David Noebel's book. God has revealed Himself in nature.
Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

Here in Romans chapter one Paul is writing about the wrath of God on the unrighteous. Here we see God revealed in His Creation and man has no excuse for not believing in God. There is no dought that Creation, with its design and complexity, had to have a designer. All reasonable men should come to that conclusion. God is very jealous over His creation and executes wrath against those that distort the reality of His great design. The bottom line is that man will or can see God in His Creation.

God does not leave man with Him being revealed in creation but He sent His Son to further reveal Himself. Before Jesus came to earth, God revealed Himself to many individuals and even to the Jewish tribes with supernatural revelation. Most were written down in the Old Testament. In Genesis 15 God even makes a covenant with Abraham and that covenant started a chain of events that is still revealing God to man.

So God has revealed Himself in a personal way to mankind through encounters in the Old Testament and now through Jesus. Jesus showed us what the Father was like. Jesus gave us a living, breathing example of how to be pleasing to the Father; How to understand His plan and how to be like Him.

When Jesus ascended into heaven, He gave His disciples the charge to go into all the earth and share the revelation He had revealed. Although the disciples had troubles at times, overall they were faithful to spread that revelation. God moved upon many of them to write down not only what Jesus taught while on earth, but what the disciples learned as they matured in their Christian walk. Not only did God reveal Himself in the Old Testament but once again in the New Testament.

Now it is up to us to partner with God in revealing Him and His goodness to the world around us. We have the evidence in Creation and we have His personal testaments handed down to us. As it says in Romans chapter 1, “[we] are without excuse”.

Saturday Morning 7-23-2011

Psalms 92: 12-14
12 The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,
He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
13 Those who are planted in the house of the LORD
Shall flourish in the courts of our God.
14 They shall still bear fruit in old age;
They shall be fresh and flourishing,

Facts from Wikipedia:

Palms are among the best known and most extensively cultivated plant families. They have been important to humans throughout much of history. Many common products and foods are derived from palms, and palms are also widely used in landscaping for their exotic appearance, making them one of the most economically important plants. In many historical cultures, palms were symbols for such ideas as victory, peace, and fertility. Today, palms remain a popular symbol for the tropics and vacations.

As well as being morphologically diverse, palms also inhabit nearly every type of habitat within their range, from rainforests to deserts.

The Lebanon Cedar is an evergreen coniferous tree growing up to 40 m (130 ft) tall, with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) in diameter.

The Cedar of Lebanon was important to various ancient civilizations. The trees were used by the Phoenicians for building commercial and military ships, as well as houses, palaces, and temples. The ancient Egyptians used its resin in mummification, and its sawdust has been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs. The Sumerian Epic of Gilgamesh designates the cedar groves of Lebanon as the dwelling of the gods to which Gilgamesh, the hero, ventured. Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon Cedar in circumcision and the treatment of leprosy. The Hebrew prophet Isaiah used the Lebanon Cedar as a metaphor for the pride of the world. According to the Talmud, Jews once burned Lebanese cedar wood on the Mount of Olives to celebrate the new year. Foreign rulers from both near and far would order the wood for religious and civil constructs, the most famous of which are King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem and David's and Solomon's Palaces. Because of its significance the word Cedar is mentioned 75 times in (Cedar 51 times, Cedars 24 times) the Bible, and played a pivotal role in the cementing of the Phoenician-Hebrew relationship. Beyond that, it was also used by Romans, Greeks, Persians, Assyrians and Babylonians.

Wow! To be planted in the house of the Lord; covered by the canopy of the Most High. I want to flourish like the palm tree and to be strong and tall like the Cedar of Lebanon. Mainly I want to be useful in the Lord’s house.

The fact that the palm tree can inhabit nearly every type of habitat shows me that God wants to send us into every culture and flourish in righteousness. We see the Lebanon cedar as a peacemaker bringing cultures together.

God is just so amazing in His creation.

To me the House of the Lord is all His creation, on earth and in heaven. Also the Courts of the Lord is anywhere His manifested presence is at. His manifested presence is where His joy is felt, the unexplainable is accompanied by His peace and where we are being changed into His likeness.

Now I really like the promise in the above verse; “They shall still bear fruit in old age; They shall be fresh and flourishing,” My God will use me in my old age for His glory.

While in the Prayer Center (ANHOP) this morning I was led to the following verses.

(New KJV) Acts 20: 19“serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews; 20“how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house, 21“testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22“And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, 23“except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. 24“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

(Amplified) Acts 20: 24 But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God's grace (His unmerited favor, spiritual blessing, and mercy).

(The Message) Acts 20:24 What matters most to me is to finish what God started: the job the Master Jesus gave me of letting everyone I meet know all about this incredibly extravagant generosity of God.

I do think the Message says it best. The translator takes the word grace and expands upon it. I see from the above passages that Paul didn’t let the pressures of life deter him from what matters most. The Lord asks us to finish what he started; simply just show everyone you meet His “incredibly extravagant generosity”. I have found that His extravagant generosity is “His presence in our lives.” The assurance and joy He gives ranks way above prosperity, health and physical security. As we acknowledge His presence we just naturally share His presence with others. His joy simply overflows on to others.

It never fails, I start acknowledging His blessings in my life and the world’s troubles fade away.

I remember singing the following song when I was growing up in a Baptist church.
Words: John¬son Oat¬man, Jr., in Songs for Young People, by Edwin Excell (Chicago, Illinois: 1897).

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Refrain
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
Refrain
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
Refrain
So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.
Refrain
________________________________________
May the Lord bless you today as you bless others. May you use that measure of wisdom He has blessed you with to extend His Kingdom today.