Armed and Dangerous

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but are mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.  2 Corinthians 10:4 (KJV)

People typically arm themselves for protection.  Whenever the times arise, if they are not reluctant to use their weapon, they would also be considered dangerous.  The Apostle Paul would have been considered armed and dangerous, spiritually speaking - that is.

When Paul, like all Christians, escaped the presence, penalty and power of sin, the devil didn’t simply walk away, but sort opportunities to recapture him in sin.  You may think that statement is a bit dramatic or it gives too much credence to the devil.  The truth is our enemy is subtle and manipulative.  Yes, there are situations we attribute to the devil, and he has nothing to do with it.  However, the reverse is true as well – there are times when the devil has everything to do with our situation, yet we fail to recognize, rebuke or resist.

The good news for us is that our weapons are mighty through God.  Throughout 2 Corinthians, Paul reassures us that God’s strength is more than sufficient in any situation we may find ourselves.  Our weapons, which are not carnal but spiritual - consisting of praise, prayer, fasting, truth, and much more – are only mighty because of God’s power, which allows us to endure and triumph.

Today, remember that you are armed with weapons that are mighty through God.  So let us not be reluctant to use them.  

Hard Times but Yet Praise

At Midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. (Acts 16:25)


Paul and Silas was called by God and fulfilling the call of God upon their life, but trouble came after them. So much so they were thrown in prison for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Their current situation warranted tears, yelling and screaming but instead they prayed and sang praises unto God. They had joy in yet hard times.  Moments of joy are powerful whether they come in a sprinkle or a torrent.  The joy of the Lord reaches beyond practicality and expectation and touches a profound place in your soul.


Paul knew this kind of joy.  It's what gave him the strength to sing praises to God while in jail.  With great joy, Paul and his friend Silas praised God together behind closed bars.  They were so exuberant in their joy, in fact, that their voices carried to other prisoners' cells.  Had Paul lost his mind? What in the world could he have been joyful about while in jail?  Pauls' joy came not from his surroundings or circumstances, but from his delight in God.  It came from knowing that he was in the center of God's will.  It's relatively easy to find pockets of joy as you observe creation in all its glory, but when your joy is anchored in God, it can infuse all aspects of your life.


The first step to knowing this kind of joy is to recognize that God is with you, no matter what happens or where you are.  God is always near. Or you can think of it this way.  The creator of the universe cares about you so much that he is a constant companion.  there is a certain joy in this knowledge alone.  God desires to be near you, not because He wants to point out your faults, but because He longs to make your life rich and full.


The second step is to acknowledge that God knows what He is doing.  Sometimes this is going to be a challenge, but it's critically important if you desire to know true joy.  You know from experiences that when you delight in God, tears and pain don't magically go away.  You are still going to go through tough times. Know that God has a solid grasp on the big picture, even though from your perspective things may not look all that great. 

Humility

So Naaman came with his horses and chariots and stood at the door of Elisha’s house.  And Elisha sent a messenger to him, saying, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored, and you shall be clean.”  But Naaman was angry and went away… But his servants came near and said to him, “My father, it is a great word the prophet has spoken to you; will you not do it? …  So he went down and dipped himself seven times in the Jordan… and his flesh was restored… and he was clean.
(2 Kings 5:9-14, ESV)

More often than not – the way in which God resolves our issues or answers our prayers is not the way in which we imagine.  But if we want the resolution, the answer or the deliverance, we simply must humble ourselves and obey God's plan.  This is what Naaman had to do.  In 2 Kings 5, we discover Naaman to be a man of position and power but with one problem – pride.  Many people would say differently - they would say that his leprosy was the problem.  However, the issue of leprosy was resolved as soon as the prophet Elisha gave him the solution – “go and wash in the Jordan seven times”.  After that, the real issue was revealed - his pride.  Because of his pride, Naaman was offended that he was greeted by Elisha's servants and not by Elisha himself.  He was then further offended when he was told by washing in a dirty river will cure his leprosy, and not by some grand display, as he had expected. Proverbs 13:10 now comes to mind.  It says, “Where there is strife, there is pride, but wisdom is found in those who take advice” (NIV).  Although his pride had compelled him to walk away in anger, he had enough humility within to actually listen to the wise counsel of his servants.  It was only when he got over himself, by humbling himself, that he was able to go and wash himself and be delivered from his leprosy.

Today consider that pride will tell you that you have the right to be offended, but as C.S. Lewis states, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less”.  So what’s more important?  Your right to be offended or the resolution, the answer, or the deliverance you seek?

The Bottom Line

The love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (1 Timothy 6:10 NKJV)

             The bible does not speak of money being evil, but the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  The Lord created us to be fruitful and multiply in our areas of life. The biblical story of Gideon once he became convinced that the call on his life was genuinely from the Lord is one of fearless and creative leadership.  He was the judge of Israel who reduced an Army of twenty-two thousand Soldiers to a special team of three hundred men armed with trumpets, torches, and empty pitchers, who created panic and confusion among the Midianite enemy forces.  Further conflict with the Midianites resulted in Gideon’s uncontested victory and a significant bounty of gold, from which Gideon created a sacred object to commemorate the win.  People came from miles around to see this golden ephod and ended up worshipping the object rather than the Lord, who had given the victory.

            Gideon’s falling was in taking the resources he had been blessed with and using them for a purpose that became a spiritual snare for the Israelites.  The wealth he received became an end in itself.  It appeared at first to signify a profitable win for the nation, it proved in the end to represent a regrettable loss.  Whether you are dealing with personal, business or organizational finances, the bottom line for us as Christians need to signify something much greater than a dollars-and-cents figure.  Shift your thinking away from the figure on the bottom line of a financial statement and toward the end result you want to achieve; the aim of your mission in your life and in your other areas of responsibility.  That desired result becomes your new bottom line, and the money and resources you control become a means toward that end.  As a believer, you are accountable to God for all that has been entrusted to you. Keep your eyes on the bottom line that matters, the calling  that drives your real purpose in life.

Love

Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous, it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t happy with injustice, but it is happy with the truth.  Love puts up with all things, trusts in all things, hopes for all things, endures all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, CEB)

Every year, on Valentine’s Day, many people exchange cards, candies or cute gifts to express their love for each other.  Although gifts are nice, it is far better to give and receive true love – the kind of love that is described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

In Corinthians, chapter 13, Paul addresses members of the church who were abusing and misusing their spiritual gifts.  In response, Paul tells them that although spiritual gifts are nice, it is much better to give and receive love.  Then he proceeds to write out, in verses 4 through 7, fifteen verbs that paint an excellent picture of what love really looks like.  It is interesting to note that none of these fifteen verbs has anything to do with our feelings.  Modern day dictionaries would have us believe that love is only an emotion, a complex feeling, at best.  However, biblically speaking and more honestly, love is more than an emotion - it's an action, and a sacrificial one at that.  Let's look at those verbs – patient, kind, isn’t jealous, doesn’t brag, isn’t arrogant, isn’t rude, doesn’t seek its own advantage, isn’t irritable, doesn’t keep a record of complaints, isn’t happy with injustice, happy with truth, puts up with all things, trusts, hopes and endures.  Honestly, when dealing with people who are close to us and who know how to push our buttons, showing love some times goes against what we feel.  Point being – love is much greater than an emotion – it’s a commitment encompassing all those fifteen aspects of lovee.

Today let us remember that love is more than the card, the candy, the flowers or the cute gifts we may or may not receive.  On this Valentine’s Day, let us appreciate one of the many gifts God has given us - the capacity to love.

Loyalty

Then David went out of the cave and called to Saul, “My lord the king! … the LORD delivered you into my hands in the cave.  Some urged me to kill you, but I spared you; I said, ‘I will not lay my hand on my lord, because he is the LORD’s anointed.’ …” (1 Samuel 24:8-10)

But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him!  Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?”  (2 Samuel 26:9, NIV)

Although he was unjustly treated and his life constantly threatened, David remained loyal to King Saul – the very person who was doing the treating and the threatening.  David’s attitude and actions towards Saul epitomize loyalty.  Now loyalty is defined as faithfulness to commitments or obligations.  To break it down even further, loyalty involves discretion and an unwillingness to want to hurt the other person; it involves protecting them from others and being truthful with them.  With all that said - most people’s loyalty would go out the window the very moment their life was threatened by that person.  Well on second thought – most people’s loyalty stop for far less than that.

If you read 1 Samuel 24 and 2 Samuel 26, you would see that David had two opportunities to kill Saul, which would have eliminated the threat on his life.  Both times, he refused to lay a hand on Saul, and commanded his men, who were loyal to him, to do the same.  How could David be so loyal to someone who wanted nothing but to kill him?  Even more amazing - how could David refer to Saul as the “LORD’s anointed”?  The answer is this – David’s loyalty to Saul was an extension of his loyalty to God.  David understood that no matter how wrong or unjust Saul was – it was not his place to kill Saul.  God had anointed Saul and placed him in the office of king, and it would be up to God, not David, to remove him.

Today, if we are indeed loyal to God, allow our loyalty to extend to those who God has placed over us.  Honestly, it doesn't really matter if that leader deserves our loyalty or not - the fact is - God does.

Humble Enough to Trust God

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;  in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV). 

This scripture has been in my heart very heavy all week long.  I wrote about it earlier in the week and felt led to revisit this scripture again to reflect.  It is important to go back and start reading at the beginning of Proverbs 3.  The story begins with "My Son or My daughter".  This Proverb is not directed at some random group of people but very targeted to those who are in the body of Christ.  The word goes on to encourage us to "not forget teaching but keep God's commands in our heart.  It is not enough just to talk about God but He desires to have a deeper level of relationship than that with us.  Think about the last time you spent real good quality time with God.  I am referring to turning off the television, no cell phone and other distractions but to just sit, meditate  and pray.  If we take those moments away with God, He will reveal Himself to us openly.  He will show you even deeper the plan that He has for you.

There are so many things about life that we do not understand and even at times make no sense, but thank God that His word instructs us not to lean on our own understanding because if we do we may never experience the blessings God has for us.  God takes us places we don't necessarily want to go or ask us to do things we do not want to do but in trusting Him, we find that although the path may be rocky at times He does indeed make it straight.  Take this time to stop and give God a "Praise Break",  We take time to do the other things we like to do but God wants your heart.  If we trust God with our heart and acknowledge Him as we continue on this "faith walk" we know that the Holy Spirit is leading us through the paths designed by God and our way will be prosperous.

Learning How to Judge Correctly, Part II

You have heard that is was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.  And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council.  But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21-22, NKJV)

I have heard many times before that Christians shouldn’t judge others, but this is not true.  There are two types of judging, one which leads to redemption, the other to condemnation; one Jesus identifies by the word raca, the other by the word fool.  We examined the word fool in Learning How to Judge Correctly, Part I.  To summarize, to say “you fool” is to condemn someone.  Biblically speaking a fool is a person who has no redeemable qualities and is destined to spend eternity apart from God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).

Now Christians, knowing the Word of God, are capable of judging what is right from wrong, good from evil, holy from unholy and spiritual from worldly.  Because we know the truth, we are not only capable of judging correctly, we are also told to do so.  Jesus says in Matthew 23:23, “… ye… have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done…”  (KJV).  In John 7:24, he says, “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly” (NLT).  This lets us know that the issue is not with judging.  It is with how we judge – or how we neglect to judge.  This is the very issue Paul had with the Corinthians.  In 1 Corinthians 6:2, he rebukes them by saying, “… don’t you know that God’s people will judge the world?  If the world is to be judged by you, are you incompetent to judge trivial cases?” (CEB).   Paul is essentially saying raca to the Corinthians.  Raca literally mean “empty-headed”.  Today, we would use the word stupid.  Stupid is such an offensive word.  Isn’t it?  This is the reason Jesus warns us not to call our brothers and sisters stupid without cause.

So this is the dividing factor between judging to condemn and judging to correct. Are we simply asserting our own sort of justice or do we desire to empower and improve ourselves or the other person?  If we read 1 Corinthians, we would see how stupid the Corinthians were actually acting.  However, Paul didn’t simply rattle off every wrong they did and walked away.  He gave them godly instructions, to empower them so that they might be restored back into right relationship with God and right fellowship with each other.

Today let us start practicing judging correctly - understanding that this type of judging requires not only identifying the issues within ourselves or within others but it also involves corrective measures to empower and improve ourselves or the other person.

Learning How to Judge Correctly, Part I

You have heard that is was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’  But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.  And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council.  But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. (Matthew 5:21-22, NKJV)

The Sermon on the Mount is found in Matthew Chapters 5 through 7.  It is called the “Sermon on the Mount” because Jesus literally went up on the side of a mountain, sat down and taught the people who gathered to see him.  Throughout the three chapters, as you can image, he taught on a wide range of subject matters.  However, in our particular passage, he taught on murder.

In the Old Testament, if someone killed another person without cause, the punishment was death.  Jesus takes this further by saying – not only should a person who physically murders without cause be in danger of death, but also a person who spiritually murders with words should also be in danger of death.

Now “killing” words are the same as “judging” words, and it is commonly believed that we should not speak in judgment of other Christians, but our text reveals two types of judgments, one that is acceptable, another that is not.  Today’s post will deal with the not acceptable one, which is to call someone a fool.  Next week’s post will deal with the acceptable one, which is to call someone Raca.

To call someone a fool is to say they do not believe in God (Psalm 14:1; 53:1).  It is to pronounce final judgment on someone.  It is to say to another that they are not saved but lost forever.  I have actually done this, and I venture to say that many other Christians have done this as well.  This is how that looks: Someone tells me that another Christian has done this or said that and my response is “Then they’re not really a Christian” or “Then they’re not really saved”.  How dare me and you!  We have just called our fellow believer a fool.  This is what Jesus warns us about in Matthew 7:1.  Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. (NLT)   In other words, if we send someone to damnation, pack a bag because we are going with them.  The implication is that there is no redemption for them, and no forgiveness in us.  We could look at David’s sin with Bathsheba and conclude that he was not a man of God, but we would be completely wrong.  He was a man of God.  Even when Paul dealt with the worst of us, he never denounced their Christianity.  He simply called them, and in essence us, Carnal Christians, but Christians still yet.

Today if you, like me, have pronounced final judgment on a fellow brother or sister let us first ask God to forgive us.  Then let us change the way we think towards each other, understanding that our goal is never to condemn but to forgive and restore one another.

Fighting Fear

We may boldly say: "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Hebrews 13:6 NKJV


Have you ever on purpose watched a scary movie? The sudden slamming of a door in an empty house makes you jump in the movie theater.  I recall on my trip to Disneyland I had the nerve to go on the Bates Hotel ride. As you entered into the building it became dark and the scary music was playing and although I had not gotten to the point of being seated on the ride......along the way my senses were heightened and I was jumpy all the way through. Amusement parks and movies love to prey on people's fears and for some reason, there are people who like to be scared. 


When fear grips you and won't let go, you are immobilized.  Life can't continue as normal because there is no normal.  There is good news.  You and I do not have to be ruled by fear.  You have a powerful ally, the Creator of the universe.  Throughout the Bible, God's people struggled with being afraid.  While in captivity in Egypt, they feared for their lives knowing the Egyptian Army followed close behind.  The ever-present threat of war kept fear in their hearts for centuries.  Yet through all of these times, God promised to be near.


God is still near.  As the writer of Hebrews pointed out in his quote from Psalm 118:6, God is also your helper. Men cannot match His power.  This truth is the cornerstone for overcoming fear.  God is greater than your enemy, whether that enemy lives in the real world or in your mind.  Prayer is one of the greatest weapons against fear.  In prayer, you connect with God's power and presence.  Sometimes all it takes is a simple prayer of "Help" or "Calm Me" to overcome fear.  Other times, fervent prayer can help you discover a different answer to your fear.  Learn to live each day with an attitude of prayer and the word of God in your heart.  Know that God is in control and if He brought you to it then He will give you the strength to go through it. 

Seeking God's Face

Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and He will have mercy on them, and to our God, for He will freely pardon (Isaiah 55:6-7). 

The first word to start this verse off is "Seek".  The word "seek" means to go in search off or to look for.  This does not mean to sit around passively and wait for the Lord to move in my direction  but I am spoken to by the word of God to  "seek".  There are so many tasks to do during a course of a day, month, week or year and there are times even with the best intentions that to “seek” the Lord becomes less and less. 

We must ask the Lord to help us to not get so wrapped up in our day to day task that we forget or omit to seek you while you may be found.  Open our eyes that the possibilities to “seek” you are not only within the walls of church on Sunday but outside the church Monday through Sunday.  Thank you for the ability to seek you while we are on our morning commute, lunch, work break, or any other time if we purpose in our heart to do so.  We know the covenant you have made with us is everlasting and no one can take it away from us but we can hinder the progress in our own life.  Thank you for moving us beyond ourselves and the day to day task this year in order to “seek” you more.  In Jesus Name, I pray, Amen.

God Has Our Backs

Finally, I brought you into the land of the Amorites on the east side of the Jordan.  They fought against you, but I destroyed them before you.  I gave you victory over them, and you took possession of their land.  Then Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, started a war against Israel.  He summoned Balaam son of Beor to curse you, but I would not listen to him.  Instead, I made Balaam bless you, and so I rescued you from Balak. (Joshua 24:8-10)

I have experienced many victories in my life. Even now thoughts overwhelm me, and I thank God for every obstacle diverted, every offense forgiven, and every hurt healed.  You may can give a similar praise.  Without details – you too perhaps can say, because of God's direction and guidance, success has been the mantra of your life.  The triumphs I am speaking of, however, are only those we are aware of – the obstacles, offenses and hurts we have come face-to-face with and overcame, forgave and evaded.

There are however victories, in our lives, we know nothing about.  With those types of victories, only God and the enemy, who tries to hinder and destroy us, will ever know the full story.  In our text for today, we find God having the backs of the Israelites.  You see - the Israelites knew about the battle and their victory over the Amorites.  But, they know nothing about the battle and their victory over Balak and Balaam.  Why?  Because God had their backs, and took care of them without Israel knowing.

Today let us know that God has our backs also.  Whether we realize it or not – God is always looking out for us.  So we should always have a praise to offer Him.  To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever. (Psalm 30:12, NKJV)  Why is this?  Because He has our backs!

Enlarge My Territory

 

Jabez prayed to the God of Israel: "Bless me, O bless me! Give me land, large tracts of land. And provide your personal protection-don't let evil hurt me." God gave him what he asked (1 Chronicles 4:10 MSG).

As we continue throughout this year enlargement, doors opening and abundant opportunity awaits.  This is a time of New Beginnings and for some New Year Resolutions.  Now is the time to move forward with momentum and purpose.  What personal goals have you set for yourself this year?  Are you frustrated because a few of those same goals are on your list from last year?  If so, take the pressure off and celebrate the things on your list last year that you did not accomplish.  How about goals you accomplished that you never wrote down but they came to pass still the same?  Hopefully, you are getting the real point.  The real point being it is nice to have goal statements and action plans but they are only as good as the action behind them. 

One of the most important things to do at the beginning of the year is to take time to seek God and ask Him what His will is for your life in the New Year.  God will speak if you quiet yourself and listen, at that point have a journal or paper with pen ready to write down what God tells you.  You will be surprised of the pressure that will be taken off of you and the great opportunities that awaits not only naturally but spiritually.  But with these blessings come another level of responsibility and in many cases accountability.  Pray and ask God by the power of the Holy Spirit to help you be ready in your thinking and pursuing.  Too not sit down when you need to get up. Too not back up when you need to step up and not to grow weary in well doing. Thank God for the word that directs your path and leads you to the land of promise.  Have a blessed and prosperous year.

Good Gifts

Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread?  Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish?  As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children.  But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask. (Matthew 7:9-11, CEV)

I was taught growing up never to give anything that I would not want for myself.  This was ingrained in me.  So I am always mindful of what I give to others, whether in a form of words, deeds or actual gifts.  For example, I periodically go through my house, seeing what I should keep, give away or throw away.  Some people call this “spring” cleaning.  In the “to keep” pile are things that I currently use or need.  In the “give away” pile are things I would keep, if I still had the need for them.  In the “throw away” pile are things that are broken, worn down, snagged or ripped – and therefore not wanted or needed and would never even consider to give away.  In other words, I check out the quality of the item before giving it to someone else.

In Matthew 7:9-11 Jesus is speaking about giving good gifts.  Based on the content, he is actually speaking about the quality of the gift.  In other words, a good gift is one of good quality and of good use.  A stone and a snake are of no use or of good quality for a hungry child, but bread and fish are.  Likewise, when I’m during my “spring cleaning”, a torn shirt and a broken chair are of no use or of good quality for anyone - not for myself or someone else.

Today, let us be mindful of what we are giving to others.  Let us give good gifts - kind and encouraging words as well as deeds that actually meet the needs of others.