Psalms 71 is a reflective Psalm of David in his old age. He surveys his life to recall the many times God rescued him from the hand of his enemies. He makes a remarkable statement in verse 3: "Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress." (KJV).
How did David learned to speak confidently of God's commandment to save him?
The word commandment means to lay charge of and it can mean appointed. The charge of deliverance is God's responsibility. David learned to rest in His power to save him. How and when He delivers is God's determination. Too often we have a faulty expectation of how we think God should deliver us. We get locked into a time table that quickly leads to frustration.
Beloved, the Lord must teach us to stop working out our own deliverance. This is not to say we become irresponsible and do whatever we please only to expect God to help us when things go wrong. I'm speaking about believers who are walking honestly before God and are not toying with sin and taking His word lightly. It's because they are walking in the light of His truth that opposition from Enemy calls for deliverance.
God has an appointed deliverance for us even when we don't fully realize our need for it! We read in 2 Samuel 8:14 that God preserved David wherever he went. So too will God command our deliverance as a testimony of His sustaining power to keep us.
I hear in the Spirit that God wants to break the attitude and mindset of those who feel abandoned or left to themselves to figure out how to deliver themselves. You may have wept and prayed for deliverance only to find yourself deeper in the pit of addiction. Some are overcome by worry and fear that has snaked around your throat blocking a cry for help. Your stomach is knots about tomorrow and the future seems bleak and dismal. You quote Scriptures and pray but the Enemy draws tighter circles around you. You can hear the demonic whispers: "You are going down!" "Your son will die of an overdose!" "God has left you in my hand!" (see verses 10-11).
In these moments we must not give way to a spirit that accuses God of not listening or coming up short in saving us from our distress. David learned to speak confidently of God's command to deliver Him because he learned to worship God at all times. Notice that throughout Psalm 71 David keeps coming back to this central truth of worship. In between the verses describing his pain and difficulty and of the enemy threatening him we read in verses 6, 8, 14, 22 and 23, that David purposed to worship Him.
Recently I discovered errors I made at work that could have substantial consequences. These mistakes were not deliberate but from a lack of understanding of the information given at the time. I took this to my manager to discuss what steps were needed to make the necessary corrections. I felt so low with fears swinging from losing my job to losing the confidence to do the work accurately when God spoke to my heart. What about thanking me for the mistake? It was not that God asked me to take lightly the error and all that it means but rather thank Him for the inner work He was doing as a result of the mistake. He was testing integrity and truthfulness instead of burying the mistake.
Worship will change our perspective from the natural to the supernatural. When we fix our gaze on Him everything in our heart changes (the circumstances may not) but trust and faith increase to believe God will see me through this difficulty. Why? He commands deliverance to those who have learned to worship Him rather than bow to a spirit of complaining.
When we call out Him, God utters the command to save. But are we willing to abandoned our self efforts to offer a sacrifice of praise until deliverance comes?
Saturday, September 27, 2014
Saturday, September 20, 2014
The Source Of Our Joy
I admit joy is something I don't experience very often. Perhaps it's my melancholy nature or how I measure joy based on how well my day is going.
Still there is a true joy that produces strength even in the most difficult and trying times. Shortly after the Israelite captives returned from Babylon to Jerusalem they heard the law read to them. They deeply grieved and mourned at the words that had pronounced judgement on the land and the people of God.
They would have missed the fact they were now in the early stages of restoration. They had returned to the Promise Land after seventy years as prophesied by Jeremiah. They were rebuilding the temple. This should have brought joy to them. So Nehemiah stopped the funeral like procession by saying, "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
There is a holy sorrow that comes from true repentance but it will always lead to salvation. Paul writes, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (KJV).
Sadly, some believers get caught between the extremes of not experiencing a holy grief over sin and of those who can't stop mourning over their sins. There is a balance between sorrow and joy that the Lord works in equal measure in our life. The end result is a deepening appreciation and joy of salvation. Understanding of course our salvation is a result of our Savior not of our own self made efforts to deliver ourselves.
James writes (reading from the New Living Translation): "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." (James 1:2). Beloved, there is a rich, untapped joy of the Lord that goes beyond the superficial or optimum conditions. The joy we are speaking about is not an euphoric feeling when having a good day or when we raise our hands in worship on Sunday morning. No, the joy that I speak of comes from a deep abiding revelation of God's heart.
When the Lord provided water in the wilderness the Israelites sang, "Spring up, well--sing to it!" (Numbers 21:17). Likewise we remember the woman at the well. Jesus sat on the well (hindering in some way her obtaining the natural water) and directed the woman to Himself - the living water for the thirsty and broken like herself. In the end, she drops her cup to run back to the village to tell them all Jesus had spoken to her. This woman's joy sprang from a revelation of God's love for her.
There is joy to be found in the heat of the day. Joy in our hour of temptation and trials. Joy while holding the hand of one we love who is dying of cancer. Joy when the deadlines mount at work. Yes, there is joy to be found when the Lord opens our eyes like Hagar who ran from her mistress. There in that place the Lord provided her and Ishmael fresh water. "So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means "well of the Living One who sees me"). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered." (Genesis 16:14, NLT).
God opens our eyes to see the God who sees us in our present condition and in our joylessness state. At that moment everything changes from a place of sorrow to joy of unspeakable. We are loved. We are cared for by a good Father. He sees me just as I am and still He loves me so much He is willing to save me. Now, that brings joy to any troubled heart!
Still there is a true joy that produces strength even in the most difficult and trying times. Shortly after the Israelite captives returned from Babylon to Jerusalem they heard the law read to them. They deeply grieved and mourned at the words that had pronounced judgement on the land and the people of God.
They would have missed the fact they were now in the early stages of restoration. They had returned to the Promise Land after seventy years as prophesied by Jeremiah. They were rebuilding the temple. This should have brought joy to them. So Nehemiah stopped the funeral like procession by saying, "Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
There is a holy sorrow that comes from true repentance but it will always lead to salvation. Paul writes, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (KJV).
Sadly, some believers get caught between the extremes of not experiencing a holy grief over sin and of those who can't stop mourning over their sins. There is a balance between sorrow and joy that the Lord works in equal measure in our life. The end result is a deepening appreciation and joy of salvation. Understanding of course our salvation is a result of our Savior not of our own self made efforts to deliver ourselves.
James writes (reading from the New Living Translation): "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." (James 1:2). Beloved, there is a rich, untapped joy of the Lord that goes beyond the superficial or optimum conditions. The joy we are speaking about is not an euphoric feeling when having a good day or when we raise our hands in worship on Sunday morning. No, the joy that I speak of comes from a deep abiding revelation of God's heart.
When the Lord provided water in the wilderness the Israelites sang, "Spring up, well--sing to it!" (Numbers 21:17). Likewise we remember the woman at the well. Jesus sat on the well (hindering in some way her obtaining the natural water) and directed the woman to Himself - the living water for the thirsty and broken like herself. In the end, she drops her cup to run back to the village to tell them all Jesus had spoken to her. This woman's joy sprang from a revelation of God's love for her.
There is joy to be found in the heat of the day. Joy in our hour of temptation and trials. Joy while holding the hand of one we love who is dying of cancer. Joy when the deadlines mount at work. Yes, there is joy to be found when the Lord opens our eyes like Hagar who ran from her mistress. There in that place the Lord provided her and Ishmael fresh water. "So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means "well of the Living One who sees me"). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered." (Genesis 16:14, NLT).
God opens our eyes to see the God who sees us in our present condition and in our joylessness state. At that moment everything changes from a place of sorrow to joy of unspeakable. We are loved. We are cared for by a good Father. He sees me just as I am and still He loves me so much He is willing to save me. Now, that brings joy to any troubled heart!
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Perfumed Prayers
King Ahaziah, the son of Ahab one of the most wicked kings in Israel, injured himself when falling through the lattice of his upper room (2 Kings 1:2).
Rather than consult God, he sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub in Ekron - a Philistine city - a people who had a long standing history of being the enemy of God's people. You recall King Saul consulted a witch the night before he and his sons were killed by the Philistine army. Scripture records, "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;" (I Chronicles 10:13 KJV).
These men represent what happens when refusing to seek God and instead consult the flesh for an answer that best fits their desires. You may even say it's an assault against God's character in failing to acknowledge Him. God is more than willing to answer - if only we are willing to hear Him.
Believers may say I would never consult help from a stone or wooden idol. I wouldn't go to a medium or attend a séance to hear a word from God like Saul. But we will consult with our flesh (and others) rather than first seek the Lord's mind on the matter. King Ahaziah knew of Elijah from his dealings with his father but refused to consult God. Pride will not only be our downfall in not seeking God but it may even cost us our lives.
The word Baal-Zebub means "Baal of flies" or "lord of the flies". It's the same Satanic spirit the Pharisees accused Christ of driving out demons in Matthew 12:27. Beloved we must consult the Lord - in everything we do or say (yes, I mean literally everything). Otherwise we will assume we can cope or survive in our strength. Eventually we will resort to a spiritual source that brings death into our lives.
Faith requires refusing options and opportunities that present themselves as a means to bring about our own answer rather than the one God has in His mind. Such faith to turn away from the flesh makes for perfumed prayers. David writes in Psalms 14:12, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."(KJV).
When we refuse to consult God we are in essence inviting the lord of flies.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 says, "As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor" (Ecclesiastes 10:1, NLT). What are the dead flies in our prayers? When we become foolish and not seek the wisdom of God we drop dead flies in what could be perfumed prayers - a sweet smelling aroma in the nostrils of God - now becomes a stench of death.
Prayers like Saul God did not hear because such a man failed to listen to God the first time. Don't let the dead flies of our own foolish wisdom corrupt our prayers. Rather let's seek Him always and we will live (Amos 5:4) and our perfumed prayers of faith will reflect it.
Rather than consult God, he sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub in Ekron - a Philistine city - a people who had a long standing history of being the enemy of God's people. You recall King Saul consulted a witch the night before he and his sons were killed by the Philistine army. Scripture records, "So Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to inquire of it;" (I Chronicles 10:13 KJV).
These men represent what happens when refusing to seek God and instead consult the flesh for an answer that best fits their desires. You may even say it's an assault against God's character in failing to acknowledge Him. God is more than willing to answer - if only we are willing to hear Him.
Believers may say I would never consult help from a stone or wooden idol. I wouldn't go to a medium or attend a séance to hear a word from God like Saul. But we will consult with our flesh (and others) rather than first seek the Lord's mind on the matter. King Ahaziah knew of Elijah from his dealings with his father but refused to consult God. Pride will not only be our downfall in not seeking God but it may even cost us our lives.
The word Baal-Zebub means "Baal of flies" or "lord of the flies". It's the same Satanic spirit the Pharisees accused Christ of driving out demons in Matthew 12:27. Beloved we must consult the Lord - in everything we do or say (yes, I mean literally everything). Otherwise we will assume we can cope or survive in our strength. Eventually we will resort to a spiritual source that brings death into our lives.
Faith requires refusing options and opportunities that present themselves as a means to bring about our own answer rather than the one God has in His mind. Such faith to turn away from the flesh makes for perfumed prayers. David writes in Psalms 14:12, "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice."(KJV).
When we refuse to consult God we are in essence inviting the lord of flies.
Ecclesiastes 10:1 says, "As dead flies cause even a bottle of perfume to stink, so a little foolishness spoils great wisdom and honor" (Ecclesiastes 10:1, NLT). What are the dead flies in our prayers? When we become foolish and not seek the wisdom of God we drop dead flies in what could be perfumed prayers - a sweet smelling aroma in the nostrils of God - now becomes a stench of death.
Prayers like Saul God did not hear because such a man failed to listen to God the first time. Don't let the dead flies of our own foolish wisdom corrupt our prayers. Rather let's seek Him always and we will live (Amos 5:4) and our perfumed prayers of faith will reflect it.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
Right Communion
Some of us are perfunctory when greeting our brothers and sisters on Sunday morning. We'd say say the right coined phrases of "How are you brother?" We will pump the hand or smile to show minimum attention. Perhaps there's a slight pause from our brother but what follows is often a rehearsed and expected response. "I'm fine." Then we'd saying something like "God bless you." And then we move on.
Sadly this is extent of our communion with one another in the body of Christ.
It's true that not everyone talks or acts this way in connecting with their brothers and sisters in church. But communion - right communion - means intimacy. Intimacy is cultivated over time through experiences resulting in trust and understanding. It requires moving past superficial greetings into the private spaces of our lives. Intimacy of this kind ties a community together whose members have learned to appreciate right communion.
Think of Jesus at the last supper with his disciples. He illustrated communion being the Vine and the Bread of Life. Of the cup He said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves (Luke 22:17) and the bread, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." (verse 19, KJV).
Here the Lord teaches an important element of right communion. It requires selflessness on our part. Whenever there is self focus, preservation of self interests or the attitude of "what's in it for me" will only serve to divide and destroy communion.
The Lord on the night he was betrayed shared his broken heart but still gave Himself away to His disciples. After His death the disciples would find themselves in another upper room. Here in this room I believe many of them asked each other for forgiveness and repenting of their sins during the years spent with Christ but were at odds with each other. Think of Peter's arrogant boasting or James son of Zebedee and his brother John asking Christ to send fire down on the Samaritans or Thomas questioning every one's credibility.
When their hearts were right and communion was in order then the fire fell and the church was born. Beloved, we are living in sobering times and need each other more than ever before..so let us make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).
Sadly this is extent of our communion with one another in the body of Christ.
It's true that not everyone talks or acts this way in connecting with their brothers and sisters in church. But communion - right communion - means intimacy. Intimacy is cultivated over time through experiences resulting in trust and understanding. It requires moving past superficial greetings into the private spaces of our lives. Intimacy of this kind ties a community together whose members have learned to appreciate right communion.
Think of Jesus at the last supper with his disciples. He illustrated communion being the Vine and the Bread of Life. Of the cup He said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves (Luke 22:17) and the bread, "This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me." (verse 19, KJV).
Here the Lord teaches an important element of right communion. It requires selflessness on our part. Whenever there is self focus, preservation of self interests or the attitude of "what's in it for me" will only serve to divide and destroy communion.
The Lord on the night he was betrayed shared his broken heart but still gave Himself away to His disciples. After His death the disciples would find themselves in another upper room. Here in this room I believe many of them asked each other for forgiveness and repenting of their sins during the years spent with Christ but were at odds with each other. Think of Peter's arrogant boasting or James son of Zebedee and his brother John asking Christ to send fire down on the Samaritans or Thomas questioning every one's credibility.
When their hearts were right and communion was in order then the fire fell and the church was born. Beloved, we are living in sobering times and need each other more than ever before..so let us make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace (Ephesians 4:3).