Complaining is a form of demonic worship. Such grumbling and complaining is deeply rooted in unbelief. We don't believe God to act on our behalf when facing the impossible. Unbelief narrows the scope of His power. Our focus turns inward and downward rather than outward and upward to Christ. Our problems are elevated in a form of worship (it's all that we talk about) and as a result our problems turn to idolatry.
Before drifting off to sleep I asked the Lord to get us out of our studio apartment with its high rent. I'm annoyed to hear the heavy foot steps from our neighbor above us. For that matter get us out of this city! My wife's temporary job ends in January. The prospective of finding a job in the dead of winter is not promising. The ministry at church leaves me very little strength and joy as a result of the travel time and long hours between services. Then there is work with long hours, the constant phone calls and pressing deadlines. Some days I feel compressed, squeezed and frustrated.
When I woke up that morning the Lord spoke strongly to my heart. And they grumbled in their tents. I stopped in my tracks in fear and repented of my sin. These same words are found in Psalms 106:25 in speaking about the Israelites, "But murmured in their tents, and hearkened not unto the voice of the LORD."(KJV). The first generation of Israelites never saw the Promise Land. They were destroyed from complaining and unbelief (I Corinthians 10:10).
Complaining will keep us out of a life full of God's goodness and grace. When we complain we become narrower, meaner and bitter. Our lives are no longer a reflection of Psalms 1:3 whose green leaves never wither. Instead our roots become poisoned from Marah's bitter waters.
But those who choose to worship God He promises to set up an ambush against our foes!
The things that oppress us and taunt our minds God says when you worship me watch what I can do to change the very atmosphere. True worshipers worship in Spirit and truth (John 4:23) and such worship brings light. A light so strong it dispels the darkness that often follows grumbling, murmuring and complaining.
Israel was facing a horrible threat from their enemies. The battle was set against them and odds of any victory was impossible. The king did something very unusual. He ordered the choir to go ahead of the army to sing of God's enduring love and mercy. It says, "At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the LORD caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves." (2 Chronicles 20:22, NLT). When we worship our enemies turns on himself! Remember Paul and Silas in the prison singing songs in the midnight hour when there was great earthquake and the foundations of the prison was shaken and doors flew open! (Acts 16:26).
Beloved, the choice is ours to make. We can complain and remain bound or we can worship God and obtain the victory! The inner prison of those addicted will be set free! Sexual sins will lose their power and lust will be quenched when God is worshipped. Worship will increase a true reverence for God who is more than able to save and deliver us - even from complaining in our tents.
Saturday, November 29, 2014
Saturday, November 22, 2014
Where God Finds You
The Lord says to the lost I will seek you when you can not find your way (Luke 19:10). For those who have been abandoned He makes a home for you (Leviticus 26:11-12). And to those who feel forgotten, dismissed or marginalized the Lord says I will never forget you (Isaiah 49:15-16a).
But do we want the Lord to find us in those hidden and dark places?
After graduating from high school I lacked direction and purpose. It was only a matter of time that I found myself drawn to dark and seedy places. After work I spent many late nights driving through the city streets look for something or someone.
Once I found myself in a rest room of an office building over looking the city. I remember staring at the metal grate covering the window. I felt imprisoned by unspoken desires - some of them I was afraid to confess to the Lord - and the lack of truthfulness locked me out from experiencing His grace.
Beloved, there are places in our heart we retreat for some measure of relieve and comfort. Sometimes we may feel a glimmer of hope stir for a better life. But it's too painful to believe when dreams fade and our hearts break from unfilled promises. Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." (NIV).
Often where God finds us we tend to retreat from His outstretched hands. He is a loving Savior who can walk through the walls built around our heart.
So why do we shut out such great and tender love? We are afraid that if He really sees us - where He finds us - the longing to experience His love may never be ours.
I recall a man in the Bible called Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector for the Roman government. Tax collectors where known for their greed and corruption. And Zacchaeus was a short man so he could not see above the crowd where Jesus was about to passed by so he climbed a tree. It says, "When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5, NIV). Imagine. Here he was a despised short greedy Jewish tax collector looking down at the Son of God. Only to see God looking up at him where He found him nestled in the branches.
No matter if you are in a place you should not be or in a bad condition He invites you to come home. Don't retreat back to those places but rather beloved, let Him lead you out!
But do we want the Lord to find us in those hidden and dark places?
After graduating from high school I lacked direction and purpose. It was only a matter of time that I found myself drawn to dark and seedy places. After work I spent many late nights driving through the city streets look for something or someone.
Once I found myself in a rest room of an office building over looking the city. I remember staring at the metal grate covering the window. I felt imprisoned by unspoken desires - some of them I was afraid to confess to the Lord - and the lack of truthfulness locked me out from experiencing His grace.
Beloved, there are places in our heart we retreat for some measure of relieve and comfort. Sometimes we may feel a glimmer of hope stir for a better life. But it's too painful to believe when dreams fade and our hearts break from unfilled promises. Proverbs 13:12 says, "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life." (NIV).
Often where God finds us we tend to retreat from His outstretched hands. He is a loving Savior who can walk through the walls built around our heart.
So why do we shut out such great and tender love? We are afraid that if He really sees us - where He finds us - the longing to experience His love may never be ours.
I recall a man in the Bible called Zacchaeus. He was a chief tax collector for the Roman government. Tax collectors where known for their greed and corruption. And Zacchaeus was a short man so he could not see above the crowd where Jesus was about to passed by so he climbed a tree. It says, "When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." (Luke 19:5, NIV). Imagine. Here he was a despised short greedy Jewish tax collector looking down at the Son of God. Only to see God looking up at him where He found him nestled in the branches.
No matter if you are in a place you should not be or in a bad condition He invites you to come home. Don't retreat back to those places but rather beloved, let Him lead you out!
Saturday, November 15, 2014
An Unlocked Garden
One of themes in the Song of Solomon is the Lover calling out to his beloved to let him inside her heart. "You are a garden locked up, my sister, my bride; you are a spring enclosed, a sealed fountain." (NIV).
While the context may describe a natural yearning between husband and wife it can also can speak of our own hearts in the context of God, our Lover and Friend.
What are those good things that God has planted in our hearts that under His nourishing care are for His pleasure? But when He attempts to enter we seize up in fear. We are enclosed and have securely bolted the gates to our hearts to prevent Him entering inside. We may argue to why we keep Him on the outside. We are ashamed. What we will He find and what will He say if all that is good is gone?
One evening the Lover attempted to enter the Beloved's chamber. She protested saying it was too late. She had washed and dressed for bed so she didn't rise to answer the door. He even tried to unbolt the latch (5:4). This is the same Lord who says in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Faith is the meal that nourishes the Lord when we can trust Him in those places that are most tender, bruised or broken.
As she reaches for the door her fingers are coated with myrrh (5:5). Myrrh is a aromatic resin that requires wounding the trees repeatedly to bleed them of the gum. Myrrh is symbolic of bitterness. Beloved, how often have we wounded Christ by refusing Him to enter the most intimate spaces in our lives?
Places we are ashamed to have Him to see though nothing is hidden from His lovely eyes. The intimate places were often other loves and desires have entered - sometimes too freely. Other so call loves may have violated and polluted our garden. Others took us lightly without respect and care. We were to be handled and used for only what we can offer. Still others may have filled those places for a season with joy and laughter but left us wanting much more than they could ever give. I think of Mary who in her sorrow mistaken Christ as the gardener who she thought took the body of Christ. Until He spoke her name she saw him only as another man who stole something from her life.
At the end of the song her friends describe the Beloved as being a tower and a wall (8:9). She in turn responds, "But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines." (8:12, NLT). She understood that her life was not her own. Her willingness to give it to the One who loved her was of a greater value.
For you see it was not her garden that mattered as much as for her to enter into the heart of Christ. His heart is the most beautiful garden that is possessed by faith when He possesses us. It's time for us to open our hearts to Him and let Him come inside. An unlocked heart is a welcoming place for Him to cultivate a love so rich and deep all you can do is swing wide the gate and let the King of Glory enter inside. Then our hearts will be enlarged and full like His own!
While the context may describe a natural yearning between husband and wife it can also can speak of our own hearts in the context of God, our Lover and Friend.
What are those good things that God has planted in our hearts that under His nourishing care are for His pleasure? But when He attempts to enter we seize up in fear. We are enclosed and have securely bolted the gates to our hearts to prevent Him entering inside. We may argue to why we keep Him on the outside. We are ashamed. What we will He find and what will He say if all that is good is gone?
One evening the Lover attempted to enter the Beloved's chamber. She protested saying it was too late. She had washed and dressed for bed so she didn't rise to answer the door. He even tried to unbolt the latch (5:4). This is the same Lord who says in Revelation 3:20, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." Faith is the meal that nourishes the Lord when we can trust Him in those places that are most tender, bruised or broken.
As she reaches for the door her fingers are coated with myrrh (5:5). Myrrh is a aromatic resin that requires wounding the trees repeatedly to bleed them of the gum. Myrrh is symbolic of bitterness. Beloved, how often have we wounded Christ by refusing Him to enter the most intimate spaces in our lives?
Places we are ashamed to have Him to see though nothing is hidden from His lovely eyes. The intimate places were often other loves and desires have entered - sometimes too freely. Other so call loves may have violated and polluted our garden. Others took us lightly without respect and care. We were to be handled and used for only what we can offer. Still others may have filled those places for a season with joy and laughter but left us wanting much more than they could ever give. I think of Mary who in her sorrow mistaken Christ as the gardener who she thought took the body of Christ. Until He spoke her name she saw him only as another man who stole something from her life.
At the end of the song her friends describe the Beloved as being a tower and a wall (8:9). She in turn responds, "But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines." (8:12, NLT). She understood that her life was not her own. Her willingness to give it to the One who loved her was of a greater value.
For you see it was not her garden that mattered as much as for her to enter into the heart of Christ. His heart is the most beautiful garden that is possessed by faith when He possesses us. It's time for us to open our hearts to Him and let Him come inside. An unlocked heart is a welcoming place for Him to cultivate a love so rich and deep all you can do is swing wide the gate and let the King of Glory enter inside. Then our hearts will be enlarged and full like His own!
Saturday, November 8, 2014
A Leprous Heart
Each morning at 4:00 a.m. I meet the Lord in the prayer closet (yes, literally a closet) to worship, pray and read the Scriptures.
The night before I had a troubling dream. My eyes flew open sometime in the early morning hours. I was afraid the vivid and colorful scenes had actually occurred but was soon relieved it was just a dream. Now sitting with the bible open on my lap I noticed my chest was pulsating so strongly that it moved my shirt. I thought of the pressures of work. Maybe it was anxiety? I thought of my father who has a heart condition. After more than an hour of this sensation, I reached for the cell phone to find the nearest cardiologist. At least I felt no sharp jabbing pains or shortness of breath.
Then another fear stirred in my mind. What if I suddenly lose the ability to function or think? So I confessed any sin to be sure I was right in His eyes and prayed for healing.
Suddenly the air shifted in the small room. I knew the Lord was present and wanted to speak to me. He did not address the possibility of a heart failure or stroke but another failure that was corrupting my heart. The Lord brought to my attention my conversations with my wife about a ministry leader and the way he manages the team.
He reminded me of Miriam who spoke against Moses. He was God's appointed leader who happened to be her brother. As a result of her embittered speech it says, "And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous." (Numbers 12:10). She was driven outside the camp for a week. Afterwards she was healed and led back into the camp.
How many believer's hearts have become leprous with bitterness, resentment or anger toward their pastors or brothers and sisters in Christ? This corruption spreads to other places in their lives. They wonder why they don't experience victory over besetting sins. Why God seems to distant and untouchable. Could it be they are standing outside the camp (the body of Christ where His presence dwells) because of an inward corruption that is so deadly only a God ordained quarantine will bring them back to their senses?
I confessed my sin of talking about the leader and asked for the Lord's help to honor this man. I asked the Lord to go to the depths of my heart. To those painful places where leaders misused their authority and position. It was then the Lord caused me to understand the corruption in my heart gave way to a disturbing dream. What infects the heart will effect the mind. Beloved, we must be careful not to give an inch to the Enemy even if we think we are in the right or believe we have certain entitlements. We must have a heart fully assured God is just and will vindicate us. Otherwise, our hearts will become leprous - an internal rotting from within - that eventually will cause complete heart failure.
God was merciful to Miriam and did not leave her outside the camp rather He had nearly a half a million people waited for her! Numbers 12:15 says, "So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in."
Beloved, we should not be so quick to offer our opinions and thoughts. Rather we should confess and pray for one another that we may be healed (James 5:16). So that wholly together we can move forward and enter into all that God has promised us.
The night before I had a troubling dream. My eyes flew open sometime in the early morning hours. I was afraid the vivid and colorful scenes had actually occurred but was soon relieved it was just a dream. Now sitting with the bible open on my lap I noticed my chest was pulsating so strongly that it moved my shirt. I thought of the pressures of work. Maybe it was anxiety? I thought of my father who has a heart condition. After more than an hour of this sensation, I reached for the cell phone to find the nearest cardiologist. At least I felt no sharp jabbing pains or shortness of breath.
Then another fear stirred in my mind. What if I suddenly lose the ability to function or think? So I confessed any sin to be sure I was right in His eyes and prayed for healing.
Suddenly the air shifted in the small room. I knew the Lord was present and wanted to speak to me. He did not address the possibility of a heart failure or stroke but another failure that was corrupting my heart. The Lord brought to my attention my conversations with my wife about a ministry leader and the way he manages the team.
He reminded me of Miriam who spoke against Moses. He was God's appointed leader who happened to be her brother. As a result of her embittered speech it says, "And the cloud departed from off the tabernacle; and, behold, Miriam became leprous, white as snow: and Aaron looked upon Miriam, and, behold, she was leprous." (Numbers 12:10). She was driven outside the camp for a week. Afterwards she was healed and led back into the camp.
How many believer's hearts have become leprous with bitterness, resentment or anger toward their pastors or brothers and sisters in Christ? This corruption spreads to other places in their lives. They wonder why they don't experience victory over besetting sins. Why God seems to distant and untouchable. Could it be they are standing outside the camp (the body of Christ where His presence dwells) because of an inward corruption that is so deadly only a God ordained quarantine will bring them back to their senses?
I confessed my sin of talking about the leader and asked for the Lord's help to honor this man. I asked the Lord to go to the depths of my heart. To those painful places where leaders misused their authority and position. It was then the Lord caused me to understand the corruption in my heart gave way to a disturbing dream. What infects the heart will effect the mind. Beloved, we must be careful not to give an inch to the Enemy even if we think we are in the right or believe we have certain entitlements. We must have a heart fully assured God is just and will vindicate us. Otherwise, our hearts will become leprous - an internal rotting from within - that eventually will cause complete heart failure.
God was merciful to Miriam and did not leave her outside the camp rather He had nearly a half a million people waited for her! Numbers 12:15 says, "So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in."
Beloved, we should not be so quick to offer our opinions and thoughts. Rather we should confess and pray for one another that we may be healed (James 5:16). So that wholly together we can move forward and enter into all that God has promised us.
Saturday, November 1, 2014
I Can Not Cry
Years ago I attended a Youth With A Mission's Discipleship Training School (DTS) in Scotland where I experienced one of the most strangest altar call.
The speaker that night made an appeal to all British men (including those from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) who had not cried for a very long time. If they desired to cry he welcomed them to the front of the room. If I recall I was the only American so I was out. Americans tend to be very expressive so I felt a bit smug. My problem was I can't recall a time I didn't cry! I watched as the men quietly slip out of their chairs and stand facing the audience.
Some of them had terrible experiences in life but were bound by a culture of stoicism and reserve. The stiff upper lip was expected not a man publicly weeping from pain and brokenness. The Holy Spirit moved that night to free them to weep not only from personal pain but to know the cry of God's heart for the lost and wounded.
I'm reminded of the woman who wept at Jesus feet and dried them with her hair. She did not speak at all but the religious rulers argued about her conduct and wasting costly perfume. Her tears were unspoken words poured over His dusty feet. Psalms 56:8 says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." (NLT). Every tear drop falling from her eyes spoke to His heart. The pain from years of being dismissed, polluted and violated. Of the unspeakable heartache and pain, betrayal and hopelessness and finding herself in a place she was despised.
2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us a godly sorrow works repentance but the sorrow of the world lends itself to death. Tears are not always the best indicator a person's heart is sorry over their sin. You may have heard the expression crocodile tears which the person shows insincere emotions but has not truly changed or is remorseful. Many people cry because they were caught in their sins but given another opportunity they would do it again.
For those who desire to cry out to the Lord but battle in their minds because of the voices from culture, family or perhaps because of pride that says it's foolish or shows weakness; we have the example of Christ.
Scripture says, "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." (Isaiah 42:2, KJV). Christ endured a difficult trial but He was remarkably silent (Mark 15:5). He could have defended himself and expose their accusations as lies. In fact He could have called upon His Father to dispatch an army of angels to destroy them all.
His silence should not be mistaken for weakness or just shutting down with nothing to say.
Rather His silence was for those who have found themselves voiceless unable to cry out. Psalms 69:3 says, "I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God." (KJV). But we have this promise when we can not cry out and our eyes are dry. Romans 8:26 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (NIV).
God wants to heal the eyes of His saints that have been dried for a very long time. He desires to bring us into an intimate place where we cry out and weep for the souls of men and women. As Psalms 84:6 says, "Passing through the valley of Baca [place of weeping] they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings." (NASB).
Our tears become a blessing for others with dried eyes and wounded hearts!
The speaker that night made an appeal to all British men (including those from Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) who had not cried for a very long time. If they desired to cry he welcomed them to the front of the room. If I recall I was the only American so I was out. Americans tend to be very expressive so I felt a bit smug. My problem was I can't recall a time I didn't cry! I watched as the men quietly slip out of their chairs and stand facing the audience.
Some of them had terrible experiences in life but were bound by a culture of stoicism and reserve. The stiff upper lip was expected not a man publicly weeping from pain and brokenness. The Holy Spirit moved that night to free them to weep not only from personal pain but to know the cry of God's heart for the lost and wounded.
I'm reminded of the woman who wept at Jesus feet and dried them with her hair. She did not speak at all but the religious rulers argued about her conduct and wasting costly perfume. Her tears were unspoken words poured over His dusty feet. Psalms 56:8 says, "You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book." (NLT). Every tear drop falling from her eyes spoke to His heart. The pain from years of being dismissed, polluted and violated. Of the unspeakable heartache and pain, betrayal and hopelessness and finding herself in a place she was despised.
2 Corinthians 7:10 tells us a godly sorrow works repentance but the sorrow of the world lends itself to death. Tears are not always the best indicator a person's heart is sorry over their sin. You may have heard the expression crocodile tears which the person shows insincere emotions but has not truly changed or is remorseful. Many people cry because they were caught in their sins but given another opportunity they would do it again.
For those who desire to cry out to the Lord but battle in their minds because of the voices from culture, family or perhaps because of pride that says it's foolish or shows weakness; we have the example of Christ.
Scripture says, "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street." (Isaiah 42:2, KJV). Christ endured a difficult trial but He was remarkably silent (Mark 15:5). He could have defended himself and expose their accusations as lies. In fact He could have called upon His Father to dispatch an army of angels to destroy them all.
His silence should not be mistaken for weakness or just shutting down with nothing to say.
Rather His silence was for those who have found themselves voiceless unable to cry out. Psalms 69:3 says, "I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God." (KJV). But we have this promise when we can not cry out and our eyes are dry. Romans 8:26 says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans" (NIV).
God wants to heal the eyes of His saints that have been dried for a very long time. He desires to bring us into an intimate place where we cry out and weep for the souls of men and women. As Psalms 84:6 says, "Passing through the valley of Baca [place of weeping] they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings." (NASB).
Our tears become a blessing for others with dried eyes and wounded hearts!