Knowing God’s Will

On March 17, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Colossians 1: 9

Be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.

Don’t you suspect that if you were filled with the knowledge of God’s will for your life, for today, that life would be easier? What if you were filled with the knowledge of God’s will for those things beyond your immediate life? Now that is what I call perspective.

Let’s think about this for a moment. This was Paul’s prayer for the believers in Colossae. We know about Paul’s close walk with the Lord so I have to think that Jesus routinely guided Paul’s prayers. I would think this was especially true when he prayed for the saints. Moreover, wouldn’t we expect that the Holy Spirit guided Paul when he wrote the letters to the churches? 2 Timothy 3: 16 tells us that all scripture is inspired by God. So what is my point? My point is that this prayer and its inclusion in the scriptures was inspired by God for us today and furthermore, that God would not have inspired this prayer for us unless it was possible for us to receive and be filled with the knowledge of His will. However, as big a revelation as that may be that is only a portion of it. Paul prayed, or perhaps God intoned, that this knowledge of God’s will would be accompanied by all spiritual wisdom and understanding. That is hard to wrap your mind around. Since Paul prayed it and since God inspired it then receiving the idea and concept as well as the actual infilling is exactly what we are meant to do.

It is easy to read this verse or today’s devotional and blow right on by. I am hoping, however, that you will stop and think about it for a few moments. Do you agree that yes, this is the inspired Word of God but think that this passage was not meant for you? Perhaps this passage is meant for the really spiritually mature or perhaps this is for pastors. Well, let’s see to whom the letter is addressed. In verse 2 Paul writes, “… to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae.” Those are just regular folks then. Just believers like you and me.

I wish for you, each of you, to receive into your spirit that Father God is speaking to you today. You may think that you are the least in the Kingdom of God, and maybe you are, but even still, God wants to reveal His will to you. No, actually that is too weak. The truth is that he wants to fill you with the knowledge of His will and He wishes to do it with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. You, the least in the Kingdom, have this awesome initiative from God. So, this is for whomever will receive. You do not have to be someone special. You do not have to be in a full-time ministry position. This promise of God, for that is what it is, is for whomever.  Just tell the Father that you are a “whomever” and you wish to be filled.

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Perfect Faith

On March 16, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 12:2

Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

There is much talk and teaching about faith. Jesus talked about it a lot. One reason there is so much discussion about faith is because without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11: 6).  Another reason, I believe, is because it can be a hard concept to really get your hands on. 

Once we accept that we are to live by faith, the question becomes, “Just how do we do that?” You have, I am sure, heard sermons on how to increase your faith, how to walk in faith, and about every other facet of faith. As I read this verse recently, though, I saw it and faith in a whole new light. If Jesus is the author of faith and if he is the perfecter of faith then what am I so worried about? I came away with the perception that my faith is perfect now. I don’t have to work it up. I just turn to the master and he authors my faith. Sounds simple doesn’t it, easy even. And you know, maybe it is. I am finding that we complicate so many of the spiritual principles. When we take the Bible at face value and don’t try to twist it into something complex then it seems everything comes together for us. In this case, the case of faith, why am I trying to massage my faith into something functional if Jesus authored it in the first place? I mean, what can I do to improve upon something that Jesus has authored? And, if he perfected it then why does my faith need any help at all? No, the secret here seems to be in turning to the author for his insights. I can just see Jesus on a book signing tour being interviewed about this great book he has written. Perhaps one interviewer really digs into the chapter on faith. Well, who better to answer those questions than the author of the book?

So, here is my point. Perhaps faith doesn’t have to be so difficult to understand afterall. We have the author living within us. He has already created a perfect work within us. Just turn to him and allow him to show you how to operate that which is already perfect. Don’t worry any longer about making your faith something viable. That is not your job. Just let the master walk you through applying it. You don’t need any more of it than you have right now either. Jesus said a mustard seed’s worth is all you need and you’ve got that because he gave it to you. Relax and let Jesus be the author and perfecter of your faith.

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I Know Where You’ve Been

On March 13, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

 

Acts 4: 13

Now as they observed the confidence of Peter and John, and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were marveling, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus.

Now how would you like this to be the testimony that people speak about you? This is what I would like my testimony to be, that people can tell that I have been with Jesus. Oh Glory!

I read a book a couple of years ago which I cannot place my hands on now in order to tell you the title but I recall reading about some of the great saints of early American history. What made such an impression on me was that people could see with their own eyes that these people had been with God. It was remarked about one man that when he left his room of prayer there was a perceptible glow about him.

The presence of God lingers on us. As we spend intimate time with Him we are changed. We become increasingly like Him. Our thoughts change, our words change. His anointing resides with us as we abide in Christ and it shows. People may not always know what they perceive but they will know there is something about you.

I believe we are entering the days when people will marvel and recognize us as having been with Jesus. My reaction when I read that book was to spend more time in prayer. However, just because I was spending a chunk of time “in prayer” does not likewise mean that I was spending time with Jesus. I was still works oriented, i.e. “If I spend more time in prayer I will have more of Jesus.” What I have since discovered is that if I give more of myself to Jesus then I will have more of Him. It is the integration of my spirit with His that is increasingly helping me to know Him better and thus reflect Him better. I am not saying that I have laid hold of it yet but I am learning that this time of intimacy with the Lord marks me. I am different when I have spent quality time with Him.  When I haven’t the old Ivey begins to arise from the dust and ashes. I find myself less tolerant and less forgiving and the razor tongue comes back. You wouldn’t look at that person and see Jesus but as we let ourselves relax into His embrace, into His presence then we take on His grace and it shows.

I realize that people who are afraid of intimacy have trouble here but Jesus is the man who can help. He knows all there is about being tough and tender and believe it or not, he really makes it okay to open your heart. He will take you into a quiet, private, safe place; in fact, you can determine the place for yourself if you want. That is what I had to do in the beginning. I actually put God across a conference room table from me at one time. The key is in you being comfortable and that is what the Lord wants. He will meet you at your point of need. Just begin the dialogue. Tell Him that you want people to see Him on you when you leave His presence. Invite Him into the space you design and let Him speak to your needs. He is a loving Father who wants to pour Himself out to you.

We are the people; we are the generation that can walk in this grace. We have only to embrace the idea and then Father will cause it to happen. He desires for this to be the testimony of each and every one of us. You can have this report about you that people recognize that you have been with Jesus.  What a glorious report!

 

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One Touch

On March 12, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 9: 31

They went out, and spread the news about Him in all that land.

Do you want to know how to evangelize the world? Here is an evangelism revelation. There were two guys in this story who spread the word about Jesus throughout the whole land. Were these just two of the best evangelists ever or is there something else going on here? And most importantly, what can we learn from their story?

The backstory is that two blind men pursued Jesus and healing. When Jesus asked them if they believed he was able to restore their sight they answered, “Yes, Lord” (v. 28). Jesus then touched their eyes and said, “Be it done to you according to your faith,” and the men’s sight was restored (v. 29 – 30). Clearly there is a faith message there but we also see in this example of Jesus’ ministry how we can spread the good news about the Kingdom of God – heal a few people.

What? Me? Well, isn’t that the ministry Jesus has left us with? Look at Ephesians 4 with me, “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service to the building up of the body of Christ” (v. 11 – 12, emphasis added). God has established these ministry positions in order to equip the rest of us for the work of Christ. We, the body, carry out the divine commission. Jesus has also empowered us for this service. “And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness, ‘Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons’” (Matthew 10: 1, 8). The only question we have to answer is, “Am I a disciple of Christ” because all who are Christ’s disciples are anointed with his authority. 

God gave Jesus the power to heal and Jesus gave it to us. “So Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you’” (John 20: 21). As we see from the experience of the two blind men, one touch from God will change a person forever. They become the voice heard in the desert. The steps to world evangelism are first that we must allow Jesus to touch us, and I mean really touch us. It is his ministrations to our heart and receiving our own miracles that make his word like a fire brand in our mouths. We need to seek that personal touch and live in it. Then we extend his grace to others. We lay hands on the sick and they recover, not because of our faith, not because of our healing anointing but rather by the blessing of the Lord. Jesus said, “The Father abiding in Me does His works” (John 14: 10). So, we need not have performance pressure. It is Jesus within me who does the works and whoever Jesus touches will want to tell the world.

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Speaker of the House

On March 11, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Matthew 10: 19 – 20

Do not be anxious about how or what you will speak; for it shall be given you in that hour what you are to speak, for it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Wow, just wow! Our Father will speak through us. I really, really need that. Honestly, though, this scripture has been highlighted in my Bible for a long time. As a practicing attorney I relied on it often, not only in the court room but in mediation and in negotiations. I always drew strength from this promise from Jesus and it certainly does not hurt that these are some of the red letter words even though the entire Bible is Jesus speaking. Now that I am a full time minister I feel even more awed by the potential of the words that come out of my mouth. I need, more than ever, to have Father God speaking through me rather than me speaking out of my knowledge.

Whatever you do you can hold this same promise over your words. If you are a parent, you probably need this word even more than I because that is such a big job. Every word we say can be a release of the Holy Spirit within us if we will give the Father that much leeway in our lives. And don’t you love that you do not need to be anxious over what you will say? How many times have you been in a situation where you were nervous about what you would say? Think about interviews alone. 

One of the things I used to do was rehearse what I thought I would say in a given situation. I would play the scenario over and over in my head. I am learning now to just say a prayer about it and then let it go. I cannot tell you the number of times that Dad has spoken through His Spirit within me to give people the right words at the right time. Sometimes, many times, it doesn’t even feel like God is doing what Jesus promised but at the end people will tell me that it was what they needed to hear. He is so good and so faithful. It has happened enough now that I can usually relax and expect Him to say the words that need saying. 

No matter who you are or what you do in a day, I know there are times when you too need God’s help in speaking to a situation. No matter how small the matter may seem to us, God is ready to help us with the right words. Jesus promised it so I have chosen to believe it and act on it. Therein lies the secret and it works. Give Him your mouth and He will do good things with it.

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The Original Premise

On March 10, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Psalm 103: 8

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

This is a song written by David. David was (and is) a friend of God. He walked and talked with God and because of that he knew Him better than most people. David certainly put God to the test but he also learned to trust God for his every need. The importance of this is that we can feel assured that David is a very good candidate to speak about the nature of God. He experienced God’s forgiveness even before Jesus paid for the sin of the world. He witnessed God’s strength and power. When it comes to describing God, though, David leads off with compassion. Jesus was compassionate. There are no less than thirteen places in the gospels where Jesus either teaches about compassion or is moved by it.

What does this really mean to our lives though? The bottom line is that God is love. His way of interacting with the world and with each of us is through love. It’s who He is. As you listen to church people you sometimes hear discussion of a wrathful God or a vengeful God. However, when He is discussed by the people that have known Him best, like Jesus and David, He is always described in terms of love. That is God’s essential nature. He abounds in lovingkindness and is slow to anger. What we sometimes do, though, is to super-impose our scar tissue onto Him. When we believe ourselves to be vile creatures then we create an image of God that is angry and prosecutorial. In contrast, when we are able to look at God outside of our own filters and lenses then we see Him as He is, loving and kind. And believe me, when a person begins to see the Lord, our God and Father, by His true nature, all things in that person’s life change. A critical nature can change in a moment. A harsh person may put on the robes of graciousness. One who is selfish and self-centered can at once become a person who puts the needs of others first. 

This is our first and foremost meditation, that we ruminate on the goodness and kindness of God; our prayer – that we may know the love of God. This is the first issue. Once we come to an understanding in our hearts, rather than our minds, that God not only is love but that He loves us individually, then truly all things do become possible.  One can never understand the Bible if they do not first understand the original premise of the book – that God is love. It is, therefore, imperative that the Bible teachers to whom you subscribe have an integrated understanding of this first principle.  If they do not, their teaching will be skewed.

Grab this concept with both hands. Make it your own.  It is the only rightful foundation for a relationship with the Father.  Anything else will cause you to misfire. Our God is love and it is with love that He communes with us. I pray, let His love saturate your being, may it be absorbed by every cell of your body.  Amen.

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Woods Afire

On March 9, 2015   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Exodus 3: 1 – 4

Now Moses was pasturing the flock of Jethro his father–in-law, the priest of Midian; and he led the flock to the west side of the wilderness, and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a blazing fire from the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed. So Moses said, “I must turn aside now, and see this marvelous sight, why the bush is not burned up.” When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”

Moses is one of the great heroes of the Bible but how close did he come to being just another person in the parade of folks who keep walking when God calls out to them? 

There are many great people from the past who walked and talked with God. Sometimes, though, I wonder about the people we never hear about. What if Moses had seen the burning bush but not turned aside to go look at it? I can well imagine someone seeing a fire and the reaction of their soul is to run away. When Moses turned aside and went towards the burning bush God Himself came down and spoke with him. How many would be heroes have kept walking when God called out to them? Moses could have said to himself, “I have all these sheep to tend, I can’t wander around looking at curiosities.” He could have responded in fear and fled. “When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush.” Don’t you wonder how many people just walked on by?

Abraham is another of our Old Testament favorites, the Father of Faith yet did you know that Abraham’s father, Terah, actually was the one who first started out for Canaan? Unfortunately, Terah got only as far as Haran and then he got comfortable and stopped. So God called out to Abram (Abraham) and said, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you” (Genesis 12: 1). We don’t know Terah’s whole story and I think the reason why is because he stopped. Had he continued on to Canaan we might be calling him the Father of Faith. For all we know, God called Terah out to go to Canaan, that is the way it appears anyway but along the way he found a nice, comfortable spot and he set up camp even though the scripture says that he left intending to go to Canaan.

The moral of the story is, turn aside when God speaks to you. I very much doubt that one of the bushes in your front yard is going to burst into flame so you are going to have to listen a bit more closely. By all means, though, if you see a burning bush, go up to it and inquire if it is God. Let’s be looking for God. Let’s be expecting God to speak to us. 

I love Moses’ response. “Here I am,” said he, but I wonder how many times God called him before He finally got Moses’ attention. Don’t make God set the woods on fire before you answer His call. He generally speaks in quiet, gentlemanly tones. I guess Moses couldn’t hear Him over all the bleating of the sheep. Look to God with the eyes of expectation and open your ears to His voice. Then when He speaks to you quickly answer, “Here I am.”

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