Enter In

On September 9, 2024   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 4: 16

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

What would you think if you heard the author of Hebrews preach this sermon in your church Sunday? Would it sound odd to you? He seems to say that we can enter God’s throne room now even while we still live on this earth. How do we accomplish that?

I believe the writer of Hebrews is telling us that we should be entering God’s throne room now. Not only that but also that we should enter confidently. We are spiritual beings even though we are currently housed in physical bodies. We can, therefore, participate in spiritual exercises like we do physical ones. For example, is prayer a physical or a spiritual exercise? The answer may have something to do with our own spiritual maturity, but I think most of us would say that it is a spiritual exercise. Most people probably recognize that we exist in the spiritual realm even while we reside in the physical realm. This should not be too hard to comprehend. After all, we can exercise mentally and physically at the same time so, also, we can exercise spiritually. Now, what I will say is that most of us spend more time on our minds and bodies than we do our spirits. None the less, you and I can operate spiritually, and we should. So, how do we actually enter God’s throne room?

The answer is that we do so in our spirits by and through prayer. How, though, does one actually accomplish this? It’s not exactly “natural” is it? Actually, it is just a step above natural and it is called supernatural. When you pray, imagine yourself walking into God’s throne room. See yourself invited and accepted. Then just talk with your father. Can you picture yourself driving a red Ferrari? You probably did even as you read “Ferrari.” You use the same method in seeing yourself in the throne room only, it is applied through the spirit and prayer. See yourself walking into God’s presence. Watch yourself boldly enter His throne room. You can still operate in humility even while you confidently approach God because your confidence is in Jesus. He has paved the way for you to enter into Father’s presence. Go forth confidently; knowing that Jesus has prepared this avenue for you. Go be with your Dad and talk with Him. He would love to spend time with you.

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God is Missing

On January 27, 2022   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Job 23: 2

If only I knew where to find God, I would go to his throne and talk with him there.

Is this not heart-breaking? How sad! Have you read Job recently? It is quite the read. If you decide it is time for you to read it again, let me caution you. Do not take your doctrine from Job’s “friends.” You will see that God was none too pleased with their advice. Anyway, it is a very interesting book to read. We are in a very different place theologically than Job but some of the similarities are alarming.

You know the story, Job was living the high life and he loved God. Then Satan came along and destroyed everything Job had and loved, including his family. Job became very confused and eventually bitter. He worked it out in the end but throughout the book you hear him voice many of the doubts and complaints we have all thought.

Now, in his eighth speech he confesses plainly, “I don’t know where God is.” In the midst of his pain and devastation, he cannot find God. Let me ask you, where was God during this time? We believe God was within reach the whole time. Job was so busy blaming God that he couldn’t find him. I don’t think he tried. He believed God was in some far off place in the clouds separated from the woes of people.

We think differently today and yet . . . I would wager that over 90% of the people reading today’s devotional have thought the same thing Job said and felt as Job must have felt. Where is this God who is supposed to love us so immensely? Why is He allowing me to suffer?

Do you know where to find God? Do you know how to get to His throne room? Do you have a place you can go to speak with God? This is a matter that must be resolved! We cannot leave this to chance any longer. You are entitled to speak with God all the time and you need to.

When I first began learning to talk with God face to face, I had to get out of his throne room. When I was in the throne room, I always felt like a conscripted soldier kneeling at the throne awaiting my marching orders. This was not the posture of a love relationship. It was servitude. I am happy to serve my God, but He was not happy. He didn’t want a servant, nor a soldier. He wanted a child. I was not ready to be a vulnerable, loving child at that time, but I needed to learn to meet Him on more level ground; I needed to be able to speak with Him, actually talk with Him.

I began by picturing the two of us sitting at my conference room table. I could look across the table and see Him. He was in the dimensions of a normal person rather than a gigantic God. I could look at Him and not be intimidated or humbled into servitude. We began there. I could sit in the comfort of my living room but still picture us at the conference room table. With my mind’s eye trained on Him, I could talk with Him, and I began to learn to hear Him.

We’ve come a long way since then. Now He rides my bike with me. Imagine the picture of me, Yahweh, the Holy Spirit and Jesus all riding my bike together. Hilarious, right? I tried leaving Jesus and HS home, but they go everywhere I go, and they go everywhere He goes so we just had to invite them too. Then there was the day I was aware of angels with me too. Look how far we have come from kneeling at the foot of the throne. Now we look like a circus act.

Where is God Job? Where is His throne room? He is right there with you right now. He doesn’t need a throne or a throne room. He is happier sitting beside the creek or on the beach with you. Close your eyes. Picture Yahweh in a cozy chair across from you where you are both seated next to a crackling fire in the fireplace. Or picture the two of you in a two person kayak. Whatever your comfort spot is, close your eyes and see it. Then see Yahweh right there with you. Now, open up your mouth and say, right out loud, whatever it is you’ve been wanting to talk with Him about. Leave the holy prayers for Sunday and just speak. Talk with your best friend. He is right there with you, right now. How’s that?

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Party Invitation

On December 10, 2021   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Ephesians 3: 12

Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.

I thought we might hangout in Ephesians 3 a bit more. We all know that the Apostle Paul had a revelation of Christ. Part of what makes the letter to the Ephesians so special is how on display that revelation is. Paul wrote this from prison. I often think that Paul’s imprisonment was for our good. Rather than travelling around setting up churches and speaking, he was forced to convey his thoughts via letter. What Satan meant for bad, God turned for good. It is, Romans 8: 28; lemons for lemonade. Anyway . . .

I see so much of the Apostle John’s revelation in Paul. Paul continued John’s revelation of God with us. He certainly understood about living our lives with and through both the Christ and the Father. In today’s passage, we can see how the life of faith in Christ and our life intertwined with him leads us to a bold and dynamic, full faith relationship lived in the very presence of the Father. Hallelujah! Because of Jesus, and equally importantly, because of our faith in him, we now have confident access to the Holy Presence of God.

The Passion Translation reads thus, “[W]e have boldness through him, and free access as kings before the Father because of our complete confidence in Christ’s faithfulness.” In reading this, one can feel Paul’s complete confidence in the person of Jesus as well as his faith, i.e. full belief, in the faithfulness and completeness of the Christ. He knew that our presence with the King is fully assured in Christ. Paul doesn’t have to humble himself with ridiculous gestures because his eyes are full of the magnificence of Jesus. To even talk about our worthiness, or lack thereof, is almost sinful. It is to take the focus off of Jesus and put it on ourselves. Absurd! It is he who is worthy and because he is so glorious and his faithfulness to the Father so profound, we can walk boldly into the throne room without a qualm. My big brother is the king of kings and I go with him. Who is going to be looking at me with Jesus in the room anyway? But, where he goes, I am always welcome.

If your heart doesn’t almost burst with love for this brother who is prince and king, you just need to see through Paul’s revelatory eyes more. When you see through Paul’s revelation, the glory of Christ so covers you that you shine as he does. Jesus gets on you. His glory shines all about and the Father is overjoyed at your presence. Jesus is the reason for the season, but we are the reason for the Christ. It’s crazy, but we are the reason there is a Christmas. Father sent Jesus down here to get us so that we could hang out in the throne room, no longer to be separated by sin, doubt and worldly distractions. The light has come and filled the room and all who love him are invited to the party, daily. It is a place of great joy and you are always accepted.

Go to Him, child. Go to the Father. Go sit upon His lap and gaze upon the face of love. Listen to the music. Sing aloud and with great joy. Glory to the world indeed, for the Christ has come and in his wake is laughter, singing and confident access to the King. Glory to God and I’ll see you in the throne room.

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The Throne Room

On June 29, 2017   /   Word of the Day   /   Leave a comment

Hebrews 4: 16

Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

I do interactive journaling for www.bornofthespirit.today. I recently asked God about this verse and what He would like to reveal to me about it. Click on the link above to see what He said to me. As I pondered all that He said to me, I knew I wanted to use this same verse for a Word of the Day.

The Protestant Reformation was supposed to usher in a time of approachability to God. No longer do we need a priest to speak to God for us or to tell us what God says to us. This is not to minimize the operation of spiritual gifts; that is another topic entirely. This discussion focuses on the necessity of another human to facilitate the conversation between us and the Father. You can speak directly to Him and more importantly you can hear from Him yourself.

Before Christ, only the High Priest could go into the Holy of Holies where the presence of God resided. Even then, he could only enter at the appointed time and after the proper preparation. Jesus tore the dividing veil asunder, literally, and now each of us has an open invitation into the very presence of God. We have a pass which entitles us to enter into His throne room at any time of the day or night, weekdays and weekends. There is not one minute of one day when the doors of the throne room are closed to us. Don’t you find that amazing?

We all need more of God. We need Him morning, noon and night and this verse shows us that we have availability to Him. Whatever you are doing right now, pause and take a moment to see yourself walk through the giant doors, which equally gigantic angels hold open for you. See your Father on His throne, beaming with His smile of welcome. Go to Him. Enjoy His presence and return frequently.

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