"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water'." (John 7:38)




"Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual." (1Cor. 2:12-13)

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Mirrored Understanding

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." (1Corinthians 13:12)

"Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come." (1Corinthians 10:11)

To look dimly as in a mirror is to be looking back on our lives and the witnesses before us with a vague sense of the Kingdom of Heaven to come, by the patterns established in the natural realm. Our knowledge is limited to yesterday and today. There is no looking forward through a mirror, only a reflection of our life presently and all that lies behind us.

 "Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a just vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, "'If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.'" (James 4:14,15)

"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Mathew 6:34)

All of God's children possess the hope that is to come, but no one knows what tomorrow brings us in this life. Our stewardship is a daily one...and our days are short. "So teach us to number our days, That we may present to You a heart of wisdom." (Psalm 90:12)

PJR


"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
(Hebrews 12:1,2)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Little Children

There is an intimate bond that exists when a child trusts and depends on his father or mother for comfort, protection, and answers to their questions in life before they seek first of anyone else. They run straight home to their sanctuary of peace and wisdom. The mind of this child is convinced that his own parents have everything he needs to face a scary and confusing world.

"I tell you truthfully, unless you are converted and become like one of these little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Mathew 18:3)

As adults, of course we do not lean so heavily on guidance from our parents. Yet being grown now and able to make up our minds in the world around us, the decisions we come to are based on the source we draw from. As Christians, this source must be sought from God's kingdom or else we're left to make decisions based on rationale, placing importance on the consequences of those decisions the world has established. The greater wisdom realizes the incomplete understanding of God's plans for us and relies heavily on Him for guidance through the difficulties of living a Spirit filled life in a worldly kingdom. We are thus encouraged to again become like little children; to consistently call upon our Heavenly Father, to trust and obey completely His direction for us, as He knows what is best for us.

PJR

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes."

(Psalm 118:8,9)

Saturday, September 22, 2012

The Good Choice

Like animals, humans have built-in instincts. Unlike animals, we have the knowledge of good and evil. The human mind is able to determine possibilities among circumstances. In its totally depraved state (apart from God's intervention), man does not possess the ability to choose selflessly even when everything lines up with a choice of that nature.

 As well, the moral law of God does not give man this power; it only affords him the conviction of sin, a desire to rebel against it, and the awareness of his inability to obey it. (Romans.7:7-11) This is why God sent Jesus; God in the form of man. He was the fulfillment of the law by His selfless sacrifice to lay down His own life, that He might send the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, giving us the power to choose what is selfless and pleasing to Him.

The things of the Spirit are understood by the Spirit. (1Cor.2:10-16) So, man without the Spirit is unable to choose what is good based on a pure heart that never seeks its own. With the exception of God's common grace upon mankind (whereby our existence is not even possible without), there is always an ulterior motive when a 'good' choice is made by someone void of life in the Holy Spirit.

We are told not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. (Romans.12:2)

Again, this is not possible without the Holy Spirit. For the believers, it is the work of sanctification. A process that begins to utilize the things of God through the mind and received by the Spirit which now inhabits us. Thus, faith comes by hearing the word of God. Our minds are the transfer station of the knowledge of good and evil, now processed by the Holy Spirit. Before, the only thing it could choose was self interest, as the Word states, "They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." (Psalm 14:1)

With all humanity, our lifelong processes determines our motives, builds our character, and establishes our very soul. It is in this way, believers are able to test the spirit to see if it is of God. (1John 4:1) We can now make truly good choices and can be confident that we know God's will for our lives...not the specifics...rather, the obedient and available man by the power of God through him declares His will for our lives.

PJR 


"And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.'" (Mark 10:18)

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Religion

For people not yet called by God; their religion is to pursue their own ideals and attempt to define their existence within their present environment, evidenced only by their own understanding.

"The fool says in his heart, 'There is no God.'" (Psalm 53:1)

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." (Romans 1:19,20)

For people already called by God; their religion can be an exercise of conveniently incorporating God's word to conform to their own ideals and societal comfort.

"The Lord says: 'These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men.'" (Isaiah 29:13)

"...having a form of godliness but denying its power."
(2 Timothy 3:5)

God states that His religion is helping the elderly and visiting the orphans. Unless one receives payment for such services, this requires self denial, which without the Holy Spirit, is impossible for man to achieve. Charles Spurgeon writes, "Ungodly persons and mere professors never look upon religion as a joyful thing; to them it is service, duty, or necessity, but never pleasure or delight. If they attend to religion at all, it is either that they may gain thereby, or else because they dare not do otherwise."

God's religion is finalized by keeping ones self from becoming stained by the world. When worldliness is more the norm in long-time professing Christians, it is certain that truth has been rejected and the sanctifying work of the work of the Holy Spirit has been neglected.

Whether called by God or not, people everywhere witness more of man's own idea of religion than God's.

Who then is interested in truth? Just what is truth?

Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life."

Again, he says, "If you abide in me and my word abides in you, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free."

When we are consistently about the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit upon the words Jesus spoke, it will enable us to know and live in truth rather than in religion.

PJR

"About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." (Hebrews 5:11-14)

Saturday, September 15, 2012

Oppositions

There are four major oppositions to God present in our world; hatred, irreverence, complacency and ignorance.

Hatred is defiant of God's kingdom; the 'created' rejecting the Creator.

Irreverence is abusive in handling Truth; utilizing God's Word for self gain.

Complacency disregards His commands; compromising to the world.

Ignorance is sincerely blind; unbelief that has never heard.


These variables of rebellion against God are the product of man's fallen state. Humanity is tempted to believe they can sustain themselves by becoming their own authority; but exclusively in the life of God's children, opposition is used to pronounce a stark contrast between His Kingdom and the present age, bringing about an awareness of His holiness that His elect may be pruned away from the world and into the eternal life to come.


"He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." (John 1:10-13)

PJR

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours." (John 15:18-20)

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Living To Spend And Be Spent

As we come to understand our purpose in God's will for our lives, we will readjust our determination for the mammon we work for or freely receive. It is for our simple provisions (1Timothy 6:6-8) and the overflow should be invested towards His Kingdom. (Matthew 6:20) When we become familiarized with the cause and effect of sowing and reaping, our Kingdom supplies will increase while the selfish and greedy will one day be found without. (Mark 4:21-25)

The time we have to ourselves will also be made available for His causes and our joy changes from what the world clamors for to the abundant life found in serving. Everything we used to spend on ourselves, every moment of time we cherished for ourselves will be transformed and refocused towards the treasures that are eternal. (Matthew 6:19-21)

"He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God." (2 Corinthians 9:10-12)


PJR

"Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there might be equality. At the present time your abundance will supply what they need, so that in turn their abundance will supply what you need. Then there will be equality, as it is written: "He who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little." (2 Corinthians 8:13-15)

Saturday, September 8, 2012

The Believer's Victory

By equipping ourselves with the whole armor of God, we are able to endure evil that comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

By denying ourselves the armor of the world, we are able to endure trials that come for the purpose of our sanctification.

The victory for us as believers is our God given faith.

"For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (1 John 5:4,5)

To overcome the world, is to overcome the law.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Corinthians 15:56,57)

Our greatest victory is to have a knowledge of God transformed into a life of God.

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." (Philippians 3:8-11)

PJR

"For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin." (Romans 7:22-25)

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

The Word


"Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Psalm 119:105)

There is nothing outside of God's word that ultimately will free us from the trials of life. However, seeking solutions from our own resourcefulness, attempting to diminish our immediate discomfort, reveals the treasure within our hearts to be of this world. We will continue walking in darkness as we satisfy the desires of the flesh, the rewards being only temporary.

Relying on God's word breaks down the root of strongholds in the minds of believers. Seeking counsel from the Holy Spirit might increase our present discomfort, but also reveals the treasure of our hearts to be about the things of God. We will continue walking in the light as we deny our selves, and the rewards of this battle are eternal.

"For 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you." (1 Peter 1:24, 25)

PJR

"More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given us." (Romans 5:3-5)







Saturday, September 1, 2012

Grieved Spirit Or Hurt Pride

Our minds are challenged daily by many options and opportunities. From within the depths of who we are, our responses, reactions, and reasoning spill forth . Without honestly meditating on the source of a challenge, we can respond with a defense that carries with it an appearance of wisdom in Christianity that is actually exercising The Word out of context in hopes of quelling confrontations upon our character. The reality is that God is continuously orchestrating times of testing for the purpose of getting us to look at ourselves from the outside in...simply put, He is revealing the true present condition of our hearts. When we prioritize our human comfort over the process of sanctification, the renewing of the mind does not take place. We learn, by habitually defending ourselves, how to effectively avoid discipline in our lives, while at the same time teaching those new in the faith who stand nearby how confrontations should be dealt with; we train others to follow in the same manner of rebellion and disobedience for the cause of saving face.

When we restrain the initial desire to react, humble ourselves before God and intentionally consider why a particular circumstance is causing discomfort in us, we can discern the true reason for our grievance.

If it is trouble from man, you will suffer hurt pride. Our obvious actions and our self-perceived personal identities are constantly challenged as we engage others, and in the natural bent of our depravity we will rise in defense of ourselves. Jesus, however, who was perfectly identified with the Father, never took anything personally, but on all counts was grieved by the activities of the selfish human nature that consistently attempted to take advantage of his fellow man at the expense of an intimate relationship with God.

If it is discipline from the Holy Spirit, you will experience a grieved spirit. His truth pierces our soul like a double edged sword, exposing our hidden motives and revealing to us who we truly are. Admitting this is difficult enough when you are alone; it is magnified when in the presence of others. That is the ultimate form of humility before God. When we can accept that we are nothing apart from Christ, then we recognize we have nothing to be proud of...unless we still embrace the importance of what others think about us over what God is trying to accomplish in and through us.

"I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent." (Revelations 3:18,19)
 

PJR

"But if we judged ourselves truly, we would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world." (1Corinthians 11:32)