Let's, for a moment, think about the sin of slothfulness. Slothfulness takes form noticeably, but yet only takes form in an apathetic recognizable way. The deterioration of a luxurious grace God has placed into our lives for the sake of the stewardship as worship is present, but not acknowledged until the Spirit leads us to remembrance; this very grace is time. God desires for our efficiency to be manifested in discerning the use of time in a God-oriented mindset. The exposition of slothfulness is seen in light when we bring into this life discipline, and a practice of obedience alongside this discipline. Such a misdeed reveals the waste of a treasure; a realization that the time you've used for unneeded sleep was time that you could have meditated through the sixty-six book love letter, twice, in order that there might be an abiding in Christ and a closer communion with the Lord. A foolishness rests in slothfulness, but more than that, a slothfulness to climb out of the very sloth we are trapped in. Spiritual warfare manifests at the sight of rebellious slothfulness, but even more so in an unwanted slothfulness; it drives us away from such cares as discipline, obedience, faith, patience, etc. Reflecting through such a burdening sin in the specificity and high concentration of time, we need the foundation of the word that is our weapon of mass healing to bring us to surrender in our recognition of truth solidified. The ability to bow, to submit becomes peaceful healing in the soul from this heavy burden only if there is existing both a conscious and deep desire for deliverance. This is the word of the Lord:
"He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying,'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him. 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap what I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and as my coming, I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away."
Matthew 25:24-29
To shed a radiance to slothfulness and the reason for it's dangers is because the formation of slothfulness is in a cycle, almost like the model of precipitation. Not only does apathy manifest from slothfulness, but slothfulness manifests from apathy. It is a constant revolution of slothfulness to selfishness to apathy to weak recognition to foolish discernment and back to slothfulness. In our young generations, there is a need for clear recognition that an alternative needs to be resorted to even as you wrestle through entering that door. The importance of understanding a close-to-firm truth of stewardship and obedience that leads to a constant internal wrestling arena, but if crystallized, leads to an unconditional joy found in the Spirit of the Lord. Extensive blessings that had originally been unseen because of the dense fog will become true reality as it had already been true reality, but only while we weren't fully in true reality. Limitations will be broken down, walls torn, and boundaries overcome; brand new rewards will swoosh in as promises are made whole in our perceptions.
The act of slothfulness is to reject all which God has created us to do and our purpose to have life to the full, just as the early church pursued in fellowship, prayer, worship, and evangelism. Slothfulness in this life is the ignorance of everything good and presented before us in truth. Let your eyes glow, get a life (the way Jesus described life), and reap the full taste of good fruit. Think worth.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
BEFORE THE THRONE
A vision brought,
a vision yearned for;
you appear before the throne
...and you say?
and God declares.
a vision yearned for;
you appear before the throne
...and you say?
and God declares.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
TRUE SIGHT
"But as for me, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me."
Micah 7:7
Micah 7:7
Saturday, December 12, 2009
TRANSFORMATION
The sight of a caterpillar, to a long hibernation in a cocoon, until a formation of beauty arises, breaks out of it shell into what it truly is meant to be; as they really are. Remembering it's old self, but not desiring to turn back to the old and limited self. It has inherited freedom in what you can almost refer to as new life. It has broken free and now; the boundaries that it has crossed over has been beyond ever imagined. In the midst of controversy, solutions spark in new light. It takes form in foreign alternatives; foreign, but a restored discovered good. Originally, our norm would be to argue, desire correctness for the sake of self reputation, to fight to prove our capability, to act to prove our ability, to keep a grudge in order that the other person would give in first - but what now? Our conscientiousness become twirled around one-eighty degrees, responding in, what? Humility? Patience? From outside the window, we look and laugh at such responses, but everything inside speaks to us into conforming to everything that is rejected - everything that brings to us persecution.
"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart....Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are member one of another....And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:17-32
In order to gain new life. we have to lose our old life. As we go through this short process of renewal and this long term process of restoration, we are crying out in desperation whether we are in a time of unconscious discontent or a time of running through the fire. A strange feeling but strong sense of desire to live in opposition to the accepted standard, but ironically finding joy in conforming to such an extraordinary taste of fruit. At the taste of fruit, there comes the returning to in a continuum to what first gives you an unconditional satisfaction. The Spirit of transformation can not go solo. There is a need for simultaneous recognition of a remaking, a need for the conscious sight of shaping; that sight by the supernatural, the creator and the potter, the "I AM."
When such happens, there will be an additional response of persistence; such as in a marathon when runners run their race for the sake of the prize and the end (1 Corinthians 9:24). Transformation lasts until the day Jesus will be back - in the hands of the Savior at birth, in the hands of the Savior at the establishment of salvation; hopefully for all being transformed,.
I believe Lord.
"Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart....Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are member one of another....And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:17-32
In order to gain new life. we have to lose our old life. As we go through this short process of renewal and this long term process of restoration, we are crying out in desperation whether we are in a time of unconscious discontent or a time of running through the fire. A strange feeling but strong sense of desire to live in opposition to the accepted standard, but ironically finding joy in conforming to such an extraordinary taste of fruit. At the taste of fruit, there comes the returning to in a continuum to what first gives you an unconditional satisfaction. The Spirit of transformation can not go solo. There is a need for simultaneous recognition of a remaking, a need for the conscious sight of shaping; that sight by the supernatural, the creator and the potter, the "I AM."
When such happens, there will be an additional response of persistence; such as in a marathon when runners run their race for the sake of the prize and the end (1 Corinthians 9:24). Transformation lasts until the day Jesus will be back - in the hands of the Savior at birth, in the hands of the Savior at the establishment of salvation; hopefully for all being transformed,.
I believe Lord.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
IDENTITY
In a crowd with hands raised, I see one hand reaching out to transfiguration with so much faith that it becomes reality. Identity.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
A CALL TO DISTRIBUTION
"There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need."
Acts 4:34-35 ESV
So many aspects in which we still fall till this day; in our greed, in our selfishness, in our neglect of the lack of oneness. In a world that leads us to believe in the power of possession, the power of high status, the hold conformity has on us. Doors are open for responsibilities to be fully understood and led to grasping when it comes to the giving to those who are in need. Our decisions of keeping our money more for material wants such as clothes, bags, coffee, luxury, whatever is leaving us empty handed when the donation box is passed around for starving kids in Africa. Need is the first word which comes to mind when the thought of Africa comes to mind; a need for physical possessions, a need for spiritual blessings, a need for intellectual blessings. Why does not a feeling of dissonance lead a hungry people desiring for the befalling of the Holy Spirit come when such imbalance within our globe is constantly growing in our needy world. This is not only because our spoken compassion is mismatched with our outward action of compassion, but also because our spoken desire for communion is mismatched with our outward action for communion.
When was the community of believers under Christ in closest communion in this early church in the Acts of the Apostles? When they had everything in common; even though rich and poor were both present, the word speaks that they had laid down their possessions and any who had need had taken. A conviction yet reflection of how we should respond to the grace of God as stewards. None of what we have is our own, so why do we take and use as if we're paying our own for material wants?
"And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'"
Job 1:21
What is required in order for our conformity to this call of distribution and lending is our poverty in spirit and then our boldness in spirit. A combination of both leads to the dependence fully on the Holy Spirit who will grow us closer and closer in our righteousness until sanctification. As our dependence increases, our recognition of our call forms into a much more serious conviction in our hearts. It will bring us to the boldness of our Lord which was exactly the combination found in the early church. They knew they needed boldness, but only that found in the Spirit; careful that human boldness and confidence may lead to a deep piercing pride in the flesh. In response, restoration erupts; not a needy person was among them. The closest communion witness of our proximity in heart to each other to the Lord Almighty's. An automatic compassion, if compassion would even exist, would react in fullness as we all share that which is given by God to His stewards. Compassion will slowly transform into a recognition of stewardship, an expectation for equality, and therefore a desire for communion, having all in common.
Many of us, just like many in the early church, had not had much to give in terms of possessions. The rich humbled themselves so that there would be closer unity through equality with one another. What can the poor offer to those who have much? It is absolutely reasonable that the poor would offer the most crucial need; prayer in order for the intervention of God. Only those who are poor with not much to give are found much more sufficient in the grace of God, knowing that their power is made perfect in weakness. Now that gets all of us thinking, how often have we kept mindful in the distribution of prayers worldwide to those in desperate need for the intervention of God who do not know God? There is never a lack of role in the call for distribution.
When that day would come, that children of God would conform to God rather than our flesh stricken by the world, true communion will be seen as sparks of glimpses of God's kingdom arises. The call for distribution will be responded to in full obedience.
Acts 4:34-35 ESV
So many aspects in which we still fall till this day; in our greed, in our selfishness, in our neglect of the lack of oneness. In a world that leads us to believe in the power of possession, the power of high status, the hold conformity has on us. Doors are open for responsibilities to be fully understood and led to grasping when it comes to the giving to those who are in need. Our decisions of keeping our money more for material wants such as clothes, bags, coffee, luxury, whatever is leaving us empty handed when the donation box is passed around for starving kids in Africa. Need is the first word which comes to mind when the thought of Africa comes to mind; a need for physical possessions, a need for spiritual blessings, a need for intellectual blessings. Why does not a feeling of dissonance lead a hungry people desiring for the befalling of the Holy Spirit come when such imbalance within our globe is constantly growing in our needy world. This is not only because our spoken compassion is mismatched with our outward action of compassion, but also because our spoken desire for communion is mismatched with our outward action for communion.
When was the community of believers under Christ in closest communion in this early church in the Acts of the Apostles? When they had everything in common; even though rich and poor were both present, the word speaks that they had laid down their possessions and any who had need had taken. A conviction yet reflection of how we should respond to the grace of God as stewards. None of what we have is our own, so why do we take and use as if we're paying our own for material wants?
"And he said, 'Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.'"
Job 1:21
What is required in order for our conformity to this call of distribution and lending is our poverty in spirit and then our boldness in spirit. A combination of both leads to the dependence fully on the Holy Spirit who will grow us closer and closer in our righteousness until sanctification. As our dependence increases, our recognition of our call forms into a much more serious conviction in our hearts. It will bring us to the boldness of our Lord which was exactly the combination found in the early church. They knew they needed boldness, but only that found in the Spirit; careful that human boldness and confidence may lead to a deep piercing pride in the flesh. In response, restoration erupts; not a needy person was among them. The closest communion witness of our proximity in heart to each other to the Lord Almighty's. An automatic compassion, if compassion would even exist, would react in fullness as we all share that which is given by God to His stewards. Compassion will slowly transform into a recognition of stewardship, an expectation for equality, and therefore a desire for communion, having all in common.
Many of us, just like many in the early church, had not had much to give in terms of possessions. The rich humbled themselves so that there would be closer unity through equality with one another. What can the poor offer to those who have much? It is absolutely reasonable that the poor would offer the most crucial need; prayer in order for the intervention of God. Only those who are poor with not much to give are found much more sufficient in the grace of God, knowing that their power is made perfect in weakness. Now that gets all of us thinking, how often have we kept mindful in the distribution of prayers worldwide to those in desperate need for the intervention of God who do not know God? There is never a lack of role in the call for distribution.
When that day would come, that children of God would conform to God rather than our flesh stricken by the world, true communion will be seen as sparks of glimpses of God's kingdom arises. The call for distribution will be responded to in full obedience.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
FILL US UP, SEND US OUT
God of Justice, Saviour to all
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord
Came to rescue the weak and the poor
Chose to serve and not be served
Jesus, You have called us
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
We must go live to feed the hungry
Stand beside the broken
We must go
Stepping forward keep us from just singing
Move us into action
We must go
To act justly everyday
Loving mercy in everyway
Walking humbly before You God
You have shown us, what You require
Freely we've received
Now freely we will give
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out
Fill us up and send us out Lord
Saturday, December 5, 2009
PERFECT OFFENSE
"Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.....Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Romans 12:14, 21
In the light of persecution and darkness within our midst; so close to us, but yet can potentially be so far in certain seasons of our lives, we have a burning desire. A burning desire within our hearts that yet at the same time leads us to feeling in such a deserted and dry place. Our desire to fight with the best offense, yet we do not recognize our best offense and at times even neglect our best offense. There is the axe of rage that society reveals to us as mighty in power, able to tackle all opposition and every adversary that we face. And then there is the spear of ignorance that we replace each incapable weapon with when all else leads us to discouragement. These weapons are picked up and turned against ourselves leaving us feeling dry and faint; therefore creating in our perception a growing opposition that we can not face on our own. Little do we know that our sword of the Spirit is thrown around and lost in our eyes, but realistically in our presence.
David was young, a shepherd, puny, unrecognized, yet faithful.
This faithfulness leads to goodness because it clears the fog. It puts on the right lenses with the right magnification. Ultimately, it quenches us, leading us to fight with the strongest offense that we ignorantly and outrageously had neglected. We fight with the offense of blessing, the offense of goodness. David did. He picked up that sword of the Spirit and used it in it's fullness. And what happened? Opposition didn't fall in the hands of David, Opposition fell in the faithfulness of God.
Romans 12:14, 21
In the light of persecution and darkness within our midst; so close to us, but yet can potentially be so far in certain seasons of our lives, we have a burning desire. A burning desire within our hearts that yet at the same time leads us to feeling in such a deserted and dry place. Our desire to fight with the best offense, yet we do not recognize our best offense and at times even neglect our best offense. There is the axe of rage that society reveals to us as mighty in power, able to tackle all opposition and every adversary that we face. And then there is the spear of ignorance that we replace each incapable weapon with when all else leads us to discouragement. These weapons are picked up and turned against ourselves leaving us feeling dry and faint; therefore creating in our perception a growing opposition that we can not face on our own. Little do we know that our sword of the Spirit is thrown around and lost in our eyes, but realistically in our presence.
David was young, a shepherd, puny, unrecognized, yet faithful.
This faithfulness leads to goodness because it clears the fog. It puts on the right lenses with the right magnification. Ultimately, it quenches us, leading us to fight with the strongest offense that we ignorantly and outrageously had neglected. We fight with the offense of blessing, the offense of goodness. David did. He picked up that sword of the Spirit and used it in it's fullness. And what happened? Opposition didn't fall in the hands of David, Opposition fell in the faithfulness of God.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
RESTING IN THE VOICE OF GOD
Oh the peace we find within the presence of God; but how often do we find ourselves in the presence of God truly? We are taught that the triune God is universally present in our lives just as He is in every life that He's blessed onto this earth. Thus explains the teaching of His omnipresence. For us to be in His presence is always fact because it is in God's sovereign control and God's perfect character stemming down to his perfect omnipresence that He is everywhere. To change the outlook, to us; for Him to be in our presence seems to be rarely for many of us. Now we know why this is the result of a God so perfect in his universal presence to not appear present to those who live in mere flesh. It is because our flesh leads us to sin which is apart from God, drawing us away from being in communion with this triune God. Aside from that, there brings the distractions of worldliness on this earth as our imperfection becomes tempted to please our very selves in being a glutton of various humane passions. This is the word of God:
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
1 John 2:15-17 ESV
In saying so, we are to run from the world and towards God, to love Him and desire Him; which is away from the flesh. To 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness', therefore being more like him, and coming closer to an aligned character, an aligned will. When this is so, God will reveal to us His presence, and the reality of the Spirit's omnipresence would not only be a mere fact to us, but an understanding through experiences which verifies this truth. After reading in The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer of the universal presence of God, I longed for this presence to be made alive in my life, every second of my life - still being a enduring process, a surrendering process. And as I felt the moving of the Holy Spirit in my life each and everyday through experiences after experiences, I found rest. To be sure of truth in our perception of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies, and not only a self-deception of personal pride in our spirituality for what we feel that it is, there needs to be the neglect of feeling and the disciplining in obedience of the call to surrender ourselves in prayer to the triune God. We do not find ourselves in wholehearted surrender until we not only acknowledge, but know that our God is the giver and provider of life. And we don't truly understand that we have to solely depend on God as a servant to a master in plead until we are in prayer of not just some things, but all things of our inherited earthly life and soon established eternal life in the kingdom; from our classes, to each and every individual brother and sister in Christ to our lost companions to our parents to our teachers to our work to our churches, and so on. The list is endless. Just as commitment is devoted to lifting heavy weights progressively and consistently for the best result because it shows how desperately you trust in each weight you lift to contribute to the glorious end, we are to act the same to God.
And that's the cure! Our generation is in need of genuine wholehearted prayer, constantly bringing ourselves before God in his holy sanctuary handing to Him all things we have in our lives. Committing all things to him that is glimmering in the light of our plans in our lives in order to glorify Him in our own unique ways. All the present things that determine for us present actions that determine for us God's everlasting glory through our present potential actions. In committing to Him in prayer all these things, God will extend His mighty hand of grace to act according to our faithfulness and His sovereignty. But that isn't the only thing we have to commit to Him. This is the word of God:
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
He says that 'with thanksgiving'. What do we thank Him for? We thank Him for His grace upon each aspect of our lives of the past that He has already blessed us with. That is His grace - that given which we do not deserve. But what else is his grace, that given which we are not conscious of always, but every once in a while adore the glories of - His creation. His sun, His light that is so symbolic, His night, His moon, His lake, His grass, His birds, His clouds, His rain, and His gloomy days, the stars, the galaxies, our life, His grace.
As we recognize everything mentioned, light is being shed to God's outlook, to the dying of our flesh, to the taking over of the Holy Spirit. And as God moves within us, He is speaking loudly to us messages in the most clarity that has ever been heard. And as we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us and around us, there will be no more worries because we have full trust that God is in control. The peace of God will transcend and we will find our well needed rest in the all-encompassing voice of God no matter what the circumstances.
But unless you pray, you do not fully recognize that God is our sole giver. That which He deserves more than we consciously know.
"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever."
1 John 2:15-17 ESV
In saying so, we are to run from the world and towards God, to love Him and desire Him; which is away from the flesh. To 'seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness', therefore being more like him, and coming closer to an aligned character, an aligned will. When this is so, God will reveal to us His presence, and the reality of the Spirit's omnipresence would not only be a mere fact to us, but an understanding through experiences which verifies this truth. After reading in The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer of the universal presence of God, I longed for this presence to be made alive in my life, every second of my life - still being a enduring process, a surrendering process. And as I felt the moving of the Holy Spirit in my life each and everyday through experiences after experiences, I found rest. To be sure of truth in our perception of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies, and not only a self-deception of personal pride in our spirituality for what we feel that it is, there needs to be the neglect of feeling and the disciplining in obedience of the call to surrender ourselves in prayer to the triune God. We do not find ourselves in wholehearted surrender until we not only acknowledge, but know that our God is the giver and provider of life. And we don't truly understand that we have to solely depend on God as a servant to a master in plead until we are in prayer of not just some things, but all things of our inherited earthly life and soon established eternal life in the kingdom; from our classes, to each and every individual brother and sister in Christ to our lost companions to our parents to our teachers to our work to our churches, and so on. The list is endless. Just as commitment is devoted to lifting heavy weights progressively and consistently for the best result because it shows how desperately you trust in each weight you lift to contribute to the glorious end, we are to act the same to God.
And that's the cure! Our generation is in need of genuine wholehearted prayer, constantly bringing ourselves before God in his holy sanctuary handing to Him all things we have in our lives. Committing all things to him that is glimmering in the light of our plans in our lives in order to glorify Him in our own unique ways. All the present things that determine for us present actions that determine for us God's everlasting glory through our present potential actions. In committing to Him in prayer all these things, God will extend His mighty hand of grace to act according to our faithfulness and His sovereignty. But that isn't the only thing we have to commit to Him. This is the word of God:
"do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7 ESV
He says that 'with thanksgiving'. What do we thank Him for? We thank Him for His grace upon each aspect of our lives of the past that He has already blessed us with. That is His grace - that given which we do not deserve. But what else is his grace, that given which we are not conscious of always, but every once in a while adore the glories of - His creation. His sun, His light that is so symbolic, His night, His moon, His lake, His grass, His birds, His clouds, His rain, and His gloomy days, the stars, the galaxies, our life, His grace.
As we recognize everything mentioned, light is being shed to God's outlook, to the dying of our flesh, to the taking over of the Holy Spirit. And as God moves within us, He is speaking loudly to us messages in the most clarity that has ever been heard. And as we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us and around us, there will be no more worries because we have full trust that God is in control. The peace of God will transcend and we will find our well needed rest in the all-encompassing voice of God no matter what the circumstances.
But unless you pray, you do not fully recognize that God is our sole giver. That which He deserves more than we consciously know.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
NOTHING LEFT BEHIND
A servant's wholeheartedness in the obedience to his Lord is a pivotal part of his relationship to his master. Before the climax of this famous gospel story, this revolutionary gospel story, the Holy Spirit was not sent down to guide us toward holiness. There was an emptiness. And for all who has not yet still received the Holy Spirit, there will forever be a hole until they soften up, open up, and become vulnerable towards the very satisfying gift of Jesus Christ. The Spirit guides us into the holy life that God intended for us when he made men in his image. While still being in the flesh and still having been a fallen race, we will always desire selfishly and never cease to lean towards worldliness until we finally have been sanctified. The Holy Spirit transforms us through the very parts of the human flesh that are deciding factors in all areas of our self-controlled lives.
" And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 ESV
Our heart, our very emotional center, our mind, our very mental center, our soul, our very spiritual center, and our strength that comes from our body, our very physical center. The Holy Spirit fills every part of it while God waits for us to accept his will in our lives as we are transformed in every way. This transformation as we can see is a mutual relationship between the rebellious creation in response to the glorious and all-loving creator. Or at least, it has to be mutual for any sort of fruit to be reflected in life on earth. God does his part, while we accept his sovereign shaping and molding. Because of God's merciful sparing and gracious giving, any part of mutuality on our part is shown through our surrender of humane will to his supernatural, perfect will in order to follow his call. When we finally recognize that we need to surrender to his will with our lives as a living sacrifice to him holy and pleasing(Romans 12:1), the usual process that would happen in is first in speech. For it to be fully shown in any individual's life takes a lifetime of pursuit. As God speaks from his word - and in full and total truth, is speaking with is word as I am typing this very word - we begin to consciously begin to surrender to God's will through almost all of our actions aiming to build our brothers and sisters up. In every part of our lives, every part of our day, we begin to see the glorious riches of God freely as the Spirit begins to overwhelm us. Our only purpose on life now slowly begins to be living for the name of Jesus Christ and for the sake of the gospel. Does our life look like this? That in all things, we see God and his glory, that in everything, we seek to praise God, and lift up all worth he deserves? What are we leaving for ourselves that belongs to God?
Now comes the third and final part of our earthly process and progression, that is if we build our house upon a solid foundation and are always on careful watch, we will begin to unconsciously surrender ourselves to God and every slip of word that we say. In fact, we will not slip out any filthy, disgracing word when this part of our mental center becomes surrendered up to God fully because we will begin to understand and discipline ourselves to let God tame the beast. Do we always mean the prayers that we speak, or do we daydream about the amazing steak dinners or the restful sleep that we are about to have? Full surrender will not cut God short of what we can offer. Just as our physical motions reflect our mental interpretation of our heart according to our selfishness or spiritual devotion of our soul, our actions our ultimately stemmed off of our feelings that comes from our purpose and desire of our hungry souls. Full surrender is the reflection of the whole heart.
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, but forfeit his soul?"
Matthew 16:24-26a
And we can only imagine what it would profit a man to gain his soul and forfeit the whole world. Live as to leave nothing behind and cutting nothing short of the fraction we can offer to God with everything we've got. Every motion, every word, every song, every prayer, every life, every second.
" And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." Mark 12:30 ESV
Our heart, our very emotional center, our mind, our very mental center, our soul, our very spiritual center, and our strength that comes from our body, our very physical center. The Holy Spirit fills every part of it while God waits for us to accept his will in our lives as we are transformed in every way. This transformation as we can see is a mutual relationship between the rebellious creation in response to the glorious and all-loving creator. Or at least, it has to be mutual for any sort of fruit to be reflected in life on earth. God does his part, while we accept his sovereign shaping and molding. Because of God's merciful sparing and gracious giving, any part of mutuality on our part is shown through our surrender of humane will to his supernatural, perfect will in order to follow his call. When we finally recognize that we need to surrender to his will with our lives as a living sacrifice to him holy and pleasing(Romans 12:1), the usual process that would happen in is first in speech. For it to be fully shown in any individual's life takes a lifetime of pursuit. As God speaks from his word - and in full and total truth, is speaking with is word as I am typing this very word - we begin to consciously begin to surrender to God's will through almost all of our actions aiming to build our brothers and sisters up. In every part of our lives, every part of our day, we begin to see the glorious riches of God freely as the Spirit begins to overwhelm us. Our only purpose on life now slowly begins to be living for the name of Jesus Christ and for the sake of the gospel. Does our life look like this? That in all things, we see God and his glory, that in everything, we seek to praise God, and lift up all worth he deserves? What are we leaving for ourselves that belongs to God?
Now comes the third and final part of our earthly process and progression, that is if we build our house upon a solid foundation and are always on careful watch, we will begin to unconsciously surrender ourselves to God and every slip of word that we say. In fact, we will not slip out any filthy, disgracing word when this part of our mental center becomes surrendered up to God fully because we will begin to understand and discipline ourselves to let God tame the beast. Do we always mean the prayers that we speak, or do we daydream about the amazing steak dinners or the restful sleep that we are about to have? Full surrender will not cut God short of what we can offer. Just as our physical motions reflect our mental interpretation of our heart according to our selfishness or spiritual devotion of our soul, our actions our ultimately stemmed off of our feelings that comes from our purpose and desire of our hungry souls. Full surrender is the reflection of the whole heart.
"Then Jesus told his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man to gain the whole world, but forfeit his soul?"
Matthew 16:24-26a
And we can only imagine what it would profit a man to gain his soul and forfeit the whole world. Live as to leave nothing behind and cutting nothing short of the fraction we can offer to God with everything we've got. Every motion, every word, every song, every prayer, every life, every second.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
ON OUR KNEES AS WHERE WE SHOULD BE
Day after day, we go through a great amount of schedules and in result of the work involved in these schedules, a great deal of stress. This is only in our school and business lives. In our interpersonal and intrapersonal relational lives, we go through a great amount of physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual toil. Many times we wonder why things are just not going our way, why a certain burden has to fall upon our shoulders, why God has planned for us His plan? We worry, sometimes unconsciously knowing, but many times consciously knowing that God's plan is the perfect plan; perfectly knit together in His sovereign hands. The thoughts that arise that leads us into confusion about each and every struggle shouldn't be our question of why we are dealing with such pain, but more why we are such worrywarts. God explains in Matthew 6 that as we focus our eyes on his grace surrounding our lives at every square centimeter of this big universe of ours, we see the birds and grass being clothed only by the glorious beauty of our God, why shall we still be anxious. And then Jesus says if he clothes that which will be thrown into the fire with such amazing grace, will he not clothe us, "O you of little faith?"
Bingo! That's what we are lacking. Faith, what Hebrews 11 calls, the assurance of hope for things unseen. When we are assured with something, it is, I can almost say, established. We don't think perfect is good enough. Afterall, God does promise us the perfect plan for our lives because He does know all of creation before its existence and has known all that is to come before it is to be.
The reason we are created is to glorify the Father in all things (1 Corinthians 10), to worship Him with everything we are (Luke 4:8), and to, in that way, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20a ESV This is what God meant when He said, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. We are lacking in faith, and lacking in the correct and holy intentions that God desires for us to obtain. It is only by our seeking of God, and therefore, branching down to knowing the will of God, that will lead us to a life of peace with God now until forever because we are already living in eternity once we've believed in the Son of God as our hope of salvation and our Savior who has redeem us with His blood. (John 3:16) Imagine that; a life of peace with God, forever. We can all get there if we know what our Savior wants for us.
"Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Surrender every part of your life to God, giving all you have before his feet, lifting any load on your shoulders to God. Understand that through that, his grace is sufficient for Jesus Christ has already lifted up every sin, every burden, yesterday, today, and forever up to God so that we might inherit a transcending peace, which makes us one with our Lord Jesus Christ as He intended for us. When we understand once and for all that we have to restore our relationship with the creator as his creation after falling into the devastation of sin, and when we understand that Jesus Christ has already provided a door for us to step into where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears, no more mourning, where the water from the spring of life will not stop being offered to our thirsty souls (Revelation 21), when we understand that this position of grace and peace can be entered into as we have our eyes solely on Jesus Christ and the kingdom where he is seated on the throne where he will soon exalt us to as we humble ourselves to become a servant to all, we will then recognize how great the taste is.
Let go of all pride in every way and keep your eyes locked where the treasure is sealed. As a wise man once said, "Let your passion overflow because of the love of Jesus, the gracious hand extended by Jesus, and the hope of glory only by our Savior, but guard your heart with humility. Even as you do so, do not let that keep you from speaking loud with your life and proclaiming His name."
Bingo! That's what we are lacking. Faith, what Hebrews 11 calls, the assurance of hope for things unseen. When we are assured with something, it is, I can almost say, established. We don't think perfect is good enough. Afterall, God does promise us the perfect plan for our lives because He does know all of creation before its existence and has known all that is to come before it is to be.
The reason we are created is to glorify the Father in all things (1 Corinthians 10), to worship Him with everything we are (Luke 4:8), and to, in that way, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20a ESV This is what God meant when He said, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. We are lacking in faith, and lacking in the correct and holy intentions that God desires for us to obtain. It is only by our seeking of God, and therefore, branching down to knowing the will of God, that will lead us to a life of peace with God now until forever because we are already living in eternity once we've believed in the Son of God as our hope of salvation and our Savior who has redeem us with His blood. (John 3:16) Imagine that; a life of peace with God, forever. We can all get there if we know what our Savior wants for us.
"Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7
Surrender every part of your life to God, giving all you have before his feet, lifting any load on your shoulders to God. Understand that through that, his grace is sufficient for Jesus Christ has already lifted up every sin, every burden, yesterday, today, and forever up to God so that we might inherit a transcending peace, which makes us one with our Lord Jesus Christ as He intended for us. When we understand once and for all that we have to restore our relationship with the creator as his creation after falling into the devastation of sin, and when we understand that Jesus Christ has already provided a door for us to step into where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more tears, no more mourning, where the water from the spring of life will not stop being offered to our thirsty souls (Revelation 21), when we understand that this position of grace and peace can be entered into as we have our eyes solely on Jesus Christ and the kingdom where he is seated on the throne where he will soon exalt us to as we humble ourselves to become a servant to all, we will then recognize how great the taste is.
Let go of all pride in every way and keep your eyes locked where the treasure is sealed. As a wise man once said, "Let your passion overflow because of the love of Jesus, the gracious hand extended by Jesus, and the hope of glory only by our Savior, but guard your heart with humility. Even as you do so, do not let that keep you from speaking loud with your life and proclaiming His name."
Thursday, September 10, 2009
GLORIOUS BEYOND ALL GLORY
God being the maker of the heavens and the earth, the stars and the moon, and everything in the universe. The Creator of Adam and of Eve; both being in the image of God. And all of us, being descendants of Adam and Eve, also made in the image of God. We are but a reflection of God's character, but a reflection of God's grace, but a reflection of God's glory. What does that mean though? Organ after organ He has created, face after face, nerve after nerve, psychology after psychology, personality after personality. And each one of these personalities and known and gripped tightly in the hands and the mind of God; this omniscient mind. This holy, sympathetic, loving mind knows us all by far more intimately than anyone in the universe may ever know us; I mean, who can know us better than our creator anyways?
But, how does that tie in our being made in his image? Does he call us to know each mind as he does? Surely not, because the power of our sin limits us in every way; from the way we think to the potential ways that we can act according to our obedience to God. A man feeding a homeless beggar on the street is an image of compassion, but is not the only image. As an image of God, we show a glimpse of his character and are to live to show a glimpse of his glory. That is also why we are in pursuit of his holiness because we will never cease to be amazed by his perfection in every way, and in his omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. We are pursuing constantly, in his image to understand personalities at every level. God calls us all to sympathize/empathize with all personality in a constant pursuit to understand him more. Is it necessary? Speaking in terms of our free will, what is ever necessary to us? But, speaking in terms of God's grace and the reflection of our love according to our reverent fear of God, it is definitely necessary to honor him. This is the same as asking the question, is glorifying God, whether in this way or that, necessary? As Paul has exhorted the Corinthian church, in personal testimony - "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I may win those under the law. To those outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some. I do this all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:20-23) - he shows us that whoever he is among (and even those he might not be among) he was willing to sympathize with these people for the glory of God because he was made as an ambassador of Christ and in the image of God. And even before this, he says that he does this to become a servant to all.
Afterall, how are we to edify the body if we do not understand our body of believers individual by individual. In this, Paul encourages to unite us as a body of believers in order to edify each other in our ways of thinking, our perspectives of our faith. So in this way, we become qualified to spur in other and push each other toward loving Christ in the image of God in order to become a servant to all in unity with all servants under God and under his children(only being a mental standpoint and not the truth) so that we might give God all the glory for the grace and peace he's poured on our lives that we are now sinking in.
But, how does that tie in our being made in his image? Does he call us to know each mind as he does? Surely not, because the power of our sin limits us in every way; from the way we think to the potential ways that we can act according to our obedience to God. A man feeding a homeless beggar on the street is an image of compassion, but is not the only image. As an image of God, we show a glimpse of his character and are to live to show a glimpse of his glory. That is also why we are in pursuit of his holiness because we will never cease to be amazed by his perfection in every way, and in his omnipotence, omnipresence, and omniscience. We are pursuing constantly, in his image to understand personalities at every level. God calls us all to sympathize/empathize with all personality in a constant pursuit to understand him more. Is it necessary? Speaking in terms of our free will, what is ever necessary to us? But, speaking in terms of God's grace and the reflection of our love according to our reverent fear of God, it is definitely necessary to honor him. This is the same as asking the question, is glorifying God, whether in this way or that, necessary? As Paul has exhorted the Corinthian church, in personal testimony - "To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I may win those under the law. To those outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people that by all means I might save some. I do this all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings." (1 Corinthians 9:20-23) - he shows us that whoever he is among (and even those he might not be among) he was willing to sympathize with these people for the glory of God because he was made as an ambassador of Christ and in the image of God. And even before this, he says that he does this to become a servant to all.
Afterall, how are we to edify the body if we do not understand our body of believers individual by individual. In this, Paul encourages to unite us as a body of believers in order to edify each other in our ways of thinking, our perspectives of our faith. So in this way, we become qualified to spur in other and push each other toward loving Christ in the image of God in order to become a servant to all in unity with all servants under God and under his children(only being a mental standpoint and not the truth) so that we might give God all the glory for the grace and peace he's poured on our lives that we are now sinking in.
Monday, September 7, 2009
OUR REPONSE TO GOD'S GRACIOUS GIFT
Being surrounded by the presence of a mixture of beautiful trees deeply rooted and bearing such rich fruit and trees of the same size, yet bearing bitter tasting fruit is a strange feeling. The reason for the word "strange" and not "bad" is because it is an unexplainable feeling. I can't even call it bittersweet because it is not good or bad. It is a feeling of being stretched, being able to empathize, being able to sympathize, being able to serve, being able to love; in the truth of the word of God, Paul the apostle calls us to be lights of the world in Philippians 2:12-18 right after speaking of the LIGHT of the world. This refers back to when Jesus calls us all to be the light of the world, made to shine in Matthew 5:14-16. What does it mean to be a light of the world? And to tie light's partner in crime in this; what does it mean to be salt of the world?
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:13-16 ESV
To be a light is to shine, to be noticed, to be radiant in brightness. To be a light is to be impossible to be unnoticed because a light that shines its brightest will cover up all darkness. It will be greater than any darkness when it is at its highest potential. Salt is pure and is made to be salty. We ought to be salty, if we are not, we are of no use. If we are not aiming for holiness, what are we aiming for? Jesus says in John 8:12 that we are light because he is THE LIGHT of the world and when we bear witness to him, his light will be in us. It is by the holiness of Christ, the absolute, undeniable perfection of Jesus Christ that we are put in stewardship to be a light; to shine. It is because we've seen his compassionate heart to heal the invalid, his forgiveness towards the Pharisees for challenging the plan of salvation, his grace extended to those who came to kill him, his humility on the cross while being mocked by those he came to save, his loving sacrifice for generations after generations of undeserving people, and yet still the glory in the Father's sovereign plans in our lives that we bear witness to this light, and this lamp unto our feet.
What kind of light shall we be then? Over and over again I read in 1 Thessalonians as Paul exhorts this Thessalonian church, "walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.", "have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more", "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." More and more, you're doing it, but do it more and more and more. Why? "This is the will of God, your sanctification"(1 Thessalonians 4:3). " Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) That we be without blemish. Without blemish. SPOTLESS. WITHOUT BLEMISH.
When God calls us to be humble, he doesn't say be humble when you're comfortable to be because surely Jesus was humble even when he was not comfortable to be. When he calls us to love, he says love until it hurts and keep loving until it hurts because it is in my will for you to undergo affliction for the sake of the glory of my name. And surely, as affliction comes, God is the God of ALL comfort(2 Corinthians 1). Yes, you have been humble, yes you have been loving, yes you have held on tight to your integrity, yes you have been sober and been children of light, children of the day, yes you have been bearing richly tasting fruit, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. Because God says, I expect more. This is what you ought to do. Because you only get to be a light that bears witness to my name because I have graced you with life. It is because of me, so now it is up to you.
"You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
Matthew 5:13-16 ESV
To be a light is to shine, to be noticed, to be radiant in brightness. To be a light is to be impossible to be unnoticed because a light that shines its brightest will cover up all darkness. It will be greater than any darkness when it is at its highest potential. Salt is pure and is made to be salty. We ought to be salty, if we are not, we are of no use. If we are not aiming for holiness, what are we aiming for? Jesus says in John 8:12 that we are light because he is THE LIGHT of the world and when we bear witness to him, his light will be in us. It is by the holiness of Christ, the absolute, undeniable perfection of Jesus Christ that we are put in stewardship to be a light; to shine. It is because we've seen his compassionate heart to heal the invalid, his forgiveness towards the Pharisees for challenging the plan of salvation, his grace extended to those who came to kill him, his humility on the cross while being mocked by those he came to save, his loving sacrifice for generations after generations of undeserving people, and yet still the glory in the Father's sovereign plans in our lives that we bear witness to this light, and this lamp unto our feet.
What kind of light shall we be then? Over and over again I read in 1 Thessalonians as Paul exhorts this Thessalonian church, "walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.", "have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more", "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." More and more, you're doing it, but do it more and more and more. Why? "This is the will of God, your sanctification"(1 Thessalonians 4:3). " Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 5:23) That we be without blemish. Without blemish. SPOTLESS. WITHOUT BLEMISH.
When God calls us to be humble, he doesn't say be humble when you're comfortable to be because surely Jesus was humble even when he was not comfortable to be. When he calls us to love, he says love until it hurts and keep loving until it hurts because it is in my will for you to undergo affliction for the sake of the glory of my name. And surely, as affliction comes, God is the God of ALL comfort(2 Corinthians 1). Yes, you have been humble, yes you have been loving, yes you have held on tight to your integrity, yes you have been sober and been children of light, children of the day, yes you have been bearing richly tasting fruit, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. Because God says, I expect more. This is what you ought to do. Because you only get to be a light that bears witness to my name because I have graced you with life. It is because of me, so now it is up to you.
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