I Covet

Sin is sneaky.  I think many people expect the kingdom of darkness to attempt its work in their life by obvious or grandiose means, but they would be deceived....which is the whole point of deception.  To say that the enemy of our souls is a master at his craft would be a gross and negligent understatement.  We are told in no uncertain terms in the first verse of Genesis Chapter 3, that the "NACHASH (serpent) was more ARUM (crafty, shrewd, cunning, subtle) than any living creature God made on the earth."  We are told from the beginning, that the enemy of mankind is unmatched in his craft of deceit by any fleshly being in existence.  Which means his whole method of operation is to deceive undetected as long as he can.

The Apostle Peter tells us to, "Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Pet 5:8).  The enemy of our souls never sleeps and neither do his henchmen.  The whole purpose of their existence is to seek ways to tempt and ensnare.  Which means that if they can't get you to sin outwardly, then they will look for ways to get you to sin inwardly. 

Which brings me to my point:  I hate my kitchen. 

Let me explain---

I love to watch home renovation shows.  But I became aware that as I watched those shows, my dissatisfaction with my kitchen grew.  As I watched those shows, my admiration for the wonderful home transformations began to transition into an anxious longing to have those transformations for myself.  My admiration and appreciation for the innovation and beauty of those home transformations began to morph into me coveting those transformations in my own life and circumstances.  Watching those shows and hating my kitchen is not a sin, but indulging in dissatisfaction and covetousness, is.  We know that covetousness is a sin because it is one of the Ten Commandments.  But dissatisfaction is also a sin because we are told that God will supply all our needs:
"But my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ." (Phil 4:19)
"And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed." (2 Cor 9:8)

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He promised them that He would supply all their needs, yet they still complained.  We are told in no uncertain terms how God feels when He meets our need and we indulge in a complaining spirit:

"And when the people complained, it displeased the LORD: and the LORD heard it; and his anger was kindled; and the fire of the LORD burnt among them, and consumed them that were in the uttermost parts of the camp." (Numbers 11:1).

When we complain, when we indulge in dissatisfaction and when we covet, we are doing two things that are displeasing to the Lord:

1.  We are telling Him that He is not trustworthy meet our needs
2.  We are telling Him that what He has already given us isn't good enough

The sins we commit on the inside, in our attitudes and thoughts, are the kind of sins that typically go unnoticed in our lives.  Especially the subtle snake of dissatisfaction, which always gives birth to covetousness.  For some it could be dissatisfaction with the way they look, giving birth to coveting the body shape and seeming beauty of other women.  For others it could be dissatisfaction in their marriage, giving birth to coveting the seemingly blissful relationships they see on t.v., read about in books or see in movies.  And for others it could be dissatisfaction with their car, their job, their church, their kids, or any other "non-perfect" thing in their life.  The enemy of our souls can work wonders with even the tiniest seed of dissatisfaction.

We are told at Proverbs 4:23 to, "Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."  We must truly guard our heart at all times, because at all times the enemy of our soul is prowling about, seeking a way in.  Seeking a way to devour our joy.  Seeking a way to devour our faith in God's promises that He will supply all our needs.  Seeking a way to devour our contentment, fulfillment and satisfaction in the needs that God has already met in our life.

"Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him." (Psalm 37:7)

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him." (Psalm 62:5)

"I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope." (Psalm 130:5)

"Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matt 6:26)

Brook Cherith

In 1 Kings Chapter 17, we are told of the prophet Elijah and how God instructed him to go to a brook named Cherith on the other side of the Jordan River.  God told him that he would have water to drink from the brook and that ravens would bring him food to eat every morning and every evening.  The two things God told Elijah were:
1.  What he needed to do
2.  That God would supply his needs 

The two things Elijah was not told were:
1.  Why

2.  For how long

When I think about this story, it reminds me how much farther I have to go in my spiritual growth.  I imagine what it must have been like for Elijah, to go to the brook in obedience and just sit there and wait, and to do so in the faith that those ravens would show up every day.  I imagine myself sitting there every morning and evening, scouring the sky for any signs of the ravens and, more importantly, my breakfast and dinner.  I imagine myself sitting there throughout each day, twiddling my thumbs during the time between breakfast and dinner.  I imagine me wondering if I heard God correctly?  I imagine me getting frustrated with God at His silence.  Surely He could mercifully give me a few words of communication as the hours painfully tick by, after all, I showed up didn't I?  I obeyed You Lord, You could at least acknowledge that I'm here.  A thumbs up.  Something.  All the while, forgetting that God already told me everything I needed to know, which is what I'm supposed to be doing and that He would supply all my needs.

For all intents and purposes, it would appear to us that Elijah's time at the brook accomplished no real purpose.  After all, the only thing he did during his time at the brook was sit there and wait.  No crossword puzzles, no Sudoku, no newspaper.  To make matters worse, we are told that the brook eventually dried up.  I imagine my horror at watching that stupid brook grow smaller and smaller each day, growing more and more frantic with God's silence each day.  Being tempted to get irritated with God, asking Him why He would lead me to this place and allow such torment?  After all, I obeyed didn't I?  And watching my only source of water slowly dry up was my reward?  Thanks a whole bunch, Lord.

We are told that Elijah didn't hear from God again until the brook had dried up.  The silence of God wasn't broken until Elijah's resources ran out.  Yet still, Elijah waited.  He didn't search for another source of water.  He didn't try to look for his own solution to his problem.  God had told Elijah to go to brook Cherith and he made up his mind that he would stay there until he died if he had to, rather than disobey or doubt God. 

After Elijah's seemingly unfruitful waste of time at brook Cherith, God next instructed him to go to a widow's house in Zarapheth, "I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." (1 Kings 17:9).  Elijah obediently went to the widow's house, only to find out that she had one handful of flour and a few tablespoons of oil left for her and her son to share.  When I think of myself in this situation, the first thing that comes to mind is, "Well, so much for plan 'B'.  Where next Lord?  The mouth of an active volcano?"  But it is here that I realize the purpose for Elijah's time at the brook.

For God to use you as a source of strength and guidance for others, you must die to your own strength and reasoning.  Only then can the Holy Spirit-- the true source of all strength and all wisdom-- flow freely through you and pour out into the lives of others.  During the time Elijah spent at the brook, he learned not only how to wait on God, but he also learned how to rely on God and God alone, and how to hold on to His promises regardless of his circumstances, "for we walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor 5:7). 

 

Unless it is God working through us, any attempt at trying to be a source of strength for others becomes an unbearable burden. And because Elijah had endured the time at brook Cherith, he was spiritually mature enough for God to use him as a source of strength and guidance for the widow at Zarapheth.  When she tells Elijah that she and her son are going to eat what little they have left and then wait for death, he tells her, "Do not fear." (1 Kings 17:13). 

He said, "Do not fear..", and he meant it.  He was able to say "Do not fear...", and stand firmly upon it.

I want that kind of faith.  I want to be a source of strength and guidance for others.  And to have that kind of faith, and for God to operate through us as a source of strength and guidance for others, we have to endure our own brook Cherith.  We have to learn how to be obedient to what God tells us to do and not question why or for how long.  We have to make up our mind that we are committed to Him even until death, if that's what it takes.  The death of our own reasoning and the death of our own strength.

More Than An Afterthought

We were created for intimate, eternal fellowship with God, to be a temple of glory for which God to reside and interact.

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them.." (Rev 21:3)

Read that verse again.....because that is the sole purpose of creation itself.  Even angels were created for mankind, "Are they not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?" (Heb 1:14).  Scripture says that those whom are saved in Christ are spiritually seated with Him in heaven, "..and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.." (Eph 2:6).  We are co-heirs with Christ to the kingdom of God, "The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him." (Rom 8:17).  And what is Christ heir to?  All of creation.  "For God has put all things in subjection under His feet.” (1 Cor 15:27).  Scripture tells us that there will come a time when those in Christ will even judge the angels, "Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels?" (1 Cor 6:2,3).  Are you starting to grasp the magnitude of spiritual riches and glory that God offers us through Christ?  Are you starting to comprehend what people are saying "no" to, when they deny Christ?

I've said this before and I will say it again because it's something we need to fully understand:  human beings are the apex of all creation.   I know many people to which this notion is utterly preposterous.  So many have been robbed of the joy and reverence that comes with the understanding of God's immeasurable love for us.  I will admit, sometimes it makes me uncomfortable because it's too much and I simply don't know what to do with it.  When I try to grasp God's immeasurable love for me, it makes me uncomfortable in my sin.  One thing I've learned over the years is that the closer I get to God, the more aware I become of my own sin.  The closer I draw to God, the more His light shines in my own life exposing the things within me that are contrary to His holy nature.  Our sin cannot hide from God.  The strange thing is, as I become more aware of my own wretchedness and need for salvation, instead of shrinking away in shame, I feel irresistibly drawn to Him.

We are all guilty of taking God's love for us for granted, each and every one of us, me included.  God literally moved heaven and earth to ensure that I would have a path to salvation through Jesus Christ so that I could spend eternity with Him.  He was thinking about me when He did that.  He was thinking about you too.   Yet there have been so many wasted days in my life, where God was more like an afterthought, rather than my purpose. 
Yet, I have always been His purpose.  I was His purpose from the inception of all creation.  And so were you.  We've never been, we are not, nor will we ever be an afterthought to God.

Have The Funeral

"Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service [your true and proper worship].  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." (Rom 12:1,2)

Because we are saved by God's grace, the Apostle Paul says our "reasonable service" to God is to live lives that are pleasing to Him, making every effort not to conform to this world.  Paul says that coming out of the world and living our lives according to God's word is how we worship Him in our daily lives. 

We are not to conform to this world because the prince of this world is Satan, and not only does this world reflect his image in all obviousness and subtlety, he is a master at appealing to our flesh.

We are not to seek the things of this world:

"Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth." (Col 3:2)

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness.." (Matt 6:33)

We are also not to conform to this world because scripture tells us we are not of this world, we are sojourners and aliens here because we are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus: 

"Beloved, I exhort you as aliens and sojourners, to abstain from fleshly desires, which war against your soul.." (1 Pet 2:11)
"And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.." (Eph 2:6)

Although in Jesus we have been granted victory over Satan, we can't outwit him and many of us are in bondage to him without even realizing it.  Many brothers and sisters in Christ are frustrated in their spiritual walk, discouraged, depressed and defeated, not understanding why they can't seem to move ahead in their relationship with Christ.  Not realizing that they are watching the same T.V. shows and listening to the same music they did before they got saved.  Not acknowledging that they are harboring anger and resentment, still hanging on to roots of bitterness or prejudice.  Not realizing that although they may have come to the cross, they aren't picking it up and carrying it.  Or misunderstanding "carrying their cross" as meaning to suffer through the inevitable ups and downs of their life.  Jesus said that we would have trouble (John 16:33).  That's not carrying your cross.  Jesus said that carrying your cross is to deny yourself,  "If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me." (Matt 16:24).  Coming to the cross, is salvation.  Picking it up and carrying it, is sanctification.  Sanctification matters to God.

Scripture says that when we are saved, we become new creatures.  We are told that the old passes away and all things become new, but many Christians are living in spiritual defeat because they don't want to let go of the old.  "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Cor 5:17)

Scripture says our identity is to be in Christ, yet many Christians define who they are by the things of this world.  "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Gal 3:27).  God's love for us is so consuming, that He doesn't want to share us with anyTHING or anyONE.  He created us in His image and He is jealous of that image.  When that image reflects more of the world than it does of Him, we are not giving God our reasonable service.  God tells us that all we do, should glorify Him: 

"Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31) and

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." (Col 3:17).

I want all my brothers and sisters to get what I'm trying to say here:  The whole point of being born again, means that the old "you" MUST DIE,  "For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God." (Col 3:3)

When you are born again, you gotta have the funeral for the "you" that was defined and identified by the things of this world,  " ..knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him.." (Rom 6:6).  The Bible calls that process "sanctification".  That's what Jesus means when He says that to find life, we must lose it (Matt 16:25 & 10:39).  Many Christians are trying to find their life in Christ while still hanging onto their old one.  The only way we can carry our cross is to approach it with empty hands.

Let us humble ourselves before our holy God and ask Him to point out anything in our lives that may be serving as a stumbling block to our spiritual growth.  Then let us ask for His grace to deny ourselves, take up His cross and follow Him.

Love Of The Truth

I want to share something that has been nagging me at the back of my mind lately.  I often ponder what would be so deceptive as to deceive the whole world?  As I watch the world implode around me with increasing velocity, certain scriptures keep coming to mind over and over.  I want to share some of those today.  This is a long one, so get comfortable, put on your tin-foil hat and join me, won't you?

The Bible tells us that before Jesus returns, all of humanity will be deceived:  "All who dwell on the earth will worship the beast, everyone whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain." (Rev 13:8)

The Apostle Paul tells us why all of humanity will be deceived:  "..the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (2 Thess 2:9-12)

So, the first question we should ask ourselves is, "What is the truth?"  Well, for starters, if it's in the Bible, it's true.  A lot of us need to move past that point as Christians.  If you consider yourself a born-again believer in Jesus Christ, you must necessarily believe that the Book He has given to us to reveal Himself and the plan for salvation, and to serve as our universal and unequivocal standard of measurement is trustworthy and reliable.  The end. 

The next truth is that Jesus Christ is the creator of all things seen and unseen and He created it exactly the way the Bible tells us He did.  There is no mystery to Gen 1 & 2, it is what it is and, for all intents and purposes, can be taken at face value.  "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities-- all things have been created through Him and for Him." (Col 1:16)

And the most important truth of all is that Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation and eternal life.  There is no other way:

"And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

"For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus," (1 Tim 2:5)

"For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." (1 Cor 3:11)

"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me." (John 14:6)

"For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Phil 2:9-11)

Yet the Bible clearly warns us that there will come a time where every person on this earth will be deceived, even those in Christ Jesus if it were possible: 

"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. Behold, I have told you in advance." (Matt 24:24,25)

"And the great dragon was thrown down, the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world;" (Rev 12:9)

Satan's strategy is the same today as it was from the very beginning when he first deceived Eve in the Garden:  "The serpent said to the woman, 'You surely will not die! For God knows that in the day you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God,'" (Gen 3:4,5).

"You surely will not die!"-- she could have eternal life without God

"..you will be like God."-- she could evolve

What greater way to deceive human beings than to convince them that they are part of an evolutionary process that will progress them into higher states of being?

A massive portion of humanity has already fallen for the groundwork for this sort of great deception through the acceptance of evolution as an observable science, rather than a false hypothetical theory.  What greater way to deceive human beings than for one of these "evolved beings" to present itself to mankind, show signs and wonders through superior technology and convince the world that they must evolve because "You surely will not die!....you will be like God."  After all, we were made in His image weren't we?  Shouldn't we be like Him?  If this happened tomorrow, how many people on earth would fall for it hook, line and sinker? 

Yes, we were made in God's image, but God doesn't evolve and neither do we.  Scripture says, "Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings.." (Heb 13:8)

I can't tell you how many Christians I know that either believe in evolution or have tried to marry it with the Genesis account of creation.  I used to be one of them.  The black-and-white issue is that God expects us to believe His word.  Period.  When we try to approach His word through our own reasoning, we traverse into the area of building our house on the sand.  And sandy foundations will bring you neck-deep in deception.

Scripture says the beast who is coming is, "in accord with the activity of Satan" (2 Thess 2:9).  Something we need to keep in mind is that the devil isn't stupid and he's had thousands of years to orchestrate his magnum opus of deception to be carried out the last 3 1/2 years before Christ returns.  Two thousand years ago the Apostle Paul said, "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way." (2 Thess 2:7).

So, is this how it's all going to play out?  I honestly have no idea.  The sole point I'm trying to make here, is that disregarding God's word is to set yourself up for deception.  God has given us His word so that we would not be deceived.  The problem is, most Christians do not take the time to read it.  I cannot stress to you how important it is for today's lukewarm Laodicean Christians to make up their minds whom they will serve, "If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve." (Joshua 24:15).  

One thing I do know, is that the days ahead of us will only grow in deception.  The only hope we have against that deception is the love of truth in Jesus Christ.  If you haven't yet, please make up your mind today, right now, whom you will serve.  Make up your mind to love the truth that has been revealed to us by the Holy Spirit through God's word.  Repent of any double-mindedness.  Repent of holding back areas of your life from Christ's Lordship.  Submit to God, allowing His grace to pour out into every area of your life, making a wholesale change in your mind and your heart, resulting in a changed lifestyle that glorifies our only Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ of Nazareth. 

"..they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness." (2 Thess 2:10,11)

Mastering The Moment

After my prayer time this morning, which consisted of my usual wrestling with God, He placed a word upon my heart that I want to share:

"Walk in what I've given you to master at this moment."

I wrestle with God.  A lot.  I try too hard, but that is only because I don't want to fail Him.  I've even heard Him tell me in my spirit..."You're trying too hard."  And I said, "But I want to try hard because I want to please you so badly."  I wrestle with Him.

I know that God sees my heart, but my own reasoning tells me that's not enough.  My reasoning tells me to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling..." (Phil 2:12).  My reasoning tries to align itself with God's word.  Which means I'm doing it backwards.  I'm approaching God's word through the lens of my own reasoning and that will always leave me frustrated.  Instead of trying to align my reasoning with God's word, I need to just leave out my own reasoning altogether because God's word can stand on Its own.  And when I let God's word stand on its own, I am able to focus on the other half of Phil 2:12 which continues on to say "...for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

And there you have it:  "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God Who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."  It is God Who is at work in me.  My job is to submit.  My job is to obey.  My job is to search His word and live accordingly.  My job is to get victory in the area of my life He has set in my heart to work on.

Get victory in the area of your life God has set in your heart to work on.  Submit to God in the areas that He is convicting you about.  Hearken to His voice of instruction, for it is He Who is at work in you.  Abide in Christ by keeping His commandments.  Meditate on His words, for in them you will find truth and life. 

Walk in what God has given you to master at this moment.

"From Your precepts I get understanding; Therefore I hate every false way.  Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path." (Ps 119:104,105)

"You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.... and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life." (John 5:38,40)

"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned." (John 15:6)

Submit, Repent, Surrender

We need to stop deceiving ourselves.  If you don't serve God in your home, in your marriage, in your church or in your community, then you are not going to serve Him in heaven.  We need to stop convincing ourselves that God is satisfied with the scraps of our lives.  Scraps of our time, scraps of our attention, scraps of worship, scraps of service and scraps of obedience.

The greatest commandment is, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your soul, your mind and your strength"...it is not "Love the Lord your God with whatever you have leftover from the rest of your day, or as long as it's not an inconvenience."

Put on your boxing gloves and bring it.  You may have to do it sick, crippled, depressed, overwhelmed or doubtful, but I can guarantee you one thing, God won't leave you in it.  God will surely meet you where you are, but He will NOT let you stay there.

Scripture says, "Submit to God, RESIST the devil and he will flee from you" (James 4:7).  Submit, repent, surrender.  Be bold enough to ask God to show you the areas of your life that you need to clean up.  That takes courage, because we're afraid He's going to ask us to let go of some things that we don't want to.  And He will.  The question you have to ask yourself is, "Is He worth it?"