"Then the disciples came and said to Him, "Do You know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this statement?" Matt 15:12
Jesus was in the middle of one of his many exchanges with the so called leaders of God's people when this question was asked. It began when they challenged him about why his disciples did not wash their hands before they ate. Jesus responded by posing his own query to them. He struck right at their hearts by quizzing them about why they failed in one of the most fundamental commandments, honoring their mothers and fathers. He then quoted Isaiah by saying, "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain;their teachings are but rules taught by men."
As you might imagine, those who were in authority, those who were highly educated, those who publicly professed piety and love of God were seriously taken aback by this unlearned carpenter's son. Since they could not resist the words that were being said, they could only be offended at having had them spoken to them.
Too often beloved, we are more concerned with political correctness than truth. In this day and age, we don't want to offend. We don't want to go against what society favors. We want to maintain the status quo. Jesus, however, gives us all the example we need. He called people out when they were wrong. He spoke the truth regardless of how unpopular it might have been. And he left people without a doubt about where he stood.
Think about it. Had we as Christians stepped up for what we believed in, there would still be prayer in schools and there would be no same sex marriage. These days, there are consequences for praying in certain public places and anyone who stands against homosexuality is publicly castigated. Is not the United States "one nation under God?" Further, those things have invaded the church. We want to spend less time in worship and some religious organizations are allowing gays into the clergy. Galatians 4:9 warns us that a little leaven leavens the whole lump.
Sometimes, maybe we need to offend some people. Maybe we need to start in the pews and then work our way outward. Jesus did.
In Revival,
Lee
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
When God Says "No"-DD 11/8/2010
"Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Cor 12:7-9
There is quite a bit of speculation regarding the particular ailment suffered by the apostle Paul. Many feel that it was an affliction of his eyes. Nevertheless, Paul asked God to relieve him of his discomfort. Unfortunately for Paul, the answer was no.
Hearing "no" from God can be an awfully disconcerting thing. Over time, we have come to a belief that if we were to pray earnestly enough, God will grant us our every desire. After all, why wouldn't He? We put all of our hopes into the fact that He will cure the illness of a loved one, grant us the employment position we desire, repair the relationships in which we participate or simply fix whatever our problem might be at the moment.
Where did we get the idea that the Creator of the universe exists to simply take and fill our orders? That having been said, there is certainly no intent to trivialize our darkest times. Our needs are real. Our pains are real. But so must our faith be real. We must trust our Father to know and do what is best. His ways are higher above our ways than the heavens are above the earth. Though it sometimes seems that we have been abandoned by Him, perish that thought.
Beloved, if God's eye is on the sparrow, it most certainly is on us. We must ask ourselves how many times have we felt disappointed only to look back and realize that things went the way that benefited us most in the long run. Maintaining our faith can certainly be challenging, particularly when it seems that God is saying "no" or "not yet." Just know that He is in control and that He has never failed.
In Revival,
Lee
There is quite a bit of speculation regarding the particular ailment suffered by the apostle Paul. Many feel that it was an affliction of his eyes. Nevertheless, Paul asked God to relieve him of his discomfort. Unfortunately for Paul, the answer was no.
Hearing "no" from God can be an awfully disconcerting thing. Over time, we have come to a belief that if we were to pray earnestly enough, God will grant us our every desire. After all, why wouldn't He? We put all of our hopes into the fact that He will cure the illness of a loved one, grant us the employment position we desire, repair the relationships in which we participate or simply fix whatever our problem might be at the moment.
Where did we get the idea that the Creator of the universe exists to simply take and fill our orders? That having been said, there is certainly no intent to trivialize our darkest times. Our needs are real. Our pains are real. But so must our faith be real. We must trust our Father to know and do what is best. His ways are higher above our ways than the heavens are above the earth. Though it sometimes seems that we have been abandoned by Him, perish that thought.
Beloved, if God's eye is on the sparrow, it most certainly is on us. We must ask ourselves how many times have we felt disappointed only to look back and realize that things went the way that benefited us most in the long run. Maintaining our faith can certainly be challenging, particularly when it seems that God is saying "no" or "not yet." Just know that He is in control and that He has never failed.
In Revival,
Lee
Friday, November 5, 2010
Fix Your Gaze-DD 11/5/2010
"My eyes are continually toward the Lord, For He will pluck my feet out of the net." Ps 25:15
Beloved, do we cast a constant gaze toward our Redeemer? In this life it is so easy to become distracted. The world is filled with shiny and tinkling things that so easily divert our attention. Some of those things beckon us to sin. Some cause us to doubt. Some cause us to fear. Some interest us more than God.
Let us be reminded of Peter, whose great faith allowed him to step out of a boat during a storm, only to take his eyes off the Lord and begin to immediately suffer the consequences. To whom else shall we look?
Further, it is He that delivers us from all snares. We are released from those things that have held us captive and have been made to be free in Him. Let us always look to the hills from whence commeth our help.
In Revival,
Lee
Beloved, do we cast a constant gaze toward our Redeemer? In this life it is so easy to become distracted. The world is filled with shiny and tinkling things that so easily divert our attention. Some of those things beckon us to sin. Some cause us to doubt. Some cause us to fear. Some interest us more than God.
Let us be reminded of Peter, whose great faith allowed him to step out of a boat during a storm, only to take his eyes off the Lord and begin to immediately suffer the consequences. To whom else shall we look?
Further, it is He that delivers us from all snares. We are released from those things that have held us captive and have been made to be free in Him. Let us always look to the hills from whence commeth our help.
In Revival,
Lee
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Alignment-DD 11/4/2010
"O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering our name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." Neh 1:11
Nehemiah, having just received troubling news about the Jewish remnant that survived exile as well as the state of Jerusalem, was heartbroken and weeping. After days of fasting, mourning and praying, he besought the Lord with great specificity. It is worth noting that his prayer included praise, request for attention to his prayer, confession of sin and demonstration of knowledge about His word as it relates to His relationship with His people.
Nehemiah then asks for success in an upcoming endeavor and favor with one who could be the greatest help or hindrance. You see Beloved, he was ultimately praying for the ability to reunite God's own people which, in turn, would bring glory to Him.
His prayers were answered in ways that were exceedingly above and beyond what he expected. To be sure, God has told us to bring our burdens, cares and supplications to him. Note, however, that Nehemiah's prayers were for that which would ultimately glorify God. How powerful our prayer lives would be should they be closely aligned with the will of the Father.
In Revival,
Lee
Nehemiah, having just received troubling news about the Jewish remnant that survived exile as well as the state of Jerusalem, was heartbroken and weeping. After days of fasting, mourning and praying, he besought the Lord with great specificity. It is worth noting that his prayer included praise, request for attention to his prayer, confession of sin and demonstration of knowledge about His word as it relates to His relationship with His people.
Nehemiah then asks for success in an upcoming endeavor and favor with one who could be the greatest help or hindrance. You see Beloved, he was ultimately praying for the ability to reunite God's own people which, in turn, would bring glory to Him.
His prayers were answered in ways that were exceedingly above and beyond what he expected. To be sure, God has told us to bring our burdens, cares and supplications to him. Note, however, that Nehemiah's prayers were for that which would ultimately glorify God. How powerful our prayer lives would be should they be closely aligned with the will of the Father.
In Revival,
Lee
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Shine!-DD 11/3/2010
"Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness." Gen 1:3-4
All things are possible with God, the great lover of our souls. There is nothing beyond his capability and His power. Not only did He accomplish the unbelievably expansive and impossible, but His eye is on the smallest detail. As moons revolve around planets that revolve around stars that revolve around great black holes at the center of galaxies, electrons revolve around their nuclei as atoms make up molecules and molecules substances, substances that make up moons, planets and stars.
It is this God that spoke light into existence. It was not darkness that defined light but the absence of light that defines darkness. The two are separate and distinct, separated by God. Where one is, the other cannot possibly exist.
Just as this is true in the physical realm of stars, moons and planets, it is also true in the spiritual realm of hearts, minds and souls. You see we were, "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS (who) SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED." Matt 4:16. And God? He being the creator of Light, he being Light defined, as He spoke it into existence in the physical realm, He became the Light in the spiritual realm among men. It was manifested that, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:4-5
Beloved, just as the darkness was separated from light, so were we. The Lord has called us from fear, hopelessness, slavery, guilt and destruction into joy, peace, prosperity, hope, sanctification, adoption and the heavenly realm. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12. We are children of the Light, meant for the light, meant to be the light to others. Let us rejoice in this and never return to that from which we have been saved.
In Revival,
Lee
All things are possible with God, the great lover of our souls. There is nothing beyond his capability and His power. Not only did He accomplish the unbelievably expansive and impossible, but His eye is on the smallest detail. As moons revolve around planets that revolve around stars that revolve around great black holes at the center of galaxies, electrons revolve around their nuclei as atoms make up molecules and molecules substances, substances that make up moons, planets and stars.
It is this God that spoke light into existence. It was not darkness that defined light but the absence of light that defines darkness. The two are separate and distinct, separated by God. Where one is, the other cannot possibly exist.
Just as this is true in the physical realm of stars, moons and planets, it is also true in the spiritual realm of hearts, minds and souls. You see we were, "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS (who) SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED." Matt 4:16. And God? He being the creator of Light, he being Light defined, as He spoke it into existence in the physical realm, He became the Light in the spiritual realm among men. It was manifested that, "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." John 1:4-5
Beloved, just as the darkness was separated from light, so were we. The Lord has called us from fear, hopelessness, slavery, guilt and destruction into joy, peace, prosperity, hope, sanctification, adoption and the heavenly realm. Jesus said, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12. We are children of the Light, meant for the light, meant to be the light to others. Let us rejoice in this and never return to that from which we have been saved.
In Revival,
Lee
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Equipped For The Task-DD 11/2/2010
"Then Moses said, "What if they will not believe me or listen to what I say? For they may say, ' The Lord has not appeared to you.'" The Lord said to him, "What is that in your hand?" And he said, " A staff." Then He said, "Throw it on the ground." So he threw it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it." Ex 4:1-3
God, having set Moses' path from birth, eventually called him to Himself. It was the beginning of a beautiful and historic relationship. Interestingly enough, however, it started with Moses expressing a lack of confidence. He offered numerous excuses when God told Him what He wanted him to do. Among those excuses was that he was not equipped.
How well does this mirror the beginnings of our own walk with the Lord? Did we not fail to understand how He could love and forgive ones such as we? When faced with the daunting task of living a Christian life and sharing the gospel with all the world, did we not shrink from the task? Few of us thought that we could ever accomplish anything for the Lord.
But God shows us just as He showed Moses. He used what Moses had to do His will, that He might be glorified. All Moses had was a simple shepherd's staff, but God turned it into a miracle. He used it as proof of His own existence before Pharaoh. He likewise uses what we have, as simple and as insignificant as it may seem to us, to do His will. It may be your ability to cook, fix things, empathize with others, teach, run fast or just be kind. By these things, He shows Himself through you.
Beloved, never discount God's wisdom. You are the called according to His purpose. If you are called (and you are through your obedience to the gospel), He most certainly has a purpose for you. And if He has a purpose, He most certainly will equip you. More often than not, it will be by making use of what you already have. Remember David's five smooth stones, Aaron's budding rod and the boys' fishes and loaves. Our responsibility is to recognize what we have from Him and use it for Him.
In Revival,
Lee
God, having set Moses' path from birth, eventually called him to Himself. It was the beginning of a beautiful and historic relationship. Interestingly enough, however, it started with Moses expressing a lack of confidence. He offered numerous excuses when God told Him what He wanted him to do. Among those excuses was that he was not equipped.
How well does this mirror the beginnings of our own walk with the Lord? Did we not fail to understand how He could love and forgive ones such as we? When faced with the daunting task of living a Christian life and sharing the gospel with all the world, did we not shrink from the task? Few of us thought that we could ever accomplish anything for the Lord.
But God shows us just as He showed Moses. He used what Moses had to do His will, that He might be glorified. All Moses had was a simple shepherd's staff, but God turned it into a miracle. He used it as proof of His own existence before Pharaoh. He likewise uses what we have, as simple and as insignificant as it may seem to us, to do His will. It may be your ability to cook, fix things, empathize with others, teach, run fast or just be kind. By these things, He shows Himself through you.
Beloved, never discount God's wisdom. You are the called according to His purpose. If you are called (and you are through your obedience to the gospel), He most certainly has a purpose for you. And if He has a purpose, He most certainly will equip you. More often than not, it will be by making use of what you already have. Remember David's five smooth stones, Aaron's budding rod and the boys' fishes and loaves. Our responsibility is to recognize what we have from Him and use it for Him.
In Revival,
Lee
Monday, November 1, 2010
Watch Your Mouth-DD 11/1/2010
"Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." Ps 141:3
Matt 15:11 reveals that, "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." It seems that most sin is either rooted or expressed in words. James likewise records that, "And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." Surely words can be dangerous and hurtful to both originator and target and should be chosen and measured carefully.
Words also, however, can be good, uplifting, edifying and encouraging. It is through and by words that the good news of the gospel is shared. Likewise, faith is established through words. It is with words that we bless the Lord as the psalmist cried out, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." And it is with words that we confess, both our sins and our faith to our Father who knows both.
Beloved, let us choose our words carefully. The good that they do and the evil that they can accomplish are more closely at hand that we realize. Let us pray that the Lord will help us keep watch.
In Revival,
Lee
Matt 15:11 reveals that, "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." It seems that most sin is either rooted or expressed in words. James likewise records that, "And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell." Surely words can be dangerous and hurtful to both originator and target and should be chosen and measured carefully.
Words also, however, can be good, uplifting, edifying and encouraging. It is through and by words that the good news of the gospel is shared. Likewise, faith is established through words. It is with words that we bless the Lord as the psalmist cried out, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth." And it is with words that we confess, both our sins and our faith to our Father who knows both.
Beloved, let us choose our words carefully. The good that they do and the evil that they can accomplish are more closely at hand that we realize. Let us pray that the Lord will help us keep watch.
In Revival,
Lee
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)