Joseph: the consistent servant of God.

Well, it has been a while since I submitted a post on my blog. I got sidetracked by the health problems of my little granddaughter, Lexie, but I am going to do my best to get back to doing an entry as often as possible. Today I want to share about some of the things that the Lord has been ministering to my heart.
I have been thinking about God's consistent servant, Joseph. He was a man who just kept on serving God no matter what the circumstances in his life were. Unlike many of us, he didn't depend on what was going on around him to motivate him to serve. Many times we encounter difficulties and those situations often sidetrack us from effectively serving the Lord. Satan loves to deter us from God's plan in our lives. If he can't steal our soul, he will steal our service to Christ.
The best example of how to live consistently for the Lord that I have found in scripture is Joseph. He was the favored child of his father and a dreamer. A couple of prophetic dreams that Joseph experienced and he shared with his family led to some jealousy and sent him down a path that looked like the destruction of his future.
His brothers stripped him of his colorful coat his father had given him and threw him into a pit planning to kill him. Just when they were about to kill him, some Egyptian slave traders happened by and they sold him into slavery instead of killing him. After arriving in Egypt, Joseph was sold into the house of Potiphar and quickly rose to a place of prominent service to his master. Everything in the master's estate except Potiphar's wife was accessible to him. When Potiphar's wife decided she wanted Joseph to have sex with her, he did the right thing and refused. In a rage she grabbed his cloak as he ran away and falsely accused him of trying to rape her. As a result, he was thrown into prison where God gave him the interpretation to dreams the other prisoners were having. One of these prisoners promised to remember Joseph when he left the prison and returned to work for Pharaoh. But for a while the cup bearer to Pharaoh did not remember the man who had predicted his reinstatement to his position. 
After being troubled by dreams that his advisors could not interpret for Pharaoh, the cupbearer told him of the man in prison that interpreted his dreams. Joseph was brought before Pharaoh and quickly told the leader that there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of absolute famine. 
Joseph saved the land of Egypt and was second only to Pharaoh. 
The very brothers who had come against Joseph to kill him are forced to flee to Egypt to beg for some of the food that Joseph had stored away for Egypt's survival. 
What a perfect set up for revenge!!! Most of us would take this advantage and exact a painful justice upon the ones who had so unmercifully plotted against us...not Joseph. He told his brothers that what they had meant for evil, God had used for their salvation. He was the Old Testament equivalent of Romans 8:28 "We are assured and know that [^[a]God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose." 
In all that Joseph had been through, he just kept doing the right thing...kept serving his God...and being promoted and blessed everywhere he went. He did not allow his circumstances to derail his life in Yahweh. He had a relationship with God that superseded his situations and the blessings of God were hunting him down. Not so he could use his position and relationship for his own gain....but for God's purpose and plan.

What have I been thinking?? I've been thinking that I want to be more like Joseph...rising above the negative in my life to see the full plan of God unfold for me and those I am in relationship with. That is my prayer. How about you???

KNOWING HIS WAYS

Romans 11:33 Amplified Bible (AMP)

³³ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unfathomable (inscrutable, unsearchable) are His judgments (His decisions)! And how untraceable (mysterious, undiscoverable) are His ways (His methods, His paths)!

This scripture tells us that God's path and methods are far above our ability to understand. This is where faith enters into the equation. Faith in His judgments, His decisions, and His ways. We think that we have life all figured out but the truth is that we really don't have much of a clue about what is really going on. The only way to come to a place of understanding is to have Him in us. When we are saved we have the greatest opportunity to see His ways unfold and have some understanding of the ways of the Lord. The mysteries of God are only discoverable through the power of the Holy Spirit in us. If we look at the ways of God from our mear human understanding we will always be puzzled and not be able to process what He is doing. The scripture that is inspired by Him can give us tremendous insight into His ways and the direction that we are given. As we read the Word, we through the help of our Teacher (the Holy Spirit) gain the great wisdom of God Himself.


One example is the passage of scripture that tells us that we can find strength for life through the joy of the Lord. In times of trouble it seems that we are overcome by sadness and depression. The power of joy will strengthen us and cause us to walk THROUGH our difficult times in a way that God will bless. To someone walking purely in the flesh, the supernatural power of God doesn't make any sense at all...only those who "know" God will see HIS footprints carrying us through the hard times.


I want to know more of Him and His ways...as I live in Him more and more I learn more and more of His "unfathomable" ways and mysteries. Let us all who are "in HIM" reach higher and higher. That's what I've been thinking...

INTEGRITY AND A BLAMELESS HEART

Psalm 101:2-3 Amplified Bible (AMP)

² I will behave myself wisely and give heed to the blameless way—O when will You come to me? I will walk within my house in integrity and with a blameless heart. ³ I will set no base or wicked thing before my eyes. I hate the work of them who turn aside [from the right path]; it shall not grasp hold of me.

We have been talking in the Men of Courage Bible Study that I lead at the WILD Church about what it means to be a man of integrity. This verse of scripture is key to accomplishing that goal. We as people of God have to make a strong commitment to walk with a "blameless heart". It is imperative that we behave ourselves with great wisdom as we walk through the mine field of life. 


In order to stay right with our God we have to be careful to avoid setting anything before our eyes that would cause us to turn aside from the plans that God has for us. It is a wonderful thing to be in the will of God and a terrible thing to be outside the presence of the Lord and our God's full and absolute favor. The enemy knows our weaknesses and he will allow us to destroy ourselves if we indulge our weakness. 
All of us as Christians have felt the pull of those things that the scripture calls "base and wicked things". The enemy wants us to let these evil things grab hold of us and destroy our testimony and ability to function as a child of the Living God. So many times, we find ourselves dipping our toe in the waters of sin and before we know it we are drowning. That's the way that Satan works - a little compromise here and there and we begin to move away from a vital relationship with our God.


Integrity comes when we make the heart commitment to keep our heart blameless before the Lord. This stand gives us great confidence in the Lord and His way. We choose to keep those things before us that are higher and better. By making wise choices, we are able to know the favor of God's presence and that makes all the difference in our daily walk. We can approach God with every situation and circumstance that comes up in our lives. His being with us and working to cause all things to work together for good in our lives is a life-changing experience. 


I believe that I have a God inside of me who will not "share" my heart with anything or anyone. He is jealous for me and wants my heart single and my focus clear. God help me to walk in a blameless way and great integrity. That's what I've been thinking....

GOD KNOWS OUR TRUE HEART!!

Job 31:6
“Let me be weighed in a just balance, and let God know my integrity!”


What is INTEGRITY? Integrity is a term used in metallurgy to describe consistency inside out. For example a metal with integrity will have the same tensile strength throughout. Tensile strength is the resistance of a material to breaking under tension.


The statement made by Job was really a courageous one. He asked God to judge his integrity. It takes a great deal of confidence to stand before God and ask Him weigh your heart and know your integrity. God better than anyone knows our heart's motives and He judges our true intent. This statement by Job tells me that he is trusting in God alone to be his Judge.


Job endured a ton of hardship and his heart still cried out to the Living God in praise and adoration. In the midst of hardship instead of the grace and mercy we need, those closest to us will sometimes judge us. This is what happened to Job. His friends accused him of being sinful and thus the calamity that came upon him was in their eyes the judgement of God. His wife who should have known his heart told Job to just "curse God and die!" Really uplifting advice, huh?


In spite of the condemnation that came his way, Job trusted in his personal relationship with His God. He made a statement that God has used in my own life to keep me in right relationship with Him. Job said "Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him." Job was willing even in the face of death to trust in his God and let the Lord judge his heart.


This challenges me to lean hard upon the promises of God and know that what the scripture says in Romans 8:28 is true. God causes all things to work in concert to bring a good result...the word does not say that everything is good, but it does promise us if we will trust God in even the difficult times, the end result will be "good". This is where Job was hundreds of years before Christ came and Paul penned the words in the letter to the church in Rome. Because of Job's relationship to God, he would not trust in the advice of critical and judgmental people, but would, instead, trust in the justice of God Almighty, King of the Universe. Lord, give me that level of trust...I need it and only You can give it. That's what I've been thinking....

PURE EYES=PURE HEART

Job 31:1 King James Version (KJV)

 I made a covenant with mine eyes.

The eyes are the gateway to our soul. Job was a man that God had awesome confidence in. One reason for this was the commitment that he had to keep his heart pure toward the Lord by guarding his eyes from the things that would hinder his walk with the Almighty. We would to well to follow Job's example and take a serious look at what we allow to enter into our soul and take the spiritual steps to ensure our heart remains as pure as possible. What does having a covenant with our eyes entail?

First, a convenant requires a sacrifice. For us, we realize that Jesus has already paid the price of our sacrifice and will give us the strength and resolve to walk in His ways. But there is some "sacrifice" on our part. We can't indulge ourselves like men of the world do. We can't allow our lives to be influenced by crude sexual language, by flirtation with the opposite sex, or even veiled insinuations that taint the reputation and spoil the heart of a believer. You may sacrifice friends, sacrifice your "cool factor", or bear the brunt of cruel jokes because you choose not to lower yourself to operate in the flow of the world's immorality. So, yes, to live like Job did with pure eyes requires some sacrifice in our modern world.

Having a covenant with your eyes also means that we should already have our minds made up that we will restrict "what" we look at. According to a ChristiaNet survey, 50 percent of Christian men are addicted to pornography. And it’s not just a “guy-thing;” 20 percent of Christian women are addicted to pornography, and 60 percent of Christian women admitted to significantly struggling with lust. So we can't just expose our eyes to things that snare our soul and cause us to walk in bondage to the desires of our flesh. Seeing creates memories, memories create fantasies, fantasies create obsession, obsession creates opportunity, and opportunity creates action. Action ends in guilt, condemnation, and bondage to our enemy. If our mind is made up that we will not give the devil the opportunity to dirty our minds, not just with porn, but with other things that call out to our flesh, we will be able to more consistently walk in holiness and be free from the shackles of enslavement to sin.

Not only should we discipline "what" we see, we should be sure to allow God to control "how" we see. As an example, a missionary to the red light district of a large city worked everyday with young, pretty prostitutes that to many men would be a temptation. When asked how he could maintain his walk with the Lord in such circumstances, his reply was, "I never look at them THAT way". He saw the through the eyes of a son or brother. His compassion was fueled by "HOW" he saw them. We have to be ruled by the Holy Spirit and He will guide us so that we see others differently. We will look past the physical and to the spiritual needs of those we come in contact with. 

As I have been meditating on this brief but powerful verse, I am challenged to MAKE A COVENANT WITH MY OWN EYES! My heart belongs to Jesus and I can keep that heart pure...so can you. That's what I've been thinking....

RELEASE THE ANOINTING

1 John 2:20 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰ But you have been anointed by [you hold a sacred appointment from, you have been given an unction from] the Holy One, and you all know [the Truth] or you know all things.

This scripture tells us that we are anointed of the Lord. What this means is that we have a special and powerful unction from the Lord. This is not the same type of anointing that is done for healing but is instead is believed by most Biblical scholars to be the anointing of the believer in the Holy Spirit by Jesus. We literally receive the same anointing that our Lord has. What He possesses becomes ours by a supernatural transfer of anointing. When the Holy Spirit comes in and indwells us, what God has given Christ comes into us and gives us access to an understanding of God's will and purpose. Most of all, as we consider this verse in context, this anointing and presence of god in us gives us understanding of who the TRUTH is....JESUS.

This is the key to all ministry and power to accomplish what God has called us to do. To KNOW Jesus and have assurance of WHO He really is....this is one of the most important revelations that the believer can have. Without that revelation, all our service, all our devotion, will yield little results. This is the foundation of effective service and ministry. As we grow in relationship with God we see that anointing increase because the more intimate we are with Christ because of that relationship. True knowledge of the nature and character of someone creates a larger degree of confidence and TRUST....FAITH INCREASES. 


The important thing for us to learn is how to release the anointing of God that is within us. The way that we release the anointing is through faith and faith expresses itself through action. In order to see God work in through us we have to "do" something....pray....speak....give....touch....the true expression of God is that our anointing interacts with those who need it...people. We are surrounded everyday by people who need a touch from God. The very best things in life happen when we allow God's power to flow through us in the little things of life...those God appointed times when we have the opportunity to reach out and touch someone with the love of God. Don't wait, let the anointing in you come forth as you release the Holy Spirit in you on others...healing, deliverance, salvation, and provision are right there inside of you...Christ in you the hope of glory...that's what I have been thinking...

IS AMERICA SINKING IN A SELF-MADE PIT?

Proverbs 14:34

Amplified Bible (AMP)

³⁴ Uprightness and right standing with God (moral and spiritual rectitude in every area and relation) elevate a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

I have been considering the admonition of someone to keep my "religion" and politics separate. This I can not and will not do. As I myself consider that I an not a "religious" person, but am, instead, a man who is in deep relationship with God through Jesus Christ. When I met Christ as Savior, He radically changed my heart and over the years I have been renewing my mind through the word of God. I will be growing in grace and mercy until the day I breathe my last breath. This kind of relationship changes everything, and that includes your worldview. I can't separate who I am in Christ, from politics, work, family life, hobbies, or any other area of my life. 

This nation was founded by men who for the most part - 51 of the 55 who signed the Declaration of Independence - were men who were strongly professed Christians. If the lives of these men are studied it is obvious that there political views were shaped and formed by their relationship with Jesus Christ. As they expressed themselves in their writings they often referred to this country as the great experience founded on the principles of freedom and Christian morality. John Adams wrote: 

"And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. Whatever may be conceded to the influence of refined education on minds of peculiar structure, reason and experience both forbid us to expect that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle"

His supposition was that there is no way to separate the good of the republic and the morality that flows from its people's relationship to the Lord Who gave us the heart for freedom. If we are to ignore the standards and convictions that we have and abandon our the leadership of the Holy Spirit in the things that shape the future of our nation, those who have no moral compass will certainly vote their views. It is the duty of every person who calls themselves by the name of Christ, to express the revelation of God through His word and do our best to return the land to right standing in the sight of God. I am reminded of the scripture that says it well. The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made; in the net which they hid is their own foot caught. I believe that our nation is sinking in the pit that we have made ourselves and needs to repent and turn back to the ways of God.


My prayer is that every deed done in darkness will be brought to the light and that the Body of Christ will stand up and do the right thing...not the democratic platform...not the Republican platform, but those who best express the convictions and nature of the Lord God Almighty. I know when I vote...I will pray and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit. I encourage other Christians to do the same. That's what I have been thinking...

LEAD US NOT TO TEMPTATION

Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."

I have been thinking about the next statement in this model prayer, "and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." What does this exactly mean to us and why did Jesus instruct us to pray this way? 

The Christian is always in the process of being "led" by God in everything we do. Especially in the Old Testament the people of God were constantly aware of God's leading them. Consider the pillar of fire by night and the cloud of smoke by day. The Children of God were making every move according to the leading of their awesome God and this thought carried over and continues today. 


We know according to the New Testament that God doesn't tempt us so what are we to make of this part of the prayer? Well, as I reflect on this I see how faithful our God is that He should lead us into the path of righteousness and right relationship to Himself.  The Psalms especially speak of God leading us in His own ways. Along with leading us in the paths of righteousness it is also implied that He would lead us "away" from unrighteousness. Therefore, the plea to our Lord to lead us away from temptation is shows the desire of the believer to avoid the presence of sin completely. Our prayers to the Lord express confidence in the fact that our God and King has power even over the evil one. 


This can also be interpreted to mean that we are asking God to deliver us from the trials that we face. As we consider this, we know that sometimes we face trials that are ordained by God. This plea could be our hearts cry for only the will of God to be done in us and to us. The Lord has promised us not to put more on us than we can handle, but I believe in this sense the prayer is asking for God to grant us the wisdom not to enter into trials of our own making. Knowing that we are where God wants us, doing what God wants us to do, when God wants us to do it gives us confidence that we can trust Him in whatever circumstance we find ourselves. 


I pray that I can have that confidence and know that where God leads is peace, love, and light. Then I can say, "Yet though He slay me, still will I praise Him." That is what I have been thinking..."

LORD'S PRAYER: FORGIVE TO GET FORGIVEN

Matthew 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven,hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."


And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. This is what I've been thinking about. 


We are always very interested in getting forgiveness for the things we have done. This part of the model prayer reminds us that our forgiveness is conditional. On what? - How we forgive others. This scripture brings us to the story that Jesus told about the man who owed LOTS of money to his lord. He begged for forgiveness of that debt and it was granted to him by the lord. He immediately went out from that place of forgiveness and encountered someone who owed him a much lesser sum. The undeserved gift of forgiveness he received from his lord was quickly forgotten and he insisted on being paid the debt. This was observed by some who knew the situation and it was reported back to the lord who promptly had him seized and taken to the torturers. This is a brutal reminder that what we receive we must also give.


When we wrong someone, we have all our excuses lined up in a row to justify our actions and demand forgiveness. We take forgiveness from God for granted because he is a forgiving Lord who is full of grace and mercy...we forget that He is also a God of JUSTICE! If we fail to be forgiving of others the word of God tells us that it blocks the flow of God's forgiveness to us. Remember that the scripture says that God is not mocked and whatever we sow we WILL REAP. If we walk without mercy toward those who might wrong us, we will reap unforgiveness from God as well. As we walk through this world people will offend us. It can't be avoided because people will be....well, human. they will sin and offend. We must be ready to forgive them. The best way to do that is to live with the attitude that we have already forgive them before they commit the trespass. In the old testament one of my favorite verses declares that "great peace have they that love God's law and nothing shall offend them." Loving God with all our heart means loving others the same way.


Think about how you have sinned against God and His loving nature. As you consider that, also consider that if you want forgiveness to continue to come your way, you must also let that forgiveness flow through you to others...how have I been doing at this?..that's what I've been thinking about...

MODEL PRAYER: DAILY BREAD COMES FROM GOD.

Matthew 6:9-13
⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.


The next phrase that I have been meditating on is the phrase "Give us this day our daily bread". As we lay before God in prayer, our hearts are steadfast and dependent on the Lord for His daily supply. 


This portion of the model prayer is intended to remind us that we should thank God daily for His awesome provision in our lives. Many times, we are guilty of coming to God when we are in a place of absolute despair. It seems that we are only interested in getting "relief" when we are jammed up by the enemy we have been associating with. How ungrateful we and petty we must seem to a good God who desires to bless us daily with every good and perfect gift.


God desires the best for us and stands ready to bestow daily provision upon us and the only thing standing in our way is our own self-centeredness. The Lord wants us to open up our hearts to His way and love, but if we desire to go our own way, then God will allow us to do so and allow us to reap the ill benefits of our that path. The best thing that we can do is to acknowledge that the source of our daily blessing and needs is the Lord God Himself. Who better to give us what we need?

Give us this day our daily bread. As we ask God for these blessings, we are placing ourselves under the care, protection, and providing hands of the Lord. Just as God provided for the needs of His children in the wilderness when there seemed to be no way, He will take care of us. The God Who caused manna and quail to come down and water to flow from the rock will bless us. Hopefully we will not be like those ungrateful people who complained against the blessings of God. But, let us instead thank Him and receive with grateful hearts what He gives us. I know that I need to depend on Him more and myself less. That's what I have been thinking.....

HEAVEN'S WILL NOT OURS!!

Matthew 6:9-13

⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one."


This awesome model prayer that gives us a basic format for approaching the King of Heaven and Earth blesses me to meditating on. So far we have looked at the fact that we are the children of God who honor and bless the names of our God that show us His character and attributes that are bountiful toward us.


The next phrase that we are meditating on is "your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven". We are subjects of our Father's kingdom. The great and mighty God has a perfect will that is for our peace, joy, and prosperity. 


This part of the model tells us we should pray for the kingdom of God to come upon this earth. God has a perfect plan for our lives. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God's good plan for us is that we live in blessings and not curses, that we live in hope for a blessed future. This comes to us as we pray for and plead for God's great will to be done. This is a matter of trust and obedience to the joy of seeing what God has in store for us as His children.


So many times when we pray, we are guilty of praying our will upon God. We pray from a standpoint of of what "we think" that God should do in our circumstances and situations. It is as if God needs our advice and help. If we come to God regularly, and live as the word says "praying always" then His will is not hidden from us. There is great power when we agree with our human counterparts, but how much more so when we come into agreement with our God and King for His will to be done. When we approach God, it should be done with all humility and surrender to what we know to be the great will of God. 


Jesus said in John 8:28 that He only did and said what the Heavenly Father had taught Him. If the very Son of God depended upon the will and ways of His Father, how much more so should we cling to the altar of God and know Him and His will. 


I should want the will of God for my life. I should give my life more to the Lord and submit to His will. The power of God will rest more on my life if heaven's will is upon it instead of my own. That's what I have been thinking....

HALLOWED BE HIS NAME: SHALOM, MEKADDISH, AND NISSI; PEACE, RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND VICTORY

MATTHEW 6:9-13
“This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

Let us look at some more of the names of God that we as His children extol and receive the blessings of God. These names are part of the character and nature of God and therefore representative of His intentions toward us and the blessings He wants to give us. 

Jehovah Shalom (The Lord Who is our Peace) is another name that represents who God is in our lives. He desires to bring us true and lasting peace in our lives. The peace He affords us is the peace that comes from right relationship to the God of all. This peace is not temporary but eternal and gives us confidence that our Lord is in the midst of every circumstance and every situation in life. When we walk with God He bestows on us the ability to face everything life throws at us with grace and honor. The world takes notice of us when we are living in the midst of peace that passes all understanding. (Philippians 4:7) 


Jehovah Mekaddish (The Lord Who is our Righteousness). What a great promise for us to grab hold of and cling to. God Himself has purchased our right-standing with Him. Our own righteousness is like filthy rags and can in no way appease the Lord. Through Christ's sacrifice on the cross, He secured for us eternal righteousness and pardoned our sinful heart. Knowing this, we can boldly come before the throne of grace and with confidence beseech our Lord and know that nothing stands in the way of His grace to us. Praise God for His awesome love bestowed on us.


Jehovah Nissi (The Lord our Victory). We are more than overcomers through Christ who has won the victory for us. As we stand and battle the enemy of God and His Kingdom, we know that there is no greater power on earth than the power of God in us. Greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world. How confident we can be as we take His word, His promises, His Holy Spirit, and His joy and take the battle to the enemy with the assurance that when Christ said "it is finished!", it was. We are victorious in Him. As the gospel song so correctly declares, VICTORY IN JESUS!!!


There are many more Names that declare God's virtues and grace. Click Here to see these and know the blessings of God through each one...How great is our God. That's what I have been thinking....

JIREH, ROPHE, SHAMMAH. PROVIDER, HEALER, AND EVER PRESENT GOD

Matthew 6:9-13

“This, then, is how you should pray:‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 
¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ³ And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'


In the model prayer that Jesus gave us the second phrase of this example is "hallowed be your name". This portion of the prayer focuses on the Name of 
God. In the Old Testament, names were significant and expressed something about the character and nature of the one who bears that name. In this prayer we are encouraged to honor and exalt the names of the One who is our God and King. I have been meditating on some of the names that are given to describe who God is. What a powerful thing that it is to understand who He is and what that means to us as His children. i will right about His wonderful names in two installments so that my blogging is not to laborious to read.


In Genesis 22:14, God is referred to as "Jehovah Jireh", the Lord our Provider. In the most basic sense this means that God is our source on every level. He is to be praised and revered as the One that we look to for every need and supply. Many people only cry out to the Lord in times of desperation. How hypocritical this must seem to God who stands ready to give His children every good and perfect gift. He has given His only Son, Jesus so why would He withhold from us those things which we need to serve and thrive as His heirs? When we pray it is important for us to acknowledge that God is the One who we are dependent on for life itself. How pleased God must be for us to praise Him for everything we have and need in life...prayer should be our "declaration of dependence" to our God.


Exodus 15:26 God Himself declares that he is "Jehovah Rophe", the Lord our Healer. We are in need of many types of healing. Physical, emotional, and mental. The most important healing of all is our spiritual healing. We sometimes are consumed by our needs for healing and neglect to praise Him who brought us the greatest healing of all through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. When we acknowledge our God and thank Him for the awesome gift of ultimate healing and the security of our souls for eternity, we are ready and open to receive the benefits of that salvation - healing in our bodies, souls, and minds. Thank Jehovah Rophe for His loving care and healing.


The scripture in Ezekiel 48:35 refers to Himself as "Jehovah Shammah". This is a proclamation that He is the Lord who is here. God's presence is with us. Jesus declared as well that He is with us always, in every circumstance, every situation, and every moment of our life after we receive Him. What a great and lasting promise from the God of the Universe that He lives in us and will never leave us. We have no fear of ever being alone again. Praise the Lord for all that this promise implies.


When we pray we should remind God of His names that describes His everlasting Character and Nature toward us His children. When I think of all He is it blesses me with faith to approach Him based on His promises to us. That's what I've been thinking....

THE LORD'S PRAYER SERIES: OUR FATHER

 Matthew 6
 ⁹ “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, ¹⁰ your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. ¹¹ Give us today our daily bread. ¹² And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. ¹³ And lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from the evil one."


I want to spend a few days meditating on and writing about what we refer to as the Lord's Prayer. Anyone who has been a Christian for any time (and many who aren't believers) know this prayer and repeat it. The best way to describe this prayer is actually the "model prayer" because this is the purpose Jesus gave it to us for. This is why He says, "This, then, is how you should pray". Notice He didn't say "this is WHAT you should pray". This prayer should be an outline that we fill in so that we can come effectively before our God as we communicate with Him. The Lord's Prayer (the prayer Jesus prayed for his disciples both then and now) is found in John Chapter 17.


The first phrase that Jesus used to show us how to pray is "our Father in heaven". We look at God as our Father for several reasons. First, He is the Creator of all things and the literally the Father of all we see in and on the earth. He spoke all of the universe into existence and without Him and His word sustaining us, the world would crumble and dissolve. We also refer to Him as Father because He was the actual Father of God's manifestation on earth. Jesus was conceived miraculously by the Holy Ghost and the God/man was born. Jesus prayed and communicated with God by calling Him Father and so we also view Him that way. The most important reason is the fact that the scripture tell us in Galatians 4:4-7  "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law,  to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.  Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir." This passage tells us that we are through the process of being saved, CHILDREN OF GOD AND HIS HEIRS. So, we have a natural tendency to call upon Him as our Father.


When we call on our Heavenly Father, we are recognizing Him in several ways and declaring our relationship to Him. He is our ultimate authority for living. When God speaks and we obey Him, He is pleased and we open the door for His blessings to come upon us as His children. Also, we see Him as our protector and provider of all things we need in life.The true essence of our relationship to God is manifest because we know by the presence of the Holy Spirit in us that we are HIS CHILDREN. 


Knowing Him as Father, puts us in the place of being able to approach the throne of Grace with boldness like a child running for his daddy's lap. Hebrews 4:16 says "Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." I think I need to go there more often....that's what I am thinking....

PERSECUTION: SOMETIMES FROM A SURPRISING SOURCE

Matthew 5:10


Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


In a world where we live in constant conflict, it seems that one area we don't want to experience conflict in is our spiritual life. Persecution is a difficult thing to endure, but if you walk with God at all you will find that it will be a constant in your life. Jesus said that the world will hate us because of Him and our bearing His name (Mark 13:13). We should expect that spiritual conflict and persecution is just part of our life as a Christian. Persecution takes on many forms but has at it's root the fact that the Kingdom of God is always in conflict with the Kingdom of Darkness.


Persecution comes from the world and those who live by it's dark principles. The world does not understand the life we live and will never accept how we serve the Lord. Persecution comes in subtle ways like snide comments. It also comes through direct attacks on us as Christians. The power of God emanating from our lives makes people uncomfortable and they react to that discomfort by lashing out. Believers have lost their jobs, been passed over for promotion, denied access, and outright fired because of their faith. This type of persecution is usually not overt but "under the radar" especially in the United States where laws are in place to prohibit this type of activity. Persecution from the world can also go all the way to the other end of the spectrum. Millions have lost their lives the past 2000 years because of their dedication to God and His call on their lives. We need to be ready to give our lives for God and His Kingdom. The truth is this - if we don't have a faith worth dying for we don't have much faith at all. This is why it is important to live in communion with the Lord. If we are in the faith then we expect persecution and know that if we aren't experiencing it in some form then we are probably "in the closet" practicing our pseudo faith. Just giving God an occasional nod and calling out when we need help. 


Sometimes persecution will come our way from and unexpected source - the religious hypocrites who despise those living in real faith right in front of them. I have at times called these people "the church bucket brigade". They stand ready and willing to throw cold water on anyone who is on fire for God. Strong faith creates action and action exposes those who are living in religion instead of relationship. Many pastors who have dedicated their lives to the Lord and His body have been broken and cast aside because they challenged the hypocritical leadership of the church. It is hard to stand and preach what God has given you and know that the feathers of those who are the target of the Holy Spirit are going to resist and sometimes in a vicious manner. Dedicated men and women of God have been slandered and run down by lies and religious conspiracy. Pastors also have been the source of persecution. There have been men and women who were living a lie and don't want to be challenged by some of their flock whose spiritual fire has been ignited by the Holy Spirit. What do you do if you are persecuted by those who should know better?  REJOICE!! We are in good company. The Lord Jesus Christ was hated more by those who were legalistic practitioners of religion than by those of the world.


We have a promise in this verse. If we are persecuted we know that we are walking on the path toward the kingdom of heaven. We are citizens on a higher plane of existence. This world is temporary but the God's kingdom is eternal...that's what I've been thinking about.... 

PEACEMAKER....PART OF OUR SPIRITUAL DNA

Matthew 5:9


Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.


I have been thinking about this great verse and the powerful promise of being called a child of God. Usually,  I have usually looked at this verse in terms of what a peacemaker does, but today I want us to consider what a peacemaker is. What makes a peacemaker?

First of all a peacemaker is one who has experienced the peace of God for themselves. It is impossible to be a person who gives others peace unless you have tasted it personally. This peace that God gives us in not an absence of conflict, but is instead the presence of God in the midst of conflict. Knowing that you are where God called you to be, living the life God called you to live, and serving God with the pure heart He desires from us creates a Godly calm that can't be understood outside of God. After tasting the peace of God, then we are well qualified to be a peacemaker and testify about the peace that passes understanding.


The prophet Isaiah sang to God, The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in You. So, a peacemaker is one who possesses the peace that God grants to us based upon our FAITH in Him. This is not possession in the same sense that we might possess a car or  other objects. This possession is like the inheritance of certain traits from our parents that are embedded into our DNA. I have blue eyes, big hands, and not much hair because those traits are embedded into the basic components of who I am... In the same way, Jesus tells us that the traits of peacemaking will identify us as children of God because they are embedded into our spiritual identity. That natural ability to walk by faith and trust God when all hell is breaking loose sets us apart and brings peace in the midst of the storm. It is that same kind of heart that allows Paul after being shipwrecked and snake bit to shake the snake off in the fire and continue on without breaking his pace. People take note of that kind of peace and draw from it for their own lives.


Jesus says that as children of God, it is our nature to choose the path that builds peace into every relationship. We don't just choose peace because it is one of several options, but instead, we choose peace because that is who we are, and it is the way that we live. This is the way that God intends for us to live. We ARE people of peace. We don't have to work at being a peacemaker, we just have to let who we are prevail. You will be called a child of God if you walk in peace...That's what I want...TO BE CALLED A CHILD OF THE MOST HIGH. That's what I've been thinking....

CAN YOU SEE GOD? HAVE A PURE HEART

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.


What did Jesus Christ mean when he said, ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God? This is the question that has been going through my mind this morning. The Greek word used for "pure" is the word is Katharos (used 27 times in the New Testament). Katharos is used to describe something that is clean and free from contamination. The term is used literally, for instance, of the “clean” cloth in which Jesus’ body was wrapped after his death (Mt. 27:59). In the gospel accounts of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, the word is employed in a ceremonial sense of the purification from leprosy. It also can apply to the release of certain unfortunate individuals from “unclean spirits,” i.e., demons, the persons then, by implication, become “clean.”


On the other hand, the katharos may be used in a higher sense. Many Biblical scholars have implied that in the spiritual sense, “pure” may describe the heart that is free of wrong or sinful  “motives”   It represents that  state of mind of the person who longs to serve God and others for the sheer unselfish joy of honoring the Creator, and thus free of base motives. This is an awesome place for the believer to be. Pure hearted believers are those whose lives are not diluted by sinful motives and who want to experience more and more of the Lord's presence and blessings. 


The word "see" in the Greek is a word that means to  have vision or to experience. Those who are pure at heart have their spiritual eyes opened to a new and awesome world of God's presence and working in all things. Those who are living with right motives, are aware of the Lord and His Kingdom plans and purposes. We can "see" God in a way that the world can never hope to. What a great promise to us.

We can have a pure heart. It is not impossible to live with right motives and in right relationship to God. Every moment can be a God moment to be embraced with excitement and expectation of the blessings and anointing of God. When we understand that we are moving in the wrong direction, repentance places us back in the grace of God. Get clean and stay clean...washed by the blood of Jesus. His awesome grace and mercy can keep us in the presence of our God.


Remember what the psalmist says in Psalm 24:3-4, "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god." Let's ascend to the mountain of the Lord and stand in that Holy Place together..that's what I've been thinking.....

PLEASE LORD GIVE ME WHAT I DESERVE!! NOOOOOOOO!!

Matthew 5:7
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.


I have been thinking this morning about mercy. If somebody were to look up the word mercy in a Concordance they would find pages and pages of Bible verse after Bible verse. What is mercy and what does the Bible say it? One of the best explanations I have ever heard is comparing mercy to grace. Grace is receiving something (salvation and its benefits) that you absolutely did not deserve. God's unmerited favor given to us. When you consider mercy on the other hand, it is NOT receiving something (death and eternal suffering) when you absolutely deserve it. A good example would be if you committed a crime and deserved to be punished for it and the judge intervened and totally dismissed the charges. The word of God says in Psalm 103:10 says, "he (God) does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities." This is the ultimate example of mercy. God in His perfection does not treat us as we deserve to be treated, but instead shows us mercy. As Christians we don't have any problem with GOD showing mercy but we do have a problem SHOWING MERCY OURSELVES. This should not be so.


Mercy comes to us and we have to do is repent to receive it. As we sorrow and confess our sin, God is willing and ready to show us forgiveness and bestow His mercy on our lives. God is always willing to give us forgiveness of our sin but he requires two things of us. We must repent and we must also give forgiveness to others for their sin, which means we must also have mercy. In the New Testament we have the story of the man who owed thousands and thousands of dollares to his master and when the master came to collect, he begged for mercy and the debt was forgiven by the master. No sooner had the man been forgiven the debt, he came across a fellow who owed him a small debt...the man forgiven  would not show the same mercy he had received to someone who owed him a much lesser sum. The master had him seized and imprisoned because he would not show mercy and forgiveness.


As we consider mercy, we should understand that as Christians we should be constantly giving mercy in order for God to show US mercy. We reap what we sow, therefore, we must be sowing mercy into the lives of those we come in contact with. People don't need judgement and condemnation. They receive enough of that from the world we live in. Mercy sets us apart from everyone else and allows us to open the door for others to enter into God's salvation.

Many Christians will observe people and say "They don't deserve mercy." That may be true, but when was the last time you got down on your knees and prayed to God, "Lord, please give me exactly what I deserve."? I am not praying that prayer so I believe I will try to show others the same mercy I expect from God...that's what I have been thinking......

HUNGRY AND THIRSTY? EAT AND DRINK JESUS!!

Matthew 5:6
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

As I was meditating on this verse of scripture, I am thinking about two of the basic motivations for survival - hunger and thirst. From the moment man took his first breath, the need to eat and drink motivated mankind to hunt, harvest, explore, and find sources for satisfying these needs. So, how does this relate to us as Christians?


When we experience the love of God through the salvation experience, we become a new creature. The Holy Spirit begins to indwell in us and we find that we have new needs as well. Our soul begins to long for more and more of God and His wisdom. The void that was the remnant of God in us suddenly is awakened by the presence of the Holy Spirit and we start desiring to fill that capacity up with more and more of Him.


In John 6:48, Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life." Jesus and our relationship to Him is where we are spiritually fed. Spending time with the Lord makes us grow and be in good spiritual health. We eat the Bread of Life by getting into the word of God, meditating on that word, praying in the Spirit, and applying it wisely to our new life. Just like good nutrition causes a child to grow and be healthy, the Bread of Life causes the child of God to change from glory to glory to glory. What we were begins to disappear and what we have become begins to emerge because of the spiritual nutrition we ingest through Christ.


In John chapter 4, we see an account of Jesus talking and loving on a Samaritan woman whose past life was scarred by sin and needed to be restored and refreshed by an encounter with God. Appropriately, they met at Jacob's well, a source of cool refreshing water. The woman offered Jesus and drink of this water and He told her if she knew who He was, she would ask Him for a drink. Not of physical water but of the spiritual water that cools, refreshes, and restores what sin has done to the life of an individual. He told her if she would drink of His water she would never thirst again. This is true because He is THE source of refreshing that never runs dry. We drink in His righteousness, His truth, His love, His forgiveness, and His life.

In the words of Jesus found in John 6:35 "Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty." What an awesome and exciting promise from the God of the universe...fill me up Lord. That's what I am thinking....

MEEKNESS ISN'T WEAKNESS...IT'S STRENGTH UNDER CONTROL

Matthew 5:5
 Blessed are the meek,  for they will inherit the earth.


I have been thinking today about "meekness". This is probably one of the most misunderstood words in scripture. When some people think of meekness they automatically think of weakness. This couldn't be further from the truth. In the scripture we see that two of the strongest men in the word are characterized by the word meek - Moses and Jesus! Numbers 12:3 - Moses was very meek, above all men on face of the earth.

Matthew 11:29,30 - Jesus said, "I am meek and lowly in heart."
As we look at these two, we can determine that meekness definitely does not mean weakness.

Meekness could be explained as strength under control. I think about a wild stallion and the strength that they display before they are broken. They are uncontrollable and all over the place. Ready to fight and not controlled by anything but base instincts and survival. After being broke, their strength is not diminished, but instead is brought under control by the bit in their mouth. That inner strength is controlled and directed by the one who holds the reigns in their hands.

When we first come to God, before we start to walk in the role of a disciple, we are wild like the stallion. Our efforts are usually uncontrolled and based on the instincts left over from our old life...flesh. But as we grow we are brought under the awesome control of the Holy Spirit. We learn to move right or left, forward or back, or come to a stop and wait...based on the direction of God in us. Our strength is harnessed and directed where it needs to be...against our enemy. Humility is puts us in a place of great accomplishment because the word tells us that God draws near to us when we walk in humility. Meekness brings us to a place of humility because we voluntarily submit our strength to our God and recognize His wisdom in leading and guiding us.

When we are meek we are in a position to be in dominion over the earth we occupy. We become the ones who make a positive impact on the world and change it for God's purpose and plan. What an awesome promise. We yield our life to God and He rewards us with great blessing. God help be to be meek...I need that. That's what I have been thinking....

MOURNING AND COMFORT...SALVATION COMES!!

Matthew 5:


⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.


The next beatitude that I have been meditating about is Matthew 5:4. What does this scripture tell us about the heart of the believer? Most of us think that this is something we would rather not experience. Those who mourn are usually people who have experienced significant loss. Wouldn't it be better not to experience loss at all than to have to mourn over loss? This verse is absolutely related to the previous verse about being poor in spirit. 


First we have to come to that realization that we are sinners and desperately in need of the grace and mercy that God provides...that is being poor in spirit. After that realization sinks in to our spirit...we are moved to mourning for the hurt and wound we have caused to God, the hopelessness of our standing before Him on our own, and the absolute dependence on God's Holy Spirit to do His work in us. 


Mourning over our sin is what brings us to repentance and calling out to God for His intervention in our helpless state. How many tears have been shed before the throne of God when our hearts came before the Savior crying out for deliverance from ourselves and our sinful ways? This process of mourning over our sin brings us to a glorious promise...WE WILL BE COMFORTED!!


The comfort that comes to us as God's love, grace, and pardon washes over us is awesome. The experience of salvation takes us from the lowest of lows to the highest of highs in just moments. There is no work involved on our part because we are incapable of redeeming ourselves. The great promise of redemption is no longer theory but is experienced. It is important for us in this day of "feel good" experiences that we minister to people that before the feeling good really comes, there has to be a brokenness that prepares our hearts for God's presence. Mourning over our sin is the path to the comfort that salvation brings. That's what I've been thinking about today....

BEATITUDES: POOR IN SPIRIT RICH IN GOD

Matthew 5: (NIV)


³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


I got a real chuckle today hearing a song by the Martins called "ATTITUDES". The song talks about the wrong attitudes that many church goers have. It made me start thinking about the beatitudes that Jesus taught about in Matthew chapter 5 during His Sermon on the Mount. If we would let these attitudes sink deep into our heart, we would not have near the "trouble" we see in the churches. The song was funny but the fact that there is much truth in it is not. The church and its actions as the body of Christ should be a mirror of the life of Jesus, not something that makes the world laugh at our hypocrisy. I am going to spend some days meditating on these scriptures called the beatitudes and hopefully gain some personal insight as to how I can incorporate these Godly attributes into my own life.

The first beatitude is that we should be poor in spirit. What does this mean? To be poor in spirit is to be aware and sensitive to the fact that without Jesus we are nothing. To be poor is spirit is to really grasp the spiritual concept stated by John the Baptist when he said in John 3 "He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less." If the Holy Spirit living in us is what gives us real life and without Him we are dead in our sins, then we should realize that our spirits are absolutely bankrupt of worth as far as holiness is concerned. We are truly "POOR" in spirit. 
When we come to this realization, we are moved into an awesome position of possession. The King James Version of this verse says that the poor in spirit are blessed because we are in possession of the kingdom of heaven. if we consider ourselves so highly we are disqualified from the blessings of God because we need to be totally dependent on God and not dependent on ourselves. The blessings of God always come when we are totally leaning and trusting in Him and His power, mercy, grace, and love. Our flesh produces death and sometimes after getting saved we make the same mistake that the Galatians made and think we can go back to living in the flesh...not so. We are our own worst enemy and when we choose to ignore the Holy Ghost and His prompting. We can walk blessed, highly favored, and full of His glory by being crucified daily with Christ.


Let us all speak with great conviction the same words of John the Baptist. Jesus become greater and greater in me as I become less and less. That's what I'm thinking.

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE...I'M GONNA' LET IT SHINE!

<sup>Matthew 5:

14</sup> “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

In John 8:12, Jesus says He is the Light of the world. So how does Jesus being the light relate to His followers also being the light. As I thought about this passage of scripture, I realize that this simply means that we are a reflection of the God who IS THE LIGHT. 


If I am a reflection, one of the things that I need to do to have the best reflection of Jesus that I can is to keep my heart as clean as possible. A heart that is dirtied by sin doesn't reflect well the image and character of the Lord God.  I don't produce the light, I reflect it...so, I must maintain a right relationship with the Lord. According to Psalm 24:3-5 "Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD?  Who may stand in his holy place?  The one who has clean hands and a pure heart,  who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the LORD and vindication from God their Savior". This tells us that if we are to stand in that Holy place where the light of God can properly shine forth from us and give glory to our God.


The light is not to be wasted on ourselves. God shines on us for a purpose. We are to dispel the darkness by living life in Jesus Christ openly for the whole world to see. The light that God gives us is designed to share. This is what Christ was saying when He told us to put our light on a stand so that everyone could benefit from it. The nature of light is to cause the darkness to yield what is lurking there. Many people live their lives in darkness and are deceived into thinking that this is normal and okay. When someone who walks in fellowship with the Lord, we show forth the glory of God and the inconsistencies of living life in the dark are revealed. Many people have been drawn to Jesus because of how attractive a life reflecting the nature of God can be. 


What we do, who we are can be a powerful force of God...just the simple things can make others notice God is us. Just today, a friend of mine shared that he has been reading the companion book to "Courageous, Honor Begins At Home".The book is called "The Resolution for Men". He has been reading it faithfully at work and several men have asked about it and shown great interest. My friend has been able to share with them what God is doing in him and his family through the principles in the book. He is impacting others just by openly sharing what God is doing. He is a reflection of the light of God and others are seeing that light in him.


Being the light of the world is simple. Keep your life clean so you can properly reflect the light of God and let your light shine in front of others so that they have cause ask, "What's up?". All of us who are in Christ can do this...if we will...that's what I've been thinking...