LAUGHING AT THE LORD
“[Jesus] went in and said to them, ‘Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep.’ But they laughed at him.”
Mark 5:39-40
Lately I have been having a few things weighing on me. There are decisions that I feel I need to make concerning my present and future circumstances that have been taking their toll on me. But through all the prayer I feel like I have heard the answers and been advised what to do. Perhaps in time I’ll share more of these specifics with you as they are a testimony to God. Still, one of the things I have realized is that the words spoken by God don’t always seem to make sense. The reason is because I do not see the answers in the fullness of what God is doing. For example, when God spoke years ago about me one day being a pastor, I almost found myself questioning if He was talking to the guy next to me and I happened to receive it in error. As the years went on, however, and I felt this burden in my heart, I knew those words were for me. The same is true again with what I hear God saying. He has given me a direction and although I could stand here and laugh at God about what was said, I am careful to do so. So far all He has said has been proven.
Let me give you two examples from the Bible of people who laughed at the Lord God’s words. First I am reminded of the account of Jairus, in Mark 5. Before his daughter was dead, he came to Jesus. He wanted a miracle of healing for his daughter. Pleading with Jesus, Jesus agreed to go to his house only to be detained by healing virtue leaving Him. As He questioned the crowd for who had touched Him, He found that His healing virtue had been received by a woman who had a bleeding issue. Her faith had made her whole, but the stop had given time for Jairus’ daughter to pass. Jairus’ friends told him not to bother Jesus now; it was too late. But Jesus told Jairus to have faith. When they arrived at his home, the mourners were already there, wailing away. Jesus spoke that the girl was not dead, but rather sleeping. To this, they laughed at Jesus. Can you imagine that – laughing at Jesus? Yet with only a select few left in the room watching, Jesus spoke to the girl and life returned.
Here is another account, one that we probably all know well. We go all the way back to Genesis 18. The old couple of Abraham and Sarah are childless. Abraham is the father of Ishmael, true, but Ishmael was never intended to be the child of promise. However, when the three visitors come to Abraham’s camp on their way to Sodom, one of the men confirms that about this same time next year a child would be born. Abraham received the message, yet Sarah, who was listening from inside the tent, laughed. She probably had more reason to laugh at the LORD than the weepers in Jairus’ home, simply due to her age. Still, the fact that she laughed at what God was putting in place allowed her to be called out. The son, Isaac, did indeed come just as promised. Additionally, all the other details that came along with the LORD’s promises that day came about as well concerning Sodom.
The point I want to make is simple. What benefit is there is laughing at the LORD? By laughing we are putting ourselves in a place where we doubt what God can do. And in both accounts the key was faith. Yes it seems hard in the physical for us, but when was God ever limited by human capacity? Last I checked, God was able to do exceedingly above all I could ever ask or imagine (Eph 3:29). So then when God speaks concerning something too grand for me to do on my own, I must remember that it is never too grand for God. Laughing at Him only proves how little my faith is. Trusting in Him to accomplish what He says He will do proves how big He is. I urge you in the next time you hear God speak something so big to you to not laugh but rather believe. He doesn’t want our doubt, He wants our faith.
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Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
POWER IN THE PLAGUES
“I know that the king of Egypt will not let you leave unless he is forced to do so. But I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do there. After that, he will let you go.”
Exodus 3: 19-20
For the past week or so in my own study I have been reading about the plagues sent on Egypt when Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Quite honestly, I was always able to tell you what they were, but it never dawned on me to question why they were. Why would God send bloody water or hail and such? I thought it may just be a natural thing, that dead fish would bring the flies around and such. But in studying, and with the help of a friend, my own eyes were opened. As I have chatted with a few other people, I have come to see that some of you may already know all the answers to this. Still, if you like I have never known, then I will do my best to share with you the reason behind these plagues that so clearly shows the wonder God promised Moses would come.
God spoke to Moses and Aaron, leading Moses to a place before Pharaoh. Again Moses and Aaron came on behalf of the Hebrews, wanting their freedom from Pharaoh’s tyrant hand. But as Aaron placed his staff down as ordered by God, the staff became a snake. Pharaoh didn’t seem moved, but rather called his sages, sorcerers and magicians over to him and had them perform the same trick. It seemed to be child’s play. Yet something happened. Aaron’s snake swallowed the snakes of the others before turning back into a staff. This action did not seem to change Pharaoh’s decision to let the people go, and even God knew that Pharaoh was being stubborn.
It was the next morning that the plagues began. In the morning Moses went right back to the palace and demanded that Pharaoh let God’s people go again. Again the stubbornness of Pharaoh was the reply. To this, Moses heard from God that Aaron was to stretch his staff over the Nile. Once he did this, the river began to turn to blood. And it wasn’t just the river, but every container and ounce of fresh water turned to blood. Fish began to die, stink began to be present, and although Pharaoh’s men were able to replicate the water into blood, they were not able to reverse it. But why was the water attacked? It was to show God’s power over the god of the Nile, Hapi. The nourishment that this god portrayed in his stomach and breasts, and the growth that he showed displayed in the papyrus stemming behind his head were both affected in the turning of water to blood. In this, God showed He had dominance over Hapi.
Seven days later, God showed His power once again. It was the custom of the Egyptians to serve the goddess Heket. Heket was shown as a female human body, but having the face of a frog. Is it any wonder then that the next plague would show God’s power over her by releasing a hoard of frogs on Egypt? And although, once again, the men of Pharaoh were able to replicate, they were not able to cease the plague. Finally Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron to request they have the plague stopped in exchange for letting the people go. Moses agreed and even gave him the ability to name the date the plague would stop. I have a hard time understanding why he requested the next day as opposed to the current day, but either way God showed His power by ceasing the next day just as requested.
Yet as we continue to see, Pharaoh was bluffing. He had told Moses that if the frogs were stopped he would let the Hebrews go worship their God, but in seeing the relief his heart hardened once again. To this, God had another response. To show that He was more powerful than the Egyptian god of the dust, God instructed Moshe to speak to Aaron to reach out his staff and strike the dust. With this command, Aaron did and suddenly there were lice throughout the land of Egypt, from people to animals. The magicians worked to produce the same but could not. God once again showed His power over the god Geb, and even the magicians knew this was the finger of God. Still Pharaoh’s heart stayed hardened.
We aren’t sure if it was the next day or days later, but one day following, early in the morning, God again spoke to Moses and ordered him to stand before Pharaoh. Again he was to pronounce that Pharaoh let His people go. The punishment for Pharaoh not obeying this time was the sending of swarms of insects. True to His word, God sent the swarms which invaded the houses and ground. And true to His character, God proved His power over the Egyptian god Khepri, the god of insects with the face of a dung beetle. And still, the hardened heart of Pharaoh did not budged in the slightest.
Continuing where we left off, we read that Pharaoh summoned Moses when the insects got to be too numerous and again he agreed to letting the Hebrews go worship their God. He did this, however, for no other reason than to find relief once more. Once the plague had ceased, Pharaoh’s heart grew hard as it had before. To this action God had another response. To prove His power over the Egyptian god of the livestock, Hathor, whose image is of a female with horns of a steer, God brought a plague of destruction over the horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and flocks where they suffered a devastating illness. While the animals of Goshen suffered not, the animals under Pharaoh’s ruling were soon found dead. Pharaoh investigated this detail himself and found it true, yet still he did not soften his heart.
God then spoke once more to Moses and Aaron, saying to take handfuls of ash from a kiln and that Moses should throw it in the air before Pharaoh. When he did, the ash went through the air and began to produce infected sores on the people of Egypt. At this the magicians couldn’t even stand near Moses because of the sores that covered them. Defeating the goddess Isis, who was believed to be the goddess of health and medicine for a story of healing she had once done, God again made His power known.
With still no relaxing of Pharaoh’s heart, Moses delivered a powerful speech to his once brother. Starting off with the phrase “Let my people go…” Moses ended with God’s words, “By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth. But it is for this very reason that I have kept you alive – to show you my power, and so that my name may resound throughout the whole earth.” Pharaoh’s hard heart was about to get a wakeup call.
Nothing had been seen like this in the past, nor would it be seen again. Now, however, God was about to bring a hail in which the likes would never be seen again. With Pharaoh’s continued hard heart, and as guided by God, Moses reached out his staff toward the sky and watched as the thunder, hail, and fire ran down to earth. Throughout the entire land, hail struck in the fields as well as the people and animals. Only Goshen again was safe from this disaster. Proving His power, Adonai conquered the Egyptian goddess of the sky, Nut.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron once more to request the plague stop in exchange for their freedom, but once again he was only telling lies. Once the plague was ceased, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again. As such the people of Israel were unable to leave Egypt. But it was God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart just as He had told Moses. Having kids, or better yet having been a kid, I sometimes find myself asking the old question, ‘When will they learn?” Unfortunately I find myself asking the same thing in reference to Pharaoh. When will he learn? Granted I understand that God continued to harden his heart, I still find myself wondering why he kept making vows and then changing his mind. In Exodus 10:8 Pharaoh gave permission for the people to leave, but then questioned who all would be going. The response was everyone. Pharaoh didn’t like this answer and tried to talk Moses down to just the men going. But that was not God’s terms. As such he took back his offer and again had a hard heart.
Following the hard heart came the plague of locusts, which had been forewarned by Moses already. With the locusts eating every plant that the hail had left behind, and so numerous that the ground looked black, God was once again showing His power. The Egyptian god Seth was known as the god of wind and storms. God had caused a wind to blow in over Egypt, and with it brought the massive intrusion of locusts. When Pharaoh surrendered once more, Moses prayed and a wind again blew the locusts, this time forcing them west.
After this surrender, though, the heart of Pharaoh was hard once more. The cycle continued. But God wasn’t done. Commanding Moses to reach out his hand again, this time toward the sky, a darkness covered the land of Egypt. The Torah records the darkness was so thick I could be felt. This was worse than the eerie feeling one gets when watching Scooby Doo. The people could not see each other and for three days no one left. Yet again, proving not only His power but also His love for His people, the Hebrews in the land of Goshen had light. The Egyptian god Ra, the god of the sun, had now also been defeated, its power void. The strength of Egypt was being defeated and defaced with each plague Adonai was sending. Yet one strength still remained to be conquered.
The end of the plagues was about to come. Moses had just been warned of the final plague, the death of all firstborns in Egypt, from Pharaoh himself to the firstborn of the animals. God had already spoken this day would come back in Exodus 4:22 when He said, “’Then you are to tell Pharaoh: “ADONAI says, ‘Israel is my firstborn son. I have told you to let my son go in order to worship me, but you have refused to let him go. Well, then, I will kill your firstborn!”’” The deliverance of God’s people was close at hand, but only if they obeyed God’s commands concerning the blood of the lamb.
God knew that this plague would cause great distress, but in it His people would not only be released from slavery, but be pushed out of Egypt. But first, God had instructions for Moses and Aaron. This would be a red letter, calendar day. In fact, it would be this day when their calendar would ring the first day month of the year for them. On this night those who followed after God were to take a lamb without defect for his family, and use it as a sacrifice. Although selected, it was not to be killed for another few days when all the Hebrews would slaughter together. The blood from the lamb then would be smeared on the two sides and a top the door frame. That night the meat was to be roasted in fire and eaten with matzah. Anything left over was to be burned completely.
The people of Israel were also instructed on how to eat, with their belt fastened, shoes on, staff in hand, and in haste. They were to be ready because once the death angel passed, judgment would be served and deliverance had. The blood smeared around the door was a sign for the follower of God Almighty, and prevented death from coming into the home of that person. For seven days following, matzah alone was allowed, ridding the home of any leaven of flour and yeast. Anyone eating leaven was to be cut off from Israel. God was serious about this, and serious about delivering His people.
The warning had been given to Moses that at midnight the final plague would roam Egypt, and a great cry never before heard would invade the land. True to His word, God unleashed death to the firstborn at midnight. People and animals alike were found dead. But why? As we have seen already, so we see again here. God had proved Himself greater than the gods of Egypt. Still one god, or image of god, remained. The Pharaoh himself was esteemed in their culture as a god. Killing even the son of Pharaoh, God proved His might and authority over the last of the false gods.
With horrendous wailing in the background, Pharaoh awoke to find his own son had passed. He became irate and summoned for Moses and Aaron in the night and said to them, “’Up and leave my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve Adonai as you said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you said; and get out of here!’” In fear, the Egyptians as a whole also demanded they leave, for the fear of death was now upon them.
Grabbing their unleavened bread, bowls, and the clothes they were already dressed in as instructed by God, the people of Israel went about asking for gold or silver from the Egyptians. This was just as God had said. With the Egyptians so favorably disposed, they gave whatever they had to the Israelites. They then moved from Ra’amses to Sukkot, approximately six hundred thousand men alone, along with their families and livestock. The captivity they had known for a grand total of four hundred thirty years was now done. God alone had brought His people out and proved His power, with all His wonders.
“I know that the king of Egypt will not let you leave unless he is forced to do so. But I will reach out my hand and strike Egypt with all my wonders that I will do there. After that, he will let you go.”
Exodus 3: 19-20
For the past week or so in my own study I have been reading about the plagues sent on Egypt when Pharaoh’s heart was hardened. Quite honestly, I was always able to tell you what they were, but it never dawned on me to question why they were. Why would God send bloody water or hail and such? I thought it may just be a natural thing, that dead fish would bring the flies around and such. But in studying, and with the help of a friend, my own eyes were opened. As I have chatted with a few other people, I have come to see that some of you may already know all the answers to this. Still, if you like I have never known, then I will do my best to share with you the reason behind these plagues that so clearly shows the wonder God promised Moses would come.
God spoke to Moses and Aaron, leading Moses to a place before Pharaoh. Again Moses and Aaron came on behalf of the Hebrews, wanting their freedom from Pharaoh’s tyrant hand. But as Aaron placed his staff down as ordered by God, the staff became a snake. Pharaoh didn’t seem moved, but rather called his sages, sorcerers and magicians over to him and had them perform the same trick. It seemed to be child’s play. Yet something happened. Aaron’s snake swallowed the snakes of the others before turning back into a staff. This action did not seem to change Pharaoh’s decision to let the people go, and even God knew that Pharaoh was being stubborn.
It was the next morning that the plagues began. In the morning Moses went right back to the palace and demanded that Pharaoh let God’s people go again. Again the stubbornness of Pharaoh was the reply. To this, Moses heard from God that Aaron was to stretch his staff over the Nile. Once he did this, the river began to turn to blood. And it wasn’t just the river, but every container and ounce of fresh water turned to blood. Fish began to die, stink began to be present, and although Pharaoh’s men were able to replicate the water into blood, they were not able to reverse it. But why was the water attacked? It was to show God’s power over the god of the Nile, Hapi. The nourishment that this god portrayed in his stomach and breasts, and the growth that he showed displayed in the papyrus stemming behind his head were both affected in the turning of water to blood. In this, God showed He had dominance over Hapi.
Seven days later, God showed His power once again. It was the custom of the Egyptians to serve the goddess Heket. Heket was shown as a female human body, but having the face of a frog. Is it any wonder then that the next plague would show God’s power over her by releasing a hoard of frogs on Egypt? And although, once again, the men of Pharaoh were able to replicate, they were not able to cease the plague. Finally Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron to request they have the plague stopped in exchange for letting the people go. Moses agreed and even gave him the ability to name the date the plague would stop. I have a hard time understanding why he requested the next day as opposed to the current day, but either way God showed His power by ceasing the next day just as requested.
Yet as we continue to see, Pharaoh was bluffing. He had told Moses that if the frogs were stopped he would let the Hebrews go worship their God, but in seeing the relief his heart hardened once again. To this, God had another response. To show that He was more powerful than the Egyptian god of the dust, God instructed Moshe to speak to Aaron to reach out his staff and strike the dust. With this command, Aaron did and suddenly there were lice throughout the land of Egypt, from people to animals. The magicians worked to produce the same but could not. God once again showed His power over the god Geb, and even the magicians knew this was the finger of God. Still Pharaoh’s heart stayed hardened.
We aren’t sure if it was the next day or days later, but one day following, early in the morning, God again spoke to Moses and ordered him to stand before Pharaoh. Again he was to pronounce that Pharaoh let His people go. The punishment for Pharaoh not obeying this time was the sending of swarms of insects. True to His word, God sent the swarms which invaded the houses and ground. And true to His character, God proved His power over the Egyptian god Khepri, the god of insects with the face of a dung beetle. And still, the hardened heart of Pharaoh did not budged in the slightest.
Continuing where we left off, we read that Pharaoh summoned Moses when the insects got to be too numerous and again he agreed to letting the Hebrews go worship their God. He did this, however, for no other reason than to find relief once more. Once the plague had ceased, Pharaoh’s heart grew hard as it had before. To this action God had another response. To prove His power over the Egyptian god of the livestock, Hathor, whose image is of a female with horns of a steer, God brought a plague of destruction over the horses, donkeys, camels, cattle, and flocks where they suffered a devastating illness. While the animals of Goshen suffered not, the animals under Pharaoh’s ruling were soon found dead. Pharaoh investigated this detail himself and found it true, yet still he did not soften his heart.
God then spoke once more to Moses and Aaron, saying to take handfuls of ash from a kiln and that Moses should throw it in the air before Pharaoh. When he did, the ash went through the air and began to produce infected sores on the people of Egypt. At this the magicians couldn’t even stand near Moses because of the sores that covered them. Defeating the goddess Isis, who was believed to be the goddess of health and medicine for a story of healing she had once done, God again made His power known.
With still no relaxing of Pharaoh’s heart, Moses delivered a powerful speech to his once brother. Starting off with the phrase “Let my people go…” Moses ended with God’s words, “By now I could have stretched out my hand and struck you and your people with such severe plagues that you would have been wiped off the earth. But it is for this very reason that I have kept you alive – to show you my power, and so that my name may resound throughout the whole earth.” Pharaoh’s hard heart was about to get a wakeup call.
Nothing had been seen like this in the past, nor would it be seen again. Now, however, God was about to bring a hail in which the likes would never be seen again. With Pharaoh’s continued hard heart, and as guided by God, Moses reached out his staff toward the sky and watched as the thunder, hail, and fire ran down to earth. Throughout the entire land, hail struck in the fields as well as the people and animals. Only Goshen again was safe from this disaster. Proving His power, Adonai conquered the Egyptian goddess of the sky, Nut.
Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron once more to request the plague stop in exchange for their freedom, but once again he was only telling lies. Once the plague was ceased, Pharaoh’s heart was hardened again. As such the people of Israel were unable to leave Egypt. But it was God who hardened Pharaoh’s heart just as He had told Moses. Having kids, or better yet having been a kid, I sometimes find myself asking the old question, ‘When will they learn?” Unfortunately I find myself asking the same thing in reference to Pharaoh. When will he learn? Granted I understand that God continued to harden his heart, I still find myself wondering why he kept making vows and then changing his mind. In Exodus 10:8 Pharaoh gave permission for the people to leave, but then questioned who all would be going. The response was everyone. Pharaoh didn’t like this answer and tried to talk Moses down to just the men going. But that was not God’s terms. As such he took back his offer and again had a hard heart.
Following the hard heart came the plague of locusts, which had been forewarned by Moses already. With the locusts eating every plant that the hail had left behind, and so numerous that the ground looked black, God was once again showing His power. The Egyptian god Seth was known as the god of wind and storms. God had caused a wind to blow in over Egypt, and with it brought the massive intrusion of locusts. When Pharaoh surrendered once more, Moses prayed and a wind again blew the locusts, this time forcing them west.
After this surrender, though, the heart of Pharaoh was hard once more. The cycle continued. But God wasn’t done. Commanding Moses to reach out his hand again, this time toward the sky, a darkness covered the land of Egypt. The Torah records the darkness was so thick I could be felt. This was worse than the eerie feeling one gets when watching Scooby Doo. The people could not see each other and for three days no one left. Yet again, proving not only His power but also His love for His people, the Hebrews in the land of Goshen had light. The Egyptian god Ra, the god of the sun, had now also been defeated, its power void. The strength of Egypt was being defeated and defaced with each plague Adonai was sending. Yet one strength still remained to be conquered.
The end of the plagues was about to come. Moses had just been warned of the final plague, the death of all firstborns in Egypt, from Pharaoh himself to the firstborn of the animals. God had already spoken this day would come back in Exodus 4:22 when He said, “’Then you are to tell Pharaoh: “ADONAI says, ‘Israel is my firstborn son. I have told you to let my son go in order to worship me, but you have refused to let him go. Well, then, I will kill your firstborn!”’” The deliverance of God’s people was close at hand, but only if they obeyed God’s commands concerning the blood of the lamb.
God knew that this plague would cause great distress, but in it His people would not only be released from slavery, but be pushed out of Egypt. But first, God had instructions for Moses and Aaron. This would be a red letter, calendar day. In fact, it would be this day when their calendar would ring the first day month of the year for them. On this night those who followed after God were to take a lamb without defect for his family, and use it as a sacrifice. Although selected, it was not to be killed for another few days when all the Hebrews would slaughter together. The blood from the lamb then would be smeared on the two sides and a top the door frame. That night the meat was to be roasted in fire and eaten with matzah. Anything left over was to be burned completely.
The people of Israel were also instructed on how to eat, with their belt fastened, shoes on, staff in hand, and in haste. They were to be ready because once the death angel passed, judgment would be served and deliverance had. The blood smeared around the door was a sign for the follower of God Almighty, and prevented death from coming into the home of that person. For seven days following, matzah alone was allowed, ridding the home of any leaven of flour and yeast. Anyone eating leaven was to be cut off from Israel. God was serious about this, and serious about delivering His people.
The warning had been given to Moses that at midnight the final plague would roam Egypt, and a great cry never before heard would invade the land. True to His word, God unleashed death to the firstborn at midnight. People and animals alike were found dead. But why? As we have seen already, so we see again here. God had proved Himself greater than the gods of Egypt. Still one god, or image of god, remained. The Pharaoh himself was esteemed in their culture as a god. Killing even the son of Pharaoh, God proved His might and authority over the last of the false gods.
With horrendous wailing in the background, Pharaoh awoke to find his own son had passed. He became irate and summoned for Moses and Aaron in the night and said to them, “’Up and leave my people, both you and the people of Israel; and go, serve Adonai as you said. Take both your flocks and your herds, as you said; and get out of here!’” In fear, the Egyptians as a whole also demanded they leave, for the fear of death was now upon them.
Grabbing their unleavened bread, bowls, and the clothes they were already dressed in as instructed by God, the people of Israel went about asking for gold or silver from the Egyptians. This was just as God had said. With the Egyptians so favorably disposed, they gave whatever they had to the Israelites. They then moved from Ra’amses to Sukkot, approximately six hundred thousand men alone, along with their families and livestock. The captivity they had known for a grand total of four hundred thirty years was now done. God alone had brought His people out and proved His power, with all His wonders.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
THE SORT OF FAST
“’Here is the sort of fast I want – releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke…’”
Isaiah 58:6
I will admit that fasting has always stumped me. A few years ago I really began to seek the Scriptures and consider fasting. With some people I know, and their church, I agreed to take the month of January to fast with them. Little did I know it would be so life-changing. Following the fast I purchased a book by Jentzen Franklin on the topic of fasting and again my eyes were opened to this briefly considered topic. Since that time I have found myself in this behavior often. Now while I do not intend to tell you how you should fast, nor go in depth about my own fasting times, I do want to bring attention to two scriptures that have been playing over and over in my own mind that relate to the power of God in fasting.
First I take you to Mark 9:29. It is in this scripture we see Jesus being brought into a moment with a concerned dad. The dad’s son had what we may term today as epilepsy. The disciples had already tried to cast the demon out but had had no luck. The dad, even more so concerned for his son now, pleads with Jesus that the disciples prayed and could not cast out the enemy. It was Jesus’ turn. In only a matter of minutes, the boy was free and in his right mind. Later on the disciples asked why they could not cast out the evil spirit and heard Jesus’ reply that, “Some spirits can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.” Notice the team of prayer and fasting. This double whammy of power allowed for the spirit of the enemy to be removed.
I now bring us to Isaiah 58:6 where we read that the fast God commands has the end result of releasing the bound, loosening the yoke of slavery, setting free the oppressed, and breaking the grip of the binding spirits. I want to take a minute to look a few of these key words up. First, release, or PATHACH, means to open or free. The word loosen is NATHAR, meaning to tremble, shake up, or undo. Setting free is simply free, CHOPHSHIY. And breaking is NATHAQ, which means to draw away, tear off, or separate. The type of fast that God elects for His people encompasses the complete freedom of His people and the complete ceasing of attacks from the enemy. This then seems to make sense. Unless this is the fast we are doing, we will not have the power to deliver demons and evil spirits from ourselves or others when we prayer.
A fast is not a diet; that is called starvation. A fast is a time of seeking God, with His word as our bread and His Spirit as our drink. It is a time of focusing on Him, allowing Him to direct us and bring clarity. It is a time of listening to His voice and allowing Him to show us our sins for confession. And sadly enough, it is not revered these days. The one who boasts in his fast gets his prize…fame. But the one who seeks God for the anointing of the Spirit to break the chains on himself, as well as in others, finds the true meaning of the fast that God desires. Will that be you?
“’Here is the sort of fast I want – releasing those unjustly bound, untying the thongs of the yoke, letting the oppressed go free, breaking every yoke…’”
Isaiah 58:6
I will admit that fasting has always stumped me. A few years ago I really began to seek the Scriptures and consider fasting. With some people I know, and their church, I agreed to take the month of January to fast with them. Little did I know it would be so life-changing. Following the fast I purchased a book by Jentzen Franklin on the topic of fasting and again my eyes were opened to this briefly considered topic. Since that time I have found myself in this behavior often. Now while I do not intend to tell you how you should fast, nor go in depth about my own fasting times, I do want to bring attention to two scriptures that have been playing over and over in my own mind that relate to the power of God in fasting.
First I take you to Mark 9:29. It is in this scripture we see Jesus being brought into a moment with a concerned dad. The dad’s son had what we may term today as epilepsy. The disciples had already tried to cast the demon out but had had no luck. The dad, even more so concerned for his son now, pleads with Jesus that the disciples prayed and could not cast out the enemy. It was Jesus’ turn. In only a matter of minutes, the boy was free and in his right mind. Later on the disciples asked why they could not cast out the evil spirit and heard Jesus’ reply that, “Some spirits can only be driven out by prayer and fasting.” Notice the team of prayer and fasting. This double whammy of power allowed for the spirit of the enemy to be removed.
I now bring us to Isaiah 58:6 where we read that the fast God commands has the end result of releasing the bound, loosening the yoke of slavery, setting free the oppressed, and breaking the grip of the binding spirits. I want to take a minute to look a few of these key words up. First, release, or PATHACH, means to open or free. The word loosen is NATHAR, meaning to tremble, shake up, or undo. Setting free is simply free, CHOPHSHIY. And breaking is NATHAQ, which means to draw away, tear off, or separate. The type of fast that God elects for His people encompasses the complete freedom of His people and the complete ceasing of attacks from the enemy. This then seems to make sense. Unless this is the fast we are doing, we will not have the power to deliver demons and evil spirits from ourselves or others when we prayer.
A fast is not a diet; that is called starvation. A fast is a time of seeking God, with His word as our bread and His Spirit as our drink. It is a time of focusing on Him, allowing Him to direct us and bring clarity. It is a time of listening to His voice and allowing Him to show us our sins for confession. And sadly enough, it is not revered these days. The one who boasts in his fast gets his prize…fame. But the one who seeks God for the anointing of the Spirit to break the chains on himself, as well as in others, finds the true meaning of the fast that God desires. Will that be you?
Saturday, January 21, 2012
OUR PRIEST, YESHUA
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
Matthew 3:16-17
The baptism of Jesus, in many circles, seems to be just another day. In fact, I would venture to say that we known more concerning the details following the baptism than the baptism itself. True, it is afterward when Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted for forty days while fasting, but if we skip too quick between Matthew 3:17 to Matthew 4:1, we miss a key factor of who He is. I say this because up till only yesterday, I was missing it too. Sitting at my desk listening to teaching CDs I heard something that caused me to go home and search this fact out myself. It was eye opening to me, as I hope it will be to you as well.
Before looking at Matthew, however, we must look at Leviticus. Oh I know; I can hear the moans already. Leviticus is that boring book of rules and procedures. But I dare say without it we may be getting some things wrong in the way we worship our Father. In Leviticus 8 we read of the ordination into priesthood of Aaron and his sons. The ceremony went as such. First Aaron and his sons were washed in water according to verse 6. After clothing him in the tunic, robe, and ephod, he placed the breastplate on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. Next he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the scared diadem, on the front of it. Fully dressed in his priestly robes, Aaron was then anointed with oil (v12). What we do not read in this passage of Leviticus is the final part of the ceremony when the father passes the rite of priesthood on to his son. In addition to these requirements above, the father would announce the son as being his.
You may already be able to see where I am going with today’s devotional, but I want to share it any way. Jesus, Yeshua, is our priest. It was while I was listening to this being taught to me that I saw this fact. I mean, I knew this, but it made more sense. In Matthew 3:15, when John the Baptist tried to sway Jesus from being baptized by him, Jesus responded, “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, Jesus was telling John that in order for Him to fulfill each piece of being God’s Son, including the piece about being our Priest, each rule in Leviticus had to be followed. So with that, John baptized Jesus.
Now please don’t miss this. Jesus was washed in the water through his baptism just as Aaron and the priests were washed in the water. Following this, the shaft of light and the dove came down on Jesus representing the oil being poured on Jesus to anoint him, just as Aaron and the priests too were anointed. And then the part of the ceremony I told you about. The declaration of the Father came from heaven, stating that Jesus was His Son, just as the priest would later do as they transferred the office of priest to their sons. Everything was done in order, not one piece missed. And this was all done for our benefit, so that we may have the true Priest, Yeshua, to come before for the forgiveness of our sins. He would later also become our lamb, but in this passage we so easily overlook, He became our priest.
“As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.’”
Matthew 3:16-17
The baptism of Jesus, in many circles, seems to be just another day. In fact, I would venture to say that we known more concerning the details following the baptism than the baptism itself. True, it is afterward when Jesus went into the wilderness and was tempted for forty days while fasting, but if we skip too quick between Matthew 3:17 to Matthew 4:1, we miss a key factor of who He is. I say this because up till only yesterday, I was missing it too. Sitting at my desk listening to teaching CDs I heard something that caused me to go home and search this fact out myself. It was eye opening to me, as I hope it will be to you as well.
Before looking at Matthew, however, we must look at Leviticus. Oh I know; I can hear the moans already. Leviticus is that boring book of rules and procedures. But I dare say without it we may be getting some things wrong in the way we worship our Father. In Leviticus 8 we read of the ordination into priesthood of Aaron and his sons. The ceremony went as such. First Aaron and his sons were washed in water according to verse 6. After clothing him in the tunic, robe, and ephod, he placed the breastplate on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastplate. Next he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the scared diadem, on the front of it. Fully dressed in his priestly robes, Aaron was then anointed with oil (v12). What we do not read in this passage of Leviticus is the final part of the ceremony when the father passes the rite of priesthood on to his son. In addition to these requirements above, the father would announce the son as being his.
You may already be able to see where I am going with today’s devotional, but I want to share it any way. Jesus, Yeshua, is our priest. It was while I was listening to this being taught to me that I saw this fact. I mean, I knew this, but it made more sense. In Matthew 3:15, when John the Baptist tried to sway Jesus from being baptized by him, Jesus responded, “Let it be so now, it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” In other words, Jesus was telling John that in order for Him to fulfill each piece of being God’s Son, including the piece about being our Priest, each rule in Leviticus had to be followed. So with that, John baptized Jesus.
Now please don’t miss this. Jesus was washed in the water through his baptism just as Aaron and the priests were washed in the water. Following this, the shaft of light and the dove came down on Jesus representing the oil being poured on Jesus to anoint him, just as Aaron and the priests too were anointed. And then the part of the ceremony I told you about. The declaration of the Father came from heaven, stating that Jesus was His Son, just as the priest would later do as they transferred the office of priest to their sons. Everything was done in order, not one piece missed. And this was all done for our benefit, so that we may have the true Priest, Yeshua, to come before for the forgiveness of our sins. He would later also become our lamb, but in this passage we so easily overlook, He became our priest.
Monday, January 16, 2012
I HAVE REMEMBERED MY COVENANT
“’Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel, whom the Egyptians are keeping in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant.”
Exodus 6:5
Have you ever considered that when it comes to negativity we remember well, but when it comes to blessing we forget? Let me give you an example. I can remember each of my major flaws. I can remember the first time I looked at pornography, the first time I said a cuss word, the first time I yelled at my son, the first time I got an ‘F’, the first time I got my name the board in school, and the first time I got pulled over. I would like to say they all happened yesterday, but I would be telling a lie. The truth is they all have happened over the course of thirty-seven years now. That means that I have had years to replay in my mind all the negative things I have done, and I didn’t give you a complete list. But if I had to make a comparison of all the promises in God’s word against the negatives I can easily remember, the negative would surpass the blessing. Why? And why is it that God is so quick to remember what I am so quick to forget?
Why is it that many times I only remember His promises when someone reminds me? The minister speaks something and my memory is triggered. I hear a song on the radio and a verse I can stand on comes to mind. I see a sunset and remember an aspect of God. All these things are triggered but never remembered on their own. Does not Psalm 103:2 say to “…forget not all His benefits”? I guess I am not in such bad company, however, for God had to do this with Moses as well.
When Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh, they spoke the words told to them by God. “God says, ‘Let my people go.’” Pharaoh, however, was not so quick to obey. In fact, not knowing who God was he questioned why he should even listen to Him. As his answer, he responded with additional labor. Originally straw was being given to the people and now the Hebrews were being told to gather their own straw. The amount of bricks was not to cease or dwindle; the quota still had to be met. So when the people returned home a few days later, after being told they were lazy by the Pharaoh for missing the quota, they saw Moses and Aaron and spoke harshly to them, almost cursing them by saying, “May God look at you and judge accordingly.” With this, Moses went back to God and questioned Him.
I wonder if the speaking was more of a pouting. Moses may not have been the most loved at that moment, but Moses’ faith was about to grow. After all the questions, and all the waving of his arms in frustration, Moses heard these words. “Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh.” He went on, though, to inform Moses that He did remember that He had established a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did hear the crying of His people. And He had every intention of making good on His covenant. In a way, God was just getting warmed up.
Lately I have been doing a great deal of personal prayer and study in the Word, looking to see where I am being led next. As I have shared, I know the calling God has spoken over me, but I do not know the timing. It is in this year of 2012, though, that I feel He is beginning to move me into a new place, whether that mean spiritually, physically, relationally or emotionally. I feel it is safe to say that He is remembering His covenant, and is just getting warmed up. Although my mind continues to lead me to the thoughts of negativity, He reminds me of what He has said. And this may be exactly where you find yourself. You too may be dwelling on the past, but God is saying that He is ready to move you forward. He has not forgotten His covenant concerning you, nor will He ever. He is just warming up.
“’Moreover, I have heard the groaning of the people of Israel, whom the Egyptians are keeping in slavery; and I have remembered my covenant.”
Exodus 6:5
Have you ever considered that when it comes to negativity we remember well, but when it comes to blessing we forget? Let me give you an example. I can remember each of my major flaws. I can remember the first time I looked at pornography, the first time I said a cuss word, the first time I yelled at my son, the first time I got an ‘F’, the first time I got my name the board in school, and the first time I got pulled over. I would like to say they all happened yesterday, but I would be telling a lie. The truth is they all have happened over the course of thirty-seven years now. That means that I have had years to replay in my mind all the negative things I have done, and I didn’t give you a complete list. But if I had to make a comparison of all the promises in God’s word against the negatives I can easily remember, the negative would surpass the blessing. Why? And why is it that God is so quick to remember what I am so quick to forget?
Why is it that many times I only remember His promises when someone reminds me? The minister speaks something and my memory is triggered. I hear a song on the radio and a verse I can stand on comes to mind. I see a sunset and remember an aspect of God. All these things are triggered but never remembered on their own. Does not Psalm 103:2 say to “…forget not all His benefits”? I guess I am not in such bad company, however, for God had to do this with Moses as well.
When Moses and Aaron went before Pharaoh, they spoke the words told to them by God. “God says, ‘Let my people go.’” Pharaoh, however, was not so quick to obey. In fact, not knowing who God was he questioned why he should even listen to Him. As his answer, he responded with additional labor. Originally straw was being given to the people and now the Hebrews were being told to gather their own straw. The amount of bricks was not to cease or dwindle; the quota still had to be met. So when the people returned home a few days later, after being told they were lazy by the Pharaoh for missing the quota, they saw Moses and Aaron and spoke harshly to them, almost cursing them by saying, “May God look at you and judge accordingly.” With this, Moses went back to God and questioned Him.
I wonder if the speaking was more of a pouting. Moses may not have been the most loved at that moment, but Moses’ faith was about to grow. After all the questions, and all the waving of his arms in frustration, Moses heard these words. “Now you will see what I am going to do to Pharaoh.” He went on, though, to inform Moses that He did remember that He had established a covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. He did hear the crying of His people. And He had every intention of making good on His covenant. In a way, God was just getting warmed up.
Lately I have been doing a great deal of personal prayer and study in the Word, looking to see where I am being led next. As I have shared, I know the calling God has spoken over me, but I do not know the timing. It is in this year of 2012, though, that I feel He is beginning to move me into a new place, whether that mean spiritually, physically, relationally or emotionally. I feel it is safe to say that He is remembering His covenant, and is just getting warmed up. Although my mind continues to lead me to the thoughts of negativity, He reminds me of what He has said. And this may be exactly where you find yourself. You too may be dwelling on the past, but God is saying that He is ready to move you forward. He has not forgotten His covenant concerning you, nor will He ever. He is just warming up.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
SET FREE
“That night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”
Acts 12:6
It was seven days ago that I shared with you a devotional titled, Prison Breaks. In fact, I even used the same text from Acts 2:16 about Peter being chained between two guards. Today, though, I want to expound a little more on this topic. I know that I am not ordained as a minister, but that put aside, I know God has called me to ministry. With that said, my aim is to not only bring people to Christ, but also help strengthen the saints through God’s Word. I pray that today’s devotional will do just that. I pray that today’s devotional will help you be set free from the chains you may find yourself in.
God speaks to me in a number of ways. Sometimes He speaks through a song, a billboard, a book, or even just straight from the pulpit. I have learned that when He speaks I need to listen. In listening lately, God has pounded in me the need to be set free from chains that still bind me, and a starting point for such deliverance. The first step toward this deliverance is to fight my battles with the knowledge of God’s will. I shared this point yesterday in speaking about Timothy. Timothy was close to being shipwrecked because he was beginning to listen to the voices of others as opposed to remembering the calling that God had given him. When he was reminded of God’s call, he was then able to stand against his foes in the knowledge of God’s will. Timothy then stood on God’s promises.
A second point God has been showing me concerning being free from my chains is a key found in I Thessalonians 5:16-22. While I should strive to rejoice always, give thanks, not quench the Holy Spirit, despise not prophesy, test spirits, hold to what is good, and abstain from the appearance of evil, the piece that pops out is praying always. In praying continually I keep my mind on God. In keeping in a mindset of prayer I keep myself in tune with the spirit and can hear the warnings of the enemy attacking as opposed to warring them out after they have their firm grip on me. There will come times when a deep intercession is required to bring a breakthrough, and there will be times when prayer and fasting are both required. We see this in Mark 9:29 where Jesus pointed out to the disciples that “this kind of spirit can only come out by prayer and fasting.” So being in a state of constant prayer is key toward deliverance.
A third piece I am beginning to realize is that I can stay bound because of soul ties. I know that when I mention this concept some people think I have flipped out of my mind, but I guarantee it is true. In making a relationship, be it friendship or dating or business or what have you, a tie is made. In being tied with someone outside of God’s will, we open the door for the enemy to come in. I will give you a personal example. Following my divorce I began dating a girl. At first all seemed nice. I noticed, though, that my son began to have many nightmares. I didn’t put the two together until maybe after six months of dating her, but my son was being attacked because of a door I was opening in dating someone of another faith. The day I stopped dating her was the final day that my son ever had a nightmare, three years ago. It ending it with her, I prayed against the spirit’s I had let in, commanding them to leave. Call it coincidence, but I know that this torment came as a result of the door I was opening. When the tie was broken, the door was closed.
But the forth piece I want to share was another one of those stones that hit me between the eyes. We must be delivered from the expectations of others. What people expect us to do or be can also put chains on us. It is in these times that we again, must listen to what God is saying to us and over us. The words that people say can bind us or limit us, but God’s Word washes over us and breaks off the limitations that work to keep us under.
So how does all this relate to Peter in prison? Peter was bound physically, representing our binding spiritually. His hands were bound, which shows that the enemy works to prevent our hands from the work of God. Peter was bound to another person, showing that the enemy wants to control our steps and pull us away from God’s work. And Peter had guards at the door that show how other hindrances are placed in our way. But when the angel came to release Peter, the chains were broken off, the guards were blinded to what was going on, and the doors were opened. The yoke holding him down was destroyed and so Peter was free. This should also be us. We were not meant to be chained down, but free to move in Christ. One last piece, though. Deliverance takes us out of prison, but discipline keeps us out of prison. Let us be set free, but let us also never return to our chains.
“That night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”
Acts 12:6
It was seven days ago that I shared with you a devotional titled, Prison Breaks. In fact, I even used the same text from Acts 2:16 about Peter being chained between two guards. Today, though, I want to expound a little more on this topic. I know that I am not ordained as a minister, but that put aside, I know God has called me to ministry. With that said, my aim is to not only bring people to Christ, but also help strengthen the saints through God’s Word. I pray that today’s devotional will do just that. I pray that today’s devotional will help you be set free from the chains you may find yourself in.
God speaks to me in a number of ways. Sometimes He speaks through a song, a billboard, a book, or even just straight from the pulpit. I have learned that when He speaks I need to listen. In listening lately, God has pounded in me the need to be set free from chains that still bind me, and a starting point for such deliverance. The first step toward this deliverance is to fight my battles with the knowledge of God’s will. I shared this point yesterday in speaking about Timothy. Timothy was close to being shipwrecked because he was beginning to listen to the voices of others as opposed to remembering the calling that God had given him. When he was reminded of God’s call, he was then able to stand against his foes in the knowledge of God’s will. Timothy then stood on God’s promises.
A second point God has been showing me concerning being free from my chains is a key found in I Thessalonians 5:16-22. While I should strive to rejoice always, give thanks, not quench the Holy Spirit, despise not prophesy, test spirits, hold to what is good, and abstain from the appearance of evil, the piece that pops out is praying always. In praying continually I keep my mind on God. In keeping in a mindset of prayer I keep myself in tune with the spirit and can hear the warnings of the enemy attacking as opposed to warring them out after they have their firm grip on me. There will come times when a deep intercession is required to bring a breakthrough, and there will be times when prayer and fasting are both required. We see this in Mark 9:29 where Jesus pointed out to the disciples that “this kind of spirit can only come out by prayer and fasting.” So being in a state of constant prayer is key toward deliverance.
A third piece I am beginning to realize is that I can stay bound because of soul ties. I know that when I mention this concept some people think I have flipped out of my mind, but I guarantee it is true. In making a relationship, be it friendship or dating or business or what have you, a tie is made. In being tied with someone outside of God’s will, we open the door for the enemy to come in. I will give you a personal example. Following my divorce I began dating a girl. At first all seemed nice. I noticed, though, that my son began to have many nightmares. I didn’t put the two together until maybe after six months of dating her, but my son was being attacked because of a door I was opening in dating someone of another faith. The day I stopped dating her was the final day that my son ever had a nightmare, three years ago. It ending it with her, I prayed against the spirit’s I had let in, commanding them to leave. Call it coincidence, but I know that this torment came as a result of the door I was opening. When the tie was broken, the door was closed.
But the forth piece I want to share was another one of those stones that hit me between the eyes. We must be delivered from the expectations of others. What people expect us to do or be can also put chains on us. It is in these times that we again, must listen to what God is saying to us and over us. The words that people say can bind us or limit us, but God’s Word washes over us and breaks off the limitations that work to keep us under.
So how does all this relate to Peter in prison? Peter was bound physically, representing our binding spiritually. His hands were bound, which shows that the enemy works to prevent our hands from the work of God. Peter was bound to another person, showing that the enemy wants to control our steps and pull us away from God’s work. And Peter had guards at the door that show how other hindrances are placed in our way. But when the angel came to release Peter, the chains were broken off, the guards were blinded to what was going on, and the doors were opened. The yoke holding him down was destroyed and so Peter was free. This should also be us. We were not meant to be chained down, but free to move in Christ. One last piece, though. Deliverance takes us out of prison, but discipline keeps us out of prison. Let us be set free, but let us also never return to our chains.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
SHIPWRECKED NO MORE
“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to the faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked the faith.”
I Timothy 1:18-19
I must admit, this word I want to share with you today is fresh and alive, and I pray that it comes out in the way I have just received it last night from God, Himself. To give you a little background, I was taking some time last night to study the Bible in addition to reading a new book I got concerning the spirit realm. As I was reading, the author began giving a little background on the life of Timothy. Paul had prophesied over Timothy, who was still young at the time, concerning his future and the mark he would make for God. This then led Timothy into being the pastor of the church of Ephesus which it is estimated had a membership of about 100,000 people. While Timothy did his best to bring the people into a deeper relationship with the Father, people began to look down on him and criticized his age, his speech, his purity, and his life overall (I Tim 4:12). Remember, Ephesus was where the goddess Artemis, the daughter of Jupiter and sister of Apollo in Roman mythology, was worshipped (Acts 19). As Timothy continued to work to bring people into relationship with God, the people continued to react to his ways and to him. But Paul sent Timothy an encouraging letter.
It was Paul who instructed Timothy to remember the prophecies he had once received, prophecies that even Paul himself had spoken over him as instructed and led by the Lord. It was Paul who encouraged Timothy with these words. “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to the faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked the faith” (I Tim 1:18-19). In essence what Paul was saying was that these prophecies concerning Timothy carried more weight than the words the people were saying about him. These words spoken over Timothy came from God, whereas the words spoken to Timothy were spoken by the people. Notice the difference, spoken over verses spoken to.
For the last few days I have shared with you the words spoken over the sons of Jacob. As I have given more thought to this truth, I have also considered the account of the twelve Hebrew spies. In this account, God had already spoken over Abraham that not only would he be the father of many nations, or that his descendants would go to a land not theirs, but also that the people would return. So taking this, Moses and all of Israel had a promise to bank on. Why is it then, that of the twelve spies that went out, only two returned with a confident word? Only two stood on the promise. The others shipwrecked their faith. The others saw the people in the land and gave up. And as such, they never got to see the Promise Land. Why?
The answer to this hit me straight between the eyes. The reason Paul gave Timothy the words of I Timothy 1:18-19, and the reason God gave Israel the promise, was so that they would remember the prophecies and not allow the enemy to steal the assignment God had given them. Did you catch that? The enemy’s main job is to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10). He wants to steal us away from God, kill our faith, and destroy any calling God has given us. The enemy works in his crafty way to get us away from our true callings and destinies, causing us to become shipwrecked. He shipwrecked the older generation of Israel through fear and doubt. And he tried to shipwreck Timothy through lack of self esteem.
Well I have had enough of it! I know that God has called me to be a pastor, but with open eyes I see where even I have allowed the shipwreck mentality to come and rest. First the enemy used porn to shipwreck me away from God’s plan. Then I believe the enemy used false relationships to get me off course. And in some ways I feel like the enemy has also used rejection and loneliness to sway me. But as I am seeing these assignments now that were set to shipwreck me, I am indignant. It is time to listen to what God has spoken over me. His calling will not be revoked (Rom 11:29) and His word will come to pass in my life. I will fight the enemy with the Word of God, and the words God has spoken over me. And I pray I am not alone. I pray that the same zeal that has arisen in me last night will arise in you also right now. It is time we listen to a true voice, God’s voice, and allow ourselves to be shipwrecked no more! Are you with me?
“Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to the faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked the faith.”
I Timothy 1:18-19
I must admit, this word I want to share with you today is fresh and alive, and I pray that it comes out in the way I have just received it last night from God, Himself. To give you a little background, I was taking some time last night to study the Bible in addition to reading a new book I got concerning the spirit realm. As I was reading, the author began giving a little background on the life of Timothy. Paul had prophesied over Timothy, who was still young at the time, concerning his future and the mark he would make for God. This then led Timothy into being the pastor of the church of Ephesus which it is estimated had a membership of about 100,000 people. While Timothy did his best to bring the people into a deeper relationship with the Father, people began to look down on him and criticized his age, his speech, his purity, and his life overall (I Tim 4:12). Remember, Ephesus was where the goddess Artemis, the daughter of Jupiter and sister of Apollo in Roman mythology, was worshipped (Acts 19). As Timothy continued to work to bring people into relationship with God, the people continued to react to his ways and to him. But Paul sent Timothy an encouraging letter.
It was Paul who instructed Timothy to remember the prophecies he had once received, prophecies that even Paul himself had spoken over him as instructed and led by the Lord. It was Paul who encouraged Timothy with these words. “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to the faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked the faith” (I Tim 1:18-19). In essence what Paul was saying was that these prophecies concerning Timothy carried more weight than the words the people were saying about him. These words spoken over Timothy came from God, whereas the words spoken to Timothy were spoken by the people. Notice the difference, spoken over verses spoken to.
For the last few days I have shared with you the words spoken over the sons of Jacob. As I have given more thought to this truth, I have also considered the account of the twelve Hebrew spies. In this account, God had already spoken over Abraham that not only would he be the father of many nations, or that his descendants would go to a land not theirs, but also that the people would return. So taking this, Moses and all of Israel had a promise to bank on. Why is it then, that of the twelve spies that went out, only two returned with a confident word? Only two stood on the promise. The others shipwrecked their faith. The others saw the people in the land and gave up. And as such, they never got to see the Promise Land. Why?
The answer to this hit me straight between the eyes. The reason Paul gave Timothy the words of I Timothy 1:18-19, and the reason God gave Israel the promise, was so that they would remember the prophecies and not allow the enemy to steal the assignment God had given them. Did you catch that? The enemy’s main job is to steal, kill, and destroy (Jn 10:10). He wants to steal us away from God, kill our faith, and destroy any calling God has given us. The enemy works in his crafty way to get us away from our true callings and destinies, causing us to become shipwrecked. He shipwrecked the older generation of Israel through fear and doubt. And he tried to shipwreck Timothy through lack of self esteem.
Well I have had enough of it! I know that God has called me to be a pastor, but with open eyes I see where even I have allowed the shipwreck mentality to come and rest. First the enemy used porn to shipwreck me away from God’s plan. Then I believe the enemy used false relationships to get me off course. And in some ways I feel like the enemy has also used rejection and loneliness to sway me. But as I am seeing these assignments now that were set to shipwreck me, I am indignant. It is time to listen to what God has spoken over me. His calling will not be revoked (Rom 11:29) and His word will come to pass in my life. I will fight the enemy with the Word of God, and the words God has spoken over me. And I pray I am not alone. I pray that the same zeal that has arisen in me last night will arise in you also right now. It is time we listen to a true voice, God’s voice, and allow ourselves to be shipwrecked no more! Are you with me?
Thursday, January 5, 2012
PRISON BREAKS
“That night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”
Acts 12:6
“After [Paul and Silas] had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard the carefully.”
Acts 16:23
As I have been praying recently, I have been in awe thinking about what God is capable of. I know that He knows no boundaries and is able to do anything, but as I read the Bible and recall what He did do, I am amazed. Two days back I shared with you a few of the things that happened within only seven days, but today I want to narrow in on two events that happened overnight. I believe that as we walk through the 2012 year we will see more overnight and suddenly moments than we have ever experienced before. Perhaps these two accounts will work to increase our faith.
In Acts 12 we read that King Herod had gained the popular vote from the people when he put James, the brother of John, to death. To keep this zeal for him going, he worked to capture Peter. On the Feast of Unleavened Bread this chore was completed and Peter was caught. On the day after Passover, it was intended for Peter to stand trial and eventually be killed because of his beliefs. But look at what it says in Acts 12:5. “…but the church was earnestly praying to God for [Peter].” Let us keep that in mind. Because there was fear of Peter trying to escape or others trying to bust him out, Herod had Peter well guarded. That night even, Peter found himself sleeping between two guards that he was also chained to, as well as a few guards watching the prison door. Yet the next word we read in this account in verse 7 is ‘Suddenly’. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” And then as they got to the guards standing post, they walked right by. Gates opened on their own for him. Peter had just busted out of prison with no physical effort of his own.
Now let us jump ahead a few chapters to Acts 16 where we see two other men of God in prison, Paul and Silas. Again the situation looked bleak. But these men of God weren’t giving up so easy. Instead, they began to pray and sing hymns to God around midnight, despite what the other prisoners were doing or saying. But here comes that word again in verse 26. “Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” Orchestrated by God once more was another prison break, complete with the release of chains and gates being swung wide open for release.
So how is your faith? Is it growing? Are you beginning to see the awesomeness of what God can do? Perhaps you see yourself now as a prisoner. You are bound to an addiction, bound to financial hardships, bound to health issues, or bound to constant attacks from the enemy. This is your year; this is your season! The chains and bars that have been holding you back are about to fall off and swing open wide. No force in hell can hold God back when suddenly begins to happen. So like the saints who prayed for Peter, pray. Like the songs sang by Paul and Silas, sing. And in the faith that God urges us to have, believe. This is the season for your prison break. The angel is coming, the earthquake is coming, your freedom is coming. You’re busting out of prison and hell cannot stop you!
“That night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.”
Acts 12:6
“After [Paul and Silas] had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard the carefully.”
Acts 16:23
As I have been praying recently, I have been in awe thinking about what God is capable of. I know that He knows no boundaries and is able to do anything, but as I read the Bible and recall what He did do, I am amazed. Two days back I shared with you a few of the things that happened within only seven days, but today I want to narrow in on two events that happened overnight. I believe that as we walk through the 2012 year we will see more overnight and suddenly moments than we have ever experienced before. Perhaps these two accounts will work to increase our faith.
In Acts 12 we read that King Herod had gained the popular vote from the people when he put James, the brother of John, to death. To keep this zeal for him going, he worked to capture Peter. On the Feast of Unleavened Bread this chore was completed and Peter was caught. On the day after Passover, it was intended for Peter to stand trial and eventually be killed because of his beliefs. But look at what it says in Acts 12:5. “…but the church was earnestly praying to God for [Peter].” Let us keep that in mind. Because there was fear of Peter trying to escape or others trying to bust him out, Herod had Peter well guarded. That night even, Peter found himself sleeping between two guards that he was also chained to, as well as a few guards watching the prison door. Yet the next word we read in this account in verse 7 is ‘Suddenly’. “Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” And then as they got to the guards standing post, they walked right by. Gates opened on their own for him. Peter had just busted out of prison with no physical effort of his own.
Now let us jump ahead a few chapters to Acts 16 where we see two other men of God in prison, Paul and Silas. Again the situation looked bleak. But these men of God weren’t giving up so easy. Instead, they began to pray and sing hymns to God around midnight, despite what the other prisoners were doing or saying. But here comes that word again in verse 26. “Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.” Orchestrated by God once more was another prison break, complete with the release of chains and gates being swung wide open for release.
So how is your faith? Is it growing? Are you beginning to see the awesomeness of what God can do? Perhaps you see yourself now as a prisoner. You are bound to an addiction, bound to financial hardships, bound to health issues, or bound to constant attacks from the enemy. This is your year; this is your season! The chains and bars that have been holding you back are about to fall off and swing open wide. No force in hell can hold God back when suddenly begins to happen. So like the saints who prayed for Peter, pray. Like the songs sang by Paul and Silas, sing. And in the faith that God urges us to have, believe. This is the season for your prison break. The angel is coming, the earthquake is coming, your freedom is coming. You’re busting out of prison and hell cannot stop you!
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
IN ONE WEEK
“On the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.”
Genesis 2:2
Have you ever stopped to consider what can happen in seven days? I know it seems a little crazy, but humor me for a minute this morning. I have been giving thought recently to a few instances in the Bible where within seven days, something changed. I promise this is no in depth study within the Bible, or devotional involving numerology. Today’s thoughts are just a reflection of my own as I have been praying for God to do something new in my life this year. In praying, however, I have found examples that show not only what a difference a day makes, like that old song used to tell us, but also the differences a week makes.
Let us first look at the beginning. When God began work on planet earth, He did so in stages. Each day He created a new piece. From void vast space He spoke and the heavens and the Earth were created. In the course of a few days He added land and water, plants, animals, and finally humans. Then on the seventh day, once He had finished creating and saw it was all good, He rested. In six days the tapestry of God went from blank to teeming with life. Then on the seventh He rested.
In the Jewish culture this idea of rest is still obeyed. All the work is to be completed within six days so that, as God did, we too may rest. This for Jewish people is called Shabbat. From sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday night, we are banned from work. Not only does this honor God, but it gives us the chance to refresh for the next week. I have learned there is more to it, however. With the start of Shabbat comes the start of a new week. By giving the Shabbat back to God, we are honoring Him by giving Him the first fruits of our week. This is a time of starting over, removing the past week’s junk and beginning again. And who couldn’t use a fresh start? I know that for me I can do a lot of damage within seven days, so then I find myself needing to come to Him for forgiveness, and for the rededication of my life, behaviors, and work for the week to come.
But there is one final seven day period I want us to consider before I close. In Joshua 6 we read the account of Joshua leading the army of Israel against Jericho. For six days the men were to walk around the city walls once. This seemed repetitive, but God had a plan in motion. It was on the seventh day, however, that the detail of their walk would change. The LORD had spoken to Joshua that on the seventh day he was to have the army march around the city walls seven times (Josh 6:3-4). As they did, they indeed found the LORD fighting for them, and the walls came down.
What a difference a week can indeed make. In seven days the universe can be created. In seven days newness can be found. And in seven days walls that have prevented us access can be torn down. So then, what is it that you need? Do you need God to create something in your life? Perhaps you have been at it for so long and need to take a rest, consecrating yourself once again to His reviving ways. Or maybe you have been hindered for so long that you just need the walls to come down. As we have seen today, God is able to do any and all three of these things. Today may be your day six, and that is good news. That means that tomorrow is day seven!
“On the seventh day God had finished the work He had been doing, so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.”
Genesis 2:2
Have you ever stopped to consider what can happen in seven days? I know it seems a little crazy, but humor me for a minute this morning. I have been giving thought recently to a few instances in the Bible where within seven days, something changed. I promise this is no in depth study within the Bible, or devotional involving numerology. Today’s thoughts are just a reflection of my own as I have been praying for God to do something new in my life this year. In praying, however, I have found examples that show not only what a difference a day makes, like that old song used to tell us, but also the differences a week makes.
Let us first look at the beginning. When God began work on planet earth, He did so in stages. Each day He created a new piece. From void vast space He spoke and the heavens and the Earth were created. In the course of a few days He added land and water, plants, animals, and finally humans. Then on the seventh day, once He had finished creating and saw it was all good, He rested. In six days the tapestry of God went from blank to teeming with life. Then on the seventh He rested.
In the Jewish culture this idea of rest is still obeyed. All the work is to be completed within six days so that, as God did, we too may rest. This for Jewish people is called Shabbat. From sundown on Friday night to sundown on Saturday night, we are banned from work. Not only does this honor God, but it gives us the chance to refresh for the next week. I have learned there is more to it, however. With the start of Shabbat comes the start of a new week. By giving the Shabbat back to God, we are honoring Him by giving Him the first fruits of our week. This is a time of starting over, removing the past week’s junk and beginning again. And who couldn’t use a fresh start? I know that for me I can do a lot of damage within seven days, so then I find myself needing to come to Him for forgiveness, and for the rededication of my life, behaviors, and work for the week to come.
But there is one final seven day period I want us to consider before I close. In Joshua 6 we read the account of Joshua leading the army of Israel against Jericho. For six days the men were to walk around the city walls once. This seemed repetitive, but God had a plan in motion. It was on the seventh day, however, that the detail of their walk would change. The LORD had spoken to Joshua that on the seventh day he was to have the army march around the city walls seven times (Josh 6:3-4). As they did, they indeed found the LORD fighting for them, and the walls came down.
What a difference a week can indeed make. In seven days the universe can be created. In seven days newness can be found. And in seven days walls that have prevented us access can be torn down. So then, what is it that you need? Do you need God to create something in your life? Perhaps you have been at it for so long and need to take a rest, consecrating yourself once again to His reviving ways. Or maybe you have been hindered for so long that you just need the walls to come down. As we have seen today, God is able to do any and all three of these things. Today may be your day six, and that is good news. That means that tomorrow is day seven!
Sunday, January 1, 2012
OUR TIME
“[Mordecai] sent back this answer, ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’”
Esther 4:13-14
I realize that starting off the year with the account of Esther seems odd. After all, this account is normally shared during the Festival of Purim, which isn’t till March. But in reflecting last night on 2011 and having expectancy for what is to come in 2012, I remembered the words of Mordecai. To recap, Esther was a Jew, but for fear was instructed by her uncle, Mordecai, to not tell anyone. When the king held his royal beauty contest, Esther won and became the Queen in Vashti’s place. Events followed and the evil Haman, who hated the Jews, cast the pur to decide when the Jews would die, by royal approval. Once the date was named it was put into motion. But Adonai was working from the inside. It was no coincidence that Esther had become queen, and with a pep-talk from Mordecai, she pleaded for the lives of her people. The king took personally the threat on his queen and her people, and in the end the Jews were saved and Haman was hung.
Perhaps in reading this summary you are more perplexed than ever about what Esther has to do with a New Year. Well as I said, I was reflecting on the words of Mordecai last night. In this dark hour for the Jewish race, Mordecai sent a message to Esther, which read, “‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’” Mordecai saw the hand of God at work. It was as if he was privy to the true reason that Esther had been named queen. Yes, her beauty won the contest, but it was her God who had placed her in this position and at this time.
The question I want us to reflect on as we go into 2012, and hopefully throughout the entire year, revolves around timing. Last night as I watched the ball drop on TV, I found myself asking God in prayer what time it was. I do not want to waste the position that God has placed me in. As a father I do not want to look back ten years from now only to feel as though I wasted ten years with my kids, too busy to play with them or take time to learn their interests. I do not want to look back even a year from now and realize that I spent more time on pointless actions like watching TV instead of investing myself or spending time with God. I do not want even another minute to pass where I am passive when called to be pointed. I have been placed in this position for such a time as this. Will I waste it?
As I shared a few weeks back, I have spent time in prayer with God and received direction for my life concerning this new year. For me the word is ‘study’. I do not know the details of what I will study, or how the studying will change my life, but I do know that this is the season in which I have been appointed. I, like Queen Esther, have been placed in my post for a purpose. I may not fully know the purpose, but that is alright. All I have to know is that this time is destined. Your time is destined as well. You have been placed in a position for a reason, and for such a time as this. This is our time, our season to be purposeful. Let us then move forward in God.
“[Mordecai] sent back this answer, ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’”
Esther 4:13-14
I realize that starting off the year with the account of Esther seems odd. After all, this account is normally shared during the Festival of Purim, which isn’t till March. But in reflecting last night on 2011 and having expectancy for what is to come in 2012, I remembered the words of Mordecai. To recap, Esther was a Jew, but for fear was instructed by her uncle, Mordecai, to not tell anyone. When the king held his royal beauty contest, Esther won and became the Queen in Vashti’s place. Events followed and the evil Haman, who hated the Jews, cast the pur to decide when the Jews would die, by royal approval. Once the date was named it was put into motion. But Adonai was working from the inside. It was no coincidence that Esther had become queen, and with a pep-talk from Mordecai, she pleaded for the lives of her people. The king took personally the threat on his queen and her people, and in the end the Jews were saved and Haman was hung.
Perhaps in reading this summary you are more perplexed than ever about what Esther has to do with a New Year. Well as I said, I was reflecting on the words of Mordecai last night. In this dark hour for the Jewish race, Mordecai sent a message to Esther, which read, “‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?’” Mordecai saw the hand of God at work. It was as if he was privy to the true reason that Esther had been named queen. Yes, her beauty won the contest, but it was her God who had placed her in this position and at this time.
The question I want us to reflect on as we go into 2012, and hopefully throughout the entire year, revolves around timing. Last night as I watched the ball drop on TV, I found myself asking God in prayer what time it was. I do not want to waste the position that God has placed me in. As a father I do not want to look back ten years from now only to feel as though I wasted ten years with my kids, too busy to play with them or take time to learn their interests. I do not want to look back even a year from now and realize that I spent more time on pointless actions like watching TV instead of investing myself or spending time with God. I do not want even another minute to pass where I am passive when called to be pointed. I have been placed in this position for such a time as this. Will I waste it?
As I shared a few weeks back, I have spent time in prayer with God and received direction for my life concerning this new year. For me the word is ‘study’. I do not know the details of what I will study, or how the studying will change my life, but I do know that this is the season in which I have been appointed. I, like Queen Esther, have been placed in my post for a purpose. I may not fully know the purpose, but that is alright. All I have to know is that this time is destined. Your time is destined as well. You have been placed in a position for a reason, and for such a time as this. This is our time, our season to be purposeful. Let us then move forward in God.
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