Most times the first example is the best. This is the first revival in the Bible. The rest of them all have the same structure, but teach different things we have forgotten or have messed up that have caused this struggle that God is putting on us so we will come back to him. He always answers if we truly obey. I believe the size and power is all about the number of people that will agree, obey and how serious we really are. All these start with one, or a few hearts that give in with everything and it can turn into all and then it will start reaching outside of the original group. Our reward could be something like Pentecost! Thousands of people saved in our community! One is worth it though. I believe our only limit to this is our love for God/obedience, and our desire to disciple others in this/loving your neighbor. We will see if everyone really cares most for the two greatest commands of the Bible. God really enjoys using normal people! We are all normal to God! So no excuses! Anyone can choose to obey!
1God said to Jacob, "Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. Make an altar there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother Esau." As we ended Genesis 34, Jacob’s sons had withheld mercy and forgiveness on a people trying to conform to God. Is there any greater sin that this? Christ said, better to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around your neck than keep someone from him! Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2 The solution started with “arise and go”! Everything with God starts with us obeying. If we choose to obey he is helping. If we choose to disobey he is not. When we choose to disobey he is always trying to restore fellowship thru loving discipline which can be as tough as HE chooses. This is how he can be with us always, but against us at the same time. What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? 1 Cor 4:21 It took losing the most important thing ever, before I finally understood this! God is hoping you are not as slow to feel the rod that we are getting right now! There should be our only two concerns in life with every breath we take. Am I choosing to obey God or am I choosing to do this my way/disobey. He begs us, but never forces us to obey him! We first choose to obey Christ and are saved! After that, if we choose to break fellowship, it is only restored when we repent and start obeying again. These two choices are the basics for all revival and the basics for every single story in the bible.
Second thing is where he told Jacob to go. Bethel means “House of God”. Yep, God said the first revival would start when Jacob got his tail back to God’s house (church) where he first appeared/spoke to him and DWELL there. 4 times a year because your Mom made you feel guilty does not count! Ain’t your Mom making you feel guilty anyway! Better than zero times a year though! It does not get much simpler than this does it? I fought seriously getting back in church for much longer than most would believe possible. I made every excuse I could to people that cared enough to invite me to go back. After making enough excuses why I quit visiting God’s house, I even started to believe I didn’t need to go back. As someone that has really made a ton of excuses, I would like to address some you are already running thru your head.
I needed to get back in church because my best example, Jesus, was always there. Jesus is the head of the church. Why be head of something people don’t need? When his parents were looking for him he said they should have known where he was. Now this one hits me hard. If someone asked where I was two years ago, church would have been there last guess! Where would people guess you are? It is a lie of the devil that I was not supposed to be in church, and often, but was my fault for believing it.
Most of the New Testament are letters written to the churches to instruct them. God sure wasted his time if church is not vital? I am to be taught about these letters at church. Moses read and taught the law that God wrote to everyone during their assemblies. Deut 4:13-14 Church is for helping to stir up love and good works by encouraging each other, not forsaking the assembling together, as is the habit of some, and even more often as time goes by. Hebrews 10:24-25 That is a command, meaning not a debatable topic, but once I started going and actually serving I wanted more! I’ve already thought about Jesus spent time by himself too, that was only for short times to focus more on God. “I have Christ in me”, I do not need to be in church? If you have that good of a relationship, God would like you to come and teach some of us people that struggle. The need for more teachers is actually in the other revivals. If you got it down come help make disciples!
Sabbath is holy and is a commandment also. Anything you do that keeps you from his assembly or forsakes his Sabbath is an idol! Work, play, tired, lazy, stubborn, drunk, all the same. You have made it more important and placed it higher. God the Father created a house for us to come and worship at (make an alter). He is the one to be feared! It is time we remember this! We meet together to worship our savior! For where two or three are gathered in his name, there am I among them. Matthew 18:20 Surely this is not a hard one? If you are not sure how important this is the other 12 revivals talk about his house too. God never ever says come after you do what you need to do either!
If you have been harmed in some way you can’t expect God to forgive you, if you won’t come back home and forgive those that harmed you. He loves them too and you would be teaching big time forgiveness then! Be a teacher!
I can keep this up, but it is simply a sin to avoid church! The bottom line was I knew I would be spoken to in his house and I did not want to hear from him right then! I was busy figuring all this out on my own and I would do anything to not feel convicted of my sinful lifestyle. If I ignore him maybe he will go away? I pray you lose this fight! It is time to get all our tails back in church and serve and worship the one true God that saved our life! No church is perfect. It can’t be, it is full of sinners! I do know of a few that do their best to accomplish the role of the church as Paul stated in Hebrews 10 so no excuses. I can suggest some if you would like. I do this to take any doubt away that not going is wrong and if you don’t start back you are choosing to ignore God not me. That means broken fellowship with God! Your call. Last thing, I started asking myself, where is a better place to be than in God’s house? I can’t figure out a logical debate for that one. There is not a better place!
2So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Put away the foreign gods that are among you and purify yourselves and change your garments. Listen up men, as the head of the household you are responsible for this! If Dad ain’t in church or making me be there, why should I go? That is what our children are thinking. If you love your kids you will make them go to church WITH you! Lady’s you are still responsible too, but as the head of the household I apologize, we have let God and you down! It is going to change! After his household he shares with all. God’s word is same for all! We need to conform to it, not make it conform to us. Bible is very clear about teaching and being fruitful. If the seed isn’t growing, we are doing something wrong. Put away all other gods – this is the first commandment for a reason. If we can’t get this one right we don’t have a chance. He has to be most important. Love him first and with everything -- If something else is stopping you, fix it.
Clean/Purify yourselves – ask for forgiveness and accept it, repent and stop sinning. Once saved you did not get a pass on not asking every day to be forgiven for that day’s sin. And yes, we sin every day. This is actually being obedient. God knows you will mess up and just wants you fess up. When you don’t, human guilt builds and broken fellowship with God.
Change garments – Be different than the world. Allow him to change you. Adam and Eve tried to cloth themselves but God has to do that thru a blood sacrifice Genesis 3:21 – clothes, name whatever it takes, the changed garments is the spirit filled life that people can see and the example Christ left us – still begging us for this in Rev. 3. Listen up, if people can’t see this change you are doing something wrong!
This is a heart issue. I have tried to half do this and it never works. He knows. You know. Everyone else knows too. It is a waste of time and we are lying to God. That is a poor plan. Putting it off is just as bad. This may hurt a bit, but not as bad as us not doing it and you can’t image the joy after. John 16:16-24 explains this.
3Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, so that I may make there an altar to the God who answers me in the day of my distress and has been with me wherever I have gone." Let “US” arise and go, seed spreading, build and alter to the God who answers in our distress and is always there! We are hurting. All of us or we see people that are. Jesus is the only solution. We have run God off. If we will cry out with all our heart he always answers. At this point in our separation we have to really mean it. And that goes for all of us. Genesis 28:10-22 is actually when God first revealed himself in a dream to Jacob.
4So they gave to Jacob all the foreign gods that they had, and the rings that were in their ears. Jacob hid them under the terebinth tree that was near Shechem. All obeyed and gave up foreign gods and materialistic stuff, hid it under/at the base of a tree. Sinful items under a tree – the cross – pretty cool how often he speaks of his son taking our sins whenever we will give them to him.
5And as they journeyed, a terror from God fell upon the cities that were around them, so that they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. After obeying and repenting and allowing God to change his garments his greatest worry was resolved. A lot of obeying before he fixes some of our biggest concerns. Not only did the other nations “not” destroy him, but they were terrified of him! Not because he was special, but because he had God with him because he simply obeyed. He went before them to protect so they didn’t have to fight. It’s about time we learn to fear him again, this is the only way we will ever obey him and that is for our own good. Deut 6:24
6And Jacob came to Luz (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people who were with him, This is another cool name change. Luz = almond tree. It would have already been a beautiful and important place, but was nothing and useless to God until changed to Bethel (House of God). No matter how great the world thinks something is, it’s nothing without being useful to God!
7and there he built an altar and called the place El-bethel, because there God had revealed himself to him when he fled from his brother. God sent Jacob back to where he had revealed himself to him before – we can’t be afraid of going back to be able to move forward – we have forgot so much or more shamefully never learned it to start with -- we need to allow his spirit to teach us as children again.
8And Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, died, and she was buried under an oak below Bethel. So he called its name Allon-bacuth. Following/obeying God is tough! He never said it wasn’t, but promises it is worth it! This is where many would just quit. God says that easy love is worthless! Anyone can do that!
9God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Paddan-aram, and blessed him. Crazy how when I returned to his house and started obeying more often, he appeared/spoke again. Thing is, he was always saying get back in church! I just was ignoring him. Why would he say anything else if I would not do the first one? Would you bless someone that never did anything you asked? If Jacob had refused he would not have kept helping. Glad he did!
10And God said to him, "Your name is Jacob; no longer shall your name be called Jacob, but Israel shall be your name." So he called his name Israel. God appeared to him again and blessed him. How did he bless him? Changed his name to Israel – gave him a new start – once we get back in fellowship thru repenting and obeying he will continue to reveal more of himself to us thru his spirit. I still have tons of things to improve on, but I feel these changes and it is not changes we can do on our own!
11And God said to him, "I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply. A nation and a company of nations shall come from you, and kings shall come from your own body. Sure, this is talking of physically multiplying on earth, like most in my Sunday school class are blessed at. lol God is more concerned with multiplying his kingdom though.
12 The land that I gave to Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and I will give the land to your offspring after you." God will give them the promise land and even to their children. If we get right with God our children benefit greatly for this. They learn from us, we have let them down and we will be held accountable for this. Never too late to correct our mistakes!
13Then God went up from him in the place where he had spoken with him. 14And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he had spoken with him, a pillar of stone. He poured out a drink offering on it and poured oil on it. Jacob poured out a drink offering and poured oil on it. Finished it and gave all. The spirit is described this way many times. The spirit is our ultimate reward. Jesus said he had to leave so something greater could come. The spirit now lives in us, do not be mistaken though, we can break fellowship with him too. Flesh and spirit war against each other, we must listen to the spirit and do opposite of our human nature.
15So Jacob called the name of the place where God had spoken with him Bethel. If you haven’t ever been spoken to in God’s house you ain’t listen!
16Then they journeyed from Bethel. When they were still some distance from Ephrath, Rachel went into labor, and she had hard labor. 17And when her labor was at its hardest, the midwife said to her, "Do not fear, for you have another son." 18And as her soul was departing (for she was dying), she called his name Ben-oni; but his father called him Benjamin. 19So Rachel died, and she was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem), 20and Jacob set up a pillar over her tomb. It is the pillar of Rachel’s tomb, which is there to this day. This is the second person to die on the trip God sent him on, but Jacob never stopped obeying. Listen, obeying God does not equal easy. Awfully easy to question him when it gets hard, huh? This does show that if you are willing to do anything he will finish what he promises. This was the 12th tribe, the completion of the nation of Israel. God finished what he promised Abraham! Bottom line is when it gets tough, and it will, do you really love enough to love even when it hurts? All this struggle and still showing future glory with first reference to Bethlehem.
21Israel journeyed on and pitched his tent beyond the tower of Eder. I like how his name change to Israel makes me think of an entire nation when heard. One man’s obedience fathered an entire nation. Jesus did something like that, huh? Would be nice if people thought of God when they heard of America as when founded?
22While Israel lived in that land, Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine. And Israel heard of it. Now the sons of Jacob were twelve. 23The sons of Leah: Reuben (Jacob’s firstborn), Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. 24The sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin. 25The sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s servant: Dan and Naphtali. 26The sons of Zilpah, Leah’s servant: Gad and Asher. These were the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram.
27And Jacob came to his father Isaac at Mamre, or Kiriath-arba (that is, Hebron), where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. All this and finally back to his father’s fellowship! :)
28Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29And Isaac breathed his last, and he died and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. And his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
This is pretty simple. Get back in church and if you are there go tell everyone that isn’t. I keep hearing people complain about the state of this world. Well it is our fault that it is getting worse! Evil does not win on this kind of scale if God’s people are obeying. This is what God said to do for his first revival. Jesus is our only solution to any problem and we better start acting like we really believe that! God is awesome! :)
I love you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Lack of Mercy
Hosea 4:1 tells us that three things are destroying us. Lack of knowledge of God was what we looked at first. Mercy is actually the 2nd problem listed in verse 1. This is the problem leading into the first revival in the Bible. We haven’t even gotten out of the first book and God has had to destroy the entire earth with a flood except for Noah and destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah with fire except for Lot all due to our problems with obeying. You would think we would learn faster. This shows the problem and chapter 35 goes thru the solution. This is the first revival in the Bible.
Genesis 34
1Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this girl for my wife." 5Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. They were angry. That is ok. We are not to take our own vengeance tho. 8But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.
9Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it." Sounds good but wrong. You shall dwell with us – devil told Jesus he would give him all he saw – land will be open to you – it is all God’s anyway – anyone outside the fellowship of God wants anyone inside fellowship to conform to them because they do not want to obey and conform to God 11Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12Ask me for as great a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife." The world is always looking for acceptance. They will pay anything to feel accepted. To not feel guilty for what they know are wrong actions. If they truly did not care to be they would not try so hard to talk everyone in to saying there sin is ok. They will do anything to get what they want.
13The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. Response starts good. 15Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. We can not conform to you, but if you will conform to God we can become ONE people of ONE God. 16Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. Division kills. If they conform then they should be treated as all the same. 17But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone." Even if they did not agree this would have been the correct response. We are not to get even.
18Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem. 19And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father’s house. They were excited to be accepted by God’s people even when they had to do the conforming. 20So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21"These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us." 24And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. They were so excited they went and shared and all obeyed and were accepted. They obeyed immediately and with joy! The seed is growing!
Here is where is goes wrong. 25On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 3 days later instead of welcoming their new brothers they brought death. Opposite of 3 days later Jesus bringing life. 27The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. Started with two brothers and spread to all. If these people were so bad they should not have needed all their stuff? We will never turn down what seems to be a prize even when we killed to get it. Something is always growing. Awfully quick how the thorns can grow and kill the seed.
30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household." Jacob brings judgment, “you have brought trouble on me”. Their sins affected more than just them. Romans 5:18-19, Genesis 3:7-19 and 2 Samuel 12:10-12 also show this. They now stink to unbelievers because they said one thing and did the total opposite. NO MERCY. Nothing different from the rest of the world. Jacob worried the world would see their weakness and strike. He understood that they are many and without help from God they would be destroyed. With God’s help there is never too many. 2 Kings 6:15-19
31But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?" The two son’s response is far too familiar. Should I not strike back because someone wronged me? All about me feeling vindicated. If I had any real love and mercy I would always swallow my pride and accept and teach anyone God has brought. No matter if I felt wronged or not. This is the sole purpose of the church. Make disciples! They acted like Jonah, like the prodigal son’s brother. Angry that what they looked down on was accepted/forgiven so easily. They acted opposite of how Christ did. Christ never fought back! Most anger he ever showed was against the so-called church. He always loved the lost. His mercy and forgiveness in the worst wronging in history saved the thief beside him. Luke 23:42-43 All because he did not fight back like everyone else before. Exodus 22:21-24 and 23:9, Proverbs 4:16, Jeremiah 32 and Acts 16:25-34 are other places were fighting was not the answer.
Here is my personal experience with this. I have a bit of a temper. Many of you that know me are laughing at my gross understating of this. As I grew and learned about fighting and my temper I realized I must control this. That was fine until I got in high school and boys like to try each other, but I always stayed away from the opportunities to fight. After a few times of feeling picked on and God not doing anything about it, I guess I decided to fix this on my own. By the time college started I was sick of people thinking they could pick on the nice guy. I started fighting back. Always! I justified most of them, but if you wronged me I got even. If you talked back I verbally assaulted you worse. If you were a guy and stood up to me or talked back too much I figured I would teach you to listen to me. I quickly realized what I feared as a child. I was extremely talented at inflicting pain. The fights were mostly when drunk, which is yet another reason to not drink, but it didn’t really matter anymore. I was going to be listened to one way or the other. What I see now is most people just ended up scared or hating how violent I could be, not coming to the crazy mean guy for advise and help. The last fight I ever picked was when some total stranger had talked back to me in a bar and when he left I followed him out. He ended up having a friend, but that wasn’t a big deal. I do not remember much of this, but a friend told me this story about a year ago. I remember picking a fight with the two guys and winning and then all the sudden they had a lot more friends that I saw when we started. I got my hiney kicked. Lol. My friend said the problem came when one of their girlfriends jumped in and hit me too. I do not remember, but he said I hit her back pretty hard and that is when this guy’s entire crew jumped in. My friend said he even got beat up because of what I started and did. There are to lessons that I want to talk about. First is easy. Violence and anger are sins and are not to be messed with. Like all other sin if not controlled it will grow into something you would swear could never happen. I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles I would never hit a girl and I did. That shows me I am capable of any evil whether saved or not. We all must control our thorns.
Second lesson is I only stopped the physical fighting when that happened. I never really gave all that anger to God. I just started verbally and emotionally fighting back next. I believe this is a major problem with the church today. NO FORGIVENESS. The first failure these two brothers had was not forgiving and not accepting. Sure we do not physically kill as much as the Old Testament, but I believe our lack of acceptance is a much more painful death that we are placing on people. I want this real clear. The Bible is for everyone. Any that believe and ask are saved and are equal heirs. Our limiting of Christ’s mercy is what this chapter is all about. Those two brothers took away the opportunity to know God. They executed their own judgment because they were wronged and they will answer for that one day! Think about that when you want to get even. We are to never repay evil for evil. Eye for an eye is not an option. We are not acting like our example! Our sole purpose is to love God and then each other and make disciple. If we run everyone off, these are hard to accomplish. Then everyone is wrong. They are still held accountable for run away and we are for running them off. See how easy it is for everyone to be out of fellowship. Lets forgive a little quicker!
This old quote from a DC talk album has always stuck with me. “The single largest cause of atheism today is when Christians say they believe one thing and then walk out the door and do another. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable!”
I love you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Genesis 34
1Now Dinah the daughter of Leah, whom she had borne to Jacob, went out to see the women of the land. 2And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, the prince of the land, saw her, he seized her and lay with her and humiliated her. 3And his soul was drawn to Dinah the daughter of Jacob. He loved the young woman and spoke tenderly to her. 4So Shechem spoke to his father Hamor, saying, "Get me this girl for my wife." 5Now Jacob heard that he had defiled his daughter Dinah. But his sons were with his livestock in the field, so Jacob held his peace until they came. 6And Hamor the father of Shechem went out to Jacob to speak with him. 7The sons of Jacob had come in from the field as soon as they heard of it, and the men were indignant and very angry, because he had done an outrageous thing in Israel by lying with Jacob’s daughter, for such a thing must not be done. They were angry. That is ok. We are not to take our own vengeance tho. 8But Hamor spoke with them, saying, "The soul of my son Shechem longs for your daughter. Please give her to him to be his wife.
9Make marriages with us. Give your daughters to us, and take our daughters for yourselves. 10You shall dwell with us, and the land shall be open to you. Dwell and trade in it, and get property in it." Sounds good but wrong. You shall dwell with us – devil told Jesus he would give him all he saw – land will be open to you – it is all God’s anyway – anyone outside the fellowship of God wants anyone inside fellowship to conform to them because they do not want to obey and conform to God 11Shechem also said to her father and to her brothers, "Let me find favor in your eyes, and whatever you say to me I will give. 12Ask me for as great a bride price and gift as you will, and I will give whatever you say to me. Only give me the young woman to be my wife." The world is always looking for acceptance. They will pay anything to feel accepted. To not feel guilty for what they know are wrong actions. If they truly did not care to be they would not try so hard to talk everyone in to saying there sin is ok. They will do anything to get what they want.
13The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and his father Hamor deceitfully, because he had defiled their sister Dinah. 14They said to them, "We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one who is uncircumcised, for that would be a disgrace to us. Response starts good. 15Only on this condition will we agree with you—that you will become as we are by every male among you being circumcised. We can not conform to you, but if you will conform to God we can become ONE people of ONE God. 16Then we will give our daughters to you, and we will take your daughters to ourselves, and we will dwell with you and become one people. Division kills. If they conform then they should be treated as all the same. 17But if you will not listen to us and be circumcised, then we will take our daughter, and we will be gone." Even if they did not agree this would have been the correct response. We are not to get even.
18Their words pleased Hamor and Hamor’s son Shechem. 19And the young man did not delay to do the thing, because he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. Now he was the most honored of all his father’s house. They were excited to be accepted by God’s people even when they had to do the conforming. 20So Hamor and his son Shechem came to the gate of their city and spoke to the men of their city, saying, 21"These men are at peace with us; let them dwell in the land and trade in it, for behold, the land is large enough for them. Let us take their daughters as wives, and let us give them our daughters. 22Only on this condition will the men agree to dwell with us to become one people—when every male among us is circumcised as they are circumcised. 23Will not their livestock, their property and all their beasts be ours? Only let us agree with them, and they will dwell with us." 24And all who went out of the gate of his city listened to Hamor and his son Shechem, and every male was circumcised, all who went out of the gate of his city. They were so excited they went and shared and all obeyed and were accepted. They obeyed immediately and with joy! The seed is growing!
Here is where is goes wrong. 25On the third day, when they were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s brothers, took their swords and came against the city while it felt secure and killed all the males. 26They killed Hamor and his son Shechem with the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house and went away. 3 days later instead of welcoming their new brothers they brought death. Opposite of 3 days later Jesus bringing life. 27The sons of Jacob came upon the slain and plundered the city, because they had defiled their sister. 28They took their flocks and their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the city and in the field. 29All their wealth, all their little ones and their wives, all that was in the houses, they captured and plundered. Started with two brothers and spread to all. If these people were so bad they should not have needed all their stuff? We will never turn down what seems to be a prize even when we killed to get it. Something is always growing. Awfully quick how the thorns can grow and kill the seed.
30Then Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, "You have brought trouble on me by making me stink to the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites. My numbers are few, and if they gather themselves against me and attack me, I shall be destroyed, both I and my household." Jacob brings judgment, “you have brought trouble on me”. Their sins affected more than just them. Romans 5:18-19, Genesis 3:7-19 and 2 Samuel 12:10-12 also show this. They now stink to unbelievers because they said one thing and did the total opposite. NO MERCY. Nothing different from the rest of the world. Jacob worried the world would see their weakness and strike. He understood that they are many and without help from God they would be destroyed. With God’s help there is never too many. 2 Kings 6:15-19
31But they said, "Should he treat our sister like a prostitute?" The two son’s response is far too familiar. Should I not strike back because someone wronged me? All about me feeling vindicated. If I had any real love and mercy I would always swallow my pride and accept and teach anyone God has brought. No matter if I felt wronged or not. This is the sole purpose of the church. Make disciples! They acted like Jonah, like the prodigal son’s brother. Angry that what they looked down on was accepted/forgiven so easily. They acted opposite of how Christ did. Christ never fought back! Most anger he ever showed was against the so-called church. He always loved the lost. His mercy and forgiveness in the worst wronging in history saved the thief beside him. Luke 23:42-43 All because he did not fight back like everyone else before. Exodus 22:21-24 and 23:9, Proverbs 4:16, Jeremiah 32 and Acts 16:25-34 are other places were fighting was not the answer.
Here is my personal experience with this. I have a bit of a temper. Many of you that know me are laughing at my gross understating of this. As I grew and learned about fighting and my temper I realized I must control this. That was fine until I got in high school and boys like to try each other, but I always stayed away from the opportunities to fight. After a few times of feeling picked on and God not doing anything about it, I guess I decided to fix this on my own. By the time college started I was sick of people thinking they could pick on the nice guy. I started fighting back. Always! I justified most of them, but if you wronged me I got even. If you talked back I verbally assaulted you worse. If you were a guy and stood up to me or talked back too much I figured I would teach you to listen to me. I quickly realized what I feared as a child. I was extremely talented at inflicting pain. The fights were mostly when drunk, which is yet another reason to not drink, but it didn’t really matter anymore. I was going to be listened to one way or the other. What I see now is most people just ended up scared or hating how violent I could be, not coming to the crazy mean guy for advise and help. The last fight I ever picked was when some total stranger had talked back to me in a bar and when he left I followed him out. He ended up having a friend, but that wasn’t a big deal. I do not remember much of this, but a friend told me this story about a year ago. I remember picking a fight with the two guys and winning and then all the sudden they had a lot more friends that I saw when we started. I got my hiney kicked. Lol. My friend said the problem came when one of their girlfriends jumped in and hit me too. I do not remember, but he said I hit her back pretty hard and that is when this guy’s entire crew jumped in. My friend said he even got beat up because of what I started and did. There are to lessons that I want to talk about. First is easy. Violence and anger are sins and are not to be messed with. Like all other sin if not controlled it will grow into something you would swear could never happen. I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles I would never hit a girl and I did. That shows me I am capable of any evil whether saved or not. We all must control our thorns.
Second lesson is I only stopped the physical fighting when that happened. I never really gave all that anger to God. I just started verbally and emotionally fighting back next. I believe this is a major problem with the church today. NO FORGIVENESS. The first failure these two brothers had was not forgiving and not accepting. Sure we do not physically kill as much as the Old Testament, but I believe our lack of acceptance is a much more painful death that we are placing on people. I want this real clear. The Bible is for everyone. Any that believe and ask are saved and are equal heirs. Our limiting of Christ’s mercy is what this chapter is all about. Those two brothers took away the opportunity to know God. They executed their own judgment because they were wronged and they will answer for that one day! Think about that when you want to get even. We are to never repay evil for evil. Eye for an eye is not an option. We are not acting like our example! Our sole purpose is to love God and then each other and make disciple. If we run everyone off, these are hard to accomplish. Then everyone is wrong. They are still held accountable for run away and we are for running them off. See how easy it is for everyone to be out of fellowship. Lets forgive a little quicker!
This old quote from a DC talk album has always stuck with me. “The single largest cause of atheism today is when Christians say they believe one thing and then walk out the door and do another. This is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable!”
I love you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Thorns
The “thorn” in the Bible is a symbol of man’s sin, evil, wickedness, etc. It can be used to mean struggle or opposition or is a result or punishment for our sin. No matter how you look at it thorns are bad and we all have them to deal with. The 1st 41 references are in the Old Testament which is when God taught us thru Israel’s good and bad times … how to fear, obey and do so as we rejoice due to God loving us even when we do not deserve it. Solomon, the wisest man ever, repeated over and over that our wisdom starts with fearing our Holy God so we might obey him more often and avoid many of these thorns. We only know what to obey by reading the Bible, listening to the spirit and praying. All of this is because God only wants to make us holy like him and that is best no matter the cost or pain to us. Therefore, we should rejoice facing our thorns or the thorns of the world because if we are in good fellowship with God the thorns will burn up or be removed and all this will be used to show that he is the one true God. If we are not in good fellowship, meaning zero un-repented sin hanging out there, we are adding to the thorn problem.
I had to understand and deal with how evil half of me still is. This is a must before I could ever expect to get a better relationship with God in this life, which is only for serving him and furthering his kingdom. I never thought I needed to go thru my daily life and be so critical of my sins because “God loves me anyway”. Guess what? He loves everyone else just as much and my sin has consequences on all! Romans 5:18-19, Genesis 3:7-19, 2 Samuel 12:10-12 We are so quick to say sinners deserve what they get or blame it all on the bad people, listen up; we are all still huge sinners! Good news is, if we believe Jesus truly loved us enough to die for us and was raised three days later, we have the power thru the Holy Spirit to control our thorns more often. It’s a deception of the devil to believe I was past needing (thorn checks) because I had accepted Christ. . Listen up; we are a NEW CREATION only because we have a new hope of eternal salvation thru Jesus, 1 Peter 1:3, and the Holy Spirit to help until we actually get our new body like Jesus. Only through obedience though. I want everyone to understand how much I wish I would have gave into this sooner. I don’t want you to have to go thru what I did. God is very clear he disciplines his people whom he loves at any cost, but if we will fear him, obey and repent, he turns back to us and helps us deal this. I just finally laid it all back at the bottom of the cross and his blood covered it. Once saved always saved, but this removes the thorns that can entangle us again and only then releases the freedom of the cross. The freedom is the peace and rest I could never find without true fellowship thru Christ. This is revival! I believe we fight this cause we fear the small amount of pain needed to get to the good part. I bet if you were going to die and the doctor said you need a surgery that would hurt for a second, but save your life and free you, you would be waiting in line for that. It is time to take our medicine! I promise it is worth it!
Israel’s journey showed me that the thorns get worse and worse. He pleads and then judgment. The end of old and new begins. All the revivals start with dealing with the thorns. Consecrate yourself, clean yourself, and crucify my flesh. God doesn’t remove my sinful flesh until physical death, but by allowing the Spirit to reveal my weak points I can achieve more self-control of my flesh. This takes us all the way through the Bible to show Israel failed and if we are not careful we will do the same very soon. We are all the children of God, God’s people. We need to learn more from their mistakes.
• Punishment for disobeying to remind us forever ---Gen 3:18
We need reminders because after our first sin it did not seem to take long until it got so bad God even said he underestimated how bad we were and questioned himself about creating us so he destroyed the whole world except for one that saved all of mankind. Sound familiar? Genesis 6:6-8
• We will pay if our evil harms others --- Exodus 22:6
Shortly after this God gets so sick of our thorns he has to actually separate himself or consume us. Exodus 33:3. Glad he had a plan to restore our fellowship!
• If you don’t remove temptation of evil you will suffer for it – we aren’t strong enough to live with evil and not do the same --- Num 33:55
We can’t grow the seed among the thorns. Cleanse and rebuild the temple as the revivals speak of. Get rid of our sin!
• Keep it up and He will not help – you will face evil on your own and lose --- Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3
• If you repent He will help. Gideon asked others for help and when they denied they were punished – once evil was gone, 40 years of peace --- Judges 8:7 and 16
The end result of all great revivals is peace and rest. These are things we think we can accomplish on our own. We have been lied to. Nothing on this planet brings the peace we are groaning for.
• Then back to falling for false teachers because we don’t want to follow only God – willingly follow evil – Israel begged for Saul also – we totally ask for it --- Judges 9:14-15
• Evil is not to be messed with, not even touched with the hand and we know this --- 2 Samuel 23:7, Proverbs 22:5
This is why they were killed if needed, to get ready for the revival. At all cost you must remove temptation and not mess around. No half doing it. Remove all high places. Now we can’t kill everyone put we are to crucify our flesh and run from sin.
• Our desire can overwhelm us --- Job 5:5
• Evil has no real power to harm if in good fellowship with God --- 2 Samuel 23:6, Psalm 58:9 and Psalms 118:12
The devil can only use what we hold as more important than God against us. If God truly is all that matters we should never fear evil. God promises if we obey he is there.
• Lazy are blocked by their own evil or sin blocks your way and for the righteous the path is cleared ---Proverbs 15:19
All real revival leads to God going before them and helping clear the path. If not, they are defeated and they never rebuilt as instructed.
• Sin grows --- Proverbs 24:31
• Sinners don’t even understand the punishment – drunks don’t even feel the thorns – wisdom is wasted on a fool/arrogant – don’t even argue with them --- Proverbs 26:9
We try to distract ours with any pleasures to make ourselves happy and to make the convicting stop. Happy is such a weak emotion. It is completely dependent on what happens to us. This is why we have to keep trying harder to be happy. Once something bad happens to us, no happiness. God brings joy! Paul rejoiced in his struggles. Totally different way to live.
• The happiness of a fool is short-lived ---Ecclesiastes 7:6
• The righteous should stick out among the wicked ---Song of Solomon 2:2
• God allows evil to increase and makes our lives tougher as punishment ---Isaiah 5:6
• The wicked are coming to overrun ---Isaiah 7:19
• Wealth will do no good, it is short-lived and easily ruined by evil ---Isaiah 7:23
• Men will have to defend themselves due to wickedness being unchecked ---Isaiah 7:24
• No one is tending the grounds because of fear of evil has overtaken, animals are turned loose to run freely – a wild place --- Isaiah 7:25
We have to tend our own ground. Have to remove the thorns or they will win. Consecrate yourselves. If you fear it you will serve it. Fear God only!!
• As wickedness rages, the Holy One, in a single day destroys evil – the cross – this gets me “tackle someone” excited!! – this is what it’s all about baby!! ---Isaiah 10:17
• God protects ---Isaiah 27:4
• Mourn for Israel because they are so happy in their sin ---Isaiah 32:13
Does it ever sink in that God goes out of his way to set up everything for us and we turn and run the other way most of the time or figure our plan sure sounds better? He actually mourns for us. We break his heart.
• They will be burnt up ---Isaiah 9:18 and Isaiah 33:12
• Still increasing ---Isaiah 34:13
• Jesus is everlasting ---Isaiah 55:13
• Repent, break up the unplowed ground and remove thorns (Revival) ---Jeremiah 4:3
• If you don’t remove evil your works are a waste of time, thorns will ruin and God is against you --- Jeremiah 12:13
This is huge! We can work ourselves to death, but if it wasn’t what he wanted it is worthless to him. He is displeased with most of OUR work right now.
• Do not fear Israel’s wickedness – obey no matter whom is against you. Full circle – God’s chosen are now the wicked – being feared by the righteous ---Ezekiel 2:6
• God will bless just to prove he is God ---Ezekiel 28:24
• Eventually He will allow your evil to trap us ---Hosea 2:6
• Judgment is coming – are we really ready for this? ---Hosea 9:6
• Wickedness will be destroyed – they will wish they were dead --- Hosea 10:8
Have you ever gotten to the point where you realized that disobeying God is so painful you wished you were dead? I have!! It is the total lack of peace that some of you know far too well.
• No righteous - the best are thorns - Israel is hardened, confused and trapped
in their sin – drunk and consumed like tender --- Micah 7:4 and Nahum 1:10
Do I really need to point out the multiple references to drinking and how we should not play around with sin? Wine in the bible is cough medicine at best. We make fun of the homeless for drinking that to get drunk. The people in the bible would think us barbaric for what we drink. This rebate angers God and we have been confused and trapped by it!!
Israel is God’s chosen, he called and they accepted, just as we are his chosen now. Is this not the theme of the Bible? God is just. He is faithful and to be feared. We always disobey. He disciplines. We only turn back after enduring way to much struggle because we are arrogant in our own desires or ability to fix it. God forgives. If this continues it always gets worse the next time until we are trapped by our wickedness and God is just for allowing this. Listen up, all sin angers God. He hates our sin, but loves us. Almost too much for our own good, but he wants to only love thru kindness. I would be better served if he made me fear him more often though. It is the only way we obey! Exodus 20:20, Proverbs 16:6 Maybe I was just too stubborn to acknowledge the beating I was taking? Maybe you are different? Because he is perfectly just he must at some point punish for not repenting of sin. Repenting means wanting that change in your heart and actually changing! Stop sinning! If we don’t he will actually be against us! I finally understand this is something I never want again!
The last 14 references in the New Testament will show you that we are given the history of Israel because that is us now. Are we all not God’s people, he made us all, and we are all saved by faith? The only thing different in the New Testament is Jesus instead of “the law”. Listen, there are no new things and you better believe history repeats itself and that concerns me. I have been finding it very interesting how the Old Testament goes into such great detail to explain a topic such as the thorn and the New Testament is pretty short and to the point. I believe it does this because as God’s people we should already have known most of this before Jesus came and died for us. I believe we have overlooked the amount of teaching in the Old Testament. Here is the New Testament:
• Warning of false teacher --- Matthew 7:16, Luke 6:44
Anything that is not in line with scripture is false. These false teachers can be anyone teaching his word incorrectly. We are asked to test everything we hear by his word. I am asking you to test everything I write. If it is not right it is your duty as a brother or sister to lovingly bring that to my attention. If you do not you will be held accountable also. Please, only with scripture though.
• Can’t grow seed among thorns, the thorns will always ruin the seed – can’t serve God and flesh – we will always side with our flesh and never mature or be fruitful ---Matthew 13:7 and 22, Mark 4:7 and 18-19, Luke 8:7 and 14
This is the call to revival. Remove the thorns or we will be strangled to death. Something is always growing too. If the seed is not growing the thorns are. There is no complacency in a relationship with God. We have far too much to be taught to get lazy and quit growing.
• Wickedness has gotten to such a point that it mocks God with its own evil and arrogance ---Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2 and 5 sounds like Lamech in Genesis 4:23-24 also
• We will never get rid of evil – even in the best of us – realization of always being a sinner should humble us more often and rely on his strength --- 2 Corinthians 12:7
I finally understood that if a man like Paul could not pray them away I had zero chance. I humble myself and let God deal with it. We are pitifully weak but he has plenty of strength. We just have the wrong guy fighting.
• Without being useful for God we are worthless – in danger of being cursed – in the end they will be burned --- Hebrews 6:8
This sounds way too much like we have heard in the Old Testament. Don’t be misled, can’t serve two God’s, we are so arrogant we mock God with our sin and he warns before it is too late to break-up the unplowed ground – the unwillingness to deal with our sin problem and endure a little disciple is our downfall. We think we are past that and have become pharisutical and lazy and only looking for more blessings and standing. Wandering why everything has gotten so bad and the church will be very sorry if we don’t repent. We are all judged for all deeds and or lack of. Jesus does not leave us unaccountable for sin except in the case of salvation. We will answer for all of our works/actions. Ezekiel speaks of this. We will all stand and give an account of our stewardship of his blood. John went to heaven. John warns about being ashamed when we get there. We need to FEAR this more than we do.
I am so excited about what is coming I can’t stand it! I want to say one last thing and this is important. It is time to put up or shut up. God hates lukewarm worse than cold. Revelations 3: 14-17 If you are not going to do this and mean it you are asking for it, if you run around saying it without living it or if you don’t believe we all need this just stop reading. The Bible is clear that evil does not ever win. If the Church is obeying his word God fights this battle for us. Evil is winning, agreed? That means he ain’t fighting for us right now cause we ain’t obeying. We all need to break up our untilled ground before it is too late! I finally realized if I quit now I would never be able to live with myself and God would never let me!!!
I love you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
I had to understand and deal with how evil half of me still is. This is a must before I could ever expect to get a better relationship with God in this life, which is only for serving him and furthering his kingdom. I never thought I needed to go thru my daily life and be so critical of my sins because “God loves me anyway”. Guess what? He loves everyone else just as much and my sin has consequences on all! Romans 5:18-19, Genesis 3:7-19, 2 Samuel 12:10-12 We are so quick to say sinners deserve what they get or blame it all on the bad people, listen up; we are all still huge sinners! Good news is, if we believe Jesus truly loved us enough to die for us and was raised three days later, we have the power thru the Holy Spirit to control our thorns more often. It’s a deception of the devil to believe I was past needing (thorn checks) because I had accepted Christ. . Listen up; we are a NEW CREATION only because we have a new hope of eternal salvation thru Jesus, 1 Peter 1:3, and the Holy Spirit to help until we actually get our new body like Jesus. Only through obedience though. I want everyone to understand how much I wish I would have gave into this sooner. I don’t want you to have to go thru what I did. God is very clear he disciplines his people whom he loves at any cost, but if we will fear him, obey and repent, he turns back to us and helps us deal this. I just finally laid it all back at the bottom of the cross and his blood covered it. Once saved always saved, but this removes the thorns that can entangle us again and only then releases the freedom of the cross. The freedom is the peace and rest I could never find without true fellowship thru Christ. This is revival! I believe we fight this cause we fear the small amount of pain needed to get to the good part. I bet if you were going to die and the doctor said you need a surgery that would hurt for a second, but save your life and free you, you would be waiting in line for that. It is time to take our medicine! I promise it is worth it!
Israel’s journey showed me that the thorns get worse and worse. He pleads and then judgment. The end of old and new begins. All the revivals start with dealing with the thorns. Consecrate yourself, clean yourself, and crucify my flesh. God doesn’t remove my sinful flesh until physical death, but by allowing the Spirit to reveal my weak points I can achieve more self-control of my flesh. This takes us all the way through the Bible to show Israel failed and if we are not careful we will do the same very soon. We are all the children of God, God’s people. We need to learn more from their mistakes.
• Punishment for disobeying to remind us forever ---Gen 3:18
We need reminders because after our first sin it did not seem to take long until it got so bad God even said he underestimated how bad we were and questioned himself about creating us so he destroyed the whole world except for one that saved all of mankind. Sound familiar? Genesis 6:6-8
• We will pay if our evil harms others --- Exodus 22:6
Shortly after this God gets so sick of our thorns he has to actually separate himself or consume us. Exodus 33:3. Glad he had a plan to restore our fellowship!
• If you don’t remove temptation of evil you will suffer for it – we aren’t strong enough to live with evil and not do the same --- Num 33:55
We can’t grow the seed among the thorns. Cleanse and rebuild the temple as the revivals speak of. Get rid of our sin!
• Keep it up and He will not help – you will face evil on your own and lose --- Joshua 23:13, Judges 2:3
• If you repent He will help. Gideon asked others for help and when they denied they were punished – once evil was gone, 40 years of peace --- Judges 8:7 and 16
The end result of all great revivals is peace and rest. These are things we think we can accomplish on our own. We have been lied to. Nothing on this planet brings the peace we are groaning for.
• Then back to falling for false teachers because we don’t want to follow only God – willingly follow evil – Israel begged for Saul also – we totally ask for it --- Judges 9:14-15
• Evil is not to be messed with, not even touched with the hand and we know this --- 2 Samuel 23:7, Proverbs 22:5
This is why they were killed if needed, to get ready for the revival. At all cost you must remove temptation and not mess around. No half doing it. Remove all high places. Now we can’t kill everyone put we are to crucify our flesh and run from sin.
• Our desire can overwhelm us --- Job 5:5
• Evil has no real power to harm if in good fellowship with God --- 2 Samuel 23:6, Psalm 58:9 and Psalms 118:12
The devil can only use what we hold as more important than God against us. If God truly is all that matters we should never fear evil. God promises if we obey he is there.
• Lazy are blocked by their own evil or sin blocks your way and for the righteous the path is cleared ---Proverbs 15:19
All real revival leads to God going before them and helping clear the path. If not, they are defeated and they never rebuilt as instructed.
• Sin grows --- Proverbs 24:31
• Sinners don’t even understand the punishment – drunks don’t even feel the thorns – wisdom is wasted on a fool/arrogant – don’t even argue with them --- Proverbs 26:9
We try to distract ours with any pleasures to make ourselves happy and to make the convicting stop. Happy is such a weak emotion. It is completely dependent on what happens to us. This is why we have to keep trying harder to be happy. Once something bad happens to us, no happiness. God brings joy! Paul rejoiced in his struggles. Totally different way to live.
• The happiness of a fool is short-lived ---Ecclesiastes 7:6
• The righteous should stick out among the wicked ---Song of Solomon 2:2
• God allows evil to increase and makes our lives tougher as punishment ---Isaiah 5:6
• The wicked are coming to overrun ---Isaiah 7:19
• Wealth will do no good, it is short-lived and easily ruined by evil ---Isaiah 7:23
• Men will have to defend themselves due to wickedness being unchecked ---Isaiah 7:24
• No one is tending the grounds because of fear of evil has overtaken, animals are turned loose to run freely – a wild place --- Isaiah 7:25
We have to tend our own ground. Have to remove the thorns or they will win. Consecrate yourselves. If you fear it you will serve it. Fear God only!!
• As wickedness rages, the Holy One, in a single day destroys evil – the cross – this gets me “tackle someone” excited!! – this is what it’s all about baby!! ---Isaiah 10:17
• God protects ---Isaiah 27:4
• Mourn for Israel because they are so happy in their sin ---Isaiah 32:13
Does it ever sink in that God goes out of his way to set up everything for us and we turn and run the other way most of the time or figure our plan sure sounds better? He actually mourns for us. We break his heart.
• They will be burnt up ---Isaiah 9:18 and Isaiah 33:12
• Still increasing ---Isaiah 34:13
• Jesus is everlasting ---Isaiah 55:13
• Repent, break up the unplowed ground and remove thorns (Revival) ---Jeremiah 4:3
• If you don’t remove evil your works are a waste of time, thorns will ruin and God is against you --- Jeremiah 12:13
This is huge! We can work ourselves to death, but if it wasn’t what he wanted it is worthless to him. He is displeased with most of OUR work right now.
• Do not fear Israel’s wickedness – obey no matter whom is against you. Full circle – God’s chosen are now the wicked – being feared by the righteous ---Ezekiel 2:6
• God will bless just to prove he is God ---Ezekiel 28:24
• Eventually He will allow your evil to trap us ---Hosea 2:6
• Judgment is coming – are we really ready for this? ---Hosea 9:6
• Wickedness will be destroyed – they will wish they were dead --- Hosea 10:8
Have you ever gotten to the point where you realized that disobeying God is so painful you wished you were dead? I have!! It is the total lack of peace that some of you know far too well.
• No righteous - the best are thorns - Israel is hardened, confused and trapped
in their sin – drunk and consumed like tender --- Micah 7:4 and Nahum 1:10
Do I really need to point out the multiple references to drinking and how we should not play around with sin? Wine in the bible is cough medicine at best. We make fun of the homeless for drinking that to get drunk. The people in the bible would think us barbaric for what we drink. This rebate angers God and we have been confused and trapped by it!!
Israel is God’s chosen, he called and they accepted, just as we are his chosen now. Is this not the theme of the Bible? God is just. He is faithful and to be feared. We always disobey. He disciplines. We only turn back after enduring way to much struggle because we are arrogant in our own desires or ability to fix it. God forgives. If this continues it always gets worse the next time until we are trapped by our wickedness and God is just for allowing this. Listen up, all sin angers God. He hates our sin, but loves us. Almost too much for our own good, but he wants to only love thru kindness. I would be better served if he made me fear him more often though. It is the only way we obey! Exodus 20:20, Proverbs 16:6 Maybe I was just too stubborn to acknowledge the beating I was taking? Maybe you are different? Because he is perfectly just he must at some point punish for not repenting of sin. Repenting means wanting that change in your heart and actually changing! Stop sinning! If we don’t he will actually be against us! I finally understand this is something I never want again!
The last 14 references in the New Testament will show you that we are given the history of Israel because that is us now. Are we all not God’s people, he made us all, and we are all saved by faith? The only thing different in the New Testament is Jesus instead of “the law”. Listen, there are no new things and you better believe history repeats itself and that concerns me. I have been finding it very interesting how the Old Testament goes into such great detail to explain a topic such as the thorn and the New Testament is pretty short and to the point. I believe it does this because as God’s people we should already have known most of this before Jesus came and died for us. I believe we have overlooked the amount of teaching in the Old Testament. Here is the New Testament:
• Warning of false teacher --- Matthew 7:16, Luke 6:44
Anything that is not in line with scripture is false. These false teachers can be anyone teaching his word incorrectly. We are asked to test everything we hear by his word. I am asking you to test everything I write. If it is not right it is your duty as a brother or sister to lovingly bring that to my attention. If you do not you will be held accountable also. Please, only with scripture though.
• Can’t grow seed among thorns, the thorns will always ruin the seed – can’t serve God and flesh – we will always side with our flesh and never mature or be fruitful ---Matthew 13:7 and 22, Mark 4:7 and 18-19, Luke 8:7 and 14
This is the call to revival. Remove the thorns or we will be strangled to death. Something is always growing too. If the seed is not growing the thorns are. There is no complacency in a relationship with God. We have far too much to be taught to get lazy and quit growing.
• Wickedness has gotten to such a point that it mocks God with its own evil and arrogance ---Matthew 27:29, Mark 15:17, John 19:2 and 5 sounds like Lamech in Genesis 4:23-24 also
• We will never get rid of evil – even in the best of us – realization of always being a sinner should humble us more often and rely on his strength --- 2 Corinthians 12:7
I finally understood that if a man like Paul could not pray them away I had zero chance. I humble myself and let God deal with it. We are pitifully weak but he has plenty of strength. We just have the wrong guy fighting.
• Without being useful for God we are worthless – in danger of being cursed – in the end they will be burned --- Hebrews 6:8
This sounds way too much like we have heard in the Old Testament. Don’t be misled, can’t serve two God’s, we are so arrogant we mock God with our sin and he warns before it is too late to break-up the unplowed ground – the unwillingness to deal with our sin problem and endure a little disciple is our downfall. We think we are past that and have become pharisutical and lazy and only looking for more blessings and standing. Wandering why everything has gotten so bad and the church will be very sorry if we don’t repent. We are all judged for all deeds and or lack of. Jesus does not leave us unaccountable for sin except in the case of salvation. We will answer for all of our works/actions. Ezekiel speaks of this. We will all stand and give an account of our stewardship of his blood. John went to heaven. John warns about being ashamed when we get there. We need to FEAR this more than we do.
I am so excited about what is coming I can’t stand it! I want to say one last thing and this is important. It is time to put up or shut up. God hates lukewarm worse than cold. Revelations 3: 14-17 If you are not going to do this and mean it you are asking for it, if you run around saying it without living it or if you don’t believe we all need this just stop reading. The Bible is clear that evil does not ever win. If the Church is obeying his word God fights this battle for us. Evil is winning, agreed? That means he ain’t fighting for us right now cause we ain’t obeying. We all need to break up our untilled ground before it is too late! I finally realized if I quit now I would never be able to live with myself and God would never let me!!!
I love you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Thursday, October 21, 2010
The start of Revival!
As I ended last time I have been drawn to a few topics that have led me to a revival of my spirit. One of the last things that just slapped me in the face, but was super important was reading Hebrews 5. This is where they are explaining that Jesus is the ultimate high priest and why. How he became the author of our salvation and he is always the mark that we are to aim for.
Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Regular men are asked to serve the rest of mankind, “ordained FOR men”. This starts teaching the true meanings of LOVE! God asks I obey. The only way I can love God is thru total obedience. John 14: 21-23 and 2 John 1:6 Doing this for the benefit of others is how we LOVE each other. John 15:13 It’s all about helping others, never about me!
Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
This is the importance of Jesus being fully human as well as fully God, so he could understand our flesh. Now seeing that we are all just normal men who are all sinful by nature, we should be more compassionate to the unsaved and the backslider. I sure know how easy it is to be “out of the way”.
Heb 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
So I as a priest should offer for sins of all which includes me, so all of us can have and keep closer fellowship with God the Father. One sin without repentance breaks fellowship, and yes that goes for God’s people before Christ and after. Being saved just means “no Hell”, everything else still applies.
Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
We do not call ourselves to leadership or do it to gain honor, but we are the brotherhood of priests now and this is our example of the best one ever. I am afraid there are too many in it for the wrong reasons, as people wanting to uplift themselves or obtain some kind of reward on earth. I personally feel I have aided this by not answering some of God’s calls in my life. Telling God no is a really bad plan by the way.
Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Next cool thing I started picking up on was the New Testament sure does quote the Old Testament a lot! It is used to show something has come to pass or to validate truths. I believe some time ago I had told myself the Old Testament is just old. It is not that important is it? I believe it is quoted about 700 times in the New Testament. That is about 25 times per book. Jesus quoted it constantly. Seems pretty important and a lot to overlook.
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Jesus is assuming the role of intercessor that Moses, Abraham, David and others did for God’s people. Offering prayers and negotiating with loud and forceful cries unto the Father. God listened because he feared! Am I really to fear God? Can’t I just respect him? Kinda like a loving grandfather that always has candy for me when I see him. We better fear him! I learned this one the hard way. Jesus even feared the Father and spoke of it more than just here. This will be the focus of Revival. I am fearful by nature. The quicker I realize who to fear the better. I believe this to be the greatest deception of our time. The serpent told Eve “surely God doesn’t really mean you will die”. Trade the words “will die” for “must fear” and here we are back in the garden being deceived.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Listen up, no one is special and gets a free pass after salvation. If Christ had to suffer so shall we. Paul writes that we are to perfect or complete our salvation thru suffering! He learned obedience thru what he suffered. WOW! I had made every excuse possible to not suffer. Shouldn’t this be easier? God doesn’t want me to really suffer does he? I guess I figured fearing and obeying could be gotten around and suffering was just not an option. Fearing and suffering lead to obedience and where in here does it say this is easy. God says easy love is worthless, even sinners can love when it is easy. Luke 6:32 Bottom line is, if I love at all I should go to any lengths to show it! I just hate to suffer and I hate to obey and was being selfish. This is why I need an intercessor like Christ.
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Made perfect is 100% obedience. No sin! Praise the lord his perfect obedience came to completion on the cross and he rose three days later. He became the author of salvation thru this to ALL who obey him. This means all that believe and ask. Just like the thief hanging right beside him. He sure didn’t have time to earn it. Awesome part is this has been the plan since beginning of time.
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
They would like me to know more about Jesus, but I am so dull of hearing it is hard to explain. Hey, I am a smart guy. I have read the Bible. What’s up with this?
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Now this hit me hard, but this got me thinking. This is saying by now I should be a master/teacher with an obligation to be teaching others, but I still need to be taught the basics. I need milk because I can’t handle meat. Maybe even I desired the milk because I wanted someone to do the hard part for me?
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
If I need milk I am inexperienced and almost ignorant in the word. Like an infant that can not yet speak. I have always wanted to comfort, provide, teach and protect people. This is the role of any good father. I just never understood how ignorant I was in the only help we have and which father really provides this.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
This makes a little more sense. It says I never completed what I started 30 years ago because I had not made a habit of constantly practicing the reading, use and understanding of scripture so I might be able to discern both good and evil. I believe it had been about 30 years after Christ’s death when this was written. Sounds pretty familiar and these guys had Paul and the apostles and they had fallen behind. I had overlooked the great commission. I had never finished becoming a disciple.
2Ti 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
2Ti 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Sounds like this had started to be a big problem. Here in Timothy, they have added explanation about who wrote the Bible too. Sounds simple, but I hear it all the time. Did God write it, or Paul, or Moses, etc? I have wondered too. The Bible is clear, God wrote it! Second interesting thing is if they had understanding of scripture since early childhood, they were only reading the Old Testament then. This was just being written to them. I believe we all have really lost the value of the Old Testament.
I look back at how little I had studied the word of God over the last 20 years and I am ashamed. I feel foolish to have thought I understood anything. Being saved at 9 and doing just enough, or sometimes nothing had taught me just enough to be only harmful to myself, others around me and worst of all I was harming his kingdom. I failed at the most important purpose of the church. Make disciples! Jesus saves and we help make disciples. I could never help others if I had never become one myself and that only happens thru his word and prayer! I remember a disagreement I had last summer where we were using the opposite end of the same Bible verse against each other. I want to laugh at how foolish we both were but it isn’t funny. If I am ever just half right I am totally wrong! This is one of the things God keeps reminding me of that has led to the revival of his spirit in me. It has been hard sometimes to face all my mistakes and keep getting them shown to me, but I can’t explain the freedom and peace in realizing I am worthless without his word and spirit.
Php 4:5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Php 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Php 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
There are things I wish I could take back, but through all this I have learned to embrace his discipline. It is what changed me and the Holy Spirit shows me when I mess up now. Nothing is sustainable without him and thru obedience we can be given the understanding than no matter how tough it gets it is better than being without his love. Love is never easy, but always worth it!
I hear more and more people talking, hoping and even praying for revival. God has asked me to show you what his word says about revival. It is coming! Are you ready! Reading the above scriptures I realized I may have to start back over like a little kid, but interesting how he speaks of “the faith of a child” which is probably the best kind. It is awesome to feel like a kid again! I don’t have to figure all this out on my own. I have a Father that is ready and willing to help show me the way. Listen, it is ok to be a kid at heart. I am concerned that as we get older it is much more difficult to remove our stubborn pride from his call to love him thru obeying all he asks and humbly serving others and never serve our own selfish desires. God has led me to his revivals. They are only in the Old Testament. These show how God’s people can easily fall out of fellowship, due to our disobedience and need reviving. Hosea 4:1-6 warns that the lack of truth, mercy and the knowledge of GOD is destroying us. All thru our churches and even country today, I do not believe we realize how bad we are out of his fellowship. I personally did not grasp how far from him I was. We are all being disciplined right now! All of us! It has gotten painful for everyone, but I had one thing he promises. He is always calling for us to turn back and he is ready to forgive and restore and nothing is too difficult with his help. We have to choose to turn back, and we have some serious work to do, but revival is always granted if you mean it. It is time to restore the fear of my Lord!
I love you cause Jesus loves both of us and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Heb 5:1 For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins:
Regular men are asked to serve the rest of mankind, “ordained FOR men”. This starts teaching the true meanings of LOVE! God asks I obey. The only way I can love God is thru total obedience. John 14: 21-23 and 2 John 1:6 Doing this for the benefit of others is how we LOVE each other. John 15:13 It’s all about helping others, never about me!
Heb 5:2 Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.
This is the importance of Jesus being fully human as well as fully God, so he could understand our flesh. Now seeing that we are all just normal men who are all sinful by nature, we should be more compassionate to the unsaved and the backslider. I sure know how easy it is to be “out of the way”.
Heb 5:3 And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.
So I as a priest should offer for sins of all which includes me, so all of us can have and keep closer fellowship with God the Father. One sin without repentance breaks fellowship, and yes that goes for God’s people before Christ and after. Being saved just means “no Hell”, everything else still applies.
Heb 5:4 And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.
We do not call ourselves to leadership or do it to gain honor, but we are the brotherhood of priests now and this is our example of the best one ever. I am afraid there are too many in it for the wrong reasons, as people wanting to uplift themselves or obtain some kind of reward on earth. I personally feel I have aided this by not answering some of God’s calls in my life. Telling God no is a really bad plan by the way.
Heb 5:5 So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee.
Heb 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Next cool thing I started picking up on was the New Testament sure does quote the Old Testament a lot! It is used to show something has come to pass or to validate truths. I believe some time ago I had told myself the Old Testament is just old. It is not that important is it? I believe it is quoted about 700 times in the New Testament. That is about 25 times per book. Jesus quoted it constantly. Seems pretty important and a lot to overlook.
Heb 5:7 Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;
Jesus is assuming the role of intercessor that Moses, Abraham, David and others did for God’s people. Offering prayers and negotiating with loud and forceful cries unto the Father. God listened because he feared! Am I really to fear God? Can’t I just respect him? Kinda like a loving grandfather that always has candy for me when I see him. We better fear him! I learned this one the hard way. Jesus even feared the Father and spoke of it more than just here. This will be the focus of Revival. I am fearful by nature. The quicker I realize who to fear the better. I believe this to be the greatest deception of our time. The serpent told Eve “surely God doesn’t really mean you will die”. Trade the words “will die” for “must fear” and here we are back in the garden being deceived.
Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
Listen up, no one is special and gets a free pass after salvation. If Christ had to suffer so shall we. Paul writes that we are to perfect or complete our salvation thru suffering! He learned obedience thru what he suffered. WOW! I had made every excuse possible to not suffer. Shouldn’t this be easier? God doesn’t want me to really suffer does he? I guess I figured fearing and obeying could be gotten around and suffering was just not an option. Fearing and suffering lead to obedience and where in here does it say this is easy. God says easy love is worthless, even sinners can love when it is easy. Luke 6:32 Bottom line is, if I love at all I should go to any lengths to show it! I just hate to suffer and I hate to obey and was being selfish. This is why I need an intercessor like Christ.
Heb 5:9 And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Made perfect is 100% obedience. No sin! Praise the lord his perfect obedience came to completion on the cross and he rose three days later. He became the author of salvation thru this to ALL who obey him. This means all that believe and ask. Just like the thief hanging right beside him. He sure didn’t have time to earn it. Awesome part is this has been the plan since beginning of time.
Heb 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.
Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing.
They would like me to know more about Jesus, but I am so dull of hearing it is hard to explain. Hey, I am a smart guy. I have read the Bible. What’s up with this?
Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
Now this hit me hard, but this got me thinking. This is saying by now I should be a master/teacher with an obligation to be teaching others, but I still need to be taught the basics. I need milk because I can’t handle meat. Maybe even I desired the milk because I wanted someone to do the hard part for me?
Heb 5:13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe.
If I need milk I am inexperienced and almost ignorant in the word. Like an infant that can not yet speak. I have always wanted to comfort, provide, teach and protect people. This is the role of any good father. I just never understood how ignorant I was in the only help we have and which father really provides this.
Heb 5:14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
This makes a little more sense. It says I never completed what I started 30 years ago because I had not made a habit of constantly practicing the reading, use and understanding of scripture so I might be able to discern both good and evil. I believe it had been about 30 years after Christ’s death when this was written. Sounds pretty familiar and these guys had Paul and the apostles and they had fallen behind. I had overlooked the great commission. I had never finished becoming a disciple.
2Ti 3:14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it
2Ti 3:15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
2Ti 3:17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
Sounds like this had started to be a big problem. Here in Timothy, they have added explanation about who wrote the Bible too. Sounds simple, but I hear it all the time. Did God write it, or Paul, or Moses, etc? I have wondered too. The Bible is clear, God wrote it! Second interesting thing is if they had understanding of scripture since early childhood, they were only reading the Old Testament then. This was just being written to them. I believe we all have really lost the value of the Old Testament.
I look back at how little I had studied the word of God over the last 20 years and I am ashamed. I feel foolish to have thought I understood anything. Being saved at 9 and doing just enough, or sometimes nothing had taught me just enough to be only harmful to myself, others around me and worst of all I was harming his kingdom. I failed at the most important purpose of the church. Make disciples! Jesus saves and we help make disciples. I could never help others if I had never become one myself and that only happens thru his word and prayer! I remember a disagreement I had last summer where we were using the opposite end of the same Bible verse against each other. I want to laugh at how foolish we both were but it isn’t funny. If I am ever just half right I am totally wrong! This is one of the things God keeps reminding me of that has led to the revival of his spirit in me. It has been hard sometimes to face all my mistakes and keep getting them shown to me, but I can’t explain the freedom and peace in realizing I am worthless without his word and spirit.
Php 4:5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;
Php 4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Php 4:8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
Php 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me--practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
There are things I wish I could take back, but through all this I have learned to embrace his discipline. It is what changed me and the Holy Spirit shows me when I mess up now. Nothing is sustainable without him and thru obedience we can be given the understanding than no matter how tough it gets it is better than being without his love. Love is never easy, but always worth it!
I hear more and more people talking, hoping and even praying for revival. God has asked me to show you what his word says about revival. It is coming! Are you ready! Reading the above scriptures I realized I may have to start back over like a little kid, but interesting how he speaks of “the faith of a child” which is probably the best kind. It is awesome to feel like a kid again! I don’t have to figure all this out on my own. I have a Father that is ready and willing to help show me the way. Listen, it is ok to be a kid at heart. I am concerned that as we get older it is much more difficult to remove our stubborn pride from his call to love him thru obeying all he asks and humbly serving others and never serve our own selfish desires. God has led me to his revivals. They are only in the Old Testament. These show how God’s people can easily fall out of fellowship, due to our disobedience and need reviving. Hosea 4:1-6 warns that the lack of truth, mercy and the knowledge of GOD is destroying us. All thru our churches and even country today, I do not believe we realize how bad we are out of his fellowship. I personally did not grasp how far from him I was. We are all being disciplined right now! All of us! It has gotten painful for everyone, but I had one thing he promises. He is always calling for us to turn back and he is ready to forgive and restore and nothing is too difficult with his help. We have to choose to turn back, and we have some serious work to do, but revival is always granted if you mean it. It is time to restore the fear of my Lord!
I love you cause Jesus loves both of us and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Revival - In God I Fear
REVIVAL – In God I Fear
It is hard to describe what has happened over the last 12 months or so. I have shared some of the things I have done and realized, but a lot has been going on lately and the Lord has shown me a few things I believe need to be shared. Realize I am writing of what God has led me to in the scriptures so that I may be able to truly live the life of freedom I always knew was out there but had no idea how to accomplish. Like most everything he keeps showing me, I was trying it totally opposite of his way and just dreaming for an outcome that could never happen.
I told a dear friend a while back about a problem I used to deal with and was explaining how I swore I would never act like that again. She calmly replied, “Why aren’t you better at it then? You think you would have learned!” That is an awesome question! I didn’t care to hear it at that point, but I just recently realized it is the sum of what I have been reading about the last few months.
A few questions kept coming up as I spent my daily time with God. I was saved at 9 years old, so why do I seem to be so far behind? Why does it seem so hard sometimes? Am I the one making it so hard? Does everyone go thru this? Are we all really the same? What am I to do next? How can I help people as I have always really wanted to do? Why has the last few years had to go the way they did? Why do we seem to have such a hard time obeying? Why had I gotten to have such I problem with sin? Didn’t I know better? Why do I still sin? As you can see I am one of those kids that ask “why” a lot. I could keep going with all the questions, but the answer is yes. Yes, I should be better at this!
Here are some simple truths I have found. Even after being saved I am capable of all sin. I always wanted to hold on to curtain things that I would never do, but that is a deception. I am a set of bad choices or circumstances away from anything. I truly hate to obey. I have never loved anyone the way I should have and truly wanted to. I have been way too arrogant in my own abilities to do anything. Deep down we are all the same. I am not any more special or messed up than any of us. That may be our greatest deception. We are all created in God’s image and there are no new things. Just things I have forgotten or haven’t allowed God to teach me yet.
I just need to revive what has always been. Two people seem to have been most obvious to read. Paul probably understood the freedom thru Christ better than most. He was the chief of sinners, but was led to write 14 books of the New Testament all while probably suffering more than any for Jesus. Solomon was the wisest and the son of David, which was a man after God’s own heart. Reading over the last few months have brought me thru a series of lessons that I believe lead to the revival and freedom I have always longed for. I have a long way to go, but I believe this is how God teaches us to get there. Over the next few weeks I will share a lot of scripture about dealing with thorns, fearing the Lord, the Cross and the wings of freedom thru the Holy Spirit.
Thorns are a consequence of my disobedience and unchecked with destroy me.
Fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the only way I will obey.
The Cross is the overwhelming plan in the Bible. It is the reminder of the blood sacrifice that Jesus willfully gave to atone for my sin once and for all because he loved us. Then he overcame death thru his resurrection and believing this and confessing it is my salvation. This is the only salvation there is and has always been that way. This is what was predetermined not who. It is all about Jesus baby!
Wings are a representation of the freedom thru the Holy Spirit that I have been missing. The Holy Spirit is the key to this. All God’s work using man has always been achieved thru his Spirit. It is our source of knowledge, guidance and power.
All I have read lately truly comes down to three simple things. Fear, obey and rejoice! Some may think this is too simple. Some way say it is too harsh. Some may think I am crazy, but this is the story I have to tell. This is what God has shown me. If it helps someone else great! I am just trying to obey more often with less of an attitude. When I am done I believe you will see that all this is a matter of the heart. Regardless of our cynical opinions we all have a heart that truly desires the same things, even when we don’t understand it or won’t admit it. The painful longing for something better! Something greater than ourselves to believe in! The love of God is it!
I started with “yes, I should be better at this” Hebrews 5 – 6:12.
I love all of you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
It is hard to describe what has happened over the last 12 months or so. I have shared some of the things I have done and realized, but a lot has been going on lately and the Lord has shown me a few things I believe need to be shared. Realize I am writing of what God has led me to in the scriptures so that I may be able to truly live the life of freedom I always knew was out there but had no idea how to accomplish. Like most everything he keeps showing me, I was trying it totally opposite of his way and just dreaming for an outcome that could never happen.
I told a dear friend a while back about a problem I used to deal with and was explaining how I swore I would never act like that again. She calmly replied, “Why aren’t you better at it then? You think you would have learned!” That is an awesome question! I didn’t care to hear it at that point, but I just recently realized it is the sum of what I have been reading about the last few months.
A few questions kept coming up as I spent my daily time with God. I was saved at 9 years old, so why do I seem to be so far behind? Why does it seem so hard sometimes? Am I the one making it so hard? Does everyone go thru this? Are we all really the same? What am I to do next? How can I help people as I have always really wanted to do? Why has the last few years had to go the way they did? Why do we seem to have such a hard time obeying? Why had I gotten to have such I problem with sin? Didn’t I know better? Why do I still sin? As you can see I am one of those kids that ask “why” a lot. I could keep going with all the questions, but the answer is yes. Yes, I should be better at this!
Here are some simple truths I have found. Even after being saved I am capable of all sin. I always wanted to hold on to curtain things that I would never do, but that is a deception. I am a set of bad choices or circumstances away from anything. I truly hate to obey. I have never loved anyone the way I should have and truly wanted to. I have been way too arrogant in my own abilities to do anything. Deep down we are all the same. I am not any more special or messed up than any of us. That may be our greatest deception. We are all created in God’s image and there are no new things. Just things I have forgotten or haven’t allowed God to teach me yet.
I just need to revive what has always been. Two people seem to have been most obvious to read. Paul probably understood the freedom thru Christ better than most. He was the chief of sinners, but was led to write 14 books of the New Testament all while probably suffering more than any for Jesus. Solomon was the wisest and the son of David, which was a man after God’s own heart. Reading over the last few months have brought me thru a series of lessons that I believe lead to the revival and freedom I have always longed for. I have a long way to go, but I believe this is how God teaches us to get there. Over the next few weeks I will share a lot of scripture about dealing with thorns, fearing the Lord, the Cross and the wings of freedom thru the Holy Spirit.
Thorns are a consequence of my disobedience and unchecked with destroy me.
Fearing the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the only way I will obey.
The Cross is the overwhelming plan in the Bible. It is the reminder of the blood sacrifice that Jesus willfully gave to atone for my sin once and for all because he loved us. Then he overcame death thru his resurrection and believing this and confessing it is my salvation. This is the only salvation there is and has always been that way. This is what was predetermined not who. It is all about Jesus baby!
Wings are a representation of the freedom thru the Holy Spirit that I have been missing. The Holy Spirit is the key to this. All God’s work using man has always been achieved thru his Spirit. It is our source of knowledge, guidance and power.
All I have read lately truly comes down to three simple things. Fear, obey and rejoice! Some may think this is too simple. Some way say it is too harsh. Some may think I am crazy, but this is the story I have to tell. This is what God has shown me. If it helps someone else great! I am just trying to obey more often with less of an attitude. When I am done I believe you will see that all this is a matter of the heart. Regardless of our cynical opinions we all have a heart that truly desires the same things, even when we don’t understand it or won’t admit it. The painful longing for something better! Something greater than ourselves to believe in! The love of God is it!
I started with “yes, I should be better at this” Hebrews 5 – 6:12.
I love all of you cause Jesus loves us both and there is absolutely nothing you can do about that!
BEZ
Sunday, May 16, 2010
“A Mother’s Love”
I hated I didn’t get to see the three mother’s I wanted to see today and for some reason it made me start reading. I was thinking about “the love of a mother thru Christ”. I just wrote about “love” and I believe there is no greater love after God’s except the love of a mother for her child. I found this poem and it just seemed perfect!
I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still
It moved and yielded at my will.
I came again when days were past,
The form I gave it still it bore,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more.
I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art,
A young child's soft and yielding heart.
I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.
Now this is really what God does to us, but as a mother you are asked to do certain things to help God mold a child and thru your obedience, you are the example that will be molding them thru his word. All this, done from love at any cost to yourself and that is what this is talking about as a Godly Mother. That is actually what the entire Bible is talking about. Listen, obey and love. Moms probably feel this love deeper than most.
Bryan was dedicating babies today and I was thinking the same thing he said. This is all about the parents making a statement about dedicating themselves. I had to go look this up and here is what I found about mothers.
Proverbs 6:20-23 is pretty awesome! It is telling a son to follow the commands of his father and teachings of his mother. Follow the Word of God that both your father’s gave you and that your mother has taught you. This should be by example as much as anything. If the son holds this close it will be with him always and be a lamp, a light and thru loving discipline show the way of life. This was just too perfect! I like to find people used as examples in the Bible and what better example than Mary? She is the mother of Jesus and what all this is about anyway.
Luke 1:30-38 shows how she trusted God and obeyed. That is all we can offer God and only good thing we can teach your children.
Luke 2:43-52 has been a special story lately! When they returned to find there son, she did this out of love and taught him to obey as he returned home with them. He listened to her because he knew she obeyed also. Teach by example.
Matthew 12:46-47 tells about Mary always being around. Moms always seem to be there for love and support.
Luke 11:27-28 is when Jesus was speaking and a lady spoke up to praise his momma for raising such an amazing person and he simply said that she obeyed and that is most important. He knew this and she was a great example.
All this comes together at the cross! John 19:23-27 is where the solders were dividing his garments. They each took one item and only his “seamless tunic” was left. Yes the seamless part is significant, but I believe he also thought of his mother at that point. She is most likely the one that made this for him and I am sure she went to some extraordinary loving effort to make this seamless and special just for her son. Jesus felt this and looked at her and spoke. Yes, she was standing right there beside him as he died for even her own sins. Can you imagine having to watch your own son go thru that and of all people she knew it was for her sins as much as any. Almost all the disciples fled and his father wasn’t even mentioned, but there his mother stood right beside him at the foot of the cross. Jesus told his best friend to talk care of her for him and her to treat him as a son. Jesus only spoke 7 times on the cross I believe and this is the only one that was personal. One of the last things Jesus Christ did on Earth was taking care of his mother!
I know that God does the shaping and molding eternally, but we are asked to trust, obey and love thru all parts of it. This is the example God wants us to be! To repeat Proverbs, it is the lamb and the light and is the way to life. Jesus and his mother were both examples we can use. We can be these examples that can save our children and lots of other people too. I have three mothers that have shown me this. Mom always had faith thru prayer. My sister always was an example thru obedience no matter what. I have just learned about the love at all cost lately from a special mother and best friend. Hey, none of us are perfect but you three are special to me and a lot of other people too! No one can take away that God used you 3 to change my life thru his power! The most loving gift we can give each other is Jesus!
I hoped I could say thanks in person but sometimes it is tough. I will see all three of you soon and take care of the in person part! Anyway, I thank you for the unmatchable love of a “Godly Mother”.
I love all of you in different ways and for different reasons, but know that I love you 3 more than everyone else except God and there is absolutely nothing you or anyone else can do about that!
BEZ
I hated I didn’t get to see the three mother’s I wanted to see today and for some reason it made me start reading. I was thinking about “the love of a mother thru Christ”. I just wrote about “love” and I believe there is no greater love after God’s except the love of a mother for her child. I found this poem and it just seemed perfect!
I took a piece of plastic clay
And idly fashioned it one day;
And as my fingers pressed it still
It moved and yielded at my will.
I came again when days were past,
The form I gave it still it bore,
And as my fingers pressed it still,
I could change that form no more.
I took a piece of living clay,
And gently formed it day by day,
And molded with my power and art,
A young child's soft and yielding heart.
I came again when days were gone;
It was a man I looked upon,
He still that early impress bore,
And I could change it never more.
Now this is really what God does to us, but as a mother you are asked to do certain things to help God mold a child and thru your obedience, you are the example that will be molding them thru his word. All this, done from love at any cost to yourself and that is what this is talking about as a Godly Mother. That is actually what the entire Bible is talking about. Listen, obey and love. Moms probably feel this love deeper than most.
Bryan was dedicating babies today and I was thinking the same thing he said. This is all about the parents making a statement about dedicating themselves. I had to go look this up and here is what I found about mothers.
Proverbs 6:20-23 is pretty awesome! It is telling a son to follow the commands of his father and teachings of his mother. Follow the Word of God that both your father’s gave you and that your mother has taught you. This should be by example as much as anything. If the son holds this close it will be with him always and be a lamp, a light and thru loving discipline show the way of life. This was just too perfect! I like to find people used as examples in the Bible and what better example than Mary? She is the mother of Jesus and what all this is about anyway.
Luke 1:30-38 shows how she trusted God and obeyed. That is all we can offer God and only good thing we can teach your children.
Luke 2:43-52 has been a special story lately! When they returned to find there son, she did this out of love and taught him to obey as he returned home with them. He listened to her because he knew she obeyed also. Teach by example.
Matthew 12:46-47 tells about Mary always being around. Moms always seem to be there for love and support.
Luke 11:27-28 is when Jesus was speaking and a lady spoke up to praise his momma for raising such an amazing person and he simply said that she obeyed and that is most important. He knew this and she was a great example.
All this comes together at the cross! John 19:23-27 is where the solders were dividing his garments. They each took one item and only his “seamless tunic” was left. Yes the seamless part is significant, but I believe he also thought of his mother at that point. She is most likely the one that made this for him and I am sure she went to some extraordinary loving effort to make this seamless and special just for her son. Jesus felt this and looked at her and spoke. Yes, she was standing right there beside him as he died for even her own sins. Can you imagine having to watch your own son go thru that and of all people she knew it was for her sins as much as any. Almost all the disciples fled and his father wasn’t even mentioned, but there his mother stood right beside him at the foot of the cross. Jesus told his best friend to talk care of her for him and her to treat him as a son. Jesus only spoke 7 times on the cross I believe and this is the only one that was personal. One of the last things Jesus Christ did on Earth was taking care of his mother!
I know that God does the shaping and molding eternally, but we are asked to trust, obey and love thru all parts of it. This is the example God wants us to be! To repeat Proverbs, it is the lamb and the light and is the way to life. Jesus and his mother were both examples we can use. We can be these examples that can save our children and lots of other people too. I have three mothers that have shown me this. Mom always had faith thru prayer. My sister always was an example thru obedience no matter what. I have just learned about the love at all cost lately from a special mother and best friend. Hey, none of us are perfect but you three are special to me and a lot of other people too! No one can take away that God used you 3 to change my life thru his power! The most loving gift we can give each other is Jesus!
I hoped I could say thanks in person but sometimes it is tough. I will see all three of you soon and take care of the in person part! Anyway, I thank you for the unmatchable love of a “Godly Mother”.
I love all of you in different ways and for different reasons, but know that I love you 3 more than everyone else except God and there is absolutely nothing you or anyone else can do about that!
BEZ
Thursday, May 6, 2010
“Loving Yourself Last”
I have been thinking about a lot of things we have turned into life slogans. We quote some of these as if they were scripture and I am afraid we may believe they are sometimes. I have heard one over and over the last few months and it just didn’t set right with me. “You must love yourself before you can love others”. I am pretty sure I have even said it before too. I figured I would do the same thing I have been doing and see what the Bible said about this. The Bible is the Word of God and all things should be held up to it’s truth. Everything! This was extremely fun and has changed my life.
First thing is that “love” in the Bible is an action! “little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” 1 John 3:18. Yes, you feel loved, but only when someone actively and truly loves you. Feelings and emotions are necessary, but can be dangerous when not based in the truth. When truly loved thru actions we should be compelled to actively return that love. We can’t just love thru emotions. Therefore we can not love ourselves unless we do things to make ourselves happy. This is a really bad idea! I will save it for last. The Bible has 697 verses that reference the word “love” or a form of the word using the NIV translation. After reading all of them there are 5 things repeated about love. How God loves us, how we are to love him, how we stay in his love, how we are to love others and finally about loving ourselves. They are repeated because we do not listen! I do not believe we can truly understand love until we allow God to love us first. “we love because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19.
How does God love us? He sent his son Jesus to save and teach us the greatest expression of love possible by giving his life for our sins. John 3:16. He only loves with actions. He shows, sent, leads, makes, speaks, listens, teaches, saves, etc. How is his described: unfailing, faithful, protecting, saving, delivering, merciful, keeps promises, compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving, just, blesses in number, blesses in needed things, provides, gives real life, instructs, gives rest, shields, peace, renews, restores life, sustains, can’t take away, eternal, endures, waters his earth, great, remembers us, conquers, preserves, Christ’s death, sincere, hates evil, does not harm, purity, understanding, patience, kindness, listens, power, wide, long, high, deep, humble, gentle, speaks the truth, undying, joy, encourages the heart, united, respects, quiets, more delightful than wine, kept and everlasting. I am sure I missed a couple, but this is a pretty awesome example, agreed? Once we feel this love, I believe this is the love we always expect.
How are we asked to love God? Love him first! “whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, whoever loves son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:37. Then he asks us to love him with all we got! Our heart, soul, life, strength, mind, understanding and maybe the most important and toughest, as a child. A child loves his father instinctively and unconditionally. Even when an earthly father may be undeserving from time to time, a child just can’t help loving him and knows they need it back. Our heavenly father is always deserving and always gives back.
How are we asked to stay in his love? His is better to stay in so listen up here! By obeying him! Following his commandments, laws, decrees, requirements, listen, act justly, love mercy, walk in his ways, follow his statutes, be glad, rejoice, sing, love Jesus, believe in him and don’t be a stumbling block. That is a really small list when you realize it says obey and rejoice about doing it. You have to read his Word to do this. It is that simple. When we mess up it does not mean he stops loving, but we have broken fellowship with our disobedience or attitude. We should not desire this ever and better not stay there long. Don’t hide as Adam and Eve did and hope it goes away. I have tried that and it doesn’t work. Don’t be stubborn. Being out of his love will eventually bring his loving discipline. I have tried this route also and pray you don’t. Tell him you are sorry and mean it. Much less painful to apologize than to have him always after us.
Our most important command is “love”. “and now these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13. “and he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother” 1 John 5:15. The most repeated verse about love is about loving each other. Most of the time it simply explains it, “as yourselves”. We always want and expect the best for ourselves! If we have felt God’s love we know it is the best. Give his out all the time! “be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10. God was so devoted to us he sent Jesus! Loving the least of his people is emphasized also. Widows, poor, sick, orphans, etc. They can’t give much back so it is more like Jesus loved. Selfless love. Most of his miracles were for these people. Shows the power of true love.
Now finally it does speak of loving yourself. I left it last for a reason. It only leads to death, destruction, poverty, shame, etc. Now listen! Paul writes to Timothy as a warning. “but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Doesn’t seem we should ever love ourselves, but sounds a little too familiar at the same time.
Other great things about love:
Matthew 24:12 increase in wickedness, love of most grows cold
Luke 6:27 love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
Luke 6:32 easy love is worthless
Luke 6:35 love and expect nothing back
Luke 7:47 greater forgiveness leads to greater love
John 15:13 no greater love than giving your life for a friend
John 15:19 love God and the world will hate you
Romans 12:9 love must be sincere
1 Corinthians 4:21 shall I come with the rod, or in love and gentle spirit
1 Corinthians 16:14 do everything in love
2 Corinthians 2:4 will sometimes break you down
2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver
Galatians 5:9 only thing than counts is faith expressing itself thru love
Galatians 5:22 one of the fruits of the spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:9 we don’t need to be told God taught us
1 Thessalonians 4:10 love should grow
Hebrews 12:6 God disciplines those he loves
James 1:12 persevering under trails is the test of love
1 John 4:18 no fear in love, perfect love cast out fear
Revelations 3:19 whom he loves he rebukes so be quick to repent
Revelations 20:9 he protects whom he loves
Now I didn’t get anything like “love yourself first” from any of this. It may be a play on words for some or maybe they didn’t think about it before they said it. I have said it before too. It just finally started sounding painful to hear. So I figured I would check and see what God thought about it. Sad thing was I already knew because I had already tried all the ones on the bad list. I am going to try it like Jesus now. He is our example and yes he is our target.
Hey, I don’t know why we are so bad at this one, but God loves us. We love him back and everyone else, we stay last, and I just promise it is worth letting go of our self love. Everyone wants “to feel” loved. It is a reaction to “being touched” though. Ask and allow God to touch and change your heart and keep him there by obeying him and loving it. You won’t be able to keep from loving differently. You will get it back different also.
Last thing, Romans 8 promises that nothing can stop God from loving us. WE can mess it up for a bit, but nothing can stop it! There is comfort and power in this part of love!
I love you all and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
BEZ
I have been thinking about a lot of things we have turned into life slogans. We quote some of these as if they were scripture and I am afraid we may believe they are sometimes. I have heard one over and over the last few months and it just didn’t set right with me. “You must love yourself before you can love others”. I am pretty sure I have even said it before too. I figured I would do the same thing I have been doing and see what the Bible said about this. The Bible is the Word of God and all things should be held up to it’s truth. Everything! This was extremely fun and has changed my life.
First thing is that “love” in the Bible is an action! “little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth” 1 John 3:18. Yes, you feel loved, but only when someone actively and truly loves you. Feelings and emotions are necessary, but can be dangerous when not based in the truth. When truly loved thru actions we should be compelled to actively return that love. We can’t just love thru emotions. Therefore we can not love ourselves unless we do things to make ourselves happy. This is a really bad idea! I will save it for last. The Bible has 697 verses that reference the word “love” or a form of the word using the NIV translation. After reading all of them there are 5 things repeated about love. How God loves us, how we are to love him, how we stay in his love, how we are to love others and finally about loving ourselves. They are repeated because we do not listen! I do not believe we can truly understand love until we allow God to love us first. “we love because he first loved us” 1 John 4:19.
How does God love us? He sent his son Jesus to save and teach us the greatest expression of love possible by giving his life for our sins. John 3:16. He only loves with actions. He shows, sent, leads, makes, speaks, listens, teaches, saves, etc. How is his described: unfailing, faithful, protecting, saving, delivering, merciful, keeps promises, compassionate, slow to anger, forgiving, just, blesses in number, blesses in needed things, provides, gives real life, instructs, gives rest, shields, peace, renews, restores life, sustains, can’t take away, eternal, endures, waters his earth, great, remembers us, conquers, preserves, Christ’s death, sincere, hates evil, does not harm, purity, understanding, patience, kindness, listens, power, wide, long, high, deep, humble, gentle, speaks the truth, undying, joy, encourages the heart, united, respects, quiets, more delightful than wine, kept and everlasting. I am sure I missed a couple, but this is a pretty awesome example, agreed? Once we feel this love, I believe this is the love we always expect.
How are we asked to love God? Love him first! “whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, whoever loves son or daughter more then me is not worthy of me” Matthew 10:37. Then he asks us to love him with all we got! Our heart, soul, life, strength, mind, understanding and maybe the most important and toughest, as a child. A child loves his father instinctively and unconditionally. Even when an earthly father may be undeserving from time to time, a child just can’t help loving him and knows they need it back. Our heavenly father is always deserving and always gives back.
How are we asked to stay in his love? His is better to stay in so listen up here! By obeying him! Following his commandments, laws, decrees, requirements, listen, act justly, love mercy, walk in his ways, follow his statutes, be glad, rejoice, sing, love Jesus, believe in him and don’t be a stumbling block. That is a really small list when you realize it says obey and rejoice about doing it. You have to read his Word to do this. It is that simple. When we mess up it does not mean he stops loving, but we have broken fellowship with our disobedience or attitude. We should not desire this ever and better not stay there long. Don’t hide as Adam and Eve did and hope it goes away. I have tried that and it doesn’t work. Don’t be stubborn. Being out of his love will eventually bring his loving discipline. I have tried this route also and pray you don’t. Tell him you are sorry and mean it. Much less painful to apologize than to have him always after us.
Our most important command is “love”. “and now these remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love” 1 Corinthians 13:13. “and he has given us this command: whoever loves God must also love his brother” 1 John 5:15. The most repeated verse about love is about loving each other. Most of the time it simply explains it, “as yourselves”. We always want and expect the best for ourselves! If we have felt God’s love we know it is the best. Give his out all the time! “be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves” Romans 12:10. God was so devoted to us he sent Jesus! Loving the least of his people is emphasized also. Widows, poor, sick, orphans, etc. They can’t give much back so it is more like Jesus loved. Selfless love. Most of his miracles were for these people. Shows the power of true love.
Now finally it does speak of loving yourself. I left it last for a reason. It only leads to death, destruction, poverty, shame, etc. Now listen! Paul writes to Timothy as a warning. “but understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of Godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. 2 Timothy 3:1-5. Doesn’t seem we should ever love ourselves, but sounds a little too familiar at the same time.
Other great things about love:
Matthew 24:12 increase in wickedness, love of most grows cold
Luke 6:27 love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
Luke 6:32 easy love is worthless
Luke 6:35 love and expect nothing back
Luke 7:47 greater forgiveness leads to greater love
John 15:13 no greater love than giving your life for a friend
John 15:19 love God and the world will hate you
Romans 12:9 love must be sincere
1 Corinthians 4:21 shall I come with the rod, or in love and gentle spirit
1 Corinthians 16:14 do everything in love
2 Corinthians 2:4 will sometimes break you down
2 Corinthians 9:7 God loves a cheerful giver
Galatians 5:9 only thing than counts is faith expressing itself thru love
Galatians 5:22 one of the fruits of the spirit
1 Thessalonians 4:9 we don’t need to be told God taught us
1 Thessalonians 4:10 love should grow
Hebrews 12:6 God disciplines those he loves
James 1:12 persevering under trails is the test of love
1 John 4:18 no fear in love, perfect love cast out fear
Revelations 3:19 whom he loves he rebukes so be quick to repent
Revelations 20:9 he protects whom he loves
Now I didn’t get anything like “love yourself first” from any of this. It may be a play on words for some or maybe they didn’t think about it before they said it. I have said it before too. It just finally started sounding painful to hear. So I figured I would check and see what God thought about it. Sad thing was I already knew because I had already tried all the ones on the bad list. I am going to try it like Jesus now. He is our example and yes he is our target.
Hey, I don’t know why we are so bad at this one, but God loves us. We love him back and everyone else, we stay last, and I just promise it is worth letting go of our self love. Everyone wants “to feel” loved. It is a reaction to “being touched” though. Ask and allow God to touch and change your heart and keep him there by obeying him and loving it. You won’t be able to keep from loving differently. You will get it back different also.
Last thing, Romans 8 promises that nothing can stop God from loving us. WE can mess it up for a bit, but nothing can stop it! There is comfort and power in this part of love!
I love you all and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it!
BEZ
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