After God established the size of Gideon’s army, God came to Gideon during the night and said, “Get up and go . . . I have given you the victory! BUT if you are afraid to attack . . . go hear what the Midianites are saying and you will be encouraged. Then you will be eager to attack.”
Gideon chose the second option, to go see the enemy, after which Gideon had a choice to make . . . will he believe what he saw or will he believe what God said to him?
To help the decision making process, God allowed Gideon to hear a man telling his friend about a dream and to hear the response of the friend . . . “Your dream can mean only one thing – God has given Gideon victory over ALL the armies united with Midian!” Has given, not going to give!
Even though God had given Gideon the victory, there was still a battle!!! Sometimes the battle part is conveniently forgotten? We just want to exchange our need for the answer! Like exchanging American money for Kenyan currency . . . we just went to the Forex, handed them our American money, they gave us Kenyan currency, and then went on our merry way.
The enemy knows he is defeated but will not give up territory without a fight. The enemy does not care if we do nothing in the battle . . . he simply does not want us to do battle! He does not want us to walk in our authority on this earth!
“God desires for all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.” Will this just automatically happen because this is God’s desire? No! We must do spiritual battle for the lost and the backslider.
“Bring all the tithe . . . If you do, I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out blessing so great you won’t have enough room to take it in!” Don’t know about you, but I still have PLENTY of room to take in blessing! I have to do spiritual battle!
God is Jehovah Jireh . . . the God who HAS seen ahead and MADE provision. Automatically receive provision? No, we do our part in the natural, as well as do spiritual battle.
Ephesians 6:13 says, “Use every piece of God’s armor to resist the enemy in the time of evil, so that after the battle you will still be standing firm!” (NLT)
Did you see that? If we use every piece of God’s armor, we will still be standing firm when the dust settles! Now there’s a promise to stand on!
Just preached to myself, and I am encouraged!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Extraordinary Ordinary Heart Servant (Luke 2)
Two things stood out to me as I read Luke 2.
First . . . “And this is how you will recognize him . . . “
The angels who appeared to the shepherds had to describe how to recognize Jesus when the shepherds went to find him, indicating that Jesus looked like an ordinary baby. There was no halo of light around his head to indicate that He was God’s Son (or around Mary's head). Jesus was the extraordinary in ordinary form . . . human flesh.
If Jesus is our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are the extraordinary in ordinary form, called flesh. Contrary to what you may think, there is no halo of light around my head or glow about me . . . well, my “personal summers” used to give me a glow . . . wrong glow! :-)
Seriously, if the angels were telling shepherds how to recognize us as a child of God, what would they say? How would they describe us? We’ll be recognized because we go to Lincoln City Church? No! How then? By our love for one another.
Second . . . It says when the angels found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, “The Shepherd told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherd’s story were astonished. But Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.” (Vs. 16-19)
We need to quietly treasure God’s Word in our hearts and think about His Word often, allowing the Word of God to filter from our mind to our heart, bringing change in our lives!
Mary was both a “hand servant” and a “heart servant” of the Lord. I want to be, too! But both come with a cost . . . giving my life, my will, my time to God without reservation.
“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
First . . . “And this is how you will recognize him . . . “
The angels who appeared to the shepherds had to describe how to recognize Jesus when the shepherds went to find him, indicating that Jesus looked like an ordinary baby. There was no halo of light around his head to indicate that He was God’s Son (or around Mary's head). Jesus was the extraordinary in ordinary form . . . human flesh.
If Jesus is our Lord and Savior and the Holy Spirit lives in us, we are the extraordinary in ordinary form, called flesh. Contrary to what you may think, there is no halo of light around my head or glow about me . . . well, my “personal summers” used to give me a glow . . . wrong glow! :-)
Seriously, if the angels were telling shepherds how to recognize us as a child of God, what would they say? How would they describe us? We’ll be recognized because we go to Lincoln City Church? No! How then? By our love for one another.
Second . . . It says when the angels found Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus, “The Shepherd told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherd’s story were astonished. But Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and thought about them often.” (Vs. 16-19)
We need to quietly treasure God’s Word in our hearts and think about His Word often, allowing the Word of God to filter from our mind to our heart, bringing change in our lives!
Mary was both a “hand servant” and a “heart servant” of the Lord. I want to be, too! But both come with a cost . . . giving my life, my will, my time to God without reservation.
“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.” (Philippians 3:12-14)
Monday, March 22, 2010
A Soldier to the End! (Joshua 11-13)
Joshua did not let even one enemy warrior survive; he crippled their horses and burned their chariots. When the Israelites captured the cities, the kings and the people were completely destroyed. Joshua obeyed all of God’s commands, “and the Lord gave them victory over their enemies.”
Our fight is not against people but against “the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.”
Am I willing to obey God’s command and “fight” until every last enemy is defeated in my life or in the life of the person I am praying for? Or am I willing to settle for the enemy’s retreat for a season?
Joshua was a soldier until the end of his days. He was determined to fight the Lord’s battles to the end of his life. I think of Kathryn, who will be 105 this August. From time to time she says to me, “I don’t know why I’m still on this earth. . . I can’t see well . . . I can’t hear well.” I need to remind her again to be a “soldier” until the end of her days on this earth by being an intercessor for the lost and the back sliders . . . to ask God to bring someone across her path each day whose heart has been prepared by God to receive His Word! The Legacy is a field, white with harvest!
Only God knows how many days each of us will live on this earth. I want to live my life with a “Joshua attitude,” living each day fighting the good fight of faith . . . not just for my personal battles but for those God puts in my heart to pray for . . . for those He brings across my path to share Jesus and the work of the cross! Let’s be mighty women of God!
Our fight is not against people but against “the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness who rule this world, and against wicked spirits in the heavenly realms.”
Am I willing to obey God’s command and “fight” until every last enemy is defeated in my life or in the life of the person I am praying for? Or am I willing to settle for the enemy’s retreat for a season?
Joshua was a soldier until the end of his days. He was determined to fight the Lord’s battles to the end of his life. I think of Kathryn, who will be 105 this August. From time to time she says to me, “I don’t know why I’m still on this earth. . . I can’t see well . . . I can’t hear well.” I need to remind her again to be a “soldier” until the end of her days on this earth by being an intercessor for the lost and the back sliders . . . to ask God to bring someone across her path each day whose heart has been prepared by God to receive His Word! The Legacy is a field, white with harvest!
Only God knows how many days each of us will live on this earth. I want to live my life with a “Joshua attitude,” living each day fighting the good fight of faith . . . not just for my personal battles but for those God puts in my heart to pray for . . . for those He brings across my path to share Jesus and the work of the cross! Let’s be mighty women of God!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Are you a leader or a follower???? - You are both!!!
It seems like a long time ago since I had time to sit and blog....or is it that I finally "made" some time to blog??? You are right....you have to make time for the things that are important to you! There never seems to be enought time to do the things you should be doing.....I am good at making excuses and somehow in all the "busyness" I still do the things I really "want" to do!!! Didn't one of Jesus's disciples mention something about this "war" we are in?....!
I have been thinking about the new Ladies Small Groups we are doing at LCC and how they would look. As we are reading Mark I am reminded of Jesus' "small group" of 12. Jesus was really himself with them. Even in chp 14 verse 36 he criend out to His Leader (His Father) asking him if there was any other way to get this job done...."let this cup pass from me......neverthe less, your will be don, not mine." He let his real feelings be seen. And yet he was honest with his disciples too, letting Peter know ahead of time that Jesus knew he would denie his relationship with Jesus and yet Jesus loved Peter anyway.
We follow our leader and yet we lead, love and are transparent with our followers. When we have a relationship with people we have to "let them in" and you take the risk of being hurt....both from the one you follow and the one you lead. Just do as Jesus did. We have to remember "it's not all about us". We are in this because we want "His Will" accomplished. And that is to make disciples of ALL men!!!
If you want to grow as a Christian and find realtionships that are "real" join one of these groups. They are listed on the front of this blog on the right hand side. Call the church office for the phone number of one of the leaders. We are on a mission.....to make disciples who follow Jesus and spread His Kingdom in Lincoln!!!And around the world!!!
I have been thinking about the new Ladies Small Groups we are doing at LCC and how they would look. As we are reading Mark I am reminded of Jesus' "small group" of 12. Jesus was really himself with them. Even in chp 14 verse 36 he criend out to His Leader (His Father) asking him if there was any other way to get this job done...."let this cup pass from me......neverthe less, your will be don, not mine." He let his real feelings be seen. And yet he was honest with his disciples too, letting Peter know ahead of time that Jesus knew he would denie his relationship with Jesus and yet Jesus loved Peter anyway.
We follow our leader and yet we lead, love and are transparent with our followers. When we have a relationship with people we have to "let them in" and you take the risk of being hurt....both from the one you follow and the one you lead. Just do as Jesus did. We have to remember "it's not all about us". We are in this because we want "His Will" accomplished. And that is to make disciples of ALL men!!!
If you want to grow as a Christian and find realtionships that are "real" join one of these groups. They are listed on the front of this blog on the right hand side. Call the church office for the phone number of one of the leaders. We are on a mission.....to make disciples who follow Jesus and spread His Kingdom in Lincoln!!!And around the world!!!
Monday, March 8, 2010
Being A Kingdom Fruit Producing Tree
“He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, ‘May no one ever eat your fruit again.’”
When Jesus and His disciples came by the tree the next morning, the tree did not just have dry leaves, but it was “withered from the roots!” The spoken Word of God is full of power!
No disrespect, Jesus, but if was “too early in the season for fruit,” why did you expect to find figs?
I don’t think Jesus was as concerned about finding figs as He was about finding evidence of forthcoming fruit!
When a fruit-producing tree is in full leaf, there should be evidence of fruit – a tiny nub where the flower had been – before the actual fruit is big enough to see . . . provided there has not been a hard freeze during the flowering setting part of the process!
It is the same in a kingdom fruit-producing tree, aka a Christian. There should be evidence of kingdom fruit, even if it is just a tiny bud of faith or love or mercy or grace . . . provided there has not been a hard freeze, i.e. a stony heart, a heart being choked by weeds, or a religious life without substance.
A religious life without substance, the BC (before Christ) days. Is it possible to live a religious life without substance even after we are born again? Yes. Faith without works is dead.
I don’t think God is as concerned about seeing mature kingdom fruit in our lives as He is about seeing evidence of kingdom fruit.
Are there only leaves on my kingdom fruit producing tree? If so, why?
Have the tiny, kingdom fruit buds withered? Why? The cares of this world? A stony heart of unforgiveness? A critical, judgmental spirit? A lazy relationship with Jesus? A disappointment? A broken trust or confidence?
Fruit production is as close as repentance.
I want to be a kingdom fruit producer, do you?
When Jesus and His disciples came by the tree the next morning, the tree did not just have dry leaves, but it was “withered from the roots!” The spoken Word of God is full of power!
No disrespect, Jesus, but if was “too early in the season for fruit,” why did you expect to find figs?
I don’t think Jesus was as concerned about finding figs as He was about finding evidence of forthcoming fruit!
When a fruit-producing tree is in full leaf, there should be evidence of fruit – a tiny nub where the flower had been – before the actual fruit is big enough to see . . . provided there has not been a hard freeze during the flowering setting part of the process!
It is the same in a kingdom fruit-producing tree, aka a Christian. There should be evidence of kingdom fruit, even if it is just a tiny bud of faith or love or mercy or grace . . . provided there has not been a hard freeze, i.e. a stony heart, a heart being choked by weeds, or a religious life without substance.
A religious life without substance, the BC (before Christ) days. Is it possible to live a religious life without substance even after we are born again? Yes. Faith without works is dead.
I don’t think God is as concerned about seeing mature kingdom fruit in our lives as He is about seeing evidence of kingdom fruit.
Are there only leaves on my kingdom fruit producing tree? If so, why?
Have the tiny, kingdom fruit buds withered? Why? The cares of this world? A stony heart of unforgiveness? A critical, judgmental spirit? A lazy relationship with Jesus? A disappointment? A broken trust or confidence?
Fruit production is as close as repentance.
I want to be a kingdom fruit producer, do you?
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Are You in the Melting Pot?
“For everyone will be purified with fire.” (Mark 9:49)
The offerings given to the Lord by fire were “very pleasing to him.” (Numbers 29)
“Anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead – metals that do not burn – must be passed through the fire in order to be made ceremonially pure.” (Numbers 31:22-23)
Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead will not burn, but each has a melting point at which they will become a liquid. Have you ever watched a program on the process it takes to melt iron to make steel? The temperatures of these huge, inferno melting pots can harm the workers wearing sophisticated protection gear if they get too close. Surely a glimpse of what the “fires” of hell must be like, only non-consuming?
Metals may look clean and pure on the surface, in their solid form. However, when melted down, the impurities come to the surface. I remember watching Ken make fishing sinkers out of lead. He would melt the lead on the stove top and then pour the liquid into molds to make the size and shape sinker he wanted. However, before he would mold the liquid lead, he would skim off the impurities, making the finished product stronger.
“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebr. 12:29).
God is a consuming fire but He is also a God of compassion and grace! His presence in our lives makes us pliable for His shaping . . . for us to conform to His image, to His righteousness . . . if we let Him.
Are you currently in the melting pot? I am.
The offerings given to the Lord by fire were “very pleasing to him.” (Numbers 29)
“Anything made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead – metals that do not burn – must be passed through the fire in order to be made ceremonially pure.” (Numbers 31:22-23)
Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, or lead will not burn, but each has a melting point at which they will become a liquid. Have you ever watched a program on the process it takes to melt iron to make steel? The temperatures of these huge, inferno melting pots can harm the workers wearing sophisticated protection gear if they get too close. Surely a glimpse of what the “fires” of hell must be like, only non-consuming?
Metals may look clean and pure on the surface, in their solid form. However, when melted down, the impurities come to the surface. I remember watching Ken make fishing sinkers out of lead. He would melt the lead on the stove top and then pour the liquid into molds to make the size and shape sinker he wanted. However, before he would mold the liquid lead, he would skim off the impurities, making the finished product stronger.
“For our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebr. 12:29).
God is a consuming fire but He is also a God of compassion and grace! His presence in our lives makes us pliable for His shaping . . . for us to conform to His image, to His righteousness . . . if we let Him.
Are you currently in the melting pot? I am.
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