So will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:11)
God continually stresses, in His Word, that it is His word that speaks for Him. Here it is viewed as a messenger of sorts. It carries His desires, His instructions and then returns in the fruits of His message. It returns in our prayers, through the Holy Spirit's intervention. It is His Word and His Spirit that teach us what to pray:
In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings to deep for words. (Romans 8:27)
One of the workings of the Spirit is to communicate to us and for us. That intercession allows us to hear Him in prayer and the Word. It's nearly impossible to separate the two means of communication.
Think of all we ask for when talking to God. We need so many answers for the questions in our lives. The good news is that the answers are there, when we need them. He has promised that. We may not like what He tells us, but as I said in a previous post, in His ways we will find what we are looking for.
I must say, I'm pretty happy right now. God has been telling me some things that, frankly, aren't easy. But they match up with His Word. That means He cares enough about me to show me His word in action in my life. Just between you and me, that's exciting. The creator of ALL things is moving in my life. Kinda hard to argue with that.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
His Ways
"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," declares the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." (Isaiah 55:8,9)
We talk alot about understanding God and His will and what He's doing in and with our lives. I have struggled with this more in recent months than ever before. Once we get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside, we start telling ourselves God has revealed all to us. The problem is that feeling is just a feeling. It's our human emotions, our ways and thoughts. God warns us not to trust them. His Word also tells us trust in Him and not our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Only He knows the way. Only He can lead and guide. We can only follow. We will fail ourselves, and Him, every time.
The only hope is to follow Him. Sure, this takes discernment and wisdom but He promises to give these freely if we will only ask. The important thing is to listen and hear Him, and not assume we know what He is saying just because it makes us feel good. Again, His word is the standard. If what we hear doesn't match up with that, then we are just plain wrong. Yeah, I don't like that either. But what I do like is knowing that only in His ways will I find everything I could ever dream of. Peace, joy, abundant life are there for the receiving if I can only put aside my desires and my human ways.
We talk alot about understanding God and His will and what He's doing in and with our lives. I have struggled with this more in recent months than ever before. Once we get that warm, fuzzy feeling inside, we start telling ourselves God has revealed all to us. The problem is that feeling is just a feeling. It's our human emotions, our ways and thoughts. God warns us not to trust them. His Word also tells us trust in Him and not our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Only He knows the way. Only He can lead and guide. We can only follow. We will fail ourselves, and Him, every time.
The only hope is to follow Him. Sure, this takes discernment and wisdom but He promises to give these freely if we will only ask. The important thing is to listen and hear Him, and not assume we know what He is saying just because it makes us feel good. Again, His word is the standard. If what we hear doesn't match up with that, then we are just plain wrong. Yeah, I don't like that either. But what I do like is knowing that only in His ways will I find everything I could ever dream of. Peace, joy, abundant life are there for the receiving if I can only put aside my desires and my human ways.
We're all young
Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)
You're never too young to make a difference. Timothy was young, yet Paul had made him sort of a ministerial representative to the Ephesian church. He received at least two letters from Paul and probably knew Paul better than anyone else. Paul considered Timothy a son.
Too often we make the mistake of thinking that age and spiritual maturity are linked. That's true to some extent. I know things about God and His ways now that even ten years ago I would have disagreed with. Growth does take time and experience only comes from living through experiences. But that's not a reason to write off a generation, especially when God has charged that generation with making a difference for Him. There's a movement afoot, y'all.
Paul told his "son" to set an example; in the way he talked, loved, lived, and believed. You don't have to set examples for those who are getting it right, so, obviously, this church had some shortcomings. They needed to see someone who was doing things God's way. Sound familiar?
Don't be afraid to set an example. Even to those who should be our example. They need a nudge every now and then. We know the basics of how to live, and we most likely know more than that. Let God grow you through time and experience. Our minds and hearts will change as that growth takes place. It's just us being formed into His likeness. It's all there in His Word for us to read and study and apply. For the young and growing.
You're never too young to make a difference. Timothy was young, yet Paul had made him sort of a ministerial representative to the Ephesian church. He received at least two letters from Paul and probably knew Paul better than anyone else. Paul considered Timothy a son.
Too often we make the mistake of thinking that age and spiritual maturity are linked. That's true to some extent. I know things about God and His ways now that even ten years ago I would have disagreed with. Growth does take time and experience only comes from living through experiences. But that's not a reason to write off a generation, especially when God has charged that generation with making a difference for Him. There's a movement afoot, y'all.
Paul told his "son" to set an example; in the way he talked, loved, lived, and believed. You don't have to set examples for those who are getting it right, so, obviously, this church had some shortcomings. They needed to see someone who was doing things God's way. Sound familiar?
Don't be afraid to set an example. Even to those who should be our example. They need a nudge every now and then. We know the basics of how to live, and we most likely know more than that. Let God grow you through time and experience. Our minds and hearts will change as that growth takes place. It's just us being formed into His likeness. It's all there in His Word for us to read and study and apply. For the young and growing.
What's really important
The seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your Name." And He said to them, "I was watching Satan fall from Heaven like lightning. Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in Heaven." (Luke 10:17-20)
I love how Jesus casually tells His disciples that it's really no big deal that they can cast out demons. It's almost like He is saying, "So? I defeated him a long time ago. I saw Him fall then and I see him falling now as he suffers defeat at your hands. It's My power, not yours, so don't get all cocky. Just be glad that you are going to heaven." I paraphrased.
Man's salvation is more important than power to overcome the enemy. That power comes from Jesus and His sacrifice. It may be ours to use but it's only obtainable through acceptance of the sacrifice. We should be thankful, not of the ability to resist, but of the chance to spend eternity with Him.
I love how Jesus casually tells His disciples that it's really no big deal that they can cast out demons. It's almost like He is saying, "So? I defeated him a long time ago. I saw Him fall then and I see him falling now as he suffers defeat at your hands. It's My power, not yours, so don't get all cocky. Just be glad that you are going to heaven." I paraphrased.
Man's salvation is more important than power to overcome the enemy. That power comes from Jesus and His sacrifice. It may be ours to use but it's only obtainable through acceptance of the sacrifice. We should be thankful, not of the ability to resist, but of the chance to spend eternity with Him.
That is Sovereignty
He communicated to them arithmetic, and delivered to them the science of astronomy; for, before Abram came into Egypt, they were unacquainted with those parts of learning. Josephus -first century Jewish historian
Did you catch that? Josephus said that the Egyptians, renowned for their sciences and study of astronomy, had no knowledge of them before Abram came to Egypt and taught them. He brought this knowledge from the Chaldeans. Josephus has long been considered a reliable source for history outside the Bible. Here's what I think makes this really cool:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth." (Romans 9:17)
The Bible testifies to the fact that God raised Egypt up to the status of the world's first empire so that He might use them to show His power. That's nearly 1000 years prior to Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites.
Just a friendly reminder that God has it under control. Then, now, and later.
Did you catch that? Josephus said that the Egyptians, renowned for their sciences and study of astronomy, had no knowledge of them before Abram came to Egypt and taught them. He brought this knowledge from the Chaldeans. Josephus has long been considered a reliable source for history outside the Bible. Here's what I think makes this really cool:
For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My Name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth." (Romans 9:17)
The Bible testifies to the fact that God raised Egypt up to the status of the world's first empire so that He might use them to show His power. That's nearly 1000 years prior to Moses and the deliverance of the Israelites.
Just a friendly reminder that God has it under control. Then, now, and later.
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