LEARNING DAILY

1 Thessalonians 5:18, In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

 It is a simple verse with profound application. Sadly, it seems to take a lot of work to be thankful for what we have. I bet it is safe to say that none of us wake up and the first thing we think about is expressing gratitude for all we have. It becomes harder to do when facing circumstances that are difficult or just when I feel a bit discouraged. I have been disappointed more than once when a simple thank you was not given for a gift given or an encouraging comment or gesture was made toward another.

Yet, Paul’s statement is for people, especially Believers, to give thanks in all things. It is a statement that is really timeless. It is not about giving God thanks for the bad things that occur in our life; it is more about recognizing that God is at work in our lives even when times are difficult. God is at work in the lives of Believers, even during the difficult times (Romans 8:28).

The Thanksgiving season is often a time to reflect on the abundance of good things in our lives. Do this. Make a list of all the things you are thankful for; do not include the people in your life individually. Are you surprised how your list grows? Add to your list over the next few days. Do you know what this will do? It will help you develop a habit of “giving thanks in all things”! Are you able to give thanks in the difficult times when the good that God is doing is not yet seen?

Paul also writes being thankful is God’s will for your life! That pretty much takes the option out of doing so. I wonder if “giving thanks in all things” is an aspect of prayer where we just stop asking and giving God praise and thanksgiving to Him for what He faithfully does each day for Believers! “Giving thanks in all things” recognizes who God is in the Believer’s life; He is sovereign and the Believer’s thanks is in response to what He does in creating circumstances to help us grow in Him, keeps from harm, or just shows the Believer He can be trusted.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 is a strong statement that directs every Believer to live in constant gratitude which recognizes the hand of God in all circumstances. “Giving thanks in all things” helps the Believer to not only be thankful for what is happening in the present on the narrow way into God’s kingdom but to recognize and give thanks that eternity is near for all Believers. “Giving thanks in all things” encourages Believers to walk in faith with Jesus, trusting His good and perfect will for their live.

There will be no blog on Thanksgiving Day. From my family to yours, may the Father bless you and your family mightily. Take the time during the busyness of the day to remember His goodness and the many blessings He has given to you. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Isaiah 43:18-19a. “Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, …”

At the Movies featured the movie Jesus Revolution. The movie was about the evangelical Christian movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, as well as the Greg Laurie asking Jesus Christ into his heart. This is the third weekend that NorthRock Church showed clips of a movie and used them to discuss biblical principles found in them. In this movie Pastor Chuck Smith was pastoring a church that was “dying”; “Pastor Smith was skeptical of anything that defied the traditions he was using”, said NorthRock pastor Jonathon Moore.

The movie was about God wanting to do “a new thing” in the life of Chuck Smith and his ministry. Pastor Smith allowed people who did not look like those in his congregation, to come in to his church and worship with them. Those coming were the youth of that day – they were called “hippies”, among other things. “They were searching for something, searching often times in the wrong things, in the wrong places, in drugs, in unhealthy relationships, and in places that were empty”, said pastor Moore. The people who came to Pastor Smith’s church had been doing that; but they had found Jesus.

The verse from Isaiah above is a reference “to God moving people on from what He had done for them in the past. People can think their best days were behind them. God does not want them longing for that past because He has something new for them to do in the present” (Pastor Moore). In the movie, Pastor Smith found his best days were not in the past; God answered his prayers in a way he was not expecting. “People around him were searching for Jesus, they just did not realize it” (Pastore Moore). Pastor Moore continued, “The only true satisfaction comes through a relationship with Jesus”. He used Matthew 6:33 to let us know the importance of “seeking first the kingdom of God and it’s righteousness”.

In the movie, Pastor Smith ministered to those who the rest of the people were overlooking. Isn’t that just like God! “He chooses those who the world overlooks to show His power to, for His glory. Pastor Smith changed the methods he used to minister to people; he did not change the message! The message, the gospel of Jesus Christ never changes. Just like in the movie, when God chooses to use a person, you or me, not everyone is going to understand. Too often people choose to prioritize traditions over Truth. The message is always to be sacred.” (Pastor Moore).

It is not your or my job to save anyone. That is God’s responsibility. Once saved, the Believer’s job is to serve God as He leads us. People are searching today. Do they see the light of Jesus Christ in you? Surrender to Him. Surrender every aspect of your life to Him. To do so is to let His light in you shine brightly. That might be all that is needed for someone to come forward and ask you why you are different. That’s when you get to tell them about the One who saved and changed you! That is what Jesus asks of you, and He will do the rest!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 6:9-10, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread,

The Lord’s Prayer is Kingdom Prayer regarding the Kingdom of God. It is a prayer about the future coming of His kingdom and also a prayer for the present time people live in. It is about honoring our heavenly Father and recognizing of dependency upon Him. The prayer is not to be just memorized and spoken quickly without regard to what it means.

“Give us this day our daily bread”.  The Listener Guide at Community Bible Church points out that God is our Father, Our King, and our Provider. He knows exactly what we need and what we want – even before we ask. When the statement “give” is made it is a recognition of the dependency each Believer has on his heavenly Father regarding “every aspect of his life; God is his source and his sustainer’, stated pastor Ed Newton. If the Believer recognizes and acknowledges that to be so, then Philippians 4:6 becomes reality to him, “Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”.  Believers need not be anxious about anything because God knows their need and provides according to His will, in His way, and in His time.

Pastor Newton made it clear the use of “us” and “our” in this prayer lets each Believer know that he/she is not alone in what is being faced. He stated, “You are not alone in what you are facing – others are just as needy. When the Lord’s Prayer is prayed it is as if we are praying for others who have needs even when we do not know what they are”. “God blesses His children through the faithfulness of others”, he said. Psalm 34:9-10 is encouraging, “Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack! The young lions suffer want and hunger; but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing” (Listener Guide). The Psalm is talking to Believers; can you related to it?

“This day” has an urgency to it doesn’t it! There are things that believers are praying for, that are needed today, “this day”. God knows. He sees what the need is. Pastor wrote on the Listener Guide Isaiah 58:11 to encourage you if you have this sort of need. “And the Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places and make your bones strong; and you will be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose water does not fail”. Those scorched places are those situations that may seem impossible without God’s direct involvement. He can make something out of nothing. Think about creation. Think about Jesus making mud from the dust of the earth in order for the blind to see.

“Daily”. God provided manna and meat “daily” for His people as they wandered in the desert. Pick it up and eat it that day because it would not last for tomorrow, But, when tomorrow came, there was the manna and the meat. Great is God’s faithfulness to all believers (Read Ephesians 3:14-19). Just as He provided for the needs of those wondering in the desert, He continues to provide for His people every day, today.

Bread”. Jesus, the Son of the heavenly Father, came to this earth to be the living bread for all who would believe in Him. John 6:15 Jesus Himself declares, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh”.

Believe in Him, follow Him by walking on the narrow way daily, depending on Him to be your provider and to change you into His image. Be diligent in following Him and “seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”! (Matthew 6:33).

 

LEARNING DAILY

Proverbs 21:1, The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord, like the rivers of water; He turns it wherever He wishes.

The political world never ceases to amaze me! I should have known better as I hoped some of the pettiness between political parties would lessen after the election. Nope, it did not happen. So, it is in the political world. Doing what is best for the people of this nation seems to be secondary to holding on to power making everything miserable for the other party, and the people elected. Afterall, is it not the responsibility of the party out of power to point out everything bad the party in power wants to do? I used to think I was clever when I told my government classes that. But listening to that stuff day after day has gotten old.

The verse from Proverbs reminds us that God has sovereign control over the king, the leader of a country. Drop down to verse 12 in this Proverb and read, “The righteous God wisely considers the house of the wicked, overthrowing the wicked in their wickedness”. Kings and presidents certainly hold tremendous power in this world, but even the most powerful leaders are subject to God’s power and His will. God will use whoever He chooses to accomplish His will including any world leader – good or evil – and an elected president.

Let me give a few examples from the Bible. God moved in the King Cyrus of Persia to pass an edict to allowing Hebrew captives to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the destroyed temple (Ezra 1:2). In the days the New Testament, God used Caesar Augustus to call for a census, causing Mary and Joseph to go to Bethlehem to register; prophesy in Micah 5:2 was fulfilled as a result.

“Government was never meant to reflect a Christian’s total value system – it can never do so in a pluralistic {multicultural] society” (David Jeremiah Study Bible). That might be true, but it is still discouraging to see the leaders of the United States pursuing policies that are different from what God values. The next verse in this Proverb is a reminder for each of us that not just our leaders, “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart”. A leader, or any of us, might think his behavior is fine, but God is the ultimate Judge. No matter how good one believes himself to be, God looks at his heart to see what his motives are, if there is sin there. Remember the Pharisee who was praying in the temple and compared himself to another nearby? He thought he was righteous because he did “religious things”.  However, God examined his heart and did not justify him; God justified the other person who acknowledged his sin.

Here is the point this morning. “God turns the heart of a leader like a farmer uses an irrigation apparatus to water his fields. World leaders and our president may think they are directing world events but the decisions they make do not happen apart from God’s sovereignty” (David Jeremiah Study Bible).  God knows their hearts, knows what is happening in this world; He is not surprised by anything. The best thing Believers can do is to pray for our leaders even when we do not agree with them.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Luke 9:42, And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.

In the last page of the blog, I used Charles Spurgeon’s writing to discuss the need to “believe” in Jesus, relating it to the only true faith Believers must have. I want to use Spurgeon’s writing to discuss how Satan uses those things that have tempted Believers in their past to continue to tempt them as they walk the narrow way. Jesus warned His followers that walking the narrow way with Him would be difficult because the enemy never gives up trying to keep Believers from heaven.

Satan will do anything he can in order to prevent a person from coming to Jesus. To prevent one from the salvation Jesus offers – true salvation – the devil will pervert the truth of God. He will misrepresent, not contradict it. He does not stop doing this even when the person asks Jesus to save and change him. Satan constantly uses his minions to whisper to the saved person that he is really not a Believer, not one of the elect in attempt to “throw him down and tear him to pieces” (Spurgeon). But the Word of God tells the Believer that when he believes and places their faith in Jesus Christ their sins are forgiven, and he is a child of God.

Satan is constantly trying to tell the Believer that he is full of sin. The enemy is quick to remind Believers of their sinful past and what a “depraved creature you are” (Spurgeon). Spurgeon writes, “’See,’ the devil says, ‘there are your old sins still crying after you’; and he waves his wand and gives a resurrection to past iniquities which rise up like ghosts and terrify the souls.” Once again, the attempt is to throw down the Believer and tear him to pieces.

The idea this morning is not to give the devil too much power but to recognize that he creates as much difficulty and disruption to the Believer as he can in order to make his walk on the narrow way as difficult as possible. If the devil is throwing you down, telling you lies about who you are in Jesus Christ “get back up again, the devil has no right to throw you down. Your sin cannot be too great for God’s mercy. It is not the greatness of sin that can cause any man to be damned, if there be not a lack of faith. If a man has faith, notwithstanding all the sins he may have ever committed, he shall be saved” (Spurgeon). In other words, when one becomes a true follower of Jesus Christ through His saving grace, all his sins are forgiven, including the past, present, and future. “Faith in the blood of Christ destroys the sting of sin. One drop of the Savior’s precious blood could extinguish a thousand flaming worlds if God should will it, much more put out the burning fears of your guilt” (Spurgeon).

Satan does not like to lose any who have followed him, which is every Believer. Therefore, he continually attempts to draw the Believer back from walking the narrow way into God’s kingdom. Do you still have evil, sinful, and blasphemous thoughts, especially when a little discouraged or troubled? Do you have thoughts that you are not good enough to be forgiven? Do you have doubts about who you are, and that God really has not saved you? Do not be afraid, Believer! James 4:7-8 tells Believers to, “Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you!”. The way to do that is to place your faith and trust in the Father through His Son, Jesus. When Satan knocks you down, get back up. “Fix your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Spurgeon writes, “Keep your eye simply on Him and let His death, His agonies, His groans, His sufferings, His merits, His glories, and His intercession be fresh on your mind. When you wake in the morning, look for Him; when you lie down at night, look for Him. Oh! Let not your hopes or fears come between you and Christ; seek only Him”.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Mark 9:24, Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord I believe; help my unbelief.”

I am always amazed at how God works, especially when it comes what is selected to write about in this blog. I have been asked several times how I decide what to write about and the reply is from my Bible reading, study, and other things I read. Today’s verse has been written about before. However, I was reading one of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons, which happened to be about this verse, and what he said (or wrote) was significant to what was written in the last page of the blog. Permit me to use what he wrote about believing, unbelief, and how it relates to the message given at NorthRock the past weekend.

Imagine your child being tormented by the devil in the way this one was, and you could not do anything about it. You had taken him to the pastor of the church; he and the elders could not do anything to prevent it. Finally, someone says have faith in Jesus. Jesus approaches the man and tells him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes”.  Jesus is telling the father of this boy to have faith, to believe in Him; “true faith is faith in the person of Christ” (Spurgeon). Spurgeon writes, “… the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and its essence lies in the reliance upon Jesus Himself. I am not saved because I believe the Scriptures, or because I believe the doctrines of grace; but I am saved if I believe Christ, or, in other words if I trust Him. Jesus is my creed. He is the truth. In the highest sense the Lord Jesus is the Word of God.”

The father of this boy had some faith. All others had failed to help the boy; but when he stood before the Lord Jesus, he at once answered His question with, “Lord I believe”. There is something important to consider regarding this father’s faith – Spurgeon wrote, “This man’s faith was real, because it was faith that triumphed over difficulties, difficulties which typify our own, and therefore it was clearly the work of the Spirit of God, for no other will endure the trial”.

How does this relate to the message given at Community Bible Church and NorthRock Church? Believers know that the “Father in heaven” loves you and cares about what you believe and do. He cares about you knowing that your sins are forgiven through the blood of His Son and that you know your “past does not define you”! Believers are to be walking the narrow way with Christ into His kingdom each day; that must be done in faith and trust that we walk with Him. Does that not bring confidence and hope to our lives! Does that not remove doubt that the Lord Jesus is cleansing and changing Believers, so they look like Him!

The father found hope and comfort in Jesus alone; other, including the disciples, had failed to heal his son. In Jesus, he found the Lord willing and able to save his son. Believers today will be disappointed by placing their faith and hope in a person. Let your faith and hope be in Jesus Christ alone. In the writing of Spurgeon, He is always divine, always omnipotent to help, always overflowing with loving-kindness, ready and willing to receive sinners, even the very chief of them”. Spurgeon said, “May God grant to every one of us to stand where the poor father did as to his faith, and say as he did, “I do believe”.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Philippians 3:13-14, No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. (The New Living Translation)

The past is something I hang on to, too tightly. Sometimes the great memories keep me from enjoying today. And there are those days I allow the enemy to remind me of the really dumb things I did or the many times I failed. Pastor Jonathon Moore of NorthRock Church reminded the church this weekend that our past was not to be allowed to define today or our future.

The Pastor’s comments were from the movie Saving Mr. Banks. It is the story of Helen Goff who wrote by the penname of Pamela Lyndon Travers; it was about her struggles to overcome her past while allowing Walt Disney make a movie about her books about Mary Poppins. The movie brought comments by Pastor Moore like, “One’s past should not define nor limit our present life”. “Too many remember and allow some powerful memory and cannot overcome it.” “The question then, is how are people to separate the past from your present.”

Carrying a burden others may have placed on us or feeling the burden of some past problem can cause one to be unable to forgive others or to have an unhealthy relationship with other – with God. If that is you, what do you do? Pastor Moore used Psalm 34:17-18 to address this question. “The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of their troubles. The Lord is near those who have a broken heart and saves such as have a contrite heart.” King David knew from experience that the Lord hears the prayers of those who love Him and walk on the narrow way with Him. If you read the rest of this Psalm, I believe you will see that King David also knew that faith in God did not make a person immune from difficulties. The Lord is close to those who are broken over whatever is causing them to not be all He wants them to be. “He has the power and ability to take the broken pieces of life and put them back together again”, said Pastor Moore.

He also said, “Stop dwelling on the past; no one can do anything about. Let God fix your future.” King David said that the Lord is close to us, sees us, hears us, knows our pain. I hope you remember the teaching from Community Bible Church, about the teaching that “Our Father in heaven” loves us. He knows the Believer’s name, has adopted us, and holds us up! It fits right in with Pastor Moore’s teaching that God wants to give us a future without the past haunting us. Jeremiah 29:11 has been quoted often at CBC lately, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” The Lord does not want our past to keep Believers from the plans God has for them today and tomorrow.

Paul wrote, “Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.”. “God is able to turn all things around. Surrender your life to Him, look toward the future with Him on the narrow way, and take hold of what God has for you today. Believers must decide to live their future as God desires and not determined by our past. It involves surrendering, letting go, and often forgiving. True healing is found in Jesus Christ. When Believers do, they can say with King David, “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, to the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever.”

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 6:9-10, “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Pastor Ed Newton continued this week with the Lord’s Prayer. He reminded us that we must personalize this prayer not just memorize it (the target statement on the Listener Guide). We personalize the prayer by knowing God as Father – our Father – because our identity as a Believer in Jesus Christ is in Him; God know your name! He is faithful and He will always fight for His children! When that is realized, Satan cannot take our identity from us.

The message centered in verse 10, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. “Where there is a king, there is a kingdom” (Pastor Newton). We have heard that statement before. Jesus told His disciples to pray God’s kingdom would come. Pastor emphasized that God’s kingdom is coming! When? Only the Father knows that time; in His Word He has given clues to what the world would be like before His coming. Jesus said in different ways that Believers are to be watching and waiting for that time in order to be ready for it. Pastor Newton referenced that Believers are on earth to bring that Kingdom here.

This kingdom coming is God’s kingdom, “Your kingdom come”. “God rules He reigns, He is and has always been in control; He is sovereign” (Pastor Newton). It is the government of God – His laws, His principles, His rules that uphold truth, righteousness, counsels, and justice (from the Listener Guide). Pastor said, “To understand this it is necessary to know God is a good Father, who has no secret agenda, He is working for the good of His kingdom, His will, and His people. The reign of God is for His purpose and His plan to be fulfilled (L.G.). The Bible tells us that God wins! (Pastor Newton).

“Your will be done”. Did you know that God has a sovereign will. Nothing happens without his permission or His will; nothing can stop His sovereign will. It is His will that all be saved through His Son and to follow Him, to come to be like Him. But within that is God’s permissive will where He does not force Himself upon anyone. He wants to be chosen over everything in one’s life. There is also God’s general will where one chooses to follow and worship Him. “And this is eternal life that they might know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ whom you have sent” (John 17:3). When one becomes a Believer, God sets him apart (to walk on a narrow way in to eternity in God’s kingdom) and he becomes a work in progress, for God’s service and to do good works (Pastor Newton). It is during this walk on the narrow way that one begins to be like Christ (sanctification). God also has a specific will for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has a plan for everyone’s life, a plan that is good and prosperous. It is a plan that believers walk in His forgiveness, forgiving others. It is a plan that includes God’s grace and His blessings – the Believer’s responsibility is to follow God’s will for their life. Following God’s will for your life means, “seeking the Kingdom of God and His righteousness first” (Matthew 6:33), before everything else. It means “presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Romans 12:1).

“On earth as it is in heaven”. The question is: what is it like in heaven? If we are praying for God’s will to be on earth like it is in heaven, what are we asking for? We might be able to come with all sorts of answers. Here is what Pastor Newton said, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things shall have passed away” (Revelation 21:4). Sounds really great, right?! He also said, “Behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you” (Luke 17:21). Believers are to be God’s ambassadors while on earth. That means to walk in obedience to the one I represent – Jesus Christ. What does that mean? It means each Believer is to walk the narrow way in order that God’s will in heaven comes down to earth, allowing the light of Jesus in them shine brightly for others to see, speaking the words of Jesus with His authority!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Mark 3: 4-5, Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.

The Pharisees and scribes, the religious leaders, were always angry and looking for ways to accuse Jesus. They watched him closely! The events of this man’s healed hand reveal the cause of their anger and grief – the hardness of their heart. The Pharisees could not answer the question Jesus asked without condemning themselves. Instead of answering His question they chose to remain silent; if they answered Him, they would have to open their hearts to Him and admit that their traditions were only traditions. They would have to admit they were wrong!

God had given Moses a written law to follow, to interact with Him. The scribes developed additional laws that further defined what it meant to follow and obey God. The strict adherence to the Sabbath was included in those laws. For the Pharisees a very strict interpretation of the Sabbath was meant to keep anyone from disrespecting God’s holy day! Jesus challenged their “religiousness” or piety continually, reminding them that the Sabbath was for doing good and not just for the disciplines they had added. Jesus was talking about work that had significance or was good. He even said the Pharisees would untie his ox or donkey on the Sabbath to lead it to water (Luke 13:15), for example. But their traditions and “the hardness of their hearts” had buried the spirit of the laws under the many laws they had added.

“The hardness of their hearts” is something Believers face in the world around them. Reread the verses above and pay attention to the words that Jesus was angered by this hardness of heart; it grieved Him! The Vines Expository Dictionary states the word “hard” comes from the Greek word porosis which means “a dulled spiritual perception, to be so callous as to be petrified or numb”. That means the Pharisees’ hardness of heart put a barrier between themselves and Jesus, so they had become inflexible and insensitive to Him doing good. That grieved Him greatly.

It is obvious to me that Believers must understand what causes a hardened heart. It will help them to avoid it in their own heart and to understand others. A hardened heart will prevent a person’s ability from seeing, understanding, hearing, or remembering what God is doing or has done in our life. When a new difficulty or situation comes up that cause Believers to have concern or to fear, our faith is challenged. Or unrepentant sin can cause the heart to become hardened; unconfessed sin will numb the conscience to where it is difficult to distinguish between right and wrong. It is too evident today for people to call evil good and good evil – even among Believers. One other cause is pride. There are many examples of man’s pride causing him to place more confidence in himself and push the Lord away. The results of that are never good.

No one is protected from trials and disappointments. Believers must be aware and careful of a hardened heart due to living life. Proverbs 4:23 tells Believers to “Guard your heart”. Psalm 139:23-24 tells Believers to pray, “Search me O God, and know my heart … see if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in everlasting life”. Psalm 119: 9-11 tells Believers to hide God’s Word in their heart so they will not sin against God. In return God will be faithful and just and keep Believers close to Him changing them into the image of Jesus Christ as they walk the narrow way into His kingdom for eternity!

 

LEARNING DAILY

John 12:42-43, Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

Jesus had performed many miracles, healings, and demonic deliverances (such as the written about in the last page of the blog); He had done so throughout Israel. Israel, as a nation, had pretty much rejected Jesus as their Messiah. John wrote “Nevertheless” to tell the reader that the rejection of Jesus was not universal, meaning that not everyone chose to reject Him and His teachings. Because of what people saw Him do and heard Him say, many chose to follow Him, secretly. Included with these were some religious leaders.

One leader came to Jesus at night to talk to Him – Nicodemus (John 3). Another leader who was a “secret” disciple of Jesus was Joseph of Arimathea (John 19:38). Nicodemus spoke before the Pharisees (John 7:50-51) which might indicate there were others who were willing to at least consider what Jesus was saying. Yet, they were “secret” disciples, who were afraid to speak out, confess their faith for fear of being put out of the synagogue. After Jesus had given a blind man (from birth) His sight. The Pharisees were questioning the parents about what was done, on a Sabbath; John writes in 9:22, “His parents said these things because they feared the Jews, for the Jews had agreed already that if anyone confessed that He was the Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.” What was the problem? The parents, the religious leaders were afraid of losing their position, the respect from their peers, and being removed from their place of worship kept them from speaking honestly and even boldly about their belief and their faith about following Jesus.

They just kept quiet! Neither Nicodemus nor Joseph of Arimathea were willing to speak openly about their faith. John does not call out these men specifically, but he does write about why people then, and today, do not share their faith in Jesus, “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God”. “Because they love the approval of their fellow human beings, many sacrifice their convictions and act contrary to their consciences” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible). To be put out of the synagogue in at this time was a huge loss for people.

This is not meant to be any form of condemnation. The issue for Believers today is the fear to stand for our belief in Jesus Christ when faced with opportunities to share our faith. I’m writing about, “If anyone desires to come to Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). I’m not talking about getting on a street corner and telling everyone to repent; I realize that the Holy Spirit leads a Believer to speak and to just stay silent. I’m writing to encourage Believer’s to, “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16). God’s approval is so much more important that seeking the approval of others. It is God’s desire that we walk the narrow way, loving Him without rival. Anything that interferes with Believer’s honoring Him becomes an idol and that includes the desire for popularity!

The two men mentioned above eventually were the ones who took the body of Jesus and laid it in the tomb. What is the secret of gaining victory over the fear of what others think and the desire for their praise? Again, it is faith – “the faith that sees God, heaven, hell, the judgment and eternity as ultimate realities” (Life in the Spirit Study Bible).

 

LEARNING DAILY

Mark 9:23, Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes”.

Let me set the stage for what Jesus said. Jesus and three of His disciples, Peter, James, and John, had just come down from where Jesus had met with Elijah and Moses in what is known as the Transfiguration of Jesus. They came upon a situation where those disciples had attempted to cast a vicious and powerful demon; they were unable to do it. When the father saw Jesus, he ran to Him asking Him to do what the disciples had not been able to do.

There is so much to be discussed regarding this situation. Is it okay to focus on the words “if” and “all”?

“If you can believe”. “If” is a very powerful word! It is often placed in sentences about whether God is willing to do something or whether He has the ability to do this or that. No, Jesus asked the man “if he believed” that He had the ability, the power, the compassion, and the willingness to help his son. For this man, and for every Believer, there should be no doubt, no “if” about the power, ability, nor the willingness of Jesus. Jesus places the “if” back on the man, the Believer, “If you can”. Charles Spurgeon writes, “It is if you can believe; for if you can, even as all things are possible to Christ, so shall all things be possible to you. Faith stands in God’s power and in God’s majesty”.

Go back to the account and read what the father said to Jesus. “But if You can do anything….” Jesus has understood the father’s doubt and repeats it back to him in the form of a question. Jesus is saying to him that the question should not be about His ability or power to heal his son; it is about his faith. In other words, for his son to be healed, he must have faith in him alone who can do what seems to be impossible.

The Word of God emphasizes over and over the importance of faith as the means for God to accomplish His divine purpose. How much faith? In Matthew’s account of this healing, Jesus said one who has faith the size of a mustard seed would move mountains. It is not the amount of faith one has but the object of that faith – God!

After Jesus said, “If you can believe”, He said, “All things are possible to him who believes”. This is not a statement saying faith is some magical formula to ask and get whatever fits one’s desires or whims. If you have walked with Jesus for very long, you know that is true. Rather this statement is made to trust in God’s purpose and His power; it is to trust in God’s sovereign will, regardless of the outcome. Spurgeon writes regarding this: “In prayer we are sometimes staggered by reason of the great things we are about to ask; but faith looks at the great promise, the great God, and His great love, and thinks that even a great thing is but a crumb from the master’s table. Then again, we are often driven back by a sense of unworthiness; but faith looks at Christ’s worthiness, and believes His worthiness is quite sufficient to put our unworthiness altogether out of court.”

Mark 9:23 reminds Believers about the importance of faith in God’s power is the key to following Him on the narrow way they are on after Jesus save them. Know that God desires us to come to Him in our weakness and just who we are. In our own strength we are unable to do the works He desires us to do.

Let me add one more thought. The secret to growing our faith lies in the study of the One who gives and grows one’s faith. Faith comes from the love and grace that can only come from the heart of God. He gives freely not so any Believer can be honored or glorified; He gives faith that He might receive all glory and praise by what He does through each Believer!

There is a wealth of encouragement and knowledge in proverbs 16. You should take time to read it!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Ephesians 2:10, For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

NorthRock has begun its annual tradition of “showing popular movies through the lens of teaching of biblical truth, like Jesus taught in parables” (Pastor Jonathon Moore). This week’s movie was King Richard, the story behind Venus and Serena Williams becoming tennis greats. It was about overcoming obstacles and their father’s plan for their development to become the great players they became. I will try to share the highlights from the biblical teaching.

The central character in the movie is the dad, just as the central character in the life of the Believer is God. “Our Father in heaven” has a plan for each Believer. Believers may not realize or understand that plan; they must trust that He knows what He is doing. Jeremiah 29:11 is often used for this. “For I know the thoughts [plans] that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts [plans] of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” Pastor reminded us that there “is a popular misconception that when we become a part of God’s family, all problems go away and life will be smooth following Jesus”. If you have walked the narrow path with Jesus for even a short time you know that is not true. But, Pastor Moore continued, “God never guaranteed the absence of struggle just the assurance of a favorable conclusion”.

That struggle is part of the Believer’s walk. A problem occurs when we allow the struggles to be part of our identity. Know that the struggle helps Believers to grow in their trust and faith in Jesus. Part of the struggle is to grow when facing people when they wrong us, to respond according to the plan God has for us. People are going to laugh at the Believer’s faith, what they do and say, just as they did when they mocked Jesus. Again, Pastor Moore’s encouragement regarding this was biblical. He reminded us that “God opposes the proud but shows favor [grace] to the humble”. In other words, God is concerned about what people are doing to His followers but is more concerned about His followers honoring Him and showing grace to those being unkind.

Who does not want to be in charge of the plan(s) we have for our life? Yes, we want to be in control! If we didn’t, we would consult God before we decided to do what we want. You know what I am talking about. Pastor Moore said, “The problem comes when we are faced with God’s plan conflicting with our preference!” That is when we have to decide if we trust God or not. Walking the narrow way and trusting God is certainly easier when all things are going the way we want them to. But let things go crazy and we want to jump in and do things the way we think instead of continuing that walk in faith. “When God’s plan does not make sense, remember God has a different perspective than you do; that’s the time “To trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). “Not understanding is part of the process. Our success is tied to our surrender. Today is the day to stop pushing our plan and surrender to God’s plan and trusting Him” (Pastor Moore).

Pastor Moore’s last few statements of encouragement are certainly worth being passed on. He said, “Are you questioning God’s plan for you? Are others telling you, you are crazy? You are not letting God down when you fail. God is so proud of each of His children – even when struggling with His plan for your life. Keep trusting Him!”

Amen and amen!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 6:9, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.

 I want to thank every veteran for serving your nation! May we never forget that freedom is never free!

Pastor Ed Newton spoke this weekend about Kingdom Prayer. He pointed out that the disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them so many things; they asked Him to teach them to pray. The disciples, being with Him had to notice His ability to do miracle after miracle when He had spent time, by Himself with His heavenly Father. It is in Luke’s account we find the disciples saying to Jesus, “Teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples”. So, Jesus said to them, “When you pray, say: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name”.

Pastor Newton is teaching a series called the Kingdom of God. Essential to God’s kingdom is to pray; The Lord’s Prayer has been memorized, recited in church services, and often prayed by teams before athletic contests. I certainly agree with Pastor Newton that the prayer can be recited, but not lived. It can be memorized but not personalized (from the Target Statement on the Listener Guide). If you are honest, you know what I mean.

Jesus has been teaching those listening to Him that when one prays, he/she is to find a place to pray, a place to be alone. It is not a time to impress others or a time to speak empty words to try to impress God. When Jesus taught the Lord’s Prayer, it was not to be some sort of chant or only words spoken to God. Jesus gave a simple prayer to teach, as an example, how to talk to God in a meaningful way.

Pastor Newton taught us that using the term “our” as a confession regarding one’s relationship to God. It is to “claim to be on God’s team” (Newton). Jesus came to this earth in order for mankind to be in a relationship with the Father. For those of any other religious belief, beginning a prayer to their god by addressing him as father would be unacceptable.

Pastor Newton continued with the word “Father”, stating that it should bring comfort to Believers because addressing God in this way is to recognize that He has adopted us into His family as His children. Because Believers have been saved by the Son, they are able to come to Him as Father! Recognize the importance of that. The creator of the universe has become your father. That means He is with you, “will never forsake or leave you”! He is with you as you enjoy the good times, and He is with you as you experience the difficult times. When you go to Him as “Father” it is a reminder that you know He is with you. Never forget!

His name is “hallowed”! He is set apart, consecrated! To make Him “hallowed”, it is to set Him apart, to make Him holy! One’s name is their identity; we value having a good name, a good reputation. To take God’s name in vain, even to use OMG is to “hollow” God’s name; it is to disrespect Him (Pastor Newton). I might add, God’s last name is not damn! To “hallow” God’s name is to elevate Him, to place Him first as we pray to Him; it removes the focus from Believers and turns their attention to God. Prayer is about Him, His holiness, and His work in the lives of Believers as they allow Him to work in and through their lives.

Believers begin their prayers recognizing that a loving Father allows them to come into His presence through His Son and that He really does love and care for them. From this day on, let’s remember to use God’s name in the reverence and honor He deserves!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 146:3, Do not put your trust in princes, nor in a son of man, in whom there is no help.

Psalm 20:7 Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the Lord our God.

Where do you put your trust, your hope. When you face difficulties, uncertainties, discouragement, and trials who do you go to? When you need encouragement or need answers whom do you seek? The Psalmist would say the first person to trust is the Lord.

Read the rest of the Psalm and you will find that the one who seeks God first is happy (blessed). Why? Because his hope is in the Lord who made heaven and earth and everything in them (v. 5). God keeps truth forever (v.6). He executes justice, gives food to the hungry, and frees the prisoners (v. 7). He opens the eyes of the blind and lifts the head of the depressed (v. 8). God loves the righteous (all Believers) (v. 8). He watches over strangers, cares for the fatherless and widow (v. 9), and He turns upside down (frustrates the plans of) the wicked (v. 9).

Psalm 146 reminds all people to be very careful about placing their trust and reliance on others, especially those in places of power and authority. People are limited in their ability to save and protect; those people often let us down. The answer for Believers is to center their focus on the God who never waivers and never fails.

Jeremiah 17:5-7 says the same thing as he states that the man who places his trust in man is curse; the man who places his trust in the Lord is blessed. In the days the Psalmist and Jeremiah lived, people placed their faith in their leaders and in the number of chariots (their military) they had. They believed that political allies would keep them safe. Placing their trust, their hope, and their faith in man was in reality rejecting God and relying on their own strength ingenuity, and other people. That pretty much describes what we do today, doesn’t it!

 God promised blessings for those placing their faith and trust in Him. But Israel rejected Him and turned their trust to men. That did not work out so well for Israel. Time and time again their self-reliance and dependency on their leaders turned into disaster. God alone is worthy of Believer’s trust. To try to get through this life on our own resources is foolishness and difficult, ending in disaster. Believing that one can get through this life by trusting in ourselves or in other people or in our leaders is to forfeit a wonderful relationship God desires to have with each person. God created each person to live their life in close relationship with Him; that relationship is centered in trust and faith.

So, who do you trust in today? Trusting only in your own power or in our leaders and our military and our alliances will bring disaster. But trusting in God, knowing He places people into a position of power, are blessed. Those who do know they are blessed all their days with God’s care, love, protection, peace, guidance, provision, and His promise of eternal life in His kingdom! Make your reliance on Him a lifelong journey as you walk the narrow way into His kingdom.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 86:10-13, All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name. For You are great, and do wondrous things; You alone are God. Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name. I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

The psalmist has turned to God because he has a great need or needs to be rescued from danger that he is unable to deal with himself. Where does he turn? He goes to the One who can give him assurance, who gives mercy to those who ask. In verses 1-7, the psalmist refers to God six times by using three different words for His name. Yahweh (V. 1, 6, 11) which is the name of God revealed to Moses in the book of Exodus; it means “I am who I am”. Elohim (v. 2, 10, 12, 14) meaning that God is sovereign over all other gods. Adonai (v. 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9) refers to God as Lord, as master.

The writer continues in this prayer with the focus of the verses written above. The psalmist refers to the way God have protected Him in the past and the recognition that “God is great” and “alone is God”. It seems good to do this when Believers go to their heavenly Father in prayer; this should be part of the adoration to Him who loves them and is truly faithful to hearing and acting upon their needs. Notice that the psalmist, in his worship, submits to God’s will, “I will walk in Your truth”. Should that not be all Believers’ prayer during the days we live, to be united with the God who cares for each of us and desires we walk in His wisdom, in His ways – especially in the days of trial.

God alone will be the ultimate object of worship by all the nations and peoples of the world! “All nations whom You have made shall come and worship before You, O Lord, and shall glorify Your name.” This day has not yet come. The question becomes how long it will be until it does! The answer to that lies with God Himself. For believers, we must do as the Psalmist did, ask for His wisdom to walk the narrow way in these times (“Teach me Your way, O Lord”) and for His strength to do as He directs. Matthew Henry wrote in his commentary, “Our God alone possesses almighty power and infinite love. Christ is the way and the truth. And the believing soul will be desirous to be taught the way and the truth of God, in order to walk therein, than to be delivered out of earthly distress”.

“I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore.” Is this the prayer of your heart? Doing this can be seen in each of us by a daily lifestyle that reflects who God is, His character. Reflecting Jesus is seen in our love for others, willingness to forgive others, kindness, joy, and peace we have because He lives within us. That character is reflected in Believers as they do all they can to draw closer to Jesus and walk the narrow way in obedience!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Luke 11:17, But He [Jesus], knowing their thoughts, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and a house divided against a house falls”.

We know results of the election. One thing is for sure – there will be many who are extremely sad and many who are rejoicing. Which one are you? Believer do not set your heart on a political party. Your heart needs to be set on Jesus Christ and walking on the narrow way into His kingdom!

Jesus knew about divided kingdoms. He knew about Israel divided between the kingdom of Israel and the kingdom of Judah, for example. He knew the thoughts of the Pharisees and scribes who were opposing Him. They were there to challenge and oppose Him over His teachings and the miracles He had done. Jesus responded to the opposition by saying when there is no agreement, no unity among the people, the entire system, the framework of government becomes weaken and is vulnerable to collapse. Jesus taught about the value and the importance of unity; it is just as important today. Jesus challenged people to cooperate and work together in peace rather than live in constant conflict and division.

The message of Jesus is important for today, tomorrow and the days ahead. The United States of America is a divided nation right now. Four years ago, the promise was made by the person elected that he would unite the country. The promise was not kept. Democrats blamed Republicans and Republicans blamed Democrats for everything. Substitute Conservative and Liberal in that sentence and one can see the same result. The new president blamed the president he replaced for everything he faced; the defeated president did not let go of the election results (right or wrong).

The 2024 election campaigns were full of attacks by both sides, at all levels; they got pretty personal. Division grew. We all heard the things being said and chose sides. This morning, there is rejoicing by half the people and sadness, fear, bitterness by the other half. I doubt it would be different if the results had been different! The rhetoric needs to change. Voting along party lines in Congress has to change in order for anything to change; the good of all the people needs to be placed at the center of government. I realize that is a dream and might not be possible. Deception needs to be replaced with truth. Crossing party lines needs to happen when considering legislation and the appropriation of our tax money. Tough decisions must be made for the good of all the people. The question becomes what people want.

For me, the only solution is for people to put their faith in the Lamb, to serve Him. The solution is not found in the party of the elephant nor the donkey. The Bible tells Believers to pray for their leaders for God has placed them into authority to accomplish His purposes, His will. Believers, we need to be doing this every day!

Jesus calls us to examine ourselves, both as individuals and as a nation, to promote unity and peace; that call is as relevant today as in any time in history. There are going to be challenges and storms ahead; united and standing together makes us stronger and more capable of facing what lies ahead. Whether or not people and politicians can set aside their differences will be a great challenge. It will take a willingness to understand the other side’s opinions and come together for the common good. Will each side be able to do that remains to be seen. No team can be successful without working together.

 

LEARNING DAILY

2 Kings 3:16-17, And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see the wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink’”

Pastor Jonathon Moore, Lead pastor at NorthRock Church, described what seemed to be an impossible situation for the people of Israel. The king of Moab rebelled against Israel. The king of Israel requested the king of Judah (remember Israel was now divided into the kingdoms of Israel and Judah) to come to his aid. As the armies of Israel, Judah, and Edom (who also join this alliance) journeyed to fight against Moab, they traveled for seven days and found there was no water for the men nor the animal.  The situation looked difficult. They consulted the prophet Elisha and God gave them directions.

Verse 18 explains that what looked like a difficult or impossible situation was “a simple matter in the sight of the Lord”.  He told Elisha to tell the kings to have the soldiers dig ditches and then He would deliver the Moabites into their hand. “God said to get a shovel and did ditches. The answer was not to stand back and watch God work. Get a shovel and prepare for what God was going to do” (Pastor Moore). These were soldiers being told to do something that was not natural to their training. Pastor continued, “it was not very spiritual to dig a ditch, but it was preparation for God to do the supernatural – to fill the ditches with water.”

Pastor quoted Kathryn Kuhlman, “I believe in miracles because I believe in God”. “God cannot be separated from the miraculous” (Pastor Moore). Too many want prayer but when it is answered want to explain the answer by natural means. Stop it! Pastor reminded us that God has a supply for everything we need; He never runs out of anything! He is sufficient for every need you and I have!” In the passage above, God’s people were in a great need. Believers today often face great needs even when trying to walk the narrow way the best they know how. God told the armies to get a shovel. They did, they dug, and God filled the ditches with water for them and their animal!

Pastor Moore was speaking to Believers today to be obedient to God’s Word in order to see God work in our lives, “to see God work as the result of our obedience”. Being in agreement with what God says – to dig, to be obedient even if it seems ridiculous! Believers are to “align themselves with what God’s Word says to do in order to experience God’s miracles in your life” (Pastor Moore). May I add that obedience does not just bring the miraculous, it changes your attitude, your outlook on life every day.

What do you need to be obedient to? What is the Holy Spirit leading you to do. Obviously, you do not need to dig a ditch. Perhaps it is to read/study/meditate on God’s Word every day. Maybe you need to spend more time in prayer. What about being obedient to giving a tithe to your church. Perhaps being faithful to attending your church. Pastor suggested letting go of anger or bitterness in your life. Whatever God is placing on your heart right now about obedience, test Him by being obedient and see how it changes your life! That’s a good word!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Hebrews 12:28, Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.

Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  Jesus

Have you voted? My brother in Christ, Don, wrote Saturday that 49% of Christians are not voting in the election! Shame, shame! Voting is not only a right; it is your duty! If you have voted, thank you. If not, find out where you are to go and go vote!

That being said, Pastor Ed Newton made sure everyone heard that the Christian’s allegiance is not to a political party but to Jesus Christ and His kingdom! Read the verses above, again. Believers are to seek God’s kingdom first. It is an unshakeable kingdom. “The results of an election will not shake His kingdom; He already knows the results and whoever sits in the Oval Office will only accomplish God’s will.” Now, I want you to think about that statement made by Pastor Newton. Consider the times we are living in and how close we are to the return of Jesus!

Let me try to review the three points Pastor Newton shared this weekend. First, God is the source of creation. Romans 11:36 states, “For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” God spoke and by His Word all things came into existence (Listener Guide). Why is this important? Contrary to what some try to tell people, God cares about what He has created. God’s word, the Bible, tells whoever reads it that God loves them, knows them intimately, desires their praise, their worship, and desires to change them into the image of His Son as they walk the narrow way into His kingdom! Because he has spoken the universe and everything and everyone into existence, He will sustain or hold it together. God is actively involved in every situation in the world, in this election, and in every person’s life – especially His followers – to accomplish His plan, His will!

That leads to Pastor’s second point, God is sovereign over the nations. Colossians 1:16-17 states, “For by Him all things were created in heaven and earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities [Pastor added or presidents) – all things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together”. Acts 17:26 tells us that God has made every nation – all 195 nations. God is directing every nation toward the fulfillment of His will. Pastor emphasized that God knows the results of the election and His will is going to be accomplished regardless of who wins. He illustrated this by saying, “If God can use Pharoah to get His people to where He wants them, He can use whoever is in the Oval Office to get His people, today, to fulfill His purpose. God reigns and God rules (from the Listener Guide)!

Pastor’s last point was about God’s kingdom. He said, “God’s kingdom actually began in the Garden of Eden – one man, one woman, and no sin.” Today, no one gets into the kingdom without being “born again”! When one is “born again”, Jesus transfers them into His kingdom. “To anchor your heart to a political party will only fail you”, said Pastor.  Pastor Newton continued, “The Believer’s hope is not in the ballot box but in the cross!” The Believer becomes a part of the kingdom of God as soon as he/she says yes to the invitation to accept Jesus as his/her Savior. Let me close today with the following about the kingdom of God given by Pastor Newton.

The kingdom of God is the Dominion of God ruled by the Government of God, that is simultaneously, spiritual and physical, supernatural & natural, present and future, global & local, all through The Visible Life of Jesus and The Invisible Power of the Holy Spirit.

I am present in my flesh, in the present, with global and local responsibilities living each day in the power of the Holy Spirit while at the same time living in the kingdom of God, living in the supernatural, living for the future in God’s kingdom. Therefore, my king is Jesus Christ, and I must live (and vote) according to Kingdom principles, as He leads through the Holy Spirit.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 27:4, One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.

If you take a moment to read Psalm 27, you will see David is declaring great faith in the Lord. David does not fear because the Lord is his light and salvation. The Lord is his protector when the wicked come against him. Because of this, David does not fear and is confident in the Lord. David’s priority is his relationship with the Lord! He follows this declaration with verse 4 above. David does not seem to be where he could go to God’s temple to seek God; yet, his heart’s desire was to be there seeking God. Perhaps this was a time David was hiding from those who pursued him, and it was just that sort of trouble that drove him to seek God.

 This blog has often encouraged the reader to be like David, to seek God continually. Remember the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:7-8, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find, knock and it will be given to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened”. The three commands are spoken with the idea to do this continually. Each command is shown with a response from God. His people who do this receive, find, and have the door opened to them. Let the words fill you, encourage you to have the same desire as David – to “seek; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple”.

David desired to seek God in the temple. Jesus met a woman in Samaria, beside a well and told her that a day was coming when, “true worshippers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth” (John 4:5-30). He meant the place of worship was not important to Him; He desired the worship of those who followed Him to be from their heart because he lives there when He saves and changes a person. Is that not what Psalm 27:4 points us to? Believers worship God from their heart. My brother-in-Christ, Don, wrote a few days ago that worship is not just singing but includes what Believers read, the message given by the pastor, and the lifestyle Believers live each day. Believers are to follow the Lord as David did, from his heart.

Students of the Word might point to verse nine of this Psalm. David asks God to not turn His face from him. Why is David asking after telling the Lord he has no reason to fear anything? This is for those reading who might have been thinking “Sure, but….” David’s expressing of having nothing to fear did not mean He was immune to some anxiety. To ask that the Lord not turn His face from David meant David did not want the Lord to be displeased with him. David understood that he was far from perfect and knew he did things that did not please the Lord. That knowledge was well aware that he deserved to be rejected by Him. Even though from verse 3, David knew God was with him, David still experienced fears and anxieties all Believers experience in their walk on the narrow way. (Just a note, the verses from Matthew 7 precede the verses about choosing the narrow way to live our lives. We walk on it, seeking, asking, knocking!) Believers are to respond to these emotions as David did – he placed his trust in the Lord by worshipping God. When they do, He lifts their hearts. That is God’s expectation for every Believer – complete worship and devotion to following and trusting in Him!