The Spirit Is Willing But The Flesh Is Weak

In Nehemiah 13, after Nehemiah had restored the walls in Jerusalem, the people of Israel, their practices and their places he returned to the King of Persia who had sent him to rebuild the walls. Then, while he was gone the people returned to the way they had been living before the walls were reestablished. 

The people had participated in the religious ceremonies organized by Nehemiah but that did not mean that they had yielded their hearts fully to God. When he was no longer there to influence them - they drifted back to the way they lived before. That is a bit like people of faith today. 

Then He [Jesus] came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “What! Could you not watch with Me one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. - Matthew 26:40-41

A good number of years ago I had considered starting a discipleship ministry called the Bent Tree ministry. I imagine that you have seen young saplings just after they had been planted. Some grow straight without support - but many lean over, one way or the other and if not supported will grow crooked. So the planters will use rope and stakes to hold the tree straight until its root system and fibers are realigned. That can take years of care. If the support is removed too soon the tree will want to return to its original position. 

I recall a story about Chuck Colson - you may not remember him - an American attorney and political advisor who served as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1970. Once known as President Nixon's "hatchet man", Colson gained notoriety at the height of the Watergate scandal, for being named as one of the Watergate Seven and also for pleading guilty to obstruction of justice for attempting to defame Pentagon Papers defendant Daniel Ellsberg. In 1974, Colson served seven months in the federal Maxwell Prison in Alabama, as the first member of the Nixon administration to be incarcerated for Watergate-related charges. His mid-life religious conversion while in prison, sparked a radical life change that led to the founding of his non-profit ministry Prison Fellowship (From Wikipedia)

Chuck was talking to a man about the importance of discipleship. The man said that he didn't need other Christians that he could go it alone just fine. Chuck walked over to the fireplace - pulled out a glowing ember with the tongs and stared at the glowing ember, saying nothing. The ember grew fainter and fainter until the fire went out. Then Chuck said - "That is what happens to Christians who believe they can go it alone. We need the presence of other Christians to help keep the fire burning." 

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching. - Hebrews 10:24-25

Staying connected to other Christians who have a hunger and heart for God is critical to your spiritual well-being.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Being The Light Even When It Hurts Someone's Eyes

If we fail to embrace the primacy of our new nature in our life then we will put the natural at the front of the line .. at the top of the stack of responses to life. 

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” -  Galatians 2:20 

 The life I now live in the body .. means the natural life has been usurped by Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  How I respond to life should always be based on who I am in Christ.  Romans 12:2 says don’t be conformed to the natural but be transformed by the supernatural.  Loving God with all of you does not leave any room for the flesh and the natural.  Jesus said

 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.” -   Luke 14:26-27 

That means that you must put the natural in its proper place and it cannot be ahead of Jesus and your new life.

Most people want to be in harmony with their family.  Sometimes our faith gets in the way of that natural harmony. Many people want the acceptance of their family more than anything.  If you are a Christian, that may not be possible if you are unwilling to compromise your faith.  Have you ever “tucked your faith in your pocket” when you are around certain people so as not to offend them?  If you have, you put the natural ahead of the supernatural.  You chose to deny your faith in favor of  acceptance from the world .. and that may include your family and friends.  You don’t have to be offensive, but you should also not be apologetic.  We are called to be salt and light.  Salt that has lost its saltiness …its ability to do what it was created to do … flavor and heal … is good for nothing and should be cast out to be trampled under men’s feet. (Matthew 5:13) That doesn’t sound good does it.

So .. we are looking at another Christmas … another reminder that God sent His Son so we might be saved from our sin.  The world is trying hard to erase that truth from this celebration and make it about money.  But ... you need to be salt and light – what you were created to be (2 Corinthians 5:17).   Have you ever been in a dark room and someone opened the curtains or turned the lights on.  Did it hurt your eyes?  That is what you do spiritually when you are around other people who are living in darkness.  Be the light!   

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” - Matthew 5:16

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Having More Of A Sincere Faith Than Most

Hananiah was a man of integrity and feared God more than most people do. - Nehemiah 7:2  

Reading in Nehemiah this morning I came across a phrase that "popped" out on the page. The Spirit's way of getting my attention I suppose. Nehemiah, as you know, was rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. He was near the point of securing the city and delegated responsibility for overseeing the managing of, what I will call, the municipal operations. He chose his brother and Hananiah. He picked Hananiah because the man had integrity and feared - or respected is a synonym for feared - God "more than most people do".

So that made me think about  - the first and second greatest commandments (Matthew 22:37-39) and the the story about the rich young ruler (Matthew 19). If you recall - the rich young ruler fulfilled the second commandment and staked his relationship with God and his eternal destination on it - but when challenged to sell everything he had and give it to the poor - he stumbled because he loved money more than God - and so he failed the first greatest commandment - loving God with your entire being. If you try to get to heaven by fulfilling the second commandment and not the first - it would be salvation by works and as you know - Ephesians 2 says it is by faith and not works lest anyone - like the rich young ruler - should boast.

So back to Hananiah. He was described as having integrity - the idea behind integrity is to be without flaw. That can describe a person who has moral integrity - or even a building that has structural integrity. You get the idea! So we might conclude that he was honest, loyal and trustworthy. Good traits for someone that you are going to delegate responsibility to. But there was also a spiritual component - he revered God more than most. I think that Nehemiah would have preferred to have someone that had 100% spiritual integrity - but had to settle for someone who "had more spiritual integrity than most". We don't know how much of his heart, soul, mind and strength were yielded to God - just that whatever the percentage was - it was more than most of the other people Nehemiah had to pick from. 

So what is the point. You may find someone who is an example of the second greatest commandment - with respect to their relationship and devotion to other people - but you will be hard pressed to find anyone who loves God the most - apart from Jesus. So long as we live in this sinful bodies we will struggle with our sinful nature. We might be in the "more than most" group - but our righteousness will always, only, be found in Jesus - not in us or by our effort. The best that can be said of any of us is that we feared - respected - God more than most. That like David - we had a repentant heart and a desire to please God.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Don't Lose Hope When Things Don’t Go Your Way

Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. - Psalm 43:5

Have you ever been discouraged?  Of course you have.  Have you ever lost hope because life made a left turn when your thought you were going to the right?  It is the reality of living in a world that has rejected the One who created it.  A world that suffers under the burden of sin and the brokenness that sin brings.

I was talking with someone the other day.  They were sharing their concern for their child.  The child, who once had been “sold out” to Jesus, was now struggling with their faith.  Questioning their faith and God.  I would hazard a guess that most Christian parents know that concern. But it is not like pulling your child out of the street by the arm so they don’t get hit by a car.  When it comes to facing life and the struggle it brings, they must choose to get out of the street on their own.  You can certainly pray for them and should.  But no amount of talking (or nagging) will  coax them out of the street.  You must love them through their struggle of faith.

I told my friend that what we see is like looking at a picture.  A moment in time.  We should be careful that we don’t draw the wrong conclusions about their life.  I asked if they could remember a point in time when the child professed their faith in Jesus. “Yes” was the answer.  

I am an eternal security guy.  I believe that once your are adopted by faith into the family of God, nothing can change that.  I believe that being sealed by the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13-14) is a forever thing.  I believe that when Jesus said (John 10:28) “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”) That “no one” means no one, including the person who has been given eternal life. The person who was born again.

I told my friend that they needed to trust God and believe His Word is truth.  (Oh, did that sound like Proverbs 3:5-6?) That the certainty of salvation applies to their child even when they see the child wandering into the street – not embracing their faith.  Struggling to understand why what happened to them, happened to them.  Is God really there? Does their faith really matter?  

Don’t draw the wrong conclusion from that photo. God sees from beginning to end. We only see what is now and what we can see in the photo album representing their life in the past. God is sovereign.  He’s got this.  

 “Faith is the substance of things hoped for.  The evidence of things not seen.”  - Hebrews 11:1 

So I encouraged my friend and I encourage you, friends, with this.  

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” - Philippians 4:6-7  

I just listened to a sermon by the pastor of the church we attend. He said that when we are facing problems in life we can count on the presence of God. The promises of God. And the provision of God.

That there are 5 things that we can know are true in the midst of our problems.

1. God is greater than my problem.

2. God is not limited by my problem, even though I might be.

3. God is with me in the midst of my problems

4. God will carry me through my problems

5. During the waiting for His provision God will sustain me, strengthen me, and satisfy me.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Living By Faith Is Confounding To The World But Profound To The Body Of Christ

“Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death ...”  - Philippians 3:8-11

I was working on a home during the Hurricane Harvey home some time ago, when the man from the Gas Company came to turn the gas on.  I was working by myself, as I do on occasion, and he asked me where my help was.  I told him that I was working alone that day and that was a segue for me to talk about Pathfinder Mission and God’s call to serve others.  He was intrigued and asked more questions.  I could tell by his expression and language that he was a Believer.  Don’t know if you have experienced it, but the Spirit resonates between Believers.  The spiritual connection is obvious but is unspoken and super-natural. He commented on the good thing we are doing and left by saying “God bless you in your work.” 

Listen – we are not to revel in difficult situations that we find ourselves in – but I was reminded that our light will shine brightly when we walk through difficult situations by faith. I was sitting in our travel trailer not long after listening to the Blue Angels roar over me – over and over again as they prepared for the air show the next weekend.  Frankly I yearned for quiet. Fortunately we have a friend here who opened her home to us – when we need it – and Martie and I reveled in the quiet of her home last night.  But … there I was the next morning, writing a devotion and preparing for another day of restoration – this time with a good friend to help me.  

Martie and I have lived like we do by choice for the past 20 years.  What we do for others is important, but we could choose to do something else .. to live somewhere else.  To not listen to jets buzzing our trailer or living apart from our family. But this is the thing – we are compelled by God’s call to serve others.  That means we must be willing to abandon what many consider a lifestyle that is vital to their wellbeing.  

That is true for every Christian.  But what that looks like in each person’s life may be different.  We are not wearing animal skins and eating locusts and honey, but in the view of many Americans we are not far from it.  The point today is that I want to encourage you to make your faith the thing that shapes your life and your desires.  One of our life verses is Psalm 37:4 

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”  

That verse does not mean that God is some divine waiter – but when you make Him your first priority, He will change your heart and when He does that – what you want and think you need will also change. Sitting in a travel trailer might not be so bad if  He is all you need.  

I recall having a conversation with an unbelieving friend in Waveland, Mississippi in 2010. We had been doing disaster recovery work for the past 5 years in Waveland when God called us to Haiti. Our friend had been to Haiti -  we had not - and when I told him we were going there he looked me in the eyes and said "Are you crazy!" knowing how difficult it would be. To which I responded - "It wasn't our idea, it's God's!" That was not false bravado but trust that where God guides, God provides.

A pastor in a church in Manhattan Kansas said - for most of us we don't realize that Jesus is all we need until Jesus is all we have! And so, Martie and I stand in agreement with Paul when he wrote .... 

“I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” - Philippians 4:11-13

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Why Do You Do What You Do?

Jesus said to him [the lawyer], “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." - Matthew 22:37

The danger when we pray to God or think about God is that we can develop the same mindset that we have when we make an on-line order.

Oh - I need this or that - maybe I am hungry so I will order something to be delivered. Or I need a shirt so I will sign on to my Amazon account and order it. I can have it in two or three days and today or tomorrow if I am will to pay a little more or buy a little more! Then I will go on about my business and not give a thought to that restaurant or Amazon until I have another need. In the same way in Zechariah, God questioned the motives of the people of Israel when they sought Him out.

When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months during those seventy years, did you really fast for Me—for Me? When you eat and when you drink, do you not eat and drink for yourselves? - Zechariah 7:5-6

Yeah - those unfaithful, ungrateful people right? - God's chosen uh huh! - they praised God with their lips but their hearts were far from Him. They only thought of themselves. And after all He did for them!

That was around 500 BC. So let's fast forward to about 44AD. Maybe people changed .... 

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. - James 4:2-3

Hmm - James wrote about same problem almost 600 years later. Still self focused. Still unfaithful and ungrateful!

Guess what - fast forward to today - 2000 years later. We struggle with the same problems. We can see the heart of the sinner does not change from generation to generation. Left on its own, it is self absorbed - looking out for number 1 - numero uno. Even after we are born again -  we are prone to wander - Lord I feel it - prone to leave the God I love!

The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? - Jeremiah 17:9

But if we will love God with  all our hearts, souls, minds (excluded from Deuteronomy 6), and strength (included in Mark 20, Luke 10, and Deuteronomy 6) that will leave no room for self absorption. 

Oh to be like David who sought God with his whole heart. 1 Samuel 13:14 

Listen - we must be mindful that since we are the beneficiaries of God's grace and we are saved by faith and not of our own works, it is so easy to shift focus on the gift and away from the Giver. We become anxious in the face of the issues of this life and want relief with little regard for the One giving it. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Don't Forget To Say The Magic Words When You Pray

And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. - John 16:23

“What are the magic words?” Have you ever asked that of your children expecting them to respond with “please” and "thank you"?  That is how we very often treat the phrase “in Jesus name.”  Our attitude is not that our asking is consistent with the Father’s will, but that if we ask for things and “tack” – in Jesus name – on the end it somehow makes our request irresistible to the Father. 

I’m concerned that we don’t give enough consideration to even our personal, spiritual condition when we ask.  As if it does not matter – hey! I said PLEASE!  When we say “in Jesus name” it should be a reminder to us that the only reason the Father hears us is because of Jesus.  So it more of an acknowledgement then a guarantee of a positive answer to our prayer.  James wrote 

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures. - James 4:2-3

Much of our time in prayer has to do with physical and relational issues, not spiritual.  What do you imagine that Jesus prayed about?  I think it was about His relationship with His Father.  Intimate conversations. In Philippians 4, Paul makes it clear that we are to “be anxious for nothing but in everything let our requests be made known to God”. Peter wrote that we are to “cast all our cares on Him” (1 Peter 5:7).  But the assumption is that the context is our desire to be one with Jesus even as He is one with the Father.  

I do not pray for these [those who believed Jesus was the Messiah while He was on Earth] alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. - John 17:20-23

We pray in Jesus' name because it is only because of His sacrifice that we can approach God the Father. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Living By Faith And Not By Flesh

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20 

One of the greatest challenges that Christians face is living by faith and not by flesh.  The reason, I think, is because, typically, we don’t respect God and His place in our new life or acknowledge that our life is not our own.  We fail to fully yield our lives to God.  We talk a good game, but we decide, for ourselves, how much of our lives we will yield to God.  It might be possessions, relationships, attitudes, devotions, even past hurts that we choose cling to.  I sometimes wonder why God would tolerate it.  

Have you ever had a defiant child who would not listen?  Perhaps you were one! A child who defiantly chose that which was harmful or hurtful in place of what was right and good?  They were going to do things their way, no matter what.  Why would God permit us, those who claim Jesus as Lord, to act like defiant children in light of His Son’s great sacrifice for our salvation. Why God would extend His grace and mercy, the grace and mercy that covers our sin and opens the doors of eternity in heaven up to us, is beyond my comprehension. 

I have said this before, but everything in our lives has a spiritual context. 

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. - Ephesians 6:12

We try to parse our lives out into the natural and spiritual, as if they can peacefully coexist. But life is not really like that at all. The natural and spiritual are incompatible with one another and diametrically opposed to one another.  

As a Christian, it is important that you see everything in its spiritual context.  Before your new birth, it was impossible.  Jesus said “Father forgive them, they don’t know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)

 In other words, the people only had a natural understanding.  Spiritual insight can be gained only by being born again by the Spirit.  When that happens, there will be a change … transformation … old things passing away .. all things becoming new in the context of your new life in Christ. I was blind but now I see! The light of Christ will begin to shine through you.  God will be glorified and the Gospel will be proclaimed to a world darkened by sin.  But you have to let that happen .. desire it .. embrace it even though your flesh will resist.  

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Where Is Jesus? Putting Things In The Right Order And The Right Place

Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? - 1 Corinthians 3:16

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? - 1 Corinthians 6:19

I was listening to a sermon the other day when the pastor made reference to Jesus being in the Believer's heart in the form of the Spirit. I had to think about that for a minute - well less than a minute - because it was not exactly accurate. 

It is important that we have a clear understanding of our new nature. How did we get from where we were to where we are. So please indulge me while we walk through it.

First we were born sinners and need a Savior

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God - Romans 3:23

Having been born into a natural, sinful life we needed to be born again spiritually.

Jesus answered and said to him [Nicodemus], “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. - John 3:3-6

And how are we born again - saved from the penalty of our sins in our natural life?

if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. - Romans 10:9-10

We are born again when we put our faith in Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. - Ephesians 2:8-10

And how do we come to that realization? When it is revealed to us by God the Father.

He [Jesus] said to them [the disciples], “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 16:15-17

And what happens when we believe and confess?

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. - Ephesians 1:13-14

We were sealed by the Spirit of God - who dwells in each Believer. (1 Corinthians 3:16) Born again by the Spirit.

And where is Jesus. In Heaven

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.” - John 14:2-4

What is He doing?

Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, - Hebrews 3:1

We have such a High Priest, who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens, - Hebrews 8:1 

Is Jesus in our hearts? No. We are indwelt by the Spirit of God. But one day Jesus will return for His Bride - the Church. When will that be?

Now as He [Jesus] sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” ... “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. - Matthew 24:3,36-37

Only the Father knows.

As I was sorting through this I was reminded of a song we taught our children when they were very small.

I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart!

I have the love of Jesus, love of Jesus, Down in my heart, (where?) Down in my heart to stay!

And I'm so happy, so very happy I have the love of Jesus in my heart. And I'm so happy, so very happy, I have the love of Jesus in my heart!

So to be clear. When we are born again by the Spirit by faith, we do not ask Jesus into our hearts but we do believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead which is a revelation from God the Father. We are made alive spiritually by faith in Jesus and the indwelling of the Spirit of God. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are, all three, involved in our new birth. 

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

Living With Spiritual Discernment

And Jesus said, “Who touched Me?” When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, “Master, the multitudes throng and press You, and You say, ‘Who touched Me?’ ” But Jesus said, “Somebody touched Me, for I perceived power going out from Me.” - Luke 8:45-46

A woman with a flow of blood for twelve years had spent all her money on physicians and could not be healed by any of them. She came from behind and touched the border of Jesus' garment. And immediately she was healed.

I don't know how many times I have read those passages.  Of all of the people pressing to get a glimpse of Jesus, only one had the faith to believe in Him. I am certain that you have moved through a big crowd of people. Brushing past people that you don't know and don't even look at. That was happening to Jesus. 

Peter was looking at the crowd through the eyes of man - Jesus was looking at the hearts of those around Him. He sensed the spiritual encounter with the woman. 

As we go about our business each day - we pass by many people. Most are not interested in knowing Jesus the Messiah. They don't want to know Jesus - they are OK with just knowing about Jesus. But there are the few who will enter through the narrow gate. 

We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. - 2 Corinthians 5:20

That does not mean that we are all evangelists 

And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers - Ephesians 4:11

But we are all ambassadors and are speak to others on Christ's behalf. 

I woke up this morning having just had a dream. In the dream, I was talking with a young woman about this very matter and asked how she might engage someone in conversation. To with she replied "Hello, how are you doing?" To which I said - you are asking the wrong question. That is an open ended question - to which I could answer - "How am I doing with what?" Or with a flippant "I am blessed" or "I'm good." They figure you really care to know you are just being polite and/or they really don't want to say.

Dr. John Maxwell once said that "people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care." 

The point of the dream, I think, was that I need spiritual discernment to see beyond someone's words to the person's heart - like Jesus did. And I need to be ready and willing.

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear - 1 Peter 3:15

The Lord will give you opportunity when you least expect it

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

What God's Peace Is And What It Is Not

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled… —John 14:27

What is your expectation of God with respect to your faith and everyday living?  Do you think that God is obligated to make certain that you do not ever have to endure hardship?  That nothing “bad” will happen to you or the ones you love because you are a Christian?  No injury, no heartbreak, no death, no failure, no loss?  

Well, that is a problem.  The Bible does not promise that … God’s theme song might be “I beg your pardon, I never promised you a rose garden!” In fact Jesus said 

“These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” - John 16:33 

Our peace is in Jesus – supernatural peace … peace within in spite of the circumstances you find yourself in while you live out your life this world ... a world full of sinners.  Peace is a fruit of the Spirit ... a capacity to respond to life in spite of your circumstances … Because of you have a new nature - a spiritual nature and perspective you see life, as it happens, differently. 

Of course you want to avoid experiencing anything unpleasant and perhaps was hoping that your rebirth would provide that for you.  Sorry!  But that does not mean that you can’t experience joy while your feet are still planted on terra firma.  Joy is another fruit of the Spirit.  Are you hoping the world will somehow get better over time?  Not going to happen.  Sin begets sin.  Hurt people hurt people.  The answer to dealing with the trouble of this life is Jesus.  He is the Hope of Heaven.  James wrote

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. - James 1:2-4

Look!  All of us have experienced and are experiencing difficulties in this life.  Soon we will be celebrating Christmas which is a reminder that God showed His grace and mercy by sending a Redeemer – Jesus. And then He sent a Spiritual Helper – the Holy Spirit. And through Jesus, He established the Church.  Let your light shine in the midst of this "unreasonable" facsimile of the celebration of the incarnation of the Savior of the world.  The world wants to snuff out your candle.  To replace Jesus with its god – money. Let your light burn brightly.  Let people know that our Redeemer lives! He is Jesus the King.  He is the Christ.  The Son of God.  Who takes away the sins of the world.  Shout hallelujah! And thank God for His wonderful gift … (Ephesians 2:8-9) “…You have been saved by faith … it is a gift from God”

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone

It Is God And Not Our Culture Who Defines Our Belief In Right and Good

If we walk in the light as He is in the light…the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. —1 John 1:7

Does the fact that you continue to sin concern you?  Even a little bit?  Or have you become content with being a marginal Christian. Are you accommodating sin in your life because, well frankly, you like it. Or maybe the reason is you feel you can't resist it.  If you love your culture.  If you embrace what it offers or promotes as truth and right, even though the Word of God says it is a lie and wrong, then that is exactly where you are.  

Listen, freedom from sin is not freedom to sin.  It is really not OK.  The problem is, so many “Christians” are in love with the world and the things of the world, that if you look at other Christians and not Jesus, you can find justification for what you do and don’t do very easily.  We are NOT to love our neighbor and then love for God will result. It is the other way around.  Love God and then you will love others because of our love for God and His love for us.  (1 John 4:19) 

Since Christmas celebration is a little over a month away, let's use it as an example.  Churches try to accommodate people by not having a service on Christmas morning. Why? So people can be at home and focus on gift giving.  Don’t ask them to come to church instead … the preacher may be preaching to empty pews. Even though we may say “Jesus is the reason for the season” we don’t want Him to get in the way of our revelry.

No, I am not descended from Ebenezer Scrooge!  I want you to think about where your heart is and where your priorities are. Loving God and not loving the world is not an option, it’s a command.  Your devotion to your family is a good thing but not when it trumps your devotion to God. Would you consider going into debt to give to God?  Would you think about how your tax return will pay for the tithe you put on your credit card? No? Yet you will do that for your family.  Often buying them gifts they don’t need … why?  God sent His Son as a gift to save us from the world and our sin.  Think about it. We over indulge ourselves in the things of the world and then give God an hour to sing Christmas carols.

I type what the Lord puts on my heart at the moment. You might be thinking “he is not talking about me!”  If not .. praise the Lord, but be watchful … the temptation is all around you.  The bottom line …… Each of us should examine our hearts. Child of God …. I am encouraging you to let the light of Christ shine  (Matthew 5:16) .. first in your home and then in the world.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone