Don't Be A Spiritual Chameleon

My Utmost For His Highest

 

“Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters. . .” (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent— so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.” CHAMBERS

 

Is your life a reflection of your faith or is you faith merely one aspect of your life?  For some, their faith is an occasional thought about God or maybe a verbal reference now and then … but their lives are so blended with the culture around them .. unless they tell you they are a Christian, you would never know.  They are like spiritual chameleons.  Why do you suppose that God does not whisk us away to heaven when we are born again?  Ding!  Time’s up.  Ok I will tell you, it is because He has a purpose for us here .. on the earth.  He changes us from the inside-out by the power of His Spirit and His Word. We are not supposed to be a closet Christians .. but we are to let our light shine.

 

Do people know you are a Christian by how you live and talk and treat others?  Or are you invisible, blended in … living like those who don’t know Jesus, but desperately need to?  Christian ….

 

Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Be Careful Why You Ask For What You Ask For

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘“If any of you lacks wisdom . . . .” If you realize that you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality— do not put the blinders of reason on again. The word ask actually means “beg.” Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are poor enough spiritually to show our interest. Yet we will never receive if we ask with a certain result in mind, because we are asking out of our lust, not out of our poverty.’ CHAMBERS

 

Asking and receiving .. believing and receiving … There are so many views on this.  So many sermons have been preached .. books have been written …. This is what the Bible says in James 4:2-3 “ […] You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

 

Receiving from God does not mean that He will or should sustain our level of affluence in our culture. Or worse yet, that He will give us even more.  Think about this .. God gives you more than you need so you will have resources to help support those who are going to spread the Gospel .. to help those who have no food .. no water .. no help .. not so you can spend more on yourself ..

 

When we ask .. we should be at the end of the list … Asking implies prayer .. that is how we ask from God … Have you ever known someone who only calls you when they want something?  They are really not interested in ‘you’, but what is in your pocket.  It can be frustrating .. what you would like is a sincere relationship … and the help that comes from that relationship would be wrapped in love not obligation .. or manipulation … or feigned affection … Well, that is how it is with God.  There is a bigger picture than this life we live .. it is an eternal picture .. it is a story of how God has reached down from heaven to offer eternal life to a lost people devoid of hope.  He wants to use you for that purpose … He has given you opportunity through provision beyond your needs to be part of the greater story …  So be careful why you ask for what you ask for.

 

1 Timothy 6:6-11 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

His Will Is My Will

My Utmost For His Highest

 

The will is the essential element in God’s creation of human beings— sin is a perverse nature which entered into people. In someone who has been born again, the source of the will is Almighty God. “. . . for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.” [Philippians 2:13] With focused attention and great care, you have to “work out” what God “works in” you— not work to accomplish or earn “your own salvation,” but work it out so you will exhibit the evidence of a life based with determined, unshakable faith on the complete and perfect redemption of the Lord. As you do this, you do not bring an opposing will up against God’s will— God’s will is your will. Your natural choices will be in accordance with God’s will, and living this life will be as natural as breathing. Stubbornness is an unintelligent barrier, refusing enlightenment and blocking its flow. The only thing to do with this barrier of stubbornness is to blow it up with “dynamite,” and the “dynamite” is obedience to the Holy Spirit.’ CHAMBERS

 

Living the Christian life is not a passive experience.  If it was passive, then when we are born again .. and we would live another life … all we would have to do is “be” and the rest would be a byproduct of our new life.  Anyone who has been a Christian for more than a minute knows that living this life is more of a challenge than that.  The “stubbornness” or resistance from our old nature is always present and we must be “focused”, deliberate to stay in line with God’s will.  The power source for this new life is the Holy Spirit in us.  We overcome and walk in the will of God by the power of the Spirit … the food we need to build up our spiritual strength is the Word of God.  It is our “manna” from heaven.  God’s provision for this new life.

 

“My Will” DC Talk

 

“I`m setting the stage for the things I love. And I`m now the man I once couldn`t be.

 

Nothing on earth could now ever move me. I now have the will and the strength a man needs.

 

It`s my will, and I`m not moving, Cause if it`s Your will, then nothing can shake me. It`s my will, to bow and praise You

 

I now have the will to praise my God. Complexity haunts me for I am two men. Entrenched in a battle that I`ll never win.

 

My discipline fails me, my knowledge it fools me. But You are my shelter, all the strength that I need”

 

Amen

Fear is Reaf spelled Backwards .. It Means Nothing When God is With You

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it— you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”’ CHAMBERS

 

(Joshua 1:8-9)This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

 

These were words that the Lord spoke to Joshua to encourage him.  Joshua had followed Moses .. now Joshua had taken Moses’ place as the leader of the nation.  Courage is not action with the absence of fear .. but action in spite of fear .. What are you facing that causes you to fret .. to lose sleep …. put your trust in God … and then do what He says in spite of what you may see or feel or fear.  The breath of the lion may be real .. but the lions' mouths were shut (Daniel 6:16).. the heat of the furnace may be overwhelming  .. but there was a fourth man walking  (Daniel 3) … the promises of the Lord are true and He is faithful. So Christian "be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

God Is Here and God Will Hear

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘“For He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you nor forsake you.’ So we may boldly say: ’The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). “I will never leave you . . .”— not for any reason; not my sin, selfishness, stubbornness, nor waywardness. Have I really let God say to me that He will never leave me? If I have not truly heard this assurance of God, then let me listen again. “I will never . . . forsake you.” Sometimes it is not the difficulty of life but the drudgery of it that makes me think God will forsake me.’ CHAMBERS

 

When you are facing problems in life .. illness, relationships, money, work … do you feel alone .. anxious … maybe desperate?  Some might not want to admit it, particularly the men reading this, but I think that we all feel that way from time to time.  You may be in the midst of something right now.  God needs to be the “first” that we turn to .. not the “last” in those times.  God is always faithful, God is always able, God is always willing.  He may not calm the sea … or bring healing .. but He will be with you .. He will be your strength … your peace .. your assurance … In Psalm 139, King David said that there is no place that he could go that he would not find God there already.

 

You may want relief but what He may give you is strength.  Put your trust in God and do not fear your circumstances.

 

“He Will Come And Save” Don Moen

 

Say to those who are fearful hearted,  Do not be afraid. The Lord your God is strong with His mighty arms

When you call on His name, He will come and save

 

And He will come and save you,  He will come and save you

Say to the weary one,  “YOUR GOD WILL SURELY COME”  He will come and save you

 

And He will come and save you,  He will come and save you

Lift up your eyes to Him,  You will arise again.  He will come and save you

 

Say to those who are broken hearted,  Do not lose your faith

The Lord your God is strong with His loving arms, when you call on His name, He will come and save

 

Amen

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

When You Push the Holy Spirit Out Of The Way

My Utmost For His Highest

 

‘If we are saved and sanctified, God guides us by our everyday choices. And if we are about to choose what He does not want, He will give us a sense of doubt or restraint, which we must heed. Whenever there is doubt, stop at once. Never try to reason it out, saying, “I wonder why I shouldn’t do this?” God instructs us in what we choose; that is, He actually guides our common sense. And when we yield to His teachings and guidance, we no longer hinder His Spirit by continually asking, “Now, Lord, what is Your will?”’ CHAMBERS

 

Have you ever felt the “tug” of the Holy Spirit during the day?  A sense that you should not do something?  But you push your way past that and do it anyway?  We are so determined to do it our way.  Paul talked about his tendency to do what he should not in Romans 7.  It is so frustrating.  And the real danger is that if we do it often enough, it becomes less and less difficult to push past the Spirit. God has warned us … “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) … Do not ignore what the Spirit is saying to you .. God put His Spirit in you for a number of reasons .. teaching .. directing … sanctifying are several of them …  You must condition yourself to recognize when the Spirit is leading you … (Galatians 5:16-17) “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish.”

 

(Galatians 5:24-25) “And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. “ The only way you are going to do that is to pursue God through His Word, prayer and worship.

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)

Why Can't People Be Like Me? Really?

My Utmost For His Highest

“He said to me, ’Son of man, can these bones live?’” —Ezekiel 37:3

‘Can a sinner be turned into a saint? Can a twisted life be made right? There is only one appropriate answer— “O Lord God, You know” (Ezekiel 37:3).[…] It is much easier to do something than to trust in God; we see the activity and mistake panic for inspiration. That is why we see so few fellow workers with God, yet so many people working for God. We would much rather work for God than believe in Him. Do I really believe that God will do in me what I cannot do?[…] When God wants to show you what human nature is like separated from Himself, He shows it to you in yourself. If the Spirit of God has ever given you a vision of what you are apart from the grace of God (and He will only do this when His Spirit is at work in you), then you know that in reality there is no criminal half as bad as you yourself could be without His grace.[…] God’s Spirit continually reveals to His children what human nature is like apart from His grace.’ CHAMBERS

 

Are there people that really irritate you? Maybe they are Christians.  You wonder, “Why can’t they be better?  Why do they persist in doing the wrong things? Why do they act like unbelievers?  “Why aren’t they more like … well … more like me?”  So the Holy Spirit shows you what you are like.  That you are a sinner saved by grace.  That you struggle with obedience to the word .. satisfied with qualified obedience.  You cut yourself a lot of slack, but for others .. not so much.  It is like the parable of the unforgiving servant … Matthew 18:21-35 … that guy wanted forgiveness and mercy, but was unwilling to show the same to others. 

 

Is there someone or more than one someone who you hold bitterness in your heart toward? You need to forgive them just like God has forgiven you.  You need to cut them some slack .. encourage them to let the light of Christ shine .. how do you do that?  By letting it shine from you.  Speak kindly to them .. treat them well … None of us deserve grace and mercy but God gave it to us anyway … Let them see Jesus in you …

 

Bondye Beni Ou (God Bless You)