Following God's Plan And Not My Own

 "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  “For as the  heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9

Martie and I have agreed to lead an Experiencing God study this fall at a small local church. It's not the first time. We have led this study on several occasions - in Alabama, Mississippi, Haiti and now in Texas. The reason we are so willing is that the principles taught in Experiencing God have been tested and proven in our own lives for the past 35 years or so. We have used the principles or "realities" as Dr. Blackaby has coined them as as guide to knowing and doing the will of God. In preparation, I am working through each of the videos which, in turn, are stirring my spirit and reminding me of why we have done what we have done as we stepped out for God.

There is a term that Dr. Blackaby uses, "Evangelical Christian Humanism". What it refers to is when well-meaning Christians try to use their minds (human wisdom) and not their hearts (spiritual understanding) to do something "good". Rather than listen to God, they look around and see what the need is then figure out how they can meet that need. After all - no need to wait on God to show them - God gave them a brain - they have experience - they have their spiritual driver's license if you will. They don't need "dad" to drive them around anymore. So off they go - forgetting or minimizing the fact that everything we do must be in the context of what God is doing. We should not start something without God and then expect Him to show up when He sees what a great idea we had.

They ask the wrong question "What can I do?" instead of the right question, "I wonder if there is anything that God wants me to do through me?" A god-centered perspective.  I listen closely to others who tell me about their plans or their work to see if there is any mention of God. When it is absent and I bring it up, they invariably back up and tell me "Of course God is in this!" And I think "Really?" 

"For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." - Matthew 12:34 

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

Walking On Dry Land

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." - Hebrews 11:1-3

I have referenced those verses - specifically verse one, with regularity in my writings and ramblings. Faith is a mystery in that its root is found in the heavenlies - through a connection with the Creator. It is faith that is the motivation for a simple man or woman to live an extra-ordinary life in the face of whatever adversity life on this planet may bring their way. Oswald Chambers wrote, "Every [person] is made [by God] beyond [their] grasp". 

For those of you who are a little rusty on annotations in writing, square brackets [ ] indicate that the text has been modified for clarity by me. In the case above I replaced "man" with "person", added "by God" and changed "his" to "their".  

We are called to do more than is humanly possible through the exercising of our faith. "Calling transforms life so that even the commonplace and menial are invested with the splendor of the ordinary." Os Guinness, The Call, p185 

Consider Brother Lawrence (born Nicolas Herman), a soldier, wounded veteran, turned 17th-century Carmelite friar, who sought only to practice the presence of God. As a friar or Brother, his one desire was not to serve in the kitchen, but was relegated to the kitchen for 15 years. During that time he had many visitors who traveled great distances to meet with him - a mere kitchen worker powerfully anointed by the Spirit of God. "The Practice of the Presence of God", a book of Brother Lawrence's teachings was compiled by Father Joseph de Beaufort, circa 1692.

"Calling transforms things, by reminding us, once again, of our audience [an audience of One]. He [God] requires our obedience in the routine, the unseen, and the thankless." - Os Guinness, The Call, p186, 190

We, who are in Christ, have been called by God to a new life - a transformed life - no exceptions. God does not have any favorites. Do you remember the Tommy Smothers quote, "Mom always liked you best." The fear of most siblings is that they are somehow loved less and spend their lives seeking evidence of what they believe to be true.

"Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality [not a respecter of persons]. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him." - Acts 10-34

Perhaps you don't see your Christian walk as particularly special or significant. As proof, you compare yourself to those who have been called to lead, to preach to teach, to evangelize. Those you see as more spiritually significant. Did you know that God has equipped them for your benefit, to serve you, to equip you for the work of the ministry? Let me remind you.

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints [people just like you] for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ [of which you are a vital part]" - Ephesians 4:11-12

So what about "walking on dry land"? I will close with a Oswald Chambers quote. "Walking on water is easy to [marvel at], but walking on dry land as a disciple of Christ is a different thing. It is inbred in us that we have to do exceptional things for God, but we have not. We have to be exceptional in the ordinary things, to be holy in the mean streets, among mean people, and this is not learned in five minutes." 

And it is there while walking on dry land that most of us stumble and fall. God has not called us to be great but to be faithful to a great God - no matter where we fit in the Body of Christ and His eternal plan.

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

Has A Change Been Wrought?

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren." - Romans 8:29

Have you ever given that much thought? The fact that we are being conformed to be like Jesus? So what is it like to be like Jesus? I am reminded of an old time Gospel song - Since Jesus Cam Into My Heart. 

"What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought 
I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,
I have ceased from my wand’ring and going astray,
And my sins which were many are all washed away,
I’m possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure,
And no dark clouds of doubt now my pathway obscure,
There’s a light in the valley of death now for me,
And the gates of the City beyond I can see,
I shall go there to dwell in that City I know,
And I’m happy, so happy as onward I go,
Since Jesus came into my heart." - Rufus H. McDaniel, 1914, Public Domain

That is Jesus' disposition. And what did Jesus do?

"Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner." - John 5:19

It is like a chain - Jesus watched what God, the Father, was doing in the world and Jesus did the same thing. In the same way, we should see what Jesus did and do the same. Do you remember what Jesus said in John 17?

"I do not pray for these 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

So when the world sees you and me, the world should see Jesus and the Father. Jesus lived in constant awareness of the Father. We should have that same awareness and not relegate our faith to certain times and places during our week. 

In Romans 12, Paul cautions us to not be conformed to the world. There are no idle words in the Bible.  What is written in the Bible is there for a reason. The reason? Because we are subjected to a persistent call by the world to be like the world. But God has a plan and purpose for each of us - given that we are like Jesus and not the world. God has called each of us and equipped or gifted us to fulfill that calling. His calling requires that we reject conventional wisdom and embrace the impossible made possible by God. Paul said that we are to "transformed by the renewing of our minds to prove the good and perfect will of God." And what is that? To be like Jesus.

Some believe that the time to think about such things is when you are young - not so. When we start "looking at the waves" after God has called us out of the boat, we can get very practical - knowing what God has called us to do, we think of reasons why obedience is not practical. Listen, chronology (consideration of your age) is something of this world - God is not bound by it and neither are we. "There is no god but God and no rest for who has any god but God. God is on the move!" - Os Guinness, p176.

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

Making The Right Choices

"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry." 1 Corinthians 10:12-14

Since the turn of the 20th century, Technology has been growing like Kudzu. For our friends in the northern and western states I extracted this from the www.nature.org website. [Known as "mile-a-minute" and "the vine that ate the South," this creeping, climbing perennial vine terrorizes native plants all over the southeastern United States and is making its way into the Midwest, Northeast, and even Oregon. Kudzu is native to Japan and southeast China.  From the 1930s through the 1950s, the Soil Conservation Service promoted it as a great tool for soil erosion control and was planted in abundance throughout the south. Little did we know that kudzu is quite a killer, overtaking and growing over anything in its path. Kudzu grows out of control quickly.) Do you see the analogy clearer? What was intended to be a help, controlled by people, has taken on a life of its own. 

Technology, which is a good thing, has interwoven into the very fabric of our souls. Cell phones come to mind. With it, the opportunities to be tempted with what technology brings to the "front door" of our hearts are legion. Our senses - our weaknesses, are bombarded with opportunities to give in - to yield because we can. The temptations can be just too hard to resist. 

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever." - 1 John 2:15-17

Lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are the three points in which Satan tempted Jesus in the desert. The problem is the question of "should we" not "can we" begins to grow quieter in our hearts as we yield to what is so easy to reach and embrace. Take material accumulation as an example. Instant gratification allows us to accumulate that which will be of no interest to us in a week or two or less. So we fill our attics - crowd out our cars from the garage - a room built specifically for our cars that has been banished to the driveway to bake in the sun and freeze in the cold wind. And when the garage is full to the brim, we rent storage space - another type of garage to store the overflow. Storing things that will probably never see the light of day until someone in our will sifts through it looking for something of value - in their eyes. And they will likely find very little - perhaps a 300 baud modem (think You've Got Mail) still in the original package.  

We hang on to things like Gollum clutching the ring - his precious. And like Gollum it is really the having and not the ring that proves to be important to us. 

"The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day. But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble. My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body. Above all else,  Guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil." - Proverbs 4:18-27

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

Standing In The Gap

"The people of the land have used oppressions, committed robbery, and mistreated the poor and needy; and they wrongfully oppress the stranger. So I [God the Father] sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." - Ezekiel 22:29-30

There are a few books that I have read more than once. The Call by Os Guinness is one. The Practice of the Presence of God, a compilation of writings by Brother Lawrence is another. Spiritual Leadership by J Oswald Sanders. Currently I am presently re-reading the Call. There are a couple of excerpts I want to share - with the intent of sparking thought on your part.

"Christian faith in the United States is socially irrelevant even if privately engaging." (p157)

"The problem with Western Christianity is not that they aren't WHERE (sic) they should be (that being integrated in all aspects of the culture - business, government) but they aren't WHAT (sic) they should be where they are." (p157)

Our challenge is, has been and will be - How do you demonstrate your faith in a secular society without being marginalized or minimized as a religious extremist or zealot? A society that is generally antagonistic toward the primacy of the Bible in human affairs. A Christian is someone to be tolerated, ignored or humored. A reality that is, I think, inevitable and unavoidable.

"... we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ" - Ephesians 4:14-15

There will always be a tension between what we believe to be true, according to the Word of God, and what the world says is true, according to man's thinking. That tension will manifest itself in politics, the media, entertainment industry, associations with people we know, and education. This list is not easily exhausted. The challenge for you and I is this - are we OK with the tension? Or do you feel a need to resolve the tension somehow? Unfortunately, the only way that you will succeed is by compromising your faith. The world is uncompromising. You will have to yield to the influence of the culture in order to relieve the tension. God's solution was to send Jesus as the great Reconciler. If you could resolve the conflict, Jesus didn't need to go to the cross. But you can't and He did!

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

At the moment, I am struggling with the tension associated with political identity. I really don't want my identity to be defined by a political party affiliation. My struggle? - I can't just identify with the parts of a platform that I agree with. By affiliating with a party you wear the label. You are associated with the entire platform, even the parts you don't agree with. I prefer to be thought of as a Christian - not a Republican or Democrat or whatever. It is not an easy thing to resolve if you believe you should be involved as a voter, and I do. 

We are looking for someone who will "stand in the gap" for what is right before the Lord. I want to vote for someone like that. I would love to be a friend to someone like that. Someone who has not sold their soul for 30  pieces of silver. Someone who will stand for right, by God's standards, even if it means rejection by their culture, community or political party. 

"Jesus is not a religious leader, but Lord of all life." (p158) There is not one aspect of a Christian's life where Jesus' lordship is excluded - but that is not to say it cannot be ignored. I met Dr. Henry Blackaby in a hotel lobby once in Little Rock, AK. We were staying at the same hotel. He was a speaker at the Promise Keeper conference and I was on staff with Promise Keepers. I introduced myself and we chatted briefly. He told me that "once the living water was flowing in a person's life they would be changed forever." I said "yes, but Dr. Blackaby you know that some have turned off the tap." That pretty much ended our brief conversation.  My point was that Christians can and do yield the cultural pressure - essentially cutting off the influence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 

"Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." - 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24

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

Floating On The Stream

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 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, neither let it be afraid." - John 14:26-27

Recently, Martie and I were talking about our walk with the Lord. Where we have been, where we are today, and where the Lord might lead us next. She said that now, it was like we were floating on our backs in a stream and the water was barely moving, if at all.  Our temptation is to kick our feet - to get some movement. But, if we were to do that, without the prompting of the Spirit, it might be self effort and God would have nothing to do with it. (Like the sin of King Saul) It's OK to rest - to be still.  Dr. Henry Blackaby (Experiencing God)  said, "You have heard the saying, 'Don't just stand there - do something' but sometimes God is telling you - 'Don't just do something, stand there.'" Or in our case - just relax and float in the calm water for a season.

"Be still, and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10

Martie was looking through our papers and photos as we are deciding what to keep and what to throw away or give away in the case of the photos. She was reminded of the times when the stream was not so calm. Flowing steadily. And there are have been times when the stream has been raging and we struggled to keep our head above water. Tempted to look for a rock to cling to or a place along the shore that we might swim to in an effort to escape the torrent. But then the Spirit - the Helper that Jesus spoke about would calm our hearts and peace would reign in our hearts once again. We would ask each other if we were still confident that we were in the center of God's will - even in the raging rapids - and it was always - yes.

I previously told you that we have been studying the Book of Daniel. A subtle point as you read about the visions Daniel had. Not once did the angel tell Daniel that life would be good and bad things were not going to happen. It will not be until Jesus returns is the war over. Until then, we can expect battle after battle. Some we will win and some we will not win. As we live our lives the constant that we can count on is that the Spirit is with us. Our life preserver if you will. Jesus may not ask us to walk on the water, but He is not pulling us out of the stream either. Remember - after Jesus pulled Peter up from the sea, they both walked back to the boat - together.  

Where are you on your stream? Floating peacefully, moving slowly along watching life as it passes by, or are you in the rapids - heart pounding - trying not to go under, struggling with fear and anxiety. Perhaps worried about your very survival. God's got you!

"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

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

Doing Battle With The Prince Of Persia

"In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled. ..... Then he (Gabriel) said to me, “Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. 13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days; and behold, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, for I had been left alone there with the kings of Persia." - Daniel 10:2-3, 12-13

We were studying the Book of Daniel chapter 10.  Daniel prayed for 3 weeks and Gabriel contended with the Prince of Persia (satanic forces) during that time.  I was reminded that very often I treat prayer like I was at a drive-thru making a order. "Double cheeseburger, fries, and a diet-coke - oh, and supersize it!"  The diet coke because I am concerned about calories. As Christians the reality is that when we pray we are entering into spiritual warfare - something that we cannot see but is all around us. Unfortunately very often our thinking and understanding is limited to prayers about our personal welfare and not spiritual warfare.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." - Ephesians 6:10-12

Why were the angels engaged in the struggle? Because of the prayers of Daniel. Is it possible that my prayers, your prayers, can be a catalyst for heavenly activity? I believe they can, but there is a catch. On a number of occasions, Daniel was referred to by the angel as "O Daniel, man greatly beloved" or "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!” A couple of verses that come to mind.

"The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man are powerful and effective." - James 5:16

People just like Daniel. That catch is that like Daniel, we must be standing before God with a clean heart and clean hands. Eyes focused on God and not ourselves.

"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

Just like Gabriel with Daniel, Paul with the Philippians we are not to fear and God will grant peace through the assurance of the Spirit and our faith. 

I want to encourage you to think about prayer differently and enter into it with a different attitude. Remember that you are a child of God - and so you have a spiritual nature. Put on the full - spiritual - armor of God and join the battle that rages all around you - just like Daniel.

"Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints" - Ephesians 6:13-18

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