Each morning I get our my Bible to have my time alone with the Lord. Each morning I have to fight the urge to do something else. Recently, I have often turned to a Psalm which calls for deliverance from God. The Psalmist cries for God to deliver him. He wonders why God has been so distant.
I had not intended to open my Bible to the Psalms. Granted it is the largest book in the Bible located in the smack-dab middle which would make it the most natural place for any book to open but these Psalms have caught my attention. I read them and continued to the place I wanted for my quiet time. A few days with this repeated experience made me think that turning to these Psalms was no accident. Then, today, I began to listen.
I feel like the Psalmist. The devil is my enemy. He is winning battles all around me. He captures hearts, destroys families, ruins the testimony of believers and steals the joy of the Lord. I am fighting but I am losing the battle. I am holding him off on my best days and I am conceding victories to him on my worst. My preaching is makng no difference. My praying is producing no visible results. I could really use God's power and presence.
My denomination has be infamous for its attempt to create revival. We have known that the presence of the Holy Spirit resulted in His presence working with might in many places at once so, we thought we could have all of our churches have simultaneous revival meetings so that the Holy Spirit would work mightily. It didn't work. We know that people are unconcerned about the length of time when the Spirit comes upon them. They will pray or stay in a revival meeting for hours. So, we told people that they need to stay in very long services so that the Holy Spirit will come. That doesn't work either.
Jesus compared the Holy Spriit to the wind. He does not inform you where He is going nor when He will arrive. He does not respond to our attempts to manipulate Him. He is God.
I have been in one church which experienced an extended visit by the Holy Spirit. I arrived five years after the revival began. I saw the devil flee and God's Spirit rest on that church. People would tell me of falling under conviction in the parking lot before entering the building for worship. The building was so full the first time I came to give my testimony that I had a hard time making it to the pulpit. There were chairs in the aisles and people sitting on the steps up to the pulpit because there was no other place to put them. It was a Wednesday night in January. It was too cold to do as the church normally did. Normally, they would open the windows and let people either sit or stand at the windows because there was no more room in the sanctuary.
That church built a new sanctuary which would seat three times as many. I remember hauling chairs in the first Sunday night after we moved into it because we didn't have enough seats for all the people.
That is not my experience today. I am seeing the people most involved in church dissolving their marriages. I see them having affairs, in debt past their ears and participating in the sins of the world. I see the Church being taken over by great salesmen who are great at marketing. They give people what they want to hear so that their churches are full to the brim while their people are empty.
I see the devil winning and I know that I cannot win the victory without the Holy Spirit.
So, Holy Spirit I could use Your help. I need Your presence. I have no power beyond Your power. Change me and change the Church to glorify the Son. Fill me and make me pure so that I can be Yours alone. Come, Holy Spirit, I could use your help right now!
Psalm 10:1-14 (NIV) 1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."
12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Message from an Aspirin Bottle
One of my doctors (Yes, I have gotten to the age when I have a different doctor for every part of my body.) recommends that I take a low dose aspirin each day for my heart. I am reluctant to do so even though I understand the reasoning. A small amount of aspirin would thin my blood which may prevent a heart attack or even a stroke some day. Personally, I think there is an amount of risk that is assumed when the aspirin is taken.
However, I do take aspirin when I have aches, pains or even headaches. One or two aspirin makes most of these discomforts disappear in a reasonable amount of time. I do not exceed the recommended dose unless directed to by a physician. I put this limit on myself because crazy logic says: "If two aspirin are good; four aspirin must be better. In fact, the whole bottle will be best." Of course, I know better.
Too many aspirin will become toxic to my body. They will kill me unless they are expelled from my body. They go from being good to being very bad.
That brings me to the thought that some people have about worship. (Yeah, even I am wondering how I got here.) They reason that a four hour worship service must be four times better than a one hour worship service. They haven't taken into account the aspirin bottle.
Now, can anyone say that simply making a sermon longer makes it better. I heard a speaker speak for five minutes and quit one time. It was one of the most powerful messages I have ever heard.
Let's look at the ridiculous side of the reverse as well. Will taking only 1/4 of an aspirin be better for you if the whole bottle is toxic? No. Taking such a small amount will have no affect. The proper dosage is required. Cutting every sermon to five minutes would have the same effect if the message cannot be completed in five minutes.
I was asked during an interview how long I preached. I answered as honestly as I could, "Until I am finished." Preaching until finished is the recommended dosage. It should be speaking what the Holy Spirit is whispering into the heart of the preacher. The preacher needs to quit when the Spirit says the message is over. Continuing will cause toxicity among the hearers.
Many people use the philosophy of more is more spiritual. This isn't of Christ. It is merely religion made by men.
Colossians 2:8 (NIV) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV) 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
However, I do take aspirin when I have aches, pains or even headaches. One or two aspirin makes most of these discomforts disappear in a reasonable amount of time. I do not exceed the recommended dose unless directed to by a physician. I put this limit on myself because crazy logic says: "If two aspirin are good; four aspirin must be better. In fact, the whole bottle will be best." Of course, I know better.
Too many aspirin will become toxic to my body. They will kill me unless they are expelled from my body. They go from being good to being very bad.
That brings me to the thought that some people have about worship. (Yeah, even I am wondering how I got here.) They reason that a four hour worship service must be four times better than a one hour worship service. They haven't taken into account the aspirin bottle.
Now, can anyone say that simply making a sermon longer makes it better. I heard a speaker speak for five minutes and quit one time. It was one of the most powerful messages I have ever heard.
Let's look at the ridiculous side of the reverse as well. Will taking only 1/4 of an aspirin be better for you if the whole bottle is toxic? No. Taking such a small amount will have no affect. The proper dosage is required. Cutting every sermon to five minutes would have the same effect if the message cannot be completed in five minutes.
I was asked during an interview how long I preached. I answered as honestly as I could, "Until I am finished." Preaching until finished is the recommended dosage. It should be speaking what the Holy Spirit is whispering into the heart of the preacher. The preacher needs to quit when the Spirit says the message is over. Continuing will cause toxicity among the hearers.
Many people use the philosophy of more is more spiritual. This isn't of Christ. It is merely religion made by men.
Colossians 2:8 (NIV) 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ.
Colossians 2:16-17 (NIV) 16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17 These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Is a Formal Church Necessary Anymore?
This blog is not about formality. Many of us have given up formality for relevance. Honestly, we can't see why things have to be done in a certain way all the time. We don't understand why these things make a difference in the Christian life.
Yet, in a way I am talking about formality. Is there a need for the church which meets on Sundays, Fridays or any other day of the week? Is there a need since there are so many Christian resources? After all, a Christian could read the books and get as much out of what they needed to know about Christ from them, couldn't he? Sermons? Of course, there are plenty of them online.
Church could have been eliminated a long time ago if church was merely about education or sermons. People need church for a whole set of other reasons.
Church is necessary to create the Christian community. These a where you meet new Christian friends who will be your support team when troubles arise. This is where you find new ministries to get involved in. This is where you become a mentor to someone else and help others through a tough time. No, the Christian life is not about you alone. It is about you with others.
Church should be Christians meeting together to challenge each other to live the life Christ died for. He loved us much to much for us to be moved by the music and sermons but never changed. The Bible says that iron sharpens iron. Christians challenge each other to live in a community of faith. We are responsible for seeing others grow in their faith. We cannot read the Great Commission and think we can live a successful Christian life without others.
Church should be where we consolidate our efforts to do more together than we could do by ourselves. We give and send people as missionaries. We gather together to reach people with the gospel. We become a strong voice of right and wrong when we speak together. Whole communities are changed by the presence of a strong church.
Church encourages us to have stronger families and marriages. Maybe some of this is plain peer pressure but it changes our actions in our homes so that we work harder at staying together.
Church provides immediate support for our children. They interact with other children to realize that their parents are not the only ones who believe in this strange concept of going to heaven because you believe the Son of God died and came back to life. Church interests them in spiritual things. It answers questions parents have a difficult time answering. It is the best place to support values which will lead the children to live honorable lives.
Jesus died for the church. The church is the body of believers who meet regularly to do God's will, worship Him and become like Jesus. No church is perfect and those who seek a perfect church fool themselves. It is full of flawed humans who though they came from sin and continue to sin, work together to walk in the full presence of God. No one in the church has arrived at perfection.
Those critical of the Church do not realize that they are speaking ill of Jesus' bride. You cannot be at peace with the Bridegroom by ignoring the Bride. No one can truly be at peace with Jesus while unconcerned about and unconnected with the church.
No, the formal church is absolutely necessary.
Where are you going to be the next time your church meets?
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Yet, in a way I am talking about formality. Is there a need for the church which meets on Sundays, Fridays or any other day of the week? Is there a need since there are so many Christian resources? After all, a Christian could read the books and get as much out of what they needed to know about Christ from them, couldn't he? Sermons? Of course, there are plenty of them online.
Church could have been eliminated a long time ago if church was merely about education or sermons. People need church for a whole set of other reasons.
Church is necessary to create the Christian community. These a where you meet new Christian friends who will be your support team when troubles arise. This is where you find new ministries to get involved in. This is where you become a mentor to someone else and help others through a tough time. No, the Christian life is not about you alone. It is about you with others.
Church should be Christians meeting together to challenge each other to live the life Christ died for. He loved us much to much for us to be moved by the music and sermons but never changed. The Bible says that iron sharpens iron. Christians challenge each other to live in a community of faith. We are responsible for seeing others grow in their faith. We cannot read the Great Commission and think we can live a successful Christian life without others.
Church should be where we consolidate our efforts to do more together than we could do by ourselves. We give and send people as missionaries. We gather together to reach people with the gospel. We become a strong voice of right and wrong when we speak together. Whole communities are changed by the presence of a strong church.
Church encourages us to have stronger families and marriages. Maybe some of this is plain peer pressure but it changes our actions in our homes so that we work harder at staying together.
Church provides immediate support for our children. They interact with other children to realize that their parents are not the only ones who believe in this strange concept of going to heaven because you believe the Son of God died and came back to life. Church interests them in spiritual things. It answers questions parents have a difficult time answering. It is the best place to support values which will lead the children to live honorable lives.
Jesus died for the church. The church is the body of believers who meet regularly to do God's will, worship Him and become like Jesus. No church is perfect and those who seek a perfect church fool themselves. It is full of flawed humans who though they came from sin and continue to sin, work together to walk in the full presence of God. No one in the church has arrived at perfection.
Those critical of the Church do not realize that they are speaking ill of Jesus' bride. You cannot be at peace with the Bridegroom by ignoring the Bride. No one can truly be at peace with Jesus while unconcerned about and unconnected with the church.
No, the formal church is absolutely necessary.
Where are you going to be the next time your church meets?
Hebrews 10:23-25 (NIV) 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. 25 Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
What's the Difference between Lust and Temptation?
People get it all wrong. They think that lust and temptation are the same thing. Thus, they say something like, "Since I thought about it; I might as well do it." They think that thinking of something is the same as lusting after it. They think that they are guilty of temptation and, therefore, they are as guilty as having done what they are thinking about.
There is no reason to think of yourself guilty when you are merely tempted. Jesus was tempted by the devil. He had to recognize the temptation. He had to be cognizant of the temptation. He opposed the devil and fled the temptation. The difference between temptation and lust is picturing yourself as giving in to the temptation. It is in meditating on the temptation. It is not merely the desire but inviting that desire into your heart.
Therefore, seeing something which might cause you to be tempted is not the same as allowing yourself to linger on that sight with longing. Being tempted to get close to a man who is not your husband is not the same as dreaming about getting close to him. One is merely the thought. The other is desiring that thought to become reality.
The thought of revenge toward someone who has hurt you are your family might flash through your mind as temptation. Hoping for an opportunity for such revenge is lust. Lust is never accomplished in one step. It follows temptation which people try to fight rather than flee.
You cannot allow temptation to remain. It will lead you to lust if it is not removed. Thus, you cannot have that which tempts you nearby.
Many men have come to me because they have a problem with pornography. I believe they genuinely want to be delivered from this scourge. They no longer want to disgrace their wives and themselves. They want to be freed from this demon which keeps pulling them back into the pit.
Often, their problem persists because they do not eliminate that which is tempting them. They continue to carry the cable channels which show nudity. They continue to visit the websites with pornography. They continue to rent the movies and get the magazines. For some reason, they don't stop when it is merely temptation. They want to live with the temptation rather than eliminate it. They believe they can invite a hungry lion in the room without it eating them. They should know that the only answer is to keep the lion away.
Toying with a temptation will always result in lust. Lust will always take another step. It will either be acted upon or it will be meditated on. Either way, lust will beget a greater degeneration of the person.
There is no guilt in temptation. Just run as hard as you can from it. Do not flirt with the guy in the office who may flirt with you. Turn off the tv immediately when something inappropriate comes on. Walk away from someone who tries to tell you gossip. There is no shame in temptation.
Lust is another matter.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1)
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28
There is no reason to think of yourself guilty when you are merely tempted. Jesus was tempted by the devil. He had to recognize the temptation. He had to be cognizant of the temptation. He opposed the devil and fled the temptation. The difference between temptation and lust is picturing yourself as giving in to the temptation. It is in meditating on the temptation. It is not merely the desire but inviting that desire into your heart.
Therefore, seeing something which might cause you to be tempted is not the same as allowing yourself to linger on that sight with longing. Being tempted to get close to a man who is not your husband is not the same as dreaming about getting close to him. One is merely the thought. The other is desiring that thought to become reality.
The thought of revenge toward someone who has hurt you are your family might flash through your mind as temptation. Hoping for an opportunity for such revenge is lust. Lust is never accomplished in one step. It follows temptation which people try to fight rather than flee.
You cannot allow temptation to remain. It will lead you to lust if it is not removed. Thus, you cannot have that which tempts you nearby.
Many men have come to me because they have a problem with pornography. I believe they genuinely want to be delivered from this scourge. They no longer want to disgrace their wives and themselves. They want to be freed from this demon which keeps pulling them back into the pit.
Often, their problem persists because they do not eliminate that which is tempting them. They continue to carry the cable channels which show nudity. They continue to visit the websites with pornography. They continue to rent the movies and get the magazines. For some reason, they don't stop when it is merely temptation. They want to live with the temptation rather than eliminate it. They believe they can invite a hungry lion in the room without it eating them. They should know that the only answer is to keep the lion away.
Toying with a temptation will always result in lust. Lust will always take another step. It will either be acted upon or it will be meditated on. Either way, lust will beget a greater degeneration of the person.
There is no guilt in temptation. Just run as hard as you can from it. Do not flirt with the guy in the office who may flirt with you. Turn off the tv immediately when something inappropriate comes on. Walk away from someone who tries to tell you gossip. There is no shame in temptation.
Lust is another matter.
Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1)
But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:28
Saturday, July 23, 2011
There Is A Difference between Sailing and Drifting
Sailboats do not stay in one place unless anchored. The wind or the current in the ocean will move them. They will drift the direction of the current and wind. It takes a greater effort to go against the direction of the wind. The sailor must go back and forth to make headway.
Our Christian lives are like sailboats which are being pushed where they do not want to go. It takes a great effort to stand up to the wind that is against us. We will drift away from our goal if we do nothing. We must actively work to continue on our journey.
Many Christians are brought under conviction of the things they need to do. They genuinely want to get closer to their Lord. They genuinely want to be obedient and in the middle of His grace. However, they do not work at it each day and so they drift in the wrong direction.
I have seen a number of my friends who no longer walk with the Lord. Their lives were vibrant with the Lord at one time. Now, they are nominal Christians. They act in ways indistinguishable from non-Christians. They run from spiritual things and spiritual people. They are like people in comas; they are still alive but for what they are getting out of live, they might as well be dead.
For some reason, many Christians think they can drift and still go the right direction. That is actually impossible. The wind is against us.
So, I cry out to my Lord to help me remember that the time I have with Him will protect me from myself as well as make me stronger. I praise Him that He has heard me and draws me close.
I will always drift away from Him if I fail to have time alone with Him each day. That is just the way it is.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12
Our Christian lives are like sailboats which are being pushed where they do not want to go. It takes a great effort to stand up to the wind that is against us. We will drift away from our goal if we do nothing. We must actively work to continue on our journey.
Many Christians are brought under conviction of the things they need to do. They genuinely want to get closer to their Lord. They genuinely want to be obedient and in the middle of His grace. However, they do not work at it each day and so they drift in the wrong direction.
I have seen a number of my friends who no longer walk with the Lord. Their lives were vibrant with the Lord at one time. Now, they are nominal Christians. They act in ways indistinguishable from non-Christians. They run from spiritual things and spiritual people. They are like people in comas; they are still alive but for what they are getting out of live, they might as well be dead.
For some reason, many Christians think they can drift and still go the right direction. That is actually impossible. The wind is against us.
So, I cry out to my Lord to help me remember that the time I have with Him will protect me from myself as well as make me stronger. I praise Him that He has heard me and draws me close.
I will always drift away from Him if I fail to have time alone with Him each day. That is just the way it is.
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.
Psalm 51:10-12
Friday, July 22, 2011
Lord, Come to My Rescue!
Psalm 70:1-5 (NIV) 1 Hasten, O God, to save me; O LORD, come quickly to help me.
2 May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
3 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"
5 Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
I understand that he Psalms were songs. I don't think Psalm 70 would have made the top ten in sales but I know there have been many times that I have prayed it. I would have sung it if I knew the tune.
Each and every one of us has a time in his or her life when the help of the Lord is needed. These times draw us closer to God. There are people who threaten our way of living. They make our lives a living hell. They look at our flaws and put them on exhibit for others to see. They sometimes seek revenge for perceived wrongs. They want to destroy us through their words and their actions. They gossip about us. (Gossip is telling as much truth as meets the need of hurting others.) They yell, "Aha! Aha!" Their conversations will not deviate from their mission of hurting us.
Of course, these people cannot seek the Lord and continue to do this. Those who seek the Lord will rejoice in the Lord. They will spend their time praising the Lord. Their conversations are not veiled in pseudo-spirituality. They do not pretend to do what is right while spreading their distruction. They use their efforts to seek the exaltation of the Lord.
Knowing that these people are not doing what the Lord wants does not help the one being hurt. The boss who threatens and makes your life a hell is not seeking the Lord even if he has a Christian fish on his car. Being a deacon or a Sunday School teacher does not matter when the person seeks to destroy your reputation or your livelihood. The husband whose harsh words are not a reflection of Christ in His treatment of His bride, the church. It doesn't matter if he is the pastor of the church or considered by everyone else as the most spiritual man.
We become poor and needy in this relationship because our lives' have been threatened. These people do not necessarily wave weapons at us. They destroy us by pushing us away from others. They hurt us by squeezing the happiness out.
So we cry out, "You are my help and my deliverer!" We must for there is no one else who will come to us and take us out of this oppression. Where else can we turn? Who else loves us more than our Lord? Who can actually deliver us other than Him?
Then, we add, "O Lord, do not delay!" O yes, I have been there many times. I thought I couldn't go any farther and begged God to deliver me quickly. Yet, God did not seem to come as I saw one day after another pass in my distress. I never wondered where I was getting the strength to stand up through these difficulties. I did not realize that He was delivering me by giving me that strength. I failed to notice His grace as I went through the trial.
God's rescue doesn't always remove the struggle. More often, God's deliverance is in walking through the struggle. It is often the rescue that I need before I see the rescue from the struggle actually being removed. He has not delayed in being my help in the present difficulty. He simply has not removed the difficulty.
I don't know if David took comfort in this. He was chased by Saul for years. He was forced to live as a fugitive whose life was threatened at every moment. This oppression and struggle was not quickly removed, yet David continued to write Psalms to the Lord.
I am quite sure that David would have rather been welcomed back into Saul's graces and have escaped the dangers he must face. I believe this because I would like to escape my own struggles immediately. But I have this reconcilliation: I am drawn so much closer to my Lord when I am under so much pressure.
And thus, in those quiet times I am with my Lord, as I cry out to Him about my trials, I am rescued quickly. He comes; I am strengthened. I survive another day. Then, one day the trial has taught me all that it can and it is gone.
O Lord, do not delay!
2 May those who seek my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
3 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!" turn back because of their shame.
4 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!"
5 Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay.
I understand that he Psalms were songs. I don't think Psalm 70 would have made the top ten in sales but I know there have been many times that I have prayed it. I would have sung it if I knew the tune.
Each and every one of us has a time in his or her life when the help of the Lord is needed. These times draw us closer to God. There are people who threaten our way of living. They make our lives a living hell. They look at our flaws and put them on exhibit for others to see. They sometimes seek revenge for perceived wrongs. They want to destroy us through their words and their actions. They gossip about us. (Gossip is telling as much truth as meets the need of hurting others.) They yell, "Aha! Aha!" Their conversations will not deviate from their mission of hurting us.
Of course, these people cannot seek the Lord and continue to do this. Those who seek the Lord will rejoice in the Lord. They will spend their time praising the Lord. Their conversations are not veiled in pseudo-spirituality. They do not pretend to do what is right while spreading their distruction. They use their efforts to seek the exaltation of the Lord.
Knowing that these people are not doing what the Lord wants does not help the one being hurt. The boss who threatens and makes your life a hell is not seeking the Lord even if he has a Christian fish on his car. Being a deacon or a Sunday School teacher does not matter when the person seeks to destroy your reputation or your livelihood. The husband whose harsh words are not a reflection of Christ in His treatment of His bride, the church. It doesn't matter if he is the pastor of the church or considered by everyone else as the most spiritual man.
We become poor and needy in this relationship because our lives' have been threatened. These people do not necessarily wave weapons at us. They destroy us by pushing us away from others. They hurt us by squeezing the happiness out.
So we cry out, "You are my help and my deliverer!" We must for there is no one else who will come to us and take us out of this oppression. Where else can we turn? Who else loves us more than our Lord? Who can actually deliver us other than Him?
Then, we add, "O Lord, do not delay!" O yes, I have been there many times. I thought I couldn't go any farther and begged God to deliver me quickly. Yet, God did not seem to come as I saw one day after another pass in my distress. I never wondered where I was getting the strength to stand up through these difficulties. I did not realize that He was delivering me by giving me that strength. I failed to notice His grace as I went through the trial.
God's rescue doesn't always remove the struggle. More often, God's deliverance is in walking through the struggle. It is often the rescue that I need before I see the rescue from the struggle actually being removed. He has not delayed in being my help in the present difficulty. He simply has not removed the difficulty.
I don't know if David took comfort in this. He was chased by Saul for years. He was forced to live as a fugitive whose life was threatened at every moment. This oppression and struggle was not quickly removed, yet David continued to write Psalms to the Lord.
I am quite sure that David would have rather been welcomed back into Saul's graces and have escaped the dangers he must face. I believe this because I would like to escape my own struggles immediately. But I have this reconcilliation: I am drawn so much closer to my Lord when I am under so much pressure.
And thus, in those quiet times I am with my Lord, as I cry out to Him about my trials, I am rescued quickly. He comes; I am strengthened. I survive another day. Then, one day the trial has taught me all that it can and it is gone.
O Lord, do not delay!
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Drawn in by the Counsel of the Wicked
The Psalmist wrote:
Psalm 1:1 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
You must pay attention when the Bible tells you that a person is blessed when he does or doesn't do something. There is no need to draw attention to something unless it is unusual. A blessing in itself implies that there is a special favor on the person because he or she has avoided or committed to something.
In this case the person blessed is one who did not walk in the counsel of the wicked. This must mean that it is easy or likely to walk in this counsel. It must mean that it takes some effort to avoid the counsel of the wicked..
The counsel of the wicked is popular. It is accepted as the norm in a fallen world. Denying this counsel makes you an oddball. It sets you against those who have accepted this counsel as normal.
The counsel of the wicked is often couched in godly terms. Many godly people are duped by the counsel of the wicked because it is often a thin layer of truth stuffed with a lie. It takes godly discernment to distinguish the truth from the lies. The counsel of the wicked says something like, "God wants His church to grow. (Truth) We need to stop telling people they are sinners in need of Jesus if we want to see them in our church. (A lie from the pit of hell)."
Continuing to walk in the counsel of the wicked will lead the person to stand in the way of the sinners. Standing represents a value that has been established. It is an identifier that has been given to that person. It is seen by the defense of the wicked counsel. It is much like an attorney who defends his or her client. He stands to defend the client even if the client is guilty.He needn't prove innocence. All he needs to do is bring doubt into the equation. Thus, we have the acceptance of the counsel of the wicked.
After making his case the one who has stood in the way of sinners will set on the governing counsel of those who create the counsel of the wicked. He mocks those who will stand for righteousness. He makes the righteous appear ridiculous because there are so few who refuse to walk in the counsel of the wicked. He makes his own way righteous by the standard of those who sit with him.
How can anyone discern that counsel is wicked? The Psalmist answers this too:
Psalm 1:2 (NIV) 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
It seems to me that having a time alone with the Lord and His word each day will keep us from falling into the trap of the counsel of the wicked. Taking delight in God's word will result in reading and meditating on it. It will become a part of the individual.
Though the Psalmist does not state the reverse, the one who walks in the counsel of the Lord is blessed. He stands with the righteous and sits with those who give godly counsel. This godly counsel will look like foolishness to those who do not possess the spirit of God. It will be life to those who receive it into their hearts.
So, when was the last time you spend alone time with God and His word? Failing to spend this time makes you very susceptible to walking in the counsel of the wicked.
I have seen many believers drawn into the counsel of the wicked. They all have one thing in common. They don't have any time meditating on God's word.
Psalm 1:1 (NIV) 1 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.
You must pay attention when the Bible tells you that a person is blessed when he does or doesn't do something. There is no need to draw attention to something unless it is unusual. A blessing in itself implies that there is a special favor on the person because he or she has avoided or committed to something.
In this case the person blessed is one who did not walk in the counsel of the wicked. This must mean that it is easy or likely to walk in this counsel. It must mean that it takes some effort to avoid the counsel of the wicked..
The counsel of the wicked is popular. It is accepted as the norm in a fallen world. Denying this counsel makes you an oddball. It sets you against those who have accepted this counsel as normal.
The counsel of the wicked is often couched in godly terms. Many godly people are duped by the counsel of the wicked because it is often a thin layer of truth stuffed with a lie. It takes godly discernment to distinguish the truth from the lies. The counsel of the wicked says something like, "God wants His church to grow. (Truth) We need to stop telling people they are sinners in need of Jesus if we want to see them in our church. (A lie from the pit of hell)."
Continuing to walk in the counsel of the wicked will lead the person to stand in the way of the sinners. Standing represents a value that has been established. It is an identifier that has been given to that person. It is seen by the defense of the wicked counsel. It is much like an attorney who defends his or her client. He stands to defend the client even if the client is guilty.He needn't prove innocence. All he needs to do is bring doubt into the equation. Thus, we have the acceptance of the counsel of the wicked.
After making his case the one who has stood in the way of sinners will set on the governing counsel of those who create the counsel of the wicked. He mocks those who will stand for righteousness. He makes the righteous appear ridiculous because there are so few who refuse to walk in the counsel of the wicked. He makes his own way righteous by the standard of those who sit with him.
How can anyone discern that counsel is wicked? The Psalmist answers this too:
Psalm 1:2 (NIV) 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.
It seems to me that having a time alone with the Lord and His word each day will keep us from falling into the trap of the counsel of the wicked. Taking delight in God's word will result in reading and meditating on it. It will become a part of the individual.
Though the Psalmist does not state the reverse, the one who walks in the counsel of the Lord is blessed. He stands with the righteous and sits with those who give godly counsel. This godly counsel will look like foolishness to those who do not possess the spirit of God. It will be life to those who receive it into their hearts.
So, when was the last time you spend alone time with God and His word? Failing to spend this time makes you very susceptible to walking in the counsel of the wicked.
I have seen many believers drawn into the counsel of the wicked. They all have one thing in common. They don't have any time meditating on God's word.
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