It shouldn't be so hard to remember. God is always God. He is always strong. He is always bigger than anything that anyone can face. Yet, I forget when I look at my circumstances.
It is like an optical illusion. What you see is not the truth. It is like the lines which look to be different lengths but in reality are the same. It is picture with the dots which seem to be changing color but are really remaining the same. God is always more powerful than anything anyone can face or imagine.
This illusion gives you the impression that God may not be doing anything. Not true. You may not be able to see Him but He is always at work. He is always bringing His kingdom to us. He is always seeking us. He is always loving us. He is always active.
The fact that you have not heard from Him does not mean that He has not heard you. It does not mean that He has not already sent an angel to rescue you. It may mean that Satan has sent demons to prevent that angel from reaching you as he did in the Book of Daniel but it does not mean that God's desire will be quenched. It means that God's will is opposed. Is that a surprise?
God is still as powerful as He was when He split the sea, provided the manna, rained fired down from heaven and raised the Lazarus. He is still as powerful as He was when the sea was calmed and five thousand were fed with so little. He has not abdicated His power. Not now. Not ever.
So, what do I really have to fear if God is on my side? Who can really be against me and make any difference?
Yeah. I needed to remember this.
Psalm 24:8 (NIV) 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.
Romans 8:31-32 (NIV) 31 What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?
32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all--how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Maybe We Should Listen to God
There are a lot of things I know to do in the Christian life. Most of them are not working. In fact, I only have one thing I know to do working right now. I know I need to spend some time with the Lord each day. It's amazing what a difference that has made in my life.
On the other hand, most of the other "spiritual" things I have done come from tradition. I worship like I do because I have done so for so long. I do church like I do because that is what I am familiar with. I do it because I can examine what I have done in the past and continue to make decisions from my past. I look at the circumstances and say, "O, this is what I am supposed to do."
I know that God expects me to use my brain. He wants me to recognize certain circumstances and make decisions. He does not expect me to call for a prayer meeting if the church is on fire. He expects me to dial 911. However, He does not expect me to depend upon my decisions which come from interpreting circumstances. He expects me to depend upon Him.
And sometimes He expects me to do something completely outside of my own interpretation. He expects me to go where no one has gone before. He expects me to listen to Him for every step I need to take.
This is the case of Moses, Joshua and really every person whom we know has stepped out in faith with God. God takes us out of what our circumstances tell us and does something that we would never have thought of. He even does it in ways that we would never have expected.
Doing church must never be a formula. It should not be choosing five songs that match the sermon or making sure that the offering is accompanied with the special music. It should be first and foremost listening to what God wants to do.
This is true for the Christian life. I may be that God wants you to spend the rest of your life in the job that you have but He does not expect you to remain in it without the ministry He has planned for you. This too does not mean that He wants you to simply interpret the circumstances and do what your senses tell you to do. He expects you to listen.
Failing to listen makes us mediocre. It will have us making decisions with dire circumstances.
Listening in creative. It brings solutions which we would never have dreamed. Who would have thought of splitting the sea or marching around a city to see the walls fall down? Who would have imagined that going to prison provided the opportunity for the writing of most of the New Testament?
I have a totally radical idea, though really not radical at all, of how we should walk in our Christian life.
Maybe we should listen to God.
Joshua 9:14-15 (ESV)
14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
1 Samuel 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
On the other hand, most of the other "spiritual" things I have done come from tradition. I worship like I do because I have done so for so long. I do church like I do because that is what I am familiar with. I do it because I can examine what I have done in the past and continue to make decisions from my past. I look at the circumstances and say, "O, this is what I am supposed to do."
I know that God expects me to use my brain. He wants me to recognize certain circumstances and make decisions. He does not expect me to call for a prayer meeting if the church is on fire. He expects me to dial 911. However, He does not expect me to depend upon my decisions which come from interpreting circumstances. He expects me to depend upon Him.
And sometimes He expects me to do something completely outside of my own interpretation. He expects me to go where no one has gone before. He expects me to listen to Him for every step I need to take.
This is the case of Moses, Joshua and really every person whom we know has stepped out in faith with God. God takes us out of what our circumstances tell us and does something that we would never have thought of. He even does it in ways that we would never have expected.
Doing church must never be a formula. It should not be choosing five songs that match the sermon or making sure that the offering is accompanied with the special music. It should be first and foremost listening to what God wants to do.
This is true for the Christian life. I may be that God wants you to spend the rest of your life in the job that you have but He does not expect you to remain in it without the ministry He has planned for you. This too does not mean that He wants you to simply interpret the circumstances and do what your senses tell you to do. He expects you to listen.
Failing to listen makes us mediocre. It will have us making decisions with dire circumstances.
Listening in creative. It brings solutions which we would never have dreamed. Who would have thought of splitting the sea or marching around a city to see the walls fall down? Who would have imagined that going to prison provided the opportunity for the writing of most of the New Testament?
I have a totally radical idea, though really not radical at all, of how we should walk in our Christian life.
Maybe we should listen to God.
Joshua 9:14-15 (ESV)
14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
1 Samuel 3:8-9 (ESV)
8 And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli and said, “Here I am, for you called me.” Then Eli perceived that the LORD was calling the young man. 9 Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down, and if he calls you, you shall say, ‘Speak, LORD, for your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
HolySpirit, We Could Use Some Help Right Now!
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.
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.
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
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