Vision, Perseverance, and Hindrances

Vision, Perseverance, and Hindrances

A couple weeks ago during church the Lord spoke to me two words: Perseverance and hindrances. As He spoke He imparted a backdrop of vision. Meaning, I knew the context for perseverance and hindrances was vision that God had at one time given to individuals. 

The following week the Lord gave me a word of exhortation. It seems like a word that will encourage more than just those at my church. I cannot reiterate it word-for-word, but the message will be the same. God began with a question.

“What has the passing of time done to your faith?”

Romans 4 says of Abraham, (paraphrased): Contrary to hope, in hope Abraham believed God. Abraham did not become weak in faith through the passing of time. And though he knew what God had promised was naturally impossible, he did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief. Instead Abraham continued to be strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, because he was fully convinced that what God had promised He was also able to perform.

All the heroes in Hebrews 11 have in common that they did not give up through the passing of time or in the midst of hindrances. They continued to believe God. Some of these heroes even died in faith not having received in this age what God had promised. Their faith carried them, not only past their current situation, but also past their life in this age.

What has the passing of time done to your vision—to your faith? Have you continued to believe God, to be strengthened in faith, or has your vision began to die? Maybe it even needs resurrection.

God says that where there is no vision people cast off restraint; they run amiss; they perish. 

Remember what God has spoken to you in the past. Bring it back into the forefront of your mind. Write it down; begin again to pray about it; plan for it; believe for it. Allow God to breathe new life into that which has become dim.

Faith endures circumstances; faith endures time.

Believe God, again.

Don’t let the sun set on your vision.

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.

What is Serving?

What is Serving?

Should we, rather should I, serve? If so, then what should I be doing?

Over the nearly 38 years of walking with God, open doors for servant-hood have availed themselves often. Early on I found myself saying “yes” to [too] many open doors. The church George and I are now a part of has many open doors where we could serve. Yesterday the pastor gave an overview of our church’s heart and areas available for serving. After church George and I talked about how we should serve. Usually we’d be having people over for dinner and opening our home for small groups. But we don’t have a house right now. We are building and in the meantime staying with George’s sister 30 miles from the church. Situations where we can’t do what we have always done makes us take a step back and ask again, “Lord, what does serving look like for me in this season? What should I be doing?”

In Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians 12 Paul discusses different spiritual gifts. Service is mentioned, as is prophecy, teaching, administration and healings, among others. Is serving then waiting on and investing in your spiritual gifts? Or is serving only for those who have the gift of service? There are some things we should all have a heart for as Christians; widows and orphans would fit into that category.

It is easy to feel unwarranted guilt when areas to serve are discussed. Should I go to the park and help feed the poor? Maybe. I have a gift of prophecy and am finishing up my 2^nd book. I know I’m supposed to be doing both of those, but can they be under the banner of service for me? Furthermore, is evangelism a gift to serve others, as well? Of course. Then does it fit under the banner too? Or is the food pantry, going to the park, cleaning the bathrooms, and sweeping the floor only areas Jesus acknowledges? Don’t get me wrong, our pastor didn’t put the heavy on anyone, rather his message caused us to reflect and reconsider what we are doing.

Are some gifts classified as serving and not others? 1 Peter 4: 10-11 says, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Everyone can and should serve, but where? I believe if you don’t know, ask the Lord to direct you and do something helpful. Sooner or later He will make it clear what gifts you have and where you should specifically be serving. If you do know give yourself to it.

Romans 12 puts it this way, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

And 1 Corinthians 12:14-20, 27-31: “For in fact the body is not one member but many. 15 If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,’ is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be? 20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body.

“27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”

We may not know where we should serve, but we do know we are to serve. In fact, Jesus said that the greatest was the servant. Even to give a cup of water in His name will be remembered by Him. So, what does serving look like in this season of your life? 

Neglected Discipline

Neglected Discipline of Speaking in Tongues

When we hear of Christian disciplines most people’s thoughts immediately reflect on Bible reading, fasting, and prayer. A couple days ago the Holy Spirit spoke a phrase to me, “The neglected disciple of speaking in tongues.”

A brief exegete on tongues for those who are unfamiliar with this gift. The first mention of tongues in the New Testament (NT) is Mark 16:17, “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues.” Then on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2) 120 prayers were are all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. Throughout the Book of Acts we see accounts where believers spoke in tongues. 1 Corinthians 12 states it is a gift given by the Holy Spirit. This gift is explained with detail in 1 Corinthians 14 where it is also called “speaking, singing, and/or praying in the Spirit.” It is described in such a way as to lend that it was a normal part of the gathering of believers.

Paul thanked God he spoke in tongues more than anyone. He also wanted all to speak in tongues. As in other Scriptures, we must assume that what Paul wrote is the heart of the Lord. We don’t have full knowledge of the benefits of speaking in tongues. But it must be important. We should discipline ourselves to speak in tongues often.

If you don’t yet speak in tongues, ask Jesus to baptize you with the Holy Spirit. Believe He did. Open your mouth and speak in tongues. He wants you to have it more than you want it.

Here is the exhortation from the Holy Spirit:

Do not neglect the discipline of speaking in tongues.

An Exercise in Exegesis

Following in an excerpt from a book I am writing named Confronting the Wind.

Eliphaz

An Exercise in Exegesis

Job 22:28

“You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.”

“Decree a thing and it will be established for you” has become the emphasis of many ministries among Charismatics. I have witnessed whole conferences devoted to decreeing and declaring. To whom are they decreeing and declaring is a good question. For example, let’s say I need money to pay unexpected bills. If I believe there is creative power in my declaration and decree, then my actions will be to declare and decree into the heavens or into the atmosphere or to the devil or … to God. “Release money to me. I command that all my needs are met, in Jesus Name,” I will say. Now, of course, there are a great number of scriptures I can quote in my decree and declaration. But, is this the biblical pattern—to speak into the atmosphere? Is this what Jesus did? The apostles? If, however, my paradigm is that God is the keeper of all my answers, the One who hears all my prayers, and who meets all my needs, then I will, instead of declaring and decreeing into the atmosphere, simply ask. 

In a meeting I attended, a leader’s message was on decreeing and declaring. The point the leader was making is that we can decree a thing, as the church or as an individual, and it will be established for us. So, in the meeting people decreed things they wanted done. Maybe even things God wanted done? Consider that if it is true that we can declare/decree a thing and it will be established, then something or someone is causing it to be established—for it will be established for you. Meaning, there is a silent agent in the scripture. We must conclude therefore that the silent agent is either God, the words themselves, man’s own resident supernatural power, some unseen unmentioned force, or the devil. Who or what is, in reality, empowering the words?

Think about it...

Getting back to the meeting… Since I already had a grid about declaring and decreeing things and the power of people’s words, the sermon did not set well with me. I went home and looked for “Decree a thing and it will be established for you” in the Bible. There it is in Job 22:28, spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite… oops… Let’s look at God’s opinion of Eliphaz and what Eliphaz had to say. God said to Eliphaz in Job 42:7, It came about after the LORD had spoken these words to Job, that the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is kindled against you and against your two friends, because you have not spoken of Me what is right as My servant Job has.” Therefore to use Job 22:28 in the way many do, as mentioned above, is completely against sound Biblical exegesis. We cannot pull from Eliphaz’s words to establish a doctrinal position any more than we could Satan’s words. For example, why is it that we never see cards with “Therefore if you worship before me, it shall all be yours”? Because of the source. It is Satan. He said this when tempting Jesus. We cannot build upon Eliphaz’s words any more than we can Satan’s. Both do not speak according to what is right. There is no difference.

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 2 Timothy 2:15  

Dear Sojourner

Dear Sojourner,

How many of God’s people are completely clueless as to the direction of God in their life? We don’t get to choose the route, but we do get to choose the surety of our steps. He takes us where He chooses by the way He chooses. Even when we have lived counter to His perfect (which is likely every time) He [emphasis: He] still makes our way perfect (Psalm 18:32).

God is always making our way perfect. God can and does take even the most devastating and terrible mistakes, sins, problems, and turns them out for good to those who love Him. It’s hard to grasp from our puny humanity, but it is nevertheless true. God can do that. Romans 8 says it and I believe it.

Recently I have been thinking about Abraham. Though Abraham made mistakes, mistakes with huge ramifications even for us today, he is known for believing God. Romans 4:19-21 says,

He [Abraham] did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.

Interesting how natural limitations did to shake Abraham’s faith in the promise of God. In fact, his faith grew in the midst of waiting for the promise to be fulfilled – even as he and Sarah both grew older and older and less and less able to accomplish the promise themselves. Abraham’s faith [in God] grew.

What promise are you waiting on, dear Sojourner? Has your journey taken you up strenuous mountains or down into deep canyons or into barren deserts? Are you growing in faith or are you becoming weary as you journey?

Consider, also, Abraham left everything he knew to look for a city God told him about. He didn’t even know where to go. He only knew that God had built the city, it had foundations, and that he was to go. God, I guess, didn’t tell Abe that he wouldn’t get to it until after he died. This city is the New Jerusalem; a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. (See Hebrews 11 and Revelation 21)

God may have made some promises to us that we too will have to wait for them until the next age. Hebrews 11:13 says that many died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them they greeted them from afar. 

Is our faith strong enough to keep believing God even if we don’t receive the promise in this age? His promises do sometimes transcend ages. This is clearly the context of Hebrews 11:13. Can you still see your promise or has it become dim, shrouded in the fog of life? To those who have such faith, God says the world is not worthy of you. That is pretty awesome and a staggering reality!

Jesus often taught His disciples using nature around them. “Consider the lilies...” “A sower went out to sow...”  

Lately I have been traveling from Nevada to Oregon a lot – A LOT – is more accurate. There is a spot up on Highway 97 where Mt Shasta begins to peek out from behind another ridge. Mt Shasta is a huge and beautiful volcano, which stands stately upon the land God graciously destined for her. Up close one would never consider such a small ridge could hide her magnificence. Yet it does. Then, as you turn a corner, all the sudden, there she is in the wide open of her grandeur. Unless, of course, she is veiled behind a curtain of clouds. I find it amazing that something like fog or a small ridge could veil such a magnificent mountain. But, even when she is hidden from sight, she is still there: stately and beautiful. She beams her royalty invitation to all to come gaze upon her beauty.

Mt Shasta's southern view

One would never consider that when veiled she also ceased to exist.

So how about the promises of God?

If they are fogged-in do they cease to exist?

What has He said to you? His words are sure. Maybe His promises to you won’t be fulfilled the way or in the timing you expect, but they will come to pass. Our trust in the promises of God should be even more guaranteed than the surety of an existing mountain. The unswerving nature of God stands behind His promises. He is more certain than the earth we stand on. He, though veiled, is Eternal God: unchanging in nature; unable to lie.

This is our God.

Who is like Him?

Choose to live like those the Holy Spirit speaks of in Hebrews 11. 

Choose faith! Choose to believe God, even when it is against everything in the natural. Abraham, who, contrary to hope, in hope believed God. 

Don't you want to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant”? 

Think about it.

Then...

Pick yourself up. 

Dust yourself off. 

Look forward and take the next step.

End well, Dear Sojourner. 

Why I am Not a Preterist: Part 5

Why I am Not a Preterist: Part 5

Revelation 20:2-4 He laid hold of the dragon, that serpent of old, who is the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal on him, so that he should deceive the nations no more till the thousand years were finished. But after these things he must be released for a little while. 4 And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for their witness to Jesus and for the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received his mark on their foreheads or on their hands. And they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.

·      Jesus has bound Satan during the 1000 years

·      Satan is in prison

·      So that…he cannot deceive the nations

·      Those who had been beheaded (killed) for Jesus are now alive and reigning with Christ during the 1000 years.

In view of the above, how can we possibly be living in the Millennium now as Preterists/Partial-Preterists acclaim? In the Book of Acts people still had demons cast out of them. If Satan is in prison, how could demons be cast out of people? Furthermore, in view of verse 3, Satan is also, during these 1000 years, unable to deceive the nations (ethnos: people groups) any longer. We must then conclude that Satan nor his demons are deceiving anyone currently. That takes a lot of NT scriptures out of play. For example, Ephesians 6:16 which states that we can quench all the fiery darts of the evil one with the Sword of the Spirit—the Word of God. If the devil is bound, then there aren’t any of his fiery darts shooting at us.

Furthermore, 2 Corinthians 2:10-11 is also no longer valid. Yes, if Satan is bound we would still need to forgive, but the warning concerning Satan taking advantage of Christians would be out of play. Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.

And then there are scriptures like Mark 16:17 “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues…” which would also be in the past. No Satan: no demons. Would that then also throw verse 18 into the past, “they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover”? No current verse 17, then no current verse 18. Meaning, if we no longer need to cast out demons, then do we still lay hands on the sick?

If these 1000 years are what we are living in now, the Millennium, as Preterists claim, then demons being cast out or bound or warned about or deceiving or twisting scriptures is nothing we need be concerned with.

Seems foolish.

Jesus’ Kingdom is manifested wherever the power of the Holy Spirit is present. Jesus said “But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Luke 11:20) We get to be a part of “Thy Kingdom Come” now in limited measure. We do this as we work with the Holy Spirit, under His authority, manifesting His Kingdom through laying hands on the sick, casting out demons, prayer, and the like.

There will be a day when Jesus’ Kingdom comes to earth, when Jesus’ Throne is in Jerusalem, when He rules and reigns with His people for 1000 years, but that time has not yet come. 

Abounding in Love

Abounding in Love

I love teaching. Well, more accurately, I love good theological teaching: biblical doctrine; real theology. Anointed biblical teaching excites me and makes me want to study the Bible myself. It acts as a race’s starting line. The announcer calls, “on your marks, get set, go!” And I'm off and running my race, as it were, through the Scriptures.

Sadly though, I hear many today, and seemingly it’s been since the beginning of the church, say that doctrine divides and we need to just love. I believe this is wrong. It grieves the Holy Spirit, and yet, it is believed by so many.

Following is a small exegesis of Philippians 1:9-11, “9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11 having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Consider the words of Paul as inspired by our beloved Holy Spirit.

Philippians 1:9 “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more” Doesn’t that just sound so good! Love abounding! That’s what we want. After all Jesus said they would know we are Christians by our love, right? Well, let’s continue…

“in real knowledge” Wait, what? How did that get in there? Love abounding in real knowledge? I thought it was just about loving each other?

“and all discernment” All discernment too…?

So love abounding in real knowledge and all discernment… that’s right. Paul is saying that love [real love] abounds in real knowledge and discernment. The Greek for “knowledge” is “precise and correct knowledge used in the NT of the knowledge of things ethical and divine” and “all discernment” is “perception, not only by the senses but by the intellect 2) cognition, discernment 2a) of moral discernment in ethical matters.”

So it appears that love abounds when real knowledge is anchored with intellectual discernment. Preceding is verse 8 where Paul states that his affection for them, the Philippians, is of Christ. Meaning that Paul’s desire for them to abound in love through real knowledge and intellectual discernment is given by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Continuing on in Philippians 1, Paul says that as we abound in real knowledge and intellectual discernment we will then be able to “approve the things that are excellent” and this will lead to [being] “sincere and blameless until the day of Christ…” And on that day of Christ “filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ…”

Let’s work through this with us—the church of today—in mind.

The greenhouse for abounding love is real correct knowledge of Jesus Christ through the Bible. That we overflow with real love in increasing measure is the will of God. As we have real correct knowledge of Christ and His word we will then be able to discern intellectually whether or not what we are experiencing or learning is accurate. Why is this so? Correct knowledge is Bible based—Scriptures learned in their correct context and application.

Colossians 1 has the same message and uses the same language, 9 For this reason also, since the day we heard of it [your love in the Spirit (v8)], we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge [same Greek word] of His will in all spiritual wisdom (note wisdom and understanding are in conjunction with “spiritual”) [wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters] and understanding [paraphrased —to set or join together in the mind]10 so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge [same word] of God…”

The flow is that in order to fully please God we must be spiritually minded in order to put things together in such a way that we will correctly know His will. This process will lead to fully pleasing God and bearing fruit…and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Paul’s heart is again expressed in Colossians 1:28, Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. Note how Paul’s understanding of mature Christianity is based upon teaching about Christ. And not teaching for the sake of teaching and learning alone. No, rather, it is for the sake of have a “precise and correct knowledge” resulting in pleasing God and knowing Christ.

He Restores My Soul

He Restores My Soul

We all probably can recite Psalm 23 by heart. It is a short yet powerful window into the Heart of God. I imagine David sitting on a high ravine near Jerusalem. Possibly David had just returned from a battle as he looked over the landscape scattered with sheep. The sun just beginning to peek over the horizon. David begins to reflect. It brings him back into his childhood when he would have been the shepherd watching over his flock; little ones bouncing around playing. This is the way I envision Psalm 23.

David weary from the battles and the pains of life ponders the LORD. He knows the LORD, His goodness, His care. David is raw inside, battle weary. With tears streaming down his cheeks He reflect with the LORD. He remembers his youth. His care for his sheep comes back into view. He remembers rescuing the lamb from the bear and then when the lion attacked... He pauses and reflects. He remembers how he continuously led his sheep to the best meadows; the greenest pastures. He begins to feel his heart beat more rapidly. He considers the sheep. David feels the Presence of the LORD as the sunrise warms the landscape and his countenance… maybe it was the LORD who initiated this whole morning interacting with his thoughts? David recognized Him. This was the LORD.

In the midst of David’s reflection he breathes out and whispers, “The LORD, He is my shepherd.” He looks over the hills and valleys at the lush green grass; the sheep feeding under the care of their shepherd, “I shall never want.” David knows how shepherds think. He reflects again on how he loved his sheep and how much more the LORD loved him. Now in the midst and impact of his encounter with the LORD, David begins to sing. As he sings his heart burns as he feels the Presence of the LORD, “He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.” David’s words begin to quiver, tears pouring, David bends over and then stands gazing towards the sunrise. He lifts his head to the LORD, his arms raised high… “He restores my soul.”

David remembers how the LORD saved him from his enemies. How He led him when he was pursued by Saul. How He cared for him… and the cave. Oh the cave… As he reflects upon Adullam; a painful joy saturates his thoughts. The pain of Saul—a man, no more than a man—David’s king and the LORD’s anointed. David had loved King Saul and his son, Jonathan. Saul’s anger, rather his jealousy, had made the king mad. Saul’s spears didn’t pierce David’s flesh, but they did penetrate his heart. As David reflects he again begins to sing. This time about a valley of shadows looming with death. And the many times he avoided death, no… reconsidering his thoughts… the many times the LORD protected him from death and evil. Now David considers how it played a part in who he had become. Those arrows—every one of them—though in the hand of Saul, were really only in the hand of God. God guided each of them away from David. And God used them to chisel and forge David’s character. Ultimately they forced him to Adullam. David’s training continued in Adullam—a place where God had prepared him a table. A place prepared by God for a time. David lacked nothing. In fact, many of his leaders were brought to him while in Adullam. David found himself quite satisfied as he continued to muse with the LORD that morning.

As we read though the many stories of David, his victories and defeats, we see God in the story-line. Sometimes overtly, other times a bit more hidden. But, nonetheless, God is always present working the plan for His beloved David.

David’s stories are magnificent. We love to read them. And as we do we find ourselves… and God. We find ourselves battle-weary. We find ourselves in our own caves, our own family issues, our own friends… and enemies. Sometimes we are also dodging spears launched at us from a hand who was at one time our friend.

We love to find God. Moreover, God loves to reveal Himself in the story-line of our life.

Sure most of us don’t take up arms in combat as David did. But our warfare and battles are real nonetheless. And they can take a toll on our souls. Let Him restore—let Him repair your soul. Let Him prepare your table in the presence of your enemies where your cup overflows.

Find solace with the LORD—your Shepherd. Then pick up your sword to fight another day. 

The Perfect Storm

pressure Pressure Pressure

Have you ever had a time or been in a season where you felt something must be done…anything, just something! We probably all have been there. A place where we hear the echoing resounds of impulse and dread.

This is a tough place for the believer. Why does God allow such places for us? I think He not only allows them, He plans them. He draws up the blueprints, and then executes the building phase: The Perfect Storm.

Jesus met the perfect storm on many occasions. Notably when He met Satan and when He met the crowd—stones in hand—ready to hurl at the adulteress woman.

Often Satan’s interest isn’t to get us to commit excessive sins like murder or robbing a bank. For those of us who have walked with the Lord for years and have some maturity, his intent is more subtle, more elusive. More about the impulsiveness of the flesh. See the flesh and the Spirit are against each other. The flesh is impulsive. The Holy Spirit is patient. The flesh wants to avoid that painful situation. The Holy Spirit leads us to trust Him in those situations.

Why did Jesus write in the ground while confronting the stone hurlers? I think He was waiting for the Father to give Him the perfect wisdom to handle this intense situation. Can you imagine the rage confronting Jesus? The Law was at stake, His leading by the Father, the protection of the woman, and also His heart for those who held the stones. It was indeed a perfect storm.

But Jesus wasn’t moved by the storm, because there wasn’t a storm in Him. He was quiet. His inner trust and reliance upon the Father was manifested outwardly. Our emotions rage—they demand an action. But the Spirit of God is quietly voicing trust. Not non-action. Jesus did act. But it wasn’t impulsively.

I have been through a tough season the last 11 months. Which I will write about soon. (God is to be trusted!) I had a few mountains tops and a few valleys, but mostly I had choices. Choices! I learned that faith is a choice. And that trust is a choice. I knew it, but I learned it. I would hit a valley where I knew if I lingered there I would find many adversaries. Valleys are like that you know. Fear and dread hang out in valleys. I made a choice that if God is God and His word is true then He is to be trusted. NO MATTER WHAT! I would tell myself, “I will not give in to my emotions.” I will trust the Lord just like the people in the Bible did. Just like those in Hebrews 11 did. If He is God He sees me too. Consequently my valleys usually didn’t even make it a full hour.

I must admit that I owe a ton to my prayer partner, Holly. We have been in weekly prayer together since 2006. We journey together even though we live in different states. We pray. We pray for our families mostly; our situations and sometimes tread out to the communities and nations. She and I walked together through this last year and we prayed. So when I talk as I do it is coming from someone who prays and who lives for the Lord. Many people’s faith is shipwrecked in season such as this. Usually they don’t give up on God totally, but their faith has run aground. If that is you, no worries, get back on track. God will use even that shipwreck for good. Just next time win.

I’m not light-hearted about failure, if it sounds like I am. I am not. I just know God. He is able to make everything work out for good—even our failures. After all, who does everything right anyways? But, hear me now… you must win the fight of faith. King Saul didn’t win and it cost him the kingdom. King Saul was impatient and impulsive. He didn’t wait for God to show up through His anointed prophet, Samuel. Saul lost everything. Don’t end like Saul.

Faith is a choice. Trust is a choice. Sometimes it’s a choice we must make repeatedly over and over in the same day. Win the seemingly small battles, they prepare you for the bigger ones. God is to be trusted. He is present. He just doesn’t operate from the same timeline we do. Possibly, not just possibly—definitely. Definitely there is more going on than you can see. I want to be someone with great faith. That boils down to choice. Simply trusting and believing God. Simply making that choice. 

Peter, Job, and Judas

Peter, Job, and Judas

“Look, I go forward, but He is not there, And backward, but I cannot perceive Him; 9 When He works on the left hand, I cannot behold Him; When He turns to the right hand, I cannot see Him. 10 But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 11 My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. 12 I have not departed from the commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth More than my necessary food.”

This excerpt from Job 23 parallels the path we all walk at one time or another. Consider what we know about Job’s story: Job was under attack from Satan and didn’t know it. All Job saw was God. He saw all his life through the lens of God’s sovereignty. He completely missed that Satan was the source of his problems. Granted, God allowed it, but He was not the source.

We have all been through trials and testing. We all perhaps know what it’s like to wake up in the middle of the night and the first thought raging through my mind is, “What is going on?” “What have we done that is so terrible?” “Why has God has removed His favor from my life?” “Where is my sin?” And then the thoughts spiral into that dark place none of us should go.

God is not the kind of Person to say, “You are so bad and have so much sin I won’t bless you. But I’m not going to tell you what it is. Figure it out yourself.”

No, He is not like that at all. And we all know it. He died for us then gave us His very own Holy Spirit. We are His beloved purchase possession. He gave His very best for us. Why would He treat us so horribly now? None of us would say that we believed it outright...but that is where our minds go in that dark place nonetheless. 

I have been thinking about Peter lately. Peter verses Judas really. Both betrayed Jesus. In Peter’s case it was denial. Peter likely was acting out of self-preservation; Judas’ betrayal was deliberate and full-hearted. Both felt bad afterwards. Both had remorse. But that is where the similarities end. We know Judas threw the money he’d received back at those who’d paid him then hanged himself, while Peter went out and wept bitterly. This is where we’ll leave Judas and focus on Peter.

Can you imagine the shock and regret when the third rooster crowed? Peter was a close friend of Jesus. He was one of the three who Jesus took into His inner circle. Peter experienced and saw things the others (except James and John) didn’t. Now Peter was in crisis. His Lord was dead and he has betrayed Him; denied Him when He needed him most. The echo, “Can you not watch with Me even one hour?” probably rang as a continuous recording day after day; hour upon hour; minute by minute.

When the women came to Jesus’ tomb they found and angel sitting inside next to where Jesus had lain. After informing them that Jesus was risen the angel says, “But go, tell His disciples and Peter...” The angel singles out Peter. Why?

Jesus reveals Himself to Mary, (Peter somewhere), the two on Emmaus Road, the 11, and to 500. We know Peter saw Jesus because the men on the Emmaus Road and Paul, in 1 Corinthians 15, both reported it. However no record of what, if anything, was said.

The first recorded conversation of Peter and Jesus is on the shore after the disciples decided to go fishing. Peter jumps in the water, swimming to Jesus. When Peter talks with Jesus, Jesus doesn’t even bring up the betrayal. No hint at “repent or else…” Jesus wasn’t waiting to lay it out for Peter at just how bad he really was. No, Jesus reaffirms Peter’s love for Him and propels him into ministry.

Bringing Job 23 back into the picture… As New Covenant believers we have the indwelling Holy Spirit whom Job did not. We also have the revelation of the scriptures. But, like Job (and Peter), we too encounter the enemy. Remember Satan asked Jesus’ permission to sift Peter. Sift means: by inward agitation to try one’s faith to the verge of overthrow.

That is exactly what Peter and Job went through. We too may be in that exact place. Maybe we even failed…just like Peter did. But know Jesus isn’t leaning forward from His Throne just waiting to lay the big “Figured it out yourself” or “Repent or else…” on us. No, that is not our God! God is specific about sin. And He is cooking us a meal on the beach waiting for us. Waiting to reaffirm who we are—lovers of God first and foremost. And then to also propel us into what is next.

I exhort you, dear reader, to trust Him whether or not you have failed Him. Wherever you are on your path—trust Him with all your energy and strength. . 

Is this where you are?

God didn’t bring you here to leave you or to reprimand you. He brought you here to make you better. 

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. 

How Do I Know that’s God?

How Do I Know that’s God?

A bit of teaching on the prophetic.

With all the avenues media presents, we all get information that is both accurate and not. Even from the prophetic world. So how do we discern if what is being said is God?

Aside from the basic “Is it biblical,” are many more questions. Many prophetic words are not biblical in word or principle. Those are not up for debate—throw them out. Others, though, are biblical in principle, but may or may not be in the Bible, per se. What I mean is that the prophetic gift itself is biblical, but much of what is prophesied is not found in the Bible, i.e. is not quoting scripture. Even at that, just because someone quotes scripture it doesn’t mean it is a prophetic word. Note the devil also quotes scripture. So how do we know?

Here are a few ways to decide.

First, it may be a real prophetic word, just not for you. Not all real prophetic words are for everyone. I will often read a word, think “oh that’s good,” and then move on. Because though it was God speaking it wasn’t a word for me. I know people who live in fear that they have to receive and take to heart every “prophecy” out there. And that if they don’t they aren't living in faith and apprehending what the word was presenting. That is living in fear. More superstition than faith.

When I read or hear a prophecy my first question is “Is it biblical?” Then, “Is there an anointing from the Holy Spirit on it for me?” If not, then I often won’t finish reading. Why bother? If I continue reading after I have decided there isn’t an anointing on it for me, it can lead to confusion or disgust. Confusion, because then I'm focusing on the words instead of whether or not the Holy Spirit is resting on it for me. 1 John says that we have an anointing from the Holy One that is true and is not a lie. In the supernatural realm it is essential to have both the Word and the Spirit as witnesses to what we receive as true. And yes, I do get disgusted when people mishandle the Bible. Also when someone who should know better continues in their immaturity. Instead they should growing up. If God has stopped speaking, turn off the spigot.

Levels of prophetic authority. There are levels of authority when it comes to prophetic gifts. Just as Paul said to the Corinthians, “If I am not an apostle to others, yet doubtless I am to you. For you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord.” The point is that people are called to a group, a church, a city, a state, a nation, or the world. Trying to operate outside their realm of authority is wrong. Not everyone in Christendom is in the same place spiritually. What is God saying to the nation is far different than what He is saying to an individual or to a local church. 

With the age of technology many people post prophecies online. This ups our responsibility individually as to what we hear and take to heart as a word from the Lord. We no longer have gatekeepers in our church saying “yea” or “nay.” Be responsible both as the speaker and hearer. All true prophecies have an intended audience. It may or may not be you. Some need a kind word of encouragement, some a rebuke, some comfort, some warning, and on and on. How tragic when someone hears a rebuke when they need comfort. (2 Corinthians 2) Therefore, when reading an online word, ask the Holy Spirit, “Is this for me?” Be willing to toss it if the Holy Spirit isn't bearing witness to it for you. 

It's ok to reject what someone is saying, “God said”.