What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately L (50)…
Greetings My Friends~
As a simple pilgrim following Jesus through the rainforests and deserts of this earthly life,
I would like to humbly share some of what God has been bubbling up in my mind/heart lately.
I pray that these thoughts are cushions in your shoes, balm to your burns,
umbrellas for the rain, and shade to the scorching heat as you too follow the Lord Jesus each day.
(please click on the Bible books/chapters/verses below to read the actual Scripture passages)
(March 1st–15th, 2016)
Signs & Wonders?
Dont believe/follow someone just because they can do literal miracles, signs & wonders—
false prophets can do these too!
Deuteronomy 13:1-3; Mark 13:22
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The Bible
When Christians don’t deeply & consistently read the Bible,
we’re like people shivering in the cold holding our down coats.
Help us, LORD!
Psalm 119:50 (for more on this, please click HERE)
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Jesus
A. You’ll never be amazed at a lion in a zoo
until you’re face-to-face with him on the savannah without guardrails.
Same with Jesus, the Lion of Judah.
May we read the Bible to know Him for Who He is,
Not who we think he is/should be.
(For more on this, please click HERE)
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B. Jesus told the unbelieving people
that they wouldnt see Him again physically
until they had faith in Him spiritually!
Faith comes before sight!
The “Red-Bull Gospel” (seeking after spiritual goosebumps/a “God-high”)
As God led His people from Egypt
He brought them to a beautiful oasis—
but He didnt let them stay!
Numbers 33:9-10—Same with our earthly mountaintop experiences:
they aren’t meant to be an every day/every moment occurrence (that’s what heaven is for!)
Thriving In Suffering
Jeremiah suffered more when he focused on his suffering!
He got hope when he shifted his mind to focus on the LORD’s character.
Self-esteem or God-esteem?
Self-esteem culture teaches us to say, “I can do it!”
The God-esteem culture of the Bible transforms us to say,
“He (Jesus) did it & will do it!”
What’s Your Focus?
Father, please forgive my focus on external politeness
at the expense of internal holiness.
Please cleanse my inside so my outside will be as well.
Matthew 23:25-26; Hebrews 12:14
Words Or Actions? Both!
American Christians must humbly wrestle with this:
The main activity of the Church in the book of Acts
was proclaiming the Gospel in words not doing good deeds.
Please click HERE.
Happy Re-birthday!
Lord Jesus, help us fix our eyes on You & Your Cross
so everyday can be a birthday celebration
with the ultimate Gift (rebirth, new life, forgiveness, salvation!)
from the Ultimate Giver!
The Whole Counsel of God
In the Bible, the words sin, hell, guilt, judgment, etc. occur approximately 3600x;
The words love, grace, mercy, heaven etc. occur approximately 3600x.
All must be taught.
Parenting
As we learn to genuinely worship the LORD with family at home,
we’re “bringing our children to Jesus so He can place His hands on them” (Luke 18:15).
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Grieving Over Sin
A. Oh the importance of the Holy Spirit helping us
to humbly & genuinely grieve over our personal sins & the culture’s sins
Ezekiel 9:3-4; Psalm 38:18; Daniel 9:1-19
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B. Sin runs DEEP, even for God’s people—
“Even while these people were worshiping the Lord, they were serving their idols”-2 Kings 17:41.
LORD help us!
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C. We’re appalled at violations of manners—
e.g. someone walking on our couch with muddy shoes;
God help us also be appalled at all sin—e.g. violations of Your character.
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How Can I Be Sure?
A. Luke 1:13-18, esp. 18–Zechariah asks, “How can I be sure of this?”
The angel says that the message comes from the LORD.
That should be enough for Z to trust.
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B. Maybe the angel made Z mute (Luke 1:19-20)
so Z could contemplate his doubt (not get busily back to life);
so Z could focus on listening to God (not keep talking all the time).
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C. Luke 1:19-20—Maybe the angel made Z mute
so he could deeply think about the LORD & His character.
That—not “proof”/signs/miracles—is the cure for our doubt.