What God Has Been Teaching Me Lately LXII (62)…
Greetings My Friends~
As a simple pilgrim
being undeservedly discipled by the Lord Jesus Christ
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)
(December 16th–31st, 2016)
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[Rotten] Cherry On Top
Of all of Israel’s horrific sins listed in Ezekiel 22:6-12,
the last is the worst:
forgetting the LORD.
Help us, Father, help us…
The Spotlight Is A Double-Edged Sword
Don’t be intoxicated with the prominence of preaching.
The bright lights of earth’s stage
lead to the brightest light of Heaven’s Judgment…
James 3:1
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Sin
Sodom’s root sins that led to many sinful actions (Ezekiel 16:49):
- lack of humility (arrogance);
- lack of contentment (overfed);
- lack of concern for poor (oppression/indifference).
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Don’t Dare Compare
We can appear righteous/good
if we compare ourselves with others
(e.g. Israel & Samaria–Ezekiel 16:51).
God alone is the standard of goodness/righteousness
& we all fall terribly short.
What Is Your Lens?
A. Our perspective is so important–either
- heavenly or earthly,
- worldly or other-worldly.
Romans 12:2a, 2 Corinthians 5:16 & Proverbs 3:5-7
B. The Holy Spirit doesn’t say trials ARE joyful,
but that we should CONSIDER them joyful
because of the results of our suffering…
Perspective is key: heavenly or earthly?
Suffering Can Sometimes Hurt So Good
A. Sometimes the best way for the LORD
to keep us running the race He’s marked out for us
is by sending junkyard dogs growling at our heels [trials]…
B. Dear Christians: all trials are ultimately tests of our faith in theLord Jesus.
All are connected–
- our joy of Him,
- our trust in Him,
- our endurance with Him
- our completeness in Him.
In The World Not Of The World
A. Heavenly Father–please forgive us for disobeying Your Word
& copying the standards of the culture around us.
Help us be humbly holy & distinctly different!
B. Lord Jesus, help us go to You
& associate with You “outside the camp” of pop culture
& bear Your disgrace
by being humbly holy & distinctly different.
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Pleasing God
God working in us & thru us
can cause us to truly please Him (Hebrews 13:20-21).
Help us, Papa, to actively do our part & actively rely on You!
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Wearing The Lord Jesus
It’s often not fun to get clothes for Christmas;
yet the best present is clothing–
the Lord Jesus’ perfectness/righteousness.
Are you wearing it by faith?
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Christmas
Because of the Lord Jesus’ birth,
many children died
at the hands of a terrible sinner (Matthew 2:16);
Because of the Lord Jesus’ death
at the hands of terrible sinners (like me!),
many terrible sinners (like me!) would be reborn as God’s children.
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Real Church, Real Fellowship
A local church with out Biblical fellowship is a dismembered body—
parts are all there but they’re separate.
This is a crime scene, not a community.
1 Corinthians 1:10-17; 1 Corinthians 11:17-33; 1 Corinthians 12:12-27
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Rebirth Is Never Routine
Because all humans share in rebellion against God (in different ways),
all repentance & rebirth in Christ causes heavenly celebration.
No conversion is common…
Rebellion Comes In Many Forms
Whether we’re generals or janitors in the rebel army,
apart from faith in the Lord Jesus as our Savior & King,
we’re part of the rebellion against God.
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False Prophets
Again, a false prophet doesnt point out others’ sin,
only tells others what they want to hear.
Lord help us have grace & Truth.
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True Cost Of Unforgiveness
Only God can get revenge;
Joseph spent hard time in a prison he didn’t choose–
he didn’t want to be in a prison–unforgiveness–he did choose…
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God Is In Control Of Our Suffering
A. God chooses us & chooses suffering for us–both are part of His plan…
John 15:16, Ephesians 1:3-14, Matthew 10:37-39, John 21:18-19,
Acts 5:41 & 9:15-16, Philippians 3:8-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5
B. When Christianity is mainly Jesus choosing us,
there are no limits to what He will choose to put us thru
for His glory & our maturity.
When Christianity is mainly us choosing Jesus,
we’ll always place limits on how far we’ll follow Him–
how much we’ll choose to suffer for Him…
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It’s Not The Holy Spirit OR Truth–
Both Are Needed & Intertwined/Inseparable!
3x the Lord Jesus refers to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of Truth.
So many passionately desire one & not the other.
Father help us!
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Christianity’s Kindergarten
Repentance (turning away) from sin
& eternal Judgment
are part of the “elementary teachings about Christ”–
we must teach these earlier, not later/never…
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No Other Cure, No Other Hope, No Other Way
The world–& many in the Church!–
“tries many medicines in vain; [but] there is no healing.”
Lets point others to repentance & faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone!