Cleaning Up Our House

It has been awhile since my last post.  It may be a while yet before my next.  I am going through a valley right now and covet the prayers of those who know Christ.  Here is a word that was upon my heart today.  May it be food for thought…

For those of us who still long to see a real movement of God, there is a major problem which exists in many churches and amongst Christians in general that is holding back the healing rain of the Spirit we so desire. Sin in the camp. In our present age, we hear people beat the drum within Christian and secular society saying, “We shouldn’t judge!” The problem is that it is almost always taken out of context and is the very thing that has allowed sin to be in our midst amongst churches. In the Old Testament, we are all familiar with how God brought down the walls of Jericho. And some of us may even remember how a man named Achan hid a wedge of gold and a Babylonianish garment under his tent. No one knew except God and Achan. However, when Israel went to defeat the next town, Ai, they lost and many of their men were killed. Joshua began to pray, wondering why God had not been in their midst fighting their battles. “And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face? Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff. Therefore the children of Israel could not stand before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.” (Josua 7:10-12) Notice the Lord says “Neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.”

Advertisement

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Followers of God

photo: earnestlycontending.com

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children…

Introduction

This is the sixth in the ‘Be Ye Therefore’ series. The term Christian means literally, to be like Christ. At Antioch they were first called Christians meaning ‘little Christs’. They were identified with and their way was identical to Christ.

Become As Little Children

Jesus in Matthew 18:3 told His followers that they must be converted and “become as little children”, humble and trusting in the Lord for not only salvation but also the daily providential care of the Father.  Remember when we were children?  I never worried where my next meal was coming from.  I didn’t worry about how the light bill would get paid.  I know my Dad would take care of our family.  That is the same trust God wants from His children.  Paul tells us to follow, some say imitate or strive to be like, our heavenly Father.  When I was a child, I wanted to be like my Dad.  I still do.  I remember when he would take me and my siblings walking in the woods.  He seemed to be able to walk so quietly, hardly disturbing the forest floor.  I would try to walk in his footsteps because I wanted to be able to walk like that.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Ready

photo: http://www.lanememorialumc.org

Luke 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.

Introduction

This is the fifth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  Christ had just told His followers not to seek after the riches of this world which are temporal but to seek the kingdom first and then says “For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”  Then the parable starts with blessed are the servants whom, when their lord returns, he finds them watching or ready for him.  (By the way these two thoughts are related, for earthly treasure often keeps us from watching or even loving His appearing)  He goes on to say that if the good man of a house knew exactly what hour the thief would come, he would have prevented him from breaking into the house.  He would have been waiting in that specific hour to catch the thief.

 

What doest thou here?

photo: http://www.tonycooke.org

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake: And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.  And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, and stood in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? (1Kings 19:11-13 KJV)

Introduction

The question the Lord put to Elijah speaks to me. Elijah had, in the previous couple of weeks leading up to this moment, been used of God to defeat over 400 prophets of Baal but now had fled to Mt. Horeb in fear due to the threats of the wicked queen Jezebel. James said that Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are. Too many times we let the devil and this world get us cornered in a cave.  It is so easy to get in the cave and the roaring wind, shaking of the earth, and fires in our lives seem to drown out all else.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Merciful

Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.

Introduction

This is the fourth in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series.  In this passage of scripture Jesus has just told His followers to love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, bless them that curse you, and pray for them that despitefully use you, be ye therefore merciful.  Then He tells us why… because our Father in heaven is merciful and we are children of the Highest.  And He is kind to the unthankful and to the evil.  This is the second time in this series that Christ is essentially reminding us to be like Him.  Mercy is an attribute of God’s character.

 

“Be Ye Therefore…” – Wise as serpents, and Harmless as doves

photo: blogsensebybarb.wordpress.com

Matthew 10:16 Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

Introduction

This is the third in the “Be Ye Therefore…” series. In these last days, a Christian needs spiritual discernment now more than ever.  The Lord is reminding His disciples that as they serve among enemies within and without, they are to combine the wisdom of the serpent and the simplicity and humility of the dove.

We Have Met the Enemy… And He is Us

Christ reminds believers that He is sending us forth as sheep among wolves.  But wolves will also creep into our midst.  The apostle Paul told the Ephesian elders this in his final meeting with them before going to Jerusalem and imprisonment, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.” Acts 20:29-30  This is why it is particularly important in the last days to heed the advice of our Lord.

 

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” – Paul the apostle

A Servant’s Heart

Philippians 2:13-18 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.   Do all things without murmurings and disputings:  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.  Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.   For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.

Paul often referred to himself in introduction to a church as doulos theos or doulos Christos which is to say slave or bond-servant of Christ.  Paul had a servant’s heart.  His desire was for the local assembly and the individual in Christ to serve Christ with their whole heart not because of commandment but out of love for the savior.  Paul didn’t mind sacrificing of himself for the cause of Christ, in fact, it brought him great joy to know that his sacrifice of time, effort, and ultimately his own life would increase the faith of others and bring glory to Jesus Christ.  Paul esteemed his brethren in Christ more than himself… “Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3

This is the very essence of a servant’s heart.  Christ Himself told His followers that He came not to be ministered unto but to minister.  Here at Servants’ Journal we desire to possess that servant’s heart and to encourage fellow servants in the same.  In keeping with our new theme and focus to possess a servant’s heart, I thought it fitting to post a memorial to some heroes of the faith from the last century whose sacrifice help renew a fire for missions in our country.

 

The Book of James – Exercising Control James 1:19-20

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Introduction

Our next verse starts with the word “wherefore”.  As you know that means the writer is concluding a thought so we need to look back at what has been said thus far so the concluding remarks make sense.

So what has been said?  This is our 6th lesson and the repeating theme has been patience.  We were first told to have patience during times of testing when God allows our path to get harder so we will learn to trust and depend on Him.  James then reminds us that if we will ask for wisdom, to know how to live godly, God will answer that prayer.  Next James tells us to be careful what we allow our minds to think about or dwell on.  All evil starts in the mind; we must guard our thoughts.  Finally, in our last post, we talked about times when Satan will tempt us to do evil.  In all these things James says to have patience.  Now James gives us practical ways to have patience.  It is one thing to say “Be patient”, we all agree we need to do that, but it is more helpful to say “Be patient and here is how to do it.”

 

How Close is “Nigh”? – James 4:8

Introduction

How close are you right now to your Heavenly Father?  On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, what number would you assign to yourself?

Before we move forward I need to make it clear that the target audience of this post is for Christians; in no way can we earn our salvation, it is a gift from God. 

A quick read of the Epistle of James will tell you that James was very plain spoken, he did not mince words.  James gets right to the point and tells it like it is.  Our scripture text is a perfect example of this style of writing.

In James 4:8a it says “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.” In this promise from God we have the classic action / reaction.  The bible clearly states our spiritual health is directly connected to our own efforts to separate from the world and live a life pleasing to God.

 

I can’t wait to talk to Dad – Luke 11:1-13

Introduction

At our last Men’s Prayer Breakfast I listened as a brother spoke about his dad: in 1984 his dad was operated on to remove a tumor on the side of his face.  The removal changed his appearance but the biggest loss, to his son anyway, was his ability to hear; all hearing was lost on one side and the other ear was greatly impaired.  I found out after breakfast that the brother was four years old when this happened.

Fast forward to September 2013, this same father met with a specialist regarding a new device that might restore some of his hearing.  After the tests were completed it was determined that this man’s hearing will be improved by the device.  The father said “Order me one”.