War With Fear

            It is highly unlikely that I will ever be an alcoholic or a drug addict. Those things are not tempting to me at all. If Satan were to try to use those weapons against me he would most certainly fail. Satan has a different more successful weapon that he uses against me and that weapon is fear. I am often at war with fear. Satan's job is to seek out and destroy the gospel. It is to distract. It is to disqualify God's people from being able to bring others to the hope and the redemption that the truth of Jesus brings. If he cannot do that through temptations he does that through weapons like fear.

 2 Timothy 1:7 says, “for God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” How do we combat fear? How do we win against this weapon that Satan uses so skillfully against us? The first thing that we have to remember is that this spirit of fear does not come from God. It comes from the enemy and he uses it with the purpose of enslaving and debilitating us. He uses it with the purpose of keeping us from doing our job, from using our gifts. He uses fear to keep us from winning people to Jesus. In Matthew chapter 25 the evil servant buried his talent and did not trade with it because of fear. He was not able to gain any profit because he was afraid. That's what Satan does. He traps us with our fear and keeps us from sharing the gospel. 

Our fear does not come from God. It comes from the enemy. What we get from God is very different. We get the spirit of power, of love, and of a sound mind. We are armed against fear with the spirit of power or of courage. When I think of courage, I think of the people in the Bible who were mighty warriors like Joshua, yet even Joshua had to be told to be courageous. I also think about people like Mary, the mother of Jesus. She was given an impossibly difficult task and yet with humble courage she believed God and did what she was asked and rejoiced that she was asked to do it… that she was chosen and favored to be given such a difficult ministry. Courage doesn’t come from an excitement for walking through hard things, it comes from an excitement of knowing the value of those hard things. Soldiers and parents and teachers and pastors and friends... don't walk into battle because they are glad for the fight. They walk into battle because they know the worth of what they battle for. 

We are also given a spirit of love, love for God and a love for His people. I think that the Spirit of Love helps to encourage and build up our courage. Love gives us courage because we understand the value of the task we are given. Romans 8:15 says, “for you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear but you received the spirit of adoption by whom we cry out Abba Father.” We are loved. The God of all creation has given us the right to call him Father and if He is for us as our father who can be against us? What could ever cause us harm beyond what he is capable to redeem? No need to fear when we are covered by a love like that. Also, we know that he loves everyone just as he loves us. He loves all people… “For God so loved all the world that he gave his only begotten son…” He has called us to love him and to love people. God does not give us a spirit of fear but a spirit of love that conquers fear.

 God also gives us a spirit of a sound mind. The words He spoke to us are Truth. The words we speak are the words of truth.  His promises are secure. They are unchanging. They are unbroken. Even when we don't fully grasp or understand our situations, we know our minds can be still and trust. He does have it all in his control. Isaiah 26:3 says, “you will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” We can trust him. Our minds can be calm, not crazy with fear, but still. I do not think it is any coincidence that God tells us to love Him with all of our heart, all of our strength, with all of our mind, and that he also says that we do not have to fear because God does not give us a spirit of fear but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind, 

Satan will use whatever he can use to get us out of the way. If he can't disqualify us by way of cultural depravity, he will try something else, something like fear, but we must look to God. What does His word say? How can we battle back with Truth? Whatever weapon the enemy comes at us with, no matter what it is, no matter how strong, no matter how often the enemy tries, our God will have victory. My God does have victory! We need only to draw near to Him, to trust Him and obey Him.

2 Corinthians 3:17 "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty."

Photo by Eduard Delputte on Unsplash

I am an Alien

 What do you think aliens look like? 

When we place our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven of our sins, our debt is paid, and we become “citizens of heaven.” According to scripture we become “aliens” or “sojourners” in this world.  

1 Peter 2:11-12 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.

When we think of aliens we usually think of strange looking creatures that are a mixed-match set of seemingly random characteristics that typically go against the norm. As “aliens of this world” that should in a lot of ways be the description of us. We should go against the norm of the culture we live in.

What should we look like, as “aliens” of this world? 

When Jesus sent the disciples out into the world to minister to people (just like we have been sent to do), he described them (and also applies to us now) using a seemingly random set of characteristics, but when we look closer, each has a uniquely specific purpose. 

 Matt 10:16 "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

Sheep -   How should we be like a sheep?

 John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I have three kids who are within six months in age of each other (long story). When they were babies, my husband and I could tell which one was crying simply by the sound of their voices. We knew them. Scripture says that as followers of Christ, Jesus is our Shepherd and we hear his voice. He knows us and we follow him. There are a lot of voices telling us a lot of things in our culture today. We must listen closely for the sound of our Shepherd’s voice. Every step we take should be at the guidance of our Shepherd. He knows the Way we should go. He knows each of us as unique individuals and He has a special purpose and path in store for us.

Serpent-  How should we be like a serpent? 

James 1:5-8  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.  For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;  he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Serpents are usually portrayed as evil creatures. Generally speaking, they aren’t seen as having many positive qualities. However, in Matthew 10 Jesus tells his disciples to be wise as a serpent. Wisdom is more than knowledge. Knowledge KNOWS what is right, but wisdom is acting upon what is right. James teaches us that we can get true wisdom from God. Without God’s wisdom, we will be left wandering a crooked path through life following wrong turns after wrong turns. God’s desire is to give us the wisdom to know the Truth and equip us to act upon that wisdom in the choices we make. 

Doves -  How should we be like a dove? 

2 Tim 2:24-26 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,  and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.

We are to be wise, knowing and acting upon the truth. We are to speak the truth to others, but we are called to do so as a dove with kindness and gentleness. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is also kind, patient, and gentle.  The goal is that people may be “granted repentance,” that they may, “come to their senses.” People do not often respond positively to the truth of their sin by way of condemnation and condescension. It is grace that draws us to repentance. So, we speak the truth in order to let people know the need for grace, but we do so with a heart of gentleness knowing it is only by that same grace that we ourselves experience repentance. 

Wolves-   What is a wolf? 

Acts 20:28-32 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.  I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock;  and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them.  Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

The enemy is still in the business of distracting and drawing people away from sharing the redemption story of the gospel. He will use every deceit and treachery strategy to do it. We as a church must pay careful attention to ourselves and each other. We must be alert to his schemes. We must know the truth so that we are not taken down by Satan’s twisting of that truth. Biblical illiteracy is not an option if we wish to win the battle for the souls of the people we love. 

Aliens are Strange Creatures

As a citizen of Heaven, this world is not our home. We shouldn’t  fit in with the culture around us. There should be noticeable “cultural differences” in us as believers. We should experience “culture shock” everytime we walk out of our homes and our churches because the world we live in is so different from the home we come from. Aliens look different, act different, sound different, and so should we. Being a Sheep/Serpent/Dove… a “SheePentOve” is HARD. We sometimes lean too much towards one or the other… We are too much serpent or too much dove, but we have to allow God to work in us to have the characteristics of all, because just like the disciples were, we also are being sent out, “in the midst of wolves.”

We should:

• Be like a sheep - Listening to the Shepherd’s voice.

• Be like a serpent - wise; knowing and acting upon the wisdom of God

• Be like a dove - Speak and live out Truth, but do it as kindly and gently as you can. 

Pray that God would help you be the alien, the “SheePentOve” He is calling you to be. Just as aliens invade a world that is not their own to bring others back home with them, we should do the same. We invade this world in order to call others to come home to Jesus with us. We can only do that if we live like the aliens we are.

Photo by Nantu DAS on Unsplash

Building Boats of Faith - A look at the Life of Noah

    Noah built an ark, a giant boat. Why? Because God told him too. It took him 120 years to build it, piece by piece. All the while he begged a godless nation to repent and turn to God before it was too late…

    We all know the story. We heard it as children and drew cute little pictures of a big boat with animals marching inside. However, I’m fairly certain the reality of that day wasn’t cute at all. God told Noah, “I’m going to send a flood.” Nothing too extreme sounding to us. But imagine a world that had never seen such a flood. It was a totally foreign concept. Noah was far away from any large body of water. I'm sure the people thought Noah was a crazy old man. I have to think that even Noah probably found the idea incomprehensible.  Noah had no physical evidence to confirm God’s promise of judgment. But, he built the ark anyway. Noah believed God, simply took Him at His Word.

    So, Noah built a boat, and all the while he proclaimed the coming of God's judgment. In the end, the only ones who got on Noah’s boat were his sons and all the wives. The part I find so interesting here is that the Bible doesn’t speak of Noah’s sons’ faith. It doesn’t say that his family was righteous. In fact, it says that Noah alone served the Lord. Why then did those boys get on that boat? I think perhaps it was because they saw their father’s faith at work. Noah didn’t just say, “Alright boys, YOU need to be obedient,” while he sat back and procrastinated doing the work. No, Noah believed God and obeyed.

     For 120 years Noah’s boys watched their father labor. They listened to him share the truth of God’s word.  Then came that fateful day. The day of decision: choose to believe God, believe the unbelievable, and get on the boat with their father, or choose to stay where they were, a familiar place that they called home. Remember, there was no physical evidence that the flood was coming. All they had to go on was God’s word and Noah’s faith in that Word. What would they choose? They chose to get on the boat.

    

That begs the question who would follow me onto the boat? Obviously, God hasn’t asked me to build a literal boat, but He has asked me to do many other things, things that don’t always make sense. There are so many people who have the opportunity to watch us, our children, our students, our coworkers, and families. They watch to see if our faith is being put to work. Do our actions match our words? Do our words match the faith we claim? They watch me “build my boat.” Is my faith evident enough in my life that when those watching me reach a point of decision they want to choose faith too?

      Noah’s personal eternity was secured in his relentless heart for God. God could have miraculously saved him and his wife leaving the two of them to repopulate the earth, thus providing a line for the Messiah to one day come. God could have done it that way, but instead He told Noah to build a boat. Because of Noah’s faith his sons were given an opportunity to obey too. God used Noah to reach Noah’s sons, and eventually all of us through Jesus. I want to be faithful. I want to build boats that don’t make sense so that my children see God’s hand on me and follow Jesus too. I want them to see my faith at work, and place their own faith in Him. I want my obedience to encourage theirs.

   God doesn’t need me, not really. He could always use someone else. But, I don’t want Him to. I don’t want Him to have to pass an assignment on to someone else because my faith isn’t deep enough or my efforts not strong enough. I don’t want my kids to miss God’s blessing because I wasn’t willing to put forth the work. 

What about you? Are you putting your faith to work? Is there evidence in your life of “boats” being built? Who is watching you? Will they get on the boat too? Is your faith evident enough in your life that when those watching you reach a point of decision they want to choose faith too? 

   I pray that we as a church will all be busy "building the boats" God has called us to build and that we will be constantly calling others to follow us aboard.

Photo by Jonathan Ford on Unsplash

I Just Can't Be "Positive"... but I Will Be Prayerful

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

If you are naturally a positive person, you probably don’t need to read this post, but if you are like me and you currently struggle with the temptation of poking out the eyeballs of all the people who keep telling you “Let’s just be positive,” I want you to hear me out… 

I am not by nature a positive person. I am a realist, a perfectionist even, so “being positive” in the midst of real problems seems deceitful to me. It feels like in order to do that I would need to pretend the problems are not really problems at all. I also consider myself a very honest person, so to fake a positive outlook that I don’t really have is out of the question. Does that give me an excuse to be negative and complain? Absolutely not. Phil. 2:14  says to “do all things without complaining and disputing…” 

We (myself and others like me) struggle to “be positive,” and we are all commanded to not be negative or complain. So, when our lives remind us that people are not perfect and problems are actually real problems, what do we do?  Instead of striving to force a positive mindset that isn’t genuine, the solution is for us to strive to be prayerful. Life will never be perfect. There may be many times when we just can’t be 'positive,' but we can ALWAYS be PRAYERFUL (1 Thess. 5:17).

And… I would raise the bar a bit more. I challenge us to as often as possible be prayerful OUT LOUD. How would our situations change if the next time someone told us to “be positive” we answered, “I don’t think I can, but I will be prayerful. Would you pray with me?”  Ya’ll, I know what this is asking. My career banned prayer long ago… that’s a major cause of the problems we are now seeing. I can’t fix any of those problems, but Jesus can. In scripture, when a desperate father brought the disciples his son, they couldn’t heal him from the evil that held him captive. Jesus said, “bring him to Me” (Matt 17:14-18).

I am convinced that being insincerely positive will not solve any of our problems, and neither will complaining. The only real power to fix the brokenness is to be prayerful, because that is how we bring them to Jesus. Let’s, as the body of Christ, be prayerful together, and let’s wait in anticipation for Jesus to answer.

 

A Look at 8 Examples of Reconciliation in Scripture - Mini Devotional

 Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but the Word of God will HEAL me.

JACOB AND ESAU

READ-Genesis 32-33

Key Verse Genesis 33:4 “But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.”

Passage Overview

Jacob stole Esau's birthright and then Esau threatened to kill him. So, Jacob ran away. He stayed away for years and was treated by his father in law as he had treated his brother. Finally, God told him it was time to go home. Jacob obeyed even though he was terrified. He humbly prepared to go meet Esau. Jacob wrestled with God and with men which ended with him receiving a blessing and a scar so he would not forget. Jacob continued on to Esau despite his fear. When Esau saw Jacob, he ran to Jacob with open arms and forgiveness.

Notes/Application

• Obey even when you're afraid. God will bless your obedience.
• Even amidst great conflict God can change the hearts of people back towards Him and each other.
• Humility and courage are both requirements (given by God) for relationships to be reconciled.

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JOSEPH AND HIS BROTHERS

READ- Genesis 42-50

Key Verse 50:20 "But as for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day to save many people alive."

Passage Overview

Joseph was betrayed by his brothers and sold into slavery. He was mistreated and falsely accused. He went to jail for something he did not do. Yet he remained faithful and obedient even though he did not understand why his circumstances were as they were. Because of his faithful obedience, God was able to use him to raise him up as a leader. He saved the lives of his brothers despite their betrayal of him.

Notes/Application

• We don't always understand why God allows us to face difficult circumstances, but we know if we remain faithful and obedient He will use it for our good and His glory.
• We must allow Him to let us see people and circumstances through the lens of His sovereign purpose, and surrender the hurt to Him.
• Focusing on how He can use what others meant for harm to bring about good gives space for forgiveness and healing.

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ESTHER AND THE KING

READ- ESTHER 4-8

Key Verse 4:14 "For if you remain completely silent at this time deliverance will arise from the Jews from another place, but you and your father's house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this."

Passage Overview

Haman hated jews and Mordacci most of all. Haman convinced the king that Jews were evil and dangerous so they should all be killed. The king listened and agreed with Haman because he trusted Haman and didn't know the Jews. Mordecai told Esther she would have to speak the truth to save the people. Esther was afraid. She risked her very life going to the king, but with prayer and fasting she went anyway. The king heard the truth, hung Haman on his own gallows, and God used Esther’s courageous actions to save the people.

Notes/Application

• Sometimes the sin/lies of a third party can cause division in a relationship.
• Our silence allows lies to continue.
• Sometimes speaking the truth risks much, but it must be done (in love and gentleness).
• God will bring justice to an unrepentant heart, but truth can reconcile people to each other and to the Lord.

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GOMER AND HOSEA

READ-HOSEA 1-6

Key Verse Hosea 6:6 "For I desire mercy and not sacrifice and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings."

Passage Overview

God told Hosea to marry Gomer, a well known harlot. Again and again she betrayed him. Again and again he forgave her. Hosea remained faithful. Finally she returned and (we believe) stayed, just as God's people eventually will.

Notes/Application

• People can be a broken mess, but God loves us anyway.
• We are to love anyway.
• God requires us to offer mercy and love to those who hurt us (again and again), just as He does for us.
• Sometimes we are Gomer, broken and confused, trapped in our sin, needing forgiveness.
• Sometimes we are Hosea, used and abused, showing grace, and remaining faithful.
• It is God's love in us that will draw people to Him.

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JESUS AND PETER

READ- LUKE 22:31-34, 39-46; JOHN 21:7-19

Key Verse Luke 22:32 "But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail;and when you have returned to me, strengthen the brethren.”

Passage Overview

Peter was one of Jesus' most sincere followers throughout Jesus ministry on earth. He walked on water with Jesus, helped feed thousands, witnessed and experienced many miracles. He promised to follow Jesus even unto death. But, when Peter should have been preparing for the greatest battle as of yet, he slept. Satan had asked to sift Peter (perhaps because Satan realized the amount of damage Peter's faith could do to him and his plans). After they arrested Jesus, Peter, this great man of faith, denied even knowing Jesus. But Jesus had paid for Peter. Later, when Peter realized that Jesus is alive again and saw him, Peter came running to Him. Jesus asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Each time Peter said yes, Jesus told him to lead and care for the sheep (church). Peter spent the rest of his life leading thousands (and through the scriptures millions) of people to Jesus.

Notes/Application

• Even the most faithful of followers can experience moments of weakness and fall into sin.
• Satan's plan is to destroy the faithful and render them useless. He will attack at our weakest moments.
• When we realize we have betrayed Jesus, we should not run away or hide. We should run back to Him as hard as we can.
• Jesus will reconcile us back to Him.
• He will then use our weakest moments as avenues to make us stronger and more useful than we were before.
• As we experience "Peter” moments of weakness, we should identify with others as they do too, and offer them mercy and forgiveness as Jesus reconciles them as He does us.

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THE PRODIGAL SON, HIS DAD, AND HIS BROTHER

READ- LUKE 15:11-32

Key Verses Luke 15:17 "but when he came to himself...."

Luke 15:32 "It was right that we should make merry and be glad for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

Passage Overview

The son wanted to do life on his own, but he soon wasted everything he had been given. He found himself empty and alone. He remembered his father's servants and how good their life was. Humbling himself he headed home to his father. His father RAN to him rejoicing and offering total forgiveness. The brother asked why the prodigal son had a party and he did not. The father reminded the brother that he too had inherited the blessing, but the son's reconciliation would be celebrated with or without him.

Notes/Application

• We are all that son, wandering through life trying to figure things out on our own.
• Jesus is waiting for us to turn in repentance and run back to Him.
• He will accept us with open arms.
• Our inheritance is the Father, being in His presence.
• This reconciliation, with Jesus, is the single most important response we will make. Our eternity hangs on being reconciled to Christ.
• We should never stop celebrating when we and other people are reconciled to Jesus.

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PAUL AND JOHN MARK

READ -ACTS 12:25, 13:13, 15:36-41; 2 TIMOTHY 4:11

Key Verse 2 TIMOTHY 4:11 "...Get Mark and bring him to me, for he is useful to me in ministry."

Passage Overview

Paul and Barnabas took John Mark with them on one of the early missionary journeys. In the middle of the trip John Mark returned to Jerusalem (we are never told why). Later Paul and Barnabas were preparing for another journey and Barnabas insisted they take John Mark with them, but Paul refused. The conflict grew so strenuous they split ways. Barnabas took John Mark and Paul took Silas. Much later when Paul was in prison and headed to Rome, he wrote to Timothy, telling Timothy to come to him and bring John Mark with him.

Notes/Application

• We do not know the details of the source of their conflict, or how they worked it out.
• We only know that two strong believers were in conflict with each other.
• We know that it took longer to resolve the conflict with Paul than it did with Barnabas.
• We see that God can still work (and put us to work) despite conflicts, as long as we faithfully continue to seek Him.
• We see that when both parties faithfully seek Jesus, He can eventually lead them back together again.

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PHILEMON AND ONESIMUS

READ- PHILEMON 1:1-21

Key Verse Philemon 20 " Yes brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord."

Passage Overview

Paul begins the letter by thanking Philemon for his faithful work in the body of Christ.

Paul then gently but firmly commands Philemon to welcome Onesimus back home. Onesimus was Philemon's slave. He was a thief, useless, and had run away. While on the run, Onesimus met Paul and he met Jesus.Now as a follower of Christ, Onesimus was helpful to Paul while he was in prison. But, since Onesimus legally belonged to Philemon, Paul is sending him back. Paul tells Philemon that any debt Onesimus owes should be transferred to Paul. Paul asks Philemon to be a blessing to him by doing the right thing and reconciling with Onesimus.

Notes/Application

• Sometimes reconciliation means we have to go back and make right the wrongs we have done.
• Sometimes it means forgiving others for wrongs they have done against us.
• Sometimes we need a mediator to speak Truth into our situation to help us bridge the gap.
• Sometimes we need to be the mediator, lovingly yet firmly encouraging one another to reconciliation.

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Even the Faithful Fall Apart

 Elijah witnessed one of the greatest, most miraculous victories in human history. Then, he had an emotional breakdown.

How did God respond to Elijah's breakdown?

First, God sent a messenger to watch over Elijah while he slept and he gave Elijah food. We should never underestimate the healing power of physical rest and and a good meal. Many of our emotional/mental crashes can be prevented by meeting those physical needs.

However, some struggles go deeper than a physical fix. Elijah woke up and walked further to a dark cave, both physically and emotionally. God asked, "What are you doing here Elijah?" God called Elijah to question, reflect, seek out... the reason he had reached such a dark place. When we find ourselves crashing, we need to stop and prayerfully consider what led us to that place, so we can find a path out of the darkness.

God told Elijah to "stand before the Lord," and all sorts of chaos ensued...a violent wind, an earthquake, a fire, but God was not in the chaos. God spoke in a still, small voice. My life is NEVER short on chaos. It often seems that I've got crazy coming at me from every side, and you know what I desperately need in those moments? I need to hear God's STILL small voice. I need him to whisper into my crazy, "Be still... Be still and know that I am God."

Then, God asked again, "What are you doing here Elijah?" Elijah confessed that he felt like he was all alone. Fighting these battles, living life alone is hard, isolating, and depressing. We were not designed to fight this fight alone. We need Jesus. We also need each other. God told Elijah where to find others who were faithfully seeking God and He sent Elijah to them. Life is hard. We can draw strength from one another. That's why our church family is so important. That's why sometimes if that's not enough, a professional counselor may be needed.

So, here are some lessons we can learn from Elijah's breakdown:

1. Even the most faithful of disciples fall apart sometimes.
2. Never underestimate the healing power of sleep and a good meal.
3. When we find ourselves crashing, it's important to prayerfully find the cause.
4. God meets our chaos with His stillness.
5. We need each other, the church, and sometimes a professional counselor.

1 Kings 19

Photo by Mikael Kristenson on Unsplash

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