It Is Time to Move: Something New is About to Happen

“For everything there is an appointed time, and an appropriate time for every activity on earth. A time to break down, and a time to build up.” Ecclesiastes 3:1, 3b, NET

In life there are ups and downs; summer and winter; childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and mature years; bear markets and bull markets. Like waves, we must find the crest and ride it to the end. Once on the beach, don’t just sit there, get up and swim out again. Prepare for the next wave and the next ride.

Jesus said, “I must go to my Father.” He knew his time was near. The crucifixion and the resurrection were the goal. The ascension would prepare for Pentecost, which was to be the launching pad of the world-wide spread of Christianity. The church started and grew in Jerusalem. The persecution spread it to Samaria and Antioch. Paul and Peter extended it to the known Mediterranean world. Each thrust and movement was a new cycle, a new wave, a new experience, the next step in the expansion of the Kingdom of God on earth.

As individuals, families and churches we live with the same experience of times and seasons. There is rest and work; stable moments and agitated moments; discipleship and evangelism. Now, we have the opportunity to move, to grow and to do new things that will take us to new heights and greater achievements.

Jesus is calling us, “Follow me.”

Our response must be, “Let’s go! We will follow wherever you lead.”

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I m doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:18, 19 NIV

My Debt Has Been Paid

Many nations, businesses and people have debts they cannot pay. It appears to me that debt is a serious problem in our day and time. I think the same is true in the spiritual area.

Romans 3:23 is clear when it says, “all sinned.” And this sin leaves us with a debt to pay. There is a judgment against us and the sentence is spiritual death, separation from the life God gives and ultimate result is all forms of death that exist in our lives: sickness, poverty, hate, war and more.

The good news is that there is a completely, sufficient solution. Romans 6:23 reminds us that God’s gift is eternal life because of Christ Jesus. This is confirmed in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

How did God do this? He sent his son, Jesus. “He appeared so that he might take away our sins. And in him is no sin.” (1 John 3:5) God took away our sins. Now we owe Him nothing. Jesus fulfilled the demands of justice.

HOW SUFFICIENT WAS THIS WORK OF GOD? How far has God separated us from our sins? Psalms 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” There is more and the results are actually even better. Isaiah 43:25 declares, “I am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” Our sins have been erased [Spanish translation]. They are not there; they were removed from us. God forgave us and cleansed us from all evil (1 John 1:9).

We are totally forgiven and cleansed. We have been set free! Thank you LORD.

Since our hearts have been made free from a guilty conscience and the weight of sin, let’s go into God’s presence with confidence and a sincere hearts in full assurance of faith. [a combination of ideas expressed in Hebrews 10:22, NIV and BBE translations]

Meditation

July 6, I posted this thought on Facebook.

"Meditation has more to do with filling yourself with His thoughts [God’s] than it does emptying yourself of yours."

I know it’s not an original idea, but it sure touched a need out there. For what it's worth, here are some other thoughts on meditation. These thoughts didn’t necessarily originate with me either, but with the exception of the Biblical references I don’t know who to give credit to.

- be still and know that I am God, Ps. 4:4; 46:10
- God spoke in a still small voice, 1 Kings 19:12
- Renew our minds with the word of God, Rom 12:2
- meditate [to chew the cud like a cow] day and night on the Word, Joshua 1:8; Ps 1:2

I meditate, sitting quiet and just being, just being quiet before him. Like Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, I sit listening for Him to speak. My objective is not to empty myself, but to quiet myself. I think there is a difference. I quiet myself and fill myself with God's thoughts. Maybe I read one verse or two and just think on them. Maybe I'm listening to music and thinking about God. Maybe I'm not doing anything but sitting there and enjoying the presence of God that is with me. The neat thing is that as I quiet myself and fill myself with God's thoughts that come from His Word, He fills me with more of Himself. As I let Him fill me and as I obey Him, the undesirable in me is PUSHED out. The more full of God I am, the less full I am of myself.

There is a video teaching titled Be Still and Know that I Am God that deals with meditation and contemplative prayer. It's very good and includes comments and thoughts from Dr. Henry Cloud, Richard Foster, Max Lucado and Beth Moore.

Sincere

Let us draw near with a sincere heart in the assurance that faith brings. – Hebrews 10:22 NET

Sincerity is true, free of hypocrisy and without deception.

The sincere heart speaks without manipulative motives; it is a true and honest expression of thoughts, feelings and emotions. It is also willing to hear the open and honest expression of others. The exchange and communication is of grace with transparent words and open ears.

The sincere faith is certain and convinced that the promises and the work of God are absolutely true and completely sufficient to realize the transformation needed in our lives. It is pure and unadulterated. Its motives are not self-centered; on the contrary its desire is to bring the presence of heaven to earth for the benefit of others and for the glory of God.

Sincere love seeks the pure and perfect motives of God. Its practice is without deceit or hypocrisy, without judgment or guilt. Sincere love demonstrates the desire of God to rescue, redeem and restore his sons and daughters to their original design. It pursues the extension and expansion of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth.

The aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith. - 1 Timothy 1:5 NET

You have purified your souls by obeying the truth in order to show sincere mutual love. So love one another earnestly from a pure heart. – 1 Peter 1:22 NET

How Can I Minister to Others?- getting started

[notes from a teaching by Charles Slagle, April 6, 1993, Del Rio, Texas]

I must desire to share God's heart.

Ask these questions while you are praying:

• What pleases You (God) about this person?
• What good plans/promises do You want to communicate to this person?
• What are You teaching this one now?
• What inner hurts, stresses, fears, sorrows is this person experiencing?
• What gifts/strengths need to be affirmed?
• How is he/she a unique blessing?
• Does this person labor under an inadequate view of Father God or of himself?

Stress identity, not behavior!

Identification as a child of God and understanding who we are in Christ is the fulcrum of balance.

The central factor, the position of balance, is knowledge of who God is and our identity/relation to Him and with Him. The promises and blessings of God are a product of our relation with Him. The interesting thing is, Christian conduct is also a product of intimate relation with God.

Emphasize identity and relation, not behavior; identity and relationship with God produce correct behavior. 

"First clean the inside of the cup and the plate, that the outside may also be clean." Matthew 23:26

God is EXTREME!

God has always been an extremist. He created a universe, a planet, a garden and animals for his maximum creation, man and woman. The moment they failed Him He promised a Savior.

God is extreme!

His mercy is new every morning. We are to eat of the abundance of his table. Life in Him is abundant. He did not come to be served. Instead, he came to serve and give his life as a sacrifice for all. God is extreme!

He is extremely good and generous; extremely merciful and gracious; extremely loving and kind; extremely holy and righteous. God is extreme!

He said:

• Sell all you have and follow me.
• I don't condemn you; go and sin no more.
• Forgive the same offense 490 times a day.
• You will do greater works than I did.
• Tell all the world.
• Love as I loved you.

God is extreme!

Without complaining, Christ suffered the punishment and the weight to forgive us all our sins, to heal our diseases, to restore our broken relationships, supply our needs and give us TOTAL and COMPLETE victory in an abundant life. He didn't respond to his false accusers nor did he call for a legion of angels to save Him. He didn't point his finger at the guilty nor prophecy doom and judgment on the nation. Instead, He opened his beaten and bruised arms wide and lay his bloody and lacerated back on the rustic cross. As they drove the nails through his hands and feet he said, "This is how much I love you."

God is extreme! And you?

The Keys 2

Intimacy with God gives us confidence, true humility results in authority and a servant heart increases influence.

Ideas on Humility and Our Nation

Intimacy with God, humility and service are areas we must pursue in our lives. Let's consider humility.

Humility is the opposite of pride. It seeks to honor others over itself and to do the best for them. It's teachable, accepts counsel and correction and shares the good it has with others. Pride, being
self-centered, wants to exalt itself in every situation and believes the purpose for everything is personal gain and benefit. Pride doesn't permit others to teach him, give counsel nor correct him. It takes all for itself and shares with no one, unless, of course, sharing can result in some personal benefit.

Our prayers can indicate if we are humble and live to serve. Let's consider our prayers in the present economic crisis and political situations in which we are living. Normally our prayers are focused on our needs and desires; our praying is a complaint session where we criticize our leaders and murmur about the decisions made by others. That is to say, we are seeking the best for ourselves and we are cursing our authorities.

If we want to pray with an humble attitude, how should we pray? 2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us to humble ourselves and repent for our part in the present situation; for our self-centered prayers and our complaining, murmuring and cursing of others. Let us change our attitude. Let's start to be more concerned for the manifestation of the kingdom of God here on earth as it is in heaven. Let's seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness [Matthew 6:33], let's pray for our government and authorities with petitions and thanksgiving [1 Timothy 2:1, 2] and let's seek the peace and well being of the city God has sent us to [Jeremiah 29:7]. In that way a peaceful life of
well being, tranquility and dignity will be added to us. Let's pray that God's will be done and that the Lord be glorified in our nation.
Let's pray that heaven invade earth.

The Keys

The keys for proper development and use of authority, talents, finances and influence (along with everything else we have in this life) are intimacy with God, humility in attitude and service as motivation while we do all for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom.

I may in the future take the time to develop the ideas of each point.