Victorious Life

We are living in very stressful times. The news consistently paints a gloomy picture of our future. It seems the economy is in trouble, there are natural catastrophes all over the world, dissatisfaction with our political leaders and new illnesses being discovered. No wonder many people today are struggling with anxiety.

But what is anxiety and how can we overcome its terrible effects on our lives. I believe God’s Word has a wonderful answer for us, but first, let’s define the problem.

Anxiety occurs when our mind creates a persistent unpleasant feeling. This feeling is normally characterized by apprehension, uneasiness, fear and worry. Interestingly, there is a difference between fear and anxiety; fear happens in the presence of a perceived threat (normally triggers the fight or flight response in us) while anxiety happens without a real threat (there is nothing to flee from, nothing to fight) so it creates frustration within us.

Anxiety is often associated with a fear of something negative that may happen in the future.

All the days of the desponding and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]. Proverbs 15:15 [AMP]

I have known people that can’t even enjoy the blessings of today because of the forebodings of evil they feel all the time. I remember someone once told me, “When everything seems to be going well, I worry because something bad must be on its way.”

Biblically, anxiety has much to do with being double-minded. Look at these two scriptures:

Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my anxieties. Psalm 139:23 [NKJV]

Therefore my anxious thoughts make me answer, because of the turmoil within me. Job 20:2 [NKJV]

The word translated “anxieties” and “anxious thoughts” here comes from a root word in Hebrew that means ambivalence, division or divided opinion. I found this great passage from the WUEST translation (an early precursor to today’s Amplified Bible) that explains the double-mindedness of anxiety.

And as for you, stop striving after what you shall eat and what you shall drink, also stop wavering between hope and fear, living in suspense, since for these things, all of them, the nations of the world system are seeking. Luke12:29 [WUEST] (Emphasis mine)

Anxiety causes us to waver between hope and fear! It reminds me of algebra. Remember the equation (+5) + (-5) = 0? This is what happens spiritually when we waver between hope and fear! One moment we claim the Scriptures on healing and the next we complain that we are dying. And the result? Zero, just like in algebra.

So what is the origin of anxiety and how do we overcome it?

To find the origin, we have to go back to the fall of man.

¹⁷And to Adam He said, Because you have listened and given heed to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, saying, You shall not eat of it, the ground is under a curse because of you; in sorrow and toil shall you eat [of the fruits] of it all the days of your life. ¹⁸Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth for you, and you shall eat the plants of the field. ¹⁹In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you shall return. Genesis 3:17-19 [AMP]

Notice the word, “sorrow” in the passage above. It comes from a root word that means “worrisomeness (or anxiety).” Think about the anxiety man would experience when he planted corn or wheat, expecting a wonderful harvest but then began to see thorns and thistles come up and destroy much of his crop.

Now look at the word, “sweat” in the passage above. I simply means “sweat” but also comes from a root word that means “to tremble, quiver, quake and be in terror.” Both words tied in to the thought of worry, fear and anxiety.

Lastly, let’s look at the word “thorns” and we’ll see what Jesus associated thorns with:

As for the seed that fell among thorns, they are the ones who have heard, but as they go along, they are choked by the anxieties and riches and pleasures of life, and they fail to produce mature fruit. Luke 8:14 [NAB]

So, what did Jesus do for us? You know, we are used to seeing the cross for the forgiveness of our sins but, why did Jesus suffer all the other agonies He experienced on the way to the cross? Look at these two scriptures:

And being in agony, He prayed more earnestly. Then His sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. Luke 22:44 [NKJV]

And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. John 19:2 [NKJV]

Just as Jesus took the stripes on His back to carry our sicknesses, He also sweat “like great drops of blood” and took the crown of thorns on his brow to carry our anxieties, Hallelujah! Every time an anxious though comes to invade our minds, we can picture Jesus carrying it on his brow. We can release it to Him because He did this out of His immeasurable love for us.

Take this Scripture and make it yours today:

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 1 Peter 5:7 [AMP]

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Thanks to all of you that have signed up for my blog. I pray it has been a blessing to you so far. I want to apologize for not having posted anything for a few weeks now. You may be wondering what ever happened to my postings. Well, I have been super busy as I was hired by an insurance company. I had to sign up for classes and study to pass my Florida State Life, Health and Variable Annuities exam. Praise the Lord, I passed with no problems and am now licensed in the state of Florida. Next, I have been through some pretty intense training and even going on some calls in the evenings. Now, I have to go to Orlando and will be gone most of the coming week for the New Agent School. I trust that after next week, I will be able to pick up on the blog and resume my weekly teachings from God’s Word. Thank you for your patience and your prayers.

~Ed

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The Crime:

Officers arrive at the home of one, Job, a resident of the land of Uz and take the following statement:

¹³ Now there was a day when his sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house; ¹⁴ and a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, ¹⁵ when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” ¹⁶ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” ¹⁷ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” ¹⁸ While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, ¹⁹ and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” -  Job 1:13-19 [NKJV]

The Initial Suspect:

According to one of the eyewitnesses, a servant of Job, it was Elohim (God), a.k.a. YHWH, a.k.a. YHWH Jireh, a.k.a. El-Shaddai, a.k.a… well you get the picture. This witness identifies the fire that killed both sheep and servants as “the fire of God (Elohim).” Apparently the victim, Job, concurs with the eyewitness by his own statement:

²¹ And he said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb,
And naked shall I return there.
The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away;
Blessed be the name of the LORD.” – Job 1:21

Now, in any criminal investigation, it is necessary to establish three things in order to determine if anyone is a viable suspect; these are means, motive and opportunity. Let us apply this test to Elohim. First, did He have the means to accomplish the crime? Well, we find that Elohim is omnipotent; He is all powerful, so certainly He had the means to accomplish the events that have occurred. Second, let us consider opportunity, here also we find that Elohim is omnipresent; He is everywhere at once, so once again He had the opportunity to perpetrate the deeds in question. Last, let us apply the test of motive. Did Elohim have the motive to commit this attack upon the victim, his servants and his family?

With minimal investigation we were able to gather character witnesses that testified the following regarding Elohim:

David, arguably the greatest king of the nation of Israel states:

“Let the LORD be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”
- Psalm 35:27b

John, disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and leader of the church in Ephesus states:

“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
- 1 John 4:8

and again,

“And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” – 1 John 4:16

James, half-brother of the Lord Jesus Christ and leader of the church in Jerusalem states:

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” – James 1:17

At this point we have to simply state that countless witnesses have come forward and unanimously gone on record to bear witness to the fact that Elohim is good, kind, merciful, full of grace, forgiving even to the point of giving His one and only Son that even those who had been His enemies could be reconciled to Him. Conclusion–there is no possible way that Elohim passes the motive test in this case, we must look elsewhere.

Another important factor to establish in any investigation is M.O. (modus operandi). Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines modus operandi as “a method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime”.

In the book of John we are introduced to a particularly unsavory individual that Jesus identifies as “the thief.” Let us examine this thief’s modus operandi.

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.” – John 10:10a

Let us examine the crime in light of this M.O.:

1. The thief does not come except to steal.

“a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away” – Job 1:14-15

“another also came and said, ‘The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away’” – Job 1:17

Theft is clearly part of the M.O. in this crime.

2. The thief does not come except… to kill.

“the Sabeans… have killed the servants with the edge of the sword.” – Job 1:15

“fire… fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants” – Job 1:16

“The Chaldeans… killed the servants with the edge of the sword” – Job 1:17

“the house… fell on the young people, and they are dead”
- Job 1:19

Once again, we find that killing is definitely part of the M.O.

3. The thief does not come except… to destroy.

“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell” -Job 1:18-19

Yes! Elementary my dear Watson, we have a complete M.O. in the case. Through this virtual fingerprint of M.O. we can safely determine that the perpetrator of the crime against Job and his family is one Lucifer, a.k.a. the devil, a.k.a. the thief, a.k.a. Satan.

Now, to finally put this case to rest we must find the answer to one final accusation. Certain people, yes even some theologians have suggested that Elohim “allowed” the events that transpired on that fateful day. Whether they realize it or not this is a serious
accusation against Elohim as this would make Him complicit in the crime. Complicity, according to Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary is “association or participation in or as if in a wrongful act”. This accusation, if true would also make Elohim a party to conspiracy to commit the acts perpetrated against Job and his household. Here is a legal definition I found in www.associatedcontent.com regarding conspiracy.

“In some aspects of criminal law, you can commit a crime without ever lifting a finger. Conspiracy is the act of planning to commit a crime, which can actually be as punishable as the commission of the crime itself. For example, conspiracy to commit murder can carry an equal sentence as murder itself.

“When two people get together, discuss a crime, and plan its commission, those two people have committed the crime of conspiracy. Even if they never get around to actually doing what they have planned, or if they are caught before they are able, they can still be prosecuted under conspiracy law.”

So, did Elohim give permission to or allow Satan to commit the aforementioned crimes when it was in His power to stop him? Some have pointed to the statement uttered by Elohim Himself in 

“Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.” - Job 1:12

They assert that this is Elohim’s consent in the matter–He allowed Satan to kill, steal and destroy all that Job had. It seems incriminating but let us dig a little deeper.

We know from Satan’s own statement that, Elohim “made a hedge around him [Job], around his household, and around all that he has on every side” (Job 1:10) and Satan was unable to penetrate this hedge. So, was Elohim’s hedge weak in any area? Did Elohim open the hedge?
Or was the hedge opened by another means?

In order to answer this, we must understand how the spiritual realm operates in relation to our faith and our fear. We read in the book of Hebrews:

“without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” – Hebrews 11:6

Faith is the means by which we humans are able to reach into the spiritual realm and appropriate and receive the good things that God has for us.

But have you ever thought of the inverse of that statement? It would go something like this, “but without fear it is impossible to please Satan.” You see, as faith is the absolute conviction that God’s promises will manifest, so fear is the absolute conviction that Satan’s threats (to steal, to kill and to destroy) will undoubtedly manifest! Jesus says, “Be it done to you according to your faith”; Satan says, “Be it done to you according to your fear.”

Now, let’s examine Job’s own testimony about the events that came upon him on that fateful day:

“For the thing I greatly feared has come upon me,
And what I dreaded has happened to me.” – Job 3:25

It was Job himself, through his fear, that opened the door for Satan to come in and wreak havoc in his life! So, what about Elohim’s statement (“all that he has is in your power”)? I submit to you that Elohim’s statement was not one of consent; it was a statement of
fact. He was not saying, “I give you permission to do what you want”; He was saying, “Quit your bellyaching Satan, you can see Job has already put everything in your power.”

Conclusion:

We can safely bring an acquittal of any charges against Elohim. After all, He is our heavenly Father, He loves us, He cares for us, provides for us and He is the One that protects us.

Never be afraid that He will “allow” Satan to do bad things to you! Our Father will protect us with all of His omnipotent power; He has given us His Word, His Spirit and even His angels are ministering spirits that will work on our behalf (see Hebrews 1:14).

No, we have the ability to open the door to that old thief by our fear. No wonder there are so many “Fear not’s” in the Bible. So, whatever it is you are facing this week, remember Job’s lesson and what ever you do, DO NOT FEAR!

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Psalm 32:9 [TNIV]

Do not be like the horse or the mule,
which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
or they will not come to you

Recently, thanks to our son, Jason, we have gotten “hooked” on a TV show called “The Dog Whisperer.” In this show, the host, Cesar Milan, performs what seem to be minor miracles with dogs that are behaving badly. Cesar is not a dog trainer; he doesn’t teach dogs to sit and do tricks–he is a dog “behaviorist” who handles dogs according to the rules of the pack.

In the pack, there is always one dog that is the lead dog, he is called the “Alpha.” The Alpha dog has supreme authority over all the other dogs in the pack, so Cesar assumes the role of the Alpha dog each time. The results are almost miraculous as dogs that were once problem dogs quickly submit to Cesar.

Sometimes, Cesar runs into some tough cases, like a bulldog he dealt with in season one of the show. To say that this dog was stubborn would be an understatement, but Cesar was up to the challenge. It was a tremendous struggle to get the dog to walk with him in a “calm-submissive” state. The bulldog kept trying to run ahead and pull Cesar or to stubbornly stay behind and not move–the battle was on!

As I watched this battle of the wills, I was reminded of Psalm 32:9 where we are admonished not to be like the horse or the mule. You see, when I think about a horse, the expression that comes to mind is, “chomping at the bit.” It means that a horse is eager to get going, it is impatient, ready to take off and “catch me if you can!” So a bit and bridle are used to control the horse’s natural tendency and put on the brakes. On the other hand, when I think about a mule, I think of the expression, “stubborn as a mule” and I see a picture of an old miner pulling at a rope trying to coax a mule to move forward. In the case of the mule, the bit and bridle are used to pull the mule forward because it’s natural tendency is to stubbornly refuse to move. These two animals picture our tendencies when responding to God’s direction. If it is something we like and want to do, we tend to take off after it without waiting for the Lord’s timing. If it is something we don’t particularly want to do, we dig our heels in and refuse to move. Either way, the issue is submission to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Interestingly, most problem dogs are problem dogs because they have been treated like people by their owners. When this happens, owners pamper the dogs and unwittingly make the dog the “Alpha” of the house. What happens then is that the dog becomes anxious and changes its behavior to deal with the anxiety. You see, people are not dogs and we behave in ways that frustrate the dog that is trying to assume the Alpha role.

Back to Cesar and the bulldog. How did Cesar handle it? Well, he didn’t beat the dog, he didn’t use treats to entice the dog, he didn’t even get angry with the dog–he simply used the leash to demand that the dog walk in its proper place (next to Cesar and slightly behind) and in a calm-submissive state of mind.

Now here is the amazing thing, once the dog submitted to Cesar’s leadership, you could literally see that the dog was happier and more at peace! The dog was no longer anxious because now it knew who was the Alpha dog. The bulldog could now let Cesar lead and he could be at rest. Does this remind you of anything in the Bible?

Listen to the words of Jesus:

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.

I have to confess, I saw me in that bulldog. Thinking I’m in control and as a result, full of anxiety. See, if I am the Alpha dog, all the responsibility for my life, my wife, my children, our finances… everything is on my shoulders as a heavy load. But when Jesus puts his leash (yoke) on me so I can walk with Him as I should, letting Him lead, letting Him be the Alpha, then I relinquish the responsibility. I loose the anxiety and I find rest for my soul.

But you know, you don’t even have to take it from me. Jesus Himself said it in Revelation 22:13–He said, “I am the Alpha…”

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Note: A couple of notes before I begin this week’s lesson. First of all, I would like to make you all aware of new sections in our Blog; we now have a Prayer Request Page, a Praise Report Page and a Resources Page. Please go to the prayer request page and pray for the people there. I believe we serve a God who answers prayer. If you have any special requests please feel free to list them also. If you have a praise report, we would love to hear it. And of course please check out the resources page. I have books there that have been a blessing to me. Next, I want to thank all of you that have added a comment, it blesses me and encourages me to continue doing this. My sincerest desire is to be a blessing to you. Blessings to you all in Jesus mighty name!

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Nehemiah 3:14 [TNIV]
The Dung Gate was repaired by Malkijah son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem. He rebuilt it and put its doors with their bolts and bars in place.

The books of Ezra and Nehemiah tell us about the post Babylonian exile period in Israel’s history. Ezra returned to Jerusalem with a vision to rebuild God’s temple and restore Israel’s worship of the one true God. Nehemiah returned with a vision to rebuild the city walls and restore governmental order to the post exilic nation of Israel.

Nehemiah chapter 3 gives us a very specific list of people and the portion of the wall they were assigned to repair. Some families repaired portions of the wall from one specific place to another and some were assigned to repair a specific gate. We read about the following gates in Nehemiah chapter 3: the Sheep Gate, the Fish Gate, the Old Gate, the Valley Gate, the Fountain Gate, the Water Gate, the Horse Gate, the East Gate, the Miphkad (Inspection or Recruiting) Gate and the ever unpopular Dung Gate.

Think about it, Jerusalem did not have our modern sewer or septic tank systems. What did a whole city do with their waste? They chose one gate, one place outside the city as the repository for their waste. The Jewish Virtual Library (http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org) says that the Dung Gate was found “in the south wall, this gate is closest in proximity to the Temple Mount. Since the 2nd century, refuse has been hauled out of the city through this gate, hence the name.”

And so, it falls to Malkijah, son of Rekab, ruler of the district of Beth Hakkerem to repair the Dung Gate. Boy, he must have been excited when he found out! Here he is, a ruler no less, having to work right next to the city refuse pile! I suspect Malkijah could have had reason to be offended. But in all of chapter 3 we only read of one group that did not do the work wholeheartedly, it was the nobles of the Tekoites. We read in verse 5 that “their nobles did not put their shoulders to the work of their Lord.” Since these “nobles” are singled out this way, we can infer that everybody else, including Malkijah did put their shoulders to the work of their Lord. This means that Malkijah did this work with enthusiasm, he did it with his whole heart and he did it as unto the Lord. By the way, do you know what his name meant? It meant “king of Jah” or “king appointed by Jah.”

As I read this story, my mind began to ponder about the state of the church in America today. I single us out because we have often created “superstar ministers” out of God’s servants. We often glamorize the ministry and there are those that would never stoop to do certain menial tasks. Even in our local churches most people have received prophetic “words” that they are destined for world-wide ministries. It all creates an atmosphere where people seem reluctant to serve if they are not in the spotlight. Everybody wants to preach, teach or sing. Not too many people volunteer to teach the children, even fewer volunteer to clean the church, especially the bathrooms (our modern version of the Dung Gate).

Now, if you ever find yourself assigned to work at the Dung Gate (whatever your Dung Gate is to you), here are some Biblical principles to remember:

1. God will give you the grace to work on whichever Gate He assigns you. The Apostle Paul said that we are like a body, each member with its own specific function. You can transplant ears and put them where eyes belong but, they will never be able to see. If you transplant a nose and put it where an ear belongs, it will never be able to hear. I believe many Christians are so frustrated because they have put themselves in the wrong place and therefore, do not have the grace to be there or the ability to do what is required there.

2. If you have received a promise of promotion from the Lord, don’t try to make it happen by your choices or actions. When it comes to God’s promises for our lives all we can ever do is delay them by sticking our hands in and trying to “help God.” Many Christians have wreaked havoc in their lives by attempting to create the fulfillment of a promise. They have quit jobs prematurely, discarded ministries they were meant to fulfill and even ended up in great financial problems by trying to create the fulfillment of a promise of God by their own efforts. When David was anointed by Samuel to be the king of Israel, he just went back to tending his father’s sheep. Most of us would have probably gone straight to the Crown and Royal Robe Department at the Bethlehem J.C. Penney to get fitted for our new outfit. David allowed the Lord to fulfill His promise in His own time and in the manner He chose.

3. God has a funny way of knowing when we are ready for promotion. Do you remember back to your school days? Did you ever see a teacher ask a question then ignore all of the excited ones with their hands up saying, “Oh, Oh, Mr. Kotter! (an inside joke for those who remember the TV show)”? But seriously, when the Lord is looking to promote someone, He doesn’t look for the one that is discontented and yelling, “Pick me! I’m so sick of what I’m doing, it’s not funny.” No, He looks for the one that is doing what He assigned, doing it faithfully, doing it with excellence, doing it with joy and ready to do it for the rest of their lives if that is what the Lord asks of them. Think about the way He found people in the Bible: He found David tending sheep, He found Gideon threshing wheat, He found Elisha plowing, He found Peter and Andrew fishing, He found James and John mending nets, He even found Saul of Tarsus being a great Pharisee! Look at Matthew 25:23 in the Amplified version, “His master said to him, Well done, you upright (honorable, admirable) and faithful servant! You have been faithful and trustworthy over a little; I will put you in charge of much. Enter into and share the joy (the delight, the blessedness) which your master enjoys.”

4. Never, ever trade and eternal reward for a temporary earthly reward. It is so easy to get caught up in the rewards of this life that we forget we are truly and actually bound for eternity! Because we tend to forget, it is easy to trade an eternal reward for a measly, temporary earthly reward. When that happens, we can easily be drawn to selfish ambition. Remember the Pharisees of Jesus’ time. He told them that when they prayed, fasted and gave, they did it to be seen of men (a temporary earthly reward). So Jesus said in Matthew 6:1 that “If you do [these things to be seen by men,] you will have no reward in from your Father in heaven.” Of the Pharisees he said in Matthew 6:2, “Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full.” What a sad, sad exchange. Remember I told you the meaning of Malkijah’s name? King appointed by Jah! Well, Malkijah was never a king on this earth and this speaks to me of the fact that his name reflected his eternal reward because of his faithfulness to built the Poop Gate.

So let me ask you, what has the Lord assigned you to do? (Remember, He may have done it directly or through a pastor or church leader). Is it a little bit like having to work on the Poop Gate? Can you determine in your heart that you will do it as unto the Lord? That you will do it faithfully, joyfully and you will do it the rest of your life if the Lord so chooses? If you answered yes to these questions you could be in for a promotion here on earth. On the other hand, your reward may be an eternal one! Either way–“A faithful man [or woman] will abound with blessings” – Proverbs 28:20

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Jeremiah 1:10
See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms,
To root out and to pull down,
To destroy and to throw down,
To build and to plant.”

Have you ever watched one of those home improvement shows? The ones where they take an old house that is just about falling apart and they remake it into something amazingly modern and beautiful? I have not only watched this on TV but also lived it. Noemi and I did such a renovation on our house in Naples. It is an amazing feeling when the work is finished and you stand back and see the end result.

Now, do a fast rewind to several months before. All of the work that was done at that time can be described by the words of the Lord to Jeremiah, “pull down, destroy, and throw down.” Hammers, crowbars and saws are gutting this whole house and it seemed we were bent on its destruction. This is the demolition phase of a renovation.

Now, just for a moment put yourself in the place of that house. If a house could think and reason, what would it be thinking? Can you imagine how it might despair at the horrible things it is enduring at the hands of those it sought to serve? Let me ask you one more question — have you ever felt as if God was doing just that in your life? As if God is bent on pulling down, destroying and throwing down everything in your life? I know I have felt that way!

Well, here’s the truth we need to learn about building and about planting—neither can happen without some destruction or rooting out. Even in the case of new construction this is true. The house I now live in was built for us in 2003. Prior to that our lot was full of trees and rocks, nothing more. Machines had to come and take down all the trees, dig into the ground and uproot all of the root systems of those trees and remove any large stones that there may have been in the ground. The same thing happens when planting. Noemi loves to plant; she has an amazing “green thumb.” But each time she has to plant something, we have to dig into the ground, remove sod, stones, roots; we have to prepare the ground. She does this because she has a plan, a blueprint of a beautiful garden. The truth is that quite often, the better the quality of what is being built, the deeper and more radical the demolition must be.

So if, as I said earlier, it seems that God is “pulling down, destroying and throwing down” everything in your life, please be encouraged by this: if God didn’t have a plan to do something beautiful and precious in your life, He would have just lit a stick of dynamite under you and been done with it. The fact that He is strategically pulling things down, means that He will tenderly and lovingly build on that very place. The fact that He is strategically uprooting, means that He will lovingly plant on that very place.

Listen to the words of Peter in 1 Peter 2:5, “you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” God is building you up to be a spiritual house; the very temple and place of His dwelling. Now I know that during the demolition phase it may seem a waste that perfectly functional things are destroyed and thrown out. But think of a beautiful new kitchen with gorgeous new cabinets, new floor, new lighting and a twenty-year-old refrigerator. It may still work but, boy what an eyesore!

Listen, I do not make light of what we go through during these times. The pain, the frustration, the time spent wondering if maybe we have done something wrong and are being punished; all of that is very real when you are going through times like these. However, I want to encourage you with the words of Paul in Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Hang in there, God has the blueprint for glory in your life and mine, and the day will come when you see the finished product and say, “Yes, it was worth it!”

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Psalm 91:3 [NKJV]
Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the perilous pestilence.

This is one of those somewhat obscure Scriptures that we can easily read over without giving it much thought. However, this Scripture has a very powerful message for us that will encourage us in our walk with the Lord.

Let’s begin by looking at this “fowler.” The term refers to one who catches birds in a trap or a snare. This concept, as we explore it, will teach us much about the enemy of our souls and how he operates. You see, a fowler, unlike a hunter, does not seek to kill its prey. Therefore, a fowler has a very distinct mode of operation. The most basic thing a fowler will use is his ability to figure out what a bird will do next given a specific set of circumstances. In other words, the fowler must be able to predict how the bird will behave. Once the fowler is able to predict the bird’s behavior, he will know where, how and what kind of trap will work for that particular bird. The fowler will seek to make the snare appear as normal as possible in its surroundings and he will take great pains to not be seen, heard or smelled. It has to appear as if he is not there at all.

Now, in Psalm 91, the fowler is a picture of the devil himself. We realize then that one of his greatest weapons against us is knowing how we will behave in different circumstances. Have you heard of people that can “push someone’s buttons” and get a reaction? That is exactly what the enemy does. He has studied human psychology for millenia and he knows just how the natural man reacts. Here is an important key–he understands how “the flesh” will react given different problems and circumstances. This is crucial when seeking to “snare,” deceive and trick an opponent. The devil does not come at us in an open attack, like you see in the movies. He knows that, “greater is He that is in [us] than he that is in the world.” – 1 John 4:4

I once read a story of a battle between the Chinese and the Japanese. The Japanese had tanks that seemed absolutely invincible. The Chinese, however, discovered a simple way to defeat them. They would set up a sniper near the path a tank was traversing. The sniper would fire one round at the side of the tank. “Clang!” the tank driver would hear. The sniper would wait exactly five seconds and fire again. “Clang!” Five seconds and, “Clang!” After several shots timed like this, the tank driver would become curious. “What is making this noise? Is something loose?” he would ask. He then would open the hatch and stick his head out to investigate. There would be one more shot, only this time it was not aimed at the side of the tank. The Chinese disabled countless tanks this way because they were able to predict how the tank driver would react to a clanging noise timed five seconds apart.

So, if the enemy can predict how you or I will behave then we are lost!

Not so fast, let’s fast forward to the New Testament. Jesus is meeting with a man named Nicodemus one evening and tells him something that is the key to our survival and deliverance from the snare of the fowler. Here it is:

John 3:6-8 [NKJV]
That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit. (Emphasis mine)

I hope you realize what Jesus is saying; when we are born of the Spirit we have the potential and the ability to be unpredictable! The devil can predict what the flesh will do but he cannot predict how the Spirit will respond to any situation. You and I can be like the wind and Satan will not be able to tell where we come and where we go! Now I say that we have the potential to be unpredictable because as we look at the whole counsel of God’s Word, we see there is something we have to do:

Galatians 5:16 [NKJV]
I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

We have to WALK in the Spirit. And you may ask, “How do I do that?” I’m so glad you asked! It’s pretty easy but it takes practice. Here’s what you do. Next time somebody is “pushing your buttons” ask yourself, “What do I want to say right now?”

STOP! Don’t say it–there’s a snare of the fowler down that path!

Ask yourself, “What do I want to do to this person?”

STOP! Don’t do it–there’s a snare of the fowler down that path!

Hit the “Pause” button and listen. This is what Isaiah says:

Isaiah 30:21 [NKJV]
Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,

“ This is the way, walk in it,”
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.

That word will always lead you in a path that lines up with God’s Word and that path is ALWAYS snare-less. So, my prayer for you and for me today is, “Lord make us unpredictable as we walk in the Spirit.”

That’s how He delivers us from the snare of the fowler.

Filed under: The Spirit-Led Life | 8 Comments »

Mark 5:22-23 (NKJV)
And behold, one of the rulers of the synagogue came, Jairus by name. And when he saw Him, he fell at His feet and begged Him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter lies at the point of death. Come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and she will live.”

Have you ever been frustrated by the smallness of your faith? Have you ever been frustrated by the smallness of a loved one’s faith? I have to admit that I have on both accounts. But one day, the Lord showed me something precious in His Word and I wish to share that with you today.

In Mark chapter 5, Jesus had just returned from the region of the Gadarenes where he had ministered deliverance to the man with the legion of demons. As Jesus steps off the boat, a man by the name of Jairus comes to Him in a highly agitated state. He falls at the feet of Jesus and begs Him earnestly for the life of his daughter. I want you to pay close attention to Jairus’ request. He specifically asks Jesus to “come and lay Your hands on her, that she may be healed, and live.”

Just about that time the Bible tells us that a woman that “had a flow of blood for twelve years” heard that Jesus was in town. She comes behind Him, pushing her way through the crowd, desperate to get to Him and do ONE thing-to touch His garment. Why on earth would she do that? Because she repeatedly (the Greek tense indicates this) said to herself, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”

So far, we have two people; one says, “Come and lay Your hands on her,” the other says, “If only I may touch His clothes.” Now let’s take a parenthetical break and see a third person. This man is a Roman Centurion. He is not even a descendant of Abraham. In Matthew chapter 8 we read that this Centurion had a servant that was “lying at home paralyzed, [and] dreadfully tormented. ”

Jesus tells the Centurion, “I will come and heal him.” But the Centurion tells Jesus that he is not worthy to have Jesus come under his roof. Then he makes an unusual request, “Only speak a word, and my servant will be healed.” The Bible tells us that Jesus absolutely marvelled at the kind of faith this Roman showed. Of course, He spoke the word and the servant was healed.

Now let me share what the Lord revealed to me through these three people. Of course, the Centurion’s faith was amazing! “Only speak a word,” he said, and he had faith to believe that Jesus could heal this way. But, when I put him side by side with the woman that had the flow of blood and with Jairus, there is one thing that stands out to me. Jesus met each one at their point of faith without condemning any for their smallness of faith. Imagine if after meeting the Centurion, Jesus went around rebuking people that wanted Him to lay His hands on them. “O you of little faith, haven’t you heard, I healed the Centurion’s servant WITHOUT having to lay hands on him. Why can’t you have that kind of faith.”

Of course Jesus did not and would never do that. So don’t condemn yourself for smallness of faith. Don’t condemn a loved one if their faith is not at strong as yours. The truth is you cannot believe the Lord at the level of someone else’s faith anymore than David could fight Goliath in Saul’s armor.

In practical terms, where the rubber meets the road in my life, what does this mean? Well, we have all read books or heard testimonies of people that have believed God and received amazing results. Have you ever tried to do what they did only to fall flat on your face? I sure have! So, whether it’s a family situation, a physical healing need or a financial problem, get with the Lord through His Word. Find out what you can believe Him for, and do it, at your level of faith. You know what I think? I believe that after a few victories you’ll see your faith grow to levels you never thought possible.

You want your faith to grow; the Lord wants your faith to grow. As far as I’m concerned, that’s a winning combination!

Filed under: Faith | 1 Comment »

Matthew 6:33a NKJV
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness…

The context of this verse is talking about the fact that “no one can serve two masters.” We cannot serve God and “mammon.” “Mammon” here does not refer to just riches or money but to riches or money that people trust in.

Therefore, Jesus said, do not worry about things such as what you will eat, drink or wear. The clear indication is that our provision comes, not from money or riches, but from God. Accordingly, we are to put our trust in Him.

Then Jesus follow with the statement on the Scripture quoted above, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 NKJV)

Now here in the US we know very little about kingdoms or life as lived in that political realm. We are used to our constitutional freedoms and rights. We elect our president and representatives and allegedly, they work for us. So, what must we know about the kingdom of God if we are to be successful citizens of that kingdom?

First, we must know that the kingdom of God involves God Himself. Without Him the kingdom would not exist! So, there is an identification of the realm with its sovereign that is unlike anything we experience in a Demorcracy or what our government truly is; a representative republic. If we speak against the kingdom of God, we speak against God; if we respect the kingdom of God, we respect God.

Second, the kingdom of God is composed of the spiritual laws that govern that realm. In Romans 8:2, Paul speaks about “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus [that] has made me free from the law of sin and death.” So, there is a “law of the Spirit of life.” Since Paul spoke about that in the context of his life on earth, we can safely say that the kingdom of God is not heaven. The kingdom of God is here and now manifested in the laws that govern the realm of the spirit.

Why is this important? Because when we were born-again we were delivered out of darkness and into the kingdom of Christ (Colosians 1:13). A kingdom that we knew nothing about! Think about the early European immigrants arriving on Ellis Island to this new world where all the rules were different. There were probably many con men that took anything these immigrants had, just because they did not know the laws and the rules in America. In the same way, Satan uses deception to steal from believers what is rightfully theirs as citizens of the kingdom of God.

In a nutshell, the kingdom of God is God’s way of doing things. If we are to be succesful in His kingdom we need a manual that tells us how He does things. We need to study that manual and learn His ways. As we do, we will become proficient in living as citizens of the kingdom of God and we will be successful, prosperous and victorious citizens. The kind of citizens tha Satan cannot deceive and con out of what is rightfully theirs.

Good thing we have such a manual! You see, Jesus said in Luke 12:32 that “it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” So let’s receive all He has for us. Let’s get to know that manual inside and out! That is how we begin to seek His kingdom.

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