Romans 8:38-39 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can separate us from God's love, not even sin. Sin will bring a separation in the relationship, but doesn't change God's love. God is and always will be love.
God always loved Israel, even when they were in sin. Judgment had to come upon them, not because of lack of love, but because of love. God's judgment on sin and love are not opposed to one another. Just like when a parent disciplines a child it is because he/she loves the child.
I believe our perceptions concerning this get distorted when we get disciplined or punished out of anger or frustration. Or when we receive inappropriate discipline because of the mood of the parent. God never has a bad day. So we never have to walk around "on egg shells" hoping not to upset Him.
The following two commonly known scriptures from Jeremiah are found in the midst of God telling Israel of the coming judgment upon them for their sin. Within these we see God's continued love and care for them in spite of their disobedience and the need for judgment/discipline.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. 12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. 13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. 14 And I will be found of you, saith the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Jeremiah 31: 3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
In the following verses Jeremiah is remembering that God is indeed a loving and merciful God, even as he grieves over the condition of Israel/Jerusalem as a result of the judgment.
Lamentations 3:21-24 This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. 22 It is of the LORD’S mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness. 24 The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
Thursday, August 27, 2015
Thursday, August 20, 2015
Unmingled With Evil
Romans 16:19 ...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
In the Greek, the word "simple" in the above scripture means innocent or unmixed. It could also mean not mingled. When I became aware of these possible meanings for this word, it caused me to think a little differently about this scripture.
In our culture it can be difficult to be unmixed with what is evil. It can be difficult to not get the things of this world mingled into our everyday lives. The ways of the evil one are all around us, especially in the media, which we are bombarded with. Because of what is before us on a regular basis it is often difficult to be innocent, unmixed or unmingled concerning evil. Sometimes this stuff gets on us without us even being aware of it.
I asked God how do we keep this from happening to us.
1) Avoid the media and situations that can defile as much as possible.
2) Be filled with and attentive to the Holy Spirit. As a result, when your soul is being assaulted with evil you will be very aware of it. You will be vexed even as Lot was over the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2 Peter 2:7-8 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) )
3) Cleansing daily. Daily come before God and ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of all the defilement of the day. Just like in Jesus day they washed their feet because the dust of the road they were traveling on got on their feet. We need to regularly have the dust/defilement of the day washed off of our souls.
In the Greek, the word "simple" in the above scripture means innocent or unmixed. It could also mean not mingled. When I became aware of these possible meanings for this word, it caused me to think a little differently about this scripture.
In our culture it can be difficult to be unmixed with what is evil. It can be difficult to not get the things of this world mingled into our everyday lives. The ways of the evil one are all around us, especially in the media, which we are bombarded with. Because of what is before us on a regular basis it is often difficult to be innocent, unmixed or unmingled concerning evil. Sometimes this stuff gets on us without us even being aware of it.
I asked God how do we keep this from happening to us.
1) Avoid the media and situations that can defile as much as possible.
2) Be filled with and attentive to the Holy Spirit. As a result, when your soul is being assaulted with evil you will be very aware of it. You will be vexed even as Lot was over the lawless deeds he saw and heard (2 Peter 2:7-8 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8 (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds;) )
3) Cleansing daily. Daily come before God and ask the Holy Spirit to cleanse you of all the defilement of the day. Just like in Jesus day they washed their feet because the dust of the road they were traveling on got on their feet. We need to regularly have the dust/defilement of the day washed off of our souls.
Friday, August 14, 2015
Let The Children Come
Mark 10:13-15 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them. 14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Jesus still desires for the children to come unto Him and He desires to see them trained up in the ways of God. The children need to be led into a relationship with God, taught to hear the voice of God, and to minster in the gifts.
In Tommy Welchel's book about the Azusa Street Revival he shares stories that were related to him by people who were there as part of that revival as children and teenagers. God used the children and teenagers to minister as part of what He was doing at that time. I praise God that the adults at Azusa Street did not push the children aside as the disciples tried to in Jesus' day. ("They Told Me Their Stories" by Tommy Welchel)
I believe in the coming outpouring/harvest God desires to mightily use children/teens/young people once again.
Recently I was in a service at a church where the children were encouraged to prophesy and pray. It was great to see children, as young as 5 years old, prophesy, read or quote scripture God had inspired them to share, and to pray for people. This all happened as part of an evening service in which the . adults doing the same. It was wonderful to see this in action.
I believe God is saying, "Watch what I will do. Allow the children to come unto me and see what I will do in and through them."
Quite a few years ago I heard someone say that other religions, especially the Muslims, train their children, while the Christian church in this country entertains their children. God is desirous of seeing the children trained up in the homes and within the churches to be vessels through which He can manifest His glory.
There is a wonderful book titled "Visions Beyond the Veil", by H.A, Baker, missionary to China. (the grandfather of Roland Baker of Iris Ministries in Mozambique) The book is about the heavenly experiences that children in a Chinese orphanage had and how God ministered through them as a result.
God is no respecter of age. May we all become more childlike in our relationship with our God. May we all do our part in allowing the children to come to Him and making room for them to be trained and grow in the things of God.
Jesus still desires for the children to come unto Him and He desires to see them trained up in the ways of God. The children need to be led into a relationship with God, taught to hear the voice of God, and to minster in the gifts.In Tommy Welchel's book about the Azusa Street Revival he shares stories that were related to him by people who were there as part of that revival as children and teenagers. God used the children and teenagers to minister as part of what He was doing at that time. I praise God that the adults at Azusa Street did not push the children aside as the disciples tried to in Jesus' day. ("They Told Me Their Stories" by Tommy Welchel)
I believe in the coming outpouring/harvest God desires to mightily use children/teens/young people once again.
Recently I was in a service at a church where the children were encouraged to prophesy and pray. It was great to see children, as young as 5 years old, prophesy, read or quote scripture God had inspired them to share, and to pray for people. This all happened as part of an evening service in which the . adults doing the same. It was wonderful to see this in action.
I believe God is saying, "Watch what I will do. Allow the children to come unto me and see what I will do in and through them."
Quite a few years ago I heard someone say that other religions, especially the Muslims, train their children, while the Christian church in this country entertains their children. God is desirous of seeing the children trained up in the homes and within the churches to be vessels through which He can manifest His glory.
There is a wonderful book titled "Visions Beyond the Veil", by H.A, Baker, missionary to China. (the grandfather of Roland Baker of Iris Ministries in Mozambique) The book is about the heavenly experiences that children in a Chinese orphanage had and how God ministered through them as a result.
God is no respecter of age. May we all become more childlike in our relationship with our God. May we all do our part in allowing the children to come to Him and making room for them to be trained and grow in the things of God.
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