He Exists

Heb. 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Above all we must believe that "He is." We must believe that God exists. Over the past century there has been an incredible attack on the fact that God exists. Many declare there is no God. Others say God is dead. Some say that God is whoever or whatever you want Him to be. All these are lies of the enemy who desires to be God and to take God's place.

If there is no God, there is no creator who has every right to our allegiance. If there is no God there is no one to whom we must give account for our lives. If there is no God there are no moral absolutes. As a result of this every man does what is right in his own eyes. This always leads to disastrous results.

Believing that God exists is the beginning point of true faith.

(You may want to look at my blog post for July 6, 2009 "The Uncreated Creator")

He Is A Rewarder

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Heb. 11:6

When Jesus returns to the earth every person who has believed upon the Lord Jesus Christ will stand before the Judgment Seat of Christ and will be rewarded based on how he/she has lived his/her life.

I think too many people are coasting along on the fact that they have made a profession of faith and believe that is all that is required of them. Far too few understand that the profession of faith in Jesus Christ is just the first step, the foundation upon which your life is then built.

1 Cor. 3:11-15 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. 14If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

Matt. 16:27 For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works.

Diligently Seek Him

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

This verse is a familiar verse, especially the first phrase...we must have faith in order to please God. Recently the second part of the verse really registered in my mind as I read it. When we come to God we must believe that He exists AND that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Salvation starts with believing that God exists and that Jesus died for our sins. (Romans 10:9-10) But beyond that there is also the need to seek Him. As we seek Him we can know that He will reward us accordingly. I believe that our eternal reward is important to keep in mind as we serve God. Hebrews 11 goes on to talk about those who pressed on to that thing which God had promised them, that reward that would be theirs. Not that we serve God for the purpose of getting something. We already received more than we could ever imagine by being saved from hell and death and being delivered from our sins.

Prayer Focus-Japan

Several weeks ago I said I was going to make Saturday "Prayer Focus" posts, which I have not done. But I will do "Prayer Focus" posts from time to time. I believe prayer is incredibly powerful and can change nations.

As we all know there has been an ongoing crisis in the nation of Japan due to the earthquake and the tsunami and nuclear crisis that ensued as a result. Ongoing prayer for the Japanese people is needed in the midst of this for their physical/natural needs. This is also a time to increase our prayer focus for the spiritual needs of the people of Japan.

As I watched reports from Japan often reports referred to the people's Buddhist and Shinto faith. There was no mention of Christians or churches. That is probably because Japan is only about 1 percent Christian. To me that is a staggeringly low number when you consider that China is believed to be at least 7 percent Christian.

Historically the Japanese have not been open to Christianity. When I was in Okinawa, Japan in 1985-86, a Japanese friend told me that Christianity was an American religion and she did not want anything to do with it. I have known missionaries who have worked there for many years with very few converts. This crisis may be the very thing thing that will cause the people of Japan to open their hearts the Lord Jesus Christ.

In the blog list on the right you can click on the blog of a couple that are ministering in Japan. (Step Into Japan With Us!) You can read first hand reports. You can also check out info about their ministry and about the nation of Japan. Here is a link to a page that gives good info about the country: http://www.lavermansinjapan.org/aboutjapan

Truly Living

One time someone was telling me about some people they knew that had boats and nice houses and spent a lot of time on their boats and in other recreational activities. The person said to me, “They know how to live.” The people she was telling me about did not know Christ. In advertising, TV shows, and movies they depict for us what is supposed to be “the good life,” what to them truly living looks like. But that is not truly living. Unless you have Christ who is the life, you are not living. The only real way to live is in Christ. Colossians 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory John 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 1 John 5:11-12 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Steadfast Love and Mercy

Psalm 147 :11 in the ESV uses the words "steadfast love" in place of "mercy." When I read that last night is reminded me of the song we used to sing from Lamentation 3:22-23. Lamentation 3:22-25 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion." says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him." (ESV) I chose to add the two additional verses because they seem to complete the thought to me. Again, as in Ps. 147:11, our only real hope is in the LORD, in His mercy or steadfast love. I like that word "steadfast." It means firm and never changing. God's love and mercy are connected and both are firm and never changing. That makes me feel secure to know that these characteristics of God will not change. Another verse that this reminds me of is, Psalm 103:4 "Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies." I remember reading somewhere or in another translation that "crowneth" means to "surround." So God surrounds us, perhaps like a hug or shield with His lovingkindness and tender mercies. This also makes me feel secure. In Ps. 103:4, we also see yet another aspect of God's mercy....it is tender. That makes me feel safe.

Hope In His Mercy

Psalm 147:10-11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.

I find this scripture very comforting. I am very thankful that God takes pleasure in those who hope in His mercy. Really His mercy is my only hope. Because I am a sinner, it is only God's mercy that preserves me from being destroyed.

God loves me as I am. But He also desires that I become all that He created me to be. His love provides me with all I need in order to fulfill His will. The mercy of God is part of that provision. I consistently sin and because of His mercy I am not destroyed and am given another chance.

He takes pleasure when we choose to hope in Him, in His mercy, rather than hope in ourselves or our own strength.

I Am A Warrior

Joel 3:10 Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the weak say, "I am strong." KJV

I want to focus on "let the weak say I am strong." Last night I was reading this in the ESV and it translates this to say "let the weak say I am a warrior." That really ignited something in me. I woke up this morning declaring "I AM A WARRIOR." I am a warrior in the kingdom of God, no matter how weak or puny I feel. "I AM A WARRIOR"

We are in a constant war zone, with entities of the kingdom of darkness all around. But Romans 8:37 says I am more than a conqueror through Christ. The word "conquerors" in that scripture means to "gain a decisive victory." Not just a victory, but a decisive victory.

So not only am I a warrior, but through Christ I have already won a decisive victory.

Always Enough

Continuing on the theme of the Lord's provision for His people...Back when I was in Bible school my school bill had reached a point where I was going to have to leave school if I did not have money by the end of the week. As I sought the Lord He spoke to me from the following Scripture passage.

1 Kings 17:13-16 And Elijah said unto her, Fear not; go and do as thou hast said: but make me thereof a little cake first, and bring it unto me, and after make for thee and for thy son. 14For thus saith the LORD God of Israel, The barrel of meal shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oil fail, until the day that the LORD sendeth rain upon the earth. 15And she went and did according to the saying of Elijah: and she, and he, and her house, did eat many days. 16And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the LORD, which he spake by Elijah.

God told me that just like when this woman went to the barrel for meal and to the cruse for oil there was always enough for each day, I would always have enough. I may not have an abundance, but I could always be assured of the Lord's provision of enough for my needs. That was 30 years ago and God has always been faithful to that word......Oh and by the way someone paid off my school bill by Friday and I was able to continue at the Bible school.

I Shall Not Want

Psalm 23:1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

I have been sharing a series of short teachings on Psalm 23 at church mostly geared to the kids on the Sundays that they stay in the adult service. So recently I have been spending time in that Psalm once again. Tonight I was thinking again about verse one, especially the second part.

It is because the Lord is my shepherd that I will not be in want. He is a good shepherd and knows my every need. He is my creator. Who better than my creator to know my needs.

I shall not want does not mean I will get everything I think I want or need. I may get the things I want but that is not guaranteed.

It does mean that Jesus who knows best will give me what he knows I need when I need it---I know I can trust him to be a good shepherd and take good care of me in every situation.

I believe David had come to know God well enough/ was in relationship with God in such a way that he trusted him to take good care of him even in the really hard times.

Phillip Keller, in the book "A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23," says the main concept is of not lacking in proper care or management--also the idea of being utterly contented in the Good Shepherd’s care and consequently not craving or desiring anything else. Staying in his care and not continually jumping the fence and leaving the care of the good shepherd.