CHRIST WITHIN

Recently I have being thinking a lot about Christ living within me and what that means as I go about each day.  Wherever I am and whatever I am doing I want to be able to let the Anointed One within me come forth and touch those I meet each day. 

 Here is a little prayer I wrote:

More of You and less of me…Divine Seed exert thy might

Come forth thou mighty Christ in me,

That others may see You and not see me

Light burst forth from within

Enlighten the darkness all around me

River of God flow out from me

Refresh all those in need

More of You and less of me….Divine Seed exert they might

Fruit of the Spirit from within, to the world be made known

Anointed One empower me to be Your hand extended

An instrument through which Your healing power and deliverance flow

For greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world

Not by might, nor by power, but by Thy Spirit

Shall each mountain be removed, every hindrance must go

More of You and less of me…Divine Seed exert thy might

Forgetting and Fruitfulness

Genesis 41:51-53 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. ⁵² And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.  (KJV) 

Note the meaning of the names that Joseph gave to his sons and there order.  Manasseh means "caused to forget."  Ephraim means "fruitfulness."  First he was caused to forget.  Second he was caused to be fruitful.  Sometimes to come into a place of fruitfulness we have to forget some of the things that have happened in the past.  Sometimes things from the past both good and bad can get in the way of pressing on into what God has for us.  Perhaps there is some baggage from your past that has kept you from being fruitful. I think each one of us need to seek the Lord to see if there are things we need to forget, so we can move forward into the place of fruitfulness God has for us.

Note also that it says “God hath made me to forget” and “God hath caused me to be fruitful.”  Forgetting and being fruitful require letting God do the work within us.  It requires our submission to Him and cooperation with Him.  Sometimes it is a quick work and sometimes it is a process.  Sometimes progress is made in large steps and sometimes in tiny steps.  The important thing is to continue moving forward.

Phil 3:13-14 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus

Forgetting is not just pretending that something did not happen and just tuck it away somewhere in your subconscious, where we don't think about it.  It inolves forgiving and/or letting God heal the wound of the event so that it has no more pain or power within us.  For example Joseph still remembered what his brothers had done, but it no longer had power over him.  He had truly forgiven his brothers and had allowed God to heal the pain.  Joseph had come to the place of seeing how God had taken this painful event in his life and used it for the good of his entire family, for nation of Israel. 

Genesis 45:4-5 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. ⁵ Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

Genesis 50:19-21 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? ²⁰ But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. ²¹ Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

Coming King

Luke 1:32-33 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: ³³ And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

Today, as I was reading through the Christmas story in Luke these two verses caught my attention.  We are still looking for the promise of Jesus sitting on the throne of his father David in fulfillment of the Davidic Covenant.  Jesus shall yet rule on the earth and of his kingdom there shall be no end. We look forward to the day that the angel declares, "The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever." (Rev. 11:15) 

God's Wonderful Provision

God is so incredibly good!!!  He provides for us in so many ways. 

Yesterday I was doing a little shopping. One of the things I needed was some yarn for Christmas gifts.  It just so happened that both kinds of yarn that I needed were on sale. As I walked away from that section of the store, I said, "God, you are so good!  Thank you!"

I also needed two other items.  When I got to the checkout counter, I realized I did not have my coupon for 50% off which I could have used for one of those items. I almost just checked out, but decided to go to the car to check to see if it was on the car seat.  So I left my basket at the checkout counter and went to the car.  Much to my disappointment the coupon was not in the car.  So I went back in the store and waited in line.  Shortly before it was my turn to checkout, the man in front of me turned around and offered me his 50% off coupon that he had been unable to use for his purchase.  So I got 50% off, saving $4, which was almost enough to pay for my gas to go to the store.  All I could say on the way out of the store is, "God you are so amazing!  Thank you for the many ways in which you provide for us." 

The timing of having that man at that spot at that moment, made me wonder if perhaps it was angel and a set up by God.  It was definitely a setup, but I doubt that it was an angel.  Our God sees our greatest and smallest needs.  I am so thankful we have a God that cares about each detail of our lives. 

Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: ⁷ Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Seeing and Believing

John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. (that other disciple was John)

We see here that John upon entering the empty tomb believed that Jesus was risen from the dead. By contrast later in the chapter we have Thomas expressing his need to not only see Jesus, but to touch the wounds in his hands and his side.

John 20:24-25 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. ²⁵ The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.

Even though Thomas needed to see to believe, Jesus did not condemn him.  Jesus came and made another appearance so that Thomas could have a chance to see, so that he could believe.

John 20:26-29 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. ²⁷ Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. ²⁸ And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. ²⁹ Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Although I would like to be more like John, I must admit that I am more often like Thomas.

God Alone

God alone is our defense and defender.  We can put our trust in things of this world, but we will find in the end that our true salvation is only in the Lord God Almighty.

Psalm 20:6-7  Now know I that the LORD saveth his anointed; he will hear him from his holy heaven with the saving strength of his right hand. ⁷ Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.

Hosea 1:7  But I will have mercy upon the house of Judah, and will save them by the LORD their God, and will not save them by bow, nor by sword, nor by battle, by horses, nor by horsemen.

At The Feet of Jesus

We often make reference to Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, as Martha was “cumbered about much serving.”  Jesus said, “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)    

Recently while reading through the gospel of John I noticed that being at Jesus’ feet was common for Mary.  In John 11, when Jesus had arrived in Bethany after Lazarus died, Mary “fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.” (vs. 32)  Martha had said the same thing to him earlier and then had a theological discussion with Him.  But when Mary fell at His feet making that statement, it moved His heart.

In John 12, when the dinner was held to honor Lazarus, again Mary is at Jesus' feet.  This time she is anointing them with costly oil and wiping them with her hair.  This Jesus said was an anointing for his burial and for this she would be known.   

There is something about taking the low place at Jesus' feet, the place of a humble servant, that is powerful and effectual.

Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰ But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴² But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

 John 11:32-34 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.

³³ When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, ³⁴ And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.

John 12:3, 7-8 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment…… ⁷ Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this. ⁸ For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

Lamentation for America

This week in my Bible class one of the things we were supposed to do is to write a lamentation for our nation on the order of the Ezekiel 19 or the book of the Lamentations of Jeremiah.  So I thought I would share my lamentation here.  In the book of Lamentations of Jeremiah the lamentations/dirges use a poetic form that followed the Hebrew alphabet.  Therefore I have used our alphabet for this, although it is not so poetic.

America, a nation brought forth by God

Blessed so abundantly by your Creator

Centuries of blessing have been yours.

Do you not know, nation so blessed, that God is the reason for your prosperity?

Evil is now said to be good

Folly is embraced in place of wisdom

Good is said to be evil

How can you not see that you have turned the wrong way?

Is the love and blessing of God not enough for you?

Jesus died on the cross, shed his blood for you.

Know that the love of God for you has not changed.

Long has the heart of God been toward you.   

May you once again turn your heart back to God.

Nominal love for God and your fellow man are found

On God you refuse to call

Pride does go before your fall

Questioning the Truth of God and that He is truly the Creator is common

Reaping of what you have sowed has begun

Seeds for curses have been sown

Trust in God is on your money, but not in your heart is not known

Ungodly men rule your land

Voices of the aborted, unborn make demands

What more must God do?

Xamine your hearts, I beg of you

You are found lacking as God waits for His Word to be heeded

Zeal for God’s house of prayer is in short supply and sorely needed.

Who am I? Where am I going?

I am a member of the church, the bride of Christ, waiting for my bridegroom.  I have been espoused to my bridegroom. With much excitement and anticipation, I am waiting and preparing for the day when He returns for me.  I am day by day seeking to walk in righteousness that I, as His bride, may be clothed in “fine linen clean and pure.” (Rev. 19:7-9) Paul spoke to the Corinthians saying that he had espoused them to one husband, the Lord Jesus Christ, and he wanted to one day present them to Christ as a chaste (clean, pure) bride. So am seeking to remain a pure clean virgin, one who is holy and does not go after any other gods. (2 Cor. 11:2) Paul also stated to the Ephesians that Christ was coming back for a church without spot or wrinkle, a church that had been sanctified and cleansed by the Word.  So I am seeking to allow Him remove my spots and wrinkles, as I daily allow His Word to do its work in me. (Eph. 5:26-27) I am ultimately headed to that place that my bridegroom went to prepare for me. (John 14:2-3)

Rev. 19:7-9 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. ⁸ And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. ⁹ And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God

2 Cor. 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

Ephesians 5:26-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; ²⁶ That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, ²⁷ That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

John 14:2-3 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Am I My Brother's Keeper?

In Gen. 4:9, Cain asked “Am I my brother’s keeper?” This was asked after killing his brother because of jealousy. For this sin against his brother he was cursed, his ability for fruitful farming removed, and he was sentenced to a life of being a fugitive and vagabond (Gen. 4:12). This act of not being his brother's keeper was very costly.

The word used here for “keeper” (Hebrew shamar ) means “to guard, to protect, to attend, or to regard.”  As a Christian I believe I am my brother’s keeper in exactly all those ways.  I am responsible before God for how I treat both my natural and spiritual brothers.  I can be his keeper by praying for him and ministering to him.  Sometimes that ministry may involve being God’s messenger. Being God’s messenger would mean “speaking the truth in love,”(Eph. 4:15) even when it is difficult or the brother may take offense. Being my brother’s keeper does not involve trying to control his life for him nor am responsible for his actions.  It does not mean trying to be the Holy Spirit in my brother’s life, but it does mean being obedient to the Holy Spirit.

I believe being my “brother’s keeper” is part of “love thy neighbor as thyself.” (Matt. 22:39, Luke 10:27)  The motivating factor needs to be a heart of love and compassion for my brother, under the leading of the Holy Spirit.  If I do not look out for our brother it can be costly to him and to me.