FREEDOM IS GOD’S OBJECTIVE FOR YOU.

Picture yourself at a 5 Star restaurant, all dressed up and at a very formal affair. Before getting eating the good meal, you will be served enjoy an appetizer that will take the edge off your hunger, allowing you to slow down and really enjoy the main course. This main course will get deep into your inner man and will take some chewing to get there. Start out with this sweet buttery appetizer of eternal value. If you take your time with this meal the Holy Spirit will change your life and equip you for many things in life.

Sit down and pick up the fork furthest to your left and the knife furthers to the right.

God’s intent for man, ever since the fall in the Garden, has been FREEDOM. No I am not referring to political or socio-economic freedom, but the freedom that is unaffected by circumstance, freedom that one can enjoy anywhere, anytime, under any circumstance. It is the freedom from sin and the eternal adverse effects of it. The following terms can take on incredible meaning in the light of the acceptance of who Jesus is and what He has done for you personally.

•          Forgiven
•          Salvation,
•          Redemption,
•          God’s infinite love,
•          The joy of the Lord,
•          A clean conscience,
•          Not holding any grudges
•          Able to love and stay patient
•          No more skeletons in your closet
•          Being comfortable in your own skin
•          The peace that passes all understanding,

Now take a little water, a deep breath and pick the next fork and knife.

As Christians grow in the graces of this list they can become increasingly able to deal with confrontation in a way that Jesus would. OH, did I use a bad word?... Confrontation is an important part of life and we need to be able to deal with it correctly. If you live in a world with other people, imperfect people such as yourself, then conflicts will arise, differences of opinions, hurt feelings, offences, intense disagreements and perhaps horrific acts of violence. Imperfect people may, intentionally or not, hurt you or those you love. From the smallest incident, to the most horrendous, the list of attributes above is available to the Christian. It all boils down to two words that have immense implications, REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS.

There are Biblical concepts that deal with repentance, strong words that our flesh may cringe to hear. The message of repentance has been preached since the beginning of time but still needs to resonate in the hearts of people. If you recognize that this message is spoken to mankind, through God’s servants, motivated by the love demonstrated at Calvary’s Cross, then it will do you good. I share the following in the hope that you will be provoked to ask the Lord to search your heart and show you where to apply it to yourself today.

Sarah was angry and said to Abraham, “… Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the

son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac” (Gen 21:10). You see, this amazing couple knew the promise the Lord made to Abraham of being the father of many nations. Now Sarah is past the age of getting pregnant and in desperation she gives her husband her servant girl to go make the baby with. This was not something the Lord indicated they should do, no, it was a futile attempt to accomplish God’s plan using the finite strength of the flesh. Some years later Sarah saw the fruit of this in Hagar’s bad attitude toward her miracle baby Isaac, and got really ticked off. Perhaps she was angry with herself for coming up with this bone headed course of action, and she was jealous of Hagar who bore Ishmael, her husband’s 1st baby.

The story has dramatic implications to humanity today. Abraham’s adulterous relationship with Hagar was a work of the flesh, something that could never accomplish God’s intent. The descendants of Isaac (the Jews) are still the enemies of the descendants of Ishmael, Hagar’s baby. Sarah’s dumb idea opened the door for Abraham and Hagar to give place to their physical attraction and lust for each other.

Gal. 5:19   When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,

20   idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,

21   envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

As Sarah told her husband to “cast out the bondwoman and her son,” the Lord is telling His church to cast out the works of the flesh listed in the verses above. Tap into His grace to get the junk out of your life. Never again try to accomplish God’s intent in your own way either. The ramifications of yielding to those things may have very severe ramifications and stretch for generations. You can avoid a lot of junk by using God’s checklists in Gal. 5. The bad stuff in listed above, the good stuff follows:

Philippians 4:8   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Thankfully the Bible makes it simpler still. When John the Baptist, and later Jesus, frequently used the phrase, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand,” they didn’t follow it with a long list of what not to do. In John 16:7 and 8 we see that the Holy Spirit’s job is to bring the conviction of sin to an individual’s life. This Holy Spirit inspired conviction stirs a heart to Godly sorrow which brings repentance. The consequence of such real repentance is forgiveness. True FREEDOM comes to the believer in this process. It is all due to the work of forgiveness that Jesus did by allowing Himself to suffer the consequences of our sins. John 3:16 becomes a personal reality. On the other hand; the consequences of not casting the bondwoman and her son out of our lives is that the door opens to the enemy of your soul. The devil then demonstrates his evil intent in the destroyed lives we see in people around us, in the families so dysfunctional that friction between spouses ruins the lives of the children, in every other horrible manifestation of man’s inhumanity to man.

Digging a little deeper, the Word says,

1 John 2:15   Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

16   For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.

17   And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

The three things listed in verse 16 are a great guide to learning right from wrong. Every bit of bad stuff in all the realms of human behavior all falls into one of these three categories:

·         the lust of the flesh,

·         the lust of the eyes, and

·         the pride of life

How do we avoid those three broad categories of attitude and behavior?

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

If your enjoying this part of life, there’s less and less room in your heart for the two lusts in the list.

1 Pet.5:6   So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

2 Pet 3:   The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

When walking in these promises there’s no need for self exaltation, just trust God to get you where you need to be. This not only applies to career but any other thing selfish pride can mess up. Humility is your weapon against pride. We can be FREE from worrying and striving in our own futile, limited humanness to get there.

These two passages also bring us back to what I wrote earlier about confrontation. These are invaluable tools to dealing with the adversity caused by people, no matter what their intentions are. Before initiating or participating in the inevitable confrontation, “cast out the bondwoman and her son” from your life, let God root out the vestiges of the fleshly things in your life that distract you from walking in the Spirit. Only God can fulfill His promises to you personally so stop trying to make them happen. We can deal with the issues of life graciously because we can tap into the grace of God to do so. With the junk out of your way you are FREE TO LOVE and those on the other side of the table.

OK, it’s time for desert. You may use any silverware left at your place setting:

Think about the following verses in the context of repentance, forgiveness and seeing God accomplish His objectives in your life by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Psalm 24:3   Who may climb the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?

4   Only those whose hands and hearts are pure, who do not worship idols and never tell lies.

5   They will receive the Lord’s blessing and have a right relationship with God their savior.

Eph. 2:8   For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9   Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Gal. 5:1   Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Grace is More Than…

Just as we didn’t save ourselves from the wages of sin, we cannot save ourselves from the stuff of life on earth. It is God’s grace by which we hear His Word in our hearts and receive the faith needed for salvation and everything thereafter. There are about 160 verses containing the word “grace.” There are so many angles to study this amazing gift from the Lord.

God’s GRACE is far more than “unmerited favor,” it is His power working in every aspect of the believer’s life.

Ephesians 2:7   That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

8   For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

9   Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Real life starts in verse 8 above, at salvation. We didn’t get saved by anything we did other than receive enough of God’s Grace to have the faith we needed to come the Jesus in the first place. Too many believers forget that this reality never stops, it is the source of God’s power for everything else we’ll need this side of eternity. Just as we didn’t save ourselves from the wages of sin, we cannot save ourselves from the stuff of life on earth.

There has long been great debate as to what the apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh was.” I don’t think we will ever know it conclusively. One theory I that I think is the most logical is that that thorn was continual hardship and persecution for the sake of the Gospel he was spreading widely. Paul’s response to this thorn is a beautiful description of how God’s power works in the believer’s life; and not just when in the severe circumstances Paul so often found himself in.

2 Corinthians 12:8   For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

9   And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

10   Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Whatever our need may be, whatever our situation is, good bad or indifferent, there is grace to face it, deal with it and grow beyond through it. This next verse fills me with the appreciation that whatever situation may come in my life I can face it graciously and with confidence in my God,

Hebrews 4:15   For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

16   Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

If grace was simply unmerited favor, how could Paul have penned the two scriptures just quoted? There are so many amazing stories of brothers and sisters in Christ who endured hardships I thankfully cannot experientially comprehend. These stories are testimonies of people tapping into the grace of God and getting through horrendous things. It’s good to look at our own circumstances with the attitude that if they could get through that and still stand than our situation is a piece of cake. 

On the other side of that coin, I’m a Jewish guy from Brooklyn, NY. I grew up on stories of the Holocaust, and of the pogroms in Czarist Russia. The mass murder, rape and torture, medical experimentation, starvation, etc. make me sick, knowing that these people did not know our Messiah and had little comprehension of the true character of God – how horrible it was I cannot fathom even after hearing their personal stories. The rabbi who trained me for Bar Mitsvah showed me a picture like this and asked me to find him in it. 

Just think about how God’s grace is working in the lives of average people not going through such extreme circumstances. It was by God’s grace that we had the faith to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. It was God’s grace that we had the faith to accept the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is by God’s grace that we can experience the wonder of His Holy Presence in our midst. God’s grace takes us through the process of sanctification. It was by God’s grace that you knew that that wonderful person you are married to was God’s special gift to you. It was by God’s grace that you found the church body where you feel like you are part of that family, that special group of people who bless you and you can bless on a regular basis and you have a pastor with a heart after God. It is by God’s grace that we can pray for the sick with expectation of healing (Mark 16:18).

I hope this message has gotten you to realize that God has much more for His people than most understand are available. Learning to tap into the power of God’s grace is crucial so I plan on addressing that in the next blog. Although the picture below says much along that line.

DOES COMPASSION MOTIVATE YOU?

What drives you to action? What causes tears swell up in your eyes? What sends you to your knees in prayer? When real concern for others, when compassion born out of experience becomes the answer to these questions there is no limit to the effectiveness of prayer, nor to what we may find you doing.

Moses had an incredible experience with God, one where God revealed Himself to Moses in a supernatural way and audibly told him about His character. Moses asked to see God’s glory and God’s response is most evident in the following verses:

Exodus 33:19   The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh, before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose

Exodus 34:6   The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

God’s unending mercy and compassion for people is evident throughout the Bible. God is love and His love, His presence and His grace are available even when bad stuff happens. One important believers must do is tap into that mercy and grace to help in time of need. Along with that is to be a conduit of God’s love for people, to experience His compassion and do the right thing with it.

Where do we get that and how do we do it? Let’s look at Jesus and see. Jesus experienced being a real flesh and blood person who experienced the best and the worst of what people go through as human beings.

Hebrews 4:15   For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 5:2   Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

Look at how this played out during His brief time on the planet. I've listed many examples from Matthew and Luke that show the lover of our souls motivated to action by His compassion for people.

Mark 6:34   And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

Matthew 20:34   So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.

Matthew 14:14   And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 15:32  Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. (Then He miraculously fed 4,000 men plus the women and children with five small loaves of bread and a few fish.)

Matthew 20:34   So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him

Luke 7:12-14   A funeral procession was coming out as he approached the village gate. The young man who had died was a widow’s only son, and a large crowd from the village was with her.

13    When the Lord saw her, his heart overflowed with compassion. “Don’t cry!” he said.

14   Then he walked over to the coffin and touched it, and the bearers stopped. “Young man,” he said, “I tell you, get up.”

15   Then the dead boy sat up and began to talk! And Jesus gave him back to his mother.

Those of you who read these blogs often know that I have a passion to bring the message from God’s heart to yours. This implies that we need to take the His Word to heart and let Him change us. You see, the Christian is blessed to be able to allow this compassion, so much an integral part of every other aspect of God’s character, to become integral to our character as well, to our churches and exposed to our communities.

1 Peter 3:8   Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

Romans 15:1   We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

Hebrews 10:23   Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised ;)

24   And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

Hebrews 6:10   For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

It has often been said that the more you pray for someone the more you will love them. What happens in your head and heart when you consider someone? Ask yourself when you see something lacking in another believer if you are seeing what you do because it is lacking in you? The greatest provocation (motivational thing) is to lead by example as Jesus did in those verses form Matthew and Luke quoted above. Be a follower of Jesus and you will be a leader of others to Him.