Salt & Light Blog

Seeking the Face of God

7/19/2016

Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually! 1 Chronicles 16:11

I want to continue to seek the face of God today and look at aspects of His face. Yesterday we learned that the face of God represents His presence, grace, and favor. Believer, God is always with you, but there are times when He withdraws His presence from you or when you step out of His presence. That is not the same as being God not being with you or in you. Once indwelled, He remains indwelled. Although we can quench the Spirit, we cannot extinguish Him (1 Thessalonians 5:19). Although we can grieve the Spirit, we cannot lose Him (Ephesians 4:30). We may stifle Him, but we will never exhaust Him.
Psalm 67:1-3 reads,
May God be gracious to us and bless us
    and make his face to shine upon us, Selah
2 that your way may be known on earth,
    your saving power among all nations.
3 Let the peoples praise you, O God;
    let all the peoples praise you!
To seek God’s face is to pray in order to seek His goodness, His righteousness, His grace and favor so that He might be glorified in our salvation. When David sought the face of the Lord, the Lord revealed the reason behind a famine. 2 Samuel 21:1 reads,
Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year. And David sought the face of the Lord. And the Lord said, “There is bloodguilt on Saul and on his house, because he put the Gibeonites to death.”
The Lord told David what to do, the King did as God commanded and God responded to David’s pleas for the land regarding the famine (2 Samuel 21:14). So seeking God’s face requires meaningful sincere prayer in which we are willing to listen to God’s answer and not just whine. It should be a way of life for us to seek God, not just something we do when bad stuff happens, but continuously. 1 Chronicles 16:8-13 reads,
Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;
    make known his deeds among the peoples!
9 Sing to him, sing praises to him;
    tell of all his wondrous works!
10 Glory in his holy name;
    let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!
11 Seek the Lord and his strength;
    seek his presence continually!
12 Remember the wondrous works that he has done,
    his miracles and the judgments he uttered,
13 O offspring of Israel his servant,
    children of Jacob, his chosen ones!
Let’s look at some of the aspects of God’s face. God’s face is His glory. He told Moses that whoever looked at His face and saw His glory would die. He allowed Moses to see Him only when He his Moses in a rock, covered him with His hand and allowed him to look at Him after He passed (Exodus 33:20-23). Psalm 16:6-7 describes God’s face as light and goodness giving joy and provision.
There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
    Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
    than they have when their grain and wine abound.

There are numerous verses to describing God’s face as shining. He shines His face upon us when He looks at us. Psalm 67:1, Numbers 6:25-26, and Psalm 31:16 are three of those passages. When God looks at you, Believer, He shines on you; His glory lights you and His joy touches you. He smiles when He sees you. Child of God, He loves you and He has no wrath for you (1 Thessalonians 5:9). God’s presence is a joyful place, even when we are grieving and suffering, God’s face brings us joy in the midst of it. Psalm 16:11 says it this way,
You make known to me the path of life;
    in your presence there is fullness of joy;
    at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

What does it mean practically to seek God’s face? Well let’s consider the face. I know the first thing I think of on a face is the eyes. God’s sees you. God looks at the entire earth and He sees what is happening He knows and cares. Deuteronomy 11:12 describes the Promised Land this way,
a land that the Lord your God cares for. The eyes of the Lord your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.
God watches and knows the needs of His people. He meets our needs. 2 Chronicles 16:9 a says,
For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him.

Psalm 34:15 reads,
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
    and his ears toward their cry.

While God sees us, He hears us as well and praying, crying out to Him is the first thing we can do in seeking His face. 2 Samuel 22:7 says,
In my distress I called upon the Lord;
    to my God I called.
From his temple he heard my voice,
    and my cry came to his ears.
Believer, praying involves more than speaking; it is not meant to be a one sided conversation. God has a mouth and His Word is powerful. Isaiah 45:22-23 reads,
“Turn to me and be saved,
    all the ends of the earth!
    For I am God, and there is no other.
23 By myself I have sworn;
    from my mouth has gone out in righteousness
    a word that shall not return:
‘To me every knee shall bow,
    every tongue shall swear allegiance.”

If you pray, but don’t listen or you hear but do not heed, then why are you praying? What is the good of listening without the faith to follow what He speaks? God’s word is certain, His promises are guaranteed. We can have faith in what He speaks to us. Psalm 89-33-35 encourages us this way,
but I will not remove from him my steadfast love
    or be false to my faithfulness.
34 I will not violate my covenant
    or alter the word that went forth from my lips.
35 Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;
    I will not lie to David.

By His lips and mouth, by the Word God speaks, He imparts His Spirit and His judgement. God’s Word is His will manifested, it is Jesus Christ. Isaiah 11:3-5 reads,
And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
    or decide disputes by what his ears hear,
4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
    and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
    and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
5 Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist,
    and faithfulness the belt of his loins.

And finally James 4:3-10 reminds us why at times it seems like god does not hear us. It is not that He doesn’t hear, it is that we are not heeding His word and remaining faithful to Him.
You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
So Believer, are you seeking God’s face? Are you praying, listening, and heeding? Are you drawing ever closer to your Lord and keeping your life righteous?

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Genesis 1 Why Did God Create the World?

5/31/2016

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Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created. Revelation 4:11

Genesis 1
God has never changed. He has been the same God from the start. And in getting to know who God is, what better place is there to begin than the beginning? Let’s dive in to this first book of the Bible and see what we can learn about who God is. Chapter 1, verses 1-2 read,
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
There was nothing but God before He created the heavens and the earth. It doesn’t say why He created the heavens and the earth just that He did. God was and is perfect and complete. He didn’t need anything. He is All-sufficient. Acts 17:24-27 says it this way,
The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything. 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, 27 that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us
So why did He create the earth? He created it to give us life! Many people say God was lonely. He was not lonely. God wasn’t in need of companionship. He is one God in three personalities, complete, a community unto Himself. His Spirit was hovering over the face of the deep and Jesus was there too. John 1:1-5 tells us,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
The Son of God is not overtly mentioned in Genesis. It was part of God’s plan to keep the mystery of Salvation until the right time. But The Son of God is mentioned; He is the Word of God and the Light. God spoke and His will manifested. Jesus is the Word of God, God’s manifested will. Although the earth had been created it was empty, void, and without form. God had created the heavens and the earth but he was not finished. Verses 3-5 read,
And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
When God created the light (not Jesus but the difference of night and day), He called it good. He had made the first day. Yet He knew He wasn’t finished, the earth still had no form and it was still empty. Verses 6-8 read,
And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
On the second day He gave the earth some form by separating the heavens and the earth with the sky, and by putting the earth into the atmosphere. He was making a place for us, a place we would be able to thrive, live, and breathe. But it wasn’t time for us yet; He was preparing a place for us. Verses 9-10 read,
And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
As God spoke each part of creation into existence through His Word, He pronounced it good. Now the earth was taking form, there was land and oceans and it was good. But it wasn’t ready for us just yet. Verses 11-13 read,
And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.

Now there were plants and trees, flora and fauna. If it were me, I would be so eager to finish I would have made humanity right then and said, “Look what I made for you! Isn’t it good? There’s more to come.” But unlike me, God is patient. He wanted everything to be in place for us. Vegetation and food was good but it wasn’t everything He had planned for us, so He kept working. Verses 14-19 read,
And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so.16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

God not only created the stars, the sun, and the moon but He made them to be time keepers for us. I never could have thought of that. But He understood our every need, because He had already planned our creation. He made the world an interesting and beautiful place. Time would pass. Seasons and weather would change. And by the sun, moon, and stars men and women would know a day, a month, a season, and a year. We would know how to work the land, when to plant and when to sow. He did this for us before we were made, before the first sin which made working the land necessary. He made this earth for us perfectly, meeting all our needs before they existed. But it wasn’t finished yet. Verses 20-23 read,
And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.”21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
God made every kind of bird, every kind of fish, and every kind of sea creature. There was life in the skies, and life in the oceans. But it wasn’t time for us just yet. Verses 24-25 read,
And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
God made the animals, every kind there was, mammals, reptiles, insects, and spiders. He declared it good. Now the earth was ready for its purpose, it was ready for mankind. And though God has spoken everything else into existence and each thing was made after its own kind in its own uniqueness, Man was special. We were formed by God’s hands and given life and a soul by His own breath (Genesis 2:7). We were created in God’s image. Verses 26-31 read,
Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
Consider that for a moment, you were made in the image of God. He said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness” Everything else God created was proclaimed good, but mankind and the position He gave us was proclaimed very good. Why? Because we were made in His image. To go into the all that means would take an entire series of studies.
But as you come to know God more and you understand His love, beauty, grace, and power, understand that He made you in His image with the potential of all that He is and all the gifts and blessings of His nature. We are completed or perfected when we accept the call of the Father and receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and are imbued with His Holy Spirit who makes us into the image of Jesus Christ. Why did God create the world? He created it for us because He is love and love is only love when it is expressed. 1 John 4:7-16 in The Message reads,
7-10 My beloved friends, let us continue to love each other since love comes from God. Everyone who loves is born of God and experiences a relationship with God. The person who refuses to love doesn’t know the first thing about God, because God is love—so you can’t know him if you don’t love. This is how God showed his love for us: God sent his only Son into the world so we might live through him. This is the kind of love we are talking about—not that we once upon a time loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to clear away our sins and the damage they’ve done to our relationship with God.
11-12 My dear, dear friends, if God loved us like this, we certainly ought to love each other. No one has seen God, ever. But if we love one another, God dwells deeply within us, and his love becomes complete in us—perfect love!
13-16 This is how we know we’re living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He’s given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we’ve seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God’s Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we’ve embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.

This world was made for you. You were made in the image of God! And Believer, you are being made the apex of who you can be, the image of Christ. You are being perfected into who you were created to be. So love one another as God loves you. Love because you were created to love and by doing so glorify the Lord God, your maker and your Father.

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James 1:19-27 What is a Doer of the Word

4/20/2016

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. John 1:1-3 On Photo of Amber Sky by Lani Campbell

James 1:19-27
What does it mean to be a doer of the word? And if we are supposed to be doers of the word, what about being saved by grace? Let’s remember a little of what we learned yesterday. Yesterday we understood that God’s word is His will spoken and therefore manifested; it is His desire expressed and come to be. His will for us is sanctification (conforming to the image of Jesus Christ), He wants us to be in an intimate relationship with Him, and He wants good things for us (1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hosea 6:6, Jeremiah 29:11). Jesus saves us and changes us dramatically but He does that only with our acquiescence to His will. It is an active and deliberate choice on our part to submit to His word.
Verses 19- 21 read,
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
Surrender to God’s will for us begins with the choice to feed the Spirit and not the flesh. We choose to show God’s lordship by listening to and deferring to the teachers He has given us, including Him. We consider before we speak or react, and without pride. Anger although not a sin, if allowed to stew will result in sin. We can choose our thoughts. We do have control of our minds. Philippians 4:8-9 reads,
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
If something is angering us, is it because it is affronting our pride, because we are envious, or because we prefer the lie to the truth? It is a choice to submit to The Holy Spirit and let Him implant His word in us, teach us, and grow His word to fruition. It is a choice to think about what would lead us to anger or what would lead us to obedience to God (2 Corinthians 10:5). Verse 22 reads,
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
The term for word here is logos. It is a spoken intention and calculation including the reasoning, the knowledge behind what is said; it is communication. It is also the divine expression of Christ. Jesus Christ is referred to as the Word of God, because He is God’s will made flesh. John 1:1-5 describes Jesus as the Word.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
So we are not merely to hear the truth, the message from God, the Gospel. We are to do the word, to take it to heart and obey it. If we merely hear it and don’t make God’s will part of our identity by submission to it then we can’t really say Jesus is our Lord, we’re affecting Christianity not living it. Pretending to be a Christian, will never make us like Jesus. That transformation takes The Holy Spirit in us. Verses 23-25 read,
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.
In other words, if instead of doing the word by allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us and surrendering our will to God’s (choosing His will over ours) we pretend to be changed and changing, we will not transform. Pretenders don’t understand the law of liberty, enacting Jesus’ love. They can only try and follow rules that make them appear Christian. It would be like looking at ourselves in the mirror but not ever understanding who we really are. The hearer or pretender attempts to look Christian by following the law. The doer lives out the Word in his heart. He lives the truth, the love, and the liberty of the Gospel. He loves others. Pretending to be Spirit-filled cannot and will not result in sanctification. It results in the person’s own glory and no one, including the pretender is saved by the pretense.
James is saying that if one is actually saved, he did more than hear that Jesus is Christ, he believed it, took it to heart, and made Jesus his Lord. He lives out the word to love one another, not out of obligation but out of the abundance of his new and changed heart. Romans 10:8-10 says,
But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
We can fool ourselves into believing we are Christians; but we can’t fool God and we can’t fool others for long. If the Word is in our hearts, we will express Him, proclaim Him Lord, and live out His love. Verses 26-27 read,
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Believer, are you quick to hear but slow to speak? Do you bridle your words and let God’s word be planted into your heart to grow? Or have you fooled yourself into believing that you are saved because you pretend? Are you waiting for the miracle of transformation but it has not happened yet? God will not force His will on you, you have to give up your desires and live out His. The transformation shows. The fruition of God’s word shows because you will love people the way Jesus loves. Jesus’ beneficence will be enacted by you as you hear and do the word of God.

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2 Kings 8:7-15 Loving and Trusting God Requires Giving the Whole True Message

1/28/2016

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This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:3-4

2 Kings 8:7-15
Elisha had received a word from God for Ben-hadad, the King of Syria and so he obediently went to the home of Israel’s enemy to deliver it. Verses 7-9 read,
“Now Elisha came to Damascus. Ben-hadad the king of Syria was sick. And when it was told him, “The man of God has come here,” 8 the king said to Hazael, “Take a present with you and go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the Lord through him, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’” 9 So Hazael went to meet him, and took a present with him, all kinds of goods of Damascus, forty camels' loads. When he came and stood before him, he said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Syria has sent me to you, saying, ‘Shall I recover from this sickness?’”
Ben-hadad was sick and he wanted to know if he would recover or die. He was happy to have Elisha there to tell him. He was not a Jewish man, he had no idea how to inquire of God, or what the requirements were. He treated Elisha as more of a soothsayer and magician than a prophet. He paid him very well for Elisha to give him the answer he wanted to hear. But he did recognize Elisha’s authority under The Lord.
Elisha had something to tell Hazael and Ben-hadad, but it was not the answer to the question they asked. Verses 10-13 read,
“And Elisha said to him, “Go, say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.”11 And he fixed his gaze and stared at him, until he was embarrassed. And the man of God wept. 12 And Hazael said, “Why does my lord weep?” He answered, “Because I know the evil that you will do to the people of Israel. You will set on fire their fortresses, and you will kill their young men with the sword and dash in pieces their little ones and rip open their pregnant women.” 13 And Hazael said, “What is your servant, who is but a dog, that he should do this great thing?” Elisha answered, “The Lord has shown me that you are to be king over Syria.”
Elisha’s answer was that it was not the illness that would kill Ben-hadad but murder. He then went on to tell Hazael that he would be an evil king. Although the man tried to play innocent, he was not. God’s message did not deter him from his mission, it confirmed it for him. So why would God tell him? He told Hazael that his plan would succeed and that he would be evil because He wanted the aide to know that He is The LORD. He wanted to give him a choice to recognize God as The LORD and humble himself before Him or reject Him. Elisha offered God’s salvation in that moment. What did Hazael choose? Verses 14-15 read,
“Then he departed from Elisha and came to his master, who said to him, “What did Elisha say to you?” And he answered, “He told me that you would certainly recover.” 15 But the next day he took the bed cloth and dipped it in water and spread it over his face, till he died. And Hazael became king in his place.”
Hazael lied to his king by not telling him the entire prophecy or message from God. He made the king feel good instead of giving him God’s message. He had been entrusted with a word from God and he did not obey. Elisha said, “Go say to him, ‘You shall certainly recover,’ but the Lord has shown me that he shall certainly die.” Hazael left off the second part of the message for his own benefit. He then killed Ben-hadad in his bed.
Have you ever left off part of God’s message for someone? God tells you to tell someone about His love for them and how He longs for a relationship with them. He tells you to tell them about Jesus. But in your discomfort you stop at ‘God loves you’ or ‘Jesus loves you.’ After all you’re sure that they won’t give their lives to Jesus and they’ll think you are one of those ‘Bible thumping extremist Christians.’ Believer, when we do that we are being false prophets. God gave us a mission. He knows who will accept or reject, we do not. He still wants to give them a choice. He is God. He saves, we do not. We obey or flout His commands. Our obedience to the Lord is one way we love people as Jesus loves them. Our obedience to God is one way we glorify Jesus and so allow people to see Him. Our obedience to love is how people will know we are Jesus’ followers. John 13:34-35 reads,
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Is it love to think of our comfort or reputation instead of trusting God has a reason to give someone a message? Is it love to withhold the whole Truth from someone? Penn Jillette, outspoken atheist said, “how much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?
“I mean, if I believed, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that a truck was coming at you, and you didn’t believe that truck was bearing down on you, there is a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that.”[i]
I want people to see me as a Bible thumping extremist Christian. My goal is to be the image of Christ. I want to be loving, patient, kind, humble, content, peaceful, joyful, perseverant, faithful, good, and self-controlled (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, Galatians 5:22-23). When God has a message to give someone and He chooses us to give it, it is imperative to obey. The person’s response is not our responsibility, delivering the message is. Ezekiel 33:7-9 says it this way,
“So you, son of man, I have made a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from my mouth, you shall give them warning from me. 8 If I say to the wicked, O wicked one, you shall surely die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked person shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I will require at your hand. 9 But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, that person shall die in his iniquity, but you will have delivered your soul.”
Every man deserves a choice. Who are we to say he will or will not believe? Who are we to take the choice away from him? God desires a relationship with all people (1 Timothy 2:3-4). He rejoices when the lost turn to Him, even the most evil (Ezekiel 18:23). He honors us by letting us tell the world His message. Who are we to displace The LORD and decide the message should be anything other than whole and true? Romans 10:13-17 reads,
“For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
Elisha traveled to enemy territory to give God’s word to people who did not believe. He obeyed. He could have been killed for his obedience since Hazael probably had no desire for people to know his insidious scheme. But Elisha loved Ben-hadad, Hazael, and Syria enough to go and even to weep for their future. Do you love and trust God enough to obey Him? Do you love His creation enough to tell them the word of Christ?

[i] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6md638smQd8

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Revelation 2:12-17 The Letter to the Church in Pergamum

12/9/2015

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so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

The White Stone Monument in Pergamum with the words of Revelation 2:12-17 inscribed

Revelation 2:12-17 The Letter to the Church in Pergamum
When Jesus described Himself to the believers in Pergamum in verse 12, He revealed Himself this way,
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: ‘The words of him who has the sharp two-edged sword.”
Jesus has the sharp two-edged sword, He is the sharp two-edged sword, and He wields it better than any other, He wields it perfectly. What is the sword He has and uses? Scriptures refer to it several times. Hebrews 4:12-13 read,
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
It is the living word of God and it is powerful. It cuts deep, perfectly dividing soul and spirit and getting straight the core of the matter. Have you ever worked with bones, soup bones, left over chicken bones, ox tails or whatever? Have you seen the substance, the marrow on the inside of the bone? It is not easily removed. The marrow which makes the blood cells for the body and flavors the broth it is cooked in is within the bone, protected by it. When the bone is cut, the marrow may be exposed but it is still difficult to pull out. This is the picture I want you to envision in order to understand how exact and sharp the double edged sword is.
When used in conjunction with the Holy Spirit, the Word of God gets right to the matter. It does not miss. When we use it without the Holy Spirit, we may misquote, misinterpret, or miss the mark. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and The Spirit tells you, tell them this verse, tell them that phrase. And you think but what does that have to do with their situation? But you obey, and the person immediately has let her walls down, or she breaks down crying, or smiles with relief and joy. That is the living and active word of God dividing heart and soul, joint and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Go back and read Hebrews 4:12-13. Verse 13 describes the word, not as it but him. “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” The Word of God, the sharp and two-edged sword is not only the scriptures and spoken words of God, it is God, it is His manifested will, Jesus Christ. John 1:1-5 reads,
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
And 1 John 1:1-4 says,
“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.”
Jesus is the Word of God, which is God’s will revealed and made tangible. Jesus not only is the two edged sword but He exerts it so perfectly that it is a part of Him. Revelation 1:16 describes Jesus this way,
“In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”
The sword, God’s Word comes from Jesus’ mouth. Jesus words are the word of God. Jesus spoken words are the manifested will of God, because remember Jesus is God. (see John 1:1-5). Revelation 19:11-16 describe Jesus as He uses the sword to lead the vast Heavenly Army.
“Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.”
Jesus didn’t use the Word of God as a cookie cutter, taking cute, nice little sayings out of the scriptures and saying, “There there there, God won’t give you more than you can handle…” He used the scriptures truthfully with God’s purpose. He fought the enemy and wouldn’t give into temptation. (Matthew 4:4). He showed the world, who He was. (Luke 4:17-19). He taught and exhorted. (Matthew 5). He confronted and convicted. (Matthew 15:7-9). He comforted and encouraged. (Mark 12:35-37).
And you and I, Believer have the two edged word as well, and we can use it Psalm 149 describes what we can do with that sword. It reads,
“Praise the Lord!
Sing to the Lord a new song,
    his praise in the assembly of the godly!
2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker;
    let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!
3 Let them praise his name with dancing,
    making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!
4 For the Lord takes pleasure in his people;
    he adorns the humble with salvation.
5 Let the godly exult in glory;
    let them sing for joy on their beds.
6 Let the high praises of God be in their throats
    and two-edged swords in their hands,
7 to execute vengeance on the nations
    and punishments on the peoples,
8 to bind their kings with chains
    and their nobles with fetters of iron,
9 to execute on them the judgment written!
    This is honor for all his godly ones.
Praise the Lord!”
What did Jesus, the Word of God have to say to the church in Pergamum and for us? Let’s read. Verse 13 says,
“‘I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is. Yet you hold fast my name, and you did not deny my faith even in the days of Antipas my faithful witness, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells.”
Jesus called the city, the throne of Satan. It was a center of worship of many gods throughout its history, including Greek gods like Asclepium, and many Egyptian gods such as Serapeum, and Trajan. Yet, despite the many gods worshipped there, despite being the seat of Satanic power the church thrived there. They were faithful. They held fast to Jesus’ name even under persecution, torture and death. They took so seriously the words written to them in Revelation that they erected a monument inscribed with Jesus words to remember them.

But not everyone in the church was so diligent to the Word of God. Verses 14-15 read,
“But I have a few things against you: you have some there who hold the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, so that they might eat food sacrificed to idols and practice sexual immorality. 15 So also you have some who hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans.”
Balaam was a prophet of God who used the word for selfish purposes, He used the Word of God for King Balak to weaken Israel for his own profit. (Numbers 22, 23, & 24). Ask yourself, examine your heart, ask the Lord to reveal to you if you have ever done this. Have you like some in the Pergamum taken God’s Word and used it to lift yourself up, push your own agenda, or gain what you wanted? God can give anyone His Word, He gave it to a donkey. (Numbers 22:22-35). He chose to give to you and me. It is for His glory and His will that we are given this extraordinary gift.
Remember from our previous study the Nicolaitans allowed the teaching of multiple religions and occult beliefs into the church. They like many today believed in a “coexisting and intermingling of religions. This is something we have to be assiduous about. We have to keep our motives and the Truth we proclaim pure. We have to guard the Gospel of Christ. Jude 1:3-4 reads,
“Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”
Verse 16 reads,
“Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.”
Notice Jesus tells the whole church to repent. He tells the faithful church, who allowed some to use God’s Word for their own causes and to intermingle beliefs to repent. And the consequences He promises are for those who held Balaam’s and the Nicolaitian teachings. As the body of Christ, we understand the importance of each and every one of us. We contend for the faith as a whole, not just mine or even ours, but the Faith.
Verse 17 reads,
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.”
If we pay attention to this warning, if we conquer the enemy and hold fast to the Word of God and keep it pure in our hearts, minds, and lives Jesus will give us the hidden manna. His deeper word, the mytery of the Gospel, not obvious to the world. Manna was the bread of God given to Israel in the desert. God gives us bread today as well. John 6:28-34 describes it.
“Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” 29 Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.” 30 So they said to him, “Then what sign do you do, that we may see and believe you? What work do you perform? 31 Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” 32 Jesus then said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34 They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”
Later in John 6:47-51 Jesus said,
“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. 50 This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”
Jesus is the bread of Life, He is the hidden manna. He is Salvation. We honor Jesus, the Author of Salvation, the Giver of Life, and our Redeemer when we take the Lord’s Supper. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 says,
“For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.”
He will also give us a new name on a white stone, one only we will know. His Word just for us. Names signify identity. God gave many people new names as He gave them new identities. Abram and Sarai became Abraham and Sarah, Jacob was renamed Israel, Simon was called Peter, and Saul became Paul. But the new name we will receive in Heaven is more significant it declares our innocence and will represent our completion, our perfection, and our absolute unity with God, The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Believer, remember Jesus is the Word of God, the two-edged sword. The sword comes from His mouth, it does us no good if we do not speak it or use it and only keep it sheathed within our hearts. It does us no good and in fact harm if we use it wrongly with wrong intentions, twisted for our own desires, or sullied by words from Satan disguised as other religions.

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Psalm 119:17-24 To Know God is to know The Word.

9/10/2015

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When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. John 16:13-15

Psalm 119:17-24

Have you ever considered that it is only due to God, our Lord, our Creator, and our Sustainer that we live? It is due to Him that we are able to seek Him, and that we are able to have faith, or appreciate His Word. Verses 17-18 read,

“Deal bountifully with your servant,
    that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.”

We can ask the Lord to deal bountifully, abundantly and generously with us. And we know that He loves to be generous with us. We can trust Him to give to us. He loves to give us good gifts for our edification, the edification of the church and the building of the Kingdom of God. James 1:5-7 reads,

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways”

Luke 11:5-13 says,

“And he said to them, “Which of you who has a friend will go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves, 6 for a friend of mine has arrived on a journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed. I cannot get up and give you anything’? 8 I tell you, though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, yet because of his impudence he will rise and give him whatever he needs. 9 And I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. 11 What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will instead of a fish give him a serpent; 12 or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? 13 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

He gives us understanding, wisdom, and revelation. He opens our eyes to the Mystery of the Gospel. (Ephesians 3:1-6). And He does it so eagerly! We only have to ask and God reveals Himself and His Word. My personal experience tells me that He wants us to know Him and the more we know Him the more we want to know Him, the more we delight in His Word, His will, and His law. Verses 19-20 read,

“I am a sojourner on the earth;
    hide not your commandments from me!
20 My soul is consumed with longing
    for your rules at all times.”

We are not of this world. We are sojourners, this is our temporary home, our real home is in Heaven. And so we walk wanting to know more of God all the time. His commandments, His word, and His will are important to us when we follow Christ. We set our minds on what is above. The desires of the flesh, the things important to the world are not important to us anymore. We are citizens of Heaven, not American, British, Latino, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, or Pentecostal. (Colossians 3:1-11). We are weird! It is not natural to love the Bible, to long for the will of The Father, follow Jesus, and seek the council of The Holy Spirit. Verses 21-23 read,

“You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments.
22 Take away from me scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your testimonies.
23 Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.”

God takes our longing to know Him and rewards it by giving us what we ask for. And for those who reject Him and refuse and even insult His Word, He rewards them by remaining hidden from them. Even as followers of Christ we can occasionally not want to read the Bible, pray, or listen to Him. Our flesh can sometimes take over and suppress the Spirit. We’ve got to stay aware of our attitudes and stay on track. (Psalm 139:23-24). And we can only do that with God. While the world rails against us, our desire for God gives us peace. While the world makes their plans and struggles, we take it all to The Lord and He gives us perception and peace. Philippians 4:4-9 reminds us,

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Believer, I hope you know the real joy of reading and meditating on The Word. God has given you the awesome gift of finding Him. You cannot get to know God without reading the Bible. You cannot know God’s will without reading His Word. Verse 24 reads,

“Your testimonies are my delight;
    they are my counselors.”

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Seeking the Face of God

Genesis 1 Why Did God Create the World?

James 1:19-27 What is a Doer of the Word

2 Kings 8:7-15 Loving and Trusting God Requires Giving the Whole True Message

Revelation 2:12-17 The Letter to the Church in Pergamum

Psalm 119:17-24 To Know God is to know The Word.

Donna Campbell

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