WE ARE TOO EARTHBOUND

As we approach the celebration of the greatest and most miraculous act of redemption the world has ever seen and I read Wilkerson's devotional writing (below) it brings these two questions to mind -

Where is the focus of our life to be centered?

My response - Whether we be materially rich or poor in this present life our focus should be to respond to and heed the Lord's call upon our lives while on this earth rejoicing that we shall spend eternity with Him - this is our inheritance...

And what is His call upon our lives?

My response - Always being attentive and open to His still small voice, growing ever closer to Him while following what He has called each one of us to do for the Kingdom of God by the power of His Spirit...

prb

David Wilkerson Today

MONDAY, MARCH 29, 2010

WE ARE TOO EARTHBOUND

Have you noticed there is very little talk nowadays about heaven or about leaving this old world behind? Instead, we are bombarded with messages on how to use our faith to acquire more things. "The next revival," said one well-known teacher, "will be a financial revival. God is going to pour out financial blessing on all believers."

Any message about death bothers us. We try to ignore even thinking about it and think that those who discuss it are morbid. Occasionally we will talk about what heaven must be like, but most of the time the subject of death is taboo.

What a stunted concept of God's eternal purposes! No wonder so many Christians are frightened by the thought of death. The truth is, we are far from understanding Christ's call to forsake the world and all its entanglements. He calls us to come and die—and to die without building memorials to ourselves. To die without worrying how we should be remembered. Jesus left no autobiography—no headquarters complex—no university or Bible college. He left nothing to perpetuate his memory but the bread and the wine.

How different the first Christians were. Paul spoke much about death. In fact, our resurrection from the dead is referred to in the New Testament as our blessed hope. But nowadays, death is considered an intruder that cuts us off from the good life we have become accustomed to. We have so cluttered our lives with material things, we are bogged down. We can no longer bear the thought of leaving our beautiful homes, our lovely things, our charming sweethearts. We seem to be thinking, "To die now would be too great a loss. I love the Lord—but I need time to enjoy my real estate. I married a wife. I've yet to prove my oxen. I need more time."

What is the greatest revelation of faith, and how is it to be exercised? You will find it in Hebrews: "These all died in faith...and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.... But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city" (Hebrews 11:13 and 16).

set your heart

'For Ezra had set his heart to
- study the law of the LORD and
- to practice it, and
- to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.'
(Ezra 7:10)

As the true church (the body of believers) here is a verse from the book of Ezra that should be on the top of our list.

Jesus called us to be His disciples - and to be a disciple you should:

1) know who your teacher is,
2) be ready, willing and able to learn from your teacher and study His truth,
3) hold firm to the truth of His teaching,
4) use what you learn from His teaching in practical ways in everyday life,
5) be willing to teach and share His truth with others - anyone, anytime but especially those who hunger for and are seeking truth.

So, might we set our hearts to earnestly study His truth, to practice His truth daily and be willing to teach His truth to all who hunger and seek after it…Being seasoned with grace, overflowing with His truth, a vessel filled with His Holy Spirit - a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ.

the enemy laughs

The devil is laughing with a zealous pleasure and joy as he sees what he and his minions have been able to foist upon the human race - with our complicit and foolish assistance!
And here is what he has been able to accomplish:
- WE have become 'like god' in our own minds and have acted upon our own foolish wisdom.
- Thinking and believing that WE can do all things in our own flesh,
- that WE are the authors of the knowledge of good and evil,
- that WE have the answers to life and peace and joy…
- WE glory in our own flesh.
The enemy of our soul does exist - he is real and he has entrapped us so well that he has 'veiled the eyes, mind and hearts' of even those within the church so that they ignore and ultimately deny that he is…how do you battle against an enemy that you don't believe exists!
And yet we can see the handy work of the enemy all around us - destroyed lives, selfish unquenchable ambition, vain glory, pompousness, reveling against the truth, altars built to honor man, wise in our own eyes…

Some verses to consider-

- Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5)
- …the serpent of old who is called the devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world (Rev 12)
- But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, haters of good, treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power (2 Tim 2)
- You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies. (John 8)
- For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Eph 6)

So what can we do? What does the Word of God have to say?

- Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. (Eph 6)
- Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4)
- Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith (1 Peter 5)
- The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Tim 2)

Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help...

Isaiah 31:1
'Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!'

What are we relying on? Where is our trust placed? In man and his wisdom and abilities? In our government and their ability to control and provide for the things of our daily lives?
Just as Isaiah warned the Israelites not to 'go down to Egypt' to rely and trust in its strength and resources so must we be warned not to 'go down' to our government and rely and trust in its strength and the resources that it usurps.
As believers in God and followers of the Lord Jesus Christ we must FIRST seek Him in all things. If we do not then we really are not trusting in Him but in man's ways. We have become a people that have misplaced our trust and placed it all in man's wisdom and ability. The chorus of 'our government will take care of it' has overshadowed and replaced the church's role. Yet it is interesting that any time there is a disaster who are the first ones to respond and assist those who were affected? And who are the most effective and efficient at providing that support (hint - it is not a government agency)?
We live in a time where it is not politically correct to seek the Lord. Even within the modern day organized church the Sunday/Wednesday night game is played exceptionally well. The salt has lost its saltiness and the light has been covered by a basket. We are called as believers in Christ to live ALL of our lives as a sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to Him -that means every day, all day. Salt and light to a lost generation…

Discipleship hints:
1) earnest prayer every day, all day (the Lord already knows what is on your heart and mind - why not acknowledge it and share it with Him? And in that process you will grow closer and your prayers will change from 'prayers of want' to prayers of heavenly significance - the things of God's heart)
2) submit to the Holy Spirit's working in your life each moment (surrender your will to His will, listening to what He would have you accomplish, being a grace and truth dispenser)
3) hunger for His word (seeking to know Him and draw closer through the working of His Spirit in you through His word, His word brings life to those who hunger for it)
4) thanksgiving and praise (are we truly thankful for Him as well as for all of His blessings in our lives, do we praise Him for who He is and not just for what we get, give thanks in ALL things - praise Him in ALL things)

And as you grow in your reliance and trust in Him you will begin to better discern the folly that this world holds to, the wisdom that is foolishness and you shall be a source of salt and light to this lost and dying generation.

the path that I shall walk

With persistence I shall seek after You

While waiting with patience for Your presence

And I will glory in Your lovingkindness

As You lead me in the path that I shall walk