Let us…

“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and

Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
(Hebrews; chapter 10)

In our day and age of Me, My and I, we have a tendency to focus almost exclusively upon the happenings in our own lives – some even to the exclusion of what is happening to those around us. This is NOT what the Lord Jesus desires of His church (those who are believers in Christ).

As these verses in the book of Hebrews indicate we are to:
1) draw near to Him – since we have been blessed with access to the holy place by the blood of Jesus, the very presence of God in our lives for those who seek after Him
2) hold fast the hope that Christ has given to those who believe and follow Him - for our hope is not in vain for He has promised an everlasting hope along with over abundant grace for today
3) consider how to stimulate (arouse, inspire, motivate) one another to love and good deeds – for He is our strength and He is our power, may we abide in Him so that we may bear good fruit, encouraging one another in Him, even to the building of the body of Christ so that the Gospel may be proclaimed to all; His disciples doing His work

By the power of His Holy Spirit - stand strong and walk steadfastly as we draw near to Him and hold fast the hope that has been given to us so that we might truly be His grace and truth dispensers.

For our lives have been redeemed and purchased by His blood, for His sake, for His honor and for His work – let us fully live it for the world to see.

Something to ponder

I was recently pondering upon the account of the Hebrew exodus from Egypt - how the multitude of the Hebrew people wanted relief from their trials and tribulations that Pharaoh had placed upon them and how they longed to be freed from the bondage and oppression that had taken place in their lives.
How God then miraculously provided for their deliverance from their bondage. And yet, shortly after their deliverance from that bondage, they were murmuring and complaining and saying they would be better off going back to Egypt!
They had witnessed and experienced the great salvation that the Lord had promised and provided yet they became restless and rebellious about proceeding to the Promised Land. Yes, they must walk through the wilderness and the arid lands that separated Egypt from the Promised Land but God had promised to lead them and provide for all of their needs as they made their way.
Follow Him and they would be taken care of…He gave a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day…water to drink and manna to eat…what more could those Hebrew people have asked for? It seems that God’s provision wasn’t enough!
Although there were some who truly believed the Lord and trusted in Him and His promises, I dare say many were only along for the initial relief from the trials and tribulation and the bondage and oppression – they were not willing to trust in the Lord enough to work out their salvation.
And then when you consider the ten men that went to spy out the Promised Land. Just two of those ten men trusted enough in God to believe Him and completely follow His leading while the other eight could only see with man’s vision – a worldly vision that meant disbelief and subsequent defeat. The picture is clear of a people not willing to humble themselves or be thankful for God’s deliverance and provision. They were not willing to trust and to rest in His mercy and grace.
In the church (the body of Christ) today it seems that we probably have a comparable ratio of those who truly trust in God and His promises for His children and seek to walk in His paths and those who are along for the initial relief. When I think about how weak the church is in our time, how we are not willing stand firm on God’s truth, how we murmur and complain, how we are not satisfied with God’s deliverance and provision, how we believe that man has a better idea and vision – it makes me wonder when our proverbial 40 years of wandering began…

Wisdom

Wisdom is very much needed in our day. The question that we have to come to terms with is: where does our wisdom come from, what is its origination?
We have too long relied upon the wisdom of man to deal with the issues of life and thus we are reaping what we have sown – broken lives, broken people, emptiness and longing. The wisdom of man is founded in the carnal (the works of the flesh) and is based upon self-interest. The worldly wisdom of man does not produce liberty, it does not set captives free, and it does not promote hope and love.
The storms of life weigh heavily upon men’s souls…and they seek after answers from the wisdom of man. Yet man’s wisdom falls short in providing the real answers to life’s struggles. Struggles wrought in the flesh, striving with the spirit.
The wisdom of man seldom reaches to the fullness of truth…for his wisdom is blinded by his own heart; a heart that is lacking, that seeks to understand but cannot due to its emptiness, its wickedness.
Wisdom can only come when the heart is made whole and the void is filled with the grace and truth of its Creator.
For we are made in His image – we are spirit and life - and it is only in Him that our hearts can be imparted with His Spirit and His life – and that is the source of true wisdom.

The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom…

My good, my refuge

But as for me, the nearness of God is my good;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all Your works.
(Psalm 73:28)

My good: We are invited to come near to our God for He earnestly desires our presence – are we ready, are we willing, do we long to be in His presence? For He has made a way for us to enter into the Holy Place, His sanctuary where He is, by the blood of the Lamb – what could be better? The nearness of God is a place of joy, it is a place of grace, it is a place of gladness, and it is a precious place filled with His mercy and lovingkindness. His nearness is my good.

My refuge: Have we made the Lord God our refuge? Have we entered into His sanctuary? It is a place of hope, a place of protection, a place of shelter, and a place of trust…can we unwaveringly say; the Lord GOD is my refuge? For He is my hope, He is my protection, He is my shelter and in Him I will trust.

And because of His provision, we are to tell everyone of His marvelous works; to glorify Him, to tell the world around us that He is good, that His lovingkindness is forever to those who diligently seek after Him.

The nearness of God is my good and I have made Him my refuge therefore I will exalt His name to all creation.

Calling for a flood

Church, we need to be calling for a flood! We need to be longing for a flood of the Holy Spirit that will overcome our worldly-filled lives. A complete immersion of all that we are so that we might truly and completely trust and follow Him.

A call for a flood of holy living water that cleanses and renews us; that creates in us a longing for the power of God working in and through us for His glory – not for our own. And a revived desire for His word, a driving passion to equip and encourage His body (the church) and hearts that hunger to share the gospel message with a lost and dying world – an overwhelming flood of grace and truth.

Below are some of the words to John Waller’s song “Calling for a Flood” (I also have included a Youtube link so that you may listen to the song and ponder upon its words)

“Flood every corner of this room; flood all my emptiness with You, Lord, I long to be consumed and I’m calling for a flood.
So flood every chamber of my heart, flood what I lack with all You are, I am dry and I am parched and calling for a flood.
Now flood every portal of my mind, and flood everything I’ve tried to hide, I am looking to the sky and I’m calling for a flood. Submerge me, Lord, in holy water; drown me to live in You.
We are calling for a flood, Holy Spirit flow, completely immerse us in You, we’re longing for a flood of holiness to wash us now, hear us Lord we’re calling for a flood.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UECU27nX6bw&feature=related

I would encourage you to listen to the words of this song.

quote for the week

There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal Redeemer and Lord.
Let everything else go, but maintain that at all cost, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life. (This includes meeting the needs of your heart.)

Oswald Chambers

If we build our relationship (our faith, hope, trust, and love) with the One True Foundation, the Chief Cornerstone - Jesus Christ, then everything else will fall into its rightful place...