Carrier of His Presence

I have often heard this phrase and never thought much about it until recently.  It’s one of those phrases that can be and often is used in ways that are confusing and just to fill space or to make our conversation sound super spiritual.  But what does it mean?    Does it mean that we, as Christians must do something special in order to be a carrier of His presence?  Does it mean that only certain people can and the rest are doomed to mediocrity?  One thought that immediately comes to mind is how some people can be carriers of a sickness or disease but yet somehow never shows any symptoms of the disease.  These people often do not know it and so never know the danger they may put other people into.

 

 One day while thinking about this phrase, I read again for at least the 100th time if not more, this verse: "Or don't you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NLT).  My first thought was this: when we think about a temple (and it doesn't matter what religion or denomination) what do we associate it with?  Isn't it a place where the God or god it represents has a dwelling place there, and therefore the presence of that God or god is there?  When I thought of that, it brought some clarity to my thoughts and questions regarding 'carrier of His presence.' 

  

 If we are truly following Jesus, then we are transformed to carry the presence of God with us where ever we go.  Will we know that we are carrying His presence with us wherever we go?  I would hope so, but we should at least be cognizant of the fact that He is near.  Just like any earthly stone and steel temple, the temple is considered to be owned by the God or god it represents.  Don't we say things like God's house and other similar statements?  

 

 What makes it His temple?  Is it just allowing ourselves to be inhabited by Him without changing our own thoughts and actions?  This does not seem to make sense, because when we think about a stone and steel temple, we consider it Holy and are careful how we act and what is said and done inside of it.  Certain rules are made or left unsaid that govern how we act in the place.  For example: No running, no bad language, being reverent and acting in certain ways we usually don't outside of the place.  Why do we have those rules?  Is it to make our time there miserable and just to try and impressive the God or god who resides there?  (Ok, maybe not the miserable part but we do try to make our actions impressive, but mostly to the other people that are there.) 

  

If we truly are the temple of the Holy Spirit, then we would want to do what the Holy Spirit would want us to do and act in ways that brings Him honor.  The verse above goes on to say that we are not our own and that we were bought with a high price, that of the death of the Son of God.  It also tells us that we must honor God with our body.  The only conclusions I can think of for that is we are to do, say, and think only what would be pleasing to the Holy Spirit.  If we don't, are we really the temple of the Holy Spirit and therefore carriers of His presence?  It seems that His presence would be diminished by going against the wishes and commands of the Holy Spirit. 

  

But how do we know what it is we are to do and act in order for His presence to be carried in us?  They are all found in His word, starting in Genesis 1 and ending in Revelation 22.  It’s all in there.  Will we know that we are carriers of His presence?  I would hope we will know, but when we are certain His presence resides in His temple (us), and we choose to leave Him out of the things we say and do, and we choose to go against His commands and what He has for us, His presence will diminish.  But when we spend time with Him and allow Him to clean up the temple and make the changes in us He wants, the presence will be more and more obvious, and not just to our self but to everyone we come in contact with.  Unlike those that carry a disease and may not know it, we will know that we are carriers of His presence.  But we may not know that He has left us.  Don't be like Sampson of the Old Testament and say "'I will do as before and shake myself free.' But he didn't realize the LORD had left him" (Judges 16:20). 

 

 Do what you have to in order to be the temple of the Holy Spirit you are called to be.  It may be awkward or painful at times, but as the verse said, you are not your own but you are bought with a price.  Protect your temple.  Let the Holy Spirit become in you a very strong presence so that the world will be changed through you.

The Importance of Bible Reading and Prayer

Not long ago I was helping my wife with a project that required using a pipe cutter.  As I was cutting the pipe my hand slipped off the handle and scraped against something on the tool.  When I looked at my wrist, I noticed a gash that was bleeding. I immediately applied pressure and cleaned it up.  When I looked closer, it looked like I had cut a major artery.  I held it closed while my wife grabbed the first aid kit and found some butterfly bandages and applied them to hold the cut together.  She then applied a dressing on top of it.  After the initial shock, I started feeling nauseous, broke out in a cold sweat, and was dizzy.  I thought I was going to faint.  While all this was happening, I suddenly remembered my military First Aid training on shock and recognized the symptoms immediately.  I didn't have to go look them up, I just remembered them and knew that's what I was experiencing. 

As I reflected back later, I thought of that verse in Luke 12:11-12: ""And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don't worry about what to say in your defense, for the Holy Spirit will teach you what needs to be said even as you are standing there."
I also thought about WHY and HOW the Holy Spirit teaches us at that moment.  Could it be that the more we study God's Word and do as Psalm 119:11 say ("I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you"), and the more we pray and learn to hear His voice that gives the Holy Spirit something to start with? The more we study, and are in His presence, the more we will have the confidence that what is in our spirit and mind will be there when we need it.  Just like I knew the symptoms of shock after hearing and studying First Aid over and over many times, the more we give the Holy Spirit to start with to continue teaching us what to say and what we should know. 

There will be times in our lives when we will not have the opportunity or time to find what the Scriptures says on a certain topic, but when it is stored in memory through study and repeated reading, we will know what God's Word says and we have a place to start and a place from which the Holy Spirit can work with.  This can give us confidence in what we are saying when it starts with what we have hidden away.  Will we have to remember it before a court of law?  Hopefully not, but you never know when you will need it and need to be able to recognize the voice of the Holy Spirit and you will know it is the right thing to say for the circumstance you are in.  If you have not made it a habit if reading God's Word and talking to and listening to Him, I urge you to do so.  The sooner you start, the more you will have tucked away in your heart when it is needed.  It doesn't need to be large chunks of scripture at a time or long times of prayer at first.  Start slow and allow the Holy Spirit to grow in you a hunger and thirst for more.  Don't wait till you wished you knew it, start now.

By the way, after closer inspection of my wrist, I realized I had missed the major artery by a millimeter or two.  It was all because of my years of going over and over the First Aid and symptoms of shock that allowed me to keep calm in order to be able to focus and do what needed to be done in order to stop the bleeding.  In the same way, even when it seems 'boring' or 'tedious', continue in His Word and in prayer.  There will come a time when you will be glad you did.

Lessons from an Ant Invasion

This spring started out like a normal spring, hot and dry.  When you live in the desert it's to be expected.  But soon we noticed a few ants here and there.  That grew to seeing them almost everywhere.  We tried a few home remedies and they just kept multiplying to the point of sitting on the sofa got you covered in ants along with multiple bites.  Nothing was slowing them down. 

We got desperate.  We had no clue what to do since we tried everything at our disposal and even tried things that seemed ridicules.  Finally a friend gave us some strong insecticide and told us how to use it.  Guess what?  It worked ... for a few days.  The reason it only worked for a few days, the ants found a crack and corner that I had not sprayed.  When I discovered those spots, they ants where pouring in unhindered.  I sprayed again.  I was intent on not giving up.  That cut them back to a trickle, but they were still coming in.  Finally, I found the main nest and dosed it with the insecticide.  I used the tools that had been given me and used them to fight them once again.  To this day, we have seen maybe a dozen ants total since then and those rode in on shows, or the dogs, or some other way.

After the ant fight was over, I was reminded of how this can relate to our daily lives.  The ants are the sins or situations that are making our lives miserable and keeping us from experience the joy God wants us to have.  We begin to allow them to distract us from everything we that matters.  We try everything we know of to get rid of the sin or the problems or situations and yet they are still there.  But by going to the Word of God and discovering the truth of the situation, we can more easily combat them, and sometimes going to a trusted friend, mentor, or fellow believer, can give us even more tools to combat the sin and the issues that have invaded our lives.  But, once we use those tools to get rid of the "ants" they find other ways to invade, but we have to use those same tools we learned from the first invasion to fight again, this time with more confidence faith that it will work.

Then we have to look for the root of the problem because until we kill the root and get it out of our life, we will always have to fight the same fight over and over.  Will the sin and situations continue to try and invade?  Just like the ants, yes they will, but the more you are successful the more confidence and praise to God you can create an atmosphere where those things cannot survive in the current atmosphere. 

When your 'ants' come, don't give up, look to God and other Godly influences in your life to fight them and maintain the atmosphere needed.  The more we keep our eyes on the solution (God our Father), the less we will be influenced by the 'ants' and the more confidence we will have in the One who brought the solution.

So, if you have 'ants' in your life, focus on The Solution (Jesus Christ) and not the problem (sin, bondages, and circumstances).  Focus on what you need to do to rise above, look for the source of the 'ants' and you will be amazed at how your attitude changes and how your atmosphere will be more conducive to living a life of freedom from sin and bondage.  Find a trusted person you can ask for help and that will give you the RIGHT advise and direction.  Don't wait until you are stressed out so much that all you see is the problem.  Look to "The Solution" and you will find freedom and life abundantly.

How Not To Worry About What You Will Say

Recently I was doing a project for my wife when I slipped and cut my wrist.   It hurt big time, but I didn't panic, I just did what I needed to do, with my wife's help, to clean it up and bandage it up.  Afterward, I started feeling weird - cold sweats, light headed, weak, rapid pulse, nauseous - and immediately I knew what it was.  I recognized the symptoms of shock.  How did I recognize it?  For 25 years I had to sit in on first aid classes with the military (a mandatory yearly requirement).  I was bored to tears after the first couple of times, but the information was in my head and was reinforced over and over, year after year.  When I needed the information it was there.  Not sure how my mind pulled it up, but it did.

The same thing can be said about remembering what is in the Bible.  It tells us in Mark 13:11 - "When they arrest you and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour; for it is not you who speak, but it is the Holy Spirit."  This verse talks about when we are arrested.  But if the Holy Spirit can remind us and teach us what to say in a stressful situation, why not in everyday situations?  What if you need to tell someone a scripture verse and you don't have a Bible handy?  Couldn't the Holy Spirit remind us of that verse when we need it?  Of course he could.  I recently ran across this in a book I am reading:  "The Holy Spirit promises to remind you of what is there.  If there is nothing there to be reminded of, whatever do you expect the Holy Spirit to do?"  (R.T. Kendall, Holy Fire).  

How are we to know what is in the Bible and have the Holy Spirit remind us when we need it, any time any place?  Read the Bible.  Not just once, but over and over and over and ....  Sometimes it may seem dull and dry and redundant but like the first aid classes I sat through and thought they were a waste of time, a time came that I needed it and it was there to pull from.  Does that mean we will remember EVERYTHING we read in the Bible?  Of course not.  But a careful systematic reading over the Bible over and over will give the Holy Spirit something to work with when we need it.  Sometimes you may not remember the reference, but that's OK, you know it is God's Word and it is just as powerful.  Could the Holy Spirit tell of what is in the Bible if you have never read it?  Of course, He is God after all, but if you store it in memory by reading and/or memorizing, then you will be more likely to use it and it will have a greater impact on your life and on your circumstances and can be a help for others when they need it.  But the key is taking the time to dust off your Bible and read it, not just once in a while, but consistently.  Find a Bible reading plan that fits your lifestyle and your comfort level and go through it over and over.  There are many that are partial or whole Bible plans, you can go as fast or as slow as you need to, but the key is to read it.  The more you read it, the more you get, and the more it changes you into His likeness and the more you will know what to say in those times you need something to say. 

Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  One thing I have learned about this living word is that even if I have read a passage many, many times, I still can learn something new from it and can allow it to speak to me and my circumstances.  It is not difficult to give 10-20 minutes a day to read the Word of God.  Look at it this way, it is His love letter to you and what better way to get to know Him better and to see what He may have to say to you than to read it, then read it again, and then read it some more. 

Three Kinds of People in Pursueing God's Will

I have been noticing that there are different places people in the Church are at when they pursue what God has for them, those who have found it, those who want to get there as fast as they can, and those that are content to wait on the perfect time.

One of the kinds of people is those that have found it.  A friend of mine has known for a long time that he was to plant a church in a major US city.  Recently, he made moves to begin that call.  He spent time talking to key people, investigating the area, and finally moving he and his family to the area to begin what he has known for a long time was his calling.  He took his time and spent a long time praying and planning, but now is doing what he was called to do by God.  He didn't try to rush it, didn't try to step on someone else's toes to make it happen, he just waited.  I remember him talking about this mission for a long time, and knowing what God had called him and his family too.  While it was not easy to wait, he did and now is in the middle of the greatest adventure of his life.  He has seen God provide in miraculous ways and in very unexpected ways.  While I know there is some apprehension, the excitement for being exactly where God wants for him and his family far out ways any fear and discomfort.  He is where God wants him and has called and prepared him to do.

Another kind of person is those that know what God wants, but try and rush it.  They want to be where God wants them now.  These people will often do whatever they have to; to get to the place they think God is calling them.  Abraham was one of these people.  He was told by God he would be the father of many nations.  But the trouble is he didn't have any children.  He and his wife were getting old so he decided to hurry things along.  With the help of his wife, he took his wife's servant and had a child through her.  He and Sarah thought they had arrived and had finally gotten to the promise.  But God told him Ishmael was not the son of the promise, and that the son of promise would come through his wife Sarah, not her servant.  So many years later, when Abraham was 99 and Sarah was 90 (obviously well past child bearing years) God came to visit them and told them in a year they would have a son.  And it happened just as God said it would.  But because of Abraham trying to rush Gods plan, he suffered setbacks, heartache, and many things he could have avoided by waiting.  Many people in the church are in this boat.  They want what God promised NOW and they do not want to wait.  They don't care who they have to step on or push aside or what shortcuts they have to take to get to that place they know God has called them.  They end up suffering all kinds of setbacks or heartache because they rushed the process.  Moses Tried to rush the process by killing an Egyptian slave maser, but found out it wasn't time yet.  God took him through 40 more years of waiting and preparation before he was allowed to fulfill the call God had for him because the time was not right when he first tried, but it was right when he was 80.  Moses had to learn more to be able to fulfill that call and the circumstances had to be just right to be able to make the call more effective.  Now I am sure that the 40 years of waiting and thinking he had missed it and was a complete failure was not fun, it all turned out for the Glory of God.

The last group is those that know where God has called them and know the gifts they have, but are content to wait for the right time.  This group is a small group in the Church today.  Most do not have the patience to wait on God.  Most want to be in the call NOW and not later.  Now Joseph, Isaac's son, was one that knew his calling.  He knew where he was going, but circumstances took him on a very difficult path through rejection, slavery, and prison.  Finally, after much patience (and I am sure there were times he didn't feel patient) Pharaoh called and Joseph was able to finally after much waiting and patience and waiting again, and learning, to be able to step in to the roll God had for him.

Sometimes we can be all three of these people at various times.  But we learn to wait.  Like my friend, he had to wait, and finally the time came.  Like Abraham, he had to wait and then he forced it to happen, and then had to wait patiently, and then finally it happened. 

My question to you is this.  What kind of person will you be?  Are you in the place God has for you or are you on the journey?  One thing I have learned lately is that it is the journey that is often the most important, because it's in the journey that we learn who we are and what we are and gain valuable skills and lessons and insight in order to be able to do what God has called us to do.  So no matter where in the journey you are, I want to encourage you to 2 things.  1) Whatever place your in or kind of person you are, start being patient and enjoy the journey.  For in the journey you will gain much you need to fulfill your journey.  2) Keep your eyes and your affections on the one that called you and let the journey happen as God lays it out for you. 
Wherever you are in the journey, I pay God will use you along the way to touch the people that only you can touch and say the things that only you can say and do the things that only you can do.

Taking the Name of the LORD in vain - Are you doing it?

I recently heard a sermon on this (actually just a point in a sermon by Steven Furtick of Elevation Church).  I just thought it was good enough to pass on so bear with me as I put it in my own words. We will start in Exodus 3.

Way back in Moses day, he was tending the sheep in the bleak desert.  Off in the distance he sees a fire so he chooses to go investigate.  I am sure that fires in a hot desert are not unusual, but no matter, fires always get our attention.  When He gets there, Moses notices a bush is on fire, but the bush is not burning up.  You have to admit, that IS unusual and very mind bending.  Our logic and experience tells us that if something is on fire, it gets consumed and reduced to ashes.  Not this time.  No smoke, no black, no ash, just fire.  Suddenly a voice speaks to Moses out of the fire. (I have often wondered if this fire was a normal looking fire or if it had something special about it.)  This voice (God) began to give him instructions to go back to Egypt and confront Pharaoh and demand the Israelites be set free.  Now you have to remember that Moses was 80 years old.  Who starts a new career at 80?  Especially someone that has had a past of bad doings (Moses was a murderer).  Finally Moses had to ask.  "When I get there, who should I say sent me?"  God told him that I AM has sent him.  If that was me, I would be thinking "I am what?"  I am sure Moses was not sure what to think at this point, but he argued with I AM and as we know from reading further in Exodus, he lost that argument.  In the end, Moses did as God asked and all of Israel walked out of Egypt a free people.

Now lets skip over to Exodus 20.  "Then God spoke all these words, saying, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.  ... “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." (Exodus 20 1, 2, 7  NASB).  God is speaking again to Moses and to all of us here.  First God reminds them that He is I AM and that he brought them out of slavery.  All of us have been in slavery f some kind or other, especially SIN.  I know this because I know me and I also know that God has said in Romans 3:20 He says  ^"For when you were slaves of sin, ..."  Not if you were a slave to slave or if you become a slave, he uses the phrase "when you were."  He also says in Romans 3:23: " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."

Ok, back to Exodus 20:7.  “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not leave him unpunished who takes His name in vain." Now if you have been around church long enough we have learned that this is using any form of the Name of God or Jesus as a swear word.  That may be true and I am sure it is unwise to do so, but stay with me for a little longer.  What is the name of God?  In Exodus 3, He introduces himself as I AM.  He also starts the Ten Commandments with " I AM the LORD your God ..."  So let me cut to the chase and say it this way:  When we say things like "I am Stupid", "I am a Failure", " I am bad", "I am worthless"  This is also using the name of God in vain.  Because God has said that everything He is, is who we are because we are in Him.  We took His name.  Just like when a woman gets married, she takes the name of her groom.  When she says "I DO", suddenly all that is his, is now hers, including his name and his identity.  We are the bride of Christ so therefore we have a new identity and a new name.  Our identity is now in the I AM.  So when we say those words I AM and follow them by self-defeating words and self-put downs, we are taking His name in vain.  We are putting ourselves back in slavery to something that is not part of the Jesus identity.  We have taken on His identity so that we won't be in bondage again, in slavery again.  But we seem to take His name in vain even when we don't know we are.  All those negative put downs, like I am a failure, is taking His name in vain because that is NOT who God is, and therefore if we are a new creature, neither are we.  By taking His name in vain we are choosing to go back into slavery after He brought us out. 

If we are truly and purposefully not taking the Name of God in vain, we can say with confidence and boldness:  I am God's Child, I am A friend of God, I am united with Jesus, I am a member of Christ's body, I am complete in Christ, I am free from condemnation, I am free from any charges against me, I am established, I am anointed and I am sealed by God, I am hidden in Christ, I am confident that what God started He will complete, I am a citizen of Heaven, I am the salt of the earth, I am the Light of the earth, I am a branch in the Vine, I am God's Temple, I am God's co-worker, I am seated with Christ, I am God's workmanship.

When we use the words I Am and what follows it tells us and others what we believe about ourselves.  Most of the time, when we take the name of the Lord in vain, we do it quietly and in our thoughts, which in turn play out in our actions and what we say and how we treat others.  The words "I AM" truly are some of the most powerful words we can utter, because what comes after them define who we are and can either set or alter our destiny.  If we truly believe we have taken on the image of Christ, then what follows I AM will put us squarely in the destiny and purpose God has for our life IF we choose to take on HIS identity and not our own.  So do not take the Name in vain.  Learn who you are in Christ and live it.  If you are not sure how to live it, don't be afraid to ask the Name how you can and how to be more in Him and take on His identity.

Just remember: "It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery." (Galatians 5:1, NASB)

Just put it down

I have seen this over and over and I must say something about it.  A family goes out for dinner.  Good right?  But wait, there's more.  Everyone has their cell phone out texting, or on Facebook, or checking e-mail or playing a game.  I recently saw a couple with a small child sitting across from each other, cell phones up, going through every app they have and ignoring each other and their child.  At another place I saw a family with guests with them, and everyone except the little kids, where on their cell phone without even looking at each other or talking, except when one of the kids annoyed the bigger kids or adults.  I have also seen college age people sitting at our dinner table more concerned about their phone then the company. 

What is so important that can't wait on our cell phone?  When did we lose the sense of community with each other?  How can we get to know someone when our eyes are fixed on our smart phone?  When we all had flip phones that only received calls, no one had that problem.  When the most asked question of your friends is  "Did you see (a certain post or video or news story)?", there is a problem.  How can we reach beyond ourselves when we are just wrapped up in our own world?

I am not asking these questions because I have never done this, I have.  I have learned to put down my phone and leave it alone when with my family and friends.  In fact, most of the time I have my phone on DO NOT DISTURB so that I am not tempted to look every 30 seconds at what is on it or if someone sent a message or the latest Facebook post.  In my opinion, if your friend can not wait (unless it is an emergency) then there is a problem with your relationship. 

Why not focus on each other's day or what is hurting them?  Why not look at them in the eye and talk heart to heart?  Why not try to get to know someone and not try and multitask on your phone and try and have dinner with those you say are important?  What you are really saying when you have your eyes and attention glued to the smart phone is that phone is more important that the people you are with.

My suggestion is this: Romans 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Out do one another in showing honor.  When we pay more attention to our smart phone than the people we are with, who or what are we showing honor to?  The obvious answer is the smart phone (which has no personality, can't help us out of difficulties unless we are lost, cannot talk to us and get to know us, and will most definitely not last for a lifetime or eternity).  Learn how to honor those we care about by listening to them and giving them our attention.  It does not show that you honor someone by listening to them AND trying to catch up on what is happening on Facebook or Twitter. 

So I offer this challenge: take a month or a week and do not check Facebook from any device, designate certain times of the day to check text messages and emails, and the rest of the time devote to those you love and care about or call your friends.  I can guarantee it will not be easy because I have done it.  But hopefully you will find it as rewarding as I did and soon you too may be more concerned with relationships than an electronic device.

Achan's Achin' Heart (Sin in the Camp)

In Joshua 6 and 7, we see the story of Israel's (under the leadership of Joshua) defeat of Jericho.  Before Israel marched around Jericho, Joshua gave Israel very specific instructions to follow.  They were to march and not talk at all.  He also gave them these instructions:  The city and everything in it must be completely destroyed as an offering to the LORD. Only Rahab the prostitute and the others in her house will be spared, for she protected our spies.  Do not take any of the things set apart for destruction, or you yourselves will be completely destroyed, and you will bring trouble on all Israel.
Everything made from silver, gold, bronze, or iron is sacred to the LORD and must be brought into his treasury." (Joshua 6:17-19, NLT).  Sounds like pretty clear instructions.  Verse 8 tells us that Joshua spoke to all the people.  They all knew God's instructions and commands as well as the consequences of not doing as God had said.  Joshua and Israel defeated Jericho because they did just as God instructed. 

But one man, Achan, thought he was beyond God's vision and when no one else was looking, in the middle of the chaos of the battle, took a Babylonian robe he fell in love with along with silver coins and a bar of gold.  He then went to his tent, likely in full view and knowledge of his wife and children, buried them to keep them hidden so that later he could use them.  I can hear imagine what he may have been thinking.  "We are going to go to war with other cities and someday I can bring out the loot I got and say I got it as spoils from a different battle.  No one will ever have to know.  Besides, God was so busy watching the battle and everything else he watches, I am sure he missed me, or if He didn't, He will forgive me and overlook this small amount of loot I took.  I know my family won't tell anyone.  It will benefit all of us, and my wife will look stunning in that Babylonian robe." 

A problem soon arose as Israel attempted to attack another city, Ai, and was defeated.  All Israel was shocked!  How could this happen!?  Wasn't God on their side?  Or did He bring us hear to make fools of us so that we will be destroyed?  Joshua fell on his face before God and asked Him what happened?  I am sure Joshua thought it was something he had done wrong.  But God spoke a very clear message: "But the LORD said to Joshua, 'Get up! Why are you lying on your face like this?  Israel has sinned and broken my covenant! They have stolen the things that I commanded to be set apart for me. And they have not only stolen them; they have also lied about it and hidden the things among their belongings.  That is why the Israelites are running from their enemies in defeat. For now Israel has been set apart for destruction. I will not remain with you any longer unless you destroy the things among you that were set apart for destruction.'" (Joshua 7:10-12., NLT).  So Joshua told the people what God had said. 

The next day Joshua and all of Israel went before God tribe by tribe, until Achan's tribe was chosen, then that tribe came clan by clan, until Achan's clan was chosen, then that clan came family by family and Achan was exposed.  As a result, Achan finally told what he had done.  As a result, he and his entire family as well as their belongings and herds were destroyed.  Afterward, Israel was able to defeat Ai with no problems.

The problem here is God's commands were very clear, and yet Achan chose to sin.  Then after the defeat at Ai, and God pointed out a sin, and then Joshua telling all the people what was going to happen next.  Achan had 2 days to confess his sin.  Joshua gave the people instructions and Achan still hid his sin.  Then God chose His tribe, and Achan remained silent.  God chose his clan, and Achan remained silent.  God chose his family and he remained silent.  It wasn't until after Joshua asked Achan what he had done did he confess.  It may have been that he was embarrassed for his disobedience, it may have been he was hoping, someone else would be blamed, or any number of excuses.  He knew the command and chose, along with his family, to disobey and deliberately hide his sin.  His sin affected the entire nation through the defeat at Ai, but it also destroyed him and his entire family.

But are we any different?  Don't we often do the same thing?  We make excuses for our choices to sin and hope that it will not be found out.  We hope those who know will remain silent.  We hope God really didn't see what we did.  But God always sees. 

Like Achan, we know what God's commands are, what his instructions are.  They are spelled out in His Word; sin is anything that goes against His instructions and commands.  We are without excuse if we say we are of the body of Christ because we have the Holy Spirit helping us and showing us what is right and what is wrong.  But we ignore His voice.  We hope we can get away with it.  We become embarrassed for our actions or choices.  We claim we make bad choices or a bad mistake, but in reality we KNOW what we did.  We know we deliberately choose to disobey God.  But, like Achan, we are given chances to confess and come to God for forgiveness.  We too often allow our embarrassment to stop us from turning to God for forgiveness.  Sometimes we are only sorry that we got caught, not for what we did.

Also like Achan, our sin affects the entire Church, not just our lives or our families.  What could God be doing through the Church, through our family, through us, if we only would choose to stay away from sin?  But the truth is we all sin, but God always offers a way out, a way of forgiveness.  In
1 John, the Apostle John writes:

"My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if you do sin, there is someone to plead for you before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who pleases God completely.  He is the sacrifice for our sins. He takes away not only our sins but the sins of all the world.  And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments.  If someone says, "I belong to God," but doesn't obey God's commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth.  But those who obey God's word really do love him. That is the way to know whether or not we live in him.  Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did."  (verses 1-6, NLT)

So I must ask, is there a secret sin your hiding? If you do, God is offering you a chance to go to him and ask forgiveness.  Do no delay, do not compound your sin by staying silent and adding others to your list and by hurting not only your own walk and testimony and what God could do in and through you, but you are affecting the entire camp, the entire Church. 


John writes later in 1 John 1:9 the following: "But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong."  Turn to God, confess your sin and make yourself right in His sight again.  God promises if you do, He will forgive, He will cleanse you.  You may or may not have severe consequences of Achan, but you can know that you heart is once again right before God. 

Don't delay.  Move past your embarrassment.  Learn from your disobedience and go to God.  God longs for you to come clean before it's too late.  Achan waited too long.   You don't have to wait.  God is waiting to forgive and restore you.

How Serious Does God Take His Covenants Promises?

Genesis 15 has the account of a covenant between God and Abraham.  The chapter starts with God speaking to Abraham to not be afraid and that God would be with him. God continues and tells Abraham that he will have a son through Sarah and that his descendants will be as numerous as the star in the sky.  What was Abraham's response?  He believed and God commended him and was counted as righteous because he believed.  After which God told him that the land which he was living would be his and his descendants forever.

The story continues with Abraham asking God how he can be sure that will be true.  What follows is a strange story upon a cursory reading.  Abraham was to cut up some animals and lay them out and wait.  Abraham waited all day long in the hot son and chased away carrion birds.  After sunset, Abraham fell asleep and God spoke again, prophesying what we now know as the time of Egyptian slavery.  Then Abraham saw in a vision a smoking pot and a torch passing through the animals.  Seems sort of gruesome and strange.  But if we can understand what is really happening here, it makes sense and shows what is really at stake here.

After some research, I found that in the ancient Middle Eastern culture, when two people(s) entered into a covenant/promise/treaty, they would perform what was known as the 'cutting of a covenant' or Blood Path.  Those taking part in the ceremony, those that are making the covenant or treaty, would take some animals and cut them apart and arrange them is such away the blood flowed to form a path in between the pieces.  Then to make the covenant a legal and binding, both parties making the agreement would walk through the cut apart animals down the path of blood, signifying that they agree to the terms.  They also agreed that if they did not fulfill their part of the agreement, then the animals represented what would happen.  They were in reality saying "May it be done to me, like what happened to these animals, if I do not fulfill the terms of this covenant."  That my friend is serious business.  To agree to be ripped apart if they broke the Promise Covenant/Treaty, was a sign of the seriousness of the ceremony.

But if you notice, In Genesis 15, Abraham did not pass through the blood path.  In this case it was God who was signifying it was on His part to keep the promise, and Abraham had no part in the terms being fulfilled.  Not only that, God passed through as a smoking fire pot  and a blazing torch (the meaning of these are not agreed upon in my research).  So in a sense God passed through the blood path two times, meaning He is doubly serious about the Covenant.  He was saying, like the people of Abraham's day that performed this ceremony, that may He be ripped apart if He does not fulfill His part.  He was also demonstrating that when He makes a promise, or covenant, then we can be sure He will do it.  In this case Abraham had nothing to fulfill, only God had His part to fulfill.  (There is also reference to this ceremony in Jeremiah 34:18: "Because you have broken the terms of our covenant, I will cut you apart just as you cut apart the calf when you walked between its halves to solemnize your vows.")

What else can we learn from this passage?  God knows what makes sense to us when He tells us or shows us things and puts them in terms that we recognize.  If Abraham was alive today, the treaty would have the same terms, but may be played out in a way that makes sense in the culture he lives in.  For example, in the USA, they may have the promise/treaty notarized, or go before a lawyer or judge to have the promise legal and binding.  That is a something we can understand in our culture.  It's not that God is in the business of being gruesome, but He is in the business of speaking to us in a way that we can understand. 

One thing we can count on, if God promises us something, He will follow through.  It may not be like we picture it or expect, but the end result will be exactly as God said it would be.  It may not happen in the time we want it to, but you can be sure that God will do it in His timing, not necessarily ours. God takes His promises seriously; He will do what He says He will do.   Our word and promises may fail, but God's never will.

Was Job the only one?

If you have read the Old Testament in the Holy Bible, you will have read the story of Job and the rough time he encountered in his life.  As a synopsis, Job is believed to be the oldest book of the Bible.  It recounts the story of a time when God was on His throne and appearing before Him was Satan.  God asked him where he had been and Satan stated he was roaming the earth.  God asked him if he had come across Job.  Satan then started accusing God of protecting him, so God gave permission to first take all he owned, and then to take his health.

But many have wondered if Job was the only one that this sort of thing ever happened to, that being God giving permission to Satan to do certain things to that person.  If you look in the New Testament, in Luke 22: 31-32 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”  So, just like Job, Satan asked (in fact the Greek here could also be rendered demanded instead of asked) to mess with a person.  From the context, he asked to mess with all of the disciples, not just Peter.   Interesting isn't it?

So again, the question can be asked, were Job and the disciples (Peter in particular) the only people Satan has asked to sift like wheat, o mess with, or make life miserable for them?  Since there are more than 1 example, I would say that no, they were NOT the only ones that God gave permission to Satan to do what he wanted (but I do believe as in Jobs case, there are limits placed on what Satan can and cannot do).  For both Job and Peter, it all turned to for the greater good of not just these two men, but for those around them they came in contact with. 

So a few questions must be asked here. 

1) Does this mean that EVERY bad thing is at the request of Satan?  I don't think so.  Sometimes its a direct result of our or others poor choices.  Sometimes, it is just the results of sin operating on our world. And sometimes it's because of the natural course of things.

2) Does Satan only ask to do this to individuals?   I would say no since in the Luke example, the Greek for you in 'sift you like wheat' is plural, meaning the disciples.  So from inference, why not an entire neighborhood, or church, or city or even a nation? 

3) For what purpose does God allow this?  In the stories of Job and Peter, it is clear that the reason is to not only strengthen the person, but others as well.  Jesus tells Peter that when he (Peter) comes back again, that he strengthen his brothers, meaning those around him.  In Jobs case, his friends learned more about how God works and where also strengthened in their faith.  And, everyone that Job and Peter came in contact with benefited from this rough times, and we are still benefiting today.

4) What is a test for?  I would call what Job and Peter experienced a test.  Just like when we have a test in school, the results of the test are usually not a surprise to the teacher.  When I was a teacher and gave a test, I  could pretty much predict the outcome of the test, meaning I could make an educated guess on what each student would receive for a grade due to past history and how well each student does or does not take a test.  The test, therefore, was more for the student to discover what they still need to work on and what they do well on.  It is the same way with a spiritual test.  God already knows each of us better than we know ourselves and He knows what the outcome will be.  He is never surprised (unlike earthly teachers who CAN be surprised at the results, I know I was now and then).  Often times we are surprised when we come through a trial or test at how well we did and even how badly we did.  If we are careful and observant, we can learn just as much or more from a test than from everyday life lessons.  Another lesson we can learn from tests is how much we do or don't rely on God to help us through.

We may never know if the difficulties we face are a result of Satan asking to sift us, like he did with Job and Peter, of if it is just life.  But the good news is, we can learn from them and bring greater honor and glory to God as a result of our tough times.  We have the choice to do that, or we can refuse the lesson and grow bitter and angry with God and/or others.  But if we allow God to do as He sees best for us, we can learn great lessons that can impact many others and help others from falling into some of the same pitfalls we have.

As I close, I would like to say a prayer for those that are going through rough times and wondering the purpose and if they have done something to cause their situation. 

Father, I ask that all those who are in a tough situation, whether it be a short term or long term situation, that You would help to see You in the midst of their difficulty.  I ask that You would also help them to learn what it is that they can take with them to bring greater glory and honor to Your Name and can offer comfort later on to others that may be going through their own tough times.  I know that we will all go through tough times, no matter how strong or weak we are and no matter where we live.  I ask that You would help all of us to view tough times as a way of growing personally, emotionally, spiritually, and every other way that we need to because of the situations we encounter.  I thank You that You will never leave us alone in the middle of our tough times, and that You will always use it to further Your Kingdom and Your purposes.  In Jesus name, AMEN!

Revelations and the End of the World

Recently I was asked about my view of prophecy and how the original author viewed it and whether or not some prophecies like Matthew 24 and The Revelation had already been fulfilled or if it was still to come.  Below is my response to the question.

My view on prophecy is this.  The best way to explain it is to give you a picture.  When you look at a mountain range that keeps getting taller and taller, you see each peak, but you can't tell how far each peak is from each other or if they are separate peaks at times.  But if you could look at them from the side or from the top you could see the peaks and the distance between them.  Biblical prophecy is much the same way.  One prophecy may have many different fulfilling's and when and how they are fulfilled the multiple times, we cannot say or tell.  For example, Isaiah 7:14 says "Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son and his name will be called Immanuel."  Now traditionally we see this prophecy as the birth of Jesus.  But if you read the context of Isaiah 7, you will see King Ahaz is facing battle and wants to hear from God.  Right after that verse (not a different topic but continuing) Isaiah says that the before the boy gets to a certain age, the land will be laid waste.  A virgin not only meant a girl that had not 'known' a man, but it had another meaning, a young woman.  So this prophecy had not one but two fulfilling's.  At the time it was given, I am sure Isaiah had no idea he was talking about his present time and a time yet to come, but God gave him the words and God knew what He meant.  Also, Ecc. 1:9 says "What has been will be again,  what has been done will be done again"  There is evidence all through the Bible that this has happened.  You can look at any history book and see it as well.  The term "History repeats itself" has biblical roots and like the mountains has repeating peaks.  The best way to see that prophecy has been fulfilled is to look back. (Hind sight is 20/20)

So, your friend may be totally correct that Revelations and Mathew 24-25 have been fulfilled, but most reputable Biblical scholars believe that and also believe that it also looked forward to a much further time.  Will what scholars think be what those times in the future really look like? (i.e. The Left Behind Series, along with other works as well as commentaries) Maybe, but probably not. If prophecy being fulfilled was easy to spot, then people in Jesus day would have recognized Him instead of looking for someone else.  They expected the prophecy to be fulfilled in a much different way than it was.  So shall it be at the end of the age.

But at the same time, if your friend does not want to see or believe that Revelations is looking at time to come, (I do believe that it has more than one meaning as well), then there is nothing you can do to convince him otherwise.  My idea of prophecy, especially Revelations and the future, is that I may discuss it but I will NEVER argue with someone about it.  My philosophy is that the main things of scripture are the plain things, and the plain things are the main things.  Those are non negotiables (such as salvation, creation, Jesus coming as a baby, etc.) Everything else is up for discussion.  How you believe about the other things, may not be how I believe and until God shows each of us where we are wrong or right, or until it happens, then we will be able to know for sure.

I know I didn't talk about the specifics about what your friend said but this is how I view Revelations and Matthew 24-25.  But there are things in Revelations that I will argue about, such as Revelations 4 ( clear picture of the throne room of God and His Majesty), and Revelations 22:18-20: "I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his part from the tree of life and from the holy city, which are written in this book. He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.…"

As to WHEN Revelations was written, I tend to agree with most scholars that it was written in the AD 90's.  Many reputable Scholars argue amongst themselves, and even with their own thinking, that Revelations was either written in the 60's or 90's.  That would make the destruction of the temple (AD 70) either not happened yet, or old OLD news.  If it hadn't happened yet, it makes sense it wasn't included, if it was Old News, it also makes sense why it wasn't included.  But here is the biggest catch, Revelation 19:10 "Then I fell at his feet to worship him. But he *said to me, “Do not do that; I am a fellow servant of yours and your brethren who hold the testimony of Jesus; worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (NASB)  This means that no matter what the prophecy says, or whether it is foretelling or forth telling, it MUST point to Jesus and bring honor and glory to Him.  No matter your current view on prophecy and end times, this must be the central focus.  No matter your view, keep Jesus the Son of God the central focus and worship God.  If you do this, you cannot be wrong.