Tuesday 3-9-10

Quickly some observations surrounding Jesus being tempted.

Matthew 4:2-3 "2  And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred.

3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread."

My heart (which Jeremiah 17 says is deceitful and desperately wicked) knows exactly when I am weakest and will attack full fledged there. Just like Satan knew that Jesus would be no doubt weak and famished after fasting for 40 days. I need to be on the alert for where and how I will be tempted.

Matthew 4:5-7 "5  Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple,

6  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

Another tactic of Satan/flesh is to tell me that I can indulge in sin because I will have forgiveness, or that this one time isn't going to hurt. I love Jesus' response, because if I know something is wrong and I do it anyway, am I not in a manner of speaking "tempting God". Who is to say that I will not die in the sin. I think what really hit me about this was that Jesus in essence was saying don't mess with sin. I think of Ananias and Saphira, who deceived the apostles and were struck dead instantly for lying to Peter.

Matthew 4:8-9 "8  Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;

9  And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me."

How Satan promised glorious things to Jesus yet they could not compare to the the glory He would receive through dying on the cross. Likewise Satan offers pleasures in sin, yet they cannot even begin to compare to the pleasures found in Christ. These are not just words, I have searched for water in broken cisterns and have found that only living and satisfying water is found Christ Jesus.

Unto him who is able to do above what we ask or think,

Monday 3-8-10

Malachi 1:7-8

"7  Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible.

8  And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts."

Real quickly just a couple observations. The children of Israel were offering these sacrifices that were obviously not the best. Let's take a look: "Ye offer polluted bread", "ye offer the blind", "ye offer the lame and sick". These "sacrifices" weren't sacrifices at all, they were what was left over, not even second place they were horrible animals. In fact God knows just how bad they are and he calls them evil.. he tells them to offer them to their governor. Why? I believe it was to make them think, because they knew that what they were "offering" to the Lord was so bad that even the government wouldn't want it. 

What struck me wasn't what I head a bunch of my life about "giving your best to Jesus". It wasn't about whether or not you wear a suit on Sunday. In the years past all I attributed to "giving your best to Jesus" was how someone dressed and if they knew bible lingo. It's not about that, God couldn't care less if I went to church with bluejeans or a three-piece suit. What God does care about is the heart, He wants all my desires and affection to be upon Him, He wants me to flee sin and be pure for him. How does this fit in to the passage? Well my dress right, talk right, act right isn't not what God desires, that is like offering him a lame and sick sacrifice, which verse 8 says is evil. According to John 15 if I abide in Christ and He in me then my joy will be made full, and I believe that that is what God wants.. for me to be completely satisfied in him, so that he would receive glory through my life.

Please pray for bro Tony Howeth and Mrs. Stacey Howeth. They are currently traveling to Ireland for 10 days if I remember their schedule right. Please pray that God's grace and power would be upon brother Tony as he preaches. Also that he would keep them safe in their various travels.

In Christ,

Sunday 3-7-10

Proverbs 1:7-9 

"7 ¶  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8  My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:

9  For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck."

While I did my normal bible reading today (through Zephaniah), this proverb (which I read this morning) really struck me more than the passage in Zephaniah. Just going to be completely honest with this my flesh screamed out in horror as I read this. It hated the very idea of what these verses had to say, and so much more my desire to see them implemented in my life. To be brief (as I am attempting to be more disciplined in my getting up each morning), the instruction, counsel, wisdom that dad gives, shares with me should be something I delight in. The old man hates to submit, hates to be humbled, he loves to rebel, to always be right, to boast himself. I thank God that the old man no longer is who I am, for in Christs' death I gained a new identity, sin longer has a hold on me for it was crucified with Christ on the cross. So now I am free to fear God, to honor my parents, to walk in wisdom and instruction and not foolishness and sin. May God grant to grace to my that is needed to listen to the commands, and instruction of my parents. May I honor my mom and dad, and may God receive glory through that relationship.

Please pray for a young missionary couple (in training): Chris Waye and his family. They just arrived in Peru for 6 months of hands on training and practice. Please ask God to use this time to grow them, and use them for his glory. 

Unto the author and finisher of our faith,

Saturday 3-6-10

Micah 6:6-8 

"6  Wherewith shall I come before the LORD, and bow myself before the high God? shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves of a year old? 

7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?

8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?"

As I read this the reality of "What do I have to offer God", struck home again and again. So often I like to think or act like I bring something to the table in my relationship with God. According to the word of God all I have to offer is equal to rags that have been used to clean a filthy toilet. I think well if I do this, or do that God will bless me more, or love me more. No these  things could not be further from the truth. God's perfect love is made evident in that nothing I do can make him love me any more or any less. 

Three things God says he desires, each of these things I am dependent on him to enable me to do. To do justly or turn from my sin, to longer walk wickedly. To love mercy, just as God pours out new mercies on me, so should I love mercy. To walk humbly with God, or as Jesus said to "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except itabide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me." (John 15:4)

May you have a blessed Lord's day,

Thursday 3-4-10

Obadiah 1:3-4

"3  The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground?

4  Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD."

One of those passages that that I read hating it and loving it at the same time. I know that this is a warning that I need, but in my pride I don't want to admit it. I to often get boastful and prideful and like to "lift myself up" above others and even God. I love men's praise and revel in the moment that I receive it, but it is passages like these which make utter horror and fear grip my heart as I begin to move my confidence and trust from God's trust to my own self-reliance. I will not pretend to act as if I have pride near conquered, or even know how to conquer it aside from complete dependence on God. For if I look anywhere else other than the cross as my means of overcoming pride then I lift myself above the cross. For in the cross alone is found victory over pride and all sin. May God drive me to my knees before him in utter dependence on his grace and humility because of his grace which he so freely bestows upon me.

I have a praise and a prayer request; today is brother Tony Howeth's birthday. Words and time would fail me to say how much my God has used him in my life, I thank God for him daily, he is such a blessing! I also encourage you to pray for him and his family, as there is continuing to mount bills from the various medical expenses. 

In Christ,

Wednesday 3-3-10

Joel 2:12-13

"12 ¶  Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:

13  And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil."

Some great verses reminding me of what God wants. I thought it was so well put in the beginning of verse 13 "rend your heart, and not your garments". God is looking for a true change of heart, not just our emotions or feelings. He desires to see repentance, true repentance not just a temporary I am sorry.. never going to do that again.. rend my garment.. type deal. I've been guilty of not turning to God will all my heart, many times have I "repented" but not really, because then I would have to give up my sin. God is good, gracious and merciful he has forgiven me of all people! The least deserving hypocrite of all to be saved from sin and hell.. God's mercies, love and grace are truly overwhelming!

Please pray for the Tolson family. They are a young missionary couple finishing up deputation before heading to China. Mrs. Natasha is pregnant, however the baby has what is called "body stalk anomaly", basically the baby has very little chance of going full term. And if it is born alive it will only live a few minutes. Please pray for God's grace and comfort during this time.

Love through Christ alone,

Tuesday 3-2-10

Hosea 7:2 "And they consider not in their hearts that I remember all their wickedness:"

Wow! What a statement!

As I read this, all I could think is how grateful I am of the cross! What Jesus did upon that cruel cross was totally and completely for me, there is no longer remembered any wickedness that I have committed. By Christ Jesus' death I am made righteous, not by any merit of my own, but rather Christ's blood makes me holy. As I read this the weight of what is being said just struck me, that this is what it is like to live without the blood of Christ applied to one's life. That is the kind of condemnation that I deserve! 

How little I take my salvation to be sometimes. Father I repent of not being thankful for my eternal salvation from sin and eternal torment and destruction. May God use this to increase my love for him, and my burden for seeing souls saved from eternal damnation. 

Blessings,

Sunday 2-28-10

Daniel:8 "¶  But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king’s meat, nor with the wine which he drank:"

As I read this verse I thought of why Daniel purposed in his heart. It was not some out of the blue, "Hey let's do a really noble thing and not drink wine and eat the king's meat". That is not where this decision to boldly obey God came from, rather I believe it came from a real personal daily relationship that Daniel had with God Almighty. As I read this I once again thought of James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him." The simple beauty of this verse just becomes more and more clear as I read it. That the only way to endure temptation is to love the Lord. May my life be a testimony to God's grace and power, may he sanctify me, that all of me would be set apart for the masters use.

Saturday 2-27-10

Ezekiel 33:31-32

"31  And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

32  And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not."

These verses so well describe how I was for many years. I saw what I would be apart from the grace of God, a deceiver, a liar, a lover of my sin rather then a lover the only true and living God. While these verses are what I would be without God's grace, these verses could have described me beautifully for many years. I would come to church, bring my bible, sing the songs, know the answers, everything a good young Christian was supposed to be and do. Only one problem, it was fake. Now honestly I did enjoy church well to an extent, I didn't care for the preaching because I would hear God's word but not do it, but other than that I enjoyed it. It made me feel good, I was self-righteous. May the Holy Spirit continue to instill in me a greater love for God, may I never "play church" again, ever in my life.

Please pray that this earthquake in Chile will open more doors and reveal the need for laborers to take the gospel of Jesus Christ to the world. Also a praise that Jason Holt's family (wife and three kids) are completely fine and were not hurt at all.

May you have a blessed Lords day,

Friday 2-26-10

Ezekiel 20:43 "And there shall ye remember your ways, and all your doings, wherein ye have been defiled; and ye shall lothe yourselves in your own sight for all your evils that ye have committed."

As I read this I thought "lothe myself"? It's such a strange idea in world that tells us to love ourselves, embellish ourselves in this or that, to treat ourselves to this thing or to do this because we deserve it. Our concept is to love ourselves, not lothe ourselves. While this idea that I am to lothe myself because of the evil I've committed seems foreign, as I thought about it I do it all the time. Well not to myself but to others, I look upon homosexuals, rapists, fornicators, murderers, thieves, liars and condemn them and what they do. Yet I look upon my own heart from which lies, adultery, pride, murder, thefts, rebellion come from, and I commend myself rather then condemn myself? 

How conceited my heart it to look upon other men and lothe them for what they have done. Yet I look upon my own heart and life and love it. May the reality and heaviness of my sin never leave my mind. May when I compare myself beside a loving, holy, pure and righteous God, may I lothe myself for the evils I have committed. 

Please pray for those pastors, missionaries and teachers who will be proclaiming the word of God on Sunday. Ask God to send his grace upon them as they finish studying, and that he would speak through each one to bring himself glory and honor!

Unto Christ be all glory honor and praise,

Thursday 2-25-10

Ezekiel 14:4-5

"4  Therefore speak unto them, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD; Every man of the house of Israel that setteth up his idols in his heart, and putteth the stumblingblock of his iniquity before his face, and cometh to the prophet; I the LORD will answer him that cometh according to the multitude of his idols;

5  That I may take the house of Israel in their own heart, because they are all estranged from me through their idols."

As I read this the one thing that really jumped out at me was this that he men of Israel set up idols in their heart. It's not a concept that is foreign but to be able to read it and compare it to my life, and see how that was true is amazing. By time they ever erected a physical stone, or wood idol they had long forsaken God. While I've never bowed down to an idol physically, time and time again in the past have I done it in my heart. God is not interested in just outside obedience, he is interested in the heart. In verse five he says that is going to take Israel in their own heart, because the heart is the real issue. By God's grace I've been memorizing James, today's verse seem to tie in really well I thought with what I read in Ezekiel.

James 1:12 "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

At first reading this verse the reason or motivation for enduring temptation seems to be receiving a crown of life. However as I read it again it became clear that the motivation or reason behind enduring temptation is loving God. Either ones heart will love God and endure temptation, or they will forsake God and erect idols in their heart. May the Holy Spirit instill in me a real passionate love for God, a love that makes me loath my sin, a love that drives me to obey, a love that makes me cry out to him each day, a love that drives me to read and seek his word. 

Unto him who is worthy of more than I could offer,

Wednesday 2-24-10

Ezekiel 6:10 "And they shall know that I am the LORD, and that I have not said in vain that I would do this evil unto them."

Here in chapter 6 we see time and time again God saying that "they/ye shall know that I am the Lord." As I read this I kept thinking that God definitely wanted to be known, and as I read and dwelt upon that passage it became rather clear that God wanted to be known for he is the ultimate source of salvation, joy, and satisfaction. It is not egocentric for God to want people to know him, for in him is life and joy.

This brings me back to a verse in Jeremiah which said that Israel had committed two evils against God. They had forsaken him the source of living water, and had made for themselves broken cisterns that could hold no water. God's mercy is shown in that he wants to be known, for he is the source of eternal life. My prayer is that if I fall into sin that God would chastise me back to himself, and that his chastising would not be in vain, that I would know that he is Lord. 

Please pray for Haiti, I know it has been a while since the earthquake and most people have seemed to forgotten the people there. I believe it could be a excellent time for the gospel to be shared, heard, and received. Please pray that God would use the missionaries and Christians there in Haiti to boldly proclaim the gospel.

Because he lives,

Tuesday 2-23-10

Jeremiah 50:33-34

"33  All that took them captives held them fast; they refused to let them go.

34  Their Redeemer is strong; the LORD of hosts is his name:"

These verses are beautiful in the light of God breaking my heart over my sin. As I saw and looked at sin from God's perspective, how it grieves and angers him, how it is completely opposite his nature. These verses become very precious and real. While these verses deal with Israel and the nations that captured them, it does parallel quite beautifully I believe into sin and it's grasp it can have over ones life. Then we see that our Redeemer is strong, he is stronger than sin for he overcame sin and death upon the cross.

While I might live in a constant state of brokenness over sin, I do not live in a state of captivity to sin. This is why these verses are so beautiful in the light of God breaking my heart over my sin. You see Jesus Christ's death on the cross has overcome sin, so sin no longer has a hold upon my life. Jesus lived the life I couldn't not live, and died the death I should have died, and he did that... for me! So while sin is a grievous and horrific thing, I praise God for he is my Redeemer that is strong and has set me free from having to live in captivity to sin!

May you find the great pleasure in him who died for you,

Sunday 2-21-10

Jeremiah 32:29-30, and 32

 "29  And the Chaldeans, that fight against this city, shall come and set fire on this city, and burn it with the houses, upon whose roofs they have offered incense unto Baal, and poured out drink offerings unto other gods, to provoke me to anger.

30  For the children of Israel and the children of Judah have only done evil before me from their youth: for the children of Israel have only provoked me to anger with the work of their hands, saith the LORD."

"32  Because of all the evil of the children of Israel and of the children of Judah, which they have done toprovoke me to anger,"

As I read this chapter these "provoke(d) me to anger" repeats really jumped out at me. As you read in chapter 32 of Jeremiah you see that it is the children of Israel that were provoking God to anger, and it was their disobedience, prideful spirit, unrepentant hearts that provoked God to anger. As I read this it really began to show me my sin, that my sin is completely foreign to who God is. In James chapter 4 it says that those who love their sin are enemies of God! God hates sin! It's not as if I didn't know this before, but as over the past several weeks I've been asking God to break me over my sin, that I would be grieved over my sin, that I would hate my sin. It is completely and utterly different to know God hates sin in general, then to realize that God hates my sin, and that it was my lusting, my lying, my pride, my rebellion, my thefts, my tearing down of others that nailed Jesus to the cross. God gets angry over sin, for he must.. he is a just and righteous God! 

My heart was heavy as I thought of the past few years I lived in and loved my sin. And as I continued to read I come across these two verses:

Jeremiah 32:37&42

"37  Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely:"

"42  For thus saith the LORD; Like as I have brought all this great evil upon this people, so will I bring upon them all the good that I have promised them."

As I read these verse God's love became more real than it has ever been. Here was Israel who had forsaken God and had been serving Ba'al, God was angry (rightfully so.. for he is just and righteous) and was going to bring the consequences of their sin upon them. Yet in the middle of it all, God says yes I am angry at their sin, and they are going to be punished for it, however I love them so much and I am going to bring them back to the land and bless them and they will dwell in safety here! So yes this chapter is heartbreaking at the fact that my sin goes against and angers my God died for me. Yet at the same time burden lifting for God loves me and draws me to himself.

Fight the good fight of faith,

Saturday 2-20-10

Jeremiah 13:9-10 "9  Thus saith the LORD, After this manner will I mar the pride of Judah, and the great pride of Jerusalem.

10  This evil people, which refuse to hear my words, which walk in the imagination of their heart, and walk after other gods, to serve them, and to worship them, shall even be as this girdle, which is good for nothing."

God had commanded Jeremiah to take a girdle and wear it, Jeremiah did so. Then God commanded him to take this girdle and bury it, and after many days God again commanded Jeremiah and he dug up the girdle, the girdle was ruined. So God is now comparing Israel to this girdle. As I read this my heart is heavy that my pride, love of sin, rebellion could one day make me worthless. Even so it is humbling right now to come before God realizing he has seen all my sin, none of it has been hidden from him. And what is humbling is that even though I am vile and gross sinner, God can still use me! Not only does it humble me but it makes me love God all the more for dying for me, for saving me out of sin, for convicting me and drawing me out from sin. Lord God may each day you show me just how utterly worthless I am without.. may my heart be in a continual broken state over my sin.

Please pray for Mauritania. It is a country in Africa, located on the west cost, just beside Western Sahara, and below Morocco. The country is 99% Islamic.. that 1% is 85% Catholic.. The Lord has been burdening my heart for the souls of Mauritania, please pray for God to raise up a labors to go to Mauritania!

Unto the lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world,