If there is anything that is unstable in our lives, it is our feelings. Feelings can change one day to the next and if we base our decisions on them, our life will become a roller coaster experience. When people divorce because they don’t feel any love for their spouse or change jobs because they don’t feel fulfilled or leave a church because they don’t feel happy anymore or accepted, they are building their lives on sand. Stability comes when we make decisions based on God’s Word instead of our feelings.

Emotions add flavor to our live and are God-given, but must be kept healthy and in balance. Just wishing you don’t feel a certain way doesn’t rid you of the ups and downs of your emotions. We must take control of our emotions and make decisions based on wisdom that is revealed in God’s Word, for there to be true peace and joy. Wisdom is acquired through application of the Word of God in our lives. This is what it is to build our life on the Rock and not on sand.

Feelings have come to the forefront of modern man’s attention and personal motivation. This generation’s motto has been: “If it feels good, do it.” I believe this is a result of a lack of fatherhood.  A majority of families today are dysfunctional in that they lack a healthy father figure. This has been caused by the high rate of divorce or just absentee and irresponsible fathers. The result has been a generation being raised by single parents, in which the main influence has been maternal, thus an over emphasis on feelings.

God reveals Himself as a Father. Through His grace and love, He heals our damaged emotions through forgiving the guilt of the past and removing the fear of the future. He shows us the way to go, even when all around us seems confusing and our feelings are a mess. God comforts us when we are sad and brings us into His rest. His Word is a light to our path and answers our doubts. He is the Rock of All Ages. When we place our faith in the Lord, our life comes into perspective and our emotions into balance.

Fear knocked at my door. Faith opened that door and no one was there. –Author Unknown

Scriptures to meditate on:

Psalms 19:7-11; 27:19; 51:6; Heb. 4:12; 6:18; Mat. 7:24-27

Have you ever thought about what or who influences you? Some influences are temporary, such as an atmosphere created by music, an excitement of a crowd or even a traumatic experience. They can affect one’s moods, actions or thoughts for a time, but to be influenced or impacted on a permanent basis, in which your character or behavior changes, it requires a connection with someone. Connecting is the ability to identify or relate with a person to the degree that who they are becomes who you are.

The Bible warns us about who we fellowship with, or rather, who we connect with. In I Corinthians 15:33, Paul writes: “Bad company ruins good morals.” “Company” is also translated as communication; in which there is a sharing of one’s life. In other words, if you hang around immoral people you will become immoral. If your close friends are unbelievers, you will also be influenced by their doubts and unbelief. You may not agree with me and say that you are in their lives to influence them for the good, but let me remind you, a person catches sickness not health.

Our connection is to be with God. When we relate intimately with Him, we are being transformed into His image. It is then that our influence on others can lead them to Christ. For unbelievers to share in the life you have, they must connect with Jesus, not you. In doing so, there is a transformation of their nature, which results in a special, spiritual connection with you and with all who have been born again.

Don’t be deceived into thinking that you are immune to the world’s influence on your life. It is easier to go down than up. The change caused by ungodly friendships is gradual that is why it is called deception. So many have become what they had so often condemned because they did not select their friends well. To maintain a healthy walk with God you must work at it each day by fellowshipping with believers, meditating on His Word and communing with God in prayer.

Scriptures to meditate on:

I Cor. 15;33; II Cor. 6:14-18; Rom. 8:29; 12:1-2; I John 1:6-7

Who has a right to be offended? Each day we are presented with peoples’ negative attitudes, hurtful words and unfair situations. With each one there is a good reason to be offended and hurt. We can’t really control how people treat us or respond to us, but we can control how we react to them.

I am reminded of the story, in John 9, of Jesus healing the man who was blind from birth. This man didn’t need a physician or theologian to tell him he had a problem and yet those around him were reacting to his condition. The disciples wanted to know the why’s and reason for his problem; if it was caused by his sin or that of is parents’. The Pharisees argued about the validity of the miracle and if the source was from God, Moses or the devil. This blind man only wanted some help.

Not only was he aware of all the conversations going on around him and about him, which was good enough reason to be offended, but then comes someone placing mud mixed with spit in his eyes. Mud represents the lowest level of humanity and spit speaks of ridicule, rejection and persecution. Now his problem became more than just physical.

At this point in the story, I am sure this man was not feeling like it was one of his better days. He could have become angry. He could have called for some justice from the police or even just walked away, but something kept him from reacting. He heard Jesus’ voice in the midst of all the other stuff happening around him: “I am the light of the world.” (v.5). Hope was birthed in his soul. Then he heard, “Go to Siloam and wash.” As he obeyed, faith was activated and he received his sight.

Siloam is the place of grace, miracles and harvest. There was a time in Israel’s history that they rejected the waters of Siloam and were swept away by the “River”, which was the army of Assyria, (Is. 8:5-6). If this man would have chosen offense, he would have remained with his problems. He chose not to be offended. He chose revelation over reason and he chose obedience over feelings.

Even after this healing, the provocations didn’t stop. His worst day had become his best day and yet others wanted to take it from him. But, this man kept his faith firm. He placed his faith in the Lord Jesus and worshipped him with a grateful heart, (v.38). Instead of nursing his hurts, he dispersed them. If this man could choose not to be offended, we can too.

Scriptures to meditate on:

John 9; Isaiah 8:5-6; Luke 6:49; Mat. 24:9-14

In a world in which post-modernism is the philosophy of the majority, such spiritual truths of “authority” and “submission” become blurred. Post-modernism champions the idea that everyone determines for himself what is right and wrong. It is an emphasis on relativism and in regard to authority speaks of equal submission. It undermines God’s order, authority and design for individual responsibility. As a result, families breakup over the slightest disagreement and churches suffer divisions. The clear, Scriptural teaching on authority and submission is explained away on the basis of changing culture.

Here are five warnings on the danger of “equal submission” as it would determine how we live in our home, church and society.

1. The teaching of mutual submission in the “fear of the Lord”, (Eph. 5:21), must be balanced by individual responsibility, (Eph. 5:22-32). Truth out of balance leads to heresy.
2. Equal submission leads to the elimination of all authority. It seems to project the idea that, though all authority comes from God, when given to man, God loses control of it and man then abuses it. This fear motivation thus distributes authority equally to every person so that no one has more than anyone else.
3. The basis of rebellion is in one’s desire to be equal. Satan did not want to greater than God, but rather equal to Him, (Is. 14:14). It is the foundation of humanism, in which everyone is his own god, and where the goal is to try to tolerate one another and live in peaceful coexistence. It is like in the day of the Judges where “every man did what was right in his own eyes.” (Judges 21:25).
4. Equal submission discounts the power of influence. There are two kinds of power: that based on position and the other on influence. The two work together. Without position, influence becomes manipulative and without influence, position becomes authoritative and domineering.
5. It also eliminates the need for Godly attitudes. In I Peter 3:1-6, the attitudes of the wife has tremendous power and influence in her home, even to the point of winning her unbelieving husband. Without submission these attitudes are not cultivated.

Even though equal submission sounds good and reasonable, it is destructive to the values we hold most dear. Authority and submission enhances one’s personal responsibility by being accountable to and responsible for people. This is the basis for a moral society instead of anarchy.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Romans 13, Eph. 5:21-32; I Peter 3:1-7; Psalms 68:6

Each one of us has been giving a life; just one life. The circumstances in which we have begun our life vary. Some are born into wealthy families, others into poor ones. Some were born in peaceful surroundings while others in war. Some have been given the possibility of education while others have not and some have loving parents and others have none. There is definitely no equality in the conditions of our birth, but all are given an opportunity to change. Having an opportunity means one has been given a free will.

Free will is the basis of morality. With every choice there is a consequence. Because life was not our choice, but rather given to us, we are responsible to the Giver of Life for the choices we make with our life. One day, we must give an account to God of what we have done in our life; our thoughts, words and actions. There is no justice without accountability. Free will is also the basis of relationship. Love and friendship cannot be coerced or demanded. They can only be experienced in an atmosphere of freedom.

Instead of complaining about the life we have or comparing it with others, why not make the most of it. We can become bitter or better. In the parable of the talents, the one who did nothing with the talent he received was called a “wicked and slothful servant”, (Mat. 25:26). Maybe he thought that what he was given was of little importance or in comparing with the other servants’ portion; his part was of insignificant. He allowed the fears and insecurities within him to control his life and in the end lost it all. What a waste of a life! What a wasted opportunity! With little or much, God expects an increase. Doing nothing is already a choice in the wrong direction.

Helen and I have a sister-in-law who is bed-ridden with MS and Parkinson’s disease. She cannot talk and is fed with a tube into her stomach. Her only means of communication is by blinking her eyes. Helen’s brother cares for her at home and does it with joy saying, “her body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and I get to care for it.” She spends her days on her bed looking at photos and praying in her spirit for her family and friends. The life, (opportunity), they have been given is not better or worse than anyone else. They have just decided to use it for the glory of God.

If you want to better your life, then begin by making the best choice ever. Choose to invite Jesus to come into your life. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins and to become your Lord and Savior. Give Him the honor of directing your life and showing you the right choices you should make. He gave you life and He sure knows what is best for you.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Mat. 12:36-37; 25:14-30; Rom. 14:12; Gal. 2:20; James 4:13-16

When Helen and I married, we chose as our wedding march the hymn, “How Firm A Foundation”. We were full of hope as we looked forward to a life together, yet we knew that our success in life and marriage was dependent on the foundation that we stood on. The first verse of this hymn begins like this:

“How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord.
Is laid for your faith on His excellent Word.
What more can He say than to you He hath said.
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled.”

When I looked at my 19 year old bride coming down the aisle, I did not know all that we would face together, but I did know that I wanted to live with her the rest of my life. I wanted a foundation that would support a 60+ year marriage.

When Helen was a little girl, she prayed that the man she would marry would love God more than he loved her and my prayer, after I gave my life to Christ was, “Lord, I want to serve You the rest of my life and I only want to marry the woman with whom I can so this best.” We both recognized that our life was not our own. Our marriage was not about us. We had a divine purpose to fulfill together. We wanted to build our “house” on the Rock, so that all our days would be fruitful, purposeful and stable.

Another hymn that has meant a lot to us in our marriage and family is: “The Solid Rock”. Some of the lines of this song go like this: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand … My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”. Storms are a part of life and serve to reveal our foundation and the quality of our building material.  The Word says that all that can be shaken will be shaken, so that what is eternal will remain. Build your life on the Word, which is Jesus, the Rock and you will not be shaken.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Psalms 92:12-15; 18:2; 119:81; Mat. 7:24; 16:18; Heb. 12:26-29

Before my father died, I asked him what had been his life verse. What I meant by this was, what verse had been the focus of his life. He was quick to quote Matthew 6.33, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.” As I reflected on his life, I can truly say that my father lived this way. He was a blessed man, because God was #1 in his life.

Some people have asked me what does, “seek first”, really mean?  Let us look at this together. First has two means. First, its meaning is chronological. It is first in a series of other options. To seek God first is to seek Him in the morning. To seek Him before you do other things. The morning my father-in-law died he had just finished returning home from “walking with the Lord” along the canal behind his house. It was his practice to spend the first of his day with the Lord in this pristine setting. As he came into the yard, he lay down and went to be with the Lord. He had a piece of paper in his hand. It was a poem by Ralph Cushman that he was memorizing. The first part begins this way:

I met God in the morning
When my day was at its best,
And His Presence came like sunrise
Like a glory in my breast

My father-in-law as well as my father learned that the secret of a blessed life was to seek God first…in the morning…before other activities, concerns or people would crowd Him out.

The second meaning of “first” is qualitative. It is first as meaning “best”. To seek God first is to give Him our best. This is in regard to time, attention, priority, love and relationship. Nothing and no one is to be of more importance than our relationship with God. When He is first, then everything and everyone else fall into place. Idolatry results when this is not the case. This poem’s final verse is good lesson for us today.

So I think I know the secret,
Learned from many a troubled way;
You must seek Him in the morning
If you want Him through the day

Scriptures to meditate on: Mat. 6.33; Rev. 2.4; Is. 44.6;Psalms 50.23

Lot is an interesting character in the Bible. He was Abraham’s nephew and was cared for by him.  Lot embraced Abraham’s monotheistic faith and when God directed Abraham to move, Lot followed him to the land of Canaan. He prospered under the protection and guidance of his uncle, but when it became necessary to part company, Lot chose the easier of two paths. He desired the “good” life, so he chose to go down from the mountains to live in the cities of the plain.

Lot maintained a degree of integrity and moral uprightness in the midst of a corrupt generation as did his wife and his two virgin daughters. When judgment came on the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, angels were sent to save him and his family. All he had acquired was now reduced to what he could carry on his back. The place he had chosen to leave was now the place he had to flee to. One thing God required of him and that was not to look back.

To take the easy path down to the valley did not require faith, but to obey God’s warning of imminent danger and go up to the mountain did require faith. His desires were now all behind him. All he had worked for was behind him. God was calling him to go up. Lot’s wife just wanted one more look. Sure things were bad. Sin abounded on all sides, but it was all she had. She wanted just one more look. That look cost her, her life. Lot went on to father two nations, but his wife was left as a pillar of salt.

Don’t look back to what is condemned by God. Don’t try to hold on to what is fading away. God has a path of faith for us to follow that will take us up to a new high place. Choose right from the beginning. Keep following the faith of Abraham.

When the going gets easy, you may be going downhill – anonymous

Scriptures to meditate on:

Genesis 19; Mat. 7:14; Luke 9:62

In contemporary society there has been an equating of freedom with independence. People groups have sought for autonomy from colonial rule seeking their independence and self-rule. Lately, the “Arab Spring”, has given rise to a people’s movement to topple oppressive, dictatorial regimes. All have cried out for “Freedom!”

Even though this describes the present age in which we live, it is not applicable to the structure of the Church in the New Testament much less to individuals. Jesus has set us free from the tyranny of sin through the His shed blood, so that we can fellowship with Him in His kingdom. We are neither independent nor autonomous. We have been placed in His Body, (Church), and under His authority. Though the world seeks to be “self-sufficient” we are to be dependent. Though many desire to be “independent”, we are to be “interdependent.”

The picture that God gives us of His Church in the New Testament is that of a Body. Each member is “individual” but not “independent.” An independent member is one that is cut off and thus dies. It cannot live alone apart from the rest of the members. Interdependency talks of mutual submission, sharing, edifying and relationship. It cannot be virtual or mystical. It is real; face to face. The life in the Body flows from the Head, (Jesus), to all the parts. One must be in relationship to receive.

Many times we have used the term “autonomous” or “independent” to refer to a church that is non-denominational, but this a non-biblical concept. Local churches are tied together via trans-local ministries and should receive input, council and direction from beyond its borders. Interdependency not only ties the church together, but guards it against false doctrines, sinful conduct of its leaders and abuse. Not desiring to congregate and fit into the Body is a sign of rebellion and extreme individualism. This is the spirit of the world system, but not of Christ.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Ps. 68:6; Heb. 10:25; I Cor. 12:12-27; John 8:36

God is invisible. He is Spirit. He became visible in Jesus so that we would be able to know Him. In Colossians 1:15, it says, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.” He came to reveal the Father to mankind. His incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection made it possible to receive the forgiveness of sins and by receiving Jesus into our lives, our spirit is born again. Thus, we have been granted fellowship with God as a son.

The invisible God is now resident in our lives. His “nearness” is that He is in us. Paul says, this is a mystery, “which is Christ in you, the hope of glory,” (Col. 1:27). What is the purpose of having Christ, or rather, the Spirit of the Lord in us? Is it to just get a ticket to Heaven? Is it to get some spiritual “goose-bumps” along the way? Or is there some other reason?

God desires us to know Him so He sent us His son take on the form of man, (in other words, to have a human body). And He comes into our lives, (body), so that we might make Him known to others. Through every word we speak, every attitude, action or expression we might have is to manifest the nature and very image of God. His Words become our words, His thoughts our thoughts, His ways our ways. If we take on His name, we are to take on His nature.

To have a relationship with God is not to have Him in some hidden, small part of our life. He must be all-consuming, (in every area of our life), to be all-powerful, (life-transforming). Anything less, is a dead religion.

A friend of mine told a story of a young man that went camping in the mountains of the State of Montana. He was warned of bear in the area, but he responded arrogantly, saying that he had his “sword”, (the Bible), with him. Weeks passed and this young man did not return. A search party was organized and when they found his camp, all that was left of him was pieces of his pants with his Bible in the pocket.

You may claim to have Jesus in your life, but how much of you does Jesus have? It is not the Bible you walk around with, but the life you live that is read by others. Make the invisible visible, today.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Col. 1:15-29; I Tim. 1:15-17; I Peter 3:15; II Cor. 10:3-5

Mat. 1:23, “Behold, a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”

This verse is a quote from Isaiah 7:14 and reveals an aspect of God that is so important. God is with us. With us, in that He is for us. He is on our side. He isn’t against us; He isn’t mad at us; He is not trying to hurt us. He is with us!  It also refers to the fact that God is present. He is not far away but near. He is not sometimes near, but is continually present with us.

The Good News is that Jesus came to open the way back to Father God so that we could be able to communicate with Him. You don’t have to scream or shout to get His attention. Just a whisper will do. He is with us. In Revelations 3:20, we see a picture of the Lord standing at the door and knocking. He is outside, wanting to come in. If we open the door, He will come in and “sup” or commune with us.

To commune with someone is to be intimate. It is to talk about important issues; to be transparent and sincere. If God were far from us, He would never talk to us. But He does communicate to us in many ways and we can talk to Him. There is no need to be superficial or present a certain image. When we commune with God we can just be ourselves. He loves us just as we are. That is freeing and that is Good News.

Christmas is the celebrating of this experience with God. God came to man; to save him from sin and to fellowship with him. God is here. He wants to talk to you. He wants to share His life with you. Open the door.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Heb. 13:5; Rom. 8:31; II Chron. 19:7; Rev. 3:20, Isaiah 7:14; 9:6

I remember Derek Prince often saying; K.I.S.S., (Keep It Simple, Stupid). He had gift of saying such profound truths in few words. Over the years I have collected a number of wise sayings from a number of authors. Let me share some of them with you.

“We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” — Victor Frankl

“The shell must break before the bird can fly.” – Lord Tennyson

God always gives His best to those who leave the choice with him.  – Jim Eliot, (a missionary martyred by Ecuadorian Indians in the Amazon).

If you really want to do something, you will find a way. If you don’t, you will find an excuse.” – Anonymous

Resentment is like taking poison and hoping the other person dies.” – St. Augustine

“If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself.” — Albert Einstein

He who praises himself has a congregation of one”. — Jewish proverb

“Gossip is when you must hurry and tell someone before you find out if it isn’t true.” — Anonymous

“The character of a person is what he or she is when no one is looking.” — Anonymous

“Go out and preach the gospel and if you must, use words.” — St. Francis of Assisi

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. – Winston Churchill

The shortest and surest way to live with honor in the world is to be in reality what we appear to be. –Socrates

Parents who wish to train up their children in the way they should go must go in the way in which they would have their children go. – F. Bacon

Fear knocked at my door. Faith opened that door and no one was there. –Author Unknown

The age in which we live is dominated by the paradigm of existential relativism. This is where each individual determines for himself what is true and good. In fact, this reduces truth to the level of opinion and sin to the changing morals of society. The “buzz word” for living in such a world in which there is no absolutes is “tolerance”. We are not the only generation that has had to confront such a philosophy. The first century was also dominated by this same Greek mindset. Jude warned the believers to not allow this vague relativism to enter into the Church. We are to “contend for the faith.” In other words, we are at war!

This war is not to be fought with natural weapons of judgment in an inquisition type courtroom. Sure the Church needs to be rid of this infectious philosophy, but it is not done through the pointing of the finger, but through true conversion. The greenhouse where relativism grows best, in the Church, is where there is mental assent to Christian doctrines instead of a conviction of truth, which results in a radical change of life-style and values. Paul points out to the Roman Church some marks of a true believer; one that has experienced a conversion from the dominion of sin and the world. These signs are to be guidelines for our transformation and not a rule by which we judge others.

1. To have genuine love.
2. To hate evil and love Good.
3. To outdo others in showing honor.
4. To be zealous in serving the Lord.
5. To be full of joy, (no matter the circumstance), and to be constant in prayer.
6. To contribute to the needs of others and to show hospitality.
7. To bless those who curse you.
8. To show compassion and empathy, in good times and bad.
9. To live in harmony with others.
10. To not be proud, but associate with all kinds of people.
11. To not avenge yourself, but rather live this to God and do good to your enemy.
12. To overcome evil with good.

Dear soldier of the Lord, fight the good fight of your faith. You win the war that is in the world by winning the war that is within. Change yourself, so that you can change the world.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Jude; Romans 12.9-21, I Timothy 1.18-19; Ephesians 6.10-18.

In the Proverbs it says that the righteous fall seven times, but get back up, (24.16). They don’t stay down and they don’t run and hide. They just get back up again. When one errors, it is embarrassing. One not only feels guilt but also shame. As a Christian one holds to a standard of integrity and moral excellence above the status quo. The falling down reveals his humanity and sinful nature. To remain down is to continue in sin and guilt. It is to crucify once again the Lord Jesus Christ. The righteous don’t do that. They confess their sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing from sin.

Peter, who confessed Jesus as the Son of God, also denied Him three times. When the gravity of what he had done was revealed to him, he wept bitterly. I am sure he had wished he never would have done that, or even that he never had been born. He fell. He could have run away and hung himself, as Judas did, or he could get up and deal with his sin and be restored. Jesus restored Peter in an encounter he had with him on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus forgave him and gave him a ministry. But then he needed to go back and fit into the same group of disciples. I sure that was not easy, but he did do it and his ministry was one of the greatest of the apostles.

Some people deal with the shame of falling by running away from those they have disappointed. Others try to act as if nothing ever happened; expecting everyone to forgive and forget. In responding in these ways, the problem is destined to repeat itself. When one falls he must rise up through humility. He must stand again, where he fell, by the Grace of God. He must confront his weakness and those affected by his sin. The fear of the Lord is established and restoration is gained. To start again in another church, community or nation only delays the restoration process. It appears to be the easiest and less painful of the options, but does not have God’s desired result. The righteous get up and deal with it properly and go forward.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Prov. 24.16; John 21.15-17; I John 1.9; Acts 1.13-15.

If you would have known my mother-in-law you would have seen many similarities between her and Helen. At times she could be intense with her piercing, blue eyes, (even to the point of being scary ), but then be fun, very caring and sensitive. She shared the Lord with everyone who came into her life and, in Africa, started a church under a tree. She was not ashamed of the Gospel.

Like Helen does, she was constantly leaving little notes around; sharing what she had received from the Lord and others. Not always understood or appreciated at the time, these little notes continue to speak to us. I found one of those notes the other day and I want to share it with you:

How to Give a Burden to the Lord.

Get alone with god. Put the one or more burdens in your cupped hands, lift them up towards Him with elbows straight as far as you can. Talk about the needs or problems to the Lord. Your aching arms typify the ache in your heart regarding these needs. Hold it high until you just cannot reach up one more second. Let them slowly come down as your faith and praise ascend to follow those burdens.

Write – make a written record of the exact time and day that you gave this burden (s) to God. Remember where you wrote tis down; could be that the enemy, Satan, will accuse you; laugh at you. Then you can remind him of that very hour that you gave it to Jesus. Praise Him out loud and tell him that you are trusting the Lord for the answers which are on their way. “I gave that burden to Him.” As you continue to Praise, the enemy cannot stay where there is praise.

My mother-in-law, Anne Stark, was a great woman of God.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Mat. 11.30; Psalms 55.22; 94.17-19; I Peter 5-7.

Shortly after the resurrection of Lazarus and the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, there were a number of religious leaders that believed in Jesus. It was the height of popularity for Jesus and with the multitudes following Him, anything could happen. Some thought it was the time for the Messiah to free Israel from Roman domination. There was excitement in the air as the people shouted, “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” This moment was intoxicating as prophecies were being fulfilled and the hope of the nation was at hand. It was easy to believe.

There was, though, another side to this event; the opposition. The Pharisees were afraid of losing their hold on the people and were planning to kill Jesus as well as Lazarus. Those that believed that Jesus was the Messiah kept it to themselves for fear of being expelled from the synagogues. They tried to be both a believer and an unbeliever for as the Scriptures tell, “they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God,” (John 12.43).

Is it possible to be a secret believer? I don’t believe it is. You are or you aren’t. In Proverbs it states that, “the fear of man lays a snare.” Fear causes you to compromise. Fear places you before temptation. Where there is fear there is no faith. Fear places one’s eyes on the circumstances and projects negativity into the future. The fearful put their trust in man and not in God, and this brings a curse. For this reason, I don’t believe in secret faith. When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, on that eventful day, the Pharisees wanted Him to have the people to be quite and not be bold in their praise of Him. He responded by saying that if they didn’t praise Him the rocks would cry out. What is in our heart will be expressed through our mouth and manifest in our lives.

Scriptures to meditate on:

John 12.12-43; Jeremiah 17.5-8; Luke 19.40; Proverbs 29.25.

The Apostle Paul was bothered continually by what he said was a thorn in the flesh. Some have guessed this to be some kind of eye ailment that he was suffering from and from which he had never received healing. Others have judged it to be the satanic opposition to his ministry. Whatever it was it was negative and caused him to continually need the grace of the Lord.

Paul saw the need of total dependency on the Lord. This was the key to his ministry.  Yet, with the many revelations he had received and the powerful ways in which the Lord had used him to help others, he considered his main enemy to be conceit. To combat this he concentrated in glorying in his weakness so that Christ could be glorified in him.

As I have studied the life and ministry of Paul, I have seen him again and again referring to his testimony. He was continually conscience of his sin, what he was before knowing Jesus and at the same time the grace of his salvation. His message was the cross of Christ and his identity with it.

The other day, I was awakened in the night by a “thought” from God. I felt the Lord saying, “you cannot have a revelation of grace without a revelation of sin; you cannot have a revelation of blessing without a revelation of the blood; you cannot have a revelation of Love without a revelation of forgiveness; you cannot have a revelation of covenant without a revelation of the cross.”

Jesus said to one young man, “no one is good but God”. I am sure there are things in all our lives that reminds us of our weaknesses, sin and utter need of God’s grace. May we never be “puffed up” to think we are good and a part from God of some importance or value. In Christ, alone, we have life and that more abundantly.

Scriptures to meditate on:

II Cor. 12.1-10; Eph. 2.7-8; Phil. 3.8; John 10.10; Romans 3.23; 8.26; Mark 10.17-22.

When talking about the desire to be blessed, all hands go up. Everyone wants to be blessed, but what does “blessing” mean? From the beginning of creation, God’s will was to bless His creation. It says in Genesis 1.28, “And God blessed them. And God said to them, “be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” Blessing is a pronouncement and an endowment. It is God defining His will and then giving His creation the ability to perform it.

God pronounced blessing at creation attached to a mandate to be fruitful and multiply and then empowered them to move toward the fulfillment of this mandate. Throughout the rest of the Bible we see that when someone was blessed they were moving along their intended path of fruitfulness, multiplication and dominion. Toward the end of Abraham’s life we see that God had blessed him in every way, (Gen. 24.1). These were not blessings that fell from the sky, but were the fruit of his obedience and faith.

In Genesis there are three main categories of blessings. First, is that of wealth and fruitfulness. Second, is seen in one’s favored relationship with God. And third, is measured by the peace one has in their families, society and nation. All these were evident in Abraham’s life. Abraham was blessed, he was a blessing to others and when other’s blessed Abraham, they were blessed.

We, who are in Christ, are of Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise or mandate. Through us our nation and others will be blessed. This means economic prosperity with justice, peace between peoples and races, healing of disease and preservation of life as well as the presence of God in all aspects of our life and community. God says, “Be Blessed”.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Gal. 3.14, 29; 4.4-5; Gen. 12.2; 24.35; 30.27, 30; 14.19-20; 21.22-23.

The story of creation, in Genesis chapter 1, begins with an emphasis on separation. In verse 4, God separates the light from the darkness and in verse 6 He separates the water on the earth from the waters above the earth. These two acts of creation were accomplished in the first two days. The separation of Light from darkness was not the creation of the sun, moon and stars, for this happened on the fourth day, (vs.14-19). It was the separation of revelation from spiritual blindness, good from evil, righteousness from sin and the presence of God from the presence of Satan. This separation is necessary for any other creative act of God to take place. We can apply this to our own lives in that there is a need of repentance before the new birth, the leaving before entering and of death before life.

The separating of the waters is the separation of the natural from the spiritual. Jesus explained to Nicodemus, in John chapter 3, that one is born of water, (natural birth), and the Spirit, (new birth). What is natural is earthly or carnal and what is spiritual is from above, or heavenly. Water from above, (or rain), is a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Jesus was taken up in the clouds and will return again in the clouds. These two realities are opposed or at enmity with one another. They are incompatible and thus must be separated. We cannot walk in the flesh and Spirit at the same time.

These two acts of separation preceded the rest of creation. All the “Good stuff” comes after we walk away from sin in repentance denying ourselves, (the flesh), to follow the Lord.  Sanctification is separation and without this work in our lives we will not experience the good and perfect will of God.

Scriptures to meditate on:

Genesis 1; II Cor. 5.17; Rom. 12.1-2; John 3.3-21; Zec. 10.1; Hosea 10.12

The Bible begins by stating, “In the beginning…” This starts the story of the natural world as we know it. The heavens and the earth are created, but then in verse 2, of Genesis 1, it seems to be interrupted by another scene, that of abyss, void and darkness. Before creation, God is, and He is Light. What the Lord creates is perfect and reflects His nature. So something must have happened between verse 1 and 2. This has been a topic of discussion among theologians for years. Some talk of a pre-adamic race which resulted in the origin of demons. Some say this was the era of the dinosaurs with the ice age destruction of life. I tend to believe that this scene was the result of the fall of Satan and his angels. They were cast out of heaven to the earth and thus brought confusion, darkness and an emptiness into existence.

If this is the right interpretation of this phenomena, then the earth needed to be re-created. In verse 3, we see the first act of God in restoring the heavens and earth to their divine purpose. God said, “Let there be light.” This was the first day, (or phase), in putting creation back in order. This act of separating Light from darkness was not the creation of the natural light, giving by the stars, moon and sun, because they were created on the fourth day, but rather a spiritual separation, or, in other words, sanctification. Boundaries were established for the darkness so that the light could rule.

I see this pattern of creation working still today in our lives. Before a new creation can occur, there must be a separation from sin and the destruction caused by it. Just as Satan’s sin destroyed God’s original plan and needed to be re-created, so man’s sin destroyed God’s plan for man and he needed to be re-born. The first step of the new birth is repentance. This is the “Let there be light” separation from darkness. Light and darkness don’t mix. They are distinct and separated. Without repentance there is no belief and thus no salvation. Faith is not a result of the mental acceptance of truth, but rather of a change in direction and mindset.

After repentance, then God can begin creating all His “good” stuff in our lives. You must leave to be able to enter. You must let go to be able to lay hold. When we walk away from the darkness into the Light, then we can experience what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God. This is when God says: “It is good!”

Scriptures to meditate on: John 1.1; Romans 12.1-2; II Cor. 5.17; Acts 2.38; 3.19; I Peter 2.9.