Off my chest...

The Lord rules the nations. Let your anguish and prayers and laboring be in obedience to Jesus, crucifying the flesh with its desires. Let your focus be on the things that are unseen and eternal (souls) rather than the seen and temporal (governments and ills of this world). Though nations fall and crumble, HE reigns on high. Do not be troubled by this world, HE has "overcome this world" and does ALL things "in conformity to the purpose of His will." We have sadly resigned from the responsibility of obedience, caring for the needy, proclaiming the gospel and making disciples and turn this task to the state of our American culture. We see post after post on how the nation should humble itself and pray and how we need to get the nation back on track and return to God. Yet the hearts of this nation do not belong to God. They are sinful and cannot perform such a task. And we, in our laziness, apply the "don't work, don't eat" rule to the lost. We have adopted the "save yourself" mentality and think we accomplished something because we are "good people." Obedience is not "being good." Obedience is pursuing the master's will each second of every day, asking "Lord, how will you have me walk today, what steps shall I take and in what direction shall I go?" Do you take every opportunity to make known the goodness of our Lord? Do you "study (your word) to show yourself approved, a workman who needs not be ashamed"? Do you show your love by obeying what the Lord has commanded, a task we can perform with gratitude for being though worthy? Do you take your allegiance to Christ further than Facebook posts and Sunday mornings?

"...for his dominion is an everlasting dominion,
and his kingdom endures from generation to generation;
all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing,
and he does according to his will among the host of heaven
and among the inhabitants of the earth;
and none can stay his hand
or say to him, “What have you done?”"
(Daniel 4:34-35, ESV)

"For kingship belongs to the Lord,
    and he rules over the nations."
(Psalm 22:28, ESV)

"The king’s heart is a stream of water
in the hand of the LORD; he turns
it wherever he will."
(Psalm 21:1, ESV)

"He changes times and seasons;
he removes kings and sets up kings;
he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge
to those who have understanding;"
(Daniel 2:21, ESV)

What is man that you are mindful of him?

Let me state that I, in no way, feel that God needs my defense. No, he is more than capable of defending himself, his word, and his truth. I am writing this blog in response to a growing perception in the American Church to hopefully detour people from falling into this deep, ugly and erroneous pit. The idea that God is "in charge but not in control." How insulting.

Somehow, we have searched and sought so diligently to make man into more than what God created. Humbly examining who we are in the realm of creation is not to deny God's care or his love. In fact, it should magnify his greatness and the greatness of his love in our minds and hearts. There are people who teach the doctrine of 'little gods,' perverting the truth that we were created in the image and likeness of God. Yes, we are created in his image, but we do NOT possess his attributes. 

A well known pastor behind a quickly growing movement in the US has been quoted as saying that "God is in charge, but not in control." He further has been quoted as saying that he refuses to "accept a theology that allows for sickness." He and many others teach doctrines related to wealth, health, prosperity and supernatural acts by believers. I do not deny that God moves and blesses and demonstrates his glory. Hear my words. I am simply saying that he (along with many) seem to have made a god of the signs, wonders, and gifts of our precious Holy Lord. 

There is this growing trend for Christians to pursue 'moving in the supernatural' and to seek the gifts of the Spirit more than the Spirit of God himself. While we should seek all the things that God has provided for us, we are to "seek FIRST his kingdom." God must be the ultimate aim. There is a subtle, almost invisible, sickness affecting many in the pursuit of these supernatural abilities. It is called "self."

This agenda seems to have its focus on making much of man and his talents. There is this push to pursue one's highest potential. To be all you can be and do all you were created to do. These ideas propagate a focus shift of believer from God to self. These are culturally acceptable sayings and ideas that, on the surface, sound innocent, even great. This is how the enemy deceives, by present a fruit that is good for eating and holds promises for selfish gain. Discussing someone's potential and purpose sounds great, especially in the American culture. But is it our potential we pursue or Christ?

Please don't misunderstand my words, knowing your potential and purpose are important. The key is with the instrument one uses to measure and define these words. In our culture, your potential is your untapped ability to success. It is defined as "a latent excellence or ability that may yet be developed." Potential, according to the world rests on each person. Because of the influence of culture, in the church, potential is used to discuss what each person can contribute to the body. This breads partiality, comparison, and pride.

Your potential, in Christ, is not your untapped ability, but your level of obedience to Christ and his word. Our potential is not what we can do or achieve as individuals, but is found in our yielding to God and his power to work through us. We are to be the vessel, not the well. If we were a well, we'd run dry far too soon. The question that sums it up is, "Are you on a selfish pursuit of potential and success, or a selfless pursuit to make Christ known in all the world?". Your joy and satisfaction in Christ in the midst of trial speaks profoundly about the majesty of Christ. Don't waste or discount your sickness and suffering. God has purpose in everything you endure. He is in charge AND in control. We can marvel at his greatness in this knowledge, rather than try to marvel in the greatness of man in his selfish pursuits.

Trusting a Sovereign God

Most Christians, if asked, will say they believe in a sovereign God. However, in their daily life God is generally (and sadly) reduced to a force that is limited by human free will. For some, to believe in a completely sovereign God is to deny human free will. On the other hand, some would say that to acknowledge human free will would be to deny God's sovereignty. Outside of the discussion of this relationship, are other topics that conflict with God's sovereignty such as the idea of chance and whether or not God actively controls the weather and geological phenomenons like earthquakes. Some say that God is powerful enough to control everything, but that he has set things in motion and is just an observer. Others argue that he is much more active. These are questions that we all have to deal with when studying God's word and examining his promises for us. This is where it gets tricky.

This is a topic that God has had me mulling over for a while now. I have been really seeking his word for answers and to increase my faith. God has shown me so much through the scriptures, my faith is ever-increasing as I study. "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word."

First, God drew me to Isaiah, so let's begin there. If you have time, I suggest you read Isaiah 42-45. However, I will only point out a few verses. In verses 5 and 6 of chapter 42, we see that God created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. He gives breath to its inhabitants and even our spirit comes from him. He promises to take our hand and to keep us. In chapter 43 we find that God formed Israel and created its people. He has called them by name and given them promises to protect them. God tells of his love for them. God says in verse 7 that they were created for his glory. In chapter 44, God further tells of his love for Israel and makes many promises for protection and provision. God tells us that there is none like him. Chapter 45 is the icing on the cake. In verse 7, we see that God forms light and creates darkness. We see that he makes well-being and creates calamity. That everything is subject to his will.

In all this, we must remember that God, even though completely sovereign, is never unjust, unrighteous, or evil. He is perfect and he is good. We can trust that he ordains both good and evil in this life and in this world in order to establish his good and perfect will. He does not create evil, but God does ordain evil to carry out his purpose. Everything is subject to God's authority. "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for my good."

Here's some additional reading: Psalm 135. Verse 6 says that "whatever pleases the Lord, he does, in heaven and on Earth, in the seas and all the deeps." At the end of Proverbs 16, we see that "every decision is from the Lord." In Revelation 17:17, it is said that "God has put it into their hearts to carry out his purpose..." What we have to see here is that God's will is sovereign. It will happen. Either by his active hand or his purposeful allowance. In Daniel 4:35, we see that God "does according to his will among the hosts of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand..."

So, why is God's sovereignty important to grasp and understand? It is necessary to understand God's sovereignty if we are going to put our faith in our Heavenly Father. If we are supposed to trust in the promises made in scripture, we must believe in a God that can bring about those promises, or else they were made in vain. We are so tempted and so eager to hold on to our "free-will" and our freedom, all the while, forgetting that the more freedom we claim for ourselves, the less we can logically trust in God's promises to his children. Tell me, if God has plans to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us a hope and a future, how will this promise be kept if people around us choose by the power of their "free-will" to steal from us, harm us, take away our hope, and destroy our future. Who's will is greater, man's or God's?

I believe it was Randy Alcorn who used this analogy: Think of a child and his father, both at home. Both have free-will. Both have desires and choices. However, one has authority. The child can make his own choices, seek his own desires, however his choices and his ability to seek his desires are subject to the authority of his father. The father's will is sovereign in the home. He holds the authority. And, so it is to an extent like this for Christians. We enjoy free will only to the point that it coincides with God's sovereign authority. And this is necessary if we are to believe that the word of God is true, active, and will not return void.

I have to trust in God's sovereignty to fulfill his promises to forgive
my sins, to sanctify me, and in the end to glorify me. Forgiveness, sanctification and glorification are things we cannot accomplish on our own. We depend on him to do it and can trust he will. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23, we see a prayer that "the God of peace himself sanctify [us] completely, and may [our] whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls [us] is faithful; he will surely do it." He is faithful. We can be sure that he will do it; Christ is the one who will himself sanctify us and keep us blameless until his return. We can trust this promise because we can trust in God's sovereignty to make it happen. God is surely mighty to save and to carry out his perfect will.


For further study:

How to Increase my Faith
We must strive to maintain the assurance of our salvation by
holding our faith in Christ and His word. We must seek to build our
faith so that we do not lose hope. Romans 10:14-17

Our Responsibility in His Sovereignty
To watch and pray (Matt. 26:41). To seek God above all else (Matt.
6:24). To love others more than ourselves (Phil. 2:3). To flee from sin and
pursue righteousness (2 Tim. 2:22). To bear good fruit (Gal. 5:22-23).

Scared - The unjust anthem of the modern believer

This weekend, I attended a men's conference that taught about 'legacy.' It was a great word on what I would consider modern manhood from a Godly perspective. It was such an edification to my spirit and a motivation to my walk with the Lord. The speaker gave a moving and truthful presentation on obedience to God and His call on our lives. He talked about loving God and how obedience is the method for communicating love to the Father. He spoke about humility and vision; perseverance and endurance. But what brought great thought to my spirit was his commentary on courage and confidence. You know, the 'manly' stuff.

He quoted Hebrews 10:35, supplementing the word saying that, "resiliency is built through endurance." (Did you know that the more wind a palm tree must endure during the growing seasons, the stronger the palm tree becomes and the deeper its roots plant themselves into the ground?) He propones that confidence is the result of your history, your experiences, your memories. Because of what you have seen and now know, you are confident in your understanding. He taught from Deuteronomy 8 to show how God reminded the Israelites of His provision and His presence before leading them into the Promise Land. Our memories are the foundation to our confidence, as we remember how God led us through our own wilderness; how God tested us for our own benefit, to realize of our strengths and talents in Him; how God provided for us in times of need; how God disciplined us and softened our hearts because of His love of us. These memories and experiences provide basis for our confidence in Christ.

I believe word confidence is a reference to our faith or, I would even dare to suggest, our faithfulness. The suffix "ence" is the "act of" or "attribute." The prefix "con" mean to be "with." And the root of the word comes from the latin word, "fe," or "faith." The term literally means to act with faith, or to have the attribute of faith. Faith, as the word describes, is the "substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things unseen." Faith is a 'knowing' without the need for material proof. Confidence is victory over fear and doubt, and I believe that fear is the ultimate oppositional force to God's will for our lives. Within this force, I feel are two types of fear. Fear as a result of doubt, and fear as a result of ignorance. Both will hinder what God is doing in your life, unless you conquer them with the power of God's word and submission to the Holy Spirit.

The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy; and his greatest tool is fear, used to bring doubt in your mind and heart regarding the truth of our creator, His holy word. Confidence or the attribute of Faith is the manner in which you conquer fear that is rooted in doubt. Your memories of God's hand on your life and your focus on His word is how you grow in confidence. Doubt is the basic struggle to operating in and realizing our salvation. The Bible tells us that if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouths, we shall be saved. Doubt is the disease that attacks our salvation, because if we lose our faith, we lose our hope. Colossians 1:27 refers to Christ in us, as the 'hope of glory.' To lose hope, is to lose our connection with Christ. This is not to say that if you doubt, you are not saved. No, we all face doubt because we are human. But, in the face of doubt we must choose to remember God's will and focus our hearts, mind, and meditation on his provision and his promise. This is how we battle our doubt and hold on to the promise of salvation.

The question remains, though, is salvation alone our goal? Don't get me wrong. Salvation is an amazing miracle and should never be under-valued. However, is it enough to simply believe. Your belief, your love, and your passion for and in Jesus Christ should be the motivational force behind every accomplishment, goal, and ambition in your life. Are you acting or sediment? God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. "For I knew you before I formed you in your mother's belly," Jeremiah 5:1 and then he further defines our purpose in 29:11, "for I know the plans I have for you..." Combating this purpose is the second line of attack in which the enemy uses fear to destroy God's will for our lives. This is where courage comes in.

Courage was the main topic of the final session at this conference. The context came from Joshua 1:1-x. God spoke to Joshua after Moses had died and encouraged him in this new role God had appointed him to as Moses's successor. God affirmed the promise of presence, telling Joshua, "just as I was WITH Moses, I will be With you." When we contemplate the will of God in our lives and the call He has spoken to our hearts, it is easy to become consumed with fear. Not necessarily the fear rooted in doubt, but that which is rooted in ignorance, the unknown. The way be battle this fear is through God-given courage. To take strength in the understanding that in our weakness, God is powerful enough to fill the gap.

I heard a quote in a very manly, action packed movie called, "The Princess Diaries," that really struck me. The young princess finds a letter from her Dad written to encourage her in her new role of Princess of Genovia. She was full of fear, not knowing if she could adequately handle the responsibilities and difficulties of this "call," if you will. (see, I told you it was manly.. ok, maybe not, but it is very relevant) He told her that "courage is not the absence of fear but rather the judgment that something is more important than fear. The brave may not live forever but the cautious do not live at all." When it comes to the God ordained call or purpose of our lives, it is important to understand that fear of the unknown (all the how's involved, the inexperience, the mystery of what lies ahead) is normal and human. But you must make the decision that God's kingdom is more important than those fears. To take the steps of faith, spurred by your confidence in God's might, to accomplish his will for your life.

This idea of walking confidently and courageously as a believer, is what I was most challenged with at this conference. God provided much revelation, and has strengthened my desire for more of his word. I have made a game plan for myself to grow in these principles. To live life in such a way to positively affect those around me. To see God's plan for my life revealed and to walk in obedience to His call. Because if we choose not to do or be what God has spoken to our hearts, we are operating in disobedience. I will leave you with this quote from the speaker, as a challenge to you. "The more you procrastinate obedience, the more you become complacent in your disobedience... It is better to die surging ahead [toward God], than to drown in apathy and complacency."