Monday, November 29, 2010

Grow

I have a plant that is almost twenty years old. I recieved it for my twenty second birthday. It has been in the same container the whole time. It's growth has been intentionally stagnated to keep it from out growing the room in which it is stored. We as believers grow from one faith to another faith in Christ. I believe God moves us so that we gain increase and never out grow where we are at any given point. The next trial always seems to be greater than the last. The coming season seems to last longer the the previous one. That plant could be much larger than it is right now but because it has not been moved, it is much smaller than it should be. Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:(Phil. 1:6) God is constantly working in our lives to produce the maturity that will allow us to be productive in His kingdom. The next faith we obtain wiill equip us for the next trial we endure.

Have you ever heard the saying, "Don't send a boy to do a man's job?" When Jesus was twelve years old He was found in the temple. While in the temple He amazed the priests with His knowledge and the way He expounded on the Holy Scriptures (Luke 2:47). Despite His knowledge of the Word of God He was not ready or the time had not come to enter into His ministry. Jesus responded to Mary when she found Him after three days. And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business? (Luke 2:49) Knowing who we are does not give us the right to ministry. The Scripture tells us that Jesus grew from that point in wisdom, stature and favor with God and man. Jesus followed the process of growth. It would be seventeen years until He does a miracle or calls a disciple. He didn't rush His anointing or force His way into ministry. He waited for His appointed time.

Faith is a container that allows us to grow. By faith we are enabled to please God. (Heb. 11:6) When our faith moves us from one place with God into another we are responsible to grow in that place. Waiting on the Lord is a process that takes place during the growing season. We learn how to renew our strength. We learn how to use divine providence and continue to make forward progress dispite obstacles. He will move or even transplant in due season. The next place will be different from the current one and by faith we grow to achieve the goal which is favor with God. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.(Rom. 1:17) There is only one thing left to do at this point. Grow.

Today is the Day

We spend a lot of time thinking about our past and future, along with the decsions we have made. All of those things shape how we feel about our right now. We may say to ourselves, "If only had gone to college, or why did I allow myself to get pregnant so soon?" Life is filled with choices. The way we percieve them matters. We can not just stop living and start over at a different place in life. Starting over is a reality only for those who accept God's plan of redemption. At that point our past does not matter and our future is already determined (Jer. 29:11).

The way we think about ourselves is not able to add anything to our lives. Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? (Matt. 6:27) Nothing we do is able to change the past or modify our physical make up. What we can do is trust Christ and allow Him to direct our paths. Too much time is wasted worrying about yesterday's mistakes and the consequences of tomorrow. Let the grace of God for tomorrow handle the things of tomorrow. Use the strength you were blessed with today for today's issues. Tomorrow is not a promise (Jas. 4:13-14). Worrying about tomorrow is not an investment. It is actually being wasteful. Take better care of the time God has given and trust Him to provide. We will either be blessed with the grace that is sufficient for the trial or blessed to be in His presence. Either way, those who have been redeemed are assured blessing in this life or the next. That is a promise that lasts. Are you prepared? See http://www.streetsquad.org for more details.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

He Waited for Me

In His infinite wisdom, He chose a day and a time
Not for you only but also for mine
My life was in shambles, I was deep in sin
Struggling without knowing, dying from within


Lost without assurance and no sense of belief
His grace was escaping, for me no relief
One day I heard, a word being explained
He's coming back; yes, His son already came


For the weak and the weary a savior was born
Man's inherent sin a relationship torn
Mending broken fences walls torn down
There's no more partition, He wears the crown


If I can believe Him, I too will be saved
Only He knows the hour or the day
Regardless of my past or the sin that had me bound
There is an escape cause He wears the crown


I violated His law, I was worthy of death
Instead He called me close, and gave me rest
Under His shade I stand, not knowing the day
My sin is forgiven, He made a way


Forever gratefull, I wait at His feet
That day at the rapture, we shall meet
I don't know now, but then will I see
The one that loved me enough to wait for me


- Aaron Easter

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Forfeiting the Promise

Over the years I have heard ministers say that we can not avoid or do anything to be excluded from the blessings of God. While I know the His promises are sure, I have to ask myself, "Is there a way I can cut myself off from God's promise?" I have been searching the scriptures for the answer and found that we can in fact lose out when it comes to receiving the things of God. I have witnessed the saints being promised cars, new homes and all types of financial blessing. The people of God would leave the service with the expectation that all they had to do was keep living and the blessing would one day fall on them. The day will eventually come to pass and the saint will look up and see God's blessing has been bestowed upon them.

The children of Israel were directed into the wilderness after 400 years of captivity in Egypt. The Israelites were promised the land of Canaan. They were taken to the vicinity and told to send spies to survey the land. Twelve spies were sent and a report was given. The scriptures describe the report as evil because it focused on the obstacles to overcome rather than the blessing of the land. (Num. 13:32) I often find there is little warning given to the saints of God. We are not told of the trial that brings forth blessing, only the blessing. This causes believers to become unwise in pursuit of God. If I am aware that trouble is on the horizon I will not be surprised or disappointed when I experience it. On the other hand if I am not warned I assume safe passage into the blessing and a struggle free apprehension of the promise.

The Israelites were expected to trust God despite the obstacle. The issue was, they never expected an obstacle at all. Regardless proper response is necessary when we are tried. I have failed because I felt blindsided by trouble and became frustrated because I assumed a safe passage would be granted. I have since learned that safety is in our faith not in our situation. Our situations are not designed to always meet us at the level of our trust in God. He wants more and we should be willing to offer more. Moses was given the task to bring the people out of Egypt and into promise. God knew very well the difficulty of the task Moses was given. Twice Moses was faced with angry thirsty people that were looking to obtain a great promise. They grew consistently frustrated with the journey and the trials they had to face. Moses was instructed to bring forth water from a rock two times. The first time he was instructed to strike the rock and it would yeild it's water (Exodus 17:5-6). Moses w followed the instruction and the water was released. Moses was instructed to have a rock yeild it's water a second time. This time he was to speak to the rock and it would bring forth it's water (Numbers 20:7-8). Instead of speaking to the rock as instructed Moses stuck the rock. Immediately God responded to the lack of faith in Moses and showed His displeasure by declaring that Moses would not take the people into the promised land.

Having a promise from God brings with it responsibility. I once heard a minister say that simple obedience is sufficient to completed the task. This truth would have offered Moses the opportunity to enter the promise. Instead Moses struck out and as a result forfeited the promise by a single act of disobedience. Obedience to God is better than sacrifice.(1Sam.15:22) We would do well to seek the will of God first and allow His promises to be fulfilled in our lives. We don't have to produce the promise just because God said it would be bestowed. Our responsibility is to hold on in the face of temptation and remember to not become bitter or frustrated about our tests as we are moved towards the promise.

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Obedience and Faith

I have been an Information Technology contractor for over seventeen years. I have learned a lot about the processes of change and renewal. It has been almost three years and I have been working consistantly on a temporary contract. When I got here the contract was in what is called an option year. I expected the contract to come to an end eventually but I hadn't invisioned the change process. You see I am one of those who likes to be able to plan for the next task. I am a visionary by nature and would like to see the whole picture at once in order to anticipate my next steps. The scriptures say, "the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord(Psalm 37:23)." The reality is, I do not mind my steps being ordered; I just like to see where I am going. This has been the source of much anxiety in the past but praise God for growth.

In first Kings chapter seventeen the prophet Elijah was given a set of instructions. He was told to go and hide by the brook Cherith. God had already made provision for him. That was the place Elijah was supposed to go and wait for further instructions. Elijah was obedient and followed God's instruction. As a result he was sustained there for a period of time. Prior to this Elijah had a conversation with the reigning king of Israel Ahab. He told him that there would be no rain for a space of three years. At this time the dry season hadn't started. Each year in this region there was six months without rain. So, as Elijan went to hide himself at the brook as instructed it may have been flowing with a powerful surge of fallen rain and melted snow from the mountains surrounding. The command of God was in affect as the ravens brought nourishment for him morning and evening and he was able to drink of the brook all day long. The will of God was a refuge for Elijah.

As time went on and the drought ensued, the raging waters of the brook Cherith came to a quiet flow then to an intermittent trickle. The brook eventually dried up. Elijah was still there in the midst of the changes and the transition into the prayer he had prayed. After the brook dried up the Lord told Elijah to move. Elijah was instructed to go to Zeraphath. There was a widow woman there who would sustain him at this point. While in the place of ordered steps we are able to see the omnipotence and omnicience of God. It is by His power things happen and His forknowledge prepares His people. I thank Him that He has taught me to hold on to see what the end will be. My coming to know Him has enabled me to accept the places He leads me. As the environment changes I see the will and the power of God being exercised in the earth. David said, "I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.(Psalm 27:13)" He reveals His goodness through His faithfulness to those who trust in Him. When the drought pressured the land it had no bearing on the man of God. Elijah trusted God enough to allow every situation to run its course. I would to God that we become as obedient as Elijah in the midst of change and transition.

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Don't be Moved

Strength to Resist

On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery Alabama, Rosa Parks refused to obey bus driver James Blake's order that she give up her seat to make room for a white passenger. She wasn't the first to resist the wrongful acts of prejudice levied against people of color in the south. Irene Morgan in 1946, and Sarah Louise Keys in 1955 won rulings before the U.S. Supreme Court, and the Interstate Commerce Commission, respectively as it relates to interstate bus travel. As little as nine months earlier, fifteen year old Claudette Colvin refused the same request on the same bus system. These brave women did what they knew was right in spite of the request of authorities. In order to reveal truth and open the door to justice there has to be a resistance to the forces that appear to be in power. The Kingdom of God has suffered the violence of resistance from the days of John the Baptist even until now (Matt. 11:12). Christ said, "He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth no with me scattereth abroad (Matt. 12:30). If we don't choose sides one will be chosen for us.

Motivated by Truth

Acts Chapter five tell of the struggles of Peter and the other Apostles. They were imprisoned and under constant threat by the religious council. Despite their resistance they continued to spread the gospel and teach that Jesus is Lord of all. Saints motivated by truth will not look for diplomatic ways to approach a dying world. We must choose the unconventional approach of open resistance to evil. Righteous living will cause us to stand out in a crowd. What will we say when asked to move? Will we give in to the request for our consent to sin? Will we deny our faith for the sake of feeling comfortable amongst the unsaved? There will be no diplomatic exchange at the return of Christ. Christ will return in power and with great glory (Matt. 24:30). Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord(1Cor 15:58). Evangelism is not a pointless act. It is the work of Christ. He came to save the lost and to call them to repentance. Don't be afraid to speak on His behalf.