Isaiah 41:19 "...and the oil tree..."
God promises to bring the oil tree where it shouldn't be able to grow. The oil tree or the olive tree represents two things, but for the purpose of today's blog entry I would like to concentrate on only one- peace and fellowship. Ps. 133:1,2 states how good and how pleasant it is to live together in unity. There will not be many people who do not desire to live together peacefully and in unity. There is only one I can think of who does not like us to live together in unity. It is the Enemy of our faith.
You see, he knows according to Jesus' prayer in John 17:20-23 that it is by our unity that others will know and believe that God sent Jesus. This unity cannot come from ourselves, in verse 22 Jesus says, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them that they may be one just as We are one." It is through His glory, His anointing, His life , we have the ability to be one.
Romans 12:14-18 gives us a good formula for practicing unity. I think the part which jumps out at me the most is "do not be wise in your own opinion." The longer we are here on earth, the more opinions we form. Whether the opinions be on the far left or the far right- whether they be conservative or liberal- they are simply opinions. According to the dictionary and opinion is " a personal view, attitude, or appraisal."
How careful we must be not to be crusading for an opinion and lose sight of the One who has prayed for us to walk in unity! Preach Christ and Him crucified; it seems so simple and yet it is the key to unity.
Let that olive tree spring up even today in your life. Ask God to bind us together in unity and love for one another.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
The Merciful presence of God
Isaiah 41:19 "...the acacia (shittim) and the mrytle ...."
It is amazing to see what God can do, when we allow Him to be in charge. As we continue to allow the Holy Spirit to purify us, we see more things sprouting up in the wilderness. Too often we want to continue to hang around in our desert or wilderness, even though we see His divine road signs directing us which way to go. We want to keep going on our way and then we wonder why we are so dry inside.
He keeps directing us to enter His merciful presence. The shittim or Acacia tree was used to build the Ark of the Covenant. It also was used to build the table of shewbread and the altar of incense. These were articles in the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. They were representations of God's presence as well as participation in His presence. At that time, only the priests could enter the Holy place. Now we are all part of the royal priesthood. We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace in our times of need. (Heb 4:16)
When we are at our worse, we need to run in to His presence and allow Him to shower us with His grace and mercy. Why is it we always wait until we think we are 'good enough' before we come to God? Ephesians 2:8&9, remind us, we are not entering with our own works. We are able to approach God because of what Jesus did on the cross.
So, are we just going to enter His presence? What do we do there? The myrtle tree was used in the feast of the tabernacles (booths, ingathering). It acknowledges God as provider and Savior. It expressed joy and a humbleness of heart. It was a reminder of obedience to God's ways. There was a time of forgiveness and reconciliation.
In entering God's Holy presence, we will see our lack. We will be humbled. However, we will also see His unconditional mercy and love. We can rejoice in His unfailing love and mercy. We can revel in His grace. He has forgiven us so we can now go out and be forgiving and merciful to all those around us. We need to allow the acacia and myrtle to be evident in our lives. Watch as it springs up and starts bringing life not only to ourselves but to those around us.
It is amazing to see what God can do, when we allow Him to be in charge. As we continue to allow the Holy Spirit to purify us, we see more things sprouting up in the wilderness. Too often we want to continue to hang around in our desert or wilderness, even though we see His divine road signs directing us which way to go. We want to keep going on our way and then we wonder why we are so dry inside.
He keeps directing us to enter His merciful presence. The shittim or Acacia tree was used to build the Ark of the Covenant. It also was used to build the table of shewbread and the altar of incense. These were articles in the Holy place and the Holy of Holies. They were representations of God's presence as well as participation in His presence. At that time, only the priests could enter the Holy place. Now we are all part of the royal priesthood. We are encouraged to come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace in our times of need. (Heb 4:16)
When we are at our worse, we need to run in to His presence and allow Him to shower us with His grace and mercy. Why is it we always wait until we think we are 'good enough' before we come to God? Ephesians 2:8&9, remind us, we are not entering with our own works. We are able to approach God because of what Jesus did on the cross.
So, are we just going to enter His presence? What do we do there? The myrtle tree was used in the feast of the tabernacles (booths, ingathering). It acknowledges God as provider and Savior. It expressed joy and a humbleness of heart. It was a reminder of obedience to God's ways. There was a time of forgiveness and reconciliation.
In entering God's Holy presence, we will see our lack. We will be humbled. However, we will also see His unconditional mercy and love. We can rejoice in His unfailing love and mercy. We can revel in His grace. He has forgiven us so we can now go out and be forgiving and merciful to all those around us. We need to allow the acacia and myrtle to be evident in our lives. Watch as it springs up and starts bringing life not only to ourselves but to those around us.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
God's Purity in a wilderness
Isaiah 41:19 "I will plant in the wilderness the cedar...."
God promised to plant trees in this wilderness we are in. What is this wilderness? It is a place where we feel destitute and forsaken. It is a place where sin and impurity seem to have the upper hand. Everywhere we look we see chaos and confusion. It also is a place where we feel spiritually dry. People betray one another, lives are taken, and hope is trampled upon. In the midst of this God wants to raise up a standard of holiness. A ruler by which we measure our lives. We are those 'cedar trees' (Holiness) springing up in this wilderness!
The Cedar tree is an evergreen tree. It was used in cleansing and to build the temple. In fact, it was used to build the Holy place. When we think of the cedar tree as an evergreen tree, and we relate it to the idea of holiness, we realize holiness is not a seasonal thing. We don't get to decide when we want to be holy and when we don't want to be holy.
I Peter 2:9 says we are part of the royal priesthood. How are we to rise up and be who God wants us to be? Ps. 92:12-14 says "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing."
We are to be 'planted' in the house of the Lord. We will 'flourish' in God's presence. As we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, we will see changes in our lives. A thankful spirit protects us against bitterness, discontent, murmuring/complaining, faultfinding, doubt and unbelief. (Col 4:2) Without these things pulling us down we will be able to flourish in a dry and thirsty land.
Finally, as we are planted and flourish, we will 'bear fruit in old age.' Our lives will be a living testimony to those around us. We will bear the fruit of the spirit- peace where there is fear, love where there is hate, joy where there is sadness, faithfulness where there is no more loyality, etc.
God has a standard of holiness and He desires to raise us up as cedar trees all over the world. Why would we want to be stunted in our growth by clinging on to things of the past? Why would we want to hold on to memories, habits or behaviors which are only drying us up internally? Hebrews 12:1 says we are to lay aside any weight or sin which will hold us back from doing what we need to do. We must release ourselves to God and allow Him to do His work within us so that He can raise us up to stand firm in a time of great uncertainity.
God promised to plant trees in this wilderness we are in. What is this wilderness? It is a place where we feel destitute and forsaken. It is a place where sin and impurity seem to have the upper hand. Everywhere we look we see chaos and confusion. It also is a place where we feel spiritually dry. People betray one another, lives are taken, and hope is trampled upon. In the midst of this God wants to raise up a standard of holiness. A ruler by which we measure our lives. We are those 'cedar trees' (Holiness) springing up in this wilderness!
The Cedar tree is an evergreen tree. It was used in cleansing and to build the temple. In fact, it was used to build the Holy place. When we think of the cedar tree as an evergreen tree, and we relate it to the idea of holiness, we realize holiness is not a seasonal thing. We don't get to decide when we want to be holy and when we don't want to be holy.
I Peter 2:9 says we are part of the royal priesthood. How are we to rise up and be who God wants us to be? Ps. 92:12-14 says "The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bear fruit in old age; they shall be fresh and flourishing."
We are to be 'planted' in the house of the Lord. We will 'flourish' in God's presence. As we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise, we will see changes in our lives. A thankful spirit protects us against bitterness, discontent, murmuring/complaining, faultfinding, doubt and unbelief. (Col 4:2) Without these things pulling us down we will be able to flourish in a dry and thirsty land.
Finally, as we are planted and flourish, we will 'bear fruit in old age.' Our lives will be a living testimony to those around us. We will bear the fruit of the spirit- peace where there is fear, love where there is hate, joy where there is sadness, faithfulness where there is no more loyality, etc.
God has a standard of holiness and He desires to raise us up as cedar trees all over the world. Why would we want to be stunted in our growth by clinging on to things of the past? Why would we want to hold on to memories, habits or behaviors which are only drying us up internally? Hebrews 12:1 says we are to lay aside any weight or sin which will hold us back from doing what we need to do. We must release ourselves to God and allow Him to do His work within us so that He can raise us up to stand firm in a time of great uncertainity.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
A River of Life
Isaiah 41: 17, 18 -"The Poor and Needy seek water but there is none, Their tongues fail for thirst. I, the Lord, will hear them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will open rivers in desolate heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys; I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water."
Following last week's blog, I just kept feeling so strongly to continue along the topic of God doing amazing things here and now. Isaiah 41:17-20 jumped off the pages of the Bible at me. I've done studies on this portion of scripture before and preached on it before, but it is so relevant now.
When I read verse, 17, I thought, "I sure do feel at time that I am thirsty in this place." There is so much around to satisfy the mind, body and emotions but nothing to really quench the spiritual thirst. God sees the thirst. He hears and He will not forsake us; He will quench our spiritual thirst.
It is amazing to see God so willing to pour out water into every area of our life. In verse 18, He puts refreshing water in areas which are normally impossible to reach- the desolate heights, the midst of valleys, in the wilderness and in the dry lands.
John 7:37, 38, 39-- "....Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him' By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him will later to receive." (NIV)
He is pouring out His Spirit, the refreshing water, for all those who are thirsty. We don't have to be spiritually dehydrated; He wants to pour out the refreshing waters of His Spirit. What does that mean? How will His Spirit quench our thirst?
The Fruit of the Spirit will bring peace where there is turmoil, joy where there is sadness, love where there is hate. It will fill up the empty places in our heart. It will bring healing where we need healing.
The Gifts of Spirit will cause us to not only be whole ourselves, but to allow that living water to flow out to touch others. As we walk in the Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, and Discerning of Spirits, we will be able to let God use us to touch other people's lives. There are so many who are thirsty for the real thing. They've been given imitations and they are tired of the fake; they want the authentic power of God to touch their lives. As His Spirit flows from within us to those around us in our work place, at school, or even at home we will be able to see the Gift of miracles, Gifts of healing and Gifts of Faith in action. Nothing will be too hard for God to do. When we are tired and drained, we simply throw ourselves on God and allow His Spirit to pray through us the way He only knows how to. (Romans 8:26,27)
The refreshing water of the Holy Spirit is only the beginning. As I look through the rest of verses in Isaiah 41, I see God has so much more for us.
Following last week's blog, I just kept feeling so strongly to continue along the topic of God doing amazing things here and now. Isaiah 41:17-20 jumped off the pages of the Bible at me. I've done studies on this portion of scripture before and preached on it before, but it is so relevant now.
When I read verse, 17, I thought, "I sure do feel at time that I am thirsty in this place." There is so much around to satisfy the mind, body and emotions but nothing to really quench the spiritual thirst. God sees the thirst. He hears and He will not forsake us; He will quench our spiritual thirst.
It is amazing to see God so willing to pour out water into every area of our life. In verse 18, He puts refreshing water in areas which are normally impossible to reach- the desolate heights, the midst of valleys, in the wilderness and in the dry lands.
John 7:37, 38, 39-- "....Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, 'If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him' By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believe in Him will later to receive." (NIV)
He is pouring out His Spirit, the refreshing water, for all those who are thirsty. We don't have to be spiritually dehydrated; He wants to pour out the refreshing waters of His Spirit. What does that mean? How will His Spirit quench our thirst?
The Fruit of the Spirit will bring peace where there is turmoil, joy where there is sadness, love where there is hate. It will fill up the empty places in our heart. It will bring healing where we need healing.
The Gifts of Spirit will cause us to not only be whole ourselves, but to allow that living water to flow out to touch others. As we walk in the Word of Knowledge, Word of Wisdom, and Discerning of Spirits, we will be able to let God use us to touch other people's lives. There are so many who are thirsty for the real thing. They've been given imitations and they are tired of the fake; they want the authentic power of God to touch their lives. As His Spirit flows from within us to those around us in our work place, at school, or even at home we will be able to see the Gift of miracles, Gifts of healing and Gifts of Faith in action. Nothing will be too hard for God to do. When we are tired and drained, we simply throw ourselves on God and allow His Spirit to pray through us the way He only knows how to. (Romans 8:26,27)
The refreshing water of the Holy Spirit is only the beginning. As I look through the rest of verses in Isaiah 41, I see God has so much more for us.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
New Things
Isaiah 43:18-19 "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." (NIV)
Have you ever wished you could forget some of the things you did in the past and start all over again? In these verses, God talks about not holding onto the past but embracing the new things which He is about to do in our lives. Wow! Isn't that wonderful? Sure it sounds wonderful, but what are these new things He plans to do?
God wants to bring new hope, new vision, and new opportunities. It says He will make a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. In the natural it is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. This is evidence of the miracles He wants to perform in our lives. He wants to bring the life of Christ into areas of our life which we thought were dead. He wants to stir up spiritual gifts which we thought were lost. He wants to resurrect talents we thought were gone. He desires to give new gifts, new talents, and new anointing.
If He is so willing to do all these things for us, why is it we aren't seeing them? If we look a little further down to verse 22, it says, "Yet you have not called upon Me....." He is wanting to do so much in our lives, but we just are not interested. He says, He hasn't even put a heavy burden on us or huge requirement and yet still we choose not to call out to Him. We choose not to honor Him and His ways. Why do we choose not to be open with Him?
We argue that we are open to Him. We even assure ourselves we are fulfilling all our "Christian duties." This is not the solution. What is the solution? In Revelation 2:4, Jesus says, "Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love." We have to come back to the intimate love relationship we had with Jesus. We have to come to the point where nothing else is more important than Him. Once we put Him first in our lives and all that He has for us, we will see new things taking place in our life!
Let us open ourselves to Him and expect Him to do great things, in us and through us.
Have you ever wished you could forget some of the things you did in the past and start all over again? In these verses, God talks about not holding onto the past but embracing the new things which He is about to do in our lives. Wow! Isn't that wonderful? Sure it sounds wonderful, but what are these new things He plans to do?
God wants to bring new hope, new vision, and new opportunities. It says He will make a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. In the natural it is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. This is evidence of the miracles He wants to perform in our lives. He wants to bring the life of Christ into areas of our life which we thought were dead. He wants to stir up spiritual gifts which we thought were lost. He wants to resurrect talents we thought were gone. He desires to give new gifts, new talents, and new anointing.
If He is so willing to do all these things for us, why is it we aren't seeing them? If we look a little further down to verse 22, it says, "Yet you have not called upon Me....." He is wanting to do so much in our lives, but we just are not interested. He says, He hasn't even put a heavy burden on us or huge requirement and yet still we choose not to call out to Him. We choose not to honor Him and His ways. Why do we choose not to be open with Him?
We argue that we are open to Him. We even assure ourselves we are fulfilling all our "Christian duties." This is not the solution. What is the solution? In Revelation 2:4, Jesus says, "Yet I hold this against you: you have forsaken your first love." We have to come back to the intimate love relationship we had with Jesus. We have to come to the point where nothing else is more important than Him. Once we put Him first in our lives and all that He has for us, we will see new things taking place in our life!
Let us open ourselves to Him and expect Him to do great things, in us and through us.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Mark My Words
One of the passages I read for my Sunday sermon was II Timothy 3:1-9. Even though the passage was not my entire sermon, it just kept coming back to me this week. I couldn't get away from how the Apostle Paul started out by saying , "Mark this...." (NIV) , "But know this..." (NKJV), or "Don't be naive...there are difficult times ahead..." (The Message). It definitely implies this will surely happen. Yet, we don't seem to pay much attention to these verses hidden in the midst of the book of Timothy.
The Apostle Paul described what it will be like in the last days. People, both Believers and pre-Believers, will find themselves in various levels of giving into self. For many who 'think' they are believers, they are simply holding to a form of godliness but denying the power of God. A form of godliness is just a form of religion. True Godliness is based on a relationship with God.
Paul advises us to be careful of this influence. The influence which finds us wanting to please ourselves rather than please God and follow His ways. It is not so much staying away from people or a person, but rather the "Spirit of the Age." Some may come in the name of Christianity, but if they are not acknowledging God's sovereignity in our lives than they are simply playing "Christian dress up."
So I kept thinking, what can we do to guard ourselves? As I read further, II Timothy 3:10-17, I found the key. It is simply that we need to ..."continue in the things we have learned"...."know who you are learning from" and "know the scripture." Don't depart from the foundational truths of the Word of God. Seek Him and Him only!!
The Apostle Paul described what it will be like in the last days. People, both Believers and pre-Believers, will find themselves in various levels of giving into self. For many who 'think' they are believers, they are simply holding to a form of godliness but denying the power of God. A form of godliness is just a form of religion. True Godliness is based on a relationship with God.
Paul advises us to be careful of this influence. The influence which finds us wanting to please ourselves rather than please God and follow His ways. It is not so much staying away from people or a person, but rather the "Spirit of the Age." Some may come in the name of Christianity, but if they are not acknowledging God's sovereignity in our lives than they are simply playing "Christian dress up."
So I kept thinking, what can we do to guard ourselves? As I read further, II Timothy 3:10-17, I found the key. It is simply that we need to ..."continue in the things we have learned"...."know who you are learning from" and "know the scripture." Don't depart from the foundational truths of the Word of God. Seek Him and Him only!!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
All My Friends
I've always wanted a way to communicate with everyone spread out all over the world. It never occurred to me to create a blog. Yesterday, I was talking to Pastor Matt Krachunis, who has a blog, and he encouraged me to write a weekly blog. This seems like a great way for me to share my thoughts with all of you.
Looking back over this past year, I realize I'm at a point where I am starting all over again. Now I'm in Renton, WA starting a new church and I'm back at square one. It almost feels a bit unsettling because there is nothing solid or secure. There are times I look for something to hold onto to feel secure in this new place but I find the only security is in Jesus.
The key I learned in 2008 is that God wants us to continually believe in Him and trust Him for greater things. There is never a time we arrive at a place where we just settle in and don't need to change or believe God for greater things. It is easy to settle into a routine. It feels comfortable. I've found myself in the comfort zone many times, and I believe God has brought me here to come out of my comfort zone and to continue to walk by faith. I'm still learning, growing and believing. It is assuring to know God will always be there and be my anchor.
I hope my weekly updates will be an encouragement to you. God Bless you!!
Looking back over this past year, I realize I'm at a point where I am starting all over again. Now I'm in Renton, WA starting a new church and I'm back at square one. It almost feels a bit unsettling because there is nothing solid or secure. There are times I look for something to hold onto to feel secure in this new place but I find the only security is in Jesus.
The key I learned in 2008 is that God wants us to continually believe in Him and trust Him for greater things. There is never a time we arrive at a place where we just settle in and don't need to change or believe God for greater things. It is easy to settle into a routine. It feels comfortable. I've found myself in the comfort zone many times, and I believe God has brought me here to come out of my comfort zone and to continue to walk by faith. I'm still learning, growing and believing. It is assuring to know God will always be there and be my anchor.
I hope my weekly updates will be an encouragement to you. God Bless you!!
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