STTA post

Obedience or Accusations?

Fri, 2 Oct 2009 11:42:32 -0400

Obedience... I think we all can say to some degree that this is something we struggle with. Simply for the fact that our flesh wars against the Spirit.

Galations 5:17 in the NLT states it like this...The old sinful nature loves to do evil, which is just opposite from what the Holy Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are opposite from what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict.

I'm going to take you back to the book of Isaiah. Isaiah was a man with a mission. The Lord had shown him a glimpse of His glorious throne and placed a call on his life. As a prophet, he spoke God's words. For the most part, these were words of confrontation, exhortation, and warning––words that made him extremely unpopular. But even when he faced opposition Isaiah continued to stand up for the truth. The Lord had called him to warn the people of their headlong rush into disaster. The book records his prophetic words of warning, but it also records Isaiah's words of promise and hope. One day, a Messiah would come who would save, comfort, and bless His people.

We know that this prophesy has already taken place the Messiah has already come. That we who surrendered our lives to him are saved. Here is where our walk with God starts, here is where the your old nature (which is the flesh) wars against your new spirit (the Holy Spirit of God). It is at these times that God is calling us to Obedience to Him.

I am only going to list certain passages from this to give you a understanding because it is very lengthy. We need to learn from the children of Israel. So that we do not fall into the same things they did. And, we will if we continue in disobedience. Sin has a price. Sin becomes blinding and it slowly hardens your heart. Their will be repercussions from it.

2 Listen, O heavens! Pay attention, earth!
      This is what the Lord says:
   “The children I raised and cared for
      have rebelled against me.
3 Even an ox knows its owner,
      and a donkey recognizes its master’s care—
   but Israel doesn’t know its master.
      My people don’t recognize my care for them.”
4 Oh, what a sinful nation they are—
      loaded down with a burden of guilt.
   They are evil people,
      corrupt children who have rejected the Lord.
   They have despised the Holy One of Israel
      and turned their backs on him.
5 Why do you continue to invite punishment?       Must you rebel forever?    Your head is injured,       and your heart is sick.  6 You are battered from head to foot—       covered with bruises, welts, and infected wounds—       without any soothing ointments or bandages.  7 Your country lies in ruins,       and your towns are burned.    Foreigners plunder your fields before your eyes       and destroy everything they see.

Then down in verse 16 He tells them
16 Wash yourselves and be clean!       Get your sins out of my sight.       Give up your evil ways.  17 Learn to do good.       Seek justice.    Help the oppressed.       Defend the cause of orphans.       Fight for the rights of widows.
These are some of the things that disobedience and sin has caused them not to do. (Not to do good, Not to help the oppressed, Not to defend orphans, Not to fight for widows.) You know when we sin against God we give the enemy opportunity to blasphemy God... In 2 Sam we are reminded of time when King David was disobedient and gave into the lust of his flesh, committed sin with Bathsheeba and had her husband killed. King David repented so the Lord did not take his life. The word says..

2Sam12:13-14 “The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die. 14 However, because by this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme.

Have you given occasion for the enemy to blaspheme God? I know their are times when I have and it hurts me knowing that.

Revelation 12:10 Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, “Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.
So, here we see our enemy is bringing Accusations before the Lord day and night. Put your life up against that, look into your life and see if their are any Accusations to be brought before the Lord against you? Obedience is a vital part of our relationship with God.
Now, lets look in contrast to what he says to those who are obedient...

19 If you are willing and obedient,
      You shall eat the good of the land;
The obedient are not effected like the disobedient are they? They are doing what God has called them to do and are being blessed.

In Ch 3 Isaiah tells of judgement and chaos in Jerusalem.
8 For Jerusalem stumbled,
      And Judah is fallen,
      Because their tongue and their doings
      Are against the LORD,
      To provoke the eyes of His glory.
       9 The look on their countenance witnesses against them,
      And they declare their sin as Sodom;
      They do not hide it.
      Woe to their soul!
      For they have brought evil upon themselves.

But, look at verse 10..
10 “ Say to the righteous that it shall be well with them,
      For they shall eat the fruit of their doings.

If you are being obedient God is a righteous judge. He is going to take care of you. A loving father taking care of His children. Keeping them in times of chaos and times of trouble that are going on around them.

Think of all the chaos and trouble in the world around us right now. This is a great time to reflect on your life. Do you see Obedience or, Accusations to be brought against you?

That’s Something to THINK About!

Psalm18 1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;  My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;   My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;  So shall I be saved from my enemies. 28 For You will light my lamp;  The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness. 29 For by You I can run against a troop,  By my God I can leap over a wall. 30 As for God, His way is perfect;  The word of the LORD is proven;   He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

Is He really your God?

Fri, 7 Aug 2009 10:50:10 -0400

A psalm of David
Psalm 63:1
O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;

O God, You are my God;
There are many things in this world that can become Gods to us. (Things that we put first.) Things that we put more importance on in our lives than Him who gave us life itself. Here David tells God, You are my God! And, we see in the next statement how David backs this up with action...

Early will I seek You;
“Early will I seek” This statement in the greek is one word shä·khar', it’s an action verb meaning to seek earnestly, or to look diligently for.

What is the first thing you do when you awake from sleep in the morning? What is it that you are seeking and putting the most importance on?

David does state “Early” I don’t personally think this means we need to get up at 3am. We all have different schedules. But, I do think that whenever we do awake, God should be the first thing that we seek. He is the one we should look to before we start our day. Will that mean we have to get up a little earlier to do this? For most of us I think the answer may be yes. So, I definitely get the early part. (Early compared to when I would normally get up and not have time to spend with God.)

So, early to me means “God first” backing up with action that He is truly my God. And, this means their must be enough time for communication to take place. (Remember communication is two ways. Wait to hear.) It is of great importance! God has your best interest in mind and knows what is best for you. He truly Loves you! Do you Love Him?
Is He really your God?

That’s Something to THINK About!

praying in Jesus name

Tue, 7 Jul 2009 21:19:34 -0400

“In Jesus Name” Is this just something we say? Is this just something we tag on the end of a prayer? Not that this is bad. But, I believe there is more to it than just a saying at the end of a prayer. Let me explain...

The bible tells us that whatever we do, do all in the name of Jesus.
Col 3:17 And [whatever] you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

So, praying in Jesus name is what we are instructed to do. But, I would like to challenge you to THINK a bit deeper about this. Here is what I mean.

The apostle Paul, in chapter 6 of his letter to the Ephesians states, that he is an ambassador in chains to the gospel...

18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

An ambassador, by definition, is a person who acts as a representative for someone else.

In 2nd Cor 5:20 Paul states that we are ambassadors for Christ...

2nd Cor5 20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

So, now that we see in Gods word that we are ambassadors for Christ this means that when we pray; we are representing Jesus... as though God were pleading through us!

Realizing this truth means praying in Jesus name is way more than just a tag line! Knowing what’s going on in your own life and in the lives of your friends, family, and others God has put around you... What do you THINK Jesus would be praying for and pleading for, through you?

Could THINKING of this change the way you pray?