Language of Obedience

Obedience builds and strengthens faith. We see this several times in the Scriptures. Moses,Ezekiel, Hosea and Jonah did not fell like doing what God had asked them to do. In fact, every heartbeat within them was impelling them do do otherwise. Yet God said they were to obey. The remedy was not to do God's will becuase they felt like doing it, but just to do it and their faith would be strengthened.

When Moses demanded proof that God has indeed called him, God said, "I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain" (Ex 3:12) The proof of God's call was after the obedience, not before.

This language of Obedience may be the most difficult of all the languages we speak, one that rises above our feelings but utters volumes of faith. There are times when a difference arises between my wife and me. I have watched her stand tall at those times, and I have seen triumph of her love vanquish any dark and petty inclination. She is never afraid to reach out and resist the ugly trap of stubbornness.We do, we obey, we yield, we submit to God, even when our natural inclination wants to drag us in the opposite direction.

Under the threat of death Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego stood their ground and were sure God would deliver them. "But even if he does not," they said "we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods and worship the image of gold you have set up" (Dan 3:18) I suggest that our secular society has lost its ability to feel God because it has lost its ability to obey Him.

Psalm 119:33-34

33 Teach me, LORD, the way of your decrees,
that I may follow it to the end.[a]
34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law
and obey it with all my heart.

From "Masterwork" week of July 24th, Cries of the Heart

To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain

"For me to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).

The secret of a sound body is a sound heart, and the prayer of the Holy Ghost for us is, that we "may be in health and prosper even as our soul prospers."

We find Paul in the Epistles to the Philippians expressing a sublime and holy indifference to the question of life or death. Indeed he is in a real strait, whether he would prefer "to depart and be with Christ," or to remain still in the flesh.

The former would indeed be his sweetest preference, but the latter would be at the same time a joyful service. His only object in wanting to live is to be a blessing. "To abide in the flesh is more needful to you."

Having reached this state of heart, it is beautiful to notice how quickly he rises to the victorious faith necessary to claim perfect strength and health. Because it is more needful to you that I abide in the flesh, he adds, "I know that I shall continue with you all, for your furtherance and joy of faith." Lord, help me to-day to "count not my life dear unto myself that I may finish my course with joy and the ministry that I have received of Jesus."

You will Receive from the Lord

Phillipians 6:8 - Knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord Whether he is a slave or free

Throughout the Bible, the Lord promises that he will generously reward His children for "whatever good" they do, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem. Faithful service yields staggering blessing.

Taking Care of our earthly vessel

We are to take care of the bodies God has given us. It is a gift from Him. He has given us the earth to subdue it and to eat the fruits of it. In the US we live in gluttony. We have fresh fruits and vegetables to nourish our bodies. If you go to the grocery store 80% of what you see is processed. We need to turn from our ways and take care of our bodies.

God created the earth; HE told us to fill the earth and Subdue it

What an amazing God we have. His word is living and active. I am in complete awe of the every aspect of it and how it controls everything in the Universe.

Genesis 1:28 has been in my mind over the past few weeks. I kept thinking about how it says "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it." God has created the earth for us to subdue it. To learn about it, to figure out how we can be a part of it and learn about God through it. So many times this world "Earth" subdues us with its wordly pleasures. But we are supposed to subdue it by God's power. We are not subject to the earth when we have the power of God, the earth is subject to Him and he has created us to subdue it.

Scriptures on Evil of Humanity

Luke 11:13 (King James Version)
13If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Genesis 8:21 (New International Version)
21 The LORD smelled the pleasing aroma and said in his heart: "Never again will I curse the ground because of man, even though [a] every inclination of his heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done.

Ephesians 4:18 (New International Version)
18They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (New International Version)
4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

Giving up Things so you cannot return - 1 Kings 19

Sunny Shelton in Sunday school yesterday taught on 1 Kings 19. In it Elijah was in a desolate place. He was running for his life and he was in a cave - a dark place - and wanted to get out. God appeared to him in a silent whisper not a huge exciting event. God wants us to listen to him on a daily basis, he meets us where we work, in what we are doing and urges us to take action. If we don't we may stay in that dark place for a prolonged period.

Elijah went to anoint Elisha as his replacement as a prophet. When he told Elisha, Elisha was plowing fields with his oxen. Elisha went back to his family, slaughtered the oxen so he could not return back to his old profession and became Elijah's attendant. He left no remains of his former work that he could return to, he went all in.

If we are going to be God's servants, we are going to have to listen to his gentle whispers and not expect fireworks to go off every time we are called to do something. We also have to give up things in our past, comforts and pleasures that we once depended on. We have to set it up so we cannot return to them if we know God has called us. We need to go all in .