Posts Tagged ‘Bible’

Mastery Over the Believer

Saturday, July 19th, 2008

Verse: “Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.” – John 13:13

Quote: “The revelation of my growth in grace is the way in which I look upon obedience.”

Jesus leaves us free from the obligation of obedience, and give us the ability to choose. “So free that we can spit in His face, as men did; so free that we can put Him to death, as men did; and He will never say a word.” We must learn that obedience is not our duty to Christ, for He never insists upon it, but it is a result of our relationship as sons of the Father.

The Mystery of Believing

Friday, July 18th, 2008

Verse: “And he said, Who art Thou, Lord?” – Acts 9:5

Quote: “It is a matter of indifference to God’s grace how abominable I am if I come to the light, but woe be to me if I refuse the light.”

I had a rough day today.  After waking up early yesterday to play golf, I went at it all day until my buddy Rob and I went to the midnight showing of The Dark Night (I’m out in Amarillo with Rob for a couple of weeks playing some shows with him, for those who didn’t know).  We didn’t think about how late a midnight showing would go, so we didn’t get back home until 3:00am and had to get up at 6:00am to leave for Oklahoma where we’re playing at a camp with Rob’s brother, Kurt.

I felt out of it all day today, just completely out of my element.  I couldn’t focus and rehearsal went awful because my brain couldn’t stay on track.  Luckily we made it through the night without any train wrecks.  

All of this rambling to say I didn’t feel like I had anything to offer God today, but He still chose to work through me by way of music tonight.  And I am eternally grateful that He doesn’t care what shape I’m in, if I will open myself up to Him, He will use me.

I’m about to pass out staring at the screen right now, but I wanted to get this post up before I went to bed.  I should be back on track and making sense tomorrow.

Familiar Fellowship with God

Thursday, July 17th, 2008

Verse: “The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.” – Daniel 11:32

Quote: “Oh, that we may know our God by familiar fellowship with him; for then we shall be prepared to stand up for truth and righteousness.  He who comes forth fresh from beholding the face of God will never fear the face of man.”

It is the constant communication with God that us gives us resolve to resist His enemies.  When you are out of fellowship with God, it is easy to forget that He has the power to overcome all obstacles, and you stumble in fear out of separation from Him.  The second half of the above quote is so powerful; who can be against you with the awesomeness of God fresh in your spirit?

I’m headed out to an early game of golf, but I hope to expound on this, and maybe a little “more awake” editing when I get back.

The Notion of Divine Control

Wednesday, July 16th, 2008

Verse: “How much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?” – Matthew 7:11

Quote: “Prayer is not only asking, but an attitude of mind which produces the atmosphere in which asking is perfectly natural.”

Chambers believes Jesus’ emphasis was not on God giving you what you ask for, but that He can give it to you; God is all-powerful.  Always keep your mind on the idea that God is in complete control of your circumstances, and communicate to Him with that understanding.  Don’t ask blindly for everything you want, but out of the knowledge that God knows your situation and knows what’s best for you, and rest in perfect confidence that He will “give good things to them that ask Him.”  If you pray along this line, it may be that what you receive is far greater than what you asked for.

The Point of Spiritual Honor

Tuesday, July 15th, 2008

Verse: “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians.” – Romans 1:14

Quote: “Quit praying about yourself and be spent for others as the bondslave of Jesus.  That is the meaning of being made broken bread and poured-out wine in reality.”

Praying for yourself is not wrong, praying for God’s blessing and direction, etc.  But only thinking of yourself in prayer, and denying your responsibility of intercessory prayer for others is wrong.  As Christians we often forget that the only reason we are here, the reason God didn’t take us home as soon as we pledged our allegiance to Him, is to serve others and reveal the life and love of Jesus Christ.

The Account With Persecution

Monday, July 14th, 2008

Verse: “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil; but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” – Matthew 5:39

Quote: “When you are insulted, you must not only resent it, but make it an occasion to exhibit the Son of God.”

Chambers refers to this scenario, not attacking when you are insulted, as “the humiliation of being a Christian.”  In the natural world, it is only cowardice that prevents a man from hitting back, but spiritually it is the strongest thing to do.  It is not up to you to prove if a man is right or wrong, you are to take it upon yourself to do right, and not to cease.

The Price of Vision

Sunday, July 13th, 2008

Verse: “In the year that king Uzziah dies, I saw also the Lord.” – Isaiah 6:1

Quote: “It must be God first, God second, and God third, until the life is faced steadily with God and no one else is of any account whatever.”

Friends are an amazing blessing and can continually point you towards God, but sometimes God will remove people from your life to help you see Him more clearly.  No matter how godly a person is, or healthy your relationship is with them, God Himself must remain top priority in your life.

Temptation and Delivery

Saturday, July 12th, 2008

Verse: “The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgement to be punished.” – 2 peter 2:9

Quote: “But the godly are delivered out of their trials, and that not by chance, nor by secondary agencies, but by the Lord himself.  He personally undertakes the office of delivering those who trust him.”

You are going to face trials in your life and rightly so.  When you persevere, you emerge from them closer to God and with a better understanding of the life He has for you.  God insists on trials, be He also insists on being with you every step of the way.  “He personally undertakes the office of delivering those who trust him.”  That was worth repeating.

The Spiritual Saint

Friday, July 11th, 2008

Verse: “That I may know Him.” – Philippians 3:10

Quote: “The Holy Spirit is determined that we shall realize Jesus Christ in every domain of life, and He will bring us back to the same point again and again until we do.”

In my experience, God tends to work in my life on one particular area at a time until I see Christ in my actions.  There is no part of my existence that is not under the scrutiny of the Holy Spirit, and that is because there is no part that is not of use to God.  It is when we realize Christ in the most menial tasks that we truly begin to attain the attitude of the spiritual saint.

The Spiritual Sluggard

Thursday, July 10th, 2008

Verse: “Let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.” – Hebrews 10:24-25

Quote: “To live a remote, retired, secluded life is the antipodes of spirituality as Jesus Christ taught it.”

Dictionary.com defines antipodes as “places diametrically opposite each other on the globe.”  That is, two things which are polar opposites.  It is one thing to live in the perfect peace of God, it is altogether different to keep to yourself and maintain your level of comfort.  Christ never taught us to live quiet, non-controversial lives.  If we model ourselves after Him, we would be constantly stirring up contention.  Fellowship with other believers.  Act out what God puts in.  Go and live the life Christ laid out for us.