Laboring in Vain

Psalms 127:1-2 - "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

In vain you rise early and stay up late,toiling for food to eat—

for he grants sleep to those he loves.

So often we wear ourselves out for nothing. We do things God has not asked us to do. We take burdens that God has not asked us to carry. We strive in our own wisdom and strength. We work with all we have, but void of the power of the Holy Spirit. We come up with our own solutions to the problem we face, and not even consult God.

I know that we have done this many times. I remember when we went through financial troubles, months on end. We tried to solve them in our own strength by launching different business endeavors in Haiti that each fell flat on its face. Then we heard the Word of the Lord. God said, did I send you to Haiti to make money? You need to trust me. I will meet your every need. We then stopped striving in our endeavors. Guess what, we lack not good thing.

The House of the Lord

Psalms 122:1 - "I rejoiced with those who said to me,

“Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

I love this verse. There is no greater place to be than with the saints in the presence of the Lord. Yet, I am afraid that many a Christian has lost their love of coming together with other believers and offering up sacrifices of thanksgiving, and worshiping the Lord our God.

We as individuals are God's house (temple), but are part of the greater house of believers. The doors of the church are less frequented in many developed countries because we are more focused on our busy lives than the life of the body of Christ.

Hebrews 10:25 - "not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

We need each other more than ever as the days are becoming more blatantly wicked and Christ return is more eminent.

We can meet together in small groups, but when we do this only, we miss out on greater body ministry.

When I speak of the greater body ministry that often is lacking in small groups, I speak of a lack of:

- the five fold ministry which God established for his church.

- local and world evangelism.

- solid Bible teaching.

- accountability to the larger body of Christ.

- rubbing shoulders with people who are different than you (iron sharpens iron)

- a full worship experience.

Don't get me wrong I am not opposed to cell groups/home groups, but I am opposed to home groups alone. Cell groups/home groups have many pluses. Yet, home groups should be connected to the greater body of Christ, the local church. In the same way, a local church should be connected to the universal body of Christ.

Many believers confuse a house church with a home group. A house church is biblical and healthy as long as it functions as God's church and fulfills the great commission.

Steadfast Heart

Psalms 112:6-8 - "Surely the righteous will never be shaken;they will be remembered forever.They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes."

The righteous will never be shaken, and have no fear.

Why?

It is because of their steadfast hearts,

Why do they have steadfast hearts?

They have steadfast hearts because they are righteous and trust in the Lord.

Two sources of fear is the fear of being found out, and the fear that comes from lack of trust in God.

Do you have a steadfast heart?

Beauty in Holiness

Today I was reflecting in my devotions on the holiness of God. It is this holiness that makes him beautiful.

Psalms 29:2 - "Give unto the Lord the glory due to His name;
Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness." (NKJV)

True beauty is not outward but inward. Yet, we spend so much time on the outward and neglect the inner beauty. True beauty is the holiness of God shining through us.

If you are wanting to attract others to you, they will be drawn to you by your holiness. Any who are attracted to you by your outward appearance alone, you don't want them. Then there will be those few who are repulsed by your holiness and you are better off without them.

Are people drawn to you because of your holiness? What kind of people are attracted to you?

God's D-Day

Things were pretty messed up in the world into which the Savior was born so many years ago. The nation of Israel was under the oppressive boot-heel of the Romans. They had no rights, they paid oppressive taxes, and justice was non-existent.  But, “when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son…”  (Gal. 4:4)  The world was a mess, but God was working out His eternal plans.

God is working out His eternal plans right now, in 2015.  He has not been caught off guard. In fact, the plan He is at work in executing today, is the exact same plan He initiated more than 2000 years ago. Here is the plan:

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given;

And the government will be upon His shoulder.

And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace

There will be no end,

Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

From that time forward, even forever.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.  (Isaiah 9:6-7)

These are not just comforting words that appear on Christmas Cards. The whole idea of Christmas is not quite as peaceful and tranquil as the sentiment of the season might indicate.  Yes, we rejoice, yes we take comfort, yes we receive hope because He has come.  But, this coming that we celebrate each December was God’s D-Day invasion on the shores of a world held under the control of an evil power. It was the beachhead by heaven that would soon spread to the whole world. Our Champion, Jesus Chris, came to do mortal combat with the enemy and win our freedom.   A child is born (Mary’s child, a man), a Son is given (God’s Son, Emmanuel), and THE GOVERNMENT shall be upon His shoulder.  Do you see it?  The Kingdom of God is a government headed by Jesus Christ our Lord! After the description of Him, and how this Kingdom would be far different than the oppressive government of Satan, we read: “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” (Isaiah 9:7)

He is still the Lord!  He is still on the throne. The difference is that His ever-expanding Kingdom is bigger now than it has ever been before. Of the increase of His government and peace…there will be no end! The guarantee of this is the zeal of our very own Lord. He will do what He says He will do.

We are, it would seem, nearing the end of the struggle of the ages between the Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness.  The outcome is sure. Though nations rage and people imagine vain things, He remains our Champion, our King and the Lord of all lords.

Child Likeness

I love reading the gospels. There are so many profound statements that Jesus made. One of these is found in Mark 10:15 - "Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”
We need:
Simple & unwavering faith that is uncluttered.
Simple love that is unconditional.
Simple hope that believes all things are possible.
Simple trust in the father's love and security.
Simple eagerness to please the father.
Simple wholeheartedness - not holding back.

QUENCHING THE WORK OF GOD

In Mark 5:1-20 - We find a story where Jesus delivers a man from demon possession and sends the evil spirits to go into a herd of pigs that results in all the pigs being drowned.

After the people of the area see this great power displayed, they ask Jesus to leave their area because they were fearful. I believe they were fearful on two levels. The first being that they couldn't comprehend the power and workings of Jesus. Secondly, they feared further loss. As result, instead of embracing the work of Jesus and rejoicing in the mans deliverance, they rejected it.

Many non-believers and believers do the same thing. When God (Holy Spirit) does something that doesn't fit into their theological belief (box), they quench the Holy Spirit or out right reject it as not being from God. Also, when it is uncomfortable to them or inconveniences them, they don't accept the work of the Lord. If it is going to disrupt their personal life or hinder them from accomplishing their personal objectives, they ignore the work of God or out right reject it.

We must be open to the work of God and embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We must not be fearful, quench or reject the work of the Lord when:
- we don't understand the work.
- it does not fit into our nice little belief box.
- it disrupts our life.