Trust God in the Dark

Isaiah 50:10-11 - "Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?

Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light,

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.

But now, all you who light fires and provide yourselves with flaming torches,go, walk in the light of your fires and of the torches you have set ablaze.This is what you shall receive from my hand:You will lie down in torment."

A friend of mine shared on this verse. It is a very powerful verse that talks about putting our trust in God and not other things. The people of Israel were going through a dark time in their history due to their disobedience, and rebellion. They were making sacrifices to false gods / idols. They were thinking that the very thing that was destroying them could save them from destruction. Yet, it brought them torment instead.

Where do you put your trust?

Do you put it in your capability? Do you put it in others capability? Are you lighting your own fire or torch? Are you trying to save yourself, and find your own way?

The Bible says faith without works is dead. (James 2:20) We have a part that we need to play. We have things we need to do. On the other side of the coin, works without faith is dead works. If we are scurrying around in in our own strength and wisdom, it will only bring a false security, and more often then not, it will not end well with us. God is not pleased when we don't obey and trust Him. He is not pleased when we don't listen to His voice or direction.

We live in dark times. We may even feel that we are living in the dark. Things may make no sense to us. We may see trouble everywhere we turn or look. Disaster or death may be knocking on the door. In all of these things we need to trust and rely on God and no other thing. We may be in the dark. We many not see clearly the way ahead, but darkness is as light to our God. (Psalms 139:12)

Devotional Thoughts #4

1. Matthew 9:29 - According to your faith, it will be done to you.
2. Matthew 10:22 - He who stands firm to the end will be saved.
3. Matthew 10:37 - We are to love God more then our own family.
4. Matthew 10:38-39 - Whoever dies to self will live.
5. Matthew 11:12 - Forceful men lay hold of the kingdom of heaven.
6. Matthew 11:28-29 - It is only in Christ that our soul finds rest as we spend time with Him and yield to Him.
7. Matthew 12:37 - For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
8. Matthew 12:33-35 - What is in us will come out be it good or bad.
9.Matthew 15:7 - Let us not nullify the Word of God for the sake of our traditions.
10. Matthew 15:9 - Guard against teachings that are only rules taught by men.
11. Matthew 16:18 - Hell will not overcome God's church.
12. Matthew 16:19 - "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
13. Matthew 16:25 - " For whoever wants to save their life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it"
14. Matthew 17:21 - The faith of a mustard seed is able to move mountains.
15. Matthew 18:19 - " Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."
16. Matthew 19:29 - A rich reward awaits those who forsake all and follow Christ in obedience. 
17. Matthew 20:26 - Christ mission and ours is not to be served but to serve.
18. Matthew 28:18-19 - In Christ we have all heavenly authority.
19. Mark 4:18-19 - Do not let the worries of life and desire for other things to choke the Word of God. 
20. Mark 4:40 - Fear shows lack of faith.
21. Mark 8:34 - Before we can follow, we must deny ourselves.
22. Mark 11:24 - " Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."
23. Mark 16:17-18 - Those who believe in Christ will walk in the power of God and under His protection.
24. Luke 3:9 - We are to produce good fruit.
25. Luke 7:7 - God only needs to speak the word, and one will be healed if we only believe.
26. Luke 11:10 - "For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
27. Luke 12:21 - Store up spiritual riches.
28. Luke 12:22-26 - Our life is God's hands, no need to worry.
29. Luke 14:11 - " For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
30. Luke 14:12-13 - Be kind to the needy and all people. 
31. Luke 14:25-34 - To be Christ's disciple, we must give up everything and follow Him.
32.Luke 16:10-13 - those who are trustworthy with little will be entrusted with more.
33. Luke 17:4 - " Even if they sin against you seven times in a day and seven times come back to you saying ‘I repent,’ you must forgive them.”
34. Luke 17:10 - " So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.’”
35. Luke 18:27 - " Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
36. Luke 18:29-30 - " “Truly I tell you,” Jesus said to them, “no one who has left home or wife or brothers or sisters or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of God ³⁰ will fail to receive many times as much in this age, and in the age to come eternal life.”
37. Luke 21:12-19 - Stand firm in the midst of persecution and trials and you will gain life.
38. Luke 21:33 - " Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away."
39. John 3:18 - "Our salvation is dependent on our faith in God's son, and nothing else.
40. John 3:27 - It is God who determines the scope of our ministry or service.
41. John 3:30; 4:1 - God may choose you to usher in another ministry that is greater than your own.
42. John 4:13-14 - "The Holy Spirit in us is a spring welling up to eternal life.
43. John 4:34 - " My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work."
44. John 5:19 - Jesus did only what he saw His Father doing, and the Father shows Jesus all He does.
45. John 5:21 - Jesus gives life to whom he pleases. Life is in his hands.
46. John 5:22 - "   Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son,"
47. John 5:44 - We are not to seek the praise of men, but God.
48 John 7:5 - Often those who are closest to you have the least faith in you.
49. John 7:16 - Authoritative teaching comes when we speak only what the Father asks us to speak.
50. John 7:18 - "  Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the one who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him."
51. John 9:3 - Sometimes God allows a person to have a physical ailment so that the work of God might be displayed. 
52. John 9:4 - "As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work."
53. John 10:10 - " The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
54. John 10:27-28 - God's sheep listen to His voice and receive eternal life.
55. John 12:24-25 - We must die to self to produce lasting fruit and harvest.
56. John 12:42 - Do we fear man more then God?
57. John 12:49 - Are your words directed by the Holy Spirit?
50. John 13:34-35 - “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
51. John 14:6 - " Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
52. John 14:12 - " Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father."
53. John 14:13 - " And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
54. John 15:5 - " I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."
55. John 15:7-8 - " If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples."
56. John 16:33 -   “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
57. John 17:23 - Christ desires complete unity among believers.
58. Acts 17:28 - " For in him we live and move and have our being.’.........."
59. Romans 1:16 -  For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile."
60. Romans 1:17 -   For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
61. Romans 1:20 -  "For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
62. Philippians 4:6-7 -  "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
63. Hebrews 2:17 " For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."
64. Matthew chapter 25 - As God's people ae are to be waiting for the fullness of Christ's kingdom to be revealed. As we do this, We need to be ready, watchful, faithful, good steward, fruitful, righteous and loving.
65. Exodus 32 - Threat of reprisal or judgement is not enough to change us.
66. Romans 2:29 - Our hearts must be circumcised by the Holy Spirit.
67. Romans 3:20 - " Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."
68. Romans 3:22 - " This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,"
69. Romans 3:23-24 - " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,  and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
70. Romans 4:17 - " ............ the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.
71. Romans 5:3 - " Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.
72. Romans 5:5-7 - We should no longer be salves to sin, because we have died to sin, and are alive in Christ; therefore, sin shall not be our master.
73. Romans 6:23 - " For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in^[a] Christ Jesus our Lord."
74. Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"
75. Romans 8:5 - " Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
76. Romans 8:9 - " "You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ."
77. Romans 8:18 - " I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
78. Romans 8:26 - " In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans."
79. Romans 8:28 - " And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose."
80. Romans 8:35-39 - Nothing can separate us from the love of God. 
81. Romans 10:9-10 - "If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. ¹⁰ For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved."
 82. Romans 11:33 - God's knowledge and wisdom is beyond us.
83. Romans 11:36 - "For from him and through him and for him are all things."
84. Romans 12:1 - "  Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
85. Romans 12:2 -  "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
86. Romans 12:3 - Do not think more highly of yourself than you ought.
87. Romans 12:9 - " ...   Hate what is evil; cling to what is good."
88. Romans 12:10-11 - "Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord."
89. Romans 14:9 - "Christ is Lord of both the dead and living."
90. Romans 14:22 - So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.
91. I Corinthians 1:10 - " ......agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought."
92. I Corinthians 1:31 - " ......    “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
93. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14 - God's truths are spiritual and are discerned spiritually by the hlep of the Holy Spirit.
94. I Corinthians 4:4-5 - It is God who judges the motives of the heart, not us.
95. I Corinthians 4:20 - "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
96. I Corinthians 6:1-4 - The church is to judge its own disputes.
97. I Corinthians 6:12 - " I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything."
98. I Corinthians 6:13 - " ... The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."
99. I Corinthians 10:26 - " for, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.”
100. I  Corinthians 11:3 - God ordained a hierarchy as follows - God, Christ, Man, Woman.

Victory Over Death and Sin Happened on the Cross

I Corinthians 15:21-22 - "For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

Many people think the victory over death and sin was won on the day of Christ's resurrection from the day. This is not true. The victory was one on the day of His death. The resurrection was the proof of who He is, and proof of His victory, but it was not on that day he was victorious. The victory was won on the cross. Jesus

John 19:28 - " Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.”

John 19:30 - "When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit."

The complete work of Christ was not completed on the day of His resurrection, but on the day of His death. This is why it is called Good Friday.

Matthew 27:51-53 - "At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people."

People were brought back from the dead before Jesus resurrection, but didn't come out of the tombs, and show themselves until Jesus was resurrected.
If Christ had not risen, we would not have any hope of being resurrected, but our resurrection was won on the cross. Our victory was in His death.

God has called us to reign with Him

Matthew 28:18 - "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me."

This same authority is given to all his saints. We have all authority in Christ.

Matthew 18:18 - "Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

This authority is based on two conditions.

Zechariah 3:4 - "The angel said to those who were standing before him, “Take off his filthy clothes.”

Then he said to Joshua, “See, I have taken away your sin, and I will put fine garments on you."

1) Accepting the salvation found only in Jesus the Christ. When we are born again, God takes away all our sin. We receive the righteousness of Christ. This is the position of His saints

2) It comes out of a life of obedience to Christ. We have the power of the Holy Spirit, but it is released in faith and obedience.

Zechariah 3:6-7 - "The angel of the Lord gave this charge to Joshua: 7 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘If you will walk in obedience to me and keep my requirements, then you will govern my house and have charge of my courts, and I will give you a place among these standing here."

When we walk in obedience to the Lord, we will govern, and be given charge of the things of God. It wasn't enough for Joshua the priest to be cleansed, but he needed to walk out his cleansing. The Bible says that all who are in Christ are priests. Yet to walk in the authority of the priesthood, we must live lives of obedience.

You may not be a Christian leader in the church, but we all have our area of influence. God is looking for men and women who will govern their homes and work places under the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. He is looking for those who will take charge of their neighborhood or city in the spiritual realm, as they live a life of obedience.

Iron Sharpens Iron

Proverbs 27:17 - "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another."

 

How does this play out in our lives?

 

It plays out as we rub shoulders with all kinds of people, the good and the not so good. We can be sharpened through good people who speak into our lives. We can be sharpened through people who irritate us, and who are not easy to love. We are sharpened by people who don't think like us, and may even oppose us. 

 

The idea here is that friction is not necessarily a bad thing. It can be a very good thing. Yet, we must not resist the master (God) who is using that very thing to refine us. We must not run from the friction, but embrace it. 

 

Now no one likes the process, but we must learn from the process. If we don't, we the blade will get all nicked up and dull. Then become ineffective or useless to the master. 

 

I find a problem among many Christians today. They don't want to fellowship with other Christians, especially those who don't believe or think like them. They don't want anyone to hold them accountable. They only want to be around people who are like minded, and easy to get a long with. This is one of the reasons many believers don't attend church or enter into fellowship with other believers. Also, it is one of the reasons why there is so many church defections. 

 

Now I am not opposed to us having fellowship with people who are like minded, and easy to love. Yet, if this is the only people we surround ourselves with, then we are not being honed to the sharpness that is most beneficial.

 

Thankfully, we can never avoid all those people who rub us the wrong way, no matter how hard we try.

Let us not go up here without your presence

Exodus 33:15 - Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

I love this verse. God told Moses and the people of Israel to go possess the promise land, and declared that He would not go with them because they were a stiff necked people. In response, Moses says, we need your presence. Moses understood the importance of God's presence. He understood that it was God's presence that distinguished the people of Israel from all the other nations.

In the same way, it is the Holy Spirit and His abiding presence in our lives that distinguishes us. We have an advantage over Moses, God's presence is always with us. Yet, we often don't give place to His presence (Holy Spirit). We need to cultivate the presence of God in our lives through prayer, meditation on God's Word, and fellowship with other believers.

It is not our outward appearance that distinguishes us, or our own righteousness that distinguishes. It is not even what we do. It is giving the presence of the Holy Spirit its rightful place. Yes, God's abiding presence will be seen through our actions. While any good action that does not come from the Holy Spirit workings will not distinguish us. It will fall flat because it is produced in the flesh and often hypocritical. Also, other will sense the presence of the Lord in your life, and see the genuineness of God's Holy Spirit in you. Those who are open to the things of God will be drawn to you, and those who are resistant will be repelled by you.

Exodus 34:29 - "When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord."
As we spend time with the Lord, we to will radiate His presence. People will see His glory even our face.

A dose of humility

Sometimes we need a dose of humility. Read I Corinthians 1:26-30.

 

Don't forget where you have come from. Don't forget that all you are accomplishing is by God's grace. Don't forget that if it wasn't for Jesus you wouldn't be who you are or where you are.

 

I Corinthians 1:31 says, "Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

 

God has used a lot of messed up people to accomplish His purposes.

- Jacob the deceiver.

- Moses who was a coward, murderer, and not eloquent in public speaking.

- Gideon the coward. 

- The pride of Samson, and foolish love.

- David an adulterer, and murderer.

- Rahab the prostitute who protected the spies of Israel.

- The cowardly, doubting and sometimes clueless disciples, and many were not well educated or came from the well known or the wealthy families.

- Paul who persecuted the church.

- Don't forget the whale God used to turn Jonas around and the donkey that God used to speak to Balaam.

Finally, when you look at church history through the ages, God has used all kinds of people who were failures and unqualified to further His kingdom. He uses them because they have to depend on Him only. He does this that He might receive the glory.

A word of caution, do not use this as an excuse to fail or sin. God does seek godliness and excellence in all we do. Yet, what God seeks mostly is those who are willing to give their all to Him, and allow Him to use them. 

 

Oh yeah! You people who are oozing with talent (abilities), confidence, and living a life that is pleasing to God. God is able to use you tremendously if we give Him control of all the greatness in us. 

Romans 12:3 - "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.