And So It Continues

Acts 19:21 - And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.

And today there still arises a great commotion about the Way. In those days the commotion was in Rome. They had heard of Jesus but the commotion arose because of their worship of the goddess Diana and the shrines of great worth, made of silver, built in her honor. If those shrines would cease to be built because of allegiance going to Christ their prosperity would be in jeopardy. That caused great concern. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship." (Acts 19:27)

Prosperity over eternal life. Worship of an image made by human hands over worship of God. Self life, which will not last, over life in Christ which will. How skewed their thinking was.

And still is. A friend of mine and I had another deep discussion about what we see happening in this world. We sense it and wonder when something will erupt. Although we don't want it, we know it is inevitable and we look forward to it at the same time, knowing that the Day of the Lord is at hand. The unrest, the insecurity of the future. You can't say it isn't noticeable. You also can't say it surprises God. He knows exactly what's happening and we, my friend and I and many others, know also. We do not know the day or the hour, but we can know the season and this is the season.

People can think I'm crazy for thinking, believing and writing about this, but I'm certain there's a day coming soon when my words, as vague as they are right now, will take on a different meaning. What we sense in our spirits will become reality. We don't know to what to expect. It won't be pretty. The other shoe is about to drop. But if we are trusting in the Lord we will be given what we need when we need it...including peace.

All I can pray is that whatever it is it is powerful enough to open the eyes of the blind, take the heads of many out of the proverbial sand and cause many to look to the God of the heavens over the gods of this earth, those idols, whatever they might be, that one is afraid to let go of or lose because they are one's identity or life. Our lives are best when we have life in Christ, the Way...which idea causes commotion.

Perhaps when disaster strikes it will cause what is perceived as life on earth to be turned to where life truly is, where it comes from. People may find the Way. The days ahead will either cause some to understand this or they will turn others into more anger or despair. I pray it turns many to God. Our life on earth is here for a purpose greater than ourselves. God has tried for thousands of years to show us this. Some have taken it seriously, some have not.

We can find many things in this world to idolize: self, money, work, sports, things. All which can be taken away (including self) in a heartbeat. It's a lie to think that we might as well enjoy it while we can because some day we will die. If we aren't focused on God and truly aware of what He has to offer and not so dedicated to the things of the world because they give us temporary pleasure, we do not have what is most important. That also means that we cannot say we know God, say we dedicate our lives to Him and then live our lives as we have always done. It's turning from the world views of prosperity, idol worship and looking only to the Lord in heaven.

I pray that the eyes of worldly understanding would see, before it's too late, the state of the current times and understand why we are going through what we are...and most importantly to what end (which Way) one needs to truly be seeking and hoping for. It's not what you have in your pocket, in your house, in your garage, even in your own mind...it's what God has...nothing else.

1John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.

Protection, Provision, Prosperity

Matthew 6:31-33 - Therefore do not worry, saying, "What shall we eat?” or "What shall we drink?” or "What shall we wear?” For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

To continue with Monday's blog on knowing we are protected, provided for and prospered (not necessarily with riches), came an article by David Wilkerson (May 19, 1931- April 27, 2011) that a friend had to show me since we had discussed this.

I truly know that He wants us to remember what He does for His people, Who He is for us, how He will provide...because His Word proclaims these things. Remember is the key word! Like Israel on a sort of different level, we forget, as I mentioned yesterday.

Wilkerson's message was called God is Going to See You Through Hard Times. It was written in the 1990's.

It may have answered the question about how He will do this. In a nutshell, the answer is, any way He needs to. Not quite the answer we would like to hear...no specifics. But it's His answer.

As Wilkerson pointed out, It's not always about food. It's about His words being ours by faith! He went on to say that when Israel began their journey in the wilderness (remember this is where my first answer all began!) all God had to do was speak, like He did to create the world, and the people were given manna from heaven. Manna was a form of sweet, coriander-like tasting seed that came down from the sky. It sustained them just fine. When questioned what it was, Moses told the people: This is the bread which the LORD has given you (Exodus 16:15).

Like the manna, Jesus is the Word of God come down from Heaven. He is to be our daily bread. His Word, within our hearts and souls, as we also discussed in Sunday school, is what will sustain us. That means Jesus must be in our lives, hearts and the depths of our souls. Jesus is the Bread which God has given us!

Wilkerson wrote: Do you want to know how God is going to preserve you in all your hard times? YES!! The answer, please! He will do it by speaking a new word, if necessary--by creating all you need by the power of His Word. All God had to do was speak the word "manna" and an entire generation of Israelites was preserved. So, whatever our need will be at the time, He will provide.

If He did it then, He will do it again. Jesus knew only to listen for His Father's voice and then obey. He did absolutely NOTHING on His own, under His own power. He waited on the LORD. If He didn't have to know until the just the right time, neither do we...or I! When He sees our need, He will provide. This is something some of us have not had to do in huge ways and probably why it's hard to comprehend.

God has known since the foundation of time what our needs would/will be. We are to seek Him first and all our needs are handled.

I had that moment of anxiety about how God would provide and would I have enough faith...and look at the words He has given me! Isn't that provision of sorts? They are the very manna from Heaven for this soul! As Wilkerson went on to write: It is to bestow on us an unshakable conviction that he is going to keep us from the power of the wicked one. It is His Word tucked away in our spirits and hearts that give us this consolation. That's why it is so important to have it engrained in our spirits. So that we will know...or we can be easily reminded.

It's still all about Jesus, the Word, our Manna, our Sustainer in all things. He is the Word we are to keep hidden within our heart.  Jesus, the Son of God, the Word that became flesh...His Word in our hearts and lives. Do you see? Know Him comes first...so you can keep Him in your heart and when you know Him, His Word comes alive and can also be planted deep within your heart. The same word that will keep us then (in heaven) is the word that is sustaining us now, Wilkerson wrote.

He went on to say The overcomers ... triumphed in the worst of times because the whole Word of God came alive...  The Word became flesh. Jesus, our Word made flesh, who saves us from all unrighteousness by the power of His Word when we receive Him.

Psalm 119:49-50 - Remember the word to Your servant, upon which You have caused me to hope. This  is  my comfort in my affliction, for Your word has given me life.

What Do I Have in Common With Joshua?

Joshua 1:8 - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it.

Now what could I possibly glean from Joshua, my groggy head was wondering yesterday morning? Joshua was a leader, next in line after Moses, chosen of God to lead His people into the Promised Land. I'm no Joshua! Or am I? Aren't we all if we are followers of Christ?

As I began to read words that were spoken thousands of years ago to a man we can only picture in our imaginations, my highlighter began to work. Then the pencil came out to underscore words. Words like I will be with you always, be strong and of good courage, observe my laws, meditate on them day and night, that you may prosper, and success, stood out.

I had a blog I'd been working on in increments over the weekend but this decidedly had to come first because it fell in line with what I'd already written, sort of as a prelude. So...Joshua. What in the world do I have in common with him, I had thought at first. Now I know.

God came through loud and clear in just the first nine paragraphs. Despite the fact I am not a man (!), I can be considered a leader. As a follower of Christ, God teaches us that He will be with us always, especially  He will never leave us nor forsake us. We find this in His Word, if we choose to look there. That message is for all who seek it. It's there for all who claim Christ as Lord and Savior. If we follow His commands, are obedient to His Word, listen to Him speak or even whisper through His Spirit or Word, we can be strong and courageous...warriors...if we trust the Lord and not ourselves in all things. The Word is our shield (Ephesians  6:16).

The LORD told Joshua in the first nine paragraphs of Chapter 1 to be strong and courageous three times. Once He even emphasized very courageous. He told Joshua that if He meditated day and night on the law that Moses commanded the people he/they would prosper, have success. The law was the Torah, the first five books of the Bible. These first five books are the foundation of the Christian religion, whether the sacrifices of so many years ago are obsolete or not. There is a correlation. Today we can see Christ in those sacrifices. Today the Word as a whole is to be our guide, God's commands to all His people who hunger and thirst after Him, after Jesus, and are obedient to His Word.

We are told to meditate on the Word day and night. We are to observe to do according to all that is written in it. The purpose...to be prosperous and successful...not in the world's way but in the way of God. He has greater things to give us through His Word and through Him if we truly seek His Word.

So, the other point that came as I meditated on these words is tomorrow's blog! He was a warrior as well as leader. He fought many battles and with God's strength won...because He observed the law that God had set before Him. Joshua did as God asked him. As a follow of Christ it is my obligation to reach others with the Gospel, to lead others to the knowledge of Jesus, of His saving grace. Sometimes that takes being a warrior. Sometimes the battle is not won right away. It takes persistence.

The Word of God is powerful, we are told. It divides the soul and spirit when it is truly received. It changes people. It pierces our hearts and shows our sin that it may bring about transformation in our lives...certainly not all at once, but enough that we might be recognized as different...a good kind of different. We are then in a lifelong process of purification and thankfully God does not quit working in us. Transformation is how I view success, prosperity and fruitfulness as we see Him work more and more in our lives.

It's all about God and His Word. Meditate on it and be successful...and fruitful.

Psalm 1:1-2 - Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.