Heels dug in

Posted on October 28, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Lord help them. Let them see Your shining Glory, whether written in the stars, on faces of children, mountains high, waters deep or a simple Autumn day. This leaves too much to chance, this life, lived for my own satisfaction. My inadequacies are your strength, but there are so many Father, it is hard for me to see where I may be used for such Holy purposes. Yet here I stand, wrapped in courage, faith and knowledge that You shall win this war and if I do nothing but stand my ground, my victory’s assured. Their slander hurts, though it should have lost all sting, just like the death which the enemy promises to bring. Did you say that I would stop caring what they say or just that I would be set apart sanctified for Your Kingdom? I often have to stop and turn my eyes skyward, reminding myself that Your return will be just as Your passing. Oh that wonderful day, when this world sees Your Glorious arrival and we, the redeemed, sit behind You, waiting to take the day.

So much less than a mustard seed of faith, as I command mountains, ignoring they refuse. I will stand and fight Father, with Your Shield, breastplate, belt, shoes, helmet and Blessed Word, knowing it is not my breath that they fear but the Word of Almighty God. If You could grant my one desire, to know that they arrived Home, because I chose to obediently look them in the eye and proclaim the Gospel, unashamed and true, Like You. There is so little in this life I may call my own, but even the small Joy I carry as proof of citizenship on High makes me the wealthiest of many and the strongest of few. For I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I love Your life Lord, not my own, may that day of our meeting come soon, but not so soon that I fail to see my loved one come to the cross in answer to my prayers. Lord Jesus, thank you.

One to ten

Posted on October 28, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

What do you think Jesus wants? That is all that matters what you have in your own head and heart about your savior. We certainly do not wish to custom design God, in direct prohibition of the second commandment, but isn’t your relationship with God totally dependent upon what you believe about Him and yourself? For instance, do you believe that the Bible is the inerrant, correct, infallible Truth, that was Holy Spirit inspired given to over 40 different writers but penned at His instruction and direction? If not, what is the nature of your disbelief, can you remember the moment when you decided you didn’t believe? Or, are you like most people that have never really studied, meditated and prayed about God’s Word, choosing to instead be shaped by what someone told you or worse yet could it be an excuse so that you don’t have to do the study work? Did you suffer the poor, boring or inadequate teaching of someone without passion for Christ and His Gospel?

Let’s agree to be totally honest with each other and in so doing, I have to agree that having a relationship with Jesus without believing the Words He preached is definitely an obstacle. Do you have the courage to test your belief and disprove the Bible or know enough about it to make a decision based entirely on your own discernment? After all eternal salvation is between you and God, although I may encourage, assist, discuss, pray with you and for you, teach or preach about Jesus, you must invariably and inevitably make a decision for or against Christ by yourself.

I know the Lord, not that I fully understand Him, because He is so beyond my comprehension I cannot begin to express, but I know Him personally in my own walk. His Word has never been wrong when put to the test in my life or the thousands of people with whom I have interacted. He is faithful and true and never renegs or bails on His Promises. Therefore, and I know this also empirically that if you genuinely seek Him He will answer you. If you are like me at all, I thought I knew what was in the Bible, so I had an opinion based on some of my parents understanding, or misunderstanding, partly influenced by my friends, my laziness and a whole lot of disinformation from men and women desperately trying themselves to run away from God. This unfortunately was often mentors, school teaches, respected writers or commentators and the like. Honestly, I never took the time to read the book and find out for myself. When I did my entire world transformed and I could no longer avoid the questions God was asking me.

For my Christian Brothers and Sisters, how did the Lord wish for us to approach the Gospel. I find this passage from 2Timothy especially instructive in clarification; Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Can I be approved in any work, even my daily job if I am ashamed at my knowledge of the job and its requirements? Will others listen to me if I loosely handle my worldly job, never taking the time to investigate the specifics, techniques or unique directions incumbent to my labor? Am I doing my best if I have just taken the word of multiple people on what is involved in success at my career? How could I correctly teach another worker about my job if I did not know it well to be considered “approved”? How could my boss expect me to teach someone else if I was ashamed and unsure of the “correct” instructive wording? Worse yet, isn’t this what God wants us to do, shouldn’t that factor be enough to make us follow through?

That is what amazes me about folks who say that they don’t believe the Bible, yet they are unwilling to show me the inconsistencies that caused their disbelief. Aren’t we talking about eternity? If even the minutest possibility existed that I would be separated from God, my family and everyone I love for eternity, I assure you I would study that information seven ways from Sunday making sure I knew what was what, especially if I were looking for a way to deny it. How then can we, knowing clearly that He expects us to study to an approved level, so that we are neither ashamed nor are we fumbling to tell/explain the truth, continue in our naivete, ignorance or unstudied position? One word, sin. Our sin continues to lure us, capture us, misdirect us, leading into the snares of abandon and the enemy. Have you ever tried once to not do what you know you shouldn’t be doing. It gets easier to resist doesn’t it, as God strengthens us through His Spirit? Why then would we hold onto small pockets of rebellion? When will we give in and truly want to know “God’s Will” for our lives, when will each of us surrender and let God finish what He started in each us?

I know you say that you do want to know His Will. If you aren’t studying to show yourself approved, not being ashamed and rightly dividing the word of God then you certainly do not wish to know His will for your life. I cannot count the times, Christians have told me that just wish that they knew God’s Will for their lives. Yet, when I ask them what they believe God wants them to do they invariably tell me clearly what they think they should be doing, yet they haven’t taken any action. Look we cannot expect God to tell us the entire story in one sitting, we must remain obedient to the directions He gives and then wait on Him for further understanding, guidance, reproof and blessing. To these people I say that they do not wish to know God’s Will for their lives because then they would be faced with the overwhelming dilemma associated with being obedient to a Sovereign Authority. My advice if you want to know God and know His Will for your life then try doing what you already know He wants you to do and wait for further revelation. How about studying the Bible so that you aren’t ashamed and can show yourself approved to handle His Truth.

Praise You Lord for the Word that may instruct, grow, foster, nurture and support all who believe. In Jesus Name.

Trust and Truth

Posted on October 27, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

They play with our trust as it is a bust upon the mantle place, moved about in whim or Feng shui. What is the truth in public life? Are we certain that we have all the information, winnowing out the deception, hyperbole and disinformation? Aren’t we left at the mercy of the most convincing thespian in the absence of substantiated fact and ideals? Could that be where we find ourselves currently stand, a point where the gifted speaker becomes the foundation of right and wrong? What does this public inclination and practice do to the power in our pulpits? Is the Word of God transformed into just words losing the Holy Spirit’s influence? Are we then left at the mercy of our own individual capacity to discern truth from fiction or deception? How then would this affect our children, are they in greater danger? What would be the outcome of leaving our education system in the hands of those who choose an alternate explanation for the origin or history of man? Is it possible that we would end up with the current disarray and ethical waffling as a result of this informative capitulation? How do we put the “power” of the Kingdom of God back into the Body of Christ? Is it even possible to re-invite Christ into a backsliden or apostate Church?

I hate the deeds of wicked men. It matters not to which group they call themselves member. Truth is truth and is not some variable for alchemical transformation. It is easy to love people, it is altogether difficult to review their behavior, actions and the worse yet, their words and find peace in your review. God does not waffle, mince, monkey or vacillate. Where we as men, desperately need to flexibility of the “gray area” in order to self-justify our actions, the truth of God stands immovable. You cannot banter with Truth and Trust or the entire fabric of civilization begins to crumble, as real common people begin to struggle with what their senses tell them and what rumor proclaims. It may not make me happy that people hate me for what I believe, but I rejoice in the fact that they know what I believe and do not have to guess at my allegiance, trustworthiness or truth. Standing upon the only dependable truth in this world, The Almighty Word of God, is the only position from which to maintain absolute clarity, transparency and trust. Every man knows the truth that is God, to ignore it is peril and leaves one scrambling to create an alternate explanation for my works. Worse yet once I have ignored the truth and convinced myself of the lie then I will feel oddly compelled to modify the beliefs of everyone around me to protect my fantasy and fragile persona.

Father forgive them for their eyes have been blinded to the Truth. Remove the veil from our eyes Lord so that their is nothing left to reveal but the foundation of Your Sovereignty. I pray these things in the Name of Jesus Christ the Ruler of Creation, the Lord of Lords and King of Kings.

Warning?

Posted on October 26, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Characteristic Names for Jesus in Revelation 2 & 3 when He is speaking to all the Christian Churches –

The Words of Him who holds the seven stars in His right hand and walks among the seven lamp stands, The First and The Last, He died and came to life, The words of Him who has the sharp double-edge sword, The Son of God, Whose eyes are like blazing fire and feet are like burnished bronze, The words of Him who holds the seven stars, The words of Him who is Holy and True, who holds the key of David, What He opens no one can shut what He shuts no one can open, These are the words of The Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Ruler of God’s Creation.

What He sees and knows of the Churches –

He knows the Church in Ephesus deeds, their hard work and perseverance, their inability to tolerate wicked men, that they have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false, they have persevered and have endured hardships for His name and have not grown weary.
He knows the Church in Smyrna’s affliction and poverty–yet they remain rich, He knows the slander of those who say they are Jews but are not and are of the synagogue of Satan.
He knows where the Church in Pergamum lives, where Satan has his throne, He knows that they remain true to His Name, that they did not renounce their faith in Him even in the days of Antipas His faithful witness, who was put to death in their city.
He knows the deeds of the Church in Thyatira, their love and faith, their service and perseverance and that they are now doing more than they did at first.
He knows the deeds of the Church in Sardis, their reputation of being alive but they are dead.
He knows the deeds of the Church in Philadephia that they are of little strength, yet they have kept His Word and have not denied His name
He knows the deeds of the Church in Laodicea, that they are neither hot nor cold. He wishes that they were either one or the other.

His critical commands and promises for the Churches –

Ephesus – He holds this against them: They have forsaken their first love. They are to remember the height from which they have fallen! They are to repent and do the things that they did at first. If they do not repent, He will come and remove their lamp stand from its place. They have this going for them that they hate the practice of the Nicolaitans, which He also hates.
Smyrna – Do not be afraid of what they must suffer, that the Devil will put some of them in prison to test them, and that they will suffer persectution for ten days. He tells them to be faithful, even to the point of death and He will give them the crown of life.
Pergamum – He has a few things against them, they have people there who hold to the teachings of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israeltistes to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality. They also have people who hold to the teachings of the Nicolaitans. They are Repent therefore! Otherwise, He will come to them and will fight against them with the sword of the mouth.
Thyatira – He has this against them: that they tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads His servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. He has given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So He will cast her on a bed of suffering, and He will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. He will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that He is the one who searches hearts and minds and He will repay each of them according to the their deeds. Now He says to the rest in Thyatira, to those who do not hold to her teaching, and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets (He will not impose any burden on them): He says only to hold on to what they have until He comes.
Sardis – Wake up! They are to strengthen what remains and is about to die, for He has not found their deeds complete in the sight of His God. They are to remember therefore, what they have received and heard; obey it and repent. If they do not wake up, he will come like a thief, and they will not know at what time He will come to them. Yet, they have a few people who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with Him dressed in white, for they are worthy. Those who overcome will, like them, be dressed in white. He will never blot out their names from the Book of Life, and He will acknowledge them before the Father and His angels.
Philadelphia – He will make those who claim that they are Jews but are really from the synagogue of Satan come and fall down at their feet and acknowledge that He has loved them. Since they have kept His command to endure patiently, He will also keep them from the hour of trial what is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. He is coming soon. He wants them to hold on to what they have so that no one will take their crown. To him that overcomes He will make a pillar in the temple of His God. Never again will He leave it. He will write on them the name of His God and the name of the city of His God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from His God.
Laodicea – Because they are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, He will spit them out of His mouth. They say that they are rich and have acquired wealth and do not need anything. But they do not realize that they are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. He counsels them to buy from Him gold refined in the fire, so that they can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so they can cover their shameful nakedness; and salve to put in their eyes, so they can see. Those whom He loves He rebukes and disciplines. So He says they should be earnest and repent. Here I am!, He says. He stands at the door and knocks. If anyone hears His voice and opens the door, He will come in and eat with them and them with Him.

Each of these churches was promised a reward for those that overcome. Many were also promised that they would suffer specific judgment for not heeding His direction. Every Christian should feel the urge to study Revelation 1-3, fully understanding what the “Spirit says to the churches”. Praise You Lord. I thank you so much for showing us what must certainly swiftly soon come to pass.

There are so many things we can personally and collectively understand and reflect upon in our review of Your Church evaluation. How do Your words of encouragement or warning apply directly to my walk of faith or to those actions and inactions of the Churches in our city? Was this meant to prepare us for the days to come? Do all of these historic Churches resemble the behavior of Churches in modern day? Do we all have a bit of characteristics of each of these Churches to which You have spoken? Lord, I pray that if these warnings are meant to sound the alarm to all Churches, that we in fact pay close attention and follow Your direction, repenting and renewing our walk as Your Church body and bride. Oh that all of us who call ourselves by Your name would demonstrate our love for You by doing just as You have commanded. Thank You for the warning Lord Jesus.

Without it, I would know hopelessness

Posted on October 24, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

I invite your review of my life, as it is oft difficult for a man to see the results of his own footsteps upon the land. Have I trampled over the innocent? Have I neglected the Lord’s Word in my walk? Have I followed the leading of my eyes, flesh and pride? Do I give honor, glory and praise to God or wash myself in self-recognition? What of my love for the Father? Do I love Him with all my heart, mind, soul and strength? Do I sin at each opportunity, denying the death of my flesh on the Cross with Jesus? Do I remain unchanged, pursuing the same ideals of my past or have I been transformed by the Holy Spirit of God into a new creature, unrecognizable by historical context? Do I live for this world, placing all my investment in capitalization of my worldly pursuits? What of the hereafter, am I storing up treasures for myself in heaven? Have I forsaken the practices and pleasures of Earthly citizenship, knowing fully that I do not belong within the roles of worldly accounting? What would you tell me about me?

I know what you would say, that I have fallen short in all of these areas of my life. I regret that your review would certainly be worse then my own introspection, but I believe that my grade would be failure at best. How is that possible, when I have tried so hard, done so much, chased the dream of Christianity? The resultant answer is undeniable, it is not about me, or the works I have done or continue to do. I cannot self-sanctify, I have tried my hardest and still cannot live up to what I believe the Lord requires. This purity, that the Lord requires is impossible through human achievement, it is solely a thing of Spirit, controlled and dispensed by God. What then is my job in this pursuit of perfection, this desire for the Lord’s likeness?

My job is to love Him, myself and you. I cannot extend the love of God to others without first expressing and accepting God’s love for me. If I do not understand His unconditional and Sovereign love for a man like me, who deserves no quarter, then I will never understand how to love others the way that I would wish to be loved. For, in understanding God’s love for me, I am humbled and prepared to offer that same requirement free love for others. Once understanding how God gave Himself for “my” salvation and to return me to a position where I may begin relationship with Him, I can no longer refuse this same gentleness, kindness, patience and consideration to the world. I cannot speak for God but this is how I would look at the love of my children. If they truly loved me and knew how much I loved them, irrespective of their worldly actions, then they would be free to extend that same kindness and care to others. I would consider it joy each time I saw them give love, especially where it was undeserved, for I would know that they were emulating and expressing their love for me through extension. This is the crux of all Christian belief, as Christ told us, that all the law and the profits hinges on this love of the Father and others. Without love there is no sanctification for lack of love denies the Spirit’s loving Hand upon our lives in transformation.

I have failed by every worldly standard, I have not great wealth, given by the sweat of my brow or as result of my talent and intention, I have no great understanding, peace of wisdom through my numerous pursuits of knowledge and meditation on serenity, I have no recognition for being that man who tolerates everything around him, never losing my cool, always extending courtesy even when offered anger. Thanks be to God that I have been set free by the Grace offered me in confession, humility and belief. I praise the Lord for that wonderful day when He took my sin upon Him as the perfect sacrifice, redeeming me to God, ending my war with the Almighty. Since, we have established that my efforts have not done a lick of good toward making me look like Him, I throw up my hands in worship to a God who loved me that much. Holy Spirit I commend my heart voluntarily to Your Work, as without it I am doomed to remain in likeness to my past. Hallelujah, I am free indeed. In Jesus Name I thank You for Your Love Lord.

Freedom understood

Posted on October 23, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Free from my own influences, my previous servitude expired. I thought that Freedom was easy to comprehend then I took some time and looked at my own warped/skewed comprehension and was amazed at my perpendicular view. Is freedom an aspect or facet of liberal decision making as the ethical relativist would subscribe? Doing whatever I wish, whenever I wish, with whomever I wish for as long and as frequent as my inclination permits. Shall I look to the fuel cell, knowing that my freedom is only limited by the amount of energy, money, time or imagination available? Do I “shop until I drop”, “do it til I’m satisfied” or “just do it” as Nike, pop stars or celebrities recommend? Shall I indulge every desire, knowing that unless I do I will be redefining or losing my freedom? Am I free at all in this worldly existence?

What if I were to create the following controversy and state emphatically, “He who has not been set free by belief in the Lord Jesus Christ is completely defined and held within the confines and limitations of; written/established law, rituals, thinking and scientific laws of this world and remains a shackled spirit confined within the jail cell of a languishing and finite body and will never understand or experience the truth of freedom”. Conversely, the Bible establishes clearly that he that has been set free by the Lord Jesus is “free indeed”. So, life within my own thinking, urges, authority and strength is chosen captivity where I might never comprehend freedom. I am not just trapped by circumstances, I am walled off from understanding the truth of my own mortality and its conscripted limitations. Living in Christ is not enlisting into another bordered or finite set of performance and legally designated limitations it is truly being set free to understand that “love” for God and people is the only guiding principle.

I hate the jail cell of this life, remaining captive to all the limiting parameters of worldly existence. Living in my own understanding is surrender to a life that will never understand freedom. Freedom is eternal life in God through Jesus Christ the King. Know Christ, Know Freedom. Praise You Lord for all of Your limitless characteristics. In Jesus’ Name.

Love them

Posted on October 23, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Love for God is forgiving them when they are stoning you for telling the truth about God. Father, I look at the examples set by Bible believers, I see the models in the world today, giving their all, their lives, their families for Jesus and I cannot but feel ashamed. I know that Christianity and being free of sin, law and the devil takes away the need for self recrimination or comparison, but I still feel bad when I see how little it is that I give. So many times I want to love them but end up criticizing or worse yet forgetting to remind them how wonderful they are. My dreams are of that day when I have done to others as You have done for us. When does the self serving end in this walk toward Your likeness?

Father so many are hurting, even the elect are challenged by holding out as the world spirals, hoping that they are ready for Your return. It is so hard to love in the midst of confusion and disarray, teach us to remain clear in our resemblance. You did not come to hate, you did not come to criticize, you did not come to settle once and for all which set of rituals is proper for worship, learning or service. You came to proclaim the truth and set the captives free, taking all the sins of humanity upon You. If you did this even for the murderers, skeptics, hypocrites how then may I hold anything against those who simply think ill of me. Forgive me for needing so much of Your attention in learning the same lessons over and over each day. I guess I should start by stopping my own self judgment for I have been set free, once and for all of my shortcomings, my sins and my failings. Maybe if I stop being so hard on myself, then the Spirit may teach me to be long suffering, tolerant and gentle to others. Thank you for the struggle. I have interacted with so many great people in my efforts to work out my salvation.

Praise You in Your Glory. Jesus is King.

Feelings, facts and faith

Posted on October 22, 2014 by awrkhakhaya16

Teach me your way, O Lord, And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, And such as breathe out violence. I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say on the Lord! Psalm 27:11-14

Determining direction requires analysis of facts and feelings, unless you are driven specifically by animal instinct. Making decisions based solely on “fight or flight” results in grievous error often representing greater danger than the initial stimuli. So, as we mature we either rely heavily upon fact or choose to trust our “gut” feelings or emotions. This presents a particular view of the world based upon our specifically chosen or learned filters. What then happens to humans who, out of response to circumstantial experience are forced to one side of this decision spectrum?

If the facts may be in dispute or my editor/analysis tools are skewed then I am subject to the often gushing guidance of my feelings. What then shall I do if I find myself continually driven by whimsy or emotional demand? Especially, when based upon shocking or lasting experiences my “emotions” are out of sync with reality. Shall I, as many do, resolve to making decisions solely based on data analysis and fact, determining to remain stationary until facts indicate otherwise? Or is there an optimal or linear function that prescribes the appropriate mixture of the two, so that I am neither dragged here nor affixed there? How then does this dichotomous relationship integrate into discernment and dependance upon God’s direction? Is there an override clause that causes me as a believer to make decisions in faith even when the facts and my emotions tell me otherwise? How can we achieve this “faithful” practice without surrender to God’s Will over our own? We cannot.

Determining that we shall adhere to God’s Word as our guide when our emotions and the facts tell us differently, demands choice and practice. God tells believers to “walk by faith not by sight”. This process is not possible under doctrines of self-reliance. We must be changed, renewed, transformed to a point where we trust in God dismissing alternate stimuli or relegating them to secondary or tertiary reliance. If what my senses and the facts tell me leads me away from God’s inerrant truth or guidance then I “must” be able to dismiss them. Without that understanding I will always be driven to making decisions based on the tools of worldly feelings and facts.

Praise you Father that you have given me the opportunity to learn from and be counseled by Your Holy Spirit. Give me a reliance upon that righteous and faithful direction even when the facts and my feelings contradict Spirit’s Word. At that point I will fully understand the Words of Isaiah and others which tell me to “Wait upon the Lord; Being of Good Courage”. For this is the position of faith to which believers commit their hearts and lives. Thank You so much, In Jesus’ Holy Name.