Matthew 5:1-3 "1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
The state of being impoverished has less to do with what one actually has and more to do with what one thinks he needs. This is why those who have little in the way of possessions yet are happy and fulfilled are actually richer than some with multiple millions who "just need a little bit more". It's the hunger for more that reveals the attitude of poverty, and rarely is it considered a virtue. That is, until it comes to the things of the Spirit.
It is vital that we live with a hunger for God. A constant awareness that we haven't seen it all. An appetite to see what He has hidden for us, not from us. That no matter how much we learn, that we always remain a student of the Spirit, living with the awareness that there is more. Never become so much of an expert that you stop pursuing that which you haven't experienced. To those who will pursue what they have not yet tasted of His presence, the Kingdom belongs.
(See and study Jeremiah 5:1. That the hunger of one man seeking after the Spirit of God releases grace over a city. Also, John is "in the Spirit" in Rev 1:10, yet in Rev 4:1-2 he answers a call to step deeper "in the Spirit". Jesus releases the presence of the Holy Spirit in John 20 when He breathes upon the disciples. But in Acts 1 He invites those disciples to go to the upper room and wait for the baptism of the power of the Holy Spirit. 500 see Him and hear the invitation, but only 120 respond. The presence of the Holy Spirit is constant, but the power of the Holy Spirit is unique and belongs to the hungry.
To grow your appetite for God, rein in Your scattered attention and set your affection on things above. When you turn your heart of affection upon Him and His presence, your hunger increases and you position yourself for the more that your heart longs for.)
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Loving People to Life
Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother.16 "But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.17 "If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector."
This portion of verses has often been used to justify the excommunication of those who don't make it through the gauntlet of confrontation. If they remain unrepentant they are to be treated like a "Gentile and tax collector" which at a glance seems to indicate that Jesus is giving us a license to excommunicate the unrepentant.
That is until you look at how He treated Gentiles and tax collectors, and if we are to be as He is, then unrepentant people are to be anything but hated. The short, tree climbing tax collector, Zacchaeus, was Jesus choice of dinner guest when He went to his town. And Matthew, the tax collector, got a personal invitation by Jesus to join His personal ministry team. When the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostle Paul, he was called to go to the Gentiles, and Peter's view of the Gentiles was dramatically corrected by a vision of things formerly considered unclean by law.
Bottom line, if you confront someone, and they remain unrepentant, love them more. Their condition is an indication that they're in need of the very thing that human nature wants to withdraw. And God help you if you use this verse to justify it. If you do, you missed the point.
This portion of verses has often been used to justify the excommunication of those who don't make it through the gauntlet of confrontation. If they remain unrepentant they are to be treated like a "Gentile and tax collector" which at a glance seems to indicate that Jesus is giving us a license to excommunicate the unrepentant.
That is until you look at how He treated Gentiles and tax collectors, and if we are to be as He is, then unrepentant people are to be anything but hated. The short, tree climbing tax collector, Zacchaeus, was Jesus choice of dinner guest when He went to his town. And Matthew, the tax collector, got a personal invitation by Jesus to join His personal ministry team. When the Holy Spirit came upon the Apostle Paul, he was called to go to the Gentiles, and Peter's view of the Gentiles was dramatically corrected by a vision of things formerly considered unclean by law.
Bottom line, if you confront someone, and they remain unrepentant, love them more. Their condition is an indication that they're in need of the very thing that human nature wants to withdraw. And God help you if you use this verse to justify it. If you do, you missed the point.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
fumbling toward emptiness
2 Samuel 6:16 Then it happened as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David that Michal the daughter of Saul looked out of the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.
The final verse of this chapter reveals that David's wife was barren all the days of her life from this point on. This verse hints at the cause.
I believe one of the fastest ways to reach spiritual barrenness is to despise the worship of another.
Let your heart be guarded against the snare of quiet rebellion stirred up by the outward expression of a believer who is as free in worship as you secretly wish you were.
The final verse of this chapter reveals that David's wife was barren all the days of her life from this point on. This verse hints at the cause.
I believe one of the fastest ways to reach spiritual barrenness is to despise the worship of another.
Let your heart be guarded against the snare of quiet rebellion stirred up by the outward expression of a believer who is as free in worship as you secretly wish you were.
Tuesday, August 09, 2011
A Motivation For Hunger
Jeremiah 5:1 "Roam to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem,
And look now and take note.
And seek in her open squares,
If you can find a man,
If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,
Then I will pardon her.
Its easy to read Jeremiah 5 and walk away with an absolute belief in the nature of God expressed in wrath and anger. But only if you skim vs 1. This unreasonable radical grace is the foundation upon which the rest of the chapter is built. When you apply the New Testament revelation of the identity of Truth it becomes even more hopeful.
Truth is not a concept, idea, or philosophy. Truth is a Person. Jesus is the Truth, and the Holy Spirit is said to guide us into all truth. So with the New Testament revelation of Truth, re-read Jeremiah 5:1 like this. "Run through the streets of (your city) and see if you can find one person who is hungry for the Holy Spirit of God, and I (God) will release grace over this city."
Consider that your hunger for God might have just bought another day of grace for your city.
And look now and take note.
And seek in her open squares,
If you can find a man,
If there is one who does justice, who seeks truth,
Then I will pardon her.
Its easy to read Jeremiah 5 and walk away with an absolute belief in the nature of God expressed in wrath and anger. But only if you skim vs 1. This unreasonable radical grace is the foundation upon which the rest of the chapter is built. When you apply the New Testament revelation of the identity of Truth it becomes even more hopeful.
Truth is not a concept, idea, or philosophy. Truth is a Person. Jesus is the Truth, and the Holy Spirit is said to guide us into all truth. So with the New Testament revelation of Truth, re-read Jeremiah 5:1 like this. "Run through the streets of (your city) and see if you can find one person who is hungry for the Holy Spirit of God, and I (God) will release grace over this city."
Consider that your hunger for God might have just bought another day of grace for your city.
Forgiving Yourself
Matthew 6:14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you."
People find it hard to release to others what they themselves are not worthy of. Bitterness thrives within a heart unwilling to receive grace. What you extend to others you release to yourself. When you release grace you agree with Christ. When you forgive others you forgive yourself. (See also Matt 7:1-3)
People find it hard to release to others what they themselves are not worthy of. Bitterness thrives within a heart unwilling to receive grace. What you extend to others you release to yourself. When you release grace you agree with Christ. When you forgive others you forgive yourself. (See also Matt 7:1-3)
Heaven's Declaration, Your Reality
Revelation 5:13 And every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, "To Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb, be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever."
When the Spirit of Jesus Christ resurrected came to live in you, He brought with Him every word declared in agreement with the Father's heart in Heaven and on earth. The common application of "to Him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb..." is assumed to be The Father and Jesus and rightly so. But you're included as well. If that rubs you the wrong way, read Rev 3:21 and let this sink in deep.
Heaven's declaration is your identity and reality. When you come into agreement with how Heaven sees you, earth will respond by saying amen to what Heaven already knows. That you have been empowered with Christ to disciple nations.
When the Spirit of Jesus Christ resurrected came to live in you, He brought with Him every word declared in agreement with the Father's heart in Heaven and on earth. The common application of "to Him who sits on the throne and unto the Lamb..." is assumed to be The Father and Jesus and rightly so. But you're included as well. If that rubs you the wrong way, read Rev 3:21 and let this sink in deep.
Heaven's declaration is your identity and reality. When you come into agreement with how Heaven sees you, earth will respond by saying amen to what Heaven already knows. That you have been empowered with Christ to disciple nations.
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