Luke 17:6
"So the Lord said "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, "be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea, and it will obey you"
The context of this verse shows Jesus giving some big challenges to the disciples about forgiving others. The disciples realize they can't with their faith, and ask for more faith. Instead of giving a 12 step process, Jesus shows what blindly trusting God will do. If we have the smallest of faith, we can do the impossible. The things in our lives that make no sense to us, the things we can't overcome, the relationships we can't cope with, friends and family that don't know the Lord, the finances we don't have, the fears and anxieties that make us worry - God is saying if we have just a little faith in God, He can take care of it. Not only can He, but will take care of it. When God leads us to a point where He wants us, we can prayerfully walk by faith, it is done.
Application - So what is my impossible task God has brought me to? The next 3 weeks are going to be filled with them getting to El Salvador. Getting our birth certificates and police records apostilled by the PA and OH Secretary of State and back to us by Oct. 2nd is the mulberry tree we need planted in the sea. I will walk by faith and be obedient with what God tells me to, but know He will do it.
Monday, September 12, 2011
No more bad stuff
Ephesians 4:31
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice"
For the last 2 weeks we have been focusing daily on many different areas that we need to change or get rid of. Many bad things, but what do we replace them with? If we are walking in the Spirit and have put on the new self like we are commanded, these things (bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice) shouldn't come up. But verse 32 should be what we live out - kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as Christ forgave us. Instead of surpressing all the don'ts, we should be focusing on the do's. Which I feel would naturally surpress all the don'ts when we consciencously choose to love others and forgive others. I can see this practically lived out when I stop judging others and let the things they do bug me and choose to love and forgive them as Christ did me.
Application - Daily I will choose to love others instead of judging or looking down on them.
"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice"
For the last 2 weeks we have been focusing daily on many different areas that we need to change or get rid of. Many bad things, but what do we replace them with? If we are walking in the Spirit and have put on the new self like we are commanded, these things (bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, malice) shouldn't come up. But verse 32 should be what we live out - kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving one another as Christ forgave us. Instead of surpressing all the don'ts, we should be focusing on the do's. Which I feel would naturally surpress all the don'ts when we consciencously choose to love others and forgive others. I can see this practically lived out when I stop judging others and let the things they do bug me and choose to love and forgive them as Christ did me.
Application - Daily I will choose to love others instead of judging or looking down on them.
Sealed by the Spirit
Ephesians 4:30
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption"
The last thing I would ever want to purposely do is to grieve God. I don't think I malicously do this, but every time I sin I do this. Especially in the context of these verses:
vs 25 - lying
vs 26 - sinning when I'm angry
vs 27 - giving place to satan
vs 28 - stealing
vs 29 - speaking corrupt words
vs 31 - bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and the rest of the Bible when it describes sin.
God sealed me forever. How great is that?!?! He didn't seal me for sin or in some masocistic way to constantly be grieved by my actions. He gave me the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit could do its work in me and change me of my sinful ways. He sealed me with a stamp of His kingdom so that it would be easily recognized by the world and would come with the authority of that kingdom. And that seal doesn't look like anything in this world. Especially the sin of this world....which grieves the Holy Spirit.
Application - My daily prayer is "God change me to be the man you want me to be" Today I will spend a little more time praying this and examining and being open to what God wants to reveal to me.
"And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption"
The last thing I would ever want to purposely do is to grieve God. I don't think I malicously do this, but every time I sin I do this. Especially in the context of these verses:
vs 25 - lying
vs 26 - sinning when I'm angry
vs 27 - giving place to satan
vs 28 - stealing
vs 29 - speaking corrupt words
vs 31 - bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking and the rest of the Bible when it describes sin.
God sealed me forever. How great is that?!?! He didn't seal me for sin or in some masocistic way to constantly be grieved by my actions. He gave me the Holy Spirit so the Holy Spirit could do its work in me and change me of my sinful ways. He sealed me with a stamp of His kingdom so that it would be easily recognized by the world and would come with the authority of that kingdom. And that seal doesn't look like anything in this world. Especially the sin of this world....which grieves the Holy Spirit.
Application - My daily prayer is "God change me to be the man you want me to be" Today I will spend a little more time praying this and examining and being open to what God wants to reveal to me.
Good words
Ephesians 4:29
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
Don't lie, gossip, or speak sarcastically, edification and encouragement are neessary, share grace with words. Pretty tall order. The hardest part for me are the corrupt words or what I take from this as sarcasm or even coarse joking. I do this a lot and even enjoy it. There are some people that can handle it, but even then do I take it too far? When do I speak so that it is necessary edification? Almost like a command to encourage someone. When do I go out of my way to encourage others?
Application - Pretty simple here. I really need to watch myself and my words. I need to make sure my words are not cutting down but encouraging. I will take a second instead of letting my wit take over, to make sure my words encourage and build up instead of tearing down.
"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."
Don't lie, gossip, or speak sarcastically, edification and encouragement are neessary, share grace with words. Pretty tall order. The hardest part for me are the corrupt words or what I take from this as sarcasm or even coarse joking. I do this a lot and even enjoy it. There are some people that can handle it, but even then do I take it too far? When do I speak so that it is necessary edification? Almost like a command to encourage someone. When do I go out of my way to encourage others?
Application - Pretty simple here. I really need to watch myself and my words. I need to make sure my words are not cutting down but encouraging. I will take a second instead of letting my wit take over, to make sure my words encourage and build up instead of tearing down.
No more stealing
Ephesians 4:28
"Let him who stole, steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need"
I don't really feel like I have a stealing problem. Nor a working, or work ethic problem, that I need to change. God has really put that in my life seeing as how I have had a job since I was 12. Here God is showing us/me what we should do with what we earn from working. I'm sure its implied here, but work to meet your needs, then take your eyes off of yourself and give to others, meet others needs. Why? Shouldn't that money be mine? Why should I give it to others? It's pretty simple 1. because I can and 2. because it's not mine. It is from God. I am grateful and dependent upon God for all that He has given, and all that He does give.
Application - My prayer is for discerning eyes to graciously and freely give. I need to give as soon as I can. There is great need in the world, and God has greatly given to me. Just like we are commanded to forgive as we have been forgiven, we should give as we have been given.
"Let him who stole, steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need"
I don't really feel like I have a stealing problem. Nor a working, or work ethic problem, that I need to change. God has really put that in my life seeing as how I have had a job since I was 12. Here God is showing us/me what we should do with what we earn from working. I'm sure its implied here, but work to meet your needs, then take your eyes off of yourself and give to others, meet others needs. Why? Shouldn't that money be mine? Why should I give it to others? It's pretty simple 1. because I can and 2. because it's not mine. It is from God. I am grateful and dependent upon God for all that He has given, and all that He does give.
Application - My prayer is for discerning eyes to graciously and freely give. I need to give as soon as I can. There is great need in the world, and God has greatly given to me. Just like we are commanded to forgive as we have been forgiven, we should give as we have been given.
The Devil's place
Ephesians 4:27
"Nor give place to the devil"
As believers, we shouldn't be giving any place of our lives to the devil. But do we open ourselves up in little cracks for him to sneak in? We were reminded on Sunday of how powerful satan is, how much more powerful he is than us, but also that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Do I rely on this promise when temptation sneaks in to my mind? Jesus was tempted, but like me. When I am tempted, do I immediately turn to and use scripture to fight the battle? Honestly, sometimes I dwell on or thing about it for a little too long. Sadly, that is even after I have identified it as sin and temptation.
Application - I need to have scripture pour out of me so when satan and temptation comes along, I can let He who is in me overcome he who is in the world. Also, claim 1 Cor 10:13.
"Nor give place to the devil"
As believers, we shouldn't be giving any place of our lives to the devil. But do we open ourselves up in little cracks for him to sneak in? We were reminded on Sunday of how powerful satan is, how much more powerful he is than us, but also that He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Do I rely on this promise when temptation sneaks in to my mind? Jesus was tempted, but like me. When I am tempted, do I immediately turn to and use scripture to fight the battle? Honestly, sometimes I dwell on or thing about it for a little too long. Sadly, that is even after I have identified it as sin and temptation.
Application - I need to have scripture pour out of me so when satan and temptation comes along, I can let He who is in me overcome he who is in the world. Also, claim 1 Cor 10:13.
Angry Sin
Ephesians 4:26
"Be angry and do not sin" do not let the sun go down on your wrath"
Paul grabbed this verse from Psalm 4:4 -
"Be angry and do not sin" but he changed the 2nd half of the verse
"medicate within your hearth on your bed and be still"
Not only does this verse say we are going to be angry, but in a way it is commanding us to be angry, it doesn't say "If you get angry" so what are things I can be angry about and how do I deal with them? Immediately injustices come to mind that make me angry - child and adult slavery, child and human trafficking, child and adult forced prostitution, people who use God's word to exploit others so they can be rich. Those are righteous angers as when Jesus threw tables in the temple. But really what about when I get mad at my wife? How am I to act? I'm going to get angry with her. I know the first answer - don't sin, and then deal with it. Like David and paul, I need to get away and meditate on it and pray on it, and not throw the daggers that hurt.
Application - I know I am responsible for my own actions. Unfortunately, my father modeled some pretty immature behavior for me that I know about and actually repeat. Daily I need to pray for God's patience and self control. Especially in an hour when we get ready to get out the door.
"Be angry and do not sin" do not let the sun go down on your wrath"
Paul grabbed this verse from Psalm 4:4 -
"Be angry and do not sin" but he changed the 2nd half of the verse
"medicate within your hearth on your bed and be still"
Not only does this verse say we are going to be angry, but in a way it is commanding us to be angry, it doesn't say "If you get angry" so what are things I can be angry about and how do I deal with them? Immediately injustices come to mind that make me angry - child and adult slavery, child and human trafficking, child and adult forced prostitution, people who use God's word to exploit others so they can be rich. Those are righteous angers as when Jesus threw tables in the temple. But really what about when I get mad at my wife? How am I to act? I'm going to get angry with her. I know the first answer - don't sin, and then deal with it. Like David and paul, I need to get away and meditate on it and pray on it, and not throw the daggers that hurt.
Application - I know I am responsible for my own actions. Unfortunately, my father modeled some pretty immature behavior for me that I know about and actually repeat. Daily I need to pray for God's patience and self control. Especially in an hour when we get ready to get out the door.
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