A Close Connection….

We may never fully understand God, but full knowledge isn’t necessary in order to have a close connection with Him. Just when we think we got God “figured out”, we learn more about/from Him. Take for example the Exodus. Why didn’t God just destroy the Egyptians, like He did to Sodom and Gomorrah? Why did He produce 10 plagues on them knowing that 9 of them wouldn’t change Pharaoh’s mind to let them go? Why did He concede and use both Aaron and Moses to do the job that Moses should’ve done by himself? The answers are all part of His plan. And that always has to do with showing people His glory and power. God gives us an answer to the first question in today’s passage. He didn’t immediately destroy Egypt because He was using them for His purpose of displaying His power and spreading His fame throughout the earth. God allowed the wickedness and harsh treatment of the Israelites by the Egyptians to show the world Who is in control (it wasn’t Pharaoh). He used the 10 plagues (9 of them) to show the Egyptians that the 9 gods they worshipped didn’t stand up to El Shaddai (God Himself). He used both Aaron and Moses to be His priest and prophet to carry out His plan. We may never know everything about God, but that shouldn’t stop us from pursuing the Reason for our existence. The more we learn about God, the closer we become to Him. And that means the closer we come to fully being who we are meant to become, sanctified, like Jesus.

13 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let My people go, so they can worship Me. 14 If you don’t, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like Me in all the earth. 15 By now I could have lifted My hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. 16 But I have spared you for a purpose–to show you My power and to spread My fame throughout the earth. Exodus 9:13-16

Show Me The Way Of Life….

The problem with the modern, “Americanized” version of Christianity is its members have forgotten the most important thing about Jesus, His presence. The AVoC focuses on what God can give us, what He can do for us, or what He can prevent from happening to us. We are so focused on ourselves that we miss the greatest part of our faith, God’s presence. If God is with us, that’s enough; that’s the point. The greatest thing Jesus’ atonement on the cross was restoring that severed relationship with God. It’s God’s presence that we should long for and pursue. David understood this, and wrote about it all the time. Do you long for God’s presence in your life? If not, why not?

I will bless the Lord who guides me;even at night my heart instructs me.8 I know the Lord is always with me.I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me. 9 No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.My body rests in safety.10 For You will not leave my soul among the deador allow Your holy one to rot in the grave.11 You will show me the way of life,granting me the joy of Your presence and the pleasures of living with You forever. Psalms 16:7-11a

Excuses Only Delay The Inevitable…..

I have spent well-nigh 50 years working on the history of our Revolution; in the process I’ve read hundreds of books, collected hundreds of personal testimonies, and I’ve already contributed eight volumes of my own toward the effort of clearing away the rubble left by that upheaval. But if I were asked today to formulate as concisely as possible, the main cause of the ruinous Revolution that swallowed up some 60 million of our people, I could not put it more accurately than to repeat: men have forgotten God, that’s why all of this has happened. -Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

As you read above, man’s problem is not God, man’s problem is that he doesn’t know Him. Pharaoh had the same problem, as do we all at some point in our lives. Excuses only delay the inevitable. If we don’t respond to the call of God with all the evidence that exists, then the only people responsible for the downfall of humanity is the reflection we see when we stand in front of a mirror.

1 After this presentation to Israel’s leaders, Moses and Aaron went and spoke to Pharaoh. They told him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Let My people go so they may hold a festival in My honor in the wilderness.”2 “Is that so?” retorted Pharaoh. “And who is the Lord? Why should I listen to Him and let Israel go? I don’t know the Lord, and I will not let Israel go.”3 But Aaron and Moses persisted. “The God of the Hebrews has met with us,” they declared. “So let us take a three-day journey into the wilderness so we can offer sacrifices to the Lord our God. If we don’t, He will kill us with a plague or with the sword.”4 Pharaoh replied, “Moses and Aaron, why are you distracting the people from their tasks? Get back to work! 5 Look, there are many of your people in the land, and you are stopping them from their work.” Exodus 5:1-5

American Christianity….

American Christianity has falsely accepted the world’s view on judgement. People say, “don’t judge me”. Then they go on to tell you “Jesus said don’t judge”. Most professing Christians don’t read their Bibles, so they have no rebuttal. Here’s the Bible’s view on judging. If the person is not a believer, tell them the truth, share the gospel, and move on. If they claim to be a believer, share the truth, point out their sinful behavior, and wait for their response. If they repent, celebrate. If they don’t, follow the steps outlined in today’s passage. The problem with judging others is knowing the difference between condemning someone versus knowing what standard to use to bring them back to a right relationship with God. The world doesn’t want us to judge because their standard varies, and is subjective. Sin runs rampant, and thus God’s standard poses a threat to the sin practioner’s temporary pleasure. God’s standard is objective, fair, and just. When we use it appropriately, it accomplishes His will by either convicting a repentant willing heart back to Him, or condemns an unrepentant soul by exposing their sin, and reminding them of their eternal destination. Using God’s standard equalizes the playing field. It’s just a shame that all people don’t realize this. They cry for equality, but refuse the One that can grant their request. We need to move on from the Americanized version of Christianity, and get back to the eternal (good for all times) Word of God. It’s not judging people that’s the problem, it’s the standard we use, and the condition of our hearts that matter most. When we are in a right standing with God, we know where we stand. The view from there if full of grace and love. It has a way of reminding us that God loves us in spite of our not deserving it. Never forget this.

15 “If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back. 16 But if you are unsuccessful, take one or two others with you and go back again, so that everything you say may be confirmed by two or three witnesses.17 If the person still refuses to listen, take your case to the church. Then if he or she won’t accept the church’s decision, treat that person as a pagan or a corrupt tax collector.18 “I tell you the truth, whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.19 “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, My Father in heaven will do it for you.20 For where two or three gather together as My followers, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:15-20

Being Cast Into Hell With Perfect Health…

God hates sin. He hates it so much that He warns us throughout scripture. Here’s a passage that spells it out for us. Any one who acts out sinful behavior has the option of repentance. That’s all of us. Those that promote sinful behavior, especially to children, will be held to a higher standard. Those that promote sinful behavior, as Jesus states, “would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.” False teachers, politicians who promote abortion, allow cross-dressing men to read stories to little children in public places, boys to dress in girls locker rooms, etc... are better off drowned. These are not the only examples, just current ones in our society today that help illustrate the point. Jesus goes on to tell us that it would be better to lose an eye or hand than to believe sinning is okay. We’d enter Heaven maimed, but still enter, versus being cast into Hell with perfect health. These are strong words. It must tell us how much God hates sin. Sin ruins lives, and those that promote immoral behavior will pay the ultimate price if they do not repent of their spiritual blindness. Another reason why our example, our love, our connection with God is of utmost importance. It’s why we fight for the orphans and oppressed, and why we stand to defend truth. The wages of sin is death, not just one death, but two. Knowing this should help open our eyes to what matters most.

1 About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”2 Jesus called a little child to Him and put the child among them. 3 Then He said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. 4 So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.5 “And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on My behalf is welcoming Me.6 But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in Me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.7 “What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.8 So if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one hand or one foot than to be thrown into eternal fire with both of your hands and feet.9 And if your eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It’s better to enter eternal life with only one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into the fire of hell.10 “Beware that you don’t look down on any of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels are always in the presence of My heavenly Father. Matthew 18:1-10

A Loving Soul Trying To Help A Hurting One…

Even though this passage is referring to an immoral woman, it applies to anyone who practices or promotes immorality. Immoral behavior blinds a person to the truth. It leads them down a path of destruction. They can’t see past themselves and thus don’t care about the end result because they don’t see it. Believers know the outcome of immoral behavior. They see the path that leads to doom. It’s why believers warn others and fight for their deliverance. It’s just sad that the world sees our rescue attempt, our warning, to be a threat to their pride, instead of a loving soul trying to help a hurting one. Immorality blinds us to the truth. Continuing down immoral path not only hurts the person practicing it, but also those that love them deeply.

1 My son, pay attention to my wisdom;listen carefully to my wise counsel.2 Then you will show discernment,and your lips will express what you’ve learned.3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,and her mouth is smoother than oil.4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,as dangerous as a double-edged sword.5 Her feet go down to death;her steps lead straight to the grave.6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it. Proverbs 5:1-6

Positive-Thinking…..

How is real, genuine faith different from positive-thinking? The object of our faith, no matter it’s size, is God. And the object of our confidence is God as well. The Source and Object of our faith is always God. When we lose sight of this, we lose sight of God’s will, and thus we lose connection with Him. Once that happens, we get confused where our confidence goes, and start putting it back into ourselves. If we do not ask God to reveal His will to us, our faith loses its effectiveness. Miracles don’t happen without God. The perfect example of this is here in today’s passage. The disciples lost the power to heal because they lost sight of Who it was actually doing the healing. Faith and confidence always start and end with God. Anything else is just positive-thinking.

14 At the foot of the mountain, a large crowd was waiting for them. A man came and knelt before Jesus and said, 15 “Lord, have mercy on my son. He has seizures and suffers terribly. He often falls into the fire or into the water. 16 So I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.”17 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you? How long must I put up with you? Bring the boy here to Me.” 18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon in the boy, and it left him. From that moment the boy was well.19 Afterward the disciples asked Jesus privately, “Why couldn’t we cast out that demon?”20 “You don’t have enough faith,” Jesus told them. “I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.21 ” Matthew 17:14-21