Confusion, Doubt, and Self-Exultation….

Here’s a thought I bet most people have never run through their minds: Satan tempts us by creating doubt or offering self-exaltation. In the Garden of Eden Adam was told (before Eve existed) that he could eat from every tree except from one, the tree of knowledge of good and evil. So when Eve came along, Adam must have told her about the rule. I’m basing this theory on what scripture says, and it may not be accurate, because God may have told Eve about the tree, but since it’s not mentioned, I continue with this theory. Satan (the serpent) began a conversation with Eve. Why not tempt Adam? I don’t know, but maybe because Eve had only heard about the rule from Adam and not God Himself, that would make her more vulnerable than Adam. Anyway, Satan manipulates Eve by twisting the words of this mandate. Notice his words, “Did God really say...”. He gets Eve thinking in a certain way, then hits her with the temptation that she didn’t see coming. Satan then tells Eve that she won’t die if she eats from the tree. Then he drops the A-bomb (self-exaltation) of temptations, “you will be like God”. Temptations are all the same, confusion, doubt, and finally self-exaltation (or pleasure). They just might be disguised in different clothing. Just because we have never had a face to face conversation with God doesn’t mean what we’ve been taught by other believers, by scripture itself, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, or by life’s circumstances doesn’t mean we should allow temptation to create a mindset that makes us vulnerable to doubt, confusion, and self-exaltation. Staying plugged into to Jesus (the Vine) guarantees us spiritual discernment when it comes to temptation. It’s just one more reason to continue pursuing God. When we stumble, we need to get up and continue down the path God has laid out for us. If we don’t, we might just experience what Adam and Eve did, getting kicked out of the garden forever. Just think all the problems of the world started because of one couple’s decision to give into temptation. My question is was it worth it?

1 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’ ”4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”10 He replied, “I heard You walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”12 The man replied, “It was the woman You gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, you are cursedmore than all animals, domestic and wild.You will crawl on your belly,groveling in the dust as long as you live.15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,and between your offspring and her Offspring.He will strike your head,and you will strike His heel.” 16 Then He said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,and in pain you will give birth.And you will desire to control your husband,but he will rule over you.” 17 And to the man He said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the treewhose fruit I commanded you not to eat,the ground is cursed because of you.All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,though you will eat of its grains.19 By the sweat of your browwill you have food to eatuntil you return to the groundfrom which you were made.For you were made from dust,and to dust you will return.” Paradise Lost: God’s Judgment 20 Then the man–Adam–named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like Us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” 23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and He sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And He placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life. Genesis 3:1-24

Why Do People Get So Offended By Jesus?

As I begin my annual journey through the Bible I can’t help but think as I read Matthew chapter 1 the dilemma Jesus brings to those who have made their pride their most prized possession (which is all of us). When the angel of the Lord was speaking to Joseph, explaining what was happening, it’s very clear to see God’s intentions for humanity. First, Joseph was to name the baby Jesus, which means “the Lord (God) Saves”. Secondly, Joseph was told the baby would fulfill the prophecy God made through His prophet, and that He would be called “Immanuel”, which means “God with us”. If God’s intention was to save us from our sins, and walk with us, then why do people get so offended by Jesus? Why do people oppose Jesus so much? Why do people hate God and blame Him for everything? The simple answer is PRIDE. We, as human beings, don’t want to be told what to do. We don’t want to have to live within boundaries. We don’t want people doing things for us, and not be able to take the credit for it. But all of this wouldn’t even be possible if God didn’t give us “free will”. That means the very freedom God gives us, out of his immense love for us, is also the very thing when not received in the proper manner, turns us against Him. Gods loves us so much that He was willing to risk being hated, by giving us the ability to not respond to His love, His grace, and His mercy. Think about that for a minute. If God was like those that accuse Him of all kinds of evil, then why give us “free will”? Wouldn’t we be better off as robots, doing everything He wishes? The rewards that come from people who respond properly to this gift of “free will” cannot be matched. Knowing that people truly appreciate you for what you do and who you are with no strings attached, is the greatest gift anyone could possibly receive. God gives us this gift with that same attitude (while we were still sinners Christ died for us), so that proves His genuineness in His love for us. The funny thing about pride is that it’s selective. Think about it. Our welfare system has lasted decades. We have professional beggars on street corners in our largest towns. People rat out illegal deals to save themselves from punishment. Pride is selective, yet it’s the number one excuse people use to reject God’s love for us. If you really want to paint the picture crystal clear, there really is no excuse for rejecting God’s grace. It’s an abuse of our “free will”. It’s taking something meant for our good, and twisting it into something that ultimately hurts ourselves. It’s listening to the very first person, Satan (Lucifer), who rebelled against God. And it’s being an ungrateful, irresponsible, and taker-of-advantage of the Greatest Giver of Grace there will ever be. Pride guarantees one thing: the longer we give into it the more misery we will experience. Ultimately, it will be forever. Jesus’s purpose is to rescue us from this self-inflicted misery, called sin. How we respond to Jesus’ calling, reveals what kind of person we truly are. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

18 This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly.20 As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. 21 And she will have a son, and you are to name Him Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”22 All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through His prophet: 23 “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!She will give birth to a son,and they will call Him Immanuel,which means ‘God is with us.’ ” 24 When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. 25 But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named Him Jesus. Matthew 1:18-25

Life And Vows….

If there was a way to look into the spiritual or moral well-being of a nation, what would be the criteria? Personally, I think it would involve two measuring points. The first criteria would be how that society values life. Do they value unborn life? Do they value physically challenged life? Do they value long life? The second criteria would be how that society values vows. Do they value the marriage vow? Or the promises people make to their families, place of work, friends? Do they do what they say, or say what they do? Here in America we can easily measure our moral decline by viewing two things: divorce rate, and the legalization of abortion. If you don’t value life, and you don’t honor vows, there really is no consistency in our spiritual or moral behavior. God hates hands that shed innocent blood. And God hates divorce. What more can I say? If we practice, on a consistent basis, the very things God hates, isn’t that enough evidence to reveal our country’s decline in morality? How can you please God, when you’re doing the very thing that displeases Him? How can you expect unity, peace, security, or prosperity, when we dishonor God by the way we act out against His character? Simply put, you can’t. How we view life and vows are the measuring stick of the spiritual well-being of a society. The only way America can regain God’s favor is to repent, and honor God by sanctifying our hearts back into alignment with His. It’s starts with one heart at a time. Are you willing to participate?

14 You cry out, “Why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” I’ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.15 Didn’t the Lord make you one with your wife? In body and spirit you are His. And what does He want? Godly children from your union. So guard your heart; remain loyal to the wife of your youth. 16 “For I hate divorce!” says the Lord, the God of Israel. “To divorce your wife is to overwhelm her with cruelty,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. “So guard your heart; do not be unfaithful to your wife.”17 You have wearied the Lord with your words.“How have we wearied Him?” you ask.You have wearied Him by saying that all who do evil are good in the Lord’s sight, and He is pleased with them. You have wearied Him by asking, “Where is the God of justice?” Malachi 2:14-17

Fake News….

Why does the “fake news” and sensorship by all the big tech companies bother believers so much? Because it bothers God. When people violate God’s character by practicing things that dishonor Him, and then encourage others to do the same, God will discipline and punish them. Being “politically correct”, “fact checking” and exonerating “fake news”, ignoring real facts to promote your own agenda, and supporting evil behaviors to the point of wanting to punish people for disagreeing, are all forms of lying. God will not allow this kind of behavior to go unpunished. And unfortunately for those who recognize it and fight to put an end to it, they will suffer right along with those who continue to do it. When anyone violates God’s character, we all suffer. Stand up, fight against this hypocrisy. It’s the only way truth and peace can unify mankind.

15 But now I am determined to bless Jerusalem and the people of Judah. So don’t be afraid. 16 But this is what you must do: Tell the truth to each other. Render verdicts in your courts that are just and that lead to peace. 17 Don’t scheme against each other. Stop your love of telling lies that you swear are the truth. I hate all these things, says the Lord.” Zechariah 8:15-17

Unity Is God’s Plan….

Here’s a thought I bet most have never entertained in their minds, when God is displeased with a group’s collective behavior, He can discipline them in many ways. One of those ways is division. If a group is more powerful than all other groups, God may turn the members of that group against each other as a form of discipline. It shows us that no one is above His law, His love, or His sovereignty. America needs to take heed. God’s discipline happens for a reason. As long as we continue to ignore His concerns, things will only get worse, until everyone is turned against each other, and their is no unity to be found anywhere. If God’s ultimate goal is to unify believers, thus accomplishing His plan of bringing glory to Himself by rescuing lost sinners, then why are we blind to the fact that promoting division will never achieve it? Division is one of God’s ways of punishing a powerful society for ignoring Him. Look at the examples in scripture. The Tower of Babel. The Babylonian empire. Even scattering the disciples in order for Jesus to suffer and die alone, were all part of God’s plan. Unity is God’s plan for all who believe, so when we see division, it must mean God is working out His plan of discipline in order to rescue those destined to be with Him. Examine your own heart, and reconcile with God. Unify with His Spirit, so you will recognize His moving in and around your own life.

6 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for Me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.7 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue My people from the east and from the west. 8 I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be My people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God.9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building. 10 Before the work on the Temple began, there were no jobs and no money to hire people or animals. No traveler was safe from the enemy, for there were enemies on all sides. I had turned everyone against each other. Zechariah 8:6-10

The Fastest Way To Upset God….

The fastest way to upset God is to ignore Him on a daily basis. With this in mind, do you think God is upset with America? With you?

4 The Lord of Heaven’s Armies sent me this message in reply: 5 “Say to all your people and your priests, ‘During these seventy years of exile, when you fasted and mourned in the summer and in early autumn, was it really for Me that you were fasting? 6 And even now in your holy festivals, aren’t you eating and drinking just to please yourselves? 7 Isn’t this the same message the Lord proclaimed through the prophets in years past when Jerusalem and the towns of Judah were bustling with people, and the Negev and the foothills of Judah were well populated?’ ”8 Then this message came to Zechariah from the Lord: 9 “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Judge fairly, and show mercy and kindness to one another. 10 Do not oppress widows, orphans, foreigners, and the poor. And do not scheme against each other.11 “Your ancestors refused to listen to this message. They stubbornly turned away and put their fingers in their ears to keep from hearing. 12 They made their hearts as hard as stone, so they could not hear the instructions or the messages that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies had sent them by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. That is why the Lord of Heaven’s Armies was so angry with them.13 “Since they refused to listen when I called to them, I would not listen when they called to Me, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 14 As with a whirlwind, I scattered them among the distant nations, where they lived as strangers. Their land became so desolate that no one even traveled through it. They turned their pleasant land into a desert.” Zechariah 7:4-14

Dying With Our Song Still Inside Of Us….

Humans celebrate strength. They celebrate winning. They hold achievement in the highest regards. With the internet and social media being the main way people communicate these days, “looking good” is the goal of many. God sees things differently. He takes no pleasure in human strength. Nor does He ever care about portraying Himself in a manner that others see Him as better than He really is. The Lord’s delight is found in our obedience to Him, our reverence for Him, and especially when we place our trust and hope in Him alone. The world’s ways differ dramatically from God’s ways. Until we realize this, we will continue to pursue the unattainable, eventually dying with our song still inside of us.

10 He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.11 No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear Him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love. Psalms 147:10-11