Does your pride still thinks it needs walls?

I urge, beseech, beg you Eudia and Syntyche pleae try to agree (be of the same mind, work through your differences, live in harmony, settle your disagreements) because you belong to the Lord.  Philippians 4:2  Greg’s Amplified

One of the saddest commentaries about friendships is the broken relationships that occur among the closest Christians friends.  Once there was a time that they walked on the battle field of life committed in word and deed.  Now they no longer talk.  The pain of the disagreement has left scars to wide to heal fully.  Or could it be mended again?

The superiority of my understanding of the Bible, God’s character and my own personal bias continues to build more walls than bridges.  Some walls are so high that I can’t hardly see my friends on the other side.  I still hear their voices in the distance.  Only certain words remain clear- me and my.

The wall of thickest separation was built between closest friends.  The building materials were amply available as they came from the leftovers of the abundance of bridges that once existed.  How could such a massive wall be built so quickly between friends who were so close?  Someone’s rights were violated- another’s beliefs were challenged and yield signs leading to forgiveness were lost.  Battles for orthodoxy were waged on the field of unity where love was found wounded and missing.

How can the walls come down?

The only unity about a dividing wall is – that a wall exists.  Both sides are experts at defining the reason the wall was built and the components of their side of the wall.  The sadness is even if the wall is removed, the emotional and mental reason for the wall persist.  People get stuck…thinking they will finally be free when the other person agrees with their judgment for the existence of the wall.

So how does the wall come down and relationship be restored?  A greater perspective must come into view.  Today’s battles are fought on a horizontal level, but they are won from a vertical aerial view.  We must agree to see things from a third person’s perspective.  No matter how high the wall is (horizontal view), it looks very thin from up above (aerial view).

Jesus is the head of the body.  He is at the top and everything flows from his direction and leadership.  The entire body responds to his initiatives, his direction.  The body works together to fulfill the desires that Jesus has.  We work in unity because our commitment is to Him first, then we see how we are connected to one another.  I forgive someone, not just because they ask to be forgiven, but because Jesus expects me to forgive just as he forgave me.  The person may not show any remorse or signs of wanting to be forgiven, but out of love and devotion to Jesus, I move toward forgiveness.    Because we belong to Him, we show the world that we must break dividing walls.

What relationship needs mending?  Husband – wife; parent-child; pastor-pastor; pastor-church member; work relationships; or close friends?  There is no longer a need to tell others why the wall should continue to exist.  Talk rather of Jesus loving you personally in spite of your faults.  Humbling or does your pride still think it needs walls? 

² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, ⁴ not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:2-4 NIV

You are standing in the right spot for God to use you

I can do all this through him who gives me strength Phil 4:13 NIV

I have strength for all things in the One strengthening me. Phil 4:13 Berean Literal Bible

Paul made this statement near the end of his letter to the believers in Philippi. Paull wanted to encourage and thank the believers for their help in the past and for their renewed desire to be a part of helping “fund” his ministry.  He reflects for a moment to let them know that God had sustained him whether he had a little or a lot, whether he was hungry or had ample amount of food. 

• ·         He had learned that his circumstances did not dictate the effectiveness of God’s ministry through him.

What emotions rise within you, when you think about that statement?  How much influence do you give to negative circumstances surrounding your life regarding effective ministry?  What would you be doing differently if those situations would be removed?  Do you have to wait until they are gone to do what you know God wants?

These negative circumstances fall into two broad categories – Consequences of my actions and Things that happened to me.  How can we be empowered to overcome through the one who empowers us?

Consequences of my Actions  -

Our present status in life is found in the footprints of our past journey.  That is more clear to me as I look at the mileage of my life in the rearview mirror.  Decisions of education or lack of it, decisions on who I married, decisions on finances, decisions on vocation opportunities, and decisions on the use of time, are the culmination of who I am and what I have done.  Some decisions were the best ever – Blessed to be married to Pam.  Some decisions limit future opportunities such as educational majors.

Pau would say – bloom where you are planted.  All of your past is an opportunity to let God work right now in your life.  Paul was highly skilled religious leader.  God used all of this as we are recipients of his learning under the power of the Holy Spirit.  BUT Paul was also a participant in the first murder of a Christian.  Paul was giving the authority over the stoning of Stephen.  He had caused the suffering of many other Christians when Jesus saved him.  But Paul used this incredible reception of grace received from Jesus to let others know that they also could receive grace to be forgiven.

Bad Things that happened to me

We live in a fallen world that is dominated by sin.  Bad things happen.  People die in accidents, addictions, and wars.  Children are abused sexually, physically and emotionally with no one to help.  Families are dysfunctional and spouses abuse one another.  People steal from one another and embezzle others money. People gossip, lie, defame and sue one another.  The marks are so prevalent that everyone has their scars and stories to tell.

Joseph would say bear the outside scars but let God Teflon coat your heart with his love.  Joseph at the end of his life declared…You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. Genesis 50:20 NIV.  None of us would say that being sold into slavery was good.  Nor would we say that being falsely put in prison was the right thing that happened to Joseph.  But God used all these events to have Joseph in the place where God could save lives.

God has you in the exact spot to help Him “save lives”.  This is how Paul understood the statement about receiving strength.  No matter the outside circumstances, God was empowering Paul to save lives around him.  Don’t limit this to salvation prayers for those around you, although God may give you some of those opportunities.  God is working in the hearts and lives of everyone in your sphere of influence right now.   He has positioned you through all of the past circumstances for your to be standing, living right where you are. 

Don’t be defined by the circumstances – be defined by God’s overcoming strength.  He can perform and complete all that He desires through you to those who He is reaching toward.  Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen you and be willing to obey.  The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few.  But God has you standing (because of everything that has happened in your life) right in the middle of the field that needs your hands on the plow to work.

Be encouraged…with all of our “stuff”…God is still able.  Why?  Because HE IS GOD!

Whispers from Your Father God- The Weight Upon Your Shoulders

...I heard an unknown voice say, "Now I will take the load from your shoulders; I will free your hands from their heavy tasks. Psalms 81:5-6 NLT

Perhaps my voice may be unfamiliar to you. Perhaps your cares of life have clouded your understanding of my commitment to you. Perhaps even your body slumps under the shear overwhelming weight of managing life's responsibilities. Perhaps you wonder where I am or if I still care.

I can bear your load, no matter how heavy or long you have been carrying it. I did not physically create your body to manage the sustained stress that you carry. I always intended to be the buffer, the barrier wall for the storms of life that you face.

BUT, you must ask! You must call for my help. Even though it may seem like I delay in my response, I have already started moving help in your direction. I am not slow in fulfilling my promises to sustain and uphold you. My right hand of authority is strong enough for any task. My hope that I send not only does not disappoint you, it is the starting point of the help that you desire. Because my hope is for good in your life, it breathes the sustaining power into your spirit to know that you will more than just endure, but you will be victorious. 

 

How strong was the cross that held my Son, Jesus? It bore the weight of the sins of the world. And my son shoulders all of your cares. Believe it when He says to you to “cast all of your cares upon Him”. Why do you hesitate? I am here and will listen to your cries for help. Follow the leading of my Holy Spirit into freedom for you, my child.

Whispers from Your Father, God

Do you have a Heart prepared for a Word from God?

³⁴ “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”

³⁵ The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called^[b] the Son of God. ³⁶ Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. ³⁷ For no word from God will ever fail.”

³⁸ “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.  Luke 1: 34-38 NIV

 Mary received the message from the angel and the Holy Spirit caused her to become pregnant with Jesus.  Does that statement stretch your faith a little?  It should.  How did God do this?  Why did he choose Mary?  There are many who stumble at this point in trying to understand the Christian faith.  This information immediately makes Jesus different than any other person ever born on earth.  He was fully God and fully man.

 You do realize that God works in and through your life with the same principles.  What can we glean from the passage that would help us position ourselves to respond to God’s desire to minister in our lives in a similar way that He did for Mary?

 1.  Mary understood her limitation.  She was a virgin and could not become pregnant.  Our starting point is the understanding of who we are.  Moses thought he was disqualified because he had committed murder and he could not talk very well- which is kinda important if you are supposed to tell Pharaoh “let God’s people go”.  Gideon felt like he was the least of leaders coming from the least of the tribes – yet he won his battle with the fewest of leaders.  Isaiah saw the destruction of his tongue and lived among people who were unclean because of the words of death, pride and lack of faith – yet God touched his tongue first.  Isaiah has left one of the longest recorded books in the Bible. 

 What do you perceive as the main road block that God would have to overcome to let his life be fully realized in your life?  Is it a dysfunctional family upbringing that left emotional scares?  Are you afraid to speak to strangers?  God wants to start using you for His purposes…what is your excuse?  It is not too big for God.

 2.  It is God’s power that will perform His work in you.  Sometimes you may think you need just a little more help, a little more money, or a little break through.  God is more than just a little more of anything.  When He speaks he is fully able and committed to performing what He has spoken.  Only God could place Jesus inside of Mary.  It is important to acknowledge that God is the one who will do the work.  Samson had no physical attributes that revealed the power of God in his life….you and I look a whole lot like Samson.  Trust God’s word and Holy Spirit to perform through you what God desires.  Speak boldly.  Witness to your neighbor or co-worker.  Pray for the sick to be healed.  Forgive those who have hurt you.  All of these require God’s power to help us fulfill His leading.

 3.  Receive encouragement – God is already at work.  The angel encouraged Mary about her miracle by sharing that Elizabeth had already received a miracle.  The one who was told that she was too old to EVER have a child was now six months pregnant.  When God asks to do something new in your life…look around for some encouragement.  Can you find some scriptural examples of God asking someone to do something similar?  Have you heard a story recently of someone fulfilling the same example?  Did you hear someone pray for the sick and they were healed?  Go to talk with them and ask how did they do it.  God is at work and testimonies encourage us to receive from the Lord.

 4.  Finally, Mary voiced her readiness.  “Be it unto me, as you have spoken”.  Faith does not require that you have all of the information from beginning to end about the circumstance to which you are contemplating.  In fact, many times you may only have the impression that you receive from the Holy Spirit.  But the first response of faith that helps us move in the right direction is “speaking it aloud”.

 Jesus asked the one man, “Do you believe?”  He responded, “ I believe, help my unbelief.”  Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  When we speak the impression of the Holy Spirit, we are aligning ourselves with the “word” of God.  I understand the conflict of trying to separate God speaking to us and our own thoughts.  But faith begins by our responding to the leading of the Holy Spirit.  Trust that He is the one speaking and say what He is saying aloud.  It will encourage you…trust me.  It helps us begin to discern how the Holy Spirit leads us in our lives.

 May you be just like Mary, and have a heart ready to do His will.  Looking forward to seeing Jesus be made great in your life.

Whispers from your Father, God - How Much More

⁹ “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!"  Matthew 7:9-11 NIV

“How much more…” captures the essence of my focus on you, my child.  Your simplest request is never a nuisance or inconvenience for me.  I am but waiting for you to ask.  This is the most incredible privilege that I give to you, the ability to come into my presence and present your request.

It helps if you understand my disposition toward you when you call unto me.  For I am ready to do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.  I sent my Son so that you could experience life in abundance.  I am ready and willing to grant you peace for your heart and mind that goes beyond your comprehension.  There is no good thing that I desire to withhold from those children of mine who walk uprightly.

Perhaps, today life has beat you up and you are weary.  My overwhelming love for you is clouded behind the weightiness of the cares of the world.  Please, cast all of your cares upon Me, for I care about every detail of your life.  I am listening and my presence will sustain you.  So, call unto Me and I will begin to show you, how I work in your midst.  I am good and I always desire what is best for you.  I am waiting to hear your voice call unto me.

Whispers from Your Father, God.

Hope in the Stirring of the Waters

"Sir ," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." John 5:7 NIV

Fulfilled hope is more about the who than the what.  This story of healing by Jesus takes place near a pool of water called Bethesda.  Many crippled, including this invalid man of 38 years, would wait around this pool for the hope of being healed.  Their belief was that an angel would come down and stir the waters, whoever made it into the waters first was healed.  This man would wait day after day, year after year, hoping to be healed.  Jesus spoke healing to the man, to pick up his mat and go home.  The man obeyed and was healed.

Three points of interest.

Hope helps us survive, even if it the answer is almost unobtainable.  For 38 years this man came to the pool waiting to be healed.  Someone probably brought him to this spot daily.  This was most likely a spot in which many needed gathered, because he said others beat him to the water.  There were people who probably had a ministry sharing their food and providing some care for these outcast and needy.  He was at this spot, because of hope in a story for help.

·         What things are you hoping for?  A better job?  A lifelong relationship with someone to share life with?  That your boss would change enough to provide a better work environment?  For the drama surrounding your life to settle down so you could experience peace?  A reliable form of transportation?

·         Hope seems to be that next piece of fruit that is just out of reach, but yet we think we have a strategy to reach it.

You own your hope.  No one else fully understands the importance of your need.  This invalid had no one else to help him into the water.  And others beat him to the healing.  Have you ever been frustrated that others don’t share your dream?  Have you felt alone in your pursuit of that for which you hope?

·         Your journey in life brings its own set of uniqueness.  No one else has walked in your shoes, nor can they fully.  You are a sum total of life’s joys, sorrows, adventures, and relationships.  These are the qualities that make you who you are.

·         So it is important that you own your hope and stop expecting or blaming others that you have not received that for which you hope.  Maybe they have carried you to the pool, thank them.  But don’t blame them for not helping you get into the water.

Fulfilled hope is found in the “who” and not the “what”.   Although hope helps us make it through the muddy waters of bad experience, the object of our hope will determine the lasting security of a strong foundation. 

·         Much of our hope is misdirected about the changing of our circumstances or people in our lives.  We have believed that if our circumstances would change into the direction for our perceived good, then happiness will follow.  The woman who continues to go from relationship to relationship keeps thinking the next guy will be different.  Yet, her life remains in turmoil.  It ain’t the guy.  The man who has trouble with his boss, is now struggling again on his 5^th job in 2 years.  It ain’t the job or the boss.

·         Only hope in Jesus gives us the foundation to weather the storms and navigate the rough waters of life.  This is not just platitudes of spiritual jargon.  Jesus is a rock that gives us a firm place to stand even when life is not “going our way”.

How do we place our hope in Jesus that is more than lip service expressed on Sundays?

·         Promises from God build faith for us to follow.  Promises found in the Bible become the footsteps for our journey.  When I feel all alone and don’t know where to turn.  God’s promise to never leave me nor forsake me becomes the next step of confession.  “God, I don’t feel your presence, but your word says that you are here and you are with me.  I trust in your word to bring the comfort and wisdom in the decision I need to make.”

·         Your words of confession in Jesus directs the flow of hope to you.  It is so important that you speak right things (God’s Promises) when you are walking in trials.  No more should you say things like- “My life is a mess and will always be a mess.  I am a failure and will always be a failure.  God is too busy to care about all of my problems.”  Instead, confess God’s word over your life.  “I can do all things in Christ who gives me strength. Phil 4:13  God who began a good work in me will continue that work to bring it to completion. Phil 1:6  Cast all of your cares upon Him (God) because He cares about you I Peter 5:7.”  Listen to the words coming from your mouth to determine where your hope lies.

·         Waiting does not necessarily mean that hope is misdirected, for it may be building character.  ³ Not only so, but we^[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; ⁴ perseverance, character; and character, hope. ⁵ And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.  Romans 5:3-5. NIV

I am glad Jesus found the man at the pool of Bethesda and healed him.  Jesus can find us wherever we are in our point of need.  There are many waiting for the stirring of the waters.  They have hope that something can change their lives.  Let’s lead them to Jesus.  He is THE author and THE finisher of our faith and hope.