“I AM JESUS!”

Acts 9:1-9                                      (ESV)

“1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

4 And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting ME?"

5 And he said, "Who are you, LORD?" And HE said, "”I AM JESUS”, whom you are persecuting.

6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do."

7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one.

8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus.

9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.”

Studying this exact passage not long ago, I usually wouldn’t prefer revisiting it for a longer period of time.  But GOD......HE has timeframes that might not make sense to us until we get to Heaven and we SEE everything HE SEES!  

On the road to Damascus, Saul heard JESUS speaking to him, but he didn’t know WHO HE was!  He had people with him who were capable of arresting Believers, but were evidently not men enough to stand against JESUS?  JESUS caused Saul to be placed in a position where his physical eyesight was taken from him ENABLING his Spiritual EYESIGHT to be perfected.  Saul couldn’t SEE until things were revealed to him by the SPIRIT OF GOD.  Far too many times today we want to SEE things when we desire to SEE them instead of WAITING ON GOD to reveal them to us!!!!

Recently I was eating dinner after a tiring day of yard work. My wife had the television playing a movie.  Not being really interested in television, I just wanted to sit in peace and quiet and enjoy resting my tired body.  But GOD.........HE wanted to grow me through a movie, so I didn’t protest, I just began watching the show.  “Recognizing” that GOD was trying to get me to HEAR from HIM, I became VERY INTERESTED in the movie and saw that GOD speaks through anything HE pleases, not just how and what we THINK HE will speak!  In the movie a man was a “star” singer who was caused to go home to the place where he was reared to take care of selling the estate of his family.  He saw his old home place, but he also found a “friend” and the values that he had before “this world” had given him fame.  Removing the pace of life generated by “this world” proved to be just what this man needed.  

Normally GOD speaks to me when I am quiet and still.   But HE isn’t precluded from speaking to me during rush hour at an airport terminal with literally thousands of people around!  HE is GOD and HE doesn’t have to do anything except be HOLY!  And ANYTHING HE does is HOLY.  SEEING this young man be orchestrated through “circumstances” in life made me think about my life.  GOD has displayed to me how HIS mighty hand was guiding me, even when I thought I was too busy for GOD and HIS Work.  

We seem to think ALMIGHTY GOD has to speak in a certain way, at a certain time, in the same way HE has done it before?  When “I AM JESUS” wants to speak to us, HE can speak through a donkey, a TELEVISION SHOW, a sea gull on a beach, HIS Creation, prayer, HIS SPIRIT, and a variety of other means.  Colossians 1:16 says “....ALL things were created through HIM and for HIM.”  Don’t try putting ALMIGHTY GOD into a box of preconceived ideas.  “I AM JESUS” contains the words “I AM” (Exodus 3:14), and HE is able to speak to us however HE chooses!  The question is, can we IDENTIFY and HEAR “I AM JESUS” speaking to us over “this world’s” interference???

“YOU SHALL BE RESCUED!”

Micah 4:10                                     (ESV)

“Writhe and groan, O daughter of Zion, like a woman in labor, for now you shall go out from the city and dwell in the open country; you shall go to Babylon. There “YOU SHALL BE RESCUED”; there THE LORD WILL REDEEM YOU from the hand of your enemies.”

There is a place where I have gone when the weight of the world is bearing down on me, where I can lay “prostrate” (figuratively speaking) before the LORD and literally beg for HIS direction in my life.  The word “prostrate” is defined as a “verb (used with object), prostrated, prostrating. 1. to cast (oneself) face down on the ground in humility, submission, or adoration. 2. to lay flat, as on the ground.” by one dictionary.  Recently I had to go to this place to receive my marching orders on how I should proceed.  GOD has never failed to lead me when I get to this position, maybe because I have always been at a crucial point in my life AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO DO?!?  There are some who like to say “GOD will never put more on you than you can stand”, but ask the children of Israel about that in Exodus 14???  HE allows us to be placed in these situations so we will admit that HE IS OUR ONLY HOPE!!!

When I arrived at the place, I was looking for specific answers to handle a need that had manifested itself in my life.  But GOD didn’t choose to directly answer the need, only “YOU SHALL BE RESCUED”!   The book of Micah isn’t a heavily read portion of the Bible for me, so I was amazed that GOD seemed to be guiding me there.  While reading chapter four, nothing seemed to be “taking hold”.........until I read verse ten!!  “Writhe and groan” seemed to be exactly where I was, and when the second part said “There “YOU SHALL BE RESCUED” I KNEW GOD was speaking to me!  

Why I am shocked that GOD caused me to go back to the same physical place HE had spoken to me before doesn’t surprise me in the least!  To have GOD speak through HIS WORD is expected!  And to have GOD choose what this mortal  thought would be a lesser passage is sometimes how GOD seems to operate, especially with me!  But the assurance that HE gave me when I saw “YOU SHALL BE RESCUED” brings a PEACE that is immeasurable.  To know that THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES desires to speak to a lowly servant of HIS says more about this GOD I serve than anything HE can give me!  HE LOVES ME THAT MUCH!!!

Don’t think GOD has abandoned you and WRITHE AND GROAN about a situation you find yourself in!  HE may have you in a position that “YOU SHALL BE RESCUED” by HIM, for HIS Glory!?!  

“SOME MEN JOINED HIM!”

Acts 17:29-34                               (ESV)

“29 Being then GOD's offspring, we ought not to think that the Divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man.

30 The times of ignorance GOD overlooked, but now HE commands all people everywhere to repent,

31 because HE has fixed a day on which HE will judge the world in righteousness by a MAN whom HE has appointed; and of this HE has given assurance to all by raising HIM from the dead."

32 Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this."

33 So Paul went out from their midst.

34 But “SOME MEN JOINED HIM” and Believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.”

It should come as no mystery that seemingly intelligent human minds have very little success in “figuring out” the things of GOD.   Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 1:27 “But GOD chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; GOD chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong;”!  GOD, our CREATOR, made us to not be able to SEE the things of the SPIRIT without being in the SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 2:14)!  

The Greeks (“Gentlemen of Athens” Acts 17:22) were considered to be “great thinkers” who pondered things considerably before passing judgement on a matter.  One commentary says the following, “According to Luke, the Athenians in general were known for spending their time in passing around the latest news and ideas. Much of the discussion took place in the Stoa, or colonnaded area, around the market place.”  The Apostle Paul was also full of much earthly knowledge, but in contrast, he was also SPIRIT filled and led!  

GOD uses those whom HE chooses, regardless of their pedigree.   Peter was an uneducated fisherman.  Paul was a Pharisee.  Both were used of GOD to further HIS PLAN!  It’s not about the person HE uses, it’s all about HIM receiving Glory.  Could it be that Paul preached to the Gentlemen of Athens because he had “standing” before them?  If so, WHO caused him to have his so-called “standing”?  

The point we have to observe is that Paul “reasoned” with the gentlemen of Athens, but the SPIRIT OF GOD selected “SOME MEN (who) JOINED HIM”.  Most said “We will hear you again about this”, but those who GOD “called” were the ones included in “SOME MEN JOINED HIM”!  When GOD’s SPIRIT is drawing you, it will behoove you to become “SOME MEN JOINED HIM”!!!

“MUST BELIEVE!”

Hebrews 11:6                                 (ESV)

“And WITHOUT FAITH IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE HIM, for whoever would draw near to GOD “MUST BELIEVE” that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM.”

It is astounding to me that some of Scriptures seem to speak to me one day in a certain manner, and then the next time I read the same passage, it ministers to me completely differently?!?  Maybe that is what is meant by the words of Hebrews 4:12 that says “For the word of GOD is “LIVING AND ACTIVE”, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”  The focal passage of Hebrews 6:11 is one of the verses that I have always lumped into being a “FAITH” verse, but this morning I SEE it as a verse that assures me that the Sovereign GOD of the Universe IS IN CONTROL of everything happening.   We just have to admit to, and surrender to, HIS Omnipotence and mercy.   

Now I don’t pretend to have a corner on hearing from ALMIGHTY GOD, but as I walk more closely to HIM, I am learning to recognize HIS VOICE and “follow” HIS direction.  Following HIM with no reservations may require us to build an ark when it has NEVER rained?  It may require us to sit on the banks of the Red Sea until HE decides to provide us a way across? If we could “KNOW” the outcome of trusting GOD, most of us would certainly carry out our lives with a different mindset, but we “MUST BELIEVE” that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM.  

I’m afraid we have allowed the word “FAITH” to become hijacked to mean something other than what we “MUST BELIEVE” to enter Heaven?  Far too often we limit our admission of what words actually MEAN to that which we THINK they are saying?  Our FAITH doesn’t entail which church denomination we are attending!  Our FAITH in GOD should mean that we KNOW (MUST BELIEVE) that HE is in CONTROL of everything, even the things we SEE as bad in our earthly eyes.  Instead, we want to question how a good GOD could ever allow bad things to happen to us?  Why would a good GOD allow us to be led into the wilderness and become entrapped on the edge of the Red Sea?  Exodus 14:4 says “And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will pursue them, and I WILL GET GLORY over Pharaoh and all his host,....”!  Isn’t getting HIM Glory supposed to be what we are all trying to do???

KNOWING that HE is in TOTAL CONTROL and is working ALL THINGS (Romans 8:28) for HIS good is something that we who “MUST BELIEVE” should have no problem with???  But like the children of Israel, we are a people who want everything to work out for our good, NOT so HE can receive Glory.  HIS goodness to me has been proven to me time and time again through health concerns, financial concerns, family concerns, and on and on.  The options for me are dwindling!  I “MUST BELIEVE” that HE is GOD, and I am NOT, and HE deserves my allegiance and admiration.  

“THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU!”

Exodus 14:13-16                           (ESV)

“13 And Moses said to the people, "Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which HE will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

14 “THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU”, and YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT."

15 The LORD said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward.

16 Lift up your staff, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, that the people of Israel may go through the sea on dry ground.”

The children of Israel were in a “spot”!  The Red Sea was before them, mountain ranges were on either side of them, and the strongest military on the face of the earth was advancing from their rear!  Certain captivity, and death to those who resisted, was the only apparent option for the Israelites.   BUT GOD!?!?!

GOD was speaking to Moses, and thus all of HIS children, when HE said ““THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU”, and YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT."   GOD still speaks to us, however, sometimes we aren’t listening to and for HIS VOICE!  Sometimes I have a preconceived idea of what GOD is going to say and I try to hear what I “want” HIM to say?  Or worse, I won’t SLOW DOWN my life enough to WAIT ON THE LORD!  Either way, GOD works on HIS OWN timeframe and frustration and despair await those who have their schedules adjusted by HIM!

In July 2007 I “had to wait” on GOD, and HE chose a medically induced coma as HIS method!  And HE wasn’t through teaching me to wait on HIM!  Two years later GOD provided me with my old insurance agency to step back into.   And three years later GOD FINALLY got me to trust HIM and allow “THE LORD TO FIGHT FOR ME”!  There was nothing I could do to help, nor my family, even the doctors had to wait until ALMIGHTY GOD gave the clearance to restore my health.   

“THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU”, and YOU HAVE ONLY TO BE SILENT” is still a lesson I am learning!  Sometimes I wonder if I will ever get to the point where I KNOW and BELIEVE HE IS IN CONTROL???  There is NO DOUBT GOD has the ability to “work ALL THINGS” (Romans 8:28) for HIS good.   But am I going to have to be made to WAIT on HIM again?  “THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU”, but will we allow HIM???

“DID NOT DEPART!”

Exodus 13:21-22                           (ESV)

“21 And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

22 The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night “DID NOT DEPART” from before the people.”

Most people prefer to have “all of their ducks in a row” before beginning a journey.  However, some of us have more of a “fly by the seat of our pants” mentality, adjusting on the fly to obstacles that may happen during our lives.  Those of us who have these traits tend to be more “trusting”, but it may be due to a lack of waiting for guidance and direction from above?  The children of Israel were left with no alternative but to follow the LORD as “The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night “DID NOT DEPART” from before the people.”   

Nowadays we operate at such a hectic pace that we very often have to react to keep up with a conversation before putting much thought or prayer into what comes out of our mouths.  While in Rehab following the Brain Hemorrhage in 2007 I almost constantly found myself a few minutes behind a conversation because I couldn’t formulate sentences quickly enough to contribute to a dialogue.  Speech Therapists tried everything they could to “restore” my word recall, but eventually realized that I “was as good as I was going to get”!  GOD used the Hemorrhage to SLOW DOWN my swift responses and inject more thought into my words.   

The children of Israel were about to experience one of the greatest miracles of the entire Bible, they just had to WAIT ON GOD to act at HIS pace!  Exodus 14:2 says “turn back” and “encamp” by the Red Sea!  Then in Exodus 14:14 scripture states “The LORD will fight for you, and you have only to be silent."   Our dilemma today is we think we “need” to be moving so swiftly to keep up with “this world” that we can’t wait on GOD to part the Red Sea, and therefore annihilate our enemies?!?  

The same GOD that parted the Sea for Moses is waiting for us “only to be silent”!!  The same SPIRIT that created this world promised us that HE would never leave us or forsake us, so why do we think we are alone??  HE “DID NOT DEPART” the children of Israel, and HE won’t leave us!  

“THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH!”

Genesis 2:21-25                           (ESV)

“21 So the LORD GOD caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh.

22 And the rib that the LORD GOD had taken from the man HE MADE into a WOMAN and brought her to the man.

23 Then the man said, "This at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." 

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and “THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH”.

25 And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.”   

A Godly man and his wife share a bond that is indescribably unique.   When the time comes that 

My “THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH” they literally are incomplete without the other.  GOD establishes this in Genesis 2:24, directly after putting the heavens and earth into existence.  It is not a coincidence that “the enemy” is introduced quite literally in the following verse of Genesis 3:1 as the minds of mankind will become a huge battleground since.   

Having the ability to SEE in our hearts and minds that “THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH” is not something that all people have been blessed with.   1 Corinthians 2:14 says “The ‘natural person’ does not accept the things of the SPIRIT of GOD, for THEY ARE FOLLY TO HIM, and he is not able to understand them because THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.”  Since “things of the SPIRIT of GOD” are “FOLLY TO” those who are natural, they don’t have the ability to comprehend them.  It can be frustrating, even maddening, when they cannot SEE what is so plainly apparent to us in the SPIRIT.  

The enemy always has a counterfeit available in an attempt to make us think his plan is an “improvement” on what GOD has ordained.  “Same-sex” unions CANNOT be marriages, no matter what courts of law may say, for GOD instituted marriage and HE ALONE gets to define them!  Now I have a few friends who are in same-sex unions and I don’t judge them because they are different than I am.  I’ve heard it said “Don’t Judge others because they sin differently than you do”!!  Only GOD can judge, and I’m not HIM.   

“THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH” is part of GOD’s Perfect Plan, and the enemy cannot improve that!  Same-sex unions cannot produce life, just like the enemy cannot bring PEACE!  The counterfeit will always appear to have glamorous results, but “THEY SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH” is part of GOD’s Perfect Plan!!!

“HE GAVE!”

Ephesians 4:11-14                        (ESV)

“11 And “HE GAVE” the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of CHRIST,

13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the SON of GOD, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of CHRIST,

14 so that WE MAY NO LONGER BE CHILDREN, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.”

If we truly understood WHO GOD really is, having FAITH in HIM wouldn’t be an issue at all.  For me, slowing down and KNOWING HE IS GOD is a key step, as the enemy wants to get me in a vortex of making a living and be a success in earthly things so that I won’t be able to acknowledge GOD and HIS principles.  Lying and deception is what satan is all about because he is “the father of lies” (John 8:44)!  

Man was created by GOD to Glorify HIM.  But we don’t have the built in desire to discover GOD, nor HIS attributes, without that being instilled within us by HIM.  “HE GAVE” us all a desire to know more about HIM.  The enemy offers counterfeit everything, something that isn’t genuine and original, that fails miserably to satisfy!  The enemy uses anything he can to remove us from worshiping ALMIGHTY GOD, for whenever that occurs, he has lost the battle!  Time, wealth, health, whatever we adore more than GOD can be used to sidetrack us from being used for HIS Glory!  

Scripture states that “HE GAVE”, not only different talents and resources, but even our different personalities to be used in different “positions” to Glorify HIM.   We are to “equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of CHRIST”!  We ALL have a calling and a purpose, and it’s not to have the largest bank account, nor the largest membership rolls, nor the most college degrees!  GOD can (and often does) use the least to do HIS greatest work.  After all, HE created the universes with NO HELP from anyone or anything, HE doesn’t NEED to be assisted to accomplish anything!!  

Now I’m certainly not the best example of how a person can be used by GOD.  It seems that I am forever thinking I have a better idea for my life than the HOLY SPIRIT.  But when I SLOW DOWN and operate at the pace the HOLY SPIRIT is moving, it becomes evident to me that the enemy is camouflaging his lie in an attempt to make me miss what “HE GAVE” me!  Just like in John 3:16 where Scripture says “GOD GAVE” HIS ONLY SON, when I see “HE GAVE” there are no additional requirements!  HE DID IT ALL!!!

“WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST!”

Philippians 1:27-30                       (ESV)

“27 Only let your manner of life be “WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one Spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from GOD.

29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of CHRIST you should NOT ONLY believe in HIM but also SUFFER FOR HIS SAKE,

30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.”

To live and act as though we are on easy street, living without a care in the world, could give the appearance that we are comfortable with our earthly surroundings?  However, IF WE ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE US, WE KNOW THAT JESUS HAS ALREADY DEFEATED satan and the battle is HIS, not ours!  War is seldom pretty (especially Spiritual Warfare!) and we fool ourselves if we assume that everything will be easy once we become Believers.  Therefore, we should be striving to allow our lives to be led by the HOLY SPIRIT, not our reasonings and emotions.  

1 Corinthians 3:16 says “Do you not know that you are GOD’s temple and that GOD's SPIRIT dwells in you”?  The HOLY SPIRIT dwells within us, so why do I challenge HIS leadership from time to time?  Shouldn’t I yield to HIS guidance and direction when making decisions for my life?  It seems that I am so easily moved by what “this world” will think about my life?  I should not be nearly as consumed with the filth displayed by “this world”, rather I should be bothered by the filth being displayed by me, a follower of CHRIST!  

The Apostle Paul wrote “Only let your manner of life be “WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST,” not so we can brag about how good we are, but because it is an honor to be used by our CREATOR for HIS Glory!  Imagine if you will, the CREATOR of the universes “called” me out of the darkness into HIS marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9)!!  Although I’m not “WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST”, HE STILL CHOSE ME!!!

“JOSEPH FOUND FAVOR!”

Genesis 39:3-6                            (ESV)

“3 His master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD caused all that he did to succeed in his hands.

4 So “”JOSEPH FOUND FAVOR” in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had.

5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.

6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.”

There are many times when people in general get discouraged while going through trying times.  Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, appears to be going against them and they can’t seem to catch a break.  In the book of Genesis,

Joseph was hated by his brothers, sold into slavery by his own brothers, lied about by Potiphar’s wife, just to mention a few of his “trials”!  But, GOD HAD A PLAN!!!

How could Joseph have thought when he was at the bottom of the well, or in imprisoned following false accusations from Potiphar’s wife that he was right where GOD’s Plan called for him to be?  As it turns out, Joseph had to be in the prison with a man who knew his ability to interpret dreams, so when Pharaoh had a dream he that troubled him greatly, he began asking for ANYONE who could interpret the dream.  Joseph was summoned and GOD interpreted Pharaoh’s dream and because “JOSEPH FOUND FAVOR” in GOD’s sight, he was promoted to number two in all of the land of Egypt.  The only person with authority over Joseph was Pharaoh himself.  

Why can’t we SEE that GOD is in Control when so-called “bad things” happen in our lives?  GOD might be putting us in a prison cell to interpret a dream before a “nobody” who will notify a world leader of GOD using us for HIS Glory!  To understand that GOD is in Control, even when what we think are bad things come about, is part of understanding that we are not HIM!  Man is full of “BAD THINGS” (Mark 7:21-23) and far too often I reveal those ugly things!  For instance, we don’t want to SEE that when a person isn’t “present with the body”, they are “present with the LORD”!  GOD being in Control is a lot better than me being in charge!!

When Joseph was going through his many trials, one might have easily thought he was “out of GOD’s Will”.  But GOD was working HIS Plan and “JOSEPH FOUND FAVOR” from GOD ALMIGHTY!  We too may have to experience some “bad things” from time to time, but knowing that we are being used by our CREATOR as part of HIS Plan makes it all worthwhile.  Like “JOSEPH FOUND FAVOR”, cause me to be reminded that I am YOURS to use for YOUR Glory!!!

“BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES!”

Proverbs 3:7-8                             (ESV)

“7 “BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES”; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 

8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.”

As I mature (some may use the word “age”) it is becoming more frequent that I approach life more deliberately, almost cautiously, in an effort to make certain that I use words that reflect what the Spirit inside of me is wanting me to say.  The paragraph below is a few words that are contained in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America and were not a bunch of words that were just jotted down haphazardly with no regard for their meaning and impact.  SEEing what was written AND why these words were used should be of great interest to us, especially as our GOD given rights are becoming endangered.  

The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.” 

The United States Constitution is an exquisitely written document that contains TRUTHS that even most who disagree with find difficult to overcome.   Let me explain what is meant by what I am saying:

According to a dictionary, the word “Unalienable” is defined by - “not transferable to another or not capable of being taken away or denied; inalienable:”.  The word “Creator” was capitalized because it gives reference to ALMIGHTY GOD.  HE (OUR CREATOR) has given us RIGHTS that cannot be taken away or denied by a government or legal proceeding.  Since GOD gave these RIGHTS, we are duty bound to protect these RIGHTS from being assaulted by any who would attempt placing us “in bondage”.  

Only THE LIGHT (John 8:12) is able to replace the darkness that has crept into our nation.  We Believers have been silent for the most part and have allowed our RIGHTS to be silenced in an effort of what we want to say is “getting along”?   But JESUS says in Matthew 10:22 “and you will be hated by all for MY name's sake.....”.  Then WHY are we hesitant to experience torture and rejection in the NAME of our LORD and SAVIOR?  Since we are going to be hated, JESUS said so, let’s go ahead and stand on TRUTH!!  

It has been suggested that the American people personally own more guns than any people ever!  Now just because we own guns doesn’t indicate we are proficient in using them.  Likewise, the HOLY BIBLE is written in many versions today, but is probably more poorly read than at any time in history!  Through HIS WORD, why do we have access to the Throne room of our CREATOR (and knowing HIM more intimately), yet we REJECT developing our relationship with HIM because of time constraints, OR MORE ASHAMEDLY, our desire doesn’t warrant it???  HE has written us a LOVE LETTER and we won’t even take time to hear what HE is trying to tell us?!?

We “modern day” Believers seem to act as though the words of JESUS do not apply to us?  But I don’t know of anyone who wants to deny HIS Promises that HE is coming back, or HE was victorious over death, hell, and the grave!  

Fear or apathy, we the so-called Believers have been silent, just as the Believers in the days when JESUS walked among us for far too long.  It’s high time we “BE NOT WISE IN YOUR OWN EYES” and focus on obeying HIS Spirit within us.  

“A STILL SMALL VOICE!”

1 Kings 19:11-14                           (KJV)

“11 And HE said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE WIND: and after the wind an earthquake; BIT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE EARTHQUAKE but the LORD: 12 And after the earthquake a fire; BUT THE LORD WAS NOT IN THE FIRE: and after the fire “A STILL SMALL VOICE”. 13 And it was so, when Elijah heard it, that he wrapped his face in his mantle, and went out, AND STOOD in the entering in of the cave. And, behold, there came a voice unto him, and said, What doest thou here, Elijah? 14 And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD GOD of hosts: because the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

How many times have I given a special effort to introduce my friends and family to a person who was famous according to “this world”?  We take photographs and document those encounters because we want proof later on that we know or knew a person who was “famous”!  The memorabilia from these meetings still adorn my surroundings as the memories of those brief meetings 

But in reality, I have the Spirit of the CREATOR of the universes living within me and I sometimes don’t even take time to acknowledge HE is anywhere near?  GOD doesn’t always speak to us with a loud, booming voice, as a matter of fact HE most often wants me to be solely focused on HIM in order to hear from HIM.  Psalms 46:10 says “BE STILL, and KNOW THAT I AM GOD”!  There are times (for me it is most of the time) when we have to BE STILL to KNOW THAT HE IS GOD.  

Driving down the road is a wonderful time for me to commune with GOD.  But I have noticed that I cannot ignore other people’s actions while driving and my reactions to their actions cause me to get “in the flesh” occasionally.  For me, distractions have to be eliminated and my attention has to be on hearing from THE LORD for me to connect to HIM.  Unless the signal is clear and strong, the connection is probably not what it needs to be???

A paragraph from a devotional I recently was reading SPOKE to me rather loudly:

Urgency, however, is less suited for reflection and rest. In many ways, it is at odds with waiting on the Lord, seeking God in silence and solitude, and meditating on Scripture. Urgency has a powerful magnetic pull that can keep us from hearing God.

Why do I try to hear from GOD “on the run” when I can come before HIS Throne and get instructions from HIM?  Do I think GOD will make special provisions for me to get HIS messages?  Elijah was trying to HEAR from GOD to preserve his life!  He listened for GOD in a WIND, in an EARTHQUAKE, even in a FIRE; but he found GOD speaking in “A STILL SMALL VOICE” when he was desperate to hear from HIM!  

It seems that I am made very similar to Elijah?  Expecting to hear from GOD saying what I want to hear, how I want HIM to speak, and my most popular demand, and WHEN I think HE should be speaking is my biggest “FAULT”!  GOD isn’t confined by my lack of SEEING HIM for WHO HE is, HE is still GOD when I can’t see HIM.  FATHER GOD, cause me to BE STILL and recognize YOU, especially when YOU speak in “A STILL SMALL VOICE”!!!

“GAVE HIS ONLY SON!”

John 3:16-18                                 (ESV)

“16 "For GOD so loved the world, that HE “GAVE HIS ONLY SON”, that whoever believes in HIM should not perish but have eternal life.

17 For GOD did not send his SON into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through HIM.

18 Whoever believes in HIM is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the NAME of the only SON of GOD.”

“Nobody knows the pain of rejection like JESUS”. 

This sign was seen recently in front of a church, but it should be emblazoned on each of our minds as we live our lives.  

JESUS left the splendor around the Throne of GOD in Heaven to come to earth as a poor, humble servant child!   Isaiah 53:3 (written around 700 B.C,) says the CHRIST would be “despised and rejected” by man, and I think JESUS qualified based on the week before and during HIS crucifixion.  The ONE WHO spoke “this world” into existence (Colossians 1:15-17) was mocked and rejected by those thinking they knew best?!?!  It wasn’t Pontius Pilate that had JESUS crucified, it was the HIS own people, the JEWS, who cried “Crucify HIM”!  

But are we any better than the JEWS, or Pontius Pilate?  When we observe JESUS living through someone’s life, do we mock and reject them?  Or worse, do we “hide HIM under a bushel”?  Why is it that we are afraid or ashamed to boldly speak HIS Name in public, like HE is a piranha?  Don’t we know the CREATOR of the universes wants to abide in us, and we are shy about being seen in public with HIM?  

GOD “GAVE HIS ONLY SON” to provide a sacrifice for me to abide with HIM Glory!  JESUS said in Mark 8:38 “For whoever is ashamed of ME and of MY words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the SON of MAN also be ashamed when HE comes in the glory of his FATHER with the holy angels."  HIS Name will proudly be shared by these lips as GOD “GAVE HIS ONLY SON” for me! 

“ALL SCRIPTURE!”

2 Timothy 3:14-17                        (ESV)

“14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it

15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in CHRIST JESUS.

16 “ALL SCRIPTURE” is breathed out by GOD and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

17 that the man of GOD may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Not being the smartest man in the world I sometimes have to be taken to the woodshed AGAIN to refresh myself of a lesson that I should have learned many times over during my youth.  GOD is so long suffering and patient with me, it amazes me how HE can still love someone so dense!  Why do I continually search for answers anywhere besides HIS WORD.  Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, even devotionals written by man are no comparison to the HOLY SPIRIT leading me to GOD’s WORD to solve a problem I am facing?!?

“ALL SCRIPTURE” is breathed out by our Creator!  The ONE who formed us gave us a guide to lead us on our journey through “this world”, yet we want to try ANYTHING but HIS WORD when looking for an answer?  We can’t read “a verse a day” and expect to avoid trouble either!  As a matter of fact, in 2 Corinthians 12 GOD tells Apostle Paul “MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect in weakness."  We display HIM most when we allow HIM to deliver us from our weaknesses.   Everyone needs a Savior, but none more than me!  We can wear the finest clothes on Sunday’s to look as though we are clean and well groomed, but Scripture says in 1 Samuel 16:7 “GOD sees the heart”!  

It would behoove me learn that “ALL SCRIPTURE” is where I should begin looking when walking through this world!  When we are driving to a place and we don’t know how to get where we are going, we typically need a roadmap.  Our roadmap, given to us by our CREATOR, is in “ALL SCRIPTURE”!  It has everything I need to make me “complete, equipped for every good work.”  

“MUST BELIEVE!”

Hebrews 11:6                                (ESV)

“And without FAITH it is impossible to please HIM, for whoever would draw near to GOD “MUST BELIEVE” that HE exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM.”

Since “without FAITH it is impossible to please HIM”, and we seem to be forever trying to prove how much we can do on our own, why is it that we find it so easy to believe that being blessed with things of “this world” is evidence that GOD is pleased with our lives?  Sure, GOD says King David was a man after GOD’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) and David wrote Psalms 24:1 which says “The earth is the LORD's AND THE FULLNESS THEREOF, the world and those who dwell therein”, GOD still had to judge the sin in the life of David when he tried to circumvent GOD’s Sovereignty by lying with Bathsheba and then killing her husband in an attempt to cover the sin up!  

If we (mainly I) really BELIEVED that “HE (GOD) exists and that HE rewards those who seek HIM”, why do I continue to violate HIS Word by doing what pleases us instead of pleasing GOD?  If HE rewards sin with Judgement (Galatians 6:7), why do I sometimes CHOOSE to bring Judgement upon my life?   The Apostle Paul says in Romans 7:15-25 that he did what he hated!  But why???  It must be in verse 23 where he wrote “but I see in my members another law WAGING WAR against the LAW OF MY MIND and MAKING ME CAPTIVE TO THE LAW OF SIN that dwells in my members.”

The unbelievable physical price that was paid for my sin on the cross was devastatingly gruesome!  But the Spiritual price was SO GREAT that even the sun refused to shine when HE was on the cross (Luke 23:44-45)!  When the Light of the World (John 8:12) was removed, only darkness remained!!!  GOD has demonstrated throughout Scripture that HE cannot abide sin, yet we (our sin nature) continues trying to prove our plan will be “good enough”!  We “MUST BELIEVE” that HE IS, and HE will be GOD, no matter what the enemy battles our minds with!  

“LORD, I HAVE HEARD!”

Acts 9:1-2; 13-18                                     (ESV)

“1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the LORD, went to the high priest

2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.”

....

“13 But Ananias answered, "”LORD, I HAVE HEARD” from many about this man, how much evil he has done to YOUR saints at Jerusalem.

14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on YOUR name."

15 But the LORD said to him, "Go, for he is a chosen instrument of MINE to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.

16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of MY name."

17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, "Brother Saul, the LORD JESUS who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the HOLY SPIRIT."

18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized;”

“They are too far gone for GOD to use them”!  How many times have we even just thought that about someone?  They seemingly have no identifiable traits that would suggest they are useable for the Kingdom, so IN OUR EYES we exclude them from ever being used in GOD’s Plan.  

Ananias was a devout follower of JESUS CHRIST who was asked to get outside of his “comfort zone”.   Saul was notorious during this time frame for persecuting the church of JESUS CHRIST.   Now JESUS was asking Ananias to go help Saul/Paul so he could regain his sight.  Why would ALMIGHTY GOD enable a persecutor of the church to be healed from the ailment that GOD had sent to get his attention?  Could it be that GOD wanted to show Ananias (AND ME) that when HE changes someone’s heart, HE can do it so radically that the person’s entire lifestyle is changed FOR HIS GLORY?!?  

Paul is considered by some to be one of the most dedicated Believers to have ever lived.  But his testimony prior to the Damascus road experience was one of fear and destruction.  Acts 9:1 says “....But Saul, still breathing THREATS and MURDER against the disciples of the LORD...”!  He had the establishment “church”, the “in crowd” if you will, supporting him in his efforts to silence a movement called The Way, and ultimately the Message of GOD!   But ALMIGHTY GOD isn’t constrained by what man thinks or plans!  

When will I stop trying to place my GOD into what man accepts as being possible?  JESUS said in Matthew 19:26 “....With man this is impossible, but with GOD all things are possible."  GOD has demonstrated FIRST HAND to me that HE delights in impossibilities!  Sometimes I believe HE lets things become SO HOPELESS that man believes there is no hope!  But HE can change a man’s heart, HE can move the Red Sea, HE can make the sun stand still, and HE can heal a brain hemorrhage! May my response be “LORD, I HAVE HEARD” from YOU and not be blinded by what “this world” says my GOD can do!!!