“NOR DO THEY DISCERN!”

Isaiah 44:18-20                      (ESV)

“18 They know not, “NOR DO THEY DISCERN”, for HE has shut their eyes, so that they cannot see, and their hearts, so that they cannot understand.

19 No one considers, nor is there knowledge or discernment to say, "Half of it I burned in the fire; I also baked bread on its coals; I roasted meat and have eaten. And shall I make the rest of it an abomination? Shall I fall down before a block of wood?"

20 He feeds on ashes; A DELUDED HEART has led him astray, and HE CANNOT DELIVER HIMSELF or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?" 

TRUTH is a tremendous thing.  Being able to DISCERN THE TRUTH from a half-truth is sometimes difficult to do, but if you observe the one delivering a message, it will generally reveal itself to be TRUTH, or not!   

JESUS said in John 8:44 to the scribes and Pharisees, who thought of themselves as the Spiritual ELITE, “You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is NO TRUTH IN HIM. When he LIES, he speaks out of his own character, for HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF LIES”.  A LIAR, or someone who exhibits a strong ability twist words to make those words sound like what they want them to say, is usually not interested in TRUTH!  They are generally more inclined to sway others to believe that they are correct, and by doing soo, get what they want done to be accomplished.  

Isaiah said that “He feeds on ashes; A DELUDED HEART has led him astray, and HE CANNOT DELIVER HIMSELF or say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"  Thus, he can tell you a LIE and not even SEE that he is speaking an untruth.  Once again, JESUS said “When he LIES, he speaks out of his own character, for HE IS A LIAR, AND THE FATHER OF LIES”.  He may not intend to be untruthful, but it is his nature.  

It is SO very important NOT to become one of the “NOR DO THEY DISCERN” club.  According to one dictionary, the word “discern” means to “distinguish (someone or something) with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.”  One devotional says “Some Christians are so spiritually hungry that they will swallow any teaching, even if it is unbalanced or unhealthy. We must learn to test what we hear.”  In Acts 17:11 Scripture records “Now these Jews (in Berea) were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, EXAMINING THE SCRIPTURES DAILY TO SEE IF THESE THINGS WERE SO.”  The “NOR DO THEY DISCERN” people must not have been attending the church in Berea???

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE!”

John 10:24-28                             (ESV)

“24 So THE JEWS gathered around HIM and said to HIM, "How long will YOU keep us in suspense? If you are the CHRIST, tell us plainly."

25 JESUS answered them, "I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in MY FATHER's name bear witness about ME,

26 but YOU DO NOT BELIEVE because YOU ARE NOT among MY SHEEP.

27 “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE”, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME.

28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of MY hand.”

I realize that not everyone wants to hear about the Brain Hemorrhage I experienced in 2007.  The fact is though, when something makes a TREMENDOUS impact in your life, you tend to refer to it quite frequently.  For the first two years or so following the Hemorrhage, I had to turn the radio OFF while driving a vehicle.  I couldn’t FOCUS on two things at once, and not having a wreck was definitely more important than listening to my favorite Southern Gospel CD or song on the radio. 

In the aftermath of the Hemorrhage, I began to drive just talking to GOD, and intently listening for HIS reply.  Hearing from GOD is not for everyone.  THE JEWS, thought by most people to be GOD’s Chosen, were “NOT among MY SHEEP”!  JESUS said “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE”, and I know them, and THEY FOLLOW ME!  Keep in mind, HEARING and FOLLOWING are as different night and day.  We must FOLLOW HIM!

But what about Saul in Acts chapter 9?  He wasn’t YET a follower of CHRIST and he was able to HEAR GOD speaking to him in the road to Damascus.  GOD knew that Saul was going to join HIS flock, for in Acts 9:15-16 JESUS said “...."Go, for he is a CHOSEN instrument of mine to carry MY name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of MY name." Saul had already been CHOSEN to serve GOD, he just wasn’t aware of that....YET!  

Sometimes we have to remove ALL interference before we can HEAR the VOICE OF GOD.  Even listening to Southern Gospel music was keeping me from communing with the FATHER.  At least for me, developing a keen SPIRITUAL EAR has meant that I have to forfeit all the worldly interference and listen very closely for HIM.  1 Kings 19:12 (KJV) says Elijah, a man tremendously closer to GOD than I am, found GOD not in an earthquake, nor in a fire, “and after the fire a STILL SMALL VOICE”!  

“MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE” is a promise, but we may have to adjust our methods for listening to hear HIM?  There are some who can SPIRITUALLY HEAR when all sorts of turmoil is going on around them.  That has not been the norm for me since 2007.  However, “MY SHEEP HEAR MY VOICE” and when HE does speak to me, and I rejoice that HE has CHOSEN to commune with me!!!

“CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE!”

Romans 9:6-13                        (ESV)

“6 But it is not as though the word of GOD has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel,

7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named."

8 This means that it is NOT the children of the flesh who are the children of GOD, but the “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE” are counted as offspring.

9 For this is what the promise said: "About this time next year I will return, and Sarah shall have a son."

10 And not only so, but also when Rebekah had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac,

11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad-in order that GOD's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls-

12 she was told, "The older will serve the younger."

13 As it is written, "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."

“The JEWS” have always been thought of as GOD’s chosen people, simply because they were descendants of Abraham (John 8:33).  However, I am not of the PHYSICAL bloodline of Abraham, but my FAITH IN GOD makes me a part of the “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE”.  Being in the PHYSICAL bloodline is what the Pharisees, the ones who were thought of as the highest ranked of the JEWS, were banking their holiness on.  Unfortunately for them, Hebrews 11:6 says “without FAITH it is IMPOSSIBLE to please GOD...”.  Your “bloodline” has nothing to do with your SPIRIT!  

Trusting in anything other than your FAITH that JESUS is the SON OF GOD and came to earth to provide a ransom for the souls of man is the ONLY way to get to HEAVEN.  John 6:44-46 “NO ONE can come to ME unless the FATHER WHO sent ME draws him...”.  Ephesians 2:8-9 says “For by GRACE you have been saved through FAITH. And this is not your own doing; it is the GIFT OF GOD, not a result of works, so that NO ONE MAY BOAST.”  We have no ability within us to live a life HOLY enough to escape Judgment.   Only by GRACE through FAITH in the finished work of JESUS CHRIST can we experience Heaven.  

Modern day “Pharisees”, similar to the times of JESUS, have convinced themselves that as long as they follow “their rules” they are in great shape with GOD.  However, in John 8 JESUS told the “scribes and Pharisees” that YOU ARE OF YOUR FATHER THE DEVIL!!  They “thought” they were walking with GOD, that they were doing what was “required” to enter Heaven.   But in John 8:45 JESUS told them “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe ME.”  GOD IN THE FLESH was walking in their midst and they couldn’t even SEE HIM!  

The scribes and the Pharisees were not the only ones who couldn’t SEE HIM though!  In Luke 24, Scripture records that TWO DISCIPLES were walking and talking on the road to Emmaus.  In verse 31 it is recorded “And their eyes were opened, and they recognized HIM. And HE VANISHED FROM THEIR SIGHT.”  These disciples KNEW JESUS, yet they could SEE HIM, and then they couldn’t SEE HIM.  

We don’t need to get all caught up in our Holiness that we can’t SEE JESUS walking in our midst.  As “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE”, our FAITH that JESUS CHRIST is the SON of GOD is all we need.  We should live our lives HOLY, not because we have to show our obedience to HIM, but because we DO love HIM and are called according to HIS purpose!  Being “CHILDREN OF THE PROMISE” is the greatest gift ever, and we need to realize that!!!

“STRIVE FOR PEACE!”

Hebrews 12:14                (ESV)

 “”STRIVE FOR PEACE” with everyone, AND FOR THE HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD.”  

It shouldn’t surprise us that “STRIVING FOR PEACE” would be one of the characteristics of Heaven that we should work towards.  I’m John 14:27 JESUS says “PEACE I leave with you; MY PEACE I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  HE also says earlier in John 14:6 “JESUS said to him, "I am the way, and the TRUTH, and the life. No one comes to the FATHER except through ME.”  

TRUE PEACE only comes through pursuing TRUTH, desiring to walk more closely with JESUS.  The enemy wants to bring turmoil and discontent, but living with and for JESUS is the ONLY way we can experience TRUE PEACE. According to Scripture, no one will be able to SEE THE LORD without living a HOLY life.  But how can a wretched sinner such as myself ever expect to live HOLY?  We mustn’t try to independently capture PEACE without living with CHRIST as our substitute (propitiation)!  Performing a word study of the word “propitiate” sends my computer to the word “appease”, which carries a definition of “to bring to a state of PEACE...”!!  True PEACE cannot be attained outside of JESUS.  

We will NOT be able to have PEACE with everyone when we live HOLY.  “This world” cannot understand THE SPIRIT leading us (1 Corinthians 2:14)???  But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t “STRIVE FOR PEACE” during our sojourn through this wilderness.  The LOVE we exhibit will be used to draw “lost” people to HIM, even if though most might laugh and ridicule us all the way to an eternity of torment.  Since we are follow our example (JESUS), should we expect to be treated any better than HE is/was?  HE said we must “...deny himself and take up his cross and FOLLOW ME”!  

The TRUTH is offensive.  It causes Believers to change the life they WERE living and begin a new path.  When we “STRIVE FOR PEACE” with everyone, AND FOR THE HOLINESS WITHOUT WHICH NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD we should be doing so with the knowledge that this world is opposed to TRUTH!  When we “STRIVE FOR PEACE”, we won’t necessarily bring peace to all those who surround us. But living for the LORD will cause our “STRIVE FOR PEACE” to be worth rejection from “this world”!  Since JESUS is PEACE, we should do our beat to make HIM known to all by living HOLY.  Those efforts will be worth it!!!

“NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED!”

1 Corinthians 2:7-10                       (ESV)

“7 But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of GOD, which GOD decreed before the ages for our glory.

8 NONE OF THE RULERS OF THIS AGE UNDERSTOOD THIS, for if they had, they would not have crucified the LORD of glory.

9 But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, “NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM"- 

10 these things GOD has revealed to us through the SPIRIT. For the SPIRIT searches everything, even the depths of GOD.”

There are many times that I would love to speak with my mother, or grandfather, or maybe my former pastor!  However you don’t see me wishing they could or would come back to earth to give me guidance or advice.  All of the aforementioned people were VERY special to me, but they were flawed PEOPLE, humans whose partial assignment was to shine some JESUS on my path to assist me getting through this life.  My assignment, likewise, is to shine some JESUS so the ones who are observing my journey will have an example for their lives.  

The HOLY BIBLE is a ROADMAP for getting through this life.  You can be LOST and try to figure out the best way to be found on your own, or you can look at the ROADMAP and SEE what GOD would have you do?  From experience, trying to figure out where you are on your own can be a trying time.  TRUSTING GOD to guide you through HIS WORD will bring an increase in your FAITH, but will sometimes not make sense.  True FAITH seldom makes sense though.   

When we dare to operate by TRUE FAITH we will confuse most of “this world”.  They can’t SEE (or understand) why we are making the decisions we are making.  1 Corinthians 2:14 says the “natural man DOES NOT accept the things of the SPIRIT of GOD....”.  Those things are “foolishness to him”!  

So especially people of “this world” believe that the things of Heaven are a farce.  They can’t even picture a place of eternal PEACE with no confusion or conflict.  We Believers have THE PROMISE that “no eye has seen, nor ear heard, “NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”, what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM” exists for us.  As hard as it is to accept, we will be BLOWN AWAY by Heaven, and these words won’t begin to describe what awaits us.  When Scripture says “NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”, the message to me is that words cannot describe, not pictures cannot do justice to what GOD has prepared for those who love HIM.  As much as my mother and others loved me, why would they leave a place indescribable where “NOR THE HEART OF MAN IMAGINED”???

“PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR GLORY!”

Exodus 33:17-25                (ESV)

“17 And the LORD said to Moses, "This very thing that you have spoken I will do, for you have found favor in MY sight, and I know you by name."

18 Moses said, "PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR GLORY."

19 And HE said, "I will make all MY goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you MY name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.

20 But," he said, "you cannot see MY face, for man shall not see ME and live."

21 And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock,

22 and while MY GLORY passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with MY hand until I have passed by.

23 Then I will take away MY hand, and you shall see MY back, but MY face shall not be seen." “

If I could just get just a small fraction of a glimpse of the majesty of GOD’s Glory, I’m certain that my choices in life would be different.  It seems that MY EYES are set on the things of “this world” instead of reflecting HIS Glory.  It is quite easy to elevate our own selfish desires ahead of HIS Plan and Purpose for our lives.  Moses and the Children of Israel were following the LORD (Pillar of Cloud by day and Pillar of Fire by night) so it doesn’t surprise me that Moses desired to know HIM more intimately.  His request was  "PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR GLORY”, and GOD complied, but only to Glorify HIS OWN NAME!  Also, GOD would not totally expose HIMSELF to Moses, because  “you cannot see MY face, for man shall not see ME and live.”

Why then do we give the impression that we have all of the answers to the problems that arise on our journey through this life?  Being afraid of NOT having the answers should be a badge of honor, but “this world” wants us to believe that we have to overcome adversity and be STRONG!  But how can someone be STRONG when they are diagnosed with a terminal disease?  By trusting in ALMIGHTY GOD is the easiest way that I know of.  Moses observed “MY back” after GOD had covered him with “MY hand” and he still glowed for days, maybe weeks, afterwards because of GOD’s Glory.   And we go into our “worship service” at church visiting and talking with our neighbors because we want to be accepting and accepted!  All the while, we should be like Moses BEGGING GOD to “PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR GLORY”!!!

It might be the reason ALMIGHTY GOD doesn’t display HIS GLORY like HE has previously is we are so interested in “following the order of worship” according to our bulletin and being the first to get to our favorite restaurant after church that we aren’t interested in seeing HIS Glory?  Moses pleaded with GOD to “PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR GLORY”, causing my thoughts to go back to when GOD “broke” me and I was begging for help!  Moses didn’t just ask as a second thought, I believe he asked for ALMIGHTY GOD to do something as a sign for the children of Israel to KNOW that he had been in GOD’s Presence!  The results were unmistakably successful!  

It is my desire to reflect JESUS so clearly that others will want to be around me because of the LIGHT that I exhibit.  Being at a celebration this weekend of a mentor and friend who GOD has blessed me through a relationship over the past several years reminds me of how I want to be remembered.  When I met my friend, I called my wife from my car and told her that “I felt like I had been in the presence of JESUS”!   Why do people not say the same about me?  My life is supposed to be crucified with CHRIST? Perhaps I am reflecting too much of the “natural man” and not of HIM?  “PLEASE SHOW ME YOUR GLORY” needs to be my goal in life, but only so others can SEE HIM in me.  

“WE CANNOT DENY IT!”

Acts 4:13-20                             (ESV)

“13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. AND THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.

14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another,

16 saying, "What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and “WE CANNOT DENY IT”.

17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name."

18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of JESUS.

19 But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it is right in the sight of GOD to listen to you rather than to GOD, you must judge,

20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."”

There was a post on a social media site recently that stirred my interest.  It seems a Believer was criticized simply because they let it be known that they Believed in JESUS CHRIST as the SON OF GOD?  The criticism is not something new, rather it has been around since JESUS walked among us.  Now the period of time Acts 4 was written about was approximately 32 AD.  Peter and John were telling what they had experienced while they were with JESUS, but the “priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed...” that they were speaking TRUTH!  

“This world” cannot tolerate TRUTH, and no matter what they are clothed in, they will oppose it with everything they have.  These men said in verse 20 “for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard."  Eyewitness accounts are the most devastating to lies (John 8:44) and “the enemy” wants to silence TRUTH!  When the “priests and the captain of the Temple and the Sadducees” conferred with each other, they determined “WE CANNOT DENY IT”, THE MESSAGE is TRUTH! 

Once again, “this world” cannot permit even a tiny bit of JESUS in it, so they squelch even the mentioning of HIS Name.  It was this way during the first century and it is not getting any better!  Christians were martyred then, and they are martyred today.  Why should we expect to be left alone to worship our SAVIOR?  The ending sentence of Acts 4:13 says “AND THEY RECOGNIZED THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS.”  We may do a poor job of reflecting HIS Spirit in our lives, but HIS Spirit is recognized by the enemy rather abruptly, and is usually attacked with a lie and fear!  That is the enemy’s character (John 8:44)!

When JESUS is “high and lifted up” (Isaiah 6:1) HE will be Glorified.  The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy all of HIS Glory that he can.  The enemy has NO DOUBTS of WHO CHRIST really is.  He had no response for HIM in the first century, and still “WE CANNOT DENY IT” today!  The only hope the enemy has is making we Believers tremble with fear and not proclaim what we have seen and heard by HIM!  

“CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST!”

Galatians 2:20-21           (ESV)

“20 I have been “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST”. It is no longer I who live, but CHRIST WHO lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by FAITH in the SON of GOD, WHO loved me and gave HIMSELF for me.

21 I do not nullify the grace of GOD, FOR IF RIGHTEOUSNESS WERE THROUGH THE LAW, THEN CHRIST DIED FOR NO PURPOSE.”

“The main obstacles to living and walking by faith, is thinking that there is life outside of Christ and His experience (Galatians 2:20; John 16:33).”

Receiving the message above recently from a servant of the most HIGH GOD caused me to STOP and ponder FOR A WHILE.  Then I saw this Facebook post, “Stopping to think about my friends is like a breath of fresh air....”, and I wondered how many times I considered that the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES never ONCE has a time when HE ISN’T thinking about me?  Can I say that about any other friend???

In my younger years I would so often I catch myself “speed reading” through scripture in an attempt to move onto the next item on my busy agenda, never considering that my best “FRIEND” is the ONE WHO merely spoke and there was!  HE desires, maybe even requires, a relationship stronger than the one we have with our spouses, and we find ourselves struggling to give HIM an hour once a week to celebrate being CHOSEN by HIM???

Knowing the JOY and PEACE that only HE can give is something that is unmistakably unique.  Conversely, when I am not in a good relationship with HIM and NOT allowing HIS SPIRIT to reflect in my mirror, the discontent and turmoil can literally be sickening, causing physical and emotional distress.  When we are “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST”, we surrender our will to HIS and allow HIM to lead our paths.  What I used to do is use the old “bull in a china cabinet” mentality until I would get myself into a place where I was totally with NO HOPE, AND ONLY THEN have to cry out to GOD to get me back on THE PATH where HE was leading.  

Being “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST” should cause me to yield to HIS direction in my life.  But I sometimes liken being “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST” as a dead person that we constantly are giving CPR to, doing our best to keep the corpse alive?  Allowing ourselves to be “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST” should mean to us that our fleshly desires will fade away, especially if we are feeding the SPIRIT (Romans 7 & 8).  Are you continually CRUCIFYING your fleshly desires?  Is it your desire to be “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST“?  The ONLY way we can live eternally, and  have fulfillment here on earth, is to be “CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST” and allow HIS SPIRIT to live through us.  

“THROUGH FAITH!”

Galatians 3:23-29                               (ESV)

“23 Now BEFORE FAITH came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming FAITH would be revealed.

24 So then, the law was our guardian UNTIL CHRIST CAME, in order that we might be justified by FAITH.

25 But now that FAITH has come, we are NO LONGER under a guardian,

26 for in CHRIST JESUS YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD, “THROUGH FAITH”.

27 For as many of you as were baptized into CHRIST have put on CHRIST.

28 There is neither JEW nor GREEK, there is neither SLAVE nor FREE, there is no MALE and FEMALE, for YOU ARE ALL ONE in CHRIST JESUS.

29 And if you are CHRIST’s, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise.”

Trying not to be “politically incorrect” with anything I say or write, it becomes difficult to explain to those who eyes have not been opened and still cannot SEE TRUTH.  When JESUS came, our sin debt was satisfied with ALMIGHTY GOD and and those of us who Believe in the FINISHED work of JESUS live by FAITH that HE has ALL our sins covered.  Not because we are worthy, but because we have been CHOSEN by HIM!  

Understanding who we are “THROUGH FAITH” in JESUS CHRIST can be difficult to fully understand until we are “made perfect” in Glory.  While we are told YOU ARE ALL SONS OF GOD, remembering that when they enemy is attacking can be the last thing on your mind.  Our “natural man” wants us to revert to who we USED TO BE before we lived “THROUGH FAITH”, not Living in the grace and knowledge of our LORD JESUS CHRIST.  

If satan can obscure our vision getting us to look at someone else’s faults, when we need to only be concerned with our own faults, we aren’t “looking to JESUS, the Author and Perfecter of our FAITH....” (Hebrews 12:2)!  In CLASSIFYING our neighbors, whether by race, social or political status, or gender, we aren’t “looking to JESUS”, for HE overcame these divisions according to Galatians 3:28.  Governments may try to make us all “equal”, but only CHRIST can level the playing field of life!

Some people won’t be able to SEE the TRUTH that I’m writing about, for GOD hasn’t opened their eyes (Luke 24:31)!  Maybe being “politically incorrect” isn’t so bad after all?  Nevertheless, TRUTH is TRUTH and it must be proclaimed.  Until, and unless, we begin to live “THROUGH FAITH”, we cannot reap the rewards that JESUS gave HIS life to purchase for us.  HE paid the price, not because I am worth it, but so I can experience HIS grace “THROUGH FAITH!!!”  

“WHEN THE LORD!”

Exodus 13:11-16

11 “WHEN THE LORD” brings you into the land of the Canaanites, AS HE SWORE TO YOU AND YOUR FATHERS, AND SHALL GIVE IT TO YOU,” 

12 you shall set apart to the LORD all that first opens the womb. All the firstborn of your animals that are males shall be the LORD's.

13 Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, or if you will not redeem it you shall break its neck. Every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem.

14 And when in time to come your son asks you, 'What does this mean?' you shall say to him, 'By a STRONG HAND the LORD brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery.

15 For when Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the LORD killed all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of animals. Therefore I sacrifice to the LORD all the males that first open the womb, but all the firstborn of my sons I redeem.'

16 It shall be as a mark on your hand or frontlets between your eyes, for by a strong hand the LORD brought us out of Egypt."

The children of Israel had been in Egypt for 430 years, eventually being help captive to Pharaoh and his hosts to work for them.  GOD, the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES, “promised” to deliver them from bondage and get them HIS Promised Land returned to them.  In the passage of Scripture above, GOD was reaffirming that HE was going to deliver them to Canaan, but the Red Sea loomed ahead and the children of Israel, who had already seen what GOD was capable of, were frightened out of their skin and cried out to the LORD.  

ALMIGHTY GOD had caused ten different plagues to come upon the Egyptians.  On the tenth plague, then the LORD (Exodus 12:29) struck down ALL of the firstborn sons of the Egyptians!  In these times, the firstborn son was seen as the heir of the family.  He was “set aside” to have birthright privileges.  To have your firstborn son taken away from your family was considered insulting and degrading.  And the entire nation of Egypt, at the time the most powerful nation in the world by most accounts, had their firstborn sons slaughtered by ALMIGHTY GOD!  This “act” grieved Pharaoh and his fellow Egyptians so greatly that they told the Israelites to leave, and take everything they wanted with them!  

Exodus 12:26-27 records this account very plainly, “26 And when your children (Children of Israel) say to you, 'What do you mean by this service?' 27 you shall say, 'It is the sacrifice of the LORD's Passover, for HE passed over the houses of the people of Israel in Egypt, when HE struck the Egyptians but spared our houses.'" And the people bowed their heads and worshiped.”  The Children of Israel hadn’t even gotten out of the land of Egypt before they had FORGOTTEN what GOD had done for them!  

Am I any better?  After I have been delivered from the “Massive Brain Hemorrhage” in 2007, and quadruple bypass heart surgery in 2017, why do I worry and fret over life’s small problems? Most of the children of Israel never made it to the Promised Land because of their failure to acknowledge that ALMIGHTY GOD was able!  Will I fail to acknowledge HIM?  You have more than likely experienced times of deliverance in your life.  If you think you haven’t, you might need to SLOW DOWN and look a little more closely?  Will I be in a right relationship with GOD while on the banks of my Red Sea, or will I be whining “WHEN THE LORD” gets ready to deliver me?!!We need to make sure our hearts register that a WORD from GOD will NOT be unfulfilled!  It’s not IF HE chooses to do it, it’s “WHEN THE LORD” has planned it to happen!!!

“THE SPIRIT!”

Galatians 5:16-21                             (ESV)

“16 But I say, walk by “THE SPIRIT”, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

17 For the desires of the flesh are against “THE SPIRIT”, and the desires of “THE SPIRIT” are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.

18 But if you are led by “THE SPIRIT”, you are not under the law.

19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,

20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,

21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of GOD.”

Taking time to DIGEST our food properly is very important.  Expounding too much on this might become graphic, even uncomfortable, so I will refrain.  However, suffice it to say that when we eat something that “doesn’t agree with us”, it can bring about results that are undesirable.  It usually doesn’t take many times like these to cause me to abstain from eating things that cause me problems.  

Ingesting the WORD OF GOD can cause us to become just as uncomfortable.   Scripture states that “....the desires of the flesh are against “THE SPIRIT”...”, so why do we ingest the desires of the flesh?  Feasting on the WORD OF GOD can cause us to be led by “THE SPIRIT”, which WILL in turn cause us to be “against the flesh”.  Being a Believer promises that we WILL experience tribulations, but JESUS (THE GREAT OVERCOMER) has won the victory over satan and sin and is awaiting THE FATHER to declare ‘SON, go bring MY children home’!  

Why then do we have to experience “trials and tribulations” in this world during the interim?  Why can’t we be “protected” from the enemy and his antics?  GOD may be using the testimony of our struggles to DRAW others to a saving knowledge of HIM?  King David and the Apostle Paul immediately come to mind.  The Apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “But HE said to me, “MY grace is sufficient for you, for MY power is made perfect IN WEAKNESS." Therefore I will BOAST all the more GLADLY OF MY WEAKNESSES, so that the power of CHRIST may rest upon me”.  We (mainly I) SHOULD be more concerned about furthering HIS KINGDOM and not about some temporary discomfort we might be suffering in order that HE will be Glorified!

“THE SPIRIT” that is living inside of me (and you, if you know HIM) is working to draw others to HIM.  FATHER, DON’T let my attention get taken away from SEEING this!  Keep my EYES on the Prize and my efforts be on doing YOUR will.  May “THE SPIRIT” have freedom to do with me whatever YOU desire to Glorify YOUR NAME!!!

“WORTHY TO SUFFER!”

Acts 5:40-42                                (ESV)

“40 And when they had called in the apostles, THEY BEAT THEM and charged them not to speak in the name of JESUS, and let them go. 

41 Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted “WORTHY TO SUFFER” dishonor for the NAME.

42 And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they DID NOT CEASE teaching and preaching that the CHRIST is JESUS.”

Peter and some of the the disciples had been rebuked for proclaiming that the CHRIST is JESUS.  Not only were they rebuked, THEY WERE BEATEN and urged NOT TO SPEAK in the NAME of JESUS, but they could not help but speak TRUTH (Acts 4:20)!  Could they have been mistaken about this JESUS and HIS “claim” to Deity?  When JESUS performs a work in your own life, it becomes a part of you and denying the results will grow to be as unnatural as breathing water.  It won’t work!  

Imagining that anyone would consider themselves “WORTHY TO SUFFER” for any cause goes against human nature.  Galatians 5:17 says “For the desires of the flesh are AGAINST the SPIRIT, and the desires of the SPIRIT are AGAINST the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to KEEP YOU FROM DOING THE THINGS YOU WANT TO DO.”  The SPIRIT leading us will not necessarily lead us to the easiest, most comfortable path.  When the SPIRIT leads us, it is leading us to Glorify GOD, not our interests!  

SUFFERING is generally thought of by most as punishment for doing the wrong thing.  However, scripture doesn’t seem to build a strong case for this point of view.  In Acts 9:16 JESUS say to Ananias regarding Saul, “For I will show him how much he must SUFFER for the sake of MY name."  Saul, later known as Paul, was thought of by most to be one of the most dedicated Believers in the New Testament.  Yet he was CALLED to SUFFER for the sake of MY name!  By modern day standards, Paul wouldn’t have been selected to many denominational missions boards or councils, he would not be thought to very highly by noted Bible scholars, but he obeyed the Spirit of GOD’s direction in his life, something others don’t have a lot of experience in doing.  

When Peter and the other disciples left the presence of the Jewish council, they rejoiced that they were counted “WORTHY TO SUFFER” for the cause of CHRIST. The WORD is the WORD and trying to make it say what we desire it to say is a dangerous thing.  Being “WORTHY TO SUFFER” isn’t for the weak or Spiritually immature.  Remember Peter was the man who denied JESUS three times before the crucifixion.  Now he was rejoicing because he was counted “WORTHY TO SUFFER”!!  Am I Spiritually mature enough to be joyful when SUFFERING comes my way?  Or am I even “WORTHY TO SUFFER”??? 

“YOU WERE UNWILLING!”

Isaiah 30:15-17                      (ESV)

“15 For thus said the LORD GOD, the HOLY ONE of Israel, "In RETURNING and REST you SHALL BE SAVED; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength." But “YOU WERE UNWILLING”, 

16 and you said, "NO! We will flee upon horses"; therefore you shall flee away; and, "We will ride upon swift steeds"; therefore your pursuers shall be swift.”

While America is busier than we have ever been, so were we 17 years ago!  On September 11, 2001 I was late leaving my house for the office.  When the first plane hit the World Trade Center in New York, I watched my television and in my mind the blame game began.   How could an Air Traffic Controller make such an egregious error?  Then the second plane hit the other tower and I immediately thought something was wrong, but never dreamed that terrorists would DARE venture into the United States of America???  We are the most powerful nation in the history of mankind.  Who would have the ignorance to miscalculate our might???  Or did they miscalculate???

Nineteen young men carried out what was soon to be known as the 9-11 Terrorists attacks.   Over 3,000 people were murdered that day and FEAR gripped our mighty nation.  It seems now that FEAR has been replaced with APATHY and we are back in the “rat-race” that was driving our lives before that fateful morning.  NEVER FORGET was shouted the first few years following, but now it appears that was just a saying?  

ALMIGHTY GOD spoke to Israel through HIS prophet Isaiah that IF HIS children would RETURN to HIM, and REST in HIM, HE would protect them.  Scripture indicates that “YOU (Israel) WERE UNWILLING” and instead chose to flee!  They were unwilling to listen to GOD and chose to do what they thought was best.  America listened to GOD for a few days, and then began to do what we thought was “our best interest” very soon afterwards.  We have neglected to RETURN to HIM, and REST in HIM, and we are allowing the enemy to infiltrate our nation with almost open arms!  

YOU SHALL BE SAVED isn’t preceded by hiding behind FEAR, nor getting along just to get along!  RETURNING to and RESTING in the LORD does precede YOU SHALL BE SAVED.  Have our EYES been opened yet?  ALMIGHTY GOD is our ONLY HOPE!  Will HE be required to once again say “YOU WERE UNWILLING” to RETURN and REST as we trust in our own strength and might??? 

“I CHOSE YOU!”

John 15:16                             (ESV)

“You did not choose ME, but “I CHOSE YOU” and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the FATHER in MY name, HE may give it to you.”

There were only twelve individuals CHOSEN by JESUS to be a disciple.  One of them was Judas, the one who “sold out” his relationship to JESUS for money, and money that did not fulfill.  Only one, John, WASN’T martyred for believing that JESUS was the Son of GOD, and he was EXILED to the Isle of Patmos.  The other ten gave up their earthly lives because THEY KNEW that “this world” was temporal and eternity is VERY REAL, and that JESUS is GOD (John 10:30)!  

Why then, have modern day people envisioned a picture of being worldly successful, no health problems, and no other “setbacks” as GOD’s blessings?  Can you imagine a billboard of the ten martyrs in a recruitment for new disciples for JESUS rather than the disciples brutal deaths?  When ALMIGHTY GOD orchestrates a future, it becomes rather evident that nothing can interrupt that future.  Do you remember Moses leading the children of Israel?  Or King David slaying Goliath when he was yet a boy?  Or even JESUS being reserved as a redemptive sacrifice before “the foundations of the world”? But ALL of them, even GOD in the flesh, had to suffer as part of the fulfillment of GOD’s Plan for HIS life.  

There aren’t enough books to write the stories about the Miracles GOD continues to perform in our lives.  However, us being able to SEE GOD working in our midst sometimes requires an EYE EXAM!  Not knowing what our future holds is a part of “walking by FAITH”!  While we may not KNOW what tomorrow will bring, we can definitely know WHO holds the future.  The same ONE WHO said “I CHOSE YOU” to serve MY purpose for your lives is IN CHARGE of tomorrow and eternity.  Since HE is in Control, why should we be concerned with our future?  HE WHO spoke the world’s into existence and keeps the universes in orbit certainly has POWER to Control the outcome of our simple lives.  

To know that “I CHOSE YOU” did so even while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8) demonstrates that HE is merciful and forgiving.  HE could have selected anyone to perform the tasks HE assigned to me, but “I CHOSE YOU” out of all creation to “suffer” (Acts 5:41-42) for HIM!  Don’t get discouraged about GOD’s Plan for your life as “I CHOSE YOU” to Glorify ME!!! 

“BE JOYFUL!”

Ecclesiastes 3:9-13                             (ESV)

“9 What gain has the worker from his toil?

10 I have seen the business that GOD has given to the children of man to BE BUSY WITH.

11 HE has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, HE has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what GOD has done from the beginning to the end.

12 I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to “BE JOYFUL” and to DO GOOD as long as they live;

13 also that everyone should eat and drink and TAKE PLEASURE in all his toil-this is GOD's gift to man.”

It can be really frustrating to continually WAIT ON THE LORD.  Having our own idea of when GOD should act on our behalf is one of the greatest things that I have to rebuke.  J.D. Greear writes in the book JESUS CONTINUED that “GOD, however, never invited me to be co-God with HIM”!  

Then is there a place for worrying about what the future holds?  ALMIGHTY GOD is in Control and that should be enough for me.  In “GOD all things work together for good, for those who are called according to HIS purpose” (Romans 8:28)!  What part of ALL THINGS do I not understand?  HE was proven to me time and time again, and yet I want to DOUBT HIM?  

Maybe I should just “BE JOYFUL”, like HIS Word instructs, and TRUST HIM with the outcome?  No, I have not been invited to be co-GOD with HIM, and HE certainly doesn’t need my advice on how to be OMNIPOTENT, OMNIPRESENT, OMNISCIENT, or any other ‘OMNI’ that can imagined.  We must live like the ONE WHO CREATED everything simply by speaking HIS WORD is in Control.  Why shouldn’t we “BE JOYFUL”? 

“WE ARE DUST!”

Psalms 103:13-14                      (ESV)

“13 As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear HIM. 

14 For HE knows our frame; HE remembers that “WE ARE DUST”.”

As I sat in church last night and listened to the sermon, the preacher used Psalms 103:14 and it gripped me.  GOD knows our bodies are DUST!  We rightly Believe that we are intricately designed creations and that so much that has to be done to prevent us from poor health and death that we seem to forget “WE ARE DUST”, and we aren’t here forever.  In fact, we aren’t here for very long at all!  I just celebrated my 58th birthday.  The average life expectancy in the US in 2015 was 78.74 years of age.  So if I am average, I could expect to live another 20 years or so.  But how many Brain Hemorrhage Survivors (along with quadruple bypass surgery survivors) are “average”???

In Genesis 3:19 ALMIGHTY GOD says “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for YOU ARE DUST, and to DUST YOU SHALL RETURN."  When GOD looks at me, does HE see more than a big pile of DUST?  Scripture says we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalms 139:14) and GOD formed my inward parts when HE knitted me together in my mother’s womb (Psalms 139:13)!  

But HIS Word remind us that our bodies are “WE ARE DUST”!  Some piles of DUST may last for a few days, and some piles of DUST may last for a hundred plus years!  But rest assured, “WE ARE DUST” and one day we will return to DUST!  

C.S. Lewis was a famous author who was a Believer.  One quote that he is credited with saying is “You don’t have a Soul. You are are a Soul. You have a Body!”   One day this body will return to DUST.   I’m sure there will be more DUST for some of us than for others, but “WE ARE DUST” no matter how big we are.  Our Souls will exist forever.  Mine will spend eternity in Heaven with my Savior. If you aren’t certain where your Soul is going, make that a priority.  ETERNAL LIFE......or eternal damnation???