“ASK IN FAITH!”

James 1:5-8                                             (ESV)

“5 IF ANY OF YOU LACKS WISDOM, let him ask GOD, WHO gives generously to all without reproach, and IT WILL BE given him.

6 BUT LET HIM “ASK IN FAITH”, WITH NO DOUBTING, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the LORD;

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

How does GOD work HIS PLAN in our lives?  JESUS said anything was possible with GOD, so why doesn’t HE give us the things we want to make our lives a little bit easier???  Couldn’t GOD make us wealthy before making us wise?  While I was leading a discussion at church on a book about PRAYER, a subject line was brought about a few weeks back entitled GOD’s Presence and GOD’s Provision.  That phrase has caused my to ponder whether I want HIS PROVISIONS greater than I want HIS PRESENCE?!?

GOD’s WISDOM is far greater than anything that I can imagine.  HE doesn’t need to make me understand how HE works HIS PLAN, I just need to WALK BY FAITH and trust that HE IS GOD, AND I AM NOT!!!  Surrendering to HIS WILL in our lives is something that is we all need to do.....and that I have done.  But how do I seemingly constantly slip back into doing what “I THINK” is the best thing to do without “diligently” seeking HIS WILL?  

Maturing in FAITH can be a “puzzling” thing.  When we “ASK IN FAITH” like Abraham had, we WILL NOT always have to be righteous in our actions, but GOD WILL COUNT it as righteousness.   Genesis 15:6 says “And he (Abraham) believed the LORD, and HE counted it to him as righteousness”.  Now Abraham made several recorded “errors” in his life, but GOD still blessed him (and Sarah) with Isaac when they were TOO OLD to have children!  Abraham may have veered from TRUTH occasionally, but he always knew that GOD was GOD, and he wasn’t!  

My life seems to be replete with doing what I think is best, and so many times I take the direction that appears to be the wrong choice.  We can make wrong choices, but GOD can use them for HIS GLORY.  Solomon was an indirect result of King David’s indiscretion with Bathsheba, and GOD used this in the lineage of JESUS (Matthew 1:6-7)!  We don’t have to live a perfect life to honor GOD.  But we must always “ASK IN FAITH” to accomplish HIS PLAN!  

“FULLY CONVINCED!”

Romans 4:16-25                                      (ESV)

“16 That is why it depends on FAITH, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring-not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all,

17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations"-in the presence of the GOD in WHOM he believed, WHO gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist.

18 In HOPE he believed against HOPE, that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been told, "So shall your offspring be."

19 He did not weaken IN FAITH when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb.

20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of GOD, but he grew strong in his FAITH as he gave glory to GOD,

21 “FULLY CONVINCED” that GOD was able to do what HE had promised.

22 That is why HIS FAITH was "counted to him as righteousness."

23 But the words "it was counted to him" were not written for his sake alone,

24 but for ours also. It will be counted to us who believe in HIM WHO raised from the dead JESUS our LORD,

25 WHO was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.”

When someone mentions the name Abraham, they usually aren’t discussing the book of Romans in the Bible.  As a matter of fact, Genesis 15:6 says “And he (Abram) BELIEVED the LORD, and HE COUNTED IT TO him AS RIGHTEOUSNESS” is the verse that I believe Scripture points to as the transformation of mankind.  The Jews claim Abraham as their Father.  But so do the children of Ishmael.  The thing about Isaac is that he was the PROMISE OF GOD fulfilled, and Ishmael was the result of man (Abram & Sarai) trying to help GOD!  

Now my bloodlines cannot be traced to Isaac nor Ishmael (to the best of my knowledge), but the FAITH that Abraham was in the same GOD that I place my FAITH in.  Isaac was PROMISED to Abraham and Sarah, not Abraham and Hagar.  GOD had to supernaturally cause Sarah to become pregnant, because she was past her childbearing years!  True, Ishmael was born before Isaac, but just because Abraham listened to Sarai and tried to do what only GOD was able to accomplish.  But I do the same thing sometimes.  I try to help GOD pit by “making” things happen instead of waiting for GOD to orchestrate events.  In that way, I am tremendously similar to Abraham!

No matter what Isaac did that seemed “wrong”, the fact remains that Isaac was still CHOSEN.  He was CHOSEN before the foundations of the world (Ephesians 1:4), just like HE CHOSE me to be a follower of JESUS.  No matter what I do wrong and how much I miss the mark, I am still CHOSEN!  

Abraham understood that GOD was, and is, able to perform whatever HE said, and HE was “FULLY CONVINCED” that GOD would fulfill HIS PROMISE!  My FAITH is not in my abilities to follow the Ten Commandments, nor obey the Golden Rule!  However, the GOD I serve has me “FULLY CONVINCED” that HE will accomplish HIS PLAN, in spite of my weaknesses and failures.  It’s not about how closely I follow HIS PLAN, it’s about me being CHOSEN to live for HIM!!!

“A WIFE OF WHOREDOM!”

Hosea 1:1-3                                              (ESV)

“1 The word of the LORD that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel.

2 When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself “A WIFE OF WHOREDOM” and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD."

3 So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son.”

When the WORD of the LORD comes to you, expectations might be to hear BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY, or something along those lines.   However, when GOD spoke to Hosea, HE had a totally different message.  Imagine being a relative of Hosea and hearing that he said GOD had told him to find himself “A WIFE OF WHOREDOM”!  More than likely, he would have immediately been checked into a psychiatric hospital for a mental evaluation!  Surely GOD must be mistaken?  Having someone as your wife who is prone to not honor their vows would not be something that would be on our wishlist!  

But am I any better than Gomer???  She cost Hosea a hefty ransom because of her indiscretions, but Hosea loved her and went after her and paid a tremendous price for her sins.  Am I any better than a woman who will not change her ways and live a pure life for her groom.  Even when he had to humble himself and buy her back, she continued to be “A WIFE OF WHOREDOM”!  How many times do I expect JESUS to come looking for me when I stray?  

ALMIGHTY GOD knew that NONE of us, NO NOT ONE (Romans 3:10) was able to live the life that HE required to enter Heaven.   So HE sent HIS Hosea (JESUS CHRIST) to pay the sin debt for us, even though we are “A WIFE OF WHOREDOM”!!!

“YOU MUST ALSO BE READY!”

Matthew 24:44-51                                                 (ESV)

"44 Therefore "YOU ALSO MUST BE READY", for the SON OF MAN is coming at an hour you do not expect.

45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time?

46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes.

47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

48 But if that wicked servant says to himself, 'My master is delayed,'

49 and begins to beat his fellow servants and eats and drinks with drunkards,

50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know

51 and will cut him in pieces and put him with the hypocrites. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."

The end times are getting drastically close.  You can’t be a student of Scripture and come to any different conclusion, in my humble opinion.  When I hear of the culture of “this world” going exceedingly corrupt and vile, I almost immediately think about JESUS telling HIS disciples about THE END TIMES.   

The entire chapter of Matthew 24 is devoted to telling us what to expect and how we should react. We must ALL live as though we are prepared AND anxiously waiting for HIS RETURN!  HIS WORD tells us that “YOU ALSO MUST BE READY", but most people who claim to be Believers hardly ever expose themselves to Scripture, and even fewer allow THE HOLY BIBLE to transform our lives into what HE desires us to be!  We are so busy with the things of “this world” that we don’t prioritize the things of GOD where and how we should.  

For me NOT to share BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD when HE has brought me through SO MUCH would not only be negligent, but could be considered uncaring and cold-hearted!  The END is quickly coming and we are acting as though we will live forever.  “YOU ALSO MUST BE READY" should be a way of life for True Believers!  Instead, we act as though we are going on a vacation to a resort where we are pampered and catered to.  

The wonderful thing about HEAVEN will be that JESUS CHRIST will be HIGH AND LIFTED UP, day and night, forever and ever!  “YOU ALSO MUST BE READY" was the way JESUS told us to live like we were already with HIM.  Colossians 3:3 says “For you have died, and your life is hidden WITH CHRIST IN GOD”!!!  If HE is hiding me IN HIMSELF, “YOU ALSO MUST BE READY" should be easy to live????  Why do I allow the enemy to cloud my vision then????

“OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE!”

2 Kings 6:17-19                                        (ESV)

“17 Then Elisha prayed and said, "O LORD, please “OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE”." So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, AND HE SAW, and behold, THE MOUNTAIN WAS FULL OF HORSES AND CHARIOTS OF FIRE all around Elisha.

18 And when the Syrians came down against him, Elisha prayed to the LORD and said, "Please strike this people with blindness." So HE struck them with blindness in accordance with the prayer of Elisha.

19 And Elisha said to them, "This is not the way, and this is not the city. Follow me, and I will bring you to the man whom you seek." And he led them to Samaria.”

Having our vision (what we SEE) obscured by “the enemy” is something we must always be aware of, maybe ON GUARD against!  The Syrians came down against Elisha (who was representing GOD ALMIGHTY) to seize him and prevent him from speaking the TRUTH to the leadership of Israel.  When the King of Syria inquired about who was spying for Israel, his servants said “...but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom." (2 Kings 6:12!). 

Trying to keep my sin from a HOLY GOD is just as futile as the King of Syria felt!  Even what was going on in his bedroom was known to GOD, and Elisha!  GOD knows my sin and HE knows my heart.  Fear and trembling overwhelm me when I think about how sinful and disgraceful that my life is before the CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSES.  Yet HE loved me enough to send JESUS to suffer and die to pay for my wickedness so I can celebrate HIS NAME forever.  

When we cannot SEE what GOD’s PLAN is, we have to TRUST that HE is in control and is working ALL THINGS for HIS good!  It is called WALKING BY FAITH!  Sure, HE can “OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE” from time to time, but GOD owes us nothing and HE isn’t required to reveal HIS TRUTHS to anyone.  “OPEN HIS EYES THAT HE MAY SEE” is a gift from GOD that not all are able to SEE.  CAN YOU???

“STILL IN DARKNESS!”

1 John 2:8-11                                             (ESV)

“8 At the same time, it is a new commandment that I am writing to you, which is true in HIM and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the TRUE LIGHT is already shining.

9 Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is "STILL IN DARKNESS".

10 Whoever loves his brother abides in the light, and in him there is no cause for stumbling.

11 But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”

A friend recently told me “I am proud and honored to call you my brother in Christ”!  Another friend agreed with them.  I've never been known to be one who expressed my gratitude with much gracefulness, so I replied "I love you both, but this is getting a little sappy!" Without a doubt, I know both of my friends love me, and they don't have to tell me for me to know that, even though I am FAR FROM a perfect friend of either of them.  However, knowing that you are loved gives you peaceful feeling that is hard to explain but very needed at times.  

The hurt that others cause us to experience can last for a long time.  The hurt that a loved one has done toward them can be almost insurmountable!  Don't get me wrong, ALL HAVE SINNED AND FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD, but anyone who is "STILL IN DARKNESS" cannot SEE their shortcomings, and most of the time don't want to SEE them.  It's as if something is happening right in front of their eyes, but they are almost obvious to their surroundings.  

We were not any different, before we were transformed by JESUS.  While HE has made us to SEE things of the SPIRIT (1 Corinthians 2:14), they are still folly to them!  It is so easy to blame and criticize others, but we used to have faulty eyesight as well before JESUS opened our eyes.  

FATHER IN HEAVEN, cause me to SEE that a person can only SEE what has been revealed to them by YOU!  Until they SEE that they need YOU, they are "STILL IN DARKNESS"!  Help me become more patient and longsuffering and realize that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE with YOU, and while they are "STILL IN DARKNESS", YOU can enlighten them in the twinkling of an eye!!!

“LED UP BY THE SPIRIT!”

Matthew 3:13-4:3                                                              (ESV)

"13 Then JESUS came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by HIM.

14 John would have prevented HIM, saying, "I need to be baptized by YOU, and do YOU come to me?"

15 But JESUS  answered him, "Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented.

16 And when JESUS was baptized, immediately HE went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to HIM, and HE saw the SPIRIT of GOD descending like a dove and coming to rest on HIM;

17 and behold, a VOICE from heaven said, "This is my beloved SON, with WHOM I am well pleased."

1 Then JESUS was “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.

2 And after fasting forty days and forty nights, HE was hungry.

3 And the tempter came and said to him, "If you are the SON of GOD, command these stones to become loaves of bread."”

John baptizing JESUS was monumental in my book.  Having the SON OF GOD display HIS humility before the entire world was a testimony of how we all should live our lives.  Being “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” means so much more than doing what we “feel” is the right thing to do.  

First of all, when we are “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” we are listening to what ALMIGHTY GOD is saying to do in our decisions as we progress through this life.  Most people are aware that Psalms 46:10 is the verse that causes me to slow my life down and listen.  But BEING STILL doesn’t indicate that we are listening to GOD.  JESUS was “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT”, and it was evidenced by the enemy attacking HIM, and AFTER A FORTY DAY FAST and Sabbatical!  Now JESUS could have turned stones into bread, but listening to the enemy is NEVER what we need to do when seeking the right way to go.  

JESUS had just been baptized by John (Matthew 3:16) when HE was “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” into the wilderness TO BE TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL!  However, the devil didn’t hit HIM while HE was at the top of HIS game, the devil waited until JESUS was famished after not eating food for forty days!  JESUS has just been baptized and had yet to even choose HIS disciples and the devil was tempting HIM?  At a time when humans would have been at their weakest, JESUS was at HIS strongest because HE had just spent 40 days alone with the FATHER!

When we are “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT”, following what we want to do fades into insignificance.  Doing what we are “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” to do becomes paramount in our lives.  While it is true that we are not JESUS, we are still capable of following GOD’s PLAN for our lives by being “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT”!  Is that your desire to slow down your life and listen for GOD’s direction?  Or do you prefer doing what this world approves??  Being “LED UP BY THE SPIRIT” will cost you.  Are you willing pay the cost???