I’ll Love Them After I Get Even!

“But to you who are listening I say:

 Love your enemies,

do good to those who hate you,

bless those who curse you,

pray for those who mistreat you”

Luke 6:27-28

 

What do you do when somebody hurts you?

Come on, get real.

It sure sounds good to say – “Well, I forgive them of course!”

But is that always or really our first response?

Or do we determine we will get our pound of flesh?

Usually the latter, not the former!

Maybe Jesus said “But to you who are listening…” as the start of todays’ verse because He knew how easy it is to tune out this particular message.

We sometimes find it difficult just to love our friends and here He is commanding us (those who are listening anyway) to love our enemies.   

We ask: “Can’t I love them after I get even?”

Yes, that would be so much easier wouldn’t it?

But of course we all know the answer is “No!”

I don’t know about you but I simply cannot love my enemies and pray for those who have hurt me apart from the Holy Spirit working in me.

He puts me in remembrance of the truth that I was forgiven by Christ

even when I was still in my sin.

He forgave me and He requires me to forgive those who have offended me.

It is never a “Do as I say, not as I do” lesson from God.

He has walked where He asks us to walk.

He showed (and continues to show) us the way.

Do you need to forgive someone?

Look to Jesus as your model.

“Father, forgive them…”

 

 

The Truth Isn’t Always Popular!

“…let God be true and every man a liar…”

Romans 3:4

 

Are there promises of God that you have a hard time believing?

Is it o.k. to believe Him for salvation but when it comes to healing you say,

“Well that’s another matter!”

Why is that?

Do we believe our past experiences more than His word?

Maybe someone has prayed for you and you were not healed.

Maybe you prayed for someone and they were not healed.

Does that mean that God does not want them, or you, healed?

Do we base our beliefs on our experiences or on His Truth?

Like many of you, I wish I had the answer as to why some are healed and others are not.

Many will die in their sins, not trusting in the provisions of the cross.

So am I to believe God didn’t want to save them?

Absolutely not!

Don’t ever be lulled into the lie that personal experience is the ultimate truth.

I do not have the wisdom, knowledge and perspective of God.

I see in part and I know in part, just as you do.

But I have the assurance of His word.

In His Word I can be confident.

So can you!

Don’t be ruled by past experiences.

Don’t be ruled by prevailing thought.

Don’t be ruled by cultural traditions or pressures.

We are living in a time when it is not ‘popular’ to stand for the truth.

Don’t be ruled by what is ‘popular’.

Allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth and let that rule your life!

 

Memory Verse Assignment

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

I John 5:14-15

Do You Have a “Blank Check” With God?

“Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

Luke 11:11-13

 

I think that those who limit the verses above to only asking for the Holy Spirit as it relates to the Father’s heart miss so much of what God has for them.

It is His heart to give us all that we ask for.

As we have seen this week, when we ask according to His will, He hears us and He answers our prayer.

Perhaps the clearest example of this is when we pray for a family member or a friend to know Christ.

Is that praying according to God’s will?

Of course it is!

We are told that God does not desire any to perish but for all to come to eternal life.

So, when I pray with that request I can pray confidently.

Now certainly the time and the method are in His hands and the decision ultimately is that person’s to make but I can come before God confidently and boldly with that request understanding that God desires to answer that prayer!

The same holds true for healing, for provision, for laborers for the harvest.

And the list is as big as His will…

Each of these requests are God’s heart and we need not fear that we are praying outside of His will.

When is it abused?

When we ask, based not on His will, but solely on our desires.

“But doesn’t it say He will give us the desires of our heart?”

That is not a blank check.

It requires that we abide in Him, remain in Him.

As we do, a wonderful thing happens.

Our desires begin to change.

They start to look remarkably like His.

We find ourselves, more and more, understanding, agreeing with and praying according to His will.

That is when the ‘blank check’ of John 15:7 (look it up) is placed in our hands.

 

Memory Verse Assignment

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

I John 5:14-15

Do Not Throw Away Your Confidence

“Remember those earlier days after you had received the light,

when you endured in a great conflict full of suffering.

Sometimes you were publicly exposed to insult and persecution;

at other times you stood side by side with those who were so treated.

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions.

So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God,

you will receive what he has promised.

For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”

Hebrews 10:32-37

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Don’t throw away your confidence.

What does that mean?

I picture someone who is cleaning out a closet or a garage and they come upon something that once held great value for them.

Maybe it’s a sports trophy, an award for public service or something hand-crafted that took them weeks and weeks of labor.  

They have forgotten the price they paid to possess it, so it, like so many other things, gets thrown away.

Our confidence in God is built through our relationship with Him.

It is built over time and through the trials and triumphs of our daily walk.

Discouragement, weariness in the battle, forgetting what has gone before, all of these things can cause us to throw away our confidence in a weak moment.

That is why the writer of the Epistle tells us to persevere when we have done the will of God.

Don’t give in or give up.

The promise is on its’ way.

We can lose sight of that.

When we see only with our natural eyes we miss so much.

Confidently look with the eyes of the Spirit to see so much…more!

Don’t throw away your confidence – hold fast, hold firm and persevere!

 

Memory Verse Assignment

This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.

I John 5:14-15

God’s Life Preserver

“Remember your word to your servant,

    for you have given me hope.

My comfort in my suffering is this:

    Your promise preserves my life.”

Psalm 119:49-50

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday we spoke about confidence in God.

So today I want to ask you a question.

What happens to that confidence when you are smack dab in the middle of suffering?

The Psalmist spoke of finding comfort in his suffering because of the promises of God.

Some have told of stories of near misses in automobiles, airplanes or other places only to relate their confidence that they were safe because they knew God had not finished what He had promised to do in and through them.

Is that your confidence today?

Do you stand on God’s promises knowing that it is His faithfulness that will keep you through all your suffering?

Is that your comfort through those seasons?

It can be.

Some look for a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

Some wait for the doorbell to ring with Publisher’s Clearing House on the other side.

Many scratch off a lottery ticket believing it will fulfill all of their dreams.

God is faithful to His word.

God is faithful to His promises.

There is no firmer ground you can stand on than that which is anchored in His promises to you.

Suffering comes to all of us, yes even to the one you have watched who seems to have the Midas touch.

Confidence is built, hope is strengthened and comfort is found when, in the midst of that suffering, you are able to hang on to the Words and promises God has spoken to you.

His promise will preserve your life!

A chest of gold handed to a drowning man will only bring him down faster.

A drowning man needs a life preserver.

That is what the promises of God become!

Confidence

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know

that we have what we asked of him.”

I John 5:14-15

 

Confidence – A faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper or effective way...

The quality or state of being certain…

A relation of trust or intimacy….

Another way of saying I John 5:14 might be -

Our trusting and intimate relationship with God causes us to approach Him,

asking anything according to His will, knowing that He hears us!

Do you have confidence in God?

Before you answer “YES!” with a well-rehearsed

 (isn’t that what Christians are supposed to say)

and conditioned response; really stop and think about it for a moment.   

If I can confidently answer yes, then wouldn’t you expect that all my prayers are answered?

Isn’t that what we read?

Oh, I see – there’s a ‘condition’ and a pretty huge one isn’t it?

Am I asking according to His will?

That demands then, that I know His will.

I think I have a pretty good relationship with my wife.

But even after more than 33 years of marriage I don’t always know her ‘will’ in some matters.

Oh, sure I’m better than I was in our first year of marriage but I’m not perfect and there is plenty of room to grow.

The same is true in our relationship with God.

Our confidence that He hears and answers our prayers grows as we grow in knowing His will.

Intimacy and trust – it works in a marriage and it works in my relationship with God.

Not sure you know His will in a matter?

Ask Him.

Then take time to listen for His answer!

As you do, your confidence – and dare I say it – your answered prayers will grow.

Guiding Us Into All Truth!

“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes,

he will guide you into all the truth.

He will not speak on his own;

he will speak only what he hears,

 and he will tell you what is yet to come.”

John 16:13

 

 

 

Years ago our family took a trip to the Gettysburg Battlefield.

While there we purchased a cassette tape that, when played,

served as an in-car tour guide and ‘GPS’ through the battlefield.

Those who wanted to and could afford it could take it one step further by

actually hiring a personal tour guide to be in the car with you.

This added a few benefits, not the least of which was being able to interact

with the guide asking and having questions answered,

hearing personal stories, perhaps even having historical sites or

facts pointed out that would not be included on the cassette.

Our walk with God is like that too.

He gives us His eternal word.

Of course that is infinitely more valuable than any cassette tape.

But then He takes it one step further.

He puts His Holy Spirit in us and alongside us.

His Spirit guides us into all truth.

We have the ultimate ‘tour guide’ to the Kingdom of God!

Imagine the lost opportunity if someone hired a tour guide in Gettysburg and then failed to engage in conversation with him.

He is poured out on us for far more than pointing out signposts along the way.

Jesus told us that the Spirit of Truth, God’s Holy Spirit would testify of Him.

Do you have questions on your journey with God?

Ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding.

He has been sent to guide you into that understanding!

Are You Thirsty?

“but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Luke 4: 14

 

 

Are you thirsty?

No, I don’t mean a thirst that can be easily satisfied by the latest and greatest premium bottled water or even with water from your tap.

I mean the thirst, the longing of your soul,

for more than what you are now experiencing in life.  

Jesus described the water He gives as being so satisfying that you would never thirst again.

That is water worth drinking.

Who would turn that down?

And yet many do.

They drink water which, if it had a name, might be called “Temp-Quench”.

And it could be marketed as: “The Momentary Satisfaction’.

 They trade eternal reward for short-term gain.

Their attitude is “Why not now, now is when I want it!”

Satan recognized this weakness of the flesh and tried to use it against Jesus to temp Him while He was in the wilderness.

It didn’t work with the Son of God!

Will it work with you?

Don’t be tempted to settle for the ‘quicky’ satisfaction.

It can be tempting, that’s why the one who offers it is called the ‘tempter’.

But there is a far greater offer on the table.

Jesus offers Himself to you as that Living Water.

Are you thirsty?

“…but we had hoped…”

““What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.

“He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.

The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.”

Luke 24: 19-21

 

Two disciples were walking with the resurrected Christ on the road to Emmaus.

They had no idea it was Jesus they were speaking with.

As they walked and talked together their words revealed their heart.

They said: “…but we had hoped…”

It was a statement of disappointment.

Jesus had not done what they had hoped He would do.

I suspect it is safe to say that we have all had those moments in life.

We were convinced we knew what Jesus would do about something in our life.

Yet hindsight reveals how wrong our assumptions were.

Rather than admit the wisdom and understanding that God possesses we lament how He could have missed the perfect opportunity to do what we just knew was the right course.

Very often our interests are ones of ego preservation, short-term reward or pleasure.

God’s interest is to see the image of His Son formed in us.

His purposes for us are always good but not always palatable to our flesh.

Jesus had done exactly what the Father wanted.

In their ignorance, the two disciples ‘hopes’ were in conflict with the Father’s will.

Let God transform your hopes that they might align with His will.

He can ‘refocus’ your hopes for your life; your hopes for your family, your church and your nation just as He did with the two disciples.

Lord, transform our hope so that it is in you and in seeing your will done!

Yes, But…

“It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man”

Psalm 118:8

 

The Bible is filled with yes, but… stories.

The 12 spies went into the Promised Land.

Joshua and Caleb said “We are well able…”

The ten other spies response?

Yes, but…

The Angel of the Lord laid out a plan for Gideon to defeat the Midianites.

His response?

Yes, but…

Elisha, the Prophet of God gave Naaman instruction for his healing.

Naamans’ response?

Yes, but…

Jesus spoke of his suffering and death to his twelve disciples.

Peter’s response?

Yes, but…

In each case above (and many more) they may not have spoken those exact words but…

The doubt was clear just the same.

Ultimately the Nation of Israel made it into the Promised Land; the Midianites were defeated, Naaman was healed and Jesus’ words were fulfilled but not without the “but”.

How often is our response to God “Yes, but…”

The “Yes” answered alone without the accompanying “but” is just too ‘scary’ for us.

We know that in each case it will require that God show Himself strong on our behalf.

That is exactly what He purposes to do and that is exactly the risk we are not always willing to take.

The next time you are faced with a “Yes” or “No” answer to Gods’ instruction or direction; ask Him for the courage, the wisdom and the faith to answer “Yes”.

Leave off the “but”!

 

http://youtu.be/6_PfDRZpUKs

A Heart Set Ablaze!

“I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove

from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 11:19

 

God really wants to set your heart on fire for Him.

That may look different in each one of us.

He knows what, in each of our individual lives, may be present that can douse the flames of passion for Him.

Perhaps it’s another person, maybe a career or it may just be material things.

You see there is much that can and does divide the affections of our heart.

A divided heart is not a devoted heart.

We must set aside the other things that so easily entice us away from Christ being the center of our lives.  

Does that mean we don’t have any other people in our lives, we quit working and we own nothing?

No.

 It does mean that we are sold out to Him.

He takes first place.

When that happens we gain a perspective we did not have before concerning those other people and things.

We have been taught to compartmentalize our lives and multi-task throughout the day.

Jesus didn’t multi-task or compartmentalize.

His only desire was to do the will of the Father.

Every aspect of His life, every ‘appointment’ He kept was to see that accomplished.

His was an undivided heart.

His was a heart set ablaze with love for the Father.

 

Lord we ask for that heart set on fire for you.

We ask for that heart ablaze and passionately in love with you.

May it be so in each who reads these words.

We ask this in Jesus Name.

Amen

Don’t Quit Your Day Job!

“For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed.

Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.

There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

All these are the beginning of birth pains.”

Matthew 24:5-8

 

We look at society today and all that is happening around the world and in our own nation.

The question that forms in many peoples’ minds is: “Can it get any worse?”

The answer is yes.

It can and it will.

But as we have looked at this week, the believer has a choice.

We can try to ‘weather’ the hard times in our own strength

Or

We can admit our weakness and call out to God for our needs.

Maybe you would like it if I said to you that earthquakes, flooding, wars and disease only strike those who do not know God.

I can’t.

Could it be different?

Yes.

God spared the Israelites of all the plagues that came on Egypt.

But more often than not, that is not the case.

Some might read into that that God doesn’t really love them and so they face the struggles that they do just like those who do not know God.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

For every Daniel rescued from the Lion’s den there is a Stephen privileged to be martyred for His Lord.

For every Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who escape the fiery furnace there are saints shining inside prison walls and bringing the Good News of the Gospel in a place most of us would never set foot in.

In your struggles learn to admit to God that your strength is not enough and only with His strength can you fulfill what He has for you in

“…the midst of a crooked and perverse generation.”

As always, Jesus set the example for us as He declared:

“I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day:

the night cometh, when no man can work.”

Work while it is day.

Don’t try to complete His work in your own strength.

Don’t quit your ‘day’ job, instead complete it in His strength and anointing.

 

Asking for What You Need

“What causes fights and quarrels among you?

Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you?

You desire but do not have, so you kill.

You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.

You do not have because you do not ask God.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives,

that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

James 4:1-3

 

 

You don’t get the resources of heaven until you openly confess your need for them.

I have known people who claim:

“Why should I tell God what I need, He already knows everything!”

Yes He does.

It’s true that there are no secrets before God but that does not excuse us from not bringing our petitions and needs to Him.

He listens to our prayers and answers.

Even our salvation is set in motion when we “…confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus…”

The power of our words and declarations cannot be denied.

We even see the power of Gods’ Words at work in creation when, over and over, it is recorded: “…and God said…”

Our words, in agreement with His Word, are a potent prayer to offer!

Don’t dismiss the opportunity for conversation with God.

He doesn’t dismiss us.

He hears and He answers.

Is there a condition?

Sure, we ask according to His will.

Lord:

I need the resources of heaven held in reserve for me that I might faithfully

serve in those areas you have called me too.

I come and ask that you would pour out on me the anointing

and the provision adequate to the task.

I ask that through my life you receive the glory and honor due your Name.

I come with the full assurance of a son adopted through the work of your Son.

It is in His Name,

The Name of Jesus Christ that I come to you now.

Amen!