Saturday, December 25, 2004

the gift

"So deep and passionate was the Father's love for ALL of humanity, that He freely gave His only Son, that whoever trusts in Him will never perish, but live in the Father's presence forever."

- Jesus, John 3:16, paraphrased.

Wednesday, December 22, 2004

living

Excerpts from Wayne Jacobsen's Blog at Lifestream.org:

"We have to remind ourselves and each other that Christianity is a life lived in Father’s reality. It is not at its root a theological system, though it does have a coherent theology. It is not primarily an ethical system, though it will teach us to live in God’s righteousness. It is not observing rituals or ethical mandates. We live the life of Christ as we learn to abide in him, like a branch in a vine. He yearns to teach you how to do that. All you have to do is ask him, lean into him every day and watch his glory sort out in the real experiences of your life."

"Live each day to the fullest. There will never be a day when God will love you more. There will never be a day when more grace is available to you. Too many people waste time pining away for a future that never comes or envisioning a future revival instead of living deeply in God each day they are alive. Religion has to keep you hoping for a better day, but knowing God lets you live every day in the adventure of following him."

- Taken from "A Life Lived, Not A Theology Observed" (June 10, 2004) and "Sharing the Journey With An Elder Brother" (July 5, 2004).

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

freedom

Excerpts from an email to a friend discussing the Father's work in my life:

As far as what the Lord is teaching me, I think it can be summed up in two words: Father and Freedom.

Father: I have been brought back continually by the Holy Spirit to the simplicity of a day by day, moment by moment, living relationship with My Father. He is to be my continual Life and all in all. He is the only One I need to please. I need only walk with Him, hand in hand, spirit to Spirit. He will make known to me the path of life and in His Presence there are surely pleasures forevermore (Ps. 16:11).

Freedom: My relationship with Father releases me to walk in complete freedom, knowing that I need only walk with Him in love and simplicity. Walking with Him, I am free from the expectations of others (whether it be individuals, groups, or movements). I need only speak what I hear Him speaking. I need only do what I see Him doing. I am free from the compulsion to "be something great" or "do something great" for God. I am free to follow Him wherever He leads. Of course, this freedom will be challenged and tested, but this freedom is in Him and He is in me, so ultimately no one can touch it. It's not that I am even looking for freedom or desiring freedom, it's that when I walk in simplicity with Father, I have it in Him.

Monday, December 20, 2004

elder son

"And he said to him, 'Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours.'" - Luke 15:31

"The words of the text are familiar to us all. The elder son had complained and said, that though his father had made a feast, and had killed the fatted calf for the prodigal son, he had never given him even a kid that he might make merry with his friends. The answer of the father was: 'Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.' One cannot have a more wonderful revelation of the heart of our Father in heaven than this points out to us. We often speak of the wonderful revelation of the father’s heart in his welcome to the prodigal son, and in what he did for him. But here we have a revelation of the father’s love far more wonderful, in what he says to the elder son."

- Andrew Murray, The Deeper Christian Life, Chapter II.

Saturday, December 18, 2004

Friday, December 17, 2004

fellowship

Excerpts from an email to a friend discussing the Father's leading in regards to fellowship:

I have seen over the past several months that as I walk with Father, He connects me with those of like heart and mind, completely apart from any planning or effort on my part. It just happens. Even though I see "house church" as a nice form/method for "doing church," I see that WE are truly "the church" and that as we are vitally connected to the Head, we will be connected by Him with those of like heart and mind. I see myself as part of one huge family - the Body of Christ - that cannot and will not be contained and restrained by the man-made barriers of groups, movements, and denominations.

In regards to our fellowship, the Lord is teaching me to completely release and lay down all expectations I have of others, my relationships with others, and even "house church" or "fellowship." I am to release others to follow the Lord as their heart leads. I am to embrace, accept, and love them as my brothers and sisters. Whereas six months ago, I would have been crushed if our "house church" had disbanded or ceased to meet, now I have a peace that the Lord will build His church whatever the outward circumstances. I don't doubt that I was looking to "house church" or our "fellowship" to meet needs in me that the Lord is jealous to meet. Now I know that whatever happens with our house church/fellowship, the Lord will connect me with dear brothers and sisters or send me out into a desert/wilderness with Him - it's ALL good when it's Him and when He's our Life and Source - when He has preeminence in all things.

I'm also seeing that it's NOT about house church, liquid church, emerging church, simple church, organic church, relational church, 24/7 prayer, worship, intercession, warfare, the Bible, prophecy, healing, deliverance, revival, etc. It's about Him and Him alone. He alone is enough!

Thursday, December 16, 2004

bible study

Excerpts from an email to a friend discussing the Father's leading in regards to studying "difficult" passages in the Bible:

In light of the Lord's current leading in my life, I don't feel an obligation to "reckon with" every one of the words that are written in the Bible in hopes of resolving every "difficulty" or "seeming contradiction." I don't feel obliged to compare specific verses of Scripture related to Calvinism and Arminianism in hopes of reconciling them. The Lord may be requiring that of you at this point in your journey, but I can honestly say with a clear conscience, that He is not requiring it of me.

Likewise, at this point in my journey, the Lord is not requiring me to wrestle with or explain difficult passages. I don't feel the need or the calling from God to square particular verses of Scripture with my "theology."

I am content to simply walk hand in hand with My Father, trusting that He will reveal all good things to me in His time. One of the verses of Scripture that rings loud and true to me right now is Psalm 36:9 - "For with Thee is the fountain of life; in Thy light we see light." Amen! Simply being with Him, resting in His Presense, captivated by His wondrous beauty - that is LIFE to me right now. In the Light of His Presense, He will reveal to me ALL that I need to know and understand about Him.

My passion is to know Him and love Him more deeply, and the Scriptures are definitely a means of grace for me in accomplishing this goal as they reveal the beauty of His nature and character.

Wednesday, December 15, 2004

his voice

Excerpts from an email to a friend discussing the ways in which the Father speaks to us and the reality of His voice in our lives:

I believe your most pressing question relates to my view on the final authority in our lives as believers, especially in matters related to doctrine and practice. Who or what is MY final authority? The Lord Himself and the Word He speaks - whether it be through the Scriptures, an angel (Acts 10:3), prayer (Acts 10:9), a trance/dream (Acts 10:10), a voice (Acts 10:13), a vision (Acts 10:17), the Holy Spirit (Acts 10:19), divine direction (Acts 10:22), a revelation (Acts 10:28), a command (Acts 10:33), or a message spoken by a fellow believer (Acts 10:34).

Ironically, in the 10th chapter of Acts, the Lord uses all of the aforementioned means EXCEPT the Scriptures to communicate His authoritative Word to man. Each of the Lord's different means of revealing His Word is seemingly given equal weight and authority. At no point, does anyone make the suggestion to check with the Scriptures to see if what is being communicated (through angel, trance, voice, vision, Spirit speaking, etc.) "lines up with" the Scriptures. I believe the primary reason why they didn't appeal to the Scriptures to validate what was being communicated was because the Holy Spirit within them confirmed that what was being communicated was indeed the Word of the Lord.

Can we err in interpreting what we believe the Lord is speaking to us in our inner man? Absolutely! Can we err in interpreting what we believe the Lord is speaking to us through our open-minded study of the Bible? Absolutely! What's a believer to do? I believe that the New Testament teaches that the Father sent a Teacher to live within us - the precious Holy Spirit. Will the Holy Spirit ever contradict the Word of God? Absolutely not. Will the Holy Spirit ever contradict what WE believe the Bible "clearly" teaches? Absolutely, but thankfully, as we grow in grace and the true knowledge of Him, this tends to happen less frequently.

My confidence is fully in the Lord's ability to speak and make His Voice known to me. I can't begin to express the joy I feel in knowing that He is a Living Person, and that He lives in me - speaking to me moment by moment, guiding and directing me by His Voice within - the blessed Holy Spirit. A Living God - A Living Voice - A Living Relationship! Glory!

Tuesday, December 14, 2004

a child

"I was visiting once in a wealthy home, where there was a little adopted child, upon whom was lavished all the love and tenderness and care that human hearts could bestow, or human means procure. And as I watched that child running in and out day by day, free and light-hearted, with the happy carelessness of childhood, I thought what a picture it was of our wonderful position as children in the house of our Heavenly Father.

"This life of faith, then, about which I am writing, consists in just this - being a child in the Father's house."

- Hannah Whitall Smith, The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life, pp 21-22.

Saturday, December 11, 2004

Thursday, December 09, 2004

his heart

Well is it when our eyes are filled with His beauty and our hearts are occupied with Him. In the measure in which this is true of us we shall recognize the correlative truth that His great heart is occupied with us.

- Hudson Taylor, Union and Communion, p 30.

Wednesday, December 08, 2004

perseverance

King David gives us insight into obtaining the "one thing" we desire - "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yes, wait for the LORD" (Psalm 27:14).

By repeating the phrase "wait for the LORD," David emphasizes our need for perseverance in beholding the Lord. If we don't immediately see His face, we must continue waiting with the heart of Jacob - "I will not let you go unless you bless me" (Genesis 32:26). Shortly after prevailing with God, Jacob testifies to the reward of his perseverance - "I have seen God face to face" (Genesis 32:30).

"The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:25) is His sure promise to you.

Tuesday, December 07, 2004

surrender

In 1 Corinthians 2:10 Paul explains the work of the Holy Spirit in revealing the things God has for those who love him - "For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God."

In beholding the Lord, we need to fully surrender to the Holy Spirit within, humbly acknowledging our complete dependence upon Him to reveal the Lord before the eyes of our heart.

"And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever" (John 14:16) is His sure promise to you.

Monday, December 06, 2004

faith

Hebrews 11:6 says that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

In beholding the Lord, we need a childlike faith in Him that enables us to wait expectantly with quiet confidence, fully assured in our hearts that He will reveal Himself to us as we seek Him.

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13) is His sure promise to you.


Autumn sunrise in Lancaster County, PA Posted by Hello

Sunday, December 05, 2004

beholding

As for me, I shall behold Your face in righteousness;
I will be satisfied with Your likeness when I awake. (Psalm 17:15)

What is involved in beholding the Lord?

1. Faith - believing the Lord will reveal Himself to you

2. Surrender - yielding completely to the Holy Spirit within

3. Perseverance - waiting patiently for the Lord to reveal Himself

Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; (Isaiah 33:17)

Saturday, December 04, 2004

gazing

"Many have found the secret of which I speak and, without giving much thought to what is going on within them, constantly practice this habit of inwardly gazing upon God. They know that something inside their hearts sees God. Even when they are compelled to withdraw their conscious attention in order to engage in earthly affairs there is within them a secret communion always going on.

"A new set of eyes (so to speak) will develop within us enabling us to be looking at God while our outward eyes are seeing the scenes of this passing world.

"When the habit of inwardly gazing Godward becomes fixed within us we shall be ushered onto a new level of spiritual life more in keeping with the promises of God and the mood of the New Testament. The Triune God will be our dwelling place even while our feet walk the low road of simple duty here among men."

- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, pp 95-97.

Wednesday, December 01, 2004

abide

"So abide in God, do what the Lord Jesus always did. Father, do you want this? Father, is this what You desire? Father, is this Your way?

"Jesus lived His life in full view of the Father. And He would not speak, or do one work unless the Father told Him to. What is true of the Lord Jesus has got to be true of us all."

- T. Austin-Sparks, "That They May All Be One, Even As We Are One" - Volume One, pp 21, 81.