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Ps 139 “God Knows”

King David reflected that God is omnipresent, omnipotent, and omniscient. He not only has those character qualities, but He is the God, the El Roi, who sees and cares; the Manna or Bread of Life upon which we may feed; the Living Water from which we may quench our spiritual thirst. He is Immanuel, God with us, and He is the Good Shepherd that knows his sheep.

David asked God to search his heart and observe his travels and words because he knew it is God that places His hand upon him. This caused him to praise God for His incomprehensible knowledge!

No matter where we are presently, God is there, and His Hand will guide us moment by moment and day by day. Nothing is hidden from His sight, even to the womb where we are fashioned. For this, we give praise!

God knows the mindset, ways, and thoughts of men. Do you know Him?

My Prayer Walk Just Got a New Lease on Life….

ImageAs I closed the book of John I was an eyewitness to Jesus as he prayed in the Garden for God to remove the cup before him and yet “not thy will but thine be done” was the answer. Today in Psalm 141 I can visualize the Psalmist is in the mode of prayer and seeking God’s deliverance not only from the enemies around him but also from himself. What do I mean? Observe where he is in his mindset and what has beleaguered him.

First as he prays he notices his weakness with the ever defiant tongue just as James noted as well. “Jam 1:26 If someone thinks he is religious yet does not bridle his tongue, and so deceives his heart, his religion is futile.” And that is why the Psalmist prayed: Vs 3: O Lord, place a guard on my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips! The psalmist asks God to protect him from speaking inappropriately or sinfully, to protect him from untruths, and from the enemy of our souls who seeks to deceive our hearts. Put a guard, a fence around our mouth so that what is offered is sweet and pleasing as the aroma of the sacrifices offered each day at the temple offerings. May that be my prayer as well.

Secondly, he notices that he can easily become wayward in his feelings that are not in compliance with God’s will and so he prays: “Do not let me have evil desires.” Reminds me of this verse: Col 1:10 so that you may live worthily of the Lord and please him in all respects – bearing fruit in every good deed, growing in the knowledge of God, As we saw in Revelation 3, Jesus stands at the door of our heart and as we saw in John he is the Door. It is he alone who can protect us from the wolves, thieves and robbers who seek entrance into our hearts and our minds. The psalmist desires that God bar the entrance and protect him as the Good Shepherd lay in the gate of the sheepfold. He alone is our protector for we are weak and vulnerable. O Lord, protect me from those thoughts that enter my mind seeking to distract me from the purpose of prayer.

Thirdly, he seeks God’s acceptance of his prayers like the incense that is offered by the priests at the temple sacrifices. It is his prayer that these are like that sweet incense that rises with perfume aromas and bring pleasure to the nostrils of God. May my words be sweet to the Father.

Today may I employ these same three strategies in my prayer walk, day by day; hour by hour; moment by moment.

 

 

Is My Lens Functioning? 1Cor 14

ImageLighthouses are fascinating. Their lens are rotating and emit light to show the ship captain the direction he is to use to navigate a treacherous channel to safety. The church is to be a lighthouse for the lost. Therefore, it is crucial that the lenses are cleaned often and they are operational 24/7. The Corinthian church was a lighthouse in that decadent city with its idolatry and immorality. And yet still the members were asking questions as to what their purpose was in this life as a church member. What is my role? Why should I be a contributing member? Paul addresses all of these in chapter 14 that their purpose was to be prepared to guide the lost to THE LIGHT.

Part 1: Pursue Love and Desire the spiritual gifts. Seek to prophesy [to teach, refute, reprove, admonish, comfort others] because in doing so you edify, exhort, and offer consolation. These gifts are to build up the Body.

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Edification literally means building up of the soul. Barnabas is a biblical character that was nicknamed Encourager because he was an edifier. He was always ready with an encouraging word and did not miss a divine opportunity. So to edify we must keep our eyes and ears open. Take a moment and edify someone even right now!

Exhortation literally means pleading, persuading, inspiring. Its purpose is to strengthen and establish, or ground believers in their walk.  This is important to avoid false teaching, to renew our walk, and lead others out of spiritual quagmires. This is more than a meeting time for worship, it is an intentional meeting time to hear from another’s lips words that encourage and sharpen each other’s skills so that we become more like Christ. Take a moment and exhort someone who is struggling spiritually…do it even now.

Consolation is comfort. It is looking for those times to pray, encourage in person those who are hurting, going through rough times. Look at your calendar and ask whom did I console this past week and why? How did I do it in action and what words did I use? Take a moment and console a brother or sister who is in need of comfort. Share a word in a phone call, a note, a word that you are praying…do it now.

Part 2: Be Mature Thinkers. When others enter your worship do they hear intelligent conversation or the buzz words using Christian lingo? Speak the Word for it is the Word that convicts. [John 16:8, 2Tim 3:16] Then“If an unbeliever or uninformed person enters, he will be convicted by all, he will be called to account by all.  The secrets of his heart are disclosed, and in this way he will fall down with his face to the ground and worship God, declaring, “God is really among you.” Take a moment and search your conversations and note how many buzz words you are using…ask the Holy Spirit to guide you as you speak to a non-believer…do it now. Pray that God give you a divine opportunity to be His witness.

Thus as a Body member we need to be about the Master’s business of edifying, exhorting and consoling others. We need to be instructed so that we can instruct others intelligently. This chapter convicts and instructs. Is our lens operational? Is it leading the lost to the LIGHT?  Does this “wordable” reflect me to the world and to others around me?

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