God’s Will

Finding God’s Promises – VOTD.03.06.18

For all God’s promises find their “yes” of fulfillment in him. And as our “amen” ascend to God, we bring him glory! We owe our position in Christ to this God of positive promise. 2 Corinthians 1:20-21

Everyone likes a positive promise from God, but often the more complicated part of living out God’s promises, or waiting for them in faith, is discovering what God’s promises are in the first place. Sure, there are plenty of promises in the Bible and they’re all ours, and we should claim them. But there are also more unique promises God has; one-off promises for you or me. How do we find them and how can be sure we’re putting our faith in the right place?

1. Ask. Want wisdom? James tells us to ask God for it (1:5). Want to know God’s promises? Ask God for them. Many of us forget this and think we have to figure things out on our own or get them from some especially spiritual person. Ask God. Trust that He’ll answer.

2. Be faithful where we are. There are lots of God’s promises we already know – they’re in the Bible. Faithfully hold onto the promises God gives us collectively in His Word. When we handle the little He’s given us, He trusts us with more (Matt 25:23).

3. Listen. Continue to study the Word of God and pray (two way communication) (Mal 3:6, James 1:17). Sometimes it helps to get away with Jesus and just talk it out. Take a walk, a drive, do something mindless and manual – get beyond the distractions and spend some TIME. This leads to:

4. Get to know God. Many are afraid they’ll get tricked into “presuming” a Promise that God hasn’t really made. But the better we know God, the less of an issue that will be, because we know He won’t give us a promise that is contrary to His nature.

By the way, Jesus is not worried about our presuming. We’re the ones who are worried about presuming. Do we really think the Lord is fretting in heaven because His followers are believing Him for too much? Is it Jesus who wants to put a brake pedal on our faith? Or would that be the enemy of our souls?

Can we presume too much? Sure. But Jesus can handle that… He can deal gently with people who believed Him for something we’re not ready to receive yet. He can lead us into a fuller revelation of the Truth. But if we shy away in unbelief or double-mindedness, it makes it tough for Him to gently nudge us in a better path. Some of us are so fearful of presumption that we’ve not actually moved. And the only one who profits from that is the enemy.

5. Wait. Waiting is not usually easy. But the good thing about waiting on God is that it drives us deeper into Jesus, where our trust of Him grows and toughens. Waiting on God allows us time to think, pray, and listen for that wisdom God has promised. (more…)

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When Jesus Doesn’t Meet our Expectations – VOTD.01.22.18

Now, while John the Baptizer was in prison, he heard about what Christ was doing among the people, so he sent his disciples to ask him this question: “Are you really the one prophesied would come, or should we still wait for another?” “Give John this report,” Jesus said: “‘The blind see again, the crippled walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised back to life, and the poor and broken now hear of the hope of salvation!’ And tell John that the blessing of heaven comes upon those who never lose their faith in me—no matter what happens!” Matt 11:2-6

Today, we know that Jesus was and is the Messiah. Jesus knew that, and John the Prophet knew that, too. However, after John had been imprisoned for many weary months, be began wondering whether Jesus was in fact the promised Messiah after all. Clearly Jesus’ activities didn’t align with John’s idea of what the Messiah’s ministry would be like. And so John sent messengers to Jesus to find out who He was, or perhaps to cajole Jesus into revealing who He was.

Now before we get into this, I want to point out that when John’s faith was under siege…he went to Jesus to get answers. He didn’t wallow in his doubt while he languished in a very unpleasant prison. He went straight to Jesus.

So often, when believers have doubts, we don’t go to Jesus for answers. We get stuck with our questions and our doubts because we don’t take them to Jesus for answers. We may go to friends and Christian books and counselors (and these things are good), but we don’t go to Jesus and examine our doubts in light of Who He is and the revelation we already have of Him.

But moving on, it’s critical to understand how Jesus answered the question about his Messiah-ship. He didn’t just tell the messengers, “Sure I’m the Messiah; John knows that.” Instead He put on a demonstration. In Luke’s account, we read:

“Before He answered (the messengers), Jesus turned to the crowd and healed many of their incurable diseases. His miracle power freed many from their suffering. He restored the gift of sight to the blind, and he drove out demonic spirits from those who were tormented. Only then did Jesus answer the question posed by John’s disciples. ‘Now go back and tell John what you have just seen…’” (7:21,22).

The prophetic message of John was one of repentance; he may have been expecting Jesus to continue on that foundation he had laid. But the message of Jesus was demonstration and declaration of the arrival of the Kingdom of God. (more…)

Continue ReadingWhen Jesus Doesn’t Meet our Expectations – VOTD.01.22.18

The Big Question – VOTD.07.24.17

Last time we brought up a burning question about maintaining and growing in the presence of God in our lives. The answer to the big “Question”… really to all questions regarding spiritual growth is given to us by Jesus in these two words:

“Follow Me.” (Mk 1:17, 2:14)

Today we have a throng of unbelievers who think the whole Christian experience can be summed us in words like: “follow My religion” or “follow My rules” – Worse, even some believers go through their lives thinking that that is the essence of spiritual living.

But as we’ve seen, Jesus said, “Follow Me.” It’s all about Jesus – not Christianity, not Christians, but Christ.

I was at a seminar on evangelism, after I’d written the last few weeks of meditations, and the speaker brought up a parallel thought: The excuses many non-Christians bring up for not accepting the Gospel revolves around the Christians and churches they’ve known.

“Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites”
“All the churches want is money”
“I’ve known some drug dealers who behaved better than some ministers”

Was Jesus a hypocrite? Was Jesus all about money? Did Jesus live His life in anything less than righteousness? (more…)

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Following – VOTD.07.17.17

“Follow Me.” Mark 1:17, 2:14

In the final analysis, walking in the presence of Jesus come down to two simple little words: “Follow Me”. Those of us who want more of the presence of God have to want to be with Him where He is. To be with Him where He is, we must want His will.

There simply isn’t any other way… Jesus must reign. But the legitimate question is raised… What is His will?

Consider those two words from Jesus that answer almost every question regarding what we are supposed to do as Christians. “Follow Me.” It’s Jesus’ personal invitation which He extended to us who would be His disciples. And He continues to extend this invitation to every one of us who want to walk in discipleship.

“Follow Me.”
(more…)

Continue ReadingFollowing – VOTD.07.17.17