Set Apart

March 6, 2013

Numbers 6-7:89

 

One of my previous pastors illustrated being "set apart" by imagining God picking you up and setting you high up on top of a platform in a  sense protected from the rest of the world. A picture of being in the world but not of the world - or conforming to the world  The Nazarenes were set apart by God – they vowed to separate themselves from the world and worldly desires to devote themselves to God.  They vowed to not give themselves over to fleshly desires such as wine and lusting after what is unhealthy.  They didn’t even eat grapes because it may cause the temptation to drink wine – they set themselves apart to minimize temptation and avoid sin.  How easy it is to fall into this by justifying our reasons… regardless of our reasoning being unhappy in our marriage, stressed out, or the desire to just relax – it creates an avenue of temptation and destruction if we start giving our lives over to it instead of to Christ.  If we are set apart as followers of Christ, we must do everything we can to avoid such temptations of the flesh. 

I’ve always appreciated the symbol of certain groups who do not cut their hair or adorn themselves with jewelry to signify their dedication to the Lord and being set apart.  Not in a legalistic way, but it causes me to question how others may know I'm set apart from the world without wearing a long skirt and sporting a long hair do!  If I'm just like everyone else in the crowd, speak the same as the unsaved, look the same as the unsaved, carry myself like the unsaved just to fit it in, how am I set apart in the view of others? Others should see evidence in our lives of Christ.

Jesus is our example and we must refuse these worldly desires, remove ourselves from temptations of fleshly lust, and separate ourselves from those who reject God, not forsaking the advancement of the gospel.  The name Jehovah proclaimed three times – could it be tied to the New Testament’s blessing of the Father, the grace of Jesus, and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit?  Each God, not separate, but one God over all... love seeing Jesus in the Old Testament!  

Mark 12:38-13:13

 

The poor widow who gave her last coin joyfully is more righteous that the rich man who gives out of obligation and legalism.   Heb. 6:10 says “For God is not unrighteous to forget or overlook your labor and the love which you have shown for His name’s sake in ministering to the needs of the saints (His own consecrated people), as you still do.”  We will be rewarded for our fruit and labor in the planting and in the harvest with crowns to throw at Jesus’s feet but only with a joyful heart – not out of a heart of obligation.  God knows our heart better than we do.  Pray about your heart motivation in giving of your time, talents, and money.  I love how this ties into the passage above from Numbers. All of the tribes gave equally – the commentary tells us that God was letting us know that what is given to the Lord is carefully recorded by name and whatever is given in love joyfully will be honored.  Do we give because we have to or feel guilty if we don’t?  We must not let our earthy desires separate us from our duty to Christ even though He tells us that it will bring suffering.  We will be set apart – we will be hated, yet we are still called to press on for the gospel!  Even if we are crushed and torn down, the gospel of Jesus Christ will not!  I believe we are living in the end times and the signs of the times are among us.  We are not promised an easy road on this earth – but we can rest in the promise of our salvation!  Be ready, be on your guard!  In these last days the world and it’s wickedness will become afraid of the light, but we have nothing to fear because God is with us and Christ goes before us!  Come quickly Lord Jesus! 

Psalm 49:1-20

3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.

How then are we able to say we speak wisdom if we are not meditating on the Word of God daily?  How can we gain this understanding if we are not writing the Word of God on our hearts and praying for wisdom and discernment?  Can we truly say that all is considered loss compared to knowing Christ? I love the Toby Mac song “Losing” – the verse he sings “I don’t want to gain the whole world and lose my soul” should be the cry of our hearts!  If we give ourselves over to the world and the fleshly desires for a moment of pleasure, we gain no profit and cast out the holy wisdom that comes from the Scripture.  The words become dead to us, lifeless, because we worship ourselves and our bodies.  Life is in the Scripture.  It’s our instruction manual for life on this earth!  No earthy desire, no material thing, no friendly advice can replace what God gives us in the Scripture.  We have nothing to fear – especially death!  Praise God for the assurance of our salvation through Christ!  It’s nothing that money or possessions can buy. 

5 Why should I fear in the days of evil, when the iniquity of those who would supplant me surrounds me on every side,

6 Even of those who trust in and lean on their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?

16 Be not afraid when [an ungodly] one is made rich, when the wealth and glory of his house are increased;

17 For when he dies he will carry nothing away; his glory will not descend after him.

18 Though while he lives he counts himself happy and prosperous, and though a man gets praise when he does well [for himself],

 

Proverbs 10:27-28
Amazing how all of these Scriptures come together in the Amplified version.  The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord prolongs one’s days, but the years of the wicked shall be made short. 28 The hope of the [uncompromisingly] righteous (the upright, in right standing with God) is gladness, but the expectation of the wicked (those who are out of harmony with God) comes to nothing.

Good vs. Best

March 5, 2013

Numbers 4-5:31

 

I feel like I’m in the prime of my life right now at 36 and with the desire to serve Him and His people I struggle with what is good and what is best.  Jesus tells us to come boldly to His throne of grace and seek direction for our lives.  Just because we may feel that serving the church or another brother or sister is the best thing because it’s a “Christian thing or church thing” may not be what we are called to.  I am one who wants to do it all and way too often reach my limitations to the point of drowning.  God cares about every detail of our life and when we put off our flesh, we will hear the direction He has for us to go.  This life is temporary and these bodies are temporary vessels He has given us until we are taken home and given glorious bodies!  Whatever God calls us to, He WILL equip us with what we need to get the job done, and the strength to do it.  

I think that’s how we  begin to discern what is good and what is best – what comes surely from God’s direction and what comes from our own direction thinking we are doing the right thing.  If I don’t feel I have the strength from the Lord to do a certain thing, how then can it have come from God?  His grace is sufficient – but we can’t pile on more than we can handle in our flesh and say it’s for the sake of the gospel when we’re overwhelmed to the point of tears.  We can’t pollute ourselves with “doing stuff” because it makes us feel good to do it – important, used, talented, or any other feeling of selfish ambition.  I don’t ever want to overreach and deceive a sister or brother in any way because it is a sin against God.  I think we can sin with good intention, and we sin in secret even in our own mind.  God is faithful though to bring it into the light, and He doesn’t need our help.  Most adulterers don’t jump up and admit their sin, only when they’re caught.  Any sensual lust causes bitterness and distance from God, and if we are His, He will bring it into the light.  This shouldn’t just bring a sense of terror to our own flesh, but should bring terror in accountability to God. 

Mark 12:18-37
How would it feel to question the Word of God and hear Jesus say to you “Is this not the reason you are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God?”… Ouch!  This should validate for us why it is so vital to be in God’s Word daily and pray for discernment in understanding the Scripture.  I personally don’t understand why the rules on marriage in the Old Testament were set forth in that way, but I do know what God commands us to and that is submission to each other and to Christ.  I’ve always wondered if our earthly marriage will also be so in Heaven and many theologians have differing opinions on the matter.  What we do know on this side of Heaven is to love God, and love others and obey His commandments.  We know that we won’t have marital problems in Heaven, no affairs, no lusts, no coveting, no despair, no heartache, no intense fellowship, no divorce, and no broken families.  If we love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength on this earth we  still won’t achieve these things in our own power.  It is apparent to me that we need these transgressions in our earthy life to experience the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of God. 

Psalm 48:1-14

Our faith in God’s Word is our hope and we should constantly be filling and renewing our minds with the Truth.  God is full of loving-kindness and we should let the grace pour over us like a flowing fountain in all submission.  Our minds can be our number one worst enemy.  We tend to focus on what we don’t have and why we’re unhappy with our life rather than what we should be focused on – thankfulness and praise.  Christ is the Cornerstone and Rock of our individual and collective faith in the church and His love is steadfast and never changing.  Now that is something to celebrate and be thankful for in ANY circumstance!!!

Proverbs 10:26

Plain vinegar is disgusting and can take your breath away just as smoke blown in your eyes causes you not to see and stings like nobody's busines – just as laziness is harmful to the soul.  It can cause us to just close our eyes and not want to get in the fight around us.  Vinegar can take your breath away just as laziness and selfish ambition can suck the life right out of you. 

Righteous Servanthood

March 4, 2013

Numbers 2-3:51

 

These people were called to set up camp around the tabernacle – living in tents, and constantly working for the church without complaining and without selfish ambition.  We are called to serve in the church – in the Bride of Christ – it’s a high calling and a sacred one yet sometimes I lose sight of that - but thankful we don't have to live in tents!  Not a fan of no running water or working restrooms! Whether it’s serving in worship, managing church finances, preaching on Sunday, setting up tables or cleaning toilets – we should have the heart to serve God, the Church, and the people without discontentment or complaining.  It’s all for the glory of God!  Our church family is such an amazing picture of this – not without fault – but through the general attitude of serving and keeping order in the church.  Col 2:5 For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. God appointed help to Aaron – not just because He knew Aaron would need help and couldn’t do it all on his own, but because it would also bring a blessing to those who were serving along side Aaron.  Each member of the body has a place and function – arms for reaching, hands for touching, legs for moving forward – we should all know our place in the body of Christ and in the church as well. 

Mark 11:27-12:17
They were always looking for some way to back Jesus in a corner and accuse him – He shows us how to walk the Christian life by not getting ourselves wrapped up in worldly affairs or in the inappropriate business of others causing bickering.  We need to pray for discernment and wisdom on what we focus our minds attention and hearts affection on and not our flesh get in the way.  I want to live a blameless life because I love Jesus – knowing that I am a sinful being with a very stubborn flesh.  We can make the prayerful decision to not get involved where we ought not to be.  Not sticking our nose in where it doesn’t belong simply because we love the gossip and the drama.  That should not be was fulfills us – instead we should be filled with the Spirit.  

Psalm 47:1-9
When it comes to worship, this passage is so clear – Praise the Lord, fear the Lord, Sing to the Lord, fear the Lord….

He is all powerful, all knowing and should be praised and feared.  Without the covering of Jesus’ blood shed on the cross of salvation, we would experience the wrath and unexplainable holy majesty of God.  Through submission in worship and praise, God promises to preserve us and give us rest!  We should not save our praise for Sunday morning worship in song – it should be lifted not only every day but throughout every moment of every day!  Sing praises with understanding and pray for God to set up His kingdom in your heart and allow Him to reign over your life!

Clap your hands, all peoples!  Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

For the Lord, the Most High, is to be feared, a great king over all the earth.

He subdued peoples under us, and nations under our feet.

He chose our heritage for us, the pride of Jacob whom he loves. Selah

God has gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet.

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises!

For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a psalm!

God reigns over the nations; God sits on his holy throne.

The princes of the peoples gather as the people of the God of Abraham.

For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted!

Proverbs 10:24-25
Trust, fear, and obey the Lord – but do not fear man or the wicked for they will have their day.  This just takes  me back to not putting yourself in a tempting situation that will cause you sin, if even in your own mind and not outwardly. We cannot discern our own hearts or intentions – only God can and we should be praying for Him to reveal those wicked intentions to us daily and pray for protection from those desires.  In the end, in Christ, we win!

What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted.

When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more, but the righteous is established forever.

Vows and Promises

March 3, 2013

Leviticus 27:14-34
Vows are obviously important to God and they are to be taken seriously. Not just the vow that we make to God, but vows that we make to each other such as in marriage, raising kids, dedicating our house and behavior, our money, time and talents.  Back in the day, people were held accountable for breaking vows – not in today’s world.  If one tried to break a vow, they had to pay a heavy price for it.  Now days, vows and promises are broken every day with little or no consequence.  While the person who broke the vow, such as in marriage, may be temporarily happy - indulging in a momentary weakness of the flesh while not caring about the effects on others.   Lives are destroyed.  Children are torn apart.  The vows that we break with our families and in our marriages are devastating – but nothing compared to a vow broken with God.  All of the crazy rules in Leviticus would never have been required if not for sin – our flesh gets in the way squashing our passion for the Gospel, makes us selfish with our money, and overall prevents us from truly worshiping God.

Numbers 1:1-54
Another start to the next book in the Pentateuch, and I pray that the Spirit keeps me in tune and causes me to understand the Scripture.  So, why did God number the people?  The smallest group was made the most important to take care of the tabernacle and the holy items.  I think God speaks to us in this passage to command us to be holy and honor the holiness of God in all that we do.  Only those who had been chosen were allowed to be near such holy things.  No one is worthy to have close fellowship with God, but those who are Christ’s followers have been washed by His blood and grace.  We have the Holy Spirit living inside us – we are blessed beyond measure to have what God’s chosen people back in the day never had.  As followers of Jesus we should commit our lives to preventing sin, but first preventing the temptation that leads to sin.  We should be forever cautious about being entangled in the sin of this world, and focus our minds attention and hearts affection on loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.  I tie this back to the previous chapter in Leviticus – vows in marriage, and keeping ourselves from temptation that may result in breaking those vows.

Mark 11:1-25: 

As the Spirit conforms us to the image of Christ, we learn in the passage that Jesus coming into Jerusalem boldly and fearlessly shows us that He did not fear heading straight into his enemies.  If I were His disciple at that time, I probably would have been asking why Lord are we headed straight for those who want to take You down? Maybe it’s because I hate confrontation.  Only by the power of the Holy Spirit can we face our enemies in a godly way with no fear and complete trust in the Lord.  I know that He has my back and goes before me!   Jesus was looking for fruit and found none – though there should have been some hanging on the trees even though it wasn’t just the right time for harvesting.  The example He makes though is not for the trees of course – it’s for us.  I think of Christ’s return… will he find fruit in my life?  Or will I be a dried up tree?  What do they do with dried up trees????  They are thrown in the fire.  Not that I doubt my salvation, but if we are truly His – there WILL most certainly be fruit in our lives.  But for those who reject the message of Jesus – will wither without the Living Water. 

Psalm 46:1-11
Trust in His power!  Trust in His sovereignty!  We are in the battle and though Jesus we have the power to trust God and His presence in our life to see us through any storm.  He is a present help in danger!  Praise God! Jesus is our Rock and only in Him do we find firm footing. If we have the Word dwelling in us, we shall not be moved!! Lord help me trust You and not be afraid.

Proverbs 10:23
Only foolish and wicked men divert themselves with doing harm to others, or tempting to sin. 
God is so faithful to place this series of Scripture together in just the perfect time that I needed to hear it.  Constantly praying for wisdom and discernment in the most difficult life decisions.  He WILL speak to you!!!

God IS enough!

In preparing for this Sunday’s worship, the Lord opened my eyes to the Scripture in reading Genesis 18:16-19:29.  Trust God, and don’t look back.  Trust God, and hold fast to Him, and not the world.  Oh, how often I look back. 

My journey of learning to trust God has slowly been developing over the last 11 years.  The majority of this journey conquered in small steps, and others in jumps across canyons. 

In 2011, God used cancer to bring me into a closer relationship with Him.  I had no choice but to let go, and completely trust God with what was to come.  So, is God enough?

I ran across my journal recently that I started the day after I was diagnosed.  I remember sitting in my bed, tears running down my face, reading God’s love letter to me (the Bible), and focused on writing out Scripture that He so graciously and affectionately illuminated on the pages as I read.  The passages I share with you in this post are from my journal in April of 2011.

Psalm 112:7-8

⁷ He is not afraid of bad news;
his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord.
⁸ His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.

Not afraid of bad news??  Of course I was afraid!  I was terrified!  But God is so faithful.  He was using cancer to open my eyes in a new way to discover what “God is enough” really meant.  He was teaching me to trust Him with my fears, with my future, with my family, with my life.  Though I was terrified, His Holy Spirit-breathed words are forever engraved in my soul:

Isaiah 41:10

¹⁰ fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Fact is, we live in imperfect vessel on this Earth that is disposed to sin. This body will not ever be free from defect until we have a our new bodies that equals the new spirit God put inside me 11 years ago! How exciting!!!  So, is God really enough in our life?

Psalm 73 is one of my favorites – a beautiful love letter to us through David’s worship leader Asaph on trusting God, and allowing Him to be ENOUGH in our life walking side by side with Him. Asaph was a Levite appointed by King David to lead worship in the tabernacle and later the temple. Meditating on this Psalm, we can all relate to the inspired words written.  Asaph was in a place many of us find ourselves in – discontentment with our perception of injustice with the arrogant, the wicked, and the perception that that have no struggles – the healthy and wealthy.   

Have you ever asked yourself these questions?  I know I have…

Why does it seem that Christian’s lives seem so much harder, and filled with tribulation – yet, the life of the wicked seem so easy?   

Why does it seem that the children of God suffer, while the wicked seem to get the easy road?

The truth of God’s love is revealed in Asaph later starting in verse 23.  I confess this is how my normal thought process begins.  “It’s not fair!  Why is this happening to me?” Asaph got it as he chose to draw near to God and experience the presence and promises He has for all of us, not only in our difficult times, but in our daily life! 

The answer to his grumblings was one word:  WORSHIP

1 Surely God is good to Israel,

    to those who are pure in heart.

 2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;

    I had nearly lost my foothold.

3 For I envied the arrogant

    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

 4 They have no struggles;

    their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]

5 They are free from common human burdens;

    they are not plagued by human ills.

6 Therefore pride is their necklace;

    they clothe themselves with violence.

7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];

    their evil imaginations have no limits.

8 They scoff, and speak with malice;

    with arrogance they threaten oppression.

9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,

    and their tongues take possession of the earth.

10 Therefore their people turn to them

    and drink up waters in abundance.[c]

11 They say, “How would God know?

    Does the Most High know anything?”

 12 This is what the wicked are like—

    always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.

 13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure

    and have washed my hands in innocence.

14 All day long I have been afflicted,

    and every morning brings new punishments.

 15 If I had spoken out like that,

    I would have betrayed your children.

16 When I tried to understand all this,

    it troubled me deeply

17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;

    then I understood their final destiny.

 18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;

    you cast them down to ruin.

19 How suddenly are they destroyed,

    completely swept away by terrors!

20 They are like a dream when one awakes;

    when you arise, Lord,

    you will despise them as fantasies.

 21 When my heart was grieved

    and my spirit embittered,

22 I was senseless and ignorant;

    I was a brute beast before you.

 23 Yet I am always with you;

    you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,

    and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

    And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

    but God is the strength of my heart

    and my portion forever.

 27 Those who are far from you will perish;

    you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.

    I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge;

    I will tell of all your deeds.

Does this hit home?  Are you ever conflicted in your heart about accepting the plan God has for your life?  Are you struggling with something that you feel is unfair? 

I encourage you to turn your focus off of yourself and on to the God Who IS ENOUGH.  His promises are TRUE, for he IS TRUTH!  He will never leave your or forsake you!  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!  Life isn’t fair, but GOD IS!  Jesus clearly tells us:

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

I now see it as an honor to experience this struggles…. For I am certain that God is using it to draw me closer to Him and learn how to trust Him to be ENOUGH!  We can sing the sweet words of worship “We will overcome, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony! Everyone will overcome!”

How is it possible to feel “forsaken” when we are always with Him, in His presence?  We can sing about His sweet presence in this beautiful song on Sunday “Here in Your presence, we are undone, Here in Your presence Heaven and earth become one, Here in Your presence, all things are new, Here in Your presence everything bows before you.”

I pray that God will continue to grow you and I to fully reach the spiritual place Asaph was when he wrote verse 25 of this Psalm…

 

Whom have I in heaven but you?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Fear not, dear brothers and sisters!  God is ENOUGH!  Don’t look back, just keep looking up!

Psalm 23:4

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.

Psalm 27:1

27 The Lord is my light and my salvation;
whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life;
of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 91:4-5

⁴ He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
⁵ You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,

Proverbs 29:25

²⁵ The fear of man lays a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe.