DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND

Nested in the history of Israel we find the story of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. They were an abominable duo who did more to defile the land than any leaders before them.(1 Kings16:33). Their ungodly reign caused the faithful of God to be burdened with the consequences of their idolatry. Jezebel had the prophets of the Lord killed and was desperately seeking to kill the prophet Elijah. (1 King 18:13). Clearly, Ahab and Jezebel were no friends of God or of His people.

Such was the prosecution of the prophets that King Ahab had men hunt nations and kingdoms in search for Elijah to end his life.  The Bible recounts of a day when the Lord spoke to Elijah telling him to present himself to King Ahab. How would you like that calling? Here he had been protected of the Lord and know he is being asked to meet Ahab face to face. (1 Kings 18)

Can you picture this great confrontation? The arrogant wicked King sees Elijah and has the audacity to say  “O troubler of Israel”. Elijah responds with the boldness of a lion proclaiming Ahab is the trouble- maker because he has forsaken the Word of the Lord and followed the baals.  Elijah tells Ahab, gather the people of Israel and the prophets of baal and asherah to Mount Carmel.

 Elijah stands before the people and in a proverbial sense DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND saying:

 “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1st Kings 18:21).

 Now God’s people had not completely stopped following Him.  History tells us they tried to follow God and the false gods of the day. Elijah’s words were clear, concise and left no room for interpretation.

The Bible says that after Elijah spoke the people of God answered him not a word. 

Elijah than challenges the false prophets saying let’s make sacrifice, you call on your gods and I will call on the name of the Lord. The one who answers by fire HE IS GOD!

Baal didn’t answer then Elijah prepares the sacrifice and prays this powerful and amazing prayer:

"O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."(1 Kings 18:36-37)

As Elijah finishes his prayer the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice down to the wood, stones and the dust.  The people of God saw this and fell on their faces saying:

“The LORD, He is God! The Lord He is God!

In an instant they went from faltering between two opinions to proclaiming HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD.

 GOD’S drawing a line in the sand is not about hate, intolerance, inequity, injustice, unfairness and single mindedness. It’s about LOVE, HIS LOVE for HIS people, plan and purposes. 

In His mercy, loving-kindness He revealed Himself in power so that Israel’s heart would turn to Him.

Have the voices of today brought you to falter? Has the accuser of the brethren caused you to doubt? Do you have little strength left?

The Lord is calling‑ rebuild the altar of your broken heart and tell the world:

              HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD…

EVOLVING WORDS**TRUE WORDS**THE BIBLICAL JESUS

The fact that the Word came in the flesh to teach me what true life looks like is beyond fascinating. The longer I walk with Jesus and study His Word I come to understand what it means to consciously turn to the Light.  It’s an invitation to participate in the fellowship of the Triune God.

The Biblical Jesus never changes and we cannot undo that regardless of what society tells us.  I have personally come to despise the word evolve, why? At every turn I make I continue to hear the voices of many in today’s society saying, Jeannette you need to adapt and evolve in your thinking.  My response to this is. NO! I have to trust the Bible because it’s the only manuscript that points me to the true identity of Jesus and only in Him there is true life.

My heart grieves when I see and hear that brothers and sisters in Christ run to other philosophies to find peace and help when from the beginning of creation Jesus was fully realized and came to teach us how to live. 

A quick glance at the news tells us our world has changed in the blink of an eye.  It’s as if there is a great awakening of those who call good evil and evil good. The king’s of political correctness are changing the English language in order to mask the sting and implication of what words really mean.  This metamorphosis of language is intentional in order to obscure the truth and it has seeped into every area of society.

 Don’t be fooled from the beginning of time Satan has been on a quest to distort the truth with the goal of dehumanizing God’s creation.  Let’s go back to Genesis and see how the word war started:

Genesis 2: 16-17 (God speaking to Adam and Eve)

And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”        

Genesis 3: 3: 1-6 (The serpent to the women)

The serpent was more  clever than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. The serpent said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat the fruit of any tree that is in the garden’?” The woman said to the serpent, “We can eat the fruit of the trees that are in the garden. But God did say, ‘You must not eat the fruit of the tree that is in the middle of the garden. Do not even touch it. If you do, you will die.’”

⁴ “You can be sure that you won’t die,” the serpent said to the woman. “God knows that when you eat the fruit of that tree, you will know things you have never known before. You will be able to tell the difference between good and evil. You will be like God.”

From the beginning deception came in by the distortion of the God’s Word.  Had Eve heeded to God’s Word of instruction our lives would be quite different.

Man can attempt to change truth but the reality is IN the Beginning WAS the WORD and it will END with the WORD and the WORD will endure forever. 

THE FORGOTTEN GIFT

In my last blog titled “Do you know Him” I briefly explored the theme of having a conscious relationship with the Holy Spirit.   As I mentioned I started to ponder on this topic due to a short conversation our family was having regarding the Holy Spirit. Consequently, the conversation has placed me on a several weeks journey of going back to the WORD and rediscovering what the scriptures have to say about the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

As I have combed the pages of scripture Old and New Testament I have asked myself several questions and am curious as to what others may think. Has the doctrine of the baptism of the Holy Spirit fallen out of our Western Christian church teaching? If so, why? Are we losing something important? How imperative is it to our Christian walk?  Have we redefined the term baptism in Holy Spirit in an attempt to correct what man perhaps has misunderstood or misinterpreted?

In my review of the WORD OF GOD I can say we are losing something vital. Why? Jesus last command to His disciples is to go out and be His witnesses carrying the message to the nations. But, He tells them they need to be equipped instructing them to stay in Jerusalem until they have been clothed in power from on high.  You see what the flesh cannot do the Spirit can do.  In other words what us human beings can’t reach in the natural can be reached with the Holy Spirit moving in us, through us and among us. 

Have you ever considered that before the disciples received the Holy Spirit they denied Jesus, they had unbelief, they questioned if He was the Messiah. We read after the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts this was not the case.  In fact it was quite the contrary they received power to witness and they went out with boldness declaring the Kingdom of God.

The Holy Spirit and His baptism is the antidote that conquers fear, doubt, insecurities and defies all our natural circumstances.

In the church of Ephesus where Apollos served as pastor (Acts 18:24-28) the scripture gives us a good sense of who this man was.

   Apollos was an eloquent man

   He was mighty in the Scriptures

   He was instructed in the ways of God

   He was fervent in spirit

   He taught the things of the Lord

   He knew only the baptism of John—Nothing about the baptism in the Spirit.

When Paul visited Ephesus he opened the door through which the Spirits power manifested itself. The gospel message was there but they had not received the Holy Spirit in power.  Paul comes lays hands on them they received the Holy Spirit and they revolutionize Ephesus.

What caused this revolution? It was not Paul it was the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through men.  

Can we experience this same revolution in our lives, homes, schools, community and workplaces? ……Absolutely!!

I am convinced today more than ever we the people of God need a fresh baptism in the Holy Spirit. Let us remember just like Peter, the word of the Lord, “John, indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized in Holy Spirit. If therefore God gave them the same gift as He gave us when we believed on the Lord who was I that I could withstand God?” (Acts 11: 16-17)

Let’s run after the forgotten gift and pray, come Holy Spirit baptize me again!!

DO YOU KNOW HIM?

I would like to introduce you to an old friend of mine. Many years ago He came into my life and totally rocked my world. He is that  friend that makes you feel larger than life. You know the kind that when you are with him it seems that you have no need of anyone else. He is that person who constantly pours wisdom into your life and is able to correct you without wounding you.  His words are like a healing balm soothing the soul.  The fruit of joy, peace and love are byproducts of our relationship.  Yes, He is the beloved Holy Spirit.

Several weeks ago I was sitting in my living room and our family was having a conversation about the importance of the Holy Spirit and His infilling.  As I was listening I asked this question, do you make an effort to commune with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis? I know we all pray and have relationship with the Triune God but I mean do you intentionally pray in the Spirit? The answers varied some said not as much as I use too, or no I don’t but I should.  The consensus was we should have a relationship with the Holy Spirit and like every relationship it should be cultivated.

After the conversation I started to go down memory lane and pondered on the day the Holy Spirit filled me to overflow. I was bound, weak and troubled and in an instance I was free, joyful and walking in a power I had never experienced before.  My spirit man was alive my prayer life excelled and walking in HIM was just easier than it had been before. 

Before you start running to conclusions and say she is one of those tongue  talking women I want you to know I am not necessarily talking about praying in tongues. We need to get out of our minds the baptism of the Holy Spirit equals tongues that is just an all to common misunderstanding. However, I will tell you I believe in the gift of tongues and I believe it is for today and I believe it’s for everyone.

The questions that I had to ask myself as I pondered on the day of my infilling were these:

1.    If the filling of the Holy Spirit is a gift from the Father then why not receive it.  (Luke 11: 11-13Which 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!”

2.    If it’s a specific event as scripture is clear in telling us then I need to experience it.  (See Act 19 1-7, and that is just one of many)

3.    If being filled with the Holy Spirit thrusts us into relationship with Him then I must continue it.

This third point is what I want to emphasize if the infilling of the Spirit  thrusts us into relationship with Him then we must nurture it until we see Him face to face.

If you, like myself and some of the members of my family may have in one sense or the other neglected the relationship I want to encourage you to reignite the flame.  Or if you are reading this blog and you have no idea what I am talking about and need a life changing experience then ask the Holy Spirit to come and fill you.

Let’s pray and stand on the truth of the WORD of God,

“Fill me know afresh. Lord, wake up in me that which has grown faint. Revive my being with your refreshing power. In Jesus Name.”

I leave you with these beautiful words from CH Sprugeon :

Common, too common is the sin of forgetting the Holy Spirit. This is folly and ingratitude. He deserves well at our hands, for he is good, supremely good. As God, he is good essentially. He shares in the threefold ascription of Holy, holy, holy, which ascends to the Triune Jehovah. Unmixed purity and truth, and grace is he. He is good benevolently, tenderly bearing with our waywardness, striving with our rebellious wills; quickening us from our death in sin, and then training us for the skies as a loving nurse fosters her child. How generous, forgiving, and tender is this patient Spirit of God. He is good operatively. All his works are good in the most eminent degree: he suggests good thoughts, prompts good actions, reveals good truths, applies good promises, assists in good attainments, and leads to good results. There is no spiritual good in all the world of which he is not the author and sustainer, and heaven itself will owe the perfect character of its redeemed inhabitants to his work. He is good officially; whether as Comforter, Instructor, Guide, Sanctifier, Quickener, or Intercessor, he fulfils his office well, and each work is fraught with the highest good to the church of God. They who yield to his influences become good, they who obey his impulses do good, they who live under his power receive good. Let us then act towards so good a person according to the dictates of gratitude. Let us revere his person, and adore him as God over all, blessed for ever; let us own his power, and our need of him by waiting upon him in all our holy enterprises; let us hourly seek his aid, and never grieve him; and let us speak to his praise whenever occasion occurs. The church will never prosper until more reverently it believes in the Holy Ghost. He is so good and kind, that it is sad indeed that he should be grieved by slights and negligences. ^[1]

Spurgeon, C. H. (2006). Morning and evening: Daily readings (Complete and unabridged; New modern edition.).

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Timeless Words that Challenge US today.

 

I have been studying the book of Luke for the past several weeks.  As I reached the 13^th chapter I suddenly realized its tone takes a turn as Jesus gets closer and closer to Jerusalem.  Luke starts telling his audience about the miracle birth of Christ, the announcement of the Kingdom, instruction on loving our neighbors, grace and forgiveness.  Then suddenly, we start to hear a series of warnings that sound like this:

   Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees

   Watch out whatever you say in darkness will be heard in the light

   Make sure your dressed and ready with your lamps alight

   Beware there will be divisions amongst you

   Don’t’ be anxious for food, drink and clothing

   Fear the one who than can kill you and cast you into hell. ( in other words recognize the enemy)

   Narrow is the gate

I asked myself, what was Jesus doing as He was approaching Jerusalem? He was preparing his disciples for the journey ahead of them. We all have traveled and know preparation is essential for a successful journey.

Clearly, Jesus was preparing His disciples, as well as us, with a message of grace and love. However, he warned His disciples of what was to come and what would be required.

You can feel Luke’s sense of urgency; it’s as if Luke is repeating Christ’s WORDS of LOYALTY in the face of opposition. Just like Luke we the people of God need to proclaim LOYALTY to the KING and HIS WORD. I am not implying we walk around clothed in legalism. No, absolutely not! However, in a time when words matter we must be balanced in our teaching and understanding of the WORD of God.  There is a battle in our culture and faith to steal, kill and destroy all who desire to live and obey the WORD of GOD.  As true and loyal believers of Jesus Christ the warning is as clear today as it was in the days Luke was sharing the story.

Though we may be in the midst of the battle with trust in God and devotion to His WORD we can remain alert to the schemes of the enemy. Like Luke and the Apostles we the followers of Christ must stand and be loyal to the WORD. The WORD (Logos) is not an abstract concept. The WORD was with GOD and the WORD is GOD.

Conflict, Humility and Peace in the Wilderness

Just like Israel rest assured when in the wilderness you will encounter conflict and hostility.  This is the time to remember we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and the rulers of darkness of this age (Ephesians 6: 12).  When we encounter such hostilities these battles are only to be fought in obedience to God.   As I have mentioned in previous posts this wilderness experience is intimate and extremely personal and those looking from the outside will feel compelled to assess your situation.   

The journey truly has it’s peaks of fragility of mind therefore I learned to say to myself, “I can’t trust people since they don’t know what is in my heart, I can’t trust myself since I don’t know what’s in my heart, but I can trust the LORD and HIS WORD since HE alone knows what is in my heart.

Looking back to the beginning of my wanderings I have had many good intentioned people whom I love play the role of Job’s friends. Once you have had several close encounters with a “Job’s friend” your ears and heart learn to recognize them, it sounds like this:

Job 33:1-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 Be that as it may, Job (Jeannette) I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

 [It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].

 Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].

⁷ See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

Did you notice how many I’s, my’s and me’s are in these verses? This is the first warning you are having an encounter with a Job’s friend.

By no means, am I implying I am perfect or that during this whole experience I reacted to every conflict in the most appropriate fashion. I am simply trying to share some of the lessons I learned during this time of testing.

 What I want to emphasize is that we must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Why is it that we find ourselves compelled to play the role of Holy Spirit?  Believe me, from someone who has gone through a God administered wilderness HE is more than capable of doing the job. 

Dr. RT Kendall wrote in his book Total Forgiveness when you speak to another person ask yourself if what you have to say will meet their need.

Necessary- Is it necessary to say this?

Encourage- Will this encourage?

Edify- Will it make them stronger?

Dignify-Will it dignify that person?

 

Even if what we have to say is true, it does not necessarily mean we have to say it.  We may not realize what we intend for healing may cause harm.

When conflict comes knocking at the door of our hearts we can either decide to take on the banner of offense or walk in forgiveness.  Forgiveness is an act of the will and it does not come easy but offenses carry their own punishments.  

  

We don’t realize how much self reigns in our hearts until these times of testing. It all goes back to the fact that the wilderness experience is God’s process to humble us so that we may know what is in our hearts.  As we humble ourselves before the Lord peace appears in the wilderness like an oasis in the desert.  

PS: The external circumstances may not change but these testings are a matter of the heart, so don’t be discouraged and weary of soul.

TRUSTING IN THE TESTING

 

In the beginning stages of the wilderness experience we may not even be aware that we have been lead into the desert. Just like Israel God calls us out of captivity and all of a sudden what should be a quick journey to the promise land turns into a detour that tests every fiber of our being.

The book of Deuteronomy tells us that the Lord led His people into the wilderness to humble and test them that they would know what was in their hearts and whether or not they would keep His commandments. (Duet 8:2).

Lesson I- Trusting in the Testing

Frankly, easier said than done. It’s not that I had not trusted Him before it’s just this time it was different, very different.   As believers we really think we trust the Lord but when the rubber meets the road does our heart proclaim it. Before you say, my heart does………… let me remind you what Proverbs 21:2 says “every way of the a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

 Many times during this process I pulled a Sarah making plans to get myself to the promise land quicker than God’s desired timetable. Plan after plan there was no relief of soul. You see, the wilderness experience is administered by GOD and He alone can say IT’S OVER.   In the meantime you are there and there is no escape. You never know what is next but just remember if His own Son was lead into the wilderness HE must think there is something very GOOD to get out of it.

The Lord will start to reveal your heart and you will be very surprised at what comes forth.  Deception has one way of entering into our life and it’s through PRIDE. The pride of life is truly our desire to be independent from God. Isn’t that how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness? Jesus refused to show His power independent of the Father.

I encourage you if you are in the midst of the wilderness that you sing with the Psalmist David;

Psalm 51 6-8

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones  which You have broken rejoice

 
Keep trusting for you are HIS workmanship!

The Wilderness Experience

What do Moses, Joseph, Jacob, Elijah, David, Abraham, the people of Israel, John the Baptist, Mary, Hannah and Jesus have in common?

Oh yes, you are right!!!! The dreaded but life changing and God orchestrated……….. WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

In July of 2006 I received a word from the Lord announcing the beginning of my Wilderness experience.   It sounding something like this, “ Jeannette, I see you singing and only dust is coming out of your mouth”. Immediately, I said to myself Lord, I know that but did You have to announce it to the entire room. Then it only got worse as I was told it’s not because you are doing something wrong, it’s because you are doing something right. The Lord is drilling in you because rivers of living water will flow out of you. The Lord said I need to dig deep (Ouch) and let you go through some things and even in those things you will hit some things in your life that are dry. 

My mind was racing in an attempt to understand this all. I remember being shocked that it was “because I am doing something right.” 

Can you get a sense for how encouraged I was? (sarcasm)

But the Lord in His loving way did send some encouragement saying, “I have heard every cry and prayer and you have said Lord you have been so silent. But I Lord have been silent for a reason I am drilling and digging so that the rivers of living water may flow forth.”

Here it is the end of 2012 and I am finally able to look back and understand what it  means to journey into the WILDERNESS.

The wilderness is  a very intimate and personal place with few times of refreshing. The best way to describe it is as if there are realms of the wilderness experience.  As I started the journey there were times of wonderful intercession and faith knowing the Lord was always with me regardless of how I felt. Then came the climax of this experience where my companion day and night was darkness and despair. At which time I combed through the Psalms looking for relief and joining King David in his song, “Do not cast me away from your presence, And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.” I have read the Psalms my entire adult life and it was not until now could I truly understand these words.

Now that the darkness has passed and the light of Christ has shine forth in my mind, soul and spirit I can comprehend at least for this intended season the workmanship of the Lord.

Have my natural circumstances changed? No, in fact for those looking from the outside it may seem even drier then ever. Thank God, He does not look at the outer appearance but He looks at the heart.

The Hebrew word for wilderness is midvar, the root word is davar which means the arrangement of things to create order. We are taken into the WILDERNESS so that the Lord can perfectly arrange our lives to fit into His Kingdom purposes.

Stay tuned for lessons learned in the Realms of the Wilderness.

WHY IS MY BLOG TITLED "WISDOM DEFINED"???

Wisdom Defined…

Today, wisdom sits like a monument of old behind the ropes and watchful eyes of those who do not understand her. Daily people walk by and admire her lines and the beauty of her craftsman’s touch. They marvel at the detail and forever talk but fail to comprehend. They stare, admire and even gaze but eventually grow bored. As they leave to satisfy their own selfish desire, wisdom still speaks to all who will stop and listen…

In antiquity wisdom was the defining measure that separated the thinker from the fool and the leader from the follower. Though seldom rich wisdoms teacher possessed a priceless insight: For their truths taught men principle over possession. While fools looked to claim castles and titles the students of wisdom possessed valor, morals, bravery, justice and truth. In a world where “might made right” the wise are oft remembered and their words revered while the fool is mocked for their folly and failure.

Then there are others who are wise in delicate works of arts, histories and craft but still they lack a depth that allows them to discover the wells from where wisdom is born. Forever they build, create and speak great prose but get lost in their own words and deeds forever missing the deeper truth.

Today, wisdom is void, replaced and renamed by something altogether more sinister than foolishness. In today’s world of technology and pride wisdom has been replaced by greed of self and arrogance of creation. No longer the words of the wise even breech the walls of these men’s understanding. They have long ago passed her by for the works of their own hands. For some they claim they have collected her and keep her safe within their homes. But they ignore her and as she gently weeps.

Alas, all seems lost in an age where wisdom is ignored…

But what of those who hear and comprehend wisdoms call? What of those who are no longer intrigued by greed or self and technologies great claim? In them the craftsman’s lines reveal a secret truth that is discovered deep with wisdom’s own story.

Speaking with a soft boldness and inner strength wisdom invites the hungry soul to dwell with the craftsman. Then, the new student of wisdom becomes a new work of within His hands. With each journey, trial and victory another line is carved into the “work” of His hands. Molded and formed they who listen allow themselves to heed wisdom’s call and become the newest fashioned work of wisdom. Her title: To love truth and justice, to walk humbly and virtuous before God, and to love THE TRUTH with all their heart, mind and soul.

Glimpses of wisdom are seen everywhere but only understood in one place, the words of the craftsman’s greatest work, The Bible.  And so, those who do more than just read but desire to understand allow the grace of His Holy Spirit to open their mind and soul to wisdoms call. Above all within the pages of the Bible wisdom is read. For those who embark on this noble quest they will discover their lives are interwoven within the pages of this Sacred Script.

The woman who heeds wisdom’s call is to be envied above all. It is not her wealth, beauty or youth that makes her wise but the words she speaks and life she lives. In her actions and silence she speaks more words than will ever be recorded. And in her tears and prayers are volumes born from deep truth.

Yes, youth eternal but never more than wisdom…

Yes, wealth is powerful but never more than wisdom…

Yes, beauty is captivating but never more than wisdom…

If one has been blessed with youth, wealth and beauty but is a fool then they are poor. But if one is blessed with His wisdom they are forever rich!

Author, Joshua-Paul Johnian/Nov 25,2012