Just a few days ago while I was at church I receive a strong impression from the Lord. He brought two ideas together and I KNEW I could, and was, to write about this.
That particular day there were a lot of things happening, and so, I just let the idea "sit on the back burner." I could get to it later. This idea - I thought - was fresh and strong in my mind [at that point, it was]. Surely, I'd be able to write a good piece on this later.
A couple of days later, as I tried to start writing, try as I might, I could not remember what God had shown me earlier. Oh, how I wish that I had taken the time to write down a few notes on it. I'd have it now!
I asked God to bring it back to my mind, but so far, "no go." I do remember reading the same set of words in many different places in my Bible lately. I did know that part of what God had shown me had to do with this set of words. I've sought the Lord, and have strained my brain. But, so far, nothing has returned to me of what the Lord had dropped into me earlier.
Point - treat as VERY VALUABLE whatever the Lord gives you! I had definitely NOT treated what I had been given as very valuable. When He gave it to me I had it. Now, I didn't! How I regret that I didn't at the very least make a few notes on what He gave me.
I've asked God for forgiveness and now it's time to move on. I choose not to dwell on or spend a lot of time trying to bring what He gave me back. I blew it. He can certainly give it to me again! That's His choice. This time, if He does give it to me again, I WILL treat it much more carefully!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Dwell - Abide - Live
Jesus shared some amazing things on the subject of dwelling in John 15. He uses the picture of a vine, its branches and the fruit. Jesus is the True Vine and His Father is the Vine dresser. We, of course, are the branches.
In verses 4-5 He talks about dwelling. "Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you [You could use live instead of dwell - same meaning]. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. ... Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing."
That "vital union" to the vine is essential. The vine is the source of life and everything else of any value. Obviously, no fruit can be produced if there is no source to supply life.
Jesus expands on the promise in verse 7. "If you live in Me [that vital union] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your heart, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
If:
-Abide in Me
-My words remain in you
-My words continue to live in your hearts
Then:
-Ask what you will - it will be done!
By looking at this promise it is easy to see that there are three conditions to meet. They are each related to each other. Study these three things and spend time thinking about how you can do them. What will promote each of these aspects of dwelling? It is God and His power that allows you to abide in Him. There are, however, things you can do to move in and excel in abiding in Him. Other activities will hinder and rob you of the blessings of abiding.
Meet these conditions and experience the wonderful promise - ask whatever you will and it will be done!
In verses 4-5 He talks about dwelling. "Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you [You could use live instead of dwell - same meaning]. Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. ... Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing."
That "vital union" to the vine is essential. The vine is the source of life and everything else of any value. Obviously, no fruit can be produced if there is no source to supply life.
Jesus expands on the promise in verse 7. "If you live in Me [that vital union] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your heart, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you."
If:
-Abide in Me
-My words remain in you
-My words continue to live in your hearts
Then:
-Ask what you will - it will be done!
By looking at this promise it is easy to see that there are three conditions to meet. They are each related to each other. Study these three things and spend time thinking about how you can do them. What will promote each of these aspects of dwelling? It is God and His power that allows you to abide in Him. There are, however, things you can do to move in and excel in abiding in Him. Other activities will hinder and rob you of the blessings of abiding.
Meet these conditions and experience the wonderful promise - ask whatever you will and it will be done!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Dwelling
On Sunday morning during a prayer time befoe the morning meeting, God spoke one word to me - dwell. Nancy had read and then prayed from Psalm 91. Then followed discussion on several points from this psalm. Eventually I shared what God had dropped into my spirit.
Dwell speaks of where you live and where you are at home, comfortable and at ease.
The promises of the psalm are for those who meet the conditions of the first two verses. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable
and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I
lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust!" [Amplified]
First, the promise is for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. It's not a place everyone knows about. It is secret. It is available but must be sought out and pressed into. This promise doesn't apply to just everyone who calls himself a Christian. Rather, it is for those who are wholeheartedly following after and depending on Jesus.
The phrase, "shall remain stable and fixed," has a double meaning. First, and primarily, it is a benefit or a result of dwelling in the secret place. If you dwell in that place you will be stable and fixed. Secondly, it speaks of an aspect of how we dwell in Him. Our focus and our commitment is stable and fixed. We aren't jumping around from one thing to the next. No, our eyes and our trust are on the Lord. We aren't moving!
The person who meets the conditions for these promises is one who says, "The Lord is my Refuge, my Fortress and my God. On Him I lean, rely and trust." It is one thing to speak the words and another to actually live by what you say. In this case, the person speaks what he truly believes - it is in his heart. He views the Lord as his Refuge and his Fortress. He also acts as if this was true. Therefore, in reality, he leans on the Lord and relies on Him. In Him he does confidently trust.
As I write these words I recall a passage from Psalm 125. God spoke to me strongly from the first two verses a few years ago. I even wrote a song about this. In this scripture God talks about, and invites you, to become a person who trusts in, leans on, and hopes in the Lord. He "will be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands .." The next verse gives us the reason: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people."
God is giving an invitation to learn to trust Him totally, without reservation. The result will be a person firmly established, fixed and not going to be moved!
In the middle of Psalm 91 there is another mention of the word dwell. These promises shall be yours "because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place." In verse 2 the person says the Lord is my Refuge. Now here,the person has made the Lord his Refuge.
In verse 14 the dwelling idea is further explained. This person "has set his love upon Me." And, "He knows and understands My name." By living in the secret place this love for the Lord will,undoubtedly, grow. The evidence is there. God says you've set your love upon Me. And He says, "He knows and understands My name." That is because he has spent time with Him. The relationship grows and is intimate as we spend much time with Him in the secret place.
Jesus placed a very high priority on "knowing" Him. More on this in a future article. There are numerous things to consider about dwelling. I plan to do a series of articles on this topic. God bless you as you begin to live in the secret place!
Dwell speaks of where you live and where you are at home, comfortable and at ease.
The promises of the psalm are for those who meet the conditions of the first two verses. "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable
and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I
lean and rely, and in Him I (confidently) trust!" [Amplified]
First, the promise is for those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. It's not a place everyone knows about. It is secret. It is available but must be sought out and pressed into. This promise doesn't apply to just everyone who calls himself a Christian. Rather, it is for those who are wholeheartedly following after and depending on Jesus.
The phrase, "shall remain stable and fixed," has a double meaning. First, and primarily, it is a benefit or a result of dwelling in the secret place. If you dwell in that place you will be stable and fixed. Secondly, it speaks of an aspect of how we dwell in Him. Our focus and our commitment is stable and fixed. We aren't jumping around from one thing to the next. No, our eyes and our trust are on the Lord. We aren't moving!
The person who meets the conditions for these promises is one who says, "The Lord is my Refuge, my Fortress and my God. On Him I lean, rely and trust." It is one thing to speak the words and another to actually live by what you say. In this case, the person speaks what he truly believes - it is in his heart. He views the Lord as his Refuge and his Fortress. He also acts as if this was true. Therefore, in reality, he leans on the Lord and relies on Him. In Him he does confidently trust.
As I write these words I recall a passage from Psalm 125. God spoke to me strongly from the first two verses a few years ago. I even wrote a song about this. In this scripture God talks about, and invites you, to become a person who trusts in, leans on, and hopes in the Lord. He "will be like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides and stands .." The next verse gives us the reason: "As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about His people."
God is giving an invitation to learn to trust Him totally, without reservation. The result will be a person firmly established, fixed and not going to be moved!
In the middle of Psalm 91 there is another mention of the word dwell. These promises shall be yours "because you have made the Lord your refuge, and the Most High your dwelling place." In verse 2 the person says the Lord is my Refuge. Now here,the person has made the Lord his Refuge.
In verse 14 the dwelling idea is further explained. This person "has set his love upon Me." And, "He knows and understands My name." By living in the secret place this love for the Lord will,undoubtedly, grow. The evidence is there. God says you've set your love upon Me. And He says, "He knows and understands My name." That is because he has spent time with Him. The relationship grows and is intimate as we spend much time with Him in the secret place.
Jesus placed a very high priority on "knowing" Him. More on this in a future article. There are numerous things to consider about dwelling. I plan to do a series of articles on this topic. God bless you as you begin to live in the secret place!
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Is Worship Important?
I'd like to share a few thoghts I've been having recently on the subject of worship. It seems to me that worship is a very key area for the person who wants to experience God and the fullness that He has for each of us.
I'm reminded of the practice of Mother Theresa. She and the women who worked with her started each morning, very early, spending two hours just "adoring" the Lord. They had no agenda but to be before the Lord and adore Him - telling Him how much they loved Him. It was because of this time worshipping God that evrything else they did was accompished.
I also will tell you of Heidi Baker's experience. She had been tired and drained and went to meetings at the Tornto Vineyard. During these meeting Heidi had an overwhelming experience with the love of the Father. As a result, she was so wasted that others had to carry her around and help with her care. Since that time she often just spends time before the Lord in worship. It is this time before the Lord that enables her to do the ministry that God brings her way. Rather than getting burned out (as before) she gets strengthened and keeps serving her Master.
The experiences of each of these servants of God is more than enough to make me realize that I, too, need to worship the Lord. It is this worship and adoration that prepares my heart to hear from Him. And I need to hear from Him! Scripture states that I live "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
My worship will make me sensitive to the Lord and enable to hear the voice of My Lord. Jack Hayford says "Praise creates a dwelling place for God in man's present situation."
I'm reminded of the practice of Mother Theresa. She and the women who worked with her started each morning, very early, spending two hours just "adoring" the Lord. They had no agenda but to be before the Lord and adore Him - telling Him how much they loved Him. It was because of this time worshipping God that evrything else they did was accompished.
I also will tell you of Heidi Baker's experience. She had been tired and drained and went to meetings at the Tornto Vineyard. During these meeting Heidi had an overwhelming experience with the love of the Father. As a result, she was so wasted that others had to carry her around and help with her care. Since that time she often just spends time before the Lord in worship. It is this time before the Lord that enables her to do the ministry that God brings her way. Rather than getting burned out (as before) she gets strengthened and keeps serving her Master.
The experiences of each of these servants of God is more than enough to make me realize that I, too, need to worship the Lord. It is this worship and adoration that prepares my heart to hear from Him. And I need to hear from Him! Scripture states that I live "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
My worship will make me sensitive to the Lord and enable to hear the voice of My Lord. Jack Hayford says "Praise creates a dwelling place for God in man's present situation."
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