I'm currently doing a Beth Moore study called, 'Breaking Free.' Today, I was working on the day that deals with generational strongholds. The other day, I was reading Isaiah 57:14, which says, "And it will be said,"Build up, build up, prepare the way, Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people." When you read the verse I just cited, did you notice the word 'every?' God is speaking in this verse and He doesn't say, 'Remove most of the obstacles out of the way of My people,' does He? No. He says, 'Every!' That means He's made provision for removing ALL the obstacles out of your life and mine! Does that excite you? If not, it should.
I'm delighted to be able to report that He has removed MANY of the obstacles that have been in my way. I'd love to be able to report that He's removed ALL the obstacles, or strongholds, in my life, but I seem to want to cling to one or two. Isn't that stupid? I know He can, yet I continue to allow condemnation to hover over me from time to time. I suspect this may be something He'll address with me as I go through this study.
Beth, as usual, is doing a great job of taking us through this study to set us free from the obstacles and/or strongholds in our lives, as she has been. Yet, even she has had to do the study over, having let one creep back into her life. Why do we so easily let these ugly things back in our lives to rob us of His victory in us? Have you dealt with any or some (or all) of these yuckies in your life? Why are they there and where did they come from?
Are you familiar with Exodus 20:5 & 6? It says, "You shall not worship them (idols) or serve them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing lovingkindness to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments." You might say, 'But I don't hate Him!' or 'My parents didn't hate Him!' But, we all despised Him before we accepted His gift of salvation, didn't we? We all bring our baggage from those unsaved years into our lives as His children. That's why He wrote verse 6. He is ready to set us free from the strongholds we inherited from our forefathers but we are often blind to them or, sadly, unwilling to let go of them, even if they make us miserable! We tend to cling to that which is familiar, even if it's bad, rather than venture into the unknown.
May we all ask Him to expose the obstacles in our lives that hinder Him from having His place in us...ALL of it. He is willing. Are we? I've found myself at times asking Him to remove a stronghold in my life only to find myself hanging onto it for dear life when He tries to answer my prayer! I have a hard time understanding love that continues to pursue me in light of this behavior. But that's the only kind of love He has. Praise the glorious Name of the One Who shows lovingkindness to thousands! (per above verse)
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Our Warfare
I was reading Ephesians 6 earlier today. In younger years, I was very familiar with verses 10-18, having been in a local assembly involved in much spiritual warfare. Yet, as I read verse 12 this morning, I thought to myself, 'So, we need to be praying that our God will SHAKE the spiritual forces of wickedness OUT OF the heavenly places!' Yes, I'll 'look up' the verse for you: For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Now, you may have one of two reactions to my statement. You might think, 'YEAH! Let's pray against those suckers and be tough in the Lord!' My response to your response would be, 'Hold on! You don't pray things like that by yourself! This isn't an action movie where the good guys immediately recover from the hits they take. Our enemy is REAL...AND POWERFUL. If you're going to pray things like this, you need to be praying with a group of dedicated believers. If you 'go solo,' you'll be struck down by the forces you're praying against. And, if you read Ephesians 6:1-9, Paul is not speaking to them as 'an individual,' he is speaking to them as a group. Therefore, Ephesians 6:10-19 is also written as a corporate admonishment, not as to an individual. In other words, even though I've heard 6:10-19 taught as to us as individuals, I believe it's to be read and applied to GROUPS of believers. Let me apply it this way: Our nation doesn't send one man, or even a bunch of men individually, to fight a war, do they? No. They send an ARMY, a GROUP of men, who are trained to fight as a group, not as lone rangers fighting a foe. Even David, warrior that he was, didn't go out and fight the enemy all by himself. (The nine-foot giant was an exception). He fought with a group of 'mighty men.'
The other reaction you might have is, 'Ooohhh...I'd NEVER do that!' (because you don't know your standing in Christ). As with so many facets of the spiritual life, balance is needed. We can be either 'too brave' or 'too afraid' of our enemy. If you're in the group who are afraid of the enemy, let's look at Revelation 21:8. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Now, truly, this verse is not referring to believers, BUT...notice that God lists the cowardly FIRST! If God lists this trait as that despicable to Him in those headed for the lake of fire, do you think He likes it any better in those who have His Spirit living in them?
I'm not encouraging you to start 'attacking' the enemy. But, if he assaults you, as Paul said in verse 13, stand firm! Again, balance is needed. There is a measure of 'standing alone' we need to do, yet not really alone, as we must stand 'in Him' or failure is certain. But, God has designed us as the army described above. As Paul stated in verse 12, 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.' Do you really think you can battle against this vast array of foes alone and not suffer deadly blows? Please don't! Let's couple these verses in Ephesians 6 with John 17:20 & 21: "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You." Even if you're not being assaulted by our enemy, please always remember that, as members of His Body, we are members one of another. We can't make it alone. And He designed it that way!
Now, you may have one of two reactions to my statement. You might think, 'YEAH! Let's pray against those suckers and be tough in the Lord!' My response to your response would be, 'Hold on! You don't pray things like that by yourself! This isn't an action movie where the good guys immediately recover from the hits they take. Our enemy is REAL...AND POWERFUL. If you're going to pray things like this, you need to be praying with a group of dedicated believers. If you 'go solo,' you'll be struck down by the forces you're praying against. And, if you read Ephesians 6:1-9, Paul is not speaking to them as 'an individual,' he is speaking to them as a group. Therefore, Ephesians 6:10-19 is also written as a corporate admonishment, not as to an individual. In other words, even though I've heard 6:10-19 taught as to us as individuals, I believe it's to be read and applied to GROUPS of believers. Let me apply it this way: Our nation doesn't send one man, or even a bunch of men individually, to fight a war, do they? No. They send an ARMY, a GROUP of men, who are trained to fight as a group, not as lone rangers fighting a foe. Even David, warrior that he was, didn't go out and fight the enemy all by himself. (The nine-foot giant was an exception). He fought with a group of 'mighty men.'
The other reaction you might have is, 'Ooohhh...I'd NEVER do that!' (because you don't know your standing in Christ). As with so many facets of the spiritual life, balance is needed. We can be either 'too brave' or 'too afraid' of our enemy. If you're in the group who are afraid of the enemy, let's look at Revelation 21:8. "But for the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and immoral persons and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their part will be in the lake that burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." Now, truly, this verse is not referring to believers, BUT...notice that God lists the cowardly FIRST! If God lists this trait as that despicable to Him in those headed for the lake of fire, do you think He likes it any better in those who have His Spirit living in them?
I'm not encouraging you to start 'attacking' the enemy. But, if he assaults you, as Paul said in verse 13, stand firm! Again, balance is needed. There is a measure of 'standing alone' we need to do, yet not really alone, as we must stand 'in Him' or failure is certain. But, God has designed us as the army described above. As Paul stated in verse 12, 'our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.' Do you really think you can battle against this vast array of foes alone and not suffer deadly blows? Please don't! Let's couple these verses in Ephesians 6 with John 17:20 & 21: "I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You." Even if you're not being assaulted by our enemy, please always remember that, as members of His Body, we are members one of another. We can't make it alone. And He designed it that way!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Captivity and Pride
Yesterday I was reading Jeremiah 13 and was arrested by verse 15, which says, "Listen and give heed, do not be haughty, For the LORD has spoken." This reminded me of Proverb 6:16 & 17, which says, "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood." (Yes, that's only three, so, if you want to know the rest of them, get your Bible or online, look up verses 18 and 19). What I want to focus on in this verse is not being haughty. Many years ago, I was in a church that, I'm sorry to report, was haughty. We thought we were the 'spiritual elite' and that most other churches were carnal and Laodicean. Well, that's 'real spiritual,' isn't it? What an oxymoron!
Anyway, after leaving that church (after the discovery that the pastor had been engaged in activity that was anything BUT spiritual or elite), and entering into the awareness of how sickeningly arrogant my/our attitude had been, Proverb 6:16 came to mind several times. Please note that of the seven things which the Lord hates, the very first one is haughty eyes. We do a lot of things (especially nowadays) rather haphazardly. If we made a list of seven things we hate, they might not be in the order that we hate the most to the least. Not so with the Lord! He listed haughty eyes FIRST because it's the thing He hates the most.
You might ask, 'The Lord hates haughty eyes more than lying and killing?' I'd say, 'Yes.' Why? Because haughty eyes equals PRIDE. Does not lying and killing come forth from pride? Most of our lying is to either cover up a wrong or to make ourselves look better in another's eyes. This is pride. Killing is extreme pride! Unless it's self-defense, what makes you think you have the right to take another's life? That is God's place and His alone!
So, I repented of looking down my nose at other believers (and unbelievers) with haughty eyes. And I prayed that the Lord would put His love in my heart for others instead of my conditional, shallow love. Which makes me think of another verse I'd memorized many years earlier...Matthew 5:46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" Ouch...
Well, I've since been delighted at how He has answered my prayer. I'm still far from perfect in this realm of my spiritual walk, but it's SO MUCH better! And, there is an 'overflow' that results from this...others I (choose to) love, love me back!!! WOW! Such a deal! Don't tell me God isn't cool, ok?
But, if you glance back at my title for this post, I mentioned captivity. The first Scripture I mentioned was Jeremiah 13:15, but let's go on to verse 17. (I'd show verse 16, too, but this is getting lengthy. It'd be worth your time to look it up). But if you will not listen to it, My soul will sob in secret for such pride; And my eyes will bitterly weep And flow down with tears, Because the flock of the LORD has been taken captive. Wow...read it again. What is the end result of pride? CAPTIVITY!
You might think this is presumptuous on my part, but, having been held captive by pride, I say it's not and I'm trying to get you to see this in His Word. After all, just because I believe or say something doesn't make it true. But His Word is ONLY truth. Indeed, Truth is one of His names. Did He not say, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life?" in John 14:6? (The answer is 'yes').
So, my friend, let's not allow ourselves to be blinded any longer to our captivity if we wallow in pride and try to justify it. The One Who created us and redeemed us didn't allow Himself to be crucified merely to save us from Hell, but to save us from captivity and pride. (Can you say, 'Sanctification?') He longs for us to be captive only to Him...and we can't do that if we're captive to anything else. And, even in our captivity, we can be blind to the fact that we are! The best thing to do is ask Him to show us any captivity in our lives, then, as He faithfully shows us, ask Him for His deliverance from it. This is what He's been waiting for! He has blessings for us that are much better than what we are grasping in our hand(s) if we'll only let go. In His Love, Lois
Anyway, after leaving that church (after the discovery that the pastor had been engaged in activity that was anything BUT spiritual or elite), and entering into the awareness of how sickeningly arrogant my/our attitude had been, Proverb 6:16 came to mind several times. Please note that of the seven things which the Lord hates, the very first one is haughty eyes. We do a lot of things (especially nowadays) rather haphazardly. If we made a list of seven things we hate, they might not be in the order that we hate the most to the least. Not so with the Lord! He listed haughty eyes FIRST because it's the thing He hates the most.
You might ask, 'The Lord hates haughty eyes more than lying and killing?' I'd say, 'Yes.' Why? Because haughty eyes equals PRIDE. Does not lying and killing come forth from pride? Most of our lying is to either cover up a wrong or to make ourselves look better in another's eyes. This is pride. Killing is extreme pride! Unless it's self-defense, what makes you think you have the right to take another's life? That is God's place and His alone!
So, I repented of looking down my nose at other believers (and unbelievers) with haughty eyes. And I prayed that the Lord would put His love in my heart for others instead of my conditional, shallow love. Which makes me think of another verse I'd memorized many years earlier...Matthew 5:46 "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?" Ouch...
Well, I've since been delighted at how He has answered my prayer. I'm still far from perfect in this realm of my spiritual walk, but it's SO MUCH better! And, there is an 'overflow' that results from this...others I (choose to) love, love me back!!! WOW! Such a deal! Don't tell me God isn't cool, ok?
But, if you glance back at my title for this post, I mentioned captivity. The first Scripture I mentioned was Jeremiah 13:15, but let's go on to verse 17. (I'd show verse 16, too, but this is getting lengthy. It'd be worth your time to look it up). But if you will not listen to it, My soul will sob in secret for such pride; And my eyes will bitterly weep And flow down with tears, Because the flock of the LORD has been taken captive. Wow...read it again. What is the end result of pride? CAPTIVITY!
You might think this is presumptuous on my part, but, having been held captive by pride, I say it's not and I'm trying to get you to see this in His Word. After all, just because I believe or say something doesn't make it true. But His Word is ONLY truth. Indeed, Truth is one of His names. Did He not say, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life?" in John 14:6? (The answer is 'yes').
So, my friend, let's not allow ourselves to be blinded any longer to our captivity if we wallow in pride and try to justify it. The One Who created us and redeemed us didn't allow Himself to be crucified merely to save us from Hell, but to save us from captivity and pride. (Can you say, 'Sanctification?') He longs for us to be captive only to Him...and we can't do that if we're captive to anything else. And, even in our captivity, we can be blind to the fact that we are! The best thing to do is ask Him to show us any captivity in our lives, then, as He faithfully shows us, ask Him for His deliverance from it. This is what He's been waiting for! He has blessings for us that are much better than what we are grasping in our hand(s) if we'll only let go. In His Love, Lois
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Blessing & Israel/Jacob
Back in January, I was reading in Genesis 48 about Israel blessing his grandsons through Joseph. Yes, I've already blogged about that, but that blog was about Israel getting to see those grandsons shortly before he shed his earthly body. What I want to focus on now is something I never caught before that particular time of reading.
When Israel/Jacob blessed his grandsons through Joseph, he reversed the order of blessing. You may say, I knew that. I did, too, but hadn't made the correlation of the similar occurrence in his own life so many years earlier. Just as Jacob was the secondborn (not by much, mind you!) and received the blessing of the firstborn, so, too, did he pronounce the blessing of the firstborn upon the second son. I find this interesting, don't you?
Now, I doubt he did this merely because that's how it was in his life. Not to deny our human tendency of doing things 'just because that's the way it's always been done.' No, I believe he was led by God in doing so. At least Manasseh didn't STEAL the blessing of the firstborn from Ephraim, as Jacob had from Esau! And you may say, "Oh, how did he know to do this from God?" Well, perhaps you should read the prophecies Israel proclaimed regarding his sons in Genesis 49.
And, there was no manipulation by either grandson regarding his blessing upon them. In fact, Joseph was the one who was displeased. Verses 17 and 18 say, "When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head." But, per verse 19, his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." (Does this sound familiar?) At this point in Israel's life, I don't think he'd have trusted in himself to make this determination. He'd heard this from his (and our) God. In the lives of Israel/Jacob and Ephraim, grandfather and grandson, both received the blessing of the firstborn thought they were the secondborn. Jacob asked for it, Ephraim did not.
Are you the firstborn? Are you the secondborn? But more importantly, are you born again, from above? John 3:3 says this: Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jacob wanted to see the kingdom of God. Do you? If you are born again, do you long for the blessing/inheritance God has in mind for you? If you're not born again, you can only receive the blessing(s) of God by entering into a relationship with His Son, Whom He sent to purchase your redemption. Yes, He loved(s) you THAT MUCH!!! It's so easy...just ask Him! Revelation 3:20 says, "'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." This invitation is being issued by Jesus Christ...to YOU! He issued this invitation to me almost 31 years ago. I took Him up on it and was 'just going to try it to see if it really worked.' It DID! I've been his daughter for that long now. I'm the firstborn of two. But, guess what...He has blessed me lavishly over these many years. I was the firstborn of two earthly daughters, but Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God the Father. God the Father transferred the blessing of the Firstborn to the secondborn, you and me.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (per Jude 24 & 25)
When Israel/Jacob blessed his grandsons through Joseph, he reversed the order of blessing. You may say, I knew that. I did, too, but hadn't made the correlation of the similar occurrence in his own life so many years earlier. Just as Jacob was the secondborn (not by much, mind you!) and received the blessing of the firstborn, so, too, did he pronounce the blessing of the firstborn upon the second son. I find this interesting, don't you?
Now, I doubt he did this merely because that's how it was in his life. Not to deny our human tendency of doing things 'just because that's the way it's always been done.' No, I believe he was led by God in doing so. At least Manasseh didn't STEAL the blessing of the firstborn from Ephraim, as Jacob had from Esau! And you may say, "Oh, how did he know to do this from God?" Well, perhaps you should read the prophecies Israel proclaimed regarding his sons in Genesis 49.
And, there was no manipulation by either grandson regarding his blessing upon them. In fact, Joseph was the one who was displeased. Verses 17 and 18 say, "When Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him; and he grasped his father's hand to remove it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head. Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn. Place your right hand on his head." But, per verse 19, his father refused and said, "I know, my son, I know; he also will become a people and he also will be great. However, his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his descendants shall become a multitude of nations." (Does this sound familiar?) At this point in Israel's life, I don't think he'd have trusted in himself to make this determination. He'd heard this from his (and our) God. In the lives of Israel/Jacob and Ephraim, grandfather and grandson, both received the blessing of the firstborn thought they were the secondborn. Jacob asked for it, Ephraim did not.
Are you the firstborn? Are you the secondborn? But more importantly, are you born again, from above? John 3:3 says this: Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Jacob wanted to see the kingdom of God. Do you? If you are born again, do you long for the blessing/inheritance God has in mind for you? If you're not born again, you can only receive the blessing(s) of God by entering into a relationship with His Son, Whom He sent to purchase your redemption. Yes, He loved(s) you THAT MUCH!!! It's so easy...just ask Him! Revelation 3:20 says, "'Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." This invitation is being issued by Jesus Christ...to YOU! He issued this invitation to me almost 31 years ago. I took Him up on it and was 'just going to try it to see if it really worked.' It DID! I've been his daughter for that long now. I'm the firstborn of two. But, guess what...He has blessed me lavishly over these many years. I was the firstborn of two earthly daughters, but Jesus Christ was the only begotten Son of God the Father. God the Father transferred the blessing of the Firstborn to the secondborn, you and me.
Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (per Jude 24 & 25)
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