Faces of Lions

I Chronicles 12:8 - "From the Gadites there came over to David in the stronghold in the wilderness, mighty men of valor, men trained for war, who could handle shield and spear, and whose faces were like the faces of lions, and they were as swift as the gazelles on the mountains."

When we face our everyday battles, do we have "faces like lions?" Have we allowed the Lord to train us for battle, taking up the armor of our God against the enemy? If we are spiritual Gadites, then our hearts no longer melt like wax in the face of trouble. We have learned that the battle is not ours, but the Lord's.

Father, I pray over every one who would receive this short prayer. Make them lions that tear their prey. Give them an uncompromised perspective over the things which would assail them. Allow them the courage to roar mightily, causing their circumstances to bow the knee to God within them. May they command sickness, anxiety, fear, and any other foul thing to come under the rule of God. In Jesus' Name, the Lion of Judah ... Amen!

Acquiring True Wealth

Romans 14:7 - "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself."

Many lessons we learn by degrees and this is one of them. None of us live perfectly for the Lord. However, when we begin to understand we do not live for ourselves, then things begin to change. We give a little more, and speak kindly a bit more.

As that modern sage, Bob Dylan, so aptly put it, "Well, it might be the devil, or it might be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody." May we all ask God for wisdom, importuning Him to show us that we are just a vapor that appears only for a moment in time. For who we serve will make all the difference in heaven and earth.

True Living

Romans 14:7 - "For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself."

Many lessons we learn by degrees and this is one of them. None of us live perfectly for the Lord. However, when we begin to understand we do not live for ourselves, then things begin to change. We give a little more, and speak kindly a bit more.

As that modern sage, Bob Dylan, so aptly put it, "Well, it might be the devil, or it might be the Lord, but you're gonna have to serve somebody." May we all ask God for wisdom, importuning Him to show us that we are just a vapor that appears only for a moment in time. For who we serve will make all the difference in heaven and earth.

Numbering Our Days

Psalm 90:12 - "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom."

Understanding that we are transitory by God's wisdom is entirely different than how the ungodly see it. Numbering our days, through God's knowledge, is learning the fear of the Lord for that is truly the beginning of wisdom. With that understanding we can live in the hope of eternity.

Not so with the wicked. Their faith believes we are all part of a collective, humanistic endeavor to change the planet with no hope for an individualistic future. How surprised will they be one day when they kneel before Jesus and confess Him as Lord and then be dismissed into eternal punishment! Lord, give us wisdom to know what we do now will totally determine our eternal destiny. Give us eyes to see and ears to hear.

Living for Others

Hebrews 7:25 - "Therefore He is able also to save forever those who draw near to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them."

Perfect love means perfect sacrifice. How heaven would move upon earth if we began taking our eyes off ourselves and began to see and feel the heart of God for those around us! What would happen if we lived to make intercession for others as Jesus is doing right now at the right-hand of the Father? This is what would happen: Heaven would come down and the glory of the Lord would cause an unprecedented revival!

Beloved, as the world continues to get darker with sin, may we become endued with God's heart for this lost world. May we turn our eyes from ourselves and be captivated by His desires for those around us. What a day that would be!

Man’s Foolish Wisdom

I Corinthians 1:27 - "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong."

Shame might be defined as "the painful feeling arising from the consciousness of something dishonorable, improper, or ridiculous done by oneself or another." Shame is often meant to bring forth pain which may ultimately result in change. However, God's wisdom is often hid from those who pride themselves in the strength of their knowledge.

Often, Christian apologetics will not include any other evidence then that of the Holy Spirit working to confound the wisdom of this world in those hostile to the Gospel. Often, it is not our job to debate or refute, but to allow God to reverse what the supposed wise of this world have erroneously believed. Arguments may work to a point, but then God through His Spirit must bring a person to their senses.

Have we removed ourselves from the debating society or speaking intellectually when we should be allowing the Holy Spirit to speak through us spiritually. Once we surrender to God's wisdom, then all heaven will break lose us and in those around us.

Resurrecting Lazarus

John 12:10-11 - "But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus."

When the resurrection of Christ begins to take hold of our lives through our experience, the flesh and the devil will seek to silence the "Lazarus" within. None will be more persistent than the religious folk in our lives. Those who see the freedom and joy in our hearts will seek to kill it by saying we should live sober, reflective lives. We should not behave in a way that is contrary to the way they believe.

However, when we begin to obey Jesus in all areas of our lives, we see something remarkable begin to occur. Others who are seeking freedom are drawn to us, confounding those who think they are following God. Beloved, may we allow our inner Lazarus to break out through obedience and love for the Risen Lord!