Sunday, December 11, 2011

Advent and Honor

Advent = from adventus in Latin meaning "coming" in reference to preparation.

In our case it is a person and an event. Christ the savior of the world. We prepare

our homes, we prepare our schedule and we prepare our food.

    What we want to remind you is to prepare your heart.


 

A central theme must be Joy. Think of all the songs of joy in this season.


 

Luke 1:13-17 "the Angel says to Zacharis you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at his birth" – speaking of John the Baptist.


 

Luke1:39-55 "the baby leapt for joy" speaking of John the Baptist in the presence of Jesus – both in womb.


 

Luke2:10-14 "I bring you news of great joy" speaking to the shepherds.


 

Matthew 2:10-11 "when they saw the star they rejoiced with great joy" speaking of the wise men.


 

Let us rejoice as we receive so great a gift:

    1. This is the light that takes us from our darkness

    2. The sinless and most precious gift from heaven was sent to a wretched world

    3. He is sight to the blind

    4. He is hearing to the deaf

    5. This gift is Life to the dead.

Anyone who receives it is emphatically grateful and it leads to a life of honor.

As obedience is a barometer for love so honor is to gratefulness.


 

Let's look at the shepherds; Luke 2:8-20

8And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

12And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.

13And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

15And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another,

Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.

16And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

17And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child.

18And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.


 

19But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

20And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told unto them.


 

When you receive this Gift of Joy unspeakable you can only be grateful and honor the giver like the shepherds and wise men.

Friday, October 21, 2011

LET THE FIRE SPREAD

In order to preach this before you my beloved brothers, I am forced to see myself in truth and I lack deeply before my God and before you. That is why I struggle and am crippled even to share the simple things God gives me to share.


 

"When all is said and done, the life of faith is nothing if not an unending struggle of the spirit with every available weapon against the flesh."

Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Cost of Discipleship


 

I.    In Titus 1:1-4 We get Purpose Heart and Drive. Why we are here what are we about -we get order.

a.    We may not be apostles but we are "servants of God".

b.    We have the very same hope as Paul. "The hope of eternal life." From God who cannot lie.

c.    We have Gods word through his spirit filled saints. II Timothy 3:16


 

In verse 4- It shows that when we are on the same page, fighting the battle together. It is natural for there to be a closer relationship with one another as fellow combatants building unity within the body of Christ.


 

Verses 5-8


 

    If we step back and see the big picture what we see is an antithesis between the passions and appetites that are the difference between two, not just opposite but opposing world views. One is marked by self-control the other is marked by self-indulgence. It is not that we should look at this list, try to do these things and somehow we will qualify for the seat of eldership. NO it is that Jesus Christ is the center of your life and this is how others will know it.


 


 

Romans 6:
15-18 What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16Don't you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching to which you were entrusted. 18You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.


 

The one command of the evil one is to "do what thou wilt".


 

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind soul and strength and your neighbor as yourself". Deuteronomy 6:5


 

    

For us today the primary concern is stated in Acts 6:3, it is the presuppositional thought at the time Paul wrote the letter to Titus. If you are a Christian you have the Spirit of God in you. He is our comforter and teacher. He changes our affections that we become compelled to pursue integrity and righteousness. The fruit of the spirit is not something we try to do. It's what we love. Our desires are taken off the things of death and placed on life. That is the supernatural work of God in our lives. It is then that we can taste and see that the Lord is good.


 

Why does this matter? What does it mean?

When we think of spirit filled people we think of those who are intangible unaccountable like a drifting mist, heavenly minded---

    It seems we are more comfortable with friendly emotions rather than the law of God; when we run into the law of God -believe me there are plenty of emotions.


 

You can't be full of the Spirit and reject Gods Law!


 

Exodus 31:1-5
1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, 2See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah: 3And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship.


 

Being Spirit filled is more tangible in fact it's practical and takes dominion. Gods Spirit fulfills Gods purposes.


 

"The Holy Spirit thus has a more general as well as a more specific place in our lives and world than is generally recognized. The doctrine of vocation or calling must be seen as essentially related to the Holy Spirit. We are therefore not alone; whatever our gifts or vocation, however, great or small, we are the instruments of the Holy Spirit. To limit the Spirit's manifestations in our lives to dramatic or ecstatic experiences is to limit severely our relationship to Him. He is very much present in all our daily tasks, and we have the duty to recognize His presence and power".

R.J. Rushdoony "the spirit filled men"


 

1 cor 4:7b What do we have that we have not receive?


 

"In the modern view, each man is a little god and creator, whereas our text tells us that the Holy Spirit is the source of our gifts, and neither we nor our gifts are an end in themselves. We are God's creation, for His Kingdom purposes, and there is "a work to be done." R.J. Rushdoony


 

"Are you zealous for my sake? Oh, that all the Lord's people were prophets and that the Lord would put His Spirit upon them!" Numbers 11:34-35 Moses


 

I think being filled with the Spirit means basically having great joy in God. And since the Bible teaches that "the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10), it also means there will be power in this joy for overcoming besetting sins and for boldness in witness. But basically it means radiant joy because the Spirit who fills us is the Spirit of joy that flows between God the Father and God the Son because of the delight they have in each other. Therefore, to be filled with the Spirit means to be caught into the joy that flows among the Holy Trinity and to love God the Father and God the Son with the very love with which they love each other. And then, in answer to the second question, the way to be filled with the Spirit is by trusting that the God of hope really reigns -- that not a sparrow falls to the ground apart from His will (Matthew 10:29) -- and that He runs the world for you and for all who trust His word. In believing that, you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and with joy. John Piper

This goes much further than conviction!

  • If you understand affections then you will understand what is meant by joy. We hate lying because we love the truth…


 

For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. Romans 14:17 Paul


 

In verses 5 Paul lays out what Titus should be doing

  1. Thou shouldest continue in the things that remain
    1. Setting the churches in order
      1. Leadership
      2. Teaching
      3. Serving


         

  2. Ordain Elders in every city as I appointed you.
    1. The word for Elder presbýteros – properly, a mature man having seasoned judgment (experience);

      *As we go through this you will see that its character


       


 

In verse 6-8 we get antithesis, do's and don'ts of the Christian life and therein lies our danger. As soon as we have a list we tend to start justifying ourselves. And young men, this is for you! If you're looking for a list of manly character; here it is. Young men should be attaining it, and men of all ages should be living it. Elders lead in doing the very same things that everyone else is.

    

    Not special assignment it's normal assignment.


 

Doà


 

Blameless- ä-ne'n-klā-tos=without fault; innocent; guiltless; not meriting censure. Unreproveable


 

Husband of one wife= Polygamy was ramped and There is no better place to learn godly character then the home.

    1. Pressure

    2. Accountability


 

Faithful-
pē-sto's
= 1) trusty, faithful

a) of persons who show themselves faithful in the transaction of business, the execution of commands, or the discharge of official duties

c) that can be relied on

a) believing, confiding, trusting

b) in the NT one who trusts in God's promises

1) one who is convinced that Jesus has been raised from the dead

2) one who has become convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and author of salvation.


 

Don't à


 

Self-willed-
au-thä'-dās=
1)
self-pleasing, self-willed, arrogant


 


 

Soon angry-
or-gē'-los=
1)
prone to anger, irascible


 

Not given to wine-
pä'-roi-nos
=1) given to wine, drunken


 

Striker-plā'k-tās=
1)
bruiser, ready for a blow

2) a pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person


 

Given to filthy lucre-
īs-khro-ker-dā's=
1)
eager for base gain, greedy for money


 


 

Doà


 

Hospitality-
fē-lo'-kse-nos= hospitable, generous to guests._1Tim 3:2,1 Pet 4:9


 

A Lover of Good Men-
fē-lä'-gä-thos= loving goodness.


 

Derived from


 


fē'-los=

friend, to be friendly to one, wish him well

a) a friend

b) an associate

&

ä-gä-tho's=

1) of good constitution or nature

3) good, pleasant, agreeable, joyful, happy


 

Sober-
sō'-frōn=
1)
of a sound mind, sane, in one's senses

2) curbing one's desires and impulses, self-controlled, temperate._1Tim 3:2,Tts 2:2,2:5


 


 

Just-dē'-kī-os=
1)
righteous, observing divine laws

a) in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God


 

Used as- Righteous-41, Just-33,Right-5,Meet-2.


 

Derived from-

dē'-kā=
1)
customs

2) right, just

3) a suit at law


 


 

Holy-
ho'-sē-os=
1)
undefiled by sin, free from wickedness, religiously observing every moral obligation, pure holy, pious.


 

Most commonly used as-Holy-4,Holy One-2


 

Temperate-en-krä-tā's=
1)
strong, robust

2) having power over, possessed of (a thing)

3) mastering, controlling, curbing, restraining

a) controlling one's self, temperate, continent. Self-controlled or self-governed.


 

What a list but if we just read this list and go on I think we can miss something important.

    When I was a young man I spent a month in Africa, in C.A.R. Central African Republic. There were many things that left an indelible mark on me.

    1. The simplicity of life. No rush or stress

    2. Real humble living. Huts/dirt roads

    3. Beautiful images in my mind. Grapefruit/Singing ladies/gifts

    4. Foreign languages.

a. Asontae asontae-sona – Thank thank you very much - Swahili

b. Bowana zombie now-lo cola – Jesus is in the sky

c. Hello depended on who you were talking to.

    1. Seno = Hello at a distance or to children

    2. Sena = hello up close to adults, more respectful

3 Sena fer-rony = an endearing hello to adults up close


 

Just to say hello they are mindful of who they are addressing and propriety. To others around it is clear who you are talking to. This type of thing is not that uncommon in foreign languages, but to Americans it appears a little odd.


 


 

As we study the word of God there are a lot of details that can be missed especially if we don't speak Hebrew and Greek. One of which that seems to shed some light on this current issue is that of Inflection. Inflections can indicate 1 of three things

1. Singular or plural. If it has an s on the end of a noun then you are indicating that there is more than one.

2. There state as absolute or construct. When one noun affects the other.

3. Their gender as male or female.

While I don't believe having women in the pulpit is our issue, it is an issue of our day and it affects us. We live in a deeply narcissistic and feminine culture. Any man who has been through the public education juggernaut has had his mind crippled and his manhood deeply repressed. When someone is rescued from this state by the living God what they really need is to be deprogrammed and catechized.


 

  • They need to learn that God
    created and real science is biblical.
  • They need to know that God is in control of History and you don't break Gods law Gods law breaks you.
  • They need to know that Reality is defined by God just like all truth beauty and order.
  • They need to know that to glorify God alone is there purpose and in that is all joy and fulfillment.
  • They need to know that they can't trust what they think or feel but only the word of God.


 

We call this discipleship. It's not just man's work but everyone's and we all have our places.Matthew28:19


 


 


 

As we read verses 6-8; we see that 17 of these words are in the Masculine inflection. Of which; I believe it is Gods exclamation point on the fact that he has order and we should never quibble about it.

Paul is clearly directing this towards Men…


 


 

    


 

    -The world is shouting to our ladies that they must have fulfillment they must have control, a college degree and a pay check. The modern American woman is more prepared to be a man then our young men. The ravages of which make their way into all of our lives in many ways but the very worst of them is abortion.

    For us it looks like a young lady whose joy is not found in what the bible says about womanhood.

-Tts 2:3-5, Or for a young man whose joy is not found in biblical manhood –Titus 1:5-9


 

The church of God is floundering and neglecting the Spirit of the living God. The culture is being lost and the imperfect foundations that were the surest the world has ever known are crumbling. All the while the in touch crowd are excited by this destruction and lost ground. It's a dispensational dereliction of duty and a total disregard for the suffering and bloodshed that purchased this liberty for you!

            While we are claiming a spiritual connectedness we are drinking deep from the polluted fountain of apathy. Our emotional drunkenness is surrendering these treasured foundations to tyranny instead of building cathedrals for Christ out of complete and utter reverence for Him.


 

"Unless the Lord builds the house the workman labors in vain". Psalm127

    How does God do that- 1. Providence

                         2. Spiritual gifting –Talents/abilities

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord of Hosts" Zechariah 4:6


 

In our cultural rejection of all things Christian and manly, we in the church like a gentle and kind touchy feely feminized pulpit, that is to gentle to hate the sin in you and in me.

    Please forgive us Almighty God.


 

When we either deny or don't recognize the power and effect of the Holy Spirit in our lives we rob men of the hand of God on them.


 

àWe must teach our young men to fight and roar and overcome; taking dominion of all things to the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ!


 

We are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its savor, wherewith shall it be salted. Matthew 5:13

i) salt is offensive – just try pouring it in a wound. Our society is wounded, will you be salt?


 

The Gospel is good news but it is also offensive. We need to tell

    People… As a result of the best things you have ever done God is revolted and all heaven will rejoice at the justice of Him throwing you into hell.


 

Do you know who you serve?

    The Lion of the tribe Judah! Does that sound safe?

It is an abomination for the soldiers of the cross to slip through life unnoticed.


 

Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 2Timothy 3:12    Have you experienced this?

        Our brothers in other countries are losing their lives; but in America "the land of religious tolerance" we don't see persecution.


 

Either God is wrong or we are not living a Godly in Christ Jesus.


 

"Godliness, as denoting character and conduct determined by the principle of love or fear of God in the heart, is the summing up of genuine religion. There can be no true religion without it: only a dead "form" " James Orr


 


 

God our Father living still and we live untouched and unmotivated?


 

Do you want to see Him?

Do you want to know Him?

Do you know who this is????????


 

If every fiber of your flesh doesn't cry out for God the living God – Then I fear for you!
Psalm84:2


 

I am broken because Jesus loves me

àAnd as a result I can say that I am a disciple that Jesus loves


 

I can do all things Through Christ who strengthens me because Philippians 4:13

à The Spirit of God is in me in real and practical ways that Help me do what He desires.


 


 


 


 

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Bending rules


    I have often said, because I have children, nieces and nephews – that changing the rules in the middle of a game is the very definition of cheating. It stands to reason because of our sin nature that these new rules tend to benefit the author in their pursuit of the goal; which is our chief end in the flesh. So it goes in the world as well. If we decide for ourselves what is good/bad right/wrong beautiful/ugly or ethical/unethical we will do so with a self-justifying bent. That's why it can be said that "A man's morality dictates his theology". He is looking to get what he wants and feel good while he does it. Tyranny likewise is when someone wants to decide jurisdictions, definitions and ethics for themselves. As a person in a supervisory role lifts up the high standard (Gods law) they become an edifice in the process of securing good character in society. (Romans 13) If on the other hand they reject the standards of God they will inevitably punish good character "Manhood" and encourage immaturity "Effeminacy".

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Just a breath of time

    The Lord has saved us and it is He who sustains. We are His and not our own. We are to tarry here for a short time and what we allow as the servants of the King will be the inherited estate of those who follow. If we who are to stay for just a breath of time, with eyes on the Prince of Glory and fail to decimate the enemy and fully destroy all the gates of the same. Then we have denied the Kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ and have been a dishonorable servant of the most high God. Your candle will burn out eventually! But I exhort you dear brothers, don't burn dimly in self-preservation. But rather burn exceedingly bright without concern for your life, only one concern should consume you- Glory to God in the highest – Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Prayer and Fasting The dynamic Duo

  1. There are two basic kinds of fasts.
    1. Religious observance

      Ceremonial law has been fulfilled in Jesus Christ while the moral law is our guide for life. Fasting and the Law --> Leviticus 16:29-31; 23:26-32; Numbers 29:7

      Imagine the whole nation of Israel fasting and prayer and confessing their sins to God. Wow! The day of atonement this year is Saturday October 8,2011

      1. The Day of Atonement was established by God.
      2. The priest is clothed in the simple cloths of a servant, showing humility (he normally wore fine cloths woven with gold and jewels.
      3. The people of Israel fasted and observed a Sabbath rest.
      4. The confession and sacrifice for sin with the laying on of hands, placing the sins of the people on the scapegoat.

      This is fulfilled for us in Jesus Christ. Mathew 5:17-18 "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one title shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."


     

    We are not antinomians (no-law) we have a law in Gods word.


     

    1. Pagan fasting – is done mostly for outward ritualism.
      1. Religious pride- considering themselves better than others for their religious works.
        1. Proverbs 8:13 the fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth do I hate.
      2. A masochist show to placate their conscience – somehow if they punish themselves they will earn favor with God.
        1. Romans 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
      3. Political fasting or hunger strike. Attempting to manipulate others through pity and public opinion.
        1. Gandhi fasted for welfare– and recently some liberals in America fasted to protest budget cut in education.
          1. Deuteronomy 28:48 therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all [things]: and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.


     

    1. Self-purification and penance. That somehow we can earn forgiveness.
      1. 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
      2. Hebrews 10:10 by the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.


     

    We do not have a command from God to fast at certain times or events; so why fast?


     

    1. Fasting as a way of removing all pretenses and humbling yourself before God.


     

    1. War – Benjamites- Judges 20:26-28 "Then all the children of Israel, and all the people, went up, and came unto the house of God, and wept, and sat there before the Lord, and fasted that day until evening, and ... inquired of the Lord ... (whether to) go out to battle ... And the Lord said, Go up ..." Direction


     

    2. Fasting and prayer for Protection - Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from him a safe journey for ourselves, our children, and all our goods. 22 For I was ashamed to ask the king for a band of soldiers and horsemen to protect us against the enemy on our way, since we had told the king, "The hand of our God is for good on all who seek him, and the power of his wrath is against all who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and implored our God for this, and he listened to our entreaty. Protection


     

    3. Repentance of sin – Ezra 10:6 While Ezra prayed and made confession, weeping and casting himself down before the house of God, a very great assembly of men, women, and children, gathered to him out of Israel, for the people wept bitterly. 2 And Shecaniah the son of Jehiel, of the sons of Elam, addressed Ezra: "We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land, but even now there is hope for Israel in spite of this. 3 Therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all these wives and their children, according to the counsel of my lord1 and of those who tremble at the commandment of our God, and let it be done according to the Law. 4 Arise, for it is your task, and we are with you; be strong and do it." 5 Then Ezra arose and made the leading priests and Levites and all Israel take oath that they would do as had been said. So they took the oath.6 Then Ezra withdrew from before the house of God and went to the chamber of Jehohanan the son of Eliashib, where he spent the night, 2 neither eating bread nor drinking water, for he was mourning over the faithlessness of the exiles. Renewed relationship

    Fasting is a powerful tool given to us by God wherein the Holy Spirit works sanctification in our lives. With real brokenness and a heartfelt repentance our prayers are renewed and given urgency.


     

    2.
    Acceptable fast;

    1. If we turn fasting into a religious work it becomes our shame.
      1. Isaiah 1:13-14 13Stop bringing meaningless offerings!

        Your incense is detestable to me. New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—I cannot bear your evil assemblies.14Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts my soul hates. They have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them.


         

      2. If it is made with our own hands; God hates it. Amos 5: 21"I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them. 23Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps. 24But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream! 25"Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the desert, O house of Israel? 26You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god which you made for yourselves. 27Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus," says the Lord, whose name is God Almighty.


         

      3. If we are preoccupied with the things of the flesh and this world God will not hear. Isaiah 58:3-5 3Why have we fasted, say they, and you see not? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors. 4Behold, you fast for strife and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness: you shall not fast as you do this day, to make your voice to be heard on high. 5 Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?


     

    2) God has called us to selfless service, justice and forgiveness.

    1. Fast secretly – Matthew 6:16-18 16"When you fast do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth; they have received their reward in full. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
    2. Gods design – Isaiah 58:6- 14 6Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke?


     

    7Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? when you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh?


     

    8Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily: and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.


     

    9Then shall you call, and the LORD shall answer; you shall cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If you take away from the middle of you the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;


     

    10And if you draw out your soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall your light rise in obscurity, and your darkness be as the noon day:


     

    11And the LORD shall guide you continually, and satisfy your soul in drought, and make fat your bones: and you shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.


     

    12And they that shall be of you shall build the old waste places: you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.


     

    13If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, from doing your pleasure on my holy day; and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honorable; and shall honor him, not doing your own ways, nor finding your own pleasure, nor speaking your own words:


     

    14Then shall you delight yourself in the LORD; and I will cause you to ride on the high places of the earth, and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father: for the mouth of the LORD has spoken it.

        

    Fasting that God has chosen has to do with Justice in the land – compassion on the weak and serving your fellow man; in a word selflessness.


     

    Augustine says that "fasting loves not many words, deems wealth superfluous, scorns pride, commends humility, helps man to perceive what is frail and paltry."


     

    3. Spiritual fast; one led by the Holy Spirit.

A spiritual fast is one that is done for a momentous occasion or simply as a means of humility and sanctification. There are many examples in the bible and in history.


 

A. Corporate fasts- fasting as the body of Christ. Fasting as a means of on-anothering and bearing one-another's burdens.


 

  1. Church direction Acts 13 1Now there were at Antioch, in the church that was there, prophets and teachers: Barnabas, and Simeon who was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.


 

  1. Church appointments – Acts 14:23 when they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
  2. Judgment of God – Joel 1: Consecrate a fast, Call a sacred assembly; Gather the elders And wall the inhabitants of the land Into the house of the Lord your God, And cry out to the Lord


 

B. Individual fasting- exercising humility and openness to God. "Truth in the inward parts". Basically you have a need or feel some undue separation from God.


 

I. We are created in the image of God- Relational –Spiritual –Moral.


 

  1. Relational –
    1. Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.
    2. Genesis 2:18 It is not good that man should be alone.
  2. Spiritual –
    1. John 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
    2. Psalm 77:6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with my own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.
  3. Moral –
    1. Isaiah 45:19 I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not to the seed of Jacob, Seek you me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.
    2. Romans 2:14-15 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law to themselves: 15Which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)

Fasting helps us to resist the things of the flesh and focus on the things of the spirit. (Relational Spiritual and Moral)


 

II. Practical Fasting is a mighty tool in the hand of the believer, submitting to God.

        Knife/pray ---- chainsaw/prayer & fasting


 

  1. To chasten your soul – Psalm 69:10 When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting that was to my reproach.
  2. To humble yourself – Psalm 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into my own bosom.


     

Bill Bright from Campus crusade for Christ said" Fasting enables the Holy spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition; resulting in brokenness repentance and a transformed life".


 

III. Fasting for Passion

  1. You can be stuck serving idols that hold on with a deaths grip. A piece of you must die to overcome them. The flesh wareth against the spirit.
    1. Philippians 3:19 whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
      1. The word for belly here is really Koilia = belly, womb, the inner man. The application here is that you are driven by your emotions or lust.

Emotions are like seasoning, a little is a great blessing from God, but they are not our meat.

  1. That's why our culture can be so dangerous.
    1. It lulls you to sleep. Proverbs 6:-10-11 A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest,

11 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,

and want like an armed man.


 

A big danger of an effeminized culture is they have lost their minds. No longer are decisions made by reason, logic, or law but by emotions. This affects us, we are not immune to sin, and it is very subtle.


 

We the people of God must always be vigilant, the watchmen never sleeps right men.


 

Fasting is about surrender, it's about submission and service.

    Have you ever sung that song "I surrender all"? That's it- you got it.


 

  1. Fasting is about returning to your first Love. Revelation 2:4 nevertheless I have somewhat against you, because you have left your first love.
  2. It's about hungering and thirsting for righteousness and nothing else will fill you! Matthew 5:6
    Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled
  3. Fasting is about facing the truth of your own heart. Looking at improper appetites in serious mature warfare! Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
  4. Fasting is about beating your body into submission. 1 Corinthians 9:27 but I buffet my body, and bring it into bondage: lest by any means, after that I have preached to others, I myself should be rejected.


 

The power of the living God to fulfill the great commission is available, not in a certificate – not in a conference or in an mp3! It is the person! The Holy Spirit of God. He fills the hearts and lives of every blood washed child of the King of kings.

    We are the called! As Christians we are to be servant leaders. Pouring ourselves out like a drink offering- when we are done we should have nothing left! Laying our life down for our husband The Prince of Glory.


 

    Bee-as-tace Har-pad-zo

Fired up by God to seize the prize in an open display of force. – hanging on with all our strength because there is no other name written in heaven by which men must be saved!


 

Fasting is a powerful tool given to us by God wherein the Holy Spirit works sanctification in our lives…… With real brokenness and a heartfelt repentance our prayers are renewed and given urgency…

Friday, July 29, 2011

Fairness is a horse

Fairness is a horse the Captain of the host rides into
battle. He’s casting down Honor and punishing
Diligence with his lack of concern. Having turned aside
his advisors and esteemed men, (Punctuality, Diligence
and Integrity) he pushes forward to that which is
naught : Utopia. While Manhood is thrown asunder, idle
babblers and vain talkers are lifted up with false
prestige. He has been led astray by Team-speak and
Group-think, agents of that unfaithful deceiver,
Emotion. Upon arrival to this promised valley
they find it an androgynous pit of hopeless despair.
Engulfed with an enumerable league of enemies his
heart sinks with a dark and clammy death.
In their effeminate state of darkness they are trapped
and confused. Having thrown off Honor; Manhood,
Faith and Purpose went with him. Without this kind of
character immaturity and immorality had crept into the
troops, they no longer have a will to fight! That poor
lame horse will not deliver you from your old enemy
Deception that has long pillaged your borders and
now seizes your very life. There is no one to turn to
for help, save a miracle from The Most High.
 

Friday, July 22, 2011

Family trouble




Being a parent is a wonderful thing, there is so much love

Receiving a precious gift, from way up above

Sometimes that gift can be heavy, as we live our life

Maybe too much sorrow, adds to our strife

It could be too many dark days, for a husband and a wife

How can that child be to blame, no it’s not there blunder

Some people embrace bitterness, is it any wonder

That separations in our families, are the result of sin

When we embrace bitterness, its evil we let in

The solution is quite clear, and there is no cost

When we invite Jesus in, the darkness is lost

Bitterness in our families hurts more than you know

It’s the bystander unaware, who takes the swiftest blow

It’s bad enough you hurt yourself, like a hunter to a rabbit

The legacy of this game, becomes an evil little habit

One generation to the next, hand it on down

If we really knew the damage caused, it would knock us to the ground

Please stop this madness if you can, is my tearful cry

Pour lots of love on everyone and look them in the eye

If there is a problem overcome it real-quick

So when special occasions arise you won’t be sick

If you see yourself in here you know what to do

Clean up your heart and your life so the light can shine through


Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.