I had some insight in regard to God's provision that I would like to share with you. These are the main points
God did create the world in 6 days
God made man for one purpose out of His fullness, to enjoy Him and to give Him glory
God's power and wisdom dwells in us if we are His sons
I've heard people say that I can accept a creation theory which fits in with evolution. Specifically, that God did not need to create the world in 6 days, it was symbolic, it could mean 6000 years if He wanted it to. The problem with this is that the same God who created the earth in 6 days, is the same God who speaks with You. Let me explain.
In Genesis 1:1 it says "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
The psalmist says "Let them praise the name of the LORD, For He commanded and they were created."
In another place it says "By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth."
This same God also said "Then the LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to tend and keep it."
What is it with man? we think that the buck stops with us. But that seems to be in direct contradiction to the first commandment that He ever gave us.
In summary, we find out that God spoke, and it was created. In fact, we read on and find out, that EVERYTHING in the universe was created by the spoken word of God. Another question: If we are His sons, then why does He not tell us His word, and why do we not know Him? Something to ponder on.
God didn't strain himself when He created everything, it took nothing from Him, and He does not need to receive anything from anyone. The same God who effortlessly created the universe invites us into communion with Him. It says in Revelation "You are worthy, O Lord, [fn] To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist [fn] and were created." Read that, out of HIS FULLNESS, he created us, meaning, ungraspable in it's fathomlessness. (His power)
It was man that He decided to show His handiwork on. We read that out of all creation, God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all [fn] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
By the inference I'm saying that God does not want us to think upon provision. (Matt 6:25) We know that it seems to be the one thing that people are concerned with, which is a grave concern. The purpose for which He created us (which was not found by works) is in direct contrast to this behavior.
Rather than some hindered attempt at what we should be like, God qualified us not based on anything that we've done, but entirely out of the fullness of who He is. This is where sonship truly lies. I don't want to be part of a movement that says "God doesn't speak, and He doesn't have power either" - by the fruit of our lives. As a Son I know that I am entitled the privilege of knowing Him and walking with Him, and hearing Him speak. The same God who has omnipotence and limitless wisdom Has placed His Spirit inside of us, saying "Abba, Father" Walk in the power and wisdom of God as he confounds the wise and frustrates the intelligent in simply hearing his voice, obeying, and overcoming by faith.
The funny thing it says in Genesis is when he says "I will create the animals" it says "according to its kind" which means it's not complicated to understand. Just read it!
Actually the whole of the creation account is not only beautiful in it's demonstration of God's omnipotence, but also because it is the truth. The most beautiful thing I realized is that he wasn't finished at creation! In conclusion, God does speak! He is still speaking! He cannot lie!
"Arise and shine, for your light has come" (Isaiah 60:1) The light has been realized and specifically has come to guide you into all truth. He commands you to give all your worship and love to Him
Saturday 25 February 2012
Saturday 18 February 2012
The Book of Isaiah: A fountain of Restoration opened up (Isaiah 12:1-6)
I have really enjoyed reading Isaiah 12 today. I wanted to share my gleanings and the things that I like about it. It's such a small chapter I'm going to quote the whole thing! (New King James Version)
1And in that day you will say:
"O LORD, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
2Behold, God [is] my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
'For YAH, the LORD, [is] my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.' "
3Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
4And in that day you will say:
"Praise the LORD, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
5Sing to the LORD,
For He has done excellent things;
This [is] known in all the earth.
6Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great [is] the Holy One of Israel in your midst!"
In the first verse, I had an amazing realization after Praying "God I want to see the Lamb in this Chapter" so I'll quote it again:
1"O LORD, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me."
Isn't it true, that when Christ offered up himself for me, that the wrath and anger that was spent on me was removed, and instead I became the one in whom is all His delight.
In fact, I wouldn't want to stop there. In the second verse:
2Behold, God [is] my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
That is a declaration to declare. it will become my new prayer to God, "I trust in you, I will not be afraid" - Among many other things, I take it personally as showing me that God's intentions towards me are without mixture, and that whatever number my fears are, there is sincerity in Him that is bigger than my fears. In fact, I would go further than no fear, I would say "I want to taste the grace coming off from your words" - because only that satisfies me.
I can hear the dancers gathering their tambourines in the 6th verse:
6Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great [is] the Holy One of Israel in your midst!
As a request for the entire congregation, this comes from the hearts of those that truly know Him.
When I begun thinking about the Chapter I began at this verse. If you notice the two phrases in Verse 1 and 4 "And in that day" you would need to find the previous Chapter. Collectively, the nation responds, Individually, the hearts are transformed. God begins and ends in this Chapter. He is the substance, the form, and the vibrancy of their celebration. Whose? Zion, of course, (coming back into covenant bond with Her Husband) those who have had God's wrath poured out only to find that His desire is to comfort them.
The thing I like about their response, is that they don't need God to give them a push along, their celebration comes from deep in their hearts (which is shown in Verse 4 and 5) the beginning of the great commission to reach the world with the glory of God - His works being manifest in all the earth!
Verse 3 is very significant. If you want Jesus look no further than here
3Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
If you want to find out the full story, search for it on the internet, for now I will give an abridged summary. These verses are recited during the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast of Tabernacles is the premier feast of the year on the Jewish Calendar, in it we believe that the Messiah will appear to us. If there is any time of year that He will appear it is this time (for further information, and interest, the calendar year is also in 6 month cycles)
As part of the Feast the priest will draw water from the pool of Siloam, which is about 150 metres from the temple mount (Yes, you've read it in the New Testament) they will carry large vessels of water up from the pool to the temple Mount, where they pour out the water. As part of this, they eagerly await the coming of Messiah, who will show Himself at this time. It is this "Living Water" that they are earnestly desiring.
If you find it, in the Gospel according to John, flick to chapter 7, and goto verse 37-39
On the last day, that great [day] of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit,
whom those believing in Him would receive;
for the Holy Spirit was not yet [given],
because Jesus was not yet glorified.
NO ONE HAD EVER SPOKEN LIKE THIS MAN!
That is the only thing I'm desiring right now, JOY from deep within me. Who is the well of salvation? who is the fountain of life? My Jesus, my Salvation from God! when they say "God is my salvation" they are literally calling His name. because He is my personal salvation. They are basically saying, "Jesus my joy!" I drunk from YOUR LIFE, inexhaustable, fully satisfying, GLORY They want to drink from this well. So, if you haven't already, DRINK.
1And in that day you will say:
"O LORD, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me.
2Behold, God [is] my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
'For YAH, the LORD, [is] my strength and song;
He also has become my salvation.' "
3Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
4And in that day you will say:
"Praise the LORD, call upon His name;
Declare His deeds among the peoples,
Make mention that His name is exalted.
5Sing to the LORD,
For He has done excellent things;
This [is] known in all the earth.
6Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great [is] the Holy One of Israel in your midst!"
In the first verse, I had an amazing realization after Praying "God I want to see the Lamb in this Chapter" so I'll quote it again:
1"O LORD, I will praise You;
Though You were angry with me,
Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me."
Isn't it true, that when Christ offered up himself for me, that the wrath and anger that was spent on me was removed, and instead I became the one in whom is all His delight.
In fact, I wouldn't want to stop there. In the second verse:
2Behold, God [is] my salvation,
I will trust and not be afraid;
That is a declaration to declare. it will become my new prayer to God, "I trust in you, I will not be afraid" - Among many other things, I take it personally as showing me that God's intentions towards me are without mixture, and that whatever number my fears are, there is sincerity in Him that is bigger than my fears. In fact, I would go further than no fear, I would say "I want to taste the grace coming off from your words" - because only that satisfies me.
I can hear the dancers gathering their tambourines in the 6th verse:
6Cry out and shout, O inhabitant of Zion,
For great [is] the Holy One of Israel in your midst!
As a request for the entire congregation, this comes from the hearts of those that truly know Him.
When I begun thinking about the Chapter I began at this verse. If you notice the two phrases in Verse 1 and 4 "And in that day" you would need to find the previous Chapter. Collectively, the nation responds, Individually, the hearts are transformed. God begins and ends in this Chapter. He is the substance, the form, and the vibrancy of their celebration. Whose? Zion, of course, (coming back into covenant bond with Her Husband) those who have had God's wrath poured out only to find that His desire is to comfort them.
The thing I like about their response, is that they don't need God to give them a push along, their celebration comes from deep in their hearts (which is shown in Verse 4 and 5) the beginning of the great commission to reach the world with the glory of God - His works being manifest in all the earth!
Verse 3 is very significant. If you want Jesus look no further than here
3Therefore with joy you will draw water
From the wells of salvation.
If you want to find out the full story, search for it on the internet, for now I will give an abridged summary. These verses are recited during the Feast of Tabernacles. The feast of Tabernacles is the premier feast of the year on the Jewish Calendar, in it we believe that the Messiah will appear to us. If there is any time of year that He will appear it is this time (for further information, and interest, the calendar year is also in 6 month cycles)
As part of the Feast the priest will draw water from the pool of Siloam, which is about 150 metres from the temple mount (Yes, you've read it in the New Testament) they will carry large vessels of water up from the pool to the temple Mount, where they pour out the water. As part of this, they eagerly await the coming of Messiah, who will show Himself at this time. It is this "Living Water" that they are earnestly desiring.
If you find it, in the Gospel according to John, flick to chapter 7, and goto verse 37-39
On the last day, that great [day] of the feast,
Jesus stood and cried out, saying,
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.
"He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said,
out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."
But this He spoke concerning the Spirit,
whom those believing in Him would receive;
for the Holy Spirit was not yet [given],
because Jesus was not yet glorified.
NO ONE HAD EVER SPOKEN LIKE THIS MAN!
That is the only thing I'm desiring right now, JOY from deep within me. Who is the well of salvation? who is the fountain of life? My Jesus, my Salvation from God! when they say "God is my salvation" they are literally calling His name. because He is my personal salvation. They are basically saying, "Jesus my joy!" I drunk from YOUR LIFE, inexhaustable, fully satisfying, GLORY They want to drink from this well. So, if you haven't already, DRINK.
Tuesday 14 February 2012
I Play the Strings of Your Heart
I have been thinking about the phrase "Playing the Strings of God's Heart" and I had a bright spark the other day, that I've been gifted with playing like what comes from God's heart. (which begs the response: I want to know what your heart is like)
Here is a song inspired from that.
I Play the Strings of Your Heart
Here is a song inspired from that.
I Play the Strings of Your Heart
Saturday 11 February 2012
You are to Me
Encouragement to give up everything to Jesus because of the love that He's given to us. Inspired from Song of Songs 1:12-14
You are to me
You are to me
Friday 10 February 2012
Sunday 5 February 2012
God works out all things for good
I feel like I need to wait a while to see how this unfolds, but right now I have the peace that makes me think about how fortunate I am to know God. I am patient and still, not thinking about anything but God. So I can start sharing what has been happening without fear.
I've been so excited to share this, without anything even happened yet, that's how profoundly real God's presence has been with me.
I must be filled with the Spirit. The experience left me thinking "I am loved, God has recognized me, I am seen and heard and appreciated" I was planning on heading to Tauranga with Steve, but we had just had a conversation that showed me I was going to be leaving for Tauranga - in the morning without him, God gave me the faith to move mountains. I am loved, God has seen, heard and acknowledged me. If anyone else says any differently, who cares? my trust is in something real and concrete. Not only did I know it, I felt like everyone needed to hear this good news - God is real! How secure am I? If I am whole-hearted and love Him, that is everything. He treasures my heart, he is with me everywhere! I've been contending in the Spirit more than I ever have before, and won some great victories, also made some blunders however the most important thing is being whole-heartedly abandoned to God. He shares me stuff that he has in His heart.
This is why when I came to my parents to tell them I'm not going back to Oxford, and I have a financial debt to pay off - even though I had not heard about it - I had a smile on my face. To be fair, I had heard about it - before december. But it came as a shock after the phone hung up (I'm just being honest) You see, God is really real to me, and the only thing that I think about is God, who I love incredibly. I suppose I could be angry, or even anxious about the change in circumstances but I am not. If I am put in a circumstance that makes God get the glory, then who am I to say "Why is this happening?" - This is just incredible. I should be thinking about it, I should be running off in 100 different directions, but I am not, and this is a mark of God on me. How do I even know what is going to happen tomorrow? I had made a vow to God, that I would say to the people who need to know "God has made it all for good" - in as much as I was able - but now God has done one better, I've been looking for a miracle now I've found it.
You see, I'm going to wait and be still about how God is going to provide financially, as well as confirm me to be a businessman in His Kingdom. I don't quite know how that's going to work out, but I guess I will let God decide that - His presence is my anchor. I totally know what it must be like to be going through turmoil - because I couldn't do it by myself I would be going off in 100 different directions. Whatever God wants to do in me, it's going to come by resting idly in His presence and focusing on the first and greatest commandment, and he is not unjust to reward me for everything that I do while I am here. This poses the question: "In what way does He relate to me? How do I experience the deep things of Jesus Christ?"
I know that it's God's peace because every day I keep on just wanting to sit idle and treasure God's presence more - it's the reason I'm alive - If God totally changes the whole year, the plans I have, then that is good - I am perfectly content with God doing such a thing. His presence is better than my plans. In closing, don't live for yesterday or tomorrow, or today, but live for God's presence. And if He asks you to give something up, don't be slow about it, he's got better things for you - Himself. I want to be an advocate for God's self-sufficiency. He totally satisfies me in every way
I've been so excited to share this, without anything even happened yet, that's how profoundly real God's presence has been with me.
I must be filled with the Spirit. The experience left me thinking "I am loved, God has recognized me, I am seen and heard and appreciated" I was planning on heading to Tauranga with Steve, but we had just had a conversation that showed me I was going to be leaving for Tauranga - in the morning without him, God gave me the faith to move mountains. I am loved, God has seen, heard and acknowledged me. If anyone else says any differently, who cares? my trust is in something real and concrete. Not only did I know it, I felt like everyone needed to hear this good news - God is real! How secure am I? If I am whole-hearted and love Him, that is everything. He treasures my heart, he is with me everywhere! I've been contending in the Spirit more than I ever have before, and won some great victories, also made some blunders however the most important thing is being whole-heartedly abandoned to God. He shares me stuff that he has in His heart.
This is why when I came to my parents to tell them I'm not going back to Oxford, and I have a financial debt to pay off - even though I had not heard about it - I had a smile on my face. To be fair, I had heard about it - before december. But it came as a shock after the phone hung up (I'm just being honest) You see, God is really real to me, and the only thing that I think about is God, who I love incredibly. I suppose I could be angry, or even anxious about the change in circumstances but I am not. If I am put in a circumstance that makes God get the glory, then who am I to say "Why is this happening?" - This is just incredible. I should be thinking about it, I should be running off in 100 different directions, but I am not, and this is a mark of God on me. How do I even know what is going to happen tomorrow? I had made a vow to God, that I would say to the people who need to know "God has made it all for good" - in as much as I was able - but now God has done one better, I've been looking for a miracle now I've found it.
You see, I'm going to wait and be still about how God is going to provide financially, as well as confirm me to be a businessman in His Kingdom. I don't quite know how that's going to work out, but I guess I will let God decide that - His presence is my anchor. I totally know what it must be like to be going through turmoil - because I couldn't do it by myself I would be going off in 100 different directions. Whatever God wants to do in me, it's going to come by resting idly in His presence and focusing on the first and greatest commandment, and he is not unjust to reward me for everything that I do while I am here. This poses the question: "In what way does He relate to me? How do I experience the deep things of Jesus Christ?"
I know that it's God's peace because every day I keep on just wanting to sit idle and treasure God's presence more - it's the reason I'm alive - If God totally changes the whole year, the plans I have, then that is good - I am perfectly content with God doing such a thing. His presence is better than my plans. In closing, don't live for yesterday or tomorrow, or today, but live for God's presence. And if He asks you to give something up, don't be slow about it, he's got better things for you - Himself. I want to be an advocate for God's self-sufficiency. He totally satisfies me in every way
Wednesday 1 February 2012
Kindness leading to Repentance
There is a scripture in Romans 2:4
"Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" NKJV
I spent the day yesterday playing video games and felt horrible about it. Actually it doesn't quite go like that. Late night, unaware of what is going on around me. Let me give you some advice: "Let him who glories, glory in the Lord" I want to be far more honest, humble, and real about it but I really struggle with that.
So in the morning while talking with Him, I heard the Lord say something. I knew it was Him, but it sounded like he was pulling His punches. He said "What if you don't test me" to which I replied "I am going to test you!" Because this is an issue of Him keeping covenant with me, I can be as politically uncorrect as possible. Basically, His kindness emboldened me to test Him more. To which I felt horrible about what I had done, and apologized, and he accepted my apology. God was pulling His punches because He knew that I do love Him. As I sit here writing, the favor of God is on me, and I can choose now to follow Him, what a glorious feeling!
This makes me feel rather interesting. The thing is, God does not share His glory with another one. When David was repentant about Bathsheba, the motivation was a pursuit of God's glory. You might ask me, "So why can you be free after doing something that grieves the Lord's heart?" to which I would reply "Because he's better" what stuns me most about David is that He chose to go through the whole ordeal. Yeah, that's right. But the underlying theme here is God's love for me, because I don't think I would place the most importance on anything I've done, but what God has done for me!
When you are repentant like this, there are no "what ifs" because you are sincere and apologetic which means there's no worldly sorrow attached to it. I feel a little like Zion, whose unfaithful behavior grieves her, that her Lord still receives her. One thought that I had during the whole thing was this: "I'm no different from anyone else, like Peter, I cry out to the Lord 'depart from me, Lord, for I am a wicked and sinful man'" to which he has graciously shown that His love covers, purifies, protects and helps me even when I am weak. For anyone not convinced of his love, I just want to encourage you, that you are not like them. God has set his seal of love on you. He does not see you the way that He sees the world. For anyone that does not know His love, Jesus Christ has demonstrated God's love, when you make Him your ruler, you become His (because He knows that you want Him even before you come)
This makes me feel a mixture, of happiness, joy, and overwhelming love. This is the way of God which leads to repentance. To finish up, I would like to say this, I do feel horrible about it, NOW.
"Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?" NKJV
I spent the day yesterday playing video games and felt horrible about it. Actually it doesn't quite go like that. Late night, unaware of what is going on around me. Let me give you some advice: "Let him who glories, glory in the Lord" I want to be far more honest, humble, and real about it but I really struggle with that.
So in the morning while talking with Him, I heard the Lord say something. I knew it was Him, but it sounded like he was pulling His punches. He said "What if you don't test me" to which I replied "I am going to test you!" Because this is an issue of Him keeping covenant with me, I can be as politically uncorrect as possible. Basically, His kindness emboldened me to test Him more. To which I felt horrible about what I had done, and apologized, and he accepted my apology. God was pulling His punches because He knew that I do love Him. As I sit here writing, the favor of God is on me, and I can choose now to follow Him, what a glorious feeling!
This makes me feel rather interesting. The thing is, God does not share His glory with another one. When David was repentant about Bathsheba, the motivation was a pursuit of God's glory. You might ask me, "So why can you be free after doing something that grieves the Lord's heart?" to which I would reply "Because he's better" what stuns me most about David is that He chose to go through the whole ordeal. Yeah, that's right. But the underlying theme here is God's love for me, because I don't think I would place the most importance on anything I've done, but what God has done for me!
When you are repentant like this, there are no "what ifs" because you are sincere and apologetic which means there's no worldly sorrow attached to it. I feel a little like Zion, whose unfaithful behavior grieves her, that her Lord still receives her. One thought that I had during the whole thing was this: "I'm no different from anyone else, like Peter, I cry out to the Lord 'depart from me, Lord, for I am a wicked and sinful man'" to which he has graciously shown that His love covers, purifies, protects and helps me even when I am weak. For anyone not convinced of his love, I just want to encourage you, that you are not like them. God has set his seal of love on you. He does not see you the way that He sees the world. For anyone that does not know His love, Jesus Christ has demonstrated God's love, when you make Him your ruler, you become His (because He knows that you want Him even before you come)
This makes me feel a mixture, of happiness, joy, and overwhelming love. This is the way of God which leads to repentance. To finish up, I would like to say this, I do feel horrible about it, NOW.
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