Matt 11 (AV) "Anna Version"
Jesus says "I played the flute for you...but did you dance? And I played the funeral dirge but you did not lament"
So what is He really saying? He revealed Himself for who He was, a ravished bridegroom God, and His people did not respond. He said that He would not return until Jerusalem says "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord". What will it take for this to happen? What will God do to turn the hearts of His people? God is a lover, a jealous lover who desires His people. He will not relent until He has their WHOLE hearts.
Deuteronomy 4:24 "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
Proverbs 6:34 "For jealousy is a husband's fury, He will not spare in the day of vengeance"
Proverbs 27:4 "Wrath is cruel, and anger a torrent, but who can stand before jealousy?"
He won't relent until He has it all...for the sake of Love.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Incline to Your ear to me Jesus
Psalm 25:16 "Turn to me and be gracious to me for I am lonely and afflicted. The troubles of my heart are enlarged; bring me out of my distresses. consider my affliction and my trouble, and forgive all my sins."
I love how open and vulnerable the Psalmist is when he writes this. The Psalmist, in context of the whole chapter of Psalm 25 is writing from the standpoint of Israel crying out to the Lord for mercy. Throughout the entire Bible, I can see how the Lord's process of redemption is the same (He is the same yesterday, today, and forever). Israel is a physical picture of the state of our own evil hearts. We are called by the Lord, our hearts respond and "sign up" to be only His, then we wander and get bored in the midst of the journey and fall into sin. However, at this most vulnerable point in the Psalm, the heart of Israel and humanity is revealed...the truth of what is "beneath" it all... "I am lonely and afflicted". No person, no thing, no running away or cover can hide this hunger in our hearts. And we should not ever try to hide it. Rather we should use this cry as fuel to bring us closer to God through our own HUNGER and craving for Him. It says that the Lord is the DESIRE of all nations! He is the desire of our souls! He is what we truly long for, and without Him we are lonely and afflicted. Let us run into to Him, and let Him be the God of our Salvation rather than trying to be our own gods of our own salvations. Let us come up from the wilderness leaning upon Him in love with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength.
I love how open and vulnerable the Psalmist is when he writes this. The Psalmist, in context of the whole chapter of Psalm 25 is writing from the standpoint of Israel crying out to the Lord for mercy. Throughout the entire Bible, I can see how the Lord's process of redemption is the same (He is the same yesterday, today, and forever). Israel is a physical picture of the state of our own evil hearts. We are called by the Lord, our hearts respond and "sign up" to be only His, then we wander and get bored in the midst of the journey and fall into sin. However, at this most vulnerable point in the Psalm, the heart of Israel and humanity is revealed...the truth of what is "beneath" it all... "I am lonely and afflicted". No person, no thing, no running away or cover can hide this hunger in our hearts. And we should not ever try to hide it. Rather we should use this cry as fuel to bring us closer to God through our own HUNGER and craving for Him. It says that the Lord is the DESIRE of all nations! He is the desire of our souls! He is what we truly long for, and without Him we are lonely and afflicted. Let us run into to Him, and let Him be the God of our Salvation rather than trying to be our own gods of our own salvations. Let us come up from the wilderness leaning upon Him in love with ALL our heart, soul, mind and strength.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Wisdom or Folly?
The Call of Wisdom
Proverbs 9:1-6 "Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city 'Whoever is simple let him turn in here!' As to him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine I have mixed, Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding"
The Call of Folly
Proverbs 9:13-18 "A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here'. And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, "Stolen water is sweet And bread eaten in secret is pleasant." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Hell."
Notice the similarity between wisdom and folly, although both are completely opposite. Both, if you will, have the same marketing plan, calling to those who pass by (both from the highest places of the city...the "well respected" perhaps)"WHOEVER IS SIMPLE LET HIM TURN HERE". Then, specifically both voices target the man passing by who lacks understanding. Wisdom offers freely what the man lacking understanding cannot attain for himself, and tells him "GO in the way of understanding". The voice of folly calling to the man lacking understanding offers only pleasures that are not even her own to offer. Notice also, the differences between wisdom and folly. Wisdom is diligent and hard working, tending to the needs at hand. But folly only sits at the door of her house playing as though she has everything together.
Such similarity in characters exists also in the description of Christ and the Antichrist at the end of the age.
Revelation 6:2 "And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer"
Revelation 19:11 "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war."
Both are on white horses, but the Antichrist goes "conquering to conquer" What is not his inheritance. But Christ is Faithful and True, and he Judges and makes war in RIGHTEOUSNESS and in perfect humility and servanthood.
We know the difference between what is good and bad through the fear of the Lord, and wisdom, which He gives to all who ask and seek Him. His sheep know His voice...which is wisdom and righteousness. Let us know Him now that we might not be decieved and offended at the end of the age.
Proverbs 9:1-6 "Wisdom has built her house, She has hewn out her seven pillars; She has slaughtered her meat, She has mixed her wine, She has also furnished her table. She has sent out her maidens, She cries out from the highest places of the city 'Whoever is simple let him turn in here!' As to him who lacks understanding, she says to him, 'Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine I have mixed, Forsake foolishness and live, And go in the way of understanding"
The Call of Folly
Proverbs 9:13-18 "A foolish woman is clamorous; She is simple, and knows nothing. For she sits at the door of her house, On a seat by the highest places of the city, to call to those who pass by, Who go straight on their way: 'Whoever is simple, let him turn in here'. And as for him who lacks understanding, she says to him, "Stolen water is sweet And bread eaten in secret is pleasant." But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Hell."
Notice the similarity between wisdom and folly, although both are completely opposite. Both, if you will, have the same marketing plan, calling to those who pass by (both from the highest places of the city...the "well respected" perhaps)"WHOEVER IS SIMPLE LET HIM TURN HERE". Then, specifically both voices target the man passing by who lacks understanding. Wisdom offers freely what the man lacking understanding cannot attain for himself, and tells him "GO in the way of understanding". The voice of folly calling to the man lacking understanding offers only pleasures that are not even her own to offer. Notice also, the differences between wisdom and folly. Wisdom is diligent and hard working, tending to the needs at hand. But folly only sits at the door of her house playing as though she has everything together.
Such similarity in characters exists also in the description of Christ and the Antichrist at the end of the age.
Revelation 6:2 "And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer"
Revelation 19:11 "Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war."
Both are on white horses, but the Antichrist goes "conquering to conquer" What is not his inheritance. But Christ is Faithful and True, and he Judges and makes war in RIGHTEOUSNESS and in perfect humility and servanthood.
We know the difference between what is good and bad through the fear of the Lord, and wisdom, which He gives to all who ask and seek Him. His sheep know His voice...which is wisdom and righteousness. Let us know Him now that we might not be decieved and offended at the end of the age.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Stir My Affections
I always used to wonder how, when I went to a youth conference or a really good church service I would have zeal and passion for a time, even living out the messages preached and living a higher standard of a more excellent way. Then, a month later, have nothing, no passion, and waiting, dry and bored until the next big event happened to "Fire me up" again.
Now, living a lifestyle of prayer, I find myself in the same place ( =.
WHAT?! Yes I know... I don't live in the third heaven, and see angels and clouds and fire everyday or hear booming voices from the sky like thunder. I sit praying all night long, bored at times with a very wandering mind. But something has begun to happen in me like never before.
I began to wonder...why? Why did I have that passion? It wasn't just hype and human sentiment. It was a genuine zeal within me that I had to respond to!
The truth is this...zeal and passion come from a longing...a hunger within us. Zeal comes from a hunger for something we don't have but MUST have and are laboring to attain! I got hungry when the word of the Lord pierced my heart in those services, and I realized it really was what I hungered for! But my response was that I created a to do list of goals and as I attained them I counted myself successful and my hunger fulfilled...But it wasn't. I found myself wondering why after attaining such wonderful goals I still lived ensnared in the same sins as before, and my soul just as lacking.
I now realize that the goal is this...Blessed are those who hunger....
Why? They never lack passion. We must realize that the LONGING alone is one of the greatest gifts we could be given! The dissatisfaction produces a heart that is ALIVE with LONGING for the living God. Longing is what makes romance "romantic". Let us have the cry of the Shuulamite in our hearts..."If you find my Beloved tell Him I am lovesick!". Lovesickness produces lives of genuine righteousness to God seemingly effortlessly because we follow our heart's desire, and not a list of to do's. And when we have seemingly "attained" our righteous goals, we must realize we truly have not, and that our depraved souls...if they are dull...are in need of a serious wake up call to the LONGING of God!
Let us become burned as the disciples were burned for the Man Christ Jesus. Let us be ruined for Him and Hunger like never before. If everyday we can feel the PAIN for the NEED of God, let us consider ourselves successful.
Now, living a lifestyle of prayer, I find myself in the same place ( =.
WHAT?! Yes I know... I don't live in the third heaven, and see angels and clouds and fire everyday or hear booming voices from the sky like thunder. I sit praying all night long, bored at times with a very wandering mind. But something has begun to happen in me like never before.
I began to wonder...why? Why did I have that passion? It wasn't just hype and human sentiment. It was a genuine zeal within me that I had to respond to!
The truth is this...zeal and passion come from a longing...a hunger within us. Zeal comes from a hunger for something we don't have but MUST have and are laboring to attain! I got hungry when the word of the Lord pierced my heart in those services, and I realized it really was what I hungered for! But my response was that I created a to do list of goals and as I attained them I counted myself successful and my hunger fulfilled...But it wasn't. I found myself wondering why after attaining such wonderful goals I still lived ensnared in the same sins as before, and my soul just as lacking.
I now realize that the goal is this...Blessed are those who hunger....
Why? They never lack passion. We must realize that the LONGING alone is one of the greatest gifts we could be given! The dissatisfaction produces a heart that is ALIVE with LONGING for the living God. Longing is what makes romance "romantic". Let us have the cry of the Shuulamite in our hearts..."If you find my Beloved tell Him I am lovesick!". Lovesickness produces lives of genuine righteousness to God seemingly effortlessly because we follow our heart's desire, and not a list of to do's. And when we have seemingly "attained" our righteous goals, we must realize we truly have not, and that our depraved souls...if they are dull...are in need of a serious wake up call to the LONGING of God!
Let us become burned as the disciples were burned for the Man Christ Jesus. Let us be ruined for Him and Hunger like never before. If everyday we can feel the PAIN for the NEED of God, let us consider ourselves successful.
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