The King of Kings Became a Child (Part I)

Leave a Comment / Creation, Prince of Peace / By

Then 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 the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Genesis 1:26

God chose to create humanity in His own image and when He did it, the Son, and the Holy Spirit were with Him in Creation. The Lord stated, “Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Man was created by the Holy triune God, and He created man and woman in the image of the God-head with three parts all in unity. We are created with a spirit, soul, and physical body. Our wholeness and health depends on our spirit man to receive direction from the Holy Spirit, and for every part of us to be in congruence with one another.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

The same God-head (Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit) who was together in the beginning chose to send the Son to the world in the form of a baby. The King of Kings and the Prince of Peace chose to take the shape and vulnerability of a baby, and he was entrusted to a young humble couple to be raised and protected for God’s purpose! The one whom the government would be upon His shoulder, chose to come in the form of a baby and to be born in a manger away from all the noise, distractions, honor, and the applause of man.

We may wonder, why wasn’t this baby born with a fanfare!? He didn’t need to. God knew man’s condition and the helpless state of humanity. Jesus didn’t come to take a place in the worldly stage. Instead, He came to free people from the bondage of sin, depravity, oppression, false worldviews, and crooked value systems. Therefore, He had no need to be honored by others or to impress anyone. He was there as a physician to heal the sick. He wasn’t there looking to impress the sick or to receive their applause!

Similarly, the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords has chosen us as His ambassadors to represent His image on the earth. If we are going to represent Him well, we need to do it His way. He did not seek to be popular or impressive, and neither should we look to receive the applause of man. When we choose to focus on the needs of others for their sakes rather than filling a void in us, our work would be so much more effective. And our churches would become places of refuge for the lost, the sick, and the weary!

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional.

 

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The Dangers of Envy (Part IV)

2 Comments / Envy, Fear of God / By

Do not let your heart envy sinners, But be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day; Proverbs 23:17

Some people envy others because they see them getting away with evil. I shared in the last devotional about Joseph’s brothers envying him, and they got away with their evil for many years. The above scripture tells us that we need to guard our hearts from envying sinners. This is what Joseph did when his brothers acted unfairly towards him. He did not allow their evil actions to change him or cause him to sin.

In addition, although Joseph was wronged by his brothers, he continued to trust God when Potiphar’s wife tried to tempt him. Subsequently, she falsely accused Joseph of making advances towards her, but Joseph was zealous for the fear of the Lord and did not sin against the Lord or the Potiphar. Other people’s bad behavior should not stop us from doing what is right.

The good news is that the envy of Joseph’s brothers did not stop God’s plan for Joseph, and their actions even pushed Joseph to be in the right place for God’s plan. Joseph continued to fear God and be faithful to the Lord, and God advanced him despite of all the obstacles.

Do not envy the oppressor, And choose none of his ways; For the perverse person is an abomination to the Lord, But His secret counsel is with the upright. Proverbs 3:31-32

The scriptures clearly direct us not to be envious of those who do wrong.  The truth is that the world is full of those who will act unfairly or in shady manner. Other people’s actions do not change the fact that envy is dangerous and demonic, and it does not produce any good fruit. Furthermore, God is intimate with those whom He trusts and those who live their lives to please Him.

Is it truly worth missing out on our intimacy with the Lord and having His secret counsel over envying others!? God showed His secret counsel to Joseph by allowing him to interpret accurately people’s dreams including Pharaoh’s dreams. The Lord used him in a powerful way even though his brothers had tried to get rid of him to ensure that he will not be their leader someday. However, they could not thwart God’s plan, and the Lord allowed Joseph to be in a position where his brothers would have needed him. After all those years that seemingly they got away with their wicked schemes, Joseph was merciful to his brothers when they came seeking food during famine in their land.

Envy has a toxic and insidious affect, and we must do everything we can not to open the door to this dangerous spirit. Make a commitment not to give room to envy in your life. Sometimes, it will be a battle to refrain from envy. However, we have to keep in mind that pleasing the Lord, having His secret counsel, and remaining healthy physically are far more valuable than being envious. Continue to fight the battle to remain in the spirit and don’t make any provision for the flesh! Like Joseph, we can be a blessing to those who persecuted us instead of envying them. 

The Dangers of Envy (Part III)

Leave a Comment / Demonic, Envy, Lying, Self-Seeking / By

But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:14-16

The above scripture gives us a few truths about the dangers of envy.  James tells us that some will boast about envy and self-seeking. Why would one boast about envying!? I don’t think people directly boast about their envy, but they boast about the accomplishments that was rooted in envy! For example, striving can be rooted in envy, so, on the surface, the person can look impressive by what they achieve. Hence, they could be boasting about their accomplishments instead of boasting about envying others.  Envy causes a person to be self-seeking and not to stand being the second fiddle. As a result, envy can compel a person to do all that he/she can to ensure they attain or maintain what is valuable to them!

In addition, the above scripture tells us that some will lie about their motives and will try to hide or deny their envy. On the surface they may look like a dedicated person, but their motives are to push others aside and ensure that they are the ones who hold are at the center of stage. We all need to be discerning of our own motives as well as those around us. A lot of things can look impressive, and every organization looks for dedicated members who are faithful and committed. However, this does not mean that every person has pure motives in doing what they do. We all need to check in with the Lord from time to time and ensure that our heart is pure and we have no ulterior motives.

James goes on to explain that these actions and attitudes are not spiritual but carnal and demonic! This is very sobering.! When a person allows envy to be the motivating factor in what they do, they are opening the door to the demonic in their lives. They are no longer are led by the spirit of God. They may think that they are walking in freedom with Jesus, but envy has held them captive! Now, their focus and desire has shifted from serving God to serving themselves and winning.

Joseph’s brothers are a good example of the damage that envy can produce (Read starting in Genesis 37). Their envy caused them to open the door to the spirit of hatred and murder. Their jealousy led them to get rid of their brother. Furthermore, they lied to their father and acted like they knew nothing about what happened to Joseph. This caused much pain and separation for their father and Joseph. Their intent was to ensure that Joseph did not remain the favorite and his dreams would not come true. Their envy brought about self-seeking and demonic schemes and caused them to even lie about it by pretending to their father that they cared about Joseph!

Are you someone who helps and encourages people to grow and take their place in their God-given sphere? Or do you feel insecure about those who are preferred and try to minimize them? Are you happy for those who are honored? Or do you allow envy to cause you to resent others and their privileged status in life? You may argue that some don’t deserve their position. This is the subject of the next devotional.

 

 

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The Dangers of Envy (Part II)

2 Comments / Distress, Distrust, Envy, Torment / By

A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness to the bones. Proverbs 14:30

The Bible tells us much about envy and its danger to the person and those around them. The above scripture  tells us that envy brings destruction to the body. People can experience various mental, emotional, and physical issues because they allow themselves to be envious and bitter in their hearts. The fact is that regardless of what others have done, envy does not change anything. It only infects the person who has come into agreement with it. They’re the ones suffering and paying the price for it. In addition, the person remains carnal and inhibits their own growth as I shared in the last devotional. We’re called to guard our hearts from envy. When we keep our hearts sound, our perception and our body remains healthy and whole as well.  

So the women sang as they danced, and said:

“Saul has slain his thousands,
And David his ten thousands.”

Then Saul was very angry, and the saying displeased him; and he said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed only thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?” So Saul eyed David from that day forward.

And it happened on the next day that the distressing spirit from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house. So David played music with his hand, as at other times; but there was a spear in Saul’s hand. 1 Samuel 18:7-10

Saul became Jealous of David and his popularity among people. His envy brought about a distressing spirit that tormented him. At times, David was invited to play music for him, so he could be relieved from this anxiety. The truth is that David would not have been even in the picture if Saul had done what God told him to do. When Saul disobeyed the Lord, God rejected him and chose David to be the future king.

David was anointed by God and he wasn’t the one after Saul’s position. He was just trying to live his life and be a good shepherd boy for his father. He had no ambitions to take Saul’s place. It was Saul’s insecurity and his own disobedience that opened the door to distressing spirit and torment. One of the dangers of envy is that it pollutes our perception, and it causes distrust of others. The envious person may get paranoid and  think that others are out to get them.  Others’ Actions are interpreted as a personal attack and how it might take the envious person out of their position.

As David was trying to be all God had called him to be, Saul interpreted those actions as a plan to take his throne. Saul’s envy made David’s life very difficult, yet it did not thwart God’s plan for his life. The fruit of envy was distress and depression for Saul. Are there people that you are envious of? Can you trust God with your future? Do you believe that as long as you are walking with God and pleasing Him nothing could stop God’s plan for your life?

 

 

 

Image by Sebastian Šoška from Pixabay

 

The Dangers of Envy (Part I)

Leave a Comment / Envy / By

The world is full of competition and backbiting, which makes it a fertile ground for people envying each other. The problem is that envy damages one’s spirit, soul, and body, and it is very dangerous to everyone involved including the body of Christ!

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ.  I fed you with milk and not with solid food; for until now you were not able to receive it, and even now you are still not able; for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? 1 Corinthians 3:3

Definition of Carnal (according to Strong’s Dictionary): having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites; governed by mere human nature not by the Spirit of God; having its seat in the animal nature or aroused by the animal nature; human: with the included idea of depravity; pertaining to the flesh; to the body: related to birth, linage, etc.

Paul made a distinction between a carnal person versus a spiritual person by describing how they operate. When someone is carnal, they are operating in their lowest nature. It’s about survival and being better than others,  and it creates comparison, competition, and envy. It all becomes about what they want and how it makes them feel. They rely on their natural senses and their family history to seek truth and make decisions in life.

Paul measured the Corinthian’s carnality by the level of their envy, strife, and division.  Most people would not admit being envious, so the enemy has a hold on them. People keep envy in secret and try to act like it doesn’t exist. Subsequently, envy is not addressed easily because of its private and secretive nature. Hence, envy is only visible with its fruits, which are drivenness, strife, and division.

Once a person opens the door to envy, they stunt their own spiritual development. They cannot grow in their spirit man if they continue to feed their flesh with envy. Paul warned the church members in Corinth that he was only able to give them milk because they were still carnal and not ready for solid food. Envy caused arrested development, and it impacted others through disunity and broken relationships!

Envying is completely opposite of what God desires for His children. How can we build a healthy church if the members are envious of each other!? How can we work in unity with each other when people are worried about who is going to get the credit!? How can Jesus be lifted up when some are focused on lifting themselves up or ensuring that they are at the center of attention? How can we have brotherly love when one cannot be happy for the success of his brother or sister in Christ!?

I will continue with this subject in the next devotional

 

Enter into His Gates with Thanksgiving

Leave a Comment / Being Thankful / By

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. Psalm 100:4

The Lord is worthy to be praised and worshipped! The beauty of our relationship with Him is that we come to the Lord as His beloved children and we also get to honor and praise Him as the King and the ruler of all mankind! We enter into His presence with confidence and boldness because God reconciled us to Himself through the cross, and we are no longer aliens but His children. At the same time, God is holy, all powerful, and marvelous, and we enter His royal gates with giving thanks for who He is and what He continues to do in our lives.

We have much to be thankful for in our relationship with the Lord. Below are some of the reasons:

He holds our lives together, and “in Him we live, move, and having our being (Acts 17:28).”  In Him we have faith, hope, and love!  He provides us with daily manna, daily grace, daily health, daily protection, and daily sound mind. Without Him we can do nothing, and as we continue to walk with Him, we realize that it’s not worth doing anything that doesn’t have His blessing anyway. 

He is the author and the finisher of our faith. He initiated our relationship with Him, and He continues to work in our lives to become conformed to the image of His son.  He is the one who helps us navigate through life and grow up in Him. He teaches us His ways, so we can be wise in our dealings and not have to suffer the pain of trial and error, or the confusion of ignorance. He has an answer for our marriages, children, jobs, ministries, relationships, and an unsaved world. Our job is to continue to look to Him for answers and get our counsel from Him.

He stands outside of time, and He cannot be rushed because His plans are far greater than anything we can think or imagine. He is the God of History, and He is the ruler of all mankind. His lovingkindness continues to open people’s eyes to His amazing grace, and He holds the key of salvation for whosoever believes in His Son and His finished work on the cross!

We have much to be thankful for. The world seems to be changing at a faster rate everyday, but our God is unchanging, and that is something else to be thankful for.

Today, make time for quiet moments with your Savior and rest in His love and peace!What are the things that you are thankful to the Lord for!? Feel free to comment below.

Hearing God’s Voice (Part IV)

Leave a Comment / Abide, Hearing God's Voice, Patience, Wait / By

Hearing God’s voice is not easy but it is a necessity for us as God’s children as we navigate through life. How do we know if we heard the Lord instead of hearing ourselves or the enemy? The scriptures give us direction on this important issue.

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Luke 1:38

God’s Idea

When the word of the Lord (through the angel) came to Mary, she was not expecting it. The message given to her was not something that she would have conjured up or thought of. The message was God’s idea, and it would have cost Mary something. When we live our lives in simplicity of faith and walk with God, the Lord has access to speak to us and to download what He desires in our lives. The voice of the Lord does not boost our ego, but it settles our identity in God. It allows us to remain dependent on the Lord and look to Him as He takes us through the journey. Mary and Joseph had to continue to look to the Lord in this process and be led by Him in order to protect the baby and raise Jesus for the purpose God had for Him.

Therefore David inquired of the Lord, saying, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines, and save Keilah.” 1 Samuel 23:2

Seek God and Remain Neutral

King David inquired of the Lord frequently, especially, as it related to going to wars with other nations. The beauty of David’s inquiry is that David did not allow his emotions to justify going to battle. His ego was not involved in trying to prove his might and his strength. He didn’t presume because Israel is God’s special people that it meant God was going to give them success in every battle. Instead, David put himself in a neutral position and allowed the Lord to speak to him. In some instances, the Lord told him to go to war and in other situations, He told him not to. David followed the Lord’s instructions and God gave Him success!

Sometimes, we are so focused on reaching our goals that hearing God takes a backseat to our agenda. The truth is that any path we take, we may experience some bumps on the road. If we have arrived there by our the strength of our will, then the difficulties along the way will challenge our decision. On the other hand,  if we have heard the Lord before moving in a certain direction, then we know that this is God’s will and we can fight the spiritual battle with God’s strength.

God’s Answer in His Timing

One of the important things in hearing the voice of God is that we cannot make it happen in our timing. If we strive in the flesh to hear God’s voice, we will eventually hear something, but it won’t be the voice of God. We may end up hearing our own desires or the enemy’s deception. We can’t force God to speak to us when we expect to hear from Him.  We need to be willing to wait and yield our will. God is going to speak when He knows it’s the right time to speak. Our job is to abide in Him, look to Him, and wait on Him.

Do you hear the voice of the Lord unexpectedly?  When you need an answer, can you place aside your emotions and opinions and remain in a neutral position? Are you able to wait to hear Him speak?

 

 

 

 

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Hearing God’s Voice (Part III)

2 Comments / Hearing God's Voice, Identity / By

In the last two devotionals, I have shared about the importance of hearing God’s voice. As believers, we need to have the word of God as our sword and the voice of God as our compass to navigate through life. We see even Jesus, the Son of God, had to depend on the voice of God to function successfully through life and His calling!

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” Matthew 4:1-4

Definition of Word (according to Strong’s dictionary) comes from Greek word [Rhema]: that which is or has been uttered by the living voice, things spoken, word, utterance.

Jesus’ first temptation was directed at his physical hunger. After having fasted forty days and nights, the devil tempted Him to turn the stones into bread. Just as Jesus turned water into wine, He could have turned the stones into bread. However, He refrained from doing it because He was not led by the Spirit of God!

One of the marks of following the voice of God is that it will not appeal to our flesh, and neither will it compel us to prove our identity or gifting. This is something that we all have to be aware of. We cannot allow the demands of others to push us to do something in the name of God or ministry. Those with prophetic ministry are even in greater danger of trying to prove that they can hear God or prophecy words not sanctioned by the Lord!

The devil was trying to challenge Jesus’ identity in God by prodding Him to prove that He is the son of God! However, Jesus had the self-control not to get baited by the devil. He did not need to prove anything to anyone even though it would have been tempting to do so. He could have reasoned that He needs to prove He is the son of God, so people can believe Him or take Him seriously. Furthermore, Jesus could have easily made the excuse that God would not wanted to Him suffer hunger and could have provided bread for Himself, but He chose to leave the matters in God’s hands.

I love Jesus’ response to the devil! He told Him that while food is important but hearing God’s voice is more important than eating bread! Jesus was speaking about God’s spoken word. Jesus needed to hear the voice of God, and He depended on it regularly more than eating bread. When was the last time this was our attitude in seeking God!?

In the Middle Eastern cultures, bread is an important part of every meal. Therefore, the comparison of the need for bread versus the word of God is very significant! The Middle Eastern people eat bread with every meal regardless of other starches such as rice, pasta, or potatoes. This means that people not only eat it regularly, but also they consume it at least three times a day! Basically, Jesus was stating that it is more important to hear God’s voice and be in communication with Him than to depend on the basic sustenance three times a day!

How hungry are you to hear the word of the Lord for your life? On the sermon on the Mount, Jesus stated that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled. It is God’s desire for us to be led by His Spirit. Do you make time for Him regularly? Do you see it as a necessity of life to be led by the Spirit of the Lord?

Hearing God’s Voice (Part II)

2 Comments / Hearing God's Voice / By

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Romans 8:14

 

The above scripture is important in what it states and also in what it does not state! This Bible verse does not tell us that those who read the Bible are the sons of God. The truth is that we have theologians who know the Bible but don’ know the Lord! Reading the Bible without a revelation of God is like reading any good literature or history book. It is the spirit of God that quickens the word of God and allows us to see something in it that we have not seen before. The word of God, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, speaks to us, and it convicts, corrects, and exhorts us in the way we should go. This allows our relationship with our heavenly Father to develop and we grow as sons and daughters of God.

The above scripture also does not state that those who go to church are the sons of God. When the New Testament church began, people were meeting in each others’ homes to have fellowship and learn the doctrines of Christ. The church as we know it today was not formed and neither were people aiming to just show up to a building once a week to hear a good sermon. They were focused on learning about their newfound faith and what Jesus came to do for them even at the cost of their lives. While there is nothing wrong with having a nice building, but we have to be careful that buildings (nowadays campuses), their cost, and the number of people attending does not take away the focus of the church. Otherwise, it will lead a church to a corporate mentality, and it will focus on maintaining a certain stream of revenue. This would make it difficult to listen to the voice of God or be led by Him! Jesus had much to say to the seven churches in the book of Revelation.

Also, the scripture does not state those who are pastor’s kids or grandkids are the sons of God. As a matter of fact, Jesus rebuked the religious people because they were comfortable and confident with their status in their community but missing the work of Christ among them. Sometimes being part of a religious system, blinds people to their lack of relationship with Jesus. People around them prop them up and shelter them from the work of God in their lives. In addition, some people within a religious system can assume that the voice or the opinion of their leadership is the voice of God, and they rely on it more than they rely on the spirit of the Lord!

One of the marks of any good relationship is communication. If we profess to have a personal relationship with Jesus, then it means that we are in two-way communication to Him. This relationship causes us to want to know Him and hear what He has to say concerning all areas of our lives.  The Lord is looking for those who sincerely want to be in relationship with Him and desire to communicate with Him. How good is your communication with the Lord!? In the above scripture, the Lord tells us that those who are in tune with hearing God’s voice and His leading are His children.  His children remain in relationship to their heavenly Father. They are not running ahead of Him nor lagging behind Him. They don’t come to God only when they want something from Him but remain in continual relationship with Him.

Hearing God’s voice and being led by His Spirit is evidence of a personal relationship with God. It shows that we have learned to abide in Christ, and Jesus has full access to us to direct us a certain way. We have learned to remain in tune with Him, and, on a regular basis, we surrender our plans into His hands for His leading and direction.

Are you led by the Spirit of God? If not, what hinders you? Do you make time to seek Him on a daily basis? Are you able to surrender your plans and allow the Lord to direct your steps? Do you consider any other person’s voice to be the voice of God in your life?

Hearing God’s Voice (Part I)

Leave a Comment / Direction, Hearing God's Voice, Word of God / By

In the last series of devotionals, I shared about the benefits and the necessity of studying the word of God and learning God’s ways through His word. The word of God gives us tangible guard rails that help us to stay within God’s prescribed boundaries and protects us from the world, our old nature, and the attacks of the enemy. However, we need more in life to live a successful Christian life. We need to be able to hear God’s voice and sense His guidance every step of the way to ensure we are in step with His purpose!

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.  John 10:27

In the book of John, Jesus declared Himself as the good shepherd! He then continued by telling the disciples that His sheep hear His voice! In the natural, the sheep follow their shepherd by listening to his voice. Can you imagine if sheep decided to go their own way and not follow the voice of the shepherd!? First of all, it would be chaotic and the shepherd would not be able to lead them or protect them. Secondly, the sheep can get lost or fall prey to various predators. It is critical for the sheep to hear and recognize the voice of their shepherd to stay protected from harm and get their needs met.

Similarly, we are in need of hearing Jesus’ voice clearly. Obviously, we need to read our Bibles, but we are still in need of hearing His voice to determine how to navigate the forks in the road. For example, if we are seeking an employment, we should have a sense if a position is the right job for us. If we just concentrate on the salary or the title, we may miss God’s direction. If we plan to move out of the area, we should give it time until we have a sense of direction from the Lord. We shouldn’t just move because we don’t like our surroundings or are looking for an excitement. The Lord has the answers, and He knows what is best for us.

Hearing God is not always easy. Sometimes, the Lord is silent because He wants to do something in us before He answers our questions. Consequently, He calls us to just follow Him for a while without giving us an answer. The best thing to do in those times is to follow the Lord joyfully and thanking the Lord for being the good shepherd. The Lord will not let us get derailed if we are following Him wholeheartedly.

How well do you hear God’s voice? What do you do when you don’t hear God’s voice right away?

 

 

 

told His disciples that His sheep know His voice. The sheep have learned to hear the voice