"Buttered- Up"

"A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it; and a flattering mouth worketh ruin".  Proverbs 26:28

This word won't apply to everyone this morning specifically, but it is something we all need to know and can learn from.  The specific word for someone who is reading this is--- you are being "buttered-up".  Someone is trying to get on your good side.  They are trying to get close to you.  They are trying to gain your trust and confidence, but they have an ulterior motive behind it.  They are not what they appear, and things are not as they are trying to make them appear.  In short, they are manipulating you into believing a lie so you will come over to their side and do what they want you to do.    

Flattering lips, what we call "buttering-up" is a tool of manipulation.  Not every good thing that someone says to us and about us is a form of manipulation-- some are sincere.  It is what lies behind the words.  It is about what they want and can gain from it.  It is the motive of their heart behind what they are saying and doing that constitutes the difference.     

The serpent in the garden said "flattering" words to Eve.  He told her what she wanted to hear.  He appealed to the desire of her heart.  But his motive was not to "help" Eve or give her something that would make her "happy" and "fulfilled".  It was to advance his own agenda.  He wanted the place of God.  He wanted what God had given Adam and Eve.  It wasn't about "her".  It was about "him".  His own greedy, selfish and evil desire. 

So, for all of us.  We must guard against being "butter-up".  We must guard against listening to flattering words.  We must ask the Holy Spirit to help us be discerning so that we will know the difference between flattery and sincerity.  If we will, we won't believe the lies and fall for the deception and manipulation like Eve did.  In the end it didn't benefit her, it was her ruin.

Have a great day.  Beware when people start "buttering" you up.

"Don't Forgive"

"For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:  But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses".  Matthew 6:14,15

There are many who are reading this that have unforgiveness in your heart against someone else.  You just won't let it go.  There are many reason why people hold on to unforgiveness.  The reasons are endless.  Someone abused you or misused you.  Somebody took advantage of you or your generosity.  Someone you confided in let you down.  Someone who was supposed to be there for you wasn't.  Someone you loved betrayed you.  The list goes on.

If truth be known, while we are holding on to unforgiveness toward someone else, we may not be guiltless ourselves.  We have all said and done things to hurt someone else.  We have all been an instrument at some point in time that caused hurt, pain or heartache to someone else.  Therefore, we should get the "log out of our own eye" when it comes to not wanting to forgive someone else.

The bottom line concerning unforgiveness is this-- you may have a legitimate reason for feeling the way you do.  Whoever you are holding unforgiveness against may actually be guilty.  Whoever it is may not deserve your forgiveness.  But that is all besides the point.  The point is:  you and I need forgiveness-- the forgiveness of God.  We need Him to forgive our trespasses.  If He does not we are eternally lost.  Unforgiveness is not a luxury nor an option.  It is a must if we are going to be forgiven by the Heavenly Father.  If God's forgiveness means nothing to you, then go ahead and continue to walk in unforgiveness because He won't give it to you if you do.

Have a great day.  If you don't forgive others, the Lord will not forgive you.        
 

"The Lord Of The Work"

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:  But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her".  Luke 10:41.42 

Let me preface what I am about to say with this-- the work of the Lord is important, we should not be negligent of it, we should take our responsibility to do what He has called us to do serious.  But having said all that, our relationship with the Lord we are working for is more important than doing the work. 

 

The Pharisees did the work but had no relationship with the Lord.  Jesus made it clear to them that just because they did all these "works" did not mean that He knew them and that He would not say "depart" to them on the day of judgment. (Matthew 7)

 

Remember the story of Martha and Mary?  Martha was busy serving/working for the Lord, but Mary was "busy" with the relationship with Him--- sitting at His feet listening to Him, fellowshipping with Him, loving on Him.  Jesus said that she had chosen the "good part".

 

I just need to remind you, and myself, this morning that spending time with Jesus, loving on Him, communing with Him, listening to Him, coming into His presence is more important than all the work we do for Him-- especially if all we do is work but neglect the relationship.

 

Have a great day.  Your relationship with the Lord of the work is more important than doing the work of the Lord.  If you have to choose between the two-- always choose the relationship.    

 

"I Can't Make It"

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust". 2 Peter 1:4

Do you ever get so physically tired that you just don't think you can make it out of bed?  You just don't think you have the strength or energy to get up?  That was how my morning started-- it was hard to get out of bed.  That's such a simple thing but it often seems major.  But what about situations in life that really are major and make you say, "I just don't think I can make it"?

Perhaps you are dealing with a rebellious or wayward child, and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps grief is surrounding you and you don't think you are going to make it.  Maybe you are dealing with a disease or illness that keeps holding you back and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps you are a caregiver to a spouse, a parent, a child or someone else and you are so exhausted that you don't think you are going to make it.  You might be on a job that is demanding more out of you than you have to give and you don't think you are going to make it.  Or you might be weighed down with financial debt, and you don't think you are going to make it.  Perhaps you are dealing with some situation other than what I have named, and you just don't think you are going to make it through it.  It seems more than you can handle or bear.  If so, I have good news for you.  There is hope.  It is found in the promises of God.

The Lord promised to give us strength in weakness.  Provision in lack.  Joy for mourning.  Praise for heaviness.  Help in trouble.  Guidance in darkness.  Peace in confusion.  His presence in loneliness.  Comfort in sorrow.  A word of wisdom when you don't know what to do.  Grace for everything else.  His promises are for you.  Stand upon them. Hide them in your heart.  Take hold of them.  He has made you a promise that you will make it if you grab hold to Him and HIs promises. 

Have a great day.  When you don't think you can make it, God's promises say you can make it through Him.  

"The Report"

"While he yet spake, there cometh one from the ruler of the synagogue's house, saying to him, Thy daughter is dead; trouble not the Master.  But when Jesus heard it, he answered him, saying, Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole".  Luke 8:49,50

Jesus was on His way to Jairus's house because his daughter was very ill and He was going to heal her.  On the way Jairus received word that his daughter had died.  Upon hearing that report Jesus spoke another word to Jairus-- "Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole".

At that point Jairus had to make a choice, either believe the report of the messenger or the report of Jesus.  One was devastating, the other gave hope.  One was from a man, the other was from the Son of God.  One was based on sight, the other was based on faith.  Jairus chose to believe Jesus and his daughter was brought back to life. 

Life is full of "reports".  The question is, "Which ones will you believe?".  Had Jesus not spoken to Jairus, he would have believed the report of the man, and he should have because that was the only report he had.  But now he had two to choose from.  If the Lord has truly spoken to you about a situation then you too have a choice to make.  Will you believe the report of the situation or the report of the Lord?  Will you believe what the situation is saying to you or what the Lord is saying to you?  I am not talking about believing in "hope-so" (you hope this is the will of the Lord).  I am not talking about assumption (assuming this is the will of the Lord).  I am not talking about just pulling out a scripture that fits and standing on it (thinking God will back it up).  I am talking about truly hearing from the Lord like Jairus did.  When you do, then you must make a choice as to which one you will believe.

Have a great day.  Who's report will you believe?