"Get Well - part 2"

"That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."  Ephesians 5:26

When I had the flu last week, the two main things that I was told to do to get better was rest and drink lots of liquids.  They tell you to drink lots of liquids so that your body will stay hydrated.  When you are well hydrated, your body performs at its highest level.  Your organs can do their job properly.  Your muscles don't stiffen up on you and so on. 

Yesterday we compared staying spiritually healthy to what I had to do to be physically healthy.  We talked about staying spiritually healthy by resting in the Lord.  This morning let's talk about another component of staying spiritually healthy which is staying hydrated--- drinking plenty of water.

The Bible speaks of the Word of God as water.  If we are to be spiritually healthy, we cannot neglect to "drink water".  We can't neglect to take God's Word into our hearts, minds and life.  His Word is like marrow and fatness to our bones.  He sent His Word and healed us.  His Word refreshes us and renews our minds.

If we don't get enough water physically, our bodies will suffer for it.  If we don't get enough water/Word our spiritual well-being will suffer for it as well.  We will lack the wisdom that we need.  We won't have strength and power.  Our faith level will become low.  We won't have clear direction, understanding or insight.  Confusion will come, frustration will set in, condemnation can gain a hold, fear will rule you, the enemy will snare you and you will find yourself giving into sin.

Are you drinking water daily?  Your body needs it.  Are you drinking the water of God's Word daily?  Your spiritual man needs it.  You can't live without water-- physically or spiritually.

Have a great day.  Make sure you are drinking in the Word of God today if you want to stay spiritually healthy.    

 

"Get Well"

"Return to your rest, my soul, for the Lord has been good to you."  Psalm 116:7

 

When I was sick this past week, I wasn't given much medicine to take but I was told by the doctor and various other people to get lots of rest and drink plenty of liquids.  Rest and liquids are the two main things that are conducive to getting well.  While laying there the thought occurred to me that this is the same thing we need to do to be healthy spiritually.

 

The reason many of us are spiritually sickly is because we are not getting the rest that we need.  I am not just talking about physical rest, although there is way too much busyness in our lives that is unnecessary.  I am mostly talking about resting in the Lord. 

 

How many of us are busy trying to take matters into our own hands, solve our own problems, figure out a solution to our needs, come up with an answer to our prayers or make something happen, instead of resting in the Lord and His ability to do it?  We would be happier and healthier if we would let God take care of things for us and stop trying to do it ourselves.  When we aren't resting, we are striving.  When we are striving, we are opening the door to spiritual sickness and disease-- anxiety, confusion, frustration, depression, complaining, etc.  These "break the spirit and dry up the bones".  They make our faith weak.  They diminish our trust in the Lord.  They take our eyes off of our true Help.         

 

Is this you?  Are you trying to make something happen?  Are you in a constant state of frustration?  Do you feel tired and weary all the time?  Are you always busy trying to work something out?  Then you aren't resting.  Until you learn to rest and let the Lord handle it, you will continue to feel tired and exhausted.

 

Have a great day.  You need to stop trying to do it and rest by letting the Lord take care of it. 

"A Miracle Bed"

"Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the Lord, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the Lord." 2 Kings 20:5

 

Many of you know that I have been in the bed the past week with the flu.  I thank you for your prayers.  I am so thankful to be better and up and about today.  I wanted to share with you some things that I "learned" while on my "bed of affliction".  First, I want to say that the Lord doesn't put sickness on us.  Sickness is a result of living in a fallen, sin-cursed world.  He is our Healer in sickness.  But, when sickness or affliction of any sort come our way, the Lord can still take that thing and work good in our lives through it.  He did mine.  There were things that He showed me, revelations that I received, direction on some issues, wisdom, insight and instruction that He gave me while I was "flat of my back". If He wills I will share them with you in the future.

 

When we are going through hard times, afflictions, suffering, tribulations, etc., sometimes it feels like the world has ended.  We feel like it won't ever get any better.  We feel like the Lord has forgotten us.  King Hezekiah in the Old Testament felt like this.  But we see that the Lord had not forgotten him.  The Lord was well aware of his situation.  The Lord was still speaking to him.  The Lord sent his healing.  The Lord gave him a great revelation and mighty miracle.  (In case you have forgotten, this is the king whom the Lord turned time back for as a sign that He would heal him.)

 

A bed of affliction turned into a place of miracles for Hezekiah.  It was a place for a miracle in the life of Jarius' daughter.  It was a place of a miracle in Peter's mother in law's life.  It was a place of a miracle in the life of the man who was left at the Gate Beautiful, and the man at the pool, and the man who was lowered by friends through the roof to get to Jesus.

 

The point is:  God has not forgotten where we are when we are going through affliction, pain or suffering.  He is still aware of us.  He can still minister to us no matter the circumstance.  And He can still give a miracle anywhere, any time and in any way He chooses. 

 

Have a great day.  A miracle can happen even on a bed. 

 

"Who He Is"

"I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death."  Philippians 3:8,10

 

We have heard it said, and preached, that the reason why we don't see a demonstration of the power of God in our lives is because we don't know who we are in Christ.  I have taught this myself.  And while it is true, I believe the truer reason is not that we don't know who we are in Him, but that we don't know who He is. 

 

Yesterday, we talked about giving people a revelation of who Jesus is.  I think we need a personal revelation of who Jesus is, and who He is in us.  I think we are more like the disciples who had been with Jesus for a long time yet still had to ask-- Who is He?

 

Our goal should not be-- do great things through me, Lord.  Our goal should be-- I want to know you, Lord.  As we seek to know Him, we are applying the principle of "seek ye first the kingdom of God".  As we do, then "all these things will be added unto us".  As we seek to know Him, then everything else will fall into place.  We will be used in greater ways.  We will fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives.  Miracles and signs will follow our lives.  We will reach the lost in greater numbers.  A former pastor of mine used to say, "Don't get the cart before the horse".  I think this is what we are doing.  We are trying to do the work of the Lord without knowing the Lord of the work.  We are trying to figure out who we are in Him when we need to be figuring out who He is in us.

 

Have a great day.  It isn't all about who we are in Christ, it is also about who He is.  When we learn who He is, then we will discover who we are in Him.   

"The Trend"

"But we preach Christ crucified..."  1 Corinthians 1:23a

 

I have seen a trend taking place in the church over the last several years.  It seems as if the church is trying to keep up with the world.  With each new trend that the world develops the church seems to adopt it and bring it into their programs.  Oh, they may clean it up a bit, tweak it a little, throw in something that appears spiritual or repackage it, but it is the same thing.  The excuse I have heard for doing this is-- its a new day, old methods don't work, people want something new and relevant to the times, they don't want the old antiquated teachings of the church.  We have to make it new, improved and exciting and on their level in order to reach them.  We have to get in touch with where they are.

 

People have not changed since the beginning of time.  Yes, our fashions change, our mindsets change, technology changes the way we conduct our affairs, our forms of entertainment change, etc. but mankind has not changed.  We are still, in 2018, born sinners just like we have been for thousands of years.  We are still in need of a Savior.  We still have the need to be loved.  We still have problems that need to be solved.  We still bleed red when we are cut like we always have.  We still grieve at a loss, feel pain when we are hurt, have an evil heart, face fear and confusion.  We are still on a quest to find truth.  We have not changed inside, only the outside has changed.

 

When we bring the world trends into the church in order to win the world, all we are doing is reaching their flesh.  We are appealing to their flesh, but not reaching their hearts, souls and spirits.  We are in reality not reaching them at the point of their true need.  If we really want to reach them, we must not use "new and improved" methods taken from the world that cater to the flesh.  We must do the same thing that Jesus did.  What did He do?  He gave the people a revelation of Who the Heavenly Father is.  He gave them a revelation of the Kingdom.  He gave them a revelation of the power of God, the love of God, the grace and mercy of God.  He showed them the Father and that revelation met the need of their hearts. 

 

Giving people a revelation of Jesus, His power, His love and His saving grace is what people need.  They don't need the fancy lights, the hip-hop music, the meticulously orchestrated events, the fog machines, the coffee bars or tweaked trends of the world.  They need a revelation of Jesus.  That was all the early church had and they turned their world upside right.  We have been empowered by the Holy Spirit to do the same.

 

Have a great day.  People are still the same as they have always been-- sinners in need of a Savior.