Archives for July 2021

Conversation With God

July 30, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

Maybe someone can identify with this conversation.

“Lord, I can’t do this. Can You please help me? Can You do it for me?

“Well, let’s talk about that. Sure, I can help you, (“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1), and I want to but here’s the deal. Awhile back, you asked if you could be in the advanced class and I said yes. I’ve got some great plans for you, (Jeremiah 29:11), but I wouldn’t start them without your cooperation. And you agreed.”

“But Lord, it’s hard!”

“Yes, I know but you have to go through some training and preparation in order to accomplish what I have for you.” And you know the devil is always out there trying to trip you up.”

“Would it be easier if You just did it for me?”

“Well yes but if I did that, you wouldn’t grow and be ready for the next trial. In order for you to grow, you have to go through some trials that will build your strength.”

“But Lord, I just can’t do it.”

“Now listen, I’ve provided you with the strength, (2 Corinthians 12:10), the tools, (2 Corinthians 9:8), the weapons, (Ephesians 6:17), and the wisdom, (John 14:26), you’ll need. And I’ve given you the authority, (Luke 10:19), to handle any situation we encounter. Oh, and you know, I’ll always be right there with you, (Hebrews 13:5).” “But your problem is that, even though I’ve given you all these things as an advanced warrior, YOU HAVEN’T USED THEM!” “Come on!”

“Oh, I’m so sorry Lord, thank You for reminding me and encouraging me. I want to do Your good will.”

“Like I said, I’ve got great plans for you but it’s going to take some work on your part. Are you ready and willing to go on from here?”

“Yes Lord, I can do all things through You who gives me strength!” (Philippians 4:13).

“Okay, let’s get this done.”

Have any of you had this conversation? Do any of you need to? He’s waiting…

Here I Am!

July 24, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

I heard the song by The Grassroots from 1966, “Where Were You”, and these lyrics stuck with me: “Where were you when I needed you? Where were you when I wanted you? The song was about a relationship that had ended when things got bad but the one who left wanted to come back when things were better. And the question was, “Where were you when I needed/wanted you?” It reminded me of God’s question in the Garden after Adam and Eve had sinned, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9). God knew where they were and what they had done but they were hiding from Him. They had broken the relationship and were afraid.

It also started me thinking of people in the Bible who answered God’s question, “Where are you?” by answering, “Here I am”. I found at least six of them. The first was Abraham. God was going to test Abraham to see if He could trust him with a great plan, and He called out to Abraham in Genesis 22:1, “Sometime later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!”

“Here I am,” he replied.” Abraham passed the test.

Then there was Jacob/Israel. His son Joseph had been promoted to the second in command in Egypt and he sent for his father, Jacob, and the family to come to Egypt to live. God wanted to assure Jacob that everything was going to be okay and to come on to Egypt. “And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, “Jacob! Jacob!” “Here I am,” he replied.” (Genesis 46:2). Good answer.

Next is Moses. He was tending the sheep in the wilderness and noticed a bush burning but was not being consumed so he went over to check it out. “When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” (Exodus 3:4). God had a very important plan and had chosen Moses to carry it out.

In 1 Samuel 3:4-6 we see how willing to serve young Samuel was. God called out to him three times at night and Samuel thought it was the priest Eli, his “foster father” and he always answered, “Here I am.” He finally realized though who was calling him and said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10). It’s good to listen to God.

King David was praising and thanking God for hearing his cry and for all He had done for him. He realized God was not looking for sacrifices and offerings but God wanted David, “Then I said, “Here I am, I have come, it is written about me in the scroll.I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40: 7-8). God wants us first and foremost.

And finally, there is One who said, “Here I am.”, which made a way for us for all time, JESUS! He was talking to the Pharisees and told them, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18). I can imagine God saying to Jesus, “Son, we need to help those sinful people on earth. We need to make a sacrifice for them so they can come live with us.” And Jesus said, “Father, here I am, send me.” And, on the cross, Jesus said, “It is finished.” (John 19:30).

So where does that leave us? Are we willing to say, “Here I am.”? Are we willing to, “offer our bodies a living sacrifice,” (Romans 12:1)? Can we say each day, “Lord, here I am, send me. How can I serve You today?” Jesus is saying it again to us, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:20). What do you say?

Our Battle Plan

July 16, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

“You armed me with strength for battle; you humbled my adversaries before me.” (Psalm 18:39).

Benjamin Franklin said, “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Whether we know it or not, our enemy, the devil, has a battle plan to use against us. He knows our weaknesses and will exploit them at every opportunity. We have to be prepared and equipped to fight those battles. Are you prepared? Do you know your weaknesses? Do you have a battle plan? We need to pray that the Holy Spirit in us will make us aware of the devil’s plans and our weaknesses so we can address them quickly and successfully.

In 2 Kings 6: 8-12 we read that God was telling the prophet Elisha about the king of Aram’s battle plans against Israel. The Israeli army would then avoid the ambush and this happened several times and God’s people were saved. Knowing the plans of the enemy leads to victory. The devil’s plans are to, “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). We know his battle plan so what is ours to avoid defeat?

When Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, (Luke 4:1-14), He was prepared and He had a plan. He knew the Word of God and used it as a weapon, “It is written…”. It worked for Jesus and it will work for us but we have to know the Word. Ephesians 6:17 mentions, “the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.” We need that weapon when temptation comes.

Now, God’s battle plan for His people may seem strange at times. He had Joshua and His people march around Jericho several times in a week, (Joshua 5). He told Jehoshaphat to just go to the battle line and see what I will do, (2 Chronicles 20). He told Moses to stand on the hill and raise his hands so the army would be successful, (Exodus 17). And let’s not forget the greatest battle when Jesus was in the tomb…but God had a battle plan!

So, what’s our plan? May I suggest that we memorize several scriptures relating to our temptation and declare them boldly to our enemy when he comes at us with his temptations. It may take some time and research but that’s part of preparing for the battle. Do it! Prepare for the battle that will surely come and get your battle plan ready. I also wrote about this idea in 2019. You can see my battle plan scriptures and read about it HERE.

The Light

July 10, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16).

Two verses before this, Matthew says, : “You are the light of the world.” (v. 14). It’s very important for us as Christians to be a shining light. But where does this light come from?

First, it is a reflection. Genesis 1:27 says, “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” We are created to look like God and, in Him, there is no darkness, (1 John 1:5), He is all light. So, we are light…or can be. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1). Get up and shine; we reflect His light so our world can see…HIM.

Second, we need to be near God to be filled with His light. Remember in Exodus 24, Moses went up on the mountain to meet with God and receive the Ten Commandments and it says, “the glory of the Lord abode upon mount Sinai” (v. 16). Can you imagine that sight from below? Talk about fireworks! And, in Exodus 34, when Moses came down from the mountain with the two stone tablets, his face was shining so brightly that Aaron and others were afraid to come near him, (v. 29-30). Moses had spent many days with God and it showed. How much time are we spending with Him? “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). More time with God…more light.

Luke tells us to, “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning,” (12:35). Be ready and don’t let your light, go out. We must be ready every day because someone may need to see our light which will allow us to tell them where it comes from. The more we shine our light, the more chance we’ll have to impress people, not for our glory, but for God’s. King Nebuchadnezzar called Daniel in to help him and said, “I have heard of you, that the Spirit of God is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.” (Daniel 5:14). There is darkness around us. People we meet may be in a dark place. A smile, a kind word, or helping them; there are many ways we can shine. Let’s do it!

Independence

July 3, 2021 by Bill Leave a Comment

Independent – Free from outside control; not depending on another’s authority. Not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence.

As we celebrate Independence Day, let us think about what it means to be independent. During the Revolutionary War, on July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence. They wanted to be independent from the outside control and authority of Great Britain. They wanted to be free. Many fought and died during the war to obtain that freedom and we still celebrate it today. And, In 1870, the U.S. Congress made July 4th a federal holiday.

John Adams wrote to his wife Abigail that what they did on July 2, 1776 “will be celebrated, by succeeding Generations, as the great anniversary festival” and that the celebration should include “Pomp and Parade…Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one end of this continent to the other.” I thought it was interesting that John Adams mentioned, “illuminations” as part of the celebration.

But let’s look at another type of independence. The Bible says, “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” (John 8:36). Free from what? Doubt, fear, worry, insecurity, defeat, and hell, just to name a few. Satan wants to “steal, kill and destroy” us, (John 10:10) but God wants us to be set free from all Satan has planned for us. We can make our Spiritual Declaration of Independence by saying YES to Jesus who has already fought and won the war for us. Jesus paid the price on the cross for our independence.

Last week, we had our first baptismal service in several months. Six people were baptized which was their Declaration of Independence testimony of the freedom they had received by asking Jesus into their heart. It was indeed a celebration!

On July 4, 2021, we will celebrate our freedom and independence from outside control and authority as a country with many of the things John Adams mentioned in the letter to his wife. But we must always be vigilant and not complacent because our freedom is always under attack. The Declaration of Independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.” Freedom, independence…In God We Trust!

Archives for July 2021

Conversation With God

Here I Am!

Our Battle Plan

The Light

Independence

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Archives for July 2021

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