Bill - Revelations From The Road

Look Up

May 5, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 31, 2007

As I read my devotion this morning, I received another aspect of a revelation the Lord had showed me previously. It has to do with “looking up”.

Today, I read of a fatally injured eagle on the ground and how he gazed at the sky, longing for the “home of his heart”. His place was not on the ground where danger lurked but soaring in the sky where he was free to be what God had created him to be.

Looking up is a good thing; up is positive, down is negative. I’m reminded of the guys who took their sick friend to see Jesus, (Mark 2). They couldn’t get in the door so, as they pondered how to get help for their friend, they looked up; “Hey, the roof!”

Peter, in his exuberance and faith at seeing Jesus, jumped out of the boat and began walking on the water, (Matthew 14). As long as he focused on Jesus who had said to him, “Come.”, (v. 29), he was OK. Then…he looked down.

My wife was recovering from out-patient surgery and the nurse had gotten her up to walk for the first time. She was still rather groggy and unsteady from the anesthesia as she tried to walk but the nurse told her, “Don’t’ look down, look up. You’ll do better if you look up.”

There are many examples in scripture of the benefits of looking up but I’ll close with the words of an old hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace, (Helen H. Lemmel, 1922). If you’re going through something right now…”Look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28“.

All Fall Down

April 30, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 11, 2008

A momentous occasion happened yesterday; my grandson walked for the first time! It was great, he let go of the table and staggered to his mommy, then to big brother, the to Pawpaw, (me). We all clapped and cheered with every success. He also fell down a lot.

You know, when he fell, we didn’t berate him about it saying things like, “What’s wrong with you? Get up and walk!” or “Dumb baby, can’t you do anything right?” No, we didn’t think anything of it because babies are SUPPOSED to fall when they are first learning to walk. So, why don’t we treat our fellow Christians that way?

The Bible says, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23“. New Christians are going to fall! Hey, old Christians are going to fall! We shouldn’t treat them like they should be perfect but do as Paul told the Galatians: “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. Galatians 6:1“.

New Christians, just like babies, need understanding and a gentle hand wile they’re learning. Many older Christians, however, haven’t progressed much in their “walk” and need the same considerations. “Yea…good try! Now, get up and let’s try it again”.

Sin At The Door

April 18, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given April 15, 2008

While traveling on this day, I heard a teaching on the radio about Cain and Abel, (another revelation from the road). The speaker emphasized something I had not noticed from Genesis 4:7 where God is talking to Cain, “You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master“, NLT. The revelation to me was, “sin is crouching at the door”.

This is how I see it; for sin to be crouching at your door, it has to be on your porch, have come through your yard, crossed over your fence, and entered your property. Now, who let sin do that? I suggest it might have been you. If an adult DVD store wanted to set up in the far corner of your property, you’d dig your spiritual heels in and run them off! Right?

So, what about when gossip shows up at your property line? What happens if your temper tries to cross over your fence? Then, pornography comes through your yard and brings lukewarmness up on your porch and they join lying, cheating and cursing at your door? You see what’s happened?

As the elder or head of my house, it’s my responsibility to use the Spiritual strength and authority available in me and to not only keep sin away from my door but not let it on my property! But sin has a way of talking us into letting him closer and closer to our door, and if you don’t keep your guard up, it’s in the house. “…and do not give the devil a foothold. Ephesians 4:27.“

Power In Us

April 10, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 14, 2008

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. Ephesians 3:20“. God’s power is in us. Did you get that? The power that created the universe is in us! So why aren’t we powerful?

One reason is that the Holy Spirit is a gentleman and will not push His way in to help us. Jesus said the Holy Spirit is our helper. “And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever…He dwells with you and will be in you. John 14:16-17“. He is available to help and direct us but we have to ask Him. The Spirit of God hovered over the deep in Genesis 1:2 but He won’t smack the remote out of your hand. He will wait right there next to the couch for you to ask.

We have this great power available to us, in us, but we have to focus on the One who sent this power, ask for His assistance, and develop it. Watching TV, surfing the net, reading the paper, etc. won’t get it. Be blessed!

He Stood Between

March 25, 2008 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 8, 2008

Here a few days after Easter and thinking about the sacrifice Jesus made for me, I noticed this note I’d made while praying before Easter. We know Jesus died for our sins and He took terrible beatings and other atrocities for us: ” But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5“. The revelation or image I got this day was of the devil coming after me, bombarding me with all kinds of evil things but then Jesus, quietly and authoritatively, steps in between me and the devil. Jesus stood in the gap for me, and you, and held him off. Jesus took the hit that was intended for me so that I could continue to live.

The only thing left for me to do, which I did as a 12 year-old, is to accept His offer of eternal life and believe in Him. He’s already taken the hit for us all but some just don’t realize it! He’s already done His part, now it’s up to humanity to do theirs. “…if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10:9“.