Thoughts On Receiving Truth

As believers, we have to stay studious. I read this recently while studying the book of Acts:

Acts 17:11
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.

Basically the Thessalonian Jews rejected knowlegde and the “Way”(Acts 22:4) which was the way to Christ in the early christian church. Neither the Thessalonian Jews or Barean Jews were familiar with this new “WAY” but the Thessalonians rejected it and hounded down those who preached it. BUT, the Barean Jews were more noble…they searched the scriptures…and with eagerness to see if this were true!

WHY it’s important to be open to the truth? Because when you reject truth you reject God. How is this so? John 14:6 says, “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.” When we reject the way, the truth, and the life…we reject God. Because he is all those things.

In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God..and the word was made flesh and dwelt among us….John 1:1

I want to be like the Bareans! I want to choose God and his word and not reject HIM! Let’s be open to receive the truth…but study his word for ourselves to ensure that we are not misdirected!  As many false prophets have gone out into the world…1 John 4:1

Renewing Our Minds About Winning Others In A Way That Pleases God

Part 4: Renewing Our Minds About Winning Others In A Way That Pleases God

“Command the Israelites to bring you clear oil of pressed olives for the light so that the lampstand may be kept burning.” Exodus 27:20

“And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. With it you shall anoint…the lampstand…the altar of incense…the altar of burnt offering. You shall consecrate them, that they may be most holy.”  Exodus 30:22-29 [abridgment added]

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a lampstand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  Matthew 5:14-15

So for part four, we are back at the altar…adding oil to the lampstand!  As the scripture in Matthew highlights, we are God’s lampstands, bringing the gospel to the whole world!   I hope that this message will help us renew our minds on how to share the gospel in a way that pleases God.  Because the gospel is consecrated and holy, it has been bought with a price!  So we have to handle it carefully as not to inadvertently  lead others away from Christ.  In Leviticus and Exodus, the priests are instructed to add oil to the lampstand.  Oil often signifies the holy spirit.  As we see from the scripture above, in Exodus 30:22, we share the gospel with the help of the Spirit[I will explain this more]…just as the spirit assist should assist in our incense [our prayers] and burnt offering [devotion].    In part 3, I also mentioned that the oil was presented with the bread sacrifice [ our service].

So, we can’t just share the gospel in any kind of way!  Our object is to get the unsaved and backsliders to the throne of grace!  We can not share the word in our flesh (the way we deem fitting), but we need the spirit to help us to do it.    We cannot merely preach of his Love without addressing sin–because none but the rightous will see God (Hebrews 12:14).  Some preach a fire and brimstone gospel, that is so harsh and abrasive that it actually pushes people away from Cross!  No one should think that this is the way that God wants to win others either.  Because one day, those of us who serve Christ will have to stand before a righteous God and have to give an account of not only IF we served him but IN WHAT SPIRIT we served him.  Far be it from us, that God had an opportunity to get that person to the throne of grace…through your preaching…your singing…your dance…your writing…but they were turned away from the message because of they spirit that we presented it in.  If we sing, we need to hit that note to the glory of God to get that person to the throne of grace…Not for self glory, lest the person be turned off.    We must not do things in the flesh, but by his Spirit!  Judgment alone will not save.  Love without knowledge of the truth, will not save. But if we share his word correctly and in the right spirit we can win some for Christ!

So, let’s first talk about what not to do, and I’ll share the revelation at the end.  2:Timothy 2:23-23 says that when sharing the gospel: “Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produced quarrels.  And the Lords servant must not quarrel, instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach and not resentful.  Those who oppose him must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance, teaching them the knowledge of the truth, that they will come to hear.”  Listen, God’s teaching should not promote quarrels and foolish arguments in the Body.  We should  try to listen to what people have to say and treat them with respect.  If you do this, they will be more likely to listen to what you have to say.  Remember, we have to get the to the throne of grace!  Combative defense of the word may cost you the opportunity to win others into the fold.   Instead, Paul tells Timothy to gently instruct!

1 Peter 3:15 says, “Always be prepared to give an answer[share your faith] to anyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope you have.  But do this gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”  How do you know that you that you have done this in the right spirit?  Your conscience is clear!  And further, if we share the message in the right way, we keep ourselves above criticism for having appropriate conduct.

So we must therefore, add the oil when we allow our lamps to shine!  We must add the holy spirit.  We know the nine fruits of the spirit…love, kindness, gentleness….yes gentleness!  We must ask the holy spirit to help us to share the word in such a way that will allow others to reach the throne of grace.  Galatians 6:1 says, “Brother, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.”   The spirit of gentleness is how we win some for Christ!  Patiently instruct until the person is able to receive…we know that one of the fruits of the spirit is longsuffering!!  And this by no means, means soften the gospel message or soften the truth.  BUT its the SPIRIT you do it in.  We have to operate in the spirit, and not in the flesh!  Paul was preached the word uncompromisingly.  He said this to the Corinthian church, ” I already gave you a warning when I was with you the second time.  I  now repeat while absent.  On my return will I not spare those who sinned earlier or any others.”  2 Corinthians 13:2.  In 1 Corinthians 4:21, he says “What do you prefer, shall I come to you a whip or in love with a gentle spirit?”

So, there is a such thing as righteous anger.  It’s hard to forget the image of Jesus, turning over the tables of the money changers in anger who were conducting his business in the temple with the wrong spirit [greed].  Matthew 21:12-13.  In fact, John 2:15 says that he made a whip out of cords and drove them out of the temple!  Yes, the same man who said he was meek and lowly of heart.  Matthew 11:29.  We also know that he called people dogs, vipers, and snakes!  Matthew 23:13-33.  BUT…this is not the way we should operate…we are not God…and we are not righteous…we are flesh! Listen, the gospel is offensive enough…we don’t need to add additional offense with our words.  We must operate in a spirit of gentleness.

God’s gospel is sacred, it must not be shared in the flesh, but in his spirit!  Let me end with the scripture…I just found out about this scripture when someone shared it recently…but it exemplifies the revelation received in a dream about how to share the word of God’s judgment…although I still don’t get it right all the time.  Jude 1:22-23 says this, “Be merciful to those who doubt, snatch others from the fire and save them, to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” The revelation I had is that God’s word will pierce their hearts with truth but his love will be operating at the same time to draw them in.  This is the best way to win others for Christ!  As Jude says, the mercy will draw some in!  These are the people whose hearts have already been made ready to accept the truth.  But whenever his judgment is preached, it must be mixed with mercy!!  Don’t assume people know God’s love just because you have received revelation of his love. This is how God brings salvation to his people, and if we want to share his word, this is how we should do it…in the spirit of gentleness!

So…add the oil…which is the spirit of gentleness to your lamps…be blessed!  Ask the holy spirit to help you as you speak [or type] and give you the words to say and the ability to say it in the right spirit.  I pray God gives you a double anointing to reach the unsaved and the backsliders!

Let the Glory of the Lord Rise Upon Us!

“The sight of the GLORY of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel.  Ex 24:17

“Fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices; and the GLORY of the Lord filled the temple.  And the priests could not enter the house of the Lord, because the GLORY of the Lord had filled the Lord’s house.  2 Chronicles 7:1

God’s awesome manifestation of his glory is sometimes likened to a consuming fire producing a spiritual smoke/cloud that weighs upon his people.  In fact, the word glory means “weight.”  Can you imagine that his glory was so heavy and so pervasive that the priests couldn’t even enter into the temple.  It is the “weight of his glory” that we need in our lives, that others may see him and come to him.  I want to start off by saying, we desperately need’s God’s glory!  And guess what, God desires that we have his glory.  I’m not talking about a self-exalting glory, for we know that this kind, God will share with no man.  Isaiah 48:11.  But I’m talking about a godly kind of glory[I will explain] that will help you win some for Christ!  So what does Jesus himself pray about his glory?

 ”And the glory which you gave me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one:  I in them, and you in me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me, and have loved them as you have loved me. Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am, that they may behold my glory which you have given me; for you loved me before the foundation of the world.  John 17: 21-24

God wants to share his glory with you so that he may reveal himself through you.  But notice that we must behold his glory in order to receive it!  The only way to accomplish this is to dwell in the place where God’s glory is.  Yes shekinah glory means “to dwell” and that place is in the presence of God.  The weight of his glory is experienced by continually entering into the presence of God.   We must also intentionally pray for the weight of his glory to be shown to us!  John 14:21, says that those who are obedient to him and love him…he will manifest himself too!  Be faithful and do it!

In Exodus 33 , Moses asks God to show him his glory, but we see in Exodus 34 that God’s definition of glory is much different from one might expect.  “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD.  And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. God receives glory because of his attributes!  And this makes so much sense!  Remember back in the day before all the prosperity preaching, folks used to actually teach sermons on the “Attributes of God.”  His righteousness, faithfulness, etc are what cause man to glorify this diety!  But not just his compassion, grace, slowness to anger, love, faithfulness, forgiveness–but also his judgment of rebellion and sin.  We glorify him because he is Just too!   When we pray for God’s glory, we are praying for God to infiltrate us with his attributes.  If we want to attract non-believers to God’s glory, we have to take on the attributes of God.   So that when people see us, it will be like the response to Moses in the proceeding verses.  Exodus 34:29.

“When Moses came down from Mount Sinai with the two tablets of the covenant law in his hands, he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the LORD.   When Aaron and all the Israelites saw Moses, his face was radiant, and they were afraid to come near him.”

Can people tell that we have been in God’s presence?  They should be able too.  But what I also want to note here is that these were same group of people who begged Moses to go up and talk to God on their behalf while they stood afar off.  The bible said when they stood afar off they were paralyzed in fear…likely because the weight of God’s glory made them feel like they would die if they stood in his presence.  Exodus 20:18.  It is because God’s glory reveals our true nature…those dark places…those unrepentant rude places that destroy our witness!  God brings light… and in comparison, we are able to see our own darkness.  We become like Isaiah, for he was in the presence of the glory of God, he said “Woe unto me for I am a man of unclean lips and from among people of unclean lips.”  Isaiah 6:5.  It is because the glory of the Lord will  stand in judgment of our rebellion and sin. You can not continually come before the presence of the Lord in sin, because it won’t be long before he starts to reveal and deal with your mess.   But with it compassion, grace, slowness to anger, love, faithfulness, forgiveness, etc.  This is why God told the Father that he has given his glory to us….so that it will be clear to the world that Jesus works through us and that he was sent to save them.

When we can show genuine love, compassion, grace, and judgement we allow others to see God!  Our faithfulness to God  will convict them of their sin.  Our love for each other will draw them in.  They will see our shining faces, and know that he lives and reigns through us!  Isaiah 60, pretty much sums it up…and I know that this is a true witness because I have a friend who is just like this!!  When you enter into this girls presence, you literally sense the presence of God!  Her attributes are a testament to God’s work… living and active in her.  Whenever I’m with this girl, people just give her stuff for no reason.  I’m sure they don’t even know why.  It’s not that she is one of those really ridiculously nice people either, it’s the spirit of God that emanates from her and allows her to draw in the lost. I’m done talking, I will just end with the word and let the word speak for itself.

Isaiah 60:1-3  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the people, but the LORD rises upon you  and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

60:5 “Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy…”

60:8-9: “Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests?  Surely the islands look to me;  in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,bringing your children from afar, with their silver and gold, to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for he has endowed you with splendor.

60:18-21: No longer will violence be heard in your land, nor ruin or destruction within your borders, but you will call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise.  The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light,  and your God will be your glory.  Your sun will never set again,and your moon will wane no more;  the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end. Then all your people will be righteous  and they will possess the land forever.

Now God says if we ASK ANYTHING…in his name, according to his will…he will do it!  1 John 5:14-15.  Is not his word, his will???!  Let’s pray the perfect will of God, let the glory of the Lord rise upon us!  Let’s ask the holy spirit to rain down righteousness.  Consume us with your fire.  Let’s dwell in his presence until we feel the weight of his glory. Let our areas of contention be transformed into God’s ways…so that our light may shine before men…and they come to our Father!  Abide saints, abide!!  Father we need your glory, let your glory depart from us no more, further away from your us…your temples (Ezekiel 10)!