Today, I wanted to share one of my journal entries from last year.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
What I have gained from these verses this morning is very rich. Those who have gone before me- Abraham, Moses, Gideon, Barak- have set an impeccable standard of faith. Because they have gone before me, I also must strip away those things that will keep me from living at the level of faith that they did. The reason being is that there is a race set before me in which I must, by necessity, run. However, as great as those who went before me where, I am not commanded to fix my eyes upon them. I am, however, told to turn all my attention, interrupted, to Jesus. He is the one who is the Founder of my faith, and the Perfecter- the one who will bring my faith to a successful conclusion! Therefore, He is the source of my endurance. I have the promise that Christ himself will bring my faith to a successful conclusion! Why? Because He Himself successfully completed the will of the Father.
It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured the cross. The Greek text gives the idea that there was a greater plain of existence in the realm of joy that awaited Him. It was laid before Him. There is also for me, a greater plain of existence in the eternal state- a greater joy to come. Because there is this greater plain of existence to come- the eternal kingdom in which the author has been talking about in the previous chapter- I need to live for that joy. This life is a vapor, and the pleasures found here are fleeting and disappearing. They will not last. Therefore, I must do as Jesus did- live for the plain of existence in the realm of the joy that is soon coming. That realm of joy is eternal, and far exceeds any temporal pain and persecution that I MUST go through. For this life is preparation for eternity. This life is the valley that I must walk through in order to reach the mountain of joy. This valley is what God uses to perfect me and to build up treasures for me in the eternal state.
There is only a certain amount of time left in this life. Therefore, in the time that remains, I must live for the eternal existence that will soon be here. All the persecutions, all the heartache, pain, vile words, oppression, discouragement- it will all cease. Yet the joy that is to come will never stop! It is an unending, everlasting state of super abounding joy- a plain of existence now foreign to us, yet not out of reach! This is why it is so important not to falter or fall in times of difficulty. They will not last, but the one who does the will of the Father will abide forever! And his reward? Unending joy in the presence of his King!
Here is a something I wrote to go along with this entry:
I have found hope in your truth today,
the stench of discouragement you are washing away.
A spirit of mourning you have poured out on my head,
a broken heart accompanies me at night in my bed.
My sorrow stemmed from the wickedness all around,
vile words, apathy, and lies that abound.
Why do you bear with the foolishness of men?
When will you rise up and judge them with your hand?
Indeed I know all things are happening as they should,
and you will soon use this evil for good!
So I take up my cross, in my eye there's a gleam,
determination, perseverance, as I pick up that beam.
No sissy Christianity, no time to whine,
with scars on my heart, it 's gut check time!
So I'll press on with your joy in my heart
until this wicked, corrupt world I depart.
I'll bear with the vapor that you have called man,
for they are but dust, the work of Your hand.
The day of judgment will humble them all,
it will silence their mouths, on their knees they do fall!
But as for me, I rejoice in all of Your might,
it's your truth that has caused me to walk in the light.
So here is my body, my life, my all,
a ball of depravity You ransomed from the fall!
A sin loving sinner you elected in grace,
removing the veil so I can see Your face!
Here I am Jesus, I take up my cross,
counting all things in this world as loss!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Sinners at Ease in Zion
Amos 6:1-8 Woe to those who are at ease in Zion And to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria, The distinguished men of the foremost of nations, To whom the house of Israel comes. 2 Go over to Calneh and look, And go from there to Hamath the great, Then go down to Gath of the Philistines. Are they better than these kingdoms, Or is their territory greater than yours? 3 Do you put off the day of calamity, And would you bring near the seat of violence? 4 Those who recline on beds of ivory And sprawl on their couches, And eat lambs from the flock And calves from the midst of the stall, 5 Who improvise to the sound of the harp, And like David have composed songs for themselves, 6 Who drink wine from sacrificial bowls While they anoint themselves with the finest of oils, Yet they have not grieved over the ruin of Joseph. 7 Therefore, they will now go into exile at the head of the exiles, And the sprawlers' banqueting will pass away. 8 The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I loathe the arrogance of Jacob, And detest his citadels; Therefore I will deliver up the city and all it contains."
Hear the words of Amos the prophet! He unloads a scathing rebuke on those arrogant sinners who are living in a makeshift security devised by their own corrupted mind. He pronounces the prophetic curse, “woe”, to those in Judah and Israel because of the monstrosity of their sins that rise up into the nostrils of a Holy God. In their pride, the covenant people of God felt “secure” because they presumed upon God that being a covenant nation gave them a right to spiritual apathy. They claimed that they were secure because their city dwelled in the “mountain of Samaria”, deeming themselves impregnable from any oncoming onslaught. Oh see the picture of these arrogant, self absorbed people, sprawled out upon their fine couches, drinking the best of wines, while their nation slips into moral decadence and apostasy. Now, mind you, these were the leaders who were doing this, the “distinguished men from the foremost of nations, to whom the house of Israel comes.” Boasting in their pride and material gain, these wicked imposters “put off the day of calamity” and had no after thought of the judgment of God. Day by day they were storing up wrath for themselves. They had fallen asleep. They were at ease on the Holy Mount of God. Indeed, did they think that God would never rise up and avenge His name? Did they think that God would turn His face from the spiritual adultery that was going on? Yes they did! Yet God through Amos had word for them that flew in the face of their self absorption and false security: The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I loathe the arrogance of Jacob, And detest his citadels; Therefore I will deliver up the city and all it contains." Judgment was inevitable. Those sinners who now sit at ease in Zion will soon be weighted down with heaviness of heart over the destruction that will befall them. Those sinners who now sit at ease in Zion will soon eat the ashes of the ruins of their riches. Those sinners at ease in Zion, who presume upon the goodness and forbearance of God, will receive back to them all the oppression that they brought upon others. Why such a strict judgment? Because these were the covenant people of God; they knew better!
So now I turn my comments to those in the church. Woe to you sinners who are at ease in Zion! You who presume to be among the elect of God, what evidence is there of your election? Let us take you into the courtroom. Let us examine you under the light of truth. You come in week after week to the house of God, yet you are devising evil in your heart! You speak with smooth words that could fool only the most nominal Christian, yet the venom of the asp flows from your bite! You claim genealogy from the Son of God, yet your actions show that your real father is the devil himself! What of you who defame the name of God and blaspheme the Divine Majesty by attributing your sinful actions to the direction of the Holy Spirit? How is that you say “God told me to do this,” when your life is so full of sin, that there is no way you are hearing from God. You follow the voice of folly and arrogance, pride and the sinful way! You sinners at ease in Zion! What is your protection? Do you boast of your works? Your church attendance? Indeed, what are your works or your fruits? Do you bear the fruits of repentance? Thanksgiving? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control? Do you share your faith? Is there holiness of life? Do you abstain from the pleasures and vices of the world, or are you fascinated by them? Do you know your God? Do you fear Him, love Him, and obey Him? Indeed, what is the evidence of your conversion?
Where is the prophet among you who is standing up and crying out “Injustice! Violence! Apostasy! Hypocrisy! Luke warmness! Repent and turn back to God!” Who among you stands up for the truth and yearns to lead sinners in the way? Who of you is righteously indignant at the state of modern Christianity and the apathy that has invaded the churches in America? Who among you have been enlightened by the Spirit to recognize what I am talking about? The majority say, “all is fine, we are doing great!’ Oh sinners at ease in Zion! Sinners on the way to destruction! Blind guides! People living in ignorance! Indeed the Lord said, “My people are destroyed by lack of knowledge!” Where are the tenderhearted? Where are those who burn with fire and whose lives are invaded by the supernatural? Are you there? I have not seen you. Is there a man or woman of God out there who will stand up and be counted? Is their a man or woman of God out there who will challenge the status quo of the pretenders who camp all around you? Where are you? Come out! For I am sure that God has his remnant!
Hear the words of Amos the prophet! He unloads a scathing rebuke on those arrogant sinners who are living in a makeshift security devised by their own corrupted mind. He pronounces the prophetic curse, “woe”, to those in Judah and Israel because of the monstrosity of their sins that rise up into the nostrils of a Holy God. In their pride, the covenant people of God felt “secure” because they presumed upon God that being a covenant nation gave them a right to spiritual apathy. They claimed that they were secure because their city dwelled in the “mountain of Samaria”, deeming themselves impregnable from any oncoming onslaught. Oh see the picture of these arrogant, self absorbed people, sprawled out upon their fine couches, drinking the best of wines, while their nation slips into moral decadence and apostasy. Now, mind you, these were the leaders who were doing this, the “distinguished men from the foremost of nations, to whom the house of Israel comes.” Boasting in their pride and material gain, these wicked imposters “put off the day of calamity” and had no after thought of the judgment of God. Day by day they were storing up wrath for themselves. They had fallen asleep. They were at ease on the Holy Mount of God. Indeed, did they think that God would never rise up and avenge His name? Did they think that God would turn His face from the spiritual adultery that was going on? Yes they did! Yet God through Amos had word for them that flew in the face of their self absorption and false security: The Lord GOD has sworn by Himself, the LORD God of hosts has declared: "I loathe the arrogance of Jacob, And detest his citadels; Therefore I will deliver up the city and all it contains." Judgment was inevitable. Those sinners who now sit at ease in Zion will soon be weighted down with heaviness of heart over the destruction that will befall them. Those sinners who now sit at ease in Zion will soon eat the ashes of the ruins of their riches. Those sinners at ease in Zion, who presume upon the goodness and forbearance of God, will receive back to them all the oppression that they brought upon others. Why such a strict judgment? Because these were the covenant people of God; they knew better!
So now I turn my comments to those in the church. Woe to you sinners who are at ease in Zion! You who presume to be among the elect of God, what evidence is there of your election? Let us take you into the courtroom. Let us examine you under the light of truth. You come in week after week to the house of God, yet you are devising evil in your heart! You speak with smooth words that could fool only the most nominal Christian, yet the venom of the asp flows from your bite! You claim genealogy from the Son of God, yet your actions show that your real father is the devil himself! What of you who defame the name of God and blaspheme the Divine Majesty by attributing your sinful actions to the direction of the Holy Spirit? How is that you say “God told me to do this,” when your life is so full of sin, that there is no way you are hearing from God. You follow the voice of folly and arrogance, pride and the sinful way! You sinners at ease in Zion! What is your protection? Do you boast of your works? Your church attendance? Indeed, what are your works or your fruits? Do you bear the fruits of repentance? Thanksgiving? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control? Do you share your faith? Is there holiness of life? Do you abstain from the pleasures and vices of the world, or are you fascinated by them? Do you know your God? Do you fear Him, love Him, and obey Him? Indeed, what is the evidence of your conversion?
Where is the prophet among you who is standing up and crying out “Injustice! Violence! Apostasy! Hypocrisy! Luke warmness! Repent and turn back to God!” Who among you stands up for the truth and yearns to lead sinners in the way? Who of you is righteously indignant at the state of modern Christianity and the apathy that has invaded the churches in America? Who among you have been enlightened by the Spirit to recognize what I am talking about? The majority say, “all is fine, we are doing great!’ Oh sinners at ease in Zion! Sinners on the way to destruction! Blind guides! People living in ignorance! Indeed the Lord said, “My people are destroyed by lack of knowledge!” Where are the tenderhearted? Where are those who burn with fire and whose lives are invaded by the supernatural? Are you there? I have not seen you. Is there a man or woman of God out there who will stand up and be counted? Is their a man or woman of God out there who will challenge the status quo of the pretenders who camp all around you? Where are you? Come out! For I am sure that God has his remnant!
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