Tuesday Thrombosis | 29 July 2014 – Unfaithfulness

Yesterday’s post looked at the faithfulness of God. Today let’s look at what happens when man is unfaithful.

I love the forthright way that Solomon went about articulating the wisdom that God shared with him. Remember, Solomon asked for wisdom. In turn, God gave it to him.

1 Kings 4:29 (KJV)

29  And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore.

1 Kings 5:12 (KJV)

12  And the LORD gave Solomon wisdom, as he promised him: and there was peace between Hiram and Solomon; and they two made a league together.

1 Kings 10:24 (KJV)

24  And all the earth sought to Solomon, to hear his wisdom, which God had put in his heart.

You’ve got to admit the man was wise. When all the earth sought after Solomon because of his wisdom he clearly must have had something to say.

Look at what he had to say about unfaithful men.

Proverbs 25:19 (KJV)

19  Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.

If you have ever experience tooth pain you just cringed when you read that. When I was about 11 or 12 years old my brothers and I were playing in our backyard. Tim had one of my friends pinned to the ground tickling him. I ran toward Tim with the intent of lunging toward him to knock him off of my friend. Just about the time I leapt he raised up. My face met his shoulder and broke my front tooth off at the gum line. I cannot remember ever having such pain before or since.

When you commit to someone and then go back on your word it is like snapping a tooth off at the gum line. The primary affect of a broken tooth, besides the pain, is you cannot eat properly. Your ability to consume proper nutrition is impeded. You whole body suffers because of it.

What about a foot out of joint? I guess the closest I’ve ever come to having a foot out of joint was a sprained ankle. If a foot out of joint is worse than that, then OOOCH! The problem caused by a foot injury is mobility is limited. You cannot go where you need to go. You cannot bear the weight that you could normally bear. Productivity is diminished.

So today’s thrombosis is a double-threat. When you are unfaithful, those who were counting on you are deeply affected. Their diet and mobility experience potentially irreparable loss. If you have a difficult time keeping your word then seek help from the Lord. Begin with repentance. Consider the ramifications of your actions. Realize that others need what you have to offer, but can only benefit from it when you can be trusted. God is faithful! He can teach you how to be faithful.

Monday Mooring | 28 July 2014 – God Is Faithful

There are few things that count more than being faithful. When God came to give us His life through the promises He made to Abraham, God made this bold declaration:

Hebrews 6:13 (KJV)

13  For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,

When you receive a promise from the most powerful force that exists there is no one that can prevent that promise from being kept. When that most-powerful-force is also one that cannot go back on their word, you now have a guarantee that whatever has been promised will come to pass!

Hebrews 10:22-23 (KJV)

22  Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

When you commit your life to God it is in hands that cannot mishandle it. He cannot loose it. He cannot be anything but Himself: faithful.

2 Timothy 1:12-13 (KJV)

12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

13  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Let this become the anchor for your soul: HE IS FAITHFUL. Know your God, the One in Whom you believe. Become fully persuaded of His ability to keep you. Then commit your life to Him with no reservations.

He is able! He is faithful!

Tuesday Thrombosis | 15 July 2014 - A Religious Spirit

One of the strongest arguments for being part of a local church is accountability. When we are accountable to “one another” as we see repeated in scripture it keeps us in a healthy place. Just as a well-tended garden is green and lush with fragrant beauty and abundant fruit, so is the Believer, the Disciple of Jesus when cared for by a loving group of fellow Believers.

The Lone Ranger Christian is one ruled by a religious spirit. It is difficult to correct someone controlled by a religious spirit. They have all the answers. They can quote book-chapter-verse on many subjects. It is difficult for these to be “real” with other Believers. It’s not that they are involved in overt sin. But the priority is to present a front of spiritual maturity.

Here’s a couple of questions to ask yourself to determine the level, if any, of a religious spirit that might be at work in your life:

1. When you hear a message from scripture do you immediately think who needs to hear it?

2. If someone shares a problem with you do you always quote scripture instead of actually listening and feeling concerned for them?

3. Do you pray repetitious prayers of repentance for “everyone”, as opposed to personal repentance?

4. Do you attempt to justify any of your behavior by blaming evil spirits instead of personal accountability?

James 1:26 (KJV) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.

The problem with deception is the fact that you are deceived. That is the reason we need the Body. The body knows when a part of it is not functioning properly. It experiences pain and rallies resources to bring healing to the ailing member and restore health to the whole Body. A religious spirit can be a true thrombosis to the Body and block the natural flow of God’s plan and purpose for His people.

Pray for the Lord to open YOUR eyes to the truth concerning what motivates you to what you do for the Lord. Ask Him to fill you with love for others. A religious spirit cannot remain in a heart surrendered to God.

Monday Mooring | 14 July 2014 – Yet I Will Rejoice

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (KJV) Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.

What do you do when there is nothing else you can do? The same thing that we should do when there are plenty of things to do: rejoice in the Lord; take joy in the God of our salvation.

If God ever becomes your problem then you have no hope, no solution. Regardless of what it looks like God is not your problem. He is always your answer. Rejoice in Him. Find joy in Him. Find strength in Him. Because in so doing your path will be established to take you higher in Him.

Sing that for a while!

Thor’s Day Thundering | 3 July 2014 – The Power of Worship

Isaiah 6:1-4 (KJV) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.

Throughout scripture you see the significance of “one another.” Your life as a disciple of Jesus is to be shared with others. I don’t mean ONLY in evangelism, but with other believers. In this vision Isaiah saw “one cried unto another” and between them the glory manifested so strongly that the building was shaken and filled with smoke.

This is Old Testament. The glory of God came ON people and circumstances. In our New Testament experience the glory of God is inward, but is stirred nonetheless. When you gather with others in worship to our Father, the Bible says that Jesus will be in our midst. That is enough for me. When Jesus is present His power is manifested through those who are His disciples. The power of God to break every stronghold is present.

Make time in your life to “holy, holy, holy” with some fellow believers and see what God will do.