DEAD MEN WALKING

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”  Ephesians 2:1-2

         I’m quite sure those who have not yet received Christ into their heart and lives do not think of themselves as being dead, but the reality of it is that they are due to their lifestyle.  The ruler of the kingdom of the air spoken of is Satan.  Cast out of heaven with the other angels who followed him in His rebellion against God, he now wreaks havoc on this earth.  The thing that many people don’t seem to realize is that although the devil is the ruler of this world, God still has ultimate control over him and everything in existence.  If there were something out of His control He would cease to be God for by His very nature He is all-powerful¹, all knowing² and all places at the same time by the Spirit³. 

         The fact that they are living a disobedient life would come as a shock to most unbelievers.  They can disassociate themselves with that fact by simply denying the existence of God.  Problem solved.  They never consider that life needs to have order to it.  Without order there is chaos and while it may seem to be just that at times, there is without question a certain order to everything that transpires in life.  God has set the standard and the bar hasn’t been set too high for people to achieve victory.  Seek, receive, surrender and obey.  It’s pretty straightforward.  Folks get all hung up on the issue of the unseen nature of God.  It’s as if everyone lived in Missouri⁴; they want to be shown before they believe.  It doesn’t work that way. “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:7). Faith can blossom from hearing the word spoken by someone on the street or at work, not just in church.  But without faith people will never come to know God. 

         Disassociate yourself from this world, for it is dying.  Live a life worthy of the price paid for your salvation.  Don’t make God’s grace⁵ into a cheap thing by living as you choose.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹ Omnipotent.

² Omniscient.

³ Omnipresent.

⁴ Missouri is known as the “Show Me” state.

⁵ Simply defined as God’s “unmerited or undeserved favor”.      

WE’VE BEEN RESCUED

“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”  Galatians 1:3

         This greeting from the Apostle Paul to the church in Galatia speaks of a rescue.  We were drowning in our own sin and didn’t even realize it until it was pointed out to us.  It’s as if we were bobbing up and down in the Atlantic Ocean with no way to save ourselves and therefore no hope.  Christ rescued us when we were incapable of rescuing ourselves.  Many times it’s when we are at the end of our rope and have no other means of rescue that we reach out to Christ.  In our desperation we grab for anything that can keep us afloat.  The Law of Moses may have been a means of staying afloat, but it didn’t rescue us from our sinful state or ourselves. Only Christ’s death on the cross could completely and for all time set us free from that which had us bound. 

         The devil desires to trip us up at every turn. His attacks are indiscriminant, for he will create a snare for both young or old, male or female in an effort to keep us from finding that which will set us free from the bondage sin causes.  Christ gave Himself willingly to provide a means of rescue for whoever would accept it.

         Salvation isn’t a blanket pardon that falls over all mankind.  It is a gift that must be requested and then received.  It was and is the will of God to provide this gift, this rescue and for that we must give Him glory forever and ever.  No one else could have rescued us.  We cannot rescue ourselves, nor can we rescue anyone else.  It’s God alone through Christ that provides all we will ever need to save us from the sin that has us bound.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

TRUE BELIEF

“Jesus answered, ‘The work of God is this: to believe¹ in the one he has sent.’” John 6:29

         There is a difference between accepting that something is true and placing your faith and trust in it.  Many people say they believe in the existence of God, yet never place their trust in Him.  Head knowledge, when not acted on, is useless.  Believing in Jesus should cause a spiritual activation to take place, if it is sincere and from the heart.  Having a disconnect between our head and our heart is tragic, in that we know yet don’t allow ourselves to feel that which we know. 

Truly knowing Jesus up close and personal requires an effort.  We don’t learn about Him and all He means to us through osmosis, the way a plant soaks in sunlight and moisture. We must make a concerted and deliberate effort to fully trust the Lord in all circumstances. It’s a progressive thing that starts when we first placed our faith in Him.  

Simply acknowledging God’s existence without embracing the redemptive work done on Calvary’s cross is a meaningless exercise that will bring about no change in our lives.  Immersion is needed.  Diving into God’s word and placing full trust that it is accurate and true, then living according to the standards set forth within its’ pages will lead you down the path God has laid before you.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹ To have faith, confidence, or trust.

PEACE IN THE MIDST OF STRIFE

“You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you.”  Isaiah 26:3

         In Philippians 4:7, the Apostle Paul writes that we shall receive from the Lord peace that passes all understanding.  The peace that God provides is not anything that can be purchased or bartered for.  We can simply ask for it and receive it.  It comes from having unshakable faith in an unseen God.  It comes from allowing that faith to blossom into full blown trust.  If we truly trust the Lord in all circumstances than we can ask for peace in any situation and receive it. 

This peace cannot be understood with the natural mind for it is a supernatural event.  It comes from remaining fully focused on the Lord at all times. The word steadfast means unchanging or unswerving; constant.  Don’t allow any circumstance to unsettle you in your spirit and cause you to lose your nerve.  Stand unchanged in the face of it and watch God move.  He will not fail you in the heat of the moment and will never turn His back on you.  He is your Heavenly Father and He loves you.  He desires for you to succeed in all you do, so do that which is pleasing in His sight and you will be a success in the eyes of all of heaven.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

ARE YOU SAILING IN A FOG?

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”  Romans 12:2

         We live our lives one day at a time.  The world is constantly tugging at us in the attempt to draw us in.  There was a time when we lived in this world and were easily swayed by that which sought to influence us.  As a Christian, we are now supposed to fill out minds with God’s word as a means of fighting the temptations that seek to drag us down. 

         The only way we can avoid conforming to this world’s pattern is to become as familiar with scripture as we can.  Frankly, it’s the only way we have any chance of discerning God’s will for our lives. 

         Reading the Bible may seem boring to the unbeliever, but in it lies the pathway to forgiveness, righteousness, peace and hope. Unbelievers, struggling to keep themselves autonomous, feel no need to change their course even though rocks may lie ahead.  Picture this: a ship at sea, circa 1800, sailing in a dense fog.  The captain of that vessel has no idea what lies ahead.  Could be open seas or something far worse.  God needs to be our captain and the Holy Spirit our radar to avoid those things of the world that can bring us down.

         The good and perfect will of our Heavenly Father is not impossible to discern if we take the time to seek it.  The Lord desires for us to know it so that we can reach the full potential we are all capable of.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

LIVING & LOVING GOD’S WORD

“Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble.”  Psalm 119:165

         To love is to obey, at least when it comes to the standards that God lays before us. The law spoken of is the Mosaic Law or the Ten Commandments.  Christ’s death fulfilled the Law once for all time, therefore, we are not required to follow the commandments as a means of salvation; however, the true believer will end up living them out anyway as a result of godly living.

We are not required to follow God, but rather, the spirit within us feels compelled to do so out of voluntary allegiance.  That compulsion comes from the Holy Spirit welling up within us and overflowing into all areas of our lives.  Living according to God’s word will keep us from stumbling.  We stumble due to our own ignorance.  We take our eyes off the Lord thinking we can handle a certain situation without His input and get tripped up as a result.  It’s not the end of the world.  God will help us up, dust us off and point us in the right direction once again.  In a way it’s like teaching your child how to ride a bike without training wheels for the first time.

God isn’t a tyrant or dictator.  We aren’t enslaved to Him if we commit our lives to His plan for our lives.  We are to voluntarily surrender our will over to His control.  Why on earth would we ever do that?  Because quite simply, He created us and knows us better than we could ever know ourselves.  He will never steer us in the wrong direction and won’t play mind games with us either.  His plan is straightforward, fair, just and will bring to us the greatest benefit and the peace we all long for.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

GOD’S SUPPORT & CONSOLATION

“When I said, ‘My foot is slipping,’ your unfailing love, Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”  Psalm 94:18-19

         This Psalm is one of the numerous prayers for deliverance¹ found in the Psalter.  David endured many harrowing dangers during his life and it was during these times that he wrote these prayers.  When the Psalter was formed into a collection King David was long gone, so it would have been future worshippers seeking deliverance from their own plight that cried out these prayers.

         In looking at the text we see words that we can relate to quite well.  Danger of a spiritual nature lurks all around us in the form of temptation.  To avoid slipping and falling into a set of unfortunate circumstances, we are to lean heavily on the Lord, for He can and will support you if you seek His support.  Remember, God forces Himself on no one.  It is our choice to cry out or silently endure. 

         In spite of the fact that Paul specifically told us to be anxious for nothing (Phil. 4:6-7), we still get anxious.  Why?  Because we are from dust and to dust we shall return.  We are human beings who struggle with placing our unwavering trust in the unseen.  Even the most committed believer struggles from time to time.  It’s built into our nature to question and hold back.  Even when anxiety is great within us, God brings consolation.  In other words, the Lord brings comfort to those who need it at the precise moment they need it the most.  I know we can trust God without reservation because there is no record in all of scripture that tells of a time when He has failed to do that which He has promised to do.  That’s why it is so incredibly important to read the Bible. 

How can you know about His character and the promises He has made to His children if you don’t read about them?  You can’t, that’s the point.  Allow God to be your support and consolation starting today.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

¹ Prayers for deliverance from accusation and persecution - (Psalms 3–5, 7, 9-13, 17, 25-27, 31, 35, 42-43, 54-59, 62-64, 69-71, 86, 94, 109, 120, 139-143)

NOTE:  Reference used was the Asbury Bible Commentary: Part II - Psalms

ONE DROP DOES IT ALL

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”  Romans 8:32

         God gave up His only Son for our sin; the ultimate sacrifice, the worthy for the unworthy.  The incredible thing about it is that one drop of Christ’s blood cleanses any and all sin.  The pure and spotless Lamb of God laid down His own life for all of mankind.  What an unbelievable event in the annals of time.  Knowing we were worthy of being cast into hell’s lake of fire for all eternity God willingly offered His Son to not just cover, but erase our transgressions for all time. Still, even with this amazing truth available men choose not to believe it.  That fact alone is testament to the notion that mankind is incapable of reasoning out rational scenarios.  We fight for our right to live as we choose never being able to see the big picture.  God isn’t trying to trick man into serving Him.  He is freely offering us a pardon.  He is offering to remove the death sentence we were born with and replace it with eternal life.  The only catch is we must ask for it and as with any gift, receive it.

          The “things” Paul is speaking of here are not whatever we desire, but rather all the things we need in this life to survive.  God has promised to provide for and sustain us throughout this life if we will allow Him to.  So many Christians give their lives to the Lord and then take it back only to struggle with things they shouldn’t have to wrestle with.   God is faithful and more than worthy of all praise.  He has provided a way to escape our just punishment and will provide a life filled with blessings if we allow Him to.  Surrender your will over to your loving Heavenly Father.  You will not be cheated.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

HOPE IN GOD

“Why, my soul, are you downcast?
  Why so disturbed within me?
  Put your hope in God,
 for I will yet praise him,
 my Savior and my God.”  Psalm 42:5

            This Psalm is referred to as a instructional ode or hymn.  David was in flight from his own son Absalom and therefore was removed from his normal routine of going to the house of God to lift praises to His name.  The situation he found himself in caused his soul to be downcast. 

This Psalm was a means of encouraging his own soul and spirit to praise God regardless of his circumstances for God never changes like shifting sand.  Our Lord remains a constant source of wisdom, guidance and encouragement to us all.  If we place our faith in the one true constant in a sea of inconsistency, we will be blessed among men.  Sure, we will have moments of doubt or even days where we struggle with our own reality, but in the end when the dust settles on our day we should we able to look heavenward and still offer praise to a God who loves us relentlessly and will never fail us.

Our faith should be the basis for any hope we might have.  Faith gives birth to trust and with trust comes the realization that God will always be there to comfort and guide us through any set of circumstances we may find ourselves in.  David knew this.  That’s why he was able to praise the Lord even though his life was in danger.  God will never fail us and is both with us in the midst of our struggles and at the end of it waiting for us to arrive.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

OUR EVER PRESENT GOD

“I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”  Psalm 16:8

         This is referred to as The Golden or Precious Psalm. David, it’s author, had known many reasons in his life to be cautious, apprehensive or even fearful, yet he proclaims boldly in this hymn of praise that he will not be moved or shaken.  His reliance of the Lord was undeniable. 

         So it should be with believers today.  We must be as Peter in John 6:67-68 when he said in response to Jesus question of if he would depart from Him “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Forgiveness and unconditional love comes from no one else by Almighty God.  Men have searched the world over for a suitable replacement for the God of Christianity and have come up empty.  There is but one true God and Savior of mankind.  It is man’s desire to remain autonomous* that drives him to continue his search, to find even the vaguest justification for their rejection of the notion that an unseen deity could possibly be the answer to life’s most burning question.  Yes, God is real and waits for an individual’s search to end with Him.

          As a believer we are to keep our focus squarely on our Lord.  He is with us and in us by the person of the Holy Spirit and isn’t going anywhere.  We will never be alone again; therefore we have no reason to be shaken or fearful.  God will never allow us to fail or fall as long as we commit our way to His standards and allow Him to take the lead.  We can’t have it both ways.  We can’t wholly rely on God and captain the ship at the same time.  We must relinquish control of our lives to the Lord.  The benefits far out weigh any autonomy* we feel we should have. Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!

* Not controlled by others or by outside forces; independent. [American Heritage Dictionary]

WALKING WITH CHRIST

“Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12

         The Apostle John, the same writer of the gospel bearing his name, lays it out pretty plain and clear for all to read and understand.  There is life and there is the life God gives.  One is merely existing, the other is living for the Almighty God and benefitting from all the many blessings His has set aside for us.  You either believe it, embrace it in faith and trust that it’s true or you don’t.  God gave us a free will to choose. 

         The next point that needs to be made is are you, as a believer, tapping into all that God has to offer.  Are you merely living a “Christian” life because you feel you now have to or are you living by God’s standards because you want to?  There’s a big difference between doing something out of a sense of obligation and doing something out of compulsion.  We should be serving God because we truly have a heartfelt desire to do so and for no other reason.  Our allegiance is to be voluntary.  If we spend an ample amount of time in God’s word we will know what is required of us as His children.  We never have to do anything for God, but we can.  How exciting to serve a God who desires to use us for the expansion of His kingdom.  If that doesn’t get you excited nothing will.

         Has your walk with Christ become a crawl?  Is it stale and lifeless?  Whose fault is it, God’s?  No, God never changes.  He was and is and always shall be.  We are the ones who change.  Our moods, our disposition, our attitudes fluctuate every day based on our circumstances.  I suppose that’s all part of being human.  While God understands our weaknesses and shortcomings, He does expect us to grow past it at some point.  If we never or rarely feed ourselves spiritual food we will either not grow or have our growth stunted.  Embrace Christ and all He stands for and live the life you’ve been given with all you’ve got.  Not for God’s sake, but for yours.  Until next time, walk with the King and be a blessing!