The Desire of the World

The following post is the second in a series taken from the book "A Heart Ablaze" by John Bevere.

Of all those who were delivered from Egypt, Moses was the one who was most entangled in its ways. He was raised in Pharaoh's house, he was schooled in Egyptian wisdom, and all of his friends were Egyptian. The other Hebrew men and women were at least in their own community within Egypt. They were treated harshly by that society, yet Moses was treated well by its treasures and wisdom. They had not been as involved with its whole system to the degree that Moses had been. So if anyone could have said that it was harder to get free from the desires of Egypt, it should have been Moses. Yet he had no desire for any form of Egypt, while the children of Israel continually gravitated for it.


Why did the people of Israel, who were less intertwined with Egypt's ways than Moses was, gravitate back to it, while Moses displayed no desire to have anything to do with its ways? Why was the one who was more entangled with the world less interested in its ways?

If we examine the two, we will find the difference. We will also have a very clear picture of two distinctive groups of people that make up the church today, with Moses representing one group and the children of Israel the other. We will see why many today in the church conform to the world while others in the church, even though some have come out of great entanglements of bondage, have no desire to return the world.

For centuries the children of Israel had prayed and cried for deliverance from their Egyptian oppressors. They longed to return to the land of promise. They had been slaves all of their lives. Their fathers, grandfathers, and great grandfathers had been slaves. God sent their deliverer, Moses. The people experienced overwhelming joy. They saw the signs Moses performed. I can just hear them crying, shouting and exclaiming, "It has finally happened. God has come to set us free!" Can you imagine the feelings in that meeting? They had been slaves all of their lives. The promise of deliverance had been talked about for four hundred years. The people experienced overwhelming joy.


Moses left that meeting and went to Pharaoh and proclaimed the same message from the Lord. He commanded Pharaoh to "let His people go". But Pharaoh responded by increasing their hardship. No longer would straw be provided for the endless number of bricks that the Israelites were to produce each day. They would have to glean by night and labor by day. The total number of bricks would not diminish, although their straw was removed. God's word of freedom had increased their hardship and suffering.


The children of Israel's attitude starting changing. They complained and told Moses to "leave them alone and to quit preaching to Pharaoh; you are making life worse for us. " They were the same ones who had worshipped God just days earlier when Moses first brought the news.


When God finally delivered them from Egypt, Pharaoh's heart was hardened again and he pursued the Israelites into the wilderness with his finest chariots and warriors. Seeing that Egypt had rallied against them and that they were backed up to the Red Sea, the Hebrews again complained: "Didn't we tell you to leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than die in the wilderness" (Ex. 14 :12)


"It would have been better for us." In essence they were saying, "why should we do what you say God speaks when it is only making our lives more miserable? We are worse off - not better." They were quick to compare their former lifestyle with their present condition. Whenever the two did not balance, the Israelites wanted to go back. They desired whatever appealed to their best interests over the desire to fulfill God's will. Oh, how they lacked true desire for God in their love for their own lives!


God split the sea, and the children of Israel crossed on dry land and saw their oppressors drowned. They celebrated with dancing and praising before Him. They were firm believers and nothing would draw them back. They were certain they would never again doubt His goodness. But they did not know their own hearts - their intentions, yes, but their desires, no. Another test would arise and again expose their unfaithfulness. Just three days later they complained that they wanted not bitter water, but sweet. (Ex. 15:22-25) Their thoughts were already turning to what they had in Egypt that they lacked in God's desert.


A few more days passed and they complained about the lack of food. They same behavior continued. They complained whenever they encountered situations that weren't to their liking. As long as it seemed good for them, they kept God's Word and appeared to desire Him. But if obedience meant to go a direction that wasn't pleasing to their flesh, they complained. "Would it not be better for us?" - these words paint a clear picture of their hearts. "For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." (Matt 12:34) Their core motivation for living was made evident by their behavior and words spoken under pressure - it was for themselves. Their focus was their own lives, not God's heart.

(....to be continued)

A Heart Ablaze

I'm reading a book right now by John Bevere called "A Heart Ablaze" and was struck and convicted by so many things in it. It is so rich and for the next few posts I just want to share from it. I cannot take credit for any of the following:

One of two things is going to happen in the life of a believer: either he is going to be conformed into the image of Jesus by allowing the Word of God to change him, or he is going to conform Jesus into the image of what his heart dictates. As in Exodus with the story of the Israelites, if you go to the mountain, you change. If you stay at the foot of the mountain, as Aaron did, God's image in you changes. You make Him what you want Him to be other than Who He truly is.

INTENTIONS OR DESIRES

Romans 12:2 says "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind". Strong's dictionary defines the word conform as "to fashion alike, to shape one thing like another".

Desires and intentions are two different things, although many believe they are one and the same. You can have very good or godly intentions, but they may not be your true desires. Many people say that they desire to walk away from the influences of the world and press into God, yet they don't follow through. They are out of touch with their true desires, for James declares that "each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed" (James 1:13)

A comedian once said, "the devil made me do it". The devil can't make a believer do anything. He can only entice; however, you can't be enticed by something you don't desire. If a line of cocaine or a few hits of LSD were offered to most believers, they would without hesitation refuse them, because they have no desire for them; therefore, they cannot be enticed by them.

We must bring our desires under the submission of the Cross: "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires" (Galatians 5:24). It is not something God does for us; it is something we must do. We can't do it without His grace, yet we must do it. We can be enticed by any wrong desires that we have not put under the Cross. If we have not put away our desire for the world's ways, then we can easily slip back to the world.

Our Approach To Worship

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise"; "praise God in His sanctuary" (Psalms 100:4; 150:1)

As I read these verses, I was reminded that worship is not so much about God coming into our presence as it is about our going into His presence. Furthermore, it is not that God descends to meet with us when we praise, but rather that we ascend unto Him.

If we are having a "bad" worship service, our first thought is that we need the presence of God. The fact is that God is already with us - what we need is to do something, for us to ascend unto the Lord in our hearts. Isaiah 2:3 "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord...." The problem is never with God for He is always ready; the problem is with us, every time.

It is true that God inhabits our praise, that He dwells and abides in our praise. He is made King when we praise Him for we are declaring His Kingship and Lordship to a world that does not recognize Him as Lord. Our praises testify to the saved and the unsaved.

The worship leader cannot produce God's presence. His/her job is to lead God's people UP to Mount Zion. The weight of the responsibility for a worship service is often seen to fall on the shoulders of those on the platform, and the individual in the congregation is relatively free from feeling any responsibility for the service. Not so - we are all ministers before and unto the Lord. It is my responsibility, your responsibility and the responsibility of each person to offer up an individual "sacrifice of praise" to the Lord.

Rather than see how much we can receive on a Sunday morning, let us endeavor to give unto God, to minister to Him, to bless His name. God is not trying to grow lazy leeches who know how to sponge off the pastor and the congregation. God loves givers - people who come intent upon contributing.

Wherever you attend church, go this week and express your love to the Lord in a fuller measure - yes, even with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.

Peacemakers

Matthew 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God.

Jesus didn't say, "Blessed are the peace keepers". He said, "Blessed are the peacemakers." A peace keeper will compromise truth in order to have a false sense of peace. They won't speak up when they should. A peacemaker will confront if need be to have true peace. -Selah!

You Are the Apple of His Eye

For those of you that struggle with God's love and acceptance, read on:

God is intimate and involved, kind and compassionate, accepting and filled with joy over you. He is warm and affectionate - always eager to be with you. He is patient and slow to anger, loving, gentle and protective. God is trustworthy and wants to give you a full life. His will is good, perfect and acceptable for you. He is full of grace and mercy and He gives you freedom to fail. He is tenderhearted and forgiving. His arms are always open wide to you. He is committed to your growth and proud of you as His beloved child.

God is NOT distant and disinterested, insensitive and uncaring. He is NOT stern and demanding, passive or cold. He is NOT too busy for you. He is not impatient, angry, mean, cruel or abusive. He does NOT reject you and is NOT trying to take all of the fun out of your life. God is NOT controlling or manipulative, condemning or unforgiving. He is NOT a nit-picking, demanding perfectionist.

He is God, your Father and you are the apple of His eye!!!

Out With the Old....In With the New

My.... how that title fits the changing of this year. Typically, my blogs are more "spiritual" but today I am just going to blog about the "stuff" in my life. On December 20, 2008, I lost my precious Sadie Girl. It was one day after her 6th birthday. It just went by so fast. I am simply devasted. She was my love, my comfort and my joy. I looked forward to any time I had off just to be at home with Sadie and Jake. For those of you who aren't dog lovers, I don't expect you to understand. I guess because I don't have kids, I have filled my need to nurture with my fur kids. We now have two new puppies named Daisie and Duke. So, the passing of 2008 is symbolic of her passing and the new lives we will now pour into.

The year 2009 will bring my 40th birthday which, to me, symbolizes the passing of my youth. That is probably a twisted thought but it is a little sobering to think I could have very well spent half of the years I've been given to live. Have I been a good steward? I don't feel like I've done enough or attained the spiritual level of maturity I think I should be at by now. My...how the years have "raced" by. Seriously, I have NO IDEA where the last 10 years went. It is a weird feeling to feel the same inside yet look in the mirror and see how the outside has changed. I hope that spiritually that is not the case. The Word says that while our outward bodies are perishing, our spirits are being renewed day by day. I hope my spirit man is being renewed and changed. I was thinking today that if I gave the Lord half of the attention I give my dogs......! I feel that I still struggle with junk that I struggled with 20 years ago. UGH! Nothing is ever good enough...I never measure up. Same old story. The story of my life. A spirit of condemnation. Lord, loose me from these chains that keep me from joy and freedom.

I really want to learn to enjoy my life as well as all of this newness I will be experiencing. I want to see these things as a blessing not a burden. I've read all this stuff on the internet about how shouln't raise two puppies at the same time. Why didn't I do my homework? Actually, I didn't want two. My husband did. So now I'm scared to death it's going to be a chaotic nightmare. I'm not very good with change. Actually, I hate it. I am completely a creature of habit - very boring, too serious, too analytical and very predictable. I'm thinking "what was I thinking - getting two puppies?" I was already on the edge of insanity. This is sure to send me over. Training one dog much less two is A LOT of work and takes A LOT of time. I surely didn't have much of that to spare to begin with....but dogs are so much comfort. Is that selfish? Will this cost me more time that I should be spending with God? I always think/feel that God is not pleased with me. I guess I put so much pressure on myself that I can neveer just enjoy the moment(s) I'm in and then I blink my eyes and those precious moments have gone.

"This day is fragile, soon it will end
And once it has vanished it will not come again
Let us share love, let us share God
Before this day is gone

This day we're given is golden
Let us show love
This day is ours for one moment
Let us sow love

This day is fleeting, it will pass by
And before it's too late to recapture the time
Let us share love, let us share God
Before this day is gone"

Mary or Martha?

Luke 10:41-42 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her".

In this story, Mary had the attitude, "I can eat later; right now Jesus is talking and I want to hear Him". More often that not, I find myself saying, "I can spend time with Jesus later; right now I have so much to do". How many times have I neglected fellowship with the lover of my soul when I hear Him whispering, "leave that behind and come away with me"?

Once again, I have busied myself with the temporary to the neglect of the eternal. I want to blame my attitudes and frustrations on everyone else around me even though it is really due to a lack of my own refreshing - not renewing my mind like I know I should. I have replaced my time of fellowship with Him with the works of my hands and therefore I have spent all of my strength. I often reason that I just don't have time but the truth is we all have time for what we MAKE time for.

I realized after a lot of reflection this weekend how very SELF-CENTERED my thought patterns have become, how sorry I feel for myself, how negative and critical I've been. I can say that I trust in the Lord when all of my circumstances are within my control, when all of my loved ones are acting like I think they should act, when my body is healthy and my job is secure, etc. I also realized how much work it is to maintain the appearance of anything....your body, your house, success, being "spiritual". We can be so busy keeping up the outward appearance that the inward part of us is a mess. Keeping up appearances drains us of the energy we need to change. Our culture rewards achievement and appearance, but God rewards faithfulness and substance.

If allowed, the demands and pressures around you will always usurp your priorities and disorder your day. Why do I continue to allow that? Why do you?