Humility. Strength. Power.

Deuteronomy 31:23 “Adonai also commissioned Y’hoshua [Joshua] the son of Nun with these words: “Be strong and full of courage; for you are to bring the people of Isra’el into the land about which I swore to them; and I will be with you.”” (CJB)


Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (NIV)


God has a blessing, a purpose and a cause for your life. In God’s plans are the seeds of greatness. It may not be “Greatness” according to man’s estimate but it is Greatness by God’s knowing. Every place He would take you requires a step of boldness. God wants you to be bold. God wants you to be strong.’


However, God first wants you to be humble.


Proverbs 15:33 “The discipline of wisdom is fear of Adonai, so before being honored, a person must be humble.” (CJB)


Numbers 12:3 “Now Moses was a humble man…”


Matthew 5:5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”


Psalms 37:11 “But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.”


Meekness means having a humble heart. A humble heart pleases the Lord. Boldness and strength are valued when going about God’s work: Proverbs 28:1 “The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the righteous are as bold as a lion.”


We also know that God grants us this power thru his Holy Spirit: Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes oh you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”


He wants first a humble heart. God needs a humble heart. Then He will embolden this heart and give it strength to carry out His work. Your blessing will find its fulfillment, however, none of this is possible without humility. Humble yourself as Joshua, David and Moses did and He will make you strong and bold. Humility is the first step toward power.


1 Peter 5:5-7
(5) “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves in humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (6) Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. (7) Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”


2 Chronicles 7:13-14
(13) “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, (14) if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”


But what is humbleness? What is humility?


“Humility, the place of entire dependence upon God, is from the very nature of things the first duty and the highest virtue of His creatures… [It] is simply the sense of entire nothingness that comes when we see how truly God is everything. When the creature realizes that this is a place or honor, and consents to be the vessel in which the life and glory of God are to work and manifest themselves, he sees that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of his position as creature and yielding to God His place.” - Andrew Murray, “Humility: the Journey Toward Holiness”


“If you are looking for an example of humility, look at the cross.” -Thomas Aquinas


Philippians 2:5-9
(5) “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
(7) but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
(8) And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!
(9) Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name.”


Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion! Shout in triumph, Daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you; He is just and endowed with salvation, Humble, and mounted on a donkey, even on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” (NASB)


Matthew 11:29 “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”


I would therefore say our ultimate example of humility would be Jesus. He didn’t come as a King conquering with the sword. He came as a servant offering his life, his blood and his body. He was bruised, beaten and broken so that we might have eternal life.


John 18:36-37
(36) “Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
(37) “You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.””


Matthew 25:31-46
(31) “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. (32) All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. (33) He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
(34) “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. (35) For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, (36) I need clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
(37) “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? (38) When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? (39) When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
(40) “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’
(41) “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. (42) For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty an you gave me nothing to drink, (43) I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.
(44) “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
(45) “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’
(46) “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, and the righteous to eternal life.”


John 13:3-17
(3) “Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; (4) so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. (5) After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
(6) He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” (7) Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
(8) “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part of me.”
(9) “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
(10) Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” (11) For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. (12) When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. (13) ”You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. (14) Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. (15) I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. (16) I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than the one who sent him. (17) Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.”


Christ showed us humility: as the true King, as a servant and as a sacrifice. When you stick your “Self” on the tree you give up yourself to God. Total surrender comes thru the cross. Let us continually rely on God for all our needs. Let us continually find our nothingness in His awesome completeness. We must be nothing so that God can be everything. We must pour out our selves so that God can pour in His Holy Spirit.


-Nick

A quick Prayer

I am getting weary.
“Waiting on the Lord,” has turned into “Waiting on the Dentist.”
Lord, I need a refreshing and a reminder.
I need a refreshing of your Spirit, but first I need a reminder of your Grace.
Above all I must repent.
I am a wicked and low-down sinner.
I am undeserving of your love and grace.
Yet, you give it anyway.
Thank you Father.
Teach me to hate what you hate.
Teach me to loathe sin.
Teach me to love what you love.
Teach me to love others.
Especially my Enemies.
Lord I love you.


Amen


-N

Taking a break for a bit while I focus on Mid-terms.  Thankfully, Spring Break is almost upon us.  Shall attempt a reading marathon during the break.  Projected books:

Jesus Rediscovered by Malcolm Muggeridge
Reflections on the Psalms by CS Lewis (finish off)
The God They Never Knew by George Otis Jr.

Seems a fairly easy goal don't you think?

-Nick

Greetings

Matt 28:8-9
"So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples."
"And behold, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him"

I'm suddenly struck by this passages great beauty.  In Jesus' "Greetings!" lies a larger subtext. He isn't just saying "Hi" or "Hello."  It carries the weight of his love. Like a father greets his most beloved child. Here Christ's words jump with a great joy. I cannot wait to see Jesus and hear him issue me this same "Greetings!" I continually feel God's Love all around in this time of our physical separation. We have the promise of one day seeing him in his full glory and wonder so that we too will be full of fear and great joy, worshiping him as our Lord and King.

-N

Friends of Paralysis

Mark 2:1-12
Luke 5:17-26
Matt 9:2-8

Consider the paralyzed man's friends. They couldn't get inside to see Jesus because of the great multitudes. Instead of giving up they scaled the house and ripped open the roof to lower their friend to Jesus. We Christians are the friends and the world is the paralyzed man. Would we use every means necessary to bring our friends to Christ?  We can't save them but we can show them our Lord. Are we so bold to climb a house and dismantle a roof in order to present Christ?  Or are we cowards?

-N

Holiness

I Peter 1:13-2:25

What is holiness? Holiness is doing that which pleases God. If we really desire to do what God wants, and if we really desire the Kingdom of God then holiness ought to be important. Being holy means more than just not doing this or that:

"I don't smoke, I don't get drunk, I don't do drugs, I don't sleep with my boy/girlfriend."

Well, good for me. Do I get a cookie? I'm not supposed to smoke or get drunk, or do drugs, or fornicate. That's all well and good. I know lots of heathens that don't do that stuff. They aren't holy, not by God's reckoning anyhow. Holiness goes beyond what we aren't doing and into what we are doing. Why do I do the things I do and who do I do them for?

Holy from Greek word Haggios meaning

Set apart to God

who's we are

Set apart for God

To use us as He wishes

Who are we? Who is using us? And what is He using us for?

We are holy when we acquiesce to God's will, when we realize that we are His children, and when we obey His commands. We don't have to DO any special task or great quest to be Holy. The second we become His child we are holy. We are made holy by Christ's death on the cross and his resurrection. By trusting in this salvation we are holy. By obeying His commands and allowing ourselves to be used by God we are Holy.

First we become holy when we become God's children. Then, God says “Come, Follow me.” Finally we trust Him as we follow. As we follow Christ we will so fill ourselves with God, and His will that we will reflect God to all mankind

-N

A Previous Lament about the "Self"

Sometimes I'm so sick of my “Self” I could scream. Why do I carry around my old sins like badges of honor? Who cares that I once was an alcoholic? Or that I slept around before I received salvation? I haven't been those things in so long its like talking about a different person. And yet here I lie, carrying around my old sinful baggage. When I was washed clean by the blood of the Lamb all my sins went away. I'm a new creation, I'm a brand new man. All sins are washed away I'm born again. So, then by that logic I should have ceased to be a drunkard and a whore. And yet...

In some small way I feel as though I am calling God a liar and not trusting in His gifts. In a way I am hedging my bets against the afterlife that I intellectually believe, but sometimes cannot emotional comprehend. Why should God care about an insignificant speck such as myself? What's so great about me that Jesus came and died for all my sins forever and ever and ever and ever...? There I go again, tripping up on the same old trap. Self. Its like an odd place in the concrete that catches my foot and causes me to stumble. I hit it each time with my lead-off foot and take a header into the cement. Maybe I bruise up my knee or skin up my hands, it all depends on how hard and fast I was stepping. Self. That self important voice in the back of my head clamoring for a moment to make its case. Its constant call for an audience is a cacophony that is sometimes hard to ignore. I am never filled with self loathing as I am when I give into my “Self.” 

“Daily you must crucify...” Crucifixion is long, and crucifixion is painful. I must daily stake my “self' onto that tree and curse it dead. I must make a conscience effort to join that which I know to be true in my head with that which I know to be true in my heart. I must never take my eyes off the Cross or risk wandering lost in the wilderness.

When Christ came to die for us he came as the infinite God made flesh. He felt every pain we ever felt, was tempted by every sin we could possibly endure and died in the worst way imagined by man. He lived as us so that he could die for us. In the moment when he died all sins from the beginning of time to the end of time were held under that divine and beautiful sacrifice. No more would man have to go through long and specific tasks to achieve holiness. Now man could achieve holiness through a simple act of contrite obedience. And when he died on that cross and I believed and loved and trusted him for it I ceased to be a drunkard and a whore. This is a lovely and beautiful gift. 

The moment you trust in this gift and love him for it is the moment you are to give up your old “Self” and begin staking that loud obnoxious waste on the tree. You are no longer a Drunk, an Addict, a Liar, a Cheat, a Murderer, a Whore, a Thief. You are washed clean. Throw your old self to the executioner.

You ever wonder why we don't see Old Testament signs and wonders any more? Back in the Old Testament God spoke audibly and with regularity to His people. He also intervened in a very clear and powerful way. When God brought Israel into Canaan all they had to do was cross the Jordan and TAKE THE LAND OF BLESSING. Blessings aren't just going to happen because we want one. Blessings aren't going to happen because we recite some stupid mantra or a special prayer or a collage. Israel didn't receive the blessing of the promised land by sitting in Moab counting sheep. Joshua and Caleb lead them into war and they laid claim to their blessing. God wants to Bless you. Its true. Just don't expect it whilst you sit on your butt. Every battle that Israel won wasn't because of some military accident, or invention, or force of arms. It was because the Power and Majesty of Adonai Elohim (The Eternal Creator) was as real and plain as the hand in front of their face. It was because Adonai El-Shaddai (The God Who is Sufficient for the Needs of His People) was their God and Master.

And He Still is. He is “I Am.” “I am that I am.” He is not dead, he is not made of stone or wood. He is not some fat fool garishly adorning the Chinese restaurants of America. He is not a bearded despot calling out for the genocide of nations in his heathen name. He is not a polyphonic deception of gods demanding impossible laws and self mutilating sacrifice. He is not the fictitious ramblings of a New York con artist. He is not the misrepresentation from centuries of an Italian theocratic dictatorship.

When Jesus left us he said “Greater works than all these we would do in his name.” The Holy Spirit that descended on the upper room wasn't just a gift for those times. If you believe that I have one outcry for you “WAKE UP AND SEE THE LOST!!! PEOPLE ARE IN PERIL OF EMMINENT DEATH!!!” Powers and principalities are waging a war for our souls right this very minute. The war between Heaven and Hell is very real. Demons and Angels do exist and they fight for you. Demons and evil spirits are being sent to oppress you and make you blind to the truth. They are empowering our SELF so that we will remain blind. Is it nothing to us hat this very instance people are dying who have NEVER HEARD of Christ Jesus? We have the power in our very grasp to undo the eons long bondage on this Earth.

“Since only the white light of Calvary's power can dissipate the black whoring of Hell, the only people who can change bleak circumstances and reverse the tide of encroaching evil wherever it rises are those who pray in Jesus' Name.” Jack Hayford

Why haven't we seen an outpouring of Biblical proportions yet in America? In Texas? In Sweeny? In this very building? 

We keep tripping up over our “Selves” and forgetting the promise and the purpose. IF we would crucify our “Self” and silence the voice of selfishness. IF we would instead listen for the voice of God. IF we would take the time “PEACE. BE STILL!” and wait in the presence of God. IF we would make His will our priority. IF we would stop despising ourselves because of our past. IF we would remember Who it is we serve and Why it is we serve Him. IF we really knew what 'serving Him' really meant.

Sometimes I am so sick of my “Self” I could puke. The Drunk and the Whore is long dead. The promise and blessing of God is just beginning. I am blind to reality because I am so self obsessed I can't go to the fountain and drink deep the water that gives life. I am so busy trying to make up for what I could have done whilst I was busy satisfying my libido that I am unconscious to what I can do right this bloody minute. I haven't fully staked my “Self” on that cross if I am still carrying around my old sin baggage. God forgave me long ago. Stake “Self” on the cross. Cross the Jordan. Go into the blessing. 

-N