Archive for September, 2011

Arguments or Obedience

September 14th, 2011

September 14, 2011
the simplicity that is in Christ.  —2 Corinthians 11:3

Simplicity is the secret to seeing things clearly. A saint does not think clearly until a long time passes, but a saint ought to see clearly without any difficulty. You cannot think through spiritual confusion to make things clear; to make things clear, you must obey. In intellectual matters you can think things out, but in spiritual matters you will only think yourself into further wandering thoughts and more confusion. If there is something in your life upon which God has put His pressure, then obey Him in that matter. Bring all your “arguments and . . . every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ” regarding the matter, and everything will become as clear as daylight to you (2 Corinthians 10:5). Your reasoning capacity will come later, but reasoning is not how we see. We see like children, and when we try to be wise we see nothing (see Matthew 11:25).

Even the very smallest thing that we allow in our lives that is not under the control of the Holy Spirit is completely sufficient to account for spiritual confusion, and spending all of our time thinking about it will still never make it clear. Spiritual confusion can only be conquered through obedience. As soon as we obey, we have discernment. This is humiliating, because when we are confused we know that the reason lies in the state of our mind. But when our natural power of sight is devoted and submitted in obedience to the Holy Spirit, it becomes the very power by which we perceive God’s will, and our entire life is kept in simplicity.

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September 14, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

It is very simple isn’t it God? …Simply bring everything under your will. But whoa, there are a number of things that I would still like control over… God. You know, like what kind of work I do, the kinds of friends I choose, the clothes I wear, the trips and vacations I take.  I can give you the “church stuff”.  And it seems easy to turn it all over to you when I am up against the wall. But I wonder what it would be like if I could give you everything I am and do..all the time?

And God says…”Just as Oswald Chambers wrote in the devotional,  your spiritual confusion comes about when you fail to turn the smallest thing over to Me. When parts of your life are not under My will, confusion results. This is repaired when you obey.  And it is simple…..obedience, that is.  Acknowledge that you have been following your own way, confess, and ask Me to take over that area of your life. You cannot bring everything into submission to My will, however I can do this through You when you let go of every “little thing”.”

After Surrender— Then What?

September 13th, 2011

September 13, 2011

I have finished the work which You have given Me to do —John 17:4

True surrender is not simply surrender of our external life but surrender of our will— and once that is done, surrender is complete. The greatest crisis we ever face is the surrender of our will. Yet God never forces a person’s will into surrender, and He never begs. He patiently waits until that person willingly yields to Him. And once that battle has been fought, it never needs to be fought again.

Surrender for Deliverance. “Come to Me . . . and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). It is only after we have begun to experience what salvation really means that we surrender our will to Jesus for rest. Whatever is causing us a sense of uncertainty is actually a call to our will— “Come to Me.” And it is a voluntary coming.

Surrender for Devotion. “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself . . . ” (Matthew 16:24). The surrender here is of my self to Jesus, with His rest at the heart of my being. He says, “If you want to be My disciple, you must give up your right to yourself to Me.” And once this is done, the remainder of your life will exhibit nothing but the evidence of this surrender, and you never need to be concerned again with what the future may hold for you. Whatever your circumstances may be, Jesus is totally sufficient (see 2 Corinthians 12:9 and (Philippians 4:19).

Surrender for Death. “. . . another will gird you . . .” (John 21:18 ; also see John21:19). Have you learned what it means to be girded for death? Beware of some surrender that you make to God in an ecstatic moment in your life, because you are apt to take it back again. True surrender is a matter of being “united together [with Jesus] in the likeness of His death” (Romans 6:5) until nothing ever appeals to you that did not appeal to Him.

And after you surrender— then what? Your entire life should be characterized by an eagerness to maintain unbroken fellowship and oneness with God.

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September 13, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, it is not an easy road, the road to surrender.  I am not certain that it is a road I would have chosen, if I had been given a choice. However, I am very grateful that You have allowed me to live in circumstances and time that have put me face to face with decisions to surrender my will and my ideas; and of what is good for me and mine. The song says it right; I have to go through the valleys in order to stand on the mountain of God.

And God says…”Simply realize that if I gave My Son for you; I would not withhold any good thing from you…ever.  And even though the roads are hard, I know that tears of growth are always replaced by tears of joy and peace. “

Going Through Spiritual Confusion

September 12th, 2011

Jesus answered and said, ’You do not know what you ask’ —Matthew 20:22

There are times in your spiritual life when there is confusion, and the way out of it is not simply to say that you should not be confused. It is not a matter of right and wrong, but a matter of God taking you through a way that you temporarily do not understand. And it is only by going through the spiritual confusion that you will come to the understanding of what God wants for you.

The Shrouding of His Friendship (see Luke 11:5-8). Jesus gave the illustration here of a man who appears not to care for his friend. He was saying, in effect, that is how the heavenly Father will appear to you at times. You will think that He is an unkind friend, but remember?He is not. The time will come when everything will be explained. There seems to be a cloud on the friendship of the heart, and often even love itself has to wait in pain and tears for the blessing of fuller fellowship and oneness. When God appears to be completely shrouded, will you hang on with confidence in Him?

The Shadow on His Fatherhood (see Luke 11:11-13). Jesus said that there are times when your Father will appear as if He were an unnatural father?as if He were callous and indifferent— but remember, He is not. “Everyone who asks receives . . .” (Luke 11:10). If all you see is a shadow on the face of the Father right now, hang on to the fact that He will ultimately give you clear understanding and will fully justify Himself in everything that He has allowed into your life.

The Strangeness of His Faithfulness (see Luke 18:1-8). “When the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8). Will He find the kind of faith that counts on Him in spite of the confusion? Stand firm in faith, believing that what Jesus said is true, although in the meantime you do not understand what God is doing. He has bigger issues at stake than the particular things you are asking of Him right now.

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September 12, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

There are times Lord when I have absolutely no idea about what is going on. Just like the devotional says, it does not make any sense to me…right now. But I am learning Lord that things do not always have to make sense. Circumstances in my life and the world may not make sense to me, but I am learning to trust you regardless. Now I understand how patience has its perfect reward…that is my faith has become stronger even though my circumstances may remain the same.

And God says…”Trusting in Me is not a natural response even for believers. Trust in Me is a supernatural response that can require development over time. Remember that nothing can ever separate you from My love, and that all things work together for your good…regardless of how you may interpret them. Acknowledge Me in all your ways, and I will make your paths straight. And ask Me for wisdom and understanding and trust Me to meet all Your needs including the need for a stronger faith.”

Do It Yourself (1)

September 8th, 2011

September 8, 2011
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God . . . —2 Corinthians 10:5

Determinedly Demolish Some Things. Deliverance from sin is not the same as deliverance from human nature. There are things in human nature, such as prejudices, that the saint can only destroy through sheer neglect. But there are other things that have to be destroyed through violence, that is, through God’s divine strength imparted by His Spirit. There are some things over which we are not to fight, but only to “stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord . . .” (see Exodus 14:13). But every theory or thought that raises itself up as a fortified barrier “against the knowledge of God” is to be determinedly demolished by drawing on God’s power, not through human effort or by compromise (see 2 Corinthians 10:4).

It is only when God has transformed our nature and we have entered into the experience of sanctification that the fight begins. The warfare is not against sin; we can never fight against sin— Jesus Christ conquered that in His redemption of us. The conflict is waged over turning our natural life into a spiritual life. This is never done easily, nor does God intend that it be so. It is accomplished only through a series of moral choices. God does not make us holy in the sense that He makes our character holy. He makes us holy in the sense that He has made us innocent before Him. And then we have to turn that innocence into holy character through the moral choices we make. These choices are continually opposed and hostile to the things of our natural life which have become so deeply entrenched— the very things that raise themselves up as fortified barriers “against the knowledge of God.” We can either turn back, making ourselves of no value to the kingdom of God, or we can determinedly demolish these things, allowing Jesus to bring another son to glory (see Hebrews 2:10).

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September 8, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Turning my natural life into a spiritual life, making choices that I would never make before….Lord that capacity must come from You.  Just when I think I have crossed over into spiritual maturity, I find that I have tremendous capacity to go backwards. Just when I think I have conquered and overcome that notion, fear, or attitude and behavior, I disappoint myself and God.

And God says…”You can never disappoint Me because I know you and love you from your past, present and future, because of Jesus. If and when you are faithless, I will remain faithful to you in Christ Jesus. Because of Jesus, I can remain faithful and loving, full of mercy and grace, even when you fail time after time, after time. But over time, from the inside out, your natural man will be replaced by the character of Jesus. Stay the course, stay focused and stay energized and positive. Jesus, died, arose and lives in you. Even as you fall you are being transformed. Recall the scriptures….Acknowledge the Lord in all you do and He will make your paths straight. He that began a good work in you will complete it.”

Fountains of Blessings

September 7th, 2011

September 7, 2011

The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life —John 4:14

The picture our Lord described here is not that of a simple stream of water, but an overflowing fountain. Continue to “be filled” (Ephesians 5:18) and the sweetness of your vital relationship to Jesus will flow as generously out of you as it has been given to you. If you find that His life is not springing up as it should, you are to blame— something is obstructing the flow. Was Jesus saying to stay focused on the Source so that you may be blessed personally? No, you are to focus on the Source so that out of you “will flow rivers of living water”— irrepressible life (John 7:38).

We are to be fountains through which Jesus can flow as “rivers of living water” in blessing to everyone. Yet some of us are like the Dead Sea, always receiving but never giving, because our relationship is not right with the Lord Jesus. As surely as we receive blessings from Him, He will pour out blessings through us. But whenever the blessings are not being poured out in the same measure they are received, there is a defect in our relationship with Him. Is there anything between you and Jesus Christ? Is there anything hindering your faith in Him? If not, then Jesus says that out of you “will flow rivers of living water.” It is not a blessing that you pass on, or an experience that you share with others, but a river that continually flows through you. Stay at the Source, closely guarding your faith in Jesus Christ and your relationship to Him, and there will be a steady flow into the lives of others with no dryness or deadness whatsoever.

Is it excessive to say that rivers will flow out of one individual believer? Do you look at yourself and say, “But I don’t see the rivers”? Through the history of God’s work you will usually find that He has started with the obscure, the unknown, the ignored, but those who have been steadfastly true to Jesus Christ.

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September 7, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Thank you Lord for the fountain of life, love, peace and joy. We used to talk about “peace meters” and other ways to tell if we were really connected to you, but we talk about that less and less now. Over time and a bit of history and experience it is easy to know if we are truly connected to you. It is not necessarily explainable, but we just “know” when we are connected to You. We just “know” when Your fountain of living waters flow through us. And Lord, the peace, love and joy we experience, reflects a desire to stay right here with you in Your fountain. And we understand that our fountain continues freely flowing as we give away the blessings You provide. I am not really certain how to accomplish this but stand ready and eager to be used in this fashion.

And God says…”You will not be aware of the blessing you are to many people and circumstances. I cannot tell you, as you cannot carry the burden of glory. It is toxic to you. But you will know it is a fountain freely flowing as your love, peace and joy is manifested in you.  Simply continue to ask to be changed from the inside out and be willing to be used by Me and many blessings will flow without your knowledge or awareness.  You will, however, be aware that your connection has been secured as you live moment by moment.”

The Far-Reaching Rivers of Life

September 6th, 2011

September 06, 2011
He who believes in Me . . . out of his heart will flow rivers of living water —John 7:38

A river reaches places which its source never knows. And Jesus said that, if we have received His fullness, “rivers of living water” will flow out of us, reaching in blessing even “to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8) regardless of how small the visible effects of our lives may appear to be. We have nothing to do with the outflow— “This is the work of God, that you believe. . .” (John 6:29). God rarely allows a person to see how great a blessing he is to others.

A river is victoriously persistent, overcoming all barriers. For a while it goes steadily on its course, but then comes to an obstacle. And for a while it is blocked, yet it soon makes a pathway around the obstacle. Or a river will drop out of sight for miles, only later to emerge again even broader and greater than ever. Do you see God using the lives of others, but an obstacle has come into your life and you do not seem to be of any use to God? Then keep paying attention to the Source, and God will either take you around the obstacle or remove it. The river of the Spirit of God overcomes all obstacles. Never focus your eyes on the obstacle or the difficulty. The obstacle will be a matter of total indifference to the river that will flow steadily through you if you will simply remember to stay focused on the Source. Never allow anything to come between you and Jesus Christ— not emotion nor experience— nothing must keep you from the one great sovereign Source.

Think of the healing and far-reaching rivers developing and nourishing themselves in our souls! God has been opening up wonderful truths to our minds, and every point He has opened up is another indication of the wider power of the river that He will flow through us. If you believe in Jesus, you will find that God has developed and nourished in you mighty, rushing rivers of blessing for others.

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September 6, 2011

Journal Entry for Today-JDV

Lord, thank you for one more reminder regarding obstacles and barriers. Once more the morning brings the lesson about staying connected to You …and the barriers and roadblocks will not, cannot matter. Once more we understand that You will use us even when we do not and cannot be aware, and our blessing comes not from the blessings but from our source.

And God says…”Stay connected all the time, and the barriers, roadblocks, and yes even the blessings will not matter.  You may be a blessing and it will not matter to you because you are connected and living in a state of blessing. You can be a conduit for our connection and be especially fruitful when you are unaware…simply connected. Acknowledge Me in all your ways and do not rely on your own devices and I will make your paths straight.”

Destined To Be Holy

September 1st, 2011
September 01, 2011
. . it is written, ’Be holy, for I am holy’ —1 Peter 1:16
We must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to happiness, nor to health, but to holiness. Today we have far too many desires and interests, and our lives are being consumed and wasted by them. Many of them may be right, noble, and good, and may later be fulfilled, but in the meantime God must cause their importance to us to decrease. The only thing that truly matters is whether a person will accept the God who will make him holy. At all costs, a person must have the right relationship with God.
Do I believe I need to be holy? Do I believe that God can come into me and make me holy? If through your preaching you convince me that I am unholy, I then resent your preaching. The preaching of the gospel awakens an intense resentment because it is designed to reveal my unholiness, but it also awakens an intense yearning and desire within me. God has only one intended destiny for mankind— holiness. His only goal is to produce saints. God is not some eternal blessing-machine for people to use, and He did not come to save us out of pity— He came to save us because He created us to be holy. Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God can put me back into perfect oneness with Himself through the death of Jesus Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer.
Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice that is not in keeping with a holy God. Holiness means absolute purity of your walk before God, the words coming from your mouth, and every thought in your mind— placing every detail of your life under the scrutiny of God Himself. Holiness is not simply what God gives me, but what God has given me that is being exhibited in my life.
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September 1, 2011
Journal for Today-JDV
Lord, the notion that I can be holy in all my thoughts and actions is a bit overwhelming. I know just how far removed from holy I am, and it seems like a long, long way. Especially when someone cuts me off in traffic or a colleague or friend challenges my motives or integrity. I have seen just how fast I can go from holy to NOT.
And God says…”You are correct, there many ways in which you are not holy, but if you think about your motives and actions today compared to days past, you will see Me working and growing inside of you. There is less of you and more of Me. Continue to focus on Me and be connected. Pray without ceasing, (that is, stay in communication with me) acknowledge Me in all you ways, and observe more of Me and less of you. As I live within you, holiness grows.”