Fasting

Fasting, in my mind, is refraining from some activity for a time in order to draw closer to God. I rarely fast from anything, because I love to indulge myself in the things of this world. A sad statement. Jesus said his followers would fast after he rose to heaven. Why don't I do it? Because I want the things of this world more than I want to draw closer to God. The things I need to periodically fast from are food (to teach me to rely on God for my provision); bicycling (to teach me to put God before my interests on earth); the internet (to teach me to set my mind on things above); and anything else the Spirit of God brings to my attention. Is fasting a formula for spiritual growth or success? No, but it is a discipline which if done for the right reasons alway leaves me in closer communiion with the Lord.

Seeking God's Kingdom

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.....But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:25, 33.

Jesus says he will assume responsibility for providing for our needs if we seek first his kingdom. He guarantees this. This implies that if we are following him, we should look to him for provision for food, clothing, shelter, protection. Our occupations and work become therefore a vehicle through which we serve Jesus our king thereby seeking first his kingdom and his righteousness. Our occupations should not be looked upon as a means to gain provision for our needs since Christ has stated he would take care of these. Therefore, whether in the professional ministry or in manual labor, our occupations are a means to be used by God for his glory. If we view our occupations as "the means whereby we earn our livings, we will not be able to seek adeuately the kingdom of God (Walt Henrichsen, Diary of a Desperate Man)." To seek God's kingdom means to seek God's rulership in our lives and the lives of others. All of us are therefore in the ministry of our Lord. In the words of Walt Henrichsen, "The only difference between a vocational Christian worker and the laity (an average Christian church member) is how the ministry is funded."

Mr. Henrichsen goes on to say, "If you are unhappy with your job because God wants you elsewhere, you should change jobs and do the will of God. If you are discontent with your job, but believe that is where God wants you, then you need to repent." Ouch.

Ideas from Walt Henrichsen's daily devotional Diary of a Desperate Man Day 176.

Deity of Jesus

Jesus is either God or he was a lunatic. This is the argument put forth by C. S. Lewis in Mere Christianity. In his words-"We are not given the option based on the Biblical text of believing he was a great man, philosopher or prophet alone (paraphrase)."

What Biblical texts reveal Jesus' divinity?

Jesus is the creator of all things
-John 1:1: Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made that has been made.
-Colossians 1:16: For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
See also: Genesis 1:26; Acts 3:15; Hebrews 1:3

Jesus is without sin
-1 Peter 2:22: He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.
-Hebrews 4:15: ...He was tempted "yet was without sin."
See also: John 8:46; Hebrews 7:26; 1 John 3:5

Jesus is eternal
-Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."
-John 8:58: Jesus said--"Before Abraham was born, I am."
See also: John 17:5; Colossians 1:17; Hebrews 13:8

Jesus is the revelation of the Father
-Hebrews 1:3: The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being.
-Colossians 1:15: He is the image of the invisible God.
See also: Colossians 1:19, 2 Corinthians 4:4

Jesus is called God
-John 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
-Colossians 2:9: For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity dwells in bodily form.
-Philippians 2:6: Speaking of Jesus-..."being in very nature God..."
See also: Isa 9:6; Matthew 1:23; Jeremiah 23:5-6; John 1:18; John 6:38; John 5:18; John 8:58; John 10:30, 33; John 14:9; John 17:5; Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20; 2 Peter 1:1; Revelation 1:17

Jesus is worshipped
-Worshipped by: Magi (Mattew 2:2, 11); by leper (Mathew 8:2); by synagogue ruler (Mathew 9:18); by disciples (Mathew 14:33); by women at Tyre (Mathew 15:25); by angels (Hebrews 1:6); by 24 elders, four living creatures, angels, all creatures (Revelation 5:8-14).
See also: Mathew 20:20, 28:9, 17; uke 24:52, John 9:38

Note above in light of Jesus words: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only." Mathew 4:10 (quoting Deuteronomy 6:13).

Note above in light of:
-Peter's refusal to accept worship (Acts 10:25, 26)
-Angel's refusal to accept worshp (Revelation 19:10, 22:8,9)

Jesus is prayed to
-Acts 7:59,60: While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."
See also: Matthew 11:28; John 14:13,14; 15:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Romans 10:12; 2 Timothy 2:22; 1 Corinthians 5:4

Jesus forgives sins
-Mark 2:5-11: Jesus said to the paralytic: " Son your sins are forgiven."

Jesus gives Life
-John 5:21: For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it.

Jesus honored as the Father is
-John 5:23: ...that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

Jesus Lead a Miracle Filled Life
-Heals the sick: John 9:7
-Raises the dead: John chapter 11
-Control over the weather: Matthew chapter 14
-Control over the physical aspects of life: John 2:7, Mathew 14:25
-Control over demons: Mark 3:11

Both God the Father and Jesus are described as having the below attributes or characteristics:

Eternal Thrown
-Ps 93:2 & Heb 1:8

First and Last
-Isa 44:6 & Rev 1:17,18

Immutable
-Mal 3:6 & Heb 13:8

Almighty
-Gen 17:1 & Rev 1:8

Unfathomable
-Job 11:7 & Matt 11:27

Holy
-Isa 43:3 & Acts 3:14

The Truth-Without Sin
-Deut 32:4 & Heb 4:15

Eternal Creator
-Gen 1:1 & Jn 1:1-3

Preserver of All
-Neh 9:6 & Col 1:17

King of Kings
-1 Tim 6:15 & Rev 19:16

Everlasting Dominion
-Ps 145:3 & Dan 7:14

Knows Our Hearts
-1 Ki 8:39 & Rev 2:23

Judge
-Gen 18:25 & Matt 25:31

Lord of All
-Ps 103:19 & Acts 10:36

Rewarder
-Ps 62:12 & Rev 22:12

Protector
-Ps 91:4 & Matt 23:37

Savior
-Isa 43:11 & Matt 1:21

Death's Destroyer
-Hos 13:14 & Heb 2:14,15

Worthy of Worship
-Isa 45:23 & Phil 2:10-11

Our Righteousness
-Isa 45:24 & Jer 23:5,6

Sender of the Holy Spirit
-Joel 2:28 & Jn 16:6

For a valuable resource on the Trinity and the deity of Christ see The Forgotten Trinity by James White. Much of the above was derived from his work.

Disappointment

I am currently disappointed with a few things in life. This has just developed over the last couple of days and is a minor thing. But I have been thinking about this situation quite a bit. The observation I have noted is that disappointment comes because of one of two things: putting my hope in things other than God and/or an improper understanding of who God is and what he has promised. Sometimes I put my hope in people or in material things or even in myself (achievements and so forth). If I hope in these things, I am setting myself up for failure, because of sin and personal flaws, I cannot trust even myself. Also, there is nothing that can fill the "hole in my soul" other than God. When I hope in material things or worldly relationships, there is no possibility of fulfillment. God, on the other hand, is completely trustworthy, and he promises us good things in the future. We are not promised good things here on earth, though he may mercifully give them to us. If we hope for God to give us material blessing or good health or lack of suffering here on earth, we also set ourselves up for disappointment. God has not promised this. For me, I need to spend a lot of time with God so that my hope is "pointed in the right direction" and so I truly know what God promises and who he is.

Risk

Faith is God inspired risk taking. God expects us to obey his commands, some of which are either risky or don't make sense from a worldly standpoint. He says: seek first the kingdom of God (put the kingdom before self-Matthew 6:33); lose your life for his sake (Luke 9:24); deny yourself (Luke 9:23); give money/talents/time to the church and the less fortunate (2 Corinthians 9:7); and turn the other cheek (Matthew 5:39) when people persecute you. We may risk our reputations, our friendships, our material wealth, possibly our health and even our lives. If someone truly believes in Jesus as his Lord, that person will be obedient. Even though he struggles with living out the application...dying to self....the long-- slow-- death-- of self. The struggle to mold the will to make it conform to God's will for us and the sacrifice that follows an obedient decision leads to perseverence and perseverence to character and character to hope (Romans 5:3-4). Courage is doing what is "right" despite fear. The Christian is courageous in his faith. As God said to Joshua, "Be strong and courageous." (Joshua 1). Faith produces God inspired risk taking.

Chariots

I want control over everything. If something in life is not going in the direction I want it to, I analyze the situation, come up with a plan and do my best to "fix it." I have trouble entrusting things I feel are really important to other people. So, it's easy to worry if there is a problem with my job or family or with finances. I need to to "fix" the situation. I look to my own power for a solution--my mental capacity, physical strength, earning ability, material possessions etc. I worry because I am not in reality powerful or in control . But is this the proper perspective? I am turning to my personal resources to solve the problem, but those resources originate from almighty God. While my resources are finite, his are infinite. He is the giver of my mind, of my strength, of my abilities-including my ability to earn financially, and he is the protector of my reputation. We are called to use the gifts God has given us and to fill the earth and subdue it. But, to think that we actually have achieved anything in this world on our own is laughable. Surrendering all to God is letting go of our will to control situational outcomes in deference to his will, realizing that he cares for us, is all powerful and omniscient. We worry if we trust in the "chariots" of this world rather than the one who controls all things.

Psa 20:7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Calling Out Your Name

Well the moon moved past Nebraska
And spilled laughter on them cold Dakota Hills
And angels danced on Jacob's stairs
Yeah, they danced on Jacob's stairs

There is this silence in the Badlands
And over Kansas the whole universe was stilled
By the whisper of a prayer
The whisper of a prayer

And the single hawk bursts into flight
And in the east the whole horizon is in flames
I feel thunder in the sky I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

I can feel the earth tremble
Beneath the rumbling of the buffalo hooves
And the fury in the pheasant's wings
And there's fury in a pheasant's wings

It tells me the Lord is in His temple
And there is still a faith that can make the mountains move
And a love that can make the heavens ring
And I've seen love make heaven ring

Where the sacred rivers meet
Beneath the shadow of the Keeper of the plains
I feel thunder in the sky
I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

From the place where morning gathers
You can look sometimes forever 'til you see
What time may never know
What time may never know

How the Lord takes by its corners this old world
And shakes us forward and shakes us free
To run wild with the hope
To run wild with the hope

The hope that this thirst will not last long
That it will soon drown in the song not sung in vain
And I feel thunder in the sky
I see the sky about to rain
And I hear the prairies calling out Your name

And I know this thirst will not last long
That it will soon drown in the song not sung in vain
I feel thunder in the sky I see the sky about to rain
And with the prairies I am calling out Your name.

Rich Mullins