WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Whenever you enter into worship, do you consider its purity and lack of motive.

Or do you come into worship with a shopping list of desires that just might be met if you can grab His attention for just a moment?

Matthew 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedees children with her sons, worshipping him, and desiring a certain thing of him.”

“a certain thing of him.”

The question then becomes, not are we worshipping Jesus, but why are we doing so?

James, John and their mother came “worshiping” Jesus, “and desiring a certain thing of him.”

Certain meaning ,a specific thing.

Their worship was sincere but impure because it was laced with the corruption of selfishness.

They wanted the top positions in Jesus kingdom-and the honor, authority and wealth that it would bring.

One thing can be said about them in the fact that they were open in their desire to be exalted.

Others were not quite as honest.

Then as today, many worshiped him with hidden agendas.

The zealots worshiped Him hoping that He would become king and free Israel from the rule of the Roman Empire.

The base, carnal crowds, worshiped Him hoping His bread making miracles would continue and free them from the burden of working for their needs.

The rich young ruler, worshiped Him, yet he continued to cling to the dearest part of his heart, wealth and luxury.

Many Jewish leaders worshiped Him yet desired the praise of the Pharisees more than His.

They worshiped Jesus, yet their worship was imperfect because their motives were mixed.

They loved Him, yet they loved others and the things of this earth more.

To them the worship of Jesus was a necessary means to a more needed end.

The majority come worshiping Jesus with pressing personal needs, they or their loved ones need release from chronic disease, demonic possession, or imminent death.

Their worship was pure but not without imperfect motives.

The purest form of worship is that off offered to God without any thought of getting “certain’ things from Him.

We just express our full adoration for Him---His faithfulness, love, and power. Nothing more.

No visible ends sought. No hidden agendas revealed. No personal needs to satisfy.

Just a drawing near in love and devotion.

Most of us are not at that stage yet. We worship as immature Christians.

The worst of us attempt to bargain with God, as Jacob did , naming conditions that God would first meet to qualify as Jacobs deity of choice.

The very best among us will sometimes worship the Savior with secret desire, ends, motives, and hopes in the back of our minds. While these “certain” things are very subtle, they are also very real and very present.

How does Jesus react?

He graciously accepts our impure worship, as He did James, and Johns and then begins to purify it.

He takes away heart idols, dashes a selfish hope, or delays a promise, and then watches to see our reaction.

Will we still desire to worship Him?

If so then our worship is of a purer type.

Or He may change a season of prosperity to one of adversity, and then watch to see our response.

When favor and success go and rejection and failure visit, will we still worship?

Does our worship become more pure and mature?

Does our worship become more like that of Job, of Habbukuk, of the apostle Paul and others, who continued in worship even when “certain things’ were removed.

John the Revelator, was exiled on an island and denied all of the things that he cherished, his friends, his ministry, most all creature comforts, yet he writes “I was in the Spirit on the Lords day’ Revelation 1:10 worshiping Jesus---without “desiring a certain thing of Him”.

Lets be more like John and worship Him without desiring anything except His approval.

DO THE ANSWERS TO YOUR PRAYERS LEAD TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

Have you considered that there are prayers that should not be prayed at all?

Psalm 106:13-15

They soon forgot his works; they waited not for his counsel:

But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert.

And he gave them their requests; but sent leanness into their soul.

God had redeemed Israel out of Egypt.

He had performed unimaginable miracles on behalf of his very own.

He had provided marvelously for them during their wanderings across the desert.

There was never a need in the camp that was not provided by his own hand.

The people made two grievous errors.

1. They forgot. “they soon forgot his works.”

2. They were impatient. “ they waited not for his counsel.”

God had provided for them a substance never seen before -manna- “the bread of heaven” which supplied every need for physical nourishment.

The people began to despise this gift of provision.

They yielded to an inordinate appetite, they began to demand meat instead.

In response to their demands, God in his goodness, sent quail into the camp.

Quail in numbers so immense that the children waded through the quail and the refuse they emitted in depths up to their knees.

Sickness followed, as the meat was not what was needed at the time, and the droppings and waste, became a breeding ground for disease, killing many. “He gave them their requests; but sent leanness into their soul.”

How often have you prayed, knowing that what was being petitioned was not of God but was a result of the lust of flesh, yet just like a spoiled child, you trusted that God in his love and mercy would allow you to have your desire?

How often have you prayed on behalf of others who either asked for prayer or you just decided to pray for them, asking for things that were either unscriptural or unrighteous?

And after praying, seeing those things requested, being allowed and then the recipient fall even further from the better position that God had ordained.

And then to ameliorate your conscience, pointing out a weakness or flaw in the life of the one who received the gift as a reason for their failure.

We need to learn from Israel’s fate and guard against these two related errors of forgetfulness and of impatience.

We too, can be tempted to despise Gods will and to become puffed up thinking that our plan is better and quicker.

Whenever such thoughts occur, repent.

In such a situation the worst thing that God can do for us is grant our request.

For when He does, it will produce a leanness or sickness in our soul.

Suggested prayer:

May I have the wisdom to look beyond my desire for the moment, and see the perfect will of a Holy and Righteous God.

The following is a republication from August 2007

SCHOOL DAZE

READING WRITING ARITHMETIC

The excitement is building, along with the fatigue that comes with the search and shopping for all of the supplies on a list that are just the right items for back to school.

The parent-child frustration that comes with picking out appropriate clothing, the rescheduling of child care and the concern that comes when the youngest is dropped off for the first few days at pre-school or kindergarten.

A familiar concern arises whenever that same child steps out the door of the home and pulls away in the car to leave the nest for the first time to attend an institute of higher learning that you as a parent have prayed about and added more gray to the top of the head than you would have expected.

How will my child survive kindergarten, how will they manage the university life until they regain their bearings?

Come with us as we see where the word of scripture has application in the lives of our children and most certainly ours as well.

We all know that the Bible states in Proverbs 22:6 “Train up a child in the way that he should go, and when he is old, he shall not depart from it.”

That takes the worry out of the possibility of losing moral direction and not knowing the way back whenever they leave home.

What a sense of peace to know that whatever they see in us, and the things that we teach them today will guide them tomorrow.

There will undoubtedly be times of struggle academically no matter what level of education they are in either public or private.

Once again the word comes through offering direction to all who would just learn what God has to say about any and every subject.

Take heart, your child can be, no, lets make that should be, the brightest student in any classroom, because God has told us and them how to achieve academic success.

Psalm 119:99 “ I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.”

And once againin Job 32:8 “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

And that is only two references, that promise without a doubt success in the realm of education if we will only understand that we ought not to have unnecessary worry and that failure is not on the horizon, if we know, and apply what God has given us as immediate help

HOW TO DESTROY THOSE YOU CLAIM TO LOVE

WANNA KNOW A SECRET?

Too many people do, and far too many people have become willing to break the trust that a secret entails.

In the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul, reveals the sinful nature and lawlessness of mankind, stating how God was pouring out His wrath upon those who were rejecting His laws.

Because they had turned away from Gods instructions and guidance, He gave them over to sinful natures.

“They are gossipers, slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil, they disobey parents, they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Although they know Gods righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them: (Romans 1:29b-32).

Nothing has changed, men still conduct themselves the same way and God still knows about it.

Many reject Him and His word, so He allows them to be ruled by their sinful nature and depraved minds.

The Apostle Paul cautioned a particular group of people against entertaining the habit of gossiping and being idle.

“Thus they bring judgment upon themselves, because they have broken their first pledge. Besides, they get into the habit of being idle and going about from house to house. And not only do they become idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying things they ought not to” (1 Timothy 5:12-13).

Whenever a person spends too much time in another’s home or works too closely with others, there is a tendency to become involved in a manner not identifiable as Christ like. They have occasion to see and hear things about others that have the potential to do tremendous harm, if not kept private.

Anyone can engage in the act of gossip simply by repeating something heard in confidence.

The book of Proverbs has a long list of verses that cover the dangers of gossip and the potential hurt that results when care is not taken to think of the other person and how he/she might react if something they wanted kept private is revealed.

“A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor, but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret” (Proverbs 11:12-13)

Many times, people are asked to keep a secret, but they find the secret too good *not* to share.

So they tell just one untrustworthy person who immediately goes to another with the “secret”, who goes to another and then the another goes to another and very soon the “secret” is out and it no longer even resembles the original broken covenant.

The problem began when the person who agreed to keep a secret, didn’t stick to the promise made.

There is a saying that states “If two people know a secret, the only one to be trusted with it is dead.”

The saying did not come with out a significant amount of truth.

“A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends” (Proverbs 16:28)

Think about the times that you have witnessed the destruction of a friendship that started with the poisonous tongue of a gossip. Those who engage in this behavior do nothing but stir up dissension and cause strife among friends. There is nothing honorable in their actions, and their own struggles or shortcomings are covered up by their desire to bring someone else down rather than focusing on the areas in their own lives which need work.

Some people thrive on this and will look for opportunities to destroy others.

And when people like this are confronted, they deny the allegations and answer with an excuse for why they’ve done what they have. Rather than admit their wrongdoing , they blame some one or something else, or attempt to make it seem as if the sin committed isn’t all that bad. “A fools mouth is his undoing, and his lips are a snare to his soul. The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a mans innermost parts” (Proverbs 18:7-8)

Gossip usually cuts deep. The topics that are “too good not to share” are generally ones that end up inflicting deep and cutting wounds to a persons inner being. And the betrayal almost always comes from someone close to the person affected. Gossip is bad enough when it comes from someone who is simply looking for a source of information they can share. But, when it begins with a trusted friend or someone who has been taken into confidence, the betrayal cuts deep to the soul, making it even harder for the one on the receiving end to forgive. “A gossip betrays confidence, so avoid a man who talks too much” (Proverbs 20:19)

Those people who are considered “busy bodies” are easily spotted and are usually in the center of the action, flitting from one situation to the next, seeking out a tidbit of information they can use to spread to others.

They’ll talk to just about anyone, pretending to care or be genuinely interested in what is being said to them, when all the while, their minds are racing ahead to the first person to whom they can repeat their conversation.

Gossips are only in it for themselves and the perverted pleasure it brings them to tear others down.

God has made a promise.

A promise that will be fulfilled in both the slanderer and the slandered.

“A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will [perish] not go free.”(Proverbs 19:5) and “Those who guard their mouths and tongues keep themselves from calamity (Proverbs 21:23).

So carefully guard your tongue and refrain from the sinful act of gossip.

Surrender all of your natural desires to the Lord and allow Him to help you remain righteous.

Love your neighbors as yourself and don’t sin against them in any way that you wouldn’t also do to yourself.

God rewards the just and the righteous, so strive to remain as such.

As I was watching a sporting event on television last night, I found myself getting caught up in the promotion of the participants.

One of my failings.

As the participants entered the area of competition I noticed written on the bottom of one of the combatants tee- shirt were the words JESUS SAVES,, alright! I thought here is a person who while he may not be allowed to promote his faith in a bold way, at least has had the fore thought to display it in smaller fashion on the bottom of his shirt.

His paying sponsors, as is customary, were boldly displayed across his chest and back for all to see.

As the camera panned in closer, to my dismay I noticed the word AT directly after JESUS SAVES, and shortly thereafter he removed his shirt and in the same plane that JESUS SAVES AT was written, on his shorts, was an advertisement for dot com establishment that deals in items used by some during the act of sex.

I was very disappointed, at realizing what had just happened,,,I was duped into thinking that here was someone worth celebrating, who would display his faith, but instead what had happened was that I realized that this man, if he knew Jesus at all, was acquainted with a Jesus that I do not know.

JESUS SAVES AT C-----D----.com

Shame on him, and shame on me for watching such a display of heresy.

The body of Christ is in a struggle for its very integrity, it is warring against those who claim that they know and serve the Christ of the Bible, yet based upon their lifestyles they surely have never truly named Him as Lord.

They cling to a sola fide (in faith alone) doctrine that concludes that there is no need for a committed life of Christian discipleship having been deceived by satan and by men who teach such untruth.

The terms bantered about include “easy believeism” or as some say “greasy grace.”

They have confused justification-the one time act of being declared righteous by God- with sanctification- the lifelong process by which the justified believer is conformed to the true image of Christ.

Those who call salvation by faith “easy believeism” have missed the fact that true conversion will always result in sanctification and a life of good works, along with a desire for holiness.

The Bible is very clear that salvation comes by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone.

No other way.

The essenence of this doctrine is found in (Ephesians 2:8-9) “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift from God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

So in that, we can see that faith as a gift given from God, is what leads us into salvation.

But the very next verse tells of the results of that salvation.

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has fore ordained that we should walk in them.”

Rather than being saved by some easy act of our own wills, we are saved by the hand of God Almighty, by His will and for His use.

We become His servants, and from the very moment of salvation by faith, we embark on a journey of pre-ordained good works that are the evidence of that salvation.

If there is no evidence of growth and good works, we have reason to doubt that salvation ever truly took place.

“Faith without works is dead” (James 2:20) and a dead faith is not a living saving faith.

Faith alone does not mean that some believers follow Christ in a life of discipleship, while others do not.

The “others” here refer to a separate category of believer known as “carnal Christian” a completely unscriptural concept.

Believers in the idea of the carnal Christian say that a person may receive Christ as Savior during a time of decision or religious experience, but never manifests any evidence of a changed life.

Here again is a false and dangerous teaching.

It provides a convenient excuse for a person who does not truly want to follow Christ.

Such a person is lulled into a false sense of security thinking that they have eternal life.

Nowhere in the Bible will we find support for the idea that a true Christian can remain in carnality for an entire lifetime.

Rather the Bible presents only two categories of people, Christians, and non-Christians, believers and unbelievers, those who have bowed to the Lordship of Christ Jesus and those who have not, please examine the following verses (John 3:36, Romans 6:17-18, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:18-24, Ephesians 2:1-5, 1 John 1:5-7: and 2:3-4).

While the security of a believers salvation is a biblical fact based upon the finished work of salvation through Jesus Christ, it is certainly true that some of those who seemed to have “made a decision” or “accepted Christ” may not genuinely be saved.

Those who continue to walk in the flesh, being unrepentant of a life of sin and iniquity are not believers.

That is why Paul exhorts us all to “examine yourselves to see if you are truly in the faith” (2 Corinthians 13:5).

The “carnal” Christian who examines himself will see that they are not in the faith, that they claim.

(James 2:19) says, “ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe--and tremble!”

The type of “belief” demons have can be compared to the intellectual assent made by those who “believe” in Jesus only in the fact that He exists.

Many unbelievers in Christ will state that “I believe in God,” or “I believe in Jesus,” or perhaps some might say, “I prayed a prayer and the preacher said I was saved.”

The glaring problem is the word believe.

With true salvation , comes true repentance and evidence of a change of lifestyle.

(2 Corinthians 5:17) tells us that whenever we are in Christ, we become a new creation.

Is it possible then that a new creation continues to walk in the way of rebellion and sinful disobedience?

I contend that it is not.

Salvation is truly free to mankind.

The price was paid long ago, and the price was beyond measure.

Salvation cost Him, it should cost us everything, as we die to self will, and allow the Holy Spirit to make us into the image of Christ.

Salvation is a free gift from the Father, to those who will believe, but discipleship and obedience are the response and responsibility which will without doubt occur whenever one truly comes to Christ in faith.

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY ABOUT HOLINESS ?

JUST WHAT DOES IS REALLY MEAN TO BE HOLY ?

In (1 Peter 1:13-16), Peter is writing to believers. “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the HOLY ONE who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”

Peter knew the scriptures, for he was quoting from Leviticus 11:44 and Leviticus 19:2.

First lets look at the holiness of GOD.

What does the scripture mean when it states that GOD is holy?

Passages like 1 Samuel 2:2 and Isaiah 6:3 are just two of many examples of passages declaring and describing the holiness of GOD.

Another way to state it is that GOD is the embodiment of absolute perfection.

GOD is unlike any other “for I am GOD and not man; the Holy One in the midst of thee” (Hosea 11:9) and His holiness is the essence of that “otherness”.

His very being is completely absent of any sin (James 1:13, Hebrews 6:18).

He is high above any other, and no one can compare to Him, (Psalm 40:5).

GODs holiness pervades His entire being and shapes all His attributes.

His love is holy, His mercy is holy, His anger and wrath are holy, His judgments are holy, and yes the rewards He grants to His very own are holy.

These concepts are difficult for humans to grasp, just as GOD is difficult for us to understand in His entirety.

Next, what does it really mean for us to be holy?

When GOD told Israel to be holy in Leviticus 11 and 19, He was instructing them to be distinctly different from the other nations by giving them specific regulations to govern their live.

Israel is GODs chosen nation and GOD has set them apart from all other people groups on this planet.

They are His special people, and consequently they were given standards that GOD wanted them to live by so the world would know they belonged to Him.

When Peter repeats the Lords words in 1 Peter 1:16 he is talking specifically to believers, those of his time and to those who were afar off (that would be us).

As believers we must be “set apart” from the world unto the Lord.

We have been instructed to live by GODs standards, not the worlds.

GOD is not calling us to be perfect, but to be separated, distinctly different from the lifestyles and morals of the world in which we live.

1 Peter 2:9, describes believers as a “holy nation”.

As a holy nation we must be separated from the norm and live out the reality of being different in our day to day lives, which Peter instructs us to do in 1 Peter 1:13-16.

Lastly, How can we become holy?

Holiness can only come about as a result of a right relationship with GOD by believing in Jesus Christ as Savior (accepting His gift of eternal life).

If we have never fully placed our entire hope of forgiveness of sins, on the finished work of Jesus Christ, then our pursuit of holiness will be in vain.

So, we must first be certain that we are truly born again believers (John 3).

If we are in fact true believers, then we will be aware that our position in Christ, automatically sets us apart from the world (1 Peter 2:9).

Look again at (Hosea 11:9), He will be in the midst of thee, but He will not enter again into a blended environment (or city), He will only come to those who are living a life not compromised by the ways and traditions of the world.

Do you desire holiness?

Then contrary to what many will teach, you must look, act, think, talk, laugh, live, give, love, grieve and hope in a way that is different than the world.

Have you ever considered just what Jesus actually meant when He said. “Take up your cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23)

First lets examine what Jesus did not mean.

Many people interpret “cross” as some burden they must carry in their lives: a strained relationship, a thankless job, a physical illness.

With self-pitying pride, they say, “That’s just the cross that I have to carry.”

Such an interpretation is not at all what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.”

When Jesus carried His cross up the hill called Golgotha to be crucified, not one witness or participant was thinking of the rugged cross as symbolic of a burden to carry.

To a person, living in the first century, under Roman domination, the cross mean one thing only: death by the most painful and humiliating means a human being could develop.

Two thousand years after the fact, Christians view the cross as a cherished symbol of atonement, forgiveness, grace and love.

But in Jesus’ day, the cross represented nothing but torturous death.

Because the Romans forced convicted criminals to carry their own crosses to the place of crucifixion, bearing a cross meant carrying their own execution device while facing ridicule along the way to death.

Therefore, “Take up your cross and follow Me” can only mean being willing to die in order to be a follower of Jesus.

This act is called “dying to self.”

It is a call for absolute surrender. After each time Jesus commanded cross bearing, He said, “For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whosoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?” (Luke 9:24-25)

Although the call is tough, the reward is matchless.

Wherever Jesus went, He drew crowds. Although these multitudes often followed Him as Messiah, their view of who the Messiah really was--and what He would do--was distorted. They thought the Christ had come to usher in the restored kingdom. They believed He would free them from the oppressive rule of their Roman occupiers. Even Christ’s own inner circle of disciples thought the kingdom was coming soon (Luke 19:11). When Jesus began teaching that He was going to die at the hands of the Jewish leaders and their Gentile overlords (Luke 9:22), His popularity sank. Many of the shocked followers rejected Him.

Truly, they were not able to put to death their own ideas, plans, and desires, and to exchange them for His.

Following Jesus is easy when life runs smoothly; our true commitment to Him is revealed during trial.

Jesus assured us that trials would surely come to His followers (John 16:33). Discipleship demands sacrifice, and Jesus never hid that cost.

In Luke 9:57-62, three people seemed willing to follow Jesus.

Yet, when Jesus questioned them further, their commitment was half-hearted at best.

They failed to count the cost of following Him. None was willing to take up his cross and crucify upon it his own interests.

Therefore, Jesus, appeared to dissuade them. How different from the typical Gospel presentation!

How many people would respond to an altar call (if one were even given) that went, “Come follow Jesus, and you may face the loss of friends, family, reputation, career, and possibly even you life”?

The number of false converts would likely decrease immensely! Such a call is just what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow Me.”

If you believe that you have taken up your cross, please, consider these questions:

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends!

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means the loss of your reputation?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing you life?

In many places in the world,these consequences are a reality.

But notice that all of the questions are preceded by “Are you willing?”

Following Jesus doesn’t mean that any of these things will actually occur to you, but “Are you willing to take up your cross?”

If it comes to a point in your life where you are forced to make the choice of--Jesus-- or the comforts of this life---which will you choose?

Commitment to Jesus, means to examine your self daily to see if you are truly willing to “take up your cross .”

Willing to forfeit all of your hopes, dreams, possessions, even you very life if need be, just to be called His disciple (Luke 14:27).

The reward, far outweighs any possible price.

Jesus followed the call of death to self, and went up Golgotha to complete the task.

Would you follow?

“For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it” (Matthew 16:25-26).