God is Patient (my journal entry)

My flesh has been crying out, "why don't I seek you Lord like I used to . . . I know you better than years past and I continually try to please you through obedience, but the feeling of love seems so still and lifeless to me at this time and in this place?"

Help me! I regularly plea.

Okay reader, please don't worry. . . My soul knows that God patiently waits but I can't ever save myself from running to attend to other important needs (family, friends, church, etc.)

However, last night was different. I could not refuse his calling and "wooing" me unto love. It came through seeing the silhouette of a woman praying by the water on my iphone.

"That's it," I discerned his call as one of tender love. And I thought, "I'm definately headed out the door to sit by the pool and seek him (just like I do with my human husband in a quiet moment of the day)." So I programmed my alarm to wake me early in the morning and became determined to start the day right.

To be clear: He met me there just as he promised he would. Now that's love of the pure kind!

• Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13: 4 - 7

So "what did he say?," you might ask.

Well, it was mostly about his patient character.

This iUnderstand (and I know something more NOW): He waits to reveal truth until the right time when I'm ready to hear.

Apart from prayer I'm like a teenager who needs wisdom but am unable to receive anything wise which he desires to say. It's as if I close my ears. I will not receive The Truth spoken in love because I choose not to listen. I remain in a frantic state, too upset to really listen, and instead focus on myself while succumbing to imagined "trauma" while exaggerating problems from a youthful perspective. What I need is God's perspective in every situation.

• Ah Lord God! It is you who made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you. Jeremiah 32: 17
  

God knows my human frailty and he patiently waits to impart His Wisdom when I'm listening! His strength is sure. Nothing is too difficult for him to handle. And nothing will ever snatch me out of his hand; not even the waiting. That is awesome.

So God really is patient in an active sort of way. The LOVE of God seeks the lost when they stray. The LOVE of God is never late (even when you have a full hour drive to pick-up your hurting child from school). His perfect LOVE is always prepared for every emergency ahead of time. His perfect LOVE is not selfish or demanding that anyone listen at this very instant (as seen in my parenting style). His perfect LOVE is not resentful or angered by any inconvenience and the thought of having to wait another day to be heard (characteristic of my parenting response). God, unlike me, chooses the path of love to patiently wait for others without malice, unkind words, or any small measure of impatience.

Do you see? He always has a good gift to offer his child, but he is also patiently waiting for the right time. . . the time when we are willing to listen to his voice, receive direction, and act on it. This is love.

• Let my cry come before you, O Lord; give me understanding according to your word. Psalm 119: 169
  

Key to Evangelism

The Key to Evangelism is the exaltation of Jesus Christ. So why do so many people expend energy toward sharing a "fail-safe" message that meets a human standard or expectation. To be clear, I'm thinking about the sinners prayer. In these days, the sinner's prayer is practically a holy grail. Lifted up high and to a religious "don't touch that one" status.

But why not examine our ways of doing evangelism? Scripture tells us to examine ourselves in order to see if we are living in the way (2 Corinthians 13: 5).

Take a closer look. Have you ever thought "if you just say these words of the sinners prayer, then you shall be saved." Yet rather than having any real power to save - which comes through Jesus Christ alone - these words were written by a modern day man and only provide fleeting comfort to the one trying to evangelize. For there is a real temptation placed upon every young evangelist to rely heavily upon these words alone and to enjoy the usefulness of this evangelistic tool simply because "success" is alluring.

In growing up into Christ, here is what I see:

1). The effective presentation of the sinner's prayer has become an objective means by which we - mere mortals - use to count our own achievements in performing this seemingly difficult task of evangelism. By example I will confess my own sin in this grievous way. For I have repeatedly thought "I have heard her say the sinner's prayer in my own hearing; I even led her in the prayer that day, therefore I have won one!" Plain and simple, this is our sinful nature rearing it's ugly head (as in pride) when we credit the winning of a precious soul to our own personal account. It's equivalent to sharing in God's glory that is due to him alone. And are we not told repeatedly, over and over, again and again, that salvation belongs to God. Yes! It is God who brings the growth, performs the miracle and does the good work.

2). The act of leading another person in the sinner's prayer such as saying "repeat after me" in parrot-like repetition causes the evangelist to instantly relax and be tempted to think "my work is finished" even though there still remains a great commission to go and make disciples. And the truth is there really is something more to be done such as walk in fellowship together and not send them out on their own (they are like baby birds needing protection, nourishment, and teaching on how to soar above the things of this world etc).

3). Any evangelistic training which relies on the sinner's prayer rather than the Holy Spirit to do his work is at risk for raising up ill-prepared evangelists. For they do not come prepared or armed with anything more. So the bottom line is this: it may be that a once useful tool has become a hindrance for us in cooperating with the creative work of the Spirit.

4). The thrust of our message should be a clarion call to repentance and salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Our story is explaining God's original and perfect plan to make a people for himself, the greatness of his love by sending his only begotten Son as an atonement for sin, and the finished work of our redemption won through Christ's victory on the cross.

Therefore, take time to ask the Lord what he wants to do in and through you this day. Don't look back. Press forward. . . and let's together recommit ourselves to cling to the cross (not a mere earthly crutch) to help us do the work to which we have been called.

Go ahead now. Use your own words and I'll use mine . . . the words the Holy Spirit places on our individual hearts that he wants to hear.

The author's personal reminder note: There really is a big difference between pleading another to "just say the sinner's prayer and you'll be saved" and clearly speaking the truth, such as boldly proclaiming "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." It is Christ who saves and not a prayer.

A Signpost Confession

John 1: 6 - 9 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. (Amen)

My Response to the Hearing of this Word is simply: More Confession

Yes, I rejoice at the hearing of the Word of the Lord! Even a difficult word of Confession. For I am reminded by the Holy Spirit that I can do nothing apart from him (John 15: 5).

Yes, I rejoice at the hearing of his voice! His voice came in loud and clear this day. Thus I must acknowledge my lowly position: I am not all-knowing (this belongs to God) and there are many things that I do not know. With proper perspective and his vision I am able to see that I am a mere broken vessel (2 Corinthians 4 v. 7), a simple servant-teacher and human mouthpiece, filled with the voice of many waters (i.e., his voice). The purpose of this in-filling is not to satisfy my feel-good longings but it comes according to the will of the Father, in line with his perfect design and choosing, and for the fulfillment of his ultimate plan and promise to make a people for himself. Therefore, what can I do but testify to his greatness and freely water the Word of God already planted by the precious hands of my co-laborers in Christ.

Thus again, by compulsion of the Spirit, I confess that I am nothing but a mere human sent to water that which I did not plant (Deuteronomy 32: 1 – 3). Though I teach, it is God who gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3 v. 7).

Furthermore, I understand John was compelled by the Holy Spirit to write down, to identify and confess his humanness as a lasting testimony in order to point to the ultimate supremacy of Jesus Christ alone.

From the start of his written testimony John makes it clear.

John existed because of Jesus Christ (John 1 v. 3). John lived for Jesus Christ (John 1 v. 7). He was defined by Jesus Christ (John 1 v. 20 – 23). He died for Jesus Christ (Luke 9 v. 9). He was nothing apart from Jesus Christ (Acts 17 v. 28). He was absolutely small in comparison to Jesus Christ – a mere human that others viewed as strange for they did not understand why he would choose to live apart in the desert for the purpose of sanctification and to be clothed with unadorned camel’s hair while feasting on insects while learning of God’s good provision and the way of a thankful heart. Again, in his own words, he was not the light (John 1 v. 8).

John then went on to speak, seek, and pray an ever-increasingly decrease of his own life so that Christ would forever be glorified and magnified (John 3 v. 30) . . . Yea, Foreverlasting it will be!

So why post my own confession for all to read?

God says, write the vision, make it plain on tablets so that a runner may read it (Habakkuk 2 v. 2). And like John I tremble at the revelation of who Christ really is . . . Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Do you see? By writing it down, there is no more confusion. Beyond any shadow of a doubt we can know our proper place in God’s kingdom and I want to go forth teaching and modeling the gospel by example. I seek a blameless lifestyle in preparation and hope that many would come to faith and believe in God’s Word because of my personal testimony. I can’t teach what I don’t live out. I must humble myself again and again.

Greatness should be ascribed to one true Son of God, Light of the World.

More Food for Thought:

John’s role, task, purpose, goal, was similar to that of a living, breathing signpost --- pointing to the Way “Make straight the way of the Lord” (done through a call to repentance) . . . pointing to the Truth Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (according to the proclamation and identification of Christ living and breathing in this world) . . . and pointing to the Giver of Life In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (telling of his incomparable Glory for all eternity that outshines the darkness of death).

John only came to testify to the light.

Salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone.

I am humbled as a witness to Jesus Christ this day.

Lord help me to step aside so that I can be a signpost to someone greater; my Savior Jesus Christ – the one I love.

Joy

Galatians 5: 22-23
By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

Plain and simple: Joy is a fruit. . . it must be grown.

So let me help you understand. Joy, like all the other fruit, is grown from a small seed which is the Word of God (Mark 4: 14). It must be planted in the soil of your heart (Luke 8: 15) and then watered from heaven either by a direct downpour or some gentle teaching (Deuteronomy 32: 2) so that the roots go down deep. Then, at the appointed time, a tree will spring forth and grow. Wow! a miracle because it issues forth from God's design and exists only because of his "doing" (1 Corinthians 3: 7). He gives it life by placing his Spirit within (2 Corinthians 3: 6). Do you see? It is fruit of the Spirit. The fruit comes from Him (that is, God the Holy Spirit), and by no other means. And when the sun shines down on us because Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, and his Righteousness is lifted high like the noonday sun in our lives, our fruit begins to ripen.

So 'Yes' there is a purpose because his fruit is meant for sharing. . . . so that others may taste and see that the Lord is good! . . . and more seeds may be planted.

Aha! I'm back to Evangelism and nothing less.

Psalm 1: 1 - 3
Happy are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers; but their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law they meditate day and night. They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season, and their leaves do not wither. In all that they do, they prosper.

There's Something More

I can't stop thinking about the human spirit which yearns for something more. This plea is inside every human being. It's apparent in the world. It's prevalent inside all the church walls. There's no getting around it except by faith.

So I ponder this conundrum:

Why is it? . . . while many christian workers speak of a God-shape vacuum inside of us that nothing else can fill or fit, and therefore we must ask God for help; yet it remains that so many believers in Jesus Christ still yearn for something more.

My thoughts are these:

Though like a student who already knows the material I have bold confidence. I can pass this test for I read the text, studied it, memorized it, etc... I have also practiced writing down the perfect answer to any open-ended question.

Likewise, in a similar vein, I have found that valuable mainstream publishers always provide help or companion materials authored by little known individuals. They write lesson plans, examples, and answer keys to go along with their textbooks so that professors may read it, possibly use it, share it, and print it.

Yet God has done better. He is the author and perfector of our faith. He has given us something more!!

Listen to his text, study it, examine it, memorize it:

• "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever (John 14: 15 - 16).
• I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you (John 14: 18).
• Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them (John 14: 23).
  
• But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you (John 14: 26).

So the answer has already been given.

The Master is now patiently waiting for you . . . perhaps even silent and perfectly still . . . waiting . . . waiting for you . . . waiting for you to ask him for something more.

As a teaching assistant:

Let me shine some light to help expose the underlying problem of this conundrum. The conundrum is promulgated by unbelief.

Do you see it now? The question is related to your beliefs about God's own character. Do you believe what the world says? Either 'He is a harsh taskmaster with too many laws to obey' and 'He punishes' or Do you believe what God says? "I Am Who I Am" and he is "Our Father - Daddy God - who abounds in steadfast love and mercy." Both can not be true.

Therefore, I shall conclude that our belief - or unbelief - determines our response to him.

Supplementary Reading

‘So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’ Luke 11: 9 - 13 Ask for God's good gift of the Holy Spirit

‘Why do you call me “Lord, Lord”, and do not do what I tell you? I will show you what someone is like who (1) comes to me, (2) hears my words, and (3) acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when a flood arose, the river burst against that house but could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not act is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, immediately it fell, and great was the ruin of that house.’ Luke 6: 46 - 49 Take Action based upon his words.

The Master is now patiently waiting for you . . . perhaps even silent and perfectly still . . . waiting . . . waiting for you . . . waiting for you to ask him for something more.

Humble yourselves

1 Peter 5: 6
Humble yourselves therefore
under the mighty hand of God,
so that he may exalt you in due time.

All God's children

Church going isn't enough!

All God's children should know they are redeemed.

• bought with a price
• bought for a purpose
  

They should also know God's deliverance from evil.

• understanding more and more what God has done in their lives
• fully knowing the extent of his handiwork in transforming a sinful heart

Years ago the LORD awoke me from slumber and spoke with a loud booming voice, "You think you're lucky but it brings death."

I knew what I had to do. I had to give up this notion of luck (good luck, bad luck, etc). I had to destroy childhood leprechauns.

The truth is Jesus saves. I can't ever save myself.

He delivers me from evil. He delivers me over and over again (from before the crib to after the grave).

My God is GREAT!

I would be hard pressed to name all the wonders he has done in my life because the list is so long.

WOW! Isaiah 43 He makes a way for his people.