Where is your treasure?

Have you ever made it to the top and realized that you were just as happy at the bottom?

Have you ever forsaken all to achieve a goal and found no joy anywhere?

Have you ever snuck over to the greener pastures, and realized, when you got there, that contentment abided for the blink of an eye?

Have you ever worked and toiled for what you dreamed would make a difference, looked back and all you can remember is work and toil?

What happened to the happiness?  What happened to the joy?  What happened to the anticipated contentment?

Are you really any happier, more joyful, or content than when you had little?

When you talk about your achievements (the things in life that you’re the most proud of), do they all start with:

I undertook… I built… I made… I bought… I owned… I amassed… I became…?

Many of us fall into that category.  Our culture calls for us to achieve, and to acquire, and to grow, and to have.

King Solomon fell into the same boat.

He writes, “I undertook great projects: I built houses for myself and planted vineyards. I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. I made reservoirs to water groves of flourishing trees. I bought male and female slaves and had other slaves who were born in my house. I also owned more herds and flocks than anyone in Jerusalem before me. I amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I acquired men and women singers, and a harem as well—the delights of the heart of man. I became greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me. In all this my wisdom stayed with me.

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.  My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.  Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun. “

I heard a person talking the other day about his missionary experience in some of the poor countries.  He talked about how some of these families have nothing; they have little to eat, almost no possessions, and meager shelter.  But, they are extremely happy because they have Jesus in their lives, and because their children are saved.  Their family finds joy, happiness, and contentment in serving and giving to the Lord.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the things that we do to make a better life for ourselves and our families, that we miss what is really important.  Years, and years, and years can slip by as we toil, and then we look back and see that it is was all like ‘chasing after the wind, that nothing was gained’ and all that should be cherished has faded dim.

We need to reevaluate what is important.  We need to put our attention to that which is of eternal value; treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal (Mat 6:20)  We need to stop obsessing with what we can do to better the lives of ourselves and families.  We need to start waking up in the morning and praying that God will open our eyes, and hearts, to the opportunities to make a real difference in someone’s life.

We need to stop working so hard to bless ourselves and start asking for God to bless us so that we can be a blessing to someone else.  Instead of working overtime to save money to buy that car, or new refrigerator, or smart phone, why not use those resources to bless someone else.  God knows what your needs are, and he will provide for them, as you put Him first. (Luke 12:22-31, Phi 4:19)   He will also provide you with provision so that you can bless others. (2 Cor 9:10) 

For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and forfeit his life? (Mat 16:26)  

Don’t be as Solomon did.

When asked about your achievements (the things in life that you’re the most proud of), let them all start with:

I beheld…  I helped… I was witness to… I blessed… I led… I taught… I prayed… I lived in the supernatural provision of the Father.

Holy, Holy, Holy with Smoke and Fire

Isaiah had an experience with God which must have been terrifying.

He discerned God sitting on a throne in the temple.  The presence of God was impressive, as the hem of His robe filled the temple.

Above the throne, were two seraphim.  These are not cute and cuddly angels with harps.  These are described as fiery serpents.  When these angles show up on the scene, they were sent by God as His instruments to inflict the righteous penalty of sin.  This must have been terrifying.  These seraphim flew and cried out, Sacred (Holy), Sacred (Holy), Sacred (Holy) is Yhvh Ysaba (Lord of Warfare [or Lord Almighty]); the world is full of God’s glory and honor.  And as these fiery serpents flew and cried out to each other, the walls of the temple trembled and the temple filled with smoke. 

I am sure Isaiah thought he was going to be destroyed on the spot, because he reflected on his own unworthiness and sin and when God and the seraphim looked into his eyes, they saw it too.  He udders, woe as me (I am grieving) because I am going to be destroyed, because I am a man of unclean lips (or speech) and I hang around people with unclean lips.

Then it appeared his fear was coming true as one of seraphim flew to him, but instead of destroying him, it picked a flaming ember from the alter and got right up in his face.  As he touched the ember to Isaiah’s lips it said, your guilt and punishment has been put aside and this sinful thing has been blotted away.

Isaiah had a very unique experience with God which was terrifying at the least.  Through this, he was spared the penalty of his sin.  God had a plan for Isaiah, and he has a plan for us. 

It would be terrible for us to endure something like this to be reconciled with God.  There is good news.  We don’t have to.  God has provided a better way.  He sacrificed His son, Jesus Christ for our sins, instead of declaring destruction on us.  Jesus lived a life without sin and was worthy to stand before God Almighty without fear of destruction.  Yet, God allowed Jesus to take our punishment, to die, and rise again for us, so that through His blood sacrifice, our guilt and punishment would be thrown out, and our sins would be blotted away as if they never happened.  Not just once, but FOREVER.

God wants to have a relationship with us so bad, that He sacrificed His best so that we could walk boldly to the throne room and know that we are worthy through His Son.  We will not fear the fiery serpents but will open our arms and cry ‘Father, I love you’. 

God made this very simple for us.  He says, if we believe in our heart and confess with our mouth, that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that He died for our sins, and rose from the dead, that we will be saved. Rom 10:9

A Thorn In The Flesh

I was reading in 2 Corinthians 11 and 12 today and I read some controversial verses that have been used for generations to drive wedges between the denominations.  As I read these, I thought of all the different interpretations and the vigor and strife and contention around them.

They surround 2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.

This verse has been used passionately by some mainstream denominational churches to show that God will curse you with a disability or disease of some type to keep you humble and to build character.  They say that some problems are outside God’s ability or desire to cure because they are His perfect will.  Some also say that you cannot expect to walk in supernatural health because, not even the Great Paul the Apostle was able to walk in health and that the thorn was a sickness that plagued him.

The one side of the isle says that this thorn was figurative and was probably either cataracts or a speech impediment.  The opposite side of the topic says that the thorn was exactly as described in scripture; A demonic angle that’s purpose was to strike Paul over and over.

First, let me explain what I believe. 

I believe that our God is ALL POWERFUL.   The only thing out of the realm of the Father is that which is contrary to the Word of God.  The following are some examples of how God has limited himself: God never changes.  God doesn’t lie.  God’s word does not return void but will accomplish that which it was sent.

I believe that God is Jehovah-Rapha (the Lord my Healer)

I believe, not only, that Jesus paid the price for our salvation, but he also paid the price for our health and that by His stripes we were healed.  Just as we can receive the salvation he has already provided through faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, we can also receive healing by faith through the healing he as already provided.

I believe that demons are real and are a force in this earth.  But I believe that they are not a force that has any power over you other than what you allow them to have.  The weapon of demons are described as fiery darts that get shot into our mind (as wicked thoughts) and take a stronghold if we do not rebuke them.  Demons are broken and powerless to the believer whom knows who he is in Jesus Christ.  I don’t believe they can physically strike me in the face (buffet me), in the physical, but they can influence others to strike me, or steal from me or lie about me.

If you read 2 Corinthians 12 along with the preceding chapter, you will see that chapter 12 is a continuation of chapter 11.  Paul is talking about boasting and that he will not boast in his achievements but boasts in his weakness.  The end of chapter 11, he talks about how he has been in prison, flogged and exposed to death.  Received 39 lashes five times, caned three times, stoned, shipwrecked, left floating in the open sea, hiding from bandits, gentiles and Jews, and has been hungry and cold and naked … You get the picture.  

I believe that the thorn, in the side of Paul, was persecution that he was enduring for the furthering of the Gospel.  If a demon was buffeting Paul, it would come in the form of a fist from one of his persecutors.   

You see, whenever you press into the higher calling of God, you get the attention and resistance of the enemy.  This will not be, as in a horror movie where a demon jumps out from under the bed with knife-like fingernails, but it will be through circumstances that impact you.  Paul counted his sufferings as gain.  He did not cry out to God to please stop the stones from hurting me. Or save me from my certain death in a Roman prison.  But he did pray three times, as Jesus did once, if it is within your will, may this cup be taken from me.  (i.e. This burden weighs so heavy on my spirit at times, if there is another way to accomplish Your will, while avoiding these sufferings,  please show me the way.)

If you are sick in your body, there is good news.  God does not want you sick.  In fact, he wants you well and provided the provision for your healing.  Through His divine power, He has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceeding great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.  That is GOOD NEWS.

If you want to learn more of these precious gifts, including divine health, which has been provided for you, there are many sources.  The first and most important being a good faith based church. 

If your pastor is more concerned about growing his numbers and milks down the Word to ensure it doesn’t offend anyone, you need to find another church. 

If you pastor believes that you shouldn’t believe God for a healing because if you don’t receive the healing. in your own time, you could loose your faith, you need to find another church. 

If your pastor only preaches a feel good sermon, and you never feel challenged and uncomfortable, he is not preaching the full Word and you need to find another church. 

If your pastor is terrified about being publicly stereotyped a ‘faith preacher’ or ‘prosperity preacher’, you need to find a new church. 

If your pastor tip-toes around ungodliness and allows it to thrive because he doesn’t want to be seen as insensitive, you need to find a new church. 

If it’s been years since you have had a revelation moment, such as when you discerned the truth about salvation, you need to find a new church.   

The Word of God is living and alive and should be exploding with revelation.

If that is you and you are looking for a strong Man of God to get planted under to learn the Truth of what God has for you, I welcome you to join me at Faith Builders Church International on 9^th Street and Bell Road.  Pastor Jerry Pruitt will lead you to the truth which will be individually and personally confirmed by the Holy Spirit should you listen and receive. 

If you are not ready for a change but need to get the fire of God burning again, such as when you were born again, another good source for free is Andrew Wommack.  He places for free all his teachings online so you can listen to them and grow your faith and knowledge.  His teaching on God Wants You Well is fantastic and will open your eyes.

http://www.awmi.net/extra/audio/1036

And most importantly, spend time in the Word.  God communicates to you through His Word.  If you are not planting the Word into your spirit, you are inevitably planting something else there.  Either the Word will take root or a weed will take root.

There Is Hope

Have you ever looked around to those who seem to have it all and look away feeling insignificant?  There’s hope.

Have you ever felt that if you were born smarter you could compete? There’s hope.

Have you thought if you were only prettier you wouldn’t be overlooked?  There’s hope.

1 Corinthians 1:26-31

God has singled out the mentally inert from this world to confuse the wise. 

He has chosen the weak and insufficient to frustrate and dishonor the mighty.

And, the worthless and those cast out and counted as nothing but contempt, He has personally chosen.

And those who are without, to make useless the ones who are.

He does this so that we know that our achievements are not by our own abilities, but by the hand of God, and should we boast, it is in the mercies of the Father, only.

If you receive Jesus Christ and your savior, you will receive wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.