Abraham is commended in Hebrews 11 as being a person of great faith. What does it take to have such faith? Is it something unattainable for you and I?
The most striking thing about Abraham was his willingness to execute God`s will. See faith doesn`t necessarily mean you achieve some inhumane feat? At times it simply just means denying your own will, and deferring to God`s instead.
Reading Abraham`s history in Genesis 16 you will observe he was flawed like you and I. Yet despite his flaws, Abraham came to a place in his walk with God that set him apart. While others would have questioned God when asked to do something so unthinkable such as sacrificing one`s own child, Abraham simply trusted God. He was truly a revolutionary. Abraham had walked with God thus far, and had seen God prove himself time and time again. He had experienced God in several ways, beginning with his calling to venture into unknown territory, encountering God`s supernatural provision from enemies, receiving abundant provision for his family, and finally a child born to parents who where 90 and 100. Through it all Abraham had come to know God intimately, thus he trusted Him.
As God presents the ultimate test of faith to Abraham, the options were few. Deny yourself from your only son and give him up to death or indulge your own will, disobey God and walk away from a lifelong relationship with the creator. Giving up his son meant total loss. This was his only natural son born to him and Sarah. This son was his progeny, and would carry on Abraham`s legacy, oversee his estate, and would be an extension of Abraham into the next generation. These were benefits that every parent in the ancient East lived for. As Abraham took the fork in the path leading to self-denial, he was saying goodbye to his reputation, and embracing sure despondency. Abraham in his denial of flesh shows us what it means to have great faith. To the extent you are willing to sacrifice your own desire, the greater your faith would be.
What is it that you are holding on to? Let it go. Has God been challenging you to give up media, friends, a wrong relationship, or a personal habit? Take the fork in road of sacrifice. Deny yourself. It all begins with a firm decision to trust in God. As you act accordingly it won`t be easy.
Thus, as Abraham acted in faith, God proved faithful. His self-denial led to probably the greatest faith testimony in the Old Testament. Not only did God restore Isaac to Abraham, the nation of Israel came from Isaac, and ultimately our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we embark to live radically for God, we need to deny our self to experience great things. These things may not be immediately apparent, but as you consciously choose to love others, defer to God`s way, serve his people and his kingdom, you will see things change around you beginning with yourself. Get ready for a revolution, rise up and rescue this generation.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
The river of the Spirit
“There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the most high dwell” echoes Psalms 46, in respect to the phenomenon of the spiritual life found in heavenly Zion – God’s abode.
Ezekiel amidst his visions of the temple foresees an unusual occurrence. The temple was overrun with water. Not just a little splash of water, but a tumultuous amount amassing into a vast river that was too wide to swim across.
John 7:38, portrays one of Jesus temple outbursts, his words again speak of the river, for he says, “whoever believe in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.
Revelation 22, reveals yet again a picture of heaven, where the river flows in the midst of the heavenly Jerusalem, bringing life, administering healing to the nations.
What is this river? Why is there a sense of its being related to God’s temple? Does it have significance for us today?
An encounter with the river, simply stated is an encounter with the spirit of God. While salvation invites God’s spirit, the river does not stop here. The river is simply a manifestation of God’s spirit that produces fruit in whatever capacity it is featured. No wonder Ezekiel sees the river reviving the deadness in the Arabah (dry places) of Palestine, while desalting the Dead Sea in order for fresh water fish to teem.
What are the dry places in your life? Are there areas that no one knows about, and you would like to forget about? Do you need a touch from the everlasting Holy Spirit? God likens his presence to a river because of the life giving qualities embodied in the river. The river brings life in so many ways, ranging from watering farmland to hosting fish for fisherman to farm, earning existence for themselves while providing food for others. An overflowing river was equated with a boisterous economy, sufficient trade, and abundant living.
God wants you to experience his river. The woman at the well in John 4, though she went to fetch water, was filled with God’s river. As she believed in Christ, the river of the Spirit washed away her sins. This new cleanliness refreshed her neighbours, who also pursued this river offered in Christ. When the disciples received the Spirit in Acts 2 this was also a manifestation of the river. They were so filled with life, that it bubbled over into an ecstatic utterance of heavenly origins, their spirits communicated with God’s spirit in a new language. The river of God was ushering them into a deeper dimension of the spirit.
What is your experience with the river? Have you experienced it ever. If so , is the river fresh in your spirit, or is it only a historic experience. Ephesians 5:18 intimates God’s desire is to constantly fill you with his river. As I write this article I feel his river. I can almost hear the water of the spirit lapping ever so gently on its river banks. I drink up his spirit with deep refreshing gulps. Knowing his spirit means things will be ok. Come the storms, temptations, trials, naysayers, etc, God’s river instils peace that’s synonymous with the serenity fostered in any nature lover gazing at a curvy flowing river on a bright summery day.
Are you thirsty? May you crave the river. Are you filled? May you want more. Let the river of God flow into you, but let it not stop there. Let others around you sense God’s presence in you. Did you know others are sovereignely placed around us as river water level indicators. People innately seem to sense if the river is flowing in us. Are you patient, kind, gently, peace loving? Or do things get you down, causing you to lose your peace often? Do you find ministry a joy, or a never ending burden? Step into the river with me today. Pause in your busy day. Step aside from your routine . Catch a God breath, talk to him even for a couple minutes, say “Lord I crave your river”. “I need you to fill me with your presence”. Then relax and see what God will do.
Ezekiel amidst his visions of the temple foresees an unusual occurrence. The temple was overrun with water. Not just a little splash of water, but a tumultuous amount amassing into a vast river that was too wide to swim across.
John 7:38, portrays one of Jesus temple outbursts, his words again speak of the river, for he says, “whoever believe in me out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”.
Revelation 22, reveals yet again a picture of heaven, where the river flows in the midst of the heavenly Jerusalem, bringing life, administering healing to the nations.
What is this river? Why is there a sense of its being related to God’s temple? Does it have significance for us today?
An encounter with the river, simply stated is an encounter with the spirit of God. While salvation invites God’s spirit, the river does not stop here. The river is simply a manifestation of God’s spirit that produces fruit in whatever capacity it is featured. No wonder Ezekiel sees the river reviving the deadness in the Arabah (dry places) of Palestine, while desalting the Dead Sea in order for fresh water fish to teem.
What are the dry places in your life? Are there areas that no one knows about, and you would like to forget about? Do you need a touch from the everlasting Holy Spirit? God likens his presence to a river because of the life giving qualities embodied in the river. The river brings life in so many ways, ranging from watering farmland to hosting fish for fisherman to farm, earning existence for themselves while providing food for others. An overflowing river was equated with a boisterous economy, sufficient trade, and abundant living.
God wants you to experience his river. The woman at the well in John 4, though she went to fetch water, was filled with God’s river. As she believed in Christ, the river of the Spirit washed away her sins. This new cleanliness refreshed her neighbours, who also pursued this river offered in Christ. When the disciples received the Spirit in Acts 2 this was also a manifestation of the river. They were so filled with life, that it bubbled over into an ecstatic utterance of heavenly origins, their spirits communicated with God’s spirit in a new language. The river of God was ushering them into a deeper dimension of the spirit.
What is your experience with the river? Have you experienced it ever. If so , is the river fresh in your spirit, or is it only a historic experience. Ephesians 5:18 intimates God’s desire is to constantly fill you with his river. As I write this article I feel his river. I can almost hear the water of the spirit lapping ever so gently on its river banks. I drink up his spirit with deep refreshing gulps. Knowing his spirit means things will be ok. Come the storms, temptations, trials, naysayers, etc, God’s river instils peace that’s synonymous with the serenity fostered in any nature lover gazing at a curvy flowing river on a bright summery day.
Are you thirsty? May you crave the river. Are you filled? May you want more. Let the river of God flow into you, but let it not stop there. Let others around you sense God’s presence in you. Did you know others are sovereignely placed around us as river water level indicators. People innately seem to sense if the river is flowing in us. Are you patient, kind, gently, peace loving? Or do things get you down, causing you to lose your peace often? Do you find ministry a joy, or a never ending burden? Step into the river with me today. Pause in your busy day. Step aside from your routine . Catch a God breath, talk to him even for a couple minutes, say “Lord I crave your river”. “I need you to fill me with your presence”. Then relax and see what God will do.
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