PUT A LID ON YOUR CISTERN!

“For My people have committed a double evil:
They have abandoned Me,
the fountain of living water,
and dug cisterns for themselves,
cracked cisterns that cannot hold water.”

Jeremiah 2:13

When a man watches the birds and foolishly tries to fly like a bird by flapping his arms as he jumps out of a tree everyone who sees him knows he is, in only a second or two going to suffer the consequences of his stupidity.

If a man wants to become a doctor and spends his time talking like a doctor, acting like a doctor, dressing like a doctor, and even writing like a doctor he will still only be a poor imitation at best. The only way to become a doctor is to go through the process of education and certification!

If a man wants to be a Christian and then spends all of time acting like a Christian, talking like a Christian, dressing like a Christian (whatever that might be) he will be only a poor imitation at best. The only way to become a Christian is to go through the process that Jesus established based on His sacrifice. The Bible says "without faith it is impossible to please Him." So you can do everything He wants you to do, but if you leave out "faith" you only have cistern and not a fountain of living water.

We have an old cistern at our house. It still holds water, but I wouldn't drink that water. It is stagnant and nasty and I'm sure would make me very sick. After a while the best cistern has water that you really don't want to drink.

When you are young and strong you may think you don't need the living water. Part of the wisdom of age is realizing that depending on God is the only hope you have left. Put a lid on your cistern and go to the "fountain of living water."

How Does His Garden Grow?

“For as the earth produces its growth,
and as a garden enables what is sown to spring up,
so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise
to spring up before all the nations.”

Isaiah 61:11

The barren trees and bushes show only a touch of green in early spring. But then with more light from the sun each day and air that is warmer and warmer the green overwhelms the forest and provides cooling shade for the hottest summer day. It looked so dead only a few weeks ago, but now it is burgeoning with life.

When the world looks at followers of Jesus they see only a touch of the righteousness and glory that is to come. But more light from the Son will bring a time that no one could ever imagine. That which appears to be dead will spring to life and overwhelm the nations with the righteousness of Jesus Christ!

News flash! In the struggle between righteousness and evil RIGHTEOUS WILL WIN! That was decided when Jesus rose from the grave and won the eternal victory over Satan! We are in the final quarter of a game with a score of: Jesus - 1000, Satan - 3! Yes the game is still on but the winner has already been decided.

When a sporting event has a lopsided score many fans head for the exits before the game is over. In the contest between Good and Evil I can assure that the LAST DAYS of the game will be the most exciting part!

Homesick for Heaven!

“For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humble condition into the likeness of His glorious body, by the power that enables Him to subject everything to Himself.”
Philippians 3:18-21

Those who live as enemies of the Cross of Christ are not to be feared or hated. They have no power to do any eternal damage to even one follower of Jesus. The most wicked person alive, perpetrating the most heinous crime cannot touch one hair on your transformed body.

The difference between enemies of the Cross of Christ and those whose citizenship is in heaven is this: the enemies are focused on earthly things, but followers of Jesus are focused on heavenly things.

When a tornado comes and blows away everything, the enemy of the Cross has lost it all, but the follower of Jesus loses nothing!

Perhaps Satan's greatest temptation for followers of Jesus is to lure them into focusing on earthly things instead of things in heaven.

Those who follow Jesus "eagerly wait" for Him to return and while they wait they are "Homesick for Heaven!"

GOD IS NOT AN ILLUSIONIST!

“[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.  [I pray] that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of His power to us who believe, according to the working of His vast strength.”

Ephesians 1:17-19

 

An illusionist can make you think you are seeing one thing when you are actually seeing something else. It really is fascinating to watch a really skilled magician play with the perception of my mind. I do not panic when I see him saw a woman in two because I know that it is just a trick. An illusionist makes you think something is true when it is not.

Satan is the greatest illusionist of all. He makes you think things are true that are not. He contradicts God's laws and tries to make you believe that God was quite wrong.

God however, "enlightens the perception of your mind" so that you will see the truth and not believe the "tricks" of Satan.

For example, when you watch the news on television ask God to enlighten you about what is the truth of the matters being presented. And if you are a follower of Jesus pray that He will enlighten your mind so you will know the truth about His calling, inheritance and power. You will be amazed!

Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem!

“Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: ‘May those who love you prosper.’”

Psalm 122:6

There are many who believe that prosperity in the United States since the end of World War II is undeniably tied to our love for Israel. We have been a consistent blessing for the Jews who returned to their land and became a nation once again in 1948.

If that is true, and if we walk away from our love of Israel, our prosperity will decline as does our love for Israel.

In a broader application, there are actual consequences for positions of the heart. In your own life never forget that your attitude does affect your altitude. If you want to "Soar with Eagles" and truly prosper, you must let your love become like the love of God Himself.

A simple place to start is to "Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!"

Jesus Loves Me!

"For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

John 3:16

I think I was in Junior High School when I first had thoughts of having a "girl friend." Before that it seemed like a crazy idea. But then my heart and mind began to wrap around the idea that girls were attractive, or should I say very attractive. It is part of the fundamental transformation of a little boy into a man and every man knows much more about it than he has probably ever expressed in words!

Even after many years of marriage there is still much left to discover and many mysteries about that relationship. God's perfect design for a relationship between a man and a woman is one of giving. They give themselves completely to the other and receive back much, much more than they give!

But the relationship of a man and a woman is really an earthly picture of Jesus and His Bride! At some point everyone becomes attracted to the idea of a relationship with God, even if they don't know who He is. Most men and women spend their lives searching for that relationship. When you find It you discover that Jesus is the only one who can give eternal life, peace, joy, and love beyond everything else! Jesus Christ has given and will give Himself completely to you and wants you to give yourself to Him!

Jesus, like a bride-groom is waiting for you to give yourself completely to Him!

Greater than a Miracle!

"If a prophet or someone who has dreams arises among you and proclaims a sign or wonder to you, and that sign or wonder he has promised you comes about, but he says, 'Let us follow other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us worship them,' do not listen to that prophet's words or to that dreamer. For the Lord your God is testing you to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul.”

Deuteronomy 13:1-3

If supernatural power was only displayed by God then you could judge a prophet by the miracles he did.  It would be simple.  If there were miracles, then the message was to be accepted.   But these verses in Deuteronomy clearly contradict that thinking.

Don't judge a man or his message by the miracles.  Judge rather by whether or not the man's message is pointing you to God alone.

God wants your love to be "maxed out!"  He wants you to love Him as much as you possibly can.  If there is a way you can express your love for Him that you have not done, then set your mind and heart to do that today! 

The highest expression of loving God is to submit your will to His will and to give Him your life for His purposes.  God has given you the free will to do otherwise.  You can reject God or you can accept God.  He does not force you to enter in to the most amazing, intimate, loving relationship that could ever be.  You and God, together forever and loving each other beyond your greatest imagination.

It is truly greater than a miracle!

Faith or Belief?

“Whatever has been born of God conquers the world. This is the victory that has conquered the world: our faith.”

1 John 5:4

Do you have Faith in God or do you simply Believe in God? You can believe in God without having faith in Him. Many people do. When you confuse faith and belief, faith get's left behind and belief becomes the mark of a Christian. The Bible says that even demons "believe and tremble."

To believe may be nothing more than recognizing the existence of someone, even God. Having faith in Him begins when you start trusting Him for your needs, wants and very existence. Of course you can't have faith without belief, but you can believe without faith!

To begin the walk of faith is really quite simple. Pick a need that you have and begin to trust God for that need. It may be something quite simple or even small, but when you trust God you are beginning to walk in faith. And don't forget that faith is the victory that conquers the world!

NEW BEST FRIEND!

His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. By these He has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.

2 Peter 1:3-4

There are great benefits for having a personal relationship with a rich and powerful person.

If your friend is the CEO of a large corporation, the governor of a state, a member of congress or perhaps even the President of the United States, then you certainly prosper in many ways because of that relationship. Even in a bad economy the personal friend of a President will have many job offers.

When you come to know Jesus, the benefits are amazing. First of all, He gives you hope for the future and purpose for your life right now. And of course Jesus makes sense of your past, no matter how despicable it may have been.

There is another way that Jesus reminds me of powerful politicians. Jesus makes very great, precious and, dare I say, very hard to believe promises. But, unlike politicians all of Jesus' promises are true and will be kept.

Let Jesus be your NEW BEST FRIEND!

Keep Watching the Sky!

Two Options!

He answered me: "The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is extremely great; the land is full of bloodshed, and the city full of perversity. For they say, 'The Lord has abandoned the land; He does not see.' 10 But as for Me, I will not show pity or spare [them]. I will bring their actions down on their own heads."

Ezekiel 9:9-10

The silence of God is not proof that He is not there. 

God is the originator of the covert operation.  He is able to make you believe that He is not there at all.  That is how God can see your heart.  When you know that God is with you the truth of your secret life remains hidden from view.

It is only when God steps into the shadows that what you are becomes apparent. It is like how employees behave when the boss comes around. 

Do not be deceived, there are only two options when it comes to sin in your life.  Option one is to turn your heart to Jesus and depend on His sacrifice to pay the price for your sin.  Option two is to depend on your own personal goodness and hope God will not judge you.   Option two is a ruse.   It will not work. 

Depending on your own goodness or righteousness will set you up for Hell.  It is not good people who go to Heaven.  Evil people go to Heaven because they submitted their lives to the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ.

Heart Attack!

“But I have this against you: You have abandoned the love [you had] at first.”

Revelation 2:4

Love strikes a heart with what might be truly called a "heart attack." 

Suddenly and often without any warning signs, you transition from casual relationship to total commitment.  I think, if they are honest, most married men can remember that moment in time when they became aware of love.  It was like they were standing on the edge of a deep chasm when they took one final step and fell.

Are you still in love with Jesus or do you have a casual relationship with the Lord?  Is your every moment filled with thoughts of Him and how you might please Him above all others?

Can you remember that moment when you transitioned into a deep loving relationship with Jesus?  If you cannot then ask the Lord to attack your heart with the Love of Jesus!  And then, never ever abandon that Love.  So that when you see Jesus you will run to His arms and stay there forever!

Glimpse of Heaven!

“But let your word 'yes' be 'yes,' and your 'no' be 'no.' Anything more than this is from the evil one.”

Matthew 5:37

This verse follows the paragraph that contains a warning not to take an oath. Why is this important for followers of Jesus? How can taking an oath be "from the evil one?"

Pretend you are in Heaven and no one ever lies about anything. Everything that is said is completely true. There is no deception at all. You don't have to make a judgment about anything you hear. Truth is the standard. Frankly, it is mind boggling to imagine that Heaven will be like that.

So anything that even raises the possibility that someone might tell a lie is from the evil one, not from God. Taking an oath recognizes the fact that lies exist.

When a man or woman is walking in the Spirit and is directed each moment from above there is never a need to make an oath or to swear by anything.

Make it your goal today that every word that comes out of your mouth be holy and pure and completely true. Let there be no need for an oath.

When everyone you know begins to realize that you never speak anything but the truth you will show them a glimpse of what Heaven is like.

Jump for Joy with Jesus!

 

“But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall.

You will trample the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day I am preparing," says the Lord of Hosts”

Malachi 4:2-3

The theme of the entire Bible is simple: RIGHTEOUSNESS WINS AND WICKEDNESS LOSES!

There is no contest between God Almighty and Satan. Satan himself was created by God and has no chance of winning.

When you see apparent victories for evil, remember that those victories are temporary at best and will all turn to ashes in the day that God is preparing.

The best part for me in these two verses is that if I fear the Name of the Lord I will get to playfully jump like a calf just let out of a stall. I don't know about you, but for me that really sounds like fun!

It reminds me of the man Peter and John healed at the temple and he did the same thing. Acts 3:8

When you meet Jesus it is normal to JUMP FOR JOY!

Lot’s Wife Today!

Remember Lot's wife!

Luke 17:32

The Bible doesn't even record the name of Lot's wife. What is there to remember about Lot's wife?

She looked back at the judgment of God on Sodom and she was turned into salt. She had been specifically warned not to look back, but the temptation to look was allowed to take control of her actions and that was the end of Lot's wife.

Jesus clearly states in Luke 17:28 that it will be the same when He returns as it was in the days of Lot.

So here is the message that Lot's wife is screaming at every believer. "Don't look back at the world you are leaving."

Don't look back longingly, affectionately or any other way. Don't look back at all. Keep your eyes on Jesus, not on the destruction of Sodom. We are not called to judge the world or even comment on it. And Lot's wife is ample warning that we should not even look back at it.

No, I don't know anyone who has been punished like Lot's wife was, but I know you can't keep moving forward with the Lord while looking back at Sodom.

Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth, but not like Lot's wife!

Who is the Notorious Prostitute?

“After this I heard something like the loud voice of a vast multitude in heaven, saying: ‘Hallelujah! Salvation, glory, and power belong to our God, because His judgments are true and righteous, because He has judged the notorious prostitute who corrupted the earth with her sexual immorality; and He has avenged the blood of His slaves that was on her hands.’”

Revelation 19:1-2

I have never heard someone claim that they were born a prostitute. The very term implies that something good was turned into something bad. Whoever this nation is, which the Holy Spirit calls a "notorious prostitute" must have at one time been a wonderful and beautiful nation. It must have been "God fearing" and established on Biblical principles. This finally corrupt nation must have been a truth seeking and generous nation and a beacon of light to the world. But then, as in the life of all who are called "prostitutes" there came a moment of truth when truth was sold for a single moment of pleasure. Like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal, this nation looked at pleasure and chose pleasure over God!

Who is, or was, or will be this "notorious prostitute?" The Bible does not say, but there is a great truth in this passage for all nations. Any nation can sell it's birthright for comfort or pleasure. It begins with one rebellious generation and the next one completes the transformation.

Don't forget that prostitution is one bad decision followed by another and another.

Ripened for the Harvest

“Yet another angel, who had authority over fire, came from the altar, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Use your sharp sickle and gather the clusters of grapes from earth's vineyard, because its grapes have ripened." So the angel swung his sickle toward earth and gathered the grapes from earth's vineyard, and he threw them into the great winepress of God's wrath.”
Revelation 14:18-19
When fruit ripens fully it becomes all that it will be. A blossoming tree is beautiful, and one with perfectly ripened fruit is truly inviting, but when no harvest comes the once gorgeous tree becomes a rotting mess! In the natural world, God has provided animals to eat the ripened fruit if no man gets it first.

Spiritually, the process of ripening happens for the righteous and the unrighteous. The unrighteous ripen to the point where they are ready to be gathered and thrown into "the great winepress of God's wrath." But the righteous also ripen into everything God has planned for them to be here on this earth. And then in God's perfect timing for their lives, He gathers them to Himself.

I must yield my life to the ripening process of God's will for me. Then I will be all that I can be in Jesus Christ!

Fear or Anger?

“The nations were angry,
but Your wrath has come.
The time has come
for the dead to be judged
and to give the reward
to Your servants the prophets,
to the saints, and to those who fear Your name,
both small and great,
and the time has come to destroy
those who destroy the earth.”

Revelation 11:18

When you are angry at God you do not fear Him. Most of my life I have heard explanations of why the fear of God is simply respect and not what we normally think of as fear. I can concede that point however when I consider the "om-everything*" of who God is regular old fear comes right back into my heart.

The fear of God is a little like the fear of high places. I do not enjoy standing on the edge of deep canyon and looking down. There is no threat to me or anyone else by the height, but the awesomeness of the situation is worthy of fear.

God does not threaten me, but if I even begin to approach the reality of who He is and what He has done and can do I must begin to tremble!

I say to the lost world: "Go ahead and be angry at God. I will fear His name!"

* omnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience etc.

Going Up!

 

“After this I looked, and there was a vast multitude from every nation, tribe, people, and language, which no one could number, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were robed in white with palm branches in their hands.

Then one of the elders asked me, "Who are these people robed in white, and where did they come from?"

I said to him, "Sir, you know."
Then he told me:
These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation.
They washed their robes and made them white
in the blood of the Lamb.”

Revelation 7:9,13-14

When the "Great Tribulation" happens there will be those from every nation, tribe, people, and language who will come out of it and stand before the throne and before the Lamb.

This is a word of great encouragement for every believer to remain faithful to Jesus no matter what is happening around you. Even if it looks like you have found yourself right in the middle of the "Great Tribulation" remember there will be a "vast multitude" which will come out of that tribulation and stand before the Throne of God!

Interestingly enough these verses do not indicate that they will get out of that terrible situation by dying. Verse 16 of this chapter mentions what they will no longer suffer. Death is not mentioned. The implication seems to be that they came to the throne room without dying on this earth. Like Enoch they pass from this earth without walking through the door of death.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ today then look up, stand up, speak up, because "soon oh very soon" you may go up to praise Him in His presence!

Wickedness and Understanding

“Many will be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked will act wickedly; none of the wicked will understand, but the wise will understand.”

Daniel 10:12

The impact of sin on a lucid mind is stark! Sin causes you to see things that are not there and of course not to see things that are right before you. Wickedness will cause otherwise intelligent people to stumble over the simplest reality.

But those who are purified, cleansed and refined will see things that even angels wish they could grasp!

The impact of turning your life over to God for His purification, cleansing and refining is most amazing. When you do that your wisdom will bloom and blossom and fill the air with the fragrance of God Himself!

Conquered Saints

“ A mouth was given to him to speak boasts and blasphemies. He was also given authority to act for 42 months. He began to speak blasphemies against God: to blaspheme His name and His dwelling-those who dwell in heaven. And he was permitted to wage war against the saints and to conquer them. He was also given authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation.”

Revelation 13:5-7

I thought saints were supposed to be victorious overcomers. What is this three and half years of being conquered? Never forget that the events of this Book are orchestrated to bring everything to the conclusion God has ordained.

By human standards it seems that "all is lost" right before the very end, but wait! The final victory stands just around the corner from this terrible time and we must use the periscope of faith to look around the corner and see the end!

Is there a "war against the saints" going on now? Are some being conquered in the battle? The answer is yes and yes.

But the end of the Book does not have Satan winning over the righteous. Jesus wins and those who love and follow Him rule and reign with Him forever.
The road to victory for saints is perseverance and faith! Nothing else will do!

The Dragon is at War!

“When the dragon saw that he had been thrown to earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child. The woman was given two wings of a great eagle, so that she could fly from the serpent's presence to her place in the wilderness, where she was fed for a time, times, and half a time.  From his mouth the serpent spewed water like a river flowing after the woman, to sweep her away in a torrent.  But the earth helped the woman. The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up the river that the dragon had spewed from his mouth.  So the dragon was furious with the woman and left to wage war against the rest of her offspring-those who keep God's commands and have the testimony about Jesus.”
Revelation 12:13-17
It is very tempting to place parts of these verses into a contemporary time frame and see their fulfillment in the news of the day. We do know from verse 12 of this chapter that the dragon is the Devil and of course the woman who gave birth to the male child is the Jews.

Persecution of Jews is because of Jesus. There is nothing that Jewish people can do to change the fact that Jesus was a Jew. Even though many Jews reject Jesus as the Messiah they were still the people God used to bring Jesus into the world.

The dragon is waging war as well against those who keep God's commands and have the testimony about Jesus. That would be Christians!

Even as a man who jumps in the sea will be wet all over, the man who jumps into the arms of the Lord in faith and loving discipleship will draw the attacks of the dragon. So many worry because they are being attacked by the Devil. You should worry if you are not being attacked by Satan. If you are at peace in this world wake up, turn your heart to Jesus and head in to the battle that is raging all around!