CONTENTMENT

Contentment is learned and found independent from our circumstances .

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The Rock Band U2 had a hit song entitled, “I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For”.  The Rolling Stones had a song entitled, “I Can’t Find No Satisfaction”.  It’s also the title for many peoples lives.  Discontentment in life is a really big issue.  If you were to believe what the commercials tell you, you would believe that contentment was something that could be sprayed on, rolled, inhaled, eaten or driven. As if all of these products would give you lasting contentment. They don't.

What is the secret of a satisfying life?  Philippians 4:11-12 (NIV) …… I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation…….

What is contentment? It is not apathy, laziness, complacency.

Contentment is independent from circumstances. You do not base your happiness on the situation around you. Happiness comes from within. How do you get that kind of contentment and satisfaction in life?  Paul says contentment is learned. It's not something that's instant, in a one time experience. Life is a school of contentment and the problem is most people never learn and they die unfulfilled and unsatisfied and unhappy.

Contentment is learned when we avoid comparisons.  Comparing yourself to others always leads to discontent. v. 11 "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances" and that comes from not comparing yourself. If you want to learn to be content you have to avoid comparisons. There will always be people that make more money than you, who have greater opportunities than you have, who have fewer problems. So what? That has no bearing at all on your own personal happiness.

We learn contentment by adjusting to change.  Life is full of ups and downs -- emotionally, physically, mentally, financially. There's nothing certain in life except change. Change is certain.  How well do you handle change? How well do you handle when things are shaken up a little?

Do you get frightened? Moody? Angry? Uptight? Paul says that one of the secrets of learning to be content in life is the ability to adjust to all kinds of circumstances and change. Paul says you need to learn to adjust to it. Your happiness in life will be largely dependent upon your ability to adapt, adjust, be flexible. Change is going to happen whether you like it or not.  Philippians 4:12 (NIV) I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Paul says he's seen good times and bad times. What did experience teach Paul? He learned to be independent of circumstances.  That is the secret of a satisfying life. You don't get your joys or happiness out of things, people, possessions, pleasures, profits, popularity or prestige.   Paul says he's learned to be independent of circumstances.

We learn contentment as we draw on Christ’s power.  Instead of just depending on my own effort to make it through circumstances and my own energy, I must learn to draw on Christ's power.  v. 13 "I can do everything through Him who gives me strength."

You can handle it when the kids are tearing the place apart, make it through the stock market crash, when you have problems and you don't know where to go. I can handle everything, Paul says. I can cope. He had an external power source. He was depending, not on his own power, but God's power.

Last, we learn to be content by trusting God to meet our needs.  This is the secret of satisfaction in life.  Philippians 4:19 (NIV) And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Not some or most -- all.  When I buy an insurance policy I read through it to find out what is covered. When I know what's covered, I don't worry -- it's covered. The Bible is God's insurance policy. There are over 6000 promises in the Bible which you can claim. (see Matt 6:31ff)  Put God first and God will take care of your needs. Put Him at the center and everything else will be taken care of.

The real reason that people are unhappy, unsatisfied, and unfulfilled is because Jesus Christ is not the center of their lives. They are looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places. They run from this to that, looking for something that is going to satisfy them. From relationship to relationship, from job to job, from hobby to sports to recreation, fads, therapy, books, seminars -- and yes even from one church to another;  looking for the key. But God has laid it out very clearly. You were made with a God shaped vacuum in your life and nothing will fill that void except God!

Read: Ecclesiastes 9:3-8 & Philippians 4:10-13

INTEGRITY

Integrity is deciding to integrate my heart’s values into my daily actions.

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Integrity comes from the word "integrate."  The feeling that you get when you know what you're doing is right, that's integrity.  The key word  is "deciding".  You don't slip into integrity.  Nobody ever said, "Oops, I fell into integrity."  It's something you have to decide on in life. 

It's important in THAT God placed a very high value on integrity.  Proverbs 28:6  "Better is the poor who walks in his integrity, than he who is crooked though he be rich."  God says integrity is a lot more valuable than all the stuff I think is valuable.

However, the problem many of us have with integrity is what is called the "the frustration gap".  That is the gap between my heart's values and my daily actions.  When they don’t match it causes us a frustration in our lives.

We are not alone in this struggle for the Apostle Paul points out about his own life in Romans 7:18-20 (NKJV) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.

How can we improve our integrity?  Here are four practical things that we can do:

1.  Speak Honestly.  Mark Twain said one time that speaking honestly is better in our lives, it takes a lot of stress out of our lives.  He said "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything."  As you speak honestly let's do it in the way the Bible says to do it.  Eph. 4:15 "Speak the truth in a spirit of love".  

Some people speak the truth in a relationship in a way that destroys the relationship rather than building the relationship.  Some people don't tell the truth they launch the truth -- a guided missile into your life.  Sort of Clint Eastwood kind of truth tellers, they pull it out like a 44 Magnum and blow you away with it then they walk away feeling great about themselves and you're laying on the floor destroyed.  "I told the truth" they say, but not the truth in the spirit of love.

2.  Confess Regularly.  We do this when we admit that we are wrong.  When you're wrong admit it.  Admit it to the people you're in relationship with.  James talks about doing that.  James 5:16 "Admit your faults to one another and pray for each other."  Isn't telling our faults to God enough?  Do we have to ask for other's permission to be forgiven too? No, because God is the one who forgives us.  But in order to restore our relationship with them, we need to talk to them about what happened. 

This involves a principle in forgiveness that's called restitution.  Usually the first thing you think of is financial restitution.  If I've taken money or possessions from them and I recognize that I've been wrong, then I need to go back and not only ask for God's forgiveness but I also need to give back what was taken.  You don't get to keep the money. Relational restitutions works the same way.  You need to do your best at giving back to the person what you have taken.  If you were harsh; you need to give them kindness.  If it was anger; you need to return love.  You can only do this through time and conversation.

3.  Live Consistently.    The opposite of consistency is hypocrisy.  You may be able to hide hypocrisy at work or church but you can't hide it at home where people know you.  Living consistently is vital in our public image as compared to our private image.  How important really is your relationship with those people in your private life?  Who do you really want to be admired by at the end of life?  Our goals should be to be admired the most by those who are closest to us -  who know us best.

Secondly, consistency is vital in discipline and values. Have you ever had dealings with a yo-yo.... type of person?  Today they say this and tomorrow they say something completely different.  A lot of politicians fall into this category.  Their values are determined by the weather or the latest Gallop poll.  They are inconsistent with what they believe.  To either live or work with someone who changes their mind like the wind.... becomes an effort in futility! In parenting, to be consistent is a difficult thing.  But if you are, then your children will have stability.  A parent or a boss who behaves inconsistently only creates chaos in the lives of others!

Thirdly, consistency is vital between our words and actions.  Words are not what's important.  Words are not what's going to impact people.  Our actions and the way we behave is what changes  people's lives.  More is caught than it is taught!

I Samuel 16:7 "Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 

That's what those who are closest to us see too.  Our heart, who we really are.  That's what impacts them and influences them.

So how is your life exemplifying integrity?

Read: Psalm 19:7-14  &  Romans 7:14-20

OUR PROVIDER

It’s God’s responsibility to provide for those who trust Him.

The story of Job highlights the problem we have with understanding an all-powerful God that allows good people to suffer.  It’s a story about a man who trusts God even when he does not understand what God is doing.

This brings us to a key question for today: do you believe that God is able to meet all of your needs even in the midst of difficult times?  It’s easy to say yes until the difficult and sorrowful moments hit us!  It is in these struggling times that we may say, “yes I know God is able to meet my needs but will He?”  It is in just these kind of struggling moments that God is allowing us the opportunity to reveal our faith in Him.

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Jesus is telling His followers that by first focusing on God and His kingdom; all that we need will be met.  It is easy for us to focus on material blessings, emotional and feel good experiences and bypass that which is most important.

To “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” means that when we by faith obey and trust Him; God in turn is obligated to meet our needs.  As we live our lives focused towards a relationship with Him; He takes on the responsibility of living through us and thereby cares for us through all the problems, challenges and circumstances we face.

But in this relationship as we allow our life to be indwelt by His life; He also takes over the driver’s seat.  In that role He also determines the direction and outcome of our lives.  It becomes His will, His plans, His timing and not ours!  As we bring our needs to Him in prayer we are declaring our faith to trust Him and His ability to provide.

So often I see in the life of Christians as they face challenges and needs; their response rather than turning to God is to do everything in their power to find a way out!  In this way they miss out from discovering what God wanted them to learn!

When Christians don’t get what they want and when they want it, it is also easy to slip into the blame game.  They may blame others or even God.  Then there are those who demand that God provide for them out of their own works. It’s an attitude which says,  “We did this for you God; so now we want you to do this for us.”  This is what I call the Genie in the Bible syndrome.  If we just rub the book the right way, God should give us what we want!

The Christian life should be one in which we have such a complete trust in God as our provider even when it looks like He’s not.  Even when we do not understand our situation or God’s timing.

Consider Moses after he had led the Israelites out of Egypt.  They faced the Red Sea and in hot pursuit was Pharaoh’s army.  The people cried out to Moses complaining that it would have better for them to remain slaves in Egypt than to come out and perish under these circumstances.  The people could not see it, but God had something else in mind.  And “Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever.” Exodus 14:13 (NKJV)

God is to be our source for everything we need. As the Apostle Peter tells us,  “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7 (NKJV)  Timing is always in God’s hands.  His timing will always be perfect.  As we place our trust in Him, He will take care of us!

Read: Job 42:7-17

DIRECTION

Making wise decisions for direction in life requires us to consult with God.

Life is constantly filled with choices!  As Christians we should be depending on God and seeking our directives from Him.  God always desires what is best for us and wants us to listen to Him and follow His directions.  Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

But how can we know when we are hearing the voice of God?  There are other voices clamouring to get our attentions as well.  Are we hearing God, Self or Satan?  Our own self voice screams loudly within.  Satan’s voice is ever so deceptive.  Jesus said, My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. John 10:27 (NKJV)

So how can we hear God’s voice?  First and foremost God gives us direction through His Word as recorded in the Bible.  2 Timothy 3:16 (CEV) Everything in the Scriptures is God's Word. All of it is useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing them how to live. God’s word shows us how to live!  As we read it ; God will impress a particular verse upon us.  It may be that a larger biblical account or story will give us the direction we need.  However this is not the only way that God gives us direction.  His toolbox is filled with a variety of tools that He can use to get our attention and to help us hear Him.

Here are a few other tools that God uses to get our attention:

1.  A word from others.  If several people begin to tell you the same thing; take it to the Lord and ask Him if He’s trying to speak to you through them.  Often trusted Christian friends will confirm what has been on your mind.

2.  Disappointment.  This is another way that God uses to get our attention.  When our plans don’t work out to our liking; ask God if you have been charting your own course?  So often we make decisions and then later ask God to bless it and we don’t understand why it’s not working out.  It may however just be that His answer is “no” and He has something else in store for us.

3.  A restless spirit.  There may be times when we become restless and agitated.  We are unable to put our finger on what is going on.  This is a good time to take it to the Lord in prayer and ask the Lord if He’s trying to tell you something. (see Esther 6:1ff)

4.  Money problems.  My experience has shown me that for many Christians, money is the last thing they give over to the Lord’s control!  In the time of the Judges it is said that everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 17:6 (NKJV)  In managing their lives and especially their money; many still do what they see as right in their own eyes and neglect God’s teachings.  It is not surprising then that God at times will get our attention through money problems.

Having money problems gets our attention quite quickly!  We then need to come to the Lord and ask Him how we can be better stewards of His resources.  It doesn’t mean that our problems will just disappear; but it does mean that we have begun to give Him control of this area in our lives.  God is not just our Saviour but He also wants to be our Lord.

God knows exactly where you are in your journey with Him and He also knows how to get your attention in order to give you direction.  Ask Him to help you hear and discern when He’s talking to you!

Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NKJV) Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

I have come to understand that big decisions require much prayer and little decisions require some prayer.  But in all decisions pray and ask God for direction.

Read: John 10:1-5; 22-30

TRUST

Placing our complete trust in Christ gives victory over the giants we face.

When King Saul and his army heard the words of Goliath; they fled from him because they were dreadfully afraid.  But young David was incensed that this Philistine should defy the armies of the living God.  He stepped up to the challenge for he believed that just as God had delivered him from the lion and bear; that He would deliver him from this Philistine.  His trust was not in his own ability but rather in the ability of His Lord.

David had come to a point in his relationship with God, that he was able to see things from God’s perspective.  In 2Kings 6:16-17 the prophet Elisha prays that the Lord would open the eyes of his servant in order to see the Lord’s army.

How often we face our own Goliaths in life in which we too are dreadfully afraid.  When we only see the giant that faces us and not the God that is with us; we too will run.

How can we gain the kind of trust in God that David exhibited?

1.  Recall past victories.  David recalled how God delivered the bear and the lion into his hands.  This convinced David in his own mind that God was with him and that God was able.  We too, need to go back into our own life experiences and recall how God has delivered us.  Fear and doubt will flee from us as we recall God’s faithfulness to us in the past.

2.  Reject the negatives.  The Israelite soldiers focused on the size of Goliath.  David’s oldest brother told him to go home.  King Saul saw David as being too young.  Rather than listening to these negative comments and giving up; he placed his trust in the Lord.

3.  Rely on God’s strength.  David did not enter the battle with a soldiers armour and weapons.  David battled with Goliath believing that the battle was the Lord’s and not his!  David did his part and used what was familiar to him; trusting and believing that the Lord would give the victory.

Our battles are not in our strength, wisdom or power but our trust is to be in the Lord Jesus.  Victory comes because of His power over everything.  Our responsibility is to trust Him.  Our life may not turn out as we had hoped or expected, but God will be glorified and our ultimate victory in eternity has been secured.

Read: 1Samuel 17:1-11; 32-51

OPPOSITION

The Christian faces opposition, by taking the battle to prayer.

In living the Christian life, we should not be shocked by the opposition that comes against us!  It often comes at us from people as they attempt to derail us or stop us.  This is what happened to Nehemiah and the people of Israel.  God had given the task of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem to Nehemiah.  He challenged the people to work with him to filling in the gaps in the wall.

No sooner had the work started and Sanballat along with Tobia mocked them and began to conspire how to attack them and stop the work.

In Nehemiah 4 verses 4, 5 and 9 you see that Nehemiah took that opposition to the Lord in prayer.

Satan is our enemy; but at the cross he was defeated.  Satan may be the prince of this world but Christ has overcome the world.  Satan’s focus is to thwart and oppose all that is of God.  As followers of Jesus it should be no surprise that Satan will come against us using any and all means possible.

How should we respond?  In the same manner as Nehemiah!  The apostle Peter said, “Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, standing firm in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:8b-9a (NIV)  James says, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” James 4:7-8a (NKJV)    

Both James and Peter are talking about taking the power of prayer to stand and resist our opposition.  Jesus encouraged his followers in Luke 18:1 (NIV) “that they should always pray and not give up.”

There are two points about our prayers that Peter and James highlight for us.  The first is that our ability to resist the devil and to oppose him comes through our prayers in submission to God.  Submitting to God happens when we acknowledge our need of Him and that only He has the power to oppose evil.  So Paul could say Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)   I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Secondly we resist and oppose the devil’s attacks through prayer with faith.  It is faith which believes that God can and will overcome the enemy of our souls.  As we submit to God by placing the outcome of the battle in God’s hands; our faith attests that God can and will defeat the enemy.

We will not be able to resist our opposition for very long unless we believe that in Christ we will and can overcome the opposition!  As we submit to God completely in every area of our lives, we are acknowledging His Lordship over us.  The battle then belongs to the Lord!

Read: Nehemiah 4:1-9

ADVERSITY

God uses adversity to stretch and grow us for good purposes.

Spiritual maturity often makes the largest gains in one’s life through adversity. Yet many only see the hardships and difficulties that come to us as of no value or useless.

In the early 1900s, the city Enterprise, Alabama, was thriving, but its economy was almost completely dependent on cotton crops. In 1916 an infestation of boll weevils wiped out almost all its crops. Financially devastated, the farmers resorted to planting a new crop: the peanut. It turned out that peanuts were resistant to the boll weevil and four times as profitable as cotton. By diversifying and reinventing themselves, just two years later many farmers became wealthy and Enterprise became the largest producer of peanuts in the United States. Others who refused to change went bankrupt and lost their businesses.[1]

Insects had wiped out the livelihood for these cotton farmers.  It destroyed some of them, but others changed their crop and succeeded in a way that would never would have come about without the infestation.

In the springtime many gardeners will bring their seedling plants outside in nice weather in order to harden them up.  Starting the plants indoors provides a safe environment to grow the plants.  But by taking them outside for several hours each day leading up to the transplanting in the garden; prepares them for the reality of outdoor weather.  They are being hardened so that they will survive outdoors.

Adversity is one of the tools that God can use to shape our spiritual character.  It is the wind that blows in order to harden us; strengthening and shaping us for kingdom purposes.

Adversity is also used by God in order to teach us to be dependent on Him rather than ourselves.  Our natural inclination is to be self sufficient and self dependent.  But that is not what God desires from His people.  He is seeking those who will rely on Him and lean on Him for their strength, wisdom and life.  When adversity strikes; it reminds us and points us to our need of God.

Adversity will bring us to the end of our self.  We will have done all we can as we  journey every road we can possibly travel down.  It is when we come to the end of our rope; it is then that we are only able to hang on and ask God.  Often we’ll even ask for the strength to hang on!  It is then; when we come to the end of our own resources and abilities that God in essence says, “Now let me help you and show you the way.” For it is at times like this that our faith proves itself to me more valuable than gold!

Adversity is also used by God to conform us to be more like Jesus.  This is the believer’s foremost goal!  By allowing times of suffering and heartache, the Holy Spirit is able to develop the fruit of the spirit in us (see Galatians 5:22-23).  He uses the hardships of life to get our attention and reveal to us our strengths and weaknesses. Often He will also use these kinds of experiences in our lives in order for us to help others as they face challenging times.

1 Peter 1:6-7 (NLT) So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honour on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

Read: 2Corinthians 1:3-7; 1Peter 1:3-9

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[1] http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242002

HARVEST

We reap what we sow.

The harvest in your life today is the result of what you have sowed in the past.  This was a hard lesson for the Israelites to learn.  In Judges 2:1-4 it records the failure of the Israelite people to follow through with God’s directions.  Their failure in the past results in placing them in a position of conflict and hardship.

In the area of finances for example, those who save wisely today are rewarded tomorrow.  Those who spend foolishly today will be in want tomorrow.  It is short sighted thinking to only focus on today with no thought for tomorrow.

Galatians 6:7 (NKJV) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

Every farmer understands the truth of this harvest principle.  They understand that you can only harvest what you sow, more than you sow and later than you sow.

Harvesting what we sow is good news for those with living a God honouring life; but is bad news for those living an un-godly life.  To live how you want with no thought as to how God wants you to live will only bring a disastrous result. It may seem that your lifestyle is paying off in the present; but in the future it will reveal itself for what it really is.

Galatians 6:7 highlights the issue of the careless and indulgent lifestyle of many people. “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked”.   They are deceiving themselves by either not believing the truth or just thinking that they are exempt from God’s laws.  To mock God is to turn up one’s nose at Him and to proclaim that you know better!

What we sow becomes more than we sow.  When a farmer plants seed there is an expectation that the seed will produce itself many times over. A single seed can multiply itself into dozens and even hundreds more.  A small decision that we make to sin or to do right can lead to a much larger crop for either joy or sorrow.

In the parable of the Sower, Jesus alludes to this truth as to how God’s Word can affect our lives when we receive it openly. Mark 4:8 (NKJV) But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred."

What we harvest, comes later than we sow.  The world we live in today is obsessed with instant gratification.  We want results and we want them now.  If the harvest doesn’t come soon enough we may give up. Or others because the harvest of their actions are not revealed now; they continue down the road unwittingly to their own destruction.

Crops of the field are predictable to their timing.  Seed packs will even give you the approximate number of days from sowing till harvest.  Experience has taught us the time needed.  But not so for the harvest of life! Our sowing may come soon or it may take a very long time.  Either way, we should not be deceived as to the timing of our harvest. What we have sown we will reap! 

This is a snare for those living their lives without any regard to what is right.  It may seem that there are no consequences. But the time of our reaping will come sooner or later! 

For those living with faith it should be an encouragement and comfort to know.  Sometimes our struggle is great and overwhelming.  But our faithfulness will be rewarded sooner or later!

Read: Mark 4:1-20

GOD'S WILL

Understanding God’s will for me!

Many Christians have great difficulty in discerning God’s will.  Their desire is to please Him and live their lives according to His guidance but they falter or freeze when it comes to discovering His will for their lives.

1.  We can be encouraged when we understand that God’s will comes not just to those with a mature faith.  It is true that the more we walk with God the better we can discern His mind but it is also true that God desires to guide all his children.

What was said to the Apostle Paul by Ananias is true for all of us. See Acts 22:14  also Hebrews 8:10-11

Every one of us can come to Him with the full assurance of faith.  He delights to make His will known to His seeking children.

2.  We can discover God’s will when we earnestly seek Him. Jeremiah 29:13 says, You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Also, Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.”  Without faith it is impossible to please God.  A person’s faith is revealed in their persistence in seeking Him through prayer.  The one who doubts will stop praying very soon.  The one who believes lays hold of God until they get an answer.  God honours earnestness because it is the product of a strong faith.  We cannot receive that which is precious from God without intensely desiring it first.

Jesus sought the Father’s will in the garden and He prayed again and again.  See Hebrews 5:7 .

Is it not true that often when we seek God’s guidance we go about it half heartedly?  How casual is our seeking God’s will in comparison to Jesus?  Many do not seek God’s will anymore than if  they were looking for a lost loonie coin!  No wonder they don’t find it!  If we value God’s will as the greatest treasure then we will seek it with all our hearts.

3.  We discover God’s will by waiting patiently.

One of the greatest temptations when seeking God’s guidance is to fret and become impatient!   Some decisions do not require as clear a direction from God as others.  For instance;  whether to leave for a trip on the 15th or on the 16th of the month.  But some decisions do require a clear direction from God.  When choosing a spouse or deciding on a institution for education.  The effect of these decisions have a more far-reaching consequence.

 The more important the decision, the longer we usually have to wait to be sure of God’s will.  If you trust God, you won’t be afraid to wait.  Stepping out ahead of God’s direction may cause us to lose the best which He had waiting for us.  Often we fear that if we do not move on a particular decision now that we’ll lose the opportunity.  This is a simple lack of trust in God.  Surely God is able to safeguard that which He has for us!

4.  We discover God’s will by having no confidence in self. See Proverbs 3:5-6

   

Our wisdom, cleverness and abilities need to be distrusted!  This is a fundamental lesson in the Christian life.  It goes against the norm of human desire.  (See also Phil. 3:3ff)

Human self wisdom is a hindrance to knowing the will of God.  This does not mean we park our brain in the garage!  It does not mean we should not get a full education.  What it does mean is that we do not rely or trust in ourselves.  A self confidence or reliance is a danger to the learned and the unlearned alike!

The bible likens us to sheep.  Sheep are a foolish animal being unable to find their way and are extremely short sighted.  Their safety is found in following the shepherd.  This is a humiliating fact for a self dependant person to acknowledge their need of a shepherd.  This is what I believe keeps many away from coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is a pride that says “I need no one to show me or help me with anything”.

Yet this utter lack of confidence in our self is the very basic step needed  to discover God’s will.  Unless one humbles himself to the need of God, one will never know the will of God.

Read: Jeremiah 29:10-14; Hebrews 13:15-17; 20-21

SERVANTHOOD

In all we do; we are to serve the Lord.

If you want to get the most out of life; here are three fundamental steps:

1.  See yourself as a servant.

In our time, few of us have exposure or fully understand the life of a servant or slave.  Yet, Jesus calls his followers to be just that.  Servants place the needs of their master/employer over their own.  Their job is to serve others.

Jesus himself did not come to be served but to serve and He is calling His followers to the same attitude.

Colossians 3:22 is telling us that we are to give one hundred percent in all we do.  Whether it is our place of employment, at home or in the community, we must be giving it our all.  If we’re being paid for eight hours work; then we work eight full hours.  In our homes we place our family needs above our own.  In the community we give of our resources and talents to help others.  The servant heart is focused on placing others first.

2.  Understand that we serve God Himself.

Colossians 3:23 (NKJV) And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

As servants we may work for an employer, look after our families and help in our communities but ultimately we do all this unto Jesus!  He’s our real boss!  He is present in all our work; in all our interacting with others for He sees it all.  He is always present with us and the Holy Spirit is there to spur us on in honesty, integrity and so much more.

In Matthew 25 Jesus gives a symbolic account of the final judgement, as one group of people ask the king to explain when had they fed him, given him a drink, clothed him or visited him? The king responds in verse 40:  'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

The Christian life cannot be compartmentalized in that on Sunday you serve the Lord and then the rest of the week is our own.  Every moment, of every day of your life is to be lived for Jesus.  Can you fathom what this means?

3.  Our rewards come now and later.

Colossians 3:24 (NKJV) knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.

Naturally we should receive an income from our work in order for us to be able to take care of our families.  However, if we are completely committed to a servants heart and life, we will never really get paid all that we’re worth.  But we should  know that Jesus will reward us beyond measure in the life to come.

Getting the most out of life is about getting our focus of life unto others and unto God.  Realize Jesus is calling us to be servants to Him.  We will serve others but in reality we are serving Him.  The Christian life is to be a life focused on others and serving them when in reality we are serving Jesus! It’s all about servanthood.

PROMISES OF GOD

Standing firm on the promises of God.

Have you been blown emotionally one way and then another?  It’s a sign that our faith is hanging onto a clothes line!  With certain winds, a sheet hanging on a clothes line may be blown from one end to the other and back again.  Our life placed in Christ should rather be like the flag on a pole.  It’s blown around but firmly anchored to the pole.

In emotional stormy times it will be God’s promises that can keep us strong and anchored.  God’s word is trustworthy and true.  It’s an excellent compass, guide and instruction book for all of life.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV) All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

As we live our lives and experience the ups and downs ; we must anchor ourselves to God’s word, pray and meditate over what it is saying.  God’s word should always be our first resource and confirmation for the decisions we make.  It may not come immediately but as we pray and seek His wisdom, the Holy Spirit may bring to mind specific promises.  Other times His leading will just seem right because of an understanding we have of His nature from our relationship with Him.  We therefore trust Him. All the while understanding that God will never contradict His Word to us.

God has made many promises in the Bible. (a)  Here are three questions to ask in order to discover if the promise applies to you:

1.  Is it made to a specific person; or is it for all believers?

For instance, 1 Kings 9:5 (NKJV) then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, as I promised David your father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.'  From the preceding and following verse it is clear that the promise is for King Solomon.

However the following promise is a guarantee to all believers that Jesus will be with them always.  Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV) Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

2.  Is it for meeting our need or a desire?

If we’re asking the Lord for work so that we can provide for our family; it’s a need.  But if we’re asking for different employment for personal reasons; it’s a desire.

3.  Does it require some condition on our part?

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV) But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”

The promise is for those who “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness”.

As the strong winds of life blow; God’s promises will keep us strong and keep us steady as we depend on His Word and wait for His deliverance. Follow the Lord and pursue His leading as you stand on the promises of God!

Read: 2Peter1:3-10

(a) For some Promise examples see: http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/gods-promises.aspx

OBEDIENCE

Obey God and let go!

Exodus 19:5 (NKJV) Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.

Obeying God is a choice.  Each of our lives are bombarded with constant choices that we have to make.  Some choices are very menial ( what to wear today) and other choices are very moral (should I speak with profanity). By obeying God’s commands:

1. It Pleases Him.

It proves to God where we stand in our relationship with Him. If we love Him; we will obey His commands.

2. It Protects Us from Evil.

Constant temptations abound all around us. God’s commands are given to us to set a wall of protection around us.  God has our well being at heart.  Obedience keeps us within the walls of His protection.

3. It Reveals Our Faith.

God uses the path of obedience to get us to the place where our faith is tested and developed. We may verbally agree as to what God can do but until we step forward in obedience we have no faith.  Once we take the first step; He then reveals to us the next.

4.  It Ripens our relationship with God.

As we obey Him; we will grow and mature into knowing Him, understanding His ways and His great love for us.

Disobedience has serious repercussions.  It allows the accuser to bring upon us feelings of guilt, shame and a sense of worthlessness. The larger issue for us however is that disobedience muddles up and alienates us in our relationship with Christ.  When our relationship with the our Saviour is weakened in this way; we in turn become weak.  Our spiritual life begins to drain from us and Satan is right there to take advantage of our weakened state!  At this point it becomes easy to continually spiral into the depths of sin and the power of it over our lives!  Don’t let Satan have a foothold or he will turn it into a stronghold!

The way of obedience is the Christian life!  We do this by:

* Trusting that God will lead you in all things concerning life.

There is no one who knows you better than God.  Placing your hope and trust in Him for all things is our best option.  He will not lead us astray!

* Waiting on God to give us the answers.

When in doubt; wait.  If you do not have a clear direction then ask God to confirm it from His Word. If you are still unclear then walk away.  God’s plans for you will always align with His Word.

* Studying God’s Word.

To know God’s commands and His perspectives are discovered by taking the time to study what He has already told us in the Scriptures.  God’s will and that which is right and wrong is for us to learn from His revealed Word.

* Enduring Conflict.

We should not be surprised by the conflicts that surround us.  God rarely takes it away but rather He uses it to teach us a continual dependence upon Him.

* Leaving the Outcome in God’s Hands.

This is about letting go!  Many of us want desperately to be able to control our lives and the outcome of the situations we face.  Let us be obedient to God’s ways  even in the face of obstacles and opposition.  We must take control out of our hands and leave the results with Him.

SURRENDER

To have intimacy with God; requires our surrender!

We were created for a relationship with God and others.  It’s how our need to be loved is fulfilled.  To fully experience God’s love we need to draw near to Him.  The closer we draw to God; the more we will experience His love and forgiveness.  However, it is only as we surrender to Him that we are able to draw close to Him.

Surrender is a term used in warfare and implies giving up our rights to the conqueror.  It is not what anyone naturally wants to do.  Surrendering to God however has its benefits.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.    Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV)

God’s plans for us are good!  As our conqueror He will bless us and give us true freedom.

There are three different levels of surrender:

1. There is the surrender for us to accept our need of salvation.

This is a work of the Holy Spirit to convict us and lead us to our need of salvation. Until you come to understand your failure in sin and inability to cover for it;  you cannot see your need of salvation.  It is the Holy Spirit’s work to bring us to the end of ourselves to see our need to be saved.

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.   John 16:8 (NKJV)

2.  There is the surrender for us to accept the provision of salvation in Jesus Christ.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.  John 1:12 (NKJV)

This too is a work of the Holy Spirit; to bring us to the answer in Christ!  To believe in the name of Jesus means that we accept:

a) who He is - God of very God.

b) what He has done - died for our sins in our place as a perfect sacrifice.

c) what He accomplished - overcame the punishment of sin which is death and arose to                                                everlasting life.

d) what He offers us - forgiveness of our sin, a restored relationship with God and the                                              promise of everlasting life with Him.

3.  There is the surrender for us to accept our dependence on Jesus Christ daily.

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.   Mark 8:34 (NKJV)

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.      Galatians 2:20 (NKJV)

This is the goal in the life of every Christian. It is living life with a complete trust in Jesus Christ in all things and for all things.  It is letting go of self dependence and depending totally on Christ!

But why do we resist to surrendering?

Pride: we know better and we can handle life our self.

Fear: out of a concern of what God will or will not do to us or how He may change us.

Lie: we accept Satan’s lies and deceptions that if we surrender to God our life will be hard and/or miserable.  That God’s aim is only to punish us.  That no one knows us better than ourselves and we can only help ourselves.

Surrender is the door through which Christians must pass if intimacy with God is to be achieved.  It’s the passage door into a relationship with God and it’s the door into a mature and close relationship in which God will bless us.

True Christian surrender means:

* following God’s leading even without knowing the destination.

* waiting for God’s answer without knowing when it will come.

* expecting God’s miracle without knowing how it will be done.

* trusting God through life events even when you don’t understand

Complete surrender is depending on God to work things out without my manipulation of others or forcing my way or control.  Genuine surrender is changing the things that I can change and trusting God with everything else.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.  James 4:8a (NKJV)

Day 10 Israel: Closing Thoughts

(the following thoughts were written on January 31st but not posted until today)

As I sit here in my hotel room it's 6:10 am Sunday morning and I am packed and all ready to go! PTL.

It's been a very, very good trip.  I wish now that I had been able to do it as a young man.  However, God knows that this was the time for me to come.  What I'm realizing is that I probably have seen much more today than if I had even come just twenty years ago because much of the archaeological digs have occurred so recently. It is also clear to me that Israel has changed much since the Six Day War of 1967!

What has also been impressed upon me is that there are layer upon layer of civilizations here!  One builds on top of the other.  There is so much history here and conflict too!

The land truly consists of many hills, valleys, deserts and rocks.  Lots of rocks! No wonder that so much of their building construction used them.  The valleys are also for the most part very deep and the hills are very high.  There are also vast flat agricultural areas but only due to the water brought in by the Israeli's.  It truly is all about water!  I could see throughout the trip that water was a major issue for each civilization that conquered and lived in this land. Water is life and no water and no life! No wonder Jesus used it in illustrations and referred to it so often.

Shimon Zemer (our Guide)

Our guide Shimon Zemer was very good at bringing it all to life. He was interesting, comical and found so many aspects of our trip as "unusual"!

I was not so impressed nor interested in what the Christians have built over many of the supposed sites attributed to the life of Jesus.  But as pointed out by Shimon; had they not built over or around these places they probably would have not been preserved for us today.

Jimmy our bus driver got us safely around and through some very tight situations! Tour Leader Kirk Giles (President of Promise Keepers Canada) did a wonderful job in leading us and our devotional times!

Thanks for the Memories!

standing back: Gilles Nault back row l - r: Glenn Kelly, Kirk Giles, Dean Dueck, Elaine & Richard Debock, Caleb Nault
middle row: Greg Arndt, Peter Tursa, Johan & Maria Peters..... Richard Stapells
front row: Verna-Dawn Arndt, Carolyn Kelly, Bea & Sid Dueck, Steve & Lee-Ann Belfry, Phyllis Belfry

I enjoyed the trip immensely.  It exhausted me but I'll never be the same nor read the scriptures the same again.  Till Jesus comes......Shalom!



Peter Tursa
January 31, 2016







P.S. - if you have been reading my blog Peters Quill.............thank you. I really did it for my own edification and learning experience but have gladly made it available to all.  Blessings!