Soar Like An Eagle

Deuteronomy 8: 17-18                   

In the last two messages we have considered how God often uses storms in our life to shape and mold us “to the likeness of His Son” (Romans 8:29). James says that storms (or trials) are used to make us “mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). So when will all our storms end? Not until the process is complete. Not until we are called home to be with the Lord!

But there is certainly much more to our Christian walk than storm survival. As we mature and grow closer to our Heavenly Father, we will see more clearly His purpose and learn to actually rejoice during our times of difficulty. Rather than fight the wind, we will allow it to teach us and cause us to soar! The storms will continue to be a part of our life, but we will also experience seasons of great victory.

These seasons of victorious soaring WILL come! For they are as much a part of our journey as the storm. But they are equally a time of teaching – a time where we must be reminded to keep our eyes on Jesus and trust the guidance of His Spirit.

The Israelites had wandered forty years in the desert and were now ready to cross into the promised land of Canaan. But Moses warned them to never stop praising and trusting God: “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land He has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 8:10-11). Moses warned that when we fail to trust God during the peaceful times of blessing, we tend to forget and quickly become susceptible to our sinful pride.

Deuteronomy 8:17-18
“You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant.”

We must continually “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5). We must trust as the storm approaches and as the waves threaten to sink our boat; but we must also trust as the wind and waves are calmed. In fact, we must focus on trusting Him even more when the storm ceases. In difficult times, we are continually reminded of our need for God, but times of blessing can cause us to trust our own ability…and forget.

God desires far more than to just be available during our times of great need. He desires to walk with us in an intimate relationship every moment of the day. Let’s continue to trust Him while we are sailing through the storm. But as we victoriously rise up on the wings of eagles, let’s also remember to praise Him and trust while we soar.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

OFF THE THRONE

Matthew 2:16

After the birth of Jesus, Magi (wise men) came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the One who has been born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2). When King Herod heard about this he became greatly disturbed. Herod had been appointed King of the Jews by the Roman government; but he was only partially Jewish and not well accepted by the people.

King Herod knew of the Jewish scriptures and how the people were waiting for the Messiah; “The government will be on His shoulders” (Isaiah 9:6). He heard the words of the prophet which told where the new ruler would be born; “Out of you {Bethlehem} will come for Me one who will be ruler over Israel” (Micah 5:2). Herod viewed the news of this new ruler as a great threat. How would this affect his right to be king? Would he lose power? prestige? control? …comfort!? The potential harm was unbearable so Herod decided to take action.

Matthew 2:16
“He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under.”

Many people today are not much different than Herod. Even when they recognize Jesus and clearly see their need, they fear losing the ability to direct their own path. They may not actually take steps to destroy Christ, but the thought of releasing control seems unbearable. Somehow, they’ve been taught that submission equates to failure. But the reality is that true “success” is only found in Christ, and true comfort is only obtained by being set free from the power of sin and the entanglement of this world.

Jesus was, and always will be, very threatening to those who insist on sitting on a throne. It’s foolishness to think Jesus will accept the position of Co-King. Those who attempt to enter a relationship with Jesus while trying to maintain their “right to rule” will never really know Him, and certainly never experience His peace.

Jesus will give Himself to “whoever believes in Him” (John 3:13). But in return, He asks for our total devotion: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). We give Him proper worship – the worship He deserves – only as we submit and exalt Him above all else; “He must become greater, I must become less” (John 3:30).

As we begin a new day, let’s ensure our relationship with Jesus is aligned with God’s plan. He is the rightful Ruler and King – the Savior and Lord! Let’s trust and worship Him with all our heart, and refuse to be threatened by His right to lead. Let’s decide once and for all to relinquish control and get our pride-filled self off the throne.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

Into The Storm

                                                                                                   
Into The Storm                                                                               Matthew 14:33

Immediately after feeding five thousand men, plus women and children, with five loaves of bread and two fish, “Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of Him to the other side” (Matthew 14:22). The disciples had begun to cross the Sea of Galilee when a storm arose which caused them to “strain against the oars” (Mark 6:48). It was the middle of the night, and after already rowing about three and a half miles they found themselves fighting against the wind and waves.

Why had this happened? The disciples had done exactly what Jesus told them to do and now they were facing a major struggle. They had clearly heard and obeyed but they were still confronting a very difficult situation. The story continued as Jesus walked on the water, called Peter out of the boat to join Him, and then miraculously calmed the storm. But couldn’t the struggles have been avoided by telling the disciples to simply wait until morning to travel?

This wasn’t the first time the disciples faced a storm with Jesus. During a prior boat ride, Jesus had been asleep when the storm arose: “The disciples went and woke Him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!'” (Matthew 8:25). When Jesus calmed the wind and waves of this first storm, the disciples asked each other “What kind of man is this?” (Matthew 8:27). During the first crisis, the disciples saw Jesus as an amazing man. But now, in the middle of the night, when Jesus again calmed the storm, the disciples began to understand.

Matthew 14:33
“Then those who were in the boat worshiped Him, saying, ‘Truly You are the Son of God.'”

I do not believe that all storms are directly from God; but as was the case with the disciples, Jesus often sends us into a storm for the purpose of revealing Himself and drawing us closer to His side. While in the middle of a storm, we can see God’s love and witness His ability to protect, strengthen, and guide. “These {storms} have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:7).

Our Father loves us very much. He loves us enough to give us His Son as a sacrifice for our sin; enough to give us His Spirit as our guide; enough to never leave us, and enough to finish the good work He began in our lives. Let’s receive His love and learn to rejoice in ALL things. Let’s learn to look with new eyes and see His hand working around us each and every day. Let’s praise Him and look for new revelations of His love, even as we are sent into the storm.

Have a Christ Centered Day!

                                        Leave Everything And Follow

                                                                 Luke 9:23-25, 2015

When Jesus walked on the earth, He called a few select people to follow Him as He ministered. There was something irresistible about His call – something that opened eyes to a new reality and caused a radical change.

Luke 9:23-25
“If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for Me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self?”

Peter, James and John were partners in a small fishing business on the Sea of Galilee. This was their source of support for themselves as well as their families. Yet when they heard the call to become “fishers of men,” they eagerly responded; “So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:11).

Matthew (also called Levi) was a tax collector – a Jew appointed by the Roman government to collect taxes from his Jewish brothers. As a tax collector, Matthew made a good living; but he walked away from his life of security when Jesus called: “‘Follow Me,’ Jesus said to him, and Levi got up, left everything and followed Him” (Luke 5:27-28).

In the Old Testament, Abraham moved his entire household to follow God without even knowing where he was being sent (Genesis 12:1-5). Moses, at eighty years old, left the peaceful life of tending flocks to follow God’s call to confront Pharaoh (Exodus 3). And Elisha completely destroyed his old way of life when Elijah called: “He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people. Then he set out to follow Elijah” (1 Kings 19:21).

Answering the call to follow will always require a change, but the change may not be in physical location, profession, or status. The change may not always bring hardship. King Solomon followed God and was the richest man on earth. Joseph followed God and was the second most powerful man in Egypt. There is definitely a change involved with taking up our cross and following, but the real change occurs in the heart. It’s a change where we learn “the secret of being content…whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:12). It’s a change where we leave our old values and priorities, and find complete fulfillment in Christ.

As we draw closer to our Heavenly Father, we will find His call to be irresistible. We will learn the freedom and power of daily being led by His Spirit. And, as with many others who have gone before, we will NEVER regret answering the call to leave everything and follow.

Have a Christ Centered Day!