“Therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind, let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus,”
If you have been a believer for any time, you know this verse is nearly impossible. This is when we are nearing our purity as God’s gold. Most of the trash (the impurities, the me-first complex, and conceit) has risen to the surface and been scoped out. The saying goes that the Refinner knows the gold is almost purified when He can see His reflection in it. Can our Lord see His reflection in us? If so, it’s a time of rejoicing, where the flesh has taken a back seat, and when it decides to jump forward, it’s not difficult to make it sit down again. It’s so nice to meet others with this kind of maturity; you both know that all the credit goes to Jesus. The Word via The Holy Spirit moves mountains of resistance and pride in us. Without reading the scriptures, the Holy Spirit cannot produce change. The scriptures are that powerful. A garden grows because it is tended to; our spirit man (or woman) grows because it is tended to. As Paul said, “One sows and one water, but the growth is of the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 3:6-8
“I planted (Paul), Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. So then, neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but God who gives the increase. Now, he who plants and waters is one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor (and what they are planting and watering are God’s truths).”
Another challenging scripture, like the first one, is…
Colossians 3:12-15 Character of the New Man( how close do we come to it?)
“Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things, put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”
Who can do this, be kind, humble, forgive, no complaining, no self-interest, etc? It is impossible to do apart from the Holy Spirit. Often, instead of surrendering to the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do the work through us, we seek to do the work in our own strength and confidence. We seek to prove to God and ourselves that we are good people worthy of Heaven. We tell ourselves to be positive, send out good “vibes,” and work hard, and God will see us and reward us accordingly. This path is too burnt out, and many have fallen prey. When do you know you’ve done enough “good works” to procure your salvation? And then what happens when we mess up? Does the bad erase the good? Works-based salvation is a hard road to take.
We do not understand the Holiness of God, nor have we received His forgiveness (“even as Christ forgave you,” once His forgiveness has touched you for you, you’ve changed, and it is not difficult to forgive others). Jesus asked the Father for another way to procure our salvation besides the Cross. Do you not think that the Father would allow the Son if there were another way? There was no other way. Hence, the Cross was necessary, and now, through our good works, are we really trying to find another way for our salvation? We are acting just like the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.
Galatians 2:16
“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified (it could not be more clear).”
Galatians 3:1-4 Justification by Faith
“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched( put you under a spell) that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?”
Through the centuries of Christendom, people have struggled with this, seeking to prove their worth before a Holy God when He has already established our worth: the Life of His Son.Anything outside of this is so far inferior that it simplymakes no sense. Getting this right is critical; it makes life so much easier to deal with. Life’s problems do not fit into a tiny, predictable mold. Life can be messy, and being unclear about your salvation makes it that much more challenging. Like having a hard drive laden with spyware, it makes everything work so much slower.
Even our expectations can make life hard. We expect a good marriage, a faithful spouse, good health, good kids, a rewarding career, being treated fairly, etc., but as we know, that does not always happen. Sometimes, people “luck out,” but most of us don’t. Everyday life for the majority of us is challenging. We have car accidents, we get sick, we have struggles with our spouse and our kids, some being serious. We have issues at work, and overall, life can be a grind. Yet despite all this, Paul says, “We can be more than conquers.”
Romans 8:37
“Yet in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”
How does this verse help us? I don’t know if you heard of RFT tires. I didn’t until we traded in our car and bought a newer one. It had RFT tires, meaning run-flat tires. Apparently, these tires can get flat, but the sidewalls are such that even without air, they support the car’s weight until you can get it repaired. I thought that was pretty cool. When we reallyconsider that God truly loves us, I take it to heart; that truth is like the supportive sidewalls on the RFTs. It’s what gets us through a crisis. Knowing that God loves me, I mean truly loves me, the Devil can’t work me over with his lies, especially his most destructive one; if God is a God of love, why does He allow this to happen to you? Maybe God wants me to grow up, turn to Him, actually read His Bible, maybe even prioritize Him in my life, and trust Him more. These are five good reasons right off the cuff; this next promise follows them.
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (this is His promise to us, do YOU believe it?).”
Sometimes, I feel like we are spoiled. All of our other brothers and sisters around the world suffer hardship, but if we do, then God doesn’t love us. The Christian walk and confidence in it is founded on how well we know the Father. Phillip said to Jesus, “Show us the Father, and it will suffice us.” Do you remember Jesus’ answer?
John 14 :8-9
“Philip said to Him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us.”Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?”
Intimately knowing Jesus means we know the Father and the Holy Spirit, and in that knowing is our confidence and peace. If we know Him marginally, then our peace will be marginal, and our struggles and temptations will be greater. If we know Him as a best friend, then life will definitely get better, but even best friends can falter. However, if we know Him as our Father, then even fear flees, and temptation and or trials, be they what they may, worry, family, the lust of the flesh, low self-esteem, insecurity, etc., are subdued. Instead of being controlled by them, we control and conquer them. Isn’t it worth the sacrifice to become this free from our flesh? I think so!
Ephesians 2:8-10
“For by grace, you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.For we are His workmanship( He does the work in us, we give Him the tools He needs by being daily in the scriptures) created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Please allow this verse to sink in. Many faiths teach that you have to earn your salvation, which is in direct conflict with this verse and many others. Salvation is a gift that cannot be earned. Even if it is taught correctly, our normal human psychic says that if I do good, God will like me more, and that is simply not true.
Romans 5:8-10
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood ( Because of faith in His work) we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”
This verse, like the one before, is a treasure that, if taken to heart, will produce a radical change in us. Instead of being on the hamster wheel of good works, these verses actually allow us to enjoy the Lord, feeling secure in His love, which we will ever be growing in.
Dear Father,
Thank you for the freedom You offer to us. Forgive us for the cages we put ourselves into or were put into at a young age, which still entrap us today. There is no need to remain trapped, but we will continue to be trapped if we ignore Your Word and spend time with You. Help us to understand that freedom is found in only one direction, and that is towards You. It’s just You, not in more money, a better job, more activities, or being more attractive. You complete us, for You made us to know You and define Life by being connected to You. Help us to listen and keep it simple.
Please watch the video introduction to my message here:
I hope everyone had a very nice Christmas and New Year. We will be continuing our study on the armor. We just concluded our study on the Helmet. The helmet study has been a personal benefit to me. Mentally, I imagine a helmet of salvation over my mind, and instantly, I am refocused on our salvation in Christ, and whatever was stressing me is met with hope and a proper sense of priority. The Helmet “protects/changes” many things: our beliefs, thoughts, actions, how we relate to others, and our environment, including our hardships and blessings.
All of this starts in our mind, and the Helmet encompasses everything. In tough times, our helmet focuses our thoughts and gives us our willingness to fight. Also, it has everything to do with how well or skilled we fight. Our ONLY offensive weapons are our sword and dagger (in some passages where the word is translated as sword, it means a dagger), and each has a specific use. Our helmet equips us with courageous thinking and the knowledge to use the proper sword.
We know that our kingdom does not exist here, and because of that, we will fight courageously for our Father’s Kingdom, upholding His values. Valuing that which our Father values, we will rule over our flesh. This takes maturity and knowledge of God’s Word. Also, what use is our sword if it is not wielded with accuracy, strength, and the determination to win? It’s of no value. If we don’t fight knowing that the victory is ours because of our Savior’s victory, then we will lose the fight. All this comes from our mind, which is protected and directed by the Helmet of Salvation.
Here’s a worldly example of how the Helmet works. Say you are going on vacation where you will be swimming, snorkeling, etc., but you love donuts. The last thing you want to do is gain a few pounds before the trip. You may even go to the gym and eat more salads. Why did the behavior change? Because the thought of going on a tropical vacation affects your eating habits. You want to look good in your bathing suit. The Helmet of Salvation works the same.
How we engage with the world is affected by the Truth of God’s Word. Here is not our home; one needs to know the Bible and God’s Words to live like that. That’s why we are admonished to know God’s Word (Joshua 1). If we know the Word of God and continue in it, we will know how to conduct ourselves, what to think about, and what to reject. As we study God’s Word, we are becoming more equipped to defeat any thought contrary to God’s Word, and a Godly life will become infused into our souls. We don’t have to act, we just need to be (AMEN TO THAT)
Psalms 119:10-11
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Our role is to hide God’s Word in our hearts and minds. Unfortunately, too many have not done this, and we eat the donuts.
This is a recap from two Vida’s ago.
Now, picking up from the last Vida… God’s dialogue with Solomon.
2 Chronicles 1:12
Wisdom and knowledge is granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
Would we not want God to say this to us? What did Solomon say to God for God to say this to him? It’s such a huge blessing. Most of us can handle adversity much better than blessings. The expression that the younger generation uses when something is super active, for example, your cell phone, instead of saying what I usually say, “It’s ringing off the hook,” they say, “Your cell phone is blowing up.” Well, that happens to us when we seek and receive the blessing without the character to support it.
Like people who win the lottery, they didn’t work for the money, so they mismanaged it. Like the prodigal son, he spent all his inheritance that took his father his lifetime to develop, and within a short period, he was broke. He had not worked for it and hence had no character to support or appreciate it. He was reduced from a son of wealth to a slave feeding pigs for a gentile man (which shows that he was living outside of Israel and how far he had decreased. Pigs were forbidden in Jewish culture.)
Just like the prodigal, we “blow up” like a balloon with the air of pride when a blessing comes our way. We take the credit for ourselves, becoming prideful and fail to be grateful. God often allows this to test us and show us what is in our hearts. Failing to acknowledge that this blessing God has bestowed on me was for me to bestow on others and not just on myself. Having this mindset keeps us from “blowing up.” We are [stewards] of His blessings, not owners.
Without proper character development, which God seeks through trials, we will instinctively take ownership of God’s blessings. We will lose intimacy with Him as we allow pride to invade our hearts, making us “secular Christians,” which many of us are, wanting Christ (so we think) and the world. If you are in this position or want to be sure you’re not, read Revelation 3:13-20. It will open your heart and eyes to the trap that awaits each of us. It changed me in my early Christian life.
Revelation 3:15&16
I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth. For you say, I am rich (it doesn’t take much for some people to feel they do not need the Lord). I have prospered, and I need nothing, not realizing that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked (God’s view of us; our pride blinds us to the sin that controls us [pride, sin and I have what letter in common?])
Back to Solomon. So, what was the prayer he prayed? It was a prayer that came from his deepest being.
2 Chronicles 1:9-12
Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude (God’s promise to Abraham fulfilled).
Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people (this is an expression for proper leadership )for who can judge this — thy people, that is so great?
And God said to Solomon, Because this was in thine heart,(the purpose of trials is to bring out what is in our heart) and thou hast not asked for riches, wealth, or honor, nor — the life of thine enemies, neither yet hast asked long life; but hast asked wisdom and knowledge for thyself, that thou mayest judge — my people, over whom I have made thee king (or a husband, dad, wife, mother, manager etc).
Therefore, wisdom and knowledge are granted unto thee; and I will give thee riches, and wealth, and honor, such as none of the kings have had that have been before thee, neither shall there any after thee have the like.
King David’s life (his father) profoundly affected Solomon and put him on the right track. Unfortunately, in Solomon’s later years, he departed from it and lost his fear/respect of God. This is a severe caution; many start well but finish poorly (how will you or I finish?) Just studying the Kings in the Old Testament, many fell into paganism. We must never allow ourselves to escape the Word of God, for it teaches us always to fear God.
Most of the time, what is in our hearts is self-serving. It becomes most apparent in times of testing. Bad attitudes, impatience, selfishness, etc., all rise to the surface in the heat of a trial, as gold being purified and all the inferior minerals being lighter rise to the surface. Likewise, our sinful nature rises to the surface, being inferior to God’s righteous nature, and we become angry, foul-mouthed, loud, self-serving, bitter, etc., as things do not go our way. Upon seeing that, we have a decision to make. We can own our bad attitudes, stop blaming others, and confess it to the Lord, at which point God will forgive us and begin the process of cleansing our hearts, or we can ignore it and justify it and continue down this road for as long as we like. We will make ourselves and those around us miserable. It’s our choice.
When we confess our sins and humble ourselves before God, God’s method is straightforward. A repentant heart combined with God’s Word defeats mountains of sin in our lives. For example, say anger is one of our problems; in James 1:19-21, it would be only one of many scriptures to memorize, asking the Holy Spirit to apply this truth to our hearts until we see victory in this area (google Bible verses on anger).
James 1:19-21
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore, put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted (be grafted) word that can save your souls.
Now, back to our question: what did Solomon say to The Lord for the Lord to respond as such? Solomon’s request is a great prayer, for it is entirely selfless, genuinely seeking God’s honor (a key to a good prayer). As mothers or fathers, we could pray this prayer for raising our children or grandchildren correctly, even including our work: “Help me to work in such a way that I honor You, Lord.” As a boss, manager, or lead person, to pray a prayer similar to that in my managing and dealing with people, I would honor The Lord. It would be such a remarkable prayer. We don’t have to be a King to seek to rule, manage, and raise kids so that God is honored.
Solomon felt overwhelmed by his duty (the fear of God causes you to want to do the task at hand in an excellent way), and it causes you to see your limitations. Therefore, the intelligent thing to do is humbly request The Lord’s help. Solomon requested help from the God of his father (the importance of a godly example cannot be underestimated). It is an excellent place to be with God when we feel overwhelmed, though it is very uncomfortable. Our prayers will not be casual; they will be intentional and earnest, coming from the depths of our hearts.
The real me and the real you. Solomon’s prayer was just that. On a practical level, here’s an example of a prayer; “God, would You be honored as I deal with my boss or as I deal with my ex., or my child’s teacher, or a fellow employee, or help me to steward my finances in a way that honors You (2 Cor. 9:11-13) and give as You have asked me to do (remember disobedience in our finances affects the rest of our life with Him. How can He trust us with measures of anointing if we cannot trust Him with our finances). Would people not just see a man or a woman that speaks religion but carries the [presence of the Holy Spirit in them]?
If this becomes our prayers and the motive for our study, the armor of the spirit and the gifts that come with being God’s child will be impactful and valuable. Knowing that we are stewards of His gifts and not owners makes us more careful to honor God. God’s Word in us keeps developing our character to handle current and future blessings and challenges. The Word causes us to value the Giver of the gifts, and not the gifts themselves. And the Word also allows us to develop in humility, causing me to think Big of God and small of myself. The most crucial characteristic period; also the least prayed for. However, there is not a man or woman extensively used by God who does not possess this. Look at all the men and women from history who were ambassadors for God; they all possessed humility and valued it above all else, and those who lost sight of it fell.
For without humility, intimacy with God will be alluded to. Further progression into the Heart of God is unattainable, but with it, there is no limit to how close we can become. As we mature, it is no longer an option to seek Him or not, but as one who has become desperate for His presence and love, we seek Him. For example, being blamed for the death of my brother would have destroyed me if there was not a foundation of God in my life. Where would I have gone to escape such a pain that you cannot outgrow or outrun? To a bar, drinking to escape the pain, or drugs, or how many divorces would I have had by now? I have been married to Lisa for 43 years, and I’ve never drunk
or had an interest in doing drugs. There is no need or interest in blurring the lines, preventing me from hearing God’s voice, not even for a night.The pain that could have ruined me has only made me seek Christ more intently.
If you struggle with trauma of any kind, would you please heed my words and stop blaming God for your tragic event? This world is not His, so we experience the pain that a fallen world has. He cries with us, but He has done so much more other than cry with us. He has redeemed us from what the effect of the pain could have had on us, using the pain to make us stronger. Then, we use pain to allow us to reach others. Know that none of us has experienced the pain He went through for us, not only the weight of all sin but the absolute separation from His Father, “My God (not Father) My God, why have You forsaken me (Matt.27:43). Such a pain, that it killed Him. Continued bitterness or blame only keeps you from being free and filled with His love and hope. You may not understand the incidents in your life yet, but I have come to know Him as my most intimate friend because of my pain. We can let the pain drive us to Him or from Him; it’s up to us. Getting this right frees you and me and means I can offer Him to others as I do with Vida. You, too, can bless others if you get victory over your pain.
Trials prove the genuineness of our faith (1 Peter 4:12-14)
Before we blame Him for our pain, look to His Cross and see the pain He underwent to redeem us from this temporal life, to make us right with our Heavenly Father for [Eternity & 1Peter 3:18) . If we do this, there is no way pity can govern us or put a wedge between us and God. As He meets us in our desperate times, we become marked by His love and experience His faithfulness. He becomes part of our story, and we become part of His.
Okay, let’s discuss our shield of faith before closing.
Hebrews 11:1 “By Faith”
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (that’s exactly what Abraham did. He believed he would have a son, though Sarah was not pregnant and very old.
Romans 4:19-21
And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
He was being fully persuaded that what he had promised, he could also perform.
Why is Faith likened to our shield and breastplate( though the breastplate in Ephesians is our righteousness, righteousness comes from faith)? Both armors, the shield, and the breastplate, protected the soldier from fiery arrows, spears, swords, etc. And what protects us from our “arrows.” The trials and difficulties are the circumstances the enemy uses to discourage and whisper to us that God does not care. He wants to lure us into doubt and distrust. If we believe, the doubt pulls us away from God, which is his intent to defeat us. The wolf always seeks to separate a lamb away from the flock; therefore, the more we know of God’s promises and His character, the better equipped we will be to quench satan’s lies and navigate the difficult times of our lives.
So all this works, our armor, walking by faith, trusting, etc., or falls apart if we are not in God’s Word. It is the foundation for all the armor. Not great sermons, though they are accommodating, no doubt, and not Christian friends, though without them life would be very hard, but time spent between you and the Lord, alone; allowing Him to speak to your heart through His Word (the great messages or godly friends support or clarify God’s teaching). That is what Jesus meant by a Wise Builder (Matthew 7). He who hears the Words of Righteousness and applies them to his life will stand against the winds and the waves of life.
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.
In ending, the shield of faith and the breastplate of righteousness grow and develop in us as we spend time knowing the Lord. It is not hard to have faith in someone if you know them; the more intimately you know them, the easier it is to trust them. Life then isn’t so hard because you know and trust the person from whom you seek help. Amen
Father,
Thank you for this study. Help us to understand that it was only when Mary broke the alabaster jar that the costly aroma came out and filled the room. You want your aroma in us to INFUSE US and come out to the people around us, in our family, at work, wherever our life takes us; so, let us be willing to go through the harrowing trials, for in doing so, we grow closer to You and become a more helpful vessel in your hands. Thank you, and Amen.
“Broken bread feeds the multitude, bread that stays whole feeds only one, ourselves.”
Your son by Grace,
Arthur
If you’ve come this far, consider taking a look at my book on Amazon:
https://a.co/d/34jHw1t
Arthur NavarretteVida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.” Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.
Welcome to our September edition. This will be an insightful edition. Those of you that read my articles regularly, know that I am grateful to the Lord for the talent He has given me and my men to do our job. I completely believe and feel this. There is nothing religious about this statement. We each have our gifts. I was fortunate enough and blessed to find mine because I did not start out pursuing landscape. I need to say this because without saying it, my next statement might seem a bit egotistical, and that is not my intention at all.
When it comes to hardscape, e.g., building walls, laying pavers, there are plenty of companies that can do that. I can see the talent at some of my clients’ homes, and I really appreciate it. The hardscape is very nicely done. Where my profession falls, in my opinion, is with the softscape. This is the statement that might seem conceited, but it’s not. I truly believe that what we offer as a company is unique, in that we can do both hardscape and softscape at a level that other companies are unable to do. I am truly grateful for this skill.
We started this job in February 2021. It is now approaching 2 1⁄2 years, and I am really pleased with the growth. In looking at the pictures, let’s consider the progression. In the first picture you can see we are building the wall. The clients inherited a backyard, and half of it was useless. However, with some imagination we came up with a purposeful application for them. By building the wall, we stabilized the soil and clearly made a divide from the upper and lower portion. Please see the video. From there, we added pavers on the lower area, and now we have a small patio/bistro area. This was just one part of the job, but it was an important part.
Here we show the rest of the yard and the growth of the plants, which really compliments the hardscape. The hardscape and the softscape (plants and lawn), when done correctly, are the perfect marriage. It makes all the difference. The job took about 3 1⁄2 weeks to complete. In today’s dollars it would be in excess of $65K. We also built a retaining wall with treated lumber on the plant/lawn side. That whole area sloped down toward the fence, and we needed to build it up by adding multiple yards of soil to bring it to grade. If you scan the QR code and listen to the video, I continue to explain the work. Finally, the waterfall was built by another company who is local to Auburn.
Click on the QR code below to see a video preview of the yard.
Please watch the video introduction to my message here:
Anything we pursue in life has the potential to enslave us, but pursuing Christ frees us; why?
Adam and Eve’s disobedience caused them to lose the Holy Spirit, just as we do when we sin. Sin causes a break in our fellowship/communion with the Lord. Similar to an argument between your spouse or your child. Until amends are made, and forgiveness enters the relationship, separation remains. It is no different with God. However, forgiveness carries a heavy price tag on God’s end.
To forgive my wife or her to forgive me requires a heart-to-heart conversation. For God to forgive us brings Him back to the cruelty of the Cross and His Son hanging there, saying, “Father forgive them for they no not what they are doing.” God’s Kingdom runs on principles of holiness that cannot be violated. Our longings and desires have been corrupted even with Christ in our lives. We must learn to honor and love God, which is our created purpose. We do not understand that because of sin’s effect on our life. We cannot love God as such because we love ourselves too much. Hence, we are naturally absent of God’s presence, but through repentance and placing our trust in Christ, we can again enter into the relationship we were created for.
When we pursue our passions absent of Christ, we can find contentment, but it is short-lived. As time goes on, we find we need more. More money, achievement, praise, challenges, etc., and our life becomes driven. If we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes, which is what Born-Again means. However, the Holy Spirit is jealous of us, and He wants no other gods in our lives. We’ve all heard the saying that three is a crowd, well that’s very true for us. So He starts to mess things up in our life. The things that we used to enjoy and thought were necessary must go. We learn that we made little gods out of them, seeking fulfillment from them. As we pray and read our Bibles, we begin to find the peace we have longed for. So, as we make purposeful decisions to seek Him and forsake our past “lovers,” our sense of well-being grows. Yet, make no mistake, it’s a fight between light and darkness, between Truth (Freedom) and deception (enslavement), and we decide who wins.
If we spend hours on social media, hanging out with non-believers (our friends who do not value God), and maybe two hours a week at church or reading a devotional, guess who wins? The world does. Whoever we spend the most time with influences us the most. We must make purposeful decisions to add to our faith, and as we do, righteousness, peace, and a sense of feeling good about ourselves grow. If we choose to go our way, we will not change. Then we are back to feeling insecure about ourselves, empty and depleted. Feeling good about a bad decision is virtually impossible if you are genuinely born again. God’s hand is on you, convicting you, calling you to return to Him. Even if you have never accepted Christ, you can be experiencing these feelings because Christ is calling you out of the world unto Himself.
There were very few people God recognized and used in the Old Testament because of our sinfulness. We find that these people were prophets and a few kings. They were people who feared God, and they had this reverential fear of God in common. Because of our affluence, many of us live as though we do not need God; most of our needs are met. We believe in Him but are not desperate or dependent upon Him. We do not read His Word or pray daily; for example, we thank Him for our meals. If we are having a difficult day, we might pray. The expression “to walk with God,” as in “Enoch walked with God” (Genesis:5.21-24), means a frequent dialogue with God, as one has with a close friend or spouse.
I love Creation; it reminds me to dialogue with my Heavenly Father. There are these tiny birds I see during my work day and how detailed they are in their plumage; or when we travel east on the 80, I see the vastness of the mountain ranges, and it all speaks to me about a God who is detailed in His making and vast and grand in His powers, and I tell Him so. Taking note of all these things helps build my faith in the hard times. Another example is when we clean our homes. That can become one of the most intimate prayer times as we ask the Lord to clean our soul and remove the sins that cling so easily. Or when work is frustrating, ask the Lord for wisdom and endurance to see it through, just as He, Christ, completed each daily task the Father had for Him. If you ask Him to open your eyes and heart, many circumstances can become a prayer.
For those of us who are married, do you remember when you were dating your spouse; was there any such thing as talking to them too much? And when we were apart, we were always thinking about them. That is precisely the relationship God is wanting with us. A love relationship. If we would only believe that this is exactly how God feels about you and me. He does not care if you are “somebody.” Understanding and believing this, don’t you think you would read more and seek to know the God that loves you so? There is no grandeur privilege in the world other than to “walk with God.” Insecurity comes because we were never meant to be disconnected from God. But because we are, insecurity entered man’s heart, but from the beginning, it was never meant to be so. Christ came to reverse that.
Psalms 139:17-18
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with Thee.
The Lord constantly has us on His mind. Unfortunately for us, life can turn into routines. We go to work, we come home, we take the kids to football, dance, or cheer (as it is in my family), come home, have dinner, take a shower, go to bed, and wake up to do it again. The routine of life can, if allowed, make our walk with God routine as well. We can become stale in our seeking. We maintain this spiritual routine until a trial or a crisis strikes, and the seeking becomes desperate. We begin to understand how fragile our world is. We are not as insulated as we thought, so we learn that it doesn’t just happen to the other guy but also to us. Through these crises, we learn to prioritize what is essential, and now it’s not about my agenda but His. How many of us can attest to this? Tragedy or crisis, as it were, takes the “dust off” our relationship with God, and we re-appreciate what we have been blessed with.
How can we prevent the routine of life from collecting dust on our relationships, especially our walk with God? I don’t think we can completely. I think it’s human nature to do so, and we need to go through trials and defeats for those experiences to change us and become the impetus for us to grow and seek Him. They help us cut the strings of human relationships that keep us from trusting God solely. Let me share some critical verses from Jeremiah, the prophet.
Jeremiah 17:5-6
Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited (a picture of what happens to our soul).
I am a little concerned that as we live life on the foundation of our faith, to love the Lord with all our heart gets diluted because of these relationships not only with them but with activities, schedules, and or business, and soon, almost without knowing it, we have drifted and our foundation is weak. Our “faith” can quickly become a mixture of good deeds and religion( religion is like staying married, but there’s no love). As such, this “spiritual cancer,” I’ll call it, grows going undetected, and no bells are going off; in fact, we are mostly enjoying life. Kids are good, marriage is good, and there’s money in the bank, but then, as we think back, we remember days when we felt God’s presence more and prioritized Him more; what happened? And instead of addressing it as we should, we dismiss it and keep moving forward, unaware that our spiritual cancer is growing. What can we do?
Psalms 119:9-12
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse (or anyone) his way? By taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.
First, confess it to the Lord and then understand there can be no compromise between activities, schedules, etc., and reading the Word. I read my Bible during lunch daily; at times, lunch is at 5 p.m. The day has been so busy that I could not stop, but my time with Him is non-negotiable. So whether it’s at noon or five is not the important part; the important part is that I spend time with my Father daily. Next, we must acknowledge that our work (or business) can make us feel needed and important. It’s kind of a fake phobia. We need to acknowledge that and repent. Nothing is more critical and needful than when God calls you into a relationship with Him; that’s paramount to anything else we do or will ever do. Do you believe this? Most of us don’t, and that’s where the problem lies. What did God tell Joshua, and do you think it applies only to Joshua or us?
Joshua 1:8-9
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make — thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
***I know that He is not just speaking to Joshua but to all who follow Him and want to conquer their carnal man or woman and life in general. We also want to go through our lives sensing His presence and being His light in our world. Therefore, ask yourself what activities, actions, or thoughts are taking you away from Him. In Bible times, the Kings would make alliances with other kings when they perceived that the enemy King coming against them was stronger than them. Judah’s Kings did this constantly, which offended God greatly. However, a few Kings, like King David and King Hezekiah, for instance, trusted God. Even when the odds were ridiculously against them, they’d trusted, and God delivered. Because of their trust, God was able to be God, which allowed the nation to experience His love, provision, and protection.
Isn’t that the point of difficulty that we demonstrate and teach our family that God is faithful? As they grow up and face their difficulties, they will have a legacy from their parents of God’s faithfulness. What better “life education” can there be? Our lives are continually telling a story; what story is your life telling? Do we make alliances to self-promote with decisions/ people that do not fear God? Or are we trusting the Lord to promote/provide for us? It’s one or the other. It cannot be both.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit (so cool that we have the opportunity to be just like this tree).
The heat and the year of drought are the things that cause the tree to spread out her roots in search of water, making the tree stronger. When strong winds come, and they will, it stands because it has dug deep into the earth in search of water. As with us, adversity is meant to deepen our relationship (our roots) with the Lord. Through His Word, He waters us. So we too can be planted by rivers of water if we choose to be. This enables us to prosper during the hard times. Remember the last Vida, we are the ones who determine how close to God we want to be and how close He is to us (James 4:8), and then there is this warning….
James 4:6-8
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble (humility, the most incredible jewel one could seek. For in humility one truly begins to see the greatness of God).
Submit yourselves, therefore to God (come under His authority), and “then you can” resist the devil, and (who will flee?) he will flee from you (for now, through submission, you have Power on your side).
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners, and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.
Jeremiah 17:9-10
The heart is deceitful above all things and — desperately wicked: who can know it?
I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (Praise the Lord that He loves us enough to search and try us. Without that, we would be lost in our deceptions).
And because this is true of every one of us, there is a prayer that we need to pray and be prepared for God’s answer.
Psalms 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting (never lose the desire to pray this prayer earnestly and to repent when God puts a loving finger on us.
God’s words to a church He was concerned about:
Revelation 3:14-17
And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
So then, because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth (as in bad-tasting water or temperate coffee when you want it hot).
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and need nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked (this is the effect or fruit of pride).
As much as it hurts to be in God’s crucible, it is one of the safest places on all the earth. In one of the more difficult times of my life, when the pain was intense, God gave me a couple of visions. One was of cattle being branded. Though the branding process was painful for the cow or bull, it gave it its identity. It wasn’t a stray; it belonged to a specific ranch that provided for its care. The following vision (without me saying what I just said) would seem extremely cruel. The pain I was living with was extreme; my heart was breaking for my eldest daughter, who had left the home and gone to Mexico with a friend. She had stopped going to church and wanted to chart her course. Both were too young for such a venture, and I knew satan wanted her. I prayed constantly, many times through tears.
Those years were long and painful, and my steps were heavy as I sought God for her. I asked God why the pain was so intense. I was not the only parent struggling with their kids. He returned to the cattle branding and showed me an operating room. Here’s the part that seems cruel. Job (Old Testament) went through his crisis, which on the outside seems very cruel of God until you read the end of the story. That experience is what made Job. He kept his integrity and never once profaned God’s name, which satan bet he would.
So, in answering my question about the intensity of the pain, He first showed me an operating table. On that table, I had no shirt on, and the surgeon had a hot iron in his hand. He took that iron and placed it firmly on my chest. The pain was so intense my mind blew up with it. I could not think. I jerked, screamed, and tried to get up and flee the pain, but I was firmly tied. The pain lasted for what seemed hours until finally, through exhaustion, I succumbed to it, and numbness set in.
When the surgeon removed the brand, I saw it was in the shape of The Cross, and then the surgeon removed his mask and, with eyes of the deepest love, looked at me, and I saw it was my Lord, and then I woke up. I lay in my bed for some time, trying to understand. Did it take this much pain to make me His? I never got an answer, so I went to the Book of Job to see if I could get some insight. I saw that God never answered Job, either. However, through it all, he experienced God in such a tangible way that he would not have gained such intimacy without it. I think any of us who have had periods of suffering and remained faithful to God would agree. If intimacy with God is the goal, then no price is too much to pay. Do you believe this?
After this period, His presence became so much more real to me. My experience gave me a deeper appreciation for what Christ suffered for me and whose sufferings were beyond human experience. I was good with not getting an answer; I didn’t need one. So, like Job and many of us who undergo hard trials, the trials and hardships refine us, making us stronger and more committed. It is also important to note that our personal experiences, good or bad, do not define God. In other words, God is not good because I am having a good day, and conversely, if I am having a terrible day, God does not suddenly become a bad God. God is always righteous and loving regardless of what I am experiencing, and in so believing, I, too, maintained my integrity before God. Through His Word, God defines Himself, and the suffering He endured for us all is more than sufficient to forever keep Him out of the arena of human judgment. Finally, after three long years, she came home with stories of Divine protection, and I just wept. That experience has turbocharged my prayer life and has put steel in my soul.
Revelation 3:19-20
As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous, therefore, and repent (because He loves, He chastens and rebukes; it’s for no other reason than to purify us and draw us closer to Him).
Behold, I stand at the door (of your heart), and knock (that conviction is God knocking, don’t ignore it): if any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come unto him and will sup with him, and he with me (repentance opens the door to sweet fellowship with the Lord).
Job 42:1-6
Job’s Humility
Then Job answered — the LORD, and said,
I know that thou canst do everything and that no thought can be withheld from thee (that’s amazing; not even our supercomputers can know our thoughts).
Who is he that hideth (as in concealing his sins) counsel (as in giving advice) without knowledge (this is Job rebuking himself; he earlier on held God in judgment) therefore have I uttered that (which) I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. (Earlier in the passage, God said this to Job, so now Job repeats God’s words back to himself, realizing how blind he was).
I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor myself and repent in dust and ashes.
Before trials and tragedy, we credit ourselves with a certain amount of knowledge; however, after encountering the Lord, we realize how little we know. This blindness, or lack of spiritual sight, is because of our sinful nature. If we yield to it, drifting from God begins as our consciousness becomes a bit more seared (calloused). If we continue down this road, as many have, it can and will lead to backsliding. Eventually, we can wake up one day to find that we don’t believe in God. It can become that serious. I’ve talked to plenty of people who have said I used to go to church and believe in God, but I don’t anymore.
They allowed their disobedience, which may have started as a hurt, to fester until it became so bad that it became a wedge between them and God. Satan then used that to remove faith from their heart. Once that happens, it’s just days before they decide to walk away.
Blaming God is the lazy man’s way out. To not wrestle with pain and disappointment or seek counseling is to do a massive injustice to the love that put Christ on the Cross for us. We are only seeing our pain and not His. We need to see His; we need to see that His pain far exceeds anything that we would ever go through. If you have a hard time believing this, read all four gospel accounts of the day leading to the Crucifixion and the day of, and then read Isaiah 52, a prophecy of His Crucifixion. Just because we do not understand is not cause to walk away; we need the Lord. We are at our own expense being too myopic.
Father God,
We cannot see the effect sin has on us, and we don’t know without You revealing to us through trials the effect of our sinful nature, our rebellion, and our pride. We need to be sanctified by You. Humble us, Father, and create a church that loves You and seeks to love You first, before anything, and then let us become Your light, arms, and voice.
Amen,
Your son by Grace, Arthur
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And hereby, we do know that we know him if we keep his commandments.
He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God (being) perfected: hereby know we are in him.
He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid (God’s peace, unlike the world’s peace, which is circumstantial, is different because God’s peace is relational. In other words, even in your worst days, you can have peace because He has promised never to leave us, and He’s promised even to make the hard things, the wrong things, to work them out to our good. A promise that only an Omnipotent God can make and to the degree we believe Him will be our peace).
1 John 2:15-17
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him (a desire to attain and hold to the world’s values as opposed to God’s keeps us separate from Him and calls one’s faith into question).
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.
What is lust, and why is it so strong? And I’m not just talking about the opposite sex, but as the verse states, the lust of the flesh, which is the body’s carnal appetites, the lust of the eyes, that which comes into our eye gates and the pride of life, that which strokes our ego. The scriptures break lust down into these three separate categories, and within each category are many examples. If I sought to list them all, this would become the longest Vida yet (I will not, so don’t worry).
Simply put, and regardless of which category the lust is in, lust is a form of worship. Lust wants to compete and replace our relationship with God. If it succeeds, for that period of time, we have dethroned the Lord Almighty and enthroned our new ruler, and from being a son or daughter of the Most High God, I have now become a slave to a thought or a passion. I don’t know how many of us realize this is what happens. It first affects our relationship with the Lord, and then the repercussions happen in our work, the family, and life in general; it all becomes affected. It is super important to understand this is not maybe what happens; no, this is absolutely what happens.
As a side note, it’s interesting that if you passionately seek after the Lord, you become more and more free; however, if you seek after anything else, you become more and more a slave. This is proof that we were made by God, for God. Our ideal life is to abide and dwell with God continually. Simply put, He is Our Life, nothing else. Though our flesh continually draws us away, the Fear (Reverence) of God keeps us close to Him . Another way to understand the fear or reverence of God is that my greatest fear is to be without Him.
I am just scratching the surface of all the things we lust after, except I am being more honest. We don’t call it lust because that gives our wants a negative connotation. Instead, we say, “ I desire this, or I want this,” but make no mistake, it’s lust. The only exception is if we say I would like to have that, it would be nice, but …. don’t want to spend that much money, or it would be nice, but what I have will do, or I need to save more money first. This level of desire is not lust; we are still in control. It’s just a want, but I don’t have to have it to feel good about myself or impress others. That’s the difference. We don’t go into debt to buy something we can’t afford because we want it. Bad financial decisions are usually caused by lust.
What empowers lust? I bet we would get all kinds of answers, but truthfully, we are worshippers. We want what we worship. Our emptiness causes us to be beholden to the object of our affection, and it can be an endless pursuit as each “god” fails us. Why do we do what we do, or why do we want what we want? Do we think it will make us happy or feel wanted or important? I wrestle with this as much as anybody. Running a landscape business, having people call me saying I’ve seen your work and read your articles, could you see me? What a great compliment. I want to find a phone booth and change into my Superman outfit (which is tricky now because there are no phone booths :).
However, before the vanity train goes any farther down the tracks, I remember that I am the adopted son of the Most High God. What more importance could I want? What greater title could I have? Every other compliment, title, or invitation pales in comparison. If being the adopted son/daughter of the Most High God doesn’t suffice every single need to be significant, meaningful, and loved, then nothing else will. To be filled, no want of any kind, to have peace, and to feel that you have finally arrived, what more could a human soul want? And to have all this answered in the person of Jesus Christ, you have arrived; now keep growing.
2 Peter 1:4-8
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
And beside this, — giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (this is the reason for our trials, for without them how would patience, temperance, kindness grow. We lift weights to develop muscle and strength; the same is true with trials and hardship; it forces us to go deeper into God’s Word.
We were created in His Image (Gen. 1:27), meaning He in-dwelt us before sin entered, but once sin entered, He left, and in an instant, everything changed. I’ve shared this before, but imagine the void that Adan and Eve must have felt. We feel this when we do not seek Him or spend enough time in His Word. From Adan and Eve till now, man has always searched for his significance. Yet, in not acknowledging the God of the Bible as His Maker, significance has alluded him.
Psalms 32:3-5
Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.
When I kept silent, my bones waxed old through my roaring all day long.
For day and night, thy hand was heavy upon me: my moisture is turned into the drought of summer (if you are experiencing this, God is after you to bring you home to Him). Selah.
I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD, and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah (we were born in sin and our sinners by nature, but by humbling ourselves before Him, seeking forgiveness for our actions and our pride, we are now working with the Spirit instead of against Him).
If you have never thought about what makes you tick, what I’m saying may sound foreign or too complicated to you, but it is true. If you have to have something or become someone other than who God has made you to be, that’s worship. That thought or object has become your answer to the emptiness inside. However, it will fade. True and right worship is the Adoration of the Lord (submission is a form of worship). To worship Him, who alone is worthy, is to bring healing and wholeness to our very being: our spirit, soul, and body. It completes us. It is that powerful, and it’s that important that we ensure that God and God alone receive our adoration.
Corrupted worship is, as I just mentioned when we assign our need or want to a thing, person, or thought over and above the Lord, even if it’s ourselves. Are you doing this? We all do it unless we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, for He is the only one who can make us sensitive. We probably never considered worship in these terms—the Tenth Commandment of the Ten deals with this.
Exodus 20:17
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, his male servant, or his female servant, or his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor’s.”
To covet is the carnal equivalent of Worship. It is to desire or to passionately want something selfishly. If allowed, it can and will take the place of worshipping God. However, only God is worthy of such a desire, for only He can fulfill our desire correctly and make us better for it. We become blessed, and I can prove it. This is how we were intended to function and live life.
Genesis 2:7
And the LORD God formed — man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul (A living soul first. The Bible does not emphasize the body or the mind but our soul or being, for it is with our soul that we have fellowship with the Lord—a heart-to-heart connection. Via God’s breath, life came. They were spirit beings first. They were fully formed, but it was His breath that brought Life to them as us. He is the Breath of Life, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. When the BREATHE of LIFE leaves, what do you have? Your soul becomes empty without life, and a desperate search to find meaning begins. Without Christ, we have existence but not life. However, fulfillment is possible with God, who is the essence and creator of life. Zoe is the Greek word for life, which involves the Spirit.
John 6:33-35
For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven and giveth life (Zoe) unto the world.
Then said they (the disciples) unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread.
And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger, and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
Have you ever eaten and come away from the table not satisfied? The apostles understood hunger and sought Christ for bread that would allow them never to hunger again. Yet the hunger Jesus was talking about was another hunger. The food they ate was for the body’s hunger, but it did nothing for their soul, the hunger Jesus came to satisfy. He was teaching them to discern between the two hungers. To see spiritually is to understand one’s need for Christ but also why we do what we do. Our need stems from this inner hunger; without wisdom, we believe temporary things, cars, money, jobs, and each other can satisfy us. It does for a time, but Christ is for Eternity. Amen
So how do we become full?
James 4:8
“Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you….”
Eleven words, that’s all. This is the answer to the whole human experience. However, it is essential, in fact, critical, that we understand what this impactful verse says. Let’s start with this question: Who draws nigh first, us or God? We do, so then it IS UP TO ME. I determine how close to God I want to be or how close I want Him to be to me. If we ask where’s God, why doesn’t He answer my prayers? Who left? Now, because we are called to walk in faith, there may be times that we don’t feel Him. We are doing all our disciplines, not “backsliding,” but He’s still quiet. We are now purified in the Refiner’s fire; continue seeking Him. This is what the rest of the verse says.
James 4:8
“…. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
So our Father is not just a Father, but a King with requirements for coming into His presence. If human Kings have these requirements, how much more the King of all Kings? America’s idea of God is this kind, older, grandfather type sitting back on a lounge chair and sipping his favorite heavenly drink, enjoying the waves he’s created. How about adding to that that He is a Consuming Fire? He hates all sin, why, for sin/lust deceives, steals, and destroys lives that He loves, and it distracts His creation (us) from falling in love with just Him. How would seeing God as a Consuming Fire change your approach to Him? Would it engender a Holy Fear and a Holy obedience? Would He change from a God sitting in a lounge chair to a God whose Glory and Throne fill the Heavens, and His approach to us and us to Him is only tempered by The Cross?
Hebrews 12:28-29
Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved (it cannot be overthrown), let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
For — our God is a consuming fire.
So many Christians say I am waiting for God to call me as if the first steps are up to God. As we read, they are not. He provided the way at a great price to Himself, so now walk in that way, go through the narrow gate (narrow as in constricted, can’t bring the world with you). As you start your journey, know that He seeks to purify you as gold is purified in the furnace… It’s going to hurt. The furnace will make all the selfishness, bad temper, pride, anger, and jealousy come to the surface. When we see that in us, we can say, “God, I hate this in me; I don’t want it. Take it away, and I repent of my carnality. Or, we can continue to blame others or circumstances and gain nothing from the trials.
He always knew that carnality was in us, and he still loved us and died for us despite it. So, will we repent and ask Him to change us, seek humility, and stop justifying our sins? No sleeping with our girlfriend or boyfriend, drugs, parties, or alcohol. No lying or cheating to get ahead, though everybody else does it; will we be different? We come clean from our ways of promoting self and seek Him with all our heart, reading His Bible and talking to Him to have the strength for the day.
Jeremiah 29:13
And ye shall seek — me, and find me when ye shall search for me with all your heart (as the King, He has every right to expect a whole-hearted commitment).
Psalms 119:9-11
Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse — his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.
With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
This is what the proper fear of God produces in our life. We become diligent and disciplined in seeking the Lord. The fear of God causes us to prioritize our time. We see and live differently. That which does not bring me closer to Him is limited or eliminated. The fear of God is a requirement for our growth. It causes us to seek, pray, and read. “He’s God, and I am not” is a good saying to remember. We leave the corrections and changes to Him. Know that His conviction is not pleasant initially but done in absolute love. There is no self-effort on our part that we can do to become right before God, none.
We are not capable of making our hearts Holy. It’s a fool’s effort if we try. Nothing short of Holiness,
despite His love, is acceptable. God will change our hearts and minds via His Holy Spirit, and He will present an acceptable son or daughter to Himself. He’s the only one that can, and hence the importance of our faith in Christ, for he alone has paid for our sins, and He alone can sanctify
us and present unto Himself a Bride without spot or wrinkle.
Ephesians 5:25-26
Husbands love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it;
That he (Christ) might sanctify (to make Holy
and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
Father,
Thank you for this study; let it go deep inside us and from it cause a fear/reverence that causes us to say no to those things that would hinder your work of Grace in our life.
Thank you, and Amen.
Your Son by Grace,
Arthur
If you’ve come this far, take a look at our book on Amazon
https://a.co/d/1aH6JRC
Thanks!
Arthur Navarrette
Vida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.” Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.
Please watch the video introduction to our message here:
In this series, I feel in my spirit that we are dismantling and exposing the traps many of us have fallen into unknowingly. When a hunter seeks game, especially before rifles, they laid traps. It could be a pit that the animal would fall into or a trap that would clasp onto a leg. In our spiritual lives, these traps are real, and no amount of psychology, psychiatric help, or other resources can permanently remove them from us because they are spiritual.
2 Timothy 2:26
And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.
1 Peter 5:8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
These “traps” can be past conflicts, compromises we regret, or things done to us or things we have done, producing emotions of bitterness, resentment, unforgiveness, hatred, and the like, and these are only some of the tools in his bag. They adversely affect us, and though medication may help, it is like using a band-aid to stop the bleeding when stitches are needed.
Only God’s love and forgiveness can help us with guilt, depression (assuming our hormones are in balance), emptiness, loneliness, anger, feeling wronged, etc. These problems will not be resolved with just medication. We need instead to bring our concerns to the Lord, seeking His help and asking for forgiveness, or through Him, find the strength to forgive (forgiveness is not based on whether the person deserves it or not, but forgiveness is a necessity for me to gain freedom from the trap bitterness keeps me in. It only hurts me Luke 6:37 & Ephesians 4:31&32).
We need to find help and encouragement in His Word before it affects our relationship with Christ, who gave so much that I could be forgiven. Speak to a sister or brother who has been a believer for a while. They will pray with you and show you scriptures that will help. It’s super important.
Ultimately, it is knowing His love for us that heals us. Our souls are complex, and spiritual forces affect us from childhood. These are the hardest, the ones inflicted or experienced as a child. They become part of our souls. As mentioned before, I was blamed for my brother’s drowning. I was eight at the time. I carried that guilt into my forties before I could escape it. I needed to mature in my Christian walk to understand that since Christ died for my sins and I was completely forgiven, I had no right not to forgive myself. I did not have the right not to forgive myself. It took time and maturity to understand that.
It was like continually crucifying Christ again and again. He wanted me to live in His joy, not in my depression. So finally, I understood that I forgave myself and became free of a weight I had carried virtually my whole life, which is just one example. Many of us have experienced dramatic events as children, and that trauma goes deep and affects us to this day. For girls especially, it happens to boys as well. There is the concern of being molested, raped, or maybe even having an abortion (for older girls) that we regret.
It has affected your self-esteem. Once, you were happy and light-hearted and laughed, but now you are serious and feel like you are carrying a ton of bricks. To make matters worse, your friends do not understand, so often you are left alone. Even your judgment is impaired because of the guilt you carry. When things are terrible, you wish you were not here, and when good things come your way, you do not feel worthy of them, so you sabotage it so it does not happen. It could be a good job, a promotion, or even a nice man or woman to date.
Yet these actions that were done to you were not your fault, but as a child or young person, we are not mature enough to deal with them, so we blame ourselves. When dating now, instead of holding out for a Christian man or woman that truly loves Jesus, we go out with someone less because we do not feel worthy of someone better. We think, “who would want to date or marry me,” so out of desperation and insecurity, we settle for someone who dates us, provided we have sex with them, though we would prefer not to. We are too afraid they will leave us if we say no. Though if they loved you, as they say, they should be able to respect your feelings. This is a bad combination of low self-esteem and selfishness. With no respect for your feelings, the relationship is doomed to fail.
Do you want the correct answer from a man who raised two girls? Learn that Jesus loves you. Read the Bible, don’t date, don’t sleep around, go ahead and be weird; I give you permission. Instead of wondering who will call you, know that Christ is waiting for you. I know this sounds weird, but it is so true. Pray, talk to Him, ask Him to guide you, then read The Bible. Start with the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, but memorize Psalm 23. Accept Christ as your Lord, ask Him to forgive your sins, and now start growing in Christ. Tell the Lord that it is His job to pick the church, the guy or gal you are to date, and especially the person you would consider marrying. For now, put dating on the back burner till you are stronger in your faith. Here are two excellent Bible verses that speak of His love for you and the restoration that will begin as you read and pray.
Jeremiah 31:3-4
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Again I will build thee, and thou shalt be built, O virgin of Israel (put your name in place of Israel).’
: thou shalt again be adorned with thy tabrets, and shalt go forth in the dances of them that make merry.
John 3:15-17
That whosoever believeth in him (Jesus Christ) should not perish, but have eternal life.
For God so loved the world (again put your name instead of the world), that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. (Any condemnation comes from us or satan. Conviction comes from God; conviction is meant to cause us to repent and turn to Him. Condemnation is meant to turn us away from God because we don’t feel worthy. The truth is that none of us are worthy, from the saint to the sinner; it is ALL GOD’S MERCY).
Now we must deal with obstacles to our growth. There is a saying that says sooner or later, you will deal with your parent’s demons. Just like emotional and physical characteristics come from the bloodline, so do spiritual liabilities from our parents. We do not like to talk about demons and their impact on us; that is precisely how they like it. When we do not acknowledge our enemy, he can hurt us, but when we bring him into the light, as we are doing, now we have a chance. Scripture does not shy away from this topic. It acknowledges satan and his demons.
1 Peter 5:8-10
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, — make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you.
1 John 4:1-5
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets (inhabited by demonic spirits) speaking lies are gone out into the world, Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (God is salvation is what the name Jesus Christ means). And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is in the world.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater (mega) is he that is in you than he that is in the world (why? Because the Holy Spirit indwells all true believers).
If satan could quelch the fact that Jesus did come and die for our sins, he could effectively erase Jesus and Christianity from history. Praise God that that didn’t happen; now it’s up to us to carry the truth to the next generations.
1 Timothy 4:1-2
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times, some shall depart (desert, fall away) from the faith, giving heed (paying attention) to seducing spirits, (liars and impostors) and doctrines of devils (as opposed to God’s Word) Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;
The conscience is our God-given fortress to protect us from being seduced into believing lies. Yet without the Holy Spirit to guide us, we do not stand a chance against such a formidable foe. To sear your conscience is like taking a hot iron to your fingertips and burning them until they no longer feel. The hot iron has deadened the nerves, and as the fingertips are the sentries to the hand, protecting them from grabbing or holding something of harm, so too the conscience is to the soul. Continued exposure to the anti-Christ, anti-Biblical culture, and soon you will have no conscience. No ability to discern good from evil and wrong will become good, and good will become evil.
Isaiah 5:20-24
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes and prudent in their own sight (have no need for God, for they have become their own god)!
… because they have cast away — the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised — the word of the Holy One of Israel.
Two popular lies taught and promoted as truth are “I am not a bad person,” and “do what makes you happy.” There is no such thing from God’s perspective as bad or good. It’s like saying I am 96% percent virgin. Well, you are or you’re not; righteousness is the same. You are either born again, made righteous by Christ’s blood, or not. Therefore bad or good is not what God sees; it’s forgiven and walking in a relationship with Him or not. Righteousness makes us right with God; good can never do that.
The Cross was not suffered to make us good but righteous. Now it is up to us to accept His gift, seek forgiveness and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, live righteous lives. To seek Him when we fail, repenting and asking for forgiveness, and to seek Him when we are getting it right. In both cases, we need Jesus. He is our advocate before the Father.
“Do what makes you happy,” goes against how we were made to enjoy a fulfilling life. The two greatest commandments Jesus gave us are to love the Lord your God with all your might, with all your strength, and with all your mind and heart, and the next is to love your neighbor as yourself (as if you are caring for your own needs). Focused on our happiness, we become self-absorbed. We are selfish by nature, and quite honestly, the carnal man does not know what they want; he thinks it does, but led by his passions, it becomes a road of disappointments and hard times. Look at movie stars or famous people; most are messed up. “Do as they will” is the motto for those pursuing the satanic agenda, which are not happy or peaceful.
We are way out of our league if we try to “be Christian” without the guidance and direction of the Holy Spirit and the Word (The Bible). Also, belonging to a local Bible-teaching church body is essential. The saying, “there is strength in numbers,” is true when it comes to being connected to other believers corporately, but in a small group setting, e.g., a home Bible study group is the most important.
2 Corinthians 2:11
Lest — Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.
Satan’s agenda is no different than a pack of wolves. They chase the herd till one gets too tired to keep up or till one breaks from the pack – the end is soon as the pack descends on that one sheep or deer. Satan’s tactics are the same; he uses offenses to separate us from other believers or our ignorance of the importance of meeting together. Then, left on our own, it is so easy to fall into sin.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded their minds which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
We are in a war for our souls and our families’ souls. There are many verses on the demonic and how it seeks to influence us away from knowing Christ and the grievous harm it causes in our lives. Yet, at the same time, the devil doesn’t make us do anything. Flip Wilson coined the phrase, “the Devil made me do it.” In reality, satan knows our weaknesses, and all he has to do is present the carrot at the right time. We do the rest; we bite. We do not need much help from him. Our selfish nature is quite capable of messing up our lives. Why is this true? Scripture teaches us that we are born in sin or rebellion to God’s righteousness, and with iniquity, sinning brings forth spiritual death.
James 1:13-15
Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.
Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.
The root meaning of iniquity is to be bent. Our sinful nature has the propensity to gravitate and bend toward specific sins. Some people struggle with gambling, some with telling the truth, others keeping pure thoughts and lust, others have a temper or jealousy or are challenged in being friendly and considerate to others, and others it’s just our pride; we feel pretty good about who we are.
Luke 18:9-14
And he spake — this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others:
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican (tax collector).
I fast twice a week, I give tithes of all that I possess.
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
So the value of humility in our Christian walk is paramount. We constantly compare ourselves to others. That is not God’s standard, Holiness is God’s standard, and we all fail there. We fail from the start. I sighted the two first commandments to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and who does that? Then we are to love our neighbor as ourselves, and who does that? So this is the true comparison, and we all fail, hence our need for forgiveness, faith in Christ’s atoning work, and the need to be in dwelt by the Holy Spirit.
It’s not easy following Christ; we need to develop some “spiritual muscle.” However, living life without Him is even harder. Living life as best as you can was my dad’s way. I saw the pain and emptiness in that. After two failed marriages and my brother (who rebelled), and my younger brother drowning, life only became one disappointment after another. Years later, he found pleasure in a job he had created but was let go. In tough times I learned that there has to be someone you can run to, someone greater than yourself. Otherwise, it’s hard not to become disillusioned, bitter, or apathetic. Being your own god is tough. I’ve been a believer for so long that I don’t know what it’s like not to have The Lord to run to. His peace, guidance, love in my life, and the assurance of Eternal Life for my loved ones and I are huge. I’m not saying that being a Christian is easy because it’s not, but it is much better than life without Him.
James 1:12
Enduring Tests
Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried( and stands), he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised them that love him.
Proverbs 3:11-14
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
For — whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father — the son in whom he delighteth.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom and the man that getteth understanding.
For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
Throughout life, we deal with nurture, attitudes, and inherited dispositions, and we deal with “Nature,” things that happened to me as a child or youth or as an adult. As mentioned, being blamed for my brother’s death yoked me to an emotional harness of guilt and shame (and the earlier a negative event happens to us, the harder it is to get over, it goes deep into us and forms our views of self and life).
As a 14-year-old boy, I babysat for my neighbor, a single mom with an eight-year-old son and a live-in boyfriend hooked on porn. He had playboys all over the house, bathroom, living room, and kitchen. It was my first time being exposed to it. I only knew a little about them because my grandfather gave some to my dad. I went to see them, and my dad stopped me, but he stopped me in a different way; there was no love in it. I had no idea what was inside, but I soon learned what my dad was looking at.
It was an awful, dirty feeling. It was more than I could process. I felt like I ate a whole trash can of garbage. I had never felt like that before. I prayed and asked for forgiveness and felt God’s forgiveness, but from then on, I didn’t see girls with the same innocence; something was taken from me. As I matured, that sense of regret and guilt never left; only now, the weight was doubled. I read where David had sinned with Bathsheba and then read the Psalm he wrote, and that ministered to me so much that I committed it to memory.
Psalms 51:1-10
A Prayer for Spiritual Cleansing
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.
Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest and be clear when thou judgest.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part, thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop (a specific plant dipped in lamb’s blood and sprinkled on the altar and on the person confessing), and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
Make me hear joy and gladness; the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (this became my strength, my hope, and my step forward).
Our iniquity seeks to bend us away from the Gospel of Truth and ultimately damn us while adversely affecting our life. It could be through porn, drugs, drinking, divorce, arguments, and the like, or just by an un-surrendered life. Living life on our terms, maybe going to church so we can believe we are a good person, but that only camouflages our need. We must humble ourselves before Christ, ask for forgiveness, and invite Him in. This is step one, but it’s a hard climb. Just as I accepted Him into my life but still had much guilt and shame to deal with. These are called strongholds. I believed lies as truth, and it takes much time, trial, and maturity to realize that the truth you believed was, in fact, lies, but then once realized, there is such freedom. We must find the Bible verse that counters the lie we believe and meditate upon it till freedom comes.
We must learn to gain our strength and sense of identity from an intimate relationship with The Lord via His Word. As we do, we can stand against our flesh and the demonic that seeks to control us. We must learn these verses…
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
Romans 16:25
Now to him that is of power to establish (to anchor) you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
Romans 7:22-25
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
The bottom line is that once we accept that our flesh, “body,” will continue to want to sin, it is only through renewing our mind through the Word and memorizing specific promises that speak to our struggle that we begin to start living free. And there is no guilt in feeling what the flesh feels, but we must counter it with God’s Truth. I spent years feeling guilty because I felt lust though I never gave into it. And then, once I understood that the flesh would not change, no matter how much scripture I knew, the battle became much easier. The thought would come in, but I had powerful guards that would quickly escort the thought out. Once I (we) learn this revolutionizing truth, we can “kick butt.” As a spirit-filled believer realizing this and the authority we have IN CHRIST, the one running will not be you or I. I address this comment to both men and women, specifically to men, the head of the home.
This is a command that God gives Joshua before entering the Promised Land, which is symbolic of the Promise Land in our hearts. God wants to bless us, but we need the take the “land” of our hearts back.
Matthew 22:37
— Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (which none of us do, but it is with that passion that Jesus wants us to seek Him for it mirrors how He loves us, hence why He was willing to suffer the torture and belittling prior to the Crucifixion and then the Crucifixion). We are greatly loved.
Joshua 1:8-9
This book of the law (The Bible) shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make — thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
If you read Joshua in any way other than a direct command from God, you are reading it wrong. This is not an opinion survey; God is not asking us to vote, but to do!
Father God,
Thank you for these truths, help us to understand and stand in the freedom that You purchased for us. The road against the deceiver is not easy, he knows all our weaknesses. Yet if we keep our focus on You we will overcome, for greater are You that is IN US than he that is in the world. Amen
1 John 4:4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We love You,
Amen/ Arthur If you’ve come this far please take a look at our book on Amazon.https://a.co/d/hnaVht6 Arthur Navarrette
This may seem like an unusual title for a Christmas article, but is it really? “Steady as she goes,”is a nautical term, and has been in use for centuries. I googled it to see when it began to be used, but could not find a date. I can hear the captain of a pirate ship shout out “Steady as she goes mate!” (I watched my share of pirate movies as a child). If you think about the saying, it implies several things. It can be a command from the captain to the helmsman to keep the current course, or to get back on course if the helmsman drifted, but it also implies that things are going in the right direction. Can we say that about our lives – that we are going in the right direction? Is it more of “I’ll take my best shot”, and see what happens? How did a captain make sure that they were on the right course? He navigated using a map, a compass and in earlier days, the stars. He had to have a good knowledge of the constellations before all the navigation equipment was invented. What “navigation equipment” do we use? I would say the stock market to get a good feel of the economy, but it has its ups and downs – no pun intended. We may use money in general, but with the cost increase in domestic goods such as food, housing, and clothing, it’s hard to gauge where we stand with our budgets. There are cost increases in the landscaping field as well. The materials we use to put together landscapes, such as soil, boulders, irrigation parts, plants and especially lumber have gone up in cost. From the time I write out an estimate to the time we start the job, prices could have changed, especially with lumber.
“Steady as she goes” not only implies being on the right course, but within that course there is a sense of security. As a young man going through college, it meant a lot to have my dad say to me “Steady as she goes”, having been a sailor himself. His words gave me encouragement and security. My dad has since passed, and there is no one to say steady as she goes, yet I find my security in my faith. That has become my compass and
map, particularly the scriptures, where I can always find words of encouragement. I have a personality that likes to tease my clients, and so at times they will ask me how I know what to do. I will jokingly say, “we fake it till we make it.” It is always said with a smile, and hopefully a twinkle in my eyes. My men and I have been in landscaping for 24 years now, so there is not much we can’t handle or haven’t done. I have such confidence, and so for our nervous clients, I can assure them that all will be fine. Experience has given myself and my men this confidence. They are extensions of me, and without them I could not do what I do.
Back to my question, are you going “steady as she goes” or are you going to “fake it till you make it,” and hope that you are making the right decisions? I have now been married for 42 years and it took work, forgiveness, many late-night talks, and most of all faith in a God that makes no mistakes, though at times it may appear so. Faith in a God who does not make mistakes is my compass, map and stars that I navigate by, just as the captains of old. These navigational tools are what assured these captains that they were going to arrive at their destination, and not end up at another continent, state or port. Are you navigating correctly? Will you reach your destination, and do you know what it is? Maybe your destination or port is to be financially secure, achieve status at work, or have that dream job. Maybe your goal is more domestic, like raising successful kids. This is a great goal, as is to stay married to the wife of your youth, which seems way too dispensable these days. There are many destinations and choosing the right one is of utmost importance.
For the older group, there is the question of Eternity. Do I really know what awaits me when I pass away? Is it six feet in the ground, or is there more? Each main faith has their belief. In the “Honor Cultures”, to die nobly honoring your family so
you can spend Eternity with your ancestors is the goal. In the Eastern cultures, one becomes part of the Great Cosmos, and the goal of this faith is to lose any sense of self, for it is “self” that causes the wars, violence, division and pain in the world. For the Arab cultures, death is joyful for the male because he will inherit a harem of women. This is totally a man’s religion. However, for the Christian faith, Jesus said something very comforting to one of the men being crucified with him.
Luke 23
“There were also two others, criminals, led with Him to be put to death. And when they had come to the place called Calvary, there they crucified Him, and the criminals, one on the right hand and the other on the left. Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.” Speaking to all those who participated in his crucifixion and beatings and to all of humanity. His death purchased our right to ask for forgiveness.
And then later we have these words…
“Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.” But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.” And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”
Jesus’ words assured the criminal that he was pardoned, and Heaven awaited him. He died in peace. My interpretation of Jesus’s words in response to his request is you are almost home, or “Steady as She Goes.” There can be no greater question
answered or comfort than this one. I know I am getting personal, but cancer surgery is extremely personal, and yet it must be done to save a life. I liken this to that. There is no greater need of man than to have the assurance that he is going “Steady as She Goes” through life, and that he will arrive at the desired destination. Do you agree?
God Bless you and Merry Christmas,
Arthur
P.S I write a monthly blog called Vida4U that is faith based and its intent is to challenge us, encourage us and keep us “Steady as She Goes.” If you are interested in receiving it send an email to Karimanhart@gmail.com
Please watch the video introduction to my message here:
There can be many roadblocks in our lives and many reasons for them. One roadblock that is not emphasized enough is our disobedience to the scriptures. Some of these actions are purposeful, we choose to ignore God’s commands, and some are because of Biblical ignorance. I believe one that the church has under-emphasized is the teaching of water baptism and being baptized in the Holy Spirit. Both were heavily taught and practiced in the early church and were taught for a reason. The next step after one accepts Christ, and one must accept Christ to be saved (attending church or ascribing to religious beliefs is not sufficient), is water baptism. The best example of this is the Ethiopian eunuch.
Acts 8:35-37
Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same Scripture, and preached unto him, Jesus.
And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
Baptism is a public statement that you want to follow Christ. It gets you out of being a closet Christian. I was not baptized immediately upon my conversion; it was a couple of years later. During the first two years of my conversion, I wandered, being 14, when I came to Christ. My close friend at the time was not Christian and became an obstacle to my Christian growth. I was double-minded or, as the Bible calls it, “lukewarm.” Toward the end of this period, I heard a message from my pastor about being lukewarm. Revelations 3 is the verse, and it scared the lukewarm-ness right out of me. I recommitted my life back to Christ.
Revelation 3:15-16
I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.
So then, because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew (spit) thee out of my mouth.
I did not want to be “spit” in God’s mouth, let alone spit out. I started attending my church’s youth group more and really started listening to Sunday morning messages more intently. Peter and I broke up as friends. He told me I was no longer fun to hang around with. It hurt because we had been good friends for a while, but I could feel the drag on my soul. I had been praying about breaking up with Peter, but his salvation was a concern to me, and I did not know what to do. I was really hoping that he would come to my youth group. However, when he decided to leave, I took that as answered prayer. Without Peter, I began growing in my faith. I was unaware of how much of an influence he was on me, like my non-Christian dad was on my mom. I could now see why the scriptures teach not to be unequally yoked. Not only was I living the effects of that in my home, but also with Peter. From this point on, all relationships close to me were going to be believers.
2 Corinthians 6:14
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
As I became more involved in my church’s youth group, I volunteered to be a church camp counselor. It was the summer of my junior year. I was 16. At camp, I had ten boys between 10 and 12, and I was serious about teaching the scriptures to them. We had church Bible studies taught by my friend’s dad, the camp pastor. After the message, we would break up into our groups and discuss the message. I also had a female partner who had ten girls. The idea was to represent a family structure. This was tough. I was way over my head, especially with the girls. I had no sisters.
The boys pushed my buttons one time too many. It was Wednesday night, and they kept messing around, so at 11:00 pm, I made them get out of their sleeping bags, go outside and do push-ups till they couldn’t do them anymore. My partner, with some of her girls, overheard my voice and came out to see what was happening. I was mad, and she being several years older, helped me to calm down, but the boys learned that night that I was not to be messed with. The last two days of camp went very well. I still felt way over my head and prayed hard not to blow it. The last message from Mr. Bixby was about accepting Christ and getting baptized. After the week, I was now ready. I was all in and wanted to obey the Lord and get baptized. He talked about the baptism of water and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. He was a Baptist minister who knew the scriptures on baptism. All I knew was I wanted it all.
When Pastor Bixby baptized me, I felt the power of the Holy Spirit come over me, and I could not stand. Fortunately we were in the pool and Pastor Bixby could hold me up until I got my feet under me. As I got out of the pool, my partner asked me to baptize her. We asked Pastor Bixby and he okayed it because I had just gotten baptized by the Holy Spirit. He felt I was now qualified. This was all so new to me. Karen, my partner, had never seen a young man so committed to Christ (if she only knew my struggles), and it moved her to become more committed.
My last surprise was equally amazing. There was a very rebellious young man in my group who I ended up spanking. I told him that his behavior would hurt him in the future and that I was spanking him because I cared about him. He said his dad never spanked him, and it showed. Before I sent him to the cabin, he said he would tell his dad. This happened on Wednesday, so I had a couple of days to be stressed about meeting his dad, but I spent extra time with Rick on Thursday, showing him that I did care. Friday came, and all the parents came. Some I met, and after Rick greeted his dad, he returned and hugged me and thanked me for caring. I was so overwhelmed with everything that had happened I just cried. Karen saw me and came up and asked if I was okay. I told her what had just happened, and she understood and hugged me. That hug felt so good. I saw her a few times after that in church, but then no more. She was 21 and was going to college in another state.
That is my experience with water baptism and baptism in the Holy Spirit. Others teach that unless you speak in tongues, which I don’t (unless you count Spanish), you are not baptized in the Holy Spirit. I disagree, but at the same time, I know the scriptures that give examples of people being baptized in the Holy Spirit and afterward speaking in tongues. I have no dispute with those that teach that. Typically what is taught is you first get baptized in water as an outward confession of your commitment to Christ, and then sometime later as you are maturing in your faith, you feel as though you need more. That becomes the internal indicator that God wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit. Jesus put it this way…
Luke 24:46-49
And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behooved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things.
And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high (the baptism of the Holy Spirit).
The word endued means to put on, like a cloak or jacket and power is “ achieving power.” Dunamis is the Greek word. It is used throughout the New Testament. It means strength, capable, able, so combining the two words is to put on power ( that God clothes you in) that enables you to accomplish what He is calling you to. Yet we cannot put Jesus in a box and say it must be done in this order. There is an account of a Greek man named Cornelius, and his group received the Holy Spirit even before getting baptized.
Acts 10:44-47
While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word.
And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, Can any man forbid — water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we?
There is no “formula,” but generally, this is the order. One becomes a Christian, gets water baptized, and then gets filled with the Holy Spirit. There was no question in the early church of the need and the practice of water and Spirit baptism. Disobedience to this is a significant roadblock and the first way the enemy siphons off immature believers. Obedience is always critical, especially in the early years of being a believer. I hold the church at fault for not emphasizing this teaching and practice.
This is when you now want to be 100% His. This enables you to witness for Christ more effectively. Peter, through the Holy Spirit, said our faith was precious, as gold tried in the fire.
1 Peter 1:6-7
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: (trials). That the testing (refining) of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: (the present hardships are preparing us for future glory).
Another roadblock is becoming offended at trials or not taking Christ’s words seriously.
These roadblocks or trials can be severe. Many years ago, my youngest daughter was dating a policeman, and they were considering marriage. Unfortunately, on a traffic stop, Matt got struck by a car and died. The father told me that God had no right to take him. “Matt was mine,” he told me. I was not able to help him. To tell God He had no right (assuming that it was God that took him and not just the risk of the job he was in) was to put yourself in the place of God. However, I was able to help my daughter, praise the Lord. Having gone through a death with my brother, I could relate to her, and slowly, as a family, we got back to normal. I was so grateful that God had prepared me to help my daughter. It made all the pain, guilt, and self-hatred worth it. I blamed myself for my brother’s drowning, though I was only eight.
This is often the case when a family member dies, and the family member that is present blames themselves. You always feel you could have done more. It’s an awful burden to carry. Even now, as I write this, strong emotions come back. I make myself remember that Bobby is with Jesus, and my emotions calm down. If I didn’t have Jesus and His hope, I would drink. It’s just simply too much.
This is just one of many roadblocks and offenses that could cause us to turn our backs on Christ. From family to work to massive personal insecurities and temptations. I had a vision during one of the most challenging times; I was on a tightrope. The chasm below me was enormous, sure death if I fell off, and there were miles of tightrope to travel. I was no good at walking on a tightrope, so confronted with such a huge challenge, I told Jesus that this was so beyond me that He needed to do it through me. Instantly I felt courage and hope. These were the words the Lord was waiting for to surrender to Him fully. I was still a little scared, but now I had hope, sensing His presence with me. I was learning a valuable principle of the school of faith: apart from Him, I can do nothing. Said in another way, God wants to do everything with us. He is so relational that every big and little thing in our life He wants to be part of. I was learning about how relational and loving my (our) Dad was (and is).
John 15:4-5
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can — do nothing.
The word picture here is fabulous. If you have ever driven through Napa county in late summer or any other regions where grapes are grown, you see the grapes hanging from the vine. The grapes would not exist except for the vine. Jesus wants us to be fruitful, but the fruit He wants is righteous fruit, something in our sinful nature we cannot produce.
Galatians 5:19-25
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
What kind of fruit is found on you or me, especially when things are not going our way? Now there is no condemnation in this. The Holy Spirit often puts us in difficult situations to expose these hidden weaknesses in us so we can acknowledge them, repent, and find His forgiveness and Grace to get past them. So please do not hide from the conviction of the Holy Spirit, but agree with Him and repent.
Hebrews 12:5-7
And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him:
For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
Proverbs 3:11-13
My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
For — whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father — the son in whom he delighteth.
Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding (and how is wisdom and understanding gotten, through submitting to His loving hand of chastisement). And did not Christ our Savior not have to do the same?
Luke 22:41-44
And he was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed,
Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
The tension is so great in Him that His sweat was blood from ruptured vessels in His face. He bore the worst so we could benefit from His obedience. We only have to deny ourselves, but the weight and condemnation of our disobedience and sin rested and was fully satisfied by His death. The Spotless Lamb of God.
John 1:29
The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.
Our greatest need is fulfilled in Him if we deny ourselves and follow Him. “Not my will Lord but Yours be done in me.” This needs to be the response of our heart. Many of us get so busy attending Bible studies and volunteering at church or with life, the kid’s sports, business meetings, and family functions that we neglect our time with the Lord. If your schedule is so tight that you do not have 30 to 45 minutes each day to spend with Him, then you are too busy. My suggestion is to lose some activities. He did not save us from doing ministry or from keeping us so busy that we neglected Him. That may sound strange, and “ busy” is like a drug to many of us. It makes us feel important and needed, but we are worshipping a false idol. There is NO GREATER sense of worth than sitting at His feet (figuratively speaking) and sensing His love and presence. If we would do just that, we would lose the need to go here or do that because our sense of worth would be rightly satisfied.
That may sound strange to you “ Martha’s out there, but to you, Mary, it’s a joy.
Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But only one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
From where The Lord is, He only sees one critical thing, our relationship with Him. Nothing will outlast that or exceed it in importance. And learning to prioritize and live the Truth is the secret to feeling secure and victorious. The farther away we get from the Truth, the fewer victories we will have and the greater our struggles with insecurity, inferiority, stress, worry, etc.
He saved us because He loves us and wants us to know Him. For ministry to be effective and impactful, it must come as an outflow of knowing Him, never through education or learning how to work the crowd. I’ve known several pastors that have gone down this road only to have big churches with no depth. These churches are great for people who feel they can earn their salvation by doing good deeds, much like the Pharisees in Christ’s day. Burnout and broken families, and children that want nothing to do with Christianity come from that scenario. It is so sad, for they blame Christ for the breakup of their family, and Christ had nothing to do with it. He made marriage, but when a man seeks his good, his ego above being In love with Christ, this is one of the many scenarios that can happen. Christ said He would build to build the church to increase the donations etc. The Lord said the Church was His body and will care for it, but He is looking for faithful, self-giving pastors to entrust her to. Will that be us?
***
Father,
Help us to heed thy Word knowing that it is for our good to bring radical obedience to us, not from works that illusion of the flesh but firm, solid obedience from a heart that just loves and adorns You, I pray. It is all for our good despite the difficulty we may find it to obey. It will always be for our good from a Father who loves us so.
Since you’ve come this far, consider my book collection of essays.
https://a.co/d/7k2rjDZ
Arthur Navarrette Vida4U.com is the website where all past Vida’s are archived. In addition to the weekly devotionals, the yearly inspirational writings featured in December’s House2Home Magazine are archived under “Faith Talk.” Please use this site for your benefit and refer your friends to it as well. If they would like the weekly series emailed to them, they can send their requests to Arthur@Vida4U.com.
