Wisdom Revealed by Results

In my devotional today, I have been following a reading plan on YouVersion, a free bible app.  This was a verse within the reading and I wanted to share it.

Matthew 11:19 

The Son of Man, on the other hand, feasts and drinks, and you say, ‘He’s a glutton and a drunkard, and a friend of tax collectors and other sinners!’ But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

The part that really stood out was the last sentence.

"Wisdom is shown to be right by its results."
Look for the reality of the result

Where do we find wisdom?  I say we find it in the counsel of the wise.
Who is wise among us?  Those who seek, study and practice truth.
What is truth and where can it be found?  For those who know me, you know what my answer is.  Truth, according to the dictionary is a fact or belief that is accepted or that which is true in accordance with fact or reality.  However, if you seek the source of truth in the scripture as I do, you can go to John 18:37-38 and see a conversation between Jesus and Pilate, the Roman governor discuss truth.


John 18:37-38 
I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

We should also bear witness to the truth as we live our lives.

John 17:17 

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.

John 8:32 

and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

John 14:6 

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

1 John 4:6 

We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

So, I repeat my question "What is truth and where can it be found? "

We find truth in the person of Jesus and in his word.  We are set free by it, we walk in it, it becomes our road map and guide to our life.  We are even sanctified and purified by it according to John 17:17 and 1 Peter 1:22.  However, we must study the word of truth.  We must meditate on it often.  We need to obey the truth.  However, we cannot do it alone.  We must be seeking the Holy Spirit's counsel and companionship as well as the companionship of other seeking believers.  

Oh how I long to walk in this with other seeking believers.  Don't you?  Is the cry of your heart for this sort of fellowship?  

So, I return to the verse that spurred my heart today to write this blog; 
        But wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

Shall we know wisdom?  Yes, when we study the word of God and see it demonstrated in the lives of ourselves and others.  Not for any exaltation but in order to know what is wise and what is truth.  So, we become a light of hope to the world that is hungry for it.  It is what brings glory to our Lord.

[The fundamental conflict in human life is human desire or will versus truth.  Believing or desiring something doesn't make it true.  Truth is truth no matter our opinion, desire, will or belief.]  (summary quote from one of my favorite authors, Dallas Williard)

Interesting comment from JP Moreland a professor from Talbot School of Theology defined truth this way:
Truth is when things are the way one takes, believe or thinks them to be.  When I heard this, I almost discounted his comment, until I went on with him as he explained what he meant...

He went on to say:
Truth is a matching relationship between a thought or belief and reality.  It isn't the believing it or the taking it to be true that makes it true, it is the reality that makes it true.  The relationship between what is reality with what we think determines that which is true.  
You can believe that grass is green but it is the right relationship between that belief and the reality of the green grass that is defined as truth.  If you believe the grass to be pink, and the reality is that the grass is green then the belief is not correct and therefore the relationship between your belief and the reality is not true.  
This simple example demonstrates how simple this concept really is.  It is important that we return to the reality of absolute truth.  The source of absolute truth is found in the One whom created all things.  He is our reference point and guide into all truth. Without it we are going to be tossed to and fro with every thought, mood and wave that comes our way.  The truth will ground us solidly and direct our course.  We will become a beacon of light to all who are seeking wisdom and truth.

We look at both our lives and the lives of others and see if the truth is displayed in each of our lives.  Does our lives line up rightly"?

One last look at the verse to which started these thoughts and blog.

 wisdom is shown to be right by its results.

Is our life in Christ demonstrating right results.  Does our life line up with the wisdom of the word of God  and is the Spirit of Truth leading us into all truth?  

No condemnation here, just pondering these questions along side all who read it.  I too need to do the soul-searching these words demand.

Join me, will you!?

When the Body of Christ Loves Well!!!

Typically, I only post a blog if I have something to say.  Over the course of many months, I have had very little to say.  Lately I have done a lot of reading, studying, ministering to others and been very quiet. Several studies ago, I did the Armor
of God study by Priscilla Shirer. She placed a challenge to the reader "for the next seven days, try not to say or do anything in response to feelings of insecurity, fear, or really anything that is out of alignment with your true identity in Christ.  You might be surprised at how quiet you become."  The challenge to the author herself was "not to say or do anything that originates from a place of insecurity... before I choose to accept an invitation... respond to a tweet...add a comment to a conversation, I stop and make myself consider the motivation behind it. Am I doing this because I want validation or the approval of a person, group or people? Or am I doing this from a posture of value and worth in Christ? I want to train and discipline myself not to placate old feelings that the enemy is dredging up from my past."

So I took the challenge seriously and since then, I have been much quieter in general.

However, lately, I have sensed it was time to begin speaking again, write again.  My mind is flooded with stuff again.

I had lunch with several ladies the other day, and I was reminded of some truths that no one in the body seems to want to discuss, face and admit.  The truth of the matter is the body of Christ is made up of human beings!  There in lies the biggest issue. If the Triune God had left that one thing out of the body, it would be absolute perfection.  It would not have all the issues that face Christians.

• I cannot tell you how many times I have heard others or thought it myself, "I can love and trust God, it is His followers I have problems with."
• Trouble with this thinking is scripture tells us to love one another and to bear with one another's burdens.

So now that I have spoken the obvious, let's take a look at what may be the root of the issue. It is me, it is you, and it is any other human that has responded to the drawing of the Holy Spirit, accepted the price God paid to settle the sin debt that we owed by sacrificing His son Jesus, and welcomed the Lord's activity into their life.

Is it ok that I am flawed as a follower of Christ?  Will you allow me to admit that without God, I am an absolute mess.  I would not be someone any of you would care to be around.  At best, I would be self motivated to be kind. I would treat people better if there was something in it for me otherwise, I would do what is best for me.  I would say hurtful things if I thought it would make me feel better.  I would think of my self more than I do of others.  I would not love very well if at all. However, I have to choose to allow the Holy Spirit to help me, enable me and equip me so that I do not follow my nature of self-centeredness.

If you encounter me and find any redeeming value in me, it is the work of the Holy Spirit.  If you have experienced the me that I mention in the previous paragraph, I am so sorry.  That is truly the me that walks by the flesh.  That is the me that blows it and misrepresents God in the process.  In as much as I will die to myself everyday is as much as I can reflect the image of Christ in my life to each of you.

Anyone of us can wound and injure others either intentionally or unintentionally.  We need to be aware of the weightiness of our action and take responsibility for them.  We do not want to be like the diciples when they were trying to keep the little children from bothering Jesus, and Jesus scolded them for it.  He said do not keep them from coming to me.

Any of us who claim to be a follower of Jesus and yet walk out the desires of our flesh, need to remember that we may be preventing someone from coming to Christ based on the way we are living. I for one do not want to be a roadblock for someone else.

This is a great reason and motivation for us to walk dependent on the Holy Spirit in our lives and obey each thing He places on our hearts.  There are so many who have been hurt and wounded by the body, and they are staying away from Jesus because of His followers.  If you are one who is hurt, on behalf of the body, I am so sorry.  On behalf of Jesus, His arms are open wide to heal your hurts. On your behalf, please forgive and find a place to fellowship with other believers.  According to Hebrews we are not to forsake the gathering together and especially as we see the day of the Lord approaching.

We all need each other.  The word says the world will know we are Jesus' disciples by our love for each other. Let's love each other well.  Let's cut each other some slack.  Let's recognize that we are all imperfect vessels in need of help, guidance, love, forgiveness, compassion, and a huge dose of grace.

Let's desire to love one another, let's resolve to be unified in Christ and in love, putting others interest ahead of our own.  Can you imagine what a church operating in this manner would be like.  I for one love to see it.  It is not perfect, but it is good.  I love my church.

The World Needs Love from Instruments of Righteousness - Not a Beating from Self Righteous Instruments

I saw a post on Facebook today and it went along with my heart's cry lately.  It was about a New Church Lady.  If you are interested in reading it, I highly recommend it. Click on this link to see further:  Pearls and Grace

My heart has been heavy from the issue of Christian behavior, actions, deeds.  (You know the "walking out your faith" thing before the world)  I have blogged around the topic, but I sense that I just can't get a full grasp of it.  I am hoping that even as I blog today, it will become more clear to me.

So today I feel weepy as I ponder this.  I am saddened by it.  (As you read this, you may say what is "it") It is the missing hope, it is the misrespresentation of Christ, it is condemnation of the body toward itself, it is being in the word and church to impress God or others instead of seeking Him, it is the missing compassion, love, kindness, gentleness and self control in believers, it is the missing passion for the Lord, His people and the lost world.  It is the missing glorification of God from the body, it is the missing gratitude of God, the missing exaltation of Him.  Are we drawing attention to our knowledge of the Word, our good works, our church, or are we drawing all attention toward God, who He is, what He is doing, and what He has done??

I am saying this not to beat anyone up.  I don't believe that it is done intentionally, but it is done out of desire to do the right thing.  It is done typically out of a lack of understanding.  I am in no way looking down my nose at anyone, but lump myself in the category as guilty too.  Any of our religious acts are of no real value apart from God.  (they are garbage and filthy rags)

Here is what I believe is at issue:  we are in need of revival as the universal body. We need to know how much we need God daily.  We need to become aware of our neediness.  We need to become aware of how hungry and thirsty we are for the Spirit of God in our lives.  It is when you eat all the wrong foods and drink all the wrong things, we may feel VERY full but we will still be starving for nourishment.  We may be drinking liquid but it is not a liquid that will quench our thirst.  

The actions of doing religious do's and don'ts is not going to produce the fruit and will not satisfy the soul. That is conformity and will not bring about the transformation that comes from walking closely, dependantly and completely surrendered to Christ.  He wants to use us and equip us for good works, and in doing so, we will be made holy and set apart for our godly purposes. (obey the leading of the Holy Spirit and the commands as He prompts)

In 2 Timothy 2:20-22, the Word describes the difference between a clean, special instrument and an unclean or dishonored instrument.  But as you read the scripture, I sense that it is all about the use of that instrument that makes it one or the other.  In Romans 6:13 we are to offer ourselves to God to be used as instruments of righteousness.  

Follow these links to look at the verses and even compare in various translations

Romans 6:16, Romans 6:19

Such a practical picture of God's love on a needy world

God's love was intended to pour out on the body of Christ as we walk intimately with Him.  But we were not to become reservoirs to collect His love and blessings, yet we were to be conduits where God's love flows through us to a world in need of that hope, love, peace, and joy.  Through this, His kingdom comes to earth as it is in heaven!  That is the hope that we have to offer to the world.  

So we need to stop trying to be an instrument of righteousness, which according to Isaiah 64:6 says are filthy rags. (see also Philippians 3:8 )   Instead we need to be surrendered vessels available to walk in fellowship with our Creator.  So that when we do this, we, by His use of us, are made Holy, sanctified (set apart for a special use) and a sweet savor to those we encounter.

Lets study the Word of God under the inspritation of the Holy Spirit.  Inviting the Spirit to inspire us, feed us with spiritual nourishment.  So we will know Him more.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to us through the study of the Word.  We do not need to manufacture a form of godliness by our own strength and conformity, but allow Him to carve out in us our godly character and transform us in the image of Christ.

Perhaps  as we the body begin to do our part, which is to surrender to His hands for His holy use so we become those instruments of righteousness as His slave, then the lost and dying world will see Christ in us and begin to recognize just how hungry and thirsty they are.  The world doesn't want what the Christians have because it is a conterfeit version, and the world recognizes it more than those of us who are in the body. 

I pray today that the body will begin to see its independence from God and turn back to Him in full surrender.  I pray that the body would see that it is all about being in communion with God by the Holy Spirit through Christ's sacrifice.  We need relationship not religion.  We need transformation not conformity.  We need TRUE change that can only be done by Him.  We need to be authentically changed not manufactured.  

It seems in many American churches today, because we live in a time where many of our true physical needs are being met (even many of our wants) so we are clueless of our spiritual poverty.  Hard times of any kind seem to help awaken us to our spiritual needs.  Nothing like a hardship to bring us back to the basics of our faith.  Not one of us would ask for hardship, but it is in those difficult trials of life where, because of our humaness, we become pliable and available.  This is when we tend to be more ready to turn our ears back toward the only One with the answers.  The only One that can transform us and make a difference.  The only One  that can make us truly righteous instruments.

So today as you read this, if you find that you have been "doing the church thing" apart from God, and you sensed that something is missing, just confess it and ask for the Lord's help.  Welcome Him back into your life's activity.  Tell Him today that you are available for His use.  (simple surrender) see: 1 John 2: 1 and 2

If we fall short, it is not for our condemnation.  We have Jesus as our advocate pleading on our behalf to God.  So in this, if we have offered our bodies to sin in order to be used as instruments of unrighteousness, confess, and Jesus is there as our advocate and faithful to forgive.  

Apart from Christ, we can do NO-THING.  But in Christ all things are possible.  Surrender to Him, seek His will, and walk daily in fellowship with Him.  That is it.  

Have a blessed blessed day.

I pray today that my fingers were used by God's Holy Spirit as instruments of righteousness for His glory to convey these words to us all.  If any of this was just of me, may they be discarded with the garbage!  AMEN!

Fellowship vs. Sin

Father, I hear you. Sin cast a CLOAK over our eyes. Reality is not this physical world. The true reality is the spiritual realm. You are everywhere. Scripture says we don’t war with flesh and blood, so our war is against Satan and his angels, principalities, and powers of darkness in this age.

Adam walked with you freely until sin came and broke fellowship with you. He was able to be free from sin, but then sin entered the world and a cloak of darkness came over him almost as if the very flesh came over him and he was aware of his nakedness.

Christ came and put on flesh, became flesh, to save us from this body of sin. The body restricts our ability to see and experience you freely and fully.

Paul asked who will rescue me from this body. Sin came alive in the body that day and the desire for self worth, self satisfaction, self worship, and self praise. All came alive in the body. If you eat you will die. Adam ate and didn’t die immediately; therefore leading Adam to believe that sin didn’t bring about death. Adam may not have seen sin’s death effect that tied directly to his actions.

All that we touch and see is not our ultimate reality. Even our expression of praise to You Lord are difficult to do in the body. I remember times of feeling constrained by the body. I felt inadequate to express how I feel toward you in the body. Like the body itself had become a prison restraining my freedom of worship and praise to you. I have been so overwhelmed with no adequate ways to express what was in me. Words were not adequate. David in his love and excitement of Your presence, danced naked in the street. I believe he was naked and unashamed. It was just as Adam was in the garden originally.

Our eyes are veiled so that we cannot see You. Because of our sinful nature we would die. We cannot see your glory. Our body became a veil covering us from Your presence.

Jesus is our gate to enter into your presence. He then became the sacrifice on the altar to forgive our sins.  Then the blood was/is offered to purify us and wash us clean. His body was broken to become the broken bread for us to eat, and the blood poured out was the wine for us to drink.  Now this was done in order for us to fellowship with You, oh God in the Holy Place. As we come to the altar of incense the fragrant aroma of our prayers lifted to you became the closet we get to the veil with Your face pressed against the veil as we pray to you. But the veil was torn and you made a way for us to be in your Full Presence in the Holy of Holies at the arc of the covenant, Your earthly footstool. It is a place of the tomb’s demise. Where Jesus laid 3 days watched by the Cherubim, guarding this precious body. That became Your footstool and our access point or GATE.

As I enter your gate (Jesus) and accept the payment of the sacrifice at the cross, and the bread to be broken for me (by his stripes I am healed) and the wine (purify me by the blood); (all of what Jesus did as I accept it, I become righteous thru believing it) and fellowship with you and pray before You at the tomb/deaths defeat/ Christ’s victory/ at the arc/ footstool and am pressing in against the veil.

This body is the prison and must be willingly crucified to sin (for sin brings death but distance from the closeness of fellowship and being known by You. Sin separated us from You. That is true hell; separation from God.)
Jesus paid the price for my fellowship the sacrifice and offering is done so we now only sacrifice to sin. That is where the high price is paid. So I will no longer allow sin to exist in your body. It is costly and separates. It separated relationships with others as well as separates us from God.

When we sin against another, it separates fellowship and trust. Forgiveness is possible and trust can be restored but not always with man. However with God it always is possible. Simply confess (agreeing with God of what He says is sin and our participation in the sin) Ask for and Accept the forgiveness. Repent (turn from the sin—Go and sin NO MORE—Go and do right) walk in fellowship once again. Just accept Christ’s payment.

Because sin requires blood sacrifice and skin is what covered Adam’s sin, they ripped Jesus flesh. That was MY sin ripping at his flesh. I look on the cross and see the true consequences of my sin. That is what sin brings. It had to look like that. That is what Jesus was willing to do for me. My sin beat him, my sin spat in his face, my sin mocked him, my sin drove the nails in his hands and feet, my sin pierced his brow, and my sin pierced his side with a spear. It was my sin that did it all. My sin brought death. But my God resurrected and brought life to my Jesus, and He brought life to my body. Praise God and Hallelujah (ALL praise to YAHWEH -- YHWH)

Enter His gates with thanksgiving; Jesus is the gate keeper into the presence of God. We can stay in the fellowship of the Lord. We can stay at the temple. Especially because (know ye not that ye are the temple of God) we are the temple. Enter His courts with praise; we enter into the presence by the sacrifice of Jesus, his blood is our righteousness, His body becomes the broken bread and wine of fellowship we eat on and become one with. Our prayers become the pleasing fragrance in the nostrils of our Lord. We can choose to stay in the temple by walking in obedience to God’s commands, resisting sin and all the temptations. Sin is what takes me back out into the desert. Staying longer in the desert can lead me farther and farther away from this place of worship. If I will confess and repent I can enter back into the gate. But I can choose to stay in the temple or in the desert. I choose daily where I will be. My will and my flesh determine my location with Christ, not Satan. So where are YOU?