May You Rejoice Over Me

 

I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives.


—1 Chronicles 29:17a NLT

Does the Lord find integrity in my heart?  I can believe I love God with all my heart, but if I don't continually determine to have a heart of honesty and integrity, then I will fall short. Whatever I offer—whether friendship, compassion, correction, time, a listening ear, advice—must be offered from a heart with no agenda. It must be offered from a heart that seeks nothing in return. What I do or words that I speak must come from a heart that surrenders its selfish motives and needs no recognition. I want no mask. My heart lies open before Him. He knows the motives of my heart. Another may not know, but He does. He rejoices when He finds integrity in me.

My life in Jesus Christ is not about me. Whatever I give or whatever I do in His name should come from what He inspires within me and never from anything of my own making. Life tests me everyday to see if I have a heart of honesty and integrity. If I draw close to God, He will draw close to me. His Word will reveal the real intentions of my heart. Nothing will be hidden. I will know if He finds integrity in me or not. 

Lord, I am so thankful that when I seek you, you reveal the real motives of my heart—the ones I haven’t even realized were in me. Help me to honestly look at myself, humbly admit when my intentions are wrong, and allow you to change me. I desire the renewing power of your forgiveness and grace. Forgive me for anything I have ever done or said that has come from any other motive than yours. Continually create in me a pure heart, and renew your steadfastness within me. May what I do or say or offer always come from a heart that is surrendered, knowing its secure in you. May I walk in integrity, having nothing in my life to be discovered that doesn’t honor you. May you rejoice over me.


“He who walks with integrity walks securely” (Proverbs 10:9).

Betty

Her name was Betty. She was my son-in-law’s great aunt. She passed over a week ago at the age of 101. I knew no one like her. She could have given up because of a lifetime of incredible hardship. But she never did. She served her family instead of herself. She loved and physically took care of a husband with dementia, two daughters, and a granddaughter until they all passed. Betty opened her home to family and those who needed her. She was always available to help others through the hard times of life.

Years ago when I first visited Betty in her home, her kitchen counters were filled with food she had fixed, and her heart overflowed with joy you had come. Her heart at 101 still overflowed with joy and concern for others. She always asked about your family and how you really were. When young people visited assisted living, they would always come to see her. She would declare that these children were the very best and she had such high hopes for them. The truth is people wanted to visit Betty. If you were having a hard day, her laughter and encouragement would bring joy to your heart. 

Betty always saw the best in people, listening to the concerns of their hearts and unashamedly giving advice. She never stopped wanting to take care of people. She wanted to take care of herself at NHC Place so that those who took care of her wouldn’t have to work so hard. She declared they had their own lives at home, husbands and children to take care of, yet were so good to her. It concerned Betty that her granddaughter, Cindy, who was responsible for her care, chose to put her own life on hold because of her. She knew Cindy would always be there to take care of her, and she wanted Cindy to be free to go to Tennessee where she had built a new home.

There is so much more I could write about Betty. But no words I write could explain how this beautiful person has impacted my life. She was always quick to tell you who had impacted hers. Each time my friend, Debbie, and I visited Betty, she wanted to talk about Jesus. She said Jesus had walked right in front of her all the days of her life and was still walking in front of her. She never got in front of him. She declared that it wasn’t her place to do that. Betty often said she could just reach up, and there Jesus was, helping her button her blouse that her fumbling fingers couldn’t button or helping her do the hard things that she had once found easy. 

I visited Betty recently on a Saturday. For the first time she didn’t know who I was. She kept looking over my shoulder and smiling at something behind me. Betty had been tired for quite awhile. Debbie and I had prayed that Jesus would send His angels for her. Three days after my visit, this sweet lady who was always quick to declare she had followed Jesus all the days of her life, followed Him right into eternity.

This month I turn 78. Remembering Betty has make me think about my own time to leave this world. I’m so thankful that I will not only see Jesus and my family who have gone before me, but I’ll also see Betty. She promised to prepare a grand feast for me. I yearn to share heaven one day with my family. Betty would always lean forward in her recliner and take my hand and tell me to just keep loving and praying for them. To never give up. I have to continually trust that Jesus will reach each one of them with His unconditional love and grace. 

If you are older like me, you know what it means to anticipate your life on earth will soon be over. If you don’t know Jesus as your Savior, He has loved you from the very beginning. His grace looks beyond the sins that have tried to destroy you and sees your need to be free—to be loved. Open your heart to Him. Lay everything down. Invite Him to come into your life. He won’t force you. He loves you enough to give you the right to choose or refuse Him. Don’t refuse Him. He will come into your life and wash away all that has separated you from His love. All your past, present, and future sins will no longer be yours. You will no longer own them. You will never have to carry them again. You can have a new life in Jesus. You can receive the gift of His unconditional love and grace. No words I write can describe the relief and joy you will experience. 

To my dearest friend, Betty, “You have been one of my greatest encouragers. I will see you again. You said to me only a few weeks before you passed, ‘We will sit down, Lynn, and have a cup of coffee that I can make again and eat something I can bake again. And we will rejoice in Jesus.’”

“Oh, yes, Betty, we will."




Love Without Hypocrisy

Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good.
—Romans 12:9

Hypocrisy is “a pretense of having some desirable or publicly approved attitude” (dictionary.com). The Greek word that was used in Romans 12:9 for “without hypocrisy” was “anupokritos,” and it means “unfeigned, undisguised” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). A Christian who loves “without hypocrisy” is sincere, honest, and transparent. He has no need to pretend to be something that he isn’t. He’s secure in his relationship with God.

Paul continued in this verse, still talking about love: “Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.” “Abhor” means “to detest utterly.” True love hates the things that hurt those we love. If we don’t hate the things that steal, kill, and destroy someone, then our love isn’t God’s kind of love. And if we don’t hate evil, our love for God is hypocritical. 

Often, real feelings are hidden behind a self-righteous mask. While it’s important to be tactful and avoid intentionally hurting others, there are times and places when speaking the truth in love is necessary.

In Leviticus 19:17, the Lord commanded, “You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” 

This verse is saying that if we fail to reprimand our brother or sister when we see sin, then we hate them. Many people have hidden their true feelings about evil under the pretense of loving someone too much to hurt their feelings. However, the truth is a person who is unable to speak the truth in love is a hypocrite. They say nothing because they run the risk of being rejected. 

We must love the sinner but hate the sin. It’s impossible to truly love someone with the kind of love that comes from God without hating anything that threatens their well-being. There is a righteous type of anger that isn’t sin (Matthew 21:12). Our anger should never be at our brother or sister in Christ. Our anger is at the devil for defrauding, swindling, and deceiving them. 

We reveal the truth of the enemy’s lies with God’s unconditional love and grace, never with a “I’m better than you” attitude. God’s love is perfectly good and full of mercy. His love sees beyond the fault in us and sees our need. His love reveals the real intentions of the heart, not only the heart of the one we love, but also ours. The true love of God is never above anyone else. It comes to serve. God’s love in us can draw someone to repentance.

Is your heart hurting for someone right now? Perhaps, a brother or sister in Christ that has been deceived by the enemy? They may be blind to the fact that their sin and their attitude is stealing the abundant life Jesus has for them, or they may be fully aware of their sin and think that they care less. Deep within, they don't care less. Deep within, they are scared to death. You can see them restored. You can see them healed. How much do you love them? Really love them? Enough to risk their rejection and anger? Enough to say, “I’m hurting for you and where you are right now. Will you let me help you, friend?”

Love with the love of Jesus. He looked beyond your fault and saw your need. You can do the same. Let your love be without hypocrisy.

Practicing God's Presence

Prayer is nothing else than a sense of God’s presence.
—Brother Lawrence

In the midst of crisis or change, Christ is with me. In the midst of the storm, He is my safe fortress. He guards me from the breakers that would crush me. But He is more than just a secure fortress. He is my strength to not only endure, but to victoriously overcome. There is never any reason to fear when the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I have the perfect love of Christ within me. God is the one great constant in my life—the same yesterday, today, and forever. Abiding in His love, He claims my thoughts, and His peace guards my soul. I discover that I, also, am strong in His grace. Because He is steadfast and unchanging, I can be steadfast and unchanging. As He is in this world, so am I. I can walk in His peace that overcomes this fallen world with the authority He has bestowed upon me.

Doesn’t this sound amazing? Isn’t this the abundant life Jesus died to give us? But don’t we all struggle at times to walk in it? He is consistent. We are the ones who don’t allow Him to be constant and consistent in our lives. We are the ones to leave the fold and wander off. 

Abiding in God’s presence is what makes the difference between living a defeated life and a victorious one. The presence of the Holy Spirit in my life must be practiced. To live an overcoming life, I must be in fellowship with God daily in prayer until His Word becomes a habit, and He is unconsciously rendered. I unconsciously “pray without ceasing.” He is just “there” at the moment I need Him. He is just “there” in moments of sudden disaster when, without Him, my world would cave. But practicing His presence everyday has brought His immediate peace in that moment. 

I don’t always know what to pray, but the Holy Spirit prays for me. I consciously submit to Him, and He prays God’s perfect will. The external voices are silenced, and I know His peace, no matter the waves crashing around me. I choose to practice His presence everyday. I choose to abide in Him. I may go through a busy day with no issue, and my conscious mind is busy with my schedule. Then suddenly I hear or see something that is earth-shattering. It bombards me. I speak the name of Jesus because I know He is in me just waiting to be drawn from the unconscious depths of my spirit into the consciousness of my soul. Peace arises that transcends logic. It defeats the emotions that attempt to have control. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Practicing His presence has brought His peace.

Do you have that sense of God's presence? He is right there within you speaking peace in the midst of your storm, but you may not realize it. Christ is always in you, my friend in Christ, never forsaking or leaving you. But for Him to make a difference in your mind, will, and emotions, you must draw Him into your conscious existence. He must impact you and your world. His presence is practiced by faith. If you will pray in faith and practice His presence everyday, He will go with you consciously through the days of your life, rendering peace, joy, and victory.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). 

If you are born-again, you have Jesus on the inside of you to be exercised in your life. Practicing His presence transcends all the conscious bombardment of hardship, pain, and suffering, and brings it all under the authority of Jesus Christ. His name is called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Practice His Presence everyday until He is only what is rendered in your life. May His joy always remain in you so that your joy shall always be full.

Equipped to Fulfill Your Purpose

 

Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.
—2 Tim. 1:9

God’s grace comes into your life with a purpose. A resurrected Jesus found Paul on the road to Damascus. “Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me” (Acts 26:16).

God’s grace works for good to those who are called according to His purpose. “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" (Romans 8:28).

God has a purpose for your life and grace for you to walk in that purpose. You have distinct gifts and talents to be discovered and developed. You can only experience God’s peace, joy, and faith to the extent you understand your purpose.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:8, 10).

Not only does grace save us through faith. Grace also leads and empowers us to do the good works God has planned for us. Our lives should express and reveal His life within us.

Grace without a purpose is robbed of its power. Unexpressed grace brings the enemy great joy. He loves for us to be saved, selfish, and stuck. Passivity will keep us from knowing and moving in the fullness of God’s purpose. You must intentionally discover and pursue your purpose with the Holy Spirit guiding and empowering you.

Those we know and those we meet are our purposes. Each relationship, family member, friend, and person you come in contact with is your purpose. We are here to express and reveal the grace of Jesus to those who are easy and to those who aren’t. There is His grace for us to do this work. Grace and more grace is always available.

You are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus! You are uniquely gifted and of measureless value to Him! Once you comprehend that Jesus loves and accepts you, and that it is He who works within you, you will be empowered to fulfill your purpose.You can accomplish anything God guides you to do. He is the one who empowers you. 

You Are Rich In His Grace

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. And here is my judgment about what is best for you in this matter. Last year you were the first not only to give but also to have the desire to do so. Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it, according to your means.
—2 Corinthians 8:9-11

Do you have a vision from God that you believe in with all your heart? Is it something into which you have poured your heart and soul? Perhaps, you haven’t seen the work you’ve done bring you any closer to that vision. Perhaps, you’ve become weary because of constant struggle to complete it. You were the one to whom God imparted the vision. You were the one to get it started. 

“Now finish the work” Paul writes, “according to your means.” 

God's perfect will is for the vision to be completed, but you can't make a vision come to life―even with all that you’ve poured into it and even with all you’ve done to inspire others to catch it. You can only finish to the best of your ability according to what you’ve been given. What you may have forgotten is that you’ve been given everything you need to complete it. When God inspires a vision and you say, “yes,” all the spiritual riches of heaven are at your disposal. It’s not a matter of a lack of resources. It’s a matter of drawing His resources out of the spiritual realm by faith. The enemy will do everything he can to keep you from receiving from God. You must stand against the enemy’s tactics. He wants to destroy the vision God birthed in you. Cooperate with God instead of giving up and bringing joy to the enemy. Remember that God’s timing isn’t yours. You must rest in Him when you’re weary, listening to Him and drawing strength from Him. When God gives a vision, He also supplies you everything you need to complete it. 

Don't ever forget that the vision doesn’t belong to you. It belongs to God. You’re just a yielded vessel for Him to use for His purpose. His vision is fluid. It’s not etched in concrete. You can have an idea of how a vision should pan out, but that is just your perception. His thoughts are greater than yours, and His ways go beyond any preconceived notion. The vision He has imparted to you is only a part of His whole purpose. It’s greater than you can ask or think. He gives you a particular vision to be your focus and to anchor you. Whatever He has imparted to you, it’s your offering back to Him. Realize He owns it. You are to steward His vision. You are to press in and pray, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, and give Him room to inspire others to catch it. If it isn’t caught, others made that choice. You can’t change them. Only He can. Lay that vision on the altar. God has never given up. It’s His will. And when you pray His will, believing, He brings to life what you’ve asked of Him.

You’re not the only one with a vision from God. The visions that He imparts to His children are ultimately meant to unify us in His ultimate purpose―to bring the Gospel of Grace to a dying world and to prepare those who believe in Him to live a life of faith that perpetuates the message of His salvation. You are part of God's highest work—His greatest plan. Do whatever He leads you to do with whatever you have now, believing that there is no end to His supply, and trusting Him with as much enthusiasm as when you first stepped out in faith.

The perfect and finished work of Jesus has made you rich in grace. Although He could have had anything―although He had every powerful resource at His bidding―although He was perfectly God and without sin, Jesus became poor for your sake. He humbled Himself, took all of the worst of you and gave you the best of Himself so that you might be free and rich in His grace. 

The vision He imparted to you is just as rich as when you first had it. You have all the wealth of God’s grace. The means to finish the work are available to you, just waiting for you to receive them by faith. Now believe in the inheritance you have in Christ. Your life is His for His purpose. When He’s ready for your vision to manifest, not only will the vision He gave you birth more visions; you and others shall be inspired to receive more grace upon grace for His Kingdom.

The means He has given to complete your vision are outstanding and eternal. Release by faith your vision and see God breathe His life into it.

The Church On The Hill

I’ve sown the Word for decades in my heart, praying for it to be manifested in my life. Through the years, I’ve seen the Lord fulfill many promises in His Word; I’ve waited a long time for others. Now I’m seeing seeds sown many years ago coming into harvest. I’ve made mistakes like anyone else in my Christian walk, but I’m on a continual journey of spiritual discovery that I never want to end. I’m hungry for the Lord to give me wisdom, understanding, and revelation in my knowledge of Him.

According to 1 Corinthians 14, prophecy isn’t just for edification, encouragement, and comfort; prophecy is also a word of knowledge. When the secret of someone’s heart is revealed, it causes him to fall down on his face, worship God, and say that God is truly in this place (1 Corinthians 14:25-26). 

Many Christians who believe in prophecy think that only certain individuals are chosen to prophesy. It’s true that only certain believers are called to the office of a prophet (Ephesians 4:11). However, the spiritual gift of prophecy, listed in 1 Corinthians 12:10, doesn’t refer to the office of a prophet. According to the Word of God, “all” can prophesy. 

“For you can all prophesy, one by one,” Paul writes,” that all may learn and all may be encouraged” (1 Corinthians 14:31). 

Our pastor declared yesterday morning that he doesn’t want us or our church to miss out on what God has for us.

Months ago, I had a vision of three golden bowls coming together as one. It hung above our congregation. There was a spout, and it was slowly tipping. I could see a thick golden liquid at the edge of the spout just ready to pour. I asked the Holy Spirit what this meant. The Holy Spirit led me to Revelation 5:8. God has heard and gathered all our prayers in his golden bowls of incense in heaven, and our answers are ready to be poured out. His salvation, His healing, His deliverance, and His anointing are waiting to be manifested in this place. But we must do our part. We must empty ourselves and allow God to move without prejudice. We must press in deeply in prayer and petition Him to open the heavens. And when He pours, He shall pour through our yielded hearts into the lives of a starving people. Compassion will be as water turning into new wine. And this outpouring of heaven will flow through and out of us into Anniston and all around.

Thirty-five years ago I was driving up Quintard Avenue past this church on the hill, which was Harvest Temple at the time. I was listening to Dr. David Yonggi Cho prophesying that one day God would pour out His Spirit in great power in northern Alabama. Perhaps, this church on the hill was a part of his vision. I wouldn’t know about that, but I do know we are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that we may proclaim the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).

This church on the hill is chosen to be His light in the darkness. The Lord has set apart this house, this place for His holiness and power.  All can prophesy. Humble yourself. Seek the Lord. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. You are a chosen people. He can give you another vision of His purpose. Perhaps, you shall see what I have experienced with greater clarity or bring a fresh perspective to it. We were created for such a time as this. Are we preparing our hearts and gathering for the Holy Spirit to open the heavens and pour? Will we let God be God? Will we press in and pray?

 

“Therefore, I will look to the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation. My God will hear me” (Micah 7:7).


“And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams, and on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy” (Joel 2:28-29, Acts 2:17-18).

“I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the Lord, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth” (Isaiah 62:6-7).


https://www.lynnlacher.com/2026/06/the-church-on-hill.html

Endure To Partake

For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise.
—Hebrews 10:36).


The promises of God aren’t dependent upon our efforts. They are dependent on His. But we must cooperate with Him. We must trust Him, accept His will, and step out in faith. Although we may fail at times, we must never give up. His promise will ultimately be fulfilled through our surrender. He cannot deny what He has accomplished for us on the cross. If we trust His perfect work and cooperate with the Holy Spirit, His promise will be fulfilled in us.

Do you think that when Jesus called Peter to follow Him that He did not know his strengths and his weaknesses? God knew Peter. He knew that despite human weakness, Peter would discover strength in Him. If you feel weak and lacking in power, remember the Lord chose Peter knowing His potential―knowing that one day He would be filled with the Spirit and minister in His power.

God's choice of Peter is incredibly encouraging. Choosing a weak Peter to serve Him encourages us that, we too, can be used for God's purposes. Take heart. No matter what your struggle or your area of weakness, God knows your potential, too. He extends grace and forgiveness along your lifetime of service so that you may achieve it. Peter, as a result of God's grace, forgiveness, and power, gained spiritual maturity. God took a man who had once denied Him by a coal fire and used him to powerfully declare and demonstrate His purposes.

Peter writes: “As His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:3-4).

Jesus has called you to partake of Himself—not because of who you are. Not because of any lack. Not because of any failure. He sees your perfection in Him. He sees who you are in Him. He calls you to partake of Himself because of who He is and what He has accomplished on your behalf. His divine power is available so that through Him, and through His precious promises, you may mature to be more like Him. 

Just as Peter, you can reach a level of spiritual maturity where you are effective and productive in your Christian walk (2 Peter 1:9). You can experience God working powerfully in and through you in ways you never anticipated. 

Persevere no matter your failure. Ask to learn from it. Persevere no matter how weak you feel. You can’t live on feelings. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill and empower you. Endure to partake. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:4). 

The Blessing

For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
—Matthew 16:25

God loves us more than we love ourselves. His plans for us are superior to our own plans (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25). Abandoning ourselves to Him is the best course of action for us. However, it may not always seem that way to our natural thinking, as our carnal minds are the enemy of God (Romans 8:7). While following Jesus may involve hardships (2 Timothy 3:12), God’s rewards are truly extraordinary (Romans 8:17-18). He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

Throughout my Christian life, I’ve heard about my need to die to self, but less about the incredible blessings I would receive in doing so. I've found the purpose I was created for. I’ve discovered abundant life! I’ve found the joy of fulfillment nothing else brings! Freely I’ve received, and freely I’m called to give. I’m called to love without receipt. To see beyond what is seen. To hear beyond what is heard. To understand beyond my own understanding. To always encourage and inspire hope. To bring healing. To inspire greater faith to believe God. To help others experience the joy of their faith. This is my calling. If I lose my life for His sake, Jesus prospers in me. He blesses me again and again to bless others.

“To me,” Paul writes, “living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live. Knowing this, I am convinced that I will remain alive so I can continue to help all of you grow and experience the joy of your faith” (Philippians 1:21-25 NLT).

I understand Paul’s dilemma—whether to go or to live. I’m alive today for one reason—to help others experience the joy of their faith. This is my calling and my blessing: To see those who have struggled in their faith to find rest in the finished work of Jesus. To see those who haven’t believed to believe. To see those who haven’t stood confidently on the Word to stand and receive. To see their lives changed forever.

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20, KJV).

Daily, I choose to be crucified with Christ and to live by “the faith” of Jesus. I can't live by my faith. I live by His. Life is not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about Jesus living in us. Whatever the cost—whatever He asks is worth the blessing of knowing Jesus has used you exceedingly more than you ever imagined. It’s a joy unparalleled on this earth. 

The Cost

 

“And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple”
—Luke 14:27

There is a great distinction between being an admirer of Jesus Christ and being His disciple. An admirer wants to experience the glitter without making a lasting commitment. A disciple is a pupil who has counted the cost and placed himself completely under the guidance of the Master—whose love for Him is greater than for anyone or anything else, and who resolves to give and also give up whatever is necessary. This is radical discipleship. 

Jesus’ words in Luke are not addressed to His disciples. Each disciple has already counted the cost, and made a decision to surrender. His question is directed to those who offer quickly to serve, and then fade away. It is to this marginal person Jesus says, “If you can’t do what it takes, you can’t be my disciple.” 

To witness the enthusiasm of a new believer is exciting, but often such enthusiasm does not weigh the cost involved. “I will follow you anywhere,” someone quickly offers Jesus (Luke 9:57). This man is a new believer, and is fired up to go. He opens his mouth to speak without thinking of what his offer entails. In the very next verse Jesus carefully handles the man’s zeal without offending him by telling him that his future is uncertain. They are wanderers, and there is nowhere to rest at night. There are very few comforts following Him.

Jesus searches the group and His eyes rest on another man. “Follow me,” he says (Luke 9:59). The man asks Jesus to first let him first bury his father. Jesus tells this man there is no hope for salvation for someone who is already dead, and that his obligations at home are nothing compared to the call upon his life (Luke 9:60). Jesus has looked upon this man’s heart and seen great potential. Time is of the essence, and he must be about the Father’s work. 

The first man who offered to go with Jesus had a shallow faith that would not stand up under pressure. Jesus knew this, but the second man is different. Jesus sees his heart, and knows he can be used to bring life to those who are spiritually dead.

A third man quickly offers to go with Jesus, but asks the Lord to first let him go and tell his family farewell. “Any person who starts doing something and then keeps looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God,” Jesus warns (Luke 9:62). 

God delivered Lot’s family before the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, and was warned for them not to look back. Longing for what she had left behind, Lot’s wife glanced back for one moment, and was turned into stone. When you follow Jesus, many people will not understand what has happened in your life. When God calls, you should not ask others whether it is right or not. The call is not theirs. It is yours.

God cannot use people who allow personal desires to deter them, but he does use people with a commitment and a vision like Abraham. Abraham stepped out in faith, followed God on a journey of a lifetime, and never looked back at Ur. He never built a permanent house again, but lived in tents, and moved when God told him.

The third man, just as the first one, is not fit for the journey. I find it interesting that the second man, unlike the first and third, did not offer to follow Jesus. He was asked. He had not spoken a desire to follow, but Jesus instinctively knew if he would make the sacrifice. He knew he could ask for a radical commitment from this man.

Jesus asks us, just as he did the second man, to leave self behind, take up His cross, and follow Him. These requirements don’t attract a large number of followers, but for those who follow and stay the course, the result of such a decision is guaranteed. “For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it” (Matthew 16:25).

Forget The Old And Believe The New

Have you ever encountered an overwhelming situation that made it seem impossible to take another step? Or ever yearned to forget the past and focus solely on the positive, trusting in God’s promises? Or ever yearned for a more profound faith that would allow you to trust God and experience His peace? 

You want to believe. You hope to believe. You cry out to believe. But even though you are new in Christ and have been told all things are new, you struggle to move forward in faith. You want to believe the old is over, yet it still enters your thoughts and directs the moments of your life. You have trouble perceiving what your new life, free from your old nature, really is; that old man might be dead, yet you are still in bondage to him.

“Forget the former things,” the Lord declares. “Do not dwell on the past” (Isaiah 43:18). 

This Scripture tells us not to wrap our minds around what has happened and not to continually think about the past that has defined us. It instructs us to make a decision to forget the past.  “Forget” is a strong word, and it means “being unable to call to mind, unable to summon up, or unable to picture.” Now that sounds incredible! Not to remember or even have a picture in my mind of past fears or failures. “Forget” means that the past is done and gone. So we shouldn’t continually think about it or dwell on it. He will keep me, and He will keep you in perfect peace when our minds dwell on Him (Isaiah 26:3). 

“See,” the Lord states, “I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it” (Isaiah 43:19)? 

“See” is another strong word, and it means “to understand, realize, or perceive.” It doesn’t mean to just look. “Look” has no depth, and is concerned with the outward appearance only. “See” takes “look” somewhere it has never gone before. “See” looks beyond the past. It looks beyond what is factually true in the here and now, expectantly believing that God is doing a new thing. Faith springs up, alive and knowing, unwavering, believing in God’s promise. Do I perceive it? Do you? 

When our minds aren’t preoccupied with dwelling on the past, analyzing and processing it, hope has a chance. We must forget the old and banish it from our minds. Our minds must be renewed by the Word (Ephesians 4:23, Romans 12:2) until our perspective aligns with it. We can then have the confidence to believe God does a new thing. 

“Do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36). 

Will we hold on to our confidence, knowing He is faithful to His promise? Will we persevere in seeing the new life within us? Will we seek His purpose? He will reward our diligence. If we will give Him our past, our fears, and our failures, His peace shall guard our minds and hearts, and thinking on good things will come much more easily (Philippians 4:6-8). 

His promise of peace is real. We choose to forget the former things, and believe His promises. We choose to let go of the things which have defined us, and believe by faith that His promises of peace, joy, healing, purpose, freedom, and every good and perfect gift, are absolutely true.

He makes “a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland… He provides water in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise” (Isaiah 43:20-21).

Jesus, Be Jesus In Me

Lord, I pray that the words of my mouth, and the meditations of my heart always be pleasing in your sight. I’m Your workmanship. Not my own. I was bought with the greatest  price—Your life sacrificed for mine. Your unconditional love and grace. I could never have paid that debt. But Jesus You did. You paid it all. 

I’m so thankful You see my heart. You take the smallest gift that’s sown and one day it reaps a harvest. Sometimes, the wealth of that harvest isn’t seen in this life. But then there are glimpses of fruit that reveal Your investment in me hasn’t been in vain. Jesus, I praise You for Your glimpses of lives changed forever by Your grace. Those once lost and now found. Those found who now see.

Jesus, I continually burn for You to be realized in me. Over forty years ago, You spoke a Word to me. You would use me far beyond what I could think or imagine if I would allow you to work in me—if I would take in your Word until I made it my own. Until I believed without doubt You could use me as a yielded vessel. Thank You, Jesus, for never giving up on me. For teaching me. For guiding me. For believing in me when I had trouble believing.

My heart hurts for those who need you, Jesus—who haven’t realized their potential in You. My heart praises You for those that have found You and now see You. May Your Word come to life in me. May I exercise what You have gifted me. I ask Your divine healing to flow through me into the lives of others. That they would receive wholeness of spirit, soul, and body.

I lean on You, Lord. Use me. Fill me with Your power and grace upon grace. To see beyond any lack and see Your harvest. That where I’m weak, You’re strong. 

“In the day when I cried out, You answered me, and made me bold with strength in my soul” (Psalms 138:3). 

Holy Spirit, pour Your power into me. Make me bold in Your strength. Jesus, be Jesus in me.

Encounter Jesus

I will worship toward Your holy temple,
And praise Your name.
For Your loving kindness and Your truth;
For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.
—Psalm 138:2


Consider the immense power of the name of the Lord. At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord (Philippians 2:10-11). However, God has exalted His Word above His name. A person’s name is only as good as their word. This offers immense comfort that the Word of the Lord is certain (Psalms 19:7-13).

“The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalms 19:8).

It’s simply that straightforward. God’s Word brings joy to the heart. However, those with saddened hearts aren’t immersed in the Word as they should be. His Word opens our minds to understanding (Ephesians 1:17-18). The Word of God illuminates our minds, providing us with revelation (Psalms 119:130). Consequently, those lacking a deep understanding are ignorant of God’s Word.

Our eyes require light to function properly. In the absence of light, we may perceive things differently from their actual state. However, when light is introduced, we gain a clear understanding of reality. Similarly, many people today perceive things inaccurately because they fail to walk in the light of God’s Word (Psalms 119:105). We can only have the true light when we are looking through the lens of His Word (Psalms 36:9).

Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12), is also the Word (John 1:1). He illuminates every aspect of our lives, unveiling all that needs to be surrendered to Him. The Word molds and shapes our souls until we align with its truth, until it becomes our identity, until it heals us, until we prosper in it, until we are one with it and walk in it.

God sent Jesus, the Word, to heal us and deliver us from our sins (Psalms 107:20). The name of Jesus has the power to break every stronghold that prevents us from perceiving and receiving God’s truth. Yes, there is power in the name of Jesus. Considering the immense power of His name, how much more powerful is the actual person of Jesus?

When you pray in the name of Jesus, you are welcoming the Holy Spirit. And when you are welcoming the Holy Spirit, you are welcoming the Word. You are welcoming the very person of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit comes to reveal Jesus to you. He comes to baptize you with the fire of His Presence. He comes to be your true light, revealing the truth darkness has hidden.

Come before His presence with singing. 
Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.
—Psalms 100:(2b-5)

The Lord is good. He gives sight to the blind. His mercy is forever. Come. Enter into His Presence with praise. Bless His name, and encounter Jesus.

Come Unto Me

 
How often Jesus longs to gather us to Himself—not to traditions or religion. But to Himself. To be with Him. To give everything to Him—all the good and the bad. To receive His grace and His heart. How He yearns for us to let all the distractions go until we are completed in His Presence. 

And how often we aren’t willing. 

How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!
—Matthew 23:37

In returning and rest you shall be saved;
 in quietness and confidence shall be your strength.
—Isaiah 30:15


Be Determined To Stay The Course

If you are going to do something significant for God, you have to throw yourself into the call of God and do what is needed, regardless of whether or not it’s convenient. It should be more valuable and important than any comfort or personal desire. Like Paul, you must be willing to do anything required or go to any length to do what God asks. 

The enemy is not going to stand silently by. If God asks you to do something that takes you outside your comfort level, don’t question and complain about it. When you do, you refuse to exercise your faith. You won’t do anything significant for God— at least not until you change your attitude.

“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).

The Kingdom of God suffers violence at the hands of the enemy. You must be more determined than the enemy’s deceptions, hindrances, barriers, and accusations. What is the vision God has given you? That vision isn’t going to come easily. Satan will come against it in any way he can. That vision must be more important than your need to feel safe and secure. You must be willing to do anything needed to see that it succeeds. When you’re determined to pursue God’s purpose at all costs, you’ll push through hard times and gain ground for the Kingdom of God.

In 2 Corinthians 11:23, Paul reveals his determination to finish God’s call, regardless of what he has to do and regardless of the challenges he has to overcome: “Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.”

Paul tells us that, in addition to working hard, he has been physically beaten as he pursued his God-given task of spreading the Gospel. He has received “stripes above measure.”

The Greek word for stripes is “plege” and means “to smite, hit, wound, or violently strike.” The words “above measure” are from the Greek word “huperballo” and means “above and beyond the range of what is normal.”

Paul’s beatings were beyond what we could imagine. They beatings were frequent, cruel, and brutal. But Paul never allowed this intense cruelty to affect his commitment to the task God had given him. You must be more determined than anything the devil brings against you. However, you aren’t strong enough to withstand the devil’s attacks alone; you can overcome them with the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul tells us that he has been “in prisons more frequent.” The Greek word “plulake” for prison means “a heavily fortified place of containment.” A prison was a small, dark chamber where the most dangerous prisoners were heavily guarded. This is what Paul consistently endured. If going to jail meant that he would accomplish his calling, that was what he was willing to do. He was ready to undergo any inconvenience, pay any price, and go to all lengths to do what God asked of him.

Paul also says that in addition to the beatings and imprisonments he endured, he was “in deaths often.” The Greek word “thanatol” means “deaths.” Paul actually faced physical “deaths” regularly. “When he wrote “I die daily” in 1 Corinthians 15:31, he meant more than just dying to self. He was constantly confronted with the possibility of death. Paul never wanted to face death daily. It was just part of his call to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. However, he faced it bravely. Rather than retreating, he kept moving forward to fulfill his purpose.

If Paul been less committed, only a few of these hardships would have stopped him. But because he was completely focused and determined to finish the work God had given him, he pushed beyond each beating, imprisonment, and fear of death. And because of his commitment, we received the Gospel. At the end of his life, he could say, “I have finished my course” (2 Timothy 4:7). 

The Holy Spirit who empowered Paul to overcome each of these hardships is the same Holy Spirit who is available to help you. You don’t have to give up in defeat. If you choose to use the power that is available to you, the Spirit of God will strengthen you and give you victory over any difficulty the enemy uses against you. 

The time has come for the faith we have often taken for granted to become our life. Look and listen. We are in the last of the last days. God has granted you the privilege to be a part of such a time as this. Just as Paul, you have a purpose to spread the Gospel of Grace in whatever way God has called you.

You have the resurrection power of God inside of you (Romans 8:11). Yield to His power, and you’ll be supernaturally strengthened to overcome every hindrance and barrier. If you embrace God’s power, He’ll give you everything you need to endure and succeed in your purpose. Be determined to hold on to God’s call and to move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit so that one day, you can also say, “I have finished my course.”

Exceedingly Abundant

 

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
—Ephesians 3:20


When I consider Ephesians 3:20, my mind immediately goes to the phrase “according to the power that works in us.” The Holy Spirit is working within each believer; He is bringing about something “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” right at this moment.

“If you look at the circumstances in my life,” you might attest, “it seems as though God isn’t doing anything beyond what I can ask or think.” But the Bible instructs us to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). It’s crucial to see beyond our physical limitations into the spiritual truths of God’s Word. 

It’s incredible to contemplate that the living Spirit of God is actively working within every believer at this very moment. He was working in me yesterday. He was working in me while I slept last night, and He’s still working. He never stops working. It’s nice to be thanked occasionally. Do I ever take the time to thank Him? It’s crucial to express your gratitude to Him by praising Him for His constant work within you. He never gives up on you.

What about those problems you’re facing? He’s doing far more that you could ever ask or imagine because His power is working within you. Choose to think on these truths in Ephesians 3:20 rather than on your circumstances.

Since the Word of God is true, the Spirit of God is actively working within us right now. When we accept and embrace what is true beyond our perception or experience, we undergo a transformative journey. We are changed from the inside out.

God is working within you and within me. He’s doing far more than we can ever imagine or ask for! Acceptance is a form of surrender. It’s giving up control and believing in something beyond our physical senses and experiences. The more we embrace God’s words over our own perceptions, the more His influence in our lives will shape the circumstances and challenges we face.

Our faith is precious to God. He considers the perfecting of our faith more precious than gold (1 Peter 1:7). He is immensely delighted when we exercise our faith during hard times, rather than yielding to fear in desperation. Trust in God’s promise that He is actively working within you to accomplish His intended plans and purposes for your life. He’s doing something so powerful in you that it’s exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think!

God is meticulously working out His incredible plan for your life, but you must participate. When you speak God’s Word, you honor Him. You give service to His name. Don’t just read His promises; speak them. You need to hear them because they are powerful. Faith comes by hearing. So declare His words of life out loud over yourself and your circumstances. 

“God is working in me, and He’s working out a plan for me. He’s doing all of it above all I can ask or think. The Holy Spirit knows me better than I know myself. He’s working in me right now to convince me I am fearfully and wonderfully fashioned in Jesus! I praise you, Jesus, and I praise you Father, for the Holy Spirit’s powerful work in me! It abundantly exceeds anything I could ever ask or think!” 

—Your hands have made me and fashioned me; give me understanding, that I may learn Your commandments (Psalm 119:73).

Be Present, Prepared, and Praising Jesus

Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!  
—John 4:35
 

Has harvest time come? Are you present, prepared, and praising Jesus? You receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit just as you received Jesus as your Savior—by faith. This experience is the unshakeable assurance of the purity you have received in Jesus. It is pure fellowship with Him, a joy so unspeakable that only comes from experiencing His glory.

Have you wondered what you might encounter in the Holy Spirit? Have you invited Him? He may come as a mighty rushing wind, but most often He comes as a gentleman, filling you with an indescribable love. 

Don’t judge any spiritual gift the Holy Spirit gives you. Don’t retreat from unfamiliar experiences to the comfort of tradition. If your tradition hasn’t taught what you experience in the Spirit, your gift may falter and never bear fruit. Run to Scripture with your experience. Let Scripture evaluate it and be the final Word. The Holy Spirit will resolve conflicting perspectives in your mind and reveal the truth.

When you encounter Jesus in all His glory, religion gives way to the fullest of relationships. You are in Him, and He is in you. When you exercise the gift the Spirit has imparted, you are exercising Jesus. You are exercising the Word. Your faith grows stronger. Jesus pours Himself into you and through you into the lives of others who are hungry to receive as you have freely received.

Experience. Tradition. Scripture. Reason. Evaluate your life in Jesus. If you are sowing the Word, you are preparing yourself to receive a fruitful harvest. Lift up your eyes. The field is ripe for reaping. Be present and praising Jesus. 

Don't Miss Out On Your Harvest

 

The farmer who remains idle and watches the wind will never sow, and the one who fixates on the clouds will never reap (Ecclesiastes 11:4). The farmer in this proverb will miss the harvest. Likewise, we can become so busy calculating the “perfect conditions,” we can miss ours. We must seize the opportunities that come our way, just as a farmer works diligently when the conditions are favorable (Proverbs 10:5).

“And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart” (Galatians 6:9).

There are many reasons you can miss your harvest. Scripture enumerates them: laziness, distraction, discouragement, fear of the effort involved, sowing too sparingly, worldly cares, the allure of riches, and lust. Any one of these redirects you from knowing when it is time to harvest the field. Galatians 6:9 also emphasizes that one of the primary reasons people fail to reap the rewards of their efforts is due to weariness. Another reason you fail to reap is simply by not asking, or asking with a heart driven by selfishness rather than stewardship.

There is a designated time for everything. As stated in Jeremiah 5:24, God has set aside specific times for the harvest. When the time for your harvest comes, will you be present and actively engaged?

Pentecost was rehearsed for over a thousand years before the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples. He uses the same pattern today. He gathers believers together, fills the room, and pours out His Spirit on those who are present, prepared, and praising Him.

The fire continues to fall upon every hungry believer who is willing to praise until its time to reap. Don’t miss out on your harvest; instead, praise your way to it.

 

The Real Event Is Still For You

The feasts that God established for the Israelites weren’t meant to only remind them of what He had done. They were practiced each year so they could know what He was going to do. Each feast was a rehearsal for a real event.

Rehearsing something gets you ready for a real event. You repeatedly practice until what you do is done without thinking. When the moment finally arrives for the actual event, all the practice you’ve done becomes natural and effortless.

Throughout their entire lives, these 120 disciples had celebrated Shavuot. They had rehearsed the feast year after year, and now they were about to participate in the real event. Jesus told them to wait in Jerusalem because He knew it was almost time for the moment they had spent their entire lives preparing for.

In Acts 2, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, preached a powerful sermon that cut straight into the hearts of his listeners. When he was finished, they asked Peter what they should do.

“Then Peter said to them, ‘Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call’” (Acts 2:38-39).

Peter not only gave an open invitation that day to the 3000 people who repented and were baptized; he also gave the invitation to those God would call through the generations to come. You are part of Peter’s “all who are afar off.” Peter’s invitation to receive the Holy Spirit is for you, your children, your grandchildren, and for all those who will receive Him.

The Holy Spirit never withdrew Himself after He fell on the disciples that day in Jerusalem. He has never stopped pouring Himself out upon hungry believers. When God said he would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, He never said that promise would one day end.

Are you waiting for the real event? Pentecost is here, and it isn’t over. The harvest is still being gathered, the fire of the Spirit is still falling, the fountain is still flowing, and God is still fulfilling His promise. God has promised the Holy Spirit to you and invites you to receive Him. 

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

 

Praise Creates The Harvest

 

God established Pentecost as a single-day feast to signify the urgency of the harvest season. Exodus 23:16 refers to Pentecost as “the Feast of Harvest, the first fruits of your labors which you have sown in the field.” 

Harvest demands your complete attention. Jewish farmers would swiftly gather the first fruits of the harvest, celebrate Pentecost in Jerusalem, and then return to their fields to complete the harvest before time ran out.

The fifty day period between Passover and Pentecost is called the Omer. The counting of the Omer is not just a time of waiting. It’s a time of worship. Psalm 67, the song of the Omer, is recited throughout the fifty day period. This is a psalm of blessing, harvest, and honoring the Lord. Each day is one of worship and preparing the heart for the harvest that is coming. Praise takes the worshiper from Passover to Pentecost.

“Let the peoples praise You, O God;
 Let all the peoples praise You.
Then the earth shall yield her increase;
 God, our own God, shall bless us.
 God shall bless us,
 And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.”
(Psalm 67:5-7)

The message of these verses is straightforward. When the people praise the Lord, the earth yields her increase. Praise doesn’t just usher you into the harvest; praise creates the harvest. We don’t approach Pentecost by stoically waiting for God to prove Himself; we praise our way to Pentecost, understanding He already has. 

After the Ascension, the disciples didn’t spend their days in somber subdued prayer. Luke 24:52-53 states that they returned to Jerusalem with immense joy and were constantly praising God in the temple. The upper room where they gathered was a room of praise and worship. The disciples weren’t grieving the loss of Jesus in their lives; they were praising God who had promised to send the Holy Spirit. They understood the way to receive the promise was through praise.

Praise isn’t responding to the promise after it has come, but rather the way to set the stage for its arrival. The disciples praised for ten days, and then the Holy Spirit fell as a mighty rushing wind, filling the room where they waited. A worshiper who has sensed the atmosphere change in a room knows what this means. The Holy Spirit falls on a gathering that has been in praise long enough to make room for Him. 

Are you praising the Lord each day, preparing your heart for the promise of Pentecost? Is your praise enough for the harvest you anticipate?

“Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name” (Hebrews 13:15).

Praising the Lord is the fruit of our lips giving thanks to Him! Praise creates the harvest. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3).

Keep Watch!

“Don’t let anyone mislead you, for many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah.’ They will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and threats of wars, but don’t panic. Yes, these things must take place, but the end won’t follow immediately. Nation will go to war against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in many parts of the world. But all this is only the first of the birth pains, with more to come.

“You will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because you are my followers. And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come. 

“If anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah,’ or ‘There he is,’ don’t believe it. For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. See, I have warned you about this ahead of time. So if someone tells you, ‘Look, the Messiah is out in the desert,’ don’t bother to go and look. Or, ‘Look, he is hiding here,’ don’t believe it! For as the lightning flashes in the east and shines to the west, so it will be when the Son of Man comes. Just as the gathering of vultures shows there is a carcass nearby, so these signs indicate that the end is near. 

“And then at last, the sign that the Son of Man is coming will appear in the heavens, and there will be deep mourning among all the peoples of the earth. And they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels with the mighty blast of a trumpet, and they will gather his chosen ones from all over the world—from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

“However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

“When the Son of Man returns, it will be like it was in Noah’s day. In those days before the flood, the people were enjoying banquets and parties and weddings right up to the time Noah entered his boat. People didn’t realize what was going to happen until the flood came and swept them all away. That is the way it will be when the Son of Man comes.

“Two men will be working together in the field; one will be taken, the other left. Two women will be grinding flour at the mill; one will be taken, the other left.

“So you, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know what day your Lord is coming.”


—Matthew 24:4-10, 23-28, 30-31, 36-42

Now Is The Time For God's Word

But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
—Hebrews 5:14


One sign of spiritual maturity is exercising your senses—that is not reacting emotionally to people or circumstances that have the potential to hurt, confuse, or shock you. Bringing our emotions under control requires the discipline of an athlete. We must consistently practice this skill. Athletes don’t wait until the day of the race to exercise; they do it in advance.

Hebrews 5:14 states that our senses are exercised “by reason of use.” This implies that we should bring what we see, hear, and feel about people and circumstances under the truth of God’s Word. We can’t achieve this without nourishing ourselves with the Word of God, which fosters spiritual growth. The Word within us becomes our guiding force, rather than our emotions.

Our senses, while often deceiving us, aren’t inherently evil. They can be exercised to discern good. Many don’t exercise their senses. All people have muscles. However, all people don’t get the full benefit from their muscles, because they haven’t exercised them. We all have the potential, but we don’t all develop it. It’s the same with our senses. They can be a blessing instead of a problem if we will exercise them. When we don’t exercise our senses (what we see, hear, and feel) they will gravitate toward bad and not good.

The more you walk by faith and not by your senses, the greater level of discernment you will have. It will become easier to recognize good from evil. The Word cuts between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We need discernment that comes from exercising the Word in our lives. Shifting emotions are like shifting sand, and great will be our fall because of them. We need the solid Word in these last of the last days.

Startling disclosures are coming that have the potential to wreck you emotionally and spiritually. The enemy’s purpose in these final days is to deceive the elect. He wants to steal the Word from you. He wants to destroy you. He wants to weaken and divide the church with his lies. Events and circumstances have a spiritual author—God or Satan. You must know God’s Word to discern good from evil and navigate these days we are in.

You have heard the Word from the pulpit and from others for years. What are you doing with its incorruptible seed? Time is growing short. Now is the time to sow. Now is the time for the solid food of God’s Word. His Word is spirit and life, but it will not profit you until it is yours. 

God's Wisdom And Revelation For Your Life

If you desire to receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit, having spiritual wisdom and revelation in understanding what God wishes for your life is imperative. Paul’s prayer to the Christians in Ephesians 1:17 is an important Word to apply.
 
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him” (Ephesians 1:17).
 
In Ephesians 1:17, the word “wisdom” comes from the Greek word “sophias.”  It describes an insight that is not naturally attained. In other words, this is not man's natural wisdom. This is a unique insight. 
 
In this same verse, the word “revelation” comes from the Greek word “apokalupsis.” It signifies something veiled for a long time and then suddenly, almost instantaneously, it becomes visible to the mind’s eye. A revelation is that moment when you first see something that has been hidden and realize it has always been there, even though you couldn’t see it before.
 
The spiritual truths of God we now understand have always existed in the realm of the Spirit, but at one time, they were hidden from us. The time had not yet come for those truths to be revealed, so they had remained hidden from our sight, even though they had always existed. But our minds instantly saw and understood once the right time came and the Holy Spirit removed the veil that hid that truth. When this occurred, we received a revelation.
 
Think of a time when you suddenly saw something in the Word you had never seen. That truth had always been there, but it had been hidden from your sight. Then, unexpectedly, one day, it jumped off the page and came to life. You saw it, and you understood it. You had a revelation.
 
Spiritual truths are hidden until the Holy Spirit reveals them to us. Paul prayed for God to give the Ephesian church “a spirit of wisdom and revelation.” The Ephesians Christians needed wisdom (and so do we) beyond their human understanding. He asked God to give them a unique insight. Then, he explained what he meant by adding the word “revelation.” This is the incredible moment when you see what you have never seen. That veil is suddenly gone, and you are enabled by the Holy Spirit to see what you could never see by yourself. The truth that was always hidden is now seen and understood.
 
The Ephesian Christians were not smart enough (and neither are we) to figure out their lives, so Paul prayed for God to give them a unique insight into His knowledge. He explained that this kind of wisdom could only come through a revelation, and only God could provide them with the wisdom they needed. 
 
Are you looking for direction right now? Ask God to give you “a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” God has all the answers you need—answers you will not find with your natural reasoning. They are not as far away as you might think. In one moment, He can remove the veil that has kept you in the dark and help you see clearly what you need to understand. 
 
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
 
Ask Him. He wants to help you. He doesn’t withhold His insight from you.
 
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Lord Jesus, I ask you to give me the insight and wisdom I need for this time in my life. You have so much for me to know that I don’t know. You have wisdom. You have answers.  But I can’t find them without You showing me. I need you, Holy Spirit, to give me understanding. You say if I ask, it will be given to me. I ask right now that you take away the veil that has blocked my vision. Open my eyes to see exactly what I need to see. Give me a real revelation about my life, this issue that is before me, and the truth I need. 

I pray in Your Name, Jesus, which is above every name and above this issue. I shall receive your wisdom and revelation. 
 

Our Hope Is In The Lord

Lord, my heart is not haughty,
 nor my eyes lofty.
 Neither do I concern myself with great matters,
 nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul. 
Like a weaned child with his mother;
 like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord
 from this time forth and forever.

—Psalm 131


Trusting in the Lord and recognizing that we don’t have to do everything ourselves is incredibly comforting. While there are aspects of our lives that we can control, there are also things that are beyond our control and are under God’s control. It’s wise to discern the difference.

Little children are indifferent to others. They desire what they want when they want it and resort to crying or making a scene to obtain it. However, as they grow older, they gradually gain control over their emotions. David exemplified this in this psalm.  

God had Samuel anoint David as King of Israel although Saul was still on the throne. The Spirit of the Lord had left Saul due to his ongoing disobedience to God's commands. Saul refused to relinquish his rule. Without the Spirit of the Lord to guide him, Saul allowed his emotions to have control. In his rage, he tried to kill David again and again. David responded to Saul by fleeing for his life. And when presented with an opportunity to kill Saul, David refused because Saul was still on the throne. David would not take the throne by killing Saul. What incredible emotional maturity on David’s part! We shouldn't be surprised. God was with David, and he knew it. He trusted in the Lord and didn’t try to take the throne until God had taken care of Saul. He exhibited maturity by behaving appropriately and calming himself, which was a clear sign of emotional control.

We don’t have to be as Saul. We can be as David. When our hope and confidence are in the Lord, we act differently. We are able to control ourselves because we don’t take all the responsibility upon ourselves. Our hope is in the Lord.