As a city sits on a hill and exudes light to the surrounding area so is your life to shine as such in the place you are. You have a flame; one that burns from within you. It is a unique flame in that the source is external; it's not from yourself that the flame stays alive. Rather, it's by a very fine and expensive oil that this flame stays alive. Even though this oil is of highest quality, it is free; access to it is not inhibited, except by our own restriction.
For some this flame is blazing, for others it is barely staying alive. The state of the flame is determined by the consistency of the oil being supplied to it. Where's your oil level? Have you forgotten the source? Or have you even tried creating your own knockoff version of the oil?
Fill me up, God.
Blessings,
Nick B.
February 14, 2011
February 7, 2011
The Treasure of Christ
If I look back at the past month and examine the themes of what God has been teaching me there is one that resounds above the others. That is, the call that is on my life as a Christian to extend justice and grace to those around me. It is really easy to talk about aspects of the Kingdom of God, but it is a much different thing to apply it to my hands and feet. The past month I have been deeply convicted and challenged in terms of making my relationship with God expand. We are a dynamic creation, just like our God is dynamic. We are able to feel, we are able to express emotions, we are able to reach out and touch others.
I often hear people debate aspects of the Christian faith; deciding if prophesy is valuable, or saying it's all about learning more (theology), or it's all about only justice for others, then there's always the debate over miracles and signs. At the end of it all, I can just get frustrated. Last night I was spending time alone with God, and he challenged me to pursue the FULLNESS of the gospel. Meaning, all that is encompassed in the Word of God. I was led to a quote last night by Bill Johnson. He said,
God's word says that the greatest of all things is love. That our greatest mandate is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul and mind. And then to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The early church of Acts simply pursued these things, and they did not limit or decide what it should look like. Rather, they allowed the Holy Spirit to mandate their actions, they had hearts of submission. Every act that was done by them, from feeding the hungry, to healing the sick, to casting out demons, to pursuing the presence of God and experiencing prophesy and the gift of tongues; all were done out of their love for God and their love for others. Submitting and surrendering to God's Spirit causes a release; control is handed over to Him and every action thereafter is mandated by the Spirit's leading - this is how I resolve to live my life. If God says "lay your hands on that person and prophesy", "Go and heal that person in my name", "Go feed that individual", "Go encourage them", "Go and administer my justice in that persons life", or, "Come and be with me and let me fill you with my Spirit"; I want to do it, I want it all because I know that this is the fullness of the Gospel of Christ.
I don't think it can be any more blatant. It's all good, and it all must be done out of submission to God's Spirit. Don't limit the potential that is in Christ.
Be Blessed,
Nick B.
I often hear people debate aspects of the Christian faith; deciding if prophesy is valuable, or saying it's all about learning more (theology), or it's all about only justice for others, then there's always the debate over miracles and signs. At the end of it all, I can just get frustrated. Last night I was spending time alone with God, and he challenged me to pursue the FULLNESS of the gospel. Meaning, all that is encompassed in the Word of God. I was led to a quote last night by Bill Johnson. He said,
What a sobering statement that refines what ones attitude should be when approaching the Word of God and the work of His Kingdom. Some say to not pursue miracles or prophesy, but how can one not pursue that which is so clearly ingrained within the gospel message just as much as justice or worship are. We are an extremist culture; It's always one or the other. But friends, there is no "one or the other" in Christ's gospel. It's all or nothing. It's all sourced in the treasure that is Christ Jesus crucified.
God's word says that the greatest of all things is love. That our greatest mandate is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, soul and mind. And then to love our neighbor as we love ourselves. The early church of Acts simply pursued these things, and they did not limit or decide what it should look like. Rather, they allowed the Holy Spirit to mandate their actions, they had hearts of submission. Every act that was done by them, from feeding the hungry, to healing the sick, to casting out demons, to pursuing the presence of God and experiencing prophesy and the gift of tongues; all were done out of their love for God and their love for others. Submitting and surrendering to God's Spirit causes a release; control is handed over to Him and every action thereafter is mandated by the Spirit's leading - this is how I resolve to live my life. If God says "lay your hands on that person and prophesy", "Go and heal that person in my name", "Go feed that individual", "Go encourage them", "Go and administer my justice in that persons life", or, "Come and be with me and let me fill you with my Spirit"; I want to do it, I want it all because I know that this is the fullness of the Gospel of Christ.
I don't think it can be any more blatant. It's all good, and it all must be done out of submission to God's Spirit. Don't limit the potential that is in Christ.
Be Blessed,
Nick B.
February 5, 2011
Blessing
I read 1 Samuel 1-2:11 last night. It describes the events surrounding Samuel's birth by Hannah. Hannah, one of the two wives of Elkanah, was a barren lady. The text says that the Lord had shut her womb. Every year Elkanah's household would travel to Shiloh to worship the Lord and offer sacrifices. There are many lessons that could be drawn from this portion of text, but as I read last night the Lord highlighted particular points that truly spoke to where I am spiritually.
As I read, I could not help but think how Hannah felt; Her husbands other wife would provoke her constantly, and being a barren woman would have been devastating. At the beginning of chapter 1 Hannah found herself in a position where she was longing for more; she wanted blessing from God. And with that said, I highlight three key observances from this story:
A] Hannah sought God - she fervently pursued Him in prayer.
Our lives don't turn out exactly as we initially desire - It's easy to look around at others and see the bounty of blessing God has given them, but when it comes to yourself, it's much harder to identify the blessing. It's not until you get beyond yourself that blessing from God comes. Take Hannah's prayer (1:11) as a prime example; her desire for blessing shifted from a selfish root to a selfless root - she wanted blessing, but it no longer was simply about blessing. Rather, it was about the purposes of God. She surrendered and gave back to God all the blessing, even before she even knew if she would receive it! That blows my mind. Hannah's son, Samuel, was a forerunner for the Davidic Age of Israel's history. What if Hannah had not followed through? Samuel's life was significant in that he heard the word of the Lord, which at that time was rare (chapter 3). He grew up with the Lord. If Hannah had not been faithful in keeping her promise to the Lord I wonder what would have come of Samuel's life.
This reading challenged me, first in my approach/intention of seeking God's blessing. And second, in my following through when I see His blessing on my life - do I hoard it? Or do I allow it to go beyond myself? I believe there are ramifications in our decisions and attitudes. Especially in regard to our posture towards God. Hannah rejoiced in her blessing; she cherished Samuel, but her actions are distinguishable in that she was not selfish with it. She gave Samuel (the blessing) back to God so to say, understanding that Samuel (the blessing) would only have lasting impact if he (the blessing) remained in God's hand; being used for His purposes.
What blessings can you identify in your life? What has God gifted you with. Is it being used for His Kingdom? And, what is your posture towards God when seeking His favor. Is it a selfish desire, or a selfless desire? I have been challenged to examine my prayer life - not to be afraid of asking for favor, but ensuring that the intention goes beyond myself. To enjoy the blessing, but not to hoard it.
Blessings,
Nick B.
As I read, I could not help but think how Hannah felt; Her husbands other wife would provoke her constantly, and being a barren woman would have been devastating. At the beginning of chapter 1 Hannah found herself in a position where she was longing for more; she wanted blessing from God. And with that said, I highlight three key observances from this story:
A] Hannah sought God - she fervently pursued Him in prayer.
- Verse 11 of chapter 1 reads, "O Lord Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant's misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give to the Lord for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head"
- In her prayer she promised God her sons life in service to Him - I wondered as I read this how different her desires would be for her children if God had not kept her barren for all of her marriage.
- This makes me think of how things would have turned out if Hannah had not sought God in the temple.
- Hannah followed through. She remembered her promise to God that she gave before even knowing that she would conceive.
Our lives don't turn out exactly as we initially desire - It's easy to look around at others and see the bounty of blessing God has given them, but when it comes to yourself, it's much harder to identify the blessing. It's not until you get beyond yourself that blessing from God comes. Take Hannah's prayer (1:11) as a prime example; her desire for blessing shifted from a selfish root to a selfless root - she wanted blessing, but it no longer was simply about blessing. Rather, it was about the purposes of God. She surrendered and gave back to God all the blessing, even before she even knew if she would receive it! That blows my mind. Hannah's son, Samuel, was a forerunner for the Davidic Age of Israel's history. What if Hannah had not followed through? Samuel's life was significant in that he heard the word of the Lord, which at that time was rare (chapter 3). He grew up with the Lord. If Hannah had not been faithful in keeping her promise to the Lord I wonder what would have come of Samuel's life.
This reading challenged me, first in my approach/intention of seeking God's blessing. And second, in my following through when I see His blessing on my life - do I hoard it? Or do I allow it to go beyond myself? I believe there are ramifications in our decisions and attitudes. Especially in regard to our posture towards God. Hannah rejoiced in her blessing; she cherished Samuel, but her actions are distinguishable in that she was not selfish with it. She gave Samuel (the blessing) back to God so to say, understanding that Samuel (the blessing) would only have lasting impact if he (the blessing) remained in God's hand; being used for His purposes.
What blessings can you identify in your life? What has God gifted you with. Is it being used for His Kingdom? And, what is your posture towards God when seeking His favor. Is it a selfish desire, or a selfless desire? I have been challenged to examine my prayer life - not to be afraid of asking for favor, but ensuring that the intention goes beyond myself. To enjoy the blessing, but not to hoard it.
Blessings,
Nick B.
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