Tuesday, August 10, 2010

"Surviving the Lion's Attack"

1 Peter 5:8-9 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls
around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith. . . .”

Throughout the Scriptures we learn that temptations and trials of life are to be responded to, not by running from them, or trying to avoid them, or trying to meet them in the power of our own abilities, but by drawing near to God in faith.

Daniel in the lions den gives us a perfect example on how to survive the attack of the "lion." Daniel 6:23 “the king was overjoyed and gave orders to lift Daniel out of the den. And when Daniel was lifted from the den, no wound was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.”


It’s been said that God’s prescription for the increase of faith is, “Know me better and you will trust me more.”


That is how Daniel had faith for this moment. He had spent almost 90 years of his life knowing God. Daniel set aside regular times daily to spend with God in prayer. Daniel cultivated his relationship with God so that when the ultimate test of his life came, his faith in God was there!


It’s too late in the moment of crisis to cultivate that relationship. The kind of faith needed for a crisis must be cultivated and developed over time as we sit under the teaching of God’s Word, spending time with God in prayer, and reading and applying His Word. This is how the lions are stopped.

Dare to be a Daniel;
Dare to stand alone!
Dare to have a purpose firm!
Dare to make it known.

Blessings on you day,
Sharon

Sunday, August 8, 2010

"God's Tape Measure"

Revelation 11:1-2 "Then I was given a measuring stick, and the angel stood, saying, rise and measure the Temple of God, and the altar, and those who worship there. But do not measure the outer courtyard, for it has been turned over to the nations. They will trample the holy city for 42 months."

John is now told to measure the temple, the altar and those who worship there. This was not just to determine its physical dimensions....I believe it is something far beyond architecture. God is saying.....John, rise, measure those who "worship Me" .... separate the spiritual city (believers) from those outside (non-believers).

Have you ever wondered what "God's Tape Measure" might look like? My husband, has tape measures for his construction projects. I too have my own tape measure...it's for sewing. My tape measure is only 60 inches long, but the one contractors use is 25 feet long or longer. Mine is soft and you have to hand roll it. My husband's tape measure is metal and it's self winding....with a push of a button it rolls back into it's case all nice and neat. I like his better, but I do have to warn you....keep your fingers out of the way while it flys back...sometimes I've been cut by the sharp metal and it hurts.

God's "Tape Measure" here in Revelation is about measuring whether a person is saved or not. God has set the standards and the true measure of our salvation is not in what we have done...the true measure of our salvation is "WHO" do we worship. Worship is first and foremost an encounter with the living and holy God. The only way we can encounter God is through believing in His Son Jesus Christ.

“For God so loved the world he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son." John 3:16-18

What a comfort to know, with assurance...that we can measure up before God, not because of who we are or what we've done...because none of us can measure up on our own merits. But because of what God has done through His Son Jesus.
Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Jesus said, "...the time is coming and is already here when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for anyone who will worship him that way. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. The woman at the well said, “I know the Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us. Then Jesus declared, “I who speak to you am He.” John 4:23-26

Worshiping Him,
Sharon