truth – Page 11

Eye Salve

eyesalve

“He was dressed in a robe extending down to His feet and He wore a wide golden belt around His chest. His head and hair were as white as wool, even as white as snow, and His eyes were like a fiery flame. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice was like the roar of many waters. He held seven stars in His right hand, and a sharp double-edged sword extended out of His mouth. His face shone like the sun shining at full strength. When I saw Him, I fell down at His feet as though I were dead,” – Revelation 1:13b-17a

In chapters 2 and 3 of revelation, there is a pattern to the letters to the seven churches. Jesus corrects the misconceptions they have about themselves—like thinking they are “rich” and in need of “nothing,” but in truth the are “pitiful, poor, blind, and naked,” (Rev 3:17). Then He goes on to exhort them to live outside the intoxicated system of the world (Rev 17:12; ex: Rev 3:2-3), and to be freed to live (John 10:10) a lifestyle of satisfying worship (Ps 63:3; see Rev 2:4), pursing the life (John 11:25) even “unto death” (Rev 2:10; Phi 1:21).

“For no one can eat and drink or experience joy apart from Him,” (Ecc 2:25).

But prefacing each letter is a revelation of Jesus Christ, a reminder of attributes shown earlier (Rev 1:13-16). If we are to correct misconceptions about ourselves, we must first correct our misconceptions about our Creator (Joh 1:3). If we are to more accurately see the world around us, then we must open our eyes to the fullness of the One who reigns over it (Rev 19:16).

So, purchase eye salve from the Lord (Rev 3:18) this morning. Walk by the light of His Word (Psa 119:105) so that you will not stumble (2Pe 1:10; Prov 4:11-13) and see more clearly the goal for which you strive (Phi 3:10-14).

Billy Neal

Book Burning

Book-Burning

Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver.” –Acts 19:18-19

Contrast this good ol’ fashion book burning with what a man says later about the Christians to angry Ephesian businessmen whose finances have been threatened by the decline in Artemis worship.

“For you have brought these men here who are neither sacrilegious nor blasphemers of our goddess.” –Acts 19:37

The believers of Ephesus apparently remained respectful toward the religions of others. They never succumbed to picketing idol shops or zealous bombings of their clinics. Nor did it seem did they even slander these “so-called gods,” (1Co 8:4-6).

Perhaps we need to be reminded that God is not an idol that needs to be propped up (ex: 1Sa 5:2-4). He needs no defense and will see to it Himself to bring all idols to shame and destruction (Num 33:4; Rev 19:20).

Furthermore, what business do we have judging those on the outside (1Co 5:9-13). Jesus never upset the tables of foreign temples but sought only to cleanse His own (Mat 21:12-13). Therefore, our duty then is not to cleanse the nations of this world of their iniquity, but merely to purify (Jos 3:5; Rev 22:14) our brothers and sisters in the faith (Mat 7:5; 18:15-17; Gal 6:1; 2Th 3:13-15; Heb 10:24) who bear that same eternal citizenship of Heaven (Phi 3:20).

So let us boldly topple idols (Judges 6:25-26) among hearts that have been conquered for God (Deut. 7:5)—especially our own. Idolatry is spiritual adultery (Jer. 3:9; 13:27; Eze. 16:15-22), and we should take seriously God’s warning of life (Deut. 32:47). Therefore, we have great need to severe their hold, and gouge out their influence (Mat. 18:8-9). As Amy Carmichael told the Indian Christians to burn their idols, may we be like those who once practiced magic arts, and so eagerly cast all our former trades and leisure pursuits to the fire of destruction, before these powerless gods weigh us down into captivity (Isa 46:1-2).

Billy Neal

Standing In

Mathew 8:5-6.

Men, Jesus entered a town called Capernum, on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. There, a centurion came to Him saying, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented.” A centurion was an overseer of 100 soldiers but was not a commissioned officer. He may have some history in the Galilean region to get a post there. His servant was probably from the region but not necessarily a Jew. Somehow, he hears of Jesus and recognizes the need. There is no mention of seeking a Roman physician prior, here or in Luke’s account. This servant has gained empathy from the centurion, and he has a confidence in Jesus’s ability to meet an unusual need.

Here we are in America, a major trade route like Galilee. Like the centurion, we all have influence over a region. People from local regions serve us daily. Delivery people, food service providers, and so on. How many of the people we encounter daily are all but paralyzed by doubt, fear, anxiety, worry, stress and more?

The centurion was not a church member, but he recognized another person’s need for Jesus. Do we not more often recognize that a struggling person is in our way, hindering us? How is it that we can look at people, and have no empathy, not recognizing that only Jesus truly heals? Would someone’s need have to be so great that they became frozen in terror in our homes to seek Jesus on their behalf?

Move forward men, calling for Jesus, the One true Healer, to engage in other people’s horror stories. Stop and look around today. Where is the need? Make a request of heaven today on a someone’s behalf. Ask for healing to come to someone who can’t ask for it themselves, for whatever reason.

Vance Durrance

One Face

Then I saw standing in the middle of the throne and of the four living creatures, and in the middle of the elders, a Lamb that appeared to have been killed. He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Then another sign appeared in heaven: a huge red dragon that had seven heads and ten horns, and on its heads were seven diadem crowns.

Then I saw a beast coming up out of the sea. It had ten horns and seven heads, and on its horns were ten diadem crowns, and on its heads a blasphemous name.

–Revelation 5:6; 12:3; 13:1

I continue to study through the rather difficult book of Revelation, chasing after that promised blessing (Rev 1:3) and trying to avoid the temptation to figure it all out (Act 1:7). But as I pondered such strange imagery, I found profound truth in the fact the Beast (Rev 13:1) and the Dragon (Rev 12:3) have many heads. Our enemy has many faces to masquerade his true identity (2Co 11:14), and he will deceive us (Rev 12:9) with a myriad of forms (1Co 10:20), distracting us from the one thing on which we are to stay focused (Luk 10:42). For there are many idolatrous spirits to rule our hearts, many temptations to feed our flesh, and many lies to lay claim over our minds and distort our vision.

Yet even though Christ bears many names (ex: Rev 5:5-6), and his appearance can be complex and mysterious at times (ex: like a slain lamb with seven eyes and seven horns), He has only one face to seek (Rev 22:4). We have only one Spirit to fill our hearts (Eph 5:18) and to follow (Rom 8:14). So do not waste a day distracted by the many faces of our enemy, winding up in useless toil (Ecc 1:14)—but seek His glorious face (Psa 105:4) and perform the duty (Ecc 12:13) of your calling (Eph 4:4).

“But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

–Matthew 6:33

Billy Neal

Golden Rule

goldenrule

If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. — Matthew 7:11-12. NKJV

Men, Jesus moves into the “Golden Rule” saying “whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them…” But this is coupled into the finish of “ask, seek, and knock”. Jesus tells us, “if we being evil, know how to give good gifts to our children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him”. How does this fit together?

Our clue is in the way Jesus closes the golden rule “…for this is the Law and the Prophets”. Weren’t we told to love our neighbor as ourselves? Jesus is telling us to “ask, seek, and knock” on each other’s behalf. Remember back in 7:1 we began unraveling the “do not judge” passage. We are absolutely called to judge. We are called to judge when our brother or neighbor is in need of prayer, a touch of heaven, for doors and understanding to be opened on their behalf, etc. We are to intercede for each other.

The depth I have found in Christ Jesus did NOT come by accident. It didn’t even come through discipline. It came by the love of Jesus to pursue my sick heart, and the prayers of others who recognized my need for Him and His truths. We are necessary to and indebted to each other for prayer. Jesus is telling us to pray for others as we would want others to pray for us.

We who have come alive to the open access of His Spirit within have a deep expectation from Jesus to pray for each other’s needs. In battle terms, we who have “the radio” and can reach “headquarters” should be asking for airstrikes of truth, understanding, healing, brokenness, humility, new life, new focus and more for our neighbors’ sake. We should be able to judge our brothers’ needs, and call in requests for them. Will Jesus not answer us? As His children, will the Father not grant us what we seek?

As we knock on doors to open for our brother, will The Lord refuse to open for us the door? Move forward men. Find someone to pray for. Everyday should bring volumes of mail into the Father’s courts. He gave us the model prayer in ch. 6. Pray!

Vance Durrance

Bottom of Form

Servitude

serving2masters

No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and be enslaved to money. — Mt. 6:24 NLT

Men, servitude is not a question. But, to what we bow down to we can choose. No one likes to think of oneself as a slave, but it takes little thought to discover this realization. What can you never get enough of? What discontent stirs in your heart begging for more. Power? Wealth?

For a few, it’s His presence. Jesus says we can’t serve two masters. We will hate or be loyal to only one or the other. Jesus goes on to say we will either serve God or money. Some translations use the word “mammon”, which is the Aramaic term for “wealth and possessions”.

We can see clearly who is a slave to wealth. Politicians literally sell our national resources for personal wealth and cast suspicion on others to disguise their nefarious deeds. Entertainers will march in front of a camera and say whatever they’re told to say for a negotiated fee. The gods of this world, or underworld, have their minions arrayed in fine clothes and cars and so deceive many to believe freedom is found at “the top”. Their relationships are superficial and dependent upon value gained.

Jesus offers a wealth that we may not see for years. Jesus offers us a freedom that seems strange to others. Jesus offers a peace even to the destitute, and comfort to the most heartbreaking circumstances. I am a slave to Christ and elated to confess it before men. As a mere slave to Christ there are inexpressible gifts that are not offered anywhere else, and more precious than anything else.

Move forward, men, beyond the pursuits of wealth and power the world showcases in its temptations. The world tells us to climb higher. Jesus invites us deeper; and real, lasting, eternal treasures are hidden in the deep. Jesus as Master gave all of Himself. Money as a master takes away joy and replaces with greed for more.

Vance Durrance

Forgiveness

forgiveness Matthew 6:14-15

Men, Jesus has said in vs12, forgive our debts as we forgive others, and now He revisits the matter. It startles the heart as we read, “if we forgive men their sins, your heavenly Father will give you”…but if we don’t, He won’t.

Let’s be clear. This does not teach that we can lose salvation. Remember, Jesus has been revealing conditions of the heart for several chapters now. Later Jesus will tell a parable of one who was forgiven much debt, but then refused to forgive someone who owed a small debt. Jesus paid a great debt on our behalf. Far more than we will ever be asked to forgive.

Unforgiveness reveals that we do not understand what has been done for us. It reveals lack of surrender. The mind is quick to suppress pain. We may forget a wrong that we never forgave. Jesus here is speaking of a hardness of the heart where unforgiveness is a lifestyle choice. We have all struggled to forgive someone of a deep wound or wrong at some point. Jesus understands these things, and grace covers much. Jesus also does not condone being found drunk. He is quick to forgive a random slip, but a pattern of drunkenness may bring chastisement for our own sake.

Habitual unforgiveness is Jesus’s concern, as it presumes, we have ascended beyond God’s throne, where an offense against us is too irreverent to be overlooked or to go unpunished. Such presumptions make false idols of one’s self. Unforgiveness is poison to the heart of man. Jesus tells another to forgive 70 times 7. He expected that we would put no limit on forgiveness. Of all the topics Jesus could have revisited, He chose to emphasize forgiveness. Jesus came to set captives free. Unforgiveness is a prison that goes with you wherever you turn and hurts everyone you touch.

Move forward men, asking Holy Spirit to reveal unforgiveness within your heart. Surrender it to Christ’s will, and set people free. Take in a breath of free air for yourself. Allow your heart to be healed by His stripes.

Vance Durrance

Your Kingdom Come

your-kingdom-come

Matthew 6:10

Men, Jesus is now sharing with us a second line in a model prayer. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. First, where is the kingdom? We assume too quickly that it is heaven. Is it?

Jesus has already said in 4:17 that “the kingdom is at hand”. Quite literally it was in His hands, as they will be nailed to a cross to provide access to the kingdom. The kingdom life begins when we walk through Jesus who is the narrow gate. His kingdom came between His death and Pentecost when the death humanity suffered in the garden (Genesis 3) was given back in life through Christ’s atonement and receiving the Spirit. Adam and Eve lost their access to the Spirit of God the Father. Adam was easy to find physically, but God asked where Adam was because the Spiritual connection had been severed.

Further, what is a kingdom, but a territory. At the end of Mathew, we will hear Jesus say, “all authority has been given to Jesus in heaven and on earth”. But we know that the earth had been given over to Satan back in Genesis. Jesus reclaimed the keys to all the secret places when He rose from death. Jesus will tell Peter in ch16 that believers (the church) will be given the keys to the kingdom. We who are called and accept Christ have been given kingdom authority as the bride of Christ through the Spirit connection, who is the Comforter, given to us by Jesus.

The kingdom has begun, it is NOW. Our eternal life in Christ has already begun. Our treasure is stored in heaven, but our rewards have already begun. We who are Christ’s no longer have to walk in defeat. We are sojourners in a foreign land, but not without authority and privilege. We are the bride, to the One and only Son of the Most High God. Move forward men, aligned with Kingdom principals. His Kingdom is now, and we must learn how to exercise the authority granted to us here and now. He came that we would have life, and life abundantly. It’s begun. Go search out kingdom principals.

The Kingdom has come, but has it come to you? Have you learned how to focus, see, and walk in Kingdom life? Jesus now says, “Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven”. Let’s ask, what is His will in heaven and how is it implemented here on earth? Is there sickness, sin, arrogance, disorder, etc. in heaven?

Heaven has order, waves of praises, brilliant light, treasure rooms, mansions, books, a throne room, etc. Mathew 18:18-20 deals with discipline but look closely. What we “bind on earth is bound in heaven”. Binding is a contractual term. When we come into agreement here with the Holy Spirit, it is also done in heaven. What is done in heaven is engaged here. Jesus is the gate to a relational God. We reciprocate with heaven. The Lord puts things in our path to agree with. Our agreement is like signing a contract. Once agreement is made, God orders the terms of that agreement carried out on earth.

The enemy also searches out agreements. If we agree with the enemy, he carries it to God, and He is bound by that agreement. God will not violate our will. If we agree with the enemy that we are depressed, we essentially tie heavens blessing away from us, and the cycle continues. God looks at the agreement we make with the enemy and allows it to be carried out. This is why Jesus says, “Your will be done”, because His will is not to harm us but to prosper us and give us a future.

The Word has promises from God to us. If we pray into agree with those promises, God drops the gavel and engages the terms of His promises into the earth, into our lives. Move forward men, agreeing with His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. Be conscious of your words, even in jest. The enemy uses the system against us. Be certain your words, and your agreements are aligned with His will so that His best intentions for us are enacted. Kingdom life.

Vance Durrance

Vain Repetition

repetition

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Therefore do not be like them. For your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him. — Matthew 6:7-8. NKJV

Jesus tells the multitude “don’t use vain repetitions when you pray as the heathens do.” We’ve all seen those folks who have learned a few churchy terms out of the old English that are rehearsed and spoken again as a prayer begins. Though nonsensical, that is not what Jesus refers to here. Jesus refers here to those repetitive chants spoken before idols in hopes of summoning a power to respond. Jesus is separating Himself from that form of worship.

These idol worshippers think their carvings and figures will suddenly hear them through their many repetitious words. Jesus tells the multitude and us, our Father in heaven already knows our need before we ask. Our God waits for us to ask with the correct protocol with our answer in hand.

Today we don’t have carvings in our home we bow to, but how many of us have a lucky shirt we wear for every game? Does the god of sports honor your shirt wearing, body painting, tailgating discipline? How many outcomes do we try to manifest by our will and thoughtful meditation? Is it working? Does reciting self-help language in your head bring lasting peace, joy or affirmation? What God/god answers?

The god of this world is deceptive. The god of our mind is unreliable and sick. The god of sports and entertainment really doesn’t give 2 squats for your wellbeing and future hope. The Lord our God doesn’t have to be awakened or summoned out of stone, wood, or a disturbed mental state. He already knows our request. He knew us from before the foundation of the world. He waits for us to come into agreement with His Spirit so that our oneness is restored. Our God is a friend, closer than a brother, who seeks not to harm us but to prosper us. Our God will never leave or forsake us. How many sports fans have felt forsaken by the god of their team?

I submit to you the charge from Joshua 24 “choose you this day whom you will serve”. Move forward men, with prayer that works to a God who hears.

Vance Durrance

Eyewash Station

Why do you see the speck in your brother’s eye, but fail to see the beam of wood in your own? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye,’ while there is a beam in your own? 5 You hypocrite! First remove the beam from your own eye, and then you can see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. (Matthew 7:3-5, NET)

Have you ever gotten a speck of sawdust in the eye? It is a surprising that something so small could be such an enormously painful irritant. Thankfully the Lord made it so, because the human eye is a quality coated lens that is very sensitive to light, allowing us to be enriched by its visual receptivity. But being sensitive has its drawbacks, because the eye is also vulnerable to scratches and abrasions. Thus, the discomfort we feel warns us we need to remove the foreign fragment that threatens our eye’s destruction.

But one does not simply pluck a speck from one’s own eye. Neither can one do so for another. To attempt to do so may cause additional harm, as human fingers (especially dirty ones) can be boorish instruments. And the natural reflex of the eye makes it nearly impossible for us to allow another to do so. Rather, the eye must be flushed with water.

And as the eye wash stations at my workplace depict through simple illustrations, the person must bring their head down and open their eyes wide in order for the streams of water to rinse away any damaging debris.

And so it is with spiritual specks.

God first makes all that is foreign to our image bearing soul an enormous irritant (Job 33:16-17; 36:8-11), and we are driven to seek the removal of our pain to avoid destruction (Job 33:29-30; 36:15). But much as we try, we are not able to tear it from our hearts (Rom 7:21-24). But neither can another believer reach inside and remove it for us. For we are all clumsy, spiritual brutes, doing more harm than good. There is only one Savior (Isa 43:11), and we should take the approach of Christ before His church—sanctifying us by cleansing us through the washing of the water by the word (Eph 5:26-27). Our hearts must be flushed with pure water (Eze 36:25-27).

So then what is our part in this process? For the one bleary eyed with the sinful substance, we must bow our head in submission (Jam 4:7-10) heeding the voices of faithful disciples ahead of us (1Co 11:1). We must enter the cool stream with eyes wide open (Jer 29:13; Job 35:5; Psa 46:8; 119:18), enduring the initial sting of God’s loving rebuke (Heb 12:6; Pro 3:11-12; Rev 3:12) in order for our heart to be cleansed of impurities.

And as for the one assisting with clear eyes, we must lead (Gal 6:1; Eph 4:15) the one staggering to the eyewash station by going there ourselves (1Ti 4:12). We must demonstrate its use by our own actions—bowing our head (Psa 95:6) and eagerly leaning into the water (Psa 23:4; Pro 12:1; Heb 12:7) by confessing our own discomfort and need (1Jo 1:9), all the while speaking of the refreshing benefits of remaining in the stream (Psa 119:165).

Billy Neal