“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 NLT
Have you ever noticed that demonic presentations are also generally sexually charged?
Indeed, it has become accepted—almost expected—that pop musical “artists” gorge their performances with images of Satan and demons, combined with explicit pantomimes of sex acts.
Make no mistake, demons feed off of sexual perversion. As a matter of fact, the more perverse, the better, to spirits who find their greatest thrill in the desecration of the human body through sexual perversion and demonic worship.
In our opening scripture, the apostle Paul, after discussing the serious nature of sexual promiscuity and perversion, rests his case on the fact that our bodies belong to the Lord. We are the image bearers of God—and through Jesus Christ—now have access to having His spirit dwell within us.
Now, whereas Paul’s admonition and instruction was within the context of sexual impurity, being aware that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, and that we do not have ownership of our bodies, should make us think about other ways in which we may be abusing our flesh vehicle.
Whereas sexual sin is the most lethal type of body abuse, even reaching into the spirit, any abuse of our body, displeases God.
Doubtless, we would all agree that it would be insanity to run our cars into the ground, never adding or replacing oil, in fact, never adding any fluids, never even putting fuel in the tank, constantly hauling heavy loads, and yet expect it to run every time we wanted to go somewhere.
Sure, it might work for a while. But the day will come that you will turn the key, and nothing will happen. Or, the car might catch you out in the middle of nowhere and blow its engine.
Many of us are pressed into having to wear multiple hats while also trying to put out an endless number of fires.
We may feel as though we’re caught on a combination roller coaster and merry-go-round. And, not only can’t we seem to get off this hellish ride, it seems to be speeding up!
Within such a pressurized existence, it’s easy to forget that our flesh vehicle must not be taken for granted.
Of course, we must have good nutrition, sufficient rest, bodily exercise, etc. But—most importantly—we must have peace in our heart and our mind, without which, our body becomes riddled by destructive hormones.
When we are young, it seems that we can “get by” with neglect of our body. We may not even think about it much in terms of upkeep. And then, we turn around, and “suddenly” we’re older, and it seems that it’s too late to do anything about the results of our indifference or neglect of our body.
However—because the Lord‘s mercy is new every day—there is also a new opportunity to be better stewards of our flesh vehicles every day.
Let’s repent for any of the ways in which we have abused and/or neglected our physical bodies. As well, let’s ask the Lord to help us to do better every day in keeping our bodies strong AND holy.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice.”
Proverbs 31:8-9 NLT
Our opening scripture references speaking up concerning injustices. Indeed, given the opportunity, not speaking up for those being dealt with unjustly, makes one complicit.
It is also true that the need to speak up is not limited to incidents of injustice.
Granted, there are times to hold our peace. Only the leading of the Holy Spirit can help us to understand when we should or should not speak.
Jesus did not speak a word to defend Himself.
“Then the leading priests kept accusing him of many crimes, and Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer them? What about all these charges they are bringing against you?” But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate’s surprise.”
Mark 15:3-5 NLT
Jesus’ mission necessitated His allowing Himself to be crucified. Therefore, He did not speak in His own defense.
The people did not answer Sennacherib’s representative who brought a threat to Judah.
“What god of any nation has ever been able to save its people from my power? So what makes you think that the Lord can rescue Jerusalem from me?” But the people were silent and did not utter a word because Hezekiah had commanded them, “Do not answer him.””
Isaiah 36:20-21 NLT
Hezekiah had placed their defense in the hands of the Lord and had ordered the people not to answer the enemy.
However, we know that Esther was put as queen so that she could speak up to save the Jews.
“Mordecai sent this reply to Esther: “Don’t think for a moment that because you’re in the palace you will escape when all other Jews are killed. If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?””
Esther 4:13-14 NLT
And, we know that when Esther did speak up, her people were saved.
Having established that we must allow the Lord to help us to know when we should or shouldn’t speak, there are many times when not speaking up is taken as consent or agreement. In those situations you must make your position clear to separate yourself from those who are in error—particularly when their error goes against what is right before God.
During my postgraduate education, an incident happened where I was in a group of fellow students who were referencing a television evangelist, well known at that time. Their observations began to take the form of ridicule concerning this person who was Pentecostal. Indeed, specifically because he was Pentecostal.
Sure, I could have just let it slide, knowing that they were ignorant of what they were doing because of their own doctrinal background. But I also knew that doing so, would keep them from the opportunity to know that what they were doing was offensive to me, but more importantly, offensive to the Lord. So, without making a big scene, I just simply remarked that I could tell from the direction of their conversation, that they did not know that I was Pentecostal.
Needless to say, it got everyone’s attention, as the blood drained from their faces. I went on to tell them some things, good things, I personally knew about the one they were mocking.
Now, whether what I said, or my involvement with them, changed their attitude toward spirit-filled people, I don’t know. But, going forward, it probably made them think twice before ridiculing something about which they really had no idea.
Think about it, have you ever heard someone tell a racist joke? Were you paralyzed as to what you should do?
Given, it would be easier at that moment, to just not laugh, or perhaps moan without speaking the truth in terms of how wrong doing that is. But make no mistake, your silence is agreement.
Now, in such a situation, you don’t have to offer a discourse on the history of prejudice. However, you can and should simply say something like, “Racist jokes are wrong.”
Remember, we will not be found innocent if we have not spoken when our speaking could have made a difference for someone else, or when speaking would have brought glory to God, or when our failure to speak has grouped us with those who are against God.
To be sure, we are living in a time of more and more pressure to keep silent for fear of being “canceled,” shunned, or even threatened. But, we will give an account, not to the world, but to the Lord, for every word we should not have spoken, as well as every word we should have spoken.
Let’s ask the Lord to forgive us for not speaking up when we should have. As well, let’s ask Him to give us the words we should speak, and the courage to do so, when the situation compels our answer.
Peace to you. Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
"It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise.”
Hebrews 11:8-9 NLT
Most people seem to prefer a sense of certainty concerning what they will do and what will happen to them. Even with people who claim to enjoy surprises, I seriously doubt they are referencing possible surprises that may include events such as having a 2 x 4 applied over their head or, stepping off a cliff. Indeed, surprise seekers are assuming possible choices found in the realm of desirable outcomes.
This world offers no such guarantee of benign outcomes. To the contrary, this world can be a very scary place. Navigating our lives can seem as treacherous as trying to get out of a mine field in one piece! And, with the high threat level in terms of our lives and our living, the need for certainty can be highly inflated.
Jesus had just told His disciples that they did not need to be troubled because He was going to prepare a place for them and would come and get them when it was ready.
“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. If you had really known me, you would know who my Father is. From now on, you do know him and have seen him!””
John 14:3-7 NLT
As we see, when Jesus tells them that they know the way to where He is going, Thomas contends that they do not know where He is going or the way to get where He is going. Jesus tells Thomas what we must all know: He is the way.
In our opening scripture we see the writer of Hebrews referencing the fact that Abraham went out on the word of the Lord, not knowing where he was going.
We read the story of Abraham leaving all that he had ever known to obey the Lord, and although we believe it to be true, we don’t fully appreciate the fact that Abraham was a real person with real needs just like our own.
Indeed, we read the end of Abraham’s story and can see how wonderfully he was used by God because of his faith. However, we must remind ourselves that Abraham had no idea how his story would turn out, no idea that he would ever be referenced as “the father of faith.” All he knew was that he was going to walk in obedience and follow the Lord.
A while back I asked the Lord where we are in the process of the miracle we call “Ararat Church.” His answer to me came through a sign He gave, clearly indicating that we are in “uncharted territory.” No story has been yet written; no plan has yet been divulged; we are just following Him.
Additionally, the Lord has hemmed us in to the point where it is very clear that our victory, our success, will be entirely a miracle from His hand, and, one that will be undeniably so.
Given, this can be unsettling if the rational mind is allowed to weigh in. However, I trust the Lord.
When we stepped out on the water with Jesus in the summer of 2019, we did not know we would be stepping out into the midst of a very stormy sea. But we are not on the stormy sea alone. We are with Him, and that is enough.
Let’s ask the Lord to forgive us for desiring a “game plan,” a map of where we are going.
Remember, He is the way, as well as the destination. He holds the whole world in His hands. Let’s trust Him, let’s make Him our plan!
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!