Tag: elevation worship

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Day 14 Lion

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Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen. Revelation 1:7
Clouds and thick darkness are all around him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. Fire goes before him and burns up his adversaries all around.  His lightnings light up the world; the earth sees andtrembles. The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. Psalm 97:1-6

So often when we share our faith we talk about the gentle love of God.  He comforts us in our sorrows.  He counsels us in our pain.  He provides for us in our time of need.  While this is all true, we can’t forget the basis for why we can be comforted.  Why we know one day our pain will disappear.  The hope that we have through God’s promised victory is the foundation for all that we believe.  That one day we will stand beside our conqueror, Christ, in heaven.

Our gentle Lamb of God is the Lion of Judah.  The God who destroyed evil nations, who moves mountains, who promises that justice will be His in the final battle, that is also our God.  While we may romanticize Jesus during His time here on earth as humble and gentle, we need to remember the Jesus who cleared the temple with a whip.  The one who called the Pharisees, who distorted the Word of God, vipers and evildoers.  He was quiet and gentle at times because of a strength that no man can imagine.  

When we feel sorrow over the ways of this world, we need to remember two truths.  The first is that nothing that is happening is new.  The words of Peter, James, Paul, and Jesus attest to that.  The disciples who were killed for nothing more than proclaiming their faith in God’s son are just another scene played out for centuries before and after.  Injustice, violence and evil perpetrated by people who deny the sovereignty of God.  

If we sit and marinate in the knowledge of these evils, we too dismiss the second truth – the power of God and promise of things to come.  It is that power and the written account of future events which lift us.  We see the glory of God bringing His sword of justice to all mankind.  With no one escaping judgement.  No one. 

We don’t know the day or time.  But we should always plan as though it is today.  Acting, speaking, loving, and doing in such a way as Jesus has ordained us.  Spreading the word of His coming justice to truly ease our pain.  And the hope of salvation from eternal damnation.  Through our belief in Jesus Christ, who died for our punishable sins, we can stand in assurance of God’s coming roaring, glory.  

Click here to listen to today’s song: LION

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Day 12 Rattle!

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Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.  The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 2 Corinthians 5:17-18
This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones: I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life. I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’  Ezekiel 37:5-6

Sometime last year I began a new morning routine.  I had heard a great podcast from White Horse Inn about how each morning we are faced with the return of our old self like a mummy at the foot of our bed rising up. Each day we need to call on the Holy Spirit to help us kill off that old self and instead dress our minds, hearts and bodies with the new self which Christ has bestowed upon us.  

So, each morning before my feet hit the floor, before I pick up my phone, I lay in bed picturing that old me that seems to so easily want to rear its ugly head.  I pray to my Father to do the seemingly impossible – bring the new me to life.  To guide me in the fruits of the Spirit in order to serve Him to the fullest.  It’s His resurrection power that brings that new me to life.

I have to laugh when unbelievers (and some believers) say the truths in the Bible are lies because the miracles and events defy logic and “laws of nature.”  Folks, He created the cosmos.  He brought us and every living thing seen and unseen into existence.  That sounds like a being that can do absolutely anything.  Heal blind men with spit and dirt, darken the sun, make a woman from a rib, and yes, resurrect the dead.

The LORD God can bring the worst sinner back to life, back into sync with His plan.  I know, I’ve got quite a few sins in my own past.  And that’s exactly where I want to keep them.  I want to live refreshed, renewed, reborn. 

Click here to listen: Rattle!