FAITH MEANS THAT WE ARE WILLING TO STEP OUT

(Read Joshua 3:5-8 NKJ)

“And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you. (6) Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the Ark of the Covenant and cross over before the people.” So they took up the “Ark of the Covenant” and went before the people. (7) And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. (8) You shall command the priests who bear the “Ark of the Covenant”, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’”

Sometimes we just have to step outside of our comfort zone to truly express our faith.  Complacency is not an act of faith.  Faith was first demanded of Joshua. Joshua’s faith is seen in the fact that he tells the people to prepare themselves because “tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” Joshua himself did not know specifically how God was going to get them across, but he believed that the Lord would make it possible for them to cross the river. The specifics had not yet been revealed, yet Joshua believed that God would give those instructions when they were needed. But the promise that God would work miraculously was contingent on the people’s willingness to consecrate or dedicate them selves.

Joshua’s faith was based not only on God’s direct statements to him personally but upon previous experience. Some people even Christian’s think that faith is a “leap into the darkness.” But that is not true. The Christian faith is based on a reliable and trustworthy message. There is more historical proof to trust the Bible and what it says than most other historical records. Joshua’s faith was based not only on God’s direct statement to him personally but upon previous experience of his having parted the Red Sea.

We must remember that most of the children of Israel who faced this present crisis represented a new generation. They had not witnessed the parting of the Red Sea or were too young to remember it clearly. Most of this new generation had only heard reports of what God had done. They had not experienced it personally. Tune your ear to those who are willing to share the blessings God has done in their lives and do not doubt that what He's done for others He's certainly willing and able to do the same for you. 

SOMETIMES GOD CHOOSES TO WORK IN NEW WAYS

 (Read Joshua 3: 2b-4 NKJ)

When it was time to go, God gave the Israelites some specific instructions,  “So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; (3) and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the Ark of the Covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. (4) Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”

Previously God had used “the cloud by day and pillar of fire by night” as symbols of His leading, His presence and protection. Now God has chosen to lead the people in a new way, by the “Ark of the Covenant.” Now the ark symbolized the presence and power of God with His people.

The presence of the Ark represented the person and promises of God. Having it lead the way, pointed to the fact that as the people of Israel set out to cross the Jordan, invade and possess the land, they must do so not in their own strength, but in God’s.  It was God Himself who was going before them as their source of victory.

When we face times of crisis or when we need direction in our lives, we need to learn to be sensitive to the leading of the Lord.  When God is at work among us and around us we cannot help but expect to hear the call to go forward. When God is at work, we are sometimes moved right out of our comfort zones into the path of new opportunities. Many times our raging Jordan appears to be un-crossable.  Have you ever noticed what is written on your rear view mirror?  It says, “Objects in mirror are closer than they appear.” Our blessing is sometimes closer than it appears.  Have faith, sometimes what looks like a barrier is our river of opportunity. God is waiting for you and I to step out and get our feet wet in faith, believing that His power will anoint us for the task and carry us through. 

Expect Delays

FAITH SOMETIMES REQUIRE US TO WAIT
(Read Joshua 3:1-2a NKJ)

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. (2) So it was, after three days,

The spies had returned from Jericho and given a favorable report. Joshua orders the Israelites to move to the edge of the Jordan River and wait for further instructions. The Israelites were to wait when waiting was difficult. Those three days of waiting at the Jordan River were days of preparation for crossing it. The issue of waiting is seen in the first phrase of verse two, “So it was, after three days.”

As they waited they no doubt became increasingly aware that crossing the Jordan River was impossible. The Jordan River was about 100 ft. wide and 150 feet deep most of the year, but during the spring it was usually at flood stage, and as the Children of Israel stood at the rivers edge, they faced a river that was up to a mile wide. As they faced the difficulties, there had to be many conflicting suggestions being offered. Some of them no doubt were saying, “Let’s go back!” Some were saying, “Hey it looks pretty good on this side of the river to me.” Some no doubt examined the various ways of crossing the river. They could not swim across. They couldn’t build enough rafts or boats to transport over a million people. They did not have time to build a bridge. There was only one way around their problem and that was to go through the Jordan River.  The Israelites faced what might have seemed to some hopeless, but I have two words I want you to say with me “But God.”  

Although they faced tremendous difficulties they knew that God would show his power. It is never about what we can do, it is always about what the Lord is able to do. The apostle Paul says in Ephesians (3:20) ”Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.”

Have you ever seen those flashing electronic signs on the highway which say, “Expect Delays!” When we see them we become frustrated, holler out “Oh shoot” (or at least that’s what I hope you say), and maybe even hit our steering wheel.  As we walk out this journey I say to you “Expect Delays!” But always keep in mind delay is not a prerequisite for denial.   God is working things out for you.

Do You Really Believe?

In a courtroom, evidence is what can be proven.  The lawyer must provide the facts that are visible for the jury.  In other words, evidence only involves things that can be seen or demonstrated.  You may ask, “How then can faith involve evidence that is invisible --- that which is not seen?  The promises of God are evidence.  If God promised to do something, it is impossible for Him not to do it.  Hebrews 6:18 says, “That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us.  This verse tells us that God has two unchangeable realities:  God embodies truth, is truth, and therefore cannot lie. Because God is truth you don’t need to wonder.  We can be secure in any promise that He gives us.  You don’t even have to worry about whether He will change His plans.  This assurance gives us the courage and belief that if God said it, I believe it and I’m gonna take Him at his word.  It is with great confidence that I believe if God did it for me in time past, He’ll do it for me in my future.  Do you have that precious assurance that God will never leave nor forsake you?  Do you really believe God is working things out for your good even though it seems you’re being attacked on every hand?  Do you really have faith? 

If we have faith that God answers prayer, His promises are our is our evidence.  If we have faith that God hears prayer it is because of the promises of 1^st John 5:14 “And this is the confidence we have in Him that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.”  If we have faith that God answers prayer, we believe it because of God’s promise in James 5:16 “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  Matthew 7:7-8 declares, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For everyone that asketh recieveth and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”   If we have faith to be healed it is because of God’s promise in James 5:15 which says, “The prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up.” If I believe God for my finances His promises tell me in Matthew 6:33 that if I seek Him first, and His righteousness, He would take care of my lack.  If I believe that I am saved it is because John 3:15 declares “Whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”  If I believe the Holy Spirit was sent to comfort me, it is because Jesus says in John 16:7 “but if I depart, I will send Him unto you.”  I believe that Jesus is coming back for His Church because He tells us in John 14:2-3, “I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am there ye may be also.”  I believe that right now Jesus is making intercession for me at the right hand side of His Father because Romans 8:27 says, “And He that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit; because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the Will of God.” 

Babes Have Trouble Staying Clean

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 14-15             

          Children simply cannot stay clean.  You can give them a bath and dress them all cute but before you know it they are all messed up.  They’ll spill juice, play in the toilet, find markers to write on themselves with, and even play in the flower pots.  Children just love to be in a mess. 

          Some saints find cleanliness to be difficult as well.  Do you walk a straight and clean path for the Lord or do you find yourself playing in the toilet of sin?  Let’s not pretend.  We know what sin is.  Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3)  Most Christians don’t spend one tenth of their time reading their Bibles as they do watching television or listening to music that’s not labeled Christian or gospel music.  No wonder you can’t stay clean, you’re not using any cleanser!  Get saved for real.  Clean up with God’s Word.  The blood of Jesus will wash you whiter than snow. 

          The story is told of a little girl whose mom put her to bed one night.  She got in bed and her momma went about completing her chores for the evening.  About 30 minutes later momma heard a big thump on the floor.  She knew exactly what happened.  The girl had fallen out of the bed.  Momma quickly went to check on her child only to find her sitting in the middle of the floor with a confused look.  Momma did as momma’s so often do, grabbed her child and said, “Honey what happened?”  The girl replied, “I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”  Spiritual babes often stay to close to where they got in! 

          You know you have become mature in Christ when you no longer are tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine.  You are not easily deceived by those who speak with pretty words that hold no truth. Mature saints are able to love their brothers and sisters in spite of their shortcomings. 

          When we become mature in Christ we no longer need a bottle but we have cut some teeth and we can eat meat.  Mature saints grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Mature saints aren’t disillusioned by the things others do but rather they are focused on Christ.  Mature saints are patient.  They have learned to wait on the Lord.  Mature saints have sought out the gifts that God has blessed them with to edify mankind and to bring glory to the name of God.  Mature saints have learned to be satisfied no matter what their present condition. Mature saint do all things without murmuring and disputing. Mature saints walk in the spirit.  Mature saints are able to teach rather than needing to be taught.  Mature saints meditate on the Word day and night.  Mature saints pray without ceasing.  Mature saints are confident that He which hath begun a good work in them will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.  Saints we shouldn’t be wearing diapers and pull ups.  God has designed us to wear His armor. 

          Long ago Jesus Himself was born as a baby in Bethlehem to a young yet mature young virgin named Mary.  Although Mary had to endure persecution from the community, she was willing to grow up and be a servant of God.  Joseph as a good earthly father does, showed Jesus how to be a skilled carpenter.  But one day Jesus felt the pull of His true purpose tugging at Him and He had to grow up.  Why?  You and I needed a Savior.  We needed a bridge over the troubled waters of sin to connect us back to God and Jesus is that bridge.  At the age of 12 years old he announced to Joseph and Mary, “I must be about my Father’s business.” When are you going to make that announcement?  Joseph might have thought Jesus meant the business of carpentry but His mission was not limited to wood and nails although His final destiny included wood and nails.  Jesus healed the sick, cast out demons, taught about His Father, saved sinners, raised the dead and headed towards Golgotha’s hill.  He was persecuted, beaten, and scraficed His very own life so we could remain immature children?  No!  So we could have a mature role model to pattern our lives after.  It was Jesus who showed us how to live and the rewards that are awaiting us.  Jesus, my Savior hung, bled, and died for you and me, that’s maturity.  Not only did he die but he was buried.  On the third day He got up with all power in His hands.  It is that same power that will give you the strength to say no more baba, no more diapers I’m gonna grow up and be mature in Christ. 

               

Are You Easily Offended & Never Satified?

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 14-15             

Children enjoy being the center of attention and are easily offended.

          Children find delight in being the center of attention.  If someone else is receiving the attention, a baby will do, say, or scream at the top of his or her lungs to put him or herself in the spotlight.  Children are very sensitive and easily hurt.  They wear their feelings on their sleeves.  When things don’t go their way they whine, cry, pout, and sulk.  They haven’t learned to endure afflictions.  So they only know to get offended when trouble comes.  Do you get offended when someone sits in your spot, sings your song, turn down your suggestion, doesn’t praise you enough?  If so your might be spiritually immature. 

          Many spiritual babes are like this.  Rather than waiting and allowing God to exalt them they speak up, step out, act up, or show out in an effort to draw attention to them self.  We’ve all seen the kid in the store that screams to the top of his or her lungs in the middle of the store because mommy won’t buy them what they want.  That child figures if he or she can embarrass mommy she’ll get them they want.   Often times they’ll buy it just to shut them up.  Don’t push for attention wait on the Lord. 

Children have very little knowledge and understanding.

Babies have very little knowledge and understanding, so they will drink poison, eat bugs, play in the street, and even jump into water over their heads.  They don’t have a clear understanding about danger, so they rely on others to teach them. 

          1^st Peter 2:2 says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby:  Healthy children yearn to grow.  Once we see our need for God’s Word and begin to find nourishment therein, our spiritual appetite will increase and we will start to mature.  If we are shallow in our knowledge of the scriptures, then we are more than likely to be as shallow in applying the scriptures in our lives.  There is no way you can be obeying the Bible if you are not reading it.  Not reading God’s Word, not attending Sunday school, Bible Study, prayer meeting, and not attending worship on a regular basis makes you a spiritual baby. 

Children are never satisfied.

A baby never ceases to whimper and cry for things.  They cry when their hungry. They cry when their tired.  They cry when their wet.  They cry when they need attention.  They cry when their hot.  They cry when their cold.  They cry when they hurt.  They cry about everything!  Many saints of God are just like this.  They whimper and whine about everything.  The preacher preaches too long.  He didn’t shake my hand today.  She didn’t even speak to me.  He talked about me in the sermon today.  Brother so and so didn’t ask me to be on his committee.  First lady acted like she didn’t even see me but she sure spoke to so and so.  Sister so and so tried to get a dress just like mine.  Who told her to put new flowers in the bathroom?  They didn’t tell me we were meeting.  I’m not putting my tithe in an envelope.  It’s nobody’s business how much money I’m putting in.  I can’t afford to be giving those special offerings.  Why do we always have chicken on the menu?  Why can’t we have pork chops or meatloaf sometimes?  Whah, whah, whah!  Churches are filled with this kind of never ending murmuring and complaining.  While the mature saints are praying, studying, and winning souls the babies are being Satan’s device to hinder ministry.  Get a grip and grow up!  I have a few more points to share so look for them on Monday.  Go to church tomorrow and be blessed. :)

No More Baba

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 14-15

You may be a babe if you aren’t able to make wise decisions.

Babes in Christ always needs someone else to approve the decisions they are making because they don’t feel capable of doing so themselves.  Babes in Christ usually latch on to someone they believe is a mature saint.  However because they are not able to make wise decisions about who is mature and who isn’t, they usually attach themselves to someone who is also immature but has just been in church a long time.  That is why is important that those of us who have not matured become mature so that we can be those spiritual mothers and fathers that the church so desperately needs.  What happened to the day when you could look to the deacon’s for Godly men that lived by example and precept?  What happened to the day when you could look to the elderly ladies and find wise women of God who didn’t mind telling you to pull your dress tail down and who would throw a coat around you if you were showing too much skin.  It’s time to grow up! 

You might be a spiritual babe if you are unable to communicate feelings and fuss and complain about any and every thing.

          Left to themselves, young children will slap, pull hair, bite, kick, scream, punch and argue.  They haven’t really learned that they are not enemies with each other, so they live as though they were. 

          As Christians our enemies are the world, our flesh, and Satan.  Other Christians (real born again baptized believers) are not our enemies.  Paul points out envy, strife, and division as characteristics of babies.  Yet, our churches are filled with Christians who see nothing better to do than fuss and fight with other church members about things that have nothing to do with building the kingdom.  Before we start pitching fits with other saints we should ask ourselves, “Is this something that Jesus would be upset about?” Does this have any impact on my spiritual growth?  If it isn’t grow up and let it go.  Think about it.  We’re supposed to be the body of Christ.  We have one purpose on this earth and that is to carry out the assignment outlined in Matthew 28:19-20.  We’re supposed to be going therefore, teaching all nations, then baptizing them and teaching them to follow the commands of God.  Who would want to learn from us when we act like we don’t know anything?  Our churches look like play pens with a bunch of kids pitching tantrums over petty religious things while the world is on its way to hell!  It’s time to pull the pacifiers out of our mouths, put the baba’s down and get out on the real battlefield. 

You Might Be a Baby If..........

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 14-15             

Christ is truth and the Holy Spirit who guides the church is the Spirit of Truth.  This means both our words will be honest and that our actions will reflect the integrity of Christ.  Before we correct we must see error therefore today we are going to take a deep look within and allow the Holy Spirit to expose some immature behaviors that we may have.  Now when you see yourself in the mirror of His Word, you don’t need to be the great pretender.  Many of us wear so many masks.  We never really see ourselves for who we really are.  The Word of God is restorer and today I want to expose some behaviors and attitudes that are not like Christ so we can be restored to be like Him.  As saints living in the last days we have to come on with the come on and quit playing.  God wants to get in our stuff  to make us more like His son.  So if your feet start to feel a little uncomfortable it’s probably not that  that your feet are swelling  or that your water pill isn’t working.  It’s just the Word of God is stepping on your toes.  If it gets to tough to bear just say ouch and keep on reading.   The first step of maturity is to recognize your own faults and to turn towards truth.  

Are you a spiritual child? Are you spiritually still running around the church, in your neighborhood in diapers or pull ups?  Have you even progressed to pull-ups stage?   Just because you’ve been a Christian for many years, does not mean that you are “mature.”  You may be like the boy who had been in the same grade for two years.  When he got to the end of his second year in third grade he thought to himself I know I’m gonna pass this time because I did it better than my friends I did it two times.  When he got his report card he went to his teacher with a very sad look on his face and said, “Why didn’t I pass this time?”  The teacher replied, “I’m sorry, but you haven’t obtained 2 years of knowledge; you’ve had only one year 2 times and you still haven’t retained what you need to be promoted.  During those two years the boy had not improved!  So it may be with many Christians; they have not grown spiritually, but simply keep repeating their first year of spiritual life many times!   Have you been a repeater or have you been promoted in you spiritual growth. 

 No doubt, the Corinthians would have denied being immature babies, yet Paul stated that they were.  This is what he said to them in 1^st  Corinthians 3:1-3, “And I, brethren, could  not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal (worldly), even as unto babes in Christ.  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat (solid food), for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  For ye are yet carnal (wordly); for whereas there is among you envying (discontented or resentful longing aroused by another’s possessions, qualities, or favor), and strife (angry or bitter disagreement, conflict), and divisions (not unified), are ye not (carnal) and walk as men?”  Paul called the Corinthians, babies in their Christian life because they were not yet spiritually healthy and mature.  The proof was that they quarreled like children.  Spiritual babies are controlled by their own desires(“flesh”); mature believers are controlled by God’s desires for their life.  How much influence do your own desires have on your life?  The goal for a mature child of God is that his or her desires become united with the desires God has for his or her life.  Repeat after me, “Being controlled by my  own desires will stunt my growth.” If Paul were here today, would he have to share the same thought with us? We often find it easy to call someone else out.  But today let us examine ourselves, because you might find out that spiritually you are stunted in your growth.  

You Might Be a babe if you are not capable of feeding or caring for yourself.

Children are totally dependent upon someone else to prepare their meals, cool and blow their food, feed them their meals, and then wait for all that food to process in their tiny little tummies.  Then the messy job begins to see if first they have a stinky, (sniff diaper) then to get all the right changing tools, check for stools that are too hard or too soft, check for diaper rash,(hold up ointment)  wash their little hiney’s with a wet one,(hold up wet one)  lightly powder their diapers, (hold up the powders) and be sure to properly velcro the diaper so there is no leaks.  So it is with a Christian.  Even though many Christians are adults and capable of physically feeding themselves, spiritually they are just not incapable.  They are totally dependent upon those who are mature in Christ to help them along.  For some there is no mature saint to help them along.  Many times a baby Christian will eat some bad spiritual food and it makes them sick.  This is what false doctrine does for a baby Chrisitan.  A babe in Christ often had difficulty discerning the difference between good teaching (bible based truth) and bad teaching (lies of man).  Good conduct (righteousness) and bad conduct (wickedness).  Babes in Christ have to be spoon fed proper nourishment to grow healthy.  They must be held by the hand and told what is truth, wrong, righteousness, and wickedness.  Children are known for putting everything they come in contact with in their mouths.  They don’t know that’s unhealthy for them.  Yet many saint ingest everything from everybody that seems to sound good and churchy. 

            Children are also known for improper attire when they try to do it themselves.  It may be on the wrong foot, wrong side, or something that simply does not match but they are children and we expect that from them.  But something is going wrong when you never grow.  You should not at the age of 10, 20, and 30 years after salvation still need to be fed, burped, and changed.  If this is you gotta grow up. 

Rick Warren state in his book Purpose Driven Life “God wants you to grow up.  Your heavenly Father’s goal is for you to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ.  Sadly, millions of Christians grow older but never grow up.  They are stuck in a perpetual infancy remaining in diapers and booties.  The reason is that they never intended to grow.”

It often times seems that we think we are supposed to grow and develop in every area of our lives except our spiritual lives.  What do you think Paul meant when he said, “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

It's Time to Grow Up

Scripture: Ephesians 4: 14-15    

          If you look at the church today, a general picture of the way it looks can sometimes be puzzling.   It generally is filled with a bunch of grown-ups walking around with bottles and pacifiers hanging out of their mouths and instead of big boy and big girl panties they are still wearing diapers and pull ups.   Does this look normal to you?  Well this is what God often sees when He looks down from heaven.  Often times He sees immature saints trying to handle his business and don’t have the ability to handle their own.   

Just like new parents are excited about their newborn babe, it’s the same way in the church. People come to the Lord & we rejoice. But then comes the responsibility of bringing these baby Christians up in the Lord. Who is going to nurture them? Who is going to teach them & pray with them? Who is going to counsel them? Who is going to encourage them?  Are you prepared to be a mother or father in Christ or are you still in need of being parented yourself? 

Ephesians 4:14-15 reads as follows:

(14) That we henceforth (henceforward: from this or that time on) be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (15) But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 In this book of Ephesians Paul tells us to  be no more children.  Children are young beings between birth and puberty. They are those who are under a legally specified age who is considered not to be legally responsible for his or her own actions. 

Let’s take a look at the characteristics of a child.

·                      Children are not capable of completely caring for themselves. 

·                      Children aren’t intelligible enough to make decisions.

·                      Children are dependent upon others.  

·                      Children are often unable to communicate their feelings. 

·                      Children fight about anything and everything.

·                      Children enjoy being the center of attention.

·                      Children are very sensitive and their feelings easily hurt. 

·                      Children have very little knowledge and understanding.

·                      Children are never satisfied.

·                      Children have trouble staying clean.

Young children Need a Lot of Care and Accessories.

·                      Sippy cups or pacifiers - to keep them satisfied

·                      Bibs - to catch slobber

·                      Pull ups & diapers - to catch their mess

·                      Wipes - to clean them up

·                      Teethers - to soothe their discomfort

·                      Keys - to satisfy their playful side

·                      Teddy Bears - to make them feel safe and secure

·                      Bag - and a bag to carry around all this stuff they need in. 

Unfortunately, God has some saints walking around with the same needs as young children.  God is in need of some saints to grow up.  Evaluate yourself and see if this is what you look like.  If it is, I encourage you to take steps today to grow up in Christ. 

Eye-Opener #4 ~ Isaiah Saw the World

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

Focus: Isaiah 6:8

 In the presence of God Isaiah heard God’s heartbeat for a lost and dying people. He heard God’s summons for a messenger to reach out to give them truth. God said: Whom shall I send, who will go for us? And immediately without doubt, fear, or pausing, Isaiah says, HERE Am I, SEND ME!  Had Isaiah not gotten a true glimpse of who God was he might not have been so willing to go for Him.  When you truly get an understanding of who God is, you’ll have a true understanding of what your purpose is on the Earth.  People who have been in the presence of God are active in their gifts.  They take authority over demonic forces that try to oppress their territory.  They are not complacent but they stand boldly for God.

Would God call a sinful man to preach His message? Would God call a man or woman of unclean lips?   Who else is there?   He has not committed His glorious gospel to sinless angels, but to fallen men. But God sends us ONLY after we’ve been cleansed of our sins by His grace. The message of God must be spoken through purged lips. The work of God must be poured from clean vessels.

Isaiah did NOT say, “Where do you want me to go?” “What’s in it for me?” “What is the salary?” “What are the retirement benefits?” Isaiah signed a blank check on his whole life. He didn’t try to strike a bargain with God; he didn’t attempt to negotiate a compromise. God called - Isaiah answered. God commanded - Isaiah obeyed. Such an unconditional response comes only from the heart of one who has SEEN THE VISION: the one who’s MET WITH GOD.

Right there where you are, ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light upon your life and reveal every hidden sin. Ask God to illuminate every sin of pride, malice, un-forgiveness, hatred, witchcraft, fornication, adultery, complacency, unfaithfulness, anything that is not like Him ask him to illuminate it and purge it from your life in the name of Jesus. You’ve got to give it to him.  Quit trying to hold on to things that are hindering your worship, things that are hindering you from being the person God birthed you into the earth to be.   Sin is a sign of rebellion. Ask God to purge and purify you in the name of Jesus.  Uzziah must die! Realize you’ve got to let Uzziah die.  Let him, her, it go!  Let Uzziah die!  If you really want Uzziah to die you have to first see the Lord.   Then you have to open your life before the Lord. Tell Him who you are; tell Him what you are thinking about, be sincere with yourself and with God, so that God can touch you today. He already knows your every action and thought.  What can you hide from God?  He created all things.  Where can you go that He can’t find you? 
          Don’t take this message lightly and not allow God to touch your life. There is anointing to break every yoke of sin.  There is an anointing that destroys the bondage of bad habits.  There is an anointing that will remove every cataract from your spiritual eyes so that you can see yourself as God sees you, so that you too can say that you have seen the Lord.

Eye-Opener #3 ~ Isaiah Sees Himself

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8 

Focus Isaiah 6: 5-7

True worship helps us see ourselves and our shortcomings and to seek God’s forgiveness. In Isaiah, the heavenly beings sing, "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." And immediately, the prophet cries out, “Woe is me!” He speaks of his own sinfulness.

We cannot come into the presence of God without becoming aware of God’s holiness, and without becoming aware of our own un-holiness. Paul, in his letter to the Romans, said in Romans 3:23, “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” As people who have fallen short of the glory of God, it is impossible to approach God's presence without being aware of our own shortcomings and sins.  However, pride will make you feel like you are all right and in good shape but that’s a lie from the pit of hell.  If you are not shaken by seeing your shortcomings in the presence of God you have been tricked by the Satan.  In 1st John 1:8-9, we are told, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our faults, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from unrighteousness.”

          Isaiah SAW HIMSELF as he had never quite seen himself before. He did not see himself in a way that one might see him or herself as they admire their own image in a mirror.  No, no! He did not see himself as a good person, worthy of God’s commendation, and the praise of people. He didn’t think to himself, “WOW! I must be the best person here, because God has honored ONLY ME with a vision of Himself.” That was NOT his attitude at all.  Instead Isaiah cried out: Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell among a people of unclean lips!  The closer we get to God, the more clearly we see our sins. The contrast between His holiness and our un-holiness gives us a vivid awareness of just how very far short of God’s glory we truly fall.

When Peter was CLOSEST to Jesus he said: Depart from me; for I am a sinful man. When John received the Revelation of Christ on the Island of Patmos, he wrote, I fell at His feet as though dead! A lost sense of God brings a lost sense of sin. But a renewed sense of God brings a renewed awareness of our own sinfulness. Isaiah saw himself in a whole new light.

Isaiah’s eye-opening experiences made him to realize he wasn’t there yet and he confessed his shortcomings.  It was not until Isaiah confessed his shortcomings that God purified him.  For vs. 9 & 10 tells us that the seraphim took a hot coal and laid it upon Isaiah’s mouth and his iniquity was removed and his sins purged. 

          A live coal - a burning coal – this coal speaks of purification and cleansing. It was brought by the seraphim from off the altar of sacrifice and touched to his lips. This coal was not to hurt Isaiah’s lips but to heal them. God was getting ready to use Isaiah mightily and he needed his mouth to be purified to speak that which God speaks. 

That altar that the live coal was taken from was the Altar of Burnt Offerings - it was the altar where the blood was shed. It was the place where the priests would kill those animals to pay for the sins of the people, because without the shedding of blood there is no remission (no cleansing) from sin - Hebrews 9:22

So you have a coal that has been touched by two things: BLOOD and FIRE. The blood speaks of cleansing from sin (only blood can wash away our sin), and the fire speaks of refining, purifying power. The blood washes away sin, the fire brings the refining of holiness. God’s desire is that today we will see ourselves in the light of His holiness and we will cry out like Isaiah did and say Woe is me!  For I am undone! 

Eye-Opener #2 ~ Isaiah sees the Holiness of God

Scripture: Isaiah 6:2-4

God is holy.  All holiness originates from God.  If we want to be holy we must be in a right relationship with God who is holy.  Leviticus 12:44 says, “For I am the Lord your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy.”  In Isaiah 6:2-4 three of Isaiah’s senses are encapsulated in the holiness of God. Just as God did for Isaiah he wants to consume our thoughts, our senses, and our emotions with Himself.   Isaiah sees something, he hears something, and he feels something. 

Isaiah sees:

Seraphims – The term seraphims means fiery burning ones.  Seraphims are heavenly angelic beings.  Isaiah 6 is the only place in the Bible that mentions these creatures.  Each seraph had 6 wings.  They had two wings that covered their feet.  The feet of the angels are covered because their feet are less honorable.  Two wings covered their faces.  They could not bear to see the holiness of God. According to Matthew Henry’s complete commentary, the angels cannot bear the dazzling luster of His divine glory.  They are ashamed to show their faces before the holy God, who charges even his angels with folly (foolishness) if they should offer to compete for superiority with Him,( Job 4:18). The final two wings of the Seraphim are used to fly.  These beings are very humble before the Lord.    What was their purpose or assignment?  These angels called special attention to the majesty and glory of God. 

Isaiah Hears:

          The angels cry out one to another holy, holy, holy is the Lord of host.  The whole earth is full of His glory.  God is the central object of all the seraphim’s praise. They sing with fervency and zeal for they cried aloud.  When the angels cry holy they speak of His holiness, His authority, and His power.  There is none that is greater than God.  What a vision! Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we awoke every morning full of adoration and worship on one accord crying aloud with fervency and zeal about the awesomeness of our God?   I believe we too would have such an encounter with God that we would experience great change in our lives, our attitudes, and our worship forever. 

It seems that it was ONLY ISAIAH who saw this glorious vision.  If others were seated around him it does not appear that they had such a revelation. He doesn’t write “WE saw the Lord”, he says, “I saw the Lord”.  Isn’t it amazing how we can be in the same place at the same time and see, hear, and feel something totally different? It’s amazing that during worship one person can be lifting his or her hands; another can be weeping tears of joy, and another sit with a blank stare, unmoved. 

 There is a sound that God is speaking in the Earth realm that only His chosen servants can hear.  Everybody wasn’t hearing what God was allowing Isaiah to hear and everybody is not hearing what God is allowing us to hear.  That is why we must remain holy so that we may hear the voice of God and speak that which God is speaking.  Those around Isaiah might have been hearing the voices of demonic spirits but Isaiah heard God. 

Isaiah feels:

Verse 4 says the post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and he house was filled with smoke.  The angels worship was so pure and the voice of the Lord is so mighty that it caused the post of the door to tremble.  True worship shakes some stuff and moves some stuff in our lives.  I don’t know about you but I have some stuff in my life that needs to be moved.  So if my worship through this blog and in my life bothers you, I don't apologize because you don’t know the cost of the oil in my alabaster box.  You don’t know what God has brought me through and you don’t understand that God is moving in my situation right now.  I don’t know if you’ve figured it out by now but life happens.  But I declare today that I have the prescription for everything that life sends.  Do you want to know the prescription?  I’m not selfish, I’ll tell you.  The prescription is WORSHIP GOD!

An Eye Opening Experience

Scripture: Isaiah 6:1-8

        There are some experiences that we go through that are considered eye-opening experiences.  There are just some things that when seen with our eyes, it changes our lives forever.  Had we not had those experiences we possibly might have remained the same, however seeing what we saw we were never ever the same.  Today God wants to share with us 4 eye-openers that Isaiah had. 

          Uzziah was a powerful and wise king.  Uzziah was crowned king at the age of 16 and reigned 52 years. He became very strong and was feared by neighboring countries. His strength got into his head and he became filled with pride. He became so filled with pride that he tried to perform the duties that were only assigned to the priest.  Because of his boastful and proud spirit, he was stricken with leprosy and was a leper until the day of his death. Uzziah forgot his place and brought pain and destruction upon himself. We must understand that God has given each of us various gifts and assignments.  No matter how anointed we think that we are we should always stay in our appointed places.  Although he was king, he was cut off from the house of the Lord and had to live in an isolated house. (2^nd Chronicles 26:16-23)

        He was really a better king than many; his reign was great but money and splendor corrupted the hearts of the people. God’s people forgot their calling as a holy nation. They were no longer living in conformity with the statutes of the Lord. They no longer trusted in God to protect them and provide for them. They conformed to the unholy ways of the nations around them. Their bellies and ears became heavy; they were unable to speak the Word of God. They could not even hear from God.

          About 700 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, the sad announcement was made, “THE KING IS DEAD”.  King Uzziah, the tenth King of Judah, had died. Despite his failings he was known as the greatest king since David.

Read vs. 6:1

Eye-Opener #1 ~ Isaiah Saw God

The prophet Isaiah hears the news that King Uzziah has died.  His heart was broken. Isaiah had seen little success in his ministry and had contemplated giving it up, until he saw the Lord and his life was forever changed. In Isaiah 6: 1-8 the prophet Isaiah whose name means the Lord has saved, has an eye-opening experience.

Isaiah finds that although the king is dead, God is yet alive and seated high upon His holy throne.    Isaiah sees the greatest vision anyone can have.  Isaiah sees the Lord!  Isaiah saw God’s nature and God’s character.  Isaiah sees the Lord sitting high upon His throne and the train (or the skirt ) of His robe fills the temple.  Isaiah saw something that he had never seen before.  When we come to worship God, we should be come with a spirit of expectancy. We should come into the Lord’s house desiring to see His manifest presence.   It is He who should be the center of all of our attention. He is God!  God is the eternal one who is without beginning and without end.  There is enough of Him to totally consume the entire width and depth of our minds and this room.

 Look at Isaiah’s vision.  His train fills the temple.  God wants to fill this place today.  But like Isaiah we have to make room for God.  He is too big and we can’t just squeeze him in betwixt all our other stuff.  He has to have space and time to do what He wants to do in our lives.  The song says He’s so high you can’t get over him. He’s so low you can’t get under Him.  He’s so wide you can’t get around Him you must come in at the door.  God is infinite and Isaiah notices that every location is consumed by Him. 

Why is it that Isaiah had not experienced God this way before?  King Uzziah was blocking his view of God. I’m going to say that one more time because we need to understand this.  King Uzziah was blocking his view of God.  Before, Isaiah had only seen King Uzziah sitting upon the throne but today He gets an understanding of who is the King of Kings. There are just some things in our lives that God must kill before we can truly see who He is.

 What’s your Uzziah?  King Uzziah represents pride (arrogance) and overconfidence.  Uzziah are those hindrances in your life that keep you from being all that God has called, appointed, and anointed you to be.  Anything blocking you from seeing the Lord is a ‘King Uzziah’. Uzziah is that thing, which prevents you from seeing what God sees for your life.  Uzziah is that one sin that keeps distracting you over and over again.  Uzziah is the thing that makes you so comfortable, that you do not have time to humble yourself before a mighty God. Uzziah is that thing or person, which occupies your time at the expense of your anointing. If you want to be mighty for God and see nations shaken King Uzziah has to die in your life.