Spiritual > Carnal

Spiritual > Carnal-12/29/21

 

“And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?” – 1 Cor 3: 1-4

 

“Are ye not Carnal?”  As the Apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, the sorrow in his heart spills out onto the page.  Not sorrowing for their loss, no; but sorrowing for their state.  There was division, envying, and strife; one person saying, “I of Paul” another saying, “I of Apollos.”  They were boasting of their conversion and worse still, they were ascribing the doctrine of Jesus to a man!  This being proof positive, right off the bat, that they were clearly carnal.  So, what is meant by this rhetorical question “Are ye not carnal?” and how does it apply to us today? 

The book of 1 Corinthians (specifically chapters 2-6) like the story of Samson is a wonderful example of what not to do.  The sum of which is this; their focus was on self, and on the physical things of this life.  A short list of the Corinthians shortcomings as set forth by the scriptures is this: they were ascribing their salvation to a man, boasting of his teachings rather than searching the scriptures and finding out what Christ had in store for them.  Furthermore, there was fornication among them, and “brother was going to law against brother.”  That is to say one person in the church taking another in the church to court: over some matter.  The same thing is happening today.  Someone will have a death in the family, and a huge squabble will break out over that lost family member’s possessions. Or a business transaction goes wrong between two persons in the church, and one sues the other for the sum of money.  Paul writes on the subject: “Why do ye not rather take wrong? Why do ye not rather suffer yourselves to be defrauded?”  Clearly, we begin to see the characteristics of one who is carnal.  A great amount of emphasis is put on self, and on the physical.  Furthermore, it is a complete unwillingness to abase oneself, and perhaps the most disturbing of all, the inability to see past the physical, therefore rendering oneself incapable to understand the spiritual.  Ask yourself: “What draws my attention?”  “What governs my life?”  Is it yourself, another man, or something that is tangible?  Or perhaps, what drives you is something unseen; perhaps you are serving the Lord Jesus Christ.  Are ye yet carnal or spiritual?  Carnal is how “worldly men walk” (conduct their lives).  So, what is spiritual?  Spiritual is not the same as “spirituality”.  There are many today who sit in classes, read philosophy novels, meditate, etc. and this is considered a quest for greater spirituality.  But what saith the scriptures?  That “God is a spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:24) The Bible says God is a spirit, and we know through the scriptures that he is the Creator and maker of all things; therefore, if any spiritual experience can be obtained it must be obtained through him.  Spirituality (in my opinion) is a trinket you add on to your current lifestyle; spiritual is the overhaul of the lifestyle itself.  It is a total yielding to the gospel of Christ.  It is a complete surrender of your will and a total adhering to the will of God.  Spiritual or he/she who is spiritual is the opposite of carnal.  In short, one who is spiritual is one who is Christ-like, Bible-like, focused on heaven; one who is a pilgrim and stranger here.

To be spiritual is to be Christ.  However, we do not adopt Christ, his “ideals and philosophies” are not an addition to our life; no, rather, he IS our life, and if he is our life, we cannot be our own.  Therefore, we cannot and should not be carnal.  Carnal is pride and the exalting of self, which flies in the face of all that is Christ, and therefore prevents us from being spiritual.  One must renounce their self, their pride, their will, their wishes, and plead for Jesus in the person of the Holy Ghost, to come in and take the helm of their whole life.  He is not an addition to life, but life itself.  So, flee all things carnal, and cleave to that which is spiritual.    

 

       “Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” -Matthew 16: 24

Samuel And Saul

 

”And he took a yoke of oxen, and hewed them in pieces, and sent them throughout all the coasts of Israel by the hands of messengers, saying, Whosoever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel, so shall it be done unto his oxen. And the fear of the Lord fell on the people, and they came out with one consent.” -1 Samuel 11:7     

 

It can be frustrating when the best efforts for God seem to result in just spinning our wheels.  When the best choices laid in front of us seem to be bad or worse than bad.  There is no way, or seeming, no way maker.  The only decision is one of desperation.    

 

The men of Jabesh found themselves in such a predicament.  They were next in line to be conquered by the Ammorites army and went out to broker peace before they came and destroyed them all.  The terms of peace were harsh, pluck out your right eye, and they only afforded servitude.  Of course, the other option would be death.  Not great.  They asked for time to think about it and sent out emissaries for help.  Saul the newly anointed King in Israel heard their cry and in righteous indignation for his people quickly came to aid.  Using his own means of “rock and hard place” tactics to call others in the country to aid.  Basically saying, either you come and fight or I will come and cut up your oxen.  “Whosever cometh not forth after Saul and after Samuel.”  Now maybe I am reaching on this, but what made the people come out with one consent wasn’t just Saul, but Samuel.  Samuel was respected among the Israelites.  He was God’s chosen man; he had the power and spirit of God on him.  It was the reputation of Samuel that appointed the lowly Saul to be king in the first place.  Samuel standing with Saul in this charge brought the necessary firepower (if you please) to bring the force to bear.  A force which would soon put down the threat to Jabesh and liberate the people.  Saul, the Benjamite, could have sent out ultimatums the country over, and it would have been regarded as junk mail.  However, standing with Samuel, on him the spirit of Almighty God, it was like having the seal of God.  The spirit and power of God is what made Samuel, Samuel, and by extension Saul, King Saul.  This is what brought salvation to the Jabesh.  The spirit of God.  The power of God.  The power that elevated Abraham, guided Joseph, aided Moses, and slew the Egyptians.  It was God’s man, with God’s power, standing with God’s chosen who called the people to aid.

 

Our best efforts with God are just that, ours.  What can we do against the mighty forces of sin?  Nothing.  What can we do against the militant pagan world that is creeping in?  Nothing.  Our best hope is death or dismemberment.  Yet, if we have Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; we are more than conquerors.  The tides turn and the forces of God come to our aid.  Having Him, means keeping Him at the center of our lives.

God Has Got This

 “But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.” -1 Corinthians 1: 27-29

 

A baby, born of a virgin who is not even sixteen years of age.  This child, born to a humble carpenter from a small backwash town called Nazareth.  This, this is the coming of the King.  The King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the Son of God.  “God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise;”

 

Of all the people in all the various situations and circumstances where God could have placed his only Son, he placed him in Mary.  In the care of Mary and Joseph on a still night in Bethlehem.  It would seem insane to the world that something so precious should be placed in a situation so vulnerable.  No financial support, no doctors, no insurance, no money; no family to lean on, and exactly zero experience.  Only faith, and the knowledge that God has got this is what they have.  Th God is the provider of all the lack, all that they need.  To the outside world this coming of a King was foolish, reckless, and irresponsible.  When a worldly king or prince is brought into this world, he has the best doctors, medicine, and every available comfort and compensation.  Even a lower middle class child would be afforded this.  The mother as well.  This King was born in a manger, in a stable.  While some of the circumstances might seem bleak, it was by no means so.  That which was done was indeed extraordinary.  The heavenly host gathered to announce his birth, and this was but a small taste of the majesty that was gathered to accompany this child Jesus.  His birth and life would be a testimony to the fact that God can provide all our needs according to his riches in glory.  Do we believe it?  There is wisdom in trusting.  When all human endeavors cease and all the worldly mindset is stripped away, then God’s glory can shine forth.  It can be punctuated by our lack and promoted by our littleness.  Humble beginnings and poor prospects are the language of the Christian.  The archetype of our lives is seen in the birth of Christ. We are Christians, and Christians are dependent on God.

 

God made it so Mary, Joseph, and Jesus Christ would be dependent on Him.  This would be the theme of Jesus’s entire life.  He would “do always the will of the Father.”  He would “take no thought for the morrow.”  All these things that we can be so full of care over, Jesus trusted God for, because he knew that God has got it.  

Guest Writer, Don Robuck: Now Is A Time For Action

“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” -Colossians 3:1-2

 

At first work of grace of repentance one is asking forgiveness of sins, and promising never to commit again, or there is no forgiveness.

 

At the second work of grace, one is turning from worldliness.  Worldliness being defined as a concern with material values of ordinary life, and they are turning to a concern for spiritual existence.  Worldliness is the item of consecration that is asked for by God, and he gets specific because He is going to fill your heart with a supreme love to Him.  God is love; His love purifies your affections from the world. To do this, He must have your unreserved consent. One cannot serve two masters; God is asking you to make your choice. There is a natural body and there is a spiritual body. Which one is going to govern your daily life?  If you die out to worldliness by yielding up all hope of its engagement, when the last item is yielded (and they come to you one by one), God will raise up your spiritual body that died in Adam’s transgression, by the power of the resurrection, which is, sanctification. Albeit the option will always be open for you in the choices you make concerning your daily activities. Worldly activities are the exit route back to eventually sin. And sin when it is finished brings forth death to the spiritual body. Therefore, all preaching should be directed to doing or living the Word, not just intellectually hearing the mysteries of the Word.  If one has any reservations or hesitations about an item of worldliness, it is probably coming from an unwillingness to comply. And should be discussed with an open attitude with others that have a clearer view and in compliance.  Even so. Legalism is something to be avoided. Legalism is the strict adherence to the letter of the law without regard to the spirit or intent of it. Legalism involves several tendencies: (1) to overemphasize works and to judge all people in terms of their conformity to certain prescribed emphases; (2) to apply the letter of the law with equal rigidity to all people without regard to mercy or human need; (3) to regard ourselves as the epitome of righteousness and the arbiter of righteousness to others.

 

Oddly, this quote from Voltaire seems appropriate: “Every man is a creature of the age in which he lives, and few are able to raise themselves above the ideas of the time.” That, my brothers, and sisters, is why we as a church are where we are relative to the Scriptures and the power. We must correct the paradoxes of our day and age. We are all guilty of being part of wrong ideas and actions; I don’t blame anyone for not being full in the will of God’s Word. It is a phenomenon that happens to every truly sanctified Church at the age we are (approximately 100 years). If we are going to make any difference in our day and age we must read the scripture right, take all of them to ourselves and compare ourselves with it, bring ourselves into judgment, make the adjustments to conform with the Word, then preach it loud, clear, and concise. Let our preaching be an attempt to make people understand the Scriptures.  Make practical applications of scripture. State what should be done to depart from worldliness.  Preach clear actions that conform to the Word, while giving guidance on how to press closer to God. By doing so your hearers will have the instructions that if they do it, they will more please God by conforming to his Word in their life, i.e., snug up the sanctified lifestyle. The more we can do this; its effect will bring us more power with God in our meetings and conversations. Then more conviction will go out from us and draw souls into our fellowship of sanctification. We must break out of worldliness, it is flooding the church and slowing down this life saving vessel.  It’s time to come together and bail out the water of worldliness, because we are all in the same sinking boat.  Now is a time for action.  

Is It Time?

 

“Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your cieled houses, and this house lie waste?  Now therefore thus saith the Lord of hosts; Consider your ways.” Haggai 1: 4-5

 

When you think of a house, you think of something that provides security, comfort, and protection.  The house represents many things to many people.  A cymbal of status, a place to raise our children, our kingdom, our prestige, our home.  It can be a fortress or an embassy.  A commodity or a necessity.  It can be what we make it.

 

No doubt, many first-time home buyers walk into their house anxious to call it their own.  This moment is as much a blessing as an opportunity for temptation.  A blessing in that one has a certain dwelling that includes all the benefits therewith.  An opportunity for temptation in that you can do with it as you pleased.  It is your space to decide what comes in and what goes out.  Whom you would let in and whom you would keep out.  Your little corner of the world, to build what you choose to build.  No doubt, the house and home are a blessing from God, but that is just the secret; it is from God.  When you begin to think that you own it, that your house is for your benefit, your glory, and your promotion; then it becomes something else entirely.  It has become a mentality based on inward focus. The doors are locked, the gates are barred, and the message is clear.  This is for me. A ceiled house was only for the wealthy, and those who strived to be so.  Kings build palaces as monuments to their glory and rich men build mansions as a testament to their achievements.  Is it time for you to dwell in you cieled houses, and this house lie waste?  The prophet posed this pointed question by direct instruction from God, it so effectively articulates the underlying cause of degradation to God’s kingdom.  A question that echoes through the ages.  Is it time to dwell in your ceiled houses?  When the people perish around us?  While the nation runs to wickedness?  While the people flock to worldliness?  Is it time to dwell in our walled off, sealed off, comfortable space?  Do we seek to build our kingdom or His?  When we seek our own will, our own wealth, and our own way; the cause of Christ suffers.  When we separate ourselves from the needs of our fellow man, from the cries of a lost and dying world, God’s house falls into decay.  God’s house and his kingdom, they are not built with brick and mortar, rather with sacrifice and commitment to His Spirit and His calling.  The calling to further God’s kingdom must be greater than the want to establish our own.  The threshold that divides us from the outside world must become a gateway of servitude.  Consider your ways.  We only have seventy years of profit on this earth and if by reason of strength (the Psalmist says) we get to eighty; then their strength is labor and sorrow.  The scriptures exhort us to consider our ways.  What are we seeking for, striving for, and building up?  Are we working on our own sealed houses of privilege, prestige, and protection?  How much greater an endeavor to put our labors to God’s house found in the hearts of sanctified men and women.  His eternal kingdom that lives within the hearts of men.

 

The struggle rages on between our will and God’s will for us.  If we allow it, the Word of God will tear down the timber of superfluity and direct us to spiritually profitable labors.  It will burn out the wood, hay, and stubble; try each philosophy by fire until the truth stands before us proclaiming: “this is the way walk ye in it.”   Lord help us to consider our ways, because the time is short and houses are built, either ours or His.   

A Desperate Approach

 

“Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.” - Luke 7:47

 

In our day and age, I can simultaneously communicate to anyone, anywhere, and at any given moment.  Through social media, I can know your life’s story (if you chose to tell it) simply by clicking or swiping.  Those folks at Google have brought us information about everything from hexadecimals to the migration patterns of whales, and just about anything else you can think of.   One would think, with so much information and methods of communication afforded to us, we would be closer than ever as a people, but oftentimes the opposite is true, we are just as guarded and segregated as we ever were.  We are divorced from the sufferings of our fellow man and numb to the simplistic call of Christ.  Perhaps it is not the channel of communication, but the approach to communicate. 

 

            In Jesus’s day, the Pharisees were the religious elite.  They held the high seats, wore the best robes, and only associated with those who were like them.  The church continually faces a consistent temptation to become Pharisaical.  When Jesus came on the scene some of them sought this man out, not as though he was the Son of God, but as though he was an equal.  Simon was such a Pharisee (Luke 7), he went so far as to invite Jesus to his home, but the way he approached Christ is not unlike many today (perhaps even some reading now).  He gave him no kiss (a customary greeting), he gave him no basin to wash his feet (a kind gesture of that day).  He approached Jesus, yes, but he did it in a guarded and careful manner.  Essentially, he said to his peers, himself, and Christ: “Let there be no mistake, I am intrigued by you, but not invested in you.”  Now, while they spoke, a woman, a sinner, comes up to Jesus and begins to bathe his feet with her tears and dry them with her hair (how awkward this must have been for her and those around her); she then proceeds to anoint his head with oil.  How we approach Jesus Christ can determine the destiny of our immortal soul.  How we approach Jesus Christ is a matter of life and death.  Simon the Pharisee saw him as an equal and one that could be accepted or dismissed, he was guarded and full of care towards Jesus.  The woman didn't care what anyone thought about her, she was not worried about what others would say or think; she approached Jesus recklessly, fanatically, and completely.  She wasn't just intrigued by him, she was invested, abandoned, and totally devoted to Jesus Christ.  He was her salvation and she treated him as such.    

 

            We cannot approach Christ like a research paper.  We cannot get to know him by looking at his Facebook (if he would have one, probably not).  You cannot communicate with him via text, I mean to say haphazardly, flippantly, or casually.  A Google search, and a quick Wikipedia read won’t cut it, and just a visit once a week to your local church will not suffice.  The Bible teaches us that for Christ to forgive and save your soul you must come as the women.  You must approach Christ wholly, completely, entirely, with no regard for the cost or the shame that it may bring you.  You must, I must, we must, love much.  A desperate approach is the key to salvation, and the approach that will bring it to pass.

Truth Testimony

 

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?” – Proverbs 8:1  

 

Across the airwaves, television, and screens the lust of the flesh, eyes, and the pride of life is exalted.  It is prompted to the point where we begin to wonder if wisdom, understanding, virtue, and righteousness have a voice at all.  The fact is, they do, they cry, and lift their voice like a pure singer amid a squawking crowd.  The cry of wisdom and understanding rings true to those who have an ear to hear.  The voice of wisdom cries out through a sanctified life lived.  A pure, genuine, consistent testimony.  This is one advocate for wisdom and the example of understanding.  A consistent holy life with Jesus Christ at the center.      

                You cannot build anything without consistency.  You want to build a better body?  A nice house? Good education?  It all takes consistency.  This is true on a personal level and the same is true on a collective level.  You can’t build a business, a church, or even a book club without consistency.  My opinion, consistency is the most underrated talent in the body of Christ.  You know who they are and maybe you are one of them.  Those folks that when they miss church, it raises red flags and others begin to say, “Where were they tonight?  They are always here”.  These are they where you just know they are going to be there for you.  To pray, to help, to uplift, you can flat out, hands down depend on them.  You can depend on them to be the salt and the light each day.  You can depend on them not because of them, but because of who they are depending on; Jesus.  In this, in these men and women, wisdom begins to cry and understanding utters her voice.  It takes consistency, or you could say diligence.  Perseverance with carefulness.  You can be consistently twenty minutes late to church and all that does is guarantee that you will consistently disrupt every service.  You can be consistent in letting people down, making bad choices, upsetting peaceful situations.  This is not building that brings consistency or shows diligence.  It is not the cry of wisdom.  Please don’t get me wrong, we all make mistakes now and then, and life happens, but your desire drives your will.  Your will determines your decisions, and your decisions create your actions.  Actions, on a day in and day out basis, are the fruit of who you are on the inside.  This testimony will show, and to those who are in the Word of God and totally depending on Jesus Christ, the wisdom which is from above will begin to cry out.   People begin to see that there is undeniable merit to this “Christianity thing”.  It’s more than just a “good way to live” it is the way to live.

In our justice system, testimony can determine the life or death of another person.  Now, granted, that testimony will be cross examined, researched, and weighed out before a jury; but ultimately, if the testimony is found to be true it will either save a man or condemn him.  The life you live day in, and day out is your testimony.  It is your legacy.  When we die it’s not what the preacher says over our bodies that are going to stick with people.  It’s what we did before they put us in the ground.  When you meet a man or woman who lives holy day in and day out, there is no denying that testimony.  There is no way to undermine the wisdom, truth, and understanding of what they preach; and as in a court of law, the truth testimony can save or condemn.  No matter who you are, there is someone watching you.  You have influence over somebody, and when we let God lead, the wisdom of his Word will sing out through the righteous consistencies in our lives.  Christ is the voice of wisdom; God help us to be and stay in the place where he can use us to cry out.        

A New Creation

 

“For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”-Psalms 33:9

 

The power of God to create all things with His speech is incredible and without comprehension.  So awesome and unimaginable is the power and vastness of creation, that it reflects praise to the Creator.  Creation, the power, this force that is reserved to God is for God alone.  He is simply the Creator, and we are the created.  It is a truth of the scripture that has been and will continue to be challenged.  Yet, the creation testifies to the Creator and God in heaven speaks.

 

When God spoke the world into existence, he spoke into it that which cannot be altered.  Times and season, life and death; our world operates on visible principles that we can all agree on.  Yet, how it came to be is something we don’t all agree on.  All living beings throughout human history have sought to comprehend the simple question: “where did we come from?”  World religions, and scientific pursuits offer theories to this incredible question, but Christianity offers truth, accepted by faith.  What I mean by faith is this.  If we could offer some empirical evidence to creation, like taking a time machine back to day one to witness it; winning converts would not be so difficult.  However, that would negate the fundamental need of faith. Faith is the evidence.  Faith it would seem, is easily contested and in many wholly discarded.  Expect to those who hold it.  We Christians maintain and must continue to maintain that this life is a life of faith.  Through faith we find further evidence of that which we had faith in.  The created, having experienced an inward creation that transcends even the outward, leaves behind a testimony.  If you are a father, how do you know you have a son?  If you are a son, how do you know you have a father?  The creation testifies of it.  The born-again Christian has experienced creation within themselves.  They have been dead in trespasses and sin all their life.  Until at one point, the call of God drew them out of sin to an experience of conversion where in simple faith they reached out to Jesus for cleansing.  It was in this that the past sin was removed, and the walk begins.  Continuing in this state of grace can result in contrast to the world, but not confidence in the one converted.  There is forgiveness of sins, but not freedom from all sin.  There is acquaintance with Christ, but not complete intimacy with Him.  The faith to gain forgiveness must be further exercised to find sanctification.  One must have the witness within himself.  The Holy Spirit dwelling within.  When you do, the manifestation of the Holy Spirit will make you a new creation.  The same way Jesus was created in the womb of the virgin Mary, so we are born of the Spirit.  Created new, through the Word of God.  “For he spake and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”

 

A born-again experience is what we must stand on.  As the world rushes toward self-aggrandizing, self-justification, and a creature culture; we answer with the words of the Psalmist: “created in me a new heart and renew a right spirit.”  When creation is within it is proof positive of the Creator and what he has done through all the ages, world without end.  The empirical evidence we have is holiness. 

A Sure Footing

 

^“Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip.”-Psalms 18:36

 

In battle, a sure footing is the difference between life and death.  One slip, and your guard drops which consequently makes you vulnerable.  That vulnerability will give the enemy advantage over you, and death is sure to follow.

 

Psalms eighteen is filled with metaphors of war.  The Psalmist David uses phrases such as “he is buckler,” “he is a shield,” “he teaches my hands to war.”   The thirty third verse says: “He maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places.”  Like a mountain goat who can run on vertical cliffs, the Lord is the one who gives him the ability to do and accomplish impossible things and win impossible battles.  David was a man of war.  He lived and fought physical battles where one slip was the difference between life and death.  One foot out of place or one step on shaky ground could bring you down and cause your doom.  This man says: “He hast enlarged my steps.”  The Lord brought a bigger scope, and a wider picture to the travel of his foot, and the way he was going.  This caused him to walk in the way of victory.  We are in battle every day, spiritual warfare against an enemy that would see us slip and become vulnerable.  Our only position of victory is standing on the rock of ages.  That is Jesus Christ.  All the pillars of scripture enlarge our steps and they help to make plain the way and keep us on a sure footing.  This will help us to stand firm in the time of distresses, persecutions, trials, and tribulations.  A sure footing is the foundation to a sure guard against the enemy.  Any combat expert will tell you that a solid guard starts from a solid base.  If the base should fail, we fall and fail.  This cannot happen if we stand on the rock, and the Lord God enlarges our steps.  However, when we look to other things to stand on our steps can be hindered by the lack of foundation, and footing.  It could be another person, a career, an ideology, any trapping and trimming of the world; this could hinder our footing and make our steps unsure.  Even if they seem like wonderful opportunities that would bring times of prosperity, we should be careful.  The devil is crafty and comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.  Every good trap was a great opportunity the moment before the jaws of death were felt. 

 

Only through patience and continuance in scripture holiness can our steps be enlarged and sure.  The same Lord that taught David to war must teach us, and the “for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.”

Guest Week: Deanne Collier: Fear Not!

The knock on the door was loud and unexpected. I immediately felt that familiar feeling of trepidation. Uneasiness. Dread. But mostly fear. It was a perfectly safe neighbor at the door, but no matter how old I get, I still have flashes of these emotions. Let me take you back about three decades and you’ll see why. 

 

I grew up in a family full of cautionary tales. There were four daughters, and our safety was paramount to my parents. They made sure we were aware of all kinds of dangers as we attended school, learned to drive, went places by ourselves, and moved into our own homes. I was taught to never answer the door alone, to lock my doors and always wear my seatbelt. I was warned to look around as I exited a store, keys in hand, ready to sound an alarm if needed. I knew to drive to the police station when I was followed by a man in a truck one night for a scary long time. We were aware of every car that parked on our street, every strange noise in our house, and it seems we were constantly on the defense, waging a war for our safety. 

 

Then I became an adult. I will forever be thankful to my parents for keeping me safe, but as a Sanctified woman, Satan has used fear as his greatest weapon in my life.  Fear has always kept me from absolute peace. Fear has kept me from certain careers, from countless opportunities, and from testifying in church on a regular basis, therefore not telling everyone what God is continually giving me.  This year, at 49 years old, it stops.  Here’s why: In the last 10 months, God has shown me incredible things about not being afraid, and with God’s help and a humble heart, I want to share it with you.

 

2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” God ‘highlighted’ this verse for me and gave me the thought that Paul did not just write this to casually say, “Oh, c’mon, don’t be scared…you’ll be fine.”  A thousand times to the contrary!  He means that when God first pours out His Sanctifying spirit into our waiting empty hearts, there’s not even one DROP of fear in that Holy rushing fire! FEAR is NOT written in that recipe at all. Power, love and a sound mind. All the ingredients we need to live Sanctified, to know how to treat people and raise our children, and the reasoning to recognize the devil’s devices against us. It’s a perfect recipe. Psalm 18:30 “As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the Lord is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.”

 

God has shown me repeatedly this year that fear is ALWAYS absent from perfect peace. I John 4:18 tells me that “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Isaiah 26:3 says “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” And Psalm 91 is full of comforting promises of being rescued, protected, answered, delivered, and covered with his feathers and under his wings…all in perfect safety.

 

We recently sang, “Let the stormy breezes blow, their cries cannot alarm me, I am safely sheltered here, protected by God’s hand, Here the sun is always shining, Here there’s naught can harm me, I am safe forever in Beulah land”. I felt God nudge me on that one, and it struck me with absolute clarity for the first time ever that no matter what happens to me physically, whether I live or die, I am SAFE forever on God’s mighty arm. My soul is safe here with God, and my soul will be safe in Heaven with God. I felt my heart change and shift perspectives, and Satan got knocked down. Today, if there’s a trip to the ER, or some other calamity, I’ll still be safe, and if someone knocks on my door, I’ll answer with perfect peace…because I am not afraid.

A Burning Sacrifice

 

“But he shall wash the inwards and the legs with water: and the priest shall bring it all, and burn it upon the altar: it is a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord.” Leviticus 1:13

 

Without sacrifice, there will be no fire.  If we wish to have fire in our churches and fire in our spiritual lives, we must be a living sacrifice.  Holy fire burning inside will drive out the devil and draw the sinner.  This is not something that comes unless we are first willing to make the sacrifice.   

 

Some time ago it was my sincere desire to learn a second language.  I tracked down a Rosetta Stone.  Hyped myself up by writing down all the benefits that learning Spanish would bring to my life.  Carved out a time in my schedule and went to work learning the language.   The first week was fun, the next three not so much.  By month end I was on to something else.  I wanted to learn Spanish, but I really wanted to do a whole lot of other things besides learn Spanish.  The desire was there, but the sacrifice was not.  As a church we want a lot of things.  We want more people in our pews, we want more converts at our alters, we want more members to be committed, and a host of other things. We have more questions than answers, and in the absence of direction we settle for activity.  As Christians, in our sanctified life with Christ, the list of wants is ever changing and ever growing.  We want to reach the lost, better serve the Lord, get our children sanctified, see revival, win heaven, find contentment, comfort, peace, and if possible, pick up a few blessings from the Lord along the way.  My question to you, and to myself is.  How bad do we want it?  Yes, we want to be lights unto the world.  Yes, we want to reach others, and help others.  Yes, we want to lead folks to Christ and win souls for Jesus.  The desire is there (I believe), but what of our willingness?  Are we willing to sacrifice to get the fire burning?  How bad do we want it?  Do we want it more than our job?  Our social status? Our hard-earned reputation? Retirement plan? Do we want the holy fire, or simply the idea of holy fire?  Are we content with the idea and leave off the action?  How bad do we want it?  It’s the fire of God that people see, they gather from the corners of the cold dark world to warm themselves with God’s holy fire.  You don’t need billboards or fancy lights if the fire is there.  It’s the fire of God that melts a sinner’s heart, consumes carnality, and leaves an ever-burning flame of love towards God and.  This flame, the Holy Ghost fire, will ward off Satan’s hungry wolves.  It is not something that we can work up, nor is it something that we take credit for.  It is all God’s doing, and because it is of God (and his Christ), we must seek God's way, which is the way of sacrifice. 

 

I confess that my sincere feeling is that I know less about the language of sacrifice than I do Spanish.  My only hope is the same as others, to look at scripture and follow the instructions.  Follow the examples of sacrifice.  They are always packaged in faith.  To quote an elder in our church who knew a lot about sacrifice.  “When you pray, and when I pray; take the lid off of our prayers and tell the Lord: I will go where you want me to go, do what you want me to do, and say what you want me to say.”  Lord willing, he will help us to understand the language of sacrifice, and when we do, if we place our sacrifice on the altar in faith; the fire will come.  If you want there to be fire on the altar, there must be a sacrifice.  

The Witness

^“For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.” – Hebrews 10:14-17

 

The scripture says that Satan is the accuser of the brethren. (Rev 12:10) He daily levels accusations against God’s people trying to push us off the path of righteousness.  Accusations such as: “You’re not sanctified” or “You’re not where you ought to be with God.”  He wants to sow a seed of doubt in your mind and weaken the faith you have in Christ.  Entertaining these accusations is a dangerous notion because it can give rise to you initiating your own reasoning to defend the experience of salvation.  The defense against the enemy is given by God, it is the witness.

 

As stated, Satan is our adversary.  Yes, God will tap you on the side every now and then to say, “time to straighten up” or “time to let that go.”  However, the exhortation of the Spirit and the accusation of the devil have a distinct difference, and the witness with Bible reading helps us understand it.  It is possible that many in the faith fall prey to casting away their confidence and fleeing back to an altar, or worse still, the sinful world, simply because they never come to understand the difference between God’s direction and Satan’s deception.  The devil will twist the goodness of God’s direction and use it against you.  While lobbing in accusations and false truth of his own.  When you're seeking God as a sinner he will tell you that you're unworthy, unloved, and can never be saved.  He will tell you it’s not for you, and not the right time.  It’s a kernel of truth nested in a loaf of lies.  When you come to God, repent, and feel assurance of sins forgiven; then he steps in with the doubts and questions.  You didn’t get it, or you don’t know what you’re doing.  If that doesn’t work, sometimes he will turn you to look at others.  They are not living it, they are all liars, etc.  Again, some truth nested in a great big pile of lies.  That’s Satan, his aim is deception to achieve destruction.  Which is why we need the witness of the Holy Ghost.  Yes, we need the Holy Spirit to sanctify us, save us, give us power to overcome sin, but we need it to witness to us.  It is a must have.  It is our character witness.  Imagine you were accused of stealing and hauled before a judge.  However, a prominent and upstanding citizen comes in and says it couldn't be you.  He vehemently denies the false accusation and proclaims boldly to the judge while pointing directly at you: “You have the wrong person; I witness under oath that this man (or women) was having dinner with me last night at the time of the robbery……. he (she) is innocent!”  This citizen’s word is respected and immediately you are set at liberty.  It is not your reason, logic, or conduct that frees you from the accuser, but rather the testimony of the character witness.  In this manner, the Holy Ghost is a witness unto us.  He is a manifestation of the righteous character of Christ in us.  He is the strongest and most powerful witness there is.  He is sent by Jesus himself to testify to all accusers that we (the sanctified) are redeemed!  That we are children of God and in the bondage of sin no more!  Therefore, when Satan comes along and tries to accuse you, there is a witness.  Don’t bother with trying to build your case; simply stand on the character witness of the Holy Ghost to tell your accuser that you are not free born but free made! 

 

Feel led to mention that this truth can sometimes give rise to sin and repent preaching.  The notion that because Jesus died, and the Holy Ghost came, we put our faith in Jesus and then were saved.  Regardless of the life we live or the sins we commit.  Again, a small truth wrapped in a big lie.  Did Jesus die for you?  Yes.  Does faith save you?  Yes.  Are you sanctified by the indwelling of the Holy Ghost?  Yes.  Is the Holy Ghost a witness of salvation? Yes.  Does this mean we can now sin because Jesus paid it all and our sins are remembered no more?  Absolutely not.  Because Hebrews 10:26-27 tells us: ^“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.”

The Word Of God

^“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” -John 3:16-17

 

The Word of God is a living book, and this is an amazing thing.  Just like a fruitful tree you can never strip bare; God’s Word continues to provide and provide.  The scriptures give and grow in every season of life; as they take on new meaning, cement to you continuing truths, and provide direction in times of trouble.  The Word of God found in the Bible is an amazing thing.   

 

Take for example the text above, “For God so loved the world….”  This is likely the most well-known scripture in all of Christendom.  You would think after a while it would become plain and dull what being so widely shared.  Not so, it remains a beacon of hope to the world.  To the lost sinner, this scripture is hope.  It is proof positive that God loved us and gave His Son for us.  If you come to repentance through faith, the text takes on new meaning.  Now it is known to you personally that the Son is the Savior and that without Him we/you would have been forever lost.  The reality of God’s love and the passion of His Christ is revealed unto us in the moment the sins we committed are washed away.  This glorious operation brought to pass by simple faith.  Only believing in Jesus.  Then as we press on it is manifested that when God said saved, he meant saved.  Saved not only from our committed sins, but the very thing that causes us to commit them in the first place.  A complete salvation from all sin.  Again, through His Son Jesus, operating via the gift of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  This Spirit witnessing to you daily that God loves you and you love God.  The earnest of the covenant promise.  A sanctified life.  It is not long after you are sanctified that you realize, if God saved me, if Jesus died for me, and if I am redeemed; that same Jesus called me.  Called me to be a disciple of Him.  A disciple learns of Jesus, prays to Jesus, and is willing to be in subjection to His commandments.  This is a Christian, a follower of Christ.  If Christ laid down his life, how much more I to do the same?  Here we continue to glean from the fruitful vine of scripture.  In this we realize that we are indeed ambassadors for Christ and carry the same wonderful message to the world; that God loved it and gave His Son to save it. To save His people from their sin.

 

The scripture opens to us in abundance.  There is nothing like the Word of God.  Whatever you read, watch, listen too, take instruction from; it is built on the need to continue to push new material to retain viewership.  The Word of God is forever settled in heaven.  There is nothing new, and yet it is new every morning!  It is timeless, and yet timely.  Praise God!  What a precious gift the Bible is to us.  How it can mold you, shape you, direct you.  When coupled with prayer, obedience, and the Holy Spirit; His Word can change lives.  If we are dedicated to it; and the level of our devotion will determine the depth of our dedication.      

Glorious Rest

 

 

“Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.” – Psalm 90:1

 

The knowledge that God knows us inside and out is a fearful thing can be a fearful thing to a sinful man.  He knows, he knows our most secret sins, our innermost desires, he sees what we did and why we did it.  The truth that all this will come to light at judgment should stir the sinner to repentance.  However, to the child of God, the knowledge that we are known is a glorious comfort.  When the Holy Ghost brings this knowledge of being known to our hearts, we find a glorious peace.  We find a wonderful dwelling place if we yield to His will.  We find a rest and comfort in the fact that God is in control.  No matter how dark the night or how long the day, Jesus Christ knows the situation and “he can supply all our need according to his riches in glory.” In this we find rest, in this we find peace amiss great chaos.

 

Jesus is “before all things and by him all things consist.”  There is nothing that happens in your life or in mine that he stops and says: “well, I didn’t see that coming.”  He has the help lined up before the hindrance hits.  He has the solution in the works before there is a problem.  He can bring peace in a storm, and completeness to the broken.  Where can you turn to in this world to find a Savior like Jesus?  What rest, what comfort is there like the rest and comfort in the Lord?  What can money buy, or friendship bring that could compare to the comfort of being known by God and His Christ?  A bottle, or a drug, or another; so many things that people are turning to looking for rest; looking for comfort.  However, no substantial comfort can be given.  The only true comfort is in the arms of Jesus.  When you have the Holy Ghost on the inside, he witnesses to your heart that you are a child of God.  Through this vehicle God says, “you are mine.”  When we yield to His divine leading it brings glorious assurance that he is in control and in this we find rest and comfort that the God of this universe is guiding my life.  This is a dwelling place that is unparalleled.  This rest is only found in Jesus Christ; men come and go, pleasures come and go, but Jesus is steadfast and unmovable; he is eternal in heaven and because of that he can be a dwelling place across many generations. 

 

One day, we, each one, will no longer be on this earth.  Somewhere, someone, will likely be standing over our lifeless bodies giving an account of the life we lived.  As they speak, those coming behind us who knew us will recount in their minds the life we lead, they will remember the choices we made, and they will remember where we chose to find rest.  Those that know, those behind us looking to us to see where we find our strength in times of crisis, they look to what we lean on, and who we run to.  They look to where we find comfort, peace, and rest.  They look because they are looking, so stop and ask yourself.  Where are you pointing them?       

Discipling Disciples

“But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 3:14-15

 

In scripture, particularly in the New Testament text, the call to discipleship is clear.  There are examples of discipleship all throughout.  Barnabas to Paul, Paul to Timothy.  Of course, Christ and the disciples.  We are called to be disciples, make disciples, and practice discipleship.  We are to be discipling disciples.   

 

Discipleship is a primary function of the church.  Unlike expository preaching or teaching, it deals with the day to day and can be a daunting task.  Discipleship, mentoring, whatever you choose to call it, it is gritty work.  It takes love, compassion, grace, and a listening ear.  Not to mention, a close walk with the Lord, otherwise you will get the blind leading the blind.  I can think of certain ones who are older than me who have been critical in my life.  True discipling disciples.  The kind of relationship where I can call them and talk about scripture, church, failures, problems, battles, whatever is on my heart and mind.  I can call and know that it is going to stay between us, and they have my best interest in mind.  These relationships and counsel have saved me from many pitfalls and helped me to grow in the Lord.  I don’t know where I would be without their discipleship.  The ability to have an open conversation about the Bible helps you to apply scripture, encourages you to “read more” and best of all exalts Jesus in your life.  Your conversation helps your conversation (life).  This type of relationship builds a mode of trust that allows for open exhortation.  Solid exhortation is not always comfortable; furthermore, giving solid exhortation is not always comfortable.  However, a true mentor/mentored relationship will allow for more “exhortation experiences”, this is good because whether we want to accept it or not exhortation must be in the church for the church to prosper.  The book of Proverbs is filled with exhortation about how the wise will receive wisdom, and the fool will not.  Additionally, the likelihood of backsliding will decrease.  I will not say that it will stop all together, but if the first two points are true and consistent then it will decrease backsliding.  By backsliding I mean to say the sanctified, converted Christian believer turning once again to his or her old sinful ways. 

 

It’s a given that nothing can replace the personal one-on-one time with God.  Spiritual communion with Christ and God through reading and praying is a must.  Discipleship does not detract from that but seeks to enhance it because we are the body of Christ.  We are the church.  We are a community of believers coming together to promote, exalt, advance, and glorify Christ and God.  We are His disciples who are called to disciple one another. 

Teach Us To Number Our Days

^“So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.”-Psalm 90:12

Time is so precious.   In my lifetime, this has never been so evident as it is right now.  COVID has brought to each of us the harsh reality of our own mortality.   Perhaps to some this is a revelation, and to others more of a reminder.  Indeed, we may now each say with absolute certainty.  We are not promised tomorrow.

 

The Psalmist David exhorted us all in holy scripture to “teach us to number our days.”  Periodically, it fell to the kings of old to “number” the people.  Effectively taking a census to see how many were in the kingdom.  It was just as important then, as it is today to “number” what is in your kingdom.  Take stock, take inventory, what are you doing?  Where are you headed?  How are you spending your time?  If we all accept the fact that our time is precious; it falls to us to consider what is the best use of our (though not ours but God’s, vouchsafed to us) time.  Which inevitably leads us to the question:  Where should we invest our time?  I recall a story that a good, sanctified brother told me.  Once upon a time a group of sanctified people went down to Mississippi to hold revival.  These revivals were held in the open-air tent meetings.  Before you could hold a tent meeting, a venue had to be acquired, the tent had to be raised, and you then set about soliciting interest in the community.  It was not exactly a leisurely task.  Sanctified folks did this to try and get a revival going and win souls for Jesus.  However, during this particular “tent meeting” in Mississippi, not one single person from the community came.  This left one dear sanctified soldier feeling down and discouraged, and as he sat on the altar rail, he thought to himself; “are we wasting our time?”  Now, this same soldier went on many years later to start a church in a different state.  One meeting after he had preached a sermon a man walked up to him and said “Hi, do you remember setting up a tent in Mississippi?”  “Yes.” Replied the preacher.  “Well, me and my mother sat on our porch every night and listen to you ‘all sing……never have we heard such pretty, spirit filled, singing.  We would have come to the tent meeting, but for the fact we didn’t have a car, but I am here now.”  Folks, you can’t waste your time doing the Lord’s work.  It may seem to you and to everyone around you that you’re wasting your time.  It may not be as glamorous as skydiving or rocky mountain climbing; backpacking through Europe or hiking through Patagonia.  It’s a humble way, a “quiet and peaceable life.”  It’s a good way.  

 

Lord teach us to number our days.  Examine ourselves in prayer, in the light of the scriptures and true gospel preaching.  Let the Holy Spirit winnow our souls.  Sanctified people, near and far, let us spend and be spent in the service of God.  For we are not promised tomorrow!  God help us to invest our time in fields that will yield eternal returns.  If you cannot waste your time doing the Lord’s work, then, how better are we to spend our fleeting minutes in this life?

Sow To The Spirit

 

“For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.” Galatians 6:8

 

The success of any crop is directly dependent on soil, seed, and weather.  These factors can be supplemented, even manipulated; but ultimately, unless you have good soil, seed, and weather; you will not make a good crop.  The absolute outcome of farming and the timeless need, makes it a perfect analogy for teaching.  Our Savior knew this and used it often; his disciples did the same.  If we pay attention and allow the Spirit to open our eyes, this physical world will teach us of the spiritual world.

 

“Sowing to the flesh” will produce corrupted fruit if fruit at all.  Those that sow to the flesh will work and labor in earnest, or in outright disobedience, only to find a poor harvest in the latter rain.  That which is sown is ourselves: we sow our time, energy, effort; always investing in “the flesh” in hopes it will yield fruit.  This leads us to the obvious question: what is “the flesh”?  It is the field that many heartbroken persons sow unto.  It is the field of sin and defeat, sometimes masked in doctrinal platitudes and flowery speech. When Paul wrote these words he was writing to a Galatian church who was influenced back to the Law of Moses, after experiencing the redemption in Christ.  A people who had been hindered by false doctrine and teaching.  Paul knew well that only through faith in Christ could a person experience: justification, sanctification, and redemption.  There was no salvation offered in the Mosaic Law only a remembrance of sins and a reminder that you were still bound by the nature to perform them.  A nature that only brought the works of the flesh: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, etc.  All manner of dark deeds that were performed as a result of the hideous and monstrous iniquity that existed within man; and the Law was subject to this, but Christ brought liberty from it.  When they were persuaded to follow a doctrine that did not offer deliverance from sin, they were simultaneously persuaded to sow to their flesh.  This is both the flesh and sowing to it.  “This persuasion cometh not of Him that calleth you.”  There are many who are sowing to the flesh by living in open sin, and I dare say there are many more who are sitting in church pews across this land, sowing to the flesh, all the while thinking that they are following the will of God.  They may not be laboring in the field of the flesh as hard as others, but they are workers of that soil nonetheless.  It is likely, this is done for no other reason than that is what they have been taught to do!  “He that soweth to the flesh will of the flesh reap corruption.”  Search your heart: is there unrest?  Are you discontent and wandering?  Driven to the work(s) of the flesh by uncontrollable desire?  All the while wanting to please God but finding only despair?  It’s not your fault (unless you remain in ignorance)!  The seed is being sow in the wrong field and the fruit thereof is corrupted.

 

“Sowing to the Spirit” will bring life everlasting.  It is the Spirit that we need to invest ourselves in.  The faith in Jesus Christ; that he is the Son of God, that His words are true, and that he can “deliver us out of darkness and translate us into the kingdom of His dear son.”  In short, Jesus can convert you and sanctify you!  He can live within you and make you a new creature!  Then your days will be spent overcoming sin and sowing seed in the field of righteousness to reap the fruit of “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

Guest Week: Christie Toole

1 Samuel 15:22

And Samuel said, hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 

     My children, like many, have chores around the house they’re responsible for. Now, with these chores, I’ve given them very specific instructions on how to complete each one. I don’t expect them to be able to carry out these jobs without having been instructed on what to do. Well, one day my daughter was watering the plants in the house when she decided to veer from her instructions and water some that were NOT on her list. As a result, I almost lost a few delicate plants that couldn’t tolerate the extra water. This was disappointing. Not because I may have to toss out a few dead plants, but because there was a lack of following directions, a disobedience. When she decides to take matters into her own hands and have the mind that she knows what’s best, then we start to have problems. This is a small matter that can easily be fixed, in fact, she felt bad after seeing what her extra efforts did to those plants. However, what does this look like on a larger scale?

      Well, let’s take a look at Nadab and Abihu. These were the two eldest sons of the high priest, Aaron. They were chosen by God to represent the people in the presence of God and tasked with very specific instructions on how to give sacrifices, worship, and glorify God. They had a major role in carrying out the sacrifices for sin on behalf of the people. One day, while one of the sacrifices were being given, the glory of the Lord shown down and he sent his fire to consume the acceptable sacrifice. The people fell on their faces in awe! Now, Nadab and Abihu decided in themselves to take their censor and add incense and light it with their own (or strange) fire to offer the Lord (Leviticus 10:1-2). Do you see what just happened here? The men made a decision outside of Gods direction and took it upon themselves to give what was not asked or required of them. The Lord sent out His fire once again, but this time it consumed Nadab and Abihu. This may seem like an over reaction, but do not be mistaken, the Lord will not allow sin and disobedience in His presence. It cannot exist where He is, plain and simple! (Leviticus 10:3). These priests had a job and the moment they placed themselves in a position to overrule God, they were removed. Their action, if left unchecked, could have resulted in many, many deaths. If the people witnessed this and thought they could know better than the Lord, they would have condemned themselves. Sin in our life results in death, much like the extra water given to those plants. The Lord wanted to preserve His people! He had to have them witness the striking down of disobedience and sin in front of Him. 

    

    Lord, help us to know our place and to remember the lives of these two men and the result of thinking we know better than you. That when we feel a need to pick up our censors and light a sacrifice that has not been asked of us, we stop and seek you first for instruction and direction. Like my daughter, in our efforts to take matters into our own hands outside of you, we may in fact end up doing more harm than good. May we always put obedience above sacrifice.