Psalm 27 – My whole being

When my heart whispered, “Seek God,”

my whole being replied,

“I’m seeking him!”

Do you really know God? Have you met Him? Have you had intimacy with Him? Has He touched you?

Before I met Jesus I denied who He was. I went as far as to say there is no God. The world looks at it’s own fruit and says there can be no God. All the death and sickness. All the suffering. All the evil. Surely there is no God.

Threats of the “Christian” hell did not scare me. Law and condemnation never slowed me down. None of them revealed God. Religion. Traditional Christianity. Faith with no power. Talk of one day up there. God was nowhere to be seen and never to be sought.

Many times I would hear that whisper. Many times I would wonder about His probability but there was nothing to convince me. Nothing to spur me on. My whole being, bound by the lusts of the flesh. My mind depraved. A slave to sin. My whole being screamed for more of what the world had and forced the whisper to be drowned out.

And then He touched me. Then God revealed Himself to me in a way I could not ignore. By His Spirit He drew me and I could not resist. My heart whispered “seek God, you know He is there” and my whole being screamed for relief. My whole being suddenly became aware that there was freedom to be had. My whole being suddenly realised how trapped and bound and subjected to darkness it was and it screamed at me to listen to the whisper.

I opened my eyes that I had forced shut and saw the light. I lifted my head and my hands and He saved me. He set me free. He washed me and loved me and strengthened me and gave me life. My whole being experienced the touch of God.

I have received His grace. I dwell in His presence. I walk in His power. My life is in Him. I am His dwelling place. The Kingdom is within me. I rule and reign with Him. I share in His fulness. I am the son of God, heir to all. My whole being walks in the freedom and life of Christ.

I have been through a foretaste of hell. Seperated from God. My whole being experienced it and no part of me ever wants any part of that again.

I know God. I experience Him. I see His mighty deeds. I have experienced His healing and His provision. I feel His love. My whole being is aware of His presence. No part of me ever wants to be seperated from that.

So when my heart whispers my whole being responds. Seek Him and you will find Him. What you find you will want to keep. By His grace my response is to love Him with all of my heart, all of my strength, all of my mind. My whole being.

Psalm 27 – One thing, everything.

I’m asking God for one thing,

only one thing:

To live with him in his house

my whole life long.

I suppose it is true that all religions have an offer to supply you with a god, or at least they offer you a way to access a form of god. The problem though is that behind most religions there is not a real god to be found. Some do claim it is the same god as God but seeing as they all have their foundation after God had rested from His creation work, they would unwittingly present a very confused god who changes its mind and ways as it goes along.

Then of course religion makes its laws and rules which have to be adhered to in order to gain access to its god. Cleverly it makes the laws too hard to fully keep so the reason you never actually meet this god is always your own fault. Therefor you can never see that it does not actually exist.

But God, the only true living God, has long before already made the offer to be our God and for us to be His people. He has shown Himself over and over. His power is well documented and so is His love and grace. There are no rules to access Him, only a way that He has made for us so that we can enter freely. That way says “come unto me. and I will give you’

We are needy. We need provision of food and shelter and security. We need health. We need comfort and strength. We need wisdom and guidance. We need and we need.

Generally man tries to meet all his own needs. Often this leads to sinful activities and or failure and disaster. The truth though is that no matter how tall you stand, how powerful you are in this world, how tough or how resiliant, there are times when you need and you don’t have. Times when you need and you ask a higher being for help.

God in His great grace has told us that as our God we can ask anything. Jesus has given us permission, not appointed us to make use of His name as we ask for anything. God has put His mark on us giving us authority and power. So we never need to need.

So we do our best as much as we can and when we get stuck we ask.

Oh dear reader you can have direct access to the almighty creator of the heavens and the earth. The one who has not the fruits of our best efforts but the perfect provision of the Kingdom in His hands. Should you not be asking for everything, every small and every large thing that you could always have only the best.

David goes the whole way and says he asks for only one thing.  To be permanently in God’s presence. Hanging out at God’s place. Having his being in God.

He responds to God’s offer and says ” I want to be your people”

In Christ you have the Kingdom in you. Have this and all things will be added to you

Psalm 26 – Living for Jesus

I’m on the level with you, GOD; I bless you every chance I get.

 

Being born again is a life changing event. You will never be the same again.

When you put your faith and trust in God, believing the Gospel, you suddenly find that so many aspects of your life are different. Different likes and dislikes. Anger replaced with love. fear replaced with peace. Depression turning into joy. It really is a new life. Making the desicion to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of your life is a commitment to Him that understands that all things will be new.

Instead of living for yourself you will from now on be living for Jesus.

I emphasis this as so many people “receive Jesus as Lord” when all they want is a helping hand when they are in trouble. Only coming along for the benefits they see promised but not prepared to actully submit their lives to Him. Not to give up their present life in order to live the new one.

Living for Jesus asks that you will live in a way that brings Him glory. Your life, your words and deeds blessing Him. No second place for Him but the most important thing in your life is your relationship with Him. Always loving His Word. Wanting to follow His ways. Seeking His presence and power 24/7.

Why are you a Christian?

Is it because you know who Jesus is? Is it because you call Him Lord? Is it because you believe?

Are you being honest with God and with yourself? Is this the real thing?

Psalm 26 – Glory revealed

GOD, I love living with you; your house glows with your glory.

 

Recently while visiting Australia we came across such beautiful old church buildings that are now standing empty. I went into some of them and it was amazing how you just felt the presence of God in them. People or not, you just knew that God had visited and inhabited these old buildings as people once worshipped Him there. I know a building is just a building but there is no denying that a building purposefully constructed, equipped and dedicated to worshipping God somehow becomes a house for His presence. His glory lingers and the sweet aroma of His presence remains. The power that He exudes leaves an awesomeness that is still felt today.

But dwelling in God’s house, living with Him, doesn’t have to be going to a building does it? After all we, the collective of believers, are the church. Where 2 or 3 are gathered, God is there. Any gathering of believers, immaterial of where they are, should immediately take on the exact same characteristics as the old building. Anyone entering the gathering should immediately get the sense of His power and love and grace and holiness. They should sense the same awe. They should know without a doubt that God dwells in that gathering. His glory will one day fill the whole earth but in the mean time the body, the bride, should be displaying that glory to all who would look their way.

Then of course you are the temple of God. God dwells in you. The fulness of the Godhead has made a permanent dwelling place in your bodily form. Lord I love living with you is no longer a trip to church but an acknowledgement that we love Him living in us.

I am a mobile revelation of God’s glory. Whether in a building, in a group or all alone, His house is filled with glory. His glory shines in any place I choose to worship. His glory shines in any gathering I am a part of and His glory shines as I go about my day far from any building or gathering. His glory shines in the darkness of the world where I must live for this time.

His house shines with His glory so that the lost may see the way home. I love it that it is where I already am.

Lord today fill me again with your presence, your love, your grace and power. Lord live so in me that your glory will fill the temple and shine like a beacon in the darkness

Psalm 26 – Marching to the beat of God’s heart.

So I never lose sight of your love, But keep in step with you, never missing a beat.

Some people have absolutely no direction in life. They wander aimlessly from thing to thing always hoping for something better and just accepting whatever. Even in the church. Whatever preaching sounds good, who ever encourages them for the day is what they follow until it fails them or something else comes along.

Most people however have something that drives them, something that spurs them on. Some ambition, some desire, some addiction. Something that controls them and influences their life path.

I have found and hold onto the thing which I desire most, the one thing that I am very comfortable with controlling my life path. The love of God. I want to dwell in it. Revel in it. Be secure in it. Be sure in it. It has brought me here and will always carry me and keep me. Nothing can separate me from it but I am determined not be out of His hug for a second. I will never again be far from Him

So I march to the drum that is His heartbeat. I do not bounce about off the walls of law. I am not directed by the desires of the flesh. I am not restricted by culture and creed. Instead my feet run after that love. Moving with it, keeping pace with it. Always aware of it. I want to always be close enough to Him to hear His heart beating.

I respond to His love by loving Him. That way I stay in step. He loves me so I love him. He loves me, I love Him. He loves me, I love Him……..Boom, Boom, Boom, Love , love, love, love.

So ask me where I am heading, I say His love carries me. Ask what I am doing, I say His love compels me. Ask me how I am, I say His love keeps me. Boom, love, boom, love

I hear His heartbeat in my spirit, I hear it in my head and I hear my heart beating exactly the same.

I will miss nothing God has prepared for me

Psalm 25 – Don’t rock the boat???

Do you see how many people Have it in for me? How viciously they hate me?

 

Innocent He stood before Pilot but the crowds bayed for His blood. He was whipped and beaten but still the crowds called for His death. He was humiliated and mocked but they preferred a common criminal over him. The hate from the religious leaders spilled over into the common man. They would be satisfied by nothing less than His crucifixion.

His name was Jesus. He came to seek and save the lost. He came to bring the Kingdom of God to man. The Saviour of the world. The Messiah. God’s Christ. And they hated Him and wanted Him dead.

He rocked the boat. He showed up the religious leaders of the day. He showed how the religion of the people could not save them. He showed them a side of the scriptures that they had never understood. He rocked the boat until their comfort zone was totally destroyed and they were all floundering. They hated Him.

When you bring Him into the religious gatherings. When He reveals Himself through you to demonstrate the Kingdom. When His Words flow from your mouth bringing challenges to lives and faith. When love and grace replace law and condemnation. When you are filled with the same Spirit then it is Him appearing all over again. The crowds hated Him then and they will hate Him now.

Only difference is that they can’t find Him except in you so all that frenzy of the crowd is now focused on you. Believer when you live and manifest the Christ in you then the world will come against you. Being Christ in the world today rocks the boat as much now as it did when Jesus rocked it.

Seek favour. Keep the peace. Show His love and grace to all men. But know this: If you are true to Him there will be many who will hate you. If you don’t want that then don’t rock the boat.

Psalm 25 – Your testimony = His reputation

Keep up your reputation, God;

Forgive my bad life;

It’s been a very bad life.

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A reputation is built on what others say about you. Each thing that is said either enhances or harms your reputation. Just so the reputation of God. It is built on the testimonies of all who have encountered Him. What you say about God is what others will think about Him.

There are many who portray God as a mean hearted dictator who will take pleasure in judging the world and extracting justice through punishment. A God hoping to send most of us to hell. Many portray Him as far off, a God waiting for some future date to reveal Himself, if He is still alive. Some portray Him as a God of double standards. pretending to save by grace but still using the law for justification.

How do you portray God?

It starts with your own reputation.. What was your reputation before you encountered God? Can you you admit that as one not in right standing with Him, you were bad, very bad? And did your reputation change after the encounter? Did you receive the forgiveness He offers? Do you today live as free from sin and guilt?

If this is true then what you say about God is that He is good and faithful and actually really and truly does forgive our sins and wash away our guilt. Your testimony is that while you were dead in your sins Christ Jesus died for you. Your testimony is that Jesus has saved you.

Do your life and the words of your mouth testify to the reputation of God as one that sinners can depend on for grace?

David says He already has this reputation as the God of grace and mercy. He calls on this reputation as basis for approaching God with confidence. Oh Lord may what I say about you make those around me see You for who You really are. May my life make people know that you are good.

Psalm 23 – My covering

Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life.

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Ever since I first entered the ministry people have spoken, and some even obsessed, about having a covering. You must relate to a bigger ministry, denomination or network. There must be some big name dude that you  meet with from time to time. Or at least you must say you do.

Somehow relating or having a covering brings credibility. You must be OK if you are part of them. You can trade on their name.

I love having relationship with other Pastors and ministries. But where do some get off wanting others to come under them. What makes Him higher than you, better than you, more capable than you. In fact who appointed him over you that you must submit to him. Did he employ you to do what you do?

Very quickly they want you to conform. Speak their speak, walk their walk, fill their offering basket. Covering comes at a price.

Covering also causes division. Paul encountered it and slammed the practice. It becomes an us and them.

You already have a covering. His beauty and love. You are hidden in Christ so surely He covers you. Goodness and mercy following you around. Him making you look good. His beauty shining forth blinding the world to your faults. His love cancelling your mistakes.

No need to pay dues, He paid them. No need to submit to men, He alone is Lord. No need to stick to the rules, He fulfilled the law.

In fact get on with your life. Get on with your ministry. God gave them to you and He will watch over them. He will cover you, make you credible and His name is the one you operate in.

Men want you to come to them, join them, get covering from them. Jesus,  our Shepherd makes His covering find us and follow us. Men leave one covering and seek another as it suits them. God’s covering will never leave you.

Psalm 21 – Who is holding who?

Is it any wonder the king loves GOD? that he’s sticking with the Best?

I agree with David. I cannot help but love the Lord my God. The more I realise how much He loves me the more I find myself responding by loving Him more. And then I find out what it means that He gave His all for me and I find that I love Him with all my strength, my heart and my mind.

There was a time in my life and in your’s when I did not know God at all. You may have been religious. Went to Sunday School and Church. Got confirmed etc etc but in all truth you did not know God. You sang the “Jesus loves me” choruses and said all the right things, knowing all about God, but in truth you did not know God.

Saying you loved Him was part of the religion.

There was a time in the lives of many that you were afraid of God. You saw Him as the judge.  You saw Him ready to pounce on you and punish you.

Saying that you loved Him was to stay out of trouble.

Then I met God. Was born again. Overwhelmed by His love for me. Recived His Spirit.  Began a personal relationship with the God of goodness and mercy. I am exposed everyday to His love and grace. Now I know that everything God has done is because He loves me. He draws me deeper and deeper into His presence.

Saying that you love Him is an automatic response to knowing His love. It is no wonder you love Him so much.

So your love clings to Him. You never want to be apart from Him. You never want to be separated from His love. You certainly don’t want your actions and thoughts to come between you. Your love desires to pleasure Him. Cling to the one and only.

But always remember it is He who has said that nothing can separate you from His love. It is He who says He holds you in the palm of His hand. It is He who says He has not lost one. Who is holding onto who?

Saying that you love Him pales in the light of how much He loves you. Clinging to Him is overshadowed by His clinging to you.

Makes you want to love Him more and hold on tighter.

True Love

These are the words in my mouth; these are what I chew on and pray. Accept them when I place them on the morning altar, O God, my Altar-Rock, God, Priest-of-My-Altar.

I LOVE roast pork. Have noticed though how half way through your favourite meal you begin to think of a piece of dark chocolate. As soon as you put your knife and fork down you ask what is for dessert. Clearly I also love dark chocolate. Clearly the meal I love does not fully satisfy me. It may fill me for a short time but before too long I am thinking of my next meal and guess what, roast pork is not it.

One thing I know is that what I feel for my wife is true love. My desire is for her only. I see many beautiful woman around, we even point them out to each other but I never have any thoughts concerning them. The love I have for my wife automatically excludes any other woman from having a place in my thoughts.

There is no room for them! She fills my thoughts and dreams and fantasies.

Clearly I am fully satisfied by her!

So I love to please her. To say things that let her know how I feel. Not to say things that would hurt her. To tickle the ears of her heart with my love songs. To let her know she is who is on my mind and in my heart.

In front of her and behind her back.

Jesus gave a “new commandment”. David already knew it. He wanted to be pure in heart and deed so that God would be pleased with him. Not by his works but by what was in and came out of his heart. He wanted all his heart and all his mind and all his strength to love God and God only. He wanted God to know that he was consumed with love for God and nothing else..

David knew that love begets love. When he could love God in such a way as to please Him he would experience the fullness of God’s love towards him.

Let your heart and mind be renewed that you can love the Lord your God with true love. Love that is true to Him.

And all His love will abound to you.