Gleanings From The Word: July 2018

Wednesday, July 25, 2018

Standing at Attention

Ezra stood on the platform in full view of all the people. When they saw him open the book, they all rose to their feet. Nehemiah 8:5 NLT)

When the people stood up, it showed respect for what was being read and who was reading it, in that order. Taking the Word of God seriously is the first step towards reformation and transformation.

It is recorded that as Ezra read from the book the people wept (v. 9b) and confessed their sins (Chapter 9:3). The Book of the Law of the Lord was read aloud for three hours, and then they confessed their sins and worshiped for another three hours. They explained the law and tears were turned to joy. There is always great rejoicing when we not only hear God’s Word but understand it. Revelation is a critical component of transformation.

Ezra is the crucial figure in all that is happening among the Israelites. You cannot lead people past the spiritual level to which you have obtained. In Ezra 7:10 it is recorded, “For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” He studied, practiced, and then he taught. It was not about just intellectually obtaining information, but applying it to his life. It was not only education but transformation. There is an old Puritan saying that goes, “You can never lead anyone heavenward unless you are rising yourself. You don’t need to be high, but you do need to be rising.”

When your Pastor arises to the pulpit to bring you the Word of God, in your heart are you standing at attention or thinking about lunch? The latter will lead to indigestion, the former to transformation.

Image used with permission by Microsoft.

Ken Barnes the author of “The Chicken Farm and Other Sacred Places” YWAM Publishing
Email: kenbarnes737@gmail.com
website: https://sites.google.com/site/kenbarnesbooksite/

Blogs: http://kensblog757.blogspot.com

http://gleanings757.blogspot.com

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

False Hope

Lovingkindness and Truth

Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core.
They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins.
Instead, they painted false pictures filling you with false hope.

Lamentations 2:14 NLT)

People sometimes try to help us and end up hurting us. Hope to be genuine is based on truth. False hope always disappoints us and destroys our faith.

Israel had rejected the word of the Lord from many prophets and had found themselves in exile. When God is trying to give us a message, there always seems to be an alternative one. We love to hear things that tickle our ears. If we are not willing to listen to the good and bad about ourselves, we will never foster godly character. It is not difficult to develop a following by just telling people what they want to hear. God is not a cosmic Santa Claus. Sometimes he says yes, at other times no, and often he says to wait.

Are you only being told what you want to hear? Do I like to hear good things about myself? Of course, I do, but it is not about what I want, but what I need. I require encouragement and correction. I only grow spiritually when I hear the good and the bad about myself. Raising a child where you give only praise without correction, or vice versa will probably create a disobedient teen. People creating word pictures in our minds that are not based on truth will only lead to false hope. It will create short-term gain but long-term pain.

Jesus always ministered in that delicate balance between lovingkindness and truth, affirmation and correction. Are you being told what you need or want to hear? The latter message only disappoints and defeats our faith.