Tag Archives: Biblical truth

Have you got good religion?

August 16, 2022 ITWMinistries 1 Comment

Do we have it?

“Have You Got Good Religion?” is an African American gospel song which imagines a series of questions Jesus might ask believers.

After the opening query, “Have you got GOOD RELIGION?”, there are five (5) additional questions which Jesus asks. The individual then answers with an emphatic response, “Certainly Lord!” As there have been many renditions of this song, there also have been many modifications to the “original” questions.

For this teaching, I’d like to share the original verses:

Have you been redeemed?
Have you been to the water?
Have you been baptized?
Is your name on high?
Has your name been changed?

The occasion or background for this dialogue is not given nor is it even important. But as I purview the Church in the 21^st century and the role of each of us as believers, I find the questions very appropriate.

Do we have good religion?

What is religion?

The origin of the word religion is from Latin religio or religare which means “obligation, bond, or to bind”. Modern classification describes religion as a particular system of faith and worship. It is also belief in and worship of a superhuman controlling power especially a personal God or gods.

I’m sure one time or another our faith walk has been described in terms of how we pursue our “religion.” As we share our beliefs as it relates to world events, we might be told, “you are taking this religious thing too far!” Or as we refuse to acquiesce to some immoral or dishonest act, we may be accused as being “too religious”.

So what is good religion?

I concur with both definitions of religion put forth earlier. I worship only One God, the Creator and Sustainer of all life (Ps. 104). He is the ruling authority in my life. My Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ redeemed me and translated me from darkness into light (1 Pet. 2:9). Jesus lives in me through His Holy Spirit who empowers and guides me in all things. I am a Christian and I worship God in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

We must be careful however, not to allow man-made rituals and practices to keep us from true righteousness—being in right relationship with God AND with each other. Such was often the case with the Pharisees who often mistaken religious activities for true worship and love for God (Matt. 15:1-20). Sadly, we see this in our churches who cling to history and tradition. These often result in the quenching of the Holy Spirit.

What’s in a song?

I think the questions put forth in the song, help us to define what “good religion” looks like. Then we can begin to examine ourselves to see if we are still of the faith (2 Cor. 13:5).

- Have you been redeemed? To be redeemed means we have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior. We no longer belong to Satan but are now part of God’s family. (Titus 2:11-14)

- Have you been to the water? Have you been baptized? Baptism is our public testimony to our willingness to follow Jesus. It is our external witness to our allegiance to Him. (Rom. 6:3-4)

- Is your name on high? “On high” refers to “heaven” where the Book of Life is kept until Judgment Day (Rev. 20:11-15). In it are the records of all people considered righteous before God. Our name is in the Book because we have Christ’s imputed righteousness. (2 Cor. 5:19).

- Has your name been changed? Our name is the source of our identity. Biblical name changes were the result of spiritual identity changes in the life of those who have been with God, i.e., Abram to Abraham, Sari to Sarah, Jacob to Israel. Our spiritual identities are changed when we become new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).

How would we respond?

If God were to pose the six questions contained in our song today, can we say emphatically. “Certainly Lord?” What would be our proof?

F.B. Meyer, noted theologian shared this description on religion—I offer it as my definition of “good religion.”

In Matthew 15:16, our Lord teaches that true religion is certainly not a matter of eating and drinking or outward ceremony. It is the intention of the soul, the continual drawing from Christ the life power needed for our work and ministry to others.

Is our life a witness to God’s power and love? Have we joined Jesus in His work to serve in this fallen world? If we can say, “Certainly Lord!” then our life and works become a testimony of our “good religion.” (2 Cor. 5:14-15).

Our Faith Walk

Opportunities in Uncertainty

July 12, 2022 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Josh’s opportunity

Josh had experienced much turmoil and strife during his current job assignment. There was frequent upheaval among his peers against current management. Those efforts, fortunately, had been squelched. As a result of that effort, many of his team members suffered great loss and were not allowed to move forward with the organization.

Earlier in his career, Josh was chosen to be part of a special team to evaluate next steps for his organization. Because of Josh’s loyalty and his credentials, he was now a candidate for a new opportunity.

Because of the earlier “coup attempt”, many of the older, seasoned members were no longer there. What remained was a young and inexperienced group, who needed guidance and support in moving the organization to new heights that had been promised to them.

And now, he was being offered a promotion as head of the organization. But was he ready? What did he need to move forward? Was there an opportunity in this uncertainty? These were possible questions asked by Moses’ replacement, Joshua (Deut. 31:7).

Ready for an opportunity?

How would we respond if offered the opportunity set before Joshua? That was the question I asked myself during my morning devotion as I read Deuteronomy 31:1-8 and Joshua 1:1-18. In both scripture texts, Joshua is repeatedly told several things that would prepare him for his new leadership role.

The first dealt specifically with his reaction to the opportunity. What were the emotions he felt knowing what lie ahead of him? Joshua was told to “be strong, fear not, and be of good courage” (Joshua 1:6-9). But how was he to do that?

He had seen Moses as he dealt with this group of stiff-necked and disobedient people. He remembered the frustration that Moses often felt in trying to keep them faithful to God and His commandments. Moses was the great mediator between these people and Yahweh, Almighty God. Would he be able to do the same?

Fear or dismay?

As I studied these texts, I asked myself (and my husband) this question. Which is worst—fear or dismay (discouragement)? Is there a difference? Fear is anxiety caused by approaching danger—real or imagined. Discouragement is described as depression of one’s spirit. It can be caused by a heavy burden, defeat, an apparent failure, or even sickness.

Both fear and discouragement would be unique challenges that Joshua would need to manage as he moved forward. Both could potentially lead to failure in Joshua’s assignment to take the Israelites into the Promise Land. And not only entrance into the land that God promised, but to also conquer the current inhabitants.

Fear or discouragement? Which one is our biggest threat as we face the challenges of living in these times of uncertainty? How are we to manage the stresses of life that come both rapidly, continuously, and often violently?

Fear and discouragement are Satan’s “weapons of choice” to hinder and even stop us as we move into God’s purpose for our life. Satan will often focus on the largeness of the problem and/or the smallness of our ability to stop us in our tracks.

That’s why we need the intervention of Someone who is bigger than the problem and able to do exceedingly above all that we can ask or need (Eph. 3:20). That Someone is God our Father, made available through His Son Jesus the Christ, and made manifest in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

God’s Promise

In his new leadership role, it was critical that Joshua remembered what God had promised: It is the Lord who goes before you; He will be with you, He will not fail you or forsake you (Deut. 31:8).

Despite the difficult times experienced living in the Wilderness, Joshua saw firsthand God’s love and faithfulness to His people. God had chosen Israel to be His treasure (Deut. 7:6) and He would make good on every promise He made to them (Joshua 1:5-7).

Joshua had seen God’s great power as evidenced through His miracles and works: The ten plagues in Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and God’s provision during Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness (Deut. 8:3-4). God’s promise to Moses was the same promise He now made to Joshua: God would go before him and with him. God would not fail nor forsake him.

We daily face changes and challenges, turmoil, and threats. They are as great and as real, for us, as Joshua’s new leadership opportunity. But like Joshua, we can rest assured that we can depend on and trust in the promises of God. God goes before us and with us, wherever the circumstances of life may lead us (Heb. 13:5).

God is more than able to handle whatever may come our way. He is “Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the ending…which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8). It is in His presence, and under His authority that all things are possible (Matt. 19:26). So be not afraid nor be dismayed, we are not alone. There is always opportunity even amid uncertainty when God is with us.

Knowing God

Desperately Seeking God: A Prayer-filled Life

February 15, 2022 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

“Desperately seeking God”

What would we think if we saw this request in the personal column of our local paper? Desperately seeking God for ___. We can fill in the blank with those things that reflect the needs of the human heart—financial security or emotional wholeness, food and lodging or creature comforts, our daily bread or deliverance from evil.

All these qualify as valid requests we can make known to God (Phil. 4:6). Today, however, we are invited to move from our “needs-based” method of prayer to a more robust and satisfying “prayer-filled life” that will lead to greater intimacy with God (James 4:8). What exactly is the prayer-filled life?

The Contemplative Tradition and the Prayer-filled Life

In Streams of Living Water by Richard Foster, the prayer-filled life is called the Contemplative Tradition. Foster describes it as “a life of loving attention to God.” Imagine, “loving attention to God.”

It includes not only the activity of prayer but also periods of solitude and meditation in which the presence and fellowship with the Lord is nurtured.

It can be likened to the Lord’s encouragement to His disciples to “abide” in Him (John 15: 4, 8). Jesus describes His intimacy with the Father through the image of the “vine and the husbandman”. It was through Jesus’ union with His Father that He was able to do all things (John 5:30). Jesus desperately sought God.

Practicing the Presence and the Prayer-filled Life

Father Lawrence described the prayer-filled life in Practicing the Presence of God. “Practicing” is the recognition of God intimately present with us and addressing ourselves to Him every moment.

Prayer is considered “divine conversation” that occurs throughout the day—not exercised as an isolated activity or relegated to a specific place. Prayer is continuous and never ceases (1 Thess. 5:17). Father Lawrence desperately sought God.

David and the Prayer-filled Life

David serves as our biblical example of one who sought the prayer-filled life. Throughout the Psalms we can experience the passion and appreciation David had for his private time with the God of Creation (Psalm 19).

As a shepherd boy, he experienced extended periods of solitude and fellowship with the Great Shepherd (Psalm 23). In the wilderness of Judah, David’s soul “thirsted” for the Lord and longed for the time he could return to the Temple to reunite with Him (Psalm 63). David desperately sought God.

Which description is right?

Descriptions of the prayer-filled life differ in method and experience. “Loving attention to God”. “Divine Conversation”. “The soul’s thirst for the Lord”.

However, what these descriptions do have in common is the results—greater intimacy with the Lord. This is the offer of a prayer-filled life; one that is more relational and less transactional.

Unfortunately, the distractions of this life, our weakened flesh, and the deceitfulness of Satan continually draw us away from a prayer-filled life. Left unchanged, we will continue our intermittent prayer routine while Jesus invites us to return to our First Love (Rev. 2:4).

Psalm 42:1-3a offers an excellent illustration of what the prayer-filled life looks like.

“As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night.”

Let us learn from the deer and seek God. It is in pursuing and lingering in God’s presence that the prayer-filled life is experienced. It is in Him, that our desperate seeking ends.

Our Faith Walk

What I Learned in 2021

January 19, 2022 ITWMinistries 1 Comment

Where to Begin

In past years when I did this exercise, I would go to several sources for input. This includes my daily journal, and scripture memorization cards. They were reminders of the paths I walked with Jesus throughout the year.

My journal included my thoughts during my time of inquiry of the Lord. Bits and pieces of this and that: theologian quotes, bible study notes and miscellaneous thoughts about life and the world I live in. Topics that caught my attention, would later become personal studies, WordBytes or Morning Reflections.

My scripture memorization cards, with date recorded at the top, would remind me of how the Spirit renews my mind with God’s Word. His Word would prove to either strengthen my heart or tell again of God’s inexhaustible grace: grace that covers my human weakness and brokenness. It most often than not encouraged me to be more patient and longsuffering.

As I reviewed my information, I came to this realization. It is vital that believers continually develop a personal relationship with God. Not religion but relationship. It should be our goal to be “intimately connected” with the Lord.

Relationship with God

God has always desired to be in relationship with man. Adam was first to experience the joy and freedom of an intimate connection with God. Imagine daily walking and talking with God about the events of the day, your hopes, and fears, and hearing His plan for your life. Guess what? We can experience that in our life right now!

Today we, as believers in Christ, have continuous access to that same intimacy Adam experienced in the Garden but with even greater privilege. We have His Presence, through the Holy Spirit living within us (John 14:16-17).

As I read God’s Word, pray, and exercise the different spiritual disciplines, I become one with Him. Jesus invited His disciples to abide in Him (John 15:4). That invitation is extended to us today.

F.B. Meyer writes about the privilege of being one in Christ and the intimacy that comes with that relationship.

We must be one with Christ: we must be in Him as the sponge is in the ocean. We must be in Him, not only in our standing, but also in our daily walk. We must be in Him as the branch is in the vine and the vine-sap in the branch. This must not only be in theory, but an hourly experience.

My 2021 Epiphany

I became a Christian when I was nine-years old. I bought the “fire insurance” and knew I wasn’t going to hell. However, as I grew older, I still didn’t feel the connection I thought believers were supposed to have. Although I went to church weekly and served in various church functions, something was missing.

I was a carnal Christian until I was 40. Then something happened. I rededicated my life to Christ. No more “hooky pokey” Christian life for me. What happened? Why the change?

A student from my Senior High Sunday School class had chosen to become a minister. We were excited to welcome him back to his home church where he was to bring the Sunday morning message.

This was especially exciting for me in that, as a teenager, he hated to review the lesson on behalf of our class. He would grumble and groan and swear never to come back to Sunday School if I made him do it. He eventually agreed to my request.

In his morning sermon, he shared his personal witness of how his intimacy with God led him into ministry. It had nothing to do with my teaching or my coaxing him to review. He found what it meant to be IN RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS. It wasn’t religion. It was relationship.

That was it for me. My Sunday School student helped me understand what it meant to have a “personal relationship” with God. So even today I seek a deeper and closer relationship with Jesus. And every day with Jesus is “sweeter than the day before”.

Go deeper in 2022

Most interesting about my epiphany is that Jesus just recently revealed this memory to me. Why now? I don’t know. Maybe He felt it was time to share it with you.

Daily we have the opportunity to practice His presence as we daily address the challenges of 21^st century living. In God’s presence we experience His love, power, and wisdom. As we go deeper in our relationship with God, we can better understand His ways and see with spiritual eyes.

Let us deepen our trust in Him. When we do, we aren’t shaken by the latest news stories or the challenges we face in 2022 and beyond. We know whose in control!

As members of God’s family there is nothing that can separate us from His love. And we have the blessed assurance that our relationship with God will extend into and throughout eternity.

I invite you this year to go deeper in your relationship with God. Become “like the sponge in the ocean”. Live and abide in Him.

No extra reading this week so please share with us what you learned in 2021. Thanks for reading.

Our Faith Walk

Throwback Wednesday for the New Year

January 12, 2022 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

It’s that time again. Throwback Wednesday. It’s the time when we choose a favorite WordBytes from the past. It’s also a time for remembering that God never changes (Mal. 3:6). It doesn’t matter the year, God’s message is still one of hope, promise, and possibility for everyone who will hear it.

To align with the New Year, we’ve chosen a WordBytes that will encourage us to lay hold in 2022 to our rich inheritance in Christ.

Let’s begin this year knowing that we have everything we need to be successful in addressing the challenges we face (2 Pet. 1:3-4). May this “blast from the past” move us confidently through the year.

Our Inheritance with Christ

Spiritual Maturity

Looking beyond what we can see

December 1, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Anatomy of the human eye

As we consider looking beyond what we can see, it might be helpful to review how we see physically.

The human eyes work very similarly to a camera. When you look at an object, the light it generates enters your eyes. The light first passes through the corneas, which begin focusing the light. It then passes through to the pupils. The size of the pupils changes to regulate the amount of light entering the eyes.

The light is then focused through the lenses and onto the retinas. The retina is a light-sensitive layer in the back of the eye that contains highly evolved cells called rods and cones. The retina then changes the image into electrical and chemical impulses, which are transmitted along the optic nerves and into the visual center of the brain. It is when the image reaches your brain that vision occurs.[1]

Man is a remarkable creation of God. He is made physically perfect for the lifetime God has designated for him (Ps. 90:10). However, as remarkable as Creation is, God’s work of salvation has resulted in our ability to see spiritually, the things we would normally overlook.

Seeing supernaturally

I love the Old Testament because of its value in capturing the wonders and works of God. As I prepared for this series, the scripture text that came quickly to mind was the account of the prophet Elisha in 2 Kings 6:8-23. This passage shares the incident in which the King of Syria, enemy of Israel, sent raiders to capture Elisha. You will enjoy reading the entire text as it shows the confidence of Elisha as he prepares to meet this great army that surrounded the city of Dothan.

2 Kings 6:15-17 is most relevant to our discussion on seeing with spiritual eyes. We may find the advice Elisha offered his servant relevant to us as we face the challenges of 21^st century living.

And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” And Elisha prayed, and said, “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

The chariots of fire that the servant saw were heavenly hosts primed to do battle with the Syrian army on behalf of Elisha. Elisha saw the heavenly army and recognized that there was no need to fear. He saw past the potential danger and saw God at work. After Elisha’s prayer, the servant, through God’s enablement, saw that the mountain was full of God’s presence. He looked beyond what he could see. He looked from God’s perspective.

Kingdom reality

Seeing with spiritual eyes begins with understanding who God is and our position in the Kingdom of God.

Broadly speaking, the kingdom of God is the rule of an eternal, sovereign God over all the universe. Every authority that exists has been established by God (Romans 13:1). So, in one sense, the kingdom of God incorporates everything that is. More narrowly, the kingdom of God is a spiritual rule over the hearts and lives of those who willingly submit to God’s authority.[2]

God is the Almighty Sovereign who manages the affairs of the world from heaven. Through His providential will, God orchestrates every event in our lives. Our position in Christ elevates us to God’s children and joint heirs with Christ (Rom. 8:16-17). We are the recipients of His promises, His privileges, and His presence (Eph. 1:3-5).

Kingdom reality does not deny the presence of sin and its outcomes on the world. We are sadly aware that we live in a fallen world. However, we know three things. First, Jesus Christ has overcome the world (John 16:33). Secondly, we are overcomers, too. (Rom. 8:37; 1 John 5:4). Finally, we know how history will end. WE WIN! (Rev. 21:1-8)

Looking beyond what we can see

Looking beyond what we can see allows us to “reframe” our experiences through the lens of kingdom reality. Closed doors are seen as God’s protection. Waiting is seen as God’s time of preparation—either of us or our desired end.

Seeing this way equips us to move forward in the midst of trouble versus being overwhelmed. We do not lose hope. Instead we look past what we see physically. We see God (2 Cor. 4: 17-18).

It’s not that we spiritualize everything that happens to us, but we truly believe what the Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the church in Rome: “All things work together for the good of those who love the Lord who are called according to His purpose.” (Rom. 8:28)

Seeing with spiritual eyes is not “mystical” like a third eye. Nor is it “recreational” like fortune telling or a Ouija board. It is “relational”. Just as the light helps the physical eye to focus, so our focus on kingdom reality helps the spiritual eye to see from God’s perspective and power (Luke 1:37; Jer. 32:17,27). Just as the retina physically changes the image we see into sight, the Holy Spirit informs us as to what is truth and what is error (Acts 26:18). Bottom-line is this. Looking beyond what we can see is dependent on the Source of Light who is Jesus Christ. “In His light we see light” (Ps. 36:9)

[1] www.ceenta.com/

[2] Gotquestions.com, “The Kingdom of God”

Knowing God

Don’t get it twisted!

November 9, 2021 ITWMinistries 1 Comment

We love superheroes.

I love to watch movies about superheroes. Whether it’s Wonder Woman or Iron Man, I like to see them in action. They offer themselves unselfishly as they battle intruders from space, another dimension, or the giant mushroom that mutates into some incredible threat.

I am especially drawn to those who band together to save the world. The Marvel superheroes including the Avengers and the X-men hold my attention for hours. Every month it seems a new movie is released highlighting new superheroes who appear to save the world from some horrific ending. This month’s offering is The Eternals.

We often seek ways to escape the stress of everyday living. We retreat to a world where “superheroes” share our humanity yet possess mystical abilities to overcome the monsters that threaten the world. Unfortunately with superheroes, we must be careful not to believe their “hype”. It is important to keep reality separated from fantasy.

Health pandemics, economic uncertainties, and erosion of social consciousness leave us longing for someone to “fight our battles”. If we aren’t careful, we may be misled to believe that superheroes will appear to save the day. But “don’t get it twisted”. Translation: don’t mistake fantasy for reality. There are no superheroes. But there is, however and more importantly: The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Who is God?

To avoid getting it twisted, it is important that we first possess a correct understanding of who God is. This can be accomplished through learning about His attributes.

Attributes are a window through which we can think about who God is. God’s attributes are first introduced in the biblical record through His mighty act of Creation. Triune God banded together to create the world!

God ultimately reveals Himself through Jesus who was made, “a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death…that He might taste death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9). Jesus came to save the world from a horrific ending!

Understanding God is more than “head knowledge”. God desires that we have a personal relationship with Him. As we experience the challenges of 21^st century living, we learn more about who God is. Through His presence and His power, we learn to trust and depend on Him (Ps. 89:13).

Eugene H. Peterson writes in Practicing Resurrection, the importance of keeping our focus on the reality of God and His work in the life of the believer.

When we squander life on anything less than the God revealed in Jesus, and made present in the Spirit, we miss out on life itself, resurrection life, the life of Jesus.

Keeping it Real

Once we know who God is, it is then critical that we develop a Christian worldview. The term worldview is used to describe a core set of values and principles through which the world is understood. It is our reality.

Our worldview consists of our beliefs (what we view as true) and our values (what we view is good). Our worldview impacts every decision. It will ultimately determine our behavior (what we will do).

As Christians, our worldview is seen through Jesus’ eyes (John 14:6). It is the determining factor in all we do, how we live, and how we react to life. We form our worldview based on His life and teachings. It is the only way to navigate through this world.

Don’t get it twisted

When we know who God is and develop a Christian worldview, we are less likely to “get it twisted.”

God’s Word, His promises, and His Spirit help us keep it real. While we love superheroes we never are confused “where our help comes from” (Ps. 121:1-8). The King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God is our real Superhero.

Knowing God

Fear and Knowledge of the Holy

October 26, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

Fear me!

In last week’s WordBytes, Mike Glenn, in The Fear of God, shared how his father helped him understand the “true meaning” of fear.

Now, son. You’re getting into a new phase of your life. You’re becoming a man. You’ll be going places where I won’t be. You’ll be doing things I won’t see. You’ll be pressured by your friends to do some things, and some of those things, you know, are things I don’t want you to do.”

“And in that moment, you’ll have to make a decision. You’ll have to decide. Are you more afraid of your friends? Or are you more afraid of me?”

Then he leaned across the table, put his eyes directly on mine and said, “You’d better be more afraid of me.”

This exchange was not only a lesson about fear, but also an object lesson on knowledge. Mike Glenn knew his father’s expectations. These expectations coupled with fear guided Mike Glenn in making good decisions and wise choices. The same can be said about our fear of the LORD and our knowledge of the Holy One.

That is why Solomon penned, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” (Prov. 9:10)

Fear-> Wisdom->Knowledge

Man has always searched for the best method to assist him in making good decisions, right judgments, and sound pronouncements. In primitive times, groups would cast lots and dice, leaving the outcome to the proverbial “fates” (Lev. 16:8; Joshua 18:8).

In Israel’s early formation, decisions were informed by the High Priest who consulted the Urim and Thummin (Exo. 28:30). As the nation grew, Israel deferred key moral and political decisions to God’s chosen representatives. Judges and kings, counseled by wise prophets and priests, became the source of national decision-making.

The fear of the Lord offered motivation to seek “God’s face” (Num. 6:25-26). However, it was the knowledge of the Holy One that established the critical link to God. God was (and still is) the source of all knowledge and wisdom.

Knowledge of the Holy One

The true source of wisdom is identified in the parallel statements found in Proverbs 9:10: the fear of the LORD and knowledge of the Holy One. Knowledge provides insight and discernment based on personal experiences.

It involves the process by which one can recognize, classify, and organize information gained from varied experiences and use them to develop an appropriate response. This “process of knowing” is illustrated in the story of Moses.

Moses’ early knowledge of God came vicariously through others in Pharaoh’s court. He, personally, knew little about God. Therefore, God had no part in his thinking or planning. However, forty years later, Moses experienced God for himself at the burning bush (Exod. 3:2). In seeing that the fire did not consume the bush, Moses recognized God’s power and holiness. Moses’ response to knowing God was awe and reverence (Exod. 3:5).

After witnessing the ten (10) plagues against Pharaoh and Egypt, Moses’ knowledge was exponentially expanded. As Moses observed (classified) the different ways God dealt with Pharaoh’s resistance, he knew that God was more powerful than any god worshiped in Egypt.

Moses’ knowledge of God through his various experiences resulted in the organized deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt. Their collective response to God was worship and praise (Exodus 15: 1, 11). On the other hand, Pharaoh’s disregard of what he knew of God, led to the destruction of his army (Ex. 14:18). Pharaoh refused to factor in his knowledge of the Holy One.

The Revelation of God

Knowledge of the Holy One is the revelation of God (Ep. 1: 17-18). It shapes our reality so that we conform to the will of God and respond appropriately to the events of life. This knowledge is gained through our personal experiences with Him, through His revealed Word, and through the Holy Spirit.

What shapes our key decisions and choices? What knowledge do we turn to regarding our family, our profession, and our relationships? Are we like Moses or like Pharaoh?

Knowledge of the Holy One reminds us of three things: (1) whose we are (our relationship with God), (2) who we are (our identity in Christ), and (3) how we are to live (in obedience and service to God).

Fear of the Lord (respect, reverence, and obedience) will lead us to wisdom (a disciplined and holy life).

Knowledge of the Holy One (personal experience) will give us godly insight and discernment to navigate 21^st century challenges.

When wisdom enters your heart,

and knowledge is pleasant to your soul;

Discretion will preserve you;

understanding will keep you.

(Prov. 2:10-11, NKJ)

Victorious Living

Where do you get your information?

October 5, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

What’s up?

Well it’s October. The fall is my favorite season. Good-bye bugs and bites! No more 95% humidity and sneezy nose. Bye-bye day light savings time! Better than it being fall, it’s Throwback Wednesday. For those of you who may be new to WordBytes, on Throwback Wednesday, we look at what’s trending in the news or what the hot topic of the week is.

Well if you slept through yesterday, you failed to experience the crash of Facebook and its social media sisters, Instagram, and WhatsApp. Facebook-owned services, WhatsApp and Instagram went down on Monday, for the second time in 2021. This failure left some three billion online users frustrated and unable to connect all over the world. It is reported that Zuckerberg lost nearly $7B alone on the Facebook outage. The outage shut out 2.9 billion Facebook subscribers.

So what did we do when Facebook and her affiliate platforms went down? There are about 3.78 billion social media users worldwide. Social media has become the life blood for us living in the 21^st century. It has become not only a source of information, but also our primary connection with others. This sometimes fosters a false sense of belonging and fellowship. Now really, who has over 20,000 friends? Have you ever asked them for a loan?

Where did you get that from?

That’s the question I usually ask people when they share information that I question. Surprisingly, we look to social media to inform our decision making. “If it’s on the internet, it must be true”. Really?

So where do we, who rely on social media platforms, go to get our information. Is social media the “best” source of truth (that is if you’re looking for truth)? Does it help us “respond” wisely or simply “react”?

According to the Pew Research Center, about a quarter of U.S. adults get most of their news through social media. They recently shared information on “Americans Who Mainly Get Their News on Social Media.” Here are some of their key findings.

1. U.S. adults who mostly get news through social media lag behind others in attention to election and pandemic news.

1. U.S. adults who mostly rely on social media for political news are often less knowledgeable about current events.

1. In addition to lower awareness of current events, social media news users hear more about some unproven claims.

Where do you get your information?

When I opened my email today, I received two invitations to help “inform” me. One was 10 Things You Need to Know Today. They highlight key news stories nationally and internationally. They know where I should focus my attention, right? The “1 Thing I Need to Know Today” is that in Christ Jesus, I live, and move, and have my meaning (Acts 17:28). This one thing guides my actions and thoughts for the day.

The other is The Week. Their subject line states, “Read what the world’s thinking”. I asked myself; “do I really care what the world is thinking?” The only Person’s thinking I’m concerned with is God. So I pray that I have the mind of Christ and joyfully obey His will (Phil. 2:5).

Our continual reliance on social media and the Internet makes it necessary to carefully examine the sources of our information. Believers must especially be intentional in practicing spiritual discernment. Truth and life come from God through Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

We must not only seek truth in all we do, but we must also boldly denounce lies that keep others in darkness (Eph. 5:11). A lie by any other name—alternate view, misstatement, or an error in communication, is still a lie. Its intent is to deceive, mislead, and misrepresent.

So for this month’s Throwback Wednesday, we offer for your reading, “Discernment: Light for Darkened Eyes.” MAY THE TRUTH BE WITH YOU!

Spiritual Discipline

Praying with Purpose: Am I ready for purposeful prayer?

August 18, 2021 ITWMinistries Leave a comment

What we know now

We began this series with the challenge to become more intentional and strategic in our prayers. We do this by praying According to God’s will (1 John 5:14-15), Believing in God’s ability (Matt. 21:21-22), and being Committed to God’s outcome (Hab. 3:17-19). When we pray in this manner, we place our trust in God’s love, His faithfulness, and His sovereignty. Then our prayers become more purposeful.

To pray more purposefully will also require a new attitude. This attitude is based on the recognition that prayer’s power is underwritten by God. It is the connector that releases God’s grace, promises, and power from the spiritual realm into our physical world.

Armed with this knowledge, we can begin to pray knowing that our prayers have the potential to affect change not only in our individual lives but also to change circumstances in the world. This includes the growing uncertainties of 21^st century living.

Purposeful prayer 101

My prayer life, like many others, began one-sided: asking, seeking, and knocking (Matt. 7:7). I invested my time in learning what I thought was the “right way” to pray. I followed the PAPA prayer formula. I prayed the Scriptures. I employed the ACTS model (adoration-confession-thanksgiving-supplications). I wanted to better communicate with God, but I failed to realize what God really wanted. He wanted me to listen.

With all these methods, the common thread is that they lead to a relationship with God. When we’re in relationship with a person, we listen to them hoping to better understand who they are. In prayer, we dialogue with God. God speaks, we listen. We become familiar with His ways: how He operates in the world and in our situation. We understand His intent for our life and how to best serve Him.

Do we actively listen to hear God when we pray? Or do we follow the prayer that leads to our desired end? The Apostle Paul told us that we sometimes don’t know how to pray. Therefore it is the role of the Holy Spirit to guide us or redirect our prayers so they reflect the true will of God (Rom. 8:26-27).

In all seriousness, it is key that believers know that prayer is not just about getting what we want. Prayer is the greater work God has given us to do.

The Greater Work

Oswald Chambers, early-twentieth-century Scottish Baptist evangelist and teacher writes this about prayer:

Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Prayer is the battle, and it makes no difference where you are. However God may engineer your circumstances, your duty is to pray. Never allow yourself this thought, “I am of no use where I am,” because you certainly cannot be used where you have not yet been placed. Wherever God has placed you and whatever your circumstances, you should pray, continually offering up prayers to Him.

Where do I begin?

Believe that God desires to communicate with us (Gen. 35:13). God is not some distant deity disinterested in His children. We cry “Abba Father” knowing He hears our every word (Gal. 4:6).

Know that God wishes to be in relationship with us (James 4:8a). By instituting His plan of salvation, He created the means to restore that which was loss in the Garden of Eden—fellowship with mankind.

Declare your intentions by asking God to help hear His voice. Hearing God is not natural (remember we loss that in the Garden) therefore, we must be intentional (Matt. 11:15). Set aside time to listen for His voice.

Invite Him into time with you and expect to hear (1 John 5:14). If you receive a fleeting impression, a scripture, or a song, don’t ignore it! Ask God to dialogue with you about what you heard.

Purposeful prayer is not a method, but a walk with God where ongoing dialogue occurs. It’s not about doing but it is about being mindful of our relationship with Triune God. It is an exciting time of fellowship and discovery. Are we ready for purposeful prayer?