About Me
- Sid
- I want to grow as a leader, and I want to help others grow. Sharing my thoughts on leadership is intended to help us grow together into all God wants for us. I hope you enjoy my blog.
Monday, January 20, 2020
Hunger and Thirst - Part 2
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matt.5:6.
The beatitudes are attitudes for a blessed life. Jesus wants each of us to live a blessed life, and He has shown us the way to experience blessing everyday. To be blessed is to be happy, fortunate, and to be envied. This life is the life that everyone longs for, and admires in others. It is a life to be envied, because it seems that through every circumstance, these attitudes carry you through and continue to reflect the life of Christ. They bring satisfaction and fulfillment in life, and freedom from anxiety and fear and hopelessness.
The attitude of hunger and thirst for righteousness is essential for a believer. In every day and in every circumstance the believer is calling out for God to bless, and guide, and strengthen. It is continually leaning on God and trusting for God's provision. It is living out of a living relationship with God, that gets ever stronger, because of hunger and thirst. The more of God you experience, the more you want! The more you experience the goodness of God, the more you want of it, and are unwilling to live without.
Our hunger and thirst for God is our most precious attitude, as it causes us to cry out to God for more. To lose our hunger and thirst is a very serious problem that must be remedied. What are the things that take away hunger from the body? Usually sickness is the main thing that takes away hunger. You know something is wrong when there is no hunger. Spiritually, there are some things that can dampen our spiritual hunger, such as bitterness, anger, quarrelling, evil speaking, and malice, Eph. 4:31. Getting angry at others, and upset with what someone else has done can cause you to lose your hunger for God, and you become so focused on what happened to you. The answer for this is found in the next verse: "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you."
Poison will take away hunger. Spiritually, our hearts get poisoned by gossip and complaining. "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another." Gal. 5:15. I must protect my own hunger and thirst by not entering into gossip and talking negatively about my brothers and sisters. Food poisoning will destroy hunger. When we bring into our life teaching that is false and not based on the Word of God, it brings deception and causes disillusionment. I have promised the Lord that I will not listen to teaching that is focused on bringing down another ministry. Our ministry should always build up and lead others closer to Jesus.
"As new born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby." 1 Pet. 2:2. Nurture your hunger and thirst for God and let it grow. Cry out to God for His fullness, and He will fill you until you are satisfied.
"He who is satiated (with sensual pleasures) loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet." Pro. 27:7 AMPC
Hunger and Thirst
Hunger and Thirst
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6. The beatitudes are attitudes we need for everyday life. It is not that we learn them once, and never have to return to them. They are needed for each new situation and circumstance we encounter. They are attitudes that reflect the character of Christ. They are attitudes that take us through life with wisdom and understanding. They build strong relationships with others, because they are not self centered, but rather they bring a blessing to those you encounter.
To hunger and thirst is a natural part of life. Hunger and thirst is essential for life and growth. Your life is dependent upon your hunger and thirst. To not be hungry or thirsty is a sign that something has gone seriously wrong. Without hunger and thirst, a person is suffering from sickness, or some serious condition, that if not remedied, will ultimately lead to death. But we must be careful how we fulfill our hunger and thirst. If I consume the wrong things to satisfy my hunger, I will do damage to my body. If I fill myself with junk food and pop, I may get the feeling that I am full, but I have not taken in the nutrition I need for health. And so spiritually, my heart is hungry for the presence of God in my life. But if I reach for other things, and don't reach out to God to satisfy my hunger, I may feel full, but this will not satisfy the hunger of my heart. I must protect my hunger for God, and not allow my hunger to be fed with other things.
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance." Isa. 55:1,2. Why would a person spend their paycheck on all kinds of things, but have no food to eat? This is like a child of God who spends all their time and effort on other things, and have not called out to God to satisfy the longings of their soul. We need to listen carefully to God. God is speaking to every child of God, and desiring to lead them into a life of abundance and satisfaction. But we must listen carefully to God's voice. He has set a table before us, so we can come and dine with Him, and taste and see of His goodness.
Life offers us a table to eat from. Some things are good, some things are rotten, and some things are poisonous. If you were invited to eat at a table which had some good things, some rotten things, and some poisonous things, you would become very careful about which things you ate. And so as believers, we must be very careful about what we consume into our lives from this world. There are many good things that God has provided, but the rotten things will make us spiritually sick, and the poisonous things will bring death.
Satisfy your hunger and thirst with the things of God. Call out to God in prayer and worship, read the Word of God, and take time to fellowship with others who will build you up and encourage your life.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." Matt. 5:6. The beatitudes are attitudes we need for everyday life. It is not that we learn them once, and never have to return to them. They are needed for each new situation and circumstance we encounter. They are attitudes that reflect the character of Christ. They are attitudes that take us through life with wisdom and understanding. They build strong relationships with others, because they are not self centered, but rather they bring a blessing to those you encounter.
To hunger and thirst is a natural part of life. Hunger and thirst is essential for life and growth. Your life is dependent upon your hunger and thirst. To not be hungry or thirsty is a sign that something has gone seriously wrong. Without hunger and thirst, a person is suffering from sickness, or some serious condition, that if not remedied, will ultimately lead to death. But we must be careful how we fulfill our hunger and thirst. If I consume the wrong things to satisfy my hunger, I will do damage to my body. If I fill myself with junk food and pop, I may get the feeling that I am full, but I have not taken in the nutrition I need for health. And so spiritually, my heart is hungry for the presence of God in my life. But if I reach for other things, and don't reach out to God to satisfy my hunger, I may feel full, but this will not satisfy the hunger of my heart. I must protect my hunger for God, and not allow my hunger to be fed with other things.
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance." Isa. 55:1,2. Why would a person spend their paycheck on all kinds of things, but have no food to eat? This is like a child of God who spends all their time and effort on other things, and have not called out to God to satisfy the longings of their soul. We need to listen carefully to God. God is speaking to every child of God, and desiring to lead them into a life of abundance and satisfaction. But we must listen carefully to God's voice. He has set a table before us, so we can come and dine with Him, and taste and see of His goodness.
Life offers us a table to eat from. Some things are good, some things are rotten, and some things are poisonous. If you were invited to eat at a table which had some good things, some rotten things, and some poisonous things, you would become very careful about which things you ate. And so as believers, we must be very careful about what we consume into our lives from this world. There are many good things that God has provided, but the rotten things will make us spiritually sick, and the poisonous things will bring death.
Satisfy your hunger and thirst with the things of God. Call out to God in prayer and worship, read the Word of God, and take time to fellowship with others who will build you up and encourage your life.
Tuesday, June 19, 2018
What To Do On Your Way To A Miracle
The prophet Elisha used to pass by a certain village where there lived a woman and her husband. As often as he passed by, he would stop there and eat food. The woman said to her husband that they should build a small room, and put in a bed, a table and a chair, and a lampstand for the man of God. So one day when Elisha came, he turned in there and stayed in the room prepared for him. Elisha wanted to do something for the kindness that this woman had shown to him, so he asked what he could do for her. But she was content with what she had. Gehazi, Elisha's servant said, "Actually she has no son, and her husband is old." Upon hearing this, Elisha told the woman, "About this time next year you shall embrace a son." At the appointed time given by the prophet, the woman gave birth to a son.
A few years later, the son was out with his father in the field, and complained about his head. The father had him brought to his mother, and he sat on her lap until noon and then died. Can you imagine what the mother felt when her son died. But the mother did something very unusual. She laid the boy on the bed prepared for the man of God, and closed the door, and went to see her husband. She asked for a donkey and a young man to go see the man of God. Upon asking her why she wanted to go, she answered, "It is well."
As they approached the place where the man of God was, he sent out his servant Gehazi to inquire what was wrong. He asked her, "Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?" And she answered, "It is well."
When she finally arrived where Elisha was, she held onto his feet, and Elisha realized she was in deep distress. He soon realized there was something wrong with the child, and ordered Gehazi to go on ahead and lay his staff on the child. Gehazi went ahead and did this, and returned with bad news saying, "The child has not awakened." This was another setback for the woman. Elisha finally arrived at the house, and stretched himself out on the child, and the child became warm. Then again he stretched himself on the child, and the child revived, and was given to his mother.
The woman knew there was a miracle for her, if she could get to the man of God. Her faith said, "It is well", while she was in deep distress. She trusted God while she was on her way to a miracle. This is one of the toughest places to be in the Christian life. You know God can do anything, and you believe that nothing is impossible, yet you have not yet experienced your miracle. The attitude of the heart needs to be like this Shunammite woman, who refused to be denied her miracle. Even after the setbacks that she faced, she was unwavering in her faith in God. She would not talk about her need except to the one who could do something about it. She was persistant and wouldn't give up in the face of adversity. She knew God had the answer. She showed us what to do on the way to a miracle.
A few years later, the son was out with his father in the field, and complained about his head. The father had him brought to his mother, and he sat on her lap until noon and then died. Can you imagine what the mother felt when her son died. But the mother did something very unusual. She laid the boy on the bed prepared for the man of God, and closed the door, and went to see her husband. She asked for a donkey and a young man to go see the man of God. Upon asking her why she wanted to go, she answered, "It is well."
As they approached the place where the man of God was, he sent out his servant Gehazi to inquire what was wrong. He asked her, "Is it well with you? Is it well with your husband? Is it well with the child?" And she answered, "It is well."
When she finally arrived where Elisha was, she held onto his feet, and Elisha realized she was in deep distress. He soon realized there was something wrong with the child, and ordered Gehazi to go on ahead and lay his staff on the child. Gehazi went ahead and did this, and returned with bad news saying, "The child has not awakened." This was another setback for the woman. Elisha finally arrived at the house, and stretched himself out on the child, and the child became warm. Then again he stretched himself on the child, and the child revived, and was given to his mother.
The woman knew there was a miracle for her, if she could get to the man of God. Her faith said, "It is well", while she was in deep distress. She trusted God while she was on her way to a miracle. This is one of the toughest places to be in the Christian life. You know God can do anything, and you believe that nothing is impossible, yet you have not yet experienced your miracle. The attitude of the heart needs to be like this Shunammite woman, who refused to be denied her miracle. Even after the setbacks that she faced, she was unwavering in her faith in God. She would not talk about her need except to the one who could do something about it. She was persistant and wouldn't give up in the face of adversity. She knew God had the answer. She showed us what to do on the way to a miracle.
Integrity
David revealed both the blessing he experienced, as well as the suffering he went through. In Ps. 41 the demonic realm was attacking him. His enemies said, "When will he die, and his name perish?" The enemy's desire is to kill, steal, and destroy. David says that if the enemy comes to see him, he speaks lies, and then goes out and tells it. They whisper against him and devise ways to hurt him. "An evil disease" they say, "clings to him, and now that he lies down, he will rise up no more." And above all this, David's own familiar friend in whom he trusted, who are bread together, lifted up his heel against David. This was most likely Ahithophel, who betrayed David and went to help Saul. There are times of attack in the Christian life, where we experience what Peter talked about in 1 Peter 5:8, "...your adversary the devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." David's answer in Ps. 41:12 is this, "As for me, You uphold me in my integrity, and set me before Your face forever." Because of the integrity of David's heart, the enemy was not able to get ahold of David. Integrity upheld and saved David's life.
The word integrity comes from the word integer, which means a whole number. To have integrity means to be in a state of being whole, entire, or undiminished. It is adherence to moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character, honesty. It is a heart that stays devoted to God through times of pressure that try to force you to do something out of character. In Ps. 25:21 David said, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on You." Integrity will preserve you and keep you. King Abimelech took Sarah when Abraham journeyed to the south. The Lord appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and told him, "Indeed you are a dead man..." But Abimelech thought Sarah was Abraham's sister, and said, "In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this." And the Lord said, "Yes I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her." Though Abimelech did the wrong thing, he was preserved because of the integrity of his heart.
"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity..." Ps. 26:1. David was kept and protected by God because he walked in integrity of heart. Vs. 8, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells." This was David's first love, even during times of temptation and pressure to conform to what the people around him were doing. He desired for the Lord to examine him, and try his mind and his heart. Ps. 26:11, "But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me."
Satan is out to destroy your integrity. Job had gone through trials that destroyed everything he had, and finally even his health, as he sat scraping his boils with a piece of potsherd. His wife had long passed the point of holding onto integrity of heart. Her words to Job were, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die." Job 2:9. The battle was over Job's integrity, and whether he would hold onto God through the loss of everything. We have heard of the patience of Job, but have you heard of the patience of Job's wife? Her advice was to curse God and die. Integrity will preserve you even through the harshest of trials. Hold onto your integrity!
The word integrity comes from the word integer, which means a whole number. To have integrity means to be in a state of being whole, entire, or undiminished. It is adherence to moral and ethical principles, soundness of moral character, honesty. It is a heart that stays devoted to God through times of pressure that try to force you to do something out of character. In Ps. 25:21 David said, "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on You." Integrity will preserve you and keep you. King Abimelech took Sarah when Abraham journeyed to the south. The Lord appeared to Abimelech in a dream at night and told him, "Indeed you are a dead man..." But Abimelech thought Sarah was Abraham's sister, and said, "In the integrity of my heart and innocence of my hands I have done this." And the Lord said, "Yes I know that you did this in the integrity of your heart. For I also withheld you from sinning against Me; therefore I did not let you touch her." Though Abimelech did the wrong thing, he was preserved because of the integrity of his heart.
"Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have walked in my integrity..." Ps. 26:1. David was kept and protected by God because he walked in integrity of heart. Vs. 8, "Lord, I have loved the habitation of Your house, and the place where Your glory dwells." This was David's first love, even during times of temptation and pressure to conform to what the people around him were doing. He desired for the Lord to examine him, and try his mind and his heart. Ps. 26:11, "But as for me, I will walk in my integrity; Redeem me and be merciful to me."
Satan is out to destroy your integrity. Job had gone through trials that destroyed everything he had, and finally even his health, as he sat scraping his boils with a piece of potsherd. His wife had long passed the point of holding onto integrity of heart. Her words to Job were, "Do you still hold fast to your integrity? Curse God and die." Job 2:9. The battle was over Job's integrity, and whether he would hold onto God through the loss of everything. We have heard of the patience of Job, but have you heard of the patience of Job's wife? Her advice was to curse God and die. Integrity will preserve you even through the harshest of trials. Hold onto your integrity!
Monday, February 8, 2016
The Gates of Hell
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Israel. One of the places I was looking forward to seeing was Caesarea Philippi. We drove up the 35 miles or so from the Sea of Galilee to the place that is today called Banias. There we saw a large rock face with a cave in it. Our tour guide told us this cave was known as the gate of hell. Previously it had a stream running out of it. Why did Jesus walk up to this place with His disciples? We read in Matt 16:13-18, "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.'" The name Peter was petros in Greek, meaning a little stone. The word rock was petra in Greek, meaning a huge boulder. Jesus was standing in front of this huge rock face, with the gate of hell in the background, and here He revealed Himself as the Christ, the Son of God. On this rock of revelation Jesus will build His church. Peter, as a stone, will be a part of this building, just as every believer is a living stone, being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 2:5. This church, this huge rock, will never be overcome by the gates of hell. The kingdom of darkness will never be victorious over, or prevail against the church. He gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven with the power to bind and to loose. He holds the keys of hell and of death, and is alive forevermore, Rev. 1:18. You are victorious over all the power of hell through the revelation of who Jesus is. In Him, and through Him, we overcome every power of darkness. The church will be victorious until Jesus comes!
My wife and I recently returned from a trip to Israel. One of the places I was looking forward to seeing was Caesarea Philippi. We drove up the 35 miles or so from the Sea of Galilee to the place that is today called Banias. There we saw a large rock face with a cave in it. Our tour guide told us this cave was known as the gate of hell. Previously it had a stream running out of it. Why did Jesus walk up to this place with His disciples? We read in Matt 16:13-18, "When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples saying, 'Who do men say that I, the Son of Man am?' So they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter answered and said, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.'" The name Peter was petros in Greek, meaning a little stone. The word rock was petra in Greek, meaning a huge boulder. Jesus was standing in front of this huge rock face, with the gate of hell in the background, and here He revealed Himself as the Christ, the Son of God. On this rock of revelation Jesus will build His church. Peter, as a stone, will be a part of this building, just as every believer is a living stone, being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ, 1 Pet. 2:5. This church, this huge rock, will never be overcome by the gates of hell. The kingdom of darkness will never be victorious over, or prevail against the church. He gave us the keys of the kingdom of heaven with the power to bind and to loose. He holds the keys of hell and of death, and is alive forevermore, Rev. 1:18. You are victorious over all the power of hell through the revelation of who Jesus is. In Him, and through Him, we overcome every power of darkness. The church will be victorious until Jesus comes!
Monday, April 20, 2015
You Owe Me
"You owe me." How often have you had the feeling toward someone that they owe you something? Maybe you loaned them some money, and they have avoided paying you back. The feeling of "You owe me" usually leads to anger. We have an unmet expectation, and we are dealing with anger about the situation. Jesus told the story of a man in Matt. 18 who owed a debt of about $10,000,000. Unable to pay, he cried out to his master saying, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you all." The master was moved with compassion, and forgave the debt. However, that servant went out and found a man who owed him a small debt of about $20. He took him by the throat and required the debt to be paid. The man cried out and said, "Have patience with me, and I will pay you all." But he would not forgive, nor have patience with the man. His heart cry was, "You owe me", which produced great anger and impatience. It may not be only money that makes us feel that someone owes us. We may feel that someone owes us an apology, or an explanation. We may feel hurt by someone's words, or actions, and feel they should make it right with us. Eph. 4:26 says, "Be angry, and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your wrath." Anger is an emotion that we will all experience, however Paul says to deal with it quickly in a way that is not sinful. We may never receive the apology, or the money may never be paid back. Perhaps the person who owes us has passed away, or is indifferent to the situation. What do we do with our anger? How do we deal with the unmet expectations? Malice will be the reoccurring attitude where there is unresolved anger. Malice is ill will, spite, and a desire to inflict injury, harm or suffering on another. 1 Pet. 2:1 says, "Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking." We must find God's grace to forgive, lest a root of bitterness rises up and causes trouble. We must realize that an unpayable debt was forgiven in our lives, and therefore we can turn to our neighbour and forgive the small debts that occur in this life. Col. 3:8 says, "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth." This is only possible as we let God fill our hearts with His mercy and love. Then from a heart of mercy we can extend forgiveness to those who owe us.
Let Us Keep The Feast
"Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." 1 Cor. 5:8. There were 7 feasts that Israel was to celebrate each year. The first feast was Passover, the celebration of their deliverance from death in Egypt. Because they applied the blood of the lamb to their doorposts, death passed over them. The Passover pointed to the coming of Christ as 1 Cor. 5:7 says, "...For indeed Christ, our Passover was sacrificed for us." Following the Passover, they were to celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread for 7 days. For 7 days they were to have no leaven in their bread. They would eat only flat unleavened bread. Jesus also spoke of leaven when He warned His disciples of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. He said the leaven of the Pharisees was hypocrisy. A hypocrite was one who acted in a play, and pretended to be someone else. The Pharisees acted as though they were holy and without fault, but Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and knew the true motives of their heart. Jesus also spoke of the leaven of Herod in Mark 8:15. Herod bowed to peer pressure when he ordered the execution of John the Baptist. He did not act out of sincerity of heart, but was swayed by the opinions of others. He did what was wrong in order to gain the approval of others. Paul tells us we should keep the feast, but not with the old leaven. He doesn't want us to literally remove the yeast from our homes, but he wants us to remove the leaven from our hearts. The leaven of malice and wickedness needs to be cleaned out of our hearts. Malice is ill will and spite, the desire to inflict injury and harm on another. It is mentioned in Eph. 4:31 along with bitterness, wrath, anger, quarreling, and evil speaking. From the word malice we get the word malignant. Something that is malignant has the ability to bring harm and damage, and malice will bring damage into our lives. Paul says to clean out the old leaven, and don't leave any of it, because a little leaven leavens the whole lump. Even a little bitterness and resentment can poison our life and keep us from bearing the fruit God desires for us. "Therefore let us keep the feast....with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth."
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