Do You Know, Or Do You KNOW?

One of my greatest pleasures comes from dusting off those "hidden treasures" within the pages of the Word. Through life's twists and turns, I was in search of some major help and big answers. So, as 2014 began, I issued a challenge over Facebook & Twitter for those who would resolve to walk through the Bible with me one time through this calendar year.  Nearly 100 people signed up,  but over the course of 3 weeks, that triple digit number dwindled down to less than 10 active viewers on our Facebook accountability group.

I too struggled to keep up with this "rigorous schedule" of multiple chapters a day.  I mean, who really has time to read the pages of God's word for more than our typical 15 minute allotment, or that 30 second "Word on the Way" from K-LOVE?  As I evaluate, I find that if you do not have enough time to listen to God,  you are doing more things than God wants you to be doing in a day. 

Even though my head grasps this fact,  the endless genealogies and regulations from Genesis on through Deuteronomy really bogged me down!  As a preacher, my job description requires evaluation of God's Word with intent to expository expound some sort of outlined principles each week.   I was evaluating Scripture passages by their ability to be broken down and masterfully reworded rather than searching out the face of the master.  How are these lists going to help me solve my daily problems?  In what way does that genealogy relate to my practical life?  God began to uncover some equal signs through the book of John that would forever change my approach to daily devotions. 

John 1:1  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

GOD = WORD | WORD = GOD

John 17:17  Sanctify them through thy truth:  thy word is truth.

WORD = TRUTH |  TRUTH = WORD

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.

TRUTH = GOD | GOD = TRUTH

John 8:32  And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Knowing truth makes free.

I could continue on, verse after verse, where God equivocates himself with truth and his word. From these statements, I can surmise that there is no truth outside of God and his Word.  Every truth in life will line up perfectly with that Word.  No word from THE WORD will conflict with God and truth,  because God and truth are so intertwined that they are one in the same. GOD = WORD = TRUTH.

Understanding these equivalents dramatically changes the way I can view a devotional time.  For when I open the pages of God's Word,  through the power of the Holy Spirit I am gazing into the very heart of God.  Every word of God is pure and intentional beyond our understanding.  That which we skimmed as inapplicable and removed from modern practicality leads us to a deeper understanding of our Lord and Savior.  Freedom from sin's bondage is not found in a practical book of principles.  John 8:32 indicates "knowing truth" makes us free.  

You see, this word "know" translates from Greek ginosko as more than a perceived knowledge, but rather a personally acquainted relationship.  Ginosko is translated hundreds of times in reference to intimacy between a married couple.  For the Christian and unbeliever alike,  freedom is found in "getting to know" He who IS Truth by uncovering the Word that is Truth.  A simple head-knowledge of practical truth cannot make free.  Otherwise, every member passing through AA would find immediate freedom. As my relationship with Jesus Christ develops,  HE MAKES ME FREE.  Friend,  if you are searching for freedom,  shift your focus as you search the pages of Scripture. Do not open your Bible with the intent to find the magic verse to solve your problems....THE BIBLE IS NOT A SELF-HELP BOOK.  Begin each devotional time with prayer asking, "Father, please show me your face, hand, and heart in these passages.  May your Holy Spirit direct my thoughts and heart as I find you in these pages."  

A Thought On Prayer:

I was reading today on prayer, and a thought really got my attention.  When we pray, we generally take the Mary and Martha approach.  "God if you had been here four days ago, Lazarus wouldn't have died!"  We tell God what we think he should do, and when we think he should do it.

I heard someone pray not too long ago, "God, I know that this [thing] is going to happen and that you have made that very clear...but God....it's just too soon!  I'm not ready!  The people around me aren't ready!"  The man went on to leverage his authority, preferences, and family over the ultimate hand of God.  He even went so far as to question God's leading in the lives of other individuals who were about to make a serious move.

The article I read in correlation with the situation I witnessed scares me to death, because I have done the same thing!  I have even used the authority God has given me to sway people from following God EXACTLY how He wanted them to just because I didn't feel it was the best thing for them or me.

Today I changed the way I pray.  I will continue to let my "requests be made known unto God,"  but now I will change my approach.  "God here are the things I want,  here are the things I think I need, and here is how I think it would be done best...but God,  you're all powerful, all knowing, and all present...so if you decide to lead me and others in a direction contrary to what I (as a student, employee, friend, or even parent) think is best, then change my heart, and prepare me for what you have in store."

Friend, YOU are going to have to ditch your pride, and ALWAYS be ready to admit that you could be wrong.  Even if EVERY sign points in your direction, be humble enough to let God decide and NOT you.  No matter who you are.

Video Challenge Day 10: Mirror Madness!

Man:  Wait wait wait...ummm.. maybe we could take a little time out.  I mean, I think I'm doing pretty good!
God:  You are doing good, but when you look in the mirror, who do you see?
Man: I see me!!!
God: Ok, then I need to keep chiseling away, because ultimately you and others need to see my son. Here we go!

What is your response when you look in the mirror first thing in the morning after you wake up?  I would venture to guess that most of you say something along the lines of "GROSS!"  Our hair is disheveled, our eyes are filled with sleep.  Dark circles surround our eyelids.  The list could go on and on...  Now, after viewing that image, how many of you shrug your shoulders and walk away?  NONE!  A mirror is defined as something that gives a faithful representation of an image.  It reflects what is truly there, not what we imagine ourselves as.  To correct that image requires work.

Science tells us that a mirror is an object that reflects light with little to no diffusion.  Meaning, the light maintains its brightness and purity, just as if it was coming from the source.  I know that a scientific dictionary isn't the Bible, but that definition convicted me!  When people look at me, I should reflect God's light so vividly, that it is almost as bright as if it were Jesus.

The lyrics of "Look Like You," a song by the Stevens Family read, "When I look in the mirror, I don't always like what I see.  An imperfect person (woman) is staring right back at me...Lord we want to look like you"  We are guilty of being like that man in James 1 who is just a hearer of the word and not a doer. He looks at his natural face in the mirror, and leaves not caring what he looked like.  We don't apply the principles of Scripture, and as a result we get discouraged and disheveled.  We desire so desperately to reflect the image we have imagined for ourselves, or the image of another person who in our minds, looks better than us.  God does not create copied masterpieces.  He personally designs individual, unique vessels.  Each for a different purpose.  Stop trying to fit yourself into the mold of one of his other creations! That doesn't make you better!  It makes you bitter.

"I look so stupid.  Why am I shaped like this?  I wish I were different.  Why has my life been molded in this pattern?  Why can't I be... why? Why? Why?" STOP!!!!  My canvas may not be as colorful, elaborate, or celebrated as someone else's.  I'm ok with that so long as when someone see's me, there is no doubt as to who the artist is.  Be a 'doer' of the Word, so that when you and others see you...they don't.  You are fulfilling your purpose if Jesus is mirrored in every detail of your life.  Is he?

Video Challenge Day 9: The Greatest Paradox

God: "You're lazy {chisel}
    ...but you pretend you're really busy. {chisel}"
God:  "you have a problem with lust"
Man: Whoa OK Time Out!  I do NOT have a problem with lust."
God:  "You don't have a problem with lust?"
Man: "No, I can do it any time I want.....ok...


Living a life for Christ is hard, and requires alot of behind the scenes work.  In our lazy nature as humans, we like to carry the tools needed to do the job to make ourselves look busy, when in reality we are working really hard at being lazy.  Amazing how much effort we put into doing nothing isn't it?  Laziness and the lust of sin have all to easily become our addictions.  We are so blinded by pride in our perceived human strength that we fail to recognize our weakness and need of rescue.  As a boy, you look up to super heroes, and you think your dad can do anything.  For a man to admit defeat, show emotion, or ask for help is to show weakness...and men aren't weak...we're STRONG right??

Sampson had great power.  He grew up with great parents.  He had great position in his country.  But at the end of his life, we find him enslaved to his temptation.  No longer do we see the strong judge of Israel.  We now see a bald clown entertaining the Philistines.  Where did he go wrong?  When he refused to surrender his earthly strength to God's omnipotence.

I, like the man in the skit have denied my need for help.  I've made the statement, " I don't have a problem...I can do it any time I want."  It took God a LONG time, and several hardships to teach me that the greatest act of strength, is surrender to God.  What a paradox!  "You will never find victory until you surrender."  How do you know you're addicted?  When your behavior is secret.  When it causes you emotional and mental distress. When your vice is used to deaden painful feelings.  These all will create behaviors deprived of genuineness and commitment.  Please, I'm begging you, don't be like me.  Don't let your temptation develop into an addiction, because addictions will control you and drive you to do imaginable things.  They will create a void that they can never fill.

Are you saying to yourself "I don't have a problem..I can do it any time I want..."  You've already been bitten.  But dear friend, it is NOT too late!  God can restore even the most broken people, if we will just surrender to the master.  He longs to chisel and repair that we might be his original masterpiece.  So what's your choice?

Video Challenge Day 8: The Arnold Palmer Principle

{God continues to chisel...}


God:  You have alot of anger.
Man:  OW!
God: Some pride.
Man:  OW!
God: You compare yourself to others instead of me.
Man: OW!

In the final hole of the 1961 Master's Tournament, the golfing legend Arnold Palmer turned to see his opponents.  The entire game he had maintained a one stroke lead.  As he lined up his final putt he noticed a friend standing at the edge of the viewing line motioning him over.  Feeling pretty good about himself, Arnold decided to take a short breather.  His friend stuck out his hand and said a premature "congratulations" to his inevitable win.  Pride welled up inside Arnold and he returned the hand shake with confidence.  He returned to his ball and missed the shot.  Arnold quoted, "You never forget a mistake like that.  You learn from it, and become determined that you will never do that again."

The concept of life merits many comparisons such as battle, journey, race, or even game.  Paul said he "pressed toward the mark for the prize."  Upon awakening each day, we place ourselves at the starting line, or first hole of the "game." The attitude we assume, and the first steps we make determine our team, and course for the day.  Realize it, or not,  you line up your own shots!  Many of you have made some wise choices this morning.  Maybe you opened the word, and shared some time with God.  You might have performed some selfless acts for your neighbor.  By any standard,  you've got a one stroke lead on the majority of your peers.  At the very moment of that realization, pride sets in.  You see, the funny thing about pride is that it thrives on goodness.

We have done our best to "Christianize" it by telling people, "Look how God has blessed ME!"  But God knows the thoughts and intents of the heart.  2 Corinthians 10:12 warns us that comparing ourselves to others leaves us without understanding.  I believe the source of this natural comparison is rooted in a prideful heart.  Jesus set the ultimate example and commended us to follow after him.  When we fall short of His example we grasp at human comparisons to raise ourselves up. What is it called when we raise ourselves up?  Pride.  Proverbs 16:18 says that pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

Before we accept congratulations for OUR inevitable success, let us realize that every good gift comes from God.  Without him, we are nothing.  And honestly, we were never anything to begin with.  It is ALL JESUS!    Since pride is a natural human reaction, we have all fallen from its heights at some point.  Today, before you climb the mountain of pride and comparisons, induce your own fall into the arms of Jesus.  Living by HIS standards, and not those of individuals.

Video Challenge Day 6: Talk Talk Talk...

Man:  {babbling on and on about wanting God to chisel in particular areas to help his outward appearance...}

God:  Alright, are you gonna talk or can I chisel?  Talk? Chisel? Talk? Chisel?  Talk? Chisel?

Man: No no no...Chisel!

God:  Alright?  Most of my children just like to talk....

Research shows that on average outside of the workplace, every male speaks about 6,073 words per day, and ever female approximately 8,805. (give, not take a few thousand :)  With an average speaking rate of 120 words per minute, we would spend about an hour and fifteen minutes in non-stop speech taking no breaths.  Have you ever known THAT person?  The one who talked and talked pouring thousands of useless details into a simple answer?  You try to communicate back with them, but you can't get a word in!  I remember back in elementary school we had a girl in our class named Allison.  At one point she was asked a True or False question in a verbal quiz.  She proceeded to answer a TRUE OR FALSE question for FIFTEEN MINUTES!  As humans we thrive on networking, and speech is a huge part of that.  Nearly every activity we participate in, whether eating, shopping, athletic events, or games are centered around vocal conversation.

In the skit, man begins to babble on and on to God about things he has done and tried.  If you watch closely, God opens his mouth in an attempt to speak, but is silenced by the ongoing one way conversation of man.  This convicted me greatly!  How often do we treat our relationship with God like a voice mail?  We call in when we wake up and just before we go to bed and leave him a two minute recording with all the things we wanted to say.  Throughout the day we shoot God a quick text while we're on the road and before we eat, just to remind him of the things we mentioned earlier and maybe something that new that popped in our minds.  God patiently listens, but desperately longs for us to open the Word so he can speak back!

The statement, "Most of my children just like to talk" is SO true.  The challenge is this:  Average it out.  How many minutes per day do you spend talking to God as opposed to how many you spend allowing him to talk back?  John 10:27 says that God's sheep KNOW his voice.  If you struggle to recognize the voice of God, maybe it's because you haven't given him the chance to talk in a while. Talk? Chisel? Talk? Chisel? Talk? Chisel?

Video Challenge Day 5: Dead Weight

Man:  "Hey, um... what's this about?"
God:  "These are the tools I'm going to use to make you into my original masterpiece."
Man:  "Oh, ok...HANG ON?....I thought you were a carpenter."
God:  "That's my son.  Here we go. Step right up. here we go."
Man: "Whoa whoa whoa...how do you know what to chisel and what to leave?"
God:  "I take out all the things in your life that are not of ME.  Kinda like dead weight."
Man:  "Oh..speaking of that...could you chisel right in here?"

Two runners approach the starting line.  Both have trained an equal amount of time, and are by any standard, matched in skill and endurance.  The runner to our left leans to take his starting position.  On him you will notice a light weight jogging suit, a cap to keep hair and sweat out of his eyes, and the cleats especially designed for this type of racing.  Then, we glance at the runner to our right.  We recognize him by his normal, everyday attire: loose jeans, cowboy boots, and a hoodie. On his wrist I notice the heavy watch he never goes anywhere without, and on his back I see his backpack.  Now, you tell me.  Who wins the race?

Hebrews 12:1-2 says "Wherefore, seeing we are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher..."

Each day as we take our starting positions to begin the endurance race called life, we must determine what we will put on and take off.  The passage above said that we must lay aside every weight AND the sin that easily trips us up.  As born again children of God, the "sin subject" is easy for us to swallow.  Each of us could look at our lives and say, "I know that lying, coveting, and gossip are sin, and I need to let go of those today."  Easy enough because those things are clearly defined in the Bible.  But if you read carefully, the Scripture didn't just say to lay aside the SIN...it said EVERY WEIGHT AND the sin.  In our Christian lives, there are certain things we want to hold on to, that aren't necessarily wrong, but have become a weight hindering us from pursuing Jesus.  Are jeans, cowboy boots, backpacks, and watches wrong?  NO!  But they are unneeded weights that hold back any runner.

In the skit, God says, "I take out all the things that are not of me.  Kinda like dead weight."  How often does God attempt to chisel some things from our life in order that we might run better, but we spend all of our time monopolizing control instead of allowing him to work and provide?  What is your dead weight that you just won't let go?  Money, entertainment, a job,  relationships, ect... At times, these things we love...good things...weigh us down, and God asks for us to just let him have them.  Do we really NEED them anyway? Today as you dig into the  Word, allow God free reign with his chisel.  Don't get on the defensive when he tries to chisel away something, because in the long run, He always provides.  What is holding you back from going where God wants to you to go?  Every thing, no matter how harmless, no matter how big or small, has the potential to speed you up, or slow you down.  "God, please chisel away the dead weight that I can't see."

Video Challenge Day 4: Q&A/Question for Question

God: "I'm not so much into playing games...why are you so much into playing games?"
Man: "You are God."
God: "What gave it away?"
Man: "You answered my question with a question."
God: "I did? 
     Yep! I do that! Don't I?
      See I did it again!"
God: "Step right up, here we go."




Asking the right questions takes as much skill as giving the right answers.  If I were to ask you, "what is the first sentence that pops into your mind when I say the word: psychiatrist?"  Most would answer, "How does that make you feel?"  Psychiatrists, counselors, teachers, and parents alike are infamous for responding to questions and complaints with different questions. Posing the right question in response to the questioner is not only the most effective teaching tool, it is an art form that can create a successful communicator.  We ask questions, not because we do not know the answers, but because we desire the questioner to feed themselves the answers.

God is the inventor of this ingenious tool, and uses it over and over in Scripture.  In Genesis 3, we find God walking into the garden for his daily time with Adam and Eve.  Though God in his omniscience already knew what had transpired in the garden that day, He calls out, "Adam!?  Where are you!?"   Adam pauses, realizing the depth of this question.  God did not just want to know his physical location, he wanted to know the location of his heart.  With angst in his voice, Adam replies.  "God, I'm afraid and I'm naked..."  By God asking the right question, he causes us to expose our own nakedness and fear.

Job's friends had questioned, and spoke on behalf of God.  Through the trials Job went through we find him demanding answers from God.  While God could have easily answered Job's questions, God wanted Job to realize and establish God's greatness through Job's own thoughts.  So, throughout chapters 38 and 39 He asks Job close to 50 different questions as if to say, "Job, when you can answer these questions, THEN you are fit to question me."

In the midst of our problems, with a childlike attitude we have each approached God with the question "WHY?"  His answer, though not what we would prefer, has been to ask us a question in return. God says, "Step right up..." or as he told Job, "gird up your loins."  In essence, God is telling us to get up and get ready because this next part is going to require some effort.  For all of our questions, those of a spiritual, emotional, physical, or relational nature, God has said, "Is anything too hard for me?"  We have realized our nakedness as sinners, and demanded God's answers. So, are we prepared for the questions he has in return?

Video Challenge Day 3: Games with God

Man: "If you're God, then make it snow in here."
God: "You know if I made it snow in here it would get kind of yucky and I really don't want to do that."
Man: "See!  You're not God..."
God: "Why do you say that?"
Man: "God wouldn't say yucky."
God: "Yes, I do - it's a Greek word."
Man: "Oh....ok....Well if you're God then what does Lamentations 15:9 say?"
God: "Lamentations is a very short book. It only has five chapters."
Man: "Why is it so short?"
God: "Because I was tired of lamenting."
Man: "Oh...OK! If you're God, then who's going to win the World Series?"
God: "You know what?  I'm not so much into playing games..."


Doubt. Questions. Discouragement. Worry. We could list these nouns under the heading "Confusion."  Maybe you have been like me and asked - "God, am I really saved?  WHY ME?!  God, I'm so down...if you loved me you wouldn't put me through this.  God what am I going to do?  I just don't see a way out and you just haven't showed up yet!"  So often we want to blame God for these thoughts of confusion that pass through our minds.  But when we examine the Word we find His promise "I am not the author of confusion."  So now we have to ask ourselves, "where do these thoughts and emotions come from?"

The answer to this age old question is simple, but the solution is complex.  In Genesis we find the king of games, the king of confusion, and the king of questions - Satan.  As a serpent he approaches Eve and installs just enough confusion to get the process started, and then he let her mind process on its own.  Just like the man in the skit, Satan says "God wouldn't say that would he?"  In Matthew 4 we find the king of games attempting to confuse Jesus himself.  He tries to use God's own Word against him.  Here's where the typical human thing comes in and we say, "AHA!  Satan is the cause of all my problems!  I'm good!"

Wrong.  The source of the problem is in fact....us.  We are constantly playing games with God! We don't  know the voice of God, so when he speaks we question his words.  We attempt, as self proclaimed Bible scholars to use His own Word against him!  How foolish are we?  Just like the man in the skit we ask God questions, not because we want to know the answer...but because deep down, we do not trust him.  We actually think we are smarter than Him sometimes.  Today let us realize that mind games, and word plays will not trick the creator of the universe.  God isn't into playing games, so why are we?

Challenge:  Accept God's Word for what it really is.  Don't play games with God.

Video Challenge Day 2: KNOW IT!

Recap:  Man has realized his spiritual need for God’s chisel, and goes to God in prayer.

Man:  “Mold me into the image of your Son so that I can be your masterpiece.”
[God appears]
God: "Hi."
Man:  “Whoa!  Who are you?”
God:  “I’m God.”
Man:  “No you’re not!”
God:  “Yeah, you just said the prayer, so here I am.  That’s how it works.”
Man:  “Ok. Ok. If you’re God….then make it snow in here….”

In John 14:13-14, Jesus says that WHATEVER we ask in his name, that he will do that the Father may be glorified in the Son. Again, in Matthew 7:7 we are reminded, “Ask, and it shall be given, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened.”  To God, prayer is a pretty important thing!  In fact, it is so significant to God that he mentioned the concept of prayer well over 500 times in His Word.  Our Heavenly Father so desires a relationship with us that he has given us the opportunity to boldly walk before the throne! Yet, how often do we ignore that privilege, or attempt to use it for our own personal gain?  Why do we do this?  Because we do not actually believe God will do what he says he will do.

I’m reminded of John 20 where we find Mary at the tomb of a risen Savior.  For the past three years, Christ has prepared their hearts, and reminded them of the prophecy that he would in fact die, and he would definitely rise again.  But, at the first sign of trouble, his words of encouragement instantly vanished from their memories.  Here on the third day, Mary is questioning a man who appears to be a gardener about the location of her Lord’s body. Then, when he speaks her name, it suddenly clicks. THIS IS JESUS!

How often are we like Mary?  We find ourselves in despair and through sheer habit, we vainly call on God to fix the problem.  Then, as if He’s never done this before – He shows up!  How sad, that just like the video, and just like scripture passage, when God shows up, we don’t even recognize him.  We are so unfamiliar with him that we ask him for stupid signs. So, how do we maintain heaven’s perspective on our problems?  We must KNOW His Word.  To know is to believe, and to act upon. Recognize it. Remember it. Realize it is Him, so you can Reuse it every time.  Never allow the noise of this world to cause you to forget the voice of God.  If you truly know what God’s voice sounds like, you will never make a wrong decision.

Challenge:  Know God’s voice, because you have lived in it.