International Christian Church Quiet Times

Tag: Understanding

  • Who is God?

    Because I struggle with understanding why God does what he does and having faith in His will, it is important for me to study out who God is according to the Bible.  Being a disciple is difficult and there are many emotional and material costs that come with it.  In my pride, I want to view God in a very negative light in order to justify my attitudes about the struggles of being a disciple.  “Why would God create a world where so few would choose Him?” “God feels loved when I’m in pain.” “The world is God’s game.”  These thoughts, though very arrogant and entitled, can very easily be my realities when I begin to trust what I think is true over what the Bible says, and even equate my relationship with my physical father to the relationship I have with God.  The scriptures that follow compose one of my favorite and most important quiet times.

     

    What authority does the Bible have?

    Hebrews 4:12-13

    12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

     

    These thoughts originate in an attitude in my heart that can be dealt with using the Bible.  It is important that I minister to these thoughts because I must give an account of them someday.

    Let’s get started:

     

    Jeremiah 29:11-14

    11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity.[b] I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

     

    God plans to:

    -prosper me

    -not harm me

    -give me hope

    -give me a future

    -listen to me

    -be found by me

     

    definitions:

    “prosper”: to make successful.

    “harm”: have an adverse effect on.

    “hope”: a feeling of trust.

     

    God does not feel loved when I am in pain; harming is not his intention.  Harm does not come from God, for this is simply out of character for Him.  Life’s harm comes from sin; sin from self, the sin of others, and the devil’s schemes all play a part in the hurt one experiences in life.  Harm from the devil that is allowed by God should not be equated to “God harms”, for it is biblically impossible.

     

    1 Timothy 2:3-4

    3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.

     

    God is not laughing when people do not choose Him.  Because discipleship is essentially adoption into God’s house, it hurts God when potential children refuse to have any part with God.  God gives everyone the opportunity (Acts 17:26-28) and desperately wants them to take it.  This can be paired with the Jeremiah 29 scripture as well.  Because God does not want to harm, it would only make sense for Him to want the best for each individual, especially when it comes to salvation.

     

    Genesis 6:5-6

    5 The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. 6 The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled.

     

    Sin is something that God feels very deeply about.  It hurts Him to the point where He would undo a lot of work that He initially found good (Genesis 1).  Because of this fact, humanity is not a “fun” thing for God, nor was it His science experiment.  In fact, this verse might suggest that allowing humanity to live is something of an emotional sacrifice for God.  What’s in it for God? To prosper the creation that he loves very deeply with only a possibility of that creation returning the favor.

     

    Though there are plenty of other scriptures out there on God and who He is, these are a few that really minister to my heart when I’m in times of doubt.

  • Covering Over And Understanding An Offense

    Covering Over And Understanding An Offense

    "An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel." - Proverbs 18:19
    “An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.” – Proverbs 18:19

    Proverbs 18:19
    19 An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel.

    • This is the key scripture.  When someone is offended – they are unyielding.  The plant a flag.  They “stand their ground” on their thoughts, perceptions, and opinions.
    • Am I offended?  Are they offended?  Am I willing to listen?  Are they?

    The question is then, what do the scriptures teach about dealing with someone who is offended?

    Proverbs 17:9
    9 He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.

    • We must repent of repeating the matter(s) between the those that are offended and ourselves – especially within other relationships.  This is like keeping a record of wrongs!  What am I promoting with my speech?  With how I act towards others?  What am I saying about them?
    • It is not healthy for other disciples to get polluted with our own evil suspicions (due to the offense).  We cannot keep repeating to others our negative view, our view of each other, of leaders, of “the church” when we are in a state of mind of being offended.
    • This “repeating” to others leads to us “separating close friends.”  We must be careful and loving and refuse to repeat the matter.  This kind of action is what builds gossip and dissension in the family of God.
    • The fact is that we need not to repeat the offenses that we sense – perceived or very real – except to people who can actually help us with our heart and our sin.

    Proverbs 19:10
    11 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

    • This is where we need to get.  We have to see our LACK of a “THICK SKIN” as UNWISE AND UNLOVING – because the only reason someone will lack patience is because they lack love.
    • Why does the scripture say, “It is to his glory?”  Because patience wins souls.  When you overlook offenses – it’s because you love someone deeply. (1 Peter 4:8)  That kind of mercy is at the heart of wisdom.  This is the kind of wisdom that we need to go after.  This is the kind of wisdom God wants us to have.

    About the Father – how does he deal with us and our offenses?  If we am going to follow Jesus – then we have to be like the Father.  That is what we need to go after – be like Jesus, be like the Father.

    Isaiah 43
    22 “Yet you have not called upon me, O Jacob,
    you have not wearied yourselves for me, O Israel.
    23 You have not brought me sheep for burnt offerings,
    nor honored me with your sacrifices.
    I have not burdened you with grain offerings
    nor wearied you with demands for incense.
    24 You have not bought any fragrant calamus for me,
    or lavished on me the fat of your sacrifices.
    But you have burdened me with your sins
    and wearied me with your offenses.

    25 “I, even I, am he who blots out
    your transgressions, for my own sake,
    and remembers your sins no more.

    This is really deep.  God is saying to his people that they have not called on him – or wearied themselves for him.  The intent here is not “weary” like – Galatians 6 weary – but wore out because you’ve worked so hard for the LORD.  He’s getting weary – worn out and burdened buy their sins.  GOD is right and just in that – we are NOT God.  But this tells me that he totally can relate to me.  When you offend God by sinning against him, even he can get burdened and wearied – even though he is the one who blots out and forgets all our sins.  God understands.

    Isaiah 44:21-23
    21 “Remember these things, O Jacob,
    for you are my servant, O Israel.
    I have made you, you are my servant;
    O Israel, I will not forget you.
    22 I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
    your sins like the morning mist.

    Return to me,
    for I have redeemed you.”
    23 Sing for joy, O heavens, for the LORD has done this;
    shout aloud, O earth beneath.
    Burst into song, you mountains,
    you forests and all your trees,
    for the LORD has redeemed Jacob,
    he displays his glory in Israel.

    It is to God’s glory that he redeemed his people.  That he forgives all their offenses like a cloud and then calls them to return to him.  God forgives and then calls others to return to him.  This is what he does for us.  We need to do this for one another.  Then, we will bring glory to our God and be like him in our relationships!

    Suggest Prayer Focus

    • When I am offended, help me to love deeply and cover over it to promote love.
    • May conflict and offenses when they come be about you and your honor – as well as the salvation of other people – instead of how offended I feel personally.
    • When I admonish, rebuke, encourage, teach and preach – I pray your spirit guides me and gives me the words that will express your heart the clearest, inspiring repentance and obedience in those around me.
    • Help me remember how do you handle the burden of my sins and the offenses I have committed that weary you?  You covered them over with the very blood of your son Jesus for me!  May I reject the heart of the unmerciful servant and be like you!
    Jeremy Ciaramella
    Jeremy Ciaramella