WHAT KIND OF ESCAPIST ARE YOU?

We are all escapists of some kind. We want to escape the cares of this world, problems, sorrows, suffering of any kind, unless you have something mentally wrong with you and enjoy pain! We are all motivated in every single thing we do by wanting to escape something. For example, we lose weight because we want to escape the judgment of others or the health risks that come with being overweight. We go to work because we want to escape poverty and suffering that goes with that. Many times Christians, who believe in the full redemption of Christ through His finished work, being consummated in the rapture (catching up to be with Him forever, John 14:3, 1 Thess. 4:13-17, 1 Cor. 15:49-54), of the church, are said to be just "escapists" and somehow want to avoid the sufferings of Christ. I decided to do a word study on the word "escape" to clarify what the Bible says we should, as believers, escape and what we will not escape, and who will escape what. I encourage you whenever you hear arguments of different belief systems or teachers to do that. Study all that the Word has to say about it. In fact, in this day, when the meanings of words are being so skewed and changed, it's a good idea to look up word definitions and think critically of many ways words are used. We are manipulated and persuaded by a word sometimes.

First of all there are "straw-man arguments" that people set up. They then tear down their own straw man and nobody catches on to what they are doing. Their argument makes sense to those who hear, so they don't check it out any further. After all, they used Scripture! So does the devil. I've learned, after listening to too many of those type of arguments to go to the Word to research it myself to see if these things be so. What's the real argument? What's the real issue? Are they accurately portraying that? Or are they setting up a false premise?

Many times the escapist argument is set up on a false premise. It is a straw-man argument. Christians throughout history have not escaped suffering. The true believer, though suffering is not what he wants, is willing to endure suffering for the Savior He loves, and counts it a privilege to be considered "worthy to suffer for His name." He is willing out of love and gratefulness to all that His Savior has done for him to suffer for Him, if need be, though does not go looking for it. Those who say "those escapists just don't want to suffer" have a false premise and misrepresent those who believe they will escape the tribulation period of 7 years of God's wrath on this earth. In fact, I used to say that myself, because I had not understanding of what the tribulation is, and what the sufferings of Christ are. The Bible tells us all that live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer. Yes, there are those Christians who think God should only bless them in this world and look for an escape to any suffering or trial, because they see God as some sort of good luck charm rather than having a true understanding of Who He is and what He calls us to. As living in a fallen world, we suffer many things just as the world does. Just being a Christian in an ungodly world will cause you to suffer, because the world hates Him and so hates those who truly believe in, trust, and follow Him and His true teachings. As the world grows more and more ungodly and takes on more of the nature of the flesh and the devil, they will all the more persecute Christians. Does the Bible say we will escape that? No. In fact in many places the Lord warns and assures us that if the world hated Him it will hate us, and that we will be persecuted. Paul tells us, "For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake," (Philippians 1:29). As Christians, then, we can expect the tribulation in this world that Christ suffered. This is our time, as believers, of tribulation, since Christ was crucified. If we are living truly for Christ, we won't escape that unless we hide ourselves away somewhere alone and never interact with the lost world. This world is the Christian's time of tribulation. It is not judgment, except from the world, and it is not a "finishing of our salvation" to make us "without spot or wrinkle" as though we had to go through an earthly purgatory to be ready for the Lord's coming. This negates the finished work of Christ, and adds to His redemption. If you are trusting in anything other than that work alone, you will find it comes up short when you stand before a holy God.

Non-believers should expect to suffer for their sin, and be judged for it ultimately. This they will not escape. The only escape from this judgment of His wrath against sin, is beforehand, when His grace and mercy is held out to them, drawing them to His free salvation, calling them to become one of His own dear children, simply by faith in His precious blood that was shed for them. If they refuse this, there is no more escape for them when the time of judgment comes.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:26)
how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, (Hebrews 2:3)
See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. (Hebrews 12:25)

Is the Christian to endure a time that the Lord calls "the day of the Lord" - which is a time of wrath prepared especially for this unbelieving world? Do we need some extra "purifying" that Christians throughout history have not had by going through thee time of tribulation "that is to come upon all the "whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth?" This time has been called "the time of Jacob's trouble" or "the day of judgment?" How did Christians somehow make it to heaven in the past without this extra "purgatory" to cleanse them? What does the Bible say about this time regarding Christians? I believe it clearly says we will be delivered from that hour of trial, tribulation, that is to come on this world in the rapture of the church before His wrath is poured out.

"and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:10)
"For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ," (1 Thessalonians 5:9)
"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth." (Revelation 3:10)

Yes, Christians are "escapists" if they believe in the power of the redemption of Jesus Christ, that He has promised we who have "died with Him," will also be "raised with Him" and will escape His wrath. We will escape, ultimately this body of death and be finally redeemed just as He promised. We will escape finally our sorrow in this world, and enter into His joy, as He said we would. It is the blessed hope of the believer! We will finally be with our Lord and Savior forever! Those who love Him look for His coming and long for Him. In fact a crown is awaiting all that long for His coming as a bride longs for her groom. "Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (2 Timothy 4:8)
"But watch yourselves lest your hearts be weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and cares of this life, and that day come upon you suddenly like a trap. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of the whole earth. But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21:34-37)

The way of escape is through faith in the only sacrifice for our sin, that was able to pay the true price of our redemption. Christ alone, is counted worthy, and only as we by faith become one with Him in His death and resurrection, as we put our faith in Him to be our salvation, can we escape. No works or suffering of our own will cut it. It is as filthy rags in His sight. Now is the day of salvation. Will you escape the wrath to come? If you have been born of His Spirit through simple faith in His saving power, He has promised you will.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life." (John 5:24)

Will you escape the sufferings of Christ in this world now by taking the side of the world, denying Him, and enjoying whatever your passions tell you that you have a right to? Will you identify with Christ, or with the world in their teachings and philosophies? Or will you escape your sin and its consequences and have eternal life in Christ? I guess one way or another you are an escapist. It's just what you will escape, and what you will gain that matters.

"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward." (Hebrews 11:24-26)
"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?" (Luke 9:23-25)

If you want to know more about this salvation and are not sure you are going to Heaven, you can know. His Word assures us how we can know. Click here to read more.

THE CONSCIENCE

Ephesians 4:23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

What is the human conscience? Where does it come from? Why does all of mankind, regardless of religion, have a sense of right and wrong. Men suppress their conscience, yes, but they know by their conscience what is right and wrong. They suppress it, and they harden themselves against it, and they justify and excuse their actions, and build up a support system drawing others to their side to support them in their rejection of right and wrong, but they know. Inside each one of us, our Creator put the knowledge of right and wrong, good and evil. We are without excuse (Romans 1).

It's no wonder those who harden themselves against God's Word hate with such an intensity, anyone who holds to it and lives by it. It does not allow them to excuse their rebellion, but exposes it. No wonder they work with an insane zeal to shut up and persecute those who will not join them in their way of thinking! It's because the conscience they have suppressed will do all that it can not to be awakened, but to be kept deadened to the voice of God. It will call good evil and evil good to keep that conscience suppressed. It will form its own self righteousness to validate itself in doing so.

From The Christian in Complete Armor, by William Gurnall,

The Nature of The Saint's Conscience, P. 36-37
Man's conscience, like His physical body, is created by God. It is therefore, in its very nature to depend on Him for being and for operation. The capacity to be and to act in and of oneself is an incommunicable property of the deity. It can never be imparted to a creature. God alone is the source and sustainer of all life; therefore, it is His constant regenerating power that keeps the conscience alive. Conscience may be defined as that divine influence at work in man to restrain him from sin. One evidence of its origin is that it always speaks against sin and for righteousness. Therefore, it cannot be the product of our own hearts, which in their fallen state are 'deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked' (Jer. 17:9). God uses the conscience to give some knowledge of His righteousness to all, so that no one can stand before Him on the day of judgment and plead ignorance (Romans 1). When you become a Christian and consecrate yourself - conscience and all - to Him, the Holy Spirit begins in earnest to perfect you in Christ.

The Lord awakened our conscience when we were born again, renewed by the power of the Holy Spirit, and given new life in Him. He continually works to renew our conscience, as we come to His Word and allow Him to shape and form our minds and hearts according to His. He continually works in us to "will and to do of His good pleasure" (Phil. 2:13). We cannot determine in our own minds, or according to tradition, or culture, or even what a church dictates, what is right or wrong in God's eyes.

Our conscience can trick us as well, and put us under false condemnation, when we become dependent on our own thinking or that of a religious system. We can be made to believe we are doing something right by man's standards when it is very wrong in God's eyes. We can become so self introspective judging ourselves inwardly, that we totally miss what God sees in us. We can in many ways damage our own conscience's ability to know when to feel guilty or not to. We are completely dependent on Him to renew our conscience. We do this by being in His Word daily with a humble heart, that is receptive to His Word, His counsel, and His conviction, ready to receive and submit to all that is there. Why do so many in Christianity argue over right and wrong, different scruples, and disagree in so many areas. Why is it one will say something is perfectly moral and another strongly stand against it? Who's right? Only God is right, and our minds must be brought under subjection to His Word, not man's.

It is God Who will have the final say, on that day when all of men's hearts are judged. Their consciences then will see clearly, standing naked in His light, with His truth judging all the motives and intentions and actions. They will be according to His law and His Word, not according to the laws of man or the philosophies of man. The question is where will we stand? Do we really want to know what His Word says? Do we really want to seek out and find the God of that Word? Do we really desire to know Him and His wisdom, or do we want to quiet the conscience He has given us and change it to act according to what we please and what is more acceptable or palatable to the world around us? Man can invent any god he chooses to in his mind to please himself and serve his own purposes, even making himself feel very spiritual in the process. But all of that will be stripped from him once he stands before the Creator of all things. And we all will, whether we choose to believe in Him or not. It does not change His existence one bit. He does not need our belief to exist. We need to believe in order to receive His life so that we can truly live and be alive spiritually.

Men can create his own laws and he redefines love, justice, and goodness by his own lust and passion. If laws are founded on the law of God, they will benefit mankind and they will prosper. If not they bring oppression and corruption, and death. We can see so many examples of that in the world today that it needs no explanation, such as in communism, humanism, socialism, Islam…all are systems of laws against God and those who love Him and have brought more destruction to the world than anything. God's law brings life and happiness and freedom to those who follow it, yet those who don't want to, see His law as something to restrict them. Every law of God is for our own good and well being, but the laws of man are for promoting those passions that will eventually lead to death and destruction. The conscience God gives is for our own well-being to restrain us from destroying ourselves and others, as well as showing to us our own inability to keep it, and our reliance on Him. We suppress it to our own destruction.

God gives us freedom for a time to choose. Love has to be by choice. Yet one day He says He will put an end to evil. If you are one who says, "if there is a God why does He allow evil in the world?" then just hold on. He allows it for a time because of His love and longsuffering patience and because He wishes none to perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), yet there will be a day when evil, all that opposes Him, will be judged and will be done away with forever, and those who chose His grace will live forever in the presence of His perfect love, goodness, and glory with no threat of evil ever again.

How does this apply to my life, in Christ, right now? I want to know that I am pleasing to Him in every way. I don't want to be fooled by men's opinions or the popular opinion of the day. I want to know God's heart, so that I can walk according to His will always. In doing so I am walking in communion with Him, close to Him, and relying on Him alone to guide my conscience. In doing so I am confident, and am free of fear. Perfect love casts out all fear.

By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:17-19)

I can walk daily with a clear conscience, in unbroken fellowship with Him, knowing that He is with me, and always for me, and will never leave me or forsake me. But if I ignore the conviction of the Holy Spirit in me, in my conscience, according to His Word, then I break the fellowship with Him, the sense of His love and fellowship is gone and I stumble. I'm unable to walk in victory, and I walk in fear and doubt with no power to overcome the evil forces coming against me in this world. I am weakened and fall into temptation, which again brings me through that vicious cycle of sin and condemnation, never feeling like I can make it, or measure up. when I walk in the knowledge of His forgiveness, and in obedience to His Word, my conscience is clear and I walk dressed in the armor of God, and the breastplate of righteousness that nothing can penetrate or destroy.

Mankind strives to be "free of God" thinking that if they deaden their conscience they will be free to do as they please. They only find it to lead to death, just as the Lord warned. Those who listen to God and submit find themselves truly free.

So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (John 8:31-32)

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. (John 8:36)

If you find your conscience has been deadened, ask Him to quicken it, as you sit before His Word, letting Him renew your mind and conscience. It is God that can awaken and quicken the conscience. If you listen to the wrong voices, that of the world, your conscience will become confused. There is such a thing as a good "brain washing." It is washing our brains/minds in the Word of truth and light…the Word of God, that is alone the one thing that can cleanse and purify, and bring true peace and freedom. The world brain-washes us through media in its own ways and thoughts. Ask God for that brain-washing that is true and good. Let your mind be renewed afresh by the power of the Holy Spirit. Give up all your own thoughts of what is right and wrong and just and unjust. Ask God for His. Come before Him in humility and ask to be renewed in your thinking. Ask for a conscience that is sensitive always to the Holy Spirit, able to discern between flesh and spirit.

If your conscience has been hounding you, rather than run from it, take it before God and before His Word and surrender fully to Him. Ask Him to cleanse you and give you a new heart to do His will. You'll find when you've surrendered to His will and begin to love His will rather than your own, that you will find true freedom and peace, much more than that thing you thought you had to hold onto. Let God be your conscience. Let Him be your life. He wants to be your portion and reveal His love to you and His goodness. He has so much for you!

But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. (1 Corinthians 2:9-12)

Open our eyes and hearts to You, Lord Jesus! Quicken our hearts to receive Your Word! We love You, Lord Jesus. Be glorified in Your people.

THE WALK OF THE UNBELIEVER VS. THE BELIEVER IN CHRIST

 I had previously put this together from a Bible study in Ephesians, and thought it was a good chart to share.  From Ephesians 4-5

Unbeliever's walk (character of the flesh)

Christian's walk       (character of the Spirit)

·         vanity of mind (4:17) ·         darkened in understanding (v. 18) ·         alienated from the life of God (v. 18) ·         ignorance (v. 18) ·         hardening of heart (v. 18) ·         past feeling (v. 19) ·         given themselves up to lasciviousness (v. 19) ·         working all uncleanness (v. 19) ·         greediness (v. 19) ·         wax corrupt after lusts of deceit (v. 22) ·         speak falsehood (v. 25) ·         steal (v. 28) ·         corrupt speech (v. 20) ·         bitterness (v. 31) ·         wrath (v. 31) ·         anger (v. 31) ·         clamour (v. 31) ·         railing (v. 31) ·         malice (v. 31) ·         fornication, uncleanness, coveteousness (5:3) ·         filthiness, foolish talking/jesting (5:4) ·         deceptive, empty words (5:6) ·         are darkness (5:8) ·         unfruitful works of darkness (5:11) ·         do shameful things in secret (5:12) ·         dead in sin (sleeping) (5:14) ·         unwise (5:15) ·         evil (5:16) ·         foolish (5:17) ·         drunkeness (5:18)

·         learn Christ (v. 20) ·         put away the "old man" (v. 22) ·         renewed in spirit of mind (v. 23) ·         put on new man, created in righteousness and holiness of truth (v. 24) ·         put away falsehood and speak truth (v.25) ·         members one of another (v. 25) ·         don't harbor anger or sin in anger (v. 26) ·         give no place to the devil (v. 27) ·         steal no more but rather works that which is good and provides for others (v. 28) ·         doesn't speak corrupt words but that which is good for edifying (v. 29) ·         grieves not the Holy Spirit Who has sealed him (v. 30) ·         puts away from himself all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamour, and railing and malice (v. 30) ·         treats others with kindness, tenderhearted, forgiveness, remembering how Christ forgave them (v. 32) ·         Imitator of Christ, as a beloved child (5:1) ·         walk in love just as Christ loved us, giving Himself up for us (5:2) ·         giving of thanks (5:4) ·         does not partake with sins of nonbelievers (5:7) ·         are light in the Lord walking in light (5:8) ·         fruit of light which is all goodness, righteousness and truth (5:9) ·         proves what is well-pleasing to the Lord (5:10) ·         makes manifest those works of darkness in the light and reproves them (5:11-13) ·         awake, arises from the deadness of sin, Christ shines upon (5:14) ·         walks carefully in wisdom ·         redeems the time knowing the days are evil(5:16) ·         understands the will of the Lord (5:17) ·         filled with the Spirit (5:18) ·         speaking to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with hearts to the Lord (5:19) ·         giving thanks always for all things in the name of Jesus to God the Father (5:20) ·         subjects selves to one another in love and in the fear of Christ (5:21)

 

I CALLED, YOU ANSWERED

Psalms 138:2-3
(2) I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
(3) On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

Several phrases stand out to me in these verses..."steadfast love," "faithfulness," "Your Name and Your Word," "my strength of soul You increased." Just reading these words about my Savior give me "strength of soul" already. The fact that His name and His Word are solid, dependable, sure, never changing, and faithful, I know that when I read it, I can depend on the God of that Word, Whose name reveals to us Who He is. I know that it is the most sure thing that there is. It won't fail. He tells me I can call on Him and He'll answer, when I call on Him in truth. And He has done just that so many times in my life already.

Many times He did not take away the circumstances, or lessen the pain, or remove the trial, but He gave me strength of soul that equipped me to walk through it until I was able to get to the other side. He didn't still the storm but enabled me to walk on water and conquer the wind and the waves. He gave me eagle's wings that enabled me to mount up and soar. I found just how steadfast His love is, how faithful He is to His name and His Word.

Because He is true and faithful to all He is and will never act differently than Who He is, perfect in all things, in love, holiness, righteousness, goodness, mercy, etc. we can call on Him and be sure He will answer according to His name and His Word. I thought it would be good to share just what the names of God are in His Word, which are His attributes revealed to us. This is from http://www.gotquestions.org/names-of-God.htm

Question: "What are the different names of God and what do they mean?"

Answer: Each of the many names of God describes a different aspect of His many-faceted character. Here are some of the better-known names of God in the Bible:

EL, ELOAH: God "mighty, strong, prominent" (Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 139:19) – etymologically, El appears to mean “power,” as in “I have the power to harm you” (Genesis 31:29). El is associated with other qualities, such as integrity (Numbers 23:19), jealousy (Deuteronomy 5:9), and compassion (Nehemiah 9:31), but the root idea of “might” remains.

ELOHIM: God “Creator, Mighty and Strong” (Genesis 17:7; Jeremiah 31:33) – the plural form of Eloah, which accommodates the doctrine of the Trinity. From the Bible’s first sentence, the superlative nature of God’s power is evident as God (Elohim) speaks the world into existence (Genesis 1:1).

EL SHADDAI: “God Almighty,” “The Mighty One of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 132:2,5) – speaks to God’s ultimate power over all.

ADONAI: “Lord” (Genesis 15:2; Judges 6:15) – used in place of YHWH, which was thought by the Jews to be too sacred to be uttered by sinful men. In the Old Testament, YHWH is more often used in God’s dealings with His people, while Adonai is used more when He deals with the Gentiles.

YHWH / YAHWEH / JEHOVAH: “LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4; Daniel 9:14) – strictly speaking, the only proper name for God. Translated in English Bibles “LORD” (all capitals) to distinguish it from Adonai, “Lord.” The revelation of the name is first given to Moses “I Am who I Am” (Exodus 3:14). This name specifies an immediacy, a presence. Yahweh is present, accessible, near to those who call on Him for deliverance (Psalm 107:13), forgiveness (Psalm 25:11) and guidance (Psalm 31:3).

YAHWEH-JIREH: "The Lord Will Provide" (Genesis 22:14) – the name memorialized by Abraham when God provided the ram to be sacrificed in place of Isaac.

YAHWEH-RAPHA: "The Lord Who Heals" (Exodus 15:26) – “I am Jehovah who heals you” both in body and soul. In body, by preserving from and curing diseases, and in soul, by pardoning iniquities.

YAHWEH-NISSI: "The Lord Our Banner" (Exodus 17:15), where banner is understood to be a rallying place. This name commemorates the desert victory over the Amalekites in Exodus 17.

YAHWEH-M'KADDESH: "The Lord Who Sanctifies, Makes Holy" (Leviticus 20:8; Ezekiel 37:28) – God makes it clear that He alone, not the law, can cleanse His people and make them holy.

YAHWEH-SHALOM: "The Lord Our Peace" (Judges 6:24) – the name given by Gideon to the altar he built after the Angel of the Lord assured him he would not die as he thought he would after seeing Him.

YAHWEH-ELOHIM: "LORD God" (Genesis 2:4; Psalm 59:5) – a combination of God’s unique name YHWH and the generic “Lord,” signifying that He is the Lord of Lords.

YAHWEH-TSIDKENU: "The Lord Our Righteousness” (Jeremiah 33:16) – As with YHWH-M’Kaddesh, it is God alone who provides righteousness to man, ultimately in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ, who became sin for us “that we might become the Righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21).

YAHWEH-ROHI: "The Lord Our Shepherd" (Psalm 23:1) – After David pondered his relationship as a shepherd to his sheep, he realized that was exactly the relationship God had with him, and so he declares, “Yahweh-Rohi is my Shepherd. I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1).

YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "The Lord Is There” (Ezekiel 48:35) – the name ascribed to Jerusalem and the Temple there, indicating that the once-departed glory of the Lord (Ezekiel 8—11) had returned (Ezekiel 44:1-4).

YAHWEH-SABAOTH: "The Lord of Hosts" (Isaiah 1:24; Psalm 46:7) – Hosts means “hordes,” both of angels and of men. He is Lord of the host of heaven and of the inhabitants of the earth, of Jews and Gentiles, of rich and poor, master and slave. The name is expressive of the majesty, power, and authority of God and shows that He is able to accomplish what He determines to do.

EL ELYON: “Most High" (Deuteronomy 26:19) – derived from the Hebrew root for “go up” or “ascend,” so the implication is of that which is the very highest. El Elyon denotes exaltation and speaks of absolute right to lordship.

EL ROI: "God of Seeing" (Genesis 16:13) – the name ascribed to God by Hagar, alone and desperate in the wilderness after being driven out by Sarah (Genesis 16:1-14). When Hagar met the Angel of the Lord, she realized she had seen God Himself in a theophany. She also realized that El Roi saw her in her distress and testified that He is a God who lives and sees all.

EL-OLAM: "Everlasting God" (Psalm 90:1-3) – God’s nature is without beginning or end, free from all constraints of time, and He contains within Himself the very cause of time itself. “From everlasting to everlasting, You are God.”

EL-GIBHOR: “Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6) – the name describing the Messiah, Christ Jesus, in this prophetic portion of Isaiah. As a powerful and mighty warrior, the Messiah, the Mighty God, will accomplish the destruction of God’s enemies and rule with a rod of iron (Revelation 19:15).

Recommended Resources: The Names of God by Ken Hemphill and Logos Bible Software.

If you want to know more about this salvation and are not sure you are going to Heaven, you can know. His Word assures us how we can know. Click here to read more.

TO YOU I LIFT UP MY EYES

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To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens! (Psalms 123:1)

For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: "I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. (Isaiah 57:15)

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Psalms 46:1)

Oh to dwell on high with the Lord! One day we will. Even now we can allow Him to bring us up to the Heavenlies and dwell where He is, in a high and holy place, rather than dwelling in our own muck, or in the evil around us, or in all the distractions of this world that blind us to that glory. He invites us to "lift up our eyes" to see Him Who is high and lifted up, Who inhabits eternity, Who dwells in a high and holy place. He invites us to find His refuge and strength for all we need here below. He is not far removed from us and all our trials but has provided all we need here below that we can dwell/abide in Him, where He is, where He dwells, partaking of His life and provision and all we need as He comes to dwell in us.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3)

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)

Here is the key..."through them you may become partakers of the divine nature." We have all we need but too often we do not partake of it. We live like paupers, rather than those who have all that we need. We go on begging from human means, from our own resources, rather than lifting up our eyes to Him Who is on high, to the One Who has provided all we need to live godly in this world. He did not make any exceptions to that...He did not say He has granted us some things but when life gets beyond that we'll have to struggle on our own, or that He has made provision for simple trials but the really difficult cases He cannot handle. He doesn't say to look to the resources of the flesh and the world but to "lift up our eyes." We have to consciously do this in order to partake of all that is "on high" and make it our own. He has given all to those who have come to Him for eternal life and have been born from above, joining His Heavenly kingdom. It's through His divine power, not through anything in us.

When one lifts up their eyes, it is usually from a place below. Such a contrast there is with where we are and where He is! Such a contrast there is with Who He is in His holiness and who we are in our sinfulness and weakness. From our humble position, He actually invites us to come up to where He is, and that if we lift our eyes to Him, He will dwell with us in our contrite spirit, in our weakness, in our seeing ourselves in this lowly position and finding that He is our only true help. He promises to revive the hearts of the contrite and lowly as they lift up their eyes to look to Him in whatever circumstance they find themselves in. He promises those who are His own children have access to every spiritual blessing in the Heavenlies. He is our Abba, our Heavenly Father Who has not neglected all provision for His own dear children.

We are not alone in this world. We need eyes that see not just what is happening around us in these days, or what is happening to us, or to others, but we need eyes "lifted up." I'm feeling this so strongly, lately, and I know others who love our Lord, Jesus Christ are feeling the same way. As the world closes in on us, we are finding He alone is our portion in this world, and what a portion that is! We're finding the more of this world that is taken from us the more we have as we draw from Him and lift our eyes more and more to Him. Our hope is not in the United States of America, or in our leaders, or in our Constitution. It is in our God and Savior as we lift our eyes to Him.

To You, Oh Lord, I lift my eyes for Your love, for Your provision, for Your patience and endurance, for Your grace and hope. You alone sustain me when I'm afraid, weary, weak, and needy. How sad when we forget to lift our eyes to Him and instead we live as though He simply saved us but gave us no way to live in Him. We go on as though we have no present help but must just do "our best" and struggle on. I have found that my best is not good enough. It won't cut it. What a relief it was to find out I didn't have to depend on or trust in my best to get me through life. What a relief it was to finally realize that I could fully trust in Him to keep me and that I did not have to fear I could not keep myself. Of course I cannot keep myself. When trial comes, when temptation comes, when life is overwhelming, He has never failed me and He has taught me that I can count on His power, and not worry about not having enough of my own.

To You I lift up my eyes Lord. More and more, the older I get, the longer I've walked with You, I lift my eyes to You, and I hope to guide others to do the same. You alone are our source of life, love, and happiness. I'm finding this earth has less and less of what I want to set my eyes on. More and more I'm drawn away from it to lift my eyes to Him. There are things in this life I need refuge from. When my eyes are lifted up to Him it's as though He has drawn me out of the storm and given me shelter in His presence, and He keeps me safe, though the storm rages around me still. My inner being, where He dwells, becomes still and peaceful. His presence sustains me. He is my ever-present help guiding me safely to the other shore.

And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing." And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. And the men marveled, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?" (Matthew 8:24-27)

If Jesus brings you into the boat, He plans to bring you ashore as well. He could sleep because He was the One Who had power over the great tempest. He has power over every tempest in our life, and He is at rest knowing His purposes in them for our good. It may appear He does not care, but it is because of His total care and full provision, that He is at rest in Himself, and wants us to rest in Him as well, knowing He will take us where He wants to take us safely, as we place ourselves in His hands.

Abba, when the tempest is so overwhelmingly strong and threatens to drown me, remind me to lift my eyes to You and see You, high and lifted up, and all You are and realize You also dwell with me in all Your power and have made provision for all. Give us all that peace that passes understanding in You today, no matter where we are at. Whether things on earth are troubling, or going well for us, remind us to lift up our eyes to You, the Maker and Creator of all things.

If you want to know more about this salvation and are not sure you are going to Heaven, you can know. His Word assures us how we can know. Click here to read more.

ABOUNDING OR FLOUNDERING

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And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-11)

Floundering:
1. To move clumsily or with little progress, as through water or mud.
2. To act or function in a confused or directionless manner; struggle: "Some ... floundered professionally, never quite deciding what they wanted to do" (Steve Olson).

I couldn't put my finger on it, but this was the right word to describe how I have felt lately. As I was praying about it the word popped into my head and I looked it up. "That's exactly how I feel, Lord! I feel like I'm moving through muck, stuck, directionless, not knowing exactly where I am supposed to go or what I am supposed to do. Help!" Have you ever felt that way in your pilgrimage here below? There have been times I felt like I was "abounding" and I couldn't eat up His Word fast enough as all of it seemed to nourish and provide spiritual strength and growth and joy and love and all the things it was supposed to produce in my heart and life. I had direction, and knew what I was to do. I was being used of the Lord.

Yet something inside of me gives me the feeling there is a reason for this floundering thing going on in my life right now. Sometimes, it seems, the Lord has to stop me for a bit, get me to see I need to stop, look, and listen and maybe He's about to change the direction in my life. I need to ask Him for what this is all about, what caused it, if there is something He's trying to show me, or guide me into another phase of my Christian walk, or something He's preparing me for. I don't know. I only know it is a call to seek His face.

You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek." (Psalms 27:8)

We can only "abound" when it is the Holy Spirit working in us to enable us to do so. We never abound in spiritual growth or love or discernment or knowledge on our own. I know that. I have been through that type of floundering in the past - trying to grow in my own power and finding I was floundering badly. It was not until I realized "Christ in me, the hope of glory" and "it is no longer I who live but Christ Who lives in me" that I stopped floundering. When I quit struggling and began walking in faith in His finished Work His life began growing in me and being more and more revealed to me and in me and through me and I was filled with the joy of His salvation.

He stops me at times to let me really see myself, what's going on inside my heart, and what I need. Then in my desperate need, as I am made truly aware of it, I am drawn to Him for the answer, the knowledge in Him, and the discernment I need. I guess that's where I am finding myself right now. This day we live in, this world we live in, things happening so fast around us at break-neck speed, all of this has been causing me to take a look at myself, and at God a little more. How am I to live through this? What do I need from You, Lord? What is my work, my calling, my walk supposed to be right now? I am restless, struggling with little physical strength and inner battles with how to face the evil in this world. I feel useless, like I should be doing so much more, but what? How? I'm feeling so strongly the importance of "redeeming the time because the days are evil" (Ephesians 5:16), yet how to do that? What does it mean to redeem the time? I can think I am just because I am busy, but if my busyness is not of Him I'm just filling the time, not redeeming it. Going about my humdrum daily life seems like a waste of it many days. I'm floundering through all these things, waiting on God for His direction.

One thing I know, I can trust Him to bring me through it, and to guide and show His purpose. One thing I've found in my Christian pilgrimage is that whenever I've had these times of floundering, they have led me to a time of abounding as I sought Him and trusted Him and surrendered to Him in it. When His Spirit indwells us, He always leads us to abound in faith in His perfect provision, and always has a purpose in all He leads us into. He is always forming Christ in us, and ultimately making us what we are to be for eternity living in His presence forever. So I'm looking forward to the abounding that will come again as He leads me.

I know I can rest in His love and His guiding me through this and place my hope in His purpose to be accomplished in it. I need not fear, or faint, or be afraid. As in all things I can come to my Savior and trust Him to lead me through it to the place He has for me and teach me yet another lesson on my road to knowing Him more until I know Him perfectly. What a day that will be? He is always dependable on this pilgrim journey. I only have to rest in His love and let Him take me there. The journey is not mine but His. I don't dare take a path of my own, but let Him lead me on His. I don't want any other, no matter how appealing it seems or how much easier or more comfortable it appears to be. It's not about making it through with as little discomfort as possible but walking through this pilgrim journey on His path alone, refusing any other, doing it His way, not mine. If we want this, we can be sure and rest in faith that He will lead us on it and grant us the grace to walk it. It is not always the easiest smoothest road to travel, but it is the narrow way.

If we want something else, unfortunately, He'll many times let us go the wrong path and suffer the consequences as well. I've had that unfortunate experience as well. Ultimately it led me to desire His path alone in my life, no matter where it takes me or what is to be endured there. I've learned I would rather suffer than fail to walk His path. Once you have had His presence with you in that path, you just do not want to settle for anything less. You just can't. You trust His will, and His way, and His provision. Nothing else will do.

So brothers and sisters in Christ, are you abounding or floundering? If you are at one place, you may find yourself in the other at some point. Either way, let us pray for one another through this journey remembering we are citizens of another country, a heavenly one, and we need each other along the way. One day we'll come to the end of our pilgrimage and receive that inheritance incorruptible! "Hold fast that which you have!"

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. (Revelation 3:10-12)

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. (1 Peter 4:1-2)

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 5:6-10)

If you want to know more about this salvation and are not sure you are going to Heaven, you can know. His Word assures us how we can know. Click here to read more.

KEEPING OUR EYES ON JESUS

I'm sharing an older devotional with you today. But one that it's good to remind ourselves of often, especially in our day.

"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory." Col. 3:1-2 (NKJV)

"...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Heb. 12:2 (NKJV)

"But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear." Matt. 13:16 (NKJV)

There are so many things in our lives that take our eyes off from Jesus aren't there? Just when the Lord has shown us some victory in our lives and our "eyes see" and we are able to draw close to the Lord, something again draws our attention away. How do we keep our focus? What does it mean to "keep our eyes on Jesus?" This is a question my son recently asked me, who came to the Lord just last summer.

"The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" Matt. 6:22-23 (NKJV)

(Notes from NKJV personal study Bible © 1990, 1995 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.) "The lamp and the eye stand for our intentions and choices. The person with a good eye focuses on God alone and is totally loyal to His kingdom. His life is full of God's light. The person with a bad eye makes other things the goal of his life. Because he has purposefully turned from God, his darkness is great."

It's Jesus Himself that has given us eyes to see and given us that light. It's He who is the author and finisher of our faith. He started that faith in us.....and He alone can bring it to completion and perfection. Notice how He continually draws your eyes back to Him every time you somehow become distracted?

We keep our eyes on Him by hoping in Him when all hope is gone. We keep our eyes on Him by trusting Him instead of our own ways or the ways of the ungodly. We keep our eyes on Him by going to His Word for our instruction, our comfort, our guidance, our spiritual life, and wisdom. We keep our eyes on Him through the daily communion of prayer, and praise, and worship.

God gives us that....He woos us, draws us, speaks to our heart about Himself, about our need for Him. Make sure when you feel His Spirit stir your heart that you do not turn Him away. Make sure you answer that call!

Won't it be wonderful when we are with Him in constant communion...always, always in His presence? But even now He has given you a wonderful gift.....a gift of unbroken fellowship with Him! He has given every child of God His Spirit to indwell them. He never leaves you but has given you unbroken access to His throne! He is just as close to you as your own heart. If we walk daily in that faith and knowledge, it will have an incredible impact on all we do.

You know I've found that when I suddenly realize my eyes have been focused on the problem around me or the situation in my life, if I begin to think of God's attributes and worship Him for who He is and thank Him and just begin to praise and adore Him, that soon my focus is back where it belongs, my heart is yielded to Him, I can look into His Word and trust Him and cling to His Word and know that I know that He is working all things together for my good.

Going back to Heb. 12....we see the thing that we need to do in order to look unto Jesus....verse 1 says..."Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.."

What is the weight in your life that weighs you down or the besetting sin that seems to always ensnare you and get your eyes on yourself instead of Jesus and His promises and His way? I found in my own life that it was self pity. Oh it feels so good to feel sorry for yourself. Even feels better if you can get a few others to feel sorry for you too! But guess who the focus is? Me, myself, and I. Hard to recognize some of our besetting sins. We think of the obvious, lust, covetousness, greed....whatever...but anything in your life that causes your focus to always turn to you instead of God is a weight or sin that ensnares and traps you and holds you so that you cannot see Jesus and the plan He has for you and the victory He has in store for you. It may even be your own introspection. Your eyes are on you instead of Jesus...the one who took all your sin to His cross and made you clean, if you trust Him. It is a weight that needs to be thrown aside. And you can do that by surrender and faith.

Surrender it to the Lord. He accepts your weakest surrender. And then trust Him to take it upon Himself to give the power for that surrender and to make it complete. It is not a matter of feeling but of choice. If we waited to "feel" like it....we would never do it! You may feel like a failure because you can't feel the surrender you need to make.

If you are not sure you are going to Heaven, and want to be sure, the Bible says you can know that you have eternal life.  To read more about salvation visit this page