1-21-24

I’m starting to look at the second beatitude, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt. 5:4).  The NIV1984 had several cross references referring to this saying I had not considered and which make complete sense.  However they open up an understanding of scripture I had not considered.  In my own myopic view which I have held to since I was a new believer, God has more for me to see than my own human understanding knows.  I forget that the word of God is alive and active, dividing even to joint and marrow and soul and spirit. 

Isa.61.2,Isa.61.3,Rev.7.17

Isaiah 61:2

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

Isaiah 61:3

    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.

Revelation 7:17

For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
    he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Father, teach me that my heart would be healed, that my understanding, knowledge, and wisdom would be from you, and that I might be healed from my own life of mourning.  Please reveal yourself to me that I might know you, love you, and see you in ways I don‘t know you now.  My desire Father is that I would love you in a deeper way than I ever have before. I have never seen the deep hurt in my soul that needs your touch.  Father I am ready for you to heal that deep, cankerous festering wound in my soul, that chasm that separates me from completely knowing and loving you. I ask this in Jesus’ precious name and according to your will that You would be glorified in me and through me, that others would see you in me but mostly that I would know you in a far deeper way than I can think or imagine.

Amen

Fear, Punishment, and Condemnation

1-24-24

Fear has to do With Punishment

I was praying this morning that God would show me what the cankerous festering hole in my soul was all about.  This is what he showed me.

Romans 8:15 NIV1984

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, 

but you received the Spirit of sonship.  And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”

1 John 4:18 NIV1984

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

2 Corinthians 7:10 NIV1984

Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.

The cankerous festering hole in my soul is brought about by fear of punishment.  I am a slave to this fear.  I have not allowed God into this part of my soul.  It is a dark wound that keeps me in bondage to my flesh. I am unable to conquer it in my own strength.  And by it I live in fear of judgment and condemnation from God.  By it I live a life of mourning, fear, and self-condemnation. Oh who will free me from this body of sin? “24  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (Rom. 7:24).

Romans 6:15-18 NIV1984

15  What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?  By no means! 16  Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey —whether you are slaves to sin,  which leads to death,  or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17  But thanks be to God  that, though you used to be slaves to sin,  you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching  to which you were entrusted. 18  You have been set free from sin  and have become slaves to righteousness.

God’s Remedy!

Romans 7:21-25 NIV1984

21  So I find this law at work:  When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22  For in my inner being  I delight in God’s law;  23  but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war  against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin  at work within my members. 24  What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?  25  Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,  but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

Roman 6:17-18 NIV1984

17  But thanks be to God  that, though you used to be slaves to sin,  you wholeheartedly obeyed the form of teaching  to which you were entrusted. 18  You have been set free from sin  and have become slaves to righteousness.

2 Timothy 1:6-7 NIV1984

6  For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.  7  For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (KJV = fear),  but a spirit of power,  of love and of self-discipline (a disciplined mind).

The question remains: How do I live this out so that this hole in my soul is healed and made whole?  Only God can do this.  I am tired of trying to do it in my own strength with my own worldly knowledge and wisdom. Satan is the accuser of the brethren, a liar, and murderer. He and his minions would seek to derail all who would desire to serve the Lord with all they have. I choose God’s way and His healing and reject the lies of the enemy!

God please help me.  I surrender to you and Your healing!

Amen