Daily Wisdom

 ‘… Thus saith the Lord GOD; I do not this for your sakes, O house of Israel, but for mine holy name's sake…’ Ezk 36:22

The Father’s act was to protect and restore what man had profaned. God was concerned about the salvation of not only His people but also the whole world. To allow His people to remain in sin and be destroyed by their enemies would lead other nations to conclude that their pagan gods were more powerful than Israel's God (Isa 48:11). Israel, and believers today, are called to represent the gospel and love of God to the rest of the world. Our sin can often impede and even profane God’s Word at times to a lost world.

This occurs in the spiritual warfare we encounter daily that impedes our ministry in the Father’s Word and His love. In (Dan 10), we see that Daniel had fasted for 21 days, laboring in an oppressed spirit until an angel was sent to minister and strengthen him. The prince of Persia withstood Daniel’s spirit in doing for the Lord. It wasn’t until the Lord sent Michael (archangel) to intercede on Daniel’s behalf was the demonic spirit subdued. In Daniel’s weakness the Lord ministered to him to ensure Daniel could move forward with the truth and not be hindered. All this was for the Lord’s name’s sake to be glorified through Daniel, not just for Daniel.

Darkness can oppress the wishes of man, but it can’t oppose the will of the Father … HSAY 

Daily Wisdom

“For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:2

Clarity in complexity. Life is complex with its many venues and moments. The more we live and experience it the more confusing it can become. Such as marriage, Paul states in 1 Cor 7:28; 38 that while marriage does one well, there will be trouble in the flesh, but one that does not marry does better. The truth is this, singleness affords simplicity. So consider, while the institution of marriage is God approved and can be well for the individuals, it will add complexity to life and its choices. That’s why Paul stated, I determined to keep it simple and focus on Christ and his crucifixion for our sins. Paul is not against marriage, he’s just pointing out that marriage offers complexity and that life at its core is about Jesus Christ and his love for us.  The more we live this life, in spite of its complexity, with our minds focused on Christ the simpler and less complex we’ll find it. Don’t allow yourself to fall into the trap of trying to find simplicity, hope and peace in what this complex world offers. Instead focus on Christ and rejoice in his hope and you’ll find patience in your tribulation. (Rom 12:12)  Know this, simplicity is the start of contentment.

KISS... “Keep It Simply Spiritual”  

HSAY… Todd

Daily Wisdom

“No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” 2 Tim 2:4

Prepare yourself for battle, but let God do the fighting; it’s His battle not yours if you chose to get Him in it (1 Sam 17:47). Your efforts to walk in the righteousness of God is an enduring battle; satan want fight you while your sinning, only when you’re trying to get out of it. “Know that the weapons of warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds.” (2 Cor 10.4) Don’t grow worrisome in your battle and ask God to simply change your circumstances, instead turn them into worship and watch Him turn your battles into blessings. Paul illustrated to Timothy the comparison of soldiers and athletes who conditioned and disciplined themselves to sacrifice for what was worthy to fight for.  Battles are typically not for the faint of heart, it requires you to be warrior not a worrier. The greatest battle you’ll face is Faith vs Fear; requiring you stand in the former in order to conquer the latter. Don’t get blinded by a battle and fail to realize God has already won the war.

You can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time it’s a choice.

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“Behold I am pressed under you…” Amos 2:13

We often need to be reminded of the mercies we receive by the hand of God.  The Lord complains of sins from His profession children, as a burden unto Him.  Through God’s long-suffering may appear to be tried, His power will not.  When man rejects God’s word, and adds apathy to his sin as a general character, he will be given up to misery. Spiritual apathy is the doorway in which evil enters into the heart of man; it’s the last virtue of a dying society. Apathy towards God cheapens His grace in the minds of man, and allows them to become tolerant towards self will and desires. Opposition is not the greatest threat to man’s faith and obedience in God; it’s his apathetic approach that destroys him, and burden’s God. May we then humble ourselves before the Lord, for all our ingratitude and unfaithfulness towards Him!

Apathy is all that is need for things to continue as they are! (How’s that working out for us?)  

HSAY…Todd 

Daily Wisdom

“And all this assembly shall know that the Lord saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the Lord’s…” 1 Sam 17:47

These words uttered by young David as he faced Goliath; “for the battle is the Lord’s” is a consistent cry. Jonathan (1 Sam 14:6) “the Lord will work for us”; Moses (Exo 14:13-18) “stand still and see; the Lord shall fight for you”; Gideon (Jdg 7:2-7) “will I save you and deliver you.” These men came to realize the battle they faced was not theirs to win, but God’s to deliver! Like the armies of Israel many Christians are fearful of the battle as well as the opponent when they come to realize or consider the size of the battle confronting them.  David utilized five stones to confront his enemy, knowing the battle would be won by God if he was willing to sling a stone. Psalm 44:6 “For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.”  Are you willing to call out your enemy, stand in boldness and confidence, knowing all that is required of you is to be willing to sling a stone; not depending on your strength our accuracy, but the God who delivers.  The security and presumption of fools destroy themselves who depend on their surroundings. Nothing can excel the humility, faith and piety in David’s words “for the battle is the Lord’s.”  

Where are you slinging you stone, in the world or in the Lord?

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

God Bless America?

“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil…” Isa 5:20

What have we become? A once blessed nation has resorted to systematically aborting children and selling their body parts!  We’re walking away from God and into judgment.  America has the largest abortion rate in the world and most incarcerated humans, God bless America?  We are more concerned about keeping up with the Kardashian’s than keeping up with God! We honor athletes who have been an abuse to society and caused death all because they can entertain us on the weekends, God Bless America?  We’ve taking God out of our schools, facilities and society, yet when killing sprees occur we hold vigils praying for God to help us, God Bless America? We take prayer and the bible out of schools, but incorporate them into prisons? We will not stand before God with an American shirt on or a flag draped over our shoulders, but we will stand before Him and He will ask what we did with Jesus? In Isaiah ch. 5, God condemned Israel’s actions for: (1) Exploiting others (vss 8-10), (2) Redefining God’s moral standards (vs 20), Pride (vs 21), Perverting justice for gain (vss 22-24); this greatly illustrates our society today, and because of these same sins God brought judgment upon Israel. How can we say or even ask for God to bless America if we are unwilling to humble ourselves before Him and acknowledge our sin?  Woe unto America who calls evil good and good evil! 

What are you doing with Jesus?

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom

“The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron.”  1 Tim 4:1-2

 If you've caught the mass media over the past few weeks, you would've heard an economist from the U.S. Department of Labor state that defenders of religious freedom are “Nazis”; consider that statement for a moment and let it sink in.  Sample that with the hate which has been spewed at the State of Indiana over the past month, as Christians have been attacked and labeled as “bigots” and “haters.”  History has taught us that mass vilification towards doctrinal truth has often reared its ugly head.  The Jacobins in the 1790’s slaughtered Christians by the hundreds of thousands, The Turks, The Bolsheviks’ with their “anti-God” starvation camps and firing squads of the 1920’s.  Chicago’s cardinal, Francis George, made a startling and yet accurate statement; “I expect to die in bed, my successor will die in prison and his successor will die a martyr in the public square.”  Joining him would be many Christians who affirm the integrity of the Gospel.  Consider this quote while acknowledging the watered down, neutered gospel being preached today; denominations are blessing same-sex marriages, denominational university like Marquette, who fired a professor for defending the scriptures on this subject.  It’s stunning how quickly the demands went from libertarian (don’t arrest me for my actions), to totalitarian (take part in our wedding or we will ruin you).  If Indiana caves and guts its “Religious Freedom Law”, it will be just one of many examples proving the triumph of those who have departed from the faith and its doctrinal truths, and in doing so contribute to the persecution of Christian beliefs.  The church (Christians) has become silent, a co-pastor described it perfectly, “last week we observed an empty tomb, and today we observe an empty pew.” Departure is a by-product from lack of devotion, if one is unwilling to devote themselves to truth; it’s only a matter of time until they depart it.  Tolerance of sin does not define love by faith; would a doctor who refused to tell you of your diagnosis and cancer, and instead encourage you to continue your life style, be more loving and caring than a doctor who was honest with you and warned you your situation and offered an answer?  The water is boiling; it’s time for the frog to jump. There is nothing new under the sun; the early Christians faced death in the Colosseum of Rome forcing families to flee from Rome, but not truth.  Even in China today, as they try to levy persecution upon the Christian church, they cannot stop the explosion taking place.  While it was stated earlier, some may die a martyr for truth, but if someone will pick up the truth and continue to be a voice in the wilderness of a ruined society, as the church has done in history, we will win the good fight.

“If we stand for eternity, truth and history are on our side.”

HSAY…Todd     

Daily Wisdom

“God forbid that we should rebel against the Lord, and turn this day from following the Lord…” Jos 22:29

Apathy is the assassin of passion.  The attack causes passion to lie dormant and the body deteriorates. Mary Mason wrote concerning the illness of America, more so it’s moral decay. Stating the etiology (study of causes) was apathy; progression America from intensive care status, to hospice care. While I agree with the diagnosis of apathy, its root cause is apathy towards God.  Unfortunately, spiritual apathy leads to atrophy, the deterioration of one’s spiritual gifts and unselfish love towards others. It would seem the term “apathetic Christian” should be an oxymoron.  There was nothing apathetic concerning our Lord, He was passionate, serving and devoted to the Father’s work.  The results of apathy are discouraging and unfulfilling and we wonder why Christian and church influence is dying in America, what is to be desired by a falling society?  I think of Col 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  I cannot think of a more fitting and vital verse for God’s children for today’s society, yet again apathy assassinates such a calling. There should be an enthusiasm that radiates form the church that is so evident, it’s contagious.  Don’t be delusional in thinking church attendance is the antidote for apathy; statistics are overwhelmingly clear and accurate, 20% of the church body serves and fulfills 80% of the ministries and supports with 80% of the tithing.  Unfortunately just sitting in a pew often adds to the apathy, as well as the atrophy of the Christian life.  From a pastoral viewpoint, perhaps the most concerning is that apathy appears to exclusively show up in the spiritual realm of people’s lives; while hobbies and life as a whole are perused with the passion that’s lacking in the church!  Apathy, by definition, the “lacking of interest” and yet entertainment and more so sports today are achieving all time highs in viewing and participation. I can boldly promise you that if the Holy Spirit is nurtured and alive, and not suppressed, a Christian cannot avoid their interest in the work of the Lord.  I agree strongly with Mary Mason, we are hemorrhaging as a society, but if we fail to acknowledge it is a spiritual disease of indifference towards God, we will be doing nothing more than putting a tourniquet on the decapitation between Christ, the God head (1 Co 11:3), and man.  If you find yourself, while reading this, in a cold indifference to our societal state and more so the spiritual state of our society, I pray and encourage you to see yourself through the direction and will of God’s word, and fight the “indifference” in your heart and become the “DIFFERENCE” through Christ our Saviour!

HSAY…Todd  

Daily Wisdom...Truth

“A man walking in the spirit and falsehood do lie…he shall even be the prophet of this people.” Mic 2:11

Man does not want to be responsible, nor to owe duty; still less to be liable to judgment for disobeying. The Christian, not the natural man, longs that his whole being should tend to God. The natural man wishes to be well-rid of what sets him ill in his spirit, not longing to humility in God. And the horrible subtlety of false teaching is to meet its own favorite requirements, without calling for self-sacrifice or self-oblation, but only self-indulgence and a truth that is content for their will. Society has sub come to being deceived…”…not enduring sound doctrine, but after their own lust…turns away their ears from the truth.” (2 Tim 4:3-4), which they dislike; and so are turned unto fables which they like; they who “receive not the love of the truth, - believe a lie” 2Th 2:11-12.  If men “will not retain God in their knowledge, God gives them over to a reprobate (misunderstanding) mind” Rom 1:28.

“One can believe as one likes; but the truth remains the truth, no matter how sweet the lie may taste.”

HSAY…Todd

Daily Wisdom..."Mending the Heart"

“…James the son of Zebedee and John his brother in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets and he called them.” Mt 4:21

As Jesus passed along the shores of Galilee he gathered disciples for His ministry. As He calls James and John two thoughts come to mind 1.) At the time James and John were honoring their father/parents (Exo 20:12) by laboring and supporting the family business and 2.) They were mending their nets to unsure they were prepared for what was hopeful to come in their labors (Psa 10:17).  The Point being: are you currently laboring and being fruitful (Lk 13:6) where the Lord has you planted and second, are you active in preparing your heart to ensure that you hear the Lord’s voice when He calls. A fruitless tree offers little for the Lord to use and offers nothing for those who encounter it and a heart that is left unattended grows hard in a busy world and seldom hears the soft whisper of the Lord.

A frayed heart and a fruitless spirit offer a tattered soul in need of help instead being a help.

HSAY…Todd  

Daily Wisdom..."Spiritual Warfare"

“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”  Eph 6:11-12

Our generation has had no great war, no great depression; our war is spiritual. It is well stated: “Two conflicting forces cannot exist in one human heart. When doubt reigns, faith cannot abide. Where hatred rules, love is crowded out. Where selfishness rules, there love cannot dwell. Where worry is present, trust cannot flourish.” (Billy Graham)   Satan, like a fisherman, baits his hook according to the appetite of the fish.  He dupes his victims, dabbing the pleasure of sin with a delusive sweetness and soon his victims become intoxicated in the deceitfulness and lose all consciousness towards the danger they’re in.  To the point they are entrapped in a prison cell and even though the door remains open, they never escape and eventually it slams shut.  The strength of all sin is the lie that God cannot do what it can.  There are two essential elements to obtain victory in warfare, knowing your enemy and knowing your resources.  So, if Satan comes knocking at your door, allow Christ to answer it.

HSAY…Todd      

Daily Wisdom..."Spiritual Warfare"

“Finally brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may have free course and be glorified, even as it is with you.”  2 Thess 3:1

Here we see Paul beseeching prayers for himself, Silas and Timothy as they engaged in their labours in Corinth; as not to have any obstruction of the gospel working through them.  Beneath the surface of daily life lie the fierce struggles of spiritual warfare being waged.  Our main defense is prayer against attacks upon the heart, mind and flesh that would hinder God’s work through us (Eph 6:10-19).  It is said a man will never learn what he needs to know until he is in a fight.  Know that God does not require you to be sinless when we come before Him, but He does ask you to be unceasing in your perseverance. He does not require that you have never fallen, but He does ask for your unwearied efforts to get up.  He does not require you to win, because the victory as already been won, but He does ask for you to fight the good fight. One reason many Christians are dull and lifeless in their faith is because they are weary and illusive when it comes to fighting for their faith and utilizing the weapons of God to encroach on the enemy.

There is no neutral ground in the universe; every square inch, every split second is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan. C.S.Lewis

HSAY…Todd