Unbolt The Door To Your Heart

Tag: holy-spirit

  • Dig Deep

    Are you digging deep or are you just on the surface?

    “They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”  Luke 6: 48-49 NIV

    How are you studying the word of God?  How are you spending time with God? How are you prepared for the storms of life where you are being slammed by waves the size of mountains and winds of hurricane force?

    In the above verse there are two types of Christians.  This verse is speaking to believers, followers of Jesus, and not the world in general. 

    One digs deep and continues to dig deep until bedrock is hit.  It then drills into the bedrock and sets its foundation. This person spends days, weeks or months on the same scripture. Looking up each word in the Greek or Hebrew for its original description and meaning.  Searching for where and how the word is used in other verses. What is the context that the scripture is in?

    The other believer is just building his faith on the surface.  He picks up the shovel and scrapes the top of the dirt and moves around a few rocks and then gets tired or thirsty. He takes his foot and kicks a little dirt away from the surface. He spends a few minutes a day just skimming over words and prays for the Holy Spirit to give him all the guidance he needs.  But he is not willing to put very much effort into digging deeper.  He thinks that reading the whole bible in a year is sufficient. The verse tells us that when the storm of life hits, and it will hit, this person is washed away and his destruction is complete.

    Digging is a very active verb.  You cannot just be still and look at the shovel and expect to get results. You must spend hours in direct contact with the shovel. You also cannot hire someone else to do the digging. I may hear a nugget in a sermon, in talking to someone or a verse speaks to me. A nugget placed there by the Holy Spirit.  I make a quick note of it and when I get home, I start digging. I may pass up eating so that I can dig, pray and talk to God.   I am certainly not going to overeat and then fall asleep.  That is one of the greatest deceptions of Satan is for you to misunderstand the definition of “rest” and go to sleep on Jesus.  You must take an active role in digging deep.

    The reason Jesus said the road is narrow and it is easier to put a camel through the eye of a needle is because He knew that most people are just surface readers.  The Disciples fell asleep while Jesus prayed His heart out to His Father. 

    Jesus spoke in parables and very rarely spoke directly about any subject. He wants you to think, ask questions, spend hours, days and months deep in prayer and thought with him.

    “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed”. Mark 1:35 NIV

    “Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God”. Proverbs 2:3-5 NIV

    You can ask God for understanding and insight, but the verse says you must search and dig deep like going for silver, gold or hidden treasure.  You will not find the knowledge of God on the surface.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Prayers and Love for all.

    Larry

  • Representing

    Is there such a thing as too much worship, praise, and sacrifice to God?

    In 2nd Samuel chapter 6 we read of King David taking the Ark of God from the house of Obed-Edom to the city of David.  In verse thirteen we read that when they had taken six steps they stopped and He sacrificed a bull and a fatted calf.  Did he stop and sacrifice these animals every six steps or just once?   If he had done it every six steps he would have made over 5000 sacrifices on the journey.  Most commentaries weigh in on the subject and choose that King David sacrificed every six steps.

    This would mean that King David sacrificed over 10,000 bulls and fattened calves on this journey.

    We find that this sacrifice is small compared to King Solomon when he dedicated the temple. 

    “Solomon offered a sacrifice of fellowship offerings to the Lord: twenty-two thousand cattle and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep and goats. So the king and all the Israelites dedicated the temple of the Lord”. 1 Kings 8:63 NIV

    I do not think we can comprehend the logistics of sacrificing, on altars, 120,000 sheep and 22,000 bulls. The Effort and time taken to say thanks to God.

    They observed this festival for 14 days. We are told in verse 66 that they were “joyful and glad in heart for all the good things the Lord had done for his servant David and his people.”

    How do you show your praise and excitement over what the Lord did for you today?  A simple thanks, maybe a little longer prayer?

    “Wearing a linen ephod, David was dancing before the Lord with all his might”. 2 Samuel 6: 14 NIV

    “Let the people of Sela sing for joy; let them shout from the mountaintops”. Isaiah 42:11 NIV

    “You who bring good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain. You who bring good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with a shout, lift it up, do not be afraid; say to the towns of Judah, Here is your God!” Isaiah 40:9 NIV

    Do you not think that praising God for His many blessings and Miracles is worth more than a simple “thank-you”.

    Why from the mountain top?  It is a perfect place for the sound of your praise to be carried to all the people.  Sound Carries a lot farther from the mountain top than from the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

    “Let your joy lift up people around you just like a song carrying across the hills”. Let it be seen on your face and in your walk.  Your presence in a room should bring in God’s presence.  Without asking people should see, hear and feel the wonderful blessings of your Savior.  

    Are you embarrassed to praise God to others?  What would be some reasons that we are hesitant to praise God from the mountain tops?

    Fear of judgment: Worrying that others will think you are strange, fanatical, or out of touch.

    Social pressure: Wanting to avoid awkward silence, arguments, or being mocked by peers and coworkers.

    Private habit: Feeling that faith is a personal matter meant only for home or church walls rather than public spaces.

    Self-consciousness: Worrying about how you look or sound to the people standing right next to you

    How to Overcome Hesitation.

    Focus upward: Shift your attention away from the people around you and onto God, just as King David did when he danced unashamedly.

    Live authentically: Let your daily actions, kindness, and peace speak first so that when people ask, sharing your faith feels natural.

    Start small: Share simple expressions of gratitude in everyday conversation rather than feeling pressured to give a grand speech.

    Let them see and experience your God before you ever speak a word!

    I had finally arrived at the checkout register at Costco. When I handed my card to be scanned the cashier looked at me and spoke.  “I saw you way back in the line and I could see the smile and peace on your face”.  I just smiled even brighter and responded that I was smiling because I was blessed by God this morning. She looked up and responded that she was blessed to have me in her checkout line this morning. We had a wonderful, very short conversation about God’s blessing, and I went on my way. 

    God introduced His presence to her before the Holy Spirit ever put a word on my lips.

    Dance every step you take today. Let God shine forth from you.

    Remember it is not a religion it is a relationship.

    Let God shine through you.

    Larry