Our Real Identity

Band of Brothers help me celebrate my 70th.

God speaking: I don’t want your sacrifice, I want your love. I don’t want your burnt offerings, I just want you to know me. Let us press on to know God. Hosea 6:6,3 LB

One of the benefits of knowing God more deeply is seeing ourselves from His perspective. Not only the “Woe is me” of Isaiah 6, but who we are as image-bearers of the Creator of the Universe.

What comes to mind when I ask “What is your identity - who are you?” Who are you – without giving your name or what you do, who are you?

We live out our self-perception. We act as we think. “As a man thinks in his heart so is he.” Prov.23:7 Now if that were completely true, when I was in high school, I would have been a basketball or a girl.

However, in general, as a man thinks, so is he. We live out our self perception. A person who thinks poorly of himself either has a very obvious low self esteem, self-denigrating, or he covers it up with a cocky, know it all attitude.

How are we supposed to think of ourselves? Some would tell us we are basically evil; others say we are basically good. Some would declare that we're nothing but an animal in evolution. The new age movement tells us we are God.

What do you say you are? Even self perception is not the answer, because it can be twisted. I once counseled a woman who said she was bionic and could leap over tall buildings. I wanted to affirm her so said to her, “Really? You can leap over tall buildings?” “Yes,” she said. I exclaimed with feigned great excitement, “Let me see you do it.” “Oh,” she stated, “I can’t now. I’m not wired up.”

Self perception is not the answer. More realistically, what does God say man is? Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

What does this tell us about man? We are:
Image bearers of God;
Of infinite value;
loved by God;
Esteemed by God; and,
Empowered by God for dominance of creation

More tomorrow on our real identity.

Qualified for ministry.

Enjoying son, Ray, and daughter, Gretchen as they helped me celebrate my 70th.

Summarizing our Isaiah 6 study up to this point: See God. See self. Repent and be cleansed.


Isaiah then says in 6:8 Here I am, send me. He is feeling qualified for ministry.
A formal education like Bible College or seminary is an important venture in one’s preparation for ministry. “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not be ashamed.” But, in my opinion, the greatest training for ministry is described to us in Isaiah 6:1-8: view God (spending time with Him, knowing and enjoying Him), see self, and enjoy the fruits of repentance and of our position as an image-bearer of the Creator of the Universe.

Fruitful. John 15 describes it well. Let the Word speak for itself.
“I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.
9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other.

Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.

At the age of 13, I sensed that God wanted me to be a preacher. My stuttering was so profuse at this time that I fought God for a year. During this struggle, I told God, "People can hardly understand me. How in the world could I be a preacher?" After wrestling with God for the year I finally said that if that is what He wanted me to do, I would. The "call" then seemed to dissipate. I never did become a preacher, but it has been interesting to see how God has used this ol' stuttering tongue through the venues of christian counseling, basketball coaching, speaking and now more of a mentoring role. "Here am I. Send me.

Fruitful ministry. When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow.

UPWARD, INWARD, OUTWARD

Next post: seeing ourselves as image bearers of God – our real identity as God's messengers.

FREEDOM

Gary writes in response to yesterday''s post: How true that we are only as healthy as our view through God's perspective. When we use our own filters or don't even examine ourselves, we take the road away from Jesus and are oblivious to our danger. It is in taking Jesus's perspective of all of life that we become healthy and walk with Him, mindful of His heart, depending on Him for our way. Thanks Gary for your valuable thoughts.

We continue in our Isaiah 6:1-8 venture. Upward. Inward. Outward.

The Third point of the Isaiah’s chapter 6 vision is found in verses 6 and 7: Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."

We’re not stuck in life with carrying guilt. Guilt can be removed - Freedom from sins. Free from the "woe is me." 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all sin.`

Psa.32:1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. 2 Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.3 When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer. 5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD"-- and you forgave the guilt of my sin. FREEDOM

God didn't say to Isaiah, "aha! now I've got your attention. Now you see how bad you've been. Suffer for a little while, Isaiah. Pay penance, Isaiah.

"Paraphrasing Hannah Whitall Smith, The same moment which brings the consciousness of sin, ought to bring also repentance and the consciousness of forgiveness.

And isn't that what the Christian experience is all about? A life of growing personal holiness that becomes very attractive to those with whom we come in contact. Saying with Paul "Follow me as I follow Christ." Not perfect, but desiring Godliness. Desiring to see that which is not Godly and repenting.

In summary, a vigorous disciple of the Master first seeks to encounter God. He allows this rendezvous to show him more clearly his ungodliness. Repentance ensues. He endeavors to see God's hand in every aspect of his life - even the pain.

As we observe God convicting and stripping us of self-dependence, self-confidence, He leads us to God-dependence and Christ confidence. We notice a little reduction of pride, a little less selfcenteredness, anger is becoming less of a problem....as Hebrews 12 says, a quiet growth in grace and character. Deepening our intimacy with God. Results: greater peace of mind. More joy and contentment. Greater sense of fulfillment.

I like Roy Hession's pictoral description of this concept: It's as if Jesus was walking on the Highway of Life. He comes right up to us and asks us to hold out our hearts. And just as if we were handing him a cup, we present to Him our empty hearts. He looks inside, a painful scrutiny, and where He sees we have allowed His blood to cleanse our hearts, He fills them with the water of Life. So we go on our way rejoicing and praising God and overflowing with His new life. This is revival. You and I full of the Holy Spirit all the time, loving others and concerned for their salvation. No struggling, no tarrying. Just simply giving Him each sin to cleanse in His precious blood and accepting from His hands the free gift of His fullness and then allowing Him to do the work through us. As we walk along with Him, He is always there continually filling so that our cups continually overflow.

Upward. Inward. Outward. Part 2

Yesterday’s post focused on Isaiah’s beholding God. Today, his response to looking inward. "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."

Our second point: Woe to me I'm unclean. Why is that a significant point? Why would one initiate the experience of wanting to see baggage within? To avoid living the shallow life – the life of a Pharisee. To prevent mental, emotional and physical dis-ease. To live a more fulfilling life.

Part of the objective of Christian counseling it to help people see their uncleanness – insecurity, anger, fears etc. from which they can be set free.

The Bible: Psa.139:23-24 Search me O God. Know my heart. Point out anything within me that displeases you.
Psa.19:12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
Job 42:5-6 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes."
And Peter's words in Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus' knees and said, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!"
Even SOCRATES saw the need for a healthy in ward look when htre said, " The unexamined life is not worth living."

The woe to me demonstrates our willingness to face ourselves which is not a common trait of today's Christianity. We're reticent to allow God to show us our "woe to me." Paul reminds us of the importance of it in context of the communion table: 1CO 11:28-31 A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. And the following verses indicate that some haven't, resulting in sickness and even death. A man ought to examine himself.

And in that examination we may see: I am so quickly angered. I have such a tendency toward a critical spirit. I see my selfish manipulative "I've got to have my way," The gossip, worry, jealousy, fear, carrying resentment toward that one who irritates me so greatly. Priorities out of balance. Impatience. Lust...have I included everybody?
Holy Spirit driven self-examination.

C.S. Lewis observed: "When a man is getting better, he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still in him. When a man is getting worse, he understands his own badness less and less.

The most dysfunctional folk I saw in the counselor's office were those who refused to see the bad within. Jonathon Edwards puts an exclamation point to Lewis's statement with "I have had a vastly greater sense of my own wickedness and the badness of my heart than ever I had before my conversion."

As we behold God with a spirit of authenticity,(a deep honesty) we not only see the "bad" within, but we also see that we are image bearers of the Creator, as found in Genesis chapter one and which we’ll focus on next.

An image-bearer of the Creator, yet possessing a flesh dimension that can be ugly and destructive.
Chuck Swindoll in his book Come Before Winter: "It is vital that we see ourselves as we really are in the light of God's written Word...then be open to change where change is needed. I warn you, the No. 1 enemy of change is the hard-core, self-satisfied sin nature within you. Like a spoiled child, it has been gratified and indulged for years, so it will not give up without a violent temper tantrum. Change is its greatest threat, and a confrontation between the two is inevitable. Change must be allowed to face and conquer the intimidations of inward habit and I repeat the warning that a nose to nose meeting will never be an easy one."

I’m confronted with spiritual pride, self sufficiency, too easily irritated, selfishness among other “woe is me.” When God reveals Himself to you, what “woe is me” do you see?
Our next post will address the remedy for this awareness.

Upward,Inward, Outward - Isaiah 6:1-8

A heavy question faces those of us who seek to know and enjoy God. One of the "benefits" is the Isaiah wake-up call. Do you and I want to look inward, because that is one of the results of looking upward!

Examine with me the Isaiah 6:1-8 challenge.
Isaiah 6:1 NIV In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.2 Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying.3 And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory."4 At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke.
5 "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the LORD Almighty."
6 Then one of the seraphs flew to me with a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar.7 With it he touched my mouth and said, "See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for."
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"

Do you catch the sequence?
a. See God
b. See self
c. freedom from guilt
d. ministry
Upward, inward, ourward
The key words here? I saw the Lord.

How are you and I doing seeing the Lord? You might ask, “How do we see the Lord?” Through nature. In our discipline of solitude, reading Scripture, praying. We at times see God in the life of another person. Through corporate worship. In pain and joy. Via books. Circumstances.

The most important part of the day is that when our discipline of solitude takes place. When we encounter the Lord. We're in the Bible, digging, wrestling with God. Snuggling into his lap, saying Abba, Papa: "Show me yourself. I want to know you. I want to connect with you. I want to know the power of your resurrection. I want to know that about myself which displeases you."

Our prayer becomes praise as we reflect on God's goodness to us. We spend some time journaling, writing what we're learning. What we're feeling - our pain, our joy.
A christian’s effectiveness in life is directly proportionate to time spent alone with God and His Word.

WE not only see God in our discipline of solitude with Him, but we also observe him in painful situations because "every affliction comes with a message from the heart of God" (Alex Maclaren.) Are we listening for his message? Watchman Nee said "we never learn anything new about God except by adversity."

A question to ask ourselves: has the result of pain made us better or bitter? Is the adversity stimulating appetite for God or is it inspiring a cynical attitude?

So, the first challenge in Isaiah chapter 6 is to look upward, beholding God. Tomorrow we’ll look at the resulting inward gaze.

The Impact of Our Parentage on our view of God

Our real idea of God may lie buried under the rubbish of conventional religious notions and may require an intelligent and vigorous search before it is finally unearthed and exposed for what it is. Only after an ordeal of painful self probing are we likely to discover what we actually believe about God. Oswald Chambers.

When we have a “heart wound” concerning our parents, especially our father, it is like looking at God through a scratched lens. The wound, the scratch, is projected on to God giving us a distorted view of who and what He is and how He responds to us.

Perfectionistic dad – perfectionistic God. Distant dad – distant God.
Harsh, angry dad – harsh angry God. Lenient dad – lenient God.
Strict dad – strict God. Nurturing dad – Nurturing God. Absent dad - absent God.
This holds true for our mothers also, but not with as significant an impact.

DECONTAMINATING DAD/GOD
None of us were raised by a perfect dad. Some of us didn’t even know our father. How does one get a clearer picture of God uncontaminated with our earthly father? Begin with

1. Prayer: Father, because it is so natural for us to deny negative feelings toward our fathers, if there is any contamination I’m carrying from my earthly father that would obscure my view of You, please reveal it. Pray this kind of prayer over a period of time and be listening to that still small voice. Look also for circumstances that could be an answer to your prayer.

2. Acknowledgement of an imperfect dad relationship. (Face it. Feel it. Not to place blame, but to take ownership of our feelings toward dad.)

3. Acknowledge how it affected your view of God.

4. Yield the right to have had a perfect earthly father. (Let go of any hurt or resentment.)

5. Embark on an aggressive forgiving process.
Forgiveness is the eye wash that allows us to se God more clearly with the eyes of our heart. Forgiveness polishes away the scratches on the lens of the eye of our heart.

6. See and appreciate the value of the imperfect father (how God is
turning dad’s weakness and imperfection into something of value for your good, the benefit of others and to the glory of God.) For example, my dad was a great example for strong work ethic. I’m grateful for that. However, he wasn’t there for me emotionally. That created significant insecurities that has driven me to seek my security and significance in Father God. And I’m grateful for that!

7. While you are seeking to know and enjoy God more intimately, practice a Holy Spirit-empowered joyful, grateful attitude. Remembering Matthew 7:11, You earthly fathers being evil love to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly father wants to give to you…

If you have a personal story on this topic, I’d like to hear it so I can share it with others. Email me at rburwick@mindspring.com

Abba PaPa

Son Ray - a personal daddy to his family

God is not just a universal father as we viewed Him in our last post. He is also a personal Father. ”To as many as received Christ, to those he gives the right to become children of God, John.1:12.

Knowing God personally is great but even more profound, we’re known by God. 1 Cor.8:3 (amp) says, “but if one loves God truly, with affectionate reverence, prompt obedience and grateful recognition of His blessing, he is known by God, that is, recognized as worthy of His intimacy and love, and he is owned by Him.

As a member of God’s family, I’m known by God. I’m a person of worth. I am so valuable to God that HE wants an intimate, loving relationship with me. Can anything beat that?

Abba Papa is saying to me: “Ray, I love you so much. You are my treasure. I want to build a close bond with you. I want to be on the basketball court with you. Sit beside you at your computer. Relating with other people right beside you, loving them encouraging them with you. Stuttering with you. Hurting with you. Ray, I want to hang out with you all the time.”

We’re transitioning from a universal view of God a father of all creation, to the most intimate daddyhood of God. Christ set the stage at Gethsemane as seen in Mark 14:36 “Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Picture the scene. Christ in the Garden, confessing his desire to the Father, preferring not to go through the trauma of crucifixion. At the same time His desires are submitted to the Father’s will. He understands that redemption can only be achieved through his sacrifice. Abba Father.

Question: have you had a personal Gethsemane? A time when you really called on God? Possibly a time of desperation. And God didn’t come through for you? What happened? How has that affected your view of God?

Abba PaPa, in Matt:7-11 you tell me that as much as my earthly father wanted to give to me and do for me, how much more you as a perfect father will do for and give to me. I may not enjoy or appreciate the adversity I'm experiencing at this time, but because you are my Abba Papa who promises to work everything (even this adversity) for my good, by faith I thank you PaPa. I love you. I trust you.

Do you catch a glimpse of a personal PaPa God?

In our next post we’ll look more intimately at the Abba PaPa aspect of God including how the view of our earthly parents can affect our view of God.

Knowing and Enjoying God 20

How are you doing in your pursuit of knowing God? To know Him we must spend time with Him.
I’m not speaking of a legalistic trip – “gotta spend time with God to be a better Christian” – no – consistent daily time just to know Him more deeply and understand Him as the resource for all of our life… for now and for eternity.

As important as it is to read God’s word to learn about our relationship with God and His plan for successful living, it is even more important to read the Word to be in His presence. A transformed life comes not from learning the Word but from being absorbed in His presence through the word.

Let's examine one aspect of God. We can observe God as Creator/father of all mankind. In the beginning God created… and the rest of Genesis enumerates. Thus in a generic sense, God is father of all mankind in like manner that George Washington is known as the father of the USA. Was Washington my literal father? No, but he was the founding head of the nation in which my Norwegian/Estonian roots were later established.

God the father of all people has the same universal parental role. Recall Acts 17:24 “The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth..
This universal Father/God is observable in nature. Romans 1: 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Awareness of God is available to us through nature. Even the illiterate has no excuse. God can be known. Psalms 19;1-2 reiterates: The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

The Psalms 19 passage presents in the first six verses an observation of God in nature. Verses seven through eleven jump abruptly to the significance of God’s law.
“The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the whole person…and in keeping of it there is great reward.”

Thus, in Psalms 19:1-6 we view in nature our Father/God, Creator. We balance this perception in verses 7 to 11 with knowing him in his law, the Bible. As we obey His Word there is great reward. We’re not finished with Psalms 19. The chapter concludes with a challenge to internalize God. To allow Him to penetrate through our protective devises that hides our inner ugliness even from ourselves.

The Amplified version of 19:12-13 “Who can discern his lapses and errors? Clear me from hidden and unconscious faults. Keep back our servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me.”

Do you catch the progression here: know God through his creation; know Him more deeply through the Word and let God scrutinize you for cleansing, resulting in verse 14 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my firm, impenetrable rock and my redeemer.” (Amplified)

In the next post we’ll morph from observing our universal Father to viewing God as a personal Father.

Knowing and Enjoying God 19

My latest primitive creation

As we stated before: Scripture clearly personifies God as a loving Personality who dominates the Bible, walking among the trees of the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always a living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working, and manifesting Himself whenever and wherever His people have the receptivity necessary to receive His manifestation.

I think of Karen. She had come out of a home with rejecting parents – mother emotionally rejecting and controlling. Her dad absent emotionally from her. Karen met a fine young man in college. For the first time in her life she felt loved. Wedding bells chimed. She had never been so happy. Both had great jobs. Savings account blossomed. In her mid-twenties she felt she had the world by the tail.

Then it happened. Mike, her husband, began staying out late on Friday nights…his typical night out with the guys. Her intuition conveyed uneasiness in the lengthening evening hours. She grew more suspicious as his sexual frequency altered. Upon confrontation, Mike would own up to nothing. He denied any extra-marital involvement.

Karen knew where the guys hung out Friday nights. She camouflaged her appearance and visited the night club. It wasn’t long until her PI work bore fruit. One of the cocktail waitresses was extremely friendly to Mike. Her behavior toward him and his reciprocal response was sufficient evidence to Karen that she was now in competition for Mike’s affections. Her world collapsed. I met her in the counseling office.

She poured out her heart. Oh, the tremendous anguish of the soul. Parent’s rejection. Mike’s rejection. Like many of us do when we’re in crisis, for the first time in her life she turned to God. While working through all the rejection, facing the pain and the rage, she realized God’s desire for intimacy with her. Bible reading, prayer, church and working through the pain became a consistent part of her life.

The shattered, fragile young lady became a pillar of strength rather quickly. Remember, God tells us that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. Though her husband continued in his extra-marital relationship, her focus was on her own character growth, and did she ever blossom.

After a couple months of this, Karen felt it was time to practice some tough love. A confrontation with Mike ensued. He told her to get off his back; he was going to do what he "damn well pleased." The previously passive, fragile wife who would have knuckled under to Mike proved her new-found strength with this rebuttal; “Mike, you are hurting yourself. Our friends are losing respect for you. Your job performance is suffering. You are damaging our marriage. I love you. I don’t want divorce. But it is time for you to make a decision, her or me.”

Mike asked for a week to consider. After this period, as with most people in that situation, he was still ambivalent. He wanted the marriage but he wanted his girl friend too.
Karen’s attitude was inspiring to behold as she took the necessary legal steps, not out of rage or vengeance toward Mike, but out of a broken heart for him. Divorce papers were drawn. Both signed.

A week later, Karen came back into the office, strong and radiant. Her comment: “Dr. Burwick, I’ve never felt so free in my life. Oh, I’m sad about the breakup of my marriage and sorrowful for the destructive path Mike is taking, but for the first time in my life, I’m feeling very loved and accepted. I’m growing in my awareness that God is my husband.”

A functional and practical reason for knowing and enjoying God!

Knowing and Enjoying God 18

Gretchen and Kevin

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' Acts 17:24-28

Augustine so aptly stated about God, “Thou hast made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.” We have a choice: resist Him or reap the rewards of diligently seeking him.

Scripture clearly personifies God as a loving Personality who dominates the Bible, walking among the trees of the garden and breathing fragrance over every scene. Always a living Person is present, speaking, pleading, loving, working, and manifesting Himself whenever and wherever His people have the receptivity necessary to receive His manifestation.

Though God is spirit, he is a personal being, and as such, fondness and enjoyment can be cultivated with Him as with any person. It has been said that a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not only a book which was once written, but a book which is now speaking. God is not only speaking doctrine and theology but is communicating in the continuous present that He treasures intimacy with his children.

Do we cherish companionship with Him? A.W. Tozer said, “The man who has God for his treasure has all things in Him. Many earthly treasures may be denied him, or if he is allowed to have them, the enjoyment of them will be so tempered that they will never be necessary to his happiness. Or, if he must see them go he will surely feel a sense of loss. But having the Source of all things in God, he has all satisfaction, all pleasure and all delight. Whatever he may lose he has actually lost nothing, for he now has it all in God and he has it purely, legitimately and forever.”

It’s a little like a front page photograph that graced the American newspapers many years ago, picturing John-John Kennedy as a little boy playing under his father’s desk. Though his dad was the president of the United States and though the office was occupied that day by world-renown dignitaries, John-John had complete access to his father. A tug on his dad’s pant leg would have secured immediate attention.

A tug at God's "pantleg" occured some years back when my daughter Gretchen and I were going through her proposed budget. She had just finished raising her support to become a staff member of Campus Crusade for Christ. Her living expense allotment was $750 per month and we were having a difficult time projecting how that amount would stretch – especially covering the categories of long distance phone and clothes.

The U-haul was packed and off we trekked from Birmingham, Ala to Ann Arbor, Michigan for her ministry to the Wolverines. As Gretchen checked in with apartment management, she was told that a promotion was being staged. “Pick a duck,” she was told, it will have a slip of paper in it that will indicate a certain amount of free rent (at least one month) or have words written “pick another duck.’

A tub of water where about 75 plastic ducks floated, awaited Gretchen. Her first selection read “pick another duck. ” And so did her next two and two more picked by her mother and a friend. The sixth duck pronounced this message “one year free rent.” Incredible. Over $8300 for Gretchen and her two roommates.

God’s financial resources for Gretchen were not determined by her salary. That experience was a tremendous faith-builder for all of us. Thank you Abba PaPa!

Knowing and Enjoying God 17

WE continue yesterday’s post where we looked at the possibility of pain being God’s method to draw us into deeper intimacy with Him. A reminder: This is not God’s first choice for His creation. The problem is that there are few people who respond to the goodness of God. God loves people more than He loves their comfort. He invests a great deal into mankind. He desires relationship with us and will go to great lengths to create such a relationship in order for us to receive the rewards and inheritance He has for us.

There appears to be three distinct states of Christian growth – in our intimacy with Him.

First we live based on convenience . Our obedience is largely based on circumstances in our lives. We choose to obey based on circumstances.

The second stage is the crisis stage. God allows a crisis to come into our lives. We are motivated to obey God in order to get out of the pain of our situation. Many times God allows us to stay in this condition in order to demonstate His love and faithfulness during out pain. Gradually, we discover something new about God and often have a personal encounter with Him that changes us. Our very nature is affected by this God-encounter.

This begins to move us into a third phase that is a relationship motivated now by love and devotion instead of pain. This is where God desires us to be. Another way of saying this is we are no longer seeking His hand. We are seeking Him. We want to know God personally.
Obedience will not last when the motivation is only the removal of our pain. Obedience only lasts when the motivation is loving devotion.

Where are you and I in our obedience and what is the primary motivation? By the way, pain can be caused by our making wrong decisions; by others making wrong decisions conerning us (drunk drivers); by our sin; by living in a fallen world or by God seeking deeper intimacy with us. Question: could the persistent pain you and I are experiencing be God’s tool to invite us into deeper intimacy with Him?

Thanks to Os Hillman for this adaptation.

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In our quest for knowing and enjoying God it is important to remember that pain often plays a significant part in intimacy with God. The following is adapted from a blog by Os Hillman
“I form the light and create dariness, I bring propserity and create disaster; I, the Lord, do all these things.” Isaiah 45:7

God will use pain in order to create a love relationship with His creation. This statement may challenge your theology. However, consider that God allowed Jesus to experience incredible pain in order to create an opportunity to have a relationship with His creation. Consider how Jesus created a relationship with Paul. He blinded him and used a crisis in his life in order to bring him into a reationship with him and use him for God’s purpsoes. Consider how God recruited Jonah for the mission He had for him.

This is not God’s first choice for His creation. Romans 2:4 reveals that God’s preference is to show mercy and kindness. The problem is that there are few people who respond to the goodness of God. God loves people more than He loves thier comfort. He invests a great deal into mankind. He desires relationship with us and will go to great lengths to create such a relationship in order for us to receive the rewards and inheritance He has for us.

More tomorrow on a purpose for pain.

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Do you ever feel guilty engaging in the discipline of silence – “Be still and know that I am God?” We worker bees feel we need to be doing something. Reading Scripture, memorizing the Word, going through a prayer list.

A quiet “quiet time” is a struggle for this writer. I’ve always been a disciplined participant in my formal time with God. (Some call that time with God “the discipline of solitude.”) I believe God wants me to stay with the disciplines of knowing and enjoying Him, but I’m sensing the “calling” just to hang out with Him. I don't do that well.

"Be still, Ray. Listen for anything I might want to say to you. Allow Me to expand your creative thinking by just being still." I believe that is what God is saying to those of us who are performers - achievers - type A sorts.

Paraphrasing Sarah Young in her book “Dear Jesus,” God speaking: Beloved, you were not designed to find total satisfaction in this world, because you were crafted in My image. Heaven is your ultimate home and I placed a bit of heavenly matter in your heart so you would seek Me. I delight in your seeking heart. Much of this world’s angst is actually a longing for the perfection of heaven. Blatant sin is often misguided attempts to fill that emptiness. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they search for heaven in hellish ways, excesses and perversions of every kind. However, great sinners can be transformed into exceptional Christians when they turn their passionate appetite toward Me. My love and forgiveness satisfy soul hunger as nothing else can.

And I believe that entails us placing ourselves in a position every day to hang out with Him (in our discipline of solitude.) “Abba PaPa, help me just be still and know that you are God.”

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We thwart our quest in realizing fellowship with God by worshipping at the idols of materialism, success, status, and need for security. Nothing wrong with having material things or success, or status, or security if it is not the goal of our life. Idolatry can be so subtle. Paraphrasing Frederick Buechner, Gluttony is raiding the refrigerator for a cure for spiritual malnutrition. Idolatry is raiding the refrigerator of materialism in quest of a cure for the need to feel successful or significant in others' eyes. Idolatry is raiding the refrigerator of dependency / co-dependency in the search for a sense of security through human relationships.

There is a better way.
Success - Joshua 1:8 says meditate on the Word, do what it says and you’ll be successful. God wants us to be successful. But are we seeking Him or are we seeking success? Success idolatry thwarts our quest for knowing God.

Status – Psalms tells us that God promotes one and deposes another. Seek God.
Leave the status placement up to Him and thus avoid status idolatry.

Security – There is no real security in the world. Our only hope for ultimate security is trusting in the God who says, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.” And “I’ll meet all your needs.”

I see two very subtle idols that smudge our vision of God, that obscures our knowing and enjoying Him – doctrine and relationships. I was in the Presbyterian church for 23 years. Doctrine seemed to be the preeminent focus. They tended to seek a purity in the reformed doctrine that so often came across prideful. “Our doctrine is the only way.” And yet even in the PCA there were factions that claimed that their interpretation of reformed doctrine was best and others wrong.

This is true also in the Holiness movement. “We’re right. Reformed is wrong.” Prideful idolatry, in my opinion. Am I suggesting we downplay the study of doctrine? YES, if it leads to a pride trip that obstructs worship, obedience and developing intimacy with God.

The other subtle concern is people looking to others to meet needs that only God can meet. It has been said, “There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man that can not be filled by any created thing but only by the creator.” Husbands and wives are instructed in Scripture to meet each other’s needs; however, in our imperfection we let each other down. Having a great loving marriage with a primary focus on developing intimacy with God is the best of both “worlds.”

Bottom line in knowing God: you and I will only really grow in fellowship with Him by the regular discipline of spending time with Him. Accountability with others expedites that discipline. Consider reading and meditating on Isaiah chapters 40-44 this week.

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How do we begin knowing God? Biblical theology teaches the doctrine of prevenient grace (before a man can seek God, God must first have sought the man.) Jesus said, ‘No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him.”

Dan Dehaan writes: God longed to create man to appreciate Him. God created people to know Him. .. to enjoy Him. God put in men’s hearts the “god-shaped vacuum” that could only be filled with Himself. Why did God create us? To fellowship with us. Why did Christ come to earth? To restore broken fellowship.”

The impulse to pursue God originates with God, and we all experience that stimulus. The Bible tells us that God is not willing that any should perish. God desires for all men to pursue Him.

However, our response to His prevenient grace is not to resist Him but to aggressively pursue intimacy with Him. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

The first question: has Jesus been sought as your savior and Lord? IF not, it will be impossible to journey in the quest of knowing and enjoying God. To as many as received Christ, to them He gave the right to become children of God.
For self evaluation it would be wise to classify your quest for knowing God.
1. I’m not a follower of Christ but I’m seeking and considering
2. I’m a Christian, but my diligence in seeking God is lacking
3. I’m hot and cold. I muster up discipline to read the Bible for a while, then I slack off. No consistency.
4. I have trouble seeking God in my disturbing circumstances.
5. I’m usually disciplined in diligently seeking God but I yearn for a deeper intimacy with Him.
6. I don’t care about seeking God.
Which applies to you and me?

God is a rewarder of those who DILIGENTLY seek Him. Complacency is not part of the game- plan in knowing God. As children of God we already have relationship with Him. Now our challenge is to develop fellowship with God. Developing intimacy with Abba Father. Augustine so aptly stated about God, “Thou hast made us for thyself and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in thee.”

And I may add, even in "rest in thee" there still is a holy discontent....I want more! How about you?

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For a little change of pace in our quest for knowing and enjoying God, let’s do a Bible study together. The following is taken from the New Living Translation Study Bible.

I’ll list a grouping of passages and you identify the group with a title. At the bottom will be the title that the NLT Study Bible suggests. These passages are all taken from the Psalms.

1. 13:5; 21:7; 32:10 52:8; 143:8; 17:7; 36:7
2. 9:10; 29:7; 33:21
3. 31:6, 14; 44:6; 49:6, 13; 52:7
4. 9:9; 25:2; 46:1; 55:23; 57:1; 59:16; 62:8; 78:7
5. 56:3-4, 11; 112:7
6. 112:7; 119:42; 125:1
7. 141:8; 31:19; 37:3, 5; 115:11
8. 7:1; 16:1; 25:20; 26:21; 31:1-2, 4, 19; 34:22; 37:40; 86:2;
9. 2:12; 22:4-5,8; 34:8; 40:4; 84:12
10. 37:7, 34; 38:15; 40:1; 119:84, 166; 130:5-6
11. 5:11; 18:30-36; 28:7; 40:3; 56:4; 64:10




1. The Lord’s loving character leads people to trust in Him.
2. His name and reputation also encourage people’s trust.
3. The godly reject idolatry and any commitment that detracts from their absolute trust in the Lord..
4. For the godly, every adversity in life is an occation for growth in trust
5. They are not afraid of life.
6. Grow more confident.
7. Trust in the Lord is a form of wisdom and is a puirsuit of the Lord’s way.
8. The Lord rescues, cares for and rewards his people who trust in Him.
9. They are blessed.
10. They long for God’s redemption
11. Faith in the Lord gives reason to rejoice and praise the Lord

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“What COMES INTO OUR MINDS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT God is the most important thing about us. The most remarkable fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.” (A.W.Tozer in Knowledge of the Holy)

Our perception of God will “color our world view.” As we see God as a loving heavenly father who wants to work all things for our good, we’re more comfortable in life, even when adverse situations strike hard blows. “You earthly fathers being evil, love to give good gifts to your children, how much more does your heavenly father want to give to you.” Matthew 7:11.

Definitions are usually an important place to begin a discussion. We haven’t defined “KNOW” yet. ”In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for know is yada. It denotes an intimate acquaintance with someone (Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible). A personal relationship is implied between an individual and the object. This could be a spiritual relationship between worshipper and deity. It could be a social relationship between two people. Or it could be a sexual relationship between husband and wife.

In the New Testament the word for “know” is “ginosko.” Vine’s Expository Dictionary defines it as a relation between the person knowing and the object known. The focus is often a progression of knowledge, rather than a complete knowledge. A knowing that is ever growing. A relationship ever deepening in intimacy, like a good marriage: 2 people growing in knowledge and love for each other.

It might be helpful to think of one of the most meaningful relationships you’ve ever experienced – may be a boy/girl friend, a spouse, a close friend. Walk through the steps in building that relationship. How did it develop? Can this be applied to relationship with God?

“What COMES INTO OUR MINDS WHEN WE THINK ABOUT God is the most important thing about us. The most remarkable fact about any man is not what he at a given time may say or do, but what he in his deep heart conceives God to be like.”

With a perception of God as our loving Heavenly Father, life takes on a healthy positive outlook of “everything will work out for my good,” no matter the dire circumstances. Oh, that doesn’t mean the emotional center is turned off. Fear can arise (like during our current economic crisis). But as we center on God’s sovereignty and care for His children, stability reigns. Trust in Him takes over. Fear diminishes. David says it well in Psalm 34.

I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces. In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened; he saved me from all my troubles.For the angel of the Lord is a guard; he surrounds and defends all who fear him. Taste and see that the Lord is good. Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!Fear the Lord, you his godly people, for those who fear him will have all they need.Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

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A bright young man from Birmingham responded to yesterday's post

Aye. I have thoughts. I want to be with God because we fit together. My sinfulness doesn't fit, but my sinfulness isn't me (rom.7:17-23). As for being rewarded by spending time with God, well, that's unavoidable. You don't go to God with a dispassionately altruistic goal of "doing good, eschewing the reward". That's twisted.

If you're too focused on the REWARD, though, instead of the PERSON, well, I don't really think that's possible. A man your age knows time with God as a reward all its own. As THE reward. As far as I'm concerned, I don't care what we do in Heaven. If The LORD is there, then that pretty much wraps it up.

Also, the Inventor of Cosmos really delivers the spectacle and laughter and warmth and thrill and all that. Do I sound strident? I always feel like internet text misrepresents my tone of "voice" when I write. Eye contact and smiles are indespensible to conversation. I try with what crude tools are at hand, though. Well, that's enough from me. Take everything I just wrote and let it be represented by this, my actual thought on the matter: Jesus' Dad loves me! Yay!

And He loves you! And you love Him! So, that means that maybe the two of you will build a big, galaxy-sized barn one day, and I can come help raise one of the walls (a mammoth project, employing hundreds of souls and thousands of years). Or maybe I could bring everyone everlasting sodas and just watch for a while.

Deep thoughts from a wise young man! Thanks, Russ.

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I was brought up short the other day as I was teaching this “Knowing and Enjoying God” series to a group of men at Nampa’s Lighthouse Ministries. Out of this one drug/alcohol fogged mind came these words, “you seem to be saying we are to know God better to feel more secure and for other reasons that seem selfish. Doesn’t God just want to be known for fellowship with us? Like a parent with a child, doesn’t he just want us to enjoy hanging out with Him?”

I felt convicted of having too much of self in my God-picture. My prayer at the conclusion of that meeting included a repentance for my selfishness in wanting to know and enjoy God more thoroughly?
Consequently, some re-evaluation took place.

Why do I want to know and enjoy God more intimately?

1. Scripture directs us to pursue knowing Him.

2. Selfishly speaking, I function much more effectively and enjoyably as I’m aware of the presence of the Creator of the Universe in my life (and all that His promises provide for me.)
3. Just as I enjoy hearing from my children and fellowshipping with them, so also I want to relish companionship with Abba PaPa, both out of gratitude for Him but also I know it pleases Him when I engage with Him.

To enhance this rendezvous, a grateful praise pours out of my heart and mouth, be it in a church worship service or in my personal “quiet time” with Him. When I praise Him, my joy increases as does the awareness of His holy presence. Psalm 63:2-5 I have seen you in your sanctuary and gazed upon your power and glory. Your unfailing love is better than life itself; how I praise you! I will praise you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. You satisfy me more than the richest feast. I will praise you with songs of joy.

May the third option be more of a motivating factor than #2 in my quest for knowing and enjoying God at ever deepening levels.

Have you any thoughts about this?

Knowing and Enjoying God 8

Jones Julian Austin

My walk with God began in a Pentecostal Church vacation Bible School at the age of 7. I don’t recall it, but Mom told me I came home from there saying, “I love God more than I love you.” That awakened her to open her life up to faith in Christ. My dad followed a couple years later.

My recollection of my first encounter with God came a bit later when a traveling evangelist scared the hell out of me. “Give your heart to God tonight. Come to the altar. If you don’t, it’s possible that you’ll leave this building, get hit by a semi truck and than meet your maker. Will you be ready?” It was a scare the hell out of you “come to Jesus meeting.”

Consequently, my first recalled view of God is one with arm poised, big ugly stick in hand, ready to clobber me. Fear of God. In time that image morphed into a God who cared for me so much that I needed to serve Him and obey Him. The relationship was kind of a love/duty connection. Not bad. Better than the initial fear-based connection. Just not real personal. Until….

The day I asked my earthly father to help me build a barn. I had just purchased 17 acres of beautiful rolling hills, ponds and trees close to Birmingham, Alabama, where we had lived for 15 years. I was excited about building a horse ranch. Fences were stretched. Roads constructed. It was time to build a barn. I had never built a barn or any other structure.

“Dad,” I called over the phone, “come help me build a barn. You’re so good with your hands. I’ll do most of the work, you just show me how.” I’m not sure how much of my motivation to build a horse ranch was to get Dad’s approval which I had never felt. His response, “No son, I’m too old.”

Wow! That hurt. I was reaching out to him. Door slammed. Windows down. In my sorrow, I heard God. That inaudible, deep within impression, lovingly said to me, “I’ll be your Papa. We’ll build it together.”

And that began a journey of love for and with Abba PaPa that superseded any experience before or since. A real spiritual highlight of my life. I’d pray, “Okay, Papa, how do we start?”
“Build a pole barn, 36 by 36. Dig holes two feet deep, six feet apart.”
“Okay Papa, here we go.”

There were times I was stumped on accomplishing the next procedure. I’d pray. The answer would soon come to me. What a deep connection with my Creator God. The picture I had of Him then was one of a loving, gentle father, arm wrapped around me, pointing to the next objective in construction.

This was a prime living out of Psalm 16:11 “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”
The chief end of man …to enjoy Him forever. Was I enjoying God? Is the pope a catholic?
“My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in Glory.”

More tomorrow regarding knowing and enjoying God.