Woe to me that I dwell in Meshech, that I live among the tents of
Kedar! Too long have I lived among those who hate peace. I am a man of
peace; but when I speak, they are for war. —Psalm 120:5-7

Psalm
120 gives us a number of examples of different ways that God uses to
get our attention. Meshech and Kedar symbolize places where we do not
like to have to live. Are you living in the “wrong” place? Perhaps you
are feeling a little sorry for yourself. But maybe God has put you
there so that you will value what really matters. Because of an unhappy
situation, where things just aren’t the way you would like them to be,
God gets your attention. He can also use danger, delay, or discord to
get our attention.

Meshech and Kedar also symbolize places of
danger. Kedar, for example, refers to the Bedouins who were a perpetual
problem to the travelers. Are you one of those people who enjoy living
on the edge of danger, but now find yourself in trouble?

Another
part of the distress, delay, is found in verse 6: “Too long have I
lived among those who hate peace.” Perhaps your distress is because of
a prolonged situation. You have waited and waited for the situation to
change. In reality, however, all this time perhaps God has been waiting
for you to turn to Him.

God also uses discord to get our
attention: “I am a man of peace; but when I speak, they are for war”
(v. 7). Are you in such a situation of discord? Perhaps your marriage
is on the rocks; perhaps you are living somewhere where there is
nothing but tension. God can use discord to get your attention.

What
makes for peace is when we come to terms with the fact that the problem
is not merely the situation but our reaction to the situation. A man of
peace will defuse heated situations, not adding to their misery. Such a
man can do this because internally he has discovered and experienced
“perfect peace” (Isa. 26:3). It is called the “peace of God, which
passeth all understanding” (Phil. 4:7, KJV).

Excerpted from Higher Ground (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1995).

The Lord’s anointing oil is on you. —Leviticus 10:7

Our reward in heaven will not be determined by yesterday’s anointing but by today’s fresh anointing. I will not receive a reward for how well I preached, how many thousands I reached or blessed, or even how many people were converted under my ministry. To be rewarded for my gifts is nonsense! “For who makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Cor. 4:7). God is not going to reward me for the ability He alone gave me. My reward in heaven (may God grant that there is such) will come entirely by whether I practiced what I preached: walking in the light, dignifying the trial, totally forgiving others, and placing utmost priority on my intimacy with Him.

And yet my continued effectiveness here below is also determined by my hearing God’s voice today. If my anointing given me yesterday is replenished by a fresh anointing that comes by the way I live personally and privately, I will continue to hear God speak and will know His will daily. I will not  miss what He wants of me or what He wants me to see around me. I can think of nothing worse than missing out on what God is doing. And yet my knowledge of the Bible will not in and of itself guarantee that I will recognize what He is up to today.

We must all learn to distinguish the difference between what is important and what is essential—and always do the latter. Whether with our use of time, money, our diaries, or social relationships, the issue is what is essential and being sure we do what is essential. Yesterday’s anointing is important; today’s fresh anointing is essential.

Excerpted from The Anointing: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow (Charisma House, 2003).

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted. —Psalm 148:13

Although there are terms or words for God, there is only one word given in the Old Testament for God’s Name: Yahweh, Lord. It is used 6,800 times in the Old Testament, set in small capitals: Lord. Now whenever we see the word Lord in the New Testament, even without small capitals, it is a reference to Jesus. The Greek word is kyrios, but it is the translation of Yahweh.

When Paul, a Jew, would use the word kyrios to describe Jesus, he ascribed to Him not only deity but also the very name of Yahweh Himself, for kyrios was the word most frequently used in the Septuagint to translate Yahweh. Any Jew knew that.

Now to call Jesus kyrios, Lord, was not only saying that He was God but was also ascribing to Him the name that is above every name.

After Jesus died on the cross, He was raised from the dead, ascended to heaven, and welcomed home by God the Father. The first thing the Father said to Him was, “Sit down at my right hand.” That in itself meant equality with God.

Not only was Jesus exalted to the highest place, the position that can only be described as that which belonged to God alone, but Paul said Jesus was also given the “name that is above every name” (Phil. 2:9). In other words, there was no room for doubt or speculation: there was only one name known in heaven and in earth that was above every name. It was to demonstrate His sheer majesty.

It is the name of the One who is worthy of our worship; it is the name of the One who fights our battles—Jehovah Sabaoth. It is the name of the One who supplies our every need—Jehovah Jireh. It is the name of the One who made the sun in creation’s morning and later took dust from the ground and made man after His own image. It is the name of the One who put His name in the temple and allowed His name to dwell there. It is the name of the One who has put His name in the midst of the church.

The name that is above every name is called the Everlasting One, the Most High God, the King of glory, the One who inhabits eternity, the One who controls the destiny of nations.

Excerpted from Meekness and Majesty (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1992, 2000).

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime. —Daniel 6:10, KJV

What do you suppose was Daniel’s secret? It has to be said that Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were exceedingly rare men. It is not every day that you meet someone who conveys the presence of greatness. I don’t know about you, but I have a peculiarity, in that whenever I am in the presence of one I deem to be truly great, I instinctively ask, “What is their secret?” I want to absorb anything I can.

What was Daniel’s secret? He saw the overthrow of Babylon and a new king. Now Darius the Mede was none other than Cyrus the Persian, the man who would one day allow Israel to return. Despite the change of government, Daniel continued to enjoy royal favor.

Whatever the reason, we know that Daniel was not a threat to the new king and there was  a real friendship. Real friendship is when there is no threat to each other. When you see one another as a threat, then there will always be tension.

The problem was that not everyone felt that way about Daniel. He had exceptional grace, and he so distinguished himself by his qualities that the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom; that was too much for his peers. Daniel knew, no matter what he did, they were out to get him.

It is at this point that we discover Daniel’s secret. It had something to do with God, and the most encouraging thing of all is that it was not his ability at the natural level, which no doubt was an ordinary secret. Prayer takes discipline, and Daniel had regular times of prayer. Extraordinary man but an ordinary secret; it is something anybody can do. Daniel simply loved God so much that he gave time to Him. We tell how much we care about another by how much time we give them. The secret of Daniel was not his intellect; it wasn’t his personality, his visions, or even his ability to debate—it was his prayer life.

Excerpted from The God of the Bible (Authentic Media, 2002).

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. —1 Corinthians 10:13

It is said of Jesus that He “was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil” (Matt. 4:1). It seems that, although the devil can do the direct tempting, it is the Spirit who may lead us into a place where the devil can do his work.

Or take the example of Job.

The Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job?” (Job 1:8).

God earmarked Job for greater blessing. He already was greatly blessed, but God wanted to bless him more. You may think, Well, why didn’t God just go on and do it? I don’t know. For reasons I don’t understand, God tests us. He tested Job and tested him to the hilt. Maybe He’s doing that with you.

Now there are, in fact, two origins of temptation. One is the flesh; the other is the devil. Let’s remember, when it comes to the flesh, these words of James: “When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me'” (James 1:13). James said this because, when we  are tempted, it often seems as if God is involved. Temptation comes so easily to us. It is so natural, so painless, that even the most mature people may think to themselves, God is actually in this, when in fact it is the flesh deceiving us every time.

What might help us to resist temptation? Three suggestions:

1. Remember that temptation is a test from God, and that any temptation is resistible. (See 1 Corinthians 10:13.)

2. Imagine how you’re going to feel if you don’t give in to it, and how you’re going to feel if you do.

3. Remember that God is looking for those He can trust.

Excerpted from When God Shows Up (Renew Books, 1998).

When the Counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, he will testify about me. —John 15:26

Let me ask you a question: How would you feel if after worshiping your God for so many years, you discovered that there really is one who is greater? What would you do? Maybe you would say, “Well, I wouldn’t want to give up God. I have come to know Him real well.” Yet surely you want to worship the Most High God. Would you keep on worshiping Him? Never.

If I were to discover that there is one greater than who I thought was the greatest, I would stop praying, and I would reassess my ways, my worship, my allegiance, and my confession. Why? Because I want to locate not only the name than which no greater can be conceived, but also the one who is greater and worship Him. I only want to worship Him who is the First and the Last.

Whenever we make the claim that we worship the Most High, the one than which there is no greater, someone is bound to ask us, “How can you be sure?” The answer to that is the Holy Spirit. No man can say that Jesus is Lord but by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:3). It’s easy to get a person to repeat a prayer, but to really believe that Jesus, who was born of a virgin, lived, died on a cross, arose from the dead, and who is the One who causes to be, cannot be done unless the Holy Spirit conveys it to you.

Indeed, the Holy Spirit authenticates not only the truth but also gives an assurance by which you know you have it right. In His strength you can face a thousand worlds and a thousand devils. This is why you can stand before men. That witness of the Spirit is given so that you know the truth beyond any doubt. This is how you know that Jesus of Nazareth is Lord, the One who causes to be, even from everlasting to everlasting.

Excerpted from Meekness and Majesty (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1992, 2000).

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. —1 Corinthians 2:10

Now, the Christian faith is not merely head knowledge. This is why we have the Holy Spirit, who teaches us in such a way that we do not remain helpless and ignorant. What can be more basic than our need for the Holy Spirit to guide us? Many have let book learning, systematic theology, creed, and doctrine replace the Holy Spirit. And for this reason, many Christians today, I fear, have very little experience of the Spirit of God showing them things, guiding them in the truth, seeing things are real and definite and right from God. So many of us are in a rut that it does not even enter our minds to break out of it, and the Spirit never shows us anything. The reason that the Spirit will not show us anything is that He is grieved. One way we grieve the Spirit is by bitterness.

My point is, when we do not forgive one another and we let any kind of bitterness creep in, the Spirit is grieved, and it causes a short circuit. Nothing happens, nothing connects, and we do not grow. I believe this with all my heart. So many have not taken seriously this matter of walking in love and, in consequence of that, have not been able to walk in the light. It does not seem to bother them a bit if they judge another person, if they hold a grudge, if they cannot speak to certain people in the same congregation. Look, this is wrong! The Spirit is grieved. Do you know what else that means? It means that they do not grow, although they come to church week after week, month after month, and year after year. This is what had happened to some of the Hebrew Christians.

We need to learn that the Christian faith is not like math or physics, because what we need is not intellectual acumen, but the Spirit shows us things.

Excerpted from Are You Stone Deaf to the Spirit or Rediscovering God? (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1999).

The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants what must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John, who testifies to everything he saw—that is, the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. —Revelation 1:1-2

Now the Book of Revelation is commonly referred to as “The Revelation of John,” but it is not, in fact, about John, although it tells us a little about him. Nor is it a revelation of the church, although it gives us insight into the nature of the church. Nor is it to be understood exclusively as the unveiling of End-Time events. The Book of Revelation reveals Jesus. This makes it less interesting to some, but we cannot understand the book until we accept it as it is meant to be—an unveiling of Jesus Christ.

The second unique thing to note about Revelation is the claim it makes: it begins, “The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show his servants.” No other book in the Bible begins like this.

Moreover, this book came from Jesus in a way that is not claimed by any other book of the Bible. Now while we may deduce that other books came directly from Jesus Christ, they do not actually say this. But Revelation makes this unique claim.

Furthermore, in the last chapter we read: “I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches” (Rev. 22:16). So if we need a direct word from Jesus, we have it here. This book, therefore, has an explicit claim to infallibility; even John’s own theological view is absent.

John did not impose his own theology; he wrote what he saw and heard, a message from Jesus cohering perfectly with New Testament teaching: Jesus is the Lamb of God, sacrificed for us, the only one worthy to satisfy God’s justice.

The wonderful thing about becoming a Christian is that not only are our sins forgiven but also that we have a home in heaven, a glorious hope, a glorious promise. Jesus, who takes all your sin upon Himself, offers you eternal life. God’s Word is infallible and His promise is sure. One day I am going to that home Jesus is preparing for us (John 14:2). Will you meet me there?

Excerpted from A Vision of Jesus (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1999).

Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. —Revelation 1:4-5

Who is God? What is He like? These questions have intrigued people throughout the course of history. However, many have denied His existence. In the nineteenth century the German philosopher Feuerbach said that God is nothing but man’s projection on the backdrop of the universe. However, when I speak of God, I do not mean a God who exists only in one’s imagination; I am talking about the true God. He is real; He exists; it is a question of getting to know Him.

You may have many ideas about God and what He is like, but I want you to lay them aside and come with open minds to see what John says about Him. I believe he shows us four things.

1. God is a triune being. In his greeting in the Book of Revelation, John confirms this.

2. God is eternal. The second thing John makes clear is that not only is God triune, but also He is eternal. He put it like this: “Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come.”

3. God is spirit. The third thing John saw was that God is spirit. He is not material; He is not a physical being. Jesus Himself said that God is spirit when He spoke to the woman at the well: “God is spirit, and His wor­shipers must worship in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24).

4. God became a man. The fourth thing John shows us about God is that God became human.

Grace and peace to you … from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.

Jesus is Lord of lords and King of kings (Rev. 17:14). Someday He will come again, and on that day Paul tells us that everyone will worship Him.

Excerpted from A Vision of Jesus (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1999).

For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. —Hebrews 5:12, KJV

There comes a time when you must begin to help others. I know some Christians who after years are still needing the same old kind of help. It has not entered their minds to help anybody else. They figure if they once get sorted out, then they will be on their way to help somebody else. Yet years later they are still in much the same condition! Often the best way to solve your problem is to get your eyes completely off yourself and start helping somebody else.

What a pity, then, that these Hebrew Christians were right back to square one, needing milk, not solid food. It is a blatant rebuke. If milk is the only diet suited to a certain physical condition, it shows that one is in a serious state, but spiritually the writer means that one is in an immature but potentially dangerous state. It suggests an arrested development.

So if a person has an arrested development spiritually, then no matter how many more years he lives, he does not automatically get any better. Here is the person who has been converted and is going fine for six months, five years, or ten years, but then something happens. Maybe disappointment in their life. Maybe the loss of a job. And so the person is tried. But if he or she does not dignify the trial, if they do not learn to forgive, if they do not grow in grace and walk in the light, something backfires internally; they might continue going to church, but there is an arrested development, and they never move on.

I have thought about this in connection with myself, because I am absolutely sure that I have been like them, yet God is patient with me.

There was hope for these Hebrew Christians, and there is hope for each of us who hear God speaking in these lines.

Excerpted from Are You Stone Deaf to the Spirit or Rediscovering God? (Christian Focus Publications Ltd., 1999).