Can we hope at the end of the rope?

There’s a standard reply to what to do when you’re at the end of your rope:

“Tie a knot and hang on.”

But what happens when you’ve tried to do that and your grip has slipped and you’ve plummeted further into the darkness than you even feared at first?

It may have felt like the end would never come, but the sudden stop and pain it brought was more than you could have ever imagined that you could bear.

You’re not alone.

It would have felt like you were at the time.

All of us are one phone call away from slipping from our perch on the rope . It’s good to take time to be reminded how to hope.

We know that:

Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12 (New International Version)

We understand that hope is the helmet of our salvation:

But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (New International Version)

So when we don’t have hope, our head… our minds are opened to the attacks of the enemy.

Hope brings security -

You will be secure, because there is hope;
you will look about you and take your rest in safety. Job 11:18

Hope brings strength -

but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Hope brings joy and peace -

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

Hope brings unfailing love -

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22

Hope brings rest -

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him. Psalm 62:5

But what happens when your at the place you’re at the place where you can say with Jeremiah:

Have you rejected Judah completely?
Do you despise Zion?
Why have you afflicted us
so that we cannot be healed?
We hoped for peace
but no good has come,
for a time of healing
but there is only terror. Jeremiah 14:19

I’ve learned to hope in hard times. I’ve learned to hope at all times. Hope is needed in any transition. I’m getting so excited about the launch of the book and so blessed by the comments on it.

Research on hope needs to start with Scripture. This is not a definitive list of what the Bible says about hope. However, they are verses I needed to follow up on as I wrote Hope In Transition. Many of these are tweetable. All of them should be viewed in context. There are amazing nuggets of truth available for people who seek out wisdom.

Be encouraged by them. I explain more about most of them in the book. But you don’t need to wait for that to be confident that your hope is secure.

Trevor

2 Kings 4:28
“Did I ask you for a son, my lord?” she said. “Didn’t I tell you, ‘Don’t raise my hopes’?”

1 Chronicles 29:15
We are aliens and strangers in your sight, as were all our forefathers. Our days on earth are like a shadow, without hope.

Job 4:6
Should not your piety be your confidence and your blameless ways your hope?

Job 5:16
So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.

Job 6:8
“Oh, that I might have my request, that God would grant what I hope for,

Job 6:11
“What strength do I have, that I should still hope? What prospects, that I should be patient?

Job 13:15
Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.

Job 17:13
If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in darkness,

Job 17:15
where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?

Job 30:26
Yet when I hoped for good, evil came; when I looked for light, then came darkness.

Proverbs 24:14
Know also that wisdom is sweet to your soul; if you find it, there is a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off.

Ecclesiastes 9:4
Anyone who is among the living has hope —even a live dog is better off than a dead lion!

Jeremiah 8:15
We hoped for peace but no good has come, for a time of healing but there was only terror.

Jeremiah 23:16
This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

Jeremiah 31:17
So there is hope for your future,” declares the LORD. “Your children will return to their own land.

Lamentations 3:18
So I say, “My splendor is gone and all that I had hoped from the LORD.”

Lamentations 3:21
Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:

Lamentations 3:25
The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

Lamentations 3:29
Let him bury his face in the dust— there may yet be hope.

Micah 7:7
But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Zechariah 9:12
Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.

Matthew 12:21
In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Romans 4:18
Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 8:24
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

Romans 8:25
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 13:7
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Galatians 5:5
But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope.

Ephesians 1:18
I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 4:4
There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

Colossians 1:5
the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel

Colossians 1:23
if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Colossians 1:27
To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:13
Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:8
But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

2 Thessalonians 2:16
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

1 Timothy 6:17
Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Titus 1:2
a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time,

Titus 2:13
while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,

Titus 3:7
so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 6:11
We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure.

Hebrews 6:18
God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

Hebrews 6:19
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Hebrews 10:23
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:13
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:21
Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

1 Peter 3:5
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,

1 John 3:3
Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.

How to Judge and Not Be A Jerk (part 2) - Episode #9 – RevTrev Radio

Download audio file (RTRadio1_9.mp3)

How to Judge and Not Be A Jerk – Part 2

There is so much self-righteous misinformation and confusion around judging that we need to take a serious look at it. I’m so passionate about this topic that I’ve written a booklet with the same name. You can order the full sermon as well, or just take some time to listen to this week and next week’s podcast. This is important information not just to know, but to know how to live out in a world that is quick to tear down.

Listen to the message and share your questions and comments below. I know this is controversial, but I also know I need to practice what I’m preaching before I expect others to do the same, so I’ll be nice.

Enjoy!

How do we steward our destiny? The women in 2 Kings 4:1-7 had a problem and she went to the prophet.

I often get the question when someone has a life-changing experience with God, “How do I know God’s timing?” There’s no formula for this. Sometimes God speaks and we know we need to do it now. Other times there is

nothing we can do about it now, so we wait with expectation. Sometimes we get a word that just doesn’t make sense to us in the moment.

It’s OK. Learn how to steward it.

The Bible says six times (Deuteronomy 17:6, 19:15; Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28) that things must be confirmed by two or three witnesses. You don’t need to be running off the first time you hear something.

It’s OK to wait and ponder. In the upcoming points I’ll show you how you can. Before we get there however, there are two things you need to know once God has confirmed His call with two or three witnesses:

1. Don’t get caught up getting confirmation

James tells us that when we ask for wisdom God will give it, without finding fault. But if we don’t believe we’re getting the wisdom we ask for, we’ll be double-minded and tossed like a wave of the sea (James 1:5-6). Know God is speaking to you. You’re his sheep, you know His voice.

You can’t get a home run if you don’t swing. Too many people are afraid to swing the bat. They’re waiting for that perfect pitch. Listen – it’s OK to strike out. It’s not OK to strike out without swinging. (Well, it is…you’re still under grace. I just don’t want to push the analogy too far.) The point is – hear and obey – don’t try to re-hear and re-hear and re-hear. Don’t merely listen to the word, do what it says. (James 1:22)

2. He might not give clear direction again until you obey the first command.

I learned this one the hard way.

God told me starting a web design business was going to be a waste of time. I thought that was just for while we were in New Zealand. When I returned to Canada, I had all kinds of ideas for businesses and started a publishing house, a web design, graphic design, editing, SEO and printing business.

I was waiting for Him to tell me “No” again. I was simply doing what made sense for me to do.

Five years later I was looking for direction and God took me back to the day I knew in my spirit he said, “It’s a waste of time” and I knew the last five years in business were. He then reminded me of his audible voice saying, “I’ve given you time to write.” Then I felt Him ask me, “Did I ever tell you to stop writing?”

I didn’t start anything without seeking God first. When He gave no direct sense, I assumed He was letting me use my common sense and skills. What I learned later was that He had spoken and He was waiting for me to obey.

Looking back, I see it’s not that simple. He was telling me through my wife and through other people asking me to write for them and through a stranger who heard me on the radio talk about my books tell me, “That’s what you need to be doing,” that God was giving me direction, but I wasn’t picking up on it. Instead I was letting the giant of “You’ll-never-make-a-living-from-writing” drown out the call of God to write.

Even if you see the destination and can’t get there from where you’re at, I’ll show you how you can start moving towards that direction with your thoughts, speech and actions.

In the next post I’ll show you how to look at what you have. Love to hear your experience in hearing the Lord.

Destiny – the question of how we live out our destiny is one I often get asked in various ways. I’ve shared this message on RevTrev Radio, Part 1 and Part 2 I thought it was time I’d blog about it as well.

In the garden the serpent asked “Did God really say…?” (Genesis 3:1) and that’s a question satan keeps asking us today. It is so easy for us to forget the promise God has spoken to us. They are like to seed that falls in the rocky ground:

The seed on the rocky soil represents those who hear the message and immediately receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they don’t last long. They fall away as soon as they have problems or are persecuted for believing God’s word. Matthew 13:20-21 (New Living Translation)

As soon as problems come, the joy of the seed that’s planted is forgotten. You and I need to remember the prophetic promises given to us.

I don’t want to say, “I have 5 steps for you.” because these steps are fluid and not always in the order that we’ll see in portion of Scripture where I’m going to draw them out.  Let’s call them “points.”

And it’s not that you evaluate once in your life and you’re onto something else. Every time you have a transition, a change or a new adventure you may need to go through this process.

Also, I haven’t been able to find a timeline for these points. Sometimes I go through them in an afternoon, other times it takes me years. But there is wisdom in knowing the process of stewarding a prophetic word.

Let’s see how a women who had nothing but problems did it.

2 Kings 4:1-7 – Elisha and the Widows Oil

The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the LORD. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”

Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”

Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”

She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.

She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

During this series of posts I’ll show you what I’ve picked up from this story about stewarding a prophetic word and applying it to our destiny.

What do you know about stewarding your destiny? Is it something you intentionally do? I’d love to get your advice. Leave it in the comments below.

Can I examine my obedience to God?

Since obedience is part of fearing the Lord, seeking the Lord and doing what’s right…and doing what’s right, seeking the Lord and fearing the Lord are the pre-requisites for getting the good God has intended for us, how can I examine myself to see if I’m obeying God?

I’ve got to allow the Holy Spirit to search me. I can’t take other people’s kind or harsh words at face value and it’s easy for me to be self deceived. I can believe the voice of the enemy more easily than I can believe God at times. I can’t think more highly of myself than I ought.

It’s taking time to ask the Holy Spirit to “search me and know me” and waiting for Him to answer knowing there is no condemnation in Christ but Godly sorrow leads to repentance.

Here’s some questions we can ask the Holy Spirit. Take time to listen. Write down the words that come to your mind in response to these questions.

• Am I fearing God?
• Am I seeking God?
• Am I doing what’s right?
• Am I obeying You?
• When was the last time I did something because I knew You wanted me to do it?
• When was the last time I didn’t do something because I knew You wouldn’t be pleased?
• When was the last time I was timid about obeying You, but because I sensed You wanted me to do it, I went ahead with it?

What has the Spirit shown you?

Consider these next questions:

• How long ago were these events?
• Are you more sensitive now to God?
• What has made you more sensitive?
• What has caused you to be less sensitive?

Here’s a prayer to get you started:

Lord forgive me where I have lost sensitivity to you. Show me how to make it right. I want to keep in step with your Spirit. I want to do what you want me to do.

Remember if you get discouraged by the responses you sense, take them to a spiritual father or mother to see what they think about it. God wants you to have the good He’s created for you. He wants you to have all the benefits of seeking Him, fearing Him, and doing what’s right. As Derek Prince used to teach:

God gave His commands to us not to create problems for us but to solve them, not to harm us but to help us. God’s love is in His commands. They are given to save us from ourselves, to save us from evil, to show us the way out of our difficulties and our problems.

So He’ll show you where you aren’t obeying what He wants you to do. You just have to trust Him enough to wait to hear Him speak.

It’s something I’m trying to do each day. Love to hear how you do it. Leave your comments below.

I’ve found 6 keys to endure and overcome. We need to realize and never forget that:

• It’s always darkest before the dawn.
• The enemy always rages just before he’s about to be defeated.
• The Dragon always wants to kill the baby when it’s helpless.

Don’t think its peculiar that you need to endure to get the good. Here’s 6 Keys I’ve learned that will help you endure and overcome…

1. To endure fix Your Eyes on Jesus…

Hebrews 12:2 (New International Version)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

2. To endure use the Blood of the Lamb, Word of the Testimony, and don’t Love this Life so much that you’re afraid to die…

Revelation 12:11 (New Living Translation)

And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb
and by their testimony.
And they did not love their lives so much
that they were afraid to die.

3. To endure have patience and obedience…

Revelation 14:12 (New Living Translation)

This means that God’s holy people must endure persecution patiently, obeying his commands and maintaining their faith in Jesus.

4. Endure as a good solider…

2 Timothy 2:3 (New Living Translation)

Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.

5. Endure as discipline…

Hebrews 12:7 (New International Version)

Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?

6. Endure with help from the prayers of others…

2 Corinthians 1:7-11 (New Living Translation)

We are confident that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in the comfort God gives us. We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.

Now there’s an important principle that I want you to understand in order to endure. We’ll look at it in the next post on this topic. I’d love to hear how you’ve learned to endure. Thank you for leaving your comments below.

Can waiting be “good”?

I’m not one to say all we should expect from God is what we want. I know we can’t even get what is promised whenever we decide we want it. I believe God calls something else good and we need to know how to embrace it.

What Else is Good?

James 1:2-4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

To get the good we will be tested.  To get the good, we need to wait.

Psalm 27:13-14 (New International Version)

I am still confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.

Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD.

Waiting isn’t wishful thinking. It’s not sitting around doing nothing. It’s not disbelieving good is for you or not believing good will come.

The Amplified version translates Isaiah 40:31 this way:

Isaiah 40:31 (Amplified Bible)

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up

as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired

Waiting is a confident expectation that God is good and He’s in a good mood. Waiting this way gives us endurance. And we need to know how to endure, and not only endure but we need to know how to overcome.

In the next blog post on this topic I’ll give you want I’ve found helps us to endure and overcome.

What are the promises when I obey God? I’ve never preached on this portion of Scripture except when I’ve shared this message. It’s a powerful one to consider.

Deuteronomy 28:1-13 (NLT)

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:

Your towns and your fields
will be blessed.
Your children and your crops
will be blessed.
The offspring of your herds and flocks
will be blessed.
Your fruit baskets and breadboards
will be blessed.
Wherever you go and whatever you do,
you will be blessed.

“The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!

“The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

“If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do. Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord, and they will stand in awe of you.

“The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops. The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them. If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.

Let’s not forget two things.

1. All God’s promises are “yes” in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 1:20). If it was good in the Old Testament, it’s good for us as well.
2. This is an inferior covenant than the one we’re under with the shed blood of Jesus (Hebrews 12:24), so

2 Corinthians 3:8 (New Living Translation)

Shouldn’t we expect far greater glory [than Moses when His face shone bright], now that the Holy Spirit is giving life?

If under the old covenant wealth and power came from God (1 Chronicles 29:12)…

If confirmation of the old covenant was the sign of wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18)…

If the blessing of the old covenant was to be blessed wherever you go and whatever you do (Deuteronomy 28:6)…

Then you and I better be serious about hearing the voice of the Father and obeying what He says. We’d better get serious about fearing the Lord, Seeking the Lord and Doing What’s right.

That’s the good news. God trusts you with power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.

But there’s more that some of us may not consider “good”. We’ll discuss that in the next post.

I know this is a controversial subject, I value your feedback and wisdom.

Does God want us to have wealth? We can’t start this discussion without remembering that if we live in Canada or the US, we’re in the top 2% of the world’s wealthiest people.

Don’t think that because you don’t have a million dollars you aren’t wealthy. Not a lot of people in the world have a million dollars. What falls out of your pockets in a month is more than many people earn in a month. If you find a dollar a day,  you’re wealthier than 1.8 billion people in the world.

We have an incredible capacity to make wealth in North America. Money is not the root of all evil – the love of money is. Not having a love of money starts with understanding the source of wealth.

David prays to God and says:

Wealth and honor come from you; 1 Chronicles 29:12 (New International Version)

God is the ultimate source of riches and honor. It’s God who gives us the power to get wealth, and getting wealth is a sign of His covenant with you:

Deuteronomy 8:18 (New International Version)

But remember the LORD your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today.

I know you’re not all comfortable thinking this way. It makes me uncomfortable as well. I don’t want to make God out as our cosmic piggy bank, but I’m more desperate not to give up on the good He wants for me.

Why don’t we desire power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise?

I see 2 reasons why I have trouble doing so.

1. We let our experience inform our theology instead of letting the Bible interpret our experience.

“I don’t have power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise and I’ve obeyed God…therefore.”

What are you doing? You’re letting your experience inform your theology.

Why don’t we instead decide to accept and expect it?

Never forget your story is not yet done being written.

2. Because power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise can be used for evil. We’ve all seen them used for evil.

And being good Christians, and especially being good Canadians, we don’t want to risk the radical thought that God wants to give us power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise.

But here’s the thing…because you’ve obeyed God, because you fear him, seek him and obey him, your motives become pure.

He’s not going to give you anything He doesn’t trust you with.

He’s big enough to extend grace to you if you mess it up.

Do you not really believe God has the best in store for you when you obey? Check out these promises He gave the children of Israel. We’ll look at them in the next post on this topic.

Love to have your feedback. Leave your comments below.

We need to understand the good God has for us. Is God really good? Is He is a good mood? Let’s examine the life of Christ to see the “good” that His obedience brought Him.

Paul tells us that because of Christ’s obedience, He got something good.

Philippians 2:5-11 (New International Version)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing,
taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
and became obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

Let’s jump ahead to the book of Revelation to see some of the good things Christ was given because He obeyed. The passage in Revelation 5 draws out what Paul told the Philippian Church.

Revelation 5:12

In a loud voice they sang:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!”

• Power   Wealth    Wisdom   Strength   Honor   Glory   Praise

I remember reading this passage as a child and thinking, “Why does Jesus need wealth?” Why does He need power or wisdom or strength or honor or glory or praise?

He doesn’t. But He’s worthy to receive it, because He did what was right and was obedient.

That’s part of the good God has in store for you – power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise. When we fear God, seek God and Obey God, any power, wisdom, strength, honor, glory and praise He allows us to have is easily turned back to Him. We realize it’s not us, it’s His grace and love.

But wealth can be trickier. We might be tempted to push it off into eternity and think it’s not for today. What are you going to do with any of that in heaven?

“I’ve got wealth” you say in heaven. “Big deal” I’ll say. “The streets are paved with gold.”

This topic is a very sensitive one, so we’ll be exploring it more in the next post on this topic. What do you think of it so far? Feel free to disagree. I’m working through this myself.

I’ve found 4 ways to help us do what’s right. Here they are:

1. Let the Word teach you what’s right…

2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Proverbs 1:2-4 (New Living Translation)

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.

2. Obey what God shows you is right…

Deuteronomy 21:9
By following these instructions, you will do what is right in the Lord’s sight

1 Kings 11:38
If you listen to what I tell you and follow my ways and do whatever I consider to be right, and if you obey my decrees and commands, as my servant David did, then I will always be with you. I will establish an enduring dynasty for you as I did for David, and I will give Israel to you.

3. Use disciplines to help you obey what’s right…

Romans 6:13
Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.

4. Let others help you do what’s right….

Romans 15:2
We should help others do what is right and build them up in the Lord.

Do you see the overlap of Fearing the Lord, Seeking the Lord and Doing what’s right. What’s the key in all three?

Obedience.

When you seek God you obey God.

When you fear God you obey God.

When you do what’s right you obey God.

I’m boiling it down to its essentials here. I can write a book on each of these topics and one day I might. There’s more to each, but the conclusion when all has been heard is fear God and keep his commandments.

So when we do, we’re fulfilling the conditions for receiving the good God has for us. I know some of you are wondering if the good God has for us is really all that good.

“So I obey Him, what do I have coming?”

Let me try to answer is in the few posts. I’ll try to describe what I see the Bible calls “good.”

What are your thoughts about the good thoughts God has for you? I’d love to have you mention them in the comments.

Here’s an update of what I’ve been up to. There’s a lot on the go, even during summer. Hope you’re having a great one. Mine is going great.

[FLOWPLAYER=http://www.revtrev.com/wp-content/videos/RTJuly24_2010.mov,500,375]

What are the benefits of doing what’s right? When I write ad copy for businesses I know to put the benefits before the features. I suppose that’s why I’m listing what I’ve studied in Scripture in this way.  So let’s start the discussion on how to do what’s right with the benefits of doing what’s right. Some of these are  self evident, and once again I want to stress we have the wrong attitude if we obey just to get the reward.

We need to do what we do out of who we are, not what we get for what we do.

Still, since obedience is better than sacrifice, there are benefits we receive for doing what’s right even with the wrong attitude.

1. Do what’s right and all will go well with you…

Deuteronomy 6:18
Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so all will go well with you. Then you will enter and occupy the good land that the Lord swore to give your ancestors.

2. Do what’s right and you have joy…

Psalm 106:3
There is joy for those who deal justly with others and always do what is right.

3. Do what’s right and you please God…

Proverbs 21:3
The Lord is more pleased when we do what is right and just than when we offer him sacrifices.

Ecclesiastes 8:4-6 (New Living Translation)

His command is backed by great power. No one can resist or question it.  Those who obey him will not be punished. Those who are wise will find a time and a way to do what is right,  for there is a time and a way for everything, even when a person is in trouble.

4. Do what’s right and you reflect the Father’s nature…

Psalm 25:8
The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

Isaiah 26:7
But for those who are righteous, the way is not steep and rough. You are a God who does what is right, and you smooth out the path ahead of them.

5. Do what’s right and you show others God’s love…

John 3:21
But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants.”

”The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips then walk out the door and deny him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply find unbelievable.” Brennan Manning

6. Do what’s right and you show yourself you’re in Christ…

1 John 2:29
Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God’s children.

1 John 3:7
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous.

7. Do what’s right and you avoid sin becoming your master…

Genesis 4:7
You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.”

8. Do what’s right and your society improves…

Judges 21:25
In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.

9. Do what’s right and no good thing will He withhold…

Psalm 84:11
For the Lord God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The Lord will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right.

These are great benefits right? Just how can we get them? I’ll look at that in the next post on this topic.

If you know of any other benefits in Scripture to doing what’s right, I’d appreciate them in the comments.

I’m thinking about using Scribd for some of the documents I’m putting up on ImagineWriters.com. I want to see how easy it is to embed things. Is anyone using Scribd? Love to hear what you think of it.

Scribd in HTML5

How to Hope at the End of the Rope (part 2) - Episode 7 – RevTrev Radio

Download audio file (RTRadio1_7.mp3)

How to Hope at the End of the Rope (part 2) Episode 7 RevTrev Radio

We continue the discussion of David’s journey after he lost everything at Ziklag. We can’t follow principles, except the principle to keep in step with the Spirit, but seeing how a “man after God’s own heart” handled an impossible situation. This is a message by me, Trevor Lund. It’s a bird’s eye view of my book Hope In Transition

Enjoy!

Seeking the Lord is not a ritual. There’s so much more to seeking the Lord than praying longer, or louder or fasting. Even if we think, “seeking the Lord” means fasting or going through religious ceremonies, God tells us fasting is useless without doing what is right.

Isaiah 58:2-11 (NIV)

For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.

‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’
“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.

Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

If you think you can fear the Lord without doing what is right, you’re being religious.

If you think you can seek the Lord without doing what is right, you’re self-deceived.

Fearing the Lord and Seeking the Lord are almost used interchangeably in Scripture. They are different terms and used for different reasons, but the benefits of each overlap as do some of the ways to fear the lord and some of the ways to seek the Lord. The notable one for me in this discussion is that for both we do what’s right.

Remember the three conditions for getting the good God has for us:

• Fear the Lord
• Seek the Lord
• Do what’s right

So it’s time we examine what it is to “Do What’s Right”…

How To Hope at the End of the Rope (part 1) - Episode 6 – RevTrev Radio

Download audio file (RTRadio1_6.mp3)

How to Hope at the End of the Rope (part 1)

Are there steps to knowing what to do when you get the news that brings you to your knees? While we need to follow the Spirit, not just principals, it’s good to know how others have handled tragedy in Scripture. Looking at how David handled the sacking of Ziklag, this message is a bird’s eye view of “Hope in Transition”.

Enjoy!

How can I seek the Lord? If you’re like me, you might think “seeking the Lord” simply means to “pray longer, pray louder and probably fast”. While Scripture does mention prayer and fasting with the right attitude, it also includes other, possibly surprising ways.

7 Ways to Seek the Lord

1. Call upon God and pray to him

Jeremiah 29:12-14a (New International Version)

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.

2. Serve God with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind

1 Chronicles 28:9 (New International Version)

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

3. Cast your cares upon the Lord

Psalm 55:22 (New International Version)

Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;
he will never let the righteous fall.

4. Keep your tongue from evil, Turn from evil, Do good, Seek peace and pursue it

Psalm 34:12-16 (New International Version)

Whoever of you loves life
and desires to see many good days,

keep your tongue from evil
and your lips from speaking lies.

Turn from evil and do good;
seek peace and pursue it.

The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their cry;

the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to cut off the memory of them from the earth.

5. Forsake evil ways and thoughts

Isaiah 55:6-7 (New Living Translation)

Seek the Lord while you can find him.
Call on him now while he is near.
Let the wicked change their ways
and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

6. Have clean hands, Pure heart, Don’t lift your soul to idols, Don’t swear by what is false

Psalm 24:4-6 (New International Version)

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to an idol
or swear by what is false.

He will receive blessing from the LORD
and vindication from God his Savior.

Such is the generation of those who seek him,
who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

7. Doing what’s right and live humbly

Zephaniah 2:3 (New Living Translation)

Seek the Lord, all who are humble,
and follow his commands.
Seek to do what is right
and to live humbly.
Perhaps even yet the Lord will protect you—
protect you from his anger on that day of destruction.

Do you know other ways Scripture says we should seek God? I’d love to include all the Bible says. Let me know in the comments.

Why should I seek the Lord? Well, besides the promise that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10), there are a number of other benefits to following God’s command to seek Him (Hosea 10:12).

Much like fearing the Lord, seeking the Lord is of great benefit for us; and like fearing the Lord, we shouldn’t seek the Lord just to get the benefits. Knowing the benefits can motivate us, keep us focused and help us know when we’re on the right track.

Here are seven benefits I can find in Scripture.

7 Benefits of Seeking The Lord

1. We’ll fully understand justice

Proverbs 28:5 (New International Version)

Evil men do not understand justice,
but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.

2. We don’t need to worry about everything everyone worries about

Matthew 6:31-33 (New International Version)

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

3. God’s ears will be attentive to our prayers

1 Peter 3:12 (New International Version)

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

4. We’ll be delivered from our fears

Psalm 34:4 (New International Version)

I sought the LORD, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.

5. We’ll Live!

Amos 5:4 (New International Version)

This is what the LORD says to the house of Israel:
“Seek me and live;

6. We will be strengthened

2 Chronicles 16:9 (New International Version)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.

7. God will be found

1 Chronicles 28:9 (New International Version)

“And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts. If you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will reject you forever.

Jeremiah 29:13 (New International Version)

You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Do you know of any other benefits in Scripture? Let me know in the comments. I really appreciate that.

In the next post in this topic I’ll look at “How Can I seek the Lord?”