If I Had Known I'd Be Alive! - That Ol' Bible

The Lord's anger burned against Uzzah, and He struck him down because he had put his hand on the ark. So he died there before God. - 1 Chronicles 13:10

I have always been a reader. I truly enjoyed it as a child. Today, as an adult I can't imagine electing not to read.

The world changes quickly. Innovation and the joining of technologies happens daily. Yet I often hear from business associates how much they dislike reading. I also hear it and even more often from Christians and even those who are in positions of leadership.

True pillars of the faith exist who do not have a habit, a discipline, of reading the Bible. You might be one of those. One such Christian friend and business associate told me that he found it a difficult discipline to master. My response was, "Jim, if you do not get into the Bible; if you do not read from it and yes, do it daily, you cannot know how it is that God will speak into and provide guidance to your life specifically."

My worldview, no, LIFEview on the subject of the Holy Bible has less to do with issues like infallibility and inerrancy and much more on the premise that its constant and continual message is this, God's written Word, as provided in the Bible, is life to our souls. It provides knowledge that leads to life."

The prophet Hosea tells us, My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as My priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children. - Hosea 4:6. God has given us His Word that has specific foundational principles. You can't know them unless you read about them. Understanding God's heart, His desire for mankind, the fulness of the message of Jesus Christ must be understood if we expect our Heavenly Father's personal, intimate blessing.

King David forgot to follow what we perceive as a law. But something more than God saying, "I said so!" was at work when God instructed David to allow no one to touch the Ark of the Covenant. "...But they must not touch the holy things or they will die..." - Numbers 4:15.

You might recall the story. When they were transporting the ark, one of the men, Uzzah, seemingly in an innocent manner reached to steady the ark but was immediately stricken dead when his hands touched the ark of God.

This has led to speculation. Did David know this law or did he simply forget? Well, the answer was that David knew it because God had told David directly. Had David failed to instruct Uzzah about this command and thus not take care of one who was put under Davids' care? If Uzzah was aware did he really believe it was a specific instruction from God?

Regardless of the implications we know that David thought it was okay to carry the ark the way Uzzah did. And, because of David's lack of truly "hearing" God a man lost his life for his presumption.

Too many of us take the Bible lightly.

We believe we can violate His Word without consequence. Or, perhaps that its directive instruction is not true or relevant to us or to the time in which we live. But the Bible itself says that the Lord stands by (He is at the ready) to uphold His Word.

The Bible can be life, or it can bring death. When God provides instructions, we need to follow them. The Word of God leads to the personal instruction and direction of God for each of us. Knowing this about God brings reverence for our Heavenly Father. David was afraid of God that day and asked, 'How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?' - 1 Chronicles 13:12

We must all have a fearful respect when, like David, God speaks to us to speak through us. For truly, it is life or death.

Do you take God's Word seriously? Is it life or death for you? Does it even register in your heart to devour it daily and discover how the Holy Spirit will use it to revolutionize your life? Do you feed upon His Word daily so that you might know Him and know His instruction and intimate communication to you?

It is my prayer that you understand God's written word as given in the Bible and that it does what it says it will do…give you abundant life in your daily walk…

 I remain...
 InHISgrip,
    ~J~

God You & The Heavenly UPS Guy

Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets - Amos 3:7

A friend of mine, Os Hillman, received a prophecy. Essentially it was this, "You (Os) are called to free workplace believers from the Esau life." When God gave that word He did so through a third party. It was a someone who was not directly involved in Hillman's life. At the time he had been in the midst of trying to understand some catastrophic events that shook his world. As he reflected this story back to me recently, he shared how he was able to see that God gave this person supernatural insight that revealed his Heavenly Fathers personal calling on his life.

Regardless of what you might think. There is zero evidence that God stopped prophecy or stopped using prophecy. Every clear delineation of the changing of His operations, God has spoken directly about the change. There has been nothing but conjecture about God and miracles being suspended. And the prophetic is certainly miraculous. Is has not nor is it being wiped from the earth. I have heard Os' story repeated dozens of times; someone using a prophetic word to call a person into service or encourage them in their work.

God still uses His prophets today to reveal His plans in the lives of His people.

I have seen Amos 3:7 (verse at the top) proved over and over in the lives of God's people. It is as though God sends out His special forces to inform His chosen ones, His kids, His people, what is ahead for them.

Sometimes He does this because He knows the event will require such changes in that person's life and so He wants to assure them of His love. We are not good with change. We really aren't good with dramatic change and God author's dramatic change.

I've also had the role flipped on me. God has used me as a prophet in the lives of others. I must tell you, "Prophet" is not my primary calling. When I think of it, it's not a particularly comfortable role for me. But I prefer to be uncomfortable and obedient than comfortable and dead wrong. In the Church Age, since the Holy Spirit is available to all God's kids, it is likely the Holy Spirit will, at some point, and if you are open and obedient, more than once, use you in this role also.

Let me be clear about something to you. I require God's direction. You see, when you turn a whole life (your life) over to Him you've pretty much given up other forms of guidance. Every other map, compass, directory is flawed. It cannot take me to where my leader wishes me to go. You need to, if you have not been, thinking about this in terms of God and you also.

I wish to warn you now if you are a God-pleaser; He will bring peeps into your life to whom He expects to use you as His mouthpiece. I'm just telling you now. Expect it! Anticipate it! Be ready for it! Are you ready? I mean it!

Friends and family, are your eyes and ears spiritually sensitive so that you will know who are messengers of God and when YOU are the messenger of God? Elisha had a servant who could not see or hear with spiritual eyes and ears until Elisha prayed they would be opened. Then the servant could see the great army of God protecting them (check out 2 Kings 6:17).

Today, with me, pray that we might see and hear with the extraordinary, supernatural power of the Holy Spirit. He may desire to reveal His purposes and plans through another individual or through us. Regardless, it is miraculous to behold and peace to our hearts and direction for our weary feet.

I remain...

InHISgrip,
~J~