Secret Sins

Posted on July 29, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

Blessed is the man who always fears; but one who hardens his heart falls into trouble.        Proverbs 28:13-14 (WEB)

In those days, John the Baptizer came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea, saying, 3:2 “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”     Matthew 3:1-2 (WEB)

From that time, Jesus began to preach, and to say, “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.”     Matthew 4:17 (WEB)

Secret sins are those ones that only God and I know about. They are usually sins that I commit in my mind or heart. I think or feel what is inside of me. Is it what I want inside me? NO!

Jesus warns me in Luke 12:24-26 that if I ask and receive the cleaning of my spirit and that home inside of me is emptied of that sin then I need to fill it up with the goodness of the Lord (Philippians 4:8, Galatians 5:22-23). If I do not fill it with the Lord, guess who is going to be prowling around, waiting for an opportunity to move in?

There is also the “garbage in-garbage out” that I have mentioned before. When I was in college, I hung around with a group of people that transformed my language skills to – well, let’s just say it was the lowest common denominator! I would say I could swear like a sailor but I do not want to insult the U.S. Navy! After marriage and children, I did not hang around with people who spoke like that and for 30 years my language became the clean, beautiful speech that Jesus wanted to hear. Then I went to work at a place where I was around that language again. It seems so silly that as a grown-up, educated person that I would be so ‘easily led astray’! It is so important that we be on our guard and not ever take our spiritual health for granted. Who and where you hang – makes a difference!

Repent. How I resented that word. It is so much about P-R-I-D-E! To humble myself and fall to my knees is not a place of humiliation but a place of restoration. Repent is turning away from sin and walking toward where Jesus is. I do not have to plead and beg Jesus to forgive me. He wants to forgive me. It is a simple request, “Please, Jesus, forgive me for _____” and He does. It is not how many prayers or what I do to ‘make up’ for it. I can’t do enough to make up for what Jesus has done. He did (past tense) it. He took my sins that I was (am, will) going to commit and wiped them from the ledger.

I remember the best night of my life. It was the night that I got baptized. Baptism is a sacrament, an outward sign of an inward change. I came up out of that water and it was the best moment. I have never felt so clean and light. I want to live in that Light all of my life. (sigh)

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Friends

Posted on July 28, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Iron sharpens iron; so a man sharpens his friend’s countenance.     Proverbs 27:17 (WEB)

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.       Hebrews 10:25 (WEB)

As my years as a committed Believer have passed, I have learned how vital it is to have some God-anointed fellow Believers around me. God has used these key people mightily to speak His wisdom into my life.

Jesus shows by His example that He does not intend for me to go forward alone in my spiritual journey. Yes, He is there walking with me but He brought 12 people together with Him during His ministry, didn’t He? The Holy Spirit did not give me all the gifts. It was the intention that we be His Body with all parts working together. The weakness of my flesh also makes the upholding of my “Jesus-Friends” imperative. I need those whom He has given to give His encouragement and His truthful discipline. Oh, how many times have these friends confirmed God’s Word to me.

I hear and receive God’s Word through the writer of Hebrews. That said, I am in a season of my life when the “meeting together” for me does not mean that my primary place of connecting with a ‘fellowship’ is in the church that I attend. I connect with those that God has brought into my life through cell phone, text and email, and in small groups at a home or even for lunch in a local restaurant. I do feel connected with them because we talk/meet regularly and we aren’t shy about asking the hard questions and giving correction when needed. I am blessed!

I have wonderful memories of a time when I did belong to a fellowship that was in a church and close. We studied together, prayed together, and worshiped together. God is about seasons so that was “then” and this is “now”. I’m learning about being content (Philippians 4:11). It is in that contentment that I learn when God is speaking directly to me and when He is sending a messenger. Both are precious, wonderful God-moments.

The Hebrews writer reminds me how when we are together it is the encouragement that is so important as we move on into the last days. As the world we live in becomes darker and more difficult, it is in the Body of Believers that we encourage each other and seek the Lord, receiving all that His Spirit has to give, filling and restoring His children.

See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, that ran down on the beard, even Aaron’s beard; that came down on the edge of his robes; like the dew of Hermon, that comes down on the hills of Zion: for there Yahweh gives the blessing, even life forevermore. Psalm 133 (WEB)

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Be Filled With His Spirit

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

The words of a whisperer[a gossip!] are as dainty morsels, they go down into the innermost parts.      Proverbs 26:22 (WEB, my paraphrase)

[Jesus said,]“Either make the tree good, and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt, and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit. You offspring of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. The good man out of his good treasure brings out good things, and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings out evil things. I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”     Matthew 12:33-37 (WEB)

This is another Scripture that I have not heard preached very often. And yet one of the most divisive, destructive sin plaguing our fellowships is gossip. Passing along stories and ‘juicy’ information about others is a temptation that few can say they have never experienced. We deceive ourselves in thinking we are asking for information to show our concern or to make our prayers more specific.

Check out Jesus’ words in all four gospels. Any gossip? Any mean, destructive words? Oh, yes! The Pharisees got a couple of tongue lashings, didn’t they?

Paul tells me in his letter to the Philippians that it is keeping my mind on what is “true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, virtuous, and praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8) that is what I should think about and let flow out of my mouth. It is a conscious choice to keep my mind on such things. Remember the old saying, “garbage in – garbage out”. Do I guard the gateway to my heart? Do I keep my eyes and ears tuned to those things that the Holy Spirit selects? Am I willing to obey the Holy Spirit’s direction?

I have shared with you before that I ask the Holy Spirit to examine me each night that I may repent of anything that He shows me that is sin. I have been blessed as He also teaches me how to avoid the occasion of sin. He shows me what is good also! The Spirit knows my weaknesses and is the best teacher I have ever had! He directs my mind and desires to fill me only with the goodness of what my Creator has given.

Take a few minutes today and read Psalm 136. Fill up on the God’s enduring love!

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Ambassadors are Servants

Posted on July 27, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Don’t exalt yourself in the presence of the king, or claim a place among great men; for it is better that it be said to you, “Come up here,” than that you should be put lower in the presence of the prince, whom your eyes have seen.       Proverbs 25:6-7 (WEB)

He spoke a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the best seats, and said to them, “When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, don’t sit in the best seat, since perhaps someone more honorable than you might be invited by him, and he who invited both of you would come and tell you, ‘Make room for this person.’ Then you would begin, with shame, to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when he who invited you comes, he may tell you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”      Luke 14:7-11 (WEB)

It has been exciting to study Scripture and see how the Old and New Testament connect together. Jesus brings the Scripture of His Bible to the parable. Jesus took what people may have heard recited in the synagogue and brought it into their lives.

Dinners were frequent and opportunities to show how important you were! Jesus describes the way seating at a dinner had a hierarchy. It seems that we could have walked into any dinner and identified who were the ‘A-list’ people by where they were seated!

Jesus was a servant and He taught and showed me how to be the servant of all. Jesus was repeating the wisdom of Solomon. As God brings opportunities into my life and I am identified as a ‘leader’ – that just means I serve more people. I am not to be served but instead I serve. There is a great book, The Jesus Paradigm, by Dr. David Alan Black, that would be a great study about this subject. We need to make a paradigm shift in our Church, fellow Believers. Following Jesus is truly following and not choosing only certain paths that are convenient, easy, and make me look good. It is when we walk with mercy and humility (Micah 6) that we find ourselves with Jesus and become His ambassadors in this world.


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Praise!

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Praise Yahweh!

Praise God in his sanctuary!

Praise him in his heavens for his acts of power!

Praise him for his mighty acts!

Praise him according to his excellent greatness!

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet!

Praise him with harp and lyre!

Praise him with tambourine and dancing!

Praise him with stringed instruments and flute!

Praise him with loud cymbals! Praise him with resounding cymbals!

Let everything that has breath praise Yahweh!

Praise Yahweh!                               Psalm 150 (WEB)

Everyday is an adventure! It would be difficult to listen to an ad on TV or radio and not get the message that my life can be an adventure if I buy this car or drink this cola or sign up with this particular cell phone company!

My life has certainly been an adventure since 1995 when I made my commitment to Jesus. Oh, it was adventurous before that but it was difficult to enjoy any of the ride when I was worried about what was coming around the bend and how I was going to navigate through the rocky roads! Now, I know Who stands with me and around me.
It may seem simplistic but when hard questions and pressures of this world begin to crowd in – it is time to worry and give in to the feeling of ‘overwhelm’. It is time to go to God’s Word and focus in on God’s promises and His truths. Jesus spoke the truth when He said that worry would not add an hour to my life (Matthew 6:27). It, in fact, may shorten my life. It is worry that will bring ulcers, high blood pressure, and headaches. It casts a cloud over my life, deceiving me into thinking that the Light has left me. No, if there is any distance between Jesus and me – I am the one who has moved!
As we go to worship together this weekend, let us spend time thanking God for all He has given! Big or small – God is worthy of my praise and thanksgiving!
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I’m No Expert!

Posted on July 22, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

(Note from Jody: I needed to hear this again today.)

– Henry Neufeld

In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered. Romans 8:26 (WEB)

In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 (WEB)

Being treated as an expert on any topic can be very dangerous, both to the “expert” and to those who regard him as such. There’s the obvious danger of pride on the one hand and of surrendering one’s own judgment to someone who is supposed to know on the other.

Someone once showed me the author’s introduction to a commentary on Revelation. The author expressed great confidence that he had solved the interpretive problems of Revelation. He had the key! “Here! This is really clear and it answers all the questions about Revelation!” my questioner told me.

Unfortunately for that simple answer, I have a whole row of books on Revelation, many of which express great confidence that the writer has solved all the problems and that the answer is quite simple, and yet no two of them agree. Confidence doesn’t equal knowledge. It’s quite possible to be confidently wrong.

As dangerous as it can be to regard oneself as an expert in an intellectual field, or to be regarded as such by others, I would suggest that there is a much greater danger in regarding oneself as an expert on prayer. I teach on prayer. I advocate prayer, individually, corporately, and in many forms. I have studied prayer for a very long time. I can be tempted to think I’m an expert. Other people can be tempted to think I’m an expert.

But on prayer I am no expert. I don’t know how to pray!

“Well,” says someone, “hadn’t you better learn quickly?” I am learning. But there is always a long way to go.

Let me illustrate. I got married late in life. I had to learn to share my living space, my life, my thoughts, and my dreams with another person. I had to learn to communicate quickly! I think I did fairly well. I can look back at some particularly obvious failures in communication. But today I will probably learn something more.

And that’s just in learning to communicate with my wife, who is also a finite human. In prayer, I am learning to communicate with God, who is infinite. How soon do you think I will be able to declare myself an expert? How soon can I declare myself “competent” at praying? I suspect it’s not going to happen very soon.

Paul had a very good point here. We think we know what we want and need. We think we know how to communicate with God. We even take it upon ourselves to judge the success of our prayer lives. “Well, God didn’t help me on that one!” we say, as though God should be faulted for failing to get on our program.

I don’t mean we should record our prayers and prayer experiences, as some do in a prayer journal. But record your experiences and read them as a record of a growing relationship, not a tally of prayer tokens inserted in the machine and answers that come out.

Prayer works if you communicate with God. That’s it’s primary purpose. You can’t be an expert at that. But you can know that God’s Spirit is there to help you in your weakness.

I don’t know how to pray. You don’t either.

But I hope we practice a lot today and every day. Let’s feel our weakness and know that the Holy Spirit is right there with us, helping us weak folks out.

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Witness – What is the Point?

Posted on July 21, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered. They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him. He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.” He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent. When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other. The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. Mark 3:1-6 (WEB, emphasis mine)

I was reading this and noticed the part about Jesus being angry. When I think of Him having that particular emotion, I usually think of Jesus clearing out the Temple and turning over the tables, etc.  I do not find it surprising that the Pharisees’ lack of compassion for the man with the shriveled hand and the fact that they totally missed the point and opportunity for God to be glorified through His compassion for the man would spark Jesus to anger.

Jesus teaches me how to give a testimony not blow a testimony!  There is no doubt that where the Pharisees were involved, Jesus had plenty of reasons to turn over a few tables and generally lose His justifiable temper with the way they manipulated and plotted to discredit Him.  The Pharisees did not care who got hurt in the process.  Their end justified any means they used!  Jesus does not blast them with an accurate and cutting remark.  Instead He keeps His attention on the man who needs His love and compassion, ignoring the undeserving ones!  Jesus does not blow His testimony about the love of the Father.  He shows me that I, too, can choose my focus and show others that God’s love is more powerful and accomplishes more than my ‘fleshly’ anger – no matter how justified!

The story does not end with the man’s healing as the Pharisees continue their plots and trickery.  Their hard hearts continue to block their ears and keep them from hearing the truth of who Jesus is.  The basis of my testimony is always who Jesus is.  Every conversation, every story/testimony that I share – that I live – is with my finger pointing towards the Cross.  Jesus is my Savior and Lord.

…it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,” who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (WEB)

The knowledge that I have about Jesus and His love that He has for me … is a treasure.  It is a treasure that I share and give freely.  There is no end and so it is not something to be kept under lock and key inside of me but given as a testimony in everything that I say and do.

Again, therefore, Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”           John 8:12 (WEB)

[Jesus also said,] “Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”          Matthew 5:16 (WEB)

Note to self: I am having lunch with ______ today. Lord, help me to really listen to her. May she see Your eyes and feel Your love. Use me as a conduit, Lord.

I have to stop and get groceries tonight. You know the budget, Lord, so give me wisdom and favor! And may I not miss an opportunities to be kind along the way, Lord.

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Promise: Marriage

Posted on July 20, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Let us rejoice and be exceedingly glad, and let us give the glory to him. For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his wife has made herself ready.” It was given to her that she would array herself in bright, pure, fine linen: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.      Revelation 19:7-8 (WEB)

I have the greatest job! I get to read some really wonderful manuscripts and books. The one that I am currently reading by Rev. SJ Hill has me thinking about marriage.

Have you ever thought about this passage in Revelation? Have you thought about being the Bride of Jesus Christ?

I got married when I was 22 years old. I had finished college and began my RN career. And I knew little about marriage. My parents had a very traditional marriage that lasted 50 years. The husband worked hard at a job and the wife raised children and kept the house. That wasn’t going to work for me. I knew my parents loved each other other although they weren’t particularly demonstrative.

After over 30 years of marriage, (almost 20 years the first time, divorce, and now 11 years), I look at an eternal marriage as an opportunity to learn some things that may be applied in this life.

– God has a passionate love for me. God doesn’t look at me and want to pinch my cheek. He looks at me with the same passion as a man and woman look at each other on their wedding night. Most of us may feel a little bit of uncomfortable with that picture. But this is my Creator who knows me intimately.

– God loves me unconditionally. God knows me intimately. He created me in His image. He knows the ‘all’ of me. He loves me. Period. No ‘but’ or ‘except’ or ‘however’. He loves me.

– “…two become one…” (Matthew 19) Jesus repeated what He said in Genesis 2. It’s not just about sex. It is a mystery to me just as the Trinity is a mystery to me. The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are three – but they are one. Henry and I are two – but we are one. I am not as complete without Henry as I am with him. And we are not as complete without God as we are with Him. Henry and I and God are three – but we are one. It’s a mystery that I cannot explain with mere words but I know it in my heart and my spirit.

I want to learn more and more about marriage with Jesus as my Teacher. Henry and I want our marriage to be patterned after Jesus’ promised marriage to us. We want to learn from all the examples that He has given us throughout the generations. Rev. SJ Hill has me looking at those examples in his book. I am getting a Bible study while I work! I told you I have a great job!

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Devotion

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.                               Acts 2:42 (WEB, my emphasis)

I have frequently heard in conversations with fellow Believers that we would “love to see our church look like the first church after Pentecost”.   We would love to attend such a church…but are we willing to do what they did?

This group of Believers came together daily.  Daily!  Daily! Most of us are not really willing to do that.  When our church has revival services we can’t make the priority to come every night for four nights! (Sunday-Wednesday)  We complain if our Sunday service lasts more than an hour.  We whine (or ignore) when small group study involves ‘homework’!  The words in this passage say that the Believers were devoted to the teachings.  What does that mean?  “Well, if we had a ‘Peter’ teaching us we would be committed and loyal to that teaching too!”  There is always an excuse that can be found for not being faithful to the teaching (and teachers) that God has provided us!  Too often it is not a lack of good teaching but a lack of investment from the student!  If I am stepping on toes today – remember that God stepped on mine first!

This group of Believers also broke bread together.  They had fellowship.  They remembered that Jesus told them that when they came together in unity, breaking the basic – like bread – that He would be there with them.  On any given week, with whom do we break bread?  Do we remember to acknowledge that Jesus is there?  Is our conversation something that He would want to be a part?  Do we spend time building up the Body or tearing it down in our conversations?

This group of Believers came together daily to pray! Personal prayer and corporate prayer was a priority!  My daughter told me that their pastor decided not to have their usual Saturday evening service and their Sunday service.   There was a need to pray for two families who were battling very serious illness.  There was a need and so the group of Believers made meeting that need a priority.  Are we willing to suspend the ‘usual’ order of worship to meet the needs of the Body or are we too concerned about what others – even a visitor – might think?  If I was a visitor, I might not know the ones who had the need but I would be pretty impressed with a church who was willing to meet that need!

The Lord added to the assembly day by day those who were being saved. Acts 2:47 (WEB, emphasis mine)

Well, duh!  Do you think?  When we ‘allow’ God to be the leader of the church then good things happen.  When we stop trying to figure out and over-think and make a program fit and just let God do the figuring and the planning and the fitting – then good things happen.  God gets the credit not the program or the person.  God. We turn our hearts to God.  We give Him our time and priorities.  We praise Him in all things.  The world is looking for us to be really and truly sold out to God!  No more straddling the fence but firmly on God’s side.  Let us be devoted to God.

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My ‘Every Day’ Wear

Posted on July 16, 2010 by Jody Neufeld

Finally, let the mighty strength of the Lord make you strong.  11Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil’s tricks.   12We are not fighting against humans. We are fighting against forces and authorities and against rulers of darkness and powers in the spiritual world.   13So put on all the armor that God gives. Then when that evil day comes, you will be able to defend yourself. And when the battle is over, you will still be standing firm.  14Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God’s justice protect you like armor.   15Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet.   16Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one.   17Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit.  18Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God’s people.   19Pray that I will be given the message to speak and that I may fearlessly explain the mystery about the good news.   20I was sent to do this work, and that’s the reason I am in jail. So pray that I will be brave and will speak as I should.       Ephesians 6:10-20 (CEV)

– Henry Neufeld

Do you put on the armor of God before going out to represent Jesus in the world?

I’ve seen many ways that Christians have of putting on the armor of God.  Some read this passage of scripture and meditate on it.  Others will pray a prayer related to each item of armor.  Some go through the motions of putting on the various items.  Some renew their armor when going into a particularly tough situation.  Others think that by asking Jesus to be with them and the Holy Spirit to guide them during their day, they have put on the armor.

I don’t want to criticize any of these approaches.  What I do want to do is remind us of the meaning of this armor.  I also want to remind us that we never want to take our armor off.  Even though the translation I read uses some slightly different terminology, I’m going to use the terms most people are used to for the item of armor.

Belt of truth – When you put on the belt of truth, you are surrounding yourself with truth.  Do you suit your actions to your words?  Do you surround yourself with truth, and present only the truth to others around you throughout the day?  God’s truth will protect you.  Walk in truth!

Breastplate of righteousness – God’s righteousness and justice is offered to you.  Put it on, but also take it in.  Let God’s righteousness become more natural to you each day.

Shoes of the gospel of peace – This means that you spread the good news where you walk, through the truth and righteousness you are wrapped in, and by the peacefulness of your actions.  Let your shoes spread God’s peace wherever you are.

Shield of faith – The Christian life doesn’t always go the way we’d like it to.  If we live by the moment, any dart the enemy sends our way can push us under.  But faith, which includes faithfulness carries us through whatever comes.

Helmet of Salvation – there is nothing like the assurance that God loves you to keep you steady.  God loves you.  He provided for your salvation.  He accepts you as you are.   Let that brighten your every thought through the day.

Sword of the spirit – don’t just take the sword in your hand as a book, but let God’s word pierce to your heart and judge your thoughts and attitudes.  The Christian’s sword is different from other swords in that we really need to use it on ourselves first.  God’s word is alive and active and reveals what’s really in you.  (Hebrews 4:12 & 13)

So today Lord, let me be truthful in all things.  Let me discern and hear the truth, but especially let me speak the truth.  Make it like a belt, all the way around me.  I want to show your righteousness and your justice.  Let it defend me from the enemy, but let me also spread that justice to those around me.  Let me be faithful, Lord, no matter what is thrown at me.  Let me put out the fires of attack and not fuel them.  Wherever I walk, let me bring peace because of the good news that you have bridged the gap and reconciled us to you, Lord.  Let me reconcile myself to others.  Let me spread reconciliation.  Give me peace and joy because I already know my salvation in you.  Thank you Lord!  I pray that your word will guide my thoughts and my life.  I pray that I will never use that sword to hurt anyone, but only to rid the world of evil and of hurtful things.  In the name of Jesus, Amen!

Paul tells us in Galatians 3:27 that if we have been baptized into Christ, we have put on Christ.  Each of these elements of the armor of God characterizes part of our relationship with our Savior Jesus Christ.

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