Knowing God - God Gives Boldness

Acts 4:13

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.

Jesus gives us boldness.  It is not the credentials of a well educated theologian that gives boldness.  It is not the number of years that we have named the name of Christ that gives us boldness.  It is not the well rehearsed orations when challenged that gives us boldness.  It is Jesus Himself that gives us boldness.  Spending time with Him gives us a boldness and surety that no other form of preparation can give.  Our Lord Jesus awaits our fellowship and gives us confidence when we spend time with Him.  As He speaks to us and listens to us a relationship is established that transcends all other commitments and loyalties.  When we spend time with Jesus, a fortitude and resolve resonates from our lives enough to make others notice.  Jesus gives this sort of boldness and only His presence has such power.

Proverbs - Lofty Eyes

Proverbs 30:13

There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.

Lofty eyes are never good.  Lofty eyes exemplify eyes that look down on others.  Lofty eyes show pride and arrogance.  When a generation raises their eyebrows when their morality is challenged, we see a generation that does what is right in their own eyes.  Oh that we would show the world how humility produces honor and being corrected is a way of life!  Once again we are warned that the world around us really looks down on others although proclaiming tolerance.  Three are those who speak arrogantly against authority and are actually surprised when their actions are judge wrong or illegal.  We will see this more and more as we see the day approaching.  Our goal is to avoid this type of attitude and display a teachable spirit resulting in a much sweeter way of living.

Knowing God - He Blinds Eyes

2 Kings 6:18

 And when they came down to him, Elisha prayed unto the Lord, and said, Smite this people, I pray thee, with blindness. And he smote them with blindness according to the word of Elisha.

                                                                  

We learn so much about our God through the great events in the Word of God.  It is much safer to read the Word and discover who the Lord is rather than think on our own and decide who He is.  Here we see that the God who opened Elisha’s servant’s eyes is the same God who blinded the enemies of His people.  Our God is able to do both and He will lead us to request the right thing at the right time.  Our God is able to blind the enemy in much the same way as He blinded Pharaoh’s army from seeing the Israelites that one night at the border of the Red Sea.  What a great thing to ask Him to do.  Lord, blind the enemies of our children that they might not come into their lives.  Lord, blind the enemy from my marriage and finances.  Lord, blind the enemy from being able to set such strategic traps before me today.  Our God opens eyes and our God blinds eyes!

Proverbs - Pure in Your Own Eyes

Proverbs 30:12

There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Our heart is deceitfully wicked and we must understand our assessment of ourselves is not to be trusted.  We live in a society that decides what is right by their own understanding and desires.  People think they are clean but in fact are quite dirty.  When we talk to such people we must realize that they are carrying around the stench of their sin and we know that it is the blood of Jesus that can wash them white as snow.  The blessing of a clean conscience is something those who are yet dead in their sins do not know.  The weight of guilt is something they have never been relieved of.  We can tell them what Christ has done on their behalf.  They can enjoy the cleansing and forgiving.  When we see others we should know that regardless of whether they think they are clean, they are not.  We can pray for that Hollywood star.  We can write a letter to that politician or to that professor letting them know what their Maker has done for them.  Don’t be surprised at how people will say that they are clean when the truth is they are in the miry clay of human sin and consequences.

Knowing God - God Opens Eyes

2 Kings 6:17

And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

When this young man looked around he was very afraid.  The enemy far outnumbered him and Elisha.  Elisha could see things that this young man couldn’t.  How often we can see things those younger than us can’t!  Elisha asked the Lord to open this young man’s eyes to see the heavenly realm.  The Lord answered Elisha’s prayers and opened the young man’s eyes to see the strength and assistance the Lord was providing.  Our God is able to open the eyes of those we love that are full of fear.  Our God is able to open the eyes of those younger than us to see His glory and might.  God loves to open eyes that they might see.  The Lord opens eyes that might otherwise remain closed to all that He is doing.

Proverbs - Children and Parents

Proverbs 30:11

There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.

There has never been another generation closer to the second coming of Jesus Christ than those who are living now.  The Lord tells us in Second Timothy 3:1-2 :

“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

Children have always had to learn obedience.  We know that foolishness is bound up in a heart of a child and they must be instructed in the way that they SHOULD go because they naturally go towards their fallen nature without such instruction.  In the last days the severity of disobedience will be such that children will curse their fathers and not bless their mothers.  As parents in these times we ought not take the attitudes of our children personally but rather prepare ourselves to fight with spiritual weapons on behalf of this generation.  When we hear news reports of children who actually murder their parents, we should stop and ask the Lord to pour out His Spirit upon this generation.  So many fathers have forsaken their children and mothers have pursued their own goals at the expense of their children.   This results in children who react with such despair that it results in cursing and a lack of natural bonding.  Oh Lord, help us as mothers to not be deceived and contribute in any way to our children cursing their father or not blessing us.  Give us compassion on the children who are cursing their fathers and use us to show them what a good Father you are. 

Knowing God - The Lord Gives Sentences

Jer 4:12

 Even a full wind from those places shall come unto me: now also will I give sentence against them.

The Lord Gives Sentences

                                                                  

Jeremiah was going to give a sentence or judgment from God to His people regarding their actions.  Our God is the One who has every right to pronounce judgment on us.  He will tell us what is right and He will tell us what is wrong.  It is not up to our own standards or the society in which we live.  God is the Judge and it is He that determines whether things are sin, compromise or idolatry.  I fear our culture encourages believers to inwardly determine their own standards.  It is God, who reigns on high that determines what grieves His heart and creates winds that parch and trouble our lives.  We are the created ones.  He is the Creator.  It is the Lord who says what sexual sin is, what gossip is and every other form of sin that Christ died for.  Have we become so arrogant that we think our own understanding is to be that which determines righteousness?  Be open to the Lord’s sentencing.  Listen to the Jeremiahs in your life.  Our God is worthy and alone judges righteously.