The Role of Disciplinarian

Hebrews 12:9

9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

The context of this scripture is about the role of God as the disciplinarian. When His children are not obedient He disciplines as a way to show love. And so a trial of chastening comes as a way to develop or bring that son or daughter to a place of development and maturity. God our heavenly Father is compared to that of earthly fathers.

On last Sunday, our assistant pastor facilitated a discussion on the role of a nurturer and how God can be both mother and father in His qualities. Even scripture references how we can lean on Him when forsaken or there is an absence of human roles in Psalm 27:10. And it was brought up that a nurturer doesn't always have to be a woman. I was reading something else and God brought to my attention the role of disciplinarian. In the days of old, earthly fathers played the role of disciplinarian. The statement of, "wait til your father gets home," when a child was in trouble signifies this idea. However, God brought to my attention those who had no father or the father figure present may have lacked in the area of discipline.

Now I know for me, when my late dad came into the picture I was very grateful and actually respected his authority. Looking back I believe it was because he treated me as though I were his own and I was in need of something I lacked. Within two years of him entering my life, I had accepted Christ and I was learning obedience from a different perspective. But what God showed me was that there are many who reject His will and way because of the absence of a disciplinarian in their life. They are not used to being corrected for the things done in error. Therefore, being corrected or being obedient to anything other than their own desires seems outrageous. Some people have gone so left field in their actions in life because no one has corrected them or they lacked in the area of correction for whatever reason. It then becomes understandable how the resistance to God's discipline is even possible. But God is always victorious in His ways.

What God also reminded me was about how two of the apostles were in a situation where there was a conflict between what God commanded of them and what an earthly authority figure was demanding of them. And the response of the apostles was that they would stay obedient to God. The apostles were aware of the final authority in their lives and they stood by it.

Who has been the role of disciplinarian in your life? Who is the final authority in your life? Did you know that you may be in a trial now because what God wanted to display you did not respect so now you are learning the hard way? Did you know that it is only because He loves you that you are in it and it is meant for you to come out better than when you went in it?

Want a Friend?

Proverbs 18:24

24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Have you ever noticed that someone who has a lot of friends usually smiles a lot and often looks happy? Have you ever noticed that someone with a lot of friends is usually a very kind and sweet person? A person who is kind, sweet, dependable and fun and who reaches out to others will indeed attract such. Yes, if you want a friend you must first display qualities that are worthy of friendship. It is not say that others who are not so friendly won't come your way but those who are not good for you, God will show them. You just have to have enough godly wisdom to know when you must let them go. But no matter what, God is with you and has your back. He too displays qualities of a friend. God is kind, He reaches out by seeking us in our heart and yes He has a sense of humor. When you begin to trust Him, He will get closer to you and even reveal secrets to you as a friend would. And He wants to know that you will return His friendship. We are made in His image, why wouldn't He want to befriend us?

Seeking friendship to use someone doesn't last long. When you seek to use and manipulate you often get it in return. Want a real friend? Look at who you are first and be one.

P.S. Join me on Saturday, June 15th from 3-5pm at Caribou Coffee House in Gambrills, MD for a Pre-Release Book Signing and Reading of my new book, Shh Don't Tell!

Main Ingredients

Acts 19:15

15And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"

The apostle Paul had gone through the region Ephesus and performed many miracles. God, through His Holy Spirit, allowed  the faith of Paul to be transmitted into handkerchiefs and aprons to heal the sick and those with evil spirits. Now the word says there were Jewish exorcists that took it upon themselves to call on the name of the Lord over those who had evil spirits. And the response in verse 15 is what they received. The exorcists were overtaken by the evil spirit. But why?

The Jewish exorcists were not acting per the prompting of the Holy Spirit. They were acting in their own accord and then desiring the blessing of the Holy Spirit which is a "recipe for disaster".  On top of that, they lacked the faith necessary for the miracles to be performed. The disciples went through through a similar scenario early in Jesus' ministry. The Holy Spirit and faith are the main ingredients for anyone working a miracle in the name of Jesus. If there is no faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit which He sent to us on the day of Pentecost (50 days or 7 weeks after the resurrection), then they are just words.  Anything you are doing in the name of Jesus must be at the prompting of the Holy Spirit in order to work, not by you. For you and I can do nothing on our own accord. If God didn't say through His Holy Spirit to do something, you doing it on your own can create a train wreck. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to be our guide and our comforter. How is He the guide if you are not listening? How is He the guide if you are stepping into anything without His direction? Jesus said the Holy Spirit knows all things and searches all things. Doesn't that mean the Holy Spirit knows more than you? But if you are operating anything like the Jewish exorcists, the steps are off. Moving in faith by the Holy Spirit's direction brings victory.

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show Monday-Friday 10am-12pm ET on www.lofnetwork.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

You Cannot Keep Quiet

Jeremiah 20:9

9Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

The prophet Jeremiah was frank with the Lord about his unpopular ministry assigned to him. The false prophets around Jeremiah were uttering whatever the king and God's people wanted to hear not what God said will be. Have you ever been in a situation where you gave the unpopular answer or message? Sometimes when you say what people don't want to hear you are mocked or ignored. Jeremiah was in such despair that he attempted to keep quiet and not speak what the Lord put on his heart. But just as Jeremiah said, when the Spirit of the Lord hits you, you cannot keep quiet. It does feel like fire. And it will burn in you and eat at you til you speak what He says to speak.

Too many of us have feared man or desired to please man more than God. But Jesus said it himself, we ought to be more concerned with the one who has the ability to destroy both body and soul.