Anesthetized... or Alert? 10-29-13

“As the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so our minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:3

As the serpent deceived (exapatao: to deceive; beguile)

Eve through his craftiness (panourgin: false wisdom, cunning, craftiness, subtilty)

So our minds (hymon: mental perception, thoughts, purposes)

May be corrupted (phtheiro: lead away from the state of knowledge and holiness to which he ought to abide and out of divine protection)

From the simplicity (haplotes: virtue of one who is free from pretense and hypocrisy;

 openness of heart manifesting itself by generosity; sincerity; honesty)

That is in Christ. (Christos: anointed; Christ the Messiah Son of God)

Scripture warns: As it was in the beginning with the deception of Eve and Adam, so will it be in the end with “the deception” of many of our

well-meaning family and friends.

“Of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”  Acts 20:30

“Evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.”2 Tim. 3:13

“…They did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. For this reason God will send them a strong delusion, so that they believe the lie.” 2 Thess.2:10-11

We believe we are currently amidst the deception of which Scripture warns.

This can be disheartening as we watch our world grow dark, yet there is MUCH HOPE.

God is in complete control.

(Job 38)

Nothing is catching Him by surprise.

(Jb. 37; 37:15-16)

He is still actively stirring hearts of kings.

(E.g.: the heart of King Pul 1Chr. 5:26 and King Cyrus Ez. 1:1)

One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

(Is. 45:23; Rom. 14:11; Phil. 2:10-11)

“Do not keep talking so proudly or let your mouth speak such arrogance, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him deeds are weighed…Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil, who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness.”

(1Sam. 2:3; Is. 5:20)

This week, as we live amidst a culture anesthetized to sin, may we be found faithful and blameless in His sight. (Ps. 18:25)         
Much love, ~Shaun and Betsy

Discernment in the Battle 10-22-13

“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Phil: 3:14

Is knowing the Jesus of the Bible the ambition and course of my life?

Ezra 7:10 “For Ezra devoted himself to the study and observance of the Law of the Lord, and to teaching its decrees.”

Study “darash” means:

• to seek with care
• to seek with demand
• to seek with application

Our Cleary family has experienced 3 significant, rather large “battles” this last week; each unrelated and distinctive, but each spiritual in nature, requiring great discernment.

Where do we gain spiritual wisdom and discernment?

Jesus tells us that these kinds of battles are “fought” in our prayer closets. Mk. 9:29.

So, following both Jesus’ and Ezra’s examples, we’ve been in fervent prayer as we pour over God’s Word (God never contradicts Himself, so answers to prayer will always be aligned with Scripture, not necessarily our feelings). And we continue to:

• seek God with care (guard, protect, keep watch, treasure up in memory, preserve, and wait for His wisdom),
• seek God with demand (candidly ask God to show/reveal His truths and the devil’s deceptions), 
• and seek God with application (walk of faith, step where He guides us, even when particular steps don’t make “common sense”).

The journey is EXHILERATING!!!

God is counseling our hearts and minds in our waking hours, in our sleep, even waking us at odd hours with divine insights and stirring the hearts of numerous affected others. We are watching one miracle after another transpire…and all for His glory.

It is good for me to draw near to God.

I have put my trust in the Lord GOD,

That I may declare all Your works. Ps. 73:28

What trials are you facing this week?

“Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed. Seek the LORD your God. 
You will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” 
1Chr. 22:13; Deut. 4:29

Much love and hugs, ~Shaun and Betsy

Knowing the Conditions 10-7-13

“Be sure to know the condition of your flocks,

Give careful attention to your herds.”  Prv. 27:23

Each of us has a “flock” and “herd” of whose condition we are to have thoughtful, meaningful, and intimate understanding.  For many of us Prv. 27:23 could read,

“Be sure to know the condition of your family, your kids, your spouse. Give careful attention to them.”

Do you know the true condition of the flock (s) to which God has put you in charge?

Here’s a brief example that illustrates a technique to objectively evaluate the condition of a husband’s heart that loves his wife as God intends:

Author J. Evans shares: “The countenance of a wife reveals the true character of a man. When we see a woman who is beaten down and vulnerable, we’re seeing the reflection of a man who is wounded—and who wounds those he loves. This is a man refusing to embrace his responsibility before God.

But when we see a woman who exudes confidence and security, a woman whose eyes shine with glory, a woman of poise and beauty and self-assurance, we’re seeing the reflection of a man who understands what it means to love and cherish his wife as Christ loves the church (Eph. 5:25)…Laying down his life to bring his wife to her full potential before God, holding nothing back.”

Again the question: Do we each know the genuine condition of the flock (s) God to which has put us in charge? (“Flocks” at work, our neighborhoods, in church, etc.)

Challenge for this week:

Humble ourselves and embrace Solomon’s example in Prv. 24:32, where, despite being the most powerful man in the world, “applied his heart to what he observed and learned a lesson from what he saw.”

(“learned a lesson” (muwcar) means to be disciplined, chastened, corrected)

In this case, Solomon 1) observed “his herd”, 2) humbly applied his heart to these objective findings, and 3) disciplined himself towards corrective action. ~How about each of us heeds his example this week?

(~What’s tragic for Solomon is that he chose not to be consistent with his own advise; time and again he made decisions that eventually led to his own demise. 1 Kgs. 11:3)

Here’s to consistency! 

In the trenches together,

Shaun and Betsy