Backstabbers

The Word: 

"You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil." (Saul to David; 1 Sa 24:17)

"Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me.  For my soul trusts in you; and in the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge; until these calamities have passed me by." (Psalm 57:1)

"There is no want for those who fear Him . . . those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.  The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.  He delivers them out of all their troubles, the Lord is near to those who have a broken heart.  Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all." (Psalm 34:9-10,15,17-19)


My Reality:

All I hear on repeat in my head is the O'Jays . . . "they smile in your face, all the time they wanna take your place . . . the backstabbers".  It's here that I turn to David, who teaches me a worthwhile lesson on how to deal with persecution and betrayal from people who I have placed my trust.  What do we do when the people we thought would help us, turn their back on us?

See, David already faced rejection by his biological father, who didn't even consider him to be anointed as king when the prophet Samuel came by the house.  Then, David thought he found a trust-worthy father figure in King Saul.  But the more David prospered, the Bible says "the more Saul was afraid of David because the Lord was with him" (1 Sa 18:12).  But Saul wasn't upfront with David about his true feelings.  Instead, he smiled in David's face, even promising to make David his son-in-law!  But behind his back, King Saul began plotting to kill David.  Imagine the pain, hurt, rejection, and anger David must have felt!

The first thing I learn from David's story is:

1. God's answer to our cry isn't always to prevent persecution.  When David asked God about Saul attacking him, God's reply was "he will come down" and "they will deliver you into his hands".  As a matter of fact, it says "Saul sought him everyday, but God did not deliver him (David) into his hand".
2. Inquire of the Lord for strategy on how to handle the situation.  David immediately, and on multiple occasions, sought God for answers to his predicament.  Ultimately, God allowed David to hide in mountain caves while Saul continued to seek him.
3. Forgive and do not take revenge!  Even when David was given an opportunity to take Saul's life (while he was using the bathroom in a cave, nonetheless), he chose to repay evil with good.  Be merciful, just as our Father in heaven is merciful.  Find a way to forgive - and for me that forgiveness begins with understanding of someone else's perspective.  In David's case, Saul was not spiritually discerning - God had removed his Spirit from him and replaced His presence with a distressing spirit.  Moreover, Saul was fearful because he was about to lose his Kingdom, his Position and a part of his Identity to David.  As the saying goes, hurt people, hurt people.

Ultimately, God will not only protect us from the attacks we may be facing, but reward us with good! (1 Sa 24:19)

Apologetics: I Won't Apologize for the Bible

The Word: Jesus did many miraculous signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. (Jn 20:30-31 NIV)

His Truth:

Boldly professing my faith in Jesus, I've found myself in some interesting conversations.  It's in these conversations where I've been asked some tough, thought-provoking questions - questions that have tested my ability to adequately articulate why I believe what I believe.  Throughout my study of God's Word, He's helped me answer a lot of them, and today He did it again.

The Question: What makes the Bible so special?  Couldn't there be other books out there that God has also inspired that we don't even know about?

The underlying assertion here is that if there are other books that God has also inspired, then why do Christians hold the Bible in such high regard - living our lives by it, endorsing others to read it more often, and claiming it as ultimate Truth.  It's the last part that I think gets most people confused.  I think what they really want to ask me: 

Why are you so "naive"?  Why do you constantly refer to the Bible, especially when you're going through something crazy? How dare you be so calm, pretending like your Reality isn't what you can see, touch or taste?

This is the answer that God showed me in John 20:30-31.  Yes, there could be other books written out there that I inspired other people to write.  But I, in my infinite wisdom, designed this specific collection of books, with this specific collection of testimonies and events because I felt like it was just what you needed to BELIEVE.  So why not start with this one?  Then perhaps once you feel like you've gotten all from it that you possibly can, you can go searching for another.

You Are NOT a Sinner!

The Word: For just as through the disobedience of the one man, many were made Sinners, so also, through the obedience of the one man the many will be made Righteous. (Ro 5:19)

His Truth:

When we were born - we were born Sinners. Why?  Because of the Disobedience of one man - Adam.  The scripture says we were made Sinners.

• made (to make): to cause to become; to fix; appoint

So when we say "we made dinner" - we made the dinner, the dinner didn't make itself.  So the reason, we were caused to become Sinners was not because of anything we did (or didn't do).  It was only Adam's disobedience, that fixed us in a position of a Sinner.  It's because, a seed produces after its own kind.  So Adam, being our Flesh Father, produced seeds that were all Disobedient.  Therefore, your sin did not make you a Sinner! Put another way - Sinning is the Fruit of our position of being a Sinner.  We Sin because we're a Sinner, we're not a Sinner because we Sin.

Sidetone: for all the Pious People out there who think they don't Sin or don't have "bad" Sins.  Sin = to miss the mark of God.  God has a Perfect Standard, that's why we all fall short of the glory of God.  Doesn't matter if someone is shoots an airball or if the basketball swirls around the rim before it comes out.  A miss is a miss - it's all Sin in God's Book.

I digress . . . -- Enters Jesus -- 

This is the best part!  Then the verse says, just like we didn't do anything to be a Sinner, we didn't do anything to be Righteous.  Again, we were made Righteous.  By what?  The obedience of one man = Jesus!  This is why we are BORN again - because our first birth was into this flesh nature, and our Flesh Father was no good - he made us a Sinner.  But thanks be to God, when we accept Jesus Christ, we make Him our Spirit Father, and He, through His obedience (to the Law) makes us Righteous!  So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. (1 Co 15:45)

The Good News! Just like your Right Acts didn't make you Righteous, when you were a Sinner, your Wrong Acts won't turn you into a Sinner, after you've been made Righteous.  

So if you are reading this today, and you believe in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, You Are NOT a Sinner (and yes, you still sin), rather, 

You. Are. Righteous. 

So what about the Sin part?  Don't worry about it!  If your Sin was the fruit of your Sin Nature, your Right Acts will be the fruit of your Righteousness.  Don't let the enemy make you feel bad about something you keep doing, a sin you keep falling into . . . because that Sin can't rob you of your Righteousness.  That's why we depend on Jesus Christ - it's not our Obedience, but His, that Made us Righteous!

Just Ask God, "How?"

The Word: ""Blessed is (s)he who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!" (Luke 1: 45) "For no word from God will ever fail." (Luke 1:37)

My Revelation:
Luke opens up his Gospel with a story of two people being visited by the same angel (Gabriel), on separate occasions, both with a similar Promise of a future child in a seemingly impossible situation.     But although both Promises were Fulfilled, one person suffered some consequences during the waiting period... so I asked God "why?"  The answer was in their Response.

The first appearance of the angel Gabriel was to a man named Zechariah with a vision that his wife would bear a son (John the Baptist).  Zechariah's response to the angel was "by what shall I know and be sure of this?  For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years. (verse 18 AMP)" He left that encounter with with a curse - being prevented from speaking until the day his son would be born.

The second appearance of Gabriel was with Mary, with a vision that she would bear a son (Jesus).  Her response was "How can this be, since I am a virgin?" (verse 34 NIV) Mary walked away with revelation of God's plan to fulfill His Promise.

So how can WE be like Mary?  Waiting for our miracle under a Blessing rather than a Curse, and even more, walk in Confidence because we have received revelation as to HOW God will carry out His Promise?  At first glance, their two Responses don't seem all that different.

• Both initially reacted in Fear. - It's natural for us to ask the "what ifs" because when God gives a Vision, it's so big you're not really sure you are up for the job.  
• Both stated the obvious Obstacles. - Because God will do that, He'll give you a Vision of something that seems absolutely impossible and utterly ridiculous given the current circumstances.  As a matter of fact, if it doesn't seem crazy - then it might not be from God.

The difference lies in a matter of FAITH.  Zechariah in effect said, "give me a sign so that I can be sure you're able to do it", whereas Mary said, "I believe you Lord, so tell me, How are you going to do it? 'cause you know I'm not having sex, right?".  I think that's what Faith is - Acknowledgement of God's Greatness in the Awareness of Contradiction.  Mary didn't deny the problems, she just didn't dwell on them.  So let's choose to operate in Faith today, if God has given you a Promise that seems impossible - just ask God, How?  Maybe, just maybe - He'll tell you.

WAIT for the one for whom you have been made SUITABLE

THE WORD:   "It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." 

– Genesis 2:18

MY TRUTH:  You may be "right" or "good" for a lot of men, but you're only "suitable" for one. God has someone just for you. Don't rely on your own shallow depictions of the spouse YOU want but rely on GOD's perfect choice.  There is one out there that you are completely suitable for. He will find and choose you. He will find you suitable.

You may not agree in the physical but God looks at the spiritual, and His ways are higher than ours.  Don’t get blinded by outward appearances and material possessions.  There is nothing necessarily wrong with these things but God looks deeper.  The one you are suitable for may not be who you’ve envisioned, but it’s not about your vision but God’s.  It’s not about looks or status but the one who is going to help you fulfill the purpose God has placed on your life. 

So pray that your will is aligned with God’s will.  Be open to the move of God and know that who you end up marrying may not be who you initially thought it would, but God has a plan and purpose and will grow all the things you THINK he may lack. You are worth the wait so wait for the one for whom you have been made suitable.

God is Always Trying to Protect Us

THE WORD:  “Then God said to him in the dream, ‘Yes, I know you did this with a clear conscience, and so I have kept you from sinning against me.  That is why I did not let you touch her.’” – Genesis 20:6

MY TRUTH:  Sometimes we are ignorant to what we do and the sins we are about to commit.  In this passage, King Abimelech has taken Abraham’s wife Sarah to have relations with her because Abraham and Sarah have told him that she is Abraham’s sister not wife.  However, God tells King Abimelech in a dream the truth about Sarah; she is in fact Abraham’s wife not sister.  God kept King Abimelech and Sarah from sinning and protected Abraham from his lie. There are two key lessons we can learn from this passage: 

#1 – In your ignorance, God will prevent you from doing wrong.  He will give you an outlet or awareness to your potential sin and will convict your spirit in some way just as He convicted King Abimelech through a dream (v. 3).  He is not a deceiver but a protector and lover, and He wants to protect us from harm.  We just have to listen for and heed His fatherly advice.  And when we obey, we will be restored (v. 17-18).

#2 – God protects His children even in our mess.  A mother always has their child’s back and defends them even when they are sometimes wrong.   God does the same thing.  Look at Abraham, thinking he is doing something beneficial when he lies about who his wife really is (v. 10-13).  But God protects him even in his lie.  What a merciful and forgiving God!  God ensures Abraham and his wife aren’t sinned against.  We aren’t going to always get it right, but we can be assured that God is still present helping us through; helping us clean up the mess we have created.

Spirit vs. Flesh

THE WORD:  ¹⁶So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  ¹⁷For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh.  They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.  ¹⁸But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  ¹⁹The acts of the flesh are obvious:  sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like.  I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.  ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law.  ²⁴Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  ²⁵Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  ²⁶Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. – Galatians 5:16-26

MY TRUTH:  There is so much to say about this passage!  We are never going to get rid of our flesh.  It will always be present fighting against the Spirit.  However this conflict is good!  Praise God for it, for this is how we are able to recognize right from wrong.  Without this conflict we wouldn’t know which way to go.  God has given us free will so we have to make a choice whether we will obey the Spirit or succumb to our flesh.  God has given us this guide to know when we are operating in the flesh versus the Spirit so we have no excuse.  We just have to make ourselves aware of this reality every moment of the day so we won’t get caught up in acts of the flesh.  Now this can be pretty difficult given that sometimes there are more fleshly things in the earth to keep us distracted than spiritual things.  That is why it is important for us to always be tuned in to God and know the difference between fleshly acts and Spiritual ones which is why I am so glad God provided us with this passage of scripture; it’s plain and simple!  The flesh will always be present but thank God that if we have accepted the Lord as our Savior we also have the Spirit dwelling in us to keep us on point.  Therefore since our renewed selves live by the Spirit let us do spiritual things! (v. 25)

Side bar:  The other day I was totally operating in the flesh….smh.  I had let my flesh win.  Many of the acts of the flesh are pretty obvious and easy to be aware of (i.e. sexual immorality, hatred, drunkenness) but some can sort of ride under the radar and are not the “big sins” we always hear about.  So I now realize that the other day I was partaking in the fleshly act of discord and fits of rage in my household.  I was being a drama queen over who knows what and discord and rage was all up in the atmosphere.  It was hard for me to turn this around which surprised me and made me aware that I myself Mykia can do NOTHING without God.  I thought I was further along in my walk and could shut stuff like this down immediately but I realized that no matter where I am in my walk I have to realize nothing is by my own doing but through God’s help.  We may think having a little fit and causing discord is small but it is not of God and He is not pleased when we do these things.  Again we will never be perfect and will ALWAYS struggle with acts of the flesh but thank God that the Spirit is there to calm us down and to convict us.  In hindsight, when I started to feel rage rising up in me I should have paused, prayed, and activated love and self-control but I failed.  However, through my failure I learned this valuable lesson about what to do next time and realized how I need to work on building some of the fruit of the Spirit and that I can do nothing on my own but only with God.  So I guess really there was no failure but a gaining of wisdom.   

A note about the graphics below:  For easy reference on acts of the flesh versus fruit of the spirit I have created the visual below using what is presented in the New International Version of the bible.  In parenthesis I have placed synonyms for these words as they are presented in the following translations of the bible:  Common English Bible, Good News Bible, Amplified Bible.  A star (*) beside a word or phrase indicates my own interpretation of the word based on synonyms that I have looked up via a thesaurus or my own opinion based on my biblical interpretation.  Please help keep me honest and if you have an alternative or disagree please please post and let me know.  I love learning from and hearing the opinions of others.  In general, feel free to place other synonyms for any of the words that will help us better recognize these things in our daily lives.  Also I encourage you to write out some actions that describe the acts of the flesh and fruit of the spirit.  I started doing this and was going to include these actions in the visual, however after thinking I thought it would be best for you to do this yourself to represent how God is convicting you in these different areas.  I did not want to put actions in your mouth that you may not agree with or that God hasn’t convicted you with, which would’ve come off as judgmental.  So I encourage you to do this yourself and to add to it as God reveals His truths to you.