exposed – Page 3 – Praying Pint

Light shinning in the darkness

“How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge?”

John 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

John 3:19 And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

John 12:36 While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: “Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said, “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn, and I would heal them.”

Job 24:13 “There are those who rebel against the light, who are not acquainted with its ways, and do not stay in its paths. The murderer rises before it is light, that he may kill the poor and needy, and in the night he is like a thief. The eye of the adulterer also waits for the twilight, saying, ‘No eye will see me’; and he veils his face. In the dark they dig through houses; by day they shut themselves up; they do not know the light. For deep darkness is morning to all of them; for they are friends with the terrors of deep darkness.

Proverbs 1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,

1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

God’s word is a light unto our soul and a path for our feet. In our homes we have lights and as it approaches night we turn them on so we can over come the darkness. We choose to turn the light on because we see benefit from being able to function as though the darkness is not there. There is much darkness in our world. Some of this darkness is right there in our face and some of it is hidden and just below the surface. The light of God’s word pulls us out of this darkness, lighting up the path for our feet to walk on daily. It lights up hope, joy, love, grace, mercy, courage, strength, peace, within our soul. The light of God’s word – The light of God’s word – The light of God’s word….. Reading God’s word turns on this light and the more this word is read and remembered and thought about the brighter it gets. Can you imagine a person who would turn the lights on at night only on Sunday and then trying to remember what that light illuminated the rest of the week. They would be walking in darkness fooling them selves with this false hope of remembrance of the light. We need the light of God’s word in our lives each day if we are to commit to humbly serving, honoring, following, and obeying God.

Day of Wrath

“ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.”

Psalms 58:11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous; surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

Psalms 92:15 to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.

Malachi 3:14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?

Isaiah 3:10 Tell the righteous that it shall be well with them, for they shall eat the fruit of their deeds. Woe to the wicked! It shall be ill with him, for what his hands have dealt out shall be done to him.

Romans 6:21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

Psalms 9:16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.

Psalms 64:9 Then all mankind fears; they tell what God has brought about and ponder what he has done.

Psalms 33:18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love,

Psalms 96:13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.

Malachi 2:17 You have wearied the LORD with your words. But you say, “How have we wearied him?” By saying, “Everyone who does evil is good in the sight of the LORD, and he delights in them.” Or by asking, “Where is the God of justice?”

2 Peter 3:4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.

Do you ever wonder how you will be judged by God? It is never based on comparing ourselves with others. I see those who pretend there is nothing wrong in their life which leads to a very complacent walk with God. I see others who try to preform various acts to overshadow that which they know is contrary to being right with God. Do you think we are judged based on how bad other people are or how well we preform? We will be judged according to what is found in His word. Those who come to God and believe it is in what they do that makes them right before Him – “Trying to earn it” – His word says being made right before God is a gift of grace to all who believe and not by works less any man would boast. What in our life can stand up to His holiness? What can make us clean if we can’t earn it? Believing in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, trusting in, clinging to, and relying on this alone to be right in God’s eyes. It is not by what we do but by believing in what He has done. If we have trust in anything else we fall short. If we try to make up for it by some act of kindness we fall short. We can not earn something that is given freely. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.” It is by belief not works. However there are outward signs of those who believe. At least there should be. Joy and Praise – because of God and His grace and mercy, Hope – because of His promises, Peace & Rest – because of knowing our lives are a work of His hand, Strength & Courage – because God is our rock and sovereign over all, Love and Kindness and Sacrificial Giving – because of His demonstration in giving us His son to redeem us. Our lives should reflect humble service, honoring, following, and obeying God for the single purpose of who God is, what He has done, and what He will do. God asks for our whole heart, mind and soul. Stop pretending everything is ok. Stop preforming, thinking this makes you right before God. Start with a heart deep desire to honor, serve, follow and obey. Spend time in His word each day.

Walk in the Light

“let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins”

Psalms 56:13 For you have delivered my soul from death, yes, my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.

Psalms 86:12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forevever. For great is your steadfast love toward me; you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

Psalms 116:8 For you have delivered my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling;

2 Corinthians 1:10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Psalms 17:5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

Psalms 94:18 When I thought, “My foot slips,” your steadfast love, O LORD, held me up.

1 Samuel 2:9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail.

Psalms 116:9 I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living.

Genesis 17:1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, “I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless,

Isaiah 38:3 and said, “Please, O LORD, remember how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly.

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

John 12:35 So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.

Ephesians 5:8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead exposed. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

This chapter in Psalms speaks of those who walked in a way that demonstrated their whole heart wanting to please God in all they thought, did, and said. Ephesians brings us into remembrance of when our heart was enlightened. “for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” Yes, in the past we did live in darkness and walked a path that was apart from God. But we are to now walk in a way that is good, right and true continually discerning what is pleasing to God. How do we know what is good, right and true? How do we discern what is pleasing to Him? I fear we allow the culture we live in to dictate what is good, right, and true. I fear we do not give thought to the love God demonstrated for us through redemption in and through His son. Can you imagine what it would feel like to give your son’s life for the redemption of another and in addition to this grace you also write a book filled with knowledge about you, your statutes, your commandments, you promises, your warnings and the person you redeemed has now lasting thankfulness for what you have done. I fear we neglect God’s word. We don’t spend time in it. We don’t think about it so how can it speak into our heart, mind and soul. We don’t have anything to apply into our lives because of this neglect. We are lukewarm at best. We convince ourselves that we are better than most, give when we can, read His word when we have time, and believe in Him. We need to be careful with this thinking. Even Satan believes. Belief is nothing without faith. Faith is nothing without action. Action means nothing if it is not with discernment and according to God’s word. Scripture is clear that we are to live in light of His word, meditate on it, seek His word and act on it. We do this because it honors and glorifies God. We do it because of who He is, what He has done, and what He has promised. There is nothing done in secret. God knows all the thoughts and actions of every single person. We fall into satan’s trap of being good enough rather than being all we can in Him. Do you want to glorify God – spend time in His word with a prayer request of Him leading you on a path that glorifies Him. I recently was told of a friend who found out he has a serious medical issue for which there is little that can be done. His time will end far to early. Yet what he realizes now is all the time he spent on things that don’t amount to much at all. He has many regrets. We never know when our time will end and we enter eternity. Don’t allow one more day to go by being fooled into thinking you can serve God lukewarm. This is not serving Him it is only leading you down a path further from God. Choose now to commit to being in His word, humbly serving, following and obeying Him. When tears come it will be for the reason of joy meeting God rather than of regret.

Why are you afraid?

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

“And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?”

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”

Psalms 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress

Psalms 27:3 Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.

Hebrews 13:6 So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Luke 21:9 And when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place, but the end will not be at once.” Then he said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences. And there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.

Luke 21:25 “And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”

Matthew 21:21 And Jesus answered them, “Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ it will happen.

Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

There is much in the world that does not make any sense at all. We hear the news all the time of things happening around the globe. Some of this surely would bring fear if there is no God. Surely we have right to be afraid. But that is not what His word tells us. He says there will be signs. In Hebrews it says “the Lord is my helper, I will not fear, what can man do to me. In Psalms it says “Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.” We are told to trust in Him alone who is our fortress, refuge, and hope. My wife and I were listening to a pod cast the other night and the man speaking said what is the worst that can happen to you in trusting God? You die and go to heave to be present with Him forever!!! Though there are troubles around us we have nothing to fear – God is bigger than any of them. He is sovereign and has purpose for each of our lives. Nothing will thwart His purpose and plan. Place your trust and faith in Him. Do you want to grow your faith? Do you want to have confidence to face whatever may come? Spend time in His word daily. Pray to Him. Humble serve, honor and obey Him. Truly desire to know Him.