Mentoring Minutes

Our world is in chaos but honestly it has been since the angel of God closed the gates to Eden. Actually, since Adam and Eve took the bite of the forbidden fruit.  The issue then, as it is now, is who is your Lord/lord?

If Christ is Lord…your choice in loving obedience (Jn 14:15), then there is nothing in the world to fear. If He is not truly Lord of your life then the only other option is satan as lord (he actually always disguises this as “self” as lord – Gen 3:4-5). When satan is lord you have everything to fear.

King Hezekiah in the Old Testament when Sennacharib, King of Assyria came against Israel, he reminded God’s people to be strong and courageous because despite all the hordes of their army it was just an army of flesh but The Lord our God fights our battles (2 Chr 32:7-8).

So, all those who are God’s people…those who truly know and walk with Christ as Lord, fear not! No matter what we face God is on our side! If He is Your Lord you can always trust in Him (Prov 3:5-6; Ps 37:4-5)!

“I, I Myself, am He who comforts you. Who are you that you are afraid of [a]mortal man, and of a son of man who is made like grass, that you have forgotten the Lord your Maker, who stretched out the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth, that you fear continually all day long because of the fury of the oppressor, as he makes ready to destroy? And where is the rage of the oppressor? Is 51:12-16 Simplified…no matter what, don’t fear man!

Whatever is your Foundation and whoever is your Lord/lord determines what you will fear…this world or Him? Your choice.

What does it mean then for Christ to be The Author of our life and salvation? What does it mean for Him to be Lord of every part of our life?

It simply means that as Author, His Word is Truth and we apply it to every thought (2 Cor 10:4-5), motive (Ps 51:10; 139:1-4, 23-24), responses and conversations (1 Peter 3:15), and in every relationship and action (Lk 14:25-35).

His Word makes it clear what it means for Him to be Lord and Authority in our lives. How are you responding?

When Christ is our Lord, Authority, Foundation, then we can know for certain that our hope, peace, joy, contentment, righteousness, holiness…our fulfillment is found in Him. Apart from Him we will continue to search for meaning, purpose, success and fulfillment in others or things of this world and they will continue to fall short and we will continue to be frustrated. Why? Because we have put our faith in things that cannot satisfy and have failed to see Him as the All-Sufficient Savior and Lord!

Christ as Lord is my righteousness and by His grace I’m made worthy. I do not need to prove my worth to anyone because it is already secure in Him.  I can say with Paul that no matter what I face…good, bad or ugly…nothing can deter or take away from the testimony of His Lordship and presence in my life (2 Cor 6:3-10).

To know Him as Lord means we can truly say that the life we live is Christ in us (Gal 2:20)!

What is your Joy? Peace? Hope? Endurance (yes, endurance)? Assurance? Strength? Fulfillment? Humility? Righteousness? Truth? Love?

If you are seeking any of these apart from Christ as Savior and Lord it will be fleeting at best and frustrating and deceptive at worst! We only find any or all of these in reality when we look to Christ. All that we are and all that we have is in Christ and our help comes from Him (Ps 121). We are alive in Christ so we live like it as His instrument of righteousness. Oh, how we need His righteousness in us so others see Him (Rom 6:11-13).

As we focus on Christ’s Lordship…His Authority in our lives and the Foundation of His Truth as our Guide…let’s consider His Faithfulness that flows from His Truth and why we can count on Him as Lord.

Even when we are unfaithful, He cannot be untrue to Himself and He remains faithful to Himself and to us (2 Tim 2:13)! That Truth is both very encouraging and very daunting…let me explain.

Here’s the reality…no matter what we are facing we can trust in God through Christ and The Holy Spirit to be faithful to His Word of Truth and to our circumstances.  His faithful response is always right and good, not based on our whims, feelings or desires, but on His Absolute Truth and Love.

That is reassuring and I pray that you find it so in every area of your life and relationships. Let this Scripture remind you of His great faithfulness and choose to walk by grace through faith with Him as Lord!

I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus, that in everything you were enriched in Him, in all speech and all knowledge, just as the testimony concerning Christ was confirmed in you, so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you eagerly await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.      I Cor 1:4-9

So what does it mean for God to be Faithful in all things and for us to trust in Him? Two things in particular that will help us as we walk in faith:

1) God will always respond according to His Word of Truth because He knows it is good, right and best…even when we don’t like it!  This means that when we sow in the flesh (prideful, sinful self) He must be faithful to allow the destruction that comes with it. This is hard for folks in modern day Christianity to hear (likely Christians throughout history) but it is nevertheless true because it is His very Word and He must be faithful to it. He does it because He loves us and knows that spouting Truth and righteousness to someone who’s willfully walking (sowing) in the flesh will likely create more rebellion. But when we are confronted by the fruit of our own choices (sowing) according to His very Word and faithfulness, there exists a great opportunity to see our own sin and turn to Him.

2) This is the easy one that we all love to read, hear and accept His Faithfulness…He will bring the fruit of eternal life to those who sow in The Spirit!  He is being Faithful and loving in both and we are blessed if we respond to His Faithfulness!

He is Loving and Faithful…always in all circumstances and in every response and the fruit that is brought in our lives by our own choices to either walk with Him or apart from Him (Gal 6:7-8)!

There are many Scriptures that both proclaim Christ as Lord…King of kings and Lord of lords…and that we must see Him not simply as Lord of all the earth and universe but we must make it personal…Lord of my life. The Holy Spirit heavily impressed on my heart these two simple but profound verses that speak to what it means for Christ to be Lord of every part of my life…

“Trust in the Lord with ALL YOUR HEART and do not lean on your own understanding. In ALL YOUR WAYS acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Prov 3:5-6 (Don’t miss the Caps…mine and added for emphasis)

“We are destroying arguments and ALL arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking EVERY THOUGHT captive to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Cor 10:4-5 (Don’t miss the Caps…mine and added for emphasis)

Notice that it doesn’t say trust in The Lord with the parts of your heart that are heavy or the thoughts that you’re uncertain about. Nor does it say that we destroy some of the “arrogance” or prideful thoughts. We are to trust Him with all our heart, acknowledge Him in every thought we have and in every way that we consider, not just when we doubt or struggle or are unsure.

Make it a great day and New Year with family and loved ones in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Today make Him Lord of every single part of your life, thoughts, relationships, activities and dreams, even your motives…when you struggle and when you succeed; when you hurt and when you rejoice; when you question and when you’re sure; when you are angry and when your are grateful. He can handle it all and will direct your paths and align your thoughts and life with His Truth.

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –

1. Choose to spend time with God in His Word and prayer every day.
2. Ask The Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life you’ve not surrendered to Him.
3. Ask Him to teach you through The Word and your circumstances how you can surrender all of your life to Christ.
4. Make two lists…one for what He’s showing you and one for what He’s leading you to do to surrender all.
5. Ask the Lord to give you strength and then choose in faithful obedience to follow through.

“Every motive, thought, decision, action and relationship reveals who is Lord/lord of your life and what foundation you are on.” Regardless of what you say or even act, ultimately, whoever/whatever is Lord/lord in your life will be revealed.  What does your life and relationships say about your Lord/lord? Do you know who or what it is?

Is it Self? Money? Fame? Sex/porn? Drugs? Giving? Serving? Church? Your marriage, family, friends? Many of these things are obviously sinful and selfish but they still drive what we do in nearly every moment of our life. Others are very noble and worthwhile but to make them the foundation and authority of our life is not in keeping with God and His Word and will ultimately cost us.  So because it’s that important, I ask again…

Who’s Lord/lord of your life (1 Peter 3:15)?

What comes to mind when you think of authority? For most of us it is someone or something that is in control of, or ruling over us. And our flesh doesn’t like that. That’s why Christ showed us clearly that this worldly type of thinking with regard to authority is actually the way unbelievers or sinners think about authority or lording it over others (Matthew 20:20-24).

Jesus said that true Authority comes from willfully choosing to submit, serve and love others by placing them before or above self (Matthew 20:25-27). As The Author and Lord, He taught very clearly what real Authority is to be in our lives and relationships (Matthew 20:28)…it’s not how many you have control over or even how many are following you but how many you serve. You may have many following you but according to God’s Word that doesn’t mean you are walking in authority.  I can’t truly do this unless I know Christ as Savior and Lord. I can serve and lead others apart from Him but ultimately that is rooted in my flesh and what I may receive from it.  Authority in Christ simply serves others for The Father’s purpose and Glory just as He did.

One more thought to help you recognize True Authority…it does not ultimately come from who the world says is in power (even though we must pray for and submit to the governing authorities in our lives and culture unless they clearly contradict God’s Word and Authority). Authority comes directly from The Author! Thus the question, “Who do you acknowledge and live for as The Author of your life?” Or once again, ‘Who’s your Lord/lord?”

This is why we can’t just live in the moment, the situation, the emotions, the desires of our flesh and this world because Christ has so much more in store if we willingly submit and surrender to Him as The Author, The Authority in our life!  Lordship is essential and we all have a Lord/lord.

Why begin 2021 talking about Authority? My flesh doesn’t even like to surrender or submit to any authority. That’s just it! My flesh pushes back against any and all authority. Because of sin, my natural response pushes against even the very One who has been given all Authority (Matthew 11:27; 28:18; John 3:35; 13:3, 5; 17:2; Ephesians 1:20-21; Philippians 2:9-11)!

We must remember that we do this to our own peril and we most often do it because we see authority as the world does…”lording it over, ruling, controlling”…not only do I want to be in control in my sinful self but I also do not want someone in control of me! I want to be in control!  Any of this ringing a bell? As we learned last week and earlier this is not what real Authority is at all! This is why He does not demand that we follow Him. He knows that Love must have free will and in so doing we must willingly submit to His Authority in order for His Word and will to rule in our lives. We have chosen to submit to The Father’s drawing us to Him (John 6:44) by faith through grace!

How do you perceive and live out Christ as Lord…as Author, as Authority? This makes all the difference in your life, relationships and in His influence on you, in you and through you to others. The life of worship is a life sacrificed and surrendered to Him as Authority and Lord.

In line with our focus on The Authority of The Author, Christ, I came across this in another devotional recently, “No matter what changes God has brought in you, never rely upon them, build only on a Person, the Lord Jesus Christ, and on the Spirit He gives.” Oswald Chambers

What a great summary of His Lordship in our lives…fully dependent and reliant upon Him! In all that we are, all we do, all we say, every relationship and action, we look to Christ and ask Him to teach and guide us to be His instrument, vessel and disciple and that He reigns as Lord of our lives.

Only as we abide in Christ can we do anything of eternal worth which is all that matters even as we do so in this world, sharing Truth and loving others (John 15:1-17), as The Holy Spirit flows through us (John 7:38).  

This is Christ as Lord…“My determination is to be my utmost for His Highest. To get there is a question of will, not of debate nor of reasoning, but a surrender of will, an absolute and irrevocable surrender on that point. An overweening consideration for ourselves is the thing that keeps us from that decision, though we put it that we are considering others. When we consider what it will cost others if we obey the call of Jesus, we tell God He does not know what our obedience will mean. Keep to the point; He does know. Shut out every other consideration and keep yourself before God for this one thing only – My Utmost for His Highest. I am determined to be absolutely and entirely for Him and for Him alone.”— Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest (Bold emphasis mine/added)

How does Christ’s Truth and Love in our life affect our relationship with Him and others? How does His Lordship in our life impact our relationships with Him and others? Are we living according to His Truth and Love?

We are called to submit to and set apart Christ as Lord so others can know Him as well (1 Peter 3:15).

In line with God’s Word, authority and lordship are synonymous and true leadership flows from who or whatever is the authority or lord in your life. So, who or what is leading your life, your relationships, thoughts, actions, decisions…even your motives? (Matthew 6:9-10)

Something or someone is your Lord/lord and you need to be absolutely sure of who or what. Otherwise we stand at the tree of knowledge of good and evil just as Adam and Eve did are easily duped, and give into sin claiming our own “godship” or “lordship.” (Read Genesis 3:4-5)

Do you know Christ as Lord and His Word as Absolute Truth? I pray you do. If not, I pray you will.

If your foundation or authority is anything other than Christ then you will fear this world and all it offers. If He is Your Foundation, Authority and Lord you will fear only Him and the world offers nothing you need fear.

Are you fearful of anything today other than God? If you fear God, you will not fear man. If you fear man it is because you have not learned to truly fear God. “Do not be afraid” is written 365 times in Scripture…once for every day of the year! Fear God every day and you will live fearless of all else! Be encouraged in God’s Word…

“You shall fear [only] the Lord your God; and you shall serve Him [with awe-filled reverence and profound respect] and swear [oaths] by His name [alone].” Deut 6:13 (AMP)

Fear nothing else but God alone and watch the change that begins to happen in your life…Check out Psalm 112:7; Isaiah 40:10, 13

He is with you and fear of Him is where wisdom begins…not in education or intellect but in knowing, honoring and fearing Him – Proverbs 9:10.

To fear anything else is not of Him for His Word is clear regarding the Spirit He has given to us, one of love, power and self-discipline or a sound mind. He has not given us fear or timidity so don’t let it invade your thoughts and rule over you (2 Timothy 1:7). Don’t be a slave to fear of anything in this world or the enemy…Fear God and God alone!

If your foundation and authority are not truly in Christ then you will continually give into the natural and the flesh because it is what we experience on a moment-by-moment basis in our lives…what will I eat? What to wear? How do I look? What do others think? What do I fear? And the list goes on and on. Your heart and your treasure are always in the same place (Matthew 6:19-32). Are you honest about where they both are?

Does worry over the things that naturally occur and that you naturally think about rule over you, i.e., guide your thoughts and decision-making? Or does the Truth of God’s Word and the peace that it brings reign in and through you, regardless of the circumstances or culture that we find ourselves in? Remember the natural person is a sinful person so don’t give into the natural…overcome it by faith and walk in the new, spiritual man or woman that Christ has recreated you to be (Ephesians 2:10).

Make it a great day and New Year with family and loved ones in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – Christ’s Lordship helps overcome my fear(s)! The key is to know and walk with Christ as Savior and LORD and the gift of faith that we’ve been given allows us to trust in His Truth and walk and act accordingly.  In so doing we please God (Hebrews 11:1, 6). Seek His Kingdom and righteousness first and above all else (Matthew 6:33-34). Walk in Faith with Him above everything else as Lord in your life.

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –

• Choose to spend time with God in His Word and prayer every day.
• Ask The Holy Spirit to teach you and be patient.
• Ask Him to identify any fears or anxieties and replace them with His Truth.
• When you face any fear or anxiety find the promise in His Word to counter.
• As you look to His Word and away from your fears, learn to trust in His Lordship and Truth.

Building on last week’s post we notice the contrast of Christ’s Hope, Peace, Joy and Love (Eternal) to that of the world’s fleeting, circumstantial and emotionally-based desires rooted in the selfish flesh (temporal)…John 14:27: 16:33; James 1:2-4. Which are you focusing on as you wrap up 2020 and look forward to 2021?

Remember, His mercies are new every morning and are never ending (Lamentations 3:22-24)…Jeremiah was assured of that in the midst of warning Israel of impending doom!  His grace is all-sufficient to save us and meet all our needs in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9; Philippians 4:19)! He alone is where we can find Hope, Peace, Joy and Love that endures for all time and eternity and in every situation and circumstance, here and now!  This doesn’t mean it all goes away…it means He will see you through and work for your good and His Glory in every situation…think about Joseph in Gen 37-50!

Faith is the key to living in His Love & Lordship that will bring and mature these incredible traits and assurances into your life regardless of what you, or we, have faced, are facing or will face in the future!

The past, no matter what it held, is gone and unless you allow it, will hold no sway over you – that’s your choice.  And yet we may still have to deal with some consequences of our action and choices but we can be assured that in Christ we have been forgiven and can move forward in that assurance and freedom.

God may even call it to account but it is only to turn it to ministry for today and beyond, in and through you to others. He alone restores all the past has destroyed (Joel 2:25). Remember it was God Who sent the locusts because Israel (and believers today) failed to walk in God’s truth and commands so He had to be faithful.  But He also is the Only One that can restore all that has been destroyed or eaten away due to our own failings.  So be anxious about nothing…He loves you.

The future is uncertain except that we trust in Him and He personally goes before us (Deuteronomy 31:8) and we can be assured that as we commit our plans to Him (Proverbs 16:3), He will lead us on His path and in the steps that He orders (Proverbs 16:9). Trust in Him!

Today is all we have…remember that He restores the brokenness of the past to use it for His Glory; He prepares the way before you so you will not stumble as you seek and walk with Him; so don’t walk in worry, fear or anxiety…walk in the patient strength of knowing that He walks with you every step of the way… remember faith is the key to making this happen!

This world, our flesh, the enemy can never win…we can only join them in a losing cause!  However we are or can be on the winning side!  Remember as I shared last week…

Christ has already won and promises that victory to all who believe in Him as Savior and Lord…you are more than conquerors as you walk in the Spirit in Christ and not in the flesh and this is key part that very few talk about or help hold others accountable to.  When we do, nothing can separate you from His love (Romans 8:1, 26-39)!

I’ll leave you with this as we’ve ended 2020 and begun 2021, in the words of Oswald Chambers, “Let the past sleep, but let it sleep on the bosom of Christ. Leave the Irreparable Past in His hands, and step out into the Irresistible Future with Him.”

The victory is ours in Christ so live like it by allowing Him…His Holy Spirit…to live in and through you!

The Apostle Paul said it like this in Philippians 3:13-14, “Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

What is the focus of your thoughts, desires and goals? Where has it been, and where is it, leading you? One of the things that I’ve learned over my nearly 34 years in God’s Word and prayer every single day is that the more I focus on myself the more lost and frustrated I am. The more I focus on Him, His purpose, Kingdom and Glory, the more fulfilled, contented and at peace I am and the more fruitful He is through me.

We are created not for our own purposes (the way of the world and our flesh) but singularly and totally for His. I’ve learned this and in so doing also learned that every day I still have a long way to go…so “I press on” toward Him and His calling and Glory!

When I fall short His grace and mercy covers me, and by that same grace I hit the mark as His Truth sustains me and when I struggle His Love secures me. This I can always count on no matter the circumstances or the cost.  Isaiah 50:10 states,

Who is among you who fears the Lord,
Who obeys the voice of His servant,
Who walks in darkness and has no light?
Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

All of this we have not just because of His Love and through His victory as our Savior but because He is Lord…and His Lordship will be a major focus for us in 2021!  Share this article and L&L website and ministry with others as The Lord leads and thanks!

Make it a great day and New Year with family and loved ones in Christ!

Love and Lordship…Food for Thought – As we begin this New Year let’s make sure that instead of making it about us, let’s make it all about Him and let Him work on, in and through us for His Kingdom and Glory!

Love and Lordship…Action Item(s) –

1. Choose to spend time with God in His Word and prayer every day.
2. Ask God to show you where your focus lies?
3. Ask Him to reveal those things that you focus on that are keeping you from living in victory in Christ.
4. Ask Him how you can change your focus from the world and the flesh (temporal things) to His Truth and purpose for your life and His Glory (Eternal).
5. Choose to think about and focus on His Word and His work in your life and push aside the worries, anxieties and fears that are rooted in the world and your flesh.