Gaze Upon Christ!

When I cannot spiritually connect with those at birthday parties or wedding anniversaries, I see no purpose in going. It is interesting that when I do go, I am pretty much ignored even when I try to strike up a conversation, but when I don't show up they are angry that I didn't and often angry that I was not the one to participate even though they never included me. I am confident that this is the experience of many a godly person whose entire focus is Christ. Small talk is something that is enjoyed for a very short period of time and after that we must move onto something that really matters.

I think that narcissists want to be the center of attention. They want me to come so that they can ignore me. In short, they want me to see them in their glory, but don't care about a relationship with me. One of the enjoyments of the narcissist is to be seen, even if they don't see us.

This is the way I see most church services, they gather to be seen, but have little interest in focusing on Christ. Christ is an add on to their rituals to feel spiritual but the main entertainment is elevating people.

The most wonderful funeral I have ever been to, was many years ago. A godly woman had passed, no one cried, everyone was full of joy at her homegoing, no one elevated her, but rather they elevated Christ, everyone went away blessed by the attention that was given to Christ. The lady was recognized as a woman of God, but would have been pleased that she was not the center of attention, her God was. There were no lengthy stories about her life, no rambling embarrassing testimonies from people who barely knew her. It was just all about Christ. We were celebrating Christ and the home going of our sister in the Lord.

When the focus is Christ in any gathering, then no one is the center of attention. There is blessed joy from visiting with like minded people whose focus is entirely other than themselves.

Israel is about to be Restored !

God has not changed His mind! He still loves Zion, they have always been His priority. For the sake of the Gentiles to come to Christ, God left them for a time, when the time of the Gentiles is finished, then He will come back to Israel and a remnant of her people will trust Christ. Then two thirds of her people will be removed in great wars, the one third left will become saved and will take the gospel to the rest of the world. We are seeing these things play out right now in the middle east.

The whole world is essentially against Israel as the Bible said would happen. Israel did not exist just one generation ago, but the people have returned to the land and soon will return to Christ.

NO! God was not finished with Israel and NO the church is not the new Israel.

Psalm 87
"87 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. 4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. 6 The Lord shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee."

Romans 11
"11 I say then, God has not rejected His people, has He? May it never be! For I too am an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.
2 God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel?
3 “Lord, they have killed Your prophets, they have torn down Your altars, and I alone am left, and they are seeking my life.”
4 But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”
5 In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice.
6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer [d]on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace. 7 What then? What Israel is seeking, it has not obtained, but [e]those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; 8 just as it is written, “God gave them a spirit of stupor, Eyes to see not and ears to hear not, Down to this very day.” 9 And David says, “Let their table become a snare and a trap, And a stumbling block and a retribution to them. 10 “Let their eyes be darkened to see not, And bend their backs forever.” 11 I say then, they did not stumble so as to fall, did they? May it never be! But by their transgression salvation has come to the Gentiles, to make them jealous.
12 Now if their transgression is riches for the world and their failure is riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their fulfillment be!
13 But I am speaking to you who are Gentiles. Inasmuch then as I am an apostle of Gentiles, I magnify my ministry,
14 if somehow I might move to jealousy my fellow countrymen and save some of them.
15 For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
16 If the first piece of dough is holy, the lump is also; and if the root is holy, the branches are too. 17 But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive, were grafted in among them and became partaker with them of the rich root of the olive tree,
18 do not be arrogant toward the branches; but if you are arrogant, remember that it is not you who supports the root, but the root supports you.
19 You will say then, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.”
20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear;
21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either.
22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off.
23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
24 For if you were cut off from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these who are the natural branches be grafted into their own olive tree? 25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;
26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written, “The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.” 27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.” 28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;
29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. 30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,
31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.
32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. 33 Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways!
34 For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor?
35 Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again?
36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen."

The Yearning Continues

This ought to be the perspective in the heart of every born again believer, but I fear it dwells only in a few.

Psalm 84

"1 How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! 

2 My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. 

3 The bird also has found a house, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, Even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, My King and my God. 

4 How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah. 

5 How blessed is the man whose strength is in You, In whose heart are the highways to Zion! 

6 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a spring; The early rain also covers it with blessings. 

7 They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah.

9 Behold our shield, O God, And look upon the face of Your anointed. 

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 

12 O Lord of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in You!"

God Did it Before and He will do it Again

God did it in the past and He WILL do it again and soon!

Psalm 85
"O Lord, You showed favor to Your land;
You restored the captivity of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of Your people;
You covered all their sin. Selah.
3 You withdrew all Your fury;
You turned away from Your burning anger.
4 Restore us, O God of our salvation,
And cause Your indignation toward us to cease.
5 Will You be angry with us forever?
Will You prolong Your anger to all generations?
6 Will You not Yourself revive us again,
That Your people may rejoice in You?
7 Show us Your lovingkindness, O Lord,
And grant us Your salvation.
8 I will hear what God the Lord will say;
For He will speak peace to His people, to His godly ones;
But let them not turn back to folly.
9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him,
That glory may dwell in our land.
10 Lovingkindness and truth have met together;
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11 Truth springs from the earth,
And righteousness looks down from heaven.
12 Indeed, the Lord will give what is good,
And our land will yield its produce.
13 Righteousness will go before Him
And will make His footsteps into a way."