Yes, You Too Can See God

by Thomas Denegre

Today’s scripture reference Mathew 5:1-8, 29

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.”  Matt. 5:8

Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut who went to the moon, taught me a lesson on how to see God.  When the Apollo crew blasted off into space, they just didn’t set the course once to reach the moon.  There were three moving objects; the spaceship, the earth, and the moon.  Consequentially, the Apollo craft was constantly correcting its course to arrive at its destination.  In the same way, I had to constantly correct my course, or my ideas about God to understand and to see Him. So, can you?

The Prodigal Son by Oleg Korolev

God wants nothing more than to love us and give us the best of things. My biggest error was trying to love God out of my own effort. Even worse was being performance driven and being righteous out of my own effort. (Isaiah 64:6); talk about failure, disappointment, misery, and anger.    In short, I thought religion was what we did for God, when in fact, religion is about what God will do for us.

Jesus was knocking on my door (Rev. 3:20) and all I had to do was let him in my heart.  Similar to the father of the prodigal son, Jesus has this amazing capacity to love us.  He cares more about me than the sins or awful things I did in my life. He already knows my human nature, so it’s myself that needs to move pass this mind set. Unlike the enemy of this world who comes to shame, condemn, steal, kill, or destroy me, Jesus came to set me free from my own emotional wounds, grudges, mental torment, anger, obsessions, low self-esteem, despair, worldly thinking, and physical lusts. Through his mercy, compassion, tender care, and wisdom, Jesus becomes the most generous person to give us a life filled with joy and peace. 

Like two dancing partners, Jesus wants to give me an abundant life when I agree to dance with Him.  In this dance, Jesus pours out his love to me and I receive it. By dying to myself, or trading in my ego and pride for humility and being teachable, I come to know the breath, the length, the height, and the depth of his tremendous love. (Eph. 3:17-19)  By living in life union with Jesus, (John 15:7) his compassion becomes my compassion, his mercy becomes my mercy, and his wisdom becomes my wisdom.

Just as humans teach dogs to be human-like, God teaches humans to be godlike (Gen. 1:26, Psalm 82:6). A sinner, the ungodly one, (Psalm 1:1-5) who tries to see God will die.  (Exodus 33:20). But, as believers, (a saint -  1 Peter 1:15-16)  we are holy, set apart, and newly created can see God. Just as Adam and the angels were created by God, so too are believers, when we become born again.(2 Cor. 5:17)  This allows us to see God.  Just as man teaches the dog to sit and lay down to become human-like, God teaches us through His Word to transform our minds and heart, (Rom 12:1-2) so he can raise us up to His level of thought, nature, and heart.

In Graham Cooke’s teaching, Prophecy Destroys Oppression, he tells the story of a man rescued from doom. God brought Graham’s attention to a man in the audience. A man in his early thirties came up. He was pale, distraught, and lifeless with a blank look on his face.  On his arms were scars from cut marks.  Words of knowledge poured into Graham.  Internally, he saw a man filled with despair, suicide, no self-esteem, and clinically depressed. He was almost destroyed, and all the counseling was fruitless.

Jesus filled Graham with a vision that he shared with the man.  “I see a young boy, around six years old, and it’s your birthday.  For weeks your dad was building a custom kite for you as kite flying is a popular in your town. After the cake was eaten your dad came out with the kite and you thought it was brilliant. You were so excited that you took the kite and dashed off to the front door.  In this excitement you tripped and crushed the kite beyond repair.  For some unknown reason, your father became enraged, slapped you in the face, and never spoke to you again.  Since that time, you have been oppressed with shame, guilt, torment, self-destruction, and no one has been able to help you.” The man wept and cried in agony for the story was true and the wounds were still open.

Jesus filled Graham with compassion, and it became Graham’s compassion.  “I am here to tell you,” spoke Graham, “that Jesus has set you free from this misery.  Oils of joy and gladness are being poured onto your head to refresh and set you free.  You are dearly loved, for you are his beloved one.  As I speak, all your prison doors of guilt, shame, self-destruction have been obliterated.  Jesus has his arms around you and in your ear, he is whispering how important and valuable you are to his kingdom. He bids you to live and grow for he has faith in you.  You are his son and there is a great purpose for you in his kingdom.  He has given you a new heart filled with joy, mercy, courage, and wisdom.”

Visibly the man became alive again has he opened his heart to receive Jesus; the truth set him free. It’s the mission of Jesus to set him free so he may have an abundant life. Later, the man was able to make a great recovery through his therapy sessions.

As we live in life union with Jesus and allow his Words to live powerfully in our heart and mind, (John 15:7) we come to see the person of Jesus; not the concept of him. He has brought us up to his level of thinking and caring, so we can see and taste his godly nature. Just as Buzz Aldrin constantly corrected his course to reach the moon, we too must be open to the directions of God.   By living in the vine with Jesus, we will see God when we allow him to work through us.  When we speak life into people, encourage one another, nourish one another, and bring the truth to set people free, then you will see God in others and in yourself. 

Sinful desires: A Precursor to Death

By Thomas Denegre

Did you commit murder? Rob a bank? Have adulterous affairs?  Chances are you’re a good Christian and you didn’t do any of these things.   But Jesus said that was not good enough.

In this week’s reading from Matthew 5:21-35 Jesus teaches there is a higher standard to our behavior, for he states to the crowd;

“Everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty of murder before the court.”

“Everyone who has not forgiven his brother their sacrifice or prayer will not be heard.”

“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

Clearly, it’s not enough that our outward behavior be righteous, but so too must be the thoughts in our heart.  Jesus goes on to say, “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” Matt 15:18

Just as it takes three elements to make a campfire; oxygen, fire, and wood.  So, too does sin need three elements; the world we live in, sinful thoughts and desires (motive), and opportunity.

Some people may say, that if sinful thoughts are just as bad as the sin, then why shouldn’t you just do the sin.  Simply, a life in sin kills the heart and separates us from God.  Sin is on the same level as nerve gas and atomic weapons; deadly and catastrophic. 

Acting out sinful desires causes harm and death to us in many ways.

·         One, it causes people to excuse sin rather than stopping sin.  It deadens the heart and we become desensitized to actions leading to death. Good becomes evil and evil becomes good. Sadly, we see this when churches fly rainbow flags to endorse rebellion.

·         Two, sin will kill, steal, and destroy. 

·         Three, intentional sin is rebellion against God, especially when a person celebrates the sin rather than repents from it.

·         Four, sin will always hurt and kill people.  Free love has aborted 60 million people and that’s just the tipping point.

For myself, to stop the opportunity of sin, I must remove the motive of sin in my heart.  Jesus came to target the evil in my heart and transform it into his image. He knows my heart is defiled, but when I became born again, I was given a new spirit and heart.  God said in Ezekiel; “And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 11:19

By living in life union with Jesus and having his words living powerfully within me (John 15:7), I can become aware of my thoughts and motives.  While I cannot stop a thought from occurring, I can stop nurturing it. I also know when I do sin, I quickly repent of it to my Father, because God desires to forgive and heal me. By having a spirit-to-spirit relationship with God, I have a guardian at the gate to my heart that lets in good motives while keeping evil ones out.  I trust God when he said, 'I will give them a heart to know Me, for I am the LORD; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7