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. 

“We know that the law is good if one uses it properly.”

1 Timothy 1:8-11

“A society of laws is a high vision for a nation or secular society, but too low a goal for a Christian community.”  This quote came from the “Talking Points” that were provided to Daily Bible Blast writers in support of the current sermon series (Sermon on the Mount).  Our experience tells us that we need laws to maintain an orderly society.  We need boundaries to live well together.  But the second half of the quote is what really got my attention.  Jesus addressed the issue of “too low a goal for a Christian community” in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5 – 7).  He talked about things like anger, and language, and lust.  He makes it clear to his followers that the obedience He wants is from the heart!

If only it were easy to live in obedience to God’s law and in relationship with one another!  We struggle, but we have some good company.  Look at what Paul says in Romans 7: 21-25: 

^“21 So I find this law at work:  Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; ²³ but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? ²⁵ Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature^[a] a slave to the law of sin.”

Thanks be to God for the gift of the law that ultimately points us to our Savior.  Even though we will inevitably fall short of the obedience that God desires, we can join with Paul in thanking Him for the gift of His Son, Jesus, who fulfilled the law for us and the Holy Spirit who helps us in our walk of faith!

Lilies of the Field

Matthew 6:25-34

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was speaking to the masses. If you can imagine that during his sermon, he looks around at the crowd. He sees people from all walks of life.

Some are farmers; some are religious leaders; some are common laborers; some are sinners like tax collectors; some are beggars; and some are business men. All are struggling to survive.

 And what does Jesus tell them?

³¹ “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ ³² These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.   NLT

If we look at our own life, we’re not all that different from the people in the crowd to whom Jesus was speaking. We are trying to survive; to get ahead in the world; to provide for our family; to live a comfortable lifestyle. We desperately try to control our world to accomplish our goals.

 Jesus isn’t speaking some pleasant sounding platitude like, “Don’t worry, be happy”. What he’s telling the people, and us, is that God is in control. He knows our needs. He loves us. He is always with us. He is always at work in our lives. So trust Him to provide for you, to meet your needs. Just how is this accomplished?

In 1963 there was a movie titled “Lilies of the Field” starring Sidney Poitier. The title

comes from today’s passage. It was about an itinerant handyman who stumbled upon some German nuns who were barely surviving in the Arizona desert.

They had faith in God that He would provide a church building for them. To Sidney Poitier’s chagrin, HE was the answer to their prayers. It’s a humorous, but touching story about how God provides.

³³ Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.         NLT

That’s what the nuns were doing; that’s what we are to do. It’s not a formula. It’s how you live. Seek God. Then look to see how God is providing for you; how God is at work in your life. And like the lilies of the field, God will provide.

Closing the Gap

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against the house; yet it did not fall.”  Matthew 7:24-25

Have you ever heard of the “knowing-doing gap”?  It’s a common phenomenon in which people talk about an issue, learn a lot about it, but don’t actually do anything about it.  Many meetings close with participants somehow thinking that, by talking about a problem, they’ve done something about it, even though their conversation never even approached a resolution!

Jesus’ words in today’s text come at the conclusion of “The Sermon on the Mount.”  He had covered much ground: the blessings of the Beatitudes ... being salt and light in the world ... his fulfillment of the Law and the prophets ... guarding not only one’s actions, but also the heart ... loving others ... prayer and fasting ... building treasures in heaven ... choosing the narrow path that leads to life ... and being wise to false teachings and those who utter them. And he adjourned the outdoor meeting with this “knowing-doing” warning: “But anyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

In correctly observing that we are saved by grace and not by works, we sometimes err by downplaying the “doing” of the Word.  But believing and doing are joined at the hip, and doing is no less important than believing.  In Romans 1:5, we find this relationship between the two: "obedience ... comes from faith."  In Hebrews 11 – “the Hall of Faith” – we read, “By faith Abraham ... obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”  James tells us that “faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.”  And Jesus asks, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”

Throughout the Bible, God speaks to us both words of promise and words of command; we say “yes” to his promises by believing them, and we say “yes” to his commands by doing them.  We are saved in trusting in his grace; and our works arise out of obeying the voice of him who lives in us through faith.

Believing and doing are indeed joined at the Biblical hip.  In Christ, there is no “knowing-doing gap.”  In him, there is no such thing as “yes” to his promises and “no” to his commands.  In him, there is only “yes” and “yes.”

Make that “Yes!” and “Yes!”

Romans 2:17-24

Many of us who claim to be Christian live more by the rule of, "Do as I say not as I do."  I can remember my father telling me this when I questioned why I had to go to church on Sunday and he didn't; why I had to watch my mouth and he didn't.

Romans 2:17-24 speaks to this situation and reminds all of us that we need to practice what we preach, no exceptions.  Paul says that if we do not live up to what we know, we are no different than non-believers.  We all need to learn that the law is more than a set of rules; it is a guideline for living.  Like the Eight Beatitudes listed in the Sermon on the Mount - they are words to live you entire life by.

"I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry." (Romans 2:19-22 MSG)

I am constantly reminded of the Bible Study teacher who implored all of his students to stop and think.  If we are going to wear a cross around our necks, have bumper stickers touting Scripture verses or display an Ichthus on a license plate we had better be prepared to back it up with impeccable behavior.


Read the text here.
Listen to the text here.

Matthew 5:2-12

Do you feel blessed? I wanted to see just what this word means in English and Dictionary.com defines blessed as blissfully happy, contented, divinely or supremely favored, fortunate.  During the time in history when Jesus was teaching from this hillside, he was there because the people wanted to know more about Him, they wanted to hear what He had to say to them.

His words to the followers then, just as now, affirm the fact it isn't worldly treasures that will make us blissfully happy; things will not bring about contentment. He teaches that the materials things of this world have no kingdom value.  The Eight Beatitudes hold us to a different standard of living; they point us to a life of humility, mercy, purity, and peacefulness.  

The Eight Beatitudes, or Sermon on the Mount, which the text for today is often called, is a way to live life.  The Christian 12-Step program, Celebrate Recovery is grounded in these verses.  For all people dealing with hurts, hang-ups and habits these eight declarations are rules to live by; a way to become recovered in Christ.

When we live by this higher standard we may not feel blessed, as this world knows blessing.  We will feel persecuted, poked fun at and sometimes we may even fear for our well-being, but Jesus taught:

"Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble." (Matthew 5:11-12)

Read Matthew 5:2-12 here.  Listen to Matthew 5:2-12 here.