Barriers Removed

Barriers Removed

Hebrews 11: ²⁹ It was faith that made the Israelites able to cross the Red Sea as if on dry land; when the Egyptians tried to do it, the water swallowed them up.

 

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“But I don’t know anything about the business side” was my nervous response when offered a position I was unfamiliar. My entire career had been spent in technology and I was now being asked to move into operating the business from a nontechnical view. “Don’t worry about it” was the response. They cleared all barriers to getting the position.

 

• I felt I did not have the skills to do the position.
• I wondered why I was chosen for the position.
• I nervously stepped into the position and made it safely through.

 

Paul, the assumed writer, gives a strange example of faith. He mentions the Israelites “ability” to cross the Red Sea as if on dry land, while the Egyptians could not. Many of the Israelites were nervous and later they complained about Moses and ultimately, GOD. Yet GOD protected them.

 

My Observations:

• GOD protects me in spite of my doubt, fears and worries.
• GOD knew I would mess up and HE protects me anyway.
• GOD sees all hearts and protects me from those who try to stop me from serving HIM.

 

Serving GOD pleases HIM, but causes the enemy to get upset. I mean, when I put my mind and heart into action for doing something meaningful for CHRIST, GOD gets excited. Unfortunately, it causes me to rile up Satan who, in turn, tries to place obstacles in my way. BUT GOD sees the obstacles and removes them.

 

It is not because I am faithful and sinless, it’s because HE is faithful and sinless. JESUS faced every temptation I could ever face and more. HE did not sin when tempted and was murdered by HIS own creation. HE was raised from the dead and provides the HOLY SPIRIT to live in those who believe in HIM. HE did it all and did not rely on my faulty faithfulness. I am glad GOD is faithful to me.

 

Challenge

• Why does the writer mention faith when it came to the unfaithful Israelites?
• Have you ever sinned and were nervous about receiving punishment from GOD?
• Are you doubting HIS love for you because of your current situation?
• Will you believe in HIS power over your situation and believe HE is faithful to you even though you cannot possibly be faithful to HIM because we are all sinners?

 

Prayer

Dear LORD, please protect this reader from his or her thinking. Please guide us from worry, fear and doubt. Show us YOUR faithfulness, especially when we are unfaithful. Thank YOU! amen

Declared Clean

Declared Clean

Ephesians 5: ³ Since you are God's people, it is not right that any matters of sexual immorality or indecency or greed should even be mentioned among you. ⁴ Nor is it fitting for you to use language which is obscene, profane, or vulgar. Rather you should give thanks to God. ⁵ You may be sure that no one who is immoral, indecent, or greedy (for greed is a form of idolatry) will ever receive a share in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.

 

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“How did I get here?” I asked myself. My “friends” were doing things that, at one point, I would have considered low down and underhanded. After a while, I was doing the same stuff or possibly worse. I was in trouble and had no one to help because they were in trouble too.

 

• I was afraid to turn to GOD because my sins were piling up.
• I was nervous of facing the consequences of my decisions.
• I felt unclean, broken and worthless.

 

“Act right!” was seemingly the plea of Paul as he addressed how people were behaving. He saw the people give themselves over to sexual immorality, indecent behavior and obscene, profane and vulgar language. Greed had permeated their every thought. The warning was stern.

 

My Observations

• If I confess my sins GOD is faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness.
• I need to repent or turn away from my sins to mature in CHRIST.
• Nothing vulgar, obscene or greedy in me will be useful to GOD.

 

“Impossible” was my first reaction to this list. I mean I had pretty much committed the whole list and felt I had no place in GOD’s kingdom. Then I reread the first part of the passage. “Since you ARE GOD’s people.” GOD is the one who declared me righteous, not because of me or any action I did, rather it was because of JESUS and HIS action for me.

 

When JESUS died for me and was raised from the dead, I was now able to be cleansed of all my sins, past present and future. I was declared clean. But those who refuse the wonderful gift GOD has to offer will remain declared unclean. Salvation gives me freedom to choose GOD’s way. I am grateful HE guides me to sometimes choose HIM.

 

Challenge

• What “share” is the writer speaking of?
• Whether you agree or disagree with the list, what does improving your own life look like?
• Have you ever had a complaint about your bank account being low or for not having enough?
• Will you give thanks to GOD for what you have and where HE has you so you can grow in the way HE wants you to grow today?

 

Remove Obstacles

Remove Obstacles

1 Corinthians 9: ¹² If others have the right to expect this from you, don't we have an even greater right?

 

But we haven't made use of this right. Instead, we have endured everything in order not to put any obstacle in the way of the Good News about Christ. ¹³ Surely you know that the men who work in the Temple get their food from the Temple and that those who offer the sacrifices on the altar get a share of the sacrifices. ¹⁴ In the same way, the Lord has ordered that those who preach the gospel should get their living from it.

 

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“But I don’t have any money to get there” was my statement. “Don’t worry about that, we will pay for you to get there” was the reply from the company. “But I don’t have a place to live” was my reluctant reply. “Don’t worry. We will put you in a hotel for a couple of weeks to find a place.” I had no other barriers so I took the job.

 

• I have seen the world remove barriers when it came to making money.
• I have seen the world remove any excuse for not getting something accomplished.
• I have seen the world remove any obstacle to the success it wants to achieve.

 

Paul speaks about “those who preach the gospel should get their living from it.” He speaks about the Law of Moses that GOD put into place stating those who tend to the temple are able to eat part of the sacrifice. In other words, they received part of the donation. But Paul did not force this right.

 

• GOD wants me to remove barriers to hearing HIS word.
• GOD wants me to remove excuses to listening to the Gospel of JESUS.
• GOD wants me to remove obstacles to following CHRIST as the Savior.

 

Removing obstacles requires additional sacrifice to help immature or blind people see. I mean, when I cannot grasp how to do something, I sometimes need an example to show me how it is done, then I can do it willingly. GOD removed an impossible to overcome obstacle for me.

 

HE needed a sinless human to die for the sins of humans. JESUS, being GOD the SON, volunteered. HE became a human, was tempted in every way and did not sin. HE was murdered and was raised from the dead as the risen Savior. I am grateful HE removed this obstacle so now I can have an everlasting relationship with HIM.

 

• Are you within your rights, but these rights may be a barrier?
• Are you at a decision point where you have to choose GOD or “the right” which could be an obstacle?
• Will you temporarily remove any obstacle to seeing or hearing GOD so “those people” will someday mature to follow HIM on their own?

Remove Barriers

Remove Barriers

1 Corinthians 8: ⁹ Be careful, however, not to let your freedom of action make those who are weak in the faith fall into sin. ¹⁰ Suppose a person whose conscience is weak in this matter sees you, who have so-called “knowledge,” eating in the temple of an idol; will not this encourage him to eat food offered to idols? ¹¹ And so this weak person, your brother for whom Christ died, will perish because of your “knowledge”! ¹² And in this way you will be sinning against Christ by sinning against other Christians and wounding their weak conscience. ¹³ So then, if food makes a believer sin, I will never eat meat again, so as not to make a believer fall into sin.

 

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“Put on your best” were the words of someone, I think. We were all dressed in suits and dresses, giving our “best” every Sunday at church. The SPIRIT of the LORD moved me to go out into the neighborhood and invite people. “No thanks, I don’t have anything to wear” was the barrier presented to me.

 

• There have been many things I did that were a barrier to someone.
• There have been many things I did that may have caused someone to stumble.
• There have been many things I did that seemed harmless to me, but were harmful to others.

 

“Be careful” was Paul’s warning. He was addressing a question about food offered to idols. He replied with a statement that idols have no power. But he warns everyone who believes to be careful not to make a believer fall into sin. If there is a person who is “weaker in faith”, be careful with liberties.

 

• GOD wants me to use discernment around people who are just starting to know CHRIST.
• GOD wants me to drop my assumptions that everyone is at the same maturity level.
• GOD wants me to keep my liberties to myself if they will cause a person to fall into sin.

 

“It’s all good” is not all good to everyone. I mean, when I am speaking to someone, my relaxed attitude towards something may cause a person to doubt a truth I may have spoken about JESUS. This truth may cause that person to sin. Now I have caused a sin against CHRIST.

 

GOD wants me to be willing to make adjustments to the way I do things so I will be inviting rather than offensive. This only goes so far. The message of JESUS is quite offensive and HE does not want me to stop speaking about HIM. But I can stop wearing suits, eating certain things and going to buildings on certain days “temporarily” while I am with a person who I may offend. I am glad GOD’s grace is sufficient.

 

• Are you being offensive and are unaware?
• Do you follow customs versus being led by the SPIRIT?
• Will you examine your habits and see if the good ones have become a barrier to GOD and ask HIM to remove it immediately today?

Another Route

Another Route

Acts 19: ⁸ Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰ This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

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“There is no way to get there” were the sad words. “I’ll take you was my response. The roads were icy so many of them were closed. I tried the normal routes, only to be met with barriers. A thought popped in my head. “Try a route that is slightly unorthodox.” The back roads were open and even more treacherous. After much prayer and passing over 100 overturned trucks and cars, we made it. Now I had to make it home.

• There were times when it seemed impossible to get to the destination.
• There were times when it seemed like barriers kept popping up and I would never reach the goal.
• There were times when I felt like giving up, but was too deep into the journey to stop.

Paul spoke in the synagogue because it seemed like the right place to discuss the Messiah. He tried to reason with the church goers for months, but the crowd became obstinate. Paul and the disciples moved their gathering to a lecture hall where they could speak freely about JESUS being the Messiah. This was a better route.

• GOD wants me to know there will be barriers to speaking about HIM.
• GOD wants me to understand that obstacles will be placed in front of me.
• GOD wants me to allow HIM to provide another route to bring people to HIM.

Sometimes it feels hopeless, especially when the obstacles pile up all at once. BUT GOD shows HIS great plan and somehow clears the right path for me to follow. Time after time HE has provided when I could see no provision. I am amazed at HIS love.

• Are you facing an overwhelming number of obstacles?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Will you allow GOD to show you another route so you can see HIS power today?

Overcoming Barriers

Mark 4: ¹³ And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? ¹⁴ The sower sows the word. ¹⁵ And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. ¹⁶ These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness;¹⁷ and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. ¹⁸ Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, ¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. ²⁰ But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

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Station four was my nemesis. It was the part of the obstacle course that I could not overcome. The gym teacher required that I do ten pullups before moving on to the rest of the course. “Ten? I can’t even do one!” I said to myself.

• Sometimes life feels like a huge obstacle course.
• Sometimes life has big things in it that seem hard to overcome.
• Sometimes life deals out difficulties that seem impossible to overcome.

Ailments, broken relationships, poor grades, job pressures, job loss and death of loved ones are a few obstacles that have kept me from shouting from the mountain that GOD is awesome! I mean how awesome is HE when I am standing out in the rain, getting soaked waiting on a bus? GOD wants me to get stronger.

• GOD wants me to open my eyes to see Satan trying to steal GOD’s promise of peace and his attempt to replace it with worry.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to understand there will be tribulation and persecution so I need to prepare myself.
• GOD wants me to open my eyes to know I am susceptible to lust of money, lust of power, and lust in general.

When I feel scared, worried, lustful or judgmental, GOD wants me to get my answers from HIM instead of acting on impulse. HE enables me to see that in the middle of a trial, I can still bear fruit for HIM. HE wants me to quiet down, seek HIS face for direction and actually go where HE leads me. There is where I will find fruit for HIS kingdom!

• Have you given up on GOD?
• Do you feel more worried than full of praise?
• Can you look at what GOD has said about your situation in HIS word and act accordingly?
• Will you accept HIS message of peace for you today?

If You Are Willing

Matthew 8: When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”

³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

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“Demand a raise” was the thought that popped in my head. I walked into my evaluation and said all of the things that “I” had accomplished. I literally spent hours writing this stuff down. After the meeting I was proud of myself for being able to come up with all of these “wonderful” accomplishments.

• There have been times I have demanded.
• There have been times I have thought more of myself.
• There have been times I have tried to convince others that I was more than what I am.

Arrogance was speaking to my pride as I waltzed down the hallways thinking “I” did all of this. When I got my average raise, I was furious. Looking back I can see several mistakes in my approach.

• GOD wants me to be humble in my request.
• GOD wants me to recognize HIS power and authority in all situations.
• GOD wants me to ask HIM, not demand HIM.

GOD is not owned by me but HE is my GOD and I am HIS servant. HE enables me to humbly ask for things and HE has the right to say “No”, “Wait” or “Yes” whenever HE pleases. The man with leprosy humbled himself thoroughly. He followed JESUS for a while, he knelt down and he asked, knowing JESUS could say “No.”

One critical thing I noticed is JESUS said “don’t tell anyone.” Wait, there was a crowd there! HE sent the cleansed leper directly to those who opposed HIM as a testimony of HIS power.

• Are you bragging about your power?
• Is all the attention on you?
• Can you stop trying to draw attention to yourself and have people focus on GOD?
• Will you humbly ask JESUS to make you clean?

Removing Obstacles

Isaiah 57: ¹⁴ And it will be said:

“Build up, build up, prepare the road!
    Remove the obstacles out of the way of my people.”
¹⁵ For this is what the high and exalted One says—
    he who lives forever, whose name is holy:
“I live in a high and holy place,
    but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly
    and to revive the heart of the contrite.
¹⁶ I will not accuse them forever,
    nor will I always be angry,
for then they would faint away because of me—
    the very people I have created.

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Sleep could not find me; rest hid its face as well. I tossed and turned trying to think of how to solve a problem at work and I just could not think of the answer. Suddenly I got the answer in the middle of the night. I was so excited that I got up and wrote down the answer. The next day I went into work only to find the rules had changed and another obstacle was put in place.

• Many times I have faced obstacles.
• Many times the road seemed impossible to travel.
• Many times it seemed like giving up was the best option.

“Why try if ‘they’ are going to make up new rules on the fly?” I thought to myself. I mean sometimes the obstacles seem too large and come too often. Shouldn’t I just run and hide in a cave, never to talk to anyone again? I mean, why try?

• GOD said to me “I will prepare your road for you.”
• GOD said to me “I will remove the obstacles out of your way.”
• GOD said to me “I will revive your spirit for MY sake. I know your sins and I will not accuse your of them forever.”

After the rules changed once too often, the leadership was removed and soon I had a group of people who seemed to be helpful rather than accusatory. I could thrive and the barriers were removed without me lifting a finger. GOD made me realize that I sometimes place barriers in the way of others and I should remove them as much as possible. In spite of being sinful, GOD blesses me anyway.

• Are you facing obstacles?
• Do you feel like giving up?
• Can you stop being angry at GOD for a moment to notice HIS compassion?
• Will you allow HIM to remove the obstacle in HIS time?
• Can you be content with where HE has you until HE removes the barrier you are facing?