graves of craving

This week has been a sad week in this world. Tragedy struck and now everyone is looking to place blame. Who is at fault? Each group blames a other and the blame game becomes hate-filled and divisive.  No one actually seems to get to the real heart of the matter.  Evil exists in this world. Why does evil  exist and occur? Because sin entered this world and has corrupted the heart of man. The church of God, His body, needs to understand sin is at the heart of the matters occurring in the world, and the Body of Christ is supposed to have the answer. Rather than despair, we need to rise up and offer Jesus. But does the church realize we have the answer?  Are we walking in righteousness or have we given ourselves over to something else?

In Exodus chapter 11, there is is the account of how some of the Hebrew group began to complain about the provision of manna from heaven.  They became disatisfied with this miraculous  food that fell each morning and began to crave meat.

The rabble with them began to crave other food, and again the Israelites started wailing and said, “If only we had meat to eat! Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.
Numbers 11:4‭, ‬34 NIV

 Moses talked to God, and God gave in to the whining and sent quail to literally fall into the camp for them.  Those that began to eat the quail then become sick and died.  This verse is at the end of the chapter.

Therefore the place was named Kibroth Hattaavah, because there they buried the people who had craved other food.
Numbers 11:34 NIV

I looked up the meaning of the name Kibroth Hattaavah. It means graves of craving.  This means that these people brought about their own destruction by means of their own craving. What they had from God was no longer what they wanted. They began to crave for things that God did not intend . They began to crave for things that went against God's will. Here they had actual heavenly food provided each morning and it was no longer good enough. They remembered all the meat they had back in Egypt and wanted it, lusted for it, craved it.  Basically, they began to give in to fleshly desires and sinful nature rather than walking in the will of God. They caused great problems for Israel and brought destruction because of their sinful cravings.

Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.
1 John 2:15‭-‬17 NIV

We have accounts like this in the Word of God to help us and show us examples of how to live and not live.  These people were God's people, just like the church is today. They stepped out of the will of God and were given over to flesh, the sinful nature. This lead to graves of craving.  When we disobey God, step out of His will, or open up to allowing our sinful nature to lead us, we are taking a path of destruction for our souls right into a grave of craving.  Our sinful flesh craves and desires to satisfy its lust. Lust for what feels good, what looks good, and what makes itself feel good. We are full of pride, selfishness, and wanton craving. We seek out what we want at no regard for the consequence. We begin to justify sin to make ourselves feel good about what we choose. We go against what God intends for us. We set up our own self as an idol that needs to be pleased at all cost.  We may still say with our words that we love God and He is Lord, but our heart has began to love self and self satisfaction above the ways of God. This is a path that leads to destruction. We are no longer effective, nor can we offer anything to those who need to understand God has a way better than what the world has.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.
Psalm 1:6 NIV

God has a way that is righteous, one way.  All other ways are against God and fall in the category of wicked.  When you choose a way that is not God, you are choosing destruction. Self gratification leads to hurt, depravity, searching for things to satisfy that really don't give what you need. Drugs, alcohol abuse, use of sex, depression, seeking of money, fame, etc, are all ways of attempting to fulfill a deep desire that is only filled by God. We give place to all these things, thinking we are looking for happiness, when really, all it takes is turning to God.  The things offering to satisfy, really take us to  a path that lead to  a grave of craving. Only Jesus can truly satisfy a soul that needs love and hope. Those in this world that give place to evil and commit evil acts are headed to a grave of craving. We cannot offer them any hope, if we also are given over to our cravings rather than God. If we aren't living effective lives, our words are just noise. Our lips may honor God, but our hearts do not. We are, then, part of the problem.

He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:  “ ‘These people honor me with their lips,  but their hearts are far from me. 
Mark 7:6‭-‬8 NIV

God is a jealous God and He expects obedience. He is not pleased with disobedience. He wants all of us, including our heart. We should love him so much, that our heart desires Him and Him alone. Our desire, or craving should be His ways, His words, Him. Psalms 37:4 says Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Our delight should be God and our heart His.

His church should be obedient to His word, not given over to selfish desire. His church is His body. If his body is rejecting His ways, or choosing self craving over God's  will , we become dysfunctional and destructive.  We are no longer representative of Jesus Christ.  I believe as the body of Jesus Christ, we are to place all trust, all desire, all faith in Him. We are to follow Him, obey Him, and walk where He takes us. We will find favor and great blessings when we are in that place of obedience.   His commandments are what matters.

Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is  what  matters.
I Corinthians 7:19 NKJV

What matters most to God is us. We are his love and purpose. When we are choosing Him, we find favor and blessing. We become right in God's pirpose. He can use us to shine a light into the world. We can speak His truth and be effective in ministry. We can have effectual fervent prayers, hear from God and truly know the hand of God is over us.

Surely, Lord , you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.
Psalm 5:12 NIV

When we are walk in obedience to God's will and purpose, we become right with God. We become examples of what God's transformative power does in a life full of love.  We are no longer a noisy cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1), but a loving arm of God Almighty that beckons a sinner with the love of God. A love that can change lives and give us hope and peace in this world full of destruction. Rather than a grave of craving,  eternal life with God's love, hope and peace is found.  This world needs to see there is hope, there is peace, and it is only found in Jesus. His body, His church is being called to arise from its slumber, arise from complacency, arise from fear and selfish craving. The church needs to arise and declare the goodness of God. Arise and declare that salvation belongs to the Lord. Arise in righteousness with healing in its wings!

Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say--living lives that lead others away from sin],
COLOSSIANS 2:6 AMP

We, as His body, need to humble ourselves, ask God to examine our hearts and see if there is any thing wicked in me.  Ask him to remove those selfish cravings and ask Him to lead us into right living,  into obedience to His commands, and become that light that leads others to Him. We are to  be a light that draws all men to God. A light that offers hope.  Let us turn to God rather than crave things of this world.  God has a Way that will change society, stop evil events, and bring joy rather than sadness. Lets fulfill His purpose and offer Jesus to this world that needs Him. Lets offer hope when sin brings destruction. Lets offer Jesus.

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.
Psalm 143:10 NIV

His promises will be done

As I read through the story of the Israelites in the Old Testament, there is one idea that never fails to be true. God kept His promises to His people.

Not one of all the Lord ʼs good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
Joshua 21:45 NIV

This is still true today for us. God is faithful and His word holds true.  Last Sunday, during worship, the presence of God was so evident and overwhelming. Words did not seem enough. Singing did not seem enough. And as the congregation began to sing the words from There Is A Cloud:

And  with great anticipation
We await  the  promise  to come
Everything  that You  have spoken
Will  come  to pass, let  it  be done

I could not help but kneel before the very throne of God. I was overcome by the possibilities and the truth of God's promises that I know He has for me and those I know. I could hear God reminding me of all the promises fulfilled and those still being fulfilled.  I felt like I could actually see them coming to pass. I can't even explain how this all felt. But it seemed as though I was literally at Jesus's feet hearing Him tell me that His promises would be done.  I don't know how anyone else was feeling at this moment, but I had a moment with Jesus right there.  Things are different now. I cannot get that experience out of my thoughts and I cannot stop rejoicing over His promises.  They will be done.  What he has spoken, will come to pass. His word is True!!!

Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.
Psalms 119:160 KJV

I have seen evidence that His promises are true I have seen hope spark in situations that seemed hopeless. I have seen prayers answered. This week, something horrible could have happened, but it was brought out into the light before it could occur. It was stopped beforehand.  I knew immediately that God answered prayers for my children's safety.  I knew he had made a way for their safety to be preserved. 
 I have heard my children speaking words of faith this week, words that give way to great hope in their lives. I know God promises to keep my children, and I see them happening in their lives this week.
 I saw a verse written in a notebook in my child's room and I realized just how much I cannot see into my children's hearts, but God can and His word is growing deep roots in their  hearts. I am encouraged and excited to see what God has in store.

There are some big promises He has for those around me, and I am anticipatong seeing them happen.  I am praising God this week.  I cannot help but feel excited about what He is doing all around me.  There are many people I know who have asked for some big things from God, and I see these things coming.  I  cannot wait to be a witness of the promises of God taking place.  I want to shout out praises because God is faithful and good. He keeps His word and His word is true. When we put all our hope and faith in Him, we can be sure that His word will be done.

And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
John 14:13‭-‬14 NKJV

self-control

In Galatians we read about the fruit of the Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who  are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22‭-‬25 NKJV

This list gives characteristics of what a person will have and do, and be like, when they are walking according to the Spirit of God. This is not a list that is easy for most of us.  But, it is only through having the Spirit of God operating in us and through us that we are able to live a life filled with these characteristics.  When we are missing part of this fruit, we might want to examine where our relationship with Jesus is and if we are not as close to Him as we should be.
I know each of these are very important, but I really want to talk about one characteristic in particular.  Self-control,  or temperance, as the King James Version says it, is moderation, self-restraint in action, statement, etc. Why did this stand out to me? It is last on the list. It hit me, that self-control is needed to apply most of the other characteristics of the spiritual fruit.  Loving others requires us to control self, not be selfish or self serving, and put others first.  The same goes for having longsuffering, being kind, good, gentle and faithful. Self-control is also needed to rest secure in Jesus and have His joy and peace in all situations. Faith applied is giving control to God rather than handling it ourselves. That takes restraint of self.

We often allow circumstances to dictate how we act, respond,  and speak. We may allow a 'bad day' to be an excuse for our own bad choices in attitude. We feel justified in being grumpy or   even using hurtful words. We have not remained temperate or even keeled.  We have allowed selfish desires, selfish feelings, and emotions to take control rather than staying centered in Jesus. Jesus doesn't want us to be ruled by our flesh, but to walk in the Spirit.  When we give our emotions, frustrations and grumpiness control, we have just pushed Jesus out and are bearing fruit of the flesh.

Yes, I realize we are human and, yes, we have to deal with being human. But, if we are made in His image, we are really a spiritual being robed in flesh and that spiritual being is the part of us that will live on forever. This is the part of us that matters most.  We must learn, that our spiritual person, needs to be attended to first and foremost.

Self-control means we are holding ourselves in check, not reacting out of hurt, fear, anger, grumpiness,  etc, but choosing to react, instead, with the fruit of God's spirit.  If we choose to react with the characteristics of the fruit of the spirit, we may see big changes in our lives. We might see a decrease in hurt, in strife, in distrust, and brokenness.  We might see more lives turning to the Savior. Our walk will be different. Our talk will be different. Our actions will be different. We would be closer to living a life full of what God has for us.

Self-control doesn't mean we are boring, lacking in life, nor flat in our response. It means we are giving God control of how we respond. We respond by the Spirit, not the flesh. We are living in the Spirit.

 In Galatians, Paul also listed fruit of the flesh:
 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

These fruit characteristics sound so familiar in our world today. I would much rather bear the fruit of the Spirit. Most of the fruit born in flesh brings about destruction of the soul. This fruit is born out of our sinful nature and leads to destruction.

Self-control is a big part of the fruit of the spirit and works hand in hand with each of the other characteristics.   It takes self-control to notice others and put forth the effort required to pour out true love into their lives. It takes self-control to respond with kindness when you are actually frustrated, angry, tired, and cranky. It takes self-control to respond with faith,  joy and peace when your world seems to be falling apart around you. It takes self-control to respond with faith and patience when you want and need  an answer from God in the rough situations. We need this fruit of self-control to keep all the other fruit operating when we don't  feel up to challenge on our own.
May we all strive and pray for self-control that only comes from walking with God. In His spirit. May we bear His fruit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. And those who  are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16‭-‬25 NKJV