THE HEART--by Randall Burton

Its one thing to be kingdom minded, its another thing to carry the heart of the King. Just because you're patriotic that doesn't mean that you carry the spirit of the constitution that governs the country. Though you're civic minded it doesnt necessarily mean that you care about the city you live in. Its not the warm fuzzy we feel inside when we sing the national anthem or old glory waving from sea to shining sea. It's where your feet take you in service to the world that you live in.

CORRECTION--by Randall Burton

Proverbs 3:11-12 My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord , Nor detest His correction; For whom the Lord loves He corrects, Just as a father the son in  whom he delights.

Don't confuse a word of correction with a spirit of condemnation.

The key to instruction and correction is in the relationship between Father and son.

Proverbs 10:17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.

If you are having a hard time with receiving instruction; then you will assuradly resist correction.

Correction is designed to align, not to alienate.

Correction is not on the other end of judgment, correction is at the beginning of mercy.

Proverbs 12:1 Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid.

People who love instruction are people who possess knowledge.

We need instruction when we dont know what were doing, or when we do things the wrong way.

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of correction will drive it far from him.

We remain bound up when we remove the rod of correction from the relationship with our heavenly Father.

The rod is not designed to drive us away from the Fathers love, the rod is designed to drive away the foolish things that keep us from the love of the Father.

2 Timothy 3:14-16 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them,  and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.

A good Father inspires his children with a proper framework that includes instruction and correction.

MELT DOWN

In a moment of anger, Moses tossed the newly formed 10 commandments to the ground, breaking them to bits.

Instead of a breakdown, Moses should have had a meltdown. Unfortunately Moses had a history of impulsivly reacting instead of responding to difficult situations [Exodus 2:11-25; Numbers 20:11].

Have you ever come down from a mountain top experience with God only to  find disappointment at the base? Moses was having a day like that as he comes down from this mountain top meeting with his heavenly Father.

Lester Sumrall once stated; "its not your actions that tell on you, it's your reactions."

Heres how to respond to difficult days and people;

1. Don't break the commandments, melt the calf.

2. Repent and exchange your golden calf for the Fathers fatted calf.

3. Ask the Father to lead you out of this desert experience and he will dispatch angels on your behalf.

My prayer today is; Father God melt down the idol that my imagination has conceived and that my hands have fashioned.

Exodus 32:20 Then he took the calf which they had made, burned it in the fire, and ground it to powder...

FROM OFFENDED TO DEFRIENDED

Have you ever been defriended or defriended someone on facebook? Come on, you know you have. What was the reason? Maybe they were posting things that were offensive to you. Or perhaps they were just bringing to much drama into your life. Maybe your friendship simply drifted apart. What ever the reason, you have had to deal with the negitive side of social media.

If you are a Christian,  you need to be aware that there is a huge difference between friendship and biblical fellowship. So whats the difference?

Friendship [a friendly feeling or attitude; friendliness].

Fellowship [a group of people with the same interest, a company or brotherhood]

Friendship is based on common likes and dislikes; fellowship is based on a common identity.

Friendships can be very selective; fellowship reaches out to those not like us.

Friendships can be temporary; fellowship is permanent.

Friendship is optional; fellowship is not.

We choose our friends; God chooses our fellowship.

Friendship places us in a unique relationship with a person; fellowship places us in a unique relationship with a family.

You can defriend but you can not defellowship!

1 Corinthians 12:13 some of us are Jews, some are Gentiles, some are slaves, and some are free. But we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.--By Randall Burton

THE MEASURE OF A MAN

Revelation 22:1-2 And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

When you think of this verse, what picture comes to mind? A peaceful serene place of majestic beauty? I believe this is a mighty moving river that has the power to sweep a large bolder in its course.

But where is the beginning point of this river? Where does it start at? According to verse two, it Proceeds from the throne of God and from the Lamb…

Ezekiel 47:1-3 Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.3And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters.

I have a question, who is the “he” in verse three? This can only be Jesus the spotless Lamb of God. Where did this man (pre-incarnate Christ) measure from? Did he measure from the banks of the river or from within the river itself? Take a close look at Ezekiel 47:3 …he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters. The answer is, he measured from within the river, not on the banks of the river. Is it possible that the depth of your Christian walk can be measured in the streams of the river of Gods glory? I believe it is so.

Another question is; can you experience the river of God’s presence and experience internal growth at the same time? Look at Ezekiel 47:12 along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” Now go back and look at Revelation 22:2 In the middle of its street, and on either side of the river, was the tree of life, which bore twelve fruits, each tree yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. How did you learn to swim? Most of us just jumped in the water and started treading.

When Peter and John went up the mount of transfiguration, did they learn anything from that experience? Sure they did. They saw the external appearance of Jesus, Moses and Elijah lit up like a Christmas tree. It made such an impression upon these disciples that they wanted to stay on the mountain and set up tabernacles for all three men. Do you think the miracles, healings and signs and wonders of Jesus made an impression on the disciples that traveled with him? That’s a no brainer isn’t it?

Now here is the key to everything; Make sure the Lamb is in the river that you’re swimming in. If the lamb is not in the river that you are swimming in, then you’re swimming in the wrong stream!

So I would conclude that it’s not an either or proposition here. It’s a both-and situation. You can experience the river and grow at the same time. Pentecost was birthed from an experience. And though the disciples moved on from the initial experience of Pentecost, they continued on in its power from there on. So what are we to conclude? It’s simple, just stay in the river and grow in the Lord.--by Randall Burton