Please watch my video introduction here:
Matthew 6:24
“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money( or anything else).
Matthew 6:25-26
Do Not Be Anxious
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?
Matthew 6:32-33
“For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
Welcome to another Vida4U. As of this time it “appears” that Biden will be the new President. My emotions are numb, and this Vida may be a bit messy. I myself am struggling with the outcome, with questions. How could this happen and why did President Trump not invoke the insurrection act etc., are a few of my questions. In rereading the last two Vidas, I find encouragement for myself (I hope likewise for you).
In my Christmas letter, mailed to you or if you did not receive it,( its posted on my website Executivecareinc.com) can be read to find some of this encouragement. Towards the end of the article I say the following…,
“Though the elections are super important to all of us, we part here. They have no eternal
bearing on our life. A relationship with God super transcends anything that we value or find
important here. Here is temporary, God is Eternal, and we need to keep that in mind. When we
do, it is much easier to live life and to care for one another. The first commandment of the Ten Commandments is to “Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, mind, soul, and strength. The second is “To Love thy neighbor as thyself.” Instead of fighting, arguing, and bickering this is the direction we are to go in.”
Here in the real world, unlike in Congress where divisions and blocks are the norm, we need to live together with our neighbors and with our co- workers regardless of their political bias and we CAN when it is the “Kingdom of God and His righteousness” that we seek first ( it’s the only way ).
Another verse of scripture that relates to what we are feeling are the feelings the disciples felt after Jesus’s death. As they were walking down the Damascus road…
Luke 24:15-21
While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them ( this is so Jesus), but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “ Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
Now let me be clear, nowhere am I implying that President Trump is remotely close to Jesus, but what I am relating to is the sadness, the depression, the lost hope, and what do we do now.. feelings that they were feeling. Feelings that we have as well. However, it would be so much worse if we did not have Jesus. There would be no comfort or future hope, there would just be fear. With Christ, our eternal security is established and because of that it gives us strength for today. If it doesn’t, then we need a “God Focus moment.”
We need to stop looking at the present with a microscope and step back and imagine how God sees it. Do you think He’s stressed, or do you think He was caught by surprise? I don’t think so, but at the same time that doesn’t mean things will be easy either. Things could become very difficult, but we can make it even more difficult because we tend to white knuckle everything here. We have too much of a grip on this life and not enough of a grip on our Real Life. I’m sure the ease of this life and the materialism we engage with has produced shallow faith. The coming months I foresee as an opportunity to really grow our faith. With Eternity as our hope, life here is all about growing closer to the Lord. The deeper, stronger and more knowledgeable we become in His Word the more able we will be at handling Life. It’s about having a peace here and now, bringing and living in the benefits of being one with Christ, today.
There is a story of an army Sargent who having been radioed that he and his troops were surrounded and that though help was on its way, it would not arrive till the following morning. After hearing that he gathered his troops and said,
“Men, we have been given a unique opportunity. Today when we go to engage the enemy we do not need to waste time searching for them, they’ve come to us.”
Life and it’s challenges is all a matter of perspective. Israel saw Goliath as unconquerable, David saw him as an “ uncircumcised gentile.” In other words he was outside of the Convenant that God had established with Israel, so that meant he could be defeated, his size didn’t matter. Outside of the covenant meant that God was on David’s side and that meant that Goliath was going down. Would it be to God that we could see life and it’s challenges as clearly and as simply as David did.
How would you act if you had an inheritance worth millions of dollars that you could access at anytime. Would there be anything in your everyday life that would cause you to fear or feel hopeless? I don’t think so. Do you know that your Heavenly Father has an inheritance that can be accessed right now though faith. And He gives what money can’t. He has given us all the resources of Heaven to live victoriously here. Do you believe this? What did Jesus say to his disciples prior to his departure?
John 14:16-19
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live ( forever is a long time).”
Are we living? To not accept Christ gift and to not press forward into knowing Christ deeper is a fools game. It’s a risk that none of us can afford to take. We need to use wisdom and renew and strengthen our faith and then in turn be a help and a strength to our family and friends.
1 John 4:15-16
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God (that’s so awesome). So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
So if we are struggling with fear we must spend more time in prayer and in the Word, but it must be purposeful, targeted. Fear is part of being human, but not part of abiding in Christ. So in between being human and abiding in Christ is our need of growth. It’s a journey just like any other journey. It requires purpose and thought but unlike any other journey it is done in conjunction with the Spirit of Truth. There is no other way to do it but to daily abide in Christ; through prayer and the Word. Abiding in Christ is like traveling to the Promised Land. It can take us a whole lifetime to grow a little or we can experience steady growth by committing to a daily intake of God’s Word and prayer. We can act like the Israelites did, regretting and complaining about leaving Egypt, still lusting for the things of the world or fearing the further or we can turn our hearts to the Lord and being focused on the cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night( representing God’s presence) and go through the journey knowing that we are not alone. It was their choice to trust God as it is our choice.
And what about those who are politically like us but have no knowledge of salvation or faith in Christ. I worry for them, their anxiety level is probably through the roof. They need to be in our prayers, that they come to Christ. And for us, we need to pray that verses as such become part of the fabric of our soul. Our goal is stated in Paul’s words….
Acts 21:13-14
Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be imprisoned but even to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we ceased and said, “Let the will of the Lord be done.”
With the “softness” of our world being turned upside down, we must become followers who are not surprised at hardships or miracles. They tend to go hand and hand. Simply meaning that God intercedes when times are tough. The following verses are an admonishment to us. They speak to the attitude we need to cultivate in our spirits.
1 Corinthians 10:6-14
Now these things took place as examples for us, that we might not desire evil as they did. Do not be idolaters as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play.” We must not indulge in sexual immorality as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in a single day. We must not put Christ to the test, as some of them did and were destroyed by serpents, nor grumble, as some of them did and were destroyed by the Destroyer. Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
What is the way that God provides, do you know? How did Jesus, weakened by fasting 30 days overcome his temptations?
Luke 4:3-13
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone.’” And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God,and him only shall you serve.’”
And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,“‘He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you,’ and“‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone ( satan also knows the scripture but he uses them incorrectly). And Jesus answered him, “It is said, You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.
Jesus dealt with satan by quoting God’s Word. Also in his response he gave us the way to live, the way of Life. First, it’s not in the physical. Bread represents everything we need or “think” we need to be happy. It’s the stuff we feel, see and touch. Those things are NOT the way, “man shall not live by bread alone.” The rest of the verse which, interesting enough Luke did not record, but we find it in Matthew 4 is, “but by every word which proceeds from the mouth of God.” Jesus elaborates more with His next answer, “You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.” All of man’s problems would come to nought if he became a worshipper of God. Even now with the disappointment of the election, and all that is being changed worshipping God is the quickest way to get back on track.
Emotionally we don’t feel like it, but the truth of it is God is not less deserving of my worship when things go south or more deserving of my worship when everything lines up. He is always worthy of my worship. What happens here in this life, or to my life has no bearing or change on God’s nature, His salvation, His forgiveness, His peace or love, or the grace and kindness that He bestrows on us, or the Cross. None of that changes, if anything in tough times these truths become more endearing as we become more needy of Him. Our life here is temporary, our life in eternity is forever. Choosing God as first in our life, gives us strength and hope to move forward. I love this next verse…
Psalms 29:1-2 Ascribe to the LORD Glory
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness.
For a believer to say “ It is written” means the believer has become a soldier of The Cross. He or she knows and understands the scriptures. The scriptures must become knit into your soul, part of the fabric of who you are and who you are becoming. The Lord Jesus used the scriptures to beat temptation, and He was God Incarnate. WE must know them and use them, or fall into temptation, or fear or uncertainty. I believe this is why the church is so weak, that so many of us have shallow walks or have failed in our walks. If Jesus needed to know the scriptures to defeat satan how much more do we? There will be no excuse and no hiding our selves. We no longer have President Trump protecting the church, however we have someone greater, The Alpha and The Omega, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah (which represents the faithful) if we will but become His Bride.
There’s no greater power, and no greater cause to live for. If we remain strong in the coming days it’s because we are in the Word. If we cave and compromise, or become controlled by fear, anxiety, worry etc., it’s because we have not given Christ our full attention or have fully surrendered. Do you know where you stand? Put yourselves in Israel’s place, you are facing the Red Sea and off in the distance you can see Pharaoh and his army coming . You can look left and see the Red sea and be filled with despair, or you can look to the right and see the army and in great fear try to run, or you can stop and look up “ from whence comes your deliverance,” and see God represented in the pillar of the cloud. He’s there, with us, Immanuel (God with us).
Last points. Courage is a must for any one wanting to follow Christ, and the depth of your courage is anchored to the depth of your knowledge of Christ.
Joshua is one of my favorite leaders for courage.
Joshua 5:13-14
The Commander of the LORD’S Army
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, “Are you for us, or for our adversaries?” And he said, “No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, “What does my lord say to his servant?” Until Joshua knew who this stranger was, he was ready to fight him, his size ( assuming he was taller) didn’t matter.
Do we know where courage comes from? In Joshua chapter one, verses that I have shared before and by example Joshua lived out. We have the “founding of courage” e.g. “much like the mythical fountain of youth,” though there is not myth with Christ.
Joshua 1:8-9
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
I’m not sure if we have seen courage in this light, but according to The Lord courage is found and developed in and through the reading of the scriptures. It’s a direct correlation as in lifting weights builds muscle and muscle grants strength. Courage is the “weight lifting” of building faith, and we see that all through Joshua’s life. Joshua lived real life faith, he had real enemies that through Christ he lead Israel to victory.
A similar verse
Deuteronomy 31:6-7( Moses speaking to the congregation and Joshua).
Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it.
However, prior to this verse are verses that are unparalleled in the scriptures. They layout life and death, victory or defeat; the road to travel with its blessings or curses is clearly seen.
Deuteronomy 30:11
The Choice of Life and Death
“For this commandment that I command you today is not too hard for you, neither is it far off.
Deuteronomy 30:15-20
“See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil. If you obey the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you today, by loving the LORD your God, by walking in his ways, and by keeping his commandments and his statutes and his rules, then you shall live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to take possession of it. But if your heart turns away, and you will not hear, but are drawn away to worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today, that you shall surely perish. You shall not live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to enter and possess. I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. Therefore choose life, that you and your offspring may live, loving the LORD your God, obeying his voice and holding fast to him, for he is your life and length of days, that you may dwell in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.”
No matter how we see life, it first must begin with the emphasis of knowing Jesus. Everything must start there. From there we grow and we begin to experience God’s love and peace, in real time, today and now. Next come the challenges that we will face, those challenges can be faced alone or with Christ. It’s our choice, to the end that we either grow deeper and stronger in the faith because of the challenges we face with Him or we allow fear, uncertainty or depression to rule over us. My prayer for us all is we chose Christ. Amen
Father God,
Thank you for this powerful no nonsense study. Sometimes a call to arms is necessary. The church being complacent under President Trump’s leadership has now got to rise and be the Church. The power of Christ is in all those who seek you. Turn us loose on a society that calls good bad and bad good. Let our lives and our words convince them of their need of You. Let us not fail in this our day.
Thank you,
Your son by Grace
Arthur Navarrette