Ed Christian's World

The Angel Visitation…

Sometimes, God sends angels to strengthen and encourage His ministers when they are weak, as with Elijah, Jesus and Paul. On a mission to Nicaragua, a number of us got sick. I was supposed to minister the next night, but I felt like I was going to die. I had no strength to move, much less preach.

A doctor came and took my blood pressure, it had plunged 40 points. I was dehydrated and in danger. I didn’t want to go to the hospital so he gave me a special formula to drink. The next sunset people gathered throughout the town square and the Lord moved.

My strength returned just in time. I was completely healed. The doctor turned out to be a Christian. His name was, Angelo, which means angel. I have no doubt that God sent a flesh and blood angel to strengthen me. God wants to strengthen you.

He’s the God of all encouragement. He wants to bless you and make you strong. So be strong and do His will. The more you do, the more you may even find yourself visited and given strength – by His angels.

For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways. Psalm 91:11

Do what God has called you to do. Step out. Don’t fear. Ask God to strengthen and anoint you for all you’ve been called to do.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Lesson of The Scuds…

In the first Gulf War, Saddam Hussein threatened to destroy Israel with all the arms in his possession, including chemical. Israel was told not to fight back. Iraq sent 39 Scud missiles into Israel.

Miraculously, only two people died as a result of direct hits. Equally amazing is that not one missile had chemical weapons. The seasonal rains suddenly began the first day of the war and continued for the next 4-6 weeks, together with high winds.

The U.S. military credited the weather as helping to convince the Iraqis that chemical weapons would not be smart, because the winds were blowing against Iraq. The same phenomena was observed in Kuwait. The wind patterns shifted during the war.

God is amazing, even using something like the wind! The Bible says, “He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.” He is the same One who happens to keep you.

He who kept the flaming missiles of Saddam Hussein out will protect you from the flaming missiles of the evil one. He who keeps Israel will keep you. He who keeps you will neither slumber nor sleep. Why? So you can.

Therefore the prudent keep quiet in such times,
for the times are evil. Amos 5:13

Encourage yourself today in the knowledge that God is your protector and your shield. He is your ever-present help in time of trouble. And be at peace.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

The Blessed Earring…

It says in Proverbs 25:12, “Like an earring of gold, an ornament of fine gold, is a wise reproof to a listening ear.” A wise correction is like an earring of gold? What a concept.

Someone says, “Hey, you are a total hypocrite.” And you say, “I’m going to engrave that on jewelry and wear that around my neck. Look, it says, I am a total hypocrite. Do you like it? It’s beautiful.” The point is this. A wise rebuke or a true one is more beautiful than an earring of gold.

The one that receives God’s correction is going to be blessed. To the wise man or woman, it’s going to be as precious as gold. When God corrects you or convicts you, receive it and it will make you more beautiful, more adorned. He is going to make your life more precious, more of a treasure to the Lord.

Take the correction, the conviction of God’s word to you, even when it means making real change in your life. It will become to you as a precious jewel, like a diamond, even as an earring of gold.

My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord  disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. Proverbs 3:11-12

Is there something the Lord has been convicting you of? Choose today to submit to His correction.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Haman’s Bluff…

In the book of Esther, Haman is the enemy. He has to get the king’s authority in order to act. This reveals a critical truth. As revealed in the book of Job, the enemy has no real authority of his own. How could he?

Jesus said ALL authority, not 99.9%, goes to Jesus, in God. None is left for the enemy. So what does he do? He bluffs. He offers Eve the fruit as if he owned it. He offers Jesus the world. He’s not the Lord of the world, only God is.

He’s like the guy selling the Brooklyn Bridge. He doesn’t own it. He comes like a roaring lion, but he flees when you resist. Evil, sin and temptation have no real authority; they’re bluffs. Don’t believe the bluff of the bad report, the threat or the intimidation.

Take authority over it. When the enemy speaks, when temptation comes, take authority. You can! Sin shall not be master over you. All authority is the Lord’s. You are of the Lord, therefore walk in authority, for the gates of hell will not prevail against you. It’s all a bluff.

He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. Luke 1:9

Today, submit yourself fully to God’s authority. Realize that in His authority you have victory over the enemy. Cast out everything that is not of the Lord: depression, anxiety, bondage. Cast them out in Jesus’s name.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Living In An Advanced Grade…

Does being in the Lord for a while count for anything? The Bible says that if you have been in the Lord a lot, a lot has been given to you. When much is given, much is required.

Have you been given more knowledge, more grace, more time of growing in the Lord and the Word? More is required of you. If you aren’t feeling as blessed as you once felt, maybe that’s why. You can’t expect the same blessing when you are to be at a higher level.

If a twelfth grader is only doing a first graders work, it might be an A+ for a first grader, but as a twelfth grader they will fail. A mature saint, living as an infant in the Lord, is not going to be blessed.

If you have been given much, much is expected: in service, love, patience, peace, goodness, faith, joy, perseverance, wisdom, maturity, the Spirit-filled life.

More blessings will happen when you live in a manner of the high calling you have been given, and in keeping with the much that has been given to you.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5

Ask the Lord to help you fulfill your calling. Make a commitment today to go deeper in your relationship with Him. Seek to graduate to the next level, higher ground.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

To Nullify What Is…

1 Corinthians 1:28 says, “God has chosen that which is not, that he might nullify the things that are.” How can you choose things that are not? If they aren’t they don’t exist. But God does, and that’s where salvation is – a contrary reality.

That which isn’t nullifies that which is. The things that are not yet, at least not yet on earth, are more powerful than that which is. We have to learn to use the things that are not to nullify what is. Faith is the channel by which we connect to the realm that isn’t yet.

Don’t be limited simply by what is. If that’s the case, then you’re stuck with your problems, your sins, your failings, your shortcomings, your limitations. Forget that. Learn to live in the realm of that which isn’t. Just like Abraham, who by faith in God’s Word, had Isaac.

Stop living by what is. Believe the reality of what isn’t yet. What is seen is temporary. What is unseen is forever. Be free, don’t live by sight, but by the power of faith that transforms what is, into what is not.

As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not. Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Romans 4:17-18

Exercise your faith in areas where you feel stuck today. See those areas subject to change according to what God’s Word says. Speak that which is not and nullify that which is.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

A Worry Free Life…

Rest and quietness are rare in today’s world. Think through your past day, week, and month. What percentage of it would you categorize as restful and calm? Unfortunately, these concepts feel further out of reach all of the time. Yet we find in the peace of God these critical, life-giving gifts.

The words “rest” and “quietness” are at the root word of “peace” in Philippians 4:6-7 where it says: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

The Good News: If you use prayer as a means for comfort, God will provide you with peace of mind. Be sure to thank Him once your worries subside.

Quiet, rest, and the peace of God are not fanciful wishes, nor are they unrealistic for the world we live in. God graciously provides us in the Scripture above an invitation, paired with simple instructions, for how we can live a life marked by His peace. Taking a deeper look at Philippians 4:6-7, we discover a formula for a life dramatically influenced by His peace.

At this, many of us take a mental step away. We feel it is too unattainable — a life free from worry. 2 Corinthians 3:17 says, “… where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” This freedom subdues fears and anxiety! God understands we are prone to fear. He is the One who created our minds and knows precisely how they work.

God understands each of the connections and tendencies in our minds and how they affect our everyday feelings. Where He is, there is freedom, and as we daily practice inviting Him into our minds and hearts, we will experience the liberating power and peace of God.

When God calls us to something — like a life free from worry — He always equips us with what we will need. Communicating with our heavenly Father is a powerful way to practice living by God’s peace. Not only do we shift burdens and worry from our shoulders to His capable hands, but the act of spending time talking with Him is peace-giving in itself.

When Jesus was on earth, He faced overwhelming opposition, distracting temptation, difficult situations with friends and followers, sorrow, and grief. He did not lead an easy life, nor a laid-back one. During His ministry, Jesus was constantly on the go and regularly surrounded by large crowds of people expecting great things from Him. Yet He regularly retreated in solitude to be with His Father.

He needed the strength, endurance, and peace that only comes from being in God’s presence. We can practice laying every burden in God’s hands, whether by praying aloud, silently throughout the day. Each of these practices creates habits of shedding worry and inviting the peace of God into our homes and hearts.

While this world’s perception of quiet and rest becomes foggier, our view of God’s peace can grow clearer. And yet, we will never know the full extent of it. His peace is beyond understanding, which means we can spend our entire lives discovering and experiencing more of it! His peace is greater than mere emotion. It is multi-faceted, reflecting God’s glory and affecting every area of our lives.

As we hide His Word in our hearts and practice trading our worries for His presence, His peace will lend consistency to our souls. Our spirits will be calmed and composed. Life’s circumstances will send out wakes like a giant ship stirring up serene waters. Still, God will faithfully bring our thoughts back to Himself, assuring us of His faithfulness and love, which far exceed anything this life offers.

Laying down our worries, coming to God with requests and thanksgiving, and practicing a life marked by His peace can be summed up in one word: abide. In John 15:5, Jesus explained, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in Me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing.”

This verse can seem at first glance daunting, yet more than a command, it is an invitation. Jesus is offering us His power! Living by the peace of God isn’t only beneficial to us. It extends farther than our composed thoughts and balanced emotions. As we abide in God and experience greater reaches of His peace, we are stripped of barriers that once held us back from God’s work. He has liberated us and empowered us to make a difference for His kingdom!

The word for “abide” in this verse means to “continue,” “remain,” and “dwell.” We don’t do this perfectly — however, our unfaithfulness never affects God’s faithfulness. He is patient with our wandering, drawing us back to Himself, and He remains, continues, and dwells with us. As He does, He guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

An old proverb of Grandfather’s says God creates a solution before he creates a problem. Understanding this can help take some of the stress out of our problems. Isn’t it awesome to know we are never alone and that God is always right there beside us?

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

God’s Eternity Tent…

“Thus says the High and Lofty One that inhabits eternity.” Who inhabits eternity? The word ‘inhabits’ in Hebrew is shakan – to lodge, stay, or dwell, to camp out in a tent – God sets up His tent in eternity.

God inhabits eternity. When we set up a tent we do it all at once, but God’s tent spans eternity. In God all eternity, past present and future are as one. All our time is covered by God’s presence. Are you haunted by your past or chained by it? Do you have a shadow over your life? God is there to set you free.

He is greater than your past. He is part of your past. God is also in your present situations. He is greater than your present; greater than your future. You don’t have to fear the future; He is already there. His grace is there.

What an awesome God we serve. He holds all eternity in His tent. Rest in Him my friend, the One who inhabits time, past, present and future. He will set up His tent over your eternity.

In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies. In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Hebrews 9:21-22

Today, take shelter with your Father, knowing that He is part of your entire life… past, present and future. Dwell with Him, in His presence, covered by His tent, and rest in His grace, love and provision.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

Turning To The Golden Calf…

There’s been a movement to remove the Ten Commandments, the basic cornerstone of morality, from school, government, courts and the public square. It’s amazing that we live in a culture where the Ten Commandments could become controversial.

When the Ten Commandments were given, the Hebrews turned away and turned toward worshipping an idol. When Moses saw the golden calf, he smashed the Commandments. So too, the removal of the Ten Commandments in our day reveals that we’re in a culture that’s turning to the worship of other gods.

It’s a culture that wants to remove the biblical standard concerning adultery, because it’s moving to an adulterous culture. Whether it’s removed or not from the public square doesn’t matter.

In the New Covenant, He writes the Law on our hearts. If it’s removed from the public square, we’re left as the markers of this civilization, the testimony. So live all the more holy, righteous, pure to God. They might be able to take out God’s standard of righteousness from the public square, but they can never remove it from your heart or your life.

I desire to do your will, my God: your law is within my heart. Psalm 40:8

Today, ask the Lord if there is any area of your life contrary to His Word, any idol or golden calf. Repent and ask Him to write His Truth on your heart.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed

What Exactly You’ll Find…

Luke 11:10 says, “He who seeks finds.” Many believers take that as meaning whatever we seek for, we are going to get. The problem is we may seek for something and then not find the exact thing we sought.

Notice what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t say, “Whatever you seek you are going to find.” It says, “If you seek, you will find.” But seek what? Find what? It doesn’t mean it’s going to be the same thing you think you wanted or needed to have, but it is going to be what you need from God.

It will be better. It’s going to meet the real need. He’ll give you His best. It may not be the “it” that you sought to find, but you’re going to find something good, because it’s from God.

Be open to what God has for your life–not necessarily what you think you require, but something better, because He will give you His best in all things. You will find, but do one thing – seek.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

Today, give all your needs and desires to God. Seek His best. Trust that God hears your prayers and will provide for you according to His good plan.

Walk daily with God at your side!

Love always,

Ed