by donfinto | Jul 11, 2018 | The Good Report
While in Israel recently I had an encounter that reminded me of the scripture
describing Moses after he had been with God. ”He was not aware that his face was
radiant because he had spoken with the LORD” (Exodus 34:29). A young man
whom I had not seen in months walked into the room and I knew immediately that
something in his life had changed. His whole countenance was different. He was
standing more erect and had a very easy engaging smile.
“Wow,” I said. “What’s happened to you?” He proceeded to tell me about the recent
transformation. He had attended a Godly training school where he met Jesus in a
fresh real life-changing way, so obvious the moment he walked through the door
anyone could tell. He even voluntarily and without any request from me recited his
newly-formed vision statement, affirming who Jesus has declared him to be. The
oppression/depression was gone and he was radiating joy.
David described my friend in this way: “Those who look to [the LORD] are radiant;
their faces are never covered with shame” (Psalm 34:5) Paul told the Ephesian
church that He so loved the church and gave Himself to her “to present her to
himself as a radiant church” (5:27). Jesus had said, “Let your light shine.” He did not
say to shine our lights, but to let them shine. Remove the barriers and shine forth
His glory.
As we move toward the final hours of history as we know it, we will come more and
more into this reality so that people will be attracted to Jesus because of the joy that radiates across our countenances. My young friend was a precursor of things to
come.
Yes, Lord! Be continually released in us so powerfully that we cannot suppress the
joy and others around us will be drawn to you!
by donfinto | Jun 20, 2018 | The Good Report
I have been re-reading Daniel. I have never been more encouraged through the reading than I have this time. I was struck by the concept of bringing Daniel’s experience into my own life, and it is giving fresh strength to my faith.
If I should ever need to recall someone’s dream and interpret it, even a high government official, God will do it through me.
If God wants to reveal the future of governments to me, He will do it.
If I should ever be thrown into a den of wild beasts or hurled into the fire, God will deliver me.
He has never lost His power, nor has He ever stopped working miracles. He is the same yesterday, today and forever.
I love the story of Polycarp, the 2nd-century disciple of the apostle John who had a similar experience to Daniel’s three friends. He was arrested and thrown into the flames, but as he was dying, eyewitnesses saw an aura of protection around him even while the flames were engulfing him, and when he died, they saw a dove fly out of those flames.
What God has done before He can do again. And more. I am still yearning for more. Hope you are too!
by donfinto | Jun 13, 2018 | The Good Report
These are not the only ones, but I have found three that have been life-changing for me as I continue to desire to be all that God wants me to be. They are not new to anyone who has been walking with me for a while:
1. Know your destiny! You are predestined to be conformed to the image of Jesus! Now, in this life! Your destiny, if you accept it, is to love like Him, forgive like Him, be holy like He is holy. Romans 8:29 is the Scripture the Lord used to assure me of this, but you may also want to go to Ephesians 4:24, 2 Corinthians 3:18-20; Ephesians 4:11-13; 1 John 4:17, or even John 14:12.
2. Learn to confess sin quickly. When the Holy Spirit convicts you He does not come to shame or make you feel guilty, but to convict you so that you can confess the sin and move steadily toward a pure heart. The verse God used with me, was 1 John 1:9, “If we confess… He purifies.” I tried for years to purify myself, but all to no avail. Then I learned this verse. Quite a deal! I confess; He purifies. I recall the dimensions from Proverbs 28:13, that if we renounce our sins, we receive mercy! I love mercy! I do not want justice, I want mercy!
3. Walk constantly with forgiveness flowing out of you toward those who sin or have sinned against you. I was appalled when I really heard the closing verses of Jesus’ parable about the two debtors, the one who had been forgiven so much, but would not forgive his brother who owed him very little. The man who would not forgive was turned over to the tormentors until he would forgive. Then comes the scorcher verse: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each one of you if you do not forgive your brother from the heart.” Turned over to tormentors? Thank you, no! I’d rather forgive.
