Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Michael K Dietz, Mikes Blog.

How will Satan make the church ineffective? Fear! Listen to what is being said today by the people who we listen to. Fear of the weather, fear of disease, fear of war and terror, fear of not being inportant or that you matter, fear of injustice, etc. Remember that the four things that reveal a country is under God’s judgment is: injustice, war, droughts, and disease. Satan knows this and he will use this to bring fear into the children of God so that he can control them with fear. 

 

What is the solution to fear? God says, “My love expels all fear.” So if you are fearful about the judgments that God has brought, and is bringing, on America then you have not fully experienced His perfect love.

 

The LORD will stay with you as long as you stay with Him! Whenever you seek Him, you will find Him. But, if you abandon Him – He will abandon you. So seek Him in His Word and prayer each day, and you will surely find Him. He then, will give you rest from every fear you have. For, He searches the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

 

2 Chronicles 16:12

Relationships – Chapter 8

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

Reconciliation – Part 1

 

Matthew 5:23-25 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.”

 

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.”

 

Matthew 18:15-17 “If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

 

We live in a world where man is not only separated from God, but also separated from his fellowman.  We see the reality of this when we look back over the 20th century.  There never has been such a century of bloodshed.

 

Even now when we look forward to the 21st century it does not look any better.  We see disputes among the nations, marriages that are falling apart, children estranged from their parents and churches breaking apart because of disunity.

 

We who are in Christ have been given the ministry of reconciliation.

 

2 Corinthians 5:18-19 “All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.”

 

The Gospel is the power of God to bring reconciliation between a Holy God and a sinful man.  What a powerful message this is in the Muslim world where two billion people are trying to find peace with God.

 

Satan knows that this is a powerful message that we have to offer to the world and the world is waiting to hear.  This is why broken relationships and disharmony among God’s people is so evil.  It takes away the message that we have.

 

We cannot separate the message from the messenger.  Broken relationships among us distort the message.  How can we talk about reconciliation when there are broken relationships among us?

 

The definition of reconciliation: to harmonize, to restore to union and friendship after estrangement.

 

Matthew 18:19-20 “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.”

 

It is interesting that the word for ‘agree’ is the word ‘sumphoneo:’ to be harmonious. 

 

It brings out the idea of a symphony with different musical instruments all in tune with one another bringing out tremendous sound of harmony and beauty.

 

Take a family, church or community of people who come from different backgrounds and cultures living and working together in harmony.  What a testimony! What a powerful message this sends to a world that is divided.

 

Back in the early 70’s the OM Logos ship was in the Sudan.  The Minister of Education came to open the book exhibition.  He was a Muslim.  When he looked around and saw all of the different nationalities on board the ship speaking different languages and working without salary, he said that we were like a small United Nations, except, he said, we had unity.  The second comment was a question.  How could we live together like we did?  He knew it was not the money, but he could not understand how it was possible.  This was how we brought Jesus Christ in; how Christ has broken down the barriers and brought us together.

 

It is hard for a Muslim or any person no matter what religion he might have (or no religion at all) to argue with this type of testimony.  Jesus knew this and He prayed in John 17 that His people might be one as He and the Father are one, so that the world might believe.  The opposite of this is true as well. If we are not one – then the world will not believe.

Relationships – Chapter 7

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

What To Do About Conflicts

 

Now that we know that conflicts are inevitable the question comes up: What do we do about them?  How do we handle them in such a way that they might be growth oriented and not disintegrate into a problem?

 

If I look back over my ministry, there seem to be four ways that conflicts have been handled:

 

1.         Unwillingness to face it.  Often we have been like an ostrich with our head in the sand unwilling to face the reality of a developing conflict. “Conflict?  What conflict?” seems to be the response of some.  However, this is one way of confronting a conflict and sadly this is the way some handle it.

 

2.         Dealing with side issues instead of the real issue. In English we have a saying: “Beating around the bush.”  Basically, what it means is that we skirt around the real issue and never get to the heart of the matter.  Sadly this is the way conflicts often have been dealt with.  Instead of getting to the heart of the matter we deal with things that might seem important, but in reality all it is doing is putting a band-aid on something that might need an operation.

 

3.         Trying to ignore it.  This is a little different than the first one where we are unwilling to face a conflict.  This is where we know there is a conflict, but we believe that if we ignore it somehow it will go away; somehow it will take care of itself. All we have to do is wait and eventually it will work itself out. This is wishful thinking.  It never happens because we have an implacable enemy who is making sure that it never will go away.

 

4.         Working it out Scripturally.  This is the only way that we can deal with a conflict.  Working it out scripturally means that we will move towards true reconciliation.  We will be looking at this later on. Reconciliation does not necessarily mean that the conflict is resolved as far as the issues are concerned.

 

When we work on reconciliation we are dealing with personal relationships.  We may not be able to resolve the issues completely because there will always be a difference of opinions that stem from our background, experience, culture, language, etc.

 

We need to keep in mind that in any relationship (marriage, etc.) the goal is not for us to think alike, but to think together. The goal in a relationship is unity not uniformity.

 

We need the difference of opinions. There are no two people alike. However, when there are differences that grow into conflicts, we need reconciliation.

 

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Son, I love you, so listen to what I say and treasure My words. The purpose of My word is to give you the knowledge of who I am; how I think and act; to teach you wisdom and give you insight. My word shows you how to become disciplined. My word will help you make right choices so that your life will be successful; it will keep you honest and give you common sense so you will know what is right, just and fair; you will know the right way to think, and to go.

 

When you listen to Me and study My word, you will live in peace, untroubled by fear. When you treasure My word you will be filled with joy. My word will keep you safe from evil people whose words are twisted. When you memorize My word and hide it in your heart, it will keep you from immorality. 

 

Remember that Satan disguises himself as an angel of light, and his servants also disguise themselves to deceive people, even My children, who do not know My Word as they ought to. When My children allow these false leaders to lead them, they will be enslaved by them; they will gradually take everything from My children; taking advantage of them; for these false leaders are greedy and dishonest. They oppress My children with man made rules. So let the record show, that anyone who follows them will be labeled a failure; for they will be robbed of the life I wanted for them.

 

Son, in the coming days My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness; for when you are weak, then I can show Myself strong for you. Examine yourselves continually, using My word so that you do not oppose the truth and give evil its opportunity in your life. My children must always stand for the truth. Remember that I am I will be with you to the end.

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Son, the human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. No one knows their own heart like I do. No one knows just how wicked their own heart is. I search all hearts and examine their secret motives behind every action, and I will give all people what is due them, according to what their actions deserve.

 

At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls or I might send disease to your land. Then people will ask why I do such terrible things, and the answer will be because the people have abandoned Me, and they have let their sin run rampant.

 

But if My children unite, humble themselves, pray, seek Me, and turn from their wicked ways – I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers of My children. I will bless My children when they trust in Me, and I will not destroy the land as I had planned.

 

Son, America has turned away from Me, and has sought out evil. Therefore, I cannot not bless it as I said I would. They have put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and human wisdom. They tell My pastors, prophets and teachers, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to. We have plenty of priests, wise men and prophets who will tell us what we want to hear. We don’t need you to teach us the Word of God, or give us advice, or warnings and prophecies.”

 

Lord, because of what is coming help Your children to unite, cleanse ourselves from everything that can defile our body or spirit, and let us work toward complete holiness because we fear You only. You are the only One who can encourage us when we our discouraged. We know that the kind of sorrow You want will lead us away from sin and rebellion towards You. It is clear, that in the days ahead Your children will be tested with many troubles, but through all of these troubles we will have the hope of Your promises; therefore, we will be filled with abundant joy.

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Lord, this morning I am struggling with this earthly body. I long for the day when this earthly body is removed from me, and I will be given an eternal body like Yours; one that You make for me. Your word says that I will not be spirit without body, and that Your Holy Spirit guarantees that I will have a body that never wears out; fit for eternity!  Therefore, I must live in this earthly body with great anticipation of what You have promised and guaranteed. 

 

Son, I do have an eternal body for you, and I’m just as anxious as you are to clothe you in it, but right now you must speak out for Me, and say what I tell you to say. “I have removed My protection and peace from America. Therefore, there will be NO justice. There will be war, droughts and disease.” 

 

When you tell people these things, they will ask, “Why would the Lord ever decree such terrible things against us? What have we done to deserve such treatment?” Tell them, “It is because you have abandoned the Lord and His word. You have stubbornly followed your own evil desires, refusing to listen to Me.” Tell them that I will give them what their actions deserve; for I alone know each human heart thoroughly. 

 

If America repents and turns to Me with their whole heart – to obey Me, then My eyes will be open to keep watch over them, and My ears will be attentive to all their prayers. 

 

Lord, no one can measure Your greatness. You always keep Your Word and promises. You help the weak who fall, and lift those bent beneath heavy loads; for You are close to all who call on You in truth. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and I long to see You come.

 

Relationships – Chapter 6

Posted by & filed under Franks Blog.

What are the causes for conflicts?

 

It is important for us to understand some of the causes for conflicts.  Just like we do not grow in a vacuum, conflicts do not happen without some other things in play.  We need to see what these are so that we might deal with them.

 

Perhaps one of the greatest causes for conflicts is pride.  Proverbs 13:10 says: “Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.”  I know when there is any disunity that at the heart of the matter is pride.  We might try to cover it up with excuses, but the Bible says it is simply pride.

 

What I mean about pride is thinking that ‘my way is better.’ Whenever there is comparison pride is there. Think through any relationship where there has been a conflict and see if pride was not at the heart of the matter.

 

Isn’t this what James is talking about in James 4:1-3, 6-8 “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You want something but don’t get it. You kill and covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

 

The solution for pride is found in Ephesians 5:21, “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ,” and in 1 Peter 5:5, “Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.’”

 

Another cause of conflicts is self-centeredness, another part of pride. 

 

Isaiah 53:6 says “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”  Between these two “alls” we have the gospel in a nutshell.  But what it brings out is that we are self-centered people.

 

So often we are like little children wanting our own way and if we do not get it we will throw our tantrums (have our conflicts). 

 

Scripture has much to say about this.  We need to meditate on I Corinthians 13, this great chapter on love, where it says that love does not seek its own.  Or, perhaps we need to go to Philippians 2 where we have the example of Christ: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

 

Another cause of conflict can be found in Jeremiah 17:9: “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?”  This is a verse that few seem to understand and accept; just how deceitful our heart really is.

 

So often in a conflict people have their mind (judgment) already made up; the person cannot change because he/she will not change the mind that is set. What this does is it breaks down communication and when communication with one another goes down, so does the relationship.

 

Pride is destructive to relationships.

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Son, let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. Some of My children will not all die, but will be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. All who are living at this time will be transformed. Why? Because these dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; your mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies. It is the same way with those who have died. These earthly bodies are buried when they die, but soon they will be raised to live forever. Their bodies are buried in brokenness, but they will be raised in glory. They are buried in weakness, but they will be raised in strength. They are buried as natural human bodies, but they will be raised as spiritual bodies.

 

Son, tell My children not to act like the people of this world; for their ways are futile. Tell them to seek Me, and they will find Me. Tell them to take My promises seriously. Tell them I have chosen them, and I have examined their hearts and when I find integrity there, I rejoice! Tell them to be on guard, and to stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong, and do everything with love.

 

There are some of My shepherds who refuse to teach this. They have abandoned My word when they have refused to teach what it says entirely. These shepherds have lost their senses, and no longer seek wisdom from Me. Therefore, their flocks are scattered, and the things they fear will come upon them. 

 

Lord, you have examined my heart, and know everything about me. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape Your Spirit! I can never get away from Your presence. Search me, for You know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path for my life.

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Son, don’t be childish in your understanding of what I want and what Satan wants; for we both want the same thing: your children!  I want godly children. Satan wants to corrupt and destroy your children.

 

Listen to the words of the so called wise teachers of the worldly education systems today. They twist the truth to control people by fear. They offer temporal treatments for the effects of sin and rebellion. They give assurances of how to find peace when there is no peace for the wicked. People who follow these teachers will hope for peace, but will find no peace. They will hope for healing in the land, but find only terror because they cling tightly to their lies and refuse the truth. Ask yourself, “Is anyone sorry for doing wrong?” Does anyone say, “What a terrible thing I have done.”?  No! All are running blindly down the path of evil and want no consequences for their actions. So how can people who follow these teachers say they know how to raise children?

 

Do they really think they can lie, steal, murder, commit adultery and mutilate their bodies and then say, “We have nothing to worry about. We are safe!” Do they think they have gotten rid of Me, or that I’m the only one that is hurt by what they do? How foolish; for they hurt themselves! When people refuse to listen to Me and do whatever they want, they are not progressing as they think. They are backwards, with backs to Me! They are worse than the previous generation.

 

When you tell them these truths, do not expect them to listen, and do not expect them to respond the way you hope; for they have refused the truth and believed the lie; unwilling to change.

 

Son, truth has vanished from your schools; it is no longer heard on the lips of these false teachers. I, the LORD, have rejected and forsaken the school system in America. I will not stay where I am not wanted.

 

As My faithful servant, Billy Graham, said to America in his younger years, “We have taken God out of our education systems and thought we could get away with it. We have sown the wind, and we are now reaping the whirlwind.”

 

Son, let Me tell you the right way to teach and raise your children. Let love be your highest goal, and understand that without love for others – you are nothing. My love is patient and kind; it’s not jealous or boastful, proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of personally being wronged. It does not rejoice over injustice but rejoices when the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. My love will last forever! When love rules your homes people will say, “God is truly here among you.”

 

Lord, I praise Your name, and I trust in Your unfailing love and faithfulness; for all of Your promises are backed by the power and honor of Your Name. As soon as I pray, You answer me. You encourage me by giving me strength through Your word. You will work out Your plan for me and my family’s lives because Your Word and faithful love endure forever.

 

Daily Devotional

Posted by & filed under Mikes Blog.

Son, is there any place in America that has not been defiled. I wanted nothing more than to give the people this beautiful land, and look forward to them calling me “Father.”  I wanted them never to turn from Me. But, today they have chosen a different path and have forgotten Me. The people have been deceived by men’s promises, and have become stupid little children who have no understanding, and have no idea what is right, and how to do right. Therefore, they will watch as everything their forefather’s worked so hard for will be squandered on a delusion. The earth will mourn because of their stupidity.

 

What do I want? The leaders of America to understand and openly acknowledge that they have refused to listen to My voice. I want the people to plow up the hard ground of their hearts, and surrender their pride. Then I will give them leaders after My own heart who will guide them with true knowledge, understanding, wisdom and righteousness.

 

Lord, I am tired of writing about the sin and rebellion of America, but I am compelled by You to speak out what You have told me to say; for how terrible it would be for me if I do not obey You. You have entrusted this to me, so I must keep Your purpose before me, step by step, day by day, until You are done using me for Your glory.

 

Son, you will be successful if you carefully obey all that I ask of you. So be strong and courageous; do not be afraid of anything; do not lose heart by doubting what I have promised you. Do not live your life trying to please people; trust Me fully and I will always show you the way to go, and give you the words to speak. Build up your most holy faith in Me. Seek Me with all your heart, mind and strength, and build what I have called you to build.