Psalm 32:1-2

Freed from guilt + Freed from shame

Psa 32:1  Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.

Psa 32:2  Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

How many of God's sons and daughters live in guilt and shame? (✋) Our sin separated us from God and we are innately guilty. That is our state of life before we have been cleansed by the blood of Christ. But after we have been washed, sanctified and redeemed by His blood, we have no guilt and no shame. We have been set free from the shackles and accusations.

Why would we break camp in the grounds of guilt and shame when we could be souring on eagles wings? When I am walking in guilt and shame I feel like a lifeless body making my way through life. Of the many things that break God's heart, I think seeing His forgiven children walking in guilt must be up there for Him. It surely stems from unbelief and takes my eyes off of the the final work of Jesus and places them on my depravity. Some days I am running in His victory but some days I wake up and feel like I am drowning in guilt and shame. The enemy of our souls wants to steal, kill and destroy and souls and our daily life on this earth. So often he does this with his accusations and threats of guilt. As soon as I feel guilt and shame as a banner over me instead of "FREEDOM" "VICTORY" "HIS LOVE" my response should be to acknowledge my sin before Him. Confess before Him and rest in His forgiveness. When I keep silent, I am sitting in shackles that have already been opened. When I wallow in guilt I walk back into that prison cell that I have already been freed from. I go pull my old death sentence from the archives that says "PAID IN FULL" and ignore the big bold words stamped on it hang it on my wall and declare its accusations as true.

But oh, it is PAID IN FULL. It has no power over me because my Jesus conquered sin and death and is now victoriously reigning in heaven. He is my freedom. He is my guiding place. He surely preserves me from trouble and surrounds me with shouts of deliverance {victory}. Today I'm looking at the truth that it is paid in full and instead of looking at the accusations, I will look at the One who set me free from them all.

Selah.


Psa 32:7  You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

1 Cor. 6.19

1Co 6:19  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own,


I just read in Exodus about all the details of building the tabernacle, Ark of the Covenant and the priestly garments and have been blown away at God's detail in it all. God wrote chapters describing what would be in our eyes, the very small details of the building and making of these things. But this shows that to Him, these details are not small at all. If Creator God, Holy and All Powerful included them in Scripture, they hold much significance to Him and to His story of redemption. It's easy to get caught up in the big picture and miss the details that show God's fingerprints all throughout Scripture. But it's also easy to get stuck in the details and lose sight of Jesus. But if we look for Him, we will always find Him. If we allow Him to open our eyes, He will show us wonderful things in His Word.

Psa 119:18  Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.

One of the prayers that I pray continually for me and the people that are in my life is that God will give me eyes to see and ears to hear. In Revelation we read repetitively "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.". The Spirit is speaking to His church. Jesus is always calling us into deeper intimacy with Him. God is always beckoning us into greater dependence on Him and His Word. His Word is alive and sharper than any two edged sword. The details throughout the Bible weave together the most beautiful and epic story ever written. The Bible is not made up of random letters and books, but God has intricately woven them all together to testify of the grace and redemption that is in Jesus Christ.

When I finished reading in Exodus about the descriptions of the tabernacle, ark and priestly garments, I was sitting in His presence and meditating on what I read when I heard His voice speak to my heart.

"Do you see how many details there are and how I care about each one of them? Emily where is my temple now? But now you are the temple of My Spirit. And I care just as much about every detail of you."

2Co 6:16  What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people

1Pe 2:5  you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

And for the priestly garments... God says

1Pe 2:9  But you are a chosen race, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

HE CARES. HE CARES. The God who holds all power of life and death cares about the details of His chosen people, His priesthood, a people for His possession. He cares about the things we don't think anybody cares about. God is a Redeemer and will redeem even the small details and desires of our heart. Walking with Jesus truly gets better each and every day. It doesn't get easier, but it is richer, fuller and more miraculous as we live each moment in the grace that He has freely poured out on us.

Heb 12. 18-24 {Mt. Zion}

Heb 12:18-24  For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them.

For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.”

But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

Recently I have stated reading the Bible chronologically for the first time. The Lord has abundantly blessed this and it has been so edifying to walk through chronologically. I've been reading in Exodus where God called Moses on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights. Yesterday I was reading all of the commandments and instructions for priesthood and the tabernacle. I turned page after page and continued reading detailed instructions and commandments. Somewhere in the midst of these I started feeling overwhelmed. I started doubting. Could the God who has a whole chapter in the Bible describing the priests' garments really care anything about me? Instead of drawing near to God, I drew near to my doubts and confusion.

I prayed a very simple prayer that sounded something like this "God, reading these Scriptures made me feel very distant and question things that I know that I know. Help."

I ended up running errands with Anna on her Moto and while we were driving the Spirit spoke to me "God is not distant and far off." And reminded me of the passage in Hebrews 12 that I love so dearly. The rest of the afternoon was busy but as I was walking out the door to church I opened my Bible to Hebrews 12 and the truths that it contained washed away any distance, doubt and confusion.

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."

The Lord freed me from those doubts and filled my heart with passion for His name and an extra measure of thanksgiving for Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant! As we entered into worship at church it was easy to see that the Lord was doing something extra special as hundreds of hearts poured out praise unto our Jesus. It was extra special for us as it was the guys team's last Sunday service in Cambodia. If I could capture or explain what God was doing as we worshiped I would, but I simply can't capture or explain it. It was a beautiful outpouring of His Spirit. As I worshiped I kept meditating on what God was showing me and the verses in Hebrews 12. When we started singing the last song of the night, the presence of God surrounded me so much so that I had to drop to my knees and just abide in His presence. I felt the hands of my leaders as they prayed over me but all I could do is rest in His presence. I was overwhelmed and couldn't even get the words out of my mouth to sing, all I could do was offer my heart and life as worship to Him. It was one of the sweetest most powerful moments with a beautiful and gracious God, who is not distant and far off, but loves me with the tenderness of a Father.

He is not afraid of our doubts or the hard questions. He is not afraid of the passages in scripture that confuse us or cause us to seek Him for direction and understanding. He is gracious, merciful and ever present. He is love. He is not tossed too and fro from emotion like I am. He is steadier than the mountains and more sure than the sun. He never fails and He never will.

2 Tim 3.17

2Ti 3:17  that the man (woman) of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

Complete. Equipped for every good work. How does one get this way? Through God's Word.

2Ti 3:16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

All Scripture is profitable for the man or woman of God. All Scripture completes the man or woman of God and all Scripture equips the man or woman of God for every good work. It's amazing to me that it is only by His Word and His Spirit that we are equipped. It is not by our power, might, talent or planning. It is nothing we bring to the table, but it is His grace poured out on us through God's Word. No matter the work in front of us, we are equipped as we draw near to God and His Word. He alone has all wisdom for every good work and He alone can strengthen and encourage us as we press on to be faithful to what He has placed in our life.

2Co 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

ALL SUFFICIENCY
IN ALL THINGS
AT ALL TIMES

May survive every good work? May endure every good work? No. grace changes things.

MAY ABOUND IN EVERY GOOD WORK. God doesn't want His people just scraping by in life. He wants them abounding, perfect and complete. As we surrender to His Spirit, accept His grace and live by His Word, He accomplishes this in our life.

Eph 1:3

Eph 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,

So often I live as if I am lacking. My heart often feels like i fall short. When I am living in defeat and looking to my ability to strengthen myself I will always lack.

This truth in Ephesians 1:3 is one that blows my mind and changes everything.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Who has blessed us
In Christ
With EVERY SPIRITUAL BLESSING
In the heavenly places

Every spiritual blessing. Who HAS blessed us. This blessing came with Jesus Christ. We don't have to work for this blessing or strive for it. It is already ours in Christ Jesus. My God raises the dead, and He has blessed me with every spiritual blessing. How do I access this blessing? Faith in Jesus. He wants only one thing, my faith. Do I have the faith to believe and live with the abundance of every spiritual blessing? God loves faith. Because of His promises in His Word, He can't deny his faithfulness. In the Bible, the only times we have record of Jesus marveling is at great faith, and at a lack of faith. We should take that very seriously. It amazes me that the God of the universe can marvel at my faith (or my lack of faith). Is Jesus going to marvel at my great faith, or my lack of faith?

My expectations, aim, pursuits get so small because I lose sight of the fact that my God is the God who raises the dead. I lose sight of the fact that I gain an inheritance when I simply believe. I lose sight that I have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing. Paul had the power of the resurrection flowing through his life. If we are only asking God for strength for what we need to do rather what we cannot do, our expectations are way to small, our pursuits are too small and our prayers are degraded. Am I living only in the realm of my strength, energy and resources? Or am I living in His abundant blessings? For I have them all in Jesus name. It's time to stand up, believe and walk in them.

"Rise up O woman of God, have done with lesser things. Give heart and soul and mind and strength to serve the King of kinds."

Heb 11:16

Heb 11:16  But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.


Yesterday I read a children's book to my preschoolers that God used to speak to my heart. The word "desire" had been on my heart all day and that morning I had started a collection of verses on desire. That same afternoon I grabbed a book called "The Rainbow Fish" to read to my kiddos. I faintly remembered my mom reading it to me as a child, but I couldn't remember the story very well. In class when I opened the book and started reading, I was immediately put off at the main character. The main fish, the most beautiful fish in the sea, was obsessed with his sparkling fins. He was the only one in the whole sea who had them and he was covered with them. They were his greatest delight and pride and joy. They were what he found his identity in. He believed that because he was beautiful, everyone would love him. But every interaction with other fish in the sea he was cold and arrogant and soon he lost all admiration around the other fish. Lonely and discouraged, he went to seek the council of an octopus (cue 20 preschoolers shouting "ohh no!" when we got to this point). The octopus told him that he needed to give away what was most precious to him. He needed to give his beautiful shiny fins to every fish who asked. He was horrified! How could he give HIS fins, HIS most prized possession? Right as he was going to argue with the octopus, the octopus vanished. As he swam away, a little fish swam up to him and asked for one of his fins, he thought about it for a minute and decided to give him one. As he gave one of his beautiful fins away, he noticed how happy it made him. The little fish swam away, delighted with his gift. The Rainbow Fish swam away feeling a peace that he hadn't felt before. Soon more and more fish came up asking for a fin and he couldn't turn them down. He gave and gave them away until he only had one left. The part of the book that most ministered to me was that it said that he had gone from hating the idea of giving them away to desiring to give them away.

What Rainbow Fish thought would bring him joy was being the most beautiful and powerful fish in the sea. But when he attained this, he was left empty and alone. His delight was found in himself and his desires and it lead to despair. When his desires shifted to others, he found real peace, love and fulfillment. Although this wasn't a Christian book, I can't help but see "Eternity in the hearts of man". I have a lot in common with the Rainbow Fish. The desires that I cling to and think will bring me satisfaction actually lead to selfish despair and helplessness. As I surrender what I believe is most precious to me, I find true delight and my true God given desires are exposed. I believe that one of the ways that Satan comes to "Steal, kill and destroy" is through our desires. If he can get our desires off of God and onto ourself, we are useless for building the Kingdom of God.

The enemy of our soul looks at us and this is his desire for our lives.

Exo 15:9  The enemy said, ‘I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them. I will draw my sword; my hand shall destroy them.’

But God is almighty and all perfect in power. With one breath He destroys the firey darts of the wicked.

Exo 15:10  You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Exo 15:13  “You have led in your steadfast love the people whom you have redeemed; you have guided them by your strength to your holy abode.

As my desires come and go, I can trust in His steadfast love and faithfulness. All of my other desires melt away when I look at the cross and see my Jesus who died and resurrected for me and for the world.

Father replace my desires for myself and my glory with desires for You and your glory. May my desire not be for this world, but for a better country, a heavenly one, whose builder and maker is You.

Psalm 46:7

The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭46: 7‬

Back in the Spring, I wrote this in my Bible next to the first usage of the name of God 'Lord of hosts' . I had no idea what the Lord would do with it or how it would be a promise for what would come in the next year.

"He is my ever present Defender, who sees, loves and moves mountains on my behalf. He fights my battles, wins my wars and is the refuge I run to in times of need. There is nothing He cannot do, nothing He does not know, nothing He cannot control, no enemy He cannot defeat, no heart He cannot heal, no mouth He can't shut, no miracle He cannot perform. How beautiful to know that He longs to work on my behalf as my Lord of Hosts."

Before I came to IGNITE I strongly felt the Lord telling me that in this season, I was going to know Him as my Lord of hosts. I was very excited to hear from Him in such a specific way and rushed to study the meaning behind His name 'Lord of hosts'. As I started reading in Scripture, I was surprised and started questioning if I did in fact hear from the Lord. Lord of Hosts. His great power. Almighty, Sovereign, Self- Existent One, God over multitudes. I kept reading. War. Hardships. Battles. Waiting upon. Wait, Lord...this is not what I wanted.


‎יְהֹוָה
yehôvâh
yeh-ho-vaw'
From H1961; (the) self Existent or eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God: - Jehovah, the Lord.


‎צְבָאָה    צָבָא
tsâbâ'    tsebâ'âh
tsaw-baw', tseb-aw-aw'
a mass of persons (or figurative things), especially regularly organized for war (an army); by implication a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically hardship, worship): - appointed time, (+) army, (+) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war (-fare).


These words were not the words I wanted to define the next season of my life.You see, I had just come out of a season of trial and was begging the Lord that He would bring me into a season of comfort and blessing. What I didn't know was that God would use the circumstances to give me His comfort and the trails He would use to open my eyes to His blessings. I wanted ease, but He wanted me to experience the rest of abiding in Him whilst war rages around me. Of course I wanted a God who would fight my battles, but at that moment, I would just rather have no battles to fight. Of course I want to worship a God who is self existent and can move mountains, but I didn't want to have a mountain that needed moving. My faint faithless heart yearned for earthly comfort and understanding of my own rather than to be left in the midst of battles and mountains.I was very wrong to think that I would be left in the midst of battles and troubles. I had forgotten that He never leaves us in the midst of battles and mountains. For not only does He fight my battles, He is in the midst of me.

“God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns."
Psalms 46:5
‭
The Lord of hosts. What a beautiful name and beautiful promise.

“Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle!
Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24:8, 10‬ ‭

Kay Arthur wrote "This name belongs to a certain stage in the experience of a child of God. It is God's name for mans extremity. Not until we, as God's chosen people, find ourselves failing and powerless do we find the need to run to our Jehovah-sabaoth (Lord of hosts). This is a name for those who, in the midst of struggle, find their resources inadequate. It is not a name for those who have ceased to fight. This is our name to run to when, from our perspective, there is no other help."


Fast forward from the Spring when God fist spoke me me about this and now. Up until this point I hadn't given it too much thought. I was still rejecting the thought of trials and battles, but as different circumstances came in my life, I found myself surrounded by battles and mountains that needed moving. Obstacles came on the scene and I couldn't see over them. Sorrows and situations that were completely out of my control seemed to surround me. Every day I have and continue to find perfect strength and power in Him. He is proving Himself to be my all powerful God who sees, loves and moves mountains on my behalf. He is fighting my battles, winning my wars and IS the refuge I run to in times of need. It is beautiful to KNOW that He longs to work on my behalf as MY Lord of hosts.

I came to Cambodia in October and was quickly introduced to the church that we partner with's worship album. I loved every one of their songs but one that especially ministered to was called 'Lord of Hosts". You think it would be because it reminded me of the promise that God had given me about this very thing, But no, it wasn't. I had listened and worshiped to the song probably over a 100 times and I never made the connection about what the Lord spoke to me months ago. All I knew was that my heart and soul was so drawn and connected with these words and truth. It wasn't until this last Monday that I was sitting on my bed, worshipping and praying to God about some hard news that I had heard from loved ones. I was processing and giving it over to the only One who can do anything about these situations. 'Lord of Hosts' came through my headphones and in an instant He unveiled my eyes and reminded me about the promise that He gave me, and how He is fulfilling every word. I was so overwhelmed at how personal and thoughtful He is. He surely doesn't leave us to fight our own battles and wage our own wars. He is the Lord of hosts and He is faithful for every word He speaks.

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.”
‭‭II Timothy‬ ‭2:13‬ ‭

//God is our shield and strength. He is our fortress in times of trouble. So let the oceans roar, and let the mountains shake and tremble.

The Lord of Hosts is here. Our mighty King is now among us. We will never fear, when the Lord is near.

Know now that He is God, be still and see His hand now working. Nothing can stop His plans. He will be honored by every nation.

The Lord of Hosts is here. Our mighty King is now among us. We will never fear, when the Lord is near.

So be strong. Stand your ground. He is here. Now be brave, heart of faith, lose your fear. //

"Lord of Hosts" by Life Band

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” ‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:9‬ ‭