Daily Huddle - Sat Feb 8, 2020 Your IBC Moment

Love you all, praying for you
 
I just love the comfortable Daily Huddles, not so much the uncomfortable ones.  Praying today for ears to hear.  When I was a kid my parents took us to the A&W Root Beer Stand – on 76th street in Milwaukee.  We would ride our bikes – get the little kids frosty mug – one of my favorite childhood memories.  In fact, Root Beer remains my favorite soft drink today.  A&W might be the best, but IBC is pretty good, and of course I’m partial to Dad’s Root Beer.   But the most important one is IBC – because it’s an important reminder.  God asked me early this morning what’s so important about IBC.  It’s not what you think it is.  IBC – I once was Blind but now I C.  God was speaking to me about IBC moments – and how very important they are in life.  The first IBC moment you had was Salvation.  Nicodemus came to Jesus, and Jesus told him he had to be born again - given new birth – not physical, but Spiritual.  But how can anyone enter their mother's womb again?  Nicodemus was blind, he couldn’t see - Jesus was talking spiritually, not physically.  Paul went in pursuit of believers to put them in prison and put them to death.  He actually thought He was doing a service to God.  Jesus met him on the road to Damascus - blinded his physical eyes, so he see with his spiritual eyes.  God’s word says the devil has blinded the world to truth.  But when the scales fall, we can see.  Even as believers we can be blinded by things – we just don’t see.  On the road to the interior, Paul came across believers who had not even heard of the Holy Spirit.  If the devil can’t keep you from being saved, he will try to keep you from being baptized in the Holy Spirit.  It’s become a denominational debate, instead of a step of faith.  Some people let their family, or church keep them from obeying what Jesus instructed; In fact, the first step of obedience He commanded the upper room believers.  People are blinded still, even you and I can be.  The praying pharisee was blinded by his own pride.  "Thank you God that I’m not like that sinner over there – that tax collector..." yet the sinner’s prayer was answered, the prideful man was not.  The rich fool was blinded by his greed.  It didn’t say He was a pagan, He was an Israelite – he tithed, how do you think he got rich – it didn’t say he was corrupt or an oppressor.  He was probably a fine upstanding church goer – but he loved money more than God.  So did the rich young ruler – he tithed, in fact he said he had kept all the commandments.  Jesus just went right to his blind spot.  He loved money – and you can’t love money – and also love Jesus.  He wouldn’t give it up.  In fact money - the thing you can't love and also love God, has perhaps the most blind spots.  The truths of God's Word that we just don't want to accept or follow, or we don't see.  That’s what it’s like with most people.  They want to fully give their lives to Jesus – their reasonable act of worship  - the least He deserves is our full life – time thoughts and money.  But they just don’t to give up some things - beliefs or practices.  Others don’t even realize that they're blind.  The disciples were blinded in many things.  They tried to keep children from bothering Jesus – and Jesus said let the little children come to me.  Unless you become like this little child – you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven.  (Faith and obedience- it’s how the kingdom works).  The disciples were blinded by the leadership deception.  They wanted to be leaders – they wanted the second seat – next to Jesus.  But Jesus said – that’s what the worldly do – they lord it over others - they want to be leaders – not so with you.  To be great in God's kingdom, learn to be the servant of all - take the towel, not the podium.  God’s Ways are always opposite of ours.  The disciples were blinded by what impressed them.  Jesus sat them down by the offering plate.  It wasn’t the rich people bringing all their money (in coins not cash, so it would make more noise), Jesus showed them who gave the most – the widow who gave two pennies – all that she had.  They were blind – they couldn’t see.  The disciples mentioned to Jesus – what magnificent buildings – they were impressed by the outward appearance of ministry – what could be built in the Name of God.  Jesus said – not one stone will remain standing on another.  Even his own family was blind.  If you want to be the messiah – you can’t do it if no-one sees you!  Jesus’ brothers said to him, ‘Leave Galilee and go to Judea, so that your disciples there may see the works you do.  No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret.  Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world."  They had no idea why Jesus had come.  Some of his followers even wanted to make him King, but he slipped through the crowd and went away.  Many people are still blind today when it comes to ministry, the kingdom and the gospel.  They think more money means more ministry, or more notoriety means more ministry – bigger buildings, more followers -  When the greatest revival the world has ever seen so far (until the end days revival) is when the Jerusalem church came under persecution, and were forced to scatter.  They had no funds, barely any possessions – and they spread throughout the world bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the world.  Perhaps the scariest blind spot – was the parable Jesus told  in Mathew 7:22 - Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?'  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you.  Away from me, you workers of iniquity.'   It’s easy to be blinded by things we think, or things we do, or things we have always believed.  We could miss our IBC moment.  I once was blind, but now I C.  When my kids were young – we sometimes needed to bring correction in their lives.  God loves us enough to bring correction.  When they got older – our approach with them changed.  Whenever I had to address something I would usually begin with “Are you humble?”  Oh, boy – what is it?  They knew something was coming – a blind spot.  That’s really the question for any IBC moment – if you are blind – in order for you to see – you have to want to - be open to - be willing to.  Some would rather continue in their blind spots.   In fact there is a cement for blind spots, a hardener that is unbreakable unless you stop it.  It will lock you in – unless you change it.  Have you ever had a conversation with someone who tells you what they believe – it’s false, but there’s no talking them out of it.  You just pray, it’s not yet time to say.  That cement for your blind spots – is your own words.  They will lock you into sight – like David always telling Himself – He will obey God’s Word – or they will lock you into your blind spots.  God calls it a perverse tongue – saying something different - than what His Word says.  Some people actually believe they’re speaking God’s Word.   (God helps those who help themselves… - not in scripture) or if not a misquote – a misunderstanding – that repeated enough is accepted as truth – when it’s not.    My daughter asked me yesterday, Dad, is there anything that I’m not seeing?  She wanted to know, Is their an IBC moment that I'm not aware of?  That’s really the “Are you humble?” that’s required for the IBC moment that God has for you.  And there’s one more question that goes with it.  What am I not willing to do?  What am I not willing to obey Him in?  If He says love your enemy.  Is that one thing I'm just not willing to do?  Or to forgive somebody who hurt you?  It’s easier to decide to obey in the things you are already obeying in.  It’s harder to decide to obey in things you are ignorant of, or not obeying in now that you can't see yet.  But that is what God will always lead you to do.  He wants to purify you – so you're unmixed... so you can fulfill the incredible plans that He has for you.  Praying for you – that you will be humble, that you will have already decided in your heart – that any blind spot – where you once were blind (even now) - that you will see.  That you will pass the test of every IBC moment.  That God will open the eyes of your heart and your understanding.  Praying that when you hear God’s Word – or hear truth that is different than your current belief, strategy or practice.  That you would hold your tongue – before it's first natural reaction is perverse speech – saying something different…  Praying that you will just decide to humbly and prayerfully consider what God may be trying to tell you.   And as for me, if you see any blind spots in me – that I might not see.  Please let me know.  Ephesians 4:15  - Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is Christ.  That’s what the body of Christ is for – it’s how we together grow more like Him – so the real Jesus – can be seen in us. 
 
Love you all,
dad