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- For Our Good...
In the Bible, Joseph is abused by his brothers and sold into slavery, then repeatedly scarred and neglected by his enemies. But Joseph made an amazing discovery: Anything meant in this world for evil, God can use for good. This is no less true for us today. God is able to take the mess of our past and turn it into a message. He takes our trials and tests and turns them into a testimony.
Romans 8:28 does not say that all things that happen to us are good, but it does say that God is able to work all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose.
If we trust him with our broken and wounded hearts, he will bring healing, restoration, and wholeness. He takes the weak, the marginalized, and the oppressed and makes all things new. What someone else would leave for broken, he sees as beautiful.
And very often, the thing the enemy uses to try to destroy your life is the very thing God uses to help others. God can heal every hurt and turn your scars into signs of strength for his glory. Your past mistakes, hurts, and pain can help give someone else a future. Whatever we have gone through enables us to help others. God doesn’t waste one experience of our lives. He uses everything to help someone else. He doesn’t want us to remain crippled, immobilized, or paralyzed by the past. Instead, he sent us Jesus to show us how to step into the future.
I have always known that I was not the only one carrying around such pain. We are all broken in some way. We all have wounds. Some of us use that as an excuse to do nothing, to serve no one, but rather to sit and nurse our misery. That’s not what God wants, and not the model we see over and over again in the Bible.
The biblical model is that God deliberately chooses imperfect vessels—those who have been wounded, those with physical or emotional limitations. Then he prepares them to serve and sends them out with their weakness still in evidence, so that his strength can be made perfect in that weakness.
More often than not, it’s our weakness that makes us capable of serving, because those we serve identify with our pain. As always: God works in us so that he can work through us. - Naaman, a valiant captain, seeks healing after he is stricken with leprosy.
Seven Times...
Healing doesn’t happen overnight. The Bible tells us that Naaman, was told to dip seven times in the Jordan River in order to be healed of leprosy. He couldn’t go to one of the prettier rivers with cleaner waters and just dip once. He had to get in the Jordan and bathe there again and again and again. Healing was a messy process, a choice he had to make. It works the same way in our lives. We have to choose to heal, and trust that if we do what God, the Great Physician asks—forgive those who have wounded and damaged us—there will be a change, a good result, strength, and wholeness. That means we can:
Forgive every time we feel anger or mistrust or bitterness. Instead of dwelling on the emotions that are eating us alive, we can dwell on all that is good (Phil. 4:8).
Stay in the present moment or think on the future. Instead of rehearsing old injustices and letting our lives revolve around the past, we can find a greater reward by thinking on the future (Phil. 3:12).
Love others enough to let them make their own choices. Instead of loving the need to control and insisting on our own choices, we can love others enough to let them decide for themselves (Ps. 52:8).
Let go of the idea of our perceived power and focus. Instead we can focus on God’s work in every person and on the power of the cross. We can’t heal our own hearts. But God promises to be strong when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Stop trying to punish those who hurt us with anger and hate. Instead, we can let God deal with them. Unforgiveness harms only you, and the damage is considerable. It keeps you cowardly and stunted, isolated and alone, ugly and bitter. Jesus said to forgive seventy times seven because no matter how much you forgive others, he has forgiven you even more (Matthew 18:22).
Stop trusting in ourselves. Instead we can trust in God and follow his leading. When we do, he promises to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:5–6).
Believe our wounds can make us stronger. The hard work of therapy makes the wounded parts of our hearts even stronger (1 Peter 5:10).
Beyond the things we can do, God is at work too. He is always good. He can always be trusted. He is in the business of turning anything bad into everything good. You can trust him with anything—any wound, any circumstance, and situation. - The apostle Paul describes the spiritual gifts given to the church by God and administered by the Holy Spirit.
Gifts and Fruit...
It is sobering to realize that the fruit of the Spirit did not include how well I could preach or how effective I was at giving altar calls. Nowhere in the Bible could I find a Scripture that said, “By their gifts you will know them” (trust me, I searched the whole Bible). I realized that there could be no doubt that I had been examined by the Lord and found lacking. Deep within me, I came to accept the fact that I had a long way to go in my spiritual walk. We all have areas relating to our soul muscle that need to be strengthened!
I had obvious gifts in my life—and I put them to good use in a growing church. I took all too seriously 1 Corinthians 12:31, which tells us to “eagerly desire the greater gifts.” Now that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as the gifts of the Spirit are given by God to strengthen the Church, but when we seek them at the expense of the deep and often unseen internal work of God, that’s when it becomes a problem. In my case, although externally I was moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit, my soul couldn’t sustain me. The fruit of the Spirit were absent in my life, and as a result, my world fell apart.
Sadly, all too often I hear of destinies that have been sabotaged because Christians have been focused on developing the gifts of the Holy Spirit in their lives rather than seeking the fruit. They have mistaken a gift given to them by God, which they have done absolutely nothing to merit, as evidence of spiritual maturity. They have convinced themselves that the manifestation of the gift is an accurate measure of their success as a Christian. They could not have been more wrong.
When the gifts of the Spirit on a person’s life are greater than the fruit of the Spirit in a person’s life, that life will begin to crumble. The indicators of an unbalanced life may be health issues or an inability to have close relationships, depression, addictions, eating disorders, promiscuity, insecurity, and so much more. This kind of fruit is the outcome of a weak soul muscle.
But here’s the great news: As we grow in relationship with God, and our soul muscles gain strength, we have God’s power working within us to bring about our transformation into the image of Christ that each one of us—and, more important, God—desires.
God has given us great and wonderful gifts. As we grow in our commitment to Christ and the fruit of the Spirit become manifest in our lives, these gifts play out beautifully on God stage. - A tree planted by a river derives its strength and nourishment from the river and produces abundant fruit.
Simple Truths...
So often we tend to overlook the simple truths of life and forget that the profound is usually revealed in the simple. For example, we can act out what we are not (at least for a little while), but this will not produce long-term fruit in our lives. In other words, an apple can only reproduce apples, because that’s what it is at its core. Similarly, if we have an issue with anger, then no matter how kind and demure we try to act, eventually a challenging situation will arise and we’ll blow! As long as that anger goes unchecked and unhealed in our souls, we will continue to produce the fruit of anger. The same holds true for fear, jealousy, depression, low self-esteem, and so much more.
Many of us miss out on the abundant life that Jesus has for us because we haven’t taken an honest look at our spiritual core and recognized that our souls need some work. Forced to examine the fruit of my own life, I realized that I lacked any real deep joy and was only happy when things were going my way. Instead of having any peace, I was constantly striving for perfection and approval. I only had one speed, and that was supercharged. I don’t think I even knew how to spell the word “patience.” I wanted everything yesterday.
Regardless of how strong and whole we think we are, we must remember we’re all on the journey to Christlikeness and Christian maturity. This maturity is reflected in the alignment of our inner and outer worlds. But the road to maturity is always a process. As we choose to allow God to enlarge, stretch, and strengthen our soul muscles, we will be able to fulfill a second facet of the Great Commandment: loving God with all our soul. And as our core begins to change, the spiritual fruit will become the mark that defines us as followers of Christ. This outflow of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control won’t be temporary or shallow, because true and lasting transformation has taken place.
That’s the beauty of a soul restored, renewed, and ultimately reborn: When our inner and outer worlds flow from the grace of Christ, we won’t have to strive to act like a Christian, because we will simply be one.
Is your soul safely anchored in the Spirit of God? Does precious strength and nourishment flow to you from him? When your inner life and your outer life prosper as one, you will know that your soul has been restored. - Good Fruit...
- No amount of Christian activity compensates for the failure to be an authentic Christian. Our authenticity (or lack thereof) is made evident by the fruit that our lives are bearing. If we’re to be recognized as Christ’s followers, we need to be producing the fruit of his Holy Spirit.
Going to church or praying a prayer doesn’t automatically result in the fruit of the Spirit being produced in our lives. Rather, the condition of our souls strongly influence the fruit that comes out of our lives. Quite simply, if there are areas of our souls that have been damaged in some way, we will inevitably produce bad fruit in those areas. And keep in mind that bad fruit doesn’t necessarily point to a horrific past or abuse—it can simply mean that there are areas of the soul that are still not Christlike (and we all have these).
How can identify these areas by examining our responses to the people and events in our lives. For example, when we hear that a coworker has received another promotion, do we have the fruit of kindness and rejoicing, or do we talk about why someone else could do a better job? When we see a grim report on the news, do we freak out, sell our stock portfolio to buy gold, and fill our cellars with a six-month supply of imperishable food? Or do we respond with a strong peace in our hearts, knowing that God will take care of us?
If we want to bear good fruit, working on our soul muscle is imperative, regardless of whether or not our past looks like a train wreck (like mine). The goal for all of us is developing the kind of prosperous soul from which flows the qualities listed in Galatians. This fruit cannot be manufactured or externally generated; It results only from soul transformation and an authentic relationship with Jesus.
It’s great to know that we can choose to change our spiritual core by strengthening and healing our soul muscle. We have God’s power working within us to bring about our transformation into the image of Christ that each one of us—and, more important, God—desires. No matter where we’ve come from or what negative habits we have created in our lives, we have a promise from God that we can be someone new. From that soft, responsive heart he has placed within us and his Spirit living on the inside of us, we can learn to live a life that is controlled by the Holy Spirit and not by our flesh.
Point to Ponder
Does your soul muscle need some healing? Ask God to help you develop authentic joy and peace. Through prayer and the taking in God’s Word, you can strengthen you spiritual core. - Choosing Freedom...
“You did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” Romans 8:15-17 - “Remind everyone of these things, and command them in God’s name to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.” 2 Timothy 2:14
- “Remind everyone of these things, and command them in God’s name to stop fighting over words. Such arguments are useless, and they can ruin those who hear them.” 2 Timothy 2:14 NLB
Their enemies didn’t understand them. But neither did their friends. These were the klephts. According to military historian John Keegan, these Greek warriors could be described as “half-bandits, half-rebels.” They caused frustration for many armies over the centuries, and even for Alexander the Great in 334 BC, when his armies invaded Asia Minor.
What distinguished these warriors? They were a nuisance. They had a unique fighting style that often was met with ridicule. Their goal was to confuse and distract their enemies through actions that seemed to make no sense. They built “little walls at a point of likely encounter with the enemy.” Then they tried to provoke their enemy “by taunts and insults,” only to run away “when the enemy closed.”
To outsiders, their actions could be hard to believe. When engaged in battle, they did not necessarily fight to win, but rather to fight another day.
Many people today are like these klephts. They love to stir up trouble. They’re known for spreading rumors and causing confusion, disrupting the lives of others.
Paul warned Timothy that many Christians have this tendency. They tend to get involved in arguments. They fight endlessly over words. Although Paul knew there was a time to take a stand, when disagreements are healthy and important, people too often become involved in disputes with no substantive purpose. Paul concluded that “such arguments are useless.” In fact, they even “can ruin those who hear them.” Satan can use these kinds of arguments to split churches, friendships, and even marriages.
Ask God to give you discernment and sensitivity. Don’t devote yourself to useless arguments. Dedicate yourself to seeking first the Kingdom of God and building unity in the Body of Christ.
- Disappointment, Frustration, and Deception...
- “Judas Iscariot…went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he sought an opportunity to betray him.” – Mark 14:10-11 ESV
“American Judas” is how some have referred to Benedict Arnold, a man who fulfilled the dictionary definition of a “Judas”: “A person treacherous enough to betray a friend; a traitor.”
Arnold gained this reputation after he betrayed his country during the American Revolution. However, many do not realize that, prior to this betrayal, Arnold had been perhaps America’s most accomplished soldier in that war. But, as the war continued, he became frustrated, feeling overlooked and taken for granted. His solution? To cut a deal with the British. Yet, after he defected, he found himself an outcast among his new friends and never received the rewards or credit he sought.
In many ways, Arnold’s actions remind us of Judas Iscariot. Judas was an important disciple who kept the money for Jesus, a man who had left everything to follow Jesus, and who had been empowered with the Holy Spirit and performed miracles.
Like Arnold, Judas faced disappointment. It seemed to him that his commitment to Jesus was futile. He might have felt frustrated and taken for granted, disagreeing with the direction of Jesus’ ministry. As a result, he negotiated a deal with Jesus’ enemies. Like Arnold, he discovered that he did not get what he was expecting. When he gave in to temptation, disappointment, and frustration, he lost everything.
In your life, you may experience discouragement. You may feel taken for granted and underappreciated. You may feel like giving up. Things may happen that you don’t understand. But don’t allow Satan to tempt you. Don’t give in to temporary emotions. Instead, renew your commitment to God’s Kingdom. Continue to follow Jesus. Stay faithful, and trust Him.
- Message for Everyone...
- Here, in His first major teaching recorded in Scripture, Jesus made it clear that the Gospel was for everyone. As we examine His “Sermon on the Mount,” we see constant references to attitudes and conditions of the heart.
God’s blessings, He taught, were available to anyone who was poor in spirit and pure in heart. God wasn’t impressed by those who were honored and recognized in the world, but He sought those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness.” His blessings were not for those who were strong and powerful, but those who were gentle and merciful. He favored not those who were successful and popular, but those who were insulted, persecuted, and falsely accused.
Jesus was describing something revolutionary and new—a faith and a way of life that was for people of all races, classes, and tribes. It included both men and women, Jews and Gentiles.
On the Day of Pentecost, Peter confirmed this principle by telling the crowds “that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Acts 2:28). And Paul later wrote: “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus” (Galatians 3:28).
In the Gospel, “there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman, but Christ is all, and in all” (Colossians 3:11). And Paul stressed that “there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him” (Romans 10:12).
The Gospel still is for everyone—for your family and friends, and even for your enemies. Truly, anyone can be saved. Dedicate yourself to being an instrument of salvation. Let God use you!
Father, these are people who need salvation: ________. Move in their lives by Your Spirit. Help them experience the joy of salvation. Use me to impact lives for You. In Jesus’ name.
- John 14:12-14 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father. Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
- Yes, we all need to go off to a quiet place to lavish in the presence of God where we are not distracted or pulled away. According to the Greek translation of Luke 5:16, “But He would withdraw to desolate places and pray,” withdrawing and praying was an ongoing practice for Jesus. Jesus went to His Father continuously; He needed God so He could do what God wanted Him to do.
More so, we need God for what He calls us to do. We need His presence to guide us, His peace to reassure us, and His power to enable us. But we can’t always get away to a nice quiet, even desolate, place to be with God. The world yanks at our intentions and life exhausts our energies. How do we seek God when we can’t find the way?
Jesus gave us His perfect example and left us with His power.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63)
While Jesus ministered on the earth, He was able to somehow pull away from the crowds and find a quiet place. He did not have another job, a carpool, children, or a cellphone, but He had multitudes of people surrounding Him. Over and over, He turned from them and looked to God.
In His wisdom and compassion, Jesus gave us the power to receive His peace whenever we choose to turn our minds to Him, no matter where we are or what the circumstances. When we make the choice to look at Him rather than our situation, we receive His peace as He promised.
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” (John 14:27)
When we worry our way to God, we block our ability to walk freely with Him and, ultimately, to be effective for Him.
We don’t have to work our way to God; He is within us. We are smarter than we think! - Wait on the Lord...
- Wait...
- Definition of WAIT...
transitive verb
1 : to stay in place in expectation of : await <waited the result of the advertisement – W. M. Thackeray><wait your turn>
2: to delay serving (a meal)
3: to serve as waiter for <wait tables>
intransitive verb
1a: to remain stationary in readiness or expectation <wait for a train>
b: to pause for another to catch up -usually used with up
2a: to look forward expectantly <just waiting to see his rival lose>
b: to hold back expectantly <waiting for a chance to strike>
3: to serve at meals -usually used in such phrases as wait on tables or wait on table
4a: to be ready and available <slippers waiting by the bed>
b: to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized <the chores canwait>
- wait on also wait upon
1a: to attend as a servant
b: to supply the wants of : serve
2: to make a formal call on
3: to wait for
- wait up
: to delay going to bed : stay up1
As you can see from the definition, wait is a very versatile little verb. Depending on how it is modified by prepositions it can mean a number of different things, some of them almost contradictory of others. This definition is also helpful in that it gives examples of each usage. At the center of Pastor Steve’s lesson on Sunday was this verse:
“So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”(Luke 5:16)
Steve talked about how exciting it is to read what Jesus did during His earthly ministry. But the far more instructive thing is to glean from how He did it. You see, Jesus lived His life as an example, or if you will, a template of how we are to live ours. Most people assume that because Jesus is God, the life He lived is unattainable for us. In one sense that is true. He lived without sin. See, we were born under the Fall; we have sin built in.
But in another more important sense, He called us to live His life and equipped us so to do (sounds weird, but is grammatically correct). Jesus existed on earth, and for that matter still exists in a state called hypostatic union.2 That is, He is, at the same time, fully God and fully man. If you are interested in this concept, there is a brief article referenced here. But the gist of what I mean is that Jesus lived His life on earth not like a Greek demigod, but as a Holy Spirit-filled man. The same resources available to Him, by which he conducted His ministry and performed His miracles, are available to us. If you look at His life and compare His actions to this list of spiritual gifts listed in I Corinthians 13, you will see each of them in action.
Radical idea, right? Then why aren’t we roaming the countryside, healing the sick, raising the dead, reading other people’s mental e-mail? The answer is simple. Wait! Wait! Don’t tell me! That’s right. Wait. We don’t know how to wait. Jesus said:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.” (John 5:19)
Jesus’ ministry was effective because it was a fulfillment of His Father’s will. He waited on God. Again, what exactly does that mean? Look back at the definition of wait at the beginning of this piece. Waiting on God is all the things that this definition says:
It is to be still in expectation. It is to delay action until prompted. It is to act as a waiter, bring only what is called for. It is to remain stationary in readiness or expectation. It is to look forward expectantly. It is to hold back expectantly. It is to be ready and available. It is to remain temporarily neglected or unrealized until the Master’s perfect time. It is to attend as a servant. It is to supply the wants of the Creator of the universe, and not our own. It is to make a formal call on the Father of All Lights. It is to wait on, wait... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14668 - The Waiting Life...
- The list of God’s heroes who learned to wait and the consequences of the times they didn’t goes on and on. Joshua, mighty warrior of the conquest of the Promised Land, fell on his face before the captain of the host of the Lord. David, the great action figure of the nation of Israel, left possibly the greatest single body of meditative literature ever compiled (Psalms).
So why with all these heroes from whom to choose did I settle on Simeon and Anna for our scripture this morning? They are heroes more like most of us. They waited an entire lifetime to have an encounter with God worth recording.
Though we normally think of the Holy Spirit as a New-Testament, after-Pentecost thing, Simeon clearly heard from God and “So he came by the Spirit into the temple.” Anna waited for the coming of the Lord in the Temple for what had to be over sixty years.
So what is, as promised, the benefit of waiting upon the Lord? First, we don’t have to waste our energy on our own half-baked ideas. We don’t have to use our energy at all. Second, God from time to time lets us in on His plans. We get to look behind the curtain. We don’t have to worry. We do, but we don’t have to. Third, we get the thrill of being in the right place at the right time, to be active participants in what God is doing. Fourth, but certainly not finally, we have our faith and trust built as He uses us.
The waiting life is not a life of inaction. It is a life of directed action. When we wait, when we become attuned to the expressions of His face, the tones of His voice, the gestures of His hand, we glide through life doing His will, almost effortlessly. At least twice this week I have simply followed His subtle promptings and made God connections with people who needed Him. It was a rush. A quiet rush, mind you, but a rush nonetheless. So take the advice of the psalmist:
Unto Thee lift I up mine eyes,
O Thou that dwellest in the heavens.
Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters,
and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress;
so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God,
until that He have mercy upon us. (Psalm 123:1-2 KJV)
Let me take you back to a musical meditation we visited recently. Enjoy it as you wait. - God’s will for us is to prosper in every aspect of our lives—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
The Power of Being...
When a back injury left me confined to the couch, barely moving to avoid the pain, I felt as though the very breath of my Christianity had been sucked out of my lungs. I had no choice but to literally stop all my Christian activity and be. Stripped of my ability to act, I lay there feeling like I had nothing left to offer God.
As I struggled with this newfound stillness, I realized that for the first time in my life, I stopped drowning out the voice of my heart with the sound of relentless activity. I then heard a voice whisper, “Read 3 John 2.” I turned to the text: “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, even as your soul prospers.”
Then the same voice whispered again, “Chris, your soul is not prospering.”
I was dumbstruck. “God, what do you mean my soul isn’t prospering? Look at everything that I’m doing and achieving for you! How could I not be prospering? The ministry is growing, my calendar is full, and we are having great success. I don’t understand how I could prosper any more for you.”
God’s response was shockingly clear: “Yes, Chris, I’m aware of everything that you are doing, and so is your body—which is why you’re lying there on the couch. I tried to get your attention numerous times to warn you about the path you were on, but you were too busy to listen.”
I had been expecting sympathy from God, but instead he was convicting me (albeit very lovingly) that there was a problem in my soul—apparently one that had been there for a long time. The Holy Spirit kept leading me back to Psalm 23:1-3: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
As I lay there day in and day out, I eventually did receive a revelation about my soul. I began to realize that if God wanted to restore my soul, then it must have somehow been distorted. I knew that only things that have been damaged, faded or defiled needed to be restored. And only then would my activities bring me the joy and fulfillment I so badly needed.
Do you feel as if you are always moving, always doing, never stopping to let God restore your soul? Time alone with God is essential if your soul is to prosper. Set aside some time just to be. - God Delights in Me...
When I was in my late 20s, I was the head of a community-based youth center and on the way to leading a major Christian youth movement in Sydney, Australia. I was passionately serving God and so busy that my weeks literally felt like one long day with a series of naps (and these were rare). It was a very exciting time for me. God had given me gifts of leadership and speaking, and many doors of opportunity were opening. I felt like I was living the dream, yet when I would get home and lay my head on my pillow at night—well, actually, in the early hours of the morning—I felt like I was dying inside.
When everything was quiet and it was just God and me, the success from the day would fade away and all that would be left was what felt like a gaping chasm in my heart. I was not a happy girl. No matter how much I accomplished or achieved, I just couldn’t seem to find contentment and joy. In order to fill this void, I kept working harder and harder, keeping longer and longer hours, hoping sooner or later that my heart would feel fulfilled.
Eventually, the stress and intensity of my schedule took its toll on my body, and I collapsed. Quite literally, in fact. I threw my back out, and my life came to a screeching halt. For the next three weeks (which felt like an eternity!), my days were spent lying on the couch, keeping very still to avoid the pain of movement. I was forced to stop doing and simply be still.
As I lay there feeling like a completely useless Christian, I picked up my Bible. As I flipped through the pages, I came across a verse in Psalms that I had probably read more than a hundred times, but that day these words came alive in a new way and arrested my heart: “He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me” (Ps. 18:19, NIV). It was like God had a megaphone and was screaming to get my attention: “Christine, I delight in you. Not just the thousands of young people you minister to, not just in all that you accomplish in my name, but in you, my own precious daughter.” God delighted in me—in me with all my faults, me with all my failings, me with my broken past . . . me immobile on a couch!
Do you know that God delights in you, with all your faults and failings, just as you are? What you do for God will never be as important as who you are to God—his precious child. - Read Philippians 3:12–14...
The apostle Paul urges us to follow his example as he presses forward toward his goal and allows nothing to block his spiritual progress. - Blocking Our Hearts...
If we are to guard our hearts against potential spiritual blockages, it is important to know what those blockages are.
Boredom. We must remain bold and adventurous on the faith journey if we want to keep our relationship with God fresh and dynamic. We must never think that we have arrived, for the moment that we do this, we become stagnant and complacent. Instead, we must always fervently seek after the heart of God.
Familiarity. To keep our hearts alive and vibrant, we need to maintain an attitude of gratitude and thanksgiving for who God is and all that he has done and continues to do. When we remind ourselves of the fact that we owe him everything, including our very being, we live in awe of him and never run the risk of taking him for granted.
Lust. We must fix our eyes on Jesus, who is the author and finisher of our faith. Our hearts must be set on him and his plan and purpose for our lives. No other person or thing can satisfy us in the same way. God himself must always be the object of our affection.
Laziness. We must continue to be about our Father’s business, engaging our lives in the cause of Christ. God has a plan for each one of us, and we must do our part to see that his plan is realized. When our hearts are full of zeal for the Lord, even the most mundane good tasks are deeply fulfilling.
Disobedience. It is crucial that we understand the importance of our obedience even in seemingly insignificant and small things, because every decision we make matters to God. Every single day, we take steps toward fulfilling our spiritual destinies simply by choosing to hear and obey the voice of God and his Word. - A strong, blockage-free heart is essential if we seek to love God with all our hearts, souls, and minds. But we can only have a healthy spiritual heart if we make a commitment to constantly guard and strengthen this spiritual core muscle. Recognizing and removing blockages from our heart can sometimes be difficult and painful, but it is something we must do if we truly desire to experience the abundant life that Jesus came to Earth to give us.
Guarding your heart is an on-going exercise of time and commitment. Are you ready to do those things that ensure a healthy spiritual heart that continues to love God completely and your neighbor as yourself? - Father, I commit these needs to You: _________. I need Your inspiration. Thank You for answering and guiding me. I trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Source of Inspiration...
- “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
- How do we find inspiration? How are we inspired?
To many artists and musicians, inspiration is a mystery. They can be inspired by emotions, by love or loss, by triumphs and tragedies, by current events and scenes from nature.
It is said that Napoleon was inspired by reading classic literature. Hadrian (who ruled Rome from 117-138 AD) drew inspiration from studying Roman generals. John Adams, America’s second President, was greatly inspired by his father’s honesty and love of country.
Recently, a marketing guru confessed that he frequently is asked about his sources of inspiration. He described how, for people in marketing, this can be a continual struggle. It’s not easy to find constant inspiration, week after week, day after day, project after project.
This expert concluded that his inspiration could “come from anywhere”: from commercials, reading articles, or just studying data. He could be inspired by thumbing through magazines or going to sporting events with his kids. Or inspiration could come from visiting new places, listening to conversations, or many “less obvious places.”
But Believers have access to another dimension of inspiration—the inspiration that comes from knowing God, the Creator. All creativity begins with Him. We can read and study His Word, realizing that it is “inspired.” We can seek His wisdom and understanding, and be guided by the Holy Spirit.
Today, do you need inspiration? Do you need answers to tough questions? Do you need creative ways to solve problems?
Start by seeking God, the source of all creativity. Pray and commit your needs to Him. Ask Him for the ideas and inspiration you need. Fill your mind and heart with His Word, and make this the basis of your thoughts. Seek to be sensitive to the Spirit. Listen to His voice, and let Him guide you.
- “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Immediately coming up out of the water, He saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’” Mark 1:9-11
- After Jesus’ baptism, the Father declared that He was “well-pleased” with His Son. It’s interesting that He declared this conclusion before Jesus’ ministry had begun. Jesus hadn’t preached a sermon or healed the sick. He hadn’t called any disciples or cast out any demons. Why would the Father be so “pleased” at this particular time?
First, He was pleased with Jesus’ obedience. He had been faithful to follow the leading of the Father and had been sensitive to His timing. The Father also was pleased with Jesus’ character—how He had received favor with His family and with others in the community (Luke 2:52).
In the process, Jesus provided an example for each of us. If we want the Father to be well-pleased with us, we need to focus on being obedient. We should know God’s Word and obey it. We need to be aware of the leading of the Holy Spirit and ready to follow Him.
We also must be faithful to complete the assignments we’ve been given, sensitive to the Father’s timing and aware that “there is an appointed time for everything” (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
We need to demonstrate that we’re concerned about God’s Kingdom, eager to know Him better, and quick to listen to Him and do His will. We should seek to be people of character, who demonstrate spiritual maturity. We should strive to be good examples to others, faithful in our relationships. And we need to demonstrate humility and a Christ-like attitude in everything we do.
Learn from the example of Jesus. Make it your goal to be well-pleasing to the Father.
- Father, give me a burden for prayer. I surrender my life to You. I worship You. Jesus is my Lord. Bring revival. Pour out Your Spirit. Change lives. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- “Therefore I want the men in every place to pray, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and dissension.”
How can we unleash more of the power of prayer, praying with such impact that problems are solved and the world is changed? In his letter to Timothy, Paul taught several principles that can help us accomplish these goals (vs. 1-8).
Paul knew that prayer can be weakened when we’re dominated by our own thoughts and interests, so he stressed that we should pray for “all men,” not just fellow Christians or those with whom we agree. No. We are to pray for everyone, friend or foe. We are to think about others, seeking the salvation of Souls and interceding for the Lost.
We also are to lay aside our prejudices and preoccupations. We must focus on God, “lifting up holy hands.” We are instructed to be filled with worship and praise…overwhelmed by His holiness and majesty…thinking about His Kingdom…seeking to please and serve Him…delighting in His Word…and fulfilling His call on our lives.
We are to pray “without wrath and dissension,” refocusing our energies away from ourselves and onto God. This kind of God-centered prayer provides a forum for healing relationships and wounds between husbands and wives, parents and children, enemies and rivals, or people with whom we’ve had conflicts.
Just imagine what would happen if we applied the principles Paul taught Timothy…if we prayed constantly, “in every place”…if we prayed “lifting up holy hands,” in acts of surrender and worship, with clean hands and pure hearts…if we prayed out of lives completely surrendered to Jesus as our Lord…if we prayed “without wrath and dissension,” laying aside anger, bitterness, or divisions…if we prayed together more often with other Christians…if, instead of worrying, debating, or criticizing, we took every need to God in prayer.
Commit yourself to a life of prayer!
- Make Up Your Mind...
“This is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best” Philippians 1:9-10 - This tug of war in our minds is really about values. Our values define us. They are the guiding principles that form our thoughts, our conclusions, and ultimately our behavior. They are instilled in us by our families, teachers, experiences, entertainment choices, our heroes, our community, and sometimes even by our fallen instincts. When we listen to all the voices around us and ignore the input of God’s Word, making up our mind always get us into trouble.
But when we accept the truth of God’s Word as the guiding principle for decision-making, we will be equipped with the discernment to make up our minds in good ways. And, there is no shortage of good advice in Scripture! God has given us the correct information on how to handle money, relationships, children, spouses, offenses, employers, employees, and politicians. You name it—God has the correct information to guide your mind to correct conclusions.
But beware—good discernment can be easily derailed by rationalization. It’s easy to make mental excuses that neutralize our ability to make good choices. We’ve all heard the excuses—and sometimes from our own lips: “I know it’s wrong, but . . .” or “If it weren’t for the way he treats me” or “I know a lot of people who do worse things.”
In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul encourages us to make excellent decisions that are the by-product of an uncompromised, excuse-free commitment to unselfish acts of love grounded in a discerning application of the knowledge of God’s Word. The result? A life that basks in the pleasures of purity, the fruit of the Spirit, and the fulfillment of our redemptive purpose to live to the praise and glory of God (Philippians 1:10-11).
So take my mother’s advice: Every day, make up your bed and make up your mind. Just be careful how you make up your mind!
YOUR JOURNEY…
List some of the primary sources of information in today’s society. What values and beliefs do they represent?
Read Romans 12:2. In what ways have you been conforming to the pattern of this world? What changes need to take place this week to center your thinking more on biblical values than worldly values? As you implement those changes, the process of transformation is well under way.
What decisions in your life have been shaped by biblical thinking and values? What has been the result of those decisions?
- In John 21, Peter had bailed on his calling to “fish for men” and had gone back to his old career of fishing for fish (John 21:3). After he and some others had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus showed up on the beach and filled their nets with fish. It was at this point that He did some serious business with Peter. In a triple interrogation, Jesus wanted to know if Peter loved Him. Though Peter verbally affirmed his love, Jesus made it clear that He would know that Peter loved Him only when Peter left his nets again and gave himself to the needs and nurture of people.
So here’s the takeaway. It really doesn’t make any difference how fervently you and I verbally affirm our love for Jesus. If we aren’t into extending our love and resources to the needs of others, then He doesn’t feel loved by us. It’s just that simple! But here’s the good news. People are everywhere—all kinds of them! You can find them at home, in the office, on the streets, and in heavy traffic. There may even be a few at church! So what are you waiting for? Today, Jesus has shown up on the beach of your heart and called you from a life lost in your own interests and offered you the privilege of getting involved in what He cares about—the needs and nurture of people!
YOUR JOURNEY…
Read the conversation between Jesus and Peter in John 21:15-17. How would you respond to Jesus’ question?
What is more important to you than the needs of others? Is it your plans, your possessions, your time, your energy? What could you intentionally do today to show your love for Jesus by reaching out to the needs of others? Make a specific plan. Just to stay in shape, do one thing each day to let Jesus know that you love Him!
If Jesus were to approach your heart’s door, would He see a sign swinging from the door handle that reads: “Gone Fishin’”?
- The beauty of God’s Word is that it is so accessible. From young children, not even yet able to read, to stellar biblical scholars, His truths offer fresh insight and perspective. In the trustworthy pages of the Bible, God actually—get this—teaches us. Instruction directly from the Author and Creator of Life! No wonder His Word “gives understanding to the simple” (Psalm 119:130).
That’s why the writer of this psalm, the longest chapter in the Bible, committed to meditating on God’s law all day long. He knew that questions would surface every day for which he had no answer. He knew that the daily struggle to live with integrity and purpose would require countless moment-by-moment decisions for which he would need wise counsel. And so he steeped his mind and his heart in the truth of God’s Word, heartily trusting that it would be sufficient for every situation. His confidence was that immersion in the truth of the Law granted him wisdom—the real, rubber-meets-the-road kind of wisdom—beyond what could be learned in school.
And so, armed with sound biblical wisdom, a 3-year-old wise guy in the backseat of my car brought a much-needed rebuke to his “biblically educated” Dad. And, by the way, for the rest of the car trip, I was a little bit more “be ye kind.”
YOUR JOURNEY…
How have you seen God’s truth affecting daily decisions and actions in your life? In what areas do you need more of His wisdom and less of your own? On a scale of 1 to 5, how deeply are you immersing yourself in the truth of God’s Word?
(1 = Wading in the kiddy pool, 5 = Scuba-diving deep in His truth)
What action steps could you intentionally take to help you go deeper in your study and application of God’s Word?
- Speak the Blessing...
- In Numbers 6:23, Moses is instructing Aaron and the priests how they are to bless God’s people. It says, “This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them.” God didn’t keep it a secret. He didn’t say, “I have a blessing for you, but I’m not gonna tell you how to receive it!” Not at all. God says, “Here are the instructions! This is the way you shall bless!” And how did God say to do it? He said to release the blessing by saying to them. We need to speak out the blessing over our lives, over our marriages and families, over our finances. All of us have some area we need in our life that needs fixing. We all have mountains in our lives. If you want to know how to fix your situation, then you’ve got to start by declaring the spoken blessing over it!
The Blessing is a force that releases the power you need to turn around any situation in your life! When you open your mouth and declare the blessing over your kids, over your health, or over any area of your life, you are releasing life and peace. You are bringing light into the darkest of situations and the Blessing will destroy and remove that mountain that you have struggled against for so long.
It is time for you to experience the power of God – the favor of God – the good will of God working for you to make things go your way!
- There are six words that will see you through anything you’re facing. If you understand what they truly mean, these six words will bring you out of every trial and give you hope for your future!
I have a covenant with God!
You have a covenant with God, and He has offered deliverance to you through this covenant. His power is transferred into our lives when we enter into agreement with Him. Jesus became a curse for us, for all of our sins- past, present, and future- and purchased our inheritance back for us so that we could experience the blessings and promises of God.
Gregory Dickow shares the familiar story of the woman with the issue of blood and brings new light to what it means to lay hold to the promises of God. No matter where you are right now; no matter what you may be facing, you need to know that God is faithful to His people, just as He was faithful to the woman who reached out to touch the garment of Jesus. She knew that the shawl represented His perfection and His power, and that if she could just reach out and touch it, she would be healed of her affliction. She touched Him with her faith, and He touched her with His power.
- In Matthew 6:12, when Jesus was teaching his disciples what we call “The Lord’s Prayer”, He said, “Forgive us as we forgive others.” He put such emphasis on this idea that two verses later He mentions it again. It was as if He started to walk away but turned around and said, “Listen to what I’m telling you! If you forgive others, your Heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you don’t forgive, you won’t be forgiven.” Think about this – It’s the only part of the prayer he repeated!
It will be the thing you think about over and over and you will lose your peace and cease to function because you are so tied up in knots.
But here’s the key – when somebody has hurt you, don’t curse it, don’t nurse it, and don’t rehearse it. Instead, disperse it and God will reverse it! That means don’t complain about it, don’t think about it over and over and don’t constantly talk about how hurt you are to other people. Instead, disperse it. Give it to God and He will turn the situation around for your good.
Remember, you’ve been forgiven. Walk in that forgiveness and you’ll be free. Nobody will be able to rob you of that freedom! When you’re hurt or offended, give it to God and let Him deal with it, and He will. That’s what brings the miraculous turnaround that you’ve been looking for in your life; your turnaround financially, your turnaround emotionally, your turnaround spiritually, your turnaround in your relationships and in your health. It all begins with forgiveness. Forgiveness is the gateway to your miracle.
- Enter course intercourse:
Yes, this is an article about intercourse, however, many of you need to be schooled about the truth, so Satan can stop funneling your warped minds with lies.
Who is the best? Many of you would proudly boast that you are because a few men or women have told you so. What is so amazing is, Satan is able to come into the minds and hearts of many and convince them that they possess a rare jewel, unlike any other, it's a lethal weapon, causes men to stalk you and women to show up at your job. But, let's enter a course, a course on truth in dealings with sexual relations.
I can imagine, if I went outside and poured gasoline over a highway, somewhere, along the way, someone is going to toss a cigarette out of the window and woooooshhhh! Fire! But, can that stretch of highway boast on being the hottest, when in truth, it is only being destroyed? That's what's happening today. GOD has poured into women, the ability to please a man and into men, the ability to please a woman. This anointing was to be reserved for the husband or the wife, but as this world gets more and more rebellious against GOD, the sea of fornication is overflowing and pride takes the seat where wisdom is absent. Everywhere you go, everywhere you look: sex, sex, sex...
On the TV, there are women posing like they have the best bodies known to man, bending over, displaying their derrieres and bosoms, men, in speedos, trying to show off their muscle tissue and openly displaying movements reserved for the bedroom. Music videos giving men and women alike this watered down lie like the right kind of intercourse will make a man or woman fall in love....and somewhere, somehow, along this road, a wedding is supposed to take place? Seems that on sinner's highway, Satan has up a few false destination signs. People that travel it, always think they are close or getting closer to a blessing, when the road to a blessing is completely in the opposite direction. Completely.
But, each instance, is chance, a hopeful meeting where expectations are tested and eventually extinguished like a fire on a cold January night. But, each time seems like you're getting closer, you're getting better, you're learning 'the game.' Funny thing is, your teacher, Satan, doesn't really have course materials, he just has you and he lies to you, to keep you on this road, speeding towards death, oblivious to the pit ahead because you're distracted with what is placed in front of you. Everybody wants to be blessed, but no one wants to go to the ONE who blesses for it. That, to them, is too much work. They don't want to submit to truth, instead, they'd rather submit to another human being, who, by the way, just may be the one who death has already ticketed. “But, just keep on humpin...',” he tells you, “...and it'll happen. The one will come along and you'll have him chirping like a happy bird on the first day of spring and off into the sunset you'll go.” How can you, knowing that Satan is a liar, the great deceiver of man, believe that he has just fed you with some truth?
Men and women who are anatomically correct have the ability to please.
But, before we go on to the lesson, we must visit another lesson, one that you may be totally unaware of.
How one responds to sex is already within them. You didn't come along and cause him or her to speak a new language. Your body is comprised of nerve cells called neurons. Neurons are the super highway in which signals travel from your body to your brain. When stimulated, for example, in your hand, they signal the brain that the area touched is either okay to the touch, too hot, or too cold. The brain then signals back a reaction. “A-Delta” fibers are neurons that respond to heat and touch. These neurons fire off what is known as 'good pain.' C... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14616 - “I Promise That if You Sow a Seed,
You Will Reap a Harvest!” - Spiritual Nourishment Equals Spiritual Growth:::
- Spiritual Nourishment Equals Spiritual Growth:::
- Lifting your voice up to the Lord should not be limited to a Sunday church service. God wants you to continually spend time in His presence.
When you face what seems like an impossible situation and don’t feel that you stand a chance, start giving the Lord honor and praise, and you’ll be surprised what the Lord will do for you!
We have to only look to God’s Word for evidence of this.
Every Day Dependence
In the wilderness, God miraculously provided manna to the children of Israel for them to eat, but
they were only to collect enough food for one day at a time.
What had been collected in the morning became so rotten by the next day that it gave off a stench so bad it made people sick. Only on the sixth day was there manna that lasted two days—because God wanted them to keep the Sabbath holy (Exodus 16:5).
Part of what God was trying to teach His children through the manna experience was to be dependent on Him every day. He also wants us to know that we can’t live today on yesterday’s provision, yesterday’s word, or yesterday’s experience. We need fresh manna every day!
Sadly, many Christians don’t choose to spend time with the Lord daily in His presence, in His Word, in prayer, or in worship.
How can we expect to be fed and nourished by Him if we don’t spend time with Him?
An Easy Answer
The answer points to why you may be starving to death spiritually. Your spiritual life is malnourished and lacking the power you need to live an overcoming life!
Fortunately, this changes when you choose to faithfully spend time with the Lord every day!
- Don’t Let Your Miracle Pass You By:::
- We’ve all heard stories about miracles that happen in an instant. But did you know that even though some miracles have happened that way, others happen over time?
In fact, Jesus once healed a blind man who wasn’t completely healed with His “first touch”:
“Taking the blind man by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting on his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, ‘Do you see anything?’ And he looked up and said, ‘I see men, for I see them like trees, walking around.’ Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly” (Mark 8: 23-25).
And although Jesus was willing to do miracles for anyone, most hadn’t prepared their hearts for His touch. Not everyone approached Him like Jairus, the woman with the demon-possessed daughter, or Zaccheus. As a result, many didn’t receive the miracle they needed—Jesus simply passed on by them.
On one occasion, Jesus’ disciples were facing the storms of life, and they were in danger of having Jesus pass by: “He came to them, walking on the sea; and He intended to pass by them” (Mark 6:48).
But the story has such a great ending. When the disciples finally recognized Jesus for who He was, and not the ghost they had first imagined, He “got into the boat with them, and the wind stopped; and they were utterly astonished” (Mark 6:51). This is exactly what Jesus wants to do in your life today. He wants to “get in the boat” with you, but your heart must be prepared to recognize Him.
Only then will He be able to come to you—in the midst of your storms and difficult situations.
Are You Prepared to Recognize Him?
We all know the devil will do everything he can to stop, thwart, or hinder God’s plans. And that includes clouding or closing your heart to receive the Lord’s full blessings in your life.
The devil works diligently to kill, steal, and destroy you physically, emotionally, and financially—that’s his primary objective. But we also, thankfully, know that Jesus can give us abundant life (John 10:10)!
So, what does it take to receive His blessings? It takes belief, obedience, and expectation.
You must believe in God’s power to intervene in your life; you must obey the Holy Spirit, and you must expect that He will guide you through any storm.
Once belief, obedience, and expectation are firmly planted in your heart, closing any possibility for the devil to invade, you will then recognize Jesus’ unyielding love and fervent protection—and your miracle won’t pass you by!
If there is anything in your life that might be blocking you from being able to recognize the fullness of His love for you, we have anointed prayer ministers that can support you as you lift your voice in prayer, asking for clarity. Just use the link below. We’ve also provided a link for additional spiritual guidance as you prepare to receive your miracle.
- Limits:::
- “‘Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ Pharaoh said, ‘Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.’” Genesis 50:4-6
Joseph had been elevated to the pinnacle of power in Egypt. Operating within the parameters established by Pharaoh, he had vast authority. He could gather and distribute grain as he felt necessary.
Yet Joseph never forgot the limits of his power and authority. He was aware of what he was allowed to do, but also sensitive to when he needed Pharaoh’s approval. We see this understanding after the death of his father, for Joseph knew he must seek Pharaoh’s approval for the action he wanted to take.
In fact, we might conclude that Joseph’s sensitivity to this issue was a key reason why Pharaoh trusted him and was willing to give him so much authority. Pharaoh knew that Joseph would act within the boundaries he had been given. Although he would act with confidence and conviction in areas in which he had been trusted, Joseph would not exceed this authority.
Joseph’s life illustrates the importance of submission to authority. This applies to everyone, even leaders. But the Biblical principle is that those who are under authority are the ones with real power. Why? Because they understand that all authority is limited and delegated.
The centurion who approached Jesus about his slave understood this principle (Luke 7:1-10). He told Jesus that he understood what it meant to be under authority. He recognized that Jesus had authority over demons and diseases, and that He simply had to speak a word in order to make things happen. Jesus responded that “not even in Israel have I found such great faith.”
Today, make sure you have submitted everything in your life to God. Humble yourself before Him. And seek to have a Godly attitude, being faithful in everything you do. Demonstrate that you are trustworthy and dependable, a good testimony for God’s Kingdom.
- The Secret Ingredient...
- Key Verse: Acts 2:42-47 (NASB) ”They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
- This motivation of love is the key to serving and to living the Christian life. Without it, serving starts out fine and then seems to go into the ditch of boredom, resentment and duty. That is why we need a supernatural dose of God’s love before we step out and serve! In fact, love is so important that Jesus summed up the Ten Commandments into just two, and both involve love:
“Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. ‘This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.’” Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT)
As Christians, we are to be motivated by this love, which the Bible describes as:
“Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NLT)
With this verse, I see how imperfect I am! I need help from God to have love this perfect, even for my children and husband, much less the other imperfect people around me. And the Bible says that anything we do without love is useless:
“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13 (NLT)
Love is the motivation God wants us to have as we live and serve those around us. He wants us to live out the love and sacrifice that Jesus lived out for us, so that the world can see Jesus. So what does a life motivated by love look like? The Bible says:
“Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!” Romans 12:9-16 (NLT)
Lord, we repent of serving others purely from duty and not out of Your love. Please help us have Your perfect love. Let it underpin all that we do in this life! Bring forth Your Kingdom in our hearts and lives. Let the world see You when they look at us. Thank You for the secret ingredient of Your Love that empowers us to serve each other! - Paul said, “If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing,” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Pastor Steve talked about his longing to see true and deep community within the Church like Acts 2. The believers there were moved to give their possessions out of love. They were devoted, and they wanted to imitate Christ’s love.
This is what we are to be about and, in many ways, this is already what KPC is about. But I also believe we should examine ourselves. There may still be sacred cows in our midst that we should eat for lunch. (Lest you think I’m original or clever, I stole that one from the sermon.) Ask the Lord to free you from bondage to the institution. Ask Him to help you internalize 1 Peter 2:9-10, which says, “but you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.” We are chosen so that we can declare His praises. There is nothing more worthwhile. God’s love compels us, and He equips us to take His message outside the walls of the church and into a world that doesn’t need religion; it needs Jesus. - Our God sent Jesus to earth on a mission, and He, like the fictional Peter Phelps and his IMF Team, keeps right on task until the end. Jesus states His mission like this:
For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost. Luke 19:10 (NLT)
Brilliantly simple! And He did His part. On the cross, after calling out in thirst and being given sour wine, He declared:
When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. John 19:30 (NLT)
Scripture records that the reason Jesus died was because of love:
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 (NLT)
Now, we Christians have received the benefits of this sacrifice. We are given salvation and a new life. We are being led by the Holy Spirit as we go out to live Christ’s life. We have accepted His mission, right? Or are we too scared?
How do we do such an impossible seeming task? We are too sinful and broken ourselves! The answer is, in the power of the Holy Spirit! God has to empower us to complete this mission. And the secret is to love Jesus and each other, showing mercy to all of those around us. We are to be living “Signs and Wonders” that make all of those people around us see the difference Jesus has made in our lives and wonder why we are different. As we are set free from our sinful patterns and healed of our brokenness, we can turn to the others we see in the same situations and offer them the comfort that we have received from Jesus. It doesn’t have to be complicated at all. I have offered comfort to mothers I have met in the past whose children are straying from God. That is because I was once such a child, with a mother who prayed for me daily to return to Jesus. Many long years she prayed, and often recounted to God the Godly heritage I had in my ancestors, who were close to Him. She kept on praying, and at the ripe age of 42 years old, I came back to the fold at last! So my message of encouragement is to mothers who are praying desperately over a long period of time for straying children. I tell them “Never stop praying and believing!” And I come alongside them and pray with them for their prodigal children. And they listen, because it is part of my life, not just a recitation of Scriptures. It is the fruit of the Scriptures!
So I would like to challenge you! Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is the very Mission of Jesus! Love Him; let Him lead you as you live out your daily life. Ask Him to show you the lost and broken ones around you. Give them the supernatural love of Jesus, opening up your lives to show the broken places where He has repaired you. This mission will require giving up your shame, so you can uncover your scars and show the healing touch of God in your life. It is not mission impossible, but Mission Possible!
The disciples were astounded. “Then who in the world can be saved?” they asked. Matthew 19:25-26 (NLT)
Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible” (v26).
You see, Jesus said so! - “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6
- “Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you.” Proverbs 4:24
I worked for a carpenter one summer between college semesters. Being the inexperienced apprentice, occasionally I would cut a board too short. Seeing that I had wasted a good board, my frustrated boss would reply: “Get the wood stretcher!”
His point? Wood doesn’t stretch.
Neither does the truth. Once stretched, it is no longer the truth. It is “crooked, devious talk.”
But let’s face it. Stretching the truth now and then can be a handy option, especially if we are in trouble or trying to gain some advantage. But if you think that twisting or slightly adjusting the truth isn’t damaging, think again. When Satan spoke to Eve in Genesis 3:1-24, he exaggerated God’s command—“Don’t eat of this one tree”—asking her if God had really said, “You shall not eat from every tree.” Due to his clever mismanagement of true truth, Eve no longer felt that God was generous and good but rather stingy and restrictive. This distortion of the truth planted seeds of doubt and distrust in Eve’s mind that blossomed into disastrous disobedience—a disobedience that has significantly damaged each of us as well.
Every day there are plenty of opportunities to fall to the temptation of mismanaging the truth for our own advantage. Sins of the tongue like flattery, boasting, gossip, and slander are all easily committed when we lose a high regard for the truth.
But under the surface, distorting the truth is a sign of some serious internal problems. Anger is a fertile feeding ground for exaggerating someone’s faults in order to wound them when they have hurt or crossed us.
If your life is committed to “me first” and to making sure you are on top of the pile, your twisted truth words will quickly betray your addiction to yourself. - Pride will lead you to embellish the truth to help you feel better about yourself or to make you look better than others. Seductive thoughts will lead you to flattery and alluring twists of the truth. A greedy heart will hide the true faults of a product and embellish its virtues just to make a sale.
But beware, stretching the truth for your personal advantage ultimately backfires. It’s our character that suffers as landmark virtues like trust and credibility, two building blocks of successful relationships, get slain on the battlefield of our self-serving twisting of the truth. Turning anger to patience and forgiveness; turning self-serving instincts to loving others; turning pride to true humility and greed to generosity will enable you to have the courage to experience the joy of telling it like it really is—which, believe it or not, will ultimately produce better outcomes than stressing yourself out by always twisting and turning the truth to your own gain. As the poet Sir Walter Scott said, “Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!”
YOUR JOURNEY…
In what kind of situations do you tend to distort the truth? Choose the most prevalent one and make a plan to tell the truth regardless.
Think through the kinds of internal problems that tempt you to stretch and twist the truth. What steps could you take to transition your sinful attitude to a truth-telling attitude?
Make a plan now to take at least one opportunity to tell the truth clearly as a blessing to someone else before this day is done!
- We always have enough when God is our supply.
- I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. —Revelation 3:15
- When we say we have everything we need, but Jesus isn’t at the top of the list, He is deeply offended. Self-sufficiency distracts us from pursuing the things we really need that only He can give. If you’d rather have cash than character, if your credit cards are maximized and your righteousness is minimized, if you’ve become smart but aren’t wise, then you’ve been shopping in all the wrong places. Jesus offers commodities that are far better (Rev. 3:18).
He’s knocking at your heart’s door (Rev. 3:20). Let Him in. He will give you all you really need!
We must be careful to avoid
All self-sufficiency;
If sinful pride gets in the way,
God’s hand we will not see. - Soul Food...!!!
- The Bible contains all the nutrients for a healthy soul.
- Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. —Jeremiah 15:16
- When we read God’s Word, we have to be doing more than checking it off our to-do list. We have to read it to digest it. Slow, thoughtful absorption of the Word of God with quiet reflection on its implications is high in nutrition. His Word provides all the ingredients we need to thrive spiritually:
a direct connection to the sustainer of our soul
brain food that makes us wise and discerning
a daily check-up revealing the condition of our hearts
preventive medicine keeping us from sin
a spiritual shower of peace, hope, and comfort
Eat God’s Word. It’s a spiritual feast!
God’s Word provides the nourishment
That Christians need if we’re to grow;
But if we do not feast on it,
A vibrant faith we’ll never know. - Help Is on the Way...
- “ Yes, I am coming soon.’” Revelation 22:20
- Wherever you are and whatever you’re facing today, your trust in the promise of Christ’s return will bring you a deep sense of peace that defies understanding.
So, chin up—help is on the way and heaven is next! - "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27
- When you get on line in your heart to hear His voice and His alone, you will be liberated from the conflicting voices that in the end you really can’t trust. Thankfully, He has given you all the equipment you need. Talk about high tech! The indwelling Holy Spirit actually lives within you to decode God’s Word as you read it. He speaks to your mind, heart, and conscience as your eyes scan the lines of the bestselling how-to-live book ever written.
So put the “earbuds” in and tune to the one frequency where you are loved and led to life as God meant it be—life at it’s best!
Remember, His is the only voice you can finally and fully trust. He loves you and died to prove it!
Download and live! - What are you trusting to bring you joy and satisfaction? What do you depend on to give you a sense of security and safety? Where do you turn for significance? Are you focused on a wallet that’s growing with the “right” credit cards, a thick stack of cash, and the right business cards? Ironically, a full wallet can be carried on a body with an empty heart.
Live for the incredible spiritual wealth and riches offered to you by our loving heavenly Father, who, according to James, delights in giving good gifts to His children. Your physical wallet may be almost empty, but, if your heart is full of all that Jesus offers, you’ve got all the right stuff to defeat the Vikings that plague your life and to experience true joy and satisfaction. - "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will." Ephesians 1:11
- "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship." Romans 12:1
- Paul gets it right when he informs us that the key issue in growth and transformation is the renewing of our minds, not just the mental activity of stacking up huge stores of biblical data. If that’s all we have we soon become proud and judgmental. We are to train our minds to think God’s thoughts after Him. To think the way He does about the poor and the oppressed. To think His thoughts about our enemies and those who have used and abused us. To let His thoughts honestly evaluate the lame stuff we pile up in our hearts. To think His thoughts about our money, time, family, job, and all other aspects of our lives.
After years of marriage, I find that increasingly my wife Martie and I think a lot alike. I can almost complete her sentences. After years of being a Christian, you would think that one should almost instinctively know His mind about nearly everything! But unfortunately that is often not the case, because Satan has been stealing us blind of our greatest treasure: the way we think!
Your Journey . . .
Take a few minutes to read Romans 12:1-2. Prayerfully ask the Spirit to reveal where your thoughts are not God’s thoughts.
Take an inventory of the key areas of your life. From reading God’s word, what are God’s thoughts about each of those? Is your thinking in sync with His about the specific issues that exist in each area? If not, what can you do to change the way you think? How will that change the way you act? Be specific.
There are certain dynamics that block God’s thoughts from penetrating our thought life: i.e., rationalizing, excuses, self-deceit, wrong desires. What can you do to short circuit these dynamics so that His thoughts can get a grip on your heart?
Getting close to God in prayer, the study of His Word, the influence of solid biblical study, taking notes and reviewing them so that you don’t forget are all ways in which we grow to think His thoughts. Select one thought pattern to change today. It will get you off to a great start!
- After these things Jesus showed Himself again to the disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. —John 21:1
- Jesus calls us to follow Him— and repeats His call when necessary.
- Learning how to be rich toward God yields eternal dividends.
- You’ll hear a lot of advice about how to become rich. But only Jesus tells it to us straight. It’s not about the money. It’s about the richness of our relationship with Him and the joy of turning our greed into generosity.
The riches of this world are vain,
They vanish in a day;
But sweet the treasures of God’s love—
They never pass away. - Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses. —Luke 12:15
- Encountering the Great “I AM”....
- Key Verse: John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’”
- When God introduced His Name to Moses, He called Himself “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Notice that He didn’t call Himself “I DO.” He is interested in our knowing His character, but we often settle for knowing His works.
- When a baby is born, he is only interested in what people do for him. Crying gets him food, a fresh diaper, or whatever he needs, and he doesn’t care who provides it. As the child grows older, he learns that different people have different personalities, and he has favorite friends who have attributes he likes, but often the favorites are also the most generous with the toys. As an adult, one would expect he would be choosing his friends based on their characters, not on what they can give him. Maturity turns a recipient into a relationship.
Of course, the Bible (and our own lives) testifies to all the wonderful works that God does. But still, He is the “I AM.” His works are a result of His character: He is creative, so He creates. He is love, so He forgives. He is just, so He disciplines.
When God doesn’t “do” for us, we sometimes question His attributes. “If God really loved me, would He let this happen to me?” Spouses die from cancer, children are abused, feelings are hurt. That’s the time we have to get past our childish belief that God is the great Doer, and get to know His real character. Then we can learn, “I know God loves me, even if I don’t know understand why this bad circumstance happened.”
Listen to your prayers (if you pray at all!). How much of your prayer time is spent asking for God to do something for you or someone else? How much is spent listening to what HE has to say? It’s not wrong to ask for things, but if that is the only purpose to your prayers, then it’s time to start getting to know God better for Himself, the great “I AM.” Then your thanksgiving (for His deeds) can move into real worship (of His character). His presence is even more satisfying than His gifts. - “Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.BUT AS FOR ME AND MY HOUSE, WE WILL SERVE THE LORD.“ Joshua 24:15
Finally, the Children of Israel buried the bones of Joseph with his forefathers in the same ground that Abraham had bought for 100 pieces of money over 400 years before. (Joshua 24:1, 14-15, 32)
d) Shechem was destroyed by Abimelech, son of Gideon, was rebuilt in the 10th century BC, and was probably the capital of Ephraim. (1 Kings 4)
e) After Solomon’s death, Shechem was the place appointed for the meeting of the people of Israel and the investiture of Rehoboam; the meeting ended in the secession of the ten northern tribes, and Shechem, fortified by Jeroboam, became the capital of the new kingdom for a while.2 (1 Kings 12:1; 14:17; 2 Chronicles 10:1)
All this history was contained in this place. But one more element remained to influence Jesus’ interview at the well. That is the dispersion of the Northern Kingdom. After years of rebellion against the authority of God, Israel was conquered by the Assyrian Empire and removed from the land. (II Kings 16-18) Some accounts of Assyrian pacification policy say that they removed the leadership of a conquered nation. For example, here is one Internet citation:
“Besides massacring the enemy soldiers, Assyrians made mass deportations of the rulers (nobles, functionaries, craftsmen), so that the remaining people obeyed with humiliation (the most famous is that described in the Bible, of the Israeli to Babylon [this example is a little flawed, since it happened after the fall of the Assyrian Empire]). Enemy kings were beheaded and their heads hanged (sic) in trees, and cities were destroyed. Women were made slaves. This cunning policy, the army, and good administration maintained the empire for centuries. The conquered populations had to pay heavy annual tributes.”3
Some say they transplanted entire populations from one region to another (agreeing with II Kings 18:11). Others reports say they removed all the men from a territory leaving the women to then become the wives of the imported men, thus destroying the social fabric of a defeated people. Whatever the practical reality, the inhabitants of Samaria were no longer the ten tribes of Israel and had not been for centuries when Jesus came to Sychar. With full knowledge of all these historic currents flowing around him, Jesus sits down by Jacob’s well. With all the times God had made and renewed His covenant with His people, Jesus is there once more to make the promises of God manifest. As the prophet Isaiah had said centuries before:
“Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
And deep darkness the people;
But the Lord will arise over you,
And His glory will be seen upon you.
The Gentiles shall come to your light,
And kings to the brightness of your rising.” Isaiah 60:1-3
The story of the woman at the well is the first time that Jesus intentionally seeks out the gentiles (that would be most of us) for salvation. I am ever grateful for God’s return to Shechem. - Living Water...
- John 4:13-14 “Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.’”
- The idea of friendship with God is fascinating. First of all, God is so vast and powerful that to think of human and Deity camaraderie seems rather impossible. Secondly, why
would God want to have community with His creatures? We mess up regularly, grieve Him, and struggle to follow Him. Yet, He continues to love. He IS love.
The woman at the well is a profound example. She, like all people would, was at the well getting water to quench her thirst. She knew that she must always return to the
well, because thirst comes regularly. She was human, with human perspective. But in the middle of her rather ordinary routine, God came in human form and offered her an eternal option to satisfy thirst. His offer was relationship and communion with Himself.
So many times in Scripture, we see this offer of rest and communion with God. One of my favorites is Isaiah 30:15, “This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says, ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.” He goes on to say later in the chapter, in verse 18, “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him.”
What consistently stands out is a lack of striving. Quietness, rest, waiting, compassion…all these things make us pause and take a deep breath. The woman at the well lived a
life of relational turmoil with men. She was used to being rejected by the Jews as a Samaritan, and she was focused on forms and debates of worship instead of
worshipping in spirit and in truth. Jesus stopped her in her tracks and His offer was one of love and rest.
Later on in Isaiah 46, God once again says “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, all you who remain of the house of Israel, you whom I have upheld since you were conceived, and have carried you since your birth. Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.” Do you see the themes coming out over and over again? God is the One to carry us and the One who rescues, sustains, and gives rest. Relationship with Him is pure joy. Don’t get me wrong; God is still a God of justice and wrath with un-repentance. But for those who accept Him, turn from sin, and accept relationship, He is the satisfaction we so deeply long for.
Today, “harden not your heart” and receive His goodness and offer of relationship. If you have been choosing sin instead of Him, rid yourself of it and come back to Him. God longs to give you the living water. Take time to pray after reading and even search the Scriptures for other examples of God’s compassion and rest. There are so many and I
know they will encourage your heart. - Please understand that God is holy. That means He is different from us, and that difference separates us. But God in His love provided a Savior from our condition. Jesus Christ the righteous took on our sin and infirmity and nailed them to the cross. He became our Kinsman Redeemer (Ruth 4:1-11). He passed the blessing of the Only Begotten Firstborn onto us (Genesis 48) so that we might be clothed in His righteousness. All of this was done for us that we might never be separated from Him.
Yet most of the time we travel in a fog, not seeing God, not feeling His presence. I think there is a clue to that reality in our title scripture. I often wonder why God led the children of Israel with a pillar of cloud by day and fire by night. The scripture itself holds at least one clue, “so as to go by day and night.” When God called His people to move, provision was made. They could go any time, day or night. They knew which way; there was no doubt. By day the cloud guided them when they moved, even shielding them from the heat of the sun. By night the pillar of fire illuminated their world. Not only would they not stumble as they walked, but what predator or foe would try to raid a camp whose security light was a fire pillar reaching into the heavens? There are well over forty references to the cloud in the Books of Moses. At the dedication of the tabernacle, the cloud descended, and overwhelmed, all present. (Numbers 15:15-16)
But there is another factor here, call it a personal interpretation. God appeared as a cloud when the people had the light of day. When their focus was on the things of this world, God was obscured. But at night, in the darkness, the glory of God shone all around them. When the world was obscured, God was visible. Take that idea and meditate on this lovely chorus taken from an old hymn.
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
(Michael W. Smith)
There is one more idea I want you to grasp. It is manifest presence. That is the theological concept we have been dancing around for the last several weeks. To know in theory that God is always present is one thing. To experience Him in a way that is tangible to us personally is another. At the dedication of the tabernacle, the cloud descended and overwhelmed all present. (Numbers 15:15-16)
When Solomon dedicated the Temple in Jerusalem, again the presence of God filled the entire temple to the point that the priests could not minister. (I Kings 8:10-11) The Jewish tradition developed a word for this phenomenon. It is ×©×›×™× ×”, transliteratedshekinah. The original word means the dwelling or settling, and denotes the dwelling or settling of the divine presence of God, especially in the Temple in Jerusalem.1 Charismatic Christians have used the term to denote the manifest presence of God, especially in worship experiences.
While we each have the indwelling Spirit, feeling His presence in worship or in prayer is exciting, comforting, and/or overwhelming. He may be perceived by any or all of our senses and manifested in various emotional responses. I have seen or experienced all of the following: unexplained tears, uncontrolled laughter, smelling sweet aromas, falling under the weight of His power/presence, inability to move for a period, inexplicable sense of peace or wellbeing. All this and more can happen in the shekinah.
My father reported to me that a halo of light surrounded the roof of his church for hours one night after particularly anointed worship. There were multiple witnesses, but I was not present. All of this is to say we should seek the presence of God. Manifestation is wonderful and faith building, but the central issue is seeking God’s presence. Remember Elijah. There was wind. But God was not there. There was earthquake. But God was not there. There was fire. But God was... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14544 - 5 Most Important Words in Worship:
Renowned theologian David Allan Hubbard originally highlighted The Five Words of Worship; and long ago they were adopted and adapted to our mission at Worship Leader to focus on the biblical foundations for worship in its myriad expressions and especially in songs: past, present, and future. You’ll see these words matched with songs and imprinted on each Song DISCovery disc. What follows will be a refresher for some and for others “new stuff.” Although as any devoted Bible reader knows, there are many words connected with worship. Yet, understanding these five core words may change the way you read Scripture, relate to God, facilitate song selection for your set list, as well as inform and enlighten your song writing.
Each of these five words connect us to the rich and living vocabulary of worship and remind us who we worship, why we worship, how we worship, and the theological context of our worship. These are touch points for our communities and congregations, drawing us into God and his mission to, in, and through us.The point of these words is not to simply sprinkle them liberally throughout your service, but to live, worship, speak, write, and create from the reality they represent. In songs—as well as sermons and visual art—most often one of worship’s words will dominate, but it is possible to have elements of more than one “word of worship” in a single expression of worship.
1. Hallelujah boasts of the Lord and his attributes
From the Hebrew, Hallelujah is firmly associated with the book of Psalms—in the New Testament Greek, it is pronounced “Alleluia.” It is comprised of the imperative verb “halal” meaning “praise,” and “Y’ah,” a short form of Yahweh, the principal name of God in the Bible. Hallelujah, therefore, is properly interpreted as the command, “Praise Yahweh.” “Yahweh,” in turn, ultimately points to the name of Jesus, which in Hebrew is pronounced “Y’shua” and means “Yahweh saves.”
Hallelujah Examples:
“How Great is Our God” By Chris Tomlin
Names of God (visual projection) By Camron Ware
“Holy, Holy, Holy” By Reginald Heber & John B. Dykes
2. Abba reflects intimacy and relationship with God
Abba, from the Aramaic, literally means “the Father.” There is a common misunderstanding that gives it the more informal emphasis of “Daddy.” Indeed, in modern Hebrew, Abba means just that, but in the Aramaic spoken by Jesus it was used by children not only to express deep emotion, warmth and intimacy, but also dignity and respect. Abba could more properly be translated as “Dear Father.”
To call God, as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Abba, Father,” is to address the creator of the universe intimately and was unusually daring in light of Hebrew tradition. Yet, it is how Jesus modeled communication with the Father.
Abba Examples:
“How He Loves” Written by John Mark McMillan
“He Knows My Name” Written by Tommy Walker
Rembrandts, The Return of the Prodigal Son
3. Hosanna is a cry for or celebration of God’s deliverance
Hosanna (from the Hebrew) in its original Old Testament context, expressed the pain and despair of a people crying out to God for deliverance. It is a prayer for help and a plea for salvation, perhaps best expressed as, simply, “Save Us!”
In the New Testament, that prayer becomes a shout of praise, a declaration of the saving work of Jesus, the Messiah; because in him, God has acted, finally and decisively.
An imperative form of the Hebrew ‘ yasba,” the principal verb “to save,” essentially means “to make room” or “to give breadth and depth.” The word ‘Savior” also derives from “yasba,” denoting “one who liberates or sets us free from all that presses in.”
Hosanna is linked to Psalm 118. Sung after the Passover meal, with its prophetic... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14537 - Where is Your Focus...
- Exodus 33:8-11 ”Whenever Moses went to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.”
- Moses is an amazing man in the Bible. We can learn from him in so many ways, not the least of which is his personal relationship with God. While there is no way to prove this, I believe one of the reasons God talks with him face to face like a friend is because of his focus. He is not thrown about by every whim or Israelite grumbling. He leaves the position of being Egyptian royalty to instead suffer and lead God’s people. He looks to God every time there is a problem and is always obedient to God’s instructions. His focus is on God.
The Israelites, unfortunately, complain and change their hearts rapidly. Each time they experience trouble, their first inclination is either to blame God or decide that He has abandoned them. Where is the trust? Where is the focus? The Israelites focus on everything around them, just as Peter does when he begins to walk on water. The result is always fear and sinking. We also see that they do not enjoy the same type of relationship with God as Moses does. (I’m not implying that it is only because their focus is wrong. We know that the Holy Spirit had not yet been poured out on all people before the time of Jesus, and God usually chose prophets and certain people to speak to and share His message in the Old Testament.) However, we simply cannot gloss over the fact that God literally speaks to Moses like a friend.
This reminds us of a time before the Fall, where Adam and Eve walk with God in the cool of the day (Genesis 3) and even after the Fall in Genesis 5, where it says Enoch walks with God. What a beautiful and close relationship we are intended to have with our Creator. But just like the Fall, we become deceived or enticed by things around us. We allow too many things in, and they infect us. Our focus on God loses clarity and soon we find ourselves falling or at least feeling distant from God.
God wants our eyes on Him. He wants us to purge the infection so we can be healed, for He delights in obedient hearts. Where is your heart today? Where is your focus? We are the privileged ones who have the Holy Spirit at all times. Of all people and times, we should be focused on God! He is living in us!
Pray today that God will enable you to walk intimately with Him and that you will clearly hear His voice and be obedient. Ask Him to help you purge those things from your life that draw your focus away from Him. He is far better than anything our eyes could feast or focus on. - His Glory...
- Then Moses said, “Now show me Your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)
The glory of the Lord is abundant around us. It is in the eyes of the newborn baby. The glory of the Lord is in the smile of a mature woman who has loved and learned. The glory of the Lord is found in the face of a small violet or the velvet of a rose petal. The glory of the Lord is in the mirror. You are His delight; His glory shines bright in you.
Look, beloved, at that face of yours, the face that has shared more than a million smiles, an ocean of tears. The face that is worn with the journey of a life well lived. Yours is a face created in His perfect image. It shines brightly with His amazing grace.
Look, beloved, at that beautiful face of yours, the face that shows care and concern. He sees His glory shining from your sparkling eyes, the eyes that have seen a world of beauty and pain.
Look, beloved, at that beautiful mouth—the mouth that speaks of God’s glory. The words that encourage and bring life to those who are lost or fallen or broken … words that encourage us all, for we are all lost and fallen and broken.
Look, beloved, at that beautiful face. That face that says to the world, “I am His, and He is mine.” The face that says, “His glory is abundant, and I am here to share.”
Look, beloved, in the mirror. You are the glory of the Lord. You have been delivered by the Master Creator to live out a life that tells the story of the grace and glory of our God. He has created you so perfectly in His image.
Go, beloved, and share that beautiful face with the world. Share the love of our Jesus. Share the glory of God, the glory that permeates from you! - Exodus 33:8-11 ”Whenever Moses went to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.”
- To try to give you an idea of the power (energy) of God. God has been described in the Bible as having various forms of energy:
Heat – “So He poured out on him (Jacob) the heat of His anger and the fierceness of battle; and it set him aflame all around.” (Isaiah 42:25)
Electrical – “Out from the throne come flashes of lightning and sounds and peals of thunder.” (Revelation 4:5)
Sound – “The glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east. And His voice was like the sound of many waters; and the earth shone with His glory.” (Ezekiel 43:2)
Light – “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all.” (I John 1:5) “They shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them.” (Revelation 22:5)
Nuclear – “In Him all things hold together.” (Colossians 1:17) Through His energy, He spoke and worlds were created from nothing. By His Word, the entire universe could be dissolved. (2 Peter 3:10)
Before someone accuses me of teaching that God is a Star Wars-type of force, let me point out that He is more than a force. He is a Person of incredible power who came in the form of Jesus to “be the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature.”(Hebrews 1:2) No scientific explanation is adequate for God – after all, what kind of God would He be if He could be fully understood by finite humans?
The next time you pray and wonder if God has any ability to answer your prayers, remember His great power. As the Creator of energy, He has it all at His disposal. Combined with His love and His wisdom — which motivate all of His works — there is nothing He can’t do! - One Thing that I Seek
This Week’s Key Verse: Exodus 33:8-11 (NLT)”Whenever Moses went to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.” - Getting to know God is so awesome! As I learned to read the Bible, pray and worship, I began to experience the Presence of God. And I couldn’t get enough! I found it difficult to do anything else; I loved His Presence so much! I love the story of Moses, the people of Israel, Joshua and the Presence of God told in Exodus 33:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.’” Exodus 33:1-3 (NLT)
God was not happy with the Israelites! He was ready to stop traveling with them, and instead, replace His Presence with an angel. Scripture records this statement as causing sadness in the Israelite camp:
“When the people heard these stern words, they went into mourning and stopped wearing their jewelry and fine clothes. For the Lord had told Moses to tell them, “You are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I were to travel with you for even a moment, I would destroy you. Remove your jewelry and fine clothes while I decide what to do with you.” So from the time they left Mount Sinai, the Israelites wore no more jewelry or fine clothes.” Exodus 33:4-6 (NLT)
The people went into mourning over the stern words of the Lord. They felt the displeasure of the Lord. But how did Moses, their leader, handle these words of displeasure? Did he run from God, or bow his head in shame and withdraw? Not quite! Moses and Joshua had a slightly different relationship with God than the rest of the Israelites:
“Whenever Moses went out to the Tent of Meeting, all the people would get up and stand in the entrances of their own tents. They would all watch Moses until he disappeared inside. As he went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and hover at its entrance while the Lord spoke with Moses. When the people saw the cloud standing at the entrance of the tent, they would stand and bow down in front of their own tents. Inside the Tent of Meeting, the Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as one speaks to a friend. Afterward Moses would return to the camp, but the young man who assisted him, Joshua son of Nun, would remain behind in the Tent of Meeting.” Exodus 33:8-11 (NLT)
Notice that Moses went right into the Presence of God in the Tent of Meeting. Joshua would even remain afterwards in the Tent of Meeting, where God’s Presence was. But the people stood in the entrances to their own tents, and watched Moses and Joshua. They were not trying to get into the actual Presence of God, but wanted to remain safely in the distance and watch. They were afraid.
Often in a service, I see people who seem to be watching from a little distance. They are not really sure that they want to run closer to the Holy Presence of God. After all, He says stern things and talks about destruction. But those who have tasted this Presence, they spiritually run towards Him! Their cry is similar to Moses’ when he talked to God about having an angel instead of God’s Presence leading them:
“The Lord replied, ‘I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest – everything will be fine for you.’” Exodus 33:14-18 (NLT)
Then Moses said, “If you don’t personally go with us, don’t make us leave this place. How will anyone know that you look favorably on me – on me and on your people – if you don’t go with us? For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14524 - Key Verse: Luke 5:10b-11 (NIV) “Then Jesus said to Simon, ‘Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.’ So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed Him.”
- Here is a scene that reminds me of Jesus’ sojourn into Samaria when the people thronged to hear His Word, “Do you not say, “There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!”(John 4:35)Here the people are so hungry to hear Him speak that they are literally pushing Him into the lake. They are a catch just waiting to be landed.
Verse 2: and saw two boats standing by the lake; but the fishermen had gone from them and were washing their nets.
Apparently, lake fishing was a night operation. When Jesus arrives, the workday is over; the fishermen are cleaning up, preparing for the next catch. This is where Jesus finds them, tired, ready to rest.
Verse 3: Then He got into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, and asked him to put out a little from the land. And He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
You may have noticed the title at the beginning of this passage (in the NKJV), “Four Fishermen Called as Disciples.” I reread these verses three times looking for the fourth fisherman. He was, of course, Andrew (Matthew 4:18-22), Simon’s brother and partner on the boat. He is not mentioned here and whether he was on the boat or left on shore to finish cleaning the nets we do not know. Simon had complied with Jesus’ request out of the respect that a Jew would have for an iterate rabbi, a teacher of the law. We know nothing of Simon before this point. We learn here that he is a fisherman and a business partner with his brother and with James and John. In the Middle East, that probably means they are relatives.
Verse 4: When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”
As we saw in the miracle of water into wine, supernatural events are often preceded by God’s demand of action in obedience. The phrase, “launch out into the deep” has become synonymous in our language with an act of faith requiring courage. Peter did not have to display much physical courage, but he did have to overcome his own logic.
Verse 5: But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.”
As we said before, Simon was tired. He had worked all night, and had just cleaned his nets. To cast them again would take strength and energy, and they would have to be cleaned again. How could Jesus ask all this of a man who was ready to go to bed? So when Simon gave his reasons to Jesus, they were perfectly good ones. But he cast his nets anyway. Why? We could only guess.
We often find ourselves in the same situation. We have been faithful laborers. We have worked hard, given our best effort, and the return has been minimal. We are tired, ready for rest. Here comes Jesus, asking us to “launch into the deep.” We have all our reasons why what He is suggesting is not a good idea, why the effort will be futile. We tried it all before. It did not work. Yet, there He is, “Let down your nets for a catch.” What will you reply. I can only guess. - “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” Genesis 1:31
- YOUR JOURNEY…
Think of how you feel about something you cherish that is manmade. Do you tend to worship it? When was the last time you worshiped God by cherishing His creation?
Take some time today to observe some of the good aspects of God’s creation. Make a mental list of those things and express your appreciation to God for the way His creation satisfies you. Be specific!
Read Paul’s advice to Timothy in 1 Timothy 6:17. What things has God richly provided for your enjoyment?
- Clearing Out The Clutter...
- Don’t let the Spirit reside in a cluttered heart. Take some time to clean it up today!
- Paul pointedly asked, “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Cor. 6:19)—which makes me wonder if God often feels like He is living in our messy garage.
Perhaps it’s time to set aside a spiritual workday and, with His help, get to work clearing out the clutter. Discard those thoughts of bitterness. Bag up and throw out the old patterns of sensual thoughts. Organize your attitudes. Fill your heart with the beauty of God’s Word. Make it clean to the core, and then leave the door open for all to see! - “Each man’s work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire.” 1 Corinthians 3:13
- YOUR JOURNEY…
How often do you consider the reality that Jesus could come back at any moment?
How does that reality impact your task list for today? What should be added to your to-do list? What could be taken off the list?
Take a minute to pray that God will bring some worthy investment options to mind—places for you to put your time and talents to good use for eternity. Then pick one of them and pursue it!
- Do you ever wonder what kind of legacy you’ll leave behind?
- As Paul told the Philippians, “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Hebrews 3:13-14). There’s no better time than the start of this New Year to set our sights on new goals that will, over time, develop a legacy worth leaving.
Building a legacy worth leaving behind begins today and is made one decision at a time. Live this year to hear Jesus say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” In my book, that’s a legacy worth living for! - YOUR JOURNEY…
Spend a few minutes thinking about the legacy you would like to leave. How does that compare to Paul’s desired legacy expressed in 2 Timothy 4:1-22?
What type of legacy will the current choices and priorities of your life lead to? Are there some changes that need to take place today to move you back toward a legacy of faithful service to Christ?
The good news for each of us is that God’s grace is available to forgive, cleanse, and refocus us today! He can use whatever time you have left to bring glory and honor to Him.
- YOUR JOURNEY…
How does your awareness of the complexity of your DNA change your view of God’s intimate interest in your life?
What difference does it make in your perspective on yourself and God knowing that God’s creative power put together the very DNA that shapes who you are?
How is your perspective on the needs of the people of the world shaped by the knowledge that God intimately knows each one of them?
Read through Psalm 139:1-24. Pray back to God the prayer that David said to close the psalm.
- “Love your neighbor as yourself” Mark 12:31
- Not all of us will be called to such radical and risky expressions of love for Christ, but He is always interested in our love for Him. A quick glance at our day-timer planner, checkbook ledger, or social calendar will probably reveal whether Christ feels truly loved by us—or not.
When one of the Pharisees asked Jesus which Old Testament commandment was the greatest, I find it interesting that He didn’t limit it to just one. He began with the “most important one”—namely, to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” He continued, “The second one is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”
The point is clear. We prove our love for God by giving of ourselves to the needs of others. That’s why Jesus connected the two commands. You can’t do one without the other. You can’t say you love God and ignore the needs of people. And you can’t really get fired up to love people until you are deeply committed to loving God. That’s exactly why Jesus interrogated Peter three times and said, in essence, if we truly love Jesus we will care about what He cares about—the needs and nurture of people (John 21:15-17).
Like the friends I met in Hong Kong, I want to be regularly, actively loving the “neighbors” in my life as a way of putting my love for God on display. I wonder what that would look like in your world?
YOUR JOURNEY…
Do you know someone whose life and ministry displays a deep love for Christ? If so, take a moment to write them a note of appreciation and encouragement today.
Would others say that you are one of those people? Why or why not?
Who are the “neighbors” in your life, and what can you do to display your love for God by loving them? Remember, some of your “neighbors” might live in your house and be in your extended family.
- Spending Time With the Lord...
- Seek the Lords face and not his hand, in other wards, actually seek to spend time with God because you love Him and not because of what He’s able to do for you. God knows the motives behind all that you do.
You may say, “I don’t have time, I’m too busy”. I say to that, adjust your time so that there is time. Truth be told, you will make time for whatever you really want to make time for. Example: I’ve witness a lot of my friends (including myself) say they don’t have time for this or that or they don’t have time to go to church, yet they have all the time in the world to go to the movies or spend countless hours each night conversing on the phone. In my opinion, if you have time to do that, you can adjust your schedule to give God a few minutes of your time.
You might wonder, “How Do I go about spending time with the Lord?” Here are 3 things you can start off with – as you spend time with God, the Holy Spirit will lead you into doing other things to enjoy one on one time with the Lord.
Pray: I’m not taking about the prayer you give before eating your food or lip service (heartless) prayer; I’m taking about a sincere prayer to the Lord. Converse with Him. Tell him how great He is. Tell Him what’s on your mind. If you have bills or needs to that needs to be met, tell Him about it as you pray. The Lord already knows what you need and want, but just as a parent knows what his or her child needs and wants, many times there just wanting for the child to ask – the same is with the Lord. Bring your concerns to the Lord. I promise you, you will begin to notice a difference in your life.
Now, if you’re a person who says, “I don’t know how to pray”, I want you to know that praying is simply a conversation with you and the Lord. There’s no special way to pray. Speak to the Lord as you would speak to any other person. Be honest with the Lord. God is a God who examines your heart, not how elegant you do or don’t speak or how long you prayed. When you pray, ask the Holy Spirit to guide and direct your tongue and He will.
Read the Bible: As I’ve share with you before, I really don’t like to read and to be honest with you, reading the Bible was pretty boring to me. It didn’t interest me. The Bible was pretty much a book that I picked up only on Sundays (at church) or during Bible study, but besides that the Bible was pretty much collecting dust as it sat in my room untouched. If this is something that you can relate to, I encourage you to do as I’ve done and ask the Lord to give you a spirit that LONGS after His word. Ask the Lord to place within you a desire so strong to read His word that it becomes natural for you to want to read it – as it’s the manual to your life. Ask him to make reading the Bible fun and enjoyable. If you ask the Lord for these things, how could he deny such a request that seeks to get closer to His Holy Word? He won’t and he will give you those desires. I know because He’s done so with me. I’m reading the Bible and actually have joy in doing so and that’s nothing but the hand of God; so if He can do it for me, He can certainly do it for you.
Praise Him: Give God praise. Praise Him and thank Him for all He’s done. Just worship and give thanks unto Him. There are different ways to praise the Lord. Some sing, some praise dance and etc. I happen to be a person who praise with singing praises unto the Lord. I also at times step outside and just observe my surroundings and just praise the Lord for the house I’m in, the transportation He’s given me and my family, the food He’s placed on the table, the clothes He’s placed on my back and etc. Whatever you do to bring praises unto the Lord, offer more of that to Him.
Conclusion
Don’t be afraid to turn off the phone or tell your friends... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14499 - Trusting and Waiting on the Lord...
- When God speaks a word into your life, it’s already done; however, we’re now just waiting for the manifestation of that word to take place in our lives. God can anoint a new born baby to be a prophet, but doesn’t appoint that child to take its position as a prophet until there adult life. There’s a season for everything. The timing of our promises is in God’s hands. Wait on the Lord and trust Him. Don’t be anxious or weary in well doing. Trust and believe the Lord for whatever was spoken over your life and decree and declare the promises of God. God tells us to put Him in remembrance of His word (Isaiah 43:26). Do it. Doing so encourages and strengthens our faith when we confess God’s promises.
When Satan comes to tell you lies, take your authority as a Christian and bind Satans mouth in the name of Jesus. Silence him and don’t allow him to feed you lies because eventually you will begin to believe those lies and begin decreeing and declaring those lies over your life. Avoid this by defeating Satan and choosing to believe God on His word knowing that when God says it, it’s already done. Believe, receive and wait on the Lord. At its appointed season, those promises will manifest.
God bless you and may you be encouraged in Jesus name, Amen. - It’s Already Done...
- When God said, “let there be light”, following that, the Bible says, “and there was light” –it was done immediately. In Matthew chapter 8, a Roman officer came to Jesus and told him that one of his servants was in bed paralyzed. The Roman officer proceeded to tell Jesus not to come to his house where the paralyzed servant was because he (the Roman servant) is unworthy of Jesus being there. He instead asked Jesus to speak a word of healing because he knew and believed that if Jesus said it, it would done and the servant would be healed. Jesus said to the officer, “go home; what you believed has already happen” and the servant was healed that same hour.
What am I saying? Though there are several scriptures showing God’s word being manifested, I want to point out that in these two examples, when God said it, it’s done immediately. The same thing goes for the promises that God has made to you. Whatever promises God made to you, know that it’s already done.
You may ask, “If it’s already done, why haven’t I seen the manifestation of my promise yet?”
My friend, though sometimes we like to complain to God on why we don’t see anything manifesting, many times we’re the hindrance to our own deliverance and blessings. A persons doubt and unbelief can cause God’s promise for them to be hindered and/or delayed. Why? Because there is unbelief. God doesn’t operate with a person’s unbelief but rather their belief in His ability to do specifically what He said He would do.
I want to let you know that just because you can’t see physically what’s happening in the spiritual realm doesn’t mean nothing is happening. This is where our continuous faith in the Lord takes place and is tested. Faith is the substance of things hope for in the evidence of things NOT SEEN. This scripture tells us that faith requires you to believe in what you do not see. This scripture also, in my opinion, lets us know that we can’t go based upon what our eyes do or do not see; though we may not see what’s happening physically right away, spiritually (by faith) it’s already done and it’s just awaiting for its appointed time by the Lord to happen physically. However, you become a hindrance to yourself when you start to doubt and second guess what God has told you.
In many of the scriptures given in the Bible, when a person confronted Jesus with his or her problem or need, notice that Jesus says, “thy faith has made thee whole”, “according to thy faith you are healed” and etc. On the other side of this, we also see that Jesus don’t move or perform miracles when doubt and unbelief are dwelling within a person. Jesus won’t move other times as well when there is doubt and unbelief hovering or surrounding a person.
Furthermore, when God tells you, “your healed” “your delivered” “your saved” “your x,y,x” or “I will do x,y,z for you” know that at that very moment, it was done. You may say, “it doesn’t feel like it was done”, but my friend, know that our feelings are deceiving. If it was ok to go based upon how we felt, the Bible wouldn’t urge us to crucify our flesh daily. There’s time when I don’t feel saved, but I know it’s the devil at work. There’s time when I don’t feel like reading the Bible, but I read it because that’s the only way to know the Word of God. Don’t go based on how you feel, go based upon who made the promise. People come short, friends and family may not always fulfill their promises, but the word of the Lord never comes back to Him void and unaccomplished.
So today I encourage you. Whatever God said to you, praise God for it already being done because it is indeed done. Know that the enemy will play with what you can’t see being manifested; this is why you must read the word of God. For you must “replenish” and increase your... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14495 - Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-7 - Thought for the Day: Every person in our lives can teach us something that God wants us to know.
Teach us to live in your kingdom with the trust and simple honesty of little children. - Christ has indeed been raised from the dead.
- 1 Corinthians 15:20 - “I’m Hungry!” - Are You???
- Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
- Matthew 5:6 - How many of us have come to church “hungry” today? Are the others in the congregation spiritually hungry for more of God? Am I? Did I enter the sanctuary expecting to be spiritually fed from the Lord’s table? Now each Sabbath I make a conscious effort to come to church hungry. I wait expectantly for the Holy Spirit to feed my heart and soul. Then I continue my spiritual journey, nourished, invigorated, and fed.
- Trust in [God] at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
- Psalm 62:8 - Make “poured out . . . poured in” your breath prayer today.
Holy God, may we never lose faith in your healing power. Fill us, we pray, with your blessed hope. Amen. - Trust in [God] at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.
- Psalm 62:8 (NIV)
Hannah came to the temple and poured out her misery and troubles to the Lord. She was without a child but her husband’s other wife had children, and she never let Hannah forget it. How vigorously did Hannah pour out her troubles to God? Observing her, Eli, the priest, thought she was drunk and chastised her. Hannah let him know otherwise, and he told her to go in peace. When we open our hearts to God the way Hannah did, everything in us that has held us captive can pour out. As we let go of these things, the Holy Spirit gentles us, helping us to rest in God, our true refuge. We find hope, and “hope does not disappoint us because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom. 5:5, NRSV). When we pour out our misery, trials, and fears to God, we will be wrapped in grace. God pours love into our hearts and brings us healing. - O God, help us follow Paul’s challenge to pray with thankful hearts and to release our anxiety. Knowing you are with us, we will be fine. Amen.
- Dear God, help us to see you in all circumstances. When we face tough situations, help us to remember that the Holy Spirit is living and working in us as we pray, “Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation.”* Amen. *Luke 11:2-4 (NIV).
- "David Strengthened Himself in the Lord his God" (1 Samuel 30:6)
- Known in Scripture as a “man after God’s own heart,” David was a worshiper. His name means “Beloved of the Lord.” He was called and chosen. Yet in his troubles, problems, sin, and discouragement, David had to “strengthen himself in the Lord.” At times he had to preach to himself to regain his strength. I’m sure he would often remind himself of God’s faithfulness when he had faced the lion, the bear, and King Saul.
David also had people in his life who encouraged him and strengthened his faith. His closest friend, Jonathan, “helped him find strength in God” (1 Sam. 23:16). Nathan the prophet served as a mentor.
We can strengthen ourselves in the Lord when we “look unto Jesus” and make Him the “author and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). The Lord gives you the promises in His Word to build your faith (Matt. 4:4). He gives you the Holy Spirit to be your comforter, helper, and guide (John 14:26). He also gives you other Christians to encourage you (Heb. 3:13).
There are times when life and problems overwhelm us and the devil discourages us. Jesus calls him a thief; he uses discouragement, problems, sin, and pain to rob us of our vitality and contentment in the Lord.
Discouragement will cause you to forget how God has been faithful over the years. It will also make you indifferent to the opportunities you have today. In time, discouragement will steal your faith and give you self-pity. Self-pity causes you to miss the presence of God and makes you blind to the needs of others. Your focus will be on yourself, your circumstances, and your troubles.
Hebrews 4:15 tells us that Jesus was tempted just like us. He is our example of how to overcome temptation in life: “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin.” Jesus understands what you are going through and He knows how to help you strengthen yourself in the Lord.
Just as in his temptations of Jesus, Satan focuses on your identity to discourage you and defeat you. In Luke 4, Satan questions Jesus’ identity two times and God’s identity once. Your faith, confidence, boldness, and encouragement all are wrapped up in your identity. Adam and Eve were created in God’s image as children of God. So Satan’s temptation was to question what they already had and to question God’s character. “Take of the forbidden fruit and you will be like God.” Satan’s focus was on their identity and God’s identity.
Your identity is a set of behavioral or personal characteristics by which an individual is recognizable or known; the qualities that make someone different from others. Your identity reveals who you are. Without identity, you will be confused and have no direction.
Consequently, your authority as a believer is contained in your identity. If Satan can get you (or Adam or Jesus) to question who you are, he knows you will have no direction, purpose, or resolve. You are wide open for discouragement, disillusionment, failure, and sin. God doesn't question who we are; He knows who we are and who we are called to be.
That is why Paul said, “I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Eph. 1:18-19).
FIRST, KNOW YOUR IDENTITY. Satan tempted Jesus by stating, “If you are the Son of God….” Satan wants to question that in your life as well. You were created for God’s good pleasure and joy (Rev. 4:11). As God’s child, born into God’s family (John 1:13), you have all the rights and privileges that go with being God’s child; you are made a partaker of the divine nature (2 Pet.1:4). God assures you... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14459 - Condemnation Kills...
“The letter (the law) kills, but the Spirit gives life" (2 Cor. 3:6). - The Garden of Eden had two trees that Adam and Eve could choose to live by. They chose to eat of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, although God had forbidden them to eat of it.
That tree was an example of living in the flesh, living in self-centeredness. Like Satan, when you live in independence of God, you try to live by your own power. It is about your performance. The fruit or seed of this tree is self-righteousness, condemnation, and death. This tree is also the representation of the knowledge of good and evil, right and wrong, or the law. When you break the law, it confronts you and condemns you. For a law to have power there must be consequences when you break it. Condemnation kills. “The wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). The harvest of this condemnation is death in your body, soul, and spirit.
The law helps us understand a broad framework of what it means to be the people of God. The Jewish people loved the law because it pointed to what it meant to live in the world and bring God’s peace (Shalom) into the world. The law of God is perfect and shows us our need for a Savior. Paul called the law “the schoolmaster that leads us to Christ.” It shows us what sin is, that we are a fallen race that needs a Savior.
When we disobey the law of God we feel guilty. There is a difference between guilt and shame. Guilt is when a person feels bad for something he has done wrong. Shame comes when we think we are horrible for committing the sin; that we are a bad person. Shame is not what God wants us to feel. He convicts us with our guilt but does not shame us. Guilt is a healthy part of what it means to be human. We all need to own up to our sins and mistakes and repent of them. People who do not experience guilt are called psychopaths and are in serious need of mental health care.
So “good guilt” will drive us to change and make us better human beings. Life is such that we ARE punished for our sins and failures by the consequences of our sins and failures. There are things that we SHOULD feel guilty about. However, shame from Satan or through others will condemn us and enslave us and is self-destructive.
It is important for every Christian to be able to tell the difference between condemnation from Satan and the conviction of sin by the Holy Spirit. One will destroy you; the other will build you up. Here are the differences in a nutshell:
(1) The conviction of the Holy Spirit is always specific, pointing to a specific sin or attitude that God seeks to remove or change. The condemnation of the enemy is always vague and general, condemning you as a person but never calling you to repent about a specific sin.
(2) When the conviction of the Holy Spirit is moving on us, we always feel drawn back to God or closer to Him. Condemnation makes us feel like pulling or even running away from God.
(3) The conviction of the Holy Spirit always feels like love and has the fragrance of life. The condemnation of Satan feels like rejection and smells of death.
(4) Conviction produces hope in us—hope for freedom from sin, hope for fellowship with God, hope of eternal and unshakeable salvation. Condemnation produces despair and the desire to give up.
Satan as the accuser uses the law to condemn you and to destroy you (1 John 3:8). The power of sin is the law. But when the law has humbled you by showing you your sin and failure, God can then offer grace. Grace is God’s unmerited and undeserved favor. Grace is God’s gift to you because of what Jesus did on the cross. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:16-17). The finished work of... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14457 - God desires to take you into His arms, to hold you close to Himself and sing His love song over you. “I love you. You are my child, forgiven, cleansed, and reconciled. You are accepted, made righteous, with no condemnation.” The Father’s grace transforms us. His gift of righteousness converts your heart and gives you eternal love and acceptance.
Remember the old hymn:
Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.
God wants you free from condemnation. The devil’s main weapon is faultfinding. You are the righteousness of God in Christ. This righteousness causes you to reign. You are loved, accepted, and anointed. “You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 2:1). - I REBUKE THE ENEMY NOW, I BIND EVERY WARLOCK, WITCH, TWITCH, AND EVERY FORCE OF EVIL SEEN & UNSEEN. I CANCEL THE ASSIGNMENT OF THE ENEMY NOT TO RAPE, MOLEST, & SODOMY PEOPLE MINDS. I PLEAD THE BLOOD OF JESUS NOW, EVERY SHACKLE, HOLD, BONDAGE, MIND CONTROL, LUST SPIRIT, NOSY SPIRIT, AND GOSSIPING SPIRIT... FOUL SPIRIT YOU HAVE NO DOMINION, LOOSE YOUR HOLD IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS!!!!!
- Father, it’s my desire to hear from You. Help me to eliminate distractions and have Your priorities. I seek to walk in Your ways, step by step, day by day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Step by Step...
- “Precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept, line upon line, line upon line, here a little, there a little.”
In the beginning, the earth was “without form, and void” (Genesis 1:2). Through creation, God brought order, acting carefully, with a plan. In His design, everything had a time and place.
The Bible confirms these aspects of His nature. Paul declared that there was an “order” to God’s design (1 Corinthians 15:23). Following His patterns, Paul explained that all things were to be done “decently and in order” (1 Corinthians 14:40).
In Isaiah’s time, some were too busy to hear from God. They could not discern His voice because their lives were cluttered. Their priorities were wrong. Their minds were distracted. What was the solution? To simplify their lives and build a strong, solid foundation, one step at a time, precept upon precept, line upon line.
We too can be guilty of cluttered minds and chaotic schedules. God is ready to speak to us and guide us, but we must have ears to hear and not allow distractions to dominate our lives.
We also need to realize that God’s guidance does not always come at once. Rather, He guides us step by step. As we learn one precept, we’re ready to move on to the next. As we’re faithful with one task, we become ready for the next. The things we do today will help prepare us for the challenges of tomorrow.
Today, ask God to help you evaluate your schedule and priorities. Seek to be faithful with each assignment that you’ve been given. Build a strong foundation for your life by filling your mind with His Word. Ask Him to help you bring order to your mind and your schedule so you can hear His voice more clearly.
Prayer...
Father, it’s my desire to hear from You. Help me to eliminate distractions and have Your priorities. I seek to walk in Your ways, step by step, day by day. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- New Beginnings...
- “The LORD’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.”
As mere men and women, we are trapped in time, living largely in the moment, and speculating on what might happen tomorrow or in the new year.
Often our minds cannot escape memories of the past. Our mistakes haunt us. We can be plagued by opportunities lost, people whom we’ve hurt, words we’ve said, or things we’ve done. Sometimes we re-live these painful moments, feeling we never can escape their grip.
But the Bible tells us there is hope. Why? Because we serve the God of New Beginnings. We have a wonderful opportunity to experience this afresh as we end one year and start another.
Have we made mistakes? Is there sin in our lives? Have we done, said, or thought things that displeased God or violated His Word? In our human nature, we can be overwhelmed with fear, worry, and guilt, and often we’re reluctant to admit our sins or confess them to God.
But the prophet Jeremiah reminds us of a basic truth about God: His mercies never fail. Never. In fact, the prophet Jeremiah wrote God’s mercies “are new every morning.” No matter what has happened in our lives or what we have done or said, God remains faithful. As Jeremiah writes, He is “good to those who wait for Him.”
As you prepare to enter a new year, take a few minutes to commit your plans to God. There may be problems in the world and difficult circumstances in your own life, but you needn’t be discouraged, afraid, depressed, or doubtful.
You may have sinned, but you still can be forgiven. Place your hope and trust in God. If you hope in Him, you can be of good cheer. Truly His mercies are new every morning—and every year.
- Thinking. Praying. Remembering.
- “Now in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall also have a holy convocation; you shall do no laborious work.” Numbers 29:1
God cared so deeply about this day that He directed all normal activity was to stop! Everyone was to spend their time in reflection and prayer. Everyone—rich and poor, young and old—was to look seriously at their lives.
They were to think about what they had done in the past—about their attitude and behavior, their possessions and priorities, their habits and lifestyles, their personal relationships, and their relationship with God. They were to think about His holiness, humble themselves before Him, and turn away from sin and anything that displeased Him.
Today begins the celebration of this Jewish New Year, or Rosh Hashanah. This day also begins a 10-day period known as the High Holy Days…10 days to ponder and pray…10 days to think about life’s meaning and purpose.
Many Christians have forgotten the importance of Rosh Hashanah. They seem to have forgotten that God Himself declared that the commemoration of this day was to be a “permanent statute,” a day to be remembered forever.
Why is this so important? This is God’s annual reminder for all of His people to remember that we will have to give an account for everything we say and do. It’s a day to humble ourselves before Him and ask Him to search our hearts and cleanse us from sin, unclean thoughts, impure motives, and pride.
Remember: This day is important to God. Make it important for you as well! Keep this appointment. Allow the Lord to search your heart and cleanse you from sin. Let Him give you a new start! Give thanks for Jesus Christ, our hope and salvation!
- The devil is a liar! He wants to detour you from the presence of God and he’s willing to do any and everything to do that. He wants to get you to a point where you throw in the towel and step back from the Lord. But I come with a word of encouragement; stand strong my friend. Stand strong in the Lord and know that God will give you strength to endure any and every situation. The Lord tells us that He won’t put more on us than we can bare and the enemy knows this. Because the enemy knows God’s burdens are light, the enemy will take the littlest things and place it under a microscope to make your circumstances and burdens appear to be bigger and heavier than what it actually is.
- So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).
- The bible verse above encourages us to do unto others as you would have done unto you. In today’s society, this would be the same as saying: treat others the way you want to be treated. As Christians, I believe we can refer to the life of Jesus as a guide on how we’re to treat others.
Jesus Life as a Guide on How to Treat Others
When Jesus began His ministry on earth, He didn’t come saying, “I am God, serve me and do as I say.” When Christ came, one of the many things He showed His disciples (including you and I) was how we’re to treat others. He forgave sins and past mistakes, showed mercy and grace to those who didn’t deserve it, prayed for and served others, helped the poor, healed the sick, reached out to sinners and so much more.
The whole Bible, particularly the New Testament, reveals to us through the life of Jesus Christ how we’re to treat others. As a result, we know Jesus wants us to forgive the mistakes of others because He said unless you forgive others He will not forgive you; we know that Christ wants us to have mercy and grace toward those who may not deserve it; to pray for and serve others, to help the poor, to share the gospel with sinners and etc.
Matthew 5:16 tells us to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” If you’re treating people with the love of God, people will not only see your good deeds, but they will also see Christ through you and begin praising Him because of the love of God they’ve experienced through you.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you’re treating people anything less than with the love of God, people will begin to see your evil deeds. Because Christians are representatives of Christ here on earth, those witnessing and experiencing your evil deeds may begin to have negative thoughts about God. This is why as Christians, it’s important to examine how we treat people.
It’s Time to Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
In conclusion, how you treat others is a reflection of your relationship with God. You cannot have a growing relationship with Christ and continue to treat people everything else but with the love of God.
The more you read the word of God and the closer you are to Him, the more compassion, love and respect you should have toward others.
Today, I challenge you to treat others how you want to be treated and to do it with the love of God. Just as Christ is compassionate and loving towards you, just as Christ is mercifully and graceful towards you, I encourage you to be the same toward others.
As a result, people should see Christ in you and begin reciprocating the same compassion, love and respect you’ve shown them.
Remember, in everything you do, do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12) and to let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Be blessed and encouraged in Jesus name. - God is Speaking to You – Are you Listening?
- As Christians, we should constantly seek to hear from the Lord because He’s there. Job 33:14 states, “For God does speak—now one way, now another— though man may not perceive it.” This means that God speaks to us in many ways although many do not recognize it.
I believe we should be more aware of the presence of God in our lives. Look for God to speak to you every day. Expect God to speak to you through people, situations, impressions, while spending time with him, in prayer, in His word, in dreams, through the unction of the Holy Spirit and etc. Don’t limit God to being able to speak to you in just one particular way because Job 33:14 lets us know that God speaks to us one way now, another way later.
In my own life, I’ve witness God speak to me through other people when I was feeling down, worried, scared, depressed or just needed confirmation of something God has told me. I’ve also witnessed God speak to me through everyday circumstances just to let me know I wasn’t alone and that He’s there with me every step of the way although I may have felt otherwise. I share this with you to let you know that God will send people in your direction with words of encouragement detailed just for your particular situation.
I encourage you today to expect God to speak to you daily and not just on special occasions. Expect God to speak to you through normal every day events and situations – because He is; regardless of what the situation may look like, how hard it may look, how much the devil tells you God is not there ; silence the devil with the blood of Jesus because God is there- speaking to you; giving you confirmation, direction and instruction.
Now that you know God desires to speak to you on a daily basis, I encourage you to seek God with an expectancy of hearing His voice. Be blessed and encouraged in Jesus name. - 3 things to Expect When Facing Life’s Challenges
The enemy will try to put fear in you:
When you make a decision to face something, one of the tactics of the devil is to embed fear in you. Convincing you to believe you can’t do it and to think of all the things that will happen as a result of you confronting what needs to be faced.
Don’t give into the schemes of the devil. We know that he comes to kill, steal and destroy and that God has NOT given you the spirit of fear, but power, love and a sound mind. Overcome the spirit of fear with faith.
Expect people to change on you
When Jesus was here on earth, the same people who smiled in His face were the same people who turned on Him and yelled for him to be crucified. Truth be told, when you are facing whatever it is you need to face, not every person will understand. They may smile, talk behind your back and even reject you as they did with Jesus.
Although Jesus knew this to be so, He didn’t let facing rejection, mockery, suffering and rejection stop Him from going to the cross. As the time became closer for Jesus to be crucified, He said to his disciples, “The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,” he said. “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead” (Luke 9:21)
As the time of crucifixion got even closer Jesus said, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Luke 22:42). As you see, Jesus didn’t want to face being crucified, but He did for you and I. But while doing so, He had people, such as Judas, change and turn on him.
When you make a decision to face life’s challenges and confront the things you know needs to be faced, don’t be surprised when people begin changing on you as they did with Jesus.
“But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats” (1 Peter 3:14).
Expect God to work through you
The Bible never says that everything we face and go through will be good; however it does say that ALL things work out for our good. When you confront the thing God has pricked in your heart to face, expect God to work through you; revealing His glory through you to others around you.
You may not see it right now, but once you confront this thing, at the end of it all you will realize that it was for your good that you needed to confront and face it.
You Can Face It: Final Words
Know that when you face this particular thing in your life, you can expect the devil to bring more temptation your way. Why? Because you’re actually doing something to spiritually grow in Christ.
While you were wavering and unsure on whether or not to face this particular thing, the devil didn’t need to do too much; but now that you’re facing it, expect the devil to tempt you more…but greater is He that is in you than He that is in the world.
I don’t know what you need to face, but the Lord used my Bishop yesterday to tell the church that we can face it and now I’m telling you that YOU can face it. Don’t allow the devil to hold you back from spiritual growth in Christ because of your fear to face this particular thing. Cancel fear with faith. Don’t allow the devil to convince you into believing you can’t face it.
If God’s been nudging at your heart to face something, do it. Don’t worry about “this or that”. You may have to make some adjustments, but God will give you the strength and grace to face and confront it.
Prayer for Facing Life’s Challenges
Heavenly Father, I ask in Jesus name that you help my brother/sister face the very thing that you’ve laid on their heart to face. Give them the... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14415 - My Help Comes From the Lord...
- How many times have you taken it upon yourself to get things done when you knew God was telling you to stand still and/or wait on something?
I’ll be the first to raise my hand in saying I’ve done so. Right now in my life, I’m in this place where every week my family and I are faced with the challenges of paying hotel rent. I’m in the process of looking for employment…but I’ve tried to take matters into my own hands, thinking that I’ll “help God” because I can’t figure out what He’s doing.
Today, the very thing I placed my trust in to make some extra money was cancelled out. My first reaction was to panic and get upset. But you know what, after I prayed I am reminded that my help does not comes from what I, Naquan can do, but from what God can do (and we know that God can do all things).
Why do I share this with you? Because I know I’m not the only person who’s been tempted to step outside of faith and take matters into their own hands. Now, I’m not saying that you’re not to do anything to make a living…however, in the situation that God has ME in, it’s a faith walk and sometimes the faith walk is not the most easiest walk.
Your Help Cometh From the Lord
So I share my story to encourage someone today. Your help does not come from what you have or don’t have nor what you know or don’t know. Your help comes from the Lord, the Lord which made Heaven and earth (scripture verse: Psalm 121:2). God said in His word that He will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory and we know we serve a God who cannot lie.
It is by the grace and merciful hand of God that my family and I had the funds to pay rent each week with NO INCOME. Even if I wanted to, I could not take the credit for it because the little money I did make was no way near the money needed each week to pay the hotel fees. So I know it’s only God who has been sustaining my family and I.
So as I encourage myself, I encourage you. You may not know where the next dollar, meal, drink, or etc is coming from. You may want to panic and give up. You may be tempted to take matters into your own hands. However, I encourage you to stand on the word of God and His promises because your help comes from the Lord!
If God can send ravens to feed Elijah, then surely God can use anything to be a blessing to you. Remember, your help comes from the Lord (bible verse: Psalm 121:2). Obey God and leave the when, how and where to Him. Your Heavenly father is a present help in times of trouble and He will not leave you hanging.
Be encouraged in Jesus name; Amen! - God’s plan is for you to live your life upward, toward Him, fully aware and fully alive. Don’t settle for a small, trivial life. Set your sights on seeking to understand what the Lord has perfectly designed and created you to do!
- Radical Faith...
You may say, “Well, Barbara, that sounds great for someone young and energetic with lots of opportunities, but that’s not me. I’m beyond that in my life.”
Please don’t feel that way, dear friend! Wherever you are in life, God will give you the ability to follow Him into His destiny for you. But in order to begin, you need a life of radical faith in God. Yes, radical faith!
Spend some time with your Father, just talking to Him about this. Get a piece of paper and write, “Lord, how can I live a life of radical faith?” Then wait and listen. Write down what you hear Him saying to you. He’s been waiting for you to come to Him with this question and is absolutely delighted to give you the answers.
God told Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jeremiah 1:5). You see, we were known by God and appointed to a destiny before we were even born!
What I’ve shared with you today is foundational to understanding my series on the redemptive gifts and to living a life of passionately seeking God. They go hand in hand.
Your Beloved longs for you to live out of the spirit and heart that He gave you to be a reflection of Him. He desires that you celebrate the uniqueness of who He created you to be. Then you will express your radiant, authentic self in your world.
Be blessed, dear one, to receive all the Father has for you. Then, in turn, give back to others who need a fresh touch. Risk living in radical faith as you passionately pursue God!
- God’s Favor...
- “I will grant this people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.” Exodus 3:21
The Israelites were enslaved, outnumbered, and unarmed. As an isolated group of people surrounded by Egyptians, they appeared powerless and helpless. How surprising it must have sounded to hear God’s promise of favor!
We can only imagine how Moses and the other Israelites reacted. This promise must have seemed completely unrealistic.
Yet in the days to come, they would realize that God kept His Word, as He performed miracle after miracle on their behalf. He orchestrated an incredible series of events that led to their exodus from Egypt.
As the Israelites were departing, the Egyptians amazingly gave them articles of silver and gold. Why? As He had already promised, “the LORD had given the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians” (Exodus 12:35-36). Despite the many obstacles, God’s promise literally was fulfilled.
The Bible tells us that God’s favor opens doors and makes possible what seems impossible. We see this when Esther “obtained favor” and saved her people (Esther 5:2), and in the life of Mary who “found favor with God” (Luke 1:30). This favor also was a characteristic of Jesus’ life, for He “kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52).
God can grant this kind of favor at any time and to any person. The Bible says that “it is You who blesses the righteous man, O LORD, You surround him with favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12). His favor provides us with protection and blessing as we please Him.
In your life, remember that God’s favor can change everything in your life. He can transform any difficult situation you face, whether in your family or your finances, your health or your relationships. As He did for the Israelites, God can grant this favor even to help you overcome your enemies.
Seek to please the Lord, and expect His blessings. Thank Him for His favor!
- Weak, Shaken, Rescued...
- “Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am pining away; heal me, O LORD, for my bones are dismayed. And my soul is greatly dismayed; but You, O LORD—how long? Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; save me because of Your lovingkindness.”
David felt “weak.” In fact, his whole being was “shaken with terror.” He had been groaning so intensely that he’d become weary. His pillow was dampened with tears which drenched his bed every night. His eyes were “swollen from grief,” and he felt like they were growing “old because of all my enemies” (vs. 1-7).
As David struggled, he turned to God, and God gave him a breakthrough of relief and peace: “The LORD has heard the sound of my weeping. The LORD has heard my plea for help; the LORD accepts my prayer” (vs. 8-9).
Faced with obstacles and problems, even the opposition of strong enemies, David had felt afflicted. But now God had brought him victory. He could say, “Depart from me, all evildoers.” He could know that “all my enemies will be ashamed and shake with terror; they will turn back and suddenly be disgraced” (vs. 8-10).
Through this psalm, we see how David dealt with fear. There were times when he was gripped with uncertainty and worry. He became weary and didn’t know what to do. He struggled and faced very difficult problems. In all of these circumstances, he learned to turn to God. He was honest and told God his deepest feelings. He prayed and prayed, and cried out for God’s help.
This kind of deep, soul-searching prayer brought relief. David found that his fears were gone. He felt peace and was reassured about the presence of God. He knew that God had solved his problems and brought him victory.
Today, remember that God is with you. As you face uncertainties or worries, call on Him. Let Him take away your fears.
Prayer
Father, I commit these situations into Your hands: __________. Thank You for giving me peace. Thank You for the answers I need. I trust in You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Experience True Intimacy...
When a husband and wife have a relationship that is built solidly on a foundation of love, trust, and mutual respect, the closeness of their relationship is reflected in the most intimate moments of their marriage.
In the Bible, the word used to describe this type of relationship is the Hebrew word yada’ meaning “to know, perceive, recognize, to know intimately.”
This is the kind of love relationship God desires to have with each one of us — a relationship characterized by true knowledge and intimacy — and when He says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you” (Jeremiah 1:5), it’s the same word yada’ that He uses.
God revealed a pattern for intimacy with Him in Ephesians 5:28-32 when Paul describes the mystery of the marriage relationship:
“So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself; for no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body.
“For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.”
When a husband and wife truly “know” one another, they aren’t just aware of their spouse’s favorite color, the restaurant where he or she likes to eat, or even special secrets that they confide to no one else except one another.
For a man and a woman to be truly intimate, they must know and experience intimacy with one another on every level of their relationship — emotionally, mentally, and physically.
- Companionship Does Not Equal Intimacy...
The sad thing is that so many of us have a false sense of intimacy about our marriage. As husbands and wives, it’s easy to think that because we watch television together, talk about the children, make vacation plans, or enjoy the marriage bed, we have an intimate relationship with our spouse.
But this simply isn’t so.
There is a difference between companionship and intimacy. For there to be true intimacy in marriage, a husband and wife must:
Honor their covenant to one another by “leaving and cleaving”
Be eternally faithful to each other
Devote special attention to one another
Spend meaningful time together
Prefer each other’s needs above their own
Share their innermost thoughts and feelings
Offer themselves to each other in intimate, selfless abandonment
Experience the joy of being fully known as they lovingly “lose themselves” in one another
It’s the same way in our relationship with God. Many of us have a false sense of intimacy with Him. It’s easy to believe that because we go to church, talk to Him, read the Word, serve Him faithfully, and even experience great times of praise and worship, we know Him intimately.
But much more is required than this to have an intimate relationship with God. There’s a difference between knowing about God, and knowing God.
How Well Do You Know God?
- “As He spoke to me the Spirit entered me and set me on my feet; and I heard Him speaking to me.” Ezekiel 2:2
- Why did Ezekiel have such a powerful ministry? Why did God entrust him with so many important assignments? One reason was his incredible sensitivity to God’s Spirit. In fact, the book of Ezekiel is filled with frequent references to the Spirit.
We see the Spirit calling him and taking him away as “the hand of the Lord was strong on me” (Ezekiel 3:12-14). The Spirit entered him and gave him specific directions (3:24). He was lifted by the Spirit and brought to the exiles in Babylonia (11:24). And the Spirit inspired his vision of dry bones (37:1-14).
These revelations only were possible because of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel discovered how the Spirit gives us a gateway into the spiritual realm. He opens our minds and hearts to spiritual truths and power.
The Bible tells us that our natural minds cannot receive or understand these spiritual insights. In fact, our flesh wars against the Spirit. Those without the Spirit cannot “accept the things that come from the Spirit of God.” These things seem foolish and “he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
In your life, remember that the Spirit is essential to your walk with the Lord and to experiencing victory in Him. As you can see in the life of Ezekiel, the Spirit can lift you up. He can give you new insights and help you see the world in new ways. He can give you strength when you feel weak. He can encourage you when you feel discouraged. He can reveal things that are to come and fill you with supernatural power and wisdom.
Today, seek to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Let Him speak to you and lead you, warn you and inspire you.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, help me to be more sensitive to Your presence in my life. Speak to me. Correct me when I’m wrong. Lead me. Guide me. Give me Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- Why did Ezekiel have such a powerful ministry? Why did God entrust him with so many important assignments? One reason was his incredible sensitivity to God’s Spirit. In fact, the book of Ezekiel is filled with frequent references to the Spirit.
We see the Spirit calling him and taking him away as “the hand of the Lord was strong on me” (Ezekiel 3:12-14). The Spirit entered him and gave him specific directions (3:24). He was lifted by the Spirit and brought to the exiles in Babylonia (11:24). And the Spirit inspired his vision of dry bones (37:1-14).
These revelations only were possible because of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel discovered how the Spirit gives us a gateway into the spiritual realm. He opens our minds and hearts to spiritual truths and power.
The Bible tells us that our natural minds cannot receive or understand these spiritual insights. In fact, our flesh wars against the Spirit. Those without the Spirit cannot “accept the things that come from the Spirit of God.” These things seem foolish and “he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
In your life, remember that the Spirit is essential to your walk with the Lord and to experiencing victory in Him. As you can see in the life of Ezekiel, the Spirit can lift you up. He can give you new insights and help you see the world in new ways. He can give you strength when you feel weak. He can encourage you when you feel discouraged. He can reveal things that are to come and fill you with supernatural power and wisdom.
Today, seek to be more sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Let Him speak to you and lead you, warn you and inspire you.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, help me to be more sensitive to Your presence in my life. Speak to me. Correct me when I’m wrong. Lead me. Guide me. Give me Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
- See more at: http://inspiration.org/the-work-of-the-spirit-2/#sthash.RmszWkk2.dpuf - God Will Make A Way...
- I am the Lord, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator and King.
I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,
making a dry path through the sea.
I called forth the mighty army of Egypt
with all its chariots and horses.
I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,
their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
- Isaiah 43:15-19
How many times have you looked to your left and right crying out to God because both ways appeared to be a dead end? I come to tell you that you serve a God who is able to make a way out of no way!
Background Information
The scripture above makes reference to Moses, the children of Israel and the parting of the red sea. According to scripture, as Pharaoh and his army encamped the children of Israel at the red sea, the children of Israel begin to cry unto the Lord and said to Moses:
“Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt? Is not this what we said to you in Egypt: ‘Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness.”
Following this, Moses, as instructed by the Lord, stretched out his hands over the red sea. In obedience, the water was divided and the children of Israel went into the sea on dry ground with the waters being a wall to them on their left and right hand.
Long story short, they were able to cross the red sea while Pharaohs chariots and horsemen perished in it. As a result, Israel saw the great power of the Lord.
God WILL Make a Way
As we look at Isaiah 43:15-19, we see God mentioning how He opened a way through the red sea for the children of Israel. Though we get excited about the parting of the red sea…I encourage you to look at it from the children of Israel prospective.
Here you are at this sea. You look ahead; all you see is a body of water. You look behind; all you see is Pharaoh and his chariot coming after you. You cry out to God as it appears as if He’s brought you here to die. Your back is against the wall and you have nowhere to go.
For some of you, this passage explains your situation. However, I encourage you today! God has not brought you this far just to leave you stranded. He hasn’t brought you here just to abandon you. God will make a way out of no way!
It wasn’t until Moses moved forward and used what he had (a staff) until God added his super to Moses natural and parted the sea. I encourage you to use what God has given you and watch God add His super to your natural. What has God given you? His word that shall never fail; your mouth that shall declare the word of the Lord over your life; promises; visions; and a faith that shall move mountains!
So I say to you as God said to Moses, “why do you cry? Move forward”. Move forward in your walk with God…move forward in your faith!
What God has in store for you doesn’t even compare to what we read God doing for the children of Israel here in Exodus 15. For God says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.”
Jesus, A Waymaker: Finial Words
God will do a new thing in your life NOW! Not next week, next month or next year…NOW! Now God will do a new thing! The Lord will make a way in hard times, in the wilderness and in what appears to be thee impossible!
Be... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14379 - What is the Difference Between Mercy and Grace?
- Although mercy and grace are terms used often among Christians, I’m sure many are unclear what the two words actually mean. To help you understand the difference between the two, let’s first begin with mercy.
What is Mercy?
According to dictionary.com the term “mercy” can be defined as having a disposition of compassion or forbearance (to refrain from something).
Paul said: “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:12-13; NIV).
From this scripture (including many others), we can gather that mercy is not getting what you do deserve. It is an act of being spared from judgment. When we hear, “thank you Lord for mercy” this is the same as saying, “thank you Lord for not giving me what I deserve, for withholding judgment and punishment from me.”
Example of God’s Mercy
An example of God’s mercy would be a 19 year old teenager who fell short from the glory of God. They gave into peer pressure and decided to go to a club late Friday night where drugs and sex is highly promoted.
The next day, the teenager is convicted by the Holy Spirit and repents. Because of God’s mercy, He forgives and spares them from punishment and judgment.
Mercy Summarized
With any sin or illegal act committed, punishment always follows. However through Christ Jesus, we are given a second chance. We are given mercy; thus, withholding punishment and judgment from us.
Is this an invitation to do whatever we want? Of course not. However, when we mess up and fall, God gives us mercy. Not because we deserve it but because of His compassion towards us.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning…” (Lamentations 3:22-23).
What is Grace?
According to dictionary.com “grace” is defined as the manifestation of favor by a superior. It can also be defined as the freely given, unmerited favor and love of God. In very few words, grace is getting what you do not deserve.
Example of God’s Grace
The grace of God is unearned; it’s freely given to you by God although you don’t deserve it. An example of God’s grace is the gift of eternal life.
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The gift of eternal life is something you do not deserve, however it is freely given to you by God. The scripture states that while we were still sinners, Christ died on the cross for you and I (Romans 5:8). Was this something we deserved? No; but the grace of God saw past our sins and wicked ways.
Grace Summarized
When you hear a person say, “thank you Lord for grace” they are in essence saying, “thank you Lord for giving me what I do not deserve.” Again, this isn’t an invitation to sin and do whatever you want. God knows your heart so don’t take for granted the grace given to you.
Finial Words about Mercy and Grace
I encourage you to think of all the things you do not deserve but received (grace) and all the punishments you do deserved but did not receive (mercy). When you think about these things, begin to thank God for giving you brand new mercy and grace. Without it, you and I would be consumed by our wicked ways on our way to hell. - Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated...
- So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Matthew 7:12).
The bible verse above encourages us to do unto others as you would have done unto you. In today’s society, this would be the same as saying: treat others the way you want to be treated. As Christians, I believe we can refer to the life of Jesus as a guide on how we’re to treat others.
Jesus Life as a Guide on How to Treat Others
When Jesus began His ministry on earth, He didn’t come saying, “I am God, serve me and do as I say.” When Christ came, one of the many things He showed His disciples (including you and I) was how we’re to treat others. He forgave sins and past mistakes, showed mercy and grace to those who didn’t deserve it, prayed for and served others, helped the poor, healed the sick, reached out to sinners and so much more.
The whole Bible, particularly the New Testament, reveals to us through the life of Jesus Christ how we’re to treat others. As a result, we know Jesus wants us to forgive the mistakes of others because He said unless you forgive others He will not forgive you; we know that Christ wants us to have mercy and grace toward those who may not deserve it; to pray for and serve others, to help the poor, to share the gospel with sinners and etc.
Matthew 5:16 tells us to “let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” If you’re treating people with the love of God, people will not only see your good deeds, but they will also see Christ through you and begin praising Him because of the love of God they’ve experienced through you.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, if you’re treating people anything less than with the love of God, people will begin to see your evil deeds. Because Christians are representatives of Christ here on earth, those witnessing and experiencing your evil deeds may begin to have negative thoughts about God. This is why as Christians, it’s important to examine how we treat people.
It’s Time to Treat Others the Way You Want to Be Treated
In conclusion, how you treat others is a reflection of your relationship with God. You cannot have a growing relationship with Christ and continue to treat people everything else but with the love of God.
The more you read the word of God and the closer you are to Him, the more compassion, love and respect you should have toward others.
Today, I challenge you to treat others how you want to be treated and to do it with the love of God. Just as Christ is compassionate and loving towards you, just as Christ is mercifully and graceful towards you, I encourage you to be the same toward others.
As a result, people should see Christ in you and begin reciprocating the same compassion, love and respect you’ve shown them.
Remember, in everything you do, do to others what you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12) and to let your light shine before others that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven (Matthew 5:16).
Be blessed and encouraged in Jesus name. - Counterfeit...
- Have you ever been victimized by a con artist? We have a few times in our life: illegally copied software on eBay, a used car that broke down a week after we bought it. They can be pretty slick and very convincing. 2Corinthians 11:14 warns us that Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. “Oh, this feels so right.” If I am indoctrinated in the world’s way of thinking, the counterfeit will look just fine.
The worst thing about deception is I don’t know I am deceived. I think I’m right. In fact I am absolutely convinced I am right. Might I be bringing false doctrines? I’ll be the first to admit it is possible! I could be deceived. That is why it is each of our responsibility to go to the Word. 1Thesalonians 5:21 warns “Gill is to test all things, and he is to hold firmly that which is good.”
The world accepts the devil’s counterfeit, but, like a mirage, it disappears. Try to grasp it and it is gone. Satan does not come in a red suit and pitchfork, knocking on your door saying, “I’m the devil. I’d like to come in and destroy your life.” If he did, who would let him in? John 8:44 tells us he is the father of lies. The devil is all trick and no treat. Hebrews 11:25 tells us sin is pleasurable for a season. The trap of sin is like a mousetrap. That cheese smells tasty, the color is so inviting until.. WHAP!
The temptation looks great, it brings immediate pleasure, but Satan twists the truth and hides the consequences. He shows the beginning but not the end. When was the last time you saw a beer commercial showing somebody throwing up in the gutter? The drug pusher highlights the pleasure and peer acceptance but skips over addiction and prison time.
1Peter 5:8 warns us to be sober, be vigilant. The devil is like a roaring lion. He can’t devour just anyone, but if I allow deception, I give him authority in my life. If you have ever gone fishing, you know the bait must hide the hook. Our first line of defense is God’s Word.
John 10:10 gives us Satan’s job description: kill, steal and destroy. You don’t have a friend in the devil. He wants to get you off God’s path. Philippians 3:13-14 encourages us to keep our eyes on the prize.
Jesus’ job description is to bring abundant life here and now. He will influence my marriage, my finances, every area of life. Deuteronomy 30:19 encourages us to choose life. I have a choice. If I don’t like my life, I need to make different choices. Abundant life is always in my connection to Father God. We all know the story of the prodigal son in Luke 15:11-32. The son lost abundant life when he broke connection with his father.
How do we to unlock the door to abundant life?
Live under authority. Pride wants to be in control, but my life must be governed by the Word of God. John 15:4-5 tells us that life comes by being connected to the vine. Apart from God I can do nothing. (vs. 5)
Live within boundaries. The world’s freedom leads to addictions and bondage. Galatians 5:13 warns that we are not to use liberty as an occasion for the flesh. 1Corinthians 6:12 in The Message puts it this way: “Just because something is technically legal doesn’t mean that it’s spiritually appropriate. If I went around doing whatever I thought I could get by with, I’d be a slave to my whims.” Not every choice will benefit my life.
Live in fellowship with God. If I live like the world lives, I will get what the world gets. Galatians 6:8 warns if I sow to the flesh, I will reap corruption. Matthew 6:31-33 encourages us to live in dependence on God not the world.
- What voice are you listening to?
- Galatians 6:7 warns us whatever we sow, we will reap. The law of cause and effect, action and reaction cannot be altered or bypassed. To change my harvest I must change the seed. My world is being created by what I plant. I must recognize that every thought is a seed. What are TV commercials but a voice trying to influence my thoughts? Buy this beer and you will be popular. Buy this perfume and you will be attractive.
If I want to change my life, I first must change my thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says, “As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.” 1Peter 1:13 tells us to gird up our minds. That is roll up our sleeves and get to work. John Wooden, legendary basketball coach at UCLA said: “The choices you make, make you.”
Romans 12:2 commands us to renew our mind. I can direct my destiny by controlling my thoughts. Most people just let their thoughts go wherever they want. Where is that? Generally to negativity, self-pity, condemnation. God has a different plan.
Matthew 1 lists the genealogy of Jesus. In it are listed 42 generations from Abraham, 42 fathers. How many mothers? Five. In addition to Mary, there is Tamar (She gave birth to Perez after incest with Judah in Genesis 38.), Rahab (She was a Philistine prostitute from Jericho in Joshua 6), Ruth (She was from Moab, a foreigner in Ruth 1) and Bathsheba (She was also a foreigner, a Hittite in 2Samuel 11-12). All outsiders, rejected, second class, bottom of the food chain. Why are they specifically listed? I think it is so we can realize that God can take our mess and make greatness, regardless of the rejection by man.
2Corinthians 10:5 commands us to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. I must take responsibility for my thoughts. Will I control my thoughts or let my thoughts control me? By controlling my thoughts, I control my emotions, my attitudes, my actions and my destiny. What I continually think about will eventually manifest in my life.
We must choose between victor or victim. When our son was killed by a drunk driver, we were encouraged to join MADD, Mothers Against Drunk Driving. That organization does some great work but we could not stay in an atmosphere that taught us we are victims. Deuteronomy 28:13 tells me I am the head and not the tail, above only not beneath. - Bouncing Back...
- 2 Corinthians 3:17 declares, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” I want to live in that freedom, but to do that I must be willing to let the Holy Spirit flow through me. I can’t afford to be satisfied. Just this morning I read 1Thessalonians 4 in my devotional. Paul recognized what the church in Thessalonica had done but he said, “I urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to do even more.” (vs. 1, NLT)
Will I allow past failures to take me out, to get me off purpose? In 2Corinthians 4:1, Paul says, “We do not lose heart.” I like the way the New Living puts it: “We never give up.”
When our children were small they loved to play with Weebles. These are little plastic characters with rounded bottoms. No matter how many times you knocked them down, they pop right back up. Their motto; “Weebles wobble but they don’t fall down.” I think we can take a lesson from the Weeble: when we fail, get back up. Bounce back.
There are many examples in the world of those who bounced back:
• Bill Gates failed in his first business venture, Traf-O-Data, but he went on to create Microsoft.
• Walt Disney was forced to declare bankruptcy early in his career.
• Albert Einstein was labeled slow learner in school.
• Winston Churchill failed the 6th grade.
• Elvis Presley was told to go back to driving a truck.
• The Beatles were told forget it, guitar music is on its way out.
Look at those in the Bible:
• Peter denied knowing Jesus but came back to be the leader of the early church.
• David committed adultery with Bathsheba and arranged to have her husband killed, but he repented and went on to be a great king.
• Moses fled into the desert after murdering an Egyptian. At 80 years old, it looked life his life was wasted, but he came back.
• Paul the apostle described his life in 2Corinthians 11:24-27 (NIV): “Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was pelted with stones, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea. I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.” That would certainly be enough for most of us to give up. However, Paul’s reaction was recorded in 2Corinthians 4:8-9: “We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” No matter what the devil threw at him, he bounced back.
In my own life, I have had to make the choice to not let defeat stop me from becoming who God wanted me to be:
• Our senior pastor died of cancer in his mid-50’s.
• At age 54, I was laid off from a company I had worked at for 22 years.
• Our son Paul and his fiancé Amy were killed by a drunk driver.
No matter how many times I am knocked down, I will get back up. Proverbs 24:16 says, the righteous may fall 7 times but rise again. I will fall; it’s going to happen. It is a reality of life. We must decide if we will hit bottom like an egg and lie there broken and defeated, will we bounce back to the same level only to repeat the same cycle or will we use that failure to launch into new heights, new challenges, new dreams? Character means I get back up. Proverbs 24:10 warns that to fail in time of adversity means my strength is small. If I am to stand, I must prepare beforehand.
Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Let’s learn how to bounce back:
1. Recognize failure is not my destiny.... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14351 - Our desire and longing to be filled with God is only answered by receiving. A gift may be given, but it is not yours until you receive it. You must receive the blessing, gifts, power, authority, and anointing God has for you.
The dictionary says to “receive” is to come into possession of; to act as a receptacle or container to hold something; to acquire it and make it yours. How do you receive from God? Everything you receive is by faith.
II.
Faith is the connection that reaches up and receives what the grace of God freely gives, filling your empty vessel with the life of God.
What is faith? Faith is being sure of something we can’t see. Hebrews 11:1 is the official definition: “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Let’s say I ask you, “How do you know that you are saved and going to heaven?” You may try to explain the steps you took to accept Christ, but you will end up saying by faith, “I just know that I know.” Faith is a certainty, a conviction, being sure, confidence, and assurance. The peace of God goes with it.
Paul gives us the picture of being “grafted” into Christ (Romans 11:24). By nature you were “wild,” but God grafted you into His cultivated tree. Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). The life of the vine transforms you. “He who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:17). “Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20 NASB).
All that you receive from God is by faith. “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
“He redeemed us…so that by faith we might receive” (Galatians 3:14).
How do you receive from the Lord? The witness of the Spirit does not come to argument or reasoning, but to a surrendered heart on the grounds of redemption. Three factors are involved in receiving: your motives, your confession, and your confidence.
1. Your motives reveal your heart. “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:3). Even your prayer must be for God’s glory. “And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:13-14).
2. Your confession reinforces your faith. “For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved” (Romans 10:10). Your words have power over you and others. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). It is the law of God that you have to ask of God in order to receive. “Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete” (John 16:24).
3. Your desire for God’s will gives the confidence of faith. “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him” (1 John 5:14-15). “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching [guidance or direction] comes from God or whether I speak on my own” (John 7:17).
Scriptures on receiving:
“A man can receive only what is given him from heaven” (John 3:27).
“Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).
“Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:17).
“But as many as... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14335 - We all would like to find a memorization technique or trick that would make it simple and easy and do away with discipline and hard work, but there are no short cuts.
Here are some memory aids:
1. Be alert and interested in the verses you are studying.
2. Remember the verse’s address: the book, chapter, and verse number.
3. Start with a phrase at a time. Add another phrase until you can repeat it all.
4. Know the biblical background and context of each verse you memorize.
5. Speak the verse out loud as often as you can, emphasizing the words.
6. Write out the verse on a small card and date it when memorized so you can review every few months.
7. Go over your card at least 10 times a day, reading it out loud. By the end of the week, you should have it memorized!
8. Find someone to check you on the verse. Better yet, memorize together!
9. If you find a verse that you have forgotten, put it back in the review deck for two or three weeks to learn it again.
10. Do not consider a scripture memorized until you have reviewed it at least 100 times. If you do not review, you will forget and then become frustrated with the process. So have a review packet.
You will find it more difficult to memorize when you are anxious, depressed, or angry. It’s hard to concentrate. Paul told the Philippians, “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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” (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT).
My friend Mark Wilson, who is an English teacher, gave me some insight about memorization. He writes about four ways to keep Scripture alive in our hearts and to aid in our understanding of what we read and memorize: Keeping God’s Word Fresh, Reading for the Grand Themes, Deep Meditation, and the Creative Work of God’s Word.
Keeping God’s Word Fresh
When seeking to hide God’s Word in our hearts, we cannot stop at memorization—we must also use our imagination. To some extent we all do this when we read; our imagination recreates the things that the words describe. But with familiar Bible stories, our imagination becomes dulled. This is especially true of the Bible stories we were taught as children. Imagining or re-imagining the story can reveal new insights into the story or passage. For instance, imaginatively placing ourselves at the foot of the cross and looking up at our Savior may help us truly grasp the wonder of His sacrifice for us. When we imagine the fear and shame David saw in the eyes of his brothers when Goliath mocked Israel, we begin to feel the righteous anger that David felt at hearing the God of Israel blasphemed. Through careful and holy use of our imagination, God’s Spirit can make old stories new. As you memorize you can imagine what the writer may have been feeling or thinking as he wrote the verse.
Reading for the Grand Themes
One of the limits of memorization is that we tend to focus on small passages, verses, or promises but not the parables and narratives that are major portions of both the New and Old Testaments. These stories reveal God’s ways and the core values of the kingdom. To hide the large themes of God’s Word in our hearts, we must sometimes do a quick and uninterrupted read through many chapters. When we sit and read through a whole gospel, for example, we allow the whole symphony of God’s Word to sweep over and to catch us up in the pure goodness of Jesus. We get a feeling for the ways of Jesus.
I once read through the gospel of Mark in one sitting and discovered how excited the author was about Jesus. I had grown up loving Jesus, but after reading Mark I discovered how much I flat-out... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14334 - You Need God’s Grace...!!!
““From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another” (John 1:16). “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above” (James 1:16-17).
“The unaware life is not worth living,” said Socrates.
It’s also true that the Christian who is unaware of the beauty of grace in his life has missed the entire point of living the Christian life. Out of the awareness of grace come freedom, authority, power, love, worship, and life in abundance (John 10:10)
Grace is more than second chances, surprises, and unmerited gifts. Grace comes in our inability and failure, and provides radical changes and a paradigm shift. Grace gives new opportunities and a fresh revelation of God and life. Grace will transform you.
God is love. He cares for you and is faithful to His covenant promises, and so He forgives you. God is holy and righteous, and paid the price that forgiveness requires in Jesus Christ. When love, faithfulness, and righteousness were united at the cross, grace and forgiveness was offered to you (2 John 3; John 1:12).
What is so amazing about grace? As the undeserved, unearned favor of God, grace can never be earned by your good deeds or received as a result of religious performance. Grace means God freely and openly receives sinners—even you with all your flaws and hang-ups. Grace is manifested in human failure, sin, weakness, loss, and heartbreak.
The wonder of God’s grace is that it does not give up. It takes you right where you are and transforms you into who you were meant to become when you were created. God’s grace transforms an ugly, awkward, incomplete caterpillar into a graceful butterfly that can soar into life abundant. That’s what God’s desire is for you, life to the full.
Grace is a gift that is received by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), totally undeserved by you. It is by grace through faith that God’s life, power, and righteousness are acknowledged. However, that grace must be received (John 1:12). Your faith is born and established in this loving relationship. Grace is about relationships (Revelation 3:20). Grace enlightens my communion with God, with others, and with myself.
The reason God loves you is to be found in God Himself alone. He acts in goodness, kindness, and mercy. You are loved. This love goes beyond your human feelings or failings or sin, because it is unconditional. You were created with a “soul hunger” for love that must have acceptance and forgiveness that is unconditional and everlasting. Grace is a means to the end—relationship.
The invitation is to “whosoever will may come” (Revelation 22:17). Grace or the love of God is given freely to all men. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
Paul warns us three times not to take God’s grace for granted: 1) Don’t “receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). 2) Don’t “frustrate the grace of God” (Galatians 2:21). 3) Don’t “insult the Spirit of grace” (Hebrews 10:29).
The curse of not taking God’s grace, says David A. Seamands in Healing Grace, is the feelings of guilt, condemnation, and the judgment and disapproval of God and yourself. Guilt is a form of mental and emotional pain you experience when you do—or fail to do—something that violates your moral standard, which then leads to the performance trap of low self-esteem, phoniness, anger, difficulties with interpersonal relationships, and legalism.
WHAT OBSTRUCTS GOD’S GRACE? The Scripture warns that “God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6).... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14325 - “Every child must choose his eternal destiny. With some, it may come out in open rebellion like the prodigal son. But with others it may seem like you had no problem, the son or daughter was such a good child. Until years later you hear, ‘Mom, Dad, if you only knew what I was up to and what I did at that time, you would have been upset.’
“But they were ‘working out’ their salvation. They had to choose who they would follow. We tend to get upset at the prodigal, but both the prodigal and older brother were rebellious and had to choose.”
Raising children is not easy. That is why God gave you a promise from Jeremiah 31:3, “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.’”
Other translations add, “There-fore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” God’s love and faithfulness is everlasting to you and your children.
In the September 2007 issue of Decision magazine, I read Abraham Piper’s testimony on how he came back to God when he was a wayward child. “When I was 19, I decided I’d be honest and stop saying I was a Christian,” he said. He pretended that his reasoning was high-minded and philosophical. But in reality he just wanted to get drunk, sleep around, and do his own thing. He wanted his freedom. After four years of this, he was fed up with himself—unfulfilled, confused, and depressed. Especially when he was sober or alone.
His parents were good Christians who raised their children in church. They were brokenhearted and puzzled at their son’s choice to reject their values and God. They felt that they had tried to raise their son right, so why was he so messed up now?
One Tuesday morning, Abraham went to the library to check his e-mail. He received a message from a girl he met a few weeks before. She quoted him a verse from the book of Romans. It got his attention. On the way back to his apartment he stopped to buy some beer and cigarettes. He forgot the verse, so he opened a Bible, smoking the cigarettes and drinking the beer as he starting reading Romans.
“By the time I got to chapter 10,” he said, “the beer was gone, the ashtray needed emptying, and I was a Christian…. God gave me a glimpse of ‘the true wonder of Jesus.’”
In the article, Abraham recognized that many parents are confused and brokenhearted over their unbelieving child. As he looked back over the years that he rejected Christ, he offered some suggestions that will help you reach your wayward son or daughter. Or they might help you before your child is wayward.
Here are 12 Ways to Love Your Wayward Child:
1 Point them to Christ. Abraham said the real problem with your child is not drugs or sex or cigarettes or porn or laziness or crime or cussing or slovenliness or homosexuality or being in a punk rock band. When we are in rebellion, we do not see the Lord clearly.
The best thing you can do for anyone in rebellion is to show him Christ. It may not be easy or instant, but the sins that are distressing you and destroying him must be dealt with by the Holy Spirit, who is the only one who can open his eyes to see Jesus as He really is.
2 Pray. Remember that only God can save your child. “Your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost” (Matthew 18:14). Your prayers make a difference. So ask God to reveal Himself to them in such a way that they can’t resist Him.
3 Acknowledge that something is wrong. When your child rejects the Lord, don’t make-believe that everything is fine. If you know your child is not a believer and you are not reaching out to him, start now. Don’t stop and don’t ignore the child’s unbelief. Ignoring it might make your holidays easier, but not eternity.
4 Don’t expect them to be Christ-like. If your child is... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14324 - If you have never practiced the presence of God, you don’t know what you have missed.
The presence of God is always here; it’s everywhere. Paul quoted these words on Mars Hill to the idol worshipers and philosophers of his day: “For in him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). David understood, “I can never get away from your presence!” (Psalm 139:7 NLT).
All of creation is subject to the Creator. Without God in us, we do not know life, only existence. God is all you need. He is a perfect parent as well as a faithful friend. As your Father, God has your best interest in mind. He wants you to completely rely on Him, in faith—from your business decisions to the ordinary tasks of life. God created you to live in fellowship with Him (John 17:3).
David found that the presence of God is the only all-satisfying experience of life. “You will fill me with joy in your presence” (Psalm 16:11). This joy is the byproduct of peace with God and abiding in Christ.
Brother Lawrence (1614-1691) is famous for the booklet The Practice of the Presence of God. He entered a monastery in France and lived the remaining 30 years of his life working in the kitchen, cooking meals and washing pots and pans. He lived in obscurity, yet his desire was to walk continually in God’s presence.
“There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful,” he said, “than that of a continual conversation with God; those only can comprehend it who practice and experience it…. I believe that all spiritual life consists of practicing God’s presence, and that anyone who practices it correctly will soon attain spiritual fulfillment.”
I believe that what Brother Lawrence calls “practicing the presence of God” is what the Bible calls “abiding in Christ.”
Brother Lawrence found God in the monastery kitchen. Amidst the boring chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his superiors, he writes, “Men invent means and methods of coming at God’s love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God’s presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love of him?”
For Brother Lawrence, “ordinary business,” no matter how mundane, was the means of God’s love. You can’t separate the secular from the sacred; God is in both. Brother Lawrence’s work was his ministry. “We can do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God.”
The distinction you make between sacred places and secular places, sacred activities and secular activities can be an obstacle to practicing the presence of God. It is certainly good to ask God to guide and illuminate your study of His Word, but you can also enter into conversation with God about the newspaper, magazine, or book you are reading. It can be especially fruitful to ask God to comment on works of history—since He is the Lord of history. You can talk to God about His creation. Genesis tells us that God brought the animals to Adam to see what he would name them. I suspect they engaged in small talk about the animals—maybe giggled at giraffes.
You can be so busy seeking the deep or profound revelations from God that you miss the small talk that is the life-blood of real friendship with God. You can be so obsessed with knowing His will that you miss the obvious: His presence is His will. It is us He wants.
When God is invited into all parts of your life—not just your quiet... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14323 - Trusting God When the Door Seem to Be Closing:::
With so much happening in the world today – the recession, job lost, and etc it seems like all the doors closes right in front of our faces. It seems like there’s no way out of the situation we’re in. We pray and pray (day and night) asking God to open up the windows of opportunity for us, but what do you do when all the doors seems to be closed. There’s encouragement for you today.
When One Door Closes, Another One Opens
There are times when we pray and ask God for things. “God bless me with a job; give me that promotion at work; help me to pay my bills and etc”. We ask God for a lot of things. However, we never ask God to open doors He wants to be open and shut doors He wants to be closed.
Today, I’m looking for a job and it seems as though every door is closing on me. Turn down after turn down after turn down. Then I realized that God has something better in store for me. My plans are not always His plans.
God Has Another Plan for You
Sometimes the things we pray for aren’t the things God has in store for us. Oftentimes, we pray for little things when God wants to bless us with bigger things. Sometimes we pray for God to bless us with the wrong things. I had to encourage myself and tell myself: when one door closes, another one opens.
You may be going through a situation right now feeling as though nothing is working out for your good. You might want to give up and throw the towel in. I want to encourage you today and tell you not to give up.
When God closes one door He opens up another. It could be that God wants you to have or be somewhere else in life. Or that God simply has another route for you to go down. Sometimes we have to hear no in order to get to where God wants us to be. Sometimes door closes not because God is against us, but simply because it’s used as a tool to guide us where God wants us to be.
When you feel as though you want to lose hope; don’t! You want to give up; don’t do it. Know that God is with you. Guiding and ordering your footsteps. He has a specific path just for you to travel down but sometimes as children wondering we lose track and go down the wrong path. Because of this, God put road blocks in the wrong paths to get us going down the right path.
Finial Words
Be encouraged and know that God has the key to open every door; change every situation and open new windows of opportunities. Sometimes, road blocks are there to lead you unto the path Jesus would have you to go; sort of like the yellow and white ink in the street guiding you as you drive to your destination.
Be encouraged and know that God does everything for a reason; not for our downfall, but for our good and to His glory. The road blocks we face is simply God guiding us. Be encouraged in Jesus name knowing that when one door closes, another one opens. God bless you. - To make good decisions we must first understand that our decisions affect more than just ourselves, it affects the people around us. It’s important to understand the importance of making good decisions. We need to ask ourselves, “Who will be affected by the decisions I make today”? Here are 4 reasons why you should make good decisions starting now.
Influence
As an older brother and Christian, I not only have to think about myself when it comes to making decisions but also the people who look up to me – my siblings (and friends). Whether I like it or not, what I decide to do will impact the lives of others.
The same applies to you; the decisions and choices you make will impact those around you. I believe the first step to making good decisions is realizing it’s not all about you. Someone is watching you, mimicking you and observing your every move.
According to the dictionary, the word “influence” means having the power (or capacity) to be compelling or producing effects on the actions, behavior and opinions of others. This means that you have the power to produce an effect on a person’s actions, behavior and opinions based upon the decisions you make.
Think about it; your decisions affect another person’s actions, behaviors and opinions. If you’re going to begin making good decisions, start with considering those whom you are influencing. Begin to ask yourself, “Will my decisions have a positive or negative effect on those around me? Am I setting a good example for those who look up to me?” This should bring awareness as to the decisions you make and the people who are affected by it.
Your Life is an Example
Your life is an example to others on how to or how not to live. As the oldest, my life is an example to my siblings on how to handle a variety of situations. This includes things such as how to respond to those who are rude, how to manage money, how to be responsible, how to shop on a budget and so on.
If I decided to make poor decisions and curse every person who was rude to me, what type of example am I setting for my siblings and those who I influence? Not a good one. Every day life requires every day decisions and the decisions I make is not only influential but also an illustration to the people around me.
One step towards making good decisions is to realize that your life is an open book and somebody is reading it. They are evaluating the decisions you make, the outcome of your decisions and how you handle different situations.
For example: When I made a decision not to play music with profanity, my siblings noticed the change. Not only did they notice, but they begin to slowly do the same. My decision not only affected me, but my siblings as well.
Long Term Affects
Think about it, everything you do now, every solitary decision you make affects you in the long run one way or another. By making a decision to budget my finances, I can expect slowly but surely to get out of debt; by making a decision to learn one new word everyday has a long term affect of giving me an extensive vocabulary.
Every decision you make today will impact your tomorrow. A decision that took 3 seconds to make can cost you a lifetime of wanted or unwanted events. When you make a decision ask yourself, “what are the long term affects; is this a good or bad decision I’m making?”
Make a decision to change how you look at life realizing that a quick non thought-out decision can have a negative effect on your life and those around you.
Living with Regrets
Oftentimes, people make poor decisions. That’s fine; we all make mistakes (even I). However, I think it’s important to learn from the decisions we make. Choosing not to learn from poor decisions can result in a life full of regrets. “I wish I... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14294 - What Are You Thankful For?
Scripture: Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High (Psalm 50:14).
What are you thankful for as it relates to the things God has done for you? Have you told God thank you for all He’s done in your life? When we go to God in prayer it’s easy to ask God for a million and one things but have you told Him thank you for all He’s already done?
God’s word says to enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name (Psalm 100:4). I encourage you to write down a list of 5-10 things you’re thankful for; no matter how BIG or “small” it is. Once you write this list, begin to give God thanks – praising Him; being thankful unto Him and blessing His name.
Don’t worry; I’ve done it too. Here’s my list of 8 things I’m thankful for:
My Heavenly Father: The Bible says God demonstrated his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). Where would I be if Jesus didn’t go on the cross for me and save me from myself? I’ll be sinning relentlessly, indulging in every lustful thought, rebelling against authority figures and probably laying in my grave. However, God didn’t leave me to myself; He has shown Himself to me and changed my life slowly but surely. He’s my healer, provider, protector, lover and best friend. He’s everything and more. I’m grateful for God being in my life; without Him where would I be?
My Family: After God, I am thankful for the wonderful family God has blessed me with. I’m thankful for a praying, teaching, determined, sold-out-to-Christ mother. I’ve learned so much spiritually through her. I am thankful for siblings who’ve taught me how to be self-less, caring, patient and considerate of others.
My Senses: Taste. Sight. Feel. Hear. Smell. It’s so easy to over look these five things but imagine life without them. I don’t take them for granted.
Past Mistakes: As crazy as this may sound, I am thankful for past mistakes; they have all led to making me who I am today. Although I didn’t enjoy the consequences of my mistakes, I am thankful that it made me and not break me.
God’s Mercy and Grace: God said in His word that His grace is sufficient; that His power is made perfect in my weakness. I have many weaknesses and God has (and still is) delivering me from them but I need God’s mercy and grace to get there. I Bless the Lord for not giving up on me, for extending His hand of mercy and grace to me.
God’s Forgiveness: Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.” I didn’t know I served a God who will forgive me of everything until recently. I’m thankful for the forgiveness of the Most High because I’ve made mistakes along the way but God promises that if I repent of my sins, He’s faithful and just to forgive me and remember them no more.
Rising Up Each Morning: Think about it, there are approximately 6.7 billion people living here on earth; of that, about 250,000 people don’t wake up to see another day. Each day that I am given is a blessing, I could have been part of the 250,000 people who didn’t see another day but God kept me and for that I am thankful.
Good Health: I am in my right mind; I have the activity of my limbs and I am healthy.
Now that you’ve seen my list, I ask you: what are you thankful for? Write it down; go over it and begin to give God praise for all He’s done in your life. God bless you in Jesus name. - Ready, Aim, Fire...!!!
Hebrews 12:1 encourages us to “run with endurance the race that is set before us.” If you ever participated in track, you know that a different strategy is needed for a marathon than for a 100 yard dash. We are in a race and it takes endurance. Are you eager to get into the race? - Ready, aim, ready, ready, aim. We must fire, take action, live the call of God! There is a big difference between intentions and actions. 1Corinthians 4:20 (NLV) says, “For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is about living by God’s power.” The road to hell is lined with good intentions. The devil doesn’t care about your intentions; he wants to stop your actions.
Let’s look at the woman with the issue of blood in Mark 5:25-34 as an example of ready, aim, fire:
Ready: This speaks of preparation. She heard about Jesus, knew His reputation and believed He could heal her despite all the disappointments of the past. She was preparing to receive her miracle. Ephesians 6:13 (NIV) promises, “When you have done everything you could, you will be able to stand firm.” That preparation includes regular prayer and Bible reading. Joshua 1:8 tells us, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
Aim: She kept saying, “If I touch Him I will be healed. If I touch Him I will be healed.” She saw it long before she touched Him. We must keep the goal in mind. Philippians 3:13-14 admonishes, “Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward for what lies ahead.” 2Corinthians 3:18 tells us we are moving “from glory to glory.” It is time to aim higher. Simon T. Bailey says, “Losers look at what they are going through. Winners look at what they are going to.” This is when the devil starts whispering in your ear. He doesn’t care how much you get ready or how carefully you aim. He doesn’t want to see you fire. He doesn’t want to see you take action.
Fire: Finally she took action. She was literally risking her life. Because of the bleeding, she was considered unclean and could be stoned for being in the crowd. But that was not going to stop her. It’s time to step out. Act. James 2:26 warns, “Faith without works is dead.” 1John 3:18 in The Message commands, “Let’s not just talk about love, let’s practice real love.” Imagine the following conversation with a friend. “I’m believing for a job.” “How many applications have you put in?” “Oh, I’m believing God will provide.” They are going to be “believing” for a long time. To fire takes courage and character. Is there the possibility of rejection? Of course. Are we willing to trust God? - There are many Bible examples of “Ready, Aim, Fire”:
Gideon in Judges 7 was ready with an army of 32,000 warriors. God cut that number down to 10,000 and then to 300 before he released him to fire.
Four men carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus in Mark 2. Despite the crowd in the house around Jesus, they had their aim on their goal. How many others needed healing that day? God does not respond to need; He responds to faith.
Peter walked on water in Matthew 14. That is a great story but have you ever asked what about the others in the boat? Peter was willing to act while the others were content to watch. Jesus went to the cross; He was willing to follow through to the end.
There is power of our words. Hebrews 10:23 tells us, “Let Gill hold fast the confession of his hope without wavering. For He who promised is faithful.” Speaking faith-filled words is the golden key that unlocks the supernatural flow of God’s power in our life. Are you tempted to say “I can’t?” Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ.” Mark 11:23 promises that we shall have whatever we say. That works for both the positive and the negative.
What problem do you need to face in your life? It might be relationships, addictions or habits of sin? How do you need to get ready? Is your eye on the goal? Is it time to stop thinking, talking and praying about it and take action? Where do you need to take action today. Perhaps it is in completely a college degree, job skill training or a GED. Perhaps it is in developing new friends who will lift you up rather than pushing you down. Perhaps it is in the most important step of all: surrendering your life to God and making Him Lord. Let’s remember Nike’s motto: Just do it! - Words are powerful – they are seeds that yield a good or bad harvest (depending on what you speak). There is power in finding scripture(s) on your particular situation and speaking what God has to say about it instead of your flesh. God wants to bless you. Don’t let your mouth get in the way of your blessing. Pray with me:
Heavenly father thank you. Thank you Lord for your Word and blessings. Father, I ask in the name of Jesus that you help me to speak life and not death. Place a guard over my mouth in Jesus name that I may not speak anything that is in opposition of your word and promises I have through your Son Jesus Christ. Father I plead the blood of Jesus against every idle word I’ve said that was negative –cancelling out its power. From this day on I make a decision to speak your blessings upon my life and the life’s of others. I thank you Lord that by your strength and with the leadership of the Holy Spirit I’m able to do this. Father, I thank you in advance for the blessings your spending my way and I praise your holy name. I receive your blessings and will decree and declare them daily. These things I pray and ask, believing that their already done; in Jesus name, Amen.
May you be encouraged and may God bless you in Jesus name. - Make a decision. Proverb 15:4 tells us that a tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. Decide today that you will watch what departs from your lips. Make a choice to speak God’s blessings over your life. Through the power of the Holy Ghost we have the power to speak God’s blessings over our lives and with the same tongue (if used negatively) can speak curses over our lives.
Here’s an example of things we say that sounds harmless but is actually stopping God’s blessing in your life and cursing you:
I’m poor; I’m broke; I have no money
I have (name of disease), I’ll never get healed from it.
I’m ugly
I’m a failure
I’ll never find love
God doesn’t love me
My marriage is going to fail
I’m going to lose my job
I’m stupid
I’m a worrier
I’m sick and tired of _________.
By speaking these words, you’re claiming it to be so in your life – you’re decreeing and declaring brokenness. Even if you are sick, don’t go around claiming it, instead say you’re healed. Do this for every other negative thing in your life. Remember words are seeds that can yield a good or bad harvest in your life –depending on what you speak. The very essence of our being was spoken into existence by God. Monitor what you speak. Every time you want to speak negative, stop, ask God to change your heart and to renew your mind. Then, fix your mouth to speak God’s blessings upon your life instead:
I’m more than a conqueror
I’m prosperous
By the strips of Jesus I am healed
My marriage is saved
My spouse and children are saved in Jesus name
I have God’s favor upon my life
I’m the head and not the tail
I have my career job in Jesus name
- Trusting God When the Door Seem to Be Closing
With so much happening in the world today – the recession, job lost, and etc it seems like all the doors closes right in front of our faces. It seems like there’s no way out of the situation we’re in. We pray and pray (day and night) asking God to open up the windows of opportunity for us, but what do you do when all the doors seems to be closed. There’s encouragement for you today.
When One Door Closes, Another One Opens
There are times when we pray and ask God for things. “God bless me with a job; give me that promotion at work; help me to pay my bills and etc”. We ask God for a lot of things. However, we never ask God to open doors He wants to be open and shut doors He wants to be closed.
Today, I’m looking for a job and it seems as though every door is closing on me. Turn down after turn down after turn down. Then I realized that God has something better in store for me. My plans are not always His plans.
God Has Another Plan for You
Sometimes the things we pray for aren’t the things God has in store for us. Oftentimes, we pray for little things when God wants to bless us with bigger things. Sometimes we pray for God to bless us with the wrong things. I had to encourage myself and tell myself: when one door closes, another one opens.
You may be going through a situation right now feeling as though nothing is working out for your good. You might want to give up and throw the towel in. I want to encourage you today and tell you not to give up.
When God closes one door He opens up another. It could be that God wants you to have or be somewhere else in life. Or that God simply has another route for you to go down. Sometimes we have to hear no in order to get to where God wants us to be. Sometimes door closes not because God is against us, but simply because it’s used as a tool to guide us where God wants us to be.
When you feel as though you want to lose hope; don’t! You want to give up; don’t do it. Know that God is with you. Guiding and ordering your footsteps. He has a specific path just for you to travel down but sometimes as children wondering we lose track and go down the wrong path. Because of this, God put road blocks in the wrong paths to get us going down the right path.
Finial Words
Be encouraged and know that God has the key to open every door; change every situation and open new windows of opportunities. Sometimes, road blocks are there to lead you unto the path Jesus would have you to go; sort of like the yellow and white ink in the street guiding you as you drive to your destination.
Be encouraged and know that God does everything for a reason; not for our downfall, but for our good and to His glory. The road blocks we face is simply God guiding us. Be encouraged in Jesus name knowing that when one door closes, another one opens. God bless you. - It’s easy to say, “give your cares to the Lord and trust Him” when everything in life seems to be going well. It’s easy to say, “I trust you Lord with everything I own” when bills are paid on time and when you just got a promotion at work.
However, if God striped you of everything you own; If God told you to leave the very job that’s paying your bills, will you trust the Lord enough to do it? Will you trust God even when you don’t understand; even when life hurts? If God told you to leave the familiar and enter the unfamiliar, will you trust Him?
For many of you, God has done just that. He has taken you from what’s “oh so familiar” and redirected your paths into the unfamiliar. You don’t understand what’s happening in your life; what to do or where to go. The only thing you know is that the Lord gave you a word (instruction, a promise, vision, etc) and the only thing you have to hold on to is that word.
I understand the feeling; you’re not alone. There is encouragement for you today. Here are 4 things to remember whenever you feel as though you don’t understand what God is doing and/or allowing in your life.
Consider the Source
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last (Revelation 22:13).
Who else can say that but God? No one, only God can say such a thing. God knows everything: the past, current and future and our knowledge and understanding doesn’t even compare to the knowledge and understanding of God – even when it applies to our own life.
Furthermore, when you don’t understand what God is doing in your life, consider the source – Who is it that you’re trusting; God or yourself?
Here is something to remember. Man is fallible; we fall short and at times we’re unable to keep our promises. Man can give you instructions that are misleading and imperfect. With God, none of these things are possible. God keeps His promises, God gives you right instructions according to His perfect will and He won’t mislead you.
No matter how much you don’t understand life as it is right now; no matter how uncomfortable it may seem or how hard it gets, don’t give up. If God is with you - the same God who spoke life into you, the same God who IS and knows the beginning and the end, the same God who knew you before the foundation of this world -is with you, then ask yourself who or WHAT can stand against you.
Consider the source and seek to be obedient to the Lord, even when you don t understand what God is doing in your life; don’t worry about “this or that” because God has provisions for you.
Trust the Lord
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding (Proverbs 3:5).
When you learn to trust the Lord, you will begin to have a sense of rest in the Lord knowing that He has everything under control even when life seems to be out of control. Trusting God will get you to the point where you make a decision to trust in Him and NOT in your own logic and understanding.
As Christians, we must make a decision to trust Him regardless of how scary the situation may seem. Trusting God doesn’t prevent you from being in uncomfortable situations but it does allow you to be placed in a position where you seek the Lord’s presence, provisions, guidance and promises.
I encourage you to stop stressing yourself out- losing sleep, being weary, anxious, worried, depressed and sad. Don’t try to understand the ways of God because it is impossible for you to understand His decisions and ways! (Romans 11:33). The natural man cannot understand the things of God. For God’s ways are higher than mans, they are past finding out and this is why we must make a decision to trust our all knowing God.
Be Obedient
The bible states that “obedience is better than... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14266 - MARRIAGE IS A COVENANT:
Matthew 19:9 "And I say unto you, Whosoever shall put away his wife, except it be for fornication, and shall marry another, committeth adultery: and whoso marrieth her which is put away doth commit adultery." - What does it mean for a man and a woman to become "one flesh?" The act of sexual intercourse between a man and a woman produces this one flesh relationship. Whether or not the man and woman ever cleave to each other in marriage; the physical act still binds them together as one flesh.
This is the reason that sexual relationships outside of marriage (whether extra-marital or pre-marital) are so damaging. Whether or not individuals get caught, pregnant or ever hurt anyone else with their sin, they are doing a lot of damage to themselves. There is a relationship that takes place through the sexual act that makes us one with that person. There is no such thing as just a "night on the town" or a "one night stand" and that's all there is to it. Alcoholism, child abuse, hatred, and a thousand other things that are certainly wrong, are not grounds for divorce but fornication is. That shows that there is something very powerful that takes place in the physical act and explains why Satan has exploited this area so much.
Becoming one flesh with someone (sexual intercourse) is not marriage. Marriage includes, but is even beyond, becoming one flesh. This can be seen very clearly in John 4:17-18. Jesus said the woman He was speaking to at Jacob's well had five prior husbands and the man she was currently living with was not her husband. It is certain that this woman was having sexual relations with the man she was living with but that didn't make him her husband. Marriage involves more than sexual relations. It is a covenant or commitment between a man and a woman that corresponds to the cleaving to each other that Jesus spoke of here.
What does it mean for a man and a woman to become "one flesh?" The act of sexual intercourse between a man and a woman produces this one flesh relationship. Whether or not the man and woman ever cleave to each other in marriage; the physical act still binds them together as one flesh.
This is the reason that sexual relationships outside of marriage (whether extra-marital or pre-marital) are so damaging. Whether or not individuals get caught, pregnant or ever hurt anyone else with their sin, they are doing a lot of damage to themselves. There is a relationship that takes place through the sexual act that makes us one with that person. There is no such thing as just a "night on the town" or a "one night stand" and that's all there is to it. Alcoholism, child abuse, hatred, and a thousand other things that are certainly wrong, are not grounds for divorce but fornication is. That shows that there is something very powerful that takes place in the physical act and explains why Satan has exploited this area so much.
Becoming one flesh with someone (sexual intercourse) is not marriage. Marriage includes, but is even beyond, becoming one flesh. This can be seen very clearly in John 4:17-18. Jesus said the woman He was speaking to at Jacob's well had five prior husbands and the man she was currently living with was not her husband. It is certain that this woman was having sexual relations with the man she was living with but that didn't make him her husband. Marriage involves more than sexual relations. It is a covenant or commitment between a man and a woman that corresponds to the cleaving to each other that Jesus spoke of here.- Most people are unaware that there are two kinds of righteousness. Only one type of righteousness is acceptable to God. One form of righteousness is our own righteousness. These are the acts of holiness that we do in an attempt to fulfill the commands of the Old Testament law. This is an imperfect righteousness because human nature is imperfect and incapable of fulfilling the law.
God's righteousness is not something that we do, but something that we receive as a gift through faith in Christ. It's not possible to trust in our own righteousness and in God's righteousness. A person who believes that he must earn God's acceptance by his holy actions must not believe in God's righteousness, which is a gift. It has to be one or the other; we cannot mix the two. Righteousness is not what Jesus has done for us plus some minimum standard of holiness that we have to accomplish. God's righteousness is perfect. Accept this gift He offers to you. - Just as Jesus had warned His disciples not to be deceived by false Christs because His second coming would be visible to everyone, He also explains that until the very day of His coming, the world will continue on its present course. People will not discern the signs of His coming just as the people during Noah's day didn't realize their impending judgment. This corresponds exactly with Jesus' prophecies about His coming being like the appearance of a thief in the night. Jesus is emphasizing that the unbelievers will not recognize that He is coming until it is too late. He is stressing that His coming will take the world by surprise.
- The Lord is pointing out the urgent need to be ready for His return. In the same way that a thief comes when people are the least prepared, so our Lord will return in a time when people are not looking for Him. There will be a condition of apathy in the latter days that will tend to lull even the faithful to sleep if they don't take heed to His words. He urges us to be watchful so we will be prepared.
- Being unthankful is always a sign that self is exalting itself above God. A selfless person can be content with very little. A self-centered person cannot be satisfied. Thankfulness is a sign of humility and cultivating a life of thankfulness will help keep "self" in its proper place.
Thankfulness to the Lord for what He is and what He has done is a very important part of the Christian life. One of the many benefits of thanksgiving and praise is that they keep us from being "self" oriented.
Giving thanks is a totally unselfish action and is a key to relationship with the Father that makes us "whole" and not just "healed." - In Romans 7, God has laid the foundation for your deliverance:
1. The power of sin is in the law of sin and death. You are married to it. The Law reveals your sin, your carnal nature, and the righteous demands of God’s holiness.
2. The Law shows your inability to save yourself and the impossibility to please God in your own strength. Your performance will never measure up.
3. In Christ your identification in His death and resurrection dissolves the Law so that it no longer has power over you. Your marriage to the Law has ended. You have died to it.
4. The Law has given you the realization of your failure and now it makes you ready to receive God’s grace of victory—life in the Spirit.
Only when you come to the end of yourself can you enter into the life of God in Christ. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). Blessed are the bankrupt; blessed are the wretched. The realization of your helplessness is the foundation of grace. As long as you think you can do it yourself, you will live in Romans 7. Paul’s question is not “What must I do?” but “Who will deliver me?”
1 Timothy 1:5 (nkjv) tells us what God wanted to achieve with the Law: “Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.” The end of the Law was love and faith. Romans 8:3 tells us that the Law could not accomplish this in us. So God did it in Christ. And that is what Paul told Timothy: “And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus”
(1 Timothy 1:14). Though the Law could not provide us with love and faith, grace was “exceedingly abundant” to do it.
You’ll find the details of this deliverance in Romans 8. Both salvation and sanctification come through Jesus Christ. He has supplied everything you need.
It starts with verse 1: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Scott had been living under condemnation. God convicts us of sin to give us grace to change. Satan condemns us to defeat us.
Christ’s victory is found in verses 2-6: “Through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit…. The mind (mind-set) of sinful man is death, but the mind (mind-set) controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.”
God sent His Son Jesus to fulfill the Law and then to die to it—the only way to die to sin and the Law is to die to your performance and abide in Jesus. Before, your mind-set was controlled by the flesh, but now it is controlled by the Spirit. A mind-set motivates your life. It determines your choices; shapes your values; affects your view of people, God, and life. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5 nkjv). This new principle of life in Christ liberates you from the old principle of sin and death that caused sin to condemn you.
When you die to the Law, you trade in all your self-righteous, moral principles, good works, and religious rituals for the righteousness granted to you through faith in Jesus Christ.
Your part is to receive by faith God’s gift of salvation and victory. According to James 4:7, as you submit to God, by faith resting in His victory that is in you, then you are to “Resist the devil and he will flee from... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14241 - There are four powerful symbols in Scripture of the righteousness that God bestows on the believer—a robe, a breastplate, a crown, and a scepter. This righteousness is God’s gift to you. But like all gifts from God, the gift of righteousness must be received by faith and acted on.
1. A ROBE IS THE SYMBOL OF COVERING—TO COVER YOUR NAKEDNESS SO YOU CAN STAND IN GOD’S PRESENCE WITH NO CONDEMNATION, GUILT, OR SHAME.
When Adam and Eve sinned, they knew that they were naked. Adam said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (Genesis 3:10). Shame and fear are the first fruits of sin—shame for being exposed and fear of condemnation. When you are converted, you receive the robe of righteousness, which puts your sin behind you and covers your nakedness. The prodigal son’s father gave him a robe as a symbol that he was fully accepted as a son and heir. The past has been forgiven; there is no shame or condemnation.
On the other hand, in another parable the man without a wedding garment, the correct robe, was thrown out into the darkness. He was shamed and condemned. Without the robe of righteousness, you will be draped in the darkness of sin and bondage.
The book of Revelation expands on the symbolism of the robe, picturing it as clean, shining, and white. “They were all standing before the throne and before the Lamb, wearing white robes” (Revelation 7:9). “They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy” (Revelation 3:4). “Blessed are those who wash their robes. They will be permitted to enter through the gates of the city and eat the fruit from the tree of life” (Revelation 22:14).
Under the law, God required righteousness from all of us. But under grace, God gives righteousness to all who will receive His mercy and forgiveness. “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe” (Romans 3:22). Because God is the author and giver of this righteousness, it meets His approval. Jesus secured it, the Holy Spirit convinces us of it, and faith receives all that the Father provides. This righteousness will “present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy” (Jude 24).
But how will we wash our robes if they get sin on them? When you stumble, confess your sins. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin…. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:7, 9). In the Greek, the verb tense for “purifies” indicates continual action. By walking in light and confessing, your robe is kept continually clean. Sin is not only forgiven, but also wiped out by the blood of Jesus.
Faith appropriates the robe of righteousness, but it’s Christ’s blood and grace that has secured it. You can now stand before God without any fear of condemnation or any sense of inferiority, for you are in Christ and have become “the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Guilt no longer holds sway over you. “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies” (Romans 8:33 NASB). The judge of all the earth has proclaimed you righteous.
But some have fallen into a trap—the performance trap of religion. Trying to be “good enough” to obtain God’s favor and blessing will cause you to lay aside your robe of righteousness.
When I was a young Christian and sinned, I would make myself feel miserable all day and then accept God’s forgiveness. If the sin were more serious, I would maintain my misery for two or three days and then accept God’s forgiveness. When did God forgive me? As soon as I asked! But I was trying to make myself feel worthy of His forgiveness. Jesus paid it... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14240 - God’s Plan...
Behind creation is God’s purpose for man. We were made to rule and reign with Him as the bride of Christ. But when man sinned, he separated himself from fellowship with God. In His foreknowledge, God saw the fall of man into sin “before the foundation of the world,” and Jesus volunteered to be our Savior.
Redemption means that man is legally restored to fellowship with God, made righteous. “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” (Isaiah 53:6). Jesus Christ was made sin (that is, a sin-offering) for us. Thus, He redeemed us from the curse of the law by being made a curse for us. He was delivered over to death by the foreknowledge of God. “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:4-5). Christ’s vicarious sacrifice provided for the atonement of the sins of the world.
Satan, the “accuser of the brethren,” keeps records of your sin. Your only defense is the blood of Christ, the Lamb of God. When God sees that the blood has been applied to your life, He then makes you righteous and gives you permission to live in His presence as though you had never sinned (Jude 24).
All the claims of the law have been satisfied. You have been redeemed from slavery to sin and Satan; you “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24). Righteousness has been imparted to you. Consequently, Christ has secured a position for you before the throne of God.
God imparts to us the righteousness of Christ through the finished work of the cross, which gives us boldness to come before the throne of grace. Justification by faith means we cannot merit righteousness. “By the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight” (Romans 3:20 nkjv).
Does this unconditional acceptance with God mean that He has no concern for sin or our conduct? Are we free from all divine law? Paul answers this by saying that when God rejected the law of merit, He established the law of love. He quotes Jesus’ words: “If you love me, you will obey what I command” (John 14:15). Out of love, personal righteousness is established. When your heart is changed, your conduct is changed. “For Christ’s love compels us…that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). We need both imputed righteousness from Christ and personal righteousness that flows from our actions out of obedience.
The faith that saves is in the present tense, which produces obedience (Romans 1:5; 16:26). In Romans 10:16 Paul also compares obedience with faith. Obedience always involves a step of faith, and faith always involves a step of obedience. A sinner has no righteousness before God. Yet when by faith he trusts Christ, he is justified and the righteousness of Christ is imputed to him. Abraham by faith believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Also, you get peace with God (Romans 5:1), and the Holy Spirit pours the love of God into your heart (Romans 5:5). This is by faith alone, but the final justification by faith reflects your works at the judgment seat of Christ. As James 2:17-24 teaches, saving faith produces good works.
Salvation is by faith and not by the works of the law. But the law reflects the holiness of God and is the standard of life and obedience. The law is absolute, universal, and eternal, a reflection of the “divine nature.” The spirit and fulfillment of the law is love, for God and... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14239 - Never Going to Hurt Again...!!!
How many times have you found yourself to be struck with the burdens of pain, anger, sadness, worry? How much hurt do you think you have to endure in your lifetime just to make do? Well, let me tell you, with our God, we won’t need to hurt anymore! In Isaiah 54:17, the Lord proclaimed “No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn.”
The Devil’s true purpose is to make sure you are weighed down by the pain of the world. He tries to convince you that you are vulnerable in an attempt to gain control over your life. He wants you to feel the burdens he feels, and suffer the slings and arrows of anger and arrogance, but so long as you hold up your shield of faith, you won’t have to struggle with him any longer! Through the power of the Lord and his sacrifice, we can defend ourselves against any hurt we may encounter! - When God created us, he created us born for victory: victory over sickness, victory over suffering, and most importantly, victory over sin. He gave us the ability to fight whatever may come across our path, which could be as insignificant as a few bills, to the Devil himself. But what is it that we can possess that will possibly help us through any of this? What is it that guarantees us?
That, my friends, is faith, but not just any faith: we need faith that can move mountains, we need faith that can part seas, and we need faith that shouts to the world that we can push back against anything that comes against us or tries to hold us down and instead, bring praise to the one true, mighty God! 1 John 5:4 says “This is the victory that overcomes the world, even our FAITH” and it’s only then, with such faith, that we can begin to walk free from burdens, sickness, disease or lack of any kind.
When Jesus returns from Heaven to bring eternal peace to the world, he will be looking for one thing above all others, and that one thing is faith. It’s time to get excited and walk in that mountain moving faith, so that when our King of Kings and Lord of Lords returns he will gladly look at you with a smile on his face and say, “now that’s what I am looking for, my FAITH filled family!” I am declaring over your life today that you will develop mountain moving faith, such faith that you will be known as a FAITH GIANT and feared by the devil and his host of demons! - How many of you out there feel as though something is missing from your life? How many of you feel as though you’ve been robbed of your strength, your determination, your faith, your hope? Maybe it isn’t you, but rather a family member who is struggling with their own battles, and you’re asking yourself what you can do in order to fix all of this. Well, let me tell you, God has spoken, and He wants you to know that everything that’s missing in your life can be taken right back!
In John 10:10, Jesus states that “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy.” That thief, my friends, the one who takes your hopes and ambitions, he is the devil himself. I can guarantee that each and every one of us have experienced some type of loss because of this thief, but let me tell you, that ends today! Don’t let him continue to take what rightfully belongs to you!
But how? How can we tackle such a daunting task?
Continuing in John 10:10, Jesus explains, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” That right there explicitly states how we are to go about taking back our life. Through the Lord, Our Savior, Jesus, we can muscle up the courage to approach the devil and demand that we are owed what is due! Beginning today, we will take back what is rightfully ours and hold on to it with the strength that comes through the power only the Lord can provide! That authority that comes through and by the name of Jesus has been given to you. Use it today and tell the devil, “enough is enough; I am taking back what’s mine!” - One of the most important aspects of maintaining your faith is prayer. But we don’t want to just pray “religiously”, we want prayer that gets results. James 5:16 says, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” That’s the prayer that sees victory, overcomes the enemy’s tactics, brings healing, restoration, and every good work of the kingdom into our lives!
Many times we can get caught up in begging or pleading for God to do something for us out of fear. But today I want to encourage you to let go of that mindset and start pleading God’s promises over your situation. Fervent prayer avails much! That prayer life that “stays” and “prays” in a position of faith not fear.
I can tell you right now that this kind of prayer life is something that has transformed my life over and over again, and has brought me results no matter how big the battle or how high the mountain was that I faced, and I can guarantee you that if you will begin to pray God’s way and plead His promises over your life, you will experience the breakthrough that you desire! - Ready for Anything...!!!
Would you like to succeed in everything you do, and come out of every situation in life completely victorious? Who doesn’t want that, right? Well, it is possible for you to be ready for ANYTHING!
In Matthew 25, Jesus talks about ten virgins; five of them were wise and five of them were foolish. Verse 6 says, “At midnight a cry was heard: ‘Behold, the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!” The midnight hour was coming for all ten virgins. Yet only the wise were ready. Why? Because they had oil for their lamps.
In the same way, YOU can be ready for YOUR midnight hour for Jesus ‘return and ready for anything, IF you are prepared with OIL. - I believe oil represents four things in the Bible:
#1 Oil represents the Word of God. Psalm 119:105 says, “Thy Word oh Lord is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God’s Word provides the wisdom, promises and the power to be READY FOR ANYTHING.
#2 Oil represents the Holy Spirit. Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power. (Acts 10:38) The word ‘Anointing’ means “to smear or rub with oil”. The presence of the Holy Spirit in your life will lead, guide and equip you to be READY FOR ANYTHING.
#3 Oil represents the Church. Psalm 133:1-2 says, “How good and pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in UNITY, it is like precious oil upon the head” And in verse 3, it says that unity releases God’s blessing. When you get plugged in and connected with your local church, there’s an anointing & a blessing that makes you READY FOR ANYTHING.
#4 Oil represents Sacrificial Giving. When you give to God an offering or sacrificial seed that is valuable to you, you are like the woman who poured expensive perfumed oil upon Jesus’ feet. Jesus said what she did would not be forgotten-and neither will the harvest from your seed. That surely makes you READY FOR ANYTHING!
As you fill your heart and mind with the Word of God, follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, stay united with your church, and give sacrificially, you are filling your lamp with oil like the wise virgins-and READY FOR ANYTHING!
There is so much more I want to share with you from my complete teaching series entitled “Ready for Anything!” - The Pursuit of Power...
- Did you know there is ONE pursuit above all others that this world is after?
More than money, more than sex, more than anything...it is the pursuit of the ages – it is the PURSUIT OF POWER!
In one form or another, everything this world seeks boils down to the pursuit of power.
In Acts 8:9-24, Peter and the other apostles were experiencing signs, wonders, and miracles after the resurrection of Jesus. A wealthy man named Simon, recognized with worldly power, saw the real power of God flow through the apostles' hands and then offered MONEY to HAVE THE POWER OF GOD. Of course, Peter, in his own subtle and soft-spoken way, responded by saying, “May your silver perish with you for thinking that you can obtain the gift of God with money!”
So we see here that the power of God is far more valuable than money. In fact, people often use money to obtain power. The power we're talking about here, however, is priceless.
The Lord put on my heart to share with how to release the power of the Holy Spirit in your life every day and in every situation.
In a sense, there's nothing wrong with the world seeking power – it's something God intended for us to walk in. However, He didn't intend for us to get it the way the world does.
True power – the power to be healed, the power over life's circumstances, the power over our enemies, the power to have joy, peace, and prosperity – COMES FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT.
“And you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you....”( Acts 1:8) The word “power” here comes from the word “dunamis” – the root word for our word “dynamite.” It means ability, might, mighty works, miracles, strength, dominion, and authority.
Why is it so important that we have power?
First , because every negative emotion that we face in our lives comes from a sense of powerlessness. For example, if we don't feel we have the power to change something, it can cause depression . If we don't have the power to reconcile a relationship, it can cause anger or bitterness. If we don't have the power to get ahead, it can turn into jealousy. When we feel powerless over the future, it leads to fear. And the list goes on.
Secondly, every negative circumstance we face in life comes from this same powerlessness...the inability to do anything about the situation we're in; the inability to change things.
The Holy Spirit solves our deepest need in our emotions and in our circumstances: to be free from powerlessness!
Look at John 16:13 which says, “However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own authority; but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.”
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can know what is to come. Think of the benefits of knowing the things that are going to come:
You will be free from fear and stress, because uncertainty is eliminated.
You can know what to pray about and how to pray effectively.
You can change the things that the Holy Spirit shows you to change.
You can help others prepare for the future by knowing what is to come.
Often, the Holy Spirit will show us what is to come so we can pray and change it. There are certain things He is warning us of that we have power to do something about through prayer. - The Holy Spirit is the very presence of God in our lives! When God said, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” He had His Holy Spirit in mind. The Holy Spirit is: God with us...God in us... God for us... God through us.
And when He is operating in our lives the way He desires, several things happen. Six results of the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life are:
The blessing of God in your household. (2 Samuel 6:1-11) When the Ark of God's presence was in the house of Obed-Edom, his whole household was abundantly blessed.
Supernatural guidance and fellowship with God will be yours. (Exodus 40:36-38, Exodus 25:22)
The hard-to-move mountains in your life will melt like wax. (Psalm 97:5)
Joy, laughter and pleasure will be yours. (Psalm 16:11 and 21:6)
Your enemies will fall and perish. (Psalm 9:3)
Time of refreshing and restoration will come. (Acts 3:19-20)
Now, how do we RELEASE THIS POWER AND PRESENCE in our every day lives? Very simply:
By our words. As we speak the Word of God out of our mouths on a regular basis, the Holy Spirit takes those Words and brings them to pass. Acts 10:44 says, “While he spoke these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who were listening....”
Pray in tongues. 1 Corinthians 14:2, Romans 8:26-27 – As we pray in tongues, the Holy Spirit is strengthening us and praying God's perfect will through our lives! The will of God in heaven penetrates and invades the earth as we pray in our heavenly language, even in the face of earthly circumstances and uncertain times.
Obedience to God. Acts 5:32 says He gives the Holy Spirit to those who obey Him. Of course, we know that the Holy Spirit is a gift, but as we obey God, the power of the Holy Spirit is released into our lives.
Giving. In Acts 10:3-4, Cornelius gets the attention of God through his prayers and his continual giving of alms. It was through his giving that the gospel was brought to his household and the non-Jewish world. It was in this chapter that Cornielius became the first Gentile believer to be filled with the power of the Holy Spirit! As a result, an entire region of the world was opened up to the gospel through his giving!
By getting this understanding about the power of God for your life and by releasing more of His power into your life by giving into the gospel, you will realize that God wants to do more in your life through the Holy Spirit beginning today!
And don't forget, He will never leave you or forsake you! - Righteousness is the answer to everything!!!
What was the first thing God said to Jesus in an audible voice. In Mark 1:11 He said, "You are My Beloved, Son. In You I am well pleased." Jesus didn't do anything until He first understood this. If Jesus had to know He was in right standing with God without even doing anything yet, then we need to know this.
Let's break down some words so we can understand them.
Righteousness means "Right standing" with God.
Holiness means "Right living" for God.
When you think or trust that YOUR right living puts you in right standing, then you've rejected Jesus and trampled on the blood.
If you're living right to be right, you'll be frustrated the rest of your life because you'll constantly feel like you're falling short.
You can't base your life on what you do. Base your life on what He declared you to be!
1 Corinthians 15:34 says, "Awake to righteousness and sin not." Understand your righteousness and the result will be - you won't sin. So right standing precedes right living. Until you get this you won't be healed or prosperous.
Romans 11:16 says, "…If the root be holy, so are the branches." The root of your Christianity is right standing with God. The fruit of your Christianity is right living for God. If your root isn't holy, you can't make the branches holy any other way. You have to know you're in right standing with God.
Romans 3:24-25 says, "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God."
He took the bad root out. The Lamb of God TAKES AWAY the sin of the world.
Romans 5:17 says, "For if by one man's offense death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ."
It's a gift of righteousness. Just receive it. How? Romans 10:9 says, "With the heart one believes unto righteousness." Believing in your heart results in right standing with God.
When you believe in your heart, you will have a righteousness-consciousness, and and not a sin-consciousness.
Righteousness-consciousness boldly says, "Yes, I've sinned but God has forgiven me and delivered me of it by the blood of Jesus."
Sin-consciousness is afraid, reserved, never acts boldly, and is always conscious of the sin he commits. It thinks the sin separates him from God and it causes him to retreat from the Lord.
Romans 10:10 says, "For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Believing comes first! Righteousness comes before action.
Meditate on these scriptures below and get a better understanding of what your righteousness brings you.
WHAT WILL UNDERSTANDING YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS (right standing with God) CAUSE?
1. It will cause every one of your prayers to work
I Peter 3:12 The Lord's ears are open to the prayers of the righteous.
James 5:16 The prayer of the righteous avails much.
2. It will provide for your protection from fear of tomorrow.
Matt 6:31-33 Seek first His kingdom and all these good things are going to be added to your life.
3. It brings stability.
Isaiah 54:11-14 In righteousness, you will be established.
4. It causes oppression, fear and terror to be far from you.
Isaiah 54:14 You shall be far from oppression and from terror; for it shall not come near you.
Romans 8:10-11 The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.
5. It delivers you from trouble.
Proverbs 11:8 The righteous are delivered out of trouble. If you're in trouble, find out more about your righteousness.
6. It... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14209 - Blessed and Cursed NOT!
"I never seem to have enough!"
"It seems like I'm just living from paycheck to paycheck!"
"I know God loves me, but why do bad things keep happening to me?"
"I can't seem to make ends meet."
"Why are my kids such a challenge?"
"Why don't things seem to be getting any better?"
"I can't seem to shake off this sickness."
Dear Friend,
If you've ever thought any of these things, you are not alone!
These are some of the many questions I hear from Christian people whose daily struggles in life seem to be a continual problem... without a solution in sight.
Have you ever known someone who always seems to have something bad happening to them? If it's not money problems, then it's family problems; if it's not family problems, then it is an accident or tragedy or sickness.
Maybe you have felt like that at times – that just when it seems like you're getting some momentum, just when it seems like something good is about to happen, you're hit with an unexpected bill or sickness or job loss or family problem that seems to complicate everything.
Why is that? The answer is: It's a curse! Genesis 3 says that ever since Adam's sin, the earth and mankind have been under a curse.
The curse in its simplest definition is summed up in Murphy's Law: Whatever can go wrong will go wrong.
Can we ever be truly free from it? The answer is YES! YES, you can absolutely be free! In fact, you already are!
Listen to what God says in Galatians 3:13: "And Christ has redeemed us from THE CURSE of the law having become a curse for us, for cursed is everyone that hangs on a tree; SO THAT BLESSING CAN COME..."
I want to show you how to reverse this curse so that this pattern of failure, or lack for what you need, never happens again!
You can get to the point where EVERYTHING THAT CAN GO RIGHT, DOES GO RIGHT!
As I have studied the Word of God concerning the curse and why bad things happen to good people, I found that there are 7 areas of our life that it affects. I listed them here for you because I want to show you how to walk in total freedom beginning TODAY!
According to Deuteronomy, Chapter 28, the curse brings the following things to mankind (pinch yourself and say, "That seems like me!"):
Poverty – v. 29, 38 (Poverty simply means not having enough)
Emotional problems – v.2 8, 65
Family problems, including marriage problems and problems with our children – v. 30-34, 41
Sickness, disease, cancer – v. 22, 27, 35
Terrorism – v. 49-50 (yes, it's in this scripture!)
Failure and Defeat – v. 20, 25
Fear – v. 65-67
The good news is that if any of these things are operating in your life, they don't have a right to operate any more, and you can experience real freedom!
When Jesus went to the cross, He nailed these curses to it! He redeemed you. He bought you back from the bondage of the curse. He paid in full for every punishment, problem, and curse that should have fallen on you and me.
Most Christians tolerate bad things happening in their life because they think that they are unavoidable. They expect it. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND what they are really free from.
Imagine being jailed for a crime or accident you unintentionally committed. Regardless of your innocence, the jury finds you guilty. You would be frustrated, bitter, and confused.
That is what the curse is like – you don't intend for bad things to happen, but they do. This confuses and frustrates you, which so often leads to emotions such as bitterness, fear, and anger, just to name a few.
Here is an answer to your problems. Here's how you can reverse this and stop these things from happening in your life:
Be convinced you are redeemed. Take a look in the mirror and tell yourself what Job... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14208 - Power to Conquer Your Flesh...
One of the biggest challenges we as believers often face is finding and determining the differences between the power of the flesh and the power of the spirit. Simply knowing the differences between these two will have a drastic impact on your spiritual and mental well-being, because, as described in Romans 8:13, “…if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.” We are put at great risk when we allow the powers of the flesh to overcome our moral judgment, but I can guarantee you that it is never too late to change your life and begin to overcome your flesh by walking in the spirit!
Now you may be asking, “Pastor, what does it mean to walk in the spirit, how do I accomplish that?” Well my friend, just as I mentioned in the video, Jesus said “My words, they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). So every time you come into agreement with God’s word and obey it, you are walking in the spirit. Amen, it’s that simple!
Now, more than ever, is the time to really re-evaluate where your mind is spiritually. If there are areas that are flesh driven then begin to renew your mind with the word of God and allow that word to enter you into the spirit led life.
In “The Power to Conquer Your Flesh” you’ll discover step by step how to overcome your flesh, and walk consistently in the spirit. - The nature of mankind is one that is selfish, and easily susceptible to the temptations and threats of sin, and the power of Satan can mislead us if we fall to those threats and temptations. Gang, God is much more powerful than that! He is more powerful than you or me, and he is far more powerful than Satan, and he can take every work of the enemy that has been meant to harm you, and turn it around for your good.
Just because the nature of mankind is selfish and full of sin, doesn’t mean that God won’t be there to take everything you have and turn it into something that will bless you, support you, or grace you. In Proverbs 28:13, the Bible states that “He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoever confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.” What that means is that God can take all of your years of rebellion, and turn them into good. He can take all of your years of abuse, and turn them into good. He can take all of your years of addiction, and selfishness, and sin, and turn them into His grace that will grant you miracles far greater than you could ever imagine! That’s the Grace of God in action!
His grace is a powerful force that can transform anyone! - No matter what is going on in your life right now, you have the most incredible, miraculous, and glorious destiny!
I’ve said many times:Christianity is not a religion, but a relationship with God.In Revelation 3:20, Jesus says, “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him.” This speaks of the most amazing relationship in the universe—an intimate relationship with God! If you’re born-again, you’ve opened the door to the beautiful salvation that Jesus offers. Yet, He still stands at the door knocking—to be let into every area of your life; even the deepest places. But since Jesus is a gentleman; He will not kick down the door. He simply waits to be the closest friend you could possibly imagine.
In Matthew 4:21-22, Jesus saw James and John in the boat mending nets with their father, and He called to them, “Come follow Me.” They IMMEDIATELY left their boat and followed Him. There was no delay! Why? I imagine when they saw His face, they saw love for the first time. When they heard His voice, they heard the voice of love for the first time. Once you hear His accepting, inviting voice of love—you will not want to hold on to the life you’ve had. When He saw Jesus, John abandoned his former life and took on a new identity and a new destiny. Jesus’ purpose for John was far bigger than that fishing boat, and God’s destiny for you is far beyond your present circumstances. What is the secret to experiencing that destiny? Respond to that same voice of love, and you will abandon anyone or anything that is keeping you from moving forward with God.
Do you remember when you first met Jesus and received Him as your savior? Your eternal destiny was changed forever! If that first encounter changed eternity so dramatically, imagine what would happen if you let Him in like that every day! Wake up each morning and say, “God, I open my heart to you today. I’m going to open the Bible to hear what you’re saying to me. I invite you in to invade my life today, to transform me and to transform my destiny, just like you did for eternity."
If you’ll open the door of your heart to Jesus each day, I guarantee that your wildest dreams will come true. If you hunger for a deeper intimacy with God, I encourage you to get this great resource to help guide your journey. - My Help, Your Help, Comes From the Lord...!!!
So as I encourage myself, I encourage you. You may not know where the next dollar, meal, drink, or etc is coming from. You may want to panic and give up. You may be tempted to take matters into your own hands. However, I encourage you to stand on the word of God and His promises because your help comes from the Lord!
If God can send ravens to feed Elijah, then surely God can use anything to be a blessing to you. Remember, your help comes from the Lord (bible verse: Psalm 121:2). Obey God and leave the when, how and where to Him. Your Heavenly father is a present help in times of trouble and He will not leave you hanging.
Be encouraged in Jesus name; Amen! - God WILL Make a Way
As we look at Isaiah 43:15-19, we see God mentioning how He opened a way through the red sea for the children of Israel. Though we get excited about the parting of the red sea…I encourage you to look at it from the children of Israel prospective.
Here you are at this sea. You look ahead; all you see is a body of water. You look behind; all you see is Pharaoh and his chariot coming after you. You cry out to God as it appears as if He’s brought you here to die. Your back is against the wall and you have nowhere to go.
For some of you, this passage explains your situation. However, I encourage you today! God has not brought you this far just to leave you stranded. He hasn’t brought you here just to abandon you. God will make a way out of no way!
It wasn’t until Moses moved forward and used what he had (a staff) until God added his super to Moses natural and parted the sea. I encourage you to use what God has given you and watch God add His super to your natural. What has God given you? His word that shall never fail; your mouth that shall declare the word of the Lord over your life; promises; visions; and a faith that shall move mountains!
So I say to you as God said to Moses, “why do you cry? Move forward”. Move forward in your walk with God…move forward in your faith!
What God has in store for you doesn’t even compare to what we read God doing for the children of Israel here in Exodus 15. For God says, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” - I am the Lord, your Holy One,
Israel’s Creator and King.
I am the Lord, who opened a way through the waters,
making a dry path through the sea.
I called forth the mighty army of Egypt
with all its chariots and horses.
I drew them beneath the waves, and they drowned,
their lives snuffed out like a smoldering candlewick.
But forget all that—
it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
For I am about to do something new.
See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness.
I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.
- Isaiah 43:15-19
How many times have you looked to your left and right crying out to God because both ways appeared to be a dead end? I come to tell you that you serve a God who is able to make a way out of no way! - Hindrances to Prayer: The Heart!
Let’s look at this Biblically in James 4:1-3 for insight:
What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you? You want what you don’t have, so you scheme and kill to get it. You are jealous of what others have, but you can’t get it, so you fight and wage war to take it away from them. Yet you don’t have what you want because you don’t ask God for it. And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
James 4:1-3 reveals the importance of praying with right motives. Motives are clear indicators of what’s in the heart. Although scripture tells us that if we pray and have faith we’ll receive what we’ve prayed for (Matthew 21:22), James 4:1-3 shows us there’s a prerequisite to praying and receiving – your motives must be pure. It’s a matter of the heart. It’s important to assess why you’re asking God what you’re asking Him for. Are you seeking self-pleasure or the will of the Father? Don’t allow flesh, self-centeredness or an unclean heart to become hindrances to your prayer life.
Prayer
God I pray that you cleanse the heart of the brother or sister reading this. Father, I ask that you would remove every unclean spirit and ungodliness lurking around in their heart. Just like David, I pray God that you would create within them a clean heart and renew within them a right spirit Oh God! Lead them by your Holy Spirit to pray prayers that stem from pure godly motives in Jesus name!
Lord I thank you for the blood of Jesus that cleanses away all our debts and sins! I thank you for the Blood of Jesus that cleanses away the filth in our hearts! We receive you’re cleansing oh Lord! Help us Lord to pray your will and not our own will in Jesus name!
May this word strengthen, edify and encourage you in your walk with God in Jesus name! God bless you! - Father Knows Best...!!!
So you're saved, redeemed, and delivered - you're born-again! You're washed in the precious blood, had your sin forgiven and been made white as snow. You've been filled with the Spirit, been baptized in water and have become a new creation in Christ Jesus. You're an heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus Christ. You've been set free and made the righteousness of God in Christ. You're blessed with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, been made to triumph in Christ. You're the head and not the tail, above only and not beneath and have been given authority over the devil and his kingdom. You are free from poverty, sickness and disease and have been given the keys of the kingdom.... "BUT WAIT!!!"
"You don't know what I'm going through, the struggles that I'm facing, the pressure that I'm under. I thought becoming a Christian was going to make life easier, no problems or trials. WHAT'S HAPPENING!!!"
Try not to get discouraged, it's just time to grow up. (Oh, is that all!) The first thing to remember is that God really is in control, and the trial that you are going through is allowed by God so that you would begin to apply the knowledge and understanding that you have from the Word of God and come into a new level of spiritual maturity.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says: "No temptation has overtaken you except that which is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear (endure) it."
I love this scripture, and you ought to be shouting a great big hallelujah with me! Even though the devil is telling you that you're going under and you're not going to make it, this Scripture puts that lie to rest! Remember, Jesus said in John 8:44 that satan is the father of lies! And our God who cannot lie (Hebrews 6:18) said He will not allow you to be tested or tempted beyond what you would be able to bear. In other words, in His great foreknowledge, God is confident you will be able to stand through your situation, or He would not have allowed it to come your way.
He also said in this Scripture that He would provide a way of escape. One sure way of escape is always through standing on the promises of His Word. Faith or trust in God's Word works. "Yeah, I tried that faith stuff for a whole week and nothing happened." HOLD ON NOW! Faith isn't something that you try, it's something that you do - it's a lifestyle. In fact, Romans 1:17 tells us that the just (that's us) shall live (flourish) by faith. Faith is God's prescribed method for us (the church) to live by. Faith in God, faith in His Word.
What we need to realize is that faith has a partner, and its name is patience. Faith keeps its course and continues on track because of patience. In fact, patience is so important that in James 1:2 it says if we allow patience to mature in our lives we will lack nothing!!! For more understanding on the winning combination of faith and patience and their very important role together see our article Living A Dream.
There is another aspect of biblical patience that is often overlooked. In Luke 21, Jesus is talking about things to come in the end times, and I might say He paints a pretty tough picture. Then in verse 19 He says, "By your patience possess your souls." The actual Greek text reads, "In the patience of you, you will possess the souls of you."
The Greek word for soul in this scripture reference is psuche, which is the root word for our english word psychology - the study of the mind. Psuche basically describes our mind, will, intellect and emotions. Hey, isn't this the part of our make up that gives us the most problems? I know I have to fight with mine more than I'd like to admit.... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14192 - "Our God Reigns"
- "But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ."
Romans 15:29 - First of all, Paul said he would come to them in the blessing of the Gospel. The word "blessing" is an interesting principle and word to study out in the Bible. The simplest and most brief description of the word blessing or blessed would culminate in the phrase; "empowered to succeed," and carries with it an implication of the anointing of the Lord. And in this context, this word describes that which the Lord has provided for us, and has given to us not only for success in our eternal life (salvation), but also for success in victorious living in the here and now.
Notice Paul goes a step further and states that he knows (being fully aware) that he will be coming to them not only in the blessing, but in the fullness of the blessing! This is what caught my eye. Paul is blessing minded, knowing there is no lack in what God has purposed for His children. He's not just counting on a part that he has gained a special understanding in, no - he's gone beyond the borders of self and is expecting all that God has! He knows that whatever he encounters, the Lord has already made a provision for it. Paul has become victory minded.
The word in the Greek for "fullness" also means completion. I like that. The fullness of the blessing of the Gospel is a finished work, paid in full and completed by our Lord at the cross. It's already been given and He's not holding anything back. Ephesians 1:3 exemplifies this point; "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ." Notice the tense of the highlighted verb - past tense - signifying that it's a done deal, it's already completed!
Paul has the awareness that the blessing is a major benefit of the covenant that we've entered into, which includes all that Jesus is, and all that Jesus has, and is now available for every believer to walk in and experience now. Oh, that gets me excited!!! Because of this, Paul is not lack or need minded, nor fearful of what the devil might do, or what some men might do or say, no - he's aware of what the Lord has already done and said, and equally aware of what God wants to do in the peoples lives that he is writing to!
We all, as believer's, count on the blessing of the Gospel to an extent, but let's face it - there usually is some kind of doubt or uncertainty lurking in the background. Sometimes we are even confused about a portion of the will of God.
This is why it is so important for us to establish a time everyday for us to be in the Word. It is so needful for us to have a Scripture reading plan so that we can read through the whole Bible over and over again so that we can begin to understand what the will of the Lord is for our lives. Yes, this takes discipline. But, if we will continue in it, we will become more and more "blessing" or Word minded. We will then begin to meet the struggles in this life not with a hopeless or questioning mind set, but instead with the fire of God in our eyes knowing what the Word of God says, insisting on the fullness of the blessing to manifest in our lives and in the lives of those that are around us. We will become very hard for the devil to mess with as we adopt an "I will not be denied" attitude concerning the Word. And, when you become like this, your lifestyle puts pressure on the devil, because he knows the Word works, and knows that blessing is on it's way!!!
As you go forth this month, begin to expect the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel in all that concerns you. Begin to speak it out everyday; "Thank you Lord that I am going forth in the fullness of the blessing of the Gospel of Christ (The Anointed One) today." Yes, we encounter adversity in this life, but the controlling factor should not be the adversity or the fear that... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14189 - The Lord never said we would go through life with no struggles or storms, but He did promise that He would be there with us, and would get us through them in victory. The disciples were seasoned fishermen, they had great talents in their vocation to take care of whatever would come their way, and in their self confidence they neglected to get Jesus into their boat. Yes, I'm sure they would have made it through no doubt, but it would have been much easier, and less stressful if they would have had the Lord with them. Take a moment and reflect upon your life and present situation right now - Is Jesus in your boat?
- The Bible says that when you are born-again, you are more than a conqueror, that you are a child of God, that you are an heir of God and joint heir with Jesus Christ. You are destined to win and destined for greatness, and you were not created to lose. You are the recipient of His grace and that includes all that He is and all that He has. If you are born again, then you need to realize that the Spirit of God dwells on the inside of you, and He has never lost a battle, and you belong to Him!
Keep in mind that our God is a big God and the devil is a little devil. Jesus defeated him for us and placed him under our feet! We've been made free from the curse of the law. We are a special people anointed by Him to rule and reign on this earth, it is out-of-order for circumstances or symptoms to rule and reign over us!
Know that God has big plans for you, so don't you allow sickness or disease to put a stop to them. Dare to dream, and I mean dream big. I don't care how old you are, or how many times you've failed. Everyday is a new beginning with the Lord. Ask the Lord to surround you with people of faith, ask Him to have them cross your path in life.
I love what Proverbs 10:22 says: "The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it." This Scripture isn't just speaking financially, it's speaking about wealth, prosperity and wholeness in every area of life - the whole blessing - Isn't that great!
Take a firm hold on the blessing of the Lord today, possessing your possessions in Jesus Christ. Now, let me ask you this question once again - what do you have? - Footprints of Faith...
Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
- John 14:6 - Spiritual Sowing and Growing...
Read Matthew 13:3-9
[Some] seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.
- Matthew 13:8 - In order to bear fruit, my heart needs to be receptive to spiritual seed. I need to pull up the weeds of worldly passions. Addressing these issues superficially is not enough; they need to be addressed at their roots. As these desires gradually change, I am better able to receive new spiritual seeds. This transformation is a slow process that takes time. Even so, I am encouraged to see the worldliness slowly losing its hold on me and the spiritual seeds taking root.
- Jesus said, “Because I live, you also will live.”
- John 14:19 - O God, you comfort us in our grief and lift us up in our despair. Thank you for the great hope we find in our risen Savior as we pray, “Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.
- Certainly the greatest comfort of all is the promise of Jesus Christ that gave her hope for so many years: “Because I live, you also will live.” I know that I will continue to miss my mother. It is natural to feel the loss of those we love so much, but through faith in God we can experience joy even in times of sorrow.
- Broken for Me...
Read Psalm 51:1-12
The sacrifice acceptable to God is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
- Psalm 51:17 - O God, thank you that the broken bread of Communion reminds us of our brokenness and need to repent. Forgive us for our sin, Lord. Amen.
- The Lord says, “Therefore once more I will astound these people with wonder upon wonder; the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish.”
- Isaiah 29:14 - Your eyes beheld my unformed substance. In your book were written all the days that were formed for me, when none of them as yet existed.
- Psalm 139:16 - In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:19 - We love because [God] first loved us.
- 1 John 4:19 - Thank you, Christ Jesus, that you have come to be our friend as well as our Savior, loving us so completely that we can trust you with all that is dearest to us.
- How do we respond — by backing away from God, keeping our distance, always afraid? Or do we respond by gradually drawing nearer and nearer because we have learned to trust God? When we receive the love God offers us through our Lord Jesus Christ and learn to trust completely, God teaches us to love one another so that people around us may also experience this love. “If we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.” It is a wonderful transformation when love drives out fear and replaces it with trust.
- Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.
- Colossians 3:15 - God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
- Psalm 46:1 (NIV)
- Sustainer of all, you are the one who feeds the birds and dresses the flowers, so we know you will take care of us. Amen.
- We have a refuge where we can rest without fear or worry. If God can take care of the sparrows and count the hairs on our heads, then God is able to take care of us. The sparrows that visit our home fill the air with their songs and have no worry about finding plenty of food and water. They greet the dawn with notes of joy. If God takes care of the birds, how much more will God take care of us? When we worry, we lose our joy and effectiveness in serving God. When instead we have faith in God to meet our needs and put God first in our lives, then we can focus our energy on glorifying our Creator.
- Replacing Excuses with Action...
“The only thing standing between you and your goal is the BS story you keep telling yourself as to why you can’t achieve it.”
―Unknown
Instead of making a lot of excuses, make a little progress. Instead of looking back with regret, step forward with enthusiasm. Choose to view your life based on the best of what is possible. Choose to define yourself based on the person you know you are capable of becoming. If you believe it, you can do it.
All the negativity from the past can be erased in the moment with a single positive action. Go ahead and make it happen. The best way to disconnect from a troubled past is to trust and connect with possibilities of the present moment. When you embrace the power of now, the future belongs to you.
- What Toxic Friends Do...
They drain you. – You feel psychologically and emotionally depleted after spending time with them, instead of uplifted. (Read Emotional Blackmail.)
They are unsupportive. – You’re afraid to tell them about new, important aspects of your life because they’ve been unsupportive or downright rude about your ideas in the past.
They are up to no good. – They regularly partake in activities that are morally unjust.
Their values and interests are opposite to your own. – Dissimilar value systems often mix like oil and water. This doesn’t necessarily mean the other person is wrong, it just means they aren’t right for you.
They are unreliable. – They always break their promises.
They only contact you when they need something. – Otherwise you never hear from them.
They aren’t meeting you halfway. – If you are always the one calling your friend to make plans and going out of your way to be with them, but they never return the favor and attempt to go out of her way for you, there’s a problem.
They are jealous of you. – Jealousy is: “I want what you have and I want to take it away from you.”
They have zero ambition. – Beware; a lack of ambition can be contagious. As the saying goes, “You can’t soar like an eagle when you hang out with turkeys.”
They constantly drive you to moments of insanity. – You catch yourself daydreaming about how good it would feel to throw a banana cream pie in their face. ;-)
My Story of Toxicity
Here’s why I know how bad these friendships can be: I’ve been on both sides of the court. Yeah, I have my share of victim stories about friends who were friends only if I agreed with them and gave them the spotlight. I’ve got tales of woe about past friends who were fabulous and fun, provided I didn’t try to cut into their time by (gasp!) spending time alone and having other friendships. (You know, having a life outside of them?)
But the truth is I’ve also been a terrible friend at times, and I realize this. In the past I have neglected some friendships by relying on the other person to stay in touch instead of reaching out myself. Some of these friendships withered away over time because of my toxic behavior. Bottom line: Toxicity is a two-way street – you have to be a good friend too. (Hold this thought; we’ll come back to it.)
How to End a Toxic Friendship
In my experience there are two ways to end a toxic friendship: quickly and painfully or slowly and awkwardly. Neither is fun, neither is neat, and neither is easy.
If you still want to keep this person in your life, just to a lesser degree:
Stop responding to fake crisis calls. – If you don’t drop everything to take their “I’m so devastated! My boss gave me a look that I think means he secretly hates me and that jerk from marketing wore the same shirt as me” calls, they’ll find someone else who will. Or they’ll deal with it. Either way, it’s okay to step back and get off the first alert calling list for non-emergencies.
Take positive control of negative conversations. – It’s okay to change the topic, talk about you, or steer conversations away from pity parties and self-absorbed sagas. Be willing to disagree with them and deal with the consequences.
Demonstrate that you won’t be insulted or belittled. – To be honest, I’ve never had much luck trying to call toxic people out when they’ve insulted me. The best response I’ve gotten is, “I’m sorry you took what I said so personally.” Much more effective has been ending conversations with sickening sweetness or just plain abruptness. The message is clear: There is no reward for subtle digs and no games will be played at your end.
Be brutally honest. – Some people really don’t recognize their own toxic... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14152 - Here are some things to stop tolerating in your life:
The decision to settle for mediocrity. – It’s not always about trying to fix something that’s broken. Sometimes it’s about starting over and creating something better. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly. Sometimes growing up means growing apart from old habits, relationships, and situations, and finding something new that truly moves you – something that gets you so excited you can’t wait to get out of bed in the morning. That’s what life is all about. Don’t settle.
Your own negative thinking. – Your mind is your sacred space. You can close the windows and darken your space, or you can open the windows and let light in. It’s your choice. The sun is always shining on some part of your life. What do you typically think about? How far you’ve come, or how far you have to go? Your strengths, or your weaknesses? The best that could happen, or the worst that might come to be? Pay attention to your self-talk. Because maybe, just maybe, the only thing that needs to shift in order for you to experience more happiness, more love, and more success, is your way of thinking. Read Emotional Freedom.
Other people’s negativity. – If you don’t value yourself, look out for yourself, and stick up for yourself, you’re sabotaging yourself. You do not have control over what others say and do; but you do have control over whether or not you will allow them to say and do these things to you. You alone can deny their poisonous words and actions from invading your heart and mind. Remember, if you do not respect your sacred inner space, no one else will either.
Unhealthy relationships. – Choose your relationships wisely. Being alone will never cause as much loneliness as the wrong relationships. Be with people who know your worth. You don’t need lots of friends to be happy; just a few real ones who appreciate you for who you are. Oftentimes walking away has nothing to do with weakness, and everything to do with strength. We walk away not because we want others to realize our worth, but because we finally realize our own worth.
Dishonesty. – Inner peace is being able to rest at night knowing you haven’t used or taken advantage of anyone to get to where you are in life. Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. Period. Don’t be dishonest and don’t put up with people who are.
A work environment or career field you hate. – If it doesn’t feel right, don’t settle on the first or second career field you dabble in. Keep searching. Eventually you will find work you love to do. If you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop. You’re on to something big. Because hard work isn’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.
Being disorganized and unprepared. – Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man. That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness and other unnecessary headaches. Clear the clutter. Get rid of stuff you don’t use. Read David Allen’s book Getting Things Done for some practical organizational guidance.
Inaction. – The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing; growing happens when what you know changes how you live. You can’t change anything or make any sort of progress by sitting back and thinking about it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. The best time to start is now.
The lingering of unfinished business. – There’s nothing more stressful than the perpetual lingering of unfinished business. Stop procrastinating. Start taking action to tie loose ends. Putting something off instantly makes it harder and scarier.
The choice to mull... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14151 - Faith Performs the Works of God...“What must we do to perform the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent” (John 6:28-29).
- The Greek word for “abide” is spoken as a command with an ongoing emphasis of abiding; it is not fulfilled in a single act. Andrew Murray said, “The essential idea of fruit is that it is the silent natural restful produce of our inner life.” By abiding in Christ, you accept His lordship over your life and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. You live in fellowship and have spiritual union with Him. You desire Christ-likeness in word, deed, and character. And, Jesus promises, the “fruit will remain.”
Faith comes from a personal relationship with God that is built on trust. This relationship in turn grows our confidence in the Word of God. This confidence gives us assurance that our faith can be put into action. Our faith, then, is based on this relationship, His presence, and the Word of God.
Jesus modeled faith for us. As you read the Gospels, you see that faith is like climbing a stepladder. When you get to the top, you can take the leap of faith and soar into the supernatural faith of God.
There are five steps on the ladder:
1. You must be convinced that you are in Christ, who is your source of supply.
Jesus said the foundational requirement of faith is “that you believe in Him whom God has sent.” God and Jesus are one. You see the Father in Jesus’ attitudes, actions, words, deeds, and commands. In everything He said and did and was, Jesus expressed the will of God. “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). This is the foundation, the rock of faith. “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19).
The kingdom of God starts with “Christ in you,” and the Christ in you and the Christ in me will have fellowship.
“When I became excited about this question of the kingdom of God, it did two things for my faith,” says E. Stanley Jones in his book Running Toward the Unshakeable Kingdom. “First of all, it made my faith very personal. I was not following a system, nor a movement, an impersonality—I was following a Person. A divine Person. And so I had a personal relationship with a Person. It made my religion personal—but it also made my religion social. For I saw that embodied in this Person was an order. God’s order. It had relationships with everything that concerned man, nature, life, and destiny.”
Jesus promised His disciples that after the Holy Spirit comes, “you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). That is how you “perform the works of God.”
“I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:12-14).
Let me illustrate this faith that Jesus is talking about. I was talking to a youth group about faith. The group was quite athletic, and I told them I would give anyone here a thousand dollars to jump over this church. They could even start by standing on a stepladder. I might have to borrow the thousand dollars, but I’d give it to anyone who would jump over the church.
There were no volunteers! “Why?” I asked them.
“Because your promise is meaningless! You’re asking us to do something that no one can do. No human being can jump over this church in his own strength. You would have to be Superman. Your promise is worthless.”
Even though my offer was sincere, it was of no value to them because they humanly could not do it.
In the same way, when you think that it all depends on... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14149 - There are two ways men try to approach God. The first is human effort, through the physical senses, through your own understanding and reasoning. The second is by Bible-faith that is grounded in the spiritual realm not the physical. “The true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him” (John 4:23 RSV). If God is Spirit, should you not worship Him in spirit and in truth?
Sensible-faith damages the church. It’s made the church lukewarm with little power to carry out the Great Commission to save, heal, and deliver people from the bondage of sin. The church has become comfortable, with little need for God’s intervention or power. “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless” (Revelation 3:15-17 The Message).
The Bible warns against this form of godliness because it denies the power of the gospel. Paul warns, “Have nothing to do with them” (2 Timothy 3:5). God will not bless a lukewarm church because “the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
Throughout history, revival has occurred in days of moral darkness, despair, and indifference in the church. It begins in the hearts of one or two Christians who cry out to God in desperation. They admit the need for revival and, further, their lack of ability to supply that need. They see not only their world and community as depraved and needy, but also themselves as depraved and needy for the continual redemption of God’s Holy Spirit (Matthew 5:3).
In a real revival the Word of God is proclaimed in righteousness, holiness, and redemption and in most cases through good preaching. The result of revival is the unconditional outpouring of God’s grace, which brings repentance in the people of God; sanctification; conversion of unbelievers; the destruction of “idols” wherever they occur; and restitution for wrongs committed. There is a return to God in worship and praise with joy and gladness. People stop looking to themselves as the way to obtain true joy, and give themselves over to a God who transforms them by the renewing of their minds.
In times of spiritual awakening a supernatural manifestation of God’s Spirit is always present. Yet the biggest hindrance to revival comes from a lukewarm church. Revival can threaten church leaders who desire control, who are satisfied with the status quo. That’s why Peter cried out: “It is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17).
I know of four churches that were once strong, but now are in maintenance mode. They felt desperate in their plight as the bills came in and the budget tightened. As the money faded, so did some of the people. It is not difficult to understand the discouragement they faced.
Each of these churches wanted to cancel their upcoming revivals. The invited evangelist told them he would come for a simple love offering. The real issue was did they want revival and were they willing to take the step of faith. They were challenged with the story of Peter and Jesus needing money to pay their “temple tax.” Jesus told Peter to “go fishing” and to take the coin out of the fish’s mouth and pay the tax.
Jesus promised, “I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 16:18-19). What is the key to the kingdom? Faith. Faith is being convinced that God will keep His... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14148 - “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). “My righteous one will live by faith” (Hebrews 10:38). Faith is more than believing the promises of God. We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9) and we walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7). Faith is the means of salvation and the way we are to live the Christian life. Faith accomplishes the impossible.
When Jesus told His disciples to “Have faith in God” to throw a mountain into the sea (Mark 11:22-23), according to Young’s Literal Translation of the Bible He said, “Have the faith of God.” It’s not your own faith but God’s faith that is imparted. God’s faith is a force that does the impossible. This faith is founded on the authority of God’s Word, for “faith comes by hearing the Word of God.”
This faith is spoken. “It calls into existence the things that do not exist” (Romans 4:17 NRSV) by claiming the promises and acting on them. Because the faith comes from God, the Holy Spirit makes it happen with your cooperation. “The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God”—literally, according to Young, “in the faith I live of the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20). I live by His faith, God’s kind of faith.
What does God’s kind of faith look like? First, God’s kind of faith will comprehend your inheritance. You will hear clearly what Romans 8:17 declares, “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.”
As a child of God you are not simply a helpless toddler being protected by God from yourself and your enemies. God invites you to share in the victory and authority He has given His Son for an inheritance. You are a recipient of every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3; 2 Peter 1:3).
The meek inherit the earth because all the nations are the Son’s inheritance (Psalm 2:8). The meek know who they are and have nothing to prove. When God’s kingdom moves forward through salvation, healing, or deliverance, the inheritance promised the Son is claimed. In Christ it is your inheritance too—you are a joint-heir with Christ. However, if you had a million dollars in the bank but did not know it, you wouldn’t use it. Unfortunately, that has happened to most of the church.
Second, God’s kind of faith will comprehend that you are in Christ. Paul prays that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18). He then gives a picture of Christ sitting at the right hand of the Father far above all rule and authority, power and dominion. Christ is declared head over the church, which is His body. If you are in Christ and all things have been placed under His feet, then in Christ all things have been put under your feet. “Your life is now hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). You minister in Christ—and therefore minister in His inherited authority and power.
Third, God’s kind of faith will comprehend that you are the body of Christ—an extension of Christ Himself. “Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). Every Christian is gifted and must function. The very spirit of Christ can speak out of you to touch lives with Christ’s love. Your hands can become the healing hands of Christ. Through your words of prophecy, knowledge, or wisdom God speaks directly to the hearts and lives of people. Your faith gives encouragement, vision, and miracles to the church. Christ works through His body—you—to reach this world.
Fourth, God’s kind of faith will comprehend your commission. You are charged with a mission to go in Jesus’ name and authority. Jesus’ mission is now your mission: to save, heal, and deliver people. If you dismiss... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14147 - They That Wait upon the Lord...
"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)
This is one of the best-loved promises of the Bible, for it is easy to grow weary and faint in our mortal bodies, even when doing the work of the Lord. The answer, we are told, is to "wait upon the LORD."
But what does this mean? The Hebrew word (gavah) does not mean "serve," but rather to "wait for" or "look for." It is translated "waited for" the second time it is used in the Bible, when the dying patriarch Jacob cried out: "I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD" (Genesis 49:18).
The first time it is used, surprisingly, is in connection with the third day of creation, when God said: "Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place" (Genesis 1:9). That is, the all-pervasive waters of the original creation, divided on the second day of creation, now are told to wait patiently, as it were, while God formed the geosphere, the biosphere, and the astrosphere, before dealing again with the waters.
Perhaps the clearest insight into its meaning is its use in the picture of Christ foreshadowed in the 40th Psalm. "I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry" (Psalm 40:1).
"The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary" (Isaiah 40:28), and His gracious promise is that we can "renew our strength" (literally, "exchange our strength," our weakness for His strength!) by "waiting upon |Him|." We wait patiently for Him, we gather together unto Him, we look for Him, we cry unto Him, we trust Him, and He renews our strength! - The Sin of the Devil...
"Now I know that the LORD is greater than all gods: for in the thing wherein they dealt proudly he was above them." (Exodus 18:11)
This is the first mention in the Bible of the sin of pride, and it appropriately refers to the primeval sin of the "gods"—that is, the supposed deities of the heathen.
Led by Lucifer, a great host of the created angels had rebelled against their Creator, seeking also to be "gods" like Him. Lucifer, later to be called Satan (i.e., "adversary"), thought he could become the highest of all. "O Lucifer . . . thou hast said in thine heart, I will . . . exalt my throne above the stars of God: . . . I will be like the most High. Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell" (Isaiah 14:12-15).
Satan's sin—and that of the other self-proclaimed "gods"—was that of "being lifted up with pride . . . the condemnation of the devil" (1 Timothy 3:6). But they shall all, with him, eventually "be brought down to hell" and the "everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41).
This was also the sin of Adam and Eve, for Satan had seduced them with the promise "ye shall be as gods" (Genesis 3:5).
It is also the sin of all humanists and evolutionary pantheists, from Adam's day to our day, for they seek to do away with God and make "gods" out of "corruptible man." They have "worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator" (Romans 1:23, 25).
But "pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall" (Proverbs 16:18). Our Lord of creation is "above all gods," even in that "thing wherein they dealt proudly." The sin of pride was the very first sin and is still the most difficult sin to overcome, but "God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble" (1 Peter 5:5). - As you read and meditate on these verses let them come alive in your spirit...
Psalm 139:14
I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.
Psalm 139:17-18
How precious also are Your thoughts to me , O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with You.
1 Peter 5:7
Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
1 Peter 2:9
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
Luke 12:7
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”
Genesus 1: 27,31
So God created man in His own image; …Then god saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.
Romans 8:39
neither height nor depth, not any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of god which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:1
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:2
For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free form the law of sin and death.
Romans 8:37
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
Ephesians 2:10 (NLT)
For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planed for us long ago. - Jehovah - Jireh - The Lord will provide...
This is one of my very favorite names of God and one that through the years has meant the most to me. Jehovah-Jireh means "The Lord will provide". God revealed Himself as the Lord who would provide way back in the first book of the Bible, Genesis. Abraham was about ready to sacrifice his son Isaac on an alter at the top of a desolate mountain in the land of Moriah. We know it was desolate because when they reached the base of the mountain, Abraham took with him the wood, fire, and knife that would be needed to complete the sacrifice. He must have known none of those things would be found at the top. He also took Isaac who was to BE the sacrifice and left two servants behind.
When they were near the top, Isaac said, "Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering? And Abraham said, 'God will provide for Himself the lamb for the burnt offering my son.'" Just as Abraham was about to kill his son, the Lord stopped him and showed him a ram caught in a thicket and told him to use that instead. God had placed that ram nearby in advance, knowing He was going to need a substitute for Isaac.
After the sacrifice was complete, Abraham named the place "The Lord Will Provide" which in Hebrew is YHWH-jireh. "Jireh" translates into "Provide" which is a word with wonderful Latin roots. Pro means "before" and video means "to see". So it means to see in advance or before the need is known. God is preparing an answer before we know that it is a need. See Genesis 22:1-14.
Trusting God to provide
One of the most beautiful examples of this in my own life happened when I was a freshly born Christian back in 1977. I had just moved to a new city with two tiny daughters and my failed marriage left in shambles in another state. I needed a job and a completely new start. I was afraid that all I was qualified to do was be a file clerk and I had no idea how that would bring in enough money to support the three of us. On the other hand I had a fresh and simple faith and if the Bible said something was true I just believed it was true. So, I trusted God for the right job.
The job I landed was so amazing. To begin with, I had that job within three weeks of my move. At that time the economy was slow and several relatives told me horror stories about people with advanced qualifications not being able to find work. I didn't get a job as a file clerk. I got a job in marketing that I would never have had the confidence to apply for had it not been for God's nudging.
During the interview, it seemed that every experience I had ever had fit right in with the job description down to the last five years that I had been at home as a housewife. My husband was a salesman and I had picked up much more than I had imagined that would be useful to me at this new company. The job came with a brand new company car so I was able to sell my older car and use that money for various deposits and start up costs.
I absolutely loved this job though it was quite challenging. I knew it was the one God had provided. But I didn't understand the Jehoveh-jireh part of it until a conversation I had with my co-worker several months after my start. Beth and I were talking about this huge project of starting to visit every customer and setting up regular customer service visits. I had been hired in September but Beth said the whole idea to hire a second person had originated back in the spring. She was sitting in a meeting with the President and Vice President and they kept coming up with one project after another for her to do. The longer they talked, the bigger her workload became until she said, "I really don't see how I can do all this myself" and they said, "Well, maybe we need to start thinking about adding an... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14137 - The Man/Woman of God and Sexual Sin...
"Without holiness no one will see the Lord" (Hebrews 12:14). "It is God's will that you should be sanctified; that you should avoid sexual immorality" (1 Thessalonians 4:3). "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God" (Matthew 5:8). "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral" (Hebrews 13:4). - 1. Why is sex so strong a temptation?
2. What are the consequences of this sin?
3. How can you have a pure heart before God?
The Intensity of the Temptation
One of my favorite Bible characters is David, the shepherd boy who killed a lion and a bear when they threatened his flock. The singer who wrote so many beautiful psalms. The youth who wasn’t afraid of Goliath because he knew God was with him. The man, full of faith, who passionately sought God, and God said of him, “He is a man after My own heart.” A king chosen and called by God. And yet he committed adultery and then murder to cover up his sin. Why did he respond to his sex glands rather than to reason?
Unfortunately, as we all know, David was not the last man of God to succumb to this temptation. In our culture, the media bombard us with sexual messages and innuendoes. It’s difficult to find a TV drama without explicit scenes that depict an adulterous relationship. And in the commercials, sex sells. Much of contemporary music comes directly from the gutter. But the biggest problem for many is the Internet. According to the most recent research, 60 percent of all men who are online are involved with pornography.
Pornographic sites abound. Sometimes you happen upon them when you are innocently “surfing.” The tempting thing about it is that it happens in your own home—no one else need ever know what you’re doing. If you have access to the Internet, you probably have already been tempted; maybe you already have a secret life of lust. To lust over seductive images on a computer screen will lead to spiritual disaster.
Let’s take a closer look at David’s story in 2 Samuel 11 and 12 to learn some insights. The episode occurred when David was idle. His army was away fighting the enemy, but he stayed behind in Jerusalem. He had time on his hands. He should have been at war, leading his men in battle. Instead, he was walking on his roof. “The idle mind is the playground of the devil,” said Martin Luther.
From the roof, David saw a woman bathing. He was taken completely off guard. Bathsheba was beautiful and, at first, he told himself, he was just admiring her beauty. But the longer he looked, the more his sexual desire was aroused. He was blinded to the seriousness of “just looking.” Sexual sin begins in our thoughts. The longer the thoughts are harbored, the stronger the temptation becomes.
But who was this woman? David sent for some answers. “Isn’t this Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite?” Both men are listed among the 30 great warriors of David. Bathsheba was also the granddaughter of Ahithophel, one of David’s counselors. Later, Ahithophel gets his revenge. David could not have picked a worse person to flirt with than this woman.
The time to choose against sexual sin is the moment the passions arise. When you entertain lust, it’s hard to reject your passion. David’s lust started with just a look from the top of his palace, but the next step was predictable. He invited Bathsheba to his palace with a casual remark, to get better acquainted with the neighbors or to understand the problems of wives whose husbands were at war.
The mind ruled by lust has an endless ability for rationalization: I just enjoy being with her. How can my pleasure be wrong? God wants me to be happy, doesn’t He? Then Satan adds, “Go ahead and look. Nobody will know. It won’t hurt anybody.”
Lust excludes God from our thinking, and soon we pay no attention to God’s watchful eye and ignore Scripture. Because our actions are not seen, we think we can get away with it. Nothing is secret before God. “For a man’s ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all his paths. The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords of his sin hold him fast. He will die... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14130 - God and His Glory...!!!
What is the glory of God? It is His glorious moral attributes, His infinite perfections. It denotes God's revelation of His be-ing, nature, and presence to all mankind.
We know, too, that man was made in the image of God for relationship with Him. But he has fallen short of his destiny to re-flect God's glory (Romans 3:23). The glory of the new covenant (2 Corinthians 3:7-11) is that we can now reflect the glory of His Son (2 Corinthians 4:3-4) and that God's character will be seen in His disciples (Romans 15:9) through their deeds (Acts 4:21; 1 Corinthians 6:20), that the Lord's glory would be revealed through us (Colossians 1:27; Romans 16:27).
It is important to focus our attention on the character of God. For a relationship to be solid, you must know the other per-son's character: What is his response in crisis? What motivates his actions? Will he stick by you? Is he committed to you? Does he love you? As the Lord reveals Himself to Moses, His glorious character is shown in those attributes that constitute His being. Each word in this ''proclamation'' is important to our relationship.
1. Compassionate. Compassion is sympathy with another's distress, along with a desire to help. God feels compassion for the hurting-those who are beset with problems, broken in grief, and troubled. Jesus goes so far as to identify their distress with His own distress. When we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, and visit those in prison, Jesus told us, we are feeding, clothing, and visiting Him.
The story is told of a visitor to Mother Teresa's leper hospital in Calcutta. The visitor watched as these wretched people were brought in from the streets. Tenderly a nurse cleaned them and cared for them. After a short time, the visitor turned to Mother Teresa and said, "I wouldn't do that kind of work for all the money in the world."
"No," she replied, "neither would I." She was doing it for her Lord, identifying Him in the needs of the street
people.
2. Gracious. God's compassion and love is not based on our worth. There is nothing in your life that commends you to God. His favor can never be earned by our good deeds; He gives His grace freely. Salvation is the gift of God, always unearned, al-ways unmerited.
3. Slow to anger. Time is on God's side. He is willing to wait for years if need be to enable a person to come to repentance. "He is not willing that any perish." Although God's firmness of judgment against sin is in no doubt, he has shown Himself as a gracious God, faithful to His people even when they are faithless. He waits for the "fullness of time," but it is a dangerous error to presume on that grace. "The mills of God grind slowly, but they grind exceedingly fine." There is a time when the harvest is over and it is too late to respond.
4. Abounding in mercy and faithfulness. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ, a way was opened for the exercise of mercy toward sinners, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness. As grace is receiving from God what we don't de-serve, mercy is not receiving what we do deserve. How merciful He is to us! And we sing about His great faithfulness, not just in the natural order of created things, but also in our own lives. He is altogether trustworthy-someone who can be totally relied on.
5. Abounding in truth and justice. In his letter to Timothy, Paul tells us that God can never deny Himself. His whole char-acter is bound up in honesty and truth. Truth is the bedrock of all human and divine relationships. God is opposed to falsehood and He cannot lie. Justice, too, is a part of God's very nature and holiness. God's eternal righteousness demands that He visit every sin with merited punishment.
6. Maintaining love. And what more is there to say of... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14123 - Sometimes It's Dry On The Way To The Blessing!
- Sometimes en route to the blessing, it looks so dry and barren. We thirst for refreshing, we grow so hungry for what was promised and all we see in our lives, at the present time, is dry barren dessert. It seems that we have traveled so many miles, over so many sandy hills, cresting one hill only to see in the vast horizon countless others that must be crossed. "When will I finally arrive, how much farther must I travel before the promised land is in view?"
The "dryness" of the moment should not deceive us into thinking we will not inherit what God has promised. After all, it's during this time that character can be built into us; and it's often during this time that we come face to face with the cross roads of faith and doubt. Are we moved by the moment, looking at our present circumstances or surroundings, causing us to come to the decision that we will never arrive? Or are we continually bringing back to mind that which God has said, feeding our faith through the Word, and therefore going from strength to strength. Yes, sometimes it's so barren and dry on the way to the blessing.
In the Old Testament, the Israelites were given a vision that God was taking them to a land flowing with milk and honey; which was their place of blessing. However, on the way they passed through the harsh desert and had to endure some real discomfort. Battling a degree of hunger and thirst (the realm of the senses, their flesh), they came to the place where they eventually threw out the vision of the blessing ever becoming a reality, and exchanged it for the evil report of unbelief (Numbers 14:1-38, Hebrews 3:19, 4:6, 4:11). They even began to form a "Let's go back to Egypt" committee, thinking that the old way of bondage and captivity was better than the promise of God.
During this time of passage through the desert, they were fed supernaturally with manna, their daily bread, and they even drank water from the Rock. The Bible tells us this Rock was Christ (1 Corinthians 10:4), and the manna being a figurative "type" of Christ (John 6:48-58). In this, there is a survival secret if we want to pass through our dry barren desert in victory.
We must look to the refreshment of drinking from the Rock for our sustenance. In the Bible, water is many times symbolic for the Word of God and the Holy Spirit. In other words, we must not dare to pass through the desert situations in life in our own strength. Instead, we must stay refreshed by drinking in the Word and continuing in the presence of the Holy Spirit daily.
Matthew 4:4 tells us that man does not live by bread alone (natural sustenance), but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Did you notice the word "proceeds?" This word is in the present tense and is saying, "that which is currently proceeding." God is speaking today, and you will begin to hear His voice by continually being in the Word. By doing this we will never lose our vision, in fact our vision will be enhanced and will grow and come into spiritual maturity. (Hebrews 12:1-3)
God's best waits just up ahead. It's there for those who will endure through the barren wilderness, enter in and take possession of it through faith and patience. Come on, keep going, don't stop now, we've come much too far. Look! We're coming to the top of another hill, let's take a look over the top, could this be it? Have we arrived? O well, it looks like we've got another hill to climb. Don't get discouraged, our blessing could be just on the other side of that next hill! Let's build up our strength with the bread of the Word of God, and enjoy another refreshing drink from basking in His presence. After all, sometimes it's dry on the way to the blessing! - Laws of Faith...!!!
- 1. God Is Your Source
Horatio Alger, earlier this century, sold a lot of books about the American Dream. They were "rags to riches" and "Cinderella stories" of how Americans worked hard and got ahead. We Americans like those kinds of stories, for the American plot line says, "If you work hard enough, you can have anything or be anything you want to be."
Perhaps we are more individualistic than any other society. We believe that we can do it on our own, that we don’t need other people or God. Yet, if you have someone who is meeting your needs, acting as a safety net so to speak, it is hard to look to God as your source of supply. But God’s Word makes it clear that HE is the supply source (Deut. 8:18; Isa. 48:17). He may use other sources, such as our job or other people, but they are simply His instruments; He is still the source. James asks, "What have you that you did not receive from God?" (James 1:17)
It is easy to trust God with the things that are completely out of our hands like our eternal destiny. But it is much harder to trust God with things that we have tricked ourselves into believing we have control over: our children, our careers, our money, and our relationships. But with God as our source, Paul tells us, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength.. . . And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus." (Phil.4:13, 19).
It is comforting to know that God comes to us at the POINT of our need, in the FORM of that need, to meet that need according to His riches.
2. Have a "burning" desire
John Wesley described his Aldersgate experience as having his heart, "...strangely warmed..." After this experience, John Wesley and his Methodist followers changed the spiritual landscape of both England and America for centuries to come. No doubt Wesley spent the rest of his life with a "burning desire" in his heart!
Why did God give the mantle to Elisha and not to the 500 prophets? Because of Elisha’s burning desire. Why did only Peter walk on the water? Because of his burning desire.
It was not wishful thinking which gave them what they wanted, it was a "burning desire." Jesus explained to his disciples, "For I say unto you, whatever you desire, when you pray, believe that you will receive them, and you will have them." (Mark 11:24)
Jesus taught us the correlation between answered prayer and burning desire in the parable of the Friend at Midnight: "I need three loaves," the red-faced man pounded his fists on the door, "You said you would give them. I need them now." The man demonstrated sheer desire and refusal to be denied.
It was Moses’ burning desire for the people of Israel that was able to change God’s mind from destroying the people of Israel to sparing their lives. When was the last time your heart burned so passionately for your loved ones that you could say with Moses, "Take my life instead of theirs." It is in that context that God’s grace, power, and love flows though us.
3. Express your faith in tangible ways
Even though God allowed Joshua to see in the spiritual dimension what his human eyes could not see, it would have been pointless if Joshua and the people of Israel would not have marched around the city of Jericho blasting their trumpets. James reminds us that faith is not faith without a tangible expression such as action or giving, "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?... Faith...if not accompanied by action, is dead." (James 2:14, 17)
Matthew received salvation when he left all and followed Jesus. Zaccheus also demonstrated his faith by the restitution he made. Faith must be followed by action.
For most of us, the most tangible expression of our faith is our checkbook. Jesus said, "Where your... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14112 - God’s School of Life, like any school, has those who just attend—individuals who come to play and be with their friends. Others want to learn just enough to get by. But some are committed to scholarship. They want to grow and mature in wisdom and knowledge. Thus, they do all their homework, work on extra assignments, and even stay after school with the teacher to learn more. These pupils stand out. They will “connect” with their teacher and pick up his enthusiasm, vision, values, and passion for the subject.
Other kids call those students “teacher’s pet” because that’s what they are. The teacher calls on them to tutor others and explain assignments, and at times he even gives them authority over the class in his absence. To get an A+ you must do more than pass the test; you must satisfy the teacher’s requirements and expectations.
The purpose of God’s School of Life is to train you as a spiritual leader—to excel with both God and man. The lessons are not taught in a classroom, but through tests, trials, and temptations. These experiences are then processed through the light of Scripture to learn what God is trying to teach us. The lessons must become a part of your character.
The Bible teaches that to “grow in grace” requires a commitment to obedience. “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you…. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him” (John 14:15-17, 21). Only as you obey will you comprehend morally and spiritually.
Let me repeat, there can be no growth in God’s grace apart from a commitment to obedience.
When thinking about God’s School of Life, always keep in mind three principles. First, the principle of commitment to obedience.
Picture in your mind a flight of stairs. When you first accept Jesus as your Savior and become a Christian, you are at the bottom of the stairs. As the Holy Spirit gives you insight and opportunity to obey, your obedience moves you up to the next step. If you take the opportunity to obey, you are given further insights and additional opportunities. With this step, the believer experiences a deeper fellowship, joy, peace, and wisdom. This is the way you grow and mature in the Lord.
But disobedience causes you to descend the stairs. You stop growing. As a result, God will not give you more insight, until you walk in the light you have (Matthew 13:12). Uncorrected over time, you become lukewarm and forsake your first love, as the apostle John warned the churches in Revelation. Your heart becomes hardened and you return to the ways of the world. The Bible consistently tells us we must not only hear the word of God, but also do what it says! Your choices to disobey or procrastinate stop your growth.
Second, the principle of lag time. Lag time is the time that elapses between when God reveals a truth and when you finally get around to obeying that truth.
Procrastination is one of the devil’s most subtle weapons. You put off your obedience—after all, you can do it later. This works on many Christians, unless they have a commitment to obedience. Satan wants to disguise your disobedience and claim that you will do it some time in the future. This makes you feel better, but you have been duped into disobedience disguised as “future obedience.” The longer you put it off, the more likely you will not do it. A mark of growth in your Christian life is a decrease in the lag time in your obedience. Your commitment goal should be to reduce the lag... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14111 - Covenant Relationships...!!!
1 Samuel 18:1, 3. After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself . . . And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.
Jonathan and David give us an example of a covenant relationship--one in which there is unconditional acceptance, loyalty and commitment to one another. It is the fulfillment of Jesus' words in John 13:35, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." In the book of Acts, it was the quality of life and fellowship that caused the world to look in and say, "Behold, how they love one another." The New Testament Greek word for this love and fellowship is koinonia. It means a relationship with God and other Christians that is interwoven in covenant and implies a deliberate, deep commitment with open, honest caring and sharing. It was commonly used to refer to an enduring commitment of a business partnership or a marriage.
Authentic relationships take effort and work. The key to friendships is not trying to find the right person. It is being the right person. A friend is a person whose needs you can meet, not someone you look for to meet your needs. The commitment is to be a friend, not the desire to have a friend. Relationship means the mutual sharing of life between two or more persons. We need friendships. True enjoyment is not found in what we do but in our relationships. The Bible tells us that life is found in loving. Reaching out can be uncomfortable, but it is what a true Christian must do.
A covenant relationship is on a more intimate level than an ordinary friendship. This relationship implies that whatever we have is available to our covenant brothers and sisters. This is a promise we can only make to a limited number of people. While we can only make this covenant commitment to a few people, though it we receive strength to minister to the world.
The elements of a covenant relationship are:
(1) The covenant of affirmation: There is nothing you have done or will do that will make me stop loving you. This godlike love takes the initiative in affirming and not giving up. Like Jesus, “He appointed twelve, to be with Him.” --Mark 3:14
(2) The covenant of availability . . . I am committed to going beyond myself, anything I have--time, energy, insight, possessions--is at your disposal if you need it to the limit of my resources. Everything Jesus had was available to His disciples. He committed himself and resources to a few, regardless of inconvenience or cost.
(3) The covenant of prayer . . . I promise to pray for you in some regular fashion, believing that our caring Father wishes His children to pray for one another. In Peter’s temptation, Jesus said, “I have prayed for you that your faith fail not.
(4) The covenant of openness . . . I promise to be a more open person . . . disclosing my feelings, hopes, and longings. The degree to which I do so implies that I cannot make it without you . . . that I trust you with my problems and dreams. Jesus openly expressed His love for his disciples and in the garden, He honesty admitted His needs and asked for prayer.
(5) The covenant of honesty . . . I will try to “mirror” back to you what I am hearing you say and feel. I will risk “speaking the truth in love that we grow up in every way unto Christ who is the head” --Eph. 4:15.
(6) The covenant of sensitivity . . . I promise to be sensitive to you and to your needs to the best of my ability. I will try to hear you--see you--anticipate where you are--and draw you out of the pit of discouragement or withdrawal. It costs to be sensitive. Jesus confronted Peter in John 21:15-17 and reconciliation took place. Sometimes through the eyes another person, we... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14110 - “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”—1 Timothy 6:6 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”—John 10:10
Few people experience the joy of real life—where dreams become reality, songs are sung, relationships are fulfilled, and lives are filled with abundant joy. These few discover who they are in God. As they tap their latent potential, God imparts His wisdom and power (Eph. 3:20-21). They step out by faith, risking failure. They do what they can where they are, and their dormant potential comes alive.
When ability is given responsibility, potential power is released. Everything God made has the potential to fulfill itself because God created everything with latent potential and the power to accomplish its purpose (Phil. 4:13). - Be yourself! When you have nothing to prove you will be free to be yourself. God made each of us different and gave each of us the freedom to be different. The potential to be the real you is there. But discipline is required to bring it out. In life, to enjoy any art or any sport there must be discipline. Discipline requires effort and energy. Yet in Christ your discipline is to be relaxed, with noting to prove, because you are accepted with him. This is discipline out of rest. “Therefore, since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful that none of you be found to have fallen short of it (Heb. 4:1).” God’s rest is knowing you are not only forgiven, but accepted, with nothing to prove. Therefore, you are changing and growing, and learning to fly (Matt. 11:29).
Think of three reasons you are glad to be you and three reasons you are glad to be you and three things you like about yourself. You are now on your way to enjoying who you are. Joy is something you are. Who you are is more important to God than what you do. Joan England says, “A bird doesn’t sing because he has an answer; He sings because he has a song.” Christ has set you free by accepting you and loving you!
Understanding God’s grace frees you to enjoy life and play. Each day is a gift from God. So is His creation. When He finished making the world, God said, “That is good.” To enjoy it you must wonder at it and play with it. Isn’t that what children do with everything, including their food?
R.L. Shepard says Christianity is not doing the things no gentleman would do, but “doing things that are unlikely to occur to anyone who is not in touch with the spirit of Christ.” Why not do something unusual? Wear your hat backwards, climb a tree, fly a kite, walk barefoot. Don’t be timid. Take a chance. Give yourself permission to enjoy life. Get rid of the guilt that says you can’t enjoy life. The fruit of joy comes from the overflowing peace within. You can’t force fruit. You must let it happen from within. Let the joy and rest of God flow.
What stops you from enjoying life? For many it’s fear of others. God says “The fear of man brings a snare (Prov. 29:25).” It puts you into bondage and robs you freedom. Reestablish your relationship with God, with your spouse—based on who you are, not on what you do. Be yourself, with nothing to prove and be free and have rest.
Be thankful! For the thankful are blessed. “Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus (1 Thess. 5:18).” Two truths help me to understand this. (1) Oswald Chambers: “Whatever you can praise God for has lost its power to defeat you.” (2) If you are selfish, you won’t be thankful. If you are thankful, you won’t be selfish.
Few of us grew up in homes with lots of singing to the Lord or joyful praise and thanksgiving, where beauty, truth and the goodness of God were expressed with conviction and emotion. Without that, hearts become spiritually handicapped. But we can still limp forward in God’s therapy of grace.
This requires reprogramming the mind. Negative input harms spiritual health. The Holy Spirit will make you feel guilty about the negative, sinful things you watch, read, or do (1 John 3:20). We must reduce our intake of negative television news and entertainment. This is garbage! The old principle about computers is true: Garbage In—Garbage Out! This garbage brings fear, which causes people to be negative and to avoid adventure and risk. Chuck Kraft put it this way: “Garbage attracts the rats; if you remove the garbage, the rats will go away.” Stay away from negative people and negative media.
Craig Massey, in his article, “Pulling through depression,” says, “While it may be difficult to admit,... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14104 - Can you hold all of God? You are like a cup. God’s love, mercy, grace, and power is like an ocean—feeding the mighty river of the Holy Spirit flowing “without measure” (John 3:34). As this river of life flows, it breaks down the banks and flows “where it wills” (John 3:8), blessing all in its path. God’s supply is greater than your supply of sin. As God fills you with His Spirit, the power of God transforms you, cleansing all your sin and filth. It’s not by your might or power that anything will be accomplished, God says, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6).
You are transformed by the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8). This flow will make you pure and clean, free from sin. The Spirit will fill your cup and anoint you with the oil of His healing grace and wisdom. “It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30).
Nobody can be filled with the Spirit of God and keep that Spirit to himself. Where the Spirit is, He will overflow. And where there is no overflowing, He is not there. He overflows your boundaries; He occupies everything around you; He goes in His direction and controls every area of your life.
Do you know why you sin? You think sin will give you more pleasure than God will give you. Jesus said, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). He will satisfy. “You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand” (Psalm 16:11). The joy of the Lord is your strength to overcome. Paul prayed, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). You were made to contain God and be filled with Him.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit” (Galatians 5:25). The command is to walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. With the command comes life-changing truth that the Holy Spirit is living in you and continually filling you. In Acts the disciples were filled with the Spirit at Pentecost, but were filled again and again. “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).
You will never know the “fullness” of God until you have had a life-changing experience of power and purity in the Holy Spirit. God’s river will cleanse all in its path and will overflow in power over all the boundaries of men.
A few years ago June and I visited Niagara Falls and were impressed by the overpowering sense of it all. Every minute, about 500,000 tons of water plunge into the Niagara River gorge. The electrical generating station powers several large cities. God could have used a lot less water, but He didn’t. He could have made the falls lower, but He built them over 12 stories high. And because they are from His creative hand, people come from around the world to see Niagara Falls.
What a picture of the flow of the Holy Spirit and God’s grace! God’s grace toward you flows like Niagara, in superabundance to cleanse, empower, and meet your need. The flow is without measure (John 3:34).
The Spirit-filled life is not getting more from God, but freely receiving all that God is. His presence is what makes you holy. He sanctifies, He empowers. He does it all. You come in humility, like an unashamed beggar, and let go of your right to yourself (Galatians 2:2021). The human side to the filling of the Holy Spirit is consecration to the lordship of Jesus Christ (Romans 12:12); God’s side is the cleansing, empowering, and filling our hearts with the love of God by the... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14103 - “I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16 nkjv). "This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 1:5-7 niv). "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5 nkjv).
By John David Hicks
My last newsletter article focused on being filled with the Holy Spirit. Now I want to write about giving Him "control" and putting your life in His hands. To do this, you need to avoid two attitudes that will dim your faith, and you need to cultivate the mind of Christ. Focusing on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, instead of yourself, other people, and circumstances will produce your walk in the Spirit.
Grieving the Holy Spirit
The apostle Paul warns us in Ephesians 4:30, "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God." The first condition that can dim your faith and hinder your walk is grieving the Spirit with known, unconfessed sin. Sin wants to hide in the shadows of your heart. Our human tendency is to hide sin, to cover it up, to put on a "good front." As long as you do that, the sin is not cleansed and dealt with. Let the light of the Holy Spirit expose what is in your heart so it can be cleansed.
Jesus says the Holy Spirit's job is to reconcile you to God. "When he comes, he will convince the world of its sin, and of God's righteousness, and of the coming judgment" (John 16:8 nlt). The key word is convince (reprove in kjv). It is a legal word that means "to bring to light, to expose, to refute, to convict and convince." The Holy Sprit will use God's law to show you your sin and bring you to Christ. Without the law and conviction, there can be no salvation.
Sin is rebellion in addition to unbelief and brings God's wrath. God is holy and righteous and will not ignore your sin. There is a day of reckoning when all sin will be judged. Thus, the "fear of God is the beginning of wisdom." Without this fear, you won't obey God's commandments. The early church walked "in the fear of the Lord" (Acts 9:31), and so must you. "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Corinthians 5:11 kjv). The "fear of the Lord" causes men to flee from sin (Proverbs 16:6).
Don't break the Holy Sprit's heart. He is moving and breathing in you, and is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for Himself. Don't take such a gift for granted. "Make a clean break with all evil. Renounce cutting and backbiting gossip. Be gentle with one another, sensitive to each other's needs. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:30-32 The Message).
All sinful acts are committed twice: once in your mind and once in your behavior. To win the victory, you must first win the battle in your mind. The battle is won when your focus changes from the temptation to the Lord. "Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2 nasb). Walking in the Spirit requires following, by keeping your focus on the Lord and setting your mind on the things of the Spirit.
One day a distraught young man came into my office and said, "My wife says I am just like my father. My father was a drunk. He beat and verbally abused my mother and me. I hated him." After counseling him, I saw that his thoughts focused so much on his despised father that he had picked up the same attitudes. The solution was forgiveness. Then, "Get your focus on Jesus," I said. "He is the author and perfecter of... <<<<<< N.B from Jumbotweet: auto-truncated at 4K characters on index page - Click here or on the "view" link to see entire jumbotweet! http://www.jumbotweet.com/ltweets/view/14102
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