Fighting Any Battles?
How many of us can truly say we’re willing to put God’s interests above our own?
“For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 2:21
Our choices are critical because they decide whose life will be lived in our souls. “Faith choices” allow God’s Life to flow from our hearts, But “emotional choices” quench that life.
* “There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.”
Proverbs 14:12
Even though a faith choice is much harder to make, it is the only choice that will align us with God’s Will.
* “But he who listens to Me shall live securely, and shall be at ease form the dread of evil.”. Proverbs 1:33
One of the greatest lessons we can ever learn is that our battle is never with
people. It is never with co-workers, neighbors, or our unsaved loved ones—but with God!
*If you settle things with God, Everything else has to fall into line.
*When you are right before Him—sprinkled with Christ’s blood, having no sin in your life, prevailing in prayer—then all the demons in hell cannot make a dent in what God wants to do!
* God wants you to have that kind of holy strength.
Hosea said, “The Lord also brings a charge against Judah [His people]”
(Hosea 12:2).
What is this controversy God has with His church?
It is spiritual laziness!
* We want miracles, blessings, deliverance, but at no cost, with no
effort!
*Who wants holiness, purity and Christlikeness so much they are willing to shut themselves in with God until they break through?
*Who is so consumed with pleasing God that they are desperate to be
delivered from all habits, all lusts—and they cry out, fight and wrestle with
God until He breaks all chains?
Hosea said to Israel, “All you want is prosperity and security! You are not
willing to take a stand. You don’t want to live for Jehovah’s pleasure, but
for your own!”
Jacob was a fighter from the day he was born. He prevailed “by his
strength” (see Genesis 25:26) and so must you and I!
We have Jesus strength, but we do not use it!
“Strengthened with all might,according to His glorious power, for all patience and long suffering with joy” (Colossians 1:11).
“He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened
with might through His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16).
The church of Jesus Christ is never going to see what God has for His body
until He sees US seeking Him in earnest! “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).
God wants you to lay hold of Him because He loves you! He is saying, “Here it is. If you want it, come and get it!” He wants to make a strong soldier out of you, fit for His army!
***Any unwillingness to obey God slams the door of our heart. We have knowingly shut Him out, and that’s sin.
* “Therefore, to one who knows the right things to do, and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Hebrews 12:15
Now is the time to resolve old issues before you move into the new season. I speak of such things as unforgiveness, thoughts of unwortiness, past sins you have repented for and bitterness against yourself and others. Allowing these things to exist in a fresh spiritual environment of possibilities would only pollute and defile clean and pristine opportunities.
Enter this time with a clean heart. Examine yourself to see if you are in faith and ready to receive all that the Lord has prepared for you.
* Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
**God will renew your spirit. -Brokenness brings RENEWAL. God will renew your strength.
Deut. 8: 5 Think about it: Just as a parent disciplines a child, the LORD your God disciplines you for your own good.
*When we encounter hardship let us not complain. Perhaps if the road was all smooth we might forget that it is the Lord who sustains us (Deut 10, 18).
*There are times when God may need to try us to see what is in our heart. There are times when God needs to discipline us (vv 8:2-5). Do we not discipline our children and those responsible to us. What would happen if a son or daughter received no discipline. What would their life be like? Yes, A mess!
For those times of struggle, pain and down cast… Let me remind you, we are not forgotten. We are not then cast aside and left to fend for ourselves. We are loved then, just as every other day; maybe even a little more than we realize.
Malachi 3:6 “I am the LORD, and I do not change. That is why you descendants of Jacob are not already destroyed. 7 Ever since the days of your ancestors, you have scorned my decrees and failed to obey them. Now return to me, and I will return to you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.
For it is through pain that we desperately seek the Lord. It is in the difficult times we reach for His hand and cry out His name.
The only way you can rise above painful circumstances is if you will raise your focus to the One who holds the universe in His hands. Trust that God will do something good within you and through you. Do what is necessary to resolve the situation, but refuse to let the problem become the focus of your life.
Surrender to God and trust Him to work all things together for your good. Then, like the apostle Paul, you simply cannot lose.
Let us all be encouraged that no matter what we are going through in life, we need to remember that God allows them to happen as He wants His glory to be seen later on and thus bring salvation to others. Most of all, let us not forget that God is never slow in helping us and delivering us from troubles, as we clearly see from passages in Psalm 105:1-45
Dear Lord:
” Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, OLORD, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight. Bring disgrace upon the arrogant people who lied about me; meanwhile, I will concentrate on your commandments. Let me be united with all who fear you, with those who know your laws. May I be blameless in keeping your decrees; then I will never be ashamed. I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. (Psalm 119:73-81)
Thank you Lord for your unrelenting grace and love for me. Amen