Devotions - Prayer
Wisdom is the knowledge of the nature of things, the reasons behind what happens.
How many of us can honestly say we are living the life of “spiritual abundance” God promises in His word?
* “I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly.”John 10:10
God created man with the need to be loved and to love. But these needs can only be fully satisfied through Divine Love (Agape) received and expressed.
* “For He has satisfied the thirsty soul, and the hungry soul He has filled with what is good.” Psalm 107:9
Agape is the only unconditional love that exists.
* “Can a woman forget her nursing child, and have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, but I will not forget you. Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands…”Isaiah 49:15-16
But where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living (Job 28:12-13).
What is this wisdom Job is talking about?
“Why does God treat Job this way?” But we have information that Job does not have. He has no knowledge of Satan’s challenge to God regarding him, and so his questioning is even deeper than ours. But we often feel this way ourselves.
Luke 7:35 But wisdom is shown to be right by the lives of those who follow it.”
In the past year some of my friends have learned that they had a cancer that was threatening their lives. One has also had a child go to be with the Lord to cancer. Some have lost their business, homes, work during these times of sickness. My heart goes out to these friends and I know their Spirit is strong. But my heart cries out, “Why? Why do these kinds of things happen?” Sounds like Job.
***Life presents these riddles to us. And when we wonder why these things happen, WISDOM is the answer.
*** Wisdom is the knowledge of the nature of things, the reasons behind what happens.
Someone has described wisdom as the right use of knowledge.
*It is how to use situations in such a way that things work out right.
That is what we lack. We can do all kinds of things with knowledge, but we do not do the right things with it.
**Col. 2:3 In him lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Example: That is why knowledge of nuclear physics ends up with atom bombs that destroy and become malicious instruments of warfare.
**Humans lack wisdom. They have lots of knowledge, but they have no wisdom on how to use it.
This is what Job in his long hours of torment is searching for: What is the reason behind these things?
Job says humans do not know the way to wisdom. It is not found in the land of the living. (Job 28:12-13).
Romans 8:37 No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.
I say unto you, truly, truly, that this is the day of recovery, so rise up with hope renewed. Gain access into the Lord’s goodness. For, surely He will restore that which has been stolen. The process of restoration has come as a part of Jesus ministry.
John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.
Jesus has come to set HIS people free, and Jesus continues in the process by restoring them from time to time when it is necessary. Receive today the power of restoration and let the spirit of the living God now invade your spiritual space; let it over take you; let it embrace you. Let the Spirit of God draw you close to the heart of Jesus. Regain this moment, the power of your first love; the power of His presence and your position in God’s kingdom. Regain your position of victory for surely it is yours.
*1 John 5:4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith.
*Rev. 21:7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.
*Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
*Psalms 62:1. I wait quietly before God, for my victory comes from him.
You are in a time of recovering that which has been taken by the enemy. If you will be alert and be willing to follow the Lord’s leading, He will restore all that is necessary for your spiritual well-being. However, there are still things that are better left alone, and He will give you the proper discernment to know the difference. Come to Me in faith with your request, says the Lord, and I will open what no man can shut, and I will shut what no man can open.
*Revelation 3:8 I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Lord, I am humbled because I lack wisdom. Thank You for Your Word and All the Wisdom there for us to be able to come to You Jesus, with any sickness, circumstance and lay it down at the foot of the Cross and Trust You knowing You have our best interest at hand for Your Glory.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God… and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).
” But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” (1 Corinthians 15:57-58).
Amen
Psalms 118:15 Songs of joy and victory are sung in the camp of the godly. The strong right arm of the LORD has done glorious things!
Revelation Bible study starting Jan 26. Go to web address below and go to calendar-scroll down to Thurs. And open “Community Wide Bible Study”.
Read MoreGod’s plan IS perfect and best for His glory!
Genesis 22:21 Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called. “Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”
2 “Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”
Take now thy son . — Genesis 22:2
*God’s command is – Take now, not presently.
* I need to fully and faithfully move forward and follow the Lord right through the afflictions to come, knowing God’s plan IS Perfect and Best for His glory.
Romans 8:18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.
*It is extraordinary how we debate! We know a thing is right, but we try to find excuses for not doing it at once.
*If we are to climb to the height God reveals, it can never be done later, it must be done now.
And the sacrifice must be worked through our will before we actually perform it.
“And Abraham rose up early in the morning and went unto the place of which God had told him” (v. 3). The wonderful simplicity of Abraham!
* When God spoke, he did not confer with flesh and blood.
*Beware when you want to “confer with flesh and blood”,(Gal. 1:16) i.e., your own sympathies, your own insight, anything that is not based on your personal relationship to God.
These are the things that compete with and hinder obedience to God.
Abraham did not choose what the sacrifice would be.
*Always guard against Self-Chosen Service for God; self-sacrifice may be a disease that impairs your service.
**If God has made your cup sweet, drink it with grace;
** if He has made it bitter, drink it in communion with Him.
*** If the providential order of God for you is a hard time of difficulty, go through with it, but never choose the scene of your martyrdom, as to say “I will only go to there, But no farther”.
God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed or protested, But he went steadily went through with obedience and faith.
If you are not living in touch with God, it is easy to Blame God or pass Judgment on God.
You must go through the trial before you have any right to pronounce a verdict, because by going through the trial you learn to know God better.
*1 Peter 1:6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.
*Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory when it is revealed to all the world. (1 Peter 4:12-13).
*** God is working in each of us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and man’s purpose become one!
Make sure this year, especially, this day, give the right response.
Some of us will never receive the blessing God has in store for us until we are WILLING to give THE RIGHT RESPONSE!
Some of us wonder why do I keep going through the same thing over and over again!? Perhaps it may be the response we always give to the Lord???
Now, most often the request is very very difficult!!! now we may not like it, but that response is YES LORD! Practice it!!! YES LORD!!!
**God sometimes doesn’t open the other door until we walk through the first door.
*Unless we are willing to respond to God properly….we may never witness the change God has for our life!!!
God needs you and me in 2012 to be willing to properly respond to Him. The proper response is YES LORD!
He wants us to take the things that mean the most to us, our lives, our time, our treasure and offer it to HIM!!! For some of us, our money or hobbies or work is our Isaac!
* God wants to know if we are willing to sacrifice it for him!?
*When we are willing to sacrifice ALL that is precious to us, God will be at His best!
*To let go of our most prized possession; God clearly makes that easier for us when we bring it to him rather than letting it go on own before we worship him.
*Sometimes I struggle to approach God due to my Sin and idolatry, and I feel shameful trying to worship Him with all these guilty conscience.
Once again, God will reveal that I need to come to Him as who I am and allow God to direct the actions I must take. **That’s worship. Faith does not come from my beliefs or actions but true faith, which is the source from God’s grace, works within us when we “Completely Empty Ourselves” to receive God’s authority.
I pray that our faith will be determined by God’s faithfulness alone.
Romans 1:17 This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, “It is through faith that a righteous person has life.”
*God sets it up so that His Son is the center of the process of knowing and doing what is right, making Himself the centerpiece of righteousness, Not us. **Wondering what is the right thing to do in your situation?
** Go to the creator for the Right thing to do! Read His Word the answer is there. (Try Read All of Proverbs with your question in mind and Listen).
***What we don’t realize, just as we are making our way up one side of the mountain, there’s a lamb climbing on the other side of the mountain!
We won’t run short if we would simply give God the right answer!!
Walk in faith! God WILL take good care of YOU!
1 Peter 4:19 So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for he will never fail you.
Lord, help me to first of all trust you with the faith of Abraham then help me to be a husband, dad and grandpa who can be trusted as much as Abraham was by Isaac! What trust he had Lord! Thank You Jesus for your word of Truth. Help me in my trials to have faith and obedience to You, knowing there’s a lamb climbing on the other side of the mountain for me as I surrender to your will- for your Glory and my Joy. Continue to peel away the addictions of sin from me. Thank You God, that You are working in each of us to reach Your highest goals until Your purpose and man’s purpose become one! “…To Know YOU, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth”. Jn 17:3. In Jesus Name, Amen
God desires an intimate relationship with you.
“ You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. ” (Exodus 34:14).
A Relationship with God comes before any relationship with man! So for God to be jealous shows us and teaches us that He never intended for us to get caught up in man just because He sent them to us.
*We must watch very carefully who we are putting in front of God because if not– man will become our IDOL!
Yes, it is possible for us to provoke Him to jealousy: “Do we provoke the
Lord to jealousy?” (1 Corinthians 10:22). Paul is asking: “You have testified that you love Him. You’ve even taken His name. Yet, has someone or something else stolen your heart?”
You can say you love Jesus; you can go to church every time the doors are open. But do you seek Him when your time is your own?
*Preachers search their Bibles for sermons.
* Sunday school teachers study it for
lessons.
**But why do we not turn to it for recreational reading, to be refreshed
by our Lord?
**Why don’t we open the Bible to learn of Him, to love Him?
The Bible is Jesus—God’s own Word! It is the full revelation of His heart;
Everything about Him is unmasked in the Scripture. (2 Tim. 3:16).
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
I would think that if we truly love
Him, if we expect to spend eternity as His bride, then we would want to learn
everything possible about Him!
Our Lord yearns after us, wanting our time and attention. Yet He sees us
spending all our time on other people and other things and that makes Him
jealous!
The day is coming when His jealousy will “burn” against those who
turn to vain idols (Deuteronomy 29:20). It will burst into flames of judgment!
** One of the worst things that can happen to us, as this account makes clear, is to become caught up in a popular movement.
*False forces arise out of it. That is the whole thrust of this section.
*Mis-emphases easily spring into being—and wrongful attitudes arise readily in a popular movement.
*Popularity, therefore, ought to be watched carefully. And when a movement is popular, as Christianity is popular in many places today, we must be careful that we are listening to the voice and the Spirit of God. The book of Jude covers this well. ( These people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. Jude 16).
Some qualifications and marks of the latter-day outpouring of the Spirit:
* A focus on the final harvest of souls.
* A spirit of grace leading to repentance and godliness.
* A spirit of supplication resulting in surrender and an urgency to pray in
the Spirit.
* A yearning for Jesus, and mourning, a brokenness and weeping with godly
sorrow for sin. Only after such dealings of the Spirit will the true blessing
of joy come!
**I will depend on Jesus, for everything!
Hebrews 4:13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
*God created us for Himself but we sold ourselves into slavery to the devil.
*If we’re only loving in order to change the other person or the circumstances, our motivation is totally wrong. That’s conditional human love, and not God’s Love at all. If selfishness is motivating us, the fruit of our actions will be rotten.
* “Love…does not seek its own…”
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
God is jealous for His glory. He cannot share it with false gods. He clearly promised blessings for keeping the covenant and curses for breaking the covenant.
*Serving other gods was the most heinous offense against God and grounds for breaking the covenant. *Despite God sending prophets to warn the people of their transgressions, they always turned to idol worship until the exile of Judah.
** We ALL need to remove idols from our lives. What’s an idol?
Idol– whatever takes priority over our relationship with God.
** These idols may take the form of family, work, volunteering, recreation/sports, tv, cell phones, I-pad, gaming, and even ministry.
**If we don’t set our priorities straight, God will do it for us.
When the final day comes, I know we all want Jesus to take your hand and whisper, “At last we’re together! You have desired Me so. You have given Me the best of your life, your time, your attention. Come, now—let us be one!”
How will you stand before Him on that day? Everything of this world is going to
burn. But what about your intimacy with Him? Will you be able to stand before
Him knowing you shut out the world and cried out that you wanted to know Him?
John 17:3 And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.
Listen to Jesus in Verse 4″ I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.”
“Then I prayed to the God of heaven…” Nehemiah 2:4b
* Let’s allow the power of prayer to revive our spirit and restore our physical and mental vigor. By following Nehemiah’s example we will have the energy needed to defeat the enemy and thrive in the midst of our day to day challenges.
* Seek security by recognizing God as the Source of security.
*”Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”.(JN 14:6)
Father, thank You for the Truth as it is in Jesus. Lord, through the power of prayer, today’s challenge can be tomorrow’s victory. Forgive me when I make prayer my last resort instead of my first choice. Help me remember the truths You have taught me today. Thank You for prayer and the power I receive when I turn to You. Increase my Personal Relationship with You Jesus.
” Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault. All glory to him who alone is God, our Savior through Jesus Christ our Lord. All glory, majesty, power, and authority are his before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! Amen.” (Jude 24-25). Thank you for loving us so much God that you see us as faultless even when I stumble. Remind me that I can’t become perfect but I can continue to make choices that become more like Christ. God, thank you for salvation and for your Son. Thank You for Your Victory over sin and idols at the Cross. Please help me to serve You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen
God’s Love is the only solid foundation upon which human love can be built. If “feelings” have diminished or died within a relationship, only Agape can rekindle the flame.
* “…the things impossible with men are possible with God.” Luke 18:27
What is God’s greatest plan for your life? To make you into a holy vessel brimming with truth, humility and [Agape] Love.
*”He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Micah 6:8
*Gifts to Give God: 1). Walk upright 2). Be caring 3). Love 4). Walk in forgiveness 5). Walk in humility
We Have Victory in JESUS!
” But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” 1John 4:4
Whatever you’re facing in life, or whatever is coming in your future, God has already given you the faith for it. It may not look like it, and you may not feel like you have what it takes to overcome, but faith in God isn’t based on our circumstances or how we feel.
The enemy would like for you to believe that you don’t have a chance in life, that you’re too weak, too poor, too whatever. BUT God has a different view of you. God sees you through the eyes of LOVE.
**God sees not what you can be, but what He has invested in you, not what you or others may see.
Seeing yourself the way God sees you leads to a life of overwhelming victory.
**But it takes faith. You can’t just hear that God loves you and sees you as His child, you have to Believe it.
** It takes faith to move forward and overcome the challenges of life. And faith does you no good if you don’t know how to release it. You have to release your faith in order for it to work.
We release faith through our Words, Actions and, of course, through Prayer. It’s up to us to act.
The apostle Paul was one of the most mature Christians who ever lived, yet he wasn’t ashamed of his human frailties. He knew God loved him no matter what, and He understood that confessing his weakness was essential to walking in God’s Strength.
** “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Remember: The enemy lies to us to make problems Appear Bigger than the solutions we carry!
**2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Our death to sin and resurrection to life with Christ, is already a reality in our spirits but will only become a physical reality when we KNOW and Believe it.
(See Ephesians 2:1-10)
In the same way that Jesus died unto sin once, and death no longer has dominion over Him, the person who recognizes their death with Christ unto sin, will not allow sin to rule over him anymore.
** Christian’s who are struggling with sin have not fully recognized that they are dead unto sin.
***Hebrews 10:16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the LORD: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says,
“I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.
*As christians we are suppose to walk in the fruit of the spirit at all times
” But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control…” Galatians 5:22,23
* Be a hearer and a doers of God’s word.
Your present vision will be established as you embrace the challenges of this season. The Lord’s people will not perish for a lack of vision in this season. Rejoice and be glad for the time of the victory and the Day of the Lord’ power is at hand.
Luke 10:19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”
The devil knows that if he can get us to think about something, we are only a step away from actually doing it. He knows that our minds are “command central.” It is here that we reason. It is here that we remember. It is here that we dream.
Our minds are the hard drive, the place where everything originates.
***Satan knows that it is only a short step from a thought to an act.
Eph. 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
We need to understand that the devil works with two very close allies: the world and the flesh.
*“The world” is the world system that is hostile toward God. It is living for personal gratification, OUR own will above all else.
*Then there is the flesh. When the Bible speaks of the flesh, it speaks more of the depraved, fallen human nature in which we are gratifying sensual appetites.
**Galatians 5:24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
*A stronghold is an area where we are held in bondage, any part of our lives where satan has imprisoned us.
* As long as we believe things that are not true, we will remain imprisoned by those strongholds.
*The Word of God(ALL TRUTH) is the weapon that sets us free from the strongholds.
The enemy will try anything to separate us from God and keep us from fulfilling our destiny in Him. That is why we need to put our spiritual armor on every day.(See Ephesians 6). We need to be in His word and spend quiet time listening to His voice.
AGAIN: We need to be in His word and spend quiet time listening to His voice as the Holy Spirit inspired Word speaks to us.
* We have to be humble and open to correction.
**Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Colossians 2:13 You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. 14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
God, I. Know and Believe that You love me and that You have given me the power to overcome. As Your child, I will act on the faith You have given me every day, trusting in You and overcoming any obstacle that comes my way. Thank You Jesus for your Love, defeating Sin at the Cross- enableing us to Know and Believe that in You- JESUS
We fight FROM VICTORY- not FOR Victory! In Jesus Name Amen!
For the Lord your God is living among you. He is our Everlasting Father!
He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17 NLT)
*God celebrates when a single life is turned around.
So why did Jesus come to earth as God in human form?
*Was it to give us the ultimate teachings ever? No. Though they were the greatest teachings ever given, He came here for more than that.
*Did Jesus come to set the perfect example of how a man or woman should live? He came to do that and much more.
* Did Jesus walk this earth merely to do miracles and heal people? While He always reached out to people in need, that was not His primary purpose.
C. S. Lewis said it well: “The Son of God became a man that men might become sons of God.”
** God became a man so that YOU might become God’s child. Now that is something worth celebrating.
Our Father of Eternity!!
Isaiah 9:6 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
When Jesus came to earth, He brought with Him everything you need to be empowered to live a life of victory. He came as a little baby, but He represented all authority in heaven and earth.
When you choose to serve Him, you have access to all of His resources. You have access to His peace, power, authority, provision, joy and strength. He brought all of this to us when He came to earth.
* Unto us a child is born…unto us victory is given. Unto us, peace is given. Unto us, provision is given. Unto us hope and healing are given. Unto us eternal life is given!
Whatever you need today, remember, when Jesus came into the world, He made a way for Every One of your needs to be met spiritually, emotionally and physically.
Surrender your life to Him and receive all the spiritual blessings He has in store for you—YES YOU! HIS CHILD HIS MASTERPIECE!
Jesus is our Prince of Peace!!!
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27)
Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, so that I could be free to live an abundant life in You. Fill me with the revelation of Your love and everything that You have for me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
***The manger was a place of
“Heavenly Hospitality” surrounded
with the presence of angels.
Luke 2:7
In Luke 2:6-7, whatever the reason might be, the innkeeper failed to offer Mary and Joseph a room, a room for Jesus.
** We ALL have reasons why we couldn’t offer room for Jesus in our life. *Do you have room for Jesus today? If not, what is your heart full of?
When your heart is full of things, duties you would have no room for Jesus, and you would have nothing to do with your savior.
Just like the people in that inn, they missed out on their perfect Gift.
***JESUS OUR PERFECT GIFT!!!!!!!
God’s love reaches down to everyone, even the lowest of the lowest, because His love involves everybody. As such, no one can have excuse not to be involved.
Jesus, being the full God, traveled the whole universe to come down to our level, even to our lowest level, to deal with our sins.
As parents, we want only the best things for our children. Wouldn’t God be like us when treating His one and only son Jesus?
* Who are we then, that God would sacrifice His one and only Son for us? *God took the most difficult step to convince us that He loves us—His SON!
*V14 “peace to men” – What is the peace that matters most to you?
How many of you have the peace in your heart today? Are you restless and worried? Gen 4:10-12. SIN makes us restless.
Only through Jesus we can restore our relationship with God and have Eternal Peace – NO more restlessness in our heart!!!!
To give us this peace back, it costs God the life of Jesus.
And that’s why the birth of Jesus is the most amazing gift humankind can ever receive. Let’s open this Gift of Jesus.
Merry Christmas!!!
Hebrews 4:15-16 says, “For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore COME boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need”
Read MoreWhen you focus on serving others, your need is often met through God’s supernatural law of serving.
*God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves.
Authentic hospitality can only flow through a surrendured heart filled with
God’s Agape Love. Bless and surprise someone with the simplicity of random love, kindness and hospitality today! **”Be hospitable to one another without complaint.”1 Peter 4:9
Another version says ” Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay”.
Be devoted to ONE ANOTHER – give yourself to hospitality. Hospitality isn’t what would first come to mind under moments of extreme trial. But it makes absolute sense.
*We need God and we need each other! We need to guard our relationship with God when under pressure and our relationship with others.
Its at such times that a strain can be placed on our relationship with God and others. Love others by overlooking disagreements, avoiding negative talk or gossip, control your tongue under pressure, by being hospitable, live in each other’s worlds – giving and receiving the warmth of friendship. Building the most powerful bonds of strength over the fellowship at the table.
Verse 10 goes on to say: ” God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
Out of this relationship and context SERVE ONE ANOTHER with whatever gift God has given you – speaking, giving, helping. Ministry flows out of relationship. This will guard you against many pressures. Context is extremely important to our ministry.
*Ministry is not simply the delivering of a gift.
** Ministry is the context in which we SERVE that gift.
* The gift is explosive in an environment of love and acceptance.
These bonds will defeat all obstacles and opposition. Love is more powerful than all.
James 5:16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.
*These friendships develop when we get honest about who we are and what is happening in our lives. They develop when we share our hurts, reveal our feelings, confess our failures, disclose our doubts, admit our fears, acknowledge our weaknesses, and ask for help and prayer.
*It’s only as we become open about our lives that we experience authentic fellowship.
The world thinks intimacy occurs in the dark, but God says it happens in the light.
We tend to use darkness to hide our hurts, faults, fears, failures, and flaws. **But in God’s light, we can bring them all out into the open and admit who we really are.
**This is the way we grow spiritually and be emotionally healthy.
The law of sowing and reaping comes into play in this Kingdom principle. “Sow for yourselves righteousness, reap the fruit of unfailing love.” (Hos 10:12). “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” (2 Cor 9:6-9)
“LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance” (Ps 16:5-6).
We don’t serve others to GET!
However, when you do serve others, there is a Kingdom principle that works on your behalf as fruit of your service. Is there someone you need to serve this Holiday Season?
Galatians 6:2 Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. 3 If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.
* You have to KNOW who you are and WHOSE you belong to.
* Be that someone others can count on. * Be the one who displays Christ. The one who works behind the scenes and dose not need a pat on the back.
* One who Loves enough to risk relationships for the sake of Truth.
* One who displays the character and spirit of Christ in the best of times, the worst of times.
1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. 14 And do everything with love.
I am crucified with Christ; nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. — Galatians 2:20
*These words mean the breaking of my independence with my own hand and surrendering to the supremacy of the Lord Jesus.
*It means breaking the husk of my individual independence of God into oneness with Himself, not for my own ideas, but for Absolute Loyalty to Jesus.
*I must be broken from my self-realization, and immediately that point is reached, the reality of the supernatural identification takes place at once, and the witness of the Spirit of God is unmistakable – “I have been crucified with Christ.” (Now a Bond-Servant of Jesus).
Lord Jesus, I don’t think I know who I am. I KNOW who I am. I am Yours!! Lord You have and are defining me. Continue to shape and mold me. I want to be a Server/giver. A Server/ giver of all things especially YOU. May I be a spiritual life source to those around me. ” May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus. Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Romans 15:5-6).
In Jesus name, AMEN.
We love others by being real and genuine with them. If we are being transparent with God (on the inside), He will enable us to be real and genuine with others (on the outside).
* “…in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.”
2 Corinthians 1:12
Freedom and Boundaries
“Now the serpent was craftier than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, ‘Did God really say, “You must not eat from any tree in the garden”?'” – Genesis 3:1.
God is big on giving man freedom and boundaries:
*Freedom to manage what He has entrusted to us.
*Boundaries to protect us from evil.
***The boundaries in the Garden of Eden were not set for the purpose of limiting Adam.
** Man got into trouble when he questioned those boundaries.
God had provided everything he would need for life. He also entrusted man with responsibility to manage and work the Garden. God gave him freedom in that responsibility. God knows we were made to express ourselves creatively through our work.
Each of us must have freedom and boundaries in our life.
When ever you are hired for a job, you must have the freedom to make certain decisions. You must have the authority to manage things within your area of expertise. You must also have limits within your area of responsibility. Life is the SAME in-Marriage, Kids, Family, Friends.
**You need to know where those limits are and stay within them. Both freedom and boundaries are always under the umbrella of God’s authority.
Jesus understood these boundaries. When He was tempted for 40 days by the devil after being baptized, He was challenged by satan to go outside His freedom and boundaries. (See Matthew 4:1-11.) Satan said that He had the power to turn a stone into bread. Jesus was hungry and easily could have justified using His power to feed Himself. However, Jesus understood He could do nothing outside the boundaries of God’s will for His life.
It was God’s will for Jesus to be tempted and to withstand the temptation. God was showing His Son that “man does not live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Mt. 4:4b).
You and I are tempted every day to go beyond our God-ordained boundaries. *Whether it is solving financial problems that have arisen through debt, making wrong decisions due to pressure, or manipulating someone in order to achieve our ends, it all represents rebellion toward God.
**Ask God to show you His freedom and boundaries for your life.
***These are meant to enhance your life, not hinder it!!!
* We are who we are– through the thoughts we have.
* Take your thoughts captive – know your Bible.
** Thoughts » habits » circumstance**
* When was the last time you thought about what your thinking about?
* Peace comes by fixing our thoughts
1) You can change your thoughts.
2) Fix your thoughts on what is true, pure and noble.
3) Think about things that are worthy of praise.
* Don’t doubt your purpose here and now!
* Choose a few promises and speak them over your life for 2012.
* God doesn’t do it for us, we have to use our faith and take Action.
* Think big, dream big for 2012
* Bring your thoughts under the obedience of God.
You Are so so Worthy. You are God’s Masterpiece. Let go and let God. Let God have the strongholds that are holding you back from being ALL that God has intended.
*A stronghold is an area where we are held in bondage, any part of our lives where satan has imprisoned us.
* As long as we believe things that are not true, we will remain imprisoned by those strongholds.
*The Word of God is the weapon that sets us free from the strongholds.
***Effective Weapons: preaching, teaching, books, tapes, seminars, small Bible study groups, private studies, prayer, and praise.
***Praise helps us keep our mind on God, His power, and the good things that are happening in our lives.
***Prayer reflects a Relationship with God and shows that we depend on Him.
*Jesus promised to always be with us (Matthew 28:20). We can win with our weapons because they are spiritual weapons.
Examples of strongholds are “God doesn’t love me”, “His promises don’t apply to me”, “He could never forgive me for what I did”, “I don’t have to change because God made me that way”, “I don’t have to forgive because what that person did to me was unforgivable”, “God doesn’t work that way anymore”, “I’m un-worthy”, I’m the black Sheep of the family”, and “I can’t share the gospel because…” To mention a few.
The enemy will try anything to separate us from God and keep us from fulfilling our destiny in Him. That is why we need to put our spiritual armor on every day. *We need to be in His word and spend quiet time listening to His voice. Set up Boundries in your life that allows you the TIME to spend with Jesus-LISTENING
AGAIN: We need to be in His word and spend quiet time listening to His voice.
* We have to be humble and open to correction.
When our strongholds are broken down, we can glorify God more freely and openly. We are set FREE!
“You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made YOU alive with Christ, for he forgave ALL our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.
(Colossians 2:13-15)
We need to be honest with each other in sharing our shortcomings as well as our victories. When we are real and transparent with others, we give them the freedom to “remove their masks” in our presence and for us To Heal!
“It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Proverbs 16:19
Do you have a proper understanding of who you are? Do you understand that it is God who has given you the ability to work and achieve? He is the source of ALL good things. Ask God today if your life models this belief.
The Lord has never had anyone who was qualified working for Him. It’s by God’s grace that He uses any of us.
**Anyone who claims to be used of God because of his great holiness is either deceived or a deceiver.
*** It’s our faith in the grace of God that allows His Love to flow through us.
Be free of all bondage and keep your heart pure before the Lord. Then, you will be able to discern spiritually. However, anything that creates darkness in your soul will cause you to dump down in the flesh and will cloud your spiritual perceptions. Be on guard, for this is a time when seductions to choose flesh over Spirit are rampant. Obtain and maintain purity.
**Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Let’s Bring Back Jesus this Christmas!!
“A Vision without Action is only a Delusion”. Moving Forward!
Most people have forgotten what the meaning of Christmas really is. It’s a time to celebrate something very important— the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ— that’s right the “Star” of the show!!! Not santa claus, shopping, material gifts,Parties without Jesus etc.
*If we ALL make room for Jesus this Season with family and friends— who knows what could come from our circumstances!
*We all sin, Christians and non-Christians, but what we do after sinning is what matters.
Psalms 51: 7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
* No matter who you are, God can use you.
* No matter what problems you face, God is with you.
*No matter what He promises, God can do.
An Angel spoke to Mary in Luke 1:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.” And Mary’s response: ” “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.”
Lord, I pray today you renew my heart so that I can live in your perfect will and take Time each day to Listen to You. I want a clean heart, free of doubt. Help me to bring Jesus Back to the CENTER of Christmas and every day of my life. *Help me to trust You and put Your Boundries up in All roles of my Life.
I know The key to that is to spend time feeding my hunger…by getting full on Your Perfect Word…Knowing that Your promises are not made by man. In Your time Lord, Your Promises will manifest and come to fruition. Help me Meditate on Your Word daily…all through my day…in my thoughts and my actions… My faith and dependency upon the Lord relies on the intimate time that I share with You Lord. In these times, I must converse…I must talk AND listen! I must hear AND follow…
Thank you for this day to have the opportunity to Glorify You Jesus! Amen
* Suffering either gives me my self or it destroys my self.
Hebrews 5:8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
When life tumbles in, leaving us mystified, are we allowing God to plant Hope, Love, Freedom and Faith in our minds and hearts? Do we humbly recognize his inscrutable wisdom?
If we are faithful to do our part, God will always be faithful to do His!
* “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”James 4:8
But those who suffer He delivers in their suffering; He speaks to them in their affliction. – Job 36:15
*God’s ways are not our ways.
* His preparation of His warriors seems cruel and hurtful at times.
*God’s ways are much higher than ours. **Trust the God of the universe that He CAN orchestrate the events of your life when they seem the darkest.
What shall I say? Father, save me, from this hour? But for this cause came I unto this hour. Father, glorify Thy name. — John 12:27-29
My attitude as a saint to sorrow and difficulty is Not to ask that they may be prevented, but to ask that I may Preserve the self God created me to be through every fire of sorrow.
*** Our Lord received Himself in the fire of sorrow, He was saved not from the hour, but OUT of the hour.
*Lord I ask that you help us learn to pray to grow nearer to you. To hear your voice and follow your will. Lord I ask too that you show us your good and perfect plans. Father thank you for your love and your unending promises and grace.
We say that there ought to be no sorrow, but there is sorrow, and we have to receive ourselves in its fires.
* If we try and evade sorrow, refuse to lay our account with it, we are foolish. *Sorrow is one of the biggest facts in life; it is no use saying sorrow ought not to be.
**Sin and sorrow and suffering are, and it is not for us to say that God has made a mistake in allowing them.
*Sorrow burns up a great amount of shallowness, but it does not always make a man better.
* Suffering either gives me my self or it destroys my self.
* If a man has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, he has no time for you. *If you receive yourself in the fires of sorrow, God will make you nourishment for other people
I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes–I, and not another (Job 19:25-27a).
This is one of the great words of faith in the Old Testament,of the resurrection of the body found in the Word of God.
Slowly, through the anguish and gloom of this man’s heart, born out of the passion and the pathos that he feels, comes the dawning realization that God is working out a great and mighty Purpose, and that one of these days God Himself (Job has never failed to see God’s great majesty and power) shall be visibly present before people.
*God is working out a purpose!!!
“How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?” (Ps 13:1-2).
When David wrote his psalms he was honest about what he was feeling. However, David never stayed in the place of despair. He often ended his psalms like this one.
*** “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me” (Ps 13:5-6).
David chooses to focus on what God HAS DONE for him, not what He has not done.
*David’s situation did not change from verse 1 to verse 5, but his Perspective and Attitude changed. He was wrestling with God’s timing, plan, attention…but ultimately David trusts in God’s love and remembers God’s favor and faithfulness to him.
*If you are waiting for a breakthrough with God, be honest with Him about your hopes, concerns and dreams.Pray!
* However, also affirm your Faith and Trust in Him to accomplish HIS Purposes through your life.
In times of despair, it is harder to hold on than to give up. BUt if we give up on the LORD, we give in to a life of DESPAIR.
God forgive me for NOT consistently praising Your name. You are great and worthy to be praised for all that You have done and will do.
Thank You, Lord, that You have sent Jesus to be my Redeemer, and I can trust that You are working out Your purposes even through my current sufferings. Help me to accept what You have in store for me and move forward as the sphere in which I am to live to the glory of God.
Father, thank You for the encouragement I receive from Your Perfect Word in the Bible through the Holy Spirit. Help me to take heart in what trials and sufferings I may be going through and know that You will bring me through.
I thank you God for always being so great to me. Even in my times of heartache and suffering you were there to lean on. I will Never forget how kind You have been to me and how great You are today. To God be the Glory. Forever and Ever. Amen
1 Peter 2: 20…But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: 22 Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth; 23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Read MoreLet’s Bring Jesus Back!!
If we are faithful to do our part, God will always be faithful to do His!
*”Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”James 4:8
During this season, in a time where are thoughts so often turn to material things, we must remember that it is truly about the “Birth of a Savior” and like the angels appearing before the neighboring shepherds laboring in the field, we must go before our friends and our neighbors to bring them “good tidings of great joy” about a Savior born in a humble manger that came not to receive but only to GIVE!
” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35.)
Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being, He IS a Being Who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside. His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the Lowliest door. Our Lord’s birth was an advent.-the appearance of God in Human Form.
Philippians 2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
***Is Christmas old hat to us?
***World-Please Bring Jesus Back!
*****Christmas: IS The Birth of Christ!
‘Search me, O God, and know my heart!… See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’(Psalm 139:23-24).
Most people have forgotten what the meaning of Christmas really is. It’s a time to celebrate something very important— the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ— that’s right the “Star” of the show!!! Not santa claus, shopping, material gifts,Parties without Jesus etc.
*If we ALL make room for Jesus this Season with family and friends— who knows what could come from our circumstances.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right”.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
Is Christmas old hat to us?
LUKE 2:1-14
V. 1-3. The moving of governments.
*The governments think they have it under control, but God sits on the throne. “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son…”
V. 4-5. Motivation of Joseph. *Government said so, by direction of God. Governments do strange things some times. Mat 1:18-25; Mic 5:2. Joseph was obedient to the direction of God, and to the government.
V. 5-7. Monumental Miracle.
Mary was a virgin. The virgin-born Savior doesn’t have the sin nature passed down through the man. She was a virgin.
Nathanael said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
What is amazing about Mary is that she lived a godly life in a godless place, and she did so as a very young teenager.
Here she was, a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere—precisely the kind of person that God goes out of His way to call. He chose an unknown girl in a relatively unknown city to bring about the most-known event in human history, an event so significant that we actually divide human time by it.
V. 8-12. The Good News.
* There is no reason to be afraid.
V. 13-14. Praise was given. “And suddenly…” Seems like heaven couldn’t hold it back anymore.
*The motive of God: LOVE!!!
* God sent the Redeemer(JESUS) to save the world because He loved the world. (See John 3:16).
**How marvelous that God would do this for us! We don’t know why He loves us, but He does. We are His Masterpiece!
*I don’t understand it, but I enjoy it. There is nothing redeemable in ourselves, so He sent a Redeemer. He came “to seek and to save that which is lost.” ME!
*Thank God that Luke 2 is not the end of the story.
*Thank God He died, was buried and rose again and now sits on the right hand of the Father. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”
Luke 2:9…. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no room for Him. How solemnly this brings out the world’s estimate of the Christ of God. There was no appreciation of His amazing condescension.
JESUS was not wanted. It is so still today.
*There is no room for Him in the schools, in society, in the business world, among the great throngs of pleasure seekers, in the political realm, in the newspapers, nor in many of the churches.
***It is only history repeating itself. All that the world gave the Savior was a manger, a cross on which to die, and a borrowed grave to receive His murdered body.
He was laid in a manger to demonstrate the extent of His poverty.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for YOUR sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Jesus was laid in a manger to mark His identification with human suffering and wretchedness.
*The ONE born was “The Son of Man.” He had left the heights of Heaven’s glory and had descended to our level, and here we behold Him entering the human condition at its lowest point.
*John 1. The Word was made flesh. The Word was God.
*This is a time of stress, and through Jesus those hardships can be relieved.
*Let Jesus be seen in every way possible especially during this Christmas Season.
Many of us grow up in religious environments. We go to church every week. We have a head knowledge of God, but we do not recognize God’s voice in our lives.
There comes a time when we must recognize God’s voice for ourselves. God does not want us to have a religion; He wants us to have a two-way relationship with Him. (We need to get into His Word Spoken to us through the Holy Spirit–the Bible—-it’s alive).
**Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.
Maybe you are trying to live out your faith in a godless place today, at work or school or among unbelieving family members. You’re wondering if it can be done. It can.
*Jesus Mother, Mary, stands as an example for us, proving that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world.
As Jesus leads and guides you this Holiday Season, ask Jesus to show you someone who needs an extra special blessing that you can fulfill, by sharing your testimony of what Jesus has done for YOU! Share Jesus’ Love with them.
” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6)
***A changing world but an unchanging God!
*For I am Lord, I change not….Malachi 3:6
Let’s plead to the world: “Bring Jesus Back”! Christmas IS ALL about The Birth of Christ!
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
“They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you”. (2 Timothy 4:4-5)
Lord, expand my understanding of who You are. I don’t want to simply know about You; I want to know You intimately and personally more and more each day. Your word says:”And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”. (JN 17:3)
Lord this Christmas as always You want to share Your LOVE, TRUTH and FREEDOM with us ALL. As many will not invite You to their party, We will have our celebration, a grandiose party, Praising, Sharing and Glorifying You– Knowing that our Eternal Home is one that no one can ever have imagined, a spectacular Eternal party with You. Lord may this Christmas be ALL about You and Your LOVE for each and every one. Let us be the example this year of Your Love. Help us be the ones to reach out to the lost and hurting world-starting with our own family and friends-to
“Bring Back Jesus” for Christmas. Amen
It’s extremely important not to judge a person by what they say or do. God is the only One who truly knows the human heart, so He is the only righteous judge.
* “…for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
1 Samuel 16:7
When you receive Jesus, you receive abundance of grace and shall reign in life. Are you a master of your problems? Or are your problems the master of you?
We christians don’t know how powerful the grace of God is.
No christian should be weak, regardless of your age. If you’re a christian, your strength shouldn’t be based on your physical strength.
Romans 5:17 For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
The book of Titus tells us that grace is given to us as power over sin, to
enable us to live sober, holy lives:
“For the grace of God that brings
salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13).
*Grace is a free gift Grace is everything for nothing when we don’t deserve anything.
*Grace pays my debt mercy forgives my debt.
***What should my response be to grace?
*Recognize the debt of my sin.
*Demonstrate my new life in Christ.
*Live a godly life.
There has been a marvelous measure of this grace in God’s people since
Pentecost. The Holy Spirit has sent conviction of sin on all nations, teaching
believers of every race and tongue how to forsake ungodliness and worldly
lusts.
The result has been a people who live soberly and righteously in this
present world and who long for the coming of Jesus.
I believe Zechariah 12:10 prophecies that in the very last hour, the Holy
Spirit will fall mightily on God’s people with a spirit of grace that turns
them completely from all worldliness. It will produce in them a cry for purity
of heart!
“Then I will pour out a spirit of grace and prayer on the family of David and on the people of Jerusalem. They will look on me whom they have pierced and mourn for him as for an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died”. (Zechariah 12:10).
When the Holy Spirit comes down and exposes sin, those who have been lukewarm or in compromise become convicted.
If we were to separate Adam and Eve’s sin from its context, few of us would convict them of great transgression. All they did was swallow some fruit from a tree with a “do not eat” sign. Today people think nothing of ignoring commands – even biblical ones.
But God has a totally different view of our sins. Each one is followed by negative consequences.
* Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to pain and frustration in two basic areas of fulfillment – relationships and meaningful work.
**The whole earth fell under sin’s curse, and every person born since then has entered the world with a sin nature that alienates each one from the Lord.
That first rebellion plunged humanity into a terrible condition.
* Civilization is now plagued by countless ramifications of the innumerable sins committed by human beings throughout the ages. Is it any wonder the world is in such sad shape?
Sin not only causes suffering; it robs us of God’s best.
The Garden of Eden is closed and locked to sinful mankind.
James 4:17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it. *Sin will always take you further than you want to go.
*Keep you longer than you want to stay
*Make you pay more than you want to pay….
* James talks to us here, first, about desiring things of this world. He says that we cannot be friends with the world and God at the same time. He says we need to block out the world and focus on God. He also tells us later on, not to judge others, that God is the only one who can judge. And finally, when we make a decision about our lives we need to consult in prayer to God. For God has a plan for us and if we know what God wants us to do and we don’t do it, its sin in his eyes.
The good news of Christ’s grace and forgiveness is our only real hope in this fallen world.
Though unpleasant, focusing on sin’s consequences is necessary at times to remind us of the greatness of our salvation and to move us to obey God, even in the small things.
Each obedience is huge to Him.
Resist the temptation to make a mountain out of the proverbial molehill or to create an issue out of something not worth your time or effort to consider. You will have unique opportunities to think about your position in the light of spiritual reality and to be able to see the value in not overreacting emotionally to things that represent a challenge to you.
When you are not sure which way to turn, ask the Lord and He will show you the way. Plant your feet on the ground of hope and faith, and do not compromise your position.
*1 Peter 1:20-21 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
Lord, I am so grateful that You sent Your Son as a mediator. Thank You that He understands us both and brings us together through His own sacrifice on the cross. Lord help me to listen and hear you when you speak to me. Lord give me the desire and the courage to obey you. Lord I know you have a plan for me and I want to follow your will for me. Forgive me where I fail you and thank you for all that you’ve done to bless my life. Give me courage to step it up for Your Glory. Thank YOU for Your GRACE. Amen
Read MoreCircumstances in life are never perfect. If we wait until they are we will never do anything but wait.
Hebrews 2:18 Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
Jesus understands every situation we face here on earth, because He went though it. This brings compassion for us when He goes to the Father for OUR sins, this should also bring a deep love for our pray life, because we know where talking to someone who understands us—-Our FATHER!
His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Matthew 25:21
**Testing allows one to discover how well a product is made when placed under extreme stress.
Increasing the pulling pressure between two objects reveals the amount of tension that can be withstood in a chain link. Eventually, the “choking” point occurs.
In sports, we ascertain the “choking” point for athletes by putting them into a pressure situation. At what point will the athlete lose concentration and collapse under the pressure?
It is under these stressful times that we discover how well we have been trained to withstand the pressure and make right decisions regardless of outside influences.
*** We fail under pressure usually because we reach a point where our ability to focus on execution yields to concern about outcome.
*This WORRY about outcome forces us to lose our concentration.
* The FEAR of Failure begins to rule our emotions and actions, which ultimately results in our failure.
* What we fear has come upon us. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
In life, we see giving in to pressure in the form of compulsive behavior, withdrawal, anger, abuse, moral failure, and dishonesty, to name just a few manifestations.
Jesus never yielded to pressure. He never made decisions based on outcome.
* Jesus always made the right decision. *Jesus always performed the same no matter what the circumstance.
* JESUS lived a life based on absolutes, not circumstances.
Jesus never gave in to “situational ethics.”
As God entrusts us with more and more responsibility, He brings more and more pressures into our lives to “test the product,” to make sure that He can give even more responsibility to us.
* This process helps us see where we are in our Maturity and determines our level of future Responsibility.
Are you a product that can withstand the product test? Will you perform as the Maker designed no matter what outside pressures come?
*Know that you cannot perform well unless you are continually in Relationship with and Obedient to the ONE who made you.
*Trust the product developer today. He has made you to perform well under pressure.
Isaiah 28:16 Therefore, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: “Look! I am placing a foundation stone in Jerusalem, a firm and tested stone. It is a precious cornerstone that is safe to build on. Whoever believes need never be shaken.
The Prophet Isaiah, in the scripture referenced spoke prophetically about the “Stone” which the Lord God would lay in Zion, I want you to observe the way this “stone” is described.
* First he refers to it as “a tried stone”; secondly, he calls it “a precious corner stone,” and then thirdly, he refers to it as “a sure foundation”.
**Being a “tried stone” means it’s been tested and proven; then as “a precious corner stone” it means it’s the most important stone in the building; while as a “sure foundation”, it means you can stake your life on it.
That’s who Jesus is; He’s the only true foundation upon which you should build your life. (Read Luke 6:47-49).
It matters the foundation upon which your life is built. The Bible says, “For other foundation can no man lay that that is laid, which is Jesus Christ”(1 Corinthians 3:11).
Jesus is the true and firm foundation. Make Him the foundation of your success today by employing the principles of His Word in ALL your dealings and roles in your life. That way, when contrary winds blow against you, you’ll remain standing because you’re founded upon the Rock, Christ Jesus! In the face of adversity and testing you’ll be unshakeable because on Christ, the Solid Rock, you stand.
Rise up and receive the strength that is found in the Lord. He has indeed undergirded you; The Lord is your refuge and your place of safety. Come to Him in faith and obtain all that you need. The Lord is for you and not against you, and He will give you wisdom and direction in every circumstance and every testing. Be strong and of good courage. Stop trying to lead your life. Trust in Gods will, and let it reign in your life. TRUST & OBEY!
Proverbs 3: 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
Let Christ, the Solid Rock, be the foundation and anchor of your life! Be a doer of His Word, for that’s how to build your life on the solid rock. That’s what will keep you standing when all else fails. That’s what will keep you on the path of success and prosperity all your life.
Dear Father, you’ve taken me out of the miry clay, and planted my feet firmly upon the rock, Christ Jesus. Now I know that I’ll remain unshakeable even when the storms of life blow against me, for I’ve been securely planted on the true foundation – Jesus Christ the Rock. Thus, no situation can overwhelm me in this life because I’m not just a hearer but a doer of your Word. Lord help me to Trust in YOU at ALL times, with ALL my heart. In ALL circumstances, disappointment and Testing. Help me when I’m weary and everything seems to be going wrong. Help me utter these four words “I trust you, Jesus” and By doing so, I release matters into Your control and I can fall into the security of Your everlasting arms. Help me Search for YOU as for a hidden treasure and trust Your word that YOU, Lord will be found in and through all testings I go through. Amen
Read MoreWe are made with a perfect design but we need to walk in it! Each of us been given great gifts that we can use for the great works God has called us to. What are your gifts?
People who seem to “have it all together” are often untouchable, because no one can really identify with them.
Instead of striving to be “flawless”, let’s instead purpose to be REAL and point others to the only One who is Perfect.
“There is only One who is good…”
Matthew 19:17
Our true Identity is defined not by our PAST Actions – BUT by the Savior’s.
*In the past on that Cross–Jesus Purchased US by His Blood and brought us into relationship with God the Father, who Adopted us as His Beloved Children.
*We need to hold our heads high and proclaim the Gospel-the GOOD NEWS!
*The Spirit’s work is always focused on the harvest of souls!
What’s Your testimony of what Jesus has done for You?? People need to hear your story-Plus, I believe YOU need to tell it to Heal. “He(God) comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.” (2 Cor. 1:4)
2 Corinthians 5:17 This means that anyone who Belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
*DO we Trust in what we FEEL or BELIEVE what God SAYS?
*God’s word calls us SAINTS(Ro. 1:7)
*God’s word calls us Disciples (Matt. 28:19)
*God’s word calls us fellow Heirs with Jesus Christ. (Ro. 8:17)
*****God’s Word Says to You and Me:
” All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we ARE united with Christ.
* Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
* God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
* This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
*So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son.
*He is so rich in kindness and grace that HE purchased OUR Freedom with the blood of his Son and Forgave OUR sins. *He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding”. (Ephesians 1:3-8)
Let’s be Brave and Transparent enough to share our own experiences of being downcast and wounded.
* Don’t be afraid. God commands us to love, and anytime we love…we become vulnerable. It’s Time to Let Go and let God!
*Here Again “…so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
2 Corinthians 1:4
Let us Move Forward daily.
Life is very much like this. It is often Lived forward, but Understood backward.
It is not until we are down the road a bit that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale and the spiritual deposits He has made in our life as a result.
When you begin to realize some of this, you sit back and breathe a sigh of relief because you Know that God was in control all along.
It didn’t seem like it at the time, but He was there and in control with Your Best interest in mind.
Are you in the midst of a difficult journey that seems almost impossible to continue?
*Be assured that God is providing grace even now to equip you for that journey. There will be a time when you can say, “Wow, look at what God has done because of what I gained through that valley.”
*Trust Him with the outcome of where you find yourself today. Praise Him-Count Your Blessings!
You Are God’s Masterpiece!
Eph. 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
*We are made with a perfect design but we need to walk in it! Each of us been given great gifts that we can use for the great works God has called us to. What are your gifts?
“This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. ”
(1 John 4:10-13)
“This includes you who were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault.” (Col. 1:21:22).
Thank You Heavenly Father that regardless what we have done in our past, You are willing to accept us and work out the necessary changes in us for our own good- Through Your great mercy and compassion, Thank you for extending grace to Us. Help us see how special we are to You. Your perfect absolute Truth in Your word says in
James 1:18 that out of all creation we are Your prize possession. The mountains are so majestic and yet we in Gods eyes are more then even these.
“..And this is the secret: Christ lives in you.(Col. 1:27). Thank You Lord for this knowledge and help us fully understand the implications, we can not be the person we were before. WE are now a representative of God on earth, an ambassador of the Creator. Thank You Jesus for my New Identity to be “IN CHRIST”-which are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Amen
*Read all of Colossians 1 Today-Ask
“what is Jesus saying to Me”? You will be blessed!
Jesus commands us to love as He did, and Jesus proved His Love by giving up His rights, His Will, His desires and ultimately His Life.
*”A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you…”John 13:34
“I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live” -Martin Luther King
Luke 22:44 “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.”
It is interesting that Luke is the only one of the gospel writers to mention that Jesus’ sweat was as great drops of blood. This is probably because Luke was a physician (Col. 4:14), and therefore, this had special significance to him.
Was Jesus trying to get out of His mission? It is never wrong to express our true feelings to God. Jesus exposed His dread of the coming trials, but He also reaffirmed His commitment to do what God wanted.
The cup Jesus spoke of meant the terrible agony He knew He would endure-not only the horror of the crucifixion but, even worse, the “Total Separation from God” that He would have to experience in order to die for the world’s sins.
Jesus’ sufferings for us were more than just physical. In the garden, before He suffered physically, He suffered emotionally, almost to the point of death.
As Luke records, an angel had to come and give Him strength or the emotional struggle alone would have killed Him.
All that Jesus did was motivated solely by LOVE.
*** It was for the joy that was set before Him that He endured going to the cross. **Jesus didn’t do what He did to save us out of pity or a sense of obligation as our Creator.
***Jesus did it because He loves us.
When God blesses us and has given us plenty within his church, sometimes we become complacent.
* God needs “full-service” action.
*** Our mission is to impact the world, not to huddle within the church.
God needs more of us INDIVIDUALLY. Each one of us has different gifts and talents, as well as an individual mission.
In order for me to fulfill my mission, I must take responsibility for my actions. *Each member must be held accountable for their purpose.
* The church is NOT about me, but about doing God’s will (Luke 22:42).
* We must be willing to deny self (Matthew 16:24).
God needs more of us COLLECTIVELY. Christ realized that He was going to be on this world physically, and that He needed His work to be completed with help. Ask someone for help if your project seems to be too much to bear on your own. We are dependent upon one another. Ephesians 4:15, 16; Romans 12: 4,5. Everyone has a gift, and it’s meant to work WITH others.
God needs more of us NUMERICALLY. God needs us to spread the Word. He needs us to work in His kingdom. Though we may have other responsibilities, GOD IS THE ONE WHO’S BLESSED US. We need to be responsive to His work and His will.
We can love one another by sharing each other’s burdens. We have a lot of talkers in the Body of Christ, but what we need are more believers willing to Listen to His Word and Pray.
* “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”. James 5:16
Loyalty is God’s Love in action.
* “A friend loves at all times.”
Proverbs 17:17
*True friends should stay with you through the good times as well as the hard times.
* Love should be acted upon more so than declared. Love does not see the needy and revoke compassion.
1 John 4:16 We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.
*Knowing that God is love is perfect because there aren’t any flaws in God and when anyone receives God’s love then its real, genuine, perfect, and lasts forever!
I love you Lord today and worship you with all by soul and with all my strength I exalt you Father. I am so grateful and so thankful to you Lord for all that you do for me and for how you love me. You love me Lord and I am so happy and so content to know that you love me. You think of me and you care about what happens to me and I am so grateful and I thank you Lord. I give You All the Praise and Glory. In Jesus Name. Amen
“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I lift up my soul.” – Psalm 143:8
Many people find it difficult to think of God as a loving Father. They see Him
through eyes clouded with the pain of past experiences with an ungodly father
or stepfather.
Thousands of Christians do not believe God loves them because their earthly
father abandoned, wounded, or grieved them so badly. I pray that this message
will speak not only to them but also to those of you who have not yet
discovered the depths of our heavenly Father’s love!
“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians
15:57
Listen to how God described Himself to Moses:
“The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in
goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and
transgression and sin . . .” (Exodus 34:6-7).
God, Your Heavenly Father Loves you so much that His only Son Jesus Became a Curse
for you and me!
*Understanding the cry of Jesus from the cross is found in Paul’s letter to the Galatians:
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is
written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree'”. (Galatians 3:13, NIV).
To be cursed is to be “removed from the Presence of God”, to be set outside the camp, to
be cut off from His benefits.
On the cross, Jesus was cursed. That is, He represented the Jewish nation of covenant
breakers who were exposed to the curse and took the full measure of the curse on
Himself.
As the Lamb of God,(even though Jesus Never Sinned) the Sin Bearer, Jesus was cut off
from the presence of God.
On the cross, Jesus entered into the experience of forsakenness on OUR behalf.
God is too holy to even look at iniquity. God the Father turned His back on the Son,
cursing Him while He hung on the cross FOR OUR SINS.
* His scream was the scream of the damned. For US Sinners! What Love!
*Reflect on what Jesus did for YOU on Calvary.
* Give thanks for the Lamb of God who bore your sin.
When we are in the midst of our trials or thoughts of our bad past experiences we forget
what God has said about His
own nature. Yet, if we would only believe Him in such times, we would have great assurance in our souls.
From cover to cover, the Bible speaks to us as God’s voice, revealing to us how Tender
and Loving He is.
He is ready to forgive at all times. “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to
forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).
He is patient with us, full of tenderness and mercy.
*“Great are Your tender mercies, O Lord” (Psalm 119:156).
*“The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and great in mercy”.
(Psalm 145:8).
When you go to the Lord in prayer and worship, be very careful what kind of
image of God you take into His presence! You must be fully convinced of His love for
you and believe that He is all He says He is! “Your Heavenly Father”!
*Only because of Jesus are we able to extend unconditional forgiveness. If we love and
serve Him, He will give us the grace and the inner power we need to forgive others.
* “…for indeed what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in
the presence of Christ.”
2 Corinthians 2:10
**If we want to understand anything about God we have to Study HIS word to
understand His Nature and His Character.
*His word is Living and Active and is proceeding Truth for today.
Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and
put it into practice.”
Mark 14:36 “And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this
cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.”
We are instructed to call God our Father, revealing the kind, gentle, loving nature of our
God. The term “Abba” is an affectionate term that a young child calls his father, which
corresponds to our term “daddy.” It is a term used to express “Intimacy and Affectionate
Fondness”.
*”Daddy” removes the idea of God as a strict judge and carries the image of Him as a
loving Father who cares, understands, and is our best friend.
“Behold what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the sons of God” (1 Jn. 3:1).
*We ARE sons of God by adoption. Jesus was the Son of God by nature.
*** Jesus purchased us and made us adopted sons of God.
**We are not just heirs, we are joint-heirs with Christ.
To think that we share equally with the one who has inherited everything God is, and has,
is beyond comprehension.
Thank You Heavenly Father for giving up your one and only Son, Jesus for MY Sins!
You truly are my Loving Father that has my best interest in mind for your Glory. Thank
You Father for adopting me as Your Son being joint-heirs with Christ. This is True
LOVE!
I am so so blessed each day by You Lord. Help me to share this Great News of Your
Perfect Love with others. In Jesus Name, Amen
“But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians
15:57
I forget at times that God will allow bad times in our lives so that we seek to draw closer to Him, and appreciate His goodness and the value of being unified with Him through Christ.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
In All circumstances keep looking for God’s goodness and keep standing in the Love of God’s greatest Gift to us ALL, JESUS! (See John 3:16).
As Jesus is preparing to die.. He stops .. And thinks about YOU .. He prays for you!
Read John 17 and Listen:
*V9 Jesus says to the Fathers he is praying for those who KNOW Him…
*V15 … He asks for protection from the evil one (satan) .. KNOW satan is real and seeking to destroy you …
*V20 . Again he repeats He is praying for you who chose to follow His name …
Please read the whole Chapter of John 17 and live in peace and comfort knowing Jesus prayed for each of us ..
Thank you Jesus for thinking of me in your darkest hour. Thank you for your never ending love for me …
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Anyone who desires to live for God, reject the devil, and reject the world’s system, must know God’s Word.
*We must study the scriptures, for they reveal the Will of God for OUR Actions and Attitudes.
*To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, we must be filled with God’s Word.
*Knowledge of God’s will is foundational in developing Christian conduct and character.
*There is no way we can fulfill God’s will if we don’t know what it is.
People are tired and worn out because of lack of knowledge and full of ignorance. (Matthew 11:28, 29+Hosea 4:6)
The Word is strong enough to break away or apart any darkness.
*If you focus light long enough on anything, that thing will break or melt away.
*We may all want instant gratification but that is not how God works with all things.
*The light of the word drives out demonic activity.
**We must pray and sanctify ourselves by the word. Take a look at 2 Peter 1:3-7.
“In Him we live, move, and have our being.”
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me. Thank You for empowering me. Help me to stay focused on Your Word and Your plan for me today. Help me to walk in Your anointing so that I can do all You’ve called me to do. Lord, please help us to not just learn your words but to live them. Help us to apply them and change our lives as a result. I bless You today in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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