Devotions - Prayer
IN A STORM TODAY? Storms will come throughout our life time. Some will be trivial and barely even move us, then the hurricane ones come in different categories or sizes if you wish to call them that way.
These storms, though none of us likes them, reveals where we really stand with the Lord.
Yes I agree, that I wish I could do without them, because they really show where we stand, but that is not the case so I have to accept them knowing that what they reveal will only help me.
I can’t even describe how reading this chapter 107 of Psalms makes me feel. *God loves us so much that even when we turn our backs on Him and disrespect Him, all we have to do is just turn to Him and cry out for His help, and He is with us, no questions asked.
Are you facing trouble in your business or career?
*As you read the following verses, be reminded that career people and businessmen here are likened to seamen in ships.
The great waters signify the big world of competition, an ocean of activity.
” Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the LORD’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end.” (Psalm 107:23-27).
***These people are God’s beloved saints.
*They are in awe of His greatness and power, but a storm breaks out that is beyond their control. It is not judgment for sin, yet suddenly waves are swamping them, swallowing up their boat.
They are staggered by problems on all sides, and it looks as if their ship is going down.
***Suddenly they are confused and perplexed: “Their soul is melted because of trouble” (verse 26).
*Many career people have told me, “It looks bad. I don’t know what happened, but suddenly I’m in a mess.” They were able to solve their own problems in the past, and to escape one crisis after another.
*With this trial, however, there seems to be no way of escape. They are mentally and physically exhausted.
How easily we forget that our loving heavenly Father is our partner in our
work, regardless of our career or calling.
*Indeed, nothing happens to us without His involvement. He has power over all our difficulties and He has a reason and purpose behind them all.
*What can you do when your business partner has no advice and consultants cannot help you?
*Where do you turn when your spouse, your pastor, your best friend has
nothing to say to you?
* I am not an expert, but I can point you to the seamen in Psalm 107:
**”“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!”
(Psalm 107:28-30).
Acts 27:18-19 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
The beginning of peace in our lonely hearts is to get the light on in each room of our lives. The light of God will drive out the fear, the loneliness, the unsettledness, the uncertainty, the void the misery that tries to overwhelm our lives.
God never promised us a smooth ride, but He did promise us that He would never leave us or forsake us.(Heb. 13:5)
1.) Take Heed to Godly Council
• You don’t see the end from the beginning
2.) Measure depth of the situation
3.) Don’t jump ship
• God promises a safe landing
• Just because your sinking doesn’t mean your sunk
4.) Let go of your cargo
*Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
*Revelation 21: 7 Those who win the victory will receive this from me: I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Thank You Jesus for the Victory. Thank You for the Peace that is there during our Storms in Life, knowing You are always there with us. Help us to call out to You inALL circumstances! Amen
Read Psalm 91 to find Rest, Refuge, Safety, and be Rescued and Protected!
Read More Talking to God is considered Prayer.
* So take time out of everyday AND all through out the day to talk toYour Father in Heaven.
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
4 ways that prayer will help you:
1. It will help you not fall into temptation.
2. It will keep you humble.
3. It will help you have Determination, Strength, Willpower, and Character.
4. It will help you discover Gods Will/Purpose for your life.
If I asked you the purpose for which God made you, what might you say?
*You might give a lot of answers that required some action on your part.
**However, the simplest answer to that question relates to one primary thing: FELLOWSHIP!
The most important thing God desires from us today is to have a deep and intimate fellowship with each of us.
The apostle Paul said he wanted to know Christ, and by knowing Christ he could experience the power of His resurrection.
*”I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection….” – Philippians 3:10
**So often it is much easier to be busy with the urgent (or even Christian) activity than spending quiet moments before the Lord. Think about it–Jesus is with us 24/7. What would it take to give Him a few minutes of Every awaken hour we have?
Now to me, that would be a True Healthy Relationship rather than taking Only a 15 minute time in AM or PM(which is great)—BUT –to Know and Acknowledge Him and Communicate in and about ALLthings–ALLDAY! This would be FELLOWSHIP! Amen
Sometimes, before we realize it, days have passed since our last quiet time with Jesus. This is the First step to backsliding!
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Jesus understood how important quiet moments were with the Father. “After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone” (Mt. 14:23).
The more mature I become in my relationship with the Lord, the more precious this time becomes to me.
* It is a time I look forward to almost daily.
* It offers me a time to reflect, to share my concerns with my Lord, and to hear Him speak.
** In the last few years I have begun to communicate in prayer during my work, during activities, mowing the lawn, driving etc. which accomplish two things: Fellowship and Prayer. It has changed my prayer life. It has taken loneliness out. It has taken temptations and worldly thinking out, it has……It has….. because Jesus Lives IN me 24/7!
*I have come to understand that Jesus views us as His friend and He wants to spend time with us- 24/7.
*We are depriving Him of His time when we put Him aside for the urgent or just wait till our quit time at home.
*An interesting thing happens when we make prayer a priority: Urgent things seem to wane as we focus on Him. He makes all these other things fall into place.
* ” This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. ” (Psalm 91:2-3, 14-15).
*Are you taking the time to get to know Him today?
Psalms 34: 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
We need a Vision as Joel:
*The Ability to see beyond the natural realm. This Produces Passion.
* If you want to see your Visions come true put a PLAN to it.
Four Components of Vision 1. Think Big—Jeremiah
*Our Vision is limited by our thinking. We have to see God Big.
*Knowing God through the Word> (Book of John).
*Once you know God through His Word, you’ll know how Big He is.
* Knowing God through Prayer. (Ephesians)- Having Conversations with God. *Knowing God through Praise and Worship, Tithing and Giving– (Psalm)
*Knowing Him through Troubles. (Philippians) God can solve your troubles.
2. Ask Big
You would not intimidate God by asking big. All for His Glory!.
3. Risk Big
If you’re not careful in life you’ll get so complacent.
*Aim for Perfection and you’ll always do great.
* Need to learn how to step out in faith and dream Big.
4. Speak to your vision (Proverbs).
*”Your Vision is only as Big as you think It”
*Speak to the dry bones in your life. “Dry Bones Live Again”
*If you speak faith to your vision it will come to life.
**Vision needs to outlive you, let your vision go from generation to generation it’s one of the most powerful things in your life.
* John 14:13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
*James 4:3 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
*Ask with the right motive. *God wants us to spend time with Him.
Prayer is essential for life! This Relationship with Jesus, gives us purpose, provision, joy and peace.
Lord Jesus I invite You in and pray You will be in my thoughts hourly and that You show me Your will every hour so that I may fulfill things according to Your word for Your Glory and my Joy of continuous Fellowship with You. Amen
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
*God’s Love doesn’t just fall out of heaven, It comes through us! We are the Body of Christ on earth, and His hand outstretched to heal.
* “So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” 2 Corinthians 5:20
A LIFESTYLE CHECK
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
*The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and Pointing to the Sins of Others.
**Jesus chose to spend time, not with these proud, self-righteous religious leaders, but with people who sensed their Own Sin and knew that they were not good enough for God.
Matthew 7:20, “Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.”
The way that you can tell whether a person is genuine or not is by the fruit they produce.
*This fruit is speaking of LIFESTYLE.
**Jesus made the point that you don’t get bad fruit from a good tree, and you don’t get good fruit from a bad tree.
*Many people say one thing, BUT their actions speak so loudly that you really can’t hear what they are saying.
If you are in doubt about whether a person is genuine or not, or whether you should receive from them and follow their teaching, “look at the fruit they are producing”.
In evaluating ministries, more attention should be given to the fruit that is being produced.
*Failure to do this could lead someone to reject and even discredit a ministry who simply makes a mistake or is wrong in one area.
*Every ministry has shortcomings, just as every other member of the Body of Christ does. But that doesn’t mean that ministry is bad. Look at the fruit. Are the lifting up Jesus Christ and Him alone??
Fruit is the true test of people and ministries. If people are being saved, if lives are being changed, there is good fruit. Even though the leader may say something bad and make mistakes, the fruit is good.
Therefore, you can say that the tree is good. When a person says all of the right things and may seem sincere, BUT you see the lives of people around them shattered and torn, and in confusion and distress, then the fruit is bad.
Today, make sure that the fruit that comes from your life is positive.
*Make sure that you are making a Positive impact on people’s lives, that you are turning people to the Lord and not leaving them hurt and confused.
** People are looking at you to see what type of fruit you are bearing. Is your fruit full of: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to your spouse, kids, family, co-workers, friends and in your witnessing for Christ??
*Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.
*We aren’t called to be Christians just so we can be happy and content, We are called to be living channels of God’s Love upon this earth.
* “…constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Do all that is necessary to maintain peace in your environment. Subdue the flesh and bind the enemy. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. (James 3:16).
* Only you, can maintain spiritual equilibrium in the midst of chaos.
I give you My peace, says the Lord.
*John 14:27 “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
Father grant me Peace! Peace to let go of what troubles me. Peace in releasing the desires of world and those things that separate me from You. Let the Holy Spirit fill me with the Peace that comes from trusting You. Let Your Divine Peace always be the resolution when you speak to my storm, like You spoke to the storm that troubled Your disciples on a boat. Let whatever or whoever opposes the Peace You have for me hear the same words that You spoke to that storm Lord Jesus. Let Your voice say, “Peace! Be still!”
Lord open my eyes to see those in my life that are not producing Your fruit that I might close my eats to their counsel. Teach me the areas in my own life that need tending to produce. Show me how to grow those areas that they would be blessed to overflowing by You. And may there Be much Fruit for Your Glory and my Joy! Amen
“Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away”.
* Doubtful thoughts DO come, BUT we do not sin until we Entertain Them.
*God does not tempt us; He is holy and beyond any sin. We commit sin when we are enticed by our own desires and GIVE IN to temptation– Instead of remembering our Victory in Christ.
*God does not tempt us nor can God be tempted!
WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY! (John 4:4)
*Don’t Be Afraid—Christ in you is bigger than the Satan of this world- “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
*Always Remember– The Lord–What HE Has done for you!!
*When your burden is too heavy to carry, when you feel like you cannot take it anymore just remember Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!
*The Lord has loaded ME with BENEFITS!
***BENEFITS INCLUDE FORGIVENESS, HEALING, REDEEMING ME FROM THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION AND RESTORING ME LIKE BRAND NEW, HE CROWNS US WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES.
*That is when you will know the joy of walking in repentance.
*Fight For Your Cause–Let your cause ignite a passion in you!
Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.”
*A temptation can be a difficult situation or a pressure.
*Contrary to popular belief, God is not the source of our temptation.
* James 1:13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
OUR HOPE!
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, (Pharisees) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
*The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and pointing to the sins of others. **Jesus chose to spend time, not with these proud, self-righteous religious leaders, but with people who sensed their own sin and knew that they were not good enough for God.
* When we are under pressure, it is important to realize that God is not trying to entrap us. Satan is called the tempter (Mt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5).
Then why did Jesus instruct us to pray that the Father would not lead us into temptation?
*This was simply a request for guidance so that we could be delivered from evil.
Jesus himself was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4, Lk. 4). He trusted God fully for Provision, Protection, and Purpose. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread.
*But as stated in James 4:2, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Both “give us our daily bread” and “lead us not into temptation” are simply requests for what has “Already been Provided” for us.
This part of prayer serves as a reminder to us of God’s promised protection (Ps. 91) and gives us an opportunity to release our faith and appropriate what has already been provided.
“No temptation has seized you but such as is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:13 ).
** The victory demonstrated by Jesus is available to us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). He has given it to you.
*Believe and receive it.
**REPLACE Temptation and Sin with Kingdom Values. (See Matthew 5:1-10)
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” ((Ecclesiastes 12:1) Remembering God does not mean merely thinking about Him once in awhile. It means to relate to Him, walk with Him, discover Him, learn to know Him while you are young.
Temptation is all around us; it is subtle, it is powerful.
*The appeal of the world and the flesh is constantly with us, turning thousands of people away from the truth of God.
*But it gets worse the older you grow. The pressures to conform are greater as you Move Out into Life and business.
How good it is to know the living God, to know that He controls what comes into your life.
* He expects you to make choices; Scripture always encourages that.
* But rejoice in the wisdom of a Father’s heart and richly enjoy what is handed you day-by-day; that is the secret of life.
Such a one “seldom reflects on the days of his life” because God will keep him occupied “with gladness of heart.”
*Yes, Lord. It is so good to know You and be given the freedom to enjoy all that You provide for me day by day.
Come to the Truth of The Word in all things. Only in Truth can your faith be established and exercised to overcome adversity.
The Lord has given you precious promises of victory and the authority to succeed.
** It is of vital importance that you control your thoughts and emotions as you put your Trust in Jesus.
**Refuse to allow Temptation and Fear to gain any ground in you.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.
We that are struggling may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing and share your secrets with safe people. Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets!
Matthew 5:7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. AMEN AMEN
What is Salvation? Deliverance from sin and its consequences.
“To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” Luke 1:77
** Salvation means that you and I must change to become a new creation.
God by His Holy Spirit will change our nature to make it holy. Our heart will be changed so that we will love all people — even our enemies. We will hate sin and walk in the light.
** Salvation means that we are no longer under Satan’s authority.
The Bible says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14).
In Acts 4:12 the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Christ came to save us by shedding his blood on the cross. (Watch “The Passion of the Christ” movie by Mel Gibson for a passionate vision).
Hebrews 9:22 states, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”.
How Can I Receive Salvation?
Step 1: Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Step 2: Come to Him and repent of your sins. Ask him to forgive you and change your heart. Pray a simple prayer with ALL your heart.
Step 3: Read the Bible daily and connect with a church in your community.
(For More– go to movingforwardwithhope.com and read the “Steps to Peace” by Billy Graham).
If a Person cannot get through to God it may be there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up – I will admit I have done wrong, but I no more intend to give up that thing than fly.
*Ones that are struggling– may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing and share your secrets with safe people.
***Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets! Let’s get rid of Pride and be “All IN” for Christ!
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?
*The real Christian person is the one who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
*In John 8:31 Jesus said, “If you obey my teaching …you are really my disciples.”
* In John 17:3 says: To know Jesus is to have Eternal Life!
Followers of Jesus walk with him every moment of their life, obeying his commands and loving him.
*When there is forgiveness of sin, there is life and all blessedness. We do not obtain forgiveness of sin by good work but through Jesus finish work on the cross.
Psalm 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
**What is my purpose/destiny?” – this is it. I’m created for the distinct purpose of being sanctified toward Christ that I might be zealous for good works in righteousness and intimacy with Him.
(Read Titus 2:11-14).
Luke 3:9 we must pursue the things of the Gospel. To be ACTIVE in the pursuit of holiness. to seek the Lord while He can be found!
SALVATION BEGINS NOW
MATTHEW 6:10, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
*His Kingdom comes in us when we allow Him to reign!
*His will is done on earth when we offer our lives to His control, to use us as He wishes in His redemptive work in this world!
We do not have to live a beggarly existence here on this earth and just wait till we all get to heaven to begin to experience the benefits of our salvation. Jesus told us to pray “thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” In heaven, He will “wipe away all tears from our eyes” (Rev. 21:4), so here on earth we can pray and believe to receive “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).
Our salvation is not just “pie in the sky,” but it IS Victory in this present life. Today believe God to start receiving every benefit of your salvation here in this life, and help others to receive what has been Purchased for them also. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven.
It is important as you continue to come to maturity that you maintain a healthy
spiritual atmosphere. I am referring to your own personal environment because you must establish the divine kingdom personally before it can extend beyond you to your family, church and work. The Lord’s work through you will always be an overflow of your Relationship with Jesus and your Obedience to His word.
* It all begins with the first and great commandment and seeking the kingdom first.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and
great commandment.”
*Salvation is God’s thought, not man’s.
*Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience.
*Experience is only a gateway by which salvation comes into our conscious life. Never preach the experience; preach the great thought of God behind the experience.
*When we preach we are not proclaiming how man can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying “Good News About God”!
Lord, Thank You for my salvation. Thank You that I have found my freedom in Christ. Thank You Jesus, for Your death on the Cross and saving a sinner like me. Lord I want to have a deeper passion for you all the time. I want to put You first in all my life. Lord help me to have a burning passion for You. Lord as I partner with You in reaching out to people, I ask for the help and guidance to accomplish what You came to do, and that is to reach the lost. “I LOVE YOU LORD. AMEN!”
Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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1. The Hope Connection: www.movingforwardwithhope.com
2. Moving Forward Initiatives LLC_sign up and receive the 8 Truths To Master Life! www.movingforwardinitiativesllc.com
Read MoreIf you have asked Jesus into your heart, His Love has taken residence there also.
* ” I have revealed you to them, and I will continue to do so. Then your love for me will be in them, and I will be in them.”. John 17:26
What God really wants!
The only way other people are going to experience the reality of our Christianity is by our love. Not everyone sees our devotion to God, but the love we show others is the visible evidence of our faith.
* “But whoever has the world’s goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”
1 John 3:17
Can you imagine what our marriage, families, churches, and communities would be like if more of us were walking in God’s unconditional Love?
* “…they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.”
Acts 2:46-47
Those who look to the Lord are radiant!
Psalm 34:5
*Let God’s Agape Love and Light radiate from within you today!
* “..for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness…But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love…”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
“Come back to me and live”! Amos 5:4.
* ‘LIVE’ is the big word. We will LIVE the life He has for us, the best for you and me.
*Often feeling that I have to take responsibility for my own actions and my life, I forget that when something seems too big to handle on my own I can send it through to Him.
God has offered us His strength to face all life-changing situations. We need to recognize when it is time to do so.
What God really wants!
*God wants our heart–not vain, empty ritual. He wants us to have an authentic relationship with him.
*We need to be mindful of our thoughts and actions and be careful not to fall into a mechanical routine.
* God wants us to place HIM at the center of all we do and all we are!
*We alone are empty shells, selfish, breakable, self-centerd, frail, fragile, hollow!
* And God knows that – which is why he demands and reminds constantly, to keep Him at the Center of ALL we do and in particular, our worship lives, both public and private.
*Without Him in His rightful place, it’s just “noisy ego-music”
” “I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music. When was the last time you sang to me? Do you know what I want? I want justice-oceans of it. I want fairness-rivers of it. That’s what I want. That’s all I want.”
Amos 5:21-24 (Msg.).
*God could not be anymore direct. He wants our righteous living and humble praise. God hit all of us and our ways of worship. Whether we praise and shout or have a quiet and serious service it all is nothing to God without “Daily Righteousness”.
*My worship is empty and hollow if it does not include Actions of justice that are never ending. What is done in the sanctuary must be seen in the streets.
*God seeks justice and righteousness and looks for the same from God’s people.
*Going through religious motions does not matter to God. God looks to the Heart, our Intentions and how we Impact the world.
“Come back to me and live”! Amos 5:4.
God’s Definition of Fasting!
“…. Do you call that fasting, a fast day that I, God, would like? “This is the kind of fast day I’m after: to break the chains of injustice, get rid of exploitation in the workplace, free the oppressed, cancel debts. What I’m interested in seeing you do is: sharing your food with the hungry, inviting the homeless poor into your homes, putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, being available to your own families. Do this and the lights will turn on, and your lives will turn around at once. Your righteousness will pave your way. The God of glory will secure your passage. Then when you pray, God will answer. You’ll call out for help and I’ll say, ‘Here I am.’ Isaiah 58:5-9(msg).
The true purpose of our Christian walk is to freely lay down our lives so God’s Love can pour through us to others.
* “Greater love has no one than this; that one lay down His Life for his friends.” John 15:13
God wants us to be humble, sensitive and yielded enough to hear His still small voice prompting us to show His Love to the stranger, the outcast, the wounded and the forgotten.
* “…Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”Matthew 25:40
Matthew 5:12, “Rejoice, and be exceedingly glad: for great [is] your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”
*Jesus is saying that persecution should actually cause us to rejoice. There are many positive things about persecution but one of the best reasons to rejoice is because of the reward awaiting us in heaven.
Jesus takes the persecution of His saints very seriously as can be seen during the Damascus road experience of the apostle Paul. The Lord asked Paul (then Saul), “Why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4) He didn’t say, “Why are you persecuting my people?” but “Why are you persecuting me?”
*It is not actually us that people are rejecting but they are rejecting the One we represent. Therefore, Jesus promised to share His reward with us. All the glory and honor that Jesus has and will receive will be shared with those who have suffered shame for His name’s sake (Rom. 8:17). What a great reward!
“Come back to me and live”! Amos 5:4.
Matthew 6:31“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
*Jesus is commanding us not to worry or be anxious about our material needs being met.
* We are simply not to be preoccupied with thinking about riches or spending our time worrying about necessities. **These things will be added unto us as we seek FIRST the Kingdom of God.
** Doubtful thoughts DO come, BUT we do not sin until we Entertain Them.
Speak only things that will express your faith, trust, and confidence in the Lord and not your fear about the situations you face.
God, today I give You my all: my hands, my mouth, my mind, my body, my money and my time. Everything I have is Yours. I want to do Your will today and have You Jesus, the Center of All roles in my life, so I can continually Move Forward with You.
Lord, today I make a fresh commitment to be a giver and invest myself, my time, and my money in Your work. Daily help me to: “Come back to YOU and live”! Amen
John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
ARE YOU AFRAID
Deut. 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
This scripture is so powerful. The Lord himself goes before me. Wow!
We are not in this alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me! Wow!
No matter what-God is with me for the long haul.
Do not be afraid or discouraged. Again I say Wow!
We are living in VERY uncertain times, BUT God promises he will go before us, he will never leave us and most importantly do not be afraid or discouraged.
Take heart Christ is returning soon. We have hope!!!!!!!!
Over the past two years there has been this freedom in Christ that I have felt unlike anything else in my life!
I appreciate the opportunity to be able:
* to read the Word of God anytime,
* to pray for my family and friends and even those who do not like me.
I will never take for granted again the reality that we have here- which is a freedom we can have in Christ when we surrender all of ourselves to Him.
I’ve learned that when you exposure yourself to God it’s like you allow Him to peel the layers away from your life like an onion. You start to stink- you become raw- you begin to see where the roots in your life are planted.
It’s OK for all of this to happen.
When we remove the walls in our lives that have been put up to prevent us from becoming authentic Christians it is a painful process… BUT there is nothing sweeter than the freedom you feel during the process and afterwards!
God will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Do you frequently feel lonely, abandoned, left out or neglected?
Have you tried to hide Your emotions and pain with a painted-on smile while deep inside you hurt so much?
BUT God knows your heart – He knows your personal struggles, your temptations in this busy fast competitive world.
For me I had no peace until I surrendered ALL to Him, then I begin to experience a renewing of my mind and freedom from the issues that kept me in bondage.
It was the freedom IN Christ that keeps me from being afraid or scared any longer. I do not have to lie awake at night wondering the same questions over and over in my head.
I know that God is in control and I can face every situation with more confidence.
With every painful emotion that you allow God to take control of comes a renewing of your mind and restoration of your soul.
To help you understand, the freedom you feel in Christ to do all things through Him is as large and wide as His unconditional love for us!!
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Our lives are so short. Scripture says its like a vapor, a blooming flower… here and gone. I want to use the short time that I have:
* to tell my children/grandchildren how much I love them.
* To tell Laura how much I appreciate her and cherish her.
*To tell the Body of believers how blessed I am to be partaking in this journey with them.
* To tell my friends how much I love them. To tell them all to have courage. To not fear. To take strength in the knowledge of their Lord.
Lord-Thank you for the ability you’ve given us to encourage others. You put a song on our heart Lord and you help us to sing that song. Give us vision and strength for the future, but along the way remind us and help us to inspire and encourage those you have placed us around. Thank you for your heart for all of us. That you will never leave or forsake us.
Isaiah 52:12 For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Deut. 1:30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.
Deut 1: 42 “But the Lord told me to tell you, ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.’
Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, and in the path of duty, enables the believer:
* to follow the Lord fully,
* to disregard all that opposes,
* to triumph over all opposition,
* to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.
Embrace the changes, both naturally and spiritually, that will take you on the next leg of your journey.
God loves YOU and You are His Masterpiece.!
Thank You Jesus for Your Perfect Love for me!
Amen
Do we need a Foot Washing?
*We are to help people come to
salvation by sharing the correcting, healing, washing, comforting Word of God.
God’s Love is as necessary to human life as the air we breathe or the water we drink.
* “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God.”Psalm 42:1
God’s Love eternally embraces the poor, the afflicted, the broken and the unlovely.
* “…the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners…”Isaiah 61:1
We are to take up the towel of God’s mercy and go to that hurting one.
* In the special love of Jesus we are not to judge him, expose him, lecture or find fault.
* Instead we are to commit to being his friend. We are to help him come to
salvation by sharing the correcting, healing, washing, comforting Word of God.
“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
If you want to be kindhearted—to take up the towel to restore a brother or
sister—you do not need to know the details of how that person got dirty.
*Jesus did not ask His disciples, “How did you get such filthy feet?” He wanted
only to get the dust off of them. His love for them was unconditional.
Likewise, those who walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ must have this
Attitude of love toward those with dirty feet. We are not to ask for details.
Instead, we are to say, “Let me wash your feet.”
Too often Christians want to dive into all the gory details of a situation.
They come to a believer who has dirty feet, saying, “I want to wash your feet.
BUT tell me, what happened? How’d you get so dirty?”
At some point in the story of failure, the curious comforter realizes, “Oh, my,
this is worse than I thought. I can’t get involved in this.” And after a few
more details, he comes to the end of his puny human mercy.
** He judges the person as too evil, beyond help, and he drops his towel and goes his way.
***We cannot wash feet in a judge’s robes. *We have to take off our self-righteous garments before we can do any cleansing.
Paul says we are to be gentle and patient with all people:
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Paul is saying, “You must be tenderhearted with everyone, willing to wash their feet. God will have mercy on them and deliver them from their sin.”
In a famous passage in John 13, Jesus took a towel and a basin and washed the feet of His disciples. He told them “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).
The disciples were twelve men beloved of God—precious in His eyes, full of
love for His Son, pure of heart, in full communion with Jesus. Yet they had
dirt on their feet!
Jesus, in essence, was saying to these men, “Your hearts and hands are clean,
but your feet are not. They have become dirty in your daily walk with Me. You do not need your whole body to be washed—only your feet.”
**The dirt Jesus mentions here has nothing to do with natural dirt. It is about SIN—our faults and failures, our giving in to temptations.
I wonder how many of us this past week fell into a temptation or failed God in some way?
It is not that we have turned our
back on the Lord. On the contrary, we love the Savior more passionately than
ever, BUT we fell and now we are grieving—because our feet are dirty.
Scripture tells us: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who
are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
The Greek word for trespass here
means “a fall, a sin.” We are to restore every Christian who falls into sin
if there is a repentant heart.
Foot washing, in its deepest meaning, has to do with our Attitude about the
dirt we see on our brother or sister. So I ask you: What do you do when you are
face to face with someone who has fallen into a sin or transgression?
As Jesus served His disciples, He calls us to serve others. He is calling us to see people through the eyes of God and with His love meet their needs.
But how?
(John 13: 3) Jesus was profoundly anchored in the love of the Father. His identity was secure.
We need a radical receiving of His love!
** We need to be Filled with God’s love (our cup overflowing) in order to give others our richness of love.
Jesus was teaching us how important it is to Humble ourselves before one another and also that we are all equal in Gods eyes. He said that we are to love one another unconditionally– this is how we will know the ones who are called and annointed of God. They will be Love.
1 John 2:9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
Jesus, You showed true humility by washing the disciples feet. Jesus, Help each one of us to be more humble this day and follow Your example of Truth and Love so others may be set FREE for Your Glory. Amen
Mark 9:41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
Do not be impatient, God will give you the time you need to achieve the plan He designed for you.
“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven”. (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
There is an appropriate time for everything, the unpleasant as well as pleasant experiences.
* This is not merely a description of what happens in life; it is a description of what God sends. Many of us are familiar with the Four Spiritual Laws, the first of which is,
* “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”
That is the plan that is set forth here. All along, the Searcher is saying that God desires to bring JOY into human experience.
Many people think Ecclesiastes is a book of gloom and pessimism because of the findings based on the writer’s limited view of those things.
The key to reading Ecclesiastes is this term “under the sun.” The futility of life ‘under the sun’ forces us to consider things beyond life on earth.
**“under the sun,” the visible things of life. But that is not the message of the book.
God intends us to have JOY, and His program to bring it about includes all these opposites.
If you look carefully, you will see that these eight opening verses in Ecclesiastes 3, gather around three major divisions that correspond, amazingly enough, to the divisions of our humanity: body, soul, and spirit.
The first four pairs deal with the body:
**“a time to be born and a time to die” (Ecclesiastes 3:2). Notice how this applies to the physical life.
* None of us asked to be born; it was something done to us, apart from us. *None of us asks to die; it is something God determines.
So this is the way we should view this list of opposites, as a list of what God thinks we ought to have.
It begins by pairing birth and death as the Boundaries of life.
“under the sun.”Then the Searcher moves into the realm of the soul with its functions of thinking, feeling, and choosing—the social areas—and all the interrelationships of life that flow from that.
Ecclesiastes 3: 4 tells us there is
“a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.” All these things follow closely, and they are all appropriate.
“No one is going to escape the hurts and sorrows of life” is what he is saying here. God chose them for us!!!
In a fallen world it is right that there will be times of hurt, of sorrow and weeping.
The last six of these opposites relate to the spirit, to the inner decisions, the deep commitments. There is
*“a time to search [for work, marriage, new friends] and a time to give up” (Ecclesiastes 3:6).
There comes a time in life when we should curtail certain friendships or change our jobs, for instance, and lose what we had in the past. It is proper and appropriate that these times should come.
*If you keep doing the same things, you will keep getting the same results. *Insanity is doing the Same thing and expecting different things to happen!
*Change is inevitable, Misery is an option.
If you wanna make some Enemies, try to Change…Some people fear change.
** But God hasn’t given us the Spirit of fear but Power, Joy, Peace, & a Sound mind.
Refusal to change is called stubbornedness.
Truth Never changes. You can’t grow without it.
All of this is God’s wonderful plan for you to Move Forward in your life. The problem, of course, is that it is not our plan for our life.
If we were given the “right to plan” our lives— we would have no unpleasantness at all. But that would ruin us!!!!
*** God knows that people who are protected from everything almost invariably end up being impossible to live with; they are selfish, cruel, vicious, shallow, and unprincipled.
God sends these things in order that we might be TAUGHT!
There is a time for everything, the Searcher says!
The dryness in a Christian’s life comes when we substitute other things for the living water that only Jesus can give. *Anytime a Christian begins to thirst again, it is not a reflection on the living water that Jesus gives, but rather an indication that we have been drinking from some other source.
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.
*So on the good days I rejoice and on the bad days I rejoice. And I trust in His unfailing, never changing
Hand. I will get through and grow through this. I just keep my eyes on Him! Don’t live on extremes!!!
*The good times are FROM GOD, so when good times are here enjoy them as best as you can. They are gifts from God, don’t waste them.
“Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).
*- When you accept Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior, a whole new world of previously unexperienced joy opens up to you!
God knew that life on planet earth was not going to be perfect but that we would experience heartache, sorrow and disappointment during our days here.
To combat those days of excruciating pain, God gave us the gift of joy to lift us above the circumstances of earth-bound living!
*Joy is a taste of heaven that is delivered to those who know Jesus as their Lord and Savior.
* Joy is the ability to experience in our humanity the blessings that the Lord enjoys in His divinity.
When you make a willful decision to partner with Jesus and to submit to His Lordship and authority, you are making a decision to receive joy into your life. When you choose to give your life to Jesus Christ, joy chooses you!
Gods plan is perfect! And his lessons are full of love and nothing else. His lessons and teaching not only prepare us for the joyous life he wants for us they also continue to strengthen our faith bringing us closer to him where we belong!
Thank you Lord for this amazing reminder in Your Word today.
Father, thank You for all the experiences of life that You have planned for me, so that I might be conformed to the image of Your Son JESUS. Amen
Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
We will become paralyzed with fear, negative thoughts without Faith in God, which gives His enabling power to trust and believe boldly on Him.
Isaiah 43:1…. “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.”
” Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see”.
(Hebrews 11:1).
***Faith requires commitment!!!
*Faith enables you to have peace in a trial (Matt 8:23)
*Our faith can help others in need (Matt 9:1-2)
*Faith moves us from self-reliance to God-dependent (Matt 9:18)
*Faith may require action (Matt 9:20)
*A lack of Faith can limit what God wil do (Matt 13:53)
*Faith looks to the future based on the promises of God (Heb 11:1-2)
*Faith has to be tied to God’s word.
*Faith looks at things from God’s point if view.
“So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ”. Romans 10:17
*The word of Christ is the Gospel; Good News!
*We are called to be ministers of the Gospel, not ministers of the law.
(Matthew 28: 18-20)
When we first came to Faith IN Christ, *We trusted that our sins were forgiven.
*We believed we were accepted, that we could lay down all guilt and fear and
say, “I am saved by faith alone in what Jesus did for me at the cross.”
But Then, as we proceeded in our walk with Jesus, we committed Fresh Acts of
disobedience.
*We were crushed by our sins and quickly lost our vision of the Cross.
1 Timothy 1:19 Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked.
*We tried to work out our own righteousness, to win back God’s favor by trying harder, but life then became a nightmarish merry-go-round of sin and
confession, sin and confession.
We sometimes act as if trying harder on our own can save us. We think if we
could just reform this flesh of ours, God would be pleased.
Soon we are constantly working on our old man, to shape him up for a victorious Christian walk.
*Some Christians may say, “I paid a high price for the victory I’ve achieved.
* I went through a lot of pain and suffering.
*I fasted, prayed, and successfully put down all my lusts and sinful desires.
*Is my struggle to obey worth nothing to God?
*Does He consider all my righteousness, all my hard work, as filthy rags?”
Yes!! It is all the flesh and none of it will stand before Him.
*** There is only One righteousness and that is the righteousness of Jesus
Christ!
“For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish
their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God”
(Romans 10:3).
The only way to get into God’s good grace is to “Admit the Truth”:
“There is no good thing in my flesh, nothing in my good works to merit my salvation. I cannot become righteous through anything I do in my own strength. My righteousness is in Christ alone.”
Paul says of the gift of righteousness:
“Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will
reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17).
We are accepted in God’s eyes only by faith in Christ and His work: “He made us accepted in the Beloved” (Ephesians 1:6).
Do you see how important it is to abide in Jesus, to come to Him quickly
whenever you fail? You must learn to run to Him, crying, “Jesus, I have failed
You! I cannot work this out. No matter what I do, I can never be recognized
before the Father, except as I come to Him in You!”
****7 Actions of Faith:
1) Faith Remembers
2) Faith Gives
3) Faith Seeks God
4) Faith Prepares
5) Faith Obeys
6) Faith Perseveres
7) Faith looks to heaven
James 2:22 You see, his faith and his actions worked together. His actions made his faith complete.
*True faith produces fruit, is active and alive for all to see as our witness of God’s love and mercy to the world. *Head knowledge on the other hand, is not faith at all and as it increases (without accompanying works) so does the level of conflict in one’s mind and heart.
**God’s word is not meant to be stored and stockpiled in our minds. It is designed and intended to be taken into our spirits through revelation and given OUT in Truth and Love to those in need.
Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
Only God’s Love can give us the strength to persevere through the painful trials present in every human life.
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me…”Philippians 4:13
Luke 7:50 And Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
*God forgives sins if you seek Him with all your heart. And with much love!
*The love of God and Jesus is unconditional.
* Faith is a gift of God. When grace is released to you it imparts faith. To impart faith to another, release grace.
No matter what the sin is or how long we have lived in sins bondage, when we come to Jesus asking forgiveness, the greatest words from God are..” your faith has saved you, go in peace”
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. 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.”
Ephesians 28-10).
Father God, please forgive us for our sins, for we all have sinned against You, and You alone. Take my Fears and lack of faith from me. Thank you Jesus for opening my eyes to honest but brutal Truth that we need to remember to honor you through all that happens in our lives. Increase my Faith Daily Lord. Help me see that Faith is Your Gift and It’s not about what we do for Jesus BUT what Jesus has done for us!!!
Thank You JESUS! Amen
Psalms 51:7 Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. 8 Oh, give me back my joy again; you have broken me— now let me rejoice. 9 Don’t keep looking at my sins. Remove the stain of my guilt. 10 Create in me a clean heart, OGod. Renew a loyal spirit within me.
“You will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is
light” (Matthew 11:29-30).
I know of only one way to enter into this rest that Jesus is talking about. If
understood and appropriated, this truth will usher you into the most glorious
Peace possible on this side of heaven and end ALL feelings of insecurity.
This foundational truth upon which all others are built is the doctrine of
“Justification by Faith”.
*It is the one doctrine you must understand if you hope to enter into the rest that Jesus offers.
I can only touch on the highlights of the magnificent truth of being justified
by faith. Yet I believe God desires to lead His church further into this divine
truth—to give us a foundational strength that will hold us in the days to
come.
Sadly, when you mention the subject of doctrine, many Christians turn up their
noses. They say, “I don’t want to hear all that deep, heavy stuff. Just
give me Jesus!”
**Yet what they really mean is, “I don’t want to discipline myself or spend the Time to Learn what Jesus did at the cross.”
Too many Christians become emotionally involved with the cross but never really study it.
I have heard many preachers deliver emotional appeals about Jesus and
the cross—about His beatings, the crown of thorns on His head, the spikes
driven into His hands.
The preaching of the cross is about much more than that,however.
It is about the “Victory of the Cross” and what Jesus did for ALL of humankind.
For those who desire to “learn of Him,” who want to understand Jesus’
wonderful work at Calvary, let’ look at this concept of justification by faith a little.
Two things are involved in our justification by the cross of Jesus Christ:
1. First, we have Pardon for ALL our sins. **When Jesus went to the cross, His blood pardoned us from all guilt.
2. Second, we are Accepted by God as righteous in Christ, through faith.
* This means God accepts us on the merits of what Jesus DID on the cross and not because of our works or any good deeds.
*Because of the Cross, God considered everything about Our old flesh-man done away with!!
Paul asked, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”(Romans 6:1) and he continued quickly, “Certainly not!”
I believe Paul was saying,
*Why would any Christian, having been set free from such death, go back and resurrect the corpse?
*Why go back to a life of sin when God wants to take away all guilt and condemnation and give you security and peace?
Now, because of the Cross, you can serve the Lord with joy and gladness and obey Him in a new obligation called LOVE.
*“Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies”
(Romans 8:33).
Obedience in the Christian life is being in the Zone(like you hear about sports figures when doing well). When we live a life of Obedience, we begin to experience the Reality of God like never before.
* Wisdom grows in our life.
* Meaning and purpose are accelerated.
*In the early Church, the Hebrews gained wisdom through Obedience. *Later, the Greeks were characterized as gaining wisdom through Reason and Analysis.
**Today, we live in a very Greek-influenced Church. Many Christians determine if they will obey based on whether the Outcome will be beneficial to Them.
Imagine if the early Church had adopted this philosophy!
* No walls would have fallen down at Jericho.
*No Red Sea would have parted.
*No one would have been healed.
*No coins would have been found in the mouth of a fish.
*Reason and analysis would not have led to making the obedient decision.
Trust and obey. Leave the outcome to God.
“So,” you ask, “are we simply to take by faith the righteousness of Jesus?”
Yes, absolutely! That is what the Christian walk is all about—Resting by
Faith in What Jesus accomplished!
Our old man is dead, and the new Man is Jesus. (Eph. 2:1-10).
When we put our faith in Him,
God fully accepts us. He considers us righteous, hidden in the bosom of His
dear Son. So whenever you sin or fail, run quickly to your Lawyer, your
Advocate. Confess your failures to Him, and rest in His righteousness.
You may ask, “Don’t good works have any place in this doctrine?” Of course they do, but on this condition:
** Good works cannot save you, justify you or make you righteous or acceptable to God.
***The ONLY thing that saves you is your faith in what Jesus did!
**What did Jesus do? He saved you, pardoned you and accepted you in the
beloved—sins, failures and all.
God sees YOU now only in Jesus Christ and that is why we must come to our Savior every time we fall. The blood that forgave and cleansed us the first time we came to Jesus is the same blood continues to keep us until He returns.
Along with this security comes a higher obligation of doing all our works in
His strength and power rather than trying to do them on our own. “If by the
Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live” (Romans 8:13).
The only way to get into God’s good grace is to admit the truth: “There is
no good thing in my flesh, nothing in my good works to merit my salvation. I
cannot become righteous through anything I do in my own strength. My
righteousness is in Christ alone.” Paul says of the gift of righteousness:
“Those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will
reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:17).
The Lord gave His Word to the Jews but they didn’t believe it. Hebrews 4:2 says, “…the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].”
We have been given God’s words too, in the Bible. If we will speak God’s Word in Faith, we will get the same results that Jesus did here.
Today, don’t limit God to barely meeting your needs. If you have enough, then believe for extra so that you can bless someone else. “Let God be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servants” (Ps. 35:27).
Yield to the Lord’s work in you to bring you into order. When you walk in the Spirit and live in the Spirit, you will come under the rule of divine order, which will produce a great spiritual harvest in your life. Be aware, however, that worldly distractions and other interests will compete with life in the Spirit. You will need to put your priorities in order and maintain kingdom perspective, or you will be drawn away from what is eternally important. Stay connected!
Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit
Lord, I believe! Thank You for the good news that Jesus Christ is not dead but alive and that He lives within my heart and has the power to break the chains of sin and the bondage of evil in my life.
Help me to be filled with your love this day and give it away to others in building up others with truthful encouraging words from You Jesus. Thank You Jesus for what You have done in my life. Let me now tell others of what You have done for me (my testimony-Romans 12:11).
Thank You Jesus for the Gift of Rest and Peace I have IN YOU this day!!! Lord, with Easter Coming, help us see Your work on the Cross this year in a Deeper Discerning way and then share with others the True Meaning for Your Glory. Amen
You are the only one who can unlock the door of your heart and allow God’s Love to enter in.
* ” So cut away the thick calluses from your heart and stop being so willfully hardheaded.” Deuteronomy 10:16
**YOU ARE JUSTIFIED BEFORE GOD!
Picture yourself standing before God’s throne with no excuse, no alibi.
* Satan, your legal adversary, is reading off the list of charges, with times, places, every shameful detail. He makes accusations of pride, prayerlessness,
covetousness, unfaithfulness, and your heart smites you because you have to
admit, “Yes, that’s me. I did it all.”
It looks hopeless for you. You know God’s eyes are too holy to look upon sin,
and His justice demands that you pay for your crimes against His holiness. You
are helpless.
BUT suddenly, here comes JESUS, your Lawyer, your Advocate. He stretches forth His nail-scarred hands and you know something is about to happen.
**JESUS smiles and whispers, “Don’t be afraid; none of these charges will stand. You’re going to walk out of this courtroom free and fully pardoned. When I’m finished, your accuser won’t have ONE charge left against you!”
**Best of all, JESUS, your Lawyer tells you He has adopted you as His brother. Then He tells you He is the Son of the Judge so you now belong to the Judge’s family, as well!
But there is still the matter of justice. What about the charges against you?
You listen in absolute wonder as your Advocate pleads your case:
*”Judge, You know that I fulfilled the law, living a sinless life.
*And then I took this person’s place, taking on all the punishment for his crimes.
* Through these nail-scarred hands and My pierced side, blood came forth to blot out ALL of his transgressions.
* All these charges were put on My back and I, JESUS paid the penalty for every one of them.”
Your Advocate then looks at your accuser and says, “Satan, you have no grounds to accuse My child. Each of his sins was placed on Me and I have fully pardoned them ALL.
He is not guilty because his faith in the victory of My sacrifice gives him full pardon. You have no case!”
“NOT GUILTY”!-Yes-“NOT GUILTY”!
As the devil slinks out of God’s court, you can hear the Lord cry out: “Who
shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies” (Romans
8:33).
*The Lord chose you and will keep you.
* When you turn your heart over to Jesus– He says, “Your debt, created by your sin is paid in full and you need not make any more payments on it! Final Verdict– Not Guilty—Go in Peace”!
We have mistakenly given Satan too much credit. He does not have a limitless number of temptations that he can pull on us.
As 1 Jn. 2:16 says, there are three areas where the devil tempts us:
(1) the lust of the flesh,
(2) the lust of the eyes,
(3) the pride of life.
Jesus’ three temptations correspond to these.
By ascribing to Satan limitless temptations and abilities, we have built up our adversary to be bigger than he is. The truth is, “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure.” (I Cor. 10:13).
Satan would like you to think that he is tougher than he really is. One of his greatest weapons is Intimidation, BUT he has been defeated. His teeth have been pulled— Now he can only roar as a lion seeking to devour uninformed souls who don’t know their authority in Christ (1 Pet. 5:8).
“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up”. (Gal. 6:9)
You will find yourself glancing back at past things for a moment before moving forward. However, there will be a temptation to relive old rejections and places of isolation and loneliness. **Refuse to allow these memories to cause you to get stuck in oppression or condemnation.
**The past has no power unless you remember so clearly that you put yourself in the same situation again.
*But, the purpose of looking back is to see how far you’ve come and how much you have overcome.
* Rejoice in this opportunity to take stock before taking the next step moving forward. You are an overcomer!
Romans 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Since Jesus was the Word of God (Jn. 1:1), anything he would have spoken would have been the Word.
Jesus could have said “scat” and the devil would have had to go, yet He quoted the written Word of God three times. (Matthew 4:1-11).
This gives us great assurance that the written Word of God is sufficient for us. Jesus, in the face of the greatest temptations that Satan had to offer, did not need to say anything that was not already recorded in scripture.
It is likely that when Jesus returns to this earth and destroys His enemies, He will just speak the Word that has already been given in scripture. No wonder Satan tries to keep us from studying and knowing God’s Word.
* Even our good works will hurt us if they keep us from really knowing the scriptures.
God has given us this mighty weapon of His Word! When we speak the Word in faith, hell shakes. Satan and his minions have already experienced what the Word can do. They know its power. We need to know it, too.
1John 4:4 My dear children, you come from God and belong to God. You have already won a big victory over those false teachers, for the Spirit in you is far stronger than anything in the world.
Knowing God loves us is the only thing that will give us true identity and security in this life.
* “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…” Psalm 73:25
Lord, Thank You for allowing me to dwell In Your Strength, and Your Power, and Your Might. Because your strength is in me I am blessed! (Psalm 84:5). Because YOUR strength in me, I can do all things! Because I have put on Your whole Armour (Faith, Truth, Peace, Righteousness, Salvation, Spirit, The Word), I am able to stand against the attacks of Satan. (Ephesians 6:11-17). For Greater are You that is in me that he that is in the world.
Lord, As I travel on this journey of life, You sometimes send me up mountains and through the valley of weeping. But You also provide comfort while passing through the valley of weeping by making it a well and providing rain as nourishment to restore my soul.(Psalm 84:6) You provide me direction and protection. You show me your goodness. You give me grace,mercy and glory. You promise not to withhold one good thing from me as long as I abide in you, obey you and trust you. (Psalm 84:11-12). These trials along the journey only take me from strength to strength and one day my journey will end at your throne! Praise Your Name! (Psalm 84:7)
AMEN
If we continue to strive for excellence and integrity in our own lives, then we can only be setting a positive example for those around us.
*God wants our heart–not vain, empty ritual. He wants us to have an authentic Relationship with Him.
*The Primary purpose of Jesus’ coming to this earth was not forgiveness of sins, BUT to Give US Eternal Life which is a quality of Life, the life of God imparted to those who believe on Jesus Christ.
*Sin separated us from God so Jesus dealt with sin. However, His payment for sin was just a step toward His ultimate purpose of reconciling man to God. (See John 3:16).
*Eternal Life is not imparted knowledge, but the reality of God in our lives through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
*We may know all about Him with our minds, and yet miss the personal knowledge of His presence in our LIVES.
* God wants us to place HIM at the
centre of all we do and all we are!
***”The gift of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23).
Acts 19:32 Inside, the people were all shouting, some one thing and some another. Everything was in confusion. In fact, most of them didn’t even know why they were there.
*Here is a great example of human nature. A small disturbance breaks out and quickly becomes a riot. Much of the city is in an uproar and this verse tells us they don’t even know what’s going on.
How often do people jump on a political band wagon or even take sides in the church without even knowing what the issue is?
They simply follow the crowd, mindlessly doing whatever seems easy, cool, popular, profitable.
* How many innocent lives have suffered?
*How many wrong decisions have been made?
“Half-hearted commitments can end in disaster”.
I’ve seen it happen over the
years, in areas of life ranging from sports to marriage, from friendships to
business.
* All of us, at one time or another, have probably been hurt by others who
have made half-hearted commitments.
Why is it important to walk in wholehearted, simple commitment to Jesus?
*Because the things we DO as Christians can easily become the focus of our faith.
*It is all too easy to end up committed to a Christian program or denomination rather than being Committed to Christ.
Listen to Amos. 5: 21 from the Message Bible—- “I can’t stand your religious meetings. I’m fed up with your conferences and conventions. 22 I want nothing to do with your religion projects, your pretentious slogans and goals. I’m sick of your fund-raising schemes, your public relations and image making. 23 I’ve had all I can take of your noisy ego-music.
*Programs and churches can let people down.
**Jesus never does!!!!!
Waiting on JESUS gives me the quiet confidence of His Presence upholding me moment by moment.
” But those who wait on the Lord Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint”. (Isaiah 40:31)
*When an Eagle watches a storm approaching, he waits until it strikes. Then he faces it, spreads his wings, and rises upward through it.
* As storms hit your and my life, our wing power takes us through the storm and lifts us above it.
*This strength comes from waiting upon the Lord. The word “wait” means here “habitually Trusting”.
It’s all too easy to commit to following the Rules of Christianity rather
than being committed to Christ.
* Following rules can become sterile and confining.
**Following Jesus is about “Relationship” not rules.
**Following Jesus brings Truth, Love, Freedom and life!!!
It doesn’t matter how many people you’ve led to the Lord, how many Scriptures you’ve memorized or how many Bible studies you’ve taught; if you’re not fully convinced God loves you…there’s something missing.
* “Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.” Ephesians 4:14-15
I’m not saying that you should neglect your commitments to your church, but
what I am saying is that your Commitment to Christ should be the Drive for your life-long commitment to God!
*** When you become wholeheartedly committed to Christ, all other
commitments you’ve made, become Enhanced and Noticeable.
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. 2 We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus,…..
The number one thing that sets Christianity apart from religion is We have Jesus Himself living in our hearts. Christianity is a relationship, not a religion.
Knowing God loves us is the only thing that will give us true identity and security in this life.
** “Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever…”Psalm 73:25
Father God, thank you so much for Your faithfulness. You never disown me, I am yours always. Father you know my heart and I pray that my heart will desire You more than anything. Thank you for being my shelter and my strength because I am so very weak. You use me when I am at my most useless. Thank You, Jesus for being the One Who understands and sympathizes with us in every Circumstance we experience. Thank you for allowing me to be Yours. Thank You for Your Full Commitment to each one of us. “To Know You IS ETERNAL LIFE”. (JN 17:3). Amen.
Read MoreGod’s Love is the most powerful force in all the universe.
* “Flood waters can’t drown love, torrents of rain can’t put it out. Love can’t be bought, love can’t be sold-it’s not to be found in the marketplace.”
Song of Solomon 8:7
*There is no escaping true love. For if you know love, it can never be extinguished.
*God is Love. So by Loving others we are showing them God.
God’s Love is a freeing love. It allows us to release the other person from our own demands and expectations.
* “…freely you have received, freely give.”Matthew 10:8
Maturity in Christ is not knowing a bunch of Scriptures or going to church regularly. It’s simply knowing how, moment by moment, to continually abide in God’s Love.
* “This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples-when they see the love you have for each other.” John 13:35
* We show love in the things we do and in the way we treat each other. If we in the church don’t show the love of GOD to ourselves then what example do we show the worldly people?
*I want my love for Christ to be reflected in the way I love others, especially people who are difficult to love.
*So many people see love as ‘just a feeling,’ but it’s so much more than that. True love shows itself in Action.
*Love is something that can be seen.
The moment we invite Him to take control of our lives, God comes into our hearts. And God Himself is Love.
* “God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”1 John 4:16
1 John 4: 8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
The 4 Loves:
The natural human loves inspired by friendship (phileo), family (storge), or romance (eros), are awesome blessings from our Creator, but Agape is the only love essential to human survival. Only God’s Divine Love can give us the identity and purpose we need to live life to the fullest.
* “If I have not [God’s] Love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2
The whole Bible is summed up by the word “love”.
*” The whole point of what we’re urging is simply love-love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit faith, a life open to God.” (1 Timothy 1:5)
*Love from a pure heart has no expectations or ulterior motives. It is not living for yourself.
The meaning of life lies in relationship. First and foremost is our relationship with God, and then our relationship with each other.
* “We love, because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips. – Proverbs 27:2
*In our business and personal life, our positioning among those who will know us should be a by-product of our life and service, not an end itself.
*What is your “position” today among your peers?
Do not be afraid! The Lord is at work in your life to bring you to your appointed destiny in maturity. Even when you get off track, you can trust the Lord to bring you back. Set your Heart to pursue Him, and set your Will to never on purpose go back to the world. You did not choose the Lord; He chose you to establish His kingdom(God’s way of doing things) where you are on the earth. Establish His kingdom in your heart, in your relationships, where you live, where you work and where you worship. That is the Lord’s will and purpose for you and me.
1 Peter 2:9 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you -.
*Your Testimony!!!
*When we connect who we are with what we do then we are true witnesses.
* I need to always remember whatever I do and wherever I go– I represent God. *My life ought to reflect Him so that others will see Jesus for who he is (not a misrepresentation by showing them my sinful nature) and so they will come to know Jesus personally.
Father, continue to teach me and remind me this very truth. So often I allow my sinful nature to control me and to show up to others. I do not want to misrepresent you–help me mature in You. My desire is that all would see You for who You are Jesus and fall in love with You. Amen
Read MoreThis is a Big subject. But here is a small bit to get us going.
What is the Kingdom of God?
*God’s way of doing things!
*The Kingdom of God is about Righteous living and supernatural ability to maintain a mind set which realizes the mind of Christ is the resource that supersedes circumstances.
*The Kingdom of God is about LIVING a life of goodness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
*(Matthew 28:19-20 The Great Commission).
Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God does not consist of food and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For the one who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by people.
Less of talk more of action. That is the kingdom we have received from God.
*The world is tired of religion. The world is tired of vain, powerless human ideas and gimmicks or schemes which are not able to change lives. Only God can change lives. Only God can bring a lasting or enduring change. It’s time for us to use what God has put inside us to affect and effect a change in our environment.
The NIV Study Bible calls the Kingdom of God, “His present reign in the lives of his people. That dynamic new life in Christ, the power of the new birth showing itself in a humble life, dedicated to Christ and his mission. Empty talk is contrasted with the genuine power of the Holy Spirit.”
So my life today will reflect the Kingdom of God as I live an empowered life, full of the Holy Spirit and submitted to the King’s rule and reign in my life. When this life is over, will my life be a legacy of words or a closer relationship with Jesus?
Genesis 4:20 MSG. God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.
****1 Cor. 4: 20 For the kingdom of God is demonstrated not in idle talk but with power.
*God equips us with spiritual gifts to accomplish his agenda.
*God’s Way is not a matter of mere talk; it’s an empowered life.
*Christ’s power is revealed by love and gentleness and humility in each of us.
*Lord’s Prayer(Matthew 6:9-14). What did Jesus teach about the resources of the Kingdom in that prayer?
*God’s kingdom is not about physical pleasures or earthly things.
*God’s kingdom is not about the pursuit of the things that will end when your physical life ends – to pursue such things is to conform to the world.
*We are the transformed! If we truly belong to God’s kingdom in heart, soul, mind and strength then we pursue those things that don’t end in this life, but the very things that pull us through to our eternal union with Christ:
* Believers are to experience the Kingdom of God NOW!
“Thy Kingdom come. Your will be done ON EARTH as it IS in Heaven.”
Everything that exists in the Kingdom of God He wants us to experience now!
*Many people will talk about the kingdom of God.
It is nothing but air unless there is spiritual power in our life. The proof is in the fruit of our life – not riches – spirit.
Gal. 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
***The kingdom of God is the reason human history is marching forward.
The entire history of the world is tied to what God is doing in and for His kingdom.
***The kingdom of God is also the most powerful entity on the planet.
**** The kingdom of God has at its disposal the omnipotent power of God. That power can be used to change lives, relationships, communities and countries.
I know it seems at times that we belong to a weak and powerless entity. Satan would want us to believe that, but it is just not true.
I know that at times it seems like the kingdom of this world is winning.
But read the book of Revelation(see Bible Study option below) and it’s clear that we are on the victorious side. What you and I need to do Is believe!
****We need to believe what the word of God says about the kingdom of God. *We need to believe that despite our smallness we have great significance. ****We need to look at ourselves with eyes of faith (the way God sees us) instead of eyes of sight.
**We are members of the most significant and powerful entity on the planet. We are members of the kingdom of God.
*You have to believe the kingdom of God is within you and everyone who believes. God said I put a deposit of my kingdom inside you.
Your righteousness is a powerful force against darkness. It is in faith and righteousness that the kingdom of God is established in you, around you, and through you. Don’t underestimate the victory that comes when you maintain right relationship with Jesus and those who belong to Him. Stay close and continue to seek His face, listen for His voice, and obey His leading. Jesus is establishing purity and peace in those who truly belong to Him and in return we will experience His Kingdom here and now.
* Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Lord I want to live a life identified by Your power working in and through me. What an empty conclusion to this life if the only thing left over is a bunch of Christian conversations. Take my words and replace them with your power in my life. Please make me effective for your Kingdom today by using your Spirit to manifest your power in my life. I want to yeild to your power in my life today. Here I am Lord, fill me with your power! Let Your Word and Holy Spirit fill me daily to Have Action for the lost. Amen
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