Devotions - Prayer
Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 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.(1John 4:7-10).
God’s Love is unconditional. In spite of what someone does or how wrongly they respond, His Love keeps on coming.
* “I have loved you with and everlasting love…”Jeremiah 31:3
The 4 Love’s we have!
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. That’s Agape Love!
* “If I have not (God’s) Love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2
Only as we seek to learn about God’s unconditional Love (Agape) will we begin to comprehend how vastly it differs from human love.
* “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Neither are your ways My ways,’ declares the Lord.”
Isaiah 55:8
God’s supernatural Love is not affected by the other person’s response, nor is it dependent upon circumstances.
*”If you love someone [with God’s Love] you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him. God’s love never fails.”
1 Corinthians 13:7-8 (Living Bible)
Even when you can’t love the nasty neighbor down the street…God can.
* “…for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:8
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
We cannot learn techniques or methods to love like God. Only God is Love, and we cannot learn to be what only God is.
* “I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing.”John 15:5
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.
*”By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”John 13:35
Is there someone you can share God’s Love with today as a result of your faith, and in spite of your feelings?
* “And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
Luke 6:32
Here is how the Bible describes God’s Love:
* “God’s Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, never haughty or selfish or rude. God’s love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”
1 Corinthians 13:4-6 (Living Bible)
Faith, Hope and Love. The greatest of these is God’s Agape Love!
* “Let love be your highest goal.”
1 Corinthians 14:1
The Lord doesn’t choose the way man chooses. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).
Agape is the divine “glue” that can bind us all together.
* “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Colossians 3:14
Even though surrounded by great corruption, we must daily choose to walk in faith, hope, and love.
*”Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report…think on these things.”
Philippians 4:8
God’s love is electric, and when we allow Him to love through us, we become “supercharged” with the radiance of His Life.
* “And it came about when…he was coming down from the mountain…Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.”Exodus 34:29
Love is not a choice. It is a commandment.
* “Now as to the love of the brethren…you yourselves are taught by God to love one another…”
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Fruit is something we can easily see. The evidence of Godly fruit is not found in word, deed, talent, success or accomplishment, but rather in the humble qualities of:
“…love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” Galatians 5:22-23
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
Let’s be brave 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.
* “…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
Imagine what the Church would be like if every believer chose to follow Christ’s simple command:
* “And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way.”
Luke 6:31
God’s kind of love is not self-serving or self-seeking. Agape love will cause a person to lay down his life for another (Jn. 15:13), because he has literally forgotten himself.
Many times when heros are asked why they put themselves in jeopardy to save someone else, they reply that they didn’t even think about themselves. All they thought of was the danger to the other person. That’s God’s kind of love.
God’s type of love involves emotions many times, but it is not an emotion. It is an ACT of the will.
We can choose to love even when we don’t feel like it and we can always conduct ourselves in a godly manner, when we feel God’s kind of love. God’s kind of love is a choice.
God’s kind of love is also the antidote to selfishness and pride. We cannot conquer self by focusing on self.
* The only way to win over self is to fall in love with God more than with ourself. It is in discovering God’s love that we lose self love.
Jesus didn’t feel some emotional sensation when He chose to die for us, but that was the greatest demonstration of God’s kind of love that the world has ever seen. He made a choice in spite of His emotions. Because He was consumed with God’s love, He acted properly, even when His emotions didn’t agree.
Jesus is the ultimate example of God’s kind of love.
As Jesus leads and guides you today, ask Him to show you someone who needs an extra special blessing that you can fulfill.
* “And do not be called leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ. But the greatest among you shall be your servant.” Matthew 23:12
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
John 3:16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him….
* Christ didn’t come to make you feel guilty but to save you because He loves you!!
-Romans 1:16- I am not ashamed of the gospel because it the power of salvation to all who believe.
Psalms 109:26 Help me, OLORD my God! Save me because of your unfailing love.
1 John 4:11 Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.
Today’s focus has been all about Love. My desire is for God to remove everything that does not please Him and replace it with more of His Love. We can not give love away to others till our own personal cup is full and overflowing with God’s Love in us!
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus into this earth so that I can be free. Thank You for opening the door to eternal life. I accept the sacrifice Jesus paid on that Cross so that I can be free. Come into my heart. I confess that You are my Lord and Savior in Jesus’ name. Amen.
May God’s grace be eternally upon all who love our Lord Jesus Christ.( Eph. 6:24)
Learn from you Failures & Trials!
Failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced!!!
Proverbs 19:2 Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good; haste makes mistakes.
* A good reminder that passion does not equal wisdom or knowledge. We have to make sure our passion is directed in the right direction.
*Let’s remember to Pray first and Ask for Godly Wisdom before jumping into new activities.
* As the Holy Spirit does His work in us, we learn to walk with God. We learn what it means to see our work as “His work” and we desire to do it “His way”.
Matthew 22:29 Jesus replied, “Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.
**One of our biggest Failures—- is not to understand the power of God.
Proberbs 17:3 Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the LORD tests the heart.
*We need to withstand the heat while being transformed into something of even greater value.
*Because God loves us, and sees us as valuable to Him, He allows us to go through trials.
If God did not love us, He would not bother with trials because He does not care weather we become better, stronger, more holy….
*The trials of the Lord are seldom enjoyable – but the lesson learned is invaluable, if wisely and patiently endured .
*The theme of scripture is Glory out of trials, pain & suffering. Because God loves us He considers our state, and He is moved because out of love He is driven to see us become what His Son, JESUS has made possible.
James 1:3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
Know that God is up to something.
1. God has a perfect plan for you.
2. God’s plan is always moving forward.
3. God’s is constructive and not destructive.
*How do you know God has a plan for YOU? The answer is –YOU are still here.
*Some things in life you can’t get unless you get down on your knees.
Romans 2:4 Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he(David) became their leader….
1 Samuel 22:2
*Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks at the inward- the heart!
Learn from Failure
Learning from failure and having regret are two separate things.
* Regret is an emotion; a feeling of disappointment along with a modest amount of shame or guilt.
* But to look back at a circumstance and figure out what went wrong gives you some very important information.
This review allows you to evaluate what worked and what didn’t, and more importantly, why.
Often when you are removed from a situation, you can look at it more objectively which will allow you to make better choices to keep moving forward.
Ask for Help!!!!!!You are not alone!!!!
It may feel that way sometimes, but there are many people who would extend their hand and lift you up if asked. Tap into Experience of the Faithful!
* Often times we are afraid to ask because we don’t believe we are worthy to receive the help.
*** Think about this: we are surrounded by millions and millions of people by design – for a purpose. Some have had the personal experience you need.
** A hand to grasp, a shoulder to cling, and a face to radiate hope can help you to keep moving forward.
Joshua 1:9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Think about all the miracles God has performed for you? They haven’t produced in you much faith to help you in your present trouble!
I believe the greatest lasting sign or wonder to the world in these last days is not a person who has been raised from the dead. No,(even though Great) what truly makes an impact on the mind and spirit of the ungodly is the Christian who endures all trials, failures, storms, pain and suffering Daily with a confident faith. People want some of that!!!
Such a believer emerges from his troubles stronger in character, stronger in faith, stronger in Christ—Knowing Jesus is in control!
Ephesians 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone.
God often uses failure to make us useful. When Jesus called the disciples, He did not go out and find the most qualified and successful people. He found the most Willing. He found a fisherman, a tax collector, and a farmer.
*The Hebrews knew that failure was a part of maturing in God.
*The Greeks used failure as a reason for disqualification. Sadly, in the Church, we often treat one another in this way.
This is not God’s way.
*** We need to understand that Failing does not make us failures. It makes us experienced.
***Failure makes us more prepared to be useful in God’s Kingdom — if we have learned from it. Use them to help others. And that is the most important ingredient for what God wants in His children.
Deuteronomy 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.
Father, thank You for Jesus’ courage, which dared to challenge human traditions. Grant that I may see myself and others as You see us–sick people in need of a physician. Lord–I am encouraged that You are always with me. Whom shall I fear with You with me. How can I fail as long as I follow your way. Thank You for All Your promises.
Isaiah 40:29 He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.
Philippians 4:13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.
Amen
***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**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”.
The meaning of life lies in relationship.
Hosea 6:6 “For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.”
*No amount of activity for God will ever take the place of a heart that is right with Him.
I share Hosea 6:6 in a few translations, only because I wanted to see what they
said (besides the KJV above),
* the Contemporary English version: “I’d rather for you to be faithful and to know me than to offer sacrifices” and
* The Message version: “I’m after love that lasts, not more religion. I want you to know God, not go to more prayer meetings.”
What does the Lord want? Relationship!
*God wants our love and our devotion.
*God wants us to be pure and true to Him.
*God wants us to want Him like He wants us.
*God is seeking those that will worship Him in spirit and in truth.
**God wants a lasting relationship, not actions pretending to love. I feel like this kinda goes with 1 Corinthians 13 that with out love, all we have and all we do is nothing.
Hosea 4:6 You have destroyed my people by failing to acknowledge me!
Because you refuse to acknowledge me, I will reject you as my priests.
*Luke 4:4 We cannot live without Gods word.
*Psalms 119:105 the word of God shows us the right path. A light in a dark place. *John 17:17 Gods word is truth.
We by nature are self-seeking, we want what we want for ourselves, for our families those in our immediate circle.
(I am not saying that there is anything wrong with wanting the best for yourself and your family), but we have
to look outside the box we live in sometime and see the hurt and the pain of others and be willing to reach out and touch them with the love of the Father, believe it or not this is the will of God.
*Psalms 119:165 the Word of God brings peace.
Faith, Hope and Love. The greatest of these is God’s Agape Love!
* “Let love be your highest goal.”
1 Corinthians 14:1
* Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you.
The meaning of life lies in relationship!!
*First and foremost is our relationship with God,
* and then our relationship with each other.
*We may each have these relationships or one more than the other, But let’s get a Balance of the Two for God’s Glory!
* “We love, because He first loved us.”
1 John 4:19
When we come to KNOW the Lord we will begin to see that He wants us to truly love our neighbor just as we love ourselves.
Mark 12:29 Jesus answered, “The most important is: ‘Listen, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”
* We are to cry when they cry, laugh when they laugh, rejoice when they rejoice.
* When we really settle in our hearts that we are going to do everything in our power to get to know the Lord things really begin to happen in our lives, great things wonderful, miraculous things.
*Don’t let yourself think that everything has to be just right.
*Don’t allow your mind to tell you that as soon as I get this or that right then
I can really dig in and start praying like I should or start reading my bible like
I should or set aside time to really be in the presence of the Lord like I should.
If you wait for “the right time” or if you wait for “when I get things right” you
never will. Why do I say that?
* I say that because our enemy will see to it that you will always have something to be trying to “get right”.
It truly is time to seek the Lord while He may be found and really get
to know Him and know Him well.
“Lord, I despise myself.”(Job 42:4-6)
It looks as though God has humiliated Job and brought this poor, broken-hearted man down into the dust almost cruelly.
Yet it is not cruelty, it is love—because, at this point, when Job has finally given up trying to defend and justify himself, God begins to heal and pour into this man’s life blessings he never dreamed of.
This is the story of the whole of Scripture, isn’t it? Everywhere the Scriptures seek to tell us this.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,(Matthew 5) the men and women who are bankrupt in themselves, who stop counting on what they have to make it.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
God will begin to heal a life that repents before Him, and He will fill it with blessing and honor and glory and power.
None of the prideful things to which we cling will be worth the smallest portion of the glory and joy we have discovered in coming into a Relationship with God Himself. (To Know Him is Eternal Life…. JN. 17:3)
The Lord doesn’t choose the way man chooses. Man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart (1 Sam. 16:7).
The whole Bible is summed up by the word “love”.
*”But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
(1 Timothy 1:5)
Refuse to allow presumption to cloud your discernment. You should never act, react, respond, or take your next step based on what you assume is truth. If you are uncertain about an issue or circumstance, take the time to investigate and discover the facts. Just because your conclusion seems reasonable does not make it true. And, presumption will plunge you into the darkness of deception. Stay in the light and truth, and maintain confidence in the word as you follow the Lord’s precepts.
* Psalms 19:13 Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.
*David understood that we have faults that we don’t even know about. This section of this Psalm shows that when asking for forgiveness, we should pray for those things that are hidden in our hearts.
Thank You, Father, for this penetrating look at my own heart. How proud I have been, how filled with self-justification with complaints before You. Teach me to put my hand upon my mouth and admit to You that the problem lies so often with me so that You will heal and restore me. Father help me to put You first, again. Even ahead of the things I do for You….especially ahead of that. Help me to make time for those moments where You and I can connect. I need that more than I know. I need You more than I know. Thank You LORD for this reminder/warning. For Your Glory and my Joy. Amen
***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**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”.
“Do not be angry and frustrated!
Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!”
(Psalms 37:8).
James 4:1-10 James addresses the “Root Issue” of all frustration here.
*” Where do the conflicts and where do the quarrels among you come from? Is it not from this, from your passions that battle inside you”? (James 4:1).
“What do you think the Scriptures mean when they say that the spirit God has placed within us is filled with envy?”. (James 4:5).
*When reading James this AM-it hit me that– The same Spirit at work in me is the same Spirit at work in you.
*“For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:18 NIV)
*Did you catch that? The same Spirit at work in me is the same Spirit at work in you. There is only One Spirit. Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit throughout the body of believers to accomplish HIS purpose for HIS glory.
“There is one body and one Spirit, just as you too were called to the one hope of your calling,”(Eph. 4:4).
*Is there another believer with whom you have trouble getting along? Remember, the same Spirit at work in you is the same Spirit at work in him or her.
The Holy Spirit has been sent to be our teacher, but we have to show up at class and expect to receive (Jn. 14:26). He’ll even show us things to come (Jn. 16:13).
“When the disciples saw Him(Jesus) walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.” Matthew 14:26
Have you ever had some unexpected event happen in your life that caused great fear?
*Sudden calamities can result in great fear unless we know WHO is behind the event.
*Such was the case for the disciples when they were out in their boat at night. Suddenly, they saw a figure walking on the water and assumed it was a ghost. They feared for their very lives. But as the figure got closer and closer, they could see that it was Jesus. **Their Fear turned to joy because now they knew whom they were confronting.
This seemingly life-threatening event turned into one of the great miracles of the Bible.
*Peter was invited to walk on the water — and he did just that.
Many times we have events in our lives that appear to be ghosts. For me, it was a period in my life when I experienced family loss, loss of my finances, and my business’s — all in a matter of a few months.
These were the ghosts that instilled fear and great turmoil in my life. Feelings of unworthiness, shame and guilt. But after 10 years in a desert experience, God revealed His true purposes for these events.
*God turned them from being a place of fear, to a place of miracles.
*He led me to a totally new calling in my life, and He demonstrated to me that He was behind the storm that led to these new discoveries. God never left me—He was Leading me into a deeper Relationship with Him.
* The events were real. The emotions I went through were real. I had to hold fast to the reality that Nothing can touch us without passing through God’s sifter.
***Through all this I now have the Faith and Trust that what God allows, is only that which is necessary to touch us. And if it does, it has a Purpose. But we may not know it for a while.
Are there some “ghosts” in your midst? Look beyond the appearance and let God turn your ghosts into a miracle!!!
God said to Moses, “I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his officials so that I may perform these miraculous signs of Mine among them that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed My signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord” (Exodus 10:1b-2).
God has a reason for everything He does.
These delays were designed to bring greater Glory( a display of God’s perfection–Jesus IS the Glory of God) and were to be a lasting legacy of God’s miracle-working power for generations to come.
When the people were freed, God again hardened Pharaoh’s heart to go after them. This action of God to harden Pharaoh’s heart was to set the stage for an even greater miracle — the parting of the Red Sea.
*The people were angry with Moses for bringing them to the desert “to die.” But God said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to Me? Tell the Israelites to move on” (Ex. 14:15b).
There was only one place to go by this time — the Red Sea.
As we know, God parted the Red Sea, and another greater miracle took place.
Moses learned several lessons that each of us must learn.
* God’s Promises are True, but His timing is not the same as ours.
* God always wants Greater Glory than what we might be willing to give Him. * * God puts obstacles and adversity into our lives in order to build perseverance and faith.
Why has God put the mountain in your life at this time?
***To demonstrate His power through your life. To show His glory!!!! Jesus!
When we become Christians, our identity changes forever as we become identified as “Children of God”.
*Our value no longer depends on things like athletic skill, beauty, brains, or the opinions of others, because it is rooted in Christ.
*When we understand His work on the cross and accept His love, we can weather challenges to our identity on earth.
* Our “True identity” is as a perfectly loved and accepted child of the living God!
*Allow God to direct your mind, your life, your heart, your all.
*God wants to move US from wanting for my pleasure to wanting for His glory.
* God is committed to your development.
*Don’t be ashamed of the hole God dug you out of. Talk about where you came from and save a soul. “Your Testimony”
” Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”. (Romans 5:1).
Verse that explains our Antidote to frustration:
“You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world”.(1JN 4:4).
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near the brokenhearted; he delivers those who are discouraged.
Isaiah 41:10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you – yes, I help you – yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!
Your Love for each of us is SO amazing God and I thank You for showing me it in Your word trough the Holy Spirit. Thank you for choosing to give us knowledge but also for giving us free will to fully accept and love You as our Heavenly Father giving us that Peace.
Lord, today I claim the victory I have in you. I have faith that I am victorious because You live in me. Amen
***Jan. 24 at Christ Church at 7PM will be an informational meeting to kick off our NEW Moving Forward Group. Come for a great night of testimonials of “what God is doing in and through individuals.
**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”.
Worship that is fresh, leads to a witness that is faithful.
Psalm 96:1-2 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day.
God is righteous, and we are born sinners. He gave us an opportunity to be saved, and we need to grab a hold of the opportunity. We must share this salvation. We can’t build friendships just to share the Gospel. We can’t wait, as it needs to happen now.
God calls us to be fresh in our worship. * “Song” speaks of worship.
* Our mind is in AWE of God
* Our heart is in LOVE with God
* Our will is SUBMITTED to God
*** “New”= Fresh
**** God wants a FRESH WORSHIP!
God commands us to be faithful in our witness.
*Worship 1st/Witness Second
*If we praise Him, we will proclaim Him
* Believers are commanded to witness by:
*Verbally speaking
*Visually showing
*Generously sharing.
God exhorts us there to express our praise to Him in various ways. In particular, He says that we are to “sing to the LORD a new song.” God never wants His praise to become old, to become stale, to become just a matter of ritual and routine.
In the New Testament, the apostle Paul writes to Christians in the epistle to the Ephesians. He speaks about three different ways in which we can bring praise and worship to God.
He speaks about psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.
1. Psalms, I understand to mean, are those which are recorded for us in the inspired words of Scripture.
2. Hymns are the great traditional songs of the Christian church which have been consecrated by age and usage and which express our faith and our worship.
3. But there are also spiritual songs. I believe that’s what the psalmist speaks about when he speaks about a “new song.” That’s not something that’s written down in advance. That’s something that’s Given to us spontaneously by the Holy Spirit just as we enter God’s Holy Spirit and begin to worship Him, just as we recognize some new facet of His salvation. So the Holy Spirit gives us a new song. It’s a spontaneous response to a fresh revelation of God’s ongoing salvation.
How does the Psalmist say to represent Him among the nations? By telling two things.
1). His Splendor
2). His amazing deeds
So what does this mean for us? It means two things.
1). It means we need to corporately be worshipping God together, experiencing Him, knowing Him,
2). and it means we need to be telling the “nations” (the unbelieving) about how great He is and what He has done. Scripture says “His amazing deeds”–during the Psalmists time, those deeds are recorded in Scripture: the plagues in Egypt, the deliverance of Israel from Egypt, miraculous wins in battle, enemies being swallowed up, people being healed, people being killed, fire falling from heaven and consuming sacrifices…the list goes one.
But for us, His most amazing deed would in fact be the death and resurrection of Christ, that God’s own Son, through whom all things were created, should die in our place, and then rise again, and THEN bestow within us the Holy Spirit that we might be indwelt by God’s Spirit. Those are pretty amazing deeds. I wonder what the Psalmist would have said to that?
We are so Blessed!!
Lord help me to live my life in a constant awareness of God and who he is and what he has done.
God, help me to lie totally for you, aware of you and thankful for all you are and all you do. Thank You LORD for saving my soul and for revealing in me your glory! I will decare You among the nations! Amen
God’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
“Spiritual Abundance” God promises in His word!
*To be a follower of Jesus, I must be a student of Jesus.
The Bible says we are to love God and one another, but many Christians have little or no idea how to do that.
* “…for the wishing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not.”
Romans 7:18
Before us stretches a new year, a new beginning. The old is past, put away forever.
God invites us always to forget about all the distrust and fears, all the anxieties of the past, all the resentments we have been holding against others, all the grudges, all the criticisms–to put them away and begin again.
The question that hovers over us is,
“On what basis am I going to live in this new year?
* Will it be on the old basis of it-all-depends-on-me, do-it-yourself goodness before God, trying my best to be pleasing to God and meaning it with all my heart but never realizing the depths of evil with which I have to deal?”
* Or will I accept the gift of God that is waiting for me every day, fresh from His hand, a gift of forgiveness, of righteousness already mine, of a relationship in which He is my dear Father and I am his cherished, beloved son, and in which He therefore have provided for me all I need, all day long, so that I may say no to evil and yes to truth and right?
Will it be on that basis? If it is, this will be a year in which my life will be characterized by peace, fragrance, and beauty. And so will yours.
Either Christ completed all that was necessary for your salvation, or he did not!
If Christ did finish it, then rest in him and be glad, and say, “I am secure forever because my salvation is finished.
I have nothing to do but to live to the honor of Christ who has completely saved me by His Grace, His blood, His righteousness.
****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
Rejoice and be glad for the Lord has wonderful plans for you fulfilling His eternal purpose through you!
* ” Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 43:19
*****Psalms 119. A Balance in Life!
verses 1-24
*The way of blessing is the way of obedience (1,9,11,17).
Many will choose the way of disobedience – ‘influential people sit together and slander me’. We must choose the way of obedience –
‘Your servant will meditate on Your teachings’(23). Following Jesus Christ will not be easy.
We see many people turning back from following Him. We are tempted to join them. We feel the pull of the world. We must not take our eyes off Jesus. We must not return to the world’s way of living.
**We must remember all that Jesus has done for us – ‘He loved us and gave Himself for us’(Galatians 2:20) – and recommit ourselves to following Him:
verses 25-48
***‘Revive me according to Your Word’(25).
How does God revive us according to His Word?
* He gives us His salvation: ‘Let Your unfailing love come to me, O Lord – Your salvation according to Your Word’(41).
* He gives us His strength: ‘My soul is weary with sorrow. Strengthen me according to Your Word’(28).
*He gives us a change of heart: ‘I have chosen the way of truth; I have set my heart on Your laws… I run in the path of Your commands, for You have set my heart free… Give me understanding, and I will keep Your law and obey it with my whole heart… Turn my heart to Your testimonies…’(30,32,34,36).
* He gives us ‘new life’: ‘When someone becomes a Christian he becomes a brand new person inside. He is not the same anymore. A new life has begun!’(40; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
verses 49-72
***God’s Word makes such a difference! When everything seems so hopeless, we turn to God’s Word and we find that there is ‘HOPE’(49).
When we are going through a time of terrible ‘suffering’, we turn to God’s Word and we find ‘comfort’(50,52).
When everything seems to be going so badly, we must keep on reading the Word of the Lord: ‘The wicked have laid a trap for me, but I do not forget Your law’(61).
**Through His Word, God is teaching us to see His purpose in our sufferings: ‘The punishment You gave me was the best thing that could have happened to me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your laws’(71).
* God is showing us what is really important: ‘The law that You gave means more to me than all the money in the world’(72).
*He is teaching us to see His ‘love’ in every part of our life (64).
verses 73-96
***We rejoice in God’s ‘constant love’. This is our ‘comfort’- God keeps on loving us no matter what’s going on in our lives.
We may be going through really hard times – ‘Men persecute me with lies… They have almost succeeded in killing me’. There’s one thing that never changes – God’s ‘constant love’.
* He loves us in the hard times as well as in the happy times.
* His love inspires us to keep on loving Him when we feel like giving up in despair (76,86-88).
We see many changes taking place in our world.
Sometimes, we wonder, ‘Where is God in all of this? Has He abandoned us? Can we keep on trusting Him and rejoicing in His Word?’.
** When our minds are full of negative thoughts, we must remember God’s Word – ‘Your Word, O Lord, will last for ever… Your faithfulness endures through all the ages’(89-90).
verses 97-120
***Throughout life, we have to make choices.
Some choices are relatively straightforward. Others are very much more difficult. Some choices don’t affect the rest of our life very much. There are, however, choices which affect the whole of our life.
There is one choice which is more important than any other -** Choosing the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour. *Those who refuse to choose are ‘double-minded’(113). They can’t make up their mind. They know that they should be following Christ – but they are still ‘in love with the world’. They are ‘lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God’(I John 2:15; 2 Timothy 3:4).
Make your choice. Say to the world, ‘Away from me, you evildoers, that I may keep the commands of my God’. Say to God, ‘I have decided to obey Your laws until the day I die’(115,112).
verses 121-144
**‘The entrance of Your words gives light’(130).
The Word of God brings LIGHT into our lives. Sadly, many people ‘love darkness rather than light’.
* They refuse to ‘come to the light’. *They prefer to remain in the darkness. *They refuse to listen to what God is saying to them through His Word.
**Then, when things are not going so well for them, they blame God.
*They say, ‘It’s all Your fault’! Things could have been so different. They could have learned to spend time with God. They could have learned the lessons of faith which are found in God’s Word. They could have learned to cope with life’s difficulties. They could have been filled with the strength of the Lord. They would not be complaining against Him. They would be rejoicing in Him: He has ‘called us out of darkness into His marvellous light’(1 Peter 2:10).
verses 145-176
***‘With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord!’(145).
God is calling us to PRAY. There is nothing more important than this.
If other things have become more important in our lives, we need to think about the way we are living. God wants to send His blessing into our lives: ‘Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you’(Matthew 7:7). His blessing will come to those who seek him with their whole heart: ‘You will seek Me and find Me when you seek me with all your heart’(Jeremiah 29:13).
* If we do not ask, we will not receive: ‘You do not have, because you do not ask’(James 4:2). God’s blessing is not given to those who are half-hearted. God is calling us to love Him with our whole heart: ‘I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your law is my delight’(174).
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. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
* God has given us his word to use not just to have. We use it to show truth and expose lies, to show us when we have wondered off and how to get back in line with God. God uses his word to instruct us what we are to do on a daily basis.
** How can I, or anyone, say they live a life for God and lead by God, but do not spend time in his word daily.
I must be in his word, seeking what He desires of me constantly. Without that I am alone in my decisions and that is what gets me off his path and on my own path.
***To be a follower of Jesus, I must be a student of Jesus!!!
Father, your word is what I need in order to follow you and bring Balance to my life. Help me to Use your word daily in my life so I can stay on your path for my life and not wander off. Help me to understand your word and gain wisdom from it and share with many others for Your Glory and my Joy. May 2012 be a year of “coming back to Jesus”(a deeper personal Relationship) for ourselves, our families, our cities, our states, our nations, our World. Amen
Read MoreI encourage everyone to take the closing day of the year to plan how you are going to read the Bible in the new year. Don’t leave it to chance. One of the main reasons we don’t read God’s word is that we don’t plan to.
We must not only be “hearers” of God’s Word, but “doers” also. When God brings someone to mind, be sure to follow through with whatever He tells you to do for that person.
“Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead…”James 2:17
So-Thank you for providing such generous support this past year. As you have given, you have had a part in every life that has been changed, every soul saved, and every family strengthened through the touch you have provided.
In the coming year, we also want you to know that we will be here for you and your loved ones . . . to strengthen, to teach, and to encourage you to love Jesus more deeply and to serve Him more. It is a privilege for us to be connected with you.
“The Hope Connection”
Our web: movingforwardwithhope.com
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
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
Satan’s greatest weapon is deceit.
Anytime Satan’s oppression is present, God’s presence IS there too (Heb. 13:5).
It’s just a matter of where our focus is. Focusing on the devil is a trick of the devil. Choose to focus on God!!!
Paul’s IDENTITY was not based upon himself, but upon the person of Jesus Christ. Each and every day we must remind ourselves: It’s not I…but Christ.
*”For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” Philippians 3:20
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
“Then Elimelech, Naomi’s husband, died; and she was left, and her two sons. Now they took wives of the women of Moab: the name of the one was Orpah, and the name of the other Ruth. And they dwelt there about ten years. Then both Mahlon and Chilion also died; so the woman survived her two sons and her husband.” -Ruth 1:3-5
Naomi’s life was going well (read Ruth 1:3-5). A great husband. Two fine sons who had two wonderful wives. Then the unthinkable happened. Her husband died. A little time later both her sons die. Her and her daughter-in-laws find themselves in the midst of shattered dreams. This isn’t how life was supposed to be.
How did Naomi react to her situation?
“…for it grieves me very much for your sakes that the hand of the Lord has gone out against me!” (Ruth 1:13)
Ah, we see her true feelings about the situation. “How could a loving God let this happen?!”
“Do not call me Naomi; call me Mara, for the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went out full, and the Lord has brought me home again empty. Why do you call me Naomi, since the Lord has testified against me, and the Almighty has afflicted me?” (Ruth 1:20-21)
Mara means bitter. She knew where she was. She was bitter toward this so called God of love. “How can I possibly reconcile this?!”
No life insurance. No widow’s fund. “What is going to happen to me and my daughters?”
The Bible says the rain falls on the righteous and the unrighteous. Naomi and Ruth move to a community where some of her relatives lived. Ruth goes out to work in the fields to put food on the table. She just so happens to work in the field of a wealthy farmer named Boaz.
When Ruth tells her this the first ray of hope penetrates her bitter heart. Even she can recognize the hand of God.
So she told her mother-in-law with whom she had worked, and said, “The man’s name with whom I worked today is Boaz. Then Naomi said to her daughter-in law, ‘Blessed be he of the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead!'” (Ruth 2:19-20).
Hebrew custom was for the next in kin to care for the widow in the family.
Boaz was to be this man. He would eventually marry Ruth. She would bare a son, Obed. He would be the father of Jesse, the father of David. Jesus would come from the same lineage.
Shattered dreams often lead to a world-impacting destiny. But getting there is often a process where we must work through honest feelings before we can see the God who redeems even the most devastating shattered dream.
** I have learned, a true follower of God is one who just sticks to the word. Read it, study it, meditate on it, then speak the WORD.
** I was not placed here to debate, but to speak the Holy Spirit inspired words of God.
** Anyone who is looking for Truth will see God’s word is Truth.
** Everyone else, to speak and debate with them is like throwing pearls before swines.
* Let us follow Christ on ‘the narrow road which leads to life’(Matthew 7:13-14).
The fulfilling of God’s dreams involve our actions – primarily serving God in all circumstances.
* The choice is ours. You can allow other things to become more important than spending time with God.
Don’t be ‘too busy for the “One” thing that is more important than anything else – listening to God’s Word (Luke 10:41-42).
Once again, thank you so much for all you have done and all you continue to do. May 2012 be a year of break throughs in Jesus for you and me while giving Jesus ALL Praise and ALL Glory!
Amen
* The temptation to run away from stress, worry and fear should never win out.
*How can we do this when stress, worry and fear come? By desperate prayer and particular promises. Go to the Bible and look for the “I wills” and the “I shalls” of God.
*Cry out to Jesus. Then ransack the Bible for His appointed promise. We are fragile. But he is not.
*Instead of sinking into a paralysis of fear, or running to a mirage of greener grass, God will awakened our sincere cry for help and then answer with a concrete promise from His Word.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:5-8).
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.
“It is better to be of a humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.” Proverbs 16:19
*Our problem with fearing God is usually a problem with recognizing how weak we really are and how GREAT God really is!!!
*To not fear God may just be one of the most terrifying things ever.
*When you have a healthy fear of the greatness of God and what He’s capable of and then realize He’s With You….tell me what can’t you do? Cry out to HIM!
*A holy respect for God combined with a realization that he’s for you not against you, will cause you to be Totally for God and Obedient to Him.
Let’s be brave 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.
* “…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
THE ROOT OF FEAR keeps us from sharing our past experiences to others which, as we have learned is the way to heal personally.
“ Get rid of your sins, and leave all iniquity behind you. Then your face will brighten with innocence. You will be strong and FREE of FEAR. You will forget your misery; it will be like water flowing away. Your life will be brighter than the noonday. Even darkness will be as bright as morning. Having hope will give you courage. You will be protected and will rest in safety. ” (Job 11:14-18).
*All fear can be traced To a spot Of SIN and Secret iniquity Harbored in a man’s heart.
*He has the power in his hand To put it away. (Do not surprise the Truth. Romans 1:17 and on–But Renew your mind Romans 12:1-5)
Despising the riches of God’s grace,
His . . . forbearance and longsuffering,
He continues in his evil way, Allowing in his own life What he condemns in others, Becoming a law unto himself.
He seeks to be God’s favored exception
To escape wrath and tribulation.
But God is no respecter of persons,
Judging ALL alike, Promising glory, honor and peace To those who put evil away.
***And then he shall lift up his face without spot. He shall be steadfast And shall NOT FEAR, For only where SIN lies at the door Is man afraid.
**Remember: The enemy lies to us to make problems Appear Bigger than the solutions we carry! (We have Victory in Jesus. 1 John 4:4).
**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.
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’ who are struggling with sin have not recognized that they are dead unto sin.
You have been in a time of old things coming to an end. And, even though you cannot see ahead to know what is coming, you can trust the Lord to continue to shut the doors that need to be shut and to open the doors that need to be opened. Do not Fear, for the Lord is with you to bring you into divine purpose and destiny, and He will fill the void in your heart and any sense of emptiness that has resulted from changes that are taking place or need to take place. Put your trust in the Lord. Do not Fear!
**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.
Release yourself from the bondage of Fear, Stress and Worry. When your faith is in JESUS, He will carry you in the flow of His Spirit. But, you must not hang on to the things of the world or put your trust in natural things.
Your Faith is vital to your success in any endeavor, and you must put it to work by Actual Belief and not just hope. Jesus is looking for a people who have a strong and working faith whose Actions demonstrate His kingdom. Keep Moving Forward!
***Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
God is willing to remove all that guilt and shame from us when we simply reach out to Him and cleanse ourselves by refusing to sin.
I know that refusing sin sounds like an impossible task, but the Holy Spirit will be with you. He’ll guide you away from places you shouldn’t be as well as guide you in rough situations. God will become real in your life, and others will see a change in you and want that which you have.
*We need a true yearning for Jesus, and mourning, a brokenness and weeping with godly sorrow for Sin in our lives. Only after such dealings of the Spirit will the true blessing of joy come!
Our Relationship with Jesus MUST define who WE are!
All of this starts by Us accepting God and receiving the Holy Spirit to guide our lives. COME LORD JESUS-Come! Lord, I don’t have the discipline needed for Your Holy Work. You have to give it to me! Give me Your burden for lost souls; put Your weeping Spirit in me. You are my only hope, so I surrender and turn totally to You. I’ll do anything You tell me and I will depend on You for everything! Amen
* “Love…does not seek its own…”
1 Corinthians 13:4-5
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. (Luke 2:…10)
The Birth of Jesus.
Luke 2:1-20
It’s a familiar story. A young Hebrew teenager is told by an angel that she has been chosen by God to bear a very special child.
Her fiancé threatens to cancel the wedding.
The same angel interrupts his plan. She visits her relative Elizabeth, who is much older and also pregnant.
She returns to Nazareth to wait for her child’s birth, only to be required to make the ninety-mile journey to Bethlehem close to her due date.
With no room in the inn, she gives birth in a manger and uses an animal feeding trough as a bassinet.
*A strange story? Yes.
*A story full of surprises? Yes.
*A story that affects us today? Another yes!
This little baby – JESUS – was a gift to all humankind. Our Healer. Our Savior. Our Lord.
**No story is more beautiful, more astounding, more life-changing. The little baby born in a stable was God’s Son!!!
The birth of Jesus on Christmas is the fulfillment of a prophecy that God promised throughout scripture.
*The Miracle:
1. Born of a virgin named Mary, Jesus was fully God and fully human.
2. God becoming flesh. Matthew 1:22-23. It’s amazing to know that the God of the universe came to us in the form of baby born in a manger (Luke 2:5-7).
*The Meaning:
1. Peace on Earth – John 14:27. If you want peace, you need to receive God’s greatest gift.
*The peace Jesus brings is inside of us, in spite of or circumstances not because of them. Christmas is about Hope
Where do you put your hope, job, career, people, family, money? The only place where our hope should be put is in Jesus. Everything else will let you down.
2 God’s Favor – “…goodwill towards men on whom his favor rests.” All have sinned and fallen short of God’s Glory. But his greatest gift is SALVATION through his Son, Jesus.
*The Message:
***Receiving IT – Unless we receive “GOD’S GREATEST GIFT”, it does us no good!
Although Jesus was fully human, He never sinned. His death on the cross, as a perfect sacrifice, bought OUR freedom so WE could become the sons and daughters of God the Father.
** As followers of Christ, we are heirs of God’s glory (Romans 8:15-17).
“The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:11
*The angels used 3 words to describe the New Born that will bring Great Joy to ALL people!!
*The Savior: Roman term that referred to an emperor who delivered his people from oppression and harm.
*The Messiah: Reference to O. T. Promises of a God. A given Leader and deliverer, translated “Anointed One”.
*The Lord: Title meaning “master” or “ruler” used of God from the very beginning of Hebrew Bible (150 times in Genesis alone).
If you know the Lord Jesus, YOU HAVE the greatest gift God can give to a person. Out of the richness of your life you will find yourself gladly sharing from all that you have with those who have less, that there may be the ringing out of joy and thanksgiving in a season like this.
***What are you giving Jesus this year for his birthday?
“Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased.” Luke 2:14
THANK YOU GOD, FOR THE WONDERFUL GIFT OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.
AMEN
Merry CHRISTmas everyone!
“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17
God won’t overlook any act of loving kindness.
* “For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints.”Hebrews 6:10
As we all have experienced Christmas can be crazy!!!!
Read Luke 2:1-20
Luke helps us rediscover what Christmas is about!!!!
***Christmas is about Christ!!!
*We can forget this in the hustle of this time of year.
*There was no room for Jesus that night (is there room in you for Jesus)
*We need to make an effort to always make room for Christ everyday in our lives.
You are entering a season when you will be able to gain new perspective and perhaps see a theme as the details begin to come together in a comprehensive overview. It would be a mistake to give the temporary details of your life more significance or power than they deserve. In the long run what really matters is your spiritual relationship with the Lord, and not the natural things that distract you from that which is really important. Maintain a positive outlook as you continue to progress in spiritual reality.
** Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.
****Christmas is about Peace!!!!
*Attitudes seem to be improved during Christmas seasons.
*The peace Jesus brings is inside of us, in spite of or circumstances not because of them.
Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
*****Christmas is about Hope!!!!
*Where do you put your hope, job, career, people, family, money? The only place where our hope should be put is in Jesus. Everything else will let you down.
Psalm 33:22 Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in you alone.
*The battle is not our own, the battle belongs to the Lord.
He is our rock and our fortress. He is our hope in times of need. He is our victory. So wait for it and put your hope and trust in God. His love endures forever.
Original Sin entered the world through the disobedience of Adam(Genesis 3:6) and all mankind afterward was born with sin and the knowledge of good and evil.
Romans 5:15 But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16 And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 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.
What a Perfect Gift we Have been Given!!!
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. 7 His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.
Isaiah uses a long list of names to predict the birth of Christ.
*****Each of Jesus’ name have both a human element and a divine element.
*Wonderful Counselor: means counselor who does the miraculous.
*Mighty God: means God warrior.
*The announcement of the birth of Jesus is in actuality a declaration of war against the spiritual enemy.
* Everlasting Father: (the seed of eternity)
*Prince of Peace: means prince of happiness.
He gives us to be power to use the same names that Jesus’ used.
*How the words are shows how all the names are interrelated and we can see the Power of God in the cross.
If we will only put our trust in God’s “Unfailing Love” the stuff the world throws at us will not harm us. What we see as a challenge or threatening to our life style has to be looked at through the eyes of God’s Unfailing Love. Nothing the world has to offer can compare to is Unfailing Love.
Father in heaven, Life is meaningless only if we allow it to be. Each of us has the power to give life meaning, to make OUR Time and our Bodies and Your Words into instruments of Love and Hope. You are my Wonderful Counselor. I submit ALL my ways to You. I trust that You have a good plan for me. Thank You for giving me wisdom and direction for every area of my life through Your Holy Spirit inspired Word, the Bible, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
*Again and again the Bible leads me to think about joy. Read Psalm 33 this day if need a boast in joy. Merry Christmas!
The more like Christ you become, the more you exalt Christ and not yourself.
Is there someone you can share God’s Love with today as a result of your faith, and in spite of your feelings?
* “And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them.”
Luke 6:32
Let’s Bring Jesus Back for our Children!! How we do this will determine future generations of Christmas celebrations. *We Are Christmas to Our Little Children Because What We DO on Christmas is an Acted out Statement of OUR Faith.
To our children, we are Christmas. We are their memories. We are the story. We are acting out both the surprised shepherds in the fields with their problems and squabbles and regular lives, and also the heavenly host that came to them singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towards men.”
*Please Bring Jesus Back! If we don’t do it—–who will?
*****Christmas IS The Birth of Christ!
Behold, a virgin shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name Emanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. (Isaiah 7:14)
Jesus Birth in History. “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.
*Jesus did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside. *Jesus is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside.
*Jesus life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the Lowliest door. Our Lord’s birth was an advent.
*When Jesus came to earth, He came in order to penetrate the very kingdom of darkness with light.
*Jesus came to bring healing to sickness, replace sadness with joy, and fill meaninglessness with purpose.
*Jesus came to change things for the better for a world that had no hope outside of God.
*Jesus came to bring the Kingdom of God on earth.
*So why has God allowed us to receive new birth and remain on earth? It is so that we might bring the Kingdom of God into our world-our families, our workplace, and our communities.
God wants you to bring the Kingdom of God into the territory He has given you so that His will can be done on earth as it is in Heaven.
Your domain is your workplace, family, and community. Ask God to show you how He wants to penetrate the darkness of your domain with His light. Then you will see and experience all the features of this gift that has been given to you.
His Birth in Me. “Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives.” (Gal. 4:19.)
*Just as Our Lord came into human history from outside, so He must come into me from outside.
* Have I allowed my personal human life to become a “Bethlehem” for the Son of God? I cannot enter into the realm of the Kingdom of God unless I am born from above by a birth totally unlike natural birth.
“Ye must be born again.” (JN 3:3) This is not a command, it is a foundation fact. The characteristic of the new birth is that I yield myself so completely to God that Christ is formed in me.
Immediately Christ is formed in me, His nature begins to work through me.
We must ask God to search our hearts. What will He find when He looks into our hearts? Will He find rebellion? Will He find obedience? Will He find unforgiveness?
*God wants us to leave the place of rebellion and punishment.
*God wants us to return to the place of obedience and blessing. ‘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).
The Holy Spirit is our Comforter & Counselor!!!
“But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life.”Jude 1:20-21
** We have to build ourselves up in God.
* How do you do that? Read the word of God.
*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 wonderfully free; He is not impressed by our bigness; He does nothing in order to attract attention to our accomplishments; He does everything to magnify His glorious freedom and mercy.
*God chose a stable so no innkeeper could boast, “He chose the comfort of my inn!”
* God chose a manger so that no wood worker could boast, “He chose the craftsmanship of my bed!”
* He chose Bethlehem so no one could boast, “The greatness of our city constrained the divine choice!”
* And he chose you and me, freely and unconditionally, to stop the mouth of all human boasting. This is the point of
Romans 11 and this is the point of
Micah 5.
The deepest meaning of the littleness and insignificance of Bethlehem is that God does not bestow the blessings of the Messiah–the blessings of salvation–on the basis of our greatness or our merit or our achievement.
He does not elect cities or people because of their prominence or grandeur or distinction.
*When HE chooses HE chooses freely, in order to magnify the glory of HIS own mercy, not the glory of our distinctions. So let us say with the angels, “Glory to God in the highest!” Not glory to us. We get the joy. He gets the glory.
This Christmas, Jesus, come to the manger of my heart. Invade my soul like Bethlehem, bringing peace to every part. Dwell within and around me, as I unwrap Your presence each day.
Keep me close to You, Lord. It’s in Your wonderful Name I pray. Amen
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” Isaiah 7:14
Have a Merry Merry Christmas
How can I have Eternal Life?
* 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. (John 17:3)
*Jesus is the greatest gift we could ever receive.
*God is passionate about relationships. *Right relationships means nothing is broken-everything is right. *Righteousness is right relationship.
*If you don’t do one thing this Christmas you need to take the TIME to truly praise God for the offering of His Son. Not just a prayer before opening presents but a true sacrifice to the Living God for the birth of His son, His death, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
*Christmas the celebration of Jesus Birth becomes of special significance when you see it through the lens of Calvary. *Those who were met with angels were called to be witnesses for Jesus.
*The Son of God became the Son of Man so that the sons of men could become Children of God. WE ARE HIS Children!
Each of us faces the same dilemma. We have a sin debt that we owe to God but no way to pay for it.
We are addicted to sin and None of our solutions – living a moral life, being religious, or doing more good deeds – can take care of our problem.
**GOD Himself has provided the solution – one that both satisfies His justice and grants us mercy.
*GOD sent His Son, Jesus to pay the penalty we owed.
*Jesus was qualified to be our substitute because He never sinned (2 Corinthians 5:21).
*Jesus willingly took our place on the cross and experienced the full measure of the Lord’s wrath against OUR sinfulness.
*In dying for us, Christ secured our salvation by paying the debt for ALL our past, present, and future sins.
*When we trust in Jesus and surrender our life to Him, He becomes our personal Savior and Lord.
The great tragedy is that many have heard the gospel and rejected it.
* Some are like the rich ruler who placed his trust in material possessions and turned his back on the Truth.
* Others have refused to even Listen.
* Another group is convinced they are heaven-bound, based on erroneous confidence in their Own Good Deeds.
***Only those who have entered into a Personal Relationship with Jesus through faith in Him will be welcomed into heaven.
If you’re still wondering, How can I have eternal life? There is only one answer: “through faith in Jesus Christ- Knowing Jesus”!!!
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
We have an Enemy who actively seeks to blind people to the truth.
(2 Corinthians 4:3)
* Pray that many who are separated from the Lord will trust in the Savior and gain everlasting life.
* Pray that this Christmas the True Meaning will be revealed to millions around the world.
*Let’s Bring Jesus Back this Christmas: to our homes, families, friends, work!!
Let’s Make Jesus #1!!
**” 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”. (John 17:3)
If we are faithful to do our part, God will always be faithful to do His!
The more we read, meditate on, and absorb His word, the deeper our longing for Him grows as the Holy Spirit speaks to us.
Then we will begin to seek more of Him and desire to get to know Him more.
* We learn that He wants us to know Him intimately and that we can hear His voice. Then we can walk fully in His plans and will. Then we can give Him glory the best that we can.
John 8:32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
*It is the Holy Bible that the believer should make a lifetime commitment to study for the perfecting of their spiritual growth.
Moses was a friend of God, and he met God face to face. “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend” (Ex. 33:11a).
So often, we view others for what they can do for us, instead of who they are.
God wants us to seek Him for our every need. However, there is a higher calling for every believer. That is to seek God’s face, and to see Him for His LOVE and Tenderness toward us as His children. *He can provide for our physical needs, BUT when we see Him face to face, we are changed.
* We no longer see Him as one to be feared as much as one to know intimately.
* We no longer view Him for what He can give to us, but for what He already has given for us.
**When we see Jesus face to face, we are no longer slaves, but friends. We do not fear Him as a slave fears his master. We have entered a new kind of relationship-a relationship that has mutual respect and care.
**Today, Jesus is calling you to seek His face, not just His hand. When you seek His face, you will know His provision and His mercy in all aspects of life.
** Seek His face today and become a friend of God.
The more like Christ you become, the more you exalt Christ and not yourself.
*What God did on the first Christmas and what he does in forgiving and changing people today he did and does in utterly free, sovereign mercy, so that ALL his people will end of their lives with the words like 1 Timothy 1:17: “To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
I thank you Lord for your care and love for all my loved ones and all of the Devotional readers these past two years . I thank you for each and every one of them Lord. I thank you for your shield on their lives. I thank you for your goodness and your mercy toward them. I thank you Lord for your provision for them and I thank you Lord for health and healing in their lives. I thank you Father for being so good to each one of them. I thank you Lord for comforting the broken hearted and I thank you Lord for providing for the jobless. I thank you Lord for open doors and opportunities.
I thank you Father God for everything that you are doing in each of their lives. *What I thank you most of all for Lord is I thank you Lord that you are drawing
each and every one of us closer to you “to Know You”. I thank you Lord that you are opening our eyes and our ears, that you Lord are making yourself KNOWN to us and we are basking in Your presence. I thank you for each dear soul today, Save whole families Lord, and bring restoration, healing and renewal in great measure this Season to ALL– for Your Glory and our Joy. Bless your great name. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
God is not a Genie in a bottle that is obligated to fulfill OUR every command. We have given up ALL of OUR rights when we entered into a personal relationship with Him!!!! A Bond Servant of Jesus!
Phil. 2:7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.
*Jesus came to the Center of our chaos world in order to set it ALL right. He took on broken humanity in order to Infect us with Healing, Hope and Restoration. Now that is Love!
The passion of Christianity is that I deliberately sign away my own rights and become a bond-slave of Jesus Christ.
*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
Jesus purpose for coming into the world was twofold. First, He came to “redeem them that were under the law.” He did this by perfectly 1. keeping the law, fulfilling it, and 2. paying its curse (Mt. 5:17; Gal. 3:13).
*Christ delivered us from the entire system of the law. The Greek word for redeem means “to buy OUT OF the slave market.” Thank you Jesus!
* Christ gave us the status of sonship with all its privileges. Not only were we redeemed from the bondage of the law, but we were redeemed unto sonship.
**Many people stop short, only realizing what they were delivered from, not what they inherit.
Sure, we need to rejoice that we are redeemed, but we also need to Move Forward, and realize the full benefits of our inheritance.
*God created us for Himself but we sold ourselves into slavery to the devil.
*GOOD NEWS– God bought us back through the precious blood of Jesus Christ. (CROSS).
**No amount of effort, human works, or man’s own righteousness could bring the divine favor that we needed. It was the Actual Life of God (Lev. 17:11) that purchased our redemption.
AM I A Bond-slave Of Jesus?
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).
Luke 14:33 So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple.
*Discipleship means personal, passionate devotion to a Person, Our Lord Jesus Christ.
*To be a disciple is to be a devoted love-slave of the Lord Jesus.
**No man on earth has this passionate love to the Lord Jesus unless the Holy Spirit has imparted it to him.
* We may admire Him, we may respect Him and reverence Him, but we cannot love Him.
***The only Lover of the Lord Jesus is the Holy Spirit, and He sheds abroad the very love of God in our hearts.
**Whenever the Holy Spirit sees a chance of glorifying Jesus, He will take your heart, your nerves, your whole personality, and simply make you blaze and glow with devotion to Jesus Christ.
* Do I feel that sense of indebtedness to Christ in regard to every unsaved soul?
*Every bit of my life that is of value I owe to the Redemption of Jesus Christ. * We can only do it as the Spirit of God works in us this sense of indebtedness.
I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the barbarians. — Romans 1:14
**Opportunity + Ability = Responsibility
*Paul’s mission directive is his commitment to spread the Gospel of Jesus and to present it among the Gentiles and Jews alike.
**Paul saw it as an obligation (a binding contract independent of God’s promise of eternal life).
*When we see to it to fulfill our obligations we are responsible; able to give a response from the position given to us.
I am not to be a superior person amongst men, but a bondslave of the Lord Jesus. “Ye are not your own.” Paul sold himself to Jesus Christ. He says – I am a debtor to everyone on the face of the earth because of the Gospel of Jesus. I am free to be an absolute slave only.
* That is the characteristic of the life when once this point of spiritual honor is realized.
** Quit praying about yourself and be spent for others as the bondslave of Jesus. That is the meaning of being made broken bread and poured out wine in reality.
* A man will always be a slave for obeying— unless behind his obedience there is a recognition of a Holy God!
**The bondslave is the highest spiritual destination in the kingdom of heaven. The apostles called themselves bondslaves. Their identities were as bondslaves of Jesus Christ.
These passages taken from NKJV.
Romans 1:1 Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle,separated to the gospel of God.
*Paul is a servant of God. More than that he is a slave to God.
*Paul is called by God not just to belong to Christ but to be an apostle( set apart for the gospel).
James 1:1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,..
* James, brother of Jesus and leader of church in Jerusalem. KEY here: James calls himself a servant of Christ, rather than his brother or his role as leader of the Jerusalem church.
**WORK was an important part of our relationship to God and to be done with excellence for his glory!
**Colossians 4:1 Masters, give your bondservants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven…
*Taking Christ to My Work!!!
*Greek word for WORK “Doulos” – “I have to work” slave, employee.
***Guidelines for employees.
Eph. 6:5 Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eye service, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.
*Accounabilty is for us given by God so we can go through life living FOR Him. *Without accountability we would not know were we are wrong.
Accountability gives us strength because when we are Held Responsible for our wrongs we can then Teach others the same.
Ignorance, pride and self centeredness keeps us from realizing when we are wrong.
2 Cor. 4:5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus sake.
*You see, we don’t go around preaching about ourselves.
** We preach that Jesus Christ is Lord, and we ourselves are your servants for Jesus’ sake.
Phil. 1:1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:
*We have the relationship with God backwards today. Our relationship to God has to be about Jesus and His glory.
1 Timothy 6:1 Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, SO That the NAME of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.
*People of the gospel serve the God of the gospel, with an unchanging hope.
*Those working.. Should show respect for their employers so that they will not bring shame to God’s name!
Lord help me to be Your Bond Servant and help me “Return to the basics” of my walk with Jesus Christ as stated in Your Holy Spirit inspired Word—the BIBLE! Help me Lord:
* Make a choice to serve God in order to be a testimony it will change the world your living in. (Hebrews 3:5).
*1 Peter 2:18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh.
*Titus 2:9 Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back,
*Col. 3:22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Hebrews 5: 8 though He was a Son, yet He(Jesus) learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Thank You Jesus for Loving me, a sinner that wants to be totally sold out to Your Will and Purpose–for Your Glory–not my own selfishness.
In Jesus Name, Amen
* Everything we have comes from the Lord.
As you abide in Jesus “The Vine” today,
May you flourish in His garden with an abundance of the fruit of His Agape Love.
* You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. John 15:16
If you think you’re too ordinary to be used of God, listen closely: God is
not going to do His last-days work through big-name evangelists or pastors. They alone will not be able to handle the great moving of His Spirit!
God said through Moses: “Man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by
every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3).
* What strikes me in this verse is that it is a reminder that we need to live His standards because in ALL circumstances He is taking care of us.
How easy is it for us to fail to recognize this when we’re on the side of the fence where life is good. No health problems, family doing well, can pay bills, car runs.
*We fail to notice that God is providing all things for us. It may be simple things–like our bills being paid, we have clean water to drink, we have heat in our shelter or our car is running–we just do not take the time to notice the simple things He provides us.
*Bread stands for all natural, material things necessary for this life—food,
shelter, clothes, labor, wages.
*Bread represents livelihood—those things we need that are not evil in themselves. Many Christians, however, live only for the things of this life—they live on bread alone!
Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11).
But first He said we were to pray, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done”
(v. 10). We are to focus first on God’s interests—praying for His will to
be done!
What have you been thinking about more than anything else these past six
months? What has consumed most of your time and prayers? Has it been mostly bread issues—personal needs?
If you focus only on bread, then you have no life! You are living in a
wilderness, just as the children of Israel did. They rose daily and began
crying for bread—their personal needs—every day for forty years!
** That is boredom—drudgery! God never intended for His children to
live like that. Instead, He told Israel through Moses, “You should be living
by every word that proceeds out of My mouth! Yes, I told you I would give you
bread, but don’t stop there. Move on! I have told you there is a land flowing
with milk and honey, with rivers, trees, forests, green pastures—and I want
that place for you!”(Deuteronomy 27).
God is raising up a people who are focused on His will.
They are tired of living in a wilderness of mere survival. All they want is to
know and do God’s will.
The gospel isn’t simply a set of truths that non-Christians must believe in order to become saved. It’s a reality that Christians must daily embrace in order to experience being saved.
* The gospel not only saves us from the penalty of sin (justification), but it also saves us from the power of sin (sanctification) day after day.
* Our daily sin requires God’s daily grace—the grace that comes to us through the finished work of Jesus Christ.
**We are ALL SINNERS—–Not Mistakers!
Christians need the gospel because our hearts are always prone to wander; we’re always tempted to run from God.
It takes the power of the gospel to direct us back to our First Love.”Jesus” Consciously going to the Bible ought to be a daily reality and experience for us all. It means “preaching the gospel to yourself every day.”
We have to allow God to remind us every day through His Holy Spirit inspired Word of Christ’s finished work on behalf of sinners in order to STAY convinced that the gospel is relevant.
The only reason God will Enlarge a person’s territory is that He knows that person will use it Responsibly.
** He will steward what is given in light of God’s Kingdom. God truly wants to increase our territory to have greater influence in the world around us. That territory can mean personal influence and/or physical territories.
As we walk through this wilderness of the valley of the shadow of death, God will put various tests and trials before us to remove the dross of sin from us. The manna that He feeds me during this wilderness, is His WORD.
In His word I find all that I need for my daily walk and to live my life pleasing to Him.
*But I also receive manna from prayer, worship and from other brothers and sister of the body of Christ. All of this is to remind me that it is through the Word of God that I receive life.
*God’s word will discipline me to make me pure in mind, thought, word, deed, intent, attitude and imagination. The discipline of the word of God will teach me, strength, courage, endurance, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, love, joy and peace.
**Bread that comes from the grains of this world only satisfies the temporary hunger of the body, but gives nothing else to elevate my sin and hopelessness.
** Only the gift of salvation through the Bread of Life, Jesus Christ, can feed and satisfy my hunger for hope and relive me of the burden of my sin.
**Only through Jesus Christ, can I receive the mercy, grace, forgiveness, love, joy and peace of the Father. The Bread of Life is the only way to truly be feed and satisfied.
*So the manna has a purpose beyond the physical sustenance.
It is to teach us that we live by God’s words. God’s word provides. His word sustains. His word protects. His word guides. His word is the way to live.
*We must live a lifestyle that declares the one that we serve!!!!! “JESUS”.
Heavenly Father I thank you for Your word that teaches, leads, guides and disciplines me. Thank You for the revelation of Your word and the truth that it teaches me in this, the present of today. I thank you Lord for your love and your kindness. I thank You for your goodness and your mercy that follows me all the days of my life.
Thank you Father God for being my provider, you Lord are my God and You provide more than enough for me. I bless your great and awesome and powerful name. Thank you Father that no weapon formed against me shall prosper, thank you for defending
me and keeping me safe. Thank you Lord for everything, you Lord are everything.
I can do nothing without you Lord. My soul loves You, thank You for loving
me. I will lift You up and magnify your great name I will exalt You Lord above all. Cause the eyes of my heart to be open and to understand your word, write your word on the table of
my heart. Fill my heart with your word Lord. I will speak your word. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Lord be acceptable in your sight, you Lord are my strength and you Lord are my redeemer. I thank you Lord for redeeming me from a life of destruction, I thank you Lord for bringing me out of darkness and allowing me to walk in your great and wonderful light. I thank you Lord for the privilege to pray thank you for your gift of prayer.
In Jesus name I pray. Amen