Devotions - Prayer
Let’s Bring Jesus Back!!
If we are faithful to do our part, God will always be faithful to do His!
*”Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”James 4:8
During this season, in a time where are thoughts so often turn to material things, we must remember that it is truly about the “Birth of a Savior” and like the angels appearing before the neighboring shepherds laboring in the field, we must go before our friends and our neighbors to bring them “good tidings of great joy” about a Savior born in a humble manger that came not to receive but only to GIVE!
” The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:35.)
Jesus Christ was born into this world, not from it. He did not evolve out of history; He came into history from the outside. Jesus Christ is not the best human being, He IS a Being Who cannot be accounted for by the human race at all. He is not man becoming God, but God Incarnate, God coming into human flesh, coming into it from outside. His life is the Highest and the Holiest entering in at the Lowliest door. Our Lord’s birth was an advent.-the appearance of God in Human Form.
Philippians 2:1 Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? 2 Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose.
***Is Christmas old hat to us?
***World-Please Bring Jesus Back!
*****Christmas: IS The Birth of Christ!
‘Search me, O God, and know my heart!… See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!’(Psalm 139:23-24).
Most people have forgotten what the meaning of Christmas really is. It’s a time to celebrate something very important— the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ— that’s right the “Star” of the show!!! Not santa claus, shopping, material gifts,Parties without Jesus etc.
*If we ALL make room for Jesus this Season with family and friends— who knows what could come from our circumstances.
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right”.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
Is Christmas old hat to us?
LUKE 2:1-14
V. 1-3. The moving of governments.
*The governments think they have it under control, but God sits on the throne. “In the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son…”
V. 4-5. Motivation of Joseph. *Government said so, by direction of God. Governments do strange things some times. Mat 1:18-25; Mic 5:2. Joseph was obedient to the direction of God, and to the government.
V. 5-7. Monumental Miracle.
Mary was a virgin. The virgin-born Savior doesn’t have the sin nature passed down through the man. She was a virgin.
Nathanael said, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” (John 1:46).
What is amazing about Mary is that she lived a godly life in a godless place, and she did so as a very young teenager.
Here she was, a nobody living in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere—precisely the kind of person that God goes out of His way to call. He chose an unknown girl in a relatively unknown city to bring about the most-known event in human history, an event so significant that we actually divide human time by it.
V. 8-12. The Good News.
* There is no reason to be afraid.
V. 13-14. Praise was given. “And suddenly…” Seems like heaven couldn’t hold it back anymore.
*The motive of God: LOVE!!!
* God sent the Redeemer(JESUS) to save the world because He loved the world. (See John 3:16).
**How marvelous that God would do this for us! We don’t know why He loves us, but He does. We are His Masterpiece!
*I don’t understand it, but I enjoy it. There is nothing redeemable in ourselves, so He sent a Redeemer. He came “to seek and to save that which is lost.” ME!
*Thank God that Luke 2 is not the end of the story.
*Thank God He died, was buried and rose again and now sits on the right hand of the Father. “Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe.”
Luke 2:9…. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!
Jesus was laid in a manger because there was no room for Him. How solemnly this brings out the world’s estimate of the Christ of God. There was no appreciation of His amazing condescension.
JESUS was not wanted. It is so still today.
*There is no room for Him in the schools, in society, in the business world, among the great throngs of pleasure seekers, in the political realm, in the newspapers, nor in many of the churches.
***It is only history repeating itself. All that the world gave the Savior was a manger, a cross on which to die, and a borrowed grave to receive His murdered body.
He was laid in a manger to demonstrate the extent of His poverty.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for YOUR sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might be rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
Jesus was laid in a manger to mark His identification with human suffering and wretchedness.
*The ONE born was “The Son of Man.” He had left the heights of Heaven’s glory and had descended to our level, and here we behold Him entering the human condition at its lowest point.
*John 1. The Word was made flesh. The Word was God.
*This is a time of stress, and through Jesus those hardships can be relieved.
*Let Jesus be seen in every way possible especially during this Christmas Season.
Many of us grow up in religious environments. We go to church every week. We have a head knowledge of God, but we do not recognize God’s voice in our lives.
There comes a time when we must recognize God’s voice for ourselves. God does not want us to have a religion; He wants us to have a two-way relationship with Him. (We need to get into His Word Spoken to us through the Holy Spirit–the Bible—-it’s alive).
**Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God.
Maybe you are trying to live out your faith in a godless place today, at work or school or among unbelieving family members. You’re wondering if it can be done. It can.
*Jesus Mother, Mary, stands as an example for us, proving that it is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world.
As Jesus leads and guides you this Holiday Season, ask Jesus to show you someone who needs an extra special blessing that you can fulfill, by sharing your testimony of what Jesus has done for YOU! Share Jesus’ Love with them.
” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me”. (John 14:6)
***A changing world but an unchanging God!
*For I am Lord, I change not….Malachi 3:6
Let’s plead to the world: “Bring Jesus Back”! Christmas IS ALL about The Birth of Christ!
Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
“They will reject the truth and chase after myths. But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you”. (2 Timothy 4:4-5)
Lord, expand my understanding of who You are. I don’t want to simply know about You; I want to know You intimately and personally more and more each day. Your word says:”And this is the way to have eternal life—to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.”. (JN 17:3)
Lord this Christmas as always You want to share Your LOVE, TRUTH and FREEDOM with us ALL. As many will not invite You to their party, We will have our celebration, a grandiose party, Praising, Sharing and Glorifying You– Knowing that our Eternal Home is one that no one can ever have imagined, a spectacular Eternal party with You. Lord may this Christmas be ALL about You and Your LOVE for each and every one. Let us be the example this year of Your Love. Help us be the ones to reach out to the lost and hurting world-starting with our own family and friends-to
“Bring Back Jesus” for Christmas. Amen
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right”.(2 Timothy 3:16)
Loyalty is God’s Love in action.
* “A friend loves at all times.”
(Proverbs 17:17).
“Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.” (Romans 8:14).
The greatest sign that you and I are maturing in our walk with God is when we can discern the difference between “good things” and “God-things.”
As Jesus leads and guides you this Holiday Season, ask Him to show you someone who needs an extra special blessing that you can fulfill, by sharing your testimony of what Jesus has done for YOU!
* “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 resurrection of Jesus puts Christianity in a class all by itself. Many people have come and gone professing some revelation from God or new way of approaching God.
But only Jesus has conquered death. This makes Him unique and elevates Him above the level of any other man who has ever walked on the earth.
*The resurrection of Jesus is the ultimate proof of the accuracy of His doctrine.
Paul made it very clear in 1 Corinthians 15:14 and 17, that if Jesus did not rise from the dead, then our faith is vain and we are yet in our sins.
Why is the resurrection so important? ***The resurrection of Jesus makes Christianity different from religion because: **we are dealing with a real, live person, not just principles.
* Christianity is fellowship with a real person who is Alive. Thank You Jesus!
Also, forgiveness of sins is not obtained by a doctrine, but by Christ Himself. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, He can not give salvation to us.
However, He did rise from the dead and now He lives forever to make intercession for us (Heb. 7:25).
It is Christ living in us that gives us power to live a victorious life. If there was no resurrection, there would be no power.
Because Jesus conquered death, the fear and sting of death have been removed for us. This produces great comfort for those who believe.
The words that we speak from the written Word of God are empowered by the Holy Spirit. The Word by itself doesn’t make us free. It is the Word we know and speak that will deliver us (Jn. 8:32).
Why is the Word so effective? Because it is the WORD of God. It has authority, because it is indeed the WORD of God. God’s Word supersedes all authority of the church, of reason, of intellect, and even of Satan. That’s why it is so effective.
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God.
In Luke, chapter four, when Jesus was tempted of the devil for forty days, it was the Word of God that Jesus used to defeat the enemy at His temptation.
Jesus constantly met His temptation by quoting from God’s Word as He repeatedly stated the phrase, “It is written.”
Likewise, the Christian soldier must avail himself of God’s Word by placing it in his heart so that the Holy Spirit may bring it forth at the appropriate time to accomplish a complete and total victory.
Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage–with great patience and careful instruction (2 Timothy 4:2).
This word is not addressed to preachers only. It includes all the people of God, for Paul does not merely mean to preach; the word is really “announce, proclaim, set it forth, deliver the truth, make it known.”
*God’s Word is NOT something you ARGUE about; you Declare it because God Himself has said it.
* This can be done over a cup of coffee, in an office, or in a car while you are driving to work. It is something that can come up any place, any time. Where human hearts are open, seeking, longing, and hurting, there is the place, there is the opportunity to “preach the word.”
“Proclaim the good news,” Paul says. It is “not news of what we have to do for God”. That distortion has been widely peddled across the world and in this country, and it has resulted in a phony Christianity.
**The gospel is the story of what God has already done for us. (Cross). That is what ministers to the aching heart.
** The gospel is the news that God loves us, pities us, and sees us in our hurt, our agony, our failure, and our weakness.
**The gospel is that He sees us in our strutting boldness and pride, and still He loves us. And He has already done something about it–through the death and resurrection of Jesus. In that amazing series of events that came through Jesus’ appearing on earth, He broke the stranglehold of evil upon human hearts–He found a way to set aside His own just sentence of death.
Through those who open their hearts to the Savior, He has found a way not only to die for us but to come and live in us and start the process of renewing us, remaking us, and restoring us to our lost inheritance.
*That is the word we are to proclaim. *That is to be done by every Christian in every conceivable circumstance of life.
Lord help me to “Preach the Word”, Especially this Holiday season. Help me Proclaim the good news of Jesus Birth!! Help us ALL be a part of bringing the TRUE Meaning of Christmas back to our KIDS and families. Grant to me that I will commit myself afresh to be a purveyor of the Truth, preacher of the Word, and Herald of the Good News that is IN Jesus Christ!! Amen
***God’s Word is NOT something you ARGUE about; you Declare it because God Himself has said it.
*Colossians 2:9 For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
*2 Corinthians 1:20 For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in Christ with a resounding “Yes!” And through Christ, our “Amen” (which means “Yes”) ascends to God for his glory.
*Ephesians 2:10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
*1 Corinthians 12:27 All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it.
Verse: 26 If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.
Deeds of real love are those God inspires within our hearts. They are not performed from a sense of duty, but rather spring forth as the natural result of loving God.
* “…because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:5
“Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by or like a watch in the night”. Psalm 90:2,4
That’s the difference between time and eternity, the mountains were born, the earth and the world were brought forth, that’s a past tense.
But when the psalmist turns to God he says, “From everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Not, “You were God,” but “You are God.”
With God there is never a past tense, never a future tense. God doesn’t indwell time; He indwells eternity.
Eternity is not just a very long period of time;
*It’s a different mode of being.
* It’s something from another world.
* It’s higher than time.
With God it’s always, you are. His name is, “I AM.” And from the serenity and the heights of eternity He beholds time.
Isaiah 43:13 “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”
The psalmist says that “a thousand years with God are just like a day that’s gone by or a watch in the night.” The night, in biblical times, was divided into four watches of three hours each, so a thousand years with God is just like three hours that have passed in our experience.
That’s what it is to be related to God. *It’s to have a relationship that extends out of time into eternity, that’s not subject to the changes and fluctuations of time, that’s anchored in the very being of God Himself.
A thousand years are nothing to God’s eternity: between a minute and a million of years there is some proportion; between time and eternity there is None. All the events of a thousand years, whether past or to come, are more present to the Eternal Mind, than what was done in the last hour is to us. AWESOME GOD WE HAVE!
Do not put your emotions before your purpose. If it did not work out, there is a greater purpose God has for you. In some cases the dream is still underway but our timing is not God’s timing. The bible says;
2 Peter 3: 8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.
*Ninety percent of those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit.
Release yourself from the bondage of fear and worry. When your faith is in the Lord, 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 substantive and vital to your success in any endeavor, and you must put it to work by actual belief and not just hope. I Believe the Lord is looking for a people who have a strong and working faith whose actions demonstrate His kingdom.
*Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Look forward, finally, and hope for the coming of the Lord. Your best things are yet to come. The second coming of Christ will soon be here. The time of temptation will soon be past and gone. The judgment and reward of the saints shall soon make amends for everything. ***Rest in the hope of that day. Work, watch, and look forward–one thing, at any rate, that day will make abundantly clear. It will show that there was never an hour in our lives in which we had our hearts too thoroughly focused on Christ.
God I am sorry for my weakness and I thank You for being patient with me. Help me to catch on faster in those areas I need to change. Thank You for being Patient with me. Amen
Read MoreWe 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
Because Jesus conquered death, the fear and sting of death have been removed for us. This produces great comfort for those who believe.
So, faith in the present ministry of Jesus is essential to true Christianity, and would be impossible if Jesus was not alive. Without Jesus being alive, Christianity would be just another dead religion.
Compassion is the evidence of God’s Love.
***”But a certain Samaritan, who was on a journey, came upon him; and when he saw him, he felt compassion…and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and he…took care of him.” Luke 10:33-34
“Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear” (Psalm 10:17).
In this verse David outlines a simple, three-step plan for knowing the Lord’s
mind and will for your life:
* Petition Him (pray)
* Prepare your heart to hear His voice
* He will cause you to know—the Holy Spirit will speak to you
Very soon, God is going to pour out of His glorious cup the greatest measure of His Spirit the world has ever seen. Great Holy Spirit conviction will come upon your neighbors, coworkers and unsaved family members.
People everywhere are going to be hurting and they will turn from their old traditions to seek out those who walk with God and lift up Jesus and His Word.
* They will be desperate to find someone whose heart has been prepared!
God is going to use hundreds of thousands of ordinary servants for His end-time work of people-to-people ministry.
Matthew 24: 44 You also must be ready all the time, for the Son of Man will come when least expected.
So I ask you: Are you preparing your heart right now for His work to be done, both in you and through you?
Confess to God today: “Oh, Lord, I want my life to count! I know that right
now I am living on bread alone—in a wilderness of despair. But I want to
live!”
Dive into His Word. Learn to seek Him daily. There is revolutionary power in
the preparation of your heart! It is through this preparation that meaning and fullness will come into your life. Your feelings and personality will change and power will be released in you to move forward!
2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief….
When God sees you are ready, He will bring you great opportunities to do His
work. You will not even have to leave your house. God will bring the needs
right to your door!
The mighty God we serve is preparing His people at this very hour for a mighty
work.
“The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a
man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His
enemies” (Isaiah 42:13).
Prepare your heart to meet Him! Become a ready servant, equipped and prepared for His great last-day outpouring, and His glory will come alive in you in this final hour!
Jesus guides us in many different ways. Sometimes he makes the next step clear as day. Other times, like Peter discovered in John 21:1-14, it feels like we’re left to muddle through, only to find that Jesus was leading through our muddling.
Verse 3 Simon Peter said, “I’m going fishing.” “We’ll come, too,” they all said. So they went out in the boat, but they caught nothing all night.
*Peter didn’t know what else to do.
When we’re not sure what to do!!
**First, waiting on Jesus is a common experience for disciples.
* Sometimes we wait for direction. *Sometimes we’re stuck in a very hard place waiting for release.
* Sometimes we wait to understand his purposes.
* Sometimes we wait for his provision. **Jesus’ timing and purposes are not always clear to us, though they are always Best for us.
**So Jesus wants our faith resting on the Rock of his Word and not on the sand of circumstance.
*Second, when we’re not sure what to do next, as Elizabeth Elliott says, “do the next thing.” I’m sure the disciples had prayed for guidance during those days but no clear instructions had come. Fishing just seemed like a good idea. As it turned out, it was exactly what the Lord wanted them to do.
Jesus was leading them, just differently. As they did the next thing Jesus met them and directed them.
*Third, Jesus is in complete control. Peter and his friends were experienced fishermen. They did their best, yet caught nothing. But that morning they discovered (again) that Jesus was sovereign over their decisions, the boat, the sea, the fish, and time.
*Fourth, Jesus’ is always serving us, even when we can’t see it.
*Jesus serves us in every conceivable way: from the payment of our sins, to our call, to the fish we catch, to a breakfast on the beach, to our eternal home.
Jesus loves to work for those who wait for him (Isaiah 64:4).
In following Jesus there are seasons of bewildering intensity and seasons of bewildering waiting. He does not want us to panic during either. He is in control of both. When you don’t understand his ways, trust his Word.
And when you’re not sure what to do next, do the next thing.
When we look at people who “appear” to be spiritual (or “appear” not to be spiritual), we must take care not to judge them. God never calls us to judge, but only to examine the fruit of someone’s life.
****”You will know them by their fruits…A good tree cannot produce bad fruit; nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.” Matthew 7:16-18.
Isaiah 40: 31 But those who wait upon God get fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.
*God will never give you more than what you can handle. When you’re running low on fuel (Be it strength, hope, faith, etc) He will relight your fire and keep you going and growing.
*Don’t give up on God cause he didn’t give up on you.
*Never give up…always look up to Jesus!
*You are forever free.
” Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you”. (Galations 5:1).
Lord Jesus, I ask for more to be able to give You More Glory and Love. Give me more Fruit of the Holy Spirit.
More + Love
More + Joy
More + Peace
More + Long-suffering
More + Kindness
More + Goodness
More + Faithfulness
More + Gentleness
More + Self-control
ALL In THE NAME of Jesus!!! AMEN
Continue to walk in the “Light” reflecting Jesus and His Agape Love in all you say and do.
* “…for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness…But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love…”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
Sometimes the enemy whispers, “You don’t really love yourself, and that’s why you can’t love others”. This way of thinking only reinforces our root problem of self-centeredness, and Satan rejoices.
** “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh…”
Romans 13:14
Jesus was speaking to a crowd of just ordinary folks. Yet Christ said to them, “You are the light of the world.” And today, you are the light of the world. That’s how God intends to get his work done on earth today: through you!
It’s not just pastors and missionaries who are the light; it’s everybody who loves the Lord.
You see, the world doesn’t understand. The world looks at Christians and thinks, “They don’t count.” God takes an ordinary person and uses them to share His message to people who needed Him.
When we share our faith, we spread His light.
Jesus describes what we are in this passage – the light of the world, not the light of the church.
That means we have to get beyond the church walls and take the light out to where it is dark.
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
You were saved to shine!
* Don’t hide your testimony or be ashamed to take your Bible to work, lunch or even Church.
*Don’t be afraid to pray over your lunch.
* Let others know that you love the Lord Jesus.
Jesus also talked of the strength of collective light. Each house in a city with its lights on cast a glow across the sky.
As Christians come together, there is a glow for the Lord that we cannot create individually. We shine brightest when we shine “together”. UNITY
How can we shine for God?
Jesus says that we are to let our lights shine before men in such a way that they will see our good works and glorify God. That’s how we do it. We live for God.
Can you imagine how dark it is going to be ten years from now, should the Lord
abandoned us? Romans 1: 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie.
Romans 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who Suppress the Truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them.
Romans 12:16 For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes.
Yet, I ask you: As you see the darkness deepening on all sides, do you believe
it will exceed the light of the gospel? Are you afraid the darkness is going to
squash it, snuff it out?
No—never! God’s people must never be intimidated by the darkness and fury
of the enemy. The Bible says Jesus is going to rise and shine in the darkness
no matter how dark the world becomes! “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined” (Isaiah 9:2).
We live in a time of widespread death and darkness. But God says that in such
times He will shine His light the brightest: “I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, and not forsake them” (Isaiah 42:16).
*If you let Him, God will guide you step-by-step on a path that He custom-designed for you.
****The Lord alone is the Light for our path, the sight for our blinded eyes, and the pathway to purpose and peace for our lives.
No darkness will ever stop God’s light! So get your eyes off the darkness,
off the sin, off the fury of violent people, and believe the Lord for the
bursting forth of His shining light!
“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.(1John 1:5-7).
We cannot walk daily in victory if we do not get the Word in us daily. We won’t know how to respond when there is an attack against us.
Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. We are MORE than conquerors through Jesus.
Jesus has already overcome.
“More than conquerors” means having “Decisive Victory”.
To those of you who have fought the good fight, I tell you honestly that you have punched through hindrances and dispelled the darkness so that you are able to see with more clarity and walk in more freedom.
The battle has been fierce and your adversary has been tough, but you have risen up in faith, stayed the course, and overcome. “Rejoice in victory”, says the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
* Only through the faith of God do we truly live.
* To put all my faith in God and to let him work in my life.
John 16: 33 I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
God, I am amazed at how much my life has changed by just putting all my faith in you. You have worked in my life and I see that. Thank you Jesus for all you have done. Lord Continue to brighten the lights of all us believers so others will come to You “THE ONLY TRUE LIGHT” for Your Glory and our joy! Amen
Read Romans 1:16-32 and see what happens if we surppress the TRUTH!
May “The fruit of the Spirit” be bountiful and overflow in your life as an offering & sweet fragrance to Jesus as you Refresh others with His Agape Love.
*** “I…entreat you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing forbearance to one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
Ephesians 4:2-3
What is Missionary work?
Acts 1:8 says we receive the Holy Spirit so we may bear effective witness to those who need salvation. People are Waiting for the Good News!!!
*The purpose of the church is to worship and witness. Some will go and some will send, but ALL are called to the work of spreading the gospel.
We can love one another by sharing each other’s burdens. We have a lot of talkers in the Body of Christ, but what we need are more believers willing to Listen and Pray. LISTEN! Takes Time!
To make time to listen take Love!
* “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.” James 5:16
Paul and Barnabas set the standard for the Church’s Mission Work when they obeyed God’s call to go forth.
*The local body of believers—those left behind to share Christ with neighbors and friends—equipped the men for their journey. They did so for the same reasons that apply today:
1. The spiritual condition of mankind. Romans 1:21–32 describes this sinful world. Unchecked sin leads people down a slippery slope toward a depraved conscience and, ultimately, a darkened mind that cannot perceive what is right. Every unbelieving person is sliding on that treacherous path.
2. God’s spiritual provision.
The Father responded to mankind’s plight with grace: He sent His only Son Jesus Christ to save the world. On the cross, Christ bore the sin of every person—living, no longer alive, and yet to be born. The offer of salvation is for all; God’s grace is blind to race, creed, and color (Romans 10:12). Those who believe in Jesus are forgiven their sin, and they will spend eternity with the Lord.
3. The commission from Jesus Christ. Acts 1:8 says we receive the Holy Spirit so we may bear effective witness to those who need salvation. Notice that we don’t simply begin at home and work steadily outward.
People everywhere are waiting for the Good News. The word is to be carried far and fast.
The purpose of the church is to worship and witness. Some will go and some will send, but all are called to the work of spreading the gospel. This is not a suggestion; it is a command (Matthew 28:19). Believers living in God’s will are all to be involved in missionary work.
Matthew 28: 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
So often we are encouraged to bring people to church. Yet, we see no examples of where Jesus brought people into the synagogue to get them saved or healed. The miracles happened more often in the workplace because that was where Jesus could be found.
Jesus had less response and found more resistance in the synagogue than in the workplace.
Jesus took the gospel to and modeled the gospel in the workplace. That is where the power of God was manifested.
This is not to say we should not bring people to church, only that our priority should be to “bring the Church into the workplace”, NOT bring the workplace into the church.
Paul understood this when he said, “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, so that your faith might not rest on men’s wisdom, but on God’s power” (1 Corinthians 2:4).
Paul understood that it wasn’t words that impacted people; it was the power of God manifested through him.
Resist the temptation to settle into religious complacency–that place where you are satisfied with what you already know.
The Lord has more to teach you. Let the Lord lead you on an adventure of fresh excitement in obtaining a greater measure of spiritual reality and a closer relationship with Him.
Don’t get stuck in a rut; keep seeking; keep moving forward.
* Philippians 3:12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.
Lord help me to remember why we are doing what we are doing. Why am I a Christian? Thank You Jesus that I am here to be Christ’s servant, doing everything that You ask of me to the best of the ability You have Given to me. Help me see that by doing this I receive my individual reward, which = salvation. This is my vision, my focus for my individual journey as well as sharing this great message of Salvation with others for Your Glory and our Eternity!
To be Your servant is an act of obedience and needs action. Help us speak of Jesus and not be ashamed! ” Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth”. Amen
Obey the Word of God and you will be walking in the Spirit of God for the Word is Spirit and Truth.
Matthew 26:41 Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”
*You have to believe in the “Power of the Word” and resist the power of the flesh.
*Wash your mind with the power of the word. Renew Your Mind. (Romans 12:2).
Acts 1:8 “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere……”
* This verse really Defines our Purpose- “Telling people about JESUS”.
*God has poured out the Holy Spirit on us when we asked Him into our hearts and through the Holy Spirit God is calling us to witness/disciple to others.
The way you walk in the Spirit is through living by, conducting your Actions according to, and following the leading of the Word of God as given to you by the Holy Spirit.
*The Holy Spirit and the Word of God agree “Perfectly” because the Holy Spirit IS the one who inspired the written Word of God.
*Denying the flesh will not result in walking in the Spirit.
*Walking in the Spirit will result in denying the flesh.
** As a whole, false religions teach that as we overcome our flesh, there is a noticeable increase in the presence and power of God in our lives. That was what the Pharisees of Jesus’ day and the legalistic Jews of Paul’s day taught.
BUT– Just the opposite is true.
As we experience more of the presence and power of the Spirit of God, then the Influence of the flesh is diminished.
**Victory must come in this order. We don’t walk in the Spirit as a result of overcoming the flesh, rather overcoming the flesh is the result of walking in the Spirit.
It’s similar to how you fill a dark room with light. You don’t shovel out the darkness and then light appears. No! You simply turn on the light and the darkness flees.
Much of religion preaches to stop sinning (get rid of the darkness) and then the Holy Spirit will come and empower you (the light will come). That’s not the way it works according to the word.
* MAN or SELF can no more get rid of the power of the flesh on his own than he can get rid of the power of darkness without light.
” This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth”. 1John 1:5-6.
*God hates sin and is holy. The reason there are bad things allowed is because He gave US choice. The possibility of sin is created by OUR free choice. God gets the most glory when you choose to glorify and follow God. God is sovereign.
*** We have to Receive the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives by Grace and then the union with the Holy Spirit breaks the power of the flesh.
***** The key to breaking the dominion of the flesh is to appropriate the power of the Spirit through faith, while the flesh is still causing us problems.
Recognize that your experiences will be marked by great expectations and great resistance. The great expectations come from your faith to receive the promises the Lord has made to you in His word.
The great resistance is a result of more pressure from the enemy. The choices you make at this time to both believe and to fight will determine the nature of your spiritual environment. Be diligent to walk in the Spirit.(We fight from Victory not for Victory. 1JN 4:4).
Galatians 5:16. I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
*Do you struggle with an independent spirit? When you refuse to depend on God, in essence, you’re saying, “Okay, God, I appreciate that You’re around, but watch me do this.”
Depending on God for everything may be difficult, but it’s the key to the Victory we need every single day of our lives.
*Choose to stop living independently, (pride) and rely on the Holy Spirit.
Acts 5:32 We are witnesses of these things and so is the Holy Spirit, who is given by God to those who obey him.”
*We can not live in sin and also live for God.
We can not receive power from the Holy Spirit while we are living in sin, because we can not receive the Spirit unless we are obedient to Him.
*”A person can not serve two masters, he will either hate the one and love the other, or love the one and hate the other.”
**We must choose God as our Master, receive His Holy Spirit, and live in obedience to Him. This is the path of righteousness.
*Do you make decisions based on the potential outcome or by the direction of the Holy Spirit in your life?
* Do you overly evaluate the pros and cons without consideration to what the Holy Spirit might be saying deep inside? *We are all prone to make decisions based on reasoning alone.
* Ask God to give you a willingness and ability to hear the Holy Spirit and to obey His promptings.
Hebrews 5:8 Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.
***Obey the Word of God and you will walking in the Spirit of God for the Word is Spirit and Truth.
Lord, I am struggling to obey You as I should. At Times I am frustrated and afraid- due to lack of finances, lack of results and at times tired and want to quit. Please continue to fill me hourly with Your Spirit and enable me to do what I cannot do on my own. Lord help me keep working toward Your will and purpose for my life of telling people about Jesus and His Love. Father, forgive me for not constantly being on watch for temptations. Forgive me for not praying to you regularly. But- Lord I thank you for the guidance and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. God I realize that I can’t do this alone. I need your help so that I can recognize Satan’s temptation and need Your help to avoid sins-Because victory is Mine Because of your great Love for me on that Cross. Help me to pray without Ceasing and give me the willingness and ability to hear the Holy Spirit through your word and to obey ALL Your promptings to lift the Body up and give encouragement to all for Your Glory. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Read MoreThe best way to know if you’re grown in faith is to ask yourself if you look more like Jesus.
Only after we have “put off” the old man and “put on” the new are we truly set free to praise the Lord with a whole heart.
* “Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; Praise is becoming to the upright.”Psalm 33:1
*You can rejoice this morning because the Word of God that you meditate and ponder on is “right and true.” You do not have to doubt or question the truths and the wisdom that come from His Word. In the midst of living lives in this chaotic and confusing world, God’s Word comes through like a beacon in a storm. Rejoice and praise God today because of His Word.
*Because we have been made pure through Jesus, our response should be to praise Him.
THE BRIDE
What would a man think if his bride-to-be invited him to her house, sat him in
the living room and then went her way? While he waits, she works in the
kitchen, dusts the furniture, mops the floors—and never says a word to him!
Jesus endures the same pain any man would feel if his beloved continually
praised him, saying “I love you” over and over, yet showed him little or no
attention! WE Need a personal Relationship with Jesus!
The sweetheart may claim, “Well, he’s always on my mind.” I have heard
people say that about Jesus: “He’s on my mind all day, in everything I
do.”
BUT you can have Him on your mind all day and still neglect Him!
**When a bride-to-be does this, her so-called love is a lie! She may tell her fiancé she truly loves him, but her Actions tell him she does not.
The Lord asks, “Can a virgin forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet
My people have forgotten Me days without number” (Jeremiah 2:32).
* David also said Israel kept forgetting the Lord: “They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt”. (Psalm 106:21).
The Lord mentioned His pain in Scripture for the whole world to see! He said openly, “My people neglect Me for days on end!”
Why would the Lord tell the world about such neglect? Shouldn’t lovers’ differences be kept quiet?
No—He wants us to know how hurt He is! He tells the whole world because He is so heartbroken by our behavior!
Imagine that you are an engaged young woman going to church with your
husband-to-be. You grasp his hand and tell everyone, “We’re going to be
married. I love him—he is absolutely wonderful!” But as soon as you are out
the door, you just clam up and do not say a word to him! What is he supposed to think?
I would not want a bride who extols my virtues– says loving things about me in
public, tells me how precious I am, and then later gets cold and avoids
spending time with me. That is not true affection!
If you do not have quality time with Jesus every day—if you do not
spend time in prayer with Him, or seeking His Word—you do not love Him and you are breaking His heart!
Be free of all bondage and keep your heart pure before the Lord. Then, you will be able to discern spiritually. However, anything that creates darkness in your soul will cause you to dump down in the flesh and will cloud your spiritual perceptions. Be on guard, for this is a time when seductions to choose flesh over Spirit are rampant. Obtain and maintain purity.
*Psalms 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
FAITH NEEDS ACTION!
*We haven’t learned the Word of God until we lived the Word of God.
*One of the primary purpose’s of the Holy Spirit is for us to be witnesses of the Good News of Jesus.
Teaching and learning in the scriptures, are much more than academic.
* It involves being guided by God’s principles in relationship to others, as well as knowing and responding to God. *It calls for the learner to put the Word of God into practice, not just hear it (Jas. 1:22).
* It involves hearing a word from the outside and putting it on the inside, so that it may be expressed in our every action. If we obey the scripture and prove ourselves to be doers of the word rather than only listeners, we will truly show forth the love of Christ. People that merely listen hear about God’s judgement and wish…
* Proverbs 2 tells us to incline our ear unto wisdom, apply our heart to understanding, cry after knowledge, lift up our voice for understanding, seek her as silver, search for her like hidden treasures, and then we will understand and find the knowledge of God (Prov. 2:1-7).
God says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6), and He admonishes us to meditate on His Word day and night that we may observe to do all that is written therein.
*Extreme love: acknowledges God’s wisdom. You must know and do! ACTION! One reason why many believers have no clearer understanding of God’s word is, they close their eyes to TRUTH which they do not wish to practice.(Philippians 3:8)
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)
Lord, thank You for one of the greatest freedoms You have given all of us is the freedom to be ourselves. Help us NOT to focus on trying to be like everyone else and focus on what YOU have planned for us to be! Knowing You Lord through Your Word for who You are is a powerful and freeing feeling. Increase Daily Lord my personal relationship with Christ that everything will fall into place for Your Glory and my Joy! Amen
I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, (Philippians 3:10).
Read MoreWE are the BRIDE of CHRIST!
Paul describes the bride of Christ as “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing”
(Ephesians 5:27).
JESUS WANTS THE BEST FOR HIS BRIDE-THE CHURCH BODY!
How it must break the Lord’s heart when we question His ability and desire to do the best for us!
The Bible for example, tells us clearly how the Lord took wonderful, care of Ruth. Ruth pledged her love to Jehovah God and told Naomi, her mother-in-law: “Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God” (Ruth 1:16).
God loved Ruth and opened up every door for her. She was poor and had to glean in the fields, but Scripture says, “She happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz . . .” (Ruth 2:3).
When Ruth Went Out into the fields, God provided for her.
If you are waiting for God to provide, consider this: He may be waiting for you to take the First step to demonstrate just how important your need is.
Ruth task was tough, tiring, & perhaps not a custom to that type of work, but she did it faithfully.
*What is your attitude when the task you have been given is not up to your true potential?
**The task at hand may be all you can do,
** or it may be the work God wants you to do.
**Or, as in Ruth’s case, it may be a test of your character that can open doors of opportunity.
Not only did Ruth take the initiative to work, she worked hard.
There are times when hard work with little rest is our only option.
* Boaz noticed Ruth’s hard work. Had she considered herself too proud or embarrassed to work that particular job, she would have missed the opportunity of meeting Boaz, changing her life, & becoming the ancestor of a king and Messiah.
Boaz gladly welcomed Ruth, because she was hard working, loving, kind & brave.
These qualities gained her a good reputation, but only because she displayed them consistently in all areas of her life.
Where ever Ruth went or whatever she did, her character remained the same. **Your reputation is formed by the people who watch you at work, in town, at home, in church.
** A good reputation comes by consistently living out the qualities you believe in no matter what group of people our surroundings you are in.
Boaz saw Ruth in the fields and
immediately discerned, “She’s different, really different.” His heart was
captured!
What a love story and what incredible circumstances brought it all about. Ruth
married this godly man, and if the Lord would do that for Ruth, Will He not do
right by His own bride, in EVERY circumstance?
We have Someone who is richer and mightier than Boaz. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He knows all and can do all and He loves His bride!
***Yes, the Lord works Everything in your life for YOUR absolute Best. And He takes great pleasure in doing so.
Even in suffering and trials, every lover of Jesus gets His full attention!
*Yet, sadly, we often do not Rest in that. *We doubt He is on the job at all
times, working out all things to our good.(Ro. 8:28).
Paul describes the bride of Christ as “a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing”
(Ephesians 5:27). “Wrinkle” here means “fold,” as on one’s face—a wrinkled brow.
This speaks of worry, fretting, and Paul is saying that Jesus’ bride will have no “worry lines” on her face.
*The bride of Christ Rests in Jesus love.
*The Bride of Christ is confident-Jesus knows where she is, how she feels, what she is going through, and what is best for her.
* Jesus love gives her peace and calm. *She knows He will not allow anything that will cut her off from Him or hurt her.
* Jesus is going to preserve her because He said, “She’s mine!”
The light of revelation is shining as a beacon of understanding to reveal your own heart. You can’t do anything about what you cannot see. But, when the light comes you will be able to see your thoughts, emotions, desires and will more completely and make adjustments where necessary. The Lord is calling you to Himself to be the Bride without spot or wrinkle, and this is a time of preparation.
“For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25).
**This is what it means when Jesus laid down His life for His bride. This is what it means when Paul said: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish” (Eph 5:25-28).
This principle is key to impacting the world for Jesus Christ.
* The family has been greatly wounded by a failure to understand this principle. *This has also led men and women to become slaves instead of sons and daughters of our Heavenly Father.
Today, if you are a husband, commit yourself to laying down your life for your bride.
*We are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ. 2 Corin. 5:20-21
The best way to know if you’re grown in faith is to ask yourself if you look more like Jesus.
See to it that you are not harboring any offenses or bitterness in your heart so that there are no divisions among you.
Division will hinder your walk with the Lord and keep you stuck in the flesh instead of walking in the Spirit.
You need to be free, but you cannot attain that liberty until you truly forgive and release others.
Don’t let another day go by allowing this judgment to stand.
1 Corinthians 3:3 for you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men?
Lord, thank You for Your Church the Bride of Christ. Help us ALL to go out and Boldly proclaim the Love You have for ALL people. Let others see Jesus in an through us as the Body of Christ. Let the divisions be no more! Let us Lift up Jesus in Unity for Your Glory and our Joy. Amen
Read MoreJesus said Come, follow Me!
We love others by being real and genuine with them. If we are being transparent with God (on the inside), He will enable us to be real and genuine with others (on the outside).
* “…in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.”
2 Corinthians 1:12
Vision, no matter how clear, tends to rust over time. We need to hear it again and again.
‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.'” Matthew 4:19
There is one basic difference between a man who fishes for fish and man who fishes for men. When you fish for men you never throw anyone back. Men who are caught for Jesus do not go back to swim in the cesspool of this world. Once you have been caught by God you are set free to swim forever in the crystal clear water of life!
Our calling has three distinct stages, which we can see in the lives of many called before us, to become mature fishers of men who greatly impact God’s Kingdom.
* First, there is the gestation period. This is the development stage of our lives. It may involve years of normal work experiences. You may be a Christian during this time, or you may be following after worldly success as a non-Christian.
*Paul spent years in religious and political training, persecuting believers most of his early life.
* Moses spent years in the court of Pharaoh and 40 years tending flocks in the desert.
*Jesus spent 30 years living at home and working in His father’s carpentry business.
However, all these years were part of their preparation.
***For you, the gestation period was_______________
*Second is the Crisis Stage.
Sooner or later, God calls you into relationship with Him.
For many, like Paul, it comes through dramatic encounters like being knocked off a horse, blinded and spoken to personally by God.
*Some people are more difficult than others to reach and so require this level of crisis.
*This is a time when God requires major changes so that you follow Him fully. It can be a time in which God harnesses years of experience for a new life purpose.
* Paul’s earthly experiences would be used in his calling to the religious and political leaders of his day.
*For Moses, the burning bush experience would begin his journey in which he would discover his ultimate calling after years of preparation.
* For Peter, it was his denial of Jesus three times that allowed him to face his shallow commitment to Christ.
** For Jesus, it was the garden of Gethsemane.
**These were the benchmark turning points for men who made an impact on their world.
***For you, the Crisis Stage was_______________
**Third is the Fruit-Bearing Stage.
In it, God’s power is manifested in your life like never before.
God takes all your experiences and uses them to build His Kingdom in and through your life.
*Your obedience to this final call results in fruitfulness you could never imagine without the long preparation process. *For Abraham, it resulted in becoming the father of many nations.
* For Paul, it resulted in bringing the gospel to the Gentiles.
* And for Peter, it meant becoming the leader of the Church.
*For Jesus, it was salvation for the entire world.
***For you, the fruit-bearing stage was_______________
What does God want to achieve through your life?
God has a plan that is so incredible you cannot comprehend it. It requires only that you love Him and follow Him. Then you will become fishers of men like the world has never known.
2 Timothy 2: 2 You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others.
The Lord is enlightening the eyes of your understanding so that you can see beyond your circumstances and temporary issues to view and understand your calling more fully. This light will bring perspective so that you don’t obsess about that which will come to pass. Set your eyes and your faith on the things that matter long-term, and don’t worry.
**Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
Lord, You know where we are, You know what to say and You know how to make it ALL work out for Your Purpose and Your Glory. Help me use the giftings you have given me to help Seek & save the lost and Count the cost.
God spark the enthusiasm in my life-help me see today from your perspective. Amen
Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. TEACH these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:19-20).
‘Come, follow Me,’ Jesus said, ‘and I will make you fishers of men.'”
Jn 17:17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth.
Absolute Truth can only be found in an absolute God. Truth is the Word. The Word that became flesh. Jesus. The complete and concrete physical evidence of truth.
When we do the truth, we are exercising “Jesus” and thus we are in Him. There is an anointing that comes from the Holy One, the Holy Spirit. This Spirit of Truth leads us into the Truth, teaches us the Truth and keeps us in the Truth.
“because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever”(2JN 1:2).
The Cross has been forgotten in many Christian homes and churches, simply because we have chosen to place our human happiness above God’s Will.
*”For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18
Sometimes the enemy whispers, “You don’t really love yourself, and that’s why you can’t love others”. This way of thinking only reinforces our root problem of self-centeredness, and Satan rejoices.
** “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh…”
Romans 13:14
*That’s where the battle begins! God calls me to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ”, & to make no plans to satisfy the fleshly desires. This is a daily, hourly focus – putting on Christ as our Lord & Master, & planning instead to honor & glorify Him!
Why then, must the church be unified?
* The church is supposed to mirror God…it should be the most important institution in the world.
*Unity in the church has been totally confused…we have a generation of confused Christians…
*People today are more loyal to their culture or denomination than their Christian faith…
*A divided church keeps the Lord at a distance…
*Humanity should adjust to our faith…not the other way around…
*Biblical Unity has to be a premium if we want the church to succeed.(TRUTH)
Jesus Prayed for You and Me!!
John 17:21 “That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.”
*Jesus is praying for all believers to be ONE as He and the Father are ONE.
This goes far beyond what many promote as unity today. Paul besought the Corinthians to “all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Cor. 1:10). This is God’s standard of UNITY.
*This oneness among believers is what Jesus said would cause the World to KNOW that Jesus is the Son of God.
*This oneness is the greatest tool for evangelism that the church has.
** The only way that Christ’s body will be one as the Father and Jesus are One is through God’s kind of love.
No wonder Satan tries to get believers to go at each others’ throats. We spend billions of dollars a year on evangelism through television, radio, conventions and crusades, yet, the world is not evangelize—- BECAUSE the Body of Christ is NOT United in LOVE.
* Regardless of what strife and division has occurred, all believers are still one in Christ and will live in perfect oneness throughout eternity.
*We are now one in Spirit. We just need to experience that unity here on earth.
Read More
It is only when we move past discouragement to Praise that we begin living above our
problems.
“For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But
God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No
discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a
peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way”. Hebrews 12:10-11
GOD KNOWS WHAT IS BEST FOR US!
*”Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive
mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:16
There are times when God takes things from us and other times when we pray for things
we think we need and God does not give them to us. Nevertheless
“…the Lord knows the way of the righteous” (Psalm 1:6).
** One day God’s action will Prove to be for the benefit of us and for His kingdom!
*The truest satisfaction in life comes from being in the perfect will of God,
doing His work, living according to His choosing.
* But most of us are convinced
that only we know what we need in order to be fulfilled and happy.
* And, in most cases, what we believe is best for us actually would ruin us!
Never in the history of mankind has God taken anything from one of His children
without bringing in something better, more beautiful, more fulfilling.
God’s best is not something to fear; He not only knows what is best for you,
He wants you to have His best!
* If we truly believed this it would produce such rest, peace and joy in us! *We would
not grieve over letting go of things.
*We would know we’ve been set free from all bondage!
*We would say, “Lord, if You are taking this from me, it must mean You have
something much better for
me. So take it—You can have it!”
We need to rest in the loving hand of our Father! We need to come to
the point of trust where we say, “I have a loving Father who wants the very
best for me. He knows it all!”
How did Job finally come to a place of rest?
Job persuaded himself that God knew what He was doing and that everything was under
control!
Job said “But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as
gold” (Job 23:10).
Many Christians see God at work in their lives yet they still wonder, “What
if I blow it? What if I do something wrong and God gets angry or impatient with me?
Will all His promises fail me? Will I have to settle for something less than
His best?” No—never!
If your heart is right before God, if you keep returning to Him and seeking Him with all
your heart, nothing will change His plans for you!
It is impossible to appreciate any valley experience while we are in it. However, once we
have reached the top of the mountain, we are able to appreciate what terrain we have
passed through. We marvel at what we were able to walk through. The valley of the
shadow of death has yielded more than we ever thought possible. We are able to
appreciate the beauty of the experience and lay aside the sorrow and pain it may have
produced
Look around you, and see economies and governments beginning to crumble. Truly, the
signs of end-time events are all around you. Yet, this is not a time when you should be
afraid, but a time to rejoice that the day of redemption draws near. This is a time when
your hope will be realized in putting your trust in the Lord, and not in world systems.
Your faith is too precious to waste on man-made empires. Set your heart and faith on
things Eternal and not on the temporary.
Luke 21:28 “Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads,
because your redemption draws near.”
It’s only in GOD and his WORD that we find all the happiness that we need on this earth.
He never brakes you down but lifts you up, His word gives and rejuvenates lost hope and
energy.
By meditating on God’s word we find all reasons to rejoice thus happiness that never
ends, for you are not conformed to earthly ways.
Lord, Thank you for being my defender and I thank you Lord for being my provider. I
thank you Lord for fighting my battles. I thank you Lord for guiding my footsteps. Thank
you Lord for not allowing me to slip, I thank you for holding me up. You are so great and
so awesome and I love you Lord with all my heart. Draw me near Lord to you. I just
want to know you more. Keep my mind right Lord. I bless your holy name. In Jesus
name I pray. Amen
John 10:27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.
Scriptures are God’s Words!!
Jesus did not say “My sheep hear my scriptures”.
Scriptures ARE God’s Words!!
Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into
practice.” Luke 11:28
We don’t just listen or read what the Bible says but we listen to the Holy Spirits Words
and apply its teachings (His Voice) into our daily life, making us more and more like
Him.
*We can hear God’s voice through the pages of His Word.
*We can hear Him through that still small voice within.
*God can communicate to you through a dream or vision.
* God, at times will use another person as His vessel through which He will speak.
The Common Method that God speaks in this season is through His word.
If we want to understand anything about God-we have to study his word to understand
His Nature and His Character.
The word is living and active and is proceeding truth for today.
Luke 11:28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and
put it into practice.”
This is a profound message from The Lord that is often overlooked. To hear the Word of
God & not follow it is a curse. We need some Action.
The Christian world has become immune to the holy wisdom of God. Most believe that
memorizing the Word of God is better than Doing that which the Word commands.
Likewise, we have reduced ourselves to speaking profound words that have no substance
in Christ.
*Unless we place the Truth of God in our hearts, we cannot and do not have a
relationship with The Lord.
*We cannot will it to be. We must become intimate with the Lord!
* Words spoken by man means nothing to God.
*Demonstrating intellectual knowledge of the scriptures have no merit, unless it is
demonstrated in our Actions and instilled in our hearts.
As I meet more & more self professed Christians, I am amazed at the lack of
understanding of the need for man to have an Intimate Relationship with God.
*How can we follow him, if we don’t know him?
*How can we teach of him, if we don’t spend time learning from him.
**We have reduced God merely to a “thought” rather than Lord of our life…Lord of our
hearts….Lord of ALL!
* Where do you stand? Where are you in your relationship with Christ? Do you have an
intimate relationship with Christ Jesus?
*The greatest gift you can give to God is your heart. Amen!
“The hand of the Lord was upon me there, and He said to me, ‘Get up and go out to the
plain, and there I will speak to you.'” Ezekiel 3:22
* God speaks in many different ways to His children.
*Again—We don’t just listen or read what the Bible says but we Listen to the Holy
Spirits Words and apply its teachings (His Voice) into our daily life, making us more
and more like Him.
*We can hear God’s voice through the pages of His Word.
Mark 7:13 And so you cancel the word of God in order to hand down your own tradition.
And this is only one example among many others.”
The Word of God has power. However, you could loose the value or the effects that the
Word has in your life by focusing on excessive rules and standards.
The Lord is enlightening the eyes of your understanding so that you can see beyond your
circumstances and temporary issues to view and understand your calling more fully.
This light will bring perspective so that you don’t obsess about that which will come to
pass. Set your eyes and your faith on the things that matter long-term, and don’t worry.
* Ephesians 1:18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know
what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints.
Jesus explains clearly that we who have trusted in Him for salvation not only know the
voice of our Savior but also are kept securely by the Almighty, unfailing Heavenly
Father.
We can know we are saved and can rest secure in His salvation. Because it is the perfect
and all-powerful God Who saves us, keeps us, secures us for eternal life and the joys of
heaven. We cannot lose salvation because we have not attained it ourselves. Salvation is
God’s to give, and “no man can pluck [me] out of my Father’s hand.”
Lord, help me to stop and listen for you! I want to hear you! Jesus, teach me your word
so I will know your voice.
In Jesus Name, Amen
John 1:1 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the
Word was God. 2 He existed in the beginning with God. 3 God created everything
through him, and nothing was created except through him. 4 The Word gave life to
everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.
Have a great WEEK!!!!!
*The presence of trouble does not mean the absence of God.
*God is also our strength to endure the pain and hurt that we are experiencing.
*Get some rest! – Rest in Him not the things around you.
*Recognize God in your life and meet with Him through Scripture and Prayer.
+How does God call you?
+How does God speak to you?
+How does God feed you?
“Be Still, and Know”
Psalm 46:6, 9-10 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; [God] lifts his voice, the earth
melts…. [God] makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters
the spear, he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be
exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
There’s a scene of tremendous uproar. Nations are in uproar. Kingdoms are falling. How
true that is today but, in the midst of it, God’s voice comes forth. *God speaks.
* God intervenes.
*God lifts His voice; the earth melts.
*God intervenes against the forces of iniquity and evil.
***And then He speaks a word to His people in the midst of all the confusion and
turmoil and uproar.
***God says this: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
As we all can see and feel—We are in a situation not far from that today.
Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms are toppling, war is threatening on every hand, but in
the midst of it God speaks to His people and says,
*“Be still, be quiet, don’t be upset, don’t get restless, don’t get nervous. Be still and
know that I am God. I’m still in control!!!!
* God’s purposes are going to work out. He says “I’m going to be exalted over all
nations. I am going to be exalted in the earth.”
Let me give you that advice today. Be still and HEAR the voice of God.
He created all, holds all, knows all, loves all. What could I possibly. do or say to make it
better. NOTHING! I Praise Your name FATHER.
To close things out, the writer speaks God’s admonishment, “Be still”. *Sometimes the
battle has worn you down.
* Sometimes you look up and there is nothing left.
**No matter how hard you try, you can’t press forward. By all accounts, it seems as if the
enemy has finally won.
*You try to pray, but the words don’t flow forward with any fluency.
*You turn to friends, but you find them complaining too.
*You turn to mother, but mother is incapable of producing any relief.
**At this moment of despair, GOD steps in and simply says, “BE STILL, I’ve got it from
here.
Although we are promised trials and persecution, we know that Abba is still in control.
Jesus has been given all authority under heaven and earth. Trials are temporary.
We can rely and trust in Abba. Although we may not understand why trials happen, we
know that ALL is for His glory.
There are many distractions in the world, many so easily take our focus away from God
and on to ourselves, or to our circumstances.
**We must keep our eyes only on God, the One who saves, delivers, shows us mercy and
grace.
*No other person, no other god, no other thing, can do this.
As we go about our day, let us remove those distractions, lay them at His feet and trust
His will.
1. God is able
2. God is all power
3. God is a healer
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD!!!!
Refuse to give in to the frustration that has come as a result of dealing with hindrances.
Instead, set yourself to seek the Lord for wisdom and clarity, for HE will give you the
grace to accomplish what He has set before you. This is certainly not a time when you
should get discouraged and give up. You are on the brink of breakthrough. Keep
pushing. Keep trusting. Keep the faith! *Isaiah 58:8 Then your light shall break forth
like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go
before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Lord, I will be still and know You are God…You are my Counselor, Father. Speak to my
heart, spirit, and mind…Lead me, Guide me, Show me…thank You, Jesus…Let me praise
Your Glorious Name!
I forget at times that God will allow bad times in our lives so that we seek to draw closer to Him, and appreciate His goodness and the value of being unified with Him through Christ.
Ecclesiastes 7:14 Enjoy prosperity while you can, but when hard times strike, realize that both come from God. Remember that nothing is certain in this life.
In All circumstances keep looking for God’s goodness and keep standing in the Love of God’s greatest Gift to us ALL, JESUS! (See John 3:16).
As Jesus is preparing to die.. He stops .. And thinks about YOU .. He prays for you!
Read John 17 and Listen:
*V9 Jesus says to the Fathers he is praying for those who KNOW Him…
*V15 … He asks for protection from the evil one (satan) .. KNOW satan is real and seeking to destroy you …
*V20 . Again he repeats He is praying for you who chose to follow His name …
Please read the whole Chapter of John 17 and live in peace and comfort knowing Jesus prayed for each of us ..
Thank you Jesus for thinking of me in your darkest hour. Thank you for your never ending love for me …
2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Anyone who desires to live for God, reject the devil, and reject the world’s system, must know God’s Word.
*We must study the scriptures, for they reveal the Will of God for OUR Actions and Attitudes.
*To be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, we must be filled with God’s Word.
*Knowledge of God’s will is foundational in developing Christian conduct and character.
*There is no way we can fulfill God’s will if we don’t know what it is.
People are tired and worn out because of lack of knowledge and full of ignorance. (Matthew 11:28, 29+Hosea 4:6)
The Word is strong enough to break away or apart any darkness.
*If you focus light long enough on anything, that thing will break or melt away.
*We may all want instant gratification but that is not how God works with all things.
*The light of the word drives out demonic activity.
**We must pray and sanctify ourselves by the word. Take a look at 2 Peter 1:3-7.
“In Him we live, move, and have our being.”
Heavenly Father, thank You for equipping me. Thank You for empowering me. Help me to stay focused on Your Word and Your plan for me today. Help me to walk in Your anointing so that I can do all You’ve called me to do. Lord, please help us to not just learn your words but to live them. Help us to apply them and change our lives as a result. I bless You today in Jesus’ name. AMEN.
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