Devotions - Prayer
Christians are called to unity because we have one God and one faith. Should we not be one people?
Have we allowed our prideful thoughts, wounded emotions and self-centered desires to quench God’s Love in our hearts and separate us from each other?
* “If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness.” 1 John 2:9
What did Jesus do to you when He cleansed you?
*He wiped away all your guilt and made you clean and whole.
* He put joy in your soul and filled you with such love for Him that you would follow Him anywhere and do anything for Him.
***That is the secret of unity– When you take up the towel of mercy for a
hurting, fallen brother, you encourage him by embracing him in his hurt. By
washing that person’s feet, you construct a firm foundation for true unity and glorious fellowship.
*You are made one by your common experience.
This message is for me as much as for anyone else. I have just recently come
into this convicting knowledge of what foot washing is truly about. And by
God’s grace, I will take up the towel of mercy along with others and seek out
those hurting ones whose feet need cleansing.
Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also
ought to wash one another’s feet. . . . If ye know these things, happy are ye
if ye do them” (John 13:14, 17).
Now that we “know these things,” as Jesus said, we can do them. I ask you: Are you willing and ready to take up your towel in love?
There is one body and one Spirit just as you were called to one hope when you were called… (Ephesians 4:4).
**Therefore, the way to create unity is simply to bring people to Christ, and the unity of the Spirit will be produced in them by the Spirit.
As we apply this great truth there are certain things that are evident:
First, we cannot classify Christians by organizations.
*We cannot say that all those who belong to this Denomination, for instance, are Christians, but all those who are THIS Denomination, are not.
*God’s Spirit forever over-leaps human boundaries. The unity of the Spirit will be found in people in many different groups.
*We will find Christians everywhere, and it becomes our responsibility to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace with Christians wherever we find them.
A second conclusion suggests that those who have entered into this unity of the Spirit cannot possibly join in an evangelistic endeavor with those who deny this fundamental unity. Why not?
*Because our actions are determined by our beliefs.
*These are such fundamental beliefs that they set the direction of our life.
*Where one person accepts these and has experienced them and someone else does not, you have two fundamentally separate directions.
*It is impossible for one person to ride two horses going in opposite directions.
There comes a third practical application of this.
The efforts of Christians are not to be directed toward creating unity BUT toward maintaining peace in the body. That is the way Paul puts it:
**“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4: 3).
* It is important that Christians not be quarreling, bickering, and struggling against one another.
* A church that is like that is a totally ineffective body in its community.
* It is important that when Christians meet together they recognize that they are called to understand one another, to forbear one another, to pray for one another, to forgive one another, to be kind, tenderhearted, not holding grudges, not being unforgiving, bitter, resentful, and hateful toward each other.
*This is where the Spirit aims when He comes into our midst, at the healing of long-standing grudges, deep-seated resentments, and bitter hostilities that are harbored against one another.
*We must fulfill what the apostle tells us to do, to maintain the unity of the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:1. Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
*Being a Christian isn’t about making a weekly trip to church. We need to move forward and develop the character of God so others can actually see Jesus working in a practical way.
Ephesians is all about unity in diversity. At the core of this short letter is a simple statement of God’s intent —to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ. (Ephesians 1:10).
But unity doesn’t come easily. It requires reconciliation to achieve it, and submission to sustain it. The first is God’s work, the second, ours.
*First, Paul revels in the glorious mystery of reconciliation of God with His creation – making us His children.
*He goes on to joyously describes the reconciliation of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ – the people of Israel, and the rest – making us all His people.
*He then describes the importance of right relationships in the church- making us His family.
*And finally, Paul shows how all this is sustained – through the spiritual armour with which God so marvellously clothes us, and the mighty power of prayer!
Wonderful! We’re all One!
Your plans, ideas, and religious ideals are about to be challenged. There are things you thought you knew or understood, but you will find out that some of your concepts were rough constructions. Now, you will get to see those thoughts come under the scrutiny of experience. When this process is complete, you will see and know
the point of error and come to truth. In so doing, our spiritual and experiential
foundation will be more solid.
*1 Corinthians 3:11 For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Father, may Your Spirit search my heart about my attitude toward others. Thank You that it is not my calling to produce a union of Christians but rather to discover that unity produced only by the Holy Spirit. Amen
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Fear of the LORD teaches wisdom; humility precedes honor (Proverbs 15:33).
*Everything is from God!
Let the whole world fear the LORD, and let everyone stand in awe of him (Psalm 33:8).
* Those who look to the Lord are radiant! Psalm 34:5
* Let God’s Agape Love and Light radiate from within you today!
* “..for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness…But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love…”
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty man (Ecclesiastes 12:13b).
This verse reveals the secret of wholeness. To “fear God and keep his commandments” is to learn to be and to discover the secret of being a whole person. Who does not want that?
*We all want to be whole persons—not broken, fragmented, easily upset, erratic, going off in all directions at once, but stable, controlled, balanced, whole people.
Here is the secret of it.
Everything hangs upon that word FEAR.
FEAR is a difficult word for us to comprehend.
Most of us think of it in terms of abject terror, of running from God, of seeing Him as a threat, but that is Never the Biblical meaning of the word.
I have put it in the form of an acrostic to make it easier for us to remember what the elements of fearing God include.
First,
F stands for faith in His existence.
* You cannot come to God unless you know He is there.
Hebrews 11:6 says, “Anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”
*There is where fear begins: faith that God exists. The whole of the created universe is shouting that at us. All the inner responses of our heart are confirming it.
The Word of God declares it. History confirms it. There is a world of evidence that God is there.
Then
E: experience of His grace.
*You never can properly fear God until you have learned what kind of a God He is.
*He is a God of mercy, of grace, of forgiveness. Until you have stood before Him and felt your guilt, acknowledged it, known you were wrong and corrupt, and heard Him say in your inner heart,
**“Neither do I condemn you… Go now and leave your life of sin” (John 8:11), *You will never be able to properly fear God. One element of fear is the experience of the wonder of forgiveness, that God forgives and sends you out with a whole new purpose and a new resource available.
That leads to the third element.
A: awe at the majesty, the wisdom, and the wonder of God.
* What a Being He is! What a marvelous mind that can comprehend all the billions of pieces of information in this universe and hold them continually before Him, that can hear every voice and relate to every person who has ever lived! What a marvelous God! Awe at the sense of His majesty, His comprehensiveness, His unfailing wisdom and power, is part of fearing God.
The last letter,
R, stands for resolve. Resolve to do what He says, to “keep His commandments,” as the Searcher puts it here. There are only two commandments; Jesus Himself said that. All the law and the writings can be reduced to two simple things:
1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). That is in response to His love already shown to you; love Him because He first loved you.
2. “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That’s it. As Micah put it,
*“What does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).
Thank You, Lord for this great book, which has taught me many things, foremost of which is to Fear You and keep Your commandments. Thank You for helping me understand FEAR:
* Faith in Your existence,
* Experience of Your grace,
* Awe at the majesty of God.
* Resolve to “keep Your commands,” Amen
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Read MoreBless the Lord by blessing someone less fortunate today through Your……Time, Talent & Treasures
* “And if you give yourself to the hungry, and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness…and you will be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”
Isaiah 58:10-11
Hebrews 5:12 You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.
4 assumptions of discipleship that many Believers make:
Life change happens at salvation. It continues to occur over time. It is achieved largely by an act of will. It is accomplished alone. -If these assumptions were true, then we would all act in a mature, Christian manner. If not- we need to RETHINK.
#1. Life change BEGINS at salvation.
*When a person has become a Christian, they are not automatically a spiritual giant. There is a process that leads up to discipleship that starts with salvation.
*Salvation is just the start of our journey; it’s the beginning of the race.
*Do you win races at the starting line? No, of course not. It’s ridiculous to think that, so why do we think salvation is the completed step if being a Christian?
#2. Life change takes MORE than time.
*We are in the mindset that if you’ve been a Christian for 10 years, you should be more changed and mature than a Christian of 9 years.
* Hebrews 5:12 states that we should be teachers if God’s word. Yet we are still “being fed milk.”
#3. Life change is about TRAINING, not trying.
*You can have the will to do anything in the world, but that will alone won’t accomplish it.
* If you had never worked out before and wanted to bench press 300 pounds, just having the will to do it won’t help you lift out at all.
#4. Life change is a TEAM effort.
* You cannot survive without the fellowship of other striving Christians.
*Jesus compares us to sheep multiple times in the Bible. One of the reasons is because sheep are herd animals. They cannot survive on their own. There is strength in numbers, even with us as Christians.
These 4 ideas are great to meditate on and grasp as Bodies of Believers. If we understand these, we understand the process of discipleship.
WE MUST SPRING INTO ACTION
*The knowledge of God and Christ is active in our hearts to produce grace and peace.
*We must study to receive the knowledge He has placed here for us, so we can walk in His perfect will.
*No matter where you go you must go to make a difference.
*Kingdom Mindset will allow you to persevere.
*The King in you will give you peace.
*Make the Word of God a part of you because without the word; one is lifeless.
*There is No prayer without the word.
2 Peter 1:2 May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord. (All of 2 Peter 1 is great read here)
*Growing in Christ does not mean just knowing more of His word. That is part of it. But we have to be growing in love. If we’re not, we need to examine our lives (or better yet have someone who knows you do an evaluation) to see if we are truly growing in love and grace towards others.
God’s Character of a New Man.
“The fruit of the Spirit is the spontaneous work of the Holy Spirit in us.
*The Spirit produces these character traits that are found in the nature of Christ.
*They are the by-products of Christ’s control-we can’t obtain them by trying to get them without his help.
*If we want the fruit of the Spirit to grow in us, we must join our lives to His.
**We must know Him, love Him, remember Him, and imitate Him.
** As a result, we will fulfill the intended purpose of the law-to love God and our neighbors.
Which of these qualities do you want the Spirit to produce in you?”
Galatians 5:22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.
*When God’s Holy Spirit is active in our lives He produces fresh fruit that tastes good to those around us. When we try to do things on our own, without His Holy Spirit, it can begin to taste gross.
*Let us rely upon, seek, and walk in His Holy Spirit today! May your fruit always be fresh!!!!
Proverbs 24:12 Don’t excuse yourself by saying, “Look, we didn’t know.” For God understands all hearts, and he sees you. He who guards your soul knows you knew. He will repay all people as their actions deserve.
*We must LIVE the word of God and act on it.
*Don’t let Pride stop you from asking for advice.
It is easy to use the I didn’t know excuse and fool yourself.
*Move Forward and take some ACTION and always take responsibility for your actions and understand that God knows your heart and soul and the real intentions behind your actions.
Heavenly Father thank you for all of the guidance and your Word to keep me on the path to life. God, please give me boldness to take action when You ask me to. Forgive me for my selfishness. Help me to be more giving with my time and money. Give me direction so that I know where to invest those for Your Kingdom work. Amen
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 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 28:18-20.
Read MoreIN A STORM TODAY? Storms will come throughout our life time. Some will be trivial and barely even move us, then the hurricane ones come in different categories or sizes if you wish to call them that way.
These storms, though none of us likes them, reveals where we really stand with the Lord.
Yes I agree, that I wish I could do without them, because they really show where we stand, but that is not the case so I have to accept them knowing that what they reveal will only help me.
I can’t even describe how reading this chapter 107 of Psalms makes me feel. *God loves us so much that even when we turn our backs on Him and disrespect Him, all we have to do is just turn to Him and cry out for His help, and He is with us, no questions asked.
Are you facing trouble in your business or career?
*As you read the following verses, be reminded that career people and businessmen here are likened to seamen in ships.
The great waters signify the big world of competition, an ocean of activity.
” Some went off to sea in ships, plying the trade routes of the world. They, too, observed the LORD’s power in action, his impressive works on the deepest seas. He spoke, and the winds rose, stirring up the waves. Their ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged again to the depths; the sailors cringed in terror. They reeled and staggered like drunkards and were at their wits’ end.” (Psalm 107:23-27).
***These people are God’s beloved saints.
*They are in awe of His greatness and power, but a storm breaks out that is beyond their control. It is not judgment for sin, yet suddenly waves are swamping them, swallowing up their boat.
They are staggered by problems on all sides, and it looks as if their ship is going down.
***Suddenly they are confused and perplexed: “Their soul is melted because of trouble” (verse 26).
*Many career people have told me, “It looks bad. I don’t know what happened, but suddenly I’m in a mess.” They were able to solve their own problems in the past, and to escape one crisis after another.
*With this trial, however, there seems to be no way of escape. They are mentally and physically exhausted.
How easily we forget that our loving heavenly Father is our partner in our
work, regardless of our career or calling.
*Indeed, nothing happens to us without His involvement. He has power over all our difficulties and He has a reason and purpose behind them all.
*What can you do when your business partner has no advice and consultants cannot help you?
*Where do you turn when your spouse, your pastor, your best friend has
nothing to say to you?
* I am not an expert, but I can point you to the seamen in Psalm 107:
**”“LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress. He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!”
(Psalm 107:28-30).
Acts 27:18-19 And because we were exceedingly tempest-tossed, the next day they lightened the ship. On the third day we threw the ship’s tackle overboard with our own hands.
The beginning of peace in our lonely hearts is to get the light on in each room of our lives. The light of God will drive out the fear, the loneliness, the unsettledness, the uncertainty, the void the misery that tries to overwhelm our lives.
God never promised us a smooth ride, but He did promise us that He would never leave us or forsake us.(Heb. 13:5)
1.) Take Heed to Godly Council
• You don’t see the end from the beginning
2.) Measure depth of the situation
3.) Don’t jump ship
• God promises a safe landing
• Just because your sinking doesn’t mean your sunk
4.) Let go of your cargo
*Joshua 1:8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.
*Revelation 21: 7 Those who win the victory will receive this from me: I will be their God, and they will be my children.
Thank You Jesus for the Victory. Thank You for the Peace that is there during our Storms in Life, knowing You are always there with us. Help us to call out to You inALL circumstances! Amen
Read Psalm 91 to find Rest, Refuge, Safety, and be Rescued and Protected!
Read More Talking to God is considered Prayer.
* So take time out of everyday AND all through out the day to talk toYour Father in Heaven.
“Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
4 ways that prayer will help you:
1. It will help you not fall into temptation.
2. It will keep you humble.
3. It will help you have Determination, Strength, Willpower, and Character.
4. It will help you discover Gods Will/Purpose for your life.
If I asked you the purpose for which God made you, what might you say?
*You might give a lot of answers that required some action on your part.
**However, the simplest answer to that question relates to one primary thing: FELLOWSHIP!
The most important thing God desires from us today is to have a deep and intimate fellowship with each of us.
The apostle Paul said he wanted to know Christ, and by knowing Christ he could experience the power of His resurrection.
*”I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection….” – Philippians 3:10
**So often it is much easier to be busy with the urgent (or even Christian) activity than spending quiet moments before the Lord. Think about it–Jesus is with us 24/7. What would it take to give Him a few minutes of Every awaken hour we have?
Now to me, that would be a True Healthy Relationship rather than taking Only a 15 minute time in AM or PM(which is great)—BUT –to Know and Acknowledge Him and Communicate in and about ALLthings–ALLDAY! This would be FELLOWSHIP! Amen
Sometimes, before we realize it, days have passed since our last quiet time with Jesus. This is the First step to backsliding!
Ephesians 6:18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.
Jesus understood how important quiet moments were with the Father. “After He had dismissed them, He went up on a mountainside by Himself to pray. When evening came, He was there alone” (Mt. 14:23).
The more mature I become in my relationship with the Lord, the more precious this time becomes to me.
* It is a time I look forward to almost daily.
* It offers me a time to reflect, to share my concerns with my Lord, and to hear Him speak.
** In the last few years I have begun to communicate in prayer during my work, during activities, mowing the lawn, driving etc. which accomplish two things: Fellowship and Prayer. It has changed my prayer life. It has taken loneliness out. It has taken temptations and worldly thinking out, it has……It has….. because Jesus Lives IN me 24/7!
*I have come to understand that Jesus views us as His friend and He wants to spend time with us- 24/7.
*We are depriving Him of His time when we put Him aside for the urgent or just wait till our quit time at home.
*An interesting thing happens when we make prayer a priority: Urgent things seem to wane as we focus on Him. He makes all these other things fall into place.
* ” This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. ” (Psalm 91:2-3, 14-15).
*Are you taking the time to get to know Him today?
Psalms 34: 6 In my desperation I prayed, and the LORD listened; he saved me from all my troubles.
We need a Vision as Joel:
*The Ability to see beyond the natural realm. This Produces Passion.
* If you want to see your Visions come true put a PLAN to it.
Four Components of Vision 1. Think Big—Jeremiah
*Our Vision is limited by our thinking. We have to see God Big.
*Knowing God through the Word> (Book of John).
*Once you know God through His Word, you’ll know how Big He is.
* Knowing God through Prayer. (Ephesians)- Having Conversations with God. *Knowing God through Praise and Worship, Tithing and Giving– (Psalm)
*Knowing Him through Troubles. (Philippians) God can solve your troubles.
2. Ask Big
You would not intimidate God by asking big. All for His Glory!.
3. Risk Big
If you’re not careful in life you’ll get so complacent.
*Aim for Perfection and you’ll always do great.
* Need to learn how to step out in faith and dream Big.
4. Speak to your vision (Proverbs).
*”Your Vision is only as Big as you think It”
*Speak to the dry bones in your life. “Dry Bones Live Again”
*If you speak faith to your vision it will come to life.
**Vision needs to outlive you, let your vision go from generation to generation it’s one of the most powerful things in your life.
* John 14:13 You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, so that the Son can bring glory to the Father.
*James 4:3 3 And even when you ask, you don’t get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.
*Ask with the right motive. *God wants us to spend time with Him.
Prayer is essential for life! This Relationship with Jesus, gives us purpose, provision, joy and peace.
Lord Jesus I invite You in and pray You will be in my thoughts hourly and that You show me Your will every hour so that I may fulfill things according to Your word for Your Glory and my Joy of continuous Fellowship with You. Amen
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
We aren’t called to be Christians just so we can be happy and content. We are called to be living channels of God’s Love upon this earth.
* “…constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
How do you get out of the trap of Temptation and Sin? To whom do you cry out, “I want my freedom back”?
Whenever we move from playing Christianity to having a genuine encounter with the living Christ, we are confronted with our Own Humanity and Sin compared to the unmerited Love and Power of Jesus Christ that is personally directed to us.
*It should bring us to our knees. It is an awesome experience to transition from Religion to Relationship.
*Life is never the same when you have a personal encounter with our Savior.
Picture yourself as a bird in the fowler’s trap. Stand still. Don’t flap your
wings; don’t struggle. There is a secret of deliverance for you, and it is not
complicated:
“Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth”
Psalm 124: 7 We escaped like a bird from a hunter’s trap. The trap is broken, and we are free! 8 Our help is from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
What a wonderful promise! Your escape to Freedom is in the name of Jesus, in
His incredible, glorious, all-powerful name!!!!
All you have to know is that Jesus is on your side. He is not mad at you for
falling into the trap. Jesus is not against you. No, never!
JESUS hears your cry because not even a sparrow falls to the ground without His knowing about it!
There have been many times in my life when I feel as if the enemy is gleefully enjoying an open season on me and God isn’t blocking anything.
*I have talked to many others that have felt this same way at times and have asked me questions like ‘where was God when my son was killed’; ‘where was God when my daughter was violated by someone who should have been protecting her’; ‘where was God when my spouse decided I was not worth loving anymore’; ‘where was God when the Twin Towers were attacked’; ‘where was God when…’
We see events from our own limited perspective of only the here and now, focusing on what did happen and getting Lost in the magnitude of Despair.
*God sees the whole picture, what did happen and what could have happened.
*It’s not about the glass being half empty or half full, BUT being able to look past the overwhelming emotions and find God– Knowing He is in Control!
When trials and tragedy come it often feels like God has forgotten us or is being cruel by putting us through more than we can handle. This Psalm 124 is a reminder that if God hadn’t been watching over us the trial or tragedy would have destroyed us.
*Instead, we come through to the other side Stronger and More Equipped to face the next step.
Here is what the bird of freedom sings to himself: ” This I declare about the LORD: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me. I will protect those who trust in my name. 15 When they call on me, I will answer; I will be with them in trouble. I will rescue and honor them. ” (Psalm 91:2-3, 14-15).
*Rest assured, that God will deliver you. No matter what your failure, your hardship, your trap, He is on your side.
*Stand still and see His salvation. Even if you are weak, you can cry out to Him because He promises to come and tear the net away!
He has come to bring you out of your despair, to break the snare that binds you and set you FREE. “Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the
fowlers” (Psalm 124:7).
God is the Author of all our deliverances, and he must have the glory.
*The enemies lay snares for God’s people, to bring them into sin and trouble, and to hold them there. *Sometimes they seem to prevail; but in the Lord let us put our trust, and we shall not be put to confusion.
*The believer will ascribe all the honor of his salvation, to the power, mercy, and truth of God, and look back with wonder and thanksgiving on the way in which the Lord has led him.
*Let us rejoice that our help for the time to come is in Him who made heaven and earth!
The strength of your life and health is not only found in joy but in dealing
with things as they come.
* Diligence is the operative word here. Quiet and steady perseverance will benefit you greatly and keep you moving forward.
**This is no time to get stuck in circumstances that seem to be overwhelming. When something seems to be beyond your ability to deal with, trust the Lord for the help that you need.
*The Lord will give you direction, wisdom and strength in all things.
*Psalm 120:1-2 I will lift up my eyes to the hills-From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.
We can call on His name in our times of need. He created everything and is the only One who can meet our needs.
** When I am in trouble, frustrated, or discouraged, I need to turn to Him first. He is the only one who can meet all my needs.
* I am often tempted to put my hope in a pile of different things and people other then God. I will remember why my hope is in God today. “I’m FREE!”
Father, you know where my heart is right now. Help me deal with these feelings, and help me to be patient and wait on You for the answers, not man. Your Word and Truth is Perfect for the soul and I put my Trust in You. God, thank You for creating me. Thank You for loving me enough to listen to me and help me through my troubles. Protect me today, use me today. Thank You for Victory in YOU and YOU ALONE! Amen
Read More “Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away”.
* Doubtful thoughts DO come, BUT we do not sin until we Entertain Them.
*God does not tempt us; He is holy and beyond any sin. We commit sin when we are enticed by our own desires and GIVE IN to temptation– Instead of remembering our Victory in Christ.
*God does not tempt us nor can God be tempted!
WE FIGHT FROM VICTORY! (John 4:4)
*Don’t Be Afraid—Christ in you is bigger than the Satan of this world- “if God is for us, who can be against us?”
*Always Remember– The Lord–What HE Has done for you!!
*When your burden is too heavy to carry, when you feel like you cannot take it anymore just remember Psalm 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!
*The Lord has loaded ME with BENEFITS!
***BENEFITS INCLUDE FORGIVENESS, HEALING, REDEEMING ME FROM THE PIT OF DESTRUCTION AND RESTORING ME LIKE BRAND NEW, HE CROWNS US WITH LOVING KINDNESS AND TENDER MERCIES.
*That is when you will know the joy of walking in repentance.
*Fight For Your Cause–Let your cause ignite a passion in you!
Matthew 6:13, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen.”
*A temptation can be a difficult situation or a pressure.
*Contrary to popular belief, God is not the source of our temptation.
* James 1:13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death.
OUR HOPE!
Luke 5:31 Jesus answered them, (Pharisees) “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. 32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
*The Pharisees wrapped their sin in respectability. They made themselves appear good by publicly doing good deeds and pointing to the sins of others. **Jesus chose to spend time, not with these proud, self-righteous religious leaders, but with people who sensed their own sin and knew that they were not good enough for God.
* When we are under pressure, it is important to realize that God is not trying to entrap us. Satan is called the tempter (Mt. 4:3; 1 Thess. 3:5).
Then why did Jesus instruct us to pray that the Father would not lead us into temptation?
*This was simply a request for guidance so that we could be delivered from evil.
Jesus himself was tempted by Satan (Mt. 4, Lk. 4). He trusted God fully for Provision, Protection, and Purpose. The Father would no more lead us into temptation than He would withhold our daily bread.
*But as stated in James 4:2, “Ye have not because ye ask not.” Both “give us our daily bread” and “lead us not into temptation” are simply requests for what has “Already been Provided” for us.
This part of prayer serves as a reminder to us of God’s promised protection (Ps. 91) and gives us an opportunity to release our faith and appropriate what has already been provided.
“No temptation has seized you but such as is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it” (1 Cor. 10:13 ).
** The victory demonstrated by Jesus is available to us. “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:57). He has given it to you.
*Believe and receive it.
**REPLACE Temptation and Sin with Kingdom Values. (See Matthew 5:1-10)
“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth.” ((Ecclesiastes 12:1) Remembering God does not mean merely thinking about Him once in awhile. It means to relate to Him, walk with Him, discover Him, learn to know Him while you are young.
Temptation is all around us; it is subtle, it is powerful.
*The appeal of the world and the flesh is constantly with us, turning thousands of people away from the truth of God.
*But it gets worse the older you grow. The pressures to conform are greater as you Move Out into Life and business.
How good it is to know the living God, to know that He controls what comes into your life.
* He expects you to make choices; Scripture always encourages that.
* But rejoice in the wisdom of a Father’s heart and richly enjoy what is handed you day-by-day; that is the secret of life.
Such a one “seldom reflects on the days of his life” because God will keep him occupied “with gladness of heart.”
*Yes, Lord. It is so good to know You and be given the freedom to enjoy all that You provide for me day by day.
Come to the Truth of The Word in all things. Only in Truth can your faith be established and exercised to overcome adversity.
The Lord has given you precious promises of victory and the authority to succeed.
** It is of vital importance that you control your thoughts and emotions as you put your Trust in Jesus.
**Refuse to allow Temptation and Fear to gain any ground in you.
2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind.
We that are struggling may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing and share your secrets with safe people. Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets!
Matthew 5:7 “When you pray, don’t babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. 8 Don’t be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him! 9 Pray like this:
Our Father in heaven, may your name be kept holy. 10 May your Kingdom come soon. May your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today the food we need, 12 and forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us. 13 And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from the evil one. AMEN AMEN
What is Salvation? Deliverance from sin and its consequences.
“To give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” Luke 1:77
** Salvation means that you and I must change to become a new creation.
God by His Holy Spirit will change our nature to make it holy. Our heart will be changed so that we will love all people — even our enemies. We will hate sin and walk in the light.
** Salvation means that we are no longer under Satan’s authority.
The Bible says, “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 13-14).
In Acts 4:12 the Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” Jesus Christ came to save us by shedding his blood on the cross. (Watch “The Passion of the Christ” movie by Mel Gibson for a passionate vision).
Hebrews 9:22 states, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”.
How Can I Receive Salvation?
Step 1: Believe in Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Step 2: Come to Him and repent of your sins. Ask him to forgive you and change your heart. Pray a simple prayer with ALL your heart.
Step 3: Read the Bible daily and connect with a church in your community.
(For More– go to movingforwardwithhope.com and read the “Steps to Peace” by Billy Graham).
If a Person cannot get through to God it may be there is a secret thing he does not intend to give up – I will admit I have done wrong, but I no more intend to give up that thing than fly.
*Ones that are struggling– may have unresolved hurts. I encourage you to find healing. Seek counseling; find a local Recovery group; equip yourself with resources on healing and share your secrets with safe people.
***Remember you’re only as sick as your secrets! Let’s get rid of Pride and be “All IN” for Christ!
What does it mean to be a follower of Jesus Christ?
*The real Christian person is the one who has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
*In John 8:31 Jesus said, “If you obey my teaching …you are really my disciples.”
* In John 17:3 says: To know Jesus is to have Eternal Life!
Followers of Jesus walk with him every moment of their life, obeying his commands and loving him.
*When there is forgiveness of sin, there is life and all blessedness. We do not obtain forgiveness of sin by good work but through Jesus finish work on the cross.
Psalm 62:7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
**What is my purpose/destiny?” – this is it. I’m created for the distinct purpose of being sanctified toward Christ that I might be zealous for good works in righteousness and intimacy with Him.
(Read Titus 2:11-14).
Luke 3:9 we must pursue the things of the Gospel. To be ACTIVE in the pursuit of holiness. to seek the Lord while He can be found!
SALVATION BEGINS NOW
MATTHEW 6:10, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.”
*His Kingdom comes in us when we allow Him to reign!
*His will is done on earth when we offer our lives to His control, to use us as He wishes in His redemptive work in this world!
We do not have to live a beggarly existence here on this earth and just wait till we all get to heaven to begin to experience the benefits of our salvation. Jesus told us to pray “thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” In heaven, He will “wipe away all tears from our eyes” (Rev. 21:4), so here on earth we can pray and believe to receive “joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8).
Our salvation is not just “pie in the sky,” but it IS Victory in this present life. Today believe God to start receiving every benefit of your salvation here in this life, and help others to receive what has been Purchased for them also. We don’t have to wait until we get to Heaven.
It is important as you continue to come to maturity that you maintain a healthy
spiritual atmosphere. I am referring to your own personal environment because you must establish the divine kingdom personally before it can extend beyond you to your family, church and work. The Lord’s work through you will always be an overflow of your Relationship with Jesus and your Obedience to His word.
* It all begins with the first and great commandment and seeking the kingdom first.
Matthew 22:37-38 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the first and
great commandment.”
*Salvation is God’s thought, not man’s.
*Salvation is the great thought of God, not an experience.
*Experience is only a gateway by which salvation comes into our conscious life. Never preach the experience; preach the great thought of God behind the experience.
*When we preach we are not proclaiming how man can be saved from hell and be made moral and pure; we are conveying “Good News About God”!
Lord, Thank You for my salvation. Thank You that I have found my freedom in Christ. Thank You Jesus, for Your death on the Cross and saving a sinner like me. Lord I want to have a deeper passion for you all the time. I want to put You first in all my life. Lord help me to have a burning passion for You. Lord as I partner with You in reaching out to people, I ask for the help and guidance to accomplish what You came to do, and that is to reach the lost. “I LOVE YOU LORD. AMEN!”
Matthew 28:19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
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1. The Hope Connection: www.movingforwardwithhope.com
2. Moving Forward Initiatives LLC_sign up and receive the 8 Truths To Master Life! www.movingforwardinitiativesllc.com
Read MoreOur word should be our bond!
*Personal Integrity is needed in us, with that in our heart the Core Values as Christ unique giftedness will be fulfilled.
*Let your vision define your future. Let your Yes be Yes and your No be No -Be reliable and Trustworthy!
“When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”
*I need to be careful What I promise the Lord and How I carry through.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
“It is better to say nothing than to make a promise and not keep it.”
Ecclesiastes 5:5
*Pray Constantly….Complaining Is a Sin!
**The best antidote for complaining is Thanksgiving.
“And don’t say anything you don’t mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, ‘I’ll pray for you,’ and never doing it, or saying, ‘God be with you,’ and not meaning it. You don’t make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say ‘yes’ and ‘no.’ When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”.
Matthew 5: 33-37 (Msg)
A person who has to swear or make a promise to validate his statements is a person whose word is no good. The thrust of Jesus’ teaching here is that we should live in such a manner that no one would ever have to have additional proof that we are telling the truth.
* Our word should be our bond!
We have all heard the story of the young shepherd boy who cried wolf when there was no wolf until finally no one believed him when the wolf really came.
Our lack of integrity in performing our word has the same effect on people today.
Throughout history, we have seen people use oaths to declare when they are really speaking the truth and not lying.
Jesus, however, holds us to a higher standard: your word should be your bond (connection, relation, association, and tie).
When I have time to think about it, I will tell the whole truth. But there have been many times that I have told a “little white lie” at the spur of the moment.
I usually regret it later (sometimes moments later), then I am too embarrassed to admit it. This is an area of further growth for most of us.
I was blessed in Business in the 70’s-80’s to be able to do much Business on a hand shake and their word–knowing a person’s word was Truth. Today, Very few people conduct business anymore with their word and a handshake. Even contracts are not sacred if an individual can not afford a good enough lawyer. BUT this is not the way God intended it.
The Bible says that our real problem with this, is that every one of us is building our Identity on something besides Jesus. Whether it’s to succeed in our chosen field–or get our own selfish way– or to have a certain relationship—or even to get up and walk—we’re saying, “If only I have that, if I get my deepest wish, then everything will be okay without any Values.
God has fulfilled every word He has ever spoken. We ARE created in His image and He planned for us to be the same way.
Even our physical bodies respond adversely when we LIE. That’s why lie detectors work.
*Jeremiah 9:6 They pile wrong upon wrong, stack lie upon lie, and refuse to know me.” God’s Decree.
*Colossians 3:9 Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire.
*Ephesians 4: 25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
*The root problem with lies is a hardness of the heart.
*We want what we want when we want it.
*The hardness darkens our understanding (shady spot). We don’t see Gods will for our life because of this obscurity. (We are lying when we Suppress the Truth. Ro. 1:18)
Today, commit yourself to be a new man or woman of your word. You will not only experience a new respect from others, BUT you will find the JOY of a clear heart and mind. (Peace: Philippians 4:4-9)
God’s commandments are not intended to make us miserable–they’re meant for our own happiness. Satan’s lie in the Garden of Eden caused Eve to question God’s motives behind His command (Genesis 3:5).
You can’t control other people–not even your mate. But through obeying the Lord, you can control yourself and have fullness of joy. God’s commands tell us what will produce true happiness for us.
“The circumstances of life, the events of life, and the people around me in life, do not make me the way I am, but reveal the way I am” [Dr. Sam Peeples].
Forgiving Father, thank you for forgiving us and loving us. Help us to be humble, honest and loving people who release others into your forgiveness. Father, help me to always tell the truth. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Revelation 12:11 And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony. And they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
*When you tell your personal testimony, you tell everyone that God is good in everything by the way He Changed You!
* As long as you are ashamed of your testimony you will not be able to relate to real people honestly!
Knowledge comes to us at a blinding pace, and Understanding comes from God or experience. Without Godly understanding we cannot make wise choices.
“If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer.”
2 Corinthians 1:6
*God must love you a lot! He doesn’t allow someone to go through the kinds of adversity you have experienced unless He has a special calling on your life.
*God doesn’t want us to be a lone ranger. He gives us discernment in choosing wise and godly counselors to help us make choices that will please Him.
A “faith experience” is an event or “spiritual marker” in your life about which you can say, “That is where I saw God personally moving in my life.” It is an unmistakable event in which God showed Himself personally to you.
* It was the burning bush for Moses;
* the crossing of the Red Sea or the Jordan River for the nation of Israel;
*It was the time when YOU saw God working in your life, knowing that what happened was in fact a God given blessing- there you knew you were with God face to face in your life situation and only HE could of got you through.
If God has plans of using you in the lives of many others, you can expect that He is going to allow certain faith experiences to come into your life in order to build a foundation that will be solid.
That foundation is what you will be able to look back on to keep you faithful to Him in the times of testing.
* Each of us must have personal faith experiences in which we experience God personally so that we can move in Faith to whatever He may call us.
Hebrews 5: 8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
God can take our adversity—a heart attack, cancer, an automobile accident, violent crime, bankruptcy, a marriage crisis, the loss of a loved one—and transform that pain into encouragement for the people around us. We come out of those experiences stronger and better able to comfort others.
Although adversity may never be a blessing, God in His grace can bring blessing out of our adversity. The key is releasing the hurt and pain to the Lord so He can bring the needed healing to our lives.
Why not give your circumstance to the Lord today and let Him use it in the lives of others. This will be the first step toward healing-to be able to give it away.
Revelation 12: 11 And they overcame him(devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
*This verse really struck me in the sense of it being so true of how we are ever able to advance the kingdom in our lives.
It’s a question:
* Do I love my life so much that I shrink from dying to the things Jesus wants me to die to?
*Or do I instead come up boldly and Choose to die to myself so that Christ might become greater in me?
**It’s a great question that deserves our answer.
Do you need a personal faith experience right now in your life?
Pray that God will reveal Himself to you. He delights in doing that.
Proverbs tell us that there is safety in a multitude of counselors.
Proverbs 11: 14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.
** Submitting our decisions to others for confirmation protects each of us from the deceit of our own heart.
This process will protect us from presumption and encourage us to move in faith.
The next time you believe God is directing you toward a specific action, consult with your spouse first, then some close, spiritual friends who will take the time to prayerfully consider your request.
*If you don’t have consensus, wait until you do before you move forward.
*God will move through this process to His desired will for the matter.
God has called each of us to live for a cause greater than ourselves – a life that is dependent on His grace and power to achieve things we never thought possible through our lives. This is His plan for your life.
The apostle Paul prayed that He might experience the power of the resurrection in his life. This power is available to you and me to live for a cause greater than ourselves.
Acts 6:4 But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
I believe that God is showing us that he wants us to rely on Him rather then ourselves. And that he shows us trials to grow us closer to Him.
Thank you God for hearing me; you. always do. Father help me to trust in You in every area of my life…. Lord I will trust in you with all my heart and lean not to my own understanding. Sometimes this journey gets tough but I know you are with me. When I’m standing alone you are with me, when I don’t know which way to go you lead me. Sometimes life gets tough but you did say “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord shall deliver them out of them all. In all my ways I will acknowledge you and I know you will direct my path. My prayer for today Is that you bless someone else who may need a decision made for their lives. Don’t let them loose hope but hold on to what you promised them and trust that you will see them through.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” Proverbs 3:5-6. Thank You Lord. Amen
ARE YOU AFRAID
Deut. 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
This scripture is so powerful. The Lord himself goes before me. Wow!
We are not in this alone. He will never leave me nor forsake me! Wow!
No matter what-God is with me for the long haul.
Do not be afraid or discouraged. Again I say Wow!
We are living in VERY uncertain times, BUT God promises he will go before us, he will never leave us and most importantly do not be afraid or discouraged.
Take heart Christ is returning soon. We have hope!!!!!!!!
Over the past two years there has been this freedom in Christ that I have felt unlike anything else in my life!
I appreciate the opportunity to be able:
* to read the Word of God anytime,
* to pray for my family and friends and even those who do not like me.
I will never take for granted again the reality that we have here- which is a freedom we can have in Christ when we surrender all of ourselves to Him.
I’ve learned that when you exposure yourself to God it’s like you allow Him to peel the layers away from your life like an onion. You start to stink- you become raw- you begin to see where the roots in your life are planted.
It’s OK for all of this to happen.
When we remove the walls in our lives that have been put up to prevent us from becoming authentic Christians it is a painful process… BUT there is nothing sweeter than the freedom you feel during the process and afterwards!
God will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:8 The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Do you frequently feel lonely, abandoned, left out or neglected?
Have you tried to hide Your emotions and pain with a painted-on smile while deep inside you hurt so much?
BUT God knows your heart – He knows your personal struggles, your temptations in this busy fast competitive world.
For me I had no peace until I surrendered ALL to Him, then I begin to experience a renewing of my mind and freedom from the issues that kept me in bondage.
It was the freedom IN Christ that keeps me from being afraid or scared any longer. I do not have to lie awake at night wondering the same questions over and over in my head.
I know that God is in control and I can face every situation with more confidence.
With every painful emotion that you allow God to take control of comes a renewing of your mind and restoration of your soul.
To help you understand, the freedom you feel in Christ to do all things through Him is as large and wide as His unconditional love for us!!
Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Our lives are so short. Scripture says its like a vapor, a blooming flower… here and gone. I want to use the short time that I have:
* to tell my children/grandchildren how much I love them.
* To tell Laura how much I appreciate her and cherish her.
*To tell the Body of believers how blessed I am to be partaking in this journey with them.
* To tell my friends how much I love them. To tell them all to have courage. To not fear. To take strength in the knowledge of their Lord.
Lord-Thank you for the ability you’ve given us to encourage others. You put a song on our heart Lord and you help us to sing that song. Give us vision and strength for the future, but along the way remind us and help us to inspire and encourage those you have placed us around. Thank you for your heart for all of us. That you will never leave or forsake us.
Isaiah 52:12 For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for the LORD will go before you, and the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
Deut. 1:30 The Lord your God is going ahead of you. He will fight for you, just as you saw him do in Egypt.
Deut 1: 42 “But the Lord told me to tell you, ‘Do not attack, for I am not with you. If you go ahead on your own, you will be crushed by your enemies.’
Our own plans seldom avail to good purpose; while courage in the exercise of faith, and in the path of duty, enables the believer:
* to follow the Lord fully,
* to disregard all that opposes,
* to triumph over all opposition,
* to take firm hold upon the promised blessings.
Embrace the changes, both naturally and spiritually, that will take you on the next leg of your journey.
God loves YOU and You are His Masterpiece.!
Thank You Jesus for Your Perfect Love for me!
Amen
Do we need a Foot Washing?
*We are to help people come to
salvation by sharing the correcting, healing, washing, comforting Word of God.
God’s Love is as necessary to human life as the air we breathe or the water we drink.
* “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for Thee, O God.”Psalm 42:1
God’s Love eternally embraces the poor, the afflicted, the broken and the unlovely.
* “…the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives, and freedom to prisoners…”Isaiah 61:1
We are to take up the towel of God’s mercy and go to that hurting one.
* In the special love of Jesus we are not to judge him, expose him, lecture or find fault.
* Instead we are to commit to being his friend. We are to help him come to
salvation by sharing the correcting, healing, washing, comforting Word of God.
“And be kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).
If you want to be kindhearted—to take up the towel to restore a brother or
sister—you do not need to know the details of how that person got dirty.
*Jesus did not ask His disciples, “How did you get such filthy feet?” He wanted
only to get the dust off of them. His love for them was unconditional.
Likewise, those who walk in the fullness of Jesus Christ must have this
Attitude of love toward those with dirty feet. We are not to ask for details.
Instead, we are to say, “Let me wash your feet.”
Too often Christians want to dive into all the gory details of a situation.
They come to a believer who has dirty feet, saying, “I want to wash your feet.
BUT tell me, what happened? How’d you get so dirty?”
At some point in the story of failure, the curious comforter realizes, “Oh, my,
this is worse than I thought. I can’t get involved in this.” And after a few
more details, he comes to the end of his puny human mercy.
** He judges the person as too evil, beyond help, and he drops his towel and goes his way.
***We cannot wash feet in a judge’s robes. *We have to take off our self-righteous garments before we can do any cleansing.
Paul says we are to be gentle and patient with all people:
“And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth” (2 Timothy 2:24-25).
Paul is saying, “You must be tenderhearted with everyone, willing to wash their feet. God will have mercy on them and deliver them from their sin.”
In a famous passage in John 13, Jesus took a towel and a basin and washed the feet of His disciples. He told them “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have
washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:14-15).
The disciples were twelve men beloved of God—precious in His eyes, full of
love for His Son, pure of heart, in full communion with Jesus. Yet they had
dirt on their feet!
Jesus, in essence, was saying to these men, “Your hearts and hands are clean,
but your feet are not. They have become dirty in your daily walk with Me. You do not need your whole body to be washed—only your feet.”
**The dirt Jesus mentions here has nothing to do with natural dirt. It is about SIN—our faults and failures, our giving in to temptations.
I wonder how many of us this past week fell into a temptation or failed God in some way?
It is not that we have turned our
back on the Lord. On the contrary, we love the Savior more passionately than
ever, BUT we fell and now we are grieving—because our feet are dirty.
Scripture tells us: “Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who
are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself
lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
The Greek word for trespass here
means “a fall, a sin.” We are to restore every Christian who falls into sin
if there is a repentant heart.
Foot washing, in its deepest meaning, has to do with our Attitude about the
dirt we see on our brother or sister. So I ask you: What do you do when you are
face to face with someone who has fallen into a sin or transgression?
As Jesus served His disciples, He calls us to serve others. He is calling us to see people through the eyes of God and with His love meet their needs.
But how?
(John 13: 3) Jesus was profoundly anchored in the love of the Father. His identity was secure.
We need a radical receiving of His love!
** We need to be Filled with God’s love (our cup overflowing) in order to give others our richness of love.
Jesus was teaching us how important it is to Humble ourselves before one another and also that we are all equal in Gods eyes. He said that we are to love one another unconditionally– this is how we will know the ones who are called and annointed of God. They will be Love.
1 John 2:9 If anyone claims, “I am living in the light,” but hates a Christian brother or sister, that person is still living in darkness. 10 Anyone who loves another brother or sister is living in the light and does not cause others to stumble.
The Lord is always near to the broken and contrite heart.
* “He gathers the outcasts…He heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds.” Psalm 147:2-3
Jesus, You showed true humility by washing the disciples feet. Jesus, Help each one of us to be more humble this day and follow Your example of Truth and Love so others may be set FREE for Your Glory. Amen
Mark 9:41 If anyone gives you even a cup of water because you belong to the Messiah, I tell you the truth, that person will surely be rewarded.
John 8:31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
To Bless God simply means to bow in reverence. We can’t bless the Lord with stuff.. but we can bless him with US.
Life is all a beautiful continual of lessons and blessings. No bad, horrible days and events are any reason for regret.
God’s plan is perfect! And his lessons are full of love and nothing else.
His lessons and teaching not only prepare us for the joyous life he wants for us– they also continue to strengthen our faith bringing US closer to JESUS where we belong!
* In our Weakness is the stage that God demonstrates His strength.
” Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1–5
David, here, is speaking to his own soul. In effect, he’s saying to his soul, “Don’t be sluggish, don’t be unthankful, don’t be unresponsive. Bless the Lord for all His benefits,” and then he lists in succession six specific benefits.
*Number one, the Lord forgiveth all thine iniquities. Regardless if I hurt him, displease him, or ignore him, he forgives all my sins.
* Number two, He healeth all thy diseases. All the scars on my skin and the sickness within my body, and even the sickness mentally and emotionally, he’ll patch right up for me.
* Number three, He redeemeth thy life from destruction. From the traps I have fell into, he’s reached out his hand.
*Number four, He crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies.
He’s been my only true friend with an undying affection for me.
*Number five, He satisfieth thy mouth with good things. I may not seem to have much to flaunt, but what I do have has certainly been an awesome blessing, even the things I never even asked for. I’m grateful.
*Number six, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Much of all these benefits He’s blessing me with is really all for my spiritual well being. So that it’s “renewed like the eagle’s”.
Surely if we understand these six unchanging benefits and mercies of the Lord, then we need to do as David did to his own soul.
* It Must Be Personal–We need to say to our soul, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name.”
*If we don’t do that, it’s surely evidence that we’re forgetting His benefits.
* We can’t give god measured praise. We’ve got to give him our all. He wants it all.
*One good way never to forget those benefits is to stir up our soul and bless the Lord at all times.
*By serving God and following his commandments, we shall receive his mercy and amazing grace.
** Enjoyment does not reside in increased possessions; it is a gift that God must give. If He withholds it, no amount of effort is going to extract enjoyment from things. That is a difficult lesson for some to learn. Enjoyment is a gift of God.
**Gratitude only comes when we feel we do not deserve something, but we get it anyway.
This book of wisdom exhorts us to receive everything with a grateful heart, realizing that we do not have it coming; it is a gift of God.
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.
*Even if it is painful for the moment, there is a wise Father who has chosen it for you, and it will yield to you great and rich benefits. You can be grateful for the pain as well as the pleasure; that is the lesson of this book.
* Whatever you have in life, remember it was given to you by God.
* Count your blessings and name them one by one! The good times are FROM GOD, so when good times are here enjoy them as best as you can. They are gifts from God, don’t waste them.
* At least everyday say thank you to the Lord.
* God is a miracle worker!!
* Goodness and mercies shall follow me all the days of my life!
All through the Scriptures we are told that the proper relationship of a believer to God, and that which pleases Him, is to give thanks for everything:
*“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).
The loving forgiveness of our Heavenly Father is like no other:
* He takes our sins and cast them into the sea. He Gives us yet another chance .
*God is also a God of redemption… He paid the price for sins we haven’t even committed yet.
**How can We Not Bless a God who has done these things for US.
**Even if I wanted to just go on, I HAVE to praise Him. I HAVE to bless Him. There is no other way. Bless the Lord O MY soul!
Galatians 3:13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.” 14 Through Christ Jesus, God has blessed the Gentiles with the same blessing he promised to Abraham, so that we who are believers might receive the promised Holy Spirit through faith.
*All of these benefits came at the expense of Jesus Christ sacrifice on the cross.
*The finish work of the cross allows us to have these benefits that we don’t deserve. FREE GIFT!
******THIS IS GRACE!!!!!!
Lord. I have tasted the frustration of living for things that in the end do not fill me with joy but deprive me of it. Teach me to live gratefully, even when life is painful, knowing that You are still in charge and working and working out Your purpose in my life for Your Glory.
Thank you Lord Jesus for blessing me! Amen
*Storms will come throughout our life time.
*These storms, though none of us likes them, reveals where we really stand with the Lord.
*Storms are to test our standing in the Lord, accept them!
*Yes, I could not said it any better than what James did! Storms shows where we stand in our faith and then helps us grow more and more like Jesus! (James 1: 2-4).
Mark 4:37 But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.
*Well as you see, we have a problem here or as the old cliche states “Houston we have a problem.”
*Some of us work very hard to hide & suppress the storms in our lives.
The Bible says: “But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness.” Romans 1:18
* Try to internalize the storms. They come despite our best attempts.
*Some give into the storm and then our life, faith and relationships are BATTERED.
**** DONT IGNORE THE PRE-STORM WARNING SIGNS! Acts 27
The whole chapter of Acts 27 is filled with bad things happening-the outlook on the whole situation is a shipwreck. *What is a spiritual shipwreck in my life? Negativity. Loneliness. Speaking & thinking negatively about others and self.
*God knows about our turbulence. He knows everything even the secret storms.
*We have to let God be God in our lives.
God has always been there throughout the storm. I believe God has the power to overcome the storm.
Acts 27 Vs 4 – winds were against us
Vs 7 – the wind did not allow us to go
Vs 9 – dangerous
Vs 11 – injury and loss predicted by Paul
*This is obvious in how we are doing in some relationships .
*We choose to ignore the signs. Ignore our friends.
1 Thess. 5:14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
Vs 18 – violently storm tossed.
We give way to the tempest. To be just driven along.
A life resigned –we may say. ” I can’t change. They are not going to change. It doesn’t work. It is what it is. The things that I’ve done. Things done to me. This is my life. This will always be my life.”
Vs 20- despair. “all hope was gone”.
Given up on your marriage.
Given up on besetting sin.
Given up on reconciling a relationship.
This is a frightening place to be when all hope is gone!!
When despair hits we say–“Leave me alone to self medicate and put on my mask. I don’t even know whom I am anymore.”
In despair we need to Move Forward in Wisdom which refers to Actions that are controlled by the revelation of God.
In Romans 12:2 Paul says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world [do not run after all the attractive, illusive dreams shouted at you constantly by the world], but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”
Think Christianly about life! Look at what you are going through, not from the standpoint of what seems right but upon what IS Right(Truth) according to the Word of God. Here is True Wisdom:
*“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Acts 27 vs 12 can be the place where GRACE INVADES.
Finally we are ready to listen to the voices we have been ignoring so long.
Sometimes we need desperate times before we are ready to let grace invade. But Know Victory has been won for us!
1 John 4:4 But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
GOD WILL NOT WALK OUT ON YOU!
Psalm 107 has been called “the Old Testament love feast.” One of the most
encouraging passages in all of God’s Word, it is for those needing
forgiveness, deliverance or restoration.
The final verse promises us an
understanding of who God truly is:
“ Those who are wise will take all this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the LORD.” (Psalm
107:43).
” Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Has the LORD redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has redeemed you from your enemies. For he has gathered the exiles from many lands, from east and west, from north and south. Some wandered in the wilderness, lost and homeless. Hungry and thirsty, they nearly died.” (Psalm 107:1-5).
* Storms cause us to realize that Jesus enters our storms. His peace invades our storms. He takes our place In the greatest storms.
** God has provided a solution. “LORD, help!” they cried in their trouble, and he rescued them from their distress. He led them straight to safety, to a city where they could live. Let them praise the LORD for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” (Psalm 107:6-7).
Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! God has done so much for us, and we have so much to thank him. He wants us to tell everyone all that he has done.
Psalm 107 speaks of sharing your joy. It says we should give thanks to the Lord. It is an entreat for us to offer thanksgiving to Him for His goodness and His mercy. It initiates a recollection of how good and merciful He has been to us.
*Its second verse offers us a simple how-to on sharing our joy. It says those who have been redeemed showed say so. “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so…” No one else can say it like us. No one else can express like we can. We know He’s done a miracle on our behalf and has saved us from the clutches of the enemy and an eternity in darkness.
*Now we have joy. We have a newfound joy. Are you really excited about what God has done for you? Can you recall what an effort He made to redeem you? If so, say so. If it is real to you, say it and share it. Only those who truly know can say so.
*Because of the Son of God and the sacrifice He made for our sins, we are Redeemed this day..
*Redeemed- Understand it (we were once all held captive of something).
” And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony……” Revelation 12:11
*Know and believe what Jesus did for you on the cross.
*Be prepared to tell your story of what Jesus has done for YOU.
Friend,”Stay with the ship.” God promises to never leave us, never to forsake us, no matter how ugly the waves of life get, Stay with your faith anchored IN Christ who knows right where you are.
Day-break is coming, God will allow the sun to shine again, no matter how bad things may be, Stay with the ship, even if its on a broken plank, God will use it to get each of us safely to the shore.
How wonderful to know that we are loved – all the time – by our Father. I am in awe of all the miracles I have personally experienced – the first being saved by my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and I tell everyone about the power, grace, and mercy there for us if we just open to this powerful Love.
Thank you Jesus for showing me the way and directing me through the storms of life and through those storms I now have Testimonies of Your Perfect Love to Glorify You. The Lord’s Goodness and Mercy is like the Energizer Bunny…….It Keeps Going, and Going, and Going, and Going………..
Lord, You provide me with the wisdom that frees, though many reject it because it does not always make sense by the world’s standards. Renew our minds each day by the wisdom found in Your Word, through Your Spirit.
Thank you Jesus for Your Grace and saving a sinner like me. Amen!
*FEAR is the enemy of Faith for it festers in unbelief and doubt.
*Fear comes through lack of faith in the power of God.
*Fear exists to oppose faith and God’s power.
*Fear torments us to rob us of joy.
*Fear stops us from Moving Forward!.
What does the Word of God say?
*2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
*Numbers 14:9 Do not rebel against the LORD, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the LORD is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!”
***”When you pass through the waters, I will be with you, and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, Nor will the flame burn you… Do not fear, for I am with you…”
Isaiah 43:2, 5
Perfect Love casts out all fear!
JESUS is Perfect Agape Love!
*Do not be afraid of what may be coming in the near future! Embrace what God HAS for you and never forget where he brought you from! For he will always be with you. From start till finish! Until his work is accomplished he will stand by you!!!!!!
When we really understand how much He loves us, we will no longer fear the circumstances He allows in our lives.
*”The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?”
(Psalm 27:1)
*God didn’t give us a spirit of fear! Though the enemy constantly tries to plant that into of minds and hearts. In even the worst of circumstances we should not fear anything.
BUT to trust in God that God will see us through all our struggles.
* We must learn to hand that fear over and not let fear manifest in our hearts.
* We must learn to not let worldly things consume us to the point we lose focus.
*The blood of Jesus has saved us. All we need is faith the size of a mustard seed!!
*No matter what God will not forsake you! He will not leave you to fight the battle alone.
Fear is set in by insecurities that we form in our own minds. Something that we feel God will not help us get through.
BUt God will!!! Nothing is greater then God! Nothing can tear from the blood of Jesus that saves us as long as we stay focused! And trust that we will be taken care of!!
You are the only one who can unlock the door of your heart and allow God’s Love to enter in.
* “Therefore, change your hearts and stop being stubborn.” Deut.10:16
*God wants us to obey his commands. David said obedience is better than sacrifice.
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me.” Revelation 3:20
This is the Question to ask Ourselves:
* Have You merely invited Jesus into your home as a guest. Or have You given Jesus the keys to Your home [heart] and You are Jesus servant??
So often many of us enter a relationship with God that brings us salvation. This is the gospel of salvation.
**But what God really desires for us is to experience the gospel of the Kingdom.
*God wants us to experience His power and presence every day of our lives and to see His hand at work IN us.
1 Corinthians 4:20 For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power. “Action”
Luke 17:21 The Kingdom is within you.
The question is “Do I have the power to yield to God’s Spirit prompting me to love like Christ in any situation, no matter how hard?”
* This only happens when we give Him the key to our life; Jesus must be more than an honored guest.
Where are you today? Has your life with God been more like an honored-guest relationship, or does He have the key to your life?
How do you please God? In many places in Scripture we are told that without faith it is impossible to please God. It is faith that pleases Him, belief that He is there and that everything in life comes from His hand.
Underscore in your minds the word all. Pain, sorrow, bereavement, disappointment, as well as gladness, happiness, and joy—all these things are gifts of God.
When we see life in those terms, any and every element of life can have its measure of joy—even sorrow, pain, and grief. These things were given to us to enjoy.
This is also the message of Romans 8:28: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
It is also the message of: Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”
We at Times need to Change our Focus:
A) You cant depend on past success to sustain you.
B) You cant allow your past failures to possess and paralyze you.
We should Clarify our Focus – discover what God wants for you by:
A) Seeing yourself as God sees you.
B) Seeing your possibilities as God sees them.
Commit Yourself To God’s Plan and Move Forward with Trust and Hope!
Romans 12: 2 Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.
Father, all things come from Your hands. I thank You that You sent Your Son that I might have Your joy within me. Help me to Let Jesus teach me!
Earthy circumstances are able to steal are happiness from us but nothing can take the joy of you loving Christ and Christ loving you!. The next time a trial is headed my way I will count the reasons to be joyous and look to God to protect me from the inadequate feelings of fear and of life with out Him. Joy truly is the test that determines whether or not we have set our course by remaining in the presence of God.
“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 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.” Philippians 4:4-7
Amen