Devotions - Prayer

If we continually choose to obey God, we can in His Strength overcome whatever the “flesh” is urging us to do.

“However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit…and if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness.” Romans 8:9-10

THE THUNDER OF HIS POWER

“Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways, and how small a whisper we hear of Him! But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26:14).
*I love the way Job describes the power of God. It is amazing that he is so distressed and still able to glorify God and his power.
*God is amazing – and so often I find that we try our hardest to contain him to earthly concepts.
God is those concepts, he made them, how can we make Him fit into anything?

****Man needs power to:
*To help those without it,
*To strengthen those without strength,
*To counsel him that hath no wisdom,
*To declare things as they really are,
*To renew dead spirits,
*To cover the naked destruction of hell.

****God has all power:
*To stretch out the universe. Over empty places, Hanging the earth upon nothing.
*God binds up humidity in thick clouds,
Placing boundaries on the waters.
*God divides the sea with his power
And He smites the proud.
*By His spirit He garnishes the heavens.
*God  even created the crooked serpent,
*The power of God is the only reason we are alive.
**But these are on glimpses of His power— Only a little portion of Him that is heard.

God has promised power to all men.
*After that the Holy Ghost Has come upon them  And there will be “Thunder in that Power—”
*Thunder against injustice, Immorality and crime,
*Thunder against hypocrisy And the tyranny of small things,
*Thunder against materialism And hate.

****But deeper still,  LOVE Is the “Thunder of Power”. Jesus says “LOVE one another”.

Relationships/ Love take Time!
*Today people are into quick fixes. But you can’t”microwave” a relationship.

Jesus says in John 17:3 And this is eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.
*Eternal life is described by relationship not rules.
*So often Christians focus on a legalistic approach and say the key to “getting to heaven” or “eternal life” is getting your sins forgiven.
**** What Christ says in this verse is different to that and shows us that eternal life begins right now and eternal life is Knowing God— a Personal Relationship!!!!.

There is Victory in the Cross:
* When we yield to the Lordship of Christ,
* When we make Christ, the throne of our hearts, we are on the cross,
*BUT if WE ARE ON  the throne of our hearts, then we in effect is leaving Jesus, on the cross.
That’s the hard message of the cross.

* If you are going through suffering don’t focus on the pain— up lift the cross and Christ, his love, his grace in your life. Let Jesus Loving and Healing Power work in and through you!
*Maybe instead of apologizing FOR God (in explaining pain or suffering) perhaps we need to apologize TO God…for our stubbornness, divisiveness, or ignoring tendencies.(I do).

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

How amazing is Job’s description, not only of God’s greatness, but of our standing in relation to that greatness. He describes us as being on the outskirts! We only experience a small measure of the totality of God ~ His glory, His grandeur, His power, His majesty. Yet even that it too awesome for us to comprehend. We only hear a whisper, and it is more than our capacity to contain. How great is our God!!
2 Corinthians 13:4 For he was crucified in weakness, but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will live with him by the power of God.    5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?

* Even when we feel we have no strength left in struggles of life, God’s strength/power trumps all. His stronghold on everything is all that matters.

* I will continue to realize that the strength that I acquire on my own is not of my own but Christ’s strength/power within me.

1 Corinthians 2: 5 that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

* True life is by the power of God, by the life of God inside of us. We are crucified, identified with the cross of Christ in weakness, but that is Precisely the Entrance into living by the power of God. We are so not alone, so not forsaken. The very life of God is in us.
Let US live by that!!

Lord God, you have renewed a fire within me to fight the mighty fight in the battle’s of life.   That awesome fire comes from you Holy Spirit and I am so thankful for that. Continue to groom me to accept that the strength/power that I might acquire may even seem unreal, but is from you Lord God.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Amen

A Broken Spirit
Psalm 51:16-17 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

What is David the psalmist telling us there?
Surely he’s telling us that first and foremost God is not interested in externals!!!!!
* Sacrifice and offerings are not necessarily things that God does not want, but they are things that He does not want FIRST and foremost.
**And if that’s all there is in our lives – the external practices of religion – then God takes no pleasure in them.
*God looks below the surface;
*God looks to the heart;
*God looks to the motives;
*God looks to the attitude.
***And it says that the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:
“A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”
Those are strange words to our ears today.

What does it mean that God desires a broken spirit?
*Does He want to crush us?
*Does He want to beat us down?
*Does He want to humiliate us?
* No, I’m sure that’s not it.

What is a broken spirit? I think it’s a spirit that has come totally to the end of ITSELF.
* All independence, all self-will and all self-righteousness have been purged out.
*We’ve come to the place where we have no hope but in God.
* We’ve come to the end of our own resources.
* We have no claims upon God, we simply turn to Him for His mercy and His faithfulness, not trusting our own merits, but clinging only to God.

Brokenness is beautiful!
In Jesus there is strength.
In Jesus there is hope.
In Jesus there is love.
He is love and Love never fails.

*Allow Him to embrace you, to comfort you.
*Allow His Word to speak to you, in ways that it never has before.
*Allow Him to be the only Being who can listen to you and understand you.

I believe the Lord is saying receive your victory today. Do not wait for it to come when necessary, but receive your victory this moment.
Reach out by faith and allow Jesus to bring the victory that is before you that can be yours this day without the waiting.
And when this victory comes to your heart there will come the sound of rejoicing within.
Your faith will cause your spirit man to rejoice, even before that which you need comes.
So, I encourage you to receive by faith the victory that you require this moment.
The just walk by faith, believe and receive by faith, says the Most High.

So often defeat is what is required before victory can be won. Jesus said that unless the seed dies and goes into the ground it cannot bring forth fruit (see Jn. 12:24).
The death of a vision is often required before the fulfillment can really take place. Have you failed at something in your life? Have you not seen the vision fulfilled you thought you were given? The vision may yet happen.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross. However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth. *Christ’s death gave liberty.
* Forgiveness came to all men.
* New life came forth-new strength for the disciples.
** Resurrection and new life came as a result of a “defeat.” “There are triumphant defeats that rival victories”

We are living in times when it is of utmost importance for us to discern between truth and error; between the Lord’s will and seduction from the enemy.
Time is short, and we must stay the course and not be taken off track.
Be alert and let the Lord’s Spirit lead you!  Otherwise, you will be led by your own desires and imaginations.
* Romans 13:12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
Psalms 34:18 The Lord is near to the broken hearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
*Brokeness is the process whereby God brings us to the ends of ourselves and unto submission to HIM!!!
**** God’s Priority in Your Life****
A. God’s priority is not with the vessel but with the treasure. HE wants us to be like HIS son JESUS . Rom 8:29
*God is far more concerned with us being like Jesus than with our comfort. Sometimes HE will sacrifice our happiness and use issues of LIFE to bring us to HIM

B. God’s priority is not to provide temporary pleasure but eternal glory 2 Corinthians 4:16-17.
*God wants to break the “jar” of our lives ,so that the “treasure” of Jesus on the inside of HIS children can be seen.

C. God’s priority is not what is seen, but that which is unseen 2 Corinthians 4:18 Rom 8:28.
*Whenever God leaves you vulnerable or doesn’t answer your prayers, HE has a bigger plan for your life.

****Proper responses to Brokeness**
A. Analysis- what is GOD showing us.
B. Acceptance- yield to HIS working.
C. Adjust- adjust to HIS process.
*The best thing to do is to yield to the process of brokeness.

Father, Help us to recognize and respond correctly to your process of brokeness, O God, for we know that your ultimate priority LORD is to make us more like YOUR son, JESUS. So help us FATHER to not give up but to yield to the process and remain faithful to your work, knowing that ultimately it is for our good and YOUR GLORY , in the name of YOUR SON JESUS I pray, Amen .

Part 2 Holy Spirit Study– Biblically informed and Balanced!
**Can we Trust God to Give us ALL that we need to live a Life for His Glory?

If we continue to make “emotional choices”, God’s Spirit in us will be quenched. But if we begin to make “faith choices”, the fruit of God’s Spirit will come forth into our lives.
*”…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…”
Galatians 5:22-23

Here is. The 2nd intro for our upcoming Bible Study: “The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit.” Starting Sept. 15th for  10 weeks-by Pastor Bruce Olson.
*Our commitment is to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, to Holy Scripture, the living and abiding Word of God, and to all who would seek to discover Truths of the Bible.

The BIG QUESTION
**Has the Holy Spirit revealed that the Word is sufficient and enough?

The answer is— YES because the Holy Spirit has shown US in the Word that HE the Holy Spirit- HAS inspired.

Bottom line: We cannot have a vibrant and growing relationship with our Lord without being part of a community of believers.
The Community of Jesus Christ is coached/Lead by Him-Rather then being lead or coached by any single  individual or group within His Body.

This created a big question in my mind. How does Jesus lead and Coach???
Only Answer I can come up with, that makes any sense to me, is to:
** Follow the Holy Spirit inspired Word of God.

If we choose to walk after the Spirit, our bodies will be filled with “God’s Life” (the new man), but if we choose to walk after the flesh, our bodies will reflect “self-life” (the old man).
* “For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another…”Galatians 5:17

*****What is the Biblical TEST for the Holy Spirit’s Presence, Leading, Confirming, Affirming,  Working Power, Gifting, Signs, Wonders and Visions??
***Answer: Christ and Christ Alone!!
Jesus said the Holy Spirit will Glorify Me.
John 16:14  He(Holy Spirit) will glorify me(Jesus), for he(Holy Spirit) will take what is mine and declare it to you.
***When hearing the voice of God, there are things we need to identify to know it is Him.
*Anything that God will ever say, will always be in agreement with His word.
*If it’s not in agreement with God’s word, it’s counterfeit.
*The more we are able to understand the Truth of God’s word, the more we’ll be able to identify when something isn’t right.
*When a situation happens, the first thing we should do is identify what is in the CENTER of the situation.
If we identify what the CENTER of the situation is(is it Jesus), we will be able to see if it is counterfeit, or if it’s from God.
*The gospel is about a person and that person is Jesus!!!!( John1:1-2)

*Where God’s word is, there is life.
*When something counterfeit, there might be something that doesn’t seem right, you need to be able to see what’s wrong. You may feel something is wrong and not no what it is, you need to listen to what that little voice is telling you.

What a great  mystery. I need to Read over and over again ALL Colossians In order to see  God’s Mystery– which is Christ.
Col. 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The Glory of God is not an abstract idea or motivation that we aspire to live for.

*God’s glory is the radiance of the fullness of who HE is, and that radiance is a Person.
***A person, Jesus Christ, is the one in whom all the fullness of deity was pleased to dwell (Colossians 2:9).

*Our time is short, and Satan is a master divider.
*There are entire local bodies of Christ that disassemble due to doctrinal differences, old seated traditions, misinterpretation, and proud philosophies.
*We must remember that according to Colossians 2: 10 we are made complete through our union with Christ. We are not made complete through our own ideas.
*This is a desperate plea to all brothers and sisters in Christ! Love one another! We are all given grace, daily. There’s no time for arguing.

JESUS, the Person, is the Word of God made flesh as the ultimate revelation of the triune God (John 1:1-5,18; Hebrews 1:1-3).
****The glory of God is a person and that person is Jesus!!!!

We want to feel the supremacy of Jesus in our Everyday, NOT JUST alone in our prayer room or Bible Studies.
We love the gospel and the glory of God and we want the small and apparently menial moments of our lives to connect these massive realities. And at their heart is a person named Jesus.

So seek to stay conscious of JESUS. Talk about JESUS. And in doing so, bring His significance into your seemingly insignificant.   The preeminence of Jesus is about our everyday lives.

* Jesus teaches us that as we abide in him as he abides in us, we learn that his life and ministry is aimed “so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).
1. Joy is found in Christ. When we are apart from Christ we have no true Joy.
2. Joy is found in God’s Word. If we lost Joy we must get back in the Word of God to seek that Joy, for the Joy of the Word is our strength.

Paul said, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). His favor brings the power of the Holy Spirit to all you say and do. Your words will not fall to the ground, because they will have Holy Spirit power.

Paul said those Holy Spirit-empowered words produce great results: “And you
became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much
affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit” (1:6).

Why were Paul’s words so powerful, so effective? Because, he says, “[We]
became examples to all . . . who believe” (v. 7). It was not Paul’s
preaching nor his praying that won people to the Lord. It was his exemplary
life! God had found in Paul a clean heart—one that He could favor with the
power of the Holy Spirit!

Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book. 20 He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus! 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Lord help me today to be led by Your Spirit, not what I want. Help me to stay true to my calling. I don’t ever want it to depart from me. Lord, may our  Bible study Sept. 15th be full with people wanting to know Truth and the Power and Work of the Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name Amen!

For more info on study see web below.
And come join us this Sunday(sept. 11th) at Twin Lakes Park, Nowthen for worship (10 to 12) and family fun and food (12-5).  All are welcome. Questions email rbagne@yahoo.com.

*Be Biblically informed and Balanced!
**Can we Trust God to Give us ALL that we need to live a Life for His Glory?

Here is a Little intro for our upcoming Bible Study: “The Person and Ministry of the Holy Spirit.” Starting Sept. 15th for  10 weeks-by Pastor Bruce Olson.
*Our commitment is to Jesus Christ, the Incarnate Word, to Holy Scripture, the living and abiding Word of God, and to all who would seek to discover Truths of the Bible.

God is continually trying to teach us how to set aside “self-life” so that His Life can reign supreme in our hearts.
* “For we who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
2 Corinthians 4:11
*We are (or should be) constantly dying to self. Until we die to self on the cross we are sitting on the throne of our lives. And Christ is on the cross. Let’s put ourselves on the cross and put Christ on the throne!!!!

The BIG QUESTION
**Has the Holy Spirit revealed that the Word is sufficient and enough?

The answer is YES because the Holy Spirit has shown US in the Word that HE the Holy Spirit- HAS inspired.

2 Tim. 3: 16 ALL scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

*Many People confess,  that they do not like to read. They found it a difficult discipline. I have learned through tough times, “If you do not commit yourself to knowing what is in God’s Word and following it, you will fail to know and experience God.
God’s Word is life to our souls. It provides knowledge that leads to life.” **The prophet Hosea tells us, “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also reject you as My priests; because you have ignored the law of your God, I also will ignore your children” (Hos. 4:6).

Read 2 Peter 1:3-9 ask the Holy Spirit.
*Can we Trust God to Give us ALL that we need to live a Life for His Glory.

****The Holy Spirit makes the things of God Real to People.

Read John 16:5-15 which is the foundation passage for understanding the Holy Spirit and His Ministry.
“””Five works of the Spirit.”””
*The Spirit Convicts (John 16:7-8)
*The Spirit sanctifies (Romans 15:16/ Galatians 5:22-25)
*The Spirit teaches and brings to our remembrance (John 14:26) Here Jesus is talking to the apostles giving them total recall, so the apostles could write it as Holy Scripture.
**In interpreting scripture one must remember that ALL of Scripture is for us–But Not ALL the Scripture is About US!  This is determined by the context of Any passage. A way to get at this-is Ask the Question:: Is the Bible Recording this or is the Bible Teaching this??
*For example:  The Bible records Noah Building an ark at God’s Command, it Does not teach that we should build an Ark.

*The Spirit reveals the truth (John 16:12-13).
The more honest and accountable you are, the better able you will be to see and accept the truth.  The keys to discovery are flexibility and transparency.
*John 8:32 “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

*The Spirit gives gifts (1 Corinthians 12:7).  One way we reflect our Creator is by being creative right where we are with the talents and gifts he has given us. As Paul says, “Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God” (1 Corinthians 7:20,24).

*Do we abort God’s GIFT of forgiveness by failing to extend forgiveness to others as He forgave us? When we do forgive, do we also seek to forget the offense?
Christian forgiveness is always, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Galatians 1:8-10 ” Trust God’s Gospel”
Any Religious Teaching Other Than That Spoken Of By God In His Word Will Afford Dire Consequences Now And On Judgment Day.
*If God truly gave Paul this message, then there could be no room for change.
*The Lord is always the same, and His message never changes.
***Likewise, there is no room for a gospel today that fits the culture we live in.
It’s the same Gospel Paul preached–the power of God unto salvation today (Ro 1:16).

The Gospel is, first and foremost, about a Person.
*A person, Jesus Christ, is the one who suffered in our place under Pontius Pilate. He died and was buried, and on the third day, the person, Jesus Christ, was raised.
The events in 1 Corinthians 15:3-5 that Paul summarizes as that which is of first importance are further summarized by this one word:  JESUS! Yes-Jesus!!!

* We can speak of the “person of Christ” and the “work of Christ,” but rightly understood, they cannot be separated.

The gospel is about a person and that person is Jesus!!!!( John1:1-2)

*Methods can change, but the message must remain the same.
*If we hear a different gospel, how should we respond?
***Paul makes it clear that any message outside the true Gospel should be utterly condemned.

**God did not design our spiritual walk with him to be private, it is to be lived out in front of fellow believers so that we can learn and grow through the shared experiences of others.(We as believers are on the Same Team-we are ALL the Body-we All are the Church-WE NEED ALL to make a complete Team).

Many believers sometimes take God’s Word lightly. They believe they can violate His Word without consequence. This is not true; the Lord stands by to uphold His Word. It can be life, or it can bring death. When God provides instructions, we need to follow them.

Knowing this about God brings a healthy fear of the Lord. “David was afraid of God that day and asked, ‘How can I ever bring the ark of God to me?’ ” (1 Chron. 13:12)
* We must all have a fearful respect of God’s Word.
* For truly, it is life or death. Do we take God’s Word seriously? Is it life or death for Us? Do we feed upon His Word daily so that we might know Him and know His precepts? Feed upon this knowledge and be blessed of God.

Bible–Basic instruction Before Leaving Earth.

*Take the Word and put it into action, our actions speak louder than words!
**God wants a relationship with you, not merely going through the motions.
*John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, …

The Holy Spirit revealed that the Word is sufficient and enough because the Holy Spirit has shown US in the Word that HE the Holy Spirit- HAS inspired.

*Allow Gods word be your prerogative. The final authority over your life.

I pray for the Holy Spirit to guide my prayers and may our  Bible study Sept. 15th be full with people with a hunger wanting to know Truth and the Power and Work of the Holy Spirit.  Help us Lord to be All that You have intended us to be with YOU on the Throne and me at the Cross.  In Jesus Name Amen!

For more info on study see web below.
And come join us this Sunday(sept. 11th) at Twin Lakes Park, Nowthen for worship (10 to 12) and family fun and food (12-5).  All are welcome. Questions email rbagne@yahoo.com.

Bible–Basic instruction Before Leaving Earth.

*Take the Word and put it into action, our actions speak louder than words!

1 Thess. 2: 13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is,THE WORD OF GOD, which is at work in you believers.

*Praise be to God for taking the initiative of saving us. For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
*To be saved by God’s merciful grace, is indeed to discover a whole new way of life!   A whole new meaning and purpose. This is to receive the Holy Spirit!!!
*To be loved by God, is to dig at Him, that you may uncover the mysteries that lie in the depths of who He is.
* When we surrender to God we find His “mysterious plan.” God shows up and moves in dramatic, life-transforming ways.
*Col. 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden ALL the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.(Please meditate through Chapter)

*God wants a relationship with you, not merely going through the motions.

* When we became believers, we were filled with the source of wisdom — the Holy Spirit.
When confronted with difficult decisions about choices, consequences, or empathy, a mature Christian knows that turning to “the Spirit who is from God,” rather than “the spirit of the world” yields the kind of response that would be impossible under his own power.

*When we turn to the Holy Spirit before we turn to the world or man, we can speak with the Wisdom of God, rather than mere “human wisdom.”

*There are no  guides more valuable than the Holy Spirit and prayer.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
* Righteousness means being fully accepted, having a sense of being approved by God, of being honored and cherished by Him. The nearest word I know to describe this is the word “WORTH”.
God gives you a standing of worth. You don’t have to earn it; you start with it. God tells you already in the new covenant, “I have loved you, I have forgiven you, I have cleansed you. I intend to use YOU; your life is significant. There is nothing more you can add to that.”. Amen!

If you have a choice to make, the Bible can help you make it. If you’ve got questions, the Bible has answers.

*Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is Living and Active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

* How do you separate between a person’s thoughts and their intent?
**God’s word is able to penetrate to the heart of a person and cause a change, and unlike a physical sword it leaves no external scar.

* That is why you find those hearing Peter’s message responding, “Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart” (Acts 2:37).
* When the Bible is used as a weapon to point out the flaws in another person, the person using it often finds himself convicted by the same word.
“You, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that a man should not steal, do you steal? You who say, “Do not commit adultery,” do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples?” (Romans 2:21-22).

2 Peter 1:20 knowing this first of all, that NO prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s OWN interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
*WE need to appreciate the virtues of the Word of God.
*It is a Timeless book
*It is a Truthful book
*It is a Treasured book
John 17:17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 16:13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, …

Revelation 22:18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, 19 and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book.
*The Bible is not your notebook which you can take away or add anything you want!
NO, the Bible is sacred scriptures from our Father in heaven!
In this verse it tells US clearly what will happen if WE add or subtract from Gods Holy Word.

There is Victory in the Cross:
* When we yield to the Lordship of Christ,
* When we make Christ, the throne of our hearts, we are on the cross,
*BUT if WE ARE ON  the throne of our hearts, then we in effect is leaving Jesus, on the cross.
That’s the hard message of the cross.

* If you are going through suffering don’t focus on the pain— up lift the cross and Christ, his love, his grace in your life.
*Maybe instead of apologizing FOR God (in explaining pain or suffering) perhaps we need to apologize TO God…for our stubbornness, divisiveness, or ignoring tendencies.(I do).

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Psalms 119:89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
*We have somthing to rely on no matter what happens!!

Revelation 14: 12 Here is a call for the endurance of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.
*What is a Saint- those who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Matthew 11:35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
*Jesus is the Light, therefore he is full of Biblical truth and holiness.(1JN 1:5-7)
We as Christians can’t expect to be holy without having Biblical Truth!!!!!
What is the truth? Jesus said, praying to the Father “…your word, which is truth”. ***The Bible IS THE. ABSOLUTE TRUTH.
We need this Holy Spirit Inspired, Absolute Truthful book!

*Bury the WORD deep in your hearts and allow the truth of God to be with you in all your thoughts and actions!

*Where God’s WORD is, there is life.
*God’s Word is the settled, lasting, truth with a firm foundation!!

I ask why am I here?
Christ and Christ Alone!!
Jesus said the Holy Spirit will Glorify Me. John 16:14  He(Holy Spirit) will glorify me(Jesus), for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

** But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. (James 1:22).   “TAKE ACTION”

I thank you Lord for your Word through the Holy Spirit that comforts me and reveals you Lord JESUS to me.   I bless your Holy, Holy name today dear Lord and thank and praise you and worship you in spirit and in truth. Glory and honor to you Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

See web page for Bible Study and come join us this Sunday(sept. 11th) at Twin Lakes Park, Nowthen for worship (10 to 12) and family fun and food (12-5).  All are welcome. Questions email rbagne@yahoo.com.

The Word of God cannot work in our lives unless we have receptive hearts!!

Whats the condition of your heart?
Is it the hard heart, the shallow heart, the crowded heart, or the fruitful heart.

Whatever the condition of your heart is, will affect how you will receive the Word of God.

Scripture tells us that, as new believers, we have “put on” Christ(Gal. 3:27). Although this begins in our hearts when we’re born again(JN 3:3), we must continually choose to “put on” Christ moment by moment throughout our lives. This is the process of sanctification.
* “…put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”Ephesians 4:24

Throwing Seeds?
“But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirty fold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” (Mark 4:8)

Good soil not only produces fruits, but also seed that falls on others and multiplies. True conversion will produce disciples.

The human heart is like receptive soil to the seed of the Word of God. Jesus used this analogy in the parable of the sower (see Mark 4:3-20).

The soil that the seed fell on represents:
1.  Four categories of hearers’ hearts,
2.  Four different reactions to the Word of God:
** the hard heart, the shallow heart, the crowded heart, and the fruitful heart.

First, there is the Hard Heart, the seed that falls along the roadside.
* This Represents people who hear the Word of God, but never really believe.

Then there is the Shallow Heart. That is the seed that falls on stony ground.
This signifies the people who hear the Word of God and receive it with joy, but because there is no root to sustain them, they wither.

Next, there is the Crowded Heart. That is the seed that falls on ground where weeds choke out its growth.
* Slowly and surely, these people, busy with the cares and riches of the world, just lose interest in the things of God.

Finally, there is the Fruitful Heart that receives the Word. The seed falls on good ground and the plants produce a rich harvest.

*We are the ones who determine what kind of soil our hearts will be.
*We decide whether we will have a hard heart, a shallow heart, a crowded heart, or a receptive heart.

This is exactly what James meant when he said, “Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21).

The Word of God(seed) cannot work in our lives unless we have receptive hearts(soil condition)!!

*If you have a stony heart or a heart that is hard with little soil or a thorny or thistly heart, be encourage to till the fields and plow it to receive Gods rain and let his WORD produce what it was meant to.

So often defeat is what is required before victory can be won. Jesus said that unless the seed dies and goes into the ground it cannot bring forth fruit (see Jn. 12:24). The death of a vision is often required before the fulfillment can really take place. Have you failed at something in your life? Have you not seen the vision fulfilled you thought you were given? The vision may yet happen.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross. However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth. Christ’s death gave liberty. Forgiveness came to all men. New life came forth-new strength for the disciples. Resurrection and new life came as a result of a “defeat.” “There are triumphant defeats that rival victories”

The power of the seed.
*Every seed requires cultivation, and to be nurtured in order to produce its fruit.
*The seed carries the ability to reproduce themselves.
*The seed means nothing until it is planted.
*The seed carries the DNA of its source.
*Everything that the seed requires to become all it can, is within the seed.
*Every seed carries a message or assignment.
*Every seed carries for the next generation.
*Seed must be sown, seeds grow in stages, plants must go through maturity, it is our responsibility to harvest.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.

I thank you Lord for your Holy Spirit that comforts me and reveals you Lord Jesus to me.  I bless your  Holy, Holy name today dear Lord and thank and praise you and worship you in Spirit and in Truth. Lord continue to till my field and plow it to receive Your rain and let Your WORD (Seed)  produce what it was meant to for me this day. Glory and honor to you Lord. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

See web page for Bible Study and come join us this Sunday at Twin Lakes Park for worship (10 to 12) and family fun and food (12-5).  All are welcome. Questions email rbagne@yahoo.com.

The dictionary definition of “depressed” is: “to press down” or “cause to sink.”
And, in fact, a depressed person feels that.

Can you imagine what it would be like to be plucked, pushed, crushed, pressed, skinned, and fermented?

OUCH! The pain! What’s the point of it
all?

A lot of people feel that way about the pain they experience in relationships as well as their marriage.
“Why am I doing this?
Where is this relationship going?”

But just as a grape goes through a difficult process before it becomes a fine wine, sometimes our relationships and/or our marriage has to go through a painful process before it matures.

So often defeat is what is required before victory can be won. Jesus said that unless the seed dies and goes into the ground it cannot bring forth fruit (see Jn. 12:24).
The death of a vision is often required before the fulfillment can really take place.
*Have you failed at something in your life?
*Have you not seen the vision fulfilled you thought you were given?
* The vision may yet happen.

The disciples thought they suffered their greatest defeat when Jesus died on the cross.
* However, this defeat became the greatest victory on earth.
* Christ’s death gave liberty. *Forgiveness came to all men.
* New life came forth-new strength for the disciples.
*Resurrection and new life came as a result of a “defeat.”
*There are triumphant defeats that rival victories!

The people who have the best Relationships are NOT people who grew up well-adjusted, have healthy
adult lives, and normal parents. People like that usually have OKAY Relationships/ marriages.

The BEST Relationships/ marriages are with people who were crushed, who went through a painful process, and
who built their relationship from the ruins of broken hearts.

There’s an ancient song by King David, “Those who sow in tears will reap harvest in glad song.”
*And so it is that pain is often the preview to pleasure.

Best Example I believe is– Any woman who has experienced child birth can testify to this truth.

As I interact with more and more people I notice that very often the turning point in a Relationship as well as any problem — is when people usually hit rock bottom and have tried every option Themselves!!!
It’s not until they’ve been through the worst-give up self and have no option But to Trust God that things start to get better.

But the turnaround  is NOT automatic. Just because you hit bottom, does NOT
mean you’ll bounce back.

**If you don’t make it happen, you’ll just crash. You have a  Choice to make!
God’s way or MY way?

*In order to turn around, you have to take RESPONSIBILITY.

What does it REALLY mean to be responsible?
* A person who is responsible has the ABILITY to RESPOND.
* In other words, if you take response-ability for your relationship, problems and or your marriage, then your problem is not determined solely by what happens; it’s also determined by how you RESPOND to what happens.

*A responsible person is not a victim to their circumstances. They are the master of their fate.

How you respond to your circumstances today,   WILL determine your circumstances tomorrow.
**YOUR actions will create your new Circumstances. You can turn sour grapes into a fine wine.

Start your Actions in prayer:
Prayer is the lifeblood of an intimate relationship with the Father.
* But believers often have questions about its power and effectiveness. *Don’t hesitate to Take your queries to the Lord, Dig into Scripture for answers, and Seek the counsel of a trusted spiritual mentor. Prayer is too important to neglect.

Do you need to repent? It is a call to follow him. Have you made this commitment to follow Jesus?

Be alert to situations and issues that will serve as a platform from which to deal with old mindsets that will not serve you well in your current journey to higher spiritual ground.
*Make a review of the things that the Lord is showing you in your current environment, but do so without allowing rejection or condemnation to cloud your vision.
*The enemy will do whatever he can to keep you from looking at things objectively and with clarity.
*But if you will see this time as being necessary for instruction leading to greater understanding instead of a personal attack against who you are, it will serve as a springboard to the next phase of your journey.
**Otherwise, it could just become a trap.
Mark 8:25  25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly.

The good news of the Gospel is that those who trust in Him have the same opportunity to be restored, and see everything clearly.
We are to take up our cross and follow  Jesus!!
If we want life, liberty and happiness in the fullest sense, don’t pursue them directly.
We ought to pursue and trust Christ by taking up our own cross, and that is where life in the fullest will be found.

God, I’m SO amazed by your wisdom!! Jesus, I’m SO amazed by your humility and your absolute submission to the Father’s will!! Wow, thank you for revealing these truths to me. Please help me to live the way you have lived while you were still here, in humble submission to God’s will all the days of my life.
Amen!!!!
**See web page for Bible Study and come join us this Sunday(sept. 11th) at Twin Lakes Park, Nowthen for worship (10 to 12) and family fun and food (12-5).  All are welcome. Questions email

Our self-life will never “mellow” with age. We can’t tame it…we have to crucify it.
*  “But may it never be that I should boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” Galatians 6:14
*Are we a doer of the Word or a hearer only?
*It is one thing to receive truth. It is quite another to receive it humbly. That can only happen if we understand our need of God’s truth in my life.
*James 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
*”Meekness is an attitude toward God“ in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting.”
*A humble heart doesn’t fight against God or contend with Him.
*God’s powerful Word, implanted in our hearts, is a trustworthy source of spiritual wisdom and strength.
*It’s available to all who will humbly receive it.
*God who formed worlds by the power of His Word Speaks through the Scriptures His truth to be heard;
*And if we read with the will to obey,
He by His Spirit will show us His way.

Isaiah 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. 2 Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.

The thirst Isaiah describes here is not a reactive RESULT of the absence of something, but a pro-active DISPOSITION before the Lord that says, “God, I need more of you!”

Moses was thirsty and wanted all of God. He knew God’s ways, but wanted God Himself!

God will use a circumstance or need in the natural to create an area of thirst in our spirit.
* A thirsty man will not just sit waiting for water to come, but will assume a disposition to seek that which will quench his thirst. He PURSUES it.

Moses pursued the very face of God and His  glory…the fullness of all God is.

We can pursue God the same way in removing our self – our flesh – from our very own pursuits.
* Try this…take one day and look for the God in others around you.
*God is there, even in non-believers, there is the image of God created in them.

**Share a story with them, minister to their hurting soul…show them the Christ in you that YOU pursued and are still pursuing!
It will surprise you just where you begin to see the Lord habitating!!!

Romans 8: 28 And we know that for those who LOVE God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

*This is the LOVE of Ephesians 5:25, “Husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her.”
* It is Christ’s love for the church, his bride.
* Christ has a love for all, and he has a special, saving, preserving love for his bride. You know you are part of that bride if you trust Christ. Anyone — no exceptions — anyone who trusts Christ can say, I am part of his bride, his church, his called and chosen ones, the ones who verse 35 in Romans 8- says are kept and protected forever no matter what.

The world may influence us and still have influence because we live in this world but we are no longer enslaved or dominated by this world system, presided over by Satan, the love of the world the lust of the flesh and the pride of life, is to be crucified, so we need to ask our self a ?—- Are we living a crucified life???

There is victory in the cross:
* when we yield to the lordship of Christ,
* when we make Christ, the throne of our hearts, we are on the cross,
*BUT if WE ARE ON  the throne of our hearts, then we in effect is leaving Jesus, on the cross.
That’s the hard message of the cross.

* If you are going through suffering don’t focus on the pain up lift the cross and Christ, his love, his grace in our lives.
*To live a life that exualt the cross, then praise him with our worship and then through our witness.
* Jesus, said if I be lifted up then I will draw all into me, be blessed.
1 thess. 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.
*Praise be to God for taking the initiative of saving us. For while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. *The Word is God’s revelation to us! How we receive the Bible affects how we live the Christian life.
*We must be in prayer, claiming the promise, praying for God to cause His Word to work in us, and through us, to others!
*if I want to know what God wants for my life, I must dedicate some time apart from my life to study his word and plan for my life, an then apply it.
Thank You Jesus-Your Love for each one of us is so so unbelievable. Help us love others and our self’s  as You do. Amen.

When we seek to please “self”, we open ourselves up to uncontrolled emotions, soulish thoughts and selfish desires.
*”…for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain.”Ezekiel 33:31
*Jonah was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, and as a result fled from the Lord’s will.
Jonah 1:3 But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.
“Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?” James 3:11
*We cannot show forth God’s Life and self-life at the same time.

*******Don’t Waste Your Life?

You see, even under grace it does matter what you do with your life. Don’t waste your life is the message of God to us.
We need to be gripped by the reality that choices we make have consequences both now and for eternity.

Martin Luther lived by a motto he often repeated:
“I have but two days in my calendar – Today, and the Day I stand before Christ.”

Christ’s coming simply reveals what people have been all the time. For us as believers, Paul tells us that when we stand before Christ “each man’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it” (1 Corinthians 3:13).

Remember, the One who has planned the End from the Beginning has told us what will happen in the days ahead, and this is His Plan for History.

Daniel 4:3 How great are His signs, and how mighty His wonders! His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and His dominion is from generation to generation.
*The book of Daniel is a great example of a man who was proactive is his faith. As you read the book of Daniel you will find the following proactive nature of Daniel.
1) Daniel spent time with God regularly. This gave him a better understanding of who God is and what pleases God.

2) Daniel made decisions that pleased God. He was not concerned with earthly treasure but rather with the blessings of God.

3) Daniel’s testimony of God through the way he lived and the decisions he made, always pointed people toward God.

The problem with most Christians today is that WE are reactive in our decision making and our understanding of God. ***Our knowledge of God’s word is limited because we choose to spend small amounts of time reading and studying His word.( Hosea 4:6 6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me.)

Daniel chose to spend time with God. Moses always set up a tent while he was in the desert where he would meet with God.

We need to spend time with God more. So we can get to know Him, His likes and His dislikes, the way He thinks and what is important to Him. We need to set up our own ‘tent.’ away from the distractions of this world, where we spend time focusing on God and His word.

For years I walked in my own strength of “I can do it,” but God brought me to His strength and the knowledge that “He can do it in me.”

He has brought me out of my own power, which is so limited and flawed, to being dependent on the infilling power of His Spirit.
Confidence in myself has very limited power, whereas confidence in Him brings limitless possibilities.

I know that I’ll still have days of struggle with confidence, but my rebuilt and renewed sense of confidence is now firmly in Christ. It’s a beautiful place to be.
“By day the Lord went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them….” Exodus 13:21
*How are you at waiting on God?
*How do you determine if God is giving you the green light to move forward?

Many  believers make the mistake of adding up all the pluses and then concluding that God has given them the green light.
Several factors go into making a decision from the Lord.

Through experience I believe it is important to do a couple of things before you make a decision on a matter.
* First, you should gather facts.
Fact gathering allows you to determine all the realities of a given situation. However, this does not ultimately drive your decision, but it can put a stop to it.
For instance, if you were planning to build a shopping center and you knew the only way to lease the space was to rent to a porn shop, your decision would be made. God would NOT lead you to enter into unrighteous ventures.

*Second, is the Holy Spirit guiding you in your decision?
“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, He makes his steps firm” (Ps. 37:23).
God puts hedges around us, but many times we bull our way through the hedges under the guise of tenacity and perseverance.
*This too is unrighteousness. One wise workplace believer stated that the greatest success one can have in business is to know when it is time to pull the plug rather than keep forcing a situation. Not all businesses last forever.

*Third, has your decision been confirmed?
God has placed others around us to be used as instruments in our lives to confirm decisions and keep us from the deceit of our own heart.

“Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses” (2 Cor. 13:1b).
This is God’s way of keeping us within the hedge of His protection.

“Write your plans in pencil and give God the eraser!!! (Read Hab. 2:2-)

Refuse to be offended or take what other people say as a personal attack against you.  The enemy would have you respond in ways that will open the door to a greater assault.
* Forgive quickly and move on.
* Don’t dwell on the things that have gone wrong, but rather take the time to be thankful. It is of vital importance that you keep your focus on things that really matter.

Philippians 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things.

Dear Lord,I ask that you continue to renew my mind. Help me to think positive, think and view others the way you view them. I understand that the mind is a very powerful tool, so I ask that I will use it to please you and bring life to others. Help me to die to myself so that I would be a pure vessel. A vessel that only fresh and living water flows from me into others. By me dieing to myself, I would be able to help lead my brothers and sisters to their Living Father. I have depended on myself so many times and fallen short. My confidence has been shaken many times. Rebuild me daily Lord by helping me to put my FULL confidence in You and what You have said and continue to say through your perfect absolute truth in your Word.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Self-life wants to hide the truth, but God’s Life wants to expose it!
* “For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light.” Luke 8:17

HEARING AND KNOWING HIS VOICE
John 1: 23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.
God is continually trying to teach us how to set aside “self-life” so that His Life can reign supreme in our hearts.

God desires to speak to you as if you were sitting down to dinner with him.

God wants to converse with you, heart to heart, on any and all matters! The Bible says: “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me”
(Revelation 3:20).

This verse often has been used when speaking to the unsaved. We speak of Jesus standing at the door of the sinner’s heart, seeking entrance.
But, no—Christ is speaking to the believer!
*The context shows that Christ is talking to those who are clothed in white
raiment (righteousness), who have bought gold tried in the fire, whose eyes are anointed (having revelation), who are loved, reproved and chastened (seeRevelation 3:15-19).
**These are repentant, holy people who want to know the voice of God!

As I read and reread verse 20 in this passage, three words kept leaping out at me: “Open the door! Open the door!”
As I see it, this door represents a commitment—one that many Christians have not yet fully made.
Most believers pray, “Lord, all I need is a little advice, a few words of direction—a reminder that you love me.
Just let me know whether I’m doing right or wrong. Go before me and open the doors!”

But Jesus answers us:
*“If all you want from me is direction, I can send a prophet to you.
*If you only want to know where to go and what to do, I can send
someone and you can filter it all through him.
*** But you are missing ME!”
1 Corinthians 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.
*Jesus wants your closeness, your deepest emotions, your locked-up room that you do not want to open.
*Jesus wants to sit down with you and share all that is in his heart—to talk with
you face to face.
Revelation 3 is a wonderful picture of this. It speaks of love and intimacy, of sharing secrets, of tender voices.

When Jesus comes in, he brings food and bread—in other words, himself. When you feed on him, you will be satisfied completely!
**************
Psalms 27:7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me! 8 You have said, “Seek my face.”
My heart says to you,
“Your face, Lord, do I seek.”

I have been guilty of seeking more his miracles and things Jesus can do for me—-than seeking his face. To be more in love with Him than being in love with the things that He has given me. I believe He wants to strip me from that.

2 Chronicles 7:14 if my people who are called by my name Humble themselves, and Pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
*This is a promise from the Lord that if His people, who are called by His name. Humble themselves in prayer, by acknowledging their sins. He promises to forgive them when they ask for forgiveness and heal them.

Peter warns last-day believers that Satan will come to them with a loud voice, trying to bring fear. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the
devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter
5:8).

Here is my point: If Satan is making his voice known in these last days,
showing his power to the masses of lost souls, how much more important is it
for God’s people to know their Father’s voice?
Do you think the Lord would sit by as Satan roars at the world and yet remain silent?
Never!
Isaiah said: “The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard” (Isaiah 30:30).

Since the time of Adam and Eve, God has been speaking to man. “They heard the sound of the Lord God” (Genesis 3:8). Adam said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid” (Genesis 3:10).

From Genesis through to the end of the New Testament, God made his voice known to his people. In the books of the prophets we see this phrase, “And God said. . .” repeated time after time. God’s voice was known and understood.

Jesus confirmed this in the New Testament, using the example of the Good Shepherd. “The sheep hear his voice . . . the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3-4).

Adam hid from God’s voice, because of the guilt and shame of his sin. And
that is exactly where many of God’s people are today—hiding, afraid to hear
God speak!

If you want to hear God’s voice, you must be ready to have your soul purged
and cleansed.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Every believer is called to “go and make disciples of all the nations . . . ” (Matthew 28:19). That means we are all called to evangelism. We all have a part to play.

I must admit that it’s a mystery to me that God has chosen to use people as the primary communicators of His truth.
The primary way God reaches people who do not yet know Him is through verbal communication. How can people hear about Christ unless someone tells them? That someone is supposed to be you or me.

Christ and Christ Alone!!
Jesus said the Holy Spirit will Glorify Me.
John 16:14  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
***When hearing the voice of God, there are things we need to identify to know it is him.
*Anything that God will ever say, will always be in agreement with his WORD.
*If it’s not in agreement with God’s word, it’s counterfeit.
*God Never directs to anything that he has not taught in his word.
*The more we are able to understand the Truth of God’s word, the more we’ll be able to identify when something isn’t right.
*Where God’s word is, there is life.

Lord, do a work in me. I ask for your forgiveness and I pray you help me seek your face more than seeking your hand. Thank You for  Absolute TRUTH – YOUR WORD. Help me, through the Holy Spirit see more and more of Your Love through your Holy Spirit inspired Word the Bible!  In Jesus Name, Amen

Look for people with needs, then point them to Christ to meet their needs.

Whenever God is slow to answer our prayers, WHAT we believe about God is revealed!

Mark 10:49-52
Nowhere in the Bible can you find where Jesus ignored someone that was desperate. On the cross the one beside Jesus reached out in desperation.

…. “Take heart. Get up; he is calling you.”…another version says “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” Mark 10:49

Do you recall the circumstances when God first called you into relationship with Him?
*Were you in NEED of something?
*Were you in a crisis situation?
***Every day God calls someone into relationship with Him through different circumstances.
*** More often than not, the circumstances relate to a NEED in their life that only God can meet.

Each day, we rub shoulders with someone who has not met this Jesus we know personally.
* God uses Needs to draw us to Himself.
What NEED has He placed in someone you know that only Christ can meet?

Perhaps you are the instrument He wants to use to introduce that person to Himself.
*It requires availability and a willingness to look for people with needs, then point them to Christ to meet their needs.
*Pray for divine appointments today.

You and I have an influence, either for good or for bad. No matter who you are, you occupy a place of influence.
” For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.” (Romans 14:7).

**** My friend, I see this Life– as  ALL of us are preachers. You are preaching to those around you by the life that you live….!!!!

You may be influencing a wide circle of human society. You may have influence in your neighborhood and in your community.  You have influence in your family, small groups, your work.  ***Somebody is looking at you and watching to see whether or not you mean business with God.

Does your going to church mean anything more to you than going to a drive-in to pick up a hamburger? Does your life suggest that there is a heaven to gain and a hell to shun? You have influence.

“One sinner destroyeth much good.”

Think about it–You see, we have absolute access to the very presence of the living God—and also for him to come to us!
“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way . . . let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith” (Hebrews 10:19-22).

Nothing thrills the heart of God more than when his children come to him in
boldness, without timidity! He wants us to come, saying, “I have a right to
be here. And even if my heart condemns me, God is greater than my heart! (see 1John 3:20).

Whenever God is slow to answer our prayers, WHAT we believe about God is revealed!!!!
* Do we change our plans and move in a different direction when pressure mounts?
*Or do we continue on the path God has directed for us?

If God has called you, then you can be sure He will make a way. He has already opened the way before you.
But you must walk in faith, joined with Him to take the land.
*”…Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9)

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Thank You Jesus for this comfort–now help us now comfort others in NEED-as we have received from You!  In Jesus Name. Amen

We think that…. “If I had _______, then I would be stronger”.  We ask God to change our circumstances instead of asking God for strength!

Christianity is the only religion where God dwells in us.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

ROOTED IN LOVE

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that you, being rooted and
grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth, and height—to know the love of Christ which
passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God”
(Ephesians 3:17-19).

Rooted and grounded here means:
*** “to build under you a deep and stable foundation of Knowing and Understanding the Love of God to YOU.

In other words, the knowledge of God’s love to you is the foundational truth upon which ALL others truths must be built!

Without God we don’t know what love is. We cant say we love someone if we don’t love God. He is the creator of love.
For example, this is what the fear of God is built upon. A holy fear of God is
not a dread that he is ready to strike you down if you are caught in some
little fault.
Rather, it is the dread of his holiness against rebellion—and
of what he does to those who love darkness rather than light.

*The soil that you draw life from dictates the kind of fruit that grows.
* The depth of the roots dictates the quality of fruit produced.
What soil are you drawing life from? *From the world?
*From TV, movies, books, Internet?

Christians who live in guilt, fear and condemnation are not “rooted and
grounded” in the love of God.

*Our heavenly Father sent his Son to die for our sins and weaknesses. And without fully knowing and fully understanding that kind of love to you, you will never have a stable or permanent foundation!

“[That you] . . . may be able to comprehend . . . the love of Christ”
(Ephesians 3:18-19).
The apostle Paul means for you to seize this truth and make it the foundation of your Christian life. He is telling you to put your spiritual hands out and say, “I am going to lay hold of this!”

Perhaps you are assaulted by a temptation you can’t seem to shake off.

**** Or maybe you carry a sense of never measuring up, of Unworthiness—a fear that the devil is going to trip you up and you are going to fail God.

This is the day for you to wake up to God’s love for you! I pray that as you
read this message, something will strike deep in your heart, and you will be
able to say, “You’re right. That’s me and I don’t want to live this way!”

Colossians 2:2  that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

I pray that you will get hold of this truth—that it will open your eyes and help you enter a whole new realm of joy and peace in your daily walk with him.

*God’s glory is the radiance of the fullness of who HE is, and that radiance is a Person.
*A person, Jesus Christ, is the one in whom all the fullness of deity was pleased to dwell (Colossians 2:9).

Jesus, the Person, IS the Word of God made flesh as the ultimate revelation of the triune God (John 1:18; Hebrews 1:1-3).

***The glory of God is a person and that person is JESUS!!!!!!

Make no mistake; the Lord see’s every detail of your life.  You can run, but you can’t hide.  Be sensitive to the conviction of His Spirit to bring correction.  You can choose to either repent (turn from) all that is unholy and ungodly in your life, or you can carry on with rebellion and disobedience to His word.
The choice is yours and so is the harvest.  You will reap either the fruit of righteousness or of unrighteousness.  Take advantage of this opportunity to adjust the course of your life.
**Hebrews 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Love ultimately is not a feeling – it is an action. It doesn’t spring from your heart (although it may be a part of it), but is an action. Love is practical, and is a series of choices you make.

Ultimately, there is only one message: “”Love one another.””

Thank You Jesus for Loving Me. Thank You Jesus for Your Words of Truth found in your All sufficient Word, the Bible. Thank You for loving me so much that You gave Your life(action) because of my sins. 1 John 4:10: “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”. Thank you Lord that the glory of God is a person and that person is Jesus!!!!!  Amen

The soul is a “neutral” territory that can either be governed by our own thoughts, emotions, and desires, or else given over to the Lordship of Christ.

“For the one who sows to his own flesh shall form the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit shall from the Spirit reap eternal life.” Galatians 6:8

Sowing to our flesh encompasses a lot of things.
In a nutshell, it is living out from under the control of the Spirit of God.
It wouldn’t matter if that was total rebellion through sin or just not pursuing the things of God.

Many “good” people don’t realize that the depression and discouragement they experience are the harvest of their good but not God-controlled lives.

The Pharisees lived holy lives; but they were sowing to their flesh, and they reaped the corruption that this verse promises. Not all that is “good” is God.

** We must have pure hearts directed by the Spirit of God.

Our ACTIONS are the way we sow seeds. Those of us who ACT in accordance with the Spirit of God (i.e., the Word of God – see Ga 5:16) are sowing to the Spirit.

***Those who conduct their ACTIONS independently of the Spirit of God (i.e., the Word of God) are sowing to the flesh.

As important as our actions are, they are just the result of our thoughts (Pr 23:7).
*Actions are conceived in our thoughts (Jas 1:14-15), so if we want to control our actions, we must first control our thoughts (Ro 8:6).

A “new heart” is now the true core of our being. With God’s Life already in us, we just need to learn how to “let it out”.

“…let not your adornment be merely external…but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”1 Peter 3:3-4

The enemy mobilizes its forces, escalating the attack, and begins to plan direct violence.
When you begin to move with God to change things in your life for the better, you will find that you are met first with derision, and if you keep persisting, someone is going to get very upset with you and attack you in a vicious, perhaps physical, way.

Read Nehemiah 4:7-23
But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat (Nehemiah 4:9).

See how Nehemiah reacts, He still relies on prayer (Nehemiah 4:9). But he does more than pray. He posts a guard as well.
Prayer and preparedness! This blending of the resources of the spiritual life with those of the material world is a marvelous picture of how believers ought to face threats, recognizing that we need Action on both levels.

Still the enemy persists, and he launches a propaganda campaign.

The enemy immediately takes advantage of that weakness and discouragement (Nehemiah 4:11).

Nehemiah’s response is very deliberate. First, he carefully looks over the situation and evaluates what is needed. *This approach is necessary if we are going to improve our own lives.
*We must observe exactly where we are under attack.
* What are we addicted to?
A wrong habit, a drug, an attitude of mind? Bitterness of spirit?
*When we have identified the source of attack, WE MUST post a guard at that point.

Then, second, Nehemiah reviews the spiritual resources available to them. *They had a Power at work in their lives that their enemies knew nothing about. ****The great and Awesome God who was with them would stand with them in their peril.
*When they remembered this, they became reassured and renewed in courage.

**The enemy saw that they could achieve nothing with their attacks.

“Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead” (2 Timothy 2:8). Timothy was not alone. God was with him. Jesus is risen! He is awesome. He is strong. He is powerful. Reckon upon Him, and you will be able to stand against the most subtle temptation and the most dangerous threats that come against you.
“…Blessed is the man who trusts in You” (Psalm 84:12).
God has a specific plan for the people who fully trust in Him.
* He promises to be their shield, to bestow honor on them.
* He will not withhold any good thing from them.
What a promise! What motivation to be all that we can be in God.

Imagine living a life that God views as blameless, which allows Him to withhold no good thing.
Pray that God would make you and me that kind of person.

I speak to those who still have unfulfilled desires, and I tell you that as long as fantasy, lust and seduction are the operative forces in your life, you will be led by your own flesh rather than by  the Lord.
Begin again by the cleansing of the foundation of your desires.  Change your mind, and make the Lord your entire desire and your single focus.  Then, the Lord will be able to lead you to a higher spiritual place.
Psalms 61:2 From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).
I don’t think you will ever be comforted until you learn to mourn.
When you see the hurt, pain, and despair that sin can produce and you grieve over it, then you are ready for the comfort of forgiveness.

What does “the joy of the LORD” mean? *It is the fact that God has found a solution to these problems of sin.
* He has provided a way back to sensible, sober, wise, helpful, wholesome living.
How?
*By learning to think like He thinks.
*Begin to see the world from His point of view.
* Listen no longer to the clamoring voices of the media.
* Do not take your philosophy of life from what people are saying or the advice others are giving.
* Listen to the Holy Spirit inspired  Word of God.

Thank You, Father, for how practical and helpful the Scriptures are. Teach me to rely on Your Spirit and Word in Prayer and preparedness. Thank You, Lord, for the joy of forgiveness and restoration. Thank You for paying for that gift with the precious blood of Your Son.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

Proverbs 2:6-10 Read for Wisdom!
– All wisdom comes from the Lord, and so do common sense and understanding.

– God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.

– God sees that justice is done, and he watches over everyone who is faithful to him.

– With wisdom you will learn what is right and honest and fair.

– Wisdom will control your mind, and you will be pleased with knowledge.

– Sound judgment and good sense will watch over you.

– Wisdom will protect you from evil. schemes and from those liars who turned from doing good to live in the darkness.

God has given you all you need to be free and victorious. He sees your
condition—and he cares. He cuddles you as you call on him and he is ready to come forth to help you that moment.

The Secret Hidden Wisdom

Psalm 51:6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.

Those words are addressed by the psalmist David to the Lord Himself.

What is it that God really looks for in our lives?
*First and foremost, it is not the external practices of religion – not necessarily church going or other religious acts. (Read Matthew 23:1-7)
*God looks much deeper than those. He looks right down into the innermost depths of our hearts and our lives.

Elsewhere, the Bible tells us that God does not see as man sees because man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the HEART.
So David says, “Surely you desire truth in the inner parts.”
* What does God want?
* What is truth in the inner parts?
I believe it is absolute sincerity – the opposite of religious externalism, hypocrisy.(See Matthew 6:1-6,16-18)

Those things do not appeal to God. In fact, He does not approve of them. He detests them.
God looks beneath all that. God wants to see if we are sincere, open, and transparent in our relationship with Him.
*Do we say the same thing with our mouths that we are thinking in our minds? ( Matthew 6:1-6,16-18)

If we come to that place, then we can say, like the psalmist, “You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.”
* There is a secret place in our innermost being where we can begin to hear the voice of God and learn from Him and He teaches us wisdom there.

If you want to know God’s voice, then you must be willing to hear everything
he says! God will never say, “Go!” until he first asks, “Who will go?”
*God comes to you asking, “Are you willing to do anything I tell you and do it
my way?
* Are you willing to lay down your life?”

When I prayed for direction years ago, the Lord told me clearly, through His word “Do not Fear anything—I am with you always-You are mine now and you will be used for My Glory NOT your own as you did in the past. TRUST”
That was a most uncomfortable word for me!
Yes, we want to hear the voice of God, but we want to hear it comfortably! We
don’t want it to shake us.
Yet, why should God give us his voice of direction if he is not sure we will obey him?
A person asked me-“Aren’t you afraid sometimes? You are running on only faith? What about your income-retirement-401?  Do you walk around with the weight of that on you all the time?”
I said yes I used to—but now No! Because when you experience God the way I’ve been experiencing God for the last 4 years, you stop being afraid. I’ve seen so many God given miracles in my life, marriage, kids, grandkids, family, friends—-the more I  gave up of myself and ave God ALL the Praise and Glory the More I Saw HIM and the More I completly TRUST HIM.  Is Awesome!

*Spend my time doing the Lord’s work verses my own – has freed me.
*Isaiah 58:10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

God delivered me from the Darkness and I’ve never been so happy, so positive, so on fire for the things of God. Like the verse, his light rises in the darkness. Yes there are many roadblocks some days–but God in his perfect timing shows us a way around them or even through them.

As we open up and serve others verses ourself you begin to see all the miracles happening daily– therefore we dare to be part of them.

I was always looking for that big time Healing  Miracle–by doing that I stopped positioning my life for seeing God’s miracles daily right before my eyes.
So-If I truly want to be a man who lives by faith, I must live a life that requires a little bit of fresh faith and a whole lot of TRUST.
Faith that changes everything.

Clarity is the order of the day.  The Lord is releasing you to a higher level of spiritual direction because you are ready to see more clearly your OWN heart and discern from that place of awareness.  Old positions of dullness will become a thing of the past as your eyes are opened to see and accept the pure truth without condemnation.
As the days of justifying ungodly attitudes and behavior end, the days of clarity begin.
The Lord is  calling you to a greater manifestation of purity and holiness.
**Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.

Let us Pray this together:  Lord I want to be determined to seek you no matter what. No matter what the circumstance, no matter what anyone says, no matter what anyone does I will seek you Lord. I will seek your face. I will stay before you Lord lifting up others before you. I will stay before you Lord praying your kingdom come, your will be done in earth as it is in heaven! Let my life be a living testimony to you Lord. That I would bring you glory and honor, my Lord, my Savior and my King.  I love you Lord and I praise your holy  name.  I am so grateful to you Lord for my life. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Loving God with “all our willpower” simply means making continual faith choices to obey His Will rather than our own.
“I have called upon Thee every day, O Lord; I have spread out my hands to Thee.”Psalm 88:9

Thank Offerings to God
God desires for us to call on Him in times of trouble. It’s not selfish or a sign of defeat.
*God wants us to call on Him so that we will praise and love Him all the more when He rescues us.
*God desires to show us His heart of mercy and grace in our weakness.

Psalm 50:14-15. Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.

I never noticed this before, but according to the context here, asking God for help is an act of worship.

The whole section here is talking about God’s total sufficiency, and proper and improper worship.
God then comes to verses 14 and 15 and tells us the kind of worship He wants:
1. Be Thankful (acknowledge that He is the Source).
2. Perform your vows (acknowledge that He is Lord by being obedient).
3. Ask for Help (acknowledge that He is Good).

So, bringing our problems to Him is not a burden, or a waste of time. It is an act of worship! Amazing!
At some time or other in our lives, we all face trouble. The psalmist speaks about the day of trouble.
There is not one of us that does not, at sometime or other, pass through a day of trouble.
BUT here the psalmist tells us the way out of trouble, the way of deliverance. *And let me tell you, I’ve had to prove this many times in my own experience.

What is the way out of trouble? *“Sacrifice thank offerings to God.” In the very midst of your trouble, exercise your faith and begin to thank God.
Offer Him that sacrifice of thanking Him and praising Him.
Then call upon Him in the day of trouble and His promise is, “I will deliver you,” and not merely that, “You will honor Me.”
God’s deliverance will work out to His Glory; it will become a Testimony in our lives of how God has delivered us in the day of trouble.

And then, further on in that psalm, the psalmist says, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God” (v. 23).

So, when we’re in trouble and we make that sacrifice of beginning to thank God although we may see no way out, we prepare a way that God shows us His salvation.
God opens the way for those who offer Him the sacrifice of thank offerings.  So when you’re in the midst of trouble, remember, that’s the way out!

After Jesus was crucified and raised from the dead, He appeared to the disciples. His first words to them were, “Peace be with you!” The word grace means “unmerited favor.” When someone loves you unconditionally, without regard to your behavior in return, it becomes a powerful force in your life.
Such was the case for the disciples when Jesus appeared to them. They could have expected reprimand.

Instead, they received unconditional love and acceptance. He was overjoyed to see them. They were equally overjoyed to see Him.

Jesus understood that the disciples needed to fail Him as part of their training. It would be this failure that became their greatest motivation for service.
Failure allowed them to experience incredible grace for the very first time. Grace would transform them as human beings.

Have you experienced this grace in your life? Have you extended grace to those who have hurt you? Can you let go of any wrongs that have come through friends or associates? The grace you extend may change their lives – and yours

Thankfulness is always part of true celebration.
*  Are we properly thankful?
* Do we give thanks every day to God for the blessings we are enjoying at the moment?
We are so trained by the media to grumble and complain, to insist on something we do not have, to focus on that instead of on all we do have.

One of the first signs of a growing, maturing spirit in young Christians is that they begin to give thanks to God for what He has poured into their life; *for the opportunities that are before them;
*and for the present blessings and liberties that they do enjoy.
So there are the elements that make up celebration: joyfulness, purity, and thanksgiving.

Lord, forgive me for so often forgetting all that I have to celebrate. Teach me to celebrate all You have done for me with joy, purity, and thanksgiving.