Devotions - Prayer

Part 2 of 2nd Chance:
My short testimony: “LET GO-LET GOD”!

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

I was so Sick and needed a Doctor!

Luke 5: 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who KNOW they are sinners and need to repent.”
*Everyone is sick. Not everyone knows it.
**We have addictions because of Sin.
**If we ask God to examine our heart everything we TRY to HIDE will be brought to the surface; it is there this day that  “addiction to sin” is revealed and LIFE begins!!!!!!!

I admitted to God my faults, addictions to sin and asked for changes, sought Him every moment, got into His Word, yielded to the changes He asked for and asked daily for courage to do His will even though its hard to change  because of my selfish- self boundries.

The only part of me I loved about myself back then was my worldly so called strenght’s.  *But it is the weaknesses that we need to focus on. To strengthen our weaknesses.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a.

*God doesn’t expect YOU to be like anyone else He expects YOU to do what Jesus did!
Being a witness isn’t just about your words but it’s also about your Conduct/Actions.

Its not easy- but now I know I don’t need to do all this on my own. The vine IS NOW my source and I rely on Him as He instructs me.
I found a larger world of possibilities than I used to know–Called TRUTH!
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

When life appears to lack Meaning and Purpose, remember that if you devote your life to the purposes God has for you, the fruits of your labor will be manifested in due time. “The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thess. 5:24).

I Did not know that God wanted little me to live in Him!
*He wants to be your source of life.
* He wants you to abide in Him and rely on Him for everything.
*He wants to be your source for strength, provision, hope and joy.
* Like the air you breathe, He wants you to rely on Him for your Very Existence.

Abiding in God begins by meditating on Him, His Word and His goodness.
*You stop and think about Him when you go to sleep at night.
*You think about Him when you first wake up.
*You think about His promises all throughout the day and continually fellowship with Him in prayer.
* You make Him your number ONE priority and stay connected with other believers in the Body.
*You can not hold back any longer–You just have to Share this Great News of Jesus and His Love with Others.
*Life with Jesus is not about SELF – It’s About “RELATIONSHIPS”- Unity and the work in the Body.
John 17: 23 I(Jesus) am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect UNITY that the WORLD will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.
***The Holy Spirit Transforms us into the image of Christ. WE are NO longer Self Centered when WE no longer make decisions based on how things affect ME BUT instead on how things affect the Kingdom of God!!!
Now that SOUNDS LIKE A TRUE LOVE RELATIONSIP! It’s about WE not I!

**Notice what John 15:5  says will happen when you abide in Him – you will produce much fruit!
**When you are connected to God, everything you set your hand to will be fruitful and blessed. Just like a branch thrives when it is connected to the vine, you’re going to thrive and be prosperous for His Purposes when you are connected to Almighty God.

*Most of the time we will not even know it ourselves, But God working through you (His Vessel now) will bear much fruit if we listen and obey Him and unify giving Glory and credit to God verses self-so JESUS is lifted up for others may see and COME to believe!(John 17: 23)

*Depend on Him today and make Him your number ONE priority. NOT MAN!
*Abide in Him and let Him pour out His abundant favor and blessing on you all the days of your life, Knowing this life is ALL about His purposes—not MINE!

He is the source of fruit through us.
John 15:2-8
*When we plug into Jesus, He flows through us like only He can do.
Through the tough years I learned that-When we” LET” Him— miracles happen that can only be of Jesus.(The miracles we all can have- the fruit of the Spirit—the miracle of love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control).

*God understands our disobedient heart. He sees what we really are; yet He gives “Second Chances”.
* God gave Jonah a second chance.
*God gave the people of Nineveh a second chance.
*God gave me a 2nd-3rd…Chance
It is a lesson of love from a heavenly Father who specializes in second chances.
Have you blown it? Have you disappointed someone close to you? God is the God of second chances. All we have to do is acknowledge our waywardness. God will restore. Gog will give Grace. ASK GOD- CHOOSE to “LET GO and LET HIM”!
2 Peter 3: 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.

You and I don’t just need to present ourselves and our good works. We also need to tell people the reason for the hope that is in us!

By our WORDS and our ACTIONS, we’re to share Christ to the lost and the hurting. You can’t just sit in the lifeboat of a sinking ship and hope everyone else finds it. WE have to tell them. So with your WORDS and your ACTIONS, share Christ with everyone you can and allow God to draw them to himself!

God continues to humble me daily. I now am a Christian who has grown in the grace and knowledge of the WORD of God and knows that there IS deliverance in our lives and how we need some daily.
I am redeemed by Christ unto good works by faith. Titus 2:14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all sin and to Purify for Himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
I can not continue to acknowledge the Sin and do nothing about the sin in my/our lives. I know that Sin feels good. Sin is pleasure for a season so the Bible says.   BUT it also says in Romans 6:1 What shall we say, shall we continue in sin that grace may abound.
Should we continue doing all these sinful things in order to take advantage of the multitude of sins that Jesus’ blood covers? Only you can answer that—-I humbly answer that question DAILY and I thank Jesus for His perfect Patience and Grace He has and is giving me hourly.
Lord, Thank you for choosing me before I could chose You, thank you for the
nail pierced hands ALL because of MY Addiction to Sin.  Thank you that you
knew me before I was born, thank you that you and no one else formed me in
my mothers womb, thank you that no weapon formed against me shall prosper Father in heaven, today I choose to abide in You. Thank you for second chances.  Like the air I breathe, I know I am totally dependent on You. Thank You for Your promise of blessing on me and help me to always be a blessing to other people. Help me speak Blessings and Peace not only over my friends, BUT also my enemies. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
2 Tim. 3: 16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,  17 so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed.

My short testimony: “LET GO-LET GOD”!

We must not just speak love for God, but demonstrate our love by yielding to His Will, and take some Action.
“This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far away from Me.”
Mark 7:6
I learned the hard way of letting go of self and world made plans, ideas,  and feelings!
It’s not all about me and my feelings. It is about God and His will and purposes.
“Feed my sheep”!
The Worlds Teaching is False!

John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

I love this verse reminding me of my powerlessness over work, trials, false friendships, bad economy or bad events in my life.

Why do I admit I need to be Powerless?
*Because now I Know my worth of how much God will bless me WHEN I believe Him over the circumstance.
Eph. 2:10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
* A relationship with Jesus is life changing.  Transformation is God’s work.
*God is constantly working in you. The more you seek Him the more he will work His will and Purpose.
*God has a purpose for us and will give us no task we can’t handle.
* I used to be so driven about succeeding, taking care of things perfectly(as I saw it) and nothing can shake me from climbing to the top.
*I remember being so cocky and telling people that I will be a well known entrepreneur because I am sure I can do it. (See all the “I’s”)
** I forgot who I am and the purpose God made me!!
* I had a on the know or on the need basis relationship with God based on convenience and time back then.
*I was selfish and “Addicted to Sin” (success, money, my ways, worldly thinking) which hardened my heart towards God, little by little.
* I lived a life wearing a mask, where people see a driven, happy person and UNDER was a suffering soul of depression and loneliness  and the need to surrender to God’s LOVE. (Looking for love in all the wrong places).

The question for me as a leader-which I had to ask myself–was. NOT   “are the people for me,” BUT rather, “am I for the people?” I was for self and my agenda not others at that time.  I cared deeply for the Vendors, bankers, managers and employees, but, after soul searching the reason was mainly for me to advance and a good profit and loss statement verses Compassion and love to help all grow.

*It was a torment for years for me to wake up and face the world.  Everything I did was a constant struggle fighting against the grain to be seen successful-as my heart cried out with my orphan spirit for Love and direction of who God wanted me to be–thinking there has to be more to life then this?

*I achieved success by my taught definition of what this world said to be success– but my life, family, my soul was suffering to the point of destruction.
**AND YES it ALL BLEW UP!!!!

How many people should suffer because of my stubbornness?(Family, friends, employees, banks–Yes-But it was mainly ME).

I reached rock bottom. Then still trying to do things my way. I knew then I need help,
I needed divine restoration and quit looking to mere man for the answers. I needed JESUS!

Kept telling myself, in the start of renewing my mind that;
* “you are not overcome, because Jesus overcame!!
* Keep focus on who God is, and what HE is doing and what HE can do through you!
*You have freely received, now go and Freely Share the Good News to the LOST and Hurting! Don’t Listen to man when they say “You Can Not or that’s impossible”!
Luke 5:30 But the Pharisees and their teachers of religious law complained bitterly to Jesus’ disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with such scum?” 31 Jesus answered them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  32 I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”
(See Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17)

I had to Ask: “What are you willing to do when you are called?”- That is what God is concerned with.
*What are we willing to do from this point forward?
*Jesus came to serve! Why not me?

** It’s Time to Begin Restoration!”

Isaiah 64:5…. We’ve sinned and kept at it so long! Is there any hope for us? Can we be saved? 6 We’re all sin-infected, sin-contaminated. Our best efforts are grease-stained rags. We dry up like autumn leaves-sin-dried, we’re blown off by the wind. 7 No one prays to you or makes the effort to reach out to you Because you’ve turned away from us, left us to stew in our sins. 8 Still, God, you are our Father. We’re the clay and you’re our potter: All of us are what you made us. 9 Don’t be too angry with us, O God. Don’t keep a permanent account of wrongdoing. Keep in mind, please, we are your people-all of us. (Message).
Amen to part 1 of 2nd Chance

Our Job Description as followers of Jesus is to seek out lost sheep, try to win them to Christ, take them under our wing, help them get on their feet spiritually, and go out and repeat the process again and again and again.

Jesus said to the 12 in Matthew 10:6 Instead, you are to go to the lost sheep of the people of Israel.  7 Go and preach, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near!’
* This shows how much lost sheep mean to the Lord! Even as we reach out to those around us, let us remember the lost sheep / friends from our Church, groups, friends, family etc.  who have gone missing. They still matter a lot to God and should matter to us as well… Let’s Pray for our friends!  Let’s Call our friends!
Who do you know this hour that is Lost-Hurting-mad at God for some reason-depressed-getting deeper into the worldly ways etc.??  What does Jesus say we do?  “go to the lost sheep of the people– Go and preach, ‘The Kingdom of heaven is near!’

Jesus gave the Great Commission to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and to “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” (Matthew 28:19–20).

You may not want New Believers around you because you feel that you would not be a good example or can not answer all their questions.
Then Change!!!! Trust God! Be a listener, an encourager of the faith, have Compassion!
*Don’t be a stumbling block; be a stepping stone.
*Be a good example. Don’t rationalize disobedience. Think about your example. Everyone has their shortcomings.
**If you mess up, then admit that you messed up. And then seek to be an example to others and point them to Christ.

*AGAIN: Our Job Description as followers of Jesus is to seek out lost sheep, try to win them to Christ, take them under our wing, help them get on their feet spiritually, and go out and repeat the process again and again and again.

Too Busy for the Great Commission?
Every so often it’s helpful to stop the annual merry-go-round, get off, look objectively, and think clearly. It’s not only helpful, it’s essential for the Christian.
In this circus-like American lifestyle of ours, we tend to be deafened by the blare of our own band and blinded by the lights of our own spots, shining – always shining – on the ring of OUR OWN Choice.

That needs to change. We need to hear the voice of the Ringmaster as He raises His hand to stop the band:
“We interrupt this program to bring all of you a Reminder that the world in which you live is NOT the whole world . . . but only a very small part of the world for which Jesus has died.”

The Great Commission is still “the Great Commission,” not “The Limited Agreement for My Corner of America.” He still looks out across a wide world and weeps over men and women and children who do not know – have never heard – His healing, life-giving Name.     “JESUS”!!!!

Jesus became the one final sacrifice and the one final undying high priest (Hebrews 7:24). He opened a “new and living way” (Hebrews 10:19-20) into the most holy place in heaven for “all who would draw near to God through him” (Hebrews 7:25). He became the mediator of the new covenant God had promised (Jeremiah 31:31-34).
* My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.  Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.  You are my friends if you do what I command.(John 15:12-14).
This section begins and ends with the command of Jesus:
“I command you to love one another.”  This does not seem to be an option in our life. It is not something we do if we feel like it. It is to be a deliberate response to another person whom we know to be in the family of God, regardless of how we feel toward that person.

Just before His ascension Jesus said,
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses . . .” (Acts l:8a).

** OUR PERSONAL JOB DESCRIPTION: We are ALL to be witnesses of what Jesus has done for US(cross) has been to US(Savior), what WE have experienced(His Love), what has happened in our lives(Died to self are NEW), what HE has done for us(took on our Sin so by His Grace we Have Eternal Life with HIM.(Our testimony)
**And the Holy Spirit will witness with that, using those words, simple as they may be, TO Open Minds and TO Break through hard hearts, TO pierce and break down barriers, and TO open people up to the Word.
* Thus, the Job Description of the church/Body is to witness before a hating world.

1 Peter 2:25 You were like sheep that had lost their way, but now you have been brought back to follow the Shepherd and Keeper of your souls.

If we ask God to examine our heart everything we try to hide will be brought to the surface; it is there life begins. – John Paul Jackson

Lord, You have placed me in this world. Now let me be Your witness today in all that I say and do.
Lord Teach and Instruct Me to “go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” and to “teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you” just as You have laid out for us ALL in Your Great Commission.  In Jesus Name be ALL the Glory! Amen

If we ask God to examine our heart everything we try to hide will be brought to the surface; it is there life begins. – John Paul Jackson

THE COMFORTER HAS COME
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Comforter.” It is one thing to know the
Holy Spirit as our comforter, but we must also know how he comforts us, so we can distinguish what comfort is of flesh and what is from the Spirit.

Consider the brother who is overcome with loneliness.(Loneliness is God’s way of telling you that you have a relationship problem.  In a sense, loneliness is like a toothache: It’s a warning signal that something is wrong. And like a toothache, if left unattended, it usually gets worse.
He prays for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and expects that comfort to come as a feeling.
In fact, he imagines it as a kind of sudden breath from heaven, like a spiritual sedative to his soul.

This feeling of peace may actually come to him but the next morning it is gone.
As a result, he starts to believe the Holy Spirit has refused his request or Feels God does not care about him anymore.
No,never!
***The Holy Spirit doesn’t comfort us by manipulating our feelings!!!!!
His way of comforting is vastly different and is outlined clearly in Scripture.

No matter what the problem, trial or need, his ministry of comfort is accomplished by bringing TRUTH:
“When he [the Holy Spirit] is come, he will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

**The fact is, our comfort springs from what we KNOW, not what we FEEL.
** Only TRUTH overrules feelings!
And the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit begins with this foundational TRUTH:
* God is NOT mad at you. He loves you!

“Hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given (gush forth)unto us” (Romans 5:5).
*An unbearable BURDEN may be caused by fear, shame, sorrow, afflictions,
temptations, relationships gone bad or discouragement.
Yet, NO matter what the cause, COMFORT is needed.

Suddenly a voice is heard, echoing through every corridor of the soul—the
voice of the Holy Spirit—declaring to the soul, “Nothing can separate you
from the LOVE of God.”

This truth—once you believe it—quickly becomes a gusher of living water,
sweeping away EVERY stumbling block. “The Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you” (John 14:26).

A triumphant church is rising up even now, coming out of great trials of faith.
This last-days church is emerging from long days of affliction and fiery
furnaces.

*The Holy Spirit is at work bringing his people into a place of utter
brokenness.
*He’s leading them to a revelation of weakness in their own flesh in order to show Himself strong.
*His people are coming to the end of
themselves, their “Stubborn Wills” crushed, until their mindset becomes only, “Thy will be done.”
And through it all, they are becoming wholly dependent on the Lord!!!

Does this describe your situation? Perhaps you’ve been walking with Jesus for years, and you’ve never faced a test like the one in front of you right now.

Things coming at you seem to be overwhelming, things that only God can do something about. And you realize that ONLY HE can bring you through.

Our God is a God of love, and he won’t use bombs, guns, or suicide squads, but an overcoming people who are fearless in the strength of the Lord of tender mercies.

All over the world, God’s people are experiencing suffering, afflictions and
torture. I am certain there is a divine eternal purpose in the intensity of
these spiritual and physical battles now being endured in the true body of
Christ. “His tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:9).

Our Lord has had a plan all along. God himself came down and took on the form and condition of man, living among sinful men. He endured their hatred,
experienced their rejection, faced unthinkable reproach, and through it all he never fought back.

Jesus pulled down strongholds by his mighty loving-kindness!!! How do we?
Our Lord had but ONE Battle Plan: ***”Tender, Merciful Love”.

Our overcoming is by the blood of the Lamb!
WE Cannot overcome by the strength of our flesh, being mad at God or claming up and holding everything inside—- IT is only by LIFE in the Spirit when we have died with Christ and been resurrected with Him to live a godly life.
OUR SELF trying to have VICTORY according to the law will only bring frustration.  Rather than trying to kill the flesh by the flesh, “Walk by Faith” that it IS “CHRIST IN YOU” who empowers you to overcome.  Yield to the work of the Lord’s Spirit .

Revelation 12:11  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.

By choosing to obey God’s Will no matter how we feel or how hard the circumstances, we are literally saying to Him, “I love You more than myself”.

BY THE SPIRIT WE ABIDE IN THE LOVE OF JESUS. – 1 John 4:16 “So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
John 4:24 “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
*The Spirit of God never conflicts with the Word of God.
*The Spirit of God leads us into the mission of God.
*The Spirit of God always brings glory to Jesus.
*The Spirit-filled life is the life in which Jesus is Central.
*And the one who matures is the one who grows deeper in an understanding of Jesus.

Jesus is the love God has for us. 1 John 4:9-10 “In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

We FIGHT FROM VICTORY—NOT FOR VICTORY!!!
1 John 4: 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Eph. 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us.
2 Tim. 1:7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.

Come Holy Spirit and fill my house, shore up my home and protect me from the evil ones. Give me strength to battle my flesh so that I have NO footholds for temptation.
Heavenly Father, You have heard my cry for You today! “Deliver me from the Evil One!” “Don’t let me be tempted beyond that which I can handle without providing me a way of escape!” I desire You to help me clean my house, and I invite YOU, Spirit, to occupy my spirit and to shore up the doors by the power of the Blood of Jesus Christ which proves that Satan and his workers are defeated foes! Help me see and understand and TRUST in Your Truth, Your Love for me, Your Holy Spirit, Your Promises Found in Your Word. I ask this in the name of Jesus Christ, the Victorious One-the COMFORTER!!!!! Amen!”

Offering God thanksgiving in the midst of trouble-WHY you ask?

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.

*There’s the Divine way out of trouble!!

You’re in the midst of trouble, pressures are against you, and you don’t see any way out. But there is a way up, a way to God:
“Sacrifice thank offerings.”
That sounds senseless, doesn’t it?
In the midst of all the pressures and the trouble, stop worrying and start thanking God.
Lift your voice in thanksgiving to God. Offer Him an offering of thanksgiving.

Something that costs you something, something that goes against the grain, but it’s a sacrifice acceptable to God.

And God says, “When you offer Me that sacrifice of your thankfulness in the midst of all the trouble, then I’ll intervene on your behalf. I will deliver you and you will honor Me.”

God is waiting to deliver, but the way that He wants us to prepare for His deliverance is to offer Him thank offerings right in the midst of the trouble.
In the last verse of the same psalm He says this, “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God.”

**You see, when you offer God thanksgiving in the midst of trouble, that’s the “Purest Expression of Faith” that you can make.
**And when you offer Him that thanksgiving you prepare the way in your Life, in your Heart, that God may show you HIS salvation, that God may come to your Rescue.

Lose Self and let God!
“Losing self” doesn’t mean becoming a mindless robot. It means setting aside thoughts, emotions, and desires that are contrary to God’s so He can transform us into His Image.
“…lay aside the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit…and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.”Ephesians 4:22-24

The Mystery of Gratitude
*.. It is grace that makes great. We are where we are today by the grace of God.
*.. When gratitude becomes your lifestyle, you scale higher altitude daily.
*.. You cant be grateful and not be joyful. Thanksgiving is access to His presence.

***Benefits of Thanksgiving
1. Access to His presence.
2. Access to Divine strength.
3. Access to fresh oil. Thanks givers never run oil-dry.
.. God take over your battle when you give thanks.
4. Access to Supernatural Liftings.
5. Access to Supernatural Fruitfulness.
*.. Where you are today is by grace.
*.. Gratitude makes you a Victor but, complaints makes you a victim.

Psalms 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, because he is good; his love is eternal.  2 Give thanks to the greatest of all gods; his love is eternal.
3 Give thanks to the mightiest of all lords; his love is eternal.

The love of the God I serve endures
forever. No one can give so much endless love. I just want to thank God for his enduring love! Pray with me.

Lord, Thank you for choosing me before I could chose you, thank you for the nail pierced hands ALL because of MY Addiction to Sin.  Thank you that you knew me before I was born, thank you that you and no one else formed me in my mothers womb, thank you that no weapon formed against me shall prosper, thank you for the plans to prosper me and not to harm me, thank you for staying the same today,tomorrow and forever, thank you that you are a father to the fatherless, a teacher, a healer, provider, deliverer, my pillar of strength. Thank you God for everything you have blessed me with. Thank you JESUS!  Help me to be more thankful and share and encourage others with Your great news in that You  Loved us and called us by Name.
Yes Lord it’s ALL about You and Your love. “His love endures forever.” Help me Lord so I Don’t use Your love and forgiveness as license to lead a sloppy life – Your love is huge, and demands a genuine response from me. Lord thank You for showing me- I can’t accept Your forgiveness on one hand, then go lead whatever life I choose on the other – if I really understand the magnitude of Your love, I’ll want to respond with thankfulness to You Lord.  Help me be more like Jesus!
When Jesus was asked which was the greatest commandment, He said “love God, and love others as you love yourself. All the rest of the law and the prophets hang on these.” It’s not about living according to the law, it’s about Giving Everything You Have IN Response to God’s Love.  Amen

A  TRUE CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP

Friends come, Friends go,
But a TRUE Friend is there to watch you grow!

* If you aren’t a REAL friend when a friend is in trouble, they Know it and Feel it and will Remember it when things are good.

A strong Christian friendship blossoms
naturally when two friends grow together in faith, goodness, knowledge, and other godly graces-keeping your eyes on Jesus.

So, what does a true Christian friendship look like?

1. Christian Friends Love Sacrificially

John 15:13Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
*Jesus is the finest example of a true Christian friend. His love for us is sacrificial, NEVER selfish.
JESUS demonstrated it not only through his miracles of healing, but more fully through the humble service of washing the disciples’ feet, and then ultimately, when he  laid down his life on the cross.
♦  If we choose our friends based only on what they have to offer, we’ll rarely discover the blessings of a genuine friendship.
Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

♦  By valuing your friend’s needs above your own, you’ll be on your way to  loving like Jesus. In the process, you’ll likely gain a true friend.

2. Christian Friends Accept Unconditionally

Proverbs 17:17A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
♦  We discover the best of friendships with brothers and sisters who know and accept our weaknesses and imperfections.
*If we’re easily Offended or hold on to  Bitterness, we’ll have a hard time making friends.
*No one is perfect. We all make mistakes now and then.
*If we take a truthful look at ourselves, we’ll admit that we bear some of the blame when things go wrong in a friendship.
*A good friend is quick to ask  forgiveness and ready to be forgiving.

3. Christian Friends Trust Completely

Proverbs 18:24 A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
*This proverb reveals that a TRUE Christian friend is trustworthy, indeed, but emphasizes a second important truth as well.
*We should only expect to share complete trust with a few loyal friends.

♦  Trusting too easily can lead to ruin, so be careful about putting your confidence in a mere companion.
* Over time our true Christian friends will prove their trustworthiness by sticking closer than a brother or sister.

4. Christian Friends Keep Healthy Boundaries

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy …
♦   If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong.   Again: If you feel smothered in a friendship, something is wrong.
*Likewise, if you feel Used or Abused, something is amiss.
*If it’s mostly about only one of you(one sided) there’s a problem.
*Recognizing what’s best for someone and giving that person space are signs of a healthy relationship.

♦  We should never let a friend come between us and our spouse. A true Christian friend will wisely avoid Intruding and recognize your need to maintain other relationships.

5. Christian Friends Give Mutual Edification

Proverbs 27:6 Wounds from a friend can be trusted …
♦ True Christian friends will build each other up emotionally, spiritually, and physically. (Each other-not one sided).
*Friends like to be together simply because it feels good.
*We receive strength, encouragement, and love.
*We talk, we cry, we listen.
** But at times we also have to say the difficult things our dearest friend needs to hear.
Yet, because of the shared trust and acceptance, we are the one person who can impact our friend’s heart, for we know how to deliver the hard message with TRUTH and GRACE.
I believe this is what Proverbs 27:17 means when it says, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

My hope is that these five areas will show you areas that may need a little work in your effort to build stronger friendships.
But if you don’t have lots of close friends, don’t be too hard on yourself.
**Remember, true Christian friendships are RARE Treasures!!!!
*They take time to nurture, but in the process we should grow more Christ like.

♦  God created us with the natural desires to love and to be loved.
♦  Over time, however, God showed me that if I’m worthy of His love, I’m worthy of the love of other human beings too. But that can be a big step to take.
♦  Striving for a Healthy Balance in a relationship means being neither needy nor cold.
♦  Desperately seeking LOVE and going to any length to receive it is off-putting. *Instead of attracting people to us, it drives them away.
*NEEDY people are scary to most people. Others believe they could never do enough to satisfy a needy person, so they AVOID them.
♦ On the other hand, COLD, aloof people seem unapproachable. Others may conclude that it wouldn’t be worth the trouble to try to break down the “Cold Person’s Wall”.
***Love requires Sharing, and COLD people seem incapable of that.
*Proverbs 14:10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy.
I fill my heat with Bitterness because of Pain.  I cannot allow anyone to get close to me. That means I cannot trust anyone no matter how hard I try. I would have to let God change my heart in order  for me to gain success in my relationships with people.
♦ Confident people are the most attractive, and the best place to find confidence and it comes  from God.
*Confident people in God, both men and women, are fun to be around. They enjoy life more. They give off an enthusiasm that’s infectious.
♦ A confident Christian understands that they are deeply loved by God, which makes them less frightened of human rejection. They open themselves more.
* Confident people insist on respect and receive it.
* So never loose sight of the word AND guard your heart.
*Usually what is on the inside is what comes out!
* You ARE who you hang out with!!!!

HOW CAN I HAVE A CHRISTIAN FRIENDSHIP?

We become more lovable by becoming more like Jesus.
We do that by totally surrendering our life to God.
“Give up all of self and your orphan  spirit”!

*We ALL have personality traits that irritate or offend other people.
When you surrender to God:
* HE files down your rough spots.
* He carves away any pettiness or smallness in your life, and ironically, your personality is not diminished, but is softened and beautified.

*Jesus knew when he surrendered to his Father’s will, God’s  limitless love would flow through him and into others.
*When you empty yourself enough to be a conduit for God’s love, God will reward you not only with his love, but with the love of other people as well.

There’s nothing wrong with wanting others to love you. Loving others always takes a risk that you won’t be loved in return, but when you know that God loves you no matter what, you can  love like Jesus: “A new command I give you: Love one another,” (Jesus said). “As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35) .

LONELINESS is one of life’s most miserable experiences!
Everyone feels lonely at times, but is there a message for us in loneliness? Is there a way we can turn it into something positive?

Loneliness is God’s way of telling you that you have a “Relationship Problem”.

In a sense, loneliness is like a toothache: It’s a warning signal that something is wrong. And like a toothache, if left unattended, it usually gets worse.
We try many things to eliminate loneliness: Busyness is a common treatment– Buying is another favorite therapy-Bed is a third response to loneliness(SEX), Trying on Religion, Trying-trying-trying without any personal  commitment without letting any walls down.
Want The real message, the real cure????????

**God’s answer to loneliness is not the quantity of your relationships, but the quality.

*How is your relationship with God? Is it close and intimate, like that of a loving, caring father and his child?
*Or is your relationship with God cold and distant, only superficial?

*If you muster the courage to restore your relationship with God, then with others, you’ll find your loneliness lifting.

*This is not a spiritual Band-Aid, but a real cure that works.

Friendship Verses: 1 Samuel 18:1–3, Proverbs 12:26, 16:28, 17:17, 18:24, 20:6, 22:11. 22:24-25, 27:5-6, 27:9,  27:17.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–12 Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Likewise, two people lying close together can keep each other warm. But how can one be warm alone? A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.

Examples of Good Friends in the Bible:David and Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:1-3, 20:17, 42; 2 Samuel 1:26)   David and Abiathar (1 Samuel 22:23) David and Nahash (2 Samuel 10:2) David and Hushai (2 Samuel 15:32–37) Elijah and Elisha (2 Kings 2:2)Job’s Friends (Job 2:11) Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1:16-17) .
Lord, Help me to empty myself and depend on YOU JESUS!  Thank You for my True Christian Friends that have stuck with me through thick and thin. Thank You Lord for my wife being the Best True Christian Friend I have ever had. I am so Blessed. Thank You Jesus for tearing down the walls of pride and selfishness and bitternes-it is only through You is any of this possible.   In Jesus Name.  Amen

When we are cleansed and freed from the tyranny of self, Jesus isn’t just in our lives…He IS our life!
“For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
Colossians 3:3

The Lord is always with us!
God promises you an Eternity with Him (John 14:33 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.)***What a promise!!!
A. Once you accept God, you are promised his glory and eternity in heaven with Him.
B. The moment we take our last breath on Earth we take our first breath in Heaven.
C. If Christ is your Savior, then He dwells in you forever.
*Walk by faith that it IS- CHRIST IN YOU- who empowers you to overcome.

Hebrews 13:5-6
Don’t love money; be satisfied with what you have. For God has said,
“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”  So we can say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper,so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
“HE IS WITH ME”
Poem Taken from the Scriptures. Psalm 9:10, Psalm 27:10, Psalm 51:17
Psalm 94:14, Psalm 139:4-5, Psalm 139:7, John 14:18, Hebrews 13:5

He is the Lord, my God, my King.
He is the Lord, my everything.
He is with me through my toughest falls, he’s with me there when my heart bleeds raw.
He is with me when darkness calls, He’s with me when I stand in defeat as a slave to a sinful law.
He is with me when I sit and wait, He’s even with me when my path is not straight.
He is with me as my head hangs low, He’s with me when I swim in my own tears of sorrow.
He is with me when I sit in the dark and lonely shadows from the past, He was the first and he’ll be the last.
He is with me now, He is with me here. He is with me even when I don’t think He is near.
He’ with me now until the end. He’s with me now, he is my friend.

He will not leave, not fail, or mistake. He is with me with every decision that I make.
He is with me with every step that I take, He is with me all along the way.
He takes my hands and guides me as I follow close behind.
He molds my mind to fit in his hands, He transforms my heart and fills it again. He is the Lord, my God, my King.
He is the Lord my everything.

*His love is great, the greatest thing I’ll ever know.

The Spirit is reminding me that I can place full faith and confidence in Jesus, not just for my eternal salvation, but also for my daily sustaining!

*When I lean on my own understanding, my paths IS difficult;
* however, when I trust the Spirit daily to guide me, then Jesus never fails!

When we react to circumstances with bitterness and resentment as a result of unmet expectations, we are saying that we know better than God, and that God has made a mistake in not meeting our expectations.
If God was the source, then it is important to share this with the Lord.
However, once we have done this we must LET GO of the situation and allow God to work in our hearts the Grace that is needed to walk in freedom from *the pain of the unmet expectation.
If we do not do this, we will allow the seed of bitterness and resentment to enter in.
This seed of bitterness will create leanness in our soul and eventually will spread to others.

Mark 7:8 (Jesus said…)”You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”
*We so easily add to God’s commandments with our OWN Rules/Requirements, Thinking and Feeling like WE are spiritual on doing so, however WE are in fact letting go of True God worship in doing so.
*It’s not what you take in that pollutes, but what you give out. What you give out is a reflection of your heart. Therein lies the power of King David’s confession in psalm 51: “Lord, create in me a clean heart, restore in me the joy of your salvation.” David recognized that his sin could ONLY be changed by a renewing of his heart.

Heavenly Father, thank You for being a God who will never leave me or forsake me! Thank You for putting this promise in Your Word.  Holy Spirit, I want to trust You fully as You guide me and provide for me!  Jesus, thank You for the perfect picture of a personal God Who loves me and will sustain me. God, help me to be content in all my circumstances and to not lose sight of You in my daily walk.
Thank you for your word:“I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.”  So we can say with confidence,“The Lord is my helper,so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?”
I ask this in the name of Jesus, Who never fails me and is with me always! Amen.

*The presence of trouble does not mean the absence of God.
*God is also our strength to endure the pain and hurt that we are experiencing.
*Get some rest! – Rest in Him not the things around you.
*Recognize God in your life and meet with Him through Scripture and Prayer.
+How does God call you?
+How does God speak to you?
+How does God feed you?

“Be Still, and Know”
Psalm 46:6, 9-10 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; [God] lifts his voice, the earth melts…. [God] makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
There’s a scene of tremendous uproar. Nations are in uproar. Kingdoms are falling. How true that is today but, in the midst of it, God’s voice comes forth. *God speaks.
* God intervenes.
*God lifts His voice; the earth melts.
*God intervenes against the forces of iniquity and evil.
***And then He speaks a word to His people in the midst of all the confusion and turmoil and uproar.

***God says this: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
As we all can see and feel—We are in a situation not far from that today.
Nations are in an uproar, kingdoms are toppling, war is threatening on every hand, but in the midst of it God speaks to His people and says,
*“Be still, be quiet, don’t be upset, don’t get restless, don’t get nervous. Be still and know that I am God. I’m still in control!!!!
* God’s purposes are going to work out. He says “I’m going to be exalted over all nations. I am going to be exalted in the earth.”

Let me give you that advice today. Be still and HEAR the voice of God.
He created all, holds all, knows all, loves all.  What could I possibly. do or say to make it better. NOTHING! I Praise Your name FATHER.

To close things out, the writer speaks God’s admonishment, “Be still”. *Sometimes the battle has worn you down.
* Sometimes you look up and there is nothing left.
**No matter how hard you try, you can’t press forward. By all accounts, it seems as if the enemy has finally won.
*You try to pray, but the words don’t flow forward with any fluency.
*You turn to friends, but you find them complaining too.
*You turn to mother, but mother is incapable of producing any relief.

**At this moment of  despair, GOD steps in and simply says, “BE STILL, I’ve got it from here.

Although we are promised trials and persecution, we know that Abba is still in control. Jesus has been given all authority under heaven and earth. Trials are temporary.
We can rely and trust in Abba. Although we may not understand why trials happen, we know that ALL is for His glory.

There are many distractions in the world, many so easily take our focus away from God and on to ourselves, or to our circumstances.
**We must keep our eyes only on God, the One who saves, delivers, shows us mercy and grace.
*No other person, no other god, no other thing, can do this.
As we go about our day, let us remove those distractions, lay them at His feet and trust His will.
1. God is able
2. God is all power
3. God is a healer
BE STILL AND KNOW THAT HE IS GOD!!!!

Refuse to give in to the frustration that has come as a result of dealing with hindrances.  Instead, set yourself to seek the Lord for wisdom and clarity, for HE will give you the grace to accomplish what He has set before you.  This is certainly not a time when you should get discouraged and give up.  You are on the brink of breakthrough.  Keep pushing.  Keep trusting.  Keep the faith! *Isaiah 58:8 Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Lord, I will be still and know You are God…You are my Counselor, Father. Speak to my heart, spirit, and mind…Lead me, Guide me, Show me…thank You, Jesus…Let me praise Your Glorious Name!

LIGHT Verses DARKNESS:
1 John 1:5-7
“This then is the message which we have heard of him and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

If we want to be where Jesus is, then we must walk in the light. God the Father
is light and in him there is no darkness. There is nothing hidden from God, he is
omnipresent-everywhere, omnipotent-all powerful, almighty and omniscient-all knowing, understanding and aware, therefore, there is nothing that our Almighty God the Father does not know.
1 John 2:9 The one who says he is in the light but still hates his fellow Christian is still in the darkness.

*God knows everything you say, everything you do openly or in secret.
*Again, there is nothing hidden from God, Nothing!

We cannot walk in darkness and claim the Lord. If we say that we have fellowship with the Lord and we do the things of the world we are walking in darkness and we lie and are not truthful.
James 4:4b says “whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”

If you are walking in darkness you are a friend of the world and to be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God.

Walk in the light, God is in the light and when we walk in  the light the blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ His son cleanses us from ALL sin.

Strive to be in the presence of the Lord. This walk is a daily walk,
*It is not a pray today and then don’t pray anymore for 3 days or 4 days.
*It is not a read the word of God Sunday and only Sunday walk.
** We must pray daily, we must read God’s word daily we must commune with the Lord DAILY, every day.
Would you skip days brushing your teeth? (I sincerely hope not). What I am telling you is more important than your teeth.
It is about your life, your eternal life your eternal home.

-Romans 1 declares that all men are without excuse because God’s eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen through what He has made.

-Romans 2:15 declares that these things are “written on the hearts” of man.

Therefore, there is a “natural” understanding of ethics that ALL humans  are privy to.

However, the fallen nature of man rejects that which is plain and written on our hearts in order that we may follow our OWN desires and to do so without condemnation or restraint.
We then create the notion of relativism to somehow make us believe that our selfishness is legitimate.

The bottom line here: yes there is a transcendent truth and a transcendent moral code that we all can know…but some times we believe the lie that- we don’t want to know it or follow it because we believe that happiness and satisfaction will come from following our own desires and plans.(What a lie).

Everyone has dark days. Dark days of disappointment. Dark days of distress. Dark days of doubt. Dark days of depression.
* How can Jesus dispel my darkness?       ****Listen for Jesus (lack of vision, not lack of faith)
1. He will encourage me when I’m disappointed.
2. He will strengthen me when I’m distressed.
3. He will guide me when I’m doubtful. 4. He will change me when I’m depressed.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke out again, “I am the light of the world. The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
* Light overcomes darkness. When we allow “the light” to enter our life, all darkness and sin will be eradicated. Sin can NOT exist where God is in total control.
*Light shows us the path before us. Accepting “the light” in our lives brings a clearer understanding of our future path in life.
* God has important plans for each of us.
We need to surrender fully to his will and follow that clearly marked path wherever it may lead us.

Praise God! There is already Victory!
1 John 4:4 You are from God, little children, and have conquered them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
*God IS greater than all the dark forces that try to mess with you!

“Come unto me, all ye [failures] that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Don’t be afraid of failure. Keep going in spite of it. Worship God until victory comes! This may sound like an oversimplification, but the way past.

Father I thank you. Lord I thank you for your love your kindness your mercy and your grace. Lord I thank you that you made a way for me to reach you through the blood of your dear son Jesus. I bless your holy name. I praise you I glorify you I honor you, I will walk in you. I will walk in the light.  I will flee to you Lord, I will not even look at darkness, I will not entertain thoughts of darkness, I will shun the dark like a plague. I will keep my eyes on you Lord I will not turn to the right. I will not turn to the left, but I will keep my gaze completely focused on you. Lord I ask that you will help me to remember and keep in the forefront of my mind that you Father are all seeing, all knowing and you are everywhere. Help me to keep in the forefront of my mind that you hear all that I speak and you see
all that I do. Help me Lord to do what is pleasing in your sight help me dear Lord
to speak what is right, what is true. Help me Lord to live, walk and talk your word.
Help me Lord to live a right life before you. I praise you Lord and lift you up,
I honor you today Lord and I do love you Lord and I will strive to be holy, for
your word says to me to be holy for you are holy. I want to be like you Lord Jesus.  Holy Spirit open up my Heart, Mind and Soul to hear everything you have for me in the word of God and then put into action for Your Glory and my Joy!
In Jesus name I pray. Amen

*What Does It Mean to Be Called?
*What might God want to accomplish through you in your lifetime?

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. 6 Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.

You’ve probably heard the phrase “the call of God,” but maybe you don’t know exactly what it means.
*Is the Lord still calling people, or was that something He did only in Bible times?
*Does He speak only to a specific few or to everyone?
* Although He may not use an audible voice, He’s still in the business of seeking followers.

A. Called to Salvation—Because sin has created a barrier between us and God, He first reaches out to establish a relationship with us by offering salvation through Christ.

B. Called to Sanctification—Once we have been reconciled to the Lord, He then calls us to sanctification or holiness.
This means that He sets us apart for His purposes. It’s not a perfect life, but one that is bent toward righteousness and obedience.
Although this is an act of God that begins at the moment of salvation and continues until our physical death, it also requires a commitment from us.
* If WE Choose NOT to cooperate with the Lord in this process, our growth in Christ likeness will be hindered.

C. Called to Service—God has chosen to carry out His work in the world through those who are saved.
HE HAS determined the tasks HE Wants EACH of us to do; our job is to serve Him by accomplishing what He’s planned for us.
*For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable. [He never withdraws them when once they are given, and He does not change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call.] (Romans 11:29)

How are you responding to the Lord’s various calls?
Remember that someday we will all stand before Him and give an account of our lives.
*Habitually saying NO to His voice will result in loss,
*BUT those who have lived for Him instead of themselves will be richly rewarded.

It is religious exercise that works against us when we have a spiritual revelation or hear the voice of God and then TRY to accomplish it through our OWN efforts.
**There is no power in religion or self-effort, but power comes by the Holy Spirit as we cast away our strongholds and abide in Him.(Acts 1:8, 2 Tim. 1: 7 For God did not give us a Spirit of fear but of power and love and self-control).

John 15:5   I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

The Holy Spirit is at work bringing his people into a place of utter
broken ness.  He’s leading us to a revelation of weakness in our own flesh in order to show himself strong. We- His people are coming to the end of
Ourselves, our stubborn wills crushed, until our mindset becomes only,“Thy will be done.”
And through it all, WE are becoming wholly dependent on the Lord listening to his Call!! His Voice!! His Love!!

Psalms 18:39 You give me strength for battle; you make my foes kneel before me.
*God has chosen me… He has taken the time to select me and pointed at me and said that’s the one…
God has called me… He has called out my name, He knows me intimately and has gotten my attention to do His work and will- God has justified me… He has cleaned me up as IF I was “Never Dirty”…
He has placed a ring on my finger and shoes on my feet God has glorified me… He has given me all I need to live this godly life… He is my strength and my shield… He has crowned me with victory and surrounded me with songs of deliverance! Wow!!!

*God’s Love is the only way out of the dungeon of “self”.

*The  deadly essence of sin:
“Not Believing God”.

“The death he died he died to sin, once for all,but the life he lives he lives to God” (Romans 6:10).
*How are sin and God coordinate in this text? Died to sin. Lives to God.
*Sin causes death;
*God causes life.
*Sin is the sting of death—gives death its eternal horror;
***God is the spring of life—gives life it eternal glory.

Christ’s death was infinitely effective in nullifying the miseries of sin; Christ’s life is infinitely effective in confirming the ecstasies of God.

Lord, Thank You for the Cross! Help us know You more and Know we are forgiven so that we spend our time Praising You, listening to you and then put your calling into ACTION  verses fighting our past and sometimes our seasonal bad feelings of unworthiness. Thank you for your promises one being ” Before they even call out, I will respond; while they are still speaking, I will hear.” (Is. 65:24)
And  For the payoff of sin is death, but the GIFT of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23). Lord Thank You for choosing me, and help me through Humility to stay on the path You have designed for Your Glory and my Joy. Thank You Lord for Your Grace.
” The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all”.(2 Corin. 13:13). Thank you Lord for having no favorites, All believers are the same in Your eyes. You do not favor, You will not take sides, You shows equal love for everyone.  ” For there is no partiality with God”. (Romans 2:11)  ” Then Peter started speaking: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism in dealing with people,” (Acts 10:34). You are AMAZING LORD! Thank You for Calling US to You!   Amen

The  deadly essence of sin:
“Not Believing God”.

Psalms 18 :39 You give me strength for battle;  you make my foes kneel before me.
*God has given us the Power to take a situation and make the best of it no matter the situation.
*His understanding is greater than ours. He sees the big picture. We don’t. When we question or complain, we are playing God. His will is good, acceptable, and perfect (Romans 12:2). We need to trust in Him completely and glorify Him.

Where is the battle raging?
*Where your thoughts are.

What are the strongholds that spiritually imprison people?
* Arguments and opinions.

*And arguments are not merely strongholds, they are weapons of mass destruction.
Adam and Eve (and all of us with them) fell because of an argument. They believed the serpent’s argument and Stopped Believing God.
*That is the deadly essence of sin:
“Not Believing God”.
To not believe God is to ally with Satan, whom Jesus said is “a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth… for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

YOU ARE NOT ALONE IN THE BATTLE
God is in control!
Pride would have us take God’s glory and credit ourselves. We are to acknowledge God in all things and give Him the glory.

Most transparent Christians have told me they are continually harassed by former sins.
They say, ” My sin still hangs over my head, and I battle constant guilt over it. I believe the Lord has forgiven me, that his blood is sufficient to cover my iniquity, but I don’t have the peace that comes from that knowledge.”

Many others say, “I believe I’m forgiven, but my mind is continually
bombarded with hellish thoughts.
It can happen anywhere, even in church, and it makes me feel so unclean. I have a hard time believing I am pure in God’s sight.

**These believers and myself sometimes  forget that Satan also tempted Jesus with awful, ugly thoughts
during his wilderness testing.
*Today, the devil tries to make you think you’re hopeless, that God is mad at you.
Dear saint, you are not to listen to those mental invasions. You have to cut
them off, crying, “Holy Spirit, I know you’re beside me. Help me!”

1John 4:6 “The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Truth.”
John 4:24 “God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
*The Spirit of God never conflicts with the Word of God.
*The Spirit of God leads us into the mission of God.
*The Spirit of God always brings glory to Jesus.

ALL of us  who take up the cross and fight the good fight of faith are in a constant battle.
We ALL face evil thoughts—thoughts that come because of our past, or because of a sense of rejection, or simply because we live in wicked, sensual times.
Yet when we apply Christ’s blood to these roots of doubt, it reaches into every cell of our being, including our minds, and thoroughly cleanses us.
(*Like a Vine: Don’t just keep picking the leaves one at a time, thinking you have Beaten them or killed the problem- NO –The Leaves grow back—-YOU need to get to the ROOT and dig the Root up to kill it!!)

We put on the armor of God to be ready. Don’t go into battle undressed:(Eph. 6)
4 ways Satan comes against us, often on the heels of “great spiritual victory:”
a. waves of spiritual depression;
b. condemnation, reminding you of your past, your worthiness;
c. discouragement;
d. bizarre thoughts of temptation out of the blue.
You are not alone in your struggle. He has sent you the Holy Spirit, who knows
how to deal with the enemy and FREE you from ALL bondage. The Holy Spirit is the still, small voice that will guide you and empower you through ALL your battles.

To battle sin is to battle unbelief—or destroy arguments. And in order to battle unbelief effectively, we must press doubts and temptations into specific arguments.
What specifically is being asserted or promised to us?
Only then can we destroy the enemy’s false arguments with true ones.
Remember: The deadly essence of sin:
“Not Believing God”.

*The devil does not want us to think clearly about sin.(We the flesh are “addicted to sin”, no matter what it may be from over eating, gossip, work, drugs, alcohol, sex, business, hobbies, poor relationships, pornography, Worry, lonlieness Etc. Etc. )
* The devil wants to keep things Vague so he can imprison or disarm us.

But Jesus wants us to think clearly. He wants us to know the TRUTH because the TRUTH brings freedom:
***If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. (John 8:31-32)

*We can’t expect to live in victory if we’re not prepared to fight for it.
* Victory is through the Lord and in Him alone can you trust.(Proverbs 21:31)

I will go before you and will level the mountains;
I will break down gates of bronze
and cut through bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness,
riches stored in secret places,
so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
apart from me there is no God.
I will strengthen you, though you have not acknowledged me, so that from the rising of the sun to the place of its setting. men may know there is none besides me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other.
(Isaiah 45:2-3,Isaiah 45:5-6)

We should love the Lord, our Strength, and our Salvation; we should call on him in every trouble, and praise him for every deliverance; we should aim to walk with him in all righteousness and true holiness, keeping from the addiction of sin. If we belong to him, he conquers and reigns for us, and we shall conquer and reign through him, and partake of the mercy of our anointed King, which is promised to all his seed for evermore.
Pray with me: Holy Spirit, I want to grow in spiritual fruitfulness. I want
to be rid of all hypocrisy, and I want gentleness, patience and love. I know
you still love me, in spite of my lack of these things. So, stand by me and
help me Lord.  In Jesus name. Amen.

Psalm 42:1-2. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God?

Stopping to refuel. Being spiritually dry can make you impatient, judgmental, lack compassion, tempted, more vulnerable, more deserving, short with people, synical or negative and insecure.
We need to refuel daily because: Something must change, my ways don’t work which leads to  emptiness  for me. *We have a soul that wants to be filled.
*Our soul-filling is an investment in eternity.
Our body is our container what’s inside?
Eph. 3:19 and thus to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

In the Psalms above David speaks there about a thirst of the soul. He says, “My soul thirsts for God.” I suppose we are all familiar with what thirst is in our personal experience.

For me,  I realize from experience that when we lack water and when we are thirsty there’s only one thing that matters at that time and that is to get water, to drink, to satisfy our thirst.
*BUT David speaks about a Relationship to God that’s parallel to physical thirst. He says, “My soul thirsts for God.
* When can I go and meet with God?” *Do you know what it is to thirst for God?
* Have you ever felt that deep, inner longing that cannot be satisfied with anything less than God Himself?

If you have, I want to tell you that God is waiting. You can go and meet with Him and satisfy that thirst in your soul, which cannot be satisfied by anything but God.

Confessing Christ is not just to admit he is the Son of God… demons being cast out did that, yet he was not their Lord. So that, in itself, not it.
*To confess Christ as Lord is to confess
Him as your Master… one who rules over you.
*And through the Holy Scriptures we know that Christ’s yoke is easy and his burden is light.
*He is not a ruthless Master to his chosen people.
**However, you cannot have it both ways, scripture is very clear on this.
*A Change of lifestyle will reflect our Creator.

*Revelation = Love = Obedience
The Christian life is meant to be lived through an on going revelation of the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit.
* Christian life is life in communion with God.
*Christian life, first and foremost, is not mission or ministry for God.
** Christian life, first and foremost, is fellowship with God that issues into increasing knowledge of God’s personality and ways.

God can only be known by His own self disclosure or revelation. Mere human reason and intellect fall woefully short in knowing God.
If you would know God you must love God.
One cannot know God without loving him intimately. How is love expressed to God? By obedience.

*Love expressed in obedience would result in the coming of the Spirit into one’s life.
* Love expressed in obedience would bring revelation from the Father and the Son, mediated by the Spirit.

Hebrews 5:8 8 Although he(Jesus) was a son, he learned obedience through the things he suffered.
*Wow! If Jesus had to suffer just to gain OBEDIENCE. We are no different. Only can a man Receive how to be Obedient if one is willing to SUFFER for the sake of Christ. Because in the end Jesus reward was to dwell with God forever as one.
So know that Our suffering is not in VEIN!! To DIE for Christ is to GAIN. Amen!
Dear Lord,,O that we might see that God is more interested in our knowing him and enjoying him  than anything else. In the normal course of loving obedience, ministry will be done. But when ministry is over and achievements fade, the joy of communion with You God and knowing YOU more and more is the greatest blessing one can ever experience. No wonder the greatest desire of the Apostle Paul was “to know YOU.”JN 17:3.   Help me this Day – To know You more. In Jesus name. Amen

Your loving obedience toward God today will affect the lives of your children tomorrow.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God…keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
Deuteronomy 7:9

LOVING AS JESUS DID
We have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he
that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made
perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:16-17).

Note the last part of this passage. John tells us we are now living as the Lord
lived: forgiving and loving our enemies.

There is nothing left in us of revenge,
of grudges, of racial prejudice—nothing to condemn us. And now we must know
and fully believe the love of God toward us.

“Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his
Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10).
Do you see what Johnis saying?

Our love for God is a given, but perfect love also means knowing and
believing God’s love toward us.

Moreover, John says, there must be no fear in this love, no doubting it.
Why?
*Because if we doubt his love for us, we’ll live in torment: “Fear has
torment” (4:18).
Believing in God’s love means knowing he is patient with our failures, day in and day out. He hears our every cry, bottles every tear, feels our anguish of heart, and is moved with compassion at our cries.

This aspect of God’s love is vividly illustrated in Exodus, where the Lord
sought to reveal his loving nature to his people. He told Moses, “I am going
to deliver Israel,” and Scripture says: “They cried, and their cry came up
unto God by reason of the bondage. And God heard their groaning” (Exodus
2:23-24).

“The Lord said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in
Egypt…for I know their sorrows and I am come down to deliver them” (3:7-8).

Do you believe God sees your need and condition, just as he did with Israel? We
often glibly say, “Christ is all,” yet when we face a crisis—when one
thing after another goes wrong, our prayers seem unanswered, and hope after hope is dashed—we descend into fear.
Indeed, we succumb to fear. But the fact is, God never forsakes his children in their time of anguish, even when things seem absolutely hopeless. We can always trust Him!

When we choose God’s Will over our own, God often fulfills the deepest desire of our heart. It might take ten days, ten weeks, or even ten years, but we need to trust His perfect timing.

“Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart.”
Psalm 37:4

Right now, the world is drowning in fear. Humankind trembles over global warming, terrorism, nuclear warfare, a shaky economy, AIDS, mass murders, the rise of Islam, political chaos, widespread addiction to drugs, alcohol and porn.
I ask you:
* How can we make any impact for Christ if we are beset with the same spirit of fear the world has?
*What kind of hope can we offer—indeed,
*what kind of gospel do we preach—if it doesn’t change us and deliver us from fear?

God brought in the New Covenant to assure his church of his love and full pardon of sin…to bring us into the knowledge of his delight and gladness over us, that we might know his heart of love for us and live all our days without fear.

Greet each other with Christian love.
Peace be with all of you who are in Christ.  1 Peter 5:14

Dear Lord,  you are my shield and you are my protection. I know and believe
Lord that you will take care of me and I know that I don’t have to look to anyone.  Teach me your ways Lord, teach me your laws. Show me how to walk right before you, cause me to live holy. I want to live a life that is completely pleasing in your eye sight Father. I want you to look at me Lord and say “there is my child in whom I am well pleased” I want to be pleasing to you Lord. Help me Jesus. Lord I love you I will live in confidence in you. Thank you Lord for Your Promise this Day: “”Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful”.  In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Are we out of Control?

*WE are NOT in charge and we need God!

What I don’t understand about myself is that I decide one way, but then I act another, doing things I absolutely despise.  So if I can’t be trusted to figure out what is best for myself and then do it, it becomes obvious that God’s command is necessary.  But I need something more! For if I know the law but still can’t keep it, and if the power of sin within me keeps sabotaging my best intentions, I obviously need help!  I realize that I don’t have what it takes. I can will it, but I can’t do it.  I decide to do good, but I don’t really do it; I decide not to do bad, but then I do it anyway.  My decisions, such as they are, don’t result in actions. Something has gone wrong deep within me and gets the better of me every time. Romans 7:15-20

What has us out of control?
*”Addiction to SIN” (Anger, Spending, Eating, Mood, Alcohol/Drugs, Sexual Desires, self Pity Procrastination, gossip, self-help books etc. ).

3 Things When Behavior Out of Control:
1. Confusion. Romans 7:15 (“baffled”)
2. Frustration. Romans 7:15
3. Feeling of Failure

However, God has a PROMISE!

*How I think determines how I feel.
*How I feel determines how I act.

*Most people start with external behavior instead of internal thinking.

“Bad Beliefs Cause Bad Behavior”
*Behind every self defeating behavior is a lie I am believing.
*Most of us have bought into the ENEMY’S LIES.

***How Do We Break Free?
1. Acknowledge the root of my problem. Basic attitude toward God, life, or self. = SIN
*Getting high, Heavy Drinking, having sex are results of sin, but not sin itself.
*SIN = Basic attitude WE are in charge and we don’t need God!!!!

1 John 1:8. We make matters worse when we pretend nothing is wrong. (we are hypocrites). Self deception is the biggest trick of the enemy and Christians are good at it until we hit rock bottom.
John 8:34. Everyone that commits sin is its slave.

2. Believe Christ can Change Me.

3. I have to commit all I am to Christ. We have tried everything else. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Agitation is a weapon formed against you to get you off track, but you can bind the power of that weapon and maintain your peace if you will take the time to do so.
Actively resist the temptations that come to express anger or impatience, and they will pass quickly.
However, if you act on the irritation that you feel, it will lead to unpleasant consequences.  As you continue to maintain self-control you will gain spiritual freedom.
Matthew 16:19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

You’re feeling off balance and out of touch, but if you  spend time in the Lord’s presence you will be refreshed and renewed.  Take the time to come to the Lord for restoration.  The Lord will touch you, strengthen you, and empower you to do all that HE has given you to do and to be all you are called to be.
Don’t doubt the Lord’s ability and willingness to lift you up and infuse you and rejuvenate you with the life of the Spirit.  All you have to do is come.
John 6:63   It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

*When the Spirit of God is upon you, you move into the supernatural realm. **However, if your Soul is Hurt or Crushed, or Empty of Love you cannot receive the Spirit of God!
**Your soul can never forget what happens. Or has happened!!
But God can take away the pain; He binds the broken hearted. Your soul IS the “gateway of decisions”.
Meaning-Some parts of our soul, might be given away to demonic forces (anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, pornography, gossip, jealousy, self Pity).
*That is where there is darkness. That is why we must crucify our flesh-Crucify ALL “addictions to sin”.

*Do we seek victory over every sin, recollecting that the glory of God requires holiness in every follower of Christ?
The good news is, that the Lord Jesus reigns.

There are some people who don’t want to be healed. They are in self-pity, they have this lust for attention and power.
(Without absolute TRUTH: there is only the sense of power  left).  Sick people, addicted to these sins have the lost attention.
* What is the ultimate secret of their lives?
*What is the truth?
* How is our identity related to our reality?
*Where is your Identity this day?

*Jesus tells us the secret of our identity as believers.
*Jesus IS in US and LIVES in US!!!

It is to this fact that we should return whenever there are pressures and problems and demands made upon us, because it is from this fact that the secret of life will flow to US, if Christ really lives in US. (Ask What would Jesus do?)

Luke 4:18   The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.

Lord take US ALL step by step into the truth of YOUR Perfect Word and bring us through to victory.  Lord  direct our steps and give us the wisdom necessary to overcome the works of the flesh and the attacks of the evil one.  Lord you tell us, we  were created to be My sons, children of royalty, with the power of Your Spirit.  Lord, help us rise up and take our position in faith to win every battle by Your grace. Thank You Lord that You offer us  a river of peace today, and tomorrow, and continually. Lord WE are NOT in charge and we need You God!  Come fill my orphan heart with Your Love. In Jesus Name! Amen

Discipleship is: taking what Jesus Christ taught us and depositing it into the lives of other believers.

How rare it is to find a man or woman whose heart is completely given over to God.
“For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”2 Chronicles 16:9

Basics of Discipleship?

Isn’t it interesting that Jesus Christ never said to make disciples by taking them to church—or to a Bible study group, for that matter.
Not that these activities aren’t an integral part of a disciple’s growth, but the Lord has something much more Personal in mind.

” And ENTRUST what you heard me say in the presence of many others as witnesses to faithful people who will be competent to TEACH others as well”.
[The] word entrust, (above in 2 Timothy 2:2) was a first-century banking term that literally meant “to make a deposit.”
Paul is saying in our text, “You have learned things from me, Timothy; now I want you to take that truth and personally deposit it into the lives of other disciples.”

*When you teach a child something about Christ, you are making a deposit into his heart;
*when you share Scripture or prayer with another believer, you are making a life-on-life deposit that Christ would define as true discipleship.

Discipleship is: taking what Jesus Christ taught us and depositing it into the lives of other believers.

Three components that define true discipleship.
The first is TOUCH.
*You can’t disciple at a distance. The only way iron can sharpen iron is through “Personal Connection”.
This is the touch that invests when others withdraw; it perseveres when others disappear.

Second, you must make the commitment of TIME.
*You won’t be able to reproduce your life and passion for Christ in a day. You didn’t grow overnight—we humans aren’t like Jack’s beanstalk! We’re more like apple trees that need a lot of time to grow before fruit begins to appear.

The third component is TRUTH:
The Truth of God’s Word. This keeps the discipleship process on track, rather than one opinion contradicting another. Without TRUTH, discipleship of any kind—coaching a team, tutoring a student, teaching an instrument—will not have permanence.
The center of spiritual discipleship is the TRUTH of Scripture.

The goal is more than information… it’s
Transformation:
*To make more disciples. The better we are at being disciples, the better we will be at making them. We make a stronger impression by what we DO than by what we say.
Let us recollect the great and dreadful day of account, and not be afraid to show men that we love Christ, and want them to know and love Him also.

Let these encouragements be treasured up in the hearts of all who labor in Christ’s cause, whatever their position may be.
*The Lord knows their trials, and has spoken these things for their comfort. *He cares for all His believing people, but for none so much as those who work for His cause, and try to DO good. May we seek to be of that number.

Every believer may do something if he tries. There is always something for every one to do. May we each have an eye to see it, and a will to do it.
See  Matthew 10:23-24

To love God means continually choosing to obey His Word rather than our own thoughts, desires, and emotions.
“For the commandment is a lamp, and the teaching is light; and reproofs for discipline are the way of life…”
Proverbs 6:23

* The real win in ministry is discipling people who will in turn disciple others. That is the big deal.
I need to keep reminding myself that its not about a crowd, or great music,or Numbers,
*IT IS ALL about making disciples who can make disciples. If this can happen, then the church body will rise and become the glorious bride that Jesus intended it to be. Make disciples!

Jesus Said:   Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to obey everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19,20
Lord Jesus I pray that you would give us the grace to make disciples. Help us in our personal life of ministry to make disciples, who can make more disciples. Lord keep giving us all more:  Humility. “Humility comes before honor” (Pr 15:33 NIV),
More Wisdom,  So Instead of praying only for the advancement of our own political agenda, help us ask You God to give us sound judgment and make wise decisions.
And Lord More Courage. David said: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart” (Ps 27:14). Lord In the face of global terrorism, war, financial upheaval and a climate of fear,  I pray that You God will give US and our leaders the strength of character to do what’s right, instead of what’s popular.
Lord, help me to be who You’re making me to be, not what other’s want me to be. I trust in You and look forward to what You’ll do in our life next!
“I LOVE YOU LORD. AMEN!”