"Get Your Foot Out Of The Door" (June 22,2013)

 

If you want to shut the door to the past then take the things out of the way that are keeping it open!

There are assignments and blessings in the "here and now" that are held up because we keep our minds and/or affections on the past. Many people have suffered abuse at the hands or mouths of others and some have been abusers. Either way, it's time to repent, receive forgiveness from God, forgive yourself and take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Take the doorstops out of the way and let the door to the future be opened.

The grace of God is moving us forward into His plans and purposes. If we keep the past in the forefront we are living in a time period which has been laid to rest. God desires to use what He's put in us for this time period to help others advance their walk and give Him glory. Withholding ourselves from God in this way is synonymous with telling Him that His timing is poor and we'll decide when we're ready to use the gift He's put in us.

Php 3:13-16 "...but one thing I do [it is my one aspiration]: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions; and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. Only let us hold true to what we have already attained and walk and order our lives by that." AMP

Promoting the "Real" Jesus! (June 16, 2013)

Promoting the "Real" Jesus!

Act 17:11 "Now these [Berean Jews] were better disposed and more noble than those in Thessalonica, for they were entirely ready and accepted and welcomed the message... with inclination of mind and eagerness, searching and examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so."

We have the same responsibility today. Search the scriptures, both OT and NT. We are not to search scripture to prove our ideas, but to attain the truth of the Word and the true character of Christ. Take careful consideration not to alter what is written, not to take it out of context, to embrace the truth of it and discard hype-doing otherwise is disparaging to the character of Christ, the Living Word. Taking liberties with the Word is, in essence, promoting a Jesus who is not real!

There is no possible way to build true faith with doctrine that is not in agreement with the Word. What happens when we have doctrine that is "off" is that we destroy people's faith. As someone once said on this concern: wrong doctrine=high expectation based on wrong information!

Be true to Christ-accept Him as He truly is-the Living Word!

Psalm 119:11 Your word have I laid up in my heart, that I might not sin against You.

Practice Makes Perfect (June 12,2013)

Today you may have a list of things to get done, and we all have responsibilities that need to be taken care of. However, instead of jumping into your work or your play take the day and make it His, then let your life flow out of Him.

John 5:19 "Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Him self, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. " Lord, let us be like Jesus, to do only what the Father shows us to do.

John 14:10 "[Jesus said] The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works." Lord, let us be like Jesus, to say only what we hear the Father say.

It's entirely possible to live this life moment by moment with Him as our source-Jesus did. What You say I say, what You do I do: let it be so!

Practice righteousness-right standing with God (because of the blood of Jesus) which leads to continued communion with God which leads to integrity, virtue, purity of life, correctness of thinking feeling, and acting!

Take Command of Your Soul! (June 9, 2013)

Take Command of Your Soul and Praise Him!

Psa 103:1-5 "A Psalm Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercies, Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's."

David is calling on his soul, commanding his innermost being, to worship the Lord in thankfulness for the loving-kindness He's shown him. Sometimes the lips can do little to express the gratitude in the heart for the goodness that God has shown us, then our innermost being must burst forth with thankfulness toward Him!

At other times we struggle and must commit ourselves to worship and praise Him in thankfulness for His promises and tender mercies. At those times, again, do as David did: command yourself to worship and remember His goodness! Take your mind and focus off of the things around you and put them onto Him, speaking out the blessings He's poured on us as children of God!

Whatever the state of your soul today, whether it be rejoicing or grieving, focus on the Lord and bless Him with thankful praise! By the end of this Psalm David was beckoning the rest of God's creation to join him in praise to God: a thankful heart beckons others to join in worshiping Him!

Obliterate the Road Block (May 4, 2013)

2Co 12:8-9 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

This scripture came to mind as I prayed and cried out to God, yet again, on a particular road block in my life. For a number of years I've asked Him to remove the road block, I've had others praying for me, I've commanded the thing to leave, I've gotten advice and tried a list of various other methods to get this "thing" out of my way.

Today, as I prayed about this same thing, 2 Cor.12:8-9 came to mind. But today I had victory because of this scripture. What the Lord is saying to me is that He is not going to remove this thing, but between the two of us, He and I, we will press through it and leave it in the dust when all is said and done.

Knowing that I am weak to accomplish this task, He has reminded me that we are in covenant, He and I, and He is extending His grace (divine influence, benefits and favor) to me by giving me His power (miraculous strength and force) to complete and accomplish the very thing He's given me to do! In this process His grace is also teaching me, through patience and love, to walk in His way! (Titus 2:10-12)

There are some things in life for which we simply have to run the roadblock, obliterate it, be forceful and push through-but with the wisdom and grace of God. When we get to the other side we can look back and celebrate His goodness and faithfulness in bringing us through-and the fact that He knew what was best for us!

Press on, be diligent, make crooked paths straight, keep your eyes on the prize in Him!
Php 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the [supreme and heavenly] prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward.

God Cherishes Differences in People (June 3, 2013)

"God Cherishes Differences in People"

 

1Co 12:4-7 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.

Expanding the meaning of the words in this scripture (Strong's Concordance) could bring us to a clearer picture of what is said: Now there are different kinds of gifts.....there are different ways to serve with those gifts.....and there are a variety of affects as a result of using those gifts...

There are no two baseball players alike, no two pianists alike..likewise, there are no two Spiritual gifts in God's Kingdom which will operate in the same exact fashion. A look at the prophets of the old testament readily confirms this-personality is cherished by God. This is not to say that our un-sanctified personalities are perfect for the work He's given us to do, not by any means. The gift inside of us works perfectly with a perfectly submitted body, soul and spirit.

Sister Susie and Brother Bob may have the same type of gift, but it may not manifest exactly the same way through each of them. God knows what gift is needed at any given point in time and who He wants to call on to use the gift He's placed inside of them. Be submitted, stay in the Word, be humble! Simply be the sanctified you-ready and willing!