When I look through the window of God's word, it enables me to see things through God perspective, or another way to say it is that I'm seeing things the way God sees them.
The one major problem for man/woman when they see things as God sees them is that it makes no sense to them. A man must not only be able to see what God sees, but he must be able to think like He does as well. Rom 12:2 says (my paraphrase) we must not think like the world thinks, but we must think like God thinks if we are going to overcome in this world.
2 Cor 5:7 says that we walk by faith and not by sight. My paraphrase of this scripture is we walk and live on this earth by seeing what God sees, not by what we see. We live in our bodies which is a physical body that is moved by it's senses. Whatever I see is so. Whatever I feel is so. Whatever I hear is so. Whatever I smell is so. Whatever I taste is so. But man was never created to live his life according to his physical senses. Man was created to live his life in the Spirit realm where God and His Kingdom exist where whatever God said was so. However man sinned in the garden of Eden, and man was separated from God and no longer could live in the Spirit realm, but was forced to live by his physical senses in the physical realm. God was Lord over man in the Spirit realm, but when man fell into sin, man exalted himself to Lord over himself and now he would have to lead his own life, instead of following the God who desired to lead him.
But I have good news for you. God has made a way for man to get back to the Spirit realm and enter the relationship with God that He intended man to have from the beginning. Jesus went to the cross for you and me because of the Father's love for us and His desire to have His man back with Him once again. Jesus died on that cross and paid the price for our sin, and has made the way for man to return to his rightful place with God. This doesn't happen automatically for man. Man must make the decision for himself to accept what Jesus has done for him. If man will accept personally for himself what Jesus did on the cross, and believe in his heart that God the Father has raised God the Son from the dead, then this man will be saved and be restored to his rightful place with God (which was the original place man was at the beginning). Jesus says in John 3:3," unless a man is born again, He shall not SEE the Kingdom of God"
Your way back into God's presence where He has always wanted you to be is by being born again. Now be careful here and don't miss this. Being born again is not just mentally agreeing with God, it's more than that. Agreeing is only the first step, and it's the second step that makes the born again experience a reality in your life and that step is BELIEVING what you are agreeing with. You must believe God to be born again. If you look at God's word in Rom 10:9-10, agree with it, then do it by believing it then you are born again. How do you know if you believe it or not. You make a choice to believe it. You make the choice to look through the window of this word and believe what you see there or believe what God has said. You walk away from that scripture window saying with your mouth, "I'm born again, I'm a brand new creature in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). I've been made righteous by the blood of Jesus and I now stand in my rightful place with God." Now your spirit, the real you, is born again and brand new. Now if your flesh body happens to agree with your spirit that will be wonderful, however most likely it won't. Your body will still want to operate in the physical realm and it will look around and see that nothing has changed and the devil will come immediately to persuade you that what you see and feel is right, not what you are trying to believe. But if you will just move from there by believing God, by believing that you are born again because the word says so and that it has nothing to do with how you feel, it only depends on what God has said about. You are born again so go and act that way, and one day along the way, your physical body will begin to join up with your spirit man and agree with it. When this happens you'll know that your spirit has once again regained it's position of authority and now you are living by the Spirit and not according to senses. This is the place of victory.
Once your born again by an act of your faith, the only way you will get to that place where your spirit dominates your flesh is by looking into the word of God day and night. (do what
Prov 4:20-27 says). God will breathe His life into you through His word and you will be changed from glory to glory (2 Cor 3:18). You will begin to see things like God sees them because you are looking at things through the window of the word. And before long you'll be thinking just like God because your mind will of been renewed by the word of God.
This is the place God the Father has always intended His man to be in. He has the door wide open to you today, so come on in. Accept Jesus, believe that you are born again, act that way and live in that realm where God wants us to live, in the Spirit.
The world is falling apart around us, but the good news is, if we are born again, then even though we are in this world, we are not of it. We live in the Kingdom of God by living through His word. It's the only firm foundation for a man to stand on. As the song goes " all other ground is sinking sand". Get on the Rock (of Jesus) today and having done all to stand, just stand there as the world crumbles away.
Open the window of God's word today, look in there, and believe what you see there, instead of believing what you see all around you.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Why Is My Faith Not Working?
Love is the realm of faith. God inspired faith can not operate and function the way God has created it to outside of the realm of Love. (before you go on, I want you to really think about this first statement of truth until you hear what it is saying).
God created faith for man so that man/woman would be able to believe God. This is the relationship God desires with His man. A man/woman that will believe Him, then go and do what he/she believes. But this God created faith (the exact same faith God created the heavens and the earth with, the exact same faith that Jesus walked this earth with, this same faith was given to you and me when we born again)was made to operate in the realm of Love. It can only successfully operate in this realm, for this God created faith is powerless and useless outside of Love.
Here is the reason that there is so much failure in the body of Christ, the Church, when it comes to faith (believing God). The child of God tries to live by faith (because the word tells him to live this way), but he refuses to walk in Love, therefore his faith is in vain, for his faith can not work outside of Love. One small nugget of truth is found in Gal 5:6 that declares; "faith works by Love", therefore you could say, faith will not work outside of Love.
The Church (that's you and me, the believer) as a whole majors on believing God (faith). We want to know everything there is to know on how to believe God so that we can get our prayers answered, but we very rarely spend any time studying and thinking about the realm in which faith was created to work in. You must grasp this following truth and never let it get away from you;
"Faith was created to work in the realm of Love, Faith will not work outside of Love." I have never taken this truth to heart and have tried to use faith outside of Love and it has been powerless, bringing no results, then growing frustrated with God and His word and then saying something stupid like, "I did my part, but You (God) won't do Your part", and blaming God for my faith failure.
The first thing any believer must realize and establish in his heart is that God's Word is True. That must be settled in your heart or you will always be questioning the Word when you are being challenged and you don't see the results of what you are believing for. Settle it today if you have not done this; "God's Word is Truth" (Jn 17:17). It makes no difference what we think about it, the Word is True because God declared it (Numbers 23:19) and that's what makes it True. If God said, "faith works by Love", then that is the way it works, and it will work no other way. So instead of trying to walk in faith our way, we must do it His way to see faith work in our lives.
We must change our focus from "faith" to "Love". We must receive the commandment that Jesus gave us in John 13:34, 15:12 as a commandment (not as a suggestion or as an opinion) and do it as a commandment. This is the only way that we will walk in love by taking what Jesus said and receiving it as a commandment. We must learn everything there is to know about Love. A good place to start is 1 Cor 12:31- 1 Cor 13:8 (Amplified bible is the best translation of these verses if you have one). As we begin to learn about Love, the importance of it, and then walk in it, faith will then begin to operate on it's own. It won't be forced or used selfishly, but it will be this God created faith (real faith) because it is coming out of the realm of Love, therefore it will be powerful and mighty and will accomplish what we are believing for. (Matt 21:21-22) This is the very realm that Jesus Himself operated from. Jesus walked this earth as a man, and He walked in Love and was (and is) the most powerful man on the face of the earth. We can only do what Jesus did if we are willing to do what Jesus did, and that is to walk in Love.
If you are struggling with faith today, stop focusing on faith and turn your attention to Love. Strive (be deliberate) to master the Love walk, and your ability to believe God will follow you down that path of Love. Great Love produces great faith. LOVE, there is no other way for faith to produce what the believer is believing God for.
Because of what God has revealed to me about Love this day, I may spend the rest of my days on this earth focused on nothing other than "Love". You could spend a lifetime studying Love, and never learn it all (Eph 3:17-19), for God will show you something new about love everyday if you will allow Him to. This is the pathway I'm called to with the rest of my life and as I learn more about Love, then go and walk in it, my faith will grow and God's Truth which He declared, "all things are possible to him who believes"(Mark 9:23), will be a reality in my life.
Who would like to join me on this journey. There is plenty of room, for this is the road less traveled and it is narrow, but the Holy Spirit will guide us every step of the way and lead us to all Truth. This is God's designed way for His believing children. This is how Faith works, by LOVE and Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8).
A new commandment I (Jesus) give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He has given us commandment. (1 John 3:23)
God created faith for man so that man/woman would be able to believe God. This is the relationship God desires with His man. A man/woman that will believe Him, then go and do what he/she believes. But this God created faith (the exact same faith God created the heavens and the earth with, the exact same faith that Jesus walked this earth with, this same faith was given to you and me when we born again)was made to operate in the realm of Love. It can only successfully operate in this realm, for this God created faith is powerless and useless outside of Love.
Here is the reason that there is so much failure in the body of Christ, the Church, when it comes to faith (believing God). The child of God tries to live by faith (because the word tells him to live this way), but he refuses to walk in Love, therefore his faith is in vain, for his faith can not work outside of Love. One small nugget of truth is found in Gal 5:6 that declares; "faith works by Love", therefore you could say, faith will not work outside of Love.
The Church (that's you and me, the believer) as a whole majors on believing God (faith). We want to know everything there is to know on how to believe God so that we can get our prayers answered, but we very rarely spend any time studying and thinking about the realm in which faith was created to work in. You must grasp this following truth and never let it get away from you;
"Faith was created to work in the realm of Love, Faith will not work outside of Love." I have never taken this truth to heart and have tried to use faith outside of Love and it has been powerless, bringing no results, then growing frustrated with God and His word and then saying something stupid like, "I did my part, but You (God) won't do Your part", and blaming God for my faith failure.
The first thing any believer must realize and establish in his heart is that God's Word is True. That must be settled in your heart or you will always be questioning the Word when you are being challenged and you don't see the results of what you are believing for. Settle it today if you have not done this; "God's Word is Truth" (Jn 17:17). It makes no difference what we think about it, the Word is True because God declared it (Numbers 23:19) and that's what makes it True. If God said, "faith works by Love", then that is the way it works, and it will work no other way. So instead of trying to walk in faith our way, we must do it His way to see faith work in our lives.
We must change our focus from "faith" to "Love". We must receive the commandment that Jesus gave us in John 13:34, 15:12 as a commandment (not as a suggestion or as an opinion) and do it as a commandment. This is the only way that we will walk in love by taking what Jesus said and receiving it as a commandment. We must learn everything there is to know about Love. A good place to start is 1 Cor 12:31- 1 Cor 13:8 (Amplified bible is the best translation of these verses if you have one). As we begin to learn about Love, the importance of it, and then walk in it, faith will then begin to operate on it's own. It won't be forced or used selfishly, but it will be this God created faith (real faith) because it is coming out of the realm of Love, therefore it will be powerful and mighty and will accomplish what we are believing for. (Matt 21:21-22) This is the very realm that Jesus Himself operated from. Jesus walked this earth as a man, and He walked in Love and was (and is) the most powerful man on the face of the earth. We can only do what Jesus did if we are willing to do what Jesus did, and that is to walk in Love.
If you are struggling with faith today, stop focusing on faith and turn your attention to Love. Strive (be deliberate) to master the Love walk, and your ability to believe God will follow you down that path of Love. Great Love produces great faith. LOVE, there is no other way for faith to produce what the believer is believing God for.
Because of what God has revealed to me about Love this day, I may spend the rest of my days on this earth focused on nothing other than "Love". You could spend a lifetime studying Love, and never learn it all (Eph 3:17-19), for God will show you something new about love everyday if you will allow Him to. This is the pathway I'm called to with the rest of my life and as I learn more about Love, then go and walk in it, my faith will grow and God's Truth which He declared, "all things are possible to him who believes"(Mark 9:23), will be a reality in my life.
Who would like to join me on this journey. There is plenty of room, for this is the road less traveled and it is narrow, but the Holy Spirit will guide us every step of the way and lead us to all Truth. This is God's designed way for His believing children. This is how Faith works, by LOVE and Love never fails (1 Cor 13:8).
A new commandment I (Jesus) give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. (John 13:34)
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as He has given us commandment. (1 John 3:23)
Monday, August 18, 2008
How Can I tell If I Really Believe God?
How do you know if you really believe God? You know in your heart without a doubt that what God says in His Word is yours. You know it's yours, so you act like it is, because you know something, you know it's yours.
King David believed he had a covenant of promise with Almighty God. He believed in that covenant to such a degree that when he saw Goliath the giant ( 1 Sam 17:26-50), he knew he would (this is the bottom line of faith, he knew he would) defeat him. David didn't hope that he would defeat him, he knew he would. Now this is the true believing that God requires of a man/woman who is in covenant relationship with Him. (If you have made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, you are in a covenant relationship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ).
This is real genuine believing; I believe the word to such a degree (with all my heart) that I know that what stands before me is already defeated. When I enter the battle with this mind set, knowing that my enemy is (already) defeated, I fight with the confidence as the one who knows he already has won the battle. I fight with a strength that only comes from knowing that my enemy is already defeated before I take the first step towards him.
My faith is established in the Word of God (my covenant with Him) so that I now already know the outcome before I even enter the battle. This is when I know that I really do believe God, because I'll step out in confidence and act on what I believe. If I stand before my enemy hoping that God will help me overcome it, then I can know for sure that I am not believing Him. If I am anxious and fretful, then I can know for sure that I don't believe God. It's when I stand before my giant and know that I will defeat him because of my covenant that I have with Almighty God, that's when I know that I'm believing.
If I see my enemy defeated before I enter the fight, I know I'm believing. If I hope to defeat my enemy, I'm not believing. If I'm only in hope, I'll be defeated by my enemy, and I'll blame God for not coming through for me. But God requires faith, not hope. Hope has no substance to it until faith is added (Heb 11:1). Hope is just that, "you hope God will", but faith says, "I know God will do what I hope He will do."
How do you get to that level of believing? First by knowledge of the of the Word of God. You must know what the Word says and what your covenant rights are between you and God. God's Word is God's will (He never changes)and faith begins where the will of God is known. Second, meditating that knowledge until you believe it. God told me years ago, "your ability to believe Me comes from Me" (Heb 12:2, 1 Cor 2:9-13). How do you know you believe it? When you've gone from just knowing what the Word says, and the hope that comes from knowing that Word, to the place of confident action (faith) knowing that the enemy that stands before you is already defeated, because your covenant with God says so. You know he is defeated, so you'll fight with a supernatural strength, God's strength, and you'll overcome just like God said you would.
2 Cor 2:14 says, "NOW (right now!!, before the fight) thanks be unto God who ALWAYS causes me to TRIUMPH in Christ." God says you always win if you'll believe Him (that's a big IF). No weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isa 54:17) if you know your covenant rights with God and believe them.
If you can stand before your enemy with a grin on your face ( you know that is what Goliath was really upset with David about. It wasn't David's smaller size and being a youth, it was that grin on his face. Now that is just something that God has let me see, I have no scripture to back that up, but God sure put a smile on my face by showing that to me) because you already know that he is defeated, you can know for sure that you really are believing God and what you are believing, it will come to pass!
Now build your foundation with God's Word. Read Gal 3:29, Heb 8:6, 2Pet 1:4&19
King David believed he had a covenant of promise with Almighty God. He believed in that covenant to such a degree that when he saw Goliath the giant ( 1 Sam 17:26-50), he knew he would (this is the bottom line of faith, he knew he would) defeat him. David didn't hope that he would defeat him, he knew he would. Now this is the true believing that God requires of a man/woman who is in covenant relationship with Him. (If you have made Jesus the Lord and Savior of your life, you are in a covenant relationship with God through the blood of Jesus Christ).
This is real genuine believing; I believe the word to such a degree (with all my heart) that I know that what stands before me is already defeated. When I enter the battle with this mind set, knowing that my enemy is (already) defeated, I fight with the confidence as the one who knows he already has won the battle. I fight with a strength that only comes from knowing that my enemy is already defeated before I take the first step towards him.
My faith is established in the Word of God (my covenant with Him) so that I now already know the outcome before I even enter the battle. This is when I know that I really do believe God, because I'll step out in confidence and act on what I believe. If I stand before my enemy hoping that God will help me overcome it, then I can know for sure that I am not believing Him. If I am anxious and fretful, then I can know for sure that I don't believe God. It's when I stand before my giant and know that I will defeat him because of my covenant that I have with Almighty God, that's when I know that I'm believing.
If I see my enemy defeated before I enter the fight, I know I'm believing. If I hope to defeat my enemy, I'm not believing. If I'm only in hope, I'll be defeated by my enemy, and I'll blame God for not coming through for me. But God requires faith, not hope. Hope has no substance to it until faith is added (Heb 11:1). Hope is just that, "you hope God will", but faith says, "I know God will do what I hope He will do."
How do you get to that level of believing? First by knowledge of the of the Word of God. You must know what the Word says and what your covenant rights are between you and God. God's Word is God's will (He never changes)and faith begins where the will of God is known. Second, meditating that knowledge until you believe it. God told me years ago, "your ability to believe Me comes from Me" (Heb 12:2, 1 Cor 2:9-13). How do you know you believe it? When you've gone from just knowing what the Word says, and the hope that comes from knowing that Word, to the place of confident action (faith) knowing that the enemy that stands before you is already defeated, because your covenant with God says so. You know he is defeated, so you'll fight with a supernatural strength, God's strength, and you'll overcome just like God said you would.
2 Cor 2:14 says, "NOW (right now!!, before the fight) thanks be unto God who ALWAYS causes me to TRIUMPH in Christ." God says you always win if you'll believe Him (that's a big IF). No weapon formed against you shall prosper (Isa 54:17) if you know your covenant rights with God and believe them.
If you can stand before your enemy with a grin on your face ( you know that is what Goliath was really upset with David about. It wasn't David's smaller size and being a youth, it was that grin on his face. Now that is just something that God has let me see, I have no scripture to back that up, but God sure put a smile on my face by showing that to me) because you already know that he is defeated, you can know for sure that you really are believing God and what you are believing, it will come to pass!
Now build your foundation with God's Word. Read Gal 3:29, Heb 8:6, 2Pet 1:4&19
Thursday, July 31, 2008
God's Test for Man
God has established a test for man/woman. This test has been put in place by God to determine if the man will obey his God or not. The test itself is very simple, but the sad truth is most men do not even know that the test exists, or if they do many are not willing to take it and the ones that do mostly fail. The test is easy, the taking of the test is not. This test is found in
Exodus 15:25-26. (read this before you go on).
The test is all about choices. God will observe the choices a man makes. How the man does on the test is strictly up to him (the man not God). This test is all about TRUST. Who is the man going to trust with his life? Himself or God? The choice is between man's way or God's way.
The questions for the test have been established by God. The first question is, " Will you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God, or more easily said, when you stand before an issue of life, a trouble spot along your journey through life, will you look to Me (God) by looking at My Word first with all your heart for your answer, or will you look to yourself and the world you live in and obtain your answer from them?" God will observe you in the time of crisis. Who do you seek first? Who do you diligently run to first? To pass God's test you must choose Him first!
The second question is, "if you do the first question right and diligently seek God first, then number two is, will you go and do what He (God) says or will you choose another way?" God's way may look hard and unexplainable but that's only because it is unfamiliar. The world's way may make sense and be very explainable only because that is the familiar way. The test is, "will you go and do what God has said", for if you do this will be right in God's sight and very pleasing to Him, for God will see your heart, that you are truly trusting Him with your life and because you have chosen God over yourself He will reward you (Heb 11:6) by pouring out blessings upon you which in turn will be the direct response to the issue that stands before you.
In this particular verse in Ex 15:26, God's reward to the ones who pass the test is, " I am the Lord your God Who heals you". God Himself becomes your Healer because you passed His test. This is His promise to you, "I am whatever you need Me to be, if I have declared it in My Word, then I will watch over it and do it in your life because you have passed My (faith) test.
Now there is one more thing you must know about this test. God requires you to take the test more than once, and you'll have to pass it each time to receive His reward for your accomplishment. Each new issue of life comes with it's own test, but I will say this, it gets easier to pass every time you take it because your confidence and trust in God keeps growing. God keeps getting bigger in your sight and the issues of life keep getting smaller.
God wants you to pass His test. He has made it easy for us because He has made it an open book test, but the choice to open the book and look at it to find God's way out of the situation that stands before us is yours and mine. Then our next choice after we find out what God says about it is, "Will we do it? If we will, then God says, "He will".
That's the test in a nut shell. Are you willing to take the test? Are you willing to pass the test? Maybe this will encourage you from God's word in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "for the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth looking for people whose hearts are loyal (seek Him first) toward Him, so that (here comes the reward) He can show His great power in helping them". Such a great promise from our God.
If you've never taken this test than do it. If you've taken this test and failed, take it again, as many times as it takes, pass it, and receive God's reward for doing it His way. Once you've passed this test, keep on taking it and pass it each time knowing that God is faithful to His Word and He will never let you down when you do it His way, that His promise to you.
Now go and read James 1:25 for a confirming word in what you have just read.
Be Blessed!!!
Exodus 15:25-26. (read this before you go on).
The test is all about choices. God will observe the choices a man makes. How the man does on the test is strictly up to him (the man not God). This test is all about TRUST. Who is the man going to trust with his life? Himself or God? The choice is between man's way or God's way.
The questions for the test have been established by God. The first question is, " Will you diligently heed the voice of the Lord your God, or more easily said, when you stand before an issue of life, a trouble spot along your journey through life, will you look to Me (God) by looking at My Word first with all your heart for your answer, or will you look to yourself and the world you live in and obtain your answer from them?" God will observe you in the time of crisis. Who do you seek first? Who do you diligently run to first? To pass God's test you must choose Him first!
The second question is, "if you do the first question right and diligently seek God first, then number two is, will you go and do what He (God) says or will you choose another way?" God's way may look hard and unexplainable but that's only because it is unfamiliar. The world's way may make sense and be very explainable only because that is the familiar way. The test is, "will you go and do what God has said", for if you do this will be right in God's sight and very pleasing to Him, for God will see your heart, that you are truly trusting Him with your life and because you have chosen God over yourself He will reward you (Heb 11:6) by pouring out blessings upon you which in turn will be the direct response to the issue that stands before you.
In this particular verse in Ex 15:26, God's reward to the ones who pass the test is, " I am the Lord your God Who heals you". God Himself becomes your Healer because you passed His test. This is His promise to you, "I am whatever you need Me to be, if I have declared it in My Word, then I will watch over it and do it in your life because you have passed My (faith) test.
Now there is one more thing you must know about this test. God requires you to take the test more than once, and you'll have to pass it each time to receive His reward for your accomplishment. Each new issue of life comes with it's own test, but I will say this, it gets easier to pass every time you take it because your confidence and trust in God keeps growing. God keeps getting bigger in your sight and the issues of life keep getting smaller.
God wants you to pass His test. He has made it easy for us because He has made it an open book test, but the choice to open the book and look at it to find God's way out of the situation that stands before us is yours and mine. Then our next choice after we find out what God says about it is, "Will we do it? If we will, then God says, "He will".
That's the test in a nut shell. Are you willing to take the test? Are you willing to pass the test? Maybe this will encourage you from God's word in 2 Chronicles 16:9, "for the eyes of the Lord search back and forth across the whole earth looking for people whose hearts are loyal (seek Him first) toward Him, so that (here comes the reward) He can show His great power in helping them". Such a great promise from our God.
If you've never taken this test than do it. If you've taken this test and failed, take it again, as many times as it takes, pass it, and receive God's reward for doing it His way. Once you've passed this test, keep on taking it and pass it each time knowing that God is faithful to His Word and He will never let you down when you do it His way, that His promise to you.
Now go and read James 1:25 for a confirming word in what you have just read.
Be Blessed!!!
Friday, July 18, 2008
Count it All Joy. Are You Kidding Me?
Every issue of life, every situation I find myself in is an opportunity for me to know more about my God and His Word. When I'm confronted with a challenge and a mountain stands before me, my first thought must be, "what does God's word say about this?". When I look into the word and see what it says, I have just had the opportunity to know more about my God then I did before. God makes Himself known through His word and this is how I grow to know Him.
2 Sam 7:21 says, " for your words sake, and according to Your (God's) own heart, You have done all these great things, (why?) to make your servant know them (them what? Your words)". What great things was King David talking about? Every time David was in trouble or was being challenged, God delivered him. Every time God did this, it was a great thing in the sight of David and through every situation, David grew to know God more and more. He became more confident with God's word after each and every rescue and deliverance. So what did David discover and come to know through these different situations? 2 Sam 7:22 gives us the answer. David came to this conclusion, " Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any other God besides You". David would of never known God this way for himself if he had not walked with God and His word through these different challenges and trials and let me say right here, you won't know Him either unless you do what David did.
It works the same for you and me. The great things of God in our lives is whatever God does in our lives according to what He has said in His word to us. If I find myself sick one day and my first thought is, " what does God's word say about sickness?", then I go and look at the word and it says, " by His stripes you (Terry)were healed", then I choose to believe that word and that God will watch over that word to perform it by healing my body. This manifestation of healing truly now becomes a great event of God in my life and I come through it knowing more about my God and trusting Him all the more.
I never really was able to understand James when he said in in James 1:2, "count it all joy when you fall into various trials." I would always look at the trial and become wearied by it and discouraged. I was not joyful but fretful. But now with this new found understanding of God and His ways, I now realize that when the trial appears, I can be joyful from the fact of knowing that whatever stands before me is an opportunity to know my God and His word in a whole new way. I'm going to learn more about my God through this trial, something I would never of learned if I was not in this situation. When this attitude of joy shows up as I face this trial, it drives the devil nuts, because he has come to steal, kill, and destroy and when he sees joy instead of pain and suffering, he knows he is defeated in my life (Phil 1:28). The devil was counting on me to be upset and hurting, but here I am joyful. The devil is no match for the man/woman who is filled with the joy of the Lord, for that joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and that Godly strength will whip the devil every time. Jesus already proved that and defeated Him. All we have to do is what Jesus did, hold fast to the Word to enforce the devil's defeat in our lives and make him a footstool for Jesus to put His feet on (Heb 10:12-13). Now that's a great picture isn't it?
So whatever you are facing today, count it all joy because if you choose to go to God's word and see what His way of escape is for you, and you go ahead and do what you found out, when you get to the other side of that problem, you'll know God a whole lot more then before you started.
I must admit, I actually feel joyful as I look at the mountain standing before me today. As soon as I quit writing, I'm looking into God's word for my way out and through it all I will know my God all the more. Now that thought alone is a good and joyful thought. I get the sense that the devil is getting nervous, he's never seen me quite this way and he knows he is about to get kicked out of my life. Oh Yeah, I'm feeling better already. It's time to look into that powerful word of God!!
2 Sam 7:21 says, " for your words sake, and according to Your (God's) own heart, You have done all these great things, (why?) to make your servant know them (them what? Your words)". What great things was King David talking about? Every time David was in trouble or was being challenged, God delivered him. Every time God did this, it was a great thing in the sight of David and through every situation, David grew to know God more and more. He became more confident with God's word after each and every rescue and deliverance. So what did David discover and come to know through these different situations? 2 Sam 7:22 gives us the answer. David came to this conclusion, " Therefore You are great, O Lord God. For there is none like You, nor is there any other God besides You". David would of never known God this way for himself if he had not walked with God and His word through these different challenges and trials and let me say right here, you won't know Him either unless you do what David did.
It works the same for you and me. The great things of God in our lives is whatever God does in our lives according to what He has said in His word to us. If I find myself sick one day and my first thought is, " what does God's word say about sickness?", then I go and look at the word and it says, " by His stripes you (Terry)were healed", then I choose to believe that word and that God will watch over that word to perform it by healing my body. This manifestation of healing truly now becomes a great event of God in my life and I come through it knowing more about my God and trusting Him all the more.
I never really was able to understand James when he said in in James 1:2, "count it all joy when you fall into various trials." I would always look at the trial and become wearied by it and discouraged. I was not joyful but fretful. But now with this new found understanding of God and His ways, I now realize that when the trial appears, I can be joyful from the fact of knowing that whatever stands before me is an opportunity to know my God and His word in a whole new way. I'm going to learn more about my God through this trial, something I would never of learned if I was not in this situation. When this attitude of joy shows up as I face this trial, it drives the devil nuts, because he has come to steal, kill, and destroy and when he sees joy instead of pain and suffering, he knows he is defeated in my life (Phil 1:28). The devil was counting on me to be upset and hurting, but here I am joyful. The devil is no match for the man/woman who is filled with the joy of the Lord, for that joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10) and that Godly strength will whip the devil every time. Jesus already proved that and defeated Him. All we have to do is what Jesus did, hold fast to the Word to enforce the devil's defeat in our lives and make him a footstool for Jesus to put His feet on (Heb 10:12-13). Now that's a great picture isn't it?
So whatever you are facing today, count it all joy because if you choose to go to God's word and see what His way of escape is for you, and you go ahead and do what you found out, when you get to the other side of that problem, you'll know God a whole lot more then before you started.
I must admit, I actually feel joyful as I look at the mountain standing before me today. As soon as I quit writing, I'm looking into God's word for my way out and through it all I will know my God all the more. Now that thought alone is a good and joyful thought. I get the sense that the devil is getting nervous, he's never seen me quite this way and he knows he is about to get kicked out of my life. Oh Yeah, I'm feeling better already. It's time to look into that powerful word of God!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Stop the Worry, Do it God's way
If you are at a place where you find yourself thinking and meditating about a problem that stands before you, then you must know that you are at a place that God does not want you to be at. As a matter of fact, God is displeased when we stand at this place of worry and concern, for your actions display to God that you have no confidence or faith in Him to take care of you and see you through to the other side of that problem.
If you are worrying about something, then realize that you have exalted yourself above God's throne. (I know that you didn't intend to do that, but never the less, you have exalted yourself above God and taken His rightful place). That which He is responsible for, you have taken upon yourself and God never intended for you to do that. Actually when you worry, you are in outright disobedience to God for He has said, "be anxious for nothing" (Phil 4:6). If you are anxious about the problem that stands before you, then you have turned away from what God has said for you to do which now makes you responsible for the answer and removal of the problem, and in this state of being or mind, you have every right to be anxious and worried.
But God has said in His word that when you find yourself at this anxious place then it's time for you to be a doer of the word and the word that He would have you do is found in 1 Pet 5:6-8. What this word is saying is that if you are worrying, you have exalted yourself to Lord over that situation and you have exalted your throne above God's. He declares that you must recognize that this is wrong, confess it before the Lord and repent by humbling yourself, bowing your knee to Jesus and exalting Him over your problem. The way you exalt Him is by doing verse 7, casting all your care (of that problem) over onto Him, then leaving it there. The way you leave it there is by doing verse 8, resist the devil when he tries to put the worries back on you. You must resist that temptation to take that worry back and hold fast believing that Jesus is holding onto that care and He will see you through because He cares for you.
This is called living by faith, not by how you feel or think about it. This is the way God designed man/woman to live. It is the highest level of life that man can experience. It's the life of faith. Trusting God and not leaning to your own understanding. It's doing it God's way and not your way.
So, are you worrying about something right now? Well, I was and that is why God spoke these words to me and I'm thankful He did. For I have done what He said to do and now I'm walking free from that care. (the care is still there, it hasn't gone anywhere, but I no longer have possession of that care, I gave it to Jesus, for He is my Faithful Lord and High Priest and He will watch over His word to perform it and bring it to it's desired end).
This is truly the intent of this blog site. My prayer is that you will have the opportunity to learn God's ways through my experiences with Him in hope that it will prepare you for those things down the road that we all will face, it's called "the issues of life". But the good news is, "God is able, therefore that makes me able if I'll put my trust in Him".
I pray you trust Him today with that care you have been holding onto. It's time to be free!!
If you are worrying about something, then realize that you have exalted yourself above God's throne. (I know that you didn't intend to do that, but never the less, you have exalted yourself above God and taken His rightful place). That which He is responsible for, you have taken upon yourself and God never intended for you to do that. Actually when you worry, you are in outright disobedience to God for He has said, "be anxious for nothing" (Phil 4:6). If you are anxious about the problem that stands before you, then you have turned away from what God has said for you to do which now makes you responsible for the answer and removal of the problem, and in this state of being or mind, you have every right to be anxious and worried.
But God has said in His word that when you find yourself at this anxious place then it's time for you to be a doer of the word and the word that He would have you do is found in 1 Pet 5:6-8. What this word is saying is that if you are worrying, you have exalted yourself to Lord over that situation and you have exalted your throne above God's. He declares that you must recognize that this is wrong, confess it before the Lord and repent by humbling yourself, bowing your knee to Jesus and exalting Him over your problem. The way you exalt Him is by doing verse 7, casting all your care (of that problem) over onto Him, then leaving it there. The way you leave it there is by doing verse 8, resist the devil when he tries to put the worries back on you. You must resist that temptation to take that worry back and hold fast believing that Jesus is holding onto that care and He will see you through because He cares for you.
This is called living by faith, not by how you feel or think about it. This is the way God designed man/woman to live. It is the highest level of life that man can experience. It's the life of faith. Trusting God and not leaning to your own understanding. It's doing it God's way and not your way.
So, are you worrying about something right now? Well, I was and that is why God spoke these words to me and I'm thankful He did. For I have done what He said to do and now I'm walking free from that care. (the care is still there, it hasn't gone anywhere, but I no longer have possession of that care, I gave it to Jesus, for He is my Faithful Lord and High Priest and He will watch over His word to perform it and bring it to it's desired end).
This is truly the intent of this blog site. My prayer is that you will have the opportunity to learn God's ways through my experiences with Him in hope that it will prepare you for those things down the road that we all will face, it's called "the issues of life". But the good news is, "God is able, therefore that makes me able if I'll put my trust in Him".
I pray you trust Him today with that care you have been holding onto. It's time to be free!!
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
The Benefit of Knowing Jesus
Every Christian believer eventually gets to that place in their spiritual growth to where they want to know how to tap into the power of God for their lives. 2 Pet 1:3-4 tells us how that happens. Before you continue on with this post, read this scripture and allow God to speak to your heart what He is saying to you about His divine power and how He has made it available to you, then what God has revealed to me might be more clearer to your understanding.
God's divine power is released to the believer through His word. (Now remember, Jesus is the Word made flesh, John 1:1&14. To know Jesus is to know the word. The more you know Him, the more He will reveal to you).
God's divine power covers any situation in life that a man/woman will encounter. There is nothing in life that a man faces that God doesn't have the answer for. But to know this divine power and how it works, you must first know Jesus. (I didn't say "know of Him or about Him", I said "you MUST KNOW HIM as your best friend". This knowing Jesus is a living relationship with Him. To know Him is to walk every step with Him. It's through this relationship that Jesus makes known His divine power that is available to all men/women who will believe Him.
But just knowing that divine power is available, will not benefit me. It's when that divine power is revealed to me and at work in my life that makes the difference. That divine power can only be at work in my life by my receiving it. The way I receive from it God is by FAITH. This is the only way that you can receive anything from God. You must believe Him to receive from Him. And the only way to believe Him is to believe what He says. To believe what He says you must believe His words. To believe His words, you must know His words, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17).
Now God has said, " My divine power has given unto you all things that pertain to life"(2Pet 1:3). That is His promise to man/woman. (Now this next thing that God has to say to us might be somewhat difficult for some to swallow. You may have to chew on this piece of meat for awhile before you swallow it.) If we are lacking anything that we need in life, understand this, it's not God's fault, it's ours. (Are you willing to accept that responsibility? You must if you are going to go God's way!). It's our lack of knowledge or the lack of doing what we know that creates needs and lack in our lives. God says, " My people perish for a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE" (Hosea 4:6). This scripture goes on to say " Because you (yes, that means you and me) have rejected knowledge, I (God) will reject you.........". Do you know God this way? The God who gives you a responsible part to play to walk in His blessings. Most of the church does not know God this way and that is why we see so much failure and people perishing, but God has revealed everything that a man needs to know how to live life successfully and fully, but He requires that man to seek Him and His ways. (Most don't!) How about you? Be one that does!
God would have you live long on the earth, but man shortens his life because of a lack of knowledge of God's word. You must understand this truth of God also, " God is not moved by our need, God is only moved by faith". God will move heaven and earth to get to the man/woman who is believing Him. The failure that is observed in the church today has nothing to do with God changing His ways and not doing something He once did. Better said, it's man not doing what Jesus did when He walked this earth as a man. Jesus believed the Father and He received from the Father. (Eph 1: 19-20). We must believe this way also if we are going to receive from the Father, and all things that pertain to life.
If you are in need today, sit down with Jesus and let Him reveal His source of supply to fulfill that need. The most important thing you'll do today will be getting to know Him, for if you do, all things are available to you. The more we know Him, the more that will be revealed to us. If you find yourself at that place not knowing what to do, then know this fact, everything you need to know is in Him (Jesus), and the more you know Him, the more you'll know what to do.
My plan today is to know Him more, how about you?
God's divine power is released to the believer through His word. (Now remember, Jesus is the Word made flesh, John 1:1&14. To know Jesus is to know the word. The more you know Him, the more He will reveal to you).
God's divine power covers any situation in life that a man/woman will encounter. There is nothing in life that a man faces that God doesn't have the answer for. But to know this divine power and how it works, you must first know Jesus. (I didn't say "know of Him or about Him", I said "you MUST KNOW HIM as your best friend". This knowing Jesus is a living relationship with Him. To know Him is to walk every step with Him. It's through this relationship that Jesus makes known His divine power that is available to all men/women who will believe Him.
But just knowing that divine power is available, will not benefit me. It's when that divine power is revealed to me and at work in my life that makes the difference. That divine power can only be at work in my life by my receiving it. The way I receive from it God is by FAITH. This is the only way that you can receive anything from God. You must believe Him to receive from Him. And the only way to believe Him is to believe what He says. To believe what He says you must believe His words. To believe His words, you must know His words, for faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Rom 10:17).
Now God has said, " My divine power has given unto you all things that pertain to life"(2Pet 1:3). That is His promise to man/woman. (Now this next thing that God has to say to us might be somewhat difficult for some to swallow. You may have to chew on this piece of meat for awhile before you swallow it.) If we are lacking anything that we need in life, understand this, it's not God's fault, it's ours. (Are you willing to accept that responsibility? You must if you are going to go God's way!). It's our lack of knowledge or the lack of doing what we know that creates needs and lack in our lives. God says, " My people perish for a LACK OF KNOWLEDGE" (Hosea 4:6). This scripture goes on to say " Because you (yes, that means you and me) have rejected knowledge, I (God) will reject you.........". Do you know God this way? The God who gives you a responsible part to play to walk in His blessings. Most of the church does not know God this way and that is why we see so much failure and people perishing, but God has revealed everything that a man needs to know how to live life successfully and fully, but He requires that man to seek Him and His ways. (Most don't!) How about you? Be one that does!
God would have you live long on the earth, but man shortens his life because of a lack of knowledge of God's word. You must understand this truth of God also, " God is not moved by our need, God is only moved by faith". God will move heaven and earth to get to the man/woman who is believing Him. The failure that is observed in the church today has nothing to do with God changing His ways and not doing something He once did. Better said, it's man not doing what Jesus did when He walked this earth as a man. Jesus believed the Father and He received from the Father. (Eph 1: 19-20). We must believe this way also if we are going to receive from the Father, and all things that pertain to life.
If you are in need today, sit down with Jesus and let Him reveal His source of supply to fulfill that need. The most important thing you'll do today will be getting to know Him, for if you do, all things are available to you. The more we know Him, the more that will be revealed to us. If you find yourself at that place not knowing what to do, then know this fact, everything you need to know is in Him (Jesus), and the more you know Him, the more you'll know what to do.
My plan today is to know Him more, how about you?
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