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May 30 Just Jump InLuke 9:61, "I will follow You Lord, but. "
May 29 Implanted WordJames 1:21b, "in humility receive the word implanted which is able to save your souls." I've always had a hard time getting rid of things in my life. Breaking down habits that have existed for a very long time. Most of these things come from what the bible refers to as thought patterns that have been built up in our minds through experiences and various teachings we're had throughout many years. If we grew up in an alcoholic home for instance, you would probably drink at an early age. Drinking would become the norm to you and something that you would automatically do in certain situations because that's what you were taught , either directly or indirectly. Drinking becomes a stronghold in your mind, so every time certain things occur, you react with a drink. These reactions are based on learned habits which are stored in your brain, or, what the Apostle Paul referred to as strongholds. Most people don't even realize why they do certain things, they just do them. The word of God is the answer, but not in our minds. That's where most of us miss it. We listen and hear the word with our ears. We memorize it and store it in our minds but it doesn't help us. The reason it doesn't help us is that we never get it past our minds and into our heart. It never gets to fertile soil (heart or our spirit). The only why for it to bring forth fruit is to get it deep within us to a place where the Holy Spirit dwells. Once this happens He breathes the breath of life into it and it becomes alive. When the word is alive, and not just words on a page, concepts or ideas, then it can do it's work. Only then can it work from the inside out to change us. How is this accomplished? By meditating on the word. Taking a scripture that God has placed on your heart and meditating on it over and over until it becomes real to you. Saying it and thinking it over and over and asking God to reveal the truth in it until it becomes so real to you that there is no memorization involved but just life giving water flowing out of your spirit into your brain. This is what will tear down strongholds and give you new thought patterns and when that happens, you will be able to change your habits. I pray that the word be implanted today in your hearts and that the living word would change your heart and lives forever. God Bless! May 28 Be Quiet
May 27 By His Word James 1:18, " In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth."
We must first understand that it was His will that we were brought forth. Brought forth in the greek means to beget, to bring forth, or birth, as a female give life through her body. So we must understand that none of us are mistakes. No matter what the physical circumstances that brought each one of us into this world, we must understand that it was His will to birth us, or, to give us life. I'm sure that I'm talking to some that might have been brought forth out of a rape, or through incest. Maybe you were brought forth by two people just having sex with no real relationship and you were brought up by a single parent. Maybe you were brought up by two loving parents in a wonderful home. God does not cause these things to happen. The reasons that brought you here were not God's doing, but, the way you got here is God's will. If He didn't want you to be born you would not have been born. He is ultimately the only one who gives life. All God can give you is life. That is His will. You might say, "Why does He put me through the things in life that I'm going through?" The things we go through in life are by our own choices in life. The choices that we make, that He gave us free will to make. That's were most of our problems lie. God's will for us is to live abundant lives while we're here and His word can do nothing but bring forth that life. His word is the seed by which all new life is birthed. I can't answer your questions about the things in your life, but I can tell you that if you want your life to change there is only one way to do it, God's word. Not a church or a pastor, not your spouse or parents. Not your mother or father but God's word. His will for you is to experience life, and if you're not, I encourage you to go to God's word today. It won't take long before you will start to feel His presence and all the pains will start lifting. As one songwriter said, " Our God is and awesome God!" Try Him today. You won't be dissapointed! May 26 How Can They Hear? Romans 10:14, " How can they call upon Him in whom they have not believed (No faith)? And how can they believe (Have faith) in Him whom they have not heard? And how should they hear without a preacher (proclaimer)?"
Romans 10:17, " So faith comes from hearing (a proclaimer), and hearing (understanding) from the word of God."
First, understand that the word preacher in verse 14 actually means proclaimer. Someone who proclaims the gospel to others. This is the great commission and this is what we were all told to do. Because of the translation into preacher, a lot of people believe that it's the pastor's job to tell every one. No the pastor's job according to Ephesians 4:11 is to build up the saints and teach them. Everyone has the responsibility to tell others about Christ. Why is this so important? Because faith in someone's heart, the very faith needed to call upon the name of the Lord, comes from, #1 hearing. This word means to hear with your ear. Sound waves coming in and striking the eardrum. That's where faith starts. That is the job of all christians. Telling people about the Lord Jesus is essential if people are to be evangelized and brought to a saving knowledge of Jesus. But it only starts there. The second word, hearing, actually means to understand with ones heart. To understand the subject matter being spoken. So, faith comes from actually hearing the word of God spoken, and understanding comes from the word of God.
What is the practical application? We must continue to tell people about Jesus because we have all found that most people don't understand the first time, second, third, fourth, or even the hundreth time. We must never give up. We must continue to share the gospel in different ways. Soon or a later, the gate to that persons heart will open and the person will understand the truth. When that happens they will fall on their knees and call upon the Lord. We don't have the power to get them to call upon the Lord. The only power we have been given is to preach, or proclaim the gospel until God's word has His perfect way with their heart. It's really all up to Him. Tell somebody about the Lord today. Proclaim Him among the people. It's not our job to bring them to the Lord, that's His job. All we were ever told to do is to tell them. Be obedient to His word today and watch His blessings flow into your life. God Bless and I pray you have a wonderful holiday! May 23 Worries of the World Matthew 13:22, " And the one on whom seed was sown among the thorns, this is the man who hears the word, and the worries of the world and the deceitfullness of riches choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
I want to concentrate today on the worries of the world that choke out the word. I believe that, even though He's talking about all, or any worries, the ones that get us the most are the every day needs that we have. We always concentrate on the big items when we're praying but have a tendency to expect that it's our jobs to take care of the everyday needs. Things like what should we wear or where is the next meal cominng from? We never trust God for these things. We trust our jobs, or SSI, retirement or any other sources of income, but not God. When He sent His disciples out He told them not to take anything with them and we never see any where throughout the scripture where any of them were hurting for the daily things they needed to live. So we worry all the time. We worry about everything. The past, the future, our vehicles, our kids, our churches, our communities, the weather, the dog, and I'm sure you get the drift. So, what exactly is worry? That's simple. It's a lack of trust. Lack of trust in whom? Lack of trust in whomever your source is. You see worry is simply not trusting in God. When His word is choked we have no faith. Faith comes from the word of God and when that word gets choked out by simple worries or no trust in Him then there is no faith. This whole parable has to do with faith because every promise of God comes from faith in the promise. Faith is how you receive anything from God. So if we're worried about everything in life we simple don't have any faith. That's real simple. You might get offended with me and say, " I have plenty of faith." Then why are you so worried about everything? Why are you always scared and fearful of every situation? If God is in control of our lives, we must learn His word and let it take over inside of us for even the smallest details. If we will trust in Him fully we will be filled with more peace then we've ever experienced. He will never leave us or forsake us. He is a good God and He loves us very much. I encourage everyone that's reading this to take all the cares of the world that are in front of you today and give them to the Lord. You'll feel much better and you'll start to see miracles in your life. Most of all, you'll start seeing fruit in your life and that's what it's all about. Don't worry, be happy!! May 22 Quarrels Proverbs 20:3, " Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, but a fool will quarrel.
Titus 3:9, "Shun foolish controversies and genealogies and strife and disputes about the law; for they are unprofitable and worthless."
What are denominations? Are you a member of a denomination? You might say, "I'm a member of a non-denominational church." All that means is you're a member of a denomination that doesn't have a name and wants to be able to put down denominations. (OUCH) The valid question, no matter what you're a part of should be, "What is a denomination?" It's simple. In the early church there were no denominations, or groups that had gone off by themselves. Everyone focused on the life and works of Christ. His life, death, and ressurection were the only thing that people needed to know because they were they main issues in ones life. Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that God raised Him from the dead? If you did you were considered saved and a member of the christian church. What happened? God's word was written by inspired writers. That's were all the trouble started. Men, who had to be somebody, or had to have control, started arguing and bringing up controversy over doctrines of the bible. Not the main issues that we already discussed, but issues that people disagreed on. Because everyone had to be right this group split off of this group. Then this group split off of that group. This individual was in a church but thought he, or they, could do it, or knew it better then the person God had placed in the leadership position. They started to spread controversy about certain issues and got everyone to believe that they were right, so the stronger personality usually won out and, you got it, a new group, or denomination was formed. Then, people got tired of all the rules that they had in a particular denomination, or group of people, and they decided to become non-denominational. Same thing, but nothing more then another attempt to have it their own way, only this time with out any particular rules. Some of these people who started a new group were very wonderful men and women and are still remembered today for the love and devotion they had to Jesus. But what happened was very unprofitable. Why? Because the unity that is so important to the church of Jesus Christ was ripped apart. The body of Christ was broken apart. What we see now is the body operating seperately throughout the world, which has stripped the church of her power. I weep because of all the pastors that won't associate with other churches and other pastors. I weep when I see groups of people that lift themselves above other people as if they are better. So much strife and controversy throughout the body of Christ. No wonder the enemy is having a field day with our country and our families. He's united and we're not. His army is working together to bring in darkness but we're to busy fighting each other. So we see our family breaking down, our children rebelling, our nation going to hell in a hand basket and we want to point blame at everyone we think is responsible. I've got it!! Maybe we should just go start a new group somewhere! Sounds good, doesn't it? May 20 Walk by Faith 2 Corinthians 5:7, " For we walk by faith, not by sight."
The word of God continually tells us that the way to a sucessful Christian life is through faith. In fact, the greatest gift of all, salvation itself, comes through faith. I want to concentrate today, not on what faith is, but what it isn't. We have 5 sences into the physical world that we live in. We are able to taste, touch, smell, hear and see. These are gates into the physical world by which the physical world is explained to us. We also have gates into the spiritual world that lives in us. Faith is the main gate. So we have 5 gates to explain the physical world we live in, and faith, which is a gate that explains the spiritual world that lives in us. So to explain faith what we have to understand is that if our faith is placed on anything or anybody in this world, that faith will eventually be destroyed. Why? Because everything that was created in this world will eventually go back to the ground from which it came. Because of us putting our faith in things in this world, our faith is destroyed. The people and things that we put our trust in will eventually hurt us and dissapoint us. They will bring shame and guilt into our life and eventually will allow the greatest enemy to real faith there is, fear. We are afraid to put our trust in anything or anybody because we've been hurt. For example, we are made at God and want nothing to do with Him because of what happened to us in a church. We put our trust in people and they left us down. So it's God's fault, right? The problem is that we had faith, but not in God. But because of the hurts and pains we had inflicted on us by imperfect people, we're now afraid to trust again. That's exactly what the enemy wants, you to be afraid. We get in personal relationships and someone hurts us so we are afraid to trust any one any more. That's just what the enemy wants. He wants us to be afraid because , fear is not only the opposite of faith, but fear paralyzes your faith. What is the answer? We must realize that people are imperfect and turn our faith inwards to things which are not of this physical world. If you can analyze, with your sences, whatever it is you have faith in, be careful. Only when you can't see or understand the promise of God are you walking in true faith. When you're walking in faith towards God's Word alone, you are walking in true faith. "Heaven and eath shall pass away but My word will endure forever." If you have faith in the things that live inside of you in a spiritual realm you will never be afraid and you will never be dissapointed. God's love for you will never fail. That's truth that will change your life. I pray that we would all take a deep look at what we have our faith in and allow God's word to have it's perfect result in us. We will never again be dissapointed. May 19 Out of the Wreck I shall Rise Romans 8:35, " Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine or nakedness, or peril or sword? None of us in this world are immune from the problems of this world. None of us are able to walk trouble free. Don't buy into the gospel that some preach, " just receive Jesus and your life will be worry and trouble free. You'll have a wonderful life and nothing bad will ever happen." If you buy into this then the only answer you will get when bad things come is, "well, you must have done something to deserve it, or, it's God's plan for your life." Hogwash!! God doesn't cause all the bad things in life to happen. They happen simply because we live in a fallen world that is full of death and decay. You might have been taught, "Well, God disciplines us!" Of course He does. He does because He loves us. But He doesn't cause things to come that hurt us or our families. Don't buy into that lie. On the other hand, He tells us that tribulations and persecutions are going to come. Why not? They came to Him every day. What He does tell us is that no matter what comes upon us nothing can separate us from His Father's love. Whether the trials and tribulations are because of your own decisions or not. He still loves all of His creation. Whether you're addicted to cocaine or going to church every day of the week. Whether you are into the things of the world or help people every day. Whether you have your act all together or you are falling apart. Whether you love Him or not, He still loves you with an everlasting love. He created you and Jesus died for you. He wants relationship with you more then anything, simply because that's why He created you. So no matter what trial or persecution you're going through in your life right now, no matter how naked or hungry you are, or no matter what stupid things you have done, God still loves you. That's right! He loves me, but more importantly, He loves you, right where you're at. So, wherever you are today and no matter what's going on in your life just call out to Him. He'll cover you with His arms and fill you with His presence. He's a good God and He loves you, no matter what! May 17 Family Last night my younger daughter, Katie, graduated from Vidalia High School. It was a pleasant evening and the atmosphere was great. Parents and grandparents with anticipation of that special one making it through high school. Everything went real well until the last one recieved their diploma. It started to rain, not real bad, just a drizzle. The activities continued on the field and all the students threw thier caps into the air. The celebration was on. And then, all of a sudden, the clouds unleashed a massive wall of rain. It started raining so hard you couldn't even see in front of you. Earlier, the speeches by various students were all about class unity and how every classmate was so special and had contributed to this moment. I was thinking how the speeches were the same as in my day, and probably just like your high scool graduation speeches. You know, "your all so special to me." Those of us that were there know the shallowness of those words. We were all there. Everyone in their own groups and some people that hardly even got talked to, much less associated with because of social status, color, looks and a variety of different reasons we have to justify our actions. You know what I'm talking about. But now, all the expensive hair that seperates was gone. All the makeup and all the dignity or piousness completely gone. Everyone just soaked to the bone and trying to find shelter with whoever was near them at the time. Everyone with all social barriers stripped away and nothing left, not even their dignity. It was a Blast! What a memory. It will last in everyone's mind long after most of the friendships and other memories are gone. One young lady said, " this is truly a night to remember." Amen! I'm sure that there were a lot of people who spoke to classmates they never talked to before as we truly experienced something together. After the shock was over everyone laughed and cried together with whoever they wound up with. It was a blessing. Maybe we should plan all of our future graduations out side during the rainy season. What do you think? May 16 Servants Matthew 20:28, "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."
There are a lot of people in our churches today that miss the basic point of walking a christian life. We have been raised to think that you go to church one time a week and that's our duty. As long as we go to church, we're okay. This is not what Jesus taught and certainly not what he demonstrated. He was a servant of the people. He didn't raise himself up and put himself on another level from everyone else. His main mission was to serve people and spread the love and compassion of His Father. Oh, how we've missed it! We have ministers today that think they are somebody special and raise themselves up above the people. We have some that want to be somebody in the church but don't want to do anything for the church. I'm blessed to have numerous ones in my church who do serve with a pure heart. I believe some of the finest people in the kingdom serve at New Life Church, but I've met a lot more over the years that don't have a clue. I can't tell you the number of people who have come to my church and wanted me to raise them up in the ministry. "Oh, we have a call on our lives. What can we do to help you. Let us serve you. God has placed us here!!" I've heard all kind of things but they all have the same results. I tell them that I really could use their help. I need someone of their caliber and I've been praying for someone to come and help me. I've been looking for someone to raise up. They say, "Oh just tell us how we can serve this church!!" They're ready to preach that Sunday or minister up in front of the people. But not ONE of them has ever stayed when I tell them, "I really need someone to clean the bathrooms every week." ZOOM, ZOOM!! Just like a Mazda they turn and run out the door. Brothers and sisters, we have been called to serve. Put your hands to whatever is available in your local church and do it. Jesus said that those who are faithful with the small things he would give more to. If we would all learn to just do what's put in front of us with all our heart God would bless it. Everyone needs to be doing something in their local bodies. There is no small task in the body of Christ so I encourage you, ask your pastor what he needs you to do and then do it unto God. Maybe it's washing people's feet. Do it like Jesus did. Give your life for others. That's where the blessings of God rest. May 15 Work it Out Philippians 2:12, " Work out your salvation with fear and trembling."
We must first realize that there is nothing we can do to receive salvation. It is a free gift of God and doesn't come by anything we do initially, or, along the way. We simply have the faith to believe, and God has given us all a measure of faith, and His grace is poured out upon us. We become the "righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We become a new creature in Christ Jesus. Everything given to us is by God's sovereign plan. People say there's nothing free in life but the most important thing you'll ever receive is absolutely free. There is no questions about this. The question is, " what do we do with God's gift after we get it?" Let's say you are given a brand new sports car. It's the most beautiful thing you've ever seen. You park it in the driveway and leave it sit there and continue to walk uptown everyday. No one would ever see it. You might tell them you have it but all they would say is, "Sure you do." You might even invite them home (church) to see it but you never use it. Paul says that after we get it we must work it out. Even though it's a free gift, it's our responsibility to take it out and use it. It's our responsibility to work it out. Every situation, good or bad, gives us the opportunity to grow into it and change our lives. If we remain the same miserable, grouchy person who is set on having thier own way most of the time (and you didn't think I knew you that well) the world will never see Jesus. We were given His free gift so we could change. He wants you to take the car out and drive it. Put the top down and wax it so that it shines. Then when you drive through town, no one will see you, but they will see the car (Jesus). They will see God's grace in action and will be drawn to it. That's what Paul was talking about. Work it out in every situation and you'll bring glory to God. His salvation will be something tangible in your life and people around you will want it. When they ask for it all you have to do is let them receive it. After all, it's a free gift. May 14 Rend the Heavens Isaiah 64:1, " Oh that thou wouldst rend the heavens and come down."
God has a characterictic of being omnipresent. His glory is with us everywhere, at all times, because He is spirit (John 4). There is no where you can go that He is not there. That's why He said, " I will never leave you nor forsake you." He is always present, at least in an unseen realm. But Isaiah has seen His manifest presence (read Isaiah 6). He's seen Him and he knows the power of His glory. At this point in his life he is looking at God's children and seeing all their rebellion towards God (kind of like us today). He sees the depravity and the wretchedness of man and falls on his knees and cries out to a holy God. He knows there's something better. He knows that if God would split the spiritual realm and come to the physical realm with His manifest glory, the people, like him, would fall on their knees and cry out, "Woe is me!" We need God's presence in our churches today. We have been far to long without Him in our churches, or , with Him being there but making Him sit on the front row and observe what we have planned. We need His glory to come in, drop us to our knees and change us deep within so that we have no problem saying to Him, as a church and individually, in all sincerity of heart, "Here I am, send me." May 13 Weapons of the Word Mark 4:24, " Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides."
We always hear about our weapons that we have in Christ, or how we can stand strong in certain situations or overcome things in our life. If you're like me you have times when you just feel like throwing it all down and saying, "WOW, how did that happen?" We all seem to have times in our life when we just feel helpless. We know that God is there but we can't seem to find Him. The answer is in this scripture. We need to be armed and dangerous. We become armed by absorbing the word of God. It is our spiritual amnuition so to speak. If you were in a battle and you only had a couple of bullets, you would eventually lose. But if you had an unlimited supply you would be strong enough to stand through the onslaught of your enemies. This is the word of God. The more we read it and hear it, the more it arms us. But then we have to use it. Some of us are not dangerous because we are not armed and some of us are armed but not dangerous. The only way to stand firm throughout all times of our lives is to stay in the word (armed) and use it when the things of this world come against us (dangerous). I pray that we would all stay in the word and get in the battle. It's time to take back what the enemy has stolen, don't you think? May 12 Divine Nature 2 Peter:4, " For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."
I always hear people say, "it's okay to have these things in my life. After all I'm not perfect, only Christ was." This way of thinking is one of the most subtle ways Satan deceives most of us. While it may be true that we can't live a perfect life, we must understand that we have the promise of God that we can walk through this world with God's divine nature. This is huge!! Think about it. We have been given everything we need to walk just like Jesus did. God has given us free gifts that allow us to carry His glory to the hurting world around us. Grace, Righteousness, forgiveness, love, and power. That's right all these things are free gifts from the Father so we need to stop saying we can't be perfect and start walking in the perfection He's given us. We have the ability, not on any of our own merits, but by His promises, to walk just as Jesus did on this earth. Preaching the Gospel, proclaiming freedom to the captives, opening the eyes of the blind, healing the brokenhearted and proclaiming the favorable year of the Lord. We all need to stop making excuses why we can't and start walking with His great and precious promises in our life. This is how you escape the corruption in the world. This is how we walk in the divine nature of God. Stop making excuses and start walking and talking Jesus with every breath. Do it today. It's one of God's greatest pormises!! |
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