Do we think that GOD only speaks to "The Holy of Holiest"? What about Paul on his way to Damascus (the orneriest of ornery, just down right denying GOD was GOD)? What about those spontaneous thoughts that light you up? What about those thoughts, visions, feelings or impressions that penetrate our minds and hearts; is it just coincidence or accident? Hebrews 4:12, "The WORD of GOD is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and SPIRIT..." GOD does speak to us, and it is up to us how we respond. JUST BE QUITE AND LISTEN.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD!
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To try and prove we love someone is a definite sign that we don't really love them. Oh, we may make great sacrifices or even try to do what we think they want; but that is not love. Our love is premeditated and limited because we try to do it with our own power. True (agape) love comes from GOD. Love is infinite, beyond our own ability, spontaneous and bursts forth continually. Romans 5:5, "...it has been poured out in our hearts by the HOLY SPIRIT..." Love is not within our power, it is GOD'S power because "GOD IS LOVE"! "Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things" (1 Corinthians 13:7). If we have to think about it or prove it, IT'S NOT LOVE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Did some of our wishes not come true and do we choose to wallow in our disappointment? Do we not have a sense of JOY and contentment, and are we living in discouragement where we look for someone to blame, whether it be GOD or people around us? Habakkuk 1:2, "O'LORD how long shall I cry for help and YOU will not hear?" GOD wants us to trust HIM with everything, even our failed expectations and overwhelmed sadness. 1 John 4:8, "Anyone who does not love does not know GOD, because GOD is love." You don't have to be PERFECT to be PERFECTLY LOVED! SO WHO ARE WE GOING TO DEPEND ON TODAY, OR WHO ARE WE GOING TO BLAME?
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! When we become "result oriented" we loose the JOY of the journey. When we enjoy the journey we receive and achieve much more than "wishful results". Isaiah 32:17, "And the effect of righteousness will be peace, and the result of righteousness is quietness and trust forever." Quietness and assurance is the beautiful description of the "JOYFUL" effect of obedience to the HOLY SPIRIT. Our love and trust in GOD gives us tranquility of mind, permanent security, peace on consciousness, JOY in the HOLY SPIRIT, and we are sure (secure) and certain of everlasting life. Confidence and JOY during the journey is far greater than any "wishful results".
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! When someone wants to show their sincerity of truth, they will say; "my heart tells me". The conviction to their "belief" may be real, but their "belief" may be based upon a lie! Jeremiah 17:9, tells us the heart is deceitful, it is dependent upon conformity to the world and emotion. So when do we believe our hearts? Ezekiel 36:26-27, "I will give you a NEW heart and put a NEW SPIRIT in you..." When we accept JESUS as our LORD and SAVIOR, we are given a NEW HEART. We no longer want to conform to the ways of the world, but will be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We are changed in appearance externally because of the change in us internally; the renewing of our minds is the new heart and SPIRIT we have been given. The mind and heart can only be trusted when they are controlled by the HOLY SPIRIT, and we can love one another HEART TO HEART.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Most of us have made many bad decisions, even when we had an abundance of good information. But when we followed our "heart" (the HOLY SPIRIT) we were always at peace. Romans 8:5, "...but those who live according to the SPIRIT set their minds on the things of the SPIRIT." The "mind" is a wonderful servant, but a terrible master. We will never gain true knowledge unless our understanding GOES BELOW THE SHOULDERS.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Fire can be put out by pouring water on it; smothering from oxygen; or by neglecting to supply "fuel" to it. 1 Thessalonians 5:19, "Do not quench the SPIRIT." We are not to extinguish the influences of the HOLY SPIRIT in our hearts. When we receive the gift of the HOLY SPIRIT, we receive the gift and the GIVER, because the gift is the GIVER! When we don't "pour water" (or follow the ways of the world) on our SPIRIT, the "fire" will grow as will GOD'S influence in our lives. When we don't smother (get drawn up in the business of the world) the "fire" GOD pours out HIS love in our hearts; when we "kindle up" (read GOD'S WORD and obey the HOLY SPIRIT) we experience and know inner love, JOY and peace! Any thing that dampens and renders us "cold" and lifeless in obedience to GOD "quenches the SPIRIT", DON'T PUT OUT THE FIRE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Genesis 47:13-27, "Now there was no food in all the land, for the famine was very severe... they (Israel) settled...in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions..." The people turned to the government to deal with their economic troubles; they relinquished their harvest, money, livestock and eventually their land and even themselves. They gave it all willingly to have an easier life. What happened then? They had nothing left, so they sold themselves into slavery! Is this any different 4000 years later? Are we giving everything we have including ourselves to the government so they can redistribute and ration it, while they decide who gets how much, and what? Because of our desire for comfort and our fear of confrontation, are we making the government our MESSIAH, or is it going to turn out to be Pharaoh? When we rely on anyone other than GOD, we become slaves, NO INDEPENDENCE, NO FREEDOM! When we INHERIT something, it does not have the same value to us as to those who fought to preserve it. When we read the final verse; those who depended on GOD gained possessions, were fruitful and multiplied greatly in-spite of the economy. Do we really treasure our INDEPENDENCE AND FREEDOM, or is it just an INHERITANCE to be wasted?
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! But it doesn't tell the whole story! No matter how gifted the artist or how finite' the camera, they never (nor will they ever) capture the glory and beauty of creation. Matthew 6:29, "...That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these." To watch the sunrise and see the "darkened" images soothingly come alive with color reveals the certain Truth, that is affirmed in the strongest manner. The SPIRIT of the CREATOR is absorbed with all the senses and the business of the day seems like a distant dream. Maybe today, someone will see you "stop and smell the roses" and they will want the "Peace and Presence" that you have. A PICTURE MAY BE WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS, BUT IT DOESN'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! How many times have we Christians "backed off" from a situation because someone used the "J" word to describe us? YOU JUDGED! It is important that we understand the difference between two words discussed in the Bible. First, "To Judge" is to condemn, as though we understand someone's heart (Only GOD knows our hearts) and motives. GOD forbids our "Judging" someone, but HE desires our "Discerning"! Hebrews 5:14, "...who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." Second, "To Discern" means to separate, "to separate the good from the bad". Discerning carries no desire to see someone hurt or condemn them. True discernment doesn't condemn at all. It simply sees things as they really are, through the eyes of GOD. As we become closer to GOD we become more sensitive to sin and we want to separate ourselves from it. By knowing GOD'S WORD, we have the ability to discern things the way GOD discerns them - CLEARLY - BUT IN LOVE.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! |
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December 2015
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