We may not understand how electricity works, but it doesn't stop us from "flipping" the switch and using it. Romans 8:2, "...the SPIRIT of life has set you free..." Is the Law a specific set of rules to follow in order to have Salvation? Does evil use the "law" for its own purposes? And because we lack understanding we allow evil to misrepresent the Gospel; to confuse and confound us, to tarnish our hope and draw us back into the world. When we realize that "the law" is a principle or influence upon us and that GOD'S POWER is greater than the law, we are SET FREE with JOY, PEACE AND SALVATION. YES, THE HOLY SPIRIT accomplishes what the "law" could not do; it sets us free with UNINHIBITED ACCESS TO GOD. All we have to do is accept this FREEDOM, even though, WE MAY NOT UNDERSTAND HOW IT WORKS
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Do you really think JESUS was focusing on the PAIN OF THE CROSS when HE died for us, or was it something much more? Was the PAIN HE was experiencing to be a distraction from the MAGNIFICENT SPLENDOR, WHICH IS THE ENJOYMENT OF GOD HIMSELF? Is "looking beyond the CROSS" looking at future promises, or can we too experience the MAGNIFICENT SPLENDOR OF THE ENJOYMENT OF GOD HIMSELF? Romans 8:18, "...sufferings cannot compare to the Glory revealed..." Do we focus on the pain, which distracts us from the SPLENDOR of GOD'S PRESENCE now? WHERE DO WE CHOOSE TO LIVE; IN HEAVEN OR HELL?
Pain is of the world, with worldly desires; you have no pain or unfulfilled desires in HEAVEN. Revelation 21:4-6, "...for the world and its evil and pain are gone forever...." You can have all of this now for I am your GOD, and you are MY child. IT IS DONE, THIS IS WHAT GOD SAID!
Hebrews 3:15, "When you hear MY VOICE..." When we hear GOD'S VOICE, don't say o.k. but how are YOU going to do this or that; when we hear HIS VOICE, don't respond with, I just don't see how this can be done with all of my responsibilities that "has" to be done. "MY VOICE, brings rest; I will give you dreams and visions of WHO I AM". "MY WORDS are not burdensome, MY WORDS bring life". When you hear MY VOICE, simply say, "Yes, LORD".
Love is not yours or mine; it is not learned, acquired or taught. LOVE IS BEGOTTEN! Begotten is the "Same As", not created, THE SAME. Just as JESUS is the BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD, "THE SAME AS". When we come into the Presence of JESUS, we know and have HIS LOVE, "THE SAME LOVE". The Only Love, for HIM, for Others, and for Ourselves. JESUS IN US, AND US IN JESUS, "THE SAME"! 2 Timothy 2:13, "...HE remains faithful, for HE cannot deny HIMSELF." WITHOUT US GOD HAS NO PLEASURE, because HE is in US, and we are in HIM; LOVE IS BEGOTTEN.
GOD uses people who are not great in the eyes of the world to show the "wonders" of HIS CHARACTER AND LOVE. The presence of the HOLY SPIRIT within us brings Praise in the magnificent presence of GOD. Our Faith brings us to a place and time where we are HIGHLY FAVORED by HIS GRACE; and in this place we are moved to PRAISE HIM CONTINUOUSLY. Luke 1:48, "...now all generations will called me Blessed." How do we want to be remembered; As someone "good" at what they did, OR AS SOMEONE WHO WAS BLESSED IN ALL WE DID IN LOVING THE LORD.
Just as our bodies need food and drink to be nourished; so does our SOUL and SPIRIT need to be nourished. Communion is the time when we take ordinary bread and wine, and Give Thanks to GOD and ask HIM TO BLESS IT. JESUS said, during this time I will be with you. Our Communion with GOD is BY THE GRACE OF GOD! Communion reveals to us THE CHARACTER AND PRESENCE OF GOD while at the same time it reveals to us THE CHARACTER OF OURSELVES. Communion REVEALS knowledge of GOD and gives REVELATION of man to himself; REVELATION OF GOD WITH US AND GOD IN US. GOD TO GOD REVELATION! We give THANKS and ask GOD to Bless our Communion by HIS GRACE and HE gives REVELATION IN HIS PRESENCE. Have you ever had such a SPECIAL AWARENESS of CHRIST during COMMUNION; something so SPECIAL, you knew it was HIM? Why not have CONTINUAL COMMUNION and have HIS PRESENCE CONTINUALLY? Matthew 26:26, "...for the forgiveness of sins." Perhaps at our death and Communion we seek to be even CLOSER TO GOD, JUST AS JESUS DID. Is that because we all need SOUL FOOD?
GOD already knows all about us; we need to know more about HIM. Pleasing GOD is not about spending our time accomplishing 1001 legalistic rules only to break them tomorrow. It is not a relationship on rules that will make us like JESUS, it's the relationship on LOVE. LOVE is the continual communion with HIS SPIRIT within YOU (maybe that's what GOD means by constant prayer). When will we learn that our Purpose is to Please GOD, and we Please GOD by how we SPEND OUR TIME. There is no limit to GOD'S PERFECTION so there can be NO LIMIT TO THE TIME WE SPEND WITH HIM. It is the "fullness" of Faith that brings us into the FULLNESS OF CHRIST (Ephesians 4:13). How are we going to spend our day; IN QUIET TIME?
The ultimate reaction to anything, is no reaction at all! Any time an event causes us to over react with either exultation or panic stricken fear, we are not where we should be with GOD! In HIS PRESENCE we clearly see all events in their true meaning, it is like knowing the answer before the event occurs.Psalm 27:11, "Teach me YOUR ways O' LORD..." In HIS Presence, we DON'T GET TOO EXCITED about "good news" and we DON'T GET TOO DOWN on b. ad news, because we Trust GOD in ALL THINGS.
There was a sermon on "Not Enough Time for GOD". The point was set time aside for GOD each day. Compute time to sleep, time at work, commuting drive time, time with family, food and you will have somewhere around an extra 4 to 5 hours. Where is the admiration and affection to come before the beautiful, gracious and benevolent CHARACTER OF GOD? Communing with GOD excites the affections of the Heart; so much so that there is nothing else you would rather do! You involve GOD in everything you do. Don't you absolutely cherish any and all the time with GOD. Psalm 27:4, "...that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire of HIM." Once you have experienced HIS Presence you want HIM you all of the time! You will no longer "work HIM in" to your day, or "allocate HIM time" and you certainly WON'T HAVE TO DO THE MATH. AMEN! (Do you all get as excited as I do, when GOD makes everything so clear?)
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About the Author and writerThe writer for our daily devotionals wishes to remain anonymous in regard to his work, giving instead Glory to the Author. Archives
December 2015
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