Have you ever met someone that had a confidence that was so special you just sat in awe of them? Don't rely on your own understanding, (Proverbs 3:5). There is a way that seems right, but leads to death, (Proverbs 14:12). "Oh GOD, give me a sign to strengthen my faith"; such a statement indicates, that we regard what we see and feel as more dependable than Almighty GOD. JESUS said, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed...", HE was saying that we don't need so much great Faith, as the Great GOD. JESUS also taught, use what you have and you will be given more, (Luke 16:19). Have you ever experienced a "Knowing" that is beyond feelings (which are deceiving) and reason (made no sense at all)? You KNEW because you relied on GOD'S WORD; you learned to "doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs". It is the confidence of receiving the assurance of GOD'S favor beyond a normal Blessings; it is those GOOD VIBRATIONS!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD!
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Retire? Who me? From what? Does our usefulness decrease as our youthfulness decreases? Does our steadfastness in Faith of the Gospel diminish as we grow older? Does our JOY and relationship with JESUS continue to grow in passion, clarity and desire for GOD to be Glorified by sharing HIS love with others? Is there a BLINK, THE LIGHTS GO OUT and we are finished? GOD tells us, and we accept, that we have EVERLASTING LIFE! We are not servants, but friends of JESUS and we continue to live with HIM, GLORY TO GLORY. 2 Timothy 4:7, "I fought the good fight...I have kept the Faith." We have found the truly one event that defines life, EVERLASTING LIFE, and every day with JESUS is Sweeter than the day before! NOPE, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO RETIRE!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! 2 Timothy 1:7, "For GOD has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind." Are we sane and have a sound mind because the "majority" tells us so, and because we agree with them? Do the values of the world change our way of thinking? Are our minds "under the right" influence in principles and doctrines of the Gospel? When we live by the WORD of GOD, our behavior is in moderation, temperance, purity and TRUTH. It sees things in their just proportions and relationships where everything is in its proper place. Some may think "WE DREAM OF ANGELS IN A WORLD OF DEMONS" but both know our integrity. Our Courts today, say we must be of "sound mind". The majority "in their sound minds" Crucified JESUS! Who would you want on your jury? DO WE DREAM OF ANGELS?
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Luke 22:31-34, "...that he might sift you like wheat, but...that your faith may not fail..." satan goes for what we think are our strengths, where we feel invincible or at least well protected. If he can "shake" our faith (like sifting wheat) he will succeed in demoralizing us and creating disappointment within ourselves. Failure is only when our "Prideful" commitment followed by our "Prideful" expectations are not realized. A person with destroyed pride, feels useless and (without JESUS) begins living a defeated existence instead of a "Vibrant" life where each minute is a HOLY SPIRIT lead "Adventure". Where we have pride, we will always have failure. When we depend on the HOLY SPIRIT to guide us, we come back STRONGER than before because we lose some of our PRIDE and GAIN more of JESUS! When we realize we are never "completely destroyed" we will begin to live the VIBRANT ADVENTURE with the HOLY SPIRIT and we know, THIS CAN BE OUR BEST DAY EVER!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Yesterday, I witnessed a person going up to another at Church and saying, "you don't belong to this Denomination, do you? The other person replied, no. Then the first person said, "I knew it, you are too happy and joyful"! 1 Corinthians 1:11, "...is there quarreling among you...some say I follow Paul, or I follow Apollos....Is CHRIST divided?" Do we have to be a member of a certain Denomination before we are Christians? Do we have to be approved by others beliefs to have the JOY of JESUS? No ONE else died for us on the CROSS except JESUS. Putting Denominations first, leaves the CROSS emptied of ITS power. When we have JESUS others see HIM in us, but WE ARE ONLY THE INSTRUMENT, GOD IS THE SONG!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! When GOD told Abraham he was going to have a son; Abraham waited what he thought was enough time; then because GOD said it, Abraham helped out by sleeping with this wife's maid servant to have a son. Moses was told he would lead the Israelites to the Promised land; and along the way Moses killed an Egyptian abusing an Israelite. Both knew what GOD promised, TIRED TO HELP TOO MUCH, without understanding. Do we, "For the Glory of GOD" "ENABLE" people to continue their sinful life styles by giving money or whatever they ask because we "think" it is the Christian thing to do? Our actions may "enable" or even encourage them to continue to repeat their life styles because they are "bailed out" over and over. Matthew 7:6, "Do not give dogs what is holy and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you." We are to be merciful, forgiving, and slow to judge. Yet, we are to wisely discern the true character of people and if the "Gospel" or WORD of GOD is adamantly rejected we are to move on. Luke 9:5, "...whenever they do not receive you...shake the dust from your feet and move on..." Yes, my "good intentions" SOMETIMES LEADS ME TO TRY TO HELP GOD TOO MUCH.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! When bad news comes or terrible situations arise, what do we do? Do we just want to get past the problem, or do we focus on seeking GOD and knowing HIS WILL? Fasting and Prayer go together. Fasting helps us focus on the LORD by putting everything (including the problem) else aside; this includes work, relationships and pleasure. Our focus will be on GOD and not ourselves, as our thinking becomes more clear. We begin to hear GOD speak to us, about things that we think have nothing to do with our problem. We don't really care because hearing HIM is all that matters. During this time, GOD prepares us for HIS WORD by lovingly convicting us of our sins; cleansing us so nothing will interfere with our hearing HIM. Daniel 9:3, "Then I turned my face to the LORD GOD, seeking HIM by prayer and pleas for mercy with fasting...and made confessions..." When unexpected news greets us, go to GOD with Fasting and Prayer, SOMETIMES YOU JUST HAVE TO GET PERSONAL.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Bible Study or Spiritual Revelation? Man's use of "reason" in understanding the Scriptures is not supported in the Bible; and without Spiritual Revelation, the words are just words and not THE WORD. "Man's thoughts are not GOD'S thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9). "Study" with the mind, will be mans knowledge; meditation on each word or phrase will be SPIRIT lead and will create a personal relationship with GOD. When we rely on someone else "interpretation" of Scripture. How many times have we heard "feeble" attempts to describe "Upon on this Rock I build MY Church"? Some say, it is JESUS, others say it is Peter. Meditate on this, could it be THE ROCK is Revelation of the TRUTH, GOD revealing the TRUTH through a personal relationship so it is no longer a mystery? Isaiah 11:2, "And the SPIRIT of the LORD shall rest upon him, the SPIRIT of wisdom and understanding, the SPIRIT of counsel..." Ask the HOLY SPIRIT to read and meditate with you and revelations will come (it is promised) the TRUTH we so passionately seek. If we don't, it's NO WONDER WE DON'T GET ANYTHING FROM THE BIBLE! ABUNDANT REVELATIONS TODAY!
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! Do we equate having JOY as being happy? Happiness comes from a worldly "happening"; while JOY is a Gift from GOD by HIS Grace. Have you ever been so confident of your well being, success and actually possessing all of your desires that you become steadfast and immovable in your Faith? To be filled with JOY is to go beyond the worldly "happenings" into the Spiritual Revelations. JOY is to be confident and steadfast in knowing GOD'S heart's desire for us and to know HIS promises. GOD has promised ever so great things to us and it gives HIM great JOY (as well as we are given the same JOY), knowing we will inquire that HE does them for us. JOY is the fulfillment of HIS inspiration to us, that we possess the desires of HIS heart which become the desires of our heart. This JOY is the revelation of HIS love and the confidence of our Salvation. Romans 15:13, "May the GOD of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing...so by power of the HOLY SPIRIT may abound in you." GOD knew we would want to see those promises come true and it gave HIM great JOY. That's what happens WHEN YOU MAKE A PROMISE.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, describes what Love is and what it is not. Patient and Kind are reflections of each other. It is like a straight beam of light striking a prism and being reflected in many directions with multitudes of colors. Patience shows itself in kind thoughts, kind words and kind deeds although we are the object (the beam coming in) of the sins of others against us. Kindness is the reflection of light (or of patience) as its infinite forms go beyond our being injured, beyond ourselves to include everything in our realm. Kindness is much more than a response to sins against us (like that of Patience); it means to do good to others that is not dependent on their character, conduct or responses to you. Where patience deals with ourselves, kindness excludes no one. This scripture is directed at us and GOD. Do we really need patience ourselves if we absolutely trust and depend on GOD for everything? How can we be offended when we have been forgiven so much and how can we become anxious if know GOD will take care of everything. GOD is the ONE who is patient not us. We are to reflect HIS loving kindness to others like the light striking the prism. Love is described by what it is and completes its own definition by what it is not. It is like a dark background giving greater distinction and vividness to a lighter object when it is held up against it. Perhaps, IT IS WHAT IT IS, AND WHAT IT IS NOT TOO.
Psalm 139: 23-24 Isaiah 43:1 GOD IS GOD! |
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December 2015
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