Sheep Don’t But(t)

Show and tell is always a favorite of school children.  We get satisfaction sharing our treasures and the things that give us pleasure with others.  However, God’s kingdom is set up exactly opposite: Tell and show. We speak faith prayers and then the answer is shown.

Jesus taught this amazing principle in Mark 11:23-25:  “Whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you shall have them.”  Notice the order.  First you believe you receive them before you get them.  Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things unseen.  By faith we are sure it has been granted before the answer appears.  This confidence is strongly reiterated in 1 John 5:14-15, “if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

Let’s see how this principle applies to making prayers of faith.  Someone may pray for healing according to the Word “by His stripes I am healed,” but then say the pain is still there.  Our words have the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21).  The “but” statement comes from the physical and overrides the spiritual truth of the prayer for healing.  Things of God are spirit and truth, they come to our spirit, and then the spiritual truth in the heart and declared by the lips impacts the physical.  It is the same foundation upon which we were saved.  We receive the truth that Jesus’ death and resurrection justifies us (it is finished meaning every sin is paid for in full), and establish this reality of salvation by declaring with our lips, “Jesus is Lord.”  We willingly acknowledge He owns us and we become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), even if we don’t “feel” any change.  However, this spiritual truth produces new life in us as we receive it and begin to walk it out in faith.  Life flows from the spiritual to the physical.

Consider the application of this principle in the sheep and goats in the Matthew 25 explanation of judgment. Jesus separated the sheep from the goats.  Clearly the main difference was what each one did and did not do to others.  The goats saw the need but had an excuse. Their “but” was more persuasive than the Word that ordered them to love others as themselves. On His right hand, the sheep didn’t “but,” and responded with love and compassion to those in need.

Imitate the sheep attitude by refusing to let the physical excuses and reasonings stop us from holding fast our confession of faith or obedience to God.   I am still saved and born again even if I fail to do everything right.  I am healed and my needs are met because of God’s faithful promise not because my physical sensations.  They will follow.  Don’t let physical input nullify your faith confession.  James points out that a double minded man should not think that he will receive.  Faith and patience inherit the promises.  

God’s Word is yes and amen.  We receive it by giving thanks (Philippians 4:6 make supplication with thanksgiving) and establish this truth by our speaking His words rather than saying the thoughts and feelings of our fallen nature.  Sheep don’t but.

Why Your Words Talk

 God’s Word is alive! His words are active and do things according to Hebrews 4:12,  The words from His mouth accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 55:11).  Since we are created in the image and likeness of God, it follows that  this same principle operates in your words and my words.  Our words are never void of power.

There are, however, two sides to this coin.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue, (Proverbs 18:21) and we will eat the fruit of what we. speak.  We can make positive things happen with our words, but speaking negatively will open the door for the enemy to perform the evil spoken. Job explained that the evil he feared (and spoke) came upon him.

  Jesus revealed that out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. So when we say “I think I am getting a cold” that is what we believe in our heart and we have just allowed that to happen. However, on the other hand, declaring that God “renews my strength like the eagles” (Psalm 103:5} or that the Holy Sprit gives life to my body just like He raised Jesus from the dead (Romans 8:11)  that confession releases His power and produces physical health.

Words are containers that are able to hold the spiritual power and authority that the speaker puts in them. That is why God gave us the Word of God and sent Jesus to demonstrate what the Word does.  God spoke, “let there be light” and creative power went forth.  In Psalm 107:20 it declares He sent forth His Word and healed them.  Jesus spoke that the demon “be gone “ and he fled.  healed.  Obviously, these actions were in the heart of God who expressed them by speaking His words.  

Jesus is the exact image of God the Father“according to Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3.  This Jesus and the name of Jesus contains” the heart of the loving Father and all His attributes. It follows that the spoken name of “Jesus,” which is the name above all names, releases the authority and attributes of God over every other force or circumstance.

Someone once asked God why He wanted us to praise Him so much because it sounds almost egotistical.  The Lord answered, “When you praise, whatever you praise Me for, that you allow Me to do for you.” When two agree it will come to pass.  Amos says, “How can two walk together unless they agree.”

The great confession or declaration is that Jesus has redeemed us from all the consequences of sin.  We are saved according to Romans 10:8-10 by the confession of our mouth, being justified by believing in our heart that God raised Jesus from the dead (meaning every sin which deserves death has been completely paid for).  We declare Jesus over our problems and then our real job is to hold fast to that confession that He is Lord by speaking words that declare He rules over every enemy.

Jesus” message in the Gospels was (and therefore IS absolutely true)  that the kingdom of God has come.”  Therefore, it makes sense since we know that awesome truth, that He reigns over my needs ( met by His riches in glory Philippians 4:19), heals my sickness and pains (by His stripes I am healed Isaiah 53:4 and Psalm 103 Bless the Lord, O my soul, forget not His benefits, who heals all your diseases) that we should agree with His Word by speaking this truth also.

Your words talk.  They carry life or death. They release God’s power when they are consistent to the Word, and reject His power when they disagree.  

Holy Spirit, teaches us to agree with Your Word in our hearts and boldly speak them into existence over all our situations.  Stop us when we say wrong words which are contrary to God’s promises.  You make my words talk!

Be Silent

 My soul, wait in silence for God only, for my hope is from Him.  He only is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold; I shall not be shaken.  Psalm 62:5.  

Have you noticed how many people avoid being silent, constantly being on their cell phones,  having to have some music playing, watching something on Tik-tok, checking Facebook or other social media, or having to be entertained by trivial programs with no redeeming value?  Something has to be blaring all the time.  Some can’t even eat a meal without the television being on.  People have difficulty shutting off the distractions and just being silent.

This consuming wandering in the wilderness takes up their time and steals the opportunity to focus on reality, time to appreciate the beauty or glory of nature, or even to consider the ultimate meaning and purpose of life.  Psalm 46 calls out, “Be still and know that I am God.”

In the parable of the wedding feast, the majority of those invited had worldly excuses rather than accepting the invitation to come to the master’s banquet.  Psalm 65:4 declares “How blessed is the one whom You choose and bring near to You to dwell in Your courts.”  Jesus reminds us that we did not choose Him, He chose us. He desires us to be with Him, even to be where He is (John 17:24) to share His glory forever.

Jesus invites us to “Come to Me” and “learn from Me” rather than carry our heavy burdens alone. Yet the average person spends far greater time and effort on mundane pursuits than on living by or reflecting on eternal purpose, even though our choices in this lifetime on earth establishes our position forever.  Nothing of eternal significance happens “unless the Lord builds the house.”  Likewise, the disciples and the 120 in the upper room were told to wait until they were clothed with power from on high before they were to go. Wait in silence for God to fill the cup.

Jesus called the man a fool, who built bigger barns for his abundant crop but was not rich toward God.  He also instructs us to lay up our treasures in heaven and promises rewards for simple things like giving a child a cup of water.  God has, according to Ephesians 2:10, prepared good works beforehand  “that we should walk in them.”  There is work to do in which God has given and desires to partner (take My yoke)  with us to do. Romans 8 says those led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.  We can do nothing of value unless we take time to come to Him and wait on Him to direct us.

In returning and rest shall you be saved (be made whole), in quietness and confidence shall be your strength. Isaiah 30:15.  He leads me by still waters, He restores my soul. Psalm 23:3  Amazing transformation and equipping happens as we are with the Lord.  

As Ecclesiastes 5 instructs, when you come to God let your words be few.  Practice being silent before Him.  Close the door on distractions, quietly wait and enjoy being with Him.

Wanted: Dead or Alive

The heart of God desires and treasures you. You are the apple of His eye, the one in whom He delights.  You are wanted, regardless of whatever condition your heart is in, because He is love.   Notice His perfect plan which is to have each person saved from the consequences of sin and brought into knowing Him and His love forever, as declared in 1 Timothy 2:3-4 , “This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.”   

Supernatural blessings are available and given to each person. The obvious foundation of His gift of love to man is “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Other verses likewise show His care and provision for every person.  In the last days I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh.  It rains on the just and the unjust.  The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.  Psalm 145:9. The Lord opens His hand and satisfies the desire of every living thing. Psalm 145:16. 

Consider the parable of the man who found a treasure in the field. He willingly sold or gave up all he had and bought the field, not for the land, but for the treasure within it.    Jesus is the man.  He gave up His heavenly glory to become a man and then as a man humbled Himself laying down up all He had, including His life blood (Philippians 2), in order to claim the treasure in the field/world, which is you and I.  Because of the joy set before Him, He endured the cross.

Satan’s lie is that you are a nobody, just a number, a creature of chance and evolution like one of the animals with no life purpose or future.  The suicide rate of young people has risen as they see no reason to live.  Revelation 12:9 calls the devil and Satan, the one “who deceived the whole world.” Jesus correctly declared Satan was a liar and that there is no truth in him.

However, on the other hand, Jesus sees you so absolutely valuable that He takes joy in being willing to die for you.  “Because of the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2), He endured the cross and the humiliation and suffering.  You are worth it, actually worth infinitely more than you could ask, think, or imagine. Be still a moment, look up to the Father, and just receive His personal love, like a big engulfing hug in your spirit.

When God breathed His life into man whom He had formed from the “dust of the ground” (Genesis 2:7), this breath of God crated man as an eternal being designed to live with Him and share His glory forever.  Even though man sinned and fell short, God never gave up on us, but sent Jesus to redeem us, paying the awesome price of His own blood to bring us back to the Father.  After all this demonstration of His love and purpose, God still allows us to choose.  “I have set before you life and death” (Deuteronomy 30:19) with the revealing of His heart, “Choose life” that you may live.

Those who receive Him He gave the right to become children of God.  How do you receive Him?  The answer is a simple “yes” in our heart and telling Him “thank you” just as you would if someone gave you a special present.

Regardless of whether you are dead in sin or alive in Jesus, you are wanted, loved, and treasured by the Lord who desires you to simply come to Him and be filled with every good thing forever.  Lay down your pride and excuses, and as the Billy Graham revival song says, “just as I am, O Lamb of God, I come.”

Are You Righteous?

 “I am innocent” is the concluding verse in the worship song, “I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.”  Really? This truth seems beyond our ability to believe, but we must consider the awesome price and reason to grasp this reality.  Romans 5:9 states we are “now justified by His blood.” A powerful definition of justified is “just as if I’d” been perfect.

 Scripture in Leviticus 17:11 confirms that the life is in the blood and that there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood. How much more true when we realize that the blood of Jesus on the cross that He poured out willingly is the life of God with infinite value.

It is a wonderful thing to have our sins forgiven, but what Jesus did for us is much more!  Consider this illustration: suppose you are arrested for going 60 in a speed zone of 40 mph. When you are before the judge he could choose to show mercy and say it is forgiven, you are free to go.  Guilty but pardoned.  However, what if upon inspection it is discovered that the policeman’s radar gun was set 20 miles per hour too fast.  In this case you are justified, just as if I’d been perfect, because the evidence supports the verdict not guilty and you are free to go as a completely innocent driver.  Notice this truth in 1 John 1:9, how the blood of Jesus cleanses us, “He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sin AND to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Jesus talked about the “ruler of this world” coming but then reassured His followers that “he has nothing in Me.” John 14:30. Since through the blood of Jesus we are supernaturally joined to Him, that is we are in Him and He is us, we likewise share the same truth, “Satan has nothing in us.” 1 John 5:18 points out this same truth about the one who is born of God, “the wicked one does not touch him.”  No wonder Revelation 12:11 says we overcome the evil one by the blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.

The Bible teacher asked his students (and I ask you), “How many of you are righteous?”  After some deliberation, only one or two raised their hand.  Wrong answer?  2 Corinthians 5:21 states that Jesus became sin that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.  Righteousness, or being right with God, suggests that everything contrary to His nature is removed and secondly, you have an intimate position of closeness being right with God.  Yes, believe it and receive it by giving thanks, you are righteous.  In God’s eternal court, you are innocent! 

Treasure the fact and declare it, “I am justified by the blood of the Lamb, it is just-as-if-I’d been perfect.”  Jesus, You are my righteousness and in You I am righteous forever.

Song quoted; Washed by Upperoom lyrics, found on YouTube

Standing Firm Through Trials

 Trials happen.  Read the first part of the verses given below.  Then, knowing that by your strength you cannot win, now read the All Caps print which describes God’s intervention and His giving us total victory. 

Many are the afflictions of the righteous, BUT THE LORD DELIVERS THEM OUT OF THEM ALL.  Psalm 34:19

In the world you will have tribulation, but BE OF GOOD CHEER, I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD. John 16:33

Beloved, do not consider it strange concerning the fiery trial that is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but REJIOCE  TO THE EXTENT THAT YOU PARTAKE OF CHRIST’S SUFFERINGS, THAT WHEN  HIS GLORY IS REVEALED, YOU MAY ALSO BE GLAD WITH EXCEEDING JOY.    1 Peter 4:12-13

Above all put on the shield of faith, that you may be ABLE TO QUENCH ALL THE FIERY DARTS OF THE EVIL ONE. Ephesians 6:16

No trial has overtaken you that is not common to man, but GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHO WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO BE TEMPTED BEYOND WHAT YOU ARE ABLE, BUT WITH THE TEMPTATION WILL ALSO MAKE THE WAY OF ESCAPE.                     1 Corinthians 10:13

Satan is the accuser who does all in his power to destroy the will of Christians to stand firm in trials, even though Jesus through His death and resurrection has purchased and given to us “all that pertains to life and godliness” and “through His precious and exceedingly great promises” we not only escape the corruption that is in the world, but literally partake of the divine nature of God. 2 Peter 1:3-4  

That is why we can afford to do what is declared in James 1:2-4, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” This principle of knowing God is growing us up and forming His own image in us through trials is also found in Romans 5:3-5,  “we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulations produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.  Clearly God gives grace to obey this Word, so in faith, we can rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances (1Thessalonians 5:18 says this is the will of God for you!).  Jesus has overcome every battle and He lives in us which causes us to overcome every trial and attack of the enemy.

Whose report will you believe?  Satan is a liar.  Choose to believe Jesus by letting the truth of these promises get in your heart, then declaring them boldly until the light dawns and you see the Lord come through!

Shout to God with a voice of triumph and delight the heart of God by refusing to let trials undermine your firm love and faith in God.

Hear the Lion Roar!

 A Lion is roaring (Amos 3:8), who can but respond to His majestic voice and spring into action?

“There is a snake in the grass,” my son reported.  Children play in our yard, so it didn't make sense to keep sitting in my easy chair and pretend there was no problem. This threat was real and demanded action. Therefore, with determination I got a shovel and went into the yard and hunted until I found the snake and took care of it.  

However, many believers hear Jesus’ message that the devil is roaming about to “steal, kill, and destroy” and yet do nothing.  The Word in James 4:7 tells believers to “Submit to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.”  Paul reminds us that the victorious Christian life calls us to “fight the good fight of faith.”   2 Corinthians 10:3-4 points out that we are fighting a war, not in the flesh, but using the spiritual weapons that are mighty in God. The reality of our present situation demands action, that we fight.

Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil. Since He only did what the Father showed Him, clearly it is God’s will to destroy the works of the devil.  In Luke 9:1 when Jesus sent out the twelve disciples, the first thing He gave them was “power and authority over all demons.”  Likewise, after the seventy return they excitedly declared, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name.”  

Jesus replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing by any means shall hurt you,”. Furthermore, Jesus’ final instruction in Matthew 28 was “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”  Jesus has overcome the devil and we are commanded to “go therefore” in His name  releasing the power and authority of Jesus over sin, sickness, and the devil.

Rather than staying comfortable in our easy chair ignoring the onslaught of the devil, it is time to hear the Lion roar!  In the authority of God’s Word and in the name of Jesus, take your God-given authority and command the devil to stop.  In the words of Jesus when tempted, “Be gone, Satan.”

The Lion of Judah roars and seeks for willing servants who in the same divine intensity hate evil and the destruction of the evil one enough to cast out demons and take authority over all the power of the evil one.  Rule in the midst of your enemies (Psalm 110:2) until every tongue in heaven, on earth, and beneath the earth confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.  (Philippians 2:10-11).

Do With Time You Have Left

 “How long do you plan to live?” asked the social security advisor.  Of course, only God knows our time when our mission on earth is complete.  A more important question is “What are you going to do with the time you have left in your life?”

God has given to each one only a certain time to sow godly seed and “lay up treasures in heaven” which will make a difference for eternity.  The Spirit encourages me to do all in my power “while it is day because when night comes no man can work.”

Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit.  Job received four times as many blessings in his latter days. The path of the righteous gets brighter and brighter until the noon day (Proverbs 4:17).  The Kingdom of God increases.  Therefore, God has put it on my heart to ask the Holy Spirit to make me at least twice as fruitful in my remaining days as I have been in all my past times.  

Jesus declares in John 15:7-8 that if we abide in Him and His Word abides in us we would bear much fruit, which glorifies the Father. Scripture accurately points out that “the outer man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day” or as Psalm 103 states, your youth is renewed like the eagles.  The power and anointing of God living in us is as the small mustard seed that has grown into a large tree (Luke 13:19).  

Therefore, the point is that the reason that we continue to grow into the fullness of Christ’s nature and have more wisdom, ever increasing faith, and are more constrained by the love of God is to accomplish His purpose   To whom much is given, much is required.  As we mature, we are meant  to be the most productive, most effective instruments in God’s white harvest fields. 

Once I was complaining to God about the poor, unfortunate people at the nursing home that are just waiting to die. The Lord spoke into my spirit, “That was never my intention or purpose for nursing homes.  They were meant to be powerhouses of prayer and blessing, because these people no longer have to busy themselves with life demands but rather have the experience and wisdom to be intercessions for their family.”

Doing nothing as one gets older is such a waste of all God has given.  The Spirit desires to give new direction, renew our strength, and let us become fruitful to the very end of our mission on earth.  Be like Paul who expressed his life passion, “Reaching forward to the things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” 

Join me in praying, “God, make me more fruitful in the time remaining in my life than I have ever been.”  May God be glorified.

His Word is His Will

 God’s will for you is to be transformed into a new creation, a child of God Himself, while putting away the old sinful nature.  He desires to live in you, making you into the nature of Christ, and presenting you holy and blameless before the Father.  Jesus became sin (our old fallen nature) so we could become the righteousness of God.  As 2 Peter states clearly “His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious, that through these you may be partakes of divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

This transforming work seems too good to be true, beyond what we could think, ask, or imagine.  How can we ever believe God would treasure us so much that He would do all for us and purpose for us to live in abundant life and glory with Him forever? The answer is to receive God’s Word, His exceedingly great and precious promises until this truth renews our mind and soul.

Consider what Jesus said about His Word  “If you continue in the Word, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:32  In His final prayer He asks the Father to “Sanctify them (us) by Your truth, Your Word is truth.” To sanctify means to set apart for His own special purpose. 

The Apostle Paul also understood this life-giving power of the Word, when leaving the Ephesians (Acts20:32), “I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”

Faith, or believing God’s amazing love and plan for us, comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.  Jesus even joins the Word and His presence as conditions of believing prayer.  “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.” He further states believing prayer and fruitful results glorifies the Father and shows you are a disciple, one who follows God’s ways.

In the beginning was the Word according to John 1, and in Revelation 19, His name is revealed as The Word of God.  Everything begins and ends, the alpha and the Omega, with Jesus revealed and manifested by the Word.  His Word enlightens every man.

Over and over the Scriptures declare the benefits of and instructions of how to let the Word of God dwell in us richly.  Young men are strong and overcome the evil one because the Word abides in them.  Jesus countered the devil’s temptation by pointing out man doesn’t live by bread alone but by every Word of God.  

In short, you will never know the truth and the glorious future God has provided for you unless you read, reflect, let dwell in you, and absorb the promises of the Word.  You can know His will for you by being in His Word.

Job Done Right

 If you want the job done right…

How do you complete that sentence?  The wisdom of the world says “Do it yourself.”  But Jesus shows the way of God which is to teach others.  “As the Father has sent me, so I send you,” His plan was to teach and demonstrate Kingdom living and then entrust the work to His disciples, with the promise to equip and guide them by the power of the Holy Spirit. We can’t do it without His help and He has chosen to allow us to be His body whom He sends and equips to complete the task.

We see Paul follow the same principle in dealing with Timothy.  “The things you heard from me, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2. 

A more important question is teach and do what?  Christian parents and Christian schools spent great effort to educate and train their children. However, often the goal is to be able to get a good job and have a successful and comfortable life, perhaps realistically defined as a well paying job, a lovely spouse and good family, a nice house and car with all the comforts this world can give. 

What is the distortion of this objective?  Is that really the goal that God has given?  What about “Seek first the kingdom of God.” or “He who loses his life for My sake will find life.”? Rather than being a worldly success, we must teach and be an example of living for the Lord.  James gives a stronger warning, saying if we love the world, love of the Father is not in us.

The heart of our purpose is to love and serve God, and love our neighbor.   Jesus obviously came to take care of sin and to establish the Kingdom of God on earth  Each of us who know God have the assignment to share that love and truth in our sphere of influence.  In the words of Jesus, you are the light of the world.

Following the pattern of Jesus who demonstrated and taught the ways of God, thus making disciples who could continue His mission, we are told to make disciples.  

So if you want the job done right, make godly disciples.

Are You the Most Blessed?

 You are “most blessed forever,” according to Psalm 21:6.  Most blessed in what way?  His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), so it follows that when Jesus is our shepherd, I shall not want.  My needs are met according to His riches in glory.  By His stripes I am healed.  He always leads me in triumph and no weapon formed against me shall prosper.  All things work together for good for me because I love Him and am called according to His purpose.  Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. 

Are these statements true for you and are you  really “most blessed forever,” as the king before God?  Since Jesus has made you and  me to be priests and kings forever (1 Peter 2:5, Revelation 1:6) we are the ones this psalm is talking about as kings, and joint heirs with Jesus receiving everything He has purchased through His death and resurrection.  It is true and more than we could ask, think, or imagine. As children of God who by grace share His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4), we have intimate relationship with Jesus, our living hope of eternal glory forever!

In the Gospel of John, Jesus explained various truths as “now is and will be.”  There are times we “feel” and easily declare these positive Scriptures are true in our lives, but there also may be times when circumstances and feelings are screaming against them.  In these challenging times we are called to “fight the good fight of faith.”  We live by faith and not sight, 2 Peter 1:4 reminds us that “through these precious and great promises we escape the corruption that is in the world and partake of divine nature. 

At a recent prayer meeting in Tulsa, the Lord gave a word that the enemy was throwing firry farts designed to “destroy our will to fight.”  Therefore, the Lord is calling us to stand strong in His power, cast down every thought and imagination that is contrary to Christ, and equipped in God’s armor take up the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit declaring the Word of God as Jesus did in the wilderness against the devil. 

Faith and patience inherit the promises. In Revelation Jesus reminds us that trying times call for the endurance of the saints. We encourage you, like Abraham, to not waver in your faith, but continue to give Him glory for what He has promised.  We will make it and every word of God will prove true.  He is faithful.

Run with Horses

Jeremiah 12:5 exhorts us, "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you run with horses?"  

 Get ready.  The pot is starting to boil!  Prophetic warnings sound across the world that the time of the Lord's return is short and the intensity of the battle with the powers of darkness is increasing exponentially.  However, Jesus shifts our attention from what is happening in the world to focusing on the glory of His plan, “When these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near.” Luke 21:28.

 Sudden or tragic events do not mean it is a time to panic, but rather a fresh awareness to put on the armor, stand equipped declaring the Word, and seeing the kingdom of God overcome all.  Jesus promises, "in the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world."  Furthermore, as 1 John 5 states, because He overcomes, all who are born of Him also overcome!

Several times in John 14 Jesus explains to His disciples that He is telling them what is coming so that when it comes they continue to believe.  Since we have His assurance that He is working all things for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose, we can afford to rejoice, trust Him, and simply “see the salvation of God,” as He told the Israelites at the Red Sea.   The book of Revelation is the “revelation of Jesus Christ” according to verse 1:1 and the message is clearly that He is King of kings and Lord of lords who triumphs over all evil establishing the kingdoms of the world as kingdoms of our Lord.

Praise God forever!  Heaven and earth declare He is worthy of all glory and honor and praise.  Therefore, every time we hear of one more negative thing happening, it is time to praise the Lord more for being greater and conquering this area too   Let’s turn every enemy work into thanksgiving and praise for the victory of Jesus, because God is not mocked, every act and word will receive His just retribution.  Yes, rejoice and give Him glory for His faithfulness and perfect plan.

  

Know the Word is From God

 “If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God” or simply your own human authority, according to Jesus in John 7:17.  Jesus not only declares His sheep hear and know His voice, He also tells us how to know the difference between His voice and the voice of “strangers” (John 10).

When we receive thoughts or images, our first goal is to determine whether it is from God or just our own manufactured ideas.  The truth is God is much closer than most of us realize.  As Paul explains in Acts 17:28, “In Him we live and move and have our being.”  We are temples of the Holy Spirit and by His presence Jesus further declared that the Father and Jesus would also make their home in us.” Jesus told Pilate everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.  

Since we have asked the Lord to speak, by faith choose to believe and receive it from Him.  Don’t question it at this point (we will provide a means of testing it later.), but faithfully write down everything that comes to you.  Yes, write it down rather than assume you will remember.  Take time to let the Lord say all He wants, don’t take a small bite and run away.  The real objective is to have fellowship,, a relationship where He and you can share what is on your hearts.

I repeat, write it down.  God told Moses to write it down.  God told Habakkuk (ch 2, v 3) to write the vision clearly on tablets so all could read it.  Now you have the  written message to examine its authenticity and godly instruction.

The first test, always, is does it agree with God’s Word.  God does not change and will never give a message contrary to His eternal nature and direction.  For example, He won’t tell you to lie, or steal, or be involved in immoral sexual behavior when His Word has clearly stated His commands.  

Secondly, James 3:17 states the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy  and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.  Proverbs reminds us the wisdom of many counselors and this is a good time to have a wise counselor, a spiritual person who can help you determine if it meets God’s standard, especially if the spoken Word demands major changes.

The point of these past four posts is that God loves you and delights in sharing His heart with you  Rather than believe the lie that “I don’t hear God,” try following these simple steps and enjoy His presence and personal messages for your heart  1) Get alone and prepare your heart with thanksgiving, praise, and praying in the Spirit, 2) Lay down your thoughts and desires, and take authority over the devil forbidding him to speak, 3)  Ask the Lord to confirm His Word and speak to you as His child that wishes to do His will, 4) Receive and believe the words and thoughts that come to you are from Him by WRITING them down, and finally evaluate the message jin light of God’s Word and godly counsel.

Jesus, who loves you so much that He willingly died for you, longs to spend time with you and speak to you.

Heart Ready and Open to Hear

 Why did the prophets of old get a minstrel before they could hear God?  Why does Psalm 100 say to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts wit praise?  Why does worship and praying in tongues bring us into the right disposition, or tuned into the right channel, to hear God?   

The answer is that God is a spirit (and has created us in his likeness) so his “still, small voice” is directly to our heart or spirit.  In eternity, as you may have noticed from the report of people who died and went to heaven, communication is spirit to spirit.  We will just “know” what Jesus or any other person is “saying.”

Jesus pointed out the necessity of being right with our brother before we come to the altar of God,  The application of this principle is to let the Spirit search our heart, then repent and ask forgiveness so the blood of Jesus can cleanse us of any unrighteousness  We want to draw near to God with a clean heart.

One of the serious questions people often wonder about is how do I know this “voice” isn’t from the devil?  If that is a concern, take care of it by using your authority in the name of Jesus  Just as Jesus commanded the demon to be quiet, simply declare, satan and any demon I forbid you to speak, I command you to go in the name of Jesus.

Once we have cleansed our temple, and asked the Lord to speak to us, all we need to do is wait and expect the Lord to speak to our heart  If you recall the pattern of Habakkuk “I will watch and see what the Lord will say to me.”

Expect the next promptings or thoughts that come to be from the Lord.

We will deal with this next concept and whether the voice is from God or just our thoughts in the next post.  The message today is making sure our heart is prepared and open to hear.

Be Still and Know that I am God

 Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul, according to the instructions of Psalm 25  How do we lift up our soul?  The answer is to put other thoughts and feelings aside and focus your mind and heart on Jesus and who He is. Our fallen nature wants to be preeminent, the boss who controls us, but God leads us beside still waters where we let the presence of the Lord dominate.  The first step that Habakkuk takes in chapter 2 in order to hear God is to get alone on his post to seek God. Jesus calls this going into your room and shutting the door 

Psalm 37:7 tells us to “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”  God promises he will renew the strength of those who wait for Him.  Even Jeremiah reminds us that those who seek Him with all their heart will find Him, how much more does this principle apply to seeking to hear His voice. We show how much we really want to hear from God by our taking time to get still before Him and patiently wait.

Shut the door. What does Jesus mean by this action?  Does He not tell us to clean our plate of all our other thoughts and desires, to deliberately lay them down.  God honors our choices, our decisions.  As Romans 8:13 states “put to death the flesh by the power of the Spirit.”  Therefore, ask and depend on the Holy Spirit to help you lay aside anything and everything that wants your attention so you can receive what the Lord wants to say to you.

We will consider the next step, expecting Him to speak, in future posts, but today prepare your mind and heart to find a place and time where you can be still and know He is.

Getting to this ready state is such an important one if you are serious about wanting to hear God. If you need more encouragement, do a concordance or google search on “waiting on the Lord.”  Psalm 62:5, for example, states, “For God alone, O my soul (your mind, will, and emotions), wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.

Do You Hear God’s Voice?

 What do you think?  A fool delights in his own opinion.  However, we know God’s thoughts are not man’s thoughts and God’s ways are not man’s ways.  Yet very few Christians confidently know what God is thinking or hear God’s voice when they need to make decisions.

 The gold standard to reveal His thoughts and ways is the Word of God. Jesus in John 8:32 reminds us that if you continue in the Word, you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free. 

Jesus is the Logos, the written, forever settled Word that endures and will never pass away, but He is also the “rhema,” the specific spoken Word that enlightens the mind with understanding and direction in every situation.

Hebrews 4 says, today when you hear His voice.  Likewise, Jesus declares “My sheep hear My voice.” There is no question, we are meant to walk with the Lord who abides in us and hear Him speak to us. The bigger dilemma is how to hear Him and how to determine if these “thoughts” are really from God.

The prophet in Habakkuk 2 gives us a pattern. He isolates himself on his guard post, keeps watch to see what his will speak, expects the Lord to give specific instruction, and is told to record the vision or words given. We could summarize these steps to stillness, vision, recognizing spontaneous thoughts, and journaling or writing down what you receive.

In the garden God walked and talked daily with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening.  This essential characteristic of our relationship with the Lord is worthy of a more thorough investigation to ensure the benefits and provision God has given to those who know Him.

What is Your Plan for End Times?

 If you fail to plan, then you plan to fail, according to current financial planning wisdom.  How much more true is this principle in light of coming events and eternity.

"What is the world coming to?" many are asking as age-old standards of decency, honesty, and common sense are violated.   

Jude tells us to contend for the faith because the world will be filled with ungodly people who turn the grace of God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.  They are grumblers, fault finders who live after their own lusts, ones who speak arrogantly and flatter people to gain an advantage. Likewise, 2 Peter 3 states "that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?'" 

Proverbs tells us that the prudent see trouble coming and prepare for it.  Both Jude and Peter give advice for anyone who wants to know what to do.  Peter answers the question "what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?"  

However, Jude 1:20-21, giving specific details of how to not only endure but how to overcome this present evil generation, states, "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life."  

Let's consider each of these four directions.  1) Build yourselves up on your most holy faith.  Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ.  Faith builds faith, as we exercise the faith we have in little, God increases our faith to be greater.  Therefore, this instruction calls us to daily not only read and hear the Word, but also to step out and apply the Word to the challenges of our life.

2) Pray in the Holy Spirit.  When we yield our will to God, the Holy Spirit cries out "Abba Father" and with groanings beyond words expresses the will of God to the Father.  Use your prayer language and cry out to Him from the depth of your heart. God has given us gifts which are tools to be used not put away on the shelf. 

3) Keep yourself in the love of God.  What does God require but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.  Walk in the humble fear of the Lord, which simply means love good and hate evil and pride.

4)  Finally, look for the mercy of the Lord Jesus unto eternal life.  Our focus is not on the evil world that is passing, but as Romans reminds us, keep our focus on the fact that our Redeemer is coming with mercy for all those who call on His name.  In short, rejoice that God is not mocked, but continues to work all things for good, HIs mercy is greater than sin, and His authority reigns supreme so every evil will be justly dealt with and every one who turns to Him will live forever. 

Thank God we are not helpless, but in union with Him who has overcome, we overcome by simply walking in the ways He has provided.  Praise God forever, as God's children we will never be shaken.

  

Three Challenges

 

Three Challenges that require repentance and asking the Spirit of God to help make changes.  (These remarks were addressed to students, but with a little adaptation, "if the shoe fits" make the changes.)

1)  Cutting down others. There have been numerous comments made to other students such as “What happened to your hair?”, “You dress old”, How could you be so dumb?”, “Don’t you know that?” and others that make the other person lose self-esteem and feel bad and inferior.  God has called us out of the world, meaning to not do like the pattern of worldly criticisms and cut downs obvious on social media.

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.” – Ephesians 4:29

“Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another” – Romans 14:19 

“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:11

2)  Many have demonstrated little or no integrity, only doing what is right when authority forces them to do it. For example: Being like the way of the world in doing whatever one can get by with, whether it is only partially doing homework, answering a question with brief comment rather than taking the time and effort to think out the answer, glancing over the chapter rather than reading the content, using the sites on the Internet to get answers rather than looking them up in the text, taking answers from someone else who has done the work, ignoring rules that you know but figure you won’t get caught, not giving truthful or complete answers so you look good or can get away with some questionable action.   

Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. – Psalm 51:6

 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. -Romans 12:2

3)  Always have an excuse or way of blaming others rather than admit responsibility for mistakes and wrong choices.  For example: “It wasn’t my fault”, “I didn’t really cheat, I was just checking my answers with someone else”, “Other people are wearing hoodies”, “the Boss won’t notice” “I was busy on my phone” Justifying why I can talk during class or during a test.  Thinking I can spend time in the hall or bathroom as long as I want, even during my class.

Therefore, you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. Romans 2:1     

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.  Romans 1:18