Fight the Good Fight of Faith

In Psalm 83, God declared that His plan will overcome the evil forces that are trying to destroy godliness on the earth, "that they may know the You alone, whose name is the Lord, are the Most High over all the earth."

God is not mocked.  The world's way of openly defying God's laws and creation by homosexuality, transgender, promiscuity, and outright selfishness and rebellion often gives the impression that the whole purpose of life is simply to give in to all the desires of the flesh.  We, of course, know that just as Peter's attempt to stop Jesus from going to the cross, this is fueled by Satan.  We say just as Jesus said, "Get behind Me Satan, you are not on the side of God but of man." (Matthew 16:23) 

We live in an awesome time.  God is raising up prophetic voices who are calling for Christians to respond through repentance, prayer in faith, and taking authority to turn the tide and open the gates for the Holy Spirit to "renew the face of the earth." (Psalm 104:30)   Clearly, God has a plan that will overcome the best laid plans of the enemy, and He chooses to use you and I to carry it out.  We are familiar with the 2 Chronicles 7:14 call, "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and forgive their sin and heal their land."  God's plan is to rule through us, and use the authority He has given, what you bind on earth is bound in heaven.

Never has there been such an importance, such urgency, such a strong call as the voice of God that is speaking today.  Prophetic words from Dutch Sheets, Give Him 15 daily reports, Clay Nash, Intercessors for America, Christ for the Nations, Youth with a Mission, Fred Markert, and many others are the Paul Revere's of the day, shouting the message that God is awakening the church to unite in prayer, repentance, and standing in the authority of Jesus' name to take this land (and the world) back for Him.  Clearly the signs of the times are so blatant that we cannot ignore them; however, rather than get disgusted or frustrated, the Lord gives us direction and strength to stand in the gap and overcome through Him.

Therefore, my word today is "Let's do it."  Father, we unite our hearts and minds with the Lord Jesus and His victory over evil by dying on the cross, and humbly seek Your face.  We repent of living for ourselves and receive your grace of forgiveness for all our fleshly choices, and now join the army of believers who are taking the sword of the Spirit, declaring your Word of truth to tear down all the strongholds of wickedness.  We declare, Jesus is Lord, and every power of darkness must bow.  In the name of Jesus, (put in the area of evil that you are particularly mindful of), I break your power and tell you to "be gone."  

Fight the good fight of faith and we shall see the Lord reign in our land and on the earth.  Jesus overcame, and we join His victory and overcome the world by our faith. (1 John 5:4)

 

Honest to God

God is merciful, and He is also completely just.  

Psalm 76 describes the ultimate power of God in judging the earth and why those who oppose Him should fear His wrath.  However, on the other side of the coin, verse 9 reveals His heart toward certain others, "When God arose to judgment, to save all the humble of the earth."  He judges wickedness but saves the humble.

The crux of the whole judgment matter is pride versus humbleness.  What does God require but to do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God?  Scripture is clear that God gives grace to the humble but resists the proud.  Did not Satan fall because of pride, and did not Eve submit to the lie of pride that she would be "like God" if she ate the fruit?   

David, after he repented from sinning with Bathsheba and killing Uriah, prayed with new understanding, in Psalm 51:6, that God, "you desire truth in our inmost being."  What is the truth?  First Corinthians 4:7 explains this truth by declaring that everything we have, our mind, our heart, our faith, our talents, our health, our life, is all received, so we have nothing to boast about.  Since the truth is that we have nothing because of our own efforts but rather all is the gift of God, our only honest response to Him is to be thankful and humbly admit we depend upon Him for everything.  The truthful attitude, being humble and thankful, motivates us to obey and is what pleases God.

Furthermore, Isaiah 57:15 confirms this truth, "For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, with him who has a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones."  When we honestly acknowledge our need for His help and forgiveness, He is right there to revive us.

Be honest to God as you humbly admit your need and walk obediently with a grateful attitude in all He has given you to do.  God will dwell with you and you will be blessed forever!

You Shall Go Out With Joy!

A friend of ours loves to meet our needs and do 

special things for us. And then when we express 

our joy and gratefulness for his gift, he replies, 

"It makes me so happy that you enjoy it."

God is so much more like that.  He is a cheerful 

giver who "takes pleasure in the welfare of His 

children."  He has given us "all things that pertain 

to life and godliness" according to 2 Peter 1:3.   

What glorifies and pleases God most is when we 

receive His gifts with joy and thankfulness.

Therefore, it follows that every Christian that has 

received His gift of salvation and the "all else" 

provided should be someone who continually 

exhibits joy and thankfulness.  While It is God's 

will, according to 1 Thess 5:23, that we give 

thanks in all circumstances, this message will 

focus on being filled with joy.

In John 15, Jesus shares about abiding in Him 

and in His Word which enables us to bear fruit.  

He compares our relationship to Him as close as 

branches joined to the vine.  Then Jesus points 

out why He has given us this truth, "that My joy 

may be in you and your joy may be full."  Likewise, 

in Psalm 16, God declares "in His presence is 

fullness of joy."  Being with and in Jesus is being 

filled with His joy.

Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness 

is what Jesus instructed all men.  But what is the 

Kingdom of God where Jesus reigns as King?  

According to Romans 14, the kingdom of God is 

"righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit."  

Clearly, our joy is a testimony that Jesus rules in us.  

This joy is so strong and dominant that we can even 

"count it all joy" when trials come, knowing that our 

loving Father is working good in us.

As Christians we are told to "rejoice, and again I say 

rejoice."  This is a command.  We can choose to 

reject any other thought or feeling that tends to focus 

on the troubles of the world and instead, focus on the 

goodness and mercy of God.  Surely goodness and 

mercy will follow each of us today and forever.  We 

are so blessed that our only honest response to all 

He is and has done for us is to be filled with joy and 

thankfulness.  This attitude so pleases God that He 

declares in Isaiah 55:12, "you shall go out with joy, 

and be led out with peace; the mountains and the 

hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all 

the trees of the field shall clap their hands."    

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Fresh and Equipped

The Lord leads us beside still waters to refresh 
our soul, which includes our thoughts, feelings, 

and desires. As Psalm 59 declares, "O my 

Strength, I will sing praises to You; for God is 

my strength, the God who shows me loving-

kindness."  We know God's mercy is fresh 

every morning, but so is His strength, as our 

mind is renewed by the truth of all He is and 

what is given to us. 

 
We live in a day of daily recharging with our 

phones, digital devices, laptops, and even electric 

vehicles.  Likewise, our bodies, muscles, and 

brain need to be renewed every night.  So it 

makes sense that the God who designed all this, 

would also prepare a way for us to renew our 

thoughts, feelings, and desires with fresh 
awareness of His mercy and strength each day.  

This special place is when we read the Word 

and focus on His mercy and truth, even singing 

a song to Him and reflecting on His promises, 

that our minds and hearts can be refreshed.  

Then we can start the day aware that we have 

His heart-cleansing mercy and His divine 
strength to do the things we need to do.  

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens 

me."

There is a reason why God tells us (2 Corinthians 

13:5) to test ourselves whether we are in faith, "do 

you not know that Jesus Christ is in you?"  Jesus 

promised the Holy Spirit would make us His temple, 

and that even the Father and Jesus would dwell 

in us. (John 14)  We live by faith.  Galatians 2:20 

states, "I have been crucified with Christ, 

nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me, 

and the life that I now live in the flesh I live by faith 
in the Son of God who loves me and gave Himself 

for me."  We pass the test by believing the Lord 

who loves us and gave Himself for us now 

empowers us to live a victorious life. 

No wonder the armor of God calls us "above all" 

to take up the shield of faith, as we intentionally 

choose to believe and declare Jesus is Lord who 

lives in us.  Knowing this truth that He who dwells 

in us is greater than he who is in the world 

establishes our authority and victory.  Because of 

His abiding presence, and His fresh mercy and 

love, we know and can trust His life and power 

to equip us for the day ahead.  

Therefore, put on this fresh thought and 

understanding that the Lord Jesus Christ is in you 

and by faith so you are ready for the day!

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How to Get Free

There is only one way to get free of our flesh: to fail and repent. 

Psalm 51 shares the painful truth of David's moral failure and his turning to God for mercy.  It is never pleasant to focus on our moral failures; we would rather share our triumphs.  However, God is always able to turn things around, and amazingly, in this case, we see a fresh awareness and desire for truth in our innermost being, having a clean heart, knowing the presence of the Holy Spirit, and experiencing the joy of our salvation.  God always works things for good for those who love Him and are called to His purpose. 

This principle is also shown in 2 Corinthians 4:11, "For we who live are always being delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh."  Likewise, Romans 8:13 declares that "if by the Holy Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live."  The result of coming to the end of ourselves is the release of Jesus' life and power in us. 

To be sanctified, or being made like Jesus, is really just being set free from the flesh.  

The Lord desires a broken and contrite heart rather than sacrifices.  He shares that "on this one will I look: on him who is poor and of a contrite heart" in Isaiah 66:2.  Obviously, God knows we are made of dust and have a fallen nature.  He doesn't condemn us even though we fail.  What He desires is for us to humble ourselves and honestly acknowledge our failures.  Then, almost beyond our greatest imaginations, rather than condemn us, He delights in showing mercy to the one who seeks His forgiveness. 

Only a loving God can turn our failures into life-giving events.  The worst thing man could ever do is for human beings to crucify the Son of God, yet this very event because of God's beyond-description love and mercy, opens the door for all men to be saved and become children of God forever.  After we fail and turn to God for forgiveness, we grow in greater appreciation for all He has done for us, and hopefully, greater knowledge of what an awesome and merciful God He is.  

Stand fast, therefore, in the freedom which Christ has set you free.