Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things
Faith is the mirror of the heart that reflects the realities of an unseen world—the actual substance of His Kingdom.Through the prayer of faith we are able to pull the reality of His world into this one. That is the function of faith.
Faith has its anchor in the unseen realm. It lives from the invisible toward the visible. Faith actualizes what it realizes. The Scriptures contrast the life of faith with the limitations of natural sight. Faith provides eyes for the heart.
Jesus expects people to see from the heart. He once called a group of religious leaders hypocrites because they could discern the weather but couldn’t discern the times. It’s obvious why Jesus would prefer people to recognize the times (spiritual climate and seasons) over natural weather conditions, but it’s not quite so apparent why He would consider them hypocrites if they didn’t.
Many of us have thought that the ability to see into the spiritual realm is more the result of a special gift than an unused potential of everyone. I remind you that Jesus addresses this charge to the Pharisees and Sadducees. The very fact that they, of all people, were required to see is evidence that everyone has been given this ability. They became blind to His dominion because of their own corrupted hearts and were judged for their unfulfilled potential.
We are born again by grace through faith. The born again experience enables us to see from the heart. A heart that doesn’t see is a hard heart. Faith was never intended only to get us into the family. Rather, it is the nature of life in this family. Faith sees. It brings His Kingdom into focus. All of the Father’s resources, all of His benefits, are accessible through faith.
To encourage us in our capacity to see, Jesus gave specific instruction, “Seek first the kingdom of God….” Paul taught us, “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” He also stated, “For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” The Bible instructs us to turn our attention toward the invisible. This theme is repeated enough in Scripture to make those of us bound by the logic of this Western culture quite nervous.
Herein lies the secret to the supernatural realm that we want restored to the Church. Jesus told us that He only did what He saw His Father do. Such an insight is vital for those who want more. The power of His actions, for instance, the mud in the eye of the blind, is rooted in His ability to see.
WORSHIP AND THE SCHOOL OF FAITH
God is very committed to teaching us how to see. To make this possible He gave us the Holy Spirit as a tutor. The curriculum that He uses is quite varied. But the one class we all qualify for is the greatest of all Christian privileges—worship. Learning how to see is not the purpose for our worship, but it is a wonderful by-product.
Those who worship in spirit and truth, as mentioned in John 4:23-24, learn to follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. His realm is called the kingdom of God. The throne of God, which becomes established upon the praises of His people, is the center of that Kingdom. It’s in the environment of worship that we learn things that go way beyond what our intellect can grasp—and the greatest of these lessons is the value of His Presence. David was so affected by this that all his other exploits pale in comparison to his abandoned heart for God. We know that he learned to see into God’s realm because of statements like, “I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved.” The Presence of God affected his seeing. He would constantly practice recognizing the Presence of God. He saw God daily, not with the natural eyes, but with the eyes of faith. That priceless revelation was given to a worshiper.
The privilege of worship is a good beginning place for those unaccustomed to addressing some of these kinds of themes found in Scripture. It’s in that wonderful ministry that we can learn to pay attention to this God-given gift: the ability to see with the heart. As we learn to worship with purity of heart, our eyes will continue to open. And we can expect to see what He wants us to see.
SEEING THE INVISIBLE
The invisible realm is superior to the natural. The reality of that invisible world dominates the natural world we live in…both positively and negatively. Because the invisible is superior to the natural, faith is anchored in the unseen.
Faith lives within the revealed will of God. When I have misconceptions of who He is and what He is like, my faith is restricted by those misconceptions. For example, if I believe that God allows sickness in order to build character, I’ll not have confidence praying in most situations where healing is needed. But, if I believe that sickness is to the body what sin is to the soul, then no disease will intimidate me. Faith is much more free to develop when we truly see the heart of God as good.
The same misconceptions of God affect those who need to have faith for their own miracle. A woman who needed a miracle once told me that she felt God had allowed her sickness for a purpose. I told her that if I treated my children that way I’d be arrested for child abuse. She agreed and eventually allowed me to pray for her. After truth came into her heart, her healing came minutes later.
Unbelief is anchored in what is visible or reasonable apart from God. It honors the natural realm as superior to the invisible. The apostle Paul states that what you can see is temporal, and what you can’t see is eternal. Unbelief is faith in the inferior.
The natural realm is the anchor of unbelief. But that realm is not to be considered as evil. Rather the humble of heart recognize the hand of God through what is seen. God has created all things to speak of Him—whether it is rivers and trees, or angels and heaven. The natural realm carries the witness of His greatness…for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
REALIST/MATERIALIST
Most all of the people that I’ve known who are filled with unbelief have called themselves realists. This is an honest evaluation, but not one to be proud of. Those kinds of realists believe more in what is visible than they do in what they can’t see. Put another way, they believe the material world rules over the spiritual world.
Materialism has been thought simply to be the accumulation of goods. Although it includes that, it is much more. I can own nothing and still be materialistic. I can want nothing and be materialistic because materialism is faith in the natural as the superior reality.
We are a sensual society with a culture shaped by what is picked up through the senses. We’re trained to believe only in what we see. Real faith is not living in denial of the natural realm. If the doctor says you have a tumor, it’s silly to pretend that it’s not there. That’s not faith. However, faith is founded on a reality that is superior to that tumor. I can acknowledge the existence of a tumor and still have faith in the provision of His stripes for my healing…I was provisionally healed 2,000 years ago. It is the product of the kingdom of heaven—a superior reality. There are no tumors in heaven, and faith brings that reality into this one.
Would satan like to inflict heaven with cancer? Of course he would. But he has no dominion there. He only has dominion here when and where man has come into agreement.
LIVING IN DENIAL
Fear of appearing to live in denial is what keeps many from faith. Why is what anyone thinks so important to you that you’d not be willing to risk all to trust God? The fear of man is very strongly associated with unbelief. Conversely, the fear of God and faith are very closely related.
People of faith are also realists. They just have their foundation in a superior reality.
Unbelief is actually faith in something other than God. He is jealous over our hearts. The one whose primary trust is in another grieves the Holy Spirit.
IT’S NOT IN THE HEAD
Faith is born of the Spirit in the hearts of mankind. Faith is neither intellectual nor anti-intellectual. It is superior to the intellect. The Bible does not say, with the mind man believes!
Through faith, man is able to come into agreement with the mind of God.
When we submit the things of God to the mind of man, unbelief and religion are the results. When we submit the mind of man to the things of God, we end up with faith and a renewed mind. The mind makes a wonderful servant, but a terrible master.
Much of the opposition to revival comes from soul-driven Christians. The apostle Paul calls them carnal. They have not learned how to be led by the Spirit. Anything that doesn’t make sense to their rational mind is automatically in conflict with Scripture. This way of thinking is accepted all throughout the Church in Western civilization, which should explain why our God so often looks just like us.
Most of the goals of the modern church can be accomplished without God. All we need is people, money, and a common objective. Determination can achieve great things. But success is not necessarily a sign that the goal was from God. Little exists in church life to ensure that we are being directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Returning to the ministry of Jesus is the only insurance we have of accomplishing such a goal.
FAITH FROM A RELATIONSHIP
The Holy Spirit lives in my spirit. That is the place of communion with God. As we learn to receive from our spirits we learn how to be Spirit led.
“By faith, we understand.” Faith is the foundation for all true intellectualism. When we learn to learn that way, we open ourselves up to grow in true faith because faith does not require understanding to function.
I’m sure that most of you have had this experience—you’ve been reading the Bible, and a verse jumps out at you. There is great excitement over this verse that seems to give so much life and encouragement to you. Yet initially you couldn’t teach or explain that verse if your life depended on it. What happened is this: Your spirit received the life-giving power of the word from the Holy Spirit. When we learn to receive from our spirit, our mind becomes the student and is therefore subject to the Holy Spirit. Through the process of revelation and experience our mind eventually obtains understanding. That is biblical learning—the spirit giving influence to the mind.
FAITH IS BOTH SUBSTANCE AND EVIDENCE
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is the mirror of the heart that reflects the realities of His world into ours. It is the substance of the unseen realm. This wonderful gift from God is the initial earthly manifestation of what exists in His Kingdom. It is a testimony of an invisible realm called the Kingdom of God. Through prayer we are able to pull that reality into this one—that is how faith functions.
If I go into the local pizza parlor and order a pizza, they will give me a number and a receipt. I am to place that number in a conspicuous place on the table. Someone may walk in off the street and come to my table and announce that they won’t give me any pizza. I’ll just point to the number and tell him, When pizza number 52 is done, it’s mine! That number is the substance of the pizza hoped for. If that guy tells me that my number isn’t any good, I’ll point to my receipt. It verifies the value of the number. When my pizza is done, the waiter will walk around looking for my number. How does the product of heaven know where to land? He looks for the substance…the number. If a question comes up over the validity of my number, my receipt, which is contained in the Bible, verifies my right to both the number and the pizza.
Heaven is not moved simply by the needs of man. It’s not that God doesn’t care. It was out of His great compassion that He sent Jesus. When God is moved by human need He seldom fixes the problem outright; instead, He provides Kingdom principles that when embraced correct the problems. If God was moved solely by human need then countries like India and Haiti would become the wealthiest nations in the world. It doesn’t work like that. Heaven is moved by faith. Faith is the currency of heaven.
THE SOURCE OF FAITH
“Faith comes by hearing….” It does not say that it comes from having heard. It is the listening heart, in the present tense, that is ready for heaven’s deposit of faith. Abraham heard God tell him to sacrifice his son Isaac. When he drew back the sword to slay his son the Lord spoke again. This time He told Abraham that the test was over and that he passed—he was not to sacrifice his son. Had he only done what God had said he would have killed his son. Hearing now is a key to faith.
The apostle Paul was driven by the command, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel….” However, when he was ready to preach the gospel in Asia, God said no. What God had said appeared to be in conflict with what God was saying. Paul then prepared to go to Bithynia. Again, God said no. Following this Paul had a dream of a man calling out to him from Macedonia. This was recognized as the will of God, and they went.
Even though we may know the will of God from Scripture, we still need the Holy Spirit to help us with the interpretation, application, and empowerment to perform His will.
FEARFULNESS
The biblical command repeated most often is: Do not fear. Why? Fear attacks the foundation of our relationship with God…our faith. Fear is faith in the devil; it is also called unbelief. Jesus would ask His fearful disciples, “Why are you so faithless?” because fearfulness is the same as faithlessness. Fear and faith cannot coexist—they work against each other.
The devil is called Beelzebub, which means, lord of the flies. He and his hosts are attracted to decay. We once had a freezer in a building detached from our house. One Sunday we came home from church only to be hit with a wall of smell that is unfortunately hard to forget. I realized in an instant what had happened. Our freezer had died. I thought the stench I had smelled for days was because my boys forgot to take all of the trash to the dump. Instead it was the ever-rotting meat and bear hide in the freezer.
From the front seat of my car I looked at the window of the shop about 40 feet away. It was black with flies…a number that is still hard to imagine these many years later. The freezer was filled with all sorts of meat. Flies found a happy breeding ground in spoiled flesh and were multiplying in unbelievable numbers. Both the meat and the freezer were taken to the dump.
Issues such as bitterness, jealousy, and hatred qualify as the decay of the heart that invites the devil to come and give influence—yes, even to Christians. Remember Paul’s admonition to the church of Ephesus, “Neither give place to the devil.” Fear is also a decay of the heart. It attracts the demonic in the same way as bitterness and hatred. How did the flies know where my freezer was? Through the scent of decaying meat. Fear gives off a similar scent. Like faith, fear is substance in the spiritual realm. Satan has no power except through our agreement. Fear becomes our heart’s response when we come into agreement with his intimidating suggestions.
REACT OR RESPOND
Many who have feared the excesses made by others in the name of faith have ironically embraced unbelief. Reaction to error usually produces error. Response to truth always wins out over those who react to error. Some people would have no belief system were it not for the error of others. Their thoughts and teachings are the antithesis of what others believe and practice. As a result those who strive for balance become anemic. The word balance has come to mean middle of the road—of no threat to people or the devil, with little risk, and above all…the best way to keep our nice image intact.
The Church warns its members about the great sin of presumption. God warns us of the sin of unbelief. Jesus didn’t say, When I return will I find people who are excessive and presumptuous? He was concerned about finding people with faith, the kind He displayed. While we often huddle in groups of like-minded people, those with faith blaze a trail that threatens all of our comfort zones. Faith offends the stationary.
People of great faith are hard to live with. Their reasoning is otherworldly. My grandfather, a pastor, sat under the ministry of several great men and women of God of the early 1900s. He used to tell me how not everyone liked Smith Wigglesworth. His faith made other people feel uncomfortable. We either become like them or we avoid them. We find their lifestyle either contagious or offensive with little neutral ground. Smith is well loved today…but it’s only because he’s dead. Israel loved their dead prophets too.
There’s something amazing about unbelief—it is able to fulfill its own expectations. Unbelief is safe because it takes no risk and almost always gets what it expects. Then, after a person gets the answer for their unbelief, they can say, I told you so.
A SUPERIOR REALITY
My faith is not just an abiding faith; it is active. It is aggressive by nature. It has focus and purpose. Faith grabs hold of the reality of the Kingdom and forcefully and violently brings it into a collision with this natural one. An inferior kingdom cannot stand.
One of the more common things people tell me when I’m about to pray for their healing is, “I know God can do it.” So does the devil. At best that is hope…not faith. Faith knows He will.
For one who has faith, there is nothing impossible. There are no impossibilities when there is faith…and there are no exceptions.
Sheri, for instance, came forward for prayer after a wonderful meeting just outside of Nashville, Tennessee. She had suffered with Lupus for 24 years, the last four of which had gone into Pulmonary Hypertension. It had gotten so bad that she had to have an aluminum shunt placed into her heart. To this a pump was attached, which supplied the needed medication to keep her alive. Her doctor told her that without this medication she could live for only three minutes.
When she walked up to me, I actually felt a presence of something I had never felt in that measure before. It was faith. I actually stood back and stared at her for a few moments realizing that I was seeing something completely new for me. As she received prayer, she fell to the ground under the power of God. When she got up I asked her how she was doing. She described a heat that was on her chest. (Heat often accompanies God’s healing touch.) As she left I told her, your faith got you this one!
That was Saturday night. At 7 a.m. that following morning the Lord spoke to her saying she didn’t need the medication any more. So she removed it. She showed up 14 hours later giving testimony of God’s wonderful healing power.
She has since had the aluminum shunt removed—she doesn’t need it anymore!
EARS TO HEAR
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Notice it does not say, faith comes from having heard. The whole nature of faith implies a relationship with God that is current. The emphasis is on hearing…in the now! In Genesis God told Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. As Abraham raised the knife to slay his son God spoke again. This time He told him not to slay his son, as he had passed the test of being willing to do anything for God. It’s a good thing that Abraham’s only connection with God was not just over what was said, but was based upon what He was saying!
ANSWERS FOR LIFE’S IMPOSSIBILITIES
What this world needs is for the Church to return to a show and tell message on the kingdom of God. They need an anchor that is greater than everything they can see. The world system has no answers to the world’s increasing problems—every solution is only temporary.
Dale came to my office to confess sin. He lived quite some distance from my city, but because he had deceived us out of some money, he felt the need to come and confess in person. After I expressed both God’s and my forgiveness, I asked him about his back. He had walked into my office with difficulty and was obviously in great pain. He lifted his shirt to show me two scars that ran on each side of the spine the full length. He had broken his back some years earlier and had recently been in a car accident that further aggravated his injury. He then told me that God would probably like to heal him, but that he just got in His way. I told him he wasn’t big enough. All I could picture was the greatness of God and the puny condition of man. He looked at me with a stunned look on his face. I went on to explain that God was really big and could pretty much do as He pleased. Although Dale didn’t move into great faith, he did begin to doubt his doubt. That was all it took. I laid hands on his back and invited the Holy Spirit to come and give His gift of healing. I then commanded it to be healed. He bent over, placing his hands flat on the floor, saying, “I can’t do that!” He proceeded to do it over and over again, each time declaring, “I can’t do that!” He left pain-free with full movement and a heart full of praise. This was a man who could barely walk only moments before.
Faith is not the absence of doubt; it’s the presence of belief. I may not always feel that I have great faith. But I can always obey, laying my hands on someone and praying. It’s a mistake for me to ever examine my faith. I seldom find it. It’s better for me to obey quickly. After it’s over I can look back and see that my obedience came from faith.
THE CLUSTER BOMB EFFECT
When the corporate level of faith grows, it has what I call a cluster bomb effect, where innocent bystanders get touched by the miracle-working power of God.
Francis is a woman who had esophagus cancer. One Sunday morning during worship she leaned over to her husband and said, “I was just healed!” She felt the fire of God touch her hands and concluded that it represented God’s healing touch. When she went to the doctor she told him of her experience. His response was, “This kind does not go away.” After examining her he stated, “Not only do you not have cancer, you have a new esophagus!”
Corporate faith pulls on heaven in marvelous ways. His world becomes manifest all around us.
Sharon had suffered an accident many years ago in which she had destroyed a tendon that ran down her leg. It left her with restricted movement and partial numbness in her foot. I was giving an altar call for people to get right with God during one of our Saturday night meetings. She began to make all kinds of noise. I stopped the altar call and asked her what happened. She told us of the tingling feeling that ran down her leg and the subsequent restoration of all movement and feeling to her foot. A creative miracle happened without anyone praying.
The crowd at this particular meeting was quite small. But power is not in the number of people in attendance. It’s the number of people in agreement. Exponential power is the product of the unity of faith.
In some meetings it’s easy to mistake enthusiasm for faith. In that setting I emphasize the use of testimonies to stir peoples’ hearts to believe for the impossible so He might invade.
MORE THAN BEING LOUD
Just as fear is a tangible element in the spirit world, so faith is tangible there. In the natural a loud voice may intimidate another man. But devils know the difference between the one who is truly bold and aggressive because of their faith, and the one who is simply covering his fears with aggressive behavior. Christians often use this tactic when casting out devils. Many of us have yelled threats, called on angels for help, promised to make it harder on the demons on Judgment Day, and other foolish things only to try and cover immature fear. Real faith is anchored in the invisible realm and is connected to the authority given in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The authority to cast out demons is found in rest. Rest is the climate that faith grows in. It comes out of the peace of God. And it is the Prince of Peace who will soon crush satan underneath our feet! What is restful for us is violent to the powers of hell. That is the violent nature of faith.
This is not to be a soulish attempt at self-confidence or self-determination. Instead it is a moving of the heart into a place of surrender…a place of rest. A surrendered heart is a heart of faith. And faith must be present to please God.
VIOLENCE AND FAITH
“Until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.”
Two blind men who sat by the road called out to Jesus. People told them to be quiet. That only hardened their determination. They became more desperate and cried out all the louder. He called them forth and healed them saying, “The kingdom has come near you.” He attributed their miracle to their faith.
A woman who had hemorrhaged for 12 years pressed through a crowd. When she was finally able to touch the garment of Jesus, she was healed. He attributed it to her faith.
The stories of this kind are many, all with similar endings—they were healed or delivered because of their faith. Faith may quietly press in, or it may cry out very loudly, but it is always violent in the spirit world. It grabs hold of an invisible reality and won’t let go. Taking the Kingdom by faith is the violent act that is necessary to come into what God has made available.
FAITH EMPOWERS
An automobile may have several hundred horsepower. But the car will go nowhere until the clutch is released, connecting the power contained in the running motor and transferring that power to the wheels. So it is with faith. We have all the power of heaven behind us. But it is our faith that connects what is available to the circumstances at hand. Faith takes what is available and makes it actual.
It’s not illegal to try to grow in faith. It’s not wrong to seek for signs and the increase of miracles. Those are all within the rights of the believer. But learning how to pray is the task at hand. It is the only thing the disciples asked Jesus to teach them. And so we will examine His Model Prayer for insights on His view of prayer and the release of His dominion.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Our Thought Life
1 Corinthians 2:11-16
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?"But we have the mind of Christ.
God calls His children to live holy lives (1 Pet. 1:15-16). This requires both the Holy Spirit's help and our cooperation. We should begin with our thought life because our actions are based upon what we believe.
The first step is to acknowledge that our thoughts need changing. Selfishness, jealousy, and other unrighteous behavior come from ungodly thinking. Examining ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5) will reveal impure thoughts. Our Father wants these replaced with thinking bent toward forgiveness and kindness (Eph. 4:30-32). This will happen as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds (Rom. 12:2).
Next, we make a commitment to the Lord that we will pursue godliness. This promise is much more than a New Year's resolution. It encompasses our entire being and is expressed as a desire to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). It means dedicating ourselves to become like our Savior.
Daily time in the Word will keep our resolve strong. Through Scripture, the Holy Spirit will transform our mind and strengthen our inner being to bring about any needed changes. If we neglect Bible study, we leave ourselves open to the influence of the world and our "flesh," neither of which cares about godliness.
Becoming holy is a lifelong process that requires understanding of God's ways, plans, and priorities--and adopting them as our own. It means letting the Spirit develop within us the mind of Christ. If we try to change our behavior without adjusting our thinking, we'll find ourselves doing precisely what we want to avoid (Rom. 7:15).
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?"But we have the mind of Christ.
God calls His children to live holy lives (1 Pet. 1:15-16). This requires both the Holy Spirit's help and our cooperation. We should begin with our thought life because our actions are based upon what we believe.
The first step is to acknowledge that our thoughts need changing. Selfishness, jealousy, and other unrighteous behavior come from ungodly thinking. Examining ourselves (2 Cor. 13:5) will reveal impure thoughts. Our Father wants these replaced with thinking bent toward forgiveness and kindness (Eph. 4:30-32). This will happen as we cooperate with the Holy Spirit in renewing our minds (Rom. 12:2).
Next, we make a commitment to the Lord that we will pursue godliness. This promise is much more than a New Year's resolution. It encompasses our entire being and is expressed as a desire to love God with our whole heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30). It means dedicating ourselves to become like our Savior.
Daily time in the Word will keep our resolve strong. Through Scripture, the Holy Spirit will transform our mind and strengthen our inner being to bring about any needed changes. If we neglect Bible study, we leave ourselves open to the influence of the world and our "flesh," neither of which cares about godliness.
Becoming holy is a lifelong process that requires understanding of God's ways, plans, and priorities--and adopting them as our own. It means letting the Spirit develop within us the mind of Christ. If we try to change our behavior without adjusting our thinking, we'll find ourselves doing precisely what we want to avoid (Rom. 7:15).
God Makes It Grow
Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthian church to correct several problems. The Corinthian's needed instruction in marriage, Christian freedom, worship, and various issues which tended to cause division. He rebuked the church for quarreling about whom they followed: "You are still worldly... For when one says, 'I follow Paul,' and another, 'I follow Apollos,' are you not mere men?" (1 Corinthians 3:3,4).
Apollos was a good teacher, but Paul reminds us that all ministers of the Gospel - all preachers, teachers, parents, and anyone else who desires to share Biblical truths - are simply servants through whom God accomplishes His work. We become worldly and fail to live according to the Spirit of God any time we become followers of a specific minister or feel personally responsible for someone's growth and maturity.
1 Corinthians 3:5-6"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
We must always remain exclusive followers of Jesus Christ! Though He may use many others to assist in the process, God must receive ALL the credit and glory for our growth. In the same manner, God uses each of us to ASSIST in the growth of others. We can teach truth with our words and demonstrate truth with our lives, but we can never cause someone to accept the truth or even grow to a deeper understanding. Our instructions are to plant the seed of His Word and water with discipleship, prayer, and encouragement at every opportunity; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
As we plant and water, it's normal to want to see some growth. We may desire to see blossoms overnight, but God is growing a mighty shade tree with deep roots and wide branches that will not break in the wind - and this kind of growth takes time. We may NEVER see the eternal results of our effort, but we must patiently continue to plant and water, and trust God to accomplish His work; "{My Word} will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I have sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).
Each of us knows someone who needs to know our Heavenly Father in a more personal way. There are great ministry opportunities placed in our path every day. Let's obediently follow by being well nourished and casting forth the seed and water of His Word without becoming discouraged. Let's remember we are the servants through whom He works, but let's ALWAYS remember that God makes it grow!
Source: http://starlightmbc.org/blog1/2009/04/god_makes_it_grow.html
Apollos was a good teacher, but Paul reminds us that all ministers of the Gospel - all preachers, teachers, parents, and anyone else who desires to share Biblical truths - are simply servants through whom God accomplishes His work. We become worldly and fail to live according to the Spirit of God any time we become followers of a specific minister or feel personally responsible for someone's growth and maturity.
1 Corinthians 3:5-6"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe - as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow."
We must always remain exclusive followers of Jesus Christ! Though He may use many others to assist in the process, God must receive ALL the credit and glory for our growth. In the same manner, God uses each of us to ASSIST in the growth of others. We can teach truth with our words and demonstrate truth with our lives, but we can never cause someone to accept the truth or even grow to a deeper understanding. Our instructions are to plant the seed of His Word and water with discipleship, prayer, and encouragement at every opportunity; "We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20).
As we plant and water, it's normal to want to see some growth. We may desire to see blossoms overnight, but God is growing a mighty shade tree with deep roots and wide branches that will not break in the wind - and this kind of growth takes time. We may NEVER see the eternal results of our effort, but we must patiently continue to plant and water, and trust God to accomplish His work; "{My Word} will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I have sent it" (Isaiah 55:11).
Each of us knows someone who needs to know our Heavenly Father in a more personal way. There are great ministry opportunities placed in our path every day. Let's obediently follow by being well nourished and casting forth the seed and water of His Word without becoming discouraged. Let's remember we are the servants through whom He works, but let's ALWAYS remember that God makes it grow!
Source: http://starlightmbc.org/blog1/2009/04/god_makes_it_grow.html
Developing Godly Thinking
Philippians 4:8-9
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
At salvation, we were set free from the power of sin and given the ability to think and live as Jesus did. To make that potential a reality requires diligent effort on our part--and surrender to the Holy Spirit.
After acknowledging a need for changed thinking, our first step is a commitment to pursue godliness. Then we must measure our opinions and choices against God's Word, regularly asking ourselves, Is my thinking, attitude, or behavior in line with the character of God and the truths of Scripture? Also, we should take note of what is absorbing our attention. It is not healthy to fill our minds with media reports, Web sites, or television programs that do not reflect God's values. The apostle Paul gave us a measuring stick to use in deciding what is worthy of our attention: he said to dwell on those things that are true, honorable, and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8).
Finally, we must discipline our mind to reject ungodly thought patterns. Those who battle addictions can testify about the mind's power to overcome good intentions. Unhealthy, repetitious desires cause us to feel guilty, keep us from connecting with God, and make us a poor witness to others. Through the Holy Spirit's power, we must learn to reject such thought patterns and embrace what God says.
Developing a lifestyle of righteous living begins with what we believe. As our minds become in tune with Christ's, we will know what is right, good, and wise. Our lives will reflect His more closely, and we will effectively live out our calling as His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20)
Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
At salvation, we were set free from the power of sin and given the ability to think and live as Jesus did. To make that potential a reality requires diligent effort on our part--and surrender to the Holy Spirit.
After acknowledging a need for changed thinking, our first step is a commitment to pursue godliness. Then we must measure our opinions and choices against God's Word, regularly asking ourselves, Is my thinking, attitude, or behavior in line with the character of God and the truths of Scripture? Also, we should take note of what is absorbing our attention. It is not healthy to fill our minds with media reports, Web sites, or television programs that do not reflect God's values. The apostle Paul gave us a measuring stick to use in deciding what is worthy of our attention: he said to dwell on those things that are true, honorable, and worthy of praise (Phil. 4:8).
Finally, we must discipline our mind to reject ungodly thought patterns. Those who battle addictions can testify about the mind's power to overcome good intentions. Unhealthy, repetitious desires cause us to feel guilty, keep us from connecting with God, and make us a poor witness to others. Through the Holy Spirit's power, we must learn to reject such thought patterns and embrace what God says.
Developing a lifestyle of righteous living begins with what we believe. As our minds become in tune with Christ's, we will know what is right, good, and wise. Our lives will reflect His more closely, and we will effectively live out our calling as His ambassadors (2 Cor. 5:20)
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Can the song “Healer” be healed?
I got this from Steph's blog called the The Red Clay Diaries. I really like her last paragraph. You can click on the title to link to the original posting...
I’ve just read news that is heartbreaking to consider. A song called “Healer”, which has swept the Internet and been picked up by Hillsong, and was sung at my church only two weeks ago, was written by a man who claimed to be suffering from terminal cancer. But he has recently admitted that he does not have cancer at all, and the song was based on a lie. I’ll link to the story at the end of this post. But first, I have a story of my own.
[This story is true, but some details have been changed to protect the subject's identity.]
A few years ago, a close friend of mine got baptized in front of the entire congregation. She’d been growing in a renewed faith for awhile, and she felt it was time to make a public statement. All of her friends and family celebrated her public profession of faith that day. I remember what I prayed for her: that God would use her in new and amazing ways in her future.
This friend was asked to apprentice as a small group leader and gladly accepted. She faithfully attended the training and worked to develop her leadership ability. Everyone believed that she would be an excellent small-group leader. I rejoiced in what seemed to be an answer to my prayer for God to use her.
But right before she started her new group, many circumstances conspired to reveal to those closest to her that she was struggling with a serious addiction. It turned out that she’d been addicted for her entire adult life, and no one around her knew. Obviously, she’d been deceiving a lot of people. And we had to deal with the truth that she’d been living a double life.
This woman’s friends and family were crushed. But she immediately acknowledged the seriousness of her actions. She took some steps that she’d never taken before. She went into counseling and threw herself into 12-step programs, attending a group every night of the week.
Her husband, the only other person who had known about the addiction, almost took the kids and left. The pattern of lies and exposure and renewed promises to stop had taken a huge toll on him. In the end, he decided to stay, go into his own 12-step group for loved-ones of addicts, and see how the rehabilitation went.
Since that revelation, my friend has fought for her life, her marriage, and her family. We have watched her get sober, relapse, recommit, and finally achieve a lasting sobriety. She would tell you that her sobriety is a daily thing, and that what ultimately keeps her sober is the knowledge that she would lose everything that matters to her if she goes back to her old life.
I believe her recovery is real. She has made her life an open book. She is different from the person I knew before. She continues to be involved in 12-step ministry, but now she’s also a leader and sponsor for others facing the same addiction.
Not long after my friend’s battle began, I remembered her baptism, and my prayer that God would use her. I felt like I’d been duped. I simply couldn’t reconcile the apparently-sincere person in the water one summer morning with the woman in crisis only a few months later. I concluded that her baptism had been just one more act of deception.
I held that belief for quite awhile. But one day, months after she’d begun leading and serving in her recovery group, I had an epiphany. First, I realized that God WAS using her. Not only through service in a small group, but also through how far she had traveled in her recovery.
My second realization was more surprising. I began to believe that her baptism had been sincere. Before she went under the water, she had proclaimed that through this baptism she was taking a new step of surrender to God. As I said, after the scandal, I’d considered that a flat-out lie. Now, I wondered if it was the opening of the door that allowed God to begin his current work in her.
I doubt she believed that the house of cards she had constructed would fall as a result of her baptism, because if she had I suspect she might not have gone through with it. But I do believe she sincerely wanted to follow God. So she might not have known HOW God was going to receive her offer of her heart, but I believe she acted on the knowledge and faith that she had at the time.
My friend and her family have since moved away from here. We keep in touch, though. And God continues to use her in recovery ministries.
Now back to today’s news about the writer of “Healer,” Michael Guglielmucci. Of course, I only know what I’ve read about his situation HERE. But I wonder what will happen if he does get the help he needs. Will we look at his song, written with apparent deception, and see it the way I now see my friend’s baptism?
I think I tend to put God in a box. I believe he’s not able to use the words or actions of a sinner. But if I spend any time thinking about it, I remember that, oh yeah, I’M a sinner. And MY evil actions and thoughts and intentions are just as horrible as my friend’s or Guglielmucci’s.
I hope the song “Healer” doesn’t fade away. I hope churches continue to use it in worship, because I do believe it’s anointed. My prayer is that a few years from now, we’ll see Michael singing it on the stage again, testifying to an even greater healing.
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Faith is a Verb
Matthew 13:54-58 "Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?" And they took offense at him... And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.
One time in the Gospels it says that Jesus couldn't do much in the town "because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58). Wouldn't that be an awful thing to have said about your home, about your family, about you? Jesus couldn't do much in or through you because of you just didn't believe Him. "Lord, why don't You do more in our church?" Could it be because of people's unbelief?
Faith is the key. God's promises are activated by faith. Faith is not passive-it's an action verb. Don't say, "Well, I'm just waiting here. Maybe God will work; maybe He won't." What are you doing about it? Well, not much.
It's like the sick guy who needs to get better, but he doesn't go to the doctor. That's foolishness. You've got to do what you can.
Like the girl who is looking for a husband, but never goes to the Young Adult meetings at church. She just sits down in her basement. "My husband will have to find me here." Yeah, that's not a great plan. Do what you can!
Like the person who's filled with concerns and wants to have hope, but has never read the Bible.
It's God promises that give us hope. How many Scriptural promises do you know? How many promises have you memorized? How many are on the tip of your tongue? Well, no wonder you're filled with anxiety! No wonder you don't have any hope! You're not holding onto anything.
Get your heart around some of the exceedingly great and precious promises of God! Hold on to what God has said in His Word. Someday you're going to be in a difficult situation and the enemy will be try to pull you down but you've got God's Word hidden in your heart. His words will flood you with courage and fill your life with faith.
"God helps those who help themselves" is not in the Bible but it is a biblical concept. Faith has to be active to be real. Remember the guy in 2 Kings 5 who had leprosy and Gold told him he had to go dip in the river? In faith, he had to do what he could. Like the woman in poverty in 2 Kings 4 who had to collect containers to hold all that oil God was giving her - she did what she could. Like a warrior heading into battle, he has to pick up his weapon.
Put some action behind what you believe and watch God work. --James MacDonald
Lord, I never want there to be a day that You can't do Your work in me because I just don't believe You. Increase my faith today, Lord. I believe that You are able to make all things are possible. Amen.
One time in the Gospels it says that Jesus couldn't do much in the town "because of their unbelief" (Matthew 13:58). Wouldn't that be an awful thing to have said about your home, about your family, about you? Jesus couldn't do much in or through you because of you just didn't believe Him. "Lord, why don't You do more in our church?" Could it be because of people's unbelief?
Faith is the key. God's promises are activated by faith. Faith is not passive-it's an action verb. Don't say, "Well, I'm just waiting here. Maybe God will work; maybe He won't." What are you doing about it? Well, not much.
It's like the sick guy who needs to get better, but he doesn't go to the doctor. That's foolishness. You've got to do what you can.
Like the girl who is looking for a husband, but never goes to the Young Adult meetings at church. She just sits down in her basement. "My husband will have to find me here." Yeah, that's not a great plan. Do what you can!
Like the person who's filled with concerns and wants to have hope, but has never read the Bible.
It's God promises that give us hope. How many Scriptural promises do you know? How many promises have you memorized? How many are on the tip of your tongue? Well, no wonder you're filled with anxiety! No wonder you don't have any hope! You're not holding onto anything.
Get your heart around some of the exceedingly great and precious promises of God! Hold on to what God has said in His Word. Someday you're going to be in a difficult situation and the enemy will be try to pull you down but you've got God's Word hidden in your heart. His words will flood you with courage and fill your life with faith.
"God helps those who help themselves" is not in the Bible but it is a biblical concept. Faith has to be active to be real. Remember the guy in 2 Kings 5 who had leprosy and Gold told him he had to go dip in the river? In faith, he had to do what he could. Like the woman in poverty in 2 Kings 4 who had to collect containers to hold all that oil God was giving her - she did what she could. Like a warrior heading into battle, he has to pick up his weapon.
Put some action behind what you believe and watch God work. --James MacDonald
Lord, I never want there to be a day that You can't do Your work in me because I just don't believe You. Increase my faith today, Lord. I believe that You are able to make all things are possible. Amen.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Prayer
A basketball in my hands is worth about $19.
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $4.75 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.
As you see now , it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because... It depends whose hands it's in
Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depths of our hearts.
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1919-1997)
A basketball in Michael Jordan's hands is worth about $33 million.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A baseball in my hands is worth about $6.
A baseball in Roger Clemens' hands is worth $4.75 million.
It depends on whose hands it's in
A tennis racket is useless in my hands.
A tennis racket in Andre Agassi's hands is worth millions.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A rod in my hands will keep away an angry dog.
A rod in Moses' hands will part the mighty sea.
It depends whose hands it's in.
A slingshot in my hands is a kid's toy.
A slingshot in David's hand is a mighty weapon.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in my hands is a couple of fish sandwiches.
Two fish and 5 loaves of bread in Jesus' hands will feed thousands.
It depends whose hands it's in.
Nails in my hands might produce a birdhouse.
Nails in Jesus Christ's hands will produce salvation for the entire world.
It depends whose hands it's in.
As you see now , it depends whose hands it's in.
So put your concerns, your worries, your fears, your hopes, your dreams, your families and your relationships in God's hands because... It depends whose hands it's in
Prayer is not asking. Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at His disposition, and listening to His voice in the depths of our hearts.
Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta (1919-1997)
Freedom in the name of Jesus!
Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
I know that God does not want me to worry about tomorrow. He wants me to know that He gives me all the help I need for today, and when tomorrow comes, so will fresh help from Him.
This is God’s principle even in the Old Testament. When the children of Israel were in the desert, God gave them fresh manna from heaven every morning. (Exodus 16:13–16, 31) They did not have to worry about tomorrow because when tomorrow came, there was fresh manna again. He was their provision every day.
Today, God’s manna is the grace He gives me every day. Even though I might be worried about a situation tomorrow, I know that there will be sufficient grace for that situation when it comes. God wants me to simply rest in His ability to heal, deliver, protect and provide for me every day.
I know that God wants me to live a stress-free life, not one filled with worries about tomorrow’s problems. When tomorrow comes, His grace will be there for me as my help, protection, favor and enabling coz there is FREEDOM IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
I know that God does not want me to worry about tomorrow. He wants me to know that He gives me all the help I need for today, and when tomorrow comes, so will fresh help from Him.
This is God’s principle even in the Old Testament. When the children of Israel were in the desert, God gave them fresh manna from heaven every morning. (Exodus 16:13–16, 31) They did not have to worry about tomorrow because when tomorrow came, there was fresh manna again. He was their provision every day.
Today, God’s manna is the grace He gives me every day. Even though I might be worried about a situation tomorrow, I know that there will be sufficient grace for that situation when it comes. God wants me to simply rest in His ability to heal, deliver, protect and provide for me every day.
I know that God wants me to live a stress-free life, not one filled with worries about tomorrow’s problems. When tomorrow comes, His grace will be there for me as my help, protection, favor and enabling coz there is FREEDOM IN THE NAME OF JESUS!
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Last Day of Internship (Official)
Today is the last day of my internship (officially!) and I won't be allowed into the Wednesday mornings internship dicipleship anymore. Boo... Hoo... Last night I was doing my devotions and I realised that my journal was at its last two pages too and I was asking myself what should I write on the last entry that I have to make on the book and I decided to list down the significant events and the blessings I have recieved from God over the past months during internship...
Here's a few of them...
- Having the revelation of Ps Matt's surmon on "The Talents" at planetUNI camp which the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me about often whenever I feel like bitching/complaining about doing God's work. "Attitude Check Christine!" the Holy Spirit will tell me.
- Having the Holy Spirit speak to me at Ps Debbie's session on "Prayer". That session was so good! I remember I was crying away and the Holy Spirit was speaking so fast that I wasn't writing fast enought to catch up with His speech and at the end of the session when I went back and read the pages I was like "WOW" blown away!
- Not ever doubting how beautiful I am and how wonderfully I have been made by God. Beautiful Woman 2008 event was so awesome. I remember I was responding to an altar call for something and when I was standing there waiting for someone to pray for me, I heard this voice that said "Christine, you have so many gifts and talents and you are so pretty and you've got such a kind heart, how can you say you are not beautiful? I created you to be so gifted, how can you say that I make junk?" that was a "ta-dah" moment for me where the veil was lifted and I saw the REAL self for the first time. I AM WHO I AM IN CHRIST!
- Having an UrbanLife that loves me so much that they would spell my name across the balcony at my Internship Graduation. Best part was that I thought they were only joking about it. I didn't event see it untill Ps Russell told me and the production crew dimmed the lights so that I saw the cards across the row. It was really nice coz the YPM and AMP members were in town for WYD DIDO8 and they came for service too!
- Getting a placement at the "Perfect" Christian enviroment. I started my placement at CityLife Community Care two weeks ago and I am loving it! I think doing counselling and welfare in a Christian enviroment vs a Non-Christian enviroment can be worlds apart coz God's way of loving people is quite different from the worldly way and I am really so blessed to be able to work in a edifying, nurtring, God-centered enviroment. What more can I wish for?
- Still getting distinctions at the end of the semester even though life was a crazy 6 months! I hardly had any time to study, do my assigements or anything that sort, the past six months had just been rushing from one place to another, doing this and doing that, meetings, serving, classes, eat, shower and sleep if I had any time left for that at all so its really amazing how I can still get my distinctions when honestly, I dont even know what happened...
God you are so good to me and I love you so much!
Here's a few of them...
- Having the revelation of Ps Matt's surmon on "The Talents" at planetUNI camp which the Holy Spirit keeps reminding me about often whenever I feel like bitching/complaining about doing God's work. "Attitude Check Christine!" the Holy Spirit will tell me.
- Having the Holy Spirit speak to me at Ps Debbie's session on "Prayer". That session was so good! I remember I was crying away and the Holy Spirit was speaking so fast that I wasn't writing fast enought to catch up with His speech and at the end of the session when I went back and read the pages I was like "WOW" blown away!
- Not ever doubting how beautiful I am and how wonderfully I have been made by God. Beautiful Woman 2008 event was so awesome. I remember I was responding to an altar call for something and when I was standing there waiting for someone to pray for me, I heard this voice that said "Christine, you have so many gifts and talents and you are so pretty and you've got such a kind heart, how can you say you are not beautiful? I created you to be so gifted, how can you say that I make junk?" that was a "ta-dah" moment for me where the veil was lifted and I saw the REAL self for the first time. I AM WHO I AM IN CHRIST!
- Having an UrbanLife that loves me so much that they would spell my name across the balcony at my Internship Graduation. Best part was that I thought they were only joking about it. I didn't event see it untill Ps Russell told me and the production crew dimmed the lights so that I saw the cards across the row. It was really nice coz the YPM and AMP members were in town for WYD DIDO8 and they came for service too!
- Getting a placement at the "Perfect" Christian enviroment. I started my placement at CityLife Community Care two weeks ago and I am loving it! I think doing counselling and welfare in a Christian enviroment vs a Non-Christian enviroment can be worlds apart coz God's way of loving people is quite different from the worldly way and I am really so blessed to be able to work in a edifying, nurtring, God-centered enviroment. What more can I wish for?
- Still getting distinctions at the end of the semester even though life was a crazy 6 months! I hardly had any time to study, do my assigements or anything that sort, the past six months had just been rushing from one place to another, doing this and doing that, meetings, serving, classes, eat, shower and sleep if I had any time left for that at all so its really amazing how I can still get my distinctions when honestly, I dont even know what happened...
God you are so good to me and I love you so much!
Monday, May 12, 2008
Nothing But The Blood of Jesus
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Refrain
Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea,Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain)
Nothing can for sin atone,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain)
This is all my hope and peace,Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,Nothing but the blood of Jesus.(Refrain)
Now by this I’ll overcome—Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
Now by this I’ll reach my home—Nothing but the blood of Jesus. (Refrain)
Glory! Glory! This I sing—Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring—Nothing but the blood of Jesus.(Refrain)
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Don't Just Know But Believe!
1 John 4:16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
You may have heard and know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you. But it’s one thing to know this; it’s another thing to believe the love that God has for you.
For example, it’s one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it’s another thing to believe that the sun is still shining even though you don’t feel its warmth and all you see are cloudy skies.
Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a bad patch. Today, God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow in coming, when the boss is fault-finding, when your child still refuses to come home.
In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly for you, on your side and defending you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully?
Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you. The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place.
When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the hundredth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to receive mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner, at your worst and ugliest (Romans 5:8), how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)
You may have heard and know that God cares for you and loves you, and that He demonstrated His love for you by dying on the cross for you. But it’s one thing to know this; it’s another thing to believe the love that God has for you.
For example, it’s one thing to know that the sun shines on us during the day. But it’s another thing to believe that the sun is still shining even though you don’t feel its warmth and all you see are cloudy skies.
Sometimes we are slow in believing God’s love for us when we are going through a bad patch. Today, God wants you to know and believe that He loves you in the midst of the deal falling through, when that job is slow in coming, when the boss is fault-finding, when your child still refuses to come home.
In the midst of the pain, He wants you to know and believe that He is wholly for you, on your side and defending you. And if God, the most powerful being in the universe, is for you, can anyone or anything come against you successfully?
Perhaps you feel like you have messed up big time. God wants you to know and believe that though others may be angry with you, He will never be angry with you. Neither will He condemn you. The sum total of His anger against your sins fell upon Jesus at the cross. So He wants you to know and believe that He will never punish you because Jesus was punished in your place.
When you feel unworthy because you have just blown it for the hundredth time, know and believe that your heavenly Father still offers you the gift of no condemnation. So come boldly to His throne of grace to receive mercy and grace. (Hebrews 4:16)
My friend, know and believe that since He loved you and died for you while you were still a sinner, at your worst and ugliest (Romans 5:8), how much more is His love for you now that you are His beloved child and the righteousness of God in Christ! (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Monday, November 26, 2007
A Thankful Heart
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Look around you and take notice of all that you observe. What are you truly thankful for? I give thanks to the Lord for the air that we breathe, the sun, the stars that shine in the night sky, the trees, flowers, plants, shrubs, especially for the richness of the earth and soil, for without that richness and the mineral content of the soil, we would not have the abundant crops growing that help sustain us every single day. I am so thankful for the animals that in turn feed us. I am thankful as well for the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams and other bodies of water which give us the most important fluid, water, to keep us alive, healthy and clean. I am thankful for my job, for my family, for my children, for education, for health, for the people that I have known all my life, for the friends that I have met along the way and for the ones who lift me up in prayer.
I am even thankful for the problems that come up, as they help to strengthen my relationship with my heavenly Father. I am most thankful for Jesus Christ, for He died on the cross for me. I am thankful for salvation and the promise of an eternal life in heaven with Him. I am also thankful that as I sit down at my Thanksgiving table, heavily laden with food, that I know Jesus loves me and has given to me and to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, all of this and so much more. "Give thanks with a grateful heart."
Lord, stop us in our tracks and make us open wide our eyes to all that You have so graciously provided and given for our enjoyment. Make us truly grateful to You. Thank you, Lord, for the most precious gift of our salvation. In all that we have, let us lift Your name in praise and thanksgiving.
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Look around you and take notice of all that you observe. What are you truly thankful for? I give thanks to the Lord for the air that we breathe, the sun, the stars that shine in the night sky, the trees, flowers, plants, shrubs, especially for the richness of the earth and soil, for without that richness and the mineral content of the soil, we would not have the abundant crops growing that help sustain us every single day. I am so thankful for the animals that in turn feed us. I am thankful as well for the oceans, rivers, lakes, streams and other bodies of water which give us the most important fluid, water, to keep us alive, healthy and clean. I am thankful for my job, for my family, for my children, for education, for health, for the people that I have known all my life, for the friends that I have met along the way and for the ones who lift me up in prayer.
I am even thankful for the problems that come up, as they help to strengthen my relationship with my heavenly Father. I am most thankful for Jesus Christ, for He died on the cross for me. I am thankful for salvation and the promise of an eternal life in heaven with Him. I am also thankful that as I sit down at my Thanksgiving table, heavily laden with food, that I know Jesus loves me and has given to me and to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, all of this and so much more. "Give thanks with a grateful heart."
Lord, stop us in our tracks and make us open wide our eyes to all that You have so graciously provided and given for our enjoyment. Make us truly grateful to You. Thank you, Lord, for the most precious gift of our salvation. In all that we have, let us lift Your name in praise and thanksgiving.
The Believer's War Cry
Ephesians 6:10-15
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
A righteous believer is Satan's enemy. The greater our impact for God's kingdom, the harder he works to stir up frustration, doubt, and anxiety. The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesian believers, warning them that the Devil would scheme against a successful Christian life.
Satan loathes those who please the Lord with their lifestyle, and he rallies the "spiritual forces of wickedness" to attack believers in mind, body, and spirit (Ephesians 6:12). His primary goal is to divert our attention from the Lord so that our relationship suffers and our witness is weakened or ruined. The Devil cannot snatch our eternal spirit from God's hand (John 10:29), but he will settle for leading us to make a mess of this present life.
Paul counseled the saints to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). Fending off a satanic attack is not done in our own strength. No man or woman can match wits with the Adversary. He is smarter and stronger than even the most intelligent people. Instead, we are continually empowered by God through the Holy Spirit, who is far greater than Satan (1 John 4:4).
Believers have God's strength and His orders, which are to stand firm. That means we're to trust the Lord and wait patiently for Him to intervene. We are to be like a soldier on the battlefield, who digs his heels into the ground, puts up his shield, and stands ready for the oncoming enemy. The war is already won--our soul belongs to God--but the battle for our testimony on earth rages on. Stand firm.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace.
A righteous believer is Satan's enemy. The greater our impact for God's kingdom, the harder he works to stir up frustration, doubt, and anxiety. The apostle Paul wrote a letter to the Ephesian believers, warning them that the Devil would scheme against a successful Christian life.
Satan loathes those who please the Lord with their lifestyle, and he rallies the "spiritual forces of wickedness" to attack believers in mind, body, and spirit (Ephesians 6:12). His primary goal is to divert our attention from the Lord so that our relationship suffers and our witness is weakened or ruined. The Devil cannot snatch our eternal spirit from God's hand (John 10:29), but he will settle for leading us to make a mess of this present life.
Paul counseled the saints to "be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (Ephesians 6:10). Fending off a satanic attack is not done in our own strength. No man or woman can match wits with the Adversary. He is smarter and stronger than even the most intelligent people. Instead, we are continually empowered by God through the Holy Spirit, who is far greater than Satan (1 John 4:4).
Believers have God's strength and His orders, which are to stand firm. That means we're to trust the Lord and wait patiently for Him to intervene. We are to be like a soldier on the battlefield, who digs his heels into the ground, puts up his shield, and stands ready for the oncoming enemy. The war is already won--our soul belongs to God--but the battle for our testimony on earth rages on. Stand firm.
Changing People Through Prayer
Colossians 1:9-14
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Look around, and you'll find people who need to make changes in their lives. Maybe you have a sister who does not know Christ or a believing neighbor who struggles to tame a gossiping tongue. The most powerful way to effect change in another person's life--or your own--is by praying. God, through the apostle Paul, has given us a prayer pattern that is Christ-centered and specific.
Too often, believers are lazy in prayer. We say, "Lord, bless so-and-so" without giving any thought to what form the blessing should take. God doesn't work in generalities; He moves deliberately in people's lives. And He's pleased when we use His Word in communicating with Him. The prayer from Colossians chapter one includes God's greatest desires for His children. When we go before Him and read the name of a friend or family member-- or our own--into this passage, we are praying His specific will for that person.
When you pray these Colossians verses, watch for transformation. The Lord delights in responding to requests that someone be filled with knowledge of His will and a desire to please Him!
Results may not be instantaneous. We could wait weeks or even years before we see a loved one turn to Christ or finally witness that gossipy neighbor bear loving fruit instead of rotten. But behind the scenes, the Lord is working to build that person's spiritual understanding and impress on him or her a desire to choose a faithful lifestyle. Our responsibility is to keep praying in a Christ-centered and specific manner.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Look around, and you'll find people who need to make changes in their lives. Maybe you have a sister who does not know Christ or a believing neighbor who struggles to tame a gossiping tongue. The most powerful way to effect change in another person's life--or your own--is by praying. God, through the apostle Paul, has given us a prayer pattern that is Christ-centered and specific.
Too often, believers are lazy in prayer. We say, "Lord, bless so-and-so" without giving any thought to what form the blessing should take. God doesn't work in generalities; He moves deliberately in people's lives. And He's pleased when we use His Word in communicating with Him. The prayer from Colossians chapter one includes God's greatest desires for His children. When we go before Him and read the name of a friend or family member-- or our own--into this passage, we are praying His specific will for that person.
When you pray these Colossians verses, watch for transformation. The Lord delights in responding to requests that someone be filled with knowledge of His will and a desire to please Him!
Results may not be instantaneous. We could wait weeks or even years before we see a loved one turn to Christ or finally witness that gossipy neighbor bear loving fruit instead of rotten. But behind the scenes, the Lord is working to build that person's spiritual understanding and impress on him or her a desire to choose a faithful lifestyle. Our responsibility is to keep praying in a Christ-centered and specific manner.
Solving Problems through Prayer
Problems are an inevitable part of life whether or not a person is saved. The difference is that once a man or woman becomes a believer, the Father strengthens His child to face every difficulty.
Our omniscient and all-powerful God is greater than any problem. He knows our future circumstances and prepares our hearts and minds to withstand coming trials. The moment we encounter a problem, we can tap into His omnipotence. He promised to meet believers’ needs; therefore, He is under His own divine obligation to give guidance and direction.
Our first response should always be to call out, “Father!” Instantly, two things take place: the problem’s growth is stunted, and God’s child is reminded of the unique position given those who trust in the sovereign Lord.
God always provides a solution to the problem. However, we don’t simply sit back and wait for Him to work out the details. The Lord usually requires an act of faith from His children to jump-start the process. Experience and trust should tell us that His solutions are always best, but human strength may falter when we hear what He asks of us. Thankfully, the One who gives us endurance also offers courage to act at the right moment.
Long before a crisis arises or any solution is needed, the wise believer will be consistently seeking God. In trouble-free times, we can build a foundation of trust and communion with Him that can withstand any hardship. Problems are unavoidable, but the Father is faithful to solve our difficulties through prayer.
Our omniscient and all-powerful God is greater than any problem. He knows our future circumstances and prepares our hearts and minds to withstand coming trials. The moment we encounter a problem, we can tap into His omnipotence. He promised to meet believers’ needs; therefore, He is under His own divine obligation to give guidance and direction.
Our first response should always be to call out, “Father!” Instantly, two things take place: the problem’s growth is stunted, and God’s child is reminded of the unique position given those who trust in the sovereign Lord.
God always provides a solution to the problem. However, we don’t simply sit back and wait for Him to work out the details. The Lord usually requires an act of faith from His children to jump-start the process. Experience and trust should tell us that His solutions are always best, but human strength may falter when we hear what He asks of us. Thankfully, the One who gives us endurance also offers courage to act at the right moment.
Long before a crisis arises or any solution is needed, the wise believer will be consistently seeking God. In trouble-free times, we can build a foundation of trust and communion with Him that can withstand any hardship. Problems are unavoidable, but the Father is faithful to solve our difficulties through prayer.
Monday, November 19, 2007
God Is Not Out To Get You But To Bless You
2 Corinthians 5:19 God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them…
On which two ancient cities did God rain brimstone and fire?
If your answer is Sodom and Gomorrah, you are right. But if you think that God was all eager to destroy the two cities, you are wrong!
God wasn’t willing at all. In fact, God was on a righteousness hunt so that He could spare the cities. (Genesis 18:23–32) And I believe that if Abraham had asked God, “What if You can find just one righteous man?” God’s answer would have been the same: “I will not destroy the place for the sake of one righteous man.”
Today, the righteousness of one Man has come. His name is Jesus. He died for our sins and rose again for our justification. And God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself, not counting our sins against us!
Therefore, no judgment will fall on you today because it fell on Jesus 2,000 years ago at Calvary. And if God was gracious enough to remove Lot and his family before the judgment fell (Genesis 19:12–22), how much more will He do for you who are no longer under judgment!
And because God does not judge you, do not be like Lot’s wife, who turned back to look at the brimstone and fire, and became a pillar of salt. (Genesis 19:24–26) She wanted to see God’s judgment, even though the angels had warned, “Don’t look back, lest you be destroyed.” (Genesis 19:17)
So do not be judgment-focused. God is not against you. God is for you. God is on your side. God remembers that He judged and punished your sins in the body of His Son. God is faithful to His Son and to what His Son has done, so He will never judge or punish you.
Any trouble you might have is not from God. But He will always show you a way of escape because He is on your side. God loves you. He has your and your family’s best interests at heart. Today, God is not out to get you, He is out to bless you. And He wants you blessed more than you can ever know!
How Jesus Meets the Deepest Longings of Your Heart by Dr. Jack Graham
More than likely, you've heard the story out of the New Testament of the chief tax collector, a man named Zacchaeus. As I have read his story over and over, I have come to realize that Zacchaeus' story is everyone's story-including yours and mine. As you read his story, you come to realize that Zacchaeus illustrates the four basic weaknesses and needs of every human heart: the feeling of emptiness, the feeling of loneliness, the weight of guilt, and the fear of death.
There really are some great life-lessons you and I can learn as we look at this man. Let's pick up his story in Luke 19:1-9:
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Zacchaeus was a wealthy man in his day, but he was empty inside. His story is a great reminder that it doesn't matter how well off you are financially or physically, there is a need deep within every human heart to be filled with something that will last...something that will fill that emptiness we feel in souls.
Friend, you and I were made to know God, to love God, to experience grace, and to know true, saving faith in Him. It doesn't matter how much money you have...how much status you achieve...or how many things you have. You need God because you were made to know Him...just like Zacchaeus was. But Zacchaeus had another problem. He was lonely. He was a Jew working for the Romans to collect taxes, one of the most hated professions of that day. He was skimming off the top, swindling and scandalizing his friends. Zacchaeus was a man who seemingly had no conscience-and no friends. He was an outcast of society!
As a result, he was a very lonely man...just like so many people today. We were made to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so we naturally feel lonely without Him. And this is how Zacchaeus felt. Along with that loneliness, Zacchaeus carried around a huge weight of guilt...a feeling everyone experiences.
Some people try to numb the pain of guilt with excessive alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, or unhealthy relationships. But no matter how you try to hide it...no matter how far you may try to run, you will never be able to dissolve that sense of guilt apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Finally, just like anyone who doesn't have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, Zacchaeus was afraid to die. And while most people don't admit this fact, it's true. Even though many considered Zacchaeus a waste case, Jesus knew that he was empty and lonely...Jesus knew that he felt guilty...and Jesus knew that he was afraid to die. And that's why Jesus stopped!
I don't know where you may be in life today, my friend. Maybe you can relate to one or more of Zacchaeus' weaknesses. Whatever your station may be today...good, bad, rich or poor...I hope you have come to realize all that God is offering you through Jesus Christ...the Friend of the wounded heart. Because through Jesus you can indeed know fullness for your emptiness, forgiveness for your guilt, and intimacy with God for your loneliness. And through Him you have the ultimate victory, the victory over death.
There really are some great life-lessons you and I can learn as we look at this man. Let's pick up his story in Luke 19:1-9:
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, "Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house." So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, "He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner." Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold." And Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost."
Zacchaeus was a wealthy man in his day, but he was empty inside. His story is a great reminder that it doesn't matter how well off you are financially or physically, there is a need deep within every human heart to be filled with something that will last...something that will fill that emptiness we feel in souls.
Friend, you and I were made to know God, to love God, to experience grace, and to know true, saving faith in Him. It doesn't matter how much money you have...how much status you achieve...or how many things you have. You need God because you were made to know Him...just like Zacchaeus was. But Zacchaeus had another problem. He was lonely. He was a Jew working for the Romans to collect taxes, one of the most hated professions of that day. He was skimming off the top, swindling and scandalizing his friends. Zacchaeus was a man who seemingly had no conscience-and no friends. He was an outcast of society!
As a result, he was a very lonely man...just like so many people today. We were made to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, so we naturally feel lonely without Him. And this is how Zacchaeus felt. Along with that loneliness, Zacchaeus carried around a huge weight of guilt...a feeling everyone experiences.
Some people try to numb the pain of guilt with excessive alcohol consumption, illicit drug use, or unhealthy relationships. But no matter how you try to hide it...no matter how far you may try to run, you will never be able to dissolve that sense of guilt apart from a relationship with Jesus Christ.
Finally, just like anyone who doesn't have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, Zacchaeus was afraid to die. And while most people don't admit this fact, it's true. Even though many considered Zacchaeus a waste case, Jesus knew that he was empty and lonely...Jesus knew that he felt guilty...and Jesus knew that he was afraid to die. And that's why Jesus stopped!
I don't know where you may be in life today, my friend. Maybe you can relate to one or more of Zacchaeus' weaknesses. Whatever your station may be today...good, bad, rich or poor...I hope you have come to realize all that God is offering you through Jesus Christ...the Friend of the wounded heart. Because through Jesus you can indeed know fullness for your emptiness, forgiveness for your guilt, and intimacy with God for your loneliness. And through Him you have the ultimate victory, the victory over death.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
God is in Control
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
Nothing that happens is beyond God's control. Ultimately, whatever comes into our life is either sent by our Father or permitted by Him, and that which does not enter is withheld according to His will. But believers sometimes get so caught up in the moment that they forget about the Lord's omnipotence. Then when life is challenging or uncomfortable, the temptation is to react against whatever seems to be causing them trouble. Fired? Blame the boss. Single? Blame the opposite sex.
To illustrate this idea, think about a child who has to swallow a nasty-tasting antibiotic. In a fit of frustration, he slaps away the bottle from his mother's hand, even though the container is only a "secondary agent." Mom is the one who dispenses the medicine, but since he cannot slap her, he turns his irritation against the vessel.
When we "slap away the bottle," we take out our anger and resentment on the vessel the Lord is using instead of accepting that His will is at work. God does assure us He is working out the details of our life for good, but we cannot assume this means everything will turn out to our liking.
Sometimes it's easier to turn our wrath against an earthly agent than to be honest with our Father about frustration over our circumstances. But God welcomes honesty. Both Jesus and the apostle Paul cried out to Him in anguish (Matthew 26:39; 2 Corinthians 12:7-9). If we recognize that God is in control and guiding our future for good, then we will not stay discouraged for long.
God is in Control by Avalon
Monday, November 12, 2007
You Got To Work This Thing by Pastor Deborah
Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
When your body is out of shape, isn't it up to you to work your own body back in shape? Nobody works out for you, right? Well, in the same sense, the Bible tells you to work out your own salvation. Nobody can do it for you. You cannot depend on ministers, your family or friends to do it for you. It is your salvation. You have to work this thing.
You work out your own salvation by working God's word into your life, and by personalizing and making His word real to you. When you do this, God can complete His plans for you, and then you will see success in your life. Not a smidgen of s uccess every now and again, but the everyday success that God has for you.
Now, here's the good news! God is not asking you to work it out all by yourself. But God is, all the while, effectively at work in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire to do His will. So, while you are working it out, you are giving God control to do His will in your life. There is no excuse for you to not work out your own salvation when God is the source of your strength. Yes, problems may come against you, but if you allow them to keep you from working out your salvation, then those same problems will stop you from doing what God has called you to do. God didn't say to work out your own salvation as long as no one talks about you, bothers you, or hurts you. He said to work it out everyday.
If you need help working out your salvation, go to God. He's the only One who can help you. Give God every area of your life. Don't pick and choose what God can handle! He can handle all your problems. Do it God's way and you will have victory every time.
Scripture References: Hebrews 2:1-3; 13:20-21
When your body is out of shape, isn't it up to you to work your own body back in shape? Nobody works out for you, right? Well, in the same sense, the Bible tells you to work out your own salvation. Nobody can do it for you. You cannot depend on ministers, your family or friends to do it for you. It is your salvation. You have to work this thing.
You work out your own salvation by working God's word into your life, and by personalizing and making His word real to you. When you do this, God can complete His plans for you, and then you will see success in your life. Not a smidgen of s uccess every now and again, but the everyday success that God has for you.
Now, here's the good news! God is not asking you to work it out all by yourself. But God is, all the while, effectively at work in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire to do His will. So, while you are working it out, you are giving God control to do His will in your life. There is no excuse for you to not work out your own salvation when God is the source of your strength. Yes, problems may come against you, but if you allow them to keep you from working out your salvation, then those same problems will stop you from doing what God has called you to do. God didn't say to work out your own salvation as long as no one talks about you, bothers you, or hurts you. He said to work it out everyday.
If you need help working out your salvation, go to God. He's the only One who can help you. Give God every area of your life. Don't pick and choose what God can handle! He can handle all your problems. Do it God's way and you will have victory every time.
Scripture References: Hebrews 2:1-3; 13:20-21
"The Heart of Worship" Video by Louie Giglio
For those who missed out on Hillsong Conference 2007 or those who want to relive those indescrible moments again. Here’s the link to Louie’s morning rally session on “The Heart of Worship”
Ps: it’s the one that got everyone singing “Pass it on”
Enjoy!
http://268generation.com/videoplayer/player.php?videoid=hillsongworship&quality=hi
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