What do you do when you’re in Limbo Land? It’s tempting to feel uneasy or irritated or act out when you’re in any intermediate, indeterminate state of condition. But don’t get discouraged your Heavenly Father has a plan and promised to bring it to pass. Apparently even Jesus was in a hurry to get to what was stirring in His heart. When He was twelve and his family left the town they had traveled to He decided to “linger behind” in the temple with the teachers but His time had not yet come. So when they realized they had left Him they sought with anxiety and when they found them it seems like His attitude was like, “Hey, what’s the big deal?” “And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?"” He thought He was ready when he was twelve but God decided that He still had eighteen years of submission and training. Moses thought he was ready when he was forty but “got to” wait in the wilderness until he was eighty. Joshua and Caleb were ready but the rest of their generation wasn’t so they also “got to” wait in the wilderness for forty years before they possessed the promise. People usually feel like they’re ready before they’re really ready because they’re tired of training and want to get to the “main event.” Trusting and tarrying is tiring when you’re not resting and rejoicing. You can relax and enjoy the journey or you can be anxious and asking, “are we there yet” every five minutes. But life’s a long road trip and they’re people along every step of the way. We can’t skip steps because we would skip people and lose lives. And true contentment will never come from the outside but within so as long as you’re looking for it in situations and circumstances you’ll never experience it. And it’s like playing ‘hide and go seek’ and never finding anyone. Now that can make you mad, annoyed and discouraged and want to quit but all you have to do is start looking in the right place. Look in and you will see your glorious and Almighy God working in the midst of you. Your flesh will scream cry like a hungry child on a road trip but God’s got spiritual snacks to satisfy you along the way. And as long as you’re in Limbo Land don’t despair and focus on where you are but rejoice in fellowship with who you’re with. The Lord is greater than your location and “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Rom 8:18) Realize you’ve got God so life is good. And the secret of being content in every situation is, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Phil 4:13
Luke 2:41-52
41 His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; 44 but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day's journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. 46 Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. 47 And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. 48 So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, "Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously."
49 And He said to them, "Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?" 50 But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.
51 Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
NKJV
Phil 4:11-13
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
NKJV
THE RECIPE FOR BEING HAPPY! …
Phil 4:11-13
11 Actually, I don't have a sense of needing anything personally. I've learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. 12 I'm just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I've found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. 13 Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.
Phil 4:11-13
Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
12 I know how to be abased and live humbly in straitened circumstances, and I know also how to enjoy plenty and live in abundance. I have learned in any and all circumstances the secret of facing every situation, whether well-fed or going hungry, having a sufficiency and enough to spare or going without and being in want.
13 I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ's sufficiency].
AMP
Phil 1:3-7
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
NKJV
Heb 13:20-21
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV
Friday, May 28, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Bull’s-eye!
Robin Hood may be able to split an arrow with an arrow but I can’t. Somehow I always seem to miss the mark. And it’s the same way in life for those trying to earn salvation. One definition of sin is simply “to miss the mark (and so not share in the prize) (Vines) The prize is eternal fellowship with The Father on earth and eternally in heaven but the mark is perfection. To qualify we must keep the whole law of God and never break it even with one “little” transgression. The bible says, “For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” (James 2:10) So it's an all or nothing proposition, either keep it all or be guilty of all. Well bummer! The Almighty and Just Judge knows that we did not and can not keep it so that leaves us on the outside of the castle, poor, destitute with no hope of heaven. But thank God He sent Jesus to be our Robin Hood. He came to be our Savior. He perfectly kept the law and won the prize splitting the Old Covenant right down the middle with the New.
Now He shares His riches with us and invites us to come into His kingdom. He did not just come to rob from the rich and give to the poor but “He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9) He actually became the sacrifice for our “mark missing/sin” not just by shooting an arrow but He was actually split open and bled and died to win the prize of eternal salvation for “whosoever shall call.” He hit the impossible bulls-eye and now He allows His victory of righteousness to be accounted to us for righteousness. He hit the mark but then took the penalty for missing the mark which is eternal death and then and gave us the prize - everlasting life! And not only that but also rose from the dead to rule and reign forever and make sure we get it. To all those who receive Him He gives the right and authority to become children of God. And now we are His children, abiding in the Kings court and He is alive forever and still making intercession for us.
2 Cor 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NKJV
1 Cor 15:3-5
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
NKJV
Rom 5:8-11
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
NKJV
Heb 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
NKJV
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
NKJV
Rom 10:5-13
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them." 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
NKJV
Col 1:9-14
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NKJV
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
NIV
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
NKJV
Now He shares His riches with us and invites us to come into His kingdom. He did not just come to rob from the rich and give to the poor but “He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich. (2 Cor 8:9) He actually became the sacrifice for our “mark missing/sin” not just by shooting an arrow but He was actually split open and bled and died to win the prize of eternal salvation for “whosoever shall call.” He hit the impossible bulls-eye and now He allows His victory of righteousness to be accounted to us for righteousness. He hit the mark but then took the penalty for missing the mark which is eternal death and then and gave us the prize - everlasting life! And not only that but also rose from the dead to rule and reign forever and make sure we get it. To all those who receive Him He gives the right and authority to become children of God. And now we are His children, abiding in the Kings court and He is alive forever and still making intercession for us.
2 Cor 5:21
21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
NKJV
1 Cor 15:3-5
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
NKJV
Rom 5:8-11
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.
NKJV
Heb 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
NKJV
John 1:12-13
12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name:
NKJV
Rom 10:5-13
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, "The man who does those things shall live by them." 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way, "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down from above) 7 or, "'Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."
NKJV
Col 1:9-14
9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
NKJV
1 John 3:1
How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!
NIV
John 3:16
16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
NKJV
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Help or Hindrance?
If you want to make fool of yourself just go around telling everyone what you think. You presume to be a counselor without knowing all the facts and assume you know what’s right for someone else without having all the information about their situation. It’s ignorant to attempt to advise someone when you are not willing to take the time to communicate and understand their true condition. It’s like trying to solve a math problem without factoring in all the factors. When you to try to reason and resolve from your own perspective you become a counselor of confusion. Before you try and get someone to understand the way you see it you first must understand the way that they see it. “Seek first to understand, then to be understood” (Steven Covey) because if you don’t understand you’ll offer advice based on ignorance. It may bolster your ego to revel in your own “revelation” but it will never help anyone unless you can help them apply it from their perspective of their situation.
If you really want to help people you have to pray and ask God to help you know what to say and what not to say. What you don’t say may be more important that what you do. And sometimes there’s not much to say but plenty to do to actually help the person get through. Most people just want to stand on the side of the pit and offer advice for ascension and then go on their merry little way. But I say that it may be time to just shut up and go get a rope and get our hands dirty in helping.
Prov 18:13
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.
NKJV
Prov 18:2
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.
NKJV
James 3:1-2
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
NKJV
Prov 17:28
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
NKJV
Matt 23:1-4
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
NIV
James 2:15-17
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
NKJV
If you really want to help people you have to pray and ask God to help you know what to say and what not to say. What you don’t say may be more important that what you do. And sometimes there’s not much to say but plenty to do to actually help the person get through. Most people just want to stand on the side of the pit and offer advice for ascension and then go on their merry little way. But I say that it may be time to just shut up and go get a rope and get our hands dirty in helping.
Prov 18:13
13 He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him.
NKJV
Prov 18:2
2 A fool has no delight in understanding,
But in expressing his own heart.
NKJV
James 3:1-2
My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.
NKJV
Prov 17:28
28 Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace;
When he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.
NKJV
Matt 23:1-4
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.
NIV
James 2:15-17
15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
NKJV
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Unfailing Faithfulness
Thank God for His unfailing faithfulness! “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (2 Tim 2:13) As his children we have challenges with consistency but God He is ever constant, loyal and true. If we get distracted our love may grow cold but not God He is ever bold in His declaration and demonstration of love for us. He has always loved us and always will. He said, “I have always loved you, so I continue to show you my constant love. Jer 31:3(GNB) His love is mightier than the mountains, for the mountains may be shaken and taken into the midst of the sea but God’s steadfast and unfailing love shall never be shaken or by nothing be taken from us. (Isa 54:10, Rom 8:38-39) He loved us at our worst and proved and demonstrated how much when He sent His Son to die for us.(Rom 5:8) Now much more that we’ve received Him will He reveal His intense and everlasting love to us as He pours it out and sheds it abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 5:5) So great and glorious is it that we have to be strengthened and reinforced with the might of his Spirit within in order to even begin to comprehend the fullness of it. He will never stop loving us even though we have “our moments” because He is love and “He cannot deny Himself.” He loves us because of who He is not for what we do. So let’s be diligent to continue to believe and receive and abide in His love to be enabled to be loyal to love Him with all our heart, soul, strength and mind.
1 John 4:16
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.
NKJV
Eph 2:4-8
4 But God — so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
AMP
Rom 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NKJV
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV
1 John 4:16
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.
NKJV
Eph 2:4-8
4 But God — so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,
5 Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).
6 And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
7 He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
8 For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved ( delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
AMP
Rom 8:31-39
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 33 Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 As it is written:
"For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter."
37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
NKJV
Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV
Monday, May 24, 2010
Everything Has Its Time
Eccl 3:1-12 NKJV
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor — it is the gift of God.
1 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
2 A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
3 A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
4 A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
5 A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
6 A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
7 A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
8 A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.
9 What profit has the worker from that in which he labors? 10 I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
12 I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, 13 and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor — it is the gift of God.
Friday, May 21, 2010
You Can’t but You Can…
“…I can do everything God asks me to with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power.”
Phil 4:13TLB
The key to power is purpose. You can’t just do everything or whatever you want but you can do anything the Lord asks you to and even if it’s beyond your own ability. That’s the power of Christ in you to do what you can’t do. It’s His super is added to your natural making you supernatural and extraordinary. When you pray you get the plan and are empowered to fulfill His purpose and then His provision manifests “as you go”. But there is no provision provided by providence for anything that’s not His purpose. And if you’re out of His plan and doing “your own thing” why would God provide for that? It’s not His deal and until you get back on track you’ll experience lack. So what He will do is help you, not help you do whatever you want to, but help you get back on His track so He can shine through and bless you and the people around you too.
1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV
Heb 10:5-7
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come —
In the volume of the book it is written of Me —
To do Your will, O God.'"
NKJV
Luke 11:2
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
NKJV
Phil 4:13TLB
The key to power is purpose. You can’t just do everything or whatever you want but you can do anything the Lord asks you to and even if it’s beyond your own ability. That’s the power of Christ in you to do what you can’t do. It’s His super is added to your natural making you supernatural and extraordinary. When you pray you get the plan and are empowered to fulfill His purpose and then His provision manifests “as you go”. But there is no provision provided by providence for anything that’s not His purpose. And if you’re out of His plan and doing “your own thing” why would God provide for that? It’s not His deal and until you get back on track you’ll experience lack. So what He will do is help you, not help you do whatever you want to, but help you get back on His track so He can shine through and bless you and the people around you too.
1 Peter 4:10-11
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV
Heb 10:5-7
5 Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:
"Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
7 Then I said, 'Behold, I have come —
In the volume of the book it is written of Me —
To do Your will, O God.'"
NKJV
Luke 11:2
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
NKJV
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Angels of the Almighty
The angels of the Almighty are awesome and are sent to serve the heirs of salvation. When we received Jesus as Lord we became children of God and heirs of the Almighty! Now that we are members of His household we have access to divine protection and benefits. A multitude of mighty angels have been sent from heaven to help us do Gods will. They are called to protect and prosper us in the service of the King. It pleases the Father to give us success in spreading the Gospel of salvation. We are ambassadors sent with power and authority to set captives free and invite people to become citizens of heaven qualified to receive all the blessings of the Kingdom. The angels don’t do our bidding but the Lord’s but when we also do His bidding they aid us with supernatural service. When we pray for protection they provide the power and when we declare and preach the Word of the King they hearken to it and confirm it because that’s their thing. The angels of the Almighty are awesome they excel in supernatural strength, they heed the voice of God’s Word spoken by His ambassadors and serve the servants of salvation.
Ps 35:27
"Let the Lord be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
NKJV
Ps 103:20-21
20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
NKJV
Isa 46:9-10
9 Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying,'My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,'
NKJV
Heb 1:14
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
NKJV
Heb 1:14
14 Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?
AMP
2 Kings 19:35
35 And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses — all dead.
NKJV
Matt 26:53-54
53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
NKJV
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."
NKJV
Mark 16:20
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
NKJV
Ps 35:27
"Let the Lord be magnified,
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant."
NKJV
Ps 103:20-21
20 Bless the Lord, you His angels,
Who excel in strength, who do His word,
Heeding the voice of His word.
21 Bless the Lord, all you His hosts,
You ministers of His, who do His pleasure.
NKJV
Isa 46:9-10
9 Remember the former things of old,
For I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like Me,
10 Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying,'My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure,'
NKJV
Heb 1:14
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?
NKJV
Heb 1:14
14 Are not the angels all ministering spirits (servants) sent out in the service [of God for the assistance] of those who are to inherit salvation?
AMP
2 Kings 19:35
35 And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses — all dead.
NKJV
Matt 26:53-54
53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?
NKJV
Psalm 91
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust."
3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.
9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.
14 "Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation."
NKJV
Mark 16:20
20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
NKJV
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