Friday, May 28, 2010

Limbo Land

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Pit to Palace or Palace to Pit?

You need to be careful you don’t fall back into a pit that you once crawled out of. Without God’s help you would have never got out of that mess so don’t be playing around and fallin back in. There’s mud and muck at the bottom the sides are slimy and it reeks of the stench of sorrow. Don’t think “I’ll quit hangin around here tomorrow” because tomorrow never comes you know, and maintaining victory has a lot to do with where you go and self-control. Yet true self-control is not merely the effect of your own effort but the fruit of the Spirit within. When you’re in control you’re free! Free to do whatever the Holy Spirit within is leading you to do or not do. Free from fear and full of cheer because you know that wherever you go and whatever you do that Almighty God is in you. “And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.” (2 Cor 3:17) You’re no longer the slave of your own desires because you’ve given the control to Another. Now you’re ruled from the inside out and not the outside in. Your Governor is glorious and victorious and able to rule over oppression and set you free from all fleshly obsessions. Something or someone will control your life but you get to choose what and who. To be ruled by Satan, stuff or self simply sucks because those aren’t good gods. They are not free nor will they enable you to be and misery loves company. But God is Good and truly free and when He rules your life so shall you be, “because as He is, so are we.” (1 John 4:17)

Ps 7:14-16
14 Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
15 He made a pit and dug it out,
And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
16 His trouble shall return upon his own head,
And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown.
NKJV

Eccl 10:8
8 He who digs a pit will fall into it,
NKJV

Isa 38:17
17 Indeed it was for my own peace
That I had great bitterness;
But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption,
For You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
NKJV

Zech 9:11

11 "As for you also,
Because of the blood of your covenant,
I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.
NKJV

Jonah 2:6
6 I went down to the moorings of the mountains;
The earth with its bars closed behind me forever;
Yet You have brought up my life from the pit,
O Lord, my God.
NKJV

Ps 40:1-3
1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
And He inclined to me,
And heard my cry.
2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,
Out of the miry clay,
And set my feet upon a rock,
And established my steps.
3 He has put a new song in my mouth —
Praise to our God;
Many will see it and fear,
And will trust in the Lord.
NKJV

Gal 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
NKJV

2 Cor 3:17-18
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
NKJV

1 John 4:4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
NKJV

Gal 5:1
5 Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
NKJV

1 Peter 2:16-17
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
NKJV

1 Peter 2:16
6 Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules.
(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)

1 Peter 2:16
16 You are free from the law, but that doesn't mean you are free to do wrong. Live as those who are free to do only God's will at all times.
TLB

Rom 8:21-22
21 because the creation itself also will be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
NKJV

Luke 4:18-19

18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
NKJV

Ps 119:45
45 And I will walk at liberty,
For I seek Your precepts.
NKJV

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
NKJV

1 John 4:16-18
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.

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
NKJV

Isa 9:6
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
NKJV

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Slothful or Strong

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Php 4:13

The idea of being strong is a much more enjoyable to then the actual process of strengthening itself. Everybody would like to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.” so why isn’t everyone? God said He will strengthen us, but how will He do it? We can lay on the floor and pray for power but muscles and might manifest after movement. So after we lay and pray we need to get up and go. We are strengthened by Gods Words and through the power of His Spirit but the Word is like weights and walking in the Spirit like cardio conditioning. When we obey the Word and follow the Spirit we exercise Gods will. And if we will do it daily the results will be dynamic. The more we do what He leads us to do the more He will empower us to do and the more we obey the stronger we will get. Strength comes through the simple process of the exercise of obedience. If we are lazy and disobedient we will not be strengthened for there is no strength required to be slothful, uninspired and tired. But if we will simply pray and obey everyday we will get stronger for that is His way.

Eph 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Be STRONG and DO…

Josh 1:7-9
7 Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."
NKJV

Heb 12:12-13
12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.
NKJV

Monday, May 17, 2010

YAY! YAHOO! WHAHOOO!

“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

How wonderful it is to have the power of God within! Not to be limited to mere human ability. Without Him we can do nothing but with God all things are possible! He is the One and only Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent. He lives inside you and me; fills us with His mighty love, and sets us free eternally. Our life is in His hands our future He commands, infinity understands, and He said that He would bring to completion the good work that He began in us. And He is absolutely ABLE…

Eph 3:20
“…able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…” NKJV
“…far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams…” MES
“…able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine...” NIV
“…to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think...”NLT
“… is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]…” AMP

“…ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US!

How wonderful it is to have the power of God within!

“ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” Phil 4:13
NKJV

Friday, May 14, 2010

Liar, Liar Pants on Fire

It’s amazing to me that many people think nothing much of lying these days but the Bible puts it in the same category as things like murder, sexual immorality, sorcery and idolatry. “And all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.” Now I’m not trying to be a Hell fire preacher just trying to make the point how wicked and insulting lying really is to the God of Truth. We wouldn’t use murder as a means to take the pressure off us or to get out of some responsibility or to gain some advantage nor should we use deceit to do the same. The Devil is a liar and the father of it so when you lie you are being Satanic and acting like the devil. Lying is not acceptable and apparently all habitual liars will be swimmers in eternal fires. Wo, that’s freaky but that’s not the main reason not to lie. The main reason is because it’s dishonorable and detestable to our Heavenly Father the everlasting God of truth. Lying will always catch up with you because “Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!” But if you don’t want to end up like a bug stuck in Satan’s web then ask God to help you and He will give you the Spirit of Truth. Lying is the main character defect that leads to all others. Find a person who’s willing to lie and it won’t be long before they’ll be doing other things and thinking that they can lie and find a way to hide it. The more comfortable people get with lying the farther they get from integrity. But the truth is we all will give an account of ourselves to God and nobody’s getting away with anything. No matter how dark our culture gets lying will always be a fire sin in the Kingdom of God. God will not tolerate it and the only way to get free from it is to ask for forgiveness and repent and start telling the truth. And if you know and abide in the truth you will be free but those who lie will never be.

Rev 21:3-8
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."

5 Then He who sat on the throne said,"Behold, I make all things new." And He said to me, "Write, for these words are true and faithful."

6 And He said to me,"It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. 7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. 8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."
NKJV

John 8:44
44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.
NKJV

Ex 20:13-16

13 "You must not murder.

14 "You must not commit adultery.

15 "You must not steal.

16 "You must not lie.
TLB

“Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!” Sir Walter Scott

John 15:26

26 "But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.
NKJV

John 16:13
13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
NKJV

John 8:31-32
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
NKJV

Thursday, May 13, 2010

What’s on your mind?

That’s the question in your status box. It’s interesting that “what’s on your mind” determines your status which is your position and condition. You can have calamity as the fruit of your thoughts or you can think yourself happy. It’s safe to say that “what’s on your mind” will end up in your life. You can worry about all the woes of the world and whine or you fix your mind on God and have perfect peace. You will either be conformed to this world or transformed by the renewing of your mind. If you follow the media you’ll end up spiritually blind a parrot of woes with an anxious mind and engaged in outrage. Or you can pray and think about the good news of the gospel all day. The Bible says that you should “mind your own business” and commands you to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” How can you be loving God with all your mind if you’re preoccupied in wondering and worrying about all the worlds’ woes? Jesus said, “do not worry about your life” and yet how many Christians still go about thinking about and spouting out all they’re worried about? This does not glorify God because it reveals an attraction to distraction and lack of trust in Him. You are called to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel” “that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” So think about and proclaim the Gospel with good cheer and don’t parrot all the fear because “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” And when you look at the question “What’s on your mind?” before you post your status consider if you want to be a blind behind or a blessing to mankind.

Jer 6:19
19 Hear, O earth!
Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people —
The fruit of their thoughts,
Because they have not heeded My words
Nor My law, but rejected it.
NKJV

Acts 26:2a
I think myself happy…
NKJV

Isa 26:3
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
NKJV

Matt 22:37-38
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment.
NKJV

Luke 12:29-30
29 "And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind.
NKJV

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

Rom 15:5-6
5 Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, 6 that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
NKJV

Eph 4:20-24
20 But you have not so learned Christ, 21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 22 that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
NKJV

Phil 1:27b
…stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel
NKJV

Phil 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
NKJV

1 Cor 2:16
16 For "who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.
NKJV

Col 3:2-3
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.
NKJV

1 Thess 4:11-12
11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
NKJV

2 Tim 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
NKJV

Heb 8:10-12
10 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws in their mind and write them on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. 11 None of them shall teach his neighbor, and none his brother, saying, 'Know the Lord,' for all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
NKJV

Ps 1:2-3
2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night.
3 He shall be like a tree
Planted by the rivers of water,
That brings forth its fruit in its season,
Whose leaf also shall not wither;
And whatever he does shall prosper.
NKJV

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Do You Do

Be kind to others, proclaim the good news, imagine how it would be if it were you in their shoes. If you misunderstand don’t be a jerk and berate, especially when you haven’t even tried to relate. Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you, it’s the best way to live long tried and true.

Luke 6:31
And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.
NKJV

Matt 7:12
12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
NKJV

James 2:8-9
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well;
NKJV

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Get Up and Get Up!

Unless you just love mornings you probably have to make yourself get up. And even if dawn is your favorite time of day the comfort and serenity of the bed tempts you to stay. But you have to shake off the slumber and get up and get going. But sometimes even after you’re up you’re still not up. You can go through life sleepwalking feeling half dead and dormant inside. But God has given you all good things to richly enjoy. His blessings are immense and intense but if you’re not quite awake then you won’t even notice. So shake off the laze, stop being lethargic and start looking. When you see things in His light it makes everything seem bright. He is the Author of life and has made it in ultimate high definition. When you’re connected with Him you’re empowered from within to see and everything seems more magnificent and glorious. So ou have to make yourself get up you also have to stir yourself up to get up after you’re up. Don’t look down and go around with your eyes on the ground but look up and open up and God will fill up your cup. His love and joy will overflow; His goodness you’ll know; and begin to see His blessings everywhere you go.

Rom 13:11-13
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.
NKJV

Luke 22:45-46
45 When He rose up from prayer, and had come to His disciples, He found them sleeping from sorrow. 46 Then He said to them, "Why do you sleep? Rise and pray, lest you enter into temptation."
NKJV

1 Tim 6:17-18
17 Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.
NKJV

John 4:14
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life."
NKJV

John 10:10
10 The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
AMP

Ps 23:5-6
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

6 Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
AMP

Monday, May 10, 2010

Bones in Nose and Tattoo Toes?

Salvation! Can you paint it on like art or is it a matter of the heart? Can you tell merely by looking if someone is a child of God? Are not the whitest tombs still full of dead men’s bones? And do not many still live happily in buildings “decorated” with graffiti?

Childish Christian’s desire kudos for cleanliness and correct conduct but you’ll get none from God. For without the blood of Christ we are all still slaves of sin. All our own righteousness is like filthy rags to God. No matter how spiffy of a saint we may attempt to appear to be it’s the blood of Christ and none else that sets us free.

Our own desires, tastes and opinions we need to stop trying to protect and realize it’s not our job to correct anyone who might not possibly look right, talk right or act right in our sight. We are called to proclaim the good news of forgiveness and salvation through faith in Christ and Him alone. And not judge or begrudge people based on appearance. If we take the gospel to a primitive village do you think God cares if they have a bone in their nose or tattoos on their toes? Should we try to cleanse the outside and hide all the markings of their culture to makes ourselves feel like worthy reformers? Or should we just preach the cross and the gospel of a new heart and reconciliation with God through faith in Jesus Christ the sacrifice?

What about the youth and other people of different tastes of today shall we try to make them look, pray and act “our way”? Do not many supposed saints still put on airs to appear to be perfect cookie cutter Christian’s yet are still un-free? It’s our heart that God came to change and not our personality so get em saved and let em be. We need to preach the Word and not our ways and let God change their lives and get the praise. They may look bad to us, but we look stupid to them and it’s the one who judges by appearance who commits the sin.

And what is sin anyway? The greatest commandment is that of love and we’re supposed to rule our lives thereof. - To love the Lord with all our heart and our neighbors as ourselves that’s our part. No matter how freaky they may at first appear, just preach the gospel and do not fear. God will create a new heart and reside inside and change their lives as He decides. There’s always talk and condemnation for “defiling the temple” but should not him who lives inside know what’s right for his own house plain and simple? And if we think that an outward change of our neighbor’s place needs to occur should we “take it upon ourselves” or to the owner of the soul defer? For God Himself has said that they belong to Him their yards to mow and bushes trim. If they paint their buildings bright and landscape in a wild way, we're not the landlord so what can we say?

The gospel is main thing we need to make sure everyone knows. God forgives all people and desires to be invited in so He sent His only Son to die to cleanse their sin. So His own temple they could be, to dwell within and set them free. To be united with Him in everlasting love, O won’t you receive God above? For your death He died but is alive today simply waiting for you to pray. Receive Jesus as Lord and become God’s own child, it doesn’t matter how you look or if you’re mild or wild. But one thing He requires, your heart’s devotion, this decision will set your everlasting life in motion. Then the Almighty Himself will transform you from the inside out, this is what salvation is all about. Your Creator will considerably enhance your personality for good, and help you express and live and act the way you should. And exactly how that is, is between you and God alone, by His Spirit within He’ll make His way known. Love is the goal and great command, and that’s all from you He will demand. For if you love you will obey and know what’s right till your dying day. And then that’s not the end my friend but eternal bliss will then begin. But I say why wait? It’s time to pray, invite Him who makes heaven heavenly into your heart today, and have sweet fellowship with Him, within, now and alway.

Rev 3:20
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.
NKJV

John 1:12
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

John 6:37
37 All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.
NKJV

Rom 8:16
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
NKJV

Gal 4:6-7
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
NKJV

1 John 3:1
3 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

1 Sam 16:6-7
6 So it was, when they came, that he looked at Eliab and said, "Surely the Lord's anointed is before Him!"

7 But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
NKJV

Prov 20:9
Who can say, "I have made my heart clean,
I am pure from my sin"?
NKJV

Ps 51:10
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And renew a steadfast spirit within me.
NKJV

Ezek 11:19-21
19 Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, 20 that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God.
NKJV

Ezek 36:26-28
26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. 28 Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My people, and I will be your God.
NKJV

Rom 2:28-29
28 For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh; 29 but he is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the Spirit, not in the letter; whose praise is not from men but from God.
NKJV

Deut 30:6
6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
NKJV

Matt 23:23-28
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
NKJV

2 Cor 5:12-21
12 For we do not commend ourselves again to you, but give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ's behalf, be reconciled to God. 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 Tim 1:15-17
15 This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. 16 However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV

Rom 5:6-11
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 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

Rom 14:4
4 Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand.
NKJV

Rom 10:9-13
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

Friday, May 7, 2010

Simple Yet Supernatural

If you need help just ask. God promised to provide but you still need to ask. Over the years we’ve had challenges at times paying for things like tires, tuition, dryers, doctors, dentists, maintenance and mechanics. But we’ve also found out that something amazing thing happens when you get God involved. We’ve gone without necessary things for seasons but when we’ve made a list and presented it to God He’s always been faithful to take care of us. So a simple thing you can do that gets supernatural results is just write down and start praying for what you’ve been having trouble paying for.

James 4:2
2 You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask.
NKJV

Phil 4:19-20
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV

Matt 7:7
Ask, and it will be given to you…
NKJV

Matt 18:19
19 "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.
NKJV

Matt 21:22
2 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.
NKJV

Mark 11:24
24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.
NKJV

1 John 5:14-15
14 Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.
NKJV

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Kings Abide Satisfied

Those who “receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.” He “has made us kings and priests to His God and Father.” “And we shall reign on the earth.” Not just struggle to survive but live in His Presence and rejoice fully alive and satisfied!

Rom 5:17
17 For if by the one man's offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.
NKJV

Rev 1:5-6
5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth.

To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
NKJV

Rev 5:9-10
9 And they sang a new song, saying:

"You are worthy to take the scroll,
And to open its seals;
For You were slain,
And have redeemed us to God by Your blood
Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,
10 And have made us kings and priests to our God;
And we shall reign on the earth."
NKJV

Ps 21:1-7
21 The king shall have joy in Your strength, O Lord;
And in Your salvation how greatly shall he rejoice!
2 You have given him his heart's desire,
And have not withheld the request of his lips.
Selah

3 For You meet him with the blessings of goodness;
You set a crown of pure gold upon his head.
4 He asked life from You, and You gave it to him —
Length of days forever and ever.
5 His glory is great in Your salvation;
Honor and majesty You have placed upon him.
6 For You have made him most blessed forever;
You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence.
7 For the king trusts in the Lord,
And through the mercy of the Most High he shall not be moved.
NKJV

Jer 31:14
14 I will satiate the soul of the priests with abundance,
And My people shall be satisfied with My goodness, says the Lord."
NKJV

Ps 107:8-9
8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,
And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
9 For He satisfies the longing soul,
And fills the hungry soul with goodness.
NKJV

Prov 19:23
23 The fear of the Lord leads to life,
And he who has it will abide in satisfaction;
He will not be visited with evil.
NKJV

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

ABSORB THE ALMIGHTY!

Your capacity to receive the Divine is as great as God Himself! You were made to be the temple of the Almighty and none else.

God set eternity in the hearts of men, gave His own blood to cleanse all sin, so His Spirit could live within.

This is truly wonderful, extraordinary, and amazing, just think about it! When you receive Him Glory moves in! Not just in some small measure but in unlimited ability. It’s God Almighty Himself the eternal Creator and greater than all.

So Life is Glorious and we shall be Victorious! The Divine characteristics of God will manifest to the degree that we know and see the One who truly lives in you and me!

Eccl 3:11-12
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
NIV

2 Peter 1:2-4
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
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1 Cor 3:16-17
16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?
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1 John 4:4
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
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Gal 4:6-7
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"
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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.
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1 John 3:2
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
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1 John 4:12-18
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 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.

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
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“AS HE IS, SO ARE WE IN THIS WORLD!” It’s time to know it and show it. YAY GOD!

Rom 8:18-20
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. 19 For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God.
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Rom 8:28-30
29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
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Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Reformation or Regeneration?

God didn’t send His Son to oppress you and put you down but to lift you up and set you free. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!” And He who abides where His Spirit guides will know the Truth be free. Simply know God and serve Him, learn His ways and observe them. This relationship is between you and God and when you sincerely desire to love Him and do what’s right then your heart will lead the way. God’s abundant love, will saturate your heart from above, and by His Spirit in you, you’ll just know what to do.

Don’t let your heart be condemned by modern day Pharisees who focus on the Law and not the Liberator – “for the letter kills but the Spirit gives life.” How many would be believers have been vexed and hindered from following God because a blind guide tried to make a big deal of some little issue in their lives? What happens when supposed “Christians” judge others and make a big deal of petty sins while they themselves commit the greater and break the royal law of love? It produces death on all counts because now the offender and the “offendee” have their eyes on sin and not the Lord of Life. It’s not our job to scrupulously examine those who would desire to follow God and point out all the faults of their following. It’s enough that they want to go and God Himself is the Author and Finisher of their faith and said that He would bring to completion the good work that He began in them. We must keep our eyes on the Lord and His Light lest we be lost in the darkness. "Can the blind lead the blind? Will they not both fall into the ditch?” We need to stop trying to reform ourselves and our families, friends and neighbors and boldly take up the message of the cross and the resurrection. Jesus didn’t die to accomplish a mere moral reformation but for complete regeneration. Not so that those who are “dead in sin” could try to act right and hope and pretend that their works could gain them access to life. But through death on the cross He destroyed him who had the power of death and gave us His life through faith is resurrection. We have been made right with God through His sacrifice and faith in that alone. Thus being made right his love compels us and shows us what is right in His sight. This frees us from death’s plight and the scorn the self-right.

So just follow God and let His love lead I grievously plead. Don’t follow the blind man who breaks God’s command, of which love is the greatest we must understand.

2 Cor 3:4-6
4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.
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Matt 23:23-28
23 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. 24 Blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

25 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you cleanse the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of extortion and self-indulgence. 26 Blind Pharisee, first cleanse the inside of the cup and dish, that the outside of them may be clean also.

27 "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.
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Titus 3:3-7
For we ourselves were also once foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving various lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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John 13:34-35
4 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."
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1 John 3:14-15
14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
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John 3:16-17
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. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
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Rom 5:6-9
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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James 2:8-13
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself," you do well; 9 but if you show partiality, you commit sin, and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. 11 For He who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said, "Do not murder." Now if you do not commit adultery, but you do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. 12 So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. 13 For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
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Matt 22:37-40
37 Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."
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Eccl 12:13-14
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter:

Fear God and keep His commandments,
For this is man's all.
14 For God will bring every work into judgment,
Including every secret thing,
Whether good or evil.
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