The Word became flesh; what an incomprehensible thought! I cannot get my mind around this. In the beginning was the Word. Before anything was the Word existed.
From time to time I go though great seasons of dryness, doubt and mental turmoil. It is as if the seasons of my life are changing, seasons of hope and gladness, dryness and sadness, doubt and fear and praise, worship and great faith. It seems to mirror the four season we go through in this part of the world.
While asking God for a word the other evening while sitting on my porch I was led to a passage of Scripture in the Book of Job. Historians of the biblical persuasion seem to think that the Book of Job even proceeds the time of Moses when the Law was given.
I have some interesting thoughts regarding Job 23 which is toward the end of the book and Job has already gone through most of his great and sore trials and outright torture brought about by Satan and allowed by God. Job says, "Oh that I knew where I might find God! That I might even come to His seat! I would order my cause before Him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would know the words which He would answer me, and understand what He would say to me."
Job is not getting any answers; just stone cold silence. Have you ever experienced that? This righteous man was surrounded by three "friends" who had all of the answers. They brought no comfort but were further torment for this righteous man.
Job continues with his complaint, and a good complaint it was, " Behold, I go forward, but He is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive Him; On the left hand, where He doth work, but I cannot behold Him: He hides Himself on the right hand, that I cannot see Him:"
" BUT God knows the way that I take; when He has tried me I shall come forth as gold. " Deep down in Job's heart he knew that God was still in control even though it seemed that He was hiding; and I believe He was. That is part of the trying; the refining fire that continues to increase in heat to the point that it seems unbearable.
Job says something very interesting that ties in with the New Testament speech of the Apostle Paul. in verse 13-17 Job is as honest as he ever was in his thoughts - But He (God) is of one mind, and who can turn Him? What His soul desires, that is what He does....For He performs the thing that is appointed for me; and many such things are with Him."
Who can change the mind of God? If we are appointed to something it is going to happen, and God is there all of the time. In 1 Thessalonians 3:3 Paul says, " ...That no man should be moved by these afflictions; for you know that we are appointed to these..." In the wilderness when Paul was taught by Christ he was shown the things he must suffer for the cause of Christ . He knew it was coming.
We have been instructed by the Word that many are the afflictions of the righteous but the LORD delivers us out of the all; not out of some, but out of all! I believe what it says!
In this season of testing and trial, I can identify with something else Job says in verse 15 through 17 of chapter 23 ~
" I am troubled at His presence; when I consider, I am afraid of Him. for God makes my heart soft (I realize there is nothing left in me) and the Almighty troubles me; Because I was not cut off before the darkness (before the darkness set in I was not removed for some reason) and He covered the darkness from my face...(I did not see what was coming around the corner...)
These are the heartfelt, honest feelings of the man of God Job. He was calling it like he saw it. Did God get angry with Job? Look at chapter 42 ~ God chastises the three friends of Job for their darkening of counsel toward Job, telling them that they have not spoken of Me what is right, but of Job God said he spoke what was correct.
When Job prayed for his friends they were forgiven. Job received twice what he had before his temptation and trial. More importantly his knowledge of God increased tremendously. We can be confident that nothing is going to happen to us that does not go through God first. No matter how difficult and hazardous the road we find ourselves traveling on any given season, whether through happiness, sorrow, triumph or seeming failure, God is at the controls.
On that great day we can all say with great confidence because we have experience and a track record with God ~
Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God,
be honor and glory, forever and ever, Amen! ( 1 Timothy 1:17)
And you shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all of your heart! (Jeremiah 29:13) The LORD is good to those that wait for Him; to the soul that seeks Him. (Lamentations 3:25)
Monday, August 29, 2011
You Are Tatooed! David Wilkerson Devotion
David Wilkerson Today - MONDAY --- AUGUST 29, 2011
GOD’S CHILDREN ARE TATTOOED INTO THE PALM OF HIS HAND!
This is one of my favorite Scriptures:
“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted. But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. ’Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah49:13-16).
God says I am engraved in the very palm of his hand! The Hebrew word means “tattooed”—that is, indelible, inerasable. He cannot stretch out his hand without being reminded of me! Dearly beloved, I want to assure you: You may go through trials and sufferings. You may be far from what you wish to be in the Lord. But you can know one thing more than anything else: You are a delight to him!
I write to you with a confidence and knowledge in my heart that, although I have not arrived, he has made me a part of his remnant. I believe with all my heart I am a royal crown, a diadem in his hand, a delight to his soul. He is not mad at me—he delights in me!
Listen to this wonderful promise:“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place . . . . Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:7-8, 19).
God has given you all you need to be free and victorious. He sees your condition—and he cares. He cuddles you as you call on him and he is ready to come forth to help you that moment.
GOD’S CHILDREN ARE TATTOOED INTO THE PALM OF HIS HAND!
This is one of my favorite Scriptures:
“Sing, O heavens! Be joyful, O earth! And break out in singing, O mountains!
For the Lord has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted. But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me. ’Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb? Surely they may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me” (Isaiah49:13-16).
God says I am engraved in the very palm of his hand! The Hebrew word means “tattooed”—that is, indelible, inerasable. He cannot stretch out his hand without being reminded of me! Dearly beloved, I want to assure you: You may go through trials and sufferings. You may be far from what you wish to be in the Lord. But you can know one thing more than anything else: You are a delight to him!
I write to you with a confidence and knowledge in my heart that, although I have not arrived, he has made me a part of his remnant. I believe with all my heart I am a royal crown, a diadem in his hand, a delight to his soul. He is not mad at me—he delights in me!
Listen to this wonderful promise:“I will be glad and rejoice in Your mercy, for You have considered my trouble; You have known my soul in adversities, and have not shut me up into the hand of the enemy; You have set my feet in a wide place . . . . Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!” (Psalm 31:7-8, 19).
God has given you all you need to be free and victorious. He sees your condition—and he cares. He cuddles you as you call on him and he is ready to come forth to help you that moment.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Truely Forgiven! David Wilkerson Devotion
David Wilkerson Today
TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011
THE FATHER’S DELIGHT by David Wilkerson [May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]
The account of the Prodigal Son is very familiar, so I won’t go into the details of the story. I do want to say, however, that it is not primarily about a lost son. Rather, it is about the delight of the father. Certainly the parable of the Prodigal Son is about returning (Luke 15:11-31) but it is not just about the son’s finally coming home. It is also about what keeps the son home.
It is about grace, forgiveness and restoration. Read the story again, and you’ll note that the story doesn’t end when he returns—and this is significant. What is it that keeps the son home? It is the knowledge that his father delights in him! “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
And they began to be merry…[with] music and dancing”(15:24-25).The Prodigal’s father never rebuked him, never condemned him, never even spoke about his running away. Instead, he threw a great party and invited all the family’s friends and neighbors. This father had been longing for his son to come home, and now it had come to pass.
The Prodigal protested at first, telling his dad, “No, no, I’m unworthy.”But his father ignored him, calling for a robe to be put on his shoulders, rings on his fingers and shoes on his feet. Now everything that the father owned was once again made available to the son. And there was great rejoicing, with music, dancing and feasting.
I believe that love brought this young man home.
But it was the father’s delight that kept him there! You see, the Prodigal was kept with the father by the simple act of waking up each day to see that his dad was pleased to have him home. His father delighted at having him present with him.
Moreover, everything in that young man’s life that had been eaten by the cankerworm was being restored.I have known many former addicts who are like the Prodigal. They can focus only on what was lost years ago because of their habit: a spouse, children, a ministry. They feel the Lord’s chastening, and that can be grievous, but Jesus tells them in this parable, “Nothing is lost in my kingdom. You are going to be made stronger through this. You are home now and my grace will restore you in full.”
Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/
TUESDAY, JULY 12, 2011
THE FATHER’S DELIGHT by David Wilkerson [May 19, 1931 - April 27, 2011]
The account of the Prodigal Son is very familiar, so I won’t go into the details of the story. I do want to say, however, that it is not primarily about a lost son. Rather, it is about the delight of the father. Certainly the parable of the Prodigal Son is about returning (Luke 15:11-31) but it is not just about the son’s finally coming home. It is also about what keeps the son home.
It is about grace, forgiveness and restoration. Read the story again, and you’ll note that the story doesn’t end when he returns—and this is significant. What is it that keeps the son home? It is the knowledge that his father delights in him! “For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.
And they began to be merry…[with] music and dancing”(15:24-25).The Prodigal’s father never rebuked him, never condemned him, never even spoke about his running away. Instead, he threw a great party and invited all the family’s friends and neighbors. This father had been longing for his son to come home, and now it had come to pass.
The Prodigal protested at first, telling his dad, “No, no, I’m unworthy.”But his father ignored him, calling for a robe to be put on his shoulders, rings on his fingers and shoes on his feet. Now everything that the father owned was once again made available to the son. And there was great rejoicing, with music, dancing and feasting.
I believe that love brought this young man home.
But it was the father’s delight that kept him there! You see, the Prodigal was kept with the father by the simple act of waking up each day to see that his dad was pleased to have him home. His father delighted at having him present with him.
Moreover, everything in that young man’s life that had been eaten by the cankerworm was being restored.I have known many former addicts who are like the Prodigal. They can focus only on what was lost years ago because of their habit: a spouse, children, a ministry. They feel the Lord’s chastening, and that can be grievous, but Jesus tells them in this parable, “Nothing is lost in my kingdom. You are going to be made stronger through this. You are home now and my grace will restore you in full.”
Read this devotion online: http://www.worldchallenge.org/en/node/
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Heavenly Places-From Jerusalem ICEJ
* Article From International Christian Embassy - Jerusalem, Israel
In last month’s prayer letter, we saw that the prayer of faith has a strong impact in heavenly places where, according to the Word of God, the real battle between truth and deception is taking place (Ephesians 6:12). Yet these heavenly places are not just places of conflict but also of blessing. Paul states to the church in Ephesus that it is in the heavenly places where God has established His throne and where Jesus was lifted up at his resurrection. “He set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:20)
In last month’s prayer letter, we saw that the prayer of faith has a strong impact in heavenly places where, according to the Word of God, the real battle between truth and deception is taking place (Ephesians 6:12). Yet these heavenly places are not just places of conflict but also of blessing. Paul states to the church in Ephesus that it is in the heavenly places where God has established His throne and where Jesus was lifted up at his resurrection. “He set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 1:20)
Heavenly Places
It is in the heavenly places where we find the unrestricted and glorious presence of God. Sometimes, believers were granted the privilege to have a visual glimpse into this realm. “Stephen saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God.” (Act 7:55) What a glorious sight it must have been!
It is in these heavenly places that all our spiritual needs are being met. Every blessing for your walk with Christ, everything you need to fulfill the call of God on your life, every possible blessing for your nation, your family and for your life, can be found in these heavenly places. The word of God declares that our Father “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). It is a realm of unlimited resources.
Heavenly Perspective
Now the Apostle Paul makes an amazing statement when he explains that this heavenly place of light and abundance is not just reserved for God and His angels. He declares that God has “raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6).
Please note that Paul describes us as “seated” there. You are not only there if you feel an anointing for a short time in a worship service and exclaim “this feels like heaven” – something we hear often from pilgrims during the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem. But the truth is we are seated there all the time, even if we do not feel it.It is a reality which we have to accept by faith.Right now, as you read this, you are seated with Christ Jesus in heavenly places. When you join us in prayer this and every Wednesday – wherever you are located, it really does not matter – we all will gather in the same room, the throne room of God.
Therefore, as we gather in unity I have great confidence that our prayers will be answered, because it is in the presence of God that all spiritual blessings are found. I encourage you to see yourself seated in heaven 24 hours a day; it will lift your perspective regarding the things God has called you to and impact every decision you make here on earth.Indeed, Moses gained courage and endurance by “seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). His walk before God was determined by his awareness of heavenly realities.
May the Lord help us to pray and act from this heavenly perspective!
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Mindset
We live in days of turmoil. Entire nations are falling apart: Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria and others are on the brink of insolvency; France, Portugal, Ireland, Italy and perhaps the USA? What are Believers to do in these circumstances?
Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou (God) will keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him."
This peace does not speak of a surrender to things the way they are; it speaks of a peace that is of such effect that it has great influence upon those who see it operate in us. The word "stayed upon" means to lean hard upon, to stand fast. Another passage that comes to mind is "stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. No one can save like He can!
Our mind is our intellect, our will and our feelings. It also means in the original Hebrew our deep thoughts, imagination and even our understanding; the way we perceive things as when Christ talked about our mind when He said, " You shall love the LORD your God with all of your heart, and all of your soul, and all of your mind." He has to be all encompassing for these promises to have effect upon our human mind.
Paul said, " I thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin..." He said there is another law in our members, warring against the law of our mind, and it brings us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members. Who shall deliver us from this body of death? We know the answer; we thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD!
The Holy Spirit has a mind! Romans 8:27 says " And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God..." The LORD has a mind, Romans 11:34 says, "For who hath known the mind of the LORD? and who has been His counsellor?'
Again Paul in his writings to the church in Corinth says, " For who hath known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." Amazing! We have access to the mind of Christ!
Our battleground is the same as the Apostle Paul's and every true follower of Christ, especially those who want a deeper walk with Him, as Paul said, the mind of the Spirit is constantly at war with the mind of our flesh. This battle will soon be won.
" For behold, (pay attention, remember, do not forget!) God is creating a new heavens (plural, more than one) and a new earth (just one), and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
Our goal - the mind of Christ!
Isaiah 26:3 says, "Thou (God) will keep them in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon Him."
This peace does not speak of a surrender to things the way they are; it speaks of a peace that is of such effect that it has great influence upon those who see it operate in us. The word "stayed upon" means to lean hard upon, to stand fast. Another passage that comes to mind is "stand still and see the salvation of the LORD. No one can save like He can!
Our mind is our intellect, our will and our feelings. It also means in the original Hebrew our deep thoughts, imagination and even our understanding; the way we perceive things as when Christ talked about our mind when He said, " You shall love the LORD your God with all of your heart, and all of your soul, and all of your mind." He has to be all encompassing for these promises to have effect upon our human mind.
Paul said, " I thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin..." He said there is another law in our members, warring against the law of our mind, and it brings us into captivity to the law of sin which is in our members. Who shall deliver us from this body of death? We know the answer; we thank God through Jesus Christ our LORD!
The Holy Spirit has a mind! Romans 8:27 says " And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God..." The LORD has a mind, Romans 11:34 says, "For who hath known the mind of the LORD? and who has been His counsellor?'
Again Paul in his writings to the church in Corinth says, " For who hath known the mind of the LORD, that he may instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ." Amazing! We have access to the mind of Christ!
Our battleground is the same as the Apostle Paul's and every true follower of Christ, especially those who want a deeper walk with Him, as Paul said, the mind of the Spirit is constantly at war with the mind of our flesh. This battle will soon be won.
" For behold, (pay attention, remember, do not forget!) God is creating a new heavens (plural, more than one) and a new earth (just one), and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. (Isaiah 65:17)
Our goal - the mind of Christ!
Monday, August 15, 2011
Our Calling
We have a high calling above and beyond anything we can imagine; to be constantly changing into the image of Christ. Daily we are being transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Christ. As we yield and surrender our fleshly selves with its passions, lusts and desires we are yielding more and more space for the Spirit to inhabit.
This same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives and operates in our mortal body. He will not exert Himself where He is not wanted. It is our duty to yield to Him with full knowledge of what we are doing. Philippians 3:9 speaks of being "found in Him" not by our own righteousness; we can never have enough righteousness of our own to be "found in Him..." It says that it is the righteousness of Christ! It is the faith of Christ, not faith in Christ, but the faith OF CHRIST which is from God that operates in our spirit.
This indwelling of another Spirit inhabiting and controlling our spirit has great eternal value. This treasure that we have in earthen vessels is a mystery to our human way of thinking. There are spirits of lust, greed, anger, depression and oppression from the evil one. The Spirit of God supersedes each one of these spirits of evil and has more power that all of the evil spirits combined. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!
Our duty is to learn to recognize the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He inhabits every Believer to the degree that we yield to Him. He is always willing to teach, assist, comfort and control. Jesus said that the Spirit takes of what is of Him and gives it to us in every circumstance.
Forget the things which are behind and ever so faithfully reach out by His power toward or high calling that is in Christ Jesus. We must appropriate this by faith; the faith of the Son of God operating in us. If one were to have a church membership of 100,000 and be on television and the Internet 24 hours a day and not have the Spirit of God operating in their life and being changed into the image of Christ it is all for nothing.
I remind myself often of a passage in the famous Isaiah 53 passage that gives an avid picture of Christ suffering while He was here on earth. " ...It pleased the Father to put Him to grief " BUT, because of the travail and bruising many are being (even now) justified and their iniquity was borne by Christ on the tree of Calvary.
Must the process be different for us? Was the Father with Christ during His temptation? Of course. Was the Father with Christ while He was being spat upon and beaten? Yes. Did the Spirit lead Christ into the wilderness to be tempted? Yes. Tribulation works patience. It is a fruit working up into each of our souls like fruit growing on trees that go through drought, strong storms, strong heat and bitter cold.
Because Christ poured out His soul unto death He now has a portion with the great, according to Isaiah 53. We are cut from the same cloth. The Apostle Paul speaks of picking up what is lacking of the suffering of Christ. As gold and silver is refined, so are we. Each to different degree. But God Himself sits as the Refiner; He has His hand on the controls; never forget that.
Our place, our effect, our tent becomes mature and enlarged as our curtains are stretched and our stakes are strengthened in this life. An eternal purpose is being accomplished.
"For He hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The righteousness of God, not our own righteousness but HIS! Our righteousness is but as filthy rags in God's sight; but He has made Christ our righteousness.
That we might attain, know, and appropriate this fact into our daily lives is our high calling, not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus working in us.
This same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead lives and operates in our mortal body. He will not exert Himself where He is not wanted. It is our duty to yield to Him with full knowledge of what we are doing. Philippians 3:9 speaks of being "found in Him" not by our own righteousness; we can never have enough righteousness of our own to be "found in Him..." It says that it is the righteousness of Christ! It is the faith of Christ, not faith in Christ, but the faith OF CHRIST which is from God that operates in our spirit.
This indwelling of another Spirit inhabiting and controlling our spirit has great eternal value. This treasure that we have in earthen vessels is a mystery to our human way of thinking. There are spirits of lust, greed, anger, depression and oppression from the evil one. The Spirit of God supersedes each one of these spirits of evil and has more power that all of the evil spirits combined. Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world!
Our duty is to learn to recognize the workings of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He inhabits every Believer to the degree that we yield to Him. He is always willing to teach, assist, comfort and control. Jesus said that the Spirit takes of what is of Him and gives it to us in every circumstance.
Forget the things which are behind and ever so faithfully reach out by His power toward or high calling that is in Christ Jesus. We must appropriate this by faith; the faith of the Son of God operating in us. If one were to have a church membership of 100,000 and be on television and the Internet 24 hours a day and not have the Spirit of God operating in their life and being changed into the image of Christ it is all for nothing.
I remind myself often of a passage in the famous Isaiah 53 passage that gives an avid picture of Christ suffering while He was here on earth. " ...It pleased the Father to put Him to grief " BUT, because of the travail and bruising many are being (even now) justified and their iniquity was borne by Christ on the tree of Calvary.
Must the process be different for us? Was the Father with Christ during His temptation? Of course. Was the Father with Christ while He was being spat upon and beaten? Yes. Did the Spirit lead Christ into the wilderness to be tempted? Yes. Tribulation works patience. It is a fruit working up into each of our souls like fruit growing on trees that go through drought, strong storms, strong heat and bitter cold.
Because Christ poured out His soul unto death He now has a portion with the great, according to Isaiah 53. We are cut from the same cloth. The Apostle Paul speaks of picking up what is lacking of the suffering of Christ. As gold and silver is refined, so are we. Each to different degree. But God Himself sits as the Refiner; He has His hand on the controls; never forget that.
Our place, our effect, our tent becomes mature and enlarged as our curtains are stretched and our stakes are strengthened in this life. An eternal purpose is being accomplished.
"For He hath made Christ to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. (2 Corinthians 5:21) The righteousness of God, not our own righteousness but HIS! Our righteousness is but as filthy rags in God's sight; but He has made Christ our righteousness.
That we might attain, know, and appropriate this fact into our daily lives is our high calling, not in ourselves, but in Christ Jesus working in us.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
Anxious For Nothing-Francis Frangipane
Be Anxious For Nothing - By Francis Frangipane(En Español)
Jesus warned that, in the last days, the world would face unfolding trauma. There would be wars, earthquakes and many other disasters. Yet, to His disciples, He said, "Do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9). He also said that, because of world conditions, men's hearts would fail "from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth"(Luke 21:26 NKJV). Not only would actual events generate worldwide fear, but the expectation of difficulties would cause men's hearts to fail.
Today, heart failure is the number one cause of death in North America. Approximately every thirty-four seconds a heart stops beating and another person dies, usually suddenly. There may be many contributors to heart failure, but one major source is the inability to handle stress.
There are times when stress is unavoidable - the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, moving to a new home, severe illness, or going through a divorce - all take a toll. But most of the time accepting anxiety should not be so readily accommodated. The problem is that, just as death entered the world through Adam's sin (see Rom. 5), so the substance of death enters our personal world through our sins as well. Indeed, when we carry anxiety-related stress, we are carrying in our soul a container of death that, without fail, takes an ever increasing toll upon our lives.
Consider our world: War and terror attacks can occur at any time and anywhere. Our stock market and economy continues to bolt up and down, like a wild roller coaster. We have many unanswered questions about the future that are multiplied stress factors.
We also have personal situations. We worry about aging and our health. We have stress at our jobs and stress with a lack of jobs. Our homes should be a harbor of peace, yet they often are a place of strife and anxiety, especially as our children become teens. Someone once said, "A mother is only as happy as her saddest child." It is true for fathers also. We all carry people in our hearts, and as we love them their battles become ours, further adding to the burden of anxiety we carry.
If you want to know how stressed you are, look at your disposition when you drive. If you are always exceeding the speed limit, it reveals the lack of rest in your soul. That extra push on the accelerator is continually occurring on your heart throughout the day, not only when you are driving. Driving simply makes apparent the level of anxiety we have learned to live with.
Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6). Yet we seem to be anxious for everything. In fact, stress-related anxiety is so much a part of our lives that, somehow, it has escaped being identified as being sinful. We medicate it, but do not change the habits of fear that caused it in the first place. But anxiety is sin. At its core, it is a stubborn refusal to trust the goodness of God or rest in His power. Anxiety is a by-product of unbelief. It is a spiritual "terror attack" from hell that is silently killing tens of thousands every day.
God Is With Us Certainly, I am not suggesting we become passive. However, I am saying we ought to abandon our fears and the stressful anxieties that come from not trusting in God. Our Messiah is "Immanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus promised to be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). At some point we must accept the wonder and power of Christ's promise. Those who believe enter His rest (Heb. 3). He is with us always! To mistrust this promise is to reject the very character of God's nature. This is not a minor issue.
Yet, even now Jesus says, - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
Let us come to Him. Let us cast our burdens upon Him, for truly He cares for us. Let us break our addictions to stress. We don't have to be tied up in knots inside. The God of peace will crush Satan beneath our feet shortly (see Rom. 16:20). Anxiety is sin. Let us break the bondage of this sin and walk as sons and daughters of God, who are anxious for nothing.
Lord, forgive me for my sin of anxiety. I renounce fear. I declare that my soul is Your property, that You have promised to care for me. I believe Your promises. I come to You and entrust all I am into Your love and care. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Jesus warned that, in the last days, the world would face unfolding trauma. There would be wars, earthquakes and many other disasters. Yet, to His disciples, He said, "Do not be terrified" (Luke 21:9). He also said that, because of world conditions, men's hearts would fail "from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth"(Luke 21:26 NKJV). Not only would actual events generate worldwide fear, but the expectation of difficulties would cause men's hearts to fail.
Today, heart failure is the number one cause of death in North America. Approximately every thirty-four seconds a heart stops beating and another person dies, usually suddenly. There may be many contributors to heart failure, but one major source is the inability to handle stress.
There are times when stress is unavoidable - the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, moving to a new home, severe illness, or going through a divorce - all take a toll. But most of the time accepting anxiety should not be so readily accommodated. The problem is that, just as death entered the world through Adam's sin (see Rom. 5), so the substance of death enters our personal world through our sins as well. Indeed, when we carry anxiety-related stress, we are carrying in our soul a container of death that, without fail, takes an ever increasing toll upon our lives.
Consider our world: War and terror attacks can occur at any time and anywhere. Our stock market and economy continues to bolt up and down, like a wild roller coaster. We have many unanswered questions about the future that are multiplied stress factors.
We also have personal situations. We worry about aging and our health. We have stress at our jobs and stress with a lack of jobs. Our homes should be a harbor of peace, yet they often are a place of strife and anxiety, especially as our children become teens. Someone once said, "A mother is only as happy as her saddest child." It is true for fathers also. We all carry people in our hearts, and as we love them their battles become ours, further adding to the burden of anxiety we carry.
If you want to know how stressed you are, look at your disposition when you drive. If you are always exceeding the speed limit, it reveals the lack of rest in your soul. That extra push on the accelerator is continually occurring on your heart throughout the day, not only when you are driving. Driving simply makes apparent the level of anxiety we have learned to live with.
Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing" (Phil. 4:6). Yet we seem to be anxious for everything. In fact, stress-related anxiety is so much a part of our lives that, somehow, it has escaped being identified as being sinful. We medicate it, but do not change the habits of fear that caused it in the first place. But anxiety is sin. At its core, it is a stubborn refusal to trust the goodness of God or rest in His power. Anxiety is a by-product of unbelief. It is a spiritual "terror attack" from hell that is silently killing tens of thousands every day.
God Is With Us Certainly, I am not suggesting we become passive. However, I am saying we ought to abandon our fears and the stressful anxieties that come from not trusting in God. Our Messiah is "Immanuel," which means "God with us." Jesus promised to be with us, "even to the end of the age" (Matt. 28:20). At some point we must accept the wonder and power of Christ's promise. Those who believe enter His rest (Heb. 3). He is with us always! To mistrust this promise is to reject the very character of God's nature. This is not a minor issue.
Yet, even now Jesus says, - "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).
Let us come to Him. Let us cast our burdens upon Him, for truly He cares for us. Let us break our addictions to stress. We don't have to be tied up in knots inside. The God of peace will crush Satan beneath our feet shortly (see Rom. 16:20). Anxiety is sin. Let us break the bondage of this sin and walk as sons and daughters of God, who are anxious for nothing.
Lord, forgive me for my sin of anxiety. I renounce fear. I declare that my soul is Your property, that You have promised to care for me. I believe Your promises. I come to You and entrust all I am into Your love and care. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Truths for today August 09.2011
Let those who put their trust in God rejoice!
Let them forever shout for joy because God defends them.
Let them that love the Name of God be joyful in Him.
For Thou, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
with favor wilt Thou compass them about as with a shield.
Psalm 5: 11,12
God has never told a lie or a half truth. He does not utter any falsehood. All of His promises toward those who love and depend upon Him are as sure as the heat of the sun by day and the light of the moon by night. The LORD hears our supplications and will receive our prayers. In the multitude of His mercies He forgives and He inhabits the praise of His people as we sing and think upon Him.
Let them forever shout for joy because God defends them.
Let them that love the Name of God be joyful in Him.
For Thou, O LORD, will bless the righteous;
with favor wilt Thou compass them about as with a shield.
Psalm 5: 11,12
God has never told a lie or a half truth. He does not utter any falsehood. All of His promises toward those who love and depend upon Him are as sure as the heat of the sun by day and the light of the moon by night. The LORD hears our supplications and will receive our prayers. In the multitude of His mercies He forgives and He inhabits the praise of His people as we sing and think upon Him.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Our Foundations
Psalm 89:34,35
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips. Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David.
Psalm 18
Great deliverance giveth He to His king, and showeth mercy to His anointed;
to David and to his seed forevermore.
Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
I use some of these passages of Scripture as a foundation for my prayers. We are of the seed of Abraham. Jew or Gentile, we as Believers are part of the spiritual commonwealth of Israel. God does not change; He is the same forevermore. What He promised one He promises to all who are now in Christ Jesus.
He has promised to cover us with His feathers, and under His wings we will trust. His truth is our shield and buckler. We shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor for the arrow that flies by day. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand; but it shall not come near us.
Because we have made the LORD our place of Refuge, even the Most High our habitation. He has given His angels charge over us to keep us in all of our ways. Because we have set our love upon Him He will set us on high because we have known his Name. We will call upon Him and He has promised to answer us. He is with us when we are in trouble and will deliver us and honor us.
What precious promises for each one of us! What more could we want?
My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of My lips. Once have I sworn by My holiness that I will not lie unto David.
Psalm 18
Great deliverance giveth He to His king, and showeth mercy to His anointed;
to David and to his seed forevermore.
Galatians 3:29
And if ye be Christ's then are ye Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 3:7
Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.
I use some of these passages of Scripture as a foundation for my prayers. We are of the seed of Abraham. Jew or Gentile, we as Believers are part of the spiritual commonwealth of Israel. God does not change; He is the same forevermore. What He promised one He promises to all who are now in Christ Jesus.
He has promised to cover us with His feathers, and under His wings we will trust. His truth is our shield and buckler. We shall not be afraid of the terror by night nor for the arrow that flies by day. Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.
A thousand shall fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand; but it shall not come near us.
Because we have made the LORD our place of Refuge, even the Most High our habitation. He has given His angels charge over us to keep us in all of our ways. Because we have set our love upon Him He will set us on high because we have known his Name. We will call upon Him and He has promised to answer us. He is with us when we are in trouble and will deliver us and honor us.
What precious promises for each one of us! What more could we want?
STANDING ON THE PROMISES ~ R. Kelso Carter 1849-1928
1. Standing on the promises of Christ my King,
Through eternal ages let His praises ring;
glory in the highest I will shout and sing,
Standing on the promises of God.
2. Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail,
By the living Word of God I shall prevail,
Standing on the promises of God.
3. Standing on the promises I now can see,
Perfect, present cleansing in the blood for me;
Standing in the liberty where Christ makes free,
Standing on the promises of God.
4. Standing on the promises of Christ the LORD,
Bound to Him eternally by loves strong cord,
Overcoming daily with the Spirit's sword,
Standing on the promises of God.
5. Standing on the promises I cannot fall,
Listening every moment to the Spirit's call,
Resting in my Saviour, as my all in all,
Standing on the promises of God.
CHORUS
Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Saviour;
Standing, standing, I'm standing on the promises of God.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Day Of The LORD
The Day of the Lord - 1 Thessalonians 5 ~
Now as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day.
We are not of night nor of darkness so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
Now as to the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you. For you yourselves know full well that the Day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
While they are saying, Peace and safety! then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day.
We are not of night nor of darkness so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we will live together with Him.
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances. But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil.
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Depths Of His Grace
J.B.Stoney ~ 1893-1896 Bible Studies excerpt :
" There are two parts in grace, one is what we are brought from,
and the other is what we are brought to."
"Those who only know what they were brought from are occupied with themselves and what they have escaped from. If you know what you are brought to, you are occupied with the greatness of what you are brought to, and with the One who has brought you there."
"A man brought from a prison to a palace would speak of the palace and not of the prison. He would be full of the wonderful of the palace he was brought to, and what he had left behind would be done with. Souls are never restful in grace till they know what they are brought to."
"Look at the thief on the cross beside Christ. He was brought from the lowest degradation into the very highest position, in company with the Son of God. If you are only occupied with what you are brought from you have not found the finish of the gospel, you are not in the truth of God's purpose and in the reality of what He has brought you into. "
MY WONDERFUL LORD =Haldor Lillenas 1885-1959
" I have found a deep peace that I never had known
And a joy this world could not afford,
Since I yielded control of my body and soul
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.
I desire that my life shall be ordered by Thee,
That my will be in perfect accord:
With Thine own sovereign will
Thy desires to fulfill,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.
All the talents I have I have laid at Thy feet,
Thy approval shall be my reward;
Be my store great or small,
I surrender it all,
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.
Thou art fairer to me than the fairest of earth,
Thou omnipotent, life giving Word;
O Thou Ancient of Days,
Thou art worth all praise,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.
CHORUS
My wonderful Lord,
My wonderful Lord,
By angels and seraphs in heaven adored;
I know Thou art mine,
my Saviour divine,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.
" There are two parts in grace, one is what we are brought from,
and the other is what we are brought to."
"Those who only know what they were brought from are occupied with themselves and what they have escaped from. If you know what you are brought to, you are occupied with the greatness of what you are brought to, and with the One who has brought you there."
"A man brought from a prison to a palace would speak of the palace and not of the prison. He would be full of the wonderful of the palace he was brought to, and what he had left behind would be done with. Souls are never restful in grace till they know what they are brought to."
"Look at the thief on the cross beside Christ. He was brought from the lowest degradation into the very highest position, in company with the Son of God. If you are only occupied with what you are brought from you have not found the finish of the gospel, you are not in the truth of God's purpose and in the reality of what He has brought you into. "
MY WONDERFUL LORD =Haldor Lillenas 1885-1959
" I have found a deep peace that I never had known
And a joy this world could not afford,
Since I yielded control of my body and soul
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.
I desire that my life shall be ordered by Thee,
That my will be in perfect accord:
With Thine own sovereign will
Thy desires to fulfill,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.
All the talents I have I have laid at Thy feet,
Thy approval shall be my reward;
Be my store great or small,
I surrender it all,
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.
Thou art fairer to me than the fairest of earth,
Thou omnipotent, life giving Word;
O Thou Ancient of Days,
Thou art worth all praise,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.
CHORUS
My wonderful Lord,
My wonderful Lord,
By angels and seraphs in heaven adored;
I know Thou art mine,
my Saviour divine,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Update From Israel - Asher Intrater
New Immersions REVIVE ISRAEL - Asher Intrater
An Israeli woman had been deeply touched while attending one of our home meetings in Jerusalem. Several families from the congregation have poured love and time into her life and she recently asked if she could be immersed.
When Daniel, a recent Israel believer in our discipleship program heard about the upcoming immersion, he asked to be immersed as well. When we made the announcement in the congregation, three beautiful children from one family, age 16, 11 and 8 came (with parents' blessing, of course) and said that they had decided that the time had come for them to be immersed. So this Shabbat twenty five of us gathered on the hill where the Ark of the Covenant rested many years before as King David endeavored to bring it up to Jerusalem. From the moment we arrived the anointing of God was upon us. We sat together under the trees looking out towards the mountains that surround Jerusalem. We sang songs of worship and I shared about the significance of being immersed as participating in Messiah's death and resurrection.
We prayed and laid hands on the five who were declaring their faith in Yeshua and then walked over to the beautiful pool. The immersions took place in an open cave that is carved into those ancient hills. One cannot describe the sense of joy we all felt as I and another brother entered the water to immerse these precious believers into the new life of Yeshua. I could almost hear the trees and rocks cry out in joy as the testimony of the New Creation was lived out in their midst. They came into the water; we prayed over them; they were immersed; and prophetic words were spoken over them. Then each walked out of the water into the mighty destiny that God has set in place for them.
When the time came to immerse the three children, their father jumped into the water fully dressed and helped to immerse them. He prayed over his beautiful children and each came up beaming with the love of Messiah shining out from them. We finished with a bit more worship and then shared a time of food and fellowship. We are witnessing the beginning of Israel's promised salvation. As we consider this, let us remember Paul's words in Romans 11:12 - "If their transgression means riches for the world, and their loss means riches for the Gentiles, how much greater riches will their full inclusion bring."
And again in the same chapter he declares: "If Israel's rejection brought reconciliation to the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?" (Romans 11:15). The army of Jewish believers that one day must assemble to cry out "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord" (Mathew 23:39) is beginning to be raised up. The results of Israel's salvation will be worldwide revival ("even greater riches" from vs. 12) and "life from the dead" (vs. 15), a clear reference to the return of Yeshua and the resurrection of the dead.
ALL IS NEW!
The starting point of every Believer is the cross of Christ. The cross is on hundreds of thousands of churches. Most people have several crosses in their homes on the wall or in picture form. This is the starting point of a Believer's life in Christ; but there is so much more.
Like the blood on the doorposts for the Children of Egypt, the blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us of sin and removed the iniquity from our home. The destroying angel passes us by. But Jesus is so much more than the Lamb of God for us now; He is the risen LORD who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
We have the self same Spirit of the Risen Christ dwelling in our being. The Spirit that brought life to the lifeless body of Christ in the tomb is in us. The Spirit of the One who now sits at the right hand of the Father raised Jesus, the One who went down in death but is alive right now in glory!
He is a man, and God, interceding for us and making His Holy Spirit available for all Believers. He has taken up His dwelling place in us also and although in the bodily nature we inhabit may die if the Rapture is delayed, by the virtue of His Spirit in us we shall never die; He never leaves us. This body will again be quickened because of this same Spirit.
Romans 8 says that we are not in this flesh but in the Spirit; if the Spirit of Him (God) who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you."
We are truly a new creation in Christ! We have a different Spirit than the world. Take it by faith and build on it. Appropriate the whole concept into our actions, our prayer life and our faith.
II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature;
old things are passed away,
behold ALL things are become new!
Like the blood on the doorposts for the Children of Egypt, the blood of the Lamb of God cleanses us of sin and removed the iniquity from our home. The destroying angel passes us by. But Jesus is so much more than the Lamb of God for us now; He is the risen LORD who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.
We have the self same Spirit of the Risen Christ dwelling in our being. The Spirit that brought life to the lifeless body of Christ in the tomb is in us. The Spirit of the One who now sits at the right hand of the Father raised Jesus, the One who went down in death but is alive right now in glory!
He is a man, and God, interceding for us and making His Holy Spirit available for all Believers. He has taken up His dwelling place in us also and although in the bodily nature we inhabit may die if the Rapture is delayed, by the virtue of His Spirit in us we shall never die; He never leaves us. This body will again be quickened because of this same Spirit.
Romans 8 says that we are not in this flesh but in the Spirit; if the Spirit of Him (God) who raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwells in you."
We are truly a new creation in Christ! We have a different Spirit than the world. Take it by faith and build on it. Appropriate the whole concept into our actions, our prayer life and our faith.
II Corinthians 5:17
"Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature;
old things are passed away,
behold ALL things are become new!
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