Month: June 2016

CHALLENGE FROM THE HOLY SPIRIT…


Spiritual Blog - Holy Spirit

John 14:12 – “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”  NKJV

 

From time to time, in prayer and study, I will sense a challenge from the LORD through the Holy Spirit and one came in this passage and the subsequent passages.  I have, often, engaged in conversations and discussions about Jesus’ statement and promise here.  I like to know people’s perception of this promise and observe the fulfillment or failure in our lives and churches.

As I was meditating on verse 12 some thoughts came to mind that I have been pursuing in biblical research and prayerful consideration for a long time.  Let me share, briefly, that which came to me as a challenge.

Spiritual Blog - Challenge

  • The Believer, according to this passage, WILL DO THE WORKS that Jesus did here on Earth. That is a fascinating statement and something that I do not witness, with the regularity I believe is embodied in the directive and promise, in my life or others around me.  In fact, we have some in Christendom who believe that this is no longer viable as a biblical reality.  Yet, I find it difficult not to take Jesus at His word and He said that WE WOULD so if we are not, why not?
  • The Believer, according to this passage, WILL DO GREATER WORKS than Jesus did here on Earth BECAUSE He has gone to the Father.     I personally believe that is a direct and significant reference to the coming and ministry of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers.  The double statement seems to indicate the Power of the Holy Spirit in lives of believers.  What are the Greater Works?  There is no greater work than Salvation and we know we cannot save anyone, only God can.  Therefore, the works would seem to be those within the possibility of a human being, in Christ and with the aid of the Holy Spirit.  If we are not doing the Works He did, how can we be expected to do Greater Works?  That caused me much cause to repent before God and I am still working through that in faith.
  • NEXT, we have a CONJUNCTION that Connects Verses 12 and 13, “And.”   Here Jesus gives us a Promise that whatever we ask in His Name, HE WILL DO and that the Father would be glorified as a result of what Jesus does in and through the life of a believer.  Does that seem to suggest that He was not just speaking to that particular era but to those “afar off” as well?  It does to me.
  • THEN, Jesus CLARIFIES the issue by repeating and making the Promise even stronger.    He says in verse 14, “If you ask ANYTHING in My name, I will do it.”  I don’t know how you have more clarity or find a more powerful promise.  Are we falling short of His directive?  That was a challenge by the Holy Spirit to me as I studied.
  • NEXT, we come to another AND in Verse 16 where Jesus says, “AND, I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you FOREVER…”   The forever negates the idea this was a one-time occurrence for a particular generation but FOREVER is a long time.
  • FINALLY, in Verses 21 and 31, Jesus gives the GUARANTEE How He will Manifest Himself to us and fulfill His Promise.   He tells us that IF we keep His commandments we express and demonstrate our LOVE and He then will DWELL with us and be in us. Then in verse 31, He tells us that the works, our commitment and His demonstration of Love will demonstrate to the world that the world would know His LOVE, the Father’s LOVE, and our LOVE and that we are operating in His Authority.

The question is, “Are we doing the Works He did?”  I won’t even ask if we are doing “Greater Works.”  Are we keeping His commandments?  Are we walking in the fullness He came to give and enjoying the Abundant Life, impacting our world demonstrating and manifesting Him?

            God bless you as you embark on today’s journey!

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A FATHER’S LOVE…


Spiritual Blog - Father's Love

1 John 3:1-3 – “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 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. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”  NKJV

 

Recently, I heard the country song again, “Love Without End, Amen” and it, as it always does, reminded me of our Heavenly Father’s Love and my natural love for my children.  The song is down to earth in its message and uses realistic events in life to illustrate the power of love both natural and divine.

In the song, the young boy was sent home from school for fighting and that was against the rules of his home, so he came home with trepidation as to what the result would be when his father saw and heard the account.  He rehearsed the story in his mind so as to mitigate his punishment and related it to his dad just as he had rehearsed.  The response was unexpected and was not the product of his story but a message his dad hoped to convey.  There is a powerful message found in the chorus:

And he said, ‘Let me tell you a secret about a father’s love, a secret that my daddy said was just between us.’  He said, ‘Daddies don’t just love their children every now and then.  It’s a love without end, amen, it’s a love without end.’

             Expecting punishment and receiving grace and assurance of his father’s love was a powerful message that resonated throughout his life.  The song continues with this boy growing up and having a son of his own, who was stubborn and often rebellious and life events afford him an opportunity to pass the message on to his son.  Then, he had a dream that he had died and standing outside the Gates of Heaven he thought, there must be some mistake because he didn’t feel his life would be acceptable and that’s when he heard a voice from inside the gates telling him, “Let me tell you a secret about a father’s love, a secret my daddy said was just between us.  Daddies don’t just love their children every now and then, it’s a love without end, amen…”  

We are enjoined to demonstrate tireless and unconditional love toward our children.  I did not say a faux love that excuses and looks the other way when behavior warrants the administration of discipline but LOVE that is like God’s love.  Love that continues to love even when the person demonstrates characteristics and actions that are not lovely.  We teach, train, and discipline, but WE LOVE WITHOUT END.  That is how God loves us and how we should love others especially our children.

            God bless you as you embark on a journey of love on this wonderful day in Jesus!

 

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ATTAINABLE – – Life To The Fullest… (Continued)


Spiritual Blog - Life

Proverbs 4:20-27 – “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you. 26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”  NKJV

 

In Psalm 91 we find a picture of the Place of Victory that God desires for each of His children to enter and enjoy.  Jesus came that we might have life and that more abundant.  He came to redeem us from the Curse of the Law and bring us into Complete and Full Victory in Him.  He came that we might ALWAYS TRIUMPH in Him!  That is our position and condition, as seen in the heart and mind of God as believers.

I am 100% convinced that God intends and desires for ALL OF HIS CHILDREN to enjoy ALL THE PROVISIONS He has made for us!  He is not glorified or honored when we fail to come into our full inheritance in Jesus.  The problem is that far too often we have failed to understand that there is more to our inheritance than what we now have and because we fail to recognize there is more, look for nothing more and gain nothing more.

Consider this please – When Moses had successfully led Israel to the place they could enter the Promised Land, Canaan and take possession of their inheritance he gave them a prophecy.  It is important that we remember that in order for them to take possession of their inheritance they had to first dispossess the inhabitants occupying their inheritance.  They had to DISPOSSESS before they could POSSESS.  That is vital to remember.  Jesus purchased for us the FULL INHERITANCE, but for us to enjoy the possession we must move in and through the Spirit of God and dispossess the dragon or enemy that is encamped and squatting on our inheritance.  There were twelve parcels and twelve prophecies given.

The number twelve in the Bible signifies completeness.  We need to review and consider the prophecies so we can evaluate the extent or lack thereof we are enjoying our FULL INHERITANCE in Christ.  If we are we, we can rejoice greatly in the Lord and reach out to others and assist them in possessing their promises.  If we are not, we need to fall on our faces before the LORD and ask His help and guidance in enabling us to move in and DISPOSSESS so we can POSSESS.

CONSIDER THE PROPHECIES – – [Found in Deuteronomy 33].

RUBEN – [v.6] – – LIFE                                                                                                                                             JUDAH – [v.7] – – SUFFICIENCY                                                                                                                 BENJAMIN – [v.12] – – PROTECTION & DELIVERANCE                                                                                    JOSEPH – [vv13-17] – – PRESENE OF GOD, HOLY SPIRIT & GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.              EPHRIAM – [v.17] – – GLORY                                                                                                           MANASSEH – [v.17] – – GLORY                                                                                                           ZEBULUN – [v.18] – – JOY                                                                                                                    ISSACHAR – [vv.18-19] – – PROSPERITY                                                                                                    GAD – [vv.20-21] – – INCREASE                                                                                                                      DAN – [v.22] – – AUTHORITY IN CHRIST                                                                                                NAPHTALI – [v.23] – – SATISFACTION                                                                                                    ASHER – [vv24-25] – – ANOINTING (Oil).

Just as it was with Israel there is an Enemy occupying each of those parcels of our promise(s) and that enemy will not willingly depart and cede his control.  The enemy has to be DISPOSSESSED to enable us to POSSESS the Promise.  Consider verses 26-27 and you will realize that the Promise describes our God and declares that He is not only willing to help us, but the He comes in all His Power and Might to fully enable us to Possess the Promises.

The only remaining question is, “Are We Fully Enjoying Our Inheritance?”  If we are or are not, “What Must We Do Now?”  Jesus promised to “Build His Church” on the foundation of Truth and in building the church He builds it with LIVING STONES (People).  He seeks to bring His Vision to the Church and incorporate our individual and personal visions into the Vision of the whole.  How do we know if our vision is a God-given vision for the whole or a survival vision?  A simple question will help to identify and reveal the truth in that regard.  How do I respond if the vision is advance is rejected or given a lesser place of prominence than I think it should?  Do I derive pleasure out of the praise of men or do I derive pleasure out of pursuing the Vision of my heart without praise?

God is calling His children to come to Him and empty ourselves of all “Selfish Ambition” walking the total commitment of Love!   God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Him!

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ATTAINABLE – – Life To The Fullest…


Spiritual Blog - - Life

Proverbs 4:20-27 – “My son, give attention to my words; Incline your ear to my sayings. 21 Do not let them depart from your eyes; Keep them in the midst of your heart; 22 for they are life to those who find them, and health to all their flesh. 23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life. 24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you. 25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your eyelids look right before you.  26 Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; Remove your foot from evil.”  NKJV

 

My basic and foundational philosophy in life is that we take God’s Word as a guide and realize that the precepts and principles taught therein are attainable and applicable for daily living.  It is my conviction that the purpose of God is not to teach some lofty principle(s) which are attainable by only the select of the elect, but open and accessible by every born-again child of God.  I also am convinced that we reach those lofty places in God, not because of our performance, but because of our birthright and heritage.  We are His children and He is our Father, therefore, “as He is so are we in this world.” 

Here in Proverbs 4, God the writer brings us face to face with some basic instructions which are life-giving.  Let’s quickly view the highlights of what is offered in these verses.

 

  • We Are Instructed to GIVE.

Attend to or do!  We are to apply and commit ourselves to following the instructions contained therein.  This involves Hearing, Understanding, and Acting upon the Truths and Instructions that are given.

  • We Are Instructed to INCLINE OUR EARS.

Listen!  We are to allow our understanding to be illuminated that we may understand and be able to properly respond to what is being said.  Then, we are able to truly be a “doer of the Word” not simply one who hears without action.

  • We Are Instructed to NOT LET THE WORDS DEPART FROM OUR EYES.

We are to keep them in the forefront of our minds and firmly established in our hearts.  This is a covenant phrase and the reality is we “become” what we are constantly beholding.  If we keep the Covenant of God constantly in our mind and heart meditating on His Word and Truth we are then ready to respond all the time and at any time.

  • We Are Instructed to KEEP THE WORDS IN THE MIDST OF OUR HEARTS.

We are to allow our spirit man to become so filled with the Words of the Lord that we are truly SPIRIT LED not led by emotions or physical cravings.  We are to allow the Word of God to completely permeate our spirits, hearts, and minds so that everything that comes out of our mouths is WHAT GOD SAYS.  What results in our actions is WHAT GOD DOES.  Then we can reflect and manifest Christ as did Stephen in the Book of Acts.

The results of these activities are two-fold as can be witnessed in verse 22, they are “life and health.”  The writer under the inspiration of the Spirit of God continues by giving some practical guidance that we can follow and enter the place or condition that God desires for our lives.  He gives some powerful instruction in verses 23-27 that we will deal with in more depth in the next devotional.

Until tomorrow, I pray that the LORD open heaven’s windows and pour out a blessing upon you that is beyond your ability and capacity to contain.  Blessings as you enjoy this wonderful day He has created for you and me!

 

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CAN I BE A WINNER???


Spiritual - Bumblebee

Romans 8:37 – “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  NKJV

 

That was a question asked of me by an individual in whom everything in their makeup suggested that it was not possible.  When they asked me that in desperation and possibly wanting a confirmation of their doubt I used an illustration that I’ve used before to combat “impossibility thinking”, THE BUMBLEBEE…  That’s right, I said Bumblebee.

I said, “Did you know that a bumblebee cannot fly?”  They looked at me incredulously and said, “Of course they can, I see them all the time.”  I continued informing them that according to the principles of aeronautics, the shape and weight of their bodies in relation to their total wing area makes it impossible for them to fly.  BUT, the bumblebee apparently doesn’t know anything about the principles of aeronautics and just flies.  Amazing isn’t it?  I had their attention and attempted to communicate truth from God’s word and life that being a winner had more to do with attitude than aptitude.

            I am totally convinced that the first step toward success begins in the mind.  It begins with our decision to do it.  Very often the only thing that separates a winner and a loser is that decision.  It is imperative that we learn to take the circumstances of life and turn those obstacles into opportunities.  The enemy (Satan) and people, will try to convince us that we cannot but the final court of appeal is GOD’S WORD not Satan’s lies.  The question is who we choose to believe.  You and I have the option of living each day full of worry, fear, and doubt or confidence, hope, faith, and trust in God and His word.  The choice is ours, not the devils, not circumstances, not people but ours.  God has granted us that option and stands ready to help us once we have made the right choice.  I optimistically stand on the principle that every problem, from a biblical viewpoint, is an opportunity for God to demonstrate His miraculous power and incredible love.  Therefore, the right decision is vital.

When I deal with this issue I always begin at the same place – A TRANSFORMED MIND.  I am convinced that the first thing anyone needs is to develop the lifestyle and mindset of a winner.  If you think like a loser you will live like a loser and your expectation will be losing.  Therefore, if you want to be a winner, you have to have your mind transformed into the mind of a winner.  You can’t do that alone or with will-power, you need divine help and that is readily available in the Word of God and through the Spirit of God.

Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Man’s mind, stretched by a new idea, never goes back to its original dimension.”  God wants to STRETCH OUR MINDS with new thoughts, new ideas, and creativity.  He wants to instill in our hearts and minds NEW VISIONS and that is the vision of WINNING!

Let me probe a bit.  Is your mind filled with things past or things you could not or cannot control?  Is your mind filled with self-talk about what “shoulda, coulda, or woulda” IF ONLY?  Have you found yourself plagued with the mentality of being a victim?  Are you an eternal pessimist?  Do you always strive to get by, play it safe, and do what is virtually guaranteed to work?  That mindset will hinder your progress on the pathway to WINNING.  If you live for someday someway without any concrete plans for how you are going to get there or be that you have taken up residence in the Loser Mode of Life.  Time to change addresses.

Winners do not merely react to change, they create change!  Winners change the way they think and see the world and all that is in it.  Their thinking becomes an adventure and in a very real sense, they make it happen.  They believe all things are possible through the name, authority, and person of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Remember Joshua and Caleb in Numbers 13:30, when they came back from their recognizance of Canaan, the said, “We should by all means go up and take possession of the land, for WE SHALL SURELY OVERCOME!”  [Emphasis mine].  They had the same choice as the others but they opted to view the situation through the eyes of faith and as winners not through the eyes of the flesh as losers.  We must remember that God has already won for us and we simply need to enforce and appropriate the victory He has won.

You and I need to learn to “see” the opportunity in everything.  We need to learn to “see” value in everything.  We need to learn to “refuse” to allow anything to keep us down.  The Navy Seals have a saying that is powerful, “The man who will not be defeated, cannot be defeated.”  We need to allow nothing to control our thoughts but the Word and Spirit of God.  God has declared that “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE to the one who believes.”  What do we say?

Can you be a winner?  What do you think?  What does God say?  Who are you going to believe?   God bless you as you embark on your journey of Winning in Jesus!

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DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE? (Part II)


Spiritual Blog - Who

Ps 8:1-9 – “O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

 2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen — Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.

 9 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”  NKJV

 

In finding the answer to the question we continue digging into what makes us who we are.  One thing that is impossible to overlook is ATTITUDE.  Victor Frankl, the Austrian neurologist, and psychologist also a Holocaust survivor said, “Everything can be taken from man, except the last of the human freedoms, his ability to choose his own attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose his own way.”

For example, you can have a person who is honest and dependable but filled with the negative.  He/she focuses on what they do not have rather that what they do.  They focus on what is wrong rather than what is right.  They look for defects and notice corruption rather than the incorruptible.  That is a chosen attitude.  I read about a person with this type attitude whose teenage son had worked unsolicited in the yard for hours unsupervised. This individual came home from work, changed clothes and went into the yard and immediately criticized everything the teenager had done.  How likely is it that the teenager will work around the house unsolicited in the future?

Attitudes are a part of our character.  Every large achievement comes from a progression of small achievements.  We eat a meal one bite at a time.  We make a journey one step or one mile at a time.  We read a book one page at a time.  Life is moving from one small accomplishment to another in our journey toward the objective.  How well we do and how dedicated we are to the effort depends on our MOTIVATION.  Some do out of FEAR.  Fear of failure, fear of the opinions of others and some do out of LOVE.  One brings damage and destruction the other health.

Imagination is the ability of the soul to put your mind (reasoning component) in places and situations where you are not physically present.  I suggest that every designer and artist sees then does.  Noah saw and then built the Ark.  The Bible tells us that young men will see visions. Where does it happen?  In the soul of man.  Of course, we dare not omit consideration of the importance of THE WILL which is our ability to choose.  It is like the transmission in a car or the rudder on a ship

WHO ARE YOU?  You are the sum total of your Value System, World View, Attitude, Motivation, Imagination, and Will.  However, we dare not omit the key ingredient of Faith to determine who we really are.  What we are is expressed and demonstrated in our CHARACTER, the “hidden part of the heart.”  That which connects to God.  Who are you?  If you are a Christian you are GOD’S CHILD, more than a conqueror, and an Eternal Being housed, at the present, in a human body or temporary house.

            God bless you as you continue your journey in Him!

 

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DO YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE?


Spiritual Blog - Who ARe You

Ps 8:1-9 – “O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens!

2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor.

 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen — Even the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the air, And the fish of the sea That pass through the paths of the seas.

 9 O LORD, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth!”  NKJV

 

I do not mean the title question to be rhetorical but real.  The Psalmist identifies the attitude of God toward His creature, made in His image and likeness.  The position afforded to man and the potential in man are lofty but often overlooked through a misconception and misunderstanding of WHO HE REALLY IS.  Kirk Douglas, in the Ragman’s Son, the hitchhiker asked: “Hey, do you know who you are?”  A great question for each of us.

If you are shopping for a used car it is important to keep in mind that it is INTERNALS, not EXTERNALS that make the car.  The engine, transmission, etc. not the shine or charm.  Tragically “first impressions” are grossly overrated in our society.  It is impossible to truly know what a person is really like by looking at the outside.  Shakespeare wrote, “Nature with beauteous wrath doth oft clothe in pollution.”  Thus, the engine is to the auto what the inner self is to the person.  What really makes you, you are the eternal parts which is the internal part.  I Peter 3:4a, “…hidden person of the heart…

CHARACTER – “The combination of qualities or traits that distinguish an individual; personality. The aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing; moral or ethical quality; qualities of honesty, courage, or the like; integrity; reputation.”

  • Personality – The projection of a person’s soul (Inner Self).
  • Character – – The actual state of the soul (Inner Self).

            Basic attitudes, feeling and emotions such as anger, fear, love, and lust all reside in the soul of man.  They are a part of us whether they are right or wrong, good or bad.  We receive information from innumerable sources such as experience, observation, education, television, newspapers, church, movies, etc.  We store that data, even though some of it may be wrong or harmful.  Then, we operate on the data in our daily lives, acting according to what we believe to be true or beneficial, even if it is not.

            THE SOUL – Is made up of our value systems, attitudes, motivations, reasoning, imagination, conscience, and will.  Our value system determines what we do and who we are.  For example, a teenager might work to part-time jobs resulting in their grades declining. Why?  They have their eyes on a car which is the highest priority and they are willing to allow everything else to suffer to achieve that most prized objective.  We do that in life as adults as well.  Much of our activities and conversation evolves around our Value System.  The relative worth or significance we assign to different activities or possessions determines how much of our time, money, energy and lives we will invest in it.  WHAT IS YOUR VALUE SYSTEM?

WORLD VIEWS – Different world views help to create our Value System. 

  • One Worldview – Holds that all reality is physical and material. Life is limited to the body and everything ends with death.  Therefore, the focus is the physical and material pleasure because it is all they have or can look forward to.
  • Another – Holds the Present as being the only thing that is important and gratification becomes the objective and goal.
  • Another – Is willing to forego physical and material gratification for a richer more meaningful life later. This is identified as delayed gratification where they seek to enhance pleasure by meeting and experiencing pain fist and getting it over with.
  • Another – Perceives not only the Physical, Material, and Temporal but the Spiritual or Eternal. They view eternity as the most important.  In that view, there are two views.  The futuristic where it is some day we will receive.  The other is Eternal Life now in body, soul and spirit.

We have not scratched the surface in addressing who we are but hopefully, you have been sufficiently challenged to begin to think and evaluate your views in life.  If you have then in the next devotional we can make a run at answering the question.

             God bless you as you embark on today’s journey!

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I’M TIRED OF LOSING, THEREFORE…


Spiritual Blog - Enough

Romans 8:37 – “Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.”  NKJV

             I heard of a high school football team that had not won a game in years and one senior on the team stood at the pep-rally and said, “I’m tired of losing, therefore…”  He did not finish and the administrators began to fidget, the coaching staff squirmed uneasily in their seats, the team looked at each other somewhat bewildered and the student body was totally silent.  Then something began to happen and started sweeping through the gymnasium until the entire student body erupted with, “THEREFORE… THEREFORE… THEREFORE…”  They understood what the, therefore, was there for and the attitude of losing began to shift from losing to winning and on that Friday night they won the game in a dominating fashion.  Why?  Because they changed their mindset and attitude.  They became fed up with losing and as they changed their mind, they found their commitment shifted and their ability to execute on the field also changed.  It took one person to remind them they were in a rut and if they were going to be free of the spirit of losing they had to CHANGE THEIR MINDS and TRANSFORM THEIR THINKING.

Romans 12:2 tells us, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  It could be rendered, “Be transformed by your new attitude” or “continue to transform yourselves by the new ideas that mold your mind.”  You do not have to wait for success to knock on your door it is waiting for you in the Word of God.

Please do not misinterpret what I’m saying as “mind over matter” or anything of the sort but I am 100% convinced from my study of the Bible that it is possible for us to TRAIN OUR MINDS to think better.  We can break free of the ruts of defeat by allowing God to expose us to possibilities.  I heard of a young man, who, while reading 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 became inspired with an idea of overcoming the “self-sabotaging habits” of anger and selfishness in his life.  He decided that he would memorize this passage and for 30 days meditate on the verses almost continually.  The result was amazing, as he repeated the Word of God daily and allowed it to become so much a part of his thinking, he became relaxed and his thoughts turned to how he could demonstrate those words in his life.  He was radically transformed in thirty days by the Word of God.

In the Bible, one of the great WINNERS we read about has to be King David.  He, in my view, embodied at least four characteristics and/or attitudes of winners.

  • WINNERS Respond to the Challenge, not the Problem.

1 Samuel 17:23-27 we find David facing Goliath.  The enemy was incredibly large and the Bible tells us that the breastplate he wore weight approximately 200 pounds. He carried a spear that was 8′ long and the head weight 25 pounds.  That’s a pretty formidable opponent, right?  David could have only looked at the problem standing before him and failed but he looked beyond or through Goliath into the Promises of God, the Power of God, and the Person of God.  He saw the solution not simply the problem.  We need to learn to look through not at the problem.

  • WINNERS Do Not Allow Themselves to be Shaped or Defined by Circumstances, Criticisms or the Opinions of Others.

1 Samuel 17:28-33 we find Eliab, David’s older brother trying to deflate David’s Champion Attitude and press him into a defeatist mode.  He belittled David and attempted to shame and embarrass him.  He even questioned David’s integrity and King Saul also tried to dissuade him but David would have none of it.  He saw what he saw and believed what he believed.   If you judge after the flesh you will fail but if you judge after the Spirit you will succeed.

Paul instructed in 2 Corinthians 5:16, “From now on we recognize no man according to the flesh.”  1 Corinthians 1:27, “God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:10, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”  Then in 1 Samuel 16:7 we read, “The Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”   That’s the key!

  • WINNERS Live by what God’s Word Says, not by what They See, Hear or Imagine in the Natural.

Consider 1 Samuel 17 and verses 8, 10, 11, and 23.   Verse 8 we find Goliath standing and shouting his threats… In verse 10 we read, “The Philistine [Goliath] said…”  Verse 11 tells us that Israel heard his words and verse 23, that Goliath spoke the same words to David and David heard them… There was a battle for David’s mind taking place before he ever picked up one stone.  The Battle of Words we all face in life when faced with problems or negative circumstances.  It was the battle of Goliath’s words versus God’s words.  David had a choice and he made the right one!  In another post, I will list the twelve (12) lies the enemy will commonly use against us but are all lies we can disregard and reject.

  • WINNERS Respond with Courage to Seemingly Impossible Challenges.

You and I have a choice.  We can live in fear of faith.  We can trust what we see in the natural or what we know in the spiritual.  We can be a wimp or a winner and the choice is ours.  God has already cast His ballot for winning and only waits for us to agree with Him and allow the Holy Spirit to “renew our minds” and thereby “transform” our lives.

            God bless you as you move into the Winner’s Circle in Jesus!

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The Saga Continues, Faith through OBSTACLES and OPPORTUNITIES…


Spiritual Blog - Faith 1

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NKJV

  

Something I want to convey and hope you see is that Hezekiah refused to rush into prayer frantic and panicked.  God is God and he was renewing his understanding of who God is.  Nothing about this makes sense to his senses.  Thoughts were flooding his mind and his entire world is buzzing with fear and paralysis. What is he to do?  What if he gets this wrong?

In his inner being, he is hearing STOP!  BE STILL and realize who you are talking to!  You are talking to the ALMIGHTY CREATOR OF THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE, JEHOVAH GOD!  As you realize that, now go to prayer!  Do you see it?  If you understand that you are talking to GOD and realize that the fact you are talking to God is an evidence of faith, NOW  you can stop trying to find a solution, HE IS THE SOLUTION.  You do not have to manufacture an answer, HE IS THE ANSWER!

The Holy Spirit was the one prompting Hezekiah to pray.  He will urge us but he will not make us pray.  He leads us to the water but we have to drink. This was new ground for Hezekiah.  Hezekiah had grown up reading the early parts of the Bible (Genesis to Judges).  In that record, there were accounts back to when God did exploits and even destroyed entire armies.  It was a long time ago in history for Hezekiah that God parted the red sea and the walls of Jericho fell flat.  He had read it and heard it but he had never “seen it”.  Now, he stands paralyzed in fear facing an impossible situation and the Holy Spirit nudges him to ASK, ASK, and ASK!  Hezekiah does!  That is the miracle and that is the demonstration of faith.  That is the “new ground” upon with Hezekiah is standing.  He has opened himself up to experience what he has only read about and now in his helplessness he bathes in the sunlight of WHO GOD IS!

The problem with us is that we try too hard to produce something that only God can give.  I want you to see that this man, Hezekiah, a man standing in very little faith opened the door for God to enter human history and accomplish an incredible miracle.  Remember, there were two men, Hezekiah, and Isaiah.  Isaiah was a man of great faith and he already understood HOW to hear the voice of God.  I find it interesting that Isaiah did the same thing Hezekiah did.  He became STILL and in becoming STILL he sees God.  It is the same process only on a deeper level.  Then after this was over, Isaiah wrote down what had happened to them and we call that Psalm 46.  It is Isaiah describing what happened in an emergency or crisis and details what happens when he BECAME STILL before the Lord.

Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”  That is powerful, especially in light of the account we have discussed.  That could be translated, “God is abundantly available for help in tight places.”  He does not plead for God to be his refuge he declares GOD IS MY REFUGE.  One of our problems is we feel that we have to somehow get got into action.  NO!  He is God!  HE IS THAT HE IS!  He is the Eternal God of All Creation!  We don’t have to get Him to be HE IS.  We don’t manipulate, coerce, or convince Him, HE IS!

HE IS could be two of the most important words in our Christian vocabulary.  If we can grasp those two words we will soar into the realm of faith and never again beg God for anything, but rather receive WHO HE IS.  That is how he could say in Psalm 46:2, “Therefore we will not fear…”  In the midst of the storm, WE DO NOT FEAR because HE IS…  “…even though the earth be moved, and the mountains be carried into the sea…”  NO FEAR because HE IS!  Then verse three, “Though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NO FEAR!  Sennacherib is threatening but GOD IS GOD!  If you read, Psalm 46:1-5 you will read that he has not yet prayed.  He is still basking in WHO GOD IS.   When he does pray he is praying in full view of WHO GOD IS.  Talk about giving new impetus to our prayers.  We are not begging in desperation but coming boldly before the throne in full view of WHO HE IS!

That is new ground for many believers today.  We spend a lot of time asking and too little time sunbathing in His presence and as we soak up the rays of His presence we ask with faith and pray the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous and see God move powerfully!  Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still (cease striving) and know that I AM GOD!” 

Be still means in the Hebrew, “to slacken, idle, hang out, sink down, or relax.”  That is Incredible!  God says, “When all hell is breaking around you and coming against you, RELAX, hang out, mellow out, and be still for I AM GOD!”  When you are in a panic and feel you have to do something you have already lost the battle. The first step of faith is to HANG OUT WITH GOD, relax and be still and know that He is God!  As you still yourself in His presence you get tuned into His person and power and then when you pray you are praying in a power and faith you have never known!

So when trouble comes to our door what do we speak?  JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!  We speak, THE BLOOD OF JESUS HAS BEEN SHED and is now the Blood of the Everlasting Covenant.  We speak, WE ARE SEATED WITH CHRIST IN HEAVENLY PLACES.  Because, when Jesus died on the Cross He cried IT IS FINISHED.  I cannot emphasize emphatically enough the first thing we are to do is BE STILL AND KNOW HE IS GOD!  We want a formula but God is not a formula HE IS GOD!

            God bless you as you continue your journey through this thing called life.  Abundant Blessings is the prayer and desire of my heart for each one today.

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Amazing Story of Faith through OBSTACLES and OPPORTUNITIES…


Spiritual Blog - FAith

Psalm 46:1-3 – “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, even though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; 3 though its waters roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.”  NKJV

 

You have to go beyond head knowledge and words on a page when you consider this account of Hezekiah as a result of Sennacherib’s ultimatum.  You have to FEEL IT.  Let it get in your spirit and allow the Holy Spirit to take you in the Temple with him.  He is the leader of the nation and all eyes are on him.  If he fails they suffer incredible harm.  His heart is torn because he loves his people and his nation.  The buck stops with him and he has to make a command decision, a decision no committee can make.  It is now between Hezekiah and his God.  This is PRESSURE! 

When under this kind of pressure there is a compulsion to manufacture an answer or think up a solution.  But, in this situation try as he might there is the gnawing and paralyzing fear inside saying, “What if you are wrong?”  But, you have to have an answer and that is when fear floods in like a tidal wave.  The nagging question in the back of the mind is, “Where is God?”  With all that raging in his heart and mind Hezekiah goes to the Temple and in the Temple his faith begins to spring forth.  He goes to the Temple the place where God’s ‘glory’ and ‘radiant presence’ lived or was manifest.  There was the ‘manifest presence of God’ there or it had been demonstrated from time to time.

In a very real sense, Hezekiah went into the Temple and his entering there was saying, “God this is your city and a madman wants to take it. He wants to take YOUR HOUSE!”  The prayer he prayed is nothing short of incredible and I believe we should examine it line by line and as we do we will hear something very important and powerful.

“Our LORD…”  Yahweh, the personal name of God!  “Oh Yahweh, God of Israel…”  God of Israel is a covenant statement.  Simply, he is saying God, you are, in a very special way, committed to us and we, to you.  You came to us and said that we would be YOUR PEOPLE and you would be OUR GOD.  So, you are not just a god, you are OUR GOD!”  Hear his heart.  “Oh Yahweh, the God of Israel, who art enthroned above the Cheribum…”  In the Holy of Holies the only piece of furniture is a box and on top of that box is a slab of gold, the Mercy Seat.  At the end, two Cheribums were fashioned and between them, on top of this box was this uncreated light shining forth.  They called it the Throne of God.  They envisioned God sitting there as King, Protector, and Shepherd of Israel.   What a mental image.

Hezekiah begins rehearsing all this in his mind. He is clearly thinking, “God, You sit on the Throne of Israel. Oh, they may call me king, but we all know YOU ARE KING! This little problem has come across my desk, but it is really your desk.  You are God and therefore, it is your problem!  Oh Yahweh, the God of Israel, who art enthroned above the Cheribum, THOU ART THE GOD, THOU ALONE…”

See it?  God You and You alone are God and King of all the kingdoms of the Earth.  No matter where men are found or who they are, YOU ARE GOD.  “Thou hast made the heaven and the earth…”  You are not only God now, but you are God past, present, and future.  You are the CREATOR.   Do you understand what is happening?  He is not bringing some new revelation to God, God knows this.  In a very real sense, Hezekiah is talking to himself, and as he gives verbal recognition of the person, purpose, and power of God his faith begins to rise!  This is BEING STILL and realizing Who God is.  It is in this that Hezekiah can come out and say, “This is actual fact, it is not coming out of my understanding or imagination, YOU ARE GOD!  This is Who You Really ARE!”

As Hezekiah SEES THIS in his spirit he can see Sennacherib standing and declaring that he is the Great King of the Earth, but GOD made the earth.  This mad man can declare, “I conquered the kingdoms,” but God is God over all the kingdoms. Therefore, as he sees and realizes WHO GOD IS, Sennacherib becomes very small in his sight.  The more he rehearses WHO GOD IS, the smaller the Assyrian becomes.  What a beautiful pattern!

You have to catch it in your spirit!  After Hezekiah says all this he musters the highest prayer he can.  I find it incredibly interesting.  He prays:  “Incline thine ear O Lord, and hear…”  God, you are the Living God. I know that you have ears to hear, but sometimes I’m not sure you are listening so “Open thine eyes O Lord and see…”  God, you might be asleep or distracted right now so please WAKE UP and “Listen to the words Sennacherib has used to reproach and blaspheme the MOST HIGH GOD!” 

             God, you are the LIVING GOD.  You have EARS TO HEAR and EYES TO SEE and I am calling upon you, as your representative in the Earth to BE GOD in this situation.  DO IT LORD!  DO IT!   

Let’s pause there and I want to say a little more next time.  God bless you as you embark on this wonderful day He has made!

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