Psalm 17:3 –“You have tried my heart; You have visited me by night; You have tested me, and You find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.”

Sometimes, I am conscious of my night dreams, and some of them I would define as night visions where I knew God was speaking to me.   Most consider those rare and even unusual.   Some discount them altogether, believing that God no longer communicates with us, except through the Bible.  The Bible is invaluable, but God is a communicator, and He will unveil the truths of His word and life in many ways, including dreams in the night.

Think about it.  When you are sleeping, your mind and your spirit are less distracted.  What better time for the LORD to communicate His desires to us than when we are in a state of slumber and our minds are relaxed, not thinking about the ten thousand things we encounter daily?

I am convinced that we consider those times of communication from God rare because we do not expect to hear from Him in that manner.  Sometimes we do not expect to hear at all.  But, from Genesis to Revelation, we read, “God said…” He is the Speaking God and desires to communicate His wisdom, words, and will to us.

There have been times I was oblivious to the reality that God had birthed something in my heart during the night.  He had downloaded something into my spirit, and I was unaware of it.  Before you argue, how did you know it was a dream of the heart or a night vision? Let me go further. 

I would have experiences and encounters which brought to the fore, unexpectedly, the wisdom, knowledge, or ability to handle it.  I knew that knowledge and wisdom were far above my pay grade of understanding or expertise. God had somehow revealed to me what I needed, and when I needed it, it was extracted from the data files of my mind and heart and implemented. That is exciting!

In the Book of Job, Elihu, the fourth critic of Job, said something powerful in Job 33:3-4 – “For the ear tests words as the palate tastes food. 4 Let us choose for ourselves what is just; Let us know among ourselves what is good.”

We test words, but whose and what are the words we test?   We test people’s words, and consciously or unconsciously, we test the words of God too.  If we want to understand the Words of God accurately, we need to commune with Him regularly and openly.

I encourage everyone to ask the LORD each night before bed to open their hearts to receive whatever He wants to communicate.  I encourage you to invite the Holy Spirit to give you dreams and night visions so that you will know what you do not know, hear what you have never heard, and walk in His fullness like never before.

Hearing in the natural is not learned, but understanding is!   We need to learn “How to Hear.” When we open ourselves to hearing God, He takes that opportunity to communicate more fully. He will communicate to the level we open ourselves to Him. I want to hear Him so that I can walk before Him in a manner pleasing to Him, beneficial to the Kingdom, and redemptive to the world.

Today, I pray that the Lord will begin communicating with each of us in dreams and night visions. I pray that He will communicate with us through circumstances and His Word!   May the Holy Spirit reveal the deep things of God to our hearts and train our minds to hear and our hearts to obey. I pray that the Lord will help us to gird up the loins of our minds and be ready for action. May He open the Door of Heaven so we can see and hear what He is saying and doing! May He enable us to do the works Jesus did and move into the place of greater works for the Kingdom! Father, meet all the needs of my friends and open our minds, hearts, eyes, and ears to see and hear. We receive! Amen!

Have a fantastic day, and go forth expecting to hear God in your heart of hearts and through the ears of your spirit.

Ezekiel 14:2-3 – “Then the word of the Lord came to me: ³ “Son of man, these men have set up idols in their hearts and put wicked stumbling blocks before their faces. Should I let them inquire of me at all?” 

As I read and prayed on Memorial Day, the Holy Spirit directed me to this passage and spoke to my consciousness about ‘Idols of the heart.’  I mused on that, and as I reflected on the incredible sacrifices of those who gave their lives to preserve and secure freedom, I thought about the incredible sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross for our freedom. 

It would be impossible, in a devotional, to convey all that I sensed in my heart as the Word of God exploded in my spirit.  But, as I meditated and prayed, an old Gospel Song came to the forefront of my mind, and I began to sing it with joy and appreciation.  Gratitude rose in my heart, and I sensed great peace and comfort from the LORD.

I share it with you:  It was written by Charles W. Fry in 1881 and resonates in my heart today!

I’ve found a friend in Jesus; He’s everything to me,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

The Lily of the Valley, in Him alone, I see.

All I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.

In sorrow, He’s my comfort; in trouble, He’s my stay.

He tells me every care on Him to roll.

Refrain:

He’s the Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,

He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne.

In temptation, He’s my strong and mighty tow’r.

I’ve all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn.

From my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.

Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,

Through Jesus, I shall safely reach the goal.

Verse two:

He’ll never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,

While I live by faith and do His blessed will.

A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,

From His manna, He, my hungry soul, shall fill.

Then sweeping up to glory to see His blessed face,

Where rivers of delight shall ever roll.

What a message of hope and inspiration!  He is our Bright and Morning Star!  He is our Hope and Inspiration!  He has taken our grief and sorrows. He has been our companion in temptation and trouble!  We need to forsake everything for Him and tear down all the idols of our hearts.  Through Jesus, we are overcomers and will attain the prize of the High Calling of God!

He will Never Ever leave or forsake us, and unless we walk away from Him, we are in His protective care and covering.  He is a Wall of Fire about us!  There is nothing that can penetrate the Blood of His Covering!  We have Nothing to Fear!  On that eventful final day, we can enter His presence and be satisfied.  Rivers of Delight flood our souls, and the overflow touches countless others. 

What a Promise!  What a Hope! 

• First, we must cast down and tear down all idols of our hearts and restore God as FIRST in our lives in Everything! 
• When we do, He does not deprive us of anything but gives us the fullness of the Kingdom. 
• We abide in Him, His Words abide in us, and we have access to the Throne Room 24/7/365. 
• He is accessible at any time and any place. 
• He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother, and He knows our names and loves us!  
• REJOICE!

He is our present help in the time of trouble!  If you do not know Him, today would be a great day to ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you!  Life on Earth is short, but Eternity is FOREVER!

God Bless you, and may your day and week be joyous!

Mark 1:40-41 – “Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”  41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.”  NKJV

I fully understand praying, “Lord, if it is your will.”  That should be our first prayer when the will of God is in doubt, but it should not be our constant prayer once we know the will of the Lord on a particular matter.  That is not ‘coming boldly before the throne.’ That is prayer with an exit strategy in case it does not come to pass.  It is not a demonstration of confidence in the Promises of God. It is a reflection of our timidity and doubt. 

Please do not think of me as mean or heartless in saying that, for I know the trauma of asking and not receiving.  I know what it is to doubt, question, and be skeptical about the result.  I know what it is to know the Promise and wonder if I could really expect it.  I have been there!  I do not say that proudly but honestly. 

I am not trying to speak to you as one who is super-spiritual or always manifests faith and sees the desired result.  I speak from an honest heart desiring to learn and convey to others the Willingness of Jesus and encourage hearts to appropriate the promises and stand on God’s Word.

The leper came to Jesus with an honest desire and question.  He knew in his heart Jesus could, and possibly because of the view of illness by many of his day and ours, he was not certain that his malady was not his own doing and personal sin.  Therefore, He acknowledged his belief that Jesus could and asked if Jesus Would.  Most of us have been there and know the mental, emotional, and spiritual battle.  Jesus’ response was most potent and demonstrated a truth the Scripture repeats repeatedly: GOD IS WILLING! 

Physical healing was the issue, but it could have been anything.  In this matter, this man knew from the Prophet Isaiah that Jesus Could.  Isaiah 53 clarifies that “by the stripes of Jesus, healing was possible.”  He could have known the history of Israel in the wilderness and many of the prophets of old that “healing was possible.” 

In the biblical historical record, there was case after case where healing flowed supernaturally.  This man could know from the reports of the miracles performed by the hand of our Lord that He Could.  Therefore, “could” was not the question.  The question was, Would Jesus, do it? 

A passage in 1 John resonated with me and provided hope and confidence.  It reads, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”  (5:14-15) I hope you saw that! Confidence is provided.  Assurance finds its foundation in the revelation given. 

Hebrews 11:1 – “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  This Confidence or Assurance comes through asking or through prayer. The asking is for Anything according to His Will.  It is not just asking according to His will, but in so asking, we have the Promise that He hears us!  That is fantastic but does not give a surge of faith and confidence that we will receive. 

Therefore, if I know He hears me, the question becomes, Will He do it?  Read the next verse.  In our knowledge that He hears all prayers prayed according to His will, we have the assurance that whatever we ask is granted.  That settles the issue – He is willing, and He will.

Remember Jesus’ words to those struggling in Luke 12:32 – “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.”  How many times did Jesus promise us something encapsulated in His promise that we can ask and expect to receive, seek, and expect to find, and knock, expecting the door to open? 

Always remember that God is not a sadistic overlord but a loving Father wanting to meet all our needs according to His riches in Glory.  So, I encourage you to search the Scriptures for God’s Promises and then take your need to prayer based on the Promise that applies, and if God Promised it and we come with a humble and repentant heart, we will experience The Willingness of Jesus!

God bless you as you go through this beautiful day in Jesus victoriously!

Matthew 6:24 – “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.”  NKJV

Almost every time I have heard a sermon from this text, it has been about money.  This passage speaks of money, wealth, and possessions but is about much more.  It addresses “divided hearts” or “divided allegiance.”  In my view, that is one of the central messages of the Gospel.  The verbiage of this passage is quite interesting to me.  Let’s examine it if we might.

Notice that Jesus said that we could not serve two masters.  Think about that for a moment; He called possessions, wealth, money, or whatever divides our hearts and allegiance a Master. 

That would imply that we are ‘slaves’ to whatever that is.  Some are enslaved by their sexual addiction, some by drugs or alcohol, some by the quest for power, some by fame, some by public opinion, and many others.  If we allow anything to become a Master or Lord in our lives and divide our hearts and allegiance, we become the person of James 1:8, “double-minded” and thereby unstable in ALL our ways. 

He did not say some of our ways, but ALL of our ways, and an unstable man cannot be depended upon.  Proverbs 25:19 says, “Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a bad tooth and a foot out of joint.”  Paul told the Corinthian church in 1 Corinthians 15:58, “…be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Why do I use Proverbs 25 to address the person with a divided heart and allegiance?  Read the following words of our Lord about the person attempting to serve Two Masters, “he will be loyal to the one and despise the other.”  That which keeps us from what we want or reminds us of our primary duty when we want to split our love and loyalty is almost always despised.  God will not share His Glory with anyone or anything. 

1 Samuel 12:21 declares, “You must not turn aside, for then you would go after futile things which cannot profit or deliver, because they are futile.”  That speaks of a divided heart and results in a lack of productivity.  The writer of Hebrews declared in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”  John warned in 1 John 2:15, “Do not love the world nor the things of the world if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in them.”  A divided heart results in robbing one of the Joy of the Lord.

God is not pleased with a Divided Heart, as we can see in Hosea 10:1-2 – “Israel is an empty vine, he bringeth forth fruit unto himself: according to the multitude of his fruit he hath increased the altars; according to the goodness of his land they have made goodly images.  2 Their heart is divided; now shall they be found faulty: he shall break down their altars, he shall spoil their images.” 

Some people seem to think they can live with a divided heart, and God or others do not notice, but God sees and knows. 

I suggest you read these passages:

“But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart… Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins… Shall not God search this out? for he knoweth the secrets of the heart… The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good… Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts… If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul, doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every man according to his works… I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings… For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things… And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works.” 

(I Samuel 16:7, Psalms 7:9, Psalms 44:21, Proverbs 15:3, Proverbs 21:2, Proverbs 24:11-12, Jeremiah 17:10, I John 3:20, and Revelation 2:23).

God is a jealous God in that He has given us Unconditional Love through Jesus on the Cross and seeks to give us the New Birth and translate us from the kingdom of darkness to His kingdom of Light.  He wants to include us in His Body, which requires exclusivity of commitment.  Come out from among them and be separate is the plea.

If we ‘seek first’ God and His kingdom, we have the benefits and promises of God. If we divide our heart, love, and loyalty, we separate ourselves from God and find nothing but futility.

God bless you as you enjoy this day in Him!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Let me ask, “How many of you have been tempted?”  “How many have been tempted in any area and failed or succumbed to the temptation?”  I am sure everyone has, and when that resulted, you were probably flooded with guilt, or you shrugged it off, saying, ‘Well, I’m only human.’

TEMPTATION is something that every human being encounters.   It does not respect age, gender, position, or ethnicity.  There is nothing we can do to prevent temptation from attempting to rear its head, and that head is sometimes quite ugly.  It Just Comes! 

I have used an illustration about a teenager being left alone at home for years.  The car was in the driveway, and the keys were in a bowl on the kitchen counter.  Temptation!  The young man said, “Dad, while you were away, I came awfully close to breaking my promise that I would not drive the car.  You left the keys on the kitchen counter, and I even carried them in my pocket for three days fighting temptation.”  The father responded, “Son, there is nothing like temptation to show you what you will do if given the opportunity.” 

Temptation can be viewed from several perspectives, and we usually view it from only one, the negative.

TEMPTATION, from the devil’s perspective, is an opportunity to defeat the purpose of God.  Truthfully, he can only succeed in tempting us in those areas if we have something in common.  In John 14:30, Jesus told the disciples that the devil was coming, but he had no claim on Jesus.  Jesus said to them that there was nothing in Him that belonged to the devil; therefore, the devil had no power over Jesus.

TEMPTATION, from man’s perspective, is a severe test and an attempt to destroy faith and commitment.  Man views it as a Bad Thing!  Man sees temptation only in the light of it, pulling and tugging at his own evil thoughts, bents, and wishes.  James 1:13-15 declares, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.” 

TEMPTATION, from God’s perspective, is that it can be and often is a valuable and vital service in the lives of men.  It shows three things about us:  what we are, where we stand, and what we will be in the future. 

TEMPTATION is a factor in the psychological and spiritual growth process that every human being must go through ‘IF’ to become mature individuals capable of living a full, meaningful, and victorious life.  In that light, Temptation’s real purpose is always to trigger a choice and provoke a definitive stand or action!  Consider the illustration of the teenager and the car keys again, if you will.

The keys presented a temptation that forced him to make an exceedingly difficult but vital decision.  He had to obey or disobey.  To disobey would be committing irresponsibility, making it easier to do similar things in the future.  To obey would help create a pattern for mature and wise decisions in the future and make it easier to resist temptation and produce victory and liberty. 

TEMPTATION could be called a dividing line between innocence and awareness.  Temptations come and always present a lesson to be learned.  Our choices in temptation demonstrate whether the lesson has been learned or must be repeated, “The Wilderness Principle.”  How many times did Israel take another lap around the mountain?

For example, we teach children not to cross the street alone, but temptation comes into play the moment the child has the opportunity to disobey.  There is no one around to see, the street beckons and promises intriguing adventure.  The response to temptation will determine if the child can be trusted to play near the street or if more supervision and training are required.  Thus, how we face temptation affects every area of our personal life.

May the Lord help us to realize and learn the lessons rather than becoming stuck in an almost perpetual process of repeating or “making laps around the mountain.” 

God bless you richly as you face today with confidence and boldness in Jesus!

James 1:2-8 – “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”  NKJV

Another passage I suggest reading is 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  I have learned and believe there are explicit promises in God’s word that we can expect as a part of our Spiritual Inheritance in Jesus.

            GUIDANCE – – The Holy Spirit will guide us into all Truth. (John 16:13)

            INSTRUCTION – – The Holy Spirit will teach us God’s Truth.  (John 16:13)

            PROVISION – – God will supply all our needs. (Philippians 4:19)

            COMFORT – – We will never be left comfortless. (John 14:18)

            DEFENSE – – The Battle is not ours, but God’s. (2 Chronicles 20:15)

We are told that when we do not know how to pray as we should, the Holy Spirit will make intercession for and through us.  God’s word informs us that people are defeated and destroyed because of a lack of knowledge or understanding.  We have the incredible promise that ‘IF’ we walk in the Light as He is the Light, we can ask what we will and expect an answer. 

The Bible teaches that it is imperative that both the motive and request are wholesome and pure.  If we ask anything According to His Will, the Bible informs us that it is Done!  Therefore, it is imperative for us to know:

• The Will of God.
• The Principles by Which He Works.   
• What God Desires to do IN us.

That is no small undertaking and, without His help, impossible!  One principle that affects us greatly in our walk and warfare and is often overlooked or wholly misunderstood is Temptation!  I refer to it as the “Wilderness Principle,” and in that, we must become aware of the following:

• The Purpose or Work of Temptation.
• How To Receive God’s Promises.     
• How to Stand Steadfast in the Midst of a Problem.
• How to Enter into God’s Provisions.

Again, no small undertaking and without God’s help, impossible!   The Bible teaches that God’s desire for us is conformity with the Person and Image of Christ Jesus our Lord.  He wants us to know, enjoy, and live what I would call Full Salvation and Complete Deliverance!  He wants us to enjoy His Abundant Provisions daily and continually walk in Victory, pulling down strongholds. 

Life is a process that begins in infancy, progresses through adolescence, and to fullness in adulthood.  Our Spiritual Life and Walk involves numerous tests and encounters that help develop our character and give us a mark, a barometer, and an identity point that enables us to recognize where we stand spiritually.

Hosea 4:6 informs us, “My people perish for a lack of knowledge….”  That is a powerful truth, for if we do not Know God’s Will, we cannot DO God’s Will.  If we do not understand what He is doing, we may resist and rebel when we should be resting and learning.  But, if we understand the Principles of God, we know what to look for and what to do.  Victory comes from understanding and obedience. 

Thus, James’ exhortation to “…count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations….”  Honestly, that is not difficult. It is impossible without some understanding of the Purpose of Temptation in our lives and without the careful guidance and assistance of the Holy Spirit.

I dare not stop there but will pause in this devotional and pick up in the next more on Temptation’s Purpose and Function in the believer’s life.   

God bless you richly as you embark on this leg of Life’s Journey. 

Philippians 2:1-11 – “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  NKJV

We talked about Humility and the Submissive Mind, but another characteristic of the Person of Joy is…

• He Serves Others – – [Philippians 2:7].

If we think of others only abstractly, that is inadequate and will not produce Joy or Victory.  We must get down to the nitty-gritty of service!   I heard about a famous philosopher who wrote volumes about educating and training children but neglected his own.  It was easy for him to love children abstractly, but he failed when it came to the practical.  Jesus not only thought of others, but he also served.

It is reported that General George B. McClellan was put in charge of the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War mainly because public opinion was on his side.  He fancied himself a great military leader and enjoyed hearing the platitudes and accolades when people called him a “Young Napoleon.”  Yet, history reveals that his performance was far less than spectacular, and President Lincoln commissioned him General-In-Chief hoping for some positive action; but McClellan still procrastinated. 

On one occasion, President Lincoln and two of his aides visited McClellan only to find that he was absent from his post to attend a wedding.  They waited for over an hour for the General to return, and when he did, he failed to acknowledge the presence of the President and went upstairs and did not return to see the President. 

Half an hour later, President Lincoln sent the servant up to advise the General that he and the others were waiting, only to be informed that the General had gone to bed and could not be disturbed.  The men with President Lincoln were irate, but Mr. Lincoln simply got up and went home, saying, “This is not the time of making points of etiquette and personal dignity.  I would hold McClellan’s horse if only he will bring us success.”  That is a demonstration of an attitude of humility that is worthy of note.

• He Sacrifices – – [Philippians 2:8].

Many people are willing to serve so long as it does not cost them anything.  However, when the price becomes large, they quickly lose interest.  Jesus, we are told in verse 8, “became obedient unto death, even the death of the Cross.”  Jesus did not die as a martyr but as savior. 

Dr. J.H. Jowett said, “Ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing.”  Someone said, “If there is to be blessing, there must be bleeding.”  I heard of a missionary to Brazil that as he made through the markets during a religious festival, noticed a booth with a large sign above it – “Cheap Crosses” and thought to himself, “That is what many Christians are looking for.  Our Lord’s Cross was not cheap, so why should mine be so.”

• He Glorifies God in All Things and at All Times – – [Philippians 2:9-11].

Our ministry and labor are not a competition with each other, but for the glory of God, and if we are truly doing what we do for His glory, we care not who gets the credit or recognition.

1 Peter 5:6 declares, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time.”  Remember, Joseph served for 13 years before God promoted him to second in command in Egypt, and David was anointed King as a child but endured years of hardship before he occupied the throne.  There is incredible Joy in the person of a Submissive Mind because his Joy comes out of service to God and others.  Real Joy comes from Glorying God in Who We Are and What We Do!

God bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

Philippians 2:1-11 – “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  NKJV

Let us consider the Submissive Mind.  Contrary to what some seem to think, this does not mean that the believer is to live at the beck and call of everybody else or that they are a religious doormat to be walked on.  Some try to gain friends and maintain church unity by “giving in” to everyone else’s whims. That is not what Paul is teaching!  Paul gives some definitive and clear examples of a person exhibiting a “Submissive Mind.”

Jesus Christ – – [vv. 1-11], Paul himself – – [vv. 12-18], Timothy – – [vv.19-24], and Epaphroditus – – [vv. 25-30].  Clearly, the greatest example is Jesus.  In Christ Jesus, we find the four primary characteristics of a person who has a Submissive Mind and one in whom is Abundant Joy.

• He Thinks of Others Above Himself – – [Philippians 2:5-6].

Having the mind of Christ means having the attitude of Jesus.  Our attitude should be the same as that of our Lord Jesus Christ.  [v. 5 NIV].  I have often used the thought that “Attitude determines outlook, and outlook determines outcome.”  When Paul speaks of the “form of God,” he is not talking about a particular human shape but rather the “outward expression of the inward nature.”  He is talking about God’s nature and character, not some physical condition.

Jesus needed nothing, and we find our LORD repeatedly demonstrated that He did not think of Himself but was constantly focused on the needs of others.  His outlook (Attitude) was that of unselfish concern for others.  The mind or attitude of Christ says, “I cannot keep my privileges for myself; I must use them for others; and to do this, I will gladly lay them aside and pay whatever price is necessary.”

A Good Illustration:

A reporter interviewed a successful job counselor who had placed hundreds of workers in their vocations.  When asked what the secret of his success was, the counselor said, “If you want to find out what a worker is really like, don’t give him responsibilities; give him privileges.  Most people can handle responsibilities if you pay them enough, but it takes a real leader to handle privileges.  A true leader will use his privileges to help others and build the organization; a lesser man will use the privileges to promote himself.”  Jesus used His heavenly privileges for the sake of others, “Whosever will….”  You and Me!

A contrast worthy of consideration is the attitudes of Jesus, Lucifer, and Adam, as seen in Isaiah 14:12-15 and Genesis 3:1-7. 

• Lucifer was once one of the highest-ranking angelic beings and had a position near the Throne of God.  [Ezekiel 28:11-19]. 

But he was not content with his position and wanted more for himself.   He wanted to be “on the throne,” not just “near the throne.”  Thus, we find the proclamation; I Will…

• Jesus projected the attitude of submissiveness. 

In His declarations and actions, we hear. They Will, not My Will.  Lucifer was not satisfied with being a creature. He wanted to be a creator.  Jesus was the creator but willingly became the creature.  The Humility of Jesus is a powerful rebuke to the Selfishness of the devil.  The devil was not satisfied to be a rebel but sought to enlist others.

• In the Garden of Eden with Adam & Eve, we find something worthy of note.

Adam had all he needed in the Garden and God.  He was the “king” of God’s creation on earth.  Satan advanced the idea, “You shall be as God, ” which triggered the selfishness in Adam & Eve, and they rebelled.  Man deliberately reached for something beyond his reach and, as a result, plunged the entire race into sin and death.  Adam & Eve thought only of themselves, whereas Jesus always thought of others. 

That is a clear picture of Humility and Submissiveness of Mind and a source of Joy unspeakable and full of Glory.  I need to add more, so we will look more deeply at this subject in the next devotional. 

God bless you is my prayer and desire!

Philippians 2:1-11 – “Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”  NKJV

Years ago, I saw a comic strip where the main character said, “I love mankind; it’s people that I can’t stand.”  I have witnessed and heard people declare that someone robbed them of their joy through the years.  Frankly, that is not possible, but people play a significant role in ‘stealing’ our joy. 

In Philippians 1:15-18 Paul addressed various people and actions and how that affected others.  He was facing some incredible times of difficulty, and the church in Philippi was genuinely concerned for his welfare.  Epaphroditus brought a generous gift and tremendous encouragement to Paul’s heart but also bad news of the division in the church. There was a double threat; false teachers had come in from the outside, spreading false doctrines and personal and theological disagreement among the people. 

Paul knew something that is sometimes missed in today’s Christian world: Unity and Uniformity are different.  True spiritual unity comes from within.  It is a heart matter, whereas uniformity is the result of pressure from without.  That is why Paul took the action or made the declaration he did in Philippians 2:1-4.

This message was to believers and should have been a source of encouragement to work toward Unity and Love rather than Division and Rivalry.  Paul seemed to say, “Your disagreements reveal a spiritual problem in the fellowship.  Rules and threats will not resolve it; it will be resolved when your hearts are right with Christ and each other.”  Paul attempted to help them see that the Basic or Root of their problem and difficulty was “Selfishness” and the root of selfishness was “Pride.” There can be No Joy in the life of a believer who elevates himself above others!

If there is a Secret to Joy despite circumstances, it is that we must attain “Singleness of Mind.”  The Secret to having Joy despite people is developing a “Submissive Mind.”  Philippians 2:3 declares, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.”  Paul’s Epistle to the Church at Philippi reflects Christ First in Chapter One and Others Next in Chapter Two.  We see Paul the soul winner in Chapter One become Paul the Servant in Chapter Two.

I am convinced that too many believers fail to grasp what the Bible is talking about with it speaks of Humility.  The humble person does not think badly of himself or put himself down; he does not think of himself at all.  It is Christ first, and others next, and the self is pushed so far in the background that it virtually does not exist. 

Andrew Murray defined humility as being “that Grace, that when you know you have it, you have lost it.”  The truly humble person knows and accepts himself (Romans 12:3).  He yields himself to our LORD as a servant. He desires God to use him in whatever capacity He chooses for the glory of God and the benefit of the Kingdom of God. 

Many have discovered there is virtually no greater Joy than serving others and seeing them become victorious in life.  I believe it is when our eyes shift from self to God and then to others that the door to Joy Unspeakable and Full of Glory opens mightily.

I have only begun to scratch the surface and have laid a simple foundation for next time as we delve deeper into the thought of Having Abundant Joy in Life!   

God bless you richly as you travel today’s journey.

1 Corinthians 1:10-17 – “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and the same judgment. 11 For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe’s people, that there are quarrels among you. 12 Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, “I am of Paul,” and “I of Apollos,” and “I of Cephas,” and “I of Christ.” 13 Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? 14 I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, 15 so that no one would say you were baptized in my name. 16 Now I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized any other. 17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.”  NASB

Most of the time, I am okay with people following different elements within the Body of Christ as their primary worship center or foundation of faith and practice!  Sometimes I wonder how the heart of God is grieved when we separate, alienate, and seek to annihilate others from differing denominations over schisms and points of faith because we believe that we and we alone are right.  They are not only wrong but heretical in their beliefs.

I do not expect everyone to believe exactly what I believe.  I do ask that we faithfully and open-heartedly consider what the Bible teaches.  I ask that we allow the Word of God to be the true and final interpreter of God’s tenets and truths. 

Paul exhorted the Church in Corinth along these lines, urging them to settle differences and move away from divisions and schisms.  Those were not only points of disagreement but points of separation damaging the efforts of the fledgling Church of Jesus Christ.  He reviewed his list of people identifying with a particular personality as their argument and basis for their rightness.  That is no different from the hordes of people who not just proudly but divisively declare, “I’m this or that” regarding a particular denomination or non-denominational denomination.

Several years ago, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, saying, “You are too exclusive and not open to some outside your group or groups, and I want to use them to speak to you.”  I had attended conferences and meetings where men and women spoke, and I had been severely criticized for being in gross error. 

The Holy Spirit instructed me to Listen and that I would discover more to applaud than criticize.  One of the main speakers preached a message that stirred my heart greatly. I developed a series from his message.   God used him to speak the truth to my heart in a very real way, which changed my outlook on many things.  The church he was leading and a part of was putting the principles of the gospel into practice, and while I still do not agree with all he taught or teaches, I will allow the Holy Spirit to speak to me through whatever means He chooses.

I realize that some will say that I am compromising my faith.  I hope that is incorrect.  I do not excuse or wink at sin nor sit in cowardly silence when I hear what I believe to be heresy.  I seek to address the matter with the one teaching the doctrine and with those I have influence or responsibility.  I seek to separate the message from the messenger and identify what I believe the Bible says while refusing to focus on personality.  If that is compromise, then I guess I am guilty, but in my desire to do what the Spirit of God instructed me, I will follow this practice and ask you to disagree disagreeably if you choose.

May God be with you as you go through your day!