PERSISTENCE AND PERSEVERANCE…

Spiritual Blog - Perseverance

Matthew 7:7-12 – “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! 12 Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” NKJV

Before we are through I hope to address some of the overlooked or forgotten portions of this passage but the overriding thought is PERSISTENCE and PERSEVERANCE in prayer. I wonder how many times we miss the answer to our prayers by ceasing to pray? I wonder how many times we fail to receive the miracle or the provision of the petition because we gave up? We live in what I call a “microwave world” where we expect instant everything including answers to our prayers. Our entertainment mentality and television programmed minds expect instantaneous results and if we do not get an immediate response we become bored and move on to the next few minutes of focus.

Jesus gave this three-part or tiered directive regarding prayer and He layered one upon the other, I believe, to impress upon us the importance of PERSISTENCE and PERSEVERANCE. Just because we do not get the positive answer to our petition immediately and may hear nothing or see no movement as we ASK, that does not mean God is not listening or that He does not care. Jesus did not say, “Ask and maybe you will receive.” He said, “Everyone who asks receives.” I would suggest that we do not really believe that but that is what He said and I can try to analyze, theorize, doctrinalize, and using a theological argument to counter that, but it is what He said! He then said, “he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” So, if you have not gotten the answer in asking, start seeking. If you are out of work and need a job, do you just ask God to give you another one and do nothing else? No, you seek a job in conjunction with your asking God for a job. Is that the end? No, you knock, beat the bushes, and exhaust the possibilities as you ask and seek. Simply your PERSIST and PERSEVERE you do not give up, give in and quit.

If you have not received the answer and you have asked multiple times is that reason to believe that God does not care and quit? I say NO! Have you considered that the reason you have not received is that you have not persisted? Have you considered that the reason you have not received is that you are not ready and God needs to do some things in your life to prepare you for that answer? Have you considered that maybe God has something better for you? Have you considered that the timing may be all wrong or that you are asking before what you desire is ready? Maybe God needs to work on you or work on others before He can grant your petition but don’t quit. Ask, Seek, and Knock! Someone asked, “Are you saying I should become a pest in my request?” Not really, but if that works to keep you pressing in, YES!

Consider vv.9-12 with me if you will. Jesus asked a very interesting question on the heels of His declaration about our Persistence and Perseverance in prayer. He asks, “…what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?” That should be a reminder that God is more righteous than we and if we would ignore our children’s requests or give them something unneeded, unnecessary, or harmful why would we think God would do so? He continued saying, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” HALLELUJAH! That is an important truth for us to grasp in prayer. We, human beings who are bent toward evil and outside of Christ living depraved KNOW HOW to give good gifts to our children. WE DO! God is our Father and loves His children and IF WE HUMANS know how to give good gifts – WHAT ABOUT GOD? He most assuredly knows how, He desires to, and will give His children good gifts.

Persistence and Perseverance in Prayer are not for God it is for us. It helps us to focus on the Person, not the Problem. The Person of God and draws us into His presence. It helps us develop confidence in His Promises and Provisions. It teaches us the value of refusing to give up. It trains us in spiritual warfare. If we consider any delay in the answer to our prayers as God’s timing or training, we will find it easier to PERSIST and PERSEVERE than if we simply believe the lie of hell that God does not care causing us to wonder why should we continue. Consider the incredible Love of God for humanity, as witnessed in the Cross. If you can view the Cross without seeing God’s Love then nothing I can saw will be of benefit, but if you view the Cross through the eyes of incredible Love you will desire to PERSIST and PERSEVERE and the Promise of Jesus will become reality for you. He will either grant what you desire, provide something better, transform you, or teach you that what you requested, sought, and knocked for is not right for you and not in your best interest. HE ALWAYS ANSWERS PRAYER!

God, bless you richly as you enjoy this wonderful day in Him!

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BEWITCHED – How Did Paul Know?

Spiritual Blog - Bewitched

Galatians 3:1-4 – “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? 2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain?” NKJV

Paul charged that the Galatians had been BEWITCHED but how did he come to that conclusion? Basically, two things are clear. It was largely through LEGALISM and CARNALITY. That may be shocking but if those two things are evidence of bewitchment that is heavy. But to assert it is one thing and to prove it another. Let’s see if we can validate this charge.

I do not think there is a greater stumbling block for new Christians than LEGALISM. It has single-handedly done incredible damage to the Church in the Western World. The thing that goes hand in hand with Legalism is “Trusting the Flesh” or CARNALITY. (v.3). That is what Legalism produces. Legalism is an expression of ‘carnality’ not ‘spirituality.’ It causes us to become judgmental and self-righteous. It seeks to present an image that is so good it appears highly religious and pious. All attempts to JUSTIFY self by keeping rules puts us back in the Flesh and when you operate in the flesh you will always find the LAW and Man-made Rules and Regulations that are anti-biblical.

Through the Cross, our old man dies and we are joined to Jesus. BUT, if we lose sight of the Cross and the finished work of Jesus we are easy marks for LEGALISM and seek to Perform and Earn our Salvation. There are only two forms of Religion. GRACE by Faith – (Somebody else did it for me). WORKS – (Do it yourself and earn your forgiveness and acceptance). The Bible makes it perfectly clear that it is either Grace through Faith or we are attempting to do it ourselves by keeping the rules. Legalism produces bondage and spiritual slavery. Let me offer something that may shock you, it also brings the Church under a curse, the very thing that we have been redeemed. We return to a condition that is outside our covering in Christ. Galatians 3:11, “But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for ‘the just shall live by faith.’” There are two ways to live: Law or Faith. Galatians 3:12, “yet the law is not of faith, but ‘the man who does them shall live by them.’” You don’t need faith if you are following the flesh you are doing the right thing and keeping the rules. That is not faith it is works. Galatians 3:13, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree’) …” Therefore, Paul says, “If we lose sight of the Cross, we go back into legalism, trust the flesh, and come under a curse.”

Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, cursed is the man who trusts in man, and makes flesh his strength.” Psalm 146:3, “Do not trust in princes, in mortal man, in whom there is no salvation.” That is Legalism. If I trust my methods, my way, my rules, and what I do trying to earn what Jesus accomplished at the Cross I am embracing the Arm of Flesh and that opens the door for the devil’s entry and influence. I know churches that insist they have thrown out Moses (The Old Law) and embraced Christ (The New Covenant) and proudly proclaim they are no longer under the Law. But, I’ve noticed that many impose their new set of laws and every tribe has their own that are unique to them. Sadly, many believers demonstrate that they believe they have to keep all the rules in order to stay right with God and accomplish His purposes and to feel worthy. That is Legalism and Carnality it is not Faith or Grace.

In Hebrews 9, the apostle Paul calls our attention to the ceremonial ordinances and laws or that which are carnal. He informs that “nothing we do will ever make us clean on the inside.” We can attempt to keep all the rules and still have an unrighteous heart. That is the Law. It forces you back to trusting the flesh, your ability, and will-power. If you adopt that position you are obligated to keep EVERY PORTION OF THE LAW. If you do not, you are cursed and nobody keeps it all. We either DO IT OURSELVES or we TRUST JESUS. It is Grace or Works and works will not cleanse our hearts but Grace will justify us and bring us into His kingdom and presence.

If we are going to fully enjoy the victory of Calvary we MUST accept the Work of Christ on the Cross and in no measure, try to Earn our Acceptance. If we desire to enforce the victory of Calvary and become a Warrior for God we must become Grace People and simply receive.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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ILLEGITIMATE AUTHORITY and Warfare…

Spiritual Blog - Authority

I am fully persuaded that there is a clear cause of the condition of much of the church world, America, and the world. We have witnessed far more WIMP than WARRIOR in our world. I am also persuaded that a significant cause for this condition has been SPIRITUAL WITCHCRAFT. I realize that saying that some will be cautious about hearing the conclusion of the whole matter, but I pray you will.

I believe that there is a clear directive in Scripture for the Body of Christ to be Warriors or Good Soldiers rather than Wimps. We are instructed to Fight the Good Fight of Faith, pull down Strongholds, and Resist the devil. Therefore, anything that hinders us in God’s Purpose must be exposed and destroyed. IF there is “Spiritual Witchcraft” in the church it must be exposed for what it is so God’s people can be set free and transition from Wimp to Warrior. My desire is that God’s people live TOTALLY FREE and experience the FULL VICTORY of Jesus in this life.

When we examine what our Lord Jesus won for us at the Cross we realize that His work on the Cross COMPLETELY and IRREVERSIBLY defeated the devil. Jesus went into the Strongman’s House, totally defeated him, bound him, stripped him of all his weapons and spoiled him. (Colossians 2:14-15). Jesus then released all those held captive by the devil. (Ephesians 4:8). Therefore, according to the Word of God, “Satan is Bound”. Jesus did it. He has given authority over all of hell’s power, but sadly too many are defeatedly waiting for some future millennium for it to become reality. We have, according to Scripture, been given Spiritual Weapons by which we can administer and enforce the Victory of Jesus on the Cross. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; Ephesians 6:10-18). Jesus did it, but it is now up to us to enforce it using His weapons and through the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28:18, Jesus said, “All authority in both heaven and earth is given to Me…” He then, on that basis said, “Go Ye Therefore…” Simply, He said, “I have authority and have defeated the devil, I give you that authority, so it is in your hands to administer and enforce that victory!”

I ask you to participate in this exercise. Suppose for a moment you were the devil. That you had suffered this complete crushing defeat. You had successfully put Jesus to an open death on the Cross and you believed you had fully defeated and aborted God’s Plan. But, Jesus refused to stay dead. He not only rose from the dead he took all your weapons and placed them in the hands of your mortal enemies. What Would You Do? The only thing you could do, short of quitting is to attempt to DECEIVE. You would try to blind the minds of the people of God and keep them from learning what their weapons are and how to use them. That tactic has worked too frequently. The devil’s devices have been to keep us from plundering his house further.

Galatians 3:1 – “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?” The word ‘bewitched’ is important for the apostle is identifying Spiritual Witchcraft existing in the church. Those people were born again and spirit filled believers. They have experienced the miraculous in signs and wonders. This is who Paul is speaking to and that is important to note. In Galatians 3:2-5 – “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? 4 Have you suffered so many things in vain — if indeed it was in vain? 5 Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” They had the Gifts of the Spirit, experienced miracles but Paul said they had been BEWITCHED. That is amazing and disturbing.

Unfortunately, it is possible for a Church to be filled with God, born again, and enjoy the Holy Spirit and yet have a haze or a stupor over them and no matter how good the preaching, how present the truth they embrace, they are unable to SEE or HEAR it fully. They find it impossible to fully respond. WHY? There is a bewitchment involved. The Greek means to smite with the eyes. I don’t want you to get nervous and think I’m talking about Christians being demon possessed. What I am talking about is Christians being so deceived they are bound by the devil and bewitched by his tactic of deception. Why would the devil want to “obscure the Cross” or blind us to what happened to him at the Cross? WHY? Where was, he defeated? The Cross! Therefore, if he can prevent us from seeing what truly happened at the Cross he can blind us and regain control over our lives.

I am cautious about stopping here but I will come back next time and identify HOW Paul knew the Galatians had been bewitched. We will consider it and hopefully, it will result in the scales being removed from eyes and freedom result.

Blessings abundantly as you enjoy this day!

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WAR IS HELL…

Spiritual Blog - War

Luke 4:5-8 – “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.”

8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'” NKJV

We are at War spiritually! Too often we focus on the giants that we are facing and as fear grips our hearts we turn and run. We seem to forget that this Walk, Work, and War is not without casualties and difficulty. WAR IS HELL! Natural war or spiritual war is terrible and difficult. We seem to have the idea that the devil is just going to walk away and leave us alone because we are Christians. Coming to Christ did not end the attempt of the devil to intimidate and influence our lives negatively. I declare that it does not matter that he will not voluntarily go away, we have the weapons, the victory, authority, and anointing to enforce the victory Jesus won at Calvary. We have to MAKE HIM GO in the Name of Jesus and with the weapons of our warfare that are mighty through God. We will either be Wimps or Warriors!

I have had people warn me not to preach this way because it will stir up the devil. WHAT? Either Jesus defeated him or he didn’t. What do we think the devil is going to do? He has threatened me before saying, “I’m going to kill you.” I remind him of the reality of Jesus’ victory and that he has no authority over me. The Lord quickened to my heart in one of those incidents, “Don’t you think he would have already killed you if he could?” We belong to Christ and the devil hates our Lord Jesus. IF we will stop being a whimpering, complaining, cowering Wimp and learn to stand in the name of Jesus, the devil will have to flee. THIS IS WAR and truly War is hell but in Jesus we have victory.

Believer, if we KNOW our inheritance in Jesus and truly understand and believe that the devil has been defeated and that we have been given power and authority over the devil we can ENFORCE THE VICTORY OF JESUS. We need to GET MAD at sin and the devil. We need to GET MAD at the deception that is far too evident in the lives of many. We need to determine that we are going to stand for God and having done all to stand we are going to stand.

David was a Warrior, not a Wimp. He was a shepherd boy tending his father’s flock, as instructed. He went to check on his brothers in the battle against the Philistines, as instructed. He came upon an incredible scene, one he found impossible to believe. Israel’s mighty army had taken on the characteristics of WIMPS rather than WARRIORS. This shepherd boy was stirred inside and he HEARD what the others could not see because of their fear. He SAW what they could not see because of their fear. They say an imposing intimidating undefeatable giant but David saw a defeated foe. He saw a strongman that must be defeated and plundered and he volunteered, “I will go fight and defeat the giant!” He was rebuked by his elder brother and questioned by the King but David’s stance was, “NO, I didn’t come to see the battle, I came to do it and win it. You, brother, came to watch, I came to Win!”

Remember the twelve spies Moses sent into Canaan? Ten of them were Wimps but two of them were Warriors and saw God’s victory rather than the obstacles and opposition. Ten saw giants, the whole land full of giants and saw themselves as grasshoppers in the eyes of the giants. NO, IT WASN’T. Some of it had giants but not all of it. The Wimps said, “We look like grasshoppers to them, we cannot go up.” The Warriors said, “We can do this because God said we can.” We are more than conquerors through Jesus!

God, bless you richly is my prayer!

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WIMPS – WARRIORS – WITCHCRAFT…

Spiritual Blog - Wimps

Luke 4:5-8 – “Then the devil, taking Him up on a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. 6 And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. 7 Therefore, if You will worship before me, all will be Yours.” 8 And Jesus answered and said to him, “Get behind Me, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.'” NKJV

For a very long time I have been stirred in my heart and meditating on the matter of being Wimps, Warriors, and Spiritual Witchcraft. As I have considered this my heart has been crying out the see WHAT God wants, WHY this is happening, and WHAT we, as believers can do about it. The conviction of my heart is what is going to happen is going to be considered by man and much of the Church as Radical and Revolutionary. In my pursuit of understanding I have discovered a Spiritual Reality that is both provable in Scripture and has been and is being walked out experientially. Simply, that is there are Kingdoms, Thrones, and Dominions in the satanic kingdom in which there is a “Ranking Prince” (Strongman) that is operating in and over various geographic regions and influencing the lives of people, politics, economics, and health in those regions. (Ephesians 6:12; Colossians 1:16; 2:15).

These Kingdoms or Domains and their demonic princes are both detectable and discernable to the spiritual eye and ear. They are Defeatable (Colossians 2:15) and we discover that Jesus has “disarmed them”. (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). We, the Body of Christ, have the Weapons to stop them. Jesus identified the ‘strongman’ and what we can do. (Luke 11:21-22). We can BIND the strongman, SPOIL him, and PLUNDER his house. That sounds like a total victory to me! Hallelujah! That leads to the question, “Why then are so many cities, churches, homes, and lives being held captive and tormented by those forces of darkness?” If Jesus defeated the devil, took his weapons, and has placed in the hands of the church (believers) the Full Armor of God and the Complete Weaponry of the Spirit to enforce that victory won at the Cross – WHY does it often appear the exact opposite? Why does the Church often appear to be the one on the retreat and experiencing defeat? WHY?

I believe there are four primary reasons. We do not KNOW what we face. (We don’t know our enemy as fully as we should and can. It is tragic that there is no prophetic vision in the church and we suffer spiritual blindness.) We do not KNOW our inheritance. (We give mental assent to our victory but do not manifest genuine confidence or faith in its reality.) We do not KNOW how to operate in true biblical authority and order. We have ADOPTED an escapism mentality and have a hold the fort concept rather than more than conquerors confidence. I believe in the Coming of the Lord but I also know that He said OCCUPY and that is more than trying to hang on. I believe those four factors are reasons we continue to suffer rather than conquer.

Many churches and believers falter in one or more of those areas. The strongman laughs in our faces and refuses to back off. He knows that if we ‘resist in faith’ he has to flee but he knows that we do not KNOW that we KNOW the reality of God’s Promises. You may be an active member of a church, regular in attendance, contributions and read the Bible daily and pray diligently but have been taken captive (2 Timothy 2:26) and the lie prevails. The result is that the church is paralyzed in fear and living in a fort holding condition waiting to be rescued rather than plucking them as brands from the burning.

The question I have often asked is, “Does the devil have dominion over the world?” He said he does but the Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s and all that it contains, the world and those who dwell in it.” Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth…” From that basis, He said, “GO YE THEREFORE…” So, WHO HAS AUTHORITY? The Bible says Jesus does and He has granted that authority to His followers. We testify that God does but in our practice and thoughts we often act or react like the devil does. How many times have you said or heard someone say, “The devil is on my back or attacking me.”? Where would you expect him to be or do? We testify that we believe God and voice our inheritance and insist we are willing to follow the cloud of God and enter into and possess the Place of Promise. BUT, we get a flat tire, a bad report, something breaks down, someone gets sick, money runs short, somebody gets their feeling hurt and become estranged from us and we WILT crawling into our holes and cry out in despair. “Oh, Lord, why have you forsaken me.” We question whether God cares, insist that the Word is not working and proclaim how much the devil is after us. I may upset somebody but that attitude is the attitude of a WIMP not a WARRIOR and is the result of SPIRITUAL WITCHCRAFT.

The devil knows that we fear him, WE TELL HIM. Bullies do not back away from Wimps they delight in tormenting them. We either receive the vision and revelation of TRUTH or we do not. We either take a stand on God’s word or we do not. We either stand in God’s truth or we do not. We will either be a Wimp or a Warrior and that is our choice. God stands ready to EMPOWER us, has PROVIDED for us, and will NEVER leave us. Come Holy Spirit we need you!

God, bless you richly is your pursuit of God’s Purposes!

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LIVING FREE…

Spiritual Blog - Freedom

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” NKJV

1 Corinthians 7:17-24 – “But as God has distributed to each one, as the Lord has called each one, so let him walk. And so I ordain in all the churches. 18 Was anyone called while circumcised? Let him not become uncircumcised. Was anyone called while uncircumcised? Let him not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters. 20 Let each one remain in the same calling in which he was called. 21 Were you called while a slave? Do not be concerned about it; but if you can be made free, rather use it. 22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men. 24 Brethren, let each one remain with God in that state in which he was called.” NKJV

I am becoming increasingly convinced that many people are living in bondage to others needlessly. WHY? They live in Fear, Fear of People. Proverbs 29:25, “The fear of man brings a snare…” I must caution, we must not be Independent to the point that we say, “I don’t care what they think or how they feel.” We MUST CARE, but we MUST NOT be subservient. We MUST NOT become enslaved by the opinions of others. I had a pastor tell me, “I serve the people.” I appreciate the idea intended but we DO NOT serve people we serve God and in serving God we are of service to people. Paul declared in 2 Corinthians 4:5 that he was their “bondservant for Jesus’ sake.” Notice he did not say, “for your sake or our sake but for Jesus’ sake.”

Having served as Pastor and ministering to Pastors I recognize this problem and attitude in the congregation and in the clergy, that the Pastor is the Servant of the People. I’ve had church members say, “Well that’s what we pay him for and if he doesn’t do what I want I’ll quit the church or get rid of him.” Isn’t that a wonderful Christian attitude? Well, at best it is a grossly immature attitude. The Pastor is there to be a Servant of God and to be used of God throughout the entire body and community as God deems necessary and desirable. He may have to say NO at times and believe me I know how negatively that is often received.

It is also important that we are not enslaved to the commandments or traditions of men. In Matthew 15:9, Jesus warned us not to listen to the doctrines of men. Unfortunately, there is an incredible amount of man-made tradition in churches across the land. Some churches are so bound by man-made traditions which cannot be backed up by Scripture they cannot break free and live free. In John 5:41-44, Jesus warned about the Praise of Men. He urged those listening to not be drawn into flattery and earthly praise but to seek the honor and smiles of God. It is a sad situation when a minister is more concerned about the Praise of Men than Obedience to the directive of God. It is not just sad it is dangerous and destructive!

In Galatians 1:10-12, Paul declared, “For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.” He was addressing Authority and being under Authority. We are subject to the authority of government and even in the church but that cannot dictate our ministry and if man’s decree violates God’s we must make the choice and hopefully we choose God not man.

If we are truly serving God obeying His will is of paramount importance to us. As we obey Him and serve Him we are of service to people and serve them in a productive rather than destructive manner. We must also beware of following the Wisdom of Men because man’s wisdom will fail but God’s will not. That leads us to the point that, as believers, we are to be Free from the Fear of Men. Jesus addressed this in Matthew 10:24-28 telling them that all people can do is KILL YOU in the natural. But God can destroy both body and soul in hell.

Therefore, set your heart to obey God and refuse to bow down to human commandments and traditions. Reject the urge and need for the Praise of People and recognize God as your Lord and Master and reject the dictatorial tyranny of people in the world or in the church. Guard against allowing opinions of others direct your life and ministry and always be guarded regarding the Wisdom of Men. NEVER and I mean NEVER allow the Fear of Man to rule you. Remember 1 Corinthians 7:23, “You are bought with a price; do not be the servants of men.” Jesus has set you Free so LIVE FREE in doing the will of God and allow God to change what needs to be changed.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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PAUL’S FOUR ARGUMENTS IN FREEDOM…

Spiritual Blog - Freedom

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” NKJV

As I mentioned last devotional, Paul presented four arguments that we should remain as we are and let God make the changes from within. Let’s consider them briefly.

We Are Called by God.

(v.17) – “As the Lord has called each one…” That idea is repeated in (vv.18, 20, 21, 24). He used the words ‘called’ and ‘calling’ nine times. He concluded with (v.24) – “Brethren, let each one remain with God in the state in which he was called.” Please understand that does not mean if we are offered a promotion we are to automatically turn it down. It simply means that you do not immediately make radical changes but you allow God to change things from within. We have been called by God, therefore we allow Him to open the doors and make the changes. He can and He will!

We Have Been Assigned by God.

(v.17) – “AS God has distributed to every man…” Our place in society, on our job, our spiritual gifts and abilities are ASSIGNMENTS from God. God knew and knows exactly what He is doing and when He desires to make changes He will. If we arbitrarily make radical changes, we will royally mess everything up. Most of us have been guilty in some area. Please understand that does not mean we are not to seek to better our condition. Nobody wants to remain in a difficult situation, but we must also learn to make the most of where we are and rest in God, trusting Him completely.

We Belong to God.

(v.23) – “You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.” You belong to God! The value of any object is the price paid for it. It is amazing the price, some people with pay for various things. Jesus Christ shed His blood for us and that reveals the value God places on each of us. “You are bought with a price…” You and I belong to God, therefore, “do not become slaves of men.”

We Should Abide with Him.

(v.24) – “Let every man… abide with God.” If you are where God has placed you, doing the job God has given you to do – YOU ARE ABIDING WITH GOD! If you rebel against His will, you WILL NOT ABIDE WITH GOD. If we do not ABIDE we cannot bear spiritual fruit.

Therefore, it is imperative that we ABIDE where He has planted us and stay planted until He transplants us. We have an ASSIGNMENT from the LORD and until we complete that assignment we are not likely to be given another. The saying, “Bloom where you are planted” is applicable.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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FREEDOM FROM MAN…

Spiritual Blog - Freedom

2 Corinthians 1:24 – “Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.” NKJV

Most people understand that FREEDOM is an incredibly valuable commodity. It is important to understand what Freedom is, what False Freedom is, what it means to be Free from Law, and Free from Sin. Those are incredibly important but there is one Freedom that must be addressed is “Freedom from Man.” When men become Spiritual Dictators, it creates an incredibly dangerous and undesirable condition. In 1 Corinthians 7, listed above, the apostle Paul lays down a basic principle that we SHOULD NOT be subject to people, we SHOULD BE subject to God.

That makes the SETTING of this passage not simply important but vitally critical. If we fail to grasp the setting, we will miss arrive at some false conclusions and develop some false interpretations. As I read and study this passage I realize that Paul was battling due to the abuse of some Corinthians regarding their Freedom in Jesus. The Corinthian Church was made up of people who, by and large, had lived in gross sin. Many of them had been involved in extreme wickedness and now they had Freedom in Jesus. Galatians 3:28 advises us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” That is important! The Corinthian believers knew this truth but they were taking it to the extreme. Simply, they were making use of their freedom to the point of license.

They took that passage and argued that marriage was abolished in Christ, nationality was erased, those in slavery were no longer to obey their earthly masters, etc. When we come to Christ our sex, nationality, ethnicity, social and economic status does not immediately change. Salvation affords us the potential to make the most out of every situation. Salvation is a Spiritual Change! It can and should bring about change in the home, on the job, and in society. The crucial point to remember is that God does not work from the outside in he works from the inside out. He changes us and that change results in a changed attitude and actions and that results in changes around us.

Paul offered a foundational principle, “Remain as you are and allow God to make the change.” As you consider vv. 7, 17, 20, and 24 we understand that we are to learn to make the most of our present condition and situation. As we allow the changes to come from within we find that God’s incredible miracle of change comes. Remember we are FREE, not INDEPENDENT. No believer can be independent of other believers and likewise, no believer should be totally dependent on other believers. Our dependency is Christ, not man. No human is to be a dictator in the lives of others. That is true in politics, economics, marriage, and spiritually. The slaves were still slaves but they were FREE. The masters were to be slaves to Christ but still masters. You and I are free from the dominion and domination of people but that does not make us independent. The change in our lives MUST begin on the inside.

Paul presented four arguments for us to remain as we are and allow God to make the changes from within. I will get to those, next time but for now, I pray that each of us realizes that we are to obey God rather than man when man’s decrees violate God’s. We are not islands in life but connected to every other believer and although we are Free we are not Independent.

God, bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

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GOD’S NATURAL MEDICINE…

Spiritual Blog - Laughter

Proverbs 17:22 – “A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.” NKJV

I enjoy laughter and because of that have been accused of not being serious or spiritual at least not spiritual enough for some. I personally cannot imagine anyone walking around like they are continually sucking on a sour pickle drawing many to Christ. Likewise, I cannot imagine people being drawn to Christ by someone who is the Court Jester and Class Clown never being serious. There is a balance to be achieved but it would be impossible to diminish the benefit of laughter and joy. There is scientific documentation that valid the benefit of laughter in people who have dire physical maladies and I personally have experienced the healing power of laughter both physically and psychologically.

The contrast presented in this Proverb is incredible. The imagery presented in having a ‘merry heart’ being medicinal and that of having a broken, defeated, sour spirit, producing depletion of bone marrow which is needed for health and life cannot be missed. If this is a choice, then it is no choice and I choose God’s medicine. That’s why I use levity in much of what I say, and look for things to make me smile. I like to have a good ‘belly laugh’ frequently and find that it is refreshing and therapeutic both for me and those around me. Depression and despondency tend to wear away the defenses and if allowed to continue in a group of people it is like leaven and a little leaven leavens the entire lump. In a great sense, laughter and brokenness are both contagious or can be.

In Psalm 45:7 we read, of Jesus, “You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you will the oil of gladness beyond your companions.” That is repeated in Hebrews 1:9. We read in Isaiah 61:3, “To grant to those who mourn in Zion – to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they might be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.” In Acts 13:52 we find, “And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.”

God has not purposed us to live in defeat, depression, dejection, and brokenness of spirit. He has appointed us to Fullness of Joy and Abundance of Life in Christ Jesus. Jesus was so anointed with gladness that the Bible says of Him in Hebrews 12 that when He looked at the Cross he saw it as JOY set before Him. JOY? How could that be as we look back on those horrific times and the incredible suffering and abuse He endured. JOY? The Joy was in what He knew it would mean to mankind and He rejoiced in what He knew. That is why I believe that Christians can laugh in the face of difficulty and allow the Joy of the Lord and a Merry Heart that is like medicine to rise within us. WE KNOW WHAT IS AHEAD, at least in Jesus and through His Promises. Thus, we can laugh in the face of adversity and laugh in the face of the devil because of WHO Jesus is and WHOSE we are.

I have read some scientific medical research that suggests that laughter is good for your health. It relaxes the entire body and boosts the immune system as it decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies thereby improving our resistance to disease. Laughter triggers endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals which promote an overall sense of well-being and relieves pain. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow which helps protect against heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems. Laughter, I am told, burns calories so it is helpful in weight control. No, I didn’t say you could laugh your weight to your ideal weight without diet and exercise but it is beneficial. Laughter relieves stress, diffuses anger, and will likely help you live longer. It has been suggested there is a correlation between laughter and good mental health and can strengthen relationships. Laugh at yourself, not ridicule yourself but laugh at yourself. Learn to see the humor in situations rather than allow them to become weights too heavy to bear. Remember funny things that happen and share them and NEVER go a day without laughing even if you have to manufacture a laugh.

I would suggest you do some research and discover the benefits of laughter. No, I am not suggesting that you abandon reason and responsibility and become a clown but I am suggesting that you LIGHTEN UP and allow stress to roll off you as you laugh your way to victory. I cannot tell you how many times I have seen tense situations relax with the use of laughter. It was like medicine and the results were amazing. I cannot imagine Jesus not laughing at some situations.

Let, Dr. Roy, give you a prescription for better health and well-being. “Laugh three times a day.” Find something humorous about your situation and have a good belly laugh. Try that for a week and see if it does not afford you much unexpected and appreciated benefit. Remember a Merry Heart Does Good Like Medicine.

God, bless you as you enjoy this day. Love, Life, Laugh, life is too short to miss the fun of it.

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IF I DIDN’T BELIEVE IN THE POWER OF PRAYER…

Spiritual Blog - Prayer Power

I wouldn’t pray! It’s that simple! There are times when we want to keep everything close to the vest and not allow anyone to know what we are going through, the struggles, battles, or attacks upon us and that may be appropriate. However, there are some things that scream loudly in my spirit when I think of battles in this life and how to respond. Most of them trump any desire to remain in the shadows and GO IT ALONE!

OBEDIENCE, the Bible tells us in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, “…Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to heed than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.” I have, on more occasions that I’d like to acknowledge, either been slow in responding to the direction of the Holy Spirit or failed to properly respond. In those cases, the difficulty that could have been avoided and victory that could have been realized was either delayed or denied. It was not because of God’s reluctance or willingness to perform the needed action but my failure to swiftly obey and do what He directed. I have had times when I felt prompted to go see, call, or talk to someone and delayed and when I did respond I felt almost like Mary and Martha when Jesus finally arrived after their call to come to their brother’s aid. I refuse to live my life in “what if” but failure to obey and sometimes instantly obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit can and does give the devil a needless advantage and room to do his dirt. We need to RESIST the devil and one of the best ways I know is to PRAY and enlist the prayer support of a virtual army of believers who will pray in agreement and faith.

THE POWER OF PRAYER, according to the Bible, is incredible and if we truly believe the words of James 5:16-18, “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. 18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit.” If we believe those words, we will be diligent in Prayer and Pray Effectually, Fervently, Persistently, and Consistently. Our Lord instructed us to Pray and Paul urged us to pray without ceasing. WHY? So, that we could engage in a religious activity and appear pious? HEAVENS NO! It was because PRAYER HAS POWER and is a vital part of our SPIRITUAL ARSENAL. Paul told us in 2 Corinthians 10 that we have weapons but they are not the weapons of this world, they are SPIRITUAL WEAPONS. No weapon is of any use if not used! We are informed in Ephesians 6 to Pray in the Spirit, on all occasion, regarding every matter, with all kinds of prayers and do so without fail and without ceasing. WHY? Because of the recognized and realized POWER OF PRAYER.

THE PROMISE OF JESUS, as revealed in 1 John 5:14-15, “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.” If Prayer is something that can be delayed for a convenient time and not an act of Spiritual Warfare, then carrying the burden alone might be appropriate. However, if Prayer brings us into the Promise and brings about the Realized Victory of our Lord, then immediate and incessant Prayer is not only desirable but imperative. Consider what John said through the Holy Spirit. He spoke of CONFIDENCE or SETTLE ASSURANCE in Jesus’ Promises. What is that confidence? IF and I emphasize that word IF, we ask ANYTHING. I must ask, what does ANYTHING cover? If anything does not mean anything it means nothing! If we ask anything according to His will. It is not just that He Promised it but also that we act in obedience to His directive and demonstrate confidence in His Process and Ways. That means we PRAY. If we ask anything according to His will HE HEARS US. That is important especially considering the next word AND. And what? If we are asking according to His will, His biblical revelation and promise, He hears us, AND if we KNOW that He Hears us. Knowing that we know that we have gained an audience in the Throne Room of heaven is an incredible source of confidence and a faith builder and booster. The result of asking according to His will that involves obedience is that He hears us and IF He hears us whatever we are praying, WE KNOW. There is that word of confidence and settled assurance again. We know that we have the petitions we have asked of Him. IF we PRAY and do that according to His Will, we know that HE HEARS us and if He hears us we know that HE GRANTS OUR REQUEST. That is incredible.

With that in mind, I must ask, “Why would we ever give the devil ONE SECOND of opportunity when we can combat Him with God’s Word and Will in Prayer?” Thus, my calling as a Watchman on the Wall demands that WHEN I see danger I SOUND THE ALARM. That is who and what I am. My confidence in God and the Power of Prayer demands that when I see danger I not only pray personally but I urge the intercessors to move into action. If I believe that the prayer of the righteous is both effective and powerful I MUST PRAY and URGE, the Army of Intercessors to move onto the Front Line and PRAY.

No matter what the battle or the situation, if the Holy Spirit has made His will clear and most of the time He has through God’s Word, IMMEDIATE ACTION in Prayer should be our first response. We are not islands and none of us live or die to ourselves. We are part of the BODY OF CHRIST, not individual members and if the hand needs help the head cannot ignore that need. If one member of the Body is facing a crisis the rest of the Body needs to be mobilized to come to that part’s aide IMMEDIATELY. If you saw a perp about to harm a child would you delay until you had notified everyone connected to that child BEFORE calling for help and moving into action? NO! Likewise, if we believe in God and the Power of Prayer dare we give the devil an advantage by not enlisting the Prayer Warriors? I CANNOT DO THAT with a clear conscience.

This is my call to action in prayer. Our nation needs prayer. Our churches need prayer. Our ministers need prayer. Those facing dire situations in life need our prayer. If you believe in God and believe in prayer I ask that you join me in praying for every need that we become aware of, when we become aware of it, and determine to persist UNTIL the answer comes!

God, bless you is my desire!

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