FRIEND AND BROTHER…..


Spiritual Blog - Brother

Proverbs 17:17 – “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”  NASU

 

It is possible to be one without being the other and when the two are combined it is incredibly powerful!  A friend, who is truly a friend, loves at all times.  It did not say ‘agrees’ at all times but ‘loves’ at all times.  Love is not an emotional response but a reasoned choice!  It involves a commitment and there is a friendship that reaches the level of ‘covenant’, unlike what many call friendship. Some people see to view friendship as they do socks; to be changed regularly.

A brother is born for adversity!  A brother is there through thick and thin and NEVER runs from the difficult or even unpleasantness of trial, trauma, drama, or difficulty.  A brother is not a church cliché to identify someone who is a fellow member of a congregation or organization but someone who is joined in faith and heart.  A brother is family in a very real sense.

I have friends who are brothers/sisters and have stood with me in the fire of trial.  They have had my back in times of trouble, encouraged me in time of trial, challenged me when I erred and stood with me in faith.  They have opened their hearts, hands, homes, and treasures to me and considered what was theirs mine as the need presented itself and I to them.  It is a bond that is unshakable based on faith.  Truly a person with genuine friends is blessed and a person who has friends who are brothers doubly so.

May God be with you as you go through your day and may you be blessed with a host of friends who are brothers/sisters in the Lord!  Blessings!

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YOU CAN’T LOSE THIS WAY…..


Spiritual Blog - Victory

Philippians 1:21-26 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”  NASU

 

Years ago as I traveled from place to place in itinerant ministry I would frequently hear a late night radio preacher saying, “You can’t lose with the stuff I use.”  In a sense that is what Paul is saying here.  He declares that if he lives in the flesh (natural) it is ‘in Christ’ and if he dies it is ‘gain’.  That is a NO LOSE situation.  He declares that if he lives in the flesh the result will be ‘fruitful labor’.  If he dies he receives his eternal promotion to heaven and being with the Lord.  It weighed heavily upon his heart.

One of the messages conveyed here is – – We should live longingly for heaven but devotedly to ministering to people.  That keeps the focus clear, our hearts right, and provides motivation to keep us engaged and involved.  Very few generals are needed in war and Paul served as a general but also a soldier.

My life must not be about me but Him and people.  God has given to the church ministries to inspire and prepare believers to do the work of ministry.  The Great Commission is always a core tenant.  Building up one another always a function and seeking first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness always a priority.  We do not live just to live we live with purpose and for a purpose.

If you keep your focus on God you desire will be heaven and will live functionally to serve, equip, train, encourage, motivate, and bless others.  You will have a life that cannot lose!  So as the late night radio preacher of old said, “You Can’t Lose with the Stuff I Use!”  In Christ, we are more than conquerors and we are victors.  We can do all things through Him!  With Jesus, you cannot lose!

             God be with you, go with God and He will go with you.  Blessings!

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MAY IT NEVER BE…..


Spiritual Blog - Ears and Eyes

Acts 28:25-27 – – “And when they did not agree with one another, they began leaving after Paul had spoken one parting word, “The Holy Spirit rightly spoke through Isaiah the prophet to your fathers, 26 saying, ‘GO TO THIS PEOPLE AND SAY, “YOU WILL KEEP ON HEARING, BUT WILL NOT UNDERSTAND; AND YOU WILL KEEP ON SEEING, BUT WILL NOT PERCEIVE; 27 FOR THE HEART OF THIS PEOPLE HAS BECOME DULL, AND WITH THEIR EARS THEY SCARCELY HEAR, AND THEY HAVE CLOSED THEIR EYES; OTHERWISE THEY MIGHT SEE WITH THEIR EYES, AND HEAR WITH THEIR EARS, AND UNDERSTAND WITH THEIR HEART AND RETURN, AND I WOULD HEAL THEM.”‘  NASU

             When the Jewish Leaders came to Paul in Rome he poured out his heart but many rejected his message arguing amongst themselves resulting in Paul quoting Isaiah regarding the tragic condition of their hearts.  Isaiah’s words sound a warning that causes me to cry out, “Lord May It Never Be!!!”  May it never be said of us:

  • We HEAR but do not UNDERSTAND.
  • We SEE but do not PERCEIVE.
  • Our HEARTS have become DULL.
  • Our EARS scarcely HEAR.
  • Our EYES have been CLOSED. 

Oh God, help us to hear and understand, see and perceive that which you are saying and doing in our world.  May we open our hearts to the voice of the Spirit of God and have ‘ears to hear’, ‘eyes to see’, and ‘hearts to believe’.  May we return to the Lord with a whole heart and experience His healing in our lives.

My friends, God has never stopped reaching out and will not stop.  He extends His mercy and grace to us so may we never stop responding to Him.  May God be with you as you go through your day!  Be blessed and be a blessing!

 

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DANIEL’S GOAT AND THE END TIMES….


Spiritual Blog - End Times

Daniel 8:5-8 – “While I was observing, behold, a male goat was coming from the west over the surface of the whole earth without touching the ground; and the goat had a conspicuous horn between his eyes. 6 He came up to the ram that had the two horns, which I had seen standing in front of the canal, and rushed at him in his mighty wrath. 7 I saw him come beside the ram, and he was enraged at him; and he struck the ram and shattered his two horns, and the ram had no strength to withstand him. So he hurled him to the ground and trampled on him, and there was none to rescue the ram from his power. 8 Then the male goat magnified himself exceedingly. But as soon as he was mighty, the large horn was broken; and in its place there came up four conspicuous horns toward the four winds of heaven.”  NASU

 

The Ram according to the Arch-Angel Gabriel was the Medo-Persian Empires and the Goat was Greece (vv.20-21).  The Grecian Kingdom that followed the Medes and Persians was that of Alexander the Great.  Gabriel continues to inform us that the four horns that came up from the broken horn represented four kingdoms and history reveals that Alexander’s kingdom was divided between four generals.  Gabriel continues to reveal that out of those four, one would rise empowered by the devil himself being the antichrist.

As we continue to read in Daniel we find the King of the South and North coming against him.  He enters many countries and overflows them.  He occupies the land of Israel for a time committing acts of heretical tyranny.  Many fall but not all – – Edom, Moab, and the foremost sons of Ammon escape his rule. He conquers Egypt, Libya, and Ethiopia (11:40-42).  Rumors from the East trouble him and his overconfidence and arrogance help to bring him down.

He and his followers will wage vehement war against anyone who disagrees with his ideology and opposes him including all who name the name of Christ, those who recognize the one true God Jehovah, all who reject his authority, religion or religious interpretation.  WHO IS HE?  Speculation has always been rampant and will continue to be so.  I’ve know people so adamant as to what they believe that they would almost come to blows with anyone who disagreed.  I personally believe, based on my understanding of scripture, that he is as the Bible calls him THE ASSRYIAN.  Assyria is a region of Iraq or ancient Persia.  I believe he is what the Muslims identify as the Twelfth Imam and his terror will be the final caliphate which God will ultimately destroy.  He does not control the entire world but a section of it as identified in the Bible but will impact the entire globe.

We can fear him or trust God resting in God’s Perfect Peace.  The form of execution performed by this demonic individual and his followers will be ‘beheading’ and while this is a horrific image if we are God’s children it only last a moment and we say HELLO to our Lord in Eternity.  He is powerful but not all powerful.  He is the embodiment of evil but remember he is a follower of a defeated foe, the devil.  Jesus conquered the devil stripping him of his authority over man.  Therefore, rather than being filled with fear and angst about the future REST IN PEACE refusing to live in fear of the devil but in the faith of God.

What I want to convey is that everything points to the “Perilous Times” spoken of in the Bible and evil will wax worse and worse.  We need to have our hearts, minds, and eyes fixed on Jesus for He is our Answer.  No matter how bad things get, we do not have to live in fear we can live in confidence that “what we have committed to Him He is able to keep unto the last days.”  WE HAVE HOPE IN JESUS!

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

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ESCAPE – RESCUE MISSION or NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE?


Spiritual Blog - Temptation

1 Corinthians 10:13-14 – “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.”  NASU

 

I fully grasp the reality that it is impossible to include all the passages that would make up the ‘whole context’ of this thought so I insert this as a springboard for us to delve into the matter and hopefully propel you to further examination on your own.  I know many of you are students of the Word of God and diligently search the Scriptures to see if what you have heard or read is true and I commend you because that is how it should be. If it is true and biblical it will stand up under examination and if it doesn’t our views and interpretations MUST be adapted to fit what will stand up in the LIGHT!

I am concerned that too many in the Body of Christ are looking for a RESCUE MISSION rather than the anointing, strength, and grace to live the NORMAL CHRISTIAN LIFE, waging SPIRITUAL WARFARE, and becoming able to PULL DOWN STRONGHOLDS.  I am reminded of the old gospel song, “Hold the Fort…”  Now before you become upset with me think about the image that the song presents.  For me, and not necessarily anyone else, my mind pictures a Christian barely holding on and waiting in hiding behind the walls for the SPIRITUAL CAVALRY to arrive just in the nick of time and rescue us.   Oh, there is no question that we have God’s promise that HE IS COMING and He will but in the mean time I understand His commission to be OCCUPY until I come!  I understand it to include the promise that the weapons of our warfare are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. 

But let’s consider this passage briefly.  What is the TEMPTATION Paul mentions?  I doubt that anyone could definitively expound on everything included but with verse 14 one could consider idolatry as a possibility.  However, when I look at the Greek the word is ‘peirasmos’ and seems to indicate putting to proof by experiment, experience, solicitation, discipline or provocation and is most assuredly adversity.  Then we see the word TEMPTED – ‘periazo’ which implies testing objectively and even discipline.  To be tempted ABOVE or BEYOND that which we can stand is objectively drawing attention to something more than our ability.  We find the word ESCAPE ‘ekbasis’ which is without question an exit.  When we see the words ENDURE or TO BEAR ‘hupophero’ we see that this is a situation where we are UNDER it, ENDURING it and it is being IMPOSED on us.  All of this TEMPTATION, TRIAL, or TEST is something that is all too human and not something uncommon so even though it is horrific for us and trying it is not so unique that no one else has endured it.

My question is that no matter if it is our being ‘tempted’ to succumb to a ‘temptation’ or if it is a trial that seeks to shipwreck our faith and draw us away into some form of ‘idolatry’ do we need a RESCUE MISSION or an INFUSION OF FAITH and COURAGE?  If it is truly beyond our ability to stand God will absolutely provide us an exit strategy but sometimes we seem to look for the exit too quickly when we should be RESISTING the devil and watching him flee.

In no way do I mean this to be condemning or to suggest that I am somehow more spiritual than anyone else for I face the same things you do and am subject to the same ‘temptations’, ‘tests’, and ‘trials’.  I have failed more than I care to admit but I have always found God faithful.  I have stopped looking for a RESCUE MISSION and started asking for more COURAGE, FAITH, and DETERMINATION.  I want God to be able to say to me as He did to Joshua and know that I will take it to heart and allow the Spirit of God to embolden me – “Be strong and very courageous.”  We have a WAR to win, a BATTLE to fight, and a VICTORY to enjoy!

            God bless you as you go through your day!

 

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MAYBE A CHANGE OF FOCUS IS IN ORDER… (Continued)


Spiritual Blog - Focus

Ps 150:1-6 – “Praise the LORD! 

Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. 

Praise the LORD!”  NKJV

 

Not only do we invite God into our midst through Praise, we go into His presence and enter His throne room as well.  We stand in His courts spiritually!   In examining the record we find that the first mention of Praise is Genesis 29:35 and is in connection with the birth of Judah.  Leah was forced upon Jacob in a deceitful switch at their wedding.  He only claims to her husband’s affections was the fact she had borne him three (3) sons, Ruben, Simeon and Levi.  She began to feel that Jacob was joined to her in verse 34 for up to that point she felt the marriage was a legal and physical enterprise but now, she felt there was a spiritual joining and the marriage had become a true marriage for in verse 35 she declares, “Now will I praise the Lord; therefore she called his name Judah (Praise).”

The name Judah appears more than 40 times in the Pentateuch and among those references we find:

Genesis 49:9-10 – “Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: He stooped down, he couched as a lion and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?  The sceptre shall not pass from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”

Revelation 5:5 – “The Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.

 

Jesus came from the Tribe of Praise!  Another side note is that in the travels of Israel in the Wilderness as described in Numbers 2:2-3, Judah was placed on the East side facing the rising sun and the only entrance into the tabernacle enclosure.  You can’t get in without going through Praise!  It is the person of praise that catches the first glimpse of the “Son of Righteousness” (Malachi 3:2).  It is the one who is engaged in Praise that has his/her face to the SON!

What does praise do?  It is a God-given garment to ward off the spirit of heaviness as seen in Isaiah 61:1-3.  No medicine will cure the ill of discouragement like praise.  Depression cannot live in the heart that has learned the truth of and practices Praise!  Praise sets the heart at liberty like nothing else.

  • Praise causes us to be conscious of the Presence of God mentally, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
  • God’s Presence makes me conscious of His Person. Jesus, our Master, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, and Son of Man, Son of God, Divine Creator, Deliverer, Lover and our Encouragement.  He is our ALL IN ALL. 
  • His Person makes me conscious of His Power. He is Omnipotent (Job 42:2; Psalm 115:3, Matthew 19:26; Luke 1:37)  He is Omnipresent (Psalm 139:8, Jeremiah 23:24)  He is Omniscient (Job 26:6, Psalm 147:5, Hebrews 4:13)

Praise causes one to focus on God and become conscious of Him.  As we see His person we are directed to His will and plan and as we see His power we receive confidence to depend on and trust Him completely.  The more we Praise and Magnify Him, the more we become conscious of Him and the more aware we are of Who He is, the Fact that He is, What He can do and is doing.

Praise is the entry way into His miraculous deliverance in a very real way.  Psalm 50:23 – “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show Him my salvation.”  Praise infuses God’s strength into our situation and exposes us fully to God like nothing else we can do.

Praise may be sacrificial initially and then become like an artesian well.  May God enable you to enter into His Presence and learn to Praise!  Blessings!

 

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MAYBE A CHANGE OF FOCUS IS IN ORDER… (Continued)


Spiritual Blog - Focus

Ps 150:1-6 – “Praise the LORD! 

Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament!

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

 Praise the LORD!”  NKJV

             As Jesus was instructing those who believed He told them that if they would abide in His word they would be His disciples and then in John 8:32 He declared, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  When God’s Truth is heard, heeded and applied there is freedom!  I am convinced that when a believer understands what Praise is all about they will become participants in that activity in and out of church gatherings.

The Psalmist said in 34:1-3, “I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.  My soul shall boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt His name forever.”  In 147:1 we read, “Praise the Lord.  How good it is to sing praises to our God.  How pleasant and fitting to praise Him.”

If we understand praise to be adoration of God then we can conceive how it can be vocal, audible and or visible or a combination of all three.   Consider scripture concerning it being vocal:  Psalm 63:3 – Lips, Psalm 145:21 – Mouth, Psalm 98:1 – Singing, Psalm 66:1 – Shouting, Revelation 19:1 – Loud Voices, and Ephesians 5:19 – Singing and Speaking.  We note it can be audible but not vocal in Psalm 47:1 – Clapping, Psalm 147:1 & 150:1-6 – Musical Instruments.  Then we find praise that is neither audible or vocal in Psalm 63:4 – Lifting the Hands, 1 Chronicles 15:28-29 – Dancing and 60 times we see it as Kneeling, in Acts 3:8, 2 Samuel 6:16 -Walking & Leaping and Psalm 134:1 135:2 – Standing before the Lord.

Psalm 22:22 declares, “I will declare Thy Name unto my brethren:  in the midst of the congregation I will praise thee.”

I am 100% convinced that Praise is the Setting for Revelation.  As I examine the Revelation of John I see a man exiled, afflicted, seemingly defeated, embattled and in great need of comfort and consolation.  It is here that he not only received Revelation but Revival.  He is resuscitated by a heavenly experience in which God gives him the key to refreshing, refueling and rescue.

Notice several things that result:

  • An Open Door In Heaven – Revelation 4:1
  • A Heavenly Voice is Heard – Revelation 4:1b
  • He Sees an Occupied Throne – Revelation 4:2
  • He Hears a Divine Command – Revelation 4:8-11

The thing that you and I need to fully understand is that John is in the Throne Room in the presence of the ALMIGHTY GOD, the God of all creation!  God’s presence not only excites praise but is the source of praise.  Praise is where God resides!  Praise is His permanent residence!

Psalm 22:3 – “You are enthroned as the Holy One, You are the Praise of Israel.”  This is rendered in the KJV as, “But Thou art holy, O Thou that Inhabitest the Praises of Israel

             PRAISE is where God lives and when we enter into genuine praise and worship, we invite Him to come in and be at home. We invite Him to be the Master of the House, control the situation and set us free!  Praise is a link between finite man and the infinite God!  Praise affects heaven, earth, and hell all at the same time.  No wonder we are commanded in Psalm 100:4 – “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise.”

Time and space have once again run short so we must hit the pause button and wait until next time to continue.  Until then may God so permeate your person that His presence is known powerfully and in a liberatingly.  God bless!

 

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MAYBE A CHANGE OF FOCUS IS IN ORDER…


Spiritual Blog - Focus

Ps 150:1-6 – “Praise the LORD! 

Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 

2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness!

3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp!

4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes!

5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

 Praise the LORD!”  NKJV

 

I know the beauty of praise and worship and the power it affords in defeating the enemy, opening our spiritual eyes and enabling us to find LIBERTY like we have not known.  Paul tells us that where the Spirit of the Lord there is liberty. (2 Corinthians 3:17)  I believe that praise and worship are tools, weapons, and activities that liberate.  I have often told people that if they need a quick ‘pick me up’ refer to the Book of Psalms for it is a book of praise, adoration, and worship.

As I read this injunction in Psalm 150 I am overwhelmed with its simplicity and power.  The more I examine the Holy Writ the more I discover that Praise is a key component in both Testaments and has been a substantial factor in every revival of Church history and is among the first practices to stagnate in time of decline.

When Praise and Worship are prevalent in the church there is a renewed awakening where believers are reminded and have reaffirmed in their hearts that:

  • God is Alive and Active.
  • We are Indwelt by Deity.
  • Through Him, we can Pull Down Strongholds.
  • Through Him, we are More Than Conquerors.

When there are genuine praise and worship present in congregational gatherings and individual hearts excitement rises and there is far more realized victory in the lives of believers.  Churches become places of victory and people experience refreshing, refueling and are rescued.  I fully understand there is much difference of opinion on many matters of doctrine and while we do not agree on everything we should agree on one thing – HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED!

I am convinced that PRAISE & WORSHIP are chief activities of heaven.  It would be difficult to conclude that praise is not a chief component of the activities of heaven to even the most casual reader of scripture.  Just a cursory reading and quick glance at numerous passages confirm that.  Examine (Psalm 63:3; 145:21; 98:1; 66:1; Revelation 19:1; Ephesians 5:19, Psalm 47:1; 147:7 63:4; 1 Chronicles 15:28-29; Acts 3:8 and scores more)

When I examine the record in Revelation I find that in Revelation 4 there is an outbreak of Praise & Worship.  In Revelation 5 there is a sequel to that outburst and yet another in Revelation 11.  Then in Revelation 19, we find the great multitude erupting in praise & worship.  It would be impossible to conclude that heaven is not a glorious place and filled with praise unto our God!  I am convinced through study and experience that Praise enhances everything we do.  In fact, there is nothing we can do more therapeutic than Praise.  There is nothing man can do that results in more healing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  It is a liberating activity designed by God not because He is self-absorbed and narcissistic but because He knows the value to us as His children.  It is impossible to force people to Praise and when one experiences God and the power of this activity it is virtually impossible to prevent them from Praise.

Time will not permit me digging deeper but I want to press on next time so until then may God fill your day as He guards and guides your steps.  Blessings!

 

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THE PARTS NOBODY WANTS TO BE…


Spiritual Bog - Body of Christ

1 Corinthians 12:20-31 – “But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.”  NKJV

 

Before I received Jesus as my savior the girl I was dating and I were in riding with my parents and I told her, “I don’t know why but I have a feeling I’m supposed to be a preacher.”  She said, “Well do it.”  My response was simple, “You have to be kidding who would listen?”  I and she knew how I was living and no one would have ever thought of Roy and preacher unless it was Roy needs a preacher.  I grew up in a rural church but did not know the LORD.  After I accepted the LORD as my Savior and begin to feel the tug to ministry I resisted and gave every argument I could think of as to why that was a bad idea and sought to dismiss it.  I even told my pastor that I was going to pursue teaching and Christian counseling for that was a need that with the proper training I could see myself addressing.  He just smiled and said nothing.  It was as if he knew inside that I was simply kicking against the pricks and in time would come around to what God truly wanted.

I did not want to be out front for I considered that too weighty a responsibility and while I have always been pressed into a leadership role I considered the call to preach incredibly frightening.  I resisted speaking publicly and even when my English teacher in high school continually pleaded with me to join in drama and speaking I resisted.  Most don’t believe it but I was shy and standing in front of people was so uncomfortable I wanted no part of it.  In my early Christian experience, I sought to be in the shadows doing tasks that no one wanted to do and assuming roles that others considered beneath them.  God would have none of that and through a series of events that were undeniable to me, He impressed upon me that my call was to preach and when I opened my heart to that He opened the doors of opportunity.

Too many want to be the Body Part in Christ that is visible and praised as important.  Many want to be the apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher.  They want to be seen.  We want to be the comely parts but nobody wants to be the little toe or some part even more unimpressive or uncomely.  The human body needs all its members to function in harmony and each part is important to the overall function of that body and the same is true in the Body of Christ.  Every human body has a head and every human body has arm pits and while I am not calling any role in the Body of Christ “Arm Pit Ministry” consider the truth of that image.  I have observed people self-label themselves as apostles, prophets, etc.  If you are something you will function in that gift and calling and you will have to tell no one that you have a particular ministry gift, they will know it for God will make it known through your function.

Therefore, rather than striving to be the part that is recognized and praised desire to be what God wants you to do and you may function in a little known, observed or appreciated role, for a time and in your faithfulness God may promote you to a larger role.  Not necessarily more important but more visible and with more responsibility.  If God does not open the door or has not ordained you function in that role you will fail and likely do more harm than good so BE WHO HE HAS CALLED YOU TO BE and REJOICE in that call.  Everybody cannot ride the horse some have to shovel the manure.

            God bless you richly as you go through this day!

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PROOF OF GOD’S EXISTENCE???


Spiritual Blog - God

Psalm 19:1-6 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows His handiwork.  2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals knowledge.  3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard.  4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world.  In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, And rejoices like a strong man to run its race. 6 Its rising is from one end of heaven, And its circuit to the other end; and there is nothing hidden from its heat.”  NKJV

 

I have been asked more than once to give someone proof of God’s existence and although I have always been tempted to say, “Give me proof that He does not” but I resist and refer to both scripture and creation to demonstrate His existence.  Here in this Psalm David uses creation as a beautiful picture of the existence of God.  As I read his words I sense something of the awe that he held toward our Creator and His creation.

When I watch a sunset or sunrise I am always awed by what God has done and wonder how anyone could truly believe this just happened.  I could no more view God’s canvas of creation and think it was random chance than I could go to an art gallery and think those masterpieces just happened without the labors of the painter.  I could no more view creation than I could go into an automobile museum and view the classics of the automobile word and believe that a bunch of metal and parts somehow just randomly assembled themselves without the designer and technicians labors.  When I view a newborn baby in the arms of its mother I see the work of creation.  When I look at a slug crawling on the wall I do not picture in my mind that in eons to come that slug will evolve into a human being.  When I observe the perfection of God’s creation giving us night and day, sunrise and sunset I am awed by the majesty of what God has done.

Consider the absolute perfection of our earth’s distance from the sun, the orbit, and axis of the earth and tell me that was random chance.  When I study the intricacies of the human body with its network of nerves, veins, arteries, organs and how it operates to believe that evolved from a single cell in the eons past is more than I can fathom.  I know it is a cliché that some reject but “Design does imply a designer” and there is design in God’s creation.

Can I explain God?  No, but I can believe in Him, experience Him, be led by Him and fellowship with Him.  I know what my life was like before that eventful night that I truly believed, repented and accepted His offer of salvation.  I know what my life was like after that night and it is not my testimony alone that verifies that but that of those who knew me before and knew me afterward.  I became a new creation and without God how do I explain that?  I have experienced divine healing in my body including being healed of Parathyroid cancer, broken bones and experienced incredible miracles in my life and without God, I cannot explain those.  My proof of God’s existence is not only in His word, in His creation but in my heart and life.  I have experienced Him so trying to persuade me from believing in Him is futile.  For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him against that day!

God is alive and loves you dearly.  May God be with you as you go through your day!

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