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Psalm 89:26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation.
My desire Father is to give of myself, dying daily as the Lord leads for our family. I want it to be out of a pure heart. I don’t want to be a respecter of any man’s person. But to love by laying down my life for my brethren as my Lord did for me. My desire Father is to see the beauty in all things through your eyes, and to hear the beauty through your ears. My desire Father is to be intimate in the Spirit with you and to experience what a father really is. My desire Father is to see the value that you see and know is in me. Psalm 38:9 Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hid from thee. What is your heart’s desire? Take a look at John 17; what heart’s desire do you see? Jesus Christ laid down His life for you and me, which enabled Him to perceive the love of God. All of these desires are based on a heart seeking to please our Father in heaven; groaning to be more Christ like in all manner of life, and to do these things based on a pure motive, the heart of God, and not that of ourselves and what we want or desire out of this life. 1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (KJV) If your spirit is groaning for a deeper relationship with our Father, and to be more like Him, and to share His love with others then your heart’s desire is unto righteousness. He knows the thoughts and intents of our heart; and He will discourage any wrong thing that is in us from forming, and He will encourage every good thing that is in us to flourish. He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him in Spirit and in truth; so, delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Let’s just make sure that our heart’s desire is in serving Him first and foremost. That being said, my beloved brethren, my heart’s desire is that you lay down your life, continue in truth, and continue to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. God bless. Ephesians 6:5-8 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ; 6 Not with eye service, as men pleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart; 7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: 8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free. (KJV)
To sum up this week we have been looking within to what our true motive of the heart is and if we have pared it down to pleasing our Lord only. If you truly desire the Lord’s reward then it has to be done unto Him in all aspects of your walk, not just on Sundays. Luke 6:33-35 And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? For sinners also do even the same. 34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? For sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. (KJV) You know when you do something for your own advantage then you take the Lord out of the equation and settle for man’s reward instead. When you lend or give to others unto the Lord only then you are now eligible for the greatest reward available. So what it comes down to is your motive, and is it the right one? Proverbs 19:16-17 He that keeps the commandment keeps his own soul; but he that despises his ways shall die. 17 He that hath pity upon the poor lends unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again. (KJV) When you do things for God’s people you are no longer looking at them from the outward, but you are looking within and seeing Christ in them. You are willing to give whatever is needed, not looking for a payback from man, but letting the Lord be your reward instead. Proverbs 22:7 The rich rules over the poor and the borrower is servant to the lender. (KJV) I bring this point up because I have seen many relationships shattered and obliterated because of carnal things. Lend hoping for nothing in return; in other words, if someone asks for help in the financial area, instead of putting stipulations on it consider it gone and given unto the Lord. If the borrower pledges to pay it back then that is between them and God. The lender actually becomes a servant as well if the pledge isn’t paid back in a timely manner, which can allow many fiery darts to penetrate your spiritual armor. James 2:14-17 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, 16 And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? 17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. (KJV) What you will find that works as far as salvation is concerned is having the proper motive of your heart and the proper reason for doing things. If it is to be pleasing to our Father in heaven then you will be giving to His people what is needed and not looking for anything in return, at least not from mankind. If you are doing it for the wrong motive, then you can chalk it up to dead works. Last time I looked we serve a God of the living and not the dead. Matthew 25:44-46 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal. (KJV) Spiritually there are a lot of hungry people searching for truth who are not clothed with a robe of righteousness. As we see illustrated above those that don’t have the right motive will not have the right response to our Lord’s people who are considered one and the same with Him. Its bad enough they crucified Him once, its worse when we do it all over again crucifying His doctrine which we see He takes quite personally. Try your hearts dearly loved whether your motives are upright or not; seek to please God and let Him be true. And finally dear brethren, be not unwise but understanding what the will of the Lord is. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Colossians 3:23-25 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. (KJV)
Someday you will stand before our Lord seeking entrance into His kingdom and looking for your eternal reward. Those that make it in will be the ones that made salvation a way of life and not just some weekly ritual. You will find that our Lord would like to reward you today; however, there are terms and conditions for receiving it. Matthew 6:1-3 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. 2 Therefore when thou doest alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. 3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: (KJV) The true Christians that we have left today are not really well known or popular; well, at least not with mankind. Those that have a big following are more of a people pleasing bunch who won’t do anything without an audience. As you can clearly see their reward is limited and their doctrines are limiting God from working on their behalf. Matthew 6:4-6 That your alms may be in secret: and thy Father which sees in secret himself shall reward thee openly. 5 And when you pray, thou shall not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. 6 But thou, when you pray, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which sees in secret shall reward thee openly. (KJV) When the motive of your heart is right you are far less concerned with what man thinks and only concerned with pleasing our Lord. I get tired of those that think their prayers are much more effective when they have an audience, or those that have to let everyone know how much they pray. I would rather have our Lord’s reward any day, knowing who I am in Christ and my place in His body of believers. 2 Corinthians 6:9-10 As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and, behold, we live; as chastened, and not killed; 10 As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things. (KJV) Those that seek their reward from God know who they are in Christ despite the outward appearance. Those that are known of God are not well known with man because they are neither seeking mans’ approval or attention. Which one are you pleasing today, the outward fallen man, or God? Galatians 4:8-11 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? 10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years. 11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labor in vain. (KJV) Many claim they know God based on their works, however, I would rather be known of Him based on what I allow Him to work in me today. You know you might want to take a second look at some of those holidays that man observes and claims are of God. Do you do these things because God says to observe them, or would it fall into the category of pleasing people? Something to ponder dearly loved. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 8:11-12 And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ. (KJV)
Do you see how important your actions and example are, not only within the friendly confines of your church organizations, but what you do outside of them which speaks volumes also? Do you see how personally our Lord takes things, not only in the positive, but the negative also? So today it’s time to be quick to hear and slower to speak. James 2:1-3 My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that wears the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: (KJV) Again we see our Lord letting us know how different His ways and thoughts are toward His people. Many judge by the outward instead of ministering to the inward man, and in reality they end up wounding our Lord again. James 2:5-7 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called? (KJV) While watching one of the many, and what seems like endless telethons which man’s religions keep dreaming up, they actually offer more perks to those that give the most. They give the most recognition to those that offer the most, but it’s the other way around with the Lord. Not a good place to be in come the day when our Lord will separate His sheep from the goats. Proverbs 13:6-7 Righteousness keeps him that is upright in the way: but wickedness overthrows the sinner. 7 There is that makes himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that makes himself poor, yet hath great riches. (KJV) What is it that you really hunger and thirst for today? Is it the riches of this world and man’s recognition, or are you seeking to please God? The world today and its worldly preachers are pointing the people to the outward realm thinking more is better, while those few that are chosen of God are looking to all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that is only found in Christ. Exodus 23:8-9 And thou shall take no gift: for the gift blinded the wise, and perverted the words of the righteous. 9 Also thou shall not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. (KJV) When you get caught up again in the outward fallen realm it can have a blinding effect on those that play favorites. That word gift is also referred to as a bribe, and many doctrines have been changed and altered by mankind to keep the gifts flowing in their direction. Ezekiel 22:12-13 In thee have they taken gifts to shed blood; thou hast taken usury and increase, and thou hast greedily gained of thy neighbors by extortion, and hast forgotten me, says the Lord GOD. 13 Behold, therefore I have smitten mine hand at thy dishonest gain which thou hast made, and at thy blood which hath been in the midst of thee. (KJV) You know when these false prophets preach about seed faith and the hundredfold return that is when you need to be heading for the exits and not for the ATM machine. Because when they do these things they are in essence wounding Christ personally and that’s not something you want to be lending your support to. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:15-17 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more. 17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. (KJV)
As a member of the body of Christ your vision of people should change from the outward appearance to the inward one. How you used to view people, especially the believers in Christ, is going to become new and different from how you viewed them in the past. If you desire to worship our Lord in Spirit and truth then you will have to be open to a new way of seeing within. Matthew 25:31-33 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: 32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats: 33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. (KJV) Our Lord is going to return and judge people according to His standards and not mans’. In order for you to be on the right side instead of left out you will need to look beyond the realm of the flesh. Matthew 25:34-36 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 For I was a hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: 36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (KJV) Did you notice that when the Lord referred to one of His people that we encountered how personally He takes it, referring to them as I, one in the same? When you do things for members of the body do you see it as being done personally unto the Lord, or do you treat people less because of their outward appearance? Matthew 25:37-40 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee a hungered, and fed thee? Or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? Or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (KJV) Do you provide the same effort to those that are looked down on by man, yet our Lord considers one of His? Do you notice how our Lord takes it personally, and when you minister to these people you are actually doing it unto Him? 1 Corinthians 12:22-24 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: 23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honorable, upon these we bestow more abundant honor; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. 24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which lacked: (KJV) Feeble refers to weak, a member that could use some encouragement and uplifting. It seems those that could use the help and are considered necessary members of the body of Christ are actually those that are overlooked and neglected. That kind of thinking is considered old and should be passing away if you are going to walk in the new today. God bless dearly loved, and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Samuel 16:6-8 And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, surely the LORD's anointed is before him. 7 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 sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart. 8 Then Jesse called Abinadab, and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, neither hath the LORD chosen this. (KJV)
Today our Lord is looking to see who is willing to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Our Lord is not concerned with the outward appearance, but is looking within. Now if the Lord looks at the inward thoughts and intents of the heart then shouldn’t we as His people follow suit? How do you judge organizations you attend? Do you judge based on how nice people are, or how well they dress? Or are you looking to hear sound doctrine by those who are not concerned with pleasing man? 1 Samuel 16:10-12 Again, Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, The LORD hath not chosen these. 11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remains yet the youngest, and, behold, he keeps the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. (KJV) So why wasn’t David brought in with the rest of the brothers? Haven’t you been influenced by those you thought God had chosen first to serve Him, only to find out later that they just are not doing it from the heart? You will find out that the last person you may have thought was of God was in reality His first choice; you know like Paul the Apostle? While those that claim they are God’s first choice are actually the last ones He would choose. 1 Corinthians 1:26-28 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to naught things that are: (KJV) So you have done some foolish things in your past, or maybe you realize how foolish it is at times when we the creation still try to tell the Creator how He should run His kingdom. Well, when you realize how foolish your thoughts and ways are you then give God someone to work with because you are willing to step out of the way and let Him take over. Most of what we see out there concerning salvation is based on what others think and not what our Lord is saying about how salvation truly works. 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That, according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord. (KJV) Yawn, yawn, boring, boring, boring listening to all these people who claim they are doing things for our Lord. Many fall into the category of works rather than faith. God is looking for those that are willing to let Him work on their behalf and not the other way around. Are you willing dearly loved? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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