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Good day. Today's video Balancing Acts is on the topic: Balance and equality. What is the just weight and balance of how the Lord would have his people operate? You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry or by clicking on our archive page link above - Doctrine of Christ Ministry Archive. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Good morning, today's encouragement is to be content with such things as you have.
If you would like to download a copy click on the Daily Bread For Life Archive link above to access the link to get your downloaded copy. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Contentment 1 Timothy 6:6-8 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (KJV) Contentment in verse 6 means sufficiency. Content in verse 8 means be enough, suffice, or be sufficient. Our sufficiency (ability) is of God. Jesus Christ gave us the ability to become the sons of God; now it is up to us to walk by faith knowing that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. He gave us the ability to overcome the world and its ways just as He did. He gave us the ability to be free from the fear of death; to have that confidence that we are one of His having done the will of God from the heart. This is great gain. So you ask then, what is the will of God? Take some time and read these scriptures (Romans 12:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:3-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, 1 Peter 4:1-2, 1 John 2:15-17) knowing that these are just a few that talk about His will; then allow the Holy Spirit to expound on them or add to them, and lead you into all truth of what our Father in heaven is asking of you personally. Knowing this, His will for you is anything that will bring you into a deeper relationship with Him, and that will lead you out of this world and into His eternal kingdom. Hebrews 13:5 Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness; and be content (suffice, enough) with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (KJV) The eyes of man are never satisfied; the natural man is covetous, it wants not only its own things but also the things of others; it is not satisfied with just food and raiment which is our basic need. If you give it an inch it wants to take a mile; it wants to be first, not last; it wants to be known, not unknown; it wants the approval of man, not of God only; it wants to be admired, not despised; it wants more and more. As Solomon wrote: vanity, vanity, all is vanity. All that is in this life will not satisfy the natural man, which is why we are encouraged to be content with what we have; because as 1 Timothy 6:7 states, we brought nothing into this world with us and it is certain we will carry nothing out. Now think about that, are you satisfied with what you have knowing that all your need (not wants) has been supplied, spiritually and physically by our Father in heaven? And if you don’t have what you need, did you ask? If God knows what we have need of and has provided in advance all that we need, why should we have to ask? Because in this is our Father glorified, through His Son Jesus Christ; and in this we acknowledge that we cannot get through this life on our own and that our Father will know best the need and how to supply it. It keeps us humble to know that our sufficiency is not of ourselves, knowing that without Him we can do nothing. Also remember, that if we don’t get what we ask for right away, examine first if it is a need or a want, is it the best thing for me (I might think it is but does my Father in heaven think so), is it in line with the will of God for my life, will it put me under bondage to this world to have this thing? It might well be that it is not the right time for it to come to pass as yet, because as we know He makes everything beautiful in its time. So seek the Father’s will first and if you believe it is in line with God’s will then continue to hold fast in faith, and remember to always thank our Father that He has supplied the need and for the manifestation thereof, and let patience have its perfect work. Know this also, that our Father in heaven is able to grant you the desires of your heart as long as those desires are not harmful to you spiritually or physically; He is not being mean by withholding, He has a reason, and besides His thoughts and ways are higher than ours; He sees and knows all things before they come to pass. His desire is that you would have life and life more abundantly in and through His Son Christ Jesus. So, is your soul worth selling out to the world for? To follow and seek after the things of man, and not the things of God? Can you be content with food and raiment, and such things as you have? Can you enter into His rest and cease from your own works knowing that God our Father has your best interests at heart? Hebrews 13:6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (KJV) Having an eye of abundance (the natural man says we don’t have enough), the spirit man renewed in the things of God, will always see that we have enough and more left over, our cup running over. Dearly loved brethren, we have been given an abundant life in Christ Jesus our Lord, all that we need to make it through this life here on earth with strength and wisdom to overcome the world within us and to make our way in patient continuance with contentment in the kingdom and righteousness of God which is great gain in the sight of God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ. God bless and remain content in Spirit and in truth. Amen. Good afternoon. Today's video Care Less is on the topic of what gives your Father in Heaven good pleasure. You can view all previous videos by going to our YouTube channel Doctrine of Christ Ministry. Have a blessed and prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Corinthians 7:23-24 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. (24) Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God. (KJV)
Williams New Testament translation of 1 Corinthians 7:23-24 23. You have been bought and actually paid for; stop becoming slaves to men. 24. Brothers, each one must continue close to God in the very station in which he was called. Have you ever heard the term live within your means? Now translate that into the realm of God and ask yourself, do you truly know what that means? Like with a prepaid phone card you are given an allotment of minutes to use and speak with, something that has been prepaid and determined beforehand. You too have been bought and paid for with a price, that being the sacrifice of Jesus Christ once and for all to ransom us back to the Lord and provide fellowship with our Father again. Today I would like to cover the financial aspect of these verses, keeping in mind too that we are bought with a price, that our Lord has all our need covered, spirit, soul, and body. Did you realize that like with a prepaid phone card you have been given an allotment to live by from our heavenly Father; in other words as long as you live within His means then you will never come up short? Remember, no man can serve two masters; we cannot serve God and mammon or riches at the same time, so we need to make the choice and stay with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-11 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (7) For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. (8) And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. (9) But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. (10) For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (11) But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. (KJV) Let’s be honest today; haven’t we all thought at times that if we just had more money it would solve all our problems? In the realm of this fallen world lotteries are a big hit because those that win them do have part of their problems solved, that being the financial one. But that is not the answer to a spiritual issue, one that many of God’s people are actively pursuing after and have gotten out of balance thinking it will solve all their issues as well. Have you ever given thought to the fact that like a parent with a child, you have been given an allotment for which you are to live with, something our heavenly Father chose for you before the foundation of this world? So anytime we wander off the path of life and go pursuing after the things of this world as we see in verses 9&10, then we have stepped out of the will of God and into our own will. Then that life you claimed was committed to the Lord is now taking on a life of its own, with a love of God being drowned out by a love for this world and the things of it. We are no longer living within our Father’s means and what He intended for us to live peaceably in, but rather having the life choked out of us with the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of riches, and lusts of other things have entered into the heart and blinded us spiritually. In essence, by going out on our own and trying to improve, or what we think is improving ourselves financially, the reality is we are telling God He is a liar and didn’t provide our need. Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (KJV) Oh but I prayed and prayed, and nothing happened, doesn’t God care for me? Well He does and He did before the foundation of this world; He planned your life and the provisions that it would take to get you through it and into His eternal kingdom, but did you follow through with what He is asking of you, or how He is asking it of you? Are you and the Lord still in one accord, you know of one mind and one heart, or has there been some waffling and staggering on your part, maybe some double minded doubt has crept in, or you decided to take matters into your own hands to try and work your way out of a situation instead of being still and letting patience have its perfect work. Sometimes the wisdom of God really does go beyond our way of thinking because He is not limited to this carnal realm, but is able to do things that are impossible to man, but totally possible to those that believe. So, is God truly your source, and are you living within His means of what He is asking today, or have you stepped out of the realm of faith and into doubt and fear? Matthew 17:24-27 And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute money came to Peter, and said, Doth not your master pay tribute? (25) He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers? (26) Peter saith unto him, Of strangers. Jesus saith unto him, Then are the children free. (27) Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee. (KJV) The above example shown gives us an accurate illustration of someone that knew their rights and authority in the word of God as well as the promises of God. This man Jesus Christ knew that by seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness that anything that was needed here on earth was provided, no matter how or what manner. This man, Jesus Christ, lived by faith knowing God was His source, and that He had a plan for His life before the foundation of this world; and by knowing He was on the path that God chose for Him, God would confirm His word and supply all His need. The question today is, are you on the path God chose for you; and is the kingdom of God which is spiritual your first priority as well, or have you stepped out of the realm of faith and into a realm of darkness and despair? Luke 16:10-13 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. (11) If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? (12) And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? (13) No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (KJV) What mankind says is so important is actually least important to God; while what God says is the most important is actually considered least to mankind; you know, like the last shall be first and the first last? So what is your priority today and what is it that you are seeking first and foremost; is it the things of God and His kingdom, or are you more concerned with building up your own little kingdom on earth? God promised to supply all our need, the most important need being spiritual; now the question is, are you living within His means and still walking the path He chose for you before the foundation of the world, or have you stepped out of His will and are building a foundation on the shaky sandy one of this fallen world? People, if there is a shortage or what you consider a shortage, keep in mind it is not on our Father’s end, but rather may just be a reflection of a lack of commitment on this end. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (KJV)
Thayer’s definition for ‘careful’: 3309 merimnao- 1) to be anxious, to be troubled with cares 2) to care for, to look out for (a thing) a) to seek to promote one's interests b) caring or providing for Why should we not be careful? Which by the way, many people tell others to take care thus endorsing the behavior of doing just that. Yes we should take care, take it to the throne of God and leave it there; then let His peace rule in your situation and not what the outward is trying to dictate or distort. This peace of God goes beyond our own understanding, similar to when our Lord was actually sleeping in the bow of a boat while a storm was brewing all around Him. Rather than panic and abandon ship as many do, He calmly spoke the word of God and the winds stilled, and on He went to His destination. Wouldn’t that be a neat way to live? Well practice makes perfect, so learning to be faithful in small things will allow you to grow and be faithful in bigger areas of your walk. 1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: (7) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. (KJV) You know we hear about humility, being humble before our Lord, which as we see in the above verses is a good thing and one our Lord blesses. What is true humility? Well simply put it is casting all your care upon the Lord and then actually leaving it with Him, trusting in the Lord with all your heart and not leaning back to your own understanding. After all isn’t that the reason you sought the Lord in the first place, because you were looking for something better in your life, something complete that would supply all your need? What you found out was that the need was spiritual, something totally opposite to what you have been taught all your life, a life in the past that could only seek temporal things that only provided part of your answer but could never bring peace. God resists the proud because they are resisting Him thinking they know better. Anytime we cast something before our Lord only to take it back and try to fix things on our own we enter the realm of the proud, the haughty; you know, that pride that comes just before the fall? Sometimes the enemy gets people weighed down with cares and concerns, and then instead of being still and waiting upon the Lord they end up taking things to extremes thinking they can work themselves out of a situation, chasing a blessing or what they think is one and not letting the blessing overtake them. The reason many people miss out on a blessing and an answer to their prayers is because instead of being still they are off and running, like in football running out of bounds and not moving forward. Luke 10:38-42 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. (39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. (40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. (41) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: (42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (KJV) Which category are you under today? Are you one cumbered, which means to be distracted or overly occupied with, or are you one that seeks first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and then all that is needed is provided? Did you make it a priority to hear the word of God and make Him welcome into your house, which you just happen to be the temple our Lord dwells in, or were you trying to impress Him with your works? Mary chose that one thing that would not be taken from her, that being the peace of God; while we see Martha running herself ragged and not at peace. Are you chasing blessings thinking you will impress God with your works, or have you found that just weight and balance of hearing the Lord first and foremost for yourself then following the path He has set for you? Some people are just lazy and sit around waiting for others to do things for them, while others are high strung and ready to snap because the enemy has them running in circles. I have seen people involved in so called church organizations who are so caught up with projects they think will be beneficial to the congregation, when in reality the simple truth is for them to hear the word of the Lord and then present the truth that will set them free from any bondage the enemy is trying to keep them in. When one humbles themselves before the Lord then they are exalted and lifted up to His standards and able to get the results He intended, instead of running to and fro being blown around with every wind of doctrine. Some people get themselves in financial trouble and then think they can work their way out of it, sometimes racking up many hours of overtime that takes away from their time with the Lord. It is of utmost importance to find the just weight and balance the Lord is asking so that you are not too cumbered with the things of this life and missing out on the things of the eternal realm. Psalms 55:22 Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. (KJV) You have access to the throne of God today so that you can boldly enter into His realm and sit with our Lord at His feet, hearing the message He has for you this day. It is our Lord’s good pleasure to give us of His kingdom, a plan of salvation that is based on grace and not on our works so that none are able to boast. Have you truly cast your burden upon the Lord so that you can stay seated with Him in heavenly places, or have you taken it back and are running around this fallen realm thinking you can handle it? Give it to the Lord and leave it there so that you don’t have to be careful; how about peaceful instead? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:13 And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (KJV)
Have you ever had a favorite sports team you cheered for? How about these big cities that have their franchises, teams that have been around for a long time and have a big following, ever notice how fickle the fans are if the team starts losing? Oh boy, once they get on a roll and make it to the finals then the fans come out of the woodwork and jump back on the popular bandwagon again, acting like they never left. Well if you notice in the above verse, team Christ is made the Head, in other words they are always in first place and they never have to take a back seat to anyone or any circumstance either. Do you always keep this in mind, or are you acting like someone just kicked your tail end? The Lord made you the head, He didn’t put you in last place nor are you last on His priority list either. But He chose to die on your behalf even when you were a sinner playing for the other team. Now that you are part of His team, how much better is your life, knowing you are in first place and have the opportunity to remain there as long as you are willing and obedient to His word? The Bible says if God be for us then who can be against us. Would you like to take on God and see how you fare? Well, many have throughout the Bible, and have failed miserably I might add. In fact weren’t you quite miserable yourself before you knew the Lord, and were enemies and alienated from the life of God by your carnal thinking? With this in mind, hopefully a renewed one, why do so many of God’s people walk around acting like the tail and not the Head, acting like they are in last place instead of first? Matthew 10:29-31 Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. (30) But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. (31) Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. (KJV) Hey speaking of head, how many hairs did you count on yours today? How about that sparrow that keeled over in your back yard, were you aware of that? Our Father in heaven was aware of it, just as He is aware of you and your need as well. So what was that hair count this morning, or did you lose count? Yet with this in mind we still doubt God or act like He doesn’t hear us or love us anymore, sounds rather birdbrain don’t it? A God that feeds sparrows and keeps an accurate head count of them is certainly not going to forget you is He? No, if fact your value is much more than a birds, just like one of your children would have more attention put on them than the birds in the backyard. So why all this fretting and fussing when you can’t even count the hairs on your own head, yet you have the audacity to doubt our Father in heaven? If you don’t like the results in your life then maybe you best be checking the direction you’re heading in and make sure it is the path our Lord intended for you to be on and not some dead end you chose to follow. Luke 12:24-26 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (25) And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (26) If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (KJV) You ever wonder how the leaven got into the bread of life; subtly snuck in there when you weren’t looking or paying attention to details? Again we see an example of the birds, this time ravens which the word says God feeds them; did you ever stop and think about that? Are you not of much more value than these fowls? Yet that is how you act at times or think God sees you. Which of you being a parent would feed the birds and starve your children? That would be criminal and insane, yet that is how easy it is to drift off the path of life if one doesn’t keep a watch on the heart and monitor the mind bringing every thought into obedience to Christ. Consider the ravens; when is the last time you saw one drop over from heart failure because the stock market took a dive, or the price of fuel just rose another ten cents a gallon? Are we not better than these fowls, which is what is being asked in the above verses? In other words, when you cast all your care upon the Lord then do you leave it with Him letting Him do the caring for you? Or do you cast your cares upon the Lord and then like a fisherman reel them back in and reevaluate them thinking you can handle it yourself? Sound to simple, yeah that is the part we miss though, that simplicity. You know, instead of watching some hot shot preacher on TV tell you how to live, and how much better you could live if you show them the money, turn off the tube and look in the backyard and consider what is around you, right in front of you, and how simple the Lord would like us to live if we would only let Him be the Head of our life. Matthew 11:28-30 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (KJV) ‘Come unto me’, get steered in the right direction, go to the Head if you wish to be the head and remain in first place. How did things get so complicated, how did you get weighed down with so much burden and heaviness? Well it started ever so simple, so subtle; just snuck right by you while you were looking elsewhere to find rest. Do you remember where they put the yokes? Yup right around the neck which is attached to the head. All this excess weight and baggage you have been lugging around was it something our Lord asked you to carry, or is it something the enemy packed on while you weren’t looking? The Lord’s burden is easy; in fact it is light, otherwise He wouldn’t have said it. But that only applies when you let Him have it and not try to carry the load yourself. Ever hear of the two-headed monster? Well, that’s what happens to people when they become yoked with something of this world, double minded and unstable, unable to do what the Lord is asking because they are too weighed down with the cares of this life. The yokes on you; now it would do you good to make sure you put it on the Head, and not the tail end or you will end up with a big mess. Hebrews 12:1-2 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (2) Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. (KJV) Remember what comes out of a cloud? Did you know you are surrounded with a cloudburst, ready to rain down on you in the form of living waters? Let’s get rid of all this excess baggage which is a result of sin; sin being unbelief. Let’s start looking above to a man that is seated at the right hand of God, the man being Jesus Christ who not only authored but finished our faith, providing all that was needed so that we could run this same course, the course that is heading home. A spiritual race requires a spiritual leader, so why not follow one that ran this race and is in first place so that you will be also, and all those that follow His lead. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:12-13 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (13) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (KJV)
Stop and think for a moment where the head is located on the body? Isn’t it interesting that it is located at the top, and not say the foot area, or the tail section. By putting the Head in its proper place it gives one a better line of sight, a much better viewpoint to see the path in front of them. As a hunter in the past I would walk through a valley or coulee as they are referred to in Montana, and would be limited to what I could see. However, if I was to climb to the top I would get the total viewpoint and know what was there. You have access to the total picture, a vantage point from above and not below so that spiritually you can see and understand the total picture of God’s plan of salvation and how to walk in it. Simply put, if you wish to get ahead and move forward in your walk with the Lord then you need to go to the Head and hear the message He has for you personally so that you can walk the path He designated for you before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 3:17-20 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, (18) May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; (19) And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (20) Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, (KJV) Do you know why Christ is able to do above and beyond what we could ever ask or think of? Because that is the realm He operates in, above and beyond the fallen realm of man, one so much higher and greater than our carnal minds could ever comprehend. Are you operating in His realm today and tapping into the well of life, a dayspring of living waters so that you can get results in your walk above and beyond what you thought of? I know some of you are thinking “yeah right” not much is happening in my life, why don’t I get these results? Well it starts with verse 17, Christ dwelling in the heart by faith, not your head. Have you taken the time to renew your mind today, letting the message of Christ take hold in you, or were you to busy with something else that has taken hold of you and what you claimed was a total commitment to our Lord? Were you still long enough to know that He is God, letting patience have its perfect work, or after you made your request to God through Jesus Christ you went out chasing the answer instead of letting it overtake you? The only way He can do above and beyond all that we could ask or think is if we hold the Head to be true above and beyond all the lies and doctrines of a fallen mankind. Again, where your treasure truly is there your heart will be also. So if you desire something better in your life then you need to look above and not below to get those results. Deuteronomy 28:12 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (KJV) When you see words like treasure or rain, do you see the spiritual implications which go above man’s thinking, or are you like so many that limit God and His blessings to just the carnal realm? What we see in the outward realm mirrors, or reflects the spiritual one. So the more one trains themselves with this thinking the more one is able to see the total picture, like getting the view from above; above and beyond all that we could ever ask or think of. Man’s thinking is limited and so are his expectations; while the Lord’s people are renewing their mind on a daily basis and able to see into an unlimited realm where the word impossible is no longer a part of their vocabulary. A former life stuck in the realm of the flesh and limited by words like ‘I can’t’ as well as endless excuses and finger pointing, is now replaced with an I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. A life of so close and yet so far is replaced by a new life of victory, because for once in your life you are able to finish and bring to perfection things you started and were never able to accomplish in your past. As a Christian, a Christ like person, you need to continue to think and expect to be a winner in all things, as our Lord promised we are more than conquerors, but that only works through Him who loved us, that being Jesus Christ our one mediator that gives us access into this realm above. Isaiah 55:7-9 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (8) For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. (9) For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. (KJV) Oh that stinking thinking of ours at times! We start letting the mind drift off to the valley of the shadow of death, then the next thing you know we are speaking all these negative words, words which our Lord said should be spirit and life not carnal and strife. The Bible says we shall have whatever we say; then you wonder why you don’t see these results that our Lord said He was able to do which is so much more above and beyond what we could have ever asked or thought of? You want results in your life that are complete; then start thinking in that realm and speak the words that will bring life and not more strife. Words that should be opening the windows of heaven are now opening the floodgates of the enemy to come in and drown people in destruction and despair. Come on people, get out of this muck and get up to the higher ground, and replace those thoughts of doubt and fear with truth, a truth that will set you free and allow you to partake of what the Head has for you and not what is coming out of the tail end. Isaiah 55:10-13 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: (11) So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. (12) For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (13) Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. (KJV) Without rain and snow there would be drought, dry conditions, which are ripe for wildfires. Spiritually, God has opened the windows of heaven and is raining living waters on His people; the question is, ‘are you partaking of it, or has your field dried up’? Are you going out today with the joy of the Lord letting His peace rule in your life, or has doubt and confusion crept in? What does your field truly look like; is it cultivated and the weeds pulled, or is it a breeding ground of worthless weeds that look like plants? With all that is available in Christ; with all the promises we have in Him; Church, don’t settle for anything less than what He intended for you, a complete and total victory in all things, not just some things or sometimes, but always expecting the best because you truly serve the best who truly has your best interest in heart. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:12-13 The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (13) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (KJV)
It is the Lord’s desire that you are made the head, Christ like, is another way of describing it. In order for one to be a part of the body and be an imitator of Christ it is imperative that they know who the Head is and how He operates. How about getting into His head, the Bible says we have the mind of Christ, one that opens the eyes of our understanding so that we can see beyond the veil of the flesh and into the realm of the Spirit. All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hid in Christ; that which is unseen to the carnal yet readily revealed to the spiritual one. Ephesians 1:17-23 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: (18) The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, (19) And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, (21) Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: (22) And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, (23) Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. (KJV) God set an order to His church and how it would operate. Christ is the Head of the Church, which you are, and which He should be in order for you to access all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that are in Him. So where do you go looking for your answer when in time of need, do you seek first God’s take on how to handle things, or are you standing around the tail end getting soiled with man’s interpretation of what they think and not what the Lord knows and what His people should know? If God decided that Christ is the right man to be the Head of the Church isn’t it time you came into agreement with that plan as well? After all we are either with Him or against Him, so if any man has not the spirit of Christ and a working knowledge of Him then they are none of His, which would put them in the position of antichrist, heading downward instead of upward. Heads we win, tails we lose, and so does anyone that tries to alter and change God’s plan of salvation or the order He put His people in. Acts 4:10-12 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. (11) This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. (12) Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (KJV) So many different names that mankind comes up with, so many different denominations mankind tries to label God with and put Him in their carnal boxes limiting Him according to their carnal understanding and not the wisdom available to those in Christ. God has narrowed His path and provided the one name that will lead to salvation, that being Jesus Christ, while anything less leaves one in the back of the line and on the outside. There is no other name under heaven, this is it, the one name above all other names; one name will get you home and to the Head while anything less will leave you dead. Are you using this name so that you can go to the Head and access all that God has for you, or are you trying some other path that will leave you short and stuck tail gating another blind person heading for the ditch? One name, one Lord, one faith, one Head of the Church, it all points to Christ because that is the way God intended it to be so that you could partake of all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge that He has for His people. Ephesians 5:23-25 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. (24) Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. (25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; (KJV) What do you think life on earth would be like if man just followed God’s simple plan of salvation and didn’t try to alter what He put in place? Like the old song says, “what a wonderful world this would be”. Again we see a simple order of what the Lord intended, just as He did back in the book of Genesis a man and a woman is the only union He blesses and acknowledges, while anything else and they are on their own, outside the realm where He blesses. So with all this talk going around about alternative lifestyles, the only thing being alternated is a lie for the truth, which if continued will result in hell instead of heaven, an alternative God did not intend for His people. God is not the author of confusion but of peace. So if you desire the peace of God in your life then you need to come into agreement with His plan of salvation and the order He set for His church. 1 Corinthians 12:18-21 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him. (19) And if they were all one member, where were the body? (20) But now are they many members, yet but one body. (21) And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. (KJV) If God set the members and the order of His body of believers in a way that is pleasing to Him then who are we to tell Him different? Our physical bodies can be amputated and certain parts cut off in order to live, but once you cut the head off it’s all done, and death will be the result. Given the fact that the spiritual realm is so much greater than the physical one, would it not do you well to heed the word of God so that you don’t cut off the Head of the Church from your life and end up dead also? Heads up people, our salvation draws near, keep looking above and you won’t get so entangled with the things below, things below God’s standards. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Deuteronomy 28:11-14 And the LORD shall make thee plenteous in goods, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the LORD sware unto thy fathers to give thee. (12) The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. (13) And the LORD shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the LORD thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them: (14) And thou shalt not go aside from any of the words which I command thee this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. (KJV)
When flipping coins to determine an answer or outcome for a situation one is subject to however it bounces and where it lands in order to determine an outcome. For those in Christ that truly know their rights and authority in the word of God they are not subject to chance, or luck, or any bounce of a coin they hope will go their way, but rather one is able to know for sure they can be the head and not the tail. Even in times of fuel shortages, rising prices all around us, and any other manufactured thing man comes up with to make more profit, the Lord promises to supply all our need and allow us to rise above any situation that comes along, as long as we hold Him to be true above and beyond the outward circumstances. If one goes back and reads the first 14 verses of this chapter you see a simple life of blessings which the Lord promised His people, while after verse 14 life becomes quite complicated and unpleasant to those that choose to be the tail. The reason people end up at the back end and not the head is in many cases they don’t know who the head of the Church is and how to access Him in order to stay in that position. Rather than being seated in the heavenly realm to hear the message of Christ they stay entangled in the affairs of this life and end up with, for lack of a better phrase, crappy results. We all get one life to live, that’s it, and what a shame that so many people waste their opportunities the Lord provides, and not partake of the Lord’s good treasure He has available for any or all that would call upon His name and be obedient to what He is asking this day. Which realm are you partaking of today; is it truly the one the Lord promised or are you settling for second hand cheap imitations of the devil and your life resembles more of what comes out the tail than the head? Psalms 23:1-6 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. (2) He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. (3) He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. (4) Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (5) Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. (6) Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. (KJV) Remember this Psalms which we hear recited over and over again? Notice the first thing that has to take place in order for the rest to follow? Is the Lord really the shepherd or head of your life and calling the shots, or are you allowing the devil to get in cheap shots? There are times that we are confronted with situations which can overwhelm our minds, and the outcome seems like we are walking right into a valley of darkness and death, but that is where you realize that God has not given His people the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind that holds fast to a sound victory. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives as long as we allow the Lord to be the head of our life. 1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. (KJV) We see a simple order of how God set up His church to operate, and what allows these blessings to be in play for His people so that they can stay assured they are one of His despite all the turmoil going around them in this fallen world. Anytime this order is changed or altered by mankind, then they are no longer able to partake of the Lord’s good treasure, but end up back at the tail section receiving whatever comes out that end. If one wishes to be the head then they need to know who The Head is so that they can hear His message and learn to be imitators of Christ. Mankind alters and changes the message God sent through His Son thinking they will find peace. But in the end, and that would be the rear end, they end up with a pile of steaming strife and confusion fresh from the bowels of hell. While on this subject, apparently there seems to be a lot of confusion about marriage these days, somehow man no longer accepts the concept of a man and woman, but rather they think they can incorporate their own ideas into the equation. The Lord is quite specific on what He blesses and approves of and what gets sent to the back of the line, and nowhere in the His word does He alter from the man and woman concept. The above verse is clear to point out the head of man is Christ, not another man as some think or try to alter into a different lifestyle our Lord didn’t intend as an alternate. 1 Peter 2:6-8 Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. (7) Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, (8) And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed. (KJV) Many are called but only a few chosen, because the many try to build their house without the Chief corner stone in place, and that stone would be Christ. Many are confounded, which means disgraced or put to shame, because they try to alter God’s plan of salvation to fit their lifestyle rather than rising up and sitting with the head giving ear to how He would have His church built, which you just happen to be. Today, this moment, you have the opportunity to rise above this fallen world through the victory that we have in Christ so that you can be the head and not settle for the tail end of this fallen world. God bless. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Philippians 4:6-8 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (KJV)
When we see the word careful, it refers to anxious, something opposite of patience, which the Bible says we should be letting patience have its perfect work. The peace of God you are experiencing is a result of knowing that the petitions you have made to God were heard and now it is a matter of thanking Him knowing it is provided even though it hasn’t yet manifested in the outward. Knowing how and what to ask for will help you keep that peace and operate in the realm the Lord intended for you to be in. Proverbs 16:11 A just weight and balance are the LORD's: all the weights of the bag are his work. (KJV) One of the things that would be considered just, is operating and dealing with today, not letting the mind drift off into a stormy sea of doubt and fear, but staying beside the still living waters that bring life. Mankind plays on fear of tomorrow, especially in the retail world where many sales are based on bulk and not just what is needed now. So many times instead of purchasing what is needed to get by a person ends up with three times the amount they intended because that is how it is advertised. Of course it is packaged in a way that unless one buys today it will never again be at that price so that you end up making a purchase on emotions. Spiritually many Christians overlook simple areas of their walk and end up with their thoughts drifting way out to sea fueled by winds of doctrine. How much more peace would you have if you only dealt with what the Lord was asking for today and not tossed around with carnal thoughts of tomorrow or any other imaginary event? James 4:1-3 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? (2) Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. (3) Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. (KJV) Do you know the difference between what is of the flesh and of the Spirit; in other words, rightly dividing the word of truth? That thing you are now entangled with, the affairs of this life which our Lord never intended for His people to be all caught up in, is drawing you away from the Lord rather than closer. Verse 2 uses the word kill; so what exactly is being killed? Well how about that new life in Christ you said was His for the taking, which is now taking a back seat to something of the world and not the word of God. You decided it was time to have something based more on lust than Spirit. So that thing you had to have, the one thing you thought would bring peace is bringing nothing less than heartache and misery where there should have been peace and joy. Give us this day our daily bread, so simple, so peaceful, and yet so complicated when we lean to our own understanding. Exodus 16:22-24 And it came to pass, that on the sixth day they gathered twice as much bread, two omers for one man: and all the rulers of the congregation came and told Moses. (23) And he said unto them, This is that which the LORD hath said, To morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the LORD: bake that which ye will bake to day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning. (24) And they laid it up till the morning, as Moses bade: and it did not stink, neither was there any worm therein. (KJV) As we can see there is a big difference between when the Lord is leading and when we are leaning to our own thoughts. The Lord’s way will keep us in peace and not lead to stinking thinking, which I am sure tasted much better without the worms. When we start thinking beyond where the Lord is asking us then we end up with holes in our doctrine, a place for the worms to crawl in and out of. Do you desire peace in your life? Then you need to monitor and keep a close watch on what you are thinking on as well, keeping every thought in obedience to Christ so that you can stay in that peaceful realm of the Spirit separated from this troubled world and its ways. Exodus 16:25-28 And Moses said, Eat that to day; for to day is a sabbath unto the LORD: to day ye shall not find it in the field (26) Six days ye shall gather it; but on the seventh day, which is the sabbath, in it there shall be none. (27) And it came to pass, that there went out some of the people on the seventh day for to gather, and they found none. (28) And the LORD said unto Moses, How long refuse ye to keep my commandments and my laws? (KJV) Oh there is one in every crowd isn’t there, you know the bad apple in the bunch. You wonder why at times there is not peace in your life; maybe you or your mind is wandering off in areas the Lord is not leading. Just because the Lord had you do something one way in the past and you got results doesn’t always mean He is going to provide the same answer all the time in that way. The question now is, where is the Lord leading and how is He asking you to gather your daily bread for today? Are you open to what the Lord has for you and where He would like you to be operating today, or are you already into next week fumbling around in the dark? Or as we see in the above verses, are you trying old ways to walk in the new and then wonder why you don’t get the Lord’s results? Take the time on a daily basis so that you can hear the message being delivered by Christ and boldly gather the bread of life that is proceeding forth from the mouth of God. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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