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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. Philippians 3:13-15 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, (14) I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (15) Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for ‘press’: 1377 dioko (dee-o'-ko); a prolonged (and causative) form of a primary verb dio (to flee; compare the base of 1169 and 1249); to pursue (literally or figuratively); by implication, to persecute: KJV-- ensue, follow (after), given to, (suffer) persecute (-ion), press forward. Williams New Testament translation Philippians 3:13-15 13. Brothers, I do not think that I have captured it yet, but here is my one aspiration, so forgetting what is behind me and reaching out for what is ahead of me, 14. I am pressing onward toward the goal, to win the prize to which God through Jesus Christ is calling us upward. 15. So let us all who are mature have this attitude. If you have a different attitude, God will make it clear to you. When pressing or moving forward in your walk with the Lord, sometimes or some situations you will find it a struggle, at times overwhelming to the mind. Like with a long distance runner, at times it seems like their body just can’t take anymore but they know they have to continue moving forward if they wish to attain their goal at the finish line. You will find your walk at times with the Lord similar in the aspect that the Lord is asking you to move forward, whether a job situation, a different fellowship, or He is asking you to answer your own calling in an area He sees as your place in the body even though you may see different. Remember, the Spirit is willing it’s our flesh and our carnal thinking that is weak and limited; so for a season whatever the new area is that the Lord is moving you into it may take a while for your understanding to catch up with the Lord. What’s that saying, “no pain no gain”, well at times change seems painful, grievous; never the less afterward you will see the peaceable fruit of the Spirit manifest as long as you persevere. In order to continue moving forward in your walk with the Lord you will find that some of the old ways and old thoughts that you got by with in the past are no longer effective anymore and thus the need for change is in order to mature. So like we see Paul explaining, he was forgetting things which were behind him, old thoughts and ways that were no longer beneficial to his spiritual growth, and reaching forth or looking forward to find his new life in Christ. The point is, just because you have entered a place in your walk where it may seem to be a struggle for the time being, know that as you persevere and continue seeking the things of God you will adapt to what the Lord is asking, or where He is asking you to operate, and it will yield peaceable fruit. Luke 3:4-6 As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. (5) Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; (6) And all flesh shall see the salvation of God. (KJV) Ever hear the term “making a mountain out of a molehill”? Well those that endure and continue in their walk with the Lord are able to see the mountain turn into a molehill. Things that you thought in the past were impossible are now possible with Christ; and areas in your life that seemed so rough are now smooth and easy to walk in. Now that the valleys are filled in and that thing in your life that seemed like such a mountain is brought low the path is much steadier and your life is not such a roller coaster ride of emotional highs and lows anymore. Just like with a runner, the more they exercise and keep the body fit and built up the more they are able to endure the race that is before them as well as remain healthy. Spiritually these same principles work, by keeping your body in subjection to the Spirit you are able to endure this day the path the Lord has for you and make it to the finish line the way He intended you to. Yes there will be opposition and persecution along this path of life, and there may be times you get knocked down, but it’s not how many times you get knocked down that matters it is how many times you get back up and continue forward, that is what counts. Matthew 17:18-21 And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour. (19) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? (20) And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (21) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (KJV) A mountain can be anything that is in your path that appears to be a huge obstacle and hard to get past. Sometimes what seems simple to one person can be a huge distraction to another; while others struggle in things and are unable to move forward because they are still holding onto beliefs from their past. Whatever the situation is, it is important to pray one for another that they may be healed and find the comfort and deliverance through Christ. You will find your answer in prayer, continuing to communicate with the Father on a daily basis, seeking your answer in His word. Many fail to stay in communication with the Lord; rather they wait till a crisis arises before they seek His answer, a crisis that could have been avoided had the lines of communication stayed open. While fasting can refer to going without food it also refers to abstaining from anything that is feeding an area of our flesh that needs to be subdued and put into subjection. So rather than starve the flesh one spends more time feeding the flesh and its desires, then wonders why doubt and fear have crept in and kept them from achieving their goal. The more one feeds the Spirit the more they will see spiritual results that cannot and will not happen according to the carnal way of thinking and its dead ways. For you to grow and mature in the Lord you will be constantly going through changes in your life as you continue to step into the new realm the Lord has for you. Now the question is, ‘will you let go of the old childish things in order to press forward in your walk’? 1 Corinthians 13:10-11 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. (KJV) When you are able to see and come to a perfect (mature) understanding of what the Lord is asking and requiring of you in order to move forward in your walk with Him, then that which is in part or any obstacle that has been impeding your sight is done away. Many people fail and fall short of the glory of God because they put their hand to the plow but keep looking back to find peace rather than pressing forward and maturing in the things of the Lord. So today, even though something may seem like a huge obstacle or mountainous in size, by pressing forward in your walk and persevering in the Lord you will find that you can do all things through Christ who is strengthening you. Those that have and continue to walk the path of life and grow up into the Lord find that many things that at one time were a distraction and an obstacle were nothing more than a mirage, an optical illusion of the devil. Just like watching old monster movies when I was a child I used to be frightened by the illusions of these movies, but as I grew up and matured I was able to see the cheap silly special effects of imaginary events and beings. God bless and press on. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 3:3-4 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? (4) God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged. (KJV)
How about a new motto for all believers, I now let God be true and man the liar. What if everyone else tells you something contrary to sound doctrine, will you bend and give in to peer pressure or are you grounded enough to let the word of God rule in your walk? Maybe you think this is not possible, well remember a guy named Noah, he had a choice to listen and follow the rest of the world, or to let one be true in his life that being God and His word. Remember it’s by our words we will either be justified or condemned, so as long as your words and God’s word are one in the same then you will remain in good standing with our Father. What if some around you don’t believe, maybe even those that you have been close to in the past, will you let that influence you or will you continue in the faith grounded and settled and not moved away? Discernment, rightly dividing the word of truth knowing the difference between the pure word of God and its spiritual meaning and interpretation, and mankind’s take on things. The reason man changes the meaning and distorts the truth is so that they can justify their lower fallen nature, which may fool some, but will be openly exposed to those that have their spiritual senses exercised to discern between good and evil intentions of the heart. Luke 18:24-27 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! (25) For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. (26) And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved? (27) And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. (KJV) Have you ever stopped to think about a couple of words used throughout the Bible, those being possible and impossible? What mankind calls possible God says is impossible, and what man says is impossible to God it is just another day at the office; in fact His word says that with Him all things are possible. Did you realize that once you were born again into the realm of the Spirit you now entered a realm with no boundaries or limitations, a realm where God is able to do above and beyond all that you could have ever asked or thought of? Oh but how often man comes along and tries to talk you out of that realm with words of doubt and fear because of their limited carnal thinking, trying to justify and make excuses for their fallen nature. While mankind judges according to the outward and many claim that by being rich they are blessed of God, the Lord had a different take on it when confronted with the rich man in the above verses. Back in those times, just as it is today, the rich are looked up to in this world and given special privileges, while in reality all our Lord is concerned with is the motive of our heart. While mankind has come up with thousands and thousands of denominations and interpretations for God’s plan of salvation, the word of God is quite clear to point out that there is only one Lord and one faith that will be accepted by our Father. Knowing the difference between what God says is possible, and what man says is a life and death matter. Because in the end only one interpretation will allow you access to your eternal inheritance, while anything else will be turned away at the door. Luke 18:28-30 Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. (29) And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, (30) Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. (KJV) We see Peter being a bit concerned where he stands with the Lord, having just found out that being rich was not all it was cracked up to be, especially when so many of the greedy Scribes and Pharisees had been preaching it. Is there a doctrine, teaching, or ritual you are still holding to that is contrary to what you know is truth, even if it is something that is popular with the world? Is there something or someone you see in verse 29 that is holding you back in your walk, something that still has more of an influence on you than God does? I bring this up for the same reason the Lord did, because no man can serve two masters, or as the word of God points out, a house divided will fall. When the word of God refers to receiving more in this present time, are you looking to the outward and judging according to that realm, or are you thinking in line with what the Lord intends for His people, all the treasures of His wisdom and knowledge? You wonder why your walk with the Lord seems stale and at a standstill at times, or maybe right now? It may be time to do a personal inventory, to make sure that something you may still be holding onto that our Lord is saying is impossible for you to move forward with, is now something you may possibly need to let go of in order to receive a full reward from Him. But know this, the enemy is going to fight you to hang onto these dead things, trying to get you to focus on what you are missing out on, and not on the blessings God has in store for your obedience. Know this too, that the longer you hang onto something our Lord says is dead the more you become like the thing He is asking you to let go of, or forsake. Hebrews 11:6-7 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (7) By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. (KJV) Mankind has developed so many religions and different ways which they think they can please God with; when in reality it simply comes down to faith, your ability to personally hear the message of God delivered by Christ, and let His spirit lead and guide you through this present evil world. We see a man named Noah and read the account of how he built this ark, but did you ever stop and think of the ridicule and persecution this man must have endured? Talk about letting God be true and man the liar, it was only Noah and his family, eight souls that made it through the flood because He chose faith. Doesn’t the word of God describe the end times and the coming of our Lord as being similar to the days of Noah; so if it was faith in what man said was impossible, would it not be possible to say that only faith today will provide the deliverance as well? Romans 9:31-33 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness. (32) Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; (33) As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. (KJV) Even God’s original chosen people continue this day to try to worship our Lord according to the works of the law and not by faith; which the Lord said without faith it would be impossible to please Him. As I look around today I still see many who hold to outward laws and rituals, some claiming that you have to show up to certain buildings on certain special days or you won’t be saved. Bottom line, unless you have a personal relationship with God through a working knowledge of His Son Jesus Christ you are none of His, but rather operating in a realm our Lord clearly says is impossible to please Him in. With God, all things are truly possible to them that believe, while anything else is telling God He is the liar and man is true, yikes. Matthew 12:30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (KJV) There is truly a difference between what man says is possible and what God has to say on the matter; now the question is, who will you hold to? If there is anything or anyone you are trying to hold onto that has more of an influence on you than God, then it will be impossible to serve Him. However if you are willing to sell out from the ways of the world and all its worldly people then you will find that all things are now possible for you, because you are willing to believe in someone greater in you than he that is within the world. Someday all mankind is going to find out that God is true, it was mankind and his fallen nature that chose to believe the lie, so why not let that be today? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 1:10-13 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (11) He came unto his own, and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (KJV)
Strong’s definition for received: 3880 paralambano (par-al-am-ban'-o); from 3844 and 2983; to receive near, i.e. associate with oneself (in any familiar or intimate act or relation); by analogy, to assume an office; figuratively, to learn: KJV-- receive, take (unto, with). A heavenly call has gone forth to all mankind to resurrect them from the tomb of the realm of the flesh into a new realm which is spiritual. Mankind has been entrapped in the realm of sin and death which has kept them separated from God until the time of reconciliation, which was accomplished through Jesus Christ our Lord. Now that you have heard the call it is vital that you keep the line of communication open between you and your heavenly Father so that you can hear His instructions on a daily basis, and follow the path He chose for you before the foundation of the world. God has let mankind know throughout the Bible that He would send the Messiah for the salvation of the world; and as we see in the example from John, many did not recognize Him let alone receive the message God was sending through Him. But to those that do receive Him, they are able to walk in the same power of God, which is Christ, because of their belief in His name. Where many today still have issues with God is in their unwillingness to believe in the Son and allow Him to rule and reign within them. Many don’t receive the things of God because they are not willing to let go and trust more in Christ and less in their own abilities or understanding; which if one is leaning to their own way of thinking they will fall. Galatians 3:1-5 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? (2) This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (3) Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? (4) Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. (5) He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (KJV) While the Lord is calling His people, the devil is out and about making crank calls doing all he can to distract and deceive. Rather than believing in the message of Christ, many are trying to perfect it in the flesh by the works of the law through the traditions and doctrines of man, thus having been distracted and deceived. Paul is asking the people a simple question, was your rebirth and resurrection into the realm of the Spirit done by works, or was it by simply hearing the word of God and receiving it as truth? He then goes on to basically ask the people ‘if this is how you entered this new life then would not the simplicity of hearing of faith be what keeps you in this realm?’ In fact he goes so far as to call them foolish, ‘something that has begun in the Spirit is now going to be perfected by the flesh?’ God’s call is simple, receive His message by faith, then walk according to what you hear from Him and not what so many others claim is necessary, especially the works of the law and its dead end rituals. You started out so good people, but now you have disconnected the heavenly line and are listening to the voice of a stranger, no longer able to receive the things of God. It’s kind of like football, they have receivers that run a route and are expected to catch the pass and move forward toward the goal line. If a receiver runs the wrong route or the ball is thrown his way and he drops it, the team will not progress forward. You are expected to huddle up with the Lord on a daily basis and learn the route He has for you that day so that you can receive His message and progress forward toward the mark of the prize of His high calling. Keep in mind though, that the more you learn to receive the things of God and progress forward toward the goal, the more of a target you become to the opposition who’s only goal is to keep you from the goal line. So take the time on a daily basis to learn the playbook, and receive God’s plan for you that was drawn up before the foundation of the world. 1 John 4:4-6 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. (5) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. (6) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. (KJV) Are you willing to turn your life over to someone much greater than yourself and receive His plan of salvation? To many it sounds like a no brainer, and yet the simple fact is that this is where so many fall short, unwilling to trust their spiritual senses more than their own physical outward ones. Are you hearing the message personally, or is this Bible stuff something that only happens to certain special people? You have a Spirit far greater than anything in this life, who is waiting for you to pick up the spiritual receiver and hear His message so that you can achieve the eternal goal God has for His people. Hebrews 12:2 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) Let me ask this question, can you think of someone else you would want writing a script for your life than Jesus Christ who is now seated at the right hand of the Father? Not only did He write the beginning for you, He even wrote the ending which is intended to have you end up in the same place He did. But how will you know this unless you make it a priority on a daily basis to hear His message and respond in faith, believing that what He promises His people He is able to do exceeding and abundantly above all that we could ask or think. Is Jesus Christ truly the author of your life today? If not, you surly won’t like the ending. Are you receiving the things of God that are necessary to sustain you spiritually so that you can continue forward on the path of life? You too will endure opposition and shame from those of the world, but I pray it is not enough to deter you from answering and receiving your heavenly instructions. You too will have to pick up your own cross and crucify your own desires if you wish to continue in this faith; but before you throw a pity party, consider our Lord and what He endured to get this message to His people. With all that has been done on your behalf isn’t it time you start receiving more of the good news of the gospel of Christ and less of the old news of this fallen world? Isaiah 46:9-11 Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, (10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: (11) Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken it, I will also bring it to pass; I have purposed it, I will also do it. (KJV) Again I ask you, are you able to declare the end of something before it happens, accurately one hundred percent of the time? If not, then why would you doubt someone that can, someone much greater than you and I who is living within us waiting to be resurrected again if only we would let Him? Don’t be like so many others that don’t receive from God what is rightfully theirs because of doubt and unbelief, but rather hold fast your profession of faith without wavering, knowing that what God promises He is able to do; in fact He even declares it a done deal before it happens. Do you know somebody else with that good of a proven track record? Isaiah 42:6-9 I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; (7) To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house. (8) I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images. (9) Behold, the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare: before they spring forth I tell you of them. (KJV) The Lord is calling His people, which you are one of His; now will you receive His message and believe more in what He has done and accomplished, and less in your own thoughts and works? Believed and received; be not deceived, God bless. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. John 11:11-14 These things said he: and after that he saith unto them, Our friend Lazarus sleepeth; but I go, that I may awake him out of sleep. (12) Then said his disciples, Lord, if he sleep, he shall do well. (13) Howbeit Jesus spake of his death: but they thought that he had spoken of taking of rest in sleep. (14) Then said Jesus unto them plainly, Lazarus is dead. (KJV)
God’s word was made flesh and dwelt among us in the form of Jesus Christ, who was sent from God to deliver mankind from a death sentence to one of eternal life. The things our Lord did and demonstrated are still available to His people today; those that God sends to speak words of life and wake people up from their spiritual stupors. When you see the phrase sleep it does refer to death also. Lazarus is someone we can identify with ourselves. And as we read yesterday, a man who was stuck in darkness, bound up in grave clothes whose life stunk, and was being resurrected from his sleep by the word of the Lord. We too were dead in sin and trespasses but are now made alive again so that we are able to walk in newness of life in the Spirit, no longer bound by the desires of the flesh. Ephesians 5:14-16 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. (15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, (16) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. (KJV) Many think and are taught that someday there will be a wonderful resurrection to a new eternal life with Christ, and for many of them they can hardly wait for that day to come. Those that have their spiritual senses exercised today know that now it is time to awaken from our spiritual stupor, arise from the dead and walk in the light of the glorious gospel of Christ and the path He chose for us before the foundation of the world. Thayer’s definition for awake: 1453 egeiro- to arouse, to cause to rise a) to arouse from sleep, to awake b) to arouse from the sleep of death, to recall the dead to life Romans 13:11-14 And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. (12) The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. (13) Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. (14) But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof. (KJV) Have you woken up from the dead; are you arising now and heeding the spiritual calling, or are you all caught up in the striving and cares of this life? Now it is high time; time for you to be seated in the heavenly places with Christ, and not stuck in this dead end realm of the flesh with its dead end results. Your salvation is near, the Lord Himself is standing at your door knocking on the heart to see if you will let Him in and give you new life. Like with the example of Lazarus, He is ready to roll away the old stony heart and set you free to the only liberty you will find, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. So are you heeding the call of our Lord; are you stepping out in faith into a new realm so that you can be partakers of the heavenly gift that God sent to us through His Son Jesus Christ? Now is the day of salvation, now it is much nearer than you thought; so will you get up from your spiritual hangover and answer the call, or will you sleep in and miss out on an eternal heavenly reward which is rightfully yours for the taking? Have you put on the whole armor of God which is Jesus Christ so that you will no longer be taken down by the fiery darts of the enemy and put back to sleep? Walk in the Spirit of Christ so that you no longer have to be in bondage to the lusts of the flesh, fulfilling its deadly desires which are contrary to our Lord’s desire for you. 1 Corinthians 15:31-34 I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily. (32) If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. (33) Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (34) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. (KJV) Paul himself realized that in order to resurrect daily to this new life in Christ he would have to die on a daily basis. The outward or the old man continues to perish on a daily basis, because we are now walking by faith and relying more on our spiritual sight than the physical one. Our inward man should be renewed on a daily basis so that we stay awake and alert spiritually, and are not ambushed by the enemy. Are the eyes of your understanding enlightened to the things of the Spirit, or are they becoming heavy and you are drifting back to sleep again? Take heed to the warning in verse 33, because Paul did not say that evil communication might corrupt, but rather would corrupt good manners. These warnings are not put in the Bible just to fill in pages or finish a paragraph, but are there for the benefit of His people so they won’t be deceived back to sleep again, but rather stay awake and alert to the things of God. Some people are not aware of these things that many may consider little and trivial, but remember it only took a little leaven to leaven the whole lump, and for those that don’t operate in this knowledge, like Paul said, he speaks this to their shame. It’s one thing if the people of the world decide to ignore the word of the Lord and perish; it’s another to see God’s people perish because of their lack of knowledge in spiritual matters; which in the end is all that truly matters. 1 Corinthians 11:27-30 Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. (28) But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. (29) For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. (30) For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. (KJV) The Bible says that we all need to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling, coming to an understanding of God’s plan of salvation for ourselves so that we no longer have to guess, but know who we are in Christ, and find our place within the body. Many that have had a spiritual awakening at some time, end up falling back to sleep, this after becoming weak and sickly. It’s because of their lack of discernment and diligence, as well in making the Lord their priority that they ended up in this condition. The Bible warns us of the many false prophets that shall come preaching damnable heresies to the point of denying the Lord, and they bring upon themselves swift destruction. Not only will the false prophets suffer eternal consequences because what should have been the bread of life was actually polluted and full of deadly spiritual diseases which eat like a cancer, but those that follow them and lend their support to them will also suffer the same consequences as well. So wake up Church; you have a Bible and you have access to the throne of God so that you can sit together with Christ on a daily basis and hear His words firsthand; they are spirit and they are life to those that hear. Don’t fall asleep at the wheel again and end up in a ditch spinning your wheels, but stay alert and follow the only path that leads to eternal life, the same path our leader and forerunner Jesus Christ followed Himself. God bless and keep the faith. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Isaiah 55:6-9 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) 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)
Welcome to the realm of God where everything you thought, where all your priorities and what you esteemed so important, has suddenly changed and done an about face. Things that were important to you, things you thought would bring you peace have been discarded and replaced with the things of God; something completely opposite to what you have been taught all your life and were surrounded with before your conversion. God’s thoughts and ways are so much higher than ours, His reward is unending, with a promise of eternal joy and peace to those that are willing to enter His realm and remain there. Are the things you desire in line with the will of God, or is there a tug of war going on within you, something trying to pull you back into the realm of the flesh? Are you still trying to figure things out according to your own carnal thinking, and won’t accept anything else unless it is according to the outcome you determined? In the end it is our ways and our own thoughts that separate us from God, a God that is a lot easier to hear while He is near and still dear to our heart. I don’t believe mankind can measure the distance between the earth and heaven; which according to the Bible is so much higher than we could ever imagine or think. So with all this power that is available to each and every believer, with a God that determines a victory before one ever engages in a situation, why do we still at times overlook and neglect the only answer for mankind that will bring peace and joy, and provide a permanent escape from this present evil world? Luke 12:22-24 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. (23) The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment. (24) 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? (KJV) This is your assignment for today, do not take thought for your life or for the outward man, replace those thoughts with what is important to the spiritual man. All that effort and attention that has been put into our physical is going to be directed into the spiritual and what is required in order to please God. Every time you catch yourself drifting off and back into the realm of the flesh, stop, and replace those thoughts with what is needed to keep the spiritual man fed. And if you happen to see a raven or any other bird feeding somewhere, stop, and remind yourself, and ponder the fact that our heavenly Father provides food for His creation; so why would you doubt or think you have been overlooked by God, unless you haven’t taken the time to hear Him, and you have been overlooking simple ways that He has been trying to speak with you? While many people think they will find the deep things of God by reading the book of Revelation, determining the end times and how it will play out, the depth of God is in the simple things that are so often overlooked and missed by man that are right in front of us if we will only listen. Luke 12:25-27 (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? (27) Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. (KJV) A cubit is about 39 inches; a little more than a yard, about the length of a step we take in our walk. So when on this path of life that God ordained and chose for you before the foundation of the world, which of you can take that next step without knowing the direction God is asking, or trying to lead you in? If you are not able to do these simple, least assignments, then why would you be taking thought for the rest of your walk? Reading your Bible is important on a daily basis as well as stopping and listening; hearing God speak with you on an individual basis so that you are able to hear and receive the spiritual message within His word. It’s the simplicity of the gospel of Christ that is missed by many, because they compare the scriptures to what they have learned in the past, thinking it takes someone smart to understand them, when all God asks of us is to be willing and obedient to His word. It is those that humble themselves that are exalted, and able to see and understand the things of God. Like looking at how beautiful the lilies of the field are; they didn’t toil like Solomon and mankind, rather they grew into something beautiful that God had intended them to be without the toiling. Luke 12:28-30 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (29) And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. (30) For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things. (KJV) Someday this world and its fashion are going to burn up and be replaced with a new one. With this in mind, what is or should be your priority? What is it that you should be seeking after that really has any meaning or eternal purpose? All these things that we have need of our Father has already promised to provide, and already knew what we would have need of before the foundation of the world. Let’s start giving credit where credit is due. After all parents, didn’t you plan on the provisions for your own children once you found out they were on the way and about to be brought into this realm? And yet with this in mind don’t you think God thought of this as well? Not only did He think of it, He has promised to supply all our need as well. Do you think you can do a better job than He can; and with this in mind why do we spend so much time taking thought for something God promised was a done deal? You wouldn’t be so doubtful if you kept God a priority, and didn’t allow all those negative thoughts to take root and become a stronghold; rather you would be casting that out as soon as it manifested, and tried to enter your heart. Luke 12:31-32 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (32) Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (KJV) As a parent didn’t you enjoy sharing things with your children, and giving them the best you could? Our Father in heaven has never neglected His own, and promised that He would never leave us nor forsake us. Yet how often do we hold Him to His promise, and trust that what He promised He was able to do above and beyond what we could ever ask or think of, like the heavens above the earth? So today, prioritize and get things in order. God first, then these things are added, not the things first then we will get around to the God stuff. Keep it simple. God speaks to us in many ways, and His message goes beyond just what we read in His word. If one is attentive they can hear Him anywhere, anytime, and stay built up in the word of God, and not doubt what the Lord has promised to those that believe. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ezekiel 36:26-27 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh. (27) And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them. (KJV)
Now keep in mind that this heart transplant is referring to the spiritual realm, so in order to operate in it we need a new heart. Once you receive this new heart you will then be able to receive the things of God and walk in the realm of faith. A new spirit will open the eyes of our understanding and allow us to see the things of God. Ephesians 4:22-24 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (KJV) Our old man was having heart attacks, unable to ward off the virus of sin which was corrupting him/her, and eventually would lead to death if not dealt with. So in order to restore spiritual health one needs to take out the old stony heart and its hardened arteries and replace it with a new heart which will renew the mind and keep the new man healthy. The old stony heart is like the old tablets that the Ten Commandments were written on which were heavy and hard to deal with. The new heart is like one of clay which the potter, our Lord, can mold and shape a lot better than the stony one. Our old heart was limited to the things of this fleshy realm and unable to see beyond it. The new heart is one of the Spirit and gives us access to the spiritual realm of God, one that is able to receive and give us an understanding into the things of God. Thayer’s definition for the heart: 2588 kardia- the heart a) that organ in the animal body which is the center of the circulation of the blood, and, hence, was regarded as the seat of physical life b) denotes the center of all physical and spiritual life a) the vigor and sense of physical life b) the center and seat of spiritual life 1) the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavors 2) used of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence 3) used of the will and character 4) used of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions c) used of the middle or central or inmost part of anything, even though inanimate Our new heart is able to take the life changing things of God and pump them through our body and into the mind so that we can keep ourselves renewed and reminded of who we are in Christ. A spiritual man requires a spiritual heart so that they can come to an understanding of how to live in the Spirit and no longer be in bondage to the things of the flesh. I think of the heart as being similar to a distributor in a car, it takes all the electrical energy and distributes it to the headlights and other electrical parts so that the driver can have a clear view of the path in front of them. Though many Christians still try to comprehend God from their own thinking, with limited head knowledge, it’s only those that serve Him from the heart, with a new heart, that will be able to see and understand how to walk effectively in this realm of the Spirit. Matthew 13:15-16 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (16) But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. (KJV) Thayer’s definition for wax gross: 3975 pachuno- 1) to make thick, to make fat, to fatten 2) metaphorically, to make stupid (to render the soul dull or callous) An interesting definition for the phrase ‘wax gross’. When the heart and its arteries thicken, it begins to slow or stop the life giving flow of blood to the rest of the body, which eventually will lead to the body shutting down, thus requiring a transplant. Unless there is a flow of the word of God continually going through your spiritual man you too will find the heart hardening, cutting off the flow from it also. Many people today still push and promote head knowledge and Bible memorization, thinking that will draw them closer to the Lord. But unless one has a change of heart and allows the word of God into their heart, they will not come to an understanding of who God is and what their place in the body of Christ is either. Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered. (KJV) When one trusts in his/her own heart, they are leaning back to their own understanding, and are about to fall. When one walks wisely in the wisdom of God they are able to keep the body in subjection to the Spirit and continue in the will of God, which is being delivered from this present evil world and not entangled with the affairs of it. Ephesians 3:17-19 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. (KJV) Without faith, the ability to hear the message delivered by Christ, you will not be able to come to an understanding or comprehend the love of God which is being shed abroad in your heart. Without faith it is impossible to please God, because rather than allowing Him into the heart you are still trying to comprehend and operate according to the old carnal fallen nature, which will leave one on the outside instead of a partaker of His love. This love of God and the fullness of it, go above and beyond anything we could ever ask or think; and once you have truly experienced it for yourself, it is not something you ever want to let go of or neglect. Psalms 37:4 Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. (KJV) With a new heart will come a new desire; not for the things of this life but for the things of God. These are the desires that God will give to those that love Him with all their heart, mind, and soul. Where your treasure is this day, right now, is where your heart will be, and will get rooted and grounded in, whether it is the things of God or the things of the world. Do you desire to partake of the new spiritual treasure that God has for His people? Then it will require a new heart with a whole new way of thinking in order to access this eternal treasure of the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (6) In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. (7) Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. (8) It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones. (KJV)
When I see the word ‘lean’ I think of someone wavering, ready to take a fall, or like a boxer who has just taken a punch and is having a hard time standing. If you cut off the blood flow to the brain eventually it will cause one to pass out. The same holds true in the spiritual realm if you cut off the source of life, the word of God from the heart to renew the mind, eventually you will start wavering and falling on your face. As the heart is such a vital organ to our physical man, it is just as vital to our spiritual being as well. Have you seen the green labels on food products that say they are heart smart, something that is healthy for us? The word of God is heart smart as well, because a healthy dose of it will keep reminding us of the truth, that God has not given us the spirit of fear but of power, love, and a sound mind. Have you desired a closer relationship with the Lord wanting more of Him in your life? Have you given a whole hearted effort, or are you still hanging on to the things of this life, your own understanding, something to fall back on in case this Lord thing doesn’t quite work out the way you thought it should? The Bible says the Lord is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think; the question is will you let Him? Proverbs 4:20-22 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. (21) Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. (22) For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh. (KJV) Have you seen healthy people, how they eat right, exercise the body, and maintain the temple God gave them? For the Christian it begins in the heart with the word of God, which brings life to the spirit man and results in good health to the flesh. Who better to show us how to stay healthy, body, soul, and spirit, than the Creator Himself? The Bible makes reference to our lives as a race; a long distance race that we need to run with patience in order to endure to the end. If you have ever seen a marathon runner you notice they have maintained their temple, having eliminated any excess weight that would weigh them down and cause undue stress and strain on the heart. The same holds true with the Christian, many carry around excess spiritual weight, the cares and worries of things that they need to cast upon the Lord and leave them there. The fact that you wouldn’t see overweight or unhealthy people running a marathon race, or I should say enduring to the end, spiritually those that don’t train themselves on a daily basis to hear the Lord and let His word flow in the heart will not last long in the heavenly race either, enduring to the end. The more you train yourself in the things of God the more you will learn to keep your body in subjection to the Spirit and not end up dropping out of the race, being dehydrated due to a lack of living waters. Psalms 119:10-11 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. (11) Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (KJV) Have you ever tried to do something and your heart just wasn’t into it? Or how about the endless New Year resolutions people make, only to make the same ones the following year? How many people get caught up in the work out ads on TV where they show some young person in great shape who claims that they only had to work out for a few minutes a day to get these great results? So when the people end up buying these devices, for most, they find out that they make a great place to hang their wet laundry on. The same holds true with your spiritual walk, unless the word of God gets into the heart and becomes an actual way of life, it will soon be forgotten, put on the shelf, and you will end up back where you started, like as a runner with good intentions but never able to go forward. Again the word of God is just as vital as the flow of blood to and from the heart; which, without a healthy flow through us will result in the body shutting down, unable to function. Jeremiah 17:9-11 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? (10) I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings. (11) As the partridge sitteth on eggs, and hatcheth them not; so he that getteth riches, and not by right, shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool. (KJV) So how does God judge this race, the course He has set for each of us to run? While many may look good and sound good in the outward realm, God is looking to the inward man to see what their motivation is and what it is that they truly treasure. Mankind is like a partridge, they are constantly hatching new methods and devices based on their own understanding, which is based more on a love of money, not the love of God. As an unhealthy diet and lack of exercise in the physical realm will cause the body to shut down in the physical, nothing will shut down the spiritual quicker than the love of money, or any other care of this life which drowns men in destruction, and chokes the life out of many. Just as an unhealthy flow of blood and oxygen will shut a runner down in his tracks, many a godly person that has answered the call of God in the beginning of their walk end up having a spiritual heart attack and keel over because of a lack of healthy doctrine to the heart. We have all been deceived and duped in the past by the cheap imitations of the devil trying to pull us back into the realm of the flesh by leaning to our own understanding. Where your treasure is, is where the heart will be also; and it will determine whether you have stayed on course, the path of life that God has set for you to run, or whether you are sidetracked by your own understanding which is deceitful, and have now placed your own desires above all other things, including the things of God. 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 eyeservice, as menpleasers; 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) Singleness of heart means it is not self seeking. So who are you seeking your approval from, and what are your true motives for everything you are doing today, this moment? Are you looking to the Lord to receive your reward seeking His approval only, or are you doing things to please man? Whatever your motive truly is, God already knows and is not fooled. The question is, do you truly know what is heart smart and able to keep you in good standing with our Father today? God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:5-7 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. (6) For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. (7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. (KJV)
Listen to a person talk and it only takes a few minutes or less to hear what realm they are operating in, and what their priorities in life truly are. We have been talking this week about the things of God which are spiritual, and the things of man which only deal with the physical realm. Once you are born anew into the realm of the Spirit it takes a daily dose of prayer and the word of God to keep your mind renewed on the things of God, or else one will fall back into the things of this fallen realm looking for peace and fulfillment in things the Lord has asked you to let go of. The mind is the battle ground for the believer because that is where they will either hold God to be true and man the liar, or they will fall into the category of where man tells God that He is the liar because of simple unbelief in His word. Romans 8:8-10 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. (9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (10) And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (KJV) So what do you think? What is your mind being filled with today? If your priority is in this realm and pleasing those of this fallen one, then it will not be pleasing to God. If you don’t have the Spirit of Christ and a working knowledge of the spiritual realm of the Son of God, then you are none of His. Are you listening to the good news of the gospel of Christ, or are you spending all your time caught up in the news of the world which is old news and leads to a dead end to those stuck in it? With an election year coming upon us, and so many promises of liberty and freedom, in the end no matter what man tries to accomplish in the flesh as long as there is still mans’ fallen lower nature ruling these people, things will continue to spiral downward until the Lord returns and sets things in His order. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. (15) But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. (16) For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. (KJV) The mind is a terrible thing to waste; and what a waste it will be to those that find out what they had access to and how they neglected the gift of God, and ended up settling for some cheap imitation of the devil. Christ in you is the only hope of glory. So the more you step out and operate in His realm, the more you will think on the things that He does and truly be an imitator of Him and not of man. Christ is the Son of the living God, and so are you if you continue in the faith grounded and settled in the things of the Spirit, not letting your outward senses rule and dictate your outcome, but rather allow His word to accomplish the things that are pleasing in God’s sight. So how do you see things today, at this moment? Are you looking at life and expecting the best, confident your outcome is victorious and complete knowing you have done all to stand in the things of God, or are you still coming up short and frustrated because you are still leaning to your own understanding, and limiting God? Philippians 4:7-8 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) Do you desire to keep this peace of God working in your life? Then what are you meditating on today? Do you see victory and confidence in your walk the way Christ Jesus was able to walk, or are you thinking the worst and just hoping someday it might happen, or some people have all the luck? By the way, that word luck should not be a part of a Christian’s vocabulary, which sad to say still is. The word luck means chance, and leaves one on iffy ground rather than operating in the blessings of God which are a sure thing. So if you are waiting for a lucky break to come along in your life, the only break you will end up with is between you and your heavenly Father; trying to serve a spiritual God on fleshly terms and conditions which are not on His turf. Keep your mind out of the gutter, and keep it in the heavenly realm (verse 8) if you wish to get the desired results you have prayed for. 1 Peter 4:1-2 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; (2) That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. (KJV) When an army goes into a battle zone they make sure ahead of time that they are prepared and armed for the situation so that they can protect themselves. With the access to the things of God which He has provided us, why would you enter your day not taking the time to arm yourself also? The devil and his workers are still launching fiery darts so that they can inflame our lower nature, and try to get our old lusts burning again. Like with wildfires, the fire department will stay around and keep dousing the hot spots so that they don’t flare up again and cause more death and destruction. The same holds true in the spiritual realm, our shield of faith which is kept up and running by the renewing of the mind will continue to keep those darts quenched with living waters. Romans 12:1-2 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (KJV) There are a lot of talkers, who claim to be of God and know Him, but they act just like the people of this world, and are still stuck in the realm of the flesh because they haven’t renewed their mind with the things of God. It takes one to know one; so if you want to act like a man of God then you need to get to know One personally so that you can break free from this fallen realm and operate in a higher dimension of the Spiritual one. If you don’t have the mind of Christ then you are none of His, and unable to walk in the Spirit. It’s a God thing, and it is available to any that are willing to forsake the things of this life and walk in the things of His. God bless and expect the best because you serve the best. Have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. My dearly loved brethren…
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Spirit, who dwelleth in you. (2Tim 1:13-14) Let no man dispise thy youth, but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1Tim 4:12) Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness, and be content with such things as you have; for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5) Do all things without murmurings and disputing: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the Sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life, that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, neither labored in vain. (Philippians 2:14-16) (KJV) Think on these; and keep your mind renewed continually, that you may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God in your life. God bless and have a prosperous day in Christ Jesus our Lord. |
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