"Drifting Or On Course?"

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  Jeremiah 29:11

Once again the words of an old hymn have been on my mind this morning:  "Without Him I could do nothing.  Without Him I'd surely fail.  Without Him I would be drifting.  Like a ship without a sail."

"Without Jesus I would be drifting like a ship without a sail."  This explains some people's lives.  They never seem to be going anywhere.  They are always spinning their wheels.  They lack direction.  They lack purpose.  They are just drifting through life.  Never doing anything, other than existing. 

The problem is they don't have Jesus to pilot their ship/lives.  Without Jesus we can't get on course.  We will always be just drifting through life.  We will be drifting wherever the wind of feelings, the wind of popular opinion, the wind of adversity, the wind of popularity, the wind of social acceptance, the wind pleasure, the wind of fads, and so on takes us.  The wind controls us.  It "blows" us aimlessly through life.  

Jesus answers the basic questions of life--- who am I? why am I here? what is life all about?  When Jesus takes control of our lives, He gives us direction.  We find our way.  Our lives have meaning.  They have purpose.  There is a plan for them.  Jesus  will speak to the wind that is blowing us here and there and everywhere to be still.  With Jesus in our lives we are no longer at the mercy of the wind to blow us where it will.  He is like the "motor" on the boat that gives it power to get on course and stay on course. 

Have a great day.  Are you drifting through life without direction and purpose?  Then you need Jesus.

"Without Him"

Without Him I could do nothing
Without Him I'd surely fail
Without Him I would be drifting
Like a ship without a sail

Without Him I would be dying
Without Him I'd be enslaved
Without Him life would be worthless
But with Jesus thank God I'm saved

Oh Jesus, oh Jesus
Do you know Him today
Please don't turn Him away
Oh Jesus, my Jesus
Without Him how lost I would be
Without Him how lost I would be

"Knocking At The Doors"

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."  Revelation 3:20

When Jesus says that He is standing at the door and knocking, He doesn't mean that He is standing at the front door of your physical home.  He is talking about standing at the door of your heart and knocking on the door of you life.  He is desiring to gain access.  If you notice, He is knocking.  He isn't barging in.  He isn't picking the lock.  He isn't kicking the door down.  He isn't coming on in without you opening the door and inviting Him in.  He is knocking and waiting for you to open it and allow Him to come in. 

Have you opened the door to your life/heart and invited Him in?  If you have, does He have free access to every "room" in your heart?  Or are there doors that are still closed to Him?  There are many "doors" in our hearts/lives and He is knocking on them waiting to gain access. 

It can be illustrated like this-- there are many rooms in our hearts and each room has a door, and on each door there is a label that tells what room it is.  There is a "room" in our hearts/lives that is labeled- "my plans".  There is one that is labeled-- "private pain".  There is one that is labeled-- "my agenda".  And so on.  He is knocking on each of those doors because He wants access and liberty to do some "house cleaning", "rearranging", "discarding", "renewal" and "renovation" in your life. 

What "room" is He standing at the door and knocking on?  It could be the room of fear, discouragement, illness, confusion, pride, self-will, ambition, etc.  Whichever  room it is, He is desiring to gain access into, let Him.  When He finishes, the room (that area of your life) will be perfect.

Have a great day.  Jesus is standing at the door, and doors, of your heart desiring access.  Will you open the door and let Him in?

"A Meal Of Words"

"Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts."  Jeremiah 15:16

I awoke this morning to another hymn going through my thoughts-- "Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life; Beautiful words, wonderful words, Wonderful words of life." 

We all want to "hear a word".  We want someone to speak kind, encouraging, loving, edifying words to us.  But that doesn't always happen.  Some words are cruel, unkind, negative, condemning, attacking, hurtful, mean, hateful, and so on.

Did you know that words are like a meal?  The prophet said he found God's words and "ate" them.  He described them as a joy.  The writer of Psalms described God's word as sweet to the taste; even sweeter than honey.  ("How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" Psalm 119:103)

If God's word is like a "meal" to our spirit, then the other words we hear, and are spoken to us, are like meals as well.  Some of you have been eating, dining and even feasting on words that are anything but good and pleasant. 

When negative words, hurtful words, the words that we described earlier are spoken to us, they make us feel really bad.  Why?  For the same reason that eating spoiled food effects our stomachs.  These words hurt our hearts, emotions and spirit. 

I want to encourage you this morning to stop eating these words.  Stop letting someone's negative words, their condemning words, their cruel words get into your "system"-- your heart.  Stop letting them feed you.  Instead, constantly eat on the Lord's sweet, wonderful words of life.  When a meal of bad words is set before you, refuse it.  Don't "eat" it-- that means "don't receive them".  Instead, receive God's word of hope, peace, grace, love and life.

Have a great day.  Stop eating hurtful, negative words that others are serving you.  Eat God's sweet words of life. 

"Your Support Team"

"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge."  2 Timothy 4:16

In our Christian walk we will often have to stand alone.  We won't always have another person to stand beside us.  I have seen too many people come to Christ then "fall by the way side" because they had no one to support them.  They had no one in their family-- their spouse, their parent, their children, their sibling-- that would help support them and walk with them in their Christianity.

It is good to have someone else to walk with you and encourage you in your faith.  The Bible says that two walking together are better than one because if one falls the other can help him get up.  Jesus even sent the disciples out two by two.  We do need each other, but we tend to put too much emphasis on having another person's help.  We put too much trust and confidence in the arm of flesh.  We are always trying to find someone that will support us.  And if we don't have someone else we don't think we can make it.

You may not have a flesh and blood support system to help you in your walk with the Lord, but that doesn't mean you can't still live the Christian life.  You are too busy looking to people to support you when you already have the greatest "support team" with you all the time--- God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.  They are with you.  They never leave you nor forsake you.  They are always there-- good times and bad times.  They can, and will, impart to you the grace, strength, help, wisdom, power, and anything else you need to walk and live a life of Christian victory.  Even if there in not one single person on earth who supports you, they are constantly supporting you.  And through them and by them you can make it. 

Have a great day.  Your help and support doesn't come from people.  It comes from the Lord.  He is your support.

"Feelings Aren't Always True"

"Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father."10:29

Do you ever feel like God doesn't care about you?  Do you ever feel like He has forgotten you?  Do you ever wonder where He is in your life?  Do you ever feel like He has abandoned you?  Do you ever feel like He doesn't love you?

Our feelings are powerful.  But feelings can be fickle.  Feelings can lie to you.  Your own feelings can deceive you.  Our feelings may be real, but they are not always reality.  They are not always true or truth. 

If you are feeling like that person above-- that God doesn't care about you, or love you, or has forgotten you-- your feelings are lying to you.  They are misleading you.  He does care about you.  He says He does, and His Word always "trumps" your feelings. 

In the verse above we see just how much He does care.  It says that He notices even when one sparrow, who was only valued at a farthing, falls to the ground.  I looked it up and a farthing was a 1/4 of a penny.  That means it takes four farthings to make one penny.  That is not very valuable.  But, nevertheless, the Lord has His eye on that sparrow.  He has His eye on you because to Him you are more valuable than a sparrow.  That sparrow cost 1/4 of a cent.  You cost the precious, priceless blood of His Only Begotten Son Jesus. 

Don't let your feelings convince you of something that is not real.  God does love you and care about you.  Listen to what He is telling you, not what your feelings are saying.

Have a great day.  Your feelings will tell you one thing, but believe what God is telling you instead.   

"The Burning Word"

"And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?"  Luke 24:17,32

After the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus, two of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus.  They were talking among themselves about what had happened over the last few days.  Their hearts were sad, bewildered, confused, ill at ease, concerned, wondering, doubting, fearful and trying to sort it all out.  Then Jesus comes and joins them.  They didn't know it was Him at first. 

They shared with Him the events of the last few days.  Then He begin to expound the scriptures to them.  They invited Him home with them and there they ate bread together.  After Jesus revealed Himself to them, He vanished.  Both of these men acknowledged that their "hearts burned within them" as He spoke and opened up the scriptures to them.

My point this morning is this-- when we are feeling the same way these men felt, the scriptures have the power to lift us up, comfort us, give us peace, courage, strength and help us get refocused on truth.  

We spend so much time running here and there looking for our answers when it is found in God's Word.  Or we spend our time doing nothing but "wallowing" in our situation when there is an answer that awaits us in God's Word. 

After hearing the Word/scriptures these men were changed.  Their hearts were strengthened.  Hope began to burn within them.  Peace begin to burn within them.  Comfort begin to burn within them.  The Word began to burn out the fear, confusion and hopelessness that had come into their hearts.  The Word had changed them.  The Word had lifted them up and gave them answers that made sense of all they had witnessed and experienced.  The Word of God will do the same for you.

Have a great day.  The Word of God will give us all we need, and answer every question we have, and change us with renewed hope.     

For further reading:  Luke 24 

"Bullying Defined"

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."  Ephesians 6:12

Bullying has become a main topic over the last few years, although it has been around since the beginning of time.  I want to bring some insight and exposure this morning to what bullying truly is.

Bullying is an avenue through which to intimidate someone else.  The dictionary defines intimidate as:  frighten or overawe (someone), especially in order to make them do what one wants.  When you intimidate someone through bullying, or any other form, it is a form of manipulation.  The dictionary defines manipulate as:  control or influence (a person or situation) cleverly, unfairly, or unscrupulously.

The root of bullying is evil.  It is manipulation.  Manipulation is a form of witchcraft.  It is deceptive.  It uses "emotional power" over another in order to gain power and control over them.  

Bullying is not the only form that intimidation and manipulation come in, there are others.  But if you are being bullied.  If you are being intimidated.  If you are being coerced into doing something against your will, then someone else is trying to control you.  They are trying to impose their own selfish will and desire on you.  Don't let them.  That is how the devil operates and he is using them-- we don't wrestle against flesh and blood-- to try to steal, kill and destroy you.

Bullying, intimidation, manipulation, witchcraft is a strong and powerful tool that the devil uses.  But it is not stronger than the saving power of Jesus Christ.  He destroyed the works of the devil at the cross.  You don't have to yield to that "bullying".  You don't have to become its "slave".  You don't have to fall "prey".  You, through the power of Christ, can overcome.  If you are a born-again child of God, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  You have been given power and authority over all the powers of the enemy.  Fear is the "big guns" that the enemy uses in bullying (intimidation and manipulation).  You don't have to fear.  God has not given you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

So stand fast in the freedom you have in Christ Jesus.  Don't give in to the bullying, intimidation and manipulation.  Hold fast to the Lord and His promises.  Be strong in the Lord and the power of His might.  And remember that Jesus already defeated the enemy on your behalf.

Have a great day.  Bullying is evil.  It is manipulation, which is a form of witchcraft.  You have power over this evil through Jesus Christ and don't have to become its victim. 

"Speaking"

"For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith."  Mark 11:23

The Kingdom of God is a kingdom of "speaking".  In the beginning the Father spoke everything into existence.  "Let there be".  He calls those things that are not as through they are-- through speaking.  He uses speaking as an instrument to save the lost.  "How will they hear without a preacher?".  When Jesus was on earth, He taught us, through His own example, how to apply kingdom principles on earth.  One of the things He taught us was how to "speak".  He taught us how to "speak" to circumstances, situations, problems, spiritual  principalities, powers of darkness, temptations and spirits that we encounter. 

Jesus spoke in authority to demons to come out of people.  He spoke to a fig tree to whither and die.  He spoke to a raging sea to be calm and still.  He spoke to the devil's temptations in the wilderness.  He spoke to sickness and disease commanding them to leave peoples' bodies.  If He, by example, taught us to do so, then we should be following His example.  We should be doing some speaking as well. 

When a mountain comes in your life, you can't be quiet.  When a fire rages around you, you can't be quiet.  When the storm is beating upon you, you can't be quiet.  You have to open your mouth and speak to it.  You can't be lazy and passive, you have to speak God's Word and authority over it.  If you don't, the mountain will not be removed.  If you don't, the fire will rage on.  If you don't, the storm will not stop.  You need to be speaking God's Word over your circumstances; over your sickness; over your wayward children; over temptations and besetting sin; over demons that are tormenting you; over fear that has come; over destruction that is knocking at your door; over broken relationships; over bondage and over everything else the enemy of your soul is throwing at you. 

When Jesus was getting ready to go to the cross, Peter was being influenced by the devil to try to stop Jesus.  Jesus had to speak to the devil's words-- "Get thee behind Me, satan".  You and I are to learn from what Jesus did so that we will know how to combat satan when he comes with his manipulations, schemes, devices, accusations, temptations and threats.  We have to speak to him/it.  The Word of God is a quick, sharp, two-edged sword.  It is our sword of the Spirit-- the Word of God-- that we overcome by.  "They overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and the Word of their testimony."

Have a great day.  The Kingdom of God is a "speaking" kingdom.  We overcome through speaking.  

Scripture references: 
Romans 4:17; 10:14
Matthew 16:23
Hebrews 4:12
Ephesians 6:17
Revelation 12:11
Genesis 1:3

"Shush Them"

"And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up."  Mark 4:4

Over the last several weeks I have been having a "revival" of the word of God in my spirit concerning healing.  I have been sharing, teaching and admonishing others in the fact that we have a covenant of healing, a promise of healing, healing is the children's bread and how to receive the healing that has been provided for us through the cross.  Well, for the last week my body has been attacked in three different physical areas.  I want to encourage you this morning that when you start standing on the promises of God (whichever area it may be in), when you start stretching your faith in that area, and especially when you are encouraging others to do the same, you will get tried and tested in it.... so don't think that it is odd.

What is happening is the "fowls of the air" are trying to steal that word from you before it has a chance to produce or activate faith in you.  If they can "snatch it" away before it takes "root", you will not believe for it, receive it or progress any further in your faith in that area.  They come to stop you!  And they try to stop you in the area you are getting "stronger" and more determined to receive in. 

So what do we do?  When birds (in the natural) come to eat up the fruit on your fruit trees, when they come to devour your garden, what do you do?  You "shush" them away.  You don't let them stay.  You wave your hands, or something else, at them to make them leave.  We have to "shush" the fowls away also.  The word shush means:  to tell or signal (someone) to be silent.  So, you tell the "fowls" to be "silent" through the Word of God.  You keep strowing the seed of the Word. You keep saying the Word.  You take your authority in Jesus Name to make them be still and flee.  You do this by submitting yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee.  You do the same thing that Jesus did to the storm-- you command it to be still.  Above all things you don't quit standing on the Word.  You don't give up.  You don't be silent.  You keep sowing no matter what it looks or feels like, no matter how many fowls are coming to devour, even if it looks like it is falling by the way side, keep on casting seeds-- some will eventually take root if the fowls aren't there to devour them.  And they won't be if you will keep "shushing" them away.

Have a great day.  Shush and command those fowls to leave.        
 

"Be Still And You Will Know"

"Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth." 46:10

Sometimes we read this verse as a two part command:  1) be still, 2) know that I am God.  We should do both.  But I believe it is one command and the result of applying it.  "Be still and you will know that I am God". 

If we aren't "still" long enough, if we won't be still and wait on the Lord, if we aren't being still and giving Him a chance to work on our behalf, how will we truly know that He is God?  How will we see His greatness, His power, His sovereignty, His miracles, His excellence and His might displayed?  We won't because He has not been given the opportunity to prove Himself-- we have been too busy trying to do it ourselves.

When we are busy trying to find our own solutions, when we are working at fixing our own problems, when we are constantly trying to make something happen, when we are consumed with working things out, then we aren't, can't and won't know who He is.  We won't know that He is able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask or think.  We won't know that with Him nothing is too difficult or impossible.  We won't know that He has all power in heaven and in earth.  We won't know that He is mighty to save and that He sets captives free, opens prison doors, reconciles, restores, redeems, empowers, heals, delivers, strengthens, brings down mountains and calms raging storms. 

2 Chronicles 20:17 tells us to be still and see the salvation of the Lord.  If we are busy trying to make our own way, then we will miss seeing His saving power and we will miss getting a greater revelation of Who this awesome and amazing God Who loves us is and how great and mighty His power is.  In other words we need to -- be still, sit down, shut up, get out of the way, move over and see what He can and will do.

Have a great day.  Be still and stop trying to do it yourself, and you will know who God is and what He can do.     

"Look At The Good Things"

"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits."  Psalm 103:2

I was talking with one of my customers the other day.  I found out that her husband passed away a couple of years ago.  What we were talking about was the fact that someone has recently stolen all her yard equipment-- including shovels, rakes, weed eater, etc.-- and she was on her way to try to buy some more.  She said that someone had tried on another occasion to steal her lawn mower but couldn't.  At the end of our conversation, she said that everything would be all right because she had plenty to be thankful for and that there was more good in her life than bad.

Her words were very encouraging, because even though she was a widow, on a fixed income, was being robbed, had to spend extra to replace what was stolen, she still focused more on the blessings of what she had than what she didn't have, or the bad things that she was going through.

How many times do we focus on the bad and forget the good?  How many times do we focus on what we don't have instead of what we do have?  How often do we look at the negative and forget the positive?  How many times do we complain about our lack and forget to be grateful for our plenty?  Do we complain about what is being "done to us" instead of what is being "done for us"?

If we woke up this morning, we should be thankful.  If we didn't go to bed hungry last night, we shouldn't be complaining.  If we have clothes on our back and shoes on our feet, clean water to drink, a place to lay our head at night, shelter from storms, and so on, we should be counting our blessings instead of murmuring and complaining about the bad that is happening in our lives.

Have a great day.  Bad things will happen to us, but don't forget about all the good things that we have. 

"Keep On Persevering"

"Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints."  Ephesians 6:18

The other day when I was at the nursing home for "church" service, I had to close the door entering into the room to give us some privacy and cut down on the noise.  When I tried to close the door, it wouldn't close.  There were boxes in the way.  I had to move a box.  It still wouldn't close.  I moved the box over some more.  Still it didn't close.  I had to try again.  Finally, it closed.  The Lord impressed on me that sometimes you just need to persevere and not give up in order to accomplish the desired task. 

Too many times we throw in the towel, throw up our hands, just simply quit or give up instead of persevering until we "finish".  There are four things, in my opinion, that cause us to give up and quit. 
1)  A negative attitude.  It is that, "I can't" spirit.  We don't think we can, so we don't. 
2)  Impatience.  If it doesn't happen the first time we try, we get impatient and give up. 
3)  Discouragement.  "I have tried and it never happens."
4)  Distractions.  Something else captures our attention and we lose focus of what we are trying to do.

We must guard against these.  Especially when it comes to our spiritual life.  We must combat them.  We must seek the Lord's strength and grace to persevere and not give up.  We will always have to cast down negative thoughts-- but cast them down.  We will always have to war against impatience-- but don't stop warring-- persevere even in your warring.  Discouragement will always try to come and remind you of past attempts and failures-- but don't listen.  Distractions will be at every turn-- especially when you get determined to preserve.  But stay focused and single minded.  

Remember this when facing the things that would stop you from persevering-- you can do all things through Christ which strengthens you; the Lord will empower you to do what you need to do; you don't persevere by yourself-- the Lord is with you; everything that you need to continue is made available to you through Jesus.

Have a great day.  Don't stop persevering.

"Moving Heaven And Earth"

"At the brightness that was before him his thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of fire."  Psalm 18:12

You need to take time to read this whole Psalm.  The Psalmist is crying out to the Lord to save him from the terrible distress he was in.  Most of the chapter after his cry reveals the Lord's response to his cry for help. 

As you read it, you will see that the Lord moved heaven and earth to reach this child of His.  He let nothing stand in the way, nothing come against Him and His help, and nothing gain any victory.

You know, this is just what He did for us through the cross.  We were in distress-- sin and death-- and the Lord moved heaven and earth to redeem us.  He combated the forces of darkness.  He brought low principalities and powers.  He took the sting out of death.  He took the victory away from the grave.  He defeated the enemy of our soul.  He rescued us from the horrible pit and miry clay.  He put all things under His feet.  He shook the foundations of the earth, He delivered us from the power of sin, and He rose victorious over the grave. 

He did that for you and me.  Are you still bound by sin?  Is death-- spiritual death and separation from God-- still taunting you and holding you in its grip?  You can be free from its power.  Jesus has taken care of it for you.

Are you where the Psalmist was?  Is the enemy pursuing you?  Are you being swallowed up by darkness and the "sorrows of hell"?  Is calamity rising up to overtake you?  Just as the Lord did for the Psalmist, He will do for you.  He has already moved heaven and earth once for you at the cross.  He loves you enough to do whatever He has to in order to keep you, help you and deliver you now and give you renewed victory. 

Have a great day.  The Lord has already moved heaven and earth for you, and will again in your time of need. 

"Comparing The Great God"

"Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness."  Psalm 48:1

Another song came to mind this morning.  It was the song, "How Great Thou Art".  I think we tend to forget just how great the Lord truly is.  We forget because we try to reduce Him to the level of men through comparison.  We look at people and think this is how He is.  Let's make a comparison this morning between man and God. 

The Lord God has always been-- He had no beginning and has no end.  He was there before the foundation of the earth was laid.  Man come into existence at creation.  He did not exist until God made Him from the dust of the earth.  Man was made-- from dust that God created.  God was not made.  Man was created-- he is not a creator.  God is the Creator.  Man is limited in what he can do.  God is unlimited.  Man is weak.  God is strong.  Man gets tired.  God does not.  Man is not all-powerful.  God is Omni-Potent.  Man's knowledge is limited.  God is Omniscient-- all knowing.  Man can't count the number of the stars.  God can and calls each one by name.  Man treats disease through science, medicine and education.  God heals diseases through His word and provision.  Man can only be in one place at one time.  God is Omni-Present.  He is present everywhere all at the same time.  Man can't read your thoughts.  God knows your thoughts even before you think them.  Man can't measure the size of the universe.  The Lord God measures it in the palm of His hand.  Man can't send manna from heaven, water out of a rock, part a sea, quench the fire of a furnace, shut the mouths of hungry lions, bring fire down from heaven, or speak into nothing and make everything.  Man can't answer prayers, heal the sick, raise the dead, cast out devils, do miracles unless God does them through him. Man doesn't always keep his promises.  God is faithful as promised.  Man will die.  God will never die. 

These are just a few of the comparisons, I could go on and on.  We must guard against looking at the awesome, indescribably great God the same way we look at people.  He is not a person.  He is God.  And He is Great!  Today, meditate on how great He is.

Have a great day.  Have you reduced your view of God to that of a mere man?  Do you compare Him to people?  There is no comparison. 

For further reading:
Job 38, 39     

"Your Knowledge"

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."  Hosea 4:6

Many Christians are living so far below the rights, privileges and inheritance they have through Jesus Christ.  Why is this?  Because they simply don't know what He has provided for them.  Why?  Because they aren't seeking to find out.  They aren't getting into God's Word to find out what it says and what He has given them. 

We have become spiritually lazy in seeking out the Lord's provisions and promises that are found in His Word.  We have laid back and let someone else find out for us.  Then we let them tell us.  We don't, or won't, take the time it takes to find out for ourselves. 

I was talking with someone the other day and we were reminiscing about when we were growing up in church and how we used to have Bible drills quiet often.  A verse would be called out and we would have to find it as quickly as possible.  The first one to find it would stand and read it out loud.  This may sound "old fashioned" but at least we knew where the scriptures were and what they said.  Most Christians nowadays can't even name the Books of the Bible.  If it wasn't for a Bible app on their phone they would be lost.  Or if, in church, it isn't put on the screen they couldn't find it. 

I am not criticizing, I am warning and encouraging you to get in God's Word and find out what it says-- for yourself.  If you don't know, the enemy can destroy you.  He can depress and oppress you.  He can steal from your life.  He can rob you of what you have because you don't know what you have.  He can trick you, confuse you and deceive you because you don't know the truth-- God's Word is truth.  I am not giving him credit this morning, I am just telling you that he is out to destroy you and if you don't know what is available to you, he can cause a lot of problems in your life. 

Have a great day.  How much knowledge do you have about what is yours through Jesus?

"The Harvest Field"

"Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest."  John 4:35

 

As I was praying about what the will of the Father was concerning the devotional this morning, the first line of a song came to my thoughts.  It was this-- "My house is full, but My fields are empty". 

 

We think that Christianity is only about us-- living our lives for Christ.  It is also about being a witness for Christ.  It is about being a witness to others about what He has done in our lives.  It is about sharing the good news of the gospel with other people.  It is about going into the harvest field of the world and bringing others to Christ. 

 

I am concerned that we have reduced Christianity, and church, to nothing more than a social club for the "saints".  We fellowship with each other, we get together with one another, we hang out in our own little world, and forget that we are to go outside of the four walls and compel others to come to Christ.  Don't get me wrong, we should fellowship with each other.  We need to gather together.  We need to be with people of like faith.  But we can't forget our commission given to us by our "Commander in Chief", Jesus Christ Himself.

 

Look around you, the harvest field is ripe.  There are people in your class room, on your job, in the marketplace, in your neighborhood and in your family who are ready to accept the Lord's free gift of salvation but they are waiting for someone to come and "pick" them.

 

Have a great day.  Are you going into the harvest field, or staying in the house?

"Ask And Abide"

"If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you." John 15:7

There is a wonderful promise in this verse -- you shall ask what you will and it shall be done.  But there is a condition attached to it-- if you abide in the Lord and His words abide in you, then you can ask and receive. 

Asking whatever you will is not a "blank check" as so many people think.  They think all they have to do is ask the Lord for anything and everything their heart desires and He will automatically give it to them.  Not so. 

You can't just read the word, visit the word from time to time, listen to it only in church or grab out a scripture in time of need and expect to have what you are asking for granted.  You have to be "living" in it.  Or yet still, it has to be living in you.  Then you can ask and it will be given.  Because you will know what to ask for according to His will and not your own selfish- fleshly desires.  Abiding in the word and the word abiding in you separates the difference between the two.  You have the promise of receiving because if the word is abiding in you, then you won't be asking anything that is outside of God's will.  You will know what is acceptable to Him because the word that is in you will let you know.  When it does, and you pray according, your prayers will be answered because they are now His desires you are praying.  Therefore, you won't be asking amiss.

So many people are unsure about what God's will is when they pray.  If you are abiding in the word and the word is abiding in you, it will tell you what is and isn't the will of God.

I hope this is making sense.  You can have complete and total assurance of answered prayer when you are praying according to His will.  And you will be praying according to His will when His word is living in you and you are living in it because you will know whether you are or not. 

Have a great day.  Abide in the word and let it abide in you and you shall have what you ask. 

"Who Is This King?"

"Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle."  Psalm 24:8

Who is this King of glory?  I think that sometimes we forget who the Lord truly is. 
But on the other hand, do we really know who He is.  We don't always act like we do.  We act like the disciples who were with Jesus in the boat when the storm arose.  Even though they had spent day and night with Him for months, even though they had seen the miracles that He performed, and even though they heard His words, they still asked, "Who is this that even the storms obey Him?"

We can know about the Lord and still not know Him.  We can know all the Sunday School stories, hear the sermons in church, know that Jesus died on the cross and still only know Him from a head knowledge.  Many think they know Him.  Many will stand before Him one day and profess that they know Him.  But they don't. 

Those who do truly know Him-- they have fellowship and communion with Him daily through worship, prayer and praise-- sometimes act like they don't know Him.  What I am referring to is that when they have a need they act like He can't take care of it.  When they have a problem, they act like it is too big for Him to handle.  When they are facing a mountain, they act like He can't remove it.  They run here and there and every where else but to Him.  They forget, that He is the King of Glory, who is strong and mighty.  They forget that with Him nothing is impossible.  They forget that the earth was created by Him and held together by Him.  They forget that He is the storm calmer, the fire quencher, the deliverer, the healer, the Savior, the redeemer, the One to whom all power in heaven and earth belongs.  They forget that at His name every knee will bow and tongue will confess that He is Lord of Lords and King of kings. 

Do you know Him?  Do you really know Him or just think you do?  Do you know Him but when trouble comes your way you forget who He is?  You forget Him and replace Him with something else?  Do you forget that He is more than able to take care of anything that arises in your life?

Have a great day.  Who is this King of Glory?  Do you know?  Have you forgotten?

"Front Of The Line?"

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:33

It seems like recently I have written several of the devotions on Jesus being our answer.  This morning will be the same.  Because He is the answer to all of life's problems and questions.  He always has been and always will be. 

Sadly, it appears that as we get further into the "end times" the less and less we acknowledge Him as our answer.  He is getting pushed into the background, and not just by the world, but by the church as well.  We have begun to turn to the arm of flesh, psychology and self-help as our answer.  We have developed this "take a number" attitude where Jesus is concerned.  We try everything else first and then if it still doesn't work out or we still can't solve it, we call on Him. 

You know, it can be pretty frustrating to go in a business and have to take a number and they will wait on you in the order in which your number is.  It isn't as bad when your number is the next one in line but when you are at the back of a long line it can wear on your patience.

We tend to put Jesus at the back of a long line of other resources instead of at the front.  I wonder how He feels about that?  I am in no way suggesting that Jesus gets frustrated or impatient.  No, He doesn't, not at all.  But I will tell you how He does feel-- He patiently waits for us to give up doing it our way and finally come to Him.  But while He is waiting, He is longing to help you, longing to meet your need, desirous that you come to Him, waiting with open arms and compassion, yet allowing you the choice.

Where in line have you placed Jesus?  It is easy to say at the front.  We all hope that would be our answer.  We even convince ourselves that that is where He is-- at the front.  But is He?

Have a great day.  Jesus is your first answer.  Not the one that is left after you have tried everything else.     

"Recompense"

"Therefore hath the Lord recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight."  Psalm 18:24

Among the many things that the Lord does for us-- fights our battles, loads us with blessings, gives mercy and strength, walks with us, doesn't leave us, gives us power over the powers of the enemy, meets and supplies all our need, etc.-- He also recompenses us.  The word recompense means:  compensation or reward given for loss or harm suffered or effort made.  To make it plain and simple-- He rewards our faithfulness and He compensates us for our loss and suffering.   

Everything we receive from the Lord is by grace-- it is unearned.  But there are two sides to grace.  One side is compensation.  He compensates us for our loss and suffering.  This is something we don't earn or deserve.  It is strictly given by grace, and mercy.  This is what happens when we come to Christ for salvation.  He restores (compensates) all that the enemy and sin stole from us at the time of the fall of Adam-- eternal life, communion and fellowship with Him, righteousness, authority in the earth, and so on. 

The other side is that He rewards us when we have been faithful to Him, to His will, to His commands and instructions.  When we honor Him, when we obey Him, He causes His grace to reward us.  His grace causes us to eat the fat of the land through our obedience.  

Are you faithful?  God's grace will honor and reward it.  Are you suffering loss?  God's grace will recompense you.  

Have a great day.  The Lord is the recompenser.     

"Where Is God?"

"And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over."  2 Kings 2:14

"Where is the God of Elijah?"  Have you ever asked that question?  Where is the God who performed miracles through Elijah?  We read about such miracles as the meal and oil multiplying; a young man raised from the dead; the prayer to shut up heaven so that it did not rain and then the prayer to open heaven and bring the rain; calling fire down from heaven, etc.  The Lord did all these miracles.  Where are they today?  Where is God today?  Where are His miracles today?  Why aren't we seeing today what He did then?

When Elijah was taken up in a chariot of fire, Elisha was left behind.  Elisha had stayed with Elijah until he was taken up into heaven.  Elisha had asked for a double portion of the anointing that Elijah had.  After they both crossed over the Jordan River on dry ground, Elijah was taken up.  Elisha took up Elijah's mantle and turned to go back to the other side of the Jordan.  When he got to the river, he said the words above- "Where is the God of Elijah?".  Then he took the mantle and parted the river and crossed.

I do not believe this was a question of wonder and doubt for Elisha.  I believe his question was actually a call to the Lord.  I believe it was a question that answered a question as well-- "You want to know where the God of Elijah is?"  By striking the water with the mantle he was telling us-- He is right here.  He is still with us.  He didn't go up in the chariot of fire.  The Lord wasn't taken away into heaven.  He hasn't left us. 

When you are going through a difficulty and need God's help-- even a miracle, and wonder where He is, remember this:  He is right where He has always been.  He is still doing miracles.  He is still healing the sick.  He is still casting out devils.  He is still setting captives free.  He is still doing marvelous things.  He is still showing His great power and might.  He still sits on the throne.  He hasn't left or gone anywhere.  He is still here with us and well able to do exceeding, abundantly above all we can ask of think. 

Like I said earlier, this question was not a question of doubt for Elisha.  He knew that the Lord was there.  He called upon Him to do the same miracle He had just done for Elijah because he knew just where God was.

Have a great day.  Where is the God of Elijah?  Where He has always been.