"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." John 8:32
If the truth makes us free, then why are so many who hear the truth of God's word still not free? Freedom comes as we receive the truth. It doesn't just come automatically. It doesn't come if you reject it. It's like soap. Soap has the power to cleanse. If you are dirty, you can take soap and water and wash away the dirt, grim, perspiration and impurities on your body, but if you don't "apply" it to your body you will remain dirty. It's not the soap's inability to clean you, it's your lack of use.
The Pharisees are a prime example of this. They had the truth- they had the written word of God. But they also had the living word of God. Jesus walked and talk with them but yet they still stayed in bondage- bondage to religious traditions, to pride and arrogance, to deception and self righteousness. Jesus, who is THE Truth, walked among them, testifying of God's word and power to set free and they still remained in bondage because they rejected what He said in exchange for their own teachings and and sinful desires.
God's word is powerful, it can and will set captives free, it will bring us into liberty, it will show us the way to eternal and abundant life, but only as we receive it and apply it to our lives. If we don't, then we will remain in bondage, we will believe a lie and we won't walk in freedom.
Have a great day. Truth received and applied sets us free- "Thy Word is Truth".
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
"Job's Wife"
"Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die." Job 2:9
When you read the story of Job, did you ever wonder why God didn't allow Job's wife to be taken from him? After all, he lost all his livestock, his servants, his children and his health- he lost everything except his wife. Of all the things that the Lord could have left him with, why did He leave a wife that was anything less than edifying, why leave him with someone who was going to discourage him by encouraging him to curse God and die? Why didn't He at least leave him with someone who could help comfort him, someone who would minister to him, someone who would pray with him and help lift his burden?
The answer is not clear until you look at the end of the book. "He had also seven sons and three daughters." (Job 42:1) When God restored everything that Job lost, the restoration included children. Let me ask you a question: How was God going to give Job back children without someone to bare those children? God kept Job's wife because she was the instrument through which part of Job's restoration and his blessing was going to come.
It makes me think about Paul's thorn in the flesh. Paul prayed for it's removal but God didn't remove it. What seemed as a "bad" thing to Paul was actually an instrument used by God to bring something greater into Paul's life.
Sometimes those things that we think are a "curse" in our life, sometimes those things that we think the Lord should take away, sometimes those things in our lives that look like they are against us, are actually the very thing that God is going to use to bring a blessing into our lives through. Job's wife was part of the restoration process. The thorn in Paul's flesh was an instrument to cause the power of Christ to rest upon him. That thing in your life that you think is a hindrance or obstacle to God's plan for your life may actually be part of the process to bring about God's plan for your life.
Have a great day. What looks like a curse, may actually be the thing that brings the blessing.
When you read the story of Job, did you ever wonder why God didn't allow Job's wife to be taken from him? After all, he lost all his livestock, his servants, his children and his health- he lost everything except his wife. Of all the things that the Lord could have left him with, why did He leave a wife that was anything less than edifying, why leave him with someone who was going to discourage him by encouraging him to curse God and die? Why didn't He at least leave him with someone who could help comfort him, someone who would minister to him, someone who would pray with him and help lift his burden?
The answer is not clear until you look at the end of the book. "He had also seven sons and three daughters." (Job 42:1) When God restored everything that Job lost, the restoration included children. Let me ask you a question: How was God going to give Job back children without someone to bare those children? God kept Job's wife because she was the instrument through which part of Job's restoration and his blessing was going to come.
It makes me think about Paul's thorn in the flesh. Paul prayed for it's removal but God didn't remove it. What seemed as a "bad" thing to Paul was actually an instrument used by God to bring something greater into Paul's life.
Sometimes those things that we think are a "curse" in our life, sometimes those things that we think the Lord should take away, sometimes those things in our lives that look like they are against us, are actually the very thing that God is going to use to bring a blessing into our lives through. Job's wife was part of the restoration process. The thorn in Paul's flesh was an instrument to cause the power of Christ to rest upon him. That thing in your life that you think is a hindrance or obstacle to God's plan for your life may actually be part of the process to bring about God's plan for your life.
Have a great day. What looks like a curse, may actually be the thing that brings the blessing.
Friday, October 3, 2008
"Stressed"
"A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones." Proverbs 17:22
I was talking with a dear sister in the Lord last night. She was sharing with me about how her body is going through lots of pain, it just seems as though her body is "breaking down"- she is having one physical problem after another. She also shared with me about the stress she is under at work. We have talked on several occasions and I have been amazed at what she is going through at work- the work load, the late hours, the criticism and hateful comments from fellow employees. I told her it was no wonder her body is manifesting all these physical problems-- a broken spirit dries the bones (produces death).
Stress will effect your body. We were not designed to carry the loads that we are being put under daily. God never intended us to have to shoulder the weight of the world. We should have peace, joy, tranquility surrounding us. Oh, I know that we have tribulations and problems in this life, but how much of it is "self inflicted"; how much can be avoided if we would make a few simple adjustments and cut out some unnecessary things that help put us under more stress?
I want to encourage you- as I did her- get out from under the stress. Let go of the "extra" as much as you possibly can. But the main thing I want to say is--- Praise, Praise, Praise! Get some praise music, turn it on, sit down, listen to it, and sing along with it, get your focus solely on the Lord. Let the praise of God renew your mind and refresh your body. The praise lifts your heart and spirit and actually puts "moisture" (life) back into your bones. Praise produces a merry heart (a light heart), and a merry heart is like a medicine.
Have a great day. Give the stress you are under a good does of praise.
I was talking with a dear sister in the Lord last night. She was sharing with me about how her body is going through lots of pain, it just seems as though her body is "breaking down"- she is having one physical problem after another. She also shared with me about the stress she is under at work. We have talked on several occasions and I have been amazed at what she is going through at work- the work load, the late hours, the criticism and hateful comments from fellow employees. I told her it was no wonder her body is manifesting all these physical problems-- a broken spirit dries the bones (produces death).
Stress will effect your body. We were not designed to carry the loads that we are being put under daily. God never intended us to have to shoulder the weight of the world. We should have peace, joy, tranquility surrounding us. Oh, I know that we have tribulations and problems in this life, but how much of it is "self inflicted"; how much can be avoided if we would make a few simple adjustments and cut out some unnecessary things that help put us under more stress?
I want to encourage you- as I did her- get out from under the stress. Let go of the "extra" as much as you possibly can. But the main thing I want to say is--- Praise, Praise, Praise! Get some praise music, turn it on, sit down, listen to it, and sing along with it, get your focus solely on the Lord. Let the praise of God renew your mind and refresh your body. The praise lifts your heart and spirit and actually puts "moisture" (life) back into your bones. Praise produces a merry heart (a light heart), and a merry heart is like a medicine.
Have a great day. Give the stress you are under a good does of praise.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
"You Have Power"
"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.." Hosea 4:6a
Oh, here we go again. I need to clear something up again this morning. I really get tired of hearing preachers tell us that if we really want power and authority we need to get their book, or we need to support their ministry, or we need to send them an offering. It is so sad that we have "swallowed" so much of what we are taught and don't know the truth for ourselves.
You don't have to do all the things they tell you to do in order to receive something that you already possess. They try to make you think that it is only for the "elite" few or they try to place so many conditions on you in order to receive this power. If you are born again, blood bought, a child of God then you have been given power and authority. You already possess it- you don't have to wait for them (some man) to give it to you. In the Garden of Eden God gave mankind dominion (reign, authority, power). Adam lost it through rebellion, but Jesus Christ got it back through obedience at the cross. Absolute authority belongs to Him only but He has delegated authority to His followers in order to carry out His work in the earth-- Jesus gave it to you. (Luke 10:19; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 29:18,19; Acts 1:8; Matt. 10:1)
Same way with the anointing. You don't have to have someone lay their hands on you to receive the anointing. You don't have to wait for some great name evangelist to impart an anointing to you. You don't have to wait to be called out or prophesied over to receive an anointing from God. You already have the anointing too. (1 John 2:20,27; 2 Cor. 1:21) The Anointed One (Christ Jesus) lives inside of you. You can't get much more anointed than that- although you can yield in greater degrees to the anointing that resides in you.
In the garden Adam and Eve believed the lie when the serpent said that if they ate they would become like god. The saddest part was that they were already like God. Not God, but like Him- formed in His image, having dominion over the earth, clothed in His glory, Adam even named the animals on God's behalf, walked on the same level with God and they were sinless and holy. They lost what they had because they didn't realize they already had it. The same is happening to us-- we are losing out waiting for someone to give us what we already have.
Have a great day. Start doing what God has called you to do and stop waiting for someone else to give you what you already possess through Christ.
Oh, here we go again. I need to clear something up again this morning. I really get tired of hearing preachers tell us that if we really want power and authority we need to get their book, or we need to support their ministry, or we need to send them an offering. It is so sad that we have "swallowed" so much of what we are taught and don't know the truth for ourselves.
You don't have to do all the things they tell you to do in order to receive something that you already possess. They try to make you think that it is only for the "elite" few or they try to place so many conditions on you in order to receive this power. If you are born again, blood bought, a child of God then you have been given power and authority. You already possess it- you don't have to wait for them (some man) to give it to you. In the Garden of Eden God gave mankind dominion (reign, authority, power). Adam lost it through rebellion, but Jesus Christ got it back through obedience at the cross. Absolute authority belongs to Him only but He has delegated authority to His followers in order to carry out His work in the earth-- Jesus gave it to you. (Luke 10:19; Matt. 16:19; Matt. 29:18,19; Acts 1:8; Matt. 10:1)
Same way with the anointing. You don't have to have someone lay their hands on you to receive the anointing. You don't have to wait for some great name evangelist to impart an anointing to you. You don't have to wait to be called out or prophesied over to receive an anointing from God. You already have the anointing too. (1 John 2:20,27; 2 Cor. 1:21) The Anointed One (Christ Jesus) lives inside of you. You can't get much more anointed than that- although you can yield in greater degrees to the anointing that resides in you.
In the garden Adam and Eve believed the lie when the serpent said that if they ate they would become like god. The saddest part was that they were already like God. Not God, but like Him- formed in His image, having dominion over the earth, clothed in His glory, Adam even named the animals on God's behalf, walked on the same level with God and they were sinless and holy. They lost what they had because they didn't realize they already had it. The same is happening to us-- we are losing out waiting for someone to give us what we already have.
Have a great day. Start doing what God has called you to do and stop waiting for someone else to give you what you already possess through Christ.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
"Consider The Lilies"
"And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:" Matthew 6:28
As I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was ask the Lord what to write to you this morning. He spoke as clearly as a bell to me and said these words, "You have a heavenly Father who loves you and promises to be with you "even into the end of the world". He is there with you, watching over you whether you feel like He is or not, whether you see Him and even if you don't see any evidence that He is there." The second thing He said to me for you this morning He said in a song. Oh, my, I can't tell you how long it's been since I heard this song--- literally years. I want to sing it to you this morning, but it's not from me, it's from your heavenly Father to you.
Consider the lilies; they don't toil or spin,
But there's not a king with more splendor than them.
Consider the sparrows; they don't plant nor sow,
But they're fed by the Master who watches them grow.
We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love.
He really cares when your head is bowed low;
Consider the lilies, then you will know.
May I introduce you to this Friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars, tells the sun when to shine.
And kisses the flowers each morning with dew,
Oh, but friend, He's not too busy to care about you!
We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love.
He really cares when your head is bowed low;
Consider the lilies, then you will know.
Consider the lilies, then you will know.
If you ever doubt the Father's love, if you begin feeling as though He does not care, when you feel so alone, when you wonder if He is listening, if you doubt His ability to take care of you, if you begin to feel like He's not even there- He's left you, consider the lilies. Go look at the flowers, the trees, the grass that grows, even the weeds and remember that God watches over them and gives them everything they need to grow, He sees them at each stage of their life- beginning, middle and end. If God watches over the lilies, then He watches over you... you are of MUCH more value to Him than the lilies are.
Have a great day. Consider the lilies.
As I woke up this morning, the first thing I did was ask the Lord what to write to you this morning. He spoke as clearly as a bell to me and said these words, "You have a heavenly Father who loves you and promises to be with you "even into the end of the world". He is there with you, watching over you whether you feel like He is or not, whether you see Him and even if you don't see any evidence that He is there." The second thing He said to me for you this morning He said in a song. Oh, my, I can't tell you how long it's been since I heard this song--- literally years. I want to sing it to you this morning, but it's not from me, it's from your heavenly Father to you.
Consider the lilies; they don't toil or spin,
But there's not a king with more splendor than them.
Consider the sparrows; they don't plant nor sow,
But they're fed by the Master who watches them grow.
We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love.
He really cares when your head is bowed low;
Consider the lilies, then you will know.
May I introduce you to this Friend of mine
Who hangs out the stars, tells the sun when to shine.
And kisses the flowers each morning with dew,
Oh, but friend, He's not too busy to care about you!
We have a Heavenly Father above
With eyes full of mercy and a heart full of love.
He really cares when your head is bowed low;
Consider the lilies, then you will know.
Consider the lilies, then you will know.
If you ever doubt the Father's love, if you begin feeling as though He does not care, when you feel so alone, when you wonder if He is listening, if you doubt His ability to take care of you, if you begin to feel like He's not even there- He's left you, consider the lilies. Go look at the flowers, the trees, the grass that grows, even the weeds and remember that God watches over them and gives them everything they need to grow, He sees them at each stage of their life- beginning, middle and end. If God watches over the lilies, then He watches over you... you are of MUCH more value to Him than the lilies are.
Have a great day. Consider the lilies.
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