"Entangled Through Neglect"

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage." Galatians 5:1 

"Entangled again". Why do we keep getting entangled over and over again with the same besetting sins or habits? You would think that once we have gained victory and stopped, we would never do them again. But that is not always the case. 

 

It is possible for us to stand fast in freedom and victory because Christ has made us free. Entanglement happens again for several reasons. It happens when we neglect to do those things that keep us spiritually strong. Things such as putting on the full armor of God every day; renewing our minds with the word of God; building up our most holy faith by praying in the Spirit; walking in an attitude of praise; prayer and daily communion with the Lord.

 

It happens when we get our eyes off of the eternal prize and on temporary things. It happens when we ignore or rebel against the Spirit's warning, wooing and conviction. It happens when we think we can take care of the temptations on our own and don't seek the Lord's help. 

 

At the root of our entanglement, we will find either one, some or all of these reasons are present. The way to keep from getting entangled by our flesh and continue to walk in the Spirit is to not neglect those things that made us free to begin with and will keep us free.

 

Have a great day. When we get entangled again by the yokes and habits of the flesh, it is because we have neglected doing those things that keep us free. 

 

For further reading:

Hebrews 2:3

Galatians 5:16

Ephesians 6:13

Romans 12:2

"Do Not Underestimate God"

"And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever." Exodus 14:13

Never underestimate the power of God! The Israelites had seen the power of God demonstrated in Egypt through each of the plagues. They had seen Him bring darkness upon the land, hail stones, turn the waters of Egypt into blood and protect them while death passed throughout the land. Yet here they are standing before the Red Sea in fear of Pharaoh behind them and the sea in front of them. 

 

How did they not know that God would deliver them? Why didn't they trust Him? After all, they had already seen His power, they had seen Him do so many miracles. The reason-- "Fear ye not". Fear will rob you of faith and cause you to believe its report and not God. It will cause you to doubt and underestimate God's ability to save you, deliver you, heal you, provide for you, keep His word to you or come through for you. 

 

Are you like those Israelites? You have seen the power of God. He has moved on your behalf time and time again. You know He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all you can ask or think but this time you are doubting? You are thinking that this is too big even for God. God's word to you is-- do not fear and do not underestimate His power. He is All Powerful! With Him nothing is impossible. He is able to open up the sea before you. He is able to destroy the enemy behind you. He is able to pull down the giant with a small stone. He can still bring water from a rock. He is able to quench the fire, shut the lion's mouths and cause the mountain to be cast into the sea. 

 

Again, do not underestimate His power! This is not a man we are talking about. This is not just another person. This is not an angelic being. This is not some elderly God who has become weak and tired. He is God-- the Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Creator of the universe, who only has to think it and it happens. 

 

Have a great day. Do not underestimate the power of the Lord!

 

For further reading:

Luke 1:37

Ephesians 3:20

Matthew 8:26

"Moses Is Dead"

"Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, thou, and all this people, unto the land which I do give to them, even to the children of Israel." Joshua 1:2 

"And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended." (Deuteronomy 34:8) The Lord has laid a word on my heart this morning that is for all of us but I also believe that it is a specific word for someone. The word is-- "Moses is dead". 

 

When Moses died, the Lord allowed the children of Israel to mourn for him for thirty days but then it was time to move on. The word for you this morning is that it is time to move on and stop mourning that last season of your life. It is time to stop looking at the past-- the season in the wilderness, and the memories of the miraculous. 

 

The Israelites under Moses not only had the wilderness experience but they experienced a great deliverance from bondage. They saw the plagues on Egypt while being protected themselves. They left Egypt with its wealth. They saw God open up the sea and make it dry ground, they saw Pharaoh's army drowned in the same miracle. But now it was time to leave those past experiences- the glorious ones as well as the difficult ones. 

 

It is time for you to leave the victories and defeats of the past in the past-- Moses is dead! God is wanting to take you into a new season, into new lands, new victories, new opportunities, new blessings, new miracles. But if you keep looking at and focusing on the past- even the past blessings and miracles- it will stop you from going forward into the "promised land".

 

Don't stay tied to your past, it is past- bury it and don't mourn its passing any longer. Look ahead to the "land" that the Lord desires to give you now. 

 

Have a great day. Stop mourning Moses- what once was- so that you don't miss what God is wanting to do in, and through, your life now. 

 

For further reading:

Isaiah 43:19

Philippians 3:13

"Belief Equals Sharing"

"And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day." Matthew 11:23

Jesus did so many mightily works among the people. He did miracles, He revealed who the Heavenly Father was, He preached the truth of the Kingdom to them. Yet, they did not believe. They ignored and rejected it. I just wonder, "What about us?" What are we doing with what we know and have seen Him do?

 

As Christians, we have seen the works of God in our own lives. We have had so many answers to prayers. We have access to the preaching of the gospel almost 24 hour a day- so we should know the truth. We all have a testimony of the saving grace, love and goodness of the Lord. We have seen His power to heal, deliver and transform our lives. He has given every born-again believer the greatest miracle ever-- salvation, a new life. 

 

Are we doing the same thing they did? Do we still reject? Do we keep it to ourselves and not share our testimonies with others? Are we neglecting to reveal who the Heavenly Father is by hiding our light, by denying Him in our actions, attitudes and conduct? We have all seen God do great and mighty things in our lives-- I know I have, too many to name-- but if we aren't sharing them, if we aren't testifying of them, if we aren't sharing who Jesus is with others, then in a sense we are doing, or acting, like those who don't believe. Where is the difference?

 

What has He done for you? When was the last time you shared it? When was the last time you did a good work that caused others to glorify your Father in heaven? Are you hiding your light or letting it shine brightly?

 

Have a great day. When we never share who Jesus is and what He has done in our lives, we are acting as a non-believer.

 

For further reading:

Matthew 5:16

Mark 16:15

1 John 4:13-15

 

"Touch His Hem"

"And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?" Mark 5:30 

When we think about the story of the woman with the issue of blood, and how she touched the hem of Jesus' garment and was healed, we usually think about it for physical healing only. But when she touched His hem, virtue (defined as strength, power, resources, and power for performing miracles) flowed from Him. Power flowed from Him and it touched her in the area of her need-- physical healing.

 

What is your need this today? Do you need a healing? Do you need salvation? Do you need peace? Do you need guidance concerning a matter? Do you need deliverance from a besetting sin? Do you need wisdom? Do you need strength? Whatever it is your answer lies in "touching the hem of His garment". 

 

How do you touch His hem? You touch it through prayer. You press your way into His presence until His power touches you healing the area that you are struggling with. For instance, if you are struggling with an issue of loving and forgiving a certain person, once you "touch His hem" His virtue of love will flow into you and heal you of your struggle. If you are struggling with confusion, when you press in until you touch His hem, His virtue will flow into you in the form of peace and the confusion will leave. 

 

Are struggling with an issue? Are you weighted down by a matter? Have you done all you know to do on your own? Then you need to "touch His hem". You need to get to Him in prayer and let His virtue come into that area to heal and deliver you. 

 

Have a great day. If you are struggling with an issue, touch the hem of Jesus' garment by going to Him in prayer and His power will bring an end to your struggle.

 

For further reading:

Mark 5:25-34