"For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would." Galatians 5:17
Have you ever heard the Native American wise tale about the two dogs? It goes like this- A Native American elder once described his own inner struggles in this manner: Inside of me there are two dogs. One of the dogs is mean and evil. The other dog is good. The mean dog fights the good dog all the time. When asked which dog wins, he reflected for a moment and replied, The one I feed the most.
There is so much truth in this, but instead of there being two dogs inside of us the Bible says that it is the flesh and spirit that are constantly at war with each other. "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions." (Galatians 5:17- NLT)
The key to overcoming the flesh is to stop feeding it! There is a natural principle that lets us know whatever we feed is what will live and grow. Feed a baby and it will grow, starve it and it will die. The same is true with plants, animals and any person.
So what are the things that we do that feed the flesh? When you give it everything it desires and withholds nothing from it, you are feeding it. When you sit for hours in front of the television, you are feeding it. When you neglect to fast, you are feeding it. When you sit at the computer playing games all evening, you are feeding it. When you stay in bed when it is time to go to church, you are feeding it. When you listen to gossip, murmuring and complaining- or engage in it yourself- you are feeding it. When you spend more time involved in entertainment then you do doing those things that will feed your spirit- like reading the Bible, prayer, worship and Christian fellowship- you are feeding your flesh. (These are just a few ways we feed our flesh, there are many others.)
There are three categories of people: 1) the ones who feed the flesh, 2) the ones who feed flesh and spirit, 3) the ones who feed the spirit. Feeding the flesh will never overcome it. Feeding the flesh and spirit together will never overcome the flesh. Starving the flesh by feeding the spirit more is what overcomes the flesh. We need to stop feeding the flesh and start starving it instead so that it will die. "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry." (Colossians 3:5) Have a great day. The way to overcome the flesh is to stop feeding it.
For further reading:
Romans 8:13
Galatians 5:19-25
Matthew 4:4
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Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
"They Are For His Glory"
"But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men." Matthew 9:8
When God places His call upon our lives, when He puts His anointing within us, when He gives us spiritual gifts, we tend to think that it is "about us". We look at it as a personal thing that God has done for us. We seem to have the attitude that we have received these blessings so that others will see how powerful or spiritual we are. When God does something supernatural through us, we want people to notice us and talk about what we are doing. This is not the reason why He has given us gifts or the anointing.
There is only one reason and it is not so that flesh can glory in His presence. It is not about us. These gifts are given to us so that He and He alone will be glorified. They are given to point people to Him. They are a sign and witness to the power, grace, goodness and love of God. It is so that people will realize the reality of who He is.
I had received Jesus as my Savior early in life but then turned from Him and went my own way. A little over thirty years ago the Lord began to deal with my heart to return to Him. One day I was sitting in my home and heard a knock at the door. It was a lady from the church- I had not met her because I was not attending church at the time and she had just moved to town and started going to the church a couple of months earlier. I invited her in and while she was there she began to talk to me in "casual conversation". The things she was saying to me were things that were hidden away in my heart. She was describing the very issues that I was dealing with internally. No one knew my struggle- not even my husband or best friend. I knew that it was God speaking through her. After I surrendered my life to the Lord I realized that what she was doing was called the gift of the "word of knowledge". I didn't know what it was at the time, all I knew was that through the things she was saying it let me know that God was aware of me and that He still loved me. You know the rest of the story- I am living for, serving and loving the Lord today.
So you see, the gifts are not for us or about us. They are for making God famous in the earth. They are manifested for His glory. Not for the accolades of men on ourselves. Not so that others will think highly of us. Not so that we can amass a following. But so that people will be convinced that God is real and that He loves them.
Have a great day. The gifts that we have been given are not for self, but in order to bring people to Him.
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 3:2
Matthew 25:14-28
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
When God places His call upon our lives, when He puts His anointing within us, when He gives us spiritual gifts, we tend to think that it is "about us". We look at it as a personal thing that God has done for us. We seem to have the attitude that we have received these blessings so that others will see how powerful or spiritual we are. When God does something supernatural through us, we want people to notice us and talk about what we are doing. This is not the reason why He has given us gifts or the anointing.
There is only one reason and it is not so that flesh can glory in His presence. It is not about us. These gifts are given to us so that He and He alone will be glorified. They are given to point people to Him. They are a sign and witness to the power, grace, goodness and love of God. It is so that people will realize the reality of who He is.
I had received Jesus as my Savior early in life but then turned from Him and went my own way. A little over thirty years ago the Lord began to deal with my heart to return to Him. One day I was sitting in my home and heard a knock at the door. It was a lady from the church- I had not met her because I was not attending church at the time and she had just moved to town and started going to the church a couple of months earlier. I invited her in and while she was there she began to talk to me in "casual conversation". The things she was saying to me were things that were hidden away in my heart. She was describing the very issues that I was dealing with internally. No one knew my struggle- not even my husband or best friend. I knew that it was God speaking through her. After I surrendered my life to the Lord I realized that what she was doing was called the gift of the "word of knowledge". I didn't know what it was at the time, all I knew was that through the things she was saying it let me know that God was aware of me and that He still loved me. You know the rest of the story- I am living for, serving and loving the Lord today.
So you see, the gifts are not for us or about us. They are for making God famous in the earth. They are manifested for His glory. Not for the accolades of men on ourselves. Not so that others will think highly of us. Not so that we can amass a following. But so that people will be convinced that God is real and that He loves them.
Have a great day. The gifts that we have been given are not for self, but in order to bring people to Him.
For further reading:
1 Corinthians 12:1-11
John 3:2
Matthew 25:14-28
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Virus Scan
"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139:23,24
I am a little late in sending out the devotional this morning because when I sat down at the computer I had a warning from my virus protection software that I needed to run a scan in order to make sure my computer was fully protected. Of course this warning was much too important to ignore even though it took a while to do it.
As the scan was running I started thinking about this in a "spiritual application". Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" This lets us know that we don't know what "evils" lurk within our own hearts. We may think that "all is well" when it is not. I may think that all is well with my computer and it might not be. There is only one way that I know whether there are any viruses hiding in my computer-- I have to run a scan.
In order for us to discover any wicked, deceitful thing that is hiding in our hearts we have to run a "scan". We do this by earnestly praying that the Lord will show us the truth about ourselves and expose anything in us that is deceitful, is a work of the flesh, or that is the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. We need to also take His Word and as we read it allow it to be the mirror that will reveal any thing that does not look like Him in our lives. Another way is by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He quickens us to the fact that there is something that needs to be dealt with. I could have ignored the virus protection warning but that would have put my computer at risk. If I ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit it will put my spiritual well being at risk, and that is something that I cannot afford.
My virus protection program warned me to run the scan because it said that I have not done it in a while. Evidently, I have to do it on a regular basis. When was the last time you ran a "scan" spiritually speaking on your life? When was the last time you allowed God and His word to search you and clean you up? It is something that we have to do, without neglect, on a regular basis if we are going to be, and stay, "healthy" spiritually. We cannot "function" properly for the Kingdom of God if we don't.
Have a great day. When was the last time you ran a "virus scan" on your heart?
For further reading:
James 1:22-24
Psalm 51
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
I am a little late in sending out the devotional this morning because when I sat down at the computer I had a warning from my virus protection software that I needed to run a scan in order to make sure my computer was fully protected. Of course this warning was much too important to ignore even though it took a while to do it.
As the scan was running I started thinking about this in a "spiritual application". Jeremiah 17:9 tells us, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" This lets us know that we don't know what "evils" lurk within our own hearts. We may think that "all is well" when it is not. I may think that all is well with my computer and it might not be. There is only one way that I know whether there are any viruses hiding in my computer-- I have to run a scan.
In order for us to discover any wicked, deceitful thing that is hiding in our hearts we have to run a "scan". We do this by earnestly praying that the Lord will show us the truth about ourselves and expose anything in us that is deceitful, is a work of the flesh, or that is the opposite of the fruit of the Spirit. We need to also take His Word and as we read it allow it to be the mirror that will reveal any thing that does not look like Him in our lives. Another way is by listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He quickens us to the fact that there is something that needs to be dealt with. I could have ignored the virus protection warning but that would have put my computer at risk. If I ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit it will put my spiritual well being at risk, and that is something that I cannot afford.
My virus protection program warned me to run the scan because it said that I have not done it in a while. Evidently, I have to do it on a regular basis. When was the last time you ran a "scan" spiritually speaking on your life? When was the last time you allowed God and His word to search you and clean you up? It is something that we have to do, without neglect, on a regular basis if we are going to be, and stay, "healthy" spiritually. We cannot "function" properly for the Kingdom of God if we don't.
Have a great day. When was the last time you ran a "virus scan" on your heart?
For further reading:
James 1:22-24
Psalm 51
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Friday, November 11, 2011
"You Are Never Alone"
Coffee Break
"You Are Never Alone"
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
These words are the last thing that Jesus taught His disciples in the Book of John before the crucifixion. He was warning them that as long as they were in the world they would have tribulation/troubles/problems/suffering. It is a warning to His disciples today as well.
If we just stopped there we could become discouraged that all we have to look forward to is troubles. But Jesus also gave them some good news- "I have overcome the world, therefore, be of good cheer". How did He overcome? I believe the main key to overcoming is found in verse 32- "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."
When we are facing difficulties and trials, we must remember that we are "not alone", our Heavenly Father is with us. He is walking every step of the way with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us in our time of need. And when He says "never", He means "never".
We may not feel His presence, we may not see His presence but He is there. He was there with Daniel in the lion's den. He was there with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. He was there at the Red Sea. He was there when David stood before Goliath. And He is there with you, and always will be. So when you are walking through the valley, through the midnight hour, through the storm, through the fire and when all others have left you, you are not going through it alone. Always remember that and never forget it.
Have a great day. Never forget that you are never alone in your times of trouble.
For further reading:
Hebrews 13:5
Daniel 3:23-25
Matthew 28:20
Psalm 23
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
"You Are Never Alone"
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33
These words are the last thing that Jesus taught His disciples in the Book of John before the crucifixion. He was warning them that as long as they were in the world they would have tribulation/troubles/problems/suffering. It is a warning to His disciples today as well.
If we just stopped there we could become discouraged that all we have to look forward to is troubles. But Jesus also gave them some good news- "I have overcome the world, therefore, be of good cheer". How did He overcome? I believe the main key to overcoming is found in verse 32- "Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me."
When we are facing difficulties and trials, we must remember that we are "not alone", our Heavenly Father is with us. He is walking every step of the way with us. He will never leave us nor forsake us in our time of need. And when He says "never", He means "never".
We may not feel His presence, we may not see His presence but He is there. He was there with Daniel in the lion's den. He was there with the three Hebrews in the fiery furnace. He was there at the Red Sea. He was there when David stood before Goliath. And He is there with you, and always will be. So when you are walking through the valley, through the midnight hour, through the storm, through the fire and when all others have left you, you are not going through it alone. Always remember that and never forget it.
Have a great day. Never forget that you are never alone in your times of trouble.
For further reading:
Hebrews 13:5
Daniel 3:23-25
Matthew 28:20
Psalm 23
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
"Father Neglect"
"In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God: and he did hear my voice out of his temple, and my cry did enter into his ears." 2 Samuel 22:7
I was thinking about how wonderful the Lord is for allowing us to come to Him in our times of need. When we turn to Him in our troubles, He hears and answers us. But sadly, for many who call themselves Christians that is about the only time they do turn to Him- when they are in trouble or need His help.
How would we feel if our children neglected us until they wanted something? How would you feel if your spouse paid you no attention until they had a need that they wanted you to fulfill? You would feel rejected, used, unloved, unwanted and taken for granted- and rightly so. Yet we don't think anything about doing this to God.
He is not our "Santa Claus" making a "once a year appearance" to fulfill our wish list. He is not our "loan officer" that we visit on occasion when we need the extra to purchase something that we want. He is not "Sunday morning"- taken for granted all week until it is time to go to church.
He is our loving Heavenly Father who desires to have a relationship with us. He wants to be "active" in our lives. He wants to be involved in "all of it". He wants you to come to Him in the good times as well as the bad times; in the times of peace and in times of distress; in the times of laughter as well as in the times of sorrow; in the times of plenty as well as in the times of want and lack; in the times when you have all the answers or when you have lots of questions; in the times when you know which direction to go and in the times when you have no direction.
So let me ask you this morning, "which category are you in?". The one who only calls on Him when you are in need? Or the one who has a daily relationship with Him regardless of what is happening in your life?
Have a great day. He is a loving and gracious God who allows us to come to Him with our needs, but He wants more than just a relationship based on need and want.
For further reading:
Psalm 120:1; 34:1; 103:13
Luke 11:2
Matthew 23:37
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
I was thinking about how wonderful the Lord is for allowing us to come to Him in our times of need. When we turn to Him in our troubles, He hears and answers us. But sadly, for many who call themselves Christians that is about the only time they do turn to Him- when they are in trouble or need His help.
How would we feel if our children neglected us until they wanted something? How would you feel if your spouse paid you no attention until they had a need that they wanted you to fulfill? You would feel rejected, used, unloved, unwanted and taken for granted- and rightly so. Yet we don't think anything about doing this to God.
He is not our "Santa Claus" making a "once a year appearance" to fulfill our wish list. He is not our "loan officer" that we visit on occasion when we need the extra to purchase something that we want. He is not "Sunday morning"- taken for granted all week until it is time to go to church.
He is our loving Heavenly Father who desires to have a relationship with us. He wants to be "active" in our lives. He wants to be involved in "all of it". He wants you to come to Him in the good times as well as the bad times; in the times of peace and in times of distress; in the times of laughter as well as in the times of sorrow; in the times of plenty as well as in the times of want and lack; in the times when you have all the answers or when you have lots of questions; in the times when you know which direction to go and in the times when you have no direction.
So let me ask you this morning, "which category are you in?". The one who only calls on Him when you are in need? Or the one who has a daily relationship with Him regardless of what is happening in your life?
Have a great day. He is a loving and gracious God who allows us to come to Him with our needs, but He wants more than just a relationship based on need and want.
For further reading:
Psalm 120:1; 34:1; 103:13
Luke 11:2
Matthew 23:37
<>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <>< <><
Coffee Break is a morning devotional written by Lorraine Ezell
and is sent to you free of charge for the asking from
About the Master's Business Ministry, Inc.
Please feel free to
call (601) 833-5278 or
Email: mastersbusiness@bellsouth.net
Visit us on the web: www.mastersbusiness.org
You are welcomed to make copies and distribute them free of charge.
You may also forward them via e-mail or post them to your website - leaving the whole message in tact unless permission is granted to do otherwise. Please remember to give credit to About the Master's Business Ministry.
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