It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

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Faith Is A Gift From God- Faith Is Trust In The Word Of God!

We have been blind and in darkness as to what faith really is! We lack the knowledge of the truth of Who is Faith. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. An author is one who originates, creates a design, and makes something. Therefore if Jesus is the Creator and Maker of our faith, our faith is perfect in Him. Jesus is also the Finisher of our faith. A finisher completes and makes perfect every detail.

 Romans 12:2               Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

Lack of faith is not our problem. We lack the knowledge of the truth of the Word of God which helps us to trust in the completed work of Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the gift from God to all mankind and for those who accept Jesus as Lord. He comes and lives in them. It is Jesus Who originates designs and creates this gift of faith in us. He not only began this work but He completed it and made it perfect in every detail. Jesus is the Author of our Faith and we are to trust in the Living Word of God as an act of our will. We have been blind and not seen the light of God’s truth because we are ignorant of His Word. We have allowed situations and circumstances to speak to what we call faith and truth, to the point that God’s Word and Truth has no effect

Ephesians 2: 8-10       For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We are saved by the Grace of God through Faith. Grace is a divine gift and favor from God. We are saved by the divine gift and favor of God through faith that trusts in the completed and finished work of Jesus. We are saved by the gift of God

It is not because of any work we have done that saves us, it is only our trust in the completed work of Jesus. No one should boast of anything they have done to receive salvation.   We may move mountains, it is not because of our great work of faith, but it is our simple trust in the completed works of Christ. God has prepared beforehand that we should walk in faith and truth through belief in His word. It is because of our lack of knowledge of His word we have been walking in darkness. And not in the light and the power of faith in Jesus’ finished work.

Romans 12:3   For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Everyone is given the measure of faith- that measure is the Holy Spirit, the Word of God. Everyone who receives Christ receives the same measure of faith from God. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh and dwelt among God’s people. Now the Holy Spirit is given to everyone who accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior. The Spirit of God, the Word of God, Who is the Son of God comes into our heart to give us a new life as children of God. Implanted in our spirit is the Living God to empower us to do great and mighty works.

We may get ensnared by the schemes and wiles of the enemy who tries to trip us up with pride in who we are, what we have done and accomplished in life. Some even believe they have a right to do whatever they need in order to be happy and satisfied. The voice of this world has spoken so loudly and so long into the minds of God’s people, that many do not know how to recognize the truth of God’s word.

Romans 10:8b-11     The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.  For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

When we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths Jesus is Lord and God sent Him to die for us, we are saved. Faith is the trust we have in the word. Now we have the Living God , the Holy Spirit in us. We will more likely speak the truth of God because of the knowledge of His word and the faith filled words of Jesus, with the authority He has given us.

Remember as believers we have the word of God in the scriptures form near us. When we speak these words of truth and plant them in our hearts as seeds, we can trust Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, to complete His work. When we believe on Him and His completed work we will not be put to shame.

Faith is knowing the word of God. Faith is activated by our trust in His word.

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Christmas demonstrates humility – God became flesh and dwelt among us.

Christmas demonstrates humility. God humbled Himself and He left His throne in heaven and became flesh to live among sinful man. Jesus was born in humble circumstances, a child of an unwed mother, born in a barn, a storehouse where the animals were kept and His bed was a feeding trough, a manger. Jesus was wrapped in pieces or strips of cloth and not in fine linen or silk that royalty wears. The Creator became flesh as one He created that He may save His creation.

It may sound lofty in the Christmas stories we hear but the Creator of the entire world and the universe was reduced to being born in a shed because there was no room for him in the inn. It appeared as though the whole known world was busy taking care of their own concerns of work, their homes and government situation of being counted for the census and no one recognized the God of all creation had come to be counted among men. People are still too busy with the cares of the world, the gifts and the lack thereof to receive Jesus as the greatest gift of all.

Luke 2: 6         So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

God is still sending His messengers to people who are too busy to recognize the King of kings and Lord of lords has arrived to be their Savior. There were many noble kings and wealthy merchants in that day but God chose to send His message to country shepherds, people living out in the fields. The Angel with the very glory of God shinning around him told the shepherds of the good report that the Savior who is Christ the Lord was born in the city of David.

God’s ways are not like man’s. God sent His son to be born in poverty that we may receive His riches. God announced Jesus’ birth to people of humble means, shepherds living in the fields and not to those living in palaces and mansions. In this world the birth of royalty is announced in the most esteemed places to exalt the arrival to the child’s birth. But God chose the way of humility, to send Jesus as a servant, that He may save many.

Luke 2: 8, 10-12         Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10 Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

God sent Jesus to earth at the appointed time to save humanity. God is still sending His children, at this appointed time, to be witnesses to humanity that God is still on the throne and He is seeking to save those who are lost. Jesus came born of a woman under the law and government of His day to redeem or purchase back those who were born in sin so they may be adopted into the family of God. In the fullness of God’s time we too are being sent out by our Father to release, emancipate and set free the minds of people who are chained and enslaved to the thoughts and practices of this world.

As a believer in Christ we are God’s Christmas gift to humanity. We have the power of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the Living God in us to help us to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God that we may no longer live as slaves to sin, pride and un-forgiveness. We can call out to our Abba Father so that when we demonstrate a life that displays the power of God with humility others may want to receive the gift of everlasting life.

 

Galatians 4:4-7           But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth th Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

Though Jesus was a King, He humbled Himself to be born of flesh to become involved with mankind that He may provide a solution for us. It would be impossible to find a king who would give up their high position of living in a palace to live in a stall or to give up their riches for his people and servants. Our God, Our Father gave His best, Jesus our Lord and King so that we may become children of God, heirs to His kingdom. The Christmas story is a story of humility. Jesus is the One who gave His all so that many may be saved. This is still the Christmas story that we too may humble ourselves, to die to self, that others may see in us a reflection of our Father in heaven and want to receive eternal life

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The Gift of Grace is the Gift of Christmas – Jesus is our Gift of Grace

The spirit of Christmas is Grace! Grace is showing favor, kindness, goodwill and love to someone who is undeserving and it is unmerited and unearned. Love is expressed through kindness, goodwill and favor we show to someone who may not deserve it but we give it anyway. Love gives its best and expresses and shows the love it has for those they love. God so loved this world He gave His Best, Jesus, to save us even when we were not being our best. He loved us while we were lost and did not care or love Him and He expressed that love in the Gift of Christ our Savior. Love is a sacrifice; love gives even though it may not receive.

Jesus emptied Himself of all He had a right to, positional as the Son of God, and humbled Himself to be born as a child. Jesus was born of flesh and blood and restricted to a life set in time for the service of others to show the Grace and Love God has for us.

Luke 2: 10-11  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. 11 For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

When God gave His Best, Jesus Christ our Lord, men responded in worship and wise men sought Him and gave gifts to honor the King of kings. Wise men are still seeking Jesus and giving gifts to honor our Lord and King. When these wise men went looking for the Christ there was much cost and much preparation. They came from a far country to search out where the King was born and they had prepared great costly gifts to give a King who was worthy of all they had and more. These gifts to show honor to the God in heaven and were given to a carpenter and his wife. We honor our God when we honor His children. We give to God when we give to the least of these, our brothers and sisters, who are in need on the earth.

We should decide to give the gift of Grace, the Spirit of Christmas to those who may be undeserving and who have not earned this gift. We give this gift of Grace and Love to honor our Lord and King. We express the love He has shown to us to those around us.

Romans 5:6, 8 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Jesus walked in the Grace of God as a man, to fulfill His purpose drawing on the same power of the Holy Spirit that we have access to today. He has given us the ministry of reconciliation and the command to love others as He has loved us. We should determine we will give this gift of grace and predetermine how we will express this Spirit of Christmas to those around us. This time of the year the world softens its heart and expresses kindness to one another. How much more should we, who are in the household and family of God, express His Grace to others?

Jesus is our example and He was led by the Spirit of God to give the good news of the gospel, that God’s kingdom has returned to the earth and we can now be set free. He showed the love of God to the brokenhearted; they did not have to be alone, fore they can receive God as their Father and the Holy Spirit as their companion and guide. To those who are enslaved to addictions and the appetites of the flesh, they too can be set free by the power of the Holy Spirit. We also can help those who are blind to the truth of God’s word by showing the love of God in our actions. Those who are oppressed through injustices of this world system or live under the tyranny of social and cultural hatred can be set free by the Blood of Jesus and the love of God. Now is the acceptable time to receive from God this precious gift of Grace.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

The Gift of Grace is the Gift of Christmas. Jesus is our Gift of Grace – our reason for Christmas. Jesus came and provided what we could not provide for ourselves. Let us be the provision someone may need during this Christmas season. Let us, as the wise men before, prepare our gifts for our Sovereign King and predetermine how we will show honor and worship to Him, through the people we serve. Let us give the Gift of Christ in a word of encouragement, in an expression of concern, in the displaying of love to those who may be unlovable and may be in desperate need of His love.

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Christmas: When Heaven Came to Earth- Jesus Dispelled Darkness

Jesus brought another government to the earth, a spiritual kingdom that operates on the earth for God’s people. Jesus established a kingdom where we can walk in the light of good news of Christ where He has broken the yoke of sin and the rod of the oppressor. We are no longer chained to the sins of our past or the tyranny of men. There is a spiritual government, a heavenly kingdom, that we now have access to through the belief and faith in the completed work of Christ.

Isaiah 9:2,4,6,7a         The people who walked in darkness Have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them a light has shined. 4 For You have broken the yoke of his burden. And the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, As in the day of Midian.

6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end…

Prior to Jesus’ birth we were in our fallen state with our authority taken by the trickster-Satan, living and walking in darkness not fully aware of the depraved and corrupt conditions we were living in. God had given Israel a vision of Himself and called them as a people and nation to be an example on the earth as to how man should serve their God, Lord and King. Israel, like everyone, fell short of displaying the majesty, love and compassion to a world that was in desperate need of grace and mercy.

In the likeness of a human body the child Jesus was born to walk and live on this earth just as we have. He experienced all the pain, sorrows and trials we have experienced living in this fallen world. Jesus came as a man to fellowship with us and to show us He understands what we are going through because He experienced it all, the rejection, hurt, pain and even one of the most horrific deaths, the death of the cross.

To us was given the Son of God, The Son of The Most High God was given for payment of our sin. Only the Son of God could pay the debt owed for the rebellion against God that plunged us into a dark and fallen system of government on the earth, where Satan had become the prince of darkness. Only the sinless Blood of Jesus, the Son of God, could atone for the sin of mankind and though it was a great cost to God, He gave us His Son so we could become sons of the Most High King. We can now call God, Abba Father because He is our everlasting Father; He is Good Father Who meets our every need and gives us our daily provisions.

God is Wonderful; He is full of wonder, He is amazing, He is breathtaking, He does marvelous acts. He takes delight in giving to His children. God has given us His Holy Spirit as our Counselor and guide so if we lack wisdom in any situation we may ask God and He will give the answer liberally. They call Him Almighty God; there is nothing above Him in power and might.

We have seen some mighty and powerful people but God stands above them all and when we stand in faith and in trust of the Mighty God, we serve we will have a Peace the surpasses understanding. Jesus is our Prince of Peace. God did not want man to live in fear of Satan, sickness, death, the wickedness of men or in fear of lack and poverty. Jesus came so that we may have in this world provision, protection and authority over our circumstances. We are no longer under the curse of sin and death but we have been set free and who the Son set free is free in actions, thought and deeds.

The key in God’s Peace is where we put our trust. So many of us say we believe God and we trust in His Word but most do not know God and know little of His Word. This is why they are full of fear and doubt; their minds have not been renewed to the new way of thinking, which is crucial to living in the kingdom of God. As babes are born into this natural world they must learn how to navigate this world system to live successfully on the earth.

The same is true in God’s Kingdom; we who are God’s people should be operating God’s government/kingdom while we are on the earth. Kingdom citizens, those who are re-born, have access to the spiritual kingdom/government of God on the earth. Many are ignorant of their authority and how to operate successfully in the Government/Kingdom of God.

When we are full of fear our minds are filled with the cares of this world. When our minds are full of the wonders of God, His Majesty and Sovereignty we are living and operating in God’s kingdom. We will then display the Peace of God in our lives that most people will not understand.

The Kingdom of God is increasing with every person that enters into the family of God through the belief and confession of faith in Jesus. God’s Kingdom on the earth is increasing in numbers. The knowledge of God’s word is where the power, authority and transactions in this kingdom and how to operate successfully are displayed.

So many rely on the fables of men and the traditions of their parents, to teach them how they should function in the kingdom of God. Unfortunately most people are living in lack of knowledge of the truth of God’s word. This is the reason we see so many people who call themselves Christians destroyed. Some have more knowledge of the worldly systems and more faith in the government of this world than they have knowledge of God’s kingdom or faith in His word. We see those who do evil things, even in this time of thanksgiving and celebration of our Lord and Saviour, because they are still in darkness and the Light of this world has not entered into their lives.

Those who know their God shall be strong and do great feats, deeds and achievements. Remember we are under a new Government and New King with power and authority over present circumstances because we belong to a different Kingdom.

This is the reason we are celebrating the good news of Jesus who brought God’s Kingdom to earth!!

Daniel 11: 32 Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery;

but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.

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Giving Thanks Before We Receive is Faith

Faith believes God’s Word is true and the ultimate act of faith is giving thanks to God for what was promised even before we have received it. In the world system we are taught to give thanks when we receive something from someone, whether it is a complement, help or a gift. We are trained to wait and sometimes anxiously in anticipation until we obtain the promise and then express our thanksgiving.

In God’s kingdom, in the realm of His people, we are instructed to give thanks when we receive the promise of God. Thus displaying with the very act of thanksgiving, the certainty of our belief and faith that we have what was promised. Though we may not have received it in this natural state yet and though it has not arrived in our possession, we believe God has answered our prayer and that it is coming so we give God glory with thanksgiving for what we have asked.

John 11: 41b-42 And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know that You always hear Me, but because of the people who are standing by I said this, that they may believe that You sent Me.”

Jesus started His prayer with giving God thanks for having heard His prayer before and for always hearing Him. Jesus was praying again not a prayer of vain repetition of saying the same thing over and over but a prayer for the benefit of the people so they would believe. Though Lazarus was still dead at that moment Jesus thanked God for hearing Him knowing God would perform His promise. Many may say Jesus is the Son of God and could do anything and that is right but Jesus limited Himself as a man operating under the knowledge of God’s truth and by the power of the Holy Spirit. The same things we as sons of God have access to, God’s truth and the Holy Spirit.

We can truly give thanks in everything when we see everything in the light of God’s word, truth and promises. He will never leave us or forsake us and in every problem or trial God has provided a way of escape that will be for our good and bring Him glory. If we truly believe this and trust God we can give thanks in hard situations by the power of the Holy Spirit with expectation to see how the Lord will settle the issue. Not to say things we are experiencing are not hard, difficult and possibly overwhelming at the moment, but giving thanks to God in the midst of our hardship helps move us from self-focus and self-serving to faith in the hope God will do a great thing in this situation.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

It did not say it was joy when we go through life struggles and trials but we can consider and reckon it to be part of a larger process that in the end will produce faith and patience in our lives which is pleasing to God. When we are able to remove our self from the equation, our wants, our desires, our preferences, then it is easier to let go of the pain and wait on the greater good and glory of God. It is when we hold on to our desire to enjoy and be with what we have lost, that we cannot free ourselves to enjoy the present and be full of hope for our future.

When we put self on the throne of our lives, problems are hard to overcome because our needs, yearnings and cravings become so magnified that we lose sight of the things God is doing in our lives. It is only when God is seated on the throne of our lives, high and lifted up that He is exalted above all else and is magnified larger than our painful situation. It is then we are able to press through the pain and difficulties and walk in expectation, waiting to see the glory of the Lord to come as a result of that condition.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

We know these situations did not take God by surprise and what we are going through is the will of God for us at the moment. More importantly how we act and display our faith in God in the midst of those circumstances will testify who God is in our lives.

Gratitude is giving thanks to God for what we have received. Thanksgiving is giving thanks to God for what we want to receive in our future. This is a true display of our faith. Faith believes God has heard our request though it is not seen it in the natural God has made provision for it spiritually and we can wait with expectation for it to manifest itself in the present. We believe our request has transpired in the spiritual kingdom of God and we are now waiting to see how the Lord will settle the matter in the physical realm.

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The Spirit of Thanksgiving is a Spirit of Gratitude

To have a spirit of thanksgiving is to keep ever before us a sense of appreciation and gratefulness for the lives we were given and the things we are experiencing, which displays the love of God to a dark world. The lives we have and the things we suffer may seem hard and not what we wanted, or may seem to be an impossible life to live. It is our perspective that is off course because we allow our values and our philosophies of life to teach us to see our lives through our culture and how it relates to self. Thus we become self-centered and self-focused when in reality we should have a spirit of gratitude knowing God sits on the throne of our lives.

It is only when we see our lives through the lens of God that we can truly be grateful and rejoice with thanksgiving in everything. We must understand that we are an eternal spirit that came from God. We have a Divine purpose to let the light of God shine through us in every dark place in which we find ourselves. God has created us to be more than conquerors and to be victorious in every situation. If we focus only on the adversity, hardship and misfortune of the darkness, we will fail to let the light in us represent God in that situation. It is only in presence of opposition we can see the victor; it is in darkness that we can see a clear light. We experience God and bring Him pleasure when we are able to show and display a spirit of gratitude in dark places because we display a trust in God’s nature; His Faithfulness we can trust.

A newborn has no recollection of the life he had in his mother’s womb. Just as many of us live ignorant to the life and purpose the spirit of God has in us to destine us to live victorious over our circumstances for His glory. A child is fed, nourished and he develops a sense of self from his family and culture. We who are adopted into the family of God must be fed and develop our sense of Divine purpose through our Father Who is in us and speaks through us to a dark world.

Philippians 4:4-7        Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus

We can rejoice in every situation and even hard circumstances when we let our response to these concerns be with a spirit of gratitude toward all men, even our adversary. This happens when we recognize Jesus as Lord of this situation and we may have to let go of our selfish wants so His light is seen through us, even in that sad and depressing situation. When our lives are about us being on top, getting what we want and keeping our pride, and when things do not go our way we become worried, concerned and even fearful. But if we can be grateful for the life we do have, and for the things we have already been given, our gratitude will turn our fear to thanksgiving. Our thanksgiving develops into trust and faith in God to do what He has done all the time, defend, provide and protect us.

If we know God is in this situation and He has orchestrated it for our good and His glory, we can walk through the process knowing we will be victorious. Many times it is in these difficult conditions that we stop and talk with God. We will pray, which is just a conversation with God, seeking His direction and plan regarding the state we are in. When we give God thanks for allowing us to represent Him in this hard situation, most times we will see the peace of God rest upon us. Our hearts and minds are protected from fear through our relationship with Jesus in gratitude and thankfulness. This is true faith.

Romans 2: 28-30        And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.  Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

This is why we are to give thanks in every situation, because it shows the faith and trust we have in the God we serve. This is the faith that pleases God; it shows trust in Him even in spite of these obstacles we face. Faith will give thanks to God even in a dark place because it knows God is true to His word.

We need to understand the purpose for which we are called is to be changed into the image of Jesus. Jesus came to restore us back into the right relationship, likeness and the family of God. God is our loving Father Who is working all things together in us so we will know Him and we will demonstrate His love in these hard places. We were predestined by God to show His love. We can give thanks because we know we are here with a purpose, called for His good pleasure, justified by the blood of Jesus so God’s glory will be seen in the earth.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

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Ingratitude Is Wicked In The Eyes Of God.

God calls people who are ungrateful, unthankful, complains and mummers, wicked and evil. God had just freed Israel from Egypt and performed mighty miracles, signs and He even destroyed Israel’s enemies without them having to fight, and with all this they were complaining about what they did not have. What an insult to the Almighty God, Jehovah the God of Israel Who brought them out of slavery, gave them riches, silver and gold as they left the land of their captivity and yet they were complaining about what they would eat. This is a strategy of the enemy of God to get the people focused on what they think they want and not be appreciative for the things God has already given.

We are living in a time where people are particularly self-centered, self-focused and self-absorbed to the point they are unable to appreciate what they have. People are constantly looking for the next thing, looking for more and for more of the next thing. We see so much greed in a society that has so much to be thankful for but they are not content with what they have. No matter how much people possess it is never enough, even if they have more than they or their children’s children will ever spend they are not satisfied and envy and desire for more. This need for more has been cultivated by the commercial industry and the drive for more consumes us to the point that we are never satisfied or thankful for what we have.

Numbers 14: 26-28 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, 27 “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation who complain against Me? I have heard the complaints which the children of Israel make against Me. 28 Say to them, ‘As I live,’ says the Lord, ‘just as you have spoken in My hearing, so I will do to you: NKJV

We are always wanting more, envying and coveting what others have, is what this culture feeds on. All commercial ads create in us dissatisfaction with what we have and then cultivate a longing, yearning a desire for more or something different. The Bible calls this lust, wanting something that is not ours to the point we will get it at all costs, even at the cost of family, friends or character. This is a strategy of our enemy to have us so focused on what we do not have at the moment to cause us not to appreciate what we do have.

When we complain and grumble about our situation we are complaining and grumbling against God. Sometimes we will start saying things and gripe about our situation and complain about what we do not have and we do not realize this is God’s will for us and we are, in our ignorance, criticizing God. God said He heard the complaints against Him and they have spoken these complaints against Him in His hearing. Sometimes God will give us what we say. It was not the plan He had but your words are stout and hard against Him.

Malachi 3: 13-14a      Your words have been harsh against Me,” Says the Lord, “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; What profit is it that we have kept His ordinance…

Words are powerful and they are the seed of all things that exist. God created this world with the spoken word in the power of the Holy Spirit. We created in His likeness have the same potential, to create things with our words. God gave authority to man to reign over the earth. So our words can work with God or they can be harsh against God’s plan for our lives.

God has given us principles and laws of nature that reveals the spiritual principles of God and how His kingdom operates on the earth. Seedtime and harvest is one of the greatest principles given to us. Our words are seeds and we can plant what we want to harvest in our future with the words we speak. Most people are ignorant of the power they possess with the spoken word. Their enemy would have them to stay ignorant so to keep them saying destructive things about themselves, their family and to keep them from God’s plan for their future.

The culture we are living in helps develop and shape the way we view and value things. This culture is built on commercialism and with specific intent media, cultivates an attitude and atmosphere of discontentment which leads us to not being thankful for the things we have but constantly looking at others and wanting more. Instead of giving thanks to God for all He has given and praising Him for what He has done we are quick to forget the state we were in, as Israel did when they left Egypt, and we too began to complain about God in His ears.

 Philippians 2:14         Do all things without complaining and disputing,

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 6 So we may boldly say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?”

God has given us the remedy to thanklessness, ingratitude, covetousness, for the need of always wanting the biggest, the best and the latest thing and that is to be content with such things we have. Halleluiah! This is a revelation! We can be content, happy with the lot we have, the place God has given us reign. Just as Joseph started out as a slave he changed his circumstances by not allowing bitterness and ingratitude toward God to have a place in his life. It is in this attitude of thanksgiving that allows us to be content and we are able to see the blessing of God and know He is with us and He will never leave us.

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We are wrestling with principals of darkness and wickedness in high places

This is not just another place in time, it is a pivotal time in history. Just as in the past every great nation or kingdom had a deciding moment that translated a powerful nation into a spiral downfall. We have an opportunity to stand in the gap for our families, this nation and for the kingdom of God.

Jesus came and with His life, death and resurrection He purchased for all mankind the forgiveness of sin. This allows us to become children of God and citizens of the kingdom of God on earth. We are called ambassadors because we represent our King while we are here on earth. We saw Satan come and establish a kingdom of darkness that has taken man into a downward spiral, but Christ came that we may once again choose life and become heirs of God where we are adopted into the family of God.

During the month of October we see a stirring of occult and dark practices as the enemy would have us to be ignorant to the things that are going on. Yet God said My people are destroyed because they do not know the truth or has rejected the truth. We see in the Bible, Jesus speaks of demons and Satan and how they attacked mankind. It was by the power of God that the disciples were able to stand against the power of darkness. Just as we must, by the power of the Holy Spirit of God, stand against the power of darkness in this age.

We are not here by coincidence or happenstance. We were chosen and predestined to be here, at this time, for the glory of God and for the blessing of mankind. We all have a purpose. We are at a crossroad and we are wrestling for our identity, our future, our children, our family, our home, even our nation, to choose who we will serve. Call it what you will and cover it up if you want, but the truth is the same; we are destroyed for lack of knowledge and for rejecting the truth we have been given. We are in a battle, the kingdom of darkness versus the kingdom of Light, and the battle is for our desires, our minds, our lives and where we will spend eternity.

Though we may live this life oblivious to the spirit world around us, it does not negate the fact that it is real. Just as Jesus battled the enemy in the wilderness when He was tempted to take the easy way out, we will be tempted to ignore the things around us. Jesus chose to fight with the world of truth as we must choose to stand on truth as well. Just as we are tempted to take the quick and easy way, it will not last and it will end in destruction.

Hosea 4:6        My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.

We see Satan’s tactics in Egypt when the ruler of the world took a stand against God’s people to oppress the Hebrews by putting on them great labor and cruelty. First Pharaoh enslaved them, and then he started oppressing them and yet they grew. The hatred for God’s people grew and then Pharaoh called for the killing of all the Hebrew males that were born but the Hebrew people feared God more than Pharaoh. Satan is afraid of God’s people and he wants to destroy them and he will use fear to cause mankind to destroy one another.

With the completed work of Christ, Satan has no authority over mankind. Satan now tries to get mankind to give him permission to come into our lives through the forms of amusements, diversions and games. They may appear to be fun and pleasurable especially at first, but Satan’s ways will end in destruction. The enemy’s plan is to get mankind to self-destruct by denouncing the truth of God’s word. Satan does this through lies, deceptions and the ignorance of a man’s heart. We must know the truth of God’s word so we will recognize the enemy’s deceptions and be victorious.

 

Ephesians 6:12-17      For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,  and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;

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During this time of October festivities let us teach our children not to open themselves up to the demonic forces, which are looking for a place to settle, during those seasons of deceptions with festivals of the dead, witches and warlocks, talking with the spirit world and Halloween. It may start as a game but it will open access to spiritual wickedness in high places. Let us give them healthy alternatives, fall festivals and celebrate the Lord of the harvest, Jesus and take this opportunity to teach them truth and not open them up to lies and the darkness of this world.

 

2 Corinthians 5: 17-21           Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Remember this is hope for our future no matter our past failures or deeds. Jesus gave His life that we may be saved, His Blood has cleansed us from all unrighteousness. No matter how long or how dark we may have gone down that path, Jesus came to make all things new. When we believe in our hearts and confess with our mouth Jesus as Lord, His Blood pays the sin debt we owe and we become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and now we can stand in the gap for our homes, families, communities and nation.

 

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The You God Knew- Before You Were Formed

Psalm 139:13-18a

Before the Foundation of the World was laid God knew us and designed His perfect plan for our lives. This was before the world distorted our view of ourselves. God had a plan and a purpose for our lives, for us to prosper and to have hope for our future. When we look at this world and the destruction and hatred of mankind against one another, we can hardly imagine God could have a plan to bring prosperity to our lives, to our family to our home and community. This is because we have listened to the voice of this world and our enemy too long rather than search out the truth of God’s voice which is found in His word.

We find ourselves in the very same place as Adam and Eve, who had the word and the promise of God that they were created in His image to rule and have dominion over the earth. As we have discussed before, an enemy came and planted seeds of doubt and rebellion against God and Adam and Eve chose to believe the lie of the enemy rather than the word of God.

 Jeremiah 29:11           For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

The word tells us God formed our inward parts and God covered us in our mother’s womb. We should praise God, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made! God saw us when the millions of possible life producing seed went racing to the egg in our mother’s womb and He called out our name and spoke life and began to form our inward parts for His purpose and glory. The world would call us an accident, a slipup, a mistake but God called us by name for a purpose.

The enemy tries to destroy us before we are born just as he did in the times of Moses and Jesus because he is afraid of our purpose. When he cannot abort our lives to destroy us then he will try to oppress us with heavy burdens of life just as he did with the slaves in Egypt. And if all else fails the enemy will come to try to kill, steal and destroy the people of God. God has made provision for His people and will be with us even until the end of the world.

We are wonderfully made, we are full of wonders; no man can predict or determine our future. God has made us, formed us and fashioned us in such a way that people are amazed, surprised and marvel at all we can do. Some are even astonished and become full of fear of what can be accomplished through God. When we learn the truth of who we are in Christ, the enemy cannot come and trick us into hating ourselves or others who are unlike us. We will know God has a divine purpose for us all and He is able to make us all successful and blessed, with nothing missing and nothing lacking.

Our frame was not hidden from God, when we were made in secret God’s eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. God sees every unborn child and has a plan for every life. God knows the parents, the race, and the culture He has placed us in. He knows we have the ability to win in life even with all the strikes that may be against us, no matter the problems, handicaps or disadvantages we may have. God has a purpose to use those issues to bring Him glory. When others see us rise out of darkness and ashes they will know only God could have done such a wonder in our lives and people will give God praise for Who He is.

If God be for us who can stand against us? No man can stop you; you can only give up on yourself and God’s purpose for you. If Joseph would have given up when he was sold into slavery he wouldn’t have made it to Egypt. Had he given up when he went to prison, he would not have met Pharaoh or saved his family. As long as there is breath in our lungs and life in our bodies God is able to turn our lives around and to work the things the world meant for evil for our good and His glory.

Psalm 127: 3-5           Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

How do we view our children? Are we telling them what God has said about them that they are fearfully and wonderfully made? Do we let the world tell us about ourselves and our children? God has said our children are a heritage from the Lord, a reward and so are the children of our youth. Children are like arrows in our hands. Where are we sending our children? Whether we know it or not, like it or not, we are sending our children into their future… Where are we directing them? What weapons are we equipping them with as warriors to be prepared for the battle they will face in their lifetime? Whose armies will they march with; what drummer will they be hearing; who will they be fighting for and who will they be serving? God or Satan-choose…

We must tell our children they are made in the image of God and they are full of wonders and the God of this universe loves them and will be with them. They will have trouble but God will see them through if they will not give up.

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The Good Soil – Soil of the Soul

Hearts that are open to the truth of God’s word are not absent of hard times and these hearts have allowed the problems of this world and their personal struggles to draw them closer to God. Hearts that are plowed with truth in the hard places are opened and they are ready to receive the word of God. It is the word that is planted in the good soil of the heart that can produce much fruit.

We must learn how to turn our hardened hearts into good soil to receive the truth of God’s word. We are born with a heart of stone as the result of man’s fall from his created purpose. God promised to give us a heart of flesh that gives us a heart of compassion and a desire to know Him. We see in the parable those who refuse the word of God and do not continue in the word of God, their hearts were never changed. Those who allow the word of God to penetrate their hearts and change their lives are those who hearts God changed to flesh.

Mark 4:8-9  But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.” And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” NKJV

Ezekiel 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh

People who are soft to the problems of others and to their fellow man who is struggling in this world are moved with compassion. Jesus, when He saw the multitude, was moved with compassion to act on their behalf. He did not just feel sorry for them and shake His head in disbelief as many today often do when they see atrocities and do nothing. It is the heart of God in us that moves us to action, to right the wrong, to help the needy, to seek justice for those who are not being treated justly. A heart that is open to God’s word will receive the word and act on it even at the cost of self-sacrifice. This is the example Jesus left us and told us to follow. This new commandment He gave was that we love one another as He has loved us and gave His life for us.

Matthew 9:36 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

John 13: 34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

When a seed is planted it must be watered in order for it to grow. Those who receive this word and are watered by the word grow and produce some thirtyfold return on their investment. Some received sixty and some a hundred fold return on their investment in God’s word. God is not playing favorites. Some believe God lets some people do well and others do poorly. But God has put His word in motion and says it is up to you and it is according to your faith in the word it will be done unto you.

Ephesians 3:26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word,

1 Corinthians 3:6  I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

 

This is a principle; a seed will produce after its own kind as long as the earth remains. When a seed is planted it goes into the ground and dies to its self. It is no longer one seed, for it becomes a sprout with roots and when watered it becomes a plant that will grow and produce more fruit. It is a process and God gives us this example to show us how we may grow and produce much fruit. Every farmer knows soil must be turned to soften the soil and some soil needs preparation and added nutrients to get the soil ready for the seed. Just as we need to keep hearing the word to grow in our faith and prepare our hearts for the work God has for us.

Genesis 8:22 “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Once the seed is planted it must be watered for it to produce fruit. Those seeds that are well watered produce much fruit and those that are without water produce less or no fruit. God has no respect for person but He honors His word. People get a return on their invested in God’s word. Our faith allows us to give in quantities that we are comfortable with. We may give in the measures of ones, some in the quantity of tens and others who venture to give in the measures of hundreds and thousands. The world calls them crazy and foolish until they began to see the harvest or the return on their investment.

God says their return will come in the same measurements that they gave. We will receive according to our planting. If we give with teaspoons God will bless us with multiplied abundant teaspoons of blessing and if we give in the measure of a dump truck, God will give us a multiplied abundance of blessing.

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

It takes faith to put good seed in the ground, seed that could be used for food and profit at the moment. A farmer may know he has only a little seed left but when he chooses to plant the seed, this shows his faith in the process of sowing and reaping to obtain the amount of seed he needs for the next season. A harvest is received later than when it was sowed but it is also greater than what was sowed. So many people fail to stand firm and wait for their harvest. They give up before the harvest God promised matures. Remember we are told we will reap if we faint not. Sowing and reaping a harvest is a promise from God but we must be willing to persevere the difficult and dry times and wait on God’s abundance of thirty, sixty and hundred fold.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

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