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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A Life in Crisis

A major crisis or catastrophic situation will only reveal character. It does not develop bad character or force us to do hideous and gruesome acts; crisis only exposes what is already in us.

A crisis is a period, point or phase in a process or a sequence of events, which impacts our general course or direction of future events for better or worse; it is a turning point. We live in a world of continuous crisis and our lives are in a state of endless and constant change.

A crisis is about change; it is about revealing what is weak or strong in a particular situation. A crisis can be a catalyst for a new beginnings or new life phases. A crisis may lead us to a different end than we had originally anticipated. We call a crisis a problem but in the Asian language they call it an opportunity for change.

How we respond in a crisis is vital to the outcome of our success or failure in life and ultimately in the fulfilling of our purpose. A crisis is only change. It is only an opportunity for God to use the sequences of events to uproot the dead and destructive things that are in our lives. This will give space for those things that need to grow and to have time for them to develop and mature. God can use a crisis as a method of operation, to make change. He will use the crisis in our lives as an opportunity to grow us and bless us, it depends on our response. When a crisis comes it is usually for one person but it could influence whole families, communities even a nation. It can be the vehicle God uses to make change, to bless and even move people and nations forward.

God does not create the crisis; it usually comes as a result of our everyday decisions or acts that lead to a consequence that provokes a crisis. Crisis can bring change and change is a natural sequence of events that happen, everything changes, nothing remains the same. We see it in nature and we see it in life. God can use these crises as a method of displaying His wisdom and Almighty power to the world. We have often seen crisis turn situations upside down. People from high and haughty positions are sometimes humbled while others from low and obscure birth are put in places of distinction. If we understand God’s ways, we will be able to stand firm in times of our crisis and adversity.

Genesis39: 1-2 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

 

Joseph was shown that one day he would rule a nation and all the people would bow down to him. Then his life went into what we would call a major crisis. He was sold to a caravan that took him to Egypt, where he learned the customs and language of the Egyptians. He was brought as a slave to work for an officer, the captain of the guard, where he learned how lead the army and military in Egypt.

Genesis 39: 20-23 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the Lord was with him; and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper.

Joseph was thrown into prison for something he did not do but it is where he learned the operation of the palace and the country. There he met the man that would introduce him to Pharaoh the king over all Egypt and the one who would ultimately set him free. All of these situations were major crises in Joseph’s life. He could have chosen to be angry with God for allowing those things to happen to him but he did not. Joseph worked in integrity with character and represented His God well in adverse situations and under horrible circumstances. In all these problems, God used these crises to prepare Joseph for his future, to save a nation and his family. It was during these crises Joseph learned the language, culture, political and economic systems of Egypt and to become a ruler in the country.

Genesis 41: 39-41 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you.”  And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.”

Joseph did not let his circumstances change him or provoke him to act in a way that was unlike himself or his God. The jailer did not concern himself with the running of the jail because Joseph had proven himself faithful in the small things, a man of integrity and he could be trusted with more responsibilities.

A crisis is a time that reveals character and one’s true beliefs; it reveals who we are and what we trust and if we really believe God is able to do what He said He would. When the world is in a crisis people stop giving, they are no longer charitable, they begin to hoard what they have because they think there is a shortage in their supply. Their source of comfort, their job, their bank, their relationships are no longer able to sustain them. Their trusts are in the things of this world and not God.

Matthew 25:23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’

When worldly people are in a crisis, they begin to compromise their values, morals and commitments to their character. Self-preservation is the first instinct of a fallen man who does not trust in God. It is in a crisis where we see people lie, kill, steal and destroy, in order to save self. Their main thought is for self, and how to survive no matter the cost.

Those whose hope is in the Lord and believe His word, they know God will provide and protect them. God has promised to never leave us or forsake us and if we believe, have faith and hope in Him we can go through the crisis knowing He who promised is able.

Above all, those who hope is in God are willing to die to self that God may be glorified. This is the true test of faith the willingness to lay down our pride, our interest, our preference for the ultimate good of others. Jesus was our example He showed us and taught that we should not love our lives more than God. We are to be willing to lay down our rights for God. This is a hard statement and it only comes when we have total trust in God and His faithfulness to protect and provide for us. It is when we are ready to surrender our rights and our partialities for God; we are ready to live for Him. Only when a grain of wheat dies will it produce a harvest, if not, it will remain the same and stand-alone.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.  For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its roots by the river, and will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, and will not be anxious in the year of drought, nor will cease from yielding fruit.

John 16: 33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will[d] have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen

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Hope For The Future!

     Hope is fear in reverse. To hope is to look forward to something with desire and confidence, to believe in a person with whom our expectations are centered. Fear is the dread of the unknown and we panic and become fearful when we do not know what will happen in the future. To those who have trusted in the finished work of Christ, God has told us how the story ends, we will win! We have hope for the future in this life and eternity. We do not have to faint at adversity because we are blessed and favored of God; we can persevere and go through whatever life gives because we know we will succeed in the end.

Our faith gives us hope for our future and this hope causes us to make plans with confidence to face our present situation, no matter how dire it may appear. We know we will succeed because of God’s word that assures us and gives us hope of a better future. This hope is what gives us confidence to face our future. Jesus endured the cross while despising the shame, He had confidence and joy in knowing how it would end. Although He despised the shame and agony of the crucifixion, He knew it was temporary; Jesus was able to have joy knowing He would bring many into the family of God.

Hebrews 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 sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. NKJV

 

When we know and have a relationship with the true and living God, we can go through the temporary setbacks and attacks that life throws at us. No matter how bad the circumstances may look, and though all odds and facts may appear to be against us, we know God is steadfast and faithful to His word.

Our hope is in the power of God, His ability and His promises for our success in life. We are no longer dependent on what we can or cannot do; our trust is no longer in ourselves. We now have hope for our future in God and He is able, and He will perform His word. The Love God has for us was displayed when His Son Jesus laid His life down for us while we were still sinners. There is no greater love that a man may have than to lay his life down for a friend. Jesus did that for us and we now have confidence and hope for our future in this life. This is not just a hope in the sweet by and by, when we all go to heaven, it is a promise for such a time as this. Sometimes we need help right now and God’s word is our help, strength, our strong tower where we can run and be safe.

Psalm 27:3 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

 

Jesus is our example and Abraham is called the father of faith. Abraham did not hesitate but believed totally in the promise of God. Though he was a man who missed the mark on several occasions, he did not focus on his past failures. Nor did he dwell on the decay of his present situation, his age or the age of Sarah. Circumstances did not cause him to falter or quiver at God’s promise. This is our hope, not in what we have or have not done, but hope is in the God who promised us victory. God is faithful to His word and in that we are strengthened in faith to give glory to God for He is able to perform all He has promised.

Romans 4:20-25 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.”

Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification. NKJV

 

When we really know the word and love of God then we are able to serve and believe in His word. We then have the confidence and are convinced He is able to do what He has promised. No one or nothing life throws at us can persuade us to think differently. Our hope for tomorrow, for our life, for our children for our future is God! His word is sure so we may pursue with confidence those things which we were called and to fulfill our purpose. God wants to be the most important person in our lives and He promises to be a rewarder to those who diligently seek Him. We will have situations that will give us opportunity to display our faith in God and His promises or to give in to doubt and not see it through. The choice is ours to stand in faith or fall in unbelief.

Hebrew 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

 

It is the knowledge of God’s word that gives us confidence and the hope to be successful in this life. Hope gives us something to consider and to believe. Once we know the word and believe the word of God is truth we will learn He is faithful to His word. We will express this belief with our spoken words, our confession and our actions. We will say the same words God says, with excitement and expectation, giving thanks to God even before the promise has manifested itself in our natural circumstances. We will thank and praise God just as Abraham did, with confidence and great joy, when he was given the promise of Isaac long before he was conceived or born.

2 Timothy 1:8a, 12     Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord…

For this reason, I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day NKJV

 

Many people are living without hope of a decent future, without hope of how they will live. Many wonder how they will survive their destructive families, communities and their own personal life style. So many young people are taking their lives and the lives of others because they believe they have nothing to live for or they have no hope of things ever getting better. People are living without true hope, the hope that comes from the word of God. So many young people are giving up on life at an increasingly high rate and at a very alarmingly young age only because no one has given them hope for their future.

Proverbs 13: 12          Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.  

 

We must give people hope for today, that hope is in the true and living God who will help right now, and not when they have died and gone to heaven. God says He knows the thoughts He has toward us; thoughts of peace, hope and a good future. We can have hope in our future and have strength to continue because we believe in the word of God. This is not based on our own actions, works or our families place in society. God tells us to talk to Him, He will listen and if we seek after Him, we will find Him. He is a God who loves us so much that He sent us help, His Son Jesus, who came to do what we could not do for ourselves.

Jeremiah 29: 11-14a 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. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the Lord… NKJV

 

The world would tell us we cannot make it, we are not from the right school, the right part of town, right social or economic community or that we are of the wrong race, ethnic group, and gender. The world will look at our past and will try to hold us back from being successful. The world will try to tell us God has forsaken us and we have no hope of making it in life. God says those who appear to be weak are the ones He has chosen to do great things. It is the thief that plants seeds of doubt to steal our hope, kill our dreams and destroy our future. However, he can only do it if we allow him. Jesus rescued us from a life of devastation and saved us from eternal destruction. He paid our sin bill and purchased for us an abundant life.

 

1 Corinthians 1:27     but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are.

 

John 10:10    The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. NKJV

 

Our lives come down to the choices we make regarding who we allow to influence our lives. We may choose to believe the thief, who is good at beguiling, lying, and planting seeds of doubt so we will blame God for all the wrong things that happen in our lives. We have another choice, to trust in God’s word and believe in the hope He has set before us. He has given us the victory; we will win in this life if we do not faint. We may have the abundant life now where we are but we must choose it. We must choose love, peace and forgiveness.

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit NKJV

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Plans Are The Ultimate Acts Of Faith.

PLANS ARE THE ULTIMATE ACTS OF FAITH

 

God gives us important and vital truths about Himself and then He tells us how to live in light of those truths so that we and our families may live the abundant life. God tells us to hear and listen, that the Lord our God is one, there is none other. We are to love the Lord with all our hearts, souls and strength and keep this in our hearts. This is a vital truth for us to understand and we must teach this to our children. There is One God who is the true and living God. He is revealed in three persons and personalities, but they are one in Spirit, Mind and Action.

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9   Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart.

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.

You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

God even gives direction on how we are to communicate these truths to our families. We are to talk to them about God when we are sitting around in the house, talk to them about God when we go walking outside, talk to them about God when we are lying down and when we get up. We should give our families writings, drawings, songs anything that can be set before them to show them to show God and His word is all around them. This is an everyday commitment to show our families and training them as well as ourselves about the mind and heart of God and His ways. It is not just a Sunday and mid-week ritual.

Exodus 17:14 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in the book and recount it in the hearing of Joshua, that I will utterly blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven.”

We all make plans but not all our plans are written but when we write things down they becomes a memorial or a tribute to what we believe will happen. The same principle applies with teaching our families about God. The things we give them are something that we can refer to and celebrate those specific moments or ideas God gave to us when they are written. When God gives us a promise and we believe in this promise, we will start taking steps and action to help us move toward that promise. This is how plans become the ultimate acts of faith. The plans we make and the actions we take show that we believe the promise will happen. Our plans and designs will help move us closer to the outcome or the promise we will receive from God.

A very wise man once said, “The weakest ink is better than the strongest memory.” We write down the things that are important and we want to remember, it helps to engrain those thoughts into our minds. It is more than just a thought that may fade, it is a documented point something we can look forward to and when it is done we may refer back to see the faithfulness of God. Faith without some type of plan or action expressing it is just a distant dream or idea. It does not move into reality without a plan. Faith without works is dead.

James 2:18-20 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

Some people will say “Oh I believe in God!” yet, they do not take any actions toward their belief in God’s word. They may speak it because they have head knowledge of God and they may think that is sufficient. The Bible says demons believe in God and they tremble! Because they know God and His word is truth. They know what God has promised will be their end so they tremble at the thought of Him. We should believe and respond with actions related to the knowledge and promises we receive from God. To say we have faith and do nothing is no faith at all. Because we are do nothing to give energy to what we believe that faith has no life and is dead.

The book of Habakkuk God shows us an example on how we are to operate in faith when He spoke of His promise to avenge Israel from their enemies. God told Habakkuk to write the vision and make it plain on tables. God wants us to be able to go back to His word when the world and people attack or speak against God’s promise. With a written vision we will have a plan or process we may look at and refer to that will help us when the world tries to get us off course and to give up on God’s purpose for our lives.

The vision should be simple and plain so that anyone who believes and reads it so they may run with it. Anyone that takes God’s word as truth and moves toward that truth may believe no matter what problems we face, God has spoken it. Though it may linger or may be delayed we are told to preserve. God tells us to wait for it, for it will surely come, and once it begins it will come and it will not hesitate. God’s plans are for an appointed time. Only He knows the timing but we can be confident of the action and the outcome according to His word.

Habakkuk 2: 2-3 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.  For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

God is our example of how we should act. We were created in His image to look and to act like Him. God writes those things that are important to Him. In Malachi it says, God listens to the people who respect, fear and revere Him and those who speak to each other about God. God has a book written to remember all those who fear Him and think on His name. What a revelation! God actually takes time to listen to our conversations when we talk to one another about Him. He not only listens but He writes then down so they can be remembered as a testimony. Just as He instructed us to write the vision and make it plain, He documents those things, which are important. He has given us His written word, the Bible.

Malachi 3:16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on His name.

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From Belief to Faith

How do we turn our belief into faith and develop a faith that will take us through the most difficult times in our lives with a peace that surpasses understanding? The process is shown to us in the steps we go through for salvation in Romans 10. If we believe in our heart, (what God said), and confess it with our mouth, (God’s Word), we will be saved. We are saved by our faith and trust in God, we believe with a firm commitment in our hearts God’s truth and we display this assurance by the confession we speak with our mouth and the actions we exhibit in the world.

The first step of faith is to hear God’s word. Once we have heard the word we make a choice of our will to believe it or reject it. Remember true belief is to have confidence, full trust and reliability of a person or thing though it may be without absolute proof. Trusting in God becomes is confirmed in our loyalty and obligation to Him. We believe right it leads to right thinking, which leads to right actions.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

The word preacher comes from a Greek word that is translated kerusso; to herald a royal command, to proclaim publicly a divine truth. This is the responsibility of everyone who professes Christ as their Lord and Savior, to publicly proclaim truth. To announce God, the truth of Who He is in our lives and to tell all He has done in us and through us. How shall they hear without someone telling them about the goodness and loving kindness of God?

We all should ask ourselves these questions. How can people call on God when they do not believe in God? How do people learn to believe in God when they have not even heard of God? How can they hear about God if we do not testify about what He has done in our lives? How many people do not believe in God because those who call themselves Christians fail to speak about Him and all God has done in our lives? This is a sobering thought, to think someone may have been saved if we had taken time and courage to speak the truth of God to him or her.

Romans 10:6a, 8-10, 13 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way…

But what does it say? “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 “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. NKJV

The word heart comes from a Greek word translated as kardia that speaks of the thoughts, feelings and mind of a person. It is not speaking of the organ that beats in our chest but the innermost or center part of our being, which is our intellect; it is the very process of our choice and our will.

When the word of God is given to us, or when the word of God is seen (read) or heard (taught), we may choose to accept it as truth and believe it or reject it. We make this choice every time a principle or precept of God’s is spoken to us. The heart of our mind, at that moment, chooses to believe the Light of God’s word to believe or not. .

When we choose to believe the truth, our belief in God’s word is confirmed by us speaking the very truth we heard. Our spoken confession of agreement with God’s word is established in our heart with that very declaration. Our tongue is the pen that writes on our heart the good things our Lord and King has arranged for us, and this gives us overflowing hope on matters that are before us.

Psalms 45: 1 My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

What we believe in our hearts becomes what we speak. The righteousness of faith speaks this way; it says what God says about the matter. The word righteous speaks of those who are placed in right standing with God through the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We are made righteous by His acts alone and our belief in Him places us into a right position in the family of God. Therefore, those who are believers in Jesus speak this way; they confess, declare and acknowledge with their mouth, that Jesus is their Lord, to whom they will obey. They believe He is the risen Son of God. By this acknowledgement of God’s truth and with the confession and declaration of our belief, we are made righteous, in right standing and are saved by God.

Many people want to believe but stay silent without making a confession. Anyone in love will want to make known their love to the person of their affection. If we do not express our love then it is only a dream. It becomes part of our reality when we take a chance and declare our commitment to this love. We must understand this world was created by the power of words spoken in faith. It is the act of the public expression of faith that brings redemption back into our world and it is that belief that put us in right standing with God.

Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. NKJV

Belief turns to faith when we take that belief and put action with it. We may believe in our hearts a thing is true but we cultivate our faith when we express it through actions and then acknowledge it to the entire world both the seen and the unseen world. We then have declared the position on which we stand and it operates in every detail of our lives and how we live life

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A famous woman once said,” people will tell you what they really think, if you listen, really listen to what they are saying.” The word of God tells us we can tell the type of heart a person has by listening to the words they speak. It is important to listen as well as watch. People can change their actions for a short time but what is buried in their hearts comes through the very wellspring of their being through their words and eventually their behavior.

Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life

Faith is not only speaking what we believe in our heart but faith is putting into action what we believe. When we start planning for a vacation, we believe we are taking, we begin preparing for it. Faith is the motion we put in place as the result of our belief. If we believe we are going on vacation to the beach, we start planning to take time off from work, we pack our suitcase and we bring our swimming suit. These actions are faith actions preparing for what we believe will happen. The same is with faith in God’s word, we start preparing for what we believe will occur. Belief is moved into faith by the actions we take toward the end result. It is the hope we have for what will happen in our future.

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Our Belief Systems Dictate Our Outcome

Believing in God is more than an intellectual knowledge of God. It is more than an intellectual climb to attain information about God. People will say they believe in something but what they mean is they may have a knowledge that it exists but not a commitment to fully trust in that person or thing. One of the enemy’s tactics is to get people confused about God’s Word and His truth by distorting or changing our understanding of the true meaning of words. This is done to confuse us in our reading and understanding of truth with a confused or different meaning from the original text.

To have knowledge of something in one’s mind is different than having a belief or a conviction of the soul and spirit, to be committed to that belief. Knowledge of a thing shows the receipt of information or data. True belief by definition is to have confidence, which is full trust or reliability of a person, and assurance in the truth, existence, reliability of that person or thing. Though it may be without absolute proof, your believing is the faith, the confidence or trust in a person, and becomes an obligation of loyalty to that person.

The only thing that was required of Adam was to believe and obey God’s Word of Truth. God told man that he was created in His likeness and the day he ate of the tree of knowledge he would die. The world system gives different meaning to life so to confuse people in knowing good from evil. Adam’s action to eat the fruit God told him not to eat reflected Adam’s choice to obey and listen to the enemy rather than God.

Because man obeyed Satan man became a servant and under Satan’s authority and rule. God was no longer the Sovereign King of man. God is true to His Word and He will not violate His word. Nor will God violate man’s will or his ability to choose to have another ruler over him. God could not void man’s choice and be faithful to His word. Most of us would ask, why did God allow this to happen? If God loved us, He would not let that happen or if He were all-powerful, He would stop Satan.

 

It was the love God had for man that gave man the ability to choose and God’s faithfulness to His word that restrained Him from stepping in and void the results of man’s choice. God showed His love for man by allowing him a choice and not making him a robot. God’s love, mercy and grace are seen in God providing man a Saviour. God’s faithfulness to His word is displayed in His restraint in not interfering with man’s choice but to remain true to His word to give them, dominion over the things in the earth.

Genesis 2: 16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.”

Absolute power without rules of order and integrity will lead to brutality and mayhem. God’s word is His rule of order. He cannot and will not violate His word even at the great cost of losing mankind to rebellion and knowing the choice would destroy man in his created state. God is a God of integrity and principle and we are created to be like Him, in our life choices, to hold true to our word with integrity. An example of this is shown in Daniel. The king made a law and once a law was established the king himself could not alter or change the law. The king himself had to abide by the law that was implemented. Daniel was a man the king respected but the integrity of his word could not be violated, even at the cost of throwing Daniel into the lion’s den. This was done to keep the integrity of an earthly king’s law. It is much more important for the God of the universe to protect and keep His word!

God is not a man and He cannot lie, He must hold true to His word no matter the cost. Just as Daniel had to go into the lion’s den to protect the integrity of the king, God had to allow man a choice to hold true to His integrity. God brought Daniel out of the lion’s den just as God has provided a plan for man to be redeemed. God decided to pay the penalty for man’s rebellion and die in his stead. God provided man with another chance, to choose life rather than death to accept Jesus as their payment for sin.

Numbers 23:1 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?

The rebellion of Adam and Eve allowed Satan to have dominion over this world system for a season. The very dominion God had given to mankind was turned over to Satan and this is why there is such hate, death and destruction in the world today. Satan comes to kill, steal and destroy man- the object of God’s love and affection the very one created in His image.

Jesus came, paid the penalty for man’s rebellion and returned the Kingdom of Heaven back to the earth and now we are able to become citizens of this kingdom of God. The Kingdom of God was made available to all who believe in His Son. Now there are two kingdoms in operation on earth trying to advance its kingdom influence in the world, the fallen kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God which bringing the light of truth. We still have to choose, in this life, which we will serve, the true King or the father of lies and our choice will be reflected in our actions. We have the same choice Adam and Eve had a choice that will display to the world who we are listening to and obeying, the truth of God or the lies of Satan.

Knowledge is only information; it is data we have on a subject, person or thing. Belief, however, is a commitment to a person or thing. It is having faith, belief and commitment that the person is all they said they are, even if there are no substantial proofs showing we are right. This is why believing in Jesus takes faith, not just to know Him, but to trust Him. Faith believes He is God and is committed to trust Him in the face of dark circumstances. We may be unable to produce, to the satisfaction of sceptics, the evidences they want us to produce but we believe that He is and He is able and will keep His promises. Our faith and the way we live with integrity is a testament of God, His power and what He can do with a simple life that is lived for Him. A life well lived points to God’s divine strength helping us to live a life of forgiveness and love which is only by the power of God’s grace and mercy.

Right believing leads to right thinking, which leads to right actions and this is what God wants for His people. When we know how much God loves us and all He has done just for us to succeed, our action would line up with what is true out of gratitude. We will want to do what brings honor and pleasure to our God. Loving children want to bring honor to their parents who have loved and given for their wellbeing. We as children of the Most High Kings should want to bring honor to our Heavenly Father. We do this by the choices we make in our daily lives to trust God and to show His love to an undeserving world.

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The Battle For Man’s Belief

THE BATTLE FOR MAN’S BELIEF

 

 

The battle in the Garden of Eden was for the belief of man, to see who he would believe and obey. God had given man His truth and told man “the day you eat you shall surely die.” Satan comes and contradicts God and said “You will not surely die” causing man to question God’s Word and created doubt about the truth of God’s Word. Satan’s purpose was to have man believe and obey him rather than God. Satan knew if he could get man to believe and obey him, man would become his servant and would lose his right standing with God.

Adam chose to obey Satan rather than God and that day man died. Man in his created form ceased to be, he was separated from the source of his life, God, and man became a fallen being. Man as the reflected Image of God’s glory truly did die that day and the light God created in man was dead. Man was now under Satan’s authority, the curse of sin and death. The fall of man was the result of man’s choice to obey Satan rather than God, to believe in a lie rather than trust God’s word of truth. Jesus came and defeated Satan and now we are more than conquers in Christ Jesus.

God had given mankind all they needed to rule the earth and have dominion over the earth. Man had the authority, the ability and the word of truth but Satan came, stole what God had given. Satan became the prince of darkness over the earth. Seducing mankind to leave the light of God’s truth and they became blind to the truth and lived in darkness, which is the absence of light and truth.

Genesis 2: 16-17 And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, “Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat of it you shall surely die.” NKJV

The day mankind ate of the tree of knowledge of good and evil man’s spirit was dead; he was no longer the God breathed spirit of life that God had created him to be. When Adam’s spirit died, and all mankind was in Adam and we too died spiritually. God is true to His word; the day you eat, you shall surely die. Spiritual death is the separation from the life-giving source; or it is the absence of spiritual life.

Man was now separated from God and had lost his spirit life. Just as a plant dies the day it is uprooted from the soil and the fish dies when it is taken out of the water. The present appearance may not reflect the state it is in but it is no longer connected to the life-giving source and time will show its decay. That is what happened to Adam when he was separated from his life source, God; he died as a spirit-man. Adam’s image changed, he no longer reflected the glory of God but that of Satan. Adam’s second death came when his soul was separated from his body, which did not occur for over 900 years later.

Now we all are born dead in sin and unattached and out of relationship with God. That is why Jesus said, “Let the dead bury the dead. He was saying let those who are dead in spirit bury those who are dead bodily.

The only way to be reconnected to God is to be born again into the family, household and kingdom of God. The kingdom of God is not a religion, or some religious act. The kingdom of God is being reconnected to the source that gives life, God. We are born again, as sons of God, when we acknowledge Jesus our Sovereign King and Lord over our lives. Then we are born into the family of God as His children with His authority, blessing and joint-heir with Jesus to all that is by right, His. Both these terms, children and heir, indicate family and relationships. God wants to be in a family relationship with His children just as any good parent who wants to be in a good relationship with their children.

Luke 9:60 Jesus said to him “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”

 

God’s one commandment to Adam was to believe the Truth of His Word and not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil so he would remain in the created image of God. God knew when man failed to believe Him and obeyed Satan mankind would become a fallen species, dead in his created form, purpose and under Satan’s authority. Man was no longer righteous, or in right standing with God and no longer in fellowship with God. Man had fallen into darkness unable to stand before a Holy God. But God’s love for man would not let Him leave mankind in that fallen state without making a provision to bring mankind back to God.

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness. NKJV

Everyone has the same choice that Adam and Eve had to choose whose word we will believe. Will we believe the Word of God, that Jesus came to save us from death, or will we believe Satan, who is the father of lies? Our choice is seen in our actions, they will reflect our beliefs and will show who we truly believe. Our actions will line up with our choice and they become our master. It is not just a head knowledge that constitutes belief it is heart conviction that causes us to act in belief and trust God. Without faith in Jesus, the enemy will causes some to act in rebellion against the Sovereign King.

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Jesus’ Gospel – The Kingdom of Heaven

JESUS’ GOSPEL – THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN

The schemes the enemy plays on humanity remain the same. His strategy has not changed from the time he questioned God’s love and His word to Eve to cause Eve to doubt God. He still tries to imply God’s motives are wrong and he want to get us to question God’s word and His love for us and our identity as children of God. Eve was deceived in the garden and Satan tried to beguile Jesus in the wilderness by questioning if He was the Son of God. The enemy has always tried to attack God’s Word and our identity in God, to keep us confused or blind to the fact we were created for greatness as sons of God to be His glory in the earth.

Our created purpose is to have dominion over our circumstances, situations and to reflect the image of God in the earth. Satan is the master of deception, the father of lies and he tries to change what man believes about himself and his created purpose. If we are confused and deluded about who we are and the purpose of our being sons of God, then we may end up living our entire lives not knowing the truth of who we are. Jesus came that we might know this truth.

John 18:37     Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.” NKJV

It is surprising to see the differences in what Jesus taught and what is taught by religion today. Jesus spoke on the Kingdom of God and He mentioned it over 50 times. Jesus also spoke of the Kingdom of Heaven over 30 times and He spoke of being born again in one conversation as an answer to a question. Jesus’ message was of the kingdom and how it operates this is not the message we hear most religious meetings. We normally hear on message, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus. Important as this is, believing in Jesus is the way we enter into the kingdom of God. Now we must learn how to live and operate in the Kingdom of God.

We are told how to get into the kingdom of God, through faith in Jesus, which takes only sections to profess a belief in Christ. Then most will spend a lifetime not knowing how to operate in the kingdom of God that we are now part as citizens.

We must strive to learn more about how to operate in the kingdom God on earth. This will bring glory to God. Jesus called Himself the door; the means by which men would enter into this kingdom and be saved. Jesus came and paid the debt for sin that owed and now we can be saved and enter into the kingdom of God. Jesus main message was how we are to live in this kingdom while on earth.

John10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Luke 4: 17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

Matthew 11:11 Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. NKJV

 

Jesus spoke of John the Baptist as the greatest one born of women, which is the first birth into this world. However, those who are born again of both spirit and water will enter into the kingdom of heaven that is present on this earth. Jesus was not speaking of life after death but a life after we receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven having return back to God’s people. Jesus died and He was resurrected for the purpose of restoring us back into the family and kingdom of God. So His kingdom and glory would be reflected in the earth that God created. God’s purpose for man did not change when man fell in the garden; it was only delayed by man’s choice to follow a different king (Satan). Jesus came to restore us back to our original purpose and now man can once again choose life and enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Some people think Satan won the battle in the Garden of Eden by tempting man to fall from his created position. It was this deceptive act of Satan that God used to position us in an even higher position; we are sons of God in the family and household of God, which He had ordained before the foundation of the world. We are no longer just another of God’s creations we are now children of the Most High King. This would not have happen had not mankind fallen. What the enemy meant for evil God us for our greater good and His glory.

Had the enemy known killing Jesus would redeemed mankind he probably would not have made that move. The same situation applies to mankind; we are now God’s children in the family of God. Yet, so many people are deceived to think they are less that that they were created to be. Even those who have come to a saving knowledge of Christ are still living below their positions as sons of God joint heirs with Christ.

Luke 4:43   but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”

Matthew 6:9-11     Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.  Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread.

 

Jesus taught us to pray and ask God to let His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven and give us this day our daily bread…” Jesus is speaking in present time because we need daily bread today while we are living on earth, we need God’s kingdom to come today and His will be done today while we are living on the earth. We will not need this when we are dead.

The enemy would have us defer God’s will and the kingdom of heaven to some future time. We cannot appropriate or take possession of what we do not know we have. We have been blind to the knowledge of the kingdom of God we did not know we were or what we received. This is the reason Jesus came, that we may know the truth. The kingdom of God is now at hand and available to us.

The kingdom of heaven is available is the good news, the truth Jesus taught. We are to expect it, appropriate it and possess it today, now in the earth as a witness of God’s kingdom in the earth. The message of the kingdom of God on earth has become a lost phrases in the “the Good News of the Gospel.” The Good News is the God’s kingdom on earth has returned but the message has been distorted into a different message that is does not focus on transforming this life but to wait until you die and go to heaven to be saved.

We must go back to the original message Jesus Himself taught and see what He said about the kingdom of God. Jesus message did not change even after His return from the death of the cross; He spoke of the kingdom of God on the earth. Jesus instructed His disciples to tell the world of the kingdom of God and make disciples to teach others about the kingdom of God.

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Women True Identity and True Purpose

WOMAN: HER TRUE IDENTITY AND TRUE PURPOSE

 

A woman’s true identity is in her created divine purpose and that is to reflect the image of God in her character and life. We must understand the design of woman before we can understand her purpose. God as woman’s creator is the ultimate authority of her purpose and calling.

Just as the manufacturer of a product is the authority on the product’s purpose and design, we must look to God the One who created woman to communicate her true purpose. There are many men, people groups, cultures and religions communities who have tried to label women and define them as it suits them. Nevertheless, her true purpose and definition must come from her creator, God Himself.

We must start with the word of God and understand that all scripture is God breathed. God’s word is the authority and is Preeminent. It is above all others in importance and distinction regardless of culture or people group. The reason some women fall short in fulfilling God’s purpose is because they have allowed others to define them. They lack knowledge of the truth of God’s word and accurate information from The Creator.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God [ may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge…. because you have ignored the law of your God …

Genesis 1:27-28a So God created man (human species) in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them “be fruitful, and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of sea…”

 

Genesis 2:18 – Then God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

 

The word “helper” in the original language of Hebrew is “Ezer” which means to help, surround, protect.  The purpose of woman is to be an Ezer, to be someone who surrounds and protects, who is an essential counterpart to the man. She is to be a parallel an equivalent part of the revealed nature of God in the earth. Women were created in God’s image to reflect a specific part of His nature or character in the earth, His loving character, His desire to help and to partner with others.

Ezer- the female part of humanity is a vital and necessary part of the combined reflection of God’s glory that is revealed in both male and female. The female reflection or counterpart of God is not inferior or an afterthought of God. Women are the beautiful, intentional, counterpart to the male thus the two together make a complete Divine Likeness and the nature of God. Women primarily mirror or reflect what is called the Ezer nature of God, which is to invite, nurture, and partner or collaborate.

The male counterpart mirrors God’s likeness in the primary context of pursue, to provide and to protect. Both male and female reflect some or all of these qualities of God in some situations but for the purpose of highlighting God’s nature, we will emphasize the attributes that are seen in a large part in women.

Women were created to reflect God in the framework of relationships and there are so many relationships such as daughter, sister, aunt, niece, cousin, friend, mother, and wife. While women mostly focus on wife/mother roles, they are only part of who they are and their purpose to display God’s reflection in many roles and relationships in the earth.

Everything about being a woman and every relationship is essential and valuable because every woman reflects God in each of themselves. A woman’s value is not first in what she does but in the person God created her to be and it should reflect His glory on the earth. Our Purpose or calling as Ezer is to reflect God’s character in the context of our relationships. People should see the love of God, His tender mercy and His desire to help in time of need.

God said it was not good for man to be alone, but He gave man more than one relationship, not only a wife. God gave humanity multiple relationships father/ mother, sister/brother, uncle/aunt, niece and nephew, cousins, husband/wife all these are in the context of family. God even gave us friends those we can partner with outside of our families. God made multifaceted complex people like Himself. God is so complex – God is so vast – God is so awesome He cannot be contained in one form He is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

In our individuality- personality, gifts and passions, we are to display the Divine Portrait of God, which is reflected in both male and female. If either the man or the woman fails to reflect God in the earth then there will not be a true and accurate picture of God to the world.

God is inviting and inclusive as He has invited mankind to participate in the dominion and rule over the earth. Women are to invite and request the presence or participation of others in our lives to show them the love of God.
Genesis 22:18 through you (Abraham) all the nations of the earth will be blessed- God is inviting to all people and nations-

 

God is nurturing… Caring for and encouraging the development of another in a way that creates strength in them and enables them to flourish.
Hosea11:3-4 It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arm, it was I who healed them… I bent down to feed them.

 

God Partners with us, He is a comforter, He is our companion, His is our advocate, He is an intercessor and He comes along side to help us. This is the helper God created woman to be in the earth, to show His qualities as a partner, a comforter, companion, advocate, intercessor and someone who will come along side and help those who are in \need.
John 1:14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

Philippians 1:5-6 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

Philippians 2:13    for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

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God’s Kingdom on Earth – The Original Purpose

God’s Kingdom on Earth – The Original Purpose

 

Until we learn what we lost in the beginning, we will never understand what was returned to us through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

 

Genesis 1:26-27 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness;

let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle,

over all [ the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” NKJV

 

When man fell he lost his relationship with The King and the kingdom God gave to mankind on the earth. Mankind also lost their purpose, to be the reflected image and likeness of God. God did not make man a robot, something to obey without thought or will to His every command. God made man in His image to imitate Him on the earth, to rule and to reign. He gave mankind a will, which is the ability to choose to obey and serve God or another.

Satan being a liar and a thief came and stole the authority and dominion from man by deceiving and lying to mankind.   Although Satan entered the world system deceitfully, with the permission of the serpent, God would not violate His word and mankind had to suffer the consequences of his choices. With this act of disobedience man lost dominion and authority to Satan.

 

Romans 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are

that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to

righteousness. NKJV

God is all knowing and knew mankind would be deceived and sent Jesus to defeat Satan so that mankind can now choose to follow God. God made provisions for mankind before He laid the foundation of the world. We have heard people say if God was all-loving He would not have allowed this to happen to man. Or, if God were all-powerful He would have stopped Satan or stopped man from sinning. Truth is, God is all loving and all-powerful but above all, He is faithful to His Word. This is the reason God made provision for man before the foundation of the world to allow man to choose but to provide a way for man to be restored.

Even though God knew man would choose to disobey and die in his original state, God provided His Son as a redeemer. Jesus Christ delivered mankind from the enemy and He returned the kingdom of God to the earth. Jesus has re-established God’s original purpose for mankind and His kingdom and that is for mankind to reflect God’s love and glory on the earth.

What most people fail to realize is God did not come to save us from Satan, he is a defeated foe, but through Christ we are children of the Most High King, a new creations. The thing Satan meant to bring evil upon us, God used for our greater good and His glory. We were made the highest of God’s creation on the earth with ability to rule and reign, but God reinstate us as His children, joint-heirs with Christ. We are now not only to reflect God’s image, we are His children seated in heavenly places with Christ.

 

The very event that Satan used against mankind, God used to bring humanity into an even closer relationship. Mankind is a creation of God, but now after the resurrection of Christ, God has given us an opportunity to become children of the Most High King. This is a horrifying truth for Satan, because of his actions we are now adopted into the family of God. This is a truth the enemy wants to hide from the people of God. This is a kingdom truth, though man fell in the beginning, those who accept Jesus as their savior and Lord are now more like God. We are regenerated and made new through Jesus Christ our redeemer.

1 Peter 1:18-21 Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or

gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious

blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained

before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through

Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and

hope is in God. NKJV

 

God said” let them have dominion” over the things on the earth. He did not say “let us have dominion.” God is obligated to His word and when He gave man dominion He was bound by His word. God gave dominion over the earth to mankind and all legal authority was given to humanity to choose whom to obey and serve. Mankind in the very act of obedience to Satan gave him reign and over this domain. God, in His love for mankind, provided a way to save humanity.

God’s integrity and faithfulness to His Word would not allow Him to snatch authority back from man even though man was using it to his own detriment. Many people try to rationalize and justify their actions by saying the end justifies the means. God tells us to stay true to our word even to our own hurt. Our word and integrity are more important than any possible loss we may suffer. No matter the loss, God is able to work everything for our good and His glory.

In the very act God allowing man to choose even at such a high cost showed God’s faithfulness to His word. God did not step in and alter Adam’s and Eve’s choice to rebel even though it would cost Him Jesus His only Son. God even at such a high price, the life and death of His Son, we can be sure God’s word is true and He is faithful to His word. God is not like man who will lie and renege on his word if things get too hard.

We can only imagine how it grieved God to lose the fellowship and relationship with the highest of His creations, the one He created to reflect His image. God is patient, kind and longsuffering and He knew He would provide a way for mankind to return to his original purpose but in a greater position.

It may seem like a long time since Satan tricked man, but remember with God a thousand years seems as one day. Therefore, we cannot measure God’s timing or purpose by our standard of time. In the beginning we were a creation of God but now God has transformed us into children in the family of God.

2 Peter 3:8 but beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a

thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. NKJV

 

Jesus was born a child in the flesh of man and Christ is the Son of God given for the restoration and reinstatement of mankind back to God. With Jesus the Christ, God returned His government to the earth. We are no longer slaves to sin and Satan. Everyone has a choice and an opportunity to return to God. Jesus came into the world legally. He was born a man having the authority given to man on the earth. He was also Christ, the Spirit of God reconciling humanity back into the right relationship with God.

Jesus paid the sin debt for mankind’s disobedience and provided a way for us to be children of God, heirs to the Kingdom of God. God’s purpose for mankind did not change. Man is to reflect and reveal God’s glory in the earth. God had given authority to mankind, so God must work his plans in collaboration with the will of man, because God is faithful to His word. God’s purpose for us has not changed and it will prevail. Jesus has returned the Kingdom, God’s government upon the earth and to those who know their God will do exploits.

 

Isaiah 9:6-7 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.  Of the increase of His government and peace there will

be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with

judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will

perform this. NKJV

 

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent.

Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good. NKJV

 

Jesus came to set man back in his original position as having dominion and authority over God’s earthly kingdom and to put man back into the family of God. We are now children of the Most High King.

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God’s Purpose Will Prevail!

GOD’S PURPOSE WILL PREVAIL

 

 

Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.

 

We live, we make plans and we have dreams. This is part of our nature, the desire to do something great. We were created in the image of a Great God Who Himself is the Creator of all things. We were created with greatness in us and we are to reflect God’s greatness in our lives. The very image of God is on us and we are to reflect His majesty in the earth.

We are to display this greatness in our everyday lives and how we do this will vary because we are each different. Every person born has the choice to bring glory and majesty to God. Our purpose is the same, to bring Him glory on the earth but the decision and will is ours to make.

This is seen in the way we raise our children to fear and respect God this magnifies His presence in the earth. It may be seen in the writing of a poem that eases someone’s trouble, or singing a song that may help someone through difficult times. All we do is a reflection of God’s creativeness in the earth, so let us represent Him well.

Our greatness is in us being who God created us to be. It may sound so simple but it takes a strong person to hold on to their purpose in the face of the labels society gives us many times before we can walk or talk. God wants us to trust Him and know who we are in Christ. When the world dismisses us as nothing and labels us as a person with little value, because of our gender or race, God has called us His beloved. God wants us to understand the truth about ourselves.

We are to reflect His nature so the world will know Him. This is the real purpose for which we were adopted into the family and to live in His kingdom. He does not want us to settle for the lies or the labels this world and the enemy has told us. We are to keep our eyes on God and let Jesus help us fulfill our destiny.

We must start at an early age telling our children who they are and that they were created for greatness because they were created in the image of Greatness, God Himself. This is who we are, children of the Most High King. An enemy wants to kill, steal and destroy our lives before we even know who we are much less our created purpose. The enemy will try to hide and discourage us from achieving the greatness for which we were born.

It is amazing to see the things the enemy is trying to do to our children’s minds through society, culture, media and family. How many countless children walk around thinking of themselves as not worthy of anything good, or feel they do not measure up to others because of lies the enemy has planted in their minds through people. How many give up on life because they have no hope.

God’s purpose is for man to rule and have dominion over all the earth. God created man and gave him authority over all that was in the earth. The enemy came to usurp, to seize and to take away the authority from man, so that he could rule over all man was given. There are two kingdoms operating in the earth, the fallen state of man and the enemy whose purpose is to destroy humanity and the Kingdom of God. Everyone will choose by their actions, which they will serve.

Many times God is blamed for the evil and death that is in the world as though He was responsible for the wrong in the world. Jesus came so we may have abundant life and Satan is the thief, who came to steal man’s authority and dominion. He is the one who comes to destroy but the people want to blame God. The ultimate lie to mankind is to have humanity believe, that Satan does not exist and God the Creator has abandoned them.

 

John 10: 10    The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

 

God gave man authority over the new earthly kingdom He had created but man in turn gave it over to Satan. God could not go against His word or take it back; His word binds Him to be faithful to it. It had to been done legally through a man and this is why Jesus had to be born as man. Christ is God’s Spirit living in Jesus the man. The man Jesus God would reinstate man’s authority even though mankind disobeyed God. Jesus restored man’s authority over God’s kingdom and received all power and authority.

The adversary still tries to intimidate and lie about God’s purpose for humanity but he is a defeated foe. Though in this world system we may go through many things we will prevail in the end. Jesus has given us power and authority to rule in His kingdom on this earth, the kingdom of God and He has given that authority to the children of God.

The enemy wanted to destroy the kingdom God had created for Adam to rule and because of the fall God’s kingdom authority was displaced. However, God’s purpose still prevailed and an even greater planned purpose will succeed. It was a man that turned over his authority to Satan to rule and have dominion in the earth and it was the man, Jesus, who took the authority back and set God’s kingdom back in right order in the earth.

Many people think Jesus came just so we would go to heaven when we die. While that is a result of Jesus’ coming but the reason He came was for us to know the truth, and to teach the Kingdom of God is again available for us to operate and live in on the earth. This is the good news of the Gospel, which Jesus preached, the Kingdom of God has returned!

John 18:37 You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.”

Matthew 4: 16-17 “The people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”

 

Jesus’ first message was the Kingdom of God has returned and that is what He taught while He was on earth. The word repent, from the Greek word metanoeo, means reconsider or to think differently. Jesus wants us to change the way we think and operate in the earth. We no longer have to stay in darkness, The Great Light of Truth-Jesus, has come to restore God’s original purpose of His kingdom on earth

Many are the plans of man but God’s purpose will prevail. God allows plans to change because He must work within the confines of His Own Word and the will of man. God’s purpose, the function and principle Divine goal is for mankind to rule His kingdom on earth and it will prevail. Jesus came as a man so that He may reinstate man into the kingdom of God. We now have the same choice as the first Adam to choose who we will obey, the God our Sovereign Lord or walk in the ways of this fallen world. We choose whose kingdom we will operate in by the actions we take. We will operate in the kingdom of darkness or the Kingdom of God.

 

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

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