CHRIST IS YOUR WISDOM
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. - 1 Corinthians 1:30, KJV
When you depend on the Lord’s wisdom to succeed, you will see whatever you do prosper. From the Gospels, we can see how our Lord Jesus always flowed in divine wisdom in His earthly ministry.
In everything our Savior did, He was altogether lovely. He was never early, never late. He was always at the right place at the right time. He was always in perfect peace and never stressed or harassed. When it was time to be tender, He was infinitely gentle, gracious and forgiving—we see this from His response to the woman caught in adultery. When it was time to overturn the tables of the money changers, He did it with passion. He was never frazzled by the Pharisees’ attempts to trip Him up and was always flowing with divine wisdom.
Beloved, this same Jesus, with all His wisdom, is today our ascended Christ, who is seated at the Father’s right hand, and whom the Bible says is “made unto us wisdom.”
He is your wisdom! So begin to see yourself in Christ, who is always flowing with divine wisdom, always in control of the situation, and the same wisdom that flows in Him will flow in and through you!
It is believed that there has never been a wealthier king than King Solomon. God gave him wisdom that not only made him wise in matters of justice, but also brought him gold and silver. (1 Kings 3:1213)
According to a report by the Illinois Society of Architects in 1925, the cost of Solomons temple in terms of existing values would have been about US$87 billion! The priests wore garments costing more than US$10 million! These amounts only cover what Solomon spent on the temple and not his personal assets.
We can go on talking about the riches of King Solomon, but the Bible tells us that there is one greater than Solomon. (Matthew 12:42) His name is Jesus, and He is the most prosperous Man who ever lived and who will ever live.
If there was a need to feed the hungry, He simply multiplied whatever food was placed in His hands. On one occasion, He multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men, not counting women and children. And incredibly, there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. (Matthew 14:1521)
If any of His own faced lack, it was not long before abundant provision flowed to them. Once, when His disciples caught nothing after a whole night of fishing, He merely spoke a word of command and schools of fish obeyed, swimming toward His disciples boat so that they received a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish. (Luke 5:17) In another incident, He provided the money for the temple tax, even if it took a fish to bring it to them! (Matthew 17:2427)
My friend, this same Jesus has become for you wisdom from God. If you are a businessman, with Christ in you, you have wisdom that is greater than the wisdom of all the worlds business gurus put together. And if you are a student, Christ in you will manifest wisdom that is greater than all the wisdom of the brilliant minds in the academic world.
Beloved, believe that because Jesus, Gods wisdom, is in you, there is no reason you cannot prosper today, and astound the world in the same way Solomon did!
BUT GOD!
“O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! ...But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.” - Psalm 3:1–3, NIV
When David wrote this verse, He was in a very difficult situation. He was actually running for his life from his very own son who wanted to kill him and take over the throne. Can you imagine?! David was probably feeling overwhelmed, distraught, heartbroken, betrayed and abandoned. Have you ever felt that way? But notice that David didn’t just tell the Lord all about his problems. He told the Lord about his faith when he said, “But You, God, are a shield around me...” David made the choice to focus on God’s goodness no matter what.
We have to remember, circumstances may be tough, but God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. You may have a difficult relationship, but God is your Restorer today. You may have an overwhelming need, but God is your Provider today! The doctors may have told you that you have an incurable disease, but God is your Healer today! Things may look impossible today, BUT WITH GOD, all things are possible! If you’ll keep that constant attitude of faith and victory, you’ll see the hand of God move in your life, and you will experience the life of victory He has in store for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for always being faithful and working in my life. Today I open my heart to You and choose to focus on You instead
FORGIVING OTHERS IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE …
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. - Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26
There are qualifications for believing and receiving as well as restrictions for receiving answers to prayer. Unforgiveness in our hearts will keep our prayers from being answered.
We should forgive others as quickly as it takes to make the decision to pray. The Greek word for "when" means "whenever, as soon as, or while." When we stand praying, we must forgive if we have ought ("anything at all, the least little part; whatsoever") against anyone.
When we are offended or hurt, we often feel justified in holding a grudge.
The Old Testament law expressed this when it stated, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Ex. 21:23-25). Until the offense was paid, we did not feel free to forgive. However, God dealt with all men's offenses by placing sin upon the perfect Savior who was judged in place of every sinner of all time. To demand that others must earn our forgiveness is not Christ like. Jesus died for every man's sins, extending forgiveness to us while we were yet sinners, and we should do the same.
It is doubtful that a person who refuses to forgive has ever experienced forgiveness himself. This is comparable to the servant that Jesus talked about in Matthew 18:23-35. He was forgiven a debt of over $3,000,000,000 and yet he refused to forgive his fellow servant who owed him $3,000. The forgiveness that we have received from the Lord is infinitely greater than any forgiveness we will ever be asked to extend to others. Freely forgive as you have been forgiven.
THE BLAME GAME
My wrong be upon you! . . . The LORD judge between you and me. —Genesis 16:5
When Jenny’s husband left her for another woman, she vowed that she would never meet his new wife. But when she realized that her bitterness was damaging her children’s relationship with their father, she asked for God’s help to take the first steps toward overcoming bitterness in a situation she couldn’t change.
In Genesis 16, we read the story of a couple to whom God promised a baby. When Sarai suggested that her husband Abram have a child with their servant Hagar, she wasn’t fully trusting God for the child He had promised. When the baby was born, Hagar despised Sarai (Gen. 16:3-4), and Sarai became bitter (vv.5-6).
Hagar had been the slave with no rights and suddenly she was special. How did Sarai react? By blaming others, including Abram (v.5). God’s promise was realized in the birth of Isaac 14 years later. Even his weaning celebration was spoiled by Sarai’s attitude (21:8-10).
It may never have been easy for Sarai to have lived with the consequences of their decision to go ahead of God. It may have taken a miracle of grace to change her attitude but that could have transformed everything. Sarai couldn’t reverse the decision, but through God’s strength, she could have lived with it differently, and given God the glory.
Thank You, Lord, that though our situations may not change, Your grace is strong enough to change us in our situations. Help us as we struggle sometimes to live in this sinful world.
By God’s grace, we can reflect His light in the dark times.
BREAK THROUGH TO VICTORY
God's perfect will for our lives is that we walk in His glory one hundred percent of the time. His will is not for us to have just a fleeting experience here and there, but to walk in His glory where even our passing shadow radiates His love and anointing, convicting, changing, healing and delivering people around us. Yes, God wants to bring us to a level in Him where He is able to touch those around us through His anointing and to freely flow through us to reach others with His saving power. The Lord has a ministry to complete through us; to touch a lost world and reconcile them unto Himself. But He needs yielded vessels, those that have been prepared completely by the Father for this purpose.
So many of God's people are hurt and wounded, and lack God's love in their lives. Even though they know Jesus, they know Him only in a shallow way. God wants to call us to higher levels of intimacy with Him. He wants to reveal to us deep truths and revelation concerning His Word that will set the captives free and bring them to a level of discernment where they know the strategies of the enemy. Yes, Satan is like a roaring lion sent out to steal, kill, and destroy God's people and to hinder and even stop God's love from flowing through them (John 10:10).
Most are not aware of the strategies the enemy uses to try to hinder God's ministry through His people. If we are diligent to break through into the realm of God where He is able to illuminate His truth to us through His Word, then we will become enlightened and empowered by His grace, transforming us and those around us. We are to be lights that reflect and radiate the glory of God, which is His love. We have a river of life within us, Jesus Himself, which is so ready to spring up and gush out and touch everything in its path. But Satan has tried to dam up this river even before we were born.
God has a people prepared before the foundation of the earth in which He has set out to nurture, to love, and to mature them so they could become a strong and healthy bride, fit for the Master's use. The enemy has set out at the same time to devour this work. The enemy's plan was to rob us of God's love even before we were born, and all the way through our lives. Even after we are born-again, he's sent out forces to repel God's love from flowing through us. We are to rise up and allow the Lord to do the necessary work deep within us so that by God's grace we are strengthened to repel these powers. Through His anointing power, we are to continuously radiate God's glory to touch other lives and to repel the enemy.
We need to go through different levels of intimacy with the Father so that He can replenish us with the levels of love that He has in store for us. Since many were raised in a family where God's love was not known, the enemy had free access to rob them of the special love God had for them even before birth.
Even in the womb God had a special love for us that He wanted us to experience. We needed that love so that we could grow and mature in the healthy way He intended both spiritually and emotionally. Because of this lack, we became emotionally, spiritually, and physically damaged. God wants to take us through these levels of intimacy, healing and restoring that which the enemy deprived us of and even destroyed. We need to be willing to humble ourselves before the mighty throne of God for He is faithful to lift us up (1 Pet 5:6).
So many in the body of Christ are at war with each other. Many are easily offended resulting in backbiting, gossip, and even hatred among the brethren. God is calling His Church unto Himself to go from glory to glory into high levels of worship where He can overflow His love unto a lost and dying world. How can this happen if the Church is sick within? There will be no breakthrough unless we are willing to die to our pride and let the Lord heal us no matter what the cost.
God is calling us to intimacy. Are we willing to be patient and faithfully come before Him with the attitude of just wanting to bask in His presence? Are we willing to make Him our number one priority? If we are not, all our motives in life are in vain. It all will be a lost cause. Be determined not to be caught up in busyness and works that will distract you from His presence. Die to your earthly pleasures that just rob you of His glory in your life.
God promises that if you seek first His kingdom, all these things will be added unto you (Matt 6:33). At the same time, if we are staying close to the Lord, He will direct our paths (Prov 3:5-6). Our missions in Him will be His perfect will, resulting in much fruit. If our hearts are right with Him, He promises to give us our heart's desires (Psa 37:4). What do we have to lose? Just our flesh! That is our greatest hindrance. God promises prosperity in every area of our life, divine health, and abundance of spiritual blessings in this life (3 John 2).
All He wants from us is our hearts, our trust, and our devotion. He longs to spend time with us so He can share with us His burdens and His deep innermost thoughts. He wants to trust us with His intimacy, for He loves us. The Father longs to make His Church whole so He can accomplish His will through her. In order for the Church to function in the dimension God ordained, she needs to be whole. God is calling us close because He wants to heal, to deliver, and to uproot all that is not of Him. We need to be totally free so there can be unity among the brethren (Phil 2:2). Because of this weakness among the Church, a spirit of offense has been free to run rampant. Beware of this.
Many relationships between families, marriages, churches, and even in the workplace cannot take place in peace and harmony unless we are willing to draw close to Him and let Him heal us. God's love needs to flow free within us individually in order to flow from one to another. There are so many walls and divisions between God and man and each other. There must be a breakthrough from within the walls in order for us to go on in Him.
For an example, how are we to experience God's love between a husband and wife if God never had an opportunity to share His love to us before birth, as a baby, and all the way through our lives? We aren't ready for this level of God's love yet. The normal growth and maturing through His love needs to take place or there is going to be many problems in the marriage. One will try to satisfy a deep need for love through his or her mate that only God can provide. At the same time, that person doesn't know how to receive His love. There are so many fears, insecurities, and jealousies resulting in contention, strife and hatred. There is so much frustration trying to deal with this lack of maturity.
The answer is to draw close to the Father and trust Him to mature you through His love. He wants to love you through all the different levels of maturity, but you need to be willing to come to Him in honesty as a small child and ask Him to replenish you with His love. Be patient during this growth process for it will be well worth your effort. We need to start somewhere and that is at the Father's feet, at His side, on His lap, with your head at His breast, or whatever position you feel necessary to draw close to Him.
If we are willing to appear foolish at times in God's presence in the gathering of the saints, God will meet us and supply our every need. Cry out and travail for the breakthrough of the body of Christ. Pray for God's healing power to flow free among the brethren.
HOW'S YOUR SPIRITUAL MAINTENANCE?
The cares and anxieties of the world, and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. – Mark 4:19
Did you know that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it?
A friend of mine said the Lord told her in prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men. "You have so many things to maintain," He told her. "You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your machines, your hair...."
It's true. You can become a maintainer of so many natural things that you don't have any time left to maintain your own spirit!
When you find yourself in that situation, it's time to simplify your life. I've had to learn that myself. Now when I'm considering something I think I need, I don't just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it.
Second Timothy 2:4 says, "Don't get entangled in the affairs of this life." One thing I've learned over the last 25 years: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer and in the Word with the Father. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION (1) :
'The righteous are as bold as a lion.' Proverbs 28:1 NIV
John Ruskin said, 'What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.' If you're serious about succeeding at what you believe God called you to do, you must take three steps:
(1) Do something! Sir Edmund Burke said, 'Nobody made a greater mistake, than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.' Praying, planning and deliberating are all good, but there comes a point when you have to step out in faith and act. And if you're naturally sedentary or easily discouraged, you'll have to confront your fear and reluctance and take that first step. American Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock said, 'All worthwhile men have good thoughts, good ideas and good intentions, but precious few of them ever translate those into action.' God promised to part the waters of the Jordan River so that His people could go through and enter the Promised Land. But the waters parted only after they stepped in (Joshua 3:11-17). The same principle applies to you. In the beginning you just need to get moving. Try different things. It's easier to start doing something right if you've already started doing something. It's easy to steer a car when it's moving forward, but almost impossible when it's standing still. Dennis Bakke, co-founder and former CEO of global energy supplier AES Corporation, said, 'We try a bunch of stuff... see what works... and call that our strategy.' In other words, if you don't know exactly what to do, don't let it keep you from doing something.
SOW WHERE YOU WANT A HARVEST
Genesis 26:12 - Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
When you sow apple seeds, you get apples. When you sow seeds of friendship, you get friends. If in the natural, you receive in the area in which you sow, how much more will you receive in the supernatural when God blesses you!
The Bible tells us that when Isaac sowed in the land, he reaped a hundredfold even though there was a famine in that land. (Genesis 26:1) The reason was that the Lord blessed him.
So if you are believing God for a breakthrough in a particular area, sow in that area. A brother wrote a note to me at a conference I was preaching at in London. He shared with me how he was one of only two employees promoted in his department and given a substantial increase in his salary despite the economic downturn in England and retrenchment exercise at his workplace. The sum of the increase in his salary was more than 10 times what he had sowed into Gods kingdom at the same conference the year before. It could only be the Lord blessing him. And He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)
Whatever money or time you give to the Lord, He will multiply it back to you. For example, you have 24 hours a day like everyone else, but the Lord can make your day very fruitful. And even after doing all that needs to be done, you will find that you still have time left to rest.
Even when you have nothing to give but prayers, your prayers will not return to you void. God can answer them exceedingly above what you have asked. When Job lost everything that he possessed, he prayed for his friends, and the Lord not only restored his losses, but He also gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
So start sowing seeds in the area that you are believing God for, and know that before long, you will be reaping your harvest!
THE BATTLE IS IN THE MIND …
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. - Matthew 21:21
Jesus makes it very clear that we must have faith and doubt not. Every believer has faith, but most believers also have an abundance of doubt that negates their faith. It is when we purify our faith and only believe, that victory comes.
Every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan and his kingdom where there are no "leaves" or "discharges." Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Those who resist the devil will see him flee (Jas. 4:7). The only ones whom he devours are those who don't actively fight against him.
The mind is the battlefield where thoughts and reasonings that are contrary to God's Word, need to be captured and submitted to Christ, our Commander.
Just as enemy soldiers are captured in war, so rebel thoughts must be taken captive and made to submit to Christ. Our battle against the devil takes place right between our ears. The spiritual weapons given to us are designed for the express purpose of taking EVERY thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. Keeping our minds completely stayed upon the Lord is an obtainable goal.
These weapons of ours are for the casting down of two things: Imaginations; and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Both of these areas are dealing with the mind. Focus on the good in every area of your life. Failure to recognize God's blessings in every day living will cause care and anxiety. Recognizing God's hand in even the smallest thing will cause peace and keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.
But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. - 1 Corinthians 1:30, KJV
When you depend on the Lord’s wisdom to succeed, you will see whatever you do prosper. From the Gospels, we can see how our Lord Jesus always flowed in divine wisdom in His earthly ministry.
In everything our Savior did, He was altogether lovely. He was never early, never late. He was always at the right place at the right time. He was always in perfect peace and never stressed or harassed. When it was time to be tender, He was infinitely gentle, gracious and forgiving—we see this from His response to the woman caught in adultery. When it was time to overturn the tables of the money changers, He did it with passion. He was never frazzled by the Pharisees’ attempts to trip Him up and was always flowing with divine wisdom.
Beloved, this same Jesus, with all His wisdom, is today our ascended Christ, who is seated at the Father’s right hand, and whom the Bible says is “made unto us wisdom.”
He is your wisdom! So begin to see yourself in Christ, who is always flowing with divine wisdom, always in control of the situation, and the same wisdom that flows in Him will flow in and through you!
It is believed that there has never been a wealthier king than King Solomon. God gave him wisdom that not only made him wise in matters of justice, but also brought him gold and silver. (1 Kings 3:1213)
According to a report by the Illinois Society of Architects in 1925, the cost of Solomons temple in terms of existing values would have been about US$87 billion! The priests wore garments costing more than US$10 million! These amounts only cover what Solomon spent on the temple and not his personal assets.
We can go on talking about the riches of King Solomon, but the Bible tells us that there is one greater than Solomon. (Matthew 12:42) His name is Jesus, and He is the most prosperous Man who ever lived and who will ever live.
If there was a need to feed the hungry, He simply multiplied whatever food was placed in His hands. On one occasion, He multiplied five loaves and two fish to feed 5,000 men, not counting women and children. And incredibly, there were 12 baskets full of leftovers. (Matthew 14:1521)
If any of His own faced lack, it was not long before abundant provision flowed to them. Once, when His disciples caught nothing after a whole night of fishing, He merely spoke a word of command and schools of fish obeyed, swimming toward His disciples boat so that they received a net-breaking, boat-sinking load of fish. (Luke 5:17) In another incident, He provided the money for the temple tax, even if it took a fish to bring it to them! (Matthew 17:2427)
My friend, this same Jesus has become for you wisdom from God. If you are a businessman, with Christ in you, you have wisdom that is greater than the wisdom of all the worlds business gurus put together. And if you are a student, Christ in you will manifest wisdom that is greater than all the wisdom of the brilliant minds in the academic world.
Beloved, believe that because Jesus, Gods wisdom, is in you, there is no reason you cannot prosper today, and astound the world in the same way Solomon did!
BUT GOD!
“O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! ...But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head.” - Psalm 3:1–3, NIV
When David wrote this verse, He was in a very difficult situation. He was actually running for his life from his very own son who wanted to kill him and take over the throne. Can you imagine?! David was probably feeling overwhelmed, distraught, heartbroken, betrayed and abandoned. Have you ever felt that way? But notice that David didn’t just tell the Lord all about his problems. He told the Lord about his faith when he said, “But You, God, are a shield around me...” David made the choice to focus on God’s goodness no matter what.
We have to remember, circumstances may be tough, but God is working behind the scenes on your behalf. You may have a difficult relationship, but God is your Restorer today. You may have an overwhelming need, but God is your Provider today! The doctors may have told you that you have an incurable disease, but God is your Healer today! Things may look impossible today, BUT WITH GOD, all things are possible! If you’ll keep that constant attitude of faith and victory, you’ll see the hand of God move in your life, and you will experience the life of victory He has in store for you!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father, thank You for always being faithful and working in my life. Today I open my heart to You and choose to focus on You instead
FORGIVING OTHERS IS TO YOUR ADVANTAGE …
And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. - Matthew 21:20-22; Mark 11:20-26
There are qualifications for believing and receiving as well as restrictions for receiving answers to prayer. Unforgiveness in our hearts will keep our prayers from being answered.
We should forgive others as quickly as it takes to make the decision to pray. The Greek word for "when" means "whenever, as soon as, or while." When we stand praying, we must forgive if we have ought ("anything at all, the least little part; whatsoever") against anyone.
When we are offended or hurt, we often feel justified in holding a grudge.
The Old Testament law expressed this when it stated, "Eye for eye, tooth for tooth" (Ex. 21:23-25). Until the offense was paid, we did not feel free to forgive. However, God dealt with all men's offenses by placing sin upon the perfect Savior who was judged in place of every sinner of all time. To demand that others must earn our forgiveness is not Christ like. Jesus died for every man's sins, extending forgiveness to us while we were yet sinners, and we should do the same.
It is doubtful that a person who refuses to forgive has ever experienced forgiveness himself. This is comparable to the servant that Jesus talked about in Matthew 18:23-35. He was forgiven a debt of over $3,000,000,000 and yet he refused to forgive his fellow servant who owed him $3,000. The forgiveness that we have received from the Lord is infinitely greater than any forgiveness we will ever be asked to extend to others. Freely forgive as you have been forgiven.
THE BLAME GAME
My wrong be upon you! . . . The LORD judge between you and me. —Genesis 16:5
When Jenny’s husband left her for another woman, she vowed that she would never meet his new wife. But when she realized that her bitterness was damaging her children’s relationship with their father, she asked for God’s help to take the first steps toward overcoming bitterness in a situation she couldn’t change.
In Genesis 16, we read the story of a couple to whom God promised a baby. When Sarai suggested that her husband Abram have a child with their servant Hagar, she wasn’t fully trusting God for the child He had promised. When the baby was born, Hagar despised Sarai (Gen. 16:3-4), and Sarai became bitter (vv.5-6).
Hagar had been the slave with no rights and suddenly she was special. How did Sarai react? By blaming others, including Abram (v.5). God’s promise was realized in the birth of Isaac 14 years later. Even his weaning celebration was spoiled by Sarai’s attitude (21:8-10).
It may never have been easy for Sarai to have lived with the consequences of their decision to go ahead of God. It may have taken a miracle of grace to change her attitude but that could have transformed everything. Sarai couldn’t reverse the decision, but through God’s strength, she could have lived with it differently, and given God the glory.
Thank You, Lord, that though our situations may not change, Your grace is strong enough to change us in our situations. Help us as we struggle sometimes to live in this sinful world.
By God’s grace, we can reflect His light in the dark times.
BREAK THROUGH TO VICTORY
God's perfect will for our lives is that we walk in His glory one hundred percent of the time. His will is not for us to have just a fleeting experience here and there, but to walk in His glory where even our passing shadow radiates His love and anointing, convicting, changing, healing and delivering people around us. Yes, God wants to bring us to a level in Him where He is able to touch those around us through His anointing and to freely flow through us to reach others with His saving power. The Lord has a ministry to complete through us; to touch a lost world and reconcile them unto Himself. But He needs yielded vessels, those that have been prepared completely by the Father for this purpose.
So many of God's people are hurt and wounded, and lack God's love in their lives. Even though they know Jesus, they know Him only in a shallow way. God wants to call us to higher levels of intimacy with Him. He wants to reveal to us deep truths and revelation concerning His Word that will set the captives free and bring them to a level of discernment where they know the strategies of the enemy. Yes, Satan is like a roaring lion sent out to steal, kill, and destroy God's people and to hinder and even stop God's love from flowing through them (John 10:10).
Most are not aware of the strategies the enemy uses to try to hinder God's ministry through His people. If we are diligent to break through into the realm of God where He is able to illuminate His truth to us through His Word, then we will become enlightened and empowered by His grace, transforming us and those around us. We are to be lights that reflect and radiate the glory of God, which is His love. We have a river of life within us, Jesus Himself, which is so ready to spring up and gush out and touch everything in its path. But Satan has tried to dam up this river even before we were born.
God has a people prepared before the foundation of the earth in which He has set out to nurture, to love, and to mature them so they could become a strong and healthy bride, fit for the Master's use. The enemy has set out at the same time to devour this work. The enemy's plan was to rob us of God's love even before we were born, and all the way through our lives. Even after we are born-again, he's sent out forces to repel God's love from flowing through us. We are to rise up and allow the Lord to do the necessary work deep within us so that by God's grace we are strengthened to repel these powers. Through His anointing power, we are to continuously radiate God's glory to touch other lives and to repel the enemy.
We need to go through different levels of intimacy with the Father so that He can replenish us with the levels of love that He has in store for us. Since many were raised in a family where God's love was not known, the enemy had free access to rob them of the special love God had for them even before birth.
Even in the womb God had a special love for us that He wanted us to experience. We needed that love so that we could grow and mature in the healthy way He intended both spiritually and emotionally. Because of this lack, we became emotionally, spiritually, and physically damaged. God wants to take us through these levels of intimacy, healing and restoring that which the enemy deprived us of and even destroyed. We need to be willing to humble ourselves before the mighty throne of God for He is faithful to lift us up (1 Pet 5:6).
So many in the body of Christ are at war with each other. Many are easily offended resulting in backbiting, gossip, and even hatred among the brethren. God is calling His Church unto Himself to go from glory to glory into high levels of worship where He can overflow His love unto a lost and dying world. How can this happen if the Church is sick within? There will be no breakthrough unless we are willing to die to our pride and let the Lord heal us no matter what the cost.
God is calling us to intimacy. Are we willing to be patient and faithfully come before Him with the attitude of just wanting to bask in His presence? Are we willing to make Him our number one priority? If we are not, all our motives in life are in vain. It all will be a lost cause. Be determined not to be caught up in busyness and works that will distract you from His presence. Die to your earthly pleasures that just rob you of His glory in your life.
God promises that if you seek first His kingdom, all these things will be added unto you (Matt 6:33). At the same time, if we are staying close to the Lord, He will direct our paths (Prov 3:5-6). Our missions in Him will be His perfect will, resulting in much fruit. If our hearts are right with Him, He promises to give us our heart's desires (Psa 37:4). What do we have to lose? Just our flesh! That is our greatest hindrance. God promises prosperity in every area of our life, divine health, and abundance of spiritual blessings in this life (3 John 2).
All He wants from us is our hearts, our trust, and our devotion. He longs to spend time with us so He can share with us His burdens and His deep innermost thoughts. He wants to trust us with His intimacy, for He loves us. The Father longs to make His Church whole so He can accomplish His will through her. In order for the Church to function in the dimension God ordained, she needs to be whole. God is calling us close because He wants to heal, to deliver, and to uproot all that is not of Him. We need to be totally free so there can be unity among the brethren (Phil 2:2). Because of this weakness among the Church, a spirit of offense has been free to run rampant. Beware of this.
Many relationships between families, marriages, churches, and even in the workplace cannot take place in peace and harmony unless we are willing to draw close to Him and let Him heal us. God's love needs to flow free within us individually in order to flow from one to another. There are so many walls and divisions between God and man and each other. There must be a breakthrough from within the walls in order for us to go on in Him.
For an example, how are we to experience God's love between a husband and wife if God never had an opportunity to share His love to us before birth, as a baby, and all the way through our lives? We aren't ready for this level of God's love yet. The normal growth and maturing through His love needs to take place or there is going to be many problems in the marriage. One will try to satisfy a deep need for love through his or her mate that only God can provide. At the same time, that person doesn't know how to receive His love. There are so many fears, insecurities, and jealousies resulting in contention, strife and hatred. There is so much frustration trying to deal with this lack of maturity.
The answer is to draw close to the Father and trust Him to mature you through His love. He wants to love you through all the different levels of maturity, but you need to be willing to come to Him in honesty as a small child and ask Him to replenish you with His love. Be patient during this growth process for it will be well worth your effort. We need to start somewhere and that is at the Father's feet, at His side, on His lap, with your head at His breast, or whatever position you feel necessary to draw close to Him.
If we are willing to appear foolish at times in God's presence in the gathering of the saints, God will meet us and supply our every need. Cry out and travail for the breakthrough of the body of Christ. Pray for God's healing power to flow free among the brethren.
HOW'S YOUR SPIRITUAL MAINTENANCE?
The cares and anxieties of the world, and distractions of the age, and the pleasure and delight and false glamour and deceitfulness of riches, and the craving and passionate desire for other things creep in and choke and suffocate the Word, and it becomes fruitless. – Mark 4:19
Did you know that the seemingly innocent things in your everyday life can suffocate your spiritual life if you allow it?
A friend of mine said the Lord told her in prayer one day that this nation had become a nation of maintenance men. "You have so many things to maintain," He told her. "You maintain your house. You maintain your car, your yard, your machines, your hair...."
It's true. You can become a maintainer of so many natural things that you don't have any time left to maintain your own spirit!
When you find yourself in that situation, it's time to simplify your life. I've had to learn that myself. Now when I'm considering something I think I need, I don't just count the cost in dollars and cents. I think about how much time it will take to maintain it. I check to see if I can spiritually afford it.
Second Timothy 2:4 says, "Don't get entangled in the affairs of this life." One thing I've learned over the last 25 years: Nothing is as important as spending time in prayer and in the Word with the Father. Absolutely nothing in my life is as vital as that.
IT'S TIME TO TAKE ACTION (1) :
'The righteous are as bold as a lion.' Proverbs 28:1 NIV
John Ruskin said, 'What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do.' If you're serious about succeeding at what you believe God called you to do, you must take three steps:
(1) Do something! Sir Edmund Burke said, 'Nobody made a greater mistake, than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.' Praying, planning and deliberating are all good, but there comes a point when you have to step out in faith and act. And if you're naturally sedentary or easily discouraged, you'll have to confront your fear and reluctance and take that first step. American Declaration of Independence signer John Hancock said, 'All worthwhile men have good thoughts, good ideas and good intentions, but precious few of them ever translate those into action.' God promised to part the waters of the Jordan River so that His people could go through and enter the Promised Land. But the waters parted only after they stepped in (Joshua 3:11-17). The same principle applies to you. In the beginning you just need to get moving. Try different things. It's easier to start doing something right if you've already started doing something. It's easy to steer a car when it's moving forward, but almost impossible when it's standing still. Dennis Bakke, co-founder and former CEO of global energy supplier AES Corporation, said, 'We try a bunch of stuff... see what works... and call that our strategy.' In other words, if you don't know exactly what to do, don't let it keep you from doing something.
SOW WHERE YOU WANT A HARVEST
Genesis 26:12 - Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the Lord blessed him.
When you sow apple seeds, you get apples. When you sow seeds of friendship, you get friends. If in the natural, you receive in the area in which you sow, how much more will you receive in the supernatural when God blesses you!
The Bible tells us that when Isaac sowed in the land, he reaped a hundredfold even though there was a famine in that land. (Genesis 26:1) The reason was that the Lord blessed him.
So if you are believing God for a breakthrough in a particular area, sow in that area. A brother wrote a note to me at a conference I was preaching at in London. He shared with me how he was one of only two employees promoted in his department and given a substantial increase in his salary despite the economic downturn in England and retrenchment exercise at his workplace. The sum of the increase in his salary was more than 10 times what he had sowed into Gods kingdom at the same conference the year before. It could only be the Lord blessing him. And He is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think. (Ephesians 3:20)
Whatever money or time you give to the Lord, He will multiply it back to you. For example, you have 24 hours a day like everyone else, but the Lord can make your day very fruitful. And even after doing all that needs to be done, you will find that you still have time left to rest.
Even when you have nothing to give but prayers, your prayers will not return to you void. God can answer them exceedingly above what you have asked. When Job lost everything that he possessed, he prayed for his friends, and the Lord not only restored his losses, but He also gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
So start sowing seeds in the area that you are believing God for, and know that before long, you will be reaping your harvest!
THE BATTLE IS IN THE MIND …
Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. - Matthew 21:21
Jesus makes it very clear that we must have faith and doubt not. Every believer has faith, but most believers also have an abundance of doubt that negates their faith. It is when we purify our faith and only believe, that victory comes.
Every Christian is at war. There is a perpetual struggle against Satan and his kingdom where there are no "leaves" or "discharges." Our enemy goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8). Those who resist the devil will see him flee (Jas. 4:7). The only ones whom he devours are those who don't actively fight against him.
The mind is the battlefield where thoughts and reasonings that are contrary to God's Word, need to be captured and submitted to Christ, our Commander.
Just as enemy soldiers are captured in war, so rebel thoughts must be taken captive and made to submit to Christ. Our battle against the devil takes place right between our ears. The spiritual weapons given to us are designed for the express purpose of taking EVERY thought captive and making them obedient to Christ. Keeping our minds completely stayed upon the Lord is an obtainable goal.
These weapons of ours are for the casting down of two things: Imaginations; and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. Both of these areas are dealing with the mind. Focus on the good in every area of your life. Failure to recognize God's blessings in every day living will cause care and anxiety. Recognizing God's hand in even the smallest thing will cause peace and keep our hearts and minds following hard after the Lord.
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