Do You Want the Justice of God?

In Luke chapter 17 the Pharisees demanded of Jesus when would the Kingdom of God come.  Jesus said to them the Kingdom of God is not gained by careful observation, but is an unseen Kingdom.  Then he follows his teaching on the Kingdom with two parables on prayer.   The first one was about the persistent widow.

1And he spoke a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

2Saying, There was in a city a judge, who feared not God, neither regarded man:

3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of my adversary.

4And he would not for awhile: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

5Yet because this widow troubles me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she wearies me.

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said.

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them?

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

He had just been telling the Pharisees about the end time events, and the coming of the Kingdom of God.  And he concluded his teaching by saying that we should always pray, and not to faint;   Why did he use the word 'faint?'  He used this word because the last days would be so perilous.  The end times would be such trials and temptations.  He said it would be like in the days of Noah, that people would be going about their everyday lives and then the end would come upon them suddenly.    Be sure that your life is not so BUSY that you forget to pray.  In these days of stress, anxiety and trials anyone without a good prayer life is going to find themselves fainting in the wake of the sin and trials on the face of the earth.    When the disciple asked Jesus to teach them to pray he gave a parable about a man who had company and went to a friends house at midnight for bread for his guest.  Jesus said though he may not get up and help him because he is a friend, if he keeps knocking on the door because of persistence he will get the help he desired.   Now Jesus is teaching another parable on prayer, and once again he is teaching the importance of persistence and consistency in prayer. 

 

The story is about a widow that did not get justice.  I know a lot of people that are not getting the justice they deserve in this life.  I know a lot of people that have worked hard all of their lives and have nothing to show for it.  I know a lot of people that have served God and yet the enemy has done all that he could to kill, steal and destroy from them.  Many today are in the same boat as this little widow, you have not gotten the justice that you deserve in life.  

 

This widow went to the judge everyday but he denied her. Yes, there are people that have prayed, and yet, nothing has changed.  There are people that have prayed and yet it is like they are getting a no for an answer.  The judge in the parable is not a representative of God, the judge is a representative of the legal system on earth.  Often justice in not served.  Jesus is making the point that this woman kept going to the dishonest judge until finally he said, "I'm giving her what she wants because she is wearing me out!"  If even a dishonest judge will rule in your favor if you bug him to death, how much more will God, who is faithful rule in our favor.    You can wear down a dishonest judge here on earth, so know that a continual, persistent prayer will get a response from Heaven. 

 

 

Jesus said, 

6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge said.

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, who cry day and night unto him, though he bears long with them?

8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man comes, shall he find faith on the earth?

 

When did Jesus say that his own elect cry out to him?  They cry out day and night.  You have things that you desire in prayer.  How bad do you want them.  Are you willing to cry out day and night to God.  The persistent, faithful person will see their prayers answered, even in the last days, when this world has gotten so evil. 

 

Two Things You Need to See a Breakthrough In Prayer

Yesterday we talked about being persistent in prayer.   The disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray.  His response in Luke 11 verses 1-4 was to recite the Lord's Prayer.  But Jesus did not end his teaching on prayer after he recited the LORD'S Prayer.   He gave us a parable of a man who was persistent in prayer.  The conclusion of the parable was that God might not answer your prayer request just because you are his friend, but, if you stay persistent, your prayers will be answered. 

So, THE FIRST KEY TO GETTING YOUR PRAYERS ANSWERED IS PERSISTANCE!

Jesus didn't just stop with giving the them model prayer and a parable in persistence.  He followed the parable with a teaching on prayer.  Look at verses 9 and 10 of Luke chapter 11.

⁹ “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ¹⁰ For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

We have to add aggressiveness to your persistence.   Jesus promises us that if we ask, it will be given.  If we seek we will find.  If we knock the doors will be opened.  

The first lesson was persistence in prayer, and then he adds to that ask, seek and knock.  This is the attitude of a person that WILL NOT give up.  The only person that does not receive in prayer is the person who quits asking, seeking and knocking.  There are many reasons why people quit on prayer.  Some people just get too busy.  Some people get distracted.  Some people get discouraged.  Some people get an attitude, or in a fight with someone else, for various reasons people quit spending their time in prayer.

Have you ever asked for something?   Kids ask for things all the time.  Every time they go to Wal-Mart kids are asking and pleading for something.  They never give up.  They ask and plead, spend to the end of their parents patience, and then ask again.    As we grow older, we get too much pride to ask for something.  As a matter of fact when we got older we often turn away gifts that people want to bless us with.  We have too much pride to receive anything from anyone.  All the elderly people in this world, and they want someone to listen to them.  They made so many mistakes, but we don't take time to ask for their guidance, so we just make the same mistakes that they made.  We as adults don't like to ask.   And when we ask God for something, we can get a bit offended if He doesn't answer just right away, or as soon as we had expected.  The one that is going to receive when they ask is going to be the humble persistent person that continues to ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask, ask

Have you ever looked for something.  I am all the time losing my keys.  We spend a lot of time looking for my keys!  But we search and search.  We want to go somewhere in the vehicle, so we have to find the keys.  What are you looking for in life?  Is what you are looking for something you pray for God to help you find?  If not you are seeking the wrong things in life.  To seek implies that you look.  If you SEEK God you are looking for Him. learning more from Him, spending time with Him.  Sometimes you have to go beyond asking to get what you need from God.  Sometimes you have to begin seeking, searching, looking.   When you go from asking to seeking you have took it up a  whole new level. 

Jesus said, "knock and the door will be opened."  Have you ever faced closed doors?  To get them open sometimes you have to go beyond asking, beyond seeking, you have to KNOCK.  When you are knocking you are trying to get attention, so that someone will open the door.  In the parable we studied yesterday a man was KNOCKING on his neighbors door at midnight looking for bread to feed his unexpected guest.  Jesus said they may not answer because you are a friend, but if you keep on KNOCKING they will open the door and give you the bread because of your persistence.   There are some things in this life that you are not going to receive unless you KNOCK on the door, and KEEP KNOCKING. 

Jesus is teaching that the aggressive person is the one that is spiritually blessed.  God does not bless our lethargy.  The persistent aggressive person is going to ask, seek and knock on Heaven's door, and will continue to do so until their prayers are answered. 

How aggressive are you in prayer?  How persistent are you when it comes to your prayer life?  God is not going to bless our passive attitude. 

The SAD PART is that I have heard so many people say, "If God wants me to have it, I guess He will give it to me."  What an ignorant thing to say!  Jesus never said to sit by passively, fold your hands, refuse prayer and spout your mouth about if God wants you to have it I guess he will just give it."

Imagine a child sitting quietly in the back seat, not asking to go to McDonalds, and then thinking he is smart by saying, "I guess if mom wants me to go to McDonalds she will take me."  How many of you know that is a child that is NOT going to McDonalds.  You may think to yourself, but God will just give me the things I need, I won't go without, I don't have to ask, seek and knock, if I really need it He will just give it.   NO!  HE DOESN'T!  Why do you think so many people GO WITHOUT THE BASIC NECESSITIES OF LIFE THAT THEY NEED?  They do so because they are passive in their prayer life.  They don't want to ask, seek and knock and they expect God to just give them everything without them even lifting a voice or a finger to God in prayer.    You may look around and think, why is there so many bad things in my life, in the world...It is because people did not get aggressive in prayer.  It isn't enough just to pray a short season, or a couple of times.   Jesus taught that you have to pray to the point that you are persistently asking, seeking and knocking.

Is your prayer life aggressive or passive.  If it is aggressive sometimes and passive other times you are going to find that your prayers are hindered.  Prayer is like a battle.  The enemy is doing everything he can to hinder your prayers, and the angels fight to bring the answer to your prayers.  The more you pray, the weaker the enemy gets.  If you are praying persistent at times, and then slacking at times you never reach the level of intensity in warfare to see the enemy lines broken through and  your prayers answered.   

When the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray he gave a parable on persistence and a teaching on being aggressive in your prayers.  He gave us everything we needed to defeat the enemy and to see our prayers break through. 

What you need is Importunity!

Jesus gave us three parables on prayer.  Two of them are on persistence in prayer even though you do not see an answer.  The other parable is about humility before God when we pray.  The two ingredients that you need to see your prayers answered are persistence and humility.  

First let's look at persistence.  A life of constant and persistent prayer will be the life of someone that grows up in maturity and authority in the kingdom.  Why is it that some people have walked with God for 30 years and are still babes in Christ?  It is because they never got disciplined and consistent in their walk with God.  If you have a gift to give away and two people are waiting on the gift and  one of them finds something else to do and walks away, who are you going to give the gift to when you are ready to bestow it?  You are going to give it to the one that is still there waiting upon the gift.  It was persistence that caused them to triumph and prevail. 

It takes laying aside some things to stay in persistent prayer.  It takes faith to stay in persistent prayer.  It takes character to stay in persistent prayer.  It takes faithfulness to stay in persistent prayer.  It takes maturity to stay in persistent prayer.  The bible tells the story of a man who had company at midnight.    We are all familiar with the passage of Scripture where the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray.    Jesus gave them the Lord's prayer as an example and most of us can quote that prayer from memory.   There have been many great teachings on the LORD's prayer and the model that Jesus gave to his disciples to teach them how to pray.  But, in the Scripture Jesus did  not  end his teaching to them about prayer with the Lord's prayer.  He goes on to give them a parable to help them understand some of the challenges they would face in prayer.    The Lord's prayer is Luke 11:1-4, but look at verses 5-8 in the book of Luke.  

5And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves;

6For a friend of mine in his journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him?

7And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give you.

8I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give to him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

 

First we see a man in need, and second we see a friend.   Though he was a friend, he did not want to answer his door at midnight.  He told the man in need, NO, GO AWAY...the door is closed.   That is the same thing as you and I saying, "who in the world is knocking on my door at midnight?"     Jesus said the neighbor would not give him what he wanted just because he was a friend.  I may not answer my door at midnight just because you are my friend, but if you keep knocking and knocking on it, I will get up and answer the door because of your importunity.  And God admires the importune person, they receive more from God than the person who doesn't want to make a scene. 

 

This may shock you that God admires the importune person.  I KNOW you are a friend to God.  I KNOW God is a friend to you.  Do not assume that your prayers are going to be answered because God is your friend.  You are going to have to count on something else besides friendship with God to see heaven move and respond to your prayers.    People mis-understand this all the time.  They pray, and because God loves them, and is a friend to them they expect to get what they prayed for.  I have heard people say, "If God loves me, than why didn't he answer my prayers?"  Jesus plainly says in this parable that just like this neighbor's friend who would not meet his request because He is a friend, so God does not answer our prayers just because we are his FRIENDS.   Just because you KNOW God and HE KNOWS you does not mean your prayers are going to be answered.   People lose heart and give up on prayer because they pray, and then they get offended if God doesn't just jump instantly and wait on them.   Don't you love your kids?  Of course you do.  Do you jump and give them everything they ask for just because they are your kids, or just cause they asked?  No.  But, If they bug you enough, you  will get them what they want.  Jesus is saying in the parable this is the way it is with God as well. 

 

So how do you get  your prayers answered?  We get our prayers answered because of importunity.  Importunity means making a repeated or annoying request, being troublesomely urgent in your request.  In other words, in means bugging someone to death until they give you what you asked for.   Now don't forget that God's ways are different than our ways.  God's thoughts are higher than our thoughts.  You see for us as humans, we don't like people who bug us to death.  We don't like people who ask us over and over again for the same thing.   What you have to understand about God is that he admires people that bug him to death.  He admires people that ask him over and over again until they get the answer they were needing in prayer.  Why does he love this?  He loves this because it expresses our faith in Him.  God admires the persistent person. 

 

No matter what you are praying for, God is usually going to wait until you get to a place of importunity before he is going to answer your prayer.  When he sees you rise up, day after day,  night after night requesting what you want, despising discouragement and shaking off complacency  He admires your faith and your persistence.  He will answer your prayer because of your persistence.  We spoil our kids when we give them everything they want, right when they want it.  And God does not spoil us, he expects us to be persistent, faithful, determined and growing in prayer.

 

Learn to be persistent in prayer.  God does not despise your continual coming to him in prayer about the same things over and over again.  I hear people say all the time, "I don't like praying the same things over and over."  God expects you to keep praying the same prayer until it is answered, just like in this parable.  If He hasn't answered your prayer, knock twice as long on Heaven's door tomorrow.   He admires it, and you will receive.  

Do You have All the Benefits of Salvation?

Luke 24:1-7 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”

After Jesus died on the cross, three days later He rose from the dead. It was for our salvation that Jesus gave His life. What is salvation?  Is salvation a ticket into Heaven? Yes, all those who are saved are going to go to Heaven.  Salvation is more than just a ticket to heaven. When you see the word salvation in the Bible, in the original Hebrew text salvation means: help, deliverance, and victory.  We have received salvation from God, and eternal life through the blood of Jesus. Most people only understand salvation as a ticket to heaven, and a pass out of hell. The salvation that we have in Christ is more than just a ticket to heaven.  The most common Hebrew word for salvation is teshuah, meaning help, deliverance, and victory.  When Jesus was crucified, he said, “IT IS FINISHED,” meaning that he had completed everything that was necessary for salvation. There are benefits of salvation. By our salvation we have access to the presence of God. Access to His presence gives us the help that we need. 

Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Since we have access to the presence of God by our salvation, God has become our help in our time of need. Not only is God our help, but He is also our deliverance. We find deliverance in God through our salvation. We have gained access to God's power through salvation.

In Romans 1:16, the Apostle Paul wrote, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

It is the power of God that brings us deliverance through Jesus Christ. The power of God delivers us from sin, from disease, from shame, from guilt, from worry...and many other things.  Through salvation we see that God is our help, our deliverance, and our victory. We have victory through Christ. Our salvation gives us access to God's plan for our life, and we are able to overcome this world.

Galatians 1:4 Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God our Father:

God has a plan for your life. His plan is to make you the head and not the tail. To bless you and not to curse you. To take you to heaven, and save you from hell. Is salvation more than just a ticket to heaven?  Yes, salvation is more.  Three benefits of our salvation include: God's power that leads us to deliverance, God's plan that leads us to victory, and God's presence that gives us the help that we need.  I have heard people say, “I don't need anything else from God, I just want to make it into heaven.”   God gives us benefits to help us in this life, why refuse the benefits?  Yes, He saw it necessary to give us benefits to help us in this life, why refuse the benefits? Did God think it necessary to give us these benefits?  Yes, He saw it necessary, and that is why He gave us these benefits. Do you know better than God?  God gave these benefits for us who believe, so do we know more than God what is necessary for us? Often a drug addict doesn't think they need help.  It is possible that they need help, and they don't realize it? Yes, it is very likely they need help, and they don't realize it.  This is how it is with us. Often we don't realize what help that we need, so we reject the gifts and benefits of God.  God is able to see that we need these benefits, so, who are we to disagree with God?  You do need the presence of God as your help. You do need the plan of God for your life to bring you to victory in life.

Prayer for today:  Lord, I thank you because you have saved me from my sins, become my help, my song and my deliverance.  Amen. 

How to Release The Hopes and Dreams Inside of You

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 Faith is the substance of things hoped for.    How can we bring the things we are HOPING for into substance, into reality?  We do so by faith.   Faith is the bridge between the unseen world which is the supernatural realm, and the material world that we live in.  The things we hope for are also things that are unseen.  Why would we hope for something that we have already obtained?  The things that we hope for are the unseen things inside of us that we desire to obtain.   Faith is the substance of those things that we hope for.  Your hopes and dreams have to move past ideas, past desire, past wishing.  The unseen hopes that we have begin their entry into the world by our faith.  Faith is expressed by what we say, and what we do.   The things we say and do can bring our hopes and dreams into reality, so that they have substance, so that our hopes and dreams become reality.

When God created Adam, he breathed into him and he became a living being.  The breath of God is inside of each of us, we are soul and body, but we are also spirit as God is Spirit.  When we let our hopes and dreams soar they reside in our spirit man.  This is why our hopes and dreams make us feel alive, full of life, desire to live, desire to overcome.   Our hopes and dream spark the spirit that God put within us to take those things that do not exist and bring them into reality.

It starts with seeing.  You have to see what you hope for inside of you, and seeing is a gift from God.  You have to be able to see what God wants for your life.  Your dreams and hope and vision is made up of what God has revealed to you on the inside.  Those hopes and aspirations, some that you acquired through life, and some that you were born with are the unseen things inside of you that through faith can come into reality.  For some it may be an invention, for others a business venture, for others writing a song or a book, or going to College, or maybe a miracle.  Where ever your vision is set is the ONLY limits on your life.  Your potential is set by the size of the hope and dream that is inside of you.

There are many people that have hopes and dreams inside  that are stuck inside of them, they can't figure out how to bring their dreams from unseen hope  to the real world.  FAITH is the bridge between the unseen world and the world that is tangible.  You have to add faith to your dreams.  Faith is expressed by the things we say and the things we do.  Living by faith is taught all the way through the Bible.  Faith is the bridge that makes the impossible possible.

First you have to have a dream or a vision a hope a goal.   Then you add faith to it.  Faith comes by hearing the Word of God.  What does the Word say?   Read it in the bible.  Fear and anxiety and doubts, and things that cause us to 'sit' on our dreams instead of 'acting' on our dreams are the very things that God teaches us in the bible to OVERCOME.

If you could open your heart and mind to receive what I am saying in this blog nothing would be impossible to you.  For all things are possible for those who believe.  when you add faith to your hopes and dreams God blesses it and those dreams inside of become reality.

God Wants to Renew Your Hope

There are those today that have faith in God, they know and believe in God's power, yet they are frustrated because the miracle they need has not come to pass in their lives.    All though they have faith, and they know the Word of God, they are lacking in the area of hope.  They have given up hope that their faith will lead to a brighter tomorrow, because they have prayed and waited and prayed and believed, and confessed and seemingly nothing has changed.  But, once we lost hope, discouragement takes over, depression takes over, doubt and mumbling takes over.   God needs to renew  our hope because, hope precedes faith and faith precedes our miracle.   People who are serving religion are some of the most discouraging, negative, depressing people out there.  They find the BAD in everything!  Jesus is the  hope of the nations, yet many who claim to know him are some of the most negative and discouraging people that I know. 

Yes, Some people struggle to stay in faith because they have LOST their HOPE.  But, does hope really precede faith?  Someone may argue, faith comes first, and then because of faith, you gain hope.  Well, that does happen, because we go from faith to faith, but, hope does precede faith.  The Bible says that the message that we preach is that of hope in Jesus Christ for eternal life.   We preach the good news which is the HOPE of Jesus Christ for the salvation of mankind, and that hope leads people to faith in God, which in turn leads to increased hope, that leads to greater faith.  Hope does precede faith, but it also follows faith.  Without hope, faith is diminished and made of NO effect in our lives.  

Titus 1:1-3

Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness;

In hope of eternal life, which God, who cannot lie, promised before the ages began;
But has in due times manifested his word through preaching, which is committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior;

 

When we preach the Gospel which is the Good News of the hope that we have through Jesus Christ, it causes the hearer to have hope in God, hope in salvation, hope in deliverance, hope in eternal life.  We express our hope, and it becomes their hope.  Once this hope has been birthed in their heart faith comes to life only as they confess with their mouth and believe in their hearts.  The Bible says, how can they be saved if they have not heard!  Hope springs up in the heart of the listener when we preach Christ Jesus!  If you are not preaching the hope of the gospel, don't expect many conversions!  People are hopeless in this world, lost, and trying to get by the best that they can.  The Bible says for us to always be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have in us.  

 

Once  hope has sprang up within our hearts, and we add the action of faith by confessing Christ with our mouth, and believing with our hearts we are saved! We had hope first, and that hope lead us to faith! How did we get that hope, we got it when someone preached the GOSPEL! The preaching of the gospel brings hope to mankind!  Once salvation grips our souls through the faith that sprung up from that hope, then even more hope floods our hearts...and this hope leads to an even greater faith, faith that will be expressed through our ACTIONS...as the Bible declares, we go from glory to glory! 

What if you need a financial miracle, or a healing miracle, or a miracle in  your family, you kids?  Still hope precedes faith.    When we have hope, we pray, we seek God, we speak God's Word, we have a reason to confess God's goodness and our faith in His Word.  But, when we lose hope, we slack in our prayer, we fail to seek God, we start speaking doubt instead of God's Word, we feel that there is no use in trying because we have given up hope.  GOD wants to RENEW  your hope today!    Can you say, "Lord, in spite of everything, I still believe, Lord, renew my hope and give me the will to fight for my miracle!"    Go ahead and say those words right NOW and let God renew your strength!  

 

It is like a never ending cycle.  Hope leads to faith, and then the faith gives us even more hope, which leads to greater faith, and that leads to an even greater hope...  Be a hope giver to others!  We are called to hold out the HOPE of the Gospel!  

Do You Want to Get Up and Walk?

In Acts Chapter 3 we see a man that had been crippled from birth.  There are those today, maybe you can physically walk, but, in many ways you have been crippled since birth.  The circumstances you were born into, the situations that you have had to endure, the pains and betrayals that you have had to face have left  you crippled in this life.   We can come to the point that we just want to sit down and quit, we no longer want to get up and walk. 

Acts 3 says: 1  One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man crippled from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.  6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus hrist of Nazareth, walk.” 7 Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong. 8 He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God. 9When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.


They were going to the temple at the hour of prayer.  We wonder why we don't see more miracles than what we are seeing today in a majority of our churches.  It is because we do not go to the temple at the hour and times of prayer.  When you see miracles and healings taking place it is because someone went to the house of God during the hour of prayer.  This was their custom, they didn't miss prayer time.  We miss our prayer times over and over again, and then we complain that God doesn't do much for us.  Shame on us for accusing God when we were the ones that failed.  We don't miss our place at the dinner table.  We don't miss our favorite sports team.  We don't miss our doctor's appointment.  But we think it nothing to miss our time of prayer.  This is why we as a nation are ripe for judgement. 
 
We see a cripled man begging at the temple courts.   He could have stayed home and waited on a government hand out.  He could have said, "Just let me die, it's better than beggin'"  He could have said no use going up there, I don't get much and it ain't worth the effort.  How many people today become infirmed and just sit in a heap and give up.   God never blesses a passive faith.  A passive faith is one that says, "I guess I will just sit in one spot and eat worms until God does something for me."  Get up off your pitty potty and get an active faith.  An active faith is someone that presses in daily because they still have a will to go on. 
 
We have a powerful combination here.  Men who made their daily prayer time, and a crippled man who hadn't yet given up on life.   He asked Peter and John for money, and those guys didn't have a dime to split between them.  Don't go whining around about how you ain't got no money in your pocket.  I see two men with no money and they ain't cryin' like some little baby, they are going to the house of God because it is time for prayer.  Peter wanted this man to receive a miracle.  He didn't pat the man's hand and say, "I'll be praying for you brother."  He didn't take a prayer request and start a prayer chain.  He didn't pray for him right there on the spot either.  He told the man to get up and walk in the name of Jesus Christ!  He didn't have money for him but he did have a miracle for him.  Peter had the power of God on his life and he didn't have to ask God, "Do you want this man to be healed?"  Jesus said, "Freely you have received, freely give."  He didn't ask God to heal the man, he simply told the man to get up and walk and took him by the hand to help him up.
 
Why do we spend hours trying to 'make sure' God wanted us to do this, or do that? There are hurting people all around you.  Take them by the hand and tell them to get up and move ahead.  We quit reaching out to  others in the power of God for two reasons.  First we don't go to the house of God at the time of prayer.  Second, we don't want to take anyone by the hand and help them up.  We are lacking in the love of God and the power of God that we need to make a difference in this world.

How to over come fear and panic

Panic and fear are more than just emotions or biological reactions, they are spirits.   This is why they can come upon you suddenly, and often for NO reason whatsoever.  2 Timothy says that God has not given us the spirit of fear.  If God didn't give it than why do so many people have fear, anxiety and panic attacks?   We have to realize that God is not in charge and responsible for EVERYTHING that happens to us. There are some things that happen to us that God did not want and did not ordain for us at all.  If God's will is always done here on earth than why did Jesus instruct us to pray, "thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven?"   He did so because most of the time God's will is NOT done here on the earth.  

The more that God's will is ignored and terror and sin reign on the earth, the more that panic, fear and anxiety rise.  The only way to overcome the spirit of fear is when the Spirit of God gives us peace, love and a sound mind.   Isn't that what fear and panic do in us?  They attack our mind.  Fear and panic will take over your mind with the possibilities of what might happen, things that might bring us harm in some way.  It is the Spirit of God that fills our hearts and mind with peace, joy and a sound mind.  So I have to ask you,  how much time do you spend fellowshipping with God in the power of the Holy Spirit?  Do you spend time in God's presence everyday?  God is  more than able to give you peace but you have to realize that when you belong to Christ Jesus, you are no longer of this world.  You are a stranger and an alien here, your citizenship is of Heaven, not of this world.    The bible tells us to keep our mind on things above, and not on things below.  If you are experiencing problems with panic and fears, you have had your mind on this world, instead of on the kingdom of God.   Jesus promised that you would be kept in perfect peace if your mind was stayed on Him.

Lay down your life, and quit worrying about how to fix everything around you.  Trust God and put your mind upon Him, for He cares for you.  God wants us to have peace, joy and a sound mind.  It is NOT God's will for you to be fearful, anxious, stressed out and full of panic.  Put your mind on things above, and He will sustain you. 

What is the KEY to Happiness?

Being a giver, is the key to happiness in life.  When we don't love like God loves, we will become unhappy in this life.   Put on the mind of Christ, who laid down his life for others.   Selfish love makes us unhappy.  That is the kind of love that says, "I want to receive just as much or more than I give out."   Jesus said, "IT is more blessed to give than receive."  And that is true in love as well.  When you take on the mindset of Jesus and you define love as what you give to others, instead of what you want back from others, you will find the joy of God in your life.    God is love.    It is appointed unto men once to die and then the judgment.  We will stand before an all mighty and loving God.  He is going to want to know if we learned to LOVE in this life, just as HE Loved.  God is love, so selfishness and greed, malice and pride have to be put aside, and we must learn to walk in love as God is love.  How can we do this?  Ask God to shed abroad his love in your life, so that you can walk in love.  What does God expect from us?  He expects us to love, even the unlovable people, just as He loves them.  THE MORE YOU SAY, "I'M NOT GOING TO EVER HELP ANYONE AGAIN, I'M TIRED OF BEING USED, THE MORE SELF CENTERED AND UNHAPPY YOU WLL BECOME!     Don't let your love grow cold.  Jesus said in the last days the world would be so full of evil that the love of many would grow cold.  Don't let that happen to you.  Who wants to become and old bitter person?    Some people get more bitter as they get older, and some people get so sweet and kind.   If you are not getting sweeter and kinder as you get older what makes you think you are growing closer to heaven as you get older? 

Mathew 25:

31When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats:

33And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

34Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, you blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

35For I was hungry, and you gave me food: I was thirsty, and you gave me drink: I was a stranger, and you took me in:

36Naked, and you clothed me: I was sick, and you visited me: I was in prison, and you came unto me.

37Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you hungry, and fed you? or thirsty, and gave you drink?

38When saw we you a stranger, and took you in? or naked, and clothed you?

39Or when saw we you sick, or in prison, and came unto you?

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Since you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.

41Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, you cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42For I was hungry, and you gave me no food: I was thirsty, and you gave me no drink:

43I was a stranger, and you took me not in: naked, and you clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and you visited me not.

44Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we you hungry, or thirsty or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto you?

45Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Since you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.

46And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

 

This parable is talking about the coming judgment when we will all stand before God to give an account for our lives that He gave to us on this earth.   God expects us to care for our fellow mankind.  If you say you walk in Christ but do not have love you are nothing, and your religion is useless.  For anyone that knows God will love His fellow man and show him mercy and compassion just as God has done for us. 

 

The Bible also tells the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. 

Luke 16

19There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day; 20and there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, who was laid at his gate, full of sores 21and desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22And it came to pass that the beggar died and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom; the rich man also died and was buried; 23and in Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom. 24And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime didst receive thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted here, and thou art tormented. 26And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass from there to us. 27Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou would send him to my father’s house, 28for I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30And he said, No, father Abraham; but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31And he said unto him, If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, even though one rose from the dead.

 

The Rich man had no compassion, no love, no mercy, no charity, no kindness, no giving, no concern for the sick beggar Lazarus.   And the rich man died and went to Hell.   Even in Hell he thought himself better than Lazarus.  He saw Lazarus and he said to Abraham, send Lazarus down here to wait on me, to bring me water...He still thought of Lazarus as a second class person that would serve him and wait on him even in Hell. 

 

Listen very carefully to this:  How we treat others in this life especially those less fortunate than us is going to follow us into the next life, into eternity, where we will stand before God.   I am not the one that wrote these parables.  These are both parables of Jesus.  How we treated others in this life, especially those less fortunate,  will be brought up when we stand before God in eternity.   

 

It is time that we as Christians quit saying that we are 'right with God' when the whole world can see that we are full of hatred, lies, slander, anger, back biting, brow beating.  The Bible says they will know we are Christians by our love, and love does not harm to it's neighbor!  If a man says he loves God but hates his brother, he is a liar and the truth is not in him.  When we say we love God and then act like the devil, the whole world can see that we are a hypocrite.  It's time to get real with God! 

 

1 Corinthians 13 is called the love chapter in the bible.   It says that no matter what religious duty that we perform, if we do not truly love others from our heart, our religion is useless.   God so loved this world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life...God loved and gave his best to sinners so that they could find salvation.  Who are the sinners?  All of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We are all sinners.  That person that you make fun of and despise, that you think you are better than, well think again.  We all have fallen short of God's perfection, none of us are better than anyone else, and God expects us to love and have compassion for ALL men.   God expects us to love one another, and to give all that we can to help others turn from selfishness to God.    Are you walking in love towards ALL mankind.  If not, it's time for some old fashioned repentance.  There is JOY in giving and in loving.  Think of spending yourself on behalf of others and make this your goal in life and you will find that your joy is FULL. 

 

How Can I Overcome This World?

Life is short, eternity is a long time.
Matthew 7:24-27
²⁴ “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: ²⁵ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
²⁶ “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: ²⁷ and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

 Every decision we make is providing material for the foundation of  this life and the next. What kind of building material are we supplying for our foundation?
This is a very important question because there is always a storm on the way.   So many times our lives fall apart because we didn't build our lives on the Scriptures.  And the sad part is that we don't realize that our refusal to line up with the Scriptures is the very thing that has destroyed us. 

Jesus said if you hear his words and do them you will be able to endure the storms, but if you hear them without doing them you will fall.

The thing we must always keep in mind is that this life is temporary and the next is eternal. We must decide which life we want to invest in.  Jesus said to lay up our treasures in Heaven.
Play now pay later is the this worlds way, and that may seem to work for awhile, but in the end the payment is more than you can afford.  Lost jobs, lost family, lost health, the life you tried to hold on to lost.
 Gods way seems contrary to common sense, if you want to hold onto life you will lose it, but if you lay your life down for Jesus, you will find it.
 Living for this world will never satisfy, it will always leave you empty and searching for something else.
 Scripture teaches us another way to live.

Matthew 6:33
   But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

This may be one of the most ignored scripture in the Bible, but one of the most important.

 One thing we must realize is God is smarter than us, and if He says something we should listen.
Making choices based on an eternal mindset works for both worlds, this temporary one and the eternal one to come.
Making choices based on this temporary world does not work, in the end this only brings us destruction.
God is offering us a way to overcome this world and to prepare for the next. Build your life according to Gods word, seek his kingdom, call on Jesus and let him live through you.

How To Avoid Strife and Unwanted Drama

In the Bible, Isaac dug a well.  There was contention and strife over the well.   His neighbors came over and got into a fight over who owned the property.  So he dug another well.   And once again there was contention and strife over the well...I'm talking to someone today and you are in close relationship with someone that no matter what you do they have to go stirring something up!   Isaac had to dig his well THREE times before he could get away from the strife.

Each time he dug the well he had to move off a distance and dig again!  The only answer to strife is to move away from it.  That doesn't mean switch jobs, or ditch your spouse, or change your church, it means you have to ignore and walk away.  What would have happened if Isaac demanded his rights, and thought he had a moral OBLIGATION to stand up for his rights.    What if he had fought for the first well?  It very well could have been a battle that cost him lives, provisions, and likely a lot or heart ache and pain.   People who are constantly stirring up strife are judgmental people who are unhappy with themselves.  They draw attention away from their own imperfections by accusing and picking at others.   When they come at you with strife and contention, all they want is a good fight!

I'm talking to someone today that every time someone starts a quarrel with you, somehow you feel it is YOUR JOB to END IT, by winning the battle and proving them WRONG.  How much better to just walk away and dig another well.  They eventually let Isaac have his well, because they weren't really needing another well, what the wanted was a good FIGHT.  When they couldn't push his buttons to put up a good fight, they got tired of their GAME.  People who continually stir up strife are people that like to play games with you and their reward is seeing your anger and watching your nose flair.  Once you stand up and fight, they already won, even if they LOSE the battle, because the FIGHT is what they wanted in the first place!

Can you see that those stirring up strife with you are not really wanting to learn anything, or obtain anything or prove anything.  All they are looking for is a good FIGHT!  Don't give it to them.  Just because they say something ignorant, do something mean, or act someway repulsive does not mean you have to straighten them out!    Learn to walk away and dig your well somewhere else. 

Look at these verses in proverbs: 

Proverbs 26:20-21 Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceaseth.  As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.

Proverbs 20:3   It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling.

Proverbs 17:14  The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.

Proverbs 15:18  A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife.

Four Things That Will Hinder Your Life and Your Family

Here is a list of four things that are dangerous to us in this life.  Often we are looking for deeper revelation, trying to figure out why things aren't working for us.  But, most of the time the answers are simple.  This verse deals with our foundations in life.  If our foundation is faulty, nothing is going to work as it should.  Read these four warnings of Colossians chapter 2 verse 8 and check the basic foundation of your life.    

Colossians 2;8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the traditions of men, according to the elements of the world, and not after Christ. 

This verse is saying that whatever we follow for a guide in life that is not after Christ is dangerous!   Here is a list of four things that can and will harm your relationship with God.    Beware lest you are spoiled through (1) philosophy (2) vain deceit (3) traditions of men (4) living by the elements of this world   When someone says to beware, that means there is danger.  We are living in a time when men and woman in leadership are using philosophies, vain deceit, traditions of men and the basic elements of this world to instill fear in the heart of people to turn them away from the teachings of Christ Jesus and often for the purpose of greed and gain.  

First, the philosophies of this world are often dangerous.   Philosophy is defined as a set of ideas about how to do something or how to live.  Paul is saying beware because philosophies can spoil you.  Whole societies have followed after philosophies that ruled their governments that did more harm than they did good. Many school systems, businesses, agencies and churches  have followed after philosophies that go against the Word of God and these end up causing much damage to society There are people in prison today that followed after their own twisted philosophies and ideas of 'living' that proved to be dangerous to society.  Beware, lest you find yourself following a philosophy in life that goes against the way that Christ Jesus taught us to live.  Any philosophy that contradicts the teachings of Christ Jesus will be harmful to you.   All through out history, governments have risen and governments have fallen each with their own 'modern' philosophy for their age.  But, the Word of God endures forever!  

Also beware of vain deceit.   Vain here means producing no results, useless.  Deceit means the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.  There are those today that will deceive you on purpose just to push through their own agendas.  This happens from the very top of our societies, to the very poorest of our homes.  People who will lie, twist the truth, promise you just what you want to hear, just to get you to do what they want you to do.   Beware lest people spoil you through vain deceit.  If someone ask you to do something that violates God's Word and tells you it will produce good results in the end, they are just deceiving you into getting their own agenda through,.  Beware lest any man spoil  you through vain deceit.  

Third, beware of the traditions of men.  Not all traditions are Godly.  Whatever traditions are made both inside and outside of the church or your religious experience that does not agree with the teachings of Christ are a danger to you and to society.  Sometimes we can find ourselves associated with churches, clubs, political parties, that we inherited participation in because of the traditions handed down to us by our families.  There comes a time when often our churches, clubs, political parties and associations have changed philosophies and no longer follow the teachings of Christ.  Sometimes you have to put away the traditions of men to follow Christ.  If we honor the traditions of our family above the teachings of Christ we are in danger, so beware!

Fourth we are warned not to live according to the elements of this world.    In each generation,  society and governments have politically correct ways of doing things.  Beware that in trying to be politically correct for YOUR GENERATION that you do not violate the teachings of Christ trying to 'fit in' to your culture.  In each generation there are pressures to conform to the world that violates the teachings of Christ.  Is it better to offend God, or to offend men.  If you have to chose between offending God and offending man, it is better to offend man.  Beware, that you do not try to conform to this world and thereby spoil your relationship with Christ.  

When we use the philosophies of this world, the foundation of our life is faulty.  When we believe the vain deceit or our generation that goes against the teachings of Christ we have a faulty foundation.  If we cleave to the traditions handed down to us by organizations that are parents served,  even though those organizations do not agree with the teachings of Christ we are built upon the wrong foundation.  Once we live by the basic elements of the age we have a foundation that is messed up.  Any foundation in our life that is not based on the teachings of Christ Jesus is a faulty foundation.   I challenge you to take inventory of your life and eliminate all that is not built on the foundation of Jesus.   For we are given this warning in 1 Cor. 3:11  For no other foundation can anyone lay, than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus.

God Believes in YOU.

God is a God of faith!  He wants you to learn to have faith in Him, to believe in Him.  He certainly believes in you!   How many times has God answered your prayers?    Why would he answer your prayers if He doesn't believe in you?   Why would he invest time into someone that he doesn't believe in?  God believes in you enough to send his only begotten son to take your place, to die on the cross, so that you could have a chance at life.  God believes in you enough to send his Spirit to dwell inside of you.  To teach you, to comfort you, to help you in all that you do.  God wants you to learn to believe in Him, the same way that he believes in you.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever should BELIEVE in him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Even when you fail Him, God still believes in  you.  Even when you do the opposite of what you promised, God still believes in you and will be there when you call upon Him.  Even when we are unfaithful, God is still faithful.  God ask us to believe in Him, He always believes in us.

When things are going wrong, and it seems like everything is falling apart, keep believing in God.  Keep hoping, keep praying.  Keep giving thanks for the things He has already done.  Know that whatever happens in your life that God will always believe in you, and, He is asking you to believe in Him too.

Why Do Some People Get All the Breaks, While Others Stay Stuck in the Same Place

Why do some people seem to get all the breaks, and doors opened to them, and others can't seem to get anywhere?  Is optimism the key?  Did God ask us to be an optimist?  God asked us to be so MUCH MORE than an optimist.  God asked us to believe in the impossible, because all things are possible with God.

The children of Israel were pressed up against the red sea and Pharaoh on their backs.  They were hemmed in and death on all sides.  Have you ever been in a circumstance where you were stuck between a rock and a hard place?  Have you ever been stuck in circumstances where you have no way out?  Some people seem to always find a way forward, and others seem to always be stuck.  What is the key?  

  And the LORD said unto Moses, Why do you cry unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:  But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea.

The Lord said to Moses, why do you cry out to me.  Speak to the children of Israel to move forward...

Move forward!  Oh!  Of all the brilliant ideas!  Hello, there is a sea in the way!  Do you realize that no matter what obstacle you are facing, God is expecting you to move forward.    How many times have I heard people say something like, "I can't do this because of this or that."  Or they will say, "After I get this resolved, or this other thing taken care of, or go to the bank, or get transportation..."   People often say, "I am waiting on God to give me this or that, or provide the way, or to open the doors."   Listen, Israel had NO OPEN doors here, yet God says, "Why do you cry out to me, tell the people to move forward." Too many people are waiting on an open door, or a better circumstance before they move forward in life.  But Moses had no open door here.  He had a closed sea in his way! What did he tell Moses?  Lift up your rod and stretch out your hand.  Oh,  we don't like to lift up and stretch out do we?  We want God to hand us an open door without us lifting up or stretching out.   We sit and pray.  We pray and wait.  But we hesitate to move forward.       How does God open a door for us?   We got to lift up, and stretch out!  If you can receive it, know that doors from God usually do NOT open until AFTER you take a step of faith and move forward where there is no door.  Those who want to see an open door before they get up and move forward usually stay stuck right where they are in life.  

Look at Joshua and the walls of Jericho.   They lifted up their voices and stretched out their legs to march, and the walls came down.  Are you lifting up and stretching out what you got, or are you sitting down making excuses 'waiting' upon God?    Look at Noah.  What did he do?  He lifted up and stretched out, and built a boat.  He wasn't sitting around waiting upon laborers, and money, and better circumstances!    Why are you sitting around waiting upon more laborers to help you accomplish God's plan?  Get yourself up off your hind end, lift up and stretch out whatever God's already put in your hand, and move forward on dry ground.  When you lift up and stretch out, your will find that God miraculously opens up a door right in front of you!   It was there all the time!  Just keep moving forward!

You Been Taking Care of Others For So Long, But Jesus Sees Your Inner Needs!

One of the defining things about Christianity that makes it different than other religions of the world is the Holy Spirit.  Jesus said that He had a gift for all who thirst.   A woman was getting water by the well, and Jesus began talking with her.  He not only knew personal and secret things about her life, though he had never met her, but He also told her about the Kingdom of God.  She had questions and she was surprised at the answers that Jesus gave to her.  When she realized that Jesus knew all about her and had answers to her questions, she said, "I perceive you are a prophet."  Jesus replied to her that she was on the right track, but that she had not yet gotten the full revelation of who He was.

 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink, thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman said unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep; from where then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank thereof himself, and his sons and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst, but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a fountain of water springing up into eternal life.

We are living in a time when people are hungry and thirsty.  They are hungry for a better life.  They are hungry for another fix.  They are hungry for more friends.  They are hungry for more opportunity, and better pay.  They are hungry for more recognition or more meaning in life.  People are hungry and thirsty for more.  They are hungry for more peace and security.  People are hungry and thirsty.

This woman came to the well to get a drink, and Jesus was there to meet her.  Where ever you are today, Jesus is there to meet you.  He understands your hunger and thirst.  He understands your need for security and peace, He knows how hard you are trying, how much you are praying, how much you are hoping that things will turn out to be all right.    This woman came to the well, because she wanted a cold drink, she was doing all she could to survive.  Jesus not only knew all about the woman and her life and her challenges and her family, he knew about her inner needs as well.

I'm talking to someone today, and you have been so busy taking care of everyone else that you have forgotten all about your own needs, your own wants, you own dreams.  You have been strong for everyone else for so long that you have neglected you own hunger and thirst.  Jesus could see that this woman had these inner needs, and he said to her I have water that you can have that will satisfy your soul and you will never lack or suffer from hunger or thirst again.

Are you hungry and thirsty for more today.  The water that Jesus has is the Spirit of God.  The Spirit refreshes.  The Spirit renews.  The Spirit heals.  The Spirit quickens us.  The Spirit gives life.   God is the Father, God is the Son - Jesus, But God also the Holy Spirit.  Maybe you were taught that you only need Jesus, and that more of the Spirit of God is not necessary for you today.  Jesus is still giving that water that whosoever drinks will never thirst again.  Ask God for a drink of the Spirit of God today and drink of his Spirit.  It is from God, available to you, so why not receive?

What Can I Do About This Darkness In My Mind?

Jesus said a lot about the darkness.  He said that we should come out of the darkness.  Does the Scripture describe what the darkness is?  Is it possible to be living in darkness, and not know that you are there?   Can some of the problems, fears, anxieties and stresses that we face in this life be the result of living in darkness and not realizing our predicament?   In the natural when we are in darkness, we turn on the light so that we can see better.  Is there a way to 'turn on the light' when it comes to our life path?  The Bible says those who are in darkness stumble, because they cannot see where they are going.  Sometimes that is exactly what it feels like, like we are just stumbling through this life with NO CLUE to our direction.

Light is a Spiritual quest.  It is illuminating.  Every religion claims to seek it.  The Bible speaks a lot about it.  Jesus is the only one that claimed to be " the light"  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the light no one comes to the father except by me."

  What does the Bible say about light?  The book of John says Jesus shone his light into the darkness, but the darkness did not perceive it.   Jesus said that he came so that no one would have to remain in darkness.  Col. 1 says that Jesus has rescued us from the domain of darkness.  John also said that men loved darkness instead of the light!  1 John says if you hate your brother you are blind and in the darkness.  Ephesians says to have nothing to do with the unfruitful deeds of darkness.  2 Corinthians says that light has no fellowship with the darkness.  1 John says God is light and in him is no darkness at all.  Romans 13 list some of the deeds of darkness (1) carousing (2)  drunkenness (3) sexual promiscuity (4) sensuality (5) strife (6) jealousy   Ephesians 5 says live as children of the light.

 1 John says that if we claim to have fellowship with Jesus but walk in the darkness lie.  Ephesians 5 says our minds will be full of darkness if we close our minds and harden our hearts to God.  Romans says If we know God but do not praise him or thank him for being God that our thoughts become pointless, our minds misguided and plunged into darkness.

The light is truth, the light is the way to God.  Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the light!  Mohammed didn't claim to be the light, he was seeking the way, seeking the truth, he was seeking the light.  Buddha didn't claim to be the light,  he was seeking the way, seeking the truth, he was seeking after the light.  Jesus said, "I am the light!"   Until you find the light, you are walking around in darkness.

 Matthew 4 -- "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED." From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Jesus said  Luke 4 18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, 19 TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD."…

If you are lost in the darkness and your mind is being destroyed, bring it to the light of Jesus.  Keep your mind upon Him.  Confess Him as the only LIGHT from God and He will shine light into your darkness.

Why Can't I Get Pass This Test?

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 The book of Joshua chapters 5 and 6 tell the story of a man who was  in over his head. 

Moses had died, he was in a new land, there was a wall in front of him that was big enough to race chariots on.  On top of that he had upwards of 2 million people looking to him for direction

 What do you do when you find yourself in over your head?

1 Corinthians 10:13

  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.

 The word temptation here means test, or prove
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  We read this verse and translate it in our head to say that God wont put more on us than we can handle. But, there are times when it is God's will to take us through a test or trial of our faith.   We all know there are times when we are in over our head and cannot find a way out.

 God tests us to expose weakness.  Because He wants us to learn to overcome our weaknesses that could later be used against us. He always has a purpose and a promise for us when we pass the test.

 God told Moses to lead His people out of captivity and into the promise land, notice the purpose was to make them free. Notice the promise was a land flowing with milk and honey. 

 We all have to admit the promise land is a better place than slavery in Egypt.

To graduate from slavery - to promise,  they had to pass a test, there is always a test before graduation.  In this case the test was the wilderness they had to cross to get to where God wanted them.

 It has been said the wilderness could have been crossed in as little as two weeks, but we know it took them 40 years and most of them died there. Many of them failed the test. We know God put them there and we see in 1 Cor 10:13 that He will not test us beyond what we are able, so why did so many die?

 They failed because they made the test their focus instead of the promise.

 The test is only there to get us where God wants us to be. If we want to get all that God has promised to us, we need to get our eyes off the test and onto the promise. 

Here Joshua was standing in front of a wall that was more than he could handle,  he was in over his head.  He could have spent all his time and energy studying the wall.  He could have sought council about the wall, or formed a community to discuss the wall.

But the more we focus on the problem, the more the problem becomes an obstacle that takes us out.  We have to focus on our promises from God, not on the problems we face.  

Joshua 6:1 Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in. 2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor.

This word SEE is the key.  What are you looking at?   We need to pass every test we find ourselves in, and we will only pass the test if we are looking at the promises that God has given us instead of looking at the size of our problems.  

 What do you see? The children of Israel saw desert, and died there. God is saying SEE past the test and look to promise.

 This is what JESUS did to endure the cross, Hebrews 12:2 ... who for the joy set before Him endured the cross.. Jesus looked ahead into the future and saw you and it got Him past the test. Joshua looked past the wall and past the test and looked to the God that would break down the walls. When you look past the test and SEE the promise you also will pass the test.

Scripture  teaches that with every test there is a way out, a way of escape. That "way out" of our trials and test,  is to SEE our way out.   Look past the test and see the promises God has given, so you can pass the test.