God's promise, "I will give you rest"
In the book of Proverbs we are told to guard our hearts, because out of it comes the issues of life. What issues are you facing today. When our circumstances get desperate, the issues that are in our OWN hearts begin to rise to the surface. God does not want us to have a heart that is dominated by worries, anxieties, frustrations, anger or self pity.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
God wants us to have a heart that is dominated by God's love. When we have the idea that our circumstances are going to have to change before we can be joyful, we are letting or circumstances dictate to us what life will be for us.
When will the problems go away? It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous, to some degree there will always be problems, but you have to know what season of life you are currently in. We see in the story of Moses some of the seasons of our lives. Their journey out of Egypt to the promise land represents our Salvation and journey in this life as well. The first season of our lives is when we are living for the flesh, living for sin.
season one: In bondage in Egypt, the flesh is in control. Are you in bondage to any type of sin that has made you it's slave? If so, you will face the oppression of that sin until God delivers you from it. Why would you want to remain in slavery to sin? Yet, when Moses went in to deliver them, some wanted to stay in slavery. It was easier just to stay where they were in bondage. This is how we are when we are in bondage to the sinful nature. God wants us to learn that we reap what we sow. In season one God is teaching us not to sow to the flesh. It is a hard lesson to learn. Nothing is going to bring you to wholeness until you learn to stop living for the sins of the flesh. When we learn to put to death the works of the flesh, and to put on the LORD Jesus Christ we will be ready to move into the second season of our growth in God. After Moses left Egypt they crossed the red sea and entered into the wilderness.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.
God wants us to have a heart that is dominated by God's love. When we have the idea that our circumstances are going to have to change before we can be joyful, we are letting or circumstances dictate to us what life will be for us.
When will the problems go away? It rains on the righteous and the unrighteous, to some degree there will always be problems, but you have to know what season of life you are currently in. We see in the story of Moses some of the seasons of our lives. Their journey out of Egypt to the promise land represents our Salvation and journey in this life as well. The first season of our lives is when we are living for the flesh, living for sin.
season one: In bondage in Egypt, the flesh is in control. Are you in bondage to any type of sin that has made you it's slave? If so, you will face the oppression of that sin until God delivers you from it. Why would you want to remain in slavery to sin? Yet, when Moses went in to deliver them, some wanted to stay in slavery. It was easier just to stay where they were in bondage. This is how we are when we are in bondage to the sinful nature. God wants us to learn that we reap what we sow. In season one God is teaching us not to sow to the flesh. It is a hard lesson to learn. Nothing is going to bring you to wholeness until you learn to stop living for the sins of the flesh. When we learn to put to death the works of the flesh, and to put on the LORD Jesus Christ we will be ready to move into the second season of our growth in God. After Moses left Egypt they crossed the red sea and entered into the wilderness.
season two: In the wilderness. When God has you in the wilderness, your life will go in circles until God lets you out of that wilderness. In the wilderness you are learning to overcome the sins of the soul. You see when you are in slavery in the world, you are learning to over come the sins of the flesh, but there are also sins of the soul. Your mind, your mouth, your heart...all of these things can sin, even when all you are doing is sitting still and thinking...If we do not learn to overcome the sins of the soul, we will be walking around in circles never getting anywhere in life. When God said, "don't doubt." He meant it. When God said, "don't worry." He meant it. When God said, "forgive others." He meant it. In the wilderness they weren't making any ground whatsoever and they had nothing but problem after problem, after problem...The lack of food and water, clothing, transportation, job, money or whatever is often there because we have never learned to be obedient to God in our inward parts, our thoughts, emotions and soul. When God said, "learn to be content in everything" and "give thanks in all things." He meant it. In the wilderness you will serve LACK. All you see is lack. All you think about is what you don't have, what ain't working, what is NOT there. When you learn to honor God, give thanks in all things, and to be obedient to God's Word in your your inner most thoughts, you will be ready to go to the third season of life.
In the third season, God brings you out of your own lack in the wilderness, and gets you going a certain direction in life. It is here in the third season that you become a problem for the enemy. Instead of being oppressed of the devil, now you are taking out the devils stronghold. There are walls you must break down, rivers you must cross, enemies that you must expel. It is in this season that you are walking in faith and obedience to God, and just like Jesus you are going about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil. Instead of the devil being a problem for you, you have become a real problem for the devil. Everywhere you go the kingdom of God has come close to those that you touch, and many are brought closer to God by your witness.
All of us want to be that person that is strong in the LORD taking down the enemies strongholds. You won't get there until you complete the first two seasons of your life. You must first learn to overcome your own flesh and soul before you will be able to take down the enemies strongholds. The only way across the Jordan is through the red sea where you shed your flesh, and through the wilderness where you learn to quiet your soul upon God!
That brings us to the fourth season of life. God's rest. When you have overcome your flesh, overcome your soulful sinful desires, and torn down the enemies strongholds you have entered into your season of prosperity and rest. Now you have become God's stronghold, prosperous in God and in the power of his might. Lord God, may we all be given the grace to enter into your rest. You can have peace in the midst of the storm, but this last season of life is more than that, it has having peace from the storm because God has brought you to a place where you are victorious on all sides. Your relationships are good and peaceful. Your finances are working. Your health is good. Your love is flourishing. Lord may each one have the grace to complete each season of our lives and enter into this place of rest. Just keep moving forward, God will get you there. amen.
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