For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. "For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, And do not return there, But water the earth, And make it bring forth and bud, That it may give seed to the sower And bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it (Isaiah 55:9-11).
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart (Galatians 6:9).
When the enemy puts pressure on you, lean on the Word of God! God’s Word is His power to deliver you right in the middle of the mess the enemy tries to stir up in your life!
Refuse to cower to unbelief and fear when the enemy turns up the heat by affecting circumstances and senses. Remember that he is a defeated foe. The only power he has is the power of suggestion, and when you make a decision to stand on the Word of God, his power over your life is immediately nullified!
During that time between the time you pray and believe that you receive and the time of the actual manifestation of the answer, it’s important to say only what God says about your situation. Call those things that be not as though they were! Say what you believe, not what you have. When you voice the Word of God out loud, fear falls in its tracks. Fear thoughts may come, doubt thoughts may bombard you, but your firm stand on God’s Word will nullify fear and doubt and faith will rise up within you!
If you’re believing you receive healing, declare boldly that with His stripes you are healed! Though the symptoms persist, act as though you believe you receive the answer to your prayer of faith! Talk the answer, praise the answer, act the answer, live the answer. Don’t for one moment yield to symptoms and thoughts of doubt. Doubt thoughts that come to mind die unborn if they are not voiced!
If you’re believing for finances, a job, or a change in some circumstance, take God at His Word. If He says He hears and answers you when you pray, then that’s it. Don’t move. Take a firm stand with God and His Word. His Word has stood the assault of doubt, fear, unbelief, cynicism, criticism, and negative circumstances for thousands of years. And in all that time, not one of His promises has failed.
Hundreds of times over the years God has proved Himself faithful to me as I stood my ground on the Word and did not cave in to doubt and fear. Faith and patience always inherits the promises! Don’t allow circumstances, feelings, thoughts, people, or demons to move you off of your stand on God’s Word today! You’ll come out on top if you don’t quit!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Don't Quit!
Posted on Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 5:17 AM by Pastor Mitch
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Test
Posted on Monday, March 30, 2009 at 10:05 AM by Pastor Mitch
Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him (Psalm 105:19).
The above verse refers to Joseph. He had a vision of his family bowing in obeisance before him as a leader. He was 17 years old at the time. This did not come to pass until Joseph was 30. The in between time was difficult. He was sold as a slave by his brothers and his father was told that he was killed by wild animals.
The ruler’s wife thought Joseph was so handsome and she lusted after him. He refused her advances and she accused him of trying to rape her. He was sent to prison for many years. It looked as though God’s promise was untrue. For years he remained imprisoned though innocent of the charges.
Joseph eventually became what we would now call the Prime Minister of Egypt. The whole land was under his authority. Only the Pharaoh was mightier than he. His family came from Canaan starving for food during a famine and during their visit the Word of the Lord to him was fulfilled.
Yes, the Word of the Lord tested Him. Did God really speak or not he may have pondered during those years of misery. But no word from God is void of power (Luke 1:37)!
So here you are in the middle of some tough circumstances that just don’t let up. Nothing that the Word declares seems to be true in your life. You’ve prayed. You believe that you receive. You’ve stood your ground against the circumstances that tell you repeatedly that you prayers are unanswered and that your faith is not working. The test is on!
Are you going to believe the promise of God, or are you going to yield to the pressure. That’s what Joseph faced all those years. But he knew that if God spoke, then that Word from Him was surer than the rising of the sun. Joseph’s faith kept him for 13 years while the Word of God worked itself out in his life.
If this can work for Joseph, a man under the old covenant, can it not work for us, whose faith is established on a better covenant with promises that are even more sure? We must persevere as Joseph did against the negatives that life brings. Joseph kept his focus on the promise of God and received and so will we! So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18- NIV)
The above verse refers to Joseph. He had a vision of his family bowing in obeisance before him as a leader. He was 17 years old at the time. This did not come to pass until Joseph was 30. The in between time was difficult. He was sold as a slave by his brothers and his father was told that he was killed by wild animals.
The ruler’s wife thought Joseph was so handsome and she lusted after him. He refused her advances and she accused him of trying to rape her. He was sent to prison for many years. It looked as though God’s promise was untrue. For years he remained imprisoned though innocent of the charges.
Joseph eventually became what we would now call the Prime Minister of Egypt. The whole land was under his authority. Only the Pharaoh was mightier than he. His family came from Canaan starving for food during a famine and during their visit the Word of the Lord to him was fulfilled.
Yes, the Word of the Lord tested Him. Did God really speak or not he may have pondered during those years of misery. But no word from God is void of power (Luke 1:37)!
So here you are in the middle of some tough circumstances that just don’t let up. Nothing that the Word declares seems to be true in your life. You’ve prayed. You believe that you receive. You’ve stood your ground against the circumstances that tell you repeatedly that you prayers are unanswered and that your faith is not working. The test is on!
Are you going to believe the promise of God, or are you going to yield to the pressure. That’s what Joseph faced all those years. But he knew that if God spoke, then that Word from Him was surer than the rising of the sun. Joseph’s faith kept him for 13 years while the Word of God worked itself out in his life.
If this can work for Joseph, a man under the old covenant, can it not work for us, whose faith is established on a better covenant with promises that are even more sure? We must persevere as Joseph did against the negatives that life brings. Joseph kept his focus on the promise of God and received and so will we! So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18- NIV)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
First Love
Posted on Sunday, March 29, 2009 at 5:13 AM by Pastor Mitch
Nevertheless I have this against you that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent (Revelation 2:4-5)
It’s a wise thing to give yourself a spiritual checkup every now and then. I want to post today an excerpt from a newsletter I received from David Wilkerson in 2005. Allow his words to speak to your life. Take some time to wait on the Lord today:
May I give you a short word, which I believe is from the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit? It has to do with what I believe is one of the greatest needs in the church today. It is a word every believer ought to hear. This is the word: Growing numbers of Christians are no longer fully satisfied with Christ. He is being dethroned by what the Lord Himself called thorns. He defined thorns as the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in. Christ said these are the thorns that choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful. I ask you, is the Lord more on your mind than a year ago? Do you spend more time in His presence than a year ago? Is your passion for Him growing or withering? Many of those who were once passionately in love with Christ now run about pursuing their own interests. They’re burdened down with stress and problems, chasing after riches and the things of this world. They have grown cold or lukewarm, and have less and less time for Jesus. The Lord and His church now only get an hour of their time, on Sunday mornings. Jesus said, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered (John 15:6). In other words, that person is drying up, no longer drawing from the true vine. Yet he is deceived by thinking all is well, because he still speaks the language of intimacy he once enjoyed with Christ. Riches and the things that are necessary in life are not evil in themselves. All of us face cares and troubles in this life. The sin comes in the time and energy we spend in pursuing these things, at the expense of neglecting Christ. Dear saint of God, one day soon we will stand before our blessed Christ to face His judgment seat. We will see Him face to face. I want to stand in His presence as a fruitful son, not ushered into His presence as a lukewarm, withered, estranged, thorn-choked servant. I hear the Holy Spirit calling the Lord’s people back to their first love. Back to hungering and thirsting for more of Christ. Back to spending quality time in His presence. Back to loving His Word. Back to casting all cares upon Him. Back to depending on Him for guidance.
In all of our activity today, let’s stay in close fellowship with the one person that means more to us than anything. He’s always available to us. Are we always available to Him?
It’s a wise thing to give yourself a spiritual checkup every now and then. I want to post today an excerpt from a newsletter I received from David Wilkerson in 2005. Allow his words to speak to your life. Take some time to wait on the Lord today:
May I give you a short word, which I believe is from the mind of Christ through the Holy Spirit? It has to do with what I believe is one of the greatest needs in the church today. It is a word every believer ought to hear. This is the word: Growing numbers of Christians are no longer fully satisfied with Christ. He is being dethroned by what the Lord Himself called thorns. He defined thorns as the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in. Christ said these are the thorns that choke the Word and cause it to become unfruitful. I ask you, is the Lord more on your mind than a year ago? Do you spend more time in His presence than a year ago? Is your passion for Him growing or withering? Many of those who were once passionately in love with Christ now run about pursuing their own interests. They’re burdened down with stress and problems, chasing after riches and the things of this world. They have grown cold or lukewarm, and have less and less time for Jesus. The Lord and His church now only get an hour of their time, on Sunday mornings. Jesus said, If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered (John 15:6). In other words, that person is drying up, no longer drawing from the true vine. Yet he is deceived by thinking all is well, because he still speaks the language of intimacy he once enjoyed with Christ. Riches and the things that are necessary in life are not evil in themselves. All of us face cares and troubles in this life. The sin comes in the time and energy we spend in pursuing these things, at the expense of neglecting Christ. Dear saint of God, one day soon we will stand before our blessed Christ to face His judgment seat. We will see Him face to face. I want to stand in His presence as a fruitful son, not ushered into His presence as a lukewarm, withered, estranged, thorn-choked servant. I hear the Holy Spirit calling the Lord’s people back to their first love. Back to hungering and thirsting for more of Christ. Back to spending quality time in His presence. Back to loving His Word. Back to casting all cares upon Him. Back to depending on Him for guidance.
In all of our activity today, let’s stay in close fellowship with the one person that means more to us than anything. He’s always available to us. Are we always available to Him?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Yoked
Posted on Saturday, March 28, 2009 at 8:58 AM by Pastor Mitch
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest ( relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good — not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne (Matt 11:28-30 - Amplified)
We are yoked with Jesus! When I’m in Ethiopia traveling south from Addis, I see oxen yoked together plowing in a field. Or we’re passing through a small town and I see donkeys yoked together pulling a cart. The yoke connects the oxen or donkeys by the neck and evenly distributes the load they are pulling.
The main deal is that the yoke will only work well if the oxen or the donkeys that are yoked walk in step with each other. If one stops, it hinders the other and they don’t get very far.
To be yoked with Jesus means that He is helping me with my load. If I fail to walk in sync with Him then I causing undue stress and I’m not taking advantage of the help He’s offering. He has much more power and ability than I do, so He brings to the yoke process the majority of strength. If I’ll just walk with Him by being a doer of the Word, then He carries the load and I have a carefree stroll walking along beside Him.
If I was yoked to a person weak and smaller than me, then I would be helping them carry their load! But every day, Jesus wants to be yoked with me as I work, as I relate to family, as I deal with finances, as I deal with children, as I minister. This produces a rest for me because someone else is helping with most of the task I’m involved with all day long! And the someone yoked to me is so much bigger than me!
Don’t resist the yoke that Jesus offers you today! His yoke is easy, and He will lighten the load. Act on His Word, speak the Word, fellowship with Him in prayer, and enjoy the stroll!
We are yoked with Jesus! When I’m in Ethiopia traveling south from Addis, I see oxen yoked together plowing in a field. Or we’re passing through a small town and I see donkeys yoked together pulling a cart. The yoke connects the oxen or donkeys by the neck and evenly distributes the load they are pulling.
The main deal is that the yoke will only work well if the oxen or the donkeys that are yoked walk in step with each other. If one stops, it hinders the other and they don’t get very far.
To be yoked with Jesus means that He is helping me with my load. If I fail to walk in sync with Him then I causing undue stress and I’m not taking advantage of the help He’s offering. He has much more power and ability than I do, so He brings to the yoke process the majority of strength. If I’ll just walk with Him by being a doer of the Word, then He carries the load and I have a carefree stroll walking along beside Him.
If I was yoked to a person weak and smaller than me, then I would be helping them carry their load! But every day, Jesus wants to be yoked with me as I work, as I relate to family, as I deal with finances, as I deal with children, as I minister. This produces a rest for me because someone else is helping with most of the task I’m involved with all day long! And the someone yoked to me is so much bigger than me!
Don’t resist the yoke that Jesus offers you today! His yoke is easy, and He will lighten the load. Act on His Word, speak the Word, fellowship with Him in prayer, and enjoy the stroll!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Prayer is Important
Posted on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 9:09 AM by Pastor Mitch
Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God's consecrated people) (Ephesians 6:18-20 - Amplified).
Religious ideas block the importance of prayer. The ones I’m speaking of are the ones that tell you that God is in control of everything. And yes, in His sovereignty He is in control of the full scope of things from beginning to the end. But for now, because of Adam’s failure, he has ceded control to us. Adam’s dominion (Genesis 1:26) was given to Satan when Adam failed. Satan became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 14:30; 1 John 5:19), which means for a limited time in the scope of eternity, Satan has a legal right to steal, kill, and destroy.
Due to Adam’s disobedience and subsequent transfer of legal, God-given authority to Satan, God must obtain legal permission through prayer to invade our circumstances. It’s obvious that God’s will is not being carried out in much of life. It’s not His will that divorces occur, that children are abused, that people are maimed or killed in wrecks and disasters, that wars ravage a nation, that churches split, that people are murdered, that crooks steal, etc.
Prayer is our invitation to the Father to once again invade our circumstances and bring change. Prayer is us using our legal authority in Christ to invoke God’s help in the intricacies of life. Prayer is giving God legal permission to work in a situation or individual. Without our asking in prayer, God is hindered in providing help.
So don’t buy into the religious notion that God is in charge of everything, so just let it happen! In prayer ask for His aid and help in every circumstance you encounter! We are laborers together with God!
Because praying in faith and praying in the spirit are such powerful weapons, the enemy seeks to keep the saints from praying. He usually does this by making them so busy that they just don’t fit prayer into their schedule. Don’t buy into this! Make time to pray!
I’ll leave you with some random quotes from E.M. Bounds' book The Weapon of Prayer, pages 7 -12:
He rules the world as He rules the church, through prayer. When the church is in the condition of prayer, God’s cause always flourishes, and His kingdom on earth always triumphs. When the church fails to pray, God’s cause decays, and evil of every kind prevails. God works through the prayers of His people, and when they fail Him at this point, decline and deadness follow. Praying saints are God’s agents for carrying on His saving and providential work on earth. If His agents fail Him, neglecting to pray, then His work fails. Praying agents of the Most High are always forerunners of spiritual prosperity. How we estimate and place prayer is hoe we estimate and place God. To give prayer a secondary place is to make God secondary in life’s affairs. When Satan can keep us too busy to stop and pray, he has effectively disarmed us!
Religious ideas block the importance of prayer. The ones I’m speaking of are the ones that tell you that God is in control of everything. And yes, in His sovereignty He is in control of the full scope of things from beginning to the end. But for now, because of Adam’s failure, he has ceded control to us. Adam’s dominion (Genesis 1:26) was given to Satan when Adam failed. Satan became the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4; John 14:30; 1 John 5:19), which means for a limited time in the scope of eternity, Satan has a legal right to steal, kill, and destroy.
Due to Adam’s disobedience and subsequent transfer of legal, God-given authority to Satan, God must obtain legal permission through prayer to invade our circumstances. It’s obvious that God’s will is not being carried out in much of life. It’s not His will that divorces occur, that children are abused, that people are maimed or killed in wrecks and disasters, that wars ravage a nation, that churches split, that people are murdered, that crooks steal, etc.
Prayer is our invitation to the Father to once again invade our circumstances and bring change. Prayer is us using our legal authority in Christ to invoke God’s help in the intricacies of life. Prayer is giving God legal permission to work in a situation or individual. Without our asking in prayer, God is hindered in providing help.
So don’t buy into the religious notion that God is in charge of everything, so just let it happen! In prayer ask for His aid and help in every circumstance you encounter! We are laborers together with God!
Because praying in faith and praying in the spirit are such powerful weapons, the enemy seeks to keep the saints from praying. He usually does this by making them so busy that they just don’t fit prayer into their schedule. Don’t buy into this! Make time to pray!
I’ll leave you with some random quotes from E.M. Bounds' book The Weapon of Prayer, pages 7 -12:
He rules the world as He rules the church, through prayer. When the church is in the condition of prayer, God’s cause always flourishes, and His kingdom on earth always triumphs. When the church fails to pray, God’s cause decays, and evil of every kind prevails. God works through the prayers of His people, and when they fail Him at this point, decline and deadness follow. Praying saints are God’s agents for carrying on His saving and providential work on earth. If His agents fail Him, neglecting to pray, then His work fails. Praying agents of the Most High are always forerunners of spiritual prosperity. How we estimate and place prayer is hoe we estimate and place God. To give prayer a secondary place is to make God secondary in life’s affairs. When Satan can keep us too busy to stop and pray, he has effectively disarmed us!
Thursday, March 26, 2009
A Strong Word From the Lord
Posted on Thursday, March 26, 2009 at 2:58 PM by Pastor Mitch
This is my second post today. I wanted you to hear a prophetic word that the Lord gave me during our Saturday night service on March 21st. This came by way of tongues and interpretation and is relevant to what we are experiencing:
For that day, in that day, I will receive you. For the shaking that is occurring now is from Me. And that which you are witnessing worldwide is from Me. For it is written, “I will be glorified among the heathen. I will be glorified in all the earth. For My glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.” It is written, “That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in My sight.” And I am now in the process of shaking everything that can be shaken, so that that which cannot be shaken will be received. For you are in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. You are a people that will, that will endure and will be strong and will receive from Me. But you are among a kingdom that is shaking. And it is tottering. And there is a purpose. For I will attach judgment to that which is not from Me. And the mouths and the voices and the minds and the actions that have displeased and that have cast Me away will know that I am the Lord, and among Me there is no other. I am God. I am the Lord, I do not change. For I am coming to receive My own, and you are those that will see Me face to face.
So walk uprightly before Me, and know that I will make a way for you. I will make a river in the desert. I will make streams in the desert. I will make the crooked place straight. I will be your light in the dark place. I will be your encouragement. I will be your all in all. All you need to do is trust Me. Have confidence in Me and My ability. For I have not failed one - ever - that has put his trust in Me. See to it, however, that you honor My word, and that you honor My Son, and that you back off from anything that would distract you. Cling not to the things of this life. Cling not to the things of the flesh. For everything that can be shaken will be shaken. And I will even come into your life. And I am even in this season now talking and speaking and urging with great encouragement, “Come unto Me, come unto Me.” Quit you like men. Be strong, be strong. Put away the things that separate you from Me. And walk wholeheartedly with Me, and I will be your father. And you will be my sons and daughters. And I will come back to receive you.
For that day, in that day, I will receive you. For the shaking that is occurring now is from Me. And that which you are witnessing worldwide is from Me. For it is written, “I will be glorified among the heathen. I will be glorified in all the earth. For My glory will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.” It is written, “That which is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in My sight.” And I am now in the process of shaking everything that can be shaken, so that that which cannot be shaken will be received. For you are in a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. You are a people that will, that will endure and will be strong and will receive from Me. But you are among a kingdom that is shaking. And it is tottering. And there is a purpose. For I will attach judgment to that which is not from Me. And the mouths and the voices and the minds and the actions that have displeased and that have cast Me away will know that I am the Lord, and among Me there is no other. I am God. I am the Lord, I do not change. For I am coming to receive My own, and you are those that will see Me face to face.
So walk uprightly before Me, and know that I will make a way for you. I will make a river in the desert. I will make streams in the desert. I will make the crooked place straight. I will be your light in the dark place. I will be your encouragement. I will be your all in all. All you need to do is trust Me. Have confidence in Me and My ability. For I have not failed one - ever - that has put his trust in Me. See to it, however, that you honor My word, and that you honor My Son, and that you back off from anything that would distract you. Cling not to the things of this life. Cling not to the things of the flesh. For everything that can be shaken will be shaken. And I will even come into your life. And I am even in this season now talking and speaking and urging with great encouragement, “Come unto Me, come unto Me.” Quit you like men. Be strong, be strong. Put away the things that separate you from Me. And walk wholeheartedly with Me, and I will be your father. And you will be my sons and daughters. And I will come back to receive you.
Righteousness
Posted on at 8:09 AM by Pastor Mitch
In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you (Isaiah 54:14)
Righteousness is the ability that God gives us in Christ to stand before a Holy God as though sin, inferiority, and condemnation had never been a part of our lives.
Righteousness has two parts to it. When we make Jesus Lord, we are declared free from the penalty of sin. It is as though we have never sinned!
When a person has been found innocent of a crime that they have been charged with, all evidence must be expunged. That means that all documents that contain evidence of the matter presented at the hearing in a court of law must be completely destroyed! It is as though nothing ever happened!
When I stand before God as righteous in Christ, it is as though I have never done wrong! That brings security and boldness to my life!
The second part of righteousness is awesome! Not only does the Father see you as though you have never done wrong, He goes a step further and gives you the same standing before Him that His own Son has been given! He sees you as upright and as clean and free from sin as His own Son Jesus!
Righteousness banishes fear. Righteousness allows us to go into the presence of the Father with the freedom of a child! No fear. No shame. No dread. Perfect liberty. Absolute confidence. Total acceptance!
We sang this song about our standing with God in the 1970’s. Here are the lyrics.
I am covered over with the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to me.
I am covered over with the precious blood of Jesus and He lives in me.
What a joy it is to know the Heavenly Father loves me so and gives to me Jesus. And when He looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus!
Stand boldly before God today as the righteousness of God in Christ. You have the exact standing before the Father that Jesus has. Act that way! Ask, seek, worship, praise, believe, rejoice, and rest!
Righteousness is the ability that God gives us in Christ to stand before a Holy God as though sin, inferiority, and condemnation had never been a part of our lives.
Righteousness has two parts to it. When we make Jesus Lord, we are declared free from the penalty of sin. It is as though we have never sinned!
When a person has been found innocent of a crime that they have been charged with, all evidence must be expunged. That means that all documents that contain evidence of the matter presented at the hearing in a court of law must be completely destroyed! It is as though nothing ever happened!
When I stand before God as righteous in Christ, it is as though I have never done wrong! That brings security and boldness to my life!
The second part of righteousness is awesome! Not only does the Father see you as though you have never done wrong, He goes a step further and gives you the same standing before Him that His own Son has been given! He sees you as upright and as clean and free from sin as His own Son Jesus!
Righteousness banishes fear. Righteousness allows us to go into the presence of the Father with the freedom of a child! No fear. No shame. No dread. Perfect liberty. Absolute confidence. Total acceptance!
We sang this song about our standing with God in the 1970’s. Here are the lyrics.
I am covered over with the robe of righteousness that Jesus gives to me.
I am covered over with the precious blood of Jesus and He lives in me.
What a joy it is to know the Heavenly Father loves me so and gives to me Jesus. And when He looks at me He sees not what I used to be, but He sees Jesus!
Stand boldly before God today as the righteousness of God in Christ. You have the exact standing before the Father that Jesus has. Act that way! Ask, seek, worship, praise, believe, rejoice, and rest!
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Praying in God's Great Big Ocean
Posted on Wednesday, March 25, 2009 at 6:21 AM by Pastor Mitch
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8: 26-28). We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose (Romans 8:28 – Amplified).
I have an alert inside to spend some extra time now praying in the spirit, that is, in other tongues. When you pray in the spirit, you’re tapping into God’s eternal plans; for your life, for your family, for your nation, for the world. Praying in the spirit is like stepping out of a small pond into the Atlantic Ocean! In the pond are only your concerns, your issues and life particulars. But in God’s great big ocean you’ll find His purposes for all the issues concerning both of your life and things that concern the greater whole; others, your church, your nation, and the world.
Today we need praying that is broader and bigger that will enable the Spirit of God to undertake and manifest. Praying in the spirit gets the job done in prayer! Praying in the spirit enables you to pray the perfect will of God for everything! It’s absolutely unlimited praying.
Often, when someone or some event comes to my mind I say, Lord, I’m going to take some time to pray in the spirit about this. Anything I need to pray regarding this I trust that you will help me pray out as I pray in the spirit! Often when I do this, He gives me things in English to pray about the situation too.
It’s absolutely thrilling to be a fruitful branch of the vine! All of life’s issues should start and end in your prayer life. Take time today to pray in the spirit!
I have an alert inside to spend some extra time now praying in the spirit, that is, in other tongues. When you pray in the spirit, you’re tapping into God’s eternal plans; for your life, for your family, for your nation, for the world. Praying in the spirit is like stepping out of a small pond into the Atlantic Ocean! In the pond are only your concerns, your issues and life particulars. But in God’s great big ocean you’ll find His purposes for all the issues concerning both of your life and things that concern the greater whole; others, your church, your nation, and the world.
Today we need praying that is broader and bigger that will enable the Spirit of God to undertake and manifest. Praying in the spirit gets the job done in prayer! Praying in the spirit enables you to pray the perfect will of God for everything! It’s absolutely unlimited praying.
Often, when someone or some event comes to my mind I say, Lord, I’m going to take some time to pray in the spirit about this. Anything I need to pray regarding this I trust that you will help me pray out as I pray in the spirit! Often when I do this, He gives me things in English to pray about the situation too.
It’s absolutely thrilling to be a fruitful branch of the vine! All of life’s issues should start and end in your prayer life. Take time today to pray in the spirit!
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Willing and Obedient
Posted on Tuesday, March 24, 2009 at 5:28 AM by Pastor Mitch
If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the good of the land; But if you refuse and rebel, You shall be devoured by the sword"; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isaiah 1:19-20).
To receive God’s best we must pursue Him with our whole heart and seek to obey His plan for our lives. It is not possible to walk in the best that God has for you spiritually, mentally, physically, socially, and financially without obeying His call for your life. You can’t have the blessings without intimacy with the One who brings the blessings!
While I was in Tulsa, I frequently attended Kenneth Hagin’s meetings and heard him share several times about a lady that he could not pray for to be healed. Many years ago he had gone to a hospital to visit a lady there who was around 58 years old. As he sought to pray for her, he said he just couldn’t pray for her healing. He said it was as though a hand lifted his hand off of her as he sought to lay hands on her.
He asked her why he was having trouble praying for her healing and she responded by telling him that she had been called by God into ministry as a missionary at age 13. As she grew older, she said she longed to get married, have children, and have a normal family. She said that she reasoned in her mind that she could obey the call of God by being a secretary in a church and by just supporting missions.
She said to brother Hagin that she did what she wanted, got married, had children, and supported missions, but that her health broke and she had never been healthy all her life. And now she knew that she could not be healed because she was not in line to receive God’s best due to her disobedience.
Many people fail to receive healing for similar reasons. Unless we put God first, we’re not in line to receive the promises of His Word. We all should take the time to seek God in prayer and find out what His perfect will is for us. He won’t speak to you about it unless you initiate! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
Take time regularly to consecrate yourself to do the will of God. Obedience creates in your life the atmosphere for blessing. Disobedience or slackness in seeking can open up a door to the devourer! Seek God today!
To receive God’s best we must pursue Him with our whole heart and seek to obey His plan for our lives. It is not possible to walk in the best that God has for you spiritually, mentally, physically, socially, and financially without obeying His call for your life. You can’t have the blessings without intimacy with the One who brings the blessings!
While I was in Tulsa, I frequently attended Kenneth Hagin’s meetings and heard him share several times about a lady that he could not pray for to be healed. Many years ago he had gone to a hospital to visit a lady there who was around 58 years old. As he sought to pray for her, he said he just couldn’t pray for her healing. He said it was as though a hand lifted his hand off of her as he sought to lay hands on her.
He asked her why he was having trouble praying for her healing and she responded by telling him that she had been called by God into ministry as a missionary at age 13. As she grew older, she said she longed to get married, have children, and have a normal family. She said that she reasoned in her mind that she could obey the call of God by being a secretary in a church and by just supporting missions.
She said to brother Hagin that she did what she wanted, got married, had children, and supported missions, but that her health broke and she had never been healthy all her life. And now she knew that she could not be healed because she was not in line to receive God’s best due to her disobedience.
Many people fail to receive healing for similar reasons. Unless we put God first, we’re not in line to receive the promises of His Word. We all should take the time to seek God in prayer and find out what His perfect will is for us. He won’t speak to you about it unless you initiate! Draw near to God and He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
Take time regularly to consecrate yourself to do the will of God. Obedience creates in your life the atmosphere for blessing. Disobedience or slackness in seeking can open up a door to the devourer! Seek God today!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Submit Your Will to Him
Posted on Monday, March 23, 2009 at 8:43 AM by Pastor Mitch
He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will." (Matthew 26:39)
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isaiah 1:19-20).
Jesus prayed the prayer of consecration in the garden of Gethsemane before He faced crucifixion, died, and then was raised from the dead. The word Gethsemane means the place of crushing. There in that olive tree orchard olives were harvested and crushed in order to provide the rich and healthful oils that benefit humanity. And in that same Olive orchard Jesus was faced with giving up His human desires to a higher cause, the redemption of all humanity from the penalty of sin.
Jesus had to experience the place of crushing and then He had to face the physical agony of death by crucifixion before He could attain His stature in heaven of being seated at the right hand of the Father. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:8-11).
Before His exaltation, Jesus faced personal humiliation. There is a pattern here that we must see. If we are going to occupy that place of being seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) and of being heir of God and equal heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17), then we’re going to have to be willing to experience our personal Gethsemane. This is the place when we take all of our personal human ambition and desire and lay it down before the Father. Then we willingly submit to whatever plan the Father has purposed for our lives from the foundation of the world.
Unless you’re willing to bow in humility before the sovereign purposes of God for your life, you will never attain to the best that God has for you right now.
Isaiah stated tersely that only those who are willing and obedient will eat the good of the land. Willingness and obedience go hand in hand. The Father wants you to be willing to do anything He asks you to do and to go anywhere He asks you to go. That kind of personal consecration takes life out of the sphere of self-centered living, and places us into the abundant stream of God’s will.
Kenneth Hagin used to mention the Lord speaking to him in a time of personal consecration while he pastored a church in Texas in the 1940’s. He said that the Lord told him that at that time he had only entered into the first phase of the ministry that God had for Him, and at the time he had already been in ministry for 12 years! Then brother Hagin mentioned that the Lord said to him that many ministers live and die and never enter the full will of God for their lives. He then noted that God did not speak to Him further about his own ministry until he took extra time to seek him and make personal consecrations.
Brother Hagin also mentioned something that may shock you. He said the Lord told him that this lack of consecrating to do the will of God is the reason that many die before their time, and die in mid life! That’s quite shocking, but the truth is that we don’t qualify for God’s best unless we give him our best, our ultimate consecration of our now and our future to the Father.
To be seated in that position of authority and blessing with Jesus your Lord, you must pass through your own Gethsemane and your own crucifixion of fleshly desire and will. To receive the best that God has for you, you must seek Him with your whole heart!
This prayer of consecration should be a regular part of your personal prayer life. Take some time today and commit yourself afresh to do the will of God, whatever it may be for your life. If you do, you’ll qualify to eat the good of the land. If you refuse, it could cost you dearly!
If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be devoured by the sword"; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken (Isaiah 1:19-20).
Jesus prayed the prayer of consecration in the garden of Gethsemane before He faced crucifixion, died, and then was raised from the dead. The word Gethsemane means the place of crushing. There in that olive tree orchard olives were harvested and crushed in order to provide the rich and healthful oils that benefit humanity. And in that same Olive orchard Jesus was faced with giving up His human desires to a higher cause, the redemption of all humanity from the penalty of sin.
Jesus had to experience the place of crushing and then He had to face the physical agony of death by crucifixion before He could attain His stature in heaven of being seated at the right hand of the Father. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:8-11).
Before His exaltation, Jesus faced personal humiliation. There is a pattern here that we must see. If we are going to occupy that place of being seated with Him in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6) and of being heir of God and equal heirs with Jesus (Romans 8:17), then we’re going to have to be willing to experience our personal Gethsemane. This is the place when we take all of our personal human ambition and desire and lay it down before the Father. Then we willingly submit to whatever plan the Father has purposed for our lives from the foundation of the world.
Unless you’re willing to bow in humility before the sovereign purposes of God for your life, you will never attain to the best that God has for you right now.
Isaiah stated tersely that only those who are willing and obedient will eat the good of the land. Willingness and obedience go hand in hand. The Father wants you to be willing to do anything He asks you to do and to go anywhere He asks you to go. That kind of personal consecration takes life out of the sphere of self-centered living, and places us into the abundant stream of God’s will.
Kenneth Hagin used to mention the Lord speaking to him in a time of personal consecration while he pastored a church in Texas in the 1940’s. He said that the Lord told him that at that time he had only entered into the first phase of the ministry that God had for Him, and at the time he had already been in ministry for 12 years! Then brother Hagin mentioned that the Lord said to him that many ministers live and die and never enter the full will of God for their lives. He then noted that God did not speak to Him further about his own ministry until he took extra time to seek him and make personal consecrations.
Brother Hagin also mentioned something that may shock you. He said the Lord told him that this lack of consecrating to do the will of God is the reason that many die before their time, and die in mid life! That’s quite shocking, but the truth is that we don’t qualify for God’s best unless we give him our best, our ultimate consecration of our now and our future to the Father.
To be seated in that position of authority and blessing with Jesus your Lord, you must pass through your own Gethsemane and your own crucifixion of fleshly desire and will. To receive the best that God has for you, you must seek Him with your whole heart!
This prayer of consecration should be a regular part of your personal prayer life. Take some time today and commit yourself afresh to do the will of God, whatever it may be for your life. If you do, you’ll qualify to eat the good of the land. If you refuse, it could cost you dearly!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Learned Contentment
Posted on Sunday, March 22, 2009 at 8:05 AM by Pastor Mitch
No, I have learned in whatever condition I am, to be independent of circumstances. I am schooled to bear the depths of poverty, and I am schooled to bear abundance. In life as a whole, and all its circumstances, I have mastered the secret of living – how to be the same amidst repletion and starvation, amidst abundance and privation. I am equal to every lot through the help of Him who gives me inward strength (Philippians 4:11 – A.S. Way Translation).
Spiritual Maturity enables us to endure any situation with confidence. The Lord wants us to get to the place that nothing moves us. He wants us to be able to be the same during times of prosperity and poverty; during times of great victory, and in times of tremendous duress.
Spiritual maturity means that we are not affected by outward things, but are only moved by the internal standard of God’s Word and His agape love.
The more we are moved by circumstances, the less we are influenced by the Word of God. When our spirits gain the ascendancy in our lives, circumstances have less and less affect upon us.
Years ago, Smith Wigglesworth used to say I’m not moved by what I see. I’m not moved by what I see. I’m moved only by what I believe.
Start now to act on God’s Word throughout your day. Decide to be a doer of the Word in every circumstance of the day. In the office setting, at home with the kids, with the obstinate person in traffic, or alone with your own thoughts; decide to put God’s Word first place in your life.
One day you’ll become independent of circumstances. God will be able to use you in the most difficult situations, because He can trust you to stand strong and not waver.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).
Spiritual Maturity enables us to endure any situation with confidence. The Lord wants us to get to the place that nothing moves us. He wants us to be able to be the same during times of prosperity and poverty; during times of great victory, and in times of tremendous duress.
Spiritual maturity means that we are not affected by outward things, but are only moved by the internal standard of God’s Word and His agape love.
The more we are moved by circumstances, the less we are influenced by the Word of God. When our spirits gain the ascendancy in our lives, circumstances have less and less affect upon us.
Years ago, Smith Wigglesworth used to say I’m not moved by what I see. I’m not moved by what I see. I’m moved only by what I believe.
Start now to act on God’s Word throughout your day. Decide to be a doer of the Word in every circumstance of the day. In the office setting, at home with the kids, with the obstinate person in traffic, or alone with your own thoughts; decide to put God’s Word first place in your life.
One day you’ll become independent of circumstances. God will be able to use you in the most difficult situations, because He can trust you to stand strong and not waver.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32).
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Growing Through Relationships
Posted on Saturday, March 21, 2009 at 8:57 AM by Pastor Mitch
And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not (Deuteronomy 8:2).
God dealt with the Israelites a certain way in order to train them and as He said in the above verse to humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. What happened to Israel is an example to us of how the Father deals with us as New Covenant folk who are to walk in love at all times in every situation.
I’ve seen so many patterns over the years in my own life that show me that this is how the Father trains us for the next level of responsibility He has for us. He will allow us to be placed in a relationship that makes us uncomfortable, that draws out of us a fleshly, carnal attitude, an anger problem, resentment and unforgiveness, a caustic, bitter thought, word, action, or feeling. Then He sits back to see how we’re going to deal with our human responses to those who don’t treat us the way we think is correct.
Our response shows our maturity and ability to change and adapt to all circumstances and put love first, or it shows our carnality and lack of spiritual maturity and the need to grow or deal with personal issues.
The deeper you go in God, the more He will ask of you. If you run when problems arise in relationships instead of facing the issues and dealing with yourself, you actually hinder an important part of the growth process in your spiritual life. Walking in love will make great demands on your flesh, on your human responses!
If you going to be used by the Spirit of God to minister life, you have to die! That is, die to having your own way, to having things go the way you think they should go. Being used by the Father means coming to the place that your personal needs and opinions no longer matter! What matter most is what God says as revealed in the Word. And for us New Covenant believers, we must be willing to compare all of our thoughts, words, actions, choices, attitudes, demeanor, as well as our responses to others with the unconditional love that we’re commanded to walk in!
Every relationship and every conversation you have today is a potential test for you. The Lord wants to see how you’re going to deal with others when they don’t treat you the way you think they should. It’s a character test. Your relationships today and how you deal with them are showing you what is in your heart.
Let the Father take you to the place of brokenness today. Brokenness is the response of humility to the conviction of God! Cry out to the Father for Him to have His way in you and help you make adjustments in how you relate to others. Make a choice to pass the tests life brings through relationships today!
God dealt with the Israelites a certain way in order to train them and as He said in the above verse to humble you, to test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. What happened to Israel is an example to us of how the Father deals with us as New Covenant folk who are to walk in love at all times in every situation.
I’ve seen so many patterns over the years in my own life that show me that this is how the Father trains us for the next level of responsibility He has for us. He will allow us to be placed in a relationship that makes us uncomfortable, that draws out of us a fleshly, carnal attitude, an anger problem, resentment and unforgiveness, a caustic, bitter thought, word, action, or feeling. Then He sits back to see how we’re going to deal with our human responses to those who don’t treat us the way we think is correct.
Our response shows our maturity and ability to change and adapt to all circumstances and put love first, or it shows our carnality and lack of spiritual maturity and the need to grow or deal with personal issues.
The deeper you go in God, the more He will ask of you. If you run when problems arise in relationships instead of facing the issues and dealing with yourself, you actually hinder an important part of the growth process in your spiritual life. Walking in love will make great demands on your flesh, on your human responses!
If you going to be used by the Spirit of God to minister life, you have to die! That is, die to having your own way, to having things go the way you think they should go. Being used by the Father means coming to the place that your personal needs and opinions no longer matter! What matter most is what God says as revealed in the Word. And for us New Covenant believers, we must be willing to compare all of our thoughts, words, actions, choices, attitudes, demeanor, as well as our responses to others with the unconditional love that we’re commanded to walk in!
Every relationship and every conversation you have today is a potential test for you. The Lord wants to see how you’re going to deal with others when they don’t treat you the way you think they should. It’s a character test. Your relationships today and how you deal with them are showing you what is in your heart.
Let the Father take you to the place of brokenness today. Brokenness is the response of humility to the conviction of God! Cry out to the Father for Him to have His way in you and help you make adjustments in how you relate to others. Make a choice to pass the tests life brings through relationships today!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Free From Bitter Root Strongholds and Expectations
Posted on Friday, March 20, 2009 at 7:47 AM by Pastor Mitch
Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look [after one another], to see that no one falls back from and fails to secure God's grace (His unmerited favor and spiritual blessing), in order that no root of resentment (rancor, bitterness, or hatred) shoots forth and causes trouble and bitter torment, and the many become contaminated and defiled by it (Heb 12:15-Amplified).
Bitter root strongholds and bitter root expectations are often at the core when we’re having problems in our relationship with God, ourselves and others. When others wrong us, and we hold on to that wrong in the form of unforgiveness and resentment, that event can become a bitter root in our thoughts, and can color future behavior.
Bitter root expectations arise out of bitter thoughts left unchecked in the soul. I have a bitter root expectation when I expect someone now to treat me the way someone in my past treated me. It’s a set up for problems in relationships, and is very common.
Let me show you a very simple instance of how I’ve had to deal with this in my own life. When I was a young boy, my friend and I would plan to meet at a certain place while riding our bikes. My friend would tell me that he would meet me at 3:00 PM at a certain place. I would go there and wait and he didn’t show up. I was early and waited for him for 20 minutes or more, and he never came. This happened several times, and then was repeated by others. I was on time, they were no shows! This really bothered me but I just shrugged it off and forgot it.
Then, as an adult I found myself not trusting people when they would commit to do something for me. I would check on them three or four times when a person made a commitment to do something for me at a certain time. It go to the point that I would rather do something myself than to trust another person to do it for me!
One day the Lord showed me the root of this distrust I had in people in general, and I saw that I had developed a bitter root expectation. I had really harbored unforgiveness towards the friend who constantly let me down. This unforgiveness or bitter root stronghold buried in my inner thoughts created in me an expectation that made me think that I just couldn’t trust people. Once I saw it, I prayed and repent for harboring the unforgiveness towards my friend so many years ago.
Once I did this, I found that I was enabled to trust others in a way that I couldn’t before. My deep inner thoughts had been released from the expectation that others would fail me! I was amazed at how quickly this helped me.
I’ve taken this same principle and dealt with many issues in my life; issues with personal beliefs about myself because of how others treated me in my past; issues with authority figures in my life that let me down; and so many other things.
It’s important that we cleanse our soul from bitter root strongholds and bitter root expectations. One way to do this is to write down the names of people with whom you’ve closely related. Parents, siblings, friends, teachers, coaches, relatives, boyfriends or girlfriends, ex-spouses, pastors, etc. As you think about that person, write down any uncomfortable things that happen between you and that person. Pray and specifically forgive them for anything that they did that brought harm to you. Once you forgive them and release this to the Lord, make a decision to never allow your mind to go there and dwell on what they did again. In prayer before God you have released them from anything you’ve held against them. I call this itemized forgiveness. Thought by thought, you go before God and purposely release any negative thoughts you have about any person in your past.
This releases you from bitter root thoughts that create negative expectations in your current relationships. This releases you from so much mental and emotional baggage! Forgive on this deeper level and you’ll be free to love and free to bless in your current relationships.
Bitter root strongholds and bitter root expectations are often at the core when we’re having problems in our relationship with God, ourselves and others. When others wrong us, and we hold on to that wrong in the form of unforgiveness and resentment, that event can become a bitter root in our thoughts, and can color future behavior.
Bitter root expectations arise out of bitter thoughts left unchecked in the soul. I have a bitter root expectation when I expect someone now to treat me the way someone in my past treated me. It’s a set up for problems in relationships, and is very common.
Let me show you a very simple instance of how I’ve had to deal with this in my own life. When I was a young boy, my friend and I would plan to meet at a certain place while riding our bikes. My friend would tell me that he would meet me at 3:00 PM at a certain place. I would go there and wait and he didn’t show up. I was early and waited for him for 20 minutes or more, and he never came. This happened several times, and then was repeated by others. I was on time, they were no shows! This really bothered me but I just shrugged it off and forgot it.
Then, as an adult I found myself not trusting people when they would commit to do something for me. I would check on them three or four times when a person made a commitment to do something for me at a certain time. It go to the point that I would rather do something myself than to trust another person to do it for me!
One day the Lord showed me the root of this distrust I had in people in general, and I saw that I had developed a bitter root expectation. I had really harbored unforgiveness towards the friend who constantly let me down. This unforgiveness or bitter root stronghold buried in my inner thoughts created in me an expectation that made me think that I just couldn’t trust people. Once I saw it, I prayed and repent for harboring the unforgiveness towards my friend so many years ago.
Once I did this, I found that I was enabled to trust others in a way that I couldn’t before. My deep inner thoughts had been released from the expectation that others would fail me! I was amazed at how quickly this helped me.
I’ve taken this same principle and dealt with many issues in my life; issues with personal beliefs about myself because of how others treated me in my past; issues with authority figures in my life that let me down; and so many other things.
It’s important that we cleanse our soul from bitter root strongholds and bitter root expectations. One way to do this is to write down the names of people with whom you’ve closely related. Parents, siblings, friends, teachers, coaches, relatives, boyfriends or girlfriends, ex-spouses, pastors, etc. As you think about that person, write down any uncomfortable things that happen between you and that person. Pray and specifically forgive them for anything that they did that brought harm to you. Once you forgive them and release this to the Lord, make a decision to never allow your mind to go there and dwell on what they did again. In prayer before God you have released them from anything you’ve held against them. I call this itemized forgiveness. Thought by thought, you go before God and purposely release any negative thoughts you have about any person in your past.
This releases you from bitter root thoughts that create negative expectations in your current relationships. This releases you from so much mental and emotional baggage! Forgive on this deeper level and you’ll be free to love and free to bless in your current relationships.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Rooting Out Wrong Thinking and Living
Posted on Thursday, March 19, 2009 at 7:16 AM by Pastor Mitch
We should be constantly improving as believers. James tells us that the implanted Word will change our thought patterns and emotional responses. Hebrews 4 tells us that the Word is so powerful that it is able to divide soul from spirit. The Word goes down deep into our human nature and sorts out what is flesh and what is spirit. The Word is so powerful that it actually goes down into the very thoughts that give us consciousness. These are the thoughts that make us behave the way we do and cause us to act and react almost automatically in many situations.
We all have thoughts that are so deep within us that we’re not able to recognize them. These are the thoughts that form our belief system. These thoughts are formed by our interaction with our parents and families and are the drive that makes us act the way we do.
Here’s the deal. If there is a disconnect between what you read in the Word and what you do at home and in your close relationships, then there is a root that must be dealt with in your life. All of us have these kinds of roots that must come out! These are trans-generational sins that we must allow the Holy Spirit and loving friends to reveal to us. We usually don’t see them ourselves.
Here’s a quote from my friend Chip Judd: God wants to identify, challenge, and change any patterns of thought, belief, or behavior that are contrary to His will. Many of these patterns are so much a part of us that we can’t see them without the revelation of God’s Spirit and the help of other loving Christians.
Here’s a brief glimpse at what I mean. I’ll give you some stats on what kind of children both loving and harsh parents produce and you may see what I mean in your own life.
Harsh, Perfectionistic, Neglectful, and Condemning Parents Produce Children Who 1) Are plagued by insecurity, guilt, fear, anger, loneliness, and withdrawal (self protective walls around them) 2) Have high, rigid, unattainable standards 3) Have a feeling that they do not measure up 4) Are driven to accomplish goals and to please others in order to win the love and acceptance that they crave 5) Think that something is wrong with them (children tend to believe that parents are always right) 6) condemn themselves for not being worthy of love. They either deny their need for love or they try to secure love by performance 7) Struggle with their perception of God. They just can’t do enough to please Him. They often feel that God is distant and condemning.
On the other hand, Loving, compassionate, protective, affirming, and disciplining parents produce children who: 1) Feel loved, valued, and secured 2) Are able to try new things without threat of condemnation if they fail 3) Are able to take appropriate social and business risks without fear of failure (they are self-confident) 4) Are able to enjoy relationships without fearing intimacy. (If you were not loved by your parents – to you intimacy may hurt) 5) Are emotionally, relationally, and spiritually healthy 6) Believe that God is caring and affirming.
If you have the fruit, then you have the root. If you’re able to relate well with others, if you’re able to reveal your heart, if you’re able to receive admonishment from others without feeling hurt and betrayed by them, then you probably came from a family that loved you with some measure of unconditional love.
But if you’re easily offended, if you can’t receive constructive criticism from others without thinking that they totally reject you, if you often feel isolated and alone, then there are root thoughts in you formed from problems in your home as a child. They are buried deep in your soul and hinder your current relationships. The Father wants to wash them away with the water of the Word and with His unconditional love and forgiveness. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss how this works!
We all have thoughts that are so deep within us that we’re not able to recognize them. These are the thoughts that form our belief system. These thoughts are formed by our interaction with our parents and families and are the drive that makes us act the way we do.
Here’s the deal. If there is a disconnect between what you read in the Word and what you do at home and in your close relationships, then there is a root that must be dealt with in your life. All of us have these kinds of roots that must come out! These are trans-generational sins that we must allow the Holy Spirit and loving friends to reveal to us. We usually don’t see them ourselves.
Here’s a quote from my friend Chip Judd: God wants to identify, challenge, and change any patterns of thought, belief, or behavior that are contrary to His will. Many of these patterns are so much a part of us that we can’t see them without the revelation of God’s Spirit and the help of other loving Christians.
Here’s a brief glimpse at what I mean. I’ll give you some stats on what kind of children both loving and harsh parents produce and you may see what I mean in your own life.
Harsh, Perfectionistic, Neglectful, and Condemning Parents Produce Children Who 1) Are plagued by insecurity, guilt, fear, anger, loneliness, and withdrawal (self protective walls around them) 2) Have high, rigid, unattainable standards 3) Have a feeling that they do not measure up 4) Are driven to accomplish goals and to please others in order to win the love and acceptance that they crave 5) Think that something is wrong with them (children tend to believe that parents are always right) 6) condemn themselves for not being worthy of love. They either deny their need for love or they try to secure love by performance 7) Struggle with their perception of God. They just can’t do enough to please Him. They often feel that God is distant and condemning.
On the other hand, Loving, compassionate, protective, affirming, and disciplining parents produce children who: 1) Feel loved, valued, and secured 2) Are able to try new things without threat of condemnation if they fail 3) Are able to take appropriate social and business risks without fear of failure (they are self-confident) 4) Are able to enjoy relationships without fearing intimacy. (If you were not loved by your parents – to you intimacy may hurt) 5) Are emotionally, relationally, and spiritually healthy 6) Believe that God is caring and affirming.
If you have the fruit, then you have the root. If you’re able to relate well with others, if you’re able to reveal your heart, if you’re able to receive admonishment from others without feeling hurt and betrayed by them, then you probably came from a family that loved you with some measure of unconditional love.
But if you’re easily offended, if you can’t receive constructive criticism from others without thinking that they totally reject you, if you often feel isolated and alone, then there are root thoughts in you formed from problems in your home as a child. They are buried deep in your soul and hinder your current relationships. The Father wants to wash them away with the water of the Word and with His unconditional love and forgiveness. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss how this works!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Covenant Care
Posted on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 5:49 AM by Pastor Mitch
But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises (Hebrews 8:6- NLT).
God has entered into covenant with us through Jesus Christ. Our Father is a covenant God. He has entered into a contractual agreement to assume the obligations of our care! God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19).
He will keep the terms of His covenant with us! My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips (Psalm 89:34).
He moved in a sovereign way to place Joseph in Egypt as prime minister during a severe famine. He has His covenant obligations in mind. He made a way to care for Israel those seven years.
His covenant moved Him to split the Red Sea so that Israel could escape from the bondage of a tyrannical Pharaoh!
Supernatural food rained down from the sky overnight for forty years while Israel wandered in a desert. God kept His covenant obligation.
We have an even better covenant! He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). Regardless of how difficult world circumstances become, our Father has His eye on us. His covenant love moves Him to supply our needs.
So as darkness cover the earth, keep looking to His light! He has never forsaken His own! And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:29-32).
God has entered into covenant with us through Jesus Christ. Our Father is a covenant God. He has entered into a contractual agreement to assume the obligations of our care! God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? (Numbers 23:19).
He will keep the terms of His covenant with us! My covenant I will not break, Nor alter the word that has gone out of My lips (Psalm 89:34).
He moved in a sovereign way to place Joseph in Egypt as prime minister during a severe famine. He has His covenant obligations in mind. He made a way to care for Israel those seven years.
His covenant moved Him to split the Red Sea so that Israel could escape from the bondage of a tyrannical Pharaoh!
Supernatural food rained down from the sky overnight for forty years while Israel wandered in a desert. God kept His covenant obligation.
We have an even better covenant! He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? (Romans 8:32). Regardless of how difficult world circumstances become, our Father has His eye on us. His covenant love moves Him to supply our needs.
So as darkness cover the earth, keep looking to His light! He has never forsaken His own! And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you. Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom (Luke 12:29-32).
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Work on Your Love Walk
Posted on Tuesday, March 17, 2009 at 6:25 AM by Pastor Mitch
For the last week, I’ve been writing about the characteristics of love according to 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8. Love should be the most important item in our lives as believers. Our witness to the world is tied directly to our love walk. Our spiritual growth is tied directly to our love walk. Our effectiveness in the kingdom of God is motivated by our love walk. Our authority over the demonic is rooted in our love walk. Take your love walk seriously. It determines your success in spiritual things.
The following is a compilation of several translations of the characteristics of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I encourage you to copy this and keep it with you. Meditate on it regularly and your lifestyle will change!
Let me describe love. It is slow to lose patience; love stays in difficult relationships with kindness, and it always looks for ways to be constructive. There is no envy in love. It is not possessive and never boils over with jealousy. Love makes no parade of itself; it never boasts, nor does it puff up with pride. Love is never arrogant and never puts itself on display, because it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love never gets irritated and is never resentful. Love holds no grudges, and it keeps no record of evil done to it. Love refuses to be provoked and never harbors evil thoughts. Love is not rude or grasping or overly sensitive, nor does love search for imperfections and faults in others. Love does not compile statistics of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love celebrates what is real and not what is perverse or incomplete. Love never does the graceless thing. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. Love never insists on its own rights, never irritably loses its temper, and never nurses its wrath to keep it warm. Love is not touchy. Love can stand any kind of treatment because there are no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust. Love bears up under anything; it perseveres in all circumstances. Love’s first instinct is to believe in people. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best in him, and always stand your ground in defending him. Love never regards anyone or anything as hopeless. Love keeps up hope in everything. Love’s hope never fades. Love keeps on keeping on! It trusts in God in every situation and expects God to act in all circumstances. Love goes on forever. Nothing can destroy love. Nothing can happen that can break love’s spirit. In fact, it is the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
The following is a compilation of several translations of the characteristics of love found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8. I encourage you to copy this and keep it with you. Meditate on it regularly and your lifestyle will change!
Let me describe love. It is slow to lose patience; love stays in difficult relationships with kindness, and it always looks for ways to be constructive. There is no envy in love. It is not possessive and never boils over with jealousy. Love makes no parade of itself; it never boasts, nor does it puff up with pride. Love is never arrogant and never puts itself on display, because it is neither anxious to impress, nor does it cherish inflated ideas of its own importance. Love never gets irritated and is never resentful. Love holds no grudges, and it keeps no record of evil done to it. Love refuses to be provoked and never harbors evil thoughts. Love is not rude or grasping or overly sensitive, nor does love search for imperfections and faults in others. Love does not compile statistics of evil or gloat over the wickedness of other people. On the contrary, it is glad with all good men when truth prevails. Love celebrates what is real and not what is perverse or incomplete. Love never does the graceless thing. Love has good manners and does not pursue selfish advantage. Love never insists on its own rights, never irritably loses its temper, and never nurses its wrath to keep it warm. Love is not touchy. Love can stand any kind of treatment because there are no limits to its endurance, no end to its trust. Love bears up under anything; it perseveres in all circumstances. Love’s first instinct is to believe in people. If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best in him, and always stand your ground in defending him. Love never regards anyone or anything as hopeless. Love keeps up hope in everything. Love’s hope never fades. Love keeps on keeping on! It trusts in God in every situation and expects God to act in all circumstances. Love goes on forever. Nothing can destroy love. Nothing can happen that can break love’s spirit. In fact, it is the one thing that still stands when all else has fallen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Be Prepared
Posted on Monday, March 16, 2009 at 10:47 AM by Pastor Mitch
I’ve had a number of people speak to me about David Wilkerson’s admonition to be prepared for a sudden disaster. If you haven’t read about that, let me encourage you to read my blog from Sunday, March 8th (It's Time to Get Ready). I’d like to express my heart a little more about this.
Anyone who is acquainted with the writings of Daniel Ezekiel; with Jesus teachings from Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21; and who has a general understanding of the book of Revelation understands that we are living out right now the days just prior to the tribulation.
This period we’re going through is similar to the labor pains Susan experienced before she gave birth to our four children. We are experiencing a time of transition from one age to another. It is the transition from the age of grace to an age of Divine judgment. Nations are fulfilling destiny. Russia is in the process of re-asserting its military power. Iran is on a course to be armed with nuclear capability to be used against its perceived enemies. North Korea is unstable. China is strengthening its military. The violence in Mexico threatens our southern border. Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to be volatile. Satan knows that his time is short.
Institutions that men have trusted in for decades are crumbling. The god of greed (mammon) is being judged, and I believe that this judgment is the beginning stage of a one world currency that will be in force under the rule of the world dictator know as Anti-Christ.
Terrorists want the United States to be destroyed because of our support of Israel. On the other hand, our nation will face judgment from God if we align with Israel’s enemies. Our current course of urging Israel to give up land in order to create a Palestinian state will result in our being judged by the words of the prophet Zechariah: And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.
This is a time of change and of volatility. Wisdom says be prepared for any hardship. Wilkerson’s admonition to have a 30 days’ supply of food on hand is wise. Joseph prepared for the famine to come. September 11th happened with no warning. These kinds of things could occur again, but on a broader scale.
While there are extremists who I think take things too far and have a disaster mindset and are planning excessively, it is wise to prepare for a brief time where food supplies at your local grocery may not be able to be replenished for a time due to some circumstance. And it would be wise to have some cash on hand.
I have made some simple preparations so that I’m not taken by surprise by any event. I’d encourage you to do the same.
Having said all of this, we’re not to have a mentality of hunkering down in fear and dread of what is to come! It’s harvest time! Jesus is looking for the precious fruit of the earth, which are the souls of men! Pray with me that Jesus will use us to win the lost. Pray for opportunities to talk to others about Jesus and invite them to church. Be prepared, but dwell on calamity. Instead. Live every day as a messenger. You have a message of hope and salvation to give every person you encounter. Live in such a way that others see your joy and ask questions!
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ (1Peter 3:15-16).
Anyone who is acquainted with the writings of Daniel Ezekiel; with Jesus teachings from Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21; and who has a general understanding of the book of Revelation understands that we are living out right now the days just prior to the tribulation.
This period we’re going through is similar to the labor pains Susan experienced before she gave birth to our four children. We are experiencing a time of transition from one age to another. It is the transition from the age of grace to an age of Divine judgment. Nations are fulfilling destiny. Russia is in the process of re-asserting its military power. Iran is on a course to be armed with nuclear capability to be used against its perceived enemies. North Korea is unstable. China is strengthening its military. The violence in Mexico threatens our southern border. Afghanistan and Pakistan continue to be volatile. Satan knows that his time is short.
Institutions that men have trusted in for decades are crumbling. The god of greed (mammon) is being judged, and I believe that this judgment is the beginning stage of a one world currency that will be in force under the rule of the world dictator know as Anti-Christ.
Terrorists want the United States to be destroyed because of our support of Israel. On the other hand, our nation will face judgment from God if we align with Israel’s enemies. Our current course of urging Israel to give up land in order to create a Palestinian state will result in our being judged by the words of the prophet Zechariah: And it shall happen in that day that I will make Jerusalem a very heavy stone for all peoples; all who would heave it away will surely be cut in pieces, though all nations of the earth are gathered against it.
This is a time of change and of volatility. Wisdom says be prepared for any hardship. Wilkerson’s admonition to have a 30 days’ supply of food on hand is wise. Joseph prepared for the famine to come. September 11th happened with no warning. These kinds of things could occur again, but on a broader scale.
While there are extremists who I think take things too far and have a disaster mindset and are planning excessively, it is wise to prepare for a brief time where food supplies at your local grocery may not be able to be replenished for a time due to some circumstance. And it would be wise to have some cash on hand.
I have made some simple preparations so that I’m not taken by surprise by any event. I’d encourage you to do the same.
Having said all of this, we’re not to have a mentality of hunkering down in fear and dread of what is to come! It’s harvest time! Jesus is looking for the precious fruit of the earth, which are the souls of men! Pray with me that Jesus will use us to win the lost. Pray for opportunities to talk to others about Jesus and invite them to church. Be prepared, but dwell on calamity. Instead. Live every day as a messenger. You have a message of hope and salvation to give every person you encounter. Live in such a way that others see your joy and ask questions!
Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ (1Peter 3:15-16).
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Mental Prostitution
Posted on Sunday, March 15, 2009 at 3:15 PM by Pastor Mitch
I ministered on a pretty tough subject today – porn and masturbation. I’ve been doing a series on pure sex, and today was the last message. I believe that for us to go as the body of Christ where God wants to take us, we must live clean! He will not snuggle up to dirty living!
If we are going to live clean we must watch what we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus moved sin from an outward act to a thought process. To Him, the look of lust is the same as the act of adultery.
The Greek word for adultery is Pornos. It really refers to the act of prostitution. In God’s mind, an adulterer or adulteress is committing the act of prostitution.
The word pornography is a compound word – from pornos (prostitution) and grapho which means to write. So pornography is the writings of prostitution! A person who views pornography is really committing the act of mental prostitution!
This is certainly a strong word, but we are living in challenging and demanding times. Pornography is a huge problem worldwide and is prevalently abused among believers!
Consider these stats:
* Pornography is a $13.3 billion industry annually in the US and takes in more
money every year than the NFL, NBA, and major league baseball combined.
* 35% of all downloads are pornography material.
* The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology
companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix
and EarthLink
* Every second - $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
* Every second - 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
* Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States
* There are 4.2 million pornography websites
* 25% of search engine requests are for pornography – 68 million per day
* 80% of in-room hotel movie rentals are pornographic. 60 minutes reported that
In-room movies account for nearly 70% of hotel profits for the major chains –
Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, Hyatt, & Holiday Inn
In addition, it is estimated that 70% of Christians have looked at porn on the web. It’s also estimated that 50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women are addicted to porn in America. This is a huge problem. And statistics indicate that is the same among church folk!
If you’ve been involved in viewing porn, let me encourage you to repent and get some help! You’re committing mental prostitution if you do this, and you’re hardening your conscience to the Lord. Your heart is being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
The Holy Spirit is pleading for purity in the church today! Allow Him to cleanse your thoughts and your heart. Cry out for purity and become accountable to another person.
Some excellent help can be found at settingcaptivesfree.com if you want freedom from this sin and you want accountability. XXXChurch.com is another good resource for some info and accountability software for your internet searches. http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/toc.php is a small book you can download from Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington. It’s title is Porn Again Christian, a frank discussion on pornography and masturbation. This one is in your face, so be aware that you’ll be challenged!
Father, bring your purity into all of our lives. Move us to repentance and freedom in Christ. Bring your forgiveness to each one who reaches out in faith and repentance, in Jesus Name!
If we are going to live clean we must watch what we allow our eyes to see and our ears to hear. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus moved sin from an outward act to a thought process. To Him, the look of lust is the same as the act of adultery.
The Greek word for adultery is Pornos. It really refers to the act of prostitution. In God’s mind, an adulterer or adulteress is committing the act of prostitution.
The word pornography is a compound word – from pornos (prostitution) and grapho which means to write. So pornography is the writings of prostitution! A person who views pornography is really committing the act of mental prostitution!
This is certainly a strong word, but we are living in challenging and demanding times. Pornography is a huge problem worldwide and is prevalently abused among believers!
Consider these stats:
* Pornography is a $13.3 billion industry annually in the US and takes in more
money every year than the NFL, NBA, and major league baseball combined.
* 35% of all downloads are pornography material.
* The pornography industry is larger than the revenues of the top technology
companies combined: Microsoft, Google, Amazon, eBay, Yahoo!, Apple, Netflix
and EarthLink
* Every second - $3,075.64 is being spent on pornography
* Every second - 28,258 Internet users are viewing pornography
* Every 39 minutes: a new pornographic video is being created in the United States
* There are 4.2 million pornography websites
* 25% of search engine requests are for pornography – 68 million per day
* 80% of in-room hotel movie rentals are pornographic. 60 minutes reported that
In-room movies account for nearly 70% of hotel profits for the major chains –
Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton, Hyatt, & Holiday Inn
In addition, it is estimated that 70% of Christians have looked at porn on the web. It’s also estimated that 50% of Christian men and 20% of Christian women are addicted to porn in America. This is a huge problem. And statistics indicate that is the same among church folk!
If you’ve been involved in viewing porn, let me encourage you to repent and get some help! You’re committing mental prostitution if you do this, and you’re hardening your conscience to the Lord. Your heart is being hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.
The Holy Spirit is pleading for purity in the church today! Allow Him to cleanse your thoughts and your heart. Cry out for purity and become accountable to another person.
Some excellent help can be found at settingcaptivesfree.com if you want freedom from this sin and you want accountability. XXXChurch.com is another good resource for some info and accountability software for your internet searches. http://relit.org/porn_again_christian/toc.php is a small book you can download from Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle Washington. It’s title is Porn Again Christian, a frank discussion on pornography and masturbation. This one is in your face, so be aware that you’ll be challenged!
Father, bring your purity into all of our lives. Move us to repentance and freedom in Christ. Bring your forgiveness to each one who reaches out in faith and repentance, in Jesus Name!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Love Hopes and Endures All
Posted on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 8:39 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
Love also hopes all things. This characteristic is similar to believing the best in someone but goes a step further. Love expects improvement as time goes by. Hope always deals with the future and when we hope all things we are saying that we believe others are changing for the better! The Amplified Bible of this phrase reads its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances. Agape believes in the God who can change people!
Agape endures all things. The Greek word for endure here in 1 Corinthians 13:7 is the word hupomeno. This Greek word comes from hupo which means under and meno which means to remain. Together it is the picture of a person who remains steady in a difficult place. When the going gets tough this person continues to stand and continues to love.
In trying and difficult relationships the person who loves with agape becomes a real strength to those who through their own hurt are hurtful to others. Agape will allow you to remain through thick and thin; to put up with the biting, hurtful, stinging things that others do to you. Agape love maintains faith that God is working behind the scenes to bring about change in a person who is frankly hard to live with! Endurance will enable you to be kind to the unkind and tender to the harsh.
Here’s another quote that I thought was so good concerning endurance from the book The Life of Faith:
To endure is to go through a thing just as though it had not occurred – to be not in the least affected by it. How many of us can and do go through all trying, hurtful, evil things that are on every side as sweetly, calmly, silently, lovingly, and uncomplainingly as if they were all just as if we would like them to be. That is to endure.*
The last characteristic of love is that love never fails! 1 John 4:16 tell us that we are to believe the love that God has for us. It is possible to come to the place in life where you believe that love is the best way to live. It is better than selfishness, strife, bitterness, resentment, grudges, anger, and animosity. The love way is the most successful way.
*Mrs. C. Nuzum, The Life of Faith (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1928, 1956), p. 85-86
Love also hopes all things. This characteristic is similar to believing the best in someone but goes a step further. Love expects improvement as time goes by. Hope always deals with the future and when we hope all things we are saying that we believe others are changing for the better! The Amplified Bible of this phrase reads its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances. Agape believes in the God who can change people!
Agape endures all things. The Greek word for endure here in 1 Corinthians 13:7 is the word hupomeno. This Greek word comes from hupo which means under and meno which means to remain. Together it is the picture of a person who remains steady in a difficult place. When the going gets tough this person continues to stand and continues to love.
In trying and difficult relationships the person who loves with agape becomes a real strength to those who through their own hurt are hurtful to others. Agape will allow you to remain through thick and thin; to put up with the biting, hurtful, stinging things that others do to you. Agape love maintains faith that God is working behind the scenes to bring about change in a person who is frankly hard to live with! Endurance will enable you to be kind to the unkind and tender to the harsh.
Here’s another quote that I thought was so good concerning endurance from the book The Life of Faith:
To endure is to go through a thing just as though it had not occurred – to be not in the least affected by it. How many of us can and do go through all trying, hurtful, evil things that are on every side as sweetly, calmly, silently, lovingly, and uncomplainingly as if they were all just as if we would like them to be. That is to endure.*
The last characteristic of love is that love never fails! 1 John 4:16 tell us that we are to believe the love that God has for us. It is possible to come to the place in life where you believe that love is the best way to live. It is better than selfishness, strife, bitterness, resentment, grudges, anger, and animosity. The love way is the most successful way.
*Mrs. C. Nuzum, The Life of Faith (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1928, 1956), p. 85-86
Friday, March 13, 2009
Back from a Conference
Posted on Friday, March 13, 2009 at 11:10 AM by Pastor Mitch
I was out of town Wednesday and Thursday with four of my staff members and one volunteer attending a church conference called Unleashed in Anderson SC. This church has experienced phenomenal growth in the last 8 or nine years to around 10,000 in attendance in weekend services.
I went to see the culture of the church and what made it what it was today. These folk are Southern Baptists, but definitely out of the neat and tidy box that I associate with most Baptists!
The facility was modern and spacious, the volunteers were enthused and friendly to the max! The event was well organized with over 3300 church leaders there. I met non-denominational as well as mainline denominational leaders there.
Here's what I came away with. The pastor, Perry Noble, is just an ordinary guy who really is in love with Jesus and has a passion to get people saved. His passion is so alive that he's willing to do the unorthodox (in his Baptist circles) to get people to church. His focus is spending time with Jesus and preaching the Word. He shuns formulas and fads. He simply encouraged leaders to go after God with gusto and cling to the uncompromising principles of honoring God with a life of integrity, spending time every day with Jesus in prayer and in the Word, and surrounding yourself with a team of idea people who help you bring to pass what God wills for your church.
I got in last night after midnight and must spend the day today in preparation for the weekend. I share Perry Noble's belief that Jesus may be coming sooner than we think. There are a lot of people the Lord wants us to reach before He returns. Let's go after them with our love!
I went to see the culture of the church and what made it what it was today. These folk are Southern Baptists, but definitely out of the neat and tidy box that I associate with most Baptists!
The facility was modern and spacious, the volunteers were enthused and friendly to the max! The event was well organized with over 3300 church leaders there. I met non-denominational as well as mainline denominational leaders there.
Here's what I came away with. The pastor, Perry Noble, is just an ordinary guy who really is in love with Jesus and has a passion to get people saved. His passion is so alive that he's willing to do the unorthodox (in his Baptist circles) to get people to church. His focus is spending time with Jesus and preaching the Word. He shuns formulas and fads. He simply encouraged leaders to go after God with gusto and cling to the uncompromising principles of honoring God with a life of integrity, spending time every day with Jesus in prayer and in the Word, and surrounding yourself with a team of idea people who help you bring to pass what God wills for your church.
I got in last night after midnight and must spend the day today in preparation for the weekend. I share Perry Noble's belief that Jesus may be coming sooner than we think. There are a lot of people the Lord wants us to reach before He returns. Let's go after them with our love!
Love Covers with Silence
Posted on at 11:02 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
We’ve been examining the characteristics of agape love the last few days. The last two days I discussed the truth that love does not rejoice at iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love does not ignore problems, but kindly confronts them with truth. A person who really loves you will be honest with you if you’re involved in something that will be a detriment to your life in some way.
The next characteristic of love from 1 Corinthians 13: 7 is that love bears all things. The word bear is the Greek word stege which simply means a roof or a covering. In this verse it means to cover by silence the offences of others! In fact the Berkeley translation of the New Testament of this phrase reads, Love covers all things in silence.
Proverbs 10:12 tells us that hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. And this principle is mentioned again in 1 Peter 4:8: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. A believer who walks in love will not gossip about others’ problems!
Mrs. C Nuzum, author of the book The Life of Faith has this to say about love covering with silence: Love covers sins, even when there is a multitude of them. Love not only hides the evil in others, but refuses even to speak of it. Then, if we tell of the evil someone has done, criticize, judge, condemn, or murmur against anyone, no matter who he is or what he has done, we are proving that we have not love, because love covers in silence.
Resist the tendency to talk about others and their problems. A mature believer who walks in agape has learned to value others and will not be used to disseminate negative information! We are to keep our thoughts and our words on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy!
We’ve been examining the characteristics of agape love the last few days. The last two days I discussed the truth that love does not rejoice at iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. Love does not ignore problems, but kindly confronts them with truth. A person who really loves you will be honest with you if you’re involved in something that will be a detriment to your life in some way.
The next characteristic of love from 1 Corinthians 13: 7 is that love bears all things. The word bear is the Greek word stege which simply means a roof or a covering. In this verse it means to cover by silence the offences of others! In fact the Berkeley translation of the New Testament of this phrase reads, Love covers all things in silence.
Proverbs 10:12 tells us that hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins. And this principle is mentioned again in 1 Peter 4:8: And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. A believer who walks in love will not gossip about others’ problems!
Mrs. C Nuzum, author of the book The Life of Faith has this to say about love covering with silence: Love covers sins, even when there is a multitude of them. Love not only hides the evil in others, but refuses even to speak of it. Then, if we tell of the evil someone has done, criticize, judge, condemn, or murmur against anyone, no matter who he is or what he has done, we are proving that we have not love, because love covers in silence.
Resist the tendency to talk about others and their problems. A mature believer who walks in agape has learned to value others and will not be used to disseminate negative information! We are to keep our thoughts and our words on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
The Other Side of Love
Posted on Thursday, March 12, 2009 at 5:29 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
I want to finish discussing The other side of love today. Remember that love does not rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. There is a side of the love walk that is confrontational when correction may possibly transform a life or protect others.
Proverbs 27:5 reads: Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Today’s English Version makes it clear: “Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.” Love wants what is best for the other person, even if at the moment it takes a tough stand. Today we call it tough love.
Jesus is our Savior from sin, and He is also our example of living in a fallen world. Notice that he didn’t smile and shake hands with the hypocrites selling their wares in the temple. Rather, He took out a whip, and drove them away. He overturned their tables for money exchange, let loose the animals they were selling, and challenged their ungodly deceiving actions! Did Jesus walk in love? Of course He did!
Jesus called the religious leaders of His day hypocrites and with-washed graves full of dead men’s bones! Why did He act that way towards them? Because He loved them enough to be real and honest with them and loved others enough to expose the leaders wrong behavior lest others become infected with it and fall into the same trap!
In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica to have nothing to do with a person who is purposely acting in an ungodly way. He tells them to that a person who doesn’t work (and is able to) should not be able to eat for free. He tells them not to fellowship with a believer who is living in a divisive, ungodly way so that the deceived believer will be ashamed of himself and repent! “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3: 14-15).
On the surface, that seems unloving, but a closer look would reveal a heart desire to rescue a believer that may be headed down a path of destructive behavior.
In Titus 3:10-11, again Paul asserts tough love on a man who has been told to correct his behavior repeatedly, and just simply refuses to listen. He tells the church there in Crete to have nothing to do with him: “If anyone is causing divisions among you, he should be given a first and second warning. After that have nothing more to do with him, (11) for such a person has a wrong sense of values. He is sinning, and he knows it” (Living)
In 1 Corinthians 5, we find Paul dealing with a man who is involved in an immoral relationship with his step-mother, and is flaunting his actions in the church in Corinth. Read the entire chapter and you’ll find Paul acting in love as he turns the man over to the devil so that his spirit would be saved. He then tells the Christians in the church to have absolutely no fellowship with this man until he repents!
In Hebrews 12: 50-11, we find that God chastens and deals with those he really loves. And in Revelation 3: 14-20, we find Jesus telling the church in Laodicea to repent of their lukewarmness or He will vomit them out of His mouth! He says in verse 19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent.”
God is love, and love, though kind is also full of discipline and honesty. Fear keeps the peace at all costs, even to the point of holding back from needed confrontation. Proverbs 28:23 makes it so clear: He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.
In summary, love is kind to all, does not respond in kind to wrongs committed against it, and will be silent toward personal persecution. But, love will defend the weak and stand for truth when unfair actions hurt others.
May the Lord enable us all to be set free from fear that refuses to confront problems when necessary, and to be filled with the love of God which “does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”
I want to finish discussing The other side of love today. Remember that love does not rejoice in injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth. There is a side of the love walk that is confrontational when correction may possibly transform a life or protect others.
Proverbs 27:5 reads: Open rebuke is better than love carefully concealed. Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Today’s English Version makes it clear: “Better to correct someone openly than to let him think you don't care for him at all.” Love wants what is best for the other person, even if at the moment it takes a tough stand. Today we call it tough love.
Jesus is our Savior from sin, and He is also our example of living in a fallen world. Notice that he didn’t smile and shake hands with the hypocrites selling their wares in the temple. Rather, He took out a whip, and drove them away. He overturned their tables for money exchange, let loose the animals they were selling, and challenged their ungodly deceiving actions! Did Jesus walk in love? Of course He did!
Jesus called the religious leaders of His day hypocrites and with-washed graves full of dead men’s bones! Why did He act that way towards them? Because He loved them enough to be real and honest with them and loved others enough to expose the leaders wrong behavior lest others become infected with it and fall into the same trap!
In 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15, Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica to have nothing to do with a person who is purposely acting in an ungodly way. He tells them to that a person who doesn’t work (and is able to) should not be able to eat for free. He tells them not to fellowship with a believer who is living in a divisive, ungodly way so that the deceived believer will be ashamed of himself and repent! “And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3: 14-15).
On the surface, that seems unloving, but a closer look would reveal a heart desire to rescue a believer that may be headed down a path of destructive behavior.
In Titus 3:10-11, again Paul asserts tough love on a man who has been told to correct his behavior repeatedly, and just simply refuses to listen. He tells the church there in Crete to have nothing to do with him: “If anyone is causing divisions among you, he should be given a first and second warning. After that have nothing more to do with him, (11) for such a person has a wrong sense of values. He is sinning, and he knows it” (Living)
In 1 Corinthians 5, we find Paul dealing with a man who is involved in an immoral relationship with his step-mother, and is flaunting his actions in the church in Corinth. Read the entire chapter and you’ll find Paul acting in love as he turns the man over to the devil so that his spirit would be saved. He then tells the Christians in the church to have absolutely no fellowship with this man until he repents!
In Hebrews 12: 50-11, we find that God chastens and deals with those he really loves. And in Revelation 3: 14-20, we find Jesus telling the church in Laodicea to repent of their lukewarmness or He will vomit them out of His mouth! He says in verse 19, “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Be zealous therefore and repent.”
God is love, and love, though kind is also full of discipline and honesty. Fear keeps the peace at all costs, even to the point of holding back from needed confrontation. Proverbs 28:23 makes it so clear: He who rebukes a man will find more favor afterward than he who flatters with the tongue.
In summary, love is kind to all, does not respond in kind to wrongs committed against it, and will be silent toward personal persecution. But, love will defend the weak and stand for truth when unfair actions hurt others.
May the Lord enable us all to be set free from fear that refuses to confront problems when necessary, and to be filled with the love of God which “does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.”
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Love Stands for Truth!
Posted on Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 9:48 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. The Amplified Bible translates this phrase as follows: It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Weymouth’s translation reads: “She finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.” The Living Paraphrase renders it: “It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”
I call this the “other side of love.” Love stands for what is right, and will stand up for others when their rights are being violated. Love will not stand by idly when God and His standards are being attacked. Love will confront wrong doing in deference to the good of all involved!
How can you tell whether to “turn the other cheek” or to challenge a situation? Here’s the deciding factor. When others do you wrong, you don’t retaliate. Remember, love doesn’t take account of the evil done to it; doesn’t pay attention to a suffered wrong. But love will hold accountable those whose actions hurt others. Love always puts others first. And when someone is being hurt or unjustly dealt with, love will come to their defense.
To put it another way, when someone hurts me, I take no account of their actions, and treat them as if they did nothing wrong. But when they hurt someone else, I will stand for what is right and step in and acts so that others will not be hurt.
Love will challenge the behavior of the alcoholic who is being irresponsible and leading his family into poverty or extreme debt. Love will challenge person who abuses a child physically, emotionally, or sexually, and will do what is necessary to stop the hurtful actions. I’ve called law enforcement on a number of occasions when I saw that laws were being broken and pain was being inflicted on the innocent. When I called the authorities I was really acting out of Agape love, because love “finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.”
I have stepped in and challenged husbands who for many years physically and psychologically abused their wives. I’ve encouraged parents to confront the irresponsible child in their 20’s that lives in the home and doesn’t work. The parents were actually acting out of selfish motives to allow this behavior to continue! They were only thinking of themselves, and not of the needed maturity in the life of their son or daughter.
It seems so mean for the mother eagle to push the baby eaglet out of that nest and watch it seemingly fall to its own death. But if mother eagle didn’t force the eaglet to fly, it would be dependent on the mother for life, and would eventually die when the mother could no longer bring it enough food! So out of instinctive motherly love, the eagle knocks her baby eaglet out of the nest over and over again, and swooping down catches it on her back just before it hits the ground.
Stand your ground in love today. Stand for what is right. The Lord may lead you to lovingly challenge a person who is harming themselves or others. This other side of love is necessary and so overlooked today. I’ll continue this thought tomorrow!
Does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth. The Amplified Bible translates this phrase as follows: It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Weymouth’s translation reads: “She finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.” The Living Paraphrase renders it: “It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out.”
I call this the “other side of love.” Love stands for what is right, and will stand up for others when their rights are being violated. Love will not stand by idly when God and His standards are being attacked. Love will confront wrong doing in deference to the good of all involved!
How can you tell whether to “turn the other cheek” or to challenge a situation? Here’s the deciding factor. When others do you wrong, you don’t retaliate. Remember, love doesn’t take account of the evil done to it; doesn’t pay attention to a suffered wrong. But love will hold accountable those whose actions hurt others. Love always puts others first. And when someone is being hurt or unjustly dealt with, love will come to their defense.
To put it another way, when someone hurts me, I take no account of their actions, and treat them as if they did nothing wrong. But when they hurt someone else, I will stand for what is right and step in and acts so that others will not be hurt.
Love will challenge the behavior of the alcoholic who is being irresponsible and leading his family into poverty or extreme debt. Love will challenge person who abuses a child physically, emotionally, or sexually, and will do what is necessary to stop the hurtful actions. I’ve called law enforcement on a number of occasions when I saw that laws were being broken and pain was being inflicted on the innocent. When I called the authorities I was really acting out of Agape love, because love “finds no pleasure in injustice done to others, but joyfully sides with the truth.”
I have stepped in and challenged husbands who for many years physically and psychologically abused their wives. I’ve encouraged parents to confront the irresponsible child in their 20’s that lives in the home and doesn’t work. The parents were actually acting out of selfish motives to allow this behavior to continue! They were only thinking of themselves, and not of the needed maturity in the life of their son or daughter.
It seems so mean for the mother eagle to push the baby eaglet out of that nest and watch it seemingly fall to its own death. But if mother eagle didn’t force the eaglet to fly, it would be dependent on the mother for life, and would eventually die when the mother could no longer bring it enough food! So out of instinctive motherly love, the eagle knocks her baby eaglet out of the nest over and over again, and swooping down catches it on her back just before it hits the ground.
Stand your ground in love today. Stand for what is right. The Lord may lead you to lovingly challenge a person who is harming themselves or others. This other side of love is necessary and so overlooked today. I’ll continue this thought tomorrow!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Love Thinks No Evil
Posted on Tuesday, March 10, 2009 at 11:22 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
Love thinks no evil. The Greek word here is logizomai and means to take an inventory. It means to make a list in your mind of what someone does to harm or bother you or to remember when someone does you wrong. Agape keeps no record of wrongs. I think that the Amplified Bible of 1 Corinthians 13:5 sums up this characteristic of love best: Takes no account of the evil done to it: pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
This characteristic is perhaps one of the best gauges of whether or not we’re walking in love. We have left the love realm when we start holding others’ offenses against them and start making lists in our minds of their offenses against us.
I was ministering to a man who had problems in his marriage many years ago. He sat in my office and began to tell me how difficult it was for him to live with his wife. He began to mention a plethora of problems he had with her. I decided to sit back and let him talk for a bit. I was taken back by his next move. He stood up from his chair with a stack of computer paper in his hand; the kind that was joined and folded together. As he stood he said, Here is a list of each offense my wife has committed against me. As I examined the page after page of paper, I saw for each offence one line with a date, a time, and the nature of the offense. His action to indict his wife of all these “crimes” against him proved his own guilt of self-centeredness! This is a great example of the opposite of what we should do to others. Instead of remembering his wife’s offenses, he should have made a decision to take no account of them, and to treat his wife as if she had never done wrong.
The flesh loves to brood over past offenses. But love will move us away from the past, and will lead us to forget what others have done to harm us, and will urge us to treat them as though they had never harmed us in any way.
Many years ago while attending Bible school; I worked for a large grocery chain that was unionized. The winter of my first year there, a section of the labor force in the grocery chain decided to go on a strike to protest their benefits package. I was in charge of the night crew at the store, and decided to cross the picket line and go to work in spite of the opposition of union employees. One of the men who worked in the area that called the strike was holding up a sign in the picket line and challenged me as I went to work, calling me all sorts of names. I just smiled at him each day as I crossed the line and went to work.
When the strike was over, this man that had made the harsh comments to me came to the front door of the store the first morning back from the strike and knocked so I could open it and let him in for work that day. When he saw me open the door and heard me greet him with “good morning,” he acted as though I was the invisible man, and walked past me without speaking. Later, before I left work, I saw him in a circle of people talking and walked up to the group and briefly entered the conversation. I made a comment to this man, and on purpose he acted as though I had said nothing and began abruptly talking to another person in the circle of people. For weeks thereafter, I was invisible to him. He never acknowledged my presence or spoke to me. He intended to ignore me to rub in the fact that I crossed the picket line.
I remembered the first day he acted this way that I was to walk in love and treat people as though they had never wrong me; that I was to take no account of the evil done to me; that I was to pay no attention to a suffered wrong. I decided to see what the love of God would do in this situation. I remembered that 1 Peter 4:8 (Amplified) says that love forgives and disregards the offenses of others.
I greeted him each morning for weeks with a hearty “good morning” as I called him by name. I spoke each time I saw him in the store. And I said not one word to anyone else about how he was treating me. He continued his invisible man treatment towards me for many weeks.
One day weeks later, I opened the door for him expecting the same cold shoulder I had received in the past. But this time, He greeted me with a “good morning Mitch,” and a hearty handshake. And thereafter, he was warm and pleasant again, and conversed freely with me and others. I never mentioned the incident, and I did not bring it up to him. Love had won!
As a young man in my early twenties, this incident taught me an invaluable lesson as to the power of agape love. Love never fails! We do have the ability to love the unlovely and the cantankerous!
You may be involved in a difficult home relationship or a troubled relationship at work. It may be a relationship with a family member or neighbor that has become testy. Be the person that chooses to walk in love; choosing not to take account of the wrongs committed against you. Treat the offending party as though they had done no wrong. Treat them the way you want to be treated yourself. Act in love towards them. Ignore the emotions of revenge or ill-will. Focus on loving with this supernatural agape that God has placed in your spirit. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 until it oozes out of you in words, tones, thought, motives, and actions.
Love thinks no evil. The Greek word here is logizomai and means to take an inventory. It means to make a list in your mind of what someone does to harm or bother you or to remember when someone does you wrong. Agape keeps no record of wrongs. I think that the Amplified Bible of 1 Corinthians 13:5 sums up this characteristic of love best: Takes no account of the evil done to it: pays no attention to a suffered wrong.
This characteristic is perhaps one of the best gauges of whether or not we’re walking in love. We have left the love realm when we start holding others’ offenses against them and start making lists in our minds of their offenses against us.
I was ministering to a man who had problems in his marriage many years ago. He sat in my office and began to tell me how difficult it was for him to live with his wife. He began to mention a plethora of problems he had with her. I decided to sit back and let him talk for a bit. I was taken back by his next move. He stood up from his chair with a stack of computer paper in his hand; the kind that was joined and folded together. As he stood he said, Here is a list of each offense my wife has committed against me. As I examined the page after page of paper, I saw for each offence one line with a date, a time, and the nature of the offense. His action to indict his wife of all these “crimes” against him proved his own guilt of self-centeredness! This is a great example of the opposite of what we should do to others. Instead of remembering his wife’s offenses, he should have made a decision to take no account of them, and to treat his wife as if she had never done wrong.
The flesh loves to brood over past offenses. But love will move us away from the past, and will lead us to forget what others have done to harm us, and will urge us to treat them as though they had never harmed us in any way.
Many years ago while attending Bible school; I worked for a large grocery chain that was unionized. The winter of my first year there, a section of the labor force in the grocery chain decided to go on a strike to protest their benefits package. I was in charge of the night crew at the store, and decided to cross the picket line and go to work in spite of the opposition of union employees. One of the men who worked in the area that called the strike was holding up a sign in the picket line and challenged me as I went to work, calling me all sorts of names. I just smiled at him each day as I crossed the line and went to work.
When the strike was over, this man that had made the harsh comments to me came to the front door of the store the first morning back from the strike and knocked so I could open it and let him in for work that day. When he saw me open the door and heard me greet him with “good morning,” he acted as though I was the invisible man, and walked past me without speaking. Later, before I left work, I saw him in a circle of people talking and walked up to the group and briefly entered the conversation. I made a comment to this man, and on purpose he acted as though I had said nothing and began abruptly talking to another person in the circle of people. For weeks thereafter, I was invisible to him. He never acknowledged my presence or spoke to me. He intended to ignore me to rub in the fact that I crossed the picket line.
I remembered the first day he acted this way that I was to walk in love and treat people as though they had never wrong me; that I was to take no account of the evil done to me; that I was to pay no attention to a suffered wrong. I decided to see what the love of God would do in this situation. I remembered that 1 Peter 4:8 (Amplified) says that love forgives and disregards the offenses of others.
I greeted him each morning for weeks with a hearty “good morning” as I called him by name. I spoke each time I saw him in the store. And I said not one word to anyone else about how he was treating me. He continued his invisible man treatment towards me for many weeks.
One day weeks later, I opened the door for him expecting the same cold shoulder I had received in the past. But this time, He greeted me with a “good morning Mitch,” and a hearty handshake. And thereafter, he was warm and pleasant again, and conversed freely with me and others. I never mentioned the incident, and I did not bring it up to him. Love had won!
As a young man in my early twenties, this incident taught me an invaluable lesson as to the power of agape love. Love never fails! We do have the ability to love the unlovely and the cantankerous!
You may be involved in a difficult home relationship or a troubled relationship at work. It may be a relationship with a family member or neighbor that has become testy. Be the person that chooses to walk in love; choosing not to take account of the wrongs committed against you. Treat the offending party as though they had done no wrong. Treat them the way you want to be treated yourself. Act in love towards them. Ignore the emotions of revenge or ill-will. Focus on loving with this supernatural agape that God has placed in your spirit. Meditate on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 until it oozes out of you in words, tones, thought, motives, and actions.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Past, Present, and Future Care
Posted on Monday, March 9, 2009 at 8:37 AM by Pastor Mitch
In my blog yesterday, I referenced a Word of warning given by David Wilkerson this past Saturday concerning coming calamities in our nation. We’re living in a day of rapid change. The labor pains of tribulation are rumbling worldwide, and God’s Word from the prophet Daniel, Ezekiel, Isaiah, and others are beginning to be fulfilled. What God has spoken comes to pass! To watch it happening is amazing.
While worshipping the Lord in our Saturday evening service, the Lord spoke to my spirit in a series of questions. Have I taken care of your past, He inquired? Yes, I responded, You have forgiven and forgotten all my sins.
Then He asked me another question. Have I taken care of your future? Yes you have, I responded. Then Ephesians 2:7 came to my mind: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Then again He spoke to my spirit: Then do you think that I will take care of you now in this life? Yes you will, I replied. And then the scripture at the close of this blog rose up within me.
It is preparation time. Keep yourself sharp spiritually. Be aware that events could occur any day that could dramatically alter life. Keep your faith built up in God’s lovingkindness and nurture. He is a very present help in time of trouble. And above all live in such a way that your life shines as a light in darkness for others to follow!
Luke 12:24-34 - NLT
Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
While worshipping the Lord in our Saturday evening service, the Lord spoke to my spirit in a series of questions. Have I taken care of your past, He inquired? Yes, I responded, You have forgiven and forgotten all my sins.
Then He asked me another question. Have I taken care of your future? Yes you have, I responded. Then Ephesians 2:7 came to my mind: That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Then again He spoke to my spirit: Then do you think that I will take care of you now in this life? Yes you will, I replied. And then the scripture at the close of this blog rose up within me.
It is preparation time. Keep yourself sharp spiritually. Be aware that events could occur any day that could dramatically alter life. Keep your faith built up in God’s lovingkindness and nurture. He is a very present help in time of trouble. And above all live in such a way that your life shines as a light in darkness for others to follow!
Luke 12:24-34 - NLT
Look at the ravens. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for God feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than any birds! Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? And if worry can't accomplish a little thing like that, what's the use of worrying over bigger things? "Look at the lilies and how they grow. They don't work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for flowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? "And don't be concerned about what to eat and what to drink. Don't worry about such things. These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers all over the world, but your Father already knows your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. “So don't be afraid, little flock. For it gives your Father great happiness to give you the Kingdom. "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
I'’s Time to Get Ready
Posted on Sunday, March 8, 2009 at 6:09 PM by Pastor Mitch
OK, I’m going out on a limb today. I’ve had some things in my heart for some time now, and it’s time for me to share them. Deep inside of me, I’ve felt that there is coming a big change to America. Over the last several years, the Lord has been encouraging us to get ready for change to occur. He has encouraged us not to be frightened but to put our total trust and confidence in Him! He has given us words of prophecy that are in line with His word to edify, exhort, and comfort us.
For months now, I’ve known that I needed to be prepared for whatever comes. I mean by that I’ve known I need to make natural preparations for what is ahead.
By nature, I am a pragmatist. I do what works. I live a life of balance. I preach the Word in a balanced way. What I’m sharing today to my natural mind seems a bit extreme, but, we live in extreme times. Jesus is preparing the world for His return.
Below I have copied and pasted David Wilkerson’s blog from yesterday, Saturday, March 7th, 2009. And right now, I’m off to the store to stock up on essential things so that I and my family will be ready for anything that comes. This has been embedded in me long enough. I act today. I encourage you to heed his warning and be prepared for anything. We have no idea when anything will occur, but it is wise to be ready.
Here is his blog:
Saturday, March 7, 2009
AN URGENT MESSAGE
I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.
AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.
For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.
There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).
God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.
The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11-12).
In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment—just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.
WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?
First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.
As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven—his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1).
I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take—trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.
Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.
God bless and keep you,
In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON
Posted by David Wilkerson on 3/07/2009
For months now, I’ve known that I needed to be prepared for whatever comes. I mean by that I’ve known I need to make natural preparations for what is ahead.
By nature, I am a pragmatist. I do what works. I live a life of balance. I preach the Word in a balanced way. What I’m sharing today to my natural mind seems a bit extreme, but, we live in extreme times. Jesus is preparing the world for His return.
Below I have copied and pasted David Wilkerson’s blog from yesterday, Saturday, March 7th, 2009. And right now, I’m off to the store to stock up on essential things so that I and my family will be ready for anything that comes. This has been embedded in me long enough. I act today. I encourage you to heed his warning and be prepared for anything. We have no idea when anything will occur, but it is wise to be ready.
Here is his blog:
Saturday, March 7, 2009
AN URGENT MESSAGE
I am compelled by the Holy Spirit to send out an urgent message to all on our mailing list, and to friends and to bishops we have met all over the world.
AN EARTH-SHATTERING CALAMITY IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. IT IS GOING TO BE SO FRIGHTENING, WE ARE ALL GOING TO TREMBLE - EVEN THE GODLIEST AMONG US.
For ten years I have been warning about a thousand fires coming to New York City. It will engulf the whole megaplex, including areas of New Jersey and Connecticut. Major cities all across America will experience riots and blazing fires—such as we saw in Watts, Los Angeles, years ago.
There will be riots and fires in cities worldwide. There will be looting—including Times Square, New York City. What we are experiencing now is not a recession, not even a depression. We are under God’s wrath. In Psalm 11 it is written,
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (v. 3).
God is judging the raging sins of America and the nations. He is destroying the secular foundations.
The prophet Jeremiah pleaded with wicked Israel, “God is fashioning a calamity against you and devising a plan against you. Oh, turn back each of you from your evil way, and reform your ways and deeds. But they will say, It’s hopeless! For we are going to follow our own plans, and each of us will act according to the stubbornness of his evil heart” (Jeremiah 18:11-12).
In Psalm 11:6, David warns, “Upon the wicked he will rain snares (coals of fire)…fire…burning wind…will be the portion of their cup.” Why? David answered, “Because the Lord is righteous” (v. 7). This is a righteous judgment—just as in the judgments of Sodom and in Noah’s generation.
WHAT SHALL THE RIGHTEOUS DO? WHAT ABOUT GOD’S PEOPLE?
First, I give you a practical word I received for my own direction. If possible lay in store a thirty-day supply of non-perishable food, toiletries and other essentials. In major cities, grocery stores are emptied in an hour at the sign of an impending disaster.
As for our spiritual reaction, we have but two options. This is outlined in Psalm 11. We “flee like a bird to a mountain.” Or, as David says, “He fixed his eyes on the Lord on his throne in heaven—his eyes beholding, his eyelids testing the sons of men” (v. 4). “In the Lord I take refuge” (v. 1).
I will say to my soul: No need to run...no need to hide. This is God’s righteous work. I will behold our Lord on his throne, with his eye of tender, loving kindness watching over every step I take—trusting that he will deliver his people even through floods, fires, calamities, tests, trials of all kinds.
Note: I do not know when these things will come to pass, but I know it is not far off. I have unburdened my soul to you. Do with the message as you choose.
God bless and keep you,
In Christ,
DAVID WILKERSON
Posted by David Wilkerson on 3/07/2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Qualities of Love – Part 3
Posted on Saturday, March 7, 2009 at 9:04 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
Love does not behave rudely. The Greek word for rudely is achemoneo, and means to assume a negative form, or to act in an unbecoming way unbecoming. This word has to do with proper social graces. A loving person will not do or say things, or assume attitudes of which later he or she will be ashamed, or that would bring shame to Jesus and to the kingdom of God. Love never acts in an ugly, shameful way, with crudeness, violence, off color language, or anything else disrespectful. A person walking in Agape will be diligent to do what is appropriate for the moment or the occasion. And agape always maintains good manners in all situations. To get real with this one, a person walking in agape will never display course or crude behavior in public (cursing, slang, off color language, burping, flatulence, excessive or not enough clothing, etc.) Our present culture desperately needs some lessons in this!
Love does not seek its’ own. Agape is not self-seeking in that it brings with it a self-last characteristic! Agape causes us to seek the welfare of others before ourselves and does not calculate what benefits we may gain in return. We become others minded. As Mrs. C. Nuzum states in her book The Life of Faith : How many of us, when we have a real right to a place, time, honor, benefit, or possession, refuse to strive for it, refuse even to keep it, but cheerfully, gladly let another have it.
For instance, this quality allows us to keep cool when we’re not recognized for difficult work we accomplish for our company, or when someone else is recognized for work that we performed. It allows us to be genuinely excited when we are passed over for a promotion and some else is promoted with less skill and ability than we have. When Agape rules supreme, we lose sight of ourselves, and think of God and others first.
Love is not provoked. The Greek word is paroxuno and means to sharpen alongside or figuratively to exasperate. It means to rouse to anger. This is when we get upset at another’s actions or words, and we become sharp, pointed, and irritable in our responses to them. Anger stemming from offence is in view here as well. Psalm 119:165 reads, Blessed are they that who love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Again to quote Mrs. C. Nuzum: If I am offended, no matter how much cause I have to be offended, the problem with me is that I have not the which nothing will offend .
Remember that we have a commandment from Jesus to exhibit these characteristics. The world is looking to see the Christ in us. Let Him shine today!
Love does not behave rudely. The Greek word for rudely is achemoneo, and means to assume a negative form, or to act in an unbecoming way unbecoming. This word has to do with proper social graces. A loving person will not do or say things, or assume attitudes of which later he or she will be ashamed, or that would bring shame to Jesus and to the kingdom of God. Love never acts in an ugly, shameful way, with crudeness, violence, off color language, or anything else disrespectful. A person walking in Agape will be diligent to do what is appropriate for the moment or the occasion. And agape always maintains good manners in all situations. To get real with this one, a person walking in agape will never display course or crude behavior in public (cursing, slang, off color language, burping, flatulence, excessive or not enough clothing, etc.) Our present culture desperately needs some lessons in this!
Love does not seek its’ own. Agape is not self-seeking in that it brings with it a self-last characteristic! Agape causes us to seek the welfare of others before ourselves and does not calculate what benefits we may gain in return. We become others minded. As Mrs. C. Nuzum states in her book The Life of Faith : How many of us, when we have a real right to a place, time, honor, benefit, or possession, refuse to strive for it, refuse even to keep it, but cheerfully, gladly let another have it.
For instance, this quality allows us to keep cool when we’re not recognized for difficult work we accomplish for our company, or when someone else is recognized for work that we performed. It allows us to be genuinely excited when we are passed over for a promotion and some else is promoted with less skill and ability than we have. When Agape rules supreme, we lose sight of ourselves, and think of God and others first.
Love is not provoked. The Greek word is paroxuno and means to sharpen alongside or figuratively to exasperate. It means to rouse to anger. This is when we get upset at another’s actions or words, and we become sharp, pointed, and irritable in our responses to them. Anger stemming from offence is in view here as well. Psalm 119:165 reads, Blessed are they that who love thy law, and nothing shall offend them. Again to quote Mrs. C. Nuzum: If I am offended, no matter how much cause I have to be offended, the problem with me is that I have not the which nothing will offend .
Remember that we have a commandment from Jesus to exhibit these characteristics. The world is looking to see the Christ in us. Let Him shine today!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Qualities of Love – Part 2
Posted on Friday, March 6, 2009 at 9:03 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
Love does not parade itself. The Greek word for parade itself is perpereuomai, and comes from the Greek word perperos, which means a braggart, or a person who parades themselves and their accomplishments and talents before others. This is a person who loves to show off. A person who is insecure in themselves looks for ways to be elevated in others’ eyes. When a person is secure in God’s love and who they are in Christ, personal accomplishments and talents are simply tools by which to glorify God, and there is no need for self-glory. Personal bragging is really founded in personal pride! Being secure in God’s unconditional love and acceptance frees us from the need to gain approval from others, and frees us from the need to show off.
Being secure in love also frees us from the need that some have to put others down with sarcasm or cutting comments in order to make them look better. With agape love in force in our lives, we find it easy to keep quiet about genuine achievements. To quote Mrs. C Nuzum again, Love does not think, I know how things ought to be done- my opinions and advise are better than the opinion and advise of others – I live better, am used of God more, know more than the other person.
Love is not puffed up. The Greek word is the word phusioo, and means to inflate. A person with agape love ruling them has no need for others to see their accomplishments. A person living in love may acknowledge success, but knows that all success comes from God. No self-congratulations are necessary.
Though agape love doesn’t show off or need affirmation, it is also important to note that true humility can accept genuine thanks and applaud for good performance. I learned this in my own life over 30 years ago after performing the special music during a Thursday night church service. Someone came to me and told me how beautiful they thought my voice was and how well I performed the song. To which I replied, It wasn’t me, brother, it was just the Lord! My friend who complimented me then abruptly took me to a side hallway an told me that I was actually walking in a false humility; that if I were truly self effacing and humble I would say a simple thank you to any person complimenting my performance. I should afterward get alone and give God all the glory for using me to bless others; deflecting the thanks privately to Him who helped me.
Love deals a death blow to pride! Meditate today on the love of God, and allow it put your own personal pride in it’s place!
Love does not parade itself. The Greek word for parade itself is perpereuomai, and comes from the Greek word perperos, which means a braggart, or a person who parades themselves and their accomplishments and talents before others. This is a person who loves to show off. A person who is insecure in themselves looks for ways to be elevated in others’ eyes. When a person is secure in God’s love and who they are in Christ, personal accomplishments and talents are simply tools by which to glorify God, and there is no need for self-glory. Personal bragging is really founded in personal pride! Being secure in God’s unconditional love and acceptance frees us from the need to gain approval from others, and frees us from the need to show off.
Being secure in love also frees us from the need that some have to put others down with sarcasm or cutting comments in order to make them look better. With agape love in force in our lives, we find it easy to keep quiet about genuine achievements. To quote Mrs. C Nuzum again, Love does not think, I know how things ought to be done- my opinions and advise are better than the opinion and advise of others – I live better, am used of God more, know more than the other person.
Love is not puffed up. The Greek word is the word phusioo, and means to inflate. A person with agape love ruling them has no need for others to see their accomplishments. A person living in love may acknowledge success, but knows that all success comes from God. No self-congratulations are necessary.
Though agape love doesn’t show off or need affirmation, it is also important to note that true humility can accept genuine thanks and applaud for good performance. I learned this in my own life over 30 years ago after performing the special music during a Thursday night church service. Someone came to me and told me how beautiful they thought my voice was and how well I performed the song. To which I replied, It wasn’t me, brother, it was just the Lord! My friend who complimented me then abruptly took me to a side hallway an told me that I was actually walking in a false humility; that if I were truly self effacing and humble I would say a simple thank you to any person complimenting my performance. I should afterward get alone and give God all the glory for using me to bless others; deflecting the thanks privately to Him who helped me.
Love deals a death blow to pride! Meditate today on the love of God, and allow it put your own personal pride in it’s place!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Qualities of Love
Posted on Thursday, March 5, 2009 at 7:53 AM by Pastor Mitch
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails…(1 Corinthians 13: 4-8).
The Holy Spirit placed the love of God in our spirits when we were born again. Every believer has the capacity to love with this agape love. But if the mind is not renewed as to the characteristics of this new kind of love, then it will not manifest as it should in the life of the believer. So if we’re going to live a lifestyle dominated by agape we must constantly acquaint our minds with what has been placed in our spirits by the Holy Spirit. Then there will be cooperation between the renewed mind and the spirit and your behavior will change!
In the next few blogs, I want to go into detail as to the qualities of this agape treasure that’s within you. We’ll start here with love suffers long. Makrothumia is the Greek word for long and means long tempered. It is the willingness to restrain yourself for the sake of another –giving up your own rights and privileges.
Long temperedness enables you to put up with those who do things that are potentially offensive and hurtful, and put up with it with a smile! Makrothumia is elsewhere in the New Testament translated patience! Every single day, we need patience with people! And the Father has placed makrothumia in our hearts to help us as we interact with those who lack the grace of kindness and social etiquette.
Next we read that love is kind. The Greek word for kindness is chrestotes , which means a gentleness that is active, not passive. Kindness is when we show active interest in others and their affairs, when we actively seek the welfare of another.
Kindness enables us to do things that bless, help and aid those who do not treat us well. Kindness helps us to do what Jesus said in Matthew 5:44: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
In her book The Life of Faith, Mrs. C. Nuzum says of this kindness, Love works by being kind even under long, continued suffering – real, deep suffering brought upon us by someone else – Love will be very kind to that person.
Next we find that love does not envy. The Greek word for envy is the Word zeloo, and from this word we get our word our word jealous. Agape is not jealous in its relationships. A person walking in Agape is not focusing on themselves; they are focusing first of all on their relationship with the Lord, and they put themselves and their needs last. A jealous person is thinking only of themselves and how another person’s actions are affecting them! A person who is jealous is careful to hold on to and maintain their own rights and possessions at all costs.
Again, Mrs. C Nuzum comments, It [Agape] does not desire the position, honor, power, benefits, favor, esteem or blessings that others have, but is glad to see other people enjoy blessings, and would rather help them to get more than to take from them anything they have.
Make a decision today to walk in patience and kindness, and to desire that others be more blessed than you! We’ll continue this tomorrow!
The Holy Spirit placed the love of God in our spirits when we were born again. Every believer has the capacity to love with this agape love. But if the mind is not renewed as to the characteristics of this new kind of love, then it will not manifest as it should in the life of the believer. So if we’re going to live a lifestyle dominated by agape we must constantly acquaint our minds with what has been placed in our spirits by the Holy Spirit. Then there will be cooperation between the renewed mind and the spirit and your behavior will change!
In the next few blogs, I want to go into detail as to the qualities of this agape treasure that’s within you. We’ll start here with love suffers long. Makrothumia is the Greek word for long and means long tempered. It is the willingness to restrain yourself for the sake of another –giving up your own rights and privileges.
Long temperedness enables you to put up with those who do things that are potentially offensive and hurtful, and put up with it with a smile! Makrothumia is elsewhere in the New Testament translated patience! Every single day, we need patience with people! And the Father has placed makrothumia in our hearts to help us as we interact with those who lack the grace of kindness and social etiquette.
Next we read that love is kind. The Greek word for kindness is chrestotes , which means a gentleness that is active, not passive. Kindness is when we show active interest in others and their affairs, when we actively seek the welfare of another.
Kindness enables us to do things that bless, help and aid those who do not treat us well. Kindness helps us to do what Jesus said in Matthew 5:44: But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
In her book The Life of Faith, Mrs. C. Nuzum says of this kindness, Love works by being kind even under long, continued suffering – real, deep suffering brought upon us by someone else – Love will be very kind to that person.
Next we find that love does not envy. The Greek word for envy is the Word zeloo, and from this word we get our word our word jealous. Agape is not jealous in its relationships. A person walking in Agape is not focusing on themselves; they are focusing first of all on their relationship with the Lord, and they put themselves and their needs last. A jealous person is thinking only of themselves and how another person’s actions are affecting them! A person who is jealous is careful to hold on to and maintain their own rights and possessions at all costs.
Again, Mrs. C Nuzum comments, It [Agape] does not desire the position, honor, power, benefits, favor, esteem or blessings that others have, but is glad to see other people enjoy blessings, and would rather help them to get more than to take from them anything they have.
Make a decision today to walk in patience and kindness, and to desire that others be more blessed than you! We’ll continue this tomorrow!
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Leaving Pride and Fear Behind
Posted on Wednesday, March 4, 2009 at 11:48 AM by Pastor Mitch
I began my life as a fear ruled introvert afraid to reveal myself to others. The Lord really set me free from much of this when I was Spirit- Filled in 1976. But you’ll find that God’s dealings in your life will come in the form of uncovering layers of the old man that has ruled behavior for many years.
I thought that I was so mature in the Lord when I first began pastoring many years ago (what pride!). But as I matured I begin to see that I had a deep level of pride and fear that still had an undercurrent of rule in me.
You see, as our church began to grow, I had to trust others to do what I was doing, because I could no longer do it all! The pride was in thinking that only I could do this certain thing the right way. And the fear was that if I gave a person a responsibility, they would turn on me and mess up the church!
As the Lord dealt with me, I saw the pride and repented of it. And I surrendered the doubt and the fear of allowing others to be used by Him to the Lord. I saw that my pride and fear was hindering others from being developed and used by the Lord in the way He wanted to use them.
Now, my sense of accomplishment comes from the Lord as I see Him using others in ways they never dreamed possible! I now gain a sense of great fulfillment as a pastor as I see others doing what at one time I thought that I alone could do well. And now others do it better than me!
Allow the Father to work deeply in your own heart today. Ask Him to reveal to you areas that hinder Him doing His best work in and through you.
The Father is very gentle with us at times, and at others times because of our stubbornness, He must be stern. Give Him your heart today, and you’ll find that the Father will lead you to the best that He has for you!
As the Apostle Paul so aptly states: For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
I thought that I was so mature in the Lord when I first began pastoring many years ago (what pride!). But as I matured I begin to see that I had a deep level of pride and fear that still had an undercurrent of rule in me.
You see, as our church began to grow, I had to trust others to do what I was doing, because I could no longer do it all! The pride was in thinking that only I could do this certain thing the right way. And the fear was that if I gave a person a responsibility, they would turn on me and mess up the church!
As the Lord dealt with me, I saw the pride and repented of it. And I surrendered the doubt and the fear of allowing others to be used by Him to the Lord. I saw that my pride and fear was hindering others from being developed and used by the Lord in the way He wanted to use them.
Now, my sense of accomplishment comes from the Lord as I see Him using others in ways they never dreamed possible! I now gain a sense of great fulfillment as a pastor as I see others doing what at one time I thought that I alone could do well. And now others do it better than me!
Allow the Father to work deeply in your own heart today. Ask Him to reveal to you areas that hinder Him doing His best work in and through you.
The Father is very gentle with us at times, and at others times because of our stubbornness, He must be stern. Give Him your heart today, and you’ll find that the Father will lead you to the best that He has for you!
As the Apostle Paul so aptly states: For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What Are You Doing with Love?
Posted on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 5:38 AM by Pastor Mitch
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love (1 John 4:7-8).
Spiritual development and love go hand in hand. There is no spiritual growth without growth in love. When you live in love your live out of your relationship with the Father, you release the atmosphere of heaven around you.
Love and faith are the atmosphere of the kingdom of God. When we walk in love, all that God has becomes available to us, and His power is available to work on our behalf. Unbelief, strife, and fear, are the atmosphere of the kingdom of darkness.
Seek to develop the love of God in your life every single day. Don’t let a day go by without developing in love. Listen to 1 Corinthians 14:1 in the Amplified:
Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love [make it your aim, your great quest]. Paul reminds us: But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14). The debt we owe to every person is a debt of love: Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10).
Notice also the great commandment of life that Jesus gave to us: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).
ALL of our problems in life in general and with our relationships spring out of disobedience to these two laws of love. If I love the Father with all of my mind, all of my emotions, with all my willpower, with all my physical body, then I’m not going to do anything that offends my relationship with Him! I must harness my thoughts to honor Him, my feelings to bow to His Word, my will to yield to His will revealed in the Word, and my body to submit to His standards. So when I miss it in any area of life, I can boil it down to a lack of love! If I love my neighbor as much as I love myself, then I will do nothing to harm him.
Jesus gave us a new commandment to live by that should be our greatest witness to the world. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35).
Everything else that we esteem as important must bow to the commandment of love. Put love first in every relationship. Make loving God your major life priority! Loving the Father is shown by obeying Him by obeying the Word! Watch your love walk today!
Spiritual development and love go hand in hand. There is no spiritual growth without growth in love. When you live in love your live out of your relationship with the Father, you release the atmosphere of heaven around you.
Love and faith are the atmosphere of the kingdom of God. When we walk in love, all that God has becomes available to us, and His power is available to work on our behalf. Unbelief, strife, and fear, are the atmosphere of the kingdom of darkness.
Seek to develop the love of God in your life every single day. Don’t let a day go by without developing in love. Listen to 1 Corinthians 14:1 in the Amplified:
Eagerly pursue and seek to acquire this love [make it your aim, your great quest]. Paul reminds us: But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Colossians 3:14). The debt we owe to every person is a debt of love: Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not bear false witness," "You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:8-10).
Notice also the great commandment of life that Jesus gave to us: Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?" Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 22:36-40).
ALL of our problems in life in general and with our relationships spring out of disobedience to these two laws of love. If I love the Father with all of my mind, all of my emotions, with all my willpower, with all my physical body, then I’m not going to do anything that offends my relationship with Him! I must harness my thoughts to honor Him, my feelings to bow to His Word, my will to yield to His will revealed in the Word, and my body to submit to His standards. So when I miss it in any area of life, I can boil it down to a lack of love! If I love my neighbor as much as I love myself, then I will do nothing to harm him.
Jesus gave us a new commandment to live by that should be our greatest witness to the world. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-35).
Everything else that we esteem as important must bow to the commandment of love. Put love first in every relationship. Make loving God your major life priority! Loving the Father is shown by obeying Him by obeying the Word! Watch your love walk today!
Monday, March 2, 2009
For Our Good Always
Posted on Monday, March 2, 2009 at 7:32 AM by Pastor Mitch
And the Lord commanded us to observe all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is this day (Deuteronomy 6:24).
The Father wants the best for us as His children. And He knows that disobedience and sin will rob a person of the best He has for them! Understand that the Father is not against us, but He wants us to stay in a position to receive His fullness.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Listen to the words in these verses. To fear the Lord our God, for our good always. Every good and perfect gift is from above. I am come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. The attitude of the Father towards us is to help us, to bless us, to meet our needs, to enable us to overcome. He does not have an attitude to put down, to beleaguer, to bring difficulty, or to punish!
According to Jesus, the Father is with you, in you, and for you! Trouble comes from the adversary as he seeks advantage in your life. The Father’s plan for us is for us to take the Word and navigate our way through life. The Word will sift us and reveal hindrance and weakness in our character, and then the Word will be like a fresh shower and wash away the grime brought by living in the world’s harsh environment.
Obedience to the Word gives light to our path so we won’t stumble into the way of hurt and pain. Obedience to the Word gives stability so that we can walk in the spirit and in faith in the midst of surmounting odds.
Make a decision today to walk in obedience to God’s promises. He wants you to for your own good. He wants to preserve you and keep you alive! He wants you to enjoy Him and to enjoy life to the full. Don’t compromise your obedience today. That compromise may cost you the best that the Father has for you! Make a fresh choice today to obey the Word from your heart. Your obedience brings the Father’s best. Choose life!
The Father wants the best for us as His children. And He knows that disobedience and sin will rob a person of the best He has for them! Understand that the Father is not against us, but He wants us to stay in a position to receive His fullness.
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning (James 1:17). The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly (John 10:10). I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep (John 10:11).
Listen to the words in these verses. To fear the Lord our God, for our good always. Every good and perfect gift is from above. I am come that they might have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. The attitude of the Father towards us is to help us, to bless us, to meet our needs, to enable us to overcome. He does not have an attitude to put down, to beleaguer, to bring difficulty, or to punish!
According to Jesus, the Father is with you, in you, and for you! Trouble comes from the adversary as he seeks advantage in your life. The Father’s plan for us is for us to take the Word and navigate our way through life. The Word will sift us and reveal hindrance and weakness in our character, and then the Word will be like a fresh shower and wash away the grime brought by living in the world’s harsh environment.
Obedience to the Word gives light to our path so we won’t stumble into the way of hurt and pain. Obedience to the Word gives stability so that we can walk in the spirit and in faith in the midst of surmounting odds.
Make a decision today to walk in obedience to God’s promises. He wants you to for your own good. He wants to preserve you and keep you alive! He wants you to enjoy Him and to enjoy life to the full. Don’t compromise your obedience today. That compromise may cost you the best that the Father has for you! Make a fresh choice today to obey the Word from your heart. Your obedience brings the Father’s best. Choose life!
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