The work of righteousness will be peace, And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever (Isaiah 32:17).
Peace is a commodity than cannot be bought at any price. It eludes the aristocrat and the pauper alike. God alone can give peace.
We as believers can enjoy the peace of God in a way that cannot be understood by the human mind alone. The wicked are like the troubled sea. They never experience peace. My personal pursuit for peace drove me to the foot of the cross as a teenager. Some people live and die and never experience a moment’s peace. You’re a wealthy person if you have it!
There are two kinds of peace to be experience by the Christian; peace with God and the peace of God. God desires that we walk in both.
Peace with God comes to us when we are born again. Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). Peace with God is a result of our sins being forgiven and remitted just as though we had never committed them. Peace with God produces a relationship with Him that removes the barrier of sin. We’re no longer sinners; we’ve been made the righteousness of God in Christ!
The Peace of God comes by a right relationship with the Holy Spirit. It comes by maintaining a moment by moment fellowship with God by His Word and with the Holy Spirit. The peace of God comes by you consciously walking in obedience to the known will of God. When you lose your peace you should make instant inquiry of yourself as to what you did to offend and grieve the Holy Spirit.
Peace with God produces absence of guilt. The peace of God creates environment for the Holy Spirit to lead us and speak to us in our daily walk. The peace of God is like a protective shield over our heart and our mind. Make a choice today to walk in the peace that Jesus said He would leave with us; peace with God and the peace of God.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Psalm 107:2).
The most powerful force in your life is your words. Words determine the quality and substance of your life. Words carry faith. A really wealthy person is the person who has learned the value of words.
In a difficult test or trial you may be facing, your words will determine your success or failure. When David faced Goliath, he armed himself with his faith by a series of confessions of what he believed God would do through him to defeat his formidable enemy (1 Samuel 17). And it happened. His enemy hit the dirt!
Of the twelve spies who entered Canaan on a research mission, only two had a good report of the land. Ten saw the problems and the odds stacked against them and voiced their doubt. Joshua and Caleb voiced their faith and said that God would give them the land by enabling them to defeat the enemy. (Numbers 13).
The twelve spies died in the wilderness and never entered the land of promise only because they said they couldn't. Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan because they said they could. God honored their words.
The woman with the issue of blood crawled through a crowd to touch the bottom of Jesus’ robe. She kept saying that she believed she would be healed if she touched his robe, and healing virtue flowed into her. Her faith filled words brought healing. (Mark 5).
The circumstances cannot whip you if you will only give voice to your faith with a confident heart. David won with words. Caleb and Joshua won over insurmountable odds with words. The sick woman was healed because of her words.
Say out loud what you believe today. Let your voice of faith filled words drown out the doubt and fears that loom large. Stand your ground as the redeemed of the Lord. Your circumstance may seem impossible, but words spoken with conviction from your heart will deliver you. Don’t be silent. Say what you believe!
The most powerful force in your life is your words. Words determine the quality and substance of your life. Words carry faith. A really wealthy person is the person who has learned the value of words.
In a difficult test or trial you may be facing, your words will determine your success or failure. When David faced Goliath, he armed himself with his faith by a series of confessions of what he believed God would do through him to defeat his formidable enemy (1 Samuel 17). And it happened. His enemy hit the dirt!
Of the twelve spies who entered Canaan on a research mission, only two had a good report of the land. Ten saw the problems and the odds stacked against them and voiced their doubt. Joshua and Caleb voiced their faith and said that God would give them the land by enabling them to defeat the enemy. (Numbers 13).
The twelve spies died in the wilderness and never entered the land of promise only because they said they couldn't. Joshua and Caleb entered Canaan because they said they could. God honored their words.
The woman with the issue of blood crawled through a crowd to touch the bottom of Jesus’ robe. She kept saying that she believed she would be healed if she touched his robe, and healing virtue flowed into her. Her faith filled words brought healing. (Mark 5).
The circumstances cannot whip you if you will only give voice to your faith with a confident heart. David won with words. Caleb and Joshua won over insurmountable odds with words. The sick woman was healed because of her words.
Say out loud what you believe today. Let your voice of faith filled words drown out the doubt and fears that loom large. Stand your ground as the redeemed of the Lord. Your circumstance may seem impossible, but words spoken with conviction from your heart will deliver you. Don’t be silent. Say what you believe!
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Until the time that His word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him. (Psalm 105:19)
Most often there is a period of time between the time you exercise your faith and the manifestation of the answer. And it’s what you do in this in between period that determines whether or not the answer comes.
The above verse refers to Joseph. In a dream the Lord showed him that he was going to be a ruler and lead his family. He was 17 years old when the dream occurred. He was 30 when the dream was fulfilled. In between time he was sold as a slave, assumed dead by his father, and imprisoned due to false accusation.
Joseph never allowed his attitude to sour when the pressure of circumstance was against him. He took one day at a time and expected God to fulfill His dream even though the prospects of it really happening were dim!
The test for us begins when we make the choice to stand on God’s word for our healing, or for the financial need to be met, or for the circumstance to change. If we give in to the pressure to complain or quit, we may hinder and even nullify God’s promise.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 in the Amplified translation gives is a an excellent reminder to keep our chin up when the pressure’s on. Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus …
Make a choice today to look beyond your problem to the promise of God’s word. Choose to be thankful in the midst of the test. God never changes and always does what He says. See you challenges today as another opportunity for God to show His faithfulness to you. He will not let you down!
Most often there is a period of time between the time you exercise your faith and the manifestation of the answer. And it’s what you do in this in between period that determines whether or not the answer comes.
The above verse refers to Joseph. In a dream the Lord showed him that he was going to be a ruler and lead his family. He was 17 years old when the dream occurred. He was 30 when the dream was fulfilled. In between time he was sold as a slave, assumed dead by his father, and imprisoned due to false accusation.
Joseph never allowed his attitude to sour when the pressure of circumstance was against him. He took one day at a time and expected God to fulfill His dream even though the prospects of it really happening were dim!
The test for us begins when we make the choice to stand on God’s word for our healing, or for the financial need to be met, or for the circumstance to change. If we give in to the pressure to complain or quit, we may hinder and even nullify God’s promise.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 in the Amplified translation gives is a an excellent reminder to keep our chin up when the pressure’s on. Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus …
Make a choice today to look beyond your problem to the promise of God’s word. Choose to be thankful in the midst of the test. God never changes and always does what He says. See you challenges today as another opportunity for God to show His faithfulness to you. He will not let you down!
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
For with stammering lips and another tongue He will speak to this people, To whom He said, "This is the rest with which You may cause the weary to rest," and, "This is the refreshing"…(Isaiah 28:11-12).
Perhaps you’ve had the experience of taking a vacation with your family only to come back more exhausted than before! True rest starts within. Praying in other tongues provides a rest for the believer that can come in no other way.
One of my professors in the first Bible school I attended in South Carolina gave a personal illustration that challenged me to take time to pray in tongues every day. As a student in college he worked in a factory to fund his education. He would attend school and afterwards work a full shift in the factory. After work he had to study for the next day and would be so exhausted from the day’s activities that he could hardly concentrate.
He said he began to pray in the spirit after work and before his study time and to his amazement, a refreshing would rise up within him that enabled him to study without overdue fatigue. There is a truth here that we need to act upon. Though our bodies are getting older, our inward person, our spirit, can be renewed each day!
Praying in the spirit energizes your spirit. It edifies and builds you up. Jude says we are to build our selves up on our most holy faith by praying in tongues. A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian Missionary and Alliance denomination, made this statement which I believe is true, “All physical strength is spiritual in cause.”
Isaiah says that when we wait on the Lord we renew our strength! Energy for living begins in the spirit of man. I love how the Living Paraphrase translates Isaiah 40:29, He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak.
If you’re like me, you exhaust yourself with your daily activities. Take some time each day to pray in tongues and receive the refreshing that the Lord has for you. I take time each morning after Bible reading to pray in the spirit. It‘s a great way to start the day with rest and refreshing. Add praying in the spirit to your daily life and you too will see an increase in strength!
Perhaps you’ve had the experience of taking a vacation with your family only to come back more exhausted than before! True rest starts within. Praying in other tongues provides a rest for the believer that can come in no other way.
One of my professors in the first Bible school I attended in South Carolina gave a personal illustration that challenged me to take time to pray in tongues every day. As a student in college he worked in a factory to fund his education. He would attend school and afterwards work a full shift in the factory. After work he had to study for the next day and would be so exhausted from the day’s activities that he could hardly concentrate.
He said he began to pray in the spirit after work and before his study time and to his amazement, a refreshing would rise up within him that enabled him to study without overdue fatigue. There is a truth here that we need to act upon. Though our bodies are getting older, our inward person, our spirit, can be renewed each day!
Praying in the spirit energizes your spirit. It edifies and builds you up. Jude says we are to build our selves up on our most holy faith by praying in tongues. A.B. Simpson, the founder of the Christian Missionary and Alliance denomination, made this statement which I believe is true, “All physical strength is spiritual in cause.”
Isaiah says that when we wait on the Lord we renew our strength! Energy for living begins in the spirit of man. I love how the Living Paraphrase translates Isaiah 40:29, He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak.
If you’re like me, you exhaust yourself with your daily activities. Take some time each day to pray in tongues and receive the refreshing that the Lord has for you. I take time each morning after Bible reading to pray in the spirit. It‘s a great way to start the day with rest and refreshing. Add praying in the spirit to your daily life and you too will see an increase in strength!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)
Watching what we think on is one of the most important responsibilities we have as believers. Our quality of life is directly related to the quality of our thoughts! It’s repulsive to think of eating food taken from a garbage can, but how many people allow thoughts to enter and linger in their minds that are more harmful than rancid food?
We process thousands of thoughts daily as we interact with life. The key to the peace of God ruling us is to keep our thoughts clean and undefiled. It’s possible to have an educated yet undisciplined mind!
We must become the doorkeeper of our thoughts. As a new believer over thirty years ago, the Lord challenged me to control my thoughts. I would find myself in a cesspool of mess mentally. And as my emotions followed my thoughts, I would find myself confused, fearful, depressed, lonely, and without peace.
Here’s what I began to do. Instead of allowing my thoughts to wander onto whatever came into them, I began to choose what I allowed myself to think on. The Christian’s “think list” in Philippians 4:8 helped me. I wrote true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy on a note card and carried it with me all day. Every now and then I would look at the card and compare my thoughts to the list. If anything in my mind disagreed with the list, I repented, and consciously chose from that point what I would think on.
I would force my mind to think on a Bible verse when I had any idle mental time where I wasn’t consciously using my mind to perform a task. I found this to be the best way to control my thoughts and emotions. And I began for the first time in my life to experience the peace of God.
If you lack peace, then challenge your thoughts and change them. Focus your mind and don’t allow your thoughts to wander just anywhere. The peace of God is available if you’ll do this. You’re the doorkeeper of your mind today. Keep it focused and enjoy His perfect peace!
Watching what we think on is one of the most important responsibilities we have as believers. Our quality of life is directly related to the quality of our thoughts! It’s repulsive to think of eating food taken from a garbage can, but how many people allow thoughts to enter and linger in their minds that are more harmful than rancid food?
We process thousands of thoughts daily as we interact with life. The key to the peace of God ruling us is to keep our thoughts clean and undefiled. It’s possible to have an educated yet undisciplined mind!
We must become the doorkeeper of our thoughts. As a new believer over thirty years ago, the Lord challenged me to control my thoughts. I would find myself in a cesspool of mess mentally. And as my emotions followed my thoughts, I would find myself confused, fearful, depressed, lonely, and without peace.
Here’s what I began to do. Instead of allowing my thoughts to wander onto whatever came into them, I began to choose what I allowed myself to think on. The Christian’s “think list” in Philippians 4:8 helped me. I wrote true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy on a note card and carried it with me all day. Every now and then I would look at the card and compare my thoughts to the list. If anything in my mind disagreed with the list, I repented, and consciously chose from that point what I would think on.
I would force my mind to think on a Bible verse when I had any idle mental time where I wasn’t consciously using my mind to perform a task. I found this to be the best way to control my thoughts and emotions. And I began for the first time in my life to experience the peace of God.
If you lack peace, then challenge your thoughts and change them. Focus your mind and don’t allow your thoughts to wander just anywhere. The peace of God is available if you’ll do this. You’re the doorkeeper of your mind today. Keep it focused and enjoy His perfect peace!
Monday, February 22, 2010
He said,If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God and do what is right in his sight, obeying his commands and keeping all his decrees, then I will not make you suffer any of the diseases I sent on the Egyptians; for I am the Lord who heals you (Exodus 15:26-NLT).
Once again, my heavenly Father has been faithful to me. I am totally well today. My healing is completely manifested. Thanks to all who prayed for me. I think this is one of the top four physical attacks I've faced in my entire life! I'm not sure yet what this was (all the tests have not come in yet), but I can assure you it was from hell!
I miss the church family at Victory. I certainly didn't want to miss the services yesterday, but I needed to rest and recover. Thank you to Pastor Mike and my great staff of paid and volunteer leaders. You all do an exemplary job of serving the body of believers at Victory and helping me to carry out the purpose of God for our church.
You can learn from every life experience, both the good and the bad. Here are my thoughts on the first day of complete recovery:
1) Health is a valuable asset. Never take it for granted. Thank God every day for Jesus taking your sins and sicknesses on the cross. Thank Him for being faithful to answer prayer and to be with you in all of life's experiences. We are never, ever truly alone.
2) A family that loves you is a precious gift from God. My wife and daughters helped me so much the last few days. I'm a very independent person. When forced by circumstance to depend on others, I see how precious they are to have in my life.
3) A pastor with a faithful staff filled with integrity is blessed. I just have the best staff in the world! Jesus is doing some really fresh things in our church family, and it's not because of me! It's because we are choosing to seek God together and to follow Him with passion. It's because each person is choosing to individually seek the Father for His highest and best for their life and t heir family.
4) Jesus is faithful. A your lowest moments, He is there to help. He has already made provisions for all of our needs to be met. All we need to do is to respond to Him in faith as we ask Him to meet us, and then expect Him to do it. Then, He also responds to the prayers of others on your your behalf. With such a wonderful person as Jesus looking out for you, you just can't loose!
5) Use what is available to help you. Many thanks to John Kazda, a Physician's Assistant who went to Ethiopia with me for prescribing an antibiotic that was instrumental in stopping whatever this was that attacked me! You're such a blessing John. John has a great heart of compassion for people, as was evidenced as he helped a few people medically while in Ethiopia.
Let's give Jesus our best today: spiritually, mentally, emotionally, and physically!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Bless the LORD, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases (Psalm 103:1-3).
Jesus’ sacrifice for us provided both forgiveness of sin and healing of all sickness and disease. We understand how to receive forgiveness of sin. We know that God forgives when we confess our sins. Here’s the thought: the same faith that receives forgiveness will receive healing too.
When receiving forgiveness of sin, we pray and confess our sin according to 1 John 1:9. And then we have to stand on the Word until the manifestation of the release from guilt comes.
There is a period of time after you confess your sin that you don’t feel forgiven. During those times you don’t need to go back to the Lord and confess the sin all over again. He heard you the first time. You just stand on the Word until the feelings of guilt leave! That’s called walking by faith!
Healing is received exactly the same way. You pray and believe you receive the answer to your prayer. At first, there seems to be no outward change. The symptoms are still there. But you act in faith and praise God for healing you until the manifestation comes.
So the same faith that saves you from sin is the same kind of faith that brings healing to your body. Forget the time factor. Don’t say, well, the symptoms are still there; I must not be healed. That’s like saying; well, I asked for forgiveness but I don’t feel forgiven yet. Faith takes the place of what God promised until it manifests. And faith acts in the face of negative feelings!
Act on the Word today and defy your feelings. He forgives all you sins, and heals all your diseases. Your faith is bridging the gap today between your need and God’s promise.
Jesus’ sacrifice for us provided both forgiveness of sin and healing of all sickness and disease. We understand how to receive forgiveness of sin. We know that God forgives when we confess our sins. Here’s the thought: the same faith that receives forgiveness will receive healing too.
When receiving forgiveness of sin, we pray and confess our sin according to 1 John 1:9. And then we have to stand on the Word until the manifestation of the release from guilt comes.
There is a period of time after you confess your sin that you don’t feel forgiven. During those times you don’t need to go back to the Lord and confess the sin all over again. He heard you the first time. You just stand on the Word until the feelings of guilt leave! That’s called walking by faith!
Healing is received exactly the same way. You pray and believe you receive the answer to your prayer. At first, there seems to be no outward change. The symptoms are still there. But you act in faith and praise God for healing you until the manifestation comes.
So the same faith that saves you from sin is the same kind of faith that brings healing to your body. Forget the time factor. Don’t say, well, the symptoms are still there; I must not be healed. That’s like saying; well, I asked for forgiveness but I don’t feel forgiven yet. Faith takes the place of what God promised until it manifests. And faith acts in the face of negative feelings!
Act on the Word today and defy your feelings. He forgives all you sins, and heals all your diseases. Your faith is bridging the gap today between your need and God’s promise.
Friday, February 19, 2010
But as a matter of fact it matters very little to me what you or any man thinks of me. I don’t even value my opinion of myself (1 Corinthians 4:3 – J.B. Phillips Translation).
God used this verse to set me free from an attitude of self-rejection and from the fear of being rejected by others. Our lives are molded strongly by parental and social influences during the delicate years of maturation.
For me, I was the always the youngest in my classes in school having started at age 5 and taking grades 7 and 8 in one year. This resulted in my being the brunt of the older kids’ jokes and feeling ostracized from participation in sports events and other social functions at recess and in later years. I developed a deep seated sense of failure and rejection. In my mind, a room full of people was a room full of others who didn’t like me.
Being Spirit baptized at age 18 changed everything. God immediately began to work on my opinion of myself. He began to show me that He loved me unconditionally; that He loved me as much as He loved His own Son; and that He would help me and not reject me even when I failed!
It was like a breath of fresh air on a bright spring morning! I began to realize that if the Lord loved me and accepted me, it really shouldn’t matter what others thought of me. His loved changed the focus of my life from fear and rejection to love and acceptance. And my personality, pressed down by fear, finally came to life.
As my mind became renewed, social opportunities became opportunities to love, care, help, strengthen, and cheer others. The old days of fear, gloom, dread, failure, rejection, bitterness, envy, and self-hatred were gone!
The light of God’s love, care, and acceptance towards you can also give you a new lease on life. Being Born Again, Spirit-Filled, and Word dominated can make you a brand new person! Act on His loving Word today!
God used this verse to set me free from an attitude of self-rejection and from the fear of being rejected by others. Our lives are molded strongly by parental and social influences during the delicate years of maturation.
For me, I was the always the youngest in my classes in school having started at age 5 and taking grades 7 and 8 in one year. This resulted in my being the brunt of the older kids’ jokes and feeling ostracized from participation in sports events and other social functions at recess and in later years. I developed a deep seated sense of failure and rejection. In my mind, a room full of people was a room full of others who didn’t like me.
Being Spirit baptized at age 18 changed everything. God immediately began to work on my opinion of myself. He began to show me that He loved me unconditionally; that He loved me as much as He loved His own Son; and that He would help me and not reject me even when I failed!
It was like a breath of fresh air on a bright spring morning! I began to realize that if the Lord loved me and accepted me, it really shouldn’t matter what others thought of me. His loved changed the focus of my life from fear and rejection to love and acceptance. And my personality, pressed down by fear, finally came to life.
As my mind became renewed, social opportunities became opportunities to love, care, help, strengthen, and cheer others. The old days of fear, gloom, dread, failure, rejection, bitterness, envy, and self-hatred were gone!
The light of God’s love, care, and acceptance towards you can also give you a new lease on life. Being Born Again, Spirit-Filled, and Word dominated can make you a brand new person! Act on His loving Word today!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
And they overcame Him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Revelation 12:11).
I had an auto accident in 1995 after an early morning church prayer meeting. Neither I nor the other person involved were injured. I had the unusual experience the night before of becoming wide awake every hour on the hour. Having no idea why I was so awake each hour, I simply prayed a while each time, and drifted off to sleep.
After the accident, I called my parents who told me my father was awakened the morning before the accident with a dream that someone told him I was dead. He was so troubled by the dream that he prayed for me throughout that day.
This and other past incidents showed me that the enemy would love to harm me or a member of my family and I went on the offensive. Ever single day since then I have prayed over my family when I first awaken: Father, I plead the blood of Jesus over my family; Jonathan, Sarah, Jessica, Lindsay, Susan, and me. Everywhere we are and everywhere we go, I thank You that we are protected by the angels of God.
“Pleading the Blood” is an old Pentecostal way of saying that you assert all of the rights and privileges that belong to you in Christ. We overcome by the blood! And the angels of God also protect us from harm according to Psalm 91.
Don’t wait for a near miss to wake you up. Begin today to assert your rights in Christ for protection over your family.
I had an auto accident in 1995 after an early morning church prayer meeting. Neither I nor the other person involved were injured. I had the unusual experience the night before of becoming wide awake every hour on the hour. Having no idea why I was so awake each hour, I simply prayed a while each time, and drifted off to sleep.
After the accident, I called my parents who told me my father was awakened the morning before the accident with a dream that someone told him I was dead. He was so troubled by the dream that he prayed for me throughout that day.
This and other past incidents showed me that the enemy would love to harm me or a member of my family and I went on the offensive. Ever single day since then I have prayed over my family when I first awaken: Father, I plead the blood of Jesus over my family; Jonathan, Sarah, Jessica, Lindsay, Susan, and me. Everywhere we are and everywhere we go, I thank You that we are protected by the angels of God.
“Pleading the Blood” is an old Pentecostal way of saying that you assert all of the rights and privileges that belong to you in Christ. We overcome by the blood! And the angels of God also protect us from harm according to Psalm 91.
Don’t wait for a near miss to wake you up. Begin today to assert your rights in Christ for protection over your family.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Consequently, from now on we estimate and regard no one from a [purely] human point of view [in terms of natural standards of value]. [No] even though we once did estimate Christ from a human viewpoint and as a man, yet now [we have such knowledge of Him that] we know Him no longer [in terms of the flesh]. (2 Corinthians 5:16 – Amplified)
When I was young, I had a poor image of myself; I saw my flaws, my weaknesses, my inabilities, and my limitations. I would inwardly call myself names, and really didn’t like myself. And the truth is that how you feel about yourself will gauge how you treat others. So I looked for the flaws in others to mentally bring them down to my level.
After I came to the Lord, He challenged me about my opinion of my self. I began to see that I was looking at myself from the natural human point of view. The Lord showed me that He saw me as a finished product! In fact, He got on me for the way I regarded myself. Since He created me in His image, I had no right to think disparagingly about or talk negatively about myself. To do so was to talk and think negatively about someone He created! That changed me!
Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. God saw Abraham as the Father of a multitude while He was childless. He saw Joseph as a ruler while Joseph was still a teenager. He saw David as a king while he tended sheep. Gideon was called a mighty man of valor while crouching down in fear and hiding from the enemy. Jesus believed that Peter would become a great church leader even though he denied Jesus publicly.
God has faith in you. He looks past your human limitations and chooses to see you in the light of your new creation in Christ! He sees in you what you can’t see. And He believes in you when you don’t believe in yourself! Start today to see yourself the way he sees you. Repent of negative thinking about yourself! Act as though His love, favor, blessing, power, and protection are yours! Face today with boldness and confidence. God believes in you!
When I was young, I had a poor image of myself; I saw my flaws, my weaknesses, my inabilities, and my limitations. I would inwardly call myself names, and really didn’t like myself. And the truth is that how you feel about yourself will gauge how you treat others. So I looked for the flaws in others to mentally bring them down to my level.
After I came to the Lord, He challenged me about my opinion of my self. I began to see that I was looking at myself from the natural human point of view. The Lord showed me that He saw me as a finished product! In fact, He got on me for the way I regarded myself. Since He created me in His image, I had no right to think disparagingly about or talk negatively about myself. To do so was to talk and think negatively about someone He created! That changed me!
Jesus is the lamb slain from the foundation of the world. God saw Abraham as the Father of a multitude while He was childless. He saw Joseph as a ruler while Joseph was still a teenager. He saw David as a king while he tended sheep. Gideon was called a mighty man of valor while crouching down in fear and hiding from the enemy. Jesus believed that Peter would become a great church leader even though he denied Jesus publicly.
God has faith in you. He looks past your human limitations and chooses to see you in the light of your new creation in Christ! He sees in you what you can’t see. And He believes in you when you don’t believe in yourself! Start today to see yourself the way he sees you. Repent of negative thinking about yourself! Act as though His love, favor, blessing, power, and protection are yours! Face today with boldness and confidence. God believes in you!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. (2 Corinthians 5:10 – Amplified)
Though we are not saved by works but by grace, our works are important because they determine our rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. The word Judgment in the above scripture is the Greek word bema, and refers to the judges who determine the winner of an athletic competition. A better translation may be rewards seat of Christ.
Here’s the thought. I am saved by grace, but what I do with my daily life will be rewarded. No, works don’t determine salvation, but they do determine my position in eternity. 1 Corinthians 3 reveals that we all are laying up rewards of gold, and sliver, precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble as we live each day.
Think of it; Jesus eyes of fire (Rev 1) will look right into me on that day that I stand before Him in the next life. My salvation is secure. But as His eyes will search me, the stubble will burn, and only the precious jewels will be left!
What kinds of actions produce stubble, and what type of living produces precious metals and jewels? Actions motivated by faithfulness and love will produce an eternal reward. And works motivated my self-centeredness will produce stubble.
Let’s go after the eternal gold, silver, and jewels today. It’s worth denying the flesh. Keep the rewards seat in mind as you make choices today!
Though we are not saved by works but by grace, our works are important because they determine our rewards at the judgment seat of Christ. The word Judgment in the above scripture is the Greek word bema, and refers to the judges who determine the winner of an athletic competition. A better translation may be rewards seat of Christ.
Here’s the thought. I am saved by grace, but what I do with my daily life will be rewarded. No, works don’t determine salvation, but they do determine my position in eternity. 1 Corinthians 3 reveals that we all are laying up rewards of gold, and sliver, precious stones, or wood, hay, and stubble as we live each day.
Think of it; Jesus eyes of fire (Rev 1) will look right into me on that day that I stand before Him in the next life. My salvation is secure. But as His eyes will search me, the stubble will burn, and only the precious jewels will be left!
What kinds of actions produce stubble, and what type of living produces precious metals and jewels? Actions motivated by faithfulness and love will produce an eternal reward. And works motivated my self-centeredness will produce stubble.
Let’s go after the eternal gold, silver, and jewels today. It’s worth denying the flesh. Keep the rewards seat in mind as you make choices today!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Yesterday was Valentine’s Day, a time for those in love to express their devotion to their sweetheart. Susan and I have been married now for 30 years. We had a heart connection over 31 years ago when we started dating. And then the romantic feelings came upon us.
The truth is, at one time we were complete strangers with no feeling for each other. Then we met and began to talk for hours at a time. A little later we started dating and then it happened! The feeling of romance hit us both. Now, 30 years later, it’s still there.
Feelings of romance take effort to sustain. They don’t just appear on their own. You have to help them along! If there is a mutual attraction between a man and a woman, doing things together can create feelings for each other. To sustain the feelings of romance you must keep doing what you did at the beginning of the relationship.
Jesus scolded the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2 for leaving their first love. He then told them what to do to return to first love status. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…(Rev. 2:5).
Relationships are not in and of themselves self-sustaining. It takes effort to keep them going. It takes effort daily over the years of time in a marriage to keep the flames of romance burning brightly. If you have feelings of romance after many years it is not accidental. Couples in love regularly do things to keep the flame hot! What do they do? They keep doing the things that started the flame of romance in the first place. Intimate communication combined with doing things together regularly will ensure that when you are old enough to be great-grandparents, you’ll still possess the flame!
Marriage is a type of our relationship with God. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. We are to have a heart devotion to the Lord and share our hearts with Him the way a husband and wife intimately share together.
And if we are going to maintain our first love with the Lord, we must continue to do the things that began our journey of closeness with Him. Spending time with Him in the Word and in prayer daily; fellowship with other believers to keep ourselves sharp; and regular involvement in a local church are some of the things that will keep that first love romance with the Lord going strong.
Romance with the Lord and with your mate is a heart thing, and like a fire in the fireplace, fresh wood and a bit of stirring will ensure that the glowing ember remains a raging fire.
The truth is, at one time we were complete strangers with no feeling for each other. Then we met and began to talk for hours at a time. A little later we started dating and then it happened! The feeling of romance hit us both. Now, 30 years later, it’s still there.
Feelings of romance take effort to sustain. They don’t just appear on their own. You have to help them along! If there is a mutual attraction between a man and a woman, doing things together can create feelings for each other. To sustain the feelings of romance you must keep doing what you did at the beginning of the relationship.
Jesus scolded the church at Ephesus in Revelation 2 for leaving their first love. He then told them what to do to return to first love status. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works…(Rev. 2:5).
Relationships are not in and of themselves self-sustaining. It takes effort to keep them going. It takes effort daily over the years of time in a marriage to keep the flames of romance burning brightly. If you have feelings of romance after many years it is not accidental. Couples in love regularly do things to keep the flame hot! What do they do? They keep doing the things that started the flame of romance in the first place. Intimate communication combined with doing things together regularly will ensure that when you are old enough to be great-grandparents, you’ll still possess the flame!
Marriage is a type of our relationship with God. Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church. We are to have a heart devotion to the Lord and share our hearts with Him the way a husband and wife intimately share together.
And if we are going to maintain our first love with the Lord, we must continue to do the things that began our journey of closeness with Him. Spending time with Him in the Word and in prayer daily; fellowship with other believers to keep ourselves sharp; and regular involvement in a local church are some of the things that will keep that first love romance with the Lord going strong.
Romance with the Lord and with your mate is a heart thing, and like a fire in the fireplace, fresh wood and a bit of stirring will ensure that the glowing ember remains a raging fire.
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Corinthians 2:14).
Pessimism has no place in the life of a believer. Before I became a Christian, I looked on the negative side of everything. Instead of seeing the cup half full, I saw it half empty! God wants us to be full of expectancy, and wants us to believe Him for His best!
When you have this attitude, instead of complaining when things go wrong, you constantly look for the solution. In relating to others, you look for the best in them, and look beyond their faults. And with this attitude of triumph, you can see yourself the way God sees you; a work in progress.
Struggles turn into opportunities to exercise your faith and watch God do the impossible when you have this attitude of triumph! You simply don’t see failure as a possibility. When life gives you a lemon, you make lemonade!
I encourage you to stop looking at what you can’t do, and begin to see everything in your life as an opportunity for God to cause you to triumph! In the middle of that hard place, ask God for His wisdom, and ask Him to show you the solution; then expect things to work out, and live as though you believe they will!
Romans 8:31-32 reads, 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?
With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). And ALL THINGS are possible to him who believes. Expect the best!
Pessimism has no place in the life of a believer. Before I became a Christian, I looked on the negative side of everything. Instead of seeing the cup half full, I saw it half empty! God wants us to be full of expectancy, and wants us to believe Him for His best!
When you have this attitude, instead of complaining when things go wrong, you constantly look for the solution. In relating to others, you look for the best in them, and look beyond their faults. And with this attitude of triumph, you can see yourself the way God sees you; a work in progress.
Struggles turn into opportunities to exercise your faith and watch God do the impossible when you have this attitude of triumph! You simply don’t see failure as a possibility. When life gives you a lemon, you make lemonade!
I encourage you to stop looking at what you can’t do, and begin to see everything in your life as an opportunity for God to cause you to triumph! In the middle of that hard place, ask God for His wisdom, and ask Him to show you the solution; then expect things to work out, and live as though you believe they will!
Romans 8:31-32 reads, 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?
With God all things are possible (Matthew 19:26). And ALL THINGS are possible to him who believes. Expect the best!
Friday, February 12, 2010
We all have those days when it seems as though we will never succeed. Struggle after struggle leaves us depleted of energy. David faced this in 1 Samuel 30: 1-6.
While David and his men were out fighting, the enemy came and destroyed the city where they lived. When David and his men returned home, he found the whole city burned to the ground. And the wives and children of he and his men were missing, having been taken captive by the enemy army.
They wept until they had no more tears, and David’s men were so upset that they thought of stoning him! Now that’s a pretty desperate situation. Instead of giving in to the situation and walking away defeated, this passage reveals that David encouraged himself in the Lord! And the end of the story is that David and his men found the enemy army, defeated them, and rescued their wives and children without a single one being harmed!
Had David remained discouraged, they would not have recovered their families safely. Attitude when faced with a crisis determines the outcome. When the stakes are down, and you feel discouragement taking hold, find a way to encourage yourself in the Lord. Let me give you several suggestions.
First of all, watch your mouth! It can really get you into some deep trouble. Don’t speak unless you can talk in faith. Doubt thoughts will die unborn as long as you don’t give life to them with your words.
Secondly, remind yourself of the promises of God. God says to the believer in Psalm 91:14-15: Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. God promises in Psalm 34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Thirdly, consciously remember the times that the Lord had answered prayer and delivered you from difficult situations in the past. In Psalm 42, David reminded himself of what God had done in his past when facing thoughts and feelings of oppression and discouragement.
Lastly, force yourself to praise and worship during difficult times. The sacrifice of praise will allow God to fight the battle for you, will strengthen you, and will chase away doubt, fear, and discouragement.
God hasn’t brought you this far to let you down now. Encourage yourself in the Lord your God! Make yourself do what you know you should!
While David and his men were out fighting, the enemy came and destroyed the city where they lived. When David and his men returned home, he found the whole city burned to the ground. And the wives and children of he and his men were missing, having been taken captive by the enemy army.
They wept until they had no more tears, and David’s men were so upset that they thought of stoning him! Now that’s a pretty desperate situation. Instead of giving in to the situation and walking away defeated, this passage reveals that David encouraged himself in the Lord! And the end of the story is that David and his men found the enemy army, defeated them, and rescued their wives and children without a single one being harmed!
Had David remained discouraged, they would not have recovered their families safely. Attitude when faced with a crisis determines the outcome. When the stakes are down, and you feel discouragement taking hold, find a way to encourage yourself in the Lord. Let me give you several suggestions.
First of all, watch your mouth! It can really get you into some deep trouble. Don’t speak unless you can talk in faith. Doubt thoughts will die unborn as long as you don’t give life to them with your words.
Secondly, remind yourself of the promises of God. God says to the believer in Psalm 91:14-15: Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. God promises in Psalm 34:19: Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.
Thirdly, consciously remember the times that the Lord had answered prayer and delivered you from difficult situations in the past. In Psalm 42, David reminded himself of what God had done in his past when facing thoughts and feelings of oppression and discouragement.
Lastly, force yourself to praise and worship during difficult times. The sacrifice of praise will allow God to fight the battle for you, will strengthen you, and will chase away doubt, fear, and discouragement.
God hasn’t brought you this far to let you down now. Encourage yourself in the Lord your God! Make yourself do what you know you should!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God's one and only Son (John 3:16-18-NLT).
The most important message that we have is the message of salvation. I preached an evangelistic message in Dilla, Ethiopia on Saturday, January 30th. I mentioned to them that death makes all men brothers. We’re not ready to live until we’re ready to die!
These precious people of Ethiopia have a short life span. I think that the average lifespan of adult male there is around 38 years of age! Most of the crowd consists of young people. I was one of the oldest people there!
I spoke to them of the brevity of life and explained the parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16. As I shared about the judgment to come for those without Christ; of the heaven available to those who have sins forgiven through believing in the sacrifice of Christ; of the hell that awaits those who leave this life without faith in Jesus; of the responsibility that we all have to face our personal sin and its penalty; of the sureness of death in our future; of Jesus virgin birth which make Him the Divine Son of God; of His sinless life: of His facing temptation without sin; and of His willingly bearing our sin penalty by His death and resurrection. As I spoke, Holy Spirit began to bring his convicting power to the crowds that listened.
One lady came to the front of the crowd and prostrated herself before God in repentance for her personal sins. Others silently listened as the Holy Spirit began His gently yet firm tug on their conscience. I shared personal stories of near death experiences that I had before I came to faith in Jesus. I spoke of the hope we have of forgiveness for every sin we’ve committed against a Holy God of love and righteousness. I spoke of the grim and sobering reality of the lake of fire that awaits the rebellious and stubborn that refuse and reject God’s free offer of salvation through the blood of Christ.
When I gave the call to salvation, hundreds responded by raising their hands. Only God knows how many were in need of salvation, and how many had already come to a saving knowledge of the Son of God, and were just reaffirming their faith in Jesus’ blood to forgive and cleanse sin. As we prayed together in unison, they lifted their voices with gusto, confessing their sin, and confessing their faith in God’s virgin born Son to forgive their sin and grant them eternal life.
Let’s expect God to use us today in our personal mission field. Ask Jesus to give you a chance to share His love and forgiveness with someone today. He’s longing to bless others through you!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
You didn't choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name (John 15:16-NLT).
I am thrilled to be home from my trip to Africa! I’m spending the day today resting and restoring myself physically. Traveling across the globe in sequential flights one right after the other with no rest is taxing to say the least!
I want to share with you one story from our trip. Last Wednesday we began a long journey from Durame, Ethiopia to Weyto, which is in the Omo valley of Southern Ethiopia. We travelled all day Wednesday, slept over night in a hotel (not American style ) in Arba-Minch, and then travelled on to Weyto on Thursday morning. It was a long, hot, dusty drive. We arrived in Weyto, put our luggage in our hotel room (no water or electricity), and ate some MRE’s for lunch (meals ready to eat used by our armed forces).
The heat was intense in Weyto last Thursday, and I’m sure it was well over 100 degrees. We met with our first Victory church which was not far from where we were staying. John Kazda shared a brief message with the people. See the attached photos.
Then we travelled down a long, dusty dirt road to our other church in Weyto. We were informed by the pastor (Gunta), that their church building that we built some time ago had been blown down by a bad storm on January 25th. When we arrived at the sight, we saw the building and the church members began to come.
We met under a tree to shield us from the blazing sun as the people continued to come from neighboring fields. Dave Ford ministered briefly and then we asked the people if they had any prayer requests.
Remember that these folks are former animists; they worshiped the gods found in trees or rocks or inanimate objects. Most all are illiterate, having no formal education at all and can’t read or write. But they do possess a clever common sense and a good understanding of their environment.
They asked us to pray for them, that their children would be healed of the flu. And then they asked us to pray for rain. You could tell by the looks of the vegetation that rain had been scarce for a long time. Dave Ford led the prayer for their children to be healed, and then he asked as we assented our agreement for God to provide rain for the whole valley area there. The Weyto congregation bowed their heads sincerely as we all prayed and the interpreter interpreted the prayer. At that moment, Galatians 2:28 came to my mind - There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus (NLT). Our hearts were joined in faith as we looked to the One source of life and help that we all have in common, the Lord Jesus.
We all affirmed a loud Amen which means – so be it! After this, the church members sand a song for us, clanging their rustic instruments together to make music, and dancing and singing from their hearts with gusto.
We left and returned to our “hotel” for what was to be an exhaustingly hot night. In the middle of the night we heard a few rain drops hit the tin roof of our dwelling, then it began to rain really hard! And it rained all the next day as we headed back to Arba-Minch, and back to civilization. God had answered our prayer for rain quickly, and this was a huge deal to these former animists who had been born again. The God that these visitors has led us to is an awesome God would be their thinking about this event. He has great power! It was a great testimony to them of the faithfulness of God.
As a results of this trip to Weyto, I have decided that we will pay the pastor’s (Gunta) monthly salary. He is going to start two new churches this month, one there not far from the Weyto churches, and another in a neighboring city (Jinka). We will have four churches in the area and he will pastor them all!
We also left money for the church that was destroyed in the storm to be rebuilt ($850.00). This included stronger lumber and the services of a carpenter to quickly rebuild the demolished building. This church alone has over 300 members!
The attached photos show the meeting in the first church in a village near our hotel, and then the meeting under a tree in an open field near the demolished church building. Thanks to our Victory folk for making it possible for us to reach these precious former animists with the gospel!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
It's just before midnight here in Raleigh. Our flight arrived here at 10:00 PM and John. Dave and I are tired yet spiritually refreshed. It's great to see the family, especially Susan.
Thanks again to everyone who prayed for us. Many lives were touched by God's love and His Word.
The seed we have sown over the years in Africa is bearing fruit, and thousands are being touched through the churches we support there.
I'll post a more complete bolg tomorrow. Hope you enjoy the pics!
Goodnight!
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