Wise As A Serpant

Matthew 10:16 says "Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." Everyday we are reminded of the violent society that we are living in. School shootings, hate crimes and even road rage, but in spite of the violence around us Jesus tells us to be harmless as doves but that is not all that he says. He said the key to combatting a violent aggressive society, is wisdom. "Be wise as serpents" wisdom is our weapon against the enemy. Don't get caught in the snare of the enemy by trying to fight the world with the weapons of the world. 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 says "though we walk in the flesh , we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,". So how do we fight the violent schemes of the world, with the wisdom of God. Through wisdom we will pull down the strongholds of the enemy and establish the righteousness of God.

The Heart

In Mark 7:20-23 Jesus explains to his disciples that it is what comes from our hearts that defile us. He said that out of the heart comes "evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, wickedness, deceit, lustful desires, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness." So if we want to change our lives, we have to change our hearts. So how do we change our hearts, we renew them with the word of God. Romans 12:2 says we are "transformed by the renewing of the mind", when we allow God's word to renew our minds, it changes how we think and when you change how you think you will change how you act, what you say and where you go. Not only must we renew our hearts, but we also must guard them. Proverbs 4:23 says "keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it springs the issues of life." As we renew our hearts with the word, we also must guard our hearts. What you watch and listen to effects your heart. Make a commitment to your self today, to renew your heart and guard your heart against the things of this world that want to rob you of the life that God has for you.

Waiting

In Psalm 40:1-2 David says "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along" One of the hardest things for us to do is wait, because when we are waiting we feel out of control and powerless over our circumstances. Yet it is in the waiting that we learn how to trust God to do for us what we can not do ourselves. I have learned that the key to peaceful waiting, is knowing in whom you have believed. When we know that "he is for us and not against us" and we know that he came so that we might "have life and have it more abundantly" and that he is "working all things together for our good", then waiting becomes easier and trusting Him makes sense, because why wouldn't we trust someone who loves us enough to give his son as a sacrifice for our sins.

Wind, Earth and Fie

1 Kings 19:1-18 tells the story of Elijah battle with Jezebel. He had just defeated the 450 prophets of Baal and Jezebel threatens his life. He moves from faith to fear and runs away, asking God to take his life. An angel feeds him and then leads him on a 40 day fast and journey that brings him to a cave. While in the cave God tells him to "Go Out" and stand on the mountain before the Lord. Let me say right here that you have to be willing to "come out" of what is binding you, before you can ever enter in to what God has for you. Someone today needs to make that decision to "come out" so that God can draw you in. Now I want you to see what happened when Elijah went out to meet with God, the bible says that a great wind, earthquake and fire came before the Lord but God was not in the wind, earth or fire. So who was? The devil is always throwing the natural at you to keep you from the spiritual. I call them demonic distractions, but they are all very natural in appearance. The wind is the thing in your life that tries to blow you off course, the earthquake is the thing in your life that tries to shake you to the point that you give up and quit trying and the fire is the thing in your life that tries to consume your time, talents and resources. Refuse to let the natural distract you, Stand and having done all continue to Stand, because if you refuse to be distracted you will hear the voice of God. When God spoke to Elijah, he gave him direction, correction and encouragement to move forward in his life and overcome the obstacles that were before him. One word from God will change everything, so stand fast until you hear that word and when you do, Go forward in the strength that his word brings.

The Great Adventure

Over and over the Word tells us to "Fear Not, do not be afraid" Deuteronomy 31:6 Fear aborts our faith and causes us to pull back, instead of pressing through. It is impossible for us to obtain what God has for us without an element of risk or danger. It is a dangerous life, living for God, but it is a life worth living. Religion removes the adventure but true faith challenges us to believe God for the impossible and step out beyond our sight into his supernateral provision and protection. So I challenge you today to live the adventure, dare the impossible and experience the excitement of living by FAITH.

Love of God

Ephesians 3:17-19 challenges us to be "rooted and grounded in love" so that we can comprehend the width, length and height of Gods love and out of the revelation of his Love, we are "filled with all the fullness of God." You can never escape the love of God or the importance of love in the life of a believer. The foundation stone of the Gospel is Love, John 3:16 says that "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son..." In 2 Corinthians 5:14 Paul says that the "love of God compels us" to live for the one that died for us. So I ask you a very important question, how do you love a God that you can not see? The answer is simple, you love the people that you can see, Jesus said in Matthew 25:40 "in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren you did it to Me." Did what, what did they do, they loved the people around them. they feed the hungry, welcomed the stranger, clothed the naked and visited those sick and in prison. So make today a Love Day, a day that you experience God's Love and share it with those around you.

Author and Finisher

Never underestimate the power of God to save, deliver or heal. Raise your faith and trust him today to do what you can not. Hebrews 12:2 says that we are to "look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." An attitude of faith that is built and based upon the Word of God, opens the door of heaven and invites the Holy Spirit to manifest in the flesh what God says in the Spirit.

Making Disciples

Check out todays Message here are come of the thoughts we covered today

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Six things every believer must do to Make Disciples:

Sit at the feet of Jesus; you cannot give what you don’t have.

Luke 10:38-42

Be a disciple; follow someone that is doing what you want to do.

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

Three signs that you are a disciple, you receive instruction, direction and correction.

Invest in other people’s success, people are attracted to people that add value to their life. Matthew 23:11

Receive those who receive you, because you cannot build on those who don’t.

Luke 9:5

Love People, you cannot impart life to those you don’t love. 1 Corinthians 13:1-8

Focus on the Few, instead of the multitude. Mark 4:33-34

13th day of the Fast

Well it has been 13 days into the 21 day fast. God has been so amazing, his voice continues to become clearer. It is awesome what happens when we take the time to seek his face and listen to his voice. If you have not read Derrick Prince's book entitled "Fasting" you need to invest in your relationship with God and release the power of the Spirit that is available in your life.