Judges 5
Verse 16 "Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds- to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision."
Indecision cripples you and makes you ineffective for the kingdom of God! It disengages you from the battle and causes you to sit down, while those around you are rising up. If you are straddling the fence, then you are missing out on God's purpose for your life.
God said be hot or cold but never be lukewarm and if you are lukewarm he will spit you out of his mouth. Indecision sickens the heart of God because it has the potential to sideline your life for long periods of time. If your hot then you are running forward with God and if your cold, at least you know that you are not right with God, but a lukewarm individual is not committing horrible sin but at he same time they are not accomplishing anything for the kingdom of God. Satan has an amazing way of rocking individuals into a spiritual slumber that they may never awaken from.
Get off the fence, move out of the valley of indecision and whole heartily run the race that God has for you. The joys of life and the fulfillment of your God given dreams are found on the battle field, engage and enjoy the journey.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Heart Sick
Proverbs 13
Verse 12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."
Satan does not want you to get your hopes up, so when the answer or solution doesn't come when we think we need it to, our hearts grow sick. Satan then fuels the fire of deferred hope, by trying to convince us that the answer will never come. God doesn't care about you, he will say. You really don't matter, not to God or people, he will whisper in your ear. But Satan is a liar, and a delay is not a denial.
There are many times in our lives that we have to wait for an answer or solution to come, not because God doesn't care but because it is not time. We are apart of a great work and there is alway more going on than what we see. Our lives are pieces in the puzzle of life and many times there are things unseen to our eyes that have to come together for our lives to work out. It is in these moments of deferred hope that we have to trust that God is for us and not against us and he is working all things together for our good.
If your life lines up with God's word, then your dream/prayer will be fulfilled and as the Proverbs says, when it comes together, "it will be a tree of life". But until the pieces all fall and everything works out, you must keep your hope up. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, if you lose your hope you cripple your faith and without faith you can not receive anything from God. So the cure for a deferred hope is a big picture mentality and a confidence in the faithfulness of God
Verse 12 "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life."
Satan does not want you to get your hopes up, so when the answer or solution doesn't come when we think we need it to, our hearts grow sick. Satan then fuels the fire of deferred hope, by trying to convince us that the answer will never come. God doesn't care about you, he will say. You really don't matter, not to God or people, he will whisper in your ear. But Satan is a liar, and a delay is not a denial.
There are many times in our lives that we have to wait for an answer or solution to come, not because God doesn't care but because it is not time. We are apart of a great work and there is alway more going on than what we see. Our lives are pieces in the puzzle of life and many times there are things unseen to our eyes that have to come together for our lives to work out. It is in these moments of deferred hope that we have to trust that God is for us and not against us and he is working all things together for our good.
If your life lines up with God's word, then your dream/prayer will be fulfilled and as the Proverbs says, when it comes together, "it will be a tree of life". But until the pieces all fall and everything works out, you must keep your hope up. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, if you lose your hope you cripple your faith and without faith you can not receive anything from God. So the cure for a deferred hope is a big picture mentality and a confidence in the faithfulness of God
Friday, April 15, 2011
Revelation and Impartation
Joshua 8: 26 "For Joshua kept holding out his spear until everyone who had lived in Ai was completely destroyed
This scene reminds me off another battle, where Joshua was leading the army and Moses stood on the mountain and held up the rod of the Lord. In this story we see the power of mentorship. Joshua did what he had seen Moses do and Israel won the battle.
Your future will be determined by two things: the books you read and the people you associate with. Books bring information and revelation and people give you impartation. Your life is shaped by the things that you have been taught and the things you have caught.
You can spend the rest of your life doing what you know or you can grow. You must be an apprentice before you can become a master. OJT (on the job training) is an important part of your life, without it you lack the application and experience to really make something happen. Joshua had to come up under Moses before he could be placed over the nation of Israel.
Make a commitment to come up under someone that can teach and impart the wisdom, direction and anointing of God. Put your hands to the plow and don't look back. William Booth the founder of the salvation army, once had a very successful business man come to join his ranks. His first assignment was to shine boots, when the business man questioned Booth's wisdom in placing him in such a menial task, Booth simply replied that if he was to good to shine boots, then we was to prideful to be apart of the salvation army and he reminded him of Jesus's example of washing feet. We all must come under in order to be place over. Find a mentor and grow into the potential that God has for you.
This scene reminds me off another battle, where Joshua was leading the army and Moses stood on the mountain and held up the rod of the Lord. In this story we see the power of mentorship. Joshua did what he had seen Moses do and Israel won the battle.
Your future will be determined by two things: the books you read and the people you associate with. Books bring information and revelation and people give you impartation. Your life is shaped by the things that you have been taught and the things you have caught.
You can spend the rest of your life doing what you know or you can grow. You must be an apprentice before you can become a master. OJT (on the job training) is an important part of your life, without it you lack the application and experience to really make something happen. Joshua had to come up under Moses before he could be placed over the nation of Israel.
Make a commitment to come up under someone that can teach and impart the wisdom, direction and anointing of God. Put your hands to the plow and don't look back. William Booth the founder of the salvation army, once had a very successful business man come to join his ranks. His first assignment was to shine boots, when the business man questioned Booth's wisdom in placing him in such a menial task, Booth simply replied that if he was to good to shine boots, then we was to prideful to be apart of the salvation army and he reminded him of Jesus's example of washing feet. We all must come under in order to be place over. Find a mentor and grow into the potential that God has for you.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
The Promise and Provision
Joshua 5:12 "No manna appeared on the day they first ate from the crops of the land, and it was never seen again. So from that time on the Israelites ate from the crops of Canaan"
Where God guides he provides, but his provision changes with each new possession. When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan into the promise land, the manna ceased to fall and never appeared again.Why?
Because they had come to a new place of possession, they were now in the promise land and with each new promise comes new provision. Yesterday's provision won't meet todays need and each time you step into a new promise, get ready because your provision is going to come from a new place.
So don't get mad when the manna stops falling, rejoice because God has brought you to a new place. Start looking around because each new promise brings with it, new provision. The provision is in the promise, a new place brings new grace
Where God guides he provides, but his provision changes with each new possession. When the Israelites crossed over the Jordan into the promise land, the manna ceased to fall and never appeared again.Why?
Because they had come to a new place of possession, they were now in the promise land and with each new promise comes new provision. Yesterday's provision won't meet todays need and each time you step into a new promise, get ready because your provision is going to come from a new place.
So don't get mad when the manna stops falling, rejoice because God has brought you to a new place. Start looking around because each new promise brings with it, new provision. The provision is in the promise, a new place brings new grace
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Losing The Weight of Worry
Proverbs 12
Verse 25 "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up."
The weight of worry cripples us, it keeps you down, discouraged and bound. Their is no end to worry, worry is a vicious cycle of unbelief and fear that has taken multitudes captive. Worry's prisoners fill churches, businesses and homes all around the world. It doesn't care if you are rich or poor, black or white, American or Italian, worry is a weight that can only be broken through faith in Jesus.
In our verse for today Solomon says that encouragement cheers a person up, which is true if the encouragement is received by faith. Many worry bound individuals have been encouraged only to find temporary relief, because without faith those words of encouragement fall upon a hardened heart and the enemy steals the seed and no lasting fruit is produced. But through faith in Christ and his word, the seeds of encouragement go deep within and produce the fruit of freedom.
Choose today to believe God and break the yoke and weight of worry from off your life. Faith is a choice based upon the finished work of Christ and the word of God, so choose well and lose the weight of worry.
Verse 25 "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up."
The weight of worry cripples us, it keeps you down, discouraged and bound. Their is no end to worry, worry is a vicious cycle of unbelief and fear that has taken multitudes captive. Worry's prisoners fill churches, businesses and homes all around the world. It doesn't care if you are rich or poor, black or white, American or Italian, worry is a weight that can only be broken through faith in Jesus.
In our verse for today Solomon says that encouragement cheers a person up, which is true if the encouragement is received by faith. Many worry bound individuals have been encouraged only to find temporary relief, because without faith those words of encouragement fall upon a hardened heart and the enemy steals the seed and no lasting fruit is produced. But through faith in Christ and his word, the seeds of encouragement go deep within and produce the fruit of freedom.
Choose today to believe God and break the yoke and weight of worry from off your life. Faith is a choice based upon the finished work of Christ and the word of God, so choose well and lose the weight of worry.
Friday, April 8, 2011
LIFE
Deuteronomy 32:47 "These instructions are not empty words-they are your life!"
The word of God is not just another book. Read any book other than the Bible and if you forget the message of those books, there will be no eternal consequence. Yes, there is some great wisdom and instruction out there and the leadership team at my Church will tell you that reading good books is a top priority in my life. Leaders are learner's, which means that they are readers.
But God Word is set apart from all other books. It is the inspired word of God and as Moses said, the words of God are not empty words-they are your life. God's word bring life, not just life giving principles but life itself. Jesus said in John 6:63 "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
God's word brings spiritual life and leads us to eternal life. God's word connects not just your mind but your spirit to God, allowing you to know him, be empowered by him and spend eternity with him in Heaven. No other book on the planet can do that. So the next time you see your Bible laying on your night stand or coffee table, pick it up and open your heart to God's word because it is LIFE!
The word of God is not just another book. Read any book other than the Bible and if you forget the message of those books, there will be no eternal consequence. Yes, there is some great wisdom and instruction out there and the leadership team at my Church will tell you that reading good books is a top priority in my life. Leaders are learner's, which means that they are readers.
But God Word is set apart from all other books. It is the inspired word of God and as Moses said, the words of God are not empty words-they are your life. God's word bring life, not just life giving principles but life itself. Jesus said in John 6:63 "The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life."
God's word brings spiritual life and leads us to eternal life. God's word connects not just your mind but your spirit to God, allowing you to know him, be empowered by him and spend eternity with him in Heaven. No other book on the planet can do that. So the next time you see your Bible laying on your night stand or coffee table, pick it up and open your heart to God's word because it is LIFE!
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Beggars and Believers
Deuteronomy 28
Verse 6 "Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed."
Wow, what a powerful promise to those who obey. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. One definition of being blessed means to be empowered to succeed. Obedience to the word of God and the Spirit of God empowers us to succeed. Obedience to God enables us to have success wherever we go and in whatever we do.
Many Christians spend their entire Christian life begging for the blessing of God, but we are not called beggars we are called Believers. So stop begging, obey God and believe that his word is true. If I am obedient then I am blessed. Start claiming his promise and walking in it. Declare Gods blessing on whatever you do and declare it wherever you go.
If you are obedient then you are blessed and if there is an area of your life that you are living in rebellion toward God, repent, confess your sin and move forward in the blessing of obedience. Stop begging, start obeying and walk in your Blessing!
Verse 6 "Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed."
Wow, what a powerful promise to those who obey. Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed. One definition of being blessed means to be empowered to succeed. Obedience to the word of God and the Spirit of God empowers us to succeed. Obedience to God enables us to have success wherever we go and in whatever we do.
Many Christians spend their entire Christian life begging for the blessing of God, but we are not called beggars we are called Believers. So stop begging, obey God and believe that his word is true. If I am obedient then I am blessed. Start claiming his promise and walking in it. Declare Gods blessing on whatever you do and declare it wherever you go.
If you are obedient then you are blessed and if there is an area of your life that you are living in rebellion toward God, repent, confess your sin and move forward in the blessing of obedience. Stop begging, start obeying and walk in your Blessing!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Loot or Fruit
Proverbs 12
Verse 12 "Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit."
Thieves are pursuing loot, they want to enjoy the fruit of someone else's labor. They don't have any root in them selves, so they suck life from others. They are always riding on the coat tails of someone else's hard work or commitment. They are complainers and whiners, always pointing out what they don't like but never adding value to make anything better. They sometimes sound spiritual in their talk about desiring the deeper things of God, but they are unwilling to pay the price in their personal life to have a life giving relationship with Jesus.
But the godly bear fruit, they are willing the pay the price in order to become a source of life. The godly are well rooted and bear fruit, their lives have stability and prosperity. They are established in Christ and are not tossed around by every wind that blows. They are not jumping from one church to another, allows looking for something better. They bear their own fruit and add value where they are. Being rooted means they are covenant people, they don't just give their words they give their lives.
So what are you? Are you a thief in the house of God pursuing loot? Do you look at the church as a place to only receive from God or are you Godly, and look at the church as a place to serve God? The key to receiving is serving and the godly understand that principle. But what about you, are you looking for loot or bearing fruit?
Verse 12 "Thieves are jealous of each other’s loot, but the godly are well rooted and bear their own fruit."
Thieves are pursuing loot, they want to enjoy the fruit of someone else's labor. They don't have any root in them selves, so they suck life from others. They are always riding on the coat tails of someone else's hard work or commitment. They are complainers and whiners, always pointing out what they don't like but never adding value to make anything better. They sometimes sound spiritual in their talk about desiring the deeper things of God, but they are unwilling to pay the price in their personal life to have a life giving relationship with Jesus.
But the godly bear fruit, they are willing the pay the price in order to become a source of life. The godly are well rooted and bear fruit, their lives have stability and prosperity. They are established in Christ and are not tossed around by every wind that blows. They are not jumping from one church to another, allows looking for something better. They bear their own fruit and add value where they are. Being rooted means they are covenant people, they don't just give their words they give their lives.
So what are you? Are you a thief in the house of God pursuing loot? Do you look at the church as a place to only receive from God or are you Godly, and look at the church as a place to serve God? The key to receiving is serving and the godly understand that principle. But what about you, are you looking for loot or bearing fruit?
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