I know that you are probably thinking.."What in the world is this girl talking about and how can this be spiritual?" hahaha! Hang with me...I"ll explain.
A couple of weeks ago, my "spiritual" daddy, Charlie Hinson 3rd told this story and it has become such a source of comfort for me since then.
Charlie's son, Charlie 4th (we call him "Pastor Charlie") had to be out of town working on a job. He has several hunting dogs and needed his Daddy to watch after the dogs while he was away. When he asked Charlie to look after his dogs, he did so because he had faith that his daddy would do it. He asked him, Charlie 3rd said that he would take care of it and that was that.
Pastor Charlie was away for several days. Each day, his daddy would go out there to the property where the dogs were kept and make sure that they had enough food and water without his son having to call and remind him. His son never had to call him again to ask if he was taking care of those dogs. Pastor Charlie didn't wake up each day and say, "I had better call Daddy today and ask him to take care of my dogs." Nope. He asked, His Daddy said he would do it, and Pastor Charlie trusted that he would.
Charlie 3rd also had to take several big barrels up to a local restaurant to collect the scraps for the dogs. He knew in the beginning that there was going to be more to the "job" of taking care of the dogs than just feeding and watering them and he wasn't upset by that. He was well able to handle what his son asked him to do. He did all of this without any qualms about it because his son, whom he loved dearly, was in need of his help.
On the 3rd day of feeding the dogs he realized that one of the dog's water bucket wasn't going down. Each day he checked the water and seeing that the dog had plenty, he went on about his business. When he realized on the 3rd day that the water level hadn't gone down he began to examine the length of the dog's chain. He realized that the bucket was too far from the dog. It "looked" like the dog should be able to reach it but it was just barely out of his reach. Charlie saw a "need" and met that need. Even when it didn't "look" like there was a need..He saw it and took care of it without his son ever having to ask him to move that bucket. Charlie moved the bucket closer and the dog began to drink frantically. Why? That was a part of "taking care of the dogs". So he just did it...cause that is just what Daddy's do.
Several days into watching out for the dogs, he noticed that one of the feed troughs was broken. He didn't have to call Pastor Charlie and ask if he wanted the trough fixed. He didn't see it broken and just leave it for Pastor Charlie to fix when he got back. No! Daddy Charlie just got what was needed and fixed the trough. Not one time did Pastor Charlie have to call his daddy to make sure that he was taking care of those dogs. He knew his daddy well enough to know that they were being taken care of.
Okay..do you see the spiritual implications here?
Luke 11 talks about human fathers who will give their children whatever they need or ask for. verse 13 goes on to say.."If you then, being humanly frail, know how to give good things to your children, HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE GOOD THINGS TO HIS CHILDREN!
I have watched Charlie 3rd's affection for his children and grandchildren. I have benefited from his love and so have my children. My 2 yr old, Marleigh calls him Papa and that is just what he is to her! He is such a wonderful picture to me of what my Heavenly Father is. I know that if Charlie 3rd says it, HE WILL DO IT! I know that he believes every word that he says and he thinks everything through before he says it. If he doesn't, he doesn't mind calling me back 5 minutes later and correcting what he said that wasn't right. I TRUST WHAT CHARLIE 3rd says!!! But I have to remember that GOD IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THAT!
If I have asked God to do anything for me..he is on the job! I don't have to call him every 5 minutes to ask if he is taking care of it. IF something new comes up in my situation I don't have to call and see if he is going to "Fix" it. In fact...like Charlie 3rd did...he probably will just take care of it without me ever having to know about it!
I have said to my husband many times in the past two weeks.."God is taking care of the dogs! If the bucket needs to be moved..he will move it. And every broken trough is being fixed RIGHT now!".
God loves me. He is a wonderful Father. I can go on with whatever I am busy doing without worry. Jehovah God, the Great I AM...My ABBA Father is taking care of my stuff! My kids...taken care of! My family members...taken care of! My Marriage....taken care of! My Friendships...taken care of! My finances...take care of! My ministry....taken care of! My health...taken care of!
1 Peter 5:7 Cast all of your worries and anxieties on Him, for he loves you incredibly!
2 Timothy 1:12 I know the God that I believe in and I am CONVINCED that he is able to take care of what I have trusted to Him.
Psalm 138:8 God will perfect (take care of) that which concerns me.
Stop worrying....stop checking with God to see if he is taking care of it...Just trust that he LOVES YOU!!! And he will not be surprised by whatever may present itself as an obstacle along the way. He knows how to fix that trough! And if something needs to be moved...He can move water buckets too! He will provide EVERYTHING that your situation needs provided!!!!Tell yourself today..."Daddy is taking care of the dogs!!"
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Monday, November 22, 2010
Do you have an ATTITUDE????
As most of my blogs do, this blog resulted from a lesson that I taught to the ladies of Victory Tabernacle. I am adamant that I do not want to live my life as a hypocrite. If I am going to teach it to others then I hold myself accountable to it. It is because of that fact that I typically teach from my own personal experiences and lessons learned from the Lord. I believe that every pulpit or podium that I stand behind has some sort of truth serum dripping from it because I seem to just uncontrollably begin to "tell on" myself when I teach. This one is no exception. Even as I begin to type this my flesh is screaming, "YUCK". *giggle* oh well...here goes...
Definition of Attitude: 1) Pattern of thinking formed over a period of time. 2) disposition or feeling with regard to a person or thing. 3)a testy uncooperative disposition. 4) DISCONTENT expressed through actions.
Let's begin by looking at each of these definitions.
An attitude is not something that we just develop in an instant. It is common to hear someone say, "She copped an attitude with me." This usually implies that someone just developed an attitude out of no where. That is not a true statement. An attitude comes after we have already begun to dwell on things for a while. It usually results from a pattern of thinking about something over time. This can manifest in a couple of ways. We can develop an attitude when we have allowed our minds to run wild and dwell on negative things. Then something negative happens that was the "straw that broke the camel's back" so to speak. OR It could develop when things happened that went against what we THOUGHT should have happened because of the way that we had been thinking about the situation over time. Either way..attitudes don't JUST HAPPEN.
Next, we have to recognize that attitudes usually result from "feelings". Because God has called us to live a life of faith we have to begin to recognize that we can not allow our "feelings" to control our attitude about circumstances, people, or decisions. Feelings will LIE TO US! FEELINGS ARE NOT FACT! We have to make a choice to be alert and aware of our feelings and not let them control our attitude. That is not easy and it often is not as simple as saying, "I choose not to feel that way." We often have to say it, do something about it, say it , do it, say it , and then do it again before the feelings will line up with what God has called us to do, think or feel.
Thirdly, we can recognize that we have an attitude problem when we become "testy". In other words, it doesn't take much for us to be "set off" by something or someone. We are an ATTITUDE WAITING TO HAPPEN. When we have an attitude problem we often don't want to cooperate with those around us or with God for that matter. An uncooperative attitude is simply nothing more than rebellion. Plain and simple.
Ok. Can I stop typing now? This is really stomping my TOES ya'll!!!!!
Finally, the definition that really stood out to me was the last one. It explains that when we allow ourselves to walk in an attitude it is because we have grown discontent in some area of our life. When I become discontent with the way that my life, my marriage, my job, my church is going or simply grow discontent with myself, I can quickly develop an attitude. I'm not talking about discontent that motivates us to change. I am talking about discontent that leads to murmuring and complaining. Complaining is simply negative words spoken about a circumstance that we have no intention of rectifying. If we are going to complain about something then we need to be prepared to be a part of the solution.
Notice that this last definition says that it is "expressed through actions". That tells us that no matter what our mouth is saying our body language, our facial expressions, the decisions that we are making and the manner in which we are going about our day are the true test of whether or not we have an attitude. Did your mama ever tell you that your "actions speak louder than words"???? You can even say, "I love you" and, "I'm sorry" with an attitude. Don't believe me? Watch any group of 2-4 year olds playing. When an argument breaks out between two or more of them, separate them and demand that they apologize. Then ask them to say, " I love you" to the person that took their favorite toy. Yep...immaturity will result in words that are betrayed by actions and laced with attitude.
Philippians 4:11 (Amplified Bible)Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
1 Timothy 6:6 (Amplified Bible) [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward self satisfaction) is great and abundant gain.
What is Paul telling us in these two scriptures? He is saying that we should mature to the point that regardless of what is going on externally around us, we can be INTERNALLY at peace. He is saying that the times in which we REALLY make gains or progress in our walk with God (and others) are those times when we have a REASON to have an attitude but we lay down our RIGHT to that attitude and stay in peace and love.
I also notice that the amplified states it this way: A sense of inward self satisfaction. Have you ever noticed that when you are not happy with yourself you will often develop an attitude toward others? I have. When we become satisfied with who we are and the progress that we are making in our own lives we tend have less of an attitude problem with others and are more content as a whole.
I can't tell you how often I have said, 'Well I wouldn't have an attitude if she would just________. I wouldn't have to cop such an attitude if HE didn't have an attitude first. Yes, I have an attitude but you don't know what I have been through. I didn't have an attitude until one of my kids did___________. If my finances were better then I wouldn't have to have an attitude about ____________." Etc. Etc. Etc.....Excuses, excuses, excuses.
Our attitude about things in our lives will often lead us in our decision making. One of my favorite quotes lately (and I say it to myself OFTEN) is: "Never make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances!" Attitude issues will cause us to move toward things that will gratify the flesh and the feelings that we are having. Often we make decisions to surround ourselves with people who will agree with our attitude so that we can feel more secure in our decisions. Just because we are surrounded by 100 people who agree with us, it does not mean that we are right! Ask Hitler.
Let's look at an example from the Word of God.
Numbers 11
1 AND THE people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which was evil in the ears of the Lord, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.
2 The people cried to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire subsided.
3 He called the name of the place Taberah [burning], because the fire of the Lord burned among them.
4 And the mixed multitude among them [the rabble who followed Israel from Egypt] began to lust greatly [for familiar and dainty food], and the Israelites wept again and said, Who will give us meat to eat?
5 We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt and without cost, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
6 But now our soul (our strength) is dried up; there is nothing at all [in the way of food] to be seen but this manna.
The children of Israel began to become discontent because things were not turning out exactly like they had imagined that it would once they were free of the bondage of Egypt. They imagined that they would walk right out of that land into a land flowing with milk and honey but that was not the case. Notice that verse 1 says "their hardships" caused them to complain. I've heard it said that it's in the process of squeezing the grape that you truly find out what is inside". *GROAN* *SIGH*
I know I know...I'm not liking this lesson much either.
You would think that a hot fire killing off a few of your best friends would teach them not to complain. But noooooooo Mrs HardHead and MR StubbornStreak had to complain again!
Verse 4 says that the "mixed multitude" began to complain. Those were people who were just tagging along for the ride. Some of them came out of Egypt with the Israelites and some of them were just picked up along the way. Have you ever noticed that when you hang around with people who are complainers it is easy to jump in there with them? Have you ever noticed that if you hang around with people who are not faith talkers, faith walkers, and KINGDOM minded people that it's easy to cross over to thinking and doing things the way that the world thinks about them and does them? Did you read my blog about Influence? Those that we are around can influence us with their complaints. They influence our feelings about the things that they are upset about but they will also begin to influence the way that we interpret and feel about things in our own lives which may seem to be COMPLETELY unrelated to what THEY are complaining about.
As soon as the "mixed multitude" began complaining the children of Israel forgot what they had been taught by the "fire" and began to complain as well. Not only were they complaining about what was going on in the "here and now" but they also began to look back with longing in their hearts for Egypt.
Having an attitude problem will blur our vision. When they looked back to Egypt all they could see was the great foods that they had eaten while there. They forgot about the long hours that they worked in poor conditions. They forgot about the shanty shacks that they had to live in and the sickness and disease that plagued their people as a result of poverty and persecution. They forgot about how the king killed their firstborn sons in order to keep them from prospering. They forgot about how their children cried at night because of the awful conditions around them. They forgot about the fear, the sweat, the blood, the tears. Ohhh yes my friend. An attitude problem is a DANGEROUS THING. It blurs your vision today. It blurs your vision of yesterday and it will COMPLETELY BLUR your vision of tomorrow.
God began to deal with me a few weeks ago about being on guard this year about my attitude where the holidays were concerned. Last year I spent many weeks in agony over whether or not I was going to be able to give my kids the Christmas that I had always thought was the "perfect Christmas". (Remember that attitude is a pattern of thinking formed over a period of time). Our business was not prospering the way that I knew that it should and there I was just a few days away from Christmas WITH NO GIFTS BOUGHT AT ALL. The pantry was not full either. Where was I going to get the money for the Turkey, and trimmings that I wanted to cook to make that picture perfect "It's a Wonderful Life" Christmas?? Where were the "Chestnuts roasting on the open fire?"
So what did I do? I began to dwell on the fact that I had not bought presents and there was no food in our pantry. I began to complain that my perfect little Christmas was not going to happen. I allowed myself to grow discontent with my circumstances and developed a major attitude problem. God began to show me that the reason that I had such an issue with my attitude is because I completely had a wrong picture of what Christmas was. Because things were NOT just as I "thought they should be" I developed an attitude problem. Oh I would "say" with my mouth that Christmas was about more than just gifts and food but my actions were certainly betraying my words. When I allowed God to deal with my attitude problem, he began to make a way for my kids to have gifts under the tree and food on the table. I didn't buy them 55 gifts but they had plenty and their mama learned valuable lesson.
Verse 6 shows us how deceived they really were. They said, "our souls are dried up and we have nothing to eat but this MANNA". Ok..first of all they were not in as bad a shape as they could have been and they certainly were not "dried up". These people were blessed. They came out of Egypt with no sick or lame among them and a promise from God that he would bless their food so that they would never have to be sick!
Worship the Lord your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from you and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span" (Exodus 23:25-26).
A discontent attitude will keep us from having an "ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE" for what we have been promised and blessed with. Focusing on what we DO NOT have will rob us of the joy of WHAT WE DO HAVE!
I also have learned that if there is an area that I quickly develop an "attitude" in then there are probably some wrong patterns of thinking about that thing that God wants to work on. "Squeezing the grapes" will show me those areas in a hurry. Looking forward to this Christmas I realize that my idea of the perfect Christmas was not God's idea of the perfect Christmas. This year he has asked me to do something that completely goes against my flesh. He has asked me to ask him before buying any presents. He wants to be involved in the buying process this year. If he only okays 5 presents instead of the usual 55 then I have to be okay with that realizing that somewhere in this world there will be Mama's that would give anything to have their children healthy and at home this Christmas regardless if they have 5 or 55 presents. I have to remember that there are wives that do not have a husband sitting with them watching the kids opening the gifts this year because of divorce. ( Oh how I remember that first Christmas alone with Maylin, the heartache, the tears and the struggle to answer questions from my babygirl about where Daddy was. Oh how quickly we forget what Egypt was like when we have an attitude problem). Oh yes, I have much to be CONTENT about this year.
And what if...just what if...My wrong thinking about Christmas is feeding a wrong pattern of thinking into my kids? What if my perfect picture of Christmas is causing them to be hindered from having an attitude of gratitude? What if they don't get all of the things that they have written on their list this year? Would THEY have an attitude problem? What if my "doing good" for them by buying 55 presents was actually doing them "harm" and God wants it stopped?
And then there is the whole attitude about the manna. When the children of Israel first saw the manna falling from the sky they were amazed by it. They were so overwhelmed by it that they exclaimed "MANNA! which means What is it?" Have you ever had God give you something so wonderful that there were just no words to describe it? Me too.
But their attitude problem now caused them to see "that thing" that was once so WONDERFUL as "just this same ole manna". They no longer appreciated the gift that God had given them and what a miracle it was. That thing that they once praised God for and couldn't wait to see again was now just "same ole same ole". What is your God given "what is it?" Has it become "same ole same ole"? Is it your job? Your house? Your Husband? Your Children? Your church? What is that thing that you once couldn't wait to tell your friends about? What is that thing that you had people helping you pray for that you now want to throw away as if it were a great burden to you?
*warning pet peeve rant* If you have asked people to spend their time and tears to pray over a situation for you, don't display your ingratitude toward their efforts by quickly giving up on that thing that they invested so much time and energy in prayer. If you have prayed for that job and had others agreeing with you for it, don't quit the first time the boss says something that you don't like. If you have had people praying that man of God into your life, then don't walk out the first time you have an argument. If you wanted that house and had people praying with you for the loan to go through, don't sit around and complain about it while in their presence. They PRAYED FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!! STICK TO IT! DON'T GIVE UP NOW! Others have made an investment into this thing besides just you.
Now, I realize that there are seasons for everything and I also realize that God moves people from place to place and gives promotion and new jobs....(but don't go getting a new husband girls- that ain't God). I'm just saying that we have to be sure that our attitude problem isn't causing us to give up too soon on something that God gave to us as a gift simply because of a little hardship right now. The promise land is coming. Until then..Enjoy the Manna...IT IS STILL A GOD GIVEN MIRACLE!!! Whether it tastes like it right now or not!
So...what about it...Do you have an ATTITUDE?
Definition of Attitude: 1) Pattern of thinking formed over a period of time. 2) disposition or feeling with regard to a person or thing. 3)a testy uncooperative disposition. 4) DISCONTENT expressed through actions.
Let's begin by looking at each of these definitions.
An attitude is not something that we just develop in an instant. It is common to hear someone say, "She copped an attitude with me." This usually implies that someone just developed an attitude out of no where. That is not a true statement. An attitude comes after we have already begun to dwell on things for a while. It usually results from a pattern of thinking about something over time. This can manifest in a couple of ways. We can develop an attitude when we have allowed our minds to run wild and dwell on negative things. Then something negative happens that was the "straw that broke the camel's back" so to speak. OR It could develop when things happened that went against what we THOUGHT should have happened because of the way that we had been thinking about the situation over time. Either way..attitudes don't JUST HAPPEN.
Next, we have to recognize that attitudes usually result from "feelings". Because God has called us to live a life of faith we have to begin to recognize that we can not allow our "feelings" to control our attitude about circumstances, people, or decisions. Feelings will LIE TO US! FEELINGS ARE NOT FACT! We have to make a choice to be alert and aware of our feelings and not let them control our attitude. That is not easy and it often is not as simple as saying, "I choose not to feel that way." We often have to say it, do something about it, say it , do it, say it , and then do it again before the feelings will line up with what God has called us to do, think or feel.
Thirdly, we can recognize that we have an attitude problem when we become "testy". In other words, it doesn't take much for us to be "set off" by something or someone. We are an ATTITUDE WAITING TO HAPPEN. When we have an attitude problem we often don't want to cooperate with those around us or with God for that matter. An uncooperative attitude is simply nothing more than rebellion. Plain and simple.
Ok. Can I stop typing now? This is really stomping my TOES ya'll!!!!!
Finally, the definition that really stood out to me was the last one. It explains that when we allow ourselves to walk in an attitude it is because we have grown discontent in some area of our life. When I become discontent with the way that my life, my marriage, my job, my church is going or simply grow discontent with myself, I can quickly develop an attitude. I'm not talking about discontent that motivates us to change. I am talking about discontent that leads to murmuring and complaining. Complaining is simply negative words spoken about a circumstance that we have no intention of rectifying. If we are going to complain about something then we need to be prepared to be a part of the solution.
Notice that this last definition says that it is "expressed through actions". That tells us that no matter what our mouth is saying our body language, our facial expressions, the decisions that we are making and the manner in which we are going about our day are the true test of whether or not we have an attitude. Did your mama ever tell you that your "actions speak louder than words"???? You can even say, "I love you" and, "I'm sorry" with an attitude. Don't believe me? Watch any group of 2-4 year olds playing. When an argument breaks out between two or more of them, separate them and demand that they apologize. Then ask them to say, " I love you" to the person that took their favorite toy. Yep...immaturity will result in words that are betrayed by actions and laced with attitude.
Philippians 4:11 (Amplified Bible)Not that I am implying that I was in any personal want, for I have learned how to be content (satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or disquieted) in whatever state I am.
1 Timothy 6:6 (Amplified Bible) [And it is, indeed, a source of immense profit, for] godliness accompanied with contentment (that contentment which is a sense of inward self satisfaction) is great and abundant gain.
What is Paul telling us in these two scriptures? He is saying that we should mature to the point that regardless of what is going on externally around us, we can be INTERNALLY at peace. He is saying that the times in which we REALLY make gains or progress in our walk with God (and others) are those times when we have a REASON to have an attitude but we lay down our RIGHT to that attitude and stay in peace and love.
I also notice that the amplified states it this way: A sense of inward self satisfaction. Have you ever noticed that when you are not happy with yourself you will often develop an attitude toward others? I have. When we become satisfied with who we are and the progress that we are making in our own lives we tend have less of an attitude problem with others and are more content as a whole.
I can't tell you how often I have said, 'Well I wouldn't have an attitude if she would just________. I wouldn't have to cop such an attitude if HE didn't have an attitude first. Yes, I have an attitude but you don't know what I have been through. I didn't have an attitude until one of my kids did___________. If my finances were better then I wouldn't have to have an attitude about ____________." Etc. Etc. Etc.....Excuses, excuses, excuses.
Our attitude about things in our lives will often lead us in our decision making. One of my favorite quotes lately (and I say it to myself OFTEN) is: "Never make permanent decisions based on temporary circumstances!" Attitude issues will cause us to move toward things that will gratify the flesh and the feelings that we are having. Often we make decisions to surround ourselves with people who will agree with our attitude so that we can feel more secure in our decisions. Just because we are surrounded by 100 people who agree with us, it does not mean that we are right! Ask Hitler.
Let's look at an example from the Word of God.
Numbers 11
1 AND THE people grumbled and deplored their hardships, which was evil in the ears of the Lord, and when the Lord heard it, His anger was kindled; and the fire of the Lord burned among them and devoured those in the outlying parts of the camp.
2 The people cried to Moses, and when Moses prayed to the Lord, the fire subsided.
3 He called the name of the place Taberah [burning], because the fire of the Lord burned among them.
4 And the mixed multitude among them [the rabble who followed Israel from Egypt] began to lust greatly [for familiar and dainty food], and the Israelites wept again and said, Who will give us meat to eat?
5 We remember the fish we ate freely in Egypt and without cost, the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.
6 But now our soul (our strength) is dried up; there is nothing at all [in the way of food] to be seen but this manna.
The children of Israel began to become discontent because things were not turning out exactly like they had imagined that it would once they were free of the bondage of Egypt. They imagined that they would walk right out of that land into a land flowing with milk and honey but that was not the case. Notice that verse 1 says "their hardships" caused them to complain. I've heard it said that it's in the process of squeezing the grape that you truly find out what is inside". *GROAN* *SIGH*
I know I know...I'm not liking this lesson much either.
You would think that a hot fire killing off a few of your best friends would teach them not to complain. But noooooooo Mrs HardHead and MR StubbornStreak had to complain again!
Verse 4 says that the "mixed multitude" began to complain. Those were people who were just tagging along for the ride. Some of them came out of Egypt with the Israelites and some of them were just picked up along the way. Have you ever noticed that when you hang around with people who are complainers it is easy to jump in there with them? Have you ever noticed that if you hang around with people who are not faith talkers, faith walkers, and KINGDOM minded people that it's easy to cross over to thinking and doing things the way that the world thinks about them and does them? Did you read my blog about Influence? Those that we are around can influence us with their complaints. They influence our feelings about the things that they are upset about but they will also begin to influence the way that we interpret and feel about things in our own lives which may seem to be COMPLETELY unrelated to what THEY are complaining about.
As soon as the "mixed multitude" began complaining the children of Israel forgot what they had been taught by the "fire" and began to complain as well. Not only were they complaining about what was going on in the "here and now" but they also began to look back with longing in their hearts for Egypt.
Having an attitude problem will blur our vision. When they looked back to Egypt all they could see was the great foods that they had eaten while there. They forgot about the long hours that they worked in poor conditions. They forgot about the shanty shacks that they had to live in and the sickness and disease that plagued their people as a result of poverty and persecution. They forgot about how the king killed their firstborn sons in order to keep them from prospering. They forgot about how their children cried at night because of the awful conditions around them. They forgot about the fear, the sweat, the blood, the tears. Ohhh yes my friend. An attitude problem is a DANGEROUS THING. It blurs your vision today. It blurs your vision of yesterday and it will COMPLETELY BLUR your vision of tomorrow.
God began to deal with me a few weeks ago about being on guard this year about my attitude where the holidays were concerned. Last year I spent many weeks in agony over whether or not I was going to be able to give my kids the Christmas that I had always thought was the "perfect Christmas". (Remember that attitude is a pattern of thinking formed over a period of time). Our business was not prospering the way that I knew that it should and there I was just a few days away from Christmas WITH NO GIFTS BOUGHT AT ALL. The pantry was not full either. Where was I going to get the money for the Turkey, and trimmings that I wanted to cook to make that picture perfect "It's a Wonderful Life" Christmas?? Where were the "Chestnuts roasting on the open fire?"
So what did I do? I began to dwell on the fact that I had not bought presents and there was no food in our pantry. I began to complain that my perfect little Christmas was not going to happen. I allowed myself to grow discontent with my circumstances and developed a major attitude problem. God began to show me that the reason that I had such an issue with my attitude is because I completely had a wrong picture of what Christmas was. Because things were NOT just as I "thought they should be" I developed an attitude problem. Oh I would "say" with my mouth that Christmas was about more than just gifts and food but my actions were certainly betraying my words. When I allowed God to deal with my attitude problem, he began to make a way for my kids to have gifts under the tree and food on the table. I didn't buy them 55 gifts but they had plenty and their mama learned valuable lesson.
Verse 6 shows us how deceived they really were. They said, "our souls are dried up and we have nothing to eat but this MANNA". Ok..first of all they were not in as bad a shape as they could have been and they certainly were not "dried up". These people were blessed. They came out of Egypt with no sick or lame among them and a promise from God that he would bless their food so that they would never have to be sick!
Worship the Lord your God, and His blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from you and none will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will give you a full life span" (Exodus 23:25-26).
A discontent attitude will keep us from having an "ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE" for what we have been promised and blessed with. Focusing on what we DO NOT have will rob us of the joy of WHAT WE DO HAVE!
I also have learned that if there is an area that I quickly develop an "attitude" in then there are probably some wrong patterns of thinking about that thing that God wants to work on. "Squeezing the grapes" will show me those areas in a hurry. Looking forward to this Christmas I realize that my idea of the perfect Christmas was not God's idea of the perfect Christmas. This year he has asked me to do something that completely goes against my flesh. He has asked me to ask him before buying any presents. He wants to be involved in the buying process this year. If he only okays 5 presents instead of the usual 55 then I have to be okay with that realizing that somewhere in this world there will be Mama's that would give anything to have their children healthy and at home this Christmas regardless if they have 5 or 55 presents. I have to remember that there are wives that do not have a husband sitting with them watching the kids opening the gifts this year because of divorce. ( Oh how I remember that first Christmas alone with Maylin, the heartache, the tears and the struggle to answer questions from my babygirl about where Daddy was. Oh how quickly we forget what Egypt was like when we have an attitude problem). Oh yes, I have much to be CONTENT about this year.
And what if...just what if...My wrong thinking about Christmas is feeding a wrong pattern of thinking into my kids? What if my perfect picture of Christmas is causing them to be hindered from having an attitude of gratitude? What if they don't get all of the things that they have written on their list this year? Would THEY have an attitude problem? What if my "doing good" for them by buying 55 presents was actually doing them "harm" and God wants it stopped?
And then there is the whole attitude about the manna. When the children of Israel first saw the manna falling from the sky they were amazed by it. They were so overwhelmed by it that they exclaimed "MANNA! which means What is it?" Have you ever had God give you something so wonderful that there were just no words to describe it? Me too.
But their attitude problem now caused them to see "that thing" that was once so WONDERFUL as "just this same ole manna". They no longer appreciated the gift that God had given them and what a miracle it was. That thing that they once praised God for and couldn't wait to see again was now just "same ole same ole". What is your God given "what is it?" Has it become "same ole same ole"? Is it your job? Your house? Your Husband? Your Children? Your church? What is that thing that you once couldn't wait to tell your friends about? What is that thing that you had people helping you pray for that you now want to throw away as if it were a great burden to you?
*warning pet peeve rant* If you have asked people to spend their time and tears to pray over a situation for you, don't display your ingratitude toward their efforts by quickly giving up on that thing that they invested so much time and energy in prayer. If you have prayed for that job and had others agreeing with you for it, don't quit the first time the boss says something that you don't like. If you have had people praying that man of God into your life, then don't walk out the first time you have an argument. If you wanted that house and had people praying with you for the loan to go through, don't sit around and complain about it while in their presence. They PRAYED FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!!! STICK TO IT! DON'T GIVE UP NOW! Others have made an investment into this thing besides just you.
Now, I realize that there are seasons for everything and I also realize that God moves people from place to place and gives promotion and new jobs....(but don't go getting a new husband girls- that ain't God). I'm just saying that we have to be sure that our attitude problem isn't causing us to give up too soon on something that God gave to us as a gift simply because of a little hardship right now. The promise land is coming. Until then..Enjoy the Manna...IT IS STILL A GOD GIVEN MIRACLE!!! Whether it tastes like it right now or not!
So...what about it...Do you have an ATTITUDE?
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Influence and Suggestion
INFLUENCE. This word has been in my spirit for a while now. Several years ago God really began to reveal to me what it meant to my own life and recently I have been sensing it in the lives of those that I love and have been in intercession for.
Definition of Influence: 1. the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command. 2. corrupt interference with people or circumstances for personal gain. 3. the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways : to sway
WOW. Can you say Deception? Those who have sat under my teaching in the last year or so know that I have really stressed the importance of sharpening the gift of discernment in these last days. I really sense that there has been unleashed in the earth a super abundance of deceptive spirits in recent years. I believe the purpose of these spirits is to pave the way for the Antichrist. This deception is talked about in The Word:
Matthew 24:24, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
Jesus was telling us that we can not be moved by "appears" to be Jesus like. Even if there are signs that follow these people...we MUST NOT BE DECEIVED.
What does that have to do with influence? I'm glad that you asked. :)
Several years ago, God showed me my error in being influenced by a spirit of influence. I didn't realize that this was happening to me but when I truly stopped and examined a certain situation that was happening in my life and my feelings, thoughts, opinions concerning that situation I realized that the words of my mouth, the decisions I had made, and the thoughts and opinions of my mind were not truth but were being influenced.
As I look around I realize that I am not the only one that has been under the attack of this spirit.
Let me tell you, the power of suggestion is real. Don't believe it? Have you ever been in a room of people and watched what happens when one person yawns? It starts a domino affect. Have you ever had someone come up to you and say, "Do you feel ok? You don't look good." Suddenly you notice that you are more tired than usual. Your back aches or you have some pain in some other area. Why? Someone pointed something out to you that causes you to closely scrutinize EVERYTHING.
hmmmmmm Stay with me, we are going somewhere with this.
SUGGESTION: 1) The sequential process by which one thought or mental image is introduced into the mind which leads to another. A psychological process by which an idea is subtly induced by and adopted by another without argument, command, or coercion.
I have heard of adulterous affairs that were begun innocently through incorrect friendships. One party was unhappy in their marriage and began to talk to the other party. Soon, the party that was offering support begins to see problems in their marriage that they never saw before. Soon, the two come to the conclusion that they are both unhappy and have so much in common that they begin to form wrong feelings with lead to wrong actions.
Sometimes in women's friendship circles we joke about "having each other's back". We often comment that if someone hurts our BFF then they will have to contend with us. Did the offender do anything personally to us? No. We become influenced by what they did to our friend and suddenly those feelings of offence can become so real that it is as if they did the thing to us personally. Now I am not saying that it is wrong to support and protect one another. But there is a fine line of assuming someone else's offence through a spirit of influence that must not be crossed.
As a teenage girl, I remember not liking someone simply because my friend didn't like him or her. I remember that there were certain clothes, food, music that I didn't like simply because someone else that I knew didn't like them. Do you see how influence can influence us?
Well those same things can happen to even the most well meaning Christians today if we are not careful.
In fact, I believe that here are even demonic influences that can operate in people..sometimes with or without their knowledge...which can cunningly influence others in the body of Christ.
I have experienced this for myself. Because of mercy and forgiveness I will not go into details of this experience but let me just describe to you how this spirit operates in case you may need to be on guard against it working in or against you.
This spirit will cause a person to become a chameleon. They will take on certain characteristics of the person that the enemy has set his sights on. They will develop a common interests, hobbies, or even struggles with someone else in order to seduce a friendship. Once a friendship is formed, the spirit works on building trust. Often the trust is built by appearing weak. This spirit will make the person appear helpless or in need of help/ministry. Sometimes it will take on the role of a victim in order to elicit pity which will also cause the walls of mistrust or caution to be torn down. Taking on the same faults of shortcoming of another person often results in a feeling of being able to "relate" which will also build a false sense of trust.
Once it has built trust it will slowly and cunningly begin to find out the weakness of the person that it is singling out for attack. Remember..the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). The end result of a friendship that is built with people who operate under the influence of these spirits is always to destroy the person, their marriage, their ministry, their LIVES!
This spirit will begin to offer "suggestions" through the spirit of influence about people, churches, pastors, and even spouses that build distrust, or dissatisfaction that can lead to broken friendships, destroyed and divided churches, and divorce.
2 Peter 2:8 That righteous man Lot vexed his soul day by day by what he saw and heard.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived. Bad company will lead to an evil end and corrupt your good character.
Friendships that were once strong and thriving in love and support soon become distant with very little in common anymore. Pastors and churches that once were united and thriving in the anointing of God soon find congregations that are murmuring, dissatisfied, and rebellious. Marriages that had love and satisfaction in them soon find that the "little" things are magnified and things that at one time could easily be overlooked or forgiven become huge stumbling blocks and justification for divorce. Now these things don't take place overnight. No no, the enemy is more cunning, deceptive and patient than that. He knows better than to run full force into this thing. People who allow this spirit to operate are willing to build and manipulate and strategize these things perfectly.
What happens is this spirit will discover the weakness of the other person in order to use it to manipulate and control them. The person who was singled out for this attachment usually is not even aware of the deception that is pursuing them until it is too late. The knowledge of the "sins" or weakness of the other person is a power source which backs that person into a corner with a gag order on their mouths so that they are limited in their ability to point this person and the spirit operating in them out to those in leadership who may be able to deal with them. Often this spirit will not give any real "proof" of the spirit of error that is operating and all that the person under attach/attachment only has a "gut feeling". They often feel guilty about their "feelings" that something isn't right about this person and the enemy begins to condemn them with words like "judging, criticism, and legalism". They begin to question themselves about what they perceive is not right about this person and turn the guilt on themselves which results in silence because of their lack of "proof".
So, I challenge you my friend, to examine your own heart. Are you dissatisfied in some areas because you have been influenced to "see" things about others or about your circumstance by what someone else has said or done? This takes a new level of being honest with ourselves. It takes laying down pride so that we can walk free. No one wants to admit that they have been influenced. Know this: It is by NO means a reflection on your character. The enemy is SUBTLE! He will attach the strongest and the weakest. Makes no difference to him.
The key to freedom is first of all to slowly break ties with the person that is allowing this spirit to operate in them. A complete break in contact or a confrontation could draw out an all out attack. When threatened with the confrontation of the revelation of who they are and what they are doing, they will generally "go for the throat" and kill- either spiritually, mentally, emotionally and yes even physically.
Secondly, we have to work on retraining our thinking, our seeing, and our hearing. We have to meditate on the truth of God and begin to confess his word over our situations and relationships so that the truth of God can drive out the lies that have been built over time.
Prayer and much fasting should also accompany both of these things. Take it from one who has been there...Freedom WILL come. Recovery and restoration IS possible. But the process must first begin will recognizing the truth.
Definition of Influence: 1. the act or power of producing an effect without apparent exertion of force or direct exercise of command. 2. corrupt interference with people or circumstances for personal gain. 3. the power or capacity of causing an effect in indirect or intangible ways : to sway
WOW. Can you say Deception? Those who have sat under my teaching in the last year or so know that I have really stressed the importance of sharpening the gift of discernment in these last days. I really sense that there has been unleashed in the earth a super abundance of deceptive spirits in recent years. I believe the purpose of these spirits is to pave the way for the Antichrist. This deception is talked about in The Word:
Matthew 24:24, "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."
Jesus was telling us that we can not be moved by "appears" to be Jesus like. Even if there are signs that follow these people...we MUST NOT BE DECEIVED.
What does that have to do with influence? I'm glad that you asked. :)
Several years ago, God showed me my error in being influenced by a spirit of influence. I didn't realize that this was happening to me but when I truly stopped and examined a certain situation that was happening in my life and my feelings, thoughts, opinions concerning that situation I realized that the words of my mouth, the decisions I had made, and the thoughts and opinions of my mind were not truth but were being influenced.
As I look around I realize that I am not the only one that has been under the attack of this spirit.
Let me tell you, the power of suggestion is real. Don't believe it? Have you ever been in a room of people and watched what happens when one person yawns? It starts a domino affect. Have you ever had someone come up to you and say, "Do you feel ok? You don't look good." Suddenly you notice that you are more tired than usual. Your back aches or you have some pain in some other area. Why? Someone pointed something out to you that causes you to closely scrutinize EVERYTHING.
hmmmmmm Stay with me, we are going somewhere with this.
SUGGESTION: 1) The sequential process by which one thought or mental image is introduced into the mind which leads to another. A psychological process by which an idea is subtly induced by and adopted by another without argument, command, or coercion.
I have heard of adulterous affairs that were begun innocently through incorrect friendships. One party was unhappy in their marriage and began to talk to the other party. Soon, the party that was offering support begins to see problems in their marriage that they never saw before. Soon, the two come to the conclusion that they are both unhappy and have so much in common that they begin to form wrong feelings with lead to wrong actions.
Sometimes in women's friendship circles we joke about "having each other's back". We often comment that if someone hurts our BFF then they will have to contend with us. Did the offender do anything personally to us? No. We become influenced by what they did to our friend and suddenly those feelings of offence can become so real that it is as if they did the thing to us personally. Now I am not saying that it is wrong to support and protect one another. But there is a fine line of assuming someone else's offence through a spirit of influence that must not be crossed.
As a teenage girl, I remember not liking someone simply because my friend didn't like him or her. I remember that there were certain clothes, food, music that I didn't like simply because someone else that I knew didn't like them. Do you see how influence can influence us?
Well those same things can happen to even the most well meaning Christians today if we are not careful.
In fact, I believe that here are even demonic influences that can operate in people..sometimes with or without their knowledge...which can cunningly influence others in the body of Christ.
I have experienced this for myself. Because of mercy and forgiveness I will not go into details of this experience but let me just describe to you how this spirit operates in case you may need to be on guard against it working in or against you.
This spirit will cause a person to become a chameleon. They will take on certain characteristics of the person that the enemy has set his sights on. They will develop a common interests, hobbies, or even struggles with someone else in order to seduce a friendship. Once a friendship is formed, the spirit works on building trust. Often the trust is built by appearing weak. This spirit will make the person appear helpless or in need of help/ministry. Sometimes it will take on the role of a victim in order to elicit pity which will also cause the walls of mistrust or caution to be torn down. Taking on the same faults of shortcoming of another person often results in a feeling of being able to "relate" which will also build a false sense of trust.
Once it has built trust it will slowly and cunningly begin to find out the weakness of the person that it is singling out for attack. Remember..the enemy has come to steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). The end result of a friendship that is built with people who operate under the influence of these spirits is always to destroy the person, their marriage, their ministry, their LIVES!
This spirit will begin to offer "suggestions" through the spirit of influence about people, churches, pastors, and even spouses that build distrust, or dissatisfaction that can lead to broken friendships, destroyed and divided churches, and divorce.
2 Peter 2:8 That righteous man Lot vexed his soul day by day by what he saw and heard.
1 Corinthians 15:33 Do not be deceived. Bad company will lead to an evil end and corrupt your good character.
Friendships that were once strong and thriving in love and support soon become distant with very little in common anymore. Pastors and churches that once were united and thriving in the anointing of God soon find congregations that are murmuring, dissatisfied, and rebellious. Marriages that had love and satisfaction in them soon find that the "little" things are magnified and things that at one time could easily be overlooked or forgiven become huge stumbling blocks and justification for divorce. Now these things don't take place overnight. No no, the enemy is more cunning, deceptive and patient than that. He knows better than to run full force into this thing. People who allow this spirit to operate are willing to build and manipulate and strategize these things perfectly.
What happens is this spirit will discover the weakness of the other person in order to use it to manipulate and control them. The person who was singled out for this attachment usually is not even aware of the deception that is pursuing them until it is too late. The knowledge of the "sins" or weakness of the other person is a power source which backs that person into a corner with a gag order on their mouths so that they are limited in their ability to point this person and the spirit operating in them out to those in leadership who may be able to deal with them. Often this spirit will not give any real "proof" of the spirit of error that is operating and all that the person under attach/attachment only has a "gut feeling". They often feel guilty about their "feelings" that something isn't right about this person and the enemy begins to condemn them with words like "judging, criticism, and legalism". They begin to question themselves about what they perceive is not right about this person and turn the guilt on themselves which results in silence because of their lack of "proof".
So, I challenge you my friend, to examine your own heart. Are you dissatisfied in some areas because you have been influenced to "see" things about others or about your circumstance by what someone else has said or done? This takes a new level of being honest with ourselves. It takes laying down pride so that we can walk free. No one wants to admit that they have been influenced. Know this: It is by NO means a reflection on your character. The enemy is SUBTLE! He will attach the strongest and the weakest. Makes no difference to him.
The key to freedom is first of all to slowly break ties with the person that is allowing this spirit to operate in them. A complete break in contact or a confrontation could draw out an all out attack. When threatened with the confrontation of the revelation of who they are and what they are doing, they will generally "go for the throat" and kill- either spiritually, mentally, emotionally and yes even physically.
Secondly, we have to work on retraining our thinking, our seeing, and our hearing. We have to meditate on the truth of God and begin to confess his word over our situations and relationships so that the truth of God can drive out the lies that have been built over time.
Prayer and much fasting should also accompany both of these things. Take it from one who has been there...Freedom WILL come. Recovery and restoration IS possible. But the process must first begin will recognizing the truth.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
What in the world is a "Gall of Bitterness"?
Yeah..that was what I was asking myself too!
As I was reading this morning, I read a story that I have heard and read many times however this time, something stood out to me. It's what I want to talk to you about today. I want to talk to you about being poisoned with the "gall of bitterness."
Peter introduced this phrase when he rebuked Simon a new convert who had offered money in exchange for the power of the Holy Ghost to lay hands on people for baptisms and miracles.
"And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:18-23).
As I looked up the original meaning of the word "Gall" I found that one meaning was "envy"--a dangerous poison. And Simon was infected with it!
I also believe that he had a heart to help people, which helped disguise his condition..from himself..and from others around him. But the bible says out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and Peter recognized where his heart was. Verse 13 says he believed, was baptized and "continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." He was right there in the middle of all of the action. He was faithful to go with them wherever they went and wanted to be a helper in whatever the Lord was doing among them.
However, something deadly lay underneath! Peter recognized it because he was a man of God who had also battled his own flesh in his journey to the call that God had upon his life. Anyone who is filled with the Spirit and operates in discernment, (especially if they have been aflicted with the same charactor flaws) will be able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Peter knew that all the while Simon was saying to himself, "I can do that, too! I'm gifted. I have talent. I love God too. I feel for people. It's my turn. Give me a chance!"
Simon had a dangerous mixture in his heart. It was a desire to be used by God--mixed with a desire for prominence and a need for man's affirmation! He truly wanted God to use him, but he also had a need for recognition. He wanted power and place, without paying the right price! He wanted a shortcut to where he believed that God could take him without having the patience to allow God to work the process that would develop the character in him that would allow him to be truly anointed.
So it is in the work of God today. Many are trying to take shortcuts to get to a place of power and usefulness. We offer our talents and abilities to the Lord--but if you have the talent and don't have the character, fruit of the Spirit, experience and maturity that comes with time and submission to another man's ministry, then God can't use you! Only time, experience, and maturity can take you to where God is taking you and keep you there.
If we find ourselves looking at others and wanting what they have then we must be willing to do what they had to do and go through what they went through to get to where they are. Those who are TRULY ANOINTED by God did not become what and who they are today overnight, with ease, and without some blood, sweat, and tears along the way!
In his third epistle, John tells of a man named Diotrephes who "loved to have the preeminence among them" (3 John 9). When things did not go his way, he began "prating against" the brethren with malicious words.
A "prater" is one who becomes wounded and begins to run his mouth about it. Diotrephes was offended by John's message, and he began to spew about it. His vanity had been pricked, his pride had been wounded, his ego was bruised and his need for recognition had been deprived. So he went about telling a story of being wounded to other servants of God. He disrupted the peace of the brethren and won many to his side by his ability to play the "victim" so well. Perhaps he insisted that John was trying to "stifle his anointing". He may have even accused John of not wanting to "share his glory" or "thinking he is the only one that God can use".
This wasn't blatant sin; it wasn't some doctrinal error. It was the sin of impatience! He couldn't wait for God to do the work. He wanted prominence--and he probably sounded so right-to himself and to many around him.
My husband has always told me.."Shelby..Easy come, Easy go". What he is trying to say is that if the ministry and position of God comes easily to us then it can go just as easily. One of my favorite sayings is "Talent can not take you where Character can not keep you". God isn't into "Social Promotion". He doesn't promote people to places of prominence in ministry simply because they are good people and have a good heart. PEOPLE DO THAT ALL THE TIME...but it definitely isn't a GOD THING. IF MAN PROMOTES YOU THEN MAN HAS TO KEEP YOU THERE. Whether the man is YOU or someone else. I don't want man to promote me to where God has called me to. Because, truthfully, I don't trust man to keep me there. If I can climb over someone on the ladder of success in order to promote myself to a position then someone else can ALSO CLIMB OVER ME!
Another definition for a "Gall of bitterness" is a "wounded spirit". A WOUNDED SPIRIT IS FERTILE GROUND FOR A ROOT OF BITTERNESS!!
"A wounded spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14). How could the Israelites of Isaiah's time have become so fallen, so backslidden, so depressed in such a short time?
Isaiah explains it: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores:: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:6).
The prophet went on to warn the people of God who had open wounds, sores and bruises. He said as long as they went on bleeding, with blood on their hands, God could not hear them in such a condition:
"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood" (v.15).
Whose blood is the Lord talking about? Your own! You're bleeding from an open wound in your heart! It's oozing blood! You need healing! You need your wound soothed with the oil of the Holy Ghost!
Yet many of you don't run to the Master for healing. You don't realize that Satan is trying to get you into this witchcraft of rebellion. You see, God won't listen to a voice that cries out but won't accept His deliverance! What if God's path for your deliverance is going to come through the hands, word and heart of the very one that you are holding bitterness against????
Beloved, bitterness blinds! You lose your spiritual vision in proportion to the growth of your bitterness. The more your bitterness grows, the more your blindness grows. Let a root of bitterness fester--let the wound turn to a gangrene, --let the sore spread its poison all through your soul--and you will end up just like these violent Pharisees, so blind they finally crucified the Son of God!
If you continue in the gall of bitterness, you will end up with other bitter or jealous souls, prating; throwing stones at God's holy servants, deciding where they are wrong and picking apart everything they do because "I can do it better". Many could win Oscars for their role in playing the part of a poor, misunderstood victim.
Some will end up at the gall-gatherings, where others share their rebellion. Remember the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together". Just because you can get 100 people to agree with your perspective, it DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE RIGHT! Don't let wrong agreements entered into by others cause you to become deceived into believing a lie.
STRONG WORD OF WARNING HERE: If you continue in the gall of bitterness, you will open up your very heart and soul to demon possession! You could end up a mouthpiece of the devil. Your tongue will become a spear that pierces the side of Christ. You will hang Him in open shame before all who know you. And you will shut out the voices of all preachers and prophets who are sent to reveal the truth to you.
The work of God will go on, with other children who are willing to obey. But God will say to you what Peter said to Simon:
"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God" (Acts 8:21).
Notice the words.."In the sight of God". You may be able to fool "some" of the people some of the time, but you are probably not fooling "all" of the people and you are CERTAINLY NOT fooling God.
You may be asking, 'Why won't my pastor promote me? Why am I always overlooked for promotion on my job? Why do they always mention Sister SOinSO's name and not mine?" Perhaps it's not man that is refusingn to lift you up but GOD who knows that your need for recognition must not be fed...because what you feed will grow...and if it grows, it will destroy you.
Has someone in the body of Christ wounded you? Do you find yourself jealous of another person promotion or success? Do you try to imitate their success but are unwilling to wait patiently for the purpose that God has called YOU to? Do you have a root of bitterness?
I beg you: Run to the Healer of all wounds and ask Him to pluck it out by the roots!
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31).
Wait patiently for what God has called you to do. Learn where you are and don't shut the door to those that God has sent to teach and mentor you because you are jealous of the recognition they they are receiving right now. Dont' let past wounds cause you to put up walls of defense that will cause you to resist the truth that God is bringing to you for your good!
Stop it -- STOP IT NOW!
As I was reading this morning, I read a story that I have heard and read many times however this time, something stood out to me. It's what I want to talk to you about today. I want to talk to you about being poisoned with the "gall of bitterness."
Peter introduced this phrase when he rebuked Simon a new convert who had offered money in exchange for the power of the Holy Ghost to lay hands on people for baptisms and miracles.
"And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:18-23).
As I looked up the original meaning of the word "Gall" I found that one meaning was "envy"--a dangerous poison. And Simon was infected with it!
I also believe that he had a heart to help people, which helped disguise his condition..from himself..and from others around him. But the bible says out the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks and Peter recognized where his heart was. Verse 13 says he believed, was baptized and "continued with Philip, and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done." He was right there in the middle of all of the action. He was faithful to go with them wherever they went and wanted to be a helper in whatever the Lord was doing among them.
However, something deadly lay underneath! Peter recognized it because he was a man of God who had also battled his own flesh in his journey to the call that God had upon his life. Anyone who is filled with the Spirit and operates in discernment, (especially if they have been aflicted with the same charactor flaws) will be able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Peter knew that all the while Simon was saying to himself, "I can do that, too! I'm gifted. I have talent. I love God too. I feel for people. It's my turn. Give me a chance!"
Simon had a dangerous mixture in his heart. It was a desire to be used by God--mixed with a desire for prominence and a need for man's affirmation! He truly wanted God to use him, but he also had a need for recognition. He wanted power and place, without paying the right price! He wanted a shortcut to where he believed that God could take him without having the patience to allow God to work the process that would develop the character in him that would allow him to be truly anointed.
So it is in the work of God today. Many are trying to take shortcuts to get to a place of power and usefulness. We offer our talents and abilities to the Lord--but if you have the talent and don't have the character, fruit of the Spirit, experience and maturity that comes with time and submission to another man's ministry, then God can't use you! Only time, experience, and maturity can take you to where God is taking you and keep you there.
If we find ourselves looking at others and wanting what they have then we must be willing to do what they had to do and go through what they went through to get to where they are. Those who are TRULY ANOINTED by God did not become what and who they are today overnight, with ease, and without some blood, sweat, and tears along the way!
In his third epistle, John tells of a man named Diotrephes who "loved to have the preeminence among them" (3 John 9). When things did not go his way, he began "prating against" the brethren with malicious words.
A "prater" is one who becomes wounded and begins to run his mouth about it. Diotrephes was offended by John's message, and he began to spew about it. His vanity had been pricked, his pride had been wounded, his ego was bruised and his need for recognition had been deprived. So he went about telling a story of being wounded to other servants of God. He disrupted the peace of the brethren and won many to his side by his ability to play the "victim" so well. Perhaps he insisted that John was trying to "stifle his anointing". He may have even accused John of not wanting to "share his glory" or "thinking he is the only one that God can use".
This wasn't blatant sin; it wasn't some doctrinal error. It was the sin of impatience! He couldn't wait for God to do the work. He wanted prominence--and he probably sounded so right-to himself and to many around him.
My husband has always told me.."Shelby..Easy come, Easy go". What he is trying to say is that if the ministry and position of God comes easily to us then it can go just as easily. One of my favorite sayings is "Talent can not take you where Character can not keep you". God isn't into "Social Promotion". He doesn't promote people to places of prominence in ministry simply because they are good people and have a good heart. PEOPLE DO THAT ALL THE TIME...but it definitely isn't a GOD THING. IF MAN PROMOTES YOU THEN MAN HAS TO KEEP YOU THERE. Whether the man is YOU or someone else. I don't want man to promote me to where God has called me to. Because, truthfully, I don't trust man to keep me there. If I can climb over someone on the ladder of success in order to promote myself to a position then someone else can ALSO CLIMB OVER ME!
Another definition for a "Gall of bitterness" is a "wounded spirit". A WOUNDED SPIRIT IS FERTILE GROUND FOR A ROOT OF BITTERNESS!!
"A wounded spirit who can bear?" (Proverbs 18:14). How could the Israelites of Isaiah's time have become so fallen, so backslidden, so depressed in such a short time?
Isaiah explains it: "From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrefying sores:: They have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment" (Isaiah 1:6).
The prophet went on to warn the people of God who had open wounds, sores and bruises. He said as long as they went on bleeding, with blood on their hands, God could not hear them in such a condition:
"And when ye spread forth your hands, I will hide mine eyes from you: yea, when ye make many prayers, I will not hear: your hands are full of blood" (v.15).
Whose blood is the Lord talking about? Your own! You're bleeding from an open wound in your heart! It's oozing blood! You need healing! You need your wound soothed with the oil of the Holy Ghost!
Yet many of you don't run to the Master for healing. You don't realize that Satan is trying to get you into this witchcraft of rebellion. You see, God won't listen to a voice that cries out but won't accept His deliverance! What if God's path for your deliverance is going to come through the hands, word and heart of the very one that you are holding bitterness against????
Beloved, bitterness blinds! You lose your spiritual vision in proportion to the growth of your bitterness. The more your bitterness grows, the more your blindness grows. Let a root of bitterness fester--let the wound turn to a gangrene, --let the sore spread its poison all through your soul--and you will end up just like these violent Pharisees, so blind they finally crucified the Son of God!
If you continue in the gall of bitterness, you will end up with other bitter or jealous souls, prating; throwing stones at God's holy servants, deciding where they are wrong and picking apart everything they do because "I can do it better". Many could win Oscars for their role in playing the part of a poor, misunderstood victim.
Some will end up at the gall-gatherings, where others share their rebellion. Remember the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together". Just because you can get 100 people to agree with your perspective, it DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE RIGHT! Don't let wrong agreements entered into by others cause you to become deceived into believing a lie.
STRONG WORD OF WARNING HERE: If you continue in the gall of bitterness, you will open up your very heart and soul to demon possession! You could end up a mouthpiece of the devil. Your tongue will become a spear that pierces the side of Christ. You will hang Him in open shame before all who know you. And you will shut out the voices of all preachers and prophets who are sent to reveal the truth to you.
The work of God will go on, with other children who are willing to obey. But God will say to you what Peter said to Simon:
"Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God" (Acts 8:21).
Notice the words.."In the sight of God". You may be able to fool "some" of the people some of the time, but you are probably not fooling "all" of the people and you are CERTAINLY NOT fooling God.
You may be asking, 'Why won't my pastor promote me? Why am I always overlooked for promotion on my job? Why do they always mention Sister SOinSO's name and not mine?" Perhaps it's not man that is refusingn to lift you up but GOD who knows that your need for recognition must not be fed...because what you feed will grow...and if it grows, it will destroy you.
Has someone in the body of Christ wounded you? Do you find yourself jealous of another person promotion or success? Do you try to imitate their success but are unwilling to wait patiently for the purpose that God has called YOU to? Do you have a root of bitterness?
I beg you: Run to the Healer of all wounds and ask Him to pluck it out by the roots!
"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice" (Ephesians 4:31).
Wait patiently for what God has called you to do. Learn where you are and don't shut the door to those that God has sent to teach and mentor you because you are jealous of the recognition they they are receiving right now. Dont' let past wounds cause you to put up walls of defense that will cause you to resist the truth that God is bringing to you for your good!
Stop it -- STOP IT NOW!
Monday, November 8, 2010
Change you CAN believe in!
I realize that successful political campaigns have been run using these words as their motto. There are also articles and books written with these words as their title. However, these words have left many disillusioned and disgusted as they have watched each letter drop unfulfilled to the floor. So much so, that many who once held onto these words as if their very lives depended on them, did not even turn out to vote in the elections that were held last week in our country because of their deep disappointment. However, I want to assure you that there IS a change that you CAN believe in!
Let me explain...
God has given us a wonderful promise: Jeremiah 29:11-14 (Amplified Bible)11For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
12Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
13Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.(A)
14I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.
I remember the day that verse 11 of this passage was first introduced into my life. It was on a wonderful fall day in October of 1998. I don't ever remember hearing this scripture before that day but once it was deposited into my spirit it took root and I have never forgotten it. I am not sure if it is simply because I finally recognized this scripture that it feels as if it has become so popular over the last few years but it seems to "pop up" everywhere these days...on t-shirts, mugs, plagues, and in music.
The message is Clear!!! God has great plans for us! He has laid out some things for us that are going to absolutely astound us! He is and has always been "the God of more than enough"- El Shaddai!!!! He always does "abundantly above what we could think or imagine". DREAM BIG and he will PRODUCE BIGGER! Imagine the BEST and He will bring about something BETTER. See your future as being BRIGHT and he will make it BRILLIANT!!!! HE IS GOOD YA'LL!!!!!!! And the plans that he has for you are AWESOME!!!!
I don't care what it feels like right now. I am not moved by what I see right now. I am not even concerned about the impossibilities that man has pronounced over my dreams. This one thing I am confident of: GOD HAS GOT THIS!!!!!
* dramatic pause for the hallelujah dance that I know that you are doing right here*
Until I began preparing for this sermon I didn't really understand the context in which this verse was written.
Jeremiah 29:4-10 (Amplified Bible)
4Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5Build yourselves houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat the fruit of them.
6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not be diminished.
7And seek (inquire for, require, and request) the peace and welfare of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the Lord for it, for in the welfare of [the city in which you live] you will have welfare.8For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your [false] prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you; pay no attention and attach no significance to your dreams which you dream or to theirs,9For they prophesy falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10For thus says the Lord, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place.
The children of Israel had been taken captive by Babylon. Life was not "peachy keen" when Jeremiah gave them the word that God had good plans for them. It didn't "feel" like the truth at the moment. It certainly didn't "look" like the truth either. But let's look at what God told them to do while they were waiting for the manifestation of the "good plans".
Be fruitful. Too many of God's children are living for that "when" moment. They say things like "I will be so glad when ______ (you fill in the blank). I will praise the Lord when___________. I will give more time, money, etc when_______." God told them to be fruitful right where they were! Your ability to be fruitful is not contingent on a "when moment"!!!! The time is now! Right where you are!!!
He gave them specific instructions that they "not diminish" in that place. God was telling them (and us) DON'T DIE HERE! If you die in this place...if you quit...if you give up after all that you have gone through...you will MISS OUT ON THE GREATEST THING THAT YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED! *look at yourself in the mirror. Look straight into your eyes and tell yourself..."DON'T DIE HERE!!"
The bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18...that we go from Glory to Glory. It doesn't say that we go from one big mess to a glorious place. I have been often been guilty of wanting God to just snap his fingers and deliver me from the mess that I have found myself in, but the truth of the matter is.....We will never go to the next level of "Glory" that God has for our lives until we MAKE THE CHOICE TO MAKE THE PLACE THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW GLORIOUS!
He also told them to pray for the land that they were being held captive in. Where are you at? Do you pray for the present place that you are employed? Do you pray for the church that you are presently in? Do you pray for the ministry that you are presently serving under? Do you pray for the nation that you live in? We can say all day long that we are not affected by the economy of this nation but the truth of the matter is we are affected by the place that we are in. That is not to say that we will not be an over comer in this place, but God clearly said, "in the welfare of the place that you are in, you will have welfare". Don't expect God to change where you are until you begin to pray for the place that you are in!
The prophets were prophesying (falsely) that the captivity was almost over and their deliverance was about to occur. God instructed Jeremiah to prophesy truth. As a matter of fact, he told him to tell the lying prophets that they were going to die because of the false word they were giving out. SCAREY STUFF! The truth was...the captivity was not going to end for another 70 years! *insert flesh cringing here*
Now I know that we all like to hear those messages that talk about God's deliverance being "in the span of a day" or "from the pit to the palace in a moment's time". I have preached/taught these messages myself. I still stand behind God's ability and willingness for those things to happen but what we must realize is that it took a matter of time for the people to get to the point that they were willing to eat "bird dung and donkey head". Their deliverance took place in a span of a day...but it their captivity lasted much longer than a 24 hr period.
2 Kings 6:25 As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung sold for five pieces of silver.
Joseph indeed went from the pit to the palace in just a moment's time, but it took a long journey to and in the pit before the opportunity arose that he would go into the King's palace.
Now let me make this clear: This is not a gloom and doom message. Let's remember how we started this message. HE IS GOOD AND HIS PLANS FOR YOU ARE GOOD!!! I am NOT saying that God will not perform instantanious miracles. What I am saying is...Don't you DARE give up if he doesn't! Delayedeliverance does NOT mean denied deliverance!!!!!!
To understand why some of us aren't seeing the manifestation of what we are believing for let's look here:
Isaiah 40:31 (Amplified Bible)31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
WHAT????? Did that say what I think it just said???? They that wait upon the Lord shall WHAT????
Yes..that's right...THEY CHANGE!
Why did God say that Israel would remain in captivity for 70 years? 70 is the number of the years of a man's life. The bible promises 70 years, 80 if by reason of strength. The reason that it took 70 years is because it was going to take that long for "man/flesh" to die. You see, in order for the good plans to manifest for you and me that God has for us, then FLESH HAS GOT TO DIE! Change has got to take place inside of us!
The quicker we allow change to manifest in us, the quicker the time of our "release from captivity" can come. I've been so guilty in my life of wanting everyone and everything else to change but me. I was sure that if my husband would just change..if I could just change jobs...if my children would change...if my circumstances would change...that life would be better for me. When the truth of the matter was....the good plans could only manifest when I CHANGED.
Maybe you are thinking.."But Shelby..I HAVE changed." That may be true. I don't doubt it for a minute. I've changed too. But what if there is something more??
2 Kings 13:14-19 (Amplified Bible)
14Now Elisha [previously] had become ill of the illness of which he died. And Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen of it!(A)
15And Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows. And he took bow and arrows.
16And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it, and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.
17And he said, Open the window to the east. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria. For you shall smite the Syrians in Aphek till you have destroyed them.
18Then he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike on the ground. And he struck three times and stopped.
19And the man of God was angry with him and said, You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had destroyed it. But now you shall strike Syria down only three times.
You see..he got in a hurry. He did just enough to "satisfy" the prophets request but did not utterly stay there until the job was complete. Sound familiar?
Too often, we get in a hurry for things to change. We make a few adjustments hoping to win the favor of God and when he sees that we are not going to thoroughly allow him to change us, he allows a certain amount of "change" to happen in our circumstances. However, it won't be long before we find ourselves RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE BEFORE because in our "hurry" to be delivered we didn't allow "patience to have it's perfect work" in us.
*go back to that mirror and say this, "You are not getting out of this until you once and for all, DEAL WITH IT!" * What is "it"? You tell me....
The word that God gave our Pastor at VT for 2010 was this: Your Latter shall be greater than your Former.
Haggai 2:3-9 (Amplified Bible)
3Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is not this in your sight as nothing in comparison to that?
4Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.
5According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the midst of you; fear not.
6For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry] heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;(A)
7And I will shake all nations and the [a]desire and the precious things of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.(B)
8The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.
9The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which Jesus came] shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
Now, when I first heard this word I was so excited! (still am) I expected that God was going to swoop in and miraculously change everything in my life this year to be better than I had ever seen. (and for the most part, so far He HAS!). But it has not been in the way...or as quickly as I had first imagined that it would be.
Let's look at the context of this passage: If you go back to chapter 1 you will find...yes...you guessed it..they had just come out of captivity to Babylon!! There was some building, rebuilding, and WORK that had to be done for this prophesy to be fulfilled. It didn't just "happen".
Verse 3 says..Who remembers what the former house looked like? What do you think now? Isn't this new house so great that it can't even be compared to what you used to have? (my interpretation).
While the children of Israel were in captivity, they learned some things. Not only did they learn some stuff, they acquired some stuff. They built houses, planted vineyards and thrived even in the midst of difficult circumstances. When they were finally released from their captivity they were BETTER than they had ever been...more knowledgeable, more skilled, more determined, stronger, and had more provision than they had before they went in to captivity.
What am I saying? The best YOU that you have ever been is just on the other side of this place!!!!!
When you come out of this place YOU will be changed...therefore your circumstances WILL BE CHANGED! TRULY!!! Your latter SHALL BE greater than your former!
Romans 8:18 (Amplified Bible)18[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and [a]for us and [b]conferred on us!
The suffering that your flesh is having to endure at this moment is not even worthy to be compared to what you are going to be when you come out on the other side of this!! What is the key to your deliverance? YOU CHANGING!!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4:17 (Amplified Bible)17For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],
While we are "waiting on the Lord " for the "good plans that he has for us" we "shall change". How quickly the Lord is able to turn our captivity for us and set us free from this place rests squarely on our shoulders. How long is it going to take us to make the necessary changes and once and for all..DEAL WITH IT??
Now THAT is a change you CAN believe in!!
Let me explain...
God has given us a wonderful promise: Jeremiah 29:11-14 (Amplified Bible)11For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
12Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you.
13Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.(A)
14I will be found by you, says the Lord, and I will release you from captivity and gather you from all the nations and all the places to which I have driven you, says the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I caused you to be carried away captive.
I remember the day that verse 11 of this passage was first introduced into my life. It was on a wonderful fall day in October of 1998. I don't ever remember hearing this scripture before that day but once it was deposited into my spirit it took root and I have never forgotten it. I am not sure if it is simply because I finally recognized this scripture that it feels as if it has become so popular over the last few years but it seems to "pop up" everywhere these days...on t-shirts, mugs, plagues, and in music.
The message is Clear!!! God has great plans for us! He has laid out some things for us that are going to absolutely astound us! He is and has always been "the God of more than enough"- El Shaddai!!!! He always does "abundantly above what we could think or imagine". DREAM BIG and he will PRODUCE BIGGER! Imagine the BEST and He will bring about something BETTER. See your future as being BRIGHT and he will make it BRILLIANT!!!! HE IS GOOD YA'LL!!!!!!! And the plans that he has for you are AWESOME!!!!
I don't care what it feels like right now. I am not moved by what I see right now. I am not even concerned about the impossibilities that man has pronounced over my dreams. This one thing I am confident of: GOD HAS GOT THIS!!!!!
* dramatic pause for the hallelujah dance that I know that you are doing right here*
Until I began preparing for this sermon I didn't really understand the context in which this verse was written.
Jeremiah 29:4-10 (Amplified Bible)
4Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the captives whom I have caused to be carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:
5Build yourselves houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat the fruit of them.
6Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not be diminished.
7And seek (inquire for, require, and request) the peace and welfare of the city to which I have caused you to be carried away captive; and pray to the Lord for it, for in the welfare of [the city in which you live] you will have welfare.8For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Let not your [false] prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you; pay no attention and attach no significance to your dreams which you dream or to theirs,9For they prophesy falsely to you in My name. I have not sent them, says the Lord.
10For thus says the Lord, When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you and keep My good promise to you, causing you to return to this place.
The children of Israel had been taken captive by Babylon. Life was not "peachy keen" when Jeremiah gave them the word that God had good plans for them. It didn't "feel" like the truth at the moment. It certainly didn't "look" like the truth either. But let's look at what God told them to do while they were waiting for the manifestation of the "good plans".
Be fruitful. Too many of God's children are living for that "when" moment. They say things like "I will be so glad when ______ (you fill in the blank). I will praise the Lord when___________. I will give more time, money, etc when_______." God told them to be fruitful right where they were! Your ability to be fruitful is not contingent on a "when moment"!!!! The time is now! Right where you are!!!
He gave them specific instructions that they "not diminish" in that place. God was telling them (and us) DON'T DIE HERE! If you die in this place...if you quit...if you give up after all that you have gone through...you will MISS OUT ON THE GREATEST THING THAT YOU HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED! *look at yourself in the mirror. Look straight into your eyes and tell yourself..."DON'T DIE HERE!!"
The bible says in 2 Corinthians 3:18...that we go from Glory to Glory. It doesn't say that we go from one big mess to a glorious place. I have been often been guilty of wanting God to just snap his fingers and deliver me from the mess that I have found myself in, but the truth of the matter is.....We will never go to the next level of "Glory" that God has for our lives until we MAKE THE CHOICE TO MAKE THE PLACE THAT WE ARE IN RIGHT NOW GLORIOUS!
He also told them to pray for the land that they were being held captive in. Where are you at? Do you pray for the present place that you are employed? Do you pray for the church that you are presently in? Do you pray for the ministry that you are presently serving under? Do you pray for the nation that you live in? We can say all day long that we are not affected by the economy of this nation but the truth of the matter is we are affected by the place that we are in. That is not to say that we will not be an over comer in this place, but God clearly said, "in the welfare of the place that you are in, you will have welfare". Don't expect God to change where you are until you begin to pray for the place that you are in!
The prophets were prophesying (falsely) that the captivity was almost over and their deliverance was about to occur. God instructed Jeremiah to prophesy truth. As a matter of fact, he told him to tell the lying prophets that they were going to die because of the false word they were giving out. SCAREY STUFF! The truth was...the captivity was not going to end for another 70 years! *insert flesh cringing here*
Now I know that we all like to hear those messages that talk about God's deliverance being "in the span of a day" or "from the pit to the palace in a moment's time". I have preached/taught these messages myself. I still stand behind God's ability and willingness for those things to happen but what we must realize is that it took a matter of time for the people to get to the point that they were willing to eat "bird dung and donkey head". Their deliverance took place in a span of a day...but it their captivity lasted much longer than a 24 hr period.
2 Kings 6:25 As a result, there was a great famine in the city. The siege lasted so long that a donkey's head sold for eighty pieces of silver, and a cup of dove's dung sold for five pieces of silver.
Joseph indeed went from the pit to the palace in just a moment's time, but it took a long journey to and in the pit before the opportunity arose that he would go into the King's palace.
Now let me make this clear: This is not a gloom and doom message. Let's remember how we started this message. HE IS GOOD AND HIS PLANS FOR YOU ARE GOOD!!! I am NOT saying that God will not perform instantanious miracles. What I am saying is...Don't you DARE give up if he doesn't! Delayedeliverance does NOT mean denied deliverance!!!!!!
To understand why some of us aren't seeing the manifestation of what we are believing for let's look here:
Isaiah 40:31 (Amplified Bible)31But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up [close to God] as eagles [mount up to the sun]; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired.
WHAT????? Did that say what I think it just said???? They that wait upon the Lord shall WHAT????
Yes..that's right...THEY CHANGE!
Why did God say that Israel would remain in captivity for 70 years? 70 is the number of the years of a man's life. The bible promises 70 years, 80 if by reason of strength. The reason that it took 70 years is because it was going to take that long for "man/flesh" to die. You see, in order for the good plans to manifest for you and me that God has for us, then FLESH HAS GOT TO DIE! Change has got to take place inside of us!
The quicker we allow change to manifest in us, the quicker the time of our "release from captivity" can come. I've been so guilty in my life of wanting everyone and everything else to change but me. I was sure that if my husband would just change..if I could just change jobs...if my children would change...if my circumstances would change...that life would be better for me. When the truth of the matter was....the good plans could only manifest when I CHANGED.
Maybe you are thinking.."But Shelby..I HAVE changed." That may be true. I don't doubt it for a minute. I've changed too. But what if there is something more??
2 Kings 13:14-19 (Amplified Bible)
14Now Elisha [previously] had become ill of the illness of which he died. And Jehoash king of Israel came down to him and wept over him and said, O my father, my father, the chariot of Israel and the horsemen of it!(A)
15And Elisha said to him, Take bow and arrows. And he took bow and arrows.
16And he said to the king of Israel, Put your hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it, and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands.
17And he said, Open the window to the east. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The Lord's arrow of victory, the arrow of victory over Syria. For you shall smite the Syrians in Aphek till you have destroyed them.
18Then he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, Strike on the ground. And he struck three times and stopped.
19And the man of God was angry with him and said, You should have struck five or six times; then you would have struck down Syria until you had destroyed it. But now you shall strike Syria down only three times.
You see..he got in a hurry. He did just enough to "satisfy" the prophets request but did not utterly stay there until the job was complete. Sound familiar?
Too often, we get in a hurry for things to change. We make a few adjustments hoping to win the favor of God and when he sees that we are not going to thoroughly allow him to change us, he allows a certain amount of "change" to happen in our circumstances. However, it won't be long before we find ourselves RIGHT BACK WHERE WE WERE BEFORE because in our "hurry" to be delivered we didn't allow "patience to have it's perfect work" in us.
*go back to that mirror and say this, "You are not getting out of this until you once and for all, DEAL WITH IT!" * What is "it"? You tell me....
The word that God gave our Pastor at VT for 2010 was this: Your Latter shall be greater than your Former.
Haggai 2:3-9 (Amplified Bible)
3Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Is not this in your sight as nothing in comparison to that?
4Yet now be strong, alert, and courageous, O Zerubbabel, says the Lord; be strong, alert, and courageous, O Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, alert, and courageous, all you people of the land, says the Lord, and work! For I am with you, says the Lord of hosts.
5According to the promise that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit stands and abides in the midst of you; fear not.
6For thus says the Lord of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake and make tremble the [starry] heavens, the earth, the sea, and the dry land;(A)
7And I will shake all nations and the [a]desire and the precious things of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with splendor, says the Lord of hosts.(B)
8The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine, says the Lord of hosts.
9The latter glory of this house [with its successor, to which Jesus came] shall be greater than the former, says the Lord of hosts; and in this place will I give peace and prosperity, says the Lord of hosts.
Now, when I first heard this word I was so excited! (still am) I expected that God was going to swoop in and miraculously change everything in my life this year to be better than I had ever seen. (and for the most part, so far He HAS!). But it has not been in the way...or as quickly as I had first imagined that it would be.
Let's look at the context of this passage: If you go back to chapter 1 you will find...yes...you guessed it..they had just come out of captivity to Babylon!! There was some building, rebuilding, and WORK that had to be done for this prophesy to be fulfilled. It didn't just "happen".
Verse 3 says..Who remembers what the former house looked like? What do you think now? Isn't this new house so great that it can't even be compared to what you used to have? (my interpretation).
While the children of Israel were in captivity, they learned some things. Not only did they learn some stuff, they acquired some stuff. They built houses, planted vineyards and thrived even in the midst of difficult circumstances. When they were finally released from their captivity they were BETTER than they had ever been...more knowledgeable, more skilled, more determined, stronger, and had more provision than they had before they went in to captivity.
What am I saying? The best YOU that you have ever been is just on the other side of this place!!!!!
When you come out of this place YOU will be changed...therefore your circumstances WILL BE CHANGED! TRULY!!! Your latter SHALL BE greater than your former!
Romans 8:18 (Amplified Bible)18[But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and [a]for us and [b]conferred on us!
The suffering that your flesh is having to endure at this moment is not even worthy to be compared to what you are going to be when you come out on the other side of this!! What is the key to your deliverance? YOU CHANGING!!!!!!
2 Corinthians 4:17 (Amplified Bible)17For our light, momentary affliction (this slight distress of the passing hour) is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory [beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease!],
While we are "waiting on the Lord " for the "good plans that he has for us" we "shall change". How quickly the Lord is able to turn our captivity for us and set us free from this place rests squarely on our shoulders. How long is it going to take us to make the necessary changes and once and for all..DEAL WITH IT??
Now THAT is a change you CAN believe in!!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Being Authentic in a "Real" world.
Being Authentic in a “Real” world
God began this teaching in much the same way that he has started teachings in the past. He begins by causing a word to jump out at me on a page, in a conversation with a friend, or in a tv program/commercial. Usually when a word begins to jump out at me I begin to think about what that word means. When I can’t get a “settled” feeling about it in my spirit I realize that there must be more to the word than what I have always thought so I turn to my handy dandy dictionary.
The word for today’s teaching is “Authentic”.
I always thought that the word Authentic meant to “be real”. I thought that it meant To be “true to yourself” or To be who you “are” and nothing else. That’s the message that we are surrounded by in the world that we live in today. TOLERANCE has become a major player in our society and the push to “accept everyone” as they are has been driven home in every tv program, commercial, news cast, billboard and magazine. We are taught that “keeping it real” has become the excuse for bad behavior. It puts the blame on the “other foot” so to speak. I am who I am and if you have a problem with it..then you are in the wrong..not me. That’s the world’s thinking…but I can assure you…that’s not God’s thinking.
Here is what the dictionary has to say about it:
Authentic
1) Conforming to an original so as to exactly reproduce essential feature.
2) Worthy of acceptance, trust or belief as a result of being actually and exactly what is claimed.
It can also stress PAINSTAKING or faithful imitation to an original so as to not be differentiated.
It implies actual character in good faith and sincerity .
John 1:1 In the beginning was Word, and the word was with God and the word was God.
You can’t get any more original than that. What I found that God was saying to me was that AUTHENTIC meant to truly become what HE is. I don’t believe that we have to lose parts of our personality. The 1st definition said to “exactly reproduce” essential features. That leaves room for our unique personalities but it does not leave room for excuses for bad behavior.
The 2nd definition tells me that I need to be a trustworthy person. If I bear the name of “CHRISTIAN” then there are certain things that others ought to have a right to expect from me.
*********Let’s keep this balanced***************** I am not saying that you must be perfect in everything that you do. I am saying that you should be perfectly and consistently striving to do better rather than making “keeping it real” an excuse to remain our wrong patterns of believing, being or doing.
Here is what Webster’s had to say about the word REAL. It had the usual definitions that you would expect that were similar to the word Authentic, but there were a few definitions that stood out to me and spoke volumes. I want to point those out to you today.
Real
1)Actual as opposed to possible or potential
The world is teaching us to keep it real…be who we ACTUALLY are. However, that thinking keeps us from seeing what is possible for us to become through Study of God’s word and Prayer. Relationship with Jesus Christ is going to bring about change. That’s just how it is. “Keeping it real” the way that the world wants us to keep it real causes us to fall short of the potential that is on the inside of us to become a new and better “Me”.
2)Pertaining to something fixed, permanent, and immovable.
This definition is most often used in legal documents to describe things like real estate, houses, or other immovable objects. This definition (as it pertains to the Christian) reveals that when we “keep it real” it discourages change. It limits our ability to move forward in the plans that God has for us. We think that “it’s just the way that I am” and we never strive to do better.
I have also found that if I live with that way of thinking, I will begin to surround myself with people who “accept” me as I am rather than “Challenge” me to become a better me. I am not saying that there is not a place for those who know you and love you anyway..but even those people should be the kind of people who inspire us to become a better person.
3)Measured in purchasing power rather than in nominal value.
This definition is most often used when talking about money. A Company’s purchasing power (credit) is considered “real” money rather than the money that they have in their banking account.
When I read this I immediately thought about 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.”
Some Christians have been operating on “Credit” for a while. Credit will get you by for a little while, but as we have seen in America’s economy lately, it will get you in a REAL mess eventually!
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (their way of thinking or being) but be ye transformed by the renewing (changing) of your mind.
Sometimes we can be deceivingly influenced by the world around us without even knowing it. I believe this is especially true today with so much media, technology, etc. More than ever, we need to be sensitive to Holy Spirit and open to changing our thinking about things.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not to one another.
The Greek word for Lie is PSEUDOMAI. It means any falsehood. A Person who projects a false image of himself; someone who deliberately walks in a pretense that is untrue; Someone who intentionally misrepresents facts or truth. This word is generally used to describe a misrepresentation of abilities or character.
The world would tell us, “You know that you can’t be full of faith like so and so. Don’t even try to pretend. Just be yourself.”
God says, “I know that your faith may not be where theirs is right now, but don’t give up. Keep striving to grow in your faith so that you can become what you say that you are”.
See the difference?
We don’t always see what we are doing as lying to one another. Sometimes we pretend to be something that we are not because we want to fit in. Other times we “lie” because we want a promotion, position, recognition, or a reward. And yet other times, we “lie” because we just aren’t disciplined enough to work consistently at becoming what we ought to be.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything--in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us--[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this gracious work also.
Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to grow in their “Authenticity”. He told gave them a plan for growth.
1) Grow in faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
2) Grow in the way that you talk. Make sure that what comes out of your mouth is loving, the word of God, encouraging, the word of God, faithfilled words, the word of God, edifying of others, the word of God!!!
3) Grow in Zeal. That word actually means diligence and consistency. Don’t be up one day and down the next. Make up your mind to be faithful to what God has asked you to do and be.
4) Grow in love. Learn how to truly walk out this love walk. IF there is anything that is needed in this day and time it is Christians that KNOW what love is and how to walk it out.
Being Authentic in a “real” world may take some work initially, but eventually it will come as second nature. The world has a right to expect us to be different. After all, we serve a God who is different and are empowered by a Savior who is different. God hasn’t called us to be something that we cannot be. He is not cruel. HE doesn’t require more than we can fulfill.
The next time that you have a temptation to “keep it real”, just remind yourself what “keeping it real” really means. Remind yourself of the price that Christ paid so that you could be “Authentic” and make the choice to excel and come to the front in all areas.
Surround yourself with people who know who you are…and who don’t judge or condemn you but who inspire you to become a better you. Don’t give up when the enemy tries to tell you that you will never measure up. Stay focused and remember that he lies!
You can do it..I know you can!
God began this teaching in much the same way that he has started teachings in the past. He begins by causing a word to jump out at me on a page, in a conversation with a friend, or in a tv program/commercial. Usually when a word begins to jump out at me I begin to think about what that word means. When I can’t get a “settled” feeling about it in my spirit I realize that there must be more to the word than what I have always thought so I turn to my handy dandy dictionary.
The word for today’s teaching is “Authentic”.
I always thought that the word Authentic meant to “be real”. I thought that it meant To be “true to yourself” or To be who you “are” and nothing else. That’s the message that we are surrounded by in the world that we live in today. TOLERANCE has become a major player in our society and the push to “accept everyone” as they are has been driven home in every tv program, commercial, news cast, billboard and magazine. We are taught that “keeping it real” has become the excuse for bad behavior. It puts the blame on the “other foot” so to speak. I am who I am and if you have a problem with it..then you are in the wrong..not me. That’s the world’s thinking…but I can assure you…that’s not God’s thinking.
Here is what the dictionary has to say about it:
Authentic
1) Conforming to an original so as to exactly reproduce essential feature.
2) Worthy of acceptance, trust or belief as a result of being actually and exactly what is claimed.
It can also stress PAINSTAKING or faithful imitation to an original so as to not be differentiated.
It implies actual character in good faith and sincerity .
John 1:1 In the beginning was Word, and the word was with God and the word was God.
You can’t get any more original than that. What I found that God was saying to me was that AUTHENTIC meant to truly become what HE is. I don’t believe that we have to lose parts of our personality. The 1st definition said to “exactly reproduce” essential features. That leaves room for our unique personalities but it does not leave room for excuses for bad behavior.
The 2nd definition tells me that I need to be a trustworthy person. If I bear the name of “CHRISTIAN” then there are certain things that others ought to have a right to expect from me.
*********Let’s keep this balanced***************** I am not saying that you must be perfect in everything that you do. I am saying that you should be perfectly and consistently striving to do better rather than making “keeping it real” an excuse to remain our wrong patterns of believing, being or doing.
Here is what Webster’s had to say about the word REAL. It had the usual definitions that you would expect that were similar to the word Authentic, but there were a few definitions that stood out to me and spoke volumes. I want to point those out to you today.
Real
1)Actual as opposed to possible or potential
The world is teaching us to keep it real…be who we ACTUALLY are. However, that thinking keeps us from seeing what is possible for us to become through Study of God’s word and Prayer. Relationship with Jesus Christ is going to bring about change. That’s just how it is. “Keeping it real” the way that the world wants us to keep it real causes us to fall short of the potential that is on the inside of us to become a new and better “Me”.
2)Pertaining to something fixed, permanent, and immovable.
This definition is most often used in legal documents to describe things like real estate, houses, or other immovable objects. This definition (as it pertains to the Christian) reveals that when we “keep it real” it discourages change. It limits our ability to move forward in the plans that God has for us. We think that “it’s just the way that I am” and we never strive to do better.
I have also found that if I live with that way of thinking, I will begin to surround myself with people who “accept” me as I am rather than “Challenge” me to become a better me. I am not saying that there is not a place for those who know you and love you anyway..but even those people should be the kind of people who inspire us to become a better person.
3)Measured in purchasing power rather than in nominal value.
This definition is most often used when talking about money. A Company’s purchasing power (credit) is considered “real” money rather than the money that they have in their banking account.
When I read this I immediately thought about 2 Timothy 3:5 “Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof.”
Some Christians have been operating on “Credit” for a while. Credit will get you by for a little while, but as we have seen in America’s economy lately, it will get you in a REAL mess eventually!
Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (their way of thinking or being) but be ye transformed by the renewing (changing) of your mind.
Sometimes we can be deceivingly influenced by the world around us without even knowing it. I believe this is especially true today with so much media, technology, etc. More than ever, we need to be sensitive to Holy Spirit and open to changing our thinking about things.
Colossians 3:9 Lie not to one another.
The Greek word for Lie is PSEUDOMAI. It means any falsehood. A Person who projects a false image of himself; someone who deliberately walks in a pretense that is untrue; Someone who intentionally misrepresents facts or truth. This word is generally used to describe a misrepresentation of abilities or character.
The world would tell us, “You know that you can’t be full of faith like so and so. Don’t even try to pretend. Just be yourself.”
God says, “I know that your faith may not be where theirs is right now, but don’t give up. Keep striving to grow in your faith so that you can become what you say that you are”.
See the difference?
We don’t always see what we are doing as lying to one another. Sometimes we pretend to be something that we are not because we want to fit in. Other times we “lie” because we want a promotion, position, recognition, or a reward. And yet other times, we “lie” because we just aren’t disciplined enough to work consistently at becoming what we ought to be.
2 Corinthians 8:7 Now as you abound and excel and are at the front in everything--in faith, in expressing yourselves, in knowledge, in all zeal, and in your love for us--[see to it that you come to the front now and] abound and excel in this gracious work also.
Paul was encouraging the Corinthian church to grow in their “Authenticity”. He told gave them a plan for growth.
1) Grow in faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
2) Grow in the way that you talk. Make sure that what comes out of your mouth is loving, the word of God, encouraging, the word of God, faithfilled words, the word of God, edifying of others, the word of God!!!
3) Grow in Zeal. That word actually means diligence and consistency. Don’t be up one day and down the next. Make up your mind to be faithful to what God has asked you to do and be.
4) Grow in love. Learn how to truly walk out this love walk. IF there is anything that is needed in this day and time it is Christians that KNOW what love is and how to walk it out.
Being Authentic in a “real” world may take some work initially, but eventually it will come as second nature. The world has a right to expect us to be different. After all, we serve a God who is different and are empowered by a Savior who is different. God hasn’t called us to be something that we cannot be. He is not cruel. HE doesn’t require more than we can fulfill.
The next time that you have a temptation to “keep it real”, just remind yourself what “keeping it real” really means. Remind yourself of the price that Christ paid so that you could be “Authentic” and make the choice to excel and come to the front in all areas.
Surround yourself with people who know who you are…and who don’t judge or condemn you but who inspire you to become a better you. Don’t give up when the enemy tries to tell you that you will never measure up. Stay focused and remember that he lies!
You can do it..I know you can!
Sunday, September 13, 2009
It's time to GIVE not time to GET!
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work" --2 Corinthians 9:8
There is no more important time to line up with God's financial system than now. In this time of financial crisis, many are in fear. They are concerned about how the struggling U.S. economy is affecting them. The thing about fear, though, is that it is selfish. It only thinks about me and mine. It keeps us focused on our needs instead of focusing on what others need. It can consume us to the point that we are dull to hearing what God wants us to do.
Fear is the opposite of faith, and it is motivated by selfishness which is the opposite of love. Yet, God's Word teaches us that we receive from him by faith and that our faith WORKS BY LOVE. I heard Creflo Dollar say recently that without Faith it is impossible to please God but without fear it is impossible to please Satan. Blessings cannot manifest in our life without FAITH and Curses cannot manifest in our lives without FEAR. IF you are not in fear in a situation then Satan has no legal right to operate!
God's financial system works for you when you focus on the needs of others rather than your own. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to 'seek first the kingdom of God' and then 'all these things will be added to you.' Philippians 4:19 has a promise from God to meet all of our needs regardless of what's going on in the economy.
God's ultimate goal for your financial life isn't that you just receive abundantly but that you give abundantly. God's plan for your life is that you be a generous giver-- someone who is so abundantly blessed that you are able to give abundantly for God's purposes. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that it is better to give than to receive.
God wants you going through life experiencing the superior joy that comes from giving and that is one of the reasons why He wants to get abundance to you. I know of no greater joy that I have found in life than when God speaks, and I obey and watch as God meets a need through me. Even more importantly, He's thinking of those who are without in this life, especially those without Him, who will benefit from your generosity.
God understands that for you to be able to give abundantly, you must receive abundantly. You must Get it to Give it! One of my desires is to get to a place financially where I can GIVE $1 million a year for God's purposes. My goal is to give abundantly, not just receive abundantly for my purposes. And when (not if) the time comes that I am receiving from Him on that level, it will be vitally important that I remember the purpose for it coming into my life.
Whatever God has given you, some of it is in your hands simply for you to give to His purposes. Remembering the purpose for the money God has given you is an important step in lining up with God's system. It's when God knows that you truly understand this principle that He will trust you with more.
In this time of recession stop focusing on your financial needs and look around for someone that you can help with whatever God has placed in your hands now. Doing just that will position you to GET even more so you can GIVE more in the days to come!
There is no more important time to line up with God's financial system than now. In this time of financial crisis, many are in fear. They are concerned about how the struggling U.S. economy is affecting them. The thing about fear, though, is that it is selfish. It only thinks about me and mine. It keeps us focused on our needs instead of focusing on what others need. It can consume us to the point that we are dull to hearing what God wants us to do.
Fear is the opposite of faith, and it is motivated by selfishness which is the opposite of love. Yet, God's Word teaches us that we receive from him by faith and that our faith WORKS BY LOVE. I heard Creflo Dollar say recently that without Faith it is impossible to please God but without fear it is impossible to please Satan. Blessings cannot manifest in our life without FAITH and Curses cannot manifest in our lives without FEAR. IF you are not in fear in a situation then Satan has no legal right to operate!
God's financial system works for you when you focus on the needs of others rather than your own. Matthew 6:33 teaches us to 'seek first the kingdom of God' and then 'all these things will be added to you.' Philippians 4:19 has a promise from God to meet all of our needs regardless of what's going on in the economy.
God's ultimate goal for your financial life isn't that you just receive abundantly but that you give abundantly. God's plan for your life is that you be a generous giver-- someone who is so abundantly blessed that you are able to give abundantly for God's purposes. Jesus said in Acts 20:35 that it is better to give than to receive.
God wants you going through life experiencing the superior joy that comes from giving and that is one of the reasons why He wants to get abundance to you. I know of no greater joy that I have found in life than when God speaks, and I obey and watch as God meets a need through me. Even more importantly, He's thinking of those who are without in this life, especially those without Him, who will benefit from your generosity.
God understands that for you to be able to give abundantly, you must receive abundantly. You must Get it to Give it! One of my desires is to get to a place financially where I can GIVE $1 million a year for God's purposes. My goal is to give abundantly, not just receive abundantly for my purposes. And when (not if) the time comes that I am receiving from Him on that level, it will be vitally important that I remember the purpose for it coming into my life.
Whatever God has given you, some of it is in your hands simply for you to give to His purposes. Remembering the purpose for the money God has given you is an important step in lining up with God's system. It's when God knows that you truly understand this principle that He will trust you with more.
In this time of recession stop focusing on your financial needs and look around for someone that you can help with whatever God has placed in your hands now. Doing just that will position you to GET even more so you can GIVE more in the days to come!
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