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!
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
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!
How to Prosper in Famine
How to Prosper in Famine
Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sewed in the land in the year of famine and in the same year he received 100 fold. And the Lord favored him with blessings.
This scripture has been my hope as my husband and I have walked in financial opportunity in the past year. I call it opportunity because the definition of opportunity is: A reasonable time for advancement. God told me several years ago to quit looking at my obstacles as stumbling blocks or road blocks and see them as a time for me to advance in my faith, my character, my integrity, and my joy!
One of the ways that I advance in the opportunity situation is through diving deeply into God’s Word and finding out what He has to say about my situation. As I said, Genesis 26:12 has been a lifeline to me. As I have heard this scripture quoted by many Christians, and Ministers in the past few months I have had a nagging question within my spirit: “What did Isaac do in order to prosper?” You see that 4 letter word at the beginning of that verse kept leaping out to me. THEN! “Then” Isaac sewed and he prospered. That word, then, tells me that something happened and THEN the prosperity came.
And so, I went to the Word to find out exactly what happened and I saw that there were 7 things that had to take place in order for Prosperity/Victory to come.
Genesis 26: 1 And there was a famine in the land, other than the former famine that was in the land in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimilech king of the Philistines. V2 And the Lord came to Isaac and said, Do not go down into Egypt. Live in the land of which I will tell you. V3 Dwell temporarily in this land and I will be with you and favor you with blessings. For to you and to your children I will give this land and I will perform he promise that I promised to your father Abraham.
1) In order to prosper, we have to have “ears to hear”.
Notice that there was a famine in the land in the days of Isaac’s father, Abraham. But God specifically pointed out that this was a different famine. Why? Because he wanted us to see that the season that we are in is different than any season that has come before us. We can’t be dependent on doing things the same way that those that came before us did it. Don’t get me wrong, there is so much that we can learn from elders, history, etc. But I believe that too many are going around in circles, facing the same opportunities over and over simply because they keep doing the same thing over and over.
God specifically spoke to Isaac’s situation. There are many of God’s children that are in the Valley of Decision in their lives right now. In order to know which way to turn and what direction to go in, it is IMPERATIVE that we have a specific word from God about what and where.
One of the things that I learned in my study is that during this time, Egypt had a very sophisticated water system. It probably appeared to be the ONLY place in the world at that time that was not being devastated by the famine. However this was NOT the place that God wanted Isaac to be.
In some of our lives there are probably things that look to our eyes to be the ANSWER to our dilemma. Perhaps that other job, that new home, that new friend, that “get rich quick scheme” looks as if it is just the answer that we have been looking for. BUT God wants us to know that there is a specific answer to our problem and it may not look to us to be the answer at all.
I am sure that as Isaac surveyed the land of Gerar he saw the tumbleweeds blowing across the dry land and the brown bushes that had withered from lack of rain. I am sure that the dusty stony ground did not look to be a land that would yield 100 fold crops for him and help him to increase in numbers in his cattle and goats. However, he had a SPECIFIC word from God and he obeyed it. Perhaps you’ve got your eyes on what looks to be the answer for your opportunity. Just remember that the blessing may be on the land that looks as if it could produce nothing for you. The blessing may be upon that person that looks as if there nothing that they could do for you.
2) We have to remember who we are.
v. 3-4. For to you and to your children I will give this land and I will perform he promise that I promised to your father Abraham. V4. And I will make your descendants to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give you the posterity of all these kingdoms. And by your offspring shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed.
God was reminding Isaac that he was the son of Promise. He reminded Isaac that there was a promise guiding his life. When we find ourselves facing a famine in the land (in whatever area) we must remind ourselves WHO WE ARE and that there are promises that are guiding our lives. The enemy would love to speak words of defeat reminding us of every past mistake, flaw, or failure but when we REMEMBER WHO WE ARE, those weapons cannot prosper!
There have been days that I have literally had to stand in front of my bathroom mirror, look myself in the eyes and remind myself who I am. I have had to say “Shelby, You are the daughter of the most high. You have been called to the Kingdom for such a time as this. You have been brought with a price and your price is far above rubies. You are of great value to God because you are a joint heir with Jesus. Your latter days shall be greater than your former days and no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper because you are a child of God and this is your inheritance.”
My circumstance didn’t change right away when I said those things to myself, but my OUTLOOK on them did!
3) DEAL WITH IT!
Have you ever been watching a TV program when suddenly there was a beep beep beep beep and then something flashes across the screen saying “Breaking News”? That’s how I feel about what happens in verse 7. It seems that out of nowhere there is this break in what is being said and a story is injected that makes absolutely no sense at all.
V7 And the men of that place asked him about his wife and he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, She is my wife, lest said he, they should kill me and take Rebekah, for she was fair to look at. V8 And it came to pass, that when he had been there A LONG TIME, that Abimilech the king looked out of a window and saw him caressing his wife. V9 And Abimilech called Isaac and said; Surely she is your wife. How is it that you have lied and told me that she is your sister? And Isaac said to him, because I was afraid that I would die because of her.
Isaac had just received a word from God about his opportunity. God had just assured him that he was about to bless him in this land and he reminded him of who he was. Right behind that great revelation, Isaac allowed fear to show up and he stepped over into the flesh and lied.
Why would God put this story in the middle of this chapter? I believe that he wants us to see that if we plan to prosper in the land of famine that we are going to have to deal with some character flaws. The bible specifically says in v8 that Isaac had been there A LONG TIME before Abimilech discovered his lie. I believe that God is saying to us..There are some things that we have allowed to go on for a long time. There are some things that we have not wanted to make right, not taken the steps necessary to correct..Old habits, old actions, old thoughts, past wrongs..that we have not wanted to confront. But God is saying…If you plan to prosper in this land...you must first deal with THAT THING.
This had been a problem for Isaac’s father Abraham as well. He also had lied about Sarah being his wife out of fear that he would be killed. Some of the things that are showing up in our lives are things that have been passed down to us by our parents or grandparents. We may think to ourselves, “This is just how the people in my family act or think, etc. My mama was like this and so I am like this too”. That may be so…but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Some of us have people in our lives that we know that God has said we need to part from. If the people that are surrounding you are not inspiring or helping you to go toward what God has promised you then they are holding you back! I don’t mean that you must be mean or ugly but slowly and silently you can slip out of the grip that this relationship has on your life. I am not advocating leaving a spouse. Most of you know how I feel about that. BUT there are other non covenant relationships that need to be dissolved before you can move toward prosperity.
Some people are only supposed to be seasonal in our lives. Sometimes we try to hold onto relationships that God only intended to last for a short season. I learned a long time ago to stop getting my feelings hurt when seasonal people walk out of my life. I realize that they were in my life for a purpose for a little while but they were not going where God wanted me to go and so a parting of the ways was necessary. Most of the time, in cases likes that, I can’t really even look back and tell you when it happened. There was no big fight or disagreement. It was as if we were spending time together or talking on the phone together one day…and the next they were just gone.
If we are willing to face up to our issues and deal with them we can then prosper in the land of famine. One of my favorite sayings is “You cannot conquer what you do not confront”. And if we are willing to release the people that are not suppose to be in our lives, then we will be amazed how quickly we will advance toward what we are hoping for.
4) Act on the promise—even when it looks crazy.
V12-13 THEN Isaac sowed in the land and in that same year reaped a hundredfold harvest and the Lord favored him with blessings. V13 And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and the Philistines envied him.
As I said earlier, I am sure that Gerar did not look like prime land for sewing seed. I am sure that many of the farmers were standing around asking “What are you sewing those seed now for? Haven’t you seen our fields and how barren they are? Did you hear about farmer Brown and how he lost everything because of this crop? What makes you think that you will be any different?”
Sometimes we have to use what I call “Crazy Faith”. When we have promise from God about an opportunity the next thing that we need to do is to act on that faith. Even in the face of impossibilities we must move toward what God has told us is going to come to pass. We can’t listen to what “they “say. Who are they and what do THEY know anyway???
Notice that Isaac didn’t only reap once. The bible says that he became great...more and more. Meaning that the increase in his life was a continual process.
5) The enemy may try to stop our source of provision but we must remember that GOD IS IN CONTROL!
V15 Now all the wells that Isaac’s father Abraham had dug had been filled up with dirt by the Philistines. V17 So Isaac went away from there and pitched his tent in the valley and dwelt there.
Those wells that were dug by his father were supposed to belong to Isaac. They were his inheritance. They were going to be the source for the water supply for his animals, his crops, and his family but the enemy filled them with dirt and covered them up.
Perhaps the enemy has seemingly stopped up something that you thought was going to be your source. Maybe that job that you thought was going to finally bring you success was cut. Perhaps that bonus that you were depending on isn’t coming through anymore. Maybe there was a person that you thought was going to be your ticket to the good life. Maybe even the spouse that you thought was finally going to make you feel special and loved and wanted for the first time in your life has walked away from you or is not showing you the affection that you so desperately long for.
Take heart! GOD IS YOUR SOURCE!!!!
Isaac didn’t get mad and pitch a fit. He didn’t stomp his feet and demand what was rightfully his...NO...he simply moved on. WHY? Because he finally knew that God was his source. He finally realized that there would be other wells to dig and that somehow God would provide everything that he had need of.
6) The enemy can’t take what you freely give away.
V19 Now Isaacs servants dug wells in the valley and found that there were springs beneath them. V20 The herdsman of Gerar argued with Isaacs servants saying This water is ours. V21 Then his servants dug another well and they argued over that one also.
When God began to show me this revelation it was not the easiest thing to walk out. At the beginning of this financial opportunity that Lester and I have been experiencing, we had a tractor that we were able to pay off. We had carried insurance through the lender for this tractor so when the last payment was made, the insurance expired. There was no grace period on the tractor. Two weeks after the final payment was made, someone stole our tractor from a job site. I WAS HOT! My husband was mad too. He struggled with that thing for several days. I was praying a puking spirit and boils on their backside. (It makes me giggle to read this now, but at the time I was mad!) There are three things that I detest in this life: 1) A liar 2) a manipulator 3) a thief.
God began to deal with my husband to release this tractor and to choose to look at it as sowing the tractor to someone. He told Lester to “give the tractor away”. This took some work on our part to be able to see this opportunity in that way but I truly believe that it was a part of the reason that we have been able to stand and keep our business afloat when so many others are going under.
Perhaps the enemy has stolen some things from you. I am not advising you to lay down and let the enemy run over you and take all that you have. But I do know that living in hurt, anger, or disillusionment over that thing will hinder your faith from being able to move you forward toward prosperity. It will rob your focus and keep your mind from being able to focus on where you are going and how to get there. It is a distraction. IF you can release that thing and see it as a seed sewn rather than a thing stolen…perhaps prosperity will manifest.
Perhaps someone has robbed you of your dignity. Perhaps someone has misused your friendship and robbed you of trust. Whatever that thing is that was stolen…choose to release it as a seed…and it won’t be a “stolen” thing any longer.
7) Keep on digging until you find a place big enough for you.
V22 And he moved away from there and dug other wells. This time they did not argue with him. He named the well Rehoboth because he said, “Finally the Lord has given us a place big enough for us”.
Maybe the reason that some of us have had our “wells stolen” is because they were not big enough for us to begin with. We have to learn to realize that if we have lost anything…perhaps it is because God has something BETTER for us. I have seen this so many times in my life. I have decided that if the door closes in any area of my life it is because I there is a better prize behind door #2. Remember that old game show that had prizes behind 3 doors and you had to figure out which door to choose? Yep...that’s how I see it. If they take this well from me…then I choose to look for a better well next time. If my car breaks down and can’t be fixed, then I will get a bigger, nicer, and more comfortable car next time...without the payments!
As you can see...prospering a hundredfold in the land of famine doesn’t just happen because we say it’s going to happen. It doesn’t even happen simply because we believe it is going to happen. There are some things that WE MUST do and THEN we can reap the hundredfold harvest that has been promised.
What do you think? Got some work to do? So do I. James said, Faith without works is dead faith. Let’s be DOERS of the Word and not hearers only.
We’ve got a promise!
We can and we will prosper in the land of famine!!!!
Genesis 26:12 Then Isaac sewed in the land in the year of famine and in the same year he received 100 fold. And the Lord favored him with blessings.
This scripture has been my hope as my husband and I have walked in financial opportunity in the past year. I call it opportunity because the definition of opportunity is: A reasonable time for advancement. God told me several years ago to quit looking at my obstacles as stumbling blocks or road blocks and see them as a time for me to advance in my faith, my character, my integrity, and my joy!
One of the ways that I advance in the opportunity situation is through diving deeply into God’s Word and finding out what He has to say about my situation. As I said, Genesis 26:12 has been a lifeline to me. As I have heard this scripture quoted by many Christians, and Ministers in the past few months I have had a nagging question within my spirit: “What did Isaac do in order to prosper?” You see that 4 letter word at the beginning of that verse kept leaping out to me. THEN! “Then” Isaac sewed and he prospered. That word, then, tells me that something happened and THEN the prosperity came.
And so, I went to the Word to find out exactly what happened and I saw that there were 7 things that had to take place in order for Prosperity/Victory to come.
Genesis 26: 1 And there was a famine in the land, other than the former famine that was in the land in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar, to Abimilech king of the Philistines. V2 And the Lord came to Isaac and said, Do not go down into Egypt. Live in the land of which I will tell you. V3 Dwell temporarily in this land and I will be with you and favor you with blessings. For to you and to your children I will give this land and I will perform he promise that I promised to your father Abraham.
1) In order to prosper, we have to have “ears to hear”.
Notice that there was a famine in the land in the days of Isaac’s father, Abraham. But God specifically pointed out that this was a different famine. Why? Because he wanted us to see that the season that we are in is different than any season that has come before us. We can’t be dependent on doing things the same way that those that came before us did it. Don’t get me wrong, there is so much that we can learn from elders, history, etc. But I believe that too many are going around in circles, facing the same opportunities over and over simply because they keep doing the same thing over and over.
God specifically spoke to Isaac’s situation. There are many of God’s children that are in the Valley of Decision in their lives right now. In order to know which way to turn and what direction to go in, it is IMPERATIVE that we have a specific word from God about what and where.
One of the things that I learned in my study is that during this time, Egypt had a very sophisticated water system. It probably appeared to be the ONLY place in the world at that time that was not being devastated by the famine. However this was NOT the place that God wanted Isaac to be.
In some of our lives there are probably things that look to our eyes to be the ANSWER to our dilemma. Perhaps that other job, that new home, that new friend, that “get rich quick scheme” looks as if it is just the answer that we have been looking for. BUT God wants us to know that there is a specific answer to our problem and it may not look to us to be the answer at all.
I am sure that as Isaac surveyed the land of Gerar he saw the tumbleweeds blowing across the dry land and the brown bushes that had withered from lack of rain. I am sure that the dusty stony ground did not look to be a land that would yield 100 fold crops for him and help him to increase in numbers in his cattle and goats. However, he had a SPECIFIC word from God and he obeyed it. Perhaps you’ve got your eyes on what looks to be the answer for your opportunity. Just remember that the blessing may be on the land that looks as if it could produce nothing for you. The blessing may be upon that person that looks as if there nothing that they could do for you.
2) We have to remember who we are.
v. 3-4. For to you and to your children I will give this land and I will perform he promise that I promised to your father Abraham. V4. And I will make your descendants to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give you the posterity of all these kingdoms. And by your offspring shall all of the nations of the earth be blessed.
God was reminding Isaac that he was the son of Promise. He reminded Isaac that there was a promise guiding his life. When we find ourselves facing a famine in the land (in whatever area) we must remind ourselves WHO WE ARE and that there are promises that are guiding our lives. The enemy would love to speak words of defeat reminding us of every past mistake, flaw, or failure but when we REMEMBER WHO WE ARE, those weapons cannot prosper!
There have been days that I have literally had to stand in front of my bathroom mirror, look myself in the eyes and remind myself who I am. I have had to say “Shelby, You are the daughter of the most high. You have been called to the Kingdom for such a time as this. You have been brought with a price and your price is far above rubies. You are of great value to God because you are a joint heir with Jesus. Your latter days shall be greater than your former days and no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper because you are a child of God and this is your inheritance.”
My circumstance didn’t change right away when I said those things to myself, but my OUTLOOK on them did!
3) DEAL WITH IT!
Have you ever been watching a TV program when suddenly there was a beep beep beep beep and then something flashes across the screen saying “Breaking News”? That’s how I feel about what happens in verse 7. It seems that out of nowhere there is this break in what is being said and a story is injected that makes absolutely no sense at all.
V7 And the men of that place asked him about his wife and he said, She is my sister. For he feared to say, She is my wife, lest said he, they should kill me and take Rebekah, for she was fair to look at. V8 And it came to pass, that when he had been there A LONG TIME, that Abimilech the king looked out of a window and saw him caressing his wife. V9 And Abimilech called Isaac and said; Surely she is your wife. How is it that you have lied and told me that she is your sister? And Isaac said to him, because I was afraid that I would die because of her.
Isaac had just received a word from God about his opportunity. God had just assured him that he was about to bless him in this land and he reminded him of who he was. Right behind that great revelation, Isaac allowed fear to show up and he stepped over into the flesh and lied.
Why would God put this story in the middle of this chapter? I believe that he wants us to see that if we plan to prosper in the land of famine that we are going to have to deal with some character flaws. The bible specifically says in v8 that Isaac had been there A LONG TIME before Abimilech discovered his lie. I believe that God is saying to us..There are some things that we have allowed to go on for a long time. There are some things that we have not wanted to make right, not taken the steps necessary to correct..Old habits, old actions, old thoughts, past wrongs..that we have not wanted to confront. But God is saying…If you plan to prosper in this land...you must first deal with THAT THING.
This had been a problem for Isaac’s father Abraham as well. He also had lied about Sarah being his wife out of fear that he would be killed. Some of the things that are showing up in our lives are things that have been passed down to us by our parents or grandparents. We may think to ourselves, “This is just how the people in my family act or think, etc. My mama was like this and so I am like this too”. That may be so…but it doesn’t have to stay that way.
Some of us have people in our lives that we know that God has said we need to part from. If the people that are surrounding you are not inspiring or helping you to go toward what God has promised you then they are holding you back! I don’t mean that you must be mean or ugly but slowly and silently you can slip out of the grip that this relationship has on your life. I am not advocating leaving a spouse. Most of you know how I feel about that. BUT there are other non covenant relationships that need to be dissolved before you can move toward prosperity.
Some people are only supposed to be seasonal in our lives. Sometimes we try to hold onto relationships that God only intended to last for a short season. I learned a long time ago to stop getting my feelings hurt when seasonal people walk out of my life. I realize that they were in my life for a purpose for a little while but they were not going where God wanted me to go and so a parting of the ways was necessary. Most of the time, in cases likes that, I can’t really even look back and tell you when it happened. There was no big fight or disagreement. It was as if we were spending time together or talking on the phone together one day…and the next they were just gone.
If we are willing to face up to our issues and deal with them we can then prosper in the land of famine. One of my favorite sayings is “You cannot conquer what you do not confront”. And if we are willing to release the people that are not suppose to be in our lives, then we will be amazed how quickly we will advance toward what we are hoping for.
4) Act on the promise—even when it looks crazy.
V12-13 THEN Isaac sowed in the land and in that same year reaped a hundredfold harvest and the Lord favored him with blessings. V13 And the man became great and gained more and more until he became very wealthy and the Philistines envied him.
As I said earlier, I am sure that Gerar did not look like prime land for sewing seed. I am sure that many of the farmers were standing around asking “What are you sewing those seed now for? Haven’t you seen our fields and how barren they are? Did you hear about farmer Brown and how he lost everything because of this crop? What makes you think that you will be any different?”
Sometimes we have to use what I call “Crazy Faith”. When we have promise from God about an opportunity the next thing that we need to do is to act on that faith. Even in the face of impossibilities we must move toward what God has told us is going to come to pass. We can’t listen to what “they “say. Who are they and what do THEY know anyway???
Notice that Isaac didn’t only reap once. The bible says that he became great...more and more. Meaning that the increase in his life was a continual process.
5) The enemy may try to stop our source of provision but we must remember that GOD IS IN CONTROL!
V15 Now all the wells that Isaac’s father Abraham had dug had been filled up with dirt by the Philistines. V17 So Isaac went away from there and pitched his tent in the valley and dwelt there.
Those wells that were dug by his father were supposed to belong to Isaac. They were his inheritance. They were going to be the source for the water supply for his animals, his crops, and his family but the enemy filled them with dirt and covered them up.
Perhaps the enemy has seemingly stopped up something that you thought was going to be your source. Maybe that job that you thought was going to finally bring you success was cut. Perhaps that bonus that you were depending on isn’t coming through anymore. Maybe there was a person that you thought was going to be your ticket to the good life. Maybe even the spouse that you thought was finally going to make you feel special and loved and wanted for the first time in your life has walked away from you or is not showing you the affection that you so desperately long for.
Take heart! GOD IS YOUR SOURCE!!!!
Isaac didn’t get mad and pitch a fit. He didn’t stomp his feet and demand what was rightfully his...NO...he simply moved on. WHY? Because he finally knew that God was his source. He finally realized that there would be other wells to dig and that somehow God would provide everything that he had need of.
6) The enemy can’t take what you freely give away.
V19 Now Isaacs servants dug wells in the valley and found that there were springs beneath them. V20 The herdsman of Gerar argued with Isaacs servants saying This water is ours. V21 Then his servants dug another well and they argued over that one also.
When God began to show me this revelation it was not the easiest thing to walk out. At the beginning of this financial opportunity that Lester and I have been experiencing, we had a tractor that we were able to pay off. We had carried insurance through the lender for this tractor so when the last payment was made, the insurance expired. There was no grace period on the tractor. Two weeks after the final payment was made, someone stole our tractor from a job site. I WAS HOT! My husband was mad too. He struggled with that thing for several days. I was praying a puking spirit and boils on their backside. (It makes me giggle to read this now, but at the time I was mad!) There are three things that I detest in this life: 1) A liar 2) a manipulator 3) a thief.
God began to deal with my husband to release this tractor and to choose to look at it as sowing the tractor to someone. He told Lester to “give the tractor away”. This took some work on our part to be able to see this opportunity in that way but I truly believe that it was a part of the reason that we have been able to stand and keep our business afloat when so many others are going under.
Perhaps the enemy has stolen some things from you. I am not advising you to lay down and let the enemy run over you and take all that you have. But I do know that living in hurt, anger, or disillusionment over that thing will hinder your faith from being able to move you forward toward prosperity. It will rob your focus and keep your mind from being able to focus on where you are going and how to get there. It is a distraction. IF you can release that thing and see it as a seed sewn rather than a thing stolen…perhaps prosperity will manifest.
Perhaps someone has robbed you of your dignity. Perhaps someone has misused your friendship and robbed you of trust. Whatever that thing is that was stolen…choose to release it as a seed…and it won’t be a “stolen” thing any longer.
7) Keep on digging until you find a place big enough for you.
V22 And he moved away from there and dug other wells. This time they did not argue with him. He named the well Rehoboth because he said, “Finally the Lord has given us a place big enough for us”.
Maybe the reason that some of us have had our “wells stolen” is because they were not big enough for us to begin with. We have to learn to realize that if we have lost anything…perhaps it is because God has something BETTER for us. I have seen this so many times in my life. I have decided that if the door closes in any area of my life it is because I there is a better prize behind door #2. Remember that old game show that had prizes behind 3 doors and you had to figure out which door to choose? Yep...that’s how I see it. If they take this well from me…then I choose to look for a better well next time. If my car breaks down and can’t be fixed, then I will get a bigger, nicer, and more comfortable car next time...without the payments!
As you can see...prospering a hundredfold in the land of famine doesn’t just happen because we say it’s going to happen. It doesn’t even happen simply because we believe it is going to happen. There are some things that WE MUST do and THEN we can reap the hundredfold harvest that has been promised.
What do you think? Got some work to do? So do I. James said, Faith without works is dead faith. Let’s be DOERS of the Word and not hearers only.
We’ve got a promise!
We can and we will prosper in the land of famine!!!!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Vexation of Soul
I know, I know..such a deep subject for such an early morning post..but I couldn't sleep last night for thinking about it. As is my usual routine when I can't sleep, I began to pray for many of my friends and family that I know have requests that need to come before the throne. In the midst of praying however, I kept being taken back in my memory to a dark season in my life. I was reminded of a 3 day period in 1994 when I locked myself away.
I was going through a terribly painful divorce at that time and so I took my baby girl to my Mom's house and then locked all of the doors to my house and turned off every light. For 3 days I sat in that dark house. The only sounds were of either my crying or the radio that I had set to play a local country station. As I sat there, every song seemed to be speaking specifically about my situation. As the day turned into night I began to contemplate various ways to end my life. Ironically, the one thing that kept me from following through with it was the fear that I would not succeed. Crazy huh?
By the 3rd day I had been in so much torment by my imaginations of what "he was doing", "how great his life was now", "how lonely I was going to be" and "how I would never get over this" until I had decided that death was the only relief from all that I was feeling both inside and outside. Just before I was going to follow through with my plans I decided to pick up my bible, read it, and then say a prayer before I did what I felt I had to do. As God would have it, I turned to 2 Corinthians 10:5. It told me to take every thought captive and to cast down imaginations and everything that exalted itself against the knowledge of Christ.
I sat in tears that God would speak so specifically to me. It was then that I heard a knock at the door. It was late in the night and I was surprised that anyone would be out this late. As I opened the door I saw a beautiful lady-my Aunt Wannie-(who has since gone on to be with Jesus) standing with her bible in hand. She sat with me for hours going over and over the promises of God and encouraging me to hold on. She began to tell me that God had a plan for my life and that she was there to make sure that I knew that.
Some of you may be saying..Okay so where are you going with this Shelby?" Hang on..I'm getting to it..
Last night as I was laying in bed, it was the music playing on the radio during that 3 day period that I kept focusing on. God began to show me how that music played a role in all that I was imagining and feeling during those 3 days. That "tear in my beer" music was actually contributing to my pain, not helping it. Even the songs that talked about love and possibilities were painful because they are not realistic but are full of fantasy that can not be achieved.
2 Peter 2:8 says that Lot "vexed his righteous soul by what he saw and heard around him". You see in the book of Genesis we are told that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom and Gemorrah. He didn't start out living there. He simply had the front door of his home toward that city. So each day and each night he saw and heard what was going on in that sinful city and before long, he was living there.
Notice that the bible didn't say that he had a sinful soul. No, it says his "righteous" soul.
This made me realize that even as a Christian, I am not immune to the affects of the things that I allow myself to see and hear. If I am going to be able to maintain a strong relationship with Christ then I must Hear and See the things that will make that possible.
Likewise, if I am going to stand in faith believing God for the impossible to become possible in my life then I must Hear and See things that will make that possible as well!
I have to "guard my heart with all diligence" from anything that is contrary to the Word of God. That may even include some "Christian" music or nay saying Christians.
I don't have to be ugly about it...but when doubting Christians begin to speak things that are contrary to God's word I can simply excuse myself from their presence.
I have been surprised by some of the things that we sing in our music that is contrary to the Word of God. Some gospel music is more depressing than a country song!!!! No wonder we struggle to know God's will or believe him for the impossible!
Recently I heard a song (I don't the artist because I turned the radio before finding that part out) that said "He never promised the cross would not be heavy". WRONG!!!
Matthew 11:30 Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT!
It went on to say "He never promised that the hill would not be hard to climb". WRONG!!
Mark 11:23 says that we are to speak to the mountain and command it to be removed, NOT CLIMB it!
I know what the writer "intended" to say with this song...and it does seem innocent enough...but it is not biblically sound.
I could go on and on...and we sing these in church thinking that we are worshipping and glorifying God! Lord, help us! I am thankful that the Worship leader at our church is sensitive to these things and quite frequently changes verses in songs to fit what the Word says.
While some of this "inspirational" music sounds good and even "feels" good it is completely unbiblical. It deceivingly "vexes our soul" so that we can not believe for what we are asking God for. It leads us to vain imaginations that "exalt themselves against the knowledge of God". It causes us to "settle" for less than God's best and confirms our sitations rather than inspire us to come up out of them! What good does singing about our "valleys and trials" do but to justify where we are and make us feel better about staying there?
As children of God, we MUST understand what the WORD says so that we can recognize these Vexing things. If we have an understanding of what the Word of God says then our Spirit will instantly recognize the Vexing words and sights and warn us to get away from them!
So, today I am challenged. I need more understanding of the Word of God so that I can become more sensitive to the things that are vexing my soul around me. I need to recognize that these things are not "innocent" but are contributing to my inability to see God's promises working in my life.
Open the eyes of my heart Lord!
I was going through a terribly painful divorce at that time and so I took my baby girl to my Mom's house and then locked all of the doors to my house and turned off every light. For 3 days I sat in that dark house. The only sounds were of either my crying or the radio that I had set to play a local country station. As I sat there, every song seemed to be speaking specifically about my situation. As the day turned into night I began to contemplate various ways to end my life. Ironically, the one thing that kept me from following through with it was the fear that I would not succeed. Crazy huh?
By the 3rd day I had been in so much torment by my imaginations of what "he was doing", "how great his life was now", "how lonely I was going to be" and "how I would never get over this" until I had decided that death was the only relief from all that I was feeling both inside and outside. Just before I was going to follow through with my plans I decided to pick up my bible, read it, and then say a prayer before I did what I felt I had to do. As God would have it, I turned to 2 Corinthians 10:5. It told me to take every thought captive and to cast down imaginations and everything that exalted itself against the knowledge of Christ.
I sat in tears that God would speak so specifically to me. It was then that I heard a knock at the door. It was late in the night and I was surprised that anyone would be out this late. As I opened the door I saw a beautiful lady-my Aunt Wannie-(who has since gone on to be with Jesus) standing with her bible in hand. She sat with me for hours going over and over the promises of God and encouraging me to hold on. She began to tell me that God had a plan for my life and that she was there to make sure that I knew that.
Some of you may be saying..Okay so where are you going with this Shelby?" Hang on..I'm getting to it..
Last night as I was laying in bed, it was the music playing on the radio during that 3 day period that I kept focusing on. God began to show me how that music played a role in all that I was imagining and feeling during those 3 days. That "tear in my beer" music was actually contributing to my pain, not helping it. Even the songs that talked about love and possibilities were painful because they are not realistic but are full of fantasy that can not be achieved.
2 Peter 2:8 says that Lot "vexed his righteous soul by what he saw and heard around him". You see in the book of Genesis we are told that Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom and Gemorrah. He didn't start out living there. He simply had the front door of his home toward that city. So each day and each night he saw and heard what was going on in that sinful city and before long, he was living there.
Notice that the bible didn't say that he had a sinful soul. No, it says his "righteous" soul.
This made me realize that even as a Christian, I am not immune to the affects of the things that I allow myself to see and hear. If I am going to be able to maintain a strong relationship with Christ then I must Hear and See the things that will make that possible.
Likewise, if I am going to stand in faith believing God for the impossible to become possible in my life then I must Hear and See things that will make that possible as well!
I have to "guard my heart with all diligence" from anything that is contrary to the Word of God. That may even include some "Christian" music or nay saying Christians.
I don't have to be ugly about it...but when doubting Christians begin to speak things that are contrary to God's word I can simply excuse myself from their presence.
I have been surprised by some of the things that we sing in our music that is contrary to the Word of God. Some gospel music is more depressing than a country song!!!! No wonder we struggle to know God's will or believe him for the impossible!
Recently I heard a song (I don't the artist because I turned the radio before finding that part out) that said "He never promised the cross would not be heavy". WRONG!!!
Matthew 11:30 Take my yoke upon you for my yoke is easy and my burden is LIGHT!
It went on to say "He never promised that the hill would not be hard to climb". WRONG!!
Mark 11:23 says that we are to speak to the mountain and command it to be removed, NOT CLIMB it!
I know what the writer "intended" to say with this song...and it does seem innocent enough...but it is not biblically sound.
I could go on and on...and we sing these in church thinking that we are worshipping and glorifying God! Lord, help us! I am thankful that the Worship leader at our church is sensitive to these things and quite frequently changes verses in songs to fit what the Word says.
While some of this "inspirational" music sounds good and even "feels" good it is completely unbiblical. It deceivingly "vexes our soul" so that we can not believe for what we are asking God for. It leads us to vain imaginations that "exalt themselves against the knowledge of God". It causes us to "settle" for less than God's best and confirms our sitations rather than inspire us to come up out of them! What good does singing about our "valleys and trials" do but to justify where we are and make us feel better about staying there?
As children of God, we MUST understand what the WORD says so that we can recognize these Vexing things. If we have an understanding of what the Word of God says then our Spirit will instantly recognize the Vexing words and sights and warn us to get away from them!
So, today I am challenged. I need more understanding of the Word of God so that I can become more sensitive to the things that are vexing my soul around me. I need to recognize that these things are not "innocent" but are contributing to my inability to see God's promises working in my life.
Open the eyes of my heart Lord!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Robitussin vs. Penicillin
God used this analogy to talk to me about a problem that is pervasive in the body of Christ right now. There are strongholds that are obstructing his people from moving forward in the plans that God has for their lives but instead of taking care of the root of the problem, they are simply treating the symptoms. He began to show me that when someone has a bacterial infection in their body, treating it with Robitussin will provide minimal relieve because it only treats the symptoms while Penicillin will go to the cause of the problem and destroy it all together.
Too often, some of us have been guilty of doing the same in the spirit realm. We face a crisis in our lives and so we begin to take measures to find a breakthrough in our situation. However, if the root cause for that crisis is not addressed, the breakthrough will be shortlived and eventually you will find yourself facing that thing yet again.
This revelation came to me during a morning meditation and reading God's word. And as usually is the case..it became a teaching for my ladies. I was reading in the book of Ruth. Typically when I have read the book of Ruth before I have always begun at the beginning of the book. Ruth is one of my FAVORITE books of the bible and so I have read this book several times. However, on this particular day, I began reading in the last chapter of the book of Ruth. Ruth, chapter 4.
In this chapter, we find Boaz going to the city gate to ask Ruth's deceased husband's nearest relative if he will marry Ruth and redeem her. The cousin is happy to receive the land and possessions that Ruth inherited after her husband died but did not want to marry her in order to gain these possessions.
Boaz then asks the elders who sat at the gate to be witness for him that the cousin had refused to redeem her...and therefore the right of redemption fell to him.
After giving their witness to Boaz's right to marry Ruth they pronounced a blessing over Boaz and Ruth's union.
In verse 12 of chapter 4 they make a statement that JUMPED out at me..."May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah"...
Now..because I am God's "why? child" ...I just had to ask it...WHY???
So I looked up the story of Perez.
This is found in Genesis 38. Tamar was Perez's mother. Her husband, Er, died before she was able to conceive a child. Judah then gave his other son, Onan to marry Tamar to redeem her. This man refused to allow her to conceive children and it angered God so he died also. Judah had lost 2 sons by this point and had only one left. He was afraid that this son would die also so he convinced Tamar that the youngest son was not yet old enough to marry her. He told her to return to her father's house and when the son was old enough, he would send for her to marry him.
Years past and Tamar knew that the youngest should have been old enough to marry her but it didn't happen.
She then devised a plan to trick her father in law into sleeping with her so that she could bare a child. To make a long story short...She got pregnant by her father in law and gave birth to twins. The first of the twins that was born was Perez. He was behind the other twin in the womb but managed to breakthrough his brother to be born first and therefore inherited the blessing of the firstborn. His name is PEREZ which means.."Breakthrough".
God began to show me in this story that even though the father in law tried to refuse Tamar the right to be redeemed, God granted her a "breakthrough" in the midst of her crisis.
I don't want you to misunderstand me here...Breakthrough is a good thing. It is a needed thing. The bible goes on to tell us that Perez's decendants were great people.
Numbers 26 tells us that they were greater in number than all of the tribes of Israel.
Nehemiah 11:1 tells us that Perez's decendants were rulers and leaders among those in Jerusalem. They excelled in charactor and wisdom and ruled over the other tribes.
Nehemiah 11:6 describes the Perezites in a way that it doesn't describe in any other men in that city. It says they were "valiant". The word Valiant means that they were unusually bold, courageous and were marked by acts of heroism.
So..Breakthrough(Perez) is Great!! But it's not enough..
Websters' describes Breakthrough as
1) A significant or sudden advance that removes a barrier to progress
2)An act of surpassing an obstruction
3)a military advancement through an enemy's defense.
GREAT STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
However...5 generations later we find the story of Boaz, who was facing a stronghold that had been passed down to him from the generations before him. Boaz and the Unnamed Cousin now had to face the same opportunity that their forefathers had faced...To Redeem or not redeem???
If you notice verses 18-22 of the 4th chapter of Ruth you will find that Perez was Boaz's great great great great grandfather. The sins of the father had been visited upon the sons...Somebody had to get this thing right.
A stronghold is described by Webster as
1) a secure fenced or heavily armed place.
What happens is that wrong patterns of thinking, responding, reacting, doing, being, feeling,...wrong behaviors, habits, addictions, etc...are passed down from generation to generation. Over the years these wrong things begin to be fortified or strengthened by our environments, by our own excuses for why they should be there..by our "right to feel this way"...until it develops into a stronghold that it is not easily broken.
God began to show me through this teaching that some of us have made slight changes in ourselves, our thinking, our doing, being, feeling...but only enough to get a breakthrough..not enough to break the stronghold behind our situations.
We pray just enough...we fast just enough...we change our behaviors just enough...to get a breakthrough.
A preacher comes by and lays hands on us...we attend a great worship service or revival...we have a great time in our prayer closets and get a word from God concerning our situation...something happens that brings us some relief and we become content to settle for a breakthrough.
Remember...breakthrough is good..but it doesn't remedy the situation..it's the Robitussin...only treats the symptoms temporarily...
When what we REALLY need...is some penicillin to get to the root cause...and therefore destroy the stonghold!!!!!
How do I do that??
I'm glad that you asked..
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 gives us the answer.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (Amplified Bible)
4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Notice that verse 4 says that our weapons are not of flesh and blood. God began to show me that too often, we are satisfied to do things in the physical but never address the things that are behind our actions in the spiritual. We do what I call "Behavior modification". Meaning...we decide to change and "be good" for a while. This is a flesh and blood reaction. Behavior modification will only take you so far. After you get a breakthrough (a word from God..or a time of refreshing at church etc) our flesh reaction is to try to "do good" for a while. But what happens is...the flesh gets weary in well doing and because we have not changed our hearts, minds, and emotions about that situation...we tend to gravitate back to what we once were.
There are 3 things that God showed me in these verses that reveal how to destroy a stronghold:
1) verse 5 says that we need to refute arguments, theories and reasonings.
In other words..Stop making excuses!!!!! The word REFUTE means to reveal as error. In other words..we have to get real with ourselves about our situations. We have to admit that our way of thinking, doing, or feeling is wrong. EVEN IF WE HAVE A REASON TO DO, FEEL OR BE a certain way..IT DOES NOT GIVE US A RIGHT!!! Stop justifying your actions, thoughts, or emotions with all of the REASONS..and just get REAL!
2) it aslo says that we have to refute every high and lofty (PRIDEFUL) thing that exalts itself above what God has told us to do. That means we may have to look a little silly...we may have to lay down our pride and admit we were wrong...we may have to be loving to someone that has wronged us...we may have to reveal our faults to someone that will hold us accountable for our actions.
***a side note here****
Too often we don't have a problem admitting our faults or allowing someone to hold us accountable that we know will be easy on us. But God has challenged me recently to admit my faults and allow someone to hold me accountable that will (pardon me)kick my butt and make me be a DOER of the Word. I challenge you to find an accountability partner that doesn't "feel good". Tell somebody that you would NEVER want to know about your issues...and KILL THAT PRIDE!!!!!!
3) verse 5 finally says...captivate our purpose. Purpose here means..the reason, intent or motive for doing something. In other words...we have to get our REASON for doing something right. We can't do it because it is "expected" of us. We can't do it because our spouse wants us to. We can't do it because we want people to think better of us. We can't do it in order to manipulate someone into giving us something that we want. We have to line our motives up with Jesus' plans for our lives. IF we don't do it for the right reasons, the breakthrough may come..but the stronghold will NOT be broken.
As we can see from our story...IF WE DON'T GET these things right in our lives..they will return again! We may break through the enemy's lines of attack...but eventually..he will return again with the same attack because we have opened a door to him by not destroying the stronghold.
We may never have to face them again..but SOMEBODY WILL!
I want to leave an inheritance for my children. My inheritiance can't simply be.."Mama sure went to church regularly. It can't simply be..Mama sure knew how to quote the word...It can't only be Mama knew how to pray...Those are great...breakthrough is great...but I am determined that it will also be...Mama passed down a legacy of identifying and destroying strongholds so that blessings could flow to the generations after her and not curses!!!!!
My kids may face attacks from the enemy..but I don't want them to have to face the same battles that I have faced simply because I refused to push through the level of breakthrough and do the hard work necessary to DESTROY THE STRONGHOLDS!
I am tired of treating it with Robitussin...Pass me some PENICILLIN!!!!!!!
Too often, some of us have been guilty of doing the same in the spirit realm. We face a crisis in our lives and so we begin to take measures to find a breakthrough in our situation. However, if the root cause for that crisis is not addressed, the breakthrough will be shortlived and eventually you will find yourself facing that thing yet again.
This revelation came to me during a morning meditation and reading God's word. And as usually is the case..it became a teaching for my ladies. I was reading in the book of Ruth. Typically when I have read the book of Ruth before I have always begun at the beginning of the book. Ruth is one of my FAVORITE books of the bible and so I have read this book several times. However, on this particular day, I began reading in the last chapter of the book of Ruth. Ruth, chapter 4.
In this chapter, we find Boaz going to the city gate to ask Ruth's deceased husband's nearest relative if he will marry Ruth and redeem her. The cousin is happy to receive the land and possessions that Ruth inherited after her husband died but did not want to marry her in order to gain these possessions.
Boaz then asks the elders who sat at the gate to be witness for him that the cousin had refused to redeem her...and therefore the right of redemption fell to him.
After giving their witness to Boaz's right to marry Ruth they pronounced a blessing over Boaz and Ruth's union.
In verse 12 of chapter 4 they make a statement that JUMPED out at me..."May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah"...
Now..because I am God's "why? child" ...I just had to ask it...WHY???
So I looked up the story of Perez.
This is found in Genesis 38. Tamar was Perez's mother. Her husband, Er, died before she was able to conceive a child. Judah then gave his other son, Onan to marry Tamar to redeem her. This man refused to allow her to conceive children and it angered God so he died also. Judah had lost 2 sons by this point and had only one left. He was afraid that this son would die also so he convinced Tamar that the youngest son was not yet old enough to marry her. He told her to return to her father's house and when the son was old enough, he would send for her to marry him.
Years past and Tamar knew that the youngest should have been old enough to marry her but it didn't happen.
She then devised a plan to trick her father in law into sleeping with her so that she could bare a child. To make a long story short...She got pregnant by her father in law and gave birth to twins. The first of the twins that was born was Perez. He was behind the other twin in the womb but managed to breakthrough his brother to be born first and therefore inherited the blessing of the firstborn. His name is PEREZ which means.."Breakthrough".
God began to show me in this story that even though the father in law tried to refuse Tamar the right to be redeemed, God granted her a "breakthrough" in the midst of her crisis.
I don't want you to misunderstand me here...Breakthrough is a good thing. It is a needed thing. The bible goes on to tell us that Perez's decendants were great people.
Numbers 26 tells us that they were greater in number than all of the tribes of Israel.
Nehemiah 11:1 tells us that Perez's decendants were rulers and leaders among those in Jerusalem. They excelled in charactor and wisdom and ruled over the other tribes.
Nehemiah 11:6 describes the Perezites in a way that it doesn't describe in any other men in that city. It says they were "valiant". The word Valiant means that they were unusually bold, courageous and were marked by acts of heroism.
So..Breakthrough(Perez) is Great!! But it's not enough..
Websters' describes Breakthrough as
1) A significant or sudden advance that removes a barrier to progress
2)An act of surpassing an obstruction
3)a military advancement through an enemy's defense.
GREAT STUFF!!!!!!!!!!!!!
However...5 generations later we find the story of Boaz, who was facing a stronghold that had been passed down to him from the generations before him. Boaz and the Unnamed Cousin now had to face the same opportunity that their forefathers had faced...To Redeem or not redeem???
If you notice verses 18-22 of the 4th chapter of Ruth you will find that Perez was Boaz's great great great great grandfather. The sins of the father had been visited upon the sons...Somebody had to get this thing right.
A stronghold is described by Webster as
1) a secure fenced or heavily armed place.
What happens is that wrong patterns of thinking, responding, reacting, doing, being, feeling,...wrong behaviors, habits, addictions, etc...are passed down from generation to generation. Over the years these wrong things begin to be fortified or strengthened by our environments, by our own excuses for why they should be there..by our "right to feel this way"...until it develops into a stronghold that it is not easily broken.
God began to show me through this teaching that some of us have made slight changes in ourselves, our thinking, our doing, being, feeling...but only enough to get a breakthrough..not enough to break the stronghold behind our situations.
We pray just enough...we fast just enough...we change our behaviors just enough...to get a breakthrough.
A preacher comes by and lays hands on us...we attend a great worship service or revival...we have a great time in our prayer closets and get a word from God concerning our situation...something happens that brings us some relief and we become content to settle for a breakthrough.
Remember...breakthrough is good..but it doesn't remedy the situation..it's the Robitussin...only treats the symptoms temporarily...
When what we REALLY need...is some penicillin to get to the root cause...and therefore destroy the stonghold!!!!!
How do I do that??
I'm glad that you asked..
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 gives us the answer.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (Amplified Bible)
4For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,
5[Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One),
Notice that verse 4 says that our weapons are not of flesh and blood. God began to show me that too often, we are satisfied to do things in the physical but never address the things that are behind our actions in the spiritual. We do what I call "Behavior modification". Meaning...we decide to change and "be good" for a while. This is a flesh and blood reaction. Behavior modification will only take you so far. After you get a breakthrough (a word from God..or a time of refreshing at church etc) our flesh reaction is to try to "do good" for a while. But what happens is...the flesh gets weary in well doing and because we have not changed our hearts, minds, and emotions about that situation...we tend to gravitate back to what we once were.
There are 3 things that God showed me in these verses that reveal how to destroy a stronghold:
1) verse 5 says that we need to refute arguments, theories and reasonings.
In other words..Stop making excuses!!!!! The word REFUTE means to reveal as error. In other words..we have to get real with ourselves about our situations. We have to admit that our way of thinking, doing, or feeling is wrong. EVEN IF WE HAVE A REASON TO DO, FEEL OR BE a certain way..IT DOES NOT GIVE US A RIGHT!!! Stop justifying your actions, thoughts, or emotions with all of the REASONS..and just get REAL!
2) it aslo says that we have to refute every high and lofty (PRIDEFUL) thing that exalts itself above what God has told us to do. That means we may have to look a little silly...we may have to lay down our pride and admit we were wrong...we may have to be loving to someone that has wronged us...we may have to reveal our faults to someone that will hold us accountable for our actions.
***a side note here****
Too often we don't have a problem admitting our faults or allowing someone to hold us accountable that we know will be easy on us. But God has challenged me recently to admit my faults and allow someone to hold me accountable that will (pardon me)kick my butt and make me be a DOER of the Word. I challenge you to find an accountability partner that doesn't "feel good". Tell somebody that you would NEVER want to know about your issues...and KILL THAT PRIDE!!!!!!
3) verse 5 finally says...captivate our purpose. Purpose here means..the reason, intent or motive for doing something. In other words...we have to get our REASON for doing something right. We can't do it because it is "expected" of us. We can't do it because our spouse wants us to. We can't do it because we want people to think better of us. We can't do it in order to manipulate someone into giving us something that we want. We have to line our motives up with Jesus' plans for our lives. IF we don't do it for the right reasons, the breakthrough may come..but the stronghold will NOT be broken.
As we can see from our story...IF WE DON'T GET these things right in our lives..they will return again! We may break through the enemy's lines of attack...but eventually..he will return again with the same attack because we have opened a door to him by not destroying the stronghold.
We may never have to face them again..but SOMEBODY WILL!
I want to leave an inheritance for my children. My inheritiance can't simply be.."Mama sure went to church regularly. It can't simply be..Mama sure knew how to quote the word...It can't only be Mama knew how to pray...Those are great...breakthrough is great...but I am determined that it will also be...Mama passed down a legacy of identifying and destroying strongholds so that blessings could flow to the generations after her and not curses!!!!!
My kids may face attacks from the enemy..but I don't want them to have to face the same battles that I have faced simply because I refused to push through the level of breakthrough and do the hard work necessary to DESTROY THE STRONGHOLDS!
I am tired of treating it with Robitussin...Pass me some PENICILLIN!!!!!!!
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Where it all began...
I suppose that I have always been a "Victorian" kinda girl. I've always loved the big hooped dresses and large white columned homes. However, my fascination with teacups did not happen until the summer of 1999.
I was going through a tough personal season of my life and received a phone call from someone that caused a turning point in my life. She called to share a devotion that she had read that morning and had no idea how profoundly it would affect me.
The following is the story that she read:
THE TEACUP AND THE POTTER
A grandfather and a grandmother were in a tiny gift shop looking for just the right thing to give to their granddaughter for her 16th birthday. Suddenly, the grandmother spots a beautiful teacup nestled on a mirrored shelf. "Look at this lovely teacup!" she says to the grandfather. He picks it up and says, "You're right! I don't know much about teacups, but I believe that this is one of the loveliest teacups I've ever seen."
At that point something remarkable happens: In a voice as beautiful as the spray of flowers on her side, The teacup began to speak to the grandparents, "Thank you for the compliment; but you know, I wasn't always this beautiful."
Instead of being surprised that the teacup can talk, the grandmother and the grandfather simply asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well," says the teacup, "once I was just an ugly, soggy lump of clay; but one day, a man with dirty wet hands picked me up, rolled me around in his hands and examined me. I felt uncomfortable as he was staring at me. You see, I knew that I wasn't pretty to look at and I had so many imperfections. I had no idea what was about to happen. He took me to a table and started to poke me and stretch me until I hurt all over. 'Stop! Stop! What is happening? Please stop' I cried, but in a voice as gentle as an ocean's breeze, he whispered, 'Not yet!' "
"Then he placed me on a round table and began to spin me faster and faster. With his big hands, he began to put pressure on me and move me into a different shape than I had ever known. The pressure of his hands on me was uncomfortable and the spinning made me feel as if my world was out of control. I was loosing my focus and didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. Then came the worst part. He took a sharp object and began to cut away the parts of me that did not fit what he had planned for me to become. It hurt so bad that I began to plead, 'Stop, this doesn't feel good. I’m hurting. I don't like this. My life is spinning out of control. I can’t stand this.' But in that same gentle voice he simply said, 'Not yet!' "
"Finally, he stopped; but, just when I thought that it was over, H e did something even worse. He put me into a dark, hot, furnace."
"I got hotter and hotter until I couldn't stand it.It was so dark that I couldn't see how to get out. I lost all sense of direction." 'Stop! Stop! I can’t stand this place. I’ve been through too much. I can’t take anymore. Pleeeease Stop!' I cried, but from within the furnace I heard that gentle voice, 'Not yet!' "
"Finally, when I thought I was going to burn up and could take it no more, the man opened the door and took me out of the furnace."
"It was brighter outside than I had remembered. I could see again! Then, He set me on a table and I realized that I actually liked how I felt. I suddenly had shape and parts of me were more firm than they had been before. Being firm and in my new shape made me feel more stable. 'Finally!' I thought I am complete. I have come so far."
"Then some lady with a colorful apron came over and picked me up. She began to daub me with horrible sticky paint. The fumes from the paint got so bad it made me sick to my stomach. 'Stop! Stop' I don't need this, I'm just fine the way that I am. Can’t you see how much I’ve changed? ' I was getting angry now. The lady with the sweet smile simply kept lovingly brushing and daubing me with paint. She never said a word in her defense.
"When her job was complete, she gave me to the man again, and he put me back into that awful furnace. This time it seemed hotter and darker than before. Knowing what was coming was almost more painful than not knowing had been before. 'Stop! Stop!' I cried, I can't take any more of this. Why am I going through this again? I'm so sorry for whatever it was that I did. I won’t do it again. Please let me out of this place. Why Am I HERE?' He didn't give me an answer, but smiled a knowing smile. 'Not yet!' said the man in a gentle and forgiving voice. I love you and I will not leave you alone."
At this point I was broken. My will was completely surrendered. I couldn’t fight anymore. I couldn’t pretend. I couldn’t resist. I could only surrender.
"And finally, he took me out of the furnace and let me cool. When I was completely cool, he packed me in a box, covered me with a protective wrapping, and closed the lid. I was bounced and jolted inside of that box, but at that point, I didn't care. I just didn't have the strength to fight. My will was completely surrendered to his.
A little while later, a pretty lady took me from the box and put me on this shelf, next to this mirror. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was amazed. I could not believe what I saw. I was no longer ugly, soggy, and dirty. I was beautiful, firm, and clean. 'Look at all of the pretty colors.' I cried for joy. I couldn’t believe that I actually liked who I'd become! I would have never dreamed that I could become what I was seeing reflected in that mirror.”
"It was then that I realized, that all of the pain was worth it. Without it, I would still be ugly, soggy, and dirty. That man with the gentle voice and the knowing smile, the man who never left me but always answered gently, "Not yet", had done what was best for me. He really DID have good plans for my life. I could see it now. He knew that I couldn't have been used like I was, but look at me now! I began to look back at each step in the process. It was then that all that pain took on meaning for me. The things that I had endured had not been in vain. They were never meant to destroy me, but to deliver me from my old ways of thinking and being. He was not punishing me for what I was, but preparing me for what I would someday become. The process had a purpose. You see, It was that process that made me into the beautiful vessel that you see before you today!"
I was going through a tough personal season of my life and received a phone call from someone that caused a turning point in my life. She called to share a devotion that she had read that morning and had no idea how profoundly it would affect me.
The following is the story that she read:
THE TEACUP AND THE POTTER
A grandfather and a grandmother were in a tiny gift shop looking for just the right thing to give to their granddaughter for her 16th birthday. Suddenly, the grandmother spots a beautiful teacup nestled on a mirrored shelf. "Look at this lovely teacup!" she says to the grandfather. He picks it up and says, "You're right! I don't know much about teacups, but I believe that this is one of the loveliest teacups I've ever seen."
At that point something remarkable happens: In a voice as beautiful as the spray of flowers on her side, The teacup began to speak to the grandparents, "Thank you for the compliment; but you know, I wasn't always this beautiful."
Instead of being surprised that the teacup can talk, the grandmother and the grandfather simply asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well," says the teacup, "once I was just an ugly, soggy lump of clay; but one day, a man with dirty wet hands picked me up, rolled me around in his hands and examined me. I felt uncomfortable as he was staring at me. You see, I knew that I wasn't pretty to look at and I had so many imperfections. I had no idea what was about to happen. He took me to a table and started to poke me and stretch me until I hurt all over. 'Stop! Stop! What is happening? Please stop' I cried, but in a voice as gentle as an ocean's breeze, he whispered, 'Not yet!' "
"Then he placed me on a round table and began to spin me faster and faster. With his big hands, he began to put pressure on me and move me into a different shape than I had ever known. The pressure of his hands on me was uncomfortable and the spinning made me feel as if my world was out of control. I was loosing my focus and didn’t know which way was up and which way was down. Then came the worst part. He took a sharp object and began to cut away the parts of me that did not fit what he had planned for me to become. It hurt so bad that I began to plead, 'Stop, this doesn't feel good. I’m hurting. I don't like this. My life is spinning out of control. I can’t stand this.' But in that same gentle voice he simply said, 'Not yet!' "
"Finally, he stopped; but, just when I thought that it was over, H e did something even worse. He put me into a dark, hot, furnace."
"I got hotter and hotter until I couldn't stand it.It was so dark that I couldn't see how to get out. I lost all sense of direction." 'Stop! Stop! I can’t stand this place. I’ve been through too much. I can’t take anymore. Pleeeease Stop!' I cried, but from within the furnace I heard that gentle voice, 'Not yet!' "
"Finally, when I thought I was going to burn up and could take it no more, the man opened the door and took me out of the furnace."
"It was brighter outside than I had remembered. I could see again! Then, He set me on a table and I realized that I actually liked how I felt. I suddenly had shape and parts of me were more firm than they had been before. Being firm and in my new shape made me feel more stable. 'Finally!' I thought I am complete. I have come so far."
"Then some lady with a colorful apron came over and picked me up. She began to daub me with horrible sticky paint. The fumes from the paint got so bad it made me sick to my stomach. 'Stop! Stop' I don't need this, I'm just fine the way that I am. Can’t you see how much I’ve changed? ' I was getting angry now. The lady with the sweet smile simply kept lovingly brushing and daubing me with paint. She never said a word in her defense.
"When her job was complete, she gave me to the man again, and he put me back into that awful furnace. This time it seemed hotter and darker than before. Knowing what was coming was almost more painful than not knowing had been before. 'Stop! Stop!' I cried, I can't take any more of this. Why am I going through this again? I'm so sorry for whatever it was that I did. I won’t do it again. Please let me out of this place. Why Am I HERE?' He didn't give me an answer, but smiled a knowing smile. 'Not yet!' said the man in a gentle and forgiving voice. I love you and I will not leave you alone."
At this point I was broken. My will was completely surrendered. I couldn’t fight anymore. I couldn’t pretend. I couldn’t resist. I could only surrender.
"And finally, he took me out of the furnace and let me cool. When I was completely cool, he packed me in a box, covered me with a protective wrapping, and closed the lid. I was bounced and jolted inside of that box, but at that point, I didn't care. I just didn't have the strength to fight. My will was completely surrendered to his.
A little while later, a pretty lady took me from the box and put me on this shelf, next to this mirror. When I looked at myself in the mirror, I was amazed. I could not believe what I saw. I was no longer ugly, soggy, and dirty. I was beautiful, firm, and clean. 'Look at all of the pretty colors.' I cried for joy. I couldn’t believe that I actually liked who I'd become! I would have never dreamed that I could become what I was seeing reflected in that mirror.”
"It was then that I realized, that all of the pain was worth it. Without it, I would still be ugly, soggy, and dirty. That man with the gentle voice and the knowing smile, the man who never left me but always answered gently, "Not yet", had done what was best for me. He really DID have good plans for my life. I could see it now. He knew that I couldn't have been used like I was, but look at me now! I began to look back at each step in the process. It was then that all that pain took on meaning for me. The things that I had endured had not been in vain. They were never meant to destroy me, but to deliver me from my old ways of thinking and being. He was not punishing me for what I was, but preparing me for what I would someday become. The process had a purpose. You see, It was that process that made me into the beautiful vessel that you see before you today!"
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