I was in my bathroom with the door and window closed. No breeze whatsoever, when I felt a cold breeze upon the side of my face and back of my neck. Only lasted for about thirty seconds.
I wonder if it was the Holy Spirit?
It brought me to read and pray over these Bible verses.
(John 3:8) The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
Jesus was talking about this Wind or Cool Breeze, saying that this wind emits from born again believers and we can hear the sound of this wind or indeed feel the wind.This is the same Wind that the disciples experienced on the day of Pentecost.
(Acts 2:1) And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.
(Acts 2:2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.
(Isaiah 30:21) And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This [is] the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
How many times has something inside urged you to do a certain thing, but instead you allowed the voice in your head to overrule the voice in your spirit? That inner voice is your spiritual intuition, the part of you God speaks to. The Bible says, ‘Your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”’ John the apostle put it this way: (1 John 2:20) But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
Learn to trust that ‘anointing’ because it will tell you:
1) what you need to do;
2) when you need to act;
3) what direction to take;
4) what changes you need to make. What a gift – yet we seldom use it! Somebody said, ‘Too much analysis leads to paralysis.’ We’re afraid we couldn’t possibly know something without thinking it through, or because it seems too obvious. We think, ‘That can’t be right. I couldn’t possibly do that.’ We argue for our limitations, and as a result they become our limitations! Learn to recognise and trust your spiritual intuition. It’s your connection to the greatest source of wisdom in the universe – God’s wisdom. And don’t be surprised when what you hear in your spirit sounds like what you’ve thought many times but paid no attention to. The Bible says, (Philippians 2:13) For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
So next time your spiritual intuition tells you something and it lines up with Scripture, don’t be afraid to act on it!
Tuesday 9 April 2019
How To Help People
(Acts 3:6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The Bible says, (Acts 3:4) And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. (Acts 3:5) And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. (Acts 3:6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:7) And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Peter did three things you must do if you want to help people:
1) Get their attention. Peter told this incapacitated man, ‘Look at us’ (Act's 3:4). Hurting people are often so distracted by their pain, their past experiences, and their future fears, that in order to get through to them you must first get their attention. Why? Because faith must be focused if it’s to be effective.
2) Introduce them to the name that’s greater than their problem. That name is ‘Jesus’, and it’s greater than every sickness and situation. Rehab centres confirm that a relatively small percentage of people stay free from their addiction. That’s the bad news. Now here’s the good news: the name of Jesus is stronger than every addiction! (Philippians 2:10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
So introduce those who are hurting to Jesus!
3) Give them a hand up. As Peter lifted the man up, ‘immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength’ (Acts 3:7). Because he’d been in the same condition for thirty-eight years, he needed help to get up. And there are people around you who need help to get up too. They need someone to pull them out of their despair and get them to Jesus, and God can use you to be that someone.
(Acts 3:6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.
The Bible says, (Acts 3:4) And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. (Acts 3:5) And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. (Acts 3:6) Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. (Acts 3:7) And he took him by the right hand, and lifted [him] up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength.
Peter did three things you must do if you want to help people:
1) Get their attention. Peter told this incapacitated man, ‘Look at us’ (Act's 3:4). Hurting people are often so distracted by their pain, their past experiences, and their future fears, that in order to get through to them you must first get their attention. Why? Because faith must be focused if it’s to be effective.
2) Introduce them to the name that’s greater than their problem. That name is ‘Jesus’, and it’s greater than every sickness and situation. Rehab centres confirm that a relatively small percentage of people stay free from their addiction. That’s the bad news. Now here’s the good news: the name of Jesus is stronger than every addiction! (Philippians 2:10) That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth;
So introduce those who are hurting to Jesus!
3) Give them a hand up. As Peter lifted the man up, ‘immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength’ (Acts 3:7). Because he’d been in the same condition for thirty-eight years, he needed help to get up. And there are people around you who need help to get up too. They need someone to pull them out of their despair and get them to Jesus, and God can use you to be that someone.
Saturday 12 December 2015
Be Happy Not Critical
When Miriam criticised her brother Moses because of the wife he chose, the Lord heard and she was smitten with leprosy. Maybe you grew up in a family that was forever finding fault, and now you hear the same tone in how you talk to your children. You can’t enjoy God’s blessings because you’ve been programmed to inspect, nitpick, and form opinions – usually negative ones. The Bible says, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see, happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil’, 1 Peter (3:10). The definition of the word ‘criticism’ (dwelling upon the perceived faults of another with no view to their good) should cause you to pause and think. First, there’s the word perceived. Often your perceptions aren’t accurate; there are always circumstances you don’t understand. Next we come to the words dwelling upon. We’re inclined to walk through life saying, ‘That’s not right,’ or ‘I wouldn’t do it that way.’ You say, ‘I’m an analytical person, it’s how God made me.’ That’s fine, but the problem comes when you choose to dwell on your observations – when you can’t set them aside. You say, ‘But how can I help somebody if I don’t dwell on what they’re doing?’ That’s why the last part of the definition – with no view to their good – is so important. It’s not wrong to dwell upon somebody’s faults, provided you do it in a non-judgmental way with a view to helping them find a solution. Does that mean it’s okay to discuss it with a third party? Only if you can end the conversation by saying, ‘Let’s pray about it, keep it in confidence, and try to help.
When Miriam criticised her brother Moses because of the wife he chose, the Lord heard and she was smitten with leprosy. Maybe you grew up in a family that was forever finding fault, and now you hear the same tone in how you talk to your children. You can’t enjoy God’s blessings because you’ve been programmed to inspect, nitpick, and form opinions – usually negative ones. The Bible says, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see, happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil’, 1 Peter (3:10). The definition of the word ‘criticism’ (dwelling upon the perceived faults of another with no view to their good) should cause you to pause and think. First, there’s the word perceived. Often your perceptions aren’t accurate; there are always circumstances you don’t understand. Next we come to the words dwelling upon. We’re inclined to walk through life saying, ‘That’s not right,’ or ‘I wouldn’t do it that way.’ You say, ‘I’m an analytical person, it’s how God made me.’ That’s fine, but the problem comes when you choose to dwell on your observations – when you can’t set them aside. You say, ‘But how can I help somebody if I don’t dwell on what they’re doing?’ That’s why the last part of the definition – with no view to their good – is so important. It’s not wrong to dwell upon somebody’s faults, provided you do it in a non-judgmental way with a view to helping them find a solution. Does that mean it’s okay to discuss it with a third party? Only if you can end the conversation by saying, ‘Let’s pray about it, keep it in confidence, and try to help.
Saturday 21 November 2015
Do You Reject God?
"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is
called Christ?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children.
Nowhere does Matthew or anyone
else ever tell us that God acquiesced to carry out vengeance on those who cried, "Crucify Him!" before
Pilate's judgment hall. Nowhere does Matthew intimate that God consented to
punish their children over the centuries. If He had committed Himself to
carry out these peoples' so-called "curse," He would have knowingly bound
Himself to violate His own law for centuries.They all answered, "Crucify him!" "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify him!" When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. "I am innocent of this man's blood," he said. "It is your responsibility!" All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children.
Why, then, have the Jews found themselves so often in such dire straits over the years, not only after the crucifixion of Christ, but for centuries before? They have been persecuted by the Egyptians, the Philistines, the Edomites, the Canaanites, the Sidonians, the Hivites, the Moabites, Judges (3:3-12), and the Midianites, Judges (8:1). The catalog of their tormentors includes the Persians of Haman's time, the Greeks of Antiochus' time, the Romans of Imperial times, and afterwards various European and Muslim peoples to the present. Their history of persecution would fill volumes.
Why?
Anciently, only the Jews, along with their Israelite brethren, were the recipients of God's revelation: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth". God counts that revelation as a precious blessing to the family of Abraham, as Paul writes in Romans (3:1-10)"What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were committed the oracles of God."
To Paul, the Jews were not cursed, but were first, the Greeks second Romans (2:9-10). He took seriously his commission to carry God's name "before the children of Israel". The book of Acts (9:15) records that in every town and city he visited, he went first to the local Jewish synagogue; after that, he preached the gospel Gentiles. Indeed, he admonished the church at Thessalonica to "become imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea. 1 Thessalonians (2:14).
God gave the Jews a lot. Here, the principle of luke (12:48) enters the picture: "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."
As we know from the Old Testament and as history since has demonstrated, the Jews have repeatedly rejected God, treading His oracles underfoot. Many are the Jews who have forsaken God and joined the vanguard of liberal secularism (read, atheism) in the arts, law, politics, science, education in virtually every field of human endeavor. Throughout their history, many Jews have scorned God's revelation, purposefully making themselves a profane people. So, the corollary of Christ's principle applies, as stated in luke (12:47) "And that servant who knew his master's will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes."
The Jews, more than any single people in history, knew God's will, as it is expressed in the "oracles" His revelation to them. They often have rejected it. As often as they do, their apostasy has carried with it the penalty of "many stripes."
Saturday 19 September 2015
Roadblocks To Prophecy
Here are some things that can be roadblocks to prophetic accuracy.
1) Too opinionated. Many prophetic people stumble because they feel that their opinion is God’s opinion. God’s thoughts are always higher than the thoughts of men. Many times prophets can become narrow-minded and dogmatic about revelations they believe to be a truth received from God.
2) Prejudices. This can be cultural or religious. This includes being prejudiced to a race, gender, age group, denomination, or movement.
3) Rejection and fear of rejection. Rejected people need deliverance or they will minister out of hurt. The priests could not have scabs, Leviticus (21:20). Scabs are unhealed wounds that can become infected. Rejection leads to isolation, and prophets are called to associate and minister to people. Rejection can lead to prostituting the prophetic gift--prophets giving prophetic words to people just to be accepted by them. The root of this spirit is insecurity. Basically we reason with ourselves, saying, “I will get acceptance if I tell them what they want to hear.” This also leads to flattery.
4) Fear of man. The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare” Proverbs, (29:25). “Snare” is the Greek mowqesh, which means to bait, lure. It’s an iron ring placed in the nostril of a beast. Fear of man leads us around like a beast with a ring in our nose. We must fear God more than man. The only way to overcome fear is to have faith in God.
5) Bitterness. Unresolved hurts lead to bitterness. Angry and bitter prophets can be tainted in their prophetic flow. Hebrews (12:15) says, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”. Bitterness can be a root hidden in the heart going undetected. This heart condition springs up at the most inopportune time.
6) Respect of persons. This can be a religious spirit. The high priest carried the stones of all the tribes on his heart, and we should carry the whole church in our hearts and not be limited to organizations and denominations. True prophetic ministry will learn how to minister the word of the Lord to all kinds of people and denominations because Jesus is Lord of all the earth. God likes variety and different tribes; that is why He had twelve of them. A Baptist preacher once told me, “I’m Baptist born and Baptist bred, and when I die I’ll be Baptist dead.” Some people will never leave the church denomination, and this shouldn’t disqualify them from receiving a prophetic word. The prophetic anointing is not designed to change church culture; it’s designed to change the hearts and minds of the people who affect the culture. God loves the Baptists. He even had one in the New Testament', John the Baptist. Prophecy is never used to establish new principles in a denomination or organization. A skilled prophetic minister can deliver the heart of God without partiality. I found that many different denomination leaders have invited me to teach and train their people in the prophetic because of trust and relationship. James 2:9 says, “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
7) Human compassion. This is having compassion on that which God is judging. Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan”, Matthew (16:23). Jesus spoke what He saw the Father doing. Prophets cannot allow human compassion to dictate their prophetic flow. There are times you need to minister correction to people you love, and it can be hard, but prophets must pledge their allegiance to the Lamb of God.
Prophesying truth brings deliverance to the hearer. I have learned that every time I neglect to speak the truth to someone, I lose my power to discern or my hearing in that situation becomes dull.
8) Judgmental. This is the opposite of mercy, and when one has a religious spirit he can point out problems with great accuracy but seldom have a solution. All they have done is judged and torn down. Beware of pride and being overcritical. The critical prophet with pointing of the finger is not ministering out of the heart of God.
9) Judging by appearance. Looking at a person’s hand for a ring before giving a word about marriage or looking at someone’s countenance for some emotional signals is judging by appearance. Samuel had to anoint David although he was a boy. God told the prophet to judge not according to appearance , 1 Samuel (16:7).
10) Lust. The simple definition of lust is having a self absorbed desire for an object, person, or experience. When we are in lust, we place the object of our desire above all. Prophets must guard their hearts from the lust for power, prestige, promotion, and wealth.
Lust in these areas will cause you to be drawn away from the will of God into a place of error and deception. Unresolved lust issues of the heart have serious implications to the validity of a prophet’s ministry. These lust issues create stumbling blocks to accurate prophetic ministry. If you’re not delivered from them, they can entice and drag you down a path of falsehood, causing you to potentially become a false prophet. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed”, James (1:14).
Being developed in a sectarian environment is not the best for a prophet. It can warrant any of these issues to taint or color the way a prophet delivers the word of the Lord. Prophets have to be developed in the proper environment, else they can develop or be influenced by religious spirits. Religious spirits are real, and they can work in the environment of churches and sectarian groups.
Religious spirits work where people believe in prophecy and the gifts of the Spirit. We need discernment and deliverance to avoid contamination.
Prophets cannot allow any bias to affect their words. Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. God is fair, and He is no respecter of persons.
Here are some things that can be roadblocks to prophetic accuracy.
1) Too opinionated. Many prophetic people stumble because they feel that their opinion is God’s opinion. God’s thoughts are always higher than the thoughts of men. Many times prophets can become narrow-minded and dogmatic about revelations they believe to be a truth received from God.
2) Prejudices. This can be cultural or religious. This includes being prejudiced to a race, gender, age group, denomination, or movement.
3) Rejection and fear of rejection. Rejected people need deliverance or they will minister out of hurt. The priests could not have scabs, Leviticus (21:20). Scabs are unhealed wounds that can become infected. Rejection leads to isolation, and prophets are called to associate and minister to people. Rejection can lead to prostituting the prophetic gift--prophets giving prophetic words to people just to be accepted by them. The root of this spirit is insecurity. Basically we reason with ourselves, saying, “I will get acceptance if I tell them what they want to hear.” This also leads to flattery.
4) Fear of man. The Bible says, “The fear of man brings a snare” Proverbs, (29:25). “Snare” is the Greek mowqesh, which means to bait, lure. It’s an iron ring placed in the nostril of a beast. Fear of man leads us around like a beast with a ring in our nose. We must fear God more than man. The only way to overcome fear is to have faith in God.
5) Bitterness. Unresolved hurts lead to bitterness. Angry and bitter prophets can be tainted in their prophetic flow. Hebrews (12:15) says, “Looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled”. Bitterness can be a root hidden in the heart going undetected. This heart condition springs up at the most inopportune time.
6) Respect of persons. This can be a religious spirit. The high priest carried the stones of all the tribes on his heart, and we should carry the whole church in our hearts and not be limited to organizations and denominations. True prophetic ministry will learn how to minister the word of the Lord to all kinds of people and denominations because Jesus is Lord of all the earth. God likes variety and different tribes; that is why He had twelve of them. A Baptist preacher once told me, “I’m Baptist born and Baptist bred, and when I die I’ll be Baptist dead.” Some people will never leave the church denomination, and this shouldn’t disqualify them from receiving a prophetic word. The prophetic anointing is not designed to change church culture; it’s designed to change the hearts and minds of the people who affect the culture. God loves the Baptists. He even had one in the New Testament', John the Baptist. Prophecy is never used to establish new principles in a denomination or organization. A skilled prophetic minister can deliver the heart of God without partiality. I found that many different denomination leaders have invited me to teach and train their people in the prophetic because of trust and relationship. James 2:9 says, “But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors.”
7) Human compassion. This is having compassion on that which God is judging. Jesus rebuked Peter and said, “Get thee behind me, Satan”, Matthew (16:23). Jesus spoke what He saw the Father doing. Prophets cannot allow human compassion to dictate their prophetic flow. There are times you need to minister correction to people you love, and it can be hard, but prophets must pledge their allegiance to the Lamb of God.
Prophesying truth brings deliverance to the hearer. I have learned that every time I neglect to speak the truth to someone, I lose my power to discern or my hearing in that situation becomes dull.
8) Judgmental. This is the opposite of mercy, and when one has a religious spirit he can point out problems with great accuracy but seldom have a solution. All they have done is judged and torn down. Beware of pride and being overcritical. The critical prophet with pointing of the finger is not ministering out of the heart of God.
9) Judging by appearance. Looking at a person’s hand for a ring before giving a word about marriage or looking at someone’s countenance for some emotional signals is judging by appearance. Samuel had to anoint David although he was a boy. God told the prophet to judge not according to appearance , 1 Samuel (16:7).
10) Lust. The simple definition of lust is having a self absorbed desire for an object, person, or experience. When we are in lust, we place the object of our desire above all. Prophets must guard their hearts from the lust for power, prestige, promotion, and wealth.
Lust in these areas will cause you to be drawn away from the will of God into a place of error and deception. Unresolved lust issues of the heart have serious implications to the validity of a prophet’s ministry. These lust issues create stumbling blocks to accurate prophetic ministry. If you’re not delivered from them, they can entice and drag you down a path of falsehood, causing you to potentially become a false prophet. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed”, James (1:14).
Being developed in a sectarian environment is not the best for a prophet. It can warrant any of these issues to taint or color the way a prophet delivers the word of the Lord. Prophets have to be developed in the proper environment, else they can develop or be influenced by religious spirits. Religious spirits are real, and they can work in the environment of churches and sectarian groups.
Religious spirits work where people believe in prophecy and the gifts of the Spirit. We need discernment and deliverance to avoid contamination.
Prophets cannot allow any bias to affect their words. Bias is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. God is fair, and He is no respecter of persons.
Saturday 6 June 2015
Decisions Critically Made In A crisis!
Abigail knew her husband, didn't she?
Who was Abigail: A woman of beauty, intelligence.
Is also “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” In her, winsomeness and wisdom were wed. She had brains as well as beauty. Today, many women try to cultivate beauty and neglect their brains. A lovely face hides an empty mind. But with Abigail, loveliness and intelligence went hand in hand, with her intelligence emphasizing her physical attractiveness. A beautiful woman with a beautiful mind as she had is surely one of God’s masterpieces.
Added to her charm and wisdom was that of piety. She knew God, and although she lived in such an unhappy home, she remained a saint. Her own soul, like that of David, was “bound in the bundle of life with the Lord God.” Writing of Abigail as “A Woman of Tact”
Everyone knew what he was like, so why hide it? Why try to cover up what he had done? She didn't. And yet she took the responsibility upon herself. "When you sent those ten men and they had that interaction with my husband, I wasn't there to give another kind of response. But I'm here now as an advocate. I'd like to stand as a mediator between this man and all of your men who have been unjustly treated."
What faith she had. She says, "David, as I look at you, I'm looking at the next king. Don't ruin your record with a murder. You're bigger than that. You have been wronged, but murder isn't the answer. Wait! Wait, David. Take what I've provided and turn around and go back."
What a speech! What a plea! When you're faced with critical decisions, sometimes you have to do something very creative. Apart from the Bible, there's no handbook that tells you what to do when those times come.
Often when we are faced with a crisis, the standard, garden-variety answer is to sort of tuck your tail between your legs, run into a corner, and let cobwebs form on you. But there is a better way. As long as you have breath in your lungs, you have a purpose for living. You have a reason to exist. No matter how bad that track record might have been, marked by disobedience and compromise through much of your life, you're alive, you're existing. And God says, "There's a reason. And I'm willing to do creative things through you to put you back on your feet. You can lick your wounds if that's your choice. But there's a better way." It will take creativity, it will take determination, it will take constant eyes on the Lord. But when He pulls it off, it's marvelous.
Abigail knew her husband, didn't she?
Who was Abigail: A woman of beauty, intelligence.
Is also “a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance.” In her, winsomeness and wisdom were wed. She had brains as well as beauty. Today, many women try to cultivate beauty and neglect their brains. A lovely face hides an empty mind. But with Abigail, loveliness and intelligence went hand in hand, with her intelligence emphasizing her physical attractiveness. A beautiful woman with a beautiful mind as she had is surely one of God’s masterpieces.
Added to her charm and wisdom was that of piety. She knew God, and although she lived in such an unhappy home, she remained a saint. Her own soul, like that of David, was “bound in the bundle of life with the Lord God.” Writing of Abigail as “A Woman of Tact”
Everyone knew what he was like, so why hide it? Why try to cover up what he had done? She didn't. And yet she took the responsibility upon herself. "When you sent those ten men and they had that interaction with my husband, I wasn't there to give another kind of response. But I'm here now as an advocate. I'd like to stand as a mediator between this man and all of your men who have been unjustly treated."
What faith she had. She says, "David, as I look at you, I'm looking at the next king. Don't ruin your record with a murder. You're bigger than that. You have been wronged, but murder isn't the answer. Wait! Wait, David. Take what I've provided and turn around and go back."
What a speech! What a plea! When you're faced with critical decisions, sometimes you have to do something very creative. Apart from the Bible, there's no handbook that tells you what to do when those times come.
Often when we are faced with a crisis, the standard, garden-variety answer is to sort of tuck your tail between your legs, run into a corner, and let cobwebs form on you. But there is a better way. As long as you have breath in your lungs, you have a purpose for living. You have a reason to exist. No matter how bad that track record might have been, marked by disobedience and compromise through much of your life, you're alive, you're existing. And God says, "There's a reason. And I'm willing to do creative things through you to put you back on your feet. You can lick your wounds if that's your choice. But there's a better way." It will take creativity, it will take determination, it will take constant eyes on the Lord. But when He pulls it off, it's marvelous.
Thursday 4 June 2015
Anchor For The Soul
Our Savior has gone through life, has taken all of life's beatings and buffering's, and He has gone before us. And now? Now He pulls us toward Himself! He invites His followers within the curtain.
He says, "Come in. Find here the rest that you need, the relief from the burdens and the buffering's of doubt."
Hebrews (6:19-20)
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus is our anchor of stability, He holds firm when our navigation system fails. It's easy to lose our bearings in the storm. We can't find our way through the circumstances we face at times. Life rolls along fairly smoothly until suddenly the seas grow rough, and the winds blow strong. They were not in the forecast In Luke's words, All hope of our being saved" is abandoned. Those are treacherous moments when we reach the point of abandoning hope. At that difficult, gut-wrenching moment, God says, "Don't be "afraid, I have a plan People facing intense adversity find it difficult to focus on anything other than the towering waves and stinging ,winds. Paul firmly announces Be of good cheer we've heard from the Lord that none ,will be lost We find stability in storms .through what God has said our tendency will be to turn to another source for strength rather than the Word of God ! The only anchor of stability that will hold us firm, no matter how intense the gale-force winds, is God's written Word.
The seasoned hand of Isaiah: "But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through ;the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they will not overflow you", Isaiah (2-43:1). What encouraging words! "Do not fear, I have called you by !name." What a great thought Isaiah was not writing of literal waters or actual rivers. His figure of speech emphasized encroaching circumstances that threatened the stability of one's faith. When the waters rise to dangerous depths, when difficulties reach maximum proportion, when our ship seems to be disintegrating board by board and starting to, sink by life's inevitable storms God is faithful. He promises, "I will be with you." He is our anchor.
Regardless whether or not we have an elevated authoritative position, with high degrees and endless list of achievements, we must remain real! Putting all ideas aside that we deserve some kind of acknowledgment and a pat on the back, for a job well done. For if we do all job's as onto God himself understand He has an infinite number of ways to reward us. It's when we do a job to impress others, that we often unknowingly are striving for self glorification.
Our Savior has gone through life, has taken all of life's beatings and buffering's, and He has gone before us. And now? Now He pulls us toward Himself! He invites His followers within the curtain.
He says, "Come in. Find here the rest that you need, the relief from the burdens and the buffering's of doubt."
Hebrews (6:19-20)
We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Jesus is our anchor of stability, He holds firm when our navigation system fails. It's easy to lose our bearings in the storm. We can't find our way through the circumstances we face at times. Life rolls along fairly smoothly until suddenly the seas grow rough, and the winds blow strong. They were not in the forecast In Luke's words, All hope of our being saved" is abandoned. Those are treacherous moments when we reach the point of abandoning hope. At that difficult, gut-wrenching moment, God says, "Don't be "afraid, I have a plan People facing intense adversity find it difficult to focus on anything other than the towering waves and stinging ,winds. Paul firmly announces Be of good cheer we've heard from the Lord that none ,will be lost We find stability in storms .through what God has said our tendency will be to turn to another source for strength rather than the Word of God ! The only anchor of stability that will hold us firm, no matter how intense the gale-force winds, is God's written Word.
The seasoned hand of Isaiah: "But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel, 'Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine! When you pass through ;the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they will not overflow you", Isaiah (2-43:1). What encouraging words! "Do not fear, I have called you by !name." What a great thought Isaiah was not writing of literal waters or actual rivers. His figure of speech emphasized encroaching circumstances that threatened the stability of one's faith. When the waters rise to dangerous depths, when difficulties reach maximum proportion, when our ship seems to be disintegrating board by board and starting to, sink by life's inevitable storms God is faithful. He promises, "I will be with you." He is our anchor.
Regardless whether or not we have an elevated authoritative position, with high degrees and endless list of achievements, we must remain real! Putting all ideas aside that we deserve some kind of acknowledgment and a pat on the back, for a job well done. For if we do all job's as onto God himself understand He has an infinite number of ways to reward us. It's when we do a job to impress others, that we often unknowingly are striving for self glorification.
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