This is a quick message of encouragement to the people of God...
God has been "shaking" up some of you. You feel anxious, in a sense, but you are nervous about what is going to happen. The Father wants you to know this is He. He is shaking you for a season of spiritual activity such as you have not experienced before.
People of God, we have work to do! For too long, many of us have been comfortable and lazy. We are "busy" in the natural, but still in the spirit realm. Wake up. Stir up the gifts that are inside of you. God is placing many of you in a position of discomfort, but this is different. It's not pain. It's not tribulation. It's just STRANGE. Obey in this season. God is trying to get your attention. Count the costs and do whatever it takes.
This is the season to SEEK the Lord. Close your closet and pray. Fast and cry out to God. He WANTS you to seek Him. The answers will not come as easily as they once did. You must launch out! You must sacrifice.
The "strange" dreams... The "strange" changes in your body... The "strange" urgency to seek your enemies for forgiveness... The "strange" way you have been worshipping... God is doing a new thing! Trust Him.
Hallelujah!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
It's Really NOT Your Fault - Get FREE!
Why me? We often find ourselves asking God this very question. God has a word of encouragement for those who have questioned Him concerning the unfortunate things that have happened in your life. Perhaps you were abused or molested. Maybe your parents were not the greatest. In fact, they may not have even been present. Maybe you grew up in a poor household or were born with some type of disease. Whatever the case, you ask God, “Why me?” “What did I do to deserve such a plight?”
Last Sunday, God spoke to me very clearly about this very thing. At the onset of John 9, we see Jesus dealing with the same genre of questions in reference to a blind man.
1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Because the man had an infirmity, the disciples’ first thought was that his condition must be punishment for some wrongdoing. Quite the contrary! Jesus explains in verse 3 that his infirmity had one person – that the works of God would be manifest in him.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul gives an assurance to the church at Corinth. That assurance is that God will not allow us to deal with more than what we can bear. So, consider this:
If God allowed you to deal with it, it’s only because He strengthened you enough to get through it! In addition to that, it’s not your fault because IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!!! I know that is blunt, but it is indeed true for many who are carrying guilt for things they could not have controlled. It was never about you. You were being used of God to bring Him glory, that He would be made manifest in you! Hallelujah!!!
Have you ever considered that the abuser was only being used so God could shape your testimony? What if the poverty was just an instrument for God to awe those who see you in your prosperity? People of God, we are called to be a sacrifice. You have yielded your life to God for His use. Even before you were able to make the conscious decision for holiness, He used you for His glory. That’s a privilege. It’s no reason to feel down, but a reason to rejoice. It’s not cause for feeling guilty, but cause for being honored.
You are greater than what you’ve gone through. That’s why God allowed YOU to go through it. Your past would have crushed someone else, but God equipped YOU to adapt and overcome. YOU are more than a conqueror! Selah.
Last Sunday, God spoke to me very clearly about this very thing. At the onset of John 9, we see Jesus dealing with the same genre of questions in reference to a blind man.
1And as Jesus passed by, he saw a man which was blind from his birth.
2And his disciples asked him, saying, Master, who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind?
3Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.
Because the man had an infirmity, the disciples’ first thought was that his condition must be punishment for some wrongdoing. Quite the contrary! Jesus explains in verse 3 that his infirmity had one person – that the works of God would be manifest in him.
In 1 Corinthians 10:13, Paul gives an assurance to the church at Corinth. That assurance is that God will not allow us to deal with more than what we can bear. So, consider this:
If God allowed you to deal with it, it’s only because He strengthened you enough to get through it! In addition to that, it’s not your fault because IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!!! I know that is blunt, but it is indeed true for many who are carrying guilt for things they could not have controlled. It was never about you. You were being used of God to bring Him glory, that He would be made manifest in you! Hallelujah!!!
Have you ever considered that the abuser was only being used so God could shape your testimony? What if the poverty was just an instrument for God to awe those who see you in your prosperity? People of God, we are called to be a sacrifice. You have yielded your life to God for His use. Even before you were able to make the conscious decision for holiness, He used you for His glory. That’s a privilege. It’s no reason to feel down, but a reason to rejoice. It’s not cause for feeling guilty, but cause for being honored.
You are greater than what you’ve gone through. That’s why God allowed YOU to go through it. Your past would have crushed someone else, but God equipped YOU to adapt and overcome. YOU are more than a conqueror! Selah.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
No End without the Means
Romans 5
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
In Romans 8:28, we are told that "ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." So many times, we quote this Scripture without actually thinking about its implications. As people of God, we will go through things. We will suffer, BUT those sufferings will reap the blessings of God in our lives.
There are no "short cuts" to spiritual maturity. It comes only with relationship with God. Now, when we are truly dedicated to the work of our Father and have relationship with Him, tribulation is inevitable. Tribulation is opposition, though it comes in many forms. That opposition, however, does not define us, as we are justified by faith. Our peace is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, don't be discouraged. Do not get angry, frustrated or upset. Just know that you are justified, so you can stand and maintain peace in your relationship with our Father.
Have you ever prayed for more patience, more hope or more peace? Then, it seemed as if your world turned upside down? Well, that's the PROCESS that God has warned us of. That peace comes through trials. That patience comes through perserverance. Hope and experience are developed through trials. Living for God does not mean that we live an exclusive life of victory, wealth and perfection. It means we are equipped to fight. It means we have accepted a call to work for the will of God to be established in the earth. It means you are willing to become a living sacrifice, and that is only your reasonable service.
There are no shortcuts. You cannot have the end without the means. Selah!
1) Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3) And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
4) And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5) And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
In Romans 8:28, we are told that "ALL things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." So many times, we quote this Scripture without actually thinking about its implications. As people of God, we will go through things. We will suffer, BUT those sufferings will reap the blessings of God in our lives.
There are no "short cuts" to spiritual maturity. It comes only with relationship with God. Now, when we are truly dedicated to the work of our Father and have relationship with Him, tribulation is inevitable. Tribulation is opposition, though it comes in many forms. That opposition, however, does not define us, as we are justified by faith. Our peace is through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So, don't be discouraged. Do not get angry, frustrated or upset. Just know that you are justified, so you can stand and maintain peace in your relationship with our Father.
Have you ever prayed for more patience, more hope or more peace? Then, it seemed as if your world turned upside down? Well, that's the PROCESS that God has warned us of. That peace comes through trials. That patience comes through perserverance. Hope and experience are developed through trials. Living for God does not mean that we live an exclusive life of victory, wealth and perfection. It means we are equipped to fight. It means we have accepted a call to work for the will of God to be established in the earth. It means you are willing to become a living sacrifice, and that is only your reasonable service.
There are no shortcuts. You cannot have the end without the means. Selah!
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