| ............ | A Word In Due Season Sept 2015 9/1/15 WORKING WITH GOD Scripture: Joshua 5:6 "The Israelites traveled forty years in the wilderness, until all the warriors who came out of Egypt, perished, not having listened to the voice of the Lord." A journey that started out so promising for the Israelites ended in defeat simply because of unbelief. It should have taken less than two weeks for God's people to make their way across the desert into the Promised Land, but instead their journey lasted forty years and they perished along the way. Throughout the journey they murmured and complained. And even though they had lived in cruel bondage in Egypt, they continued to look back. They even voiced their desire to return to the evil they had been delivered from. God rained down manna from Heaven upon them for forty years and provided water from a rock to quench their thirst, yet they still longed for the leeks and garlic that they had left behind. Somehow in their memory they imagined that the conditions of the past had been better than they actually were. Because they could not give up or resolve the past, they failed to receive God's promise for their future. How many journeys do we fail to complete? Our hopes and plans perish in the middle of our dreams because we give up along the way. Our unbelief outweighs our faith and we fail to work with God by following His plan to the end. The desert places get too dry even though God is there providing water from the Rock, Christ Jesus. The den is too dark and scary even though we can see that God has shut the mouths of the lions for us. The fire is too hot even though we can feel the Lord standing with us and shielding us from the flames. And the storms are too fierce even though we know that we are secure because He is in the boat with us. In life's journey we tend to repeat the things that we do not resolve. Like the Israelites, many times we wander back and forth through the wilderness of unforgiveness, disappointments, bitterness, and emotional hurts. If the wounds of the past are not resolved every time that God pours Himself into us, His goodness will flow out through the open wounds of our heart. We can't hold it in because we can't believe in ourselves. God loves us and doesn't want us wandering around in a wilderness of emotional pain for forty years. He wants to take us from that bondage and bring us into a new and glorious place that He has prepared for us. To get a grip on the things that God has planned for us, we must work with Him and move forward in faith, resolve the old issues, and let go of the past. No matter where we are in life, there is a new level and a higher place. Let us determine to listen to God and work with Him so that we do not perish in the wilderness of defeat. +++ 9/2/15 HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER Scripture: Psalms 136:1 "O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good; for His mercy endures forever." Twenty-five verses follow this first one, each ending with the same refrain, "His mercy endures forever." The psalmist was making a very strong point that God's mercy, love, and kindness never end. He speaks of the God of all gods, who by His own wisdom made the heavens and the earth. God then created the sun to rule the day, and the moon and stars to rule the night. Yet, this same God who has done such great wonders and mighty works still extends His mercy and compassion to mankind. The psalmist said, "God remembers us in our low estate" (verse 23). This psalm makes mention of the mighty deliverance of Israel from Pharaoh and the bondage of Egypt. Verse twenty-four declares that we also have been redeemed from our enemies because of God's great mercy. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "Great is Thy faithfulness ... God's compassion never fails and His mercies are new every morning." This means each and every morning, our gracious God has a new batch of mercies prepared that He is ready to extend to us because He knows that we will need them to make it through the day. This scripture continues to say that it is only because of the Lord's mercies and unfailing compassion that we are not consumed. On days that you feel that you have utterly failed the test, your speech has not ministered grace to the hearer, and your own transgressions have exceeded those who have transgressed against you, remember that God's mercy still endures forever. His mercy doesn't stop with your failure and He is not waiting there to consume you with His wrath. He has already extended His mercy to you. All you must do is receive it and give Him thanks. Repeat the refrain, "God's mercy endures forever," twenty-six times like the psalmist did and let the reality of these words minister to you. As you cope with the challenges of your day, you will discover that you really do have a good and faithful God whose mercies endure forever. +++ 9/3/15 PRUDENCE Scripture: Proverbs 12:16 "A prudent man ignores an insult." Solomon, one of the wisest men who ever lived, wrote this proverb concerning a prudent man's response to insults. One of the definitions of 'prudent' is "to be careful with respect to one's own interest and conduct." Solomon stated that it was not in our best interest to give in to the evil voices of other people. When we allow ourselves to be provoked by others and we respond to them in anger or defense, we are allowing the offender to control us and we are also allowing our anger to dictate our conduct. We play right into the hands of the enemy of our soul, which allows him to bring us down to his level. In these situations, we fail to realize that we are wrestling with spirits, not flesh and blood. In the passion of the moment we fail to use good judgment in handling the matter and then speak foolish words that are generated by our pain. Sometimes, we go away for a moment and plan a response that becomes harsher than the words that we've received. We can't seem to turn the other cheek as Jesus taught us to do because we feel a need to get even. Yet, King Solomon told us to be prudent and ignore the insult. He held a secret inside of himself. He knew that if he could exhibit control over himself, then he was, in a sense, displaying the greatness of his own character. He spoke again in Proverbs 16:32 and said, "A man that is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and the man who can rule his own spirit is better than a man who can take a city." In other words, Solomon said, "You must be in control of your anger. You must be in control of your spirit." This quiet strength will prove who is the mightiest. The winner is not the one with the sharpest tongue, but the one who can control his tongue. What a challenge it is to control this small member of our body. What a display of wisdom, just to simply ignore harsh words and accusations. What a victory to be like Jesus when He faced His accusers. "Jesus gave no answer or reply, not even to a single accusation, so that the governor marveled greatly" (Matthew 27:12). Prudence is strength. If you want to be prudent and to stop the evil effects of insults, let silence be your answer. +++ 9/4/15 KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS Scripture: Matthew 14:30 "But when Peter saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord save me." The disciples were crossing the lake when their ship was tossed about by contrary winds. While they were in this dilemma, Jesus came walking towards them on the water. At first the disciples were troubled and afraid. They thought that they were seeing the images of ghosts and spirits. But then Jesus identified Himself and told them not to fear. When Peter realized that he was seeing Jesus walk on the water, he rose up in faith and said, "Lord, if it is You, bid me come to You." And Jesus said, "Come." However, the faith that worked for Peter and caused him to have the courage to step out of the boat and walk on the water soon faded in the light of the situation. When Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and began to look at the winds and the waves, his faith failed and he began to sink. In fear, he cried to the Lord for help and Jesus immediately stretched forth His hand, caught Peter, and walked him back to the boat. This story shows us how easy it is to start out in faith and then have our faith fail along the way. It is a snapshot of us walking on the water and then sinking in that same water. The circumstances have not changed. It is the same water, same winds, and same waves that we started out in. The only thing that has changed is the way we view them. When we started out in faith, our eyes were upon Jesus. We saw Him and were convinced of what He could do and that He would help us do the same. We weren't looking at the waves and the contrary winds. Our vision was fresh because our eyes were focused upon Jesus, and it was easy to obey because the words that He spoke to us were clear in our spirit. Many times, however, when we start our journey towards God's promise, we encounter difficulties. We find that staying in faith is not always easy and that walking on the water can be a real challenge. It just takes a few winds of adversity to discourage us, and some strong waves to cause us to fear. The devil does all that he can to divert our attention so that he can eliminate our faith. His goal is to kill, steal, and destroy. The difficulties and distractions that he brings usually cause us to take our eyes off Jesus and His Word. When we begin to focus on the immediate adversities, we begin to experience failure. Notice that Peter did not sink. He only began to sink. When He cried out to the Lord, the Lord saved him. Wherever you are in your walk of faith, remember that all is not lost. Like Peter, you can call out to the Lord at any time for help. He understands your lack and is willing and able to come to your rescue. If you call out to the Lord, He will stretch forth His hand and lift you up. You must not dwell upon the raging waves or the activity around you. You must stay focused on the Author and Finisher of your faith. As long as you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will walk on the water and experience the supernatural. +++ 9/7/15 WE ARE ON GOD'S MIND Scripture: Psalms 115:12 "The Lord has been mindful of us: He will bless us." This psalm is a wonderful reminder that we serve the only true and living God and that He is always mindful of us. He watches us just as a father watches his own son or daughter. He protects us and provides for us. He is there to comfort us in our grief and dry the tears from our eyes. He also lifts us up when we become discouraged and lets us know that all things are going to work together for good. He gives us hope and lets us know that He has good plans for our future. He even extends His mercy and grace when we fall. And all of these provisions and blessings require no sacrifice on our part, for His love is unconditional. Other verses in this psalm speak of the other gods that men worship and serve. It says that those gods are handmade of silver and gold. Instead of being the Creator like the Living God we serve, they are the created. They have mouths, but they can't speak, eyes that can't see, and ears that can't hear. They have noses that can't smell and hands that can't grasp and handle things. They also have feet that can't walk or run and throats that are unable to utter a sound. These idols and gods are useless. They can't be touched with our feelings or understand our pain. How sad it would be to serve such a god that cannot function or communicate and whose value is limited to the amount of precious metal that it is made of. We are blessed to have a personal relationship with a Living God. He is sovereign and He knows every situation of our lives. Sometimes things may get out of balance and we may wonder what is happening in our life. We must understand that God is always in control and that He is mindful of us. We are in His thoughts even when we are under spiritual attack. Satan, himself, could not attack Job without the permission of God, and even then he was restricted by the limitations that God dictated. It has been said that we are either coming out of a trial, in a trial, or about to go through a trial. Wherever you are today, remember that you are on God's mind. He loves and cares for you and He is going to bless you. +++ 9/8/15 VOICE OF PRAYER Scripture: Mark 10:48 (NLT) "He only shouted louder, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" A large crowd followed Jesus and His disciples as they left the city of Jericho. At the same time a blind beggar named Bartimaeus was sitting beside the road that they traveled, and when he heard that Jesus was passing by he began to cry out to Him with a loud voice. He had probably heard the stories about Jesus and how He had healed the sick and done other notable miracles. The crowds tried to hush Bartimaeus, but the more they tried, the louder he got. He was desperate and not the least bit ashamed to make his plea known. He needed mercy and healing and his cries for help caught the attention of Jesus. Jesus could have just passed Batimaeus by and the people would not have thought too much about it because they had no compassion for this blind man. While they made every attempt to silence this hurting and needy soul, Jesus stood still and commanded Bartimaeus to be brought to Him. Jesus then asked him what he wanted and when the blind man replied that he wanted to see, Jesus declared, "Your faith has made you whole." This is a mighty story about a humanly impossible situation in the life of an ordinary man. The blind man had no hope in the people about him or in the religious leaders of the synagogue, but he had hope in Jesus. He knew that Jesus was the Healer so he cried to Him with a loud voice. When his voice of faith was not heard, he cried louder. He didn't care what others thought of him because he recognized that this was his moment of opportunity and he was desperate for a touch from the healing hands of Jesus. God is always looking for believers who will trust in Him for their needs to be met because He wants to be God in their lives just like He was for the blind man. There was no way that the blind man could heal himself. It took a miracle from God. Likewise, there is no way that we can help ourselves. If we can do it, it is not faith. If we can make it happen, it is not a miracle. God wants to do the impossible in your life so that He may be glorified in the Earth. You can't allow adversity to quench your faith or the doubts of others to silence your voice. God is waiting to answer your prayers like He did for blind Bartimaeus but you must call out to Him and when opposition presents itself, you must cry even louder. If you have a need now is the time to arise and allow your voice of faith to be heard by the Master. +++ 9/9/15 BREAKING FREE FROM BONDAGE Scripture: Exodus 6:9 "Moses spoke to the Israelites; but they would not listen to him because of their broken spirit and cruel bondage." God made many promises to the Israelites and when they cried out to Him, He remembered the covenant that He had established with them through Abraham. When God saw the pain of His people, His heart turned towards them and He sent Moses to deliver them from the heavy burdens and bondage of the Egyptians. God's plan was to bring them into the land that He had promised to their ancestors, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Their inheritance was to be a land of joy, freedom, and plenty. However, they couldn't receive this word because their spirits had been broken by the cruel bondage, which had been placed upon them by the Egyptians whom they had served for four hundred years. Memories can become definite strongholds of bondage. Consider the elephant at the circus. When the elephant is young and has little strength, the workers chain one of its legs to a rod in the ground. By doing so, they condition the elephant's mind to believe that it is unable to break away from the chain. All of its life, the elephant pulls mighty burdens and does great work in setting up the circus. It has enormous strength, yet when it is restrained by its master's chain, it loses that strength. Because of the past, the elephant doesn't recognize its own ability to break loose from the small chain that holds it in bondage. It remembers that in the past it could not break free so it is held captive by the imaginations of its own mind. Today, you may have some sort of Egyptian in your life. Disappointments and painful experiences of the past may have made it difficult for you to believe for a better future. All that you can envision is failure because your spirit is bound by these insignificant memories. Feelings of rejection may conflict with your hopes of acceptance and the chains of a broken spirit may be causing your future to look hopelessly bleak. You may feel helpless, as your heart seems incapable of taking hold of any of God's promises. Your faith is lacking and near void because you are held to the memories of a cruel past. Maybe it's a father you never knew, a mother who passed away, a child who was taken from you, a failed marriage, or a situation of abuse. Whatever your cruel bondage, Jesus is anointed to set you free. He came to this earth so that you might have life and have it more abundantly. He hears your cries and remembers His covenant with you. He wants to break the chains of the past that hold you and to tear down the walls that surround you. While the chains may be strong in your mind, in reality they are weak compared to the Spirit of God that resides within you. You must recognize the weakness of these chains and trust God to set you free. Through the power of His Blood, His Name, and His Word, the chains that have held you in cruel bondage can be broken and you can be free. +++ 9/10/15 BE HOLY Scripture: I Peter 1:16 "Be holy, for I am holy." Be holy. Two simple words that make us accountable to God for our thoughts, attitudes, and deeds. Yet regardless of how hard we may work at it, how could we ever live up to the holiness of God? There is not a day that goes by that we do not have to draw upon the grace and mercy of God, who is ever faithful to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Without God, we would be hopeless in our quest for holiness. Even the Apostle Paul struggled. He declared that the good things that he wanted to do, he didn't do, and the evil things that he didn't want to do, he did (Romans 7:19). He also said, "I have not attained, but I press toward the mark." He may not have been holy in every thought and action, but his eyes were focused on the Lord and his heart was headed in that direction. This is same path of holiness that you and I are required to be on. God will grant us grace, but not as a license to sin. He expects us to discipline our thinking and be obedient children. We may not always do everything right but our eyes must be looking into His eyes and our heart facing His heart. Our wills must be in line with His will and our spirit must be holy even though our flesh is weak. Many times our lives are like a ship that is on a journey across a vast ocean. The storms come and we get thrown off course by the winds of adversity. Our faith may be challenged as we encounter all sorts of difficulties. Yet, we must understand that even though we may stray off course to the left or to the right, we are still on the journey. Our eyes are on the compass and our trust is in a small arrow that points out the direction. Regardless of what happens along the way, we are still making our way across the ocean. We can follow the path through the depths of the water the best we know how and believe that we will eventually reach our destination. So it is with holiness. We must understand that even though we may not be there yet, we are on our way. +++ 9/11/15 ABUNDANT LIFE Scripture: Luke 12:15 "A man's life doesn't consist in the abundance of the things which he possesses." What is abundant life? Jesus said that you can't measure the quality of life by the quantity of your possessions, for an abundant life comes only through a relationship with Him. In John 10:10, Jesus said that He came that we might have and enjoy life. To experience this abundant life we have to separate ourselves from the mindset of the world. Our view often becomes distorted as we view the lives of the rich and famous. We see their incredible homes and possessions and hear of their enormous wealth. For those of us who live modest lifestyles, it is too much to comprehend. Every detail of their life becomes intriguing as we assume their possessions mirror their happiness. We forget what Jesus said. Jesus taught that what you have or don't have doesn't define life. The tangible is not a gage of God's blessings, nor is it a guarantee of an abundant life. Money and possessions are no substitute for true wealth and prosperity. You can't accumulate enough money to purchase eternal life and peace for your soul. It comes to you as a free gift just like the other most precious things on this earth such as love, family, friendship, health, and happiness. These are the things that make for an abundant life. Jesus could turn water into wine and multiply bread and fish. Yet, regardless of His power, He lived a very simple life and was not caught up with material things. Jesus had no earthly home or possessions and in death He had to be laid in a borrowed tomb for a few days. But He experienced an abundant life because His life consisted of doing the will of His Father. Peter also did not possess the wealth of this world, for he spoke to the lame man and said, "Silver and gold have I none." However, because of the abundant life of God that resided inside of him, Peter was able to impart healing in the Name of Jesus Christ to the man. Like Peter and like Jesus, your possessions may be meager. You may never have very much silver and gold, but you have something far more valuable. You have access to the abundant life that Jesus offers, which is a life that does not consist of things, but consist of Him and all that He is. +++ 9/14/15 NO DEAD ENDS Scripture: II Corinthians 2:12 "When I came ... a door was opened unto me of the Lord." God never leads His children down roads that come to a dead end or which have no future. Likewise, He doesn't give us all of the details or blueprints of our life's plan either. He leads us step by step lest we put our trust in the plan instead of in Him. He stands around the bend of the road and whispers softly to us. We have to exercise great faith to make the turn when we can't see any tangible evidence of Him and all that we have to trust in is the gentle whisper of His still small voice. Yet, it is as we come to the end of the road and the end of ourselves that God opens a new path before us. Isaiah 42:16 says, "I will lead the blind by a way that they knew not: I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them." God doesn't open doors in advance. His way of doing things is similar to the automatic doors in the market places. You can stand outside the perimeter of the door's sensor all day and the door will not open. You can watch others come and go as the door opens for them, but the door will never open for you until you get close enough to place your foot on the mat. When the door senses you are there and that you are serious about going in, it will open. Likewise, when God knows that you are serious about going through the door of faith, He will open it for you. Throughout the scriptures, we see God opening the doors for men as He led them through various situations. For instance, Moses met many seemingly dead-end places, but God was never without a plan. God opened the Red Sea, provided manna daily for forty years, and brought forth water from a rock in order to rescue and provide for Moses and the Israelites. And in Joshua's case, it was only when the soles of the priests' feet stepped into the water that the river Jordan rolled back. God demanded faith on their part before He worked on their behalf. Isaiah 43:19 tells us that "God will do a new thing, something you knew nothing about. He will even make a way in the wilderness." If your mind is telling you that you are facing a dead end, remember that God is still able to open the door. He is not limited by your circumstances. Continue in faith and He will bring light into your darkness, make the crooked way straight, and open the door before you. +++ 9/15/15 JOY FOR THE JOURNEY Scripture: Psalms 40:2 " ... He established my goings." Life is a process and a journey through time where lasting memories are created. Like any other journey, the highway of life that we travel climbs the hills and passes through the valleys. Sometimes it takes us to the top of the mountains where there is much joy and at other times it circles and overlooks deep dark canyons where fear prevails. This journey takes us across the rivers, near the oceans, and through the desert places. Each mile we travel is different and unpredictable. There are sudden detours that take us down unfamiliar paths and challenging circumstances all along the way that we must face. Often, we are unable to clearly read the signs and temptations that try to lure us into exiting from God's highway of holiness. Throughout this journey, we must remember that God is in control and that He is "establishing our goings." David said, "The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord" (Psalms 37:23). And Proverbs 16:9 tells us that a man's mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. We choose our route, but our lives remain in the hands of a sovereign God. When we make Him the Lord of our life and seek to do His will, we put Him in the driver's seat. That means He has the authority to take us down the good roads and sometimes down the roads that seem bad. But we must trust God's divine wisdom and direction for we know that all things will work together for good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). We have chosen God's highway of holiness, but many of us are driving "clunkers." We have no joy, no peace, and no rest. His burden has become heavy and we are road weary and uncomfortable. We haven't learned that joy is the journey, not our destination. The joy of the Lord must be our companion if we are to continue in strength and complete our course. Joy is a choice that we make and comes into being when we totally surrender everything to God. When the psalmist was in the midst of adversity he declared, "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). Regardless of his circumstances, he made a conscious decision to be joyful. As you travel today's journey, choose joy as your companion. The road before you will be brighter and your load will be lighter. +++ 9/16/15 LOVE FORMS THE CLAY Scripture: Isaiah 64:8 "O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You are the potter; and we all are the work of Your hand." We are the work of God's hands. We are not being shaped by fate or some invisible force but by a loving Heavenly Father. When God envisioned us, He did not see us as a number among the billions of people that would be created. He saw us as individuals with our own special personality, a creation of His own image. When He created us, He focused all of His efforts upon us to make us into the vessel that He needed us to be so that we could fulfill His purposes. Just as the potter is with the clay vessel that he is forming, God holds us firmly and forms us with His own hands. There are not two potters at the potter's wheel. There is only one. From the beginning to the end, God involves Himself with us on a one-on-one basis and if we allow Him, He will become not only our creator but also our closest friend. All of God's dealings are meant to make us into a vessel that is solid. Like the potter who removes the lumps and particles from the clay, God also works to remove the things from our lives that will weaken our vessel and that are destined to destroy us. We must trust God's sovereignty and His decisions. Our ultimate destiny may be hidden from our view and there may seem to be no immediate purpose for the things that we are going through. We may see our lives as spinning in many directions and out of control, but God has a wonderful plan for our life. He is not in a hurry and will take His time with us to insure that we are ready for use in His kingdom. We must focus our eyes upon Him and His righteousness and allow Him to conform us into His image. In Psalms 17:15 King David said, "I shall be satisfied when I awake with Your likeness." David was a man after God's heart, yet he was not satisfied with his present state. He wanted to be changed into the likeness of God, and we too must be satisfied with no less. The scriptures declare that God is love. God is our Father and we are the clay. We must give ourselves to Him and allow love to form the clay into His likeness. +++ 9/17/15 WHAT MANNER OF MAN? Scripture: Luke 8:25 "What manner of Man is this! For He commands even the winds and water, and they obey Him." The disciples were crossing the lake at Jesus' command when they encountered a fierce storm. In the midst of this situation, they cried out to the Lord and He spoke peace to the storm. Even though the disciples were expecting Jesus to deliver them, they were still overwhelmed by the miracle that He performed. For with a few words, He calmed the winds and the waters. The question then entered their minds, "What manner of Man is this?" What kind of man can be asleep one minute and then have dominion over the elements of nature the next minute? What kind of man can speak to the winds or command the waters and bring them into subjection to His will? What kind of man has authority over the storms of life? Upon seeing this powerful display, the disciples recognized that they were in the presence of someone who was filled with the supernatural power of God and they worshiped Him. The storms in our lives are frightening, but like the storms in the lives of the disciples, our personal spiritual storms also create spiritual growth. It is in the storms of life that our prayers become more intense, for we realize that the Lord is our only help. It is in the midst of the storms that our faith is tried and tested as we are taken beyond our previous level of faith. We may grow tired and weary as we struggle against the winds of adversity and the waves of uncertainty, but in the end, the struggle of the storm will be the thing that strengthens us. In the storms of life, we discover that Jesus is always ready to come to our rescue. We learn that He is with us in the boat and that He is all that we need. We come to know that He understands all of the issues that we are dealing with, even our fears and lack of faith. In the storms we experience His mighty power as His words bring peace to our greatest challenge. You may have found yourself floundering around on the sea of life because you have not allowed Jesus to be the captain of your soul. It may seem to you that the Lord is asleep on the boat while you are struggling against your own personal storm. Like the disciples, you may be asking Jesus, "Do You care that I am about to perish?" Jesus knows just how much you can bear. When you are at the end of your faith, He will come and strengthen you. When you are being sifted like wheat, He will pray for you. The Lord of your life is never far from your dilemma. His words of "Peace be still" will work today. He is able to bring hope into every hopeless situation and peace into every storm. He can speak one word of healing and drive out all of the sickness in your body. He can command that life dispel the spirit of death. He can cause you to prosper by dismissing poverty from your life. Everything in life and death must submit to God's will and obey His Words. Jesus has your answer, but you must call out to Him. Your prayer will invoke the Lord's presence and His voice of power and authority will come to your rescue. He will calm your greatest storms and cause every wave of adversity to cease in your life. That is the manner of this man named Jesus. +++ 9/18/15 FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS Scripture: Esther 4:14 "... you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this and for this very occasion." God did not choose Moses, Joseph, Elijah, or any of the other great men of the Bible to live in this dark hour of human history. He chose you for this time and this season. Your life is not a dress rehearsal - it is the real play. God has set you on the stage of life in a particular place at a particular time to do a work for Him. He has ordained you and equipped you for the occasion that you now face with your family, friends, career, and ministry. It's up to you to fulfill His divine purposes. In Luke 9:62, Jesus said that if you put your hand to the plow and go forward, you will be fit for the kingdom of God. In other words, when you focus on going forward you will be someone that God can use in His kingdom. Jesus didn't give other options for you to consider. You are to take up your cross and follow Him daily. It's easy to follow God when you first start out. With fresh energy in the cool of the morning, plowing doesn't seem so hard. Later in the day, however, when the sun's rays begin to beam, your muscles begin to ache, and the sweat begins to pour from your brow, you may start to wonder if the harvest is worth the effort. When you look back to what could have been while you are trying to plow God's field, it indicates that you have questions about God's directions for your life, and your hesitation to obey His commands reflects your lack of trust in His wisdom. You must choose not to look back. The most limiting thing in life is a firm choice. It means that you refuse to allow current circumstances to sway your faith and manipulate you. Look at the account of the Apostle Paul in Acts 20:24. He said, "None of these things move me." Paul was called to the Kingdom to share the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. He wasn't going to allow afflictions, persecutions, jail sentences, or even death itself to deter him from God's call. He made a determination not only to finish his course, but to finish it with joy. His main interest was the will of God, not his own welfare. Paul possessed an attitude of consecration that caused him to press towards the mark of the high calling of Christ Jesus. For this reason, he never looked back. Like the Apostle Paul, God has a plan and purpose for your life. You are called to God's kingdom for such a time as this to experience the very occasion that you now face. Will you trust God with all of your heart, put your hand to the plow, go forward, and not look back? +++ 9/21/15 THY KINGDOM COME Scripture: Matthew 6:10 "Thy kingdom come." Jesus established a principle of prayer that prayer is not to be made just for our own personal needs. Instead, prayer is designed for the benefit of the entire kingdom of God. A prayer that was once published shows how we often think. A man prayed, "Lord, I pray that you would bless me, my wife, our son John and his wife ... us four and no more." However, Jesus' prayers were never about His own physical needs, but were always focused on the kingdom of God. In teaching us how to pray and get results, Jesus said, "Pray that God's kingdom would come on Earth as it is in Heaven." He then mentioned that we should pray concerning our personal daily needs but in another passage He told us that we did not need to be overly concerned about material things. He said, "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33). Jesus was telling us to seek the invisible and then the visible will be added. When you take care of God's business and His kingdom, He will take care of your business. The definition of the Kingdom of God is given in Romans 14:17 which says, "For the kingdom of God is not meat, and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." When you have a situation in which there is no righteousness, peace, and joy, you need to pray and declare that God's kingdom manifest and take control. Matthew 11:12 says, "The kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force." The devil gets violent and does all that he can do to keep you from living in righteousness, peace, and joy. But, you can get violent in the spirit and stand against him. Even Jesus stood violently against the moneychangers and drove them out of the temple with a whip. In the sixth chapter of Ephesians, we are told to put on the whole armor of God and stand against the strategies of the devil. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and spiritual wickedness in high places. God's kingdom will dispel and drive out the forces of the kingdom of darkness. In the natural, when you walk into a room that is dark, all you need to do to dispel the darkness is to turn on the light. The light will drive out the darkness by its own strength. You do not have the power within yourself to drive out the darkness, but you have the power to flip the switch that will produce the light. Likewise you cannot bring righteousness, peace, and joy into a situation by natural means, but you can flip the spiritual switch by praying as Jesus taught you to pray. When you begin to pray for His kingdom to come and start declaring His authority in your situation, then the righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost will come into your kingdom and Jesus will rule as Lord in your life. +++ 9/22/15 GOD'S COMPASSION Scripture: Lamentations 3:21-22 (NIV) "Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail." Jeremiah, the prophet, was very distraught concerning the circumstances that surrounded him. He was in such a bad state of mind that his perception of God changed and he began to think that God was against him on every side. He put the blame on God and expressed his despair and fear, saying, "God has hedged me about so that I cannot get out" (Verse 7). It is recorded that the Assyrians would wall up their prisoners so that they had no way of escape and would allow them to die in this state. Jeremiah's thoughts caused him to experience this kind of pain and anxiety. He envisioned himself as being trapped within walls that were unmovable. He could not help himself and had come to the point that he felt that there was no help or deliverance coming from God either. In his distress, he declared, "My strength and my hope is perished from the Lord" (Verse 18). Jeremiah had allowed his mind to be shaped by the events around him and he gave in to his emotions. Yet in the midst of his inner struggle and outward turmoil, he remembered God, and when he began to think about God's mercy and compassion, hope returned to his heart. As he looked at his situation from a different perspective, he saw with a clearer vision the reality of what was really happening. He came to the conclusion that he would not be consumed in his problems because he knew that God's great love and compassion never fails. I suppose that most of us have been in a place similar to Jeremiah's where it seemed that we were surrounded by four walls that were closing in on us. There were financial difficulties on one side, failing health on the other, problems with relationships on the third side, and finally unpleasant situations on the job or something else to deal with. As the stress mounted, our strength failed and our hopes began to perish. Maybe you have even been like the Apostle Paul and have had more than four conflicts going on in your life at the same time. Paul declared that he had no rest because he was troubled on every side (II Corinthians 7:5). Yet, he did not allow himself to be distressed or in despair, but instead he continued in faith. We must have this same resolve that we are not going to be consumed or overwhelmed in the conflict that surrounds us. Instead, we are going to remember who God is in our lives and believe in His great love and compassion for us that never fails. +++ 9/23/15 TARRY ... UNTIL Scripture: Luke 24:49 "Tarry ....until you be endued with power from on high." There is always a voice calling us to a new and higher level whether it be in our financial status, our professions, our friendships and close relationships, or our calling to the ministry. It is a supernatural pull to move upward and forward in all areas. Most of us will do all that we can to move to this higher place, especially in spiritual things and the area of ministry. Like the Apostle Paul, the things of the past will become unimportant and we will make a determination to "press toward the mark of the high calling of God in our lives" (Philippines 3:14). When God first speaks to us of a new level, it is often overwhelming. It may even be troubling, like it was to the Virgin Mary who asked the angel, "How can these things be?" The outcome of the unknown is always a challenge in our minds. Yet when we sense that God is calling us from one place to another in our lives, something within us arises and causes us to want to run to it immediately. Our souls may be overwhelmed, but our spirits are excited by the vision and regenerated by the fresh Word from God. New strength is infused within our hearts by the impartation of the new assignment and the gifts that have been dormant in our lives are suddenly stirred and resurrected to new life. We are ready to move forward, but then we hear that still small voice of the Lord telling us to "tarry ... until," for God's call always demands the power of His Spirit. Jesus had a great calling for His disciples and followers. He wanted them to preach the gospel to the meek, heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, and do other mighty miracles in His Name just as He had done when He was on Earth. Teachers and mentors always want their students to excel. The Lord's voice was calling them to a higher place but He also told them to tarry until they received power from on high. He knew that they could do nothing of themselves, just as He could do nothing of Himself. Jesus depended upon God's power and He knew that His disciples must do the same. That power came on the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came like a rushing mighty wind from Heaven and filled all of them. They did not have to announce their promotion or exalt their gifts because signs and wonders became evident in their own ministries. If you believe that you are not in the place that God has ordained for you to be or feel that you are lacking in any area of life, that is an indication that God is trying to move you forward. He wants you to succeed and be all that you can be, but until promotion comes you must realize that you are in a season of preparation. It is a season to glean from the wisdom of others who have passed this way before. It is a season to learn all that you can and absorb all that God brings your direction. It is a time to wait in God's presence, to develop the fruits of His Spirit, and to gain the knowledge that comes down from above. Most importantly, it is a time to "tarry ... until" God empowers you with His Holy Spirit. +++ 9/24/15 POSSESSING GOD'S PROMISE Scripture: Numbers 13:30 "And Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, Let us go up at once and posses it: for we are well able to overcome it." God told Moses and the Israelites that He would lead them out of Egypt into a good land. He also told them that they would have to make an effort to receive this promise. They would have to face the giants, drive out the inhabitants, and posses the land. Caleb was one of the twelve men who was sent to search out this land of promise. He and Joshua came back full of faith and with a good report, while the other ten men voiced an evil report. Although Joshua and Caleb wanted to go up immediately and possess the land, they were held back by the unbelief of the majority. The ten men who had returned with an evil report were distracted by the giants in the land. When they saw the giants, they began to see themselves as grasshoppers, and knew that they were viewed in the same manner by the giants. These distractions led to deception and caused them to lose faith. They began to murmur against Moses and Aaron and eventually blamed God for their serious circumstances. They accused God of leading them into the wilderness so that they could be killed. Because they focused on the distractions and allowed themselves to be deceived, they became discouraged and said, " We wish we had died in Egypt or even in this wilderness" (Numbers 14:2). They became totally disillusioned and no longer wanted God's plan or the Promised Land. They wanted to return to Egypt and the bondage that they had left behind (Numbers 14:4). This is one of the devil's strategies as he leads us down a trail to the place of defeat. He uses distractions to take us into deception. In deception, we have no clear understanding about God or His will. We have no discernment about the problem or the solution. We become totally confused mentally and spiritually disoriented. The devil then begins to discourage us until he brings us to the place of disillusionment. He works his plan, one step at a time, to keep us from possessing the promises of God. I Peter 5:8 says, "Be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour." Our hope in these situations is to follow Caleb's example. When God gives a promise to us, we must make the decision to possess that promise and refuse to focus on the problems or the giants. Whatever the challenge, we must not fear but seek to secure the promise at once, for the Lord will help us to posses and make us more than conquerors. +++ 9/25/15 PRAISE PREPARES THE WAY Scripture: Psalms 50:23 (NIV) "He who sacrifices praise honors Me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Praise is a mighty force. It is not only an expression of our faith but also a spiritual weapon that can be used against the enemy of our soul. When we praise God in the midst of our adversity, we are declaring our trust in Him. Our praise demonstrates our total confidence in God's ability and wisdom. It also confirms our submission to His will. When we give praises to God, we are also informing the devil that we believe in God and know that He is still in control regardless of the outcome of our situation. Like Job, our praise declares, "Though God slay me, yet will I trust Him." Everything in our life doesn't have to be perfect for us to praise God. Many times we have to offer up a sacrifice of praise and give thanks to God regardless of our circumstances, for praise is the force that will open the windows of Heaven and allow God to work in our lives. The psalmist said that when we honor God with praise and thanksgiving, we are preparing the way for Him to show us salvation. Like the Israelites, God will not intervene and bring deliverance in our situation until we quit murmuring, enter into His rest, and give Him praise. Throughout the scriptures many deliverances occurred when praises were being exhibited. When Paul and Silas sang and praised God at themidnight hour, the prison doors were opened, and they were set free. When Jehoshaphat's army praised God on the battlefield, God sent ambushments against the enemy and the enemy destroyed themselves (II Chronicles 20:22). In Matthew 15:25, a woman worshipped and praised Jesus and her daughter was delivered of demons. Also, there was a ruler who worshipped Jesus and his daughter was raised from the dead. Praise prepared the way for God to bring deliverance in these situations. We were created in God's imagine and His nature is within us. We understand how hard it is to deny our own children's request when they are expressing their love and adoration for us. So it is with our Heavenly Father's thoughts towards us. Praise speaks volumes to the heart of God and draws His attention to us and our situation. Our praise is a declaration of our faith and when He sees our worship and hears our praise, He reacts. The Word of God says that we always reap what we sow. When we are in lack and sow praise regardless of our need, we are telling God that we believe in His provision and He allows us to reap His bountiful supply. When we sow praise while our lives are in turmoil, peace begins to prevail because we are focusing upon God instead of the confusion. When we sow praise in the midst of adversity, the forces of Hell must give way to deliverance. You may be facing extreme circumstances and it may truly be a sacrifice for you to give praise and thanksgiving in your current situation. Yet deliverance is available and the choice is yours. Are you going to use your voice of praise to prepare the way for your salvation? +++ 9/28/15 THE GREAT COMMISSION Scripture: Mark 16:15 & 20 "Jesus said, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel' ... And they went forth ... the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs and wonders." When Jesus spoke these words, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel," He also made promises to those who obeyed Him. He promised the Anointing of the Holy Spirit, the Authority to use His name, and the Assurance that He would confirm His Word with signs and wonders. He made it very clear that the believers would not have to depend upon their own powers and abilities, for their strength would never be a sufficient match for the challenges set before them. When God led His people to the edge of the Red Sea, He was aware that they had no ability to cross it. He knew that it would take His own miracle working power to deliver them. Moses, their leader, was not equipped to roll back the sea by himself, but the presence of the Lord that was with Moses was greater than the task that was set before him. When Joshua faced the walls of Jericho, God knew that Joshua did not have the strength to bring the walls down, but God had a plan. He told Joshua to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day, and then give a mighty shout. When Joshua and his army obeyed God, God's power filled their shouts and the walls came down. Paul and Silas found themselves in prison with no hope of helping themselves, but God's power was greater than the chains and prison bars that help them captive. As they prayed and sang praises to God a great earthquake shook the prison. The doors were opened and they were set free. When God sends the believer out, He always goes before them and prepares the way. You can be sure that if God is speaking to you about something, He is also working on the other end of the situation just as He did with Moses, Joshua, and Paul and Silas. God is not slack in any area. He is the Author and Finisher of His work. He is preparing the heart that you are being compelled to witness to. His healing power is waiting for your prayers of faith to activate it. There is no Red Sea, no Jericho wall, and no prison that can stop God from fulfilling His will and purposes in your life. There is no task that is set before you that is greater than God's presence within you. He has made you more than a conqueror in every situation. God will go before you and make the crooked way straight and also make a way in the wilderness. He will give you favor and will meet every need. Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean upon your own understanding, for as you go, He will confirm His Words with signs and wonders. +++ 9/29/15 KEEP YOUR MIND ON WHAT GOD SAID Scripture: Genesis 3:1 (NIV) "Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, 'Did God really say?'" The devil is very subtle and from the beginning of time he has always approached mankind with doubt. With just two people on the earth, he started his method of deceit. He approached Eve in the Garden of Eden with the words, "Did God really say?" He also used this same approach with Jesus over 2000 years ago and has continued with this tactic throughout the ages. Even today, his main weapon is to plant fear and doubt in the minds and hearts of the believer. For instance, Deuteronomy 31:6 says, "Be strong, courageous and firm, fear not, nor be in terror before them; for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you." These are simple words that God wants us to believe. Yet the devil attempts to distort them by planting just the opposite thoughts in our minds in an effort to dispel the faith that is within our hearts. He changes these words and speaks his thoughts to our mind saying, "Be weak, be afraid, shrink back and run in terror, for the Lord your God is not with you. He has failed and forsaken you." Have you ever experienced this conflict in your mind that brought doubt and caused you to wonder if you can handle the challenge that was set before you? Has he painted the mountains of adversity so big that you feel that they can't be conquered? Has he said that it's okay for you to fear because you can't make it through this ordeal or this illness? If so, it is time to resist the devil and believe and confess the Word of God. I had a pastor who had a unique way of handling the voice of deception. When fear and doubt would attack his mind and speak against what God had promised in His Word, my pastor would say, "Thank you, Mr. Devil, for letting me know the real truth." He knew that everything the devil said was a lie. My pastor would then confess just the opposite of the tormenting words that were trying to engage his mind in doubt and unbelief. The devil will try to distort God's Words and question His intentions, but God's Words are true and will remain forever. In every instance in life, you must know that God is in control and there is nothing to fear. God's Words of judgment will always leave you in peace, His corrections will be gentle and full of grace, and His chastisement will be accomplished with love. Remember to keep your mind on what God said. Don't allow the devil to engage you in battle. When he challenges your faith and questions the promises of God that are within your heart by saying, "Did God really say?", then simply respond, "Yes, God did say." +++ 9/30/15 HOW LONG? Scripture: Psalms 13:1 "How long will You forget me, O Lord." David must have been in extreme misery and difficulty when he wrote this psalm, for in the first two verses he questioned the Lord four times saying, "How long?" He said, "How long will you forget me?" "How long will you turn your back and hide your face from me?” "How long must I bear pain and sorrow in my soul?" "How long will the enemy be exalted over me?" I can imagine how David must have felt because I have faced some discouraging seasons myself and asked, "How long?" Even when I go through a stressful place or have to endure some other unpleasant procedure, the first thing that I ask is, "How long is this going to take?" It seems that it is a whole lot easier to endure a situation if you know there is an end in sight. Yet, many times our ordeal may take much longer than anticipated because our own struggles cause delays. David was waiting for God to deliver him from the oppression of his enemy, but it seemed that the Lord had turned His face from David and had forgotten all about him. This situation must have gone on for some length of time because David declared that he had sorrow in his heart daily and felt that he was near death as his enemies triumphed over him. As David worried over his situation and the oppression of the enemy, he suddenly stopped questioning God. Right in the midst of his dilemma, he began to pray for God's deliverance. When he began to pray, his mindset changed and he ended this psalm in victory. Notice that David was still in the same place physically, but his faith had moved to a different level spiritually as he declared his trust in God's mercy, salvation, and bountiful love and care. Have you ever been to the point where it seems that you just couldn't take much more? You wanted to know how much longer the journey was going to take. You felt that you could hold out to the end if you only knew when the trial was going to be finished. When would your health be restored? When would you find another job? How long are you going to be in debt? When will you meet that special someone? Like a child, you questioned God, "Are we almost there?" You must understand that God really has not turned His back or hid his face from you or your circumstances. He is there working out the problem, but He is also waiting for you to change your approach to the situation. It is one thing for us to murmur and complain about our circumstances and it is another thing for us to place those things that disturb us into God's hands. God can't work for us because we will not let go of the things that concern us and rely upon Him to perfect them. Many times when we ask God, "How long," He probably wants to answer, "As long as you cause it to be." So if you want God to complete His work, give all of your struggles to Him and rest in His timing. +++ Copyright © 2015 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
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