| ............ | A Word In Due Season Aug 2016 8/1/16 RESPONDING TO COUNSEL Scripture: Proverbs 19:20 (Amplified) "Hear counsel, receive instruction and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come." How often do we seem unwise at the end of a situation because we have failed to do the three things listed above; hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction? We have always heard the expression, "Two heads are better than one." This is also true from God's viewpoint, as He never intended for us to stand alone and figure out how to solve our own problems. Throughout His Word, He encourages us to seek counsel with each other and look at our situations from different perspectives. In Isaiah 9:6, God promised us a Wonderful Counselor in the person of Jesus Christ. And in II Timothy 3:16, the Apostle Paul tells us that God's written Word would give us counsel. He says, "All scripture is given by the inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness." When we fail to seek and receive counsel from Jesus, the Word, or others, we set ourselves up for failure. Proverbs 11:14 declares, "Where no wise guidance is, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Another proverb tells us that purposes and plans are brought to an end when there is no counsel, but with many counselors plans are established. Direction is gained and plans become established as you share with others and as you make yourself accountable to those who you have involved in your life decisions. Yet obtaining good and wise results does not end with just hearing wise counsel. You must also "receive instruction." Counsel will tell you where you are missing it, but instruction will tell you how to fix it. You must not only listen but also receive what is being said. Several times Jesus made a comment about those whom He ministered to, stating that they had eyes but did not see and ears but did not hear. They were seeing and hearing but not receiving any of His teachings into their heart. Wisdom takes us a step further. Hearing counsel and receiving instruction come to an end if we do not accept the correction and actually make the changes that are suggested or offered. For instance, if a mechanic tells you that the transmission in your car is bad, you may hear every detail of his wise counsel. You may even agree that you need to repair or replace the transmission. But if you do not make the corrections that are necessary, the transmission in your car will continue to work improperly. Solomon said if you accept correction, then you will be wise at the end of the matter. Wisdom demands change when corrections are needed so listen to your Wonderful Counselor and respond to His instructions. In so doing you will be wise in the time to come. +++ 08/02/16 WAIT FOR THE ANSWER Scripture: Isaiah 52:12 "For you shall not go out with haste, nor by flight: for the Lord will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward." The prophet Isaiah spoke to the people and told them not to be so hasty in trying to leave the situation they were in, but to wait on God to go before them. These words also speak to us today, for many times we either want to run ahead of God or to take flight and run away from the things that are plaguing our hearts and souls. Because we have been conditioned by our fast paced society, we find it hard to slow down and wait for answers and directions from God. Many times our own hasty decisions and actions cause our downfall and defeat. In the end, we find ourselves admitting that in the depths of our soul, we could sense that God was dealing with us and we are also forced to acknowledge that we had refused to patiently wait. I heard a reputable and trustworthy minister tell a story, which he said was true. He had read about an incident that was so bizarre that he, himself, confessed that it was hard to believe even though it came through reliable sources. In fact, he said that he had to read the article twice to make sure the facts were correct. The news article declared that a military plane was going so fast that it actually passed up the ammunition that it had fired and ended up shooting itself. That is an enlightening thought. Have you ever felt like this has happened to you? In your haste to achieve answers to your situation or find your direction in life, you acted too quickly and the end result brought confusion and defeat rather than joy and victory. Like the plane, you were going so fast in your attempt to solve your problems by your own means that you ended up spiritually shooting yourself. You sought God for direction, but instead of waiting for Him to show you the way, you followed your own plan and missed the path that He had ordained for you. You prayed for healing but did not wait on His healing to come, and ended up spending money on medical bills that gave no answers. You asked God for provision for your material needs, but before His answer came, you borrowed instead. You sought God concerning the questions in your heart, but was too busy to wait for His answers. You must always be conscience that your life is in God's hands and you must determine to slow down and wait on Him. Life is difficult as it is and you cannot afford to be an enemy to yourself. Allow God time to go before you if you want Him to clear the way. And then follow Him if you want Him to lead you down the right path. Do not be so hasty in your actions that you annul the Lord’s plans. When you wait upon God and refuse to act in haste, He will be there for you and He will be your reward. +++ 8/3/16 LOVE FILLED HEART Scripture: Matthew 12:34 "Out of the abundance of the heart..." Love comes from the heart, yet it seems almost physical, for it can be seen and felt. It is wonderful to love and it is wonderful to be loved. There is no soul that does not respond to true love and it is so overwhelming that it motivates people to do things that they normally would not do. The voice of love is tender yet very powerful and when it speaks everyone listens. Love is so important that Jesus said that it is the basis of the two greatest commandments of God, which are to love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind and then to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37-39). Jesus later told us to, "love as He loved" and demonstrated His love by personal sacrifice. When my granddaughter was not quite five years old she had her mother write an email to me. In my granddaughter's own words she ended her message by saying, "It's great to have you in our hearts." She signed her name and her younger brother's name. These were such special and endearing words to me, and as I reflected on them I realized that she was speaking out of the abundance of her heart. Her words were not empty words, but an expression of love that produced a response of love within my own heart. She said that it was great for her to have me in her heart, but the greater joy belongs to me in knowing that I am in her heart. My grandchildren love me, but I can truly say that I loved them first and anticipated their being before they were ever born. Even before they were conceived there was a hope in my heart and plans in my thoughts for their life. God's love is the same. The prophet Jeremiah said that before God formed us in the belly, He knew us. And before we were born, He sanctified us and ordained us for His purposes (Jeremiah 1:5). God had us in His heart from the beginning of time. More than two thousand years before we were born He sent His only begotten Son to Earth to die in our place so that we could have eternal life. Jesus also had us in His heart when He hung on the cross in shame, allowing His life to escape. Out of the abundance of Their hearts, They both made the ultimate sacrifice; God gave His Son and Jesus gave His life. How could we not respond to such an expression of love? A heart that is filled with love is a full heart and has no room for bitterness, jealousy, envy, strife, or any other negative thing. It is full of kindness, patience, joy, and peace, and possesses everything that is positive. Like God the Father and Jesus, love expresses itself by giving and making sacrifices. I John 4:19 says, "We love God because He first loved us." His love for us caused us to love Him. As we think about God's love towards us, let us respond by opening up our hearts and filling it with people that we can love. There are multitudes of people whom we can bless by the abundance of love that is in our hearts. It is important to let them know what they mean to us. So think of the people that you love and tell them, "I love you. It is great to have you are in my heart." +++ 8/4/16 OUR HELPER Scripture: John 14:16 (Amplified) "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby) that He may remain with you forever." In the natural, we face times when circumstances demand that we have help in solving a problem. Recently I had one of those days. Without knowing it, I had left the light inside of my car on for two days, which drained the car battery. Fortunately, I had a standby. My son offered his help. He pushed the car out of the garage, down the curved driveway, pass the trees, and all the way to the street. I was amazed at his strength, for it was something that I could not have done myself. All I had to do was sit inside the car and turn the steering wheel a little. It was his strength that got us where we needed to be, and then it was his expertise that got the car started. He became my comforter in this situation as he involved himself in my need and solved my problem. Without him, the car would still be in the garage with no power. Just as I needed help getting my car started, there are times in this life that we all need help with our problems. During these times we can take comfort in the promise that we have from Jesus' own lips. He said that He would be with us forever and that we would never be without help. The Holy Spirit is with us and will help us face life's many challenges and frustrations, for He is dependable and whatever we need - He is. He stands along side of us to give us help in every situation. He is our Comforter and our Counselor and as we yield to Him, He leads us in the direction that we need to go. He is our Intercessor and involves Himself with every need that we have, speaking on our behalf as He approaches the Father. As our Advocate, He defends and pleads our case. The Holy Spirit is always standing by, waiting to empower us with the strength that is necessary to meet the challenges that are set before us and making us to be more than a conqueror. When I experienced the problem with the car, I had to give complete charge to my son and allow him to direct. I had to trust his judgment and knowledge, follow his instructions, and lean upon his strength. He knew what he was doing when he assumed control. At one point, when I questioned him, he directed me to get in the car because I was in the way of his progress. Likewise, so many times we get in the way of the progress of the Holy Spirit. Jesus prayed and asked the Father to send the Comforter to us. We must believe that God hears the prayers of His Son and intends to answer them. Yet, often our impatience causes us to stop following and start directing. We do not adhere to the Holy Spirit's counsel, for it seems beyond our ability to release total control to Him and allow Him to be our Advocate. We find it difficult to let Him fight our battles for us even though we know that He is our Helper and is well able to finish the work that He has started in us. Proverbs 3:5 tells us what we are to do in these situations. We are to "Trust in the Lord with all of our heart; and lean not unto our own understanding." In other words, we are to sit in the car and rest in God's strength and ability while His Spirit gets us where we need to be and then gets things going for us. +++ 8/5/16 PRIVILEGE OF GOD'S PRESENCE Scripture: Psalms 73:28 "It is good for me to draw near to God." Have you ever had one of those moments when you just needed someone that you could talk with? Maybe the day hasn't gone just as you expected or you have been challenged with troubles, disappointments, and sorrow. Frustrations have come and continue to be in your path all day long. Traffic did not allow you to change lanes so you were forced to pass your exit, you got in the slow lane at the bank, your computer crashed and you lost your information, or maybe someone was rude to you for no apparent reason. Your entire day from start to finish was filled with useless turmoil. Yet in all these situations there still remains an awesome privilege available to you, which is a haven of rest in God's presence. Many things come into our lives to cause problems and stress, but in the midst of it all we can stop and take a spiritual break to draw near and be enveloped in God's presence. When we enter His presence, it releases us from the strain of the day as He speaks words of peace and encouragement to our soul. The Lord's quiet and gentle voice stops the pounding of our hearts and causes us to simply rest. It is an awesome privilege to have this benefit at our disposal and to have a friend that we can go to and cling to, who has promised to always be there. A moment in God's presence will revive your energy and renew your strength. His counsel will make your path very plain and His gentle voice will direct you in the way that you need to go. His Spirit will help you make decisions when you do not know what to do. He is a good and wonderful God and His presence will enable you to face stress with a peace that passes all understanding. You can experience bitterness, abuse, and hateful actions from others, and because of God's presence in your life, you can still have love in your heart. You do not have to walk around in a fog of confusion when His presence walks beside you. For when confusion comes your way, you can know exactly what is happening and what should be done because God's presence prevails in your life. Floods will come and waters will rise, but His presence will draw you out of the waters and place your feet on solid ground. God's presence protects you and imparts wisdom beyond your natural understanding. The power of His presence heals and empowers you with holy authority when you need it. His presence takes care of you when you cannot take care of yourself. You can be anywhere that you want to be but you must choose to be in God's presence. If you draw near to Him, He will draw near to you (James 4:8). You must acknowledge God and give reverence to His presence in your life. He is watching over you even as you read these words. Psalms 16:11 says that in His presence there is fullness of joy. What a privilege to have His presence and joy in our lives. Is it any wonder that the psalmist said, "It is good for me to draw near to God"? +++ 8/8/16 EXERCISING YOUR SENSES Scripture: Hebrews 5:14 "But strong meat belongs to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." We understand the meaning of physical maturity and how it comes about through the process of time, proper nourishment, and exercise. But we often forget that Christian maturity is developed in the same manner. First there is the time factor. We are not born into the kingdom of God as mature Christians any more than we are born in the natural world as mature adults. Maturity involves a process of time. Our spirits are gradually transformed by the renewing of our minds through the Word of God, one precept at a time. The second phase of growth is proper nourishment. We have seen pictures that display malnourished children. Likewise, our spirits develop in an unhealthy manner when we do not take in the meat of God's Word and grow in the knowledge of Him. Verse thirteen tells us that we stay as babes and do not mature when we are satisfied with just the milk of the Word. Because we have no desire for the meat, we are unable to discern right and wrong or teach others because we are unskillful and untaught ourselves. We are content to be complacent but the Apostle Paul exhorts us to study God's Word of truth so that we can understand it and rightly divide or share it with others (II Timothy 2:15). Finally, growth also depends upon exercise because muscles can only become stronger with use. Exercise is an individual process and no one else can do it for you. It is the same with your spiritual senses and discernment. They become stronger as you experience the working of the Word of God in your own life. Being able to distinguish between truth and deception comes only as you develop a relationship with the Author of the Word. It is through experience of a relationship that you come to know God’s character. I had a close personal relationship with my earthly father. If someone had tried to deceive me concerning him, my senses would easily be able to discern the truth because I knew that he was a man of integrity and good moral character. I could immediately identify anything that was contrary to his nature. God wants us to have this same assurance and be able to identify anything that is contrary to His Word and His nature. He does not want us to fall into the same trap that Adam and Eve did when the devil tempted them by saying, "Hath God said?" God has provided the meat of His Word and He wants us to partake of it. He wants us to sharpen our senses by experiencing it so that we will have an answer for every question and be able to boldly face every challenge with the words, "It is written." +++ 8/9/16 GOD DIRECTED STEPS Scripture: Jeremiah 10:23 (Amplified) "It is not in man to direct his own steps." There are several things that you must do to reach any desired destination. First, you must know your Destination, for if you don't, you will flounder around in a sea of uncertainty. It would be pointless for you to go to the airport and ask for a ticket if you did not know where you wanted to go. The first thing the ticket agent will ask is, "What is your destination?" Without that information, they cannot issue a ticket. A well-known world traveler once said, "If you don't know where you are going - any road will take you there." It is the same in the Kingdom of God. If you do not have a revelation or understanding of where God is leading you, you will not know which direction to take and you will easily be lead astray. Second, once you know your Destination, it is important for you to follow the Direction of the Holy Spirit along the way. Proverbs 3:6 says, "Acknowledge God in all of your ways, He will direct your paths." We have to recognize Jesus as Lord and trust Him with all of our hearts. My son said there are two reasons why it is hard for people to stop and get directions. First, they do not want to admit that they have no idea where they are. And second, they do not want to admit that they have no idea of how to get to where they want to go. In our Christian walk there are times when we get into this same situation. It is at those times that we need to acknowledge that we have no idea of where we are in God's plan and that we have no idea of how to get to where He wants us to be. We need to just stop and ask the Holy Spirit for directions, and then, as He speaks, listen and follow the directions! Have you ever stopped and asked for directions, then asked the person traveling with you, "What did they say?" When God speaks, we need to listen! Third, have a Determination to reach your destination regardless of opposition. Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (II Timothy 4:8). Jesus said, "It is finished." Both of these men completed God's destiny for their lives, but it was not easy in either case. Before Paul finished his course he endured labors, beatings, prison, death, shipwreck, robbers, perils with his countrymen and the heathen, weariness, pain, hunger, thirst, and cold (II Corinthians 11:23-28). Then, consider Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith lest you faint in your mind. Because of the joy that was set before Him, Jesus was able to endure the cross and despise the shame (Hebrews 12:2-3). God has a special plan in mind for you. Be determined to reach it. Jeremiah 29:11 says that God’s plans are for good and not evil with a future and a hope. Ask God for a clear vision of His destiny for your life, but do not try to direct your own steps. Listen to the Holy Spirit and follow His directions along the way until the journey is complete. Trust in God, He will direct your steps and He will get you there. +++ 8/10/16 FEAR NOT Scripture: Isaiah 41:10 (Amplified) "Fear not; [there is nothing to fear] for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed." Webster's Dictionary defines dismay as "A sudden or compete loss of courage or confidence; sudden disappointment, anxiety, fright, apprehension, or dread." In this verse God tells us that we must get rid of these kinds of negative emotions. He says, "Do not be looking around for something to be afraid of and do not consider the circumstances that surround you, but consider Who I am." Then He lists who He is in reference to our circumstances. 1) "I am your God." 2) "I will strengthen you and harden you to difficulties." 3) "I will help you." 4) "I will hold you up and retain you with My victorious right hand of rightness and justice." Regardless of how bad things look, your problems and circumstances are not your God. God is your God and Jesus is your Lord. God will not only strengthen you so that you can make it through the trial, but He will cause you to become stronger because of it. God is bigger than any problem that you may have and with Him at your side the enemy does not have a chance. You are more than a conqueror when God is on your team. The Lord is holding you up with His right hand and He will not allow you to fall. The prophet continues to say in verse eleven and twelve that "those who strive and contend against you shall be put to shame, confounded, and brought to nothing." And "those who war against you shall be as nothing, as nothing at all." Praise the Name of the Lord. God is ready to help you in all of the circumstances that are overwhelming to you. But before He can help, you have to change your attitudes and act in faith. You cannot allow fear, sudden disappointment, anxiety, and dread to deplete your courage and confidence. For victory to come in your life, you must not be terrified of the enemy. You must let go of your anxieties and grab hold of faith. You must believe that God is God and when He is with you, you have nothing to fear. +++ 8/11/16 SACRIFICE OF A BROKEN SPIRIT Scripture: Psalms 51:17 "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ..." David made mention of a broken spirit in his prayer of confession to God. David came to God with great repentance in his heart after the prophet, Nathan, had confronted him about his sin with Bathsheba. David was shamed, riddle with guilt, and broken hearted as he poured out his sorrow for the sins that he had committed. He pleaded earnestly for God's mercy and forgiveness and asked God to cleanse him and restore him with the joy of His salvation. David said, "Take not your Holy Spirit from me." In this state of brokenness, he came to realize that this was the true sacrifice that God desired. David acknowledged that the burnt offerings and blood sacrifices that he presented to God meant nothing to God and were of little importance if his own heart was not touched and changed. David allowed the brokenness of his heart to bring him into a new strength and he discovered a truth as he faced his situation. This truth is that we are never to fear brokenness, for God makes a special promise to those who pass through this dark emotional valley. In this humble state, God gives a special grace and endows a new strength. David said, "The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saves such as be of a contrite spirit" (Psalms 34:18). He also declared that "the afflictions of the righteous are many, but that God delivers them out of them all." Notice that he said, "them all." God does not deliver us out of some of our problems, but He delivers us out of 'them all." Like David, we can take comfort in these words and even rejoice when we are down, knowing that God has promised to do two things for us. First when our hearts are broken, He promised to be near us. He will be there to comfort us with His awesome presence and strengthen us through His bountiful love. And second, when we are in the midst of afflictions, He will deliver us out of all of them. We can depend upon God in every circumstance, for He will never fail. As we come to the end of ourselves, it will no longer be our strength, but God's strength that will prevail. God is not so much interested in what we can give or how great our sacrifices are. He is simply looking for a broken heart to mend and a contrite spirit to whom He can minister. +++ 8/12/16 AMAZING GRACE Scripture: Ephesians 2:7-8 "The exceeding riches of His grace ... for by grace are you saved through faith; and not of yourselves: it is a gift of God." There are exceeding riches in store for us when we experience the awesome gift of grace. The greatest extension of grace that I have ever received came to me from the heart of God. God loved me so much that He gave His only begotten Son to die for my sins so that I could have eternal life. He did the same for you. The greatest extension of grace on my part has been to share God's grace with someone else and to let them know that God's grace is greater than all of their sins. Probably the most loved and cherished hymn ever written is "Amazing Grace." It was written by John Newton, who lived from 1727-1807. He wrote these words to express his own personal testimony of God's transforming power in his life. He was a hardened slave trader and an infidel until he met Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. It is no wonder that he wrote the words, "Amazing grace! ... That saved a wretch like me," for his life had been filled with evil acts against others. Then when he came face to face with God's love, mercy, forgiveness, and grace, he recognized the state that his own soul was in. He felt conviction and comfort in God's grace as he declared that "Grace had taught his heart to fear, and that same grace his fears relieved." The gift of grace and forgiveness is often best appreciated by those who need it the most. God took John Newton, pardoned his sins unconditionally, changed his life, and appointed him to preach the same gospel that he had labored to destroy. God's grace did not end with John's Newton's salvation experience. He recognized that grace was an ongoing act of God's mercy and love. He said that God's grace had brought him through "many dangers, toils, and snares" and he trusted in God's grace to lead him and be there until the very end. When John Newton was eighty-two years old he said, "My memory is nearly gone, but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior." Like John Newton, we all need this great Savior, for we cannot pay the price to redeem our own sins. We must depend upon the exceeding riches of God's amazing grace and accept His plan that through grace, we are saved by faith and not of ourselves, for it is a gift of God. +++ 8/15/16 WINGS AS EAGLES Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 "They shall mount up with wings as eagles." Who would not like to take advantage of this promise, for the eagle is so majestic in flight? It is the king of all the birds and is set apart from all others because of its beauty and dignity. Yet, who of us are willing to make the sufficient sacrifice that will enable us to obtain this grand experience of mounting up with wings as eagles? For, this promise is made only to those who will take the time to wait upon God. Waiting can either be the idea of lingering in God's presence, serving Him in obedience, or being submissive to His perfect timing. Either way, "to wait" demands putting aside all natural desires and instincts and seeking first the kingdom of God and His perfect will. The condition of the wings is very important to the eagle. For the eagle to be able to mount up and soar through the heavens, it must take the time to prepare its feathers. This is a daily process in which the eagle isolates itself from every distraction and spends at least an hour each day preening its feathers. As the eagle preens its feathers, it passes each one through its beak and exhales air, which cleans and seals the individual hairs of the feathers together. Through this same process, the outer feathers are treated with a chemical that is secreted by the eagle’s preening gland. This preparation is done at the beginning of each day. Only through the patience of this process can the eagle's feathers be strengthened enough to endure the abuse from the winds and weather and its wings be made sturdy enough to take flight and capture its prey. The eagle does not bat its wings as the other birds do. It learns to master the winds through submission. It does not lean on its own strength, but gives itself totally to the force of the wind that is under it. And even though the eagle has made every preparation for flight, it never moves in presumption. It waits patiently for the wind because it recognizes that the wind is its power. Like the eagle, our strength also rests in the power of the winds of the Holy Spirit and our times must be left in God's hands. All we can do is wait in His presence and prepare our wings for the day by examining and spiritually cleansing our lives. As we do, God will seal His strength into our very being and make us ready to endure the challenge of the battles and abuses that are set before us. As we wait upon the Lord, He will make known His purposes and give clear directions. Because we have been strengthened in the Lord's presence, we will not grow weary or faint because we are not batting our wings in fury. Instead, we will catch the winds of God’s Spirit and mount up with wings as the eagles. +++ 8/16/16 THE WAY Scripture: John 14:6 "Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by Me." Jesus is the only way to the Father. He is the truth and there is life through no other. We must lay aside our own ideas and independence and rely totally upon Him in order to reach our eternal destination. On a mission trip to the Philippines, we ministered in some remote villages in the mountains. The way was hard and the roads, if you could call them roads, were very rugged. It took hours to go a few miles, and along the way I realized that I had no idea how to get to our destination. I did not know the way and there was no map or directions. Even if I had known the way I could not have driven or maneuvered my way through the paths that we had to take. The roads were narrow and most of the times we were two or three feet from a 2,000-foot or more drop-off with no guardrails for protection. There was water and mud to go through and rocks to travel across. There were a few times when the driver had to get out of the vehicle and scout the road ahead before proceeding on the journey. At other times he was forced to pull over closer to the edge to yield to another vehicle. I had to place all of my faith and trust in this man that I had just recently met, but at no point in the journey did it ever enter my mind to take the wheel of the vehicle or to proceed on my own. Neither did I attempt to direct him from the back seat. I was just thankful that I was not at the wheel. In a very real sense our driver had become my way. He was my truth, for he had knowledge of the mountain roads that I did not have, so I made a decision to rely upon his wisdom and driving expertise. He also became my life, for he literally held the security of my next breath in his hands. He did an awesome job and gained my highest respect as he brought us safely to our journey's end and without harm. As we traveled through these remote areas, I thought of these words that Jesus had spoken, for our journey through life is much like my journey to the mountains. Our spiritual future is hidden from our eyes and there is no way to get to our destination by our own means. There is a path set before us, but we cannot travel that path without Jesus. He is our way, and our only way. We are lost and undone without His guidance in life. He leads us one step at a time through rugged paths and helps us stay on the narrow passages. He does all that He can to protect us as we travel life's journey and warns us that the way which is broad will lead us into destruction. He knows the path that we take, scouts the roads before us, and encourages us not to fear because He is in control. Jesus is our truth and has knowledge that we don't have, so we must trust His Words of wisdom and approach the Father on the basis of His eternal Words. He also is our life because His presence dwells within us, quickening our spirits and our mortal bodies. He shares with us His very being, and He alone is able to satisfy our souls. In the words of Mother Teresa, "He is the Life I want to live, the Light I want to reflect, the Way to the Father, the Love I want to express, the Joy I want to share, the Peace I want to sow around me. Jesus is everything to me." +++ 8/17/16 THE ANSWER IS ON ITS WAY Scripture: Daniel 10:13 "The prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me twenty-one days..." Daniel had mourned, fasted, and prayed for twenty-one days but received no answers or solutions from God. At the end of this agonizing period, Daniel had a supernatural vision in which a messenger from God appeared to him. The messenger told Daniel that he had come because of the words that Daniel had prayed. The messenger also told Daniel that from the first day that he had set his heart to understand and to chasten himself before God that his words had been heard. He also told Daniel that the answer to his prayer had been delayed those twenty-one days by an evil presence. Daniel was not the only one that was suffering in this situation, for the messenger himself had to call for one of the warring angels, Michael, to come help him. God has pledged to answer our prayers when our petitions are made in accordance to His will and presented to Him in faith in the Name of Jesus. God does not lie and His Words do not fail. What He has spoken will come to pass. Yet we see from Daniel's situation that the answer to our prayers can be delayed in the heavens by evil forces. It is difficult to endure a season when we do not receive answers to our prayers because when we do not hear anything from Heaven, we begin to wonder if God even heard our prayer in the first place. This delay is a prime time for the devil to plant doubt in our heart and tempt us to give up. Yet God has heard us and He has already responded to our cry and answered our prayer. The matter is completely taken care of as far as God is concerned. If you have sought God concerning situations but have received no solutions and have prayed prayers that have seemingly not been answered, I encourage you to keep holding on in faith until you hear from God. Never give up, for even though it can happen, answers are not always immediate. It may also be that you do not recognize the answer because it is not exactly what you asked for or expected. In any event, you can be sure that God will always arrive on time and will never be late. You can also be confident that however God chooses to answer, He will have your best interest in mind because He is for you and not against you. God will always give you the best when you allow Him to do the choosing and at the end of the matter you will be thankful. God loves you. So trust in Him and know that even though the answer to your prayer seems to be delayed, it is already on its way. +++ 8/18/16 FRIENDS AND BROTHERS Scripture: Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." In this proverb, King Solomon spoke of the loyal love of a friend and declared that our brothers were birthed for the seasons that we face adversity. Loved ones are an important asset in the arena of life. They are more precious than silver and more valuable than gold. The poorest man on earth is the one who does not have friends or family, for money cannot buy these precious treasures. God gave us friends and planned family relationships so that we could love and be loved and also share burdens and take on one another's battles. In the time of trouble, friends reach out to friends and family reaches out to family. There is a saying that "When you are in trouble, you find out who your real friends are." Adversity and trouble have a unique way of proving friendships and revealing the strength of blood relationships. A true friend will love you and stand with you when everything is going wrong and a brother will be there when everyone is rising up against you. Both will remain loyal and be a defense against the enemies of your life even at the risk of being hurt in the situation. Even if a friend or brother is at fault, love will prevail and allegiance will remain true because love is able to cover a multitude of sin. Real love is not just words, nor is it only something that you feel. True love takes action and is something that you do. It surpasses disappointment and is always eager to forgive. Love overlooks the injustices that work against it and turns the other cheek to its offender. Jesus is our greatest example of love, friendship, and brotherhood. He will love us at all times and He is our brother who will remain close to us in the midst of trouble. He came to Earth knowing that His purpose was to die on the cross for our sins and He never turned back from His assigned mission. He was mocked and ridiculed but endured the shame for our benefit. He took the stripes on His back for our healing. For us, He bore the crown of thorns on His brow and His hands and feet suffered the pain of the nails that held Him to the cross of Calvary. He proved Himself for us beyond measure and we can depend upon Him to be there to deliver us in every situation and rescue us in every storm. We can have this assurance in our souls that when all others fail, Jesus will be there. He will never forsake us. He is our friend who will love us at all times and He is our brother who was born for our season of adversity. +++ 8/19/16 FINDING LIFE Scripture: Matthew 16:25 " ... whosoever will lose his life for My sake shall find it." Many people search for contentment day after day, but never find it. They are always waiting for something grand to happen in their lives. Their attention is drawn to the material and think that possessions, status, and fame will be the thing that will satisfy their souls. They climb the ladder every day, but never reach the top. They run the race, but never get to the finish line. They travel the road, but never arrive at their destination. They seek diligently, but never find the true treasures. They have life, but they never really live. Jesus shared a special way to experience the fullness of life with us. He said those who would lose their life for His sake would find it. Jesus also told us to deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him. It is only as we lay aside our own natural desires that we are able to focus on the spiritual. When we begin to view things from the perspective of the cross, we see that our life has a bigger purpose than just for ourselves. As God shows us the true purpose for our life, the revelation motivates and energizes us. Our priorities are no longer swayed by the distractions that surround us. Our integrity is no longer challenged by the temptations that seek to destroy us and enticing detours are no longer able to divert us. Like Paul, we are able to press towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14). And like Jesus, we are able to endure the cross and run the race with patience because of the prize that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). If you really want to live, take Jesus at His Words. Trust Him, lay your life at the foot of the cross, and allow God to show you what He has planned for you. He has good plans for you, which include a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11). His ways are higher than your ways and His thoughts are higher than your thoughts. The life that God has planned for you is greater than any plan that you could ever come up with. Give your life to God and allow Him to live through you. As you lose yourself in Him and sacrifice the lower life, you will find the higher purpose and gain the greater life. +++ 8/22/16 SEED AND BREAD Scripture: Isaiah 55:10-11 "As the rain and snow comes down from the heavens ... that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My Word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void." God does not speak random words. Each Word that He speaks is full of power and brings about a life changing result. When He said, "Let there be light," there was light. When He spoke the sun, moon, and stars into existence, they appeared. God has not changed in His methods and His words are still creative. He has a unique purpose for each and every Word that He speaks to us. His Word is like the rain and snow that comes down from the heavens and waters the earth. It brings life and causes our faith to grow just like the rain causes the things on the earth to grow. Neither the rain nor God's Word ever returns to Him with void written on them. They are both accountable to God and accomplish the work that He designed for them to do. When God sends forth His Word, Isaiah said that it produces two effects; seed to the sower and bread to the eater. As we hear the Word of God, those two things should happen in our lives. First, His Word should strengthen, grow, and nourish us within our spirits like natural bread does for our bodies. His Word should sustain us in our daily life by giving us direction, correction, hope, and encouragement. That is the reason it is so important to feed on God's Word daily, for we need continual spiritual nourishment. Jesus said, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Father" (Luke 4:4). God's Word that comes down from Heaven is our spiritual bread and gives spiritual life. Second, God's Word should also be seed that we sow, or words that we can share with others to strengthen, encourage, and nourish their spirits in their daily life. Jesus intended for us to pass along God's Word to others as He told us to "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). We are to be a sower of the Word and bring the same direction, correction, hope, and encouragement that we have received from the Word. Each time we hear a good sermon or Bible study or read a book or devotional, we should share those thoughts with someone else along the way who might need a word of encouragement. God rarely speaks audibly to mankind, but He allows you to be the voice of His Word in this earth. With each opportunity that is presented, begin to receive God's Word as your own bread and then sow it as seed into the lives of others. You will be blessed! +++ 8/23/16 GOD WORKS WITHIN YOU Scripture: Philippians 2:13 "For it is God which works in you, both to will and to do, of His good pleasure." From the very beginning, God had a plan and a purpose for your individual life. The moment He breathed life into you, He began to sovereignly work to bring that desired plan to fruition. Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God's plan for you is designed for good and not evil. God even sacrificed His most precious possession to give you an abundant life, a future, and a hope. His ultimate goal is to make you an expression of your Creator. As God works in you to bring about that future and hope, He works patiently as a potter does with clay and from time to time remakes you over again and again. He works tirelessly, forgiving and cleansing you from your sins and faults. Look at the example of Peter. When Jesus first met Peter, He saw his potential and knew that God wanted to work His will and pleasure in Peter's life. In John 1:42 Jesus said, "You are Simon, ... you shall be called Cephas, which is by interpretation a stone." Yet, before Peter reached the state that God intended for him, he faced many failures. Even after Peter received a revelation from God the Father in Heaven that Jesus was the Son of God, Jesus found it necessary to rebuke Peter. Jesus told him, "Get thee behind me, Satan: you are an offense to me" (Matthew 16:23). Can you imagine Jesus saying those words to you? Later, Peter denied Jesus three times, cursing and swearing that he did not even know Him. Peter was also very impulsive, as in the situation when he cut off the ear of the servant of the High Priest. Yet despite all of Peter's faults, God had a future and a hope for him and planned for him to stand one day before thousands of people and preach the message of Jesus Christ. Through this one sermon alone in Acts 2:14-47, thousands repented and were added to the church. God is working in you right now to make you an expression of Himself just as He worked in Peter's life. He does not expect you to be perfect, just pliable in His hands. Seasons of discouragement may come as He works with you, but whatever the enemy causes in your life for evil, God means it for good. "All things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose" (Romans 8:28). Remember Jesus' words to Peter, "You shall be." Your future is inside of you right now! Surrender to God and allow Him to complete His will and His pleasure in you. +++ 8/24/16 NOW FAITH Scripture: Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is..." Faith is not the past, for it doesn't take faith to believe in the things that God has already done in your life. Those things are history. The memory of what God has done and what He has accomplished, however, may encourage your faith and give you something to build upon when He speaks a new and fresh word to you. Again, faith is not the future, for that is expectation and hope. The writer of Hebrews said, "Faith is now!" It's not passive, it's active. Faith is your present tense response to God's personal words to you. It is the substance and evidence of what you believe to be true but cannot see. Yet, faith is not without valid support. It is based upon what you know in your spirit, not on what you do not know. There can be no faith without the voice of God's Word because faith comes by hearing the Word of God. If you proceed without a Word from God, it is presumption and you will find yourself in a dilemma. However, when you hear God's voice, you know that He will perform what He has spoken. His Word is truth and He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end of your faith. When God speaks, it creates a crisis in your life. A choice is set before you and you must decide to believe or not believe what God has spoken. Your response reveals what you truly believe about God, for faith is based on your relationship with Him, not just a concept. Faith's object is a person. Your personal relationship with your Heavenly Father will determine if you believe that He will meet all of your needs according to His riches in glory. Your relationship with the Him will give you strength in the midst of your adversities because you know that according to His Word, He will deliver you out of every affliction. Because you have a close relationship with the Father and know that He is near, you will not fear death nor be swallowed up in sorrow and defeat. Your relationship with the Lord will cause you to believe His Word and the faith that is born from that trust will bring about the fulfillment of the things hoped for. So when God speaks, choose to believe Him. Remember that faith is not yesterday or tomorrow. Faith is now ... and the evidence of your faith pleases God. +++ 8/25/16 GUARD AGAINST OFFENSE Scripture: Psalms 119:165 "Great peace have they which love Thy law: and nothing shall offend them." Offenses knock on the door of our hearts daily through misunderstandings, unkind words, and inappropriate actions against us. Offenses not only come from an insensitive world but also from our closest friends and family. We can write off many of the offenses because we do not have a close bond with the offender. Their words and actions are easily excused because they are not included in the circle of our truest and most trusted relationships. But the greater the love that we have for the offender, the greater the offense will be to our spirit. And likewise, the greater someone loves us, the easier it is for us to offend them even though our offensive words and actions may not be intentional. The worst part about an offense is not the deed itself. The wound is painful but it is only the beginning of the destructive force that is designed against us. Offense is a spirit that seeks to kill, steal, and destroy relationships. It is a seed that wounds the spirit and if it is not dealt with when it is planted, it will grow into a mighty tree that cannot be easily removed. The fruit of this tree will be bitterness, hate, and unforgiveness. Many friends and family members have been separated for years because of a simple offense, and many times those who have been offended cannot even remember what the initial offense was. My own sons still rehearse an offense because one of them ate the cherry that was on top of the other one's birthday cake over thirty years ago when they were children. Of course, it is a big joke now and all is forgiven but the truth remains that the offense has never been forgotten. I stand amazed because bottles filled with cherries have never been able to absorb the fact that one lone cherry disappeared from a birthday cake so many years ago. I heard an illustration that spoke of an offense as being like a ball that is thrown to us. We have the opportunity to either catch the ball when it is thrown or we can choose to let it pass. If we catch the ball or receive the offense we do violence to our own spirit. The offense will cause us to distrust the offender in the future and we may find ourselves dealing with negative emotions and unable to walk in love towards them. When we receive an offense into our lives, it will motivate us to build a wall of protection around ourselves so that we are not vulnerable to another painful experience. In the midst of it all, we fail to realize that the same wall we create not only shuts out our offender but it also keeps God from entering in. His Word declares that if there is offense in our lives, me must lay our gift at the altar and go reconcile ourselves with our brother and then come offer our gifts to God (Matthew 5:23-24). He says that if we do not forgive others, we cannot be forgiven by Him. This is a high price to pay for harboring an offense in our heart. Knowing God's Word and operating in His laws will give you a greater strength against the spirit of offense. Refusing the offense is a conscience effort that you must make for the good of yourself and for the good of the other person. The psalmist said that nothing can offend you if you love God's law. So wrap His Words around your mind and allow them to guard your heart. Great peace will be your reward. Remember that it is up to you to refuse to catch the ball or resist the spirit of offense when it comes your way. +++ 8/26/16 HALLOWED BE THY NAME Scripture: Matthew 6:9 "Hallowed be Thy Name." Hallowed means sacred, holy, and blameless. Jesus taught us that we are to give reverence, honor, and glory to the Name of our Father who is in Heaven. In the Ten Commandments, we are told not to take the Name of the Lord our God in vain. This command not only means not to speak His Name in profanity, but also not to dishonor His Name in the way we live, for God's Name is sacred, holy, and blameless. Names not only identify a person, but also call to mind the character, attitudes, and integrity of that person. For this reason, we try to protect our name. My father was very proud of his name and did not want it to be dishonored. I was taught that everything I did was a reflection on my father and his name. In our community, my father's name was trusted because it was backed up by his character and integrity. Everyone knew that he was a hard working, honest, no-nonsense person, and that he paid his bills. His word was his bond and his name backed up his word. He could borrow money from the bank on his name alone and made deals with just a handshake. I was given the privilege to use my father's name and could charge debts against his name. I was never questioned because I was his child, and I was called by his name. Although I did not personally have any resources, the lender knew that my father would honor and take care of the debt. This is true in the spiritual realm as well. God gave Jesus a special name that is above every name and Philippians 2:10-11 declares that "at the Name of Jesus, every knee shall bow ... and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord". Jesus then told us that we could also use this special name that the Father had given to Him. In John 14:14 He said, "If you shall ask any thing in My name, I will do it." Listed below are names of God in the Old Testament. These names were established as God met with man and revealed His character to them. YAHWEH, "I AM THAT I AM" - Exodus 3:14 Jehovah Jireh, "The Lord my Provider" - Gen. 22:14 Jehovah Nissi, "The Lord is my Banner" - Ex. 17:15 Jehovah Shalom, "The Lord is Peace" - Judges 6:24 Jehovah Sabbaoth, "The Lord of Hosts" - I Sam. 1:3 Jehovah Maccaddeshcem, "The Lord my Sanctifier" - Ex. 31:13 Jehovah Raah, "The Lord is my Shepherd" - Ps. 23:1 Jehovah Tsidkenu, "The Lord my Righteousness" - Jerm. 23:6 Jehovah Shammah, "The Lord is There (Present)" - Ezk. 48:35 Jehovah Elohim, "The Lord God of Israel" - Jud. 5:3; Is. 17:6 Jehovah Rophe, "The Lord my Healer" - Ex. 15:26 As we think on these names, let us remember that God is all we need. We have no power within ourselves, but we have power in His Name. He is the same God today as He was when He spoke to Moses, "I AM THAT I AM" (Exodus 3:13-14). Whatever we need today, He says, "I AM." I AM the answer to all of your questions. If you need provisions, I AM your Provider. If you need healing, I AM your Healer. If you need victory, I AM your Banner. I AM your peace. I AM your Shepherd and will lead you through the valleys and restore you. I AM your Righteousness. And, I AM the God that is always present. I AM your God. I AM everything that you need Me to be. I AM THAT I AM! HALLOWED BE HIS NAME!!!! +++ 8/29/16 TARES AMONG THE WHEAT Scripture: Matthew 13:25 "But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat." Jesus told of a man who had sown good seed in his field, but while he and his men were asleep the enemy came and sowed weeds or thistles throughout his field. The man was not aware of the evil deed that had been done against him, but when his wheat began to spring up the tares or weeds also appeared. The man's servant wanted to remove the tares immediately, but his master declined the suggestion with the warning that if they tried to remove the tares they might uproot the wheat in the process. He said, "Let both of them grow together until the harvest, then we will gather up the tares and burn them and gather the wheat and store it in the barn." Jesus explains this parable saying that the tares are the children of the wicked one (Vs. 36-43). While Jesus sowed the good seed in the earth, which produced wheat, the enemy sowed bad seed, which produced the tares. It seems that the fields of God's Kingdom are always the targets of Satan's activity. Satan goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and continually mingles his evil seed amongst the good. His goal is to deceive the very elect if possible. His work is so very subtle that in the beginning both the wheat and the tares look so much alike that it is hard to distinguish them from each other. Jesus warned us that the devil himself would appear as an angel of light and He referred to many of the religious leaders of His time as being vipers or snakes. Jesus also told us that there would be those who would do mighty works and even cast out devils in His name, but in the end of time, He would declare that He never knew them. All of these manifested themselves as being good. Who could deny an angel of light, religious leaders, or those doing mighty works in the Name of Jesus? Yet, these workers of iniquity were actually tares that were growing amongst the wheat. We must understand that God does not take all the wrong influences out of our lives and give us a perfect world to live in. He said that evil would be with us until the end of time. The devil will make his bid for our attention and for our very life. There will always be those around us who professed to be wheat, when in reality they are tares. They may say and do all the right things but they walk in deception. We must ask the Holy Spirit to open our spiritual eyes and help us walk in discernment so that we are not led astray and tossed about by every wind of doctrine. We must be vigilant and learn to distinguish between right and wrong, good and evil, wheat and tares, by judging and measuring everything with the Word of God. +++ 8/30/16 ENABLED FOR BATTLE Scripture: II Samuel 22:35 "He teaches my hands to war." These words were in the midst of a song that King David composed as he praised God for delivering him from all of his enemies. David not only praised God for his deliverance, but he also acknowledged that God had trained him for battle. We prefer the battles in which God instructs us to "Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" or "Hold your peace and let the Lord fight your battle." God's deliverance is sweet when He takes care of our enemies and we are not required to face the challenge. However, when God supplied us with His armor for battle, He not only gave us defensive weapons for protection, such as a belt of truth, a breastplate of righteousness, a shield of faith, and a helmet of salvation, but He also provided us with a weapon for offensive battle. This mighty weapon is the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. With each challenge, God gives us a fresh Word and a new revelation by His Spirit. His Word is a two-edged sword, which equips us for battle and sustains us in every adversity. When David fought the giant, he had to lay aside Saul's heavy armor and take the few things that he knew how to use, which were his sling and a few stones. Saul's armor was a burden to David and would have cost him the battle. So many times our battles are lost because we are trying to use a word that someone else received from the Lord. We must understand that God moves differently in all situations and we must sharpen our own sword with a personal word from the Lord. Look at some of the battles in the scriptures. God told Gideon and his army to hold their lamps, break the pitchers, blow the trumpets, and shout, "The sword of the Lord and of Gideon" (Judges 7:20). God told Jehosaphat to appoint singers to go before the army and praise the beauty of holiness. As they did, God ambushed the enemy and caused them to fight against themselves (II Chronicles 20:22). God told Joshua to march around the city of Jericho for seven days and then, on the seventh day, to march around the city seven times and shout. It is recorded that when they shouted, the walls came down (Joshua 6:20). When Moses and Israel were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptians, God told Moses to raise his staff and divide the sea (Exodus 14:16). These men's actions were sheer obedience to God's Word. What do you imagine would have happened if Gideon had acted on Joshua's word or if Joshua had acted on Gideon's word from God? Most probably the battle would have been lost and the walls would still be standing. Just like these men, God enables you for your own personal battle. He teaches your hands to war not with a method, but with His Word. You do not need a formula; you need to hear what God is saying and obey those instructions. His directions will be specifically designed for your situation. When you listen, you will hear God speak to you personally in a still small voice and His Word will be your Sword of the Spirit. +++ 8/31/16 TRUST IN THE LORD Scripture: Proverbs 3:5 & 8 (Amplified) "Lean on, trust and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. It will be health to your nerves...." Webster's Dictionary defines trust as "total confidence in the integrity, ability, and good character of another." We hear many faith messages and are taught how to believe and receive the wonderful promises that God has made to us. Faith comes and grows within our hearts by hearing these messages (Hebrews 10:17). You cannot develop faith without hearing the Word of God. Yet there is another area to think about and that is simple trust in the One who spoke the Word. God made the promise and our trust in Him comes by developing total confidence in His integrity, His ability, and His character. As a youth, before I made weekend plans with my friends I would ask my father's permission. If his answer was yes, it produced faith that when the time came, he would supply the financial need. He knew that I did not have a job or provision. His simple word gave me unquestionable faith. I trusted his integrity because I knew that he would not lie to me and I had faith and total confidence in his ability to supply the need. The cost of the movie or whatever was an enormous amount to me, but I knew that my dad was well able to provide the funds, and knew that he would not only meet the need but would give me a little extra. He was a good father with a good character and he wanted me to enjoy myself. If he forgot at the end of the week, I would simply remind him of his promise and he always came through without excuses. There were also other areas of trust in which I did not exercise conscious faith. These were my day-to-day needs of food, shelter, clothing, care, and affection. I just always knew these things would be there because he was my father and he was my provider. I leaned upon him with total confidence. We were not rich. In fact we were poor by the world's standards, but my dad worked hard to supply all of my needs and I never had to fret over these matters. I simply cast all of my cares upon him because I knew that he cared for me. Often we get ourselves into a "nervous frenzy" and are "on edge" concerning situations that we can do nothing about. These anxious moments should be placed into the hands of our Father God. He loves us and wants us to cast all of our cares upon Him, for He cares for us (I Peter 5:7). He does not want us carrying loads that are too heavy for us to bear. Our Father knows our needs even before we ask (Matthew 6:8). We should lay our understanding aside and totally lean upon the Lord and trust in Him with all of our heart and mind. As we do, it will calm our souls and bring a peace that passes all understanding, and that spirit of peace will be health to our nerves. +++ Copyright © 2016 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com |
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