Nov19

............	A Word In Due Season NOV 2019 11/1/19 WORD IN DUE SEASON Scriptures: Proverbs 15:23 "A man has joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!" It would be wonderful to always be able to say the right words in the right season to encourage someone in their daily walk. It is like planting a seed in fertile soil. However, you cannot share words from God if you have not heard from God any more than you can plant a seed that you do not have. You may speak words, but they will be empty and without power unless they are anointed by God. A cartoon once showed two ladies gossiping at a water fountain at work. Finally, after much discussion, one of the ladies said, "Well, I guess I need to go back to work. I've already told you more than I know." How many times do we find ourselves telling other people more than we really know about a subject? Isaiah says, "The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned and of those who are taught, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. He wakens me morning by morning, He wakens my ear to hear as disciples - as those who are taught" (Isaiah 50:4). This prophetic scripture reveals that God the Father awakened Jesus' ear so that He could hear, yet Jesus still had the responsibility to discipline Himself to listen to the voice of the Father. Even at a very early age, Jesus began to discipline Himself to hear from God. He sat in the temple with the teachers and doctors. He listened and asked questions of them, and all those that heard Jesus were astonished at His understanding and answers (Luke 2:46-47). Jesus could have been outside playing with the other boys, but instead He disciplined Himself to hear the Word. And because of Jesus' diligent study of the scriptures and His continual communion with the Father, He was able to speak into the lives of men with authority and with wisdom. His Words were always in season and brought forth fruit. He also showed us how to take time to listen and hear from God in the following scriptures: Mark 1:35 "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed." Matthew 14:23 "And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening came, He was there alone." Luke 6:12 "And it came to pass in those days, that He went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God." Let us follow Jesus example and diligently set our hearts to seek God in a greater way so that we too may minister words in due season to those who are weary. +++ 11/4/19 ETERNAL GIFTS OF LOVE Scripture: John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." You cannot imagine how much love God has for you. I John 4:10 says, "Not that we loved Him, but that He loved us; and sent His Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins." God's love was so enormous that He gave His Son. How many of us would give our sons or daughters to die in the place of someone else? To be honest, I do not know for sure that I could give up my son to die for you. Even though I may love you very deeply, I would probably choose my son's life over yours. As humans, our capacity to love is limited, but God's capacity is so great and so pure that He was able to give His only begotten Son. God not only gave His Son in death for us, but He also watched Him as He was beaten, crowned with thorns, and hung on Calvary's cross in shame. How many times do you think that God the Father may have wanted to change His mind and do something about the situation? Yet, God's great love compelled Him to allow His Son to suffer in agony for you and for me. Jesus Himself could have called the angels to deliver Him but His own love prevented His escape. God the Father or Jesus Christ could have stopped the process at any time, but our souls hung in the balance and depended upon their love and sacrifice. As Jesus became sin for us, God turned His face away from Him. Then came the agonizing cry of His Son, "My God, My God, Why have you forsaken me?" Jesus' cry must have been like a dagger in the heart of His Father, as His Father watched the cruel suffering of His Son. Have you ever watched someone special to you suffer in death? Have you faced those times where you had to turn your face away from their struggle with pain? You could do nothing about their situation, but God had a choice in the matter and He still chose the ultimate sacrifice. There are two eternal gifts of love that have been given to us. First, God gave His only begotten Son, and second, Jesus gave His own life. If we could ever comprehend these two eternal gifts of love, we would be able to trust the One who gave His Son for us and trust the One who gave His life for us. Revelation 1:5 says, "He loved us, and washed us from our sins in His own blood." God gave His Son, what more could He give? Jesus gave His own life, what more could He give? +++ 11/5/19 ASKING FOR WISDOM Scripture: James 3:17 "But the wisdom that is from above is ... easy to be entreated." To "entreat" means to make an earnest request or petition for something. James said that it is easy to make an earnest request to God for wisdom. One reason that it is easy is because we know that we are doing what God wants us to do because He is the one who told us to ask Him for wisdom. So in asking for wisdom, we are obeying God’s will and fulfilling His desires. Yet many times we allow the opportunity to pass us by because we just do not think about involving God in our daily routine or problems. We leave the quest for His wisdom for the greater situations that we do not think that we can handle on our own. Like our natural inclination when we are trying to install or put something together, we do not worry about reading the instructions; that is until we need help because we cannot get it together by our own knowledge. James 1:5 gives another reason why it is easy to ask or entreat God for wisdom. He said that God does not reproach, mock, or make us feel ignorant because we lack understanding. When we seek God concerning a matter or ask Him for direction, He does not slap His forehead in gesture and say, "Are you really that stupid?" He is our faithful God and Father and He always meets us at our point of need. He makes asking easy because He only requires that we ask for wisdom with a heart full of faith, believing that He will answer (James 1:6). In Proverbs 3:15 & 16:16, Solomon tells us that "Wisdom is more precious than rubies" and "better than gold." He also said, "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom (Proverbs 4:7)." Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived and he said, "Get wisdom!" The formula is simple. We get wisdom by asking God for it. When we ask, His Holy Spirit teaches us. He is the source and the supplier of the wisdom that comes down from above. His wisdom is "first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). God's wisdom is there for us and His Spirit is waiting to instruct us in every detail of life. All we must do is ask and we will receive, seek and we will find, knock and it will open to us. +++ 11/6/19 CREATE IN ME Scripture: Psalms 51:10 "Create in me, a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." King David was a man that loved God with all of his heart and continually worshipped Him. However, David was also human and fell victim to the devices of the devil. David never quit loving God but the lust that he had in his heart for Bathsheba displaced his allegiance and commitment to God. For a short season, this spirit of lust enticed David to commit adultery, and in a moment of weakness, he sinned grievously against God. This act then drove David into deception and conspiracy as he purposely planned to have Bathsheba's husband murdered so that he could keep his own sin hidden. When the prophet Samuel confronted David about his sin, David's heart broke and he began to repent before God. He pleaded for forgiveness and cleansing as he acknowledged his transgression against men and his sin against God. But David's prayer did not end there. He not only asked for forgiveness, he asked God to do a new thing in his heart. David did not want God to work with his old corrupt heart and just rearrange his priorities. He wanted a brand new fresh start. David wanted the One who had created and formed his heart in the first place to create or to bring into being a clean heart within him. David also wanted his spirit renewed and the joy of God's salvation restored in his life. Have you ever tried to fix something that was too old to deal with? We recently cleaned our garage and intended to keep an old handmade shelf that we had used for storage. The front of the shelf looked fairly good, but when we looked at the back, we discovered that the bottom shelf was actually an old hollow door that was buckled. It was ready to collapse and could no longer handle the weight of the stored items. It was apparent that we had to create a new shelf if we wanted things to function better. Our hearts are very similar. We harbor sin and keep old memories and obtrusive clutter in our hearts by holding on to the things that have offended us. Our souls also by rally around the pain of the past. We have no idea how hollow those chambers of our heart are or how damaging it will be when they collapse under the pressure of the moment. We need to allow God to examine every area of our heart and get rid of anything in our life that does not fit well into His Kingdom of love, joy, and peace. I encourage you to pray with me the simple fifteen words that David prayed, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." As you pray this simple prayer, expect God to answer, for He wants to do a new thing within you. +++ 11/7/19 GOD SAID ... AND IT WAS SO Scripture: Genesis 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 14, 20, 24, 26 "And God said let there be..." In these scriptures, every time that God said, "Let there be," there followed an awesome act of creation. God said, "Let there be light" and there was light. He said, "Let the waters gather together and let there be dry ground" and it was so. God said, "Let the earth bring forth grass and herbs" and it happened just as He commanded. Every time God spoke, His Words framed, fashioned, and put into order the entire world. His Words were as powerful as they were simple. He called things from the unseen realm to the visible and from the spiritual to the natural. God's Words were never void of power. They always accomplished what He sent them forth to do because He is a God of faith and when He speaks He breathes upon His Words and gives them life. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible for us to please God. He wants us to understand, exercise, and move in faith just like He did. We were created in His image and He has given us the capacity for faith, but we must develop it. Faith is not an emotion, but a God imparted gift that comes with the knowledge of God's Word. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by the Word of God." In other words faith comes into our hearts when we hear what God is speaking to us, but we can only hear God speaking as we hear His Word. Faith is believing that God told the truth, then simply acting upon that truth. Do not worry about trying to have faith or trying to get faith. Just read the scriptures and find out what God has said about your situation. Your faith must line up with God's Will, and God's Will is expressed in His Word. Regardless of what things look like in the natural, begin to act and talk like God told you the truth. Rest in His eternal promises, for there is nothing impossible with God. Ask in faith for your needs to be met according to God's will. His will is that none should perish, but that all should receive eternal life through Jesus Christ, His Son (John 3:16). His highest wish is that you prosper and be in health (III John 1:2). The Lord wants His people happy and blessed. Find the answer that you need in God's Word. As God breathes upon that particular Word and says, "Let there be," then believe in your heart that it will be so. +++ 11/8/19 MEASURE OF CHRIST Scripture: Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." The Apostle Paul exhorts us to come up to the measure of the fullness of Christ and he also gives us some words to guide us in the direction to achieve this state. He says come together in the unity of faith, gain knowledge about the Son of God, and become perfect, meaning mature. Three simple words; unity, knowledge, and maturity. Without these attributes, our lives will fall short of the measure of the fullness of Christ. There is a story about a town that had a factory with a whistle, which blew three times a day to let the workers know that it was time to start work, time for the noon break, and time to quit. The factory confirmed their time periodically by calling the local phone company. One day the power went out in the entire city. Once the power was restored, the clock that governed the whistle at the factory needed to be reset. The factory supervisor called the phone company because it had always had the correct time in the past. This turned out to be a fruitless effort because the factory supervisor discovered that the phone company had always set their clocks by the whistle at the factory. Both the factory and the phone company had been using each other to set their clocks and possibly neither one of them had been correct for a long time. This is what happens in our lives. Rather than measuring ourselves with Jesus, we measure ourselves against the standards of someone else, and instead of coming up to the fullness of Christ, we fall short. Our whistles are sounding but they are incorrect. We are like the blind leading the blind or the deaf trying to hear for the deaf. There is no vision and the sounds we hear are unclear. There is no faith because we have set our hearts by those who are full of doubt and unbelief. There is no joy and peace because those we mingle with are frustrated and confused. Like Psalms chapter one declares, we have walked with those who have given us ungodly counsel, and we have become ungodly. We have stood in the way of sinners and became sinful, and we have sat with the scornful and learned to be scornful. Our values have become corrupted and we do realize it because we are measuring ourselves according to the standards of those around us. We must come to understand that the only precise measurement is the Lord, Himself. We must examine our lives and determine to live not by the world's standards but by the character of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of the Almighty God. We will only come into the fullness of Christ by finding the unity of faith, the knowledge of Jesus, and experiencing the maturity that is in Him. +++ GOD'S GIFTS OF POWER, LOVE, AND A SOUND MIND Scripture: II Timothy 1:7 "God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and a sound mind." God is our loving Heavenly Father and He will not give His children anything that is evil or harmful to them in any way. His gifts are only good. He never intended for us to be overburdened, troubled, or fearful in our hearts concerning the matters of life. He does not even want us to be concerned about what we are going to wear or eat (Matthew 6:25). Throughout the scriptures God said, "Do not fear" and He assured us that He was with us at all times and that He would take care of us. Jesus also said, "Let not your heart be troubled and neither let it be afraid." He gave us personal responsibility to not allow the devil to torment us with fear. The Apostle Paul referred to fear as a spirit and James 4:7 instructed the believer to resist the devil and that the devil would have to flee. This includes the devil's evil spirit of fear. We do not have to have the power within our own natural being to conquer evil, we just have to use the authority that has been given to us. We were told that we could use the Name of Jesus and the power of His blood. No weapon that has been formed against us can prosper against those two weapons. We have the right to condemn every tongue, including the voice of fear, that rises against us. We do not have to listen to the devil or his torments, for God did not given us a spirit of fear. God does not give us gifts that are foreign to Himself. Instead He imparts the qualities that are of His own nature, which are love, power, and a sound mind. These three entities represent the God Head. Acts 1:8 says that you will receive Power after the Holy Ghost comes upon you. John 4:24 tells us that God is a Spirit and I John 4:8 says that God is Love. If we have the Spirit of God within us we have the Spirit of Love. And I Corinthians 2:16 says, "We have the Mind of Christ." When we have the mind of Christ, we will definitely have a sound mind. This trinity of power, love, and a sound mind is a mighty force against the devil and his strategies. The devil goes about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour and one of his greatest weapons is fear. His roar is loud and ferocious and it comes with many threats but a roar has no power within itself, except to bring fear. A roar cannot hurt you. It can only harass and torment. We cannot allow ourselves to be taken in by the spirit of fear, for it will drive us to disappointment, depression, defeat, and even death. We must resist anything that God did not give to us, which includes the spirit of fear and we must rise above the clamor of the world's many voices. God's voice is bigger than the roar of the lion and His power is greater than any force that can come against us. We must turn our hearts toward God and rely on His Holy Spirit to enable us and strengthen us with His gift of power, His gift of love, and His gift of a sound mind. Fear is only a spiritual voice and it will flee in the presence of these powerful forces of God. +++ 11/12/19 SERVANT OF JESUS CHRIST Scripture: Romans 1:1 "Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle..." The Apostle Paul was called and separated by God to be a minister of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. His ministry to this day is considered to be one of the greatest and we look to him as an example of the highest degree. He went on many missionary journeys, had great revelations, was well educated, and wrote much of the New Testament. God even worked through Paul's life and performed miracles. Yet, Paul did not hold himself, his qualifications, or his position to great personal esteem. Instead, he laid all of it aside and humbly considered himself to be a simple servant of Jesus Christ. Paul voluntarily took the position of a servant or a slave who held no rights before his Master. He reserved no portion of his life for himself, but totally submitted himself to the will of Jesus Christ. He was willing to live or die for the cause. It made no difference to him for he was simply here to serve Jesus and others and he was joyful in that state. He went through many trials and tribulations because of his determination to fulfill the call of God that was upon his life, yet he never failed or faltered. The call upon his life to be an apostle caused him to walk as a servant before the Lord and the people. Paul declared himself to be a debtor to all people, whether they be wise or unwise, and his goal was to impart spiritual gifts to them in order to establish them in their faith. He was not ashamed of the gospel and was ready to go anywhere at any time in order to proclaim it. He remained true to God's call upon his life even when he was cast into prison. No walls or bars could stifle Paul’s message. He endured to the end and finished his course as a servant and as an apostle. Every call of God starts and finishes with being a servant. There is no "big me" in the ministry. Once you answer the call, you simply serve God and you serve others. You do the work of the ministry and many times become, as it were, a slave. You discover that ministry is no picnic and offers few material rewards. Yet, true ministers will go anywhere and do anything without regard of rewards or for benefits. They just love God and love others and have the same mindset that Paul had. They are first servants. At one point in my life, I became overwhelmed with life and the responsibility of the ministry. As I became tired of the demands and weary of the various duties that needed to be done, I began to say, "Obadiah." Those words or that name just came out of my spirit. I knew that "Obadiah" was a prophet in the Old Testament and that one of the books of the Bible was named after him, but I had no idea what his name meant or why I was repeating it. For months, I would say his name when I felt burdened, used, and misunderstood. Finally one day, I wondered why I was repeating the name "Obadiah." God prompted me to look in the scriptures and I found that the name Obadiah meant "servant of the Lord." Obadiah was a great prophet, but he was a servant of the Lord, which means that he was also called to be a servant of the people. At this point, I realized that God wanted me to be an “Obadiah” in my spirit and attitude. He wanted me to simply be a servant. I encourage you to yield yourself to this same ultimate call. As born again believers, “servants” are who we are supposed to be … and “serving” is what we are supposed to do. +++ 11/13/19 MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE Scripture: Psalms 98:4 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." Seven times in the Psalms we are exhorted to "Make A Joyful Noise" unto the Lord, and four of those Psalms began with these same words. It seems that God is trying to get a message to us and is not being shy about the fact that He wants us to express our love and appreciation to Him in an exuberant way. Joyful in the original text means, "shout or make a triumphal proclamation with a thundering voice." Loud shouts and sounds seem to be okay for open air ball games, but for many of us it almost seems too wild for the quiet worship services that we are accustomed to. Yet, the psalmist encouraged us to praise God in this manner and even said that our expressions should be accompanied with loud instruments such as the trumpets, coronets, and drums. By definition, noise is sound that is loud, disagreeable, and unwanted. It is also described as commotion or random disturbance that obscures or reduces clarity. We have all heard the noise that children make, which in most cases fits the definition of noise very well. However, when my two young grandchildren were visiting me, one sat down at the piano and began to bang and the other one picked up an old out of tune banjo and began to play with it. As they both were making noise with their particular instruments, they also began to sing individual songs. Nothing was flowing together and there was no real beauty about the noise they were making. Their music would have been deemed a pitiful sounding concert by anyone else's standards. However, the joyful noise they were making was a joy to my ears and beautiful music to my heart because my granddaughter told me that they were singing just for me. Their special intent had suddenly caused the noise to be very precious music to me. As I thought about my reaction to my granddaughter and grandson's expression of love, I realized that God our Father is much the same, for when we praise the Lord, He does not hear as the world hears. The world may hear the noise of missed notes and ill timing, but God hears as a Father who is listening to His child. God's ears are turned towards our hearts and He hears a melody of love. Skill and perfection are not as important to Him as a joyful noise that is filled with the content of thanksgiving, praise, and adoration. Deep is calling unto deep and He is listening for the praise that comes from deep within our soul. We must never be afraid to express ourselves to the Lord, for we are precious in His sight. Let us remember that the most perfect praise that we can offer to God is a joyful noise that comes from our heart. +++ 11/14/19 REST IN HIS PRESENCE Scripture: Exodus 33:14 "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." True peace and rest does not come from your surroundings but from the Holy One who lives within you. In the midst of every kind of adversity and the clamor of the voices of this world, you can always slip away in your spirit to hide in the Lord's awesome presence, because He is always available. He is your Holy Mountain where you can find solitude and He is your Mighty Fortress in the time of trouble. There is no price to be paid for this wonderful privilege except that you must seek Him and yield your being to His Person. Then as you simply acknowledge His Presence, He will quiet all of the thoughts within your mind, dispel all the anxieties in your heart, and give rest to your spirit. Jesus is the Prince of Peace and His presence is supernatural. Yet, He does not bring an end to all the conflict in your life. He simply tells you not to allow your heart to be troubled as He offers you His peace. He says, "My peace I give to you" (John 14:27). It is up to you to receive the peace that He is offering. Friends may try to comfort you, but only Jesus can exchange peace for confusion, hope for despair, security for fear, and fill your heart with love when you have been rejected. Jesus walks on the water to rescue you when you are tossed about by the waves and contrary winds. He is the Shepherd who leads you through the rugged and dangerous paths and protects you from all harm. He is your Light in the darkness and He is the Living Water that causes you to never thirst again. You can have rest because of who Jesus is. The Lord is waiting for you like the loving father who waited for his prodigal son to return to His Presence. Jesus said, "Come unto Me, all you that are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent; that is all knowing, all powerful, and always present. True peace will come to you when you understand that God is in control and believe that there is nothing that can happen to you that He cannot take care of. Rest in the knowledge of His Presence and you will experience the wonder of His peace. +++ 11/15/19 FAITH HAS ACTION Scripture: James 2:18 "I will show you my faith by my works." A quote from God's Little Devotional Book says, "He who wants milk should not sit on a stool in the middle of the pasture expecting the cow to back up to him." We could say the same thing about the finished work of faith. It is not just a thought in the mind or a dream in the heart. Faith is substance and acts in obedience to God's Word. It does not sit and wait for the thing hoped for to come to it. The farmer who wants milk takes action. And the man who wants to see his vision from God come to pass must also take action. Our action is the demonstration of our faith. However, action without God's instruction is presumption. Romans 10:17 tells us that "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." True faith hears a Word from God, believes it, and then acts as if God spoke the truth. At the same time that faith is acting, it is also resting in a faithful God. Faith never struggles. Look at some of the actions and results of the actions that took place when God spoke and caused faith to come alive in the hearts of men: Noah built an ark and saved his household. Abraham journeyed throughout the land and claimed it as an inheritance for his descendants. Moses stretched forth his rod and parted the Red Sea, delivering Israel from the hands of the Egyptians. The widow of Zarephat baked a cake for the prophet Elijah, and her provisions were sustained throughout the famine. Peter launched out into the deep water at Jesus' command, and took in so many fish that his boat began to sink. The young lad sacrificed his five loaves and two fish to Jesus and then saw a multitude of 5000 fed and a twelve basket return. The servants at the wedding of Cana filled pots with water and Jesus turned the water into wine. What if Noah had not built the ark or Moses had not lifted his rod in obedience to God's Word? And what if Abraham had been too fearful to leave his homeland? Or what if Peter had refused to go back out into the water after he had fished all night and caught nothing? What would have happened to the multitude if the young boy had not sacrificed his lunch? Without obedient action, none of these would have received the manifestation of God's promise. Faith requires action. So when God speaks and whatever He says to you, you must do it if you want to see the promised results (John 2:5). +++ 11/18/19 SINCERE MILK OF THE WORD Scripture: I Peter 2:2 "... Desire the sincere milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby." A newborn child is a joy to the heart. Yet, as we hold them in our arms and cuddle their small frame, we realize that this special time will only last for a short season. It would be very sad for them to stay in this infant state forever. So because we know that they must grow and be strong physically to move on in life, we feed and nourish them. We also educate and share our knowledge with them so that they can function in life. We teach them manners and how to be wise and understanding. This is a process that never ends. I gave my son food and watched him grow, but regardless of how much he ate when he was a small child, without daily food and nourishment now, his life would soon end. I also taught him how to be graceful in situations and with people, but each new relationship is a learning experience. My son’s growth never ends. I taught him many skills, yet as a man he still continues to learn. Everyday there are new challenges in his life that produce new growth. Our spiritual life proceeds in the same manner while our Heavenly Father oversees it all. Once we are born again into His family, He sets about to help us grow spiritually. He makes provision for us to grow and to learn His concepts through His Word. The scriptures tell us of at least three areas that we can grow in spiritually. First, our faith can grow exceedingly (II Thess. 1:3). We know that faith is obtained by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). Is it any wonder that the Apostle Peter told us to desire the sincere milk of the Word? For the sincere milk of the Word causes faith to grow. II Peter 3:18 lists two other areas of growth, saying, "Grow in grace and grow in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." The more of God's Word we hear and understand, the more we will be able to grow in faith and to comprehend God’s work of grace and the salvation that is in Christ. We must desire the sincere milk of God's Word and cry out for it like an infant until we receive nourishment. The cries of a new born infant desiring milk can be heard every three hours. We must understand that we cannot live on yesterday's nourishment any more than our own child could live today on the milk that they received when they were a baby. We must feed daily and even go beyond the milk to the meat of the Word. Our spirits desperately need God's Word, for it is a matter of spiritual life or death. The greater our knowledge of His sincere Word, the greater our faith will grow. The more we understand Him, the less chance we have of being in error. We must make time to read and meditate on the things that God has written so that we can grow spiritually. +++ 11/19/19 RELATIONSHIPS CEASE, THE LORD REMAINS Scripture: II Timothy 4:16-17 "No man stood with me, but all men forsook me ... But the Lord stood with me, and strengthen me." Earlier in this chapter, Paul says that he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. He had a determination not to let anything or anyone deter him from preaching the gospel and fulfilling God's plan for his life. Paul goes on to explain that Demas deserted him and that a coppersmith by the name of Alexander did much evil toward him. Not only that, Paul faced other disappointments. When he had his court hearing, no one defended him. Instead, Paul found himself standing alone, but he took comfort in his situation because he knew that the Lord was with him and would strengthen him. There are seasons in life when relationships become strained or cease to be. Those who were with you suddenly turn and leave with no decent explanations. And those who have conflicting opinions, stir up confusion, and fight against you. For one reason or another, you are abandoned by those whom you loved and trusted and also by those whom you thought loved you. Like Paul’s situation, there seems to be no help even though you are endeavoring to serve the Lord. In your darkest hour, you are left alone in the arena of life to manage your disappointments and your discouragement. However, you can always take comfort in knowing that God will always be there for you. Even though others desert you, He will never leave you or forsake you. Each new door will present the opportunity to fail or succeed, to win or lose, to continue or to quit. The actions and opinions of others do not fit into this equation. It remains your choice to fulfill God's will and purposes for your own life. As with the Apostle Paul, he fought a good fight, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. Regardless of his hardships and the disappointments of his relationships, Paul did not quit. And his battle scars won him a crown of righteousness. God also has a crown for you. Trust in Him when all others forsake you. The Lord will stand with you and give you strength to endure the present and He will empower you for the future task that is set before you. +++ 11/20/19 MIGHTY MAN OF VALOR Scripture: Judges 6:12 "The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor." Gideon was so afraid of his enemies, the Midianites, that he hid himself behind the winepress. He was there sifting his wheat in secret behind the winepress rather than in the open field. Yet regardless of his apparent fear, God saw Gideon's inner strength and knew what he could become. God saw Gideon as a man of valor and envisioned him to be brave, courageous, and full of worth. Even though God, Himself, spoke positive words to Gideon, Gideon still could not believe that he was capable of fulfilling God's call on his life. He asked God to confirm His words through various signs and fleeces. Sometimes we are like Gideon. God calls upon us to do something that really stretches our faith and goes beyond our natural abilities. We cannot imagine that God wants to use us in a certain capacity when there are others who are more capable. As we look at ourselves in the natural, we fail to see what God sees because we are looking at our past and our present, while God is seeing our potential and our future. We see our failures and insufficiencies, but God looks at the gifts and callings within us that are lying dormant. He knows the strengths that are within us because He planted them within us long ago so that He could call them forth at the right season. When God calls upon us, we often exhibit the same attitude and answer Him in the same tone as Gideon did in verse thirteen. Gideon said to God, "If the Lord be with us, why then is all this befallen us? And where are all His miracles?" In other words, Gideon was saying, "Lord, I have not seen you work in my life, yet. If I am such a mighty man and have so much valor, why haven't I noticed it before now?” He was not even sure that it was God speaking to him. In verse seventeen he said, "Show me a sign that You are the one that is talking with me." Yet God saw Gideon's heart and very patiently and faithfully answered all of his questions and strengthened his faith by meeting his request. God is doing mighty things in your life right now and preparing you for the season that He has for you. He has a good plan and has placed you in His kingdom for such a time as this. You may not be conscious of this fact, but He is implanting His Word and His vision on the inside of you. In the time of your greatest fear and most hopeless situation, God's Words of strength will speak to your heart. When you least expect it, He will call you forth and proclaim you as a mighty person of valor, for He is not looking at who you were or even who you are right now. He is looking at your potential and who you can be in the future. The Lord is with you. Do not be afraid, for as you yield to Him, He will give you courage to complete His will. +++ 11/21/19 PAUSE AND THINK ON HIS WORD Scripture: Psalms 68:19 "Blessed be the Lord, who daily loads us with benefits; even the God of our salvation. Selah." The word "Selah" at the end of this verse of scripture is used seventy-one times in the Psalms. It means to "pause, and calmly think about that." In other words, when we read God's Word we should stop and think about what He is saying to us as an individual, for these words are personal messages from our personal God. Many times we forget that these are the very same words that God breathed into the hearts of the men who recorded them and that the truth of these words has lived for centuries. They have proven themselves to be true. Each and every Word of God is a powerful living organism that will create life within us when we allow it to rule our hearts. We must not allow God's Words to become routine. Instead, we must pause and take time to reflect upon them and realize that His Words are spirit and life. In Mark chapter four, Jesus compared the Word of God to a tiny seed and explained that the heart of man was like the soil. Seeds have life within themselves, but Jesus said that the growth of the seed depended upon the condition of the heart. He said, "Take heed how you hear." You must read the scriptures with the intent to hear God's still small voice. In the words of the psalmist you must, "Selah," or pause and calmly think on God's Word. Each time you read God's Word, meditate on it. Roll His Words around in your heart until revelation comes and the Word begins to take root and grow. The tiny seed of His Word will eventually become like a tree in your life. As you hear God’s Word, faith will arise in your heart. Psalms 1:2-3 says that as you meditate on His Word day and night, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. Your leaves will not wither, you will bring forth fruit, and all that you do will prosper. II Timothy 3:16 says, "All scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable ..." God inspired each and every scripture and intends that you profit from them. When you listen to what God is saying through the scriptures, you should expect to find the answers that you need for your current situation. You should also come to understand what His will is for your life. God is your salvation and He wants to load you up daily with His blessings. He wants you to search His Word for your answers and then pause and calmly think about what He is saying to you personally. Selah! +++ 11/22/19 LOOKING UNTO JESUS Scripture: Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith ..." It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words because images linger in your mind. Just think about a great painting such as the Mona Lisa or the Lord's Supper. When you think about these works of art, you can recall their clear image in your mind. Yet think about a wonderful sermon that you heard just a few hours ago. How many of the words do you remember? Unless diligent effort is made to memorize written or spoken words, they are easily forgotten. You may retain the thought, but many, if not most, of the words will escape your memory. God knew the importance of the visual senses, so throughout the scriptures He allowed men to see things so they could hold His promise in their hearts until His work was completed. These images were their fortress against the hardships they were compelled to face in their journey of faith. With Abraham, it was a sky full of stars representing his future descendants that could not be numbered. For Joseph, it was a dream showing forth his future honor and authority. For Moses, it was a burning bush and for the wise men who sought for the Messiah, it was the star of Bethlehem. Paul saw a blinding vision of the Son of God on the road to Damascus. Like Jesus, all of these men were able to endure their particular crosses because of their visions and the joy that was set before them. Their hearts held a vision of the final outcome, which enabled them to press forward until they reached their goal and captured their prize. Like these men of old, God wants "your heart flooded with light so that you can see the future that He has called you to share" (Ephesians 1:18 NIV). Without a vision of the plan that the Lord has ordained for you, your purpose may perish. However, with a clear vision of the future there will be hope in the midst of discouragement, and this hope will create a strength that will help you endure the struggles and hardships of the present moment. There must be a clear picture in your mind of the Lamb of God and what He has accomplished for you. Jesus became flesh and dwelt among men so that we could behold His glory and understand His completed work on the cross. You must see the blood that He shed for you as He paid the price to redeem you from your sin. You must get a glimpse of the stripes that were laid on His back for your healing and see the crown of thorns that was shoved into His brow so that your mind could be free. You must behold Him as your risen Savior, the One that death could not hold, the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, who now sits at the right hand of the Father. You must realize that Jesus is always praying and interceding for you and recognize that He is your friend who is closer to you than a brother. You must see Him at your side at all times, for He said that He would never leave you or forsake you. Keep your eyes on Jesus, for He is the author and finisher of your faith, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. With these visions of Jesus in your heart and mind, you will walk in victory. +++ 11/25/19 BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU HEAR Scripture: Mark 4:23-24 Jesus said, "If any man have ears to hear, let him hear ... And be careful what you are hearing." Our ears are very important in the natural as well as the spiritual realm. Natural ears are organs of hearing and balance. When your natural inner ears are affected, your whole body is disturbed and out of balance. Nothing seems quite right around you and you may become dizzy and even stagger around as though you are drunk. Like the natural, your spiritual ears are not only organs of hearing but also of balance. What you hear with your spiritual ears affects your spiritual balance and determines your walk with the Lord. Depending upon what you take in with your spiritual ears, you will either walk in faith and boldness or stagger around in wavering doubt and unbelief. Jesus taught us to be very careful of what we listen to because the things we hear will establish our faith. Romans 10:17 says, "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word." Whether positive or negative, you will begin to believe what you hear and you will trust those things that you give your attention to. If you choose to listen to negative words and believe the negative thoughts of your circumstances, the words of others, and your own mind, you will develop negative faith, which is doubt. You will find yourself out of balance and in a state of discouragement. Your faith will be tossed to and fro like the waves of the seas. When your faith is challenged, you will stagger as a drunken man, totally out of balance. James 1:7-8 says the double minded man is unstable in all of his ways and he will not be able to receive anything from the Lord. On the other hand, if you choose to listen to God's Word and meditate on it day and night, Psalms 1:2-3 says you will be like a tree that is planted by the water and everything that you do will prosper. Your walk will be established because God's Word will cause faith to come alive in your heart. When you take heed to what you are hearing, you will be like Abraham. He did not stagger in unbelief at the promises of God because he refused to consider the age of his own body or the deadness of Sarah's womb (Romans 4:19-20). Abraham believed what God had told him and his faith allowed him to take action to bring that Word to a place of victory. Like Abraham's choice, hearing and listening is an act of your own will and a personal decision on your part. What you choose to hear will become a part of your being and will cause you to grow in either a negative or a positive direction. So take heed to what you decide to hear because it will determine your future. +++ 11/26/19 GIVING HIM THANKS Scripture: Luke 17:15-16 "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at Jesus' feet, giving Him thanks." Ten men who were plagued with leprosy found the time and the energy to seek out Jesus when they needed Him. As Jesus came to their village, they unashamedly cried, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us." Jesus instructed them to go and show themselves to the priest, and as they went their way they were all healed. However, only one of the ten returned to glorify God and give Him thanks. The one that returned could not thank Jesus enough for the healing that he had received. Yet, his attention went beyond his miraculous healing as he focused on the Healer. He was so grateful to Jesus that he fell down on his face at Jesus' feet in worship and gave Him thanks. Jesus' response was, "Where are the other nine?" They all had sought Jesus out, crying for mercy and calling Him Master. They were also healed of leprosy, but once they were healed, they did not return to give Jesus even a small word of thanks. If they had any gratitude at all, it was silent to the ears of the One who had healed them. Their new found healing called them back to their own lives and self interest. They no longer had time to follow Jesus or allow Him to be the Master of their lives, for they were in a hurry to get on with their own agendas. Our circumstances may not be perfect, but if we look around us, we will find that we have much to be thankful for. I Thessalonians 5:18 says, " In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." God has done so many things for us and we need to thank Him for everything. Our words of gratitude should be one hundred percent. We should not return and give thanks for just one thing and leave the other nine undone. How sad it would be if Jesus responded to our efforts and said, "What about the other nine things that I did for you? Aren't you thankful for them also?" We get so busy during this season that we forget the reason for the season. We forget why we are supposed to be Happy at Thanksgiving and Merry at Christmas. We must be careful and give diligent thought to the true reason for our happiness and joy. We have happiness and joy because of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. Let us be sure to turn away from ourselves, our busy schedules, and celebrations during this season long enough to return to Jesus and give Him a simple word of thanks. +++ 11/27/19 BE THANKFUL Scripture: Psalms 100:4 " ... Be thankful unto Him, and bless His Name." In this Psalm of praise, David exhorts us to make a joyful noise to the Lord, to serve Him with gladness, and to come before Him with singing. We are to recognize that the Lord has made us and acknowledge that we are His people. We are to express our thankfulness and bless the Lord, for He is good and His mercy is everlasting. Many times, however, we take our many blessings for granted instead of taking notice and expressing our appreciation to God for all the things that He has done for us. Too often, it takes seeing the sufferings of others or experiencing our own suffering to remind us of how short our thankfulness has fallen. Martin Luther made a very strong point about our lack of thankfulness when he wrote of "God's Unceasing Kindness." In part he said, "If our heavenly Father were not so liberal in the distribution of His gifts, we would be more thankful to Him." Martin Luther then went on to explain this theory. He said that if God had caused all men to be born with only one leg or one foot, and then later, at the age of seven, was given the other leg and foot, man would be more thankful. He would appreciate his legs for the rest of his life and would never again take them for granted. Likewise, if a man were born with one arm and one hand, and then given the other arm and hand at the age of twenty, he would appreciate his arms and hands and prize them more highly. God has bestowed upon us great and bountiful blessings. Yet many times, it is only as we are deprived that we begin to appreciate them. Sometimes it takes the electrical power going out in the midst of a storm to remind us of how much we appreciate having lights and electricity. It takes illness to remind us of how precious good health is. It takes the threat of death before we become thankful for each breath that we are allowed to take. Like Martin Luther's story, what if you were born with one leg or arm, blind, or deaf? Would you be more appreciative when you were restored? When was the last time that you gave thanks to God because you could walk, talk, see, and hear? Have you thanked the Lord lately for your family, friends, shelter, and food? Do not wait for adversity to remind you of what you have and why you should be thankful to God. Begin right now to acknowledge God's awesome goodness to you personally and praise Him for the daily benefits that He is providing. As the psalmist instructed, “Be thankful to God and bless His Name!” +++ 11/28/19 THANKSGIVING Scripture: Psalms 100:4 "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His holy name." At times we stand outside the gates of God's presence and wonder why we cannot feel God or sense His awesome power. We are plagued with our lack of direction and haunted by our unanswered prayers. We question the meaning and purpose of the desperate situations and circumstances that surround us at the moment. We even wonder if things are ever going to change. We feel that if we could just get to God and present ourselves to Him that everything would be all right. We know that if we were in His presence, He would surround us with His love and shed His glorious light on our dimly lit path. We sense His Spirit drawing us, yet we just grope around outside of the gates without a clue of how we once were able to find that wonderful place at the foot of God's throne. In this verse, the psalmist gives us insight into how to enter the gates that bring us into the presence of God. He says that our initial approach to God requires a heart of thanksgiving and lips full of praise. This is a very important issue with God. We must be thankful and verbalize our gratitude, for this kind of heart attitude opens the gates that lead to the courts of God. Thankfulness is like the hinges on which the gates swing. Without a grateful heart, the hinges will not work and the gate will not open. As a result, we will not be able to enter into the presence of God where our prayers are answered and where we find peace. Very often, we must offer up sacrifices of thankfulness. It may be hard to thank God in the present situation that you are in, but your words are important to Him. He cherishes your thankfulness and praise. The Lord listens to your every word and as you express your thankfulness to Him, you magnify Him. He is more pleased with your thankfulness and praise than He is with your tangible sacrifices like the animal sacrifices that were made under the old covenant long ago (Psalm 69:30-31). When you voice your thanksgiving, you make God big not only in your own sight, but in the sight of those who hear your words of praise. As you praise and thank Him, God oils the hinges of the gate and it begins to open. His Holy Spirit then ushers you through the gate and into God's presence. +++ 11/28/19 COVENANT KEEPING GOD Scripture: Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, which keeps covenant and mercy with them that love Him and keep His commandments to a thousand generations." Moses made this statement about 3500 years ago and things still remain the same. First, the Lord God is still God and His position has not changed. He is still the Creator of Heaven and Earth and the Ruler over all. He is sovereign and has supreme authority over all creation, including the personal affairs of men. Second, God is not only God but He is also a faithful God. There is no changing with God. God is still the same as he was when Moses declared that He was faithful. And finally, God will keep His covenant with us as He did with Moses. Numbers 23:19 declares that "God is not a man that He should lie; neither the son of man that He should repent. If He has spoken it, it will come to pass." A covenant is a contract or an agreement between two or more people. It is a giving and receiving relationship between the parties involved and requires a total commitment from both sides. You cannot have a covenant with someone you do not know and trust. It just will not work, for covenants are established and developed through and upon relationships. You may have been in a relationship that was based upon what you could and would do for that other person. There was conversation when they wanted to talk, affection on their terms, but all of the serving and giving was on your part. It was all about them and their needs. Your needs and desires were never considered, much less met, for you carried the entire load of the relationship. Things are different when you have a covenant with God. He respects your needs and responds to your desires. You are able to say, "If you need me, God, you can count on me. And God, when I need You, I know that I can count on You." You and the Lord make yourself accessible and available to each other. God is faithful to the faithful and He will keep His Word with those who will obey His Word. God obligates Himself to those who are in a covenant relationship with Him and He watches over His Word to perform it. In fact, His eyes continually roam the earth looking for those who love Him and who are diligently seeking to trust His Word and obey His commandants. God is not a politician who says things so that He can be voted into your life. Neither is God an actor who portrays himself to be someone that he is not. God is real and His Word is truth. Your covenant with God is completely thorough and exhaustive. If you honor and respect God as your Heavenly Father, He will treat you as His son. If you recognize Him as the Lord God your Healer, He will heal you of all your diseases. If you look to Him as your Source of supply, He will meet all of your needs. If you see God as your Deliverer, He will come to your rescue and deliver you. If you ask Him for forgiveness, He will be faithful to forgive. If you allow Him to be your Comforter, He will be with you always. Men will continue to fail you in your time of need, but God's grace will always be sufficient. His mercy will never cease, for He is a covenant keeping God. +++ Copyright © 2019 Mary Padgett Ministries. All Rights Reserved www.widsonline.com			..............................