Strength

     For every task, we need the strength that is required to complete that task.  Whether it is physical, emotional, or spiritual, without strength we are unable to fulfil our responsibilities and desires.  The Bible has a lot to say about walking in strength.  Isaiah tells us in chapter 40:28-31 that even the youths will faint and become weary, and the young men will fall.  But Isaiah gives us an answer for weariness.  "They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint."  The Lord promises strength to those who wait on Him.  When we look to Him, and put our hope and trust in the Lord, we will be strengthened to do what we need to do. 
     Here's a beautiful promise found in Matt. 11:28-30, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."  Coming to Jesus and bringing our heavy loads to Him brings rest and peace to our souls.  We are able to go on with our lives without the heavy loads of care and worry holding us down. 
     Jeremiah had become discouraged as he continued to preach and no one was listening.  But the Lord challenged him to rise up with more strength.  "If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses?  And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?"  Jer. 12:5.  In other words, things will get worse.  The trials can become more intense.  If you are already weary in a time of peace, what will you do when you engage the enemy?  We need additional strength to go through more trials that will be coming in our lives.  We need to strengthen ourselves in the Lord now. 
     Here are a couple of Paul's prayers for strength for the church; Eph. 3:16 "...strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man..."  and Col. 1:11 "...strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience with longsuffering with joy."  Paul's prayers for the church show us that we need supernatural strength in our lives.  Paul reveals the secret to his life in Phil. 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."  Paul never relied on his own strength, but found an inner strength from Christ to which he attributed all his achievements.  "I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me, (I am ready for anything, and equal to anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self sufficient in Christ's sufficiency." Amplified version.
     David talked about finding God as the strength of his life.  Ps. 18:1 "I will love You, O Lord, my strength."  Vs. 2 "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation , my stronghold."  David felt so strong in God that he says in vs. 29, "For by You I can run against a troop, By my God I can leap over a wall."  May you be infused with supernatural strength today, to rise up and do all that God has put in your heart.

Reset

     "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind."  Eph. 4:23.  We are continually needing a renewal of our minds.  Many times improper thoughts, corrupt attitudes and wrong perspectives get added into our thinking that need to be cleaned out.  Our minds are somewhat like a computer.  The computer has a reset button that can restore the computer back to its default settings.  This reset button is used when you want to clean out your computer from added information you don't want anymore, and from corrupt files that destroy the computer's ability to function properly.  We are now in a time where it seems like God is wanting to reset His church.  He is dealing with our perspectives and priorities, and showing us once again what is important in life.  We have been dealing with the coronavirus, which has required people all over the world to stay home, and to maintain physical distance.  This is a time when people's perspectives are changing, and we are reevaluating our lives.  The heroes of our world have changed from sports celebrities and Hollywood, to the people who are caring for us and providing the essential services we need.
     How do I reset my life before God?  I want to suggest 4 ways.  First, there needs to be repentance in our hearts.  Repentance is a change of direction, a change in thinking.  "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" were the first words from John the Baptist and from Jesus.  Matt. 3:3; 4:17.  True change can only come through repentance.  It is the acknowledgement that I need forgiveness, and that I have been going to wrong direction.  It is David's prayer of Ps. 139:23,24 "Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  It is the forgiveness of 1 John 1:9, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 
     This leads to the second thing, which is humility.  Humility cries out for help.  The humble heart realizes he cannot do it on his own, that he needs God's help in his life.  The prophet Joel called the people to return to the Lord.  They had gone after their own ways, and were now being overcome by their enemy.  Humility says to God, "I need you, and I will follow You and trust You."
   The third thing for a reset in our lives is love.  To love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength is the first and greatest commandment.  To truly love our neighbor is the next commandment that we must follow.  Only God can give us a heart of love for our neighbors that really cares and reaches out to those around us.  This heart of love is one that is being cleansed of all bitterness, and anger, and unforgiveness toward others. 
      These things lead us to a place of unity.  "How good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity." Ps. 133:1.  Unity expresses a real appreciation of others. It cares about others, and walks together.  "How can two walk together unless they are agreed?"  Even for two people to take a walk it requires unity.  God wants us to walk together in unity with one another. 
     We can have a reset of our spiritual life through repentance, humility, love and unity. 

Overcoming Deception

As Joshua and the children of Israel began to enter into the Promised Land, they soon were met with deception!  The people of the town of Gibeon had heard how Israel had conquered Jericho and Ai, and were coming to conquer all the land.  The Gibeonites worked craftily to appear as though they had come from a far country.  They had old sacks on their donkeys, and old wineskins, old sandals, old garments and bread that was dry and moldy.  They came asking to make a covenant with Joshua and Israel. Josh. 9:14 is a key verse, "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord."  Joshua made peace with them and entered into a covenant with them to let them live.  Then about 3 days later it was discovered that none of what was told them was true, but that they were their neighbors.  Even the great leader Joshua was deceived by them.  Jesus said that in the last days there will be false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect, Matt. 24:24.  Deception will be the mark of the last days.  Rev. 12:9 says the devil who deceives the whole world was cast to the earth.  From the beginning, satan relied on deception to do his work.  He deceived Eve in Gen. 3, lying to her about what God had said.  Then Paul referred to this in 2 Cor. 11:3, "But I fear, lest somehow, as he serpent deceived Eve, by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."  How can we walk without being deceived?  God has given us His word to free us from deception!  "...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  John 8:31,32.  There are many scams and fraudulent schemes going around today.  When you get a phone call from someone threatening you, and you know it's a scam, you don't have to be afraid.  The truth sets you free from fear and from being deceived.  God has given us the Spirit of Truth, to lead us and guide us into all truth.  The truth is the belt of our armor, which Paul tells us to put on in Eph. 6.  Jesus always leads us into truth, for He is the way, the truth and the life.  His voice always leads us into truth.  We can trust Him completely.  John 10 tells us that the sheep do not follow a stranger, for they do not know the voice of strangers.  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."  In a world full of voices, it is essential that we hear the Father's voice, and keep our minds from being filled with the voice of strangers.  Today, take some time to meditate on the Scriptures, and pray that you may be guided by the Father's voice, and not the voice of a stranger. 

Finding Purpose

Many people find difficulty in finding their purpose in life.  It is often difficult for people to put into words what they feel God's purpose is for their lives.  The life of Moses gives us an amazing example of God working out His purpose.  The life of Moses can be roughly divided into 3 parts.  His first 40 years were spent in Pharoah's palace, being taught by his mother and the Pharoah.  His next 40 years were spent out in the desert herding flocks.  He was married there and had 2 children.  He is most well known for his last 40 years which started when he was 80 years old!  Had we been able to ask him what God's purpose for his life was during his first 80 years, he would not have known the answer.  God's purpose took time to unfold and be revealed.  It is very encouraging that God called him to deliver the children of Israel at 80 years old!  May the last third of our lives be the most fruitful!  God may call you to do surprising and wonderful things in the last years of your life.  This is not a time to sit back and do nothing, but to stay attentive to the voice of God, and hear a fresh word from God for the purpose of your life.  As long as you are here on planet earth, there is a purpose for your life. 
In 1 Cor. 9:24-27 Paul likens the Christian life to a race.  In a race there is a goal you are trying to reach.  If there is no goal you don't have a race.  The goal brings focus to the runners.  They know what they are trying to achieve.  The goal brings motivation, because they have something to strive towards.  The goal brings discipline, because the runners know they cannot win without disciplining their lives.  The Christian life needs to have goals.  It needs to find purpose which will bring focus and motivation and discipline.  Purpose determines your course and directs you away from distractions.  It keeps you on course through the hard times, and times when you feel like quitting.  Purpose motivates you to get up each day and work toward achieving the goal. 
I made a list of goals for my own life that have brought purpose and motivation for me:
1. To have eternal life.  More than anything, I want my name to be written in the Book of Life.  This happened the day I accepted Jesus into my life as Lord and Savior.
2. To follow Jesus.  Jesus said that if anyone will come after Him, he must deny himself, take up his cross and follow Him.  It is my purpose to follow Jesus for my entire life.
3. To love my wife.  "Husbands love your wives, as Christ also loved the church."  It is my purpose to love my wife and be a godly husband.
4. To bring up my children (and now grandchildren) in the Lord.  It has been my purpose to bring up my children in the Lord, and live a life that is a good example for them to follow.
5. To be in fellowship with the church.  As a part of the body of Christ, I cannot fulfill my purpose alone.  It is my purpose to always be in fellowship with the body of Christ.
6. To provide for my family.  "For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children."  Both spiritually and physically I want to be a good provider for my family.
7. To use my gifts and abilities.  "Having then gifts differing...let us use them."  I want to use every ability I have to glorify God and to reach out for the kingdom of God.
May you find God's purpose for your life as you seek to follow Jesus every day!

Overcoming Fear Again

     "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."  2 Tim. 1:7.  Fear will try to stop you, paralyze you, make you choose another route, make you quiet, and stop you from moving ahead.  We are told there are 365 "Fear Nots" in the Bible, one for every day, because fear will try to rise up against you every day.  One day when I was starting to preach, fear came over me.  Fear told me I couldn't do it.  Fear had almost convinced me that it was impossible for me.  But I remembered 2 Tim. 1:7, and I began to quote that verse over and over.  I told the devil to go, because God had not given me a spirit of fear.  After I stood on that verse, fear left me, and I was encouraged to go ahead and preach the gospel.
     Fear will come up against you again and again.  The fear of public speaking is said to be the #1 fear.  It is the fear of rejection, and the fear of failure.  It is being concerned about self, and what people will think of me.  Pro. 29:25 says, "The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe."  Fear is a snare, a trap, to keep you from stepping forward into what God has for you.  When the 12 leaders were sent to spy out the promised land, 10 came back with a report that made the children of Israel afraid.  Their report of doubt made the people cry and wish they could return back to Egypt.  Joshua and Caleb encouraged them and told them not to fear the people, for God would give them the land.  But fear stopped them, and those who feared never did enter the promised land.  We must not make our decisions based out of fear, but we must move in faith, believing what God has said to us.  It wasn't the giants that stopped the people from entering the land, it was their fear.
     In Matt. 14 we read that Jesus made the disciples get into a boat to go to the other side of the lake.  In the middle of the night a storm came up that made the disciples think they would die in the storm. Jesus knew they would encounter this storm, and still He invited them to come.  There are things that Jesus will call you to do, knowing that those things will cause fear to rise up in your heart.  But these experiences are meant to teach us to trust God, and lean more closely into Him.  When anxiety tries to grip your mind, it is time for your trust in God to rise up to a new level.  Recognize the fear, and begin to take steps against it.  Read the Word, and pray, and don't shrink back in fear.  Rise up in faith and move forward toward that fear.  You recognize the fear, and say, "Oh, it's you again."  Now you know that God has something good ahead for you.  FEAR stands for "False Evidence Appearing Real."  Faith has no power when you rise up with faith in God, and take a step toward the fear.   Faith is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to trust God and step forward.  "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me."  Ps. 23.

Care For One Another

     "That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care one for another."  1 Cor. 12:25.  Paul uses the human body as an analogy of the body of Christ.  Just as the body has many parts, so the body of Christ is made up of many different parts, with many various gifts and abilities.  The members of Christ's body, though very different, are all part of the same body, and all belong to Christ, who is the head. 
     The human body looks after itself, and protects itself.  It cares about every part and does not want any part to be hurt or injured.  Pain that is felt in one part of the body affects the overall function of the whole body.  There are no parts that the body is willing to do without.  It does not want to sacrifice any part.  It will protect itself and fight to survive and save every part.  If you've ever been in some kind of a shooting game, like paint ball, you know that getting hit can really sting.  You don't want to get hit anywhere!  It is not okay with you to get hit in any place on your body.  The whole body looks after itself, and cares for itself.  It is like stubbing your toe, or hitting the wrong nail with a hammer, the pain of that moment goes through your whole body, and you are unable to function for awhile until you get some relief from that pain.  It is the care for the body that makes the body function. 
     We are connected as the body of Christ by the care that we have for one another.  We are connected when we feel valued, when we feel seen, when we feel heard, and when we feel understood.  Our true value comes from Christ, as we come to know Him, and what He has done for us.  The body of Christ is to have the same care one for another.  This love is what connects us, and is a testimony to the world that we are Christ's.  Sometimes things happen that cause a disconnection in our relationships.  When this happens in marriage, we must fight for our marriages by reconnecting.  We cannot allow something to disconnect us, and cause feelings of hurt and pain to grow.  We need  life giving relationships that flow one to another for healthy and growing marriages.  In the body of Christ we must be committed to one another to grow together, and give the time, attention, and understanding needed for our relationships to flourish. 
     There has to be a connection for our phones to work, and for our electrical devices to work.  When our furnace wasn't working, and we got it fixed, the sound of that furnace was so good to hear.  The connection had been restored!  So it is in our relationships with one another.  The connection we have through Christ is a precious gift that we protect and value, just as the human body values every part, and is unwilling to do without any one part.  The gift of salvation is free, but maturity will cost you something!  Maturing in Christ and growing into everything God wants you to be will take commitment, time, attention, and being connected to other people.  God uses people to form people!  I need people in my life in order to grow and become all God wants me to be. 

Changing With The Seasons

        Moses had come through the Red Sea with the children of Israel and was now in the wilderness.  He was in the place God wanted him to be, and was now surrounded with the responsibilities of leading the children in Israel in the desert.  His father in law Jethro came out to met him to see how he was doing.  After observing Moses serving Israel, he had some things to say.  Moses had been helping the people from morning to night.  Jethro saw the long line of people waiting to talk to Moses, waiting for Moses to judge their situations and help with their problems.  Jethro said, "What is this thing that you are doing for the people?  Why do you alone sit, and all the people stand before you from morning until evening?  The thing that you do is not good.  Both you and these people will surely wear yourselves out.  For this thing is too much for you.  You are not able to perform it by yourself." 
        Sometimes when God blesses you and you experience growth in your life, your work, your business, your family, and in your responsibilities, you find yourself in a situation where you can not adequately look after everything.  You find the demands of life are pulling you in so many directions that you can no longer look after your family properly, nor are you managing the responsibilities you have.  Your life starts to go out of balance, and things start getting neglected.  Your family feels it, and things are not working out at home like they should, because you are too busy, and don't have the time and patience.  This is a crucial time to make changes in your life.  Your family needs you, and you need your family.  It is a time to pray for wisdom to know how to manage all the blessings that you are experiencing. 
        Jethro's advice to Moses was that he appoint people to help him, good men who would be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.  Moses would still oversee the people and deal with the great matters, but others would look after the small matters, and make it easier for Moses, bearing the burden with him.  This is such good advice, for Moses to let go of some of his responsibilities, and trust others to lead instead.  We need to ask God for wisdom in our lives, knowing what we should leave for others to do, and letting go of things.  This advice would both save Moses' life, and also the people.  When seasons change in our lives, we need to recognize it, and change with the seasons.  It would be very frustrating to continue to dress like it's winter time when it is spring, because we didn't recognize the change of season.  So it is in our lives that we must recognize the changes we go through in life, and adjust ourselves to the new season.  Otherwise, we may lose the blessings that God has provided for us.  Ask God for wisdom for your new season!

Hunger and Thirst - Part 2
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  Matt.5:6.
        The beatitudes are attitudes for a blessed life.  Jesus wants each of us to live a blessed life, and He has shown us the way to experience blessing everyday.  To be blessed is to be happy, fortunate, and to be envied.  This life is the life that everyone longs for, and admires in others.  It is a life to be envied, because it seems that through every circumstance, these attitudes carry you through and continue to reflect the life of Christ.  They bring satisfaction and fulfillment in life, and freedom from anxiety and fear and hopelessness. 
        The attitude of hunger and thirst for righteousness is essential for a believer.  In every day and in every circumstance the believer is calling out for God to bless, and guide, and strengthen.  It is continually leaning on God and trusting for God's provision.  It is living out of a living relationship with God, that gets ever stronger, because of hunger and thirst.  The more of God you experience, the more you want!  The more you experience the goodness of God, the more you want of it, and are unwilling to live without. 
        Our hunger and thirst for God is our most precious attitude, as it causes us to cry out to God for more.  To lose our hunger and thirst is a very serious problem that must be remedied.  What are the things that take away hunger from the body?  Usually sickness is the main thing that takes away hunger.  You know something is wrong when there is no hunger.  Spiritually, there are some things that can dampen our spiritual hunger, such as bitterness, anger, quarrelling, evil speaking, and malice, Eph. 4:31.  Getting angry at others, and upset with what someone else has done can cause you to lose your hunger for God, and you become so focused on what happened to you.  The answer for this is found in the next verse: "And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you." 
        Poison will take away hunger.  Spiritually, our hearts get poisoned by gossip and complaining.  "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another."  Gal. 5:15.  I must protect my own hunger and thirst by not entering into gossip and talking negatively about my brothers and sisters.  Food poisoning will destroy hunger.  When we bring into our life teaching that is false and not based on the Word of God, it brings deception and causes disillusionment.  I have promised the Lord that I will not listen to teaching that is focused on bringing down another ministry.  Our ministry should always build up and lead others closer to Jesus. 
        "As new born babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby."  1 Pet. 2:2.  Nurture your hunger and thirst for God and let it grow.  Cry out to God for His fullness, and He will fill you until you are satisfied.
        "He who is satiated (with sensual pleasures) loathes and treads underfoot a honeycomb, but to the hungry soul every bitter thing is sweet."  Pro. 27:7  AMPC

Hunger and Thirst

Hunger and Thirst
        "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."  Matt. 5:6.  The beatitudes are attitudes we need for everyday life.  It is not that we learn them once, and never have to return to them.  They are needed for each new situation and circumstance we encounter.  They are attitudes that reflect the character of Christ.  They are attitudes that take us through life with wisdom and understanding.  They build strong relationships with others, because they are not self centered, but rather they bring a blessing to those you encounter.
        To hunger and thirst is a natural part of life.  Hunger and thirst is essential for life and growth.  Your life is dependent upon your hunger and thirst.  To not be hungry or thirsty is a sign that something has gone seriously wrong.  Without hunger and thirst, a person is suffering from sickness, or some serious condition, that if not remedied, will ultimately lead to death.  But we must be careful how we fulfill our hunger and thirst.  If I consume the wrong things to satisfy my hunger, I will do damage to my body.  If I fill myself with junk food and pop, I may get the feeling that I am full, but I have not taken in the nutrition I need for health.  And so spiritually, my heart is hungry for the presence of God in my life.  But if I reach for other things, and don't reach out to God to satisfy my hunger, I may feel full, but this will not satisfy the hunger of my heart.  I must protect my hunger for God, and not allow my hunger to be fed with other things.
        "Ho!  Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat.  Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.  Why do you spend money for what is not bread, and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, and let your soul delight itself in abundance."  Isa. 55:1,2.  Why would a person spend their paycheck on all kinds of things, but have no food to eat?  This is like a child of God who spends all their time and effort on other things, and have not called out to God to satisfy the longings of their soul.  We need to listen carefully to God.  God is speaking to every child of God, and desiring to lead them into a life of abundance and satisfaction.  But we must listen carefully to God's voice.  He has set a table before us, so we can come and dine with Him, and taste and see of His goodness.
        Life offers us a table to eat from.  Some things are good, some things are rotten, and some things are poisonous.  If you were invited to eat at a table which had some good things, some rotten things, and some poisonous things, you would become very careful about which things you ate.  And so as believers, we must be very careful about what we consume into our lives from this world.  There are many good things that God has provided, but the rotten things will make us spiritually sick, and the poisonous things will bring death. 
        Satisfy your hunger and thirst with the things of God.  Call out to God in prayer and worship, read the Word of God, and take time to fellowship with others who will build you up and encourage your life.