"Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding." Proverbs 9:6 KJV
There must come a time in the life of every Christian when we put away foolish things. Growth and maturity are signs that the Holy Spirit is indeed living inside of us. Just as one's physical body undergoes puberty to develop, so must the spiritual body undergo its own changes. Our relationship with God through Christ Jesus should develop into a deeper, more profound, more pronounced kinship as we grow in the way of understanding.
Maybe people couldn't tell if you were Christian five years ago, but do they still wonder today? If your actions, speech, and attitude still betray your faith, perhaps you should spend more time in prayer and Bible study. It is utter foolishness to pretend to be a follower of Christ. Pretenders don't have all the benefits: perfect peace, unspeakable joy, etc. Pretenders don't understand the power they could have over their flesh through the Holy Spirit. Pretenders have no authority over the enemy, and are therefore defeated.
Let the foolishness go! Live abundantly! Listen to what God's Word is saying to you. This particular plan is simple enough. Grow up in Christ, and see how much better life can be. Jesus came so that we can live, and that's just what I'm going to do: live! What say you?
Monday, March 28, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Keep It; God Doesn't Want It
"Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living." Amos 5:24 (NLT)
In the 5th chapter of Amos, God is letting Israel know how displeased He was with their "show". Like us at times, Israel claimed to be God's people, but they weren't living accordingly. God let them know, as He is letting us know, that He doesn't need our programs and services. He has no use for our insincere sacrifices; we can keep them.
Why waste our time going through the motions or following meaningless traditions? God desires and requires holy and righteous living above anything else we can offer Him. We must offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. Once we do that, we will be able to live as He requires through the blood of Jesus Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
God doesn't need us, we need Him. It's time we started acting like it. Coming before God any kind of way and offering to Him lip service without heart is unacceptable. He rejects that; He doesn't want it. He desires to be worshiped in spirit and in truth. That means no pretense, no cover-ups, no fairy tales. We need to repent often (daily), and live according to His Word. We can't claim to be God's children and live in such a way that discredits our claim. God is holy, and we must be holy to worship Him.
In the 5th chapter of Amos, God is letting Israel know how displeased He was with their "show". Like us at times, Israel claimed to be God's people, but they weren't living accordingly. God let them know, as He is letting us know, that He doesn't need our programs and services. He has no use for our insincere sacrifices; we can keep them.
Why waste our time going through the motions or following meaningless traditions? God desires and requires holy and righteous living above anything else we can offer Him. We must offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to Him. Once we do that, we will be able to live as He requires through the blood of Jesus Christ and indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
God doesn't need us, we need Him. It's time we started acting like it. Coming before God any kind of way and offering to Him lip service without heart is unacceptable. He rejects that; He doesn't want it. He desires to be worshiped in spirit and in truth. That means no pretense, no cover-ups, no fairy tales. We need to repent often (daily), and live according to His Word. We can't claim to be God's children and live in such a way that discredits our claim. God is holy, and we must be holy to worship Him.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Do What's Right Even in Adversity
"Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5 (KJV)
There is always a tendency to want to get even with someone who has wronged us, or delight in some evil person's demise. The 37th Psalm let's us know what will happen to wicked people, but it isn't our place to try and make it happen. God is the only just judge in these matters. We have to do what we know is right, no matter what people are trying to do to us.
We have to trust in God, and know that He is working it out for us. Everyone doesn't want you to succeed, especially if they can't take credit for it. God is using your haters to strengthen you. He wants to make it perfectly clear that He's the one who brought you out (brought it to pass). When we see our enemies being justly handled, it isn't right to mock them. It's nothing but the grace of God keeping you from your rightful punishment.
Pray for those who persecute you, whether they do it in the open or behind your back. Turn them over to God. Read the entire 37th Psalm, and give God the glory for your deliverance from evildoers. Jesus prayed for the people who crucified Him (and those who are still crucifying Him). We must pray for our enemies, and have compassion for them. We have to love them because that's what is right. Doing what's right according to the Word of God is what invokes the promises and blessings of God.
There is always a tendency to want to get even with someone who has wronged us, or delight in some evil person's demise. The 37th Psalm let's us know what will happen to wicked people, but it isn't our place to try and make it happen. God is the only just judge in these matters. We have to do what we know is right, no matter what people are trying to do to us.
We have to trust in God, and know that He is working it out for us. Everyone doesn't want you to succeed, especially if they can't take credit for it. God is using your haters to strengthen you. He wants to make it perfectly clear that He's the one who brought you out (brought it to pass). When we see our enemies being justly handled, it isn't right to mock them. It's nothing but the grace of God keeping you from your rightful punishment.
Pray for those who persecute you, whether they do it in the open or behind your back. Turn them over to God. Read the entire 37th Psalm, and give God the glory for your deliverance from evildoers. Jesus prayed for the people who crucified Him (and those who are still crucifying Him). We must pray for our enemies, and have compassion for them. We have to love them because that's what is right. Doing what's right according to the Word of God is what invokes the promises and blessings of God.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Speak the Word
"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you;
And light will shine on your ways." Job 22:28 (NASB)
God's Word has power! We need to speak God's Word over our lives, and allow God to breathe life into our dead situations. If Job could decree a thing and have it established, why couldn't we? If we surrender our will over to God's perfect will, then we will have what we decree because it will be in line with His Word.
We are leaving blessings sitting on the shelf because we won't exercise the power God has given us through His Word. Open up your mouth and declare the promises of God over your life, over your children, over your finances, over your job, over your marriage, over everything! Stop allowing the enemy to tell you what you cannot do or cannot have. You have power over the devil through Jesus Christ, and it's high time you used it.
Turn that frustration into praise. God, I thank you for your refining fire! God, I praise you for purifying me through the trials and the tests. I speak life over this thing, and I decree that what I do for Christ will last! I won't tuck my tail between my legs, take my toys, and go home. After I've done all to stand, I am going to continue to stand in faith. For I know that you, O Lord, will sustain me and hide me in times of trouble. I decree success in Jesus' name for God's glory! I declare victory in every area of my life, according to God's Word!
And light will shine on your ways." Job 22:28 (NASB)
God's Word has power! We need to speak God's Word over our lives, and allow God to breathe life into our dead situations. If Job could decree a thing and have it established, why couldn't we? If we surrender our will over to God's perfect will, then we will have what we decree because it will be in line with His Word.
We are leaving blessings sitting on the shelf because we won't exercise the power God has given us through His Word. Open up your mouth and declare the promises of God over your life, over your children, over your finances, over your job, over your marriage, over everything! Stop allowing the enemy to tell you what you cannot do or cannot have. You have power over the devil through Jesus Christ, and it's high time you used it.
Turn that frustration into praise. God, I thank you for your refining fire! God, I praise you for purifying me through the trials and the tests. I speak life over this thing, and I decree that what I do for Christ will last! I won't tuck my tail between my legs, take my toys, and go home. After I've done all to stand, I am going to continue to stand in faith. For I know that you, O Lord, will sustain me and hide me in times of trouble. I decree success in Jesus' name for God's glory! I declare victory in every area of my life, according to God's Word!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)