What is the purpose of your life, what were you created for, or better put...
What has God called you to do???????
Well?????
Are you doing it????
Friday, June 11, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
All Of Our Life Must Be Drawn From The Word
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
The Word of God teaches us over and over again about the importance of being rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Often we want prosperity NOW. We want blessings NOW. But God is saying, "No, I want your roots to grow first so you have the spiritual maturity to handle the finances when they come. I want you to be rooted and grounded in Me so you can handle the winds of adversity when they come." Our delight should be in the "law of the Lord," which is the Word of God.
Your prayer life must also be rooted and grounded in the Word of God. All your prayers must be based on God's Word and His promises! Not what you want... because your wants may be ungodly!
If the Word is your delight, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. When you drive through a desert, the only green you can see is right along a river. If there are any trees growing, they will be growing right beside the river where the water is flowing.
God is trying to say, if you want to be a prosperous, blessed, and healthy believer, stay planted by the rivers of the water of the Word of God and the water of the presence of the Holy Spirit each day. This is the type of tree which has roots traveling deep into the ground and is continually fed.
People in the world are looking for a place to find consolation, faith, and hope. The good news is it is found in Jesus Christ, but the world does not understand this.
Perhaps your prosperity has not yet manifested. God will bless and prosper you but it will come in due season.
In due season you will produce fruit and in due season your leaf will not wither. Every day your prosperity does not manifest is another day for your roots to grow deeper so when that day does arrive, your roots will run deep and you will be established in strength
And prayer is what will sustain you, is what will draw that water up from the
The Word of God teaches us over and over again about the importance of being rooted and grounded in the Lord Jesus Christ. Often we want prosperity NOW. We want blessings NOW. But God is saying, "No, I want your roots to grow first so you have the spiritual maturity to handle the finances when they come. I want you to be rooted and grounded in Me so you can handle the winds of adversity when they come." Our delight should be in the "law of the Lord," which is the Word of God.
Your prayer life must also be rooted and grounded in the Word of God. All your prayers must be based on God's Word and His promises! Not what you want... because your wants may be ungodly!
If the Word is your delight, you will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. When you drive through a desert, the only green you can see is right along a river. If there are any trees growing, they will be growing right beside the river where the water is flowing.
God is trying to say, if you want to be a prosperous, blessed, and healthy believer, stay planted by the rivers of the water of the Word of God and the water of the presence of the Holy Spirit each day. This is the type of tree which has roots traveling deep into the ground and is continually fed.
People in the world are looking for a place to find consolation, faith, and hope. The good news is it is found in Jesus Christ, but the world does not understand this.
Perhaps your prosperity has not yet manifested. God will bless and prosper you but it will come in due season.
In due season you will produce fruit and in due season your leaf will not wither. Every day your prosperity does not manifest is another day for your roots to grow deeper so when that day does arrive, your roots will run deep and you will be established in strength
And prayer is what will sustain you, is what will draw that water up from the
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Prayer and His Spirit and His Word
It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life. John 6:63 - NKJV
Pray before you read God's Word!
We know that Gods word is alive and active and full of power as the amplified bible states, but!
The verses in the Bible are just recorded words until God's Spirit starts to deliver them to you.
They are seeds waiting to come to life!
For that reason, pray.
Prayer is the water that activates the power and life that is in tht seed!
Pray according to the pattern of prayer Paul provided us with, "Lord, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You that the eyes of my understanding may be enlightened."
And in response, God's Spirit will take the words of scripture you read and make them come alive for you. In this way, just as the scripture quote above declares, Christ's words will be as spirit and life to you. Eph.1:17-18.
How are you going to benefit from those words you hear?
Your spirit responds to them. Your spirit connects to and gets in agreement with what is being said.
It gives you the desire to act on the words you've heard or read.
However, don't be surprised if your soul - your mind, emotions and will - remain unresponsive or even resist that word.
To benefit from God's word you have to get your soul into subjection to your spirit!
Your spirit's desire is for you to respond in body and soul to God's Word.
When God's Spirit opens God's Word to you, then your spirit will say, "Yes, this is for me. It's exactly the counsel I need. I want to go with this!"
Let your spirit have its way.
Let your spirit take charge in your life.
As you do so, Ephesians 3:16-19 will come to life in you.
So pray, "Lord, give me the courage and power of Your Spirit to follow through on the counsel I'm hearing in Your Word." .
May you find life in God's Word
Pray before you read God's Word!
We know that Gods word is alive and active and full of power as the amplified bible states, but!
The verses in the Bible are just recorded words until God's Spirit starts to deliver them to you.
They are seeds waiting to come to life!
For that reason, pray.
Prayer is the water that activates the power and life that is in tht seed!
Pray according to the pattern of prayer Paul provided us with, "Lord, give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You that the eyes of my understanding may be enlightened."
And in response, God's Spirit will take the words of scripture you read and make them come alive for you. In this way, just as the scripture quote above declares, Christ's words will be as spirit and life to you. Eph.1:17-18.
How are you going to benefit from those words you hear?
Your spirit responds to them. Your spirit connects to and gets in agreement with what is being said.
It gives you the desire to act on the words you've heard or read.
However, don't be surprised if your soul - your mind, emotions and will - remain unresponsive or even resist that word.
To benefit from God's word you have to get your soul into subjection to your spirit!
Your spirit's desire is for you to respond in body and soul to God's Word.
When God's Spirit opens God's Word to you, then your spirit will say, "Yes, this is for me. It's exactly the counsel I need. I want to go with this!"
Let your spirit have its way.
Let your spirit take charge in your life.
As you do so, Ephesians 3:16-19 will come to life in you.
So pray, "Lord, give me the courage and power of Your Spirit to follow through on the counsel I'm hearing in Your Word." .
May you find life in God's Word
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6 - 7 - NKJV
One of the most important lessons I've learnt in my Christian life is that I can't afford to carry any of my cares - I have to keep casting them on the Lord!
Casting your cares on the Lord is the most responsible thing you can do because it gets them into the hands of the One who can really do something about them. Care - whether you cast it, roll it, deposit it or commit it to the Lord in prayer - make sure it goes into the His hands.
This is how the Apostle Paul lived. In prayer he committed everything and everyone he was responsible for to the Lord. He knew this was the most responsible thing to do. He knew well that no power he possessed in the flesh was going to benefit his churches or his ministry.
If continuing growth and fruit was to come, he knew it had to come by God. He wrote, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him."
God keeps what we firmly and fully deposit in His care, that is, in His safe-keeping. 2Tim.1:12b.
Ask the Lord to show you by His Spirit the full revelation of His care for you.
It can only be real to you as you pray and meditate upon Gods word. When you do that then the revelation of this can come when you read the Scriptures.
It can come out of Peter's declaration, "for God cares for you." It can be nurtured by the words in Hebrews, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Your response to this should be to do as Paul did, to say "I commend you to God and to the word of His grace." Now, do the most responsible thing you can do - cast all your cares upon the Lord! 1Pet.5:7, Heb.13:5, Act.20:32.
Let the Lord carry your concerns
One of the most important lessons I've learnt in my Christian life is that I can't afford to carry any of my cares - I have to keep casting them on the Lord!
Casting your cares on the Lord is the most responsible thing you can do because it gets them into the hands of the One who can really do something about them. Care - whether you cast it, roll it, deposit it or commit it to the Lord in prayer - make sure it goes into the His hands.
This is how the Apostle Paul lived. In prayer he committed everything and everyone he was responsible for to the Lord. He knew this was the most responsible thing to do. He knew well that no power he possessed in the flesh was going to benefit his churches or his ministry.
If continuing growth and fruit was to come, he knew it had to come by God. He wrote, "I am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him."
God keeps what we firmly and fully deposit in His care, that is, in His safe-keeping. 2Tim.1:12b.
Ask the Lord to show you by His Spirit the full revelation of His care for you.
It can only be real to you as you pray and meditate upon Gods word. When you do that then the revelation of this can come when you read the Scriptures.
It can come out of Peter's declaration, "for God cares for you." It can be nurtured by the words in Hebrews, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
Your response to this should be to do as Paul did, to say "I commend you to God and to the word of His grace." Now, do the most responsible thing you can do - cast all your cares upon the Lord! 1Pet.5:7, Heb.13:5, Act.20:32.
Let the Lord carry your concerns
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
God's pattern for success
~~~~
We live in an impatient generation and people are always wanting everything to happen overnight. Too often even Christians are demanding it all come together in one night.
You need to guard against this mentality of "I want it to instantly be there!"
You need to have the patience - the fortitude - to keep taking steps forward as God gives them to you. Steady building, steady progress gives God the chance to help you until you come into His perfect plan! Psa.37:23.
Most of us want something and we just tell God to bring it to us!
God is not our servant... we are His servants.
We have to labor in prayer as He directs.
Many say well you just confess what you want and wait for it to come and if you pray about it again you are in doubt.
NOT SO FAST!
First of all, you can ask once in doubt... how many times you ask does not determin your level of doubt.
Secondly, you have to ask God what to do and follow His plan. That's what this verse is talking about. There may be times when you have to keep pressing in as God directs you to in prayer!
Daniel Prayed 21 days for the answer to come... yet the angel told him that he was dispatched with the answer the moment the prayer was made, yet Satan tried to stop it!
The verse is telling us about Uzziah, a king of Judah. It makes a wonderful statement, "God made him prosper!"
How did that happened? Well, it was linked to Uzziah seeking the Lord.
That's prayer folks! HE PRAYED! And listened.... too often we just pray on go on our merry way expecting the answer to be at the next dirve up window waiting for us.
Uzziah kept putting himself in a position to be prospered by continually praying, seeking (enquiring of) the Lord.
This is the way it can happen for you too. God's people have always prospered through seeking the Lord, throught prayer.
The Word of God continually tells us to yearn for the Lord and enquire of the Lord and He will see to it that you prosper; He will instruct you by His Spirit on every step to make. Psa.5:12.
Note this about Uzziah's prosperity - it didn't come overnight!
He prospered in steps forward, not leaps. Uzziah had to keep planning for and keep working on his success. He and his son Jotham were builders. They built up their kingdom and God marvellously helped them. Establishing a kingdom takes time.
It takes time for God's kingdom to be established in you! 2 Chron.26:15, 27:6
Be a builder under the Lord's guidance!
Keep following God's bluepirint given to you in payer!
He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the things of God; and as long as he sought (inquired of, yearned for) the Lord, God made him prosper. 2 Chronicles 26:5 - The Amplified Bible
We live in an impatient generation and people are always wanting everything to happen overnight. Too often even Christians are demanding it all come together in one night.
You need to guard against this mentality of "I want it to instantly be there!"
You need to have the patience - the fortitude - to keep taking steps forward as God gives them to you. Steady building, steady progress gives God the chance to help you until you come into His perfect plan! Psa.37:23.
Most of us want something and we just tell God to bring it to us!
God is not our servant... we are His servants.
We have to labor in prayer as He directs.
Many say well you just confess what you want and wait for it to come and if you pray about it again you are in doubt.
NOT SO FAST!
First of all, you can ask once in doubt... how many times you ask does not determin your level of doubt.
Secondly, you have to ask God what to do and follow His plan. That's what this verse is talking about. There may be times when you have to keep pressing in as God directs you to in prayer!
Daniel Prayed 21 days for the answer to come... yet the angel told him that he was dispatched with the answer the moment the prayer was made, yet Satan tried to stop it!
The verse is telling us about Uzziah, a king of Judah. It makes a wonderful statement, "God made him prosper!"
How did that happened? Well, it was linked to Uzziah seeking the Lord.
That's prayer folks! HE PRAYED! And listened.... too often we just pray on go on our merry way expecting the answer to be at the next dirve up window waiting for us.
Uzziah kept putting himself in a position to be prospered by continually praying, seeking (enquiring of) the Lord.
This is the way it can happen for you too. God's people have always prospered through seeking the Lord, throught prayer.
The Word of God continually tells us to yearn for the Lord and enquire of the Lord and He will see to it that you prosper; He will instruct you by His Spirit on every step to make. Psa.5:12.
Note this about Uzziah's prosperity - it didn't come overnight!
He prospered in steps forward, not leaps. Uzziah had to keep planning for and keep working on his success. He and his son Jotham were builders. They built up their kingdom and God marvellously helped them. Establishing a kingdom takes time.
It takes time for God's kingdom to be established in you! 2 Chron.26:15, 27:6
Be a builder under the Lord's guidance!
Keep following God's bluepirint given to you in payer!
Friday, April 23, 2010
Your ministry of prayer
~~~~Remember prisoners, as if you were in prison with them: and remember those suffering ill-treatment, for you yourselves also are still in the body.Hebrews 13:3 - Weymouth's translation
Paul is talking about things we can pray for here. Interestingly he talks about prison ministry. I have gone a number of times to prison... TO MINISTER... And it can be a depressing place to minister!
I heard a minister speak about his work as a prison chaplain. He told us, "A prison chaplaincy colleague of mine said in our work we live among the sad, the bad and the mad." In spite of this, after more than 25 years service, his heart was still tender towards those imprisoned.
Stay tenderhearted!
Jesus feels for us in our weaknesses. Let's feel for others in theirs.
Don't just sit listening to CNN or Fox News and say how bad things are getting, or look at the tragedy those folks are going through! Instead we ought to be respond in prayer and pray God's word over the situation. When the news reports another event that causes us to worry or some disaster, then pray for those in the midst of it. When the news pronounces doom and gloom then speak out the promises God has given you for your life. Heb.4:15, Joh.16:23-24.
The Bible outlines that there is a ministry of prayer for believers.
Paul's first letter to Timothy tells us to pray for all men, for kings and for all who are in authority.
As you listen to the news pray for those involved in it.
There's are all sorts of people to pray for.
Paul called on us to pray for all our sanctified brethren in Christ and to particularly pray for those ministering God's Word.
Jesus told us to have enough grace to pray for people who negatively impact our lives. He said, "Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." 1Tim.2:1-4, Eph.6:18, 2Thes.3:1, Mat.5:44.
So get into gear and prayer by Christ's love!
Paul is talking about things we can pray for here. Interestingly he talks about prison ministry. I have gone a number of times to prison... TO MINISTER... And it can be a depressing place to minister!
I heard a minister speak about his work as a prison chaplain. He told us, "A prison chaplaincy colleague of mine said in our work we live among the sad, the bad and the mad." In spite of this, after more than 25 years service, his heart was still tender towards those imprisoned.
Stay tenderhearted!
Jesus feels for us in our weaknesses. Let's feel for others in theirs.
Don't just sit listening to CNN or Fox News and say how bad things are getting, or look at the tragedy those folks are going through! Instead we ought to be respond in prayer and pray God's word over the situation. When the news reports another event that causes us to worry or some disaster, then pray for those in the midst of it. When the news pronounces doom and gloom then speak out the promises God has given you for your life. Heb.4:15, Joh.16:23-24.
The Bible outlines that there is a ministry of prayer for believers.
Paul's first letter to Timothy tells us to pray for all men, for kings and for all who are in authority.
As you listen to the news pray for those involved in it.
There's are all sorts of people to pray for.
Paul called on us to pray for all our sanctified brethren in Christ and to particularly pray for those ministering God's Word.
Jesus told us to have enough grace to pray for people who negatively impact our lives. He said, "Pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you." 1Tim.2:1-4, Eph.6:18, 2Thes.3:1, Mat.5:44.
So get into gear and prayer by Christ's love!
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Comforted of God
~~~~~
(God) Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4 - NKJV
OK... So we all have tribulation in our life! Oh, by the way tribulation is not just some end time event... its the hastles we go through in our daily life! And tribulation is a thing we all want to avoid, at all costs!
But, let me give you some advice, try to avoid the temptation to simply rush through life's trying and most discomforting circumstances!
You may think, "I have no time now to wait on God for His comfort."
It's important to realise that God's promises of comfort are given or offered to us with a responsibility, almost a demand on your part to go to Him for comfort.
We use to think someday we would open a prayer center and our slogan would be "Resort to Prayer"... A play on the idea of going to a resort for rest, relaxation and comfort!
Resort to God in trying times and you'll find His comfort. His comfort will settle and encourage you. Just like when you go to a resort for a vacation. Isa.40:1, Joh.14:16.
You have to pull back from the pressures that surround you in order to partake of God's comfort. In other words, you got to get into prayer!
People in the world, sinners... and sometimes saints, live life in the stress and strain of unrelenting busyness, personal confrontations or uncomfortable circumstances. We work ourselves into a spiritual tornado of problems!
In contrast, the Christian life is meant and I stress the word meant... to be lived in the comfort and peace of the Holy Spirit. (Hay don't get me wrong.. those tornadoes will touch down in your life! Just because you are a Christian does not mean everything will be perfect from now on!)
Receive God's comfort by going to Him in prayer, and it will settle you down into a confident expectation (I think that is from the Message bible) of all the things that are wrong being made right.
As an added bonus, you will also gain an awareness of God with you. There's something comforting of the thought of God with us!
Failing to resort to prayer to God for His comfort will usually leave you floundering through and often messing up things in your life. Jer.29:11.
God's comfort will restore peace to you.
For every trying circumstance, upsetting communication,or after a small tornado has touched down in your life, why not go to prayer and seek the comfort of God!
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high God... Ps. 91
In prayer you will find His comfort, it can draw you out and save you from your discomfort.
OH! and by the way... there's a bonus!
You will become a comforter once you've been comforted.
You'll find that the comfort you've received enables you to comfort others!
Isn't that just what the scripture in 2 Corinthians is promising us?
Receive God's comfort in your life
(God) Who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to
comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Corinthians 1:4 - NKJV
OK... So we all have tribulation in our life! Oh, by the way tribulation is not just some end time event... its the hastles we go through in our daily life! And tribulation is a thing we all want to avoid, at all costs!
But, let me give you some advice, try to avoid the temptation to simply rush through life's trying and most discomforting circumstances!
You may think, "I have no time now to wait on God for His comfort."
It's important to realise that God's promises of comfort are given or offered to us with a responsibility, almost a demand on your part to go to Him for comfort.
We use to think someday we would open a prayer center and our slogan would be "Resort to Prayer"... A play on the idea of going to a resort for rest, relaxation and comfort!
Resort to God in trying times and you'll find His comfort. His comfort will settle and encourage you. Just like when you go to a resort for a vacation. Isa.40:1, Joh.14:16.
You have to pull back from the pressures that surround you in order to partake of God's comfort. In other words, you got to get into prayer!
People in the world, sinners... and sometimes saints, live life in the stress and strain of unrelenting busyness, personal confrontations or uncomfortable circumstances. We work ourselves into a spiritual tornado of problems!
In contrast, the Christian life is meant and I stress the word meant... to be lived in the comfort and peace of the Holy Spirit. (Hay don't get me wrong.. those tornadoes will touch down in your life! Just because you are a Christian does not mean everything will be perfect from now on!)
Receive God's comfort by going to Him in prayer, and it will settle you down into a confident expectation (I think that is from the Message bible) of all the things that are wrong being made right.
As an added bonus, you will also gain an awareness of God with you. There's something comforting of the thought of God with us!
Failing to resort to prayer to God for His comfort will usually leave you floundering through and often messing up things in your life. Jer.29:11.
God's comfort will restore peace to you.
For every trying circumstance, upsetting communication,or after a small tornado has touched down in your life, why not go to prayer and seek the comfort of God!
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most high God... Ps. 91
In prayer you will find His comfort, it can draw you out and save you from your discomfort.
OH! and by the way... there's a bonus!
You will become a comforter once you've been comforted.
You'll find that the comfort you've received enables you to comfort others!
Isn't that just what the scripture in 2 Corinthians is promising us?
Receive God's comfort in your life
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