Monday August 30, 2010
What Are You Hearing?
Read Matthew 16:17, 23
God wants us to be able to hear his voice, but, what are we hearing? With society being so rushed we are so busy and on the go so much and our minds are jumping from one thought to the next, are we hearing God? Do you become confused about what you are hearing? Do we take the time to be in the right mindset or do we hear what we want to hear?
To hear from God we must be in the right frame of mind. What is the right frame of mind you might ask? To be in the right frame of mind to hear God we must be spirit minded. We can be just like Peter and hear correctly and then get into the human mind and miss God. Who and what we are concentrating on when we are listening affects what we hear. As Christians, we all want to hear God's voice. We are His sheep, and we long to know which way our Shepherd is leading us. But who are we hearing? Many times we feel alone and we feel no one hears us, we may feel as though when we are praying that we are talking to ourselves. That is what satan wants us to hear. Satan wants to fill us with confusion, lies and inner turmoil.
God has given us one of the most invaluable gifts that we as Christians can possess and that is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit speaks our language and this enables us to know what God is saying to us. When the Spirit of God speaks to us, He prompts us, gives us a nudge or plants an idea that is a good answer to a question, or gives us direction or understanding. God is a God of love. If what you hear contradicts God’s character, it probably isn’t from God. If you’re hearing something that contradicts what love would do, you’re not hearing from God. God is speaking all the time, it’s just a matter of learning how to tune into His thoughts and recognize His voice.
Tuesday August 31, 2010
Tuned Into The Father
Read 1 Corinthians 2:13-14
Often times the reason that we cannot hear God's voice is because we have allowed our lives to become too hectic. We have picked up too many responsibilities that God has not called us to pick up, and we have crowded Him out.
We have to remember Martha and Mary. Martha was busy in the kitchen trying to prepare a nice meal for the Jesus, doing what she thought was the right thing to do. But, Mary had decided to slow down and take a seat at the Jesus’ feet.
We need to take more time out to be like Mary. Designate a particular time each day as your time with the Lord. It does not have to be long. Even 5 or 10 minutes of your lunch time spent praying in your car can quiet your life down enough to hear God's voice. Begin praying over all of your obligations - Even the ones that feel "mandatory." Find out which ones God has no desire for you to do, and begin trading in a busy life for a productive life that allows time for the Lord.
After all, Jesus said your private life with Him is the only thing worth being concerned about anyway. Once a wise Christian man said, God is always broadcasting. It is just that, sometimes, we aren't tuned in to the right channel.
Are you tuned to the right Channel?
Wednesday September 01, 2010
What Does God Sound Like?
Read 1 Corinthians 14:9-11
What does the voice of God sound like? Some say it sounds like the rain, some say it is like the booming thunder during a storm, some say it as beautiful as the sound of the birds singing, and some say it is as delicate as the sound of snowflake falling to the ground. There is no denying that these are beautiful sounds not to be rivaled by many. But I want to speak from personal experience when I say, that when God first spoke to me there is no sound that I have heard that was more beautiful. He spoke directly to my spirit; His voice was kind, peaceful, warm and loving. When I heard God’s voice I knew that I knew because I had a quite assurance. Even in times when He tries to convince me of wrong doing, He never condemns, there is only grace, there is only love, and there is only mercy. The most beautiful sound was when said “son, my beloved son, I Love You!”
When God speaks, He speaks through our heart into our mind. He gives us his thoughts. When He speaks He wants us to understand. He wants us to understand just how much He loves each and every one of us, He wants us to know that He wants the very best for us. Quite yourself down, focus on Him and listen as he speaks through His Spirit into your Heart.
Thursday September 02, 2010
A Teachable Attitude
James 4:6; 2 Peter 1:19
God expects His children to grow in His likeness and character because the basic transformation of their nature is from one of sin to one of righteousness as they “look unto Jesus” in the act of justification. Maturity into His character is the goal of the process of healthy growth and development. This comes as the result of the process of a lifetime of looking unto Jesus and practicing what we “hear” Him say and “see” Him do. This is the plan of God for all of us. Each is called to be His disciple and to follow Him in manner and character of life. I believe that the thing God looks for in us as His vessels is that we be as full of Him and His truth as we can possibly hold. Though a larger vessel may hold more of Him, He is looking for FULLNESS rather than amount. This illustrates His desire for us to walk in all the fullness of His grace and truth of which we are presently capable. We may mutually understand that the amount may increase over time as we grow spiritually; but for now, He is looking for fullness of Himself in the open vessel of each of our lives. This is Christian discipleship: growing daily, growing steadily, yielding to His will, humbling ourselves, being teachable in all the vast areas of life which we do not know, but in which He, alone, can teach us by His Word and Spirit. It is to be found walking constantly in His attitude.
Friday September 03, 2010
Open The Eyes of My Heart
Read Jeremiah 24:7; Ezekiel 36:26-28
You are my beloved child. I will guide you and make you whole. Pursue me and know me. I am like the wind. I am always with you, always moving, always surrounding you. To know the wind you don’t chase it, do you? Don’t you open your arms and let the moving wind flow through you? You are still and let your senses be sensitive and experience the movement, force, and sound of the wind. So to know me, open your heart, be still, be attentive and become familiar with my movement, my energy, and my sound. I am your God. Always moving, Always coming, Always going and Always with you. You have seen me moving just as you have seen the leaves moved by the wind. But take your attention from the trees to feel me moving through and around you. Be the tree and know me.
How do you open the “eyes” of your heart? By tuning your heart to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit, we tune into God’s heart by tuning into His love. Let faith in God rise up in you and listen for His voice. When your heart is right, you hear God’s voice clearly. Let the Holy Spirit show you what is really in your heart.
The Weekender September 04 & 05, 2010
Poems By Barbara & God
Read Luke 17:11-15; Ephesians 3:21
Open The Eyes of My Heart
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
And show me what’s really inside.
Am I walking in love and telling the truth,
Or did I hurt someone when I lied:
I really want to do the right thing, Lord
So people see Jesus in me
Help me today, Holy Spirit
To be all God wants me to be!
Tuning My Heart
I tune my heart to hear His voice
I practice every day,
It won’t be long before I know
I’ll hear Him when I pray
I’m built just like a radio,
My ears are tuned to hear,
My heart is ready to receive
I know that God is near!
I Wonder What Gods Voice Sounds Like
I wonder what God’s voice sounds like?
Our language here or across the sea.
He knows how to speak every one of them.
He created all for the slave and the free.
Perhaps He sounds like Dutch or Greek,
It’s up to Him which one it will be
But when He’s speaking to this child,
His American voice comes in clear to me!!
August 28, 2010
August 22, 2010
August 23 - 28, 2010
Monday August 24, 2010
Face to Face
Read Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 5:3-5
I think one of the most exciting truths in all of Scripture is the fact that God is the primary mover behind every relationship He has with mankind. Now it’s true that we sometimes describe our friends who might be far from God as “seekers”. We watch them as they look for satisfaction in all kinds of things and we intuitively know that what they are looking for is a relationship with God. But what we often forget is the fact that they really aren’t the seekers in this eternal drama…God is! His love for people like you and me and for those who might be far from God is so powerful that He’s willing to take the first step. Jesus said it this way in John 15 – “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you”.
Moses was doing the same thing he had done for 40 yrs. He was a shepherd and this day was like every other day in his ho-hum existence. It was business as usual, that is until God made His presence known. I think it’s important for us to notice how God chose to reveal Himself. The bible says that Moses noticed a bush that was burning, but it wasn’t consumed. There was probably nothing new about seeing a scrub bush burning in the desert. The unusual thing, the supernatural thing about this bush was the fact that it burned w/o burning up. Do you see what God did? He took an ordinary bush and then by adding his presence to it, he got Moses’ attention.
Paul who had been religious all his life and sought out God he was changed by one encounter where he heard God speak and this encounter changed his life forever. All of Paul’s religious training and education did not teach him God’s will or give him right standing with God or enable him to hear God’s voice. A face to face conversation with the living Son of God changed him forever. John reminds us that what he is sharing came from an encounter with the living speaking God. He is sharing what he has seen, heard and touched. (1 John 1:1-3) As God’s people we are to be learning to hear and share with others what we have heard and experienced with the Holy One.
God wants to have a face to face sit down talk with us. Paul told of the reason God had chosen him. I believe this is why God also chose us. He wants us to know his will, see his righteousness, and hear words from his mouth. God wants us to know and experience him not just learn about him. We are new creations in Christ Jesus and God creates by speaking. We can only be truly transformed as we sit in His Presence hearing His voice.
Tuesday August 24, 2010
Not By Accident
Read Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 60:21
GOD HAD A PURPOSE AND A PLAN FOR PAUL’S LIFE EVEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. He learned he was not here by accident but his life had purpose and meaning and what that purpose and meaning was. “I believe my father created me for a purpose.” Moses and Paul had been created for the purpose of delivering the people of God. They were both trying to do it their own way but; then they heard the plan for their lives from the living God and it changed their lives forever. Just as God had a plan for Paul and Moses He has a plan for you and me.
Not by accident before the creation of the universe God thought of me. He fixed his gaze on me and chose me for himself. He did not choose me because I was already in Christ of my own doing, but that I might be in Christ. He did not choose me because he saw me as a believer, but so that I might become a believer. He did not choose me because I chose him, but so that I might choose him. He did not choose me because I was holy or good but so that I might become holy and good. Everything I am and all I hope to be is rooted in God's freely choosing me. My faith, my hope, my work are not the ground of electing grace but only its effect. God had a plan and purpose for me, my life did not just happen by accident.
Wednesday August 25, 2010
Hearing Empowered
Read John 17:3, 17; Ephesians 5:26, 1 Peter 1:22
Every true Christian has heard God’s voice. It was God’s voice that called you to Him; it was His Holy Spirit that drew you with chords of love to receive His salvation message, the gospel of Jesus Christ. You heard God’s voice say in your heart “I have chosen you, and ordained you, come unto Me”. So then your Christian walk began with faith, and you received that faith from God through His Holy Spirit communicating with you. Faith is a gift from God; it is a part of God’s grace that is at work in your life. True faith, true hope, and true love, all come from God and not from yourself, they are gifts from God.
In the New Testament when the word of God is mentioned there are two main words for the word, word; they are rhema and logos. They both have a similar definition that is “spoken words”. But in studying the Bible We notice an important difference, rhema has to do with hearing the voice and sensing the spirit by which the words are spoken. Logos are recorded words, which have been spoken.
Paul tried with everything in him to keep this law but learned that righteousness comes from hearing and obeying the righteous one. The words Paul now heard were not just dead written words with no power put Spirit filled words that had the power to change him. The Words we hear in the presence of the living God cleanse and empower us. We become hearing empowered. Just like Moses who knew what needed to be done but did not know how to do it. When he met with God face to face he got the how to from the words of the living God. If the Holy Spirit lives in us then we are hearing empowered and our lives will be transformed.
Thursday August 26, 2010
Live to Hear, Hear to Live
Read Matthew 4:4; Exodus 25:30; John 6:48-51
Life comes from hearing words that come from the mouth of the living God. Paul learned what the words of Jesus really meant. We are not to live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). God wants us to listen to him on a personal level not just through others. He wants us to stop eating stale bread and change to fresh, living bread. The priest in the Old Testament placed fresh bread in the presence of God on the Table of Shewbread and this is what God wants us to do. We have to meet with God and eat the fresh bread that comes from the words of His mouth. We must eat at God’s table daily and experience the living God inside of us. God wants us to live an abundant life and he wants us to know for ourselves what God is saying. We must live to hear His word and His word will cause us to live.
Friday August 27, 2010
His Presence Brings Lasting Change
Read John 15:1-7
As human beings we normally do not like change, but change is inevitable. We all have to realize that we are either going to change for the better or for the worse, it is really a matter of choice.
Hearing God’s Voice brings change in people, situations and organizations. God has a clear view of every person’s heart and mind so that He knows what changes are necessary. Paul wrote, "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will." (Romans 8:27)
When God speaks to us it will change us, it will not only change us but we will become change agents in the world. We don’t just need information about God but communication from God. When God speaks to us his words change us. We all need to have a face to face talk with God. That is what we were created for. We are created to communicate with the creator.
Father, as open my ears to hear, speak to me so that I may change into the person you created me to be, as you change me help me be positive and let the changes have a positive effect on those around me. Amen.
People will change when they hear God’s voice. Others change only when they feel the heat.
The Weekender August 28 - 29, 2010
Turned On & Tuned In
Read Acts 22:14-16
Just like the radio waves which are unseen in the air all around you this very minute, God's Spirit is ever present, waiting for you to make contact. And much the same as a simple little transistor radio, you have been designed by your Creator to receive those signals. God's power is always on. The message is always there. But in order to receive it, you must turn on and tune in to His frequency! Compared to the tremendous power and complex operations of the broadcasting station, you, the operator of the receiver, need not have much power and only the simplest of skill! Prayer is the hand of faith that flips the switch and turns on what little power you have. And then the hand of hope tunes with expectancy, feeling for the frequency upon which God is broadcasting, and suddenly His great broadcasting station booms in with tremendous positive volume and power!--And the messages come through loud and clear! Is your spiritual receiver continually turned on and tuned in to His frequency? If so, you will be in good communication with Him, constantly receiving His vibes, constantly hearing His Voice speaking to your heart!
Face to Face
Read Exodus 33:11; Numbers 12:8; Deuteronomy 5:3-5
I think one of the most exciting truths in all of Scripture is the fact that God is the primary mover behind every relationship He has with mankind. Now it’s true that we sometimes describe our friends who might be far from God as “seekers”. We watch them as they look for satisfaction in all kinds of things and we intuitively know that what they are looking for is a relationship with God. But what we often forget is the fact that they really aren’t the seekers in this eternal drama…God is! His love for people like you and me and for those who might be far from God is so powerful that He’s willing to take the first step. Jesus said it this way in John 15 – “You didn’t choose me, but I chose you”.
Moses was doing the same thing he had done for 40 yrs. He was a shepherd and this day was like every other day in his ho-hum existence. It was business as usual, that is until God made His presence known. I think it’s important for us to notice how God chose to reveal Himself. The bible says that Moses noticed a bush that was burning, but it wasn’t consumed. There was probably nothing new about seeing a scrub bush burning in the desert. The unusual thing, the supernatural thing about this bush was the fact that it burned w/o burning up. Do you see what God did? He took an ordinary bush and then by adding his presence to it, he got Moses’ attention.
Paul who had been religious all his life and sought out God he was changed by one encounter where he heard God speak and this encounter changed his life forever. All of Paul’s religious training and education did not teach him God’s will or give him right standing with God or enable him to hear God’s voice. A face to face conversation with the living Son of God changed him forever. John reminds us that what he is sharing came from an encounter with the living speaking God. He is sharing what he has seen, heard and touched. (1 John 1:1-3) As God’s people we are to be learning to hear and share with others what we have heard and experienced with the Holy One.
God wants to have a face to face sit down talk with us. Paul told of the reason God had chosen him. I believe this is why God also chose us. He wants us to know his will, see his righteousness, and hear words from his mouth. God wants us to know and experience him not just learn about him. We are new creations in Christ Jesus and God creates by speaking. We can only be truly transformed as we sit in His Presence hearing His voice.
Tuesday August 24, 2010
Not By Accident
Read Ephesians 2:10; Isaiah 60:21
GOD HAD A PURPOSE AND A PLAN FOR PAUL’S LIFE EVEN BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD. He learned he was not here by accident but his life had purpose and meaning and what that purpose and meaning was. “I believe my father created me for a purpose.” Moses and Paul had been created for the purpose of delivering the people of God. They were both trying to do it their own way but; then they heard the plan for their lives from the living God and it changed their lives forever. Just as God had a plan for Paul and Moses He has a plan for you and me.
Not by accident before the creation of the universe God thought of me. He fixed his gaze on me and chose me for himself. He did not choose me because I was already in Christ of my own doing, but that I might be in Christ. He did not choose me because he saw me as a believer, but so that I might become a believer. He did not choose me because I chose him, but so that I might choose him. He did not choose me because I was holy or good but so that I might become holy and good. Everything I am and all I hope to be is rooted in God's freely choosing me. My faith, my hope, my work are not the ground of electing grace but only its effect. God had a plan and purpose for me, my life did not just happen by accident.
Wednesday August 25, 2010
Hearing Empowered
Read John 17:3, 17; Ephesians 5:26, 1 Peter 1:22
Every true Christian has heard God’s voice. It was God’s voice that called you to Him; it was His Holy Spirit that drew you with chords of love to receive His salvation message, the gospel of Jesus Christ. You heard God’s voice say in your heart “I have chosen you, and ordained you, come unto Me”. So then your Christian walk began with faith, and you received that faith from God through His Holy Spirit communicating with you. Faith is a gift from God; it is a part of God’s grace that is at work in your life. True faith, true hope, and true love, all come from God and not from yourself, they are gifts from God.
In the New Testament when the word of God is mentioned there are two main words for the word, word; they are rhema and logos. They both have a similar definition that is “spoken words”. But in studying the Bible We notice an important difference, rhema has to do with hearing the voice and sensing the spirit by which the words are spoken. Logos are recorded words, which have been spoken.
Paul tried with everything in him to keep this law but learned that righteousness comes from hearing and obeying the righteous one. The words Paul now heard were not just dead written words with no power put Spirit filled words that had the power to change him. The Words we hear in the presence of the living God cleanse and empower us. We become hearing empowered. Just like Moses who knew what needed to be done but did not know how to do it. When he met with God face to face he got the how to from the words of the living God. If the Holy Spirit lives in us then we are hearing empowered and our lives will be transformed.
Thursday August 26, 2010
Live to Hear, Hear to Live
Read Matthew 4:4; Exodus 25:30; John 6:48-51
Life comes from hearing words that come from the mouth of the living God. Paul learned what the words of Jesus really meant. We are not to live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God (Matthew 4:4). God wants us to listen to him on a personal level not just through others. He wants us to stop eating stale bread and change to fresh, living bread. The priest in the Old Testament placed fresh bread in the presence of God on the Table of Shewbread and this is what God wants us to do. We have to meet with God and eat the fresh bread that comes from the words of His mouth. We must eat at God’s table daily and experience the living God inside of us. God wants us to live an abundant life and he wants us to know for ourselves what God is saying. We must live to hear His word and His word will cause us to live.
Friday August 27, 2010
His Presence Brings Lasting Change
Read John 15:1-7
As human beings we normally do not like change, but change is inevitable. We all have to realize that we are either going to change for the better or for the worse, it is really a matter of choice.
Hearing God’s Voice brings change in people, situations and organizations. God has a clear view of every person’s heart and mind so that He knows what changes are necessary. Paul wrote, "And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will." (Romans 8:27)
When God speaks to us it will change us, it will not only change us but we will become change agents in the world. We don’t just need information about God but communication from God. When God speaks to us his words change us. We all need to have a face to face talk with God. That is what we were created for. We are created to communicate with the creator.
Father, as open my ears to hear, speak to me so that I may change into the person you created me to be, as you change me help me be positive and let the changes have a positive effect on those around me. Amen.
People will change when they hear God’s voice. Others change only when they feel the heat.
The Weekender August 28 - 29, 2010
Turned On & Tuned In
Read Acts 22:14-16
Just like the radio waves which are unseen in the air all around you this very minute, God's Spirit is ever present, waiting for you to make contact. And much the same as a simple little transistor radio, you have been designed by your Creator to receive those signals. God's power is always on. The message is always there. But in order to receive it, you must turn on and tune in to His frequency! Compared to the tremendous power and complex operations of the broadcasting station, you, the operator of the receiver, need not have much power and only the simplest of skill! Prayer is the hand of faith that flips the switch and turns on what little power you have. And then the hand of hope tunes with expectancy, feeling for the frequency upon which God is broadcasting, and suddenly His great broadcasting station booms in with tremendous positive volume and power!--And the messages come through loud and clear! Is your spiritual receiver continually turned on and tuned in to His frequency? If so, you will be in good communication with Him, constantly receiving His vibes, constantly hearing His Voice speaking to your heart!
August 15, 2010
August 16 - 21, 2010
Monday August 16, 2010
Are Your Ears Awake?
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; John 16:12-15
Does God really talk to us? Can we really hear God's voice? We often doubt if we are hearing from God, until we learn to recognize the ways God speaks to us. Hearing God's voice is something we all long for and it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice! He doesn't speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him every day and not just on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen.
The Bible says this about God's Word: “Are you ears awake?”; “I still have things to tell you”, so I ask you again “Are your ears awake?” God is always speaking to you, but are you listening? We have been called to a one on one relationship with God. God wants to speak to us and even though we have the promise that “My sheep hear My voice,” too many believers do not have that intimate relationship with the Father, without this relationship believer’s are missing out on many of God’s blessings; the blessings that can fulfill the very desires of their heart. We do not have to search for His announcement all we have to do is listen for it. God speaks to us in many ways, He speaks to us through His word, through our thoughts, through conversations with others, through our circumstances and many other ways.
Do you want to hear God’s voice? That is the final question, God responds to willing heart. Over the next week we are going to be discussing more about how God speaks to us and how we can recognize His voice, so wake up your ears and listen.
Tuesday August 17, 2010
How Does the Spirit Speak?
John 15:17; John 12:49-50
One of the tragic losses in modern Christianity is the near-elimination of the Holy Spirit from the life and activity of many believers. Religion that is learned and formalized can function without the Holy Spirit; true spirituality cannot. In John 16:13, Jesus promised, "When the Spirit of truth has come He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you." And again, in John 15:26 He said, "When the Helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." The word Jesus used for "Helper" has a rich and wonderful meaning in its Greek equivalent, parakletos, and was used in the ancient Olympic Games to identify those who accompanied a marathon runner by shouting encouragement to him. Here are seven scriptural ways the Holy Spirit wants to accompany our race and shout encouragement: The Holy Spirit bears witness directly to our spirit and leads us internally; He will lead us externally; He will speak to us in words and sentences; He will speak to us prophetically through others; He will give us specific revelation knowledge; He speaks through the written word of scripture and he always speaks to us in love.
THE VITAL QUESTION IS THIS: Are you experiencing the Holy Spirit's communication in all these ways? No matter where we are in our present walk with God, the Holy Spirit offers us far more than we are accepting. If our relationship with the Holy Spirit is not being enlarged and if we are able to remain comfortable with our limited contact with Him, then we have not fully encountered Him--either in Scripture or in Person.
Wednesday August 18, 2010
Lies & Distortion
1 John 4:1-4
Satan’s greatest weapon against humanity is the ability to speak into our thought life. He’s referred to as the Accuser. He spews lies and accusations constantly into our thoughts and minds. His primary strategy is simply this–to get you to agree with his accusations and lies. Maybe they are lies about God, our Father. Maybe they are lies about yourself, maybe how God sees you and loves you. Maybe they are lies about your spouse, your family, and your friends–whatever. The devil will constantly, relentlessly, viciously spew accusations into your thoughts to get you to agree with him, because that’s where his greatest power lies–the power of agreement. If he can get you to agree with him, then he’s got you. This was his key tactic against Jesus when he was being tempted in the wilderness. He was trying to get Jesus to agree with him. But, Jesus overcame the enemy by quoting scripture, by speaking a God thought, and rejecting a “me thought”.
It is absolutely imperative that we learn to here God’s voice and police our thoughts, take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And, we must change the way we think and perceive things. Learn to hear the Voice of God. Learn to fight the good fight of faith (believing). Learn to police your thoughts and not just accept what comes into your mind. Guard your mind. When we know and recognize the Father’s voice, Satan’s lies and distortion of the truth have no effect on us.
Thursday August 19, 2010
The Spirit Voice: Enables, Speaks & Gives
Matthew 16-16-19, John 5:30; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
The Spirit Voice enables us to hear God. Our spirit has been deadened by sin but the Holy Spirit awakens us to the voice of God and the things of the Spirit. Jesus knew that the disciples were getting the awakening to the voice of God when Peter declared that Jesus was the son of God, it was the voice of the Father that spoke to Peter. It the revelation to Peter that church would be built on Jesus Christ. Peter did not get this from his intellect but from the voice of the Spirit. The first work of the Spirit is to awaken us to the voice of God. If we belong to God we hear His Voice.
The Spirit Voice speaks the Word of God to us. In the creation the Spirit was hovering waiting on the voice of God to speak. We cannot come out of chaos until we hear the spoken Word of God. We must hear god to respond to him. Dr. Cho says, “Success comes by hearing and obeying the voice of God.” Jesus was a listener to the Spirit of God. He only did what he heard.
The Spirit Voice gives us revelation to understand what God has said. We must learn to understand what the Spirit is saying to us. Revelation is the work of the Spirit. Our soul can be educated but only the Spirit can give revelation. We can never understand God or the things of God by intellect alone.
By Pastor Rick Cooper
Friday August 20, 2010
Why People Do Not Hear God’s Voice
Ephesians 2:1-5; Matthew 13:9-17; Genesis 3:10; Luke 10:40-41
To hear God’s voice it takes a new birth. We do not hear because we are deadened to the voice of God, however through Christ’s sacrifice we can now hear the Spirit and what the Father is telling us. Many do not know that they can hear the Voice of God and are not taught that they can.
Fear keeps many from hearing the voice of God because they are afraid of what God might say to them. I used to be one of those, but guess what that stinking thing was straight from the pit of hell. What God has to say to me He says in love, there is never a harsh or vindictive tone. Yes, He has said some things that I may have not wanted to hear, but is was a way teaching me so that I could grow closer to Him.
Often we are too busy to stop and listen to what God is saying. There are even times we are so busy working for God and offering worship that we do not allow Him to speak. We have the Martha mentality. God does not want us to work for Him; He wants us to work with Him. To work with God we must hear and see what He is doing.
Does any of this sound familiar?
The Weekender August 21 - 22, 2010
4 Simple Step to Hearing What God Is Saying!
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Mark Virkler teaches in his book “How To Hear God’s Voice” four principles in hearing the voice of God. He takes these principles from Habakkuk 2:1-3.
Key #1 God’s voice in your heart often sounds like a flow of spon¬taneous thoughts.
Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him (Hab. 2:2). Elijah described it as a still, small voice (I Kings 19:12). I had always listened for an inner audible voice. God’s voice comes as spontaneous thoughts, visions, feelings, or impres¬sions. Experience indicates that we perceive spirit-level communication as spon¬taneous thoughts, impressions and visions, and Scripture confirms this in many ways.
Key #2 Become still so you can sense God’s flow of thoughts and emo¬tions within. Habakkuk said, “I will stand on my guard post...” (Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk knew that to hear God’s quiet, inner, spontaneous thoughts, he had to first go to a quiet place and still his own thoughts and emotions. Psalm 46:10 encourages us to be still, and know that He is God. There is a deep inner knowing (spontaneous flow) in our spirits that each of us can experience when we quiet our flesh and our minds. If we are not still, we will sense only our own thoughts. To receive the pure word of God, it is very important that my heart be prop¬erly focused.
Key #3 As you pray, fix the eyes of your heart upon Jesus, seeing in the Spirit the dreams and visions of Almighty God. Habakkuk said, “I will keep watch to see,” and God said, “Record the vision” (Hab. 2:1,2). Habakkuk was actually looking for vision as he prayed. He opened the eyes of his heart, and looked into the spirit world to see what God wanted to show him. God has always spoken through dreams and visions, and He specifically said that they would come to those upon whom the Holy Spirit is poured out (Acts 2:1-4, 17). God gave us eyes in our heart to see in the spirit; the vision and movement of Almighty God. There is an active spirit world all around us, full of angels, demons, the Holy Spirit, the omnipres¬ent Father, and His omnipresent Son, Jesus. The only reasons for me not to see this reality are unbelief or lack of knowledge.
Key #4 Journaling, the writing out of your prayers and God’s answers, brings great freedom in hearing God’s voice. God told Habakkuk to record the vision (Hab. 2:2). This was not an isolated command. The Scriptures record many examples of individual’s prayers and God’s replies (e.g. the Psalms, many of the prophets, Revelation). Get a journal or a notebook and write down what you hear (If it is important enough for God to speak then it is important enough for us to write it down. You will be amazed when you journal. Doubt may hinder you at first, but throw it off, reminding yourself that it is a bib¬lical concept, and that God is present, speaking to His children.
From Mark Virkler’s book “How To Hear God’s Voice
Are Your Ears Awake?
Revelation 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; John 16:12-15
Does God really talk to us? Can we really hear God's voice? We often doubt if we are hearing from God, until we learn to recognize the ways God speaks to us. Hearing God's voice is something we all long for and it's not hard to do? In fact, God wants you to hear His voice! He doesn't speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What's more, we can hear Him every day and not just on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life. Do you want to hear God's voice? Then you must be ready to listen.
The Bible says this about God's Word: “Are you ears awake?”; “I still have things to tell you”, so I ask you again “Are your ears awake?” God is always speaking to you, but are you listening? We have been called to a one on one relationship with God. God wants to speak to us and even though we have the promise that “My sheep hear My voice,” too many believers do not have that intimate relationship with the Father, without this relationship believer’s are missing out on many of God’s blessings; the blessings that can fulfill the very desires of their heart. We do not have to search for His announcement all we have to do is listen for it. God speaks to us in many ways, He speaks to us through His word, through our thoughts, through conversations with others, through our circumstances and many other ways.
Do you want to hear God’s voice? That is the final question, God responds to willing heart. Over the next week we are going to be discussing more about how God speaks to us and how we can recognize His voice, so wake up your ears and listen.
Tuesday August 17, 2010
How Does the Spirit Speak?
John 15:17; John 12:49-50
One of the tragic losses in modern Christianity is the near-elimination of the Holy Spirit from the life and activity of many believers. Religion that is learned and formalized can function without the Holy Spirit; true spirituality cannot. In John 16:13, Jesus promised, "When the Spirit of truth has come He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is mine and declare it to you." And again, in John 15:26 He said, "When the Helper comes whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me." The word Jesus used for "Helper" has a rich and wonderful meaning in its Greek equivalent, parakletos, and was used in the ancient Olympic Games to identify those who accompanied a marathon runner by shouting encouragement to him. Here are seven scriptural ways the Holy Spirit wants to accompany our race and shout encouragement: The Holy Spirit bears witness directly to our spirit and leads us internally; He will lead us externally; He will speak to us in words and sentences; He will speak to us prophetically through others; He will give us specific revelation knowledge; He speaks through the written word of scripture and he always speaks to us in love.
THE VITAL QUESTION IS THIS: Are you experiencing the Holy Spirit's communication in all these ways? No matter where we are in our present walk with God, the Holy Spirit offers us far more than we are accepting. If our relationship with the Holy Spirit is not being enlarged and if we are able to remain comfortable with our limited contact with Him, then we have not fully encountered Him--either in Scripture or in Person.
Wednesday August 18, 2010
Lies & Distortion
1 John 4:1-4
Satan’s greatest weapon against humanity is the ability to speak into our thought life. He’s referred to as the Accuser. He spews lies and accusations constantly into our thoughts and minds. His primary strategy is simply this–to get you to agree with his accusations and lies. Maybe they are lies about God, our Father. Maybe they are lies about yourself, maybe how God sees you and loves you. Maybe they are lies about your spouse, your family, and your friends–whatever. The devil will constantly, relentlessly, viciously spew accusations into your thoughts to get you to agree with him, because that’s where his greatest power lies–the power of agreement. If he can get you to agree with him, then he’s got you. This was his key tactic against Jesus when he was being tempted in the wilderness. He was trying to get Jesus to agree with him. But, Jesus overcame the enemy by quoting scripture, by speaking a God thought, and rejecting a “me thought”.
It is absolutely imperative that we learn to here God’s voice and police our thoughts, take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). And, we must change the way we think and perceive things. Learn to hear the Voice of God. Learn to fight the good fight of faith (believing). Learn to police your thoughts and not just accept what comes into your mind. Guard your mind. When we know and recognize the Father’s voice, Satan’s lies and distortion of the truth have no effect on us.
Thursday August 19, 2010
The Spirit Voice: Enables, Speaks & Gives
Matthew 16-16-19, John 5:30; 1 Corinthians 2:12-13
The Spirit Voice enables us to hear God. Our spirit has been deadened by sin but the Holy Spirit awakens us to the voice of God and the things of the Spirit. Jesus knew that the disciples were getting the awakening to the voice of God when Peter declared that Jesus was the son of God, it was the voice of the Father that spoke to Peter. It the revelation to Peter that church would be built on Jesus Christ. Peter did not get this from his intellect but from the voice of the Spirit. The first work of the Spirit is to awaken us to the voice of God. If we belong to God we hear His Voice.
The Spirit Voice speaks the Word of God to us. In the creation the Spirit was hovering waiting on the voice of God to speak. We cannot come out of chaos until we hear the spoken Word of God. We must hear god to respond to him. Dr. Cho says, “Success comes by hearing and obeying the voice of God.” Jesus was a listener to the Spirit of God. He only did what he heard.
The Spirit Voice gives us revelation to understand what God has said. We must learn to understand what the Spirit is saying to us. Revelation is the work of the Spirit. Our soul can be educated but only the Spirit can give revelation. We can never understand God or the things of God by intellect alone.
By Pastor Rick Cooper
Friday August 20, 2010
Why People Do Not Hear God’s Voice
Ephesians 2:1-5; Matthew 13:9-17; Genesis 3:10; Luke 10:40-41
To hear God’s voice it takes a new birth. We do not hear because we are deadened to the voice of God, however through Christ’s sacrifice we can now hear the Spirit and what the Father is telling us. Many do not know that they can hear the Voice of God and are not taught that they can.
Fear keeps many from hearing the voice of God because they are afraid of what God might say to them. I used to be one of those, but guess what that stinking thing was straight from the pit of hell. What God has to say to me He says in love, there is never a harsh or vindictive tone. Yes, He has said some things that I may have not wanted to hear, but is was a way teaching me so that I could grow closer to Him.
Often we are too busy to stop and listen to what God is saying. There are even times we are so busy working for God and offering worship that we do not allow Him to speak. We have the Martha mentality. God does not want us to work for Him; He wants us to work with Him. To work with God we must hear and see what He is doing.
Does any of this sound familiar?
The Weekender August 21 - 22, 2010
4 Simple Step to Hearing What God Is Saying!
Habakkuk 2:1-3
Mark Virkler teaches in his book “How To Hear God’s Voice” four principles in hearing the voice of God. He takes these principles from Habakkuk 2:1-3.
Key #1 God’s voice in your heart often sounds like a flow of spon¬taneous thoughts.
Habakkuk knew the sound of God speaking to him (Hab. 2:2). Elijah described it as a still, small voice (I Kings 19:12). I had always listened for an inner audible voice. God’s voice comes as spontaneous thoughts, visions, feelings, or impres¬sions. Experience indicates that we perceive spirit-level communication as spon¬taneous thoughts, impressions and visions, and Scripture confirms this in many ways.
Key #2 Become still so you can sense God’s flow of thoughts and emo¬tions within. Habakkuk said, “I will stand on my guard post...” (Hab. 2:1). Habakkuk knew that to hear God’s quiet, inner, spontaneous thoughts, he had to first go to a quiet place and still his own thoughts and emotions. Psalm 46:10 encourages us to be still, and know that He is God. There is a deep inner knowing (spontaneous flow) in our spirits that each of us can experience when we quiet our flesh and our minds. If we are not still, we will sense only our own thoughts. To receive the pure word of God, it is very important that my heart be prop¬erly focused.
Key #3 As you pray, fix the eyes of your heart upon Jesus, seeing in the Spirit the dreams and visions of Almighty God. Habakkuk said, “I will keep watch to see,” and God said, “Record the vision” (Hab. 2:1,2). Habakkuk was actually looking for vision as he prayed. He opened the eyes of his heart, and looked into the spirit world to see what God wanted to show him. God has always spoken through dreams and visions, and He specifically said that they would come to those upon whom the Holy Spirit is poured out (Acts 2:1-4, 17). God gave us eyes in our heart to see in the spirit; the vision and movement of Almighty God. There is an active spirit world all around us, full of angels, demons, the Holy Spirit, the omnipres¬ent Father, and His omnipresent Son, Jesus. The only reasons for me not to see this reality are unbelief or lack of knowledge.
Key #4 Journaling, the writing out of your prayers and God’s answers, brings great freedom in hearing God’s voice. God told Habakkuk to record the vision (Hab. 2:2). This was not an isolated command. The Scriptures record many examples of individual’s prayers and God’s replies (e.g. the Psalms, many of the prophets, Revelation). Get a journal or a notebook and write down what you hear (If it is important enough for God to speak then it is important enough for us to write it down. You will be amazed when you journal. Doubt may hinder you at first, but throw it off, reminding yourself that it is a bib¬lical concept, and that God is present, speaking to His children.
From Mark Virkler’s book “How To Hear God’s Voice
August 8, 2010
August 09 - 14, 2010
Monday August 09, 2010
What You Do Can Bring Reward
Read Ps 62:12
God rewards us for our faithfulness to His word is true. Faith in Him brings rewards. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, when God told him to. God was so pleased with him for obeying Him, He put a ram in the bush and Isaac’s life was spared. Obedience brings rewards. God offered Solomon anything he wanted because He was pleased with him. Solomon asked only for wisdom to rule his kingdom. God was pleased with Solomon’s unselfishness. He rewarded Solomon with great wisdom and great wealth. Unselfishness brings God’s rewards. Because of their faith in Him, Jesus rewarded many people with healing. These are just a few examples of what you can do to be rewarded. Other rewards are peace of mind, joy and prosperity.
We live in a nation that says it really does not pay to do right, but God says otherwise. God’s Word says that whatever we sow we will reap. When our nation stood in awe of God we were one of the most if not the most prosperous nation in the world. We have allowed wrong thinking and wrong actions to prevail in our nation and as a result we have seen a slump in our economy and our influence over other countries slide. We as Christians must take a stand and stand for what is right if we want to see our nation back on top.
Point of Prayer: Father, forgive us of our lack of faithfulness and for our disbelief, give us the courage to stand for what is right and true. Father help us to be a shining example of who you are and what you want this nation to be. Amen.
What are things that we as Christians do to make a difference in our land?
Tuesday August 10, 2010
Look Ahead For Your Reward
Read Heb 11:26-27
Yesterday is gone and over with. Today is here for a brief time. Tomorrow is before us and holds a lot of promise. Don’t look too yesterday for rewards. They aren’t there. Look for rewards to come today and tomorrow. But first, God tells us to seek Him and His righteousness, and then His rewards will be added to you. Don’t concentrate on the rewards. Keep your eyes on Jesus and seek to know Him first. Rewards come second. God is a rewarder to those who choose to seek Him first. He is good and eager to reward His children when they are loving Him and seeking His will for their lives.
All too often we get caught up in daydreaming for riches and a better life and there is nothing wrong with wanting a little more and a better life, the problem comes when we become fixated on riches and a better life than having our focus on the true rewarder. We are so busy running after riches and trying to buy things that we think may satisfy us that we miss the only one who can truly satisfy our every need. As a nation we have stopped seeking God in all we do and have become self-reliant. We have relied on ourselves to deal with world situations and frankly we have mess on our hands. We have attempted to solve problems on what we think and we have not sought God for direction. Without Direction from God we are the blind leading the blind and we will not be able to find the reward that God has in store.
Point of Prayer: Father, help us as individuals and as a nation too place our focus back on you and to seek you in every aspect of our decision making, Father help us to stop seeking un satisfying things and too seek after you the rewarder and satisfier. Amen.
Seek God first and the rewards will come. Are you seeking to know God’s will for your life?
Wednesday August 11, 2010
Justice + Faithfulness = Reward
Read Isa 61:8
Recently, throughout our country, there were protest marches against what some see as an injustice. Many were marching and demanding equal justice now. I do not know all the facts surrounding this case and offer no judgment of this outcry. However, it does seem that equal justice in our day is more about what a person perceives, feels or thinks is equal justice (man’s relative justice) and less about God’s absolute justice. It should not surprise us that in today’s world of relativism, humanism, secularism, and even spiritualism, in which man is placed at the center of the universe, most people do not truly want equal justice for all; they want justice for themselves or their cause, whatever it might be. Consequently, people see things differently, even when faced with the same set of facts. Simply, they see it through their prism, based on a variety of factors such as one’s culture, religion, race, sex, world view or life experiences, to name a few.
It is very interesting that during the recent marches, I never heard a cry for righteousness. In fact, in our modern day of enlightenment, the word righteousness is almost never used, except perhaps by some Christians. In our everyday language, especially what comes through the news media, righteousness is a forgotten word, and yet, righteousness is the only way to true and equal justice. We could say that righteousness is what defines justice. It is the moral foundation for justice.
Although righteousness is not talked about nor demanded much in our day, it appears that deep within the heart of man there is a longing for true righteousness and justice, and a knowing that only God can satisfy this longing. And yet, many reject God’s way, preferring to do what is right in their own eyes and not in the eyes of God.
Our God is the God of justice. He loves righteousness and justice. He hates sin but He always loves the person who sins. God is a faithful God to His children, and He desires for His children to be faithful to Him. When the God of justice sees faithfulness in His children, then justice defends and provides for His children. These are wonderful rewards.
Can you name some other rewards that come from being faithful to God?
Thursday August 12, 2010
God’s Gift Produces Joy
Read Eccl 5:19-20; Proverbs 13:21
God is the giver of good gifts. He wants us to enjoy all the things He gives us. Some of the things He gives His children are wealth and prosperity. He also gives us good health so we can enjoy His gifts. In return, He expects us to accept ourselves for who we are and who He created us to be in Him. He also expects us to be happy and full of joy over the work He has for us to do. No one can truly know real joy until he accepts God’s will for his life and walks in it.
After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live( The Message Bible). Make the most of what God gives you.
Do you want to know true joy from God?
Friday August 13, 2010
God’s Blessings Will Overtake You!
Read Deut 28:1-3
You can’t out give God. Don’t even try! You can read in Deuteronomy 28 about the blessings you will receive from God if you obey Him and follow His commands. In Matthew 5, Jesus promises us more blessings if we will walk in His ways. God cannot lie, so if He promises us blessings if we do the things He ask of us, then the blessings will surely come. He said not only would we be blessed but His blessings would overtake us! That means the blessings God sends to us will catch up with us and come upon us suddenly.
God’s promises are not contingent on the state of the U.S. economy! I am not sure if you need to hear this, but I have days when I need a gentle reminder. As Christians we are children of God and are not limited by the circumstances around us. We have God’s promises that He is going to provide for us, no matter what it looks like. Our job is to simply believe. As Bono put it in Walk On, “(it) has to be believed to be seen.” We all would love to be able to see things manifest and then believe them, but remember what Jesus said to Thomas? Jesus said to him, “Is it because you have seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!”
God’s economy is strong and God’s blessings will overtake you!
The Weekender August 14 - 15, 2010
Who Is Your Reward?
Read Gen 15:1
The greatest reward a Christian can ever have is God Himself. He is our reward. When we have God, we have everything. God is also our rewarder. Hebrews tells us that God is a rewarder to those people who diligently seek Him. (Those who choose to seek Him). Hannah trusted God for a son. She was rewarded with Samuel and many more children. Mary believed what the angel, Gabriel, told her and she was rewarded with being the mother of God’s only son, Jesus. A woman who had suffered a sickness for many years knew that if she touched the hem of Jesus clothes, she would be healed. She was and Jesus told her that it was her faith that brought about her healing. God is a loving and generous God. He rewards faith in His children. Put your faith and trust in the great “I AM” for everything you need.
When you read the gospels of Jesus, you will find that all who came to Him for healing were healed because of their faith in Him. Faith brought about their healing! Choose today to put your faith and your trust in Jesus.
God is our reward; if we have God we have everything. God is the one who gives us all our enjoyment. If we give reverence to God, Respect His Laws and boundaries, take responsibility and walk in relationship with Him and our fellow man we can expect the reward.
What You Do Can Bring Reward
Read Ps 62:12
God rewards us for our faithfulness to His word is true. Faith in Him brings rewards. Abraham was willing to sacrifice his only son, Isaac, when God told him to. God was so pleased with him for obeying Him, He put a ram in the bush and Isaac’s life was spared. Obedience brings rewards. God offered Solomon anything he wanted because He was pleased with him. Solomon asked only for wisdom to rule his kingdom. God was pleased with Solomon’s unselfishness. He rewarded Solomon with great wisdom and great wealth. Unselfishness brings God’s rewards. Because of their faith in Him, Jesus rewarded many people with healing. These are just a few examples of what you can do to be rewarded. Other rewards are peace of mind, joy and prosperity.
We live in a nation that says it really does not pay to do right, but God says otherwise. God’s Word says that whatever we sow we will reap. When our nation stood in awe of God we were one of the most if not the most prosperous nation in the world. We have allowed wrong thinking and wrong actions to prevail in our nation and as a result we have seen a slump in our economy and our influence over other countries slide. We as Christians must take a stand and stand for what is right if we want to see our nation back on top.
Point of Prayer: Father, forgive us of our lack of faithfulness and for our disbelief, give us the courage to stand for what is right and true. Father help us to be a shining example of who you are and what you want this nation to be. Amen.
What are things that we as Christians do to make a difference in our land?
Tuesday August 10, 2010
Look Ahead For Your Reward
Read Heb 11:26-27
Yesterday is gone and over with. Today is here for a brief time. Tomorrow is before us and holds a lot of promise. Don’t look too yesterday for rewards. They aren’t there. Look for rewards to come today and tomorrow. But first, God tells us to seek Him and His righteousness, and then His rewards will be added to you. Don’t concentrate on the rewards. Keep your eyes on Jesus and seek to know Him first. Rewards come second. God is a rewarder to those who choose to seek Him first. He is good and eager to reward His children when they are loving Him and seeking His will for their lives.
All too often we get caught up in daydreaming for riches and a better life and there is nothing wrong with wanting a little more and a better life, the problem comes when we become fixated on riches and a better life than having our focus on the true rewarder. We are so busy running after riches and trying to buy things that we think may satisfy us that we miss the only one who can truly satisfy our every need. As a nation we have stopped seeking God in all we do and have become self-reliant. We have relied on ourselves to deal with world situations and frankly we have mess on our hands. We have attempted to solve problems on what we think and we have not sought God for direction. Without Direction from God we are the blind leading the blind and we will not be able to find the reward that God has in store.
Point of Prayer: Father, help us as individuals and as a nation too place our focus back on you and to seek you in every aspect of our decision making, Father help us to stop seeking un satisfying things and too seek after you the rewarder and satisfier. Amen.
Seek God first and the rewards will come. Are you seeking to know God’s will for your life?
Wednesday August 11, 2010
Justice + Faithfulness = Reward
Read Isa 61:8
Recently, throughout our country, there were protest marches against what some see as an injustice. Many were marching and demanding equal justice now. I do not know all the facts surrounding this case and offer no judgment of this outcry. However, it does seem that equal justice in our day is more about what a person perceives, feels or thinks is equal justice (man’s relative justice) and less about God’s absolute justice. It should not surprise us that in today’s world of relativism, humanism, secularism, and even spiritualism, in which man is placed at the center of the universe, most people do not truly want equal justice for all; they want justice for themselves or their cause, whatever it might be. Consequently, people see things differently, even when faced with the same set of facts. Simply, they see it through their prism, based on a variety of factors such as one’s culture, religion, race, sex, world view or life experiences, to name a few.
It is very interesting that during the recent marches, I never heard a cry for righteousness. In fact, in our modern day of enlightenment, the word righteousness is almost never used, except perhaps by some Christians. In our everyday language, especially what comes through the news media, righteousness is a forgotten word, and yet, righteousness is the only way to true and equal justice. We could say that righteousness is what defines justice. It is the moral foundation for justice.
Although righteousness is not talked about nor demanded much in our day, it appears that deep within the heart of man there is a longing for true righteousness and justice, and a knowing that only God can satisfy this longing. And yet, many reject God’s way, preferring to do what is right in their own eyes and not in the eyes of God.
Our God is the God of justice. He loves righteousness and justice. He hates sin but He always loves the person who sins. God is a faithful God to His children, and He desires for His children to be faithful to Him. When the God of justice sees faithfulness in His children, then justice defends and provides for His children. These are wonderful rewards.
Can you name some other rewards that come from being faithful to God?
Thursday August 12, 2010
God’s Gift Produces Joy
Read Eccl 5:19-20; Proverbs 13:21
God is the giver of good gifts. He wants us to enjoy all the things He gives us. Some of the things He gives His children are wealth and prosperity. He also gives us good health so we can enjoy His gifts. In return, He expects us to accept ourselves for who we are and who He created us to be in Him. He also expects us to be happy and full of joy over the work He has for us to do. No one can truly know real joy until he accepts God’s will for his life and walks in it.
After looking at the way things are on this earth, here's what I've decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that's about it. That's the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what's given and delighting in the work. It's God's gift! God deals out joy in the present, the now. It's useless to brood over how long we might live( The Message Bible). Make the most of what God gives you.
Do you want to know true joy from God?
Friday August 13, 2010
God’s Blessings Will Overtake You!
Read Deut 28:1-3
You can’t out give God. Don’t even try! You can read in Deuteronomy 28 about the blessings you will receive from God if you obey Him and follow His commands. In Matthew 5, Jesus promises us more blessings if we will walk in His ways. God cannot lie, so if He promises us blessings if we do the things He ask of us, then the blessings will surely come. He said not only would we be blessed but His blessings would overtake us! That means the blessings God sends to us will catch up with us and come upon us suddenly.
God’s promises are not contingent on the state of the U.S. economy! I am not sure if you need to hear this, but I have days when I need a gentle reminder. As Christians we are children of God and are not limited by the circumstances around us. We have God’s promises that He is going to provide for us, no matter what it looks like. Our job is to simply believe. As Bono put it in Walk On, “(it) has to be believed to be seen.” We all would love to be able to see things manifest and then believe them, but remember what Jesus said to Thomas? Jesus said to him, “Is it because you have seen me that you have believed? How blessed are those who have never seen me and yet have believed!”
God’s economy is strong and God’s blessings will overtake you!
The Weekender August 14 - 15, 2010
Who Is Your Reward?
Read Gen 15:1
The greatest reward a Christian can ever have is God Himself. He is our reward. When we have God, we have everything. God is also our rewarder. Hebrews tells us that God is a rewarder to those people who diligently seek Him. (Those who choose to seek Him). Hannah trusted God for a son. She was rewarded with Samuel and many more children. Mary believed what the angel, Gabriel, told her and she was rewarded with being the mother of God’s only son, Jesus. A woman who had suffered a sickness for many years knew that if she touched the hem of Jesus clothes, she would be healed. She was and Jesus told her that it was her faith that brought about her healing. God is a loving and generous God. He rewards faith in His children. Put your faith and trust in the great “I AM” for everything you need.
When you read the gospels of Jesus, you will find that all who came to Him for healing were healed because of their faith in Him. Faith brought about their healing! Choose today to put your faith and your trust in Jesus.
God is our reward; if we have God we have everything. God is the one who gives us all our enjoyment. If we give reverence to God, Respect His Laws and boundaries, take responsibility and walk in relationship with Him and our fellow man we can expect the reward.
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