Growing in the Knowledge of God

Borne Out of the Fire

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

Borne Out of the Fire

We desire to go on with God… But what we do not see is that we are carrying things that cannot go with us – things we cannot take with us to walk in the next level of His glory… But because we do not see all of this in proper perspective.. (there is so much right now that we do not understand)… Indeed it does seem as though “we look through a glass darkly”… And thus we urgently plead, “Lord help me!”

And of course He is always there to lead us… (He can’t take us unless we ask – because in His sovereignty, God gave man authority on the earth – so that as James 4:2 tells us “…you have not because you ask not.”)  So – ask, we do – not seeing or knowing that between where we walk now and the place we desire to be – is “the FIRE or the RAGING waters!” But we ask, and so he leads us out… But before long, we began to think… “This must surely be a mistake!” I mean.. we were wanting to go upward, to get better!… But instead, here we are in a frightening place!

Now, water and fire can both destroy and wreak havoc… But carefully tended and directed, they cleanse and ready the ground for new growth – so that in the time that follows, out comes a thing for God’s use and our “beauty.”

Then through tears of joy, and with strengthened devotion – we look back – and our understanding is lightened!… Now I see!… There is no other way, else He would surely bring us… But should we come another way – I mean that He would just “zap” us – we would be “there” all right… And “there” would be “perfect!”… But who would He be?… Would we even know Him??

You see, there is so much “distance” between who He is and who we are – a world of difference – that it takes a lifetime just to begin to understand that difference… So that, how could we ever have a proper view of Him… if we had not seen the things that “fill up the way” between our mortality and Him??

Sure, now we see through a glass darkly… But each new level we press to brings us closer to His light, and we grow in our personal knowledge of Jesus Christ… Then from this new place of glory, I see Him more clearly, and do better understand the futility of the unregenerate man…

Indeed later, I shall see Him as He is – but for now I’m just learning and growing – so that I simply see Him in the best way that I can… I see him now through the eyes of my fellowship with Him, and as the word of God reveals…. Indeed that is God’s plan!

Thus He brings us through the fire.. or through the “raging waters.”… And frightening indeed it seems – until we come to the place of understanding.. THAT WE CAN TRUST HIM!  And that those hurtful things are brought along our path by our adversary (I Peter 5:8) who is seeking to devour any closeness of relationship we try to form with God… But God our Savior seeks to bring us safely to the other side… And thus you and I who seek Him, are “borne out of the fire.”

 

 

What Is My CROSS?….

~ kathrynspen ~ Leave a comment

If you’ve been a Christian very long – more than likely you have heard or read the scripture in Matthew 16:24; Luke 9:23 where Jesus spoke to His disciples (and to us) about “taking up your cross and following Me”. The question now IS… . Do you really know what that means?….. Because you do have to know AND understand what Jesus meant in that passage.. before you can answer the very important question for yourself….“What is MY Cross?”

Many Christians WANT to know the answer to that, but usually wind up with the assertion that their cross is any number of “hard things” that seem to follow their lives….

It will probably simplify getting the answer to that question – if I first tell you what your cross is not….Your cross is NOT ANYTHING that Jesus redeemed you from!

Redeemed means…… (In Galatians 3:13 & 4:5;  I Peter 1:18;  Revelation 5:9)….To buy back – paying the price required  for all that can be bought…   Here’s what some important scriptures tell us about our redemption through Jesus Christ:

“Christ redeemed us from the curse – being made a curse for us” (Galatians 3:13).  So, what is the curse?….What is it that Jesus redeemed us from?

In Deuteronomy 30:19,20,  God tells us that “life and death/blessing and cursing are set before us… . then He urges us to “CHOOSE LIFE!”:….He is saying “Follow My way – love and obey Me – for real life and blessing is in Me…… You can choose either one, but I urge you to choose life/choose Me!”

In the Garden man had chosen to live apart from God – and God honored that choice……. but God loved us and so He came after man (all men) to give us individually the opportunity to choose again.  God had a plan to redeem us from man’s original choice to live apart from Him …..So He sent His Son  – Jesus Christ the Anointed One – to redeem us… that is to buy us back again!. …….Even so He still gives each one of us the same choice to make….. Choose Me /My plan – or choose to live apart……. You can choose either, but I love you, He says – so choose Me – choose LIFE!

Psalm 103::1-4  names the benefits/blessings that come from choosing God’s way… He redeemed us from the curse – the consequences that sin in us or around us brings…..  Indeed, He redeemed us from the curse of sickness, disease, poverty, lack, etc….And our life as a Christian then.. is a walk by faith in the things which He has spoken to us.…

Okay,  but if we are redeemed from the curse – why then do we see so much sickness, poverty, lack and other such things among Christians that God’s Word clearly says that He redeemed us from?……Why?  because EVERYTHING – Everything!….. that we receive from God – we receive by faith (II Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 11:6…) Any number of scriptures verify that fact…..Therefore, as the Apostle Paul once said… we need to check ourselves “whether we are in the faith.”

But as humans we are used to thinking and walking by sight – our sense knowledge of seeing, hearing, feeling – so that we generally find it difficult to believe that God wants us to have something that we cannot see, hear, feel, understand etc. with our natural man’s senses….. Thus we have a hard time actually believing the Word of God….so that we often default to either ignore,  or to reason away many of the promises God has given us in His Word….. because we cannot reconcile ourselves to believe what we do not see or feel “currently” with at least one of our 5 natural senses!  We are thus trying to walk by sight – instead of by faith in what God’s Word has said.

Your cross and my cross is not some sickness…. God through Jesus redeemed you from that…. and He is not a man that He could lie or alter the words that He has spoken to us….Neither will He ever violate His written word in the things which He directs you to do to follow Him/His plan for you…..

.And in line with that, He is not going to buy us out of something (redeem us)… then turn around and put that same thing upon us as a cross to bear!…. No!…. But, indeed,  your cross and my cross is to follow Him, go the direction He tells you to go, make the changes in your dreams and desires that He asks of you ……   Does that sound dull or boring or too hard?  Indeed, it may sound to be so, but ask anyone who truly  knows and follows Him… and they will tell you without a second thought.. that the life that God offers us here is far better, far more rewarding than any life without Him can ever bring….

Your cross is whatever it costs you to follow Him/His plan for your life!

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Growing in Christ…. In The Place and Time Of Transition

~ kathrynspen ~ 3 Comments

Sometimes the Lord wants to take us to a new place in Him – a good place, a better place – than where we are at in our present relationship and walk with Him… and we think “Hey, that’s great”… but when things begin to feel  different”.. perhaps even a little strange.. We begin to wonder “what’s going on… and “where am I missing it”?

It’s a time of transition…but on the way… as we begin to feel “different” –  it can be quite uncomfortable – almost like we have lost some of the good things that He has already put into us!…. But in this time that is intended for growth and healthy change.. we have old wrong attitudes and habits that do not “fit” the new place He wants to take us to.  These wrong attitudes and habits are things that He wants to help us see – and turn loose of.. so that we can follow Him on in to that new place in Him that He is calling us to walk in.

We may feel alone in the place of transition – but God has never turned loose of us!  And it is in this time of feeling “different” – perhaps even feeling that we’ve lost our way – that we must learn to choose to take and use from the table God has prepared for us…..  It is right there before us… But we have to learn to choose – in the very midst of the pressure that our flesh is feeling (in particular our emotions) – to take from that table He has set before us…

For like money in the bank – it does us no good until we reach out and draw on it…In this case we need to draw on and use the “tools” He has given us to use in the good fight of faith that we are called to walk … Tools like giving thanks, worship and praise to God.. as well as learning to  respond to our negative feelings and emotions.. with the word God has spoken concerning the time or situation we are in.  All of these are “tools” God has set before us… tools that will get us to the other side of the “crisis” we feel.

All of these things are “on the table before us” as a part of our provision/our authority in Christ..  And so much greater is this provision that Jesus “bought” for us than any thing that the enemy can throw at us…. For as we look to Him.. God is working all around us!… To say that He is not (simply because what we see is an unfinished work) – is to deny His faithfulness… It is to embrace the lie of our adversary (I Peter 5:8,9)… And to do that is to choose defeat….

For ultimately, we will win if we do not quit!  (Galatians 6:9)…Thus we take our stand – we take our stand on what God has said and done for us… “And having done all to stand – we stand – on the everlasting word of God! –  (especially the Rhema words that He has given to you for a particular situation )… given you for fighting the good fight of faith!!

But many times – instead of using the tools that God has provided for us – we choose to call somebody to pray for us…(I know because that is what I always used to do!)  And it is not “wrong” to call for prayer support –  but – ultimately we each have to learn (at some point) to stand and use what God has already provided for us  …. in order to continue.. GROWING IN CHRIST… a place and a transition that you will like!

 

The Greater Side of God’s Plan….

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We can get so busy trying to “help people change”  that we overlook the greater side of God’s plan… which is for every person to know His love!  And this is incredibly important -.because when you  KNOW the love God has for you.. then you will also understand that He is “for you” –  and not against you!!

We all have strongholds to work through and come up out of… and when these are looming before our eyes…it may seem that everyone is against us and that God doesn’t care… But on the reality side of that.. is His Love! 

Indeed, there are other factors that do come in to work against us… But even as the word of God tells  us in Romans 8:31-39… It is God’s desire that nothing separate you from His love…. It’s not God that brings  oppression!! I Peter 5:8 expresses this truth very clearly… that “your adversary the devil” looks for ways to bring harmful things and hurt into your life… and to devour the good things that belong to you from God… To accomplish this he works to build strongholds that will hold us captive in our minds.. to keep us from knowing God and His love… or from even seeing that it exists for us!!…

When all the time….

God and His love IS the one constant reality!   And His goal and desire is to touch each one of us with that love…. For…AS WE SEE.. and behold His love, we are changed and yokes of bondage in our lives are being destroyed!  Hallelujah!  Thank you for buying us that freedom Lord Jesus!

In view of those things,  it is easy to see why the enemy (our adversary the devil)  works to “blind people’s minds” to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ  (II Corinthians 4:3,4).  For… knowing the love that God has for us “casts out fear”… which the enemy uses along with deception – probably more than anything else – to rob people of the good life which God desires for all of us.

So.. while we are busy trying to help people change,  we mustn’t forget the greater side of God’s plan – which is “to know and believe the love He has for us”….And that God and His love.. IS.. the one constant reality!

A Very Present Help in Trouble …. He’s God Right Now!

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“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”  (Psalm 46:1)

God IS the Great I Am…. the ever present, eternal, self existing God.

And He’s “God right now! 

He’s not going to be God.. He IS God – right now!!

We often remember the good things He’s done in the past – how He helped us and delivered us in some difficult situation… And indeed, we should remember!… For that’s our experience with Him… And “experience gives HOPE” –  hope for the areas of life where we need His help TODAY!

As believers – when we accepted Jesus as our personal Savior – God accepted us into His Kingdom as members of His family.  So now, more than ever, God IS our refuge and our hope…and He IS a very present help in time of trouble!   (FYI.. “Present” in that verse in the original Hebrew text means:  “to come forth to”.. + “be enough”…. He is there and He IS ENOUGH!! )

God wants us to learn to trust Him.. and out of that trust..to call upon Him for the help we need – for our own life or to secure help for someone else…  We can call on God our Heavenly Father.. with confidence..knowing that He hears and He cares!  And the great thing is that.. He does not wait for you and me to be perfect before He will answer our prayers and our call for help…It’s enough that we recognize our need.. and WANT His help….

And even when the need that’s pressing heavily upon our heart..involves a problem area in our personal life – an area where we need to make a change in our behavior or in a habit pattern.. He is so ready to listen… and forgive… Ready to extend His grace to us to help us start making the adjustments we need to make…

Whatever the problem.. when you and I call on Him in our time of need – be it urgent or otherwise – He WILL come forth to help us!  Our part is to “call on Him” ..ASK!.. Because He’s God right now.. and He wants to be there for you in your time of trouble.

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(How many times have I called on Him for help in some serious situation that comes up – or just to help me turn things around when I’ve done something “dumb”?… how  many times?  More than I would like to admit to you – but how glad I am that I did turn to Him.. Jesus… He is my help, my hope and my God… totally able and reliable.. and for me, completely unforgettable… He’s God right now… and He loves and wants to be there just as much for you.)

 

 

The Resurrected Life

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Put the past behind you!…..  Turn loose and step into that fresh new day.

No man can stop you.. This is “God ordained!”….

The resurrected life… “fresh”… with no mistakes..

New – walking a different way!

Lay down the pride – this having to answer/explain – thus to “fix” everything.

It doesn’t matter if you’re wrong.. or if you’re right.. Let it all go!  Let it go –  and thus turn loose of living to defend your life… And trust God to be your defense!

“Be still and let Me “be” God in your life” He says…”And you will see that is the way to show (whoever needs to know)… “what is what” and Who I Am”.. “Isn’t that what your life in Me is really all about?”

So lay down the pride – even this pride that will not rest until you get everything just right… And THAT is beyond your power both to see how – and to do!

So, let go!  and enter into that place of rest which I have prepared for you.  It starts when you decide to “seek first the Kingdom of God – setting your focus and your efforts on Him – Who has already “fixed” everything for you!!

Oh the peace that awaits you in that place – the abundance of joy and grace…  Walking in His righteousness… Knowing you have none of your own….

Time to rise up, look ahead, and leave the things of death behind you.. to walk in life anew – even the resurrected life He has called you to…

Understand that the past cannot go with you .. and there is no time and no place in Him to “vindicate self.”  Self must be denied to walk in this resurrected life…

You must lay it all down – this “demand” to be justified… For when God is your defense, there is nothing to prove… Oh, the freedom in that – just to rest in Him… humble yourself under His mighty hand – and thus receive grace to conquer and reign.. over all the inequities of this life!

And because You’re wonderful and good, Lord… I can lay down shame where the enemy has accused me.. And even in the place where I have failed to walk altogether uprightly… when I turn to You, Your righteousness vindicates me!  This is the place where all things become new again – the place of the fresh start – the walk without pride.

The key is to look at Jesus… Keep your eye, your focus on Him/His life – and so walk in the standing with the Father Jesus gave you… Walk with Him – could anything be better?  There you’ll find true vindication – as His glory surrounds you!

The “price” of all of this….?   Set your focus on Him – and don’t look back!   (Why would you want to – when you can be done with what is behind you!) Your walk, your direction – HE is your life… There’s nothing to prove or to clear up – not when you are done with all of that!!  Just step out and walk after Him… His righteousness is your “justification”..great joy and peace the reward

….. of the resurrected life.

 

 

 

 

 

Building the Trust Factor Between You and God’s Word

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“In the beginning was the Word.. and the Word was with God.. and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.. All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made.”  (John 1:1-3)

The Word was God..??  God spoke the Word – and all things were created.. They were created according to the Word that He spoke… “Light be”.. He said in the beginning – and light was”…. And in the same way ALL things were  created..  (Genesis 1:1-31 & Hebrews 11:3).. “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Rhema (spoken)Word of God.. so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.”…..

If you have a problem believing that.. it could be for a couple of reasons – one of them  being that you may have tried to understand who God is.. based on the way your life has been lived… Another reason being… that you may not have stopped to consider – “that the heavens declare (enumerate, tell, make known – and even celebrate) the glory of God.. The sky that is visible to your eye.. displays His handiwork/His operations!”… And right at our feet – the grass that we appreciate and care for… have you ever considered that with all our knowledge and technology.. no man has yet been able to produce (“from scratch”) a single blade of that grass?!!  Plus take a good long look around you at all the order of the natural things we can see in the universe… And after that good look and some thought – can you still believe that something as diverse and ordered as what you just saw and considered.. began as a single cell (where did IT come from?).. or had its start from an explosion of gases?!!  I’m not trying to mock anyone – I just want you to THINK… Because it all started somewhere .. from something/someone that is ALIVE – and able to impart LIFE.”…

The Word was a living thing as God spoke it to create and make all things.  That is because the Word IS a part of God Himself.. God and His Word are one.  What God says “IS”... What God says WILL BECOME… because.. behind every Word of God is His integrity.. If it were not so, we could not depend on night and day.. or seedtime and harvest.. the four seasons.. or all the other things which He spoke the Word to set in place to continue… “as long as the earth remaineth”… They continue this day according to the Words that God spoke… (Genesis 8:22;  Psalm 119:89-91)… And God upholds all things by the Word He has spoken concerning it.  (Hebrews 1:3)

What does all of that have to do with our lives today??  That is a good and legitimate question.  Psalm 119:89,90 assures us that “Forever, God’s Word is settled in Heaven.. His faithfulness to all generations.”  God’s Word is the same today as it was in the beginning when He created the heavens and the earth by His Word… And today.. when the Spirit of God “quickens” a promise from the Word of God to us,  we can know that it is “a seed” waiting to be received by us into the good ground of a believing heart/our spirit …And as we “hear” and keep that word…it will “bear fruit” that looks like the promise God gave us!   (Luke 8:11-15)

Our part is to keep that word in our heart… hold on to what God has said .. and not allow our human reasonings… based on sense knowledge… to cave in and turn loose of the word when the enemy/aka the devil comes to  convince us that “it won’t work/things won’t change for you”, etc. etc.  (Luke 8:11-15).   The Word that God speaks has His life and ability in it.. to bring those things that the Word promises to pass! …. That is why God still “sends His Word” (Psalm 107:20).. TODAY.. to heal, deliver, and otherwise minister His grace and provision to those who take hold of that Word to keep it in their heart/spirit while it imparts the faith we all need to receive!….

And that process of keeping and holding forth that Word in the face of all the things to the contrary that we might see..or hear.. or feel – is called “fighting the good fight of faith.”  And that may take half a day – or – it might take half a year… But the experience of receiving things from God’s Word this way builds faith and trust in us… Because many of those things we believe Him for.. and receive.. are things that looked impossible any other way! And it brings you to the place that the “trust factor” between you and God gets stronger and stronger year after year… because faith in God grows as we interact with Him and His Word…

 

“COME TO ME”

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In Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus gave a wonderful and deeply heartfelt invitation to those weighed down by any kind of care….. “Come to Me – all of you that labor and are heavy laden.. and I will give you rest”… And from that simple discourse in the word of God the following lines came into my spirit….

 

Come to Me.. Do not be afraid.. I am “with you and for you”.. Do not let fear or discouragement stop you.  I AM your God!…

Come – and worship Me… I will meet you there…

You can be strong to rise up against fear..and the things that “come in the door” that fear opens… For My authority is in you to rise up over those things which the enemy has brought to stop you… Your fight is in the spirit realm – and that is where I operate to affect the natural realm.

So.. come to Me! ……. You will find the strength you need as you worship Me…. I love you!  Do not let people or pain from the past hinder you and rob you from returning to worship Me… I love you.. and I am stronger than any of those things….

Come to Me!   I will meet you – and you will know the peace that touching Me brings.. and the confidence that I have to give you.  There is a refreshing that comes to those who choose to draw aside to spend time with Me… And in My presence – you will find the answer to things that stop you from walking strongly with Me.

COME!… You “chase” other things – CHASE ME!  You’ll find Me waiting to touch you..  So come to Me and know how much I LOVE YOU!

 

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GOD’S CALL TO HIS PEOPLE ….

Come to Me.  Do not be afraid – I am “with you and for you.”  Do  not let fear or discouragement stop you.  I am  your God.

Come – and worship Me.  I will meet you.  You can be strong to rise up against fear – and the things that come in the door that “fear” opens.  My authority is in you to rise up over those things the enemy has planted to stop you.  Your fight is in the spirit realm – and that is where I operate to affect the natural realm…. So, come to Me!  You will find the strength that you need as you worship Me.

I love you!  Do not let people or pain from the past hinder you and rob you from returning to worship Me.  I love you.  I love you – and I am stronger than…

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Does Faith Come in Different Shapes and Sizes??

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We all have problems that come in different shapes and sizes…. But none of them are too big for God to handle.  For the born again person who has gotten to know God reasonably well – and has began to have a pretty good understanding of the Kingdom of God  (that receiving Jesus brought us into) ….. You already knew that – i.e. That nothing is too hard for God!… But the real issue for most Christians about this – is.. How do I get God to “fix MY problem?” 

First off – The day you ask Jesus to come into your life – you have put yourself on the starting line of a truly incredible journey…. One that I’ve been on for 38 years and have NEVER regretted starting.. I’m in this for the long haul and I find myself always waiting for something  to be answered – even while I am still rejoicing over the last prayer God answered.. and the last miracle that I saw at His hand… There’s nothing boring about it.  As you press in to know Him more and more – there is an ongoing freshness in the relationship… For the longer you know Him, the more reason you will see to be in awe of WHO He IS – and HOW HE IS.   Jesus, my Lord and Savior – You are incredible!

What I am saying to you is that there is enough going on in your life at all times to keep you challenged,  glad, and hoping – all at the same time – as you walk through problems the way He directs you to, receive wonderful unexpected “suddenly” answers to prayers – AND WAIT – for things close to your heart that  “feel like” they’ll never change!…. All going on in your life at the same time!   And that – all because we’re still human and still have to deal with what we see, hear, feel, taste etc. – which things always stand to oppose walking by faith.

But God gave us the remedy for that… He gave us His Word – from which faith comes.. He gave us His wonderful presence to refresh us as we seek Him… He gave us authority over things that the enemy uses to oppose us.. and He gave us the gift of each other when we need someone “with flesh on” to stand with us.

Knowing Jesus is wonderful – but that alone doesn’t keep some storms from coming.  Yet we have His promise that “I will never leave you.”… and that He will supply all our needs …. And the reality of His presence and of His promises will continue to grow bigger and bigger within you – as you get started following after Him to know Him….And as you go – with your eyes on Him – you will find it easier and easier to trust…. And trust is a good nesting place for faith to root itself into your life and start to grow …. Faith to deal with any size and shape of problem…. “Because nothing is too hard for God” and “All things are possible to him that believeth.“…

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So speak always in line with God’s word and according to the promise that He has given you concerning the problem you face…. because His word does not return to Him void … and though the problem may seem to grow into a mountain .. it will change..  It will change before God’s word does!

Psalm 16:8,9  “I have set the Lord always before me (I have His promises – and I’m beginning to see that He IS BIGGER than my problems)… Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved…. therefore my heart is glad.. my tongue rejoices.. and my flesh also rests in hope.”   Glory be to God- Jesus, thank You.!  Knowing You sparks faith within me … faith big enough to deal with any size of problem!

 

 

 

God’s Divine Supply… Exercising Faith to Receive

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When the woman with the issue of blood (Mark 5:24-34) – touched the hem of Jesus’ garment – virtue (miraculous healing power) went out of Him and into her… Jesus had not sought her out to pray for her – neither had she requested that He pray for her…. Rather it happened because she believed (and voiced what she believed)… that if she could only touch His clothes, she would be healed….  And thus it happened that when she touched His clothes – healing virtue went out of Him and healed her.  Her faith “drew out” the healing virtue that was/is resident in Him.  We know this is so because Jesus turned to her and said “Daughter, your faith has made you whole.”….

Even so – your faith and my faith – draws on and receives from God’s divine supply of grace and provision sufficient to fill every need..  The divine supply for all our needs is already there….He made this provision for us because of.. and according to.. what Jesus paid for and did for us in God’s redemption plan for man…. And Hebrews 4:15,16 tells us that He can indeed be touched with the feeling of our infirmities….That means that He WANTS to help us and to supply our needs!

Our part is FAITH…. And as Jesus said to His disciples.. we only need “faith the size of a mustard seed” in order to receive from God.. or to do the things that He asks us to do…  You might ask  “How can I get this little bit of faith that I need to receive from God?” 

Faith is the gift of God to us… It comes as we get to know Him and trust Him – through His Word and taking time aside from other things to spend with Him (as you would with any person that you want to get to know.)   It’s for all those who choose to receive Jesus.. and exercise faith to believe….

The real answer to all of this .. is found in your continued fellowship with God …. For as you get to know Him, the things of His Spirit and of His Kingdom – begin to get into you and affect all that you think and do.  And with each answered prayer, you will find that trusting Him becomes more and more the “natural” thing for you….

God’s divine supply of healing virtue in Jesus – was available for the woman with the issue of blood…. And that same divine supply is there for you… It’s held in trust for all those who choose to receive Him – and exercise faith to believe.

The Capacity of the Born Again Spirit to Know God

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News Flash…. You and I can not “MAKE” God do anything….But the “good news” is…. that because He loves you and me – He made a way for us to come to Him..and to connect with Him – if we choose to….

In John 3, we see a man who DID choose to…. Indeed, Nicodemus did want to know….He wanted to know so badly – that he risked losing his standing as a ruler among the religious crowd of his day – by coming to Jesus to inquire “Who” Jesus was –  and about the connection Jesus had with God….. (To be honest with you, there are many people today that ought to take a little bit of a risk – in order to inquire “Who Jesus Is” and about His connection to God….!)  It’s worth everything in the world to know the real answer to that…

But then – as it would be now – Jesus wasted no time in answering Nicodemus’s questions about the Kingdom of God and who He was….He began by letting Nicodemus (as well as you and me) – know that the natural man cannot understand the Kingdom of God…. “You must be born again,”  Jesus explained…” Except a man be born again, he cannot see/have knowledge of the Kingdom of God.”  (John 3:3)

When Jesus told Nicodemus “You must be born again” – Jesus was speaking of a SPIRITUAL BIRTH…. And until you and I can understand that, we will continue to equate “religion” in it’s various forms with “knowing God” – but yet not understanding God’s Kingdom or being born again into the family of God…..i.e. Being born of the Spirit – as Jesus told Nicodemus in the discourse between the two there in John 3:1-16 …. And as surely as Nicodemus had trouble seeing (v9-12) just what it was that Jesus was trying to tell him – so it always is with the natural mind of man… there is not in him the “capacity” to understand the things of the Kingdom of God –  because they are “spiritually discerned”…

The natural man neither sees or knows the things of the spirit….Those things are actually foolishness unto him…..Indeed,  the things of God knoweth no man  (I Corinthians 2:11-14)- But the moment we receive Jesus as our Savior, we are born again – a spiritual rebirth into the Kingdom of God…. And from that moment, we have the “capacity” to see and be taught the things of the Kingdom of God – and to truly  get to know who He is and what He has done for us to bring us into right relationship with Him……

That- in a nutshell- is what happens to us when we get born again….But that’s just the beginning…..We have our birth/ our beginning in the Kingdom of God in the spirit…. But as the Apostle Paul asked of and explained to the Christians in Galatians 3:3….”Having begun in the spirit, do you now think that you can fulfill your place and walk in the things of God by the flesh”?… The answer to that is obviously “no”…. But the born again spirit of a man is .. READY.. is WILLING… and even PREDISPOSED  to follow after God to know Him.  Indeed, that born again spirit cries after God the Father to know Him….. But as long as you’re still living in your “earth suit” – you WILL have choices to make.  Your born again spirit was designed by God to feed on the things of God – His Word, time apart from other things to worship God and taste His presence so that you can grow strong in the spirit.

The born again spirit  (YOUR born again spirit!) – has an amazing CAPACITY  to fellowship with and grow in knowing God – and in understanding the things of the spirit….

 

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Daily Bread – God’s “Can Do”

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God is able to do anything!… If He said He will do it – He is more than able to do it! .. For what may be utterly impossible for you and me to do – is an easy thing for God…. And we need to understand that if He said it, He purposes to do it…. But it is up to us to do “the part” which He gives us to do.. That is, we need to do the things He has told us to do along the way…. even when it seems to be unrelated to the end result that He has promised…

We do those things He has directed us to do because He has “a definite end in mind”…. and a better way than we usually imagine – to “get us there!”  And the best thing about it is that – He ALWAYS  has a good plan in mind for us in all that He does.

Isn’t God wonderful?…. My soon to be 38 years of knowing Him as my born again Father in Heaven surely has confirmed that for me….and He wants each of us to know Him that well … i.e. to know that His “can do” is as big as His heart of love for me and you!…

 

“For God so loved the world…. that John 3:16… He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish – but have everlasting life.”

Bread For Life: The Standing Jesus Bought for Me

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I received Jesus as my Savior January 15, 1978… . It is – without question – “my favorite birthday”!  How come?….

Cause I was born again…into a family…. I became a son/a daughter of the Living God. (Scripture tells me that the instant I received Jesus – a miracle happened in me….. I was “born of the spirit” – by the Spirit of Almighty God (John 3:1-8)…. Who transferred me out of the kingdom of darkness over into the kingdom of His own dear Son (Colossians 1:12-14)… Who redeemed us with the price of His own blood….

I was born again into a family — And in this family I have a standing – with our Father God….. the standing that Jesus bought for me…. (A standing that belongs not just to me – but to everyone who has believed and the sacrifice of Jesus received.)….. A standing that belongs to every son and daughter!  I am  “a child of God.” .. That is why January 15 is not only my favorite birthday,  but a very very special day of the year to me -in every sense of the word…

I am a child of God – and in that place as His child,  He positioned me to receive – ALL His benefits and blessings – (Psalm 103:2-4)…..That is the standing that Jesus bought for me… But it requires that we love Him and learn to  “walk in the truth” (III John 1:2-4)….. A journey that is both very exciting – and very challenging!… .

But now … Seeing His heart – I CAN believe!.. all the love and the other good things Jesus bought for me….  And in every dark hour – the sweetness of His voice quiets all the noise of doubts and fear… and when I hear Him say “Peace be still” it calms my storm as my heart it does fill…. For His peace (John 14:27) is part of my heritage – in the standing with My Father – that Jesus bought for me.

Bread for Life – Man’s Authority Directed by God

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Jesus, our Savior, is in Heaven…. He rose from the dead and ascended to the Father – after the work of the cross at Calvary was completed….

Jesus is in Heaven – at the right hand of God the Father – while you and I as born again believers and members of His Church – are on the earth…. as sons and daughters of the Living God – and ambassadors for His Kingdom.  We have the authority here – “The earth hath He given/assigned to the children of men” (Psalm 115:16; Psalm 8:4-6) … .Has God given man authority on/and over the earth?  These (and other scriptures) tell us that He has!…

For the believer, it is “man’s authority directed by God.”….. Because God is still the creator and owner of the earth, but you and I as born again believers are accountable to Him as “stewards” – having dominion on the earth – (Genesis 1:26-28 & Hebrews 2:6,7…verse 7 saying that He “gave dominion over the works of His hands to man”)……WHY would God the great Creator assign so much responsibility into the hands of man??

When you and I received Jesus as Savior,  we were instantly  born of the Spirit of God into His Kingdom  (John 3:3-8).…. and He calls us “sons and daughters.”  That makes us His family – His family on the earth…..and ambassadors for God’s Kingdom and it’s increase on the earth  (II Corinthians 5:17-20) ….. Indeed, as born again believers we are laborers together with Him to see the Kingdom of God increase on the earth!

….. To do this, we are called to walk in the authority that God the Father purposed for us – which is – man’s authority directed by God……How does it work?  This God given authority prospers as we walk in fellowship with God in the “spirit to Spirit” relationship that was birthed in our spirit when we were born again.  As we grow in our relationship and personal fellowship with Him, we learn to hear and recognize His voice – and follow His leading – which will ultimately result in His will being done in our life and on the earth…..Thus, the authority that God gave to us as believers – IS- man’s authority on earth directed by God

Daily Bread – What Will You Choose to Pursue?

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The spirit of a born again individual….. is READY, is WILLING, and even “predisposed” to follow after and worship God… That simply means that it is inherent – in the new nature of your born again spirit – to cry out to God….. and to seek to know Him.  God designed it that way…. and He birthed it so in your spirit the moment you received Jesus as your personal Savior… In the time it takes to “blink an eye” you were transferred out of darkness into the Kingdom of God/light when you received Jesus Christ into your life  (Colossians 1:13,14).

You entered into “newness of life”… still flesh and blood – a human being – but you’ve had a “new dimension” added to your life… even life in the spirit….

“If any man be in Christ he is a new creature/creation…. Old things are passed away, behold all things are become new” (II Corinthians 5:17,18) … It is right here at this “starting point” that it is good and very helpful for you to understand that this monumental change took place in your spirit – NOT in your mind or emotions nor in your physical being.. (all three of which the bible refers to as “the flesh”).

If you read John 3:1-8, you will see that there is the natural birth that brings every man into this world…. AND…. there is the “regeneration” (Webster’s defines this as a spiritual rebirth) – which immediately ushers the brand new believer in Christ into the Kingdom of God…. You’ve just been “born again” (the spiritual rebirth into God’s Kingdom)

….But if you expect to immediately see great change in your life – and nothing remaining of your old self/the old man of the flesh – you will likely suffer some bewilderment and disappointment….(Because)… You do have a new life in Christ… but you still have a choice…. the choice to walk after the demands of the old flesh man who is still very much alive …OR… you can choose to follow after the cry of your born again spirit which has the capacity to begin to understand the things of the Kingdom of God – and to follow after Him…. The choice is yours – and mine – to make!  God designed it this way…. because He desires fellowship and kinship with you and me – not robotic relationship!

So…. He gave us the choice – to walk after the old flesh man – or to pursue after the pull in our born again spirit to follow after Him…. and learn of Him, be taught and led by His Spirit.  It is first a choice .. and then a pursuit….

 

 

Proclaiming Liberty to the Captives

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God the Father sent Jesus into this world “to proclaim liberty to the captives – the opening of “prison doors” to them that are bound.”  (Luke 4:18)…..

A PROPHETIC WORD of HEALING & RESTORATION FOR GOD’S PEOPLE 

The enemy has told you that “you have been like this since you were a little boy or little girl – and that things can never change for you”…. But the Lord says  that “I am coming with new revelation of My word – and there is a dimension of My power and anointing that is coming with that revelation – to truly set the captives free in these last days….. Because the place that I’ve brought the church to – the church cannot keep going forward – unless those things are broken…. For truly the captives must be set free… and My people walk about in freedom as never before!…

So don’t shrink back and don’t be afraid… Because the Lord says “In this hour healing is coming – and there’s a river that’s now flowing – that is going to bring about healing to the nations….. And My people are going to rise up – not a wounded people, not a people who are sick and crippled and bent over and cannot look up!…. But My people are going to rise up in these last days with healing and with strength and with power – because of the healing and restoration that I am bringing!.. So don’t shrink back, but press in to Me in these last days – and know the healing that I can bring to you, says the Lord God….. Thank You, Jesus!

Very quickly!  Very quickly! …. For others it is going to be a process of things that He is going to show you.  He’s going to bring healing – and it’s going to be a lot like peeling an onion – layer by layer – as  He’s going to show and bring revelation to you of areas that you need to be healed…. But whatever the way – whether it’s quick or whether it’s a process – the Lord says that He’s going to do the work…. He’s going to bring it to pass!  And we are to acknowledge Him!  Thank You, Jesus!

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NOTE:  This prophetic word that I just shared with you was given June 11, 2000 by Pastor Drew Isaacs – who often blesses the church he pastors – with such words that he hears from the Lord as he worships or teaches God’s word.

I was there the day this particular word was given – and I can attest to the fact that I for one, have been a recipient of a lot of this kind of healing and freedom from the Lord over the past 15 years….and have been seeing a lot of it taking place in others in the church as well….. So I would encourage all who read this to do as this prophetic word says – “Don’t shrink back, but press in close to the Lord and let Him do the work…..let Him bring to pass the healing He has for you.” And you too, will surely say “Thank You, Jesus”!

Daily Bread – Growing in the Fellowship of the Spirit

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“As the deer panteth after the water brooks.. so my soul longeth after You, oh God”  (Psalm 42:1)…..

It is fellowship with each one of us that God desires … And He has planted that same desire for fellowship with Him in our hearts as well……As the heart of God the Father longs for this fellowship, so you and I have need of it….. For it is this very fellowship that helps us keep growing and becoming strong – and sensitive to the things of the spirit…..

Our growing in fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ – is indeed comparable to that in the natural of an adoring mother or father as they see their child growing into the place where it can have greater fellowship with them….. In the beginning, the relationship was pretty well one-sided – with the babe (and with you and I in our relationship with God) -needing all this personal attention…. And even though there was delight in giving us that needed attention – how much deeper the bond and the satisfaction between us as we grow to the place where there are things that can now be shared that were once beyond our understanding…… And the great delight then – to our Father –  when we come to Him just because we want the fellowship that binds us in that “forever relationship.”

So, just as it is necessary to grow up in the natural in order to have more understanding and deeper relationships….. Even so, God the Father desires to see us grow up in the things of the Spirit… For that IS the “forever relationship”

“How Do I Forgive You?”

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The things that you said (or did) really hurt me…. I thought you were my friend.  So .. how do I forgive you?  And on the other hand, the one who has come against me may truly not care – they seem to want to be my enemy!……And the things that they are saying or doing are creating for me some problems … Father, how shall I deal with this?……

It is indeed interesting that I am led to write this post today – for only this morning I had to decide about the very thing that I just mentioned above to you…..What I did as my response to a strong offense began as a choice – a choice that I did struggle a little over because I had prayed for this person – in the beginning of this..  Indeed, I had prayed for them as I would have wanted someone who knew how to touch God – to pray for me…..

But those prayers appear to have done no good…. NO.. that’s not so! .. For we all make choices about how we respond to God’s dealings with us….. And I cannot hold myself accountable for someone else’s response to God’s dealings with them….. I.m only accountable for how I respond to His dealings with me.

So, this morning I chose to pray again for this individual – and God was so in that prayer time with me – that however things turn out after this, I’m okay… I can stay at peace… Because there was such an outflow of God’s concern for this person’s well being that came through me in prayer – that made it a very special and memorable time between Him and me…. And the very thought of it now ushers in His incredible peace….

We make the choice – to do what He puts in our heart to do – and He gives us the strength….. And along with the strength there is a lingering warmth of the feeling of how much He loves each one of us….So, in the coming days, should my mind try to again rehearse the details of that one’s offense,  I will be firm – firm with myself and not allow the negative thoughts to overtake me….I can speak God.s word, stir up a song of praise, start giving Him thanks, or put on gentle worship music to get caught up in as I work.. or just start praying for someone else that has a real need!  …..I’ll do whatever it takes to stay free of getting back into that offense.. .

How do I forgive you?..  First is the CHOICE to forgive and move on…. Then we learn as we grow – how to stand and resist the negative thoughts that the enemy may try to send to overtake our mind with renewed offense…. But like it is with building any new habit into our lives – we learn to be patient and to persist – until we realize that we’ve become strong and the place of God’s peace is easier to reach…..

So, understand that when we choose to do the right thing, God is there to give us the added strength to see it through…. And because the strength that He gives is enough …. That is how I will forgive you….

Daily Bread – Drawing From the Divine Supply

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Let’s consider for a moment the woman with “the issue of blood” in Mark chapter 5:21-34….. if there might be something we can apply to our own life today…

This woman had been sick 12 years…. then she heard of Jesus and all the miracles that happened to people when He was near….. She heard of the healing virtue that flowed out of Him to heal those who touched Him (Matthew 14:35,36) …. So she determined to push through the crowds to draw close to Jesus…..saying within herself “If I may touch just His clothes – I shall be made whole”….

And if you read of this in Mark 5, you know that she was not disappointed…. even as you and I will not be disappointed any time we “touch Jesus”.   For He is healing; He is health… He is “Life” to all who “touch” Him.…. He IS God’s divine supply for you and I. 

And even as He said to that woman, He still says today -to all who choose to draw near to Him to receive – “Son/Daughter, your faith has made you whole… Go in peace and be whole of your infirmity.”

Could it be true – could He heal me or you?…. Would He even want to?….. Hebrews 4:15,16 tells us that He is full of compassion for our needs…. He can indeed “be touched” with the feeling of your infirmity and my infirmity.   It is our faith that touches Him and draws out of Him and into ourselves that divine supply of virtue (miraculous healing power) and grace that is enough for our every need. …

Our part is faith….. And faith is the gift of God to us… It comes as we get to know and trust Him – through His Word and taking time apart with Him…. Thus we can know that He is God – and that He gave Himself so we could touch Him and receive “Life” for our every need.  And we can all learn to draw from that divine supply as we walk close to Him through this life.

Daily Bread…. The Love That Casts Out Fear

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With a “deliberate hurl” – the original Greek of John 4:18 says – that “the love of God casts out fear.”…. And we are further informed in II Timothy 1:7 – that “God has not given us the spirit of fear!”

…. Obviously, God the Father does not want fear to have a place in our lives….. A main reason for that being that fear is an opposing force to faith .. It actually works to “neutralize” faith for a particular situation in the believer’s life.  In other words – I could have strong faith in one area, but be over into fear in another – and thus find it hard to receive from God in that particular area…..

But God has the solution for that … He wants us to come to know Him more and more – to the point that we “know and believe the love He has for us”…. because as we do, the love of God that we find in knowing Jesus – will progressively drive out the fear we are in that He can’t (or won’t) help us in some area of our life…..

Indeed, He has promised you and me that – “I will never leave you or forsake you!”…. So we need not fear that we are ever alone with our problem or in our time of need. Even if we were in the wrong – as long as we turn our face to Him asking for help – He will be there for us….. helping us to get turned around….. And the love that He has for us will drive out the fear that we can never get it right again…..Because that incredible love that casts out fear is being perfected in us as we keep turning to Him.….