It Takes More Than Feelings
(2Co 10:4) For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds
Many times, in our churches, we get caught up in the wrong things. And usually, once it starts, it becomes the religious norm these days. People seem to be getting so caught up in emotions that their faith begins to be built upon what and how they feel physically more than what they know definitely! There are some churches that, when there is no organist, drummer, or musician present, service cannot begin. Or if the preacher does not yell, hype the crowd, or become heart attack prone, he was not anointed. If the choir doesn't turn cartwheels down the aisle while marching in, or if super-saved people aren't squakin' all through the service making it sound like a rain forest, then church was not filled with the spirit. Well, we have to learn that God is Spirit and our emotions don't dictate his presence.
I would much rather go to church and allow the presence of God to move in a way that people have something to take home and live on rather than just getting an emotional fix during service with no substance or real word from above. We can dance and party all we want in the service, but if it's not God, then we will leave the same, only tired and worn out. Now, I do believe the Spirit of God moves upon us and we may shout, dance, sing, run, etc. to express our joy, but I also believe that when the Spirit of God comes, he brings more than a feeling. He also should bring healing, deliverance, blessings, direction, peace, love, etc. He can't show up in your service and only cause everyone to go crazy. There is always change after the presence of God is here. There should be attributes of his presence, not just emotional stuff, but deep, spiritual things should take place. The preacher yelling and mixing in your favorite R&B tunes in his message won't do it. The organist playing fast music on the organ won't do it. The soloist doing rolls and riffs that give you chills up your spine won't do it. It may make you feel good, but God is bigger than that. When his true presence fills the place, you will be changed.
Suggested Reading: 2 Cor. 10:1, 1 Tim. 3:15
Saturday, 31 December 2011
Saturday, 24 December 2011
Deny Yourself
Deny Yourself
Mark 8:34 - 'And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'
Self promotion is the opposite of self denial. When you fight to be seen or to be known, you forfeit the promotion of God and chose your own means of exalting yourself and therefore, you become responsible for maintaining your image. In other words, when a person chooses to make their own way, God chooses to let them. And then you become your own source and must depend upon chance, luck, circumstance, and networking to achieve your goals rather than depending on God to make a way for you to be successful and excel.
Don't` get me wrong, I am not saying that we should not prepare for success by studying, schooling, learning, and becoming skilled at our abilities and talents, but we should only work towards those things that God has spoken to us about, and not just decide to do something, get out there doing it, and never getting God's opinion about it.
Here is what I'm trying to tell you. God has a plan for you and his plan will ultimately be pleasing to you. But the key is to deny what you feel you want out of life, and open yourself up to hearing and receiving direction from God. God will not lead anyone that will not follow him. He will not speak to anyone that will not listen to him and he will not waste time on anyone that is self focused and wants their own way. Being seen, known, and having your name made great are selfish motives and God is not in it. When you follow God, you must deny your flesh, say no to your own way, and purify your motives.
Remember, there are 2 ways to do everything. Your way or God's way. The way you choose will decide who you will serve. When you choose your own way, you become a slave to your agenda and a servant to your own will. Thus, you become your own master and God says you cannot serve 2 masters, but you will hate one or the other right? So, when it's self that masters you, then you are not mastered by God. But if you choose God's plan for your life, then you choose him as your master and can be led by him.
In order to do that, you must deny yourself. You must say no to what you want and say yes to what God wants. Then, it no longer is about you! Your prayers will change from "God give me this, give me that" to "God, what can I give you?" Your desires will change from "My season, my harvest, my favor, my miracle, my breakthrough" to "Your will, not mine! Please you not me Lord! Follow you, no matter what! You are God, not me!" Can you see what I'm saying here?
God is ready for us to move out of the attitude of selfishness that is being taught so prevalently by our TV Superstar preachers that seek to please themselves, and he is ready for a people that will seek to please him. People that will deny their own flesh and follow him. People that will stop doing what they want, and start seeking what he wants. God is wanting children that will obey and follow his plan, not people with their own agenda. To really know God requires that you deny yourself because you can't have his will and your own!
Mark 8:34 - 'And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.'
Self promotion is the opposite of self denial. When you fight to be seen or to be known, you forfeit the promotion of God and chose your own means of exalting yourself and therefore, you become responsible for maintaining your image. In other words, when a person chooses to make their own way, God chooses to let them. And then you become your own source and must depend upon chance, luck, circumstance, and networking to achieve your goals rather than depending on God to make a way for you to be successful and excel.
Don't` get me wrong, I am not saying that we should not prepare for success by studying, schooling, learning, and becoming skilled at our abilities and talents, but we should only work towards those things that God has spoken to us about, and not just decide to do something, get out there doing it, and never getting God's opinion about it.
Here is what I'm trying to tell you. God has a plan for you and his plan will ultimately be pleasing to you. But the key is to deny what you feel you want out of life, and open yourself up to hearing and receiving direction from God. God will not lead anyone that will not follow him. He will not speak to anyone that will not listen to him and he will not waste time on anyone that is self focused and wants their own way. Being seen, known, and having your name made great are selfish motives and God is not in it. When you follow God, you must deny your flesh, say no to your own way, and purify your motives.
Remember, there are 2 ways to do everything. Your way or God's way. The way you choose will decide who you will serve. When you choose your own way, you become a slave to your agenda and a servant to your own will. Thus, you become your own master and God says you cannot serve 2 masters, but you will hate one or the other right? So, when it's self that masters you, then you are not mastered by God. But if you choose God's plan for your life, then you choose him as your master and can be led by him.
In order to do that, you must deny yourself. You must say no to what you want and say yes to what God wants. Then, it no longer is about you! Your prayers will change from "God give me this, give me that" to "God, what can I give you?" Your desires will change from "My season, my harvest, my favor, my miracle, my breakthrough" to "Your will, not mine! Please you not me Lord! Follow you, no matter what! You are God, not me!" Can you see what I'm saying here?
God is ready for us to move out of the attitude of selfishness that is being taught so prevalently by our TV Superstar preachers that seek to please themselves, and he is ready for a people that will seek to please him. People that will deny their own flesh and follow him. People that will stop doing what they want, and start seeking what he wants. God is wanting children that will obey and follow his plan, not people with their own agenda. To really know God requires that you deny yourself because you can't have his will and your own!
Saturday, 17 December 2011
Turning Point
Turning Point
Gal. 4:9 - 'But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?'
When troubles come, it's good to know how to deal with them. It's good to have all the answers and know exactly how to come through every situation that arises in your life. But if you are like me, then you don't have all the answers. If you are like me, then there comes a time when you just don't know how you got where you are, and you don't know how to get out of it, and all you know is that you need help! You need someone to rescue you and pull you into safety.
There is nothing wrong with not knowing what to do. God will many times put us in position that requires his help so that we can learn to turn to him instead of ourselves. God will many times allow us to hit a brick wall and fix it so we can go no further except we heed his instructions. That is the turning point! The point were you have walked as far as you could on your own and now you must turn and follow God wholeheartedly!
You see, that choice can change your life forever. The choice to follow God's steps, or decide you will go your own way. Remember that decision? Remember when you were faced with a choice, Flesh or Spirit? When you saw what you wanted and you knew it wasn't for you or it wasn't time for it? That's the turning point in your life.
You can keep going on your own, but God will not be the center of your life if you keep heading in your direction. Aren't you tired of hitting that wall? Aren't you tired of this same thing happening over and over? Obviously, things are not going to change if you keep doing the same thing because you know that path leads back to where you started! It's time to turn to God and follow him. It's time to make a decision to rely on his guidance. It's time to turn to God and his will for you. The way you are going is a dead end if you are not following the footsteps of the Master. Repent and turn to God this time and you will find the peace and fulfillment that you have longed for.
Suggested Reading: Acts 26:20, John 1:43, John 10:27, 1Th. 5:15
Gal. 4:9 - 'But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?'
When troubles come, it's good to know how to deal with them. It's good to have all the answers and know exactly how to come through every situation that arises in your life. But if you are like me, then you don't have all the answers. If you are like me, then there comes a time when you just don't know how you got where you are, and you don't know how to get out of it, and all you know is that you need help! You need someone to rescue you and pull you into safety.
There is nothing wrong with not knowing what to do. God will many times put us in position that requires his help so that we can learn to turn to him instead of ourselves. God will many times allow us to hit a brick wall and fix it so we can go no further except we heed his instructions. That is the turning point! The point were you have walked as far as you could on your own and now you must turn and follow God wholeheartedly!
You see, that choice can change your life forever. The choice to follow God's steps, or decide you will go your own way. Remember that decision? Remember when you were faced with a choice, Flesh or Spirit? When you saw what you wanted and you knew it wasn't for you or it wasn't time for it? That's the turning point in your life.
You can keep going on your own, but God will not be the center of your life if you keep heading in your direction. Aren't you tired of hitting that wall? Aren't you tired of this same thing happening over and over? Obviously, things are not going to change if you keep doing the same thing because you know that path leads back to where you started! It's time to turn to God and follow him. It's time to make a decision to rely on his guidance. It's time to turn to God and his will for you. The way you are going is a dead end if you are not following the footsteps of the Master. Repent and turn to God this time and you will find the peace and fulfillment that you have longed for.
Suggested Reading: Acts 26:20, John 1:43, John 10:27, 1Th. 5:15
Saturday, 10 December 2011
Worshiping Things
Worshiping Things
Isaiah 2:8 - 'Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:'
We as believers must be very careful about our worship. Our worship and adoration belongs to God and God alone. So many times we put things in God's place and allow them to steal his worship. Many things can override our desire to seek God and instead of seeking his plan, we create our own and try to drag God along for the ride. You see, anything you put in God's place is an idol and that makes your life fair ground to the enemy because without the true God in that place, you have no protection from the enemy. The enemy will work through it to make sure you cannot worship effectively, you cannot feel or sense the Spirit of God anymore, and you cannot enjoy or retain the Word of God! This leads to premature spiritual death and unfulfilled purpose.
The worship of idols or things will cause God to become angry! He does not want anyone or anything in his place. And it affects you in so many ways. There can be no other god in your life and your worship belongs to the most high God. How do you know when you have idols in your life? Well, that is very simple. Ask yourself these questions and if you answer yes to any of them, then there is something else in your life that you have put before God.
1. Is reading the Word of God a chore rather than a pleasure to you?
2. Is worshipping God difficult for you?
3. Do you spend most of your worship time repenting?
4. Do you get convicted every time you approach God in worship?
5. Is God's direction for you first and foremost, or do you consult him after your decisions are made?
These questions must be asked and dealt with because idolatry is a sure way to mess up with God. God is a very jealous god and he will not share his place with anything or anyone. So, sometimes, it's good to check things out and just be sure that we have not bowed down to anything or anyone other than our father God in heaven.
Shalom!
Isaiah 2:8 - 'Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:'
We as believers must be very careful about our worship. Our worship and adoration belongs to God and God alone. So many times we put things in God's place and allow them to steal his worship. Many things can override our desire to seek God and instead of seeking his plan, we create our own and try to drag God along for the ride. You see, anything you put in God's place is an idol and that makes your life fair ground to the enemy because without the true God in that place, you have no protection from the enemy. The enemy will work through it to make sure you cannot worship effectively, you cannot feel or sense the Spirit of God anymore, and you cannot enjoy or retain the Word of God! This leads to premature spiritual death and unfulfilled purpose.
The worship of idols or things will cause God to become angry! He does not want anyone or anything in his place. And it affects you in so many ways. There can be no other god in your life and your worship belongs to the most high God. How do you know when you have idols in your life? Well, that is very simple. Ask yourself these questions and if you answer yes to any of them, then there is something else in your life that you have put before God.
1. Is reading the Word of God a chore rather than a pleasure to you?
2. Is worshipping God difficult for you?
3. Do you spend most of your worship time repenting?
4. Do you get convicted every time you approach God in worship?
5. Is God's direction for you first and foremost, or do you consult him after your decisions are made?
These questions must be asked and dealt with because idolatry is a sure way to mess up with God. God is a very jealous god and he will not share his place with anything or anyone. So, sometimes, it's good to check things out and just be sure that we have not bowed down to anything or anyone other than our father God in heaven.
Shalom!
Saturday, 3 December 2011
'Maybe'
'Maybe'
'...it may be that the Lord will work for us...' 1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan, King Saul's son, was pursuing a Philistine garrison. No prophet had spoken. He had no word from the Lord to confirm that he was going to win the battle. He simply said to his armour bearer, 'Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us.' Now, this doesn't give you licence to go off and do your own thing, then ask that God back you up. Clearly, Jonathan was fighting on the side of the Lord's people so he knew that God was with him. But without specific, detailed direction he stepped out on a 'maybe.' Did it work? Yes. When Jonathan and his armour bearer killed twenty of the Philistines, it threw the opposing force into such confusion that they started killing one another, and Israel came out on top.
Solomon said, 'He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap' (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NKJV). In other words, if you wait for perfect conditions you'll neither attempt nor accomplish anything. Yes, it would be wonderful if God always gave us specific directions. But often He leads by an idea or an impression that begins to grow inside you, and as it strengthens and persists you start to think, 'Maybe this is what God wants me to do.'
We like the guaranteed outcome (and income). We're comfortable with the certain, absolute deal, with no risk of failure or loss. But you're going to face a 'maybe' more times than you will have guarantees. And it's those times of uncertainty that strengthen your faith, your resolve and your courage.
'...it may be that the Lord will work for us...' 1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan, King Saul's son, was pursuing a Philistine garrison. No prophet had spoken. He had no word from the Lord to confirm that he was going to win the battle. He simply said to his armour bearer, 'Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us.' Now, this doesn't give you licence to go off and do your own thing, then ask that God back you up. Clearly, Jonathan was fighting on the side of the Lord's people so he knew that God was with him. But without specific, detailed direction he stepped out on a 'maybe.' Did it work? Yes. When Jonathan and his armour bearer killed twenty of the Philistines, it threw the opposing force into such confusion that they started killing one another, and Israel came out on top.
Solomon said, 'He who observes the wind will not sow, and he who regards the clouds will not reap' (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NKJV). In other words, if you wait for perfect conditions you'll neither attempt nor accomplish anything. Yes, it would be wonderful if God always gave us specific directions. But often He leads by an idea or an impression that begins to grow inside you, and as it strengthens and persists you start to think, 'Maybe this is what God wants me to do.'
We like the guaranteed outcome (and income). We're comfortable with the certain, absolute deal, with no risk of failure or loss. But you're going to face a 'maybe' more times than you will have guarantees. And it's those times of uncertainty that strengthen your faith, your resolve and your courage.
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