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Jesus Christ

Send A Message: We Miss You

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I want to write a message today that reaches out to many that might think that they are so often missed. This one is for you.

There have been many times in my life where I was looking for others to encourage me and it was not there. Either I was looking for advice or some kind of positive outreach to give me that breath of life that lets you know you still exist. I couldn’t tell you how many times, especially in the earlier years of my youth, that I longed to feel like there was someone that was truly there. No matter how old you are today, people continually still want to fill this void in their life; and over time we find some way to occupy it with persons, objects, or by some kind of abstract thinking to just “get us by”.

The fact of the matter is that people are living in depression each and every day and are finding better ways to mask what they feel inside. People long to feel like they have someone that loves them, cares about them. We as Christians DO know of something that we could give unto others that could help them begin to live, but yet, we get weary from fears and worries of rejection. I once had these same struggles, and believe me, living in this for too long will lead you down the wrong road.

So let me get real and stress this clearly and with joy! I’m glad people were not afraid to lead me to a better life. I’m glad I got out of the lifestyle that I was living in. I’m glad that I finally found happiness. I’m glad that I finally got saved through Jesus Christ! I’m glad that I got filled with His spirit to the greatest abundance! I feel like I can finally see the light in the midst of all the darkness that we live in! Praise God! I’m free today!

I want to remind us all to reach out to people that are in need to say that we miss them being at church, miss them being in our lives, and that when they are in need that there is a solution, Jesus Christ!

Obedience And Sacrifice

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There were different types of offerings that were used by the Levites that are read of in the Old Testament, and as we read about them, you can see parts of them that tie into our lives in ways today.

Burnt Offerings

Atonement -> Greek -> Reconciliation

Atonement -> English -> At-One-Ment – to bring together

Leviticus 1:2-9 – Showing atonement and the consecration

[2] Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, If any man of you bring an offering unto the LORD, ye shall bring your offering of the cattle, even of the herd, and of the flock.
[3] If his offering be a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male without blemish: he shall offer it of his own voluntary will at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation before the LORD.
[4] And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
[5] And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
[6] And he shall flay the burnt offering, and cut it into his pieces.
[7] And the sons of Aaron the priest shall put fire upon the altar, and lay the wood in order upon the fire:
[8] And the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall lay the parts, the head, and the fat, in order upon the wood that is on the fire which is upon the altar:
[9] But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD.

It was made with a male without blemish, and the inwards and legs washed with water. They brought their best, without blemish. That speaks mounds and volumes when we consider how we have to come to God of our own voluntary will and allow the forgiveness of sins through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ to bring us to the atonement in our lives today!

Galatians 4:3-6 – How do we tie that into our way of life today? By Jesus!

[3] Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
[4] But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
[5] To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.
[6] And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Christ became our atonement, our way to be brought back together with God! It draws all lost and saved together!

Meat (meal) Offerings

Leviticus 2:1-2 – Showing our thanksgiving

[1] And when any will offer a meat offering unto the LORD, his offering shall be of fine flour; and he shall pour oil upon it, and put frankincense thereon:
[2] And he shall bring it to Aaron’s sons the priests: and he shall take thereout his handful of the flour thereof, and of the oil thereof, with all the frankincense thereof; and the priest shall burn the memorial of it upon the altar, to be an offering made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the LORD:

Aren’t we glad that we have come through this?

Isaiah 61:1,2,3,10-11

[1] The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;
[2] To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;
[3] To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

[10] I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.
[11] For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

 

Being thankful, having praise is so important to have in your life! Thanksgiving shows humbleness and a sacrifice of all that would humble you! Being the church of today, the level of praise that you demonstrate shows the amount of life that you have to offer for others! Don’t be afraid to show the praises that God has placed within you! It was meant to come forth, not to be held silent.

Peace Offerings

Leviticus 7:11-15 – Showing the coming together and fellowship

[11] And this is the law of the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he shall offer unto the LORD.
[12] If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.
[13] Besides the cakes, he shall offer for his offering leavened bread with the sacrifice of thanksgiving of his peace offerings.
[14] And of it he shall offer one out of the whole oblation for an heave offering unto the LORD, and it shall be the priest’s that sprinkleth the blood of the peace offerings.
[15] And the flesh of the sacrifice of his peace offerings for thanksgiving shall be eaten the same day that it is offered; he shall not leave any of it until the morning.

Some other verses to read here are:

Proverbs 16:7

[7] When a man’s ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Romans 14:17

[17] For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 5:22-23

[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

When I begin to abide in the peace of God, I can begin to allow people to bear of the fruit of the Spirit in my life. People can be drawn by the witness of God in you; not the parts of us that are unclean or are weak to sin. God wants us to come and offer all the things that would draw us away from peace, to allow us to walk in the Holy Ghost to find a spiritual calm! And yes, it is possible to do!

Sin Offerings

Leviticus 4:34-35

[34] And the priest shall take of the blood of the sin offering with his finger, and put it upon the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and shall pour out all the blood thereof at the bottom of the altar:
[35] And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat of the lamb is taken away from the sacrifice of the peace offerings; and the priest shall burn them upon the altar, according to the offerings made by fire unto the LORD: and the priest shall make an atonement for his sin that he hath committed, and it shall be forgiven him.

I recommend reading all of chapter 4 to fully understand the significance of this.

This was as they did then, but Jesus became our sin offering, that we would be saved and set free!

Trespass Offerings

Leviticus 6:2-7 – showing cleansing us from guilt

[2] If a soul sin, and commit a trespass against the LORD, and lie unto his neighbour in that which was delivered him to keep, or in fellowship, or in a thing taken away by violence, or hath deceived his neighbour;
[3] Or have found that which was lost, and lieth concerning it, and sweareth falsely; in any of all these that a man doeth, sinning therein:
[4] Then it shall be, because he hath sinned, and is guilty, that he shall restore that which he took violently away, or the thing which he hath deceitfully gotten, or that which was delivered him to keep, or the lost thing which he found,
[5] Or all that about which he hath sworn falsely; he shall even restore it in the principal, and shall add the fifth part more thereto, and give it unto him to whom it appertaineth, in the day of his trespass offering.
[6] And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest:
[7] And the priest shall make an atonement for him before the LORD: and it shall be forgiven him for any thing of all that he hath done in trespassing therein.

We have to bring something when we have failed, right? What we bring today by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ is confessing our sins unto Him, and by the grace and mercies of God we are forgiven! We can be free from all the bondages that have tried to hold us captive. We can move forward in our lives. We do not have to live in bondage! That should stir each and every individual who is a child of God!

Luke 12:1-12

[1] In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
[2] For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
[3] Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
[4] And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
[5] But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
[6] Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
[7] But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
[8] Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
[9] But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
[10] And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
[11] And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
[12] For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.

We have to come and confess, it’s an age old commandment but not a phased out tradition! It is very much alive and well! When we come close to God, it will begin to lead us in the right direction; or in other words, the true will of God that was intended for us when we felt so lost and without a way to go!

Power Off? Turn The Lights On!

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When you are surrounded by so many things that try to physically and emotionally affect you, it will eventually pull you down spiritually if you are not too careful. We have to begin to remember to use the only thing that can begin to lift us up in the times when we are surrounded by the darkness of the world: the light of Christ! I speak a word of encouragement to you today!

Don’t wait too long before you begin to take advantage of all the tools and provision that God has given to us each and every day: prayer, fasting, reading the word of God, exhortation, all the gifts of the spirit, and truly stepping out in obedience! Always be a Godly witness and walk in the light! As He is in the light! When you do this, people are drawn and led in the direction you are leading! When you operate in the things you are called in, it inspires others to move in their callings. You could say your anointing and zeal rubs off!

Always remember that where Christ is dominant in your life that nothing else can be above that. It may take the appearance that it is, but it is not. Remember; no weapon formed against you shall prosper, and there is nothing that could ever be said or done to you that could ever prove true when you are walking in the name of Jesus Christ!

As Solid As Your Foundation

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We always read about the piece in the bible that refers to the people who built their houses upon the sand and the rock. And as we all know, of course it was the house that was built on the rock that was proven in the end, right?

My question is, how many of us have our houses built upon the foundation of Jesus Christ?

From a normal point of view on the outside, everything looks like God and sounds like it, but the house is not solid and could be blown over or fall at any time. In other words, we proclaim to be stable and have such great lives in God but at the sign of a first hard trial we begin to crumble beneath what we are really built upon.

Some contractors won’t even begin to build until they know they have a solid foundation! That should speak to us to let us know that we should count the cost of any actions in our lives and remember that we better make sure we are strong enough before we step out there where we think we can handle it! I’ve seen too often people that were not strong enough that had good intentions that failed quickly from the lack of being established with good wisdom and a solid communication in prayer! It really does matter!

You see, God wants us to be established on his foundation, the foundation of faith in him. He wants to endue to us that power and ability to endure! We can only endure by hanging to the promises of God. We can only test our foundation by staying on it! Stay true to what God has placed in you and do not waiver! God will not fail you, leave you, nor forsake you! Be encouraged this day!

Finding Clarity Through The Fog

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Proverbs 29:18 – Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

2 Corinthians 12:1 – It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord.

– – – –

One of the easiest things for people to do in the midst of a confusing situation is to simply give up. Giving up is usually followed a by decreased obedience, which in turn leads to a prolonged spiritual death. A spiritual death means that there is no life to you to draw strength from God. In essence, it is like walking through the fog with no vision. We are going only on our sense of what we think is right to do. When you consider that and our rate of failure, it scares me.

It scares me to think that people are going through the motions of life and being a part of it but doing it blindly without any purpose or knowingly what they want from it. You see, the entire basis of belief to God and Jesus Christ is through faith. In the midst of the fog of confusion, my faith is unlocked when I hope upon the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. I may not know where I am at in a trial because it is new or I may be too emotionally connected. What do I know? I do know of what God has already done for me! I have the roads of hope in my life that I have traveled and made it through before!

The only clarity that I can find in the midst of chaos is trusting God and to know that if He has done it before, that He will do it again. God will never leave or forsake His children! You should know that you are not alone and should not be wandering around in life without God. Recognize your guide, and let him lead you! We should not try to take the “grab life by the horns” approach because the latter outcome of this is usually a guaranteed failure. We cannot realize the outcome of any future for any trial. God sees into our tomorrows! Allow God to be the light in the midst of your darkness! Turn the lights on! Find some clarity through the word of God and all the spiritual things that will lift you above the hard times and let you see things for what they truly are!

– – – –

Put Into Practice:

When I first began to drive, I always wondered why it was so hard to drive through fog with the lights on the brightest setting. I thought, “You would think the most amount of light would get you through the fog, right?” In all reality, the best solution was to use a dimmer light and to hear the wisdom of others. That is the advice I give you today. When you hear a great God-given word to you, try not to resist it to bad and think your brighter ideas will solve it all. Trust your brothers and sisters in Christ that bring the word of God at your churches to give you the right now word to lead you through tough times! And if you are not getting it there, pray for it!

Keep Your Head Level

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1 Peter 5:12 – By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.

1 Thessalonians 3:8 – For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

– – – –

Everyone has heard the phrase at some point that “life throws you curves”. It seems to surround the idea that there are many shocks and surprises that come along when we least expect it. Things only seem to shock us when we are not prepared, right? I wish that I could say that on all of our behalves that we will be prepared for everything to come in our futures. The fact of the matter is that we could never possibly have every financial surprise planned or every little detail in order; for it simply could not be done without the knowledge of tomorrow.

The best thing about what I am about to say is that it is a small piece of wisdom you can keep for the rest of your life. Through all of life’s future uncertainties we only have but one solution: place your faith in is God and enter into rest for the sake of your own stability! It is the only thing that you can be deeply rooted in spiritually and will never you let down, even in the times when you feel discouraged from things that have blindsided you. I refuse to hear from anyone that God cannot comfort you from the worries and anxieties of life! His spirit is greater in us than the part of us that dwells and suffers here on earth! If you are watching and praying as the word of God teaches us, then in essence we always have access to the comfort of the spirit and peace for our minds when we need it. It still might hurt as bad but I can assure us that we will not be caught off guard! Keep your head level by establishing your solid foundation in Jesus Christ! You cannot go wrong with that!

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Put Into Practice:

One of the most common balance tests that you read about is called the Romberg test, which requires a person to stand with their feet together and their eyes closed to see how well they can stand without shifting. I remember one of the first times that I did this test and how that before this I always felt that I was in control of my balance. Little did I know that by shutting my eyes and putting my feet together that a couple of things would have me moving around in ways that I never had.

When you put this in comparison with life and God, it is pretty easy to get off balance when a couple things begin to shift us around and put a haze or darkness in our vision. The most important thing I could say today is for you to remember not to get out of balance in your Christian life. Find God as your first priority and let life pan out as God leads you in it. Even though you might feel everything go crazy at first, God will help you with the sudden changes to make Him first. In other words, “all these other things will be added unto you!”

What Is Of True Worth?

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Psalm 145:20 – The Lord preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.

John 12:25 – He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

– – – –

Each and every day people are going after all the things they feel is of worth: money, fame, fortune, popularity, etc. We all have our actions that we prioritize based on what we want the most. I cannot help but ask where does God lie in priority in the midst of all your business? You see, He is my all in all and the one that I fully trust in. Even in recent events in my life I have found that the value of things that were once important to me began to lose their worth. Why? I would have to say it is because I finally realized that God can only be as valuable as you allow Him to be. I could have a million dollars or could only have a dime, but regardless of which I possess as long as I have Christ in my life I can remain constant. The peace, joy, and everlasting life that you began to inherit by believing upon Him are more valuable than anything else that you could chase out in this world. Over the recent months, I have strengthened my commitment to God and have seen things that use to be of worth fall away. I realize that if I lost it all and still had God, I would still be able to find hope! There might be some of you out there that are feeling hopeless or similar to this, but be encouraged! It is great to have lots of people that know you, objects you love to interact with, and emotional highs from being so love by all walks of life, but do not let these objects stand in your way of what is of most worth to you in your life: Jesus Christ!

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Put Into Practice:

This is a two-part challenge, and depending on your answer to the next few questions, I ask you to act accordingly. Are you saved by praying and asking Jesus Christ to be your savior? Have you asked for the forgiveness of your sins? Have you ever had an experience where you felt something inside that you had never felt before? Have you ever felt something that was leading you to believe there was something more to God and Jesus? If you have not asked Jesus Christ into your life, I pray that you take as long as you need and pray right now to have a change take place and a spiritual transformation take place in your life. There have been many books and methods that have tried to describe how to obtain salvation, but the most important part to know is that you have to recognize that you need Jesus Christ in your life. You have to know that you need to escape hell through the gift of Christ’s sacrifice, salvation. If you are saved, this is wonderful. I would ask you one thing: do you ask these same questions to the ones that you love? Make it your goal that you ask at least (at a minimum) on a quarterly basis through an entire year. That is not much to ask, right? You love your loved ones and those that God has place on your heart, right? Then get out there!

Learning To Be Satisfied

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Philippians 1:3-7

[3] I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
[4] Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
[5] For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
[6] Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
[7] Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

I am satisfied with the good works that Christ has perfected in all of us!

Consider the phrase “so many works, from the first day until now” – Think about it! We should have all the reason in the world to be thankful and to praise God with no matter what we are dealing with at the time in our lives.

God knew us before we ever came to know him! He had already taken care of us before we were ever formed in this world! From this day until now! That should let me know with certainty that I am definitely not alone for sure!

Philippians 3:8

[8] Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

I am satisfied with Christ’s compensation!

I would lose it all to gain him! Nothing else is of worth to keep that even compares to what you can feel through God!

When I really put into perspective what everything is really worth to me in comparison to what God means to me in my heart, all of this stuff in this world does not mean a thing!

Philippians 3:9-10

[9] And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
[10] That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

I am satisfied with Christ’s fellowship!

I want to know him, I want to know more of Him and I want to feel more of the spirit! To actually be in fellowship with the spirit is to be in a place of growth in my life!

I want to make it a goal in my life to be in continual fellowship with God and the spirit of God. That’s the only way my life can be in a ready state to grow!

Philippians 4:6-7

[6] Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

I am satisfied with Christ’s perfect peace!

It shall keep your minds and hearts if you will allow it to! In all reality, there is nothing out there that will ever keep me per say; it will only ever be the peace of God, because I will never be content with the way things are. God teaches us by the spirit to be content to a circumstance or situation.

Philippians 4:11-14

[11] Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
[12] I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13] I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
[14] Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.

I am satisfied with Christ’s perfect strength!

God will speak to your situations and circumstances, no matter how grim that they seem to be! He will give you strength to be able to endure them!

Always remember the joy of the Lord is our strength, and without that joy, there is no strength. So I need to remember to surround myself or get myself to a place where joy is abundant.

Philippians 4:18-19

[18] But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
[19] But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

More than anything, I am satisfied know that I will receive from Christ’s supply for my every need!

These things we get from God are according to his riches in glory, and are not limited to what we are in this world. That should say so much to us when we feel like we have so many reasons why we cannot make it or cannot move forward in life.

Look At Your Limits

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2 Corinthians 13:5 – Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Psalm 26:2 – Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart.

– – – –

As you are embarking on your day today, let us take a moment to consider our limits. Limits are commonly defined as the furthest extent of one’s physical or mental endurance. More often than not the limits we consider dominant are the ones that are self-applied.

There have been so many times that I have seen the limits go on me and others over the silliest of things. I have literally seen church services die out (in a matter of minutes) and not be fruitful or successful to the pulling down of strongholds because the body of Christ had limited themselves because of their lack of belief in Christ! The saddest part of all was that the only people that truly lost out in the end were those that were truly lost. God is looking for a people that know that they are not limited by what the mind would try to present in a time of trouble.

Take the time to remind yourself today that God has no limits. A great thing to tell yourself each and every day is that “I am as strong in God as I allow myself to be” All the tools that you need to get you where you need to go are already there for you; you just have to begin to use them! Take the limits off of yourself, and be who God has called you to truly be!

– – – –

Put Into Practice:

Verbally recognize some limits that you have put on yourself. An example may be “I do not allow myself to praise God like I should” or “I do not pray like I need to” I am asking you to do it verbally because we often can hide it or deny it more easily mentally. Sometimes speaking it out loud makes us consider what we say.

After you think about a couple self-applied limits, pray that God help you to take off all of the limits that you have set on yourself. Learn to be greater than the bondage applied!

Be A Friend And Lay It Down

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Let’s start with scripture:

John 15: 13-17

[13] Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
[14] Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
[15] Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
[16] Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
[17] These things I command you, that ye love one another.

This series of verses have probably been preached in many ways, and I personally have sat and heard this taught in many ways, but God showed this to me in a whole new view. Sure it might be old news to you, so let it be a refreshing thought to your mind.

Jesus Christ came and died for us that we would have grace through him, and that we would have salvation, therein, giving these verses meaning in the significance in the physical sense of laying down one’s life.

But how does it apply to me now in the life I live today? What does it mean to be a friend now? It’s not meaning for you to go and lay down your physical life for someone else. Christ made that sacrifice that our sins be forgiven and that we find the path to Heaven through salvation. Praise God for that.

The meaning goes a little deep then that. This is what God was showing me. See, there are many people that come into our churches, which come into our midst no matter where we are, that need us to get past ourselves, to lay down ourselves, our flesh, so that we can be about God’s business, and help them find the path to Christ.

God has ordained us to bear fruit, to speak the great things about him, to be that witness, therefore, to share our testimony, and not to be stuck up or too proud to share what God has done for us; in other words, to not be too busy for someone in need. We need to be more Christ-like then ever in these days that we are living in, for we are the only light that people will ever see. And if we are not shining the light, how will they ever find the way through the darkness they walk through every single day?

Be willing to lay yourself down, just as Christ did, in the spiritual sense, so that someone else might have a chance to have a breakthrough and have that great experience as you once did, to find that compassion that someone once showed you. What a powerful word God has shown me, if we can only apply this quickly and do it at a more even quicker rate! Help me get this out to the masses! I know you can!