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It’s Time To Stop Pretending

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John 5:36-40

36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me.

37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape.

38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not.

39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Most of us instinctively draw back from dealing with this stubborn commitment to independence from the world, pretending we are all right as we are. It is much easier to pretend we are thirsting after God than it is to face the challenge of giving up our commitment to independence from sin.

Psalm 42:1

As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.

What is the answer? We must ask God to search our hearts, expose our self-centered motivations, and help us to see just where it is that we stop short of panting after Him.

You see, the more deeply we sense our thirst, the more passionately we will pursue water. But we will never sense that thirst until we are willing to face the fact that we may be drinking more from our own self-constructed wells than from the wells of God.

We cannot continue this way. The days of pretending are over.

Proverbs 14:12

12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Our own reasoning will lead us to destruction. Without God’s counsel we will perish.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21

20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils.

21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.

We cannot pretend to be one way and be another. There is no middle ground. You are either free from your sins and fighting temptation or you are in bondage and fighting to pretend you are free.

James 3:14

14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.

Don’t fight to prove that you are something that you are not. Do not lie against the truth of who you are. It is better to face and fight our demons than it is to try and hide them from the view of others.

Philippians 3:12-14

12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

If we forget about something then it is dead to us. Until what leads you into sin is removed from you through the grace and mercy of God then they are not forgotten (or behind you).

Life for us now consists of discarding wrong attitudes and habits accumulated in the past. In modern, psychological terms, we must lose our baggage. For us, the past is dead, buried in the waters of baptism. With that behind us, we must diligently make unwavering progress in putting out the leaven of sin, growing in God’s love, producing the fruit of God’s Spirit, moving toward the Kingdom of God, and putting on Christ’s perfection, His image in us.

How To Win The Battle Over Rumors And Silence The Critics

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One of the key ways the enemy likes to try and create perceived “drama” related to you is through the process of rumors, envyings, strife and jealousies. People that have these feelings in their heart may use things against you, even inasmuch of a way as to take one good thing you have said/done and twist it to create potential trouble.  And to those whom are being active in ministry it seems to be (as the expression goes) “double the trouble”, trying to destroy the few good things are are accomplishing.

Here are 10 key points of what may be happening that you should expect the enemy to come out (through people and circumstance) and attack you.

When you:

1) Gain spiritual control over a temptation

2) Learn how to hold your peace when you are provoked

3) Overcome in victory over a previous drama

4) Love those who are provoking you

5) Give no regard to the jealous behavior

6) Are confident and bold in your calling

7) Begin a more regular praise/prayer/study routine

8) Begin to try and be more involved

9) Show a clear display of happiness

10) Attempt to encourage/witness to others

God did not leave us without the scriptures to begin and understand how we “fight” back.

Matthew 6:25-34

[25] Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
[26] Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
[27] Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?
[28] And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:
[29] And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
[30] Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
[31] Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
[32] (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
[33] But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
[34] Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

Matthew 10:19-22

[19] But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak.
[20] For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.
[21] And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death.
[22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.

When you read the phrase “take no thought” in these scriptures you can interpret this as “do not be afraid”. What may read at first glance as to not care truly means that we are not to live in bondage to anyone or to be in fear by our burdens. To interpret that as reckless abandonment would lead you unprepared in times that you are in need. So the ultimate answer to how you win over these kinds of people is to break the bondage of their control and lift the burdens of fear by the love of God. A perfect love will cast off every fear and release you from every bondage. Be as it may we as people will try anyway…but I will remind each and every one of us that despite our best efforts at times there is nothing else we can do or say that will fix anything the way God can. Sometimes even the truth as we know the truth of the circumstance or the rumor will not fix it. In fact, it just continues to fuel the resolve of the enemy. However, when the enemy sees that he can do no more harm when you show that great love of God he will turn loose. The enemy had to turn loose of Christ by the persecution of His body when Jesus was made broken for our sins. That is how we are able to live and walk as forgiven children of God! This is the same things we must do. We must endure the things that are said. Let the critics criticize, and let the judges judge.

So let the rumor-makers speak their lies, and let the trouble makers start all the trouble that they can. Ultimately the things they try to falsely create have no hold upon those that dwell in the love of God. As the lilies live, they continue to grow irregardless of the weather and boisterous wind. Their resolve to grow is steadfast even when the elements are against them. That is the same way you can continue to overcome! Learn to endure these storms. Give no regard to the things you know are untrue and stay strong in who you are in God. This much I know: those who lie will be revealed as liars, and those who walk righteously will not only be proven true but glorified and blessed in the process.

 

What’s On Your Tree?

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Galatians 5:19-25

[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Matthew 7:17-20

[17] Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
[18] A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
[19] Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
[20] Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

The fruit that we bear will declare the nature of the tree, right? What we show and demonstrate each and every day will show what is of the true roots of our being! That’s pretty plain to me! When I examine myself and I do not see Christ in every action and word then I have received the answer to “what do I need to change”. The first fruits of our lives should be Christ!

Romans 7:5-6

[5] For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
[6] But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter.

As we read here, we know the fruit of the old man represents the person that we use to be or what we tend to try to fall back on when we face harder times. We must learn to recognize this so that we can learn to grow out of that discouraging life!

Romans 6:21-23

[21] What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
[22] But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
[23] For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

As we read this, we recognize the fruit of the new man: it is what we have become through Christ and what we consume to live!

Mark 11:13-14

[13] And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.
[14] And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it.

Fruit is expected and not just leaves alone; in other words not just to know God but to have the relationship and the spirit bear witness. That is to say, it will be something you know and feel and that others will be able to partake from you.

John 15:2,8

[2] Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
[8] Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Fruit bearing is helpful to you but is of most benefit for others. It is for the molding of your life and the example to be ‘witnessed’ by others. Most importantly, as you come through in victory your testimony and the impact it has upon other people gives glory to God.

Matthew 13:22

[22] He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

Fruit is hindered by bad surroundings (ground that is not kept). In other words if the flesh or part of us that will not let God lead us refuses to break down, the ground will be impossible to receive seed.

Following God’s Plan

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A lot of us need to forsake our focus on “God’s will for my life”. I know that that sounds like a big shocking statement, but read on. God wants a response about us moving and working in his spirit today! We use searching for God’s will as a crutch so our fears over making mistakes never come. We need to come to a decision to start living now. Let us use a couple applied examples from the scriptures.

Galatians 5:16-25

[16] This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
[17] For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
[18] But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
[19] Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
[20] Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
[21] Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
[22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
[23] Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
[24] And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
[25] If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The spirit and flesh work directly against each other. Verses 19-21 lay out some specific works of the flesh. Verses 22-23 lay out some specific works of the spirit. If they are Christ’s, we have already put to death the flesh (along with the parts that lift it up). If it’s in there, let it go with you! Put into practice what you believe in Christ!

Paul said in the passage above to walk by the spirit and you will not gratify your flesh; that if we live in it (the spirit) thereby we also walk in it. In essence that is saying if the spirit of God lives in you that it is going to show on you and show to others.

We’re getting into this mold of what we like to call church, with new followers who will not follow. God does not want big numbers, short services, an engaging speaker and all of that with no spirit!

He wants his bride to be a faithful people and lovers of him.

I am beginning to wonder if the Lord is looking down upon us and seeing us as the prophets of Baal more than the prophet of Elijah, the prophet of God.

1 Kings 18:18-40

[18] And he answered, I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father’s house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim.
[19] Now therefore send, and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal four hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred, which eat at Jezebel’s table.
[20] So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel.
[21] And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
[22] Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal’s prophets are four hundred and fifty men.
[23] Let them therefore give us two bullocks; and let them choose one bullock for themselves, and cut it in pieces, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under: and I will dress the other bullock, and lay it on wood, and put no fire under:
[24] And call ye on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD: and the God that answereth by fire, let him be God. And all the people answered and said, It is well spoken.
[25] And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under.
[26] And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made.
[27] And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.
[28] And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them.
[29] And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.
[30] And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down.
[31] And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:
[32] And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed.
[33] And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood.
[34] And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time.
[35] And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.
[36] And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.
[37] Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.
[38] Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.
[39] And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God.
[40] And Elijah said unto them, Take the prophets of Baal; let not one of them escape. And they took them: and Elijah brought them down to the brook Kishon, and slew them there.

Sounds like some of our services, right? There is lots of noise but no God?!? They did not say how wonderful the speaker or praise band was, but they acknowledged God alone for the works that were performed at that time. We need to learn to worship what has been performed in our lives, and to not settle for just a bit of peace, but the peace of God:

Philippians 4:7

[7] And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

When you consider Elijah, read the passage below and it will begin to unlock higher heights and deeper depths in your life.

Three things stand out here:

1)    It wasn’t in the numbers

2)    Giving glory to anything other than God will not work

3)    God is powerful enough to defy anything that we would consider impossible

James 5:15-20

[15] And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
[16] Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
[17] Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
[18] And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
[19] Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
[20] Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

He (Elijah) was subject to the same battles we face, and yet still took a stand for God. He prayed earnestly, passionately; this is where we need to find our prayer lives: with faith and with passion!

Praying for rain and no rain and seeing them both come to pass not only demonstrated the faith that Elijah had but the almighty power of God!