Look Again and Consecrate

Look Again and Consecrate

If God so clothes the grass of the field . . . , will He not much more clothe you . . . ? —Matthew 6:30

 

    A simple statement of Jesus is always a puzzle to us because we will not be simple. How can we maintain the simplicity of Jesus so that we may understand Him? By receiving His Spirit, recognizing and relying on Him, and obeying Him as He brings us the truth of His Word, life will become amazingly simple. Jesus asks us to consider that “if God so clothes the grass of the field . . .” how “much more” will He clothe you, if you keep your relationship right with Him? Every time we lose ground in our fellowship with God, it is because we have disrespectfully thought that we knew better than Jesus Christ. We have allowed “the cares of this world” to enter in (Matthew 13:22), while forgetting the “much more” of our heavenly Father.

 

    “Look at the birds of the air . . .” (Matthew 6:26). Their function is to obey the instincts God placed within them, and God watches over them. Jesus said that if you have the right relationship with Him and will obey His Spirit within you, then God will care for your “feathers” too.

 

    “Consider the lilies of the field . . .” (Matthew 6:28). They grow where they are planted. Many of us refuse to grow where God plants us. Therefore, we don’t take root anywhere. Jesus said if we would obey the life of God within us, He would look after all other things. Did Jesus Christ lie to us? Are we experiencing the “much more” He promised? If we are not, it is because we are not obeying the life God has given us and have cluttered our minds with confusing thoughts and worries. How much time have we wasted asking God senseless questions while we should be absolutely free to concentrate on our service to Him? Consecration is the act of continually separating myself from everything except that which God has appointed me to do. It is not a one-time experience but an ongoing process. Am I continually separating myself and looking to God every day of my life?

 

--Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

http://utmost.org/look-again-and-consecrate/

 

 

2nd True love is not emotion like Hollywood teaches. True love is commitment (1 Cor. 13)

True love is not emotion like Hollywood teaches. True love is commitment (1 Cor. 13)

Having trouble loving others--there is one Scriptural solution

You can't love others, until you love God (the 1st greatest commandment must consume all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, before the second can be lived out). If you are having trouble loving others, don't try to love them harder--it won't work. Look at your relationship with God and focus on Him. When you do, your love for Him will spill over to other people.

Called out to be separate--not conformed

Called out to be separate—not conformed

     We have been called out of our old sinful lives to live lives separate—wholly devoted, dedicated—to the Lord.

      One aspect of holiness is living a life of godly choices. We daily have choices on what we will place before our eyes, our ears, and where we will go. What we view, listen to, and attend/visit will affect us; either for our betterment or detriment. We must choose to feed ourselves with what is going to help us and others follow the Lord. For example, taking a youth group to an outing with a hotel stay afterwards gives you, the leader, choices. Will you let the youth watch whatever they want? Bloody, violent movies and sex-saturated, passionate movies will only harm them. It is not usually a onetime view that destroys people, it their continual choices down a faulty path. Your path determines your direction. Stick to the straight and narrow, not the broad (anything goes & don’t take stuff to seriously) and wide (tolerant & all-encompassing) road which leads to DESTRUCTION! Our choices have consequences on ourselves and others. The unbiblical dating frenzy today has produced a couple of generations with a lustful and physical view of love, multitudes of divorces, and an impractical view that one can find the “perfect” someone. Be careful how you live.

 

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 17 And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: 18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 22 Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 24 For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: 25 But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.

1 Peter 1:13-25 (KJV)

1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, 2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 3 If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

1 Peter 2:1-3 (KJV)

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

Titus 2:11-14 (KJV)

God’s Word

God’s Word

“Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.” Proverbs 30:5-6 KJV

  Let that Scripture sink in. . . . God’s Word is pure! He is a SHIELD unto them that put their TRUST in Him! Add not unto His Words, lest He reprove thee, and thou be found a liar!!

 

Who are You?

Who are You?

“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight. I will early destroy all the wicked of the land; that I may cut off all wicked doers from the city of the Lord.”

Psalms 101:6-8 (KJV)

     

                     What is the condition of your heart?

 

Exploitation and the Danger Associated with Debt

Exploitation and the Danger Associated with Debt

 

Read Proverbs 22:22-27 and consider the Lord’s truth on these matters. He’s right in all that He says, but you may be wrong or have been taught a doctrine of men that is false. Take the time to really examine this passage and act on what you learn.

 

Counsel

 

 

Counsel

Read Proverbs 22:17-21 and consider them thoughtfully.

 

Generosity

 

 

Generosity

 “There is one who scatters, yet increases more; And there is one who withholds more than is right, But it leads to poverty. The generous soul will be made rich,
And he who waters will also be watered himself.”

Proverbs 11:24- 25 (NKJV)

  Read those verses again slowly.

  The man who gives freely, gains even more. The one that withholds unduly, well, he comes to poverty. This proverb is not just talking about money; in reality it is talking about how you live. If you are a generous man or woman and give freely allowing your time, talents and resources (contacts, money, machinery, etc…) to flow freely through you, you will gain a blessing. You will experience an abundant life. One of joy, hope, expectation and excitement (passion): The joy of what the Lord is doing will be your energy, your strength.

   I think we’ve all been there at one point in our walk. I can recall times when everything I freely gave to people, largely in the form of my time and ability, was flooding back to me in excitement, energy, great deals, spiritual blessings, contentment, passion, and personal growth. However, many think of this proverb as being related to money, but I heard a great illustration about money one time. A man said that “money is simply like a brick.” I can build something useful to the Lord, by yielding the bricks to Him or I can take them and use them solely for myself. God is interested in you and your lifestyle, way more than just the money you have; He wants all of us: our time, our focus, our resources, and our very lives to be at His disposal. But here’s the catch, He only wants us to do it willingly. God wants us to choose to freely flow in Him by being generous.

  Those who so do will reap a blessing.

“A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.”

 

 Lord, may we understand generosity.

 

A Quote to Consider

“If you have to say you’re something, you’re not”

--Pastor Patrick Ringler

Contemplate this quote.

A Hard Lesson

A Hard Lesson

 

“When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.”

Proverbs 11:2 (NKJV)

 

      Have you ever gotten prideful? I would be willing to bet that you have. When I have fallen into pride, one characteristic is sure to come about. It is the disgrace, the shame of having said something I regret—I was being prideful and what I said damaged my reputation with somebody. That is where I do not want to stay, and regret my actions.

        But I have found something else as well. When I operate in humility, then comes wisdom. I’m open to hear the Holy Spirit’s voice through others, able to discern the spirits and see which is of God. But this only occurs when I’m in humility, when I’ve gotten cocky or began to be secretly puffed with pride: having self-confidence and self-exaltation, then comes my disgrace. I cannot walk in fellowship with God and my own pride. I must be humble. I must Fear God and understand my proper place—for that is where wisdom lies; not in focusing on myself, but on Him.

  Dear God, give me a humble spirit. Teach me Your ways, Your wonders, and Your majesty. And, Lord, please show me just a glimpse of how small I really am compared to Your plan. Let that revelation help me to remain in a humble state of spirit. In Jesus name, amen.

 

Do you love discipline?

Do you love discipline?

 

“Whoso loveth instruction loveth knowledge: but he that hateth reproof is brutish.”  

 Proverbs 12:1 (KJV)

 

“Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid.”

Proverbs 12:1 (ESV)

   This is a hard verse to stomach, but it is truth and Scripture promises elsewhere that the truth will set us free.

   Do you love discipline? Do you love what it produces in your life? I do. I love having a disciplined day and learning how to be productive. But that doesn’t mean that I am perfectly disciplined. However, I have learned through the correction of the Lord that it is truly stupid to hate correction in regards to discipline. Laying around all day and just “letting life happen” or “fate decide” produces horrible fruit: failure, discouragement, depression, loss of purpose and direction, and more. But when I heed the corrections of the Lord and listen to the rebukes of the Lord; when I follow the gentle, yet firm nudging of the Holy Spirit in my spirit, then comes growth. O how I love learning more about God and the Kingdom! His corrections are firm, but if I hate them, I miss out on so many blessings and the abundance that is produced from the faithfulness to continue loving discipline.

   Lord, may we all come to love Your discipline, for Your ways are perfect and all things You turn into good for we are those called according to Your purpose.

 

Choose this Day!

 

Choose this Day!

“choose you this day whom ye will serve….”

Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

     You must choose. Whom will you serve? You have two options, embrace the Lord or reject Him. Take an honest look at your life, the Holy Spirit will show you the true condition of your heart; He will tell you whom you are living for.

       Choose this day! Choose Eternal Life! Choose the Good News: the salvation of your soul which comes through confessing with your mouth that Christ is Lord and believing in your heart that Jesus Christ died and rose again! This isn’t an issue to put off for later decision. You may never have another chance to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. Choose this day . . . .

O Lord, may many be added to Your Kingdom.

 

“….For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

 

“….For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 (NKJV)

  Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines forsake as:

1.      To quit or leave entirely; to desert; to abandon; to depart from.

    Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. He is always there, waiting for us to come to Him and find rest and peace. Whenever a person backslides or completely falls away from the faith it is not the Lord’s fault, God does not forsake us: it is the person who forsakes the Lord. We have a free will, we have to surrender to the Lord to be used by Him; therefore, we can choose to take our will and walk away from Him in our own strength.

    The choice is yours, dear friend, Christ will never leave you or forsake you, but you can. Will you surrender to Him today? Will you consecrate yourself unto Him?

  Lord, O how often I have walked in my own strength; forsaking You and asking why You left me. Lord, You never left me….but I walked in my own strength. Lord, help me today to walk and live following You. I don’t want me, but You. Empower me by Your Spirit to live a life wholly consecrated to You. In Jesus Name, amen.

 

We Can't Know It All

 

 

“Then I beheld all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun: because though a man labour to seek it out, yet he shall not find it; yea further; though a wise man think to know it, yet shall he not be able to find it.”

Ecclesiastes 8:17 KJV

        Despite all our efforts to understand the universe, we cannot understand it. We cannot comprehend or discover everything we desire to know. I know that I have spent much time trying to figure out how the world works; but in the end, if I am honest, I must admit the mystery surrounding our world’s order: I have to just say that God is in control and that we must trust in Him and apply His ways and His Word to our lives. Many philosophers and other “intelligent” persons have dedicated their lives to searching out wisdom and the meaning of things, but all their efforts have ended in futility—no one can figure out the world! Yes, there are some patterns, none of that is really new; but none of us, not even Solomon, can comprehend fully. This is why we cannot lean to our own understanding; but must rely on the Lord and His ways. Only the Lord is Omniscient!

         As you live your life, remember that you can’t figure it all out. Do not let this realization cause you to despair, but instead to cling even more fastly to the Lord. The great mystery of the ages, what goes on in the world, cannot be explained completely; therefore, let us joyfully cling the throne of grace, not afraid to enter in and inquire of the Lord and listen to His voice, because He alone knows, He alone understands, He alone comprehends, and He alone controls it all. Give Him Glory! Thank Him!

 

The Four Steps to National Restoration

        If I shut up heaven that there be no rain,   

  

     or if I command the locusts to devour the land,   

 

or if I send pestilence among my people;

If my people, which are called by my name,

shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face,

and turn from their wicked ways;

then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their

sin, and will heal their land.

—2 Chronicles 7:13-14 KJV

   

  For God to heal our land we must do four things:

1. Humble ourselves

2. Pray

3. Seek the Lord’s face

4. Turn from our wicked ways.

 In return, God in His righteous order of things will do three things:

1. He will hear us

2. He will forgive our sin

3. He will heal our land.

Our duty is to first of all to humble ourselves. After humiliation, we are to pray. Next, we are to seek the face of God (FMM’s Focus: Matthew 6:33). Finally, and perhaps the hardest of all, we must turn from our wicked ways—we must put into practice our faith, not just wish for it.

    In return for following for turning to God instead of to our own intellect, political leaders, false ideas, or the Enemy’s doctrines, God declares that He will hear our prayers. And when He hears, He will forgive our sin and will heal our land!

 

Addictions

Addictions are not just a result of chemical imbalance or physiological factors. Addictions are a choice and psychology is a pseudo-science that attempts to understand the humanity apart from sin and the Word of God. Moderation in all things, as the Word teaches (Phil 4:5, 1 Cor 9:25, Prov 25:28), is the solution to addictions and a guard against developing them. Sin is sin, not a psychological problem. We all have a choice; we can cry out for help: either to God or an idol, but we all have made choices with our will whether or not to develop addictions.

 

A life founded on LUST is unstable; the foundation of your life will become a muddy mess with no guidelines or limits. But a life grounded on Jesus (1 Corinthians 3:10-15), that life will produce eternal treasures.

If a man like salty food, is he a salty guy?

If a man likes salty food, is he a salty guy?

     There are people that are “salty.” For example, a salty sailor is probably just a tough guy with bad language. But what is real saltiness? It is being the flavor of life, a carrier of the hope that lies with you—of the Grace, Mercy, and Forgiveness of God? Are you a Light, are you a fresh breath of the Spirit in other’s lives or are you a salty sailor?

Hey, you might like salty food, but are you really a Spiritually salty person?

 

Scripture

Scripture

      The Word of God, the Bible, is a necessary element of a Christian’s life. One must stay in the Word of God  to grow in the knowledge of God and to obtain the wisdom of God. O what agony our spirit’s will be in without the Word of God continually flowing in us. We must feed our spirit’s as much as possible, we must remain hungry for the Lord and He will fill us. Stay in the Word, for that is where power, nourishment and strength lie. I cannot fully describe the necessity of it, but you must live on the bread of the WORD, the bread of Christ—you cannot really live on natural bread once you have tasted the spiritual, the supernatural, the perfect Words of the Bread of the Bible.