Esteeming Others

We are to esteem, value, respect, honor, revere others. We are to put on God’s eyesight and see the best in others. Everyone is precious in God’s sight, from the rankest sinner to the more beautiful saint. Each person is special to God. Regardless of where you are in life right now, you are so special to the Lord. He absolutely adores you and delights in you. Even when you “mess up,” He is there to pick you up, dust off your britches and set you on the right path again. His love is so beyond our comprehension, we will spend eternity exploring the vastness of His love for us.

We are so valuable to God. And we are to see others as valuable to Him.

I was reading 1 Thessalonians 5 and was reminded of how we are to treat one another when I read verses 12 and 13. Let’s look at them.

And we beseech you, Brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you.
And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Do you see an order here? We are to know those who are around us. The Amplified Bible says that we are to recognize them for what they are, acknowledge and appreciate and respect them all. We are to also respect and honor and value those who are over us in the Lord---our leaders. Did you notice that there was no mention made about respecting them only if they agreed with you or you agreed with them? What if someone else’s doctrine is different than yours? Do you respect them? Yes. Now, I am talking about people who have accepted Jesus as their Savior. There are many beliefs among believers. We are to respect one another. There are scriptures that others interpret differently then I do. Why is that? We are all at different levels of maturity. As we grow in the Lord, our spiritual eyes are opened and we see more clearly than we did before. But that does not give us the right to condemn someone else because they don’t see things the way we do.

We are to hold others in high esteem and respect and honor them. We don’t hear as much about respect as we used to. I believe that it is time we studied it again and learned it. We are to be examples to the world in the way we conduct ourselves. Think about the difference you can make in someone else’s life by showing respect for them. Children need to show respect for their parents. Parents need to respect their children. Employees need to respect their employers and vice versa. Husbands and wives need to respect one another. In fact, Ephesians 5:23 addresses that very subject about loving and respecting one another. We are to respect those in authority over us. Respect indicates that we trust God to take care of us, even if that other person may not be doing much to be respected. Respect and honor releases God on our behalf.

Let’s all make an extra effort to show respect to those around us. I believe we will see a difference in our lives and experience more of God's best for us.

As He Is

1 John 4:17 tells us that as Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world. Let’s look at the scriptures that surround this verse and even at the first part of this verse to understand what John was speaking to us here.

In verses 15,16 and 17 we read:
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwells in him, and he in God.
And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love, and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

If you have confessed that Jesus is the Son of God, you have been born again and God is now dwelling in you. You cannot see Him dwelling in you, living in you, but He is. And then the statement is made that you are dwelling in God. How is that possible? It is by the spirit. You are in Him and He is in you. There is a connection with one another. There is a union with one another. Now that we have established that fact, let’s move on to the next thought, which is really the essence of Christian living.

Since we are born again, we have known the love that God has to us. We have believed the love that God has to us. You may say to me today: I don’t know God’s love. I’m having trouble believing He loves me. Take it by faith. Here it is in the Word. The Word is true. Accept that truth for your life.

God is love and because you are dwelling in love, you are dwelling in God. Because you are dwelling in God, you are dwelling in love. You may not feel like you are. You may not always feel like you are dwelling in love, but you are, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord.

In this union with God, with Love Himself, love is perfected, made complete. The result of this perfection and completeness is boldness in the day of judgment. When the judgment of God happens, you and I can be bold to stand up and see that we are perfected. Why? Certainly not because of our own goodness or anything we have done. It is all because we are in Jesus, and He is perfect. Hallelujah! That is good news. That’s the good news. We are in Him and He is in us.

How wonderful! As He is, so are we in the world. He is Love. We are love. He is righteous. We are righteous. He is healthy. We are healthy. He is prosperous. We are prosperous. He is kind. We are kind. He is joyful. We are joyful. He is full of peace. We are full of peace. Everything He is, we are. Where does it start---in heaven? No, it starts right here, right now.

Perhaps you don’t feel like you are any of these things. Feelings have nothing to do with it. Perhaps your circumstances are not lining up with these facts. Circumstances have nothing to do with it. The Word of God says that as He is, so are we in this world. It’s all about Him, God, Love Himself. He has made it possible for us to be just like Him NOW! If that is hard to comprehend, dwell on this verse until it becomes more real to you than the circumstances around you. The problem with all of us is that we gravitate more toward the earthly, fleshly realm than the realm of the spirit, where God dwells. We are spirits and live in fleshly bodies and have a soul. Both our souls and our bodies should be submitted to our spirit man, who has God dwelling in him.

Let’s all meditate on this until it becomes so big in us that we know who we are in Christ Jesus. I am asking the Lord to make this so real to me and to you. He is our everything. And He is Love. As He is, so are we in this world.

An Unending Supply Line

Once again, I must share with you something that my prayer partner and I received from the Lord as we were praying this week. Perhaps you have thought about it before but it is a simple truth that we must know and walk in.

In an army, particularly when there is a battle engagement, there are supply lines to the troops. The general of that army is the one who stays in communication with those of the supply lines. He is the overall commander and gives the orders, based on where his supply lines are and what they have. At all times, he is being given information so that he can accurately direct the operations of the battle.

Likewise, our general and commander-in-chief, the Lord Jesus Christ, is in charge of our spiritual operations in the battles that are waged against us. The difference between the natural realm and Jesus is that His supply is everlasting, unending, without limits. By the power of the Holy Spirit, we can partake of a vast, abundant supply, without limit, for all of our needs, whether in battle or in peace.

Remember what Philippians 4:19 says and I quote it from the Amplified Bible:
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Our supply line is never cut off by the Spirit of God. It is ever flowing, always supplying health, prosperity, wealth, victory, success, love, joy, peace, life. This supply line is made available through the blood of Jesus. His blood flows to us, and it is full of the life of God forever. Doesn’t it excite you when you think about that? Regardless of the situation, you have a supply from God on which you can depend. He will keep it coming.

So what happens when that supply appears like it is cut off or doesn’t seem to be flowing in anything but a trickle, if that? It is on our receiving end. Sometimes we let the connection get clogged up with the sin of doubt and unbelief or fear or just plain busyness. I hold up my hand with the rest of you and say: Guilty. But the great thing is that God is ever on duty, reminding us through the Holy Spirit to keep ourselves in a clear line with Him by the daily fellowship of intimacy with Him and with His Word. It is called the word supply. It is there for us 24-7. What a plan! What a God!

There is one other subject we need to address in regards to our supply line from God. If you are like me, sometimes you believe that you can supply your own answer, your own way of fixing the situation. We don’t do it intentionally. We may get anxious. We may get annoyed with others. We may walk out of love. We may just get tired of waiting and attempt to get the job done pronto. What is interesting to me is that God has the answer there pronto, but we are not always ready to receive it because we are too busy establishing an alternative supply line. And do you know that supply line will be ungodly and unprofitable.

To stay connected with the main supply line, it’s all about communication. We are to stay in close communion with God by the Holy Spirit being our Guide into all truth. He is the Spirit of Truth. He will give the right information to get the job done, to get the results we need, to walk in the victory we must have.

God is a liberal God, a more-than enough God. He only knows overflow and multiplication and abundance. Think of this: He supplies your every need ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY. Yes, they are His riches. And they are in His glory, His Presence. They are there for us, all around us. All we have to do is recognize His riches and reach out with our mouths and receive into our hearts. The supply is boundless. Reach out and get a big chunk for yourselves today. He loves to give to you. You are His favorite child-----you and you and you and you.

The Washing Of The Word

Several days ago, when my prayer partner and I were praying, the Lord gave her a beautiful understanding of what Jesus did when He washed the disciples’ feet. Let’s look at that passage and talk about it.

John 13:3-15
Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He was come from God, and went to God; He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. After that he poured water into a basin, and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. Then cometh He to Simon Peter: and Peter said to Him, Lord, do you wash my feet? Jesus answered and said to him, What I do you know not now; but you shall know later. Peter said to Him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash you not, you have no part with me. Simon Peter said to Him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. Jesus said to him, He that is washed needs not save to wash his feet but is clean all over, and you are clean, but not all. For He knew who should betray him; therefore said He, You are not all clean. So after He had washed their feet, and had taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, Know you what I have done to you? You call me Master and Lord; and you say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.

Jesus, the Word, was washing their feet, symbolic of the walk of life on this earth. We pick up dirt and junk as we go about our day, just as the disciples had picked up the dust and dirt of the ground as they walked. Our souls need a continual cleansing of the washing of the water of the Word. Our minds, which are part of our souls, need renewing to the ways of God and His Kingdom. Our emotions need to be cleansed of anger, pride, jealousy, envy, greed, etc. And our wills must be kept conformed to His will, which is the Word. Then we use the Word to wash others’ walk of life as we pray the Word of God over them.

Later, in John 15:3, Jesus told the disciples: Now, you are clean through the word which I have spoken to you. He Who was the Word not only spoke the Word to them but He demonstrated it also to them. Our walk here on this earth must receive a daily dose of the cleansing power of the Word of God. His Word convicts us, purifies us, sets us apart for Him hour by hour and day by day. What a wonderful privilege all of us as God’s children have to stay pure before Him as we bathe in His Word every day.

The Word of God is purification for our souls. Every day the Word of God must wash over our souls to cleanse us, to purify us and to keep us holy before Him. Jesus told Peter that if Peter didn’t allow Him to wash his feet, Peter would have no part in Him. What Jesus was telling Peter was this: I am the Word. I am cleansing you for your walk on this earth. If you don’t allow me to wash you, you cannot walk in a pure way. Every day our feet are cleansed to walk on the pure pathway of God. His Word is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our pathway. The light of His Word shines on our path and at the same time cleanses us of the impurities we pick up along life’s journey.

God is so good to us. He provides everything we need to have a victorious walk on this earth. Our lives can be lived in purity before Him as we make His Word our guide and purifier.

Paul tells us in Ephesians 5:25,26 that Christ loves us and gave Himself for us so that He might sanctify us (set us apart), having cleansed us with the washing of the water of the Word. Praise God! What a blessed people we are.

Please, Please, Please, Or Thank You

I woke up this morning with these words ringing in my ears: Please, please, please or thank you.

Have you ever heard a small child pestering their parents and saying over and over, oh please, daddy, please, will you get that for me. And after a while it gets old and annoying. Sometimes God’s children do that to Him. Oh, please, Father, will you come and heal me. Oh, please, Father, will you provide the money to pay this bill. Oh, please, Father, will you take care of my children. It becomes a statement of doubt and unbelief.

We have a dear, loving, kind and faithful Heavenly Father Who has already provided for us everything that we need while we complete our work here on this earth. Through His Son Jesus He has already provided forgiveness of our sins. He has provided healing for our bodies. He has provided prosperity for every area of our lives. He has provided the answers to all our problems. It has already been done; it has already been provided. All that we will ever need or even want, for that matter, is ours. It is a gift. And what are we to say to someone for a gift provided: Thank you.

When sickness and disease hit our bodies, we are to say thank You, Father, for providing healing for me. Thank You, Jesus, for making it possible for me to live in divine health. Thank You, Holy Spirit, for showing me how to reach out and receive health for my body. Thank You, Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit for providing for every one of my needs according to Your riches in glory. Thank You, for the wisdom You have given me to solve these problems that face me today. Thank, You, Lord for my life and all that you have given me.

I find it very interesting that everything comes from God by faith, confidence in Him and His provision. I see faith in a different light this morning. Faith is about loving someone enough to trust them completely. Faith is basically saying to someone that I know that you love me so much that you have my best interest in your heart and will do all that is necessary to take care of me. Wow! That puts faith in a whole different light, doesn’t it! Faith is saying to our Heavenly Father that we truly believe that He loves us enough to “come through for us” and “make good” on His promises to us to bring His provision to us.

It is absolutely astounding to me that all that I will ever need has already been taken care of. It has already been set aside for me. Our human minds find it hard to comprehend something like that, but our spirits can absorb that fact in an instant. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are able to believe, and God has provided His Word written down for us, that He might convince us that He truly has all the provision we will ever need. All we have to do is open the Bible and read His promises to us. They are true. They are for each one of us.

I know the question that is in your minds right now, just like the question I had for years. Then why is it so hard to receive and get the provision for myself? Here is the answer I believe the Lord shared with me a number of years ago. There is so much here in this world that convinces us that we have to do it ourselves, that we are “weird” and “irresponsible” if we totally depend on God. We hear such phrases as “you have to do something for yourself” or “do you just think it going to drop out of the sky.” And instead of taking God at His Word, we attempt to fix it ourselves, and get nothing as a consequence except disappointment, discouragement and yes, anger, if we were to truly admit it.

Today, I know the Lord is saying to each one of us: Trust Me. I have provided everything for you through my Son Jesus. Just accept it and say, Thank You. Thank You activates God’s power to go to work in your life. That is the reason that many times we receive when we are in an atmosphere of praise and worship. In essence, we are saying thank You, Lord. I love You so much, and He is saying back to us: I love You, my child.

We truly can trust Him.

Tongue

Today the Lord showed me specific scriptures concerning our tongue and the positive ways it is to be used. They are powerful when you put all of them together in one package. Let’s listen to the Word of God.

The tongue of the just is as choice silver (Proverbs 10:20).

The tongue of the wise is health, brings healing (Proverbs 12:18)

He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from troubles, keeps his life (Proverbs 21:23).

I open my mouth with wisdom and in my tongue is the law of kindness, giving counsel and instruction (Proverbs 31:26).

I do not let truth and kindness leave me. I wear them like a necklace. I write them on the tablet of my heart. My tongue is as the pen of a ready writer (Psalm 45:1). So shall I find favor, good understanding, good success, high esteem, a good reputation in the sight of God and man (Proverbs 3:3).

The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary. He wakens me morning by morning. He wakens my ear to hear as the learned. The Lord God has opened my eyes. I was not rebellious, neither turned back (Isaiah 30:4).

My tongue shall speak of Your righteousness and of Your praise all the day long (Psalm 35:28).

My tongue shall speak of Your Word….(Psalm 119:172).

Let’s make our confession, based on these scriptures.

My tongue speaks the Word of God at all times. My tongue is as choice silver and brings healing, is health to all my flesh. The Lord Jesus has made me righteous and wise, and righteousness and wisdom come forth from my mouth. I guard my mouth and tongue and keep my life. When I open my mouth, the wisdom of God comes forth. In my tongue is kindness and I do not let truth and kindness leave me. Thank You, Lord, that you have given me the tongue of the learned so that I speak words of encouragement and strength to those who are weary. I speak of Your righteousness and Your praise all day long.

Only mankind has the choice to speak the Word of life that our Lord has given to us to be successful and live a victorious life while we are here on this earth, carrying out His assignment and destiny for us.

Refuge - Fortress

In Psalm 91 we will say of the Lord: He is my Refuge. He is my Fortress.
What we are declaring when we say that is that He is our place of protection; He is our place of strength, our stronghold. In Him we are safe; in Him we are held in His place of strength, of power. We know that a stronghold is that which has been built up to withstand the enemy. It is not easily broken. Of course, we know that God is not someone who can ever be broken. He is whole, complete, perfect forever. He is our stronghold forever.

Let’s look at scriptures that we can confess over ourselves and others concerning God’s Stronghold.


Nahum 1:7 The Lord is good, a Strength and Stronghold.
Psalm 27:1 The Lord is my Light and my Salvation---whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life---of whom shall I be afraid?
Psalm 29:11 The Lord will give unyielding and impenetrable strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
Psalm 46:1 God is our Refuge and Strength….
Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud to God our Strength!...
Psalm 73:26 …God is the Rock and firm Strength of my heart….
Psalm 93:1,2 The Lord reigns---He is clothed with majesty. The Lord is robed---He has girded Himself with strength and power. The world also is established that it cannot be moved. Your throne is established from of old. You are from everlasting.
Psalm 96:6 Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Psalm 59:9 …God is my Defense, my Protector and High Tower.
Psalm 18:2 The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield and the Horn of my Salvation, my High Tower.
Psalm 28:7,8 The Lord is my Strength and impenetrable Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise Him. The Lord is my unyielding Strength and He is the Stronghold of salvation to me, His anointed.
Psalm 62:7 With God rests my salvation and my glory; He is my Rock of unyielding strength and impenetrable hardness, and my refuge is in God.
Habakkuk 3:19 The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army….

Aren’t these verses encouraging to us? Do you see the total care that God has for you? He is your strong and mighty Father, watching over you all the time. He is your Strength when you are weak. He holds you up when you seem like you can’t make it. He is everything you will ever need in any situation of life that you will ever encounter. Take these scriptures and declare them over your life. He is your Protector; He is your Strength. Nothing can penetrate Him as your Strength. All has to bow to the One Who is the Strength of your life. Rejoice in Him. Trust in Him. Rely on Him. Lean on Him. When you lean on Him, you are leaning on Strength.

Honor And Respect

Honor and respect are two qualities that are of utmost importance to anyone’s life.

Our lives should start by honoring and respecting God, and out of that relationship comes the ability to honor and respect those around us, starting with our family. Sometimes, the hardest place to honor someone or respect them is in the home, where you know them so well, with all their strengths and weaknesses. But it all starts with God. By the power of His Holy Spirit, He will teach us how to bring honor into all that we do and say.

Let’s look at the meaning of these two words. Honor means to revere, respect, treat with deference (submission to the opinion or judgment of another). Respect means to esteem as possessed of real worth

I have noticed that in our modern culture, these two attributes are no longer emphasized as important.

Of course, we all know that the first commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our hearts, minds, wills, strength. And out of that love comes honor and respect for God and others. Honor and majesty belong to the Lord and go before Him.

We are specifically commanded in the Word of God that one of the first people we should honor is our parents. The Bible has much to say about that. In Exodus 20:12, Deuteronomy 5:16, Matthew 15:4, and 19:19, Mark 7:10, and 10:19, Luke 18:20 and Ephesians 6:2 we are commanded to honor our parents. The summary of these scriptures is that when we honor our parents, all will be well with us and we will live a long life. That is a pretty definite commandment of the Lord, with very good consequences for honoring our parents and definitely very bad consequences when we do not honor our parents.

Honor comes from God. In 1 Chronicles 29:12 we read this: Both riches and honor come of You, and You reign over all; and in Your hand is power and might; and in Your hand it is to make great, and to give strength to all.

What we must do is yield to the Spirit of God to teach us how to honor and respect according to His Word. One thing I want to point out here is this. Sometimes people don’t deserve honor and respect, but we can still respect their position. It is never flesh and blood that is worthy of honor anyway. It is the position of the person. There have been people in my lifetime that I saw no reason to honor because of their wickedness. We are never to honor wickedness but we are to honor the position a person is in.

In Proverbs we see that the wisdom of God brings us to honor (Prov. 4:8) and that humility comes before honor (Prov. 15:33 and 18:12). As we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, He will lift us up and bring us to honor. It is God Who honors us and we, in turn, are to honor others.

The last point we will make concerning honor is found in 1 Peter 3:7. Husbands are to dwell with wives, giving honor to them as physically the weaker but realizing that they are joint heirs of the grace of God, in order that their prayers may not be hindered and cut off. This is a pretty heavy instruction. Men, if your prayers are being cut off and you are not getting results, check up on your home life. And likewise, wives are to reverence their husbands, honor them, esteem them and appreciate them (1 Peter 3:2 Amplified Bible).

Honor, respect, reverence flow from a decision to operate in the Love of God, Agape Love. Out that love come all the other Godly attributes and the nature of God in us overflows to the point that others want what we have.

Let the Love of God perfect you.

God Is Faithful

God is a faithful God. He is always faithful and true to His Word, faithful and true to His Word in you and faithful and true to you as His child. You can depend on Him. He is always the same, regardless of the circumstances or situation.

2 Thessalonians 3:3 is a powerful verse to meditate and build confidence in God’s faithfulness.

Yet the Lord is faithful.
He will establish you, strengthen you, set you on a firm foundation, set you or fix you unalterably, settle you on a firm and permanent basis, make you steadfast, firm and stable on righteousness, and guard you from the evil one.

What a promise this scripture is. Our God is the one who gives us stability in the good times and in the bad times, regardless of what is happening. We especially need to remember this when our lives feel like a bowl of jelly and all appears to be shaking and quivering around us. Have you ever had those times in your life? We all have. But what we must do is depend on the Spirit of God and not our human flesh which is screaming: Somebody get me out of this mess.

God already has a plan to take you to the other side. Follow His footsteps. Depend on Him.

Psalm 85:13
Righteousness shall go before Him and shall set us in the way of His steps, make His footsteps a way in which to walk.

Proverbs 12:28
In the way of righteousness life and the pathway no death.

A Call To Rejoice

Psalm 95 through 100 are beautiful and cause us to come before our Lord in worship and praise and bow down before Him in thanksgiving.

O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our salvation!
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.
In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights and strength of the hills are His also.
The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land.
O come, let us worship and bow down, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker in reverent praise and supplication.
For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hand.

O sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless His name; show forth His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the heathen, His wonders among all people.
For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised.
Honor and majesty are before Him; strength and beauty are in His sanctuary.
Give to the Lord, O you kindreds of the people, give unto the Lord glory and strength.
Give to the Lord the glory due to His name; bring an offering, and come into His courts.
O worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
Let the heavens rejoice and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fullness thereof.
Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein; then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the Lord; for He comes.

The Lord reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.
A fire goes before Him.
The heavens declare His righteousness, and all the people see His glory.
For You, Lord, are high above all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.
You that love the Lord, hate evil; He preserves the souls of His saints; He delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.
Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you righteous ones and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.

O sing to the Lord a new song; for He has done marvelous things; His right hand, and His holy arm, has gotten Him the victory.
The Lord has made known His salvation; His righteousness has He openly shown….
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise and rejoice, and sing praise.

The Lord reigns.
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His footstool; for He is holy.
Exalt the Lord our God, and worship at His holy hill; for the Lord our God is holy.

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!
Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!
Know that the Lord is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people,and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise; be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.

Do you feel the way I do? Just from typing this wonderful praise to our God, I am reminded of His awesome love for us and His goodness. I see His holiness and bow before Him, realizing how mighty He is-----AND HE IS MY FATHER!

Righteous

I love the last four verses of Psalm 92 in the Amplified Bible. They describe us as God’s uncompromisingly righteous ones.

Let’s make this our confession today.

I as the uncompromisingly righteous shall flourish like the palm tree.
I shall be long lived, stately, upright, useful and fruitful.
I shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
I am majestic, stable, durable, and incorruptible.

I am planted in the house of the Lord.
I flourish in the courts of my God.

I grow in grace.
I shall bring forth fruit in old age.
I shall be full of sap, of spiritual vitality.
I shall be rich in verdure (the vigorous, growing condition) of trust, love and contentment.

I am a living memorial to show that the Lord is upright and faithful to His promises.
He is my Rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

What a beautiful confession to make over our lives. I see as I grow older that I shall be full of spiritual vitality, vigorous and growing in trusting God, full of His love and contentment. What statements of Truth these are from God’s Word. We shall grow in grace. We flourish in God. We live long. We are useful and bear fruit. We are stable and durable and incorruptible with the incorruptible seed of the Word of God.

Let’s top it off today with verse 10 in this Psalm.
My horn, emblem of excessive strength and stately grace, You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil.

Encouragement Through Grace

Let’s look at 2 Thessalonians 2:16 and 17 today and make it our personal confession, based on the King James Version of the Bible and the Amplified Bible.

Now, my Lord Jesus Christ Himself and my God, Who is my Father, loves me.
They have given me everlasting consolation and encouragement and well-founded hope through their grace.
They comfort and encourage my heart through their grace.
They establish me in every good word and every good work through their grace.
They strengthen me; they keep me steadfast and they keep me unswerving in every good word and every good work through their grace.
The grace of my Lord Jesus Christ and my Father gives me the courage and the strength to do every good work.
They encourage me and strengthen me to do what they have destined for me to do.
When I need hope, my Father and Jesus give me hope. Their grace is all I need.

As I was talking to the Lord today about this verse, once again I was asking Him for a way to explain grace in a simple manner so that all of us could understand. This is what I perceived from Him.

Grace is God’s Love which is His ability made available on our behalf. We don’t deserve it or earn it in any way. It is made available to us because He loves us so dearly. It is His whole realm, His whole Kingdom, His whole nature, His whole way of doing things that is ours. It is released when our faith in God connects with Him, Who is Love. He is grace. He is Love made available. God is Love. Faith is the connector. And faith is developed by spending time with the Lord and His Word.

What a wonderful opportunity each one of us has as mankind in this world to represent the Lord. And we are not on our own to do it. He gives us His power, His ability, His grace to do what we are to do. What a delightful way to live! God supplies the grace. We supply the faith and trust. He does the rest.

I can hear some of you right now. Yes, that’s easy for you to say. You don’t know where I am. You don’t know how hard it is. And my reply to you is this: You don’t know where I am or what I have to contend with every day. We all have our challenges as we live in this world and work for Jesus, representing Him, whether it is as a wife and mother or husband and father, a worker on the job, an employee in the marketplace, a minister. Whatever we do, there will be roadblocks and challenges put in our path. That is the job of our enemy, the devil. He does everything possible to attempt to discourage us.

God is saying to us over and over in His Word. My grace is sufficient. That is what He told Paul. What He was saying to Paul and to you and me is that His Love, which is the container of His ability is all we need. We don’t need our ability. It will produce nothing but frustration and hard work that makes us tired and brings in little results.

I don’t know about you, but I certainly am glad that I have the Lord and that He is teaching me every day how to lean on Him, how to rely on His ability to get the job done. I am reminded here of the old farmer whom someone complimented on his farm and told him that the Lord certainly had helped him. His reply to the comment was that you should have seen it when just the Lord was in charge (meaning there were weeds, etc.). I am using this statement to make the point here that we do have to do physical labor sometimes and there are things we have to do, but God will direct us and give us the wisdom to know how to do it quickly and efficiently.

His grace is sufficient.

Love Is the Key, Part 3

Today we finish our reading of 1 Corinthians 13 in the Amplified Bible.

WHEN I WAS A CHILD, I TALKED LIKE A CHILD, I THOUGHT LIKE A CHILD, I REASONED LIKE A CHILD; NOW THAT I HAVE BECOME A MAN, I AM DONE WITH CHILDISH WAYS AND HAVE PUT THEM ASIDE.

In this verse Paul is comparing our earthly pursuits to pursuing God, Love Himself. The earthly things are childish and selfishly motivated. When we pursue God, Love, we put away our selfish ways, which are driven by our flesh and our earthly understanding. Walking in love causes us to put away our childish ways. A child is self-centered. An adult in God’s kingdom is someone who is God-centered, Love-centered, Love-focused. He/She is a person who thinks God’s thoughts and acts in God’s ways. This is possible as we spend time with the One Who is Love. We become like the One we spend the most of our time with.

FOR NOW WE ARE LOOKING IN A MIRROR THAT GIVES ONLY A DIM (BLURRED) REFLECTION [OF REALITY AS IN A RIDDLE OR ENIGMA], BUT THEN [WHEN PERFECTION COMES] WE SHALL SEE IN REALITY AND FACE TO FACE! NOW I KNOW IN PART (IMPERFECTLY), BUT THEN I SHALL KNOW AND UNDERSTAND FULLY AND CLEARLY, EVEN IN THE SAME MANNER AS I HAVE BEEN FULLY AND CLEARLY KNOWN AND UNDERSTOOD [BY GOD].

What is Paul saying here in this verse? He is saying that as long as we are earth bound, here on this earth, we only know partly what God’s Kingdom is like. We understand partly. But when He comes into our lives, when we are with Him, we understand fully and clearly. There are those who say that this is after we go home to be with Jesus or when He comes to take us in the rapture. Then there are those who say that it is possible while we are here on this earth, as we intimately fellowship with Him. I am not going to enter into a debate on it. I firmly believe that the more we get to know Him now, the less partial our knowledge is of Him and His Kingdom. We know Him better and better the longer we are with Him and the more closely we follow Him.

AND SO FAITH, HOPE, LOVE ABIDE [FAITH----CONVICTION AND BELIEF RESPECTING MAN’S RELATION TO GOD AND DIVINE THINGS; HOPE----JOYFUL AND CONFIDENT EXPECTATION OF ETERNAL SALVATION; LOVE----TRUE AFFECTION FOR GOD AND MAN, GROWING OUT OF GOD’S LOVE FOR AND IN US], THESE THREE; BUT THE GREATEST OF THESE IS LOVE.

Faith, hope and love live in us as God’s children. They are all qualities that He has. He is a God of faith. He gives us Bible hope. He is Love. These three qualities abide, take up residence in His children. Of these three, one is greater. Love is the greatest of these qualities because God is Love. Without love living, resting, abiding in us, there is nothing of God to bring life to faith and hope and all the other things we do here on this earth. Without love there is no life. God’s life is found in His love. No love----no life. No life----no light to guide us. God is Love. God is Light. God is Life. Paul’s parting statement is that without Love there is nothing else. It is the greatest, because it is God.

Love Is The Key, Part 2

Let’s continue our reading of 1 Corinthians 13 in the Amplified Bible

LOVE ENDURES LONG AND IS PATIENT AND KIND; LOVE NEVER IS ENVIOUS NOR BOILS OVER WITH JEALOUSY, IS NOT BOASTFUL OR VAINGLORIOUS, DOES NOT DISPLAY ITSELF HAUGHTILY.

From this verse we see that God’s Love is kind toward others, wants their best, and doesn’t flaunt itself as being better than others. Because of His love, there is patience with others’ weaknesses and faults. There is a great deal of overlooking what they do wrong, always praying for their best.

IT IS NOT CONCEITED (ARROGANT AND INFLATED WITH PRIDE); IT IS NOT RUDE (UNMANNERLY) AND DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY. LOVE (GOD’S LOVE IN US) DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN RIGHTS OR ITS OWN WAY, FOR IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING; IT IS NOT TOUCHY OR FRETFUL OR RESENTFUL; IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE EVIL DONE TO IT [IT PAYS NO ATTENTION TO A SUFFERED WRONG].

This verse covers it all in one word------unselfish. People who think of others instead of themselves are polite and mannerly toward other people. They prefer others over themselves instead of seeking what is in their best interests. Therefore, they are not easily upset and fretful when things don’t go exactly as they wanted. They actually don’t even take the time to take into account what others do to them because they are focused on Jesus and pleasing Him.

IT DOES NOT REJOICE AT INJUSTICE AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT REJOICES WHEN RIGHT AND TRUTH PREVAIL.

God’s Love rejoices, gets pleasure from seeing righteousness exalted and the truth lifted up. Why? Because He is Truth and His Word is Truth. And He is righteous and has made us righteous through the blood of Jesus Christ.

LOVE BEARS UP UNDER ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES, IS EVER READY TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON, ITS HOPES ARE FADELESS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT ENDURES EVERYTHING [WITHOUT WEAKENING].

God always sees the best in everyone because His glasses are the blood of His Son Jesus. His hopes for us never become dim or dull. Whatever comes, He is always the same yesterday, today and forever. That is the way we will be as we embrace His Love. We will be just like Him.

LOVE NEVER FAILS [NEVER FADES OUT OR BECOMES OBSOLETE OR COMES TO AN END]. AS FOR PROPHECY (THE GIFT OF INTERPRETING THE DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE), IT WILL BE FULFILLED AND PASS AWAY; AS FOR TONGUES, THEY WILL BE DESTROYED AND CEASE; AS FOR KNOWLEDGE, IT WILL PASS AWAY [IT WILL LOSE ITS VALUE AND BE SUPERSEDED BY TRUTH].
FOR OUR KNOWLEDGE IS FRAGMENTARY (INCOMPLETE AND IMPERFECT), AND OUR PROPHECY (OUR TEACHING) IS FRAGMENTARY (INCOMPLETE AND IMPERFECT).
BUT WHEN THE COMPLETE AND PERFECT (TOTAL) COMES, THE INCOMPLETE AND IMPERFECT WILL VANISH AWAY (BECOME ANTIQUATED, VOID, AND SUPERSEDED).

We see here that God, Love, has no end or diminishing. All these other temporary earthly things will lose their value. Why? There will be no need for tongues when we are with Jesus; there will be no need for pursuing knowledge, because the best earthly knowledge is still partial; there will be no need for prophesying because the Teacher will reveal all his fullness all the time. We will have the One Who is all those things when we pass from this earth. He is the Truth. We will have all Truth because we will be with Him. All of the earthly pursuits will be out of date and superseded by the fullness of His Spirit and Kingdom as we spend eternity with Him.

Love Is The Key, Part 1

Let’s read 1 Corinthians 13 in the Amplified Bible.

IF I [CAN] SPEAK IN THE TONGUES OF MEN AND [EVEN] OF ANGELS, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE (THAT REASONING, INTENTIONAL, SPIRITUAL DEVOTION SUCH AS IS INSPIRED BY GOD’S LOVE FOR AND IN US) I AM ONLY A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING CYMBAL.

Even though it is important that we be baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues, if we have not God’s love operating in us, we are simply making a noise as we speak in tongues or pray in tongues. It is noise and not pleasant to God’s ears. But the person who yields to God, to love, speaks a melody that is music to God’s ears when he or she speaks with other tongues. When Love speaks, God speaks, and He is given full reign in people's lives.

AND IF I HAVE PROPHETIC POWERS (THE GIFT OF INTERPRETING THE DIVINE WILL AND PURPOSE), AND UNDERSTAND ALL THE SECRET TRUTHS AND MYSTERIES AND POSSESS ALL KNOWLEDGE, AND IF I HAVE [SUFFICIENT] FAITH SO THAT I CAN REMOVE MOUNTAINS, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE (GOD’S LOVE IN ME) I AM NOTHING (A USELESS NOBODY.

Isn’t this something! If we are able to prophesy and understand God’s mysteries and have faith that is capable of removing the mountains in our lives and have not God’s love operating in us, we are useless. This verse is not saying that faith is unimportant or that being given the gift of seeing into the mysteries of God’s kingdom is unimportant. What it is saying is this: Love is more important that anything else in our lives.

When we seek God with all that is in us, we are seeking Love because God is Love. Yes, when we seek Love, we are somebody in God’s Kingdom. We are just like Him---talk like Him, walk like Him, act like Him. Then the faith is produced and the revelation is there and the ability to believe and receive is operating. We must remember that faith operates by love, God’s love in us. Without His love operating in us, the faith may produce results, but the results are empty and without life. God is full of life and gives life to all that He touches. That is the way that we are when we yield to Him, to Love Himself.

EVEN IF I DOLE OUT ALL THAT I HAVE [TO THE POOR IN PROVIDING] FOOD, AND IF I SURRENDER MY BODY TO BE BURNED OR IN ORDER THAT I MAY GLORY, BUT HAVE NOT LOVE (GOD’S LOVE IN ME), I GAIN NOTHING.

Are you telling me that if I am kind and if I help the poor and needy and if I give myself to be killed and have not love, I do not gain anything? Are you telling me that it profits me nothing? In one word, YES! This is pretty heavy duty stuff here. Let me see if I have gotten this right from these three verses. If I speak in tongues, if I have the gift of prophecy, if I understand all mysteries and all knowledge, if I have great faith, if I give all my goods to feed the poor, if I give my body to be burned, and have not God’s love operating in me and through me, I get no benefit from it. That’s right. Well, it looks to me like it is adding up to this: Love is the key. God, Love Himself, is the key to all that I do on this earth.

What I am to do is to operate in God’s love in all situations and at all times toward everyone. And then all these other things such as faith, giving, feeding the poor and surrendering my life will profit me, because they will be done at the direction of the Holy Spirit and thus have God’s life operating in these “acts of doing.”

Do all at the direction of the Holy Spirit and by His anointing, His power and love. Father knows best.

The Favor of God

As I was reading God’s Word today, the Holy Spirit showed me a truth about the favor of God that I had never seen before.



The favor of God is the result, the outflowing of God’s love for us. When we are walking in God, walking in Love (because God is Love) we are giving forth an attitude that draws others to want to do things for us. We are pouring forth a Spirit of Love, and the other fruit of the spirit come forth—joy, peace, patience, kindness or gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.



The Presence of God in a person is an aroma given off. Those hungry for God are drawn to His Presence. Those who are not of God are repelled but still feel a desire to do good for us. That’s why we are told to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. It releases the Spirit of God (Love) to bring us favor rather than binding His work of favor.



Anything other than love given forth from us gives satan and his kingdom access to produce undesirable things in our lives. It’s all about love—the love of God because that’s all He is. It is the sum total of His being and ours if He lives in us. His love is shed forth in our hearts and in Him (Love) we live and more and have our being. As He is, so are we in this world.



Send forth The Blessing of God and get blessed. Send forth the curse, anger, resentment, jealousy, rage and that is what comes back to you. It is the boomerang effect. It is the sowing and reaping principle. What we sow, we harvest. We need to uproot bad seed before it takes root and produces the wrong harvest in our lives. Actually we need to get rid of the bad seed attitude immediately.



When we are rooted and grounded in God’s love, we are filled with His fullness and favor is the result. The fullness of God is the fullness of Love. In His fullness, as we live here on this earth, it seems to us that He does superabundantly, far over and above all that we dare ask or think, infinitely beyond our highest prayers, thoughts, desires, hopes or dreams. But actually, in the reality of God’s realm, what we in our earthly understanding consider superabundant is simply God’s normal way of life every day. It’s His lifestyle.



God has given us Himself, His Love, His superabundant life. We receive that superabundance through His Word becoming alive in us, in our lives. The overflow, the outcome, the result of that superabundance flowing produces favor everywhere we go, with all that we meet. Favor is a natural result of God’s life. Even those who don’t like us can’t help themselves. Remember that the Word of God says that even our enemies will be at peace with us.



Yes, I know that there is chaos all around us in these times of living. There is turmoil on all sides of us. There are troubles and high cost and destitution. But God------------. Those who dwell in the secret place of the Most High God (His Presence, His Love, His Word) abide under the shadow of the Almighty, Whose power no foe can withstand. HE IS GOD! There is none higher than Him. He is the King. He is the One in charge. There is a worldly expression: Go with the champion; go with the winner. Well, in God’s Kingdom, I’m going with the champion, the winner, the King. He is above all. Also, remember that Jesus said that He was leaving us His peace, even in the midst of the world of troubles. His peace trumps everything else. Follow Him; follow peace.



Do you want favor to flow like a river in your life, bringing good things to you? Meditate on Who is in you—He is Love; He is over all. Favor will come your way. It is just waiting there for you.

Righteousness - Confession

In Psalm 49:3 in the New Living Translation, we read these words, a confession that all of us should make.

For my words are wise, and my thoughts are filled with insight.

Amplified Bible

My mouth shall speak wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.



Then we look at Romans 10:10.

With the heart man believes UNTO RIGHTEOUSNESS

and with the mouth confession is made UNTO SALVATION.



Believing unto righteousness with my heart gives me the right to live at a new address while I am here on this earth----the Garden of Eden, Heaven on earth. It is a position and a relationship while I physically reside here on this planet earth. My being, my self, the part of me that is vibrantly living and breathing and aware of life is living in the heavenly realm if I am born again and have become a child of God.



I have said before that we are like ambassadors from another country and we are living in a special condition different than the land in which we are physically dwelling. We are living in the conditions of the country from which we came. We have a place called the ambassador’s dwelling. That dwelling place is in the Most High God, in His righteousness, in His Garden of Eden right here and right now.



Confessing unto salvation is the second half of Romans 10:10. Confession of God’s Word is speaking God’s Word so that you are in agreement with His kingdom; it is giving God’s words back to Him so that the Holy Spirit has substance from this earth (Godly confession of God’s Word) to work with substance from heaven (the anointing, the energy force, the ability of God). Put the two together---confession of God’s Word and believing unto righteousness, and you have the power of God released on behalf of you and your family. The Holy Spirit has the material to work with that will bring results. This is an atmosphere of faith and will produce what God says in His Word.



The importance of God’s Word being spoken is not a part of a regimented works program but a vibrant, vital exercise of making His Word available for Him to work with. This is the way God has set up everything. It is all revolving around words. Man was given the ability to speak, just like His God. You and I are exactly like our Heavenly Father. We are duplicates of Him. He speaks His Word and it produces results. We speak His Word and it produces results. Where the gap comes is in our believing. Do we really believe that His Word will produce results for us personally? The enemy, the devil, has “done a number” on most Christians so that they have so much fear and doubt and unbelief that it takes a long period of time to get that stuff out of the way, to make way for God’s way of doing things.



Righteousness is the pathway; it is the Love pathway of God because God is Love. God’s Word is the Light on that pathway and brings Life, the God-kind of life.



In Mark 11:23, we see the same thing we have been discussing regarding Romans 10:10. Let’s briefly look at that familiar verse. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever SHALL SAY unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, but shall BELIEVE that those things which he SAITH shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he SAITH.



It’s all about the heart and the mouth. Believe with the heart and confess with the mouth. And then it is all about the Word of God in our hearts and in our mouths. God’s Word is our guide. It contains His way of living. The Bible is our guidebook, our manual of operation.

Always

What does the word "always" mean to you? How else can you say it? You could say “forever.” It means perpetual, continual, never ceasing. It portrays the idea of faithfulness without end, of trustworthiness. And God is like that. He is always the same yesterday, today and forever. He never changes. He is constant. You can count on Him. What He says, He means and what He says He will do, He does. This factor is really what produces faith in God. We develop faith in someone we can trust, whom we know will be the same, regardless of what is going on.

Let’s look at scriptures regarding "always," "forever." The scripture to which we referred in the first paragraph is Hebrews 13:8. Look at it in the Amplified Bible. Jesus Christ (the Messiah) is [always] the same, yesterday, today, [yes] and forever (to the ages). This is God’s promise to us, His statement of fact. It is settled. It is a done deal. He is with us always.

And what about Matthew 28:20---Jesus' last words in the great commission. In fact, let’s read verses 18-20 in the Amplified Bible.
Jesus approached and, breaking the silence, said to them, All authority (all power of rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me.
Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you, and BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALL THE DAYS (PERPETUALLY, UNIFORMLY, AND ON EVERY OCCASION), to the [very] close and consummation of the age. Amen (so let it be).

Do you see that? He, Jesus, Himself personally gives us a statement of truth. I am with you always, even to the end of the world. That is His personal guarantee. It is backed by all of heaven. It is a warranty that does not run out. It holds true forever.

Even in the Old Testament God tells His people that He will not leave them or forsake them.
Deuteronomy 4:31----(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.

And how about Joshua? God emphasized to him that He was with Him all the way. In Joshua 1:5-9 God says to Joshua: I will be with you. I will not fail you. I will not forsake you. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be dismayed. I the Lord your God am with you wherever you go. What a promise. Do you see that? This is old testament; this is old covenant. We are living in a much better covenant now. Jesus purchased our freedom; we are no longer separated from God. We are no longer separated; we are reconciled, brought back to Him. There is no longer any separation. We are one. How can you forsake someone who is one with you? Where you are, they are and where they are, you are. Do you see the picture? You and God are one if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and are born again. Jesus purchased freedom for you to be in unity with your Heavenly Father. What a plan! What a God!

And the God Who is one with us, who is always with us, will always cause us to triumph.
2 Corinthians 2:14----Now thanks be to God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. Amplified version----But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere.

What a promise we have. God is always with us and He will always cause us to triumph in Christ, in the Anointed One and His anointing. Regardless of where you are today, regardless of your situation, whether it is wonderful or it is not so wonderful, this is God’s promise, His factual truth that He has stated concerning you as His child. Take it and believe it and walk in it.

We will end with this verse from Hebrews 13:5 in the Amplified Bible.
…for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]

Someone shout “Hallelujah!” He cannot lie!

The Life Of God

If you have accepted Jesus as your Savior, you are a child of God. You are born again. You are a member of the Heavenly Father’s household of faith. You are of the household of God. He is your Father. Jesus Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father as your elder brother, interceding for you to enjoy a good life. The Holy Spirit is here to assist you, teach you, guide you, counsel you and help you every day of your life to live the good life that God intended for you to live right now, right here on this earth. We do not have to wait until we get to Heaven to enjoy the good life that is ours. Jesus poured out His blood, took all that would come against you to defeat you and handed you His victory over death, hell and the grave.

When Jesus ascended into Heaven and left this earth realm, He left us a legacy of a life worth living. He said in John 10:10 that He had come that we might have and enjoy life, have it in the full until it overflows. I don’t know about you, but I don’t know too many Christians who are living like that. What is our problem? I believe it is that we have majored on the challenges that are presented to us here on this earth more than the victory that Christ has purchased for us. We have majored more on fixing things ourselves, in our own self-sufficiencies or depended on the sufficiencies of other people around us. It is the The Holy Spirit on Whom we should depend. He is here to give us direction and to help us in our everyday living. He is here to bring into reality for us the life Jesus Christ has made available to us right now.

Just recently I have come to truly understand just how honored and privileged I am to know the Holy Spirit and to have Him as my friend and God. He delights in giving me all that pertains to live and godliness. It is His pleasure to give us the Kingdom of God. He is so excited about our happiness and well-being and loves to see us partake of all that God has made available to us.

Life----what a wonderful gift of God. I am not just talking about physical life in our physical body. I am talking about the life of God, zoe, that makes us new creations, that opens up all of Heaven’s realm to us. I am talking about the life eternal which brings a rejoicing to our souls, gives us hope for the future and faith for our tomorrows. I am talking about God’s life which brings salvation, freedom, deliverance to us and sets us free to worship Him and truly enjoy our lives here on this earth.

God is a good God. He has provided us with everything that we need to have a fully abundant life while we live here on this earth and fulfill our Godly assignment. We are temporary residents here and must see that for what it is. This is simply a temporary abode. Our permanent dwelling place is in the Lord Jesus Christ and His Presence, our Heavenly Father and the Holy Spirit. God is our abiding place.

Jesus said that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. And we are told in the scriptures that in Him we live and move and have our being. In Him we have life. The life of God was breathed into Adam when God created Him. The life of God was breathed into you the day you accepted what Jesus had done for you. Take time today and every day to meditate on that one fact alone and your life will take on a whole new picture. The life of God is dwelling in you right now, quickening your mortal body, rejuvenating your soul, and taking your spirit into realms of His glory. We need nothing else but Him. He is all we need. God has gladly and joyfully given us the free gift of Himself.

Ephesians 2:10 Amplified Bible
For I am God’s own handiwork, His workmanship, recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew, that I may do those good works which God predestined and planned beforehand for me, taking the path which He prepared ahead of time for me, that I should walk in that path, LIVING THE GOOD LIFE which He prearranged and made ready for me to live.

Fullness, Filled, Glory

Today we are going to put together scriptures on the glory and being full. The Spirit of God has put them in a sequence for me to share with you.

Isaiah 6:2, NLT
…Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty!
The whole earth is filled with His glory!

Colossians 2:9.10, KJV
For in Him (Christ) dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.
And I am complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power.

John 1:10, Amplified Bible
For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

Hebrews 2:14, KJV
For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge, the knowing of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.

Psalm 72:18,19, KJV
Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, Who only does wondrous things.
And blessed be His glorious name forever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory; Amen and Amen.

Habakkuk 3:3,4 KJV and Amplified Bible
…His glory covered the heavens, and the earth was full of His praise.
And His brightness was like the sunlight, as the light; bright beams, horns, rays streamed from His hand, and there was the hiding of His power, and there [in sunlike splendor] was the hiding place of His power.

2 Corinthians 4:6,7, KJV and Amplified Bible
For God Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
So as [to beam forth] the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God [as it is manifest in the Person and is revealed] in the face of Jesus Christ (the Messiah).
We have, we possess this precious treasure in earthen vessels, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of His power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves.

2 Corinthians 3:18, KJV and Amplified Bible
But we all, with open face (unveiled face) behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror, glass the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.

Isaiah 58:8, Amplified Bible, Notice the conditions for this in the whole chapter.
…Righteousness shall go before you [conducting you to peace and prosperity], and the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
Psalm 85:13 Amplified Bible
Righteousness shall go before Him and make His footsteps a way in which to walk.
KJV
Righteousness shall go before Him and shall set us in the way of His footsteps’
NLT
Righteousness goes as a herald before Him, preparing the way for His steps.

Philippians 4:19, Amplified Bible
And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

The Holy Spirit

Jesus made a very profound statement in John 14:26 regarding the Holy Spirit.

Let’s look at it in light of Jesus leaving the earth and another coming to be with us always, everywhere, all the time. Because Jesus confined himself to a flesh and blood body, He could only be at one place at a time, but the Holy Spirit can be all places at once.

We must remember that God the Father sent The Word to the earth and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory as of the only begotten of the Father. The earthly body of Mary was designated at the container of The Word and she was to call Him Jesus. Jesus was the Son of God made manifest in the flesh. He was also the son of man as He and the Father designed. In Psalm 107:20 we read that the Father sent His Word and healed us (That means more than just physical healing; that means total health in all areas of our lives.) and delivered us from our destructions. Jesus came to set us free. What a tremendous help He was to everyone with whom He came in contact.

But when Jesus was preparing to leave this earth, He told the disciples (and really all of us) that the Father was sending the Comforter in His name, in the name of Jesus. Do you realize that every time you say “in the name of Jesus,” you are asking to Holy Spirit to take care of your situation? You are allowing Him to do whatever is necessary to take care of you, whether it is to comfort you, counsel you, help you, intercede for you, strengthen you, be your advocate or lawyer against satan’s accusations, and to stand by you always.

In the Amplified Bible we read three things that the Holy Spirit would be doing when He came to this earth and dwelt in each of God’s children. He would be here in the place of Jesus. He would represent Jesus. He would act on behalf of Jesus. Look at that. He is here doing everything for us that Jesus did for others when He walked this earth and healed the sick, raised the dead, brought prosperity to those around Him, delivered those who needed freedom. In Luke 4 He told everyone what He was sent to do. He who has ears to hear, let him hear. The problem was that they did not have ears to hear. Their ears were deafened to the Lord. There were those who knew: Mary His mother, the old man Simeon in the temple, the widow Anna in the temple. I think specifically of those three people----the least of all----a very young girl and two ordinary older people. It was not the leaders of the church world at that time who recognized Jesus and what He was sent to do. It was the people in the towns and villages. They received His ministry. What a lesson to all of us today.

In this verse 26 Jesus continued by telling the disciples that the Holy Spirit will teach us all things. He will bring to our remembrance all things that we have been told. He is the teacher of the church; He is the great Teacher. He is the One Who makes the Kingdom of God real to us and shows us the way it operates. What a privilege and an honor we have to be vessels, temples of the Holy Spirit. I consider it to be the highest honor to be His vessel.

Oh, may we get to know Him intimately and please Him and give Him joy as we live here on this earth and accomplish our assignment with joy.

Our New Nature

If you are born again, if you have accepted Jesus as your Savior and Lord, you have a new nature. You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Your spirit is a new spirit, recreated in Christ Jesus, born anew, that you may do those good works which He ordained for you to walk in.

Today we are going to make a good confession regarding who we are. This is a confession we all should make every day to renew our minds, which must be filled every day with God’s Word, His way of doing things.

Our confession will be personalized from the New Living Translation, Colossians 3:12-17.

Since God chose me to be a holy person whom He loves, I clothe myself with
tenderhearted mercy,
kindness,
humility,
gentleness,
and patience.
I make allowance for other’s faults and forgive the person who offends me.
I remember that the Lord forgave me so I must forgive others.
And the most important piece of clothing I wear is love.
Love is what binds us all together in perfect harmony.
And I let the peace that comes from Christ (The Anointed One and His anointing) rule in my heart.
As a member of the Body of Christ, I am called to live in peace.
And I am always thankful.

I let the words of Christ, in all their richness, live in my heart and make me wise.
I use His words to teach and counsel others.
I sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with a thankful heart.
And whatever I do or say, I let it be as a representative of the Lord Jesus, all the while giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Isn’t this a powerful confession. The Lord brought this to my attention as I was reading the Word today and checking some references to Colossians 3. What a wonderful and awesome God we have the privilege of being one with. Jesus has given us the privilege of being one with Him and the Father and one another just as they are one with each other and the Holy Spirit. I think that is a pretty neat deal, if you ask me. I have the opportunity, the God-given right, the privilege of being one with God Almighty, the One Who created me and all that is around me. What a deal! What a God!

Ponder these thoughts today as you work, shop, pray, read the Word and do things for your family and friends and strangers. And also take time just to “be” and not “do” anything. Sit in His Presence and enjoy Him.