Disabilities don't limit our ability to glorify God for the wonderful gift of life He has given us.
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
God Will Be With You Always!
This song talks about pain which is universal, as well as personal. However, through the pain there is a God who can be found. He is always there and always cares.
God Is Here
Be encouraged and enter into worship - God is here!
Thanks to Woody & Mae for sharing this. :)
Thanks to Woody & Mae for sharing this. :)
Monday, May 24, 2010
Mature Faith
"Faith as a grain of mustard seed. . ." Matthew 17:20
We have the idea that God rewards us for our faith, it may be so in the initial stages; but we do not earn anything by faith, faith brings us into right relationship with God and gives God His opportunity.
God has frequently to knock the bottom board out of your experience if you are a saint in order to get you into contact with Himself. God wants you to understand that it is a life of faith, not a life of sentimental enjoyment of His blessings. Your earlier life of faith was narrow and intense, settled around a little sun-spot of experience that had as much of sense as of faith in it, full of light and sweetness; then God withdrew His conscious blessings in order to teach you to walk by faith. You are worth far more to Him now than you were in your days of conscious delight and thrilling testimony.
Faith by its very nature must be tried, and the real trial of faith is not that we find it difficult to trust God, but that God's character has to be cleared in our own minds. Faith in its actual working out has to go through spells of unsyllabled isolation. Never confound the trial of faith with the ordinary discipline of life, much that we call the trial of faith is the inevitable result of being alive. Faith in the Bible is faith in God against everything that contradicts Him - I will remain true to God's character whatever He may do. "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him" - this is the most sublime utterance of faith in the whole of the Bible.
-Oswald Chambers
My Utmost for His Highest - October 31st
Friday, May 21, 2010
The Power of The Resurrection
Jesus is resurrection life. In the story of Lazarus, the point to Mary and Martha was not merely to bring them to an understanding of Jesus as savior and Lord. That they had already confessed. But that their experience could believe Him to be the savior for that day, that hour, that moment in order to resurrect their Lazarus. You see they loved their brother Lazarus, but Jesus loved him too.
It is important that although Jesus knew what he had come to do and that the outcome would be to raise the dead, still He wept. Why? The word gives clear indication Jesus understood how it would all turn out. He wept over the condition of men’s souls and their faithlessness; He wept over their hardness to heart to believe; He wept over their grief and sorrow. I believe He wept in response over what the enemy meant for evil. All because Jesus is moved with compassion to care not just for Martha and Mary, but He cares for you.
This familiar story makes a greater point of relevance to your life, that today, Jesus seeks to resurrect your Lazarus, but with power. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead to bear much fruit as the word says, ‘bringing many souls to Jesus.’ Many more can be brought to the Savior by the power of His resurrection in what you thought was dead, or of what you had stop believing Him to do, touch or redeem.
Do you realize Jesus has wept over your condition? He weeps for what the enemy has done and wants to redeem your dead condition to raise up a powerfully able witness to deliver men from their state of denial and unbelief. He waits for you to believe Him for today, saying to you like Martha, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this? I am the power to raise you where I live and move to do the unbelievable’. Jesus commands new life to your current state of condition saying, ‘come forth as my living testimony, I will raise you up to bring many others to Me’. Read John 12:9-11 and see many were brought to Jesus all because He cares to resurrect those He’s wept for. He cares for you and says, ‘Just believe.’
Pastor Kyle Nees
Abiding Life Ministries
Lindale, TX
Pastor Nees' Blog: http://kyleneesgracelife.wordpress.com
It is important that although Jesus knew what he had come to do and that the outcome would be to raise the dead, still He wept. Why? The word gives clear indication Jesus understood how it would all turn out. He wept over the condition of men’s souls and their faithlessness; He wept over their hardness to heart to believe; He wept over their grief and sorrow. I believe He wept in response over what the enemy meant for evil. All because Jesus is moved with compassion to care not just for Martha and Mary, but He cares for you.
This familiar story makes a greater point of relevance to your life, that today, Jesus seeks to resurrect your Lazarus, but with power. Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead to bear much fruit as the word says, ‘bringing many souls to Jesus.’ Many more can be brought to the Savior by the power of His resurrection in what you thought was dead, or of what you had stop believing Him to do, touch or redeem.
Do you realize Jesus has wept over your condition? He weeps for what the enemy has done and wants to redeem your dead condition to raise up a powerfully able witness to deliver men from their state of denial and unbelief. He waits for you to believe Him for today, saying to you like Martha, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Do you believe this? I am the power to raise you where I live and move to do the unbelievable’. Jesus commands new life to your current state of condition saying, ‘come forth as my living testimony, I will raise you up to bring many others to Me’. Read John 12:9-11 and see many were brought to Jesus all because He cares to resurrect those He’s wept for. He cares for you and says, ‘Just believe.’
Pastor Kyle Nees
Abiding Life Ministries
Lindale, TX
Pastor Nees' Blog: http://kyleneesgracelife.wordpress.com
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Greatness and God in Perspective
"God is not wanting great men, but He is wanting men who will dare to prove the greatness of their God."
-A.B. Simpson
This is my all-time favorite quote!
-A.B. Simpson
This is my all-time favorite quote!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Man In The Hole
What Distinguishes Christianity from all other religions is the compassion of God - He came to rescue us because we can't rescue ourselves. Ephesians 2:8 - "For it is by grace that you have been saved, through faith- and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."
Do Your Ears Hear?
"...but sometimes good men fall asleep, and are inattentive to divine things; and this is one way God takes to awaken them, to arouse their attention; he speaks to them out of a whirlwind...which fetches them out of their slumber, and so their ears are opened to hear what He says in it..." - John Gill's Exposition Of The Entire Bible
The Bible speaks much about having an "opened" ear. In spite of the fact that Jesus Himself declared in Matthew 13:16 - "But blessed are your...ears, for they hear" - there are conditions that we face as children of God when our ears can become closed to what He is saying. Is this a time for you, O Saint of God, when you know that God is trying to get your attention, but you simply cannot hear what He is saying? He may have spoken to you a thousand times - as far as what to do or where to go - yet you are not hearing it.
You are crying out to Him for answers. And, unless you are entertaining some form of sin in your life at this time, His ear is "not heavy, that it cannot hear" (Isaiah 59:1). He definitely hears the cries of the righteous, and you happen to be one of them.
So, the problem is not on God's part. It isn't that He cannot or will not hear you. The problem no doubt is with your "ears." Something has come along to close them or to impair your spiritual hearing. In Psalm 40:6, David prophetically spoke of the coming Messiah - Jesus - in saying "...mine ears hast Thou opened..." However, these were not words pertaining to the Messiah alone, but words for David and for every child of God as well.
"...mine ears hast Thou opened..." What exactly does this mean? Why did David say that God "opened" his ears? And, after doing so, what was the result? In this verse, the meaning is that God hollowed out...digged...bored... excavated...and made a passage through his ears - making it possible for David to hear what He was saying. The Lord caused him to hear truth...made him more attentive to receive the truth...opened his ears in order to make him "swift to hear" (James 1:19)...communicated the specific truth to him that He prefers obedience to sacrifice...and provoked an instant obedience in his heart along with a complete and full surrender of his soul to Him.
From this verse, we gather that there are those who have "opened" ears and those who have "closed" ears.Isaiah 48:8 describes a people who were perverse, hardened, and insensible - "Yea, thou heardest not; yea, thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened..." Notice how the prophet drew this conclusion by referring to the state of their "ears" - their hearing - or should we say the lack of it. These people didn't attend to the predictions, warnings, or promises of God when uttered. They were prone to disregard Him. They didn't listen to anything He had to say. Their "ear was not opened" to it.
So, from this discussion - based on the Word of God - we conclude that having an "opened ear" denotes a prompt and easy attention to what God is saying; while a "closed ear" denotes an unwillingness to listen to what is spoken by Him. But, you may be saying to yourself -"I do have a heart to obey God. I just don't know what it is that I am supposed to do in order to obey."
There is a picture drawn in the Scriptures of Isaac's wells being closed up by the Philistines. Genesis 26:18 explains - "And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philistines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called their names after the names by which his father had called them."
Somehow - perhaps while Isaac was preoccupied with mourning over his father's death - the Philistines stopped up all the wells of water which his father Abraham "had digged" and passed on to him. They definitely belonged to Isaac, but the "enemy" by some means got through to them and stopped them up.
Remember - the idea behind "opening mine ears" is the idea of excavating, digging, or hollowing out. In the Scriptures, the "Philistines" have always been a type of the "flesh." We are talking about the "flesh" as in opposition to the ways of the Spirit of God.
Could it be that - just like Isaac - through some type of circumstance (death of a loved one, setback, tragedy, sickness, disappointment, loss, misfortune, etc.), your enemy came along - taking full advantage of you while you were "weak" - and stopped up your "ears" using your "flesh" - thoughts, attitudes, impressions, or dispositions of fear, doubt, unbelief, and confusion? Now you find that you cannot hear what God is saying to you. You have no clue! When you turn to the right or to the left, all you encounter are impossibilities and silence from Heaven.
Is God speaking to you? As long as you are one of His righteous ones, yes, He is! Are you hearing what He is saying at this time? Hardly! Nonetheless, the Scriptures do tell us that the Lord is the One Who "opens the ears" to "hear."
Isaiah 50:4-5 says - "The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: He wakeneth morning by morning, He wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious..." The Lord GOD is well able to make you obediently attentive to His voice...cause you to hear most freely and receive most fully... and know what is being said and comply with it.
Job 33:14-16 says - "For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then He openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction." Here we see that God makes use of various ways to make known His mind and will to mankind - through dreams, visions, providence, the conscience, or even chastisements. When one way is without effect, He uses another. However, even after many attempts, the individual may still not perceive or regard it. He may still not discern it as the "voice" of God - being "deaf" to all instruction - not understanding His mind and meaning.
The Good News is that - even after many attempts - God is well able to "open the ears of men, and seal their instruction." He is well able to open the heart which - in turn - opens the ears. He removes that which stops the ears from hearing. He makes the soul to receive a deep and lasting impression of the truth - as wax upon a seal.
Yes, it is God Who "openeth the ears of men" - Who is able to remove any hindrances that the "flesh" may have caused. David said - "...mine ears hast Thou opened..." God - like Isaac - is able to "dig again" - the "wells of hearing" - making a clear passage down into the fountain of your soul.
Job 36:10 says - "He openeth also their ear to discipline..."
Job 36:15 says - "...and openeth their ears in oppression."
God is able to "awaken your ear to hear as the learned" - to prepare you to receive His divine instruction - to "hear" it attentively - to understand and remember it. He is able to "open your ears" to understand the reasons behind your circumstances or to learn the lessons intended. He is also able to cause you to understand His government - the reasons why He is visiting you in this manner or permitting things to come into your life at this time.
If you are not careful, some circumstances can cause you to become drowsy and sleepy - spiritually speaking - causing you to hear by halves or not at all. It is imperative that God allows times of "discipline" or "oppression" to wake you up out of your slumber and cause you to "hear" once again.
Are you at a place in your life where you are having difficulty "hearing" the voice of the Lord, or at least understanding His mind and will on a matter?
Is it possible that - at a time when you were very vulnerable - a "Philistine" - possibly your own "flesh" - stopped up your ears - causing you to now have problems "hearing"? You lack understanding and discernment concerning the will of God for your life. You feel the "discipline" and the "oppression," but cannot discern the lesson or purpose behind it.
David said - "...mine ears hast Thou opened."
The Prophet Isaiah said - "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious..."
God is able to unstop your "ears." He is able to - "awaken your ears to hear as the learned."
In your moment of desperation, cry out to Him to do this! If you will, we guarantee that you will be able to boldly confess - "...mine ears hast Thou opened..." and "The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious..."Once again, "light" will flood into your soul - driving out all darkness - bringing understanding and discernment - and causing you to "hear" what God is saying to you at this hour.
May God Bless His Word,
Connie Giordano
Abiding Life Ministries
Lindale, TX
www.abidinglifeministries.org
The original title to this article was "Ears That Cannot Hear"
Monday, May 17, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Our Best Days Are Ahead of Us!
Just to let you know, I'm on the threshold of turning 50 years old. So, late last week, I got a good laugh when I opened the mail and found an AARP card with my name on it. What's this all about ?? I mean, my birthday hasn't even happened yet - it's 3 months from now. I know what's going to happen from here on out; my mailbox will be filled up, on a weekly basis, with junk mail concerning retirement homes, discounts on denture cream, hearing aid devices, and a real deal on a grave site. Oh my! LOL!!!
Yet, despite all my protesting, I'm actually excited about turning 50. I don't really care (as you can tell) and God has made it known to me that I would have an effective life and ministry the older I get. I can't wait! The same can be true for all of us if we will believe it.
No matter what our ages, God has given us (you and me) this appointed time in history to make a difference for Him, to stand for Him and advance His kingdom. I look forward to heaven, but there's just too much work to be done right here and now. I guess I'm a gray panther for God. I don't care! But, I do care about pleasing and serving my God, through every year and age.
Let's stand together in our lives, families, neighborhoods, jobs, and churches and let the King of Kings reign in our hearts and move in our midst. I so desparately want to see God move and be glorified on this earth and in every tribe and nation. To see the blind (physically and spiritually) receive their sight and the captives to be set free. I'm sure you feel that same way.
Though life is marred by sin and so full of pain, it is so wonderful that Jesus wipes away every tear and makes ALL things new. He's the best, He's God and such a Great King!!!
God is glorified as we serve Him wholeheartedly all of our years, no matter what our ages. So, let's allow God to move in and through us for His glory. That's the meaning of our lives.
Enjoy the video!
Ross
Yet, despite all my protesting, I'm actually excited about turning 50. I don't really care (as you can tell) and God has made it known to me that I would have an effective life and ministry the older I get. I can't wait! The same can be true for all of us if we will believe it.
No matter what our ages, God has given us (you and me) this appointed time in history to make a difference for Him, to stand for Him and advance His kingdom. I look forward to heaven, but there's just too much work to be done right here and now. I guess I'm a gray panther for God. I don't care! But, I do care about pleasing and serving my God, through every year and age.
Let's stand together in our lives, families, neighborhoods, jobs, and churches and let the King of Kings reign in our hearts and move in our midst. I so desparately want to see God move and be glorified on this earth and in every tribe and nation. To see the blind (physically and spiritually) receive their sight and the captives to be set free. I'm sure you feel that same way.
Though life is marred by sin and so full of pain, it is so wonderful that Jesus wipes away every tear and makes ALL things new. He's the best, He's God and such a Great King!!!
God is glorified as we serve Him wholeheartedly all of our years, no matter what our ages. So, let's allow God to move in and through us for His glory. That's the meaning of our lives.
Enjoy the video!
Ross
God's Love Leave No Room For Fear
"Taking every care to the Lord and letting it go, is the perfect love that casts out fear. By doing this, you are saying, 'God, I trust you so much with my life that you know who I need, what I need, when I need it, and if I need it, when to give it.'"
1Jn 4:18 "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears is not made perfect in love."
Geri McGhee
Abiding Life Ministries
www.abidinglifeministries.org
Irvine, TX
Sunday, May 9, 2010
God Is Our Yasha!
The word, Yasha, is a Hebrew verb which, in English, means "to deliver" and "to rescue". It is also the Hebrew word for Savior. Yasha means that God is, by His nature, a rescuer and deliverer. There can be people who rescue and deliver others, but it is not their fundamental nature to do so. However, concerning God, it is definitely His nature. He is also the source of all deliverance and rescue.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus says: "...The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The freedom God provides, as illustrated in this verse, is to those held captive to sin, all mankind, and to release (rescue/deliver) them from the stronghold of the enemy, who is satan. Jesus accomplished this when he died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. Also, Colossians 1:13-14 says: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins".
Once saved, while we are free from the captivity of the enemy, there are times when the devil oppresses us and tries to lead us back into captivity. He comes as a thief and tries steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). His goal is to rob us of our faith, kill our joy and to destroy our testimony and relationship with God. But the Bible makes it very clear that greater is he (Jesus) who is in us than He (satan) who is in the world (1John 4:4).
There are also people and situations that oppress us and threaten, at times, to undo us. There are examples of many righteous people in scripture who cried out to God to rescue and deliver them from their enemies. King David was an example of a man who, when in trouble, turned to God and poured out His heart, and cried for help.
Psalm 18 is a wonderful portion of scripture we can hold onto when we are awaiting rescue from God. Read this psalm, meditate on it, and pray it. Watch God, who is Yasha (Savior), yasha (save, deliver, rescue) you. Can you be sure that He will rescue and deliver you? Yes, because it is both His nature and desire to do so! As you are waiting for your deliverance, thank and praise him because help is on the way. Thanksgiving and praise is a powerful and effective tool to usher in God during a dark hour.
Psalm 18 (NIV)
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
In Luke 4:18-19, Jesus says: "...The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." The freedom God provides, as illustrated in this verse, is to those held captive to sin, all mankind, and to release (rescue/deliver) them from the stronghold of the enemy, who is satan. Jesus accomplished this when he died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead. Also, Colossians 1:13-14 says: "For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins".
Once saved, while we are free from the captivity of the enemy, there are times when the devil oppresses us and tries to lead us back into captivity. He comes as a thief and tries steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10a). His goal is to rob us of our faith, kill our joy and to destroy our testimony and relationship with God. But the Bible makes it very clear that greater is he (Jesus) who is in us than He (satan) who is in the world (1John 4:4).
There are also people and situations that oppress us and threaten, at times, to undo us. There are examples of many righteous people in scripture who cried out to God to rescue and deliver them from their enemies. King David was an example of a man who, when in trouble, turned to God and poured out His heart, and cried for help.
Psalm 18 is a wonderful portion of scripture we can hold onto when we are awaiting rescue from God. Read this psalm, meditate on it, and pray it. Watch God, who is Yasha (Savior), yasha (save, deliver, rescue) you. Can you be sure that He will rescue and deliver you? Yes, because it is both His nature and desire to do so! As you are waiting for your deliverance, thank and praise him because help is on the way. Thanksgiving and praise is a powerful and effective tool to usher in God during a dark hour.
Psalm 18 (NIV)
1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
4 The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
5 The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
7 The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
8 Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
9 He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
10 He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
12 Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
13 The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
14 He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies ,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
16 He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
17 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
19 He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
20 The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
22 All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
23 I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
24 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
25 To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
26 to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
27 You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
28 You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
29 With your help I can advance against a troop ;
with my God I can scale a wall.
30 As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
31 For who is God besides the LORD ?
And who is the Rock except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
34 He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
35 You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
36 You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
37 I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
38 I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
39 You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
40 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
41 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
42 I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
43 You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
44 As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
45 They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
46 The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
47 He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
48 who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
49 Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
50 He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Stepping Out in Faith - Crossing The Big Divides In Life
Taking steps of faith are not comfortable to us because, in our sinful nature, we don't live by faith. Yet, to please God we are required to walk in faith- biblical faith, not human faith. Biblical faith and human faith may sound like they are the same thing, or at least very similar, however, they are not. Human faith is believing with our physical senses, which is very limited in ability. Biblical faith is believing God, based on His Word, with our hearts which empowers us to believe things that are beyond the ability of our sense - even to believing things that, to us, are impossible.
The reason for biblical faith is that it allows us to enter into the spiritual realm and access God. When we repent of our sins and turn to Christ, as both our Lord and Savior, He gives each of us a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).We are called to walk in that faith. Without it we cannot please Him (Hebrews 11:6) and cannot even comprehend His promises or receive His blessings.
Hebrews 11:1 in The Amplified Bible says "that faith is the assurance of things (the confirmation, the title deed) [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]".
So, we can have an assurance, which is a guarantee, of the things that we hope for (based upon the Word of God). Faith is the "proof" of things we don't or can't see (things beyond the ability of our senses) and the conviction or certainty of the fact that this things really exist.
Faith takes hold of the hopes that are in God's reality and brings them into our reality and lives. How do we get this faith? By hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17). When we have faith based on the bible we are to believe before we receive. We can do this because God's Word is totally true and can be totally relied upon - after all, it is God's Word. Therefore, because God says it, we are to believe it - even before we see His promises come to pass in our lives.
It is essential that we live with this type of faith. As a matter of fact, we are to know God's Word and claim His promises until they come to pass in our lives, giving Him thanks and praise in anticipation of the promises being fulfilled. This is true concerning any of our needs - healing (physical, emotional, or spiritual), finances, conquering sinful habits, etc.
Remember Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade? The short video clip below shows a part of that movie where he is attempting to cross a deep chasm to obtain the holy grail and use it to save his father's life. It serves as an interesting illustration about the necessity of exercising faith. Indiana had to believe something was real and that it existed, even though he could not see it. He would never have been able to reach his objective (getting to the other side of the chasm) without first believing in the reality of what was unseen - the bridge. His "faith" was proof that the bridge existed, despite all his senses telling him that it didn't exist. This clip illustrates the nature of faith and, if you will, can even speak to us on a higher level and provide great insight about biblical faith in action.
Bible faith is victorious faith and overcomes all things in Christ. We are victorious and are overcomers when we live and exercise our faith. We also please God and experience His abundant blessings when we do so.
The reason for biblical faith is that it allows us to enter into the spiritual realm and access God. When we repent of our sins and turn to Christ, as both our Lord and Savior, He gives each of us a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).We are called to walk in that faith. Without it we cannot please Him (Hebrews 11:6) and cannot even comprehend His promises or receive His blessings.
Hebrews 11:1 in The Amplified Bible says "that faith is the assurance of things (the confirmation, the title deed) [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses]".
So, we can have an assurance, which is a guarantee, of the things that we hope for (based upon the Word of God). Faith is the "proof" of things we don't or can't see (things beyond the ability of our senses) and the conviction or certainty of the fact that this things really exist.
Faith takes hold of the hopes that are in God's reality and brings them into our reality and lives. How do we get this faith? By hearing God's Word (Romans 10:17). When we have faith based on the bible we are to believe before we receive. We can do this because God's Word is totally true and can be totally relied upon - after all, it is God's Word. Therefore, because God says it, we are to believe it - even before we see His promises come to pass in our lives.
It is essential that we live with this type of faith. As a matter of fact, we are to know God's Word and claim His promises until they come to pass in our lives, giving Him thanks and praise in anticipation of the promises being fulfilled. This is true concerning any of our needs - healing (physical, emotional, or spiritual), finances, conquering sinful habits, etc.
Remember Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade? The short video clip below shows a part of that movie where he is attempting to cross a deep chasm to obtain the holy grail and use it to save his father's life. It serves as an interesting illustration about the necessity of exercising faith. Indiana had to believe something was real and that it existed, even though he could not see it. He would never have been able to reach his objective (getting to the other side of the chasm) without first believing in the reality of what was unseen - the bridge. His "faith" was proof that the bridge existed, despite all his senses telling him that it didn't exist. This clip illustrates the nature of faith and, if you will, can even speak to us on a higher level and provide great insight about biblical faith in action.
Bible faith is victorious faith and overcomes all things in Christ. We are victorious and are overcomers when we live and exercise our faith. We also please God and experience His abundant blessings when we do so.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Uh Oh! Be Careful Not To Judge!
"It is a sobering thought to think that you will become like who you judge -- God help us!"
Rom 2:1 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."
Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
"When we criticize and judge another person, we are not only full of pride, but we are exalting our self over God; who has given us, by His grace, everything good we have and are."
Romans 15:1 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
1Peter 4:10 "As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]."
James 1:5 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (aptness to alter), neither shadow of turning."
Geri McGhee
Abiding Life Ministries
http://www.abidinglifeministries.org/
Irvine, TX
Rom 2:1 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things."
Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
"When we criticize and judge another person, we are not only full of pride, but we are exalting our self over God; who has given us, by His grace, everything good we have and are."
Romans 15:1 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves."
1Peter 4:10 "As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God's many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor]."
James 1:5 "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness (aptness to alter), neither shadow of turning."
Geri McGhee
Abiding Life Ministries
http://www.abidinglifeministries.org/
Irvine, TX
Monday, May 3, 2010
Sowing and Reaping - The Plan for Growth and Success!
A few days ago I wrote a short article titled "Biblical Faith and It's Results" on this blog. In that article I discussed and defined biblical faith as both believing and acting on the Word of God. I also discussed the importance of confession, speaking in line with God's Word, and standing on His Word until His promise is fulfilled in our lives. This involves the principle of sowing and reaping.
I wrote and posted an article recently on one of my other blogs (www.christosourhealer.blogspot.com) titled "The Word is the Necessary Seed for Harvest". My purpose here is not to repeat what was written in that article (please read that article to understand more fully the principle of the "seed"), but simply to highlight that G
od's Word is seed (Luke 8:11). As seed, it contains the "genetic code" for our success concerning both eternal life and living life here on earth more abundantly by being connected with the author and overcomer - God Himself. However, without planting the seed, we will never see a harvest. So, planting it is necessary for it to grow and bear abundant fruit. When we plant the Word of God firmly in our hearts, it must be with full of faith and obedience. In doing so, we will see God grow our faith and bring forth abundant fruit, as well as answered prayer.
We have all seen God answer prayer instantaneously and we have also seen Him answer prayer only after a season - sometimes short and sometimes long. When He answers prayer instantaneously, that can be in the realm of being called a miracle. When an answer is instantaneous, we rejoice and are astounded by God's goodness and faithfulness. Yet, when a prayer isn't answered immediately, we can faint, become weary and even lose our hope, thinking that God has not either heard or answered us. However, this is far from being true!
It is important to point out that there are some prerequisites for answered prayer that I discussed in my other article. These include: walking in obedience to God (John 14:21), praying according to the will of God [the promises in His Word] (Proverbs 4:20-22, 1 John 5:14-15), and cultivating faith in our lives by continually hearing and reading the Word (Romans 10:17).
If we are in the situation where God is not answering our prayers immediately, do not despair - God is at work! A farmer understands that when he plants seed that he must place it in nutrient-rich soil, water it, exposure it to the sun and then wait with patience. The farmer has confidence that the seed is not dormant and is, in fact, busy growing; th
ough he may not see any evidence of growth for a time. It is exactly the same with regard to receiving answers to our prayers. Not every prayer has a manifested answer immediately when we pray. This is also true concerning healing - not every healing is manifested immediately when we pray. But, we can still stand confident that God has answered our prayer, even when we do not see the evidence of it - yet!
God is a God of His Word. He will never go against His Word. He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). Hebrews 11:1 says: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". We need to make sure that we stand in faith and being certain, based upon the Word, that God has granted our request. Like the farmer who planted the seed in fertile soil, we too must wait for it to germinate and then after come to a full harvest, all in due season. During this time, like the farmer we must cultivate it. How do we do this? As I mentioned before, we cultivate our faith by trusting God, walking obediently, and building our faith by continually being in His Word.
There is another component to seeing God's promises coming to pass in our lives. It involves thanksgiving, praise and worship. It may seem very counter-intuitive, but we are to thank Him for the answer to our prayers before they are manifested/revealed. You see, by faith we know we have our request even prior to actually receiving it. When we thank, praise and worship we take an active step into the faith realm and create two things. The first thing we create is a heart full of faith and expectation, one that is eager to receive - this is keeping the soil of our hearts cultivated. The second thing we create is opportunity and initiative to enter into God's dimension with humility and gratitude. In doing so, He loves to grant the requests of His children who call upon His name.
During these seasons when we wait for God to answer our prayers, no matter how short or long they are, we are growing abundantly in our faith. While receiving the answer to our specific prayer is important, it is infinitely more important that we are creating a heart and life inclining itself toward God, hungry for and full of love for Him. Such a life is therefore ready
to receive every great blessing from Him. This is the fruit of the abundant harvest of our lives.
Be confident and full of faith! Whatever we sow, we shall reap (Galatians 6:7-8). When we sow God's Word into our hearts, as we stand in His Word by faith, we will see His promises fulfilled and our prayers answered!
In the name of Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider),
Ross
I wrote and posted an article recently on one of my other blogs (www.christosourhealer.blogspot.com) titled "The Word is the Necessary Seed for Harvest". My purpose here is not to repeat what was written in that article (please read that article to understand more fully the principle of the "seed"), but simply to highlight that G
od's Word is seed (Luke 8:11). As seed, it contains the "genetic code" for our success concerning both eternal life and living life here on earth more abundantly by being connected with the author and overcomer - God Himself. However, without planting the seed, we will never see a harvest. So, planting it is necessary for it to grow and bear abundant fruit. When we plant the Word of God firmly in our hearts, it must be with full of faith and obedience. In doing so, we will see God grow our faith and bring forth abundant fruit, as well as answered prayer.We have all seen God answer prayer instantaneously and we have also seen Him answer prayer only after a season - sometimes short and sometimes long. When He answers prayer instantaneously, that can be in the realm of being called a miracle. When an answer is instantaneous, we rejoice and are astounded by God's goodness and faithfulness. Yet, when a prayer isn't answered immediately, we can faint, become weary and even lose our hope, thinking that God has not either heard or answered us. However, this is far from being true!
It is important to point out that there are some prerequisites for answered prayer that I discussed in my other article. These include: walking in obedience to God (John 14:21), praying according to the will of God [the promises in His Word] (Proverbs 4:20-22, 1 John 5:14-15), and cultivating faith in our lives by continually hearing and reading the Word (Romans 10:17).
If we are in the situation where God is not answering our prayers immediately, do not despair - God is at work! A farmer understands that when he plants seed that he must place it in nutrient-rich soil, water it, exposure it to the sun and then wait with patience. The farmer has confidence that the seed is not dormant and is, in fact, busy growing; th
ough he may not see any evidence of growth for a time. It is exactly the same with regard to receiving answers to our prayers. Not every prayer has a manifested answer immediately when we pray. This is also true concerning healing - not every healing is manifested immediately when we pray. But, we can still stand confident that God has answered our prayer, even when we do not see the evidence of it - yet!God is a God of His Word. He will never go against His Word. He is faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9). Hebrews 11:1 says: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see". We need to make sure that we stand in faith and being certain, based upon the Word, that God has granted our request. Like the farmer who planted the seed in fertile soil, we too must wait for it to germinate and then after come to a full harvest, all in due season. During this time, like the farmer we must cultivate it. How do we do this? As I mentioned before, we cultivate our faith by trusting God, walking obediently, and building our faith by continually being in His Word.
There is another component to seeing God's promises coming to pass in our lives. It involves thanksgiving, praise and worship. It may seem very counter-intuitive, but we are to thank Him for the answer to our prayers before they are manifested/revealed. You see, by faith we know we have our request even prior to actually receiving it. When we thank, praise and worship we take an active step into the faith realm and create two things. The first thing we create is a heart full of faith and expectation, one that is eager to receive - this is keeping the soil of our hearts cultivated. The second thing we create is opportunity and initiative to enter into God's dimension with humility and gratitude. In doing so, He loves to grant the requests of His children who call upon His name.
During these seasons when we wait for God to answer our prayers, no matter how short or long they are, we are growing abundantly in our faith. While receiving the answer to our specific prayer is important, it is infinitely more important that we are creating a heart and life inclining itself toward God, hungry for and full of love for Him. Such a life is therefore ready
to receive every great blessing from Him. This is the fruit of the abundant harvest of our lives.Be confident and full of faith! Whatever we sow, we shall reap (Galatians 6:7-8). When we sow God's Word into our hearts, as we stand in His Word by faith, we will see His promises fulfilled and our prayers answered!
In the name of Jehovah Jireh (God our Provider),
Ross
Saturday, May 1, 2010
New Blogs
I have recently created two new blogs that are designed to help bless you and bring you deeper into your relationship with God and into His Word.
The Victorious Overcomer (http://thevictoriousovercomer.blogspot.com) - A blog devoted to discussing how we serve a Victorious God who causes us to Overcome and live in Victory in Him. Despite our circumstances we can have a wonderful life as we obey and love God. It will also discuss intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare.
Christos Our Healer (http://christosourhealer.blogspot.com) - A blog about the promise of healing we have in Christ (In the Greek it is Christos, meaning Christ-The Anointed). This blog is intended to draw readers to God through His Word and to cultivate faith to be healed by His power and in His name.
The website addresses are given above but each site can also be accessed by link located on the tab to the right under "My Blog List".
Enjoy and Be Blessed!
Ross
The Victorious Overcomer (http://thevictoriousovercomer.blogspot.com) - A blog devoted to discussing how we serve a Victorious God who causes us to Overcome and live in Victory in Him. Despite our circumstances we can have a wonderful life as we obey and love God. It will also discuss intercessory prayer and spiritual warfare.
Christos Our Healer (http://christosourhealer.blogspot.com) - A blog about the promise of healing we have in Christ (In the Greek it is Christos, meaning Christ-The Anointed). This blog is intended to draw readers to God through His Word and to cultivate faith to be healed by His power and in His name.
The website addresses are given above but each site can also be accessed by link located on the tab to the right under "My Blog List".
Enjoy and Be Blessed!
Ross
Biblical Faith And It's Results
It is good to know God's Word because through it is the entrance of life and wisdom. Unfortunately, many people think that by simply reading the bible they know it. However, this is not enough nor is it biblical faith.
Biblical faith is to both believe and act on the Word of God. Believing is a prerequisite to receiving. Tragically, this is exactly the opposite of what the world and our senses tell us to do. We are told "I'll believe it when I see it". Yet, this is a materialistic approach to life that is antithetical to our faith and leads to hopelessness and despair.
Hebrews 11:1 says: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. " So, there is a realm, the spiritual realm, where faith is something of substance and it is an evidence of something that exists as a real entity in that dimension.
When we read God's Word and acknowledge that it is true, that is a good start. But, faith requires much more than that. Faith is not simply mental assent and mere agreement with God. Faith is acting upon the Word (see James 2:14-24).
So, how do we act upon the Word of God? Well, we must understand that God's Word is true - not just in terms of its veracity but also for its application in our lives. Knowing must turn into believing. Many people want to know it before believing it. However, that is not faith. When we entered into Christ, we turned from our sins and accepted Him as Lord and Savior (when we were born again). At that time, we all had to exercise a degree of faith to do so. It was by the exercised of our faith that we came into a saving relationship with Him and therefore now know God. So, from the start, we have had to exercise faith first and then we know second. That is the way faith always works.
The word "believing" is not mere mental assent, as stated before. In the ancient Greek, the word for 'belief, believe, or believers' is Pisteuo. It is defined as: "to be persuaded of, to place confidence in, to trust, to put reliance upon, not mere credence". Basically, it is a whole-hearted agreement and a "stake-your-life-on it" position that a person takes. Because God's Word says so, we believe it is so and it applies to every so-and-so, LOL.
Unfortunately, a lot of people say that while they have believed some of promises in God's Word, that sometimes they do not work. I hear this especially in the area of answered/unanswered prayers and healing. When we focus on the problem, we will never see the answer. However, when we focus beyond the problem, on God and His promises, we have the answer.
We must accept that if God's Word is true, it is always true in our lives and in every situation. Romans 3:4 says: "Let God be true, and every man a liar". So, if we know that God is not a liar, let's be very careful what we say about Him and His Word. Hebrews 13:8 states: "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever". Therefore, He and His promises have not changed and never will.
When we know this we can stand on the Word with boldness and confidence. We must then confess God's Word. In doing so, our faith is now acted upon. Confession is very important. In the ancient Greek, the word for 'confess and confession' is Homologeo. It means "to speak the same thing". So, when we confess, we are to speak the same thing as God does. We are not to speak our doubts, fears, failures, or unbelief. Why? Because speaking these things is not speaking the same thing as God and, it is therefore, not confession that agrees with God and His Word. When we speak God's promises, we are in one accord with Him and are speaking His will into our lives and situations, unimpeded by unbelief. We are also allowing His power to be released in our lives.
You can see that it is very important to be in God's Word, to know it, and to stand on it. Joshua 1:8 says: "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful".
When we make ourselves line up with God's Word, in our minds/hearts and with our words (this is what faith is all about), we will then see Him move on our behalf. This is not presumption- not if it is based upon God's Word! Two notes of caution though. First, in order for God's Word to work in us, we have to live a life fully repentant and obedient to Him. Second, we must have faith that God will honor His Word and fulfill it in our lives, in due season. This has to do with the principle of sowing and reaping, which will be the next article I write.
Be encouraged that as we stand on His promises, continually trusting in Him, (even when our situations looks completely contrary and hopeless) He is faithful to move and fulfill the promises contained in His Word in our lives. He will bless, heal, change, rescue, and strengthen. Why? Because He is a God of His Word.
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