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Your’e Approved

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

home-loan-approval1

Over the past several months I have had confirmation time and time again that I am approved. I have God’s approval and so do you! You are His creation created to walk in the reality of who you are in Him. Confirmation number one comes from Chris Tomlin in his popular song, “Good good Father.” Tomlin expresses this well in the lyrical line, “It’s who you are and I’m loved by you, that’s who I am.” In other words God is love and I am loved by Him and this makes me who I am. Through this revelation I should respond out of love and security in my relationship with God, and with others. The first time fear appears in the Bible was when Adam and Eve sinned. It states in Genesis that they were naked and afraid so they hid themselves. When you feel afraid and vulnerable you will hide behind things. However, there is no reason to hide if you are in Christ. Back to the garden. God sought Adam and Eve and clothed them with the blood and skin of an animal God had created and Adam had named. He also by His grace and mercy put an angel to guard the tree of life and set them out of the garden. If they would have eaten of the tree of life they would have been in the realm of disobedience eternally. But that’s another blog. I John 4 tells us that perfect love cast out fear. God sent His son. Joseph named Him Jesus. He shed His blood and gave His life so that you and I might have life. God turned His back on Jesus so He would never turn His back on us. If you’ve believed this for yourself you are clothed in His righteousness. You are loved by a God who knows you and He created you for His pleasure, there is is no reason to fear… You are approved!

Confirmation number two came when I was reading the passage in Matthew about Jesus baptism. It says when He came out of the water a voice from heaven was heard saying, ” this is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” This was interesting to me because Jesus had not done anything other than be obedient to baptism, yet God was pleased and approved of Him through the affirmation of words. Jesus hadn’t opened a blind eye. Nor had He turned the water into wine, caused the lame to walk, or the deaf to hear. He hadn’t walked on water or made a storm to cease. Jesus had not healed a leper or sit down by a well with a woman who needed a savior. The Son of man and the Son of God had not blessed the loaves and fish, washed the feet of His disciples, or prayed, “not my will but thine be done.” You get the point. In the sense of doing right, achieving good, and helping the cause, Jesus had not yet done any of these things, yet God gave His approval of His Son.Therefore I am approved not because of who I am or what I have done but because of who is and what He has done… and you are too!

Confirmation number three happened while attending a pastor’s gathering. The leader of the group made a statement about “sonship.” He went on to say how the enemy in Matthew 4 was attacking Jesus’ sonship. When Jesus was drawn away by the Spirit to be tested in the wilderness Satan said to Him, “If you are the Son of God then do this or do that.” I have always preached this from the standpoint of Jesus answering Satan with the word of God but now I see this transaction in an entirely different light. The previous chapter God had already said, “this is my Son in whom I am well pleased.” The very next passage Satan attacks Jesus sonship by saying, “If you are the Son of God?” The question of doubt. Remember in the garden what the serpent said? He said, “Did God really say that?” He was saying the same thing to Jesus in the dessert and he says the same thing to us today. If you really were a _____________ then you wouldn’t feel, act, or think like that. Our identity is in Christ alone! Jesus didn’t have to prove anything to anyone, because He knew He was approved by God… and so are you!

Confirmation number four was a couple of weeks ago when I was teaching on prayer. I was reading passages about Jesus being obedient to prayer when I noticed Jesus never sought man’s approval or was He bothered by their disapproval. He just continued in His relationship with His Father. Check out these passages in Luke’s gospel. Luke 6: 10 Then looking around at them all, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. 11 But they were filled with madness and discussed with each other what they might do to Jesus. 12 In these days He went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. Notice this is when they were trying to “decide” that Jesus prayed all night. They were discussing among themselves. Have you ever felt like people were discussing among themselves to either approve or disapprove of who you are or what you have done? Jesus didn’t seek their decision He sought His father’s direction. Then in Luke 5: 14 Then He commanded him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 15 Yet even more so His fame went everywhere. And great crowds came together to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities. 16 But He withdrew to the wilderness and prayed. In this passage Jesus was growing in popularity yet He didn’t seek their applause or His own fame, He sought His Father’s face. Here’s what I noticed: Jesus didn’t seek man’s approval because He knew He already had God’s approval… and so do you… You’re Approved!

Trust

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog

trust

Trust: belief that someone or something is reliable, good, honest, effective, and etc.

-Webster

Trust: is believing God even when things don’t make sense from your limited perspective.

-Robert Alan Collins

“Anything or anyone you put your trust in more than you trust God can become an idol.”

Learn to Say, “I trust You, Jesus” in response to whatever happens.

“Stop waiting for things to make sense and trust He knows what’s best.”

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” ROMANS 15 : 13

1. You Can Trust God Because He is God – Since God created all things, knows all things, see all things and can do anything about everything… I think it is safe to say, “you can trust Him.” He is Omnipresent, Omnipotent, Omniscient. God is Eternal, Immutable, Immanent, Transcedent and Self Existent. He is God! I think you should be able to trust Him.(sarcasm intended) He is, He was, and He always will be. He said, “let there be light” and there was. He created everything out of nothing and He continues to do the same today… He is God and you can trust Him!

2. You Can Trust God Because He is Love – The word tells is that God is love. It tells us He is eternal and never changing. The word is eternal truth. Therefore, since God is love, His love never changes. His love is unconditional and never wavers. Matthew tells us, “if our earthly fathers know how to give good gifts, how much more does our Heavenly Father know how to bless us with good gifts?” Whether it is the blessings of good gifts or it is discipline, or correction, you can trust God knows what is best for you. His love will never give up, never fail or never run out. You can trust that!

3. You Can Trust God Because He Sees the End From the Beginning and the Beginning From the End – The Bible tells us that God declares the end from the beginning and the beginning from the end. God goes out and starts with the end, where we start with the beginning. He then establishes our way and walks us through it by His grace and strength.He sees how it begins, and HE KNOWS HOW IT WILL END… you can trust Him!

4. You Can Trust God Because He Can See What You Can’t See – Perspective is everything. Sometimes from your vantage point life doesn’t make sense. You can’t always see how things will turn out. Now, for those of you who know me well, know that I am a NASCAR fan. Well, I have an analogy that I think will fit what I am talking about. In NASCAR the driver on the track has a limited view and a hindered perspective. However, he also has a spotter at the highest point above the track who can see everything all at once, as it is happening. The spotter see the wreck, the debris, and the spin-out, all before the driver does. He is able to help navigate the driver through the most difficult unseen circumstances, all because his perspective allows him to see the big picture. God sits high above all things. He can see what you can’t see, you can trust Him!

5. You Can Trust God Because He knows What You Don’t Know – There are some things you won’t know the answer to. There will be things you can’t explain. Nevertheless, God is NOT limited in any way. He knows all things. God doesn’t desire that you know all things, He desires that you trust. The word tell us that Jesus came to give us peace, not as the world gives but that only He can give. You can have peace that passes all understanding. Even when you don’t understand, you can have peace. Even when you don’t know, or you don’t understand, God does, and you can trust Him!

6. You Can Trust God Because He Can Do What You Can’t Do – No matter how strong or determined you are there will be situations where the strength of your capacity will be limited. I don’t believe you should set back and wait on God or anyone else for the matter, to do what you can do yourself. But, I also don’t believe you should exhaust yourself in doing that God desires to do for you, if you would just ask. There are many things you can do. There are however, some things you can’t do. God can do anything! Remember, “with God all things are possible.” Therefore, you can trust Him!

7. You Can Trust God Because He Always Knows What’s Best and You Don’t – There was a television show “back in the day” entitled, “Father Knows Best.” Now, I am a father, and a son, so I know from experience when it comes to earthly fathers this is not always the case. I also know my father knows better than me. We all learn through either our mentors or our mistakes. When Jesus was on the earth He said, “I only do and say what I hear my Father in heaven say to do.” Jesus is our example. If God wouldn’t say it, think it, or do it, you probably shouldn’t either. Your heavenly Father knows what is best, you can trust Him!

 

What or Who Do You Trust In?

“Some trust in chariots. Some trust in horses. But we trust in the Lord our God.”
Psalm 20:7 NIRV

-David

You have a choice. You can Trust God or Take matters into your hands. David was known for several different things. He was know of course as a man after God’s own heart. He was also know for killing Goliath. (and of course there was Bathsheba). Anyway. David was a shepherd boy who had learned to trust God. He had been anointed king, while Saul was still reigning as king, and that was not heard of. Saul was angry and David’s popularity was gaining. That is, with everyone but Saul. David was a musician and so he knew when the crowd starts throwing things it’s time to leave. So he did. And while hiding out in a cave, Saul; the one who was throwing things trying to kill him decided to take a “potty break” so David snuck out, took his sword and cut the corner of Saul’s robe. He could have killed him but he didn’t. He could have taken matter into his own hands but he didn’t. He trusted the timing of God. David trusted God to deliver into his hands a lion and bear. He also trusted God when he faced Goliath. Every time you are faced with a situation you have a choice. You can take matters into your own hands or you can trust the timing of God. And the decision you make will tell the story of your life.

Don’t Settle For Less Because It Is Easy

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

 

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“We’re Settlers That’s What We Do”

I’m sure most of you by now have seen the Direct TV commercial about settling for cable. If not, here is the basic idea: There’s a family of old time western settlers living in a modern midwestern suburban housing development that interacts with their neighbors (who happen to Direct TV). They interact by saying, “We are settlers, that’s what we do.” This is their response to anything new or different and their neighbors respond with disbelief. For me I can relate with both scenarios. The settlers are content with what they have not realizing there is more, better, and different. While the neighbors are appalled that the settlers would settle for, the way things are while not desiring for things to different. I have settled without even realizing it could be better or different. I have also experienced frustration towards others who have settled for less, when they could have so much more.There is a difference in being satisfied and being content. Satisfaction comes from achievement. Contentment comes from God. I Timothy 6:6-10 says, 6 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 9 Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.” In other words if you don’t learn contentment through Christ you will be discontented even when you have achieved great things because more is never enough. Nonetheless, I want to challenge you to not be satisfied with the status quo and not to settle for less then God’s best for you! You can be satisfied with achievements. You can be content in your relationship with God. But don’t ever settle for less because it is easier. Never settle for less because you feel that’s all you deserve at the moment. Believe God, Risk faith and realize that He is a God of more than enough. Never settle for less!

Here are a few things I have observed through the years about those who are settlers:

Settlers Settle With…

1. The Familiar – The familiar can cause you to forfeit your future because you will settle for what you know, instead of exploring the uncertain or the unknown.

2. What’s Easy – Doing what’s easy is accomplished with very little effort. Therefore if something “new” takes effort but doesn’t produce immediate results you will gravitate back towards what is easy. The problem with “what’s easy” is it usually doesn’t produce new or different results. As a matter of fact it often produces a familiar framework that will keep you boxed in and bound to the familiar, keeping you from experiencing something new or better.

3. What They Know to Be Best – Sometimes what you know is all you know. However, what you know to be the best might not be the best, it might just be all you know. Don’t settle just because that’s the way you have always done it or that’s the only way you’ve seen it done. Explore. Expand. Experiment. Open up your mind to new ideas and you might be amazed at the possibilities that will unfold before you.

4. What They’ve Always Done – “We’ve always done it this way” is the greatest deterrent to things ever being different or better.

5. What They Are Comfortable With – We all like to be comfortable. Most of us know our comfort zones well. We also know how “uncomfortable” we feel outside of them. Nevertheless, the God of comfort chooses to make us uncomfortable so we will move. Just like the eagle transitions her nest from soft to prickly preparing her eaglets for flight, God does the same for us. If it were always comfortable you will never move. If I’m lying in bed and Kelly says, “did you check the front door?” I say, “I don’t want to get up, I just got comfortable.” If it is comfortable you won’t want to get up or move. Don’t allow your comfort zone to keep you frozen in the foolishness of the familiar. Get up and move toward your promised future!

6. What They Have the Resources to Accomplish – I’m learning I will never have all the resources I need. I’ve also learned if I am going to accomplish something extraordinary it is going to require great faith and risk. Sometimes what you need is not there until you get there. The Red Sea didn’t part until the children of Israel began to step in faith. There is more in store than what meets the eye. As your vision expands your resources will increase.

7. The Least Resistant Path – The least resistant path is not always the best, but it is usually the easiest. Don’t do what’s easy, do what’s best! Don’t settle for less than God’s best. Settle in your heart today to never settle for less. Settlers settle, that’s what they do. They settle with the familiar. They settle with what’s easy. They settle with what they know to be best. They settle with what they’ve always done. They settle with what they are comfortable with. They settle with what they have the resources to accomplish. They settle with the least resistant path. Don’t be a settler!

That Was Yesterday…

Posted on by Rob Collins in 2 Minute Take Away

that was yesterday slide

I was looking at a flyer that had been sent to me in regards to a youth “lock in” where I would be speaking. The flyer stated that I would be speaking at midnight. It was later that day when I  was sitting at the table eating lunch when I felt the Holy Spirit say, “Midnight signifies the beginning of a brand new day!” My mind immediately leaped to the Scripture in Acts 16 where it tells the story of Paul and Silas being thrown into prison. The story begins with verse 16 and ends with verse 31. However, almost ‘smack dab’ in the middle of the story; 7 verses from the beginning dialogue and 8 verses from the conclusion, is verse 23. It reads, “And at Midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God.”  There it was, the word “Midnight“, it wasn’t just the darkest hour of the night, it was the beginning of a brand new day.

Midnight is a turning point, it denotes the beginning of a new day. Paul sang praises to God at midnight and the circumstances changed for everyone. The prison doors were opened and the chains fell off. He decided to praise past the problems of yesterday. At midnight it was the beginning of a new day. Paul was beaten and put in prison but because he sang praises to God at midnight, that was yesterday! It doesn’t matter what happened yesterday, at Midnight it’s a new day! You can pronounce the problems of yesterday or you can proclaim the praises of God today. Midnight is the darkest hour, but it is also the beginning of a new day. Just praise God and speak of your problems by saying, yeah, but that was yesterday!

Paul’s experiences that had led to his jail sentence were yesterday’s news at midnight. When Paul began singing praises to God at midnight He was saying to himself and everyone around him, “that was yesterday!” Paul could have focused on the problems of yesterday, but instead he determined to focus on the promises of tomorrow. The annoying girl… that was yesterday! The accusations… that was yesterday! The unfair trail… that was yesterday! The beating with wooden rods on his back… that was yesterday! The stocks, cuffs and chains… that was yesterday! Paul would have missed the Philippian Jailer’s salvation and baptism if he would have chosen to focus on yesterday instead of praising God at Midnight. Think about the discouraging disappoints of any day and remember at midnight, “That was Yesterday!” Don’t miss what could happen today, because of what happened yesterday! Focus on the promises of today, not the problems of yesterday.

Seeing the Greater Purpose

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog

 

Seeing the Greater Purpose Slide
Seeing the Greater Purpose – 2 Corinthians 4:7-17
I recently watched the “Youngstown Boys.” It’s a ESPN short film about former Ohio State coach Jim Tressel and his players from Youngstown, Ohio. Here is Tressel’s thoughts regarding Maurice Clarett: “People wanted me to give up on him, but you don’t easily give up on someone you love. Your goals and perspective are constantly being revised because of circumstances, but your purpose, the reason you are here on the earth, supersedes circumstances; what you are going through, and why? Maybe that’s why his goals (speaking of Clarett) didn’t come to pass. It’s because they didn’t align with his purpose. However, the entire time, it was his goals and the adversity that he experienced that led him to a greater purpose.”

We have probably all at one time or another found ourselves in a place of fear, frustration, or failure, focusing on our circumstances, while forgetting there may be a greater purpose to what we are going through. Let me say it this way: “We focus so much on what we are going though, that we sometimes fail to see there might be a purpose behind, what we are going through.” The purpose may not be the circumstance itself, the purpose is usually far greater and farther down the road than we can even think or see. You need to ask God for the wisdom to see the greater purpose while finding the courage to confront the circumstance allowing you the strength and the grace to sustain through the season of the whatever it is that you may be facing.

Here are some quotes regarding mindsets, perspective and belief:
– Maurice Clarett – “when you have the right mindset everything else just lines up.”

– Joel Osteen – “opposition is not meant to stop you but establish you.”

– Darius Daniels – “all God’s promises are occupied with opposition.”

– Mark Batterson – “adversity is the seed bed of opportunity.”

– Robert Alan Collins – “adversity & opposition are not meant to destroy you – they are meant to develop you while revealing God’s purpose and your destiny.”

– Rick Warren – “Every storm is a school. Every trial is a teacher. Every experience is an education. Every difficulty is for your development.”

The Apostle Paul in Acts 16:25-40 experienced hardship but there was a greater purpose to what he was experiencing. He was falsely accused, beaten and thrown in prison. This passage tells us that at midnight in shackles and chains held confined in the darkest part of the prison cell Paul began to sing praises to God at midnight. Why? Because he enjoyed being falsely accused? No! Why? Because he was glad to be in jail? No! Why? Because he loved the sting of the stripes on his back? NO! It was because Paul realized there was a greater purpose and although he may not have understand at the time, he praised God and trusted Him in spite of his circumstances. The greater purpose was the Philippian Jailer and his family being saved.

Here are 7 things we can learn form this:

1. Be careful what you say and how you say it.
2. Don’t complain about what God may be using.
3. Your response could be a key to someone else’s future and freedom.
4. Sing God’s praises and don’t magnify the circumstance.
5. God can use the natural to produce the supernatural.
6. Don’t allow your response to be based on assumptions.
7. The trial ends when God’s purpose is accomplished.

Here are some examples of – “maybe there is a greater purpose that I don’t see, but I can trust God praise Him in spite of my circumstances.”

*Paul & Silas – “maybe the stocks and chains weren’t meant to keep Paul bound – maybe they were to loose the spirit of God’s love.”

*Paul & Silas – “maybe the cell doors opening weren’t meant to set Paul free – maybe they were opened to open the heart of the Philipian jailer.”

*Gideon and His Mighty Army – “maybe the depletion of Gideon’s army wasn’t to set him up for defeat – maybe it was to prove you can trust God because He is faithful!

*The Children of Israel and the Red Sea – “maybe the Red Sea wasn’t meant to the delay the promised land – maybe it was meant to destroy Pharaoh’s Army.

*Daniel in the Lions Den – “maybe the lions den wasn’t meant to destroy Daniel – maybe it was to prove to Daniel and everyone else that you can rest in the midst of intimidation, fear, and being devoured.”

*Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego – “maybe the fire wasn’t meant to destroy the 3 Hebrew Children – maybe it was meant to destroy what bound them, while proving to everyone that you can walk through a fiery trail without losing your faith or being destroyed!”

*Jesus – “without a betrayal there wouldn’t have been a trial – without a trial there wouldn’t have been a cross – without a cross there wouldn’t have been a death – without a death there wouldn’t have been a tomb – without a tomb there wouldn’t have been a resurrection – without a resurrection there wouldn’t have been redemption for all mankind!”

In all of these scenarios from the Bible there was a greater purpose. Don’t get discouraged, there may a greater purpose to the circumstances you are facing. You may never know or totally understand, but you can trust God and praise Him in the midst of what you are going through right now, because there  could be a greater purpose to what you are going through. What you thought would destroy you, God used to develop you. Don’t despise what you are going through, there may be a greater purpose!

It Takes Both

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog, Messages

It Takes Faith & Courage
I Samuel 17 – (David & Goliath)

You can have faith but without courage you won’t act upon it.

Faith (pistos)- belief, confidence and trust.
Faith has to do with belief. *(Believing God to do something)
Courage has to do with confidence and trust. (Trusting God can see you through whatever it is you are facing)

Be courageous, be of good cheer, don’t be afraid. (Acts 23:11/Joshua 1:9)
Acts 23:11: tharseō; from 2294; to have courage: — be of good cheer; marvel, wonder, courage, confidence, boldness, daring, bold courage.

Joshua 1:9: h0553. אָמַץ ’âmaṣ; a primitive root; to be alert, physically (on foot) or mentally (in courage): — confirm, be courageous (of good courage, steadfastly minded, strong), establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen (self), make strong (obstinate, speed).

– At some point your faith has to produce courage.
– It takes courage to act upon what you believe.
– You need wisdom when being courageous; so you are not foolish.

At some point your faith has to produce a confidence that is developed by remembering God’s faithfulness in past situations while believing He will be faithful in the moment you are being faced with right now!

*David – said if God delivered me from a bear and lion He is well able to deliver me from this uncircumcised Philistine. What God had done in the past gave David courage for his current situation with facing Goliath.

It Takes Faith & Courage…

1. To act when everyone else is just talking. Faith & Courage says the right thing: David said, “my God is able.” While everyone else was saying this giant is big.

2. To say what know one else will say. Faith & Courage will say what know one else will say: David called him an, “uncircumcised Philistine.” While everyone else called him the giant Goliath.

3. To act upon what you believe and feel is right. Faith & Courage will stand for what is right: David said, “is there not a cause?” While everyone else believed they didn’t act upon what they believed.

4. To face what seems impossible. Faith & Courage will face what seems impossible while trusting God: David was a boy with 5 stones, and a slingshot facing a giant. But he said, “I come against you in the name of the Lord!” With men some things are impossible but with God all things are possible.

5. To know know who you are and what you have; yet trust who you are in Him to be more than enough. *Gideon (the weakest of His clan/mighty man of valor) *David (a young shepherd boy delivered the giant). The God in you is more than enough to face whatever it is that you may face but you have to have the faith to believe and the courage to act upon what you believe.

6. To “NOT” listen to what others are saying. David didn’t listen to the sarcastic remarks about being young or getting killed and he didn’t wear Saul’s armor either. He listened to his heart and he moved in faith and acted in courage.

7. To see extraordinary things accomplished for the glory of God and the benefit of others. The slaying of the giant was a benefit for the people of God and it brought God glory. V.25

– It takes faith to believe God; but it takes courage to stand and see Him move on your behalf.

– It takes faith to believe; but it takes courage to respond to what matters; but it also takes wisdom to “NOT” respond to what doesn’t matter.

– Faith believes that God says what He means; courage believes that God means what He says.

Grateful Perspective

Posted on by Rob Collins in Blog, Messages

attitude-of-gratitude

Perspective is an impression of how we mentally view someone or something. We all see things through the eyes that we see them through; but our mind and heart are filters that cause us to perceive what we see. When you see through eyes of hurt, frustration, fear, anger or doubt it determines not only what you see, but how you see. When I was a boy growing up there was a country and western song that said, “these rose colored glasses that I am looking through show only the beauty because they hide all the truth.” Sometimes what we see is determined by the lens we are looking through. When we see through “Rose Colored Glasses” every thing tends to look “Rosie” (every pun intended). Being grateful is a matter of perspective. It is also a choice. If you look long enough, hard enough and deep enough, you will find something to be grateful for.

What lens you choose to look through determines what you see. When you magnify something you see it as being bigger. It doesn’t get bigger it appears bigger. A magnifying lens makes the words on the page appear bigger, but if you were to look underneath the magnifying lens at the words on the page you will find they didn’t get any bigger although they appeared bigger while looking through the magnifying lens. Do you magnify your burdens or do you magnify your blessings? What you magnify matters! What you magnify becomes bigger. The writer says, “come let us magnify the Lord together.” Can we make God bigger? No. But could we see Him as being bigger? Yes. When magnify God we see Him as being bigger than our burdens. Again what you magnify matters! How you see things and the lens you see them through matters too.

Paul wrote a lot of the new testament; some of which he wrote while in prison. In Philippians 1 he says this: “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy. I am happy because you have joined me in spreading the good news. You have done so from the first day until now. I am sure that the One who began a good work in you will carry it on until it is completed. That will be on the day Christ Jesus returns. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you. I love you with all my heart. I may be held by chains, or I may be standing up for the truth of the good news. Either way, all of you share in God’s grace together with me. God can give witness that I long for all of you. I love you with the love that Christ Jesus gives. I pray that your love will grow more and more. And let it be based on knowledge and understanding. Then you will be able to know what is best. You will be pure and without blame until the day Christ returns. You will be filled with the fruit of right living produced by Jesus Christ. All of those things bring glory and praise to God.” You talk about a “Grateful Perspective!”

Here are 5 Things We Need to Remember When it Comes to Gratitude:

  • Be grateful and realize everything you have comes from God.

  • Be grateful and don’t take anything or anyone for granted.

  • Be grateful for what you have even if it’s not all you need.

  • Be grateful for what you have even if it’s not what you want.

  • Be grateful for the broken pieces of the process that someday will produce the full picture.

Gratefulness unleashes the generosity of God. Gratitude is a choice. Perspective is what you choose to see. What you choose to see will produce gratefulness or grieving – burdens or blessings. God knows what you need. He wants to know if you are grateful for what you have. What lens are you looking through? See  through eyes of gratefulness and it  will begin to change your perspective. You can can see with your heart what you will never see with your eyes. Magnify the Lord! See life through the lens of gratefulness and watch what happens. I believe you will develop like Paul, a “Grateful Perspective.”

Insignifanct Compared To My Need

Posted on by Rob Collins in Messages

The widow in II Kings went to Elijah asking for help. Her husband had died and left her with a debt she couldn’t pay. She needed money. What she had was a little bit of oil. The man to whom the money was owed was going to take her sons as slaves if the debt could not be paid in full. She was the widow of a prophet so she goes to a prophet to ask for help. But before Elijah did anything to help, he asked her a question: “what do you have in your house?” She replied, “absolutely nothing!’ …”except for a little oil.” You see what she had seemed insignificant when she compared it to what she needed. What she needed was a “whole lot” of money what she had was a “little bit” of oil. Don’t ever underestimate what you have! Especially when God gets involved.

It’s an interesting question coming from a prophet to a widow and it is an interesting answer considering she said she didn’t have anything, except for a little oil. Now when we say we don’t have anything we usually mean we don’t have anything. But for most of us it’s not that we don’t have anything; it’s that we don’t have what we desire. When what you have is not what you desire it will be overlooked and seen as nothing. What she had she didn’t value as significant because it wasn’t what she needed. What she needed was a lot of money. What she had was a little bit of oil. Mike Murdock says, “if what you have is not what you need it must be your seed.” Your seed will look like “absolutely nothing” until you begin to sow it by pouring out of what you already have. Then it will grow and exceed your need. The widow had a “seed” of oil and when she began pouring out of what she had God exceeded her need.

This story is interesting in so many ways. First of all instead of the prophet just helping – he first asked her what she had in her house. Most of us would have taken for granted she didn’t have anything. While others of us would have helped her without any questions being asked at all. Then to top it all off when he found out she had a little oil he still doesn’t help her but instead he proceeds to tell her to go to her neighbors and ask them for some empty jars. After collecting all the jars should could find the prophet then instructs her to begin pouring into those jars. So she did. She began pouring out of what she already had. She began pouring from what she called earlier: “ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.”

The oil didn’t start flowing until she started pouring. But the “little bit” of nothing she had kept flowing until it had filled all the jars she had collected. Then the oil stopped. It didn’t stop until the containers she had were filled. God didn’t exceed her capacity to receive, but He exceeded her need. I believe if she had more jars she might still be pouring today. The other thing is the oil started flowing when she started pouring out of what she had. The jars didn’t automatically fill themselves, and the jar she had didn’t fill up before she started pouring. You may be waiting on God to give you more, or to give you what you desire, but He might be waiting on you to recognize what you have as being significant so you will begin pouring it out for Him, to exceed your need while blessing those around you.

She had a “little bit” of oil but what she needed was a “whole lot” of money. What seemed insignifanct, God used in a supernatural way. The writer tells us that she had enough oil to pay off her husband’s debt with enough left over for her and her sons to live on. Here’s the passage: II Kings Chapter 4 “Elisha and the Widow’s Oil” – “A certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets cried out to Elisha, saying, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that your servant feared the Lord. And the creditor is coming to take my two sons to be his slaves.” So Elisha said to her, “ What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house but a jar of oil.”
Then he said, “ Go, borrow vessels from everywhere, from all your neighbors — empty vessels; do not gather just a few. And when you have come in, you shall shut the door behind you and your sons; then pour it into all those vessels, and set aside the full ones.” So she went from him and shut the door behind her and her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured it out. Now it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said to her son, “ Bring me another vessel.”
And he said to her, “ There is not another vessel.” So the oil ceased. Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, “ Go, sell the oil and pay your debt; and you and your sons live on the rest.”

Here are 5 Things We Can Learn from this Passage:

1. God supernaturally accomplished what the widow could not do herself.

2. God exceeded her need.

3. The miracle started with what didn’t seem signifiant.

4. She poured out of what she had and God exceeded what she needed.

5. What she had was more than enough when God got involved.

We must learn to be thankful for what we have… Develop an attitude of gratitude… Begin pouring out of what you have. What you have is your seed. What you desire God to do is your need. Be thankful for what you have and watch God exceed your need!