Jesus taught us how to pray. He said to pray like this: “Our Father which art in heaven hallowed be your name… your kingdom come your will be done in part as it is in heaven.” There is no suffering, separation, or sickness in heaven. There is also no envy, strife, or gossip… Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be Done in Earth as it is in Heaven!
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Let There Be Light
The power of life and death are in the tongue. You have the power to frame your world through your words!
Agreement
What you agree with you allow. The power of agreement is the most powerful spiritual attribute we have. What you agree with you will experience!
i am persuaded…
In Romans 8 Paul ends this powerful chapter by saying he is persuaded that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Here is how the word persuaded is defined in the greek: Persuade– g3982. πείθω peithō; a primary verb; to convince (by argument); by analogy, to pacify or conciliate (by other fair means); to assent (to evidence or approve), to rely (by inward certainty): — agree, assure, believe, have confidence, be (wax), trust, yield.
Paul is persuaded that nothing can separate us! Romans 8 is convincing enough in and of its self. Here are some highlights: There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do God did by sending His own Son. The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ. For we were saved in this hope. Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all. It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither 1. death nor life, 2. nor angels nor principalities nor powers, 3. nor things present nor things to come, 4. nor height nor depth, 5. nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
After condensing thirty nine verses into the words above I want to look at v. 39. Paul says, “For I am persuaded that nether.” Neither means: that not one or not the other of two particular things. Paul is contrasting two extremes and he is persuaded because his comparison reveals the absolute. In other words: life and death and angels and demons and things that are happening, and things that are going to happen, and height and depth are all the absolute opposites and are extreme contrasts to one another in comparison. Paul is saying that life and death are extreme opposites and likewise with angels and demons, and today and tomorrow, and height and depth. He is saying that not one or not the other can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Nor anything in between! He is doing this through analogy and argument of contrast and is persuaded that neither can separate us.
Let’s look at the five comparisons in this *analogy– (*a comparison of two things): 1. Life can be frustrating and disappointing. Death can be somewhat dreadful because of the separation from loved ones and the unknown of eternity; but neither can separate you from the love of God. 2. Angels are powerful and do the work of God. Demons are evil and use fear and intimidation; but neither can separate you from the love of God. 3. Today (the things present) can offer its own challenges, and tomorrow (the things to come) can cause uncertainty; but neither can separate you from the love of God. 4. The highest height and the lowest depth are infinite and unknown; but neither can separate you from the love of God. Now Paul adds one more thing without comparison: 5. Any created thing. We humans are created in God’s image. Nothing that God has created, especially A PERSON can separate you from the love of God. People sometimes create are greatest problems. But nevertheless, NO ONE or NO THING can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus your Lord! Which brings me to my last point: Paul says, “In Christ Jesus our Lord.” If Jesus Christ is your Lord, He should be Lord of all, and if He is Lord of all, He is Lord over all! Therefore, He is Lord over anything that will try to come against you. Paul was persuaded by the personal evidence of his own experience. How about you?
1. When you are persuaded no one has to convince you.
2. When you are persuaded you will desire to persuade others.
3. When you are persuaded it will bring peace.
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.
Does Your Response Really Matter?
“Does Your Response Really Matter?” I think most of us would agree that the answer to that question is YES! I am personally learning it’s not so much what others do, or how I feel about what they’ve done; what matters is, how I respond. One of the many things I have learned from this teaching is: “your response to me doesn’t affect me, unless I allow it to.” However it does affect you in regards to your future and your peace. Sometimes your response is more important than the offense that has happened to you. That’s because you can’t change the offense, but you can change your future by how you respond. Your level of maturity is seen in your response, not your retaliation.
Here are some notes from the teaching regarding Joseph being thrown in the pit and how he responded:
Joseph:
- He responded in a Godly manner.
- He saw the bigger picture.
- He understood God was involved.
- He blessed those who cursed him.
Joseph’s response to his “not so fortunate” circumstances promoted him while releasing God’s favor for him and also for those who created his unfortunate circumstances. A Godly response will release the favor of God in your life and in the lives of others.
Joseph’s response to the Pit, Potiphar’s wife and the Prison promoted him to the Palace. The Palace was a place that allowed him the opportunity to bless others. His response to those unfortunate situations promoted him to an opportunity of great fortune that empowered him to bless others.
It’s easier to respond in the proper way:
- When you realize God has a plan.
- When you know He is faithful.
- When you believe His word is true.
Your response matters and it will release your future!
Seeing the Greater Purpose
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!
The Greatest of These…
Click Text for Short Video Clip: the greatest is love
When you say nothing at all…
Do you ever feel like your words are not being heard? Have you ever felt like what you say isn’t making a difference? Whether you speak or whether you are silent; both must be done in love. We should all have a desire to speak the truth, but even the truth has to be spoken in love! However when we are silent most of the time it is done for manipulation through pouting. In Luke 19 Zacchaeus climbs a tree to see Jesus. When Jesus looks up and sees him He tells him to come down because He needs to go to his house today.
Zacchaeus was a crooked tax collector who cheated people out of money. Jesus knew it and Zacchaeus knew it, but nothing was ever spoken. And without one word “spoken” he repents and the fruit is restitution. He not only says he was wrong he tells Jesus he will give back with interests what he has stolen from the people.
Jesus never said a word about what Zacchaeus should or shouldn’t do or for that matter what he had or hadn’t done. Zacchaeus repented without Jesus saying a word! Moved by the audacity of Jesus’ undeserved love and acceptance, Zacchaeus publicly repented of his acts of corruption and vowed to make restitution for them, and held a feast at his house. I want you to know love is a two way street. Jesus received Zacchaeus just the way he was but Zacchaeus received Jesus into his home. Love has to be given, but it also must be received.
There is a lot of talk about law and love, grace and truth, love and grace. I want you to note Jesus never said anything about Zacchaeus’ wrongdoings but Jesus also never tried too justify what he had done as being ok. Jesus never said, “Thats o.k. Zacchaeus you don’t have to give back what you have taken.” No. He allowed him freedom but He also allowed him the opportunity to repent and be changed. It’s both! Love and grace, law and love, grace and truth.
Sometimes love speaks, sometimes love is silent, sometimes love presents the truth, but no matter how our actions are displayed it should always be done in love! If your words or silence are not done in love they will sound like a “*clanging cymbal” to the person who is receiving them. (*I Corinthians 13)
The way to know your speaking more “truth” than “love”:
1. When you want to prove your point more than resolve the issue.
2. When you want to be heard more than you want to hear.
3. When you want to be right more than you want a resolve.
4. When your ego is more important than the person’s need.
5. When you listen but don’t hear.
6. When your wrong but don’t recognize it.
7. When you are in the wrong but don’t admit it.
8. When you say the wrong thing at the wrong time in the wrong way.
9. When you talk so much people don’t value what you do say when you say something worth hearing.
10. When you consider how you feel more than how others feel.
Many of us speak the truth, but not in love. We speak more truth than love. Speak the truth, but do so in love. Say what you mean and mean what you say, but don’t be mean!