Paths of Righteousness

“He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake” (Psalm 23)

The above passage is a familiar one, but as I approached it one day, I thought about what it means to be led by God through “paths” of righteousness (what is right, just or normal according to God‘s standards).

This entire Psalm reflects a God who is seen as a Shepherd loving and dependable towards his people. So, when I noticed there were “paths of righteousness,” I wasn’t surprised that God has carved out paths for his people to follow in. Even David knew of God’s paths of righteousness. He said “my steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped” (Psalm 17).

As children, we can probably all remember our parents telling us to stay on a certain path to get where we wanted to go. There’s always danger lurking and a good parent will forewarn their children. The other day, I was walking in a strange neighborhood and nearing the end of my “path”, I encountered a very big dog who came out of nowhere. I screamed and tried to outrun the dog which didn’t work very well. Suddenly, the owner captured his pet and I struggled to find my peace again. Had I known more about this path, I may have avoided this situation.

God, who is the perfect parent, knows what is planned by the enemy and will keep us shielded from the devil’s schemes IF we will keep God always before us. Proverbs 3:5&6 is one of my favorite passages, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” A straight path is a righteous, (right) path.

All of this to say…. There is a path worth traveling and it’s the path of righteousness. If Jesus is your Shepherd, he will gladly lead you in order that you may avoid the pitfalls that are lurking around every corner. Lastly, it is for his glory that we arrive at our destination where we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6).

RIGHTEOUSNESS, PEACE & JOY IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking. But of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit…” (Rom.14:17).

The Apostle Paul wrote the above passage to the Christians in Rome and the believers everywhere. Paul wanted the believers to love one another whether or not they all served Christ the same way. Some believers may eat meat, others vegetables, some consider one day more sacred while another considers every day alike. Paul said it’s really not beneficial to argue about such things because after all, who are we doing all this for anyway?

Further, Paul said it’s not good to offend your brother by doing something you may have perfect peace in doing because if you do, you are no longer acting in love towards him (Rom.14:15). Further saying in verse 21 that it is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall. Just because you feel blameless before God is not a good reason to continue to do something that would cause another believer to stumble.

God is most interested in our walk before Him because to Him we will give an account of our lives (Rom.14:12). God does not want his children to be consumed with external things; in this case, food and drink. Be consumed with loving God with all your heart and with all your soul (mind, will and emotions) and with all your strength, Deuteronomy 6:5. According to Matthew's gospel, 22:38, “This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself' (Matthew 22:38).

When man is reconciled to God - a wonderful benefit of peace toward Him and your fellow man is a result. In addition, joy is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit which is like icing on your cake! Loving God and being righteous (right with God) will bring about a life worth living, noticed by all, especially God.

PURSUING RIGHTEOUSNESS......

“He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor” Proverbs 21:21 (NIV).

Proverbs is a book of wise sayings written mostly by a man named Solomon who was the son of King David and Bathsheba. The word “proverb” comes from a Hebrew word that means “to rule or to govern.”

The above scripture is an encouragement to those who desire to be Righteous (integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting; the condition acceptable to God ) because when you desire to be right with God and actively pursue Him, God desires to do right by you. Solomon is saying through the unction of the Holy Spirit, if you will pursue; meaning to follow eagerly or with haste; to chase that which is pleasing and acceptable to God, then God will reward you with benefits that cannot come through any other source.

I have a cute little Yorkie named Kirby and everywhere I go... he follows almost to the point of my stepping on him. He knows that he will get my affection and undivided attention if he eagerly chases after me. Imagine yourself being that persistent with God. If Kirby were to sit in the corner all day, he would miss the stroke of my hand upon his fur and the words of love I speak to him. What he craves; he goes after with diligence.


We too should crave the benefits of God. Some say going after a reward is a wrong motive, but what if the reward is Life, Prosperity, and Honor. These are some rewards we need to desire and expect when we chase after Righteousness.


Solomon said that the one who followed after Righteousness and mercy finds life. This life that Solomon was referring to was not simply living from day to day without purpose, but it’s living day to day ON PURPOSE and WITH PURPOSE. It’s like springtime after winter when the green leaves replace the barren branches and like fresh flowing water from a once empty well. God wants to give us a life of abundance, not just an existence. Jesus said in the book of John (10:10), “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” The Lord knows the condition of your heart and will bring back to you what you have sown towards Him and others. “The Lord searches the heart and examines the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve” Jeremiah 17:10.


And lastly, God wants to bring honor which is glory, abundance, riches, splendor, and dignity to you and me! He loves to open up the windows of heaven over the one who follows after Him with pure motives. We fail to realize that the abundance that God has for us far outweighs worldly gain. He desires to give us what cannot be obtained on our own. He is the source of everything that is good and ultimately every good and perfect gift comes from Him.

TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!

“…filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:11

The above scripture was spoken by the Apostle Paul as a prayer for the Philippian believers. The word “fruit” used by Paul made me think of natural fruit, such as oranges, peaches, apples, etc. Although, not a farmer, I do know that fruit can only be produced from a healthy tree rooted and grounded in good soil, water from heaven, and adequate doses of God’s sunshine.

Just as fruit is sweet to the taste and the juice runs down one’s chin, so is a person who is filled with Jesus, who is our Righteousness. When we are “in Christ” and allowing His love to fill our hearts and minds, we don’t have to “try” to be like Jesus. We just are! A peach tree doesn’t have to “try” to produce peaches. So, just as a tree doesn’t have to work at producing that beautiful fruit - so is the process for you and me who have responded to the love of Christ that has been shed abroad in our hearts. It’s no longer I who liveth, but Christ who lives in me and out of me onto others (Galatians 2:20).

When I’m enjoying my relationship with Jesus - the evidence is the fruit of righteousness (integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting; the condition acceptable to God ). In other words.....having the character of Christ within me. Even without my help, God is producing His fruit in and through His people. Once we “…taste and see that the Lord is good”(Psalm 34:8), we will never long for anything else.

Yet, remember, all of that juicy fruit of righteousness being produced in us is for God’s glory, edifying or building up the body of Christ and also for future believers who need to see Christ in us. We don’t have to fear running out of this fruit as long as we continue to fill up our hearts and minds with that which is wholly delicious!

Without our union with Him, we will lack beauty, sweetness, tenderness and rotten to our core. For without Him, we are nothing and can do nothing.

Oh, may we be filled with the fruit of righteousness…..

RIGHTEOUSNESS.... God is moved by the motives of our heart not the work of our hands.

“For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven” Matthew 5:20

The above scripture was spoken by Jesus while ministering to the people on how to live in a way that would please God. He taught truths that many people had never heard before because Jesus operated with a spirit of wisdom and a spirit of understanding which confounded the religious folks and amazed everyone else. Before Jesus began his ministry, the teaching of that day came from the Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes.

The Pharisees were a religious Jewish group that zealously followed the Old Testament laws, as well as their own religious traditions. They were highly respected in their communities and most people feared them. The scribes or teachers were learned in the Mosaic law and in sacred writings. Luke 11:52 (Jesus speaking) “Woe to you experts in the law, because you have taken away the key to knowledge. You yourselves have not entered, and you have hindered those who were entering.” As religious experts, they did not recognize who was among them, namely Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. And further, they had prevented people from knowing God by enforcing people to live under the law and their traditions.

"We must do more than they, and better than they, or we shall come short of heaven. They (religious leaders) were partial in the law, and laid most stress upon the ritual part of it; but we must be universal, and not think it enough to give the priest his tithe, but must give God our hearts. They minded only the outside, but we must make conscience of inside godliness. They aimed at the praise and applause of men, but we must aim at acceptance with God: they were proud of what they did in religion, and trusted to it as a righteousness; but we, when we have done all, must deny ourselves, and say, We are unprofitable servants, and trust only to the righteousness of Christ; and thus we may go beyond the scribes and Pharisees" (Matthew Henry Concordance).

John the Baptist said in John 1:26 “…but among you stands one you do not know.” Sadly, today many who appear to be spiritual do not truly know God. They may know about God, but if you do not personally know Him by inviting Jesus to come live in your heart, to forgive you of your sins and to be the Lord of your life, then you will not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Remember, Jesus is not so much interested in all the things you do or your outward appearance before man, but most interested in the condition of your heart. To man, we may appear to be kind, generous, knowledgeable in the things of God, but God knows if our hearts are angry, unforgiving, unloving, and untouched by Him.

“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at, Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7. The context of this scripture refers to the Lord’s choosing of the next King of Israel who would be David, son of Jesse. Jesse did not see what God saw in his young son. When Samuel the Priest and Prophet came to Jesse’s oldest son, Eliab, the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him.” This was the case for all of David’s brothers. David was the one who had a heart after God (Acts 13:22). God is moved by the motives of our heart not the work of our hands.

So how does Matthew 5:20 apply to us today? Model yourself after Jesus and not people. Don’t look at people’s deeds and their knowledge as “righteousness” to be obtained. Keep your eye on Jesus and may your righteousness (integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling and acting; the condition acceptable to God) be your standard and your motivation. As long as you are in Him and looking to Him, you will certainly not miss the Kingdom of Heaven where the Lord we serve reigns.

Pray, right now, that the Lord will cause His Righteousness to grow in you. May His grace, which is his divine influence upon your heart, be poured out upon you, rise up in you, and flow out from you to others as you walk in relationship with him. May that relationship not be full of activity to appease him and others, but may your motivation be to please him and love him with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind (Matthew 22:37). May you walk in relationship with Jesus moment by moment till you see him face to face in the age to come.

WHEAT, TARES & WEEDS!

Wheat, Tares & Weeds

Matthew 13:24 NKJV

“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. So the servants of the owner came and said to him, Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares? He said to them, An enemy has done this. The servants said to him, Do you want us then to go and gather them up? But he said, No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”

There is quite a teaching here in this parable, but our focus is going to be upon the difference between wheat, tares and weeds. To those of us who are not farmers, we would not readily be able to determine the difference, but there is a significant difference between “wheat, tares, and weeds.”

We must realize that the wheat and tares is symbolic of wheat being a believer and follower of Christ whereas the tares are those who have not come to faith in Christ. One reason, the wheat and tares grow together is that Jesus would have believers to influence unbelievers that all would come to the knowledge of the truth.

Now, even in the Church, it is sometimes difficult to see the difference between wheat and tares. Some have the form of godliness, but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5). They may appear to be a born-again believer, when in actuality, they are not.

Now, back to the difference between wheat, tares, and weeds. The wheat is longer, bigger, and stronger. This is a believer in Christ who even when in trials, he demonstrates a strength and confidence in Jesus that carries him through the toughest of storms.

The tare is shorter, medium sized, and weaker. And the weed is the shortest, smallest, and the weakest. The weed DOES NOT PRODUCE ANY SEED. The wheat produces the biggest seeds.

Remember as believers, we are to be fruit-bearers.

Harvest time is when the imposters are readily seen. When the wheat is ready to be harvested, it bends down almost in a bowing position because it’s full of seed. It bends according to the wind blowing against it. This is symbolic of the believer and disciple of Christ, filled with the Spirit of the Lord. Humility is the sign of a believer, bowing to the one they love. These are the ones who spend time with the Lord, walking devoted to Him.

The tare on the other hand is readily seen by the farmer as straight up in form. They do not bow as the wheat. They are not filled with an abundance of seed, symbolic of the unbeliever who is only full of themselves. They are stubborn and prideful. Something I learned from a site about tares, even though they produce “some” seed, and act like wheat, if eaten, it causes one to become severely ill. This is symbolic of those even in our Churches who we sit beside weekly. Be careful who you let minister to you. The tare’s job is to choke the life out of the wheat!


Now remember the weeds produce nothing. They are the shortest, smallest, and the weakest. They are just ugly to look at. We all know what a weed looks like and the minute we see the weed we are anxious to get rid of it because we know the damage weeds can do to our produce. A weed can also be in our Churches. As wheat, believers in Christ, we should influence the weeds (unbelievers and troublemakers) instead of allowing them to influence us. Instead of looking down on the weeds, we must have compassion for them, remembering that we too were weeds before we became wheat. We must consider that every weed can become wheat if only we will allow Christ to be revealed to them through our daily lives.

At the harvest, the weeds will be uprooted and thrown away. Oh what a sad day that will be. We must pray to the Lord of the Harvest to send us out into the harvest field because the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few (Matthew 9:38). This does not mean we have to go to Africa to win the lost. They are all around us!

We must be vigiliant to continue right standing before the Lord as well as being compassionate and concerned about those who have yet to hear the Good News that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

SAINTS WHO SOMETIMES SIN....

Why is it that we’d rather say we are sinners saved by grace instead of saints who sometimes sin? Many Christians still consider themselves less than what God says they are? Is it because we are more “Sin Conscious” than “God Conscious?”

“This life and nature of God is RIGHTEOUSNESS. Consequently, the man who has received the nature of God has automatically become the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Christ” E.W. Kenyon

When Jesus Christ becomes your Savior and the Lord of your life, RIGHTEOUSNESS becomes a part of you. 1 John 2:29, “If you know that he is righteous, you know that everyone who does what is right has been born of him.”

John also said, “Dear children, do not let anyone lead you astray. He who does what is right is righteous, just as he is righteous” (John 3:7). According to John 14, the Father sent the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things and reminds us of everything Jesus said. The Holy Spirit will reveal the standard of God’s RIGHTEOUSNESS to anyone who believes and He will convict us of sin in our lives. So, if you feel conviction about something ---- repent(1 John 1:9), but don’t believe any lies such as …. “How can I be saved and do what I just did… or “I sure don’t feel very RIGHTEOUS today.” The very fact that you’re feeling conviction is a sign that you belong to the Lord.

Remember, you are a New Creation now. You are the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God in Christ Jesus. Try saying that every day and see how it changes the way you see yourself before God. If we don’t know who we are, then we are subject to the lies of the enemy. He will always lie to us because satan is the father of lies (John 8:44)and we will always fall for it until we realize Christ is in us and we are RIGHTEOUS … whether we feel like it or not.

NICE SHOES.....

“….created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” Ephesians 4:24

Some may say it’s sacrilege to insinuate that we could be like God. Many Christians still see themselves as lowly worms before a righteous God. That would be true if it had not been for the sacrifice Christ made upon the cross 2,000 years ago. Christ’s demonstration of his love for mankind was a divine exchange of our sin for his righteousness. We now stand before him NEW - “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Imagine ---- you taking your old smelly tennis shoes into a store and as you lay them upon the counter - you’re met with a kind clerk with an enormous smile, who without hesitation hands you the latest, best looking tennis shoes you’ve ever seen. And, the best part is ….. There is NO CHARGE to you. It’s a gift. You walk out of the store wearing your NEW SHOES, you forget those worn out, ugly, smelly sneakers you brought into the store. You won’t ever need them or want them again.

So just as you exchanged your old smelly tennis shoes for a new pair…. Christ took our smelly sin upon himself and gave us a gift - HIMSELF and all that he is. “He became sin, who knew no sin, that we might become his righteousness…“ (2 Corinthians 5:21).

Now, we’re walking in our new shiny shoes - HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS and holiness. If, by faith you have received this precious gift of Jesus into your heart, you have now begun the greatest journey of your life. There’s no turning back - that old life is gone - a new one has begun. And, I do look like my heavenly Father after all.

.........Nice shoes!

RIGHTEOUSNESS REVEALED....

“For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed…” Romans 1:17
Those of you who either read “The Chronicles of Narnia,” by C.S. Lewis, or saw the film, will know that the way into Narnia was through the wardrobe. Upon entrance, there was a disclosure of what before had been unknown. Once the land of Narnia was discovered, the young girl, Lucy desired her siblings to join her, but she was met with skepticism. However, over time, one by one, her brothers and eldest sister entered through the wardrobe and into this new land.

The above scripture refers to the gospel where righteousness from God is revealed. The gospel is from old English roots meaning "good news". The Gospel is the heart of the Christian message: that Christ died for us, and that through him we can be reconciled to God and live in communion with him forever and ever. This good news is veiled to those who choose to ignore it, just like the wardrobe that led to Narnia, but to those who are curious; those who come like little children (Mark 10:14-16) such as in the Chronicles of Narnia and dare to uncover the secrets of God’s kingdom….. will discover God’s Righteousness - his integrity, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting.

You will never find God’s righteousness in the world‘s system. The world lives by its own standards, even making them up as they go along. The last verse in the book of Judges says, “In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit” (Judges 21:25). Does this sound familiar? Everyone who has “no king” will do as they see fit. They will live their lives unto themselves and not unto God. But those of us who have been exposed to the Good News and have received it by faith can now acknowledge Jesus as our Savior, our Lord and our King. We have discovered that there’s a better way to live - a righteous way. We recognize that there is nothing good in ourselves and we are drawn to the Righteous One, Jesus Christ.

Get the news… the Good News and read all about it…

DEMONSTRATING RIGHTEOUSNESS.....

What’s your response to injustice, especially when it affects you personally? Do you take matters into your own hands or do you entrust the situation to the Lord?


In the book of 1 Samuel, we read of a young man named David who was anointed to be King of Israel. While awaiting God's timing for the Kingship, he was being pursued by the reigning King Saul who had become jealous of David and desired to kill him.


One day, it seemed a perfect opportunity had come to David. He could have taken Saul’s spear and plunged it into Saul putting an end to this never-ending chase (1 Sam.26). He would have been justified in doing so by those in his company, yet David, a man after God’s own heart knew that God would deal with Saul. Perhaps God Himself would strike him or he would die in battle (1Sam.26:10). David knew he must respond to Saul in a way that would honor God. He had to be a man of restraint in this battle, unlike the previous battles with lions, bears, and a giant named Goliath. In those battles, God gave the perpetrator into David’s hand for their demise.

This battle was different. It gave opportunity for David to mature in his trust level with God. This time, he would walk away. He would make room for God’s deliverance in God‘s ways and timing. David even proclaimed to Saul his belief that God would reward him for the mercy he had shown him. One day, God did reward him with the promised Kingship.

God not only credits us with RIGHTEOUSNESS for our belief in Him like the Patriarch Abraham, but He will reward us for demonstrating His RIGHTEOUSNESS to others as David did.

1 Samuel 26:23 “The Lord rewards every man for his righteousness and faithfulness…”

THE GIFT OF RIGHEOUSNESS - MEANT TO BE RECEIVED~NOT EARNED

This being the Christmas season, let’s fast forward to Christmas morning… You’ve been given several gifts to open, but before you unwrap one, you get out your checkbook and insist on paying the giver whatever value the gift holds. Ludicrous? This is the way we treat God when we try to earn “Righteousness” which is right standing with a Holy God.

“Abram believed the Lord, and he (God) credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Because Abraham simply “BELIEVED” in God and His promises to him, God declared that Abram, later changed to Abraham was in right standing (RIGHTEOUS) before Him. He never asked Abraham to DO anything to be right with Him. Does that surprise you?

Today, many people feel they have to DO righteous acts in order to achieve God‘s RIGHTEOUSNESS. Some of those acts might be -- to be a faithful attendee to a place of Worship or a consistent giver of money to God’s work. Everything we DO should be a result or fruit of our faith in a God who is, and who was, and who is to come… (Revelation 1:4) and not a prerequisite to obtain Righteousness.

Paul says, in the book of Romans that if works is something to boast about, then he would have had something to boast, but not before God. All of our works do NOT make us RIGHTEOUS (right) before God. If you simply have faith in God, your faith is credited as RIGHTEOUSNESS, a free Gift such as Abraham received. It's that simple!

James, on the other hand talks about a person being justified by what he does and not by faith alone (James 2:23&24). There is no contradiction here between Paul and James. The way to reconcile these statements is that works won’t ever justify us before God, but works or deeds will be a fruit or result of your faith in God.

If you really believe in God and what His Word says to you, then you are walking in faith like Abraham and share with him the Gift of RIGHTEOUSNESS.

Receive today the Gift of Righteousness!


“Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Genesis 15:6

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?

Many people acknowledge Jesus as a great prophet, teacher, good man, etc. Someone I talk to occasionally said to me one day that she thought Jesus was “cool.” This person acted like she had no problem whatsoever with Jesus, yet her life demonstrates otherwise.

Jesus asked his disciples one day, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Matthew 16:13. The responses ranged from, John the Baptist, Elijah, Jeremiah or one of the Prophets to the right answer given by Peter which was… “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” Matthew 16:16.

I believe every one of the disciples, including Judas heard this response that day. From that point on, there was no excuse as to who Jesus was and is. However, it’s not enough just to know who Jesus is. There must come a time when we all must make a choice as to who Jesus is to us personally. Even Joshua, before leading the Israelites into the promised land said to the people, “choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve… But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” Joshua 24:15. If we make that choice for Christ, Jesus will become more than a great teacher, prophet, cool guy, and becomes your Lord.

Earlier I referred to Judas, who we all know betrayed Jesus. People have often wondered how he could have done such a thing after spending three years with the Son of God who healed the sick, raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, etc.

Perhaps that last meal with Jesus revealed Judas’ true heart. Jesus told the disciples that one would betray him. “They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?” But later, “Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

Notice that the disciples referred to Jesus as “Lord,” Lord is Kyrios in the Greek meaning “He to whom a person or thing belongs; the possessor and disposer of a thing, one who has control of a person.”

Judas referred to Jesus as “Rabbi,” Rhabbi is the Greek word meaning “my great one, my honorable sir, a title used by the Jews to address their teachers…”

So you see, Judas never came to a place in his life where he saw Jesus as possessor of him. Judas still controlled his own life and John 13:27 says that satan entered Judas as he took the bread that day out of the hands of Jesus. Judas may have been a follower of Jesus, but never a lover!

There are “Judas’s” among us today. Judas is in the Church, bible study, in the choir and worship team. Jesus was aware all along that Judas would betray him, yet he gave him every opportunity to share in an intimate walk with him.

Jesus continues to extend that invitation to us all. He knows right now where your heart is. You may be fooling people around you, but you will never fool God. You may even believe you’re okay because you know about Jesus.

But, Jesus wants to be more to you than a cool guy. He desires to be more to you than a teacher or a prophet who did good things and said wise sayings. Jesus longs to be your Lord. He wants to be the possessor of your heart. He wants to give you life and be the love of your life and give you eternal life!

Think about it…. Who is Jesus to you? Lord or Rabbi?

DO WE HAVE IN MIND THE THINGS OF GOD OR THE THINGS OF MEN?

One day as the disciples were walking with Jesus, He began to talk about a matter of His own death and this topic did not sit well with one of the disciples, namely Peter. Peter loved the Lord and had recently experienced a revelation about Jesus that came from the Father, but this day, Peter was not commended by Jesus, but rather rebuked (Matthew 16:23).


“…Jesus began to explain to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that He must be killed and on the third day be raised to life” Matthew 16:21).


“Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Matthew 16:22.


Can you imagine, first of all, rebuking the Lord? Well, before we all throw stones at Peter, let’s look a little deeper.


Right then, Jesus gave His own rebuke. He said to Peter… “Get behind me, Satan!” “You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men” Matthew 16:23. This last comment by Jesus should strike all of our hearts because Jesus never stops at a symptom, but always goes to the root. The root of Peter’s words toward Jesus was that he didn’t have in mind the things of God - but rather the things of men.


Let’s stop there and ask ourselves… How many times have we too been earthly minded? We launched into our ways because we didn’t understand the plan and purpose of God in that situation.


Six days later, Peter, James and John were invited by Jesus to come along with Him to a high mountain. Jesus was transfigured before them. These three disciples were given a rare opportunity to see Jesus as he really was. If you study the book of Revelation, you will see the majesty of Jesus. John records that Jesus’ head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance (Revelation 1:12-16). The disciples, this day on the mountain saw what John would later see on the island of Patmos. What an awesome sight that must have been.


In addition to seeing Jesus glorified before them, Moses and Elijah also appeared and they were talking with Jesus. What a holy moment to observe quietly, yet Peter had something to say, rather, something he wanted to DO.


“Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters --- one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah” Matthew 17:4.Peter wanted to DO SOMETHING. Isn’t that the way we are? We don’t know how to be silent and meditate for awhile on the holy things God wants to impart to us. The first thing we want is to "DO SOMETHING."


While Peter is still speaking, the voice of God Almighty breaks in…. while a cloud envelops them all. “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased. Listen to Him!” Matthew 17:5.

Peter is no longer talking! He’s on his face along with James and John terrified! The Father identified Jesus as His Son whom He loved and was pleased with, but He also said, "LISTEN TO HIM!"


We've all heard it said that there’s a reason we have two ears and one mouth. Most likely, it's because we should listen more (twice as much) and talk less. That’s a tough one for people like me who can really relate to Peter. I have been guilty of opening mouth - inserting foot sooo many times in my life. Yet, like Peter, I know that the Lord will finish the good work He has begun in me until the day of Christ Jesus (Phil 1:3).


The reason I’ve connected these two passages of scripture is because I believe “listening to the Lord” will produce “having in mind the things of God.” Remember when Jesus told Peter, you are a stumbling block to me because you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men? Peter demonstrated once again at the transfiguration someone who still did not have in mind the things of God.


The mountaintop experience that Peter, James and John had was not to be a building project for Jesus, Moses and Elijah. It was a holy experience that did not need WORDS & DEEDS.


Remember, Jesus did nothing of himself, instead He only did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19). This is an example for us. God is more interested in how we are transformed by what’s been revealed. You might recall a time when Jesus revealed Himself to you as a faithful unconditional loving friend or perhaps as your healer. How ever the Father reveals His Son to you and me is not so that we run and do something. It’s that we immerse deeper in our relationship with Jesus. Our doing His will comes only out of our knowing Him.


Ephesians 1:17, “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.” (Prayed by the Apostle Paul)


The point of it all is that we may know HIM better. The way to get to know Jesus is by listening to Him as we spend time with Him everyday. As a friend of God, He will reveal his secrets to you, “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know“ Jeremiah 33:3. As we listen, we will learn His ways and He then will be able to order our steps. We will have in mind the things of God!


When we do not have in mind the things of God, we can be more of a hindrance and a stumbling block just as Peter would have been had he been in charge of Jesus’ future. His protection of Jesus would have kept Jesus from going to the cross! We know that it was God’s divine plan, from the beginning of time to send Jesus to die once for the sins of all. Isaiah 50:10, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush Him and cause him to suffer….” He was sent as a guilt offering for you and me.


Well, Praise God there came a time for Peter when he did have in mind… the things of God and that should give us all hope. Following the outpouring of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2), Peter stood up with his fellow disciples and raised his voice to speak to the crowd (Acts 2:14). He began by saying to the people… “LISTEN CAREFULLY TO WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.” Hmm… I believe Peter had learned to listen and now God gave him a platform!


Peter told the people that Jesus was handed over to them by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge…. (Acts 2:23). So, you see, Peter did finally have in mind the … things of God!

This has given me hope and I pray the same for you. We all have fallen short in our knowledge of God and His ways. That is why we must ask the Father for wisdom and knowledge that we may know him better. We do not want to be a stumbling block to his purposes coming forth in the earth today. We do not want to hinder His work. In fact, we should long to join Him in fulfilling His dream for us and for the lost.


We must desire to be in alignment with Him at all times that we may share in God’s purposes and plans being fulfilled in the earth. From the words of the Father…. LISTEN TO HIM! I pray that this burns in your heart today so that we have in mind… THE THINGS OF GOD!

DIVINE DELAY...

Have you ever heard the saying, “hurry up and wait?” I have found it to be true in my walk of faith with Jesus. The other night the Lord began to talk to me about waiting after you’ve been called. I thought of how Jesus commissioned the disciples to go into all the world, yet in the same breath told them to stay in the city until they were clothed with power from on high.

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28:19.

“You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised, but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high” Luke 24:48-49.

After Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected, he spent 40 days among the disciples continuing to teach them, but after He ascended into heaven, the disciples were to wait for the gift the Father promised… “On one occasion, while He was eating with them, He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.” For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit” Acts 1:4-5.

So the disciples had been commissioned to go, yet Jesus told them to wait. It’s as if He pushes the pause button. Have you ever felt like God has pushed the pause button on your life? When you’re told to go, but yet you’re to stay… seems to send a mixed message. Notice Jesus said… in a few days you’ll be baptized with the Holy Spirit. He didn’t say how many days, what they should do while they waited or what time of day this gift was coming. We are able to read the Word and see that it was ten days later, but the disciples did not have that information.

Do you ever wonder what they discussed after Jesus was taken up in the clouds? What we do know is that they began to worship him ~ yes worship. I do believe this is the first time we see the disciples worship Jesus and after that they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. Luke 24:53 says they “stayed continually at the temple, praising God.”

I believe much can be learned from their example. They knew first-hand how true Jesus was to his word. They spent days and nights with Him for three years. So, they never had a doubt that He would keep his word to them. Do we know him that well?

And, Jesus actually opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45) right before he left them because they would reflect the rest of their lives upon what He told them.

What they didn’t know was that the gift of the Holy Spirit, which was soon to come to them would remind and reveal all that they had learned from Jesus. They must have been on fire with anticipation before they were filled with the fire of the Holy Spirit.

When God shows you something that is to come.. it’s easy to become like a child waiting for Christmas. I remember my children when they were little would ask…. “How many days mom till Christmas?” I believe the Lord wants us to be filled with anticipation of not only the most important date on a calendar which is His return to receive us, but also for the divine appointments along our journey towards him.

So, if you’re in a “pregnant pause” as some say… just know, you can’t carry that baby forever. The pause will end and the new shall come forth in my life and in yours. But, while we are in the “pause” mode, let’s worship Him and carry joy in our hearts for that day when we shall experience the commission the Lord has placed upon us.

HUNGERING & THIRSTING FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for RIGHTEOUSNESS for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).


Have you ever been beyond hungry? Most of us in America have rarely known extreme hunger, not to say that it doesn’t exist, but is less common here. The times when I felt I was about to starve were also the times I felt most satisfied when food finally reached my stomach. It’s as if we appreciate food most when we’ve experienced the greatest hunger.


Recently, I had the privilege of watching a dvd of several testimonials of people who were searching for God throughout their life. Most gave their life to serving dead gods and in all their attempts to please this god, they felt unloved, purposeless and unfulfilled ---- still hungry. As they journeyed through their lives hungering and thirsting for RIGHTEOUSNESS (the state of being right with God), each one encountered the one true God, the Creator of heaven and earth who revealed himself to each person, just as he promised he would do (Isaiah 65:1).


You see, God doesn’t hide from us - quite the contrary. He longs to reveal himself to us by filling our aching hearts with Himself. God is looking for people who are hungering and thirsting for Him. There are many people in the world; you may be one, who really wants to live a godly life. You may say, “I’ve tried to live righteous my entire life, yet I feel empty.” If that’s you - please know that God sees you and your attempts to be RIGHTEOUS. But, Righteousness is not "achieved," it's "received." God loves to see a hungry heart and it‘s his promise that he will fill you (Matthew 5:6).


Open up your heart today to Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He has already chosen you to receive His RIGHTEOUSNESS. Ephesians 1:4, “For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight…” (RIGHTEOUS).


Come, all you who are thirsty! Today - may your hunger and thirst be satisfied as you cry out to God…… “Fill me Lord Jesus with RIGHTEOUSNESS.”

GRACE FOR MORE!

As I was reading in Joshua this morning, I encountered a person named Acsah and my heart was stirred with grace to ask for more….of Him. I pray it will have the same effect upon you.

I want to introduce you to a young woman named Acsah, who was the daughter of Caleb, who along with Joshua explored the promised land under Moses’ leadership. You may have never heard of Acsah, but she is a woman who was much like her father Caleb who was a man of great courage, tenacity and confidence in God.

Turning back to Numbers 13, the Lord told Moses to send some men to explore the land of Canaan which he had already given to the Hebrew people. Moses told the twelve men to go up through the Negev and into the hill country to see what the land was like and whether the people there were strong or weak, few or many. Was it a good or bad land? The last thing Moses said was to bring back some fruit. Isn’t that interesting. If a land is a prosperous land… it should be fruitful and it was.

Consequently, in that exploration, only two men came back with a good report, namely Caleb and Joshua along with ONE single cluster of grapes carried on a pole between them… now that’s some fruit!! The other ten gave a report that erupted fear into the Israelites ultimately leading to their demise.

Caleb believed that if God was with them, they could take the land, giants and all. Unfortunately, the people gave in to fear and settled for “less than” God had for them. They were willing to stay in a barren place, forsaking all God had promised.

After forty years and the death of that generation, Caleb and Joshua continued to believe the Lord’s promise to give them the land that flowed with milk and honey. The day came when Joshua took the next generation into the promised land and when he did, he divided the land as Moses had instructed him (Moses had died by this time). Guess who was waiting for his portion? Yes, Caleb! He was now 85 years old and proclaimed his years had no negative affect upon the strength and tenacity he still possessed (Joshua 14:11).

Joshua blessed Caleb with his portion of land called Hebron as his inheritance. Caleb took possession and began to drive out the wicked inhabitants. Not only had Caleb been given land, but God had blessed him with a daughter named Acsah whose hand in marriage was given to Othniel for his bravery against the enemy occupants.

Now… this is the good part. Acsah, which means “Upper Spring” or “Adorned” was blessed by her father with a field, a portion of his inheritance. But, one day, as she got off her camel, she was approached by her father who asked her what he could do for her. Acsah never hesitated. She asked her father for a favor. When you ask for a favor, you are pretty sure you will get what you ask for… right?

Acsah knew she was favored by her father and even though she had been blessed with the field, she desired something more. “Since you have given me land in the Negev, give me also springs of water” (Joshua 15:19). Oh my… she asked for more? Acsah knew that land without WATER would not be fruitful. She was not willing to live in a land that was BARREN as her ancestors had chosen. She was choosing life for herself and her husband and future descendants. Her boldness makes me think of Hebrews 4:16, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

I’m sure Caleb was delighted to grant his daughter’s wishes by giving her the upper and lower springs (Joshua 15:19) to water her land. This is such a picture of God who always exceeds our expectation (Ephesians 3:20).

God is looking for Acsah’s in the earth today who will be bold enough to contend for SPRINGS OF WATER which Jeremiah said is the Lord (Jer.17:13). Just as Acsah asked for natural water - we the Believer should be asking for spiritual water (1 Corinthians 15:46). I’m not talking about asking for a little more of God… No, I’m talking about asking for ALL that God has for you ~ your inheritance. We will never be able to produce anything good unless the springs of water are in us and flowing out of us to the world.

Remember when Jesus spoke to the woman at the well in John 4? She had been trying to find happiness in many men? Instead of lecturing her, Jesus told her that everyone who drinks from the wells of the world will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks from the Lord will never thirst again. Jesus said… “Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” John 4:14.

The point I want to make here is that we have every right to ask for “springs of water” and we must. You may say, well, I just want to be thankful for what I have. I’m saved and on my way to Heaven and that’s enough. May I suggest, we should be content with what we have, while contending for MORE OF HIM. I remember when I had one child and was longing for more because God had spoken to me through His Word that I would be a happy mother of “children” Psalm 113:9. A well-intending person said to me that I should be thankful for the child I had. I told her I was…. But I was contending for what God had promised me - MORE and several years later…..God kept His Word to me and I’ll praise Him forever!

You may be in a dry and barren place right now in your walk with Jesus. You may have said to yourself, is this all there is? I don’t feel the joy of the Lord. I don’t hear his voice anymore, I don’t even feel His presence. John 15:8 says… “This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, (not a little fruit) showing yourselves to be my disciples.” Bearing fruit is not just winning souls into the Kingdom, although that’s part. To bear fruit is to demonstrate Christ in the way we live and influencing those around us. It’s experiencing the joy of the Lord, faith in His Word, peace in our hearts, hearing and responding to His voice. It’s having a relationship like no other. You can’t give away what you do not have.

Or you may be in a different kind of desert place. You have caught a glimpse of something God has for you far greater than your present reality. You know in your heart that you will never be satisfied to stay where you are because there are springs of water flowing in a distant land.

Whatever desert experience you are in, it is to the Father’s glory that we bear much fruit! So, if this is God’s will for us, then just as Caleb granted Acsah’s wishes….. So will our Father in Heaven make all grace abound to us so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work (2 Cor. 9:8). As Caleb granted favor to Acsah, so shall our God remember us - his favored ones.

A natural field without springs of water is a dry and barren place producing nothing good; so is a man without the overflow of the spirit. Begin to cry out to God as David… who likened his thirst for God like a deer who pants for streams of water (Psalm 42:1). Jesus said that all those who hunger and thirst for righteousness WILL BE FILLED (Matthew 5:6). Ask the Lord to release in you hunger and thirst for more of Him.

Today is the day. Begin to cry out to God as Acsah cried out to Caleb her father. According to your Word Lord, I am going to ask you for “SPRINGS OF WATER” to immerse and consume this barren and thirsty land. May I bear MUCH fruit such as the giant cluster of grapes brought back upon the shoulders of Joshua and Caleb that others may taste and see that the Lord is indeed good. Thank You Lord that there is GRACE FOR MORE.

RIGHTEOUSNESS ~ GOD'S GIFT TO US!

What is Righteousness? According to Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language …… Righteousness is:

* Holiness, purity, uprightness, rectitude
* A righteous act or righteous quality
* The act or conduct of one who is righteous
* The state of being right with God; justification, the work of Christ, which is the ground of justification

Now that we know what righteousness is --- is it possible to be righteous apart from God? According to a Prophet named Isaiah who wrote the book bearing his name, “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away” (Isa.64:6).

Isaiah was saying, even in our best attempts to do good things, in light of the perfection and glory of God, we are nothing and no matter what we do, it will always fall short of the glory of God. However, because God desires to have relationship with us ---- He extends His mercy to us, a sinful people and accepts us as we are. Because of our faith in His finished work upon the cross and His saving cleansing power, we are made righteous in his sight. It’s like he strips us of those filthy rags and gives us new garments to wear and invites us to sit at the King’s table. Yahooo!

In the book of Romans, the author Paul said that there was no one who was righteous -not even one. He said that we all have turned away and that there is no one who does good. No one will be declared righteous by observing the law, or by doing right things according to Paul. Does this mean we shouldn’t do right things? Absolutely not! We should do right things, but we should be aware that those “right things” we do --- do not make us RIGHTEOUS apart from God. We must realize that everything we do is only righteous because we are now in and one with Christ since we have made Him Lord of our life.

“All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags..." Isaiah 64:6

TESTING “FAITH” 1-2-3

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” James 1:2-4 (NIV)
There’s a beautiful place that our trials will take us if we’ll have the right approach to them. The Word says that the end of a matter is better than the beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8) and a mature believer is the end goal that James was encouraging every believer to attain to.

The only way to achieve maturity is by the testing of our faith. Oh how I wish there was another way, but we all know that --- if, what we say we believe is not tested - an inmature believer is what we remain and that‘s not God‘s plan for us. So, how is ones faith tested? The word “testing” in the NIV is “trying” in the KJV which means the proving or that by which something is tried or proved, a test.

In order for faith to be real or proven in YOU, it has to undergo a test. Let’s say you make a claim that you can outrun all your friends. I guarantee you… someone will ask you to prove it. You may expect people to simply take you at your word, but it doesn’t work that way and quite honestly - it shouldn’t. You, personally will never know if that claim can stand if you never prove it by running a race against all who oppose you. Hopefully, you’ll come out a winner, But, you’d never really know unless you proved your claim to others and more importantly to yourself.

That’s how it is with what we believe about our relationship with our God. Faith in this passage is the Greek word Pistis which is the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ.

We can say we are people of faith, but this belief will be tried and tested by God until we become mature and complete in Christ, lacking nothing. How will our claims be proven true if we never welcome the tests?

A few years ago, as a believer in Christ, my faith was being tried once again. Even after years of infertility and God’s reward of our son Travis Jordan through Invitro-Fertilization, we still longed for another child and IVF was no longer an option. I was standing on what God had spoken to me out of Psalm 113:9, “…he settles the barren woman as a happy mother of children.” We were faced with questions on how we could afford the costs of adoption vs. new incurred debt, yet we believed God had another child for us through adoption. How to reconcile the reality with the Word of God was the test.

One day a friend of ours boldly said to us…. “If adoption is what God has said to do, then why worry about money.” I’m soo thankful for his boldness because later standing in their driveway, I said to my husband, “Do we believe what we’ve been singing for weeks now in Church?”, which was “All Things Are Possible,” by Darlene Zscheck. It’s one thing to sing or speak something, yet quite another to walk it out. God wants us to see for ourselves what we truly possess. It’s merely a confession until it’s proven to be your heart’s possession. We concluded that if we said we believed all things were possible with God then we must act on that belief.

So, that was the first step and the first words out of our mouth to the Case Worker at the Adoption Agency. We told her that we didn’t know how we would pay for the adoption, but we served a God who would provide. During this time of standing strong, something remarkable began to happen INSIDE of us. Just as James says, when your faith is tested or tried, you begin to develop steadfastness, constancy, and endurance, also referred to as perseverance. If you can imagine a picture with me - it was like Chuck and I locked ourselves in a room with God and would not let anyone or anything in UNTIL we saw God’s proving of our faith develop into our maturity. We were deliberate and loyal to act on what we believed about God and His promise to us.

Was it an easy ride from there? No, in fact, there was more testing to endure. But, when the trying of our faith had run its course, Chuck and I were more mature in Christ. In March of 2000, we welcomed our little Ariel into our home and our hearts. The money for the adoption came from sources we could never have imagined because we allowed the proving of our faith to produce something good in us. Every time we experienced another setback, we went to the Lord and to our faithful praying friends and family and asked for more grace to believe Him. We asked for the strengthening of our hearts as we waited for God to do what only He could do. We saw it through to the end and we weren’t disappointed.

Ten years later, faced with more testing of our faith, I remember the history I have with my faithful Father above and within. He has made me who I am. I am stronger now than I was ten years ago because of the testing of my faith. I believe I possess more of what I confess because I’ve been running the race expecting to finish my course by keeping the pace alongside Him. One day, He’ll give me the Victor’s crown, but I’ll know it really doesn’t belong to me and I’ll cast it at His feet as I bow and thank Him for proving my faith genuine.

Peter said it much better, “These (trials) have come so that your faith ---- of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire --- may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ….for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” 1 Peter 1:7-9.

May Christ be revealed as your faith is proven genuine!

HOPE ~ AS WE WAIT

Today, as my family was pressing into God with prayer... these were some scriptures the Lord gave us.

Hebrews 10:23 (NLT) "Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm for God can be trusted to keep His promise."

Are you waiting on something today? Has it been a long wait? God knows. He really sees you as you press in day in and day out and HE WILL RESPOND to the cries of His children, but before He does... He will do something in you and me that would have never happened had we not been pressing into His heart every day.

v.35, "So do not throw away your confidence - it will be richly rewarded." (NIV) Oh what a promise this is. Believe me when I say, we can stand on the promises of God and we must. I remember a preacher saying he literally took the Bible and stood on it declaring to God that he was standing on God's promises. Whatever you do... don't give up. If you feel like giving up, go to God and ask Him to release supernatural faith to believe Him. You were created to dream God's dreams. You were created to believe not only in Him, but to believe everything He has said He will do. Be as a child and remind the Lord what he has said to you. This does our heart good to remember what God has said. Just as my children NEVER forget "allowance" and they don't mind reminding me... God is not like me in that He forgets... NO, He never forgets, but he wants us to REMEMBER because when you forget what God said to you, you begin to die inside. You no longer have hope and you begin to shrink back from your faithful friend.

v. 37 "He who is coming will come and will not delay." Remember this, if Jesus will not delay His coming back to receive those who are His, then why would He go against his own character by delaying in responding to questions and concerns in your life. You and I have a timetable that we put the Creator God on and this in itself is WRONG. If God has begun something in you (and he has) then Paul said in Philippians... "...being CONFIDENT of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus" Phil 1:5.

God's maturing us with little reminders of his attentiveness through prophesy, dreams, visions, the Word, etc. God knows how to sustain us as we wait. I love Isaiah 50:4-5 that says.... "The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back."

Just last night, I remember waking up and hearing in my spirit..... "I put on Christ." Then, I went back to sleep. Even as we sleep, the Lord is speaking and yes... singing over His children reminding us of how much He loves us.

Let it not be said of us that we drew back from God for it is rebellion. We need to repent of drawing back from him, when we should be drawing near to Him. There's no better place to be then close to the heart of God. Where could I go, oh where could I go... where could I go but to the Lord. I grew up singing this song in Church. How true it remains. There's no comfort anywhere else, but in the secret place of the Most High God.

Ask the Lord to give you a word to sustain you in your time of weariness. Does not Matthew 7:7-8 say, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to Him who knocks, the door will be opened." He will sustain you as only He can do. As you wait and God sustains you day after day..... you are maturing in your walk with Him. There may come a time in your life when many may be against you saying you're crazy to believe Him, but because of your history with Him... you will not shrink back. You will boldly declare the works of YOUR God.

Let it be said of us that "...we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved" Hebrews 10:39.

Hopefully I've encouraged someone today, if only myself. King David learned to encourage himself in the Lord and we must do the same. There are times when no earthly encouragement heals the ache of one's heart. But, when we remember the faithfulness of our Father towards us - it should stir us towards faithfulness to Him.... as we wait.

GOD'S GRACE FIRST ......

"And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace (favor,acceptance) in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand." Genesis 39:2-4 (KJV)


Joseph already had God’s GRACE upon his life before he found FAVOR in Potipher’s eyes. In other words, Potipher didn't make Joseph great. God was already prospering Joseph and Potipher took note of it and may have thought... Hmmmm maybe some of this blessing will fall on me when I promote Joseph (something to think about). God will use men who do not know Him to further bless his children.

Are you looking for FAVOR with your boss, your family, friends? When you seek God's face first - then FAVOR will find you. GRACE is God's gift to us as believers. It's his divine influence upon our hearts reflected in our lives. FAVOR, in my opinion and much study is the reward or benefit of the already existing GRACE. Joseph, who had been sold into captivity by his own brothers never allowed unforgiveness or bitterness to disqualify him from experiencing God’s blessing in his life nor future FAVOR from men.

As a result, Potipher recognized the presence of God in Joseph. He discerned the character of God in this young man. FAVOR resulted with a promotion for Joseph and complete trust with Potipher and authority over everything Potipher owned. Now, the blessing of God was upon all that Potipher owned, even the outside fields (Gen.39:5). Just think of this.... when God's FAVOR rests upon "you," His blessing now affects your sphere of influence; workplace, family, friends, etc. You are affecting those around you just because you are highly FAVORED of God.

Can people tell you are GRACED by God? Is it evident to those around you that the Lord is prospering/blessing you? How does your character reflect Christ? Because of His GRACE, we can live in expectation of receiving the FAVOR of God and men every day of our lives IF WE ARE CARRIERS OF GOD'S GRACE. I say "IF" because not everyone who is a Believer enjoys the GRACE of God.

As I said earlier, GRACE is God's gift to you and me. He desires that you open that gift of GRACE every day experiencing His divine influence upon your heart. Think of this - what if you gave someone a gift that would benefit them greatly, but they never opened it. Similarly, if you don't open the gift of GRACE from God - you may be toiling - stressing for something that could easily fall into your hand if only you rested in God's GRACE. Joseph may have had some hardships, but He never forgot who loved him. He never forgot the God who gave him dreams about his future. In spite of his circumstances, he believed God was for him and would not abandon him. He knew in time God would redeem all that had been taken from him. And Joseph was not disappointed.

Remember, the famous line of Joseph to his brothers when he revealed his identity -
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" Genesis 50:20.

If you are lacking FAVOR with men, first of all.... do you know God? Confess your sin (Romans 3:23) and invite Jesus to come live in you and through you. Ask Jesus to reveal himself to you. Invite the the Holy Spirit to flood your heart with God's GRACE and expectation of FAVOR to be extended to you on every side. Don't allow the hardships of life to sour you and cause a root of bitterness to grow in you. Hebrews 12:15 says, "See to it that no one misses the GRACE of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many." This will cause you to miss the bountiful blessings the Lord has reserved for you. Even Jesus our Lord grew in wisdom and stature (maturity), and in FAVOR with God and men (Luke 2:52).

This is my prayer for you today. As Joseph and Jesus grew in the FAVOR with God and men - may the same be said of You.