Declarations can be a part of your regular prayer time or stand-alone prayers anytime during the day. Jsut begin with "Praise the Lord" or "Thank you God," or "In Jesus' Name" and add a statement that is based on Scripture. When you say it aloud you bring the reality of God's Word (which is the greater reality) into the world in your behalf. Here are declarations with the Scriptures they are based on. Meditate on these holy, power-filled Scriptures and then declare their truth into your life.
I am a member of the Body of Christ and Satan has no power over me. I overcome evil with good. (Luke 10:19, 1 Cor. 12:27, Romans 12:21)
God has promised as a part of my heritage that no weapon formed against me will prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
I am delivered from the evils of this present world for it is the will of God. (Galatians 1:4)
I will live and not die to declare the works of the Lord. (Psalms 118:17)
Because I am a doer of God's Word, I am blessed in my deeds. (James 1:22, 25)
Because I am submitted to God and I resist the devil, he must flee from me. (James 4:7)
Great is the peace of my children for they are taught of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:13, Deut. 6:7)
Christ has redeemed me from the curse of the law. Christ has redeemed me from poverty. Christ has redeemed me from sickness and disease. Christ has redeemed me from spiritual death. (Galatians 3:13, Deut. 28)
Because I delight myself in the Lord, He gives me the desires of my heart. (Psalms 37:4)
The Lord has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant. The blessing of Abraham is mine through Jesus Christ. (Psalms 35:27, Galatians 3:14)
I have received the gift of righteousness and I reign as a king in life by Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:17)
I trust in the Lord with all my heart and I do not lean to my own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5)
In all of my ways I do acknowledge Him and He directs my paths. (Proverbs 3:6)
The Lord will perfect that which concerns me. (Psalms 138:8)
I let the Word of Christ dwell in me richly in all wisdom. (Colossians 3:16)
I do follow the Good Shepherd and I know His voice. I will not listen to the voice of a stranger. (John 10:4-5)
I am a new creation in Christ Jesus. My old nature is taken away, behold all things have become new! (2 Cor. 5:17)
I am not conformed to this world but am transformed by the renewing of my mind. My mind is renewed by the Word of God. (Romans 12:2)
I am fruitful in every good work and I am increasing in the knowledge of God. I am strengthened with all might according to His glorious power. (Colossians 1:10-11)
I am delivered from the power (authority) of darkness and I have been translated into the kingdom of God's Dear Son. Therefore, sin, Satan, demons, sickness, disease, bondages, strongholds, and poverty has no authority over me! (Colossians 1:13)
I am born of God and I have world overcoming faith residing on the inside of me. Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. (1 John 5:4-5, 1 John 4:4)
I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)
Jesus gave me the authority to use His Name. That which I bind on earth is bound in Heaven. That which I loose on earth is loosed in Heaven. Therefore, in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ I bind the principalities, the powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world. I bind and cast down spiritual wickedness in high places and render them harmless and ineffective against me and my family in the Name of Jesus! (Matthew 16:19, John 16:23-24, Ephesians 6:12)
I am of God and have overcome Satan by the blood of Jesus and the word of my testimony. Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world. (Rev. 12:11, 1 John 4:4)
Monday, January 25, 2010
No. 1, Part Three: "The Prayer if Faith: Our Model Prayer Jesus Gave Us -- The Lord's Prayer"
The Lord's Prayer contains three amazing declarations and three profound petitions.
1. Our Father, which art in Heaven,. hallowed be Thy Name. Declaration
2. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Declaration
3. Give us this day our daily bread. Petition
1. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Petition
2. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Petition
3. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Declarion
Amen. Agreement with all who have ever said this prayer, starting with the Lord Jesus.
Jesus says “Our Father which art in heaven" This is where all prayer begins = Faith in God. In Mark 11:22 Jesus says, "Have faith in God!" That is where prayer starts, with faith in God. This faith statement, this declaration of God's truth, aligns with the Bible truth. Jesus says we should relate to God, as Father, as part of His family, as children of the living God. And "which art in heaven" speaks of his sovereignty, of being more than earthly, of being over the earth. It speaks of another spiritual reality: heaven, where God is and where we will go.
Then comes a praise portion to the declaration of God's truth -- "Hallowed be thy name!" Holy is your name. This is true. And it is also a praise. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22).
Then the great declaration comes of what will happen = we believe we will receive it. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This states what is to come in God's ppart of the prayer represents adoration. This is the part of prayer where one would show his or her high esteem, honor, and admiration for the Lord through exaltation and glorification. As Jesus demonstrates, adoration can be short and to the point. In the Lord’s prayer, there are only two short (yet sincere) statements of adoration.
We have the petition" “Give us this day, our daily bread.” This section of the prayer is the supplication section, in which a request or plea is made. Here, the request is for the day and the daily bread. According to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, the request for daily bread is literally a request for daily subsistence, or daily needs. This is a material request, yet it is not an extravagant one. This request is indicative of the promises of the Lord throughout scripture that state that the Lord will provide the basic needs of the believer. Where God guides, He will provide.
Forgiveness is a key part of Christianity. We are saved by God's forgiveness. And we are to forgive others. “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’’ Jesus is instructing the disciples to ask God for forgiveness of sin through confession. According to Strong’s Hebrew ad Greek Dictionaries, the word forgive in this verse means to lay aside, or to forsake. By the same token, believers are also expected to forgive those who have sinned against them in the same manner. When a believer prays, they are therefore to ask for forgiveness from the Lord, and to also have a heart open to forgiving those who have wronged them.
Then Jesus asks God the father to “lead us not into temptation, but to deliver us from all evil: Once again, Jesus presents a request before the Father. However, the request is a spiritual request rather than a material request. Christ asks the father to deliver him and his disciples from all evil. According to Strong’s, this evil refers to anything hurtful, including calamity, illness, malice, and from the devil. This model instructs the believer to not only petition the Lord for material needs , but also for spiritual blessings.
"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The prayer ends with a great declaration of Who God is and what is God's. It has an element of praise and adoration, but it also calls the future God has promised to come to pass. Amen is an agreement with everyone else in all the ages who have said or who will say this prayer. It means -- SO BE IT! The word "amen" by itself is a declaration of God's power and goodness.
1. Our Father, which art in Heaven,. hallowed be Thy Name. Declaration
2. Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. Declaration
3. Give us this day our daily bread. Petition
1. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Petition
2. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Petition
3. For Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever. Declarion
Amen. Agreement with all who have ever said this prayer, starting with the Lord Jesus.
Jesus says “Our Father which art in heaven" This is where all prayer begins = Faith in God. In Mark 11:22 Jesus says, "Have faith in God!" That is where prayer starts, with faith in God. This faith statement, this declaration of God's truth, aligns with the Bible truth. Jesus says we should relate to God, as Father, as part of His family, as children of the living God. And "which art in heaven" speaks of his sovereignty, of being more than earthly, of being over the earth. It speaks of another spiritual reality: heaven, where God is and where we will go.
Then comes a praise portion to the declaration of God's truth -- "Hallowed be thy name!" Holy is your name. This is true. And it is also a praise. God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22).
Then the great declaration comes of what will happen = we believe we will receive it. "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This states what is to come in God's ppart of the prayer represents adoration. This is the part of prayer where one would show his or her high esteem, honor, and admiration for the Lord through exaltation and glorification. As Jesus demonstrates, adoration can be short and to the point. In the Lord’s prayer, there are only two short (yet sincere) statements of adoration.
We have the petition" “Give us this day, our daily bread.” This section of the prayer is the supplication section, in which a request or plea is made. Here, the request is for the day and the daily bread. According to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, the request for daily bread is literally a request for daily subsistence, or daily needs. This is a material request, yet it is not an extravagant one. This request is indicative of the promises of the Lord throughout scripture that state that the Lord will provide the basic needs of the believer. Where God guides, He will provide.
Forgiveness is a key part of Christianity. We are saved by God's forgiveness. And we are to forgive others. “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.’’ Jesus is instructing the disciples to ask God for forgiveness of sin through confession. According to Strong’s Hebrew ad Greek Dictionaries, the word forgive in this verse means to lay aside, or to forsake. By the same token, believers are also expected to forgive those who have sinned against them in the same manner. When a believer prays, they are therefore to ask for forgiveness from the Lord, and to also have a heart open to forgiving those who have wronged them.
Then Jesus asks God the father to “lead us not into temptation, but to deliver us from all evil: Once again, Jesus presents a request before the Father. However, the request is a spiritual request rather than a material request. Christ asks the father to deliver him and his disciples from all evil. According to Strong’s, this evil refers to anything hurtful, including calamity, illness, malice, and from the devil. This model instructs the believer to not only petition the Lord for material needs , but also for spiritual blessings.
"For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” The prayer ends with a great declaration of Who God is and what is God's. It has an element of praise and adoration, but it also calls the future God has promised to come to pass. Amen is an agreement with everyone else in all the ages who have said or who will say this prayer. It means -- SO BE IT! The word "amen" by itself is a declaration of God's power and goodness.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
No. 1, Part Two: The Prayer of Faith; Prayer as Declaration"
We need constantly to be reminded that faith is the one inseparable condition of successful praying. There are other considerations entering into the exercise, but faith is the final, the one indispensable condition of true praying. As it is written: "Without faith, it is impossible to please Him."
Faith must assert itself and bid the foes to prayer depart. Ask God for more faith. Ask Him morning, noon and night, while you walk by the way, while you sit in the house, when you lie down and when you rise up; ask Him simply to impress Divine things more deeply on your heart, to give you more and more of the substance of things hoped for and of the evidence of things not seen.
May faith be yours in increasing measure. One way we see such faith exhibited in the Lord’s model prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. It was taught by Jesus to his disciples. It provided the golden key to the power-house of God. Learning to pray was the one, the only, secret they needed to know to carry the ministry after Jesus' death.
The Lord's Prayer is a prayer of faith that can be said in one quarter of a minute, just fifteen seconds.. The power comes, not in the saying,of the prayer, but in the praying of the prayer from one’s own heart.
Charles Allen, author of 'God's Psychiatry" says, "Praying is not saying words. Words merely form the frame on which the temple of thought is built. The power of the Lord's Prayer is not in the words, but rather in the pattern of thinking in which our minds are formed. When our thoughts begin to flow in the channels of the Lord's Prayer our minds do become new, and we are transformed."
What amazing confidence did our Lord have in us! C. F. Andrews reminds us of an old legend that tells us that when Jesus returned to heaven He was asked by an angel:
"What have you left behind to carry out the work?"
Jesus answered: "A little band of men and women who love me."
"But what if they fail when the trial comes? Will all you have done be defeated?"
"Yes," said Jesus, "if they fail, all I have done will be defeated."
"Is there nothing more?"
"No," said Jesus, "there is nothing more."
'What then?"
Jesus quietly replied "They will not fail."
With a confidence like that, when we face tomorrow, we can triumphantly declare: "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."
When we pray the Lord's prayer with meaning, we see the complete victory of God in our own lives and our world. We are declaring God’s thoughts for all the world to hear. We are calling it into existence. It is a prayer of declaration!
Faith must assert itself and bid the foes to prayer depart. Ask God for more faith. Ask Him morning, noon and night, while you walk by the way, while you sit in the house, when you lie down and when you rise up; ask Him simply to impress Divine things more deeply on your heart, to give you more and more of the substance of things hoped for and of the evidence of things not seen.
May faith be yours in increasing measure. One way we see such faith exhibited in the Lord’s model prayer, the Lord’s Prayer. It was taught by Jesus to his disciples. It provided the golden key to the power-house of God. Learning to pray was the one, the only, secret they needed to know to carry the ministry after Jesus' death.
The Lord's Prayer is a prayer of faith that can be said in one quarter of a minute, just fifteen seconds.. The power comes, not in the saying,of the prayer, but in the praying of the prayer from one’s own heart.
Charles Allen, author of 'God's Psychiatry" says, "Praying is not saying words. Words merely form the frame on which the temple of thought is built. The power of the Lord's Prayer is not in the words, but rather in the pattern of thinking in which our minds are formed. When our thoughts begin to flow in the channels of the Lord's Prayer our minds do become new, and we are transformed."
What amazing confidence did our Lord have in us! C. F. Andrews reminds us of an old legend that tells us that when Jesus returned to heaven He was asked by an angel:
"What have you left behind to carry out the work?"
Jesus answered: "A little band of men and women who love me."
"But what if they fail when the trial comes? Will all you have done be defeated?"
"Yes," said Jesus, "if they fail, all I have done will be defeated."
"Is there nothing more?"
"No," said Jesus, "there is nothing more."
'What then?"
Jesus quietly replied "They will not fail."
With a confidence like that, when we face tomorrow, we can triumphantly declare: "For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen."
When we pray the Lord's prayer with meaning, we see the complete victory of God in our own lives and our world. We are declaring God’s thoughts for all the world to hear. We are calling it into existence. It is a prayer of declaration!
God's School of Prayer, Second Semester, No. 1 "The Prayer of Faith: Declarations in Prayer"
I am amazed by the Bible, by its depth and breadth and it promises for the believer. I am struck by what it says in the letters in red, the word of Jesus. He says some surprising things. He speaks of power beyond our human comprehension. Such is the case in Mark 11:24. He says” “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Wow! Did he say that? Yes, Jesus did!
Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free of doubt. Not simply general in character; not a mere belief in the being, goodness and power of God, but a faith which believes that the things which "he saith, shall come to pass."
As the faith is specific, so the answer likewise will be definite. Our eyes should be taken off self, removed from our own weakness and allowed to rest implicitly upon God’s strength. Never forget that with God, all things are possible. Not a few things. Not some things. But the Bible says, all things are possible with God.
Jesus says in our Scripture – Have Faith in God! A simple, confiding faith, living day by day, and casting its burden on the Lord, each hour of the day, will dissipate fear, drive away misgiving and deliver from doubt:
We need to keep on praying, "Lord, increase our faith," for faith is susceptible of increase. Paul’s tribute to the Thessalonians was, that their faith grew exceedingly. Faith is increased by exercise, by being put into use. It is nourished by sore trials where we get through them through faith in God!
Faith grows by reading and meditating upon the Word of God. Most, and best of all, faith thrives in an atmosphere of prayer. It would be well, if all of us were to stop, and inquire personally of ourselves: "Have I faith in God? Have I real faith,—faith which keeps me in perfect peace, about the things of earth and the things of heaven?" And there is another question, closely like it in significance and importance—"Do I really pray to God so that He hears me and answers my prayers? And do I truly pray unto God so that I get direct from God the things I ask of Him?"
Prayer is absolutely dependent upon faith. It has no existence apart from it, and accomplishes nothing unless it is its inseparable companion. Faith makes prayer effectual, and in a certain important sense, must precede it. "For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."(Heb 11:6)
Before prayer ever starts toward God; before its requests are made known—faith must have gone on ahead; must have asserted its belief in the existence of God; must have given its assent to the gracious truth that "God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek His face." This is the primary step in praying. In this regard, while faith does not bring the blessing, yet it puts prayer in a position to ask for it, and leads to another step toward realization, by aiding the petitioner to believe that God is able and willing to bless.
Faith starts prayer to work—clears the way to the mercy-seat. It gives assurance, first of all, that there is a mercy-seat, and that there the High Priest awaits the pray-ers and the prayers. Faith opens the way for prayer to approach God. But it does more. It accompanies prayer at every step she takes. It is her inseparable companion and when requests are made unto God, it is faith which turns the asking into obtaining. And faith follows prayer, since the spiritual life into which a believer is led by prayer, is a life of faith.
The one prominent characteristic of the experience into which believers are brought through prayer, is not a life of works, but of faith. Faith makes prayer strong, and gives it patience to wait on God. Faith believes that God is a rewarder. No truth is more clearly revealed in the Scriptures than this, while none is more encouraging.
Genuine, authentic faith must be definite and free of doubt. Not simply general in character; not a mere belief in the being, goodness and power of God, but a faith which believes that the things which "he saith, shall come to pass."
As the faith is specific, so the answer likewise will be definite. Our eyes should be taken off self, removed from our own weakness and allowed to rest implicitly upon God’s strength. Never forget that with God, all things are possible. Not a few things. Not some things. But the Bible says, all things are possible with God.
Jesus says in our Scripture – Have Faith in God! A simple, confiding faith, living day by day, and casting its burden on the Lord, each hour of the day, will dissipate fear, drive away misgiving and deliver from doubt:
We need to keep on praying, "Lord, increase our faith," for faith is susceptible of increase. Paul’s tribute to the Thessalonians was, that their faith grew exceedingly. Faith is increased by exercise, by being put into use. It is nourished by sore trials where we get through them through faith in God!
Faith grows by reading and meditating upon the Word of God. Most, and best of all, faith thrives in an atmosphere of prayer. It would be well, if all of us were to stop, and inquire personally of ourselves: "Have I faith in God? Have I real faith,—faith which keeps me in perfect peace, about the things of earth and the things of heaven?" And there is another question, closely like it in significance and importance—"Do I really pray to God so that He hears me and answers my prayers? And do I truly pray unto God so that I get direct from God the things I ask of Him?"
Prayer is absolutely dependent upon faith. It has no existence apart from it, and accomplishes nothing unless it is its inseparable companion. Faith makes prayer effectual, and in a certain important sense, must precede it. "For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him."(Heb 11:6)
Before prayer ever starts toward God; before its requests are made known—faith must have gone on ahead; must have asserted its belief in the existence of God; must have given its assent to the gracious truth that "God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek His face." This is the primary step in praying. In this regard, while faith does not bring the blessing, yet it puts prayer in a position to ask for it, and leads to another step toward realization, by aiding the petitioner to believe that God is able and willing to bless.
Faith starts prayer to work—clears the way to the mercy-seat. It gives assurance, first of all, that there is a mercy-seat, and that there the High Priest awaits the pray-ers and the prayers. Faith opens the way for prayer to approach God. But it does more. It accompanies prayer at every step she takes. It is her inseparable companion and when requests are made unto God, it is faith which turns the asking into obtaining. And faith follows prayer, since the spiritual life into which a believer is led by prayer, is a life of faith.
The one prominent characteristic of the experience into which believers are brought through prayer, is not a life of works, but of faith. Faith makes prayer strong, and gives it patience to wait on God. Faith believes that God is a rewarder. No truth is more clearly revealed in the Scriptures than this, while none is more encouraging.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Doing Things in the Name of Jesus -- Praying in His Mighty Name!
Doing something in someone else’s name has a distinct legal meaning that is the same under our law as well as Hebrew, Greek, and Roman law.
If you stop someone in the name of the law, it means that you have been given legal authority to stop that person, and that as a private citizen, you have no such authority. If you donate a gift in someone else’s name, it means that they get the credit for it as if they had done it themselves. You do not get the credit for the gift.
If you put property in someone’s name, it means that they become the owner of it. You no longer control that property. If a wealthy man hires me and gives me a power of attorney to purchase real estate, and if I act within that authorization, I could purchase a shopping mall in his name. I would receive no benefit from that transaction, except for his gratitude and the salary he chooses to pay me. If I tried to buy a shopping center on my own, they’d laugh me out of the bank. But if I go in his name, they would do business with me.
If you appoint someone to act in your name, it means that they can act as your agent within the restrictions you impose. Jesus has empowered His followers to act in His name to do certain specified deeds: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, preach the gospel, and so on.
If you do something in Jesus’ name it means that you do it with the authority He gave you and not on your own authority, and that you act within the limits of your authorization, whatever those limits may be. You act as His agent, in His stead, to His credit and for His benefit. You have no benefit from your deeds except His thanks and whatever reward He chooses to give you.
Now we can understand the relationship between faith and works and the necessity for Christians to live holy lives. We are His ambassadors, His hands on earth extended to do His will.
However, we can hire on as Jesus’ slaves. Jesus is the spiritual millionaire who hires us to manage a part of His holdings. He gives us a power of attorney so that we can transact business in His name and gives us infallible guidelines through His commandments. We no longer do good deeds on our own behalf in order to obtain salvation, for all our deeds are in His name and go to His account. We work to show ourselves good stewards of His trust, confident that He will reward those who serve Him well.
It is necessary to do good works, but it is only profitable to do the works that Jesus assigns us and authorizes us to do as His agents and to conduct His business in His name. We do not work to be saved; we work because we have been saved, and strive to show ourselves worthy of His trust. How many talents have you been given? Invest them wisely! Manage them well! Don’t just put them in a safe deposit box and hide them away until His return! (Matthew 25:14-30)
If you do something in Jesus’ name it means that you do it with the authority He gave you and not on your own authority, and that you act within the limits of your authorization, whatever those limits may be. You act as His agent, in His stead, to His credit and for His benefit. Praise the Lord!
If you stop someone in the name of the law, it means that you have been given legal authority to stop that person, and that as a private citizen, you have no such authority. If you donate a gift in someone else’s name, it means that they get the credit for it as if they had done it themselves. You do not get the credit for the gift.
If you put property in someone’s name, it means that they become the owner of it. You no longer control that property. If a wealthy man hires me and gives me a power of attorney to purchase real estate, and if I act within that authorization, I could purchase a shopping mall in his name. I would receive no benefit from that transaction, except for his gratitude and the salary he chooses to pay me. If I tried to buy a shopping center on my own, they’d laugh me out of the bank. But if I go in his name, they would do business with me.
If you appoint someone to act in your name, it means that they can act as your agent within the restrictions you impose. Jesus has empowered His followers to act in His name to do certain specified deeds: feed the hungry, clothe the naked, preach the gospel, and so on.
If you do something in Jesus’ name it means that you do it with the authority He gave you and not on your own authority, and that you act within the limits of your authorization, whatever those limits may be. You act as His agent, in His stead, to His credit and for His benefit. You have no benefit from your deeds except His thanks and whatever reward He chooses to give you.
Now we can understand the relationship between faith and works and the necessity for Christians to live holy lives. We are His ambassadors, His hands on earth extended to do His will.
However, we can hire on as Jesus’ slaves. Jesus is the spiritual millionaire who hires us to manage a part of His holdings. He gives us a power of attorney so that we can transact business in His name and gives us infallible guidelines through His commandments. We no longer do good deeds on our own behalf in order to obtain salvation, for all our deeds are in His name and go to His account. We work to show ourselves good stewards of His trust, confident that He will reward those who serve Him well.
It is necessary to do good works, but it is only profitable to do the works that Jesus assigns us and authorizes us to do as His agents and to conduct His business in His name. We do not work to be saved; we work because we have been saved, and strive to show ourselves worthy of His trust. How many talents have you been given? Invest them wisely! Manage them well! Don’t just put them in a safe deposit box and hide them away until His return! (Matthew 25:14-30)
If you do something in Jesus’ name it means that you do it with the authority He gave you and not on your own authority, and that you act within the limits of your authorization, whatever those limits may be. You act as His agent, in His stead, to His credit and for His benefit. Praise the Lord!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Sermon on The Need for Dependence on the Holy Spirit part two: "Be Clothed with Power from On High!
Pentecost calls us to a heart purity. Peter made this clear when he addressed the first Christian council at Jerusalem: “And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith” (Acts 15:8-9).In essence, what Peter said was this: “Exactly the same thing that God did in our hearts on the Day of Pentecost, He has now performed in the hearts of the Gentiles.” And what was it God did? He “cleansed their hearts by faith.”
The word “heart” is used symbolically to denote the seat of our affections, emotions, desires, attitudes, and motives. Cleansing of the heart, therefore, refers to a radical inner cleansing of the center of our personalities. We need to get rid of our baggage and old clothes in order to make room for the Spirit to work in our lives. Clean out your heart. Everything must go that is not in line with the Lord's purposes!This cleansing was very evident in the lives of Christ’s disciples. Before Pentecost, on many occasions they manifested un-Christlike attitudes and reactions. For example, they exhibited pride. They argued among themselves who was greatest in the kingdom of Heaven (Luke 9:46). They manifested selfishness. They requested Jesus to grant them thrones on the right and on the left when He established His kingdom (Mark 10:35-40).
They also demonstrated narrow-mindedness. Once when they saw someone who was not of their group casting out demons, they sought to restrain him (Mark 9:38). The disciples at times reacted in anger. Once, while traveling through Samaria, when they were refused lodging and hospitality by the Samaritans, they wanted to call down fire upon these people (Luke 9:54-56). They exhibited carnal fear and cowardice. On the night of Christ’s arrest and trial, they fled and hid themselves. Peter denied his Lord three times (Matt. 26:56, 69-75).
At Pentecost the Holy Spirit performed radical spiritual surgery in the disciples’ hearts. Pride was replaced with humility, self-seeking with the spirit of service, narrow-mindedness with sympathy, anger with love, and carnal fear with holy boldness. Many present-day disciples of Christ need a similar divine operation in their lives.
The desire to be filled with the Spirit must be accompanied by the willingness to be made pure. The Spirit of God is fundamentally the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is absolutely opposed to evil. To affirm that I want to be filled with the Spirit is to declare that I am willing to be emptied of all my unholy attitudes and spirit. Many of us pray with our lips, “Lord, fill me,” but inwardly we say, “Lord, not entirely! don’t expose my resentments; don’t disturb my comforts.” But God cannot compromise with sin. He puts His finger upon anything that gets between us and Him, and between us and our fellow-men. With the fire of the Holy Spirit, He wants to purify us in our innermost being.
An evangelist friend of mine was invited to conduct a preaching mission is a certain city and was entertained in the home of a middle-aged couple. When the hostess escorted the evangelist to the guest room, she said in a welcome voice, “Now, I want you to make yourself completely at home. Hang your suits up in the closet and put your other clothes in the drawers. This is your room.” The visitor took the hostess at her word, removed everything from his suitcase, and spread it out on the bed. But when he went to the closet to hang up his clothes, he found it jammed full of suits, dresses, slacks, and topcoats, with no empty hanger. When he opened the top drawer of the dresser, it was full of old clothing and rags. He tried the next; it was full also. Likewise, the bottom drawer was crammed with old picture albums and family heirlooms. There was absolutely no room for his clothes, so he put them all back into his suitcase.
When we say to the Holy Spirit, “Make yourself at home,” we can’t expect to keep anything hidden in the secret closets and drawers of our hearts. We must be willing to be emptied of all that is contrary to His nature and will. He must be more than a Guest; he must be Lord. This means He will do a thorough job of housecleaning and will rearrange the furniture to His own plan.
Yes, a major result of Pentecost is power, but it is power from on high. After the experience of Pentecost, the disciples displayed a stronger faith, a new spirit of confidence and courage. They possessed power beyond themselves to withstand persecution and temptation, and to witness boldly to the resurrection of the Lord.
How the Church today needs this supernatural power—power to reach out beyond the confines of brick and mortar, and to carry the spiritual offensive into the strongholds of society! The Church needs power to break out of routine and formality, and to perform exploits in the Master’s name; power to call people to repentance and true righteousness; power to transform individuals and change society!
Pentecost was not merely a historical event; it is a present possibility. It was not a fleeting incident, external to the real core and course of the life of the Church. It is a profoundly vital experience with abiding values and permanent principles. It was not only a particular day, but is an extended dispensation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was not for the Apostolic Church only; it rests, as both obligation and opportunity, upon the Church of every generation.
Pntecost is age-long and planet-wide. Given a child of God utterly yielding, trustfully expecting, any room may become an Upper Room, any day a Day of Pentecost. Be filled with the Spirit and with power from on high!
The word “heart” is used symbolically to denote the seat of our affections, emotions, desires, attitudes, and motives. Cleansing of the heart, therefore, refers to a radical inner cleansing of the center of our personalities. We need to get rid of our baggage and old clothes in order to make room for the Spirit to work in our lives. Clean out your heart. Everything must go that is not in line with the Lord's purposes!This cleansing was very evident in the lives of Christ’s disciples. Before Pentecost, on many occasions they manifested un-Christlike attitudes and reactions. For example, they exhibited pride. They argued among themselves who was greatest in the kingdom of Heaven (Luke 9:46). They manifested selfishness. They requested Jesus to grant them thrones on the right and on the left when He established His kingdom (Mark 10:35-40).
They also demonstrated narrow-mindedness. Once when they saw someone who was not of their group casting out demons, they sought to restrain him (Mark 9:38). The disciples at times reacted in anger. Once, while traveling through Samaria, when they were refused lodging and hospitality by the Samaritans, they wanted to call down fire upon these people (Luke 9:54-56). They exhibited carnal fear and cowardice. On the night of Christ’s arrest and trial, they fled and hid themselves. Peter denied his Lord three times (Matt. 26:56, 69-75).
At Pentecost the Holy Spirit performed radical spiritual surgery in the disciples’ hearts. Pride was replaced with humility, self-seeking with the spirit of service, narrow-mindedness with sympathy, anger with love, and carnal fear with holy boldness. Many present-day disciples of Christ need a similar divine operation in their lives.
The desire to be filled with the Spirit must be accompanied by the willingness to be made pure. The Spirit of God is fundamentally the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit is absolutely opposed to evil. To affirm that I want to be filled with the Spirit is to declare that I am willing to be emptied of all my unholy attitudes and spirit. Many of us pray with our lips, “Lord, fill me,” but inwardly we say, “Lord, not entirely! don’t expose my resentments; don’t disturb my comforts.” But God cannot compromise with sin. He puts His finger upon anything that gets between us and Him, and between us and our fellow-men. With the fire of the Holy Spirit, He wants to purify us in our innermost being.
An evangelist friend of mine was invited to conduct a preaching mission is a certain city and was entertained in the home of a middle-aged couple. When the hostess escorted the evangelist to the guest room, she said in a welcome voice, “Now, I want you to make yourself completely at home. Hang your suits up in the closet and put your other clothes in the drawers. This is your room.” The visitor took the hostess at her word, removed everything from his suitcase, and spread it out on the bed. But when he went to the closet to hang up his clothes, he found it jammed full of suits, dresses, slacks, and topcoats, with no empty hanger. When he opened the top drawer of the dresser, it was full of old clothing and rags. He tried the next; it was full also. Likewise, the bottom drawer was crammed with old picture albums and family heirlooms. There was absolutely no room for his clothes, so he put them all back into his suitcase.
When we say to the Holy Spirit, “Make yourself at home,” we can’t expect to keep anything hidden in the secret closets and drawers of our hearts. We must be willing to be emptied of all that is contrary to His nature and will. He must be more than a Guest; he must be Lord. This means He will do a thorough job of housecleaning and will rearrange the furniture to His own plan.
Yes, a major result of Pentecost is power, but it is power from on high. After the experience of Pentecost, the disciples displayed a stronger faith, a new spirit of confidence and courage. They possessed power beyond themselves to withstand persecution and temptation, and to witness boldly to the resurrection of the Lord.
How the Church today needs this supernatural power—power to reach out beyond the confines of brick and mortar, and to carry the spiritual offensive into the strongholds of society! The Church needs power to break out of routine and formality, and to perform exploits in the Master’s name; power to call people to repentance and true righteousness; power to transform individuals and change society!
Pentecost was not merely a historical event; it is a present possibility. It was not a fleeting incident, external to the real core and course of the life of the Church. It is a profoundly vital experience with abiding values and permanent principles. It was not only a particular day, but is an extended dispensation. The baptism of the Holy Spirit was not for the Apostolic Church only; it rests, as both obligation and opportunity, upon the Church of every generation.
Pntecost is age-long and planet-wide. Given a child of God utterly yielding, trustfully expecting, any room may become an Upper Room, any day a Day of Pentecost. Be filled with the Spirit and with power from on high!
Sermon on Dependence on the Spirit: Be Clothed With Power from On High
In Luke 24:45-49. Jesus promises that He will send the Holy Spirit, and He asks His disciples to wait in the city until the Holy Spirit comes. He says that when this happens, they will be “clothed with power from on high.”
We all know when we are clothed and when we are not. The Greek here literally means “to be clothed.” This indicates that we will have the Holy Spirit covering us, protecting us, making us look good, empowering us. Just like we would not go anywhere without our clothing, so as Christians we should not go anywhere without the Holy Spirit covering us. Without the Spirit, we are incomplete and unprepared for public ministry, but with Him, we are able to witness “to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (verse 47).
Again we see this promise made by Jesus in Acts 1:7-8. At this time, Jesus was leaving His disciples and ascending into heaven. In His last words He again says to them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Note that here again the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is referred to as including the gift of power for witness.
We can only imagine what it was actually like to wait for the power to be fully evidenced.For one thing, the disciples did not know how long they would have to wait. (Fifty days from Easter and ten days from the day Jesus ascended into heaven.) What was it really like to spend days, not just hours, in a long prayer meeting? They did not even know how long they would have to wait. Those who were willing to wait and tarry in the presence of the Lord ultimately were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit arrived, He did not do so quietly. Discuss the wind (and the power of a great wind). Give examples of being in a great wind or tornado. A mighty wind blows away so many things that are not tacked down. Likewise, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit removes things out our lives which do not belong there, making room for the fullness of the power of God!
The fire was a blast from heaven. God wants to set us on fire so we are bold to proclaim the good news and step out in faith to heal and change people’s lives. Pentecost was not a slight breeze, but more like a hurricane. nor was it tiny little flame, but rather a licking blaze. Something powerful and distinctive happened when these people were baptized in the Holy Spirit!
The Church today need not go on in its powerless ineffective condition. All the mighty resources of the Holy Spirit are at its disposal. The individual Christian need not remain spiritually weak and anemic. He can tarry in surrender and faith and be “clothed with power from on high.” Just as atomic power represents the release of hidden forces in the physical world, so Pentecost represents the release of invisible forces in the realm of personality.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit may be residing in a believer and yet may not be able to penetrate every part of his being. There are too many hindrances. Resentments, uncontrolled temper, pride, doubt, and other unchristian attitudes are casting shadows in his heart. What the individual needs is not more of the Spirit, but to allow the Spirit to possess more, yes, all of him. Then he will be “filled with the Spirit.”
We all know when we are clothed and when we are not. The Greek here literally means “to be clothed.” This indicates that we will have the Holy Spirit covering us, protecting us, making us look good, empowering us. Just like we would not go anywhere without our clothing, so as Christians we should not go anywhere without the Holy Spirit covering us. Without the Spirit, we are incomplete and unprepared for public ministry, but with Him, we are able to witness “to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem” (verse 47).
Again we see this promise made by Jesus in Acts 1:7-8. At this time, Jesus was leaving His disciples and ascending into heaven. In His last words He again says to them, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth.” Note that here again the Baptism in the Holy Spirit is referred to as including the gift of power for witness.
We can only imagine what it was actually like to wait for the power to be fully evidenced.For one thing, the disciples did not know how long they would have to wait. (Fifty days from Easter and ten days from the day Jesus ascended into heaven.) What was it really like to spend days, not just hours, in a long prayer meeting? They did not even know how long they would have to wait. Those who were willing to wait and tarry in the presence of the Lord ultimately were baptized in the Holy Spirit.
When the Holy Spirit arrived, He did not do so quietly. Discuss the wind (and the power of a great wind). Give examples of being in a great wind or tornado. A mighty wind blows away so many things that are not tacked down. Likewise, the Baptism in the Holy Spirit removes things out our lives which do not belong there, making room for the fullness of the power of God!
The fire was a blast from heaven. God wants to set us on fire so we are bold to proclaim the good news and step out in faith to heal and change people’s lives. Pentecost was not a slight breeze, but more like a hurricane. nor was it tiny little flame, but rather a licking blaze. Something powerful and distinctive happened when these people were baptized in the Holy Spirit!
The Church today need not go on in its powerless ineffective condition. All the mighty resources of the Holy Spirit are at its disposal. The individual Christian need not remain spiritually weak and anemic. He can tarry in surrender and faith and be “clothed with power from on high.” Just as atomic power represents the release of hidden forces in the physical world, so Pentecost represents the release of invisible forces in the realm of personality.
In the same way, the Holy Spirit may be residing in a believer and yet may not be able to penetrate every part of his being. There are too many hindrances. Resentments, uncontrolled temper, pride, doubt, and other unchristian attitudes are casting shadows in his heart. What the individual needs is not more of the Spirit, but to allow the Spirit to possess more, yes, all of him. Then he will be “filled with the Spirit.”
Sunday, January 03, 2010
Living as Children of God -- Seek Him and You Will Find Him!
In 2010 we need to grasp what it is to live as "children of the living God." We need to live in the reality that God has plans for us. We need to live in the truth that Jesus loves us. That is one awesome truth. But we often take it for granted!
Jesus shows us the love God has for us. In the Old Testament, Isaiah speaks of that love in Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 11, where he states, " He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."
We see that God purposes to draw His people to Himself, to love them, to cherish them, to remain in close relationship to them. He is not “the God”, some distant creator, but He is the “Lord your God” – a phrase that appears more than 400 times in the ESV.
So if we are in close relationship with the living God, we need never fear evil. We always have a future and a hope, as Jeremiah 29:11-13 proclaims to us – because God controls the future, and He will keep and guard His people.
In light of the relational aspect of shalom, consider verses 12 to 14a. In effect, God here gives His definition of “shalom”, this great wholeness, this complete peace:
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations
This is a picture of real, personal intimacy. They call, He hears. They seek Him with all their heart, they put Him first - and they find Him.
He opens those doors to us. He asks us to "Seek me! Trust me! Delight in me!” In the Bible, God shows us that every trial has a purpose, and that God's people can be in relationship with Him no matter what their circumstances might be. These are two precious promises – much more precious than any promise of economic prosperity.
Never forget that Jesus is the prince of peace – the prince of shalom! Isaiah 9:7 says, "Of the increase of his government and of peace (shalom) there will be no end."
Let us seek His face! Let us be His people, then be part of His plan! Delight in Him, and He will fulfill the desires of your heart. As you do that, God will give you shalom. Let us serve Him in our time here. In reality, we are aliens and strangers here and our hope is not in this world. But we can make this world a better place by serving Him again in 2010!
Jesus shows us the love God has for us. In the Old Testament, Isaiah speaks of that love in Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 11, where he states, " He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."
We see that God purposes to draw His people to Himself, to love them, to cherish them, to remain in close relationship to them. He is not “the God”, some distant creator, but He is the “Lord your God” – a phrase that appears more than 400 times in the ESV.
So if we are in close relationship with the living God, we need never fear evil. We always have a future and a hope, as Jeremiah 29:11-13 proclaims to us – because God controls the future, and He will keep and guard His people.
In light of the relational aspect of shalom, consider verses 12 to 14a. In effect, God here gives His definition of “shalom”, this great wholeness, this complete peace:
12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. 13 You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations
This is a picture of real, personal intimacy. They call, He hears. They seek Him with all their heart, they put Him first - and they find Him.
He opens those doors to us. He asks us to "Seek me! Trust me! Delight in me!” In the Bible, God shows us that every trial has a purpose, and that God's people can be in relationship with Him no matter what their circumstances might be. These are two precious promises – much more precious than any promise of economic prosperity.
Never forget that Jesus is the prince of peace – the prince of shalom! Isaiah 9:7 says, "Of the increase of his government and of peace (shalom) there will be no end."
Let us seek His face! Let us be His people, then be part of His plan! Delight in Him, and He will fulfill the desires of your heart. As you do that, God will give you shalom. Let us serve Him in our time here. In reality, we are aliens and strangers here and our hope is not in this world. But we can make this world a better place by serving Him again in 2010!
Saturday, January 02, 2010
God's Dreams Are Bigger Than Yours -- Dream God's Dreams
One of the most fascinating and important characters in history is the man Moses. Moses always had a sense of God's call on his life, but it took him some time to determine exactly how he was to fulfill it. The lesson Moses eventually learned is that a person becomes most effective in life when he or she decides to do God's will God's way.
Your Entire Life Has Been Leading Up To God's Call
God prepared Moses from the very beginning, and led him throughout his life.
Birth: Though Pharaoh had ordered the execution of all Hebrew babies born during this time, God protected Moses and his life was spared.
The Early Ambition of Moses: At an early age Moses had the desire to rescue his people from the torment of their Egyptian captors. This resulted in his murder of an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew, which forced Moses to flee the country and live as a shepherd in the land of Midian for the next 40 years.
The Re-Education of Moses: During his time as a sheepherder, there were some important changes taking place in Moses' personal life, which would enable him to be used by Go. AND HE WAS USED BY GOD IN A MIGHTY WAY!
God has big plans for you, and your entire life has been leading you toward his plan for your life.
God Will Wait Until You're Ready to Be Used
God will not send you out until you're ready—he gives you the chance to prepare.
When Moses intervened in the conflict between the Egyptian and the Israelite, he thought he was ready, but he wasn't.
God was waiting for Moses to be ready to be used. When the time finally arrived, you see a tremendous difference in Moses' attitude.
There are times when you will need to wait on God's timing, but don't make God wait on you.
God's Dreams Are Bigger Than Yours
Moses' dream for helping the Israelites was to help people one by one, but God's plan was that Moses would lead a nation of slaves to freedom.
God's dream will take you beyond your comfort zone and challenge you to do something bigger than anything you could have imagined.
Lew Wallace, the author of Ben Hur, had modest expectations for the book's success. God's plan was much bigger, and the book sold millions of copies and was made into three motion pictures.
God's will God's way involves asking him to give you a dream for your life that is so magnificent that unless he fuels the dream you have no chance of succeeding.
You will be most effective in life if you seek to do God's will God's way, and are ready when He calls.
Your Entire Life Has Been Leading Up To God's Call
God prepared Moses from the very beginning, and led him throughout his life.
Birth: Though Pharaoh had ordered the execution of all Hebrew babies born during this time, God protected Moses and his life was spared.
The Early Ambition of Moses: At an early age Moses had the desire to rescue his people from the torment of their Egyptian captors. This resulted in his murder of an Egyptian for mistreating a Hebrew, which forced Moses to flee the country and live as a shepherd in the land of Midian for the next 40 years.
The Re-Education of Moses: During his time as a sheepherder, there were some important changes taking place in Moses' personal life, which would enable him to be used by Go. AND HE WAS USED BY GOD IN A MIGHTY WAY!
God has big plans for you, and your entire life has been leading you toward his plan for your life.
God Will Wait Until You're Ready to Be Used
God will not send you out until you're ready—he gives you the chance to prepare.
When Moses intervened in the conflict between the Egyptian and the Israelite, he thought he was ready, but he wasn't.
God was waiting for Moses to be ready to be used. When the time finally arrived, you see a tremendous difference in Moses' attitude.
There are times when you will need to wait on God's timing, but don't make God wait on you.
God's Dreams Are Bigger Than Yours
Moses' dream for helping the Israelites was to help people one by one, but God's plan was that Moses would lead a nation of slaves to freedom.
God's dream will take you beyond your comfort zone and challenge you to do something bigger than anything you could have imagined.
Lew Wallace, the author of Ben Hur, had modest expectations for the book's success. God's plan was much bigger, and the book sold millions of copies and was made into three motion pictures.
God's will God's way involves asking him to give you a dream for your life that is so magnificent that unless he fuels the dream you have no chance of succeeding.
You will be most effective in life if you seek to do God's will God's way, and are ready when He calls.
God Has Your Welfare in the Palm of His Hand
Jeremiah was a prophet who prophesied during the last years of the kingdom of Judah in the late 7th and early 6th centuries BC. The verses I want to examine come from a section known as the First Letter to the Exiles; written after the first Babylonian captivity (597 BC), but before Jerusalem ’s final destruction (586 BC). Jeremiah had repeatedly warned the people of judgment to come should they refuse to repent. They refused. Now they were in the midst of a bad situation. God used the prophet Jeremiah to bring a message of hope to his people.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV).
Naturally speaking, perhaps we expect to find Jeremiah saying, "See, I told you so." That isn't the picture at all. Jeremiah didn't care about being "right." He cared about God's people. He offered a word from God; not a word of reprimand, but a word of hope—when the exiles' situation seemed darkest.
God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, I tell you, God has a word for you today. "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you a future and a hope."
Though the original hearers of this message faced a bleak situation—they’d lost homes, land, and independence—God looked to their future. He saw beyond their circumstances. Perhaps you are in the midst of a fiery trial right now and you don't know what to do. God has a word for you. He has plans for you, and they are good plans. God looks beyond your circumstances, no matter what trial you are facing. God has plans for you. Don't believe the heresy, spread from too many pulpits in our land, that Christians never suffer. Don't be lulled to sleep with soft messages. God is using that trial, the heartache, the headache to shape you. Pain will give way to a future hope.
The NIV translates the Hebrew word Shalom, as "to prosper," an unfortunate translation in light of the health and wealth heresy that spews forth from so many pulpits today. The word is translated "peace" in the KJV, and "welfare" in the NASB. I like the NASB translation best, for though a literal translation is "peace," the meaning entails more than our familiar definition of the word. When hostilities cease, the world says that is peace. God's peace goes beyond the cessation of hostilities. It brings harmony.
Even though Judah was being chastised for her sin, God was planning a future and a hope. Even though we may have to eat the bitter fruit of our self-willed ways, God is planning good plans for each of us.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:11-13, NIV).
Naturally speaking, perhaps we expect to find Jeremiah saying, "See, I told you so." That isn't the picture at all. Jeremiah didn't care about being "right." He cared about God's people. He offered a word from God; not a word of reprimand, but a word of hope—when the exiles' situation seemed darkest.
God does not change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Therefore, I tell you, God has a word for you today. "For I know the plans I have for you...plans to give you a future and a hope."
Though the original hearers of this message faced a bleak situation—they’d lost homes, land, and independence—God looked to their future. He saw beyond their circumstances. Perhaps you are in the midst of a fiery trial right now and you don't know what to do. God has a word for you. He has plans for you, and they are good plans. God looks beyond your circumstances, no matter what trial you are facing. God has plans for you. Don't believe the heresy, spread from too many pulpits in our land, that Christians never suffer. Don't be lulled to sleep with soft messages. God is using that trial, the heartache, the headache to shape you. Pain will give way to a future hope.
The NIV translates the Hebrew word Shalom, as "to prosper," an unfortunate translation in light of the health and wealth heresy that spews forth from so many pulpits today. The word is translated "peace" in the KJV, and "welfare" in the NASB. I like the NASB translation best, for though a literal translation is "peace," the meaning entails more than our familiar definition of the word. When hostilities cease, the world says that is peace. God's peace goes beyond the cessation of hostilities. It brings harmony.
Even though Judah was being chastised for her sin, God was planning a future and a hope. Even though we may have to eat the bitter fruit of our self-willed ways, God is planning good plans for each of us.
Friday, January 01, 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR! God Has Plans for YOU!
"For I know the plans I have for you...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11).
What a joy and relief it is to know that God Himself has a plan for us, plans with faith and a future. Here God gives us a firm foundation simply because God tells us that it is so. We may have days this year when we won't believe this. After all, we are smart enough to handle our own lives--until something unexpected breaks our hearts and the hearts of those we cherish.
Imagine knowing that our loving Father God has us in His thoughts constantly; that they are thoughts of harmony. It hurts Him to know that our life is full of commotion and competition. He never meant for it to be that way, for He is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). If life is wrong, perhaps we are doing or thinking something that interrupts His purpose of goodness for us.
"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace" (Isaiah 55:12); "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare" (Psalm 40:5); "Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be" (Job 8:7).
Father, forgive our unbelief, our prejudices, and our fragmentations that put blinders on our understanding of your truth and purity and loveliness. They are praiseworthy and excellent! And thank You for Your plans for this day and this year. May we come to see ourselves as God sees us -- through the eyes of faith and hope, with good plans for us, of a future with Him!
I pray that as each of you leave this posting today you will no longer see yourself through your husband's eyes, your children's eyes, your friends' eyes, your parent's eyes, the world's eyes, or even your own eyes....but you will see yourself through your Father's eyes, as His child:
Make this your daily declaration of His power and grace in your life and His might in the world.....
I am Loved by God
Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:4
I am Forgiven
John 3:16; Acts 13:38-39
I am a New Creation in God
2 Corinthians 5:17
I belong to God – I am His Child through Christ
2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 1John 3:1-2
I am Holy through Jesus Christ’s work in my life
Hebrews 10:10; 2 Timothy 2:21
I am Set Apart by God
Jeremiah 1:5
I am Made with a Purpose that is Special to God
Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10
I am Protected by God and His angels
Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 41:10; Ps. 91
I am a Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I am an ambassador and prayer warrior for Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:20 Ephesians 6:10-19
What a joy and relief it is to know that God Himself has a plan for us, plans with faith and a future. Here God gives us a firm foundation simply because God tells us that it is so. We may have days this year when we won't believe this. After all, we are smart enough to handle our own lives--until something unexpected breaks our hearts and the hearts of those we cherish.
Imagine knowing that our loving Father God has us in His thoughts constantly; that they are thoughts of harmony. It hurts Him to know that our life is full of commotion and competition. He never meant for it to be that way, for He is not the author of confusion but of peace (1 Corinthians 14:33). If life is wrong, perhaps we are doing or thinking something that interrupts His purpose of goodness for us.
"You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace" (Isaiah 55:12); "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare" (Psalm 40:5); "Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be" (Job 8:7).
Father, forgive our unbelief, our prejudices, and our fragmentations that put blinders on our understanding of your truth and purity and loveliness. They are praiseworthy and excellent! And thank You for Your plans for this day and this year. May we come to see ourselves as God sees us -- through the eyes of faith and hope, with good plans for us, of a future with Him!
I pray that as each of you leave this posting today you will no longer see yourself through your husband's eyes, your children's eyes, your friends' eyes, your parent's eyes, the world's eyes, or even your own eyes....but you will see yourself through your Father's eyes, as His child:
Make this your daily declaration of His power and grace in your life and His might in the world.....
I am Loved by God
Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 1:4
I am Forgiven
John 3:16; Acts 13:38-39
I am a New Creation in God
2 Corinthians 5:17
I belong to God – I am His Child through Christ
2 Corinthians 6:16-18; 1John 3:1-2
I am Holy through Jesus Christ’s work in my life
Hebrews 10:10; 2 Timothy 2:21
I am Set Apart by God
Jeremiah 1:5
I am Made with a Purpose that is Special to God
Jeremiah 29:11; Ephesians 2:10; 1 Peter 4:10
I am Protected by God and His angels
Psalm 28:7; Isaiah 41:10; Ps. 91
I am a Temple of the Holy Spirit
1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
I am an ambassador and prayer warrior for Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:20 Ephesians 6:10-19
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