During WW1 and WW2 the US Military came up with a slogan, “Looking for a few good men.” This was on recruitment posters, to encourage enlistment in the military. This is not the first time that someone in charge of a military was looking for a few good men.
Gideon had a massive army at his command, but God said, there are too many and he started narrowing it down. First he let all of them who didn’t want to go to battle leave. Then they went through a series of tests. Until God narrowed it down to three hundred men. God was looking for a few good men.
God took those three hundred men and defeated a massive army. All Gideon’s people had to do was let their light shine at the right time. Then the enemy ran for fear of being killed. Then all Gideon and his army had to do was go down and collect the spoils.
God once again in narrowing his army down to those who are serious. Only those who are fully committed to a life of following Christ. It is going to take us walking in God’s anointing and letting our light shine at the right moment to win the war.
The enemy is coming on strong. He is not going to flee from everyone who says they are a Christian. The enemy knows who is armored up against him. He knows who can walk in the anointing and authority God has given to them.
The word says if we resist the devil he will flee. Some do not know how to resist. It is up to us to help them find that place in Christ that they can learn to walk in their God given authority and anointing.
There is a big harvest field, not all is ready for what is coming. We must pray for the harvest that it be gathered. God is looking for a few good men and women to truly, fully follow him.
Until next time,
BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT
The book of James is full of wisdom. I have been doing a study of James it is about Christian character. James encourages us to be intentional in our faith walk. He reminds us to be thankful for the gifts we have been given. Tells us to not be double minded. Explains how damaging our words can be if we don’t guard our tongue.
Wisdom is defined as having experience and knowledge about a subject. It is an understanding that comes from knowing and learning from living something. In other words to have wisdom about a Christian walk, we have to actually walk out our faith. Example: A farmer has farm wisdom, he understands by his experience and instincts how to go about farming. Someone from the city would not have a clue about farm life.
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Gaining wisdom comes from God. He has shared a lot of wisdom in his word. The book of Proverbs is known as the wisdom book. It is full of practical wisdom. Today I want to focus on James 3:13-18
JAMES 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
If you have true wisdom it comes from God and will be meek. Our words will not harm but bring forth healing. Our understanding of God’s ways and how to live a Christian life is Godly wisdom. We will not be arrogant acting like we know everything. Wisdom is understanding we will never know everything, but we can learn every day.
James 3:14-16 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. 15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. 16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
There is another type of wisdom that is not from God. This wisdom is the wisdom of the world. It is earthly, sensual and devilish. It doesn’t bring peace and healing but envy and strife. It causes confusion. Verse 14 tells us to lie not against the truth. In other words, this is a warning to the hypocrite trying to say they are a Christian but are walking in the wisdom of the world. This is why the word of God tells us to come out from among those that are worldly. Because we do not want our wisdom to become the wisdom of the things of the world.
Wisdom of the world is sensual or about physical gratification. The wisdom of the world is devilish. Which means that we walk in the ways of evil.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
Wisdom from above will give us traits that make us soul winners. Godly wisdom is pure. It is peaceable, gentle, easy to implore or pled with someone, full of mercy and good fruit. If we have wisdom we will walk with the fruit of the spirit.
James 3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
If we have wisdom from God we will be without partiality or pretense. When people walk in man’s wisdom they may claim a moral standard but the worlds actions do not line up with their claim. The wise will sow peace by the Spirit of God.
The word says ee that winneth souls is wise, we do this by walking in Godly wisdom and letting our light shine.
I want to apologize for not having any videos last week. So I am pre-recording videos for the week. I have a family member in the hospital and was not home to do the videos last week. The last episode, I touched on the subject of how we are at war. Our weapons against our enemy include the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God, our worship, and prayer.
Never underestimate the power of a prayer warrior, when they decide to battle. They spend countless hours praying and it shows. Because when they pray God answers. Today, I want to talk to you about our words. Do we war in prayer, then crush our prayer seeds when we get up from prayer, by speaking negative unbelief?
We have to walk the walk and talk the talk. There is no room for unbelief in the life of a child of God. Moses sent spies out to check out the promised land. Ten returned with negative words. They looked at how big the giants were and compared themselves to the giants. They forgot they would not battle the giants alone. We cannot look at how big the giants are, but be willing to walk by faith and compare the giants to our God.
It wouldn’t be called a battle if it were easy. The very word battle means a long hard fight. It means you must have determination to win, so you dig in your heels and brace yourself for the struggle. Just when you think you cannot go on, Jesus will reach down and take the load of your battle.
Eccl 4:9-10 Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. 10 For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
It is good to have a circle of people that are prayer warriors. Those who will lift you up when the battle becomes intense.
There is a phrase people often use that means I am here to fight with you against the enemy. It means you are watching out for them, “I’ve got your back.” When, I think about helping a friend fight their battles in prayer, my mind wanders to the two soldiers that are back to back. Together they have a 360 degree view of the enemy. That way they are never caught off guard. They are protecting each other’s backs. The enemy cannot sneak up behind either one.
In this day and time, we need each other and most of all we need the Lord to watch over us so that we are not overtaken by our enemy.
Luke 10:19: Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
In other words, Jesus gave his believers power to overcome the enemy. The serpents and scorpions represent evil spirits and attacks. We will not be harmed because God has got our backs. He will not allow the enemy to overtake us.
Have you ever been in a place you question what is going on with your life? You are doing all the Christian things. You are praying every day for guidance. Then you realize that somewhere along the line you have taken back control from God. We surrender our lives when we become saved. We tell God, you are now Lord of my life. But slowly we take back control and start making our own choices. Maybe Paul was trying to tell us every day we must surrender control. That is why he said I die daily.
There is never a time we should get ahead of God because then we are leading and not following. We are not leaders of Christ but followers.
Psalm 37:23-24The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.
I can see a young child at the beach trying to step everywhere their father had stepped. Because his height is greater it is hard for the child to step that far. They almost have to jump to reach the next step. We sometimes have to take a leap of faith that God will lead us as we go. We do not know what each step will bring into focus. We must trust God.
Be not weary in well doing, if we continue we will reap the reward. Allowing Jesus to be our guide we cannot go wrong. But sometimes he says, stand still and we have to wait on Him. He will always refresh us if we wait on him.
In other words trust in the Lord, don’t follow our thoughts or ideas, in everything we do we must acknowledge him and he will keep us on the right path.
Prov 3:5-8 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path. 7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil. 8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.
As we acknowledge him in every aspect of our lives, he will give us direction and guidance. We have to keep our heart set on Jesus. If we can keep our heart right and focused on the things of God then it makes it easier for God to direct our steps, because we want to go where he leads us.
Prov 16:9 A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
Every day our prayer should be Psalm 119:133 Order my steps in thy word: and let not any iniquity have dominion over me.
Being a goal-oriented person who loves a to do list, it is hard for me to give up control, even to God. I often have way more on my list than I can accomplish in a day. I struggle at times finding quiet time alone with God, except in my car. The Lord and I have some good times driving along. The quiet time alone with God is how we gain strength. I can always tell when I haven’t had enough quiet time. I can see that I am starting to take back control. When this happens I have to have a long talk with my Lord and tell him that I surrender all, all over again.
Then he will reach down and fill up the empty places in my thirsty soul, before encouraging me to once more go out and reach the lost before it’s too late. You too can surrender it all to God once again. He is waiting to guide your steps, if you will let him.
Thanks for watching,
Until next time,
BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT
We want to find ourselves in a state of contentment. People often have differing ideas about how to find that peace. The Apostle Paul wrote to a young convert named Timothy to encourage him to follow the right path.
I Tim 6:4-5 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
Paul was warning Timothy to not get caught up in the trappings of this life. Many were materialistic and loved to argue with other. He was warning him to not be proud and not to argue with those who only wanted to argue for the sake of argument. They didn’t want to discuss to learn. They do not want to understand what it means to be godly, then walk away from those corrupt people.
I Tim 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. This is the point of this letter to Timothy. He wanted him to be aware of an remember that true contentment comes from a godly life. When we have contentment in Jesus we have gained much. Maybe not in material wealth and things, but in peace.
The word contentment means a state of peaceful happiness. Satisfaction with ones circumstances or life. Having enough peace to know that they do not need great amounts of material things and money. Jesus can give us such a feeling.
I Tim 6:7-9 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
If we allow ourselves to become restless and feel less than because we do not have the newest gadget or drive the newest car. Then the lack of contentment will cause us to do all sorts of things to fulfil the desires. As with anything in life, we can allow it to become out of balance. When greed takes us over and we desire money more than anything else, we have lost our focus, contentment and are headed for a fall.
I TIM 6:10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It is not wrong to have money. It is not wrong to have material things as long as you have the right perspective. It says the love of money. When people love money more than anything else they have lost their faith and their God Focus. Their desire for money will cause them to compromise. By compromising our principles and faith, we have lost something far greater than we could ever gain monetarily.
I Tim 6:11-12 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 12 Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
Paul warns Timothy to flee the desires of the flesh to want material things. To flee pride and walk in righteousness, faith, love, patience, meekness and godliness. When we choose to walk in these things we will find contentment because of our godliness. We can be a light to many, by simply choosing to walk in contentment and peace.
THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: IRONING OUT THE WRINKLES
One of the best things ever invented in my opinion is wrinkle releaser. Spray it on smooth out your clothes or toss them in the dryer. It get out most wrinkles. I hate to iron. I was thinking about how Jesus is coming after a bride without spot or wrinkle. As long as we keep ourselves unspotted by the world and our sins under the blood we just need to work on the wrinkles.
Growing up the granddaughter of an evangelist I have seen the best and the worst of those who call themselves Christians. I am blessed to remember those people that lived for Jesus with all their hearts. Those rare individuals showed me it is possible. Many others showed me another side, that it was very difficult. The Christian life is miserable if you are not 100% sold out to Christ. The closer I get to Jesus the easier things become, because I know he is in control.
It doesn’t take long when talking to people to realize almost everyone you meet has suffered from church hurt. The church is supposed to be a place of love and support. The sign outside says everyone welcome, but most mean if you change who you are to be just like us. If you dress like us and wear your hair like us. Don’t misunderstand me, I am not talking about embracing sin as if God’s laws don’t exist. But we have to show people compassion and not be self-righteous and judgmental. Many have standards that are made by man. Man’s traditions have destroyed many. When people don’t measure up to their ideas of holiness and righteousness, they are judged harshly. Gossip and judgment becomes part of the culture of that congregation. In all honesty, everyone is not welcome.
People, we have work to do. It’s time the church grew up and ironed out the wrinkles. We will never win the prodigals if we insist on judgment. The prodigal son was met by his father with open arms. He didn’t meet him with judgment and harsh words about his mistakes.
Things need to change in our culture when honest open dialog is treated as hate speech. But it is going to take that honest open dialog to get rid of the wrinkles. God doesn’t have denominations, he has those who want to know him and people who want the church culture to make themselves feel better. When God looks at them he sees wrinkles that have been made by jealousy, hate, envy and judgment. They don’t want to iron them or use God’s wrinkle releaser on their lives.
I am blessed to have a group of friends that I can pray with and have open discussions. We don’t agree on everything, but we agree to love one another and to help each other grow in our faith.
Prov 27:17 Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
I want to be around people that make we want to be a better person. Ones that will call me out on my hangups and wrinkles.
Another way to remove wrinkles from fabric is steam. It is going to take the fire of the Holy Ghost to heat the living water in our lives to create the steam that will remove our wrinkles. We cannot become unwrinkled and unspotted on our own. Jesus is the only one that can truly make us blameless. However, we have work to do. We cannot go on with church as usual, there is a great big dying world that needs us to rise up and be the church. Not a version of a church, but the church, the broken body of Christ. This is the only way we will ever win the lost, is if we can come together in honest open, non judgmental dialog. Praying with one another for God’s leading, until He shows us the error of our ways.
God is truly the only one that can turn things around. We need to keep praying and believing that he will show up right on time and lead us into all truth and unity.
We all experience many transitions in life. We go from infant to toddler then to school age child, to high-school graduate. Some transition to college, while others become soldiers or join the work force.
Life is about changing and growing. We should never stop growing and learning. Especially about God’s Word.
Places of transition are normally accompanied by anxiety and fear of the unknown. We wonder how things will be once we are in the new place. What we learn during the process can be invaluable. Look at the children of Israel. Because they didn’t trust God, they were stuck in transition. This is why we must trust his plan.
Only those born during the transition got to see the promised land. In other words, we cannot take our old ways of thinking into the new season. We need to shake off religion and find the old path.
We need to get on the path of God’s ways and not man’s traditions. They were following their old way of thinking and built a golden calf. We don’t need any idols of religion. We need to be sure we are in God’s will. Only his way will lead us to the transition of what God has promised.
Caterpillars go through an amazing transformation. In the transition they are closed up in a cocoon. Only God see the transformation. But one day, God says ok, now is your time to fly. That butterfly with its newly formed wings pushes out of its shell and takes to the sky.
Only God knows when we are ready for the next level in Him. But we can be assured, he will never allow us to be unprepared for what he has for us next.
Just as the butterfly has to push its way out of the cacoon, we have to press our way out of the comfort zone. We must trust God and learn to be content in whatever phase of the transition we find ourselves in at the moment.
Phil 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
If you find yourself in a transition, trust in the Lord. He will see you through it. Embrace the process and try to be content in whatever phase you find yourself. Remember the children of Israel didn’t trust and they spent 40 years going around the same mountain.
We can prolong the process of transition by not surrendering, but we cannot shorten the time. Growth takes time and we need to never stop growing.
Good Morning my God Focus friends. Today is Monday, Week Two of Hiding The Word In Our Hearts. Week Two is all about Faith. Our verse this morning is Genesis 15:6. 6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Gen 15:5-8 And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. 7 And he said unto him, I am the Lord that brought thee out of Ur of the Chaldees, to give thee this land to inherit it. 8 And he said, Lord God, whereby shall I know that I shall inherit it?
Abraham believed God. That statement of faith should be said about all of us. It doesn’t matter what we are facing, we need to believe God. His word is full of his promises. If we have faith we will believe God.
Abraham believed that God would give him many descendants from Isaac. So he boldly climbed the mountain to sacrifice Isaac. He spoke in faith to their servants. Stay here while the lad and I go and worship. We will return.
Did he not understand what God was asking? He understood fully, yet he said the Lord will provide the sacrifice. When the time came, God sent them a ram caught in a thicket by its horns.
God honors those who show that they believe in him. Those who walk by faith. Those who against all odds and against how things appear, simply believe God. Keep the faith, God’s children win.
First, I want to share a story with you for illustration.
There was a woman who was home alone one night. She was in bed almost asleep when she heard someone enter her living room window. She quietly slipped down the hallway when she spotted a guy standing at the kitchen door. He was trying to unlock it. As soon as the door opened, there were two big guys dressed in black entering the kitchen.
They were standing in the center of the kitchen, near the sink. They were discussing how they could steal or destroy the sink. She went back to the bedroom and called the police. Then she yelled at them, “I have called the authorities, you better leave.” They fled from the house quickly in fear.
This story illustrates a few points. The first guy was smaller than the other two. He represents the little thing we allow to creep into our lives that create a stronghold. A weakness in our flesh or emotions like selfishness, bitterness, prejudice, strife, and addiction to drugs or alcohol. He could represent many things.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
It seems silly that they would want to steal the sink and not some priceless art or electronics. But the most valuable thing we have in our spiritual house is the living water. If the enemy can stop the place where the water flows from the sink, or remove it all together, we will spiritually dry up. This is why we need to keep the spirit flowing in our lives through prayer and communication with God.
Notice in our story, the woman called someone who had the authority to arrest the intruders. When she told them to leave because she had called the police, they fled. God has given us the authority over the enemy and if we resist him he must flee. As children of God we need to learn to walk in the authority that God has given us.
James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
What is the enemy trying to steal from you? What window is he trying to quietly sneak into thinking you will be unaware? What does the first small thief represent in your life? We all have small things that can steal our joy and peace.
Both good and bad things can steal our alone time with God. Not allowing the enemy to distract us, we will be able to stand strong against our enemy. The key is stopping the small thief from entering. Then he will not be able to open the door for the bigger and darker thieves.
We have to protect the flow of God’s living water at all cost.
Prov 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
This verse is the key to keeping out the enemy. Being diligent to guard ourselves from any deceptions of the enemy. We do not want our living water flow to be stopped by anything.
God’s glory will flow through us as long as we keep our hearts with all diligence. We will be able to help many. We want to be able to help them find their security in the Lord. So that they too can use their authority to stop the thief. Make no mistake he is out there, watching and waiting for an opportunity to get an opening into our lives.
Remember God adds and multiplies good things in our lives. The enemy comes to divide and subtract from our lives. Keep your guard up and stay strong.
The title of today’s episode: POWER IN THE BLOOD /PLEADING THE BLOOD OF JESUS
Most people know that in Ephesians chapter six it speaks of the whole armor of God. We have a shield of faith. Our faith is what makes us strong. Our faith protects us from attacks of the enemy. Faith is how we receive our blood covering, by faith we believe on God for salvation.
Eph 6:11-12 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
In the story of the Children of Israel, God told Moses to tell the people to kill a lamb and place the blood on the door posts. This was a sign to the death angel that would pass over that house. All the houses in Egypt that didn’t have the blood over the door, would have a death of its first born. This is a foreshadowing of Christ and how his blood is placed over the door of our heart. The placement of the blood prevented death. Christ’s blood on our lives prevents spiritual death.
This event was a life-changing moment in the lives of everyone on both sides. It was the beginning of freedom to God’s people. The enemy was seeing that they were no match for the One True God.
I don’t think it was a coincidence that they passed through the Red Sea. I believe the name of the sea is prophetic and represents the blood line. God’s people went through, but Egypt could not follow. They could not because God had drawn the blood line. He said to the tormentors, you will not trouble my people any longer, you can go no further.
Jesus always brought freedom to the hurting and sick. He brought joy and understanding to those that lacked the education of the Pharisees. To the arrogant and elite, he brought fear and trepidation. They were afraid of his popularity, because they didn’t want to lose their standing in the community.
As people who are blood bought, spirit filled Children of the most high God, we too have been set apart. Because the blood of Jesus has been applied to our lives, we have victory in our Lord Jesus Christ. There is not a devil in hell that can come through the blood.
There is power in the name of Jesus. The blood has transforming power. There is nothing the enemy can throw at us that can overpower the blood of Jesus. We cannot fear what the enemy is doing or going to try next. We need to plead the blood against it.
For those of you who are new to Christianity the phrase “plead the blood” means we ask God for his blood covering against the situation. Since the enemy cannot cross the blood line, then we can plead the blood for protection. In other words, we are asking for God to draw a blood line around us to keep us from the enemy. Many illnesses are demonic attacks, whether you want to believe it or not. They are spirits that are on assignment to distract us from our assignment by causing us to have pain and symptoms of disease. When we plead the blood of Jesus against these attacks, we are asking for a blood line that the enemy cannot cross.
Before you say the blood is not for healing, Jesus took stripes for our healing. Not only our spiritual healing, but emotional and physical healing as well. He wants us to be completely whole, body, mind and spirit. Jesus is the only way to achieve this balance. Having this balance or wholeness is the best way to be effective in the world around us. If we are out of balance in any area it can keep us from running our race effectively.
Faith in Jesus Christ is our shield, the blood is our covering. We often are told to check our hearts to make sure all of our sins are under the blood of Jesus. We do this by repenting immediately if we know we have slipped up. But it is good to also ask for forgiveness for the things we do not realize we have done.
As we move forward, our country is in need of prayer. There has never been a time that it needs prayer more than now. Fear and fearmongering are trying to take control of our society. We need to stand strong and not allow fear to get a toe hold. I am sure things looked scary for the children of Israel. God parted a sea for them, he can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we ask or think to take care of his people today.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
The power of the Holy Ghost within us will give us the strength and power to face whatever the enemy tries to throw our way. Walk in Love, Encourage One Another, Pray for God’s Peace Against Fear. We will make it as long as we stay under the blood covering of our Lord Jesus Christ. Remember; There is power in the blood.
GOD FOCUS--Psalm 34:3 O magnify the Lord with me.... 