Tag: be encouraged

EPISODE 169 — KNOW YOUR MOUNTAIN

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The title of today’s episode: KNOW YOUR MOUNTAIN

Faith is a hard concept to grasp at times. Jesus told his followers that if they had faith as a grain of mustard seed, they could say to the mountain move and it would move. I believe this is true, there have been times that God has moved mountains for me. But what do we do if he doesn’t? We have checked our faith and we know that there is not any doubt that could hinder our mountain moving. But it still won’t move.

God in his vast wisdom, knows all things and understands what is best for us, even when we don’t. He knows that if he moves that mountain, that in the long run it will weaken us. Sometimes we are meant to climb the mountain that is in front of us. We see it as an obstacle to be removed. He sees it as a learning experience. A place that we will grow in grace and knowledge of who he really is and who we are meant to be.

Maybe the big picture depends on that mountain staying and you overcoming it. If he allows it to exist, the end result is better for us. We can trust that God knows the way. Our outcome will be better than where we began.

We are trying to take a class in faith that can move mountains. God is trying to teach a class on being an overcomer. Given the choice, I will take God’s class any day, because he is the master teacher.

Part of being a Christian is submitting ourselves to the father’s will. Jesus prayed in the garden, if it be your will let this cup pass from me. The mountain in front of him was mount calvary. He didn’t want to climb that mountain. He had a choice, he still had free will. He could have avoided the mountain. He could have even made a choice to go around the mountain and bow to satan. But he chose God’s will and took the hard climb up that mountain. The father had a plan that was bigger than Jesus avoiding the mountain.

Just as our salvation depended on Jesus climbing Mt. Calvary, it could be that someone watching our lives needs to see us climbing our biggest obstacles. They need to witness us being full of God’s grace under our fiery trials.

Job 23:6-10 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me. 7 There the righteous might dispute with him; so should I be delivered for ever from my judge. 8 Behold, I go forward, but he is not there; and backward, but I cannot perceive him: 9 On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him: he hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him: 10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

When we are climbing our mountains and struggling, sometimes we feel all alone. Job often felt alone during his testing time. But like Job, God is not far from us. He is there like a wise parent cheering us on. Every step we take will remove the will of our flesh and we will come out of the process stronger and more like God.

Professional mountain climbers, study their mountains. They know when there is ice and snow on their path. They learn everything they can about the terrain and elevation. Many will even talk with others that have conquered the mountain. They will pack their backpack with the proper gear. Getting to the top is all about what you take with you and what you leave behind. The less burden you have the easier it will be to climb. We have to let go of the things that weigh us down and learn to move forward.

I guess the point of this post today is knowing the will of God and know the mountain. As we approach the foot of the mountain, we need to size it up. Then ask God, is this a faith lesson that I can say to this mountain, be removed; or is it an obstacle to be conquered. Once we know the nature of the mountain we can get busy. But every mountain is to be approached with intercessory prayer. We will get our answer about our mountains from the one who created everything we see. Then we will know what to take on the journey.

Romans 8:26-28 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. 28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Do not be discouraged if you have been praying against a mountain. The problem may not be that you don’t have pure faith as a grain of mustard seed. Maybe you do not have any doubt within you. Maybe the mountain in front of you is not one to be moved, but one to be conquered, for the good of those who are watching your faith walk.

The greatest gift we can give to God is to be fruitful and win souls for the kingdom of God. By conquering the mountain in front of you, you may reach many souls. So take a deep breath ask God for help you deal with the path ahead, then start climbing. You will make it, because God is with you.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 167 — WHO AM I?

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The title of today’s episode: Who Am I?

Exodus 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, That I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

God probably gets tired of human beings doing this to him when he tells us to go and do something. We see ourselves through the lens of our flesh. We see our brokenness and flaws. We don’t think that we can handle the task he asks of us. We are thinking in the fleshly realm. Yes, within us, we are not ready. Yes, within our flesh we cannot accomplish the task God asks. We need to remember that God will go with us and will accomplish what he needs to in us and with us. God sees that it is time for us to move into the place he created for us.

God prepared Moses by allowing him to be raised as royalty in the house of Pharaoh. He knew all their ways because he grew up with the current Pharaoh. Moses would not be intimidated by Pharaoh, because he grew up with him as a cousin. He allowed him to have empathy for the people of his bloodline, the Hebrews. Then he sent him into the wilderness, to be a shepherd. While in the desert he learned the ways of survival and how to navigate the desert. Jethro his father-in-law, was a Jewish Priest.

He learned the ways of his people. During his time with Jethro, he unlearned the religion that was in him. The religion of the ways of Egypt. Allowing him to be a good leader of God’s people. If he had not spent time in the wilderness, he would not know the ways of the one true God.

He was prepared, even if he didn’t feel like he was ready to lead the children of Israel. But if God says you are ready, then you are ready. He will be there every step of the way to lead and guide. God knew what he had put in Moses; unrealized potential that Moses was yet to discover.

Maybe Moses reacted in fear of what others would think. After all some of them in Egypt knew he murdered someone. Who was he to lead, when he had made such big mistakes in his past? He made all sorts of excuses, he stuttered, he was not an eloquent speaker. God knew all those things about him but chose him anyway.

What we tend to forget is that God sees the big picture. He sees those we will reach and those who will slip through our fingers. He sees all our good attributes and all of the ones we try to hide from even ourselves. Still, he calls us to go out and try to make a difference in the world around us. What if we were like Noah, he didn’t even convert one person to God. But in his faithfulness, he was able to save at least his family.

We all have family members that are lost. We may not be able to reach them, maybe we will, only God knows. But he will honor our efforts and send others to them if we pray. He may never ask us to lead a large group of people out of bondage, like Moses. But he asks us to be fruitful where we are and let our light shine.

The best way to shine that light is to be kind and love people. Go out of your way to help someone. Then be ready when they want to know why. It opens up the door for us to tell them about a man called Jesus.

If someone would have asked Moses if God knew what he was doing, he would have answered yes. We would answer yes, God knows what he is doing. Then why do we doubt when he tells us what he wants us to do for him? Because we are not the ones actually doing the work. He tells us to witness, but only God can deal with the heart. I fully understand the feeling of running from the calling of God. Many people can relate. But he will empower us to walk in the calling. It is a process that lasts a lifetime.

I Cor 3:6-8 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase. 8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.

What if Moses had refused God’s plan? Do you think he would have left the Children of Israel in bondage? No, He would have raised up someone else and Moses would have been left out of God’s miracles.

Humans need to understand that it has little to do with us and everything to do with Him. He is the one who gives the increase. He is the one who worked through Moses. God will work through us if we allow him. But we have to be willing to surrender our will to him.

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

God doesn’t need perfect people. He doesn’t need our talents or skills. He needs one thing from us, and that is our surrender.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 164-TRUTH

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: TRUTH

“A lie told often enough becomes the truth” originated with Vladimir Lenin.

This idea has been adopted by Adolf Hitler and many politicians. The truth is sometimes hard to discern. We have blindly depended on the media to tell us the truth. But many truths are left unsaid, and many lies are being spoken. Not only by the media, but by so-called preachers in the pulpits. People hear lies about what verses in the word mean until they believe it. It becomes traditions of men.

Our society has bought into the latest lie, If it is true for you then it is your truth. So if you believe you are a pink flamingo and stand in the yard everyday on one foot, people are supposed to call you a flamingo. This is not truth. This is madness. The truth is you are a human being not a flamingo. It doesn’t matter what you believe, even if you believe it with all your being, you will never be a flamingo. It doesn’t matter what the Disney movies tell you about wishing on a star.

God is getting ready to do a new thing, in these last days. We cannot make an idol of our denominations and doctrines. We cannot make idols of preachers or pastors. They are people that are hopefully called of God. (Although, some of the TV ministers have been placed by evil people to water down the gospel.)

There is only one truth, that is the truth of God. We are at a point when we need to question everything. Ask God for his understanding and guidance. The movement God is trying to birth in the earth is one of pure religion or pure truth.

I often think of how the Israelites followed a cloud in the desert. The glory of God was light to Israel and darkness to the Pharaoh. God has shown himself to people all through the bible in different ways. But he never deviated from who he was or from his character. He is love and truth.

We have to get to the point in life that we are lead by the Spirit of God. That is the function of the Holy Ghost in the earth. He is here to lead and guide us into all truth and righteousness.

John 16:13-15 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. 14 He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. 15 All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Who’s report are you going to believe? God’s report or the lies of the enemy. He is a master of telling lies. If we are not careful, he will deceive us into lying to ourselves. God will lead us into all truth, if we let him. It is too bad that people’s noses don’t grow like Pinocchio. Since that doesn’t happen, we have to rely on the Spirit of God inside of us to show us the truth.

“Right is right, even if everyone is against it, and wrong is wrong, even if everyone is for it.—William Penn-A quaker who founded the Province of Pennsylvania during the British Colonial Era.

Those words are still true today. There is no such thing as a little white lie. Either something is true or it is false. There is no middle ground, no way to sugar coat it. The truth is fact, even if no one believes it.

Prov 30:5-6 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. 6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

We can trust God’s word, but even there we have to make sure we have the proper translation. Not all translations are created equal. Some even skip verses when it furthers the agenda of evil people. The church has been infiltrated by those who want to lull everyone to sleep with big smiling, feel good message about your best life. All the time for them it is about gaining larger crowds for monetary gain.

Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

We can depend on God because he is pure and good and true. He wants only what is best for us. We have to get serious about our prayer lives and ask him for his leading. If we truly depend on him, we will not go astray. God is truth, God is Love and God is purity. Only in him can we find the absolute truth about life, happiness and eternity.

It is so simple and yet we make it so hard sometimes. If we depend on him and look to him, he will lead us and guide us. As long as he is in the lead, we will never go wrong. But we have to be honest with ourselves, have we really yielded everything to Christ? The true answer to that question will give you the answers you need for your next step in life.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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OUR SWORD

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: OUR SWORD

I have been thinking about war today. Our adversary has infiltrated every area of our society. He is trying to destroy the very fabric of our lives. The things that pass for entertainment today are simply demonic. Even children’s movies are filled with evil things to program them to believe that it is ok.

As I was thinking about battle, I started thinking about the weapons of our warfare.

2 Cor. 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

The world wars with natural weapons. But Christ is our king. He will fight our battles if we trust him. We fight our battles in prayer and worship. The best weapon we have against the enemy that we fight is the sword of the Spirit.

The whole armor of God is listed in Eph. 6

Eph 6:10-19 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Have you ever thought about these weapons? They are all defensive weapons except the one, the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. The sword can be both defensive and offensive.

If someone comes at you on a battlefield with a sword, you can protect yourself with a shield or hold up the sword to deflect the attack. This is what Jesus did to satan, when he tried to get him to turn stones into bread after a forty day fast. Jesus used the scriptures against him. Quoting the word.

Satan offered him a short cut around the cross. Revelations says that Jesus will rule and rein on the earth. Satan offered him all the kingdoms if he would bow down and worship him. That would have bypassed the cross and no one would have power over the enemy.

Because Jesus was victorious, we are victorious also. Because he fights our battles for us. We just have to Stand still, pray and wait for him to move.

Then my mind wandered to the story of Saul and how he fell on his sword because he feared the enemy. He would rather die at his own hand than be taken by the enemy. We should never fear our enemy. He was defeated by Jesus over two thousand years ago.

But I do believe that we need to take the sword and study it. Any good soldier knows how to use his weapon. We need to fall on our sword so to speak and allow it to kill everything that is in us that is not of God.

Heb 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

We cannot hide anything from God. He knows the thoughts and intents of our hearts better than we do. The word will bring to light the things that are in our flesh that we need to get rid of from our lives.

There is a phrase, “the best defense is a good offense.” I always heard it applied to football or basketball. In fact, the notion that the best defense is a good offense originates not in sport, but rather has been attributed to George Washington, who in 1799 wrote, “… make them believe, that offensive operations, often times, is the surest, if not the only means of defense”. In other words, we should not be sitting around in fear waiting for the enemy to attack so we can defend ourselves. We need to take the word of God and storm the enemy’s camp.

We have to be proactive about our faith walk. We have to come boldly to the throne and make our request made known to God. We can take the sword of the Spirit and storm the enemy’s camp. We can take back what he has stolen from us. Just like David and his men did in Ziklag.

Be alert, be vigiliant, be prepared for battle, study your sword. Know your sword front to back, back to front. It will give us the words we need to stand on, when the enemy attacks. The word of God never fails because he is the word.

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 123-BUILDING ON A SOLID FOUNDATION

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: BUILDING ON A SOLID FOUNDATION

I have been working on writing a bible study of things I wish I had been told as a new Christian. There are some basic things in the bible that are the anchor points to the whole book. It is in those anchor points that we find the truth of our foundation.

Often we hear people speaking about being rooted and grounded in the gospel. We hear, you need to stand on the firm foundation. But to the person that was not raised in church some of our phrases may not mean much to them until they learn more of the word.

As believers we need to make sure, now more than ever, that we are on that firm foundation. There are many out there trying to deceive God’s people with feel good cupcake doctrines. The truth is often like a large antibiotic pill, hard to swallow, but good for your body. Sometimes, we don’t want to read or know the truth, because learning it will mean we have to measure up in some way. We may have to give up something that our flesh wants to hold onto.

Matthew Chapter Seven will give us some insight into a solid foundation.

Matt 7:24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

I have heard people preach about how we need to build on a firm foundation. But in this chapter of Matthew there are a few foundational points or anchors that they usually skip over and tell people to stand on the word of God.

Jesus said whosoever heareth these saying and does them is like a wise man that builds on rock. Just in chapter seven alone he tells us not to judge one another. He tells us to take the log out of our eye before trying to get the splinter out of our brother’s eye. We have no right to judge, we all have fallen short.

We are not to keep witnessing to someone that wants to argue with us. Every thing we say they want to turn it and argue with us. This is what he meant in verse 6, cast not your pearls or jewels of wisdom before people that don’t want to learn but want to argue. Ask and seek, God will give us the answers we need.

He teaches us to do unto others as we would want someone to do to us. We are to keep to the strait gate, because that is a narrow way. Few find the narrow path, it takes faith in the word of God and being obedient to find the narrow way.

Jesus warns of false prophets which come in sheep’ clothing. This would reinforce what I said the other day, there has to be real prophets, in order for their to be false ones.

We are to be like good trees and bring forth good fruit. Which is something to be shared. Gal. 5:22 lists this good fruit, Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness, Faith, Meekness, Temperance.

These are a few of the sayings that we are to do, so that we are building on a solid foundation.

Matt 7:25 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and sat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

If we build our lives on the foundation of God’s word, when the trials of life or rain, floods and winds beat upon our lives, we will not fall. Because we have anchored our lives to the rock or solid foundation, which is Jesus.

Matt 7:26-27 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: 27 and the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

It stands to reason that the foolish man that doesn’t build on the words of Christ would judge others, not walk in love by showing the fruit of the spirit. Because without the firm foundation, they would not develop the fruit of the spirit.

They would seek the broad path, maybe a feel good all roads lead to heaven message to ease their conscience. But one that is not biblically solid. They do not treat others they way they wish to be treated.

Many will hear the words spoken in the Bible, but they will not heed. They will go their own way and follow the desires of their flesh. Their choices are often the wind, rain and flood that comes against their house. But because they do not have anything to give their lives substance and stability, their house falls because there is nothing solid on which their belief system was built.

Matt 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: 29 For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus walked in authority and power because the spirit of God lived within Him.

John 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.

If Jesus had not ascended the Holy Ghost could not have been sent to the church. But because he ascended, he sent that same spirit that was in Jesus back to the body of believers. Now we can walk in the power and authority of the Holy Ghost. Because we have that firm foundation. We are building our lives on what is written in the word of God.

Our faith comes from every word written in the book, from Genesis to Revelations. It is all relevant and necessary. I often encourage you to read the word. It is our source of information and our firm foundation.

Tomorrow, we are doing a deeper dive into the solid foundation of our authority.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 122 — TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode : TRADITIONS OF THE ELDERS

We often talk about sticking to the old paths. We are taught to respect the elders of the church. The word shows us to honor those who have served God for a long time, because they can be a great help in our spiritual walk. We can glean all sorts of encouragement and wisdom from them and the old paths. But the true old path is the one found in the word of God and not in man’s ideas and doctrines.

I Cor.11:1 Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

Paul said follow me as I follow Christ. Do not take advice from someone who doesn’t follow Christ. This is why we need to know Christ and the word of God for ourselves. This is how we discern what path to take.

In Mark Chapter 7, Jesus teaches the lesson of inner purity. A group of Pharisees came along and saw that some of the disciples were eating bread without washing their hands. They were all up in arms that the disciples were not holding the traditions of the elders.

To the Pharisees that was the most important thing, the appearance of holding to the traditions of the elders. These rules of how to live had been handed down from generation to generation. They were all created to keep them from defying the original ten commandments given to Moses. But over time even their rules watered down the original ten commandments.

Mark 7:5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Many are like the Pharisees today, they are caught up in traditions of the elders. Things created by man to show everyone how holy they are, or in our case what a good Christian. They were not even concerned with what God thought, they had a form of godliness, but kept man’s traditions. They prayed to be seen of men, so that they thought highly of them.

Mark 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

Jesus reminded them of the scripture found in Isaiah 29:13 Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

We want to have a genuine fear of God. That deep respect that shows him that we honor him as our heavenly father. We don’t want to appear to have the respect for God that man’s doctrines have tried to create.

Mark 7:7-9 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. 8 For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. 9 And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.

They rejected the commandment of God in order to keep their traditions. How many denominations are that way today? They would fight and die for their denomination before they would admit that they may be holding onto a tradition of the elders.

God wants unity in his body. This is a subject I cannot get away from lately. We cannot be so stuck in our “traditions of the elders” that we miss the move of God. It is time we ask God to search us and remove any man-made ideas from our belief system. I don’t want to walk in traditions of men. Man cannot save me. I don’t want to be aligning with a denomination, when aligning with God’s word is all we need.

I hope this doesn’t come across as being judgmental. The last thing I want to do is to sit in the judgement seat. That is not my job. But I see things that trouble my heart and my spirit.

I always search my heart first, when I come across something that I feel like God is giving me. I ask God to search me and help me see if I am stuck in man’s traditions. I have been guilty of going through the motions, so to speak, at worship service. We are human and sometimes things are on our mind so heavily that we cannot focus on God. Having an off day is different than being caught up in man’s ideas.

When we worship, is it just something we do? Do we give it all we have, in surrender to God? Are we going through the motions? “We have always sang three songs and then had two testimonies before the preacher speaks” What if God wants to mix things up, what if he wants you to sing the same song twice or have four songs and no testimonies. Some people would flip out about how things are not in order. What if we came together and just focused on God? What would happen? We may realize that God doesn’t fit into a box. He needs freedom to move people’s hearts. He cannot draw people to him, if people are focusing on traditions of men.

I really want you to get what I am saying, it comes down to us giving it all to God. We say we surrender all, but do we? Are we hungry for the preaching and teaching of his word? Is it life and bread to our soul? Is the message a feel-good cupcake that will not sustain us when the troubles of life come our way?

Jesus explained to the Pharisees that it wasn’t what someone ate that defiled them, but what come out of them. At another encounter with the Pharisees Jesus told them it was what was in the heart that counted.

Matthew 12:33-34 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. 34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Whatever we have in our hearts will come out. If we carry bitterness and other things, at the right moment it will come out. Just like evil things, wicked imaginations. They too will come out of man, if it is within him.

Matt 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

This is why it is so very important to hide the word of God within our hearts. This is why we pray for forgiveness and forgive others. We want to do everything we can do to have a pure heart. This is not works, this is by prayer and yielding to God.

He wants our hearts, he doesn’t want our traditions of going through the motions. He doesn’t want our lip service that we use to show man “what a good Christian I am.” It is time the body of Christ unite and yield to our head which is Jesus Christ.

When Jesus returns for his bride, I don’t want him to look at me and say, “I know you did a lot of religious things in my name. I know you gave me lip service, but your heart was far from me. Depart from me, I really don’t know you.”

We all want to hear him say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Enter into rest. You walked in my love and discipled many, you didn’t give me lip service, but you gave me your heart. You didn’t walk in the traditions of men, but as my servant.”

I have to ask, are you walking in the traditions of the elders? Are you just going through the motions and giving God lip service? I pray you surrender all, to him and walking in the power of His love.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 114 –JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v50urg6-god-focus-this-morning-episode-114-judgment-begins-at-the-house-of-god.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “JUDGMENT BEGINS AT THE HOUSE OF GOD ”

I am going to talk to you today about wheat and chaff and wheat and tares. The chaff are people who enjoy the rituals of having faith. They look at church like a social club and not a place to gather and learn of God. They go through the motions but are not fruitful. They never grow fruit. They are an empty shell. The wheat farmers used to toss wheat into the air and the wind would blow away the chaff or husk.

Wheat represents those that have produced full fruit. It is that fruit that is harvested. The rest is thrown away. As we grow in wisdom and knowledge of God’s will and plan, we too become full of fruit. It is a good thing to be growing in the will of God. If you don’t grow, you become stagnate and empty. A husk without fruit.

Then they came to the threshing floor, in ancient times, there was not machinery to separate the wheat fruit from the rest of the plant that had grown. The wheat was extracted from the rest of the plant by beating it on a hard surface that was flat. This was known as the threshing floor. Sometimes they would have oxen pull carts across the wheat to separate the fruit from the chaff.

The threshing floor symbolizes judgment in both the old and new testaments. The prophet Hosea prophesied that God’s judgment would be on Israel because they went after false idols. Hosea said that God’s judgment would scatter them in the wind like the chaff is scattered on the threshing floor.

We all go through persecutions, troubles and trials. God allows each one to make us stronger. He protects us from a lot of stuff we do not even know about, but the things he allows in our lives is to make us more fruitful or spiritual.

We are in fast changing times, God is allowing things to happen that will separate the wheat and the tares. Only the ones with fruit will be left standing. Only those with fruit will be able to be a light and hope to the lost.

I Peter 4:16-19 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 17 For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? 18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? 19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

We will not be able to bring in a large harvest as long as we are a divided body. There is a harvest that needs us to be who we were created to be by God. Notice verse 17 For the time is come that the judgment must begin at the house of God. He is weary with the preachers that have the fake smile and are only out for their gain. They tell people lies and half truths, because people want a feel good message.

Do we remember the crucifixion? It was not pretty. It was horrible. Jesus didn’t die to give us an ear tickling message every week. Those messages do not transform lives they are like a pacifier. It gives people a sense of comfort, but there is no food to live on and their soul dies a little more every week.

This is not fruitful. The first chapter of the Psalms is all about being fruitful. As we grow in our faith walk, we will produce fruit. Verse Three says we will be like a tree planted by the water and will bring forth fruit in his season. As we bring forth fruit, whatsoever we do will prosper. Verse Four is the opposite of verse three. Verse four is all about how the ungodly are like chaff which is blown away in the wind. We want to be the fruit and not the chaff.

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Another way to look at the church as compared to wheat is when the bible discusses the wheat and tares.

God says let them grow together. In the early stages of the wheat, it doesn’t look much different than the tares. God warned that we may pull up wheat by mistake, but to let them grow together and He will separate them. The tares looks like young wheat that has not produced buds yet.

We are not to judge anyone. We will see soon enough if God’s fruit is produced in their lives. If they have the endurance to fight adversity and trials sent by the enemy. Troubles have a way of separating the wheat from the tares. Many that say they are wheat will turn from God at the first sign on trouble.

Matt 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Enemy comes in our churches often as false teachers and preachers and tries to deceive God’s children. This is why it is important to have God’s word in our hearts. So we will not be deceived. Tares will sow discord and cause trouble.

Matt 13:24-30 Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: 25 But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. 26 But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also. 27 So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares? 28 He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? 29 But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.

This is Jesus’ way of saying. We need to plant good seed. Then when the tares appear we are to leave them alone and pray for the ultimate judge to take care of the situation. In the end, they will be tossed into hell. The wheat will be gathered into the storehouse.

This is why we are to produce spiritual fruit. It is the easiest way for harvesters to tell the difference between wheat and tares. Remember that judgment is coming to the house of God. It is my prayer that we all produce fruit and walk in God’s love.

It is not God’s will that any perish, but they will have to yield unto God or be left behind.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 93 — STANDING STILL

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO VERSION: https://rumble.com/v4tv7h8-god-focus-this-morning-episode-93-standing-still.html

WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode is: “STANDING STILL”

Eph 4:13-15 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

One definition of still is calm, quietness or peaceful. The enemy is trying to destroy God’s people. But God is saying, stand still, be calm and walk in peace. I will be with you and will deliver you.

Now is the time to stand still and wait on God. The enemy is on the prowl preaching pretty sermons that have no real truth. It is easy for us to fall into negativity. God is needing us to be consistent and not give into the enemy. The bible is full of encouragement to stand strong, have faith and walk in love. God wants us to be united against our enemy. He is waiting for us to speak truth in love which will help us to grow in the things of Christ.

We as the body of Christ have been deceived by religion. God is wanting a real relationship. He has always protected his people. He will not fail us. Understanding needs to come to the body. Do we know how big He really is and what he wants from us? He wants us to trust and stand still, waiting for him to bring deliverance.

Exodus 14:13-14 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever. 14 The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.

The children of Israel were up against what appeared to be an impossible situation. Moses said “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” We need to stand still in this day. Things look impossible, the enemy is trying to bring chaos and fear.

But God is reminding us that we have to trust in Him and he will bring light to our darkness. The enemy may appear to be on the attack, but God says stand still and he will fight for us. We just have to have faith in our God.

God also told Jehosphat the same thing that he said through Moses. “Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Jehosphat had three armies coming against him and God told him to go to battle and he would fight for them.

2 Chr 20:15-18 And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. 16 To morrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz; and ye shall find them at the end of the brook, before the wilderness of Jeruel. 17 Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you. 18 And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the Lord, worshipping the Lord.

Notice verse 17- We do not need to fight in this battle, we are to set ourselves which means to be determined. Have a made-up mind that no matter what, we will stand strong against the enemy. We can stand strong against the enemy with prayer. Then we are to stand still and watch God move, he will fight for us.

What kind of battle are you facing today? Is it sickness? He is our healer. Is it financial? He is our provider. Are you under a spiritual attack? His Spirit inside of you will provide resistance to that attack and will protect you.

Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

It doesn’t matter what the enemy tries to use against us. Whatever the attack may be, God will not allow the attack or weapon against us to prosper. It doesn’t say that he will prevent the weapons from being formed. The enemy is exposed by forming weapons against us in the first place. But God will not allow the enemy to prosper against his people.

Standing still means that we cannot move forward because there are obstacles. But God will remove the obstacles and lead us forward to what He has promised. He is the shepherd; we are his sheep. We will see how he has provided salvation for us from our enemies.

God has never let down his people. Even in what seemed to be impossible situations. For He is the God if impossible. He has not lost one battle. Again, I remind you of the two accounts where God said to stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. Pray for the body of Christ, that we can be strong enough to stand still and wait on the Lord.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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NEW SHOES- A NEW LEVEL OF YOUR FAITH WALK

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/vIX-b_FSKmk

Hello My Friends,

The title of today’s episode is: “NEW SHOES, NEW LEVEL OF OUR FAITH WALK”

We often are told to not judge someone but to try walking a mile in their shoes. In other words, we do not understand how difficult things are until we are in the same situation. Often, the things we think we would not do under the same circumstances, we find ourselves doing when we end up walking the same road. This is why we are told to not judge one another only God knows all and is qualified to judge.

We are not meant to walk in anyone’s shoes but our own. Just like a child that goes through the house wearing their parent’s shoes. They scuff along, dragging the shoes that are obviously like giant shoes to their tiny feet. God designs our lives in many different seasons. Sometimes, the shoes we are wearing must change with the seasons. For example, we wouldn’t want to wear sandals in the middle of winter. They would not provide the protections we need. But they are much needed in the hot summer months to keep our feet from getting too hot.’We are not meant to walk in anyone’s shoes but our own. Just like a child that goes through the house wearing their parents shoes. They scuff along, dragging the shoes that are obviously like giant shoes to their tiny feet. God designs our lives in many different seasons. Sometimes, the shoes we are wearing must change with the seasons. For example, we wouldn’t want to wear sandals in the middle of winter. They would not provide the protections we need. But they are much needed in the hot summer months to keep our feet from getting too hot.

When we are born, we are given baby shoes to wear. Because we do not know how to walk, these often do not even get dirty on the bottoms. As we grow, we learn to walk and have outgrown the first shoes. The new shoes help us balance and take our first steps.

Then we grow from toddler to child, we get other shoes. During the course of childhood to adulthood, we will wear many shoes. Some are just regular shoes, some for athletics, maybe even tap or ballet. Dress shoes for the first school dance, our first set of high heels, or hunting boots.

Our spiritual lives can also come with lots of shoes for different seasons of life. I mentioned trying to walk in our parent’s shoes. God never meant for our experiences to be exactly like those of our parents, grandparents, brothers, or sisters. God has specific shoes made for us because of the path that he is taking us down. He has created us to have our own “faith” walk.

We often feel pressure when our parents have walked their “faith” walk well. We do not feel equipped to live up to their reputation. In some cases, their expectations. If we are not careful, we will run in the opposite direction from where we need to be because fear causes us to take the wrong path. Suddenly, satan is giving us shoes. He will take us to a place where the terrain is not made for us. We may end up on a rocky terrain in flip-flops. Walking in his shoes will cause cuts and painful blisters because the shoes don’t fit.

We cannot ever let other people’s opinions of where we need to be in life change what God is doing in our lives. No one else is wise enough to create just the perfect size shoes for the size of our current “faith” walk.

I want to share a little story with you. I call it tennis shoe wisdom. When I was a child, just learning to tie my shoes. Dad told me I couldn’t go to the store with him unless I tied my own shoes. I struggled with it for a little while then I did what any kid would do, I went to someone older and wiser. I asked my grandpa to tie my shoes. But if I had not let go of the strings, he could not have tied the shoes.

Often, we try to do things on our own, struggling. Then we decide to take it to God to handle for us. But now comes the hard part, we must let go of the strings. He cannot tie our shoes and move us into the next phase of life if we are holding onto the strings. We must trust that He knows what He is doing and will take care of the problem.

Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. God puts things on our hearts sometimes and we feel strongly that we need to step out in faith. We make our plans and start walking. But for those plans to be established, we have to commit them to the Lord and make sure they align with His plan for our lives.

In order to walk things out in faith, we have to trust His plan and His timing.

Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.

Eph 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

God has ordained our steps. What does ordain mean? To decree, command, order, fix or establish. This shows us that our lives are his craft, he has created with skill His plan. Workmanship is the sign of someone with skills to design or create something, a craftsman.

This verse is saying that we are his creation, created in Christ Jesus to do good works that he has skillfully planned and established. We need to put on our shoes, allow God to tie them and walk this “faith” walk with the courage to know that he has established our path.

It is my prayer for you that you find yourself growing in your “faith” walk and that God will decide that you need a new level in him. When He does, you will get new shoes.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

THE SCARIEST THING TO SAY TO GOD

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO VERSION: https://youtu.be/hBOFTH4v-Wg

I am about to share with you the scariest thing you will ever say to God. It is ok to be honest with God and tell him what is on our minds. He knows how we feel and what we think. There is nothing we can say to him that will shock Him.

In Isaiah Chapter 6, Isaiah saw a vision of the throne of God. It is a beautiful chapter to read. I suggest you go to it and just picture it as you are reading. The angels worship constantly, saying, Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord Almighty! I want to draw attention to the fact that Isaiah was at an altar and confessed that he was simply a man. He said he was a man of unclean lips. An angel took a hot coal off of the altar and touched his lips, making them pure.

Once we have been before God and have had him to cleans us and burn out our impurities, we are ready to start walking out our faith walk.

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.

Once again, God is asking if we are brave enough to say the scariest thing ever to him, “Here am I; send me.” For a control freak like me, that is a scary thing to say. Here I am, I will go where you want me to, say what you want me to, my life is fully in your hands. In other words, Jesus take the wheel. I am going to let you drive.

We all know we can trust Him. We believe He is big enough to save our souls from hell. He is big enough to solve our problems. There is so much that we trust Him for, but that last step is a big one. It is not one to be taken lightly. But in order to reach the loss of this world, it is going to take all of us being 100% sold out to the cause of Christ. (As the generations before us would say, “Be on fire for God.”)

If we ask logically, would God send us somewhere we couldn’t handle. We would say no. If someone asked, Do you trust God? Then the answer would be, “Yes, of course.” In our minds, we trust Him. Our hearts and emotions are something completely different. We hold back a little part of ourselves from Him. Many think that the sin we struggle with is our biggest battle. I believe surrendering fully is the biggest battle we will ever have with our flesh.

The flesh throws a temper tantrum, wanting us not to take this faith walk too seriously. We don’t want to get burned out and lose our witness. Some may even have a fear of falling into sin again and being a bad light. All the fears we could come up with are not as scary as full surrender.

Isaiah 45:9-13 9 Woe unto him that striveth with his Maker! Let the potsherd strive with the potsherds of the earth. Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou? or thy work, He hath no hands? 10 Woe unto him that saith unto his father, What begettest thou? or to the woman, What hast thou brought forth? 11 Thus saith the Lord, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me. 12 I have made the earth, and created man upon it: I, even my hands, have stretched out the heavens, and all their host have I commanded. 13 I have raised him up in righteousness, and I will direct all his ways: he shall build my city, and he shall let go my captives, not for price nor reward, saith the Lord of hosts.

The God of the universe, Our Lord Jesus Christ, is a master creator. He has everything intricately planned. He knew everything about us before we were ever conceived. His plan was put into place before the moment we drew our first breath. Nothing we do or fail to do surprises him.

Like Jonah, God knew he would run. I am sure God adjusted the schedule to deal with the delay so that Jonah was right on time for a great revival.

Potsherds in the bible were earthen vessels or broken pieces of pottery. So this is saying, who are we to be contending with God and trying to persuade the way he is making our lives. We are clay; He is the potter. He knows how to shape clay. How much water it will take and how much pressure to mold and shape it.

We can trust His hands; they were nail scared because He loved us so much. He will take care of us. We just need to dig deep and find some of that boldness that so many of the saints of old had within them. Ones who would say, I don’t care what you say, I don’t care what you do, I am going to do the will of my Father in heaven.

If you find yourself struggling with total surrender. You are not alone. The harvest is ready and needs many laborers. May we all find strength to say, Here am I; send me.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS