Tag: #beboldbebrave

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP611 DOORS

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: DOORS

We often hear people talking about opportunities as open doors. They talk about closed doors too. I want to cover this subject from a Christian perspective.

REV 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Jesus waits patiently for us to yield to him, and open our hearts. He is a gentleman and will not force his way in the door to our lives. He longs for a relationship with us. By allowing Jesus access he will help clean out everything that is ungodly. He will take the empty space and fill it with the things of God. He offers salvation, companionship, peace, joy, freedom, and so much more.

In this life we often suffer because we have opened the door to the wrong things. The enemy has many traps waiting. We cannot trust every door. Not every opportunity is the right option.

Once I was frustrated with my current job. It felt like I was in a rut. I was approached by someone with a great opportunity. It sounded perfect. The job was mine if I wanted it, the interview was just a formality. When I walked into their showroom it was gorgeous, marble floors, beautiful light fixtures, not the standard office squares of fluorescent light. To look at it, it spoke the word success. But as I looked around God said to me, “all that glitters is not gold.”

The interview went well; I was offered more money and benefits than my current job. I told them I had to give notice to my current employer. On the way home I couldn’t shake what I knew God had said. I called the next day and told them I changed my mind. In less than six months they were out of business. I often think of that when an opportunity looks too good to be true. The enemy can open doors too.

I often pray for God to open doors of anointing and wisdom for me. I pray I will be able to recognize the doors that are mine. I also pray for God to show me when an open door will open me up to the enemy’s trap or attack. We can sometimes hear a song or watch something on TV that will open a door to a demonic attack or a witchcraft attack. We need to pray to keep these doors shut.

Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

This verse is written to the Philadelphia church age. He is saying he has given them an opportunity to spread the gospel and serve others. He has given them favor, the door is open and no man can close it. Even today, the door of salvation is standing open and is moving toward a time it will be closed. Until then we have an opportunity to lead as many as possible to that door, so they may walk through to salvation. Jesus is that door of salvation. We can not be saved except we come through Jesus, the door.

Matt 7:7-8 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

Jesus said to ask, seek and knock. When we ask him in faith he will give us what we have prayed. When we seek him in prayer and seek his wisdom in the word he says we will find that in which we seek. If we knock it will be opened.

All of these steps take patience there is a time from the ask to the answer. When you knock on a door, it takes time for the person inside to answer. We all know when seeking or searching for something that also takes time. That time with Jesus is about cultivating our relationship with him. Jesus is that door of salvation. We can not be saved except we come through the door

So be careful about what doors you walk through. If it is closed ask God if you should even knock on that door. Remember not every opportunity is from God. “All that glitter’s is not gold.”

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING –EP609 WIND OF GOD– NEW BIRTH

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE WIND OF GOD – NEW BIRTH

The past couple of days I have been speaking to you about the wind of God or the Spirit of God. We have discussed that Adam was just a well-formed pile of dirt until God breathed the breath of life into him. It is important to understand the significance of the wind of God or the Spirit of God. Without the Holy Ghost there is no spiritual life.

Every Christian denomination believes that Jesus died on the cross to set us free from our sin nature. This came through Adam’s fall in the garden. After that there are many different beliefs on what it takes to save your soul. On Monday I discussed how Jesus told Nikodemus he must be born again. That was found in John Chapter 3.

The fleshly bodies we have, are born of flesh. But we are spiritually dead until the breath of God, the wind of the Holy Ghost blows over us. The Old Testament is types and shadows of things to come. Adam was not alive without the wind of God. We not alive spiritually without the Holy Ghost.

Acts1:1-5 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God: 4 And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.

After Jesus came out of the grave, he walked with his disciples and taught them, then he ascended into heaven. That ended the old covenant and he was about to start a new one. No longer would his spirit be with man, but would come and dwell within man.

He told them to stay in Jerusalem, go into the upper room and wait until they be endued with power from on high. They were waiting for their spiritual birth. The baptism of the Holy Ghost is a total immersion of God’s spirit. He surrounds us and creates in us a right spirit before God. We are a new creation in Christ.

He didn’t do away with what John had done, he built on that foundation. Because John preached repentance and water baptism to show that you died out to self and was buried with Christ in death. When you come out of the water that shows the resurrection of something new, but it still doesn’t have life until the breath of God (the Holy Ghost) fulfills his role of creating a new birth. He breaths spiritual life in us.

The ones in the upper room believed in Christ. They had been baptized under John’s baptism, yet they had to tarry for the promise of God’s spirit coming into them and creating a new life.

Acts 2:1-2 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

Notice, we have been talking about the wind of God. There came a sound from heaven as a rushing mighty wind. This was God’s spirit coming to earth for the first time to dwell within the believer.

Acts 2:3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. The word cloven means divided tongues. People often say that tongues is just different earthly languages. But not when it comes to the infilling of the spirit unto salvation. God can use tongues to be an interpreter of earthly languages if necessary. But that is not what happened here. That gets much deeper into the gifts of the spirit and types of interpretation. That is a video for another day.

Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. God’s breath, the might wind, his Spirit came into them. During the process of creating the bond of the Holy Ghost to their spirit, he created a language within them. Notice it says the spirit gave them utterance or helped them to speak. Unless God breaths on us, we are not Spiritually alive, just like Adam was not physically alive.

Jesus promised to send another comforter if he went away. He ascended and that comforter was sent on the day of Pentecost to lead and guide us into all truth. But we have to not allow our flesh to rise back up. We must allow the Holy Ghost to lead us.

Jude tells us that we build up our faith by praying in the Holy Ghost.

Jude 17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

Notice this lists those who are not part of the body of Christ. They walk after the things of the flesh. Living ungodly by their own lusts. They do not have the Spirit of God.

JUDE 20-21 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.

He tells those who are walking after God to build up themselves on their most holy faith by praying in the Holy Ghost. This is our prayer language or speaking in tongues. But it is not the end all be all of being a Christian. It is the first fruits; we are to build up our faith, to make us more like Christ. Not to be judgmental and self-righteous.

Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.

We go from death unto life when we repent and are converted. Which means we don’t repeat bunch of words after a preacher and then go on living like the devil. But we make a change of what is within our power to change and allow God to make changes. Then the time of refreshing will come from the presence of the Lord. This means he will fill us and re-fill us with his spirit.

The word refreshing comes from refresh, which means to give new strength or energy to something. God gives us that new strength and energy. A good example is often when hosting someone for dinner you refresh their coffee or drink. Refresh in that sense of the word means to pour out more or refill. That is what God does, he refills us so that we always have oil in our lamps.

I hope this past three days has helped in answering some questions you may have had about the Holy Ghost and his role in our salvation and preservation. If you have further questions, feel free to email me.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP 608 THE WIND OF GOD — DRY BONES

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE WIND OF GOD ON DRY BONES

In yesterday’s episode we made a connection of wind or the Hebrew word Ruach to being born of the Spirit or as Jesus said to Nicodemus, being born again. When God’s Spirit or wind blows something always happens. Take the story of Ezekiel for an example.

Ezekiel 37:1-8 The hand of the Lord was upon me, and carried me out in the spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley which was full of bones, 2 And caused me to pass by them round about: and, behold, there were very many in the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. 3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. 4 Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 5 Thus saith the Lord God unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live: 6 And I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and ye shall live; and ye shall know that I am the Lord. 7 So I prophesied as I was commanded: and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a shaking, and the bones came together, bone to his bone. 8 And when I beheld, lo, the sinews and the flesh came up upon them, and the skin covered them above: but there was no breath in them.

Notice there was a noise and a shaking, and the bones came together but there was no breath in them. They didn’t have life without the breath. Just like we do not have spiritual life without the breath of God or the Holy Ghost.

Ezekiel 37: 9-10 Then said he unto me, Prophesy unto the wind, prophesy, son of man, and say to the wind, Thus saith the Lord God; Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live. 10 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

The wind of God blew and restored breath to the bodies and they lived and stood up upon their feet a great army. As children of God we are a part of a great army. But we do not fight with conventional weapons, but be fight with prayer and the power of the Holy Ghost within us.

Notice until the wind blew, there was no life. Just like we do not have spiritual life until the spirit of God breathes or blows over us.

This vision of Ezekiel has significance in showing that God can restore even that which is dead. Jesus came out of the grave with power over death, hell and the grave. But it also can show the significance of how God’s power is needed to bring spiritual life to our dry bones and give us new life. His Spirit puts us in the family of God, the body of Christ, or the army of God. It takes the breath or wind of God to create within us a spiritual life.

Gen 2:7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

God formed Adam from the dust of the earth. But until God breathed into him he was just dirt. He had no life. Notice he formed man then breathed into him the breath of life. All other creation on the planet he spoke into existence. But man was different, he was special he breathed into him and made him a living soul.

The wind or breath of God, The Spirit of God, The Holy Ghost is also needed to breathe spiritual life into us. Just as Adam was not alive without God breathing life into him in the natural. We are not alive until God breaths his Holy Spirit into us. Watch tomorrow for part three of this subject of wind of the Spirit.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP605 SEARCH ME

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: SEARCH ME

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: 24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

This is a prayer we should pray as a spiritual tune up. It is possible over time to let little things creep their way into our lives. When we ask God to search our hearts and try us and our thoughts, look out. He will do what we have asked. Sometimes we may not like the answer.

He will find that little bit of hurt, betrayal, even maybe a sin that we have tucked away in a small closet in our heart, behind lots of other things. This is a closet we leave closed and do not look in, unless God does some searching.

It is when he brings the things to light that we have to deal with them and get rid of them, like a sweater that is three sizes too small, but we hold on to it. But when we remove things from our heart like, hurt, pain, bitterness, jealousy or even maybe hate, God can use that space to place more of his fruit of the Spirit.

If our lives are so full of hurt and bitterness, we will not have room for joy. Maybe we aren’t carrying hurt or bitterness, but we are holding on to something else that it is time to let go. We don’t even know we are carrying these weights until God lifts them off of us and then we can feel the difference.

God wants us to give it all to him. Our ugliest messes, our worst pain and hurt, our anger, bitterness and jealousy. We are not hiding anything, at least from him. This is why we can be totally honest in our prayers. Once he has cleansed our lives of all of these things that are weighing us down, we can run faster. We will be able to run this race that is set before us with patience and God’s love.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

As Christians we desire to finish our race well. We want to hear the Lord say, Well done. He is faithful to lead us in the right path and will not deny us when we ask him for ways to draw closer to him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP603 DEER FEET AND MOUNTAIN TOPS

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: DEER FEET AND MOUNTAIN TOPS

Yesterday we discussed the fact that the devil doesn’t have power to make us do anything. The Psalmist David, wrote “He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet.” Hind is another word for deer. They have the ability to swiftly get away from danger or threat. Just like we are empowered to resist the enemy and are able to get away. But we have to learn to recognize his whispered lies from our own thoughts.

PSALM 18:33 He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places.

David went on to say, that God, “setteth me upon my high places.” This is often another way of saying upon a mountain or mountain top. Mountains are used to represent many things in the word.

High Places or mountain tops were where people of God built altars. It was a place of elevation. Pagans often built altars to their false gods upon mountains as well. (What ever God creates the enemy tries to duplicate). This is why all thorough the story of the different kings the word says they pulled down the high groves of the false gods or they built up the high places. Israel struggled with idolatry.

Elijah told them they were going to have to choose once and for all who was going to be God. Baal or the One True God Jehovah. They made a contest that the real God would answer with fire. The prophets of Baal did their rituals, prayed, cried, cut themselves and nothing happened. Elijah said a short prayer and our God answered with fire.

Mountains are also a sign of strength. A place that has stood the test of time and is still standing. It is a place of security and shelter. Which is where Jesus got the parable of building on a solid foundation. The man that builds on the rock, though he goes through storms will still be standing when the storm passes.

The man that builds on sand will have his house destroyed by storms. Because it is not anchored to a rock or a solid foundation. Have you ever thought about sand. It is just small pieces of rock. People often have small pieces of truth, but do not want the whole thing. Being anchored to the rock will cost you something. You have to be anchored. People that are built on sand have nothing to stand on when the storms of life blow in with hurricane force winds.

Being set upon the high places means God is sheltering us and we have security to know that we are not alone. We can swiftly run to him, like the deer. He will be there ready to protect us from the enemy.

If we never had a rough road, we would not know that we could climb. He allows things to happen to teach us strength. Other times things happen that comes from someone’s freewill or even bad choices. Whatever the reason for the rough road, he has made us resilient enough to keep going. God never leaves us to struggle on our own, he is always with us. He makes our feet like hinds feet, which means we will always be able to climb any mountain we have facing us. Be encouraged that as long as you keep holding on to Jesus, you will make it.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP602 GOD INCREASES

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GOD INCREASES

Gal 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He often used stories about sheep and shepherds or about planting seed and reaping the harvest. God placed the laws of reaping and sowing in place from the beginning.

When we show kindness to someone in need, it will come back to us. The opposite is true too, if you show hate to others, you will receive hate. If we choose to walk and live righteous lives, we will reap the benefit of that choice. If we choose to walk in darkness and sin, we will reap all sorts of things in this life.

Our flesh would love to take us down the road of instant gratification and pleasures for a moment. Things that on the surface appear to be pleasant. But are dark and evil. They will grow the fruit of deceit in our lives.

It is not easy to walk not after the flesh but after the things of the Spirit. God is there within us to give us strength to do the right thing. We just have to say no to the devil and ask God for strength to sow good things.

Often, we hear people say, “the devil made me do it.” The devil doesn’t have power to make us do anything. He can come and try to tempt us, by whispering in our ear. We have the right to resist him. It may take resisting a time or two. But we do have the power to resist. God will help us to resist but will not make us do anything either. We have free will and the right to make the choice. Which ever voice we yield to, will determine the outcome of our future.

It is up to us to decide, are we going to sow evil things that seem easy but is actually fumbling in the darkness of sin? Are we going to sow good things that seem a little more difficult but will reap wonderful things from the Lord including eventually eternal life?

One key is not allowing the enemy to wear us out. When we get weary it is easier to give into temptation. But if we can stay strong and not get battle weary, we will not listen to the devil’s lies that he comes to whispers.

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap, if we faint not.

We are not to be weary for trying to do the right thing. At the right time we will reap the harvest and we will reap benefits from the Lord for our own lives, if we don’t get too weary to keep going.

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.

This passage reminds us that we just need to do what we are lead by God to do. If it is plant, water or harvest. But other than being happy that another soul was plucked out of the hand of satan, we should not feel like we did anything. Because God gives the increase to our efforts. We are not meant to plant, water and harvest a person. We are meant to work in unison with the Holy Ghost and other believers to accomplish the end goal of seeing people saved. Remember God is the one that gives the increase.

Go out this week and sow good things into people’s lives. Be encouraging and be bold, time is short. But remember, it is God that gives the increase.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP601 MEDITATION

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: MEDITATION

The world will tell you that meditation is sitting quietly and clearing your mind of everything. Yoga is popular, but what they don’t tell you is that yoga means yoke. You are literally tying yourself to a spirit. This kind of meditation is not anything a Christian should be doing. For everything God created the enemy has tried to counterfeit.

We are told in the scriptures to meditate on the things of God. His goodness, mercy, grace and love. We are to meditate on the scriptures, not clear our minds to allow room for the enemy.

Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

David asked God to search his words and the meditation his heart to see if they were acceptable. We too need to live as though God is searching our hearts and analyzing our words to see if they are acceptable. This should be our thought and prayer every morning that our thoughts and words are found pleasing to God.

What does meditation mean in the Christian sense of the word. It means that our heart concentrates on God. We ponder his truth and allow his word to fill our lives with actions that are pleasing in his sight. We want to be obedient to the word.

Peace will wash over us as we sit quietly thinking about his word. Meditating on the word is an act of worship.

Psalm 1:1-2 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

Our delight should be the word of God and we should meditate on it all the time. Before reading the word, we should ask God to meet us in his word. Then read a passage, take time to look up words that you are not 100% sure about the meaning. Read the passage and then read it out loud. Ponder the meaning of the passage. It is about spending time in God’s presence, listening for his voice and direction.

I Tim 4:13-15 Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. 15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all.

Paul told the young minister to not neglect the gift that was in him. In other words, the gift of the Holy Ghost. He told him to pay attention to reading and encouraging others. Then he instructed him to meditate on them and give himself fully.

We too need to give ourselves wholly to meditating on the things of God. Spending time with him is always a good investment of our time. It is our duty as children of God to draw close to him and learn how to meditate on the goodness of God.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP600 GOD IS CALLING

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THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: GOD IS CALLING

Many believe that giving our lives over to Christ is a one-time thing. We repent and then all is well. But I am here to tell you it is not a one-time thing. It is an everyday, every hour maybe every minute thing. As we go about our day, things arise that can cause us to pull away from our relationship with God. Trials, temptations, distractions and even well-meaning tasks.

God wants us to submit to him, but what does that mean? To voluntarily place oneself under the authority of another. It is translated from the Greek word, hupotasso, which means to “arrange under” as in a military ranking order.

Biblical submission to God is an active choice we make to prioritize ourselves below God, under his authority. This submission is rooted in trust and love for God. We submit to God’s will because we trust his authority.

I Peter 5:5-6 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

We are to submit to one another as the joint body of Christ. Submitting because we care for one another and to humbly serve God. In other words, we are to love one another as Christ loves us.

Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

I want to cover a couple of examples: Judas never fully submitted to living a life for Christ. He never submitted his authority to God. He was submitted to his lust for money. Like us, he could only fully commit to one. We have two choices God or satan. He allow the spirit of lust and greed to get him to submit to satan. Evil overtook him and he betrayed one who had done nothing to him but care for him. He sold information about where Jesus was to the Pharisees. He submitted to thirty pieces of silver, instead of submitting to following Jesus.

Sampson is another example; he took the authority he had and shared his secret with the enemy. He lost his submission to God the moment he started toying with Deliah. He allow his attention to be drawn away from God. Slowly he submitted to his desire for her. He allowed the source of his power to be cut off, which was his hair. In our case, we may allow the enemy to get us to stop praying and reading the word. Soon he was captured and bound by the enemy.

He prayed for God to forgive him. He realigned his submission to God and his strength returned. When his strength returned, he pulled down large pillars that held the roof of the temple. The enemy had chained him to them. In collapsing the roof, he destroyed around 3000 men and women of the Philistines. He also died in the collapse. It could have all been avoided if he had stayed committed and submitted to God in the first place.

It is easy for us to sit in judgment of these two men. But we too have some work to do to make sure that we stay in submission. It is easy to allow the cares of this life, troubles and trials to weaken our dedication and submission to God. He wants our complete surrender to him. He doesn’t want half of us. He doesn’t want our attention just on Sunday. Submission 100% of the time, we need to choose to surrender to his authority.

James 4:7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

We are in serious times. Lines are being drawn in the sand. Today is not a time to be trying to straddle the fence or be lukewarm. We need to be all in with both feet, calling down the fire of God. To prove that he is God to a new generation that may be following an illusion of who he is or a false little “g” god of this world.

Today is the day to re-dedicate, renew, and surrender ourselves more fully to God. In submitting to God, we will resist the devil. He has to flee because if we are under God’s authority. We will have no authority to give the enemy. He will not have any control over our lives. He only gets authority over us if we submit to him. That is something to really think about. Let me say it again, satan only gets authority over us, if we submit to him.

All the more reason to stay in submission to our Lord Jesus Christ.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP597 HOW THIRSTY?

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: HOW THIRSTY?

How thirsty is your soul for God’s presence? Do you desire for more of God’s living water? Longing to feel the presence of God in a more powerful way should be all of our desires. God wants us to want to be in his presence. He longs for us to quietly commune with him.

Psalm 42:1-2 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?

True worship is about a heart connection to God. You can sing, pray, praise, lift your hands, kneel, lay flat on your face, it is all about the heart posture. God wants to be first in our lives, there is no room before him or above him. But in our human capacity, we have to fight constantly to make him our number one thought, care and priority.

Matthew 16:24 –Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Total surrender is what he longs for from us. Jesus emphasized surrender by denying ourselves the things we would do or want to do, to follow Jesus. He desires our complete surrender to his will.

1 Peter 5:7 –Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

Surrender means trusting him with our cares and burdens. We must come to him as a little child. Think about how trusting they are with their parents. They will believe whatever they tell them. We should also trust God with that childlike trust. He wants only good things for us, he will look out for us.

As the weekend approaches and hopefully we all find a little bit of time, think about the question I asked when we started today, How thirsty is your soul for God’s presence?

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING –EP594 THE TONGUE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE: THE TONGUE

There is a quote that says, “loose lips sink ships.” Which means that you are not to tell everything you know. The bible is full of verses that tell us to not gossip. The day in which we are living, judgmental attitudes and gossip are driving forces behind social media. It is easy to see a post and jump on the band wagon of judging someone based on the post. This is not God’s way.

I often share with you about the words you speak. Our words have power to change our lives for the good or for the bad. The entire third chapter of James is about controlling our tongue. It says it is the hardest thing to control. What we say, is as important as what we don’t say.

There is an old quote that says, “If you don’t have nothing nice to say, don’t say anything.” In theory that seems right. But often we must speak the truth in love. It is often not what someone wants to hear. But we must be led by the Spirit as to what we need to say. Allowing God to give us the right words will help us to control our tongue. It will be what the other person needs to hear. It will not be gossip or judgement.

Having an untamed tongue include things like gossip, insulting, belittling, manipulating others with lies and false narratives. Other things we often don’t think of is flattery in order to gain something from someone. We are supposed to be true to who we are and real before God. Manipulation is the same as witchcraft.

Prov 6:16-19 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

God hates a proud look and a lying tongue. We are called to higher ground than to act like we live on reality tv. The world is all about drama and calling people out. It is all about judging one another and spewing hate. Anything to cause problems and issues. The more drama the more likes and shares someone gets, which comes down to money.

James 3:3-4 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

This is explaining how the tongue can change the entire course of our lives. A horse can be turned by a small bit in its mouth. A large ship can be turned by a small rudder or helm. So the entire course of our lives can be turned a different direction by our words.

James 3:5-6Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Our enemy uses people words to harm one another, to bring about discord and hurt. The enemy will lie to us. If we repeat those lies it creates things in our lives that we do not need. Like the enemy may tell you that you are worthless and no one loves you. If you start to believe it and then speak it, it will become your reality. Destruction can come quickly from angry words.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

In the list of the fruit of the spirit, self-control or temperance means being able to control ourselves. That includes controlling our words. Because our words lead us down the right path or down the wrong road.

Others have to feel we are trustworthy. If someone shares something with us, we have to walk in our integrity and not gossip to others. We need to take the issues to God. He is the only one that can judge. So keeping it to ourselves and only telling Jesus will save us from a lot of drama and pain.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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