Tag: christianity

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP 489 “IT IS FINISHED”

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP 489 “IT IS FINISHED”

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  IT IS FINISHED

Three little words that changed the world over two thousand years ago and is still changing the world. These three words were spoken by Jesus before he died on the cross. But what did they mean?

These words have multiple meanings; they are jam packed with purpose and fulfillment. First “It is finished” meant that Jesus was about to die, before the soldiers could break his legs, as was custom to make those on the cross die faster. But when they came to Jesus he was already dead. Fulfilling prophecy that not one bone would be broken in the sacrifice.

It meant he had completed that phase of what God had created him to do. He had to die to pay for our sins. He suffered as no other person that was crucified suffered. No one else could have survived the beatings he took, before the cross. Because he was part man and part God, he was able to painfully endure. Jesus suffered because for the first time, he didn’t feel his father’s presence. God had to look away, because of the enormous amount of sin that he was carrying.

2 Cor 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Because of the work on the cross, we could be restored to a place of relationship with God. The place Adam lost when sin entered the world.

“It is Finished,” meant that the power satan had over mankind was broken. Mankind was free from him. That didn’t mean that satan would stop trying to rule over mankind. This is why we are told in Ephesians Chapter six to put on the whole armor of God.  Jesus paid for that armor, we have to put it on and use it properly to combat the enemy.

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Our faith in the, “It is finished,” gives us power to use the armor of God. Faith is a key tool, but first we must believe in the work of the cross and the power of his Spirit to keep us in the good standing of, “It is finished.”

But “It is Finished,” also meant it was an end to the old covenant. We would no longer sacrifice animals for our sin offering. “It is finished,” made it more personal, it was about relationship. Sacrificing an animal to most meant they would go ahead and sin because it only cost them an animal. Today, it is personal, if we sin and do not repent and get those sins covered by the blood of Jesus, we will pay for our sins.

“It is finished,” changed the way God interacted with man. Before he walked with him in a garden, now he dwells within them, in the form of the Holy Ghost. “It is finished,” meant the old ways are done and we now can have a relationship with God.

“It is finished,” meant that mankind who accept the work of the cross and are filled with God’s Spirit, has been restored to a place of the garden. The sin curse and all that comes with it no longer has power over a child of God.  We need to learn to walk in the, “IT IS FINISHED.”

There was no sickness in the garden, “It Is Finished,” means as God’s children we do not have to allow sickness in our bodies, we can fight it in Jesus’ name.  We have to not believe the lies the enemy is telling our bodies.

“It is finished” means we are free to walk in peace. We no longer have to be afraid of anything the enemy wants to cause us to fear.  “It is finished” means that Jesus took on our fear and set us free. The same goes for anxiety, depression, emotional distress.

Learning to embrace the gift of “It is finished” is often a lifelong journey for mankind. It is sort of walking by faith and not by sight.  Embracing the “it is finished,” means we walk by faith in the work of the cross.  We do not go by the pain and symptoms in our bodies. We do not go by the fear, anxiety or stress that attacks us. We need to remind ourselves, “It is finished.” Jesus carried a heavy weight so that we could be free.

John 19:30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.

The Greek word for the phrase, “it is finished,” is Tetelestsi which was an accounting term that meant, Paid in Full. Mankind’s debt to God was paid by Jesus on the cross. It is finished, paid in full…complete, lacking nothing.

Think about these three little words that changed the world. What do they mean to you? It is time for the body of Christ to realize the power we have been given as Children of God and embrace the, “It is finished.” Because Jesus already did the hard part.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP486 SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP486 SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  SEEING THE BIG PICTURE

Evil sees evil everywhere it looks. As children of God, we must have a clear lens. Opinions are filtered through the lens of our experiences. Judgmental, self-righteous, people see evil everywhere. Their hearts are bitter and they do not see clearly.

As children of the most high God, we cannot be tainted by bitterness. The world is full of ungodly things that can cause us to lose our witness. Our flesh wants to wallow in self-pity. It would be easy to fall into the “Oh poor me” trap.  We all walk through things at times that we could give in and allow ourselves to have a pity party.  But then what? The party has to end and we still have our situations and emotions to deal with. We may as well not go to the pity party, but instead go to Jesus. He will help us find the big picture. Jesus never allows anything into our lives that is not for our good. We may not understand it at the time, but he has fine tuned everything to work for our good.

We never want to come up short and have the world to see anything in us that isn’t Jesus. We don’t want to be guilty of something that they can use to justify their lives. Sinners often look at a Christian in name only or someone who is very lukewarm and they will say, “I am just as good as they are, they are mean and bitter and hurt others with sharp words of judgment, or they list their other shortcomings and sins.”

In I Cor. Chapter 13 the word tells us all the things love does and doesn’t do. Verse six proves the point of judgmental people. They are not walking in love.

I Cor.13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

These people are happy to see another fall or slip up. Because deep down it makes them feel better about their failures and shortcomings. They rejoice when another falls into iniquity. Instead of trying to improve they have justified in their minds that they are fine. We must look beyond ourselves and look to God. He will give us a view of the big picture. I love how the writer of Ecclesiastes sums up what it means to live for God.

Eccl 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

Apparently, those who rejoice when someone else falls didn’t see this verse. We are to fear God and keep his commandments.  This is our whole duty as children of God. When we are not walking in the love of God, we are missing the keep his commandments part.  Jesus said many times for us to love one another.

Some people get legalistic like the Pharisees. They worry about dressing a certain way. They worry about appearing on the outside like they are a Christian. But they lack the compassion and the changes inside that truly counts in the eyes of God. It is time to see the big picture.

We have to approach the kingdom of God as a child would. Children simply believe. We are to approach the bible with the understanding that it is all true. It doesn’t matter how much the miracles seem impossible. The big picture says that God did have a man build a boat to save his family and the animals. God really did part the water and make the land underneath dry for his people to safely cross. Then when the enemy started behind them the same waters destroyed them. 

One man was born for the purpose of taking away our sins. He was conceived and born of a virgin. Was raise by her and her husband. Then Jesus walked the earth performing miracles and teaching a group of twelve to be leaders, while preaching to the masses.

That man called Jesus told us to love one another. That is the big picture.

Luke 18:17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

Children are not judgmental, they do not have an agenda, they just accept the truth of God. To them everything is bigger than they are, so why would there not be a God that is bigger than the grown-ups in their life. As we become adults, we sometime lose that awe and wonder of a child.

When it comes to God, we should always have awe and wonder. We never know what he will do to fix the broken situations of our lives.  But we have to trust and believe. Asking him always to help us to see the big picture and walk always in His love.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP481 FLAT DAYS

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING — EP481 FLAT DAYS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  FLAT DAYS

Monday morning my day started with a flat tire. There used to be a time in my life that would have wrecked my day, maybe even my week. But God changed me and helped me to get past the falling apart over the little things I cannot change. If I am upset or not, the tire is still flat. My emotional state doesn’t change the facts. I still have to deal with it. I said, “Dear Lord help me.” Then I started weighing my options.

The enemy loves nothing more than to take situations in life and use them to tear us down. He will magnify all of our concerns and make them seem worse. Everyone that drives at some point has to deal with a flat tire.

What sometimes appears bad is for our good. God sees the big picture; he knows all the ways things could play out. He has given his angels charge over us to protect us. What if that flat prevented me from being in a bad wreck? When things happen, we cannot automatically assume they are bad, even though it is not the ideal situation.

When things like that happens, it reminds me of how far God has brought me. I used to be controlled by fear, anxiety and depression. I am not exaggerating when I say that a flat tire at one time would have ruined my week.

I want to remind you as we go forward to not look at circumstances. Do not allow them to tear you down, but be encouraged, God works it all out for our good. He is in control and will take care of those who are his. It doesn’t matter what is going on around us.

This world is shaking, with governments falling, economies around the world falling and failing. It would be easy to allow fear of the unknown to drive us to worst case scenario. But when the death angel was moving in Egypt, God’s people were safe. The Israelites were shut in safely behind the bloodline.

There is nothing that can harm us as long as we stay under the covering of the blood of Jesus. Do not allow how things look cause you to have a flat day. A day where you don’t want to move, but you want to wallow in fear, anxiety, depression and total lack of peace. Allow the Spirit of God to breath his peace on you and you too will soon be on the move again.

2 Tim 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

It is time to rise up and be bold and be brave. God is needing his warriors to arise. If there was ever a time that our nation needed intercessors it is now.  God is on the move, but we as his children have nothing to fear. Don’t let how thing look cause you to fall into fear. But remember to pray for God’s will to be done. Pray for the protection of our military and those who are fighting to save the trafficked children. Pray that our leaders will turn to God and let him be their guide.

I am sure that things appeared a little scary when the children of Israel were walking across the Red Sea. I can imagine the worrywarts were going; I hope that water doesn’t come down on us. Which was total lack of faith. God saw them safely to the other side. We have to trust God to take care of us in all situations good and bad. He will see us safely to the other side.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP469 TURN THE PAGE

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP469 TURN THE PAGE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  TURN THE PAGE

Our lives play out as time intertwines with us each day. There are seasons of time and seasons of life. At the end of each year, we turn the page with hope that the year ahead will be filled with good things. The seasons of life are filled with years of just living out our lives.

At year end it is a good time to look back at the past year. Reflect on the lessons learned and the things we would do differently. It is a time that some make resolutions to be a better person. Some want to lose weight, give up bad habits or start something new like a workout routine.

I like to sit quietly with my thoughts for an hour or so and think about the lessons that I have learned over the past year. The things that I would have liked to have accomplished. I write those down for the next year. The things that I would have like to have done differently.

Then I pray and ask God to guide my upcoming year. To lead my feet down the right path.

In Christian circles we often say, Keep your eyes on the prize.  Keep your focus on God’s plan. There are many encouraging words. Lazer focused on God’s plan is where we need to find ourselves. Every day, we need to begin with the right attitude. Getting in that frame of mind often takes prayer.

In the morning when I rise, give me God’s plan. My plans do not compare with what he has in store for me. Spending time with God sets the tone for the whole day. Each morning, we have to determine that we are going to follow Jesus that day.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way.

His word is a light to our path. He will guide us if we trust him to follow the path he lays out before us.

Prov 12:22 Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.

God hates lies. When we say we are a Christian, and our lives doesn’t reflect our faith, we are living a lie. But when our lives reflect that we walk in our faith and reflect God in all we do, we are living out our faith. It is a delight for God when we walk out our faith. When we walk in truth and allow God’s word to be our path.

Our way is established by the will of God. The children of Israel would not have had to wander for forty years if they had believed. If they had trusted the plan. But because of unbelief, they wandered for forty years. I don’t want to wander in the desert because of lack of trust. I want him to delight in me and direct my path.

Being in a place of God’s delight comes from our ability to focus. The enemy will try to fill our lives with distractions. Anything he can do to get our mind and focus off of God. It is time to set aside the things that are dead weight and press on further.

Heb 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 we come close to the year end. It becomes a time of reflection. It is a time to refocus on the things that really matter, and that is our faith walk. The path that is ahead of us will bring to us things we have never seen. How we deal with those things will define our character. They will help mold and shape us into the children of God that he can show delight in.

As we close this year. I want to wish you a wonderful new year. I pray it is all that you want it to be, remember to keep your eyes on Jesus and he will direct your path. 

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP468 – NOT COMPLACENT, NOT TODAY

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP468 – NOT COMPLACENT, NOT TODAY

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  NOT COMPLACENT, NOT TODAY

The church can fall into a place of complacency easily. If we as the body of Christ slow down and are not diligent we can become lukewarm. Today is not the day to be going through the motions. God was dealing with me to remind his people as we approach the year end that it is time to take inventory of our faith walk. Have we allowed the enemy to get a stronghold? Have we lost our fire? Are we lukewarm? God doesn’t want us to be lukewarm.

I started to think about Sampson.  He was a judge over Israel. He had incredible strength tied to his long hair, which was an outward sign of his vow to God. Sampson toyed with the enemy, not realizing each time he did, it was weakening him. Every time he got closer to being overtaken.

The enemy used Delilah to manipulate his emotions and he told her the truth. Before long he was weakened because she put him to sleep. The enemy cut his hair.  The source of his strength, not because his hair was powerful, but because of the vow to God. By cutting his hair, they severed his vow to God.

Our enemy is looking for ways to cut off our strength.  He wants to sever our connection to God. The joy of the Lord is where we get our strength. But what if Satan can get us to have joy or find delight in something other than God. He knows he can cut off our strength. As Sampson’s hair was cut off his head.

If the enemy can break our connection to our head, who is Jesus Christ. He knows he can bind us up. Just as the enemy did Sampson. The Philistines captured Sampson and they gouged out his eyes. Our enemy will blind us if we let him. Letting down our guard where our enemy is concerned is how we end up lukewarm.

We tell ourselves this little thing or that won’t matter. God warns us to not be complacent or lukewarm. In the lukewarm state we are not a good light. Sampson forgot his place, he started feeling like his strength was his own. He got prideful about his strength and forgot it came from God.

If we are not careful, we forget where the blessing came from, our God. The blessings become a part of our lives and we can get where we feel like it’s because of us. We lose our attitude of gratitude. This is why it is important to always check ourselves and stay in the word. By studying the word, we find that we have something to compare our faith walk to and keep our feet on the right path.

When Sampson came to himself and realized that he had made a mistake he asked God to restore to him his strength. In spite of his mistakes, God used him to take out even more of the enemy than he had before, because he humbled himself.

We can never fall too far that God cannot pick us back up, if we ask. There is no shame in falling or failing, as long as we get back up. But there is shame in staying in a place of complacency.  

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP467 WE MUST BELIEVE

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP467 WE MUST BELIEVE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  WE MUST BELIEVE

As the world starts to look scary, we must not let it shake us. Now more than ever it is time to dig in our heels and stand strong. There are situations at times that makes us want to give up. We cannot let the enemy win. The only way he wins is if we give up and let him. He cannot destroy us, but if we give in to him, he will help us to destroy ourselves.

When the children of Israel were at the Red Sea, fear was starting to overtake them, but God told Moses what to do. He said stand still and see the salvation of the Lord. There is not a doubt in my mind that we are on the edge of a stand still moment, with our enemy. But God will deliver us just the same as he did Israel.

I often think about that powerful moment he said, “stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.” Sometimes we have no choice, we are frozen and cannot go in any direction. In times like that we need to remember God will not allow us to be destroyed by the enemy.

Far too long the church has been in bondage to man’s ideas and doctrines. We were given a perfect plan by Jesus, but the church of today is far from the original plan of Jesus. As we pray and believe God for miracles, he is going to start showing up and setting people free.

The harvest is ready and he is calling for those who are willing to come and allow him to give us what we need to accomplish great things in the body. Can you imagine how the disciples felt when Jesus placed anointing on them to go out and heal the sick and to preach Jesus to the lost. That kind of empowerment is coming again to the body of Christ.  As we draw closer to him, he will begin to anoint us.

Some will say, “I don’t believe it.”  Without faith believing, we will not get anywhere. Without faith it will not happen for you. A believer is a receiver and a doubter goes without. I don’t want to miss what God is doing out of fear and doubt.

The enemy loves fear and doubt. The word doubt means a feeling of uncertainty. Who do we doubt? Are we doubting God?  Do we lack conviction to stand strong. We must have a made-up mind to follow Jesus. Now is not the time for doubt and uncertainty. Some say, “I know he is able, but I question if he will do it for me.”

Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God.

What he’s done for others, he will do for you and me. As long as we believe God and stand on his word, he will watch over us and give us what we need, each day.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP466 A FEW GOOD MEN

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP466 A FEW GOOD MEN

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  A FEW GOOD MEN

During WW1 and WW2 the US Military came up with a slogan, “Looking for a few good men.” This was on recruitment posters, to encourage enlistment in the military. This is not the first time that someone in charge of a military was looking for a few good men.

Gideon had a massive army at his command, but God said, there are too many and he started narrowing it down. First he let all of them who didn’t want to go to battle leave. Then they went through a series of tests. Until God narrowed it down to three hundred men. God was looking for a few good men.

God took those three hundred men and defeated a massive army. All Gideon’s people had to do was let their light shine at the right time. Then the enemy ran for fear of being killed. Then all Gideon and his army had to do was go down and collect the spoils.

God once again in narrowing his army down to those who are serious. Only those who are fully committed to a life of following Christ. It is going to take us walking in God’s anointing and letting our light shine at the right moment to win the war.

The enemy is coming on strong. He is not going to flee from everyone who says they are a Christian. The enemy knows who is armored up against him. He knows who can walk in the anointing and authority God has given to them.

The word says if we resist the devil he will flee. Some do not know how to resist. It is up to us to help them find that place in Christ that they can learn to walk in their God given authority and anointing.

There is a big harvest field, not all is ready for what is coming. We must pray for the harvest that it be gathered. God is looking for a few good men and women to truly, fully follow him.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS LIKE, SHARE AND SUBSCRIBE FOR MORE ENCOURAGMENT

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP460 ASSURANCE

GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP460 ASSURANCE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  Assurance

As children of God, we have many assurances in his word. We have every reason to be encouraged that he will work things our for our good. The skies may be grey and storms may be on the horizon, but he will not allow us to be overtaken by them. He has promised to uphold us with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord: and he delighteth in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand.

We can fall and he will pick us up. He will not leave us. He will not abandon his people.

Psalm 138:8 The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

We strive to be in a place that we learn to lean on Jesus. We cannot fall into a place that the voice of the enemy is louder than God’s voice.

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

How do the sheep know the voice of the shepherd? Because they spend countless hours with the sheep. They nurture and take care of them. The sheep know where their source of life comes from, their shepherd feeds them, leads them to water, looks for them when lost and protects them from predators.

We too can rely on our shepherd to protect us from the enemy that wants to destroy us. He would like nothing more than to devour our souls. But Jesus our shepherd is there to watch over us and make sure that we are not overtaken by the enemy. He gives us strength and leads us to a place of peace.

When you think about how blessed we are that God sends his angels to watch over us and keep us safe. There is nothing the enemy can do to overtake us as long as we do not give up or give in to him. He cannot overpower us, but he can make us want to give up. At the moments we feel weakest we have to allow our powerful God to stand and fight for us.  He will not allow us to be overtaken as long as we lean on him and do not surrender our will to the enemy.

If we allow negative words to come out of our mouths, words of defeat and surrender, God cannot fight for us if we have surrendered.  So let this be a reminder that we have to fight the good fight of faith. Watch our mouths and not allow the enemy to get us to surrender. God will go before us and fight as long as we look to him.

He is our hope, our strength, our assurance of victory, our peace, our healer, our provider. He is all we need. We must follow his voice and allow him to be our shepherd. He will always lead us to the right place.

I just wanted to remind

that we have hope in the middle of the darkness of this world. Our hope is in Jesus.  He will lift us up when we fall. He will see us safely home. We have assurance that we will never walk alone.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING EP458 PREPARING OUR HEARTS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  PREPARING OUR HEARTS

You can tell the importance of a day by the effort it takes to prepare for it. Look at a birthday for example: If it is just another birthday then maybe a week before people will make plans to go to dinner. But if it is a milestone birthday, sixteen, twenty-one, one hundred, there may be a big party that takes months to plan. Weddings are the same way.

There is coming a grand and glorious day, when we are called home to the wedding of the ages. The amount of time that this celebration has been being prepared for is over two thousand years. It is one invitation that should not be refused. Jesus has openly invited who so ever will…

If we have accepted his invitation to be a part of his bride then we need to be in preparation for the big day. We need to check ourselves daily and ask God to reveal anything in us that we need to change. As the bride of Christ, we are expected to be ready and not found lacking. No one wants to come up short.

Prov 16:1-3 The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord. 2 All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the Lord weigheth the spirits. 3 Commit thy works unto the Lord, and thy thoughts shall be established.

The world may judge us by the kind of car we drive, the label on our jeans and if our address is on the right side of town. They judge us by our family name, and our career choices. But God judges us by our hearts. He looks to see if we have prepared our hearts and made room for him to come in and dwell. He looks to see if we daily try to walk in his ways, do we study with hunger his word? He desires to know us, to spend quiet time with us.

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.

God is calling us to that place of quiet intimacy with him.  When the world is in chaos around us, we can have peace within by knowing God. Truly knowing him, not head knowledge of him, but heart knowledge…relationship.

Hebrews 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.

Today is the day to be preparing for revival and renewal of our relationship with God. He is getting ready to sweep our land with his presence. We just have to hold on through the shaking and hold on tight to him. Allow all the time you have spent in preparing to see him be your foundation. That foundation of relationship will not be shaken if the relationship is strong.

Psalm 73:28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord God.

Reinforcing strength into our bond, being prepared, and drawing closer to God, is our preparation. He will not disappoint us.

Psalm 24:4-5 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

In a world full of ways to not have clean hands and a pure heart, today we need to fight harder than ever to be such a person of integrity. This is what it means to prepare our hearts.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING- EP457 STRIKE A FIRE

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

THE TITLE FOR TODAY’S EPISODE:  STRIKE A FIRE

There are many ways to start a fire, matches, lighters, striking flint, carrying it on a torch to use to light something else on fire. There is also the boy scout way of rubbing sticks together which requires much skill and practice. Some even have waited for a lightening strike to harness the fire. However mankind got fire, it has been used to keep harmful animals away. It has been used to cook food so that germs can be killed and rendered harmless. It is used to keep the body from freezing to death. Fire can be passed on to others in various forms so that they too can cook, be safe and warm.

My late husband and I used to write a Christian newsletter one of the first small articles he wrote was called strike anywhere match.  I am going to share it with you today. This was first shared in 2004, but is true now more than even.

“Almost everyone is familiar with the blue tip match. It is also known as the strike anywhere match.  The job of this match is to be prepared, at any given point and time to start a fire.  No preparation is needed because it is ready.  The match has everything it needs to produce a flame and light.

Like the blue tip match, we need to be a strike anywhere Christian.  Ready at any time to start a fire, by spreading God’s word.  We need to warm the hearts of others with a song, a testimony or encouraging word.

Like the match, we never know when we will be called upon to start a fire.  It is important to be prepared by being prayed up and have the scriptures in our hearts.”

This is how he lived his life and so many other precious people that I know. God wants us to be ready to just love people. Sharing his love and compassion are why we are here on this earth.

With the Spirit of God in us we will have his holy fire to share. When you come upon someone who is being attacked by the enemy, who needs spiritual food, who is freezing from the coldness, the cruelty of this world we can share God’s fire. It will cause the enemy to flee.

Satan cannot stand the presence of God’s Spirit. If we stand against him he will flee.  He doesn’t want us to share the gospel because it is food for the soul. He definitely doesn’t want people to find the warmth of God’s fire, because they will develop hope. Satan’s job is to keep us feeling hopeless. He wants us to feel like there is not reason to stand and fight.

God’s fire can also cause something inside of us to rise up and be courageous. When the world wants to push us down and make us feel as small and insignificant as possible. God can lift us up and say, you are a warrior, you are strong because of me. You can walk through anything as long as I am with you.

In other words if the fire of God is in us, it will burn out all the cowardice within us. We will be bold enough to stand and say like the three Hebrew men, “Our God is able to save us from the fiery furnace, but if he doesn’t, we will not bow.”  Or Bold enough to stand before a giant and say, “I come to you in the name of the Lord.”

Having that fire inside will give us strength to withstand temptation. It will give us boldness to look the enemy in the eye and tell him you are not bowing to him. When we resist his attempts to be tempting or cause fear, he will have to flee, because he cannot stand the fire of God that is inside of those who believe.

What about you today, are you full of fire? Are you brave enough to withstand the  enemy? Are you like a strike anywhere match, looking for an opportunity to start a fire? Many lives are in need of God’s holy fire. They are waiting for the fire of revival to sweep through and cover them with God’ s anointing and power. All it takes is for us to spread the fire that we have within us. God will blow on the flame and cause a roaring blaze of revival. So be ready to strike that match to save someone who needs God’s holy fire.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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