Tag: #Jesus

EPISODE 376 WHO TOUCHED ME?

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The title of today’s episode: WHO TOUCHED ME?

There is a story in the gospels that show how important not only the power of touch can be, but how faith changes things.

Luke 8:43-45 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any, 44 Came behind him, and touched the border of his garment: and immediately her issue of blood stanched. 45 And Jesus said, Who touched me? When all denied, Peter and they that were with him said, Master, the multitude throng thee and press thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

It wasn’t just that some one made contact with him. As Peter said, many people has pressed into you and you question who touched you. Peter didn’t understand how that woman’s faith could draw something out of Jesus. Her faith drawled anointing from him that healed her of the affliction she had suffered for twelve years.

Luke 8:46-48 And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me. 47 And when the woman saw that she was not hid, she came trembling, and falling down before him, she declared unto him before all the people for what cause she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately. 48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.

She could have touched any other garment, but nothing would have happened. She was afraid when she heard Jesus ask who touched me. But she once again found boldness and admitted that she needed healing. Because of her boldness, Jesus was able to tell her that she was made whole. When our faith can reach out and touch Jesus we will see miracles.

People can lay hands on you and pray until they turn blue, but without the anointing of the Holy Ghost and faith there will never be a transfer of God’s power. The enemy loves to use examples of when someone doesn’t receive healing to try to tear down our faith. There are too many examples of when God does heal.

John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

Our enemy comes to destroy, but Jesus came to give us an abundant life. That includes walking by faith. Every choice we make in life needs to be led by Jesus. We can always reach out and touch Jesus. He will supply our needs. He is our savior, healer, deliverer and our guide. He will never lead us in the wrong direction.

Touch can transfer healing power. Think about Peter and John and the man at the gate, beautiful. He had sat at that gate for years and begged for money. Peter and John came by, and he looked at them, expecting they would give him some money. Peter said, Silver and gold have I none, but I have something better. Then he reached down and got him by the hand, lifting him to his feet. The man was not healed until Peter commanded in the name of Jesus for him to rise and walk, then he touched him by reaching down to help him up.

Never underestimate the power of prayer, faith and simply taking someone by the hand and lifting them up. There is power in prayer and power in a touch.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 375 GO TO THE SOURCE

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The title of today’s episode: GO TO THE SOURCE

There is a game that children often play to learn the lesson not to gossip. It is called the telephone game. Everyone stands in a line, and one whispers a sentence or two in the ear of the person next to them, they repeat it to the one beside them and the game goes on and on. When the person at the end of the line seems confused by what they were told they have to go to the original source to see what the sentence actually said. Things along the line always gets confused when it comes to human beings.

Jesus is our source, he has given us his Spirit to always whisper the right information in our ear. We can depend on Him to lead us and guide us, every step of our way.

People in many countries carry their water for many miles. They have to go to the rivers or streams. They have to go to the source to get the water. Like those of us who are blessed to have water come to us by pipe, our sink is our source.

But to find living water, we have to go to Jesus. He met a woman at a well in the heat of the day. She was being shunned by the other women in her village, because she had been married several times and was currently living with a man she was not married. She came for water, but ended up getting so much more because she met Jesus.

John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

How many people try to run from their problems, only to find that they carry them wherever they go. I have been known to go to the beach in search of peace. I always feel close to God standing on the edge of the ocean. I feel like my problems are so very small. I realized that the destination was not my peace, but God was my peace. Yes, maybe the beach helps me to connect to God, but ultimately, anywhere God is, there is peace. He is our source.

When a car breaks down, you have to take it to someone trained by the manufacturer to fix it. You have to take it to the source that it came from originally. When we get sick, Jesus, our source, is waiting to bring healing to our bodies.

Psalm 34:18-19 The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.

Whatever we have need of Jesus is our source. All we have to do is call on His name. He will save, heal, deliver and set free those who need help.

John 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

This verse is a good way to summarize what I have been saying today. God is the vine, we have to connect to the vine or our source for strength or we will never produce fruit. Whatever we need, we can go to our source.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 374 HE’S STILL GOD

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The title of today’s episode: HE’S STILL GOD

When we can’t see the path before us. When we wonder if our foundation is solid. When the storm clouds are so very dark and the rain is beating down. He is still God.

When we are in so much pain that we do not know if we can get out of bed, or we are so emotionally heartbroken and smothered by grief that we find it hard to breathe. He is still God.

He will never leave us or forsake us. God will see us through whatever we face. He is still on His throne, and He is still God. Our faith has to be in Him and not our circumstances. No one knew this better than Job. He didn’t allow his grief, sickness or the influence of others to shake him. He lost all that he had for a season. He didn’t look outward to the influence of others. He didn’t look inward to the voice of his flesh, but he looked up to God for the answers.

The one who held his every breath in His hand. He kept his focus on God and God turned it all around to pour out a blessing on Job. God wants only what is best for us, we can trust him. He is bigger than our circumstances.

Romans 8:28 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.

I want to encourage you with a true story…

There was a man who was stranded on a raft in the middle of the ocean. He survived several days. He went through a couple of hard storms. When he was asked how he survived the storms and waves he said, “I had to be here now.” In other words, he had to focus only on that moment he was living.

He could not be overwhelmed by all the waves that may come at him. He had to focus on the one in front of him. He could not celebrate all the ones that were behind him, because he had to focus on the one in front of him.

If he had gotten wrapped up in fear and worry about all the waves, he had yet to face he would have become battle weary and fallen into fear. He would not have survived. If he had been caught up in celebrating and looking at all the waves behind him, he would not see what was coming at him. We have to learn how to live in the moment.

In the hard moments we need to keep breathing and know he is still God. We cannot worry about tomorrow’s problems. Tomorrow, will bring what it brings, and we will have time to face it then. He will still be God. When our time on earth is done. He will still be God and He will be there for his children.

Phil 4:11-13 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

We have to remember that nothing we face is bigger than our God. When things are going wrong or when they are right, He is still God. He will forever reign. He is good and in every moment of every day, He is still God.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 373 LAGNIAPPE

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The title of today’s episode: LAGNIAPPE

I used to work with a man that had a retirement cabin on a lake. The name of his cabin was Lagniappe. He explained to me that it meant “a little something extra”. That cabin was his something extra.

According to Wikipedia, A lagniappe is “a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of a purchase” (such as a 13th doughnut on purchase of a dozen), or more broadly, “something given by way of good measure.” It can be used more generally as meaning any extra or unexpected benefit.

I was reminded of this when I started to think about what God expects from us. We need to be willing to give all that we can give to the cause of Christ. Not just what is expected or required but we need to give the little something extra.

God is worth us making the effort to give that little something extra. To go above and beyond what is required.

Luke 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

Jesus did not deserve the punishment he received. He went above and beyond what was required of him. We have been given a so very much because of Jesus’ sacrifice. Since the word says whomsoever, much is given of him shall me much required. It leaves me to ask, what is required and how can I give a little something extra?

MATT 5:40-42 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away.

Jesus shared how his disciples should treat others. He says if someone asks us to go a mile with them we should go two. Many times we do not even want to go one. This is when we need to remind ourselves that Jesus went above and beyond for us. He gave more than we could ever give. So we should be willing to give more than is required.

MATT 5:43-45 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Loving our enemies is a difficult thing that God asks of us. It is hard to be good to those who are trying to destroy us. But Jesus was our example. When Peter cut off the ear of the soldier that came to take Jesus away. Jesus healed him. That was an act of love on Jesus’ part. He also saved Peter who was acting on emotion. Without proof of Peter cutting off the man’s ear, there was no way he could have been punished for a crime of assault on the man.

Our actions can affect those around us, both good and bad. We have to be ready to do all we can to further the cause of Christ, even if it is Lagniappe.

Thanks for watching,

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 370 BEHIND THE MASK

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The title of today’s episode: BEHIND THE MASK

There are masks like the ones used to make movies and television shows. They make the actors look like someone else. There are the masks that people wear to a masquerade ball. Then there are the ones we put on every day if we aren’t careful. In the world we live in, we often wear many masks.

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.

These six things the Lord hates. I am going to cover a couple of them today. It is the unintentional and the intentional masks. God hates a proud look. Pride is something that Lucifer developed before he was kicked out of heaven. His pride led to his downfall.

For a long time, I thought a proud look was someone who walked around with their nose in the air, like they were really important. That is one way to look at it. But the more I think about it, a proud look is the mask we try to hide behind.

The first mask I want to talk about is the unintentional mask. In a culture that doesn’t allow us to be vulnerable, it is hard sometimes to show people the real us in a world where if you show weakness, it could be what others would use to bring you down. To protect ourselves, we put on a mask and go out into the world. Pretending things are fine. When we may be crumbling inside. We may be going through horrible storms all the while wearing a fake smile.

This false face causes people to look at Christians as fake pretenders. Some Christians tell people that if they serve Jesus, everything will be sunshine and rainbows. Giving people a false sense of Christianity. Many times, we do not realize we are putting on this face. But is wearing this mask not a form of lying or deception?

When people in the world decide to turn to Jesus, based on observing the masked church. They will either buy into it all and create their own mask, or they will feel like a failure for letting their emotions and disappointments show.

They will not understand why their life is not a bed of roses. They will return to a life of sin because they cannot live up to the illusion. When they come under their first attack from satan, they will feel like they failed as a Christian because they struggle.

2 Cor 12:9-10 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Learning to allow ourselves to be human is one of the hardest things. We need to understand that we are weak and only in Christ are we strong. We need to have confidence in our God. Being real for one another will help everyone to grow. What if showing that you struggled with something, you encouraged someone else that they are not alone in their struggles.

It is time for us to set aside our pride and focus on what matters. God needs us to just be real, true and authentic. That is the only way we are going to win the world to Christ.The second mask is the intentional mask. This is the false face that people put on to deceive others; the mask of deception. They want to make everyone think they are on fire, Christians. When they want to gain an advantage over others, to manipulate. They are the enemy of the cross. They can be false shepherds out to deceive the congregations by clothing themselves with good deeds. Their purpose is to sow discord among the people in order to tear down the work of the Lord. Satan has sent his children of darkness to deceive and destroy.

These people say all the right things and do all the right things. Only by the spirit of discernment can we see behind their mask. It is time you show the world the real you. God made you the way you are; you are special in his sight. Look to him and live for him, free from the mask.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 368

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The title of today’s episode: FAITH IS OUR DEFENSE

How often in life do our circumstances cause us to stumble because we do not trust? How many times do we fall because we look at circumstances instead of having faith? How many times do we let fear override what we know to be true? For example, if there is nothing we face that God cannot handle, why should we fear?

Often, we as humans allow the circumstances, to be bigger than God’s potential answer, to our problems. Our failures all boil down to a lack of trust and faith. When things are good it is easy to say we trust. But when things get tough, we often falter for lack of faith.

But when we get down to the place where there is nothing more we can do, then we are ready to trust God. Learning to trust, before we exhaust all other options, is what faith is all about. When we are to the point we trust God first, we have begun to walk by faith.

HAVING FAITH MEANS BEING FULLY PERSUADED THAT GOD IS ABLE AND WILL PERFORM WHAT HE HAS PROMISED.

Rom 4:20-22 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

Just as Abraham trusted God. He had promised him that he would be the father of many nations through Issac. A time later, God told him to take Isaac up to the mountain and sacrifice him. Many of us would fall into fear and question how God could ask us to sacrifice Isaac if he was to be the next link in the lineage. But Abraham obeyed God and believed that He would work it out.

—–

Eph 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to

quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

Shields were used in several ways. They could be put together with other

soldiers’ shields to create a wall of defense. They were used as protection for the

individual. Some shields were large enough for a man to stand behind.

Our faith is like a shield; it protects us from attacks by the enemy. But we can

combine our faith with that of fellow believers to create a wall of defense against the enemy. Through our faith, we can be a strength to one another.

Most of us, at some point, have lost faith. It may be a huge thing, or we may have

let a little doubt creep into our hearts. This happens when we let down our guard

or our shield and allow the enemy to place thoughts in our minds. Doubt is a liar, a tool of the enemy to make us question God’s motives and his promises.

When we let fear set in, we have dropped our shield. We are no longer protected from the darts of the enemy.

Never run into battle without all of your armor. We cannot give the enemy the opportunity to make us question or doubt. God will go before us and will fight for us, but we have to keep the faith. So stand strong, be encouraged and keep the faith.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 366 — REDEEMING THE TIME

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The title of today’s episode: REDEEMING THE TIME

When we think of redeeming, a gift card or coupon normally comes to mind. We trade them for something valuable to us. When we redeem the time God has given us we use every moment wisely. We must seize the opportunities to be a light and a witness to others. Life is too short to have regrets about not doing enough for God.

James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

We have no guarantee of tomorrow. That is why we have to seize the opportunities given to us. As we look to God for guidance and direction, he will lead us to where we need to be in life. His plans are not always our plans; however, we need to be able to discern his plans and yield to them. He wants only what is best for us. He sees the big picture when we only see a puzzle piece.

Eph 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

The word circumspectly means mindful, careful, cautious, attentive, and not extravagant.

We are to walk carefully or wisely, not as fools. Making the most of our time because the days are evil. We do this by understanding the will of the Lord and not walking unwisely according to man’s ways.

The best way to know God’s will is to listen for that still, small voice. He says his sheep know his voice. We have to be led by the Spirit. Spending time with him is never wasted; it is the best way to redeem our time. The more time we spend with him, the more we will know his voice.

Col 4:5-6 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

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

We are to use wisdom when speaking to people who do not know God. We have to show them God’s love through our actions and our words. Knowing how and what to say to people sometimes is difficult. We must always tell them the truth in love. Knowing God’s voice will help us to know how deep and far to go.

We are trading the temporary for the eternal. If we redeem our time, God will use it to build the eternal. We can be a part of people’s stories of how they came to know the greatest story ever told. The story of God’s redeeming grace.

Proverbs 13:20 – He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

The wise redeem their time, but fools waste their resources. If we redeem our time, we will plan ahead. That is being wise. Look at the parable of the ten virgins; five were wise and five were foolish. Five of them redeemed their time and planned ahead, preparing to meet the bridegroom. They had their lamps filled with oil. The five foolish didn’t redeem their time and they were caught unprepared without oil in their lamps.

This is a parable about being filled with the spirit of God. They were all ten good moral people; they were virgins. But five of them were wise enough to have oil, which is a representation of God’s spirit or anointing. We have to be filled with his spirit and be prepared for the bridegroom’s return. This is what it means to redeem the time. We have to make sure we have walked wisely and mindfully of God’s ways, so that we are ready to meet him when He returns.

No one knows how long we have until Jesus comes and gets his bride. We do not know if we will even see sunrise. But God wants us to use the time we have to further his kingdom; nothing else matters.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 365 ARE YOU PLUMB?

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The title of today’s episode: ARE YOU PLUMB?

Tucked away in the Old Testament is a book called Amos. It is a small book and like so many in the Old Testament. But it carries a lot of truth. Amos, like so many of the prophets, was sent by God to call Israel to repentance. Anytime a group of people forgets who God is they find themselves in a mess. War, famine, and disease are all side effects of a broken society. When a society embraces God, it is prosperous. America almost went too far; we were close to being destroyed.

A few years ago, everywhere you went you would see two bible verse, 2 Cor 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

They were both reminders that we needed to get our society back on track. As we watched America decline, some of us got the message God was sending. People paid attention to God’s leading and started to pray again in earnest. Prayer is turning around our country. We are not out of the woods yet, but we will see God’s power and glory. Revival is about to hit our land like a tsunami. God will not allow evil to win.

I was talking to a friend of mine about a situation with another friend. This person knows what they need to do. God has showed them, but they are not willing to be obedient, but they keep asking for prayer that God will change the circumstances. If we are not willing to do our part, we cannot expect God to do his. He will not override free will. We have to be strong enough to step out in faith and do what God has asked us.

We have to decide are we going to do what God asks, or are we going to walk in our free will and do our own thing? Israel would walk in God’s ways so far, then when the pressure of life lessened and they became prosperous, they would slowly turn their backs on God. They would turn to lesser gods.

As God gets us through the storm that we have facing us a nation and we get to the revival, we cannot allow the blessings to get us to the point of being complacent. We must continue to dig deep into the Word and to run after God with all of our hearts.

We do not want a repeat of what happened with the children of Israel. We do not need to turn back to bondage because things will look a little different. We do not need to return to the idols that were once at the forefront of our lives. Which brings me to the scripture I want to share with you.

Amos 7:7-9 Thus he shewed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumbline, with a plumbline in his hand. 8 And the Lord said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumbline. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumbline in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more: 9 And the high places of Isaac shall be desolate, and the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste; and I will rise against the house of Jeroboam with the sword.

Just as God showed Amos, he was about to get out his plumbline and use it to check Israel, He is going to check the church of today. Before the final harvest can be gathered, the church has to be ready to receive and disciple them.

Many phrases in our culture speak of being right. When people speak of walking a fine line, it is the place where two contrasting opinions meet. It is another way of describing the plumb line. I used to watch my grandpa build cinderblock walls; he would stretch out a line between two points and would hang a plumb line on it. That let him know that the wall was not leaning one way or the other. A plumb line keeps things balanced.

God’s word is our plumbline; it is what we measure ourselves with to make sure we are not leaning on our own understanding or on man’s religion. God is going to separate his sheep from those that say they are his sheep. We can see it happening with some of the mega church pastors and churches already. Sad to say, many more are going to fall because they leaned on their own ideas, charisma, and abilities. They are master manipulators that the enemy has used to deceive many. God has called to them and tried to turn them around. Some have listened but others love their kingdom more than God’s and they will fall. Denominations are splitting over liberal ideas and the truth of God’s word.

Now is the time to check the plumb line and make sure what you are building is not leaning on anything but Jesus Christ. We cannot be guilty of fence sitting or ignoring sin because we don’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. It is better that they have hurt feelings than to end up in hell. We need to tell them the truth and do it in love, from a place of concern. We cannot go about it with a self-righteous and judgmental attitude and then say, “Well, at least I told them.” That is not the love of God. Even if we are loving toward them and show them concern, they still may turn away and reject our words. But if we do it from a place of God’s compassion, then we have done all we can do, except pray for them.

The word plumb means to examine minutely and critically, check the vertical as in a wall. To measure the depth of water.

A plumb bob is used by ships to check the depth of the water. This prevents the ship from scraping the bottom. The plumb line is used to check the to see that the wall is not leaning.

We use God’s word to check that we are growing deeper in the things of God. That we are not in shallow water to get stuck or damaged. We can use it to make sure that we are going up straight in understanding. That we are not leaning on our own understanding. Take God’s word and use it to make sure your life is plumb.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EP364 HOLY GROUND

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: HOLY GROUND

We may never stand in the desert in front of a burning bush, but can we stand on holy ground? God told Moses to take off his shoes; he was on holy ground. Is Holy Ground a place, or is it God’s presence? What did the taking off of the shoes represent? Holy Ground is about being in God’s presence. Holy ground can be anywhere. We could go to the same spot as the burning bush, and it would not be considered holy ground today. Why? Because God’s anointing is not there like it was when the bush was on fire.

God is everywhere, and some would argue that everywhere should be holy ground, but there are special places that God sends his anointing. Just like the tabernacle was just a tent until God’s presence came down and settled on it.

The Damascus Road was just a path that many travelled on daily. Until one day, a light came from heaven and Saul heard the voice of God. At that moment, that road was holy ground.

Exodus 3:4-5 And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.

God told Moses to take off his shoes, the place he was standing was holy ground. This was symbolic of all sorts of things. One thing God was saying that he needed to honor the place where he was standing, in the presence of God.

His shoes could have represented that old life, the places he had been. He went from the shoes of a shepherd to the shoes of a leader. God was getting ready to give him a new life. He was about to step into his calling. God wanted him to have respect for the place he was about to walk.

The priests of Egypt would remove their shoes as a sign that they were unworthy to stand in the presence of their gods. Moses, knowing their customs, understood that God was revealing to him that He was God. All over the world today, in mosques and synagogues, this practice is still done. The one entering the place where God is will remove their shoes as a sign of unworthiness to stand in the presence of unspotted holiness.

Moses also covered his face as a sign that he understood that he was unworthy to stand in the presence of God almighty.

Just as their custom to take off their shoes before entering someone’s home showed respect. Because the shoes carried the dirt and debris of where they had walked. We, too, have to remove where we have been when we come into God’s presence.

Joshua had an experience when the children of Israel was about to go against Jerico.

Acts 5:13-15 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? 14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the Lord am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my Lord unto his servant? 15 And the captain of the Lord’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

God was about to show up big for Joshua. He was getting ready to prove that he would deliver the enemy into his hand like he did Moses. He was reminding Joshua to be humble before the Lord and follow His instructions. This is when Joshua received specific instructions about how to take down Jericho. It was the strongest and most fortified city. By taking down Jericho first, the people in other cities knew they were no match for the God of the Israelites.

Holy Ground is when the glory of God miraculously comes down to give us a miracle. We are not to take it for granted that we can call on him anytime we choose. Worship will draw the presence of God to us. We must always respect the presence of God. Because in his presence, when you are fully engaged with God, you are standing on Holy Ground.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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EPISODE 362 DON’T FEAR THE STORM

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: DON’T FEAR THE STORM

Not every wind that blows through our lives like a storm is from the enemy. We tend to give him too much credit. Have you ever stopped to consider that maybe God allowed the storm to make you stronger. Strong winds will break off dead or weak branches. But the trees are spared. They will have a spurt of new growth once the branches that were a drain of strength are removed. It is for the good of the tree.

Things sometimes happen to give us freedom. God will remove people from our lives that are a drain on our spirit. He knows that it is time to move on from the job we have had for a long time. Even though we are comfortable. When we have done all, we can in a place or to help a person, He will move us on to a fresh place. Somewhere, we can be effective and help someone else.

After a storm, the air smells cleaner, and the ground has been cleansed with fresh water. Maybe the new place has someone who will never find Jesus unless we are there to encourage them in that direction. Maybe the new territory is to give us what we need to grow stronger. There could be someone there that will mentor us to grow stronger.

Life is full of seasons, just as the earth has spring, summer, fall, and winter. We will walk through many different seasons. We can be sure that God is with us and will empower us to do the right thing. We have to listen to his still, small voice that is our guide.

God allowed the storm on the day Peter walked on water. Jesus was trying to get the disciples out of their comfort zone. He was trying to teach them that his power was real. Because of Peter’s ability to push aside his fear, he walked on the water. The rest were too complacent or too afraid to try. They had to learn of God’s power in other ways.

Nahum 1:3: The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

When life’s storms blow into our lives, God will not waste them. He will use it to draw us closer to him. The whole purpose of our life’s journey is to learn how to love God and rely on him. To learn how to walk in his love and show others love.

We are safe in the hollow of his hand. He is our strong tower that we can run to when life gets rough. He is our hiding place, the secret place under his wings. He has promised to never leave us or forsake us. We can count on him to keep all of his promises.

Some storms are sent by our enemy to rip apart our lives. It pleases our enemy when he sees our lives falling apart. God will often send us warnings about people and situations long before the storm of attack hits us. Often, we can stop the enemy’s attack before it ever comes, or at the very least lessen the damage. By praying against his plans.

God has plans for us, too; his plans consist of good things. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. God comes to add to and multiply the good in our lives. If we are obedient to Him, he will see us through any storm the enemy can send our direction.

Things look scary in our world right now. We cannot fall into fear. The enemy will not prevail. God is watching over his people. He will never allow us to be overtaken; he will give us the strength to stand against our enemy. God is our fortress, our safe place to take shelter during the storms of life.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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