Tag: #patience

EPISODE 354 CLOUD OF WITNESSES OR CHAOS

EPISODE 354 CLOUD OF WITNESSES OR CHAOS

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WELCOME TO GOD FOCUS THIS MORNING

The title of today’s episode: CLOUD OF WITNESSES OR CHAOS

It is nice to have people in your corner. One’s that you can rely on to see you through the tough times. To laugh with you in the good times. The bible refers to a cloud of witnesses. That phrase means like-minded people who support the same ideals and causes that you do. As Christians, we should be a cloud of witnesses for other Christians. People of like-mindedness are those who hold to the truth of scripture.

Heb 12:1-2 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, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Those in the body of Christ can be our cloud of witnesses. Those who encourage us, to walk in the truth of his word. Hebrews says to lay aside every weight. Man is notorious for complicating the things of God. Look how many laws the Pharisees made out of a few commandments that God gave them. We, too, have complicated things with the religious rules of mankind. We need to get back to the basics.

These rules of man only add chaos to our faith walk. Some people would die on the mountain of their religious belief about the word of God, before they would yield to the truth of his word. These people are clouds of chaos in the body of Christ.

It is better to be in a cloud of witnesses instead of a cloud of chaos. I am not advocating that we give up on the truth so that there could be peace. Giving in to man-made religion is the problem with the body of Christ already. We have to stand strong on the foundation of God’s word.

We are supposed to run our race with patience. How do we develop the fruit of patience? By walking through tribulations and trials. We can get through it all with Jesus by our side.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

This verse says that tribulation works patience. With patience comes experience and then hope, once we have walked through a few hard things. We know that if God saw us through that moment when we were at our most broken, he will come through again. It gives us the hope we need to walk in faith.

If we do not handle the tribulations well. We will not develop the fruit of patience like we need to develop. Without the fruit, it is harder to have hope. It is harder to walk by faith and not by sight.

Without the experience of the trials, we have nowhere to draw inspiration from except others. This is why we need the word of God. In it are stories of people who walked through difficult things. When they trusted God, he blessed them and helped them. When they didn’t trust God, they got an Ishmael.

Abraham and Sarah lost patience, waiting for the promise. We cannot lose sight of the promises of God and try to do things our way. We will end up in chaos. We have to wait upon the Lord. In his perfect timing, we will receive the things God has promised. We will not end up with our own version of Ishmael.

Today is the day you want to ask yourself: Do I want a cloud of witnesses? Those who encourage me in the Lord and give me encouragement to endure the trials. Or do I want a cloud of Chaos that walking in the flesh and trying to fix things my way will bring?

We have been promised that as long as we walk in the ways of the Lord, he will be with us and strengthen us. The enemy comes to kill, steal and destroy. He wants nothing more than to destroy our peace and steal our joy.

Surround yourself with a strong cloud of witnesses. Those who have walked through the fiery trials of life. They can encourage you and help you to go through your own fiery trials. Because no one wants to live with a cloud of chaos.

Until next time,

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

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JUST A CLOSER WALK

 “Just a closer walk with thee….Grant it, Jesus is my plea…Daily walking close to thee…let it be, dear Lord, let it be.” The old hymn has a sentiment that many Christians share.  Our desire is a closer walk with God.  On one hand, I would say we can’t get any closer, he is inside us.

But I understand the sentiment of the feeling.  I often feel I could do more to build my relationship with Him. He wants time with us. I often get busy doing all the Christian things and must remind myself to slow down, sit quietly, and wait for Him to fill my cup back up.

As we go out and try to be Jesus to the world, we often pour out and pour out until we have nothing left to pour. Sitting quietly and meditating on His Word is a good way to refill our cup. As we meditate on Him and the Word, He will pour into the emptiness of our vessel.

When we ask to be stronger and have a closer walk, we are really telling Him to allow trials and tribulations in our lives. How else will we draw closer to Him? How else will we become spiritually stronger? How else can our lives be a testimony unless we are tested?

It is kind of like praying for patience.  It seems like if you ask for patience, the whole world is determined to do things that irritate you beyond belief.

James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;  3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The trying of our faith helps us to be patient. Being patient builds experience that gives us hope.  In the darkest times of life, we need hope that things will get better. Hope helps us to have faith that God will see us through whatever we face. It doesn’t matter how big the mountain or deep the valley is; we never walk alone. That is the greatest comfort we have as children of God. That we are never alone. We also have the comfort of knowing that God will take care of it all. We have no reason to fear.

Isaiah 43:1-2 But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.   2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.

As we face our Red Sea, our lion’s den or fiery furnace, we have comfort knowing God can handle it. We will not drown, be torn apart or even smell like smoke from the fire. God has it all planned out and will lead and guide us every step of the way. He will deliver his people; we have this hope in the depths of our souls that he is with us. If we walk with Him and pray, “Just a closer walk with thee.”

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS