Tag: uplifting

DRY BONES

READ EZEKIEL CHAPTER 37

As I read Ezekiel Chapter 37, I cannot help but compare the dry bones to the modern church.  God is weary of the way things are going in our country and around the world.  We have no one to blame for the mess this country is in but ourselves. Somewhere along the way the church stopped being the church and allowed the living water to dry up. John 7:38 38 He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. It is time to believe for life to be breathed back into the church.

We have sat quietly by while evil has taken over the world. We should have stood boldly and declared that sin is sin, without compromising. Instead, we buried our heads in the sand and allowed the liberals to destroy things in the name of equality.  We are not all equal, there is right and there is wrong. There is righteous by the blood of the lamb and those who are in sin.

Now it is time for the warriors of God to arise and say, “NO MORE, NOT ON MY WATCH” It is beyond time to take back the territory that the enemy has stolen.  We need to pray, the prayers of our founding fathers for this country and the world. Prayers need to go up asking God to let the living water flow.

We have spent time in the valley of dry bones. God is getting ready to breathe new life into the church. It is time we stood boldly and put on the whole armor of God. Most of my facebook friends have seen my post of the cross at Cape Henry in Virginia Beach. Long before this land was ever our country, people declared and decreed over it.

Robert Hunt was their leader, a group of Christians landed in 1607. Even after a long journey across the waters from England, they stayed on their ship for 3 days and fasted. They prayed over their new land and thanked God for the opportunity to worship the Lord without government interference. When they got off their ship, they took some of the wood and built a cross.

APRIL 29, 1607 PROPHECY AND PRAYER BY ROBERT HUNT

We do hereby dedicate this Land, and ourselves, to reach the People within these shores with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and to raise up Godly generations after us, and with these generations take the Kingdom of God to all the earth. May this Covenant of Dedication remain to all generations, as long as this earth remains, and may this Land, along with England, be Evangelist to the World. May all who see this Cross, remember what we have done here, and may those who come here to inhabit join us in this Covenant and in this most noble work that the Holy Scriptures may be fulfilled.

After the prayer, they read the following Bible passage: “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the Lord’s and he ruleth among the nations” (Psalm 22:27-28).

I stood under a concrete cross that was erected on that site. It is a humbling experience to stand under a thirty-five foot cross. It was a powerful experience to read those words and know that those words were prayed and spoken over our land. God answers prayer, even ones prayed so long ago.

We are not without hope.  It doesn’t matter how things look.  I am sure to Ezekiel that the dry bones looked like it was a hopeless cause. Ezek 37:3 And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live? And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest. God told him to prophesy to the bones and they lived.

Is 55:10-12 kjv  10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:  11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.  12 For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Notice Verse Eleven It says his word will not return void. We need to speak the word and declare it over our land.  Verses like:

2 Chr 20:17  Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

Deut 1:8 Behold, I have set the land before you: go in and possess the land which the Lord sware unto your fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give unto them and to their seed after them.

God gave the Children of Israel the promised land. Once long ago, God gave a group of religiously oppressed people a land. Their descendants became a band of rebels that signed a declaration of independence and created our country. It is time we took back that land from the enemy.  But we will not win with what most people believe to be weapons of war.  We will win this one on our knees in prayer. We will win by declaring the scriptures about our victory in Jesus.

2 Cor 10:3-5 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

I read the back of the book and we win.  Be encouraged, the dry bones will live again. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

PEARLS OF WISDOM

Pearls are rare finds inside the shell of oysters.  They are used in jewelry mostly, but the shells are also used in medicine.  For a pearl to be formed, the oyster has to suffer an injury or get a foreign substance inside the shell.  The oyster’s natural defense against foreign substances is to isolate it.  The oyster will continue to add layers to protect itself from harm.  This isolation produces the pearl.

We often learn wisdom by experiencing the consequences of acting foolishly.  Other times, things in life just happen that teach us great lessons.  The things we learn often help us to develop instincts about people or situations. These lessons and instincts are sometimes referred to as pearls of wisdom. Famous inspirational quotes and sayings are also called pearls of wisdom. It means we have an insight that, when shared, makes someone else stop and think.

Wisdom is something everyone needs. But wisdom is more than having the experience that comes with age. Some people are in their golden years but lack wisdom.  James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. We get wisdom by asking God. He will guide us into wisdom. Also, the Bible, especially the book of Proverbs, is full of wisdom.

The hidden nuggets of wisdom in the Word will help us to make good choices in life.  Our choices will be easier if we have wisdom and understanding. We gain wisdom when we suffer injury. Just like the oyster isolates the injury and creates a pearl.  When we make bad decisions and have emotional scars from those choices, we will gain wisdom.

Prov 11:20 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

We need to be soul winners for Christ.  We will be wise.  We are called to go out and search for that rare pearl of a person that will listen to us.  Not everyone we tell about Jesus will listen.  Many will not accept our words. But we still have been sent to tell them about Jesus.

Take time this week to ask Him for His wisdom and guidance. He will not withhold any good thing from us if we put our trust in Him.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

God Knows What We Need

There is an old hymn that says, “His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”  I am sure it was inspired by Jesus’ words in Matt 6:25-34 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?   27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.   30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

It tells us that God understands our needs and desires.  He knows we need food, clothing and shelter. He is reminding us that we should not worry about our needs. God will provide what we need. He takes care of the fowls of the air. How much more important are we to God than the birds? He died for us, He didn’t die for the birds.

Phil 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. If someone had asked me before writing this article what Phil 4:19 said I would have said that he will supply our needs.  But it says need, this prompted me to look up a definition.  Need–occasion for something; necessity; a state that requires supply or relief.

There is nothing going to happen to us that God does not allow into our lives. He not only knows what we need physically, food, clothing and shelter.  He knows what to allow into our lives to supply our spiritual needs also.  When we need growth in an area, He will allow a trial to make us stronger.

We can trust him. Nothing happens to us without purpose.  When he says he will supply what we need, it goes beyond the basics.  He is our provider, we can lean on him always.

He not only provides our needs but promises to give us the desires of our heart, if we delight in Him. Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. 

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

DISCERNMENT

People and things are not always as they appear to be. Manipulative people doing satan’s work are all around us.  They have evil agendas for our future and those of the children of this world.  We cannot believe everything we see or hear. Technology has become so advanced you cannot even believe a photo or video any longer.  Anything can be manipulated. How do we tell the good guys from the bad guys?  It is not always easy; many times, we allow our emotions or compassion to make us second guess.

If we have God’s Spirit inside of us, one of the nine spiritual gifts he promised we could have is discernment. (Listed in I COR 12: 4-11) This is when the Spirit of God warns us when the enemy is using someone to lay a trap for us. Discernment will let us know what we need to know in order to help ourselves or others not be harmed by the enemy.

Discernment will allow us to know when evil is present.  It will help us to do the will of God concerning the situation that is before us. God does not reveal things to harm anyone but to bring people together. Many false prophets and teachers are in our land today. We need to be careful of those we allow to preach to us. There are some guidelines that we need to use to measure people of ministry.  One, do they preach what is in the Bible?  Do their lessons line up with what God’s word says? Do they practice what they preach? Are the gifts in operation in their ministry?

Some people will call themselves pastors and ministers, but they want to control every aspect of the lives of their congregation.  This is not a job of a pastor to control where people work, what kind of car they buy if they rent or buy a house.  This behavior borderlines on being a cult.  Any preacher or pastor that is like this is controlled by a Jezebel spirit.  I warn you to get away from anyone like this; allow God to speak to you.  God will lead us to where we need to be if we allow him to give us discernment.

For too long, the enemy has inserted false teachers into the church, and we have not had the discernment to know the difference.  The enemy will come at you with a smile and be able to quote scripture.  Satan believes there is a God because he stood in heaven with Him. Satan has attacked the church with big smiles and false teaching. Enough is enough; it is time we got on our faces before God and prayed for discernment and understanding.

Listen to the voice of God.  Keep your prayer life very active. He is waiting to talk to you.

HEB 4:12-13   12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

If we allow God to guide us in our Bible reading, it will speak to us. God knows what we need at any particular time to read.  It discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. The word can shape our ideology and our beliefs.  The word is living and steady in an ever-changing world.  If we stay in the word, get it on the inside of us.  It will help us to discern the truth and we will not be deceived.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

LIVING SACRIFICE

Romans 12:1-2  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

We bring money and place it in a plate as it is passed around at church; this is an offering. We give an offering out of our increase back to God.  We don’t then go later and take the money back. Yet we offer our lives to God as an offering. Then the first little rough patch, we take it back and try to run our lives ourselves. Only to be confused when it all falls apart.

The Bible says we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice. It’s our offering to God that we say, “Here is the life that you gave me. I’ve given it back to you. I want to live to glorify you.” This is how we present our bodies as a living sacrifice. We surrender to go where he sends us.  This is one of the scariest things to say and really mean.  We are all human and giving complete control to someone else, even God, is scary.

Our flesh rises up and is afraid.  Often, we don’t want to pray, read our Bible or go where God wants because our flesh fights against God’s plan. We don’t want to leave our comfort zone. We need to fight our instinct to run. Changing our thinking will help us to surrender to God fully. It is not an easy process and not one to be taken lightly. God understands and is there to reassure us in our quest to surrender. We transform our minds by reading and studying the Word.

Romans 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

Staying in the word will help us to surrender our lives fully and completely.  There is an old song that sums up this process.  Learning to lean on Jesus.  It talks about how each day, we are learning to lean on Jesus.  As we grow as Christians, the process gets easier.

Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

The more of His Spirit we have in us, the less control our flesh has over our choices. This is how we sacrifice for him. Because he paid the ultimate sacrifice for us. He can do so much with a little bit. Imagine if we could fully surrender and give our lives 100% to Him, holding back nothing. This should be the goal of each and every one of His children.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

A BIBLE STUDY

KEEPERS OF THE FLAME

A STUDY ABOUT CARRYING

THE LIGHT OF CHRIST

LLOYD DEMSEY II

This study was written by the late Lloyd Dempsey II, edited by his wife, Angela Dempsey

It is being published in memory of Lloyd and his love for the people of God. He wanted to encourage and enlighten someone every day. May this study lift you up and encourage you to carry the flame of God to show the lost a way out of darkness.

There is a tribe of people living like cavemen in the Amazon Jungle.  The most complex machine that they have is a long bow. They use this bow for hunting. These people have never developed a way to start their own fire. The only way to get fire is to collect it from a lightning strike.  Since fire is so hard for them to obtain, they consider it a “Gift of God.”

As Christian in the modern U.S. we take for granted the ease of making fire.  All we need is a match, a lighter or some other device. However, if we had to work at it, fire can be a hard thing to obtain. In this study we will examine the natural fire and relate it to the Holy Ghost Fire.

John said, Matt 3:11  I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: 

Just as the little Amazon Indian sees natural fire as a gift from God, we as Christians receive Holy Fire from the true God. But what good is it? What do we do with this Gift of Fire?

To answer this question, we must look at how to use natural fire.  Fire gives us light and allows us to see what is around us in the dark. Whether or not there is a stumbling block or a clear path ahead, a brother or an enemy. It also helps us see the work we are doing.

If you have ever awoken to a power outage and had to bumble around in the dark, you can really appreciate the light of even a small candle.  It is amazing how a little fire can make a big difference.

How does this relate to Holy Fire?

2 Pet. 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: 

2 Pet. 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 

2 Pet 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 

Jesus commanded us to let our light shine.

Matt 5:14  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 

Matt 5:15  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 

Matt 5:16  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 

Jesus told us that a little fire in the form of a candle is very important. The light from a city at that time was a collection of little fires.  When a little fire is held high, everyone benefits.

Often there are times when we sit on a pew, silent.  We think our little song or testimony isn’t good enough to be shared. Jesus wants us to share it anyway. This is how God is glorified and the lost won to the kingdom.

If a man wondering in the wilderness sees the collective light from a city. He knows he can find shelter.

Natural fire keeps us warm. It is said that a person standing in the wilderness, on a cold night can survive only three hours without the comfort of a fire for warmth.

Act 9:31  Then had the churches rest throughout all Judaea and Galilee and Samaria, and were edified; and walking in the fear of the Lord, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, were multiplied. 

Natural fire is used to cook or prepare food. Again, through the Holy Ghost food is given to us.

 Jer. 3:15  And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. 

Natural fire purifies for us precious things. The Holy fire purifies us to make us more precious to God.

I Peter 4:12-14   12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

As we have seen, natural fire is a wonderful useful thing. Spiritual or Holy Fire is an absolute necessity, and I haven’t even scratched the surface. Next, let us look at the maintenance of fire, after all if we are “keepers of the flame,” then we have a responsibility to see that fire is there when it is needed.

In the Amazon Indian’s world there is only two ways to get fire. One way is to collect wildfire from a lightening strike. (This is why they believe it is a gift of God). The other way is to get the “Keepers of the Flame,” to share with you the fire he has collected and nurtured from a previous strike. (The same Gift)

As Christians there is only two ways to get spiritual fire (Holy Ghost Fire) The first ways is to get fire directly from God.

Acts 2:1-4 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.

3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.

4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

The other way is for a Holy Ghost filled person to pass it on.

Acts 8:14-17  14 Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

15 Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

16 (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

17 Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

As “Keepers of the Flame” we are given the responsibility of passing on the fire, nurturing the fire, and keeping a constant watch.  Just as the little Indian in the Amazon must carry a smoldering stick everywhere he goes, so we must carry our Holy Ghost Fire everywhere.

Mark 16:15-16 (15) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The little Indian can be spotted anywhere, because of the smoke from his stick, everyone who sees him knows he has God’s Gift. They know that he is the one to go to when it is time to cook, get comforting warmth, or kindle the nights campfire; which keeps away the large jungle cats that constantly stalk the tribe in the darkness.

Mark 16:17-18 (17) And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

Some people believe that although we are commissioned to preach the gospel to the whole world.  The signs of those who believe was only for those living at the time of Christ. Both Joel and Acts tells us this is for everybody.

Joel 2:28-30 This is quoted in Acts 2:17-19

Acts 2:16-19 16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel;

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

19 And I will shew wonders in heaven above, and signs in the earth beneath; blood, and fire, and vapour of smoke:

So if we have fire, there is going to be smoke; for just as smoke is evidence of fire in a stick. These signs are evidence of the Holy Ghost in a person. (Mark 16:17-18) (I must point out here that in Mark 16:18 the serpents here are symbolic of the devil and are taken up to be cast out. The deadly drink is representative of false doctrine.

Truly God gives his servants protection from an accidental poisoning. However, picking up snakes and drinking strychnine are foolishly tempting God. Therefore, it is a sin in itself.)

As I write this I must ask myself, is the Holy Ghost in me as evident as the natural fire is in the life of the little Amazon Indian’s life?

Do the people in my life know they can come to me when they need fed or comforted?

Can they see that I have God’s Gift, that can shine a light on their path or drive out the wild beast that hunt them in the spiritual darkness?

Have I let my fire go down or worse yet, have I let it go out completely?

I Tim 4:14 Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.

What can I do to keep the fire burning?

II Tim 1:6-7 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

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

Our flame is a tool for God to work in our lives; to provide for us, as well as those who surround us. So we must keep our flame stirred up with prayer, praise and the receiving of his word.  If we are diligent in these things, we can be assured that our flame will grow strong.

Sadly, despite all diligence the little Amazon Indian lives in a place where very few people preach the truth and probably is a pagan. Thank you Jesus, that you allowed me to be an American, where I can be a Christian and a “Keeper of your fire.”

If you are reading this today and have let your fire go down or go out completely. God wants to rekindle your flame right now. This study has not come to you by accident.  Much prayer has gone into its’ creation.

I believe that God will move upon you right now to increase your spiritual fire.  He will help you grow in wisdom, knowledge and truth.

Matt 18:12-14    12 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray?

13 And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray.

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

If you have never had fire, then the Lord Jesus Christ wants you to become a flame and light for him. Repent and get your sins under the blood of Christ.  Be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and pray for God to fill you with the Holy Ghost and you will receive fire.

Questions:

How can I receive God’s holy fire? ____________________________________________________________________________________

As a believer, how do I carry the fire to those that need light and the warmth of God’s love? ____________________________________________________________________________________

What do we do with the gift of fire?
____________________________________________________________________________________

How does holy fire compare to natural fire when it comes to purifying?

____________________________________________________________________________________

As believers we are given a great commission to spread the love of God to the world and share the holy fire with them.

The little Indian in our comparison can be spotted because of his smoke. What are some thing people will notice about us as believers that make us stand out?

____________________________________________________________________________________

OUR HIDING PLACE

Psalm 91:1-8  He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.  2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.  5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.  7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.  8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation;

We, as Children of the most high God, can always depend on him to watch over us. The word dwell means to remain for a time.  God wants us to remain for a time with him. He wants us to spend time with him.  Dwell also can mean to live as a resident.  God wants us to reside with him.  He is our Father, and He loves us.

He is our refuge, a hiding place from the attacks of the enemy.  He will shelter us under the shadow of His wings.  Like a mother bird hides her babies under her wing to protect them from the elements and attack of predators, God hides us from evil attacks.

If we remain close to him, he will deliver us from any plan the enemy has to destroy us. He is our shield. We have nothing to fear, no matter what the news says every day.  God is going to take care of His children. Look all down through history at examples; God saved Noah and his family.  They were locked away into the ark of safety long before it started raining.

The children of Israel were safe from all the plagues God unleashed in Egypt. Nothing was close to hurting the children of Israel. What God used to deliver the Children of Israel from the enemy, he used to destroy the Egyptians. He took the plans of the enemy and destroyed them. At the same time, he blessed his people.

In the book of Esther, God used one girl to save His people.  Haman her enemy, made a gallows for Mordecai, Esther’s relative.  God turned around the situation and Haman and his sons hung on the gallows he made for Mordecai. God will always protect his people.

These are just three examples; the word of God is full of amazing stories of deliverance. There is a certain security in knowing the Lord. Do not fear the things that are happening in our world today. God will turn it around also, in His timing and leave a blessing for his chosen ones.

Verse nine says 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; David says because we make the Lord our dwelling place, we will see the reward of the wicked.  It will not be pretty what God will do to our enemies.

Eph 2:18-22  18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;  20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone;   21 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:  22 In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.

Verse 18 is talking about Jesus. Through his sacrifice on the cross, we have access by the Holy Ghost to the Father. We are no longer strangers; we become God’s children. We become a dwelling place for God. Together with other believers, we become a habitation for God through the Holy Ghost.

We abide in Him, we dwell with Him, we become His habitation. One verse refers to us as the temple of God. He is our hiding place. Do not let the things in this life become bigger in your sight than God.  Do not allow fear of what the enemy is trying to do, cause you to lose sight of Jesus.  Sometimes it is a walk by faith and not by sight kind of moment.  But if we can learn to press through and keep our God focus, we will find his peace under the shadow of his wings.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

ONE FLOWER

I was sitting in the drive-thru line at my bank the other day.  As I waited for the teller to cash my check, I looked around at all the pretty flowers. They always do such a good job with the landscaping.  Then I noticed a bright yellow flower all alone. It was almost behind the dumpster, against the fence on top of a pile of gravel.  From the location of the flower, it grew there on its own.  I don’t know if it was from a seed of one that had been discarded and missed the dumpster.  I don’t know if a bird dropped it.  But it was still there with its face to the sun saying, ‘Hey world, here I am; I am not supposed to be here, but I fought hard to grow through the rough spots.’ That one flower defied the odds and grew where it wasn’t supposed to grow.

How many times do we face things that try to define our purpose for us? Are we going to allow our circumstances to define us? Are we going to boldly stand with our faces to God and say, ‘Hey world, here I am, I am not supposed to be here, the enemy tried to take me out, but God had other plans.’

I have fought through adversity to grow into the person that I am; satan doesn’t define me. I may not be planted where some feel I should be, but I am where God wants me. I want to be like the one lone flower and keep growing even if it is not easy. Sometimes it’s easier to stand out when we are not surrounded by other flowers. Bloom where God plants you and be bold. Sometimes we are called to be set apart from the crowd to let our light shine.

God will sometimes remove people from our lives. Others he will make unavailable because he wants us to lean on him. We need to come apart and be with him. He wants us to sit quietly and listen to him. We can grow spiritually through adversity. The hard things make us stronger and more determined. If our roots go deep enough, we can grow even when we are in rocky places. I want to be a determined individual, determined to keep my face toward God and bloom where He plants me.

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

FIERY TRIALS

I am sure that Daniel would not have wanted to be in the lion’s den.  The three Hebrew children probably would not have wanted to be put in the fiery furnace. Job would not have wanted to suffer the things he did.  But sometimes, the things we walk through are not just for us but to let the world see Jesus in us. Even Christ prayed, “Let this cup pass from me.” Yet he went to the cross and suffered because it was for the salvation of mankind.

I Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:  13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.  14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

We often wonder why good people seem to suffer while evil people prosper. The evil ones have their reward for a season.  But the Children of God will have our reward forever more. The fiery trials are to make us stronger.  The fire will burn out our impurities. The things we sometimes walk through are to teach us a lesson. The enemy will sometimes see how we walk through the fiery trials and be amazed at how God has worked on our behalf.

Do not be discouraged or allow the spirit of heaviness to lay on you.  He will remove the spirit of heaviness. Depression and discouragement have filled the earth.  But God will remove them if we look to him and trust in him.

God is looking for a few good men and women to be his army.  He honors the bold and the brave.  It will take boldness, Holy Boldness, in these days in which we live. We must have a made-up (determined) mind to follow Christ, no matter what it costs, even our lives.  He is starting to give marching orders.  Will we obey? Will we rise up and be the Christian Army the world needs to see or will we stay in our comfort zone? I am afraid those that choose the comfort zone over the fiery trials will be left behind.

The next time you walk through a tough time, remember that your fiery trial is working for your good and the good of others.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS

JOY AND HAPPINESS

Phil 4:8-9   Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.   9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

We often tell our friends that we only wish for them to be happy.  But actually, we should wish for them to be joyful instead.  Happiness depends on outside factors. If we have the right romantic relationship, if we have the right job, if we have material things that make us comfortable. All these things affect our happiness.

Joy is something we carry on the inside.  It is a sense of contentment or peace.  It does not dependent on material things, friends, family or the right romantic partner. Joy is a state of being that comes from God.  If we are His people, he will give us joy.  Inner joy can help us to let our light shine in difficulties. Adversity can affect our happiness.  It doesn’t affect our joy.

We can have our backs against the wall and feel like we have no escape from the things that come against us in life. These things can steal our sense of happiness, but they cannot steal our joy, as long as we look to Jesus to help us overcome our fiery trials.

Happiness is about pleasing ourselves, while joy comes when we please others.  Being content is a choice that we will not allow the enemy to make us feel down if we don’t have the material things, we wish we had in our possession. God will provide all we need.  If we have what we need today, tomorrow will take care of itself. When it arrives, we will again evaluate if we have all we need.

Phil 4:10-12 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.   11 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.

We may face rough times, but learning to be content is a way to allow the Holy Ghost to take control of our lives.  He will lead us exactly where we need to be and will provide what we need. If we can learn to be content, we will be a greater light to the world.

Joy is a fruit of the spirit and comes from the Lord. The longer we walk on this Christian journey the more our fruit should grow. We should walk in Love as well as Joy, letting our light shine before the world.

BE BOLD, BE BRAVE AND KEEP YOUR GOD FOCUS