What’s Your Opinion?

As I thumb through Facebook I see that everyone has his or her own opinion about everything.  This opinion usually is based on a persons past experiences.  The posts are from an intermingled mix of fleshly pride, off-based judgment and even partial spiritual truth.  For the most part, these posts have no real foundation but rather personal opinions based on the following scripture. 

1 John 2:15-17 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. ¹⁶ For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.¹⁷ And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

Silence, Be Still

When the storms of life come, it threatens our situation.  We have an expectation of what we believe the answer is.  Those expectations are disrupted, so we are quick to react in a way that is opposite of God’s plan.

Mark 4: 35-41 As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples,“Let’s cross to the other side of the lake.”³⁶ So they took Jesus in the boat and started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed).³⁷ But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water.

³⁸ Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. The disciples woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”

The Value of Faith!

As we face the stress of everyday life we need to remember the value of Faith!  We are quick to place our hope in “our” decisions and in “our” ability to direct life according to the outcomes based on factors and elements that are to great for our mortal control.  This reveals the concept of needing a “Savior”, someone who holds the key to our future, which is God almighty. 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Fear is the opposite of faith and we are either consumed by its pressure or secure by allowing God to move in our lives by directing our path.

 Question:  Are you walking in fear or faith today? 

The Wicked World

Last week we talked about trusting God and about submitting to His will for our lives.  A good friend of mine asked me an important question. “When we know the truth of God how do we stay true to God’s will when the world we live in is so wicked?”

James 4:3-5 You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.⁴ Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.⁵ Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”?

Question:  Are you a friend of God or the World?

Are You Listening?

As we grow in the knowledge of God with a spirit of humility we begin to listen to the truth found in the Bible.  The bible will become our source and the situations (parables) of every day life will begin to line up with His truth.  It becomes a practical application of the power of God into our circumstances.

Matthew 13:10-13 His disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?”

¹¹ He replied,“You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not.¹² To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.¹³ That is why I use these parables,

For they look, but they don’t really see.
    They hear, but they don’t really listen or understand.

Just Do It!

As the world tries to conform us to the normal standards of “Society” we are faced with decisions to do what’s normal or to make Godly choices based on spiritual things.

When Jesus performed miracles in the bible it required people to do what “He” said. 

John 2:1-5 On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. ² Now both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.³ And when they ran out of wine, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They have no wine.”

⁴ Jesus said to her, “Woman, what does your concern have to do with Me? My hour has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”

It’s Time to Get Out of the Boat

There are times in life when we are given a choice to have faith in God or to simply stay in the boat.

Matthew 14:28-29 ²⁸ And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”

²⁹ So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

The Enemy's Deception

As we go through life we must renew our mind to the Word of God so that we stay clear of deception.  We live in a corrupt world and we deal with relationships that are often rooted in deception.  We are all subject to the schemes and plans of the enemy and we must recognize these traps by staying clear of deception when possible.

Ephesians 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Unashamed Dependence

Carrie was reading her daily devotional this morning and there was a key phrase that jumped out at me.  It said; “you need to attach to God with “unashamed dependence”.  Our admission of needing help is so important in our walk with God. 

We must conclude that God is not only “relevant” to us, but He is completely necessary at the highest level in all areas of our life. 

Our pride is what has us walking around relying on our own dependence.  It is actually a foolish position when you think about it.  There is no way we can control all the elements and factors of life, much less the schemes and attacks of the enemy.  We are simply inadequate in our own ability to manage life. 

The Fruit of Discipline

We strive to have discipline in life for many reasons.  Some of which include; exercise, weight management and especially job requirements.  We must discipline ourselves in the Word of God and make it our highest priority.

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

To produce a harvest of righteousness we must be trained in the word of God and create an ongoing relationship with Him.  This takes “discipline” on our part.

I have learned that there are many areas of discipline in following God that are valuable for our walk with the Lord. 3 things that stand out with me are; 1. Read the Word, 2. Prayer and 3. Attend a life giving church.

God’s Promise

We go through life making many promises to ourselves and to others.  We also have had people make promises to us that sometimes are broken.  This is part of human nature and unfortunately we will face many broken promises that can cause us to lose hope.

These broken promises are not like the promise of God.

1 John 2:24-26 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. ²⁵ And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

Webster’s Dictionary

Promise

promise |ˈpräməs|

noun;  a declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that guarantees that a particular thing will happen

Be On Guard

Each day we go out and face a world that is on the attack.  The enemy is looking for someone that he can devour.

1 Peter 5:8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

Question:  Are you open for the attack today or are you on guard against the enemy?

2 Peter 3:17 Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of the lawless and fall from your secure position. ¹⁸ But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Favor, Protection and Wisdom!

When we seek God first, we begin to evaluate what is important in life.  I have learned to pray for 3 things that God made available to us. These 3 things are “Favor”, “Protection” and “Wisdom”.

When Jesus Christ paid the price for our sin He opened up the portal to the blessing of God into our lives.  It is up to us to seek Him and all that He has for us.  This means we need to replace our fleshly desires for the things of God. 

Luke 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Humility and Prosperity

We battle against the pride inside of us and almost certainly it is what causes our stress and discomfort in life.  While I was reading the word this morning I gained a new revelation about humility. 

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

This scripture tells us that if we humble ourselves in the sight of the Lord, He will lift us up.  All of God’s word has meaning and there were 2 points in this scripture that spoke to me in a new way.

REJOICE!

When we become committed to following Christ we desire to follow the Word, which is our guide into all truth.  The “Will” of God for our lives can, and will, become our highest priority.  God’s plan for us is “Good”.  In fact it’s the only eternal plan of hope, love and peace that works for us.  God created us and obviously knows what’s best.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.