Isn't it shocking that the children of Israel believed God could get them out of Egypt, but they couldn't believe he could get them into the Promised Land?
They had survived ten supernatural plagues. They watched in horror as death claimed all the firstborn children in Egypt, and yet not one of them died. They had witnessed the unbelievable sight of a sea piling up on both sides to open a dry passage right through it—and they walked through the sea! Then they watched in amazement as the sea fell in on Pharaoh and his army, drowning them.
"Thus the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore…and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord" (Exodus 14:30-31).
How excited Israel was! They were now saved! The old life was gone and new life was theirs. They danced for joy, filled with anticipation of a glorious new life in a land of beauty and rest.
"Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance…which thou hast made for thee to dwell in…" (Exodus 15:17).
Only six weeks later, the people were down in the pit of despair! They were miserable, troubled, fearful and complaining. They had forgotten all about God's miraculous power.
"On the fifteenth day of the second month after their departing out of the land of Egypt…the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses.... Would to God we had died in the land of Egypt…” (Exodus 16:1-3).
In the months ahead, these same people doubted God on ten different occasions.
Jesus said, "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32).
God wants to give me a kingdom? Where is it?
"The kingdom of God cometh not with observation [visibly].... The kingdom of God is within you" (Luke 17:20, 21).
It is something you possess in your inner man. It is a liberated life!
"For the kingdom of God is not meat or drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17).
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Friday, April 9, 2010
HATE LIFE TO FIND IT!
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this
world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:25).
The key to abundant life is right here in this seemingly insignificant and
confusing statement. This is his challenge to our small world! Understanding
what he means here is the door to a life-giving revelation. Jesus also said:
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be
my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Certainly Christ cannot mean hate in terms of a classic dictionary
interpretation: to loathe or detest; to dislike or reject. God's Word says,
"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer…" (1 John 3:15). "Husbands, love
your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Colossians 3:19).
It is not life that is to be hated, because life is a gift from God. It is not
people we hate; that is unscriptural.
We must learn to hate the way we are living life. We must hate what our
preoccupation with families and loved ones has done to us. Is your life all
wrapped up in just your children, husband, wife, or parents? Are all your joys
and problems limited to this small circle?
God is simply calling on us to widen our circle of living. Life must be more
than simply draperies, bills, kids' schooling, parents' welfare, family
relationships. Martha was addicted to a life of trivia but Mary wanted to grow!
Mary wanted to expand her horizons—and Jesus approved of Mary's approach to
life.
You cannot grow until you hate your present immaturity. You don't have to
forsake your duties and obligations to family and friends, but you can become
so bound by duty that it stunts your growth. One day you must wake up. A holy
anger, a holy hatred, must arise in your soul, and you must cry out, "Oh, God!
I hate what I have become. I hate my temper tantrums. I hate how irritable I am
at times. I hate my moodiness. I hate how small I have become. I hate it! I hate
it! I hate it!" You must hate your present life so much that you cry out to God,
“Lord, translate me into your glorious kingdom of power and victory!” (See
Colossians 1:13)
by David Wilkerson
world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:25).
The key to abundant life is right here in this seemingly insignificant and
confusing statement. This is his challenge to our small world! Understanding
what he means here is the door to a life-giving revelation. Jesus also said:
"If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and
children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be
my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Certainly Christ cannot mean hate in terms of a classic dictionary
interpretation: to loathe or detest; to dislike or reject. God's Word says,
"Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer…" (1 John 3:15). "Husbands, love
your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Colossians 3:19).
It is not life that is to be hated, because life is a gift from God. It is not
people we hate; that is unscriptural.
We must learn to hate the way we are living life. We must hate what our
preoccupation with families and loved ones has done to us. Is your life all
wrapped up in just your children, husband, wife, or parents? Are all your joys
and problems limited to this small circle?
God is simply calling on us to widen our circle of living. Life must be more
than simply draperies, bills, kids' schooling, parents' welfare, family
relationships. Martha was addicted to a life of trivia but Mary wanted to grow!
Mary wanted to expand her horizons—and Jesus approved of Mary's approach to
life.
You cannot grow until you hate your present immaturity. You don't have to
forsake your duties and obligations to family and friends, but you can become
so bound by duty that it stunts your growth. One day you must wake up. A holy
anger, a holy hatred, must arise in your soul, and you must cry out, "Oh, God!
I hate what I have become. I hate my temper tantrums. I hate how irritable I am
at times. I hate my moodiness. I hate how small I have become. I hate it! I hate
it! I hate it!" You must hate your present life so much that you cry out to God,
“Lord, translate me into your glorious kingdom of power and victory!” (See
Colossians 1:13)
by David Wilkerson
HATE LIFE TO FIND IT!
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal" (John 12:25).
The key to abundant life is right here in this seemingly insignificant and confusing statement. This is his challenge to our small world! Understanding what he means here is the door to a life-giving revelation. Jesus also said: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Certainly Christ cannot mean hate in terms of a classic dictionary interpretation: to loathe or detest; to dislike or reject. God's Word says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer…" (1 John 3:15). "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Colossians 3:19).
It is not life that is to be hated, because life is a gift from God. It is not people we hate; that is unscriptural.
We must learn to hate the way we are living life. We must hate what our preoccupation with families and loved ones has done to us. Is your life all wrapped up in just your children, husband, wife, or parents? Are all your joys and problems limited to this small circle?
God is simply calling on us to widen our circle of living. Life must be more than simply draperies, bills, kids' schooling, parents' welfare, family relationships. Martha was addicted to a life of trivia but Mary wanted to grow! Mary wanted to expand her horizons—and Jesus approved of Mary's approach to life.
You cannot grow until you hate your present immaturity. You don't have to forsake your duties and obligations to family and friends, but you can become so bound by duty that it stunts your growth. One day you must wake up. A holy anger, a holy hatred, must arise in your soul, and you must cry out, "Oh, God! I hate what I have become. I hate my temper tantrums. I hate how irritable I am at times. I hate my moodiness. I hate how small I have become. I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!"
You must hate your present life so much that you cry out to God, “Lord, translate me into your glorious kingdom of power and victory!” (See Colossians 1:13)
The key to abundant life is right here in this seemingly insignificant and confusing statement. This is his challenge to our small world! Understanding what he means here is the door to a life-giving revelation. Jesus also said: "If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke 14:26).
Certainly Christ cannot mean hate in terms of a classic dictionary interpretation: to loathe or detest; to dislike or reject. God's Word says, "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer…" (1 John 3:15). "Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them" (Colossians 3:19).
It is not life that is to be hated, because life is a gift from God. It is not people we hate; that is unscriptural.
We must learn to hate the way we are living life. We must hate what our preoccupation with families and loved ones has done to us. Is your life all wrapped up in just your children, husband, wife, or parents? Are all your joys and problems limited to this small circle?
God is simply calling on us to widen our circle of living. Life must be more than simply draperies, bills, kids' schooling, parents' welfare, family relationships. Martha was addicted to a life of trivia but Mary wanted to grow! Mary wanted to expand her horizons—and Jesus approved of Mary's approach to life.
You cannot grow until you hate your present immaturity. You don't have to forsake your duties and obligations to family and friends, but you can become so bound by duty that it stunts your growth. One day you must wake up. A holy anger, a holy hatred, must arise in your soul, and you must cry out, "Oh, God! I hate what I have become. I hate my temper tantrums. I hate how irritable I am at times. I hate my moodiness. I hate how small I have become. I hate it! I hate it! I hate it!"
You must hate your present life so much that you cry out to God, “Lord, translate me into your glorious kingdom of power and victory!” (See Colossians 1:13)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
FULL CONTROL
There is no formula for living wholly dependent upon the Lord. All I can offer to you is what God has been teaching me in this area. He has shown me two simple things about how I’m to give him full control.
First, I must be convinced the Lord is anxious and willing to make his will known to me, even in the smaller details of my life. I have to believe that the Spirit who abides in me knows God’s will for me, and that he will guide me, lead me and speak to me.
“When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14).
Maybe right now you are in the midst of some affliction, perhaps one that has been caused by too quick a decision. Even so, the Lord promises you, “Your inner ear will hear my Spirit speaking to you, ‘Go that way. Do this. And don’t do that…’”
Secondly, we have to pray with unwavering faith for power to obey God’s direction. Scripture says, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6-7).
When God tells us to do something, we need power to stay the course and obey him fully. Over five decades of life in ministry, I have learned that Satan and the flesh will always plant doubts and questions in my mind. And I need strength from heaven not to say “yes” to any situation when Jesus has said “no.”
Many of us pray, “Lord, I know what you told me. But I’m still not sure that was your voice speaking. I’m not sure I’m spiritual enough even to recognize your voice. Please, just open or close the door for me on this matter.”
That is not the faith response he’s looking for from his children. You can pray all you want, for hours or even days at a time. But if you don’t pray with faith—believing the Holy Spirit will guide you, as Jesus has promised—you will never have the mind of God conveyed to you.
He waits until he sees you’re committed to accepting whatever he says, and to obeying it without question.
First, I must be convinced the Lord is anxious and willing to make his will known to me, even in the smaller details of my life. I have to believe that the Spirit who abides in me knows God’s will for me, and that he will guide me, lead me and speak to me.
“When he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth…. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you” (John 16:13-14).
Maybe right now you are in the midst of some affliction, perhaps one that has been caused by too quick a decision. Even so, the Lord promises you, “Your inner ear will hear my Spirit speaking to you, ‘Go that way. Do this. And don’t do that…’”
Secondly, we have to pray with unwavering faith for power to obey God’s direction. Scripture says, “Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord” (James 1:6-7).
When God tells us to do something, we need power to stay the course and obey him fully. Over five decades of life in ministry, I have learned that Satan and the flesh will always plant doubts and questions in my mind. And I need strength from heaven not to say “yes” to any situation when Jesus has said “no.”
Many of us pray, “Lord, I know what you told me. But I’m still not sure that was your voice speaking. I’m not sure I’m spiritual enough even to recognize your voice. Please, just open or close the door for me on this matter.”
That is not the faith response he’s looking for from his children. You can pray all you want, for hours or even days at a time. But if you don’t pray with faith—believing the Holy Spirit will guide you, as Jesus has promised—you will never have the mind of God conveyed to you.
He waits until he sees you’re committed to accepting whatever he says, and to obeying it without question.
Monday, April 5, 2010
FEELINGS, THE MESSENGERS OF SATAN
I am so glad my feelings have no meaning. I am even more grateful they do not affect my salvation or my relationship to the Lord. When the enemy comes in like a flood, trying to drown me in depressing feelings and negative thoughts, I have a tendency to blame myself.
I say to my heart, “Why am I cast down, O my soul? Why am I suddenly disquieted in spirit? Why so restless and irritable—when I don’t want to be? What evil thing have I done to deserve these negative, depressing feelings?”
My negative, blue feelings did not come from God so I don’t have to put up with them!
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
I can reject every negative feeling because I know not one of them is from God. Feelings that make one afraid are not sent from heaven, they are messengers from the pits of hell! They are to be rejected and bound through the power of prayer and faith.
God is saying to us, “I didn’t give you these feelings of fear and doubt. Instead, I’ve given you a spirit of love, power, and authority.”
He calls us to abolish these unwanted thoughts, bringing them into captivity and obedience to himself. We dare not allow our feelings to master us. We dare not permit them to linger and grow into roots of bitterness and doubt. We must come against them in the name of Christ the Lord and cast them down. We are commanded to do so!
“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” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Every downcast feeling is the fruit of a satanic seed of mistrust. It is the old serpent at work trying to make us question God’s faithfulness, question God’s care, question God!
These lies are the seeds of negative feelings and God commands us to war against them.
I say to my heart, “Why am I cast down, O my soul? Why am I suddenly disquieted in spirit? Why so restless and irritable—when I don’t want to be? What evil thing have I done to deserve these negative, depressing feelings?”
My negative, blue feelings did not come from God so I don’t have to put up with them!
“For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
I can reject every negative feeling because I know not one of them is from God. Feelings that make one afraid are not sent from heaven, they are messengers from the pits of hell! They are to be rejected and bound through the power of prayer and faith.
God is saying to us, “I didn’t give you these feelings of fear and doubt. Instead, I’ve given you a spirit of love, power, and authority.”
He calls us to abolish these unwanted thoughts, bringing them into captivity and obedience to himself. We dare not allow our feelings to master us. We dare not permit them to linger and grow into roots of bitterness and doubt. We must come against them in the name of Christ the Lord and cast them down. We are commanded to do so!
“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” (2 Corinthians 10:5).
Every downcast feeling is the fruit of a satanic seed of mistrust. It is the old serpent at work trying to make us question God’s faithfulness, question God’s care, question God!
These lies are the seeds of negative feelings and God commands us to war against them.
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