Don't Turn Back, Stand Firm!

Now announce to the army, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ ” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. But the LORD said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will thin them out for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.”While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. (Judges 7:3,4,21 NIV)

Sometimes, when we look at things with our physical eyes, we lose heart at the magnitude of the challenges that face up, but when we hear from God and obey, we can rest assured that when we follow His lead, all will be victorious.

I'm sure that Gideon had his doubts about a victory when God cut his army down from twenty-thousand to three hundred men, but God knew what needed to be done, whether Gideon understood it or not.

When we are faced with obstacles and challenges that appear to be too much for us, we must remember that with God going before us, He is more than the world against us. Instead of backing up or backing away from challenges, we must learn to stand firm, holding our positions, and waiting for The Lord to show up and show out!

This lesson is especially important for all who are trying to determine how they move forward with a diminished capacity of people or resources. We pray! We talk to God and then we listen and obey. We boldly hold our ground, feet firmly entrenched and faith immovable--and watch our enemies--flee or our obstacles move out of our way. This is the victory we have in Jesus--knowing our faith in Him cannot be deterred by anything the enemy puts in our way.

Sometimes, we have to close our physical eyes and ears (since the enemy wants us to be fearful of the things we hear) and open our hearts to see spiritually--no weapon formed against us shall prosper and we are victorious in all things with Jesus on our side--when we hear and obey.

Now is the time for every Born-Again Believer to stand firm--immovable, not turning back or away from the challenges that face or the situations that try our faith. Our faith--even if only as large as a mustard seed--is enough to keep the enemy on the run when we stand firm, refusing to back up or back away from promoting the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We know not the hour or the day of His Return, but we do know that He's coming and until He does, we are the spiritual army that must be as dedicated as Gideon as his three hundred--determined to know no fear and will stand firm on God's Word and all He desires us to do. It is not in the greatness of numbers that God works miracles; it is in the faith of the few that miracles occur.

Have faith in God (not people for they will let you down) and know that God has our backs and we can continue our forward march to victory in Jesus' name. We cannot turn back--we must hold our ground and see the glory of the Lord--declare His victory in all we do that honors Him.

Why Jesus Said, "If You Were Blind, You Wouldn't Be Guilty."

Jesus said, "If you were blind, you would not be guilty of sin; but now that you claim you can see, your guilt remains." (John 9:41 NIV)

Once again, because of a miracle on the Sabbath, Jesus healing a man who had been born blind, the religious group in their self-righteousness threw the man out the temple, because he dared to challenge them about who Jesus was. To keep this in context, we must understand the back-story (John 9:1-34). Whenever a person was healed, they were to go to the priests (the Pharisees in this case) to confirm their healing. In this particular miracle, when the Pharisees started questioning the blind man's healing, they accused Jesus of being a sinner and certainly not from God. The man dared to refute what they said and he was prohibited from attending the temple. Now, let's eavesdrop on the conversation between the healed man, some Pharisees and Jesus.

John 9:35-41

v. 35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out and when He found him, He said, "Do you believe in the Son of Man?"

v. 36 "Who is he, sir?" the man asked. "Tell me so that I may believe in Him."

v. 37 Jesus said, "You have now seen Him in fact, He is the one speaking with you."

v. 38 Then the man said, "Lord, I believe," and he worshiped Him.

v. 39 Jesus said, "For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind."

v. 40 Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard Him say this and asked, "What? Are we blind, too?"

The entire point of this conversation was to let the Pharisees know, they were spiritually blinded--they claimed a belief in God, yet refused to accept what was right in front of them--God in the flesh--working miracles for the benefit of those who would believe.
The world hasn't changed much in the last 2000 + years. There are still some--both religious leaders and carnal Christians--who are spiritually blind. They claim to know God, yet they refuse to obey God and have in essence, created even more religions that have no basis or foundation in Him who created all things and without Him, nothing was ever created. The religious group would rather adhere to their traditions than to allow Holy Spirit to lead and guide them--in all things. And since they are the leaders in the churches today, not many in their congregations ever witness miracles because their unbelief inhibits the movement of Holy Spirit.

If every church, in every city, all over the world, would allow Holy Spirit His rightful place in any service--people would be healed of cancer, blind eyes would be opened, the lame would walk, and all manner of diseases would dissipate for those who believe. For The Word says, "These signs shall accompany those who believe: In my name: they will drive out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands (to discard them) and when they drink deadly poison (not intentionally), it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well." (Mark 16:17,18 NIV)  Now, once again to keep this in context, Jesus said this-after He rose from the grave and was included in the instructions given to those who followed Him to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. And as in so many other places, we see the conditions or qualifiers if you will, under which the signs shall follow. "Whoever believes and is baptized and for those who don't believe, they will be condemned." (v.15, 16)

So, now the question for all to consider is, "Are we yet blind even though we say we Believe?" If we are spiritually blinded by the traditions of the world and political correctness and fleshly desires, will we ever truly Believe God and obey? If we remain spiritually blind, will we ever be able to accomplish all that Jesus said we would, for those who Believe?

Spiritual blindness opens the door for Satan and all the demonic forces he employs to deceive and manipulate. For this reason, sin abound in the earth and all manner of sickness and disease run rampant because those who say they believe, don't practice obedience and in operating in the Spiritual Gifts Holy Spirit has for each of us, to lay hands on the sick and watch them get well.

More about what Jesus said and why, next time.

His Foolishness Is Greater!

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (I Corinthians 1:25 NIV)

Whenever I hear people say certain things, I'm reminded that there are many who don't believe in God, deny His existence, but always have something to say about Him. Now why is that?

Why would anyone spend their time in endless pursuits trying to prove He doesn't exist? If He doesn't exist, what is there to refute? It's like those who don't believe in ghosts--yet they're fearful of them. Why fear something you don't believe in?

The real issue for me is that when people cannot see something or someone, they choose to ignore or refute the existence of that something or someone. Seeing is not always a good foundation for believing.

Our faith in God is not based upon what we are able to see, but what He is able to accomplish through mere mortals who receive His wisdom. Those mere mortals are the ones who are foolish enough to believe God and because they believe He is, they receive all He has to give.

The foolish are not so wise since they believe that all they know or have is based upon their own abilities. And because they believe in themselves more than the greatness of God, they disavow any knowledge of God in their limited understanding of how He works.

For those of us who Believe without doubting, acknowledge we need His strength and wisdom, we receive and what we receive is foolishness to those who do not understand.

We have God's Word that many will dispute and say His Word is nothing more than the ramblings of ignorant and illiterate scribes who didn't know much. They may not have known much, but we are still reading and holding onto the Word they wrote out of obedience. Now, how foolish of us is that?

We believe in the virgin birth and many would tell us (based on their limited human wisdom) that it was not possible. Really? The same men who deny the virgin birth are yet unable to explain our existence and we should believe them, why? Since the One who created all things created us, it is no big thing for Him to bring Himself into the world through a virgin. It is He who created the body and all things that function within the body so He can do whatever He chooses to do and do it well.

We believe in miracles and those miracles are still revealed today. We see miraculous events that only God could direct and science and scientists are left scratching their heads.

We believe in the work of the cross--that foolishness that we preach, bringing us into position to be saved and have eternal life. The Stone was rolled away and revealed to all the world that Jesus is alive and well!

Of course that is foolishness for those who don't know Him, but since I know Him, I know I'd rather have access to His unlimited wisdom and strength than man's finite wisdom any day.
Every Word of His  is true and never changes; every word of man--his laws and policies are fickle and ever-changing to pacify the dictates of the moment. I'd rather have Jesus, than silver and gold and be thought foolish than given any credit for operating in my own wisdom, of which I have none. Everything I know, I know because of Him and everything I do is to glorify Him. If that's foolish, then so be it. I Am a Fool For Christ!

True Witnesses!

“You are my witnesses,” declares the LORD, “and my servant whom I have chosen, so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me."(Isaiah 43:10 NIV)

How is it that people make things--either themselves or buy what others have made--and worship them? If the things are made by man's hand, how do we give them more power and honor than the one who made them? If then, we are worshipping things, can we be a true witness for what God does?

A true witness does not prevaricate, does not manipulate truth, does not quibble truth (nitpicking it selectively)--they will only speak about those events they actually see or participate in with others. If we Believe The Word, then we can be true witnesses for all God has said when we have hidden the Word in our hearts and have participated in the works of spreading the Gospel.

Do we understand that The God who has no form or origin, no beginning or end is truly The God of Heaven, all Creation and without Him, nothing was ever created; He is not "a god" as others say? Have we fine-tuned our relationship with Him so we know when we hear Him and will not listen to the lies of who speak against Him or oppose Him? Do we know that everything He did for His chosen, He will continue to do until He returns to take us to be with Him?

If we are going to be true witnesses of who He is, we must learn to model our behavior after Him. We should do what He does, according to what He has said. We love, we teach, we admonish and correct, and we forgive and move on. We know not everyone will hear us and that's their choice; our job is to share the Gospel, not make people believe since we have no authority or ability to make anyone do anything.

We are told by Jesus if others will not hear us to shake the dust off our feet and keep going. In other words--keep it moving--we don't have time to waste on those who are determined to allow Satan to rule their lives. We pray for them that they will see a need to turn to God, but we cannot make them. We allow them their choice and leave them to their consequences!

God has always allowed people to make choices--and what we actively and consciously do is a choice. He allowed Adam and Eve to make choices and left them to their consequences. He allowed Herod, and all the leaders of Egypt to make their choices and live with their consequences. He is the same God, using the same strategy to get us to Believe Him. He used the prophets and miracles and He's yet using prophets and miracles and most of us are--miracles--we survived situations that should have killed us, but we are yet here--to testify of His goodness--as true witnesses!

True witnesses understand and believe everything The Word has said because they hear God speaking through Holy Spirit, confirming His Word and directing us in all things. All who believe Him (not man or men), and can act on His behalf are His true witnesses that will bring others into knowledge of Him.

Why Faith in God? Part 2

"Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be done to you. And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.” (Matthew 9:29; 13: 58 NIV)

If we are like the two blind men who Jesus was speaking to, we must be believe that He is able to do what we expect Him to do.

The two blind men followed Him, begging for mercy (so they could see) and He stopped them and asked them, "Do you believe I able to do this?"

Their response was, "Yes Lord, we believe."

His response was, "According to your faith (not another person's faith, not even His), let it be done to you."

God's response to our petitions is based upon our faith, not our emotions. He knows every issue we have and He knows whether or not we have enough courage to ask for His help and enough faith to believe He will do it. When we speak, what we believe He will do, it is a demonstration of our faith.

Some of us need our spiritual eyes opened so we can see--all the good things He has in store for us, for the natural eye (the mind using man's logic), cannot see into the spirit realm to understand just how much God loves us. Now, we can speak what we need--by faith--into existence, we can also speak--a lack of faith--and never see what we ask for.

When Jesus went to His home town, the people there had heard about the miracles He performed, but when they saw Him, they were full of disbelief, saying out loud, "Isn't this carpenter's son? Who does He think He is going around trying to make people believe He's anything special." I've paraphrased their response, but it's accurate in intent.

Because of their dismay in who He was and their unbelief, not many people were healed and certainly not many miracles witnessed. Why? They spoke their lack of faith in Him! It was not His faith that needed to operate, but theirs if they wanted to see miracles.

Some people are doing the same thing today with their tongues--speaking their lack of faith--and then proclaiming that God doesn't hear or respond to prayers. It is because of their lack of faith and actually their double-mindedness that keeps change from occurring. If we say--there is no God--why do we expect Him to do anything (He doesn't exist for the naysayers, so why complain about Him). And then those same people who proclaim God doesn't exist--dare to question the faith of those who know--He exists and He is faithful to those who call upon Him, by faith and obedience and He responds to " our faith  in Him" not a lack of faith.

If we have no faith in Him and what He is able to do--don't be surprised when He does not respond to our requests.

Remember this--He responds to our faith--spoken--in support of our belief--and He will do all He said He would do in His Word. "Yes, Lord, we believe You are able to do all things well for our benefit."

Part 3 tomorrow!

Enjoy!

"Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy" (I Timothy :17 NKJV).

Command--direct with specific authority, the rich in our times, not to be so haughty and arrogant that they trust in their riches, instead of the living God--who gives us (all of us) all things to enjoy!
There are some people who think because they have money (specifically some political parties), they have a right to take a superior attitude towards or over those who do not. Money can do a number of things to enhance one's life, but the things that God gives us all to enjoy--cannot be assessed with a dollar sign.

The beautiful blue skies on a clear sunny day--He gives.

The sun that warms the earth and our hearts after a brutally cold winter--He gives.

Majestic, snow-covered mountains--He gives.

The calming sound of brooks babbling along their journey into whatever waterway is their destiny--He gives.

The look of love and amazement in the eyes of new parents--He gives.

The wonder of all the miraculous things that happen in the universe--He gives.

Canyons shaped by ravages of time, but leave us in total amazement.

Natural springs where waters rise from the ground and fall majestically, back to be recycled and re-energized.

Beautiful flowers, honor-guard trees, that were never planted by the hands of man, but exist just for our pleasure.

Love between couples that never ends and we see it in the elderly holding hands, walking through parks or just taking a stroll.

The love of mothers with their children--ever-watchful, observant, caring and nurturing, ready to defend their children with their lives.

The simple pleasures of natural flavors that man did not create, but use in all manner of good things to eat--vanilla, chocolate, strawberry.

The sunrise that creates an explosion of color and patterns that man could not have imagined.

The sunset that serves as a glorious reminder that the end of the day has come.

Many may have money which they can use to "purchase enjoyment" but we all have access to enjoy those things He has given richly whether we have a dime in our pockets or not.

For pure happiness--remind those with earned (legally or illegally) riches to not think so highly of themselves because of what they have, but remember the riches that God has given all to enjoy and praise Him for it all!

Showing Off!

"How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you, that you bestow in the sight of all, on those who take refuge in you" (Psalm 31:19 NIV).

When we have reverential fear (respect and reverence) for God--He will make sure that all who know Him are blessed abundantly (more than enough) and He will do it in front of all those who mock Him and those who believe Him.

God loves showing off--He makes the unbelieving believe by what He shows them in how He uses those who believe. He uses the foolish to confound the wise. The uses the weak and gives them strength to overcome the tricks of the enemy. He heals those who have been told by unbelieving man, "there's nothing else we can do." And they are so right. But God--can do all things and do them well.
God can and will perform miracles when miracles are least expected. We see it every day--"those things that occur that man cannot explain."

God can and will do everything He promises in His Word for those whose faith does not waver, no matter how the enemy attempts to cloak success in unbelief and doubt. When God says do it; we simply believe and do it. The measure of success--is not on us--but on God. Our role is simply to obey. Hallelujah!

If we want God to "show off" in our lives, we must believe that He is (everything He says He is) and He will (do everything He says He will do).  How do we do it? By knowing what He has said, developing a right relationship with Him, and obeying His voice! No magic--just untainted belief in the knowledge of the Most High!

Now, watch Him show-off for your benefit to His glory!

My Daddy Did It!

“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11 NIV).

I woke up thinking about the non-believers' conversation about the non-existence of God and of course, I was reminded of God's Word. What I always find both amazing and gratifying is the fact that whenever I need the reminder, my Daddy, through the Holy Spirit, always brings it back to my remembrance, just like He said He would.

Now, before some get upset with my reference to God as my "Daddy" understand that this represents my relationship with God.  He is my Father, my Daddy and I never take this relationship for granted. He is the "Great I Am", Jehovah Jireh and known by so many more "titles" that I won't list them here. However He is known by the masses, depends upon their relationship with Him.

At any rate, "He created all things and without Him nothing was created" and that is the end of the matter for most believers.

Rather than argue or debate His existence, we should work on our relationship with God (Our Daddy), listen when He speaks, be quick to obey, and then when people marvel at the great things He does for us and through us, we can proudly say, "My Daddy Did It!"

Look at the cloud formations on various days in various types of weather; My Daddy did it.

Look at the bodies of water that encourage amazement and awe; My Daddy did it.

Look at the hills and mountainsides and wonder people often feel; My Daddy did it.

Look at the miracles performed which no one can explain; My Daddy did it.

Look at the love He has shown us by sacrificing His Son for us; My Daddy did it.

Look at all we have in life that allows us to enjoy life more; My Daddy did it, when He inspired others to create all manner of things.

Look at all the labels we have attached to things; My Daddy did it, when He spoke to those who determined what we call things.

Science is known as science because My Daddy inspired someone to attach the label. Science attempts to explain what already exists, but cannot replicate the intricacies of all that My Daddy has created when He created us!

Everything that mankind has done has ignited a response from My Daddy and mankind has incurred the result of the response of obedience or disobedience, just as He said it would happen.

When the enemy attempts to cause you to doubt, remind him, our Daddy is bigger and that He also created him who is angry enough to engender hatred because of his hatred of God. Satan is the father of liars, a master of deception, and his job is to kill, steal and destroy.  I'm so thankful that My Daddy is greater than all the mischief that Satan can devise.

Foolish, Wise, Weak, or Mighty

"But God has chosen the foolish things to confound the wise; and God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty" (I Corinthians 1: 27)

How like God to create situations in which "mankind" can make no sense of it!  In an earlier verse in this same passage (v.25) Paul states, "the foolishness of God is wiser than men" and this is why so many people do not believe that God is God and what He has said is what He has said. It is foolishness to them because they have decided they are wiser than God.

God chose a donkey to speak--foolishness in the eyes of those who heard it.

God chose a harlot to preserve in the midst of tribal war as a lifeline into which Jesus appears.

God chose a man who had committed murder and had a speech impediment to rescue the Hebrews from a "wise" Pharaoh (at least in his own eyes).

God wrought miracles at the hands of the least expected to be used and still does.

God uses any willing vessel--no matter their station in life or the number of degrees they have or do not have.

He has said, "wisdom is the principal thing and with all our getting (of wisdom) we should get understanding".  Who can understand God and what He does without having a relationship with Him?

The answer to the question is simply this:  Those who are considered foolish enough to believe He is who He says He is and can do what He says He can, have a relationship with Him. Those who know they can do absolutely nothing in their own strength, but are totally dependent on Him have a relationship with Him. In our weakness, He is made strong and in our foolishness, He is revealed wise.  Without a relationship with Him, everything He is and does is foolishness to those who consider themselves wise (without Him in their lives).

Which are you today--foolish, wise, weak or strong?

Father, help us to see just how much we need You since we have no wisdom of our own and certainly no strength that even comes close to matching Yours.  We submit to Your leading, and we are trusting in Your Word, and loving that You love us enough to keep us in right relationship with You.  In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen!

Testifying Today!

"Praise The Lord, my soul, and forget not His many benefits, who forgives all your sins and heals your diseases" (Psalm 103:2,3 NIV).

1) Praise Him for all He has done, is doing and will do for us simply because He loves us and His mercy endures forever.
2) Don't forget His many benefits--giving us victory over everything the enemy plots against us, gives us favor with men (and women), loves us unconditionally, grants us new mercies every morning, forgives our sins and tosses them into the sea of forgetfulness, gives us chance after chance after chance to get living right for Him, and then He heals all our diseases--either miraculously or through the wisdom He has poured into physicians to accurately diagnose and treat whatever ails us.
3) Live for The Lord, obey His Word, Testify of His goodness and Walk worthy of the calling He has placed upon your life.

He is God and He is Good for He can do nothing else but be Himself!

Angels Watching!

"For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways."

Have you ever wondered why the worst that could have happened to you, didn't?

I have experienced events in my life in which I should have been dead, on more than one occasion, but I'm still here. I believe I was kept safe from harm because my angels are alert and always watchful. When we listen to the Holy Spirit we can avoid certain disasters, but sometimes, we either do not hear Him and then our angels strut their stuff and stretch themselves to keep us safe.

And since I know from Paul's explanation to the church at Corinth that we shall judge our angels, right now--mine get an A+. They have kept me from buying harmful food, sheltered me through hurricanes in Houston, protected me in car accidents (two in which should have been dead), and stood up against stupidity exercised by foolish people (it's what happens when you live in neighborhoods where the foolish reside). They have even protected me from me (we don't always act wisely in life). How are your angels doing?

Lord, keep our assigned angels alert and constantly watchful, and help us to hear and heed Your voice to avoid all snares the devil has set for us.