Saturday, December 31, 2011

What Will Overshadow Your Life This New Year?

Luke 1:35  And the angel answered and said to her, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.


Over the years, there have been many doubters and scoffers concerning the validity of the birth of Christ. Theologians and pastors have been tripped up with the notion that Mary really didn't conceive the Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Friend, if the virgin birth of Christ is a lie, then it's all a lie. I choose to believe that if God can open the red sea, and blow a whole five miles wide and get millions of Jews through it, if God can deliver 3 Hebrew men from a fiery furnace without the smell of smoke on them, and if God can lock the jaws of lions for Daniel, what's the notion that God can't bring our Lord Jesus through a virgin Mary?

The real question you must ask yourself is, what will overshadow my life this New Year? It's easy to be overshadowed with your pasts, your blunders, your doubts, discouragement, defeat, fear and deception, questions about your hurts, and the oxymoron's of life. Some things may never make sense.

The word states that the angel of the Lord said to Mary,"Thou hast found favor with God and thou shalt conceive a child and bring forth the Son of God."

Mary has got to be saying to herself, "How can this be since I know not a man, the angle says, the Holy Spirit will come and overshadow you and thou will bear a son." Here is the bottom line, that is exactly what happens, Mary conceived and brought forth the living Son of God Immanuel, God is with us.

Will you be overshadowed this year with your doubts, your questions, your misunderstandings with life and God, will you choose to get bogged down in the quagmire of being discouraged over your past? Mary chose to believe and the Holy Spirit overshadowed her and she brought forth the Son of the living God.

Paul said; "Forgetting those things that are behind and reaching forth unto those things that are before us." What will you choose to overshadow your life, your mind your thoughts, your heart? What will you allow to conceive in your spirit this New Year?

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Living In No-Man's-Land? 1

Genesis 4:1-25
There is a saying; "Sin will take you further than you want to go, it will keep you longer than you want to stay and it will costs you more than you want to pay." This story brings out that truth in a powerful way.

Adam and Eve had two sons, Cain and Able. Cain was a farmer and Able was a herdsman. Cain brought an offering in time to God; Able brought an offering from the first-born animals of his herd. God was pleased with Abel's offering but was displeased with Cain's.

God's displeasure with Cain's offering stimulated jealousy in his heart. Why didn't Cain ask God to show him the reason for his displeasure? Why did Cain choose to take the path of anger and jealousy towards his brother Able? He saw him in the field and chose to kill him. (8)

Let's look at one reason this man ended up living in no man's land.

He ignored the fact that God wasn't pleased with his bringing his own offering. Why was God displeased with Cain's offering? What's the big deal here? Notice that God says that Able brought to him his firstlings of his flock or his first-born. NASV 4:4 it says; "Cain in the course of time brought God and offering." NASV 4:3

God wants your First-Fruit. God's not interested in becoming second or third or in forth place. It's easy to put your job, your marriage, and your kids before your relationship with God. Ask yourself; "Is God first in my life?

God tells us in Malachi 3:10 "Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse." God doesn't say to bring in the tithe after paying the electric bill, and the car payment, the insurance, the boat payment. When you get around to it.

 No, God tells us that he wants the first-fruit, He wants to have first place in your heart. God says; "where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." When I buy a stock for an investment, I tend to watch closely if the stock goes up or down.

God is saying, where you put your money, that is where your heart will be. You will follow after where you have placed your money. Cain's first mistake was that when he got around to giving and offering to God, he brought it when he got ready.

God says; No, that's not going to work. That was his first mistake that led him to into no man's land. Ask yourself today; " Is He really first in my life?" It's only when He becomes first in our lives that we can live under the blessings and the favor of God on our lives. Were there other reasons he ended up living in no mans land?

oceanwayag.com

Living In No-Man's-Land? 2

Genesis 4:1-25
16 And Cain went away from the Lord's presence and lived in a land called “Wandering,” which is east of Eden.


Before the GPS became so easily assessable on our smart phones and in our automobiles, there have been a few times that I just went on my gut that I knew how to get to my destination. Was it really necessary to stop and ask for directions? Hum, boy have I ended up in no man's land a few times in my life.

Man was placed here on earth to live under the shadow of God's favor and blessing. But somewhere in life, man decided to try things according to his own gut feelings, or even worst listen to the wrong voice. Is it really necessary to stop and ask for directions from the God who created us?

Cain gives us the perfect example of why you don't want to live your life according to your own gut notions in life. Why you don't want to listen to just anybody in getting where you need to go. There's a reason that this man ended up in living in no mans land.

Cain turned his anger towards his brother Able instead of looking at his own waywardness. It's easy to shift the blame elsewhere than where it actually belongs.
He became jealous over his brother's offering to God, instead of pursuing out his own need for correction, he chose to kill Able.

Killing his brother didn't fix his problems with God. He only added to his heartache and grief by ignoring his own faults. Ignoring God's ways, God's truths, and God's road will lead you to more sorrow and emptiness in life.

Cain is now taking the same path that his mother and father took. Their own gut notions got them removed from the Garden of Eden. Their believing the lies of the serpent got them in their own no man's land. Why should any of us be removed from living in the land that God had created and planned for our lives?

Cain went out from the presence of the Lord, and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden.(16)  Why would you want to settle for the east-side of life? Why would you want to settle for least that what he has planned out for your destiny? Ignoring God's plan will place you so far from God's intentions and Best for your life.

Ask the Lord today, "Would you help me to live out each day and each step with your instructions, your design, and your will for my life."

Enough of me having it my own way and living out my own stubborn gut notions. God only knows where that will place me. Chose to live out your life on the best side, by listening to him, then you'll find God's side and God's will for your life.

oceanwayag.com 

Monday, December 26, 2011

Where's Your Confidence?

2 Samuel 24:1-25

Satan seduces David into counting his people, focusing on his strengths, his success, and his victories. He is being tempted to place his confidence in his numbers, his chariots, his horses, and his troops. Changing your focus to your strengths spells trouble, and will bring great heartache and grief to each of us.

David is tempted to look at his hand, his power, and his strength his wins as if it's something that he has made happen. You and I better always remember that if we have had any wins at all, it's because of the mighty hand of God that has done it for us.

Joab resisted David in counting up of all their people. This census got Joab very nervous in what it would do with their connection with their holy God. Joab was concerned that this attitude was going to get them in trouble and he was right.

When the count was over, there were 1,100,000, over a million in numbers. Compared to the other armies in the region, I'm sure David was feeling pretty comfortable. The whole thing offended God that David was putting his trust into his chariots and in his great army. Psalms 20:7 "Some trust in chariots but we will remember the name of the Lord our God."

This is what is so offensive to God when we put our confidence in our resources, our talents, our strengths, our abilities, our know how, our wisdom, our experiences to get us through life. Anytime you do this, you are saying to God, I'm really not dependent on your opinion in my next move, my next decision, my next difficulty, and my next battle because I already have it under control.

Pride goeth before destruction. When you think you have it all together because of what you can do with your hand, you are headed for a huge fall. When David defeated the giant, the bear, the lion, it was all on the basis of  "I come to you in the name of the Lord my God," not in the name of my gift, my talents, my resources, my doings. Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me."

Great sorrow came to Israel because of David's sin. He was given a choice of 1of 3 punishments for his sin. David chose not to be destroyed by his enemies, or 3 years of famine, but rather 3 days of God's sword, an epidemic unleashed on the country by an angle of God.

70,000 in Israel died as a result of his sin. David cries out, "Lord I am the one to blame not my people, take it out on me not them." David makes things right by building an altar to God at the threshing floor of Araunah. David pays for the place at market price, 600 shekels of gold. Then God told the angle to put his sword back into its scabbard.

Friend God will allow all of us to get in a place of discomfort as a reminder that none of us can do this thing without the hand of the Lord at our side. It's okay to be in need of something from the Lord. Never get to the place that you think you can do it on your own. Place your confidence today in the Lord alone.

"For the Lord shall be thy confidence and shall keep thy foot from being taken." Proverbs 3:26
Oceanwayag.com                                                           Danny Baggett


Thursday, December 22, 2011

"But, When?"

Abraham, in his older age had no kids. Sarah was barren and what has become of the promise that God had spoken? God had promise Abraham your going to have a huge family. I'm certain that he is saying; "but when?"

In his olden age, I'm certain it would have been easy to focus on his impotence, it would have been easy to focus on his ripen old body, or focus on the of infertility of Sarah, where would this man place his focus?

Would God make good on the promise he made to Abram? What you focus on is what you will produce in your life. Sarah said to Abram; "take Hagar, she will produce you a son." The word states; "Abram hearken to the voice of Sarah." Anytime you hearken to the voice of doubt or unbelief, you will get what doubt delivers.

Abram thought on Sarah's words, well this sounds like the easy solution to me. So Abram took Hagar and she gave him a son, his name was Ishmael. Was this God's plan? Was this what God had in mind for the future of Abram and Sarah?

How many times have we all focused on our doubts and questions about the promise? Proverbs 13:12 says; "Hope deferred makes the heart sick." Friend be careful that when the dream is delayed that you don't settle for something less than God's best for your life. Anemic faith will produce Ishmael's and not Isaac's.

We have all gotten impatience with the dream, the vision, the hope in our heart for our miracle or for our breakthrough. Abram was instructed in Genesis 16, "Walk before me and be thou perfect." God was saying Ishmael wasn't in my plan or my design. It was your impatience with the dream. Proverbs 13:12 conclude; a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.

No wonder God says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

The end of the story is better than the beginning. Abram's name is changed to Abraham and he walks into the promise from God. Notice his blunder doesn't change the plans of God. In their old age, Sarah brings forth Isaac, the promise son. God's dreams are worth waiting for. Are you still asking, still knocking, and still believing? Go ahead and believe that nothing is too difficult for God to do, regardless of the seemingly impossibility that is standing before you.
Oceanwayag.com                                        Dannysdevotional.com


Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Living With God's Blessings?

Luke 6:38 GIve and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure you mete it shall be measure to you again.



Why does God spend so much time in the bible to talk to us about money? Some have chosen to ignore his principals and truths in the word of God, others may have not listen closely to what He says about their finances.



Years ago when my wife and I got married and I started in college; I immediately felt the pressure of putting food on the table, making the rent payment, paying the electric bill among other things. Money was tight, yet I had been taught to always put God first by giving God 10% off the top.

When the pressure was on, I thought, "Well I will skip this week and catch up next week." That week the water pump went out in the Monte Carlo. I thought; "Well I will catch up after I fix the car." The next week someone stole all our new wedding towels from the apartment laundry mat. The next week my music stereo in the house broke. God was after my attention.

3 weeks in a row, everything around me was falling apart. I said; "okay God I get it." From that point on I didn't care if we ate weenies, I was going to give God the first part, the first fruit, the 10% that already belonged to God. God clearly states; "If you choose not to bring the tithe, "You have robbed me." God states; "if that's your choice, "judgment will fall upon us." Malachi 3:8-12

Ever since those horrible experiences, I chose to follow a plan to win in my finances. God has proven to me that He can take the 10% and return far more than I can give. From that point, God removed the judgment, the curse off of my money matters.

So many just don't get what I just said, God promises to open up the heavens of blessings when we bring the tithes into the storehouse. That is your local church, not TBN, or CBN, or your favorite ministry in the land.

Go ahead; test God with giving your tithes and offerings. When you fully obey what He directs you to do with your money, see if He won't open to you the windows of heaven. All of this principal boils down to one thing, will you believe God's word or not? All I can say is He has blessed me more than you have time to listen.

Time and time again he has proven himself. He is not a liar. I live in a home that was a result of being a giver. Too long to tell the story, but God opened the door and the heavens to make it happen.  My goal is to give 50% of what comes my way. Be a pipe for God to flow through, ....you can't believe what He will do in return.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Is There An Underworld?



Many places in the word of God speak of the underworld. Ezekiel speaks of nations that are dying in their iniquity and many that are already living in the underworld.

The greatest peace in life is not that I live in a nice home or that I drive a nice automobile, or that I have a retirement account. You can have all the money in the world and lose your own soul. There is a real place in the underworld called hell. Hell was not made for people, but for the devil and his fallen angles. Matthew 25:41

All through the scriptures God warns men of a coming day of judgment. There are two judgments, the Great White Throne judgment and the Judgment Seat of Christ. One is for sinners and the others are for Christians. Revelations 20:1-15, Romans 14:10

In Genesis chapter 6, God states that he would destroy mankind because man had fallen into every wicked imagination possible. There was one man who walked into integrity and the word says; "he found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Noah was told to build an ark, and in his obedience he and his family were saved when God's flood of judgment came on the earth.

The only thing that is going to give us grace in our future days is the mercy of God. Jesus Christ showed us mercy when he came to this earth to die for our sins. He went to the cross to die for our sins so we wouldn't have to pay for our own shame and iniquities.

There is a place of judgment for each of us. The real question is will you be judge for your sins, or for your works?

People at the Great White Throne will be judged for their sins. Every evil deed will be exposed on that day. Those at the Judgment Seat of Christ will not be judged for their sins but for their works here on earth. For they have been covered by the blood of the lamb. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

The greatest concern anyone should ever have in life is this; where will I spend eternity? Do you know if you were to die today where you would spend eternity? All the millions of dollars in the world can't help you on the Day of judgment.

Jesus speaks of the rich man that went to a real place called hell. In hell he prayed that someone would go and warn his 5 brothers that he was in torment and they should avoid this place. Luke 16:19-31

God loved us so much that he wasn't willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Don't ignore the price and the work that Christ did on the cross for you. He paid the price of our sins on the cross, so we wouldn't have to go to an underworld called hell.

If you're not sure your ready for heaven and that if you died today where you would spend eternity, pray this prayer;

"Lord, I confess that I'm a sinner, and I need you to be my savior. I believe that you died for my sins on the cross, and that you rose again on the 3rd day. Cleanse me and forgive me now of all my sins, and from this day forward I will live for you and follow you all the days of my life."

If you prayed that prayer, and believed in your heart on Christ, God says; Whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved. He also declares that he will write your name down in the Lamb's Book of Life. Friend continue to read your bible and find a good bible base church so you can grow and mature in the Lord. Smile all the angles in heaven are rejoicing today that you have come home and received Christ as your Lord and Savior.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Winning Over Loneliness

Hebrews 13:5b "He has said, I will never leave you or abandon you." 

Why are there so many lonely people in the world? Why do so many continue to keep living in their despair and state of mind? Is there anything or anyone who can turn our hurt and sorrow into a new life? What is the answer to someone's loneliness?

Jesus came to this earth to fill the empty rooms of a man's soul. Years ago I came home late one evening and the door was open. The door had either been left open, or someone was inside our dark home. Fear gripped my heart as I entered the house. You see, my wife and I lived across the street from an orange grove. Daily workers were shuttled to work the hundreds of acres of orange groves.

Was there an intruder in the house? Was there a thief inside plummeting through our belongings? Just who was inside our home? I started through our first door that led into the garage. About that time it felt as if I was pushing against a man's foot that stopped the door. I plunged in and my big 13- size tennis shoe was behind the door. I flipped the light on and thank God no one was in the garage. I found my broom and started down the hallway sticking first the broom through the door and turning the light on in each room. It wasn't until I had the light on in each room did I have peace and strength that everything was okay in our home.

The beginning of peace in our lonely hearts is to get the light on in each room of our lives. The light of God will drive out the fear, the loneliness, the unsettledness, the uncertainty, the void, the misery that tries to overwhelm our lives.

Jesus says that we are made up of body, mind and spirit. When the light of Gods word fills the captivity of your life, something stands up on the inside of you that declares His greatness. God's light says; "It's going to be okay, you're going to be just fine, you will overcome the dark situation that you're facing." This hurt, this pain, this sorrow that is trying to squeeze the life out of me, is nothing to the powerful light of God.

If you take a magnifying glass and place it over a piece of paper, when the sun shines thought the glass, it produces so much heat, it can burn a whole through the paper.

When we allow the light, the son of God to shine through our minds, our spirit, our hearts, there is no object, no force, no intrusion, no devil, no fear that can overcome the rooms of our heart and spirit. If your facing a great ordeal on the stormy sea of life? Remember what Paul said in Acts 27 that got him through the winds and waves that ripped the ship apart. He states that; "all hope that we should be saved was taken away."

He then goes on to state; "there stood by me this night and angle of God that said; don't be afraid, Paul you must stand before Caesar, indeed God has also graciously given you everyone sailing with you. I believe it shall be even as it was told to me."

God never promised us a smooth ride, but He did promise us that He would never leave us or forsake us. Paul and the other's on the ship got to the shore on broken boards from the ship, but they all made it sound and alive.

So go on to sleep tonight, and let the devil stay up and worry about your issues. There is a great God inside the rooms of your heart that says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

Monday, December 12, 2011

Asking More Than Once? (4) Expectation

2 Kings 13:14-25

Is there something hindering your prayers from getting off the ground? At times we feel like our prayers are lingering on the tarmac, waiting to take off, stalled on the runway.

Elisha told the king of Israel that if he wanted to win his battles over Syria; "take the arrow and strike the ground, victory will surely be yours." King Joash struck the ground 3 times. The prophet was angry at his actions; "you will only win 3 battles, you should have struck 5 or 6 times." Ephesians 3:20 says; "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask or think according tot he power that worketh within us."

There is much to be said that he only struck the arrow 3 times on the ground and stopped. Each time that he struck the ground was a sign of the victory that would be his over the nation of Syria. Satan is a lying deceiver that doesn't want you and I to believe that there are victories beyond our own means. The king only struck 3 times because that was the limit of his expectation of what God could do for him.

Then he instructed him to; "open the window towards the east." "Now shoot the arrows towards the east." The sun rises in the east each morning and that represents God's favor and blessing rising upon your life each day.

The word states that this conversation with King Joash took place just before Elisha died. He was buried in the side of a cave. It's note worthy that Elisha was promised a double portion would come upon his life. Elijah had done some great miracles while he lived out his life, but Elisha said; "I want a double portion." Did He get what he had asked for? Did he get what he was expecting? Did he get a double portion of what was upon Elisha?

It's interesting that Elisha was one miracle shy of twice of the prophet Elijah. Someone says; "but why?" Why would God not come through like he promised? Friend if God said it that settles it, it will come to pass just as he has spoken.

See there were a band of Moabites that were burying one of their men, but they heard the enemy coming up on them. They threw the dead man's body into and open grave. It just so happens to be the grave of Elisha. When the man's body touches the bones of Elisha, the man came back to life from the dead. He walked out of that grave on his own two feet. Yes the one last miracle promised to Elisha came to past, just like God said it would.

In your battle and your struggle, what would show up on your expectation meter today? Friend, keep believing, keep expecting, keep asking, keep seeking and keep knocking, and it shall be open to you.

Friday, December 9, 2011

I Was Born To Do This

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.


There is nothing more gratifying and satisfying than knowing that you are working at the post that God has created and assigned for your life. There is nothing more refreshing than allowing the work of the Holy Spirit to take the steering wheel of your decisions and call of God on your life.

From time to time I have people in our church that says; pastor I don't know how you do what you do? I really do believe that there is a "cup of grace" that God gives each of us, maybe to be a nurse, a doctor, a pastor, a teacher, a engineer, a plumber, a electrician, a carpenter, a fishermen, a judge or a missionary. All of us in life have a place, a post, a particular mandate and an assignment in life.

Peter says; This is the post to which I've been assigned-keeping you alert with frequent reminders-and I'm sticking to it as long as I live.

"I am not afraid, I was born to do this" Joan of Arc (1412-1431) heroine of France. Paul says;" I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me;"

If we were to go through the pages of history in the word of God, we would see that God hand picks each of us for a job, a task, an assignment, a mandate for life.

Esther was brought to the kingdom for such a time when the Jews were under great persecution from Haman. A decree has already been signed and sealed for every Jew to be destroyed. It just so happen that the king's queen Vashti was fired for her actions towards the king. The king had a beauty contest and guess who was chosen out of hundreds of contestants to be the new queen? Her name was Esther.

God just so happen to have one in the wings ready to come to the rescue of the Jews whose lives were hanging in the balance. Thousands of Jews were saved because she was willing to be used in the hands of a mighty God.

Mordecai said to his cousin Esther, "who knows whether you were brought to the kingdom for such a time as this?" The answer without any doubt was yes, God chose her to be the queen, not because of her beauty, but because there was a mandate for her to fulfill in defeating the devil, and a assignment in saving her people.

Jesus said to his disciples,"ye have not chosen me but I have chosen you and ordained you that ye should go and bring forth fruit and that your fruit should remain." John 15:16

Jesus says to his disciples; "Peace be unto you, as my father hath sent me, so send I you." John 20:21

What will happen if you say no to the call and the will of God? What would have happen, if Jonah had not have changed his mind after 3 days in the belly of a whale in going to Ninevah?

What would have happen had Nehemiah stayed comfortable in palace of Shushan? What if he had have said; "let somebody else go and rebuild the broken walls of Jerusalem?"

What would have happen had Billy Graham chosen to go in another direction for his life? What would have happen had Smith Wigglesworth continued on with his business, instead of following the call of God to preach the word of God?

There is one thing that drives me to stay with the assignment that God has chosen for my life. One day I will stand before my maker, and look into His eyes of fire. What will He say to me on the Day of Judgment? That is what keeps me going. We must not allow any deflating words of discouragement or the words of a Sanballat to bring us off of the wall.

Paul said; "Be confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

Friend, there is a cup of grace that not only saves us but will also keep us on the trajectory path that He has chosen for our lives. Paul said; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course and have kept the faith." Go ahead; "you were born to do this."

Monday, December 5, 2011

Asking More Than Once? (3) Confidence

Have you ever ask for something more than once? How do you respond when you don't get what you want? Satan is a condemning intimidator. He will go to any length to destroy our confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1-John 3:21 states; "that if our heart condemn us not, then we have confidence in our Lord."

I am convinced that it's hell that comes to strip away our confidence in our God. Satan doesn't want us to believe that God is there for us in our test and trials, that He has abandoned us in our deepest valley, that He is to busy to hear the cry of our hearts in our storms, and to direct our lives.

Ps 34:17 "The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them from all their troubles."

                                                     " Accident or Design?"

The Sun is 93 million miles away from the earth. I don't believe that happen by accident. God is a great designer. If the sun were at a different distance, the temperatures would be some 50 degrees either way. There would be no life here on planet, as we know it.

The Rotation of the earth moves 365 times a year around the sun. If it only went 50 times around the sun, part of the planet would be in darkness and the other part would be mostly daylight. Again life wouldn't exist as they do here on earth if it were any other way.

The Air in the earth's atmosphere is 21% oxygen. If it were say 65% instead of what it is, every time someone lit a match, we would all be toast. God is a great designer and has a blueprint for your life. Refuse to believe the lies of hell that God has somehow forgotten about you in your deepest dark hour. Refuse to believe that God doesn't have time to design his perfect will for your life.

The key and answer to receiving what we need from God is based on our confidence that He hears us when we pray. Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think of him according to the power that worketh within us."

What power is working in your heart today? Is there confidence in your heart? Satan's greatest weapons against us are doubt and discouragement. Allow the weapon of the word of God cut down his dirty lies.

Paul says in Philippines 1:6 "Be confident of this very thing that He which hath begun a good work in you shall perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." God has a plan for the storm your in today. He says in Romans 8:28; "And we know that all things work together for good to them who love God and are called according to His purpose." What the devil means for evil, God will turn it for good.

Go to God every morning with confidence that He is waiting to hear the cry of your heart. "If God be for us, who can be against us." Remind him that He is the great designer of the earth and the developer of your life as well. Go ahead, ask again with confidence in you're heart that He is standing in heaven waiting to hear the cry of your heart.

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Asking More Than Once? (2) Persistence

Some people brought to Jesus a blind man and begged Jesus to give him a healing touch. Jesus spit in the mans eyes and laid hands on him and asked, "Do you see anything?" The blind man said; " I see men walking as trees." Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again. From this point on the man could see clearly.

If Jesus prayed more than once, why would you and I only pray once and quit? Several places Jesus cried out to his father more than once in prayer.

Jesus has just been ask by his disciples in Luke 11:1-13 "Lord teach us how to pray?" Jesus tells the story in this text how that a man came at midnight to ask his friend for 3 loafs of bread. The friends response is; "leave me alone, I have already put the kids to bed, come back another time another day. The man continues to knock. This is the point that Christ was making. Have you quit knocking? Where is your own persistence? Where is your boldness?

Jesus is teaching his disciples don't give up so easy. Keep asking, keep knocking and keep seeking. We so quickly get discourage and dishearten that we turn away thinking that God is not hearing the cry of our hearts.

"The righteous cry out and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of all of their troubles." Psalms 34:17 Tell me what father or mother wouldn't come running to the cry of his own baby that is in need?

This man kept knocking at the door. Jesus states that the man got up out of bed and got the man 3 loaves of bread not because it was convenient, not because it was the right time, not because he was up watching the late night show, not because it was easy. No No No.

Jesus states because of his importunity, the word means persistence. When your traveling on the road and your hungry, do you give up because you passed the exit with your favorite food? If I was betting, you will keep looking at the next exit. If you didn't find it on the next exit, you would keep looking until you found what you were looking for. That something that would fill your belly.

Why do we give up so easy? Some of you have been praying for your son who is on drugs, your daughter that is in jail, your health that has gone sour, your in-laws that have become outlaws, your marriage that is broke.

Jesus says when you have a need, keep asking, keep knocking, and keep seeking. I don't know why He hasn't answered your prayer yet, but He is a very present help in the time of need.

May God give you boldness that will stand up in you and never bail or give up on the cry in the pit of your soul. Keep asking with persistence and see what the Lord will do.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Asking More Than Once? (1) God's Will

There are those in the body of Christ that have formed an opinion that it's a lack of faith to ask more than once. Let's take another look at why it's a God thing to ask more than once.

My wife and I raised 3 children in our home. I don't recall a time that they were ever hindered in their ability to ask for something more than once. When they wanted to stop at Mc Donald's, wanted something to drink, wanted the newest cabbage patch doll, wanted they latest Nintendo game, they had no problem in asking more than once. Now they didn't always get what they wanted when they wanted it.

In looking back on my walk with Christ, I'm very thankful that God didn't always give me what I wanted when I wanted it. The Lord teaches us that we are to pray, "thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." I have to pray for the will of God to be processed in my life. There have been times that I didn't like it when God closed doors. God says; "I have set an open door before you." Friend quit trying to knock the door in. If God wants it open, He has the ability to open the door that is His will and plan for your life.

I was invited to preach with the possibly to pastor a church in Miami Florida. They call it; 'Trying out." After a great day in the ministering and seeing several come forward for salvation, God didn't open the door for us to move there. I was a bit upset with God. God why? I had prayed for the will of God, but when God shut the door, I didn't like His decision. We are to always pray for the will of God in all of our decisions. Year later I saw why God closed the door. He had a perfect plan in mind, where I'm pastoring today 26 years later.

Jesus on his way to the cross stopped at the garden of Gethsemane and prayed 3 times; "Father if it be thy will, let this cup pass from me, nevertheless not my will but thy will be done." Yes he prayed the same prayer more than once.

God has placed within each of us a cry to ask more than once. Show me a cat that doesn't cry out more than once for their food. Show me a baby that doesn't cry out for their food more than once. God has placed within our hearts a God given desire to ask more than once.

Friend, many give up when they don't get what they want. Some choose their own plan and do their own thing. Some refuse to wait on God's season. Go ahead and ask again for the cry and passion in your heart. Many places in God's word show us how it's His plan for you and I to ask for his will more than once.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

A Dead Branch Floating Down The River?


Ephraim boasted," Look, I'm rich! I've made it big! And look how well I've covered my tracks: Not a hint of fraud, not a sigh of sin" Not so fast!  I'm God."I'm going to put you back in tents, as in the old days when you worshiped in the wilderness."

God was saying to Ephraim, your not going to get away with the path of sin that you have chosen.

God didn't create any of us to be a drug addict, a prostitute, a con-artist, a rapist, a murderer, a thief, one lost in the forest. God has a perfect plan for each of us. God is the only one who can show us the way out of the wilderness of confusion and deception.

Where are you heading, where will you end up, where is the end of the road for you? Ephraim has lost her way in her sins and stubbornness.  She is determined that she can get by with her sinful ways and God will just wink at her sins.

Romans declare; "The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It's a lie out of hell that you have to be a servant to porn, a life to lying and cheating and living in adultery. Jesus came to break us free from the chains that would bind and hold on to us.

It is a deceptive lie that the temptations of this world will bring you the reward that you are looking for. Satan plots and schemes and deceives people from the real fruit of life. God's plan is to bring us joy, peace, direction, contentment, fulfillment. Sin will only lead you to deadness and not life.

Sin will kill your purpose, your peace, and your path to everlasting life. Who wants to be a dead branch floating down the river? God calls us to be "a tree planted by the rivers of water than brings forth fruit in due season." He says; "our leaf will not wither and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper."

If you were to take an assessment of your life today, is there any fruit on the branch? Are the limbs dying, or are there signs of life on the tree? You say what are the signs of life? Let me ask you.

Where is your focus? it will lead to your thinking, which leads to your emotions, which leads to your decisions,, which leads to actions, which leads to your habits, which leads to your character which leads to your destiny.

The decisions you are making today will determine if there will be any fruit on the tree in the future. God is for you today, God says; your valuable, your special, your my chosen one, you have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Today allow God to change you! He says; "old things will pass away and all things will become new."

Go ahead; call on God today and new life will start now. John 10:10 "The thief cometh not but for to steal and to kill and to destroy, but I have come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly."