Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | September 17, 2014

FIREBRAND (Part 2: A LIVING SACRIFICE)

Burning for Jesus Christ!

Burning for Jesus Christ!


“But his inwards and his legs shall he wash in water: and the priest shall burn all on the altar, to be a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, of a sweet savor unto the LORD” (Leviticus 1: 9, 10). Command Aaron and his sons saying, This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering, because of the burning on the altar all night unto the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it” (Leviticus 6: 9).

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present you bodies a LIVING SACRIFICE, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be NOT conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the RENEWING of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God” (Romans 8: 1, 2).

I ask that some of you would join me and take the next few days to do some fasting and praying about all that you read in the following teaching. Also, I ask that you read every verse as outlined; seeking God to CLEARLY hear His voice! Hear what He is saying; what He is speaking to you individually and what He is speaking corporately to the BODY of CHRIST!

Have you ever desired to do something for God, not out of a sense of duty, but simply because you love Him? I am not talking here about a love that gives you a warm, cuddly feeling, or a love that is given only when you have time to spare. I am talking about a love that is like a FIRE that burns continually deep within your being (Song of Solomon 5: 10-16). This kind of love is so great that you would willingly die for that person. The Scripture above relates to the FLAMING HOT and PASSIONATE love-relationship that God desires to have with each of His sons and daughters.

In preparing this lesson, I decided to look up the Hebrew and Greek meaning of some key words within the above verses. As I did, Holy Spirit gave me new revelation of His Word. In the Old Testament we read that the sacrifice for the burnt offering was to be a male without blemish (Leviticus 1: 10). Male (to be mindful, bring to remembrance) and without blemish (entire, integrity, truth; uprightly “whole”). So, I understand this to mean that the sacrifice had to be PURE.

We then read that the inwards (heart, inward (self) thought) and the legs (from knee to ankle; to bend the knee, prostrate, bow) have to be washed (life; semen) first. This suggests that our heart and thought life must be humbly submitted to God to be filled with His LIFE. You see, the LOVE of God is not created; it is His very nature. When we receive the LIFE of Christ through faith, Holy Spirit begins to UNITE us with God so that His LOVE is demonstrated IN US! Holy Spirit also gives us revelation of God’s will and love through His WORD.

The priest (one officiating; chief ruler) then lays all of it on the altar (slay; kill) to be a burnt (stairs ascending; come up) sacrifice (slaughter flesh). I believe this refers to each of our OLD NATURES (basically the parts of our life we want to HOLD ON TO, even though we have supposedly died to them). We have been given “free will” so we are the chief ruler who makes an ACTIVE CHOICE about whether we will allow the slaughter of our FLESH NATURE. It is only when we choose to bow in submission to the Lord through our OBEDIENCE to what He CLEARLY states in His Word; and through PRAYER, that we will come up to the higher call God has placed upon our life. I believe this verse also alludes to whether we are willing to pay the COST of discipleship. Samuel 24: 24, “But the king (David) replied to Araunah, ‘No, I insist on paying you for it. I will not sacrifice to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.’ ” Jesus also addresses the COST of discipleship in Luke 14: 25-33.

The offering (something brought near the altar; a sacrificial PRESENT; to bring near, join) MADE BY fire (flaming; hot) is of a sweet (pleasant, delight; to rest, dwell) savor (odor, breathe, makes quick understanding) unto the Lord. This is so awesome I hardly know how to get the message to you. Our choice to passionately love God so much that we choose to slaughter our old nature is actually CAUSED BY HIM to JOIN US TO HIM! It is then with great joy that He comes and dwells (24/7) within us. As many of you already know; it is only when we live with someone that we really get to KNOW them!

The last line of verse 9 also says that the fire on the altar is burning all the time. To me this means that our “flesh” has to be continually slain; moment to moment. It doesn’t say that it’s totally gone in the first few flames; Oh, no! It can take a LIFETIME of continual burning to get rid of all of “self”. I love the last part, “and the fire of the altar shall be burning IN IT.” Daily, as we willingly CHOOSE to offer our lives (body, soul, and spirit) to be washed with His LIFE (Holy Spirit); His FIRE and PASSION will BURN IN US! Hallelujah! What a promise for those who CHOOSE TO BELIEVE!

The words in Romans 12:1, 2 confirm the Old Testament scriptures just spoken of. It says to present your bodies (as a sound “whole”; save SELF) a living (lifetime) sacrifice (slaughter for ANY PURPOSE; the ACT, or the VICTIM). The Word of God calls us to slaughter our SELF our whole lifetime; to be purified and ready to be used in whatever capacity He chooses. Sacrifice is an ACT, it has INTENT; we choose to do it. God waits to see if we will submit to being a burnt offering.

The end of verse 1 basically says that we aren’t doing Him a favor by offering our all to Him but, that it is our reasonable service. I believe this to be an important KEY to discipleship. I see that the offering of our self as a living sacrifice is actually RATIONAL WORSHIP. It is the highest form of worship we can give to God because it’s performed with the HEART, MIND, and SOUL of intelligent beings, in contrast to the worship of idols (Romans 1: 25).

Finally, I ask you to read John 17: 13-19; 1 Thessalonians 5: 19-24; Hebrews 13; 11-15; Titus 2: 11-15. JESUS was the perfect Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world. He was Himself an offering for us, an offering and sacrifice to God, for a sweet-smelling aroma. It is done; Jesus paid the price (sacrifice) for all! For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior; “We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the LIFE of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are ALIVE are ALWAYS being GIVEN OVER TO DEATH (dying to self) for Jesus’ sake, so that His LIFE may be revealed in our mortal body…” (2 Corinthians 4: 10-12). It is through our COMPLETE surrender and passionate love for Him that we then become transformed by a supernatural change in our spirits because we become totally ONE with Him. When we CARRY the continually burning FIRE OF HIS PRESENCE within us… we are truly His FIREBRANDS. Wherever we go, He goes with us, to ignite the world with a passion for more of Him.

“Are you a burning firebrand?”

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | September 12, 2014

FIREBRAND!


Firebrand: a burning stick taken out of the fire; a person who causes trouble (Oxford Dictionary).

Fire: In the Bible, fire often appears as a symbol of God’s presence and power (Genesis 15: 17-21). Fire worship was practiced and still is in many cultures (Deuteronomy 12: 29-32). In the Old Testament, fire and flame were closely associated with Israel’s worship and religious life. The consumption of offerings by flame assured them that God had accepted the people’s sacrifices (Leviticus Chap. 1-10; Judges 6: 18-22; 1 Kings 18: 25-40). There are numerous references to fire as a symbol of God’s judgment on wickedness and unbelief; God is as a “consuming fire” (Exodus 24: 15-18; Hebrews 12: 25-29). Fire is also pictured as God’s agent to purify and illuminate. The coming Messenger of the Lord is portrayed as a “refiner’s fire” (Malachi 3: 1-5). The tongues “as a fire” came with the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; reinforcing the purging and illuminating quality of God’s TRUTH (Acts 2: 1-8).

In the year 2002 God gave me the word firebrand and had me do a word study on it. I had never done a word study. I diligently looked up the word in the Concordance and read every outlined verse of Scripture. I went to every Scripture cross-reference and read each of them. After a couple of weeks I phoned a friend and asked her how long a word study was to take. Her wise response was, “Until you get the message God is trying to give to you.” Well, I eventually did get the message: “You are My firebrand; you are to go to those whose heart embers are dying and you are to stir the embers until they are red hot again (Revelation 2: 4-7). Then you are to pluck them out and scatter them and they will ignite a brushfire that shall consume the enemy before and around them” (Judges 15: 1-5). I was excited beyond measure, but found that weeks and months passed and nothing happened. I finally just packed the study away.

Years have passed and a lot has changed in my life since 2002. The Lord has taught me much about myself and I now realize that every day is time in training to become more like Jesus. He will place you in situations that will squeeze, stretch, pull apart, and burn the flesh right out of you. For many years I ran from Him in rebellion, but one day, He reached into the burning chaos of my self-made life and pulled me out.

Psalm 18 is one of my many “favorite Scriptures.” This written Word speaks of my life and perhaps yours as well. The verses that thrill me to the very core of my being are those that say God HEARS our cry and He LEAPS up to fly to our rescue: “…there went up a smoke out of His nostrils, and FIRE out of His mouth DEVOURED: coals were kindled by it (vs. 8). At the brightness that was before Him His thick clouds passed, hail stones and coals of FIRE. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Highest gave His voice; hail stones and coals of FIRE.” (vs. 12, 13) Then, some of the greatest verses of His love; verses 16-19, “He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me. They prevented me in the day of my calamity: BUT the LORD was my stay. HE brought me forth also into a large place; He delivered me, BECAUSE HE DELIGHTED IN ME.” Hallelujah…Oh what a SAVIOR!

Well, I made a PRO-CHOICE for Jesus and He now reigns as Lord of my life. It was for this very season in time that I was in preparation; because He is NOW using me as His BURNING STICK. I am one of many He has pulled from the fire of destruction and who are now causing trouble for the enemy… I am, you are, a FIREBRAND! In the above Scripture you see the FIRE is in His mouth; it is in ours as well… IF we are reborn and allowing His renewal in every part of our life. In Isaiah (Isaiah; Chap 6) verse 5, “Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” The Lord showed Isaiah his NEED for renewal and when Isaiah recognized his need, the LIVE COAL was laid upon his MOUTH by the seraphim and then the Lord said, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then said I (you), “Here am I; send me (us)” (vs. 8). In Revelation 19:15 it tells us of Christ’s return and the verse says, “And out of HIS MOUTH goeth a sharp sword, THAT WITH IT HE SHOULD SMITE THE NATIONS: and He SHALL rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Burning for Jesus Christ!

Burning for Jesus Christ!

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | September 5, 2014

THE LOVE OF GOD


“But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life” (Jude 20, 21).

The Bible is filled with passages telling us of God’s love (i.e. 1 John 3) for us; however, I believe that if I were to ask most Christians what they KNOW of God’s love for them, they would recite John 3: 16. I do not think that there are many of us who have learned what it is to be KEPT in His love. Being fully convinced of God’s unconditional love for us all the time (see Romans 8: 37-39) is one of our greatest weapons against Satan’s attacks in our daily life. In saying that, it should then be obvious that the enemy will do his best to make you doubt God’s love for you. There have been times in my own life when I have asked myself, “Do I just have religion rather than a relationship with my Father? Do I know about Him without really knowing Him?” God delivered His revelation to me through His Word and a brother in Christ and I feel it is worth sharing with all of you.

Jesus’ final prayer on earth (John 17) speaks clearly about the Father’s love; “Father, I will that they also, whom Thou (God) hast given Me (Jesus), be with Me where I am; that they may behold My glory, which Thou (God) hast given Me: for Thou (God) lovedst Me (Jesus) before the foundation of the world” (vs. 24). We KNOW God has no beginning and no end; He IS perpetual. Jesus was loved by the Father “always/forever” (hard to wrap our finite mind around this) and in His prayer Jesus went on, “That the love wherewith Thou hast loved Me may be IN THEM (you/me), and I in them” (vs. 26). Jesus is basically saying, “Father, I know You will love those I bring into My body, just as You have loved Me.” Therefore, when the Father loved Jesus in eternity, He loved us too (see Ephesians 1: 4-14)! God has always loved both His Son and us! (see Jeremiah 31: 3; 2 Thessalonians 2: 16)!

How long has God loved you, loved me? He has loved us forever, because GOD IS LOVE; it is His nature and He is the Beginning and the End. When will He stop loving you? He won’t ever stop; “Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour was come that He should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end” (John 13: 1). We need to GET THIS TRUTH deep into our spirit; for the knowledge of God’s love for us is our comfort and our strength in the trials and temptations of everyday life (1 John 4: 15-19). If we “dwell (stay in a state of expectancy) in God’s love,” we will keep ourselves in His love. His love is constant; His mercies are NEW every morning and He is faithful; the LORD is our portion therefore we will hope in Him (Lamentations 3: 21-26). Praise the Lord!

A great example of this is found in Jeremiah 31. Israel is in a backslidden state and yet God LOVES, “Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child? For since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still: therefore my bowels are troubled for him; I will surely have mercy upon him, saith the LORD” (vs. 20). “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee” (vs. 3).

Blessed be God, my Lord and Savior! How I love You, Lord, with an everlasting love! Amen.

Everlasting Love

Everlasting Love

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | August 21, 2014

THE BEAUTY OF HIS WORK

“To You, Father”

‘Father, I need you
I want to climb onto Your lap
And lean my head on Your shoulder
So that I can feel Your warmth, hear Your heartbeat
And as Your arms enfold me, reassurance will fill my soul.

Father, I feel Your peace
As I cling to You and listen to Your words of comfort
Knowing You love me and that You will never leave me
I rejoice and my heart swells with praise
I realize that I am beautiful and precious in Your sight.’

“Yet, O LORD, You are our Father, we are the clay, You are the potter; we are the work of Your hand. You fashioned me in Your likeness and knew everything about me before I was born; even knowing the exact time I would be born! You know the number of hairs on my head, when I sit down, or when I rise up. You know all my ways Father, even what my thoughts are before I speak. You are always with me Father. You know everything I am going through and when I will be going through it; you lift me out of the mud and mire and set my feet on firm ground. You are able to do anything Father; I am so glad I am Your daughter for nothing is impossible for You!” (Isaiah 64: 8; Genesis1: 27 & Ephesians 1: 11-12; Psalm 139: 1; Jeremiah 1: 4,5; Hebrews 10: 29-31; Acts 17: 26; Psalm 94: 11; Joshua 1: 5; Psalm 40: 2; Ephesians 3: 20; Luke 18: 27)

When we were preparing to go home to Canada this summer, I asked my heavenly Father to give me His assurance that all we were planning and doing was what He wanted. I asked Him to reveal Himself to me in such a way that I would have no doubt of His presence, protection, and favor over us on the journey there and back. We were on our way to Canada and were somewhere in Wyoming when we saw large dark clouds moving in ahead of us. There were many bolts of lightning throughout the sky, but as we drew ever closer, I noticed a rainbow forming to the left of the storm. Its colors continued to brighten and the rainbow spread across the sky and then suddenly, I saw the second one beginning to form. As I took the picture I thought of the beauty of God reflected in the rainbow! Also, we only had enough rain to clean the dust off our vehicle.

Six days later we were taking my son back to his place. We saw large black, ominous clouds forming in the distance. There was one particular cloud that had a smoky yellow color to it and the outside temperature was getting notably cooler. I suggested the possibility of its being filled with hail and when we got nearer to this cloud cover, we noticed that many cars were stopped and that there were piles of ice along the shoulders of the highway. We had narrowly missed being pelted by hail! As we drove on I looked off to the right and there was a huge and brilliantly colored rainbow and it was faintly spanning the sky. I pointed it out to my son and husband and as they were looking, a second one began to form. My heart sang as I recognized my Father was taking the time to me His handiwork (Psalm 19: 1); this was the second rainbow in the space of a few days!

About a week later, we were driving back to my parent’s home after a wonderful day of fellowship with them. They live in the flat, treeless prairies of Alberta so you can see a hundred miles or so with no view interruption! In the far distance the sky was very dark and the closer we got to their home, the blacker the clouds were. As we drove through a small community south of their place, the wind gusts blew toys, garbage, etc. from nearby yards and deposited them across the highway in front of us. The rain began to fall. I looked ahead and THERE in the sky above us was a brilliant rainbow that extended all across the sky. I pointed it out to my parents and my husband looked at it in disbelief (Ephesians 3: 20)! My parents were excited as they had never seen a rainbow when the clouds were still black and rolling. I just PRAISED my Father and with great JOY I thanked Him for the assurance of His presence as the second rainbow began to form (Psalm 37: 4; Philippians 2: 3)! Hallelujah!

God was not done; He never gets tired of blessing His children. 🙂 On our way back home, we were passing through Kansas. Yes, you guessed it! Up ahead I saw the rain coming down and noted that there were few dark clouds but the sun was shining in and around the few there were. I looked up and saw the most magnificent, brightly colored rainbow I have ever seen and it was a FULL rainbow; from one side of the sky to the other and YES, the second one was also present! I was filled with such a feeling of deep love and gratitude that my Father, for the FOURTH time on this journey, revealed His love for me through the gift of His creation (Jeremiah 32: 40; 33: 4; Matthew 7: 11; James 1: 17; 1 John 4: 16; 1 John 3: 1)!

Never forget that we have a Father whose very essence is “LOVE” and I want to tell you today, it is the enemy who makes us feel unworthy, worthless, untouchable, rejected, abandoned, friendless, unlovable, etc. God says, “I am a perfect Father; I am your provider and I meet all your needs; I love you with an EVERLASTING love; I rejoice over you with singing; My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore; for YOU are My treasured possession” (Matthew 5: 48; 6: 31-33; Jeremiah 31: 3; Zephaniah 3: 17; Psalm 139: 17,18; Exodus 19: 5).

Since this time three years ago, my father has died and my mother is in a home for the elderly. I treasure the special moments God gave to all of us on this final trip we made. As I re-read this message, it brought a deep joy to my heart and I continue to give my Father thanks for His love and blessing in all things!

God's Blessing

God’s Blessing

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | August 14, 2014

BUT GOD…


Many of you are going through very difficult times right now…some are stressed due to financial burden, job loss, emotional issues, illness, family crises, environmental destruction, or just waiting on God to move on your behalf; all around you are what seem to be “impossibilities!” I want to tell you about three men who were in the middle of impossible situations and I encourage you to follow up and read about them in greater depth.

JOSEPH is a man I feel faced great tests throughout most of his young adult life. From about 18 through to 30 years of age he spent the greater part of his time under house arrest or in prison. Yet, he never lost his faith in God and through it all God prepared him for his day of greatness (Genesis 38-48). My heart is moved when I read how Joseph treated his brothers who had wanted to kill him (45: 5, 7, 8) “…Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, BUT GOD: and He hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout the land of Egypt.”

DANIEL is another man that God used greatly, but Daniel was also one who faced great “impossibilities” during his life as a prisoner of war. Daniel never once gave up his personal love relationship with his heavenly Father. God was with Daniel and He shone through Daniel when Daniel was going through great testing and trials. King Nebuchadnezzar and Darius had their personal lives greatly impacted by Daniel’s God (Daniel 3: 25 – 4: 37; 6: 1-28). In Daniel 10: 11, 19 the Lord paid a personal visit to Daniel to tell him what was to happen in the distant future. He said to Daniel in both these verses, “O Daniel, a man greatly beloved…” God feels the very same about you, dear one.

The third example is SAUL/Paul who wrote the book of Ephesians while in a Roman prison. He wrote this incredible encouraging word while he was in the middle of his own “impossibility!” He encouraged us by saying in essence, “Now is the time, despite life’s difficulty, to consider the ABILITY, the GREATNESS, the GRANDEUR of my God!” Right in the midst of personal hardship he tells us about the “NOWNESS” of worshiping God. Friend, NOW IS THE TIME for YOU to experience the abundance and the fullness that God has come to give you in the face of your impossibility!

John 10: 10 tells us that the enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy! The promise of what Jesus tells us He has come to give, “I have come that they (YOU) might have LIFE, and that they (YOU) may have it more ABUNDANTLY!” Do you ever feel that you’re waiting on your circumstances to change before you will feel like you can experience God’s abundance? Do you think, IF I can just get out of this situation and into the next one, I just know God’s abundance will be waiting there for me?

The “abundant life” is NOT when no impossible situations occur and you’re experiencing peace, joy, and happiness. While that is always a nice place to be; true abundance is really seen when you’re sitting in a prison circumstance; when you are facing eye to eye, an impossible situation and right in the heart of your impossible, you experience the fullness of God! It is when you can sing and worship God (see Paul & Silas in Acts 16: 22-34) right smack-dab in the middle of the worst time imaginable!

You may be thinking that what I am telling you right now is totally impossible but, I assure you, GOD IS ABLE TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE for you; trust Him.

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | August 6, 2014

GRACE AND DISCIPLESHIP


“As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him” (Mark 2:14). Please go to Luke 9: 57-62 and read it as well.

So, what does it mean to follow Jesus? First, I want to state that I believe Christianity without the living Christ as Lord of your life is inevitably Christianity without discipleship, and Christianity without discipleship is always Christianity without Jesus Christ. Further to this, I believe that there are NO ‘half-way’ places in following Jesus; either you CHOOSE to follow, or you don’t.

In day to day natural life our ambitions are our own, but in the Christian life we can have no goals of our own. We often talk about our decisions for Christ, our determination to be good Christians, and our decisions for this and that, but in the New Testament the only aspect that is brought out is the compelling PURPOSE of GOD. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you…” (John 15:16). We are not taken into conscious agreement with God’s purpose—we are taken into God’s purpose with no awareness of it at all (Ephesians 2:8-10). The call of God can never be understood absolutely or explained externally; it is a call that is only perceived and understood by our true inner-nature; our spirit (John 16:12-15).

In Luke 9:57-62 Jesus says to those who have been called, “…No man, having put his hand unto the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Within these verses we see three examples of potential disciples that many of us were once like, or perhaps are one of them today.

The first disciple followed Jesus without waiting to be called (Hebrews 4:4-14). Jesus warned the disciple of the costs and with His warning revealed that no man CHOOSES such a life for himself. A man cannot call himself. There is a big gulf between a voluntary offer to follow and genuine discipleship. I frequently see this when counseling people in bondage to addictions. They ‘get clean’ and are on a high because they are going to ‘change their life’. They eagerly seek Jesus without first counting the cost. Soon, old friends check in and before you know it they are looking back into their ‘old lifestyle’ and many times end up back in it.

The second disciple wanted to bury his father first. He had become bound by the deception of the law (tradition, religion) and the law itself placed a barricade between Jesus and the man He called (Matthew 15:1-20). NOTHING, however sacred, can be permitted to come between Jesus and you. I believe I see this in the majority of churches today. We have man’s rules (their self-made doctrine) about when, why, how we PRACTICE worshipping our Lord. Soon, we look around and if another church is doing it ‘differently’; we judge and say they are wrong. Does this not remind you of the Pharisees in Jesus day? I call it religious pride, or the ‘religious spirit’.

Finally, the third disciple thought that following Jesus meant he must make an offer; like he did when planning his career. He wants to follow, but feels he must insist on his own terms; certain conditions must be fulfilled first (Luke 18:18-23). The “do this and then I’ll do that” mentality actually reduces discipleship to the level of a self-planned program we arrange to suit ourselves. WE WANT OUR OWN WAY. It’s the part of us that has not SUBMITTED to the reign of Jesus. It’s the part of us that remains in spiritual darkness and the degree we are in darkness means we experience that much less of Holy Spirit’s presence.

In reality, true discipleship can tolerate nothing that may come between Jesus and a follower’s OBEDIENCE (Matthew 10: 34-42; Luke 9:62).

Have you given Jesus Christ FIRST place in ALL areas of your life? (John 12:23-26)
“I am the Lord your God, A jealous God… “(Exodus 20: 1-6).

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | July 29, 2014

THERE IS POWER IN A LIVING TESTIMONY


“Give ear and come to Me; hear Me that your soul may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, My faithful love promised to David. See, I have made him a witness to the peoples, a leader and commander of the peoples. Surely you will summon nations you know not, and nations that do not know you will hasten to you, because of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, for He has endowed you with splendor. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us” (Isaiah 55: 3-5; 2 Corinthians 5: 20).

“Wherever you go, wherever you are, and in whatever circumstance you are in, does your life praise and serve the LORD?” I don’t often watch television, but last night I saw a commercial that really spoke to me. God will use whatever He desires to teach each of us about His kingdom and how it operates. The commercial revolved around various people helping others. Each person would “just do something” to help another person out and in every case, someone was watching their action. The person helping did not even realize s/he was being watched. I am convinced that it is in these unknown times that GOD is truly glorified. I am reminded of what Jesus teaches us in Matthew 6, “Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. … But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be done in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret will reward you” (vs. 1-4). I am not sure God wants us to THINK about which hand is doing what, etc., but that we would just DO THINGS spontaneously, out of true, unconditional love for Him and others. God’s kingdom law will always be opposite from what is perceived as “politically correct” in the world view (John 18: 36; 1 Corinthians 3: 18-20; 2 Corinthians 6: 15-18).

Many religious leaders questioned Jesus about the greatest commandment and I believe many of us ask Him the same questions today. Jesus says, “Love the Lord your God with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself…” (Matthew 22: 37-39). What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the LIVING God. As God has said: “I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people. Therefore, come out from them and be separate. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you” (Matthew 6: 15-17). Are you a LIVING testimony of Jesus (indwelling you) to the world about you or, do you “blend in with the crowd?”

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me” (Psalm 51: 10-12). Often our natural inclination is to please ourselves rather than God; our conduct (character and attitudes) is a dead give-away to the condition of our heart. I ask the LORD each day to purify my heart; to prepare my mind for right action; to be self-controlled, filled with His wisdom, and with His love.

Another issue that has come up at various times in my life is the feeling that I am just “going through the motions” in my daily walk with Christ. It is in these times that I will often find that I have not been in His word like I should have been and my prayer life was not at the level it needed to be. God wants me to be close to Him so that I may experience a full and complete life. My lack of initiative in communing with Him creates a chasm in our relationship. I take this opportunity to confess my need for Him in greater measure and for the JOY of His salvation. I ask that He will grant me willing and steadfast spirit to sustain me every moment of every day. We must ACTIVELY seek Him each day and His presence will be magnified in us and through us! “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men” (Matthew 5: 13).

“In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it. This third I will bring into the fire; I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on My name and I will answer them; I will say, ‘They are My people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God’.” (Zechariah 13: 8, 9; also Malachi 3: 2, 3) The third was a remnant, a small part of the whole. Throughout the history of Israel, whenever the whole nation seemed to turn against God, God said that a righteous remnant still trusted and followed Him. These believers were then refined like silver and gold through the fire of their difficult circumstances.

In the process of refining metals, the raw metal is heated with fire until it melts…do any of you feel as though you are melting? Well, if so, praise the LORD! The impurities separate from it and rise to the surface; they are skimmed off (Romans 10: 13; Psalm 103: 12), leaving the pure metal. Without the heating and melting there could be no purifying. When all the impurities are skimmed off the top, the REFLECTION of the worker appears in the smooth, pure surface. As we are purified by God, His reflection in our lives will become more and more clear to those around us. Our LIFE REFLECTS CHRIST! Hallelujah!

The LORD would say unto you…
“Love is not premeditated. It is spontaneous. When I build in you My character, it becomes your first nature. I am love—not in your heart naturally, but supernaturally. Trying to prove or defend your love is a sure sign it is lacking. The sign that you love Me is to obey Me. Bring yourself to judgment quickly. Be holy as I am holy. I would not ask it if it was not possible. Be whole…in every area of your being—body, soul, and spirit. Know My power will never fail. Be confident, for yours is to be a double portion.”

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | July 23, 2014

HOLD FAST TO YOUR HOPE


We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf having become a high priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. … In Him (Jesus) we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him (God) who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His (God’s) will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His (God’s) glory. And you were also included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed you were marked in Him (God) with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory. … Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Hebrews 6: 13-20; Ephesians 1: 11-14; Isaiah 40: 28-31).

Just the evening before, my husband and I were talking about the sudden death of a man who had no previous history of any major illness and I remarked, “None of us know the day or the hour that our life here will be over; all we have is this very moment” (see Luke 12: 40; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18). Throughout my years in healthcare, I have known many people who were suddenly faced with the loss of a loved one. I believe that the worst part of any death is if the deceased had not experienced the “blessed hope” of salvation and the guarantee of eternal life in and through Jesus, the Christ. There are millions in the world today who have not accepted the truth that Jesus is the way and the truth and the life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him (John 14: 6, 7) (also John 3: 16, 17; 5: 24- 27; 6: 40; 10: 28, 29; Romans 6: 23; Titus 3: 4-7; 1 John 5: 11, 12). Each of us so need to KNOW where we are in our personal relationship with Jesus.

So what is “HOPE?”

In the Bible, the word “hope” stands for both the act of hoping (Romans 4: 18; 1 Corinthians 9: 10) and the thing hoped for (Colossians 1: 5; 1 Peter 1: 3).

Hope does not arise from the individual’s desires or wishes but from God, WHO IS HIMSELF THE BELIEVER’S HOPE: “My hope is in You” (Psalm 39: 7).

Hope is a firm assurance about things that are unseen and still in the future (Romans 8: 24, 25; Hebrews 11: 1, 7).

Hope distinguishes the believer, in whom hope resides (1 Peter 3: 15; 1 John 3: 3) from the unbeliever, who has no hope (Ephesians 2: 12; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13).

Our hope comes from God, through His Word and His grace (Colossians 1: 23).

Hope is directed toward God (Acts 24: 15) and Christ (1 Timothy 1: 1).

Hope’s appropriate objects are eternal life (Titus 1: 2; 3: 7), salvation (1 Thessalonians 5: 8), righteousness (Galatians 5: 5), the glory of God (Romans 5: 2), the appearing of Christ (Titus 2: 13), and the resurrection from the dead (Acts 23: 6; 26: 6, 7).

Some people hope that they will receive eternal life, but our certainty is based on God’s promise that He has given us eternal life through Jesus, His Son. Whoever believes in God’s Son has eternal life (John 6: 40). Eternal life is not based on feelings, but on facts. You can KNOW you have eternal life if you believe God’s truth! You don’t need to wait for eternal life because it begins the moment you believe. You don’t need to work for it because it is already yours. You don’t need to worry about it because you have been given eternal life by God Himself and it is guaranteed! Hallelujah!

Holy Spirit is God’s seal that we belong to Him and His deposit guaranteeing that He WILL DO WHAT HE HAS PROMISED. The presence of God’s Spirit in us demonstrates the genuineness of our faith, proves that we are God’s children, and secures eternal life for us (Ephesians 1: 11-14). Holy Spirit’s power works in us to transform us NOW (2 Corinthians 4: 16-18; Titus 3: 3-7) and it is a taste of the total change we will experience in eternity. Praise God for what we have now and for what we are able to look forward to (2 Corinthians 5: 1-5; Hebrews 11: 24-26; 2 Peter 3: 11-14)! The HOPE we have is not some vague feeling that the future will be positive, but it is the COMPLETE ASSURANCE within us of CERTAIN VICTORY THROUGH GOD! May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15: 13). There is a brighter day ahead … can you see it, do you believe it?

The LORD would say unto you…
“Waiting, trusting, and hoping are intricately connected, like golden strands interwoven to form a strong chain. Trusting is the central strand, because it is the response from My children that I desire most. Waiting and hoping embellish the central strand and strengthen the chain that connects you to Me. Waiting for Me to work, with your eyes on Me, is evidence that you do trust Me. If you mouth the words, “I trust You” while anxiously trying to make things go your way, your words ring hollow. Hoping is future-directed, connecting you to your inheritance in heaven. However, the benefits of hope fall fully on you in the present. Wait expectantly, in hopeful trust” (S. Young)

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | July 15, 2014

YOU ARE A PRECIOUS JEWEL OF GREAT WORTH

PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT

PRECIOUS IN HIS SIGHT


I find myself frequently thinking, “Father, what is man that You are mindful of him? How insignificant we must seem and how can You be concerned about a people who constantly disappoint You?” Yet, He does care for us and He loves each one of us and in Psalm 8, man is pictured at the center of God’s creation; a little lower than divine (vs. 5, 6), but also having dominion over the creatures of earth, air, and sea (vs. 7, 8; see Genesis 1; Isaiah 35; 43: 1, 4, 7; Revelation 21: 1-4).

However; when we look to the New Testament it is confirmed that Christ Jesus is supreme over ALL creation, including the spirit world (Colossians 1: 15-20). Jesus is not only equal to God (Philippians 2: 6), He is God (John 10: 30, 38; 12: 45; 14: 1-11); as the image of the invisible God, He is the exact representation of God. He not only reflects God, but He reveals God to us (John 1: 18; 14: 9) and is the firstborn over all creation. God is not only the Creator of you and the rest of the world, He is also the Sustainer. In Him, everything is held together, protected, and prevented from disintegrating into chaos. None of us is independent from Him. We are all His servants who must daily (even moment to moment) TRUST Him to protect, care for, and sustain us.

When we look at the beauty of God’s creation all about us, many may feel they are of no use to the LORD, or that they have no worth in His eyes. This is just not so! You have worth because you bear the “stamp of the Creator” (Genesis 1: 26, 27)! God declared your personal value to Him long before you were even conceived; He thought about you and planned for you. It is hard to comprehend that He saw your whole life before Him (from start to finish) BEFORE He even began creating you! Is that not AMAZING?!

Your very life is a gift; it was a gift to your parents and then to all who have come to know you and will come to know you. You have purpose and destiny built into your core because He says so in His Word; “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” He CHOSE to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all He created (James 1: 17, 18; see 1 Corinthians 15: 20-28). Hallelujah!

If you have rejected Jesus as LORD of your life, it is never too late to experience the LOVE, PEACE, and JOY that His presence brings to every aspect of your life (John 3: 16, 17; 14: 6; Romans 3: 21-26; Galatians 2: 22-24; Ephesians 2: 1-10, 14-18). Repent and receive Him today! God knows your future and His plans for you are good and full of hope. As long as God, Who knows the future, plans your agenda and He goes with us as we fulfill His mission, we can be filled with wonderful expectancy. It does not mean we will be spared pain, suffering, or hardship, but we can TRUST God to see us through to our glorious conclusion (Jeremiah 29: 11-14; 2 Thessalonians 4: 16-18; Revelation 22: 1-5)!

I once managed a jewelry store and in that job I got to know a lot about precious stones (i.e. diamonds, emeralds, rubies, etc.). As I was thinking about how precious we are to God, I saw each of us as a unique gemstone of varying clarity and color, yet all of us having the same value in God’s eyes. In 1 Chronicles 29, king David tells us of his preparation in building the house of his God and in verse 2 he talks about parts of the temple to be made of gold, silver, iron, wood, and then of stones to be set, glistening stones, and of divers colors, and all manner of precious stones in abundance.

In Ephesians we read, “Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God’s people and members of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit” (2: 19-22). Peter tells us that “…as you come to Him, the living Stone – rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to Him – you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2: 4,5).

Our true value comes from being one of God’s children. Each of us are CHOSEN by God as His very own precious possession and we have been called to represent Him to others. In the end we will see a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth will be gone. We shall see and hear as John saw and heard, “…the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. … And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. … And the foundations of the wall of the city were garnished with all manner of precious stones. … And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple in it” (Revelation 21: 18-23). Hallelujah, what a day that will be!!!

The LORD would say unto you…
“I know the thoughts that I think toward you; thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected outcome. You are precious in My sight and you shine as a living, exquisite, and priceless jewel. You and many others are connected together to form My holy, spiritual temple. I will once more shake heaven and earth, the sea and the dry land; and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory! Yes, your eyes will see the King in His beauty; you shall see Him as He is and you will be satisfied, My child. I will dwell in you and walk among you; forever with you.”

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Posted by: dailywordofdestiny | July 6, 2014

FILL ME WITH YOUR GLORY!


“I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. And now, O Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with You before the world was … I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one.” (John 17: 1-5, 20-22).

What is complacent? It means: self-secure, content, self-satisfied, untroubled, unbothered, at ease. Basically, I’d say it is an issue of PRIDE, or the hardening of our heart. I asked my husband if he could give me a more workable definition and he related it to APATHY. Apathy is lack of interest, indifference, or insensibility to something; you just don’t care about it. Therefore, I would say that complacency is “caring about something, but not acting on it.”

I have been thinking about how this definition reflects on me personally and especially in relationship to my spiritual life. I think we often get “comfortable” with where we are; believing we have reached our destiny in Christ, so now we can kick back and wait for His glorious return. I refer you to Proverbs 28: 14, “Blessed is the man who always fears the LORD (doesn’t get comfortable, or take Him for granted), but he who hardens his heart falls into trouble” (see also Ephesians 4: 17; Hebrews 3: 7-15).

I have to confess that at times I become more complacent in my relationship with God. I do continue to read and study His Word, but I also find that I spend a lot of time thinking about spending more quality time with Father than actually DOING IT! I can become sidetracked with “busy things” like laundry, watching a movie, talking on the phone, writing letters, talking ABOUT Him, praying shorter “blanket prayers”, etc. rather than going to my secret place to just spend time with my Father and letting Him know how much I love Him. I find that when I am NOT spending time alone with the Lord, I become more distressed about things going on around me. Why? Because my PEACE, in any given moment depends on being in continual communion with my Father (Psalm 29:11; 34: 14; Song of Solomon 2: 15; Isaiah 32: 17; John 14: 27; 16: 33; Galatians 5: 22; Philippians 4: 7; Colossians 3: 15). I DO CARE ABOUT MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD, BUT PERHAPS I HAVEN’T BEEN PUTTING HIM FIRST. WHEN I HAVE NOT BEEN ACTIVELY SEEKING HIM … I become complacent! “LORD, forgive me.”

In Exodus 33, we read of how Moses would go to the tent of meeting outside the camp of Israel. When Moses went into the tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance, while the LORD spoke with Moses. The people of Israel would see the pillar of cloud and would stand at the entrance of their own tent and begin to worship. In verse 15 Moses says to the LORD, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that You are pleased with me and with Your people unless You go with us? What else will distinguish me and Your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?”

Moses ACTIVELY sought the LORD’s Presence and God met with Moses, face to face as a man speaks with his friend (vs. 11). That is what prayer is; communion with our heavenly Father.

And the Lord’s response to Moses was, “I WILL DO the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” What then did Moses reply? It is the very same thing that I ask of Him … “NOW SHOW ME YOUR GLORY” (Exodus 33: 17-23).

“LORD, forgive my neglect; change my heart LORD and revive my first love. I WILL eagerly seek You, Lord”

I KNOW I am forgiven; for where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And I know that my unveiled face reflects the Lord’s glory. That I am daily being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit (2 Corinthians 3: 17, 18; see also 1 Corinthians 13: 12, 13). If you have accepted Christ Jesus as Lord, so are you! Hallelujah!

The LORD would say unto you…

“I am present with you. With unveiled face, behold My glory and be transformed. Waver not as you are being molded to fit the vision. Do not despair or complain as you approach the Promised Land, but believe that the climb up the mountain will bring you to your inheritance. Fear not, advance, and possess the land! As you faithfully look to Me, you will know such an outpouring of My fullness and power, answers to prayer, and intimacy of discipleship, that your past knowledge of Me will seem meager. Do not fear, My glory will go before you and behind you.”

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