Month: June 2012

“Blessed are the pure in heart”

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“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”. – Matthew 5:8

I must see that my ways please the Lord. Even then I shall have enemies; and, perhaps, all the more certainly because I endeavored to do that which is right. But what a promise this is! The Lord will make the wrath of men to praise Him, and abate it so that it shall not distress me. When I meet death, who is called the last enemy, I pray that I may be at peace. Only let my great care be to please the Lord in all things.
– Charles Spurgeon

What a great privilege to know when we breathe our last breath here on earth that the next breath we will enter into is Heavens rest. The contamination of the sin that some harbor in their hearts is only leading them away from the presence of God rather than closeness and intimacy that you could not even imagine by being free from these pollutions.

What a pure heart person can see:

– The heart-pure person can see God in nature
– The heart pure person can see God in scripture
– The heart pure person can see God in his church family
– The heart pure person can see something of God’s true character.

What is in your heart?

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“In a World that will fail, His love will always remain.” 

You__me

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I am proud to introduce to my audience a new short series called “You__me” Big “Y” emphasizing God and little “m” to represent us, His body, the church. I hope these future series will bless you and further educate you in His Word. I will focus on one word throughout the coming weeks, so check back any chance you get!

                                                                                                          You anoint me

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed” – Luke 4:18 ESV

When you had that oil on you, you began to glow. It was those nice aromatic oils, those nice spicy oils that made a nice warm glow on your skin. If you rubbed it on your skin you began to feel warm, you began to glow. Why? Because God was using in the Old Testament, a type, a picture. The whole Old Covenant is a picture of what was to be fulfilled in the New. God was using a symbol, a picture in oil, of what He was to do with His Holy Spirit; that when His Holy Spirit would come upon people it would have that effect – a glow, a warm glow, a nice effect.

Anointing in the Old covenant

Judges 6:3 (paraphrased)

Gideon, this mighty man – the angel came to him to tell him that God had called him, and he was hiding away from the Philistines. The angel came and said, “God is with you, Gideon, you mighty man of valor.” And I think Gideon looked around and said, “Who are you talking to? Who me?”

“Yes you.”

“Me, a mighty man of valor?”

“No, you’re a little wimp, but I am going to make you into a mighty man of valor. Now the first thing you do is go down and cut down that idol that your father and his family are worshiping.”

So you know what this mighty man of valor did? He sneaked in at night when nobody was looking, and cut it down. But you see, he took a step in the right direction. And the Scripture says, “And the Spirit of God came down on Gideon.” Then he stood up and blew the trumpet! Well, you cannot hide when you blow a trumpet. Something happened to this little wimp when the anointing of the Spirit of God came on him. He had a new power, he had a new boldness. And he went and defeated the whole Philistine camp with 300 men. Talk about change! The anointing of God will do that to a person. It will bring change. It will bring power. It will bring strength, and it will bring wisdom and boldness.

Anointing in The New covenant

Jesus was speaking about a new kind of anointing. He was speaking about an inner anointing. He was speaking about an anointing that was for you, not for others but for you. It is for you to tap into yourself. It is for you to sink down your bucket and to draw from yourself. It is to tap into for your own needs; for your own thirst; for your own hunger, whatever your needs are. Jesus was offering a source, a power within that you can tap into yourself. He was speaking about a new kind of anointing. He was speaking about an inner anointing. How does that inner anointing come about? By the Holy Spirit coming to dwell within, not upon but within.

Differences between Old and New

Old Testament: Given to Select People Only

So we see there is a difference between the Old Testament and the New. In the Old Testament we see that they had an external anointing only. In the New Testament we see that believers still have the external anointing. But we have now a new power that has been placed within us that can gush forth from within.

In the Old Testament God gave His anointing only to selected individuals. In the New Testament, “Whosoever will may come.” Peter said, “This promise is to you and to all that are far off, and to your children, even to as many as the Lord our God shall call.” This promise is to everyone who accepts Jesus. This promise is to everyone who believes. This promise is to every single person who is born again of the Spirit of God.

New Testament: Given to all!

Acts 2:1-4 ESV

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

You don’t have to wait for God to say, “Well, you’re my favorite. I am choosing to give you this anointing.” You have a right to this anointing! Jesus paid the price. He shed His blood to give you this anointing. It is your right, it is your inheritance, and He has given you His robe of righteousness. And He has given you the right to reach out and to take what He has bought for you at Calvary. It is yours, believer. Every single one who knows Jesus as their Savior has the right to that anointing.

–          In the Old Testament the Spirit came upon. In the New Testament the Spirit is within.

Ezekiel 47

Ezekiel had a vision where he saw the temple and he saw from the threshold, the door of the temple and there was water pouring out, water trickling out in a stream. Everybody knows this passage so well, it has been preached so well. Everybody is talking about the river of God. “Get in the river.”

And the angel came and measured up, and each time he measured up the water became deeper. It started up to the ankles, then up to the knees, then up to the thighs. Then it became a raging river that you had to swim in. It is the river of God; it is the anointing of God. It is the power of God. It is the external anointing, the outpouring of God’s Spirit. You had to get in it.

A River in You

Well, the Old Testament saints had the river. They could get in the river. But I want to tell you something, if you are a New Testament saint you have a river in you! You can give out the river. You don’t have to go and get in the river; you can give out the river. “Out of his innermost being,” Jesus said, “shall flow rivers …”

~ Be Ready, Stay Focused & Never Look Back ~

Take the Step

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Water scares me, I remember when I was a little child being on vacation I would dred the pool at the hotel. The colossal, blue chlorinated waters that I thought was deeper than the oceans! I would sit on the edge looking out as my father would be in the deepest part calling out to me to come to him. Scared and unattentive to his voice I would not go in. Even though i had numerous flotation devices I could not bear the thought of having just one being punctured or slipping off and drowning before my dad would bring me back up. With all the thoughts playing in my mind, I trusted in him, if I was to have any complications from getting to where he was, I knew he would help me.

Let’s face it, we all have fears. Situations that come up can be an example of that dreadful pool, we don’t want to jump in because IF we do, what would happen? We start imagining scenario’s that we base our feelings off of, and we all have that question. Who can I trust to help me through this?

As my father was calling my name to come to him, I was focusing on the outlook, Instead of the outcome. Deep waters= drowning. My thought of the floaters disappeared. I had protection on, nothing could stop me unless i have gave up!

He has equipped every one of us who He calls His own to make it to the finish line. I still wear floaters! Spiritually speaking. I can’t make it without His help, I’m a hopeless, weak, little man that is not worthy of His floaters.

I CAN’T DO THIS

So many without the floaters have tried to make this life’s journey, but in the end has cost them their life. His protection is free, His Salvation, His grace & mercy all begin to work once we step out into the deep and keep our outlook on Him instead of the problem, and our outcome will be in His arms.

He calls us out every day, the fear of rejection about telling your co-worker about telling the Truth, that situation in your life that you can’t seem to have victory in. Or the one that has done you wrong so we hold a grudge and over time our heart gets harder because of the bitterness that has not been dealt with.

YOU CAN DO THIS

We can’t give up, we’ve gain to much too loose.

Philippians 3:13

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead”

Are you as close today as the Father longs for you to be? What step do you need to take.

God is calling us to “come closer” what is your outlook?

~ Be Ready, Stay Focused & Never Look Back ~

The Armor

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Strength. Courage. Boldness. All are desirable attributes for a warrior fighting on the battlefield, but how important are they in our everyday lives? Absolutely essential! The truth is, God designed us for war and equipped us to engage the enemy on the spiritual battlefield every day of our lives.

 

We are never out of the reach of temptation. Both at home and abroad, we are liable to meet with allurements to evil; the morning opens with peril, and the shades of evening find us still in jeopardy. They are well-kept whom God keeps; but woe unto those who go forth into the world, or even dare to walk their own house unarmed. Those who think themselves secure, are more exposed to danger than any others. The armor-bearer of Sin is Self-confidence. Be not secure. We need, a watchman for the night, as well as a guardian for the day. Oh, for the constraining love of Jesus to keep us active and useful! – Charles Spurgeon

THE WALL

A warrior never lets his guard down outside the city walls. The watchmen never gets restless as he is looking out onto the horizon for a  possible attack from the enemy. The town folk inside these walls are feeling secured. The result, a unified, protected city with walls that cannot be penetrated. Think again. The enemy is not going to attack from the front gate, he is searching for a weak spot outside the walls that have been left unattended for him to come through. Are you protected?

 

The Full Armor

We all have loop holes, parts of the wall which in our life that are weak. We may try to patch the holes, repair it. May work for a little while but will soon find out that we are not able too.

 

Solomon who was the wisest man in the Bible (before Jesus) who wrote in Proverbs 25:28 ” A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.” If we do not fix what needs to be fixed its condition gets worse and worse until it reaches its breaking point. The city that thought it was so secure is now in havoc due to its carelessness of the condition that the walls were in. Our armor of “willpower” is defeated when we face the enemy on the outside trying to stop this force from coming in, we are destroyed.

 

Are we wearing all of the armor?

 

TRUTH

” Stand firm then, with the belt of Truth buckled around your waist.” Ephesians 6:14

This belt was foundational for battle. In short, it supported the weapons that allowed the soldier to fight. The belt is a reminder that Jesus is the foundation for spiritual battle. He is the Truth that stands against all lies and deception of satan. “Jesus is the way and the truth” – the very basis for life. To win our spiritual battles our fight must be anchored to the Truth found in Jesus alone.

 

BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

“…with the breastplate of righteousness in place…” Ephesians 6:14

The function of the breastplate was simple – to protect the soldier’s vital organs. In close hand-to-hand combat the breastplate was essential for survival. No trained soldier would venture into battle without it. If we start to believe that our own righteousness, effort, or good works can make us worthy of God’s protection, the advantage quickly changes to benefit our enemy. Our righteousness is worthless in the battle. We need to get our eyes off of ourselves and back on the provision of the Cross and the Righteousness that is found in a true relationship with Jesus.

 

SHOES OF READINESS & PEACE

“…and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the Gospel of Peace.” Ephesians 6:15

Without this, we cannot be prepared to fight. Paul tells us that our preparation for battle is the Gospel. The work of Jesus here on Earth brought us peace with God. This reconciliation through Jesus allows us to fight with boldness, confidence, perseverance, and peace.

 

SHIELD OF FAITH

“In addition to all of this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16

The only protection against the flaming arrows that rained down from the sky in ancient warfare was the shield. If used correctly, it was a trustworthy piece of equipment. If dropped, it became useless and the soldier’s fate rested with himself. We trust in Jesus alone as our shield. We cannot rely on our own abilities in this battle.

HELMET OF SALVATION

“Take the helmet of Salvation…” Ephesians 6:17

The helmet was essential for the survival of a soldier in battle. Paul in using word “Salvation” indicates that the helmet is a source of total deliverance. In Jesus, we can find deliverance in every situation, spiritual, emotional and physical. He has to be our source, our guide, our “way out”. We cannot deliver ourselves.

THE SWORD

“…and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God.” Ephesians 6:14

When used at a close range by a skilled soldier, the Sword was a deadly weapon. Paul tells us that the sword represents the Word of God, the written picture of Jesus. He is the living version of everything God wanted to say to mankind, God’s Word is a powerful weapon against our enemy when it’s used under the spirit’s power and direction.

A lot of equipment for us to wear everyday, BUT Through Christ all things are possible.

~ Be Ready, Stay Focused & Never Look Back ~

SELF

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Compassion Chills on Mount Everest

In 1953, Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay climbed the 29,035-foot peak of Mount Everest. Thousands followed, thanks to Nepal’s lifting its tight restrictions on climbing the legendary mountain. By 2006, more than 2,700 people had reached the summit of the world’s tallest mountain, many paying more than $60,000 for the experience.

One result of this commercial influx has been the erosion of the traditional moral code of mountaineering. In the rush to the top, amateurs who have paid a fortune will do anything it takes to get to the summit, including abandoning other climbers.

David Sharp became a casualty in March of 2006. The thirty-four-year-old engineer from Cleveland managed to reach the summit on his own. However, he ran out of oxygen on the way back down. As he lay dying, forty climbers passed him by, too eager to achieve their own goals to take a chance on offering their oxygen to someone else. David Sharp froze to death.

Ed Viestrus, who has scaled fourteen of the world’s eight-thousand-meter peaks, says passing people who are dying is not uncommon. “Unfortunately, there are those who say, ‘It’s not my problem. I’ve spent all this money, and I’m going to the summit.’ ”

This attitude has produced disgust in many climbers, including Sir Edmund Hillary. “On my expedition, there was no way you’d have left a man under a rock to die,” he said.

 — “The Crowd on Mount Everest,”     The Week (June 30, 2006)

We are living in times where SELF is rapid
Our journey in life is quite an expedition, but have we left something back at the camp that we should have brought with us?

Big I little u.

 It’s all about ME, so what, for what others need. As long as I am satisfied I will keep doing what I have always done, and that is pleasing Myself, My life, My way. Sin? Yeah so what, everyone sins, “we’ve all fallen short of the Glory.” so why should I be worried? God loves Me, that’s all it matters I can live the way I want to live. I’m not on drugs, or alcohol, I have good morals. I can fight My own battles in My life. I’ve done it before. But sometimes I lose, I try so hard I give up. I need help. I thought I could do this Myself, but after my trials i find myself asking questions like ” Who is there to help” or “It’s just part of life” i wish someone could understand what’s going on.

Self-Reliance is inculcated as a moral virtue, and in a certain sense, with due surroundings, it is so. Observation and experience show that it is a considerable force in the world. He who questions his own powers, and does not know his own mind, hesitates, trembles, falters, fails; his diffidence is the author of his disappointment. The self-reliant individual hopes, considers, plans, resolves, endeavors, perseveres, succeeds; his assurance of victory is one leading cause of his triumph. A man believes in his own capacity, and unless he is altogether a piece of emptiness he gradually convinces others that his estimate is correct. – Charles Spurgeon
“Pride comes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall” – Proverbs 16:18
Let’s face it, WE get in the way of HIM. We try so hard to do so many things to fulfill OUR needs. That we depend on self so much that we lose focus. Is He real in our life, or is it just something we do?
2 Tim 3:1-4

1 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty.
2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy,
3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good,
4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.
SURRENDER
Tough words but true. We must surrender everything. The One essential survival gear is in the hearts of those who had cried out to Him to be saved from the treacherous mountain that they were once on, facing death, an irrevocable place called Hell.
“And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12
~ Be Ready, Stay Focused & Never look Back ~

Abiding in the Son

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Abiding in the Son
June 2, 2012″Indwelling heat. Not till the sun enters in, and abides in the soil, not till days and nights are struck through with warmth, is their life and glory. If this be so of the lower physical nature, how much more eminently it is true of the human soul, and of its Sun of Righteousness! It is a gladsome thing in toil and trouble, to have a single bright flash from the face of God. A prisoner in a dungeon may have but one small window, and that far up, and out-of-the-way of the sun, while for months and months not one single day does the yellow sun send one single and solitary ray through the poor little window. But at length, in changing its place in the heavens, there comes a day in which, to his surprise and joy, a flash of light springs through and quivers on the wall. It vibrates upon his heart still more tremulously than on the wall. Even thus much gives joy. It warms nothing, and lights but little; but it brings back summer to his soul. It tells him that the sun is not dead, but walks the heavens yet. That single ray speaks of fields, of trees, of birds, and of the whole blue heavens! So is it, often, in life. It is in the power of one blessed thought, in a truly Christian heart, to send light and joy for hours and days. But that is not enough. It is not enough for Christian growth, or Christian nourishment, that despondency sometimes hopes, and darkness sometimes smiles into light. A Christian is to be a child of light, and to dwell in the light. The whiteness of heavenly robes is the light which they reflect from the face of God. A Christian is to bear much fruit. This he cannot, unless he abides in summer.” – Henry Ward Beecher

I was having a conversation one day with a dear saint of mine. We had gotten on the subject of getting too much sun; Resulting in sun burn. With her having Psoriasis (a terrible skin disease that if left untreated can cause incomprehensible conditions) she was beginning to tell me the best “medicine” In order to “fight” the disease; She had built a dog pin with high fencing with tarps all around blocking out any unwanted viewing of her soaking up the sun in her backyard nude. “It’s the best remedy she was telling me, anytime the sun is out i am out there in my dog pin, it’s just me and God, no one else around.”

Then thoughts started fluttering my mind. How much “sun” are getting? We all don’t have Psoriasis , but we have those struggles in life-like her rashes that come up and are visible to the surface of the skin if we don’t treat them with the Son. Are we letting the Son take care of this before it surfaces? Are we letting that anger control us to the point where we lash out at others around us just because we are stressed out at home? That tongue that speaks lies and is deceiving? To let lust control your eyes? Un-forgiveness towards another? Are we abiding in the Son?

John 15:9 “…abide in my love”
Definition of Abiding – 1. Lasting a long time; enduring 2. To wait patiently; withstand
John 15:4,5 “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
It’s almost summer, time to start planting those gardens and hoping to bear a lot of cucumbers, tomatoes or anything you like. Have you ever thought about not using any sunlight? Why no! It is Impossible to grow plants without any sunlight, they require the Sun and us humans require the Son.
John 15:6 “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.”
No Sun, no fruit
Without the Sun, no fruit can be brought forth, without Him in your life, no fruit can be brought forth that is good. Are you bearing good fruit? Are you alive in Him?
Know the Son, have eternal life.
No to the Son, no to eternal life.
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
We have all tried being the best we can be, but we have all found out, without the help of God, everything is impossible. But with God, anything is possible. Let’s let the Son work in us so He can get the best out of us!
Be Ready, Stay Focused & Never Look Back