When Is It My Turn?

For many it’s called the waiting game. I like to call it the unbelief that has settled in the hearts of many Christians. What do I mean? Many Christians have dis-valued the power of God of His healing power, promises and His authority. How? This generation has become impatient, lazy and expect miracles to happen overnight. God never changes, God doesn’t compete with us, and He never will. For some, many people test the Lord, they do things that so they think “make” Him respond of the situation. This can dangerous, and very stupid. We have to realize the character of God and to know that He sends us what we need, when we need it and the time that He allows it to come into your life. We can’t rush God to do things. God’s delivery system is called faith, and without it, no man can please God. Take a look in the book of John 5. A man who had an infirmity for 38 years, who was bedridden, and not able to walk, until one day.

 

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

 

They once were the first ones to the altar to have prayer; first to stand and worship after offering was taken; first to shake hands to the people around them. Now they are the first ones out the door. Months, maybe years has passed. The miracles, and healing’s that they had read over and over in the Bible; the countless testimonies that they have heard; The hands that have been laid on them for the miracle and healing and has not yet seen manifested in their own life. They desperitly need a miracle but nothing has happened yet. The lies of the enemy has been planted. Now they begin to have thoughts “Does God love me?” “Does God still perform miracles?” “Is there a God”. Yes! Yes! and Yes! The man who once laid for 38 years at the gate by the pool of Bethesda had the same thoughts. When is it going to be my turn? Why are all these around me have gone before me and received their healing? Think of how many people in his time of laying their being the spectator instead of the participant has seen others be healed. They stepped in as a diseased, lame, blind or paralyzed body but came out healed; a miracle had just happened in their life. 

 

“Our disability has no excuse for His ability”

 

From the age of 9 I knew God had big plans for me. The scripture that the Holy Spirit had gave me at that age was the discussion at the burning bush when Moses fights with God as to say he is slow of speech, that he is not able to do what God is calling him to do. I too was a Moses.

I had always dreamed of preaching in front of people. The messages that God would give me before I was even called at the age of 22 was like a fire that was shut up in my bones, but boldness I did not have. I too was frail and paralyzed by fear. The moments that led to where I am at today had to take radical, daring faith outside of my comfort zone.

Maybe this man had given up, maybe at one time he was near the pool, but he had said to his friends “Just put me over there away from the water”, “I’m never going to be healed”, “It’s not my time.”

What’s keeping you from the water?

 

His ability can overcome our disability, it takes faith, just a little faith.
One day, a man who he had never seen before. Maybe he had heard of Jesus, the news about Him being the Messiah, this so called Son of God according to the Pharisees. He found out that He truly was the Son of God, the prophecy that was spoken by Isaiah ” This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah “He took our illness and bore our diseases.” – Matt 8:11

“Take up your bed and walk”

When we rely on the natural instead of the spiritual, the doctors instead of the Lord, medicine instead of the Holy Spirit. We become less dependent on the Lord. Don’t get me wrong, doctors and medicines are a gift from God but we should never come to a point to where we totally depend on them. This man relied on the waters to heal him, but when he had the personal touch from Jesus his whole life changed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Withholding the Promise

1 Samuel 16

 

It is not of God’s nature to withold any promise, but we must wait on Him and not rush His plans that He has for us.

David Anointed King

The LORD said to Samuel, “How long will you grieve over Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons.” And Samuel said, “How can I go? If Saul hears it, he will kill me.” And the LORD said, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.” Samuel did what the LORD commanded and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, “Do you come peaceably?” And he said, “Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the LORD. Consecrate yourselves, and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to the sacrifice.

 

  1. Sanctify Yourselves

God has to set you apart in order for Him to set you up. You may look on the outside thinking more about the delay but He is preparing you to do a mighty work for Him. Don’t focus on the issue focus on His calling.



When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the LORD’s anointed is before him.” But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

 

  1. Look at the Heart

We tend to look on the outside of a person and not the heart, we are so good at noticing the small things, their failures, their habits. But are we praying for them or just observing? Just imagine how useful we would be if we had the eyes of God instead the eyes that judge.

Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” Then Jesse made Shammah pass by. And he said, “Neither has the LORD chosen this one.” And Jesse made seven of his sons pass before Samuel. And Samuel said to Jesse, “The LORD has not chosen these.” Then Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all your sons here?”

 

After the seven sons had passed by Samuel, there were none to anoint.

Just when you think God has forgotten about you. He see’s your heart and knows when to deliver what needs to be delivered at the right time! Don’t be sitting at the table waiting…get back to work being a labour of the harvest.

 

And he said, “There remains yet the youngest, but behold, he is keeping the sheep.” And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and get him, for we will not sit down till he comes here.” And he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy and had beautiful eyes and was handsome. And the LORD said, “Arise, anoint him, for this is he.” Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers. And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. And Samuel rose up and went to Ramah.

The only son that is left is David, a short, handsome looking man that is raggidy and not presentable to be a king but God sees differently. Are we busy when God is looking for us? Does He have to call for you or are you at the table?

 

Relationship Application:

It’s so easy to rush God’s plan; so tempting just to find that girl on your own or choose the career that you’ve always dreamed of. But what about waiting on God to call you, so set you up, to deliver whatever desire you have on your heart. My prayer always is “God please never let me step out of your will.”

Discussions/Questions

The door that David opened was to be opened only to go into the house to meet Samuel. How many times have we opened doors on our own and found out that there was no table to dine with God?

Challenge:

Pray.

G

Recall What God Remembers

 

“I remember the devotion of your youth,
    your love as a bride,
how you followed me in the wilderness,
    in a land not sown.” – Jeremiah 2

 

Am I as filled to overflowing with love for Jesus Christ as I was in the beginning, when I went out of my way to prove my devotion to Him? Does He ever find me pondering the time when I cared only for Him? Is that where I am now, or have I chosen man’s wisdom over true love for Him? Am I so in love with Him that I take no thought for where He might lead me? Or am I watching to see how much respect I get as I measure how much service I should give Him?

Every day we have is a chance to grow closer to Him, what area is keeping you back from pursuing Jesus?

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.” – Hebrews 12:1

As I recall what God remembers about me, I may also begin to realize that He is not what He used to be to me. When this happens, I should allow the shame and humiliation it created in my life, because it will bring godly sorrow, and “godly sorrow produces repentance…”(2 Corinthians 7:10).

G

 

The Crossing

the crossing

Gods promises are sure, always faithful, never failing.

Do you have an impossible situation?

I don’t know about you but I prejudge a lot of things from small things to big things. I put to much thought sometimes before I do something. We tend to look at situations in the flesh more than the spiritual, I do at least. When God was preparing His people to cross the Jordan River, the people was told to prepare themselves. I believe if we spend enough time in prayer we won’t be surprised when those trials come, we learn the heart of God and the meaning behind the unseen circumstances, not fully but by faith. 

Let’s imagine ourselves at that time. The Jordan River how big it was and not just that but scripture tells us that the river overflowed its banks. As the children of Israel was preparing to cross the Jordan, they must’ve been afraid. Not ever in the history has the river been flooded, Why? How could this have been? God was about to show just how powerful He could be during this time. 

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning and they set out from Shittim. And they came to the Jordan, he and all the people of Israel, and lodged there before they passed over.

I want to stop and add this. Before we have victory over a situation, I believe God sometimes will set a time of rest before we receive the victory. They were there three days before they passed over. Not always will He do this. During this time, God will take the brokeness and mend our hearts, during this time He will speak to us more than ever, if we just listen.

At the end of three days the officers went through the camp. And commanded the people “As soon as you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God being carried by the Levitical priests, then you shall set out from your place and follow it. Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

” And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.” – Joshua 4:17

Relationship Application

God has went before us, He knows our lives better than we know ourselves, He knows our thoughts and motives, He knows our desires. One thing we can’t let ourselves do is letting our emotions, our fleshly desire to take control over our lives. If the Bible makes it clear that being controlled by the spirit is so vital, what prevents so many of us from fully surrendering ourselves to the Holy Spirit?

Discussions/Questions

Are there any “jordan rivers” in your life?

Is their an area in your life that you are doubting God?

Challenge:

I challenge you to fully surrender to God this day and this week. We can become so passive minded to the “little” things in our lives but God is just as mindful of those than the big issues in your life. Tell Him whats on your heart, how you feel about the situation and I promise you that His Holy Spirit will guide you as you lean on Him.

G

 

 

Living With Intentions

In the book of Habakkuk, which is a book that everyone skips because there are only 3 chapters it can be easily missed. We see Habakkuk’s heart and the complaining that Habakkuk is portraying to God. Habakkuk is seeing all this evil and corruption and is asking God “how much longer are you going to let this go on?”

We will never know God in our lifetime. We can know his attributes of His character, such as His love, grace, mercy, etc. But while us humans are finite (with limits and boundaries) God is infinite (without limitations or boundaries) we can only have faith in Him. But as we read the chapter of Habakkuk, he is having a hard time trusting in God, we see the heart that Habakkuk has. With his intentions we begin to see the true character play out before us. Habakkuk was starting to doubt God.

Every Christian has questions that they are waiting to be answered by God. Will we have those questions answered in our lifetime? Maybe, Maybe not. But does that mean we should give up and walk away, like a child who doesn’t get their way we should have a pity party? If we live a life on intention that is fueled by the Holy Spirit we won’t have those moments where we want to give up. If we begin to set time apart from our own little crazy world and let down our guard for the Holy Spirit to work in every detail of our attitudes, motives, and of course our intentions we will begin to think more clearly and deeply, thus resulting in a strengthened, changed relationship with our Father.

I have a heart for the lost, I cannot empower others, tell others, live a life that shows the character of God if myself is not empowered by the Holy Spirit. If I were not living with intentions it would be impossible. My prayer lately has been “let me have more of you Lord!” As I begin to pray that God answers back with “Let Me have more of you.” As John writes in the third chapter “He must increase, but I must decrease.”

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RELATIONSHIP APPLICATION:

God speaks to us is many ways, through prayer, a Word of knowledge, or just by reading His Word. Just as Jesus was in Capernaum, He had to have some alone time with His Father. While everyone was brought to Him to be healed, He needed to be strengthened. We need not to neglect the one thing. Intimacy.

DISCUSSIONS/QUESTIONS:

The result of living with intentions fueled through spiritual intimacy will change your world and the world around others. It will bring you to new levels of intimacy as you are fueled by the Holy Spirit. And ask yourself

Am I living a life of intentions fueled by the Holy Spirit?

CHALLENGE:

I challenge you to start taking time out of your hectic schedule to get away with God, if its only for an hour.

G

The Finish Line

the finish line

Can you finish a race by only running half way? I’m afraid not.

What about running without endurance? Nope.

Neither can you live a Christian life and not give all to Jesus.

It was a night that I had prayed for bondage’s to be broken in the church, you know those “pet sins” that we tend to keep a hold of, I know it’s not a prayer that most people pray but that night God had put that on my heart. I prayed and sought the face of God that evening. Later when I was in bed about to fall asleep. The Lord spoke and said,“Many of my people are only going half way in their walk with me. They’ve forgotten what I have done for them and turning to other gods. But those who choose to seek Me shall find their strength in Me.”

In a race we have two options. Run with perseverance or just jog. There is no in-between and living for Jesus there is no in- between.

“So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.” – Rev. 3:16

It’s impossible to finish a race half way, we’ve got to run and not get weary.

“You were running well. Who hindered you from obeying the truth?” – Gal 5:7

The number 1 tactic that the enemy uses is distractions. There everywhere! You always have something else to do when your doing a work for the Lord. Whether its Bible study or picking your kids up from a game. There is always going to be something that catches our attention.

I used to get so distracted by doing unnecessary jobs that I thought were important. Now I look back and think to myself “why?” The enemy is a master at creating distractions around your environment.

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Are you not running the race well? Something hindering your walk? Maybe it’s the hurdles that keep you from running with endurance. Don’t lose hope! When your struggling, submit to God by asking for His help.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” – 2 Cor. 12:9

GFJ

Authenticity

Mirror or Masquerade?

woman-hiding-behind-mask

Romans 12:2

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good and acceptable and perfect will of God”

Let’s take a look at the definitions of the word conformed and transformed.

 Conformed– to put on a mask and attend a party or masquerade. It is to act in such a way as to misrepresent one’s true inner nature.

Transformed– One’s outward actions represent an inner change in the essential nature of a person.

The question must be asked of every Christian. “Does my life mirror the Christ within me, or is it a masquerade on display to the world around me?” The authentic leader does not “put on” false pretenses. He or she is transparent, seeking to mirror the very character of Christ in everything, and open to change if so prompted by the Holy Spirit. This daily process of experiencing Scripture transforms the mind and heart through a deeper understanding of what it means to be in Christ.

Are You Authentic?

I do not like fakes! What am I talking about? Fake products that advertise “Authentic”. I have shopped eBay one time for what I thought was a “authentic” Otterbox but soon found out it wasn’t. The material was not the same as what the picture was, the seal that keeps it waterproof wasn’t the same material as the real thing. The so called “authentic” Otterbox wasn’t the real deal. The outside looked good! Good enough to say it was authentic but the inside portrayed a different story.

Many Christians today have an appearance of Godliness, but on the inside there hasn’t been a transformation that has took place. They walk around with a mask.

Each of us has to choose between conforming to the culture and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. One mirrors the world and one mirrors the spirit of Christ. One pretends to be a lover of Christ and presents an authentic life, one of the most important and attractive characteristics of a Christian.

People are not wanting what the world has. They have questions, they have pain and hurt just as much as Christians do but they need to know who God is and who can be with them in their time of pain and trials. We cry out to Abba father, who are they crying out to? Are you wearing a mask? Or living a fruitful life before others and before God. It’s a choice we make and the choice has to be answered everyday.

GFJ