Growing In Glory!

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Inspired Prayer

Colossians 1:1-14 (NLT)

How often do we pray for others? I can sadly say for myself not near enough. I talk about others, think about others, but pray? The moment I begin praying for others I see things differently, the Holy Spirit gives me inspired words, and I now have a complete different perspective. Do we really want the best for those around us, do we want their situations to turn around, then how we best help is simply to pray.

Paul writes that he and his disciples always pray for the Colossians in 1:3, giving thanks for them. It is hard at times to give thanks for those close to us, they irritate us for we see their flaws, and therefore at times just don't like them. Giving thanks reminds us of the good qualities which we can easily forget, it helps us see people as our Heavenly Father sees them. A parent sees their own kids with a higher regard than other people, we need the Fathers view of his children.

Paul's prayers had commonalities, to grow in the love of God and the knowledge, wisdom and understanding of His will. This reminds me of YWAM's mission statement "to know God, and to make Him known." These two aspects take care of everything else Paul prays in Colossians 1, "that they will honor God and be strengthened to endure all present challenges." You cannot have one without the other, if we are growing in the love of God and are walking in His will then we are honoring God and have His power to overcome.

Prayer is not speaking in agreement what our natural eyes perceive, that is just gossip, it is speaking in agreement with the heart of God, releasing the will of Heaven to supersede the reality present on earth.

"What goes up, must come down," this is true physically, but prayer is a spiritual thing, and for heaven to respond to our prayers they must be spirit led. I can not move God no matter how long I pray, how repetitive I am, if I cry and beg, what moves God is His will. His spirit inspires our heart with His will and we speak forth and then God's kingdom comes, His will is done here on earth as it is in Heaven.

Friday, May 17, 2013

The Real You

I was once a very confused person. I wanted to be one thing, then I wanted to be another, and then another. I followed the latest whim of what I thought would make me successful and bring fulfillment. I was shaped by my ever changing environment.

We are all products of our environments. Many of us play the chameleon we adapt to whatever environment we are in. This may help us win the game of survivor but will cause identity crisis in the game called life. We play the role of Christian around Christians, we play the role of skeptic around skeptic, or drunk around drunk, etc.

The bible says "a double minded person is unstable in all their ways." An unstable person is up and down, in and out, they seem fine one moment, and suddenly they lose it the next. They start things but don't finish. You cannot expect much from them because of all their uncertainty. Yet I know lot of us Christians that walk this way!

If we are really serious as it says in Colossians 3:1-2 about living a new life in Christ. We need to pursue Him and Him alone. Our life is no longer about mere survival just trying to get though our present circumstances but rather it is about pursuing the will of God, seeing how our circumstances are part of His great big plan.

We need to see from above! Our perspective means everything! As long as we are grounded our present circumstances limit what we can see and therefore do. You see how weather can so change things. So can we change our environment when we dwell in Heavenly places. We have something to offer that the world cannot give, we are change agents.

Yes we are all born into sin, but we have been born-again, we have the Holy Spirit now who is recreating us into are true identity, stripping away lies replacing them with truth. Each day we have a choice how we see the world, we can see through our human eyes which is bound to an earthly limited deception or we can see through spiritual eyes from a heavenly unlimited reality.

The story of Mephibosheth is our story, Lo-Debar means "not-having", or no pasture, it was a place set apart for outcasts, rejects, people were put there not because of their own wrong but because of life's misfortunes. Some of us though we are saved still don't feel like we have any worth, we are victims of what others have done to us, molested, raped, abused, ignored, neglected, but God rich in kindness sent His servant Jesus Christ to redeem us, to take us out of Lo-Debar and bring us to the King's palace, we are no longer a dead dog, we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, set apart for the glory of God. Though we still may feel crippled from our past, God still calls us to eat with Him at His table as He nourishes our soul, heals our bodies, and transforms our lives into His image.

The Real You is who God is. Our Identity is now in Christ, so let us allow Him to clothe us in the robe of His righteousness, to put on the full armor of God so that we can stand against the wiles of the enemy.

Friday, May 10, 2013

Who You Working For?

Ephesians 6:5 (NLT)

Those who are in charge are the biggest target for criticism, they get the blame for everything. People have their opinions of how things should be done, but no one knows the difficulty of someone else unless they have stepped into there shoes. It is easy to point out flaws from a distant but I bet if we were placed in the same position things would not be as easy as they appear. Organizations are complex, every decision has many angles to consider, none of us should think decision making is an easy thing to do. Some decisions don't seem to make sense immediately but in the long run it will, that is why leaders are not those who let small minded, narrow visioned individuals move them.

Now that we are in Christ what behavior modification should take place regarding the work force?

Ephesians 6:5-9 is our living instructions concerning this:

1. Obey authority giving them utmost respect as unto the Lord (vs.5) 2. Please them even when they are not looking, with a sincere heart, understanding it is the will of God. 3. Work with enthusiasm for we are working for the Lord not just for people. 4. Look to the Lord for reward. 5. For us who are in authority, we are not to threaten or treat employees as less than.

In the kingdom of God as the body of Christ we are all equal, no matter what title and amount of authority has been given us, it is only through the grace of God. God can take away what He has given at any time. Our strength, wisdom, gifting, talent, life comes from Him, He alone deserves all the glory. No matter how insignificant one's calling may seem it is part of the big picture and each part is significant to the other doing there part.

Our jobs are our ministry, whether it be in a church setting, home environment, or on the work force, they are all equally valuable in the kingdom of God and in fulfilling the promise that God's glory would fill the earth. So let us not be moved by man regarding our jobs but rather put our trust in God who is our ultimate boss.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Do You Want To Live Long?

Obedience is the response of love, not out of fear but out of trust. Relationship is built on trust, so believing that the person you love has at their heart your best interest brings forth faithfulness. If I am faithful to God then I honor Him by following His ways.

God brought us into this world through our parents and despite their shortcomings they are to be honored. Whoever is responsible to raise us whether they be our biological parents or not is ordained by God. So as God's children if we love Him, we love the parents He has given us, and trust that they know what is best, and therefore obey them as unto God. If our parents do not honor God then we pray for them and believe God will change their hearts. Only when forced to break the law do we have the right to disobey them.

Do we obey our parents even when we know they are making a wrong decision?

Yes, trust God to correct them and work in their hearts. No one is perfect but God, let us not have false expectations, much of what is learned comes through failure. We are all a work in progress, so we will have to suffer along with our parents when they do wrong, as well as they suffer with us when we do wrong. What it comes down to, is do we trust God, who is Lord over all, or not?

Do you have kids that make life real difficult for you? What we sow is what we reap! What we did to our parents is what our kids will do to us. Some negative characteristics I no longer struggle with I see developing in them. Thank God for discernment we can catch things before it is too late, confess His Word, and break generational curses. In Christ we no longer have to live under the guilt of our past, though the enemy will not just bow out of the fight, all we have to do is know His word, confess His word and through the power of the Holy Spirit Satan has to flee.

Why do so many die young? Ephesians 6:3 says if we honor our parents, things will go well for you, and long life will be given. Does this mean that when one dies young, it is because they are in rebellion, not always, all I know is I would encourage youth to not test God's mercy on this. I did not always honor my Grandma who raised me, but since I was saved at 20 and given a new heart I have tried. My Grandmother had a stroke April 2010, and since that time I have moved her into my home and made sure she has a peaceful, loving environment to spend the rest of her days on earth. I can say that my life is going real well! I have an amazing family, a satisfying job, my dreams are being fulfilled, one by one. God is so good!!!!

I look at my kids in awe, they get to grow up from the moment of conception in a home saturated with the presence of God. They are doing so well, in academics, at church, with their attitude and character. They are not perfect, but they are sure off to a good start. The sky is the limit with them, they don't have near the shortcomings that I had to deal with. There was a season though that I was very impatient with my sons, which caused them to be very rude with me. Ephesians 6:4 says not to provoke your children to anger by the way you treat them. Any quality that I share with my kids that is ungodly will bring an ungodly response. Being impatient will not produce anything in return that is good. If I want godly children I must treat them godly. The rest of 6:4 says says to raise them with the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Even if I am right the manner that I speak to my kids means everything, I could be quoting scripture but if I am full of rage, it will do no good. The Word must be taught through the Holy Spirit for it to transform.

I use to be so spiritual at church and so natural at home. My focus was off kilter! There is no separation of church and state. God is in us and therefore should be taken with us everywhere we go, especially in our homes, which are a reflection of the kingdom of Heaven here on earth. God doesn't just want to save individuals for He is all about community, which is made up of families. The enemies goal therefore is to divide families so therefore we must understand we don't take our spiritual armor off either at home or at work, it must daily be put on, for us to walk in victory and have healthy God honoring families.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Marriage Reflection

Ephesians 5:21 (NLT)

We have all rebelled against authority at some point. Whether it be parents, teachers, coaches, employers, etc, it is hard to submit to those we don't agree with. I have always swayed towards resisting authority whenever it is unfair. I love movies about uprising against injustice. But now that I am in Christ all my ways must change. This means I am to only take a stand against evil doers as the spirit of the Lord leads.

The attitude of sinful man is rebellion. The attitude of those who love God is submission. It is one thing to submit to God who is perfect but submitting to imperfect people whom we don't always agree with, is rather difficult. Here in Ephesians 5:21 "it says submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." So submission is not just a way to honor someone but the way we honor God. We honor God by trusting Him. Will one might respond, "I have no problem trusting God it is people I don't trust." Trusting God is trusting those whom God has placed in authority, such as David did with Saul.

The rest of Ephesians 5 gives a picture of submission through the eyes of husband and wife. God desires marriage to be the ultimate picture to the world of what relationship with Him looks like. So we see that "wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord, for husbands are the head of there household as Christ is head of the church." It is not about man being above woman, it is about Christ being above all, and each following their particular role. Husband represents the headship of God, Wife represents His body, the church. So as the church is to be submitted to God in everything so is the wife to the husband (vs. 24), nothing should be done outside of union with each other.

Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church giving themselves fully to her, helping her become holy and clean by the cleansing of His Word (vs. 25). So we have to see our role with our wives as Christ role is with us. We must remember though Christ does not force His will on us, it is His loving kindness that draws us to Him. So husbands cannot force their wives into submission but believe that through their acts of kindness a loving response will with time naturally progress. Preaching to our wives is not going to change them, living the word is what will draw them closer to Him. Loving our wives should be no different than loving ourselves (vs. 28), since the two have become one (vs. 31).

Ephesians 5:33 says again to the husband to love his wife as he would himself and for the wife to respect her husband. Men are often self motivated and self centered, so to love their wife as themselves means to include her in everything as their equal partner, no longer living independent but dependent on her for support, advise, assistance, etc. While men's love language is respect, they need to know their wife trusts them and believes in the direction they are heading. When each responds right in the language of love, cohabitation takes place, and through holy union the glory of God is seen.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Be Filled With the Spirit

Ephesians 5:15 (NLT)

One thing we all have in common is foolishness. Since we have lived separate from God we have played the fool. The closer we get to the all wise God the more we realize how foolish we are.

We usually have some restraint and regard for ourselves and others when sober but intoxicated is when we really let our sinful nature go. I could write pages and pages of the foolish things I did when I was drunk but that would be of no help, it is the transformational work of God in my life that is most helpful to others. I am shocked how sometimes I allow myself and listen to others as if we are proud of those days, joking around, as if we miss it. How can we be proud of our foolish behavior.

Now that we have been made wise in Christ we need to be careful so we don't play the fool anymore. We use to behave carelessly like there is no consequences to our evil choices. Now that we are wise we need to cease every moment use it for God's divine purpose not just sitting idle wasting our life away. God saved us for a reason, we have work to do, we have a world to change, so why live as we don't have anything to live for. I use to get so emotionally wrapped into things such as sports, that I would act like a fool, why? Because I did not know my eternal purpose. I did not know the great plan God has for me, so I made a big deal out of nothing. So as Ephesians 5:17 says let us not act thoughtlessly but know what the Lord wants us to do.

As a young man I wanted to do what I thought was fun, party, have sex, and act a fool. The problem is I wasn't capable myself, my conscious would hold me back, substance abuse was therefore my answer. It effected my brain where I lost all inhibition. Thank God for His mercy that He saved me young, and kept me from permanent damage. Why do people get so proud of their drinking inhibitions when it is not who they really are? That is why people become alcoholics they don't like who they are, they want to hide their true selves and can't bear facing reality.

Ephesians 5:18 says don't be drunk with wine but be filled with the spirit. Being drunken with wine allows us to experience the full debauchery of our sinful nature, being filled with the Spirit allows us to experience the fullness of God's divine nature. One leads to shame, regret and destruction the other to life as it truly was meant to be full of love, joy and peace. As being drunk would give me the boldness necessary to commit big sin, being filled with the Spirit gives me the boldness necessary to walk in great faith.

When we are drunk we speak our mind without much forethought, which can get us in a lot of trouble. The bible says out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Whatever comes out is what is in, one cannot use the excuse I was drunk I didn't know what I was saying. When filled with the Holy Spirit we have self control, He tames our tongue, while working on our heart, helping us avoid so much trouble that our mouth would normally get us in. When pressure is on instead of cursing we sing spiritual songs, making music to the Lord in our hearts, we give thanks to God in everything (Eph. 5:19-20).

Being drunk with wine is a way of escape from reality, being filled with the Spirit is empowerment to face reality. With one matters only get worse, with the other matters always get better. I have experienced both and trust me being filled with the Spirit is the way to truly live life the way God created it to be.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

No Room For Darkness

Ephesians 5:1 (NLT)

Before we can understand living in the light we have to clearly define living in darkness. To be in the dark means to have something to hide. Trying to hide something causes fear, guilt, shame and condemnation to reside. The closer someone get's to unraveling the truth the more one has to lie to cover it up. Therefore darkness causes people to be isolated and only develop mere superficial relationships.

Have you ever had someone ask questions, bringing up things you did not want to talk about or deal with? One is bound to what they hide, it limits what they can say and do. Freedom is having nothing to hide, and that is what it means to live in the light.

Ephesians chapter 5 teaches us how to live in the light.

Ephesians 5:1 says we are called to imitate or reflect God in all we do. Like the light in the earth is a reflection of the Sun, the light in our lives is the radiant glory of the Son. God is love, the expression of what we say and do reflects Him when it comes out of love. The greatest love is to lay down one's life, first to God and then through God to one another.

Lust is the opposite of love, it takes for one's own pleasure, while love gives for the other's pleasure. Anything said that put's down another person is wrong. Both lust and foolish talk come from a desire to use others for one's own gain. Ephesians 5:5 says these characteristics are not of the kingdom of God.

We may be able to get others to go along with our excuses, but God sees through and knows the intent of the heart, and He will punish those who do wrong. Now that we are in Christ we can't get away with anything, what is done in the dark will come to the light. God is the ruler of our household, and therefore has the right to shine His light and remove all darkness, meaning exposing all unrepentant sin. So it would be wise to no longer participate in sinful activity.

Why live in darkness when we have the light of the Lord? Who wants to keep stumbling over things, getting hurt, living in shame. The good thing is we don't have to anymore, Christ defeated sin, sickness, and death, we have the victory in Jesus Name! The light turns on through believing, it stays on by obeying.

We are called to be the light of the world, to shine bright until all darkness comes to the light. If we are around people in sin and they feel no conviction it is because we are in sin ourselves. It is not just ourselves that we damage because of sin, it is all those around us who could be drawn closer to God yet rather are being drawn further away. In the light we expose the evil intentions of the world. This means we can help prevent harm being done by one to another because of the conviction that falls from the presence of God in our lives.

What happens when one sleep walks? They get up and move but they don't really know what they are doing and where they are going, they are not aware enough to prevent themselves from easily falling. As it says in Ephesians 5:14 awake, o sleeper, come out of the dead, meaning come out of sin, through repentance, then Christ will give you light. Lies are believed where there is darkness for we can easily be deceived because things are unclear in the dark. When there is no dark area in our life the enemy has no room to operate. Christ has full access to our life and therefore we are full of His light and His truth sets us free from the lies of the enemy.