Have you ever wondered how others hear from God frequently and you are not? Maybe you use to but now you do not, or maybe you did not and now you do. Maybe you have figured it out, like any earthly relationship has to be maintained so does our relationship with God. Here’s a brief biblical example, Samson. Samson was chosen to be a Nazarite (Numbers chapter 6 gives a detailed explanation of what a Nazarite was and was not to do. I think Samson broke them all. But God, is faithful. The final act of defiance to the Nazarite vow, even though Samson himself did not do it, was shaving his head. This severed the fellowship until Samson prayed his last prayer in the pagan temple (Judges 13:24 – 16:30).

What about the Jewish congregation throughout the Old Testament? They were prosperous then in captivity. A continuous cycle of in and out of relationship with God. What about us? Do we move from being close to God and then close to the world? Who are you lining up with? Is your characteristics being formed by godly principles i.e. the Bible, Church, prayer, and godly Christians or are they more like MTV, R rated movies, materialism and prodigal living? Romans 6:16 always comes to my mind;

Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? (Romans 6:16 KJV)

We need to be aware of our thoughts, words and deeds for they form who we are and will become. It is important to “sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, (Ephesians 5:26 KJV). As we line up with God’s will and desires we will draw near to God, building a strong relationship and reaping a more abundant life. Please pause one moment for this station break… Direct TV has produced commercials implying you can be like Eli Manning or Rob Lowe or their alter ego which usually does not look so good. Please don’t be this me, get direct fellowship with your Creator and Heavenly Father. Maintain your character and you will live a more abundant life with God and change the world and someone’s eternal destiny. It is not all about you, you can influence others for Christ by maintaining your character and nourishing your relationship with God. Think about it.

Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary tried and true, pure and holy. Lord prepare me to be a sanctuary for You.

In Christ,

Greg

Does your heart feel sympathize or empathize for the lost souls of the world? Have you ever thought deeply on the lost condition of the world? What about feeling the hurt of your own child or loved one? Can you imagine how God must feel about the lost eternal souls of this world?

We may hear about tragedies on the news or from friends and family, but can you imagine listening to all the prayers from God’s hurting children? Millions of prayers if not billions of prayers go up to God every day. Here are a few examples from the Bible:

And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. (1 Kings 9:3 KJV)

Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. (2 Kings 20:5 KJV)

But the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard; and thy wife Elisabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. (Luke 1:13 KJV)

And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. (Acts 10:31 KJV)

God’s heart must grieve over the pain His children go through for His eyes and heart are with us. He sees our tears our longings like Zacharias longing for his first child or Cornelius’ pain for his daughter.

But can you also imagine seeing the prodigal child going through pain and suffering because he or she was mislead and is going down the path of destruction. Those who have been hurt or mislead, who could be living a more abundant life, only if someone would have introduced them to the good news of salvation.

God heard the prayers of the Hebrews who were in captivity about 400 years. The sorrow and compassion God must feel, even Jesus had compassion over those who followed Him.

Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way. (Matthew 15:32 KJV)

And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. (Matthew 14:14 KJV)

But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. {fainted…: or, were tired and lay down} (Matthew 9:36 KJV)

God sees and feels our needs. He has given us His word the Holy Bible and says “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7-8 KJV).

God’s compassion is so heart felt that He gave His only begotten Son as the propitiation to the world so that they could escape the lies of the devil and live a more abundant life. Have you even contemplated giving up your child for the world? If you have you may have felt a small portion of the sorrowful condition of the world, God’s hurting child, a prodigal child or maybe even the lost eternal souls doomed for eternal destruction.

So will you tell them? Will you ask God to fill you with the desire to go as Jesus has given all of us to do? “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: {teach…: or, make disciples, or, Christians of all nations} Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20 KJV)

In Christ,

Greg

Fushionless

The spiritual depth of the 1800’s and early 1900’s seem to be missing for the most part today. I have read sermons which were in the 1800’s where the preacher said that these modern times with all the hustle and bustle make it hard to find time for the things of God. They were so busy that they could not spend time reading God’s Word or find their prayer closet to fellowship with God. Can you imagine what they would think of today’s fast pace? They had the horse and buggy. We have cars airplanes and mass transit systems. Cell phones, smart phones, tablets, Phablets, notebooks, laptops, PCs and all have apps for that. That being anything you need to keep busy.

It would appear that our adversary just needs to keep us busy so we will miss the mark. When we miss the mark we miss God’s blessings. We become fushionless. This word is a Scottish word which can mean:

• Lacking strength. Physically (no back bone subjectively).
• Lacking energy (slothful)
• Lacking energy mentally or spiritually

Here is another spiritual truth. When we face our spiritual adversities God gives us strength. We may be weak or dismayed but when we face the circumstance, trial or tribulation with God he gives us strength in our weakness. (1 Corinthians 9:22; 2 Corinthians 10:10, 11:21, 29, 12:10, 13:3-9).

Ask God to give you the strength today and say I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

In Christ,

Greg

Prayer

How can we stake a claim in anything without asking? In the gold rush days men would go stake a claim to the piece of land by registering it with the local authorities. They had to ask and file their petition to stake a claim in the land the wanted to mine.

Prayer by definition is:

A noun

1. a devout petition to God or an object of worship.
2. a spiritual communion with God or an object of worship, as in supplication, thanksgiving, adoration, or confession.
3. the act or practice of praying to God or an object of worship.
4. a formula or sequence of words used in or appointed for praying :

the Lord’s Prayer.

5. prayers, a religious observance, either public or private, consisting wholly or mainly of prayer.
6. that which is prayed for.
7. a petition; entreaty

 

When we pray we are making a petition. A petition is a formal request, in this case we are making a petition to God. We can ask for anything but have you ever tried to hold the wind in your hands. We cannot expect to stake a claim in a prayer that is amiss or out of place. But we can look for God’s promises in His word and claim them. How about “The LORD is with you, while ye be with him; and if ye seek him, he will be found of you; but if ye forsake him, he will forsake you” (2 Chronicles 15:2 KJV). And “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8 KJV).

This is a good start as we draw near to God He will draw near to us. We will start to hear His voice and commune with Him. This is the second definition. Prayer is spiritual communion with God. This leads to understanding God’s will and when we come to the understanding of what God desires, loves and hates we can line up with them and ask God to walk with us.

 

We need to pray Lord Your word says, Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. So I am asking You to draw near to me and help me in our time of need. I know Lord You are omnipresent. You are always near us and now I pray that You will also be with us. Help me Lord draw near to You, to walk with You always and be in the center of Your will. In Jesus name I pray. Amen.

May this also be your prayer.

In Christ,

Greg

Do you believe that the almighty God speaks and it is so? In Genesis, chapter 1, God said …and it was so. If God said your shirt was blue it would be blue at the very moment He said it, even if you had put on a white shirt that day, it would now be blue. What God says comes to pass.

Jesus prayed for us in John 17:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:20-23 KJV)

Jesus prayed that we would be one in Him even as He is one in the Father. This prayer is the work of sanctification in the believer’s life. We become Christ like as Philippians 1:6 states: Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: {perform: or, finish} (Philippians 1:6 KJV)

God will finish the work in us, so the world may know that the Father has sent Jesus and has loved us as He has loved Jesus.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. {ordained: or, prepared} (Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV)

We are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works. God has ordained these works and we will walk in them. This is a walk of sanctification. As we walk in God’s truths we become more like Christ. We become sanctified through His truths. Jesus is our example listen to what He said.

Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth. {sanctified…: or, truly sanctified} (John 17:17-19 KJV)

Get into God’s Word today Sanctify yourself with God’s truth, His Word, and just as Christ sanctified Himself for us let us also sanctify ourselves so we can help others find their way to sanctification.

In Christ,

Greg