Give God Control (Bible Study 3-16-10)

Give God Control 

Many people think they control their own destiny. They believe they know what’s best for them and intend to make things happen in their life. Even Christians who have been given a directions, or have been given a glimpse of what God has for them (through a word of knowledge or prophesy or God speaks to them directly) still can’t turn over the reigns of their life to God and trust Him to make things happen. They insist on working it out themselves instead of waiting on God’s timing and they make a huge mess of things.



The battle for control started in the garden....



I. God’s Plan/Instructions

Genesis 1:27-30 ”So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. 28 Then God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.’ 29 Then God said, ‘Look! I have given you every seed-bearing plant throughout the earth and all the fruit trees for your food. 30 And I have given every green plant as food for all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, and the small animals that scurry along the ground—everything that has life.’ And that is what happened.”

Gensis 1:15-17 “The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. But the Lord God warned him, ‘You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden-except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.’”

God gave man his assignment along with the rules/guideline for his assignment....eat anything except fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God gave man the consequence that would ensue if he disobeyed but notice He didn’t give him any other details. God didn’t explain the big picture or give man all the details. He just advised Adam’s general assignment ... “Be fruitful, govern all I’ve created, tend the garden and don’t eat the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” If you think of the scope of Adam’s assignment, those instructions seem pretty vague. Even Adam didn’t get every detail about his assignment.... what do you think God and Adam talked about when God came down in the cool of the day and walked w/Adam? I think it’s pretty safe to assume that at least part of their conversation was Adam asking God for specifics for each step of what he was doing.... “God, I’m not sure how to tend this garden... where do I need to start?” Then God would give Adam grace (supply, information) for that moment and be like, “Well start by watering those flowers...they’re looking a little dry.” God didn’t give Adam a huge list of all the “to do’s” of his garden tending assignment because he would’ve been overwhelmed! Can you imagine... you and your significant other are in charge of tending a huge garden, along with all the animals living within it!?!?!? If God had given every detail for every duty that Adam would have to fulfill to successfully do the assignment God had given him, Adam’s head would’ve probably exploded from overload!! It was a step by step process. Adam had to seek/consult God each day, each step of the way. Adam had to trust God to be his supplier, source and guide to direct him throughout his life and to help him fulfill what God had called him to do. Why do we think our life/walk with God will be any different? From the beginning that’s how God intended for it to be. God will guide us each step... we just have to turn the control over to Him and not try to control our own destiny and find our own solutions. God has our solutions and if you ask Him for guidance and direction He will give it to you. Will God give you detailed plan/road map that shows every stop and an itinerary for every day and explain everything? No! Life isn’t a Carnival cruise and God is not your Cruise Ship Director! :) Our lives are not like a vacation itinerary!! *Example of my Aunt Janie* My Aunt used to plan out everyday of their vacation. She’d have a list of all the places they were to visit each day of the trip. Approximate time they should get there, when they’d leave in time to get to the next stop. God’s not like my Aunt Janie! :) God has the plan for your life already laid out, but He’s not going to hand over all those details to you because you couldn’t handle it! You’d freak out and get sooooooo overwhelmed that you’d spend years using God’s grace to fix the circuit breakers in your brain instead of enjoying each step of your journey. Learning, growing and moving from glory to glory.



II. The Fall Started With Doubt

Gensis 3:1-5 “The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, ‘Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?’ ‘Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,’ the woman replied. ‘It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” ‘You won’t die!’ the serpent replied to the woman. ‘God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.’

The devil began his deception and man’s destruction by planting doubt in Eve’s mind about the instructions/sovereignty of God. The devil fed man’s desire to be in control suggested that God didn’t know what was best for them and that God’s rule was really there to keep them from being as knowledgeable as God. The devil was causing Eve to doubt that God was a good God and insinuated God was selfish and concerned only about His own interests and was keeping something great from them by the rule keeping them from eating the fruit. If you doubt God’s agenda and don’t totally trust Him, it’s easy to fall for this type of lie. You have to know, that you know, that you know, that God ALWAYS has your best interest at heart and His plan is to bless you and help you succeed!



III. What You Think About Convinces you to do Good or Evil

Genesis 3:6 “The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.”

The more Eve contemplated on the lies of the devil (the serpent) the more convincing and “truthful” his lies became. Eve had decided in her mind (convinced herself) that she knew more than God and that she needed to eat that fruit to have a complete life and in essence control her own destiny. It was about control and doing what “she” thought was best instead of doing what God said and depending upon God and trusting that God knew what was in her best interest. **Notice here that Eve was convinced in her MIND to sin before her actions followed suit and she actually committed the sinful act of disobedience.** Our thoughts and what we allow to take up residence in our brain ultimately has tremendous affect on our actions and eventually control our outward actions and choices we end up making (actions we take/what we do). Eve started entertaining what the devil suggested....she didn’t stop him in his tracks and immediately cast down what the enemy was whispering, which was totally contrary to what God had said. *Any thought that is opposite or goes against what God says should be immediately cast down!!* Instead of casting down, Eve started looking at the fruit and listening to all the lies and the convincing argument against God that the devil was feeding her. She started thinking how yummy the fruit looked, and then she started thinking how cool it would be to be just like God. To know EVERYTHING God knows....to be in control of her own destiny and have all the answers. Pretty soon, all the “facts” the devil presented combined with her own fleshly thoughts, she became CONVINCED that eating the fruit was in her best interest and then she sinned by acting upon her thoughts. What we think is soooooooo important!!! You cannot let any seed of the enemy that is contrary to what God says be planted in your mind. You have to cast it down and not entertain it for a minute!

IV. Hind-Sight is 20/20

Only after Eve sinned did she realize she’d blown it and that the devil was a liar. Only after she fell for the deception and committed the rebellion against God did she realize she’d made the wrong choice. Then it became blarringly obvious! Sin and rebellion many times seem like a great idea and the logic we use to justify our actions and make disobedience okay, makes perfect sense until after you act upon it. Then the deception of the enemy and your own stupidity is revealed and in your face obvious!! The devil is sweet and attentive during the time he’s trying to deceive you and convince you to rebel against God. However, as soon as you rebel and fall into the trap he’s laid; he jerks the rug out from under you and points and laughs about the mess you suddenly find yourself in. The devil is like the “friend” that convinces you to do something wrong, then as soon as you do they run and tattle on you to ensure you get caught.



**A. Side Bar: On a side note the conflict and struggle/differences (men from Mars women from Venus thing) started when sin entered the Garden. This conflict too boils down to control. Each sex has a need to be the one in charge. **


V. God has a Plan

Genesis 18:17 “Should I hide my plan from Abraham?’ the Lord asked.”


Psalm 40:5 “O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal.”

Just because God doesn’t tell you details doesn’t mean He doesn’t know what’s going on. He ALWAYS has a plan...God doesn’t wing-it!!! :)


1 Kings 20:22 “Afterward the prophet said to King Aham, “Get ready for another attack. Begin making plans now, for the king of Aram will come back next Spring.’”

God gave the prophet a word of knowledge for the King....even though things looked fine & this battle was over...God already knew that another attack was coming months later. So, he had the prophet warn the King so he could be prepared and not caught off guard. **God will give you a heads up when you need it. If something is coming up in your future that you need to be prepared for....God will tell you in plenty of time so that you’ll be ready for it. He may not tell you that detail the first day you get save, because its 10years down the road. However, he will give you a heads up so that you won’t be caught off guard.**


Psalm 146:4 “When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them.”

Proverbs 19:21 “You can make many plans, but the Lord’s purpose will prevail.”

Psalm 33:11 “But the Lord’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken.”


People can make all the plans they want, but if the plans are not part of God’s plan, they won’t amount to a hill of beans. Fleshly plans die when the flesh dies. People can spend their entire life being “in control of their own destiny” planning out every detail of their life, but when they die all of those plans die with them....unaccomplished, unfulfilled and having no lasting value. If they’re lucky, a library somewhere or a highway may be named after them, but that’s it. God’s plan however and his purpose and will for your life will be completed, and will have eternal, lasting value and legacy.


Psalm 119:26 “I told you my plans, and you answered. Now teach me your decrees.”

It’s okay to have dreams, ideas, and plans, but the key is to consult God on them before you start trying to fulfill them. Take what’s on your heart/what you think you should be doing to God and ask Him if that’s part of HIS plan/will for your life. Then, **this is the most important part** do what He tells you! If God says no, then it’s no. No from God is not a suggestion, it’s the choice between blessing and cursing. No, means no! Whatever God tells you is the final answer! Now, God may just tell you no, that’s not what I have for you and then leave it at that. He may not elaborate, He may give you info about the next step....He may not say anything else. Regardless of what God does or does not share with you....you have to trust Him and know that He does have a plan. You also have to keep your ears tuned in to His voice and ALWAYS consult and seek Him regarding the details/plans of your life. He provides the plan and the resources you need to see it completed.



So, in closing.....Don’t be a control freak!!!! Trust God with your life.... He CREATED YOU!!! God is not like your parents. They may haven given birth to you, but God CREATED you... He formed you and knit you together....he literally made every cell of your body!!! If God took that much time and put that much detail in to forming you, don’t you think you can trust Him to put that much thought and planning into the rest of your life and ensuring the plan for your life succeeds!?!?!?!!? I’m pretty sure He knows how to take care of you and what is best for you. Allow Him to instruct and guide you!

Be Faithful With the Little (Bible study 3-9-2010)

BE FAITHFUL WITH THE LITTLE

Luke 16:10 “If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?  And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?”


I.  Use Wisely/Be Faithful With What You've Been Given

Luke 19:15-26  “After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were. The first servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’ “‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’  “The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times the original amount.’   “‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’  “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’  “‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’   “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’
“‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’ “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’”

These scriptures make it pretty clear that you have to be faithful with what God has already entrusted to you before He will give you more. If you are waste your giftings, blessings, etc why would God give you more? Does that mean you have to earn blessings or work for things... absolutely not! Luke 19 makes it clear that the money (giftings, responsibility, etc) that these servants had been given were a GIFT. They hadn’t done anything to earn them. They had been given the money by the nobleman. The key here is what each servant did with what they’d been given. Example: If you own a company and you see an employee that has a lot of potential... currently that employee’s job is sorting mail. So you give them a promotion and more responsibility by putting them in charge of delivering the mail throughout the office. If that employee starts taking extra smoke breaks, or being late everyday or has a nasty, hateful attitude and complains everyday to everyone who will listen about how hard the new job is and that they wished they were still sorting mail or they are careless in delivering the mail and gets everyones mail mixed up would you give that employee anymore responsibility or promote them on up? No! But, what if that employee gave that job everything they had. They came to work with a smile everyday, they were on time, they were sure the mail was delivered on time and to the proper person. Would you trust that employee with more responsibility and promote them again in the future? Absolutely!!!



II. Be Faithful Were God has Placed You

1 Samuel 16:21-23  "So David went to Saul and began serving him. Saul loved David very much, and David became his armor bearer.  Then Saul sent word to Jesse asking, 'Please let David remain in my service, for I am very pleased with him.'  And whenever the tormenting spirit from God troubled Saul, David would play the harp. Then Saul would feel better, and the tormenting spirit would go away."

David started out serving as Saul’s armor bearer. One of his assigned duties that we are certain of was that whenever a torment spirit came upon Saul, David would play the harp to calm him down. We don’t know how long that David served in this position but we know he did a good job because the King was pleased with him.


1 Samuel 18:5  "Whatever Saul asked David to do, David did it successfully. So Saul made him a commander over the men of war, an appointment that was welcomed by the people and Saul’s officers alike."

We also know by this scripture that David was obedient to Saul and he did such a good job (with the right attitude) that Saul, the people and the other soliders were happy with how David conducted himself and were glad he was in a leadership position. David’s right attitude, faithfulness, and obedience to the King’s authority enabled him to be successful at everything he put his hand to, because God rewarded him for being faithful and doing his best where he was.



1 Samuel 18:6-14 " When the victorious Israelite army was returning home after David had killed the Philistine, women from all the towns of Israel came out to meet King Saul. They sang and danced for joy with tambourines and cymbals.*  This was their song:

“Saul has killed his thousands,
and David his ten thousands!”
This made Saul very angry. “What’s this?” he said. “They credit David with ten thousands and me with only thousands. Next they’ll be making him their king!” So from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David.  The very next day a tormenting spirit* from God overwhelmed Saul, and he began to rave in his house like a madman. David was playing the harp, as he did each day. But Saul had a spear in his hand, and he suddenly hurled it at David, intending to pin him to the wall. But David escaped him twice. Saul was then afraid of David, for the Lord was with David and had turned away from Saul.  Finally, Saul sent him away and appointed him commander over 1,000 men, and David faithfully led his troops into battle. David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him.  But all Israel and Judah loved David because he was so successful at leading his troops into battle."

We see here that even though David had been promoted to more responsibility and was successfully in great battles and leading lots of soliders, he still served in the position of playing the harp for Saul. David could’ve easily gotten a bad attitude or gotten in pride and complained about having to continue to play the harp....”I”m a great warrior, why do I have to sit around and play a harp now....can’t someone else do it?” type attitude. However, I don’t believe David did that. I believe he played that harp with joy and with everything in him. However, even though he was still doing the right thing, Saul got in the wrong attitude(jealousy) and started meditating on the wrong things and mistreated David. Clearly, David had done nothing wrong in this situation, but he was still demoted and made commander of only 1,000 men. Now, it’s easy to faithfully serve when you’re in a prominent position, but it’s a totally different ballgame when you’re embarassed and demoted (due to no fault of your own) to a position that seems unimportant. However, David still faithfully served where he was. He didn’t get on a self-pity trip about how unfairly he’d been treated and how wrong the situation was. No, David faithful led his 1,000 men just like he’d led the entire army of Israel (1Samuel 18:5-commander over the men of war). Because of David’s right attitude, continued faithfulness and hard work, he continued to be successful at everything he did.



1 Samuel 18:24-26 "When Saul's men said these things to David, he replied, 'How can a poor man from a humble family afford the bride price for the daughter of a king?' When Saul's men reported this back to the king, he told them, 'Tell David that all I want for the bride price is 100 Philistine foreskins! Vengeance on my enemies is all I really want.' But what Saul had in mind was that David would be killed in the fight. David was delighted to accept the offer. Before the time limit expired, he and his men went out and killed 200 Philistines. Then David fulfilled the king's requirement by presenting all their foreskins to him. So Saul gave his daughter Michael to David to be his wife."

We see that even after he was demoted, David continued to go above and beyond what was required. He didn’t just do the minimum to get by with, he went all out and did way more than what was required.



II. Jealousy & Attacks Will Come Because of the Anointing/Blessing of God in Your Life

1 Samuel 18:14 &15 "David continued to succeed in everything he did, for the Lord was with him. When Saul recognized this, he became even more afraid of him."

1 Samuel 18:28 & 29 "When Saul realized that the Lord was with David and how much his daughter Michael loved him, Saul became even more afraid of him, and he remained David's enemy for the rest of his life."

Let me add right here that you will run across people that are going to dislike/hate you because of the anointing and blessing of God in your life. They are going to be jealous.


1 Samuel 18:22 "Then Saul told his men to say to David, 'The king reallylikes you, and so do we. Why don't you accept the king's offer and become his son-in-law?"

1 Samuel 19:1 "Saul now urged his servants and his son Jonathan to assassinate David. But Jonathan, because of his strong affection for Daivd, told him what his father was planning......."

On that same line, the devil hates you and the anointing you carry and he (through people) will try to set you up/destroy you. The enemy will turn people against you who will try to set traps for you to derail or trap you. However, God will take all those plans for harm and use it to bless you. You just have to remain faithful and in the right attitude and God will ensure you prevail and be victorious over your enemies (Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”)


III. Your Thought Life Brings Life or Death

1 Samuel 19:4-10 "The next morning Jonathan spoke with his father about David, saying many good things about him. "The king must not sin against his servant David,' Jonathan siad. 'He's never done anything to harm you. He has always helped you in anyway he could. Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the Lord brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it all!'  So Saul listened to Jonathan and vowed, 'As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.'  Afterward Jonathan called David and told him what had happened. Then he brought David to Saul, and David served in the court as before. War broke out again after that, and David led his troops against the Philistines. He attacked them with such fury that they all ran away. But one day when Saul was sitting at home, with spear in hand, the tormenting spirit from the Lord suddenly came upon him again. As David played his harp, Saul hurled his spear at David. But David dodged out of the way, and leaving the spear stuck in the wall he fled and escaped into the night."
**Side note**Let me explain that I don't believe God sent this evil spirit against Saul.  I do however believe Saul's actions opened up a doorway for the devil to come into/operate in his life & that God allowed Satan to send this evil spirit**

Your thought life and what you allow to infiltrate your mind and then meditate on will produce life or death results in your life and will affect the lives of those around you. When Saul stopped being jealous and angry (casting down the lies of the enemy in his ear) and got out of his own selfish, self centeredness and thought about the good things/the truth of what David had done and who David was, he had peace. When Saul meditated on the right things there was no open door for the enemy (a tormenting spirit) to infiltrate Saul’s mind or influence him. Because of this peace and the enemy locked out of Saul’s mind, Saul stopped trying to kill David. V.8-10 However as soon as Saul allowed jealousy to re-enter his mind and started meditating on negative, self-centered thoughts, the door swung open to the enemy and he swooped in (the tormenting spirit came back) bringing with it anger, death, rage division, hatred, etc. Saul lost his peace and tried again to kill David. The ripple affect of this is David had to flee for his life. This also affected David’s family (his wife Michal) -v.15-17- Everyone’s life (David, Johnathan, Michal, Saul and many others) was turned upside down because one man-Saul- meditated on the wrong things and opened a door for the enemy.

I don’t think any of us truly grasp the power of our thought life and what we allow to take up residence in our mind. Equally important is our attitude and actions through each position/location/assignment God places us.




IV. Your Really Working for God, not Man

Let me first make clear that you can’t earn right standing with God or work your way into Heaven. The point I want you to see is that God expects us to do our best at each assignment he gives us...no matter how big or small it may seem. When we faithfully do our best with the right attitude we are guaranteed victory and blessings....

Romans 12:11 “Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically.”

1 Corinthians 15:58 “So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.”

Ephesians 6:7&8 “Work with enthusiasm, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will reward each one of us for the good we do, whether we are slaves or free”

Colossians 3:23 “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.”

God is your true “boss” and rewarder. So, you don’t have to worry about the job your doing not being rewarded. Some people think, “Why should I work hard, no one notices and it’s not going to get me anywhere. So, why should I put forth so much effort?” God sees your hard work and He will reward you. Take your natural supervisors out of the equation because they really don’t matter. Even if no one else notices what you’re doing, God sees you and He will reward your hard work. This principle is true in every area, not just on a job.... it’s true in school, in the church, anywhere you have a job/assignment or task.



Isaiah 65:22 & 23  "Unlike the past, invaders will not take their houses and confiscate their vineyards.  For my people will live as long as trees, and my chosen ones will have time to enjoy their hard-won gains.  They will not work in vain, and their children will not be doomed to misfortune.  For they are people blessed by the Lord, and their children, too, will be blessed."

1 Timothy 1:12  "I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him,"

These scripture again promise not only a reward for our hard work, but the strength to do the work.



In closing...... God is our all around supplier...... 1) Assigns the task    2) Gives the strength and provision to complete the Task   3) Rewards us for being faithful and completing the task.


So be faithful were you are, in the small things and God will be faithful to promote and bless you.

"Armor Bearers" (Bible Study 3/2/2010

ARMOR BEARERS

Definition of Armor Bearer - One who carried the protective gear (armor) and weapons of a warrior

Armor Bearers played a significant role in Biblical times and I believe they play an equally pivotal role in the lives of Christians today. Actually, I firmly believe armor bearers are a vital component for the fulfillment of callings in our lives. **”The three basic elements of the art of warfare are mobility, firepower, and security. Weapons alone seldom determined the results of battle, particularly when both sides were evenly matched. The skill with which strategy and tactics were deployed, the spirit of the commander in directing his troops, and the precision with which the troops handled their weapons were important factors in many of the battles mentioned in the Bible. Yet the Bible makes it clear that the most decisive factor in Israel’s success was her obedience and God’s will.”-referenced from iLumina**   We all know that we are in a spiritual war... (2Corinthians 10:3 ”We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. And after you have become fully obedient, we will punish everyone who remains disobedient.”).

Armor Bearers of today serve in very similar roles as those in Biblical war time.
 #1)Protector in Prayer (Battle/War Wager Mode)- God will raise people up to cover us in prayer. This gives us mobility because we don’t have to spend 16hours in prayer, praying a hedge of protection around ourself before we can go minister somewhere. *Don’t misunderstand, however, our personal prayer life is essential to our spiritual growth & ministry* The prayers of armor bearers allow us to go where God has called us and to be about the Father’s business without worrying about being covered in prayer from the attack of the enemy. Also this prayer covering provides firepower protection!!! Firepower in that it covers us from the attacks launched by the enemy so that the attack we bring against the kingdom of darkness is more effective. (i.e. If a minister is preparing to preach an awesome God inspired, life changing Word to a congregation and just prior to him preaching, the enemy can stir up strife or division through someone close to that minister (like family members) and try to get the minister into offense, do you think he’ll be able to concentrate as effectively and minister as effectively if he hadn’t gotten into offense? No!!! Don’t get me wrong, the anointing takes up our slack and enables us to do all things!!! My point is, the message may still change lives and be great, but how much more powerful could it have been if that attack of offense had been deflected by an armor bearer through prayer & never occurred in the first place!!! The prayers of the armor bearer also serve as a direct assault of OFFENSIVE firepower against the kingdom of darkness. Each prayer is like a missile attack launched at the enemy... weakening his defenses. Many times the assault of the armor bearer will allow a minister to then come in and deliver the knock-out blow that topples the enemy and brings his defeat. Just like a war in the natural, it’s an important team effort of everyone working together for a common goal.
#2)Supporter and Encourager- God will send people into our lives that we can talk to, be encouraged by, pour into our lives and provide support for any situation we encounter; someone we can ALWAYS count on (better than a best friend). This provides the security part of the equation mentioned previously. There is comfort in knowing that you ALWAYS have someone in the Lord that you can turn to for support and encouragement and that will stick with you in the heat of battle. Our success as warriors in the Kingdom of God will be determined by our skill at using the weapons and equipping provided by God, our ability to follow God’s leading, as well as, the effectiveness of our armor bearers.

I. Examples of Armor Bearers in the Bible

A) 1Samuel 14:1-15

Verse 6& 7.
Jonathan had mustard seed faith and a crazy notion that with God all things are possible! :) He just needed the support of that one person who said....”Yes, God is faithful & I’m with you!!!” Jonathan’s armor bearer’s response of support and faithfulness was exactly what Jonathan needed to confront and defeat the enemy. What if this armor bearer had responded with doubt or negativity? Would Jonathan have went into the enemy’s camp or would he have been discouraged and given up? Our role as supporters and encouragers of each other is vital!! It’s obvious by the armor bearer’s response in verse 7 that he had faith not only in God, but trusted in Jonathan and was in a covenant, submitted relationship with him. If this armor bearer had not been committed to Jonathan and had faith that God could pull off such a crazy plan, his response would’ve been a LOT different. **Note that Jonathan’s armor bearer served in both of the above mentioned roles. He not only encouraged & emotionally supported Jonathan...he forged headlong into battle with him; fighting alongside him helping defeat the enemy (the tag-team attack).


B) 1Samuel 16:21

At one point, David was Saul’s armor bearer. Although David may have went out into battle with Saul and served in the typical role of an armor bearer in Biblical times (carrying a warriors weapons), I’ve never read of any such account of that in the Bible. The only role as armor bearer I read of David serving as is that of a support/encouraging position. David would play the harp whenever a tormenting spirit would come upon Saul. When most people were probably running out of the room to get away from Saul’s crazy, out of control outbursts of rage and insanity, David stayed. He sat calmly playing the harp, until Saul was calm and at peace again.


C) 1Samuel 10:26

This group of men were in essence serving in an armor bearer type role. They were dedicated to Saul and ensuring his safety. There heart was to support him and whatever capacity necessary. God will send these type of folks into our lives as well. I know that we have protection by angels in the supernatural, but God will also provide divine heart connections with other believers who serve as a support and prayer protection provider in the natural.


D) Judges 9:54 54 ”He quickly said to his young armor bearer, “Draw your sword and kill me! Don’t let it be said that a woman killed Abimelech!” So the young man ran him through with his sword, and he died.”

This armor bearer followed a very difficult and extreme order. A couple thing struck me when I read this is... this armor bearer was young, but he showed complete loyalty and unselfishness in following Abimelech’s order. In that moment, this young armor bearer had no self-seeking motivations or thoughts of the consequence of his action.... his only concern was assisting his “master.” Once Abimelech was dead, this young armor bearer was on his own. It was highly possible he’d be captured and/or killed. No to mention his source of supply (food, water, protection, etc) ended with Abimelech’s death. Non of that matter though. In that moment, the young armor bearer’s loyalty and dedication to Abimelech’s took precedence over his own needs.

E) 2Samuel 18:1-15

**Little background... Back in 2 Samuel 15:13 we find that Abaslom, David’s oldest son had incited an uprising against David to overtake the kingdom and replace David as King. So, David and those who chose to follow him had fled for their lives from the palace. Where we pick up with this scripture, David’s army had went out to take a stand and fight against the army of Israel who was following Absalom.**

2Samuel 18:15 ”Ten of Joab’s young armor bearers then surrounded Absalom and killed him.”

In this case, Joab (who could be considered a type of armor bearer/defender of King David) made a hard decision here and his armor bearers followed through with him in the endeavor. Joab knew that King David did not want any harm to befall Absalom, but

Joab also knew that David would not be safe or be able to return to his rightful seat of authority as long as Absalom was alive. So, even at the cost of causing David sorrow, and having consequences of disobeying King David’s direct order, he was so committed to protecting David, that he made the hard decision and did what was in David’s best interest... kill Absalom. Sometimes people get in a situation/battle in which their emotions or other circumstances may be clouding their judgement and they are heading down a dangerous, self-destructive path. Those are the times that you love that person enough to risk them being mad at you for the sake of ensuring their safety. Am I saying its okay to break covenant or divine order? Absolutely not. However, I believe this is a great example of how sometimes an armor bearer may have to bring some tough love to the person they’re in covenant with. Those are the times you have to tell them what they may not want to hear 2Samuel 19:1-8 is a perfect example of one of those times.

F) Luke 22:31-32

Here Jesus showed honesty by telling Peter what was going to happen, but then he immediately encourage Peter and assured him that he would come through that failure and wouldn’t remain defeated. Then Jesus also let him know He had prayed for him (sent that offensive, firepower attack) against the enemy that would allow Peter to deliver the final knock, blow to defeat the enemy.

Luke 6:12&13

Here Jesus was committed/submitted to following God and who God wanted Jesus to appoint as apostles. This also shows Jesus covenant commitment to God and to those he would be training up as apostles. Not only that, I believe that while Jesus was on the mountain praying, that after God told Him who the apostles were to be.... Jesus started praying for those men. Jesus went into armor bearer mode and prayed into existence all the power, strength, supply, encouragement, everything he knew these men would need to fulfill the call on their lives. Jesus prayed their endings from the beginnings, he prayed their callings successfully accomplished and all their provision & protection for the journey.

Jesus is the ultimate example of an armor bearer and how important the role of armor bearer is. Jesus felt the armor bearer role was so important that he, himself served in it!!! I think that should tell us how much of a necessity it is for us to have and be an armor bearer.



II. What are some of the Qualities/Characteristics of an Armor Bearer?

A) Covenant Commitment - you understand and operate in covenant.

**“A covenant is an arrangement between people who commit to do certain things for each other. A covenant is an extremely serious promise that requires trust, faithfulness, and loyalty in order for the covenant to be kept. When each person involved in the covenant does his part to keep it, he or she is blessed with a deep and wonderful relationship. But when covenants are not kept, the consequences are extremely severe.” -iLumina**

**“A covenant relationship is not an ordinary relationship. It is a commitment to responsibility and action.” -iLumina**

B) Faith/Trust - Faith in God and trust in the person you’re serving as armor bearer too (includes trust in your armor bearer by the one being covered by the armor bearer).

C) Overcoming, Unselfish Attitude - you have to be positive and in faith, assured of victory through Jesus; and you cannot be selfish and concerned about what you’re getting out of the deal.

D) Submitted to God - you have to submitted your life to God before you’re capable of submitting to or truly supporting a person.

E) Honest Accountability - be honest and holding each other accountable.

F) Love - if you don’t have love for others, you can’t truly be their armor bearer

"Purposeful Pursuer" (Bible Study 2-23-2010)

I WANT TO BE A

PURPOSEFUL PURSUER OF JESUS CHRIST

Purposeful - having a purpose; full of determination; (synonyms: resolved, purposeful, determined, intent, wilful, deliberate, intentionally) **use that wilfulness for good and dig in your heels to follow Jesus**

Pursue - a continuing effort to overtake, reach or attain


Mark 5:24-34
There was a huge crowd of people following Jesus, but only one with resolved -to reach a firm decision about; to cause resolution of) faith purposely chasing after Him. The others were satisfied just following Jesus, but this woman actively pursued the Lord with faith that if she could just touch Him, He would meet her need immediately. ** I want to be a purposeful pursuer of Jesus, with the kind of faith that I know my God will supply all my needs**


Here are just a few identifying characteristics of a purposeful pursuer:

1) Listen & Follow Jesus’ teaching

Matthew 7: 21 "Not all people who sound religious are really godly. They may refer to me as ‘Lord,’ but they still won’t enter the Kingdom of Heaven. The decisive issue is whether they obey my Father in heaven.”


Matthew 7:24 “Anyone who listens to my teaching and obeys me is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

1John 3:3-5 “And how can we be sure that we belong to him? By obeying his commandments. If someone says, “I belong to God,’ but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and does not live in the truth. But those who obey God’s word really do love him.”

If you simple think that the Word of God is a nice collection of stories that simply serve as a good code of conduct to follow, but never truly understand and apply the power in its pages to your life, you can’t be a purposeful pursuer. A purposeful pursuer hungers after the things of God and wants to implement what God says to do in his/her life so that he/she can see the promised results and outcome that the Word of God says will come to pass (i.e. healing, prosperity, happiness, joy, peace, freedom, love, power, etc)*work the Word*. You can’t see those things if you are only a hearer of the Word and not a doer of the Word. You have to apply what God says to your life... not in theory, but actually act upon it.


2) Love

Matthew 22:37 & 38 “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God will all your heart, all you soul, and all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

If you aren’t in love with God and understand how much He truly loves you, you won’t be able to pursue Him. When you’re head over heels in love with someone, you’ll bend over backwards for them. Catering to their every whim is joy and it makes your heart all a-flutter to do things for them and going out of your way for them doesn’t seem like going out of your way... you count it all as joy (i.e. picking up after them, bringing them something to drink/eat, running errands for them, turning on the t.v. for them, etc). You also want to spend as much time with that person as possible. Just being in their presence makes you happy and improves your mood. You want to be near them. When you’re not with them, you’re constantly thinking about that person & anticipating the next time you can be with them. If there is no love in a relationship, you could care less whether or not you see that person. You rarely think about them and doing anything for them is a hassle, a chore and an inconvenience. Love is the fuel for your pursuit of God!!

*Romans 8:28-39 *

FYI, you never have to worry that God will stop loving you!! Many times people are afraid to open themselves up for love because they are afraid of being hurt by the other person. Anyone who has ever had their heart broken knows what I’m talking about. Giving your heart to someone is frightening because “what if” they break it and hurt you. Rest assured God will NEVER break your heart. God is not like people, so don’t compare Him to them and expect Him to treat you like others in the world have. Everything about God is love and you will never regret turning your heart over to Him. I cannot put into words how truly understanding how much God loves you will change your entire world. I know all of us “know” that God loves us. I knew that for years, but until it got down on the inside of me & I really KNEW God’s love for me I couldn’t pursue Him like I am now. Knowing God’s love for me set me free from burdens and things I’d struggled with for years. I was saved and serving God, but I wasn’t totally free and definitely wasn’t able to even start stepping into the calling or true peace and happiness that God had for me until I understood that love. It will revolutionized your way of thinking and your entire life!!!!!


3) Understanding, Confidence & Trust

You have to understand and have confidence in who you are in Christ and trust that no matter what, God is going to bring the “new you” building project to completion; before you can truly purposely pursue God.

Romans 5:1&2 “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

Romans 8:14-16 “For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you should not be like cowering, fearful slaves. You should behave instead like God’s very own children, adopted into his famioy-calling him ‘Father, dear Father.’ For his Holy Spirit speaks to us deep in our hearts and tells us that we are God’s children.”

2Corinthians 5:17 “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!”

Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.”

When you understand your standing and who God’s made you, you are not weighed down by condemnation, worry of failure, worthlessness and anything else you can think of... you are free to run the race God has set before you and purposefully pursue Him unrestrained. Its hard to concentrate on anything, if you’re worrying about everything!! Meditating on negative things (your circumstances or what the devil is screaming) is nothing but a distraction from your pursuit of God.

Hebrews 13:6 “That is why we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?’”

If you don’t realize you are a new creature and understand how much God loves you and who He has made you, it’s very hard to have confidence to pursue God or fulfill your purpose. However, when it clicks and you really get how crazy God is about you and just how much power, strength and endless resources He has given you access to, it becomes pretty easy to purposely pursue Him and step into the dream He has for your life. When you truly understand God has made you a new creation and how much He truly loves you, it allows you to trust Him completely. It’s pretty much impossible to submit to and whole heartedly follow someone with everything in you if you don’t trust that person. Trust brings confidence. It makes spending time with God reading your Bible, praying, going to church a joy and an essential part of your life rather than something you have to do out of obligation and your just punching your religious time card. When you trust God, nothing is impossible for you and you aren’t afraid to do anything God tells you. If yo u trust someone, you know that everything they do or say to you is for your benefit and that person would never do anything to hurt you or allow you to be hurt. God is not like people, He doesn’t have an ulterior motive. God’s ONLY motive is His love for you. He’s trying to protect you and get you your blessing and help you in everyway possible to fulfill His dream for your life and see you walk in the fullness of life He has for you! YOU CAN TRUST HIM. That trust makes those waiting times and times that we don’t understand what’s going on bearable, because we TRUST that God is in control & He’s got us. We trust that He’s handling our life and it will all work out for our benefit (Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”) *together - by combined action; in or into agreement or harmony; in or into a unified or coherent structure or integrated whole;* Your life is like a building, when a building starts there are thousands upon thousands of individual pieces that have to be brought together by the builder before you have the finished product of a house (i.e. concrete, lumber, nails, flooring, drywall, etc). We and our lives are the building and God is the Builder.


4) DIFFERENT MINDSET/PRIORITIES: THINK & PERCEIVE DIFFERENTLY

Psalm 119:26-36

More than anything, a purposeful pursuer wants to understand what God wants them to do and wants to pursue doing that with all that’s within them. To be a purposeful pursuer you have to determine that if God says it, you’ll do it and will follow wherever He leads.

2Timothy 2:22-26

PP’s handle situations and think about things differently than most people or the majority of the world; we have what I like to refer to as the BIG PICTURE Thinking. You can’t sweat the small stuff and you don’t allow stupid stuff to distract you from pursuing God or get side tracked from your pursuit of God. You don’t get offended because someone looked at you wrong or said something dumb and then you’re mad for 3 days. Because in eternity, is what they said really going to matter and are you going to waste your energy here on earth being upset over something that in the “big picture” doesn’t mean squat?!!?!?!?! NO!!! God revealed to me a certain situation/issue in a relationship in my life was nothing but a distraction from my pursuit of God. One this certain person would let the devil get up on their head, that person new every button to punch and tapped dance on all of them. I would be hurt, offended, angry in an instant. Then I’d spend half a day or more casting it down and get re-focused on where I’d been with God before the attack! It was a distraction from the enemy to take me off course!!! When God revealed that to me, I started asking for His strength to ignore that thing, and become unoffendable. Now, stuff from that person that used to tear me up, I’m just like “hmm...isn’t that nice.” :) It rolls off like water off a ducks back. I’m telling you that story because all of you have similar things in your life that are simply attacks of the enemy to distract you.

Matthew 5:44-48

1Peter 3:9 “Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate when people say unkind things about you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God wants you to do, and he will bless you for it.”

These are definitely a excellent examples of how we are called to think differently than the world!! The worlds’ way of thinking says if someone hurts you, you hurt them back. However, Jesus says we are never to return evil for evil...we are to be good to those who treat us unfairly. That’s NOT the normal track of thinking!!! Therefore the response of a purposeful pursuer to situations will be NOTICEABLY different than that of the world.

PP’s also perceive/look at situations differently.

**Examples: Leprosy healed by dipping in a dirty river, bring down the walls of Jericho by marching around the city, being fed by ravens during a famine, killing a giant with a sling and stone, a shepherd becoming the King of Israel, Jesus walking on water to get to the disciples, feeding 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish, etc....

When we see a mountain/obstacle/situation, we think of Word to speak to change and intervene in that thing. We know that the Word of God can bring down any obstacle in our path. To the world that’s insane!!! Speaking the Word to our problem is our solution and that is totally opposite from the world’s way of handling things.

In closing, let me say this message has not been meant to condemn in anyway. It’s purpose is to encourage you to pursue God with everything within you. To let you know how much God loves you! Honestly, I only touched on the tip of the iceberg for this topic, but these are the main things God gave me. So, let me encourage you to step up to another level from where you are.... we go from glory to glory. None of us will have arrived and know it all until we get to Heaven. I don’t want embers (like Pastor Derber preached about), I want a full on, raging fire of God on the inside and outside of me! Beloved, I am determined to be a Purposeful Pursuer and I hope you’ll join me in this pursuit!!!

Change to Bible Study

Just fyi....due to scheduling conflicts I had to change the night my Bible study meets from Monday to Tuesday.  This will be a permanent change.  So, my lessons won't be posted until Tuesday nights now.  Didn't want anyone out there who may be following my blog think I was slacking or not posting notes anymore!! lol :)

"Commissioned" (Bible Study 1-26-2010)

"COMMISSIONED"

Isaiah 49:1-4

Isaiah 49:1 “Listen to me, all you in distant lands! Pay attention, you who are far away! The Lord called me before my birth; from within the womb he called me by name.”

God had our callings/His dream for our life planned and set-forth everything we’d need to fulfill it before we were born. God knew every detail our lives and He called us (placed within our hearts a desire to fulfill that purpose/calling while we were still in our mother’s womb). The reason the lives of so many people are in shambles is because they haven’t given their heart to God and began pursuing the plan He has for their life....their true purpose and calling. When people reject God and are pursuing their own thing, that desire within them to fulfill their true God given purpose rages. They can’t find satisfaction in anything...though they try to fill that incompleteness with drugs, sex, alcohol, career, children, spouse, money, whatever..... they are never satisfied because all those things are not what they need or are truly yearning for. Everything else is a pseudo or counterfeit of the real thing....Jesus. That’s why movie stars and millionaires have everything money can buy but are still miserable and unhappy. I think of Brittney Spears as a perfect example. She has everything but nothing at the same time.


Isaiah 49:2 “ He made my words of judgment as sharp as a sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand. I am like a sharp arrow in his quiver.”

Our mouths and the words we speak out of them are our weapon to defeat the enemy and further God’s Kingdom and complete are call. Not to mention cause us to live a blessed, fulfilled life, walking in all the promises of God. The NIV’s translation for this verse says (“He made my mouth like a sharpened sword,”). Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of thoughts and intents of the heart.”) When we speak out the Word of God over our lives, pray in tongues and/or follow God’s prompting in specific things to pray, we are waging war against the powers of darkness, we are releasing the Spirit of God and Heavenly forces to work on changing circumstances, set people free, send healing, tear down strongholds and to change not only our lives, but the lives of those around us and even the world. Like a sword or judgement, the power in words cuts straight to the problem. Words are our faith in action.....believe it, speak it and anticipate it’s happening. The NLT uses the word “judgement” in this verse. Judgement is defined as a formal utterance of an authoritative opinion; and opinion so pronounced. We are endowed with power from God through Jesus Christ. We have been given authority and power (Luke 10:19 “And I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.”) (2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”). So what we speak becomes reality (good or bad). Kind of like a decree from a king. Whenever a king sets forth a decree, those in authority in his kingdom would repeat those decrees and they had be followed by everyone just as if the king personally spoke them.

Second half of that verse:
We are protected and shielded from the enemy, by God. Just like the arrows in a warrior’s quiver (case used for carrying arrows) we are concealed, covered and safely carried until time for battle. When the warrior is ready to attack an enemy, he removes an arrow and fires it at his enemy. That’s what our words/prayers are in Kingdom of God. Our words become the weapon that tears down and defeats the enemy.


Isaiah 49:3 “He said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, and you will bring me glory.’”

By using our words and prayer to come against the enemy, God will be given glory when He manifests the fruit of the words we’ve spoken and shows His power. People see God through us and moving in our lives by the fruit our lives yield and by our actions.  We are sort of like a walking billboard advertisement for God.


Isaiah 49:4 “I replied, ‘But my work seems so useless! I have spent my strength for nothing and to no purpose. Yet I leave it all in the Lord’s hand; I will trust, God for my reward.’”

This is something I’ve battled with recently..... I’m not seeing immediate results/manifestation to my prayers (sowing, speaking the Word, etc) so my brain starts to wonder if I’m doing something wrong. The enemy comes at you at these gestation times (times that we are waiting for fruit/our harvest/manifestation to be birthed ) and whispers that we’re wasting our time in prayer; that it’s not doing any good and not changing anything. He’ll even try condemnation and say stuff like, if you were really spiritual or really living the way you were supposed to, you’d be seeing some results. (Hebrews 11:1 “What is faith? It is the confident assurance that what we hope for is going to happen. It is the evidence of things we cannot yet see.”) Just because we don’t see anything with our natural eye doesn’t mean something is happening and things aren’t changing. (Mark 4:26-29 “Jesus also said, ‘Here is another illustration of what the Kingdom of God is like: A farmer planted seeds in a field, and then he went on with his other activities. As the days went by, the seeds sprouted and grew without the farmer’s help, because the earth produces crops on its own. First a leaf blade pushes through, then the heads of wheat are formed, and finally the grain ripens. And as soon as the grain is ready, the farmer comes and harvests it with a sickle.’”) Our prayers are the seed we scatter. Our job, like the farmer is to plant those seeds...it’s God’s job to make them grow and manifest. Just like different types of plants have different gestation periods, so do the seeds we plant. Different seeds have different growth rates/harvest times and a lot of different variables can affect their growth. Some of these variables are: 1)the soil they’re planted in- is it good soil, full of nutrients and capable of producing fruit? Did you sow seed into something that can actually produce? 2) the amount of rainfall - is their a flow of the Word and prayer being poured into you/onto the seed? 3) The season - certain seeds are planted at certain times of the year and will only produce fruit in a certain season/time of the year. If a crop produced fruit too soon, like during a time of year that its frosts...that crop would be ruined. Same thing with us. Some things we’re believing for could possibly negatively affect us if it manifested right away. For example, what would’ve happened to Joyce Meyer if her ministry would have exploded a month after she got saved? What would’ve happened if she hadn’t had any time to grow and learn and was suddenly thrust into the huge full time, global ministry she has now? I’m pretty sure it would’ve fallen apart and collapsed under pressure because she wouldn’t have been prepared for such a huge responsibility. (Matthew 25:21 “The master was full of praise. Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!”).  Let me make something very clear....I am not saying that Joyce “earned” her ministry or that she had to work and pay a penance before she could step into her calling & ministry. We can’t earn anything we’re believing God for or do enough work to cause our seed to produce. It’s like a new car... you’re not going to give you’re 8 year old a brand new car & say...hey go have fun driving and just turn him loose!!! You love your child but you’re not going to give them something they aren’t ready for yet. You do it for their own protection. You want to bless them not hurt them. It’s those times of waiting for our harvest to manifest that you just have to trust God. You have to turn it over to Him and know that God is faithful to fulfill all of His promises. He is not a liar and can be counted on.



(Hebrews 10:14 “For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy.”)

Something very important to keep in mind is that you don’t have to be “perfect” to be commissioned and fulfill your calling. We know that we are made righteous/perfect when we accept Jesus into our hearts. His blood makes us spotless. However, that perfectness reflected outwardly in us takes time. Sin residue and self are worked out of us as we know God better. (Colossians 1:9 & 10 “So we have not stopped praying for you since we first heard about you. We ask God to give you complete knowledge of his will and to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding. Then the way you live will always honor and please the Lord, and your lives will produce every kind of good fruit. All the while, you will grow as you learn to know God better and better.”) Our faith walk and calling fulfillment is a process. I was thinking the other day how far God has brought me and how much I’ve changed, grown and learned since I was first saved the Sunday before September 11, 2001. I am definitely a new creation in Christ Jesus. I can’t relate to or even recognize the old me compared to who I am now. Does that mean I’m perfect and never mess up and never lose my temper or always handle every situation exactly the way Christ would? Heck no! I still blow it. However, the frequency and severity of my mess ups have dramatically lessened. I’m still amazed sometimes at my reaction to situations and how I handle things that used to make me totally lose it. Now, I’m just sort of like “huh, isn’t that nice.” :)


In closing, let me encourage you to not become discouraged at your progress or get frustrated or stressed out that things are not manifesting at the speed you think is acceptable or meeting the standard you have in your head. (Zechariah 4:6-10 “Then he said to me, ‘This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: Its is not by force nor by strength but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place the people will shout: “May God bless it! May God bless it!’” Then another message came to me from the Lord: ‘Zerubbabel is the one who laid the foundation of this Temple, and he will complete it. Then you will know that the Lord of Heaven’s Armies has sent me. Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.’”). Verse 6 of this scripture is my scripture. It is seriously the theme scripture for my life. I cannot tell you how many times God has spoken that scripture to me. So many times we run ourselves ragged trying to make things happen in the natural and by fleshly measures, when it’s a spiritual work that flesh can’t handle. Recently I was having one of those moments of fighting discouragement and feeling much like Isaiah, in Isaiah 49:4 listed above. It was one of those moments that things seemed a mess and that I was like a dog chasing my tail....seeing no headway or improvement or change in circumstances in the time frame I thought things should be happening. Then I started reading my Bible & the above passage of scripture leapt off the page at me and God so sweetly reminded me this journey and assignment of mine is a process. Step by step I am fulfilling the call of God. He reminded me that He’s not dissatisfied or disappointed with my progress... As a matter of fact, it gave God great joy to see my small beginnings back in 2001 and it continues to make Him smile at each new step I make. He also let me know that He will complete this work within me and His power will see me through the completing of my calling/assignment. Don’t set time frames or boundaries on your process. Simply listen for and follow God’s leading. God is never late or too early...He is always right on time!!!
 
-Faith Flowers

An Unarmed Enemy (1-18-2010)

A DISARMED ENEMY

1-18-2010
Colossians 2:13-15 “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.”

The death of Jesus on the cross has disarmed the enemy

Definition of Disarm- to deprive of means, reason, or disposition to be hostile; to win over; to deprive of a means of attack or defense; to make harmless). In this scripture it uses disarmed (past tense) which means its already been done. It’s not something that’s going to happen, it’s already happened. This one short scripture is a telling us that our enemy has been made harmless... it also tells us that the enemy’s means or resources/methods of defense & attack have been deprived, which is defined as - to take something away from; to withhold something from. When Jesus becomes Lord of our life, the enemy is made harmless in our life because his resources of attacking us & even defending himself from our prayers and using God’s Word against him are taken away. So, why are so many of God’s people living in defeat and continually getting their behinds handed to them by the devil? Because the devil is a good bluffer. He will push to see just how much we will put up with before we use the authority God has given us to put him in his place. It goes back to knowing who Christ has made you. Attacks are part of life, but defeat isn’t!!! (Colossians 1:22 & 23 “Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News.”) If you don’t know who God has made you and continually remind yourself and the devil of that fact, you’ll live in defeat. (Colossians 2:6 “And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to follow him.”). Accepting Jesus is only the first step. To lead a blessed and victorious life you have to continue seeking after him. You have to lay down your way and what your flesh wants to do EVERYDAY and submit to Jesus and follow where he leads.



Colossians 2:20 “You have died with Christ, and he has set you free from the spiritual powers of this world. So why do you keep on following the rules of the world, such as,”

When a person dies in the natural (on earth) the rules and laws of the land that applied to them when they were living become null and void. For example, when you’re alive, you have to pay taxes...after you’re dead the you no longer owe Mr. IRS anything. Same principal holds true in the spiritual realm. When we accept Jesus as our Savior, the old us dies and we are “reborn” a new person into a new world (2Corinthians 5:17 “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!!”) We’re reborn into the Kingdom of God. So, the spiritual rules that governed us when we were in sin (sin controlled our lives thus the enemy could do whatever to us and around us he wanted to) became null and void when that old us died. The only rules and regulations that apply to us now are those found in the Kingdom of God.




Colossians 2:21-23 “Don’t handle! Don’t taste! Don’t touch!?” Such rules are mere human teachings about things that deteriorate as we use them. These rules may seem wise because they require strong devotion, pious self denial, and severe bodily discipline. But they provide no help in conquering a person’s evil desires.”

So, if the only rules we have to follow are those of the Kingdom, why do so many churches and Christians live under such religious, man-made, rules and regulations that God hasn’t imposed on us? Religion and denomination many times are a human and fleshly attempt to make people Holy and to ensure that people feel like they are “good enough” to get into Heaven. This scripture plainly tells us that man-made rules and strict guidelines have no power to set people free. Instead, they bind people and give the devil and avenue to torment and restrain (put a leash) on God’s people. Thus keeping them from fully operating in the power and anointing Christ provides. The sad thing is following such strict guidelines takes a lot of dedication, intestinal fortitude, and persistence. So, following them seems like something a truly devoted, “God fearing” person would do. I guess that would make sense if our God was a slave driving, task master standing over us w/a whip just waiting for us to make a mistake. However, God is nothing like that!!! God’s entire make up is LOVE!!! I’ve heard you better “fear” the Lord preached in the context that we should truly be afraid of God! Like He’s going to strike me dead if I do one little thing wrong. Thankfully, that’s not the case! I believe that the type of “fear” we are to have for God is a respectful, in awe of, reverence. (John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”) I know we have all heard that scripture a thousand times, but think about it.... would you allow your son to be brutally murdered for someone you didn’t love? It would take pages to list all the scripture that refer to God’s love (try looking up “love” in the concordance of your Bible sometime to if you don’t believe me :) God came down and visited with Adam & Eve in the garden; Moses spent so much time in God’s presence that his face glowed (Exodus 34:28-30), God considered Abraham His friend & we are His friend as well (Romans 5:11 “So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God-all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.”). Am I saying that people can just go around doing whatever they want with no guidelines or restraint?.... NO! I’m saying the only guidelines we have to follow are those specified clearly in the Bible...the spiritual principles and guidelines of the Kingdom of God. Am I saying that people can be disrespectful toward God? NO! There is no doubt about it God is very powerful and holds each breathe we take in His hand. We owe Him our respect... the same respect we have for our parents (if you have a healthy parent/child relationship to compare it too). My parents love me dearly and would do anything in their power to help me. Am I afraid of them? No. Do I respect them and treat them with respect? Absolutely!!!!!


In closing....

Colossians 3:1-4 “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

Since we are dead to the rules and authority of the flesh and earthly kingdom, we should be focused on operating in and following the laws of where we truly abide, the Heavenly Kingdom/realm. We have a different reality than those of this world. For example, sickness is part of the curse of this world/realm, however, as residence of the Heavenly Kingdom, we don’t have to be sick and can walk in health and operate in the healing power of God (1 Peter 2:24, James 5:15, Luke 4:40). Financial woes and poverty are another worry or part of the earthly kingdom, however, the Bible is full of promises that God will supply all of our needs and bless us in impossible circumstances and situations. This life on earth is temporary. It’s only a tiny part of our destiny. We will spend ETERNITY in Heaven... that’s FOREVER. So, we need to be focused on the reality of Heaven and not get consumed by what’s going on in the world and loose sight of what I call the big picture. Let me clarify that I’m not saying we can just be oblivious to those around us and be lazy through our earthly lives. What we do while living on this earth is a part of the path that leads to our final destination of Heaven....it’s not however the ONLY part. Most importantly remember that although we live on this earth, we are not part of its system/kingdom and therefore do not have to operate under its curse or follow its spiritual rules. People may think we’re crazy now for living and speaking what I’ve been talking about earthly and Heavenly Kingdoms. Like verse 4 says, when Jesus returns for those who are serving and waiting for Him, the whole world will suddenly discover what we’re talking about and face the reality that Jesus is real and that everything written in the Bible is true. Talk about a wake up call and a “hello, here’s your sign” kinda moment.

-Faith