Graced To Do God's Will

In every person’s head, there are going to be two voices we hear. One of the voices will be from the enemy. The enemy will give us thoughts, ideas, and suggestions that are contrary to the Word of God. To realize the voice is from the enemy, we will have to know the Word of God. We can’t know what’s contrary to the Word of God if we don’t know the Word of God.

The additional voice will be the voice of God. For those who are not born again, this voice is known as their conscience. Contrary to the enemy’s voice, the voice of God aligns itself up with the Word of God. Once again, to know the voice of God, we have to know the Word of God.

Who have you been listening to? I encourage everyone to know the Word of God, hear the voice of God, and obey the voice of God. By obeying the voice of God, we position ourselves to receive the best of God.

Deuteronomy 28:1 And it shall come to pass, if you shall hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD your God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command you this day, that the LORD your God will set you on high above all nations of the earth:

1 Corinthians 15:⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

God has an assignment for everyone on the planet. Whether we fulfill that assignment is totally up to us. Some may be assigned to go out and save lost souls, others may be assigned to train newly converted Christians in the ways of holiness, and some may be assigned to mow the lawn of the house of God. All of our assignments are important, necessary, and beneficial for the Kingdom of God.

No matter what assignment God has placed upon your heart, obey His voice and fulfill that assignment.

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

The phone of our life is ringing. It’s God calling. Will you answer?

Every born again believer received a call from God. Our first call was for salvation. In order to be saved, we all must answer this call. For those who have not received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, I encourage you to answer the phone.

The remaining calls in our life are usually personal. We’ll eventually be called to a higher level with God. That higher level could include a more intimate relationship with God, a more outspoken walk with God, or even a personal change in our life to be holy. Whatever the reason for the call, answer the phone.

God is calling everyone. What is He saying to you? Will you be obedient?

He’s waiting.

John 11: 4When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. 44And he [Lazarus] that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with grave clothes: and his face was bound about with a cloth. Jesus said unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

All of the good that we do, albeit major or minor, is an opportunity for us to highlight Christ. To bring glory to God, we must be willing to do what God calls us to. We must be willing to stand fearlessly in faith to manifest the impossibilities that God has called us to so that we can bring Him glory through the process of faith and manifestation. Declare, believe, and do what God has put on your heart, even if it seems nonsensical.

God told Noah to build a massive ark before rain had ever touched the Earth. God promised Abraham a son through His wife when they were both well beyond child-bearing years. God told Moses to lead an enslaved people when he had a speech impediment and had been raised as a prince. What is God calling you to do that can bring Him glory?

Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

The Bible advises us multiple times to submit ourselves to God. Some people think submission only means giving our lives to God through salvation. That is only partial submission. Total submission is letting the Spirit of God direct us in every area of life. Allow the Spirit of God to direct our relationships, our finances, and our attitudes. Even in minor situations, we should consult the Spirit. When we consult the Spirit of God in all of our decisions:

1. We display our total trust in God.
2. We allow our hearing to become sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s voice.
3. We make the devil and his temptations flee from every situation (James 4:7).

Total submission includes more areas of our lives than salvation. Let’s show God we truly trust Him by allowing the Spirit of God to guide us.

John 6:26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.

At some point in our life, we have to get to a place where we’re not solely focused on God meeting our needs but, we’re focused on meeting the needs of the Kingdom of God. As a result of meeting the needs of the Kingdom, God assures us that our needs will be supplied (Matthew 6:33).

As we start this 2014 year, focus less on what God can do for us and let’s start focusing more on what we can do for His Kingdom.

Ephesians 1: 18The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know… 19 …what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20Which he performed in Christ, …and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion…

We have unlimited power through Christ. To access this power we spend time with God, allow His Spirit to lead us, and walk by faith. And, as we unleash the impossible, we continue to point to Christ, so that unbelievers may be saved and other believers can exercise their power. Remove the boundaries and remember that through Christ we can do all things.

Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
James 2:17 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone.

Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word, AND faith without works is dead.

When what you believe infiltrates your behavior, the process gives you foundation (T.D. Jakes). In other words, when we combine works with our Word-based faith, we lay the foundation that will support us on the next level. That foundation, or process, prepares us to sustain the breakthrough and be successful on that level.

In addition, that solid foundation, constructed from the process of hearing the Word, growing our faith, and implementing the works, supports us after we receive that breakthrough and prepare for another. So, be patient in the process and don’t lose hope nor backdown from faith. Just know that the process is helping to lay the foundation for the manifestation of our desires and more.

Romans 2:4 (AMP) Or are you [so blind as to] trifle with and presume upon and despise and underestimate the wealth of His kindness and forbearance and long-suffering patience? Are you unmindful or actually ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repent (to change your mind and inner man to accept God’s will)?

Have you heard the expression, “You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar?” This expression simply means we can get what we want by being kind instead of hostile or mean.

God works in the same way. God desires for everyone to repent and be saved (1 Tim 2:3). Instead of executing His wrath and vengeance on us when we miss the mark, He decides to show His loving-kindness so that everyone can experience the true nature of God.
That’s why He will bless us knowing we don’t deserve it. That’s why He will heal our bodies when we should be in this condition forever. That’s why He saved mankind through Jesus Christ when we were destined for hell.

Never abuse His grace and mercy. God’s love is to lead us to repentance.

Romans 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord.

It takes faith to believe that God will handle vengeance for us. But, when we trust Him to deal with the vengeance while we sow good seeds of forgiveness, kindness, and mercy, we position ourselves to receive only the best. Believe the Word of God, which says in Romans 8:28, that He will cause ALL things to work together for our good, even what someone else intentionally or unintentionally meant for evil. Trust that God will step in as your provider, your avenger, the Love of your life, your everything (Phil 4:19).

So, stop looking for revenge; pray good things for others, and trust God to elevate your position (Deut 28:13).

Ephesians 3:19 and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.

Most of us don’t trust something if we’re unfamiliar with it. The same thing goes with God. We can’t fully trust God without truly knowing Him. We may trust Him in some areas but, not in others. To truly trust God in all areas, we have to know God’s love for us. When we can comprehend the love God has for us, it makes it easier to trust Him.

When we know God’s love for us, we can trust Him to be our Provider.
When we know God’s love for us, we can trust Him to handle this situation.
When we know God’s love for us we can trust Him to heal our bodies.

Let’s understand the magnitude of God’s love for us so that we can fully trust Him.

Proverbs 18:20 (AMP) A man’s [moral] self shall be filled with the fruit of his mouth; and with the consequence of his words he must be satisfied [whether good or evil].

What we experience in life (good or evil) is a direct result of what we speak. Our words have power. What we say, whether we believe it or not, comes to pass. For those who are saying things such as, “I’m sick and tired of doing this or that,” we reap the consequences of our words and literally become sick and tired. We wonder why people live a short life after people constantly say things such as, “My _______are killing me.” Let’s be mindful of our words.

In addition to speaking death, doom, and destruction over our own lives, we reap the consequences of speaking negativity over someone else’s life. Galatians 6:7 states whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. If we constantly talk about someone else in a negative way, we can expect to reap the consequences of our own words. Do people really expect to live a life of joy, peace, and prosperity while speaking negatively over someone or something else?

Let’s be mindful of our words and speak life.

Jude 1:21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

The Bible tells us to keep ourselves in God’s love. This means, there are some thoughts and circumstances that will attempt to make us doubt God’s love for us.

The enemy will try to make us doubt God’s love by bringing up our past and present shortcomings. God loves us in spite of our sinful ways. Even if we sin 10 times a day, God still loves us. Once we recognize and receive God’s love for us, our desire to sin should decrease. How can we sin against a God Who loves us so much?

There are going to be trials in life. Jesus made that clear in John 16:33. The enemy will attempt to make us think that the trials we face are a sign that God doesn’t love us. This is a lie.

Keeping ourselves in God’s love is something we must do. We must continuously remind ourselves how much God loves us. Recognize and receive God’s love.

Merry Christmas

God loves you.

James 2:21 Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

Our faith needs to be accompanied by our actions. If our faith is without action, our faith is incomplete (James 2:17).

When most people think of actions, they think of practical applications we must do while we’re standing in faith. Some practical applications include applying for a job while standing in faith for employment or taking medication while standing in faith to be healed. These applications are great, but there are also emotional applications we must do while we’re standing in faith.

While we’re standing in faith, we must keep our emotions in check. If we’re standing in faith for a financial breakthrough, our emotional applications should be having peace and joy because we know God is our Provider. If we’re standing in faith for a spouse, our emotional applications should be feeling uplifted and whole, rather than lonely and depressed.

Let’s complete our faith by aligning our practical applications and emotional applications with what we believe.

Leviticus 20:26 You are to be holy to me because I, the LORD, am holy, and I have set you apart from the nations to be my own.

The Bible says, be holy.

God wouldn’t tell us to become something if He didn’t already give us the tools to achieve the goal He set for us. The goal is not impossible. If He said it, we can do it.

Q: What does it mean to be holy?
A: 1. Walking in the will of God by being led by the Spirit of God
2. Aligning our thoughts, actions, and emotions to agree with God’s Word
3. Receiving God forgiveness when we miss the mark

Let’s elevate our life and represent a holy God by being holy.

Psalm 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, Nor will my sword save me. 7 But You have saved us from our adversaries, And You have put to shame those who hate us. 8 In God we have boasted all day long, And we will give thanks to Your name forever. Selah.

The successes in our lives should not be credited to the things we acquired on earth. It doesn’t matter how much education, experience, or money we have, all of our success comes from God. If it were not for God, we wouldn’t even have had the opportunity to earn that degree, to receive that job experience, to make that money.

Give God all the credit that is due to Him.

Some may hear and read the Word of God but, don’t know how to apply the Word of God in their lives. Application of the Word is not difficult. God made it easy so that everyone can apply the Word of God in their lives.

We apply the Word of God by believing the Word that we’ve read or heard, and receiving that it is already done in our lives. That’s it.

What is difficult for some is looking past their current circumstances to then believe and receive God’s Word. It’s all mental. For example, it may be a fact that our finances are limited but, we believe and receive Proverbs 8:18 that says, With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.

This will work for whoever is willing to work the process. Believe and receive God’s Word and expect God’s Word to manifest in your life.

Mark 11:24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Numbers 13:³¹ But his fellow scouts said, We are not able to go up against the people [of Canaan], for they are stronger than we are. ³² So they brought the Israelites an evil report of the land which they had scouted out, saying, The land through which we went to spy it out is a land that devours its inhabitants. And all the people that we saw in it are men of great stature. ³³ There we saw the Nephilim [or giants], the sons of Anak, who come from the giants; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

Although God was with the Israelites and God promised them this land, they still were intimidated by what they saw and how they saw themselves. Because they saw their circumstances bigger than their God, the majority of them did not experience the promised land (Numbers 14:23).

This is true today. How we view God and how we see ourselves will help or hurt us. God is always with us and He has approved every promise in His Word, but if we see God as a “being” instead of our personal Father and we see ourselves as insignificant, we will never experience the fullness of His promises (Hebrews 13:5; 2 Corinthians 1:20).

With all that being said, how do you see yourself? Do you see yourself like a grasshopper with the majority of your circumstances bigger than your God? Or, do you believe, with God, you are well able to conquer anything?

Renew your mind and make yourself and the God inside of you bigger than everything.

Matthew 8:2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshiped him, saying, Lord, if you will, you can make me clean. 3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Jesus did not do one thing outside of God’s will. Everything Jesus did was according to the will of God. When the man asked to be cleansed, Jesus cleansed the man because healing is a part of God’s will. Every now and then, we hear people say it was God’s will for certain people to be sick and die. If it were God’s will for certain people to be sick, why did Jesus cleanse this man and heal a multitude of others? Jesus, himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds we have been healed” (1 Peter 2:24).

Main Point: It is God’s will for every born again believer to be healed and made whole. Receive this truth and walk in divine health.

Jesus Christ has made deliverance available for all believers. We are delivered from poverty, depressions, sexual immorality, brokenness, etc. Sometimes, people revert back to the thing they were delivered from because they don’t realize that it takes effort to maintain this deliverance.

1 Corinthians 9:27 says, but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. It’s our responsibility to maintain our deliverance regarding our body (alcohol, drugs, sexual immorality).

Isaiah 26:3 says, you will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you: because he trusts in you. It’s our responsibility to maintain our deliverance regarding our mind (depression low self-esteem, self-worth).

Luke 16:10 says he that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. It’s our responsibility to maintain our deliverance regarding our finances (poverty).

The urge to want to go back to something we once were delivered from will always be present. We have to use the Word of God to combat the enemy’s suggestions. In order to receive and maintain deliverance, we have to want to be and remain delivered.

Mark 4:31, 32 (AMP) It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when sown upon the ground, is the smallest of all seeds upon the earth; Yet after it is sown, it grows up and becomes the greatest of all garden herbs and puts out large branches, so that the birds of the air are able to make nests and dwell in its shade.

A little bit of the Word can make a big impact in our lives. We don’t have to know every scripture in the Bible for the Word to impact our lives. All we need is a few scriptures to truly believe, then our faith in God’s Word will cause a great change in our lives.

For example, if we stand on Mark 11:24 which says, therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. If we truly believe and take this scripture to heart, we can greatly impact our lives.

CAUTION:
As we receive these scriptures in our lives, Jesus warns us of three things that can hinder the manifestation of what we believe.
1. Satan will take the Word by giving us thoughts, ideas, and suggestions that will cause us not to believe (Mark 4:15)
2. Trouble and persecution will attempt to cause some not to believe the Word (Mark 4:17).
3. Cares, distractions, and lustful passions of the world will cause the Word to be fruitless in our lives (Mark 4:19).

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Have you ever realized the only reason our prayers are heard is because of Jesus? Because of Jesus, our prayers are heard and answered. The desires we pray for have been made available by Jesus. We no longer have to build alters, sacrifice animals, and only allow the elite Christian to be in the presence of God. Because of Jesus, we can be in the presence of God and communicate with Him anytime we desire.

Nothing can be done without Jesus. Remember that this holiday season.
Let me add to this truthful cliché. Jesus is the reason for the season and He is responsible for everything else.

Praise God for Jesus!!!

Hebrews 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Anytime we’re in a situation where worry can be present, we should confess the Word of God. From great things to small things, we should be in a habit of confessing God’s word over our lives. Confession does two things:

1. It lets God know that we know the Source of our help.
2. It recharges our belief in the One Who is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all we can ask or think.

When we take our medicine, we confess that we are healed.
When we go to the doctor, we confess that we are healed.
When we drive around town, we confess we are protected.
When we receive a bill, we confess God is our provider.
When we walk through a “bad” neighborhood, we confess God is our protector.

Anything that can cause worry, confess the opposite and align your confessions with God’s Word.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing and hearing, by the word of God.

2 Corinthians 8:21 (AMP) For we take thought beforehand and aim to be honest and absolutely above suspicion, not only in the sight of the Lord but also in the sight of men.

As we go through life, make an effort to be honest with one another. Our honesty goes beyond ourselves. Our honesty represents God and His Kingdom. If we can be lovingly honest with everyone, unbelievers and young Christians can have a better respect for the Christian. On the other hand, if unbelievers see the Christian being untruthful or dishonest, that can affect how the unbeliever views all Christians and the God the Christian serves.

-One dishonest Christian can make one unbeliever disassociate themselves from all Christians forever.

Don’t be a dishonest Christian.

Many times, we often do works in order to get God to move on our behalf in our current situation. We feel we need to fast for 30 days or pray for 10 hours so that God can change our current situation for the better. The truth of the matter is that God has already moved in every situation we’re going or will go through. It’s a finished work that’s already done.

It doesn’t mean our works are not important. When we pray, fast, and read our Word, we position ourselves to receive our answer. We allow ourselves to hear the guidance and revelation knowledge of the Holy Spirit. In our time of fasting or praying, the Spirit may tell us to buy a certain item, apply for a position, or disassociate ourselves from a certain person. Obey the promptings of the Holy Spirit. The decision to be obedient to that prompting, will lead us to our “breakthrough.”

Once again, our works are not getting God to do something. Our works position ourselves to receive a word from God.

Acts 13:2 While they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.

Luke 6:38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

The reason Jesus was so successful was because He was focused on completing His Father’s will. Many of us are concerned about our own will or agenda and we are less focused on fulfilling the will of God. We focus on when we’re getting married, when we’re having children, and the amount of money we make so we can live a life of luxury. Success is not determined by the number of accolades and possessions a person has for themselves (Luke 12:15). Success comes by default when we’re fulfilling the will of God in the earth.

Let’s readjust our thinking so that we can complete the will of God in the earth.

Today’s text involves the story of Joshua, the newly appointed leader after Moses’ death, and how he overtook the impenetrable city of Jericho to claim the promised land (Joshua 6). Joshua’s story lays a plan for us to follow as we seek to manifest God’s promises to us.

1. He sought The Lord for a plan to manifest the promise. (v. 3-5)
2. He continued to remain in faith, while he proceeded with a seemingly foolish plan to manifest a seemingly impossible promise. (v. 8-15)
3. He praised God. (v. 16)
4. Once the manifestation occurred, he did his part and took the city. (v. 20-25)

It is time for us to believe for what God has promised us, remain in faith through the manifestation of it, and continue to honor God!

Joshua 6:2 And the Lord said to Joshua: “See! I have given Jericho into your hand, its king, and the mighty men of valor. 14 And the second day they marched around the city once and returned to the camp. So they did six days. 20 So the people shouted when the priests blew the trumpets. And it happened… that the wall fell down flat. Then the people went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

Most of the things found in the Word of God, don’t make logical sense if we really think about it. The very foundation of Christianity is illogical. There was a Man born of a virgin Who was considered to be the Son of God. That Man died on the cross, came back to life in three days, and removed all of our sins. That’s one of the most illogical stories ever known to man and yet, we believe.

If we can believe the story of Jesus Christ, surely we can believe we can be healed in a day, become a millionaire in a month, and have complete debt freedom in a year; we can believe for the manifestation of all of our desires. All things are possible with God.

Stop waiting for it to make sense in your mind before you believe. Take God at His Word no matter how illogical it sounds. A real step of faith is believing, trusting, and relying on God in any and every situation.

Mark 10:27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Psalm 100:2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

2 Corinthians 9:7 says, God loves a cheerful giver. Being a cheerful giver is not limited to the giving of our treasure. Giving also includes the giving of our time and our talents. Serving The Lord is a form of giving. That’s why God’s Word specifically stated to serve Him with gladness. Serving The Lord should not be done out of religious obligation or duty. It’s a privilege to serve the King of Kings.

As we continue to grow in our Christian walk, let’s start keeping our focus on serving and glorifying God instead of the issues concerning me, my, and I.

Serve The Lord with gladness.

Psalm 37:23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delights in his way.

God is not ordering our steps. Our steps have already been ordered. The steps God ordered are destined for prosperous living. God confirms this in His Word where He says, For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). All we have to do is follow the path He has already set for us. We follow His path by obeying His Word and heeding the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Suggestions from the enemy will attempt to persuade us to deviate from His path and impulses in our flesh will attempt to make us go astray. But, praise God for His grace and mercy that puts us back in line, but not at the back of the line.

Follow the path God has set for us and experience an abundant life.

John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey my commandments. (Obedience)

Lately, in the body of Christ, obedience and grace have been polarized. The extreme obedience group mainly focuses on being obedient. Grace is rarely mentioned and they may condemn those who miss the mark. This causes people to feel guilt and bad about themselves.
The extreme grace group states no matter what sin we commit, the grace of God through Christ is available for our forgiveness. Obedience is rarely mentioned and they treat sin as if it’s okay. This causes people to feel like they can do whatever they want to do because they have grace to cover them when they sin.

There is truth in both obedience and grace however; we shouldn’t take obedience and grace to the extreme. Grace and obedience should work hand in hand. We should strive to be obedient through the help of the Holy Spirit. If we miss the mark, we should receive the grace of God for the forgiveness of our sins and to cleanse our conscience. Allow obedience and grace to work properly in your life.

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? ² God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? (Grace)

We may know people who were born with a certain tendency based on their family’s history such as, alcoholism, anger, and criminal behavior. If a person’s grandfather was an alcoholic, and their father was an alcoholic, the child will most likely have the tendency to be an alcoholic. As a body of believers, we expect people to fight these temptations. We expect people to fight alcoholism so they won’t become an alcoholic or fight their anger issues so they won’t become an angry person.

If we expect people to fight the temptation(s) of becoming alcoholics or criminals, why are some of us so comfortable with people giving into the temptation of homosexuality? Homosexuality is no different from any other temptation that goes against the will of God. Just like any other temptation, people who have a homosexual tendency must fight this temptation on a daily basis. God loves EVERYONE, including people who have to face the temptation of homosexuality but, He despises any behavior that goes against His will.

For those who are dealing with any tendency or temptation, receive total deliverance through the blood of Jesus and the instructions of the Holy Spirit.

Leviticus 18:22 You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Esther 4:14b And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?”

We each have been assigned a purpose. The way to determine that purpose is to continue to commune with God. Some have one huge purpose, and others of us have a number of purposes. But, we need God, and we need to walk by His Spirit to allow Him to reveal our purposes and direct our steps.

And as we continue to speak with God, how great it is to say that, “by the grace of God I am what I am,” and I answered His call. I made sure that “his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain.” I did my part in diligently seeking Him, and being willing to walk by faith, although I know that it was not really me, “but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).

1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

It is not us. We are not the cause of our talents nor the cause of the good that we do. In spite of our lack of qualifications, God’s grace abounds. But, because of God’s grace, we are now qualified, made righteous, and fully capable of fulfilling our purposes here on earth. Never be afraid to recognize the power of God’s grace, and then use that grace to live life for God, constantly growing in relationship with Him.

Colossians 2:6 As you have therefore received Christ, [even] Jesus the Lord, [so] walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.

God has created each and every one of us for His purpose in the earth. We are a product of God’s intelligence. When we choose to go outside the will of God in any area of our lives, we make a mockery of God.

It’s like an inventor creating an invention and the invention is doing the exact opposite of its intended purpose.

Let’s not make a fool of God. Let’s align our life with His purpose and plan here in the earth.

When we constantly discuss the trials and troubles we face we…
1. Focus on the problem instead of The Solution.
2. Extend the lifetime of the problem because death and life is in our tongue.
3. Extend our recovery time after the trial.

As we face trials and tribulations in this lifetime, be mindful not to rehearse the issue(s) in our head and in our speech. Rehearsal doesn’t help us, it hurts us. Cast your cares, concerns, and issues on the Lord and leave them there.

Psalms 55:22 Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Philippians 4:6 Be anxious for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.

When we’re anxious or full of care, we distract ourselves from God. When our mind is so occupied with everything else, we will miss what God is trying to reveal to us. Revelation is critical when it comes to Kingdom agendas. When we take on stress, anxiety, and worry, we limit the effectiveness of the Kingdom operating in the earth.

Yes, the Kingdom of God can be hindered when we accept care, worry, stress, and/or anxiety. Cast your cares on God, live a stress free life, and hear the voice of God to impact the Kingdom of God.

Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

In this context, righteousness means a way of being right. God’s Word tells us to seek His righteousness. This means, there is a righteousness that does not belong to God. The righteousness that does not belong to God is man’s righteousness. We know this through Proverbs 14:12 which says, there is a way which seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

God’s righteousness is totally different from man’s righteousness. Man’s righteousness says hate our enemies while, God’s righteousness tells us to love our enemies (Matt 5:44). Man’s righteousness says allow logic or common sense to be our guide while, God’s righteousness says allow the Holy Spirit to be our guide (John 16:13). Man’s righteousness says harbor a grudge and don’t forget the pain someone else has caused us while, God’s righteousness tells us to continuously forgive (Matt 18:21-22).

Continuously seek God’s righteousness. It may be different but, it will enhance the quality of our life and bring us peace.

Inspired by Pastor Bill Winston

Deuteronomy 15:10 Give generously to them and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Every time we pour out our time, talent, and treasure for the Kingdom of God, we should expect a return. The expected return will not occur unless we place a demand on our expectation.

For example, our main reason to give to God is because we love Him. Thankfully, every time we give to God, He promised an expected return on the seed we sow (Luke 6:38). With this promise known, we should place a demand on our promise and expect a return on every seed sown.

Let’s not give our time, talent, and treasure out of obligation, let’s give our time, talent, and treasure with an expected return.

Inspired by Pastor Derrick Golden

Faith and patience. Many of us are willing to believe and some of us even to step out on extreme faith. But, then as time passes, disappointment and doubt ensue for some of us. And, we begin to question whether it was a flesh desire or a Spirit desire, and we may even choose to talk ourselves out of believing for it. But, time should not cause our faith to waver. It is through faith and patience that we inherit our desires. So, we keep believing, we allow the Spirit to lead us, and we patiently and confidently await for our promised manifestations.

Hebrews 6:12 (AMP) In order that you may not grow disinterested and become [spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith (by their leaning of the entire personality on God in Christ in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness) and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the promises. 15 And so it was that he [Abraham], having waited long and endured patiently, realized and obtained [in the birth of Isaac as a pledge of what was to come] what God had promised him.