Change Your Course in Life

Jesus didn’t just provide salvation to get into heaven. He provided the power to walk in newness of life and enjoy heaven on earth. We may not think about this very much but many if not all of us walk in bondages of some sort. Many are very subtle.

I am referring more specifically to patterns in life that we repeat over and over again that get us in trouble. Or simply they are things inbred if you will, through our experiences in life which are then mixed with our natural tendencies that create prisons of habitual behavior that keep us from God’s best in our lives.

Ok that was a mouthful. But I think it makes sense. Anyway you look at it we all have baggage. Stuff that inhibits us living a full life. There are fears that we carry that stop us from making decisions that would be beneficial. Sure we don’t always confront our fears but God does and has! There are also things we do over and over again the same way getting the same results: Wrong results, pain inflicting results.  How many times have you thought about things you do and afterward you say to yourself, “why did I get trapped into this again?”. Or am I alone?

I believe as I look at the word of God there is hope to change anything in our life that doesn’t lead us into fuller life and success. God wants us to be successful! So what stops us? Maybe I am just raising the questions more than giving answers to this paradox in life but I do believe the closer we walk with the Lord the more HE will reveal those areas that can be changed.

We make choices. If we are too weak to change the choices we make then we  must learn to find strength in His Word, in Him! There is no other way. Eventually as we lean on Him and choose to serve His righteousness we become free from the past pattern and create a new pattern that brings life and fulfillment to us and others around us. Could it be that simple? Well yes and no. Yes because He has provided everything we need for life and Godliness. No because in order to appropriate everything we need we must act differently following His commands.

We need to obey the Word (hopefully rightly interpreting the word) which may be contrary to what we feel at the moment. It is a choice of our will to walk in the newness of life. It is not enough to talk about it, we must act on it.

Ok so here is a simple example that I hope will help. I remember years ago raising my children that as missionaries we really didn’t have much money except for our needs. Nothing extra. So when we were anywhere in stores, etc. when our children would ask for something we would say we don’t have any money. Well after a while (years) I realized that even if we had money for something we would still say we had no money. It became a pattern. And at times a lie. Well this didn’t help me say what God says about me. It doesn’t say what I want to see as a new reality. That is having more than enough! So we finally had to change our speech. Now we would say simply we are not going to buy that now. Or buy it! But the point is we had to change the way we thought automatically until the new automatic no longer left us talking like we never had anything. And of course the reality of things changed over time.

I trust that helps. Look at yourself in the mirror. Listen to yourself when you say things. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see what you can’t see. Be willing to be discovered by God! And admit you need to change while asking Him to help you. Walk in a  new life! Really!

Where are the Joshua and Caleb

Today as I look around with natural and spiritual eyes I am reminded of two young men that were different than all the others around them. Of course I am speaking of Joshua and Caleb. The word of God says they had a different spirit.

What a statement. The other men, ten to be exact, that traveled with them on the mission to spy out the land felt different about everything that happened. The bible says they came back with an evil report. Well in our minds the report doesn’t warrant evil but to God it was. It was factual in every way but had a defeatist approach in its reporting. While Caleb and Joshua proclaimed ‘we are well able to go up and take the land’ the others according to their report saw themselves as weak and small in comparison to the task.

The only difference really is that Joshua and Caleb believed God and went after the Lord. They were willing to obey everything God had asked them because they KNEW God. Not just a head knowledge but a heart knowledge.

You see we find some characteristics about Joshua through the time that he served Moses. We find Joshua as a general in one place leading the armies to victory as commanded without hesitation. We find that when Moses went up on the mountain to talk with God that Joshua followed as far as he could and waited. We also see that when Moses would go into the tent of meeting to talk with God that Joshua would linger behind in God’s presence.

You see these two young men didn’t follow the tide of everyone around them. They went after God with abandon. They were willing to be counted among the few that stood for something. They walked with conviction and faithfulness to their Lord.

I believe there is a generation that needs to rise up and be counted like these two were. A generation that will not know the God of their fathers but their God. They will make the sacrifices to seek Him with their whole heart and stand upon convictions because of walking with God. Not somebody else's convictions. They will seek the Lord in order to hear His voice and not wait to be bottle fed by others to hear the voice of God. They will be among the few, the chosen. They will find the Lord as they go through life and the hand of God will be strong on them to lead their generation into victory once again.

Where are they? They are here, we just haven’t seen them yet. Maybe you are one of them. Are you going hard after God in spite of the tide of culture pulling you another way? Are you examining the Word and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal truth to you? Are you taking time to spend in the presence of God when it is not convenient? Are you following in obedience?

There is a generation that God is calling to and waiting. I am with HIM looking for that generation.

Special Grace

There are times that we need special grace in our Christian walk. And God has provided this special grace through his Holy Spirit that he is sent to us. It is three times the Holy Spirit comes upon us in a supernatural way that we are able to overcome in situations.

 

It is so awesome to know that God puts his presence on this in such a way to carry out tasks that we could not otherwise carry out on our own. As I look through the word of God at some of these special instances it has been refreshing to know that it happens very often. Peter in the first part of the book of acts when he stood up to preach. Peter was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God. The disciples came together after being attacked for their preaching and once again in their prayer time it says the Holy Spirit filled them and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

 

Stephen was chosen as one of seven in acts chapter 6. And it's interesting to note that the apostles asked the people to choose seven men among them who were known to be full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom. How do you know someone is full of the Holy Spirit? I think it is more than one thing that distinguishes a person who is full of the Holy Spirit. I think it is a life that shows the fullness of God and it.

 

But still it does say they were known to be full of the Holy Spirit. This means that people recognize the Holy Spirit's fullness in the seven men as opposed to others not having the fullness of the Holy Spirit. So there was a marked difference between people follow the Holy Spirit and people that were not. I think God's Word gives us a simple answer about the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

 

Being filled with the Holy Spirit is something that is available to everyone of us just for the asking. He, the Holy Spirit, is available in a greater measure to help us in life. Not that he is not with us from the moment Jesus comes into our hearts. But the idea that we can be full of Holy Spirit even after being saved indicates that there is more that God wants to give to us at special moments of me. That is why we need to ask on a daily basis that he fill us with his Holy Spirit so that we would have the grace to walk through our circumstances. The grace to speak the words that we need to speak, to affect the situations that we live in, to touch the lives that need something from the Lord, etc.

 

After seeing numerous instances of the Holy Spirit coming on different ones with a special fullness it is clear that this is something available for us today. I think all of us know there are moments that we need a supernatural or divine aid in order to overcome what we are facing. That is why we have an opportunity to come to the throne of grace and freely ask for help when we need it. Then we will see the Lord fill us with his Holy Spirit and act through us with his power to accomplish his will and our lives.

How do I get help?

So let’s talk for a minute about getting help from God in our daily lives. Great subject. We all need help. So there is where we start. Recognizing that we need help. Hopefully we are already there. If not just keep living day after day and there will be a time that you are not able to take care of everything that is going on in your life. Or you don’t have an answer for what is happening. Maybe things are happening in your life that are totally out of your control.

In other words you didn’t cause it and have no control over its outcome. Especially at those moments all of us are in need of help. And we cannot do anything to change the situation without outside help. It is out of your hands.

So it is in life that all of us will live moments that we recognize a need for help. Now as Christians this is easy because we know we need God and more so every day. Life is not easy. We need divine intervention throughout our existence.

We ask Him for help. There are many promises in the Word of God that address this basic human need. Lord have mercy on us is a common cry. Daily we look to get closer to Him and be more Christ like in every way. This is a goal in life. It is not only a goal but it is the will of the Father that we be like His Son.

Once again the way we get help is to ask. Now let me focus for just a moment on what I just said. We ask! Nothing more is required. This seems to be something that is so simple yet very profound. Just ask. But I have to do something to get what God has for me. Or there needs to be proof that what I am asking for is mine. Why? Is it biblical to ask something of the Lord that He has already promised and then expect some sign or have to perform for it to be ours? Really? Isn’t it as simple as ‘ask and you shall receive’?

The correct answer of course is that if we ask He is faithful to answer. He will give us what we need. Now specifically if we ask for help God will supply help. Ask for the things He has clearly stated in His Word that He wants to give to us. Don’t hesitate and don’t wait for something spectacular to indicate that He has answered.Trust that He is true to His Word and is answering just as He said He would.

Darlene and I have completed 21 days of fasting! What a great experience. We know that we will see the spiritual results for quite some time to come. But we also are more aware of God's purpose and will than before. It is so liberating to stop eating! Not fun! But liberating.

I believe the art of fasting as a spiritual exercise has been all but forgotten. It is still a very viable spiritual weapon to wage warfare against the enemy of our souls. One of the things I will mention that has happened during the fasting time is the fact that we have become more aware of things that we need to pray about specifically and have been able to pinpoint how to pray. It has been great.

Here is a scripture someone shared with me that has great impact. It's meaning was more pronounced while fasting as we realized that God had already prepared the answers to our fasting long before we planned to fast! This is an amazing truth. God knew and prepared exactly what He was going to do in response to our fasting and prayer long before we purposed to seek Him earnestly! Here is the scripture:

Isaiah 65:24 - "Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear."

Isn't it great to know that He has prepared to do for you and I things that we haven't even asked for yet!!! That just causes my faith and love in God grow immensely. He is so awesome!!
Have confidence, ask and seek Him for whatever is going on in your life! Let Him wow you with the answers!

Since last writing Darlene and I along with our church family began a fast. We are now in the fifteeth day consuming only juices. What a great experience. We are convinced by God's Word and experience that fasting has great benefits. The most important are spiritual but there are physical rewards as well. And remember Jesus says in Matthew 6 that when we fast our Father will reward us openly or publically. In other words we are going to see the results.

We are not making God do anything. But we are walking in obedience to His Word and Will. Jesus fasted 40 days before beginning His ministry and also before any miracles took place through Him. That is a strong enough case for me to consider fasting an important part of our walk in the Lord.

So back to where I started. We are planning to complete 21 days total. Feeling great! Has it been hard? Of course it is. But well worth it. And I will try to report more on the results later. What are we expecting? Breakthroughs for us and others that we love. Salvation and deliverance in peoples lives. Divine provision for our people. And much more.

We are also praying and believing for God to move on behalf of our children in many ways as well as in our own lives. Did you know that fasting helps to uproot and remove personal bondages? It can help us break strongholds in our lives to grow and mature in the Lord.

Oh and let's not forget least of all but equally as important is the fact that it promotes health and healing in our bodies. Personally my blood pressure was up a bit. Not high or bad but still at some upper thresholds. Already after seven days of fasting I had my blood pressure checked and it had dropped to a very good level!

Fasting has a lot of benefits for life! Try it!

We just returned from a week long trip to the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. It was very rewarding as I taught in a new bible institute during the week and then in 5 different churches both in the city of Merida and Cancun. Yes Cancun needs God too! Of course we were not in the tourist area but with the people that live there year round. The Economic crisis the United States has experienced has effected our neighbors below the border. Tourism has been way down. But they seem to be doing a lot better than America economically.
While there we take in some culture when we have a bit of down time. This trip we saw several cenotes among other things. What is a cenote? Basically I think it is a sink hole since most of the peninsula is limestone. These are generally where you can find fresh, cold water. There is always one or more near ancient ruins. Great source of water.
Two of the cenotes we saw were very close to the ocean. It was amazing to see that fresh water was flowing in these sink holes within yards of salt water. It made a scripture come alive for me more than before. That is James 3:10-12 which says that very thing. A spring cannot produce both fresh and salt at the same time. Only one or the other. And then he says our mouths should only be used to bless and not to curse. You can't mix the two.
Well that is quite a lesson. Because we do try to do both constantly. We curse and bless. We really don't like it when someone does something to us so we speak badly or down at them. Or we speak against people to others. We are supposed to function just like a spring and only allow one kind of water come out.
Hmmm we are to be like a spring. Didn't Jesus tell us that we would have springs of water flowing from within us? John 7:38 So those springs that flow out of us should produce only one kind of water! Water that blesses. It should also praise our God. Wow that is something to think about for this year. Let's work on producing what we were called to produce. Sweet water full of blessing for others.