FEED YOUR SOUL AND RENEW YOUR MIND

Submitting to God’s Purpose

Part A ”To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak”  But I want to focus mainly on Part B of this verse “I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22). Note: This refers to Paul not availing himself of some of his Christian Liberties simply because of the possibility of causing weak Christians to stumble.

Please understand: A Christian worker has to learn how to be God’s man or woman of great worth and excellence in the midst of a multitude of meager and worthless things.  One should never protest by saying, “If only I were somebody else (had their gifts, talents, skills their charisma, etc) or somewhere else (another city, church etc)!”  All of God’s people are ordinary people who have been made extraordinary by the purpose He has given them. Unless we have the right purpose intellectually in our minds and lovingly in our hearts, we will very quickly be diverted from being useful to God. We are not workers for God by choice. Many people deliberately choose to be workers, but they have no purpose of God’s almighty grace or His mighty Word in them.

Let me refer to scripture below:  First however understand that, Paul’s whole heart, mind, and soul were consumed with the great purpose of what Jesus Christ came to do, and he never lost sight of that one thing.

Therefore, we must continually confront ourselves with these central facts—“… Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2 Scripture Red & Comments in Green): “For I determined not to know anything among you (Meaning – with purpose and design, Paul did not resort to the knowledge or philosophy of the world regarding the Preaching of the Gospel) save Jesus Christ, and Him Crucified” (Meaning – that and that alone is the Message which will save the sinner, set the captive free, and give the Believer perpetual victory).
“I chose you …” (John 15:16 Scripture Red & Comments in Green): “You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you (Meaning It is not really that we find the Lord; the truth is, He finds us) and ordained you (has chosen us for a purpose) that you should go and bring forth fruit (as stated, we can only do this by ever looking to the Cross [Gal. 6:14]) and that your fruit should remain (as our Faith remains in the Cross, the fruit will remain): that  whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My Name (You really know what it Ask in My Name means? It means – using His name always refers to the victory He won at the Cross) he may give it you.”

Keep these words as a wonderful reminder in your theology. It is not that you have gotten God, but that He has gotten you. God is at work bending, breaking, molding, and doing exactly as He chooses. Why? He is doing it for only one purpose—that He may be able to say, “This is My man, and this is My woman.” We have to be in God’s hand so that He can place others on the Rock, Jesus Christ, just as He has placed us.

Never choose to be a worker, but once God has placed His call upon you, woe be to you if you “turn aside … to the right or the left …” (Deuteronomy 28:14). And what exactly does this mean? Let’s look at the entire scripture (Scripture Red & Comments in Green): “And you shall not go aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.” (Israel was to faithfully obey the Law, as well, Believers under the New Covenant can claim the same Promises, in fact, much more easily than Israel of old, because of Christ and the Cross; as wonderful as this is which the Lord promises Israel, He now promises even more under the New Covenant, which Paul referred to as a “Better Covenant” [Heb. 8:6]

Close: He will do with you what He never did before His call came to you, and He will do with you what He is not doing with other people. Let Him have His way to fulfill the destiny for which He has called you. The reason is now - The season is now - The time is now in a world that desperately needs Jesus.

Miracle Tuesday Morning's Goals for Growth 2011 (See Ministry Dates and Locations)



Video above is Amazing Grace sung by II Divo
For more information how to order this video go to: www.clarrissegill.com/videoclips/amazing_grace.php

Pray to develop a faith for miracles.

Pray to be a more powerful witness.

Pray to live above the circumstances of your life, keeping your eyes on Jesus.

Pray to have a new life of joy and purpose.

Give Holy Spirit permission to manifest the gifts of the Spirit through you.

Pray for Power of Holy Spirit to exercise authority over evil spirits in Jesus’ name.

Pray to trust God to meet all your needs.

James 5:14,15 — 14) “Is any sick among you? (This refers to physical or emotional illness of any nature) let him call for the Elders of the Church; and let them pray over him (refers to asking the Lord for healing regarding the need), anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord” (the “oil” has no medicinal purpose, but is rather meant to symbolize the Holy Spirit, and is used as a point of contact concerning our Faith; prayer is to be offered in the Name of Jesus [Jn. 16:23]  15) “And the prayer of Faith shall save the sick (the “prayer of Faith” is simply the belief that God hears and answers prayer), and the Lord shall raise him up (proclaims the Lord as the Healer, as is obvious, with the Cross being the means of all this; it is the Holy Spirit Who carries it out) ; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.” (The conditional clause, “if he has sinned,” makes it clear that not all sickness is the result of sin, but some definitely is. That being the case, the Lord will both heal and forgive upon believing Faith.)

          Note: Ref. Item 8—Red are comments regarding scripture.

A WORD FOR TODAY 

How is Your Walk?

(The Bible is food for your Soul)

Turning Back or Walking with Jesus? “Do you also want to go away?” (John 6:67). What a penetrating question! Our Lord’s words often hit home for us when He speaks in the simplest way. In spite of the fact that we know who Jesus is, He asks, “Do you also want to go away?” We must continually maintain an adventurous attitude toward Him, despite any potential personal risk. “From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more” (John 6:66). They turned back from walking with Jesus; not necessarily into sin, but away from Him which leads to sin.

WATCH THIS: Many people today are pouring their lives out and working for Jesus Christ, but are not really walking with Him. One thing God constantly requires of us is oneness with Jesus Christ.

LISTEN: After being set apart through sanctification, we should discipline our lives spiritually to maintain this intimate oneness. When God gives you a clear determination of His will for you, are you striving to maintain that relationship by some particular method is completely unnecessary. WHAT AM I SAYING?

All that is required is – to live a natural life of absolute dependence on Jesus Christ. Never try to live your life with God in any other way than His way. And His way means absolute devotion to Him. Showing no concern for the uncertainties that lie ahead is the secret of walking with Jesus.

Peter saw in Jesus only someone who could minister salvation to him and to the world. But our Lord wants us to be fellow laborers with Him. In John 6:70 Jesus lovingly reminded Peter that he was chosen to go with Him.

And each of us must answer this question for ourselves and no one else: “Do you also want to go away?”

Americanism

"The Constitution, like a dutiful parent to its children, provides a loving, nurturing environment for the people of this country to grow and prosper in their own rights. But is this all that matters? Is all we care about in our families that we ourselves are safe, and not our loved ones as well? No, the Constitution as a parent provides an environment for us to protect our brothers and sisters as well. Benjamin Franklin, when asked what type of government the Constitution had created, replied, 'A republic, if you can keep it.' ""

The above quote is from a winning speech "Our Parent, the Constitution" delivered by 2011 American Legion High School Oratorical Scholarship Contest champion Anisha Guruyraj of Chesterfield, Mo.

For an inspiring 9 minute speech by this young lady watch the winning oration: @ www.legion.org/oratorical

Vision and Darkness - Devotional to ponder during these trying days

Vision and Darkness “When the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him” (Genesis 15:12)

Whenever God gives a vision to a Christian, it is as if He puts him in “the shadow of His hand” (Isaiah 49:2). The saint’s duty is to be still and listen. There is a “darkness” that comes from too much light—that is the time to listen. The story of Abram and Hagar in Genesis 16 is an excellent example of listening to so-called good advice during a time of darkness, rather than waiting for God to send the light. When God gives you a vision and darkness follows, wait. God will bring the vision He has given you to reality in your life if you will wait on His timing. Never try to help God fulfill His word. Abram went through thirteen years of silence, but in those years all of his self-sufficiency was destroyed. He grew past the point of relying on his own common sense. Those years of silence were a time of discipline, not a period of God’s displeasure.

There is never any need to pretend that your life is filled with joy and confidence; just wait upon God and be grounded in Him (see Isaiah 50:10–11) 10 - Who is among you that fears the LORD, that obeys the voice of his servant, that walks in darkness, and hath no light? Let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God. 11 - Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks: walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow. Do I trust at all in the flesh? Or have I learned to go beyond all confidence in myself and other people of God? Do I trust in books and prayers or other joys in my life? Or have I placed my confidence in God Himself, not in His blessings? “I am Almighty God …” —El-Shaddai, the All-Powerful God (Genesis 17:1). The reason we are all being disciplined is that we will know God is real. As soon as God becomes real to us, people pale by comparison, becoming shadows of reality. Nothing that other saints do or say can ever upset the one who is built on God.