Ephesians 1:4, “According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:”
Sometimes the actions of this life seem so hard and overwhelming. However, it is also at those times that we must remember David, and do as he did. 1Samuel 30:6, David had to encourage himself if the Lord.
Remember you were chosen by God for this life. You were chosen, anointed, appointed and called by God – for this season, to do this work!
There may not be anyone in your life who is at the same level as you, nor in the place to speak life into your spirit. So you must be prepared to encourage yourself.
No one knows the depth of your call, like you.
No one feels the pull or burden of your call, but you.
Therefore most are not capable of speaking life into you when everything around seems dry and lifeless. So you must find the strength in the Holy spirit to encourage yourself in the Lord.
Dig deep and remember you were chosen by God. He could have skipped over you and gone to someone else. But he didn’t. So trust God’s judgment. If he thought you worthy, you must have the mind of Christ, and believe it as well.
You were chosen and God will not put more on you than you can take.
Ephesians 1:2-3, “Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:”
I speak the blessings of God over your life on today.
Walk in what God has done (is still doing), and have a great day!
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
By definition, to obey simply means “to hear,” “to listen.” It carries with it, however, the ethical significance of hearing with reverence and obedient assent.
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The Obedience Factor…Blessings.
God is all about blessing his people. Read Deuteronomy 28. Blessings follow this who obey the Lord.
Just to name a few promised blessings:
⁃ blessings will come on and overtake you.
⁃ Blessed in the city and in the field.
⁃ Blessed fruit of your body, ground, cattle…
⁃ Blessed basket and store
⁃ Blessed coming in and going out.
That right there is enough to encourage the heart of every believer!
But additional blessings also follow us.
Proverbs 18:16, “A man’s gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.”
The blessing is the peace of mind in knowing that if we operate under the shelter of our obedience to God, that faith action will make room. God will automatically open doors for us. As well as close doors that would not bring glory to him.
I personally enjoy sitting back and watching God open doors.
I am afforded the opportunity to focus on operating under the call and anointing he has given me. I do not have to worry how to promote myself. The gift does that under God’s guidance!
Ah, the blessings of obedience!
It is understandable what the scripture says, it is better to obey God, rather than trying to offer sacrifices!
If you are in a place where it seems like everything you do or touch is not blessed, check your record. Are you walking in obedience to what God has said?
If you are not, you cannot sincerely expect things to improve. We serve a God that promises what a man sows, that he will also reap (Galatians 6:7-9).
Repent – ask God for forgiveness.
Start sowing in obedience. THEN you can expect to reap (walk in) the blessings of the Lord!
Revelations 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”
Just a quick word of encouragement.
God has given us an awesome tool. We are able to examine our own selves to see if we are waking in the faith.
We are instructed to save ourselves from this corrupted generation (Acts 2:40).
We are also instructed to work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).
Now, back to examining ourselves. We have the word of God as our schoolmaster. It is our roadmap. It is the instructions which contain everything we need to get from where we are currently, to where we want to be – with Jesus for eternity.
So we look at ourselves through the lens of the word of God. We are not perfect. God does not expect us to be perfect in all things. However, he does expect us to be striving to live up to what he has revealed to us in his word.
What God has revealed to us cannot and should not be changed due to political climate or what is Now considered right and fair by secular standards.
Remember, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Malachi 3:6, tells us he change not.
The standard of God remains steady. We are to live up to it. We do not follow or allow (or excuse) those who would try to lower that standard.
We do not judge others. We simply live our life according to the word. We pray for everyone else.
We all have to see God for ourselves. We all must examine ourselves. We all must give an account of this life.
So be encouraged and stand fast. We don’t know when he is coming. All we know is that he is coming back, quickly. Now is a good time to do a reality check.
Zacharias of Abia and Elisabeth of the daughters of Aaron – the parents of John the Baptist. Before they got to the place of parenthood they had to take a journey through a barren place.
Both were righteous before God, walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless. (v. 5).
But, they were unable to have any children. This fact greatly disturbed them both. This was not a small thing. They were in this place for many years.
God’s Grace in Barren Places!
To be barren or a barren place, by definition is too poor to produce much or any life. A bleak and lifeless (place). Synonymous with Unproductive, infertile, unfruitful, sterile, pointless, futile, worthless, profitless, valueless, and unrewarding.
They were dealing with some very tough odds. In addition to being barren, they were both stricken in years. Because they had been in this state for such a long time, and were well used to navigating its waters. Sometimes, being in a situation for so long can warp your senses or taint your perspective. It may be challenging to rejoice with others when they share the good news of what is happening in their lives.
But we keep moving, we keep working…
Remain faith and steadfast in the work of the Lord!
Zacharias, was a priest and ministered in the temple. He was responsible for burning incense in the temple. While the people were outside praying, Zacharias was inside, and the angel of the Lord appeared to him.
Zacharias saw him and was troubled, fear fell upon him. The angel told him to fear not. Assured him that his prayer is heard, and Elisabeth, his wife, shall bear him a son, and to call his name John (v. 13).
Now, the reality of Zacharias situation kicks in…
Zacharias had 1 prayer that he must have prayed over and over again. This is the prayer that was heard. The Angel prophesied to Zacharias about his son from v. 13 through v. 15.
I don’t know many people who would physically see an angel and not feel some type of fear. However, once a person turns on their spiritual discernment that can tell it is off God, or get to rebuking in the name of Jesus.
But this is where Zacharias confirmed he was walking more in the flesh than in the spirit. He asked “Whereby shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife well stricken in years (v. 18).
This lets me know that Zacharias circumstances – he was in this barren place for so long – had him convinced that they were stronger than the Lord. His circumstances had warped his knowledge of the God he so faithfully served. It skewed his perspective. He was almost afraid to receive the glad tidings.
I don’t know about you, but I have also been in situations for what seems like years. Fasting and praying and talking to God about them. Speaking life to my situation, decreeing and declaring. But it still seems as though God had pushed the pause button on it. But that is not the case. God is sovereign and he has a plan and a fullness of time for us all.
All of the work that we put into receiving from God is not fruitless. God counts it as “righteous before God, walking in the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless,” (v. 5). Yes we need to do these things because they build up our faith, so when the manifestation comes, we can receive it with gladness, glorifying God.
We must be careful to guard our hearts and our minds, because we can get to the place where Zacharias found himself. The answer to your prayers is standing right in front of you, but you have been so hurt by your circumstances that you are too afraid to believe that it is real.
God is faithful, he cannot deny himself. He still performed the miracle, but had to further demonstrate his power to Zacharias. According to v. 20, “And, behold, thou shalt be dumb, and not able to speak, until the day that these things shall be performed, because thou believest not my words.”
Zacharias wanted a sign, so God gave him one. I am sure that this is not what Zacharias had in my when he asked, “Whereby shall I know this?”
God’s plan is going to happen. Gabriel told Zacharias in the later part of v. 20, “…which shall be fulfilled in their season.” Gabriel said “I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee the glad tidings” (v.19). We have to be in the place where we recognize when God is speaking to us – even if he is doing it through a chosen vessel. We should be able to recognize when God is at work!
God has a season for just for us, and it is now. Receive what he is saying and accept it in faith. Walk in discernment. The scriptures tells us to try the spirit by the spirit to see if it be of God, 1 John 4:1-5.
If you have the Holy Ghost abiding on the inside, there should be a witness in your spirit that this is God. If you do not have that immediate witness, then go further. Line it up against the word of God. If is it God, it will line up. If does not line up, it is not God! Shake the dust off your feet and keep it moving.
Due season – it is your season. This is the time where God is fulfilling his promise, answering that prayer that you have been praying for a long, long time.
Don’t be afraid. Grab hold of it with both hands and walk in it by faith!
Luke 19:47-48, “And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.”
Jealous, by definition: 1. hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage; 2. intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness; 3. vigilant in guarding a possession.
According to GoodTherapy.org, “In the spectrum of human emotions, jealousy is almost certainly one of the most complex, frustrating, and uncomfortable. This cocktail of anger, sadness, suspicion, and envy can destroy relationships, cause bouts of depression and anxiety, and even lead to serious violence or—in extreme cases—homicide. While jealousy and envy are sometimes used synonymously, jealousy refers to the fear of losing someone or something you value, while envy is resentment over something you don’t have but want.”
In my opinion, this scripture is a perfect example of the irrational lure of jealousy.
We all, more than likely, have had our own experience with it a time or two in our life time. You were either a victim or a perpetrator of it. It is that common!
Before we jump into our topic, I would like to take time to talk about emotions.
Feelings are important. We must not cover them up and act like they don’t exist. Rather, we must acknowledge them. Expose them to God, and allow him to work his perfect work – and free us. This is especially true for jealousy.
If we don’t get control of our flesh, it can lead us to some places we would rather not be.
1 Corinthians 9:27, “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.”
Fasting is an important tool for the believer. When we fast, we are taking action to draw closer to God, to align ourselves with his word. This is the duty of every believer.
What keeps us grounded, is our ability to come to God and be completely transparent before him. This means, while we are in our secret closet talking to God, we reveal everything to him. Prayer is a conversation between you and God. When we talk to him, and show him the ugliness of our lives, he is able to touch it, to deliver us and set us free.
But when we try to keep the cover on this ugliness, we are simply keeping ourselves bound to the sin tied to emotion. We deal with the guilt and shame. We feel an embarrassment that keeps us feeling depressed and anxious. The longer we allow this to go on, will make room for those feelings to spread and infect every area of our lives.
One of my favorite scriptures is Hebrews 4:15-16, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Because Jesus was in this flesh, he knows and understands the feelings we have – because he felt them too. Yet, without sin. He is our perfect example. He felt things, but he over came them. And because he did, so can we.
Just a few examples:
⁃ He was anxious in the garden of Gethsemane.
⁃ He was angry in the temple.
⁃ He was hungry (as he was taken up to be tempted by satan).
⁃ He was sad (Jesus wept).
⁃ He felt betrayal (Judas).
⁃ He felt alone (asked his disciples if they would leave him too).
Taking a look specifically at jealousy.
Jealousy caused Joseph’s brothers to sell him into slavery (Genesis 37:11).
James 3:14-16, tells us where jealousy is there is confusion. And every evil work.
The worst thing we can do is to lie to ourselves and others, while trying to cover up the truth of how we feel. When we recognize that we are feeling jealousy we must take swift action.
Jealousy is a cancer to the soul. It is not of God, nor is God pleased with it. The expectation is that once you recognize it in yourself, you will confess it to God, repent, and allow God to deliver you from it. You must fast over it – bring your flesh under submission to the Holy Spirit.
Jealousy is tricky because it involves you and no one else. The trick of the enemy is to convince you that it is someone else’s fault. But it sprouted up from a seed that was planted. A seed that we nurtured and allow to grow. If we do not get a hold of it, It will bear fruit. This fruit is sinful actions.
Jealousy generally comes from our own lack, or failure, or character flaws, etc. We see someone excelling in areas we aspire to. Instead of rejoicing with them, we take it as an indictment against us. We now have animosity toward that person. The target of our jealousy usually is not even aware of what’s going on.
Jealousy will stunt spiritual growth. Jealousy does not allow space for forgiveness. A jealous heart will not seek it.
Rather than going down this downward spiral, let’s us acknowledge it before it is too late. Tell God all about it, in detail. There is a saying, “the devil is in the details,” well let us expose him. We will tell God all about it.
If you do, I guarantee you will be completely delivered. For God alone is able!
If you find yourself in this situation, now is the perfect time to seek deliverance. God is always listening.
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