These days we keep hearing about leaders and celebrities that have fallen into sexual transgression such as a well know sports figure whose indiscretions made headlines last week. It seems that there is strong tendency for who have obtained power or wealth to let down their guard and go after relationships outside of marriage; relationship that are destructive to their family, their position and their livelihoods. Such is the seduction that comes through pride when one was experienced great success in their lives. They feel that can have what ever they want. They say to themselves, “I deserve this.” But this is just the true nature of man's heart which lies hidden within us. Jeremiah tells us in Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly corrupt: who can know it?”
The problems is that our hearts will consider the things we do not have as more value than the things we have already possess. It is the misguided idea that the pleasure that could be realized through a new relationship with provide greater enjoyment and lasting satisfaction than staying loyal and faithful to our spouse and family. But we live in a world full of temptations. Yes, some people are in the business of tempting others into sin, addictions and even self-destruction. But God is our source for overcoming temptations. He is not vulnerable to temptation as the Apostle James explains: “Let no man say when he is tempted, "I am tempted by God," for God can't be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one”, James 1:13. It is not in God's nature to sin, so the desire to do wrong can not move him. It is when we unite ourselves to him and stay submitted to his will that we come under his protection from temptation as Paul explains in 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has taken you but such as man can bear. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”
Thus, there are no uncommon, unique or extraordinary temptations. But for us who yield ourselves to God, who is our source to overcome temptation, there is always a way of escape, a way out of temptation. We can look at the example of Joseph:
It happened after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph; and she said, "Lie with me."
But he refused, and said to his master's wife, "Behold, my master doesn't know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand. He isn't greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
It happened that as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her. It happened about this time, that he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside. She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!"
He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside. It happened, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside, Genesis 39:7-13
Joseph found himself in a difficult position. As a slave he could just not quit working for his master. And to some extent he would have to obey the master's wife. There would be consequences no matter how he responded. Yet, Joseph valued the relationships in his life more than the illicit pleasure that he could partake in. But most of all he recognize the absolute wrongness in giving in to request of his master's wife and how it would harm his relationship with God and the destiny that God had for him. Thus, he made the right choice, the choice not to sin and to take the retribution of his master's wife. He suffered imprisonment for that choice. Yet the choice to resist temptation did not keep him from his destiny which was to become the prime minister of Egypt and save his family from famine. Joseph did not let his guard down. He did not let pride control his decisions. He remained faithful to what he knew was right.
God has a destiny in mind for each of us also. So let so not give into the moment and violate our standards, but continue to do what is right. And if we do not know what is right we can find out but studying the word. By doing what is right we, like Joseph, can reach the heights that God has for us.
Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:21, 21
In just over 30 days a new year will begin. What will the new year hold in store us? What is it that God wants to accomplish in and through our lives during 2010? What vision has he implanted into your heart? Oh, you say you don't have any vision or goals for 2010? But the Lord does. Listen to what the Apostle Paul said in Ephesians 2:
For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. Ephesians 2:10 the Amplified Bible
And through the prophet Jeremiah God said:
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 NIV
So God already has a plan and he is our source of vision for our future. What kind of plan does he have for us? A good plan; a plan that will prosper us spiritually, physically and financially. But will we choose take part in his plan? Will we take the time to find out his plan? In the weeks before January 1st, 2010 we need to take some time to spend waiting on the Lord, being quite before and him listening to him as to the direction he wants us to take for 2010 in our career, in our ministry and in our personal lives. And what he speaks to us we need to write down, Just like the prophet Habakkuk did in Habakkuk 2:1-3:
I will stand at my watch, and set myself on the ramparts, and will look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. THE LORD answered me, "Write the vision, and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it hurries toward the end, and won't prove false. Though it takes time, wait for it; because it will surely come. It won't delay.
Yes, the Lord has a vision and a plan the he wants to accomplish in and through us in 2010; some of these are the things that our heart has been desiring and some are things that maybe we never thought that we would do. So we first have to receive God's vision for us and write down so we can keep it before our eye. We may need to yield ourselves to his will before he reveals anything to us, for when we are yielded to the Lord then he can takes to places and accomplish things through us that we could never do on our own.
Yet, just having a vision is not enough, we must develop that vision. It will take some research, some prayer, some discussion with others and some planning to develop God's vision. And as we pursue that vision more and more it will grow and produce fruit, just like a seed. So do not settle for the status quo but receive that seed of the vision that the Lord wants to plant in our lives for 2010. Then we will truly see that the Lord is able to do through us more than we could ever ask, expect or imagine!
He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground; and he took the seven loaves and the fish. He gave thanks and broke them, and gave to the disciples, and the disciples to the multitudes. They all ate, and were filled Matthew 15:35-37
Our Lord Jesus was never without his source. His Father was his source along with the Holy Spirit and the word of God. And he always took time to acknowledge his source by giving thanks. An attitude of gratitude is an essential characteristic of one who maintains God as his source. It demonstrates to God our love, confidence and dependence on him. He is the one who has provided everything we have. He keeps us supplied with our daily food, our clothing and shelter and all the other necessities of life. This practice reminds us to keep looking to him for all we need. It builds our ability to trust him and wait on him for things we are asking him for. It overcomes doubt; it is difficult for us to doubt the one we acknowledge has abundantly supplied our needs.
What about your life today? Is there uncertainly and lack in your life? Then maybe you should develop the attitude of gratitude the overflows with thanksgiving. Look around and start thanking him for all that he has provided you. Take every opportunity to speak word of gratitude for the things that God is doing in your life today. Let the Lord and those around you hear your words of appreciation. It will be a reminder to you and testimony to others that God is your source.
…through whom we also have our access by faith into this grace in which we stand. We rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:2
What is the glory of God? The glory is the manifest presence of God. It occurs when God does something that only he can do and no one present can deny that it was God who did it. One demonstration of the glory of God took place when Jesus and his disciples attended a wedding in Cana that was record in John 2. There Jesus turned water into wine. How did this come about? Mary, the mother of Jesus, simply told the attendants at the wedding to do what every Jesus tells them to do. John states in John 2:11 that this was first event that reveal Jesus’ glory and as a result his disciples put their faith in him.
God the Father had placed his anointing on Jesus, who is the Christ or the Messiah which means God’s Anointed One. What is an anointing? It is an empowerment from God. The Apostle Peter explains in Acts 10:38 that Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and power that enable him to accomplish all that he did. But now, while Jesus is away from the earth, we who make up the body of Christ, or the body of the Anointed One, have access to the same anointing that Jesus has. It is by grace that the Father has made it available to us and we utilize by faith. When others see the glory of God in action, they are persuaded to put their faith in Jesus. God is our source of the anointing. Its purpose is to lift burdens and break yokes of bondage. Thus, we should be rejoicing for what the anointing of God can do through us; it transforms the ordinary and common things that we have to work with into the extraordinary!
How do we make use of the anointing? Abide with the Lord Jesus Christ and do what he tells us to do. Therefore do not think of your self as weak and ineffective any longer. The anointing we have from Christ can change situations for ourselves and others. And as we obey the voice of the Lord we too we see the glory of God manifest in our lives. So rejoice!
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Many are grieving after the recent shooting which took place at Fort Hood but we are not comfortless for our God promises comfort and consolation in times of distress and loss. He is the God of all comfort; there is not any burden of affliction or calamity that he can not lighten. He is our source for encouragement, hope and strength when all around is looks bleak. This comfort is available to us through Christ: God's Anointed One and his anointing, the One who lives inside of those of us who have received his gift of eternal life and salvation by faith. And we also receive God's comfort and consolation by faith. We have to take it for ourselves. So by faith we confess: Father, you are the God of all comfort. And right now I receive your comfort, encouragement and strength.
XML Feeds
