Obey God By Yielding to Him as an Instrument of His Righteousness

God has always wanted you to obey him. His 613 Laws demand it but only FAITH can produce the kind of obedience that God really wants.

Obedience from the heart pleases God. Obedience that is the fruit of a responsive heart to his love is what God wants. God is pleased with the kind of obedience that seeks to preserve the freedom he offers in Christ. God is n0t impressed with obedience that is rooted in rule-keeping, his heart is after those who have been transformed by his love and now only desire to bring glory to his name.

The good news is, God gave you a new heart that has the capacity to actually obey him in this way, by faith.

Faith is this - God said it, I believe it, now I’ll make decisions in agreement with it.

Faith says…
”God said sin produces death, God said I’m dead to sin in Christ, God says there is more grace available than opportunities for sin, so I believe it. Now I yield myself to his inner strength, as an instrument in his hands. I receive his life-giving love in my heart and rise above the lure of sin.”

That pleases God much more than the kind of obedience that says, “God said I must obey, if I don’t he will punish me, therefore I must obey.”

Instruments of Righteousness

Obedience never produces or earns righteousness. In fact, faith-based obedience is the fruit of a heart that understands that righteousness is a free gift through faith in Christ.

“When you know just how forgiven you are you will want to live in a way that honors God’s mercy.”

When you know just how forgiven you are you will want to live in a way that honors God’s mercy.

When you truly grasp the transformative power of the Gospel of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, you will yield your heart to his influence and only seek to live in a manner worthy of the gift he’s given.

The legalistic mind-set would agree with this in theory but not in practice. The moment you mess up, the Pharisee no longer sees obedience through the lens of faith but works. Maybe you hold yourself under legalistic judgment, Maybe when you mess up you feel like you’re further away from God or he’s displeased with you.

Faith-righteousness doesn’t make allowances for sin, it understands that the new creature in Christ is dead to sin.

Romans 6:1 What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? 2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer? 3 Or aren’t you aware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 We therefore were buried with Him through baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may walk in newness of life. 5 For if we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in His resurrection. 6 We know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body of sin might be rendered powerless, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. 7 For anyone who has died has been freed from sin.

To be dead in Christ means your old man that had a propensity toward sin was removed. You are dead to sin and its effects because you now have eternal life. Your physical body will still die but the real you, the eternal spiritual you is no longer subject to sin. And to the degree you believe in your mind that you are a new creation, you can yield to God’s power in your heart and rise above the craving for sin in your physical body.

Let me say it another way, the aspect of your being that craved sin by nature was removed and it died, now you’re a new creation that doesn’t naturally crave sin.

Colossians 2:9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, 10 and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. 11 In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by PUTTING OFF THE BODY OF THE FLESH, by the circumcision of Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, 14 by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

King James Version says it this way in verse 11 “putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ”

This is the true fulfillment that Abraham’s foreskin circumcision foreshadowed. This single verse is absolutely massive for the believer. Cutting away the body of sin means your fallen, sinful nature has been removed. God performs a circumcision in your inner man, cutting away your old heart, which is your old nature and replaces it with a new heart, therefore making you complete in Christ.

The word “flesh” in the phrase “body of flesh” is the Greek word SARX. Sarx has two applications. It refers to your physical body (flesh) AND it refers to the nature of man.

God cut away your old nature and replaced it with the righteousness of Christ. You truly are a new creature!!

You can obey God, not because you have to, but because you naturally want to!!

Romans 6:15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! 16 Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, 18 and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness. 19 I am speaking in human terms, because of your natural limitations. For just as you once presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Because you are righteous in Christ, yield yourself to God’s inner power and live in such a way that brings glory to his name and peace to your heart.

Stay tuned for next week’s blog, I’ll send you a practical process to yield yourself to God that can set you free from sin forever!!

Listen to the complete series Living In The Power of Righteousness

Jesus Went Through Hell and Back For You

Did Jesus go to hell after he died on the cross?

King David, Peter and the Apostle Paul confirm he did. King David prophesied about it, Peter clarified those prophecies and Paul addressed it in his teachings.

Let me clarify what I mean by “hell.”

Jesus did not go into the Lake of Fire, he went into a place called Hades, which is typically translated as “hell.” The place or realm these three men referred to is called several things in scripture.

• Hades (Greek) - Acts 2:27 - Hades is translated as “hell” in the KJV

• Sheol (Hebrew) - Psalm 116 - Also translated as “hell” in the KJV

• The lower parts of the earth (the grave) - Ephesians 4:9

• Other references include “the grave,” “the pit” and “places desolate of old.”

All of these are the same place/realm. Hades, Sheol, the grave and the lower parts of the earth are all words and descriptions for the “realm of the dead” or the holding place for the wicked that are awaiting judgment.

The Lake of Fire is something different. Again, Jesus did NOT go into the Lake of Fire. The eternal lake of fire was created for fallen angels, the beast of Revelation and those who worship it. It will also be the place where unsaved souls perish at the final judgment. Also…Death, Hades and the grave are all cast into the Lake of Fire at the final judgment, so they can’t be the same place.

What Did Jesus Experience In Hades?

There are two different perspectives on Jesus’ experience in the grave.

One says Jesus went into the grave to take the keys of death and hell away from the devil. “Take the keys” means to take authority over.

The other perspective acknowledges the first perspective as true, but acknowledges a period of suffering in the grave before his resurrection. “Did the Messiah suffer in the grave?” is the big question. To some, it’s not essential, but I believe it's an integral part of theology to get right.

Both perspectives understand the messiah overcame the enemy and stripped him/them of any and all authority. Every Christian believes Jesus died and passed through the grave; the only debate is whether or not he suffered in the grave. I submit that he did, and here’s why.

I’ll use Psalm 16 and Acts 2 as my text.

In Acts 2, Peter explains that the Holy Spirit has been poured out as Joel prophesied. He then quotes Psalm 16 and explains its context. Peter explains that King David prophesied about the Messiah in Psalm 16. Peter explains that David is still dead, so the words he’s prophesying are not ABOUT the Messiah but are indeed the words OF the Messiah.

Peter clarifies that Psalm 16 is the words of the Messiah, not just words about the Messiah.

So if Psalm 16 is the words of the Messiah, he is describing firsthand what he experienced in his death. Not just what he experienced but where he experienced it. The point I’m making is not just that Jesus passed into the grave, but he passed into the grave after becoming sin and experienced the death that you, as a wicked person, should have experienced.

Jesus didn’t just die and then go and take the authority over Hades away from the enemy and gain victory over death; he first suffered what you would have suffered in the grave without salvation. Jesus, as a human, had to face and conquer everything a human would have experienced, including suffering in the grave. He was separated from His Father so you never have to be, if your faith is in Christ.

Read Psalm 16 for context:

1 {Michtam of David.} Preserve me, O God: for in thee do I put my trust.

2 O my soul, thou hast said unto the LORD, Thou art my Lord: my goodness extendeth not to thee;

3 But to the saints that are in the earth, and to the excellent, in whom is all my delight.

4 Their sorrows shall be multiplied that hasten after another god: their drink offerings of blood will I not offer, nor take up their names into my lips.

5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.

6 The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage.

7 I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope.

10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

The locational context is in the grave, not on the cross. Some say these are the words of the Messiah while he was on the cross, but the grammar doesn’t support that. This is post-death but pre-resurrection.

Why is this important?

It’s first essential to properly exegete these passages for the integrity of theology. Secondly, it’s important because you see the depths to which your God went to remove anything that could ever possibly separate you from him. There is not one thing remaining that exists which can rear its head and separate you from him if you trust in Christ as your righteousness.

It’s as if Jesus not only went into prison, but he also took the authority of the guards that would have held you there, and he served your sentence for you, so there is no longer a judgment against you that would have sent you to prison to begin with.

Jesus had to become your sin so you could become righteous, and just as Jesus had to be cursed so you could be blessed with eternal life, Jesus had to go into the grave as that sin and curse to experience that realm’s punishment as well.

Even though Jesus passed into the grave as your wicked self, he still trusted God’s promise to him that he would rule and reign forever from his right hand, that he would be a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, and that he would sit at God’s right hand as God made every enemy his footstool. Those promises couldn’t be fulfilled if Jesus were dead; Jesus had to believe in God to receive and inherit those eternal promises, which was the calling and mandate of the Messiah. To become sin, to be cursed and experience the full penalty, even eternal separation from God in hades, but he trusted his father until death, hades, the grave, and the enemy could no longer hold him. The faith of Jesus, in his father’s promises, was indeed stronger than death.

Praise the living God!

I actually feel like I explained these powerful truths in this sermon better than in this article. Watch the video above, starting around 14:00, for a more thorough explanation of these passages.

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Articles from This Series

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Listen to the complete series Living In The Power of Righteousness

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Establish Your Heart In What Christ Endured For You

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Kanye West and Evangelism

Who Is Kanye West?

Kanye West is a popular rapper that just released his 9th record. This record is different than his previous records because it’s all about Jesus. In fact, the title is Jesus Is King. The record is at the top of the Billboard charts in spite of people telling Kanye a Gospel record would “kill his career.” People from all walks of life and all sections of popular culture are talking about Kanye and Kanye is talking about Jesus.

Some Christians are wondering if his conversion is authentic, he even references that issue in the song “Hands On.”

What have you been hearin' from the Christians?
They'll be the first one to judge me
Make it feel like nobody love me
Make you feel alone in the dark and you'll never see the light

Sorry about that Kanye, we should know better.

Some in the music industry say it’s just clever marketing, I disagree.

Kanye has professed Jesus as Lord for most of his life, his mom raised him as a Christian, but something has changed. Now he seems to want to live his life to glorify God rather than himself.

On a recent record, he declared himself a god. Now he says that he was blasphemous and wants to change his ways. I can’t make a judgment on Kanye’s heart but I have watched several interviews with him and he consistently refers to his previous life as sinful and something to be left behind. It sounds like repentance to me.

He has even asked his celebrity wife, Kim Kardashian, to dress more conservatively. Not because God is upset with her if she doesn’t, but because of the kind of example it sets for their young daughters.

I’ve seen several fashion media outlets discuss the impact of provocative clothing on small children as a result of the West’s conversation about clothing.. The discussion is centered around Kanye and Kim’s very public marital issues, but the context of the public conversation is whether or not certain clothing is a good example for kids or not. New York fashion week hasn’t been too concerned about their impact on kids, but now it’s being discussed.

That may seem like a superficial issue, but I see it as a seed. Kanye and Kim’s public discussion about honoring their bodies as the temple of God is causing conversations about godliness is sections of culture that would never talk about Jesus.

The conversation over that particular issue isn’t over the lordship of Jesus, but it may cause enough of a pause in some people’s lives in that industry to turn to God and think about their influence on kids. God only needs the slightest crack in the door to invade someone’s heart.

I pray those seeds, no matter how shallow they may be, are watered by kind and loving Christians so the Holy Spirit has the opportunity to bring an increase in their lives…unto salvation.

You may not have been around very dark places or sections of culture, but trust me, the smallest light is incredibly noticeable in those circles.

Kanye’s impact on the fashion world is just one example.

Why Talk About Kanye West?

I have paid attention to the media coverage, all different kinds of people are talking about Jesus because they’re talking about Kanye. He’s popular right now, so people are going to talk about him, so he’s using that influence to point the conversation to Jesus.

One interviewer told Kanye that it seems like he wants to convert people to Christianity, as if that were an un-politically correct thing to do. Kanye’s response was, “that’s all I want to do.” The interviewer couldn’t wrap his head around the fact that Kanye was being bold and wasn’t making room for people to believe whatever they wanted.

Kanye is forcing the conversation, and he’s doing it with the Gospel. Kanye isn’t telling the world they’re sinful and they need to repent, he’s telling them who Jesus is. He’s telling the world that Jesus was sent by God to die for them because God loves them. He’s telling they need to be and can be saved by grace through faith in Jesus.

Believe it or not, millions of people still don’t know that. Their only encounter with Jesus has been through judgmental Christians that give them condemnation rather than mercy.

Think about how many celebrity Christians are radical for Jesus. Not many right? We see lots of public figures profess their faith or acknowledge Jesus, but how many high profile people are radically evangelizing the world for Jesus?

Most people that are famous walk their faith back a bit. They'll acknowledge Jesus but make a concession for other beliefs. Especially politicians, most of them don’t want to offend people or lose votes so they don’t use their platform to encourage people to receive Jesus and be born again.

Millions of Christians obviously do this, we’re sold out for Jesus, but I just don’t see many famous people radically using their platforms to bring people to the saving knowledge of Jesus.

What if there were 1000 Kanye’s?

Kanye is at the very top of the music industry right now, what if other people at the top of their industries were radically sold out to Jesus. And of course, what if you were? I’ll let the Holy Spirit work that one out for you and move on.

Just for fun, let’s list some people at the top of their industries and imagine what it would look like if they were using their influence to preach the Gospel and bring people to Christ. I’m praying for these people.

• President Donald Trump

• Bill Gates

• George Soros

• Cristiano Ronaldo

• Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson

• Barack Obama

• Mark Zuckerberg

• Nancy Pelosi

• Sam Harris

• All the heads of state of every nation

• Who is on your list?

It may “seem” impossible, but what if?

Let’s Make Jesus Popular

Pop culture responds to what is popular. Most of the church would say the world is too dark or too far gone to be predominantly Christian or be receptive to Jesus. Many Christians believe the world is going to get darker, the church is going to have to hide in caves and the devil is going to take over the planet. I think the spirit of God in the hearts of his people is more powerful than that. I think we can actually be effective. More importantly, I think the kingdom of God will not be denied. Jesus was the seed that God planted in the earth and he will continue to grow until his kingdom is all that’s left.

Don’t forget, Jesus wins!!

People knowing the true Gospel and having a real encounter with Jesus is what makes the difference. It’s the kindness and goodness of God that brings people to repentance.

Christians are praying for a move of repentance but aren’t focusing on the “kindness of God” message. It’s time to change our approach, lead with kindness, love, and mercy.

Romans 2:1 You therefore have no excuse, you who pass judgment on another. For on whatever grounds you judge the other, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things. 2 And we know that God’s judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. 3 So when you, O man, pass judgment on others, yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? 4 Or do you disregard the riches of His kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that GOD’S KINDNESS LEADS YOU TO REPENTANCE?

People encounter God’s kindness through other Christians and the Gospel. Our kindness toward the world and our bold declarations of the Gospel will be the catalyst for a massive move of repentance.

Evangelism and You

What does evangelism look like for you? To me, it’s a unique expression of your relationship with Jesus. It looks different for everyone. Evangelism is like art, it’s personal and from the heart. Evangelism is most effective if it’s the fruit of a personal relationship with Jesus rather than an obligation.

Many of us walk back our faith because of life’s circumstances. We’ve been through some hard things and we’re just trying to do the best we can. So many of us are in debt, are sick or are in pain, and it robs our drive to live beyond ourselves and be radical witnesses for Jesus.

I want to encourage you to spend some time with God and ask him what he wants you to do to proclaim his Gospel to others. No more excuses! Be ready in season and out of season.

You can trust that the Gospel will bear fruit in people’s lives. Take some time to revisit your understanding of the simple message of the Gospel and simply tell others about it. People are dying to hear about Jesus and his love for them. You can do it, step out a little, ask God to lead you, share the Gospel!!

Listen to this free series entitled The Power of the Gospel

The Little Things Build A Legacy

You don’t get to decide your own legacy. You set your goals, you live your life but history will judge your legacy. Funny thing is, your legacy is less about what you’ve done and more about how you treated people. Even if you’re known for what you do, it’s still judged by how what you did affected people.

History will judge your legacy but God will judge your works. Your deeds and actions matter. God will judge your works at the resurrection. The good news is your salvation is determined by your faith in Christ alone, but your works determine your rewards.

1 Corinthians 3:11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

We’re not 100% sure what the rewards are but I think it’s safe to say God will still get all the glory for what you allowed him to do through you.

By the way, don’t forget about this passage when reading about the judgment of your works…

1 John 4:16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us.

You don’t have to be afraid of any future judgment because you are just like Jesus as far as God is concerned. Meaning you’re his beloved child whom he loves. You’ve been adopted by God into his eternal family because you believe in Jesus as your right-standing with God.

Back to my point about deeds and legacy…

Many of you know that my mom recently passed away. I’ve talked to so many people about the impact she had in their lives. The overwhelming majority of people who came to her memorial or contacted me said she was kind, loving and accepting. Many have stories of her helping them, her being there for them when they were going through a difficult time. That’s mom’s legacy, she’s someone who helped people when times were tough…including me.

There’s another facet to her legacy — my ministry. Let me give you a little background, mom was a believer but we didn’t go to church when I was young, it just wasn’t part of our lives. I got saved from a bad substance abuse experience in my late teens and began seeking God on my own. I would speak with my mom about Jesus during my years of searching but she just didn’t know much. Her influence would manifest another way.

When I was 21, mom met a lady in her shag dance club that invited her to church. Mom then invited me to church. That was December 0f 1994, the church was Faith Cornerstone Church in Dunwoody, GA, pastored by David and Erline Michael.

After listening to Pastor David for a few months I knew that I was going to be in ministry somehow. I didn’t know what a “calling” was, I didn’t know I was supposed to “live for Jesus” but it was clear to me I would someday do what pastor David was doing, I just knew it in my heart. From that point on, every decision I made was a step in that direction.

It’s the little things that build a legacy…

What if mom had not invited me to church? What if the lady that invited her hadn’t invited her? Would you be reading this email? I can’t say for sure but probably not.

I want to encourage you, do the little things that seem insignificant. It’s a reality that our deeds will be judged, but those deeds can also make an eternal difference in people’s lives. Your actions matter. I think following his leading to invite someone to church is one of the kinds of deeds you’ll be rewarded for. There are probably millions of small deeds that people will be rewarded for on that day.

It’s the little things that build a legacy. It’s the little things that build a life. It’s probably the little things that God sees in secret for which he will reward you openly. All the bad deeds will burn away and never again plague you, but that’s another conversation.

I want to encourage you to do good works. Not because you’ll be judged, but because they make a difference in people’s lives. Mom inviting me to church at 21 years old mattered it ended up defining my life. She would have never guessed what would come of her inviting me to church. She would have never imagined that Sara and I would one day plant a church that reaches people all over the world and has been used to lead people to Jesus.

I thank God for my mom, in a way she saved my life. I hope you have someone in your life who did the little thing that changed your life. I hope you get the opportunity to do something little that will change someone else’s life.

Like last week, I want to encourage you to open your heart to God to be led into someone’s life that needs a little nudge toward Jesus. It doesn’t take much, just a small seed will suffice. Be willing, be bold even, do the little things and watch God turn them into eternal rewards!!

Feeling Each Other's Pain - How to Carry Mercy and Grace from God's Throne to the Hurting

Have you ever been through something so difficult it felt like no one understood how bad you were hurting? I just lost my mom and it hurts, it’s hard to explain to people the emotional and mental struggle of losing a mom you’re very close with. I know where she is, I’m thankful she’s out of pain, I know I’ll see her again, but it still hurts.

One of the more reassuring things people did in this process was share their stories of losing their mom. There’s something comforting about knowing you’re not alone. Lots of people say nice things trying to help, but the most meaningful support came from people who have lost their mom. Those who have been through this knew what I was feeling and could specifically speak to and do things that were helpful because they’ve been there.

This lesson made me think of how Jesus is there for us and how we can be there for others. Jesus can empathize with our pain and suffering because he’s been through it as well. We can go to him for mercy and comfort when we’re hurting. And then we can help others experience mercy and strength from God in the things we’ve been through. He comforts and strengthens so we can in turn comfort and strengthen others with the love God has shown us in our weakness.

Hebrews 4:14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who was tempted in every way that we are, yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Jesus empathizes with our weaknesses, pain and suffering because he’s been through it too. God became human for a few reasons, one of which was to feel what we feel and face what we face. Jesus is a high priest over the New Covenant, interceding on our behalf, from a place of empathy and mercy.

The one who holds the authority over our eternal destiny is not judging us based on our weaknesses, he stepped into those weaknesses and conquered them for us so he could then turn to us and help us through.

We can do the same thing for others. We can turn and help others out of their weakness and pain. If you’ve been through something, you can minister to others because you know what it’s like.

Sometimes we need others to help us hold firmly to our faith. Sometimes we need others to help us experience God’s mercy. Sometimes we need others to remind us to keep our hearts open to God to receive grace and power when we’re weak. It’s better to receive that kind of input from people who have been through what we’re struggling with at the moment.

If you’ve been through something, ask God to lead you to people who need your help. One of the best ways to move past a painful experience is to help someone else who is in the middle of the same thing. Just being there and sharing your story is comforting.

Don’t minimize your experience, people need you to empathize with them. Share your weaknesses and struggles with others, especially those who are going through something you’ve experienced.

Jesus did it for you, you can do it for others.

Have a Swig of Righteousness for Your Thirsty Soul

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

— Jesus - Matthew 5:6

How does righteousness satisfy your soul?

Your soul craves emotional and spiritual drink. The body craves physical drink. When your soul is thirsty and you try to quench it with physical or emotional drink from the world, you’ll always be unsatisfied. But if you drink of spiritual drink when your soul is thirsty, you will always be satisfied.

The world has plenty of physical and emotional stuff to drink, water, wine, juice, whiskey, as well as fear, worry, temporary relief, and possibly even temporary happiness. But the thirst always comes back. Righteousness is the only thing that can satisfy a soul.

Your soul doesn’t thirst after righteousness because it’s never drank it. The soul doesn’t crave righteousness because it’s necessarily carnal or evil - your soul thirsts after righteousness BECAUSE it knows how satisfying it is.

Righteousness is a state of existence before God. You are at peace with God because of the work of Christ. When you are afraid or feeling condemned, and you remind yourself that you’re accepted by God because of Christ and it brings peace, you’ve just taken a healthy swig of righteousness. You’ve drunk from the preexisting truth that you’re ok with God, and that brings peace, which settles the soul rather than generates fear.

Did you follow that process?

As you reassure your soul that you’re loved and accepted by God because of Christ, you are confessing the truth that Jesus’ atonement on your behalf was enough for your forgiveness and righteousness. That sets you free from the fear of judgment and allows you to choose grace and live under its power.

Thirsting after righteousness isn’t when you recognize that you’re a dirty sinner and you need to be cleansed, thirsting after righteousness happens because your soul needs a little reminder of who you really are in Christ.

Drinking of righteousness is when you get ahold of yourself in the midst of sin or failure and snap out of it, back into an awareness of God’s love for you to the point that grace energizes you and you break out of sin’s grip.

When you’re tempted, you need to take a deep swallow of righteousness, by reminding yourself that Jesus was tempted in all ways like you are yet without sin and you allow his victory to empower you over sin.

Let Christ’s Suffering Serve As A Reminder That You’re Forgiven And Can Drink Of His Righteousness At Any Moment

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. 4 In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.

When you’re being persecuted for your faith, being tempted to give in to sin, questioning your salvation or trying to find the motivation to minister to others, you can follow this pattern…

Here’s the pattern based on Hebrews 12:1-4

1. Remember the great men and women of faith.

2. Keep in mind they simply believed what God told them he was going to do.

3. Make sure you are trusting that God will be faithful to what he said he would do for you.

4. You can keep trusting what he said he would do by remembering what Jesus already did.

5. What did Jesus do? Endured persecution, faced temptation to the point of sweating blood because it brought him joy to die for you to be a child of God.

6. Acknowledge Jesus as Lord and King, acknowledge your place in him and live from the power of that identity.

Verse 4 is the key to personalizing God’s love for you and engaging his power that works in you. Before Jesus was arrested, blood seeped from his pores because he was fighting his flesh. Jesus didn’t want to endure the cross and face separation from his father, but it brought him joy to think of you in his family so he submitted and became obedient to the death of the cross. Jesus despised the shame of the cross but he loved the results of it, which was inheriting you as his family member.

Luke 22:39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Jesus resisted his flesh to the point of bleeding through his skin. “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.” But Jesus did, to destroy the power of sin and death over mankind. This is an encouragement for us because Jesus faced the greatest temptation we can face, as a man, and won! We can stand in his victory by walking through the pattern I outlined above from Hebrews 12.

I pray that you take the time to personalize Christ’s time in the garden as he wrestled against temptation. See your own struggles in his battle, see your victory in his victory, see your resurrection as a new creature in his triumph over sin, death, Hades and the grave. He conquered everything that could be held against you and removed it as far as the east is from the west, now live in the power of his spirit.

Practical Application of Being Satisfied by Righteousness

One way righteousness satisfies is when you live in it rather than giving in to sin, whether it be a physical action, emotional sin or drawing away from faith in God’s Word. For the record, anything not of faith is sin.

I don’t know if you have ever faced and conquered addiction or maybe had success in stopping a bad habit, but it’s incredibly satisfying and rewarding.

To see an opportunity for sin coming, feel the temptation in your flesh but choose to walk away and not give in may be difficult. But on the other side is satisfaction. You feel good about yourself when you make a good choice, and that’s ok. It’s ok to be proud of yourself. You’re not boasting in your own salvation but you feel good that you walked worthy of the holiness you’ve been given, and he gets the glory. This becomes a source of power for you and creates a new track record for your own self-image.

You are more powerful than you realize, you just need to make a habit of drinking from your righteousness when life gets hard. The more you do so, the easier it gets. Before long you find yourself living a light, holy, righteous and sin-free life because you’ve acknowledged Christ’s victory as your own and connected with the power of his resurrection within you.

Listen to the complete series Living In The Power of Righteousness

The Subtlety of Fear - A Message for Men

We don’t realize it but we make many of our decisions out of fear, especially men. We don’t necessarily feel afraid, we’re not sitting in the corner balled up biting our nails, we don’t have chills running down our spine, but we have let fear constrict our willingness to stand on God’s promises because of fear associated with responsibility.

Responsibility, that’s mostly a good thing but it can cause us to limit our interaction with God. This, of course, applies to women but I feel it on my heart to talk to men this week.

My man, you’re doing a good job — you’re paying your bills, you’re trying to be a good dad, you’re treating your wife as lovingly as you can, you’re working at your job to make your boss happy so you can have a shot at that promotion, you’re voting for the right issues, you’re trying to take care of your body, you’re investing for your children’s future, and so on. There’s only one problem with all that, God isn’t in that “list.”

In fact, the last thing men want is more responsibility. Unfortunately, men try to go to church and get another list of rules. They’re pressured into serving and being made to feel like their love for sports or fishing gets in the way of living for God. It’s no wonder male church attendance has declined.

But men, I have a few things to say to you. Many of you feel like you don’t have time for church, which is fine, but do you have time for God?

When you’re making your budget, or you’re pondering your job and how you can make more money, or when you’re thinking about your kids, do you leave some time to understand God’s heart on the matter? Do you take time to find a passage in scripture that relates to your specific areas of responsibility in life?

God has something to say about your life and all the things you need to get done. He just might be able to show you how to make some decisions and how to handle some of that responsibility in a different way that causes you to thrive and prosper beyond what you thought possible, in fact, I guarantee he does.

Here’s my point, I don’t want you to feel like following God is just another responsibility, we all know you have plenty of those already.

Include God

When you’re thinking about all the things you need to do, I want to encourage you to include God, think about your life WITH him. See yourself next to him in your mind, looking at your life together rather than seeing him on the other side of your problem, detached from you. You don’t have to convince God to come into your life, he’s with you, looking at it from your same perspective.

He cares about you and everything you need to do, he can show you how to take some pressure off and enjoy your life a little more.

Don’t Bury Your Passion

Do you remember the story of the servants who were entrusted with talents? One of them received one talent but buried it in the ground so he didn’t lose it. A talent is a bag of gold or silver, by the way.

Here’s what happened when the master addressed the man with one talent…

Matthew 25:24 He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, ‘Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, 25 so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here, you have what is yours.’

“I was afraid” He wasn’t evil, he didn’t blow it, he didn’t lose it, he hid it because he was afraid of disappointing his master. I wonder what you have buried for fear of failure? I wonder where you’re looking at your responsibilities through the filter of the cares of this world and the pressure of money and have buried the God-given passion and talent within you.

You’re not afraid, hiding from life, not taking care of your business, but the fear of failing my have desensitized your heart to God and robbed you of the desire to thrive. I have spoken with lots of men who hate their jobs, they’re bored with life, they come home, drink beer and watch TV…all because they don’t want to lose what they’ve worked for.

It’s too hard to create room to be inspired by God and live for something more than meeting the family’s needs. It’s noble to provide for your family, it’s the right thing to do, but has it robbed you of that passion to live for something beyond your responsibilities?

A Challenge

I want to challenge you to dream a little beyond your present responsibilities.

Here’s the process if you accept the challenge. Grab a notebook or note app and get alone. Think about an area or two where you’re actually proud of yourself, a place where you’re doing a good job. Think about it and feel a little pride in yourself. Stay there a little while…

Then turn your heart to God and allow yourself to feel gratitude toward him. It may be difficult but sit there a while, direct your mind until you feel a sense of thankfulness toward God, in any area at all.

Then think of an area of your life you’d like to see improve, specifically an area related to one of your responsibilities. Now ask God for wisdom in that area and be ready to take notes. Stay here a while, write down what comes to mind…

You’re already going to think or worry about that area of life, why not have your inner world thankful toward God before you let yourself sort through all the stuff you have to do?

Include God in your planning and pondering. He’s a good dad and will guide you lovingly into success given the chance.

Men, you’re doing a good job, just stretch a little and let God take away some of the fear that life has created within you. Let hope arise and let that God-given desire for success out of its cage a little. Go ahead, you can do it!!

The Secret of Kingdom Seeds

Jesus said

For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Mark 4:25

This statement will scare the living daylights out of you if you don’t understand what he means. So what does he mean? It’s actually very simple, he explained it a little earlier in his conversation with his disciples about the parable of the seed.

Jesus publicly taught this…

Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured it. Mark 4:3-4

Then privately explained it to his disciples…

Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. Mark 4:18-19

Look again at verse 25…

For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. Mark 4:25

When Jesus says “even what he has will be taken away,” he’s not it’s God that takes away, it’s actually the enemy. Specifically by paying attention to the enemies words. And how does the enemy take away the word/seed that’s sown in your heart?

As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. Mark 4:20-22

The enemy “takes the seed our of your heart” by persuading you to focus on the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches. The enemy doesn’t have the power to get in your heart and take away God’s spirit or his living word, but he can suggest lies to you and reinforce your negative beliefs or fears in those areas. Those fears and doubts grow in your heart and choke out the kingdom seed.

Have you ever seen a vine or briars choke out a plant or tree? Doubt, fear, worrying about money and being overwhelmed emotionally by this world can choke out the word of God in your heart. Those are the only tools the enemy has to work with.

The enemy is a spirit, much like a radio frequency. If you tune into his channel and listen to his suggestions, you may begin to believe his lies. Here’s the real truth, you will only be persuaded by his suggestions if you already have those fears or temptations within you. So the enemy “takes away the seed” by reinforcing your preexisting doubts and fears.

I’ve always thought it was a little odd that Christians can be so worried they’re going to hear the devil so easily yet feel like God’s voice is so difficult to discern.

Pay Attention

Now that you understand how the word is “taken away,” let’s talk about how to see it increase.

Jesus said “pay attention to the word you hear.” That doesn’t mean listen really hard, that means attend to it. If you have a garden, you don’t pay attention to it by looking at it, you get your hands dirty by tilling the soil, watering the seeds, eradicating pests and uprooting invasive plant species.

“Paying attention” to the word of God that you plant in your heart means you need to make sure you’re watering it. Stay in faith. Make sure you are thinking how God thinks about your life. Pray and meditate, include God’s logic in your thought processes. Change the way you’re thinking about your circumstances and see God’s possibilities and promises.

Paying attention has more to do with the meditation of your heart than the function of your ears or eyes.

From Expositor’s Greek Testament

There shall be given over and above, not to those who hear (T. R., τοῖς ἀκούουσιν), but to those who think on what they hear. This thought introduces Mark 4:25, which, in this connection, means: the more a man thinks the more he will understand, and the less a man thinks the less his power of understanding will become. “Whoso hath attention, knowledge will be given to him, and from him who hath not, the seed of knowledge will be taken. For as diligence causes that seed to grow, negligence destroys it,” Euthy.

Don’t Just Think…Feel

Neuroscience has discovered that if you feel what you are seeking to believe or incorporate into your life, you will more successfully incorporate the information or habit. Your body doesn’t know the difference between thought and reality. You watch a funny movie and laugh, you watch a drama and feel sad, you watch a horror movie and feel scared.

Why do you actually feel those emotions and sensations? They’re not real. You feel them because your body, mind and soul have the same emotional and chemical experience even without an actual event.

This is fascinating, if you feel the emotions and sensations of health and healing, your physiology will begin to produce the proper condition to bring about that physical state in your body. God told us the truth, transformation is produced through mind-renewal.

You can meditate on the fact that Jesus became poor that you might become rich and see that truth grow in your life. You can meditate on the fact that he became sick so you could be healed and experience that reality. You can attend to the word of truth that Jesus was cursed for you and never again be afraid of God. You can think your way into health or you can think your way into sickness.

If you think of God’s word and his truth, it will grow into your life.

Think the truth. Think like God. There’s more going on than a psychological phenomenon, there’s an actual manifestation in progress. The more you pay attention or attend to nourishing God’s truth in your mind and heart, the more you will see it on your life.

Give it a shot, meditate on his word.

How to Hear God: A Lesson from George Washington Carver and the Peanut

The Lord always provides me with life changing ideas. Not that I am special. The Lord provides everyone with life changing ideas. These ideas are quite literally a treasure from the Almighty. It is up to each of us however, to choose and dig for the treasure. ~ George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver is credited with saving the agricultural economy of the rural South. From his work at Tuskegee, Carver developed approximately 300 products made from peanuts; these included: flour, paste, insulation, paper, wall board, wood stains, soap, shaving cream and skin lotion. Carver is also credited with the innovation of crop rotation.

Cotton was the primary crop in the South in the early 1900s but cotton depleted the soil. Carver knew that peanuts replenished soil and tried to convince his constituents to plant a harvest of peanuts in between cotton yields so the cotton harvest would be more bountiful. The only problem, peanuts were not a profitable crop, which led George Washington Carver to the woods. Why the woods?

All my life, I have risen regularly at four in the morning to go into the woods and talk with God. That’s where He reveals His secrets to me. When everybody else is asleep, I hear God best and learn my plan… ~ George Washington Carver

One of those mornings, Carver asked God to show him why he made the peanut. He knew it was the solution for soil health but he needed to know why it was valuable so his crop rotation idea could be implemented.

He told me, ‘separate the peanut into water, fats, oils, gums, resins, sugars, starches, and amino acids. Then recombine these under My three laws of compatibility, temperature, and pressure. Then, the Lord said, ‘then you will know why I made the peanut! ~ George Washington Carver

“Within ten days George Washington Carver had “discovered” more than 300 uses for the peanut. One trip to that special place in the woods to talk with God not only enhanced race relations at the time but also fundamentally changed the agricultural industry as we know it today. All because he listened to and felt the spirit of God in his life.” (Andy Andrews)

God’s response made sense to Carver because this was his field, God met him where he was. God expanded his understanding of an area Carver was already familiar with. Like Moses who used the staff that was already in his hands and like the widow who approached Elisha, the oil she already had was multiplied, God expanded something Carver was already involved with.

This is a lesson for us, we often wait for God to do a “new thing” in our lives when he’s actually seeking to increase and expand that which he’s already placed in us.

Attitude Rather Than Lip-Service

I personally identify with Carver’s thoughts on hearing God, prayer and living a life of acting on inspiration. This series of quotes give us more insight into the man, his success and how he puts God’s influence into action.

"God is going to reveal to us things He never revealed before if we put our hands in His. No books ever go into my laboratory. The thing I am to do and the way of doing it are revealed to me. I never have to grope for methods. The method is revealed to me the moment I am inspired to create something new. Without God to draw aside the curtain I would be helpless." ~ George Washington Carver

Carver takes personal responsibility to use his God-given talents and be productive.

“No individual has any right to come into the world and go out of it without leaving behind him distinct and legitimate reasons for having passed through it.” ~ George Washington Carver

Carver understands himself and how he hears God. He understands that God’s unseen world is understood by looking at the things which are seen (Romans 1:20). He leans on God for understanding.

"My prayers seem to be more of an attitude than anything else. I indulge in very little lip service, but ask the Great Creator silently, daily, and often many times a day, to permit me to speak to Him through the three great Kingdoms of the world which He has created - the animal, mineral, and vegetable Kingdoms - to understand their relations to each other, and our relations to them and to the Great God who made all of us. I ask Him daily and often momently to give me wisdom, understanding, and bodily strength to do His will; hence I am asking and receiving all the time." ~ George Washington Carver

He’s creative with his relationship with God, he’s developed his own way of communing with God.

"Reading about nature is fine, but if a person walks in the woods and listens carefully, he can learn more than what is in books, for they speak with the voice of God." ~ George Washington Carver

I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station, through which God speaks to us every hour, if we will only TUNE IN. ~ George Washington Carver

Carver gives God the credit for his ideas, even though he recognizes his own responsibility to hear and act.

"As I worked on projects which fulfilled a real human need forces were working through me which amazed me. I would often go to sleep with an apparently insoluble problem. When I woke the answer was there. Why, then, should we who believe in Christ be so surprised at what God can do with a willing man in a laboratory? Some things must be baffling to the critic who has never been born again." ~ George Washington Carver

Carver recognizes that God lives within him, he doesn’t need to seek outwardly to understand or hear God, he communes with God in his heart.

"Most people search high and wide for the key to success. If they only knew, the key to their dreams lies within." ~ George Washington Carver

Carver is adept at what I consider to be the most important factor in the equation of hearing God, acting on God’s inspiration. God is always speaking, if we would simply act on his inspiration we would develop a track record with ourselves, a track record of hearing God and taking action on his influence. God will always lead us into life and truth, if we’ll simply act on his subtle nudges, we’ll develop our hearts to the point where we’ll follow him in the big things as well.

"Where there is no vision, there is no hope." ~ George Washington Carver

"Ninety-nine percent of the failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." ~ George Washington Carver

"Start where you are, with what you have. Make something of it and never be satisfied." ~ George Washington Carver

"Do what you can, with what you have and do it now!" ~ George Washington Carver

DO IT NOW!!

Like Moses, God will use what’s in your hands. Like the widow, God will invite you to put out jars to contain his blessing for you. But you must act, you must step into the path he’s laying out for you, you must move toward the direction he leads.

“The heart of man deviseth his way, And Jehovah establisheth his step.”

— Proverbs 16:9

You’ve probably been taught that man comes up with plans but God has his own plans and does what he wants. God does have his own will that we miss at times but that is not what this passage is saying. This passage means that God will show you how to accomplish the plans you have in your heart.

Do The Hard Things In Your Imagination

You have a godly desire, a business idea, a dream, something burning within you to accomplish…God wants to show you how to succeed in that desire. When you think about it, don’t shrink back because you don’t know what to do or you don’t feel qualified, wrestle with it until you get wisdom.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God and it will be given to him”

— James 1:5

God WILL speak to you, he will sow into you the things you need to step forward in your desires. He’s placed desires within you and he’s seeking to give you wisdom in those areas so you will take responsibility and act. It’s not up to you to accomplish the idea on your own, God will help you, but you must push through the mental blocks and personal issues as you pursue God.

You must be willing to take steps based on his wisdom and inspiration. You can either sit back and navigate life the best you can, or you can stand on a promise from God, receive wisdom from him and act. It’s your choice!!

Try This

• Take a few minutes to think of something that stood out to you from this sermon or article. Make it just one thing.

• Now imagine an area of your life you’d like to see move forward, no matter what it is.

• Now wait on wisdom to show you how to take a step in that area. The one thing that you remember or that excited you from this article/sermon can serve as the action to take.

• Involve your imagination and see a simple, measurable step you can take in that area of life you identified.

• See yourself taking that step. Do you see it?

Now do that everyday for the rest of your life, make it a habit of thinking through the hard things with the Word of God in mind, and allow inspiration and wisdom to rise up. AND ACT!!!

Expand Your Tents and Make Room for God to Move

All things are possible for those who believe. You don’t believe with your brain, you believe with your heart (Romans 10:10). Your heart or inner man is paramount in experiencing God in this life. God wants you to increase the capacity of your heart to trust him so he can move through you in greater ways and see his will come to pass.

The more confident you are in his character and his word, the more you can allow him to do through you. And what he wants to do is increase and enrich you in every way so you can be generous in every way.

2 Corinthians 9:10 He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.

God’s goal is to have a nation of priests in the earth who are thriving and prospering, and out of that prosperity lead people to Jesus and disciple them in God’s ways so his kingdom will increase in the earth. We must expand our hearts to trust greater for this to happen.

God wants to have a thriving and bountiful marriage with you

One day God will take back control over the earth, but until then his family, that nation of priests, must follow him and work with him so his will is accomplished in the earth. He needs you to think bigger, to dream more extravagantly and to ask more abundantly.

God has a habit of asking people to expand their expectations so he can work through them in greater ways. We see this repeatedly with the Israelites, God’s first chosen people. Isaiah 53 gives us a beautiful image of Christ’s accomplishments on our behalf. Immediately after declaring his plan of salvation through the Messiah, God describes what he wants for those who will be in this new covenant and what he expects them to do.

Before he affirms his eternal covenant of peace, he invites his bride to expand her tents. Expanding your tents refers to actual tents but it’s also for a metaphor for our hearts.

Isaiah 54:2 “Enlarge the site of your tent, stretch out the curtains of your dwellings, DO NOT HOLD BACK. Lengthen your ropes and drive your stakes deep. 3 For you will spread out to the right and left; your descendants will dispossess the nations and inhabit the desolate cities. 4 Do not be afraid, for you will not be put to shame; do not be humiliated, for you will not be disgraced. For you will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. 5 For your husband is your Maker—the LORD of Hosts is His name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; He is called the God of all the earth. 6 For the LORD has called you back, like a wife deserted and wounded in spirit, the wife of one’s youth when she is rejected,” says your God.

God encourages them to stretch by saying don’t be afraid, believe, think big, trust God in ways that cause you to stretch, you won’t be ashamed.

Then he declares his own identity amid this invitation, he says I’m the LORD God, the leader of the armies of Heaven, I’m the one who saves you, and by the way, I’m your husband.

He invites them to stretch and grow, he affirms his own identity as their validation for the promises coming to pass and then he describes the context of the relationship they’re in with him as all of this is accomplished.

Engaging in an intimate, personal relationship with God will give you the strength and courage to stretch and believe.

God also displays this kind of provision on a personal level, as we see with the widow of a man who followed Elisha.

What if she had more jars?

Here’s the backstory, in the time following the death of King Solomon and the division of Israel into two kingdoms, there was a period of general indifference and apostasy, especially in the North. During this time men who maintained their faith in the Lord formed study groups in various places to keep the knowledge of the Lord alive. These study groups were called companies of prophets. Although the men in these groups were not official prophets of Israel, the Lord blessed them with spiritual gifts including the gift of prophecy. Both Elijah and his successor Elisha maintained close relationships with these groups. This woman’s husband was in one of these “companies of prophets.”

As you read this story, keep your heart open, pay attention to any insights God may give you that apply to your life. Be open to God revealing to you where you’re limiting him.

2 Kings 4:1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.” 3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.” 5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.” But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. 7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”

What stands out to you in this story? Did you notice anything about God’s provision for this lady that spoke to your life? Here’s what I noticed…

• God used what she was willing to believe with

• God didn't do anything separate from her cooperation

• God didn’t have the prophet give her money, he invited her to get her heart involved and filled that space

• God used what was already in her house (Moses, what's in your hands)

• What did you notice?

What if she had more jars? Would it have kept flowing? Probably. The oil flowed until all the available jars were filled. What if she sent her sons to all the village to proclaim what God was doing in her home and invited them all to bring their pots? The whole village would have benefitted from her miracle.

What if they brought all the jars in the whole world to her home, would they all have been filled? I realize that’s slightly ridiculous, but what if? Is God able to fill all the jars on the planet with one small jar of olive oil? Of course he is, he’s God!! And that’s my point. Think big, take the limits off.

Engage your heart with God, and when fruit starts to grow, keep moving, don’t shut it off, don’t limit him. God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we can ask or imagine. DON’T HOLD BACK!!!

What are you willing to let God increase?

What’s in your house? What’s in your hands? What are you willing to allow God to increase?

Too often I hear people say that they would do anything God asked them to if he would just make it clear. People say they’re thinking and believing big. But there’s one problem, there’s no action. I watch people pray then sit back and wait for God to move.

It’s a collaboration. Don’t pray for anything you’re not going to act on.

That action must be taken in confidence, not fear and doubt. You might not have all the details worked out but you must have an expectation that is fueled by confidence in God’s character. God will always be who he is, who is he in your situation?

When you realize that you already have something God can increase, you have a direction to move, but you must move. If God can get you to see the potential of increase in a specific area, he can flood into that space. As you make room for him in your heart, make sure you step into that space with your emotions and your imagination AND… your actions. Here’s how Paul says it…

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

HOW BIG IS YOUR GOD?
DON’T HOLD BACK!!!