Establish Your Hearts.

James 5:8 “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

I find in this day and age, people aren’t as patient as they used to be.  They want things the day after they order them from a website.  They want their shows to be nicely wrapped up by the end of the episode.  They want a quick fix to their problems.  

People are offered a pill to solve their problem but does it? (Have you heard or read some of the side affects to some of these medications that can result in death?  They are often worse then the problem itself.)  And does it solve the problem or just mask the symptoms or issues? 

(Not much good to say about many of man's quick fixes as the mind goes to things like abortion and death at convenience.)

Patience is difficult.  It is also difficult in the most difficult of circumstances.  
 
When we don’t avail ourselves to God we don’t have patience.  When we think we should be the one in control, we don’t have patience. When things aren’t going the way we think they should go, what happens?  Many destructive and sad things happen when we try to control.  True in the bible and true now.

Do we really have control?

The word of God says that Spirit of God (The Holy Spirit) gives us self-control/self-restraint.  He is given to those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  He is to help us from wandering into the busy unsafe highways of lust, fear, depression, anxiety, hopelessness, worry, frustration, and doubt.

He establishes our heart.  He feeds the heart of what it needs most. He prepares our heart.  He encourages our heart.  He gives our heart hope.  He gives our heart boldness and strength yet humility.  He gives our heart the ability live in the satisfying will of Himself… IF we just avail ourselves to Him.

  

The issue is… we as people of Adam and Eve are accustomed to availing ourselves to us and our understanding, not to Him/God.  God says not to depend on our own understanding because often it leads to harm and hurt to us and others.

We each have been given a will and it is our choice to trust God or not.  God’s word says he has put a measure of faith of Himself in each one of us to see and know He exists.  God knows what is going on in our hearts and what is happening in our days.  Like flipping the pages of a small book with his fingers, He has seen our so brief life.  He also knows our eternity and our choice to trust in His Son, Jesus Christ, as our Savior or not.

The baby that was born of a virgin on Christmas morning will be returning as King for those who have surrendered their heart to Him (Jesus Christ).  Some have and will scoff at this and the bible speaks of people who will scoff at this.  BUT what matters more then the temporary scoffing, which will mean nothing in the complexity of eternity, is that our heart is established for His coming?

 

If this truth doesn’t warm our heart but unsettles our heart think why?

If our heart is unsettled maybe a reason is because we haven’t surrendered or completely surrendered our heart to Jesus (the reason for Christ-mas) who lives and establishes our heart with this comforting reality that He is coming back for us.

Our relationship with God is suppose to be daily- (for me it needs to be an hourly thing… I need it.)  But in journaling, reading His word, listening and conversing with Him, God settles and confirms our heart.  As we avail ourselves to Him, God avails Himself to us.  

True. This takes time. Time not to be filled with just ourselves and our own schedule but time with God.  For we must remember this time in which we live is all we got.  There is no more and we really don't know how much we do have.  But time with God is worth every little bit to our soul.  And I am a bit amazed when He expands on what was previously thought already expanded upon.  And how what was so dry and crusty before can become a refreshing piece of food for my soul.    

 For the Word of God says, “For in Him we live and move and have our being.”

This experience we call “life” (this type of school, this type children’s camp, this type of hotel or boot camp) will soon be over, as we know it.  Jesus will be loading up the “spiritual buses” and taking us home… a home He has created for those who have trusted and believed in Him.

Some of you know this but let the "knowing"… remain in the living knowing of the heart not just the mind -for what comes out of the heart will also come out of our words and actions.  Amen.

Again, in love… “You also, be patient.  Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

 

For the Battle is Not Yours, but God's Pt.8

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2 CHRONICLES 20

THIS BATTLE series, that began a few weeks ago, started with a passage God showed me in 2 Chronicles 20.  

This journey has brought me to a new understanding about the concept of the battles in life.  Battles are not about us “having it out” with the situations in life.  Battles are not about us and what we can muster using our intellectual faith.

They aren't about us wrestling God.

They aren't about us wrestling Satan. 

Battles are to show us where our focus is and where it needs to be.   Battles are to show us, even though a lot can be said and done, God is still in control.

   God uses the battles in life to show us his love and faithfulness.  Battles are about Him coming to our rescue. 

Battles help us discover a greater love in God then we had previously, a love that humbles us to the core and brings thanksgiving in the form of tears. 

 Battles are not to harden us but soften us so we absorb more of who God wants to be in our life.  And this love of God makes it so we can touch other people’s life.

I tried to imagine what might have happened that day in 2 Chronicles 20 when the dark news arrived.

Like a scene from the opening of a movie… The orange sun slowly paints the sky as it ascends an old Middle East landscape.   All is peaceful until the camera bears down on something in the distance.   The score turns heavy and dark in tone as we see a rider riding a white horse at breakneck speed.   The horse heavily drinks the morning air with its flared nostrils as its hooves thunder upon the white ground in great stride.   Its robed rider has the expression of trepidation yet determination.   Perspiration soaks the animal’s fur.   Through outlaying villages and into city streets there is no shouting as if he, the rider, is some Paul Revere but the pair’s speed and silence alone are deafening to everyone they pass. 

Husbands look at their wives and wives seeing the concerned expression of their husbands, have the urge to suddenly bring their children close.

The dust of the man’s horse can be seen trailing a line to the great palace of the King of Judah.   

We aren’t told in the bible how King Jehoshaphat receives the alarming news… but we do know his reaction. 

When King Jehoshaphat hears that a mighty army of Moabites, Ammonites and Meunites have declared war on him and are marching toward Judah and Jerusalem, King Jehoshaphat does NOT:

Call his men to arms….

Or fortify his defenses….

or come up with military strategies….

or make military alliances….

or gather the people up to take refuge in the hills….

BUT instead the king sought the LORD for guidance.  2 Chronicles 20:3

When we hear alarming or difficult news what do we tend to do first?

Do we seek the LORD first?  Do we seek the LORD knowing we are God’s responsibility? Do we seek the LORD,  knowing he knows how to address the situation?  Do we seek the LORD for comfort, peace, assurance not just for answers?

I find when we don’t seek the LORD in the battles of life we:

We become “self” centered instead of “God” centered.

We start to fret, we become overwhelmed, apprehensive, dispassionate about life, we let emotions get the best of us, we easily get irritated with others, our imaginations get ahead or the best of us, we become discouraged, have anxiety, and become fearful.

We tend to come up with our own ways to solve the problem.   We make poor decisions because of internal or external pressures.

We forget to be thankful for all God is and does for us.  We don’t remember what God’s word says and speaks to our heart.  

We start to blame God for our circumstances instead of seeing God as THE WAY out of the entanglements of our circumstances.  We forget God wants the best of us.   We forget he is there just ahead of us, behind us, standing with us, in us and even carrying us. We forget the enemy uses such circumstances to try to separate us from God.   The enemy uses what we see, hear, think, to manipulate us.   

We tend to focus more on the solution then on God and when the solution doesn’t come right away we become discouraged because we aren’t living in God’s peace and love but our own understanding.  Our requests become greater then the knowing assurance of God's love. 

We forget to “Rejoice IN the Lord always.”  We need to remember to be surrendered IN the Lord’s love. 

His love enables us to never give up, never lose faith, always stay hopeful and endure through every circumstance. (Note: 1 Corinthians 13:7)      

NEXT the bible stays King Jehoshaphat orders everyone to fast and pray and they all (men, women and children) came together to Jerusalem to the new courtyard of the Temple of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:3-4

Do we call others for prayer when it comes to guidance, assurance, peace, grace, healing from the Lord? Do we call on the members of our household in prayer?  Do we petition our brothers and sisters in Christ for prayer?

Think what happens when we settle down into prayer, does it not have a calming effect in our lives as we focus, submit, turn, relinquish and wait upon the Lord for his leading?

It is assuring, when we don’t know what is to come -to know we have God to not just guide us but be with us every step of the way.  

Can you imagine how prayer quieted the fears of people as they too focused on the LORD?

Listen to how Jehoshaphat prayed out loud in courtyard of the temple.  Think about the state of his mind and why he prayed such a prayer out loud.  First he started with the attributes of God.  

“O LORD, God of our ancestors, you alone are the God who is in heaven.  You are the ruler of all the kingdoms of the earth.  You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against you!”  2 Chronicles 20:6

Do we remember… do we think on… the magnificence of God, especially in the times of uncertainty?  He is our certainty. 

He then followed with the things God had done.

“O our God, did you not drive out those who lived in this land when your people arrived?   And did you not give this land forever to the descendants of your friend Abraham?  Your people settled here and built this Temple for you.  They said, ‘Whenever we are faced with any calamity such as war, disease, or famine, we can come to stand in your presence before this Temple where your name is honored.  We can cry out to you to save us, and you will hear us and rescue us.’” 2 Chronicles 20:7-9

What was he trying to do for his people and himself as he prayed?

Do we remember and reflect on what God has done in our life, our family members lives and those we know?  Do we share what God has done and speak out those things in our prayers.

It is not profitable for the soul to remember the greatness of God and His love and faithfulness for us?  Is it not beneficial to remember God’s promises?

Let’s exercise this for a moment:  Write down or think the things God is to you.  (These things should be genuine felt in our heart not just recited from some intellectual recall.  You know this because God has shown you it is true.)   God is my caretaker.  God is my Father. God is my faithful friend.  God is my comforter.  God is my peace.  God is my transformer- He transforms me.  God prepares the day for me.  God gave me a way when there was no way.

The King Jehoshaphat then relinquished his concerns to God.  

 “And now see what the armies of Ammon, Moab and Mount Seir are doing.  You would not let our ancestors invade those nations when Israel left Egypt, so they went around them and did not destroy them.  Now see how they reward us!  For they have come to throw us out of your land, which you gave us as an inheritance.  O our God, won’t you stop them?...” 2 Chronicles 20:10-12

Ever in the midst of the battles of life compare your present troubles next to God’s promises and they don’t seem to line up.  That is what is happening to King Jehoshaphat.  What is happening isn’t matching up with what God has said.  He can’t understand why this seems to be allowed to happen.  So he speaks it out.

King Jehoshaphat then ends his prayer with this….

“We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us.  We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

I am continually reminded that there are times when I don’t know what is going to happen.  I don’t know what to do.  But by God’s grace and his provisional care and his assurance not in myself but in him, I can do all things set before me. Christ is with me.  

How good it is to relinquishing our concerns to God…

How good it is to relinquish our weaknesses and shortcomings to God…

How good it is to admit our dependence and trust in God…

CONT. Pt 9

Servants of Light

To understand what a servant of light is, we must begin with Jesus – for when we understand who we are in Jesus Christ the mental weight of servant hood is lifted.

Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying, "Nothing can stop the man with the right mental attitude from achieving his goal; nothing on earth can help the man with the wrong mental attitude."

We have heard the saying "Attitude is everything." Our mindset can either limit us or make us achieve what we never thought possible.

The level of realization of who we are in Christ will greatly affect how we look and undertake what a true servant is.  We fail to develop a servant's mindset with our lack of realization of who we are in Christ Jesus.   Peter says,  "But those who fail to develop these virtues are blind or, at least, very shortsighted. They have forgotten that God has cleansed them from their old life of sin." 2 Peter 1:9.

In our old life we were filled with pride and self ambition or self-pity.   Pride only led to inflated self perception which became a wedge of division if anyone put down, negated, defeated, contradicted our thoughts and opinions.  Self ambition and self-pity made us only see ourselves, our needs, our strengths and our weaknesses and our wants according to what we envied in others people's lives.  We were blind to everything but what was in our mental closet.  We played, and danced, and lived in the masquerade ball but when we finally got a real good look at our reflection we saw nothing on earth could help us.  We had no fairy god mother to keep the truth from revealing itself.

We followed the desires of our sinful nature just as Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden.  And when the truth was revealed to them they tried to cover their nakedness just a people try to cover up themselves today in many varieties of things such pride, arrogance, addictions, in the friends they keep, the way they dress, the jobs they have, the way they change their appearance such botox injections and hair dye and lots of make up.  What are they trying to cover up?

I watched a woman once come onto an airplane.  She sat down, powdered her face, blended, added blush and crimped her eye lashes, put on eye liner, eye shadow, and darkened her eyelashes - and by the time she was done putting on these things on her natural pleasant face, she looked like an entirely different person.  She looked like a completely different person from when she first got on the plane.

Everyone's facades will be exposed no matter if they are.   Why do people try to hide who they really are?  The only one they are trying to fool is themselves.

It's them, themselves, who will have to stand before God - not those they have tried to fool to cover up who they really are.  Is it a sin to put on make-up -of course not!  That is not my point.  My point  is... people use all kind of things to cover up who they are.  Why are they trying to cover up to be something they are not.  Before I was saved, I used anger to cover up my insecurity.

God is all truth and when truth comes looking at them in their reflection and they see nothing on earth can help them... hopefully,  for their valuable soul's sake, they come to God instead of continue down the path to another masquerade.

It's in the mind not reality.

Ask any military veteran what is worst, the physical wounds and mental wounds and I can guarantee most of them will say the mental wounds cut deeper and last longer then the physical ones.

The enemy of our soul continually goes after our mind just as he did with Adam and Eve.  Nothing has changed.  If Satan can tie up the mind of a person in psychological garbage of this world, confusion, and warfare then he has nothing to worry about from that person.  The people in this world are lost in the mindset of the world but Christians, you don't have to be!  And you can be a helping vessel to help those lost in the tossing and roaring ocean of life.

People are tried of just existing and living day to day, they want to live a meaningful life!  The only way to a meaningful life is through Christ Jesus.  We too can be endangered of falling into the same thinking if we lose sight of Christ.   We too can end up chasing after things that are meaningless and never satisfying and find ourselves in the tossing oceans of doubt and uncertainty and hopelessness.   Our hope in Jesus Christ is our only anchor and allows us to experience things we didn't think possible which enriches and encourages the Christian soul to endure.    


^"This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God’s inner sanctuary." Hebrews 6:19

You cannot be a light if your life is based on meaningless worldly things but to be a servant of light amongst darkness is like being one of those lights on the airport runway or a lit up pointing the way to Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father. 

Ephesians 6:17 says, "Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Paul is saying, put on Christ and all he IS! Who is Christ?  What does the Spirit of God say to you as you read his word? Who are you and I to be?!
    

“To accept Christ as all he is, is to find who we are and who we are truly meant to be in God.”
 – J.D. JOHNS

The Four Facades of Jesus Christ

In the book Ezekiel, Chapter 1, it talks about these “beings” with four faces.  They had a face of human, a face of lion, a face of an ox, and a face an eagle.  These four faces represent the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.   All four of these gospels are a picture of and represent a dimension or aspect (qualities and characteristics) of our Lord Jesus Christ.  

The book of Matthew is the symbol of the lion.  It is written to the Jewish people.  Jesus is the Lion of Judah.  The King of Kings! Lord of Lords!  "THE KING" who was prophesied about to Jewish people in scriptures "THE KING" had to be a descendant of King David.  Jesus was a descendant of King David on both his earthly father's side and mother's side.  Joseph and Mary were both descendants of King David.

"Behold, [the] days are coming," says the LORD, "That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth." Jeremiah 23:5

"During the reigns of those kings, the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed or conquered. It will crush all these kingdoms into nothingness, and it will stand forever." Daniel 2:44

"For when you die and join your ancestors, I will raise up one of your descendants, one of your sons, and I will make his kingdom strong.  He is the one who will build a house- a temple-for me.  And I will secure his throne forever.  I will be his father, and he will be my son.   I will never take my favor from him as I took it from the one who ruled before you.  I will confirm him as king over my house and my kingdom for all time, and his throne will be secure forever."  1 Chronicles 17:11-14 
Jesus was also a descendant of Abraham.

"This is my covenant with you: I will make you the father of a multitude of nations! What's more, I am changing your name. It will no longer be Abram. Instead, you will be called Abraham, for you will be the father of many nations. I will make you extremely fruitful. Your descendants will become many nations, and kings will be among them!"I will confirm my covenant with you and your descendants after you, from generation to generation. This is the everlasting covenant: I will always be your God and the God of your descendants after you." Genesis 17:4-7

 Jesus is the perfect King.  His kingdom is the everlasting kingdom of heaven which the everlasting covenant with Abraham.  All other kingdoms will pass away but his kingdom will last forever. 

Revelation 5:5 "But one of the twenty-four elders said to me, "Stop weeping! Look, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the heir to David's throne, has conquered.  He is worthy to open the scroll and break its seven seals."

The book of Luke is the symbol of a man.   It is written to the Greeks, and one Greek in particular "Theophilus" which means "lover of God or friend of God".  Theophilus also received what we know as the book of Acts from Luke as well.   Luke's aspect of Jesus was Jesus is the "perfect" man.  He was a man without sin.   The first man, Adam brought sin and death to humanity because he and his wife Eve believed Satan and ate from the tree which God told Adam not to eat from.  Adam and Eve's betrayal gave power to sin and curses upon the earth but Jesus, brought power and freedom from sin to those who believe in him.

The book of John is the symbol of an eagle.  It is written to us- the church and the world.   The eagle represents sovereignty, majesty, and the supremacy of Jesus Christ.

The book of Mark is the symbol of an ox or calf.  It is to the Romans.  Roman society had a mindset of being servant.  They were to serve the authority over them.  Those the Romans took over became servants and slaves of the Roman society, work force and even to the Roman cause- such as Roman axillary armies in the Northern Europe.  The ox represents the perfect servant.  Jesus Christ is the perfect servant.

Jesus Christ is King of kings, Lord of lords; He is the perfect man (without any sin). He has sovereignty and supremacy over everything, and he is the perfect servant.

So what does that have to do with us being a servant of light?

We are to serve others but that is hard to do if we are putting a "requirement" on it.  If we are putting some "have to" burden on it or some "emphasis" that puts us in the wrong mindset.  Our mindset must be on who we are in Jesus Christ- not what the world may think of or desire for us or even a religious perspective.

A.W. Tozer is quoted as, "Until the will is sanctified the man is still a rebel just as an outlaw is still an outlaw at heart even though he may be yielding grudging obedience to the sheriff who is taking him to prison."

What is the will stimulated and encouraged by?  The world, the church, yourself or Christ?

We need to be stimulated and encouraged by God and who we are in God/Christ Jesus.

The Lion:  You and I serve a mighty God in Jesus Christ.  Our heritage and lineage is in GOD - thanks to Jesus Christ - His throne and kingdom will last forever.    You and I maybe nothing important in the sight of this world but in the sight of God you are HIS child. You and I are a king, a prince, and a royal priesthood.  Jesus is King and Savior of your life.   If Jesus is our brother and he is King then what does that make us? If he is High Priest what does that make us?  If he is the Prince of Peace then what does that make us.   If he is the Lion of Judah, what does that make us? 

Jesus said,  “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven in my brother and sister and mother!”  Matthew 12:50. (NLT) 

1 Peter 2:9 says, " But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (AMP)

Matthew 5:9 Jesus said, "God blesses those who work for peace, for they will be called the children of God."

Proverbs 28:1 says  “The wicked flee when no man pursues them, but the [uncompromisingly] righteous are bold as a lion." (AMP)

We are not to live contingent on how the world sees us or treats us or even how we perceive ourselves but live in the assurance of a child of God.  You don't work and serve others because you "have to" but because you "want to".   Jesus said  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. " Mathew 6:31-33

You are a child of God!

The Perfect Man: We serve Jesus Christ the perfect man that never sinned.  He withstood every test in this life so he will help us withstand the tests that come into our life as well as we trust him.   The perfect man presents himself to God and seeks the appointments and will of God in their life.   We are to read and meditate on the words of the bible as directed by the Spirit of God and allow God's Spirit to teach us and provide us with daily tasks that put those powerful teachings to work. 

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” Luke 4:18-19.

"If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.  But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect." Matthew 5:47-48

"That is why we have a great High Priest who has gone into heaven, Jesus the Son of God.  Let us cling to him and never stop trusting him.  This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same temptations we do, yet he did not sin.  So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive his mercy and will find grace to help us when we need it." Hebrews 4:14-16
     

The Eagle:  We serve Jesus Christ who is justice and truth.  He reigns on the throne of heaven and should reign in our hearts and in our lives to touch others. 

 “Righteousness is available because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more.  Judgment will come because the prince of this world has already been judged.  Oh, there is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not be presenting his own ideas; he will be telling you what he has heard.  He will tell you about the future.  He will bring me glory by revealing to you whatever he receives from me.   All that the Father has is mine; that is what I mean when I say that the Spirit will reveal to you whatever he receives from me. John 16:10-15. 

“But when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, you will receive power and will tell people about me everywhere- in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8

"The truth is, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works because I am going to be with the Father.  You can ask for anything in my name, and I will do it, because the work of the Son brings glory to the Father.  Yes, ask anything in my name and I will do it!" John 14:12-14

The Ox:  The perfect servant.  “You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them.  But among you it should be quite different.  Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be the slave of all.  For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:42-45. 

"'And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.  The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other command is greater then these." Mark 12:30-31

See a need- pray for and if you can provide for that need.

As Christians directed by the Spirit of God, we move in these four directions (The way of the lion, the way of the perfect man, the way of the eagle and the way of the ox) just as the beings did in Ezekiel.   Ezekiel 1:9-17 

It’s impossible to be a "content and satisfied" servant of light if we don’t allow God to continually remind us of all these things which bring a ruling peace to our heart as we attend to what the Lord directs.

Those who are secure in Jesus can be servants of others  -without feeling lesser of a person. 

May God richly bless us in who we are in Christ Jesus so we may do freely- without some grudging requirement.   May He heal our spiritual blindness that so easily hinders us from being all he wants us to be in this life.   May we live as light to this world by first seeing who we are in the light, then the light that floods our soul will be graciously and freely shine upon others.  In Jesus Name I ask Amen.

“Your eye is a lamp for your body.  A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul.  But an evil eye shuts out the light and plunges you into darkness.  If the light you think you have is really darkness, how deep that darkness will be!”  Matthew 6:22

"You are the light of the world- like a city on a mountain, glowing in the night for all to see.  Don't hide your light under a basket!  Instead, put it on a stand and let it shine for all.  In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."
Matthew 5:14
 
Extra:

We are our Heavenly Father's children but to really know who we are in Jesus Christ is like being arrows in his quiver.  Are ready to be sent?

 

"Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builder is useless.  Unless the LORD protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.  It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest to his loved ones." Psalm 127:1-2

Thank you for reading.

Encompassing Patient Peace

Before we start I want to ask that God give us a fresh new deeper perspective as we read and take in what God is showing us.  May it fall on good ground and prepared hearts that won’t allow the enemy of our souls to swindle it from us.   May we not treat the gifts of God has ordinary.  In Jesus Name Amen!

“By your patience possess your souls” Luke 21:19

We don't think about patience possessing our souls do we but let's see how the word of God defines patience for us?

Patience is defined as being steadfast, having constancy, having endurance, sustaining and persevering.

It’s an individual not swerved from his/her deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and remains piety and devoted even in the greatest trials and sufferings.

In sickness, good health, richer, poorer, good times and bad times you remain faithful through patience. 

I don’t know about you but I see patience encompassed in this brilliant warm orb of light filled with other equally excellent everlasting elements.  

So what are these wondrous equally excellent luxuries that encircle and interweave godly patience- which enrich and cradle the soul with peace?  

Well they are listed in what love is in our bible...

“Love is patient and kind.  Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude.  Love does not demand its own way.  Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged.  It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

So knowing patience is love, where does love come from?  God is love.  God is our source of patience and where we draw our patience from.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in him.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.”  1 John 4:16

We see that patience comes with trusting and putting one’s self “in” God’s care.

Ever hear someone they say, “Don’t ask God for more patience because you will run into more problems”?   But problems, circumstances, understandings are just what some of us need to put ourselves in God’s care and love.   Did some of you come to God because of a troubled mind and heart?   Yes problems are just want some of us need to really understand that God is in control and we don’t have control no matter how much we worry, fear, or try to micromanage.  The world is going to do what it is going to do but God remains our steady rock and strong tower.  He is our source of patience through everything life throws at us.

“We can rejoice, to when we run into problems and trials, for we know they help us develop endurance.  And endurance develops strength of character and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  And this expectation will not disappoint us.  For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.”  Romans 5:3-4

Who is truly blessed.... really?   Thinking about this statement and how it relates to patience.  “God blesses those who realize their need for him for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.” Matthew 5:3

Seeking God’s patience is to see our need in him and putting ourselves in his care where that patience from God can manifest itself in our life.  Patience cannot be manifested in any other way.   Patience isn't ignoring someone's irritating behavior and calling it patience.  Patience is putting ourselves in God's care to love those people who you find irritating and even difficult.        

We all need God to encourage and assist us and give us strength to carry on in the faith everyday -some days of this life need more patience then others but in all those days we must put ourselves in his care.  

Our knower is positioned in the right spot, knowing God is with us no matter what we face.  It isn't the problem or circumstances we focus on but the solution who is God.
  

We face what there is to face for God’s love to be made real and tangible and all doubt to be discarded and thrown away.  We face what there is to face for God’s love to make us whole.  We face what there is to face for God’s loves to set us free.   We face what there is to face for God’s love to give us life and life more abundantly.

“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them.  And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect.  So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.  Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear.   If we are afraid it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.  We love each other because he loved us first.”  1 John 4:16-19

I think the times we fear and fret and become bothered is because we have not placed ourselves in God's perfect love or taken the time to do so, would you agree?

In God's care where we grow in a greater "understanding" of God's love which manifests itself in greater ways beyond our natural tendencies and ways of thinking.  

"O righteous Father, the world doesn't know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you.  I will do this so this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them." John 17:25-26 

I believe those who place their life in God’s hand -has the same effect as the seeds that fall on the good ground.  

“But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. “  Luke 8:15

“But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, he will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Here there is no conflict with the law.” Galatians 5:22

Patience is about letting God take possession of your life.   We are only "prosperous" in the riches of God if we stop being captive to the things in this life and be captive to God.   For we can experience the riches of God in fact we all experience many of God's riches everyday without even giving it much thought but we never become "prosperous" in God's riches because we either don't trust God or trust God enough.  

Remember faith takes trust in God's love as a child draws encouragement and comfort from a loving parent.  And we please God as we draw from his love.  Patience it’s not about the "emphasis" being on you but letting go of you and letting God do through you.  May we as Christians live in God’s encompassing patient peace/love to reach the world around us so they may be saved and set free through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ - who is the only way to Heaven.   In Jesus Name Amen