Extending Grace & Mercy

Struggling periods in life are hard enough but they are even tougher when people don’t extend you grace and mercy during that trying and painful time.

… It’s always easier to judge then live in the truth and love of Jesus Christ.

It’s easy to be a fruit inspector and see just the bad fruit but is that what God sees in a person who we see as worthless, small, a failure, an outcast and so on?

No!

Jesus is the faithful shepherd. He goes and gets that lost sheep or the sheep that has fallen into the well even on the Sabbath. He isn’t religious but real. He is the one who ministers to the cast sheep that is drowning in the circumstances, perceptions and feelings about life. He is the one who relieves the heaviness of life and gets the sheep back on their feet. Unfortunately the enemy, who sees the compromising and recovering position of the sheep, urges other sheep to knock that sheep back down. These sheep, which feel justified speak and do so in a manner that doesn’t exalt Christ.

You know the reason they feel justified to speak from their flesh? They do this because they have forgotten the mercy and grace that God has given them.

But deeper…. you know why it hurts you? You have based your value on how others look and act towards you. Don’t worry I got that t-shirt as well. In fact it is autographed more then once.

It hurts us because we have forgotten that God didn’t just send anyone to die for us but He sent himself (Jesus Christ) who didn’t just know all your successes but also your failures and troubles as well. And in spite of all these things, he saw you as precious enough to die for. He valued you so much that he died for you.

No one can value you more then God - Jesus Christ.

I am still learning the value of Jesus going to the cross and taking the punishment for me. My value is not in those who value or not value me but what Jesus did for me. God would lay down his life for me! That is where our value should be in. That is where our faith should live and breath and start and finish. That is where our confidence needs to remain.

The Lord is our rock and our salvation. The Lord is our shepherd we shall not want. He leads us to peaceful streams and to rest in green pastures.

I see that extending grace and mercy can be a mighty tool to those who are struggling and not extending grace and mercy can cause more problems. Here God is addressing the issues in this person’s life and you not seeing this make negative comments and use God’s sharp word against them…

Do you want to open your mouth out of some fleshly justification and have to answer to God for causing more havoc in a person’s life. He is helping a cast sheep, which is drowning in the circumstances, perceptions, failures, situations in life and you come along and say whatever you “feel” like. You going to set fires to God’s work and leave only bitter tastes?

God says to love and do good to your brother and sister in Christ. He says to do good even if it means to suffer. (1 Peter 2:21) He says “And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much!” (Luke 6:33) He says to love your enemies. (Matthew 5:43-48)

We are to live in the truth, which Jesus Christ, died for you.

If we are not living in this truth we cannot give grace and mercy to those struggling.

The same is true for the struggling. If they are not living in the truth, they cannot extend grace and mercy to those who judge and have prejudices against them but a win-win situation only comes and exalts Christ when grace and mercy are extended.

Extended grace and mercy builds instead of tears down which produces conduct that is worthy of the Gospel of Christ. It unites instead of separates.

Jesus says “Stop judging others and you will not be judged. For others will treat you as you treat them. Whatever measure you use in judging others, it will be used to measure how you are judged.” Matthew 7

To the struggling and emotional compromised…. Don’t give yourself, your value, your outlook on life, your faith, your prospective, your confidence, your trust – that are pearls which God has paid for to people who can easily attack you, turn on you, and make you feel like all the things you are not.

To the people who want to speak out of some fleshly justification, you treat someone as if they have no value, they will act as if they have no value.

God says, “I want you to be merciful. I don’t want your sacrifices. I want you to know God; that’s more important then burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

Jesus says “God blesses those who are merciful. For they will be shown mercy.” Matthew 5:7

Accepting God’s value and meditating on this truth in your mind and heart will empower you and God will allow you to give mercy and grace when the human nature demands vengeance.

And though we understand a person reaps what he/she sows, it is not our duty to judge. No one really knows what a person is going through. Who can give an accurate conclusion by only our own human observation and calculation? For who knows the good work of Christ being completed in a person who is struggling? Certainty it is not us- for who carries out the good work in you?

“Each heart knows its own bitterness and no one can fully share its joy.” Proverbs 14:10

Success is done only in the Spirit not the flesh.

The flesh only causes obstacles; envy, rivalry and trouble- the ways of the flesh don’t work for the living Gospel but working against it.

Don’t be biased but give the same consideration Christ has and is continuing to give to you.

You take things into your own hands instead of praying and allowing God to work- you are causing more trouble. You are not being an instrument of God. You are being a stumbling block.

God is removing the speck from your brother or sister’s eye and because you have decided what is going on and what is best – you have “not only” inserted a log in your own eye but hurt the relationship you could have built-up in Christ.

Extend grace and mercy and you will reap mercy and blessing.

To those struggling and hurting may God show you the reason for this pain that maybe purposeful to teach you something deeper to strength your faith or so you can exalt Christ. Remember Jesus loves you enough to die for you…. That is how much he values you.

Atmosphere- Tobymac

Do You Hate When You Sin? 2

“I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can’t help myself, because it is the sin inside me that makes me do these evil things.” Written by Paul, the Apostle in Romans 7:15-17

1. We instinctively know there is a God. Romans 1:19

2. We instinctively know right from wrong. Romans 2:14

So what determines if you hate when you sin or not hate when you sin?

The condition of the heart will decide if we will hate when we sin or not hate when we sin.

Think about when you “hate” when you sin? It's not about getting caught. The thought “emphasis” is on “your” actions. The way “you” handled the situation. The major emphasis is not on the people in the situation but “your ungodly actions.” You are looking at “your faults” in the situation.

Justification is not what you are after -even though it could explain some of your ungodly actions. You are more concerned with your “ungodly” actions in the situation and your lack of restraint. You run TO God in your failure instead of FROM God.

This “type” of “action” should encourage you. It proves God has changed your heart.

“And I will give them singleness of heart and put a new spirit within them. I will take away their hearts of stone and give them tender hearts instead, so they will obey my laws and regulations. Then they will truly be my people, and I will be their God.” Ezekiel 11:19-20

Because God has changed our heart and the Spirit lives in us we are tender, receptive, and convicted by our own sinful actions.

“For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:12

God shows us we are wrong when we are wrong. We are urged to do what is right and the Spirit pleads for us and encourages us to come to God for his help, mercy grace and forgiveness.

Remember this verse: “But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:21

A Christian is not supposed to “practice sin” or “deliberately continue to sin”.

“Dear friends, if we deliberately continue sinning after we have received a full knowledge of the truth, there is no other sacrifice that will cover these sins. There will be nothing to look forward to but the terrible expectation of God’s judgment and the raging fire that will consume his enemies. Anyone who refused to obey the law of Moses was put to death without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Think how much more terrible the punishment will be for those who have trampled on the Son of God and have treated the blood of the covenant as if it were common and unholy. Such people have insulted and enraged the Holy Spirit who brings God’s mercy to his people.” Hebrews 10:29

God knows you and I are not perfect. Those who claim they are perfect are calling God a liar. BUT not being perfect does not give us a reason or excuse to continue to “practice” sin or continue in “ungodly” action or lifestyle.

And those who judge you and treat you as if they never make a mistake or never act ungodly on occasion are not doing what God’s word has asked of them: to “gently” and “humbly” help them back onto the right path. Galatians 6:1

We will have “oops” moments in our lives when we don’t have it all together. When our focus isn’t on God but on our circumstances and ourselves. Thank God for his mercy for when we do on occasion “mess up”.

The Apostle Paul writes:

“Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by keeping the law? Of course not, for the Holy Spirit came upon you only after you believed the message you heard about Christ. Have you lost your senses? After starting your Christian lives in the Spirit why are you know trying to become perfect by your own human effort? You have suffered so much for the Good News. Surely it was not in vain, was it? Are you now going to just throw it all away? I ask you again, does God give you the Holy Spirit and work miracles among you because you obey the law of Moses? Of course not! It is because you believe the message you heart about Christ. In the same way, “Abraham believed God, so God declared him righteous because of his faith.” The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God.” Galatians 3:2-6

Did you receive the Holy Spirit because you were perfect? No. In fact in your understanding of your imperfectness and where sin would take you without Jesus the Savior, you came to Christ who gave you the Holy Spirit and for some of you the baptism of the Holy Spirit at the same time.

Was Abraham perfect? Of course not but he was declared righteous because of his faith in God. He acknowledged God. He looked to God and had heart for God. He knew forgiveness of sin came from God.

Some people have this impression that they can’t step into a church until they feel “they” have made themselves "right" but that is a lie straight from hell. No one can make themselves right. God is the only one who can do that, if we allow Him. Come to God and let God change you.

Those not and not yet Christian don’t care they are practicing sin- that is until the Spirit of God calls them and convicts them of sin. The spirit of God is not living in them but He still convinces the world of its sin and of God righteousness and of the coming judgment. John 16:8

People who don’t acknowledge God and their sin to God run FROM God.

"They hate the light because they want to sin in the darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished." John 3:20

But no sin can hide from God and they, instinctively knowing this, seem to fear God only when they hear of God’s judgment coming upon the world.

They deliberately sin, instinctively knowing of God’s death penalty for their sins and worse they joke about their coming time in hell and how they and their friends are going to party it up in hell. I assure there will be no party in hell. Hell is not joking matter.

“When they refused to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their evil minds and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, fighting, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They are forever inventing new ways of sinning and are disobedient to their parents. They refuse to understand, break their promises, and are heartless and unforgiving. Thy are fully aware of God’s death penalty for those who do these things, yet they go right ahead and do them anyway. And, worse yet, they encourage others to do them, too.” Romans 1:28-32

Failure and sin can hinder a Christian’s faith if we are “not willing” to “let it go” and release it to the one who has paid for it on the cross – Jesus Christ.

Sin can be a mighty weight and cause us to second-guess ourselves in the roles God has put us in. It can cause us to withdraw from the Christian fellowship with others. We can fall into a pity party and say and think things like, “I am just a sinner, no good for nothing.” Our human nature can have this tendency to admit failure but not want to get back up on the horse.

Failure and sin can give a foothold to the dark spirit of condemnation, which attacks the Christian soul unmercifully. Making your failure and sin a whip for it’s dark devious tactics.

Remind such spirits in the authority of Jesus Christ, “there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 8:1

Knowing in our heart that Jesus Christ’ blood, the Son of God’s blood, has purified us from our ungodly deeds sets us free!

That is why Paul Apostle writes, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from start to finish.” Hebrews 12:1-2

I hope this has blessed and encouraged you.

Jason Gray- Remind Me Who I am

Sin, Failure & Humble Hope 1

I started writing this morning about failure and the humble hope that arises from such occasions in our life when we come to God in our failure. It, being my day to carpool, I stopped writing, picked up and dropped the kids off at school, got some gas and on my return trip home flipped on the radio and there Dr. David Jeremiah was talking about failure.

It was a reassuring message in just the right season. God who knows everything about us, even when we will flip on radio, wants to reassure us of his love even in our failures.

I hope I have never made it sound like I never failed because I would be a liar. Failure has helped me succeed and regain focus in my life many times. I don’t pretend to understand all of God’s ways and workings and how failure works to our benefit in our lives but God knows just as certain successes encourage us he also knows what failures bring about Godly change and perspective in our life.

This last weekend was one such occasion of failure in my life. I let an unsettled topic and discussion divert my attention off of Christ. I felt like I was being forced into a decision I didn’t feel comfortable with. I felt pressured, challenged and maybe even manipulated to conform to the wants and needs of others. I felt as if my opinion and reasons were being questioned to the point I felt like my opinion really didn’t matter. I felt like I wasn’t getting any adequate support and had to defend myself. I felt like I was being labeled as biased unfair and unreasonable. All that seemed to matter was people getting what they wanted not considering all that would be involved.

And in feeling this slew of negativity I got really frustrated to the point I vocalized it in an angry manner. I didn't curse or swear or punch a hole in the wall or break anything but I was thoroughly upset. You know when you are so upset and you start to have those conversations in your head and you just blurt out whatever is on your mind. And everyone else is going "Where the heck did that come from?" That is what I was doing? You don't think straight when you are angry.

"Hostility, quarreling, outbursts of anger, division." had taken over.

Of course when conflicts arise "like these" they aren’t just behind closed doors. They happen at just the right moment like as you're heading to church to teach, bible study, Sunday school, do a sermon, go to a friend’s house or out to dinner.

Others, who shouldn’t be involved in the discussion, are hearing the conflict which brings more adversity, pressure, prejudices, and lines drawn in the sand. I say "sand" because typically when you get to this mental state a foundation of sand is all you have and quickly the storm washes the sandy foundation away making every thing crash to the ground. You step down off of the Christ foundation which is the rock onto your own understanding and it doesn't matter what you seem to say or do because you aren't centering your heart on Christ and when you don't do that.... your godly communication and ways of handling the situation take a long hike.

Was the devil involved? I am sure to some extent. He knows exactly what issue or sore subject to pursue and suggest- to strike at the most opportune time. He knows not just your book of likes and dislikes, he knows your schedule and what you are going to teach, he knows if your head isn’t completely in the game and when to throw and bring up that unsettled topic of discussion your way. He knows what will get your attention or divert your attention. And once he persuades you to hit that first domino, he watches the rest of the dominoes fall as he suggests everything from past failures, how others might see your value, how no one sees your efforts and sacrifices, and piles on misinterpretation, guilt, accusation, anger, imaginations, and self- pity to the point you start to question your value and ability in any role. You just want to throw your hands in the air and give up seeing all that has taken place.

That being said, I have found that after situations like this, where it seems Pandora’s box has been opened, we who have Christ- still have hope. Nothing is hopeless. Most people would give up but not us. Why?

Paul writes: “I don’t understand myself at all, for I really want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do the very thing I hate. I know perfectly well that what I am doing is wrong, and my bad conscience shows that I agree that the law is good. But I can’t help myself, because it is sin inside me that makes me do these evil things. I know I am rotten through and through so far as my old sinful nature is concerned. No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right. I want to, but I can’t. When I want to do good, I don’t. And when I try not to do wrong, I do it anyway. But if I am doing what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing it; the sin within me is doing it. It seems to be a fact of life that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another law at work within me that is at war with my mind. This law wins the fight and makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin? Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ the Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you through Christ Jesus from the power of sin that leads to death.” Romans 7:15-8:2

So Paul excusing sin and saying we can go right ahead and sin whenever we feel like it, of course not.

He saying that when you do fall into sin- you have an advocate in Jesus Christ to free you from that sin, which gives us the hope of Jesus Christ to continue on in the faith. If we did not have this hope how in the world could we continue in our Christian faith? Our faith would be a sham and a counterfeit. There would be nothing to encourage us without Jesus Christ as our Savior. We could only looked forward to hell and death not eternal life in heaven.

And if there is one who looks upon others in judgment for their failure and lack of devotion to God, watch out.

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.” 1 John 1:5-10

Just look at all the people great and small in the bible who have failed because of their sinful nature yet God chose to forgive them and relieve them of their burdens so they could continue on to preach on the Good News.

Jesus told this story to some who had great self-confidence and scorned everyone else: “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a dishonest tax collector. The proud Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not a sinner like everyone else, especially like that tax collector over there! For I never cheat, I don’t sin, I don’t commit adultery, I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ I tell you this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For the proud will be humbled, but the humble will be honored.” Luke 18:9-14

Hope stirred up out of trouble and times of failure sometimes does a heart good. I found after my ungodly actions, I was more angry with myself then anything else or anyone else in the situation… even if the situation did or didn't get settled I was going to be angry with myself for acting the way I did.

As a biblical teacher and Christian I knew better but the only option I had to relief myself from my failure was to turn my failure over to God and asked for his forgiveness. This goes with saying, try to make it right with those you have wronged by your ungodly actions as well.

Admitting failure releases any commitment to carry on a front. It frees you from your sin. Failure can become as Dr. Jeremiah puts it a mean, vicious, unmerciful giant and a slave to fear of failure in your life. Being human we are going to fail but what counts the most is where we take that failure and what we do with that failure.

Let this be encouraging. There are people who act as if sin doesn't bother them but when they face God they will be very concerned about their unforgiven sin. There are people who don't want to come to God because of sin but they have it all wrong. You come to God to forgive you of your sin. A Christian doesn't just know it is wrong to sin but "hates it" when they do sin. Exposed or not exposed, sin should bother the Christian until they ask for God's forgiveness. God is also the place where we give our failures to him. Knowing you are imperfect in the flesh makes you fully aware of your need for Jesus Christ.

Had a friend tell me that when he was younger, he was "sleeping with" a woman. They weren't married and when he got saved it became apparent to him that it was sin to have "sexual relations" with a woman before marriage. Conviction came over him and they were married soon after.

Maybe we should look at ourselves as the criminal on the cross next to Jesus. He knew he was going to die. He knew he was going to have to face God for his sins. He could do nothing to make it right with God. He was nailed on a cross and he knew he was going to hell unless he had an advocate to plead for him in heaven. And in humble failure and in faith he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

And Jesus replied, “I assure you, today will be with me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43

We all know this but I will put here anyway because it brings comfort.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it. There is no judgment awaiting those who trust him. But those who do not trust him have already been judged for not believing in the only Son of God. Their judgment is based on this fact: The light from heaven came into the world, but they loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. They hate the light because they want to sin in darkness. They stay away from the light for fear their sins will be exposed and they will be punished. But those who do what is right come to the light gladly, so everyone can see that they are doing what God wants.” John 3:16-21

Content in the Lord 4

Make a list of what you put your confidence in and sooner or later that list will diminish into nothing. Make a list of people and things that you put your confidence in and you will see nothing and no one compares to God, who we should put our sole confidence in.

Does that mean since we put our sole confidence in God does that mean we are to be negative about everything else in life? No.

Life is full of negatives but seeing the negatives might just help us see the source of our positives.

We, who were once far from God in actions and thought, God forgave us through the blood of Jesus Christ.

We now Christians, still on occasion waver and fall in trial and circumstance… yet God still encourages us.

God who sees our failures saw the potential that would come when we put our trust, obedience, contentment and confidence in him. These things of submission would allow His Spirit to do wonderful works within us that would overflow in godly actions towards others regardless of the situation or circumstance. We are found in Christ not the situation and circumstance. Our situation and circumstance should not define who we are but "who" we are found in.

Peter wrote: “As we know Jesus better, his divine power gives us everything we need for living a godly life. He has called us to receive his own glory and goodness! And by that same mighty power, he has given us all of his rich and wonderful promises. He has promised that you will escape the decadence all around you caused by evil desires and that you will share his divine nature.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

We cannot bring glory to God and receive Jesus’ glory and goodness if we aren’t obedient, don’t trust and don’t put our contentment and confidence in Him first.

Remember contentment “solely” in Lord brings about purity in our thinking and doing. “You shall not want.” And He will lead you on paths of righteousness because the Spirit of God will be free to work within you -bringing forth fruits of the Spirit.

“But when the Holy Spirit controls your 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 5:22-23

The law in which Paul is referring to is: Love your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself. Matthew 22:37-39

Which goes right along with what the Spirit has speaking to us about living in the contentment in the Lord.

We limit ourselves in living in Jesus’ divine nature in our own thinking, our own understanding, and committing to those things in which we experience and see instead committing everything to the Lord.

There is no magic formula. It is a choice. You trust the Lord with all your heart, mind and soul and all your strength or you don’t. God does the rest just as you did when you gave your life to God and He gave it to Christ and you were “born again”.

It is not by human strength or power but by God’s Spirit who does the work in us as we submit everything to him.

Zechariah 4:6 says: Then he said to me, "This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven's Armies.

I encourage you to find contentment in the Lord. We should find contentment in the Lord every moment of every day. We should seek it knowing it brings clarity, discernment and direction from the Lord for our life.

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the LORD rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel's hand." (The seven lamps represent the eyes of the LORD that search all around the world.) Zechariah 4:10

And when you start living in contentment in the Lord don’t fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others and your spiritual walk with others. All that does is cause division and quarreling. “Let us not become conceited, or irritate one another, or be jealous of one another.” (Galatians 5:26) Instead of comparing, seek counsel from the Lord, stay mindful of him and he will direct you. Remember we are all responsible for our own conduct. (Galatians 6:5) And… “gently” and “humbly” help that person back onto the right path if they have been overcome by some sin, understanding or thinking.

Don’t commit yourself to that person who makes you upset, irritated, or be belittled or ignored because that builds up resentment and resentment shows that you have not put your contentment in the Lord but in the person who has wronged you. Don’t put such a heavy emphasis on anyone that it actually lightens your emphasis on the Lord.

And in the same manner but the other end of the spectrum don’t commit yourself to a person who makes you have the warm fuzzes and makes you forget your commitment of purity in the Lord and, if your married, to your spouse (husband and wife).

“Don’t be misled. Remember that you can’t ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow! Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful desires will harvest the consequences of decay and death. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don’t get tired of doing what is good. Don’t get discouraged and give up, for you will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time.” (Galatians 6:7-9)

There are people we know, love and appreciate that tell themselves that are content just believing in some higher power but that type of contentment only makes them slaves to the ideals of this world. You don’t have to observe their life too long to see these precious souls being tossed about in the cares of life. Their situations, circumstances and understandings rule their life. So I ask that you pray for those people that God has let you put eyes on. I ask that you ask the Lord to open their eyes to the true source of contentment (God himself). Do this while you continue to live as an example of contentment in the Lord to them and others around you as you share and minister the love of God with them as directed.

Content in the Lord 3.

When the things, we try to find contentment in are tested with the fires of life none of them will stand. And because we have tried to find contentment in them our lives will suffer.

We will suffer finding contentment in people and things, for our pride, our arrogance, our hatred, our fears, our worries, our lust, our understanding, our lack of restraint, our feelings, our looks, our religion, our church, our books, our entertainment, our health, our finances, our abilities and gifts, or possessions, our health package and so on…because where the mind and heart are set upon our strength comes from also.

Our contentment must be in the Lord for he is our strength and since he is our strength- then the fruits of the Spirit will also present themselves in our life (no matter the circumstances or trials) and this will bring glory to God.

“May our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father, who loved us and in his special favor gave us everlasting comfort and good hope, comfort your hearts and give you strength in every good thing you do and say.” 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

A Psalm of David. The LORD [is] my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You [are] with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:1-6

The LORD is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving. Psalm 28:7

"But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. Jeremiah 17:7

“This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the LORD.” Jeremiah 17:5

Questions to ask?

Does the fruit of the Spirit come more easily when we are content in the Lord?

When content in the Lord, are we able to minister to those around us?

What happens when we look to others and things other then God for contentment?

What happens when we go through difficult times and don’t have contentment in the Lord?

“Good” has won over evil, is that contentment?

In the contentment of the Lord is there a need or want to fulfill in your flesh?

Be content in the Lord and come with the Spirit of the Lord.

Content in the Lord. 2

There is a beautiful picture of content in Lord is in 2 Samuel 19:24-30

I want you to imagine yourself as Saul’s grandson and David as Jesus.

Now Mephibosheth, Saul’s grandson, arrived from Jerusalem to meet the king. He had not washed his feet or clothes nor trimmed his beard since the day the king left Jerusalem. “Why didn’t you come with me, Mephibosheth?” the king asked him.

Mephibosheth replied, “my lord the king, my servant Ziba deceived me. I told him, ‘Saddle my donkey so that I can go with the king.’ For as you know I am crippled. Ziba has slandered me by saying that I refuse to come. But I know that you are like an angel of God, so do what you think is best. All my relatives and I could expect only death from you, my lord, but instead you have honored me among those who eat at your own table! So how can I complain?”

“All right,” David replied. “My decision is that you and Ziba will divide your land equally between you.”

“Give him all of it,” Mephibosheth said. “I am content just to have you back again, my lord!”

This body of ours can to make us a spiritual crippled person at times and we can be overwhelmed and loose faith by injustices and sinful actions. We can be deceived by what we know, see, understand or -is suggested but once we see our failure and how we have been deceived, Jesus knowing those “human” conditions himself allows us to come and eat at his table with our submission to him.

Knowing this grace, mercy and love of the Lord -we see nothing satisfies us but the ways of the Lord and because of this gracious kindness we are willing to give it all away and put nothing in front of Him. Not physically, financially, mentally or spiritually.

We see and hear people who have everything and yet they are not content or satisfied. They maybe even very gifted but not content.

We can fill our lives with all the things this world offers including so-called “Christian” things and still not be satisfied. The Spirit has to be active within us- “we have to let go and let God” some would say. But in reality what is that? That is surrendering to God, allowing God’s Spirit to work, which brings His contentment back into our lives.

God sustains our physical needs and wants but more importantly he needs to sustain our spiritual needs as well. He can’t do that if we are filling our spiritual needs with needs -that may satisfy the flesh BUT not the soul.

We often try to fulfill our spiritual needs in other ways such as possessions, activities, success, gifts, and ways that make us feel important or good about ourselves but those things never truly satisfy.

But when God fulfills our spiritual needs -those things fall to the side and impresses upon us not a notion of God but the reality of God.

Reality of God is a lot different then a notion of God. If you know there is a God that you can know and trust -who cares and loves you more then you can comprehend that is contentment in the Lord

He is your Father that he wants to pick you up and put you on his shoulders and show you how important you are to him… he shows you that you are his son and you are his daughter.

Contentment is living in his love not the noise of our thoughts, our ideals, or our own understandings. Contentment is that quiet peace of gratitude, which holds harmony and humility in both of its hands.

It’s a mind and heart upon God, which brings about stillness and allows God’s Spirit to come and work without personal feelings, agendas, interruption and distraction.

I know this sounds all well and good but do we really take it to heart -for deep within our foundation is this truth that wants to live out in us, an everlasting hope that wants to rise within our shell/ vessel to shine.

The Spirit of God will come forth in your contentment in him- not yourself or others or things.

“For God has not given us a Spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.”

It’s not about you or them but Him. You are a city on a hill, a lighthouse, a lamp but in order for you to light up you must find contentment in Him. There is where the bright gleam of dawn starts and continues to shine. There is where the salt keeps its salty taste.

Why does God say, “You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Matthew 22:37

Is it for his benefit or our benefit? It is for our benefit.

Christians: You want God to work within you and spill over – simply ask for his Holy Spirit come and make his word to come alive in your life. He does not look upon one person more highly then the next.

Quietly come knowing the condition and record he had against you for your sins is gone because of Jesus Christ and now he allows you to come sit at his table. Quietly come in your heart knowing your Father eagerly waits to gather his children up in his arms.

Find contentment in Him first knowing it brings harmony and humility to your soul.

The Apostle Paul found in the contentment of God, in the roots that go deep within Christ – God’s power work best when we place our Spiritual needs in God’s hands.

Paul having a spiritual weakness that he wanted the Lord to take away is quoted as saying "Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

It’s not about us or the gifts or the abilities we might have or receive – don’t put too much emphasis on these things instead of God or we will lose the contentment God gives and not hear what God want us to say and do in His Spirit.

We are nothing but eternal souls dressed in imperfectness and dust yet God call us to be his children- in the humble knowing of this wonderful truth God’s power works best.

Contentment is God does not stifle or disrupt the Spirit of God within us. Contentment in God brings about purity in our thinking and doing.

“But godliness with contentment is great gain. 1 Timothy 6:6

See... we can have a form of godliness but still turn away from God and turn to other things to try to satisfy our needs. This isn’t just idolatry but denies God’s power from working in our lives.

We can use all the catch phrases and stock and trade verses that so called “Christians” use but not truly be empowered by the Spirit. The Spirit isn’t just supposed to “exist” in us but HE is supposed to “LIVE” through us the Christian soul.

Godliness with contentment in the Lord is great gain. Think about this when you can.

Content in the Lord. 1

I don’t want to write some blah picture of what contentment is in the Lord so I ask that you ask the Lord to bring this message alive in you.

The soul can become a very restless if it’s eyes, mind, and heart are not on the Lord.

"But those who still reject me are like the restless sea, which is never still but continually churns up mud and dirt.” Isaiah 57:20

If you and I were to settle for anything other then the Lord for our contentment, we are putting that thing, whatever it might be, above the Lord.

Furthermore when we settle for anything less then the Lord- that is not life and life more abundantly.

"The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have [it] more abundantly.” John 10:10

For the Lord is the what?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

You settle for what life gives you, that is what you are going to get. You settle for religion, you are going to get religion but when one finds contentment in the Lord he/she finds what life is really about.

Contentment in the Lord is “knowing” in your “Knower” that whatever may happen in this life, God has your back. It’s knowing he has made a way for you and that knowing brings assurance, confidence in Him and peace to our souls.

A peace… that those who depend on anything other then the Lord, cannot have.

"I am leaving you with a gift--peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid.” John 14:27

Because Jesus gives us that peace and that peace allows us to work and live in the Spirit but if we try to find contentment in anything other then the Lord we give up the peace that Jesus gives and we make it difficult for the Holy Spirit to work in us.

Obviously the effectiveness of the Holy Spirit working in our lives is dependent upon our submission to Him- which is connected to contentment in the Lord.

A child with loving, caring, affectionate parents can’t feel contentment in their parents until they accept, trust and submit themselves to that love that is given to them.

It is true for us. We have been saved by our submission and surrender to the Lord.

I remember surrendering my life to the Lord and God answering my surrender by having someone who was content in the Lord and filled with the Holy Spirit to speak to me. They were a stranger, knew nothing about me yet as the Spirit of God directed and flowed through them – they spoke what God wanted them to say through tongues and interpretation. They spoke of things they could not have known except God. And as they had their hand on me I was freed from my empty life full of hate, anger, frustration, resentment and prideful tendencies and filled with Spirit of God. A new life flowed in me and I felt brand new. I was a new person but I could not have become a new person in Christ if I did not submit myself to the trusting love of God.

There in the (trusting love of God) is where we find contentment and stay contented.

We must continue to renew our mind and stir our heart by coming and asking God to make his word and power come alive in our lives. Know he is the only one to satisfy your soul. And in that living satisfaction you will shine in the love of Jesus Christ.

Not Meant to Suffer Ourselves

It seems to me that we suffer most when we suffer ourselves. We actually cause us to suffer. We commit to things and allow ourselves to trust in things or people or ideals, or understandings or imaginations more then God.

Let’s take temptation. Temptation is like a “piece” of bubble gum that you can blow into this giant bubble but this enormous bubble is inside your head. You blow it up with captured mental pictures, imaginations, senses, understandings and if not captivated and spit out it will grow and grow and pop and make a big mess but unlike bubble gum with just all this sticky goo to clean up- falling into temptation can have long carrying messy consequences. One thought leads to another thought. That thought leads to a decision, which results in an action. It can be a pretty slippery slope if your focus isn’t on God and can start pretty innocently. The enemy works best in subtlety.

We can do the same with our own perceptions; worry, fear, doubt, depression and we might as well make our own personal painful wipe-out course when we listen to the enemy and ourselves.

Temptation, imaginations, suggestions, whispers, will come as if they have been read from your personal little black book. The enemy of your soul knows what you like, dislike, fear, stumble and struggle with and he knows there is nothing better then a discouraged, non-active, doubting, troubled, enticed, Christian soul.

But you know what he is scared of most? He scared of that same individual actually coming to God’s throne of grace and mercy for his help. No hole is deep enough- trust me.

A person who’s willing to be second in their lives allows the Spirit of God to work within them. When I say be second- means allowing God to be first and submitting to him.

It is to be FREE from ourselves and others, who so easily let us down and trust in God who fills our life with an everlasting love, pure heart, clear conscious and sincere faith.

Again I say- you can’t be free if our mindset is set upon our own understandings, perceptions, ideals, and trusting in ourselves.

We must put emphasis in our mind and heart on Jesus and the Father. We must remember, we are a new creature in Christ.

The old nature crawls back inside its cage if we whole heartily trust God in our life. The old nature becomes captive to the crack of the whip of light and righteousness.

And just as our body needs physical exercise to stay strong so does our spirit-man needs spiritual fitness in God’s word everyday. We need our mind and heart to be spiritually renewed each day, which not only brings contentment to our soul but also stirs our soul and steers us away from the things that try to take importance above God.

Spiritual fitness helps our focus and the more we see it’s importance in our lives the more our faith, love, perseverance, gentleness, kindness grows deeper. We don’t so easily suffer ourselves- or the things that come our way.

We live in the verse: “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7

Let’s make God our focus in all things in our life.

Oh, Happiness by David Crowder Band

If God Made Peace Why a Cursed World?

If God made peace with everything in heaven and on earth, why do we live in a cursed world?

I was asked this by a spirit this week- along with assortment of other questions such as:

“Why do some Christians die before a ripe old age?”

“Why do bad things happen to good people?”

“Can God speak light into non-believer’s light?”

“How has the reality in the Spirit helped me?

These questions were all good and made me think more deeply into the truths and wisdom of God.

So if God made peace with everything in heaven and on earth, why do we live in a cursed world?

The short deep answer: Choice.

We instinctively know it is wrong to lie, cheat, and kill just as we instinctively know there is a God. It is has been inserted inside our very fiber and make up by our Creator himself- God. (Romans 1:18)

We as his choice creation have been given a choice to do what is right or not do what is right. People have a choice to accept God and his peace or wage war against God and others. (Romans 11:30)

The best way to say this is: People have a choice to trust God and do what is right or... deny/ turn from Him and do what their sinful nature/ flesh craves. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Choices have consequences and the consequences don’t just affect themselves but others as well. (Proverbs 18:21, Galatians 6:7-9, James 3:18)

Let say you and your family and friends were all standing around in a closed in space in your bare feet and you or someone else dropped a platter of glasses onto the floor and they shattered into tiny pieces. You and your friends would get some tiny shards of glass in your bare feet from the incident. Sin can work the same way.

When you or someone else has a rough morning or day and you or they don’t brush it off by giving it to God but instead carry it around in frustration, anger, anxiety, fear and dread you or they are not just affecting yourself or themselves but others around you as well.

Governments go to war out of greed, power, wealth, pride, fear- causing men and women to go to war.

You light a match and stick it under some paper and kindle wood and it will make a fire.

You knowing this must see how we bring curses upon the earth by our choices and actions.

It is our lack of focus on God, which always brings our soul to suffer and sorrow to the Holy Spirit.

The Law of Sin

You sin and you will reap the consequences of that sin.

You say a harsh word -not out of love- what is reaped from that action?

Sin can be like a rock thrown into a lake. It will make ripples and sink into darkness.

The Choice

God has made peace with the world and just as you make peace with someone in your mind and heart doesn’t mean that person has made peace with you.

God didn’t make peace with us to lower his standards so we could continue to sin – His standards were never lowered but I would say lifted higher. Remember his own blood paid for our sins on the cross and without it none of us could come to Him freely.

Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” (Johns 14:6)

Remember God himself replaced the priesthood that was to illustrate the true sacrifice and priesthood. The Son (Jesus Christ) who glorifies God the Father is the priesthood. For Jesus Christ was not just the Holy sacrifice for our sins but is our High Priest. He intercedes on our behalf to the Father, without Jesus there is no forgiveness of our sins.

God through Jesus Christ made peace with everything in heaven and on earth so we could freely come to Him. So when we finally did come to God and surrender our lives to him we could become children of God. Understanding what Jesus has done, God put us in the care of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Then he said, "That is why I said that people can't come to me unless the Father gives them to me." John 6:65

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” John 6:37

“I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one can snatch them away from me, for my Father has given them to me, and he is more powerful than anyone else. No one can snatch them from the Father's hand.” Johns 10:28-29

You are only a child of God through Jesus Christ who is Lord and Savior.

Jesus is the narrow gate. "You can enter God's Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.” (Matthew 7:13-14)

So though we might experience the cursed actions of others, we don’t have to live as the rest of the cursed world does - for by the work of the Holy Spirit in us who gives us God's peace, we can not only live physically in world but be at peace with it. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Peace doesn't mean we have to agree with the cursed ways and understandings of this world but in not agreeing we (by our humble dependence and trust and peace in God) the Holy Spirit can enable us by His grace to give respect, peace, love, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control to those we disagree with.

Understand a Christian is called to be a vessel of light and peace for God.

"But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for you will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time." (Galatians 6:9)