Good Day Dear Saints
I don't know about you, but I sense that this coming year is going to be a year that is critical. I have known too many Christians that say they are one, but live as though it is really questionable. I believe it is a time when we say who we are, we need to live it out, whether we feel like it or not. To truly follow the Lord is to follow His loving ways by loving one another without making any conditions. Especially, to first and foremost love the Lord with all our heart, mind, body, soul and spirit. How many times do we become bitter and not realize we may have been bitter towards the Lord Himself? Before Christ was committed to His ministry, He was prayed up in advance. If He needed to be prayed up, how much more do we need this? We need to be prayed up in advance and make up our minds to love the Lord and trust Him no matter what, before events come that we find ourselves going through that would otherwise cause us to fail to love Him or love others. I believe this is the time many of us have to decide to follow Him regardless or not. Too many Christians say one thing who they believe they are, but live entirely another way. Our greatest witness is not what we say, but how we live out what we say. When many pray the Lords prayer, they pray for God to forgive them as they have forgiven those who have trespassed against them, yet they continue to treat others with contempt, which is nothing but hypocrisy. That to me does not identify those who are true followers of Christ. The measure we love the least amongst our Brethren is the measure we love the Lord. To sing to the Lord with open arms while at the same time, we harbour contempt or bitterness towards others in our hearts is dispicable. I would hate to see one day that the Lord would ever question any of us "Why did you show contempt towards Me?" all because we showed contempt towards others (Matt 25:40,45). When we lack love towards our Brothers or Sisters in the Lord, we lack that same measure of love towards Christ. When we speak evil or slander one another, we do it as unto the Lord. When we speak well of others, visit the sick, clothe the naked, meet the needs of others and are mindful and respectful to others, we are showing the same respect to our Lord. Just imagine how irritating it must be to the Lord, when we play "Church" and put on our "church face", sing in the choir and are active in many ways, but we fail to do what is most critical... and that is to show true genuine Godly love. To God, He says that is like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal (1 Cor 13:1), which to me, would be most irritating. Christ mentions to His Disciples that it is better to have a plate of herbs and peace than to have a fattened calf and strife in the house (Prov 15:17). When that is the case, we have failed to deal with a critical matter at hand that matters the most. It's also like swallowing a camel and yet straining a gnat (Matt 23:24) by making a big issue over petty agendas and making light from promoting peace and unity. I believe as we enter in to 2012, this is going to be a time where we need to make a decision in advance and purpose in our hearts to fulfill the law and the Prophets (Matt 22:36-40) and live by the rule of love in every detail as found in 1 Cor 13:4-8.
Too many people are sitting idly on the fencepost who need to make a decision to either follow the Lord regardless, or allow ourselves to decide to follow our own fickle feelings that often opposes following the Laws of love which is following the Lord. In other words, when He tells us to forgive, we cannot be making excuses. We need to purpose in our hearts to divorce ourselves from all gossip, slander, all ungodly behaviour, that is unbecoming and anything that would promote strife, factions, divisions or that fails to promote love, peace and unity. That with His help, Gods Spirit will arise within us when we understand that His Love, His Power and Wisdom far exceeds our own and we gladly yield ourselves to His loving ways. I declared that 2011 was a year of restitution and bring unity in to the body. I now believe if those who refuse to allow love and unity to rule their spirit, they need to make a decision that we are going to follow the Lord or not. Follow in His loving ways to love others, or we are not and stop making excuses. We are going to promote peace and harmony, or we are not. I believe it is time to make this coming year, to make a critical decision to follow the Lord and allow the fruit of the Spirit to be evident, or we are not.
My prayer is that all will be most blessed to Choose His loving ways in all His ways and make 2012 the most blessed year for you and see the increase of Christ within, His love and His power be exalted in each of our lives and be part of a wonderful revival in our midst.
Be blessed to browse my updated blog and both websites. God bless.
In the Matchless Name of Jesus
Richard
Associate Director
Answers2Prayer
http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife
http://www.answers2prayer.org/
www.helpingcopewithhope.blogspot.com
Now thanks be unto God, who always causeth us to triumph in Christ and who maketh manifest through us the savor of His knowledge in every place.
(2 Cor 2:14) NKJV
Friday 23 December 2011
Friday 2 December 2011
Priceless Gift of Understanding - Part 2
Dearest Saints,
When God offers us gifts, like wisdom and understanding, I often have to admit from my past that I don't appreciate the wonderful value of this and possibly many other of His Gifts including the gifts of the Spirit. I believe many of the Churches are not as strong in the Lord as they should be. And one of these attributes missing is the Church members lacking in understanding. What I believe gaining this valuable gift will allow us to remain strong in the Lord when circumstances around us would cause us to get upset, moody or even depressed. When I have either travelled much in poorer nations or gone through trauma, I am able to share the pain of others because I have learned through experience to understand what is truly important in life and what is needed. When I stopped coveting material things, it was after I had understood the pain that others lack the basic necessities in life to be able to live in a healthy environment. Another strength in gaining understanding is the result of keeping focused on always promoting unconditional love for one another, maintaining peace and unity with one another, just as God wills for us to develop and maintain. Gaining understanding would also allow us to refuse being lead of the evil one who is out to bring division between Brothers and Sisters, we would cease to allow any gossip or strife to have any place within our church when we desire and delight to gain understanding from His Throne on High. When we gain understanding, Gods power moves wonderfully through His Children because this is a gift which allows us to be able to be set free from ever remaining in bondage by harbouring any unforgiveness, bitterness, envy or resentment which is a trap of the enemy and allows him to be effective in our lives. We will have the wisdom and insight to ever refrain from slandering one another that causes chaos which is the result of the enemy who is often able to work through the children of God more times than we care to admit, which is most unfortunate.
Gaining understanding more and more is seeing with our spiritual eyes and heart the wonderful qualities of God and His character increasing in us ever so much. John says in John 3:30, that He must increase and I must decrease. It is like seeing Him and His Word in a whole new dimension that should cause us to love deeply. I also sense that when we desire, ask and receive understanding, we will know the importance to a life of prayer, being able to gain discernment to be able to give Godly counsel and being able to minister as we are called to do. The Church will always be seeking to increase in love, peace and unity within the body when we delight to gain this priceless gift of wisdom and understanding. I believe we will also hate anything that does not promote these attributes and we would hate to ever cease bearing fruit. Therefore, it is not just a matter of refraining from doing evil and hating evil, but equally hating not to grow more in the Lord. I believe gaining understanding will cause us to have integrity to do what is right, even when we may be mocked or receive adversity from others or fail to receive any praise from others including Church members. I believe when we see this wonderful gift of understanding to receive from the Lord, we will be able to defend ourselves and others by being fitted with the armour of God so we can stand against the wiles of the enemy (Eph 6:10-18). Receiving His Understanding will not allow ourselves to be vulnerable to the enemy and will allow His Spirit to grow within us more and more. It will allow us to live by the wisdom of His Word and His instructions, that helps us from getting sidetracked by the deceptive ways of our real enemy. No wonder this gift is worth so much more than all the gold, silver and precious jewels this world could ever offer. When we receive His Grace, it is because we humbly approach His Throne of Grace with confidence in Him (Heb 4:16) and by His Grace, we can stop allowing ourselves to be used of the devil and be used mightily by Him.
I would love to see how powerful the Churches can be if we would only desire by asking to receive His wisdom, knowledge and understanding that will allow His Spirit to move mightily within each of us and within the Churches so that we can be more effective and have more positive influence to reach out within our community and beyond the borders of our nation.
Be blessed to browse my updated blog and both websites. God bless.
In the Matchless Name of Jesus
Richard
Associate Director
Answers2Prayer
http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife
http://www.answers2prayer.org/
When God offers us gifts, like wisdom and understanding, I often have to admit from my past that I don't appreciate the wonderful value of this and possibly many other of His Gifts including the gifts of the Spirit. I believe many of the Churches are not as strong in the Lord as they should be. And one of these attributes missing is the Church members lacking in understanding. What I believe gaining this valuable gift will allow us to remain strong in the Lord when circumstances around us would cause us to get upset, moody or even depressed. When I have either travelled much in poorer nations or gone through trauma, I am able to share the pain of others because I have learned through experience to understand what is truly important in life and what is needed. When I stopped coveting material things, it was after I had understood the pain that others lack the basic necessities in life to be able to live in a healthy environment. Another strength in gaining understanding is the result of keeping focused on always promoting unconditional love for one another, maintaining peace and unity with one another, just as God wills for us to develop and maintain. Gaining understanding would also allow us to refuse being lead of the evil one who is out to bring division between Brothers and Sisters, we would cease to allow any gossip or strife to have any place within our church when we desire and delight to gain understanding from His Throne on High. When we gain understanding, Gods power moves wonderfully through His Children because this is a gift which allows us to be able to be set free from ever remaining in bondage by harbouring any unforgiveness, bitterness, envy or resentment which is a trap of the enemy and allows him to be effective in our lives. We will have the wisdom and insight to ever refrain from slandering one another that causes chaos which is the result of the enemy who is often able to work through the children of God more times than we care to admit, which is most unfortunate.
Gaining understanding more and more is seeing with our spiritual eyes and heart the wonderful qualities of God and His character increasing in us ever so much. John says in John 3:30, that He must increase and I must decrease. It is like seeing Him and His Word in a whole new dimension that should cause us to love deeply. I also sense that when we desire, ask and receive understanding, we will know the importance to a life of prayer, being able to gain discernment to be able to give Godly counsel and being able to minister as we are called to do. The Church will always be seeking to increase in love, peace and unity within the body when we delight to gain this priceless gift of wisdom and understanding. I believe we will also hate anything that does not promote these attributes and we would hate to ever cease bearing fruit. Therefore, it is not just a matter of refraining from doing evil and hating evil, but equally hating not to grow more in the Lord. I believe gaining understanding will cause us to have integrity to do what is right, even when we may be mocked or receive adversity from others or fail to receive any praise from others including Church members. I believe when we see this wonderful gift of understanding to receive from the Lord, we will be able to defend ourselves and others by being fitted with the armour of God so we can stand against the wiles of the enemy (Eph 6:10-18). Receiving His Understanding will not allow ourselves to be vulnerable to the enemy and will allow His Spirit to grow within us more and more. It will allow us to live by the wisdom of His Word and His instructions, that helps us from getting sidetracked by the deceptive ways of our real enemy. No wonder this gift is worth so much more than all the gold, silver and precious jewels this world could ever offer. When we receive His Grace, it is because we humbly approach His Throne of Grace with confidence in Him (Heb 4:16) and by His Grace, we can stop allowing ourselves to be used of the devil and be used mightily by Him.
I would love to see how powerful the Churches can be if we would only desire by asking to receive His wisdom, knowledge and understanding that will allow His Spirit to move mightily within each of us and within the Churches so that we can be more effective and have more positive influence to reach out within our community and beyond the borders of our nation.
Be blessed to browse my updated blog and both websites. God bless.
In the Matchless Name of Jesus
Richard
Associate Director
Answers2Prayer
http://sites.google.com/site/greatestbuilderforourlife
http://www.answers2prayer.org/
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