To trust or not to trust?
That's like saying to be or not to be? Or to breathe or not to breathe! If God is involved in the equation, the answer is always the same answer...By all means "TRUST!"
When things are going good and life continues to fall in place on a consistent basis, trusting God is easy. When challenges arise and things look like they may start, or they do start falling apart. Trusting should still be at the for front, the first thing we should do in every situation no matter what!
Here's why;
As long as we trust God, He is responsible for everything associated with everything!
There is no detail that is not covered when you trust God. That's right completely trusting God, encompasses everything that's associated with your life and makes Him responsible for the results!
Choosing to not trust Him, when you lean to your abilities and understanding. Makes you the only one in charge of the results! And I would ask you the same thing I've asked myself on occasion. How's that ever worked out for you?
Proverbs 3:5-6New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct[a] your paths.
The question is on who's path do you want to walk, yours or Gods?
Romans 8:31-39 MSG.
31-39. So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?
And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us— who was raised to life for us! —is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.
Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
Sometimes, things happen and we get beaten down by what happens to us in life, and Life can certainly be and sometimes it is unfair!
Did you know that the accuser NEVER plays fair?
he will use anything he can to steal from you,
to destroy you and those around you..
and yes eventually kill you, all to keep you from your destiny!
Did you know you have a destiny? Either path a person chooses to follow has a destiny tied to it, eternal life or eternal death!
As long as God is directing your path and leading the way, you have a great destiny. Its a great plan that God has laid out and planned for you to walk!
It's a plan to prosper, to enrich and bless you each and every day of the journey your whole life long through out eternity, if you choose to trust Him!
Will there be distractions along the way? Yes, the accuser is very sly and clever, he will attack from every angle imagine able!
But the key to overcoming the distractions is to continually trust God instead of leaning to your own understanding.
Illus. There is a story about a boy who went out on a cool autumn night, he dressed himself appropriately and took off for a long walk,
While walking he heard a rustle at his feet, and looking down, he saw a snake and was startled. But before he could move, the snake spoke.
"I am about to die," said the snake. "It is too cold for me up here and I am freezing. There is no food and I am starving. Put me under your shirt, get me warm and take me down to the valley."
"No," said the youth. "I am forewarned. I know your kind. You are a rattlesnake. If I pick you up, you will bite, and your bite will kill me."
"Not so," said the snake. "I will treat you differently. If you do this for me, you will be special. I will not harm you." The youth resisted awhile, but this was a very persuasive snake with beautiful markings.
At last the youth tucked it under his shirt and carried it down to the valley. By that time the snake was nice and warm and asked to be put down in the grass. And as the boy went to release the snake, the snake bit him before he could let him go!
"But you promised..." cried the youth. I lied, I always lie said the snake as he slithered away!
The accuser is constantly reinventing his tactics, his strategies, pulling out all the stops, he never plays fair!
Sometimes we might think it may be our fault. Because of the family we came from, or the lack of family we came from,
We may have caused it, or had no control over it happening at all?
Whatever may be the case, we need to recognize it for what it is..a trick of the enemy, but always know withs Gods help it can be overcome.
Unless We give it credence and allow it to weasel its way in-between our relationship we have with The Lord.
If you think I'm kidding, I'm not! Their are a lot depressed people in this world and the sad thing is, a lot of them are Christians!
If were not careful, anything can become a focal and dwelling point with us and one thing we don’t need to be is distracted or looking behind.
We need to look towards the future, our best days are ahead of us not behind us!
We need to learn to let go of the past and never revisit it again.
Amen?, that’s what God does, when you become a Christian!
Micah 7:19 MSG
Where is the god who can compare with you— wiping the slate clean of guilt, Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people? You don’t nurse your anger and don’t stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That’s what you love most. And compassion is on its way to us. You’ll stamp out our wrongdoing. You’ll sink our sins to the bottom of the ocean. You’ll stay true to your word to Father Jacob and continue the compassion you showed Grandfather Abraham— Everything you promised our ancestors from a long time ago.
And God delivered that promise. When Jesus came to this earth and died on the cross for the whole worlds sin!
He paid our ransom, Jesus cannot forgive us anymore than we have been forgiven, free means exactly what it says! Free!
TBS. "He whom the Son sets free, is free indeed!"
Aren't you glad it does?
God is not interested in your past, He doesn’t remember it..the moment you take Him in your heart, your past is forgotten never to be remembered.
At that moment we are given a clean slate, "That's a Big Deal"
That right there my friends, is Shouting Material!! Praise The Lord!
And still the accuser is relentless and says, do you know what they did?
God says No! I'm sorry I don't recall. I seem to have forgotten!
Are you sure were talking about one of my Children?
You Must Be Mistaken!
All My children in case you didn't know it, have the same unmistakenable characteristics of my son Jesus!
And then, He says to our accuser in a stately confident voice..He says, "I Don't recall what they've done, but I do know what their capable of doing, when they profess my sons name Jesus and believe in faith, that I Do will what My Word says I will Do!
Jerm. 29:11,12 Voice
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Eternal, “plans for peace, not evil, to give you a future and hope—never forget that. 12 At that time, you will call out for Me, and I will hear. You will pray, and I will listen.
When the past seems to creep up on us, remember the accuser is the only one who is ever going to bring up the past. Why is that? Because that's all he has
You know what God sees? He only sees His Sons perfection..when the devil tries to drag up something from the past.. He sees the righteousness of Jesus!
If your going to remember anything from the past..why not remember the Victories, only the High Notes from your past that The Lord brought you through!
Not your defeats! Amen? Amen!
The children of Israel had plenty of setbacks, but I never remember of hearing them or learning any songs about them. I only remember learning songs and course is about their victories!!! Amen?
They rush on the city
They run on the wall
Great is the army
That carries out His Word
The Lord utters His voice
Before His army
Chorus
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Zion
Sound the alarm on My holy mountain
Blow the trumpet in Zion, Zion
Sound the alarm
I can guarantee you that's the kind of music and words that the accuser doesn't want to hear!
I can guarantee if that's the only past you remember, the devil won't be wanting you to even slightly be looking back! Amen?
The only thing you need to remember is that Jesus Blood always has and always will cover it all! Jesus sacrifice took care of the past once and for all.
God only looks at your future, and is always thinking about, how he can make it better for you! How good the plans are..that He has for you!
You know...If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?
The answer is a resounding NO!
Gods willing to do His part, He already has, but we have to be willing to put on, and step into what He has given us everyday and walk in it.
Eph. 6:13-15 MSG.
13-15. Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet.
Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them.
You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon.
TBS. Gods word is sharper than any 2 edged sword, Jesus used the word and turned the kingdom of hell on its head and took away the keys forever!
The Forgiveness Jesus offers, did you know it has special privileges?
Turn to your neighbor and tell them "I'm Privileged!" I'm a VIP!!
That's right.. You are! And freedom from any and all condemnation is one of them.
If you have never experienced a condemnation free life, let me tell you..it is a beautiful thing!
Romans 8:1-3 NKJ.
1. There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.
2. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.
3. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh
Here's something to think about, that pertains to self effort!
If the law and all the rules and regulations that went with it...could not keep us on the straight and narrow before Grace came onto the scene, than its certainly not going to do it now, is it?
That's because it can't and it never could in the first place!
There comes a time, where a person has to draw a line in the sand and say, enough is enough, I will not let the accuser ever condemn me again!
This is the last time that I’m going there,
Do you know what condemnation is?
This is the best definition I've found..."condemnation is damnation from a con"
and Condemnation, if you let it, will kill you!
You can and have to be the one to say, "No more. This is a new day!
Everything condemnation tries to tie you to..Has already been forgotten
and locked in the sea of forgetfulness!
If Jesus is The Lord of your Life!
Isn't good to know the Son of God Today?
Isn't good to know the Son of God Today?
Isn't good to know the Son of God Today?
Shed the old life way of thinking, once and for all, put it out with the trash and shut the door forever.. its time to step into the New and let the Grace of Jesus revolutionize your life!
Because if you will let Grace do what it was designed to do for you...
"IT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR WORLD!"
If you share it with someone else, it will change theirs as well!
2nd Cor. 5:17-18 AMP.
17Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. (its dead as a doornail, quit trying to resuscitate it) "no more 911 it needs cpr again, it's dead" Behold, the fresh and new has come!
18But all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].
Sometimes, we have a hard time letting go of the past and that is some stinking thinking, Straight from the father of all lies! Because the past cannot be changed..
but the future can!
Behold, the fresh and new has come!
all things are from God, Who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that by word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him.
The world is watching us, what we have is what the whole world is in search of..
Or at least it ought to be!
If the life were living doesn't display Jesus, so they know we know Him! Then we best be changing our ways and live a life that is going to bring Him Glory!!
Our testimony should be our greatest witness!
If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?
Illus. By A Todd Coget
Have you ever wondered what makes the difference between a spotlight and a laser beam?
How can a medium-powered laser burn through steel in a matter of seconds, while the most powerful spotlight can only make it warm?
Both may have the same electrical power requirements.
The difference is unity.
A laser can be simply described as a medium of excited molecules with mirrors at each end.
Some of the excited molecules naturally decay into a less excited state.
In the decay process they release a photon, a particle of light.
It is here that the unique process of the laser begins.
The photon moves along and “tickles” another molecule, inviting another photon to join him on his journey.
Then these two photons “tickle” two more molecules and invite two more photons to join the parade.
Soon there is a huge army of photons marching in step with each other.
It is this unity that gives the laser its power.
A spotlight may have just as many photons, but each is going its own independent way, occasionally interfering with other photons.
As a result, much of its power is wasted and cannot be focused to do any useful work.
However, the laser, because of its unity, is like an army marching in tight formation and is able to focus all its power on its objective.
He is willing.. The question is now and forevermore..Are We Willing to share what we know? Are we willing to join together and really impact our city for the kingdom?
Won't you tell someone about Him.
Amen, lets pray
