We need to learn to SHUT UP!

Too many of us run to human ears with our mouths when we should be running to God with our hearts.

We need to learn to be quiet.

We (humans) have a bad habit of talking about our problems and making things worse then they are. When in the middle of hardship we'll go to and fro discussing our situations/circumstances/worries,etc. with anyone who will listen instead of standing in trust.

When we rehash our problems constantly & continuously,  we give those issues/circumstances power over us. They consume us - take our mind of Christ - take away our peace - and cause us even more stress. There is a major difference between speaking an issue with someone so they might pray with & for you, encourage you and stand in faith for God to deliver you vs. speaking an issue just so you can get your feelings out, vent your frustration/anger, or even just have something to say. Some of us don't actually want a change in the situation at all - we just like the attention the drama brings, though we'll don't admit this.

You can tell when a person simply wants prayer and encouragement in the Lord because that person will often be direct in their request. They'll also be more concerned with understanding WHAT GOD DESIRES TO TEACH THEM in this situation and also how He desires them to respond. They won't continuously rehash the topic with every person they meet, nor will it be the primary topic of conversation when they speak with you. Finally, they'll more than likely stand in silence (in regards to that topic) until they see the deliverance of the Lord.

The person seeking God in the midst of their hardship will find Wisdom and grow in the Lord, maturing in their emotions.

We can counter our faith with negative words, thoughts, complaints and attitudes (Exodus 16:8; Numbers 11:1; Psalm 106:25; 1 Corinth. 10:10; Philip.2:14-16, James 4:1-3)  or we can work with our faith and prayers by speaking life (Psalm 13:5, 37:5, 40:4, 56:3-5; Isaiah 26:3-4, 40:31; Philip 4:6-7)  - If you can't speak life, STAY SILENT until you are able to get in agreement with God and speak life (Exodus 14:14; Lamentations 3:25-26; Psalm 25:3, 27:13-14, 37:7, 130:5; Hosea 12:6; Isaiah 30:18, 64:4).

I used to be a person who always had to have a problem. If there wasn't a problem - I'd MAKE something into a problem just for the attention, just for the drama of it. As God began to deliver me from this need for attention and this addiction to drama (because yes, some of us are addicted to the dramatics) I started recognizing just how damaging this mindset was to my faith. My "problems" came out in my attitude and it STUNK. I frustrated people and burdened them with my life -  draining them of their peace, their joy, their wisdom, time and anything else I could get from them. Eventually, it came to a place where I found myself alone - not because people didn't care or didn't love me but because it was just too draining for anyone to deal with me. As I accepted this (without resentment towards people) I realized it's very unfair (and extremely selfish) to expect people to drop everything to constantly cater to your varying emotions on a whim - but CHRIST is always willing and ready to listen, comfort, encourage, support and even correct (so you can overcome) when necessary.

Since turning my life over to God and trusting Him with my problems I've found freedom in not needing to grasp for attention from the world. I'm not saying that I don't have moments where I feel overwhelmed and I enjoy having godly support from fellow brothers and sisters in Christ - but I now understand that the ultimate source of comfort, wisdom, help and anything else I need is CHRIST and HE should be my first and MAIN source of comfort. Not man. (Psalm 9:9, 55:22; 1 Pet. 5:6-7; John 14:16-18,26-27)

It's to Him I run and on days where I feel like just want to scream and complain - I SHUT UP, I RUN TO THE LORD & I SHUT OUT THE WORLD.....that He might restore, replenish and satisfy my needs without distraction or additional burdens from others [those who pour into others spiritually through ministry need to understand the importance of protecting your own spirit from being overburdened and drained, you also need to pull away as Christ did often, to spend time with Our Father and allow Him to strengthen you-  especially when you are in the midst of hardship yourself - but that's another topic for another day].

We all grow weary, even the strongest in their faith have their moments - that doesn't mean the aren't strong in their faith or they are somehow not "as saved as you thought" it means they are HUMAN. The mark of a believer steadfast in Christ is how they handle those moments....do they run in fear to every human ear they can find, or do they run in faith to God trusting Him to work. 

Those who run in faith to God will see the deliverance of the Lord. (Psalm 116:1-2)

Which are you? 

Psalm 46:10 "Be Still, and know that I AM GOD.

Selah.

Humility....

The most humbling act of Christ was giving up His life that we might live. This tells us the most humbling thing we can do for Christ is to give up our lives that He might live through us.

If we in Christ could only grasp this....only when we recognize and accept that our lives are not our own - but God's-  is when we'll truly begin to live in and for God. Selah.

When God Shows You Who He Is...BELIEVE HIM.

When God shows you who He is, believe Him!  King Nebuchadnezzar didn't.... and he was called out for it. 

In Daniel 3 we see King Nebuchadnezzar send Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the fiery pit because they refused to bow down to him. They even told the king that God could save them from the fire, but even IF HE DIDN'T - they still would not bow down and worship the king because he was not God (Daniel 3:13-23). 

The king had them thrown into the fire but God showed up and indeed saved them just as they believed. At the end of it all, the men were promoted and King Nebuchadnezzar gave praise and glory to God most High (Daniel 3:24-30)....but he still didn't submit to God. 

By Daniel 4 we encounter the king having a dream, which none can interpret but Daniel. Daniel courageously explains to the king that the dream is in reference to him being driven out to live in the wilderness like an animal, since he refuses to acknowledge God as the Most High (Daniel 4:24-25). The problem with King Nebuchadnezzar was pride and selfishness - he continued oppressing people, serving his false gods, and taking credit for everything he had (idolizing self) he had in spite of recognizing God's Power (Daniel 4:8, 27,30, 32). 

As a result, God did exactly what He warned (God always warns before He judges) and He sent king Nebuchadnezzar out in the wilderness to live as one of the animals until he would acknowledge that God is the most High God and everything He had was because of the grace of the Most High (Daniel 4:33). As soon as the king did this, He was restored  - not only to his former state - but to GREATER (Daniel 4:34-36)! 

Many people feel that God pursues them so they can have a miserable boring life, but there are numerous times in the bible where God shows His calling and His path worthy, He doesn't only glorify Himself when we walk faithfully with Him in obedience and trust - He glorifies and blesses the believer as well! Just look at the many people in the midst of this story who were glorified by God because of their faith - Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were promoted after their trial, Daniel was as well, the King was given greater than he had before God......

God doesn't just burst in a door and expect you to believe in Him, He understands the human mind and our natural doubts, curiosities - and this is why He does things to show Himself to us that we might see and we might believe....yet so many of us SEE GOD and we recognize it's Him yet STILL refuse to turn away from the false idols in our lives - be they false religions, destructive addictions, bitterness and anger in our hearts, unforgiveness, pain, even the burden of controlling everything and trusting in our own strength and might.....

I'm compel you...I beg you....I stress with all the love I can....LET GO and trust GOD. If He has shown Himself to you time and time again - don't delay in acknowledging Him as the Most High and submitting your life to Him - His grace is a gift that is not meant to be ignored. 

Selah. 

God's Word is NOT for sale! Nor His salvation, Nor His Peace, or anything else that relates to Him!

I just visited the website of a "bishop" and the video on the homepage is him - asking - no actually INSISTING --  people donate "at least $1,000" to his cause, talking about what he's doing and what he needs and how everyone needs to donate.... there is NO TALK about the WORD OF GOD. NONE! God I weep for those being led astray by these false teachers who are only out to get....the WORD OF GOD is NOT FOR SALE. THE WORD OF GOD..IS NOT FOR SALE! God did NOT charge you money to receive His Christ and freedom in Christ so neither should we charge to bring people the word of God!

Now don't get me wrong - IT IS BIBLICAL that pastors/teachers/missionaries are to be SUPPORTED by the churches but supported does not mean new cars, building you a home, keeping you in designer clothes, mega sanctuaries, or more marketing for YOURSELF. Supported biblically means some church members may have opened their homes to give them a bed while they were traveling, they would provide food for them while they were in town ministering, things of that nature. Not to mention, they did this from the HEART they were LED on their own to give out of LOVE AND REVERENCE for GOD - not some preacher giving a guilt trip to compel people into giving. Never, not ever - not ONE place in the bible does God command people to honor their pastors in such a way that they lead these lavish lifestyles in the midst of parishioners who barely have enough to eat. NO SIR! Even CHRIST had NO WHERE TO LAY HIS HEAD - so what makes ministers think it okay to use church funds to build up their dreams and desires? ANYTHING we are blessed with is to glorify God and advance His kingdom...not to advance OURSELVES.

On the flip side,  it is also biblical that Jesus went without in humility and so did some of His greatest apostles! In fact the Apostle Paul often refused any support - working with his own hands - so that NO ONE could dare say he was in it for money! It IRKS MY NERVES when I see these "titles" (i.e. pastor, bishop, evangelist, etc.) out here ciphering money for a bigger church, bigger network, bigger ministry (in essence MORE GLORY FOR THEM...not GOD)- when the people in your very own church community and the community you should serve is suffering and in lack. STOP BUILDING BIGGER CHURCHES AND GET OUT THERE AND MINISTER LIKE GOD CALLED US! GEEESH I REFUSE to charge people to share what GOD GAVE ME FREE! - that's my pulpit rant for the day- I'm sorry y'all but that just BURNED ME UP this morning. You will NOT disparage sincere Christians for their faith and then turn around and use your faith to cipher money in the name of the LORD. NO SIR. That's not "enlightenment" that's thievery...and it's the work of the enemy and God is NOT in it. ....I have the good mind to go post this on his page in hopes that some of the people buying into his foolishness may see the truth. That is our job as Christians - to expose the darkness and tricks of the enemy (Ephesians 5:11), I'm NOT afraid to do it.

Matthew 10: 8-9 " Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,[a] drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give."

2 Corinthians 9:7-8  "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

1 Corinthians 9: 3-18 "I’m not shy in standing up to my critics. We who are on missionary assignments for God have a right to decent accommodations, and we have a right to support for us and our families....  But we’re not going to start demanding now what we’ve always had a perfect right to. Our decision all along has been to put up with anything rather than to get in the way or detract from the Message of Christ. ...You know, don’t you, that it’s always been taken for granted that those who work in the Temple live off the proceeds of the Temple, and that those who offer sacrifices at the altar eat their meals from what has been sacrificed? Along the same lines, the Master directed that those who spread the Message be supported by those who believe the Message. Still, I want it made clear that I’ve NEVER gotten anything out of this for myself, and that I’m not writing now to get something. I’d rather die than give anyone ammunition to discredit me or impugn my motives. If I proclaim the Message, it’s not to get something out of it for myself. I’m compelled to do it, and doomed if I don’t! IF THIS WAS MY OWN IDEA OF JUST ANOTHER WAY TO MAKE A LIVING, I'D EXPECT SOME PAY. BUT SINCE IT'S NOT MY IDEA BUT SOMETHING SOLEMNLY ENTRUSTED TO ME, WHY WOULD I EXPECT TO GET PAID? So am I getting anything out of it? Yes, as a matter of fact: the pleasure of proclaiming the Message AT NO COST TO YOU. You don’t even have to pay my expenses!" 

3 John 5-8, "Beloved, it is a faithful thing you do in all your efforts for these brothers, strangers as they are, who testified to your love before the church. You will do well to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God. For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles [nonbelievers]. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth" (emphasis added)

2 Corinthians 2:15-17, "For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God's word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ."

When God Sits You Down...ENDURE. IT'S WORTH IT!

"....now the Lord is Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's Glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, Who is Spirit." - 2 Corinthians 3:17-18

The flesh is restricting, it's bondage - with all its demands and whims that are often conflicting/confusing and turn your attention from God to self (a most common form of idolatry). The flesh is bound to this world (we do not take the flesh with us in death and the flesh is not part of the "image of God" since God is not of flesh); and this world is under the control of the enemy (due to the curse of sin) (John 16:11, John 12:31, John 5:19 2 Corinth. 4:4). Therefore anyone living by the flesh is not free. They live in bondage.

The Spirit is God and is not restricted by the world. Spirit is not in bondage to the whims and demands of flesh because Spirit has no flesh and is not infected by sin. Spirit is all holy (1 Peter 1:6), all knowing, all powerful, all strength - none can compare to Spirit and none can lead, guide or question His methods for He is the Creator of all things and has designed all according to His purpose (Jeremiah 32:17, 27). Spirit does only the Will of God (John 16:13). The world (those who operate in the flesh) does not know, or accept, the Spirit (John 14:16-17). Those who accept the Spirit (sincerely) die to their flesh (and are freed from bondage) and live by the Spirit which brings freedom in Christ (Galatians 5:16-25, Romans 8:5-15).

Once we accept the Spirit into our lives and willingly allow Him to work in our hearts God literally pours His Spirit into His children who continuously seek Him. He also continues to increase our glory in Christ, as we continue to humble ourselves under His Mighty Hand and submit willingly to His LIFE TRANSFORMING POWER!

SUBMISSION TO GOD = OBEDIENCE. OBEDIENCE TO GOD = BLESSING! (Deuteronomy 28:2)

As we submit to God he transforms us into the image of His Perfect Son, Our Messiah, CHRIST the ONE TRUE KING! If that's not enough to get you praising, I don't know what is! To be made perfect like Christ by the hand of God - that is one marvelous gift!

While God does His work of transforming us, we should do our part by,  " renouncing the secret and shameful ways; ... not use deception...nor..distort the Word of God..." and instead, " set...forth the truth [of Christ] plainly..." (2 Corinth. 4:2).  Our lives should plainly reflect our commitment to Christ so our witness for Christ will be effective. If we say one thing, but live another we distort the Word of God and we are deceptive [ and hypocritical] because our words do not match our actions (and don't reflect our faith).

It is important for all believers to understand, in the midst of our transformation from the old self (our flesh) to the new self (Spirit/Image of Christ) we will endure hardship... "we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinth. 4:8-9)

Change is not always easy. Just as we didn't fall into sin and being led by the flesh overnight, neither will we come out of it overnight. It's not that God Himself makes it hard - rather the enemy, who desires to keep us in the flesh and separate from God. He will do everything he can to keep us from returning to Christ, and once we return, to keep us from staying in Christ victoriously.

Don't be alarmed when it seems like the more you desire to live for Christ, the more things come against you - this is temporary, this is common - but you can overcome because Christ already has. All of this is done to transform us into the image of Christ and free us from the bondage of sin, ultimately allowing us share in the resurrection of Christ into Eternal Life with our Father and Creator - El Elyon "God Most High", the Great I AM! HALLELUJAH!!!!

So, fellow believer and brother or sister in Christ, have faith! Most of all remember these things during those difficult seasons in Christ when you are tempted to give up, turn back and forfeit the work Christ has begun. HE, Christ, is faithful to see it through to the end (Phil 1:6) BUT YOU MUST BE WILLING TO ENDURE AND SEE IT THROUGH WITH HIM!

Trust God, He is faithful in His promises! The transformation from flesh to Spirit in Christ is not an easy path, nor always a comfortable one - but, it is the most REWARDING! I speak as a living testimony ...God stripped me bare of all I had accomplished in my flesh - apart from Him - and now that I have learned submission and obedience (and most important to Him - TRUST) He is blessing me in ways that I could never (and have never) imagined - spiritually and physically! It's so worth it....it's so worth it...it so...so...soooooo worth it! I can't stress this enough.

Stay the course my friends, you are NOT alone.

"Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is sen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen, is eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"Let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." - 2 Corinthians 7:1