What's Working Through You?

Friday, November 16th> Ecclesiastes 10: 1; 1 Corinthians 5: 6-8

What mistake do we make by allowing the "little" issues to remain unaddressed and only deal with those we consider "big"?  Yeast is an interesting ingredient.  It's actually a single-celled fungus that produces on its own by budding and division.  All it takes is two .5 -ounce packages of this substance, mixed in with 5 cups of bread flour, 3 cups of wheat flour, and other ingredients to make 2 to 3 loaves of delicious wheat bread.

It's amazing how quickly and thoroughly yeast works its way through the entire batch.  All it needs is the right conditions -- warm water, all the ingredients mixed together, and time to sit and grow. The yeast, which seems like such an insignificant part of the whole process when it begins, now takes over.  Its presence now becomes known as it causes the whole thing to rise, changing the composition of the ingredients and  causing them to become something other than they were before.

Need I say more?  Our lives and all the parts that make up our attitudes, beliefs and actions start with our thoughts.  These images that enter our minds can either be holy and God-given, or diabolical and conceived in the satanic realm.  Whatever we allow to be mixed in will eventually "work it's way through", ultimately changing who we are from the inside out-- just like the yeast.  All those thoughts need are the right, deeply-embedded desires that we think no-one knows about, and time to sit and grow -- just like the yeast.  The fact that we think those secret, hidden ideas will remain secret and hidden is a major sign of our immaturity and lack of knowledge of spiritual things.

If we want to truly see ourselves set free in our thought life and hearts, we must begin to treat ungodly thoughts as the deadly ingredients they really are -- capable of changing our attitudes and devotion towards the Father.  Before we know it, we go from on-fire and closely-connected to other believers to cynical and withdrawn, having negative things to say about everything that has to do with God.  Watch out indeed for the leaven that works itself through everything we are.  Deal with those thoughts as they come -- expose them for what they really are, and certainly DON't give them time to pile up inside.  Instead, allow your heart to become the right condition for growing the seeds of God's Word.  Just like that yeast, it will completely transform you, and EVERYONE will be able to tell you've been in the presence of the Living God.

Are You Ready to RECEIVE?

Wednesday, October 17th> 1 Corinthians 2:10-15; Rom. 12:2

What is the ONLY way we will benefit from the NEW revelations, answers and ideas God wants to pour into His people?  It's a vicious cycle if you allow your flesh to dictate.  God is a Spirit, and those who desire to worship, have relationship, and commune with Him MUST do so in spirit and in truth.  In the spirit realm,  God's heart towards us is revealed.  Answers to questions that haven't even been asked yet are given.  He sends visions and dreams, as well as the interpretation of others' dreams.  God also prepares His children for storms coming ahead, and propels them into the process necessary for the next level of their lives.

    

The only way to benefit from these treasures, mysteries and gifts is to STAY IN THE SPIRIT WHERE GOD DWELLS.  But wait... There's no entry into the spirit if fear, anxiety, and frustration are in abundance.  A mind cluttered with these and other carnal things stays in the soulish realm where only the cares of this world matter.  Regardless of how important earthly matters appear to be, they occupy important space and time where the Holy Spirit should be.  Every moment we spend being concerned about what they said and did causes us to miss what the Spirit is trying to get through to us.

So it's really about what we choose to RECEIVE-- what's eternal, or what has already passed away.  God wants His kingdom treasures passed on to His children.  What He can get TO us, He can get THROUGH us.  We were created to be the SOLUTION to this world's problems.  Whether or not we're doing that depends on how positioned we are to receive what God so willingly wants to give.  As for me and my house, we're determined to be on the receiving end of such an awesome heavenly word as POUR; what about you?

God deserves Our ALL!

Thursday, November 8th> Exodus 29:21; Revelation 3: 1-6

The garments represented being set apart completely for the will of God.  How does this symbol of total devotion manifest in our daily lives?  A people set apart for Him alone has always been God's plan from before the foundation of the world.  Ever since Adam and Eve, God has desired a love relationship with His creation.  Totally devoted believers take a stand to live consecrated lives for the purpose of bringing God glory.

Where we struggle is with the word TOTAL, as in COMPLETELY or ALL OF OURSELVES when it comes to living for Jesus Christ.  Somehow, we think it totally normal to be head-over-heels in love with another human being; we pride ourselves on being completely committed to standing up for our political beliefs.  We even confess our addictions to people, places and things, rationalizing our feelings because we "just can't help who we are".  Funny how hard it seems to use that same line of reasoning when it involves our Heavenly Father, Who gave us His all and deserves the same in return.

So how does this totally devoted lifestyle manifest in our day-to-day?  From the moment we wake up, God consumes our thoughts.  We focus on what He thinks of us, how His Word calls us to a place of repentance and turning away from the attitudes and patterns of the world, and most of all how blessed we are to be called His own.  The key is in trusting that every requirement God puts on us is for our good, and wholeheartedly responding to those holy requirements with joyful obedience.  There's nothing more rewarding than giving all we have to a God Who will never push us away, harm us or disappoint us.  How much more excited should we be about letting ourselves go and leaning on Him for every move we make?  All we'll get in return is life, life, and more life.  And who couldn't use as much of that as they can take?