There are many times in our lives, we may not be sure of where we are going or what we are doing. Our actions don’t make sense, but we just know we are heading in the right direction. Our feelings may tell us one thing; circumstances say another but by direction of the Holy Spirit we keep moving forward. We may even question ourselves as to why we are going in a certain direction, but we must be like Abraham and just go in faith.
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Many Christians make the mistake of calling things that are, the way they are. What they are doing is continuing their current situation by the words of their mouth whether it concerns finances, healing for their body, marriage, kids or a spouse. The current condition is a direct result of their past words. The Word says to call those things that be not as though they were.
“(As it is written, "I have made you a father of many nations") in the presence of Him whom he believed--God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did...” (Romans 4:17) Many years ago, I read the list below entitled “Ten Benefits of the Favor of God.” As I was studying the Word and searching through my computer files, I came across it and wanted to share.
Now before you read the list, stop and think about what the word favor means to you. Favor is a powerful word and position to be in with the Lord. It is something granted out of good will. You can't really earn it; it's just the goodness of God. It's the fact that God is so merciful and loving that He wants to grant you a favor. God established a covenant of increase with Abraham and that covenant included favor. As a Believer, your job is to trust God and obey His commandments. Roadblocks will attempt to stop the flow of God’s favor in our lives, but we must never give up or believe that God is not on our side. For You, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield. (Psalm 5:12 NKJV) Ten Benefits of the Favor of God:
Accept and receive God's favor. It will change your life. Remember to Walk by faith, not by sight! There is a statement that many people say, “It’s not whether you win or loose, it’s how you play the game.” That statement is meant to make you feel good, especially if you have lost a big game or didn’t accomplish a goal. The truth is God made you to be a winner. As a believer, God has provided in His word everything you need through Christ Jesus for victory in your life.
You can’t afford to think like a loser or act like you are defeated. God designed and equipped you to be victorious. He doesn’t expect you to fail and you should never think you are a failure. “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV) “…despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.” Romans 8:37 (NLT) Don’t be moved by what is happening in your life today. Renew your mind with the Word of God and discover He made you to win in every area of your life. Walk by faith, not by sight! God is always with us and the Word says that He will never leave or forsake us. (Deuteronomy 31:8) There are obvious times we experience His presence in a greater measure and greater capacity. The manifest presence of God brings us more power; it changes lives and reveals His glory. God reveals Himself to those that earnestly seek Him.
“But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29 NKJV). The presence of God is meant to be more than just an occasional event during Sunday morning Worship---you are meant to live in His presence. Turn off the radio, TV and computer; stop allowing the voices of the world to engulf you and get quiet before the Lord. Your life will never be the same. “As the deer panteth for the water, So my soul longeth after thee, You alone are my heart’s desire, And I long to worship thee…” There is nothing like the presence of God and I am so in awe of how sweet the tangible presence of the Lord really is. Many people will provide their opinions of being in that special place and even layout instructions on how to get to there, but you must leave your preconceptions and check all your expectations at the door. Self and fleshly motives or attitudes are not allowed into this intimate place of His presence but prayer will definitely get you there. This is no place for self-centered childishness behavior, because it never was or will be about you. It’s all about Him. The door of intimacy has always been open to all who will enter, but so few actually take advantage of this rich place of prayer and power. The Lord delights in the believer, who desires and hunger to know what, cannot be naturally known except they press in beyond the torn veil into His Holy presence. Won’t you put aside the cares of this world, take a Selah moment and come close to Him now? Jesus is waiting for you and the table for two is prepared. Come and enter into His presence and believe me you will never be the same. Honor and majesty are [found] in His presence; strength and joy are [found] in His sanctuary. (1 Chronicles 16: 27(AMP) And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” (Exodus 33: 14) You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16: 11) “Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…” (Acts 3:19) These promises are for you! You can experience God as intensely and intimately as Jesus promised. You can draw near to Him and enjoy His drawing near to you! Every believer can be in the presence of God and experience the Holy Spirit continually flowing through them. His arms are open and waiting for you. No matter who you are; we all tend to be influenced by our environment and past experiences in some way. Our decisions and choices can be a reflection of:
The Lord’s Word tells us that we are to raise our children in the Word and by faith in the Word. The Bible says: “For with God nothing is impossible.” (Luke 1:37 NKJV) This is such a powerful scripture and is hard for most people to believe. They quote it and say they believe it, but their actions say something different. This verse is the response from the angel Gabriel when asked by Mary, the mother of Jesus, how she was going to have a child since she was a virgin. God is SO MUCH HIGHER than our problems, pain and perceived impossibilities and NOTHING is impossible with Him. Mary’s question got her an answer that forced her to focus on the greatness of who God is and what He can accomplish even though it is impossible for us in the natural to do. This was a young girl, through her simple believing was part of changing history. When we depend on our own strength and wisdom; we do our children a disservice because we are not teaching them about the power and abilities of the God we serve. We do them a disservice, when we don’t speak life and greatness over them and teach them to speak God’s Word over themselves. For nothing is impossible with God. The same God who brought Jesus back to life can save your children and they will have eternal life. Don’t give up on God or your children because He hasn’t given up on you or them. Don’t measure what children can accomplish through your eyes, but see them through the eyes of God based on His Word. In John 14:12, Jesus talks about the greater works. "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.” (John 14:12) The works that Jesus spoke of were not based on a person’s age or stature; they were simply based on believing in Him. Teach this to your children! “No weapon formed against you shall prosper” (Isaiah 54:17 NJKV) – Teach this to your children! “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4 NKJV) Teach this to your children! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me"(Philippians 4:13 NKJV) If you just read the first part of this verse “I can do all things”, it would immediately sound like pride or arrogance. This was the spirit that attempted to build the tower of Babel. Arrogance and pride was the downfall of men like Saul or Pharaoh. The next two words in the verse put it all in perspective "through Christ." It is not pride or conceit in one’s own ability when making this statement; it only shows their dependency on Christ…I can do all things through Christ! It is one thing for someone to say, "I can do all things." It is quite different to confess, "I can do all things through Christ." To get the impact of this scripture in Philippians, you must stop and think about what you couldn't do without Jesus. You could not have eternal life You could not be redeemed from the curse of the law You could not have direct access to the Father You would not have the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth. Without Him, we could not defeat the devil. Jesus said to His disciples: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” (John15:5 NKJV) "I have been crucified with Christ and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and delivered Himself up for me.” (Galatians 2:20). Elijah did great works and there were no limits on the miracles that he did, but Elisha did many more works than Elisha ( see 2 Kings 2:9-10). Deuteronomy tells us to teach our kids when we wake up, when we walk with them and talk to them. Our children have faith and a spirit just like we as adults do and Jesus never put an age limit or boundaries when He said greater works shall you do because I go to my Father. There was a young boy that was overlooked by his father and brother. He was given the most unwanted tasks and left to do his work alone. He defeated a lion and a bear and took down a giant. He grew up to be a mighty man of God and King of Israel…his name was David. There was another boy that had a dream, but was put in a pit by his brothers because of their jealousy. He was falsely accused by another man’s wife and put in jail to rot. There was no limitation on his dream and God turned things around. He became second in command to Pharaoh and help save a nation. His name was Joseph. What about a young man that was born in Atlanta, Georgia. At 21 he became a minister at Dexter Avenue Baptist Church. He was put in jail, dogs attacked him and people called him names; but he never stopped fighting for what he believed. He was born Michael but changed his name to Martin. He won a Nobel Prize in 1964. His name was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I’m thinking of another person that was born in Hawaii and raised by his mother with the assistance of his grandparents. He worked his way through college with the help of scholarships and began to serve his country as a community activist. He became a Senator and on January 29, 2009 he was sworn into office as the President of the United States of America. His name is Barack H. Obama. If there had been limits or boundaries placed on any of the above person’s lives, things may have been different for us all. I challenge you as you talk to and pray for your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews; to speak the Word over their lives. Determine you will not put limits on their lives; teach them to trust God and to walk by faith, not by sight. In Christ there are no boundaries or limits! Long before the Declaration of Independence was written, there was a document that existed and still exists, in this world....The Bible, the Word of the Living God. It is a book that has been challenged, distorted and misinterpreted. It does not matter what has been done or said, the Bible is the same yesterday, today and forever. The Bible tells us about our advocate, Jesus, who sits at the right hand of God. The one who died on the cross and took all of our sins upon Himself. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, Jesus.
As you celebrate July 4th, don't forget to thank God for the freedom you have, that was given to us as believers through Jesus Christ. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Blessings and Peace! Pastor Annette Miller |
AuthorPastor Annette Miller 
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