The check is in the mail

I recently received a call from a company saying they hadn't received my payment. I reassured them that I had mailed it in some time ago. As it turns out this person hadn't checked with the department that receives the payments and if they had done so they would have seen that I indeed had paid the bill.

What was needed was already in their possession but they didn't call on the right person in order to apply it appropriately.

Many Christians don't seem to have a grasp of what is already available to them.

One of those things is healing.

In Psalm 107:17-20 these people were afflicted by sickness, nearing death, as a result of their sin.

Then they called the right person:
"Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble;
He saved them out of their distresses.
He sent His word and healed them,
And delivered them from their destructions." (v. 19-20)

God sent his word and healed them.
God's word is powerful. In the beginning He created everything by speaking it into existence. (Gen. 1)

John 1:1-3, 14 tells us that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us."

This is referring to Jesus. God again sent his Word in the form of Jesus.
Jesus healed people of their sickness regardless of the cause.

"Jesus is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Heb 13:8)

Cry out to the Lord today. Put your faith in him.
Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness (Matt. 6:33).
Receive his healing. It's already been sent.

"He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed." (1 Peter 2:24)

Why so dry?

1 John 2:24 NASB
"As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father."

abide; original Greek root word used here: menó- to stay, abide, remain

According to a Greek Lexicon the way the Greek word is used here carries connotation of being knit to God, also something that's established within my soul and always exerts it's power in me.

As you keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ within you, the word of God within you, it exerts power within you. It flows out of you.

Psalm 23:5 says "my cup overflows".

I can't stand it when Christians say "you take what God has filled you with and empty yourself out so he can refill you".

NO. An overflowing cup never gets empty. As long as that cup remains within the flow it never empties and continually pours out.

Where is that flow found?

It's found by letting his word remain in you.

Jesus said in John 14:23-24 NASB
“If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father’s who sent Me."

So many Christians are thirsty and wonder why they can't be filled and it's because they keep taking themselves out of the flow. They come to church on Sunday morning to get filled up and then afterwards it's back to the way things were. Empty.

Stay in the flow! Stay in the word every day. Let the word continually reside in you. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.

Hebrews 4:12 NASB
”For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

The result will be the word of God exerting it's power in you and overflowing into this world. The overflow in your life will impact generations.

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Are you in the right place?

Take a look at where you are.

Not necessarily where you're currently standing or sitting, although that could be of significance, but the current place you find yourself in life.

Is this where you want to be?
Is this where you should be?

I've noticed some locations where many people find themselves. I'll give you three main places.

1. Tomb of Distraction
Many things vie for our attention and the majority have nothing to do with our responsibilities or desired destination. There is nothing inherently wrong or evil about most of these but too often they lure us into a place where our focus is on things that do not bring progress or purpose and suck away our most precious asset, time. Sometimes we use these things to avoid problems or areas where we're uncomfortable and tell ourselves that this is actually helping us. I call this place a tomb because it's a place where dreams die.

2. Pit of Self Pity
I've heard many people talk about how bad their situation is and how it never gets better and never will, how things always happen to them, how others should feel bad for them and help them. Every challenge in life is seen as a problem. Their focus is continually on their problems and how theirs are the worst. It's easy to fall into this pit and get stuck there. Other people will come along with the same kind of thinking and convince you it's right to feel this way. They resent you and make you feel bad if you try to escape the pit.

3. Rut of Complacency/Indifference
In this place every day just brings more of the same old things over and over. You go with the flow and do what you've always done so you can just get through the day and move on to the next one. Rinse and repeat. The general feeling in this place can be "whatever, I don't care anymore".

In 1 Samuel 17 when the Israelites faced the Philistines, Goliath came forward and taunted them for 40 days. Each time the army of Israel did the same thing. Nothing. They were "dismayed and terrified", afraid to act.

David shows up and does something different. He uses the abilities he has and his trust in God to attack the enemy that is blaspheming his God and stopping the Kingdom of Israel from advancing. He takes down Goliath and the army of Israel chases the enemy and destroys them.

It wasn't until there was a change in action that the circumstances changed. David acted in faith and believed his God would see him through even though from outward appearances it looked like an overwhelming and impossible task.

Also notice that David's actions not only affected Goliath and himself but two armies as well. All who were standing around him were impacted. It also had impact on both nations.

Our choice to continue on the current course or to take a different action has an effect on everything around us.

If you want to see something different,
you've got to do something different.

Sometimes it only takes one different course of action to bring about change but more often it's consistent effort that pays off. Day after day taking steps towards where you want be. It's a journey.

Why was David different than the Israelite army?

David frequently and consistently developed his relationship with God. Whether he was in the field tending sheep, in the home, or wherever, he worshiped God. David didn't stop at just believing in God but followed his instruction and took action knowing that God would do all he said that he would.

Another question:

Are you frequently and consistently taking in God's word?

If not, you should start today.

Romans 12:2 tells us "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

Because it is alive and active (Heb. 4:12), the word of God will change the way you think and therefore the way you act.

Change your behavior, change your life.

Plus, having God's word in you will cause His anointing to flow through you and do the impossible (Matt. 19:26, Phil. 4:13).

So back to the questions from earlier:

Is this where you want to be? Is this where you should be?

If the answer is no then you need to do something different in order to go in a different direction.

Start with inputting God's word from the Bible. Not just reading and covering ground but taking it in to gain understanding and letting it speak to you. Do it every day and follow his instruction.

This will put you on the path to a different place.

"he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6

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How To Be A Producer, Not A Consumer

Do you know someone who is always taking/receiving but never giving?

They will accept free stuff whenever possible but they never give anything to anyone else. They allow, even expect, people to do things for them but never do anything for others. They don't even say thank you when someone helps them out. They take in but rarely, if ever, give out.

They are consumers.

Many Christians are only consumers.

They come for the Sunday service to get fed the word of God. They take it in but never do anything with what they have received. It has little to no impact through the rest of the week.

They don't share what they've learned. They don't love people like Jesus says. They don't follow the scriptures' instruction to make disciples.

They don't serve anyone besides themselves.

However, we are told to be producers.

In Matt 28:19-20 Jesus gave us something to do:

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

In John 15 Jesus tell us:
"I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

We are to produce fruit. Fruit that will last (John 15:16).

Here are 3 things you must do to be a producer

1. Consume the word of God.

We need to connect ourselves to the vine and remain in him to receive in to our lives everything that the source possesses. We remain in him by consistently reading and knowing the word of God.

 John 15:4 says,

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me."

“Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do." -Joshua 1:8

2. Take action on what the word says.

Yes we must consume in order to produce but without the producing of fruit the consumption is worthless.

"What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." -James 2:14-17 NLT

Did you notice the cycle that is present in Matt 28:19-20?

We do what Jesus tells us to do and teach others to do everything he commanded us, which means that they also go and make disciples and teach them to obey everything he commanded.

A continuous cycle of making disciples.

"The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls." -Proverbs 11:30 NASB

3. Speak thanks and praise to God.

"Through Him (Jesus) then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name." -Hebrews 13:15 NASB

In Luke 17 Jesus cleanses ten lepers but only one returns to thank him.
"'Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?' Then he said to him, 'Rise and go; your faith has made you well.'" -Luke 17:18

Continuous thankfulness and praise, expressed with our mouths, keeps us centered on God and brings his peace that guards our hearts and minds (Phil. 4:7).

Be a producer.

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2 Keys To See More Of God In Your Life

Have you ever been doing one thing but your mind keeps getting ideas for something else?

Sometimes it's helpful. Other times it's a distraction. Knowing the difference is important.

Many times an idea or a solution comes to me when I'm actively working on that thing, but not always. Some of my best ideas come when I'm doing something totally unrelated.

When I read the Bible and study God's word, he speaks to me. He shows me things from his word about himself, his will and also about myself.

Many times I hear his voice when I'm doing the ordinary things of life like putting laundry away. At that moment I'm not reading his word but I may be meditating on it. Other times I'm not even thinking about what the Bible says but God suddenly shows me something.

A  few days ago I was making breakfast and getting ready to fill my mouth when he said:

"Get yourself in to me and I'll get myself in to you."

I quickly wrote that down because if I don't write these things down I have a tendency to forget and then I don't act on it. The act of putting it in writing makes it stick in my head better and I also have those words to look back on later so I can do some more thinking, studying and pursuing his instruction.

I always check what I hear against scripture to make sure what I'm hearing is from God. Reading and knowing the word allows me to do this in my head without looking it up. I knew the words resounding in my head were right and I needed to pursue him more.

“Come close to God, and God will come close to you."  James 4:8 NLT

Jesus said:

"Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:4-5

Being fully connected to the vine brings whatever is in the vine into the branch. Whatever the vine has the branch also has and it brings life and growth. Make sure to get your whole self in to the vine and Jesus will bring in to you what is in him so you can produce much fruit.

As I said, I'm not always meditating on or studying a particular passage when the mind blowing idea comes. However, it's the previous input from doing those things that sets me up to hear his voice. Being in close proximity to God allows us to hear him more clearly.

Have you noticed a time when in the middle of doing something, you were tuning out other voices, then someone said something about you and suddenly you were very attentive to them? Or maybe your spouse wasn't hearing a word coming out of your mouth until you mention something they have a deep passion for and then you have their full attention?

Selective listening. My parents said several times that I had this capability. I’m sure many who are parenting teens can relate to this.

Parents do something similar with their own kids. They can sit in a place with lots of children running around screaming and be somewhat oblivious to all the noise (who can be totally oblivious to it?) while engaged in a conversation and the moment their kid yells with an alarmed tone the parent hears them and responds.

Our brain is able to tune out sounds that are determined to be irrelevant but a voice we recognize can quickly redirect our focus.

The voice we listen to the most cuts through all the other noise and gets our attention.

Frequent and consistent reading of the Bible will allow you to recognize God's voice because you hear it over and over again.

“If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him." John 14:15-17 NLT

The first key to seeing more of God in your life is to get more of yourself in to God by reading and knowing his word, the Bible.

The second key is by doing what it says.

"But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it."  James 1:22-25 NLT

"Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." James 4:17 NLT

Obedience to his word is vital. There are many times in the Bible where God promises to bless those who do what he has said. They are "if, then" statements. If you do this, then you get this blessing. Read Deuteronomy 28 and John 14 for just a couple examples.

When you get closer to God, recognize and listen to his voice and then act on what he has said you will "produce much fruit" (John 15:5) and it will be "fruit that will last" (15:16).

No matter how much you may already have, get more of God in your life by getting yourself more in to him.

TIPS

Frequently reading and memorizing scripture will help you to immediately recognize things that are not in alignment with the word of God.

Always have something with you like a notebook, or an app on your phone (I use Evernote), for writing notes so you can record everything you're hearing from God.

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Transform The World

Why “Transform The World”?

I chose this title based on Romans 12:2,

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.“

So many people are caught up in the patterns of this world and as a result they are headed in the wrong direction. They’re headed for hell. They don’t realize the destruction they are headed for nor that there is a solution, a reason for hope. They need to hear about Jesus. They need to hear the truth so they can be set free.

They need to be transformed.

It’s not just those who don’t know Jesus.

Many Christians are stuck in patterns of worldly thinking that keeps them from experiencing everything that Jesus has made available to them through his life, death and resurrection. They haven’t grasped hold of the power and authority that has been given to them.

Although they’ve heard many sermons and even read the Bible on occasion, they continue in thinking the same way they always have and end up being stuck in bondage to things they should be free from.

They too need to be transformed.

But how do we get transformed? The verse says “by the renewing of our mind”.

How do we get our mind renewed? By the word of God.

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Think about it, how does someone change their way of doing things? The way they act? The way they talk?

By changing their mind.

When a person changes the way they think about something it changes they way they act regarding that particular area.

Because the word of God is alive and active, when a person takes it in to themselves it causes the way they think and the way they live to be changed. Their mind will be renewed.

In order to have their mind renewed by the word, a person must first hear the word.

“For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? …So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” Romans 10:14-15, 17 NLT

That is what God has called me to do. Get out the word of God as far and wide as possible so all those that are without Jesus, and the Christians who are stuck in bondage, can hear the word, develop faith, have their mind renewed and be transformed.

*If you wish to partner with me to spread the word of God in order to shake this generation and transform the world then please go to our GIVE page and invest in making an eternal impact.

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