Choose Love

“We know that the fields are white and ready for harvest (John 4:35). God is imploring us as laborers to go into the field, but do we have what it takes to go?

The flesh is at war with our spirit, wanting to have its own way. It prefers to take the path of least resistance, which yields the least constructive results. How much easier it is to choose an hour of television than an hour of reading or learning or certainly an hour of prayer! But we reap what we sow, and those who sow to the flesh do not get a good harvest, much less an eternal one (Gal 6:8).

The American Heritage Dictionary defines “diligence” as marked by persevering, painstaking effort. The Latin derivative, diligere, means “to esteem”-a word combination of “to love,” and “to choose.” An interesting view! Are we choosing this kind of “love” for ourselves and for the sake of those around us? Vine's Expository Dictionary of the Bible defines “diligent” as business gains gotten by work, endeavor, pains, earnestness, and zeal. In other words, there is a mindset of determination and completion of hard work that yields the fruit of diligence. Consider scriptural admonitions to develop this character trait:

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth (2 Tim 2:15).

The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor (Prov 12:24).

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty (Prov 21:5).

The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing...(Prov 13:4).

Diligence is man's precious possession (Prov 12:27b).
(Another translation reads, “Substance of a diligent man is precious.” There is tangible substance in diligence!)

The Hebrew word for diligence, charuts, means “sharp, pointed, determined, and earnest.” It has the connotations of incisive; as in having sharp teeth, and determined and hardworking as in digging a trench or mining gold. No passive or unintentional action here!

Think of the fruit of revival we could bear if we apply ourselves to diligence. In light of the proverb just examined, such fruit would include rulership over enemy destruction in people's lives...natural and spiritual wealth, abundance, and wisdom. What worthy gain from applying oneself!

Combine diligence with discipline, and the results are exponential. The American Heritage Dictionary defines “discipline” as: “Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behavior, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement; self-control.” Vine's Expository Dictionary declares it “an admonishing or calling to soundness of mind; self-control.”

Quite simply, the choices we make on a daily basis will determine in the long run who we are and who we become in Him. Our choices will even help determine the advantage others have in the same way. Choices toward self-control and determined effort can open up the harvest to those who might never hear or know the Lord, and bring the knowledge and sweet savor of Jesus in such a way that hastens His return. May that be our goal!

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil” (Eph 5:15-16).”

Desperately Seeking a Saviour

Psalm 24:6, "Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob."

There are a few characteristics that identify a person who is seeking after God.

A God seeker is willing to go after Jesus regardless of the cost. Throughout the Scriptures, we find people who were desperate for God and disregarded the comments and the scorn of the crowd. One such person is blind Bartimaeus in Mark 10:46-52. The people tried to shut him up, but the Bible records that he cried out even louder. It did not matter to him the price that had to be paid. He wanted a miracle.

A God Seeker will go after Jesus regardless of how painful the present circumstances may be. Perhaps you are like the woman with the issue of blood, described in Mark 5:25-34. Like her, you have exhausted all your resources. She was suffering-it is THE time to seek the Lord.

A God Seeker is willing, not only to go after Jesus, but also to obey His words. John 9:7 records the story of a blind man who came to Jesus for healing. Jesus instructed him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. He did, and received his sight. He had sought and found Jesus, but the had to follow His instructions.

A God Seeker maintains an open heart, always ready to embrace new revelation from the Lord. Read the account of Apollos as written in Acts 18:24-19:6. Apollos was learned, eloquent, and people were listening to him. Sometimes, that is a prescription for pride and arrogance, but not for Apollos. When confronted about receiving more from Jesus, he was hungry, not haughty. He was a God Seeker, not a Self-Seeker-therefore, he was open to receiving new revelation from the Lord.

A God Seeker is willing to pay the price when persecution comes. The blind man healed in John chapter nine passed one hurdle when he obeyed the Lord. But, the religious leaders of his day persecuted him and threw him out of the synagogue! The Bible teaches that everyone who lives a holy life will suffer persecution.

Friend, are you truly a God Seeker?

The King Has One More Move

Now, there is the story of two men in a museum who saw a painting of a chess game. One character in the painting looked like a man and the other looked very much like the devil. The man was down to his last piece. The title of the painting was “Checkmate.” One of the two men looking at the painting was an international chess champion. Something about the painting intrigued him. He began to study it. He grew so engrossed that the man with him got a little impatient and asked what he was doing. The chess champion said, “Something about this painting bothers me. I want to study it for a while and you go ahead and wander around.”

When the friend came back, the chess master said, “We must locate the man who painted this picture. We must tell him he must either change the picture or change the title. I have determined there is something wrong with it.” His friend asked, “What’s wrong with the painting?” The man replied, “It is titled ‘Checkmate,’ but the title is wrong. The game is not over. The king still has one more move.”

That is the message of Hope. The King still has one more move. When you think it is over, done, finished, that you can’t go on, that the obstacles are too big, the grief is too intense, the failure too final, the disappointment too deep, the hurt too horrible, the debt too large, when you are ready to throw in the towel, disappear into despair, wallow in self-pity, or live sad, Hope says, “Hang in there; don’t give up; hang on. The King still has one more move.” Remember, the tomb is empty.

The same message of Hope exists for our loved ones. In Joshua chapters 2-6, there is a story about a woman named Rahab. 

Built over this gap between the two walls of Jericho was the house of a woman named Rahab 
who was a harlot. There was a constant stream of visitors in and out of her house and this 
probably influenced the spies to seek refuge there. They presumed that two strangers would not be noticed and the character of the woman was of no particular concern to them. The presence of these men did not go undetected, however: 

Rahab took the men to the roof of her house and hid them with stalks of flax that were laid out 
for drying and processing. 

After the departure of the king's messengers Rahab went up to the roof and addressed the spies: 

"...I know that the Lord has given you the land, that the terror of you has fallen on us, and that all the inhabitants of the land are fainthearted because of you. For we have heard how the Lord dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to the two kings of the Amorites who were on the other side of Jordan, Sihon and Og, whom you utterly destroyed. And as soon as we heard these things, our hearts melted; neither did there remain any more courage in anyone because of you, for the Lord your God, He is God in heaven above and on earth beneath. Now therefore, I beg you, swear to me by the Lord, since I have shown you kindness, that you also will show kindness to my father's house, and give me a true token, and spare my father, my mother, my brothers, my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death." 
(Joshua 2:9-13, NKJ) 

A few days later, the Jordan River parted and the Israelites walked across on dry ground. The people of Jericho peered across their walls to see a crowd of Israelites walking around the city in a silent procession. For six days, the strange ritual was repeated. On the seventh day, again the people walked silently around the city but this time at the conclusion of their hike seven priests with trumpets blew their horns. The people began to shout, the earth trembled, foundations cracked, and walls which had safeguarded the city for years collapsed. 

Remember now--Rahab's house was built on the walls. What tremendous faith she demonstrated to remain in her house while the walls of the city were shaking and crumbling in the dust. But there she stayed--Rahab and her entire family--and from the window of their home fluttered the scarlet cord. Then Joshua said to the two men who had spied out the country: 

"..Go into the harlot's house, and from there bring out the woman and all that she has, as you swore to her." And the young men who had been spies went in and brought out Rahab, her father, her mother, her brothers, and all that she had. So they brought out all her relatives and left them outside the camp of Israel. 
(Joshua 6:22-23, NKJ) 

This example is a great spiritual parallel of household salvation. Rahab interceded for her entire family, and they were all saved. Biblical records reveal that this woman later became the wife of Salmon, a prince of Judah. She gave birth to Boaz who married Ruth, who bore a son named Obed. Obed was the father of Jesse, who was the father of King David, through whose line came Jesus Christ. Rahab is listed among the ancestors of the Lord in Matthew 1:5. James commends her for the faith demonstrated by her works (James 2:25) and Paul enrolls her in the hall of fame of the faithful, declaring: 

By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace. 
(Hebrews 11:31, NKJ) 

The scarlet cord from Rahab's window was a symbol of redemption through the blood and the promise of God, "When I see the blood I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). Rahab claimed this promise for herself and her entire household. Even when it seemed all hope was gone and the very walls upon which her home was built were crumbling, Rahab’s faith remained intact. 

Have you prayed for years for your loved ones, without visible results? Are you interceding for a lost son or daughter, parent, or spouse? Do you feel like you are up against a big CHECKMATE in this area? 

Don’t you dare give up on them! When you pray for their salvation, you are spiritually placing the scarlet thread of the blood of Jesus Christ over your household. When Paul and Silas ministered to the Philippian jailer, they told him... 

...“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” 
(Acts 16:31) 

Begin to claim this promise every day. Come against the CHECKMATE that Satan has erected in the lives of your lost loved ones by declaring, “I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. I am saved, and my household will be saved!” 

Don’t stop praying. Don’t give up. Don’t let Satan write CHECKMATE over their lives. It isn’t over yet because THE KING HAS ONE MORE MOVE!

What Makes A Good Friend?

In one of Charles Schulz's comic strips "good ol' Charlie Brown" pays a visit to Lucy's five-cent sidewalk psychiatric stand. Totally dejected Charlie says to his would-be counselor, "I can't help it. I feel lonely, depressed." 

"This is ridiculous!" Lucy insists. "You should be ashamed of yourself, Charlie Brown! You've got the whole world to live in!" she continues. "There's beauty all around you! There are things to do. Great things to be accomplished! No man treads the earth alone! We are all together- one generation taking up where the other generation has left off!" 

Slowly a smile spreads across Charlie's face as Lucy's words begin to sink in. "You're right, Lucy! You're right! You've made me see things differently, I realize now that I am part of the world. I am not alone. I have friends!" 

Lucy quickly replies, "Name one!" 

Everyone needs friends. It is the second most basic relationship in life. Jesus said that the two most important commandments are to love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself. We often experience God's love through the love of a friend. People usually don't care if they have a friend in Jesus until they see that they have a friend in us. Proverbs clearly tells us what makes a good friend - how to develop and maintain meaningful friendships. 

#1. What makes a good friend? Faithfulness. Friends do not desert each other when times are bad. 

Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. 

Proverbs 27:10 - Do not forsake your friend and the friend of your father, and do not go to your brother's house when disaster strikes you - better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 

One of the greatest friendships in the Bible was that of David and Jonathan. When Jonathan's father, King Saul hated David enough to kill him, Jonathan protected David. (Read the story in I Samuel 20:30-33.) 

#2. What makes a good friend? Keeping confidences. Friends do not gossip. 

Proverbs 16:28 - A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. 

Proverbs 11:13 - A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. 

As a friend you'll know details and secrets of your friend's life. Friends do not gossip. Gossip is telling detrimental things about another person to someone who is not a part of the problem or the solution. Friends know when to tell someone else (such as in cases of abuse) and when to keep confidences. 

#3. What makes a good friend? Kindness. Friends do not carry jokes or pranks too far. 

Proverbs 26:18-19 - Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!" 

Fathers can help their children by teaching them the difference between a joke or harmless prank and going too far. 

#4. What makes a good friend? Do not co-sign for each other. Friends encourage each other to live within their means. 

Money is often the cause of bitterness between close friends. 

Proverbs 6:1-5 - My son, if you have put up security for your neighbor, if you have struck hands in pledge for another, if you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth, then do this my son, to free yourself, since you have fallen into your neighbor's hands: Go and humble yourself; press your plea with your neighbor! Allow no sleep to your eyes, no slumber to your eyelids. Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler. 

Proverbs 17:18 - A man lacking in judgment strikes hands in pledge and puts up security for his neighbor. 

When you co-sign, you accept responsibility for the debts of others. When you co-sign you are enabling your friend to buy something he cannot afford. The Bible calls that "putting up security" or being "surity." 

It is best to encourage your friends to buy only what they can afford. When someone wants something they can't afford, encourage them to save until they can buy it. If your friend is truly in need, it is better to give them a gift rather than to loan or co-sign. 

#5. What makes a good friend? Generosity. Friends do not turn away when their friend is in need. 

Proverbs 3:28 - Do not say to your neighbor, "Come back later; I'll give it tomorrow" - when you now have it with you. 

We have all been given the same amount of time - 24 hours a day. Even with our busy lives, it amazes me how many people have time to give to their friends. When my wife was sick for a prolonged period of time many friends helped us. They brought in meals, did the ironing, ran errands and prayed for us. Many hours were given. Did they have nothing else to do? Were their days empty? I don't think so. These were acts of friendship. 

#6. What makes a good friend? Forgiveness. Friends do not seek revenge. 

Proverbs 24:29 - Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did." 

Proverbs 20:22 - Do not say, "I'll pay you back for this wrong!" Wait for the Lord, and he will deliver you. 

Our fallen human nature says, "Don't get mad - get even." Jesus says we must forgive - not 7 times, but 70 X 7. Other than Jesus, every friend is imperfect. We must be ready to forgive our friends, just like they have to forgive us. 

#7. What makes a good friend? Bringing out the best in each other. Friends do not ask their friends to participate in sin. They look out for each other. 

Proverbs 16:29 - A violent man entices his neighbor and leads him down a path that is not good. 

Proverbs 22:24 - Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared. 

On October 24, 2008 the Daily Mail (a British newspaper), stated that a female police constable appeared in court charged with burglary and misconduct in public office after she allegedly abused her position to help her friends commit crimes. 

This 26-year-old woman is said to have passed on confidential information from police computer systems to her boyfriend and others. She is also accused of helping a friend to steal thousands of pounds from a shop by listening to traffic on her police radio to warn him if police were on his tail. 

This is not the behavior of true friends. 

#8. What makes a good friend? Telling the truth - even if it is "bad news". Friends do not with-hold the truth in order to save the other person's feelings. 

Proverbs 27:17 - As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. 

Proverbs 27:6 - Wounds from a friend can be trusted. 

Proverbs 27:9 - The pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel. 

A girl saw her friend doing something that was self-destructive. What would a friend do? If she confronted her or told her parents, it would certainly ruin their friendship. 

A man saw a friend acting in a way that would probably destroy his friend's family. What would a friend do? In this case, he did nothing because he didn't want to lose the friendship. 

True friends put the needs of a friend before their own need to keep the friendship. 

We all need someone who will tell us the truth in a loving way. It is hard to grow without the help of our friends. It's never easy, but when you must tell someone the truth, use this approach: speak calmly, clearly, directly, honestly and respectfully. This is how Jesus would confront someone. 

#9. What makes a good friend? Unselfishness. Friends look out for the interests of each other. 

Proverbs 17:17 - A friend loves at all time. 

Proverbs 18:1 - A unfriendly man pursues selfish ends. 

On August 5, 1936, at the Berlin Olympic Stadium it was a little past nine in the evening. The pole vault event had lasted longer than expected. 

The final three competitors were Earl Meadows of the United States and two close friends from Japan, Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe. The bar was at 14 feet 3 1/4 inches, which Earl Meadows cleared on his second try. Nishida and Oe missed all three attempts. The two Japanese continued to jump for second and third place, but the competition ended without a conclusion when it became too dark to continue. 

"Oe and I went back to the Olympic Village certain we had tied, since we both jumped identical heights," Nishida remembered. (At that time they did not have a tie breaking rule.) 

The officials decided to award the silver medal to Nishida. They never fully explained their reasoning. Oe was awarded the bronze. Nishida was not happy with the decision. When they got back to Japan both Oe and Nishida decided to cut their medals in half. Then they joined half of the silver medal with half of the bronze medal for each of them. The medals were called the Medals of Eternal Friendship. 

Soon after Oe was killed in World War II. His medal is on display at the National Stadium in Tokyo. What an unselfish act on the part of a friend. 

At the end of the day, what makes a good friend? Practicing the golden rule. Friends treat each other as they would like to be treated. 

Jesus said, "I have called you friends." John 15:15. How does Jesus treat us? That's our best example of what makes a good friend. 

How can you be a good friend?

Does God Really Love Me?

lt used to be enough that God loves you. You remember those days, right after you internalized, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whosoever believes in might not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

And it felt so good, so freeing. All of a sudden, you felt humility and self-worth bleeding together, overlapping. But it didn't take long. A few sermons, a few calls to start serving, to do your part, to use your gifts, to fulfill your "calling"; a few failures, a few skipped Bible studies, angry outbursts or nasty thoughts and suddenly you aren't so sure God likes you. 

Sure, sure, He loves you. He promised to never leave you and you know all the verses about His lovingkindness that endures forever, but yeah, not so sure He's really all that proud of you. His love is obligatory, kind of like a parent's. But He's not calling you His friend. You're pretty nervous to imply that you and God are all that close. So you cringe a bit when it's your turn to pray out loud. You pick up dime-a-dozen devos instead of the real Word of God. God loves you, He has to, right? 

You're not the first Christian to feel this way. That's why most of us spout off, "We are saved by grace through faith and not by works", but then try ever so hard to do just the right things. The pulpit preaches that Jesus paid the price and we cannot earn salvation, but then, once we're saved we discover the checklist of all the things we ought to do to insure our salvation. Sound familiar?

But if it's true that God's gift of salvation is free, then how is it possible that the maintenance of the same is so expensive? And if security does not come at a cost, then how can we convince our hearts to rest in the truth that God not only loved us enough to save us, but that He likes us enough to stay present with us in all our failures, to endure our screw ups, to fellowship with us in our weaknesses, to invest His Holy Spirit in us, to speak to us, to comfort us, to assure us of our salvation?

The secret is much simpler than you might fear. It is gratitude. In the KJV, Hebrews 12:28says, "Wherefore we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:". 

In the English Standard Version, it reads, "Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,".

The word translated as "grateful" in the second version is the same as is translated "grace" in the the King James. A succinct definition of the Greek word is this: The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace, the merciful influence of kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon our souls, turns them to Christ.*

In both translations, it is easy to see that the kingdom has already been received, therefore the readers (you and I) are assumed to have accepted Christ as our personal Savior. The next step is to worship the King of this kingdom with gratitude.
When we gather around the thanksgiving table each November, it's common to pass our plates with the query, "What are you thankful for?". This is the same principle we must apply to our worship: What do we worship for? What are we grateful for?

The difference between "love" and "like" is gratitude. The concept of love has the potential to remain nebulous, but when that love is expressed in terms of gratitude it takes on a gritty tangibleness. Thankfulness requires knowing someone, recognizing their contribution. Thanksgiving requires that we internalize God's love and recognize Him as good. 

The next time you are fearful that you've let God down and imagine Him standing over you saying, "I will always love you, but I'm so disappointed, I don't like you very much right now," pause to thank Him. Thank Him for the factual evidence of His love. In this thankfulness it will become apparent that He does indeed like you. His affection for you overflows the boundaries of unconditional love into the confidence that He treasures you, has secured you and that you have no need to impress Him. 


* Lexicon and dictionary notes taken from Blueletterbible.org

Peace In The Midst of the Storm

In this world you will have trouble. John 16:33 

I wonder if the disciples were shocked when Jesus said this? After all, by this time they had seen Jesus perform many miracles—water into wine, multiplying bread and fish, people healed, and raised from the dead. Why would the disciples expect trouble when God could work miracles? Furthermore Jesus had told them to ask “for anything in my name, and I will do it” (John 14:14). 

The real key is in the first half of the verse, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” In Jesus we have peace. We don’t necessarily have peace in our circumstances but we can always have peace in Jesus. God could prevent difficulties but rather he often chooses to let us experience his peace in the midst of them. Being at peace in a difficult situation is a miracle in itself because it shows the world we are trusting in God; it also adds to the devil’s demise. 

When we trust God in difficult circumstances we demonstrate our belief in something greater and more enduring than temporary relief from our problems. We believe God is doing a work that has eternal consequence. We are relying on Paul's words which tells us, “What is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18). 

Nevertheless it is important for us to believe God not only has the ability to perform miracles but does perform miracles from time to time. This gives us the faith to know God is indeed powerful and compassionate. However, whether God intervenes directly in our circumstances or not we know, “His works are perfect, and all his ways are just” (Deuteronomy 32:4). 

Let’s choose to trust him and avail ourselves of his peace. 

A New Heart

And I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Matthew 17:16

On December 3, 1967, in the Groote Schuur Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, a team of doctors, led by Dr. Christiaan Barnard, performed the world's first heart transplant. Although the recipient, Louis Washkansky, lived for only 18 days after the surgery, other transplant recipients followed who lived for several years. Heart transplants now are relatively common, with specialists and equipment in many large hospitals capable of performing such operations. But in 1967, Dr. Barnard was venturing into new and unexplored regions of medicine. Until he successfully performed the first transplants and established the procedures for doing so, no other doctors or hospitals could even think of attempting a heart transplant. There was no cure for a severely diseased heart. Just as the man in our text discovered there was no cure for his son's demon possession. Until the Lord Jesus arrived.

The man had brought his son to the disciples, and he had high hopes of a cure. After all, these men were students and associates of the great Healer from Galilee. Surely they would know the methods and procedures of their Master. We don't know what attempts the disciples made to heal the lad; all we know is whatever they tried, it did not work. And the boy and his father were no better off. The lack of a cure meant only one resort: the only One who could heal. Many today are looking for a cure for their sin and guilt, and are going to the wrong places. Instead of going directly to the Lord Jesus, people are flocking to many other fonts of false relief. The cults are prospering as they spread their confusion and false doctrine, just as the mainline denominations of Christendom are spreading their doctrine of religion and good works. Other people are attempting to slake their thirst at the cisterns of pleasure, wealth, power, and philosophies. Like the powerless disciples, these cannot cure. But sadly, they prevent many from seeking the One Who can and will cure.

We who are saved can sing of the sin cleansing power in the blood of the Lamb. We have found that our incurable disease of sin is not incurable after all, not when the case is turned over to the Great Physician. That which is impossible with the efforts and money and ideas of men is gloriously possible when the Lord Jesus steps in.

There are some patients with diseased hearts who cannot be cured, not even with a heart transplant. But there is not one sinner who cannot be saved by the blood of Christ.

Freedom In Christ

2 Corinthians 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (KJV). In order for our relationship with God to be pure, we must be free. Without freedom, we are still in bondage to the things of this world. If the spirit of the world is our master, we will never freely serve the Lord. Instead of agreeing with Him, we will seek to have Him agree with us. Without the Spirit, we cannot know the things of God; much less understand them (see  1Corinthians 2:9-16).

Without realizing it, it would be easy to misuse the verse that says, “The letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2 Corinthians 3:6). How often have we heard people say, “I’m walking by the spirit of the law,” which is another way of saying “I am going to walk a little bit in the flesh?” It is similar to “a little white lie.” It is still a lie and is ungodly. Walking a little bit in the flesh is still walking in the flesh. Using Scripture to do so is dangerous ground.

Without freedom in Christ Jesus, we would still be trying to earn the Father’s love and involve ourselves with dead works, trying to somehow make our way into heaven. When we walk in the freedom that comes with the Law of the Spirit of life, we will cease from our own feeble attempts to manipulate God. For example, why should we incorporate the Word of God in our prayers? Are we to quote Scripture to God in order to hold Him accountable to His Word in order to get what we want? That is fleshly prayer and borders on witchcraft. When people twist the things of God to fulfill fleshly desires, they are walking in rebellion. The reason we use Scripture in prayer is so that we come into agreement with God and pray according to His perfect will. 1 John 5:14-15 clearly says, “If we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him” (KJV).

When we walk in love, we will freely ask the Father for those things we desire without manipulation. Our love bonds us to His will and desires, which in turn causes us to ask for those things that are pleasing to Him. If you feel the need to manipulate anyone to get what you want, it is time to examine your heart through the Holy Spirit. We obey Him because we love Him, not because we are trying to earn His love. Everything we do for Him will spring out of the relationship. With freedom comes the desire to please Abba (Daddy), Father. In that liberty is fullness of peace and joy. Everything Jesus did was the result of His love for the Father. He had, and always will have, complete confidence in His relationship with Him. God desires us to have the same confidence. Why else would He desire to conform us into the image of Jesus?

What Does It Mean To Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus?

It means to recognise the reality of our invisible God Father, Son and Holy Ghost and the Lordship of Jesus Christ. When we look to Jesus in our daily circumstances, our failures and our victories, we acknowledge that we depend on Him, that we need Him and that we want Him to be the number one in our life. 

In this article I want to touch on three important points: 
A) How do we turn our eyes upon Jesus? 
B) What happens to us when we do it? 
C) What are we seeing? 

A) How do we turn our eyes upon Jesus in real life? 
How do we get from this spiritual term and the goose bumps it brings to every charismatic Christian, to a real application in our daily life? 

We turn our eyes to Jesus as we pray! 
Praying alone or in fellowship with other Christians will turn our focus on Jesus. 
As you acknowledge his Lordship in your live your eyes are turned to Him. 
As you discus matters of your live with him your focus is on Him and as you are listening to what he has to say to you concerning certain areas in your life - what you should do and what not. 


We focus on Jesus by having fellowship with other believer’s. 
When we meet in small groups and minister to each other, praying for and blessing one another, giving testimonies of the things God is doing in our lives – we together become focussed on Jesus. 


We turn our eyes to Jesus through the reading and hearing of the word. 
That is what every sermon and every bible reading must accomplish: Making Jesus bigger and bigger in our life. And that my dear readers is my purpose for writing the different articles: encouraging to make Jesus the number One in your life. 


We focus on Jesus when we praise and worship him. 
Every time I praise and worship the Lord on my own or by listening to some good worship music His presence increases in me. Clouds and darkness disappear in the light of His glory and grace. 


B) What happens when you turn your eyes upon Jesus? 
Who wants to be more like Jesus? Tried it? Did it work? Work harder at it! Go to church more often! Give more money! Preach on the streets! No! No! No! 

Just focus on Jesus and you will become more and more like him. You are being transferred into his image by the Spirit of God! 
2 Corinthians 3:18 states: 
“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 
Many times we find it very hard to live a godly life. It seems like we never arrive. But the beauty of being a child of God is, that He doesn’t want us to struggle. 

Here is the secret of being a really godly person: Turn your eyes upon Jesus! By doing so, the Apostle Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:3: 
“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvellous glory and excellence.” 
Spend time with Jesus, focus on Him! By doing that, He Himself will change you from the inside out. That’s living life God’s way. 


C) What do we see when we turn our eyes upon Jesus? 

We see the author of our faith. Hebrews 12:3 “...looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith...” 

“Author” here means: a leader, one, who makes the first step in a given situation and leads the way! 

Many Christians have no sense of direction in their spiritual life. They know allot about Jesus, but they do not know him as the Leader, the one that leads the way. They are governed by their senses, by what they see and focus on. But they never learned to lean on him, to look into his face. 

Are their decisions coming up in your life? Concentrate on Jesus. Get full of his word, have fellowship with Jesus, talk to him and worship him as the way the truth and the light – and he will direct your way of life. 

Every new step that you take in your spiritual journey, Jesus is going to do the first step to lead you into the right direction. That is His promise. 

And then we see him also as the finisher of our faith. 
Without Him pouring out his mercies every day anew, you will not make it into his presence, into heaven. 

He is keeping you so many times, when you are not even recognising it. In Jude it says, that he is keeping us from falling. So many times we would fall into sin - but he is keeping us from falling. 

If you put your life’s focus truly on Jesus – he will carry you through everything you are facing in your life. 

Trust Him as the finisher of your faith! He is able!!! 

Many times we tend to make the things of God so very complicated. We are so hard on ourselves. We need to understand that the Lord knows that on our own we are doomed to fail. But if we stay connected with and to Him we bring forth much fruit. The Bibles calls that abiding on the vine. 

So, my encouragement for you is this: Trust you Lord Jesus in every moment of your life. You are not the author and finisher of your faith – He is. And He is walking with you. He is also always one step ahead of you, so that you can follow Him. 

Enjoy your journey through life with Jesus- Keeping your eyes, your focus on Him

When God Is With You

Jesus asked the question, “Where is your faith?” It is a fitting question for some have endured trials that have weakened their faith. They have endured the kind of trials that make the strong weak, that make the rich poor, that make the healthy sick, that make the bold fearful, that bring those brimming with hope for a particular thing close to hopelessness. This can happen when you have been tried for a long time without deliverance. When like Hannah you have been pregnant with desire for years but have no son. When like Joseph you are wrongfully imprisoned with no hope for freedom. When like Job one bad situation after another rains upon your existence leaving you shattered, broken, even sick, a mere shadow or your former self, wondering if God is punishing you for the sins of your youth. 

To your mind, it seems impossible for things to be the way they were before or even better. Who will replace what you have lost? Who will retrieve what has been stolen from you? Who will resurrect that which has died? Who will mend what has been broken? Who will dry your tears? Jesus can and will if you will only hold on and believe him. 

The Jews were in a similar situation after they came out of Babylonian captivity. When Cyrus sent them back to Jerusalem with an order to build the temple there was much happiness. They encountered opposition almost from the beginning but continued building during his reign. Eventually, however the kingdom changed hands and when the new king, Xerxes, received a letter from their opposition against the construction of the city, he sided with the opposition and commanded the stoppage of all building in Jerusalem. Thusly, work on the temple, stopped by force, was discontinued for about a decade. 

This killed the people’s faith such that in Haggai 1:2 we find them saying, “The time has not yet come for the rebuilding of the house of the Lord”. You can almost read their thoughts. “If the time for the rebuilding had come God would not have allowed the work to be stopped”. “Where will we get the materials to build the temple when we are hardly making it as it is?” “God’s hand must not be with us else he would not have allowed the work to be stopped”. “Are we still being punished for our sins?” “Darius will probably continue Xerxes policies.” All these and more they must have thought and discussed amongst themselves. 

When God showed them how he had stunted their financial progress because they did not resume the building of the temple they feared the Lord and began to do what he said so God sent the prophet Haggai to them again. Haggai 1:13-14 reads, “Then Haggai the Lord’s messenger gave this message to the people, “I am with you”, declares the Lord, so the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of people. The came and began to work on the house of the Lord Almighty their God”. 

God had to remind them that he was with them as he is reminding those of us who trust in him today. When God is with you he will silence those who oppose you. When God is with you he will send supernatural provision. When God is with you he will enable you by stirring up your spirit to faith. When God is with you there is no need to fear. You only have to be make sure that you have not neglected his will in your life and if you have correct it. 

The text said that God stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel, the spirit of Joshua and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. A people who did not have any faith now had the faith to do what God wanted. When God is with you a delay may occur but that does not mean that he will not stir what needs to be stirred in you and others so that his purposes and your desires may be achieved. The book of Ezra shows us how God stirred up king Darius to command the resumption of the building of the city of Jerusalem and the temple. Darius commanded the costs for the rebuilding of the temple to be paid by the royal treasury. He also commanded the death of anyone who interfered and more. God indeed had stirred up even Darius the king of Persia. 

Some have been under trial so long that they have forgotten that God can and will bring deliverance. Some have wondered what kept him from doing for them as he has for others. Now trust has waned but you must know and believe that God is still with you. I want you to remember Lazarus for a moment. He was dead for four days. No one believed Jesus could raise Lazarus from the dead except Martha but her faith was weakened by the fact that Lazarus had been dead for four days. Jesus called him out from the tomb and he came forth wrapped in the grave clothes with no stench on him. Is there anything too hard for God? Is there anything impossible with him? If he could raise Lazarus from the dead, stir up Cyrus, Darius and the Jews to accomplish his purposes for the benefit of the Jews can he not stir up those that you need and you for your own benefit. Certainly he can! 

Remember God is with you. Pray for God to be with you. Believe that God is with you. Why should we pray for and believe that God is with us? Why should we desire for God to be with us? Ecclesiastes 3:14 states, “Whatever God does will last forever”. He is able to sustain what he gives. He is able to keep the ashes out of your life and maintain the beauty in it. He is able to keep you filled with the oil of gladness and heal your mourning heart. He is able to keep you in a garment of praise and take that spirit of heaviness from you forever. What God does will last forever, his salvation is forever, for his grace is built to last forever, his peace is forever, his joy is forever, his love is forever. God is eternal. Who else is like this and on whom else can you rely for these things? 

Since God can be relied upon let us pray that he will stir up the spirits of others in our behalf and not just that but that he will stir up our own spirits to continue in the faith, to do his will that we may inherit the eternal life he has promised. Let us watch and pray as he says that we may be accounted worthy to escape all those things that will come to pass and stand before the presence of the Son of Man. He said to pray this always. If we pray it he can and will do it. Expect this and expect your deliverance here in this earth also for when God is with you he will work all things together for your good.