Identity in Christ

Welcome to the family of God. According to  2 Corinthians 5:17, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.  Just like anything new, you must read the manual (in our case the Bible) in order to understand your new self. 

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. As you meditate and speak over yourself and the following scriptures often, your faith will increase more abundantly in your new Christ nature; your identity in Christ will be firmly established in your heart.

Ephesians 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

According to Deuteronomy 28:12-13 The LORD HAS open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. The LORD HAS made you the head and not the tail; you ARE be above only, and not be beneath.

1 Peter 2:9 says you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

when the musician played

2 Kings 3:15 (New King James Version)

15 But now bring me a musician.”
Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him.

God of the Mountain is the God of the Valley

1 Kings 20:28 (New King James Version)

28 Then a man of God came and spoke to the king of Israel, and said, “Thus says the LORD: ‘Because the Syrians have said, “The LORD is God of the hills, but He is not God of the valleys,” therefore I will deliver all this great multitude into your hand, and you shall know that I am the LORD.’”

For my Pastor, Bishop Odell Townsend who loves the Gaithers!

Throwback: Strange Land

Psalm 137:4 (New King James Version)

4 How shall we sing the LORD’s song
         In a foreign land?

 

The Lord’s Counsel / Instruction

The Lord’s Counsel. Psalm 16:7-11.

Psalm 16:7 I will bless the LORD who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

 

The Lord’s Instruction.  Psalm 32:6-11.

Psalm 32:7 You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah
8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.
9 Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you.
10 Many sorrows shall be to the wicked; But he who trusts in the LORD, mercy shall surround him.
11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

The Lack of Discipline.

The Lack of Discipline. Proverbs 5:21-23

Proverbs 5:21 For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, And He ponders all his paths.
22 His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, And he is caught in the cords of his sin.
23 He shall die for lack of instruction, And in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.

God’s Grace in OT: Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son

1 Kings 17:17-23 (New King James Version)

Elijah Revives the Widow’s Son

17 Now it happened after these things that the son of the woman who owned the house became sick. And his sickness was so serious that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, “What have I to do with you, O man of God? Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance, and to kill my son?”
19 And he said to her, “Give me your son.” So he took him out of her arms and carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his own bed. 20 Then he cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, have You also brought tragedy on the widow with whom I lodge, by killing her son?” 21 And he stretched himself out on the child three times, and cried out to the LORD and said, “O LORD my God, I pray, let this child’s soul come back to him.” 22 Then the LORD heard the voice of Elijah; and the soul of the child came back to him, and he revived.
23 And Elijah took the child and brought him down from the upper room into the house, and gave him to his mother. And Elijah said, “See, your son lives!”

Notes

1) v. 17 - Have you come to me to bring my sin to remembrance?  Still Many NT believers think that God remembers their forgiven sin and punishes them for it.  If God had remember the widow’s sin, why would He have sustained her and her son’s life through her offering, she provided for Elijah?  See v.12-16. Hebrews 13:8 - Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

2)  v. 23 – “See, your son lives!”  John 11:25 - Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.

UNITY: Where the LORD commanded the blessing

Psalm 133 (New King James Version)

1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
         For brethren to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious oil upon the head,
         Running down on the beard,
         The beard of Aaron,
         Running down on the edge of his garments.
3 It is like the dew of Hermon,
         Descending upon the mountains of Zion;
         For there the LORD commanded the blessing—
         Life forevermore.

Shout for Joy!

DAY 165: http://bit.ly/9vqxG4 Psalm 132:9 (NKJV) Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness, And let Your saints shout for joy.

Heed wise counsel

the folly of Rehoboam

1 Kings 12:6-7 (New King James Version)

6 Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who stood before his father Solomon while he still lived, and he said, “How do you advise me to answer these people?”
7 And they spoke to him, saying, “If you will be a servant to these people today, and serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to them, then they will be your servants forever.”

What Love Really Means

Chapter 3 - “The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted” Notes

“…but I realize now that you can’t let raw sewage run through a marriage and expect to grow a garden.”

Remember the TV show “Love American Style”?  “…remember to love ‘1 Corinthians 13 style.’”

“If we could learn the tremendous power of the compliment, we would seldom again revert to complaint—“

 

Loving with Words of Kindness, Entreaty, and Acceptance.

1) speak with kindness – Proverbs 15:1

2) entreaty rather than command

3) express love with words of acceptance.  “Assure your mate that he/she can express ideas without your getting defensive and feeling attacked.”  Use present-tense words, Victor!  “Love does not keep a score of wrongs, does not dredge up the past with each new crisis.”

 

Your Turn -

3. Express love to your mate by word or action once each day for the next month.

4. Do not allow your mate’s reaction to stifle your love. 

Those who sow in tears

Psalm 126:5 (NKJV) Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.

Notes from Charis Bible College IN - Dr. Delron Shirley Class "Passion for the Harvest" -
 .
Sowing in tears means your sacrifice cost you something.

King David would NOT sacrifice (sow) anything to the Lord that did NOT cost him something.
See 2 Samuel 24:18-24 (NIV) - David Builds an Altar

Sowing in tears also means it is a valuable seed!  It is tough to part with. 

God looks on the heart of the sower and rewards him accordingly.

Lessons from Matthias Apostolic Appointment

Acts 1:15-26 (NKJV)

1)  Acts 1:16 “this Scripture had to be fulfilled” –

Acts 1:16 "Men and brethren, this Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus;

Apostle Peter wasn’t going on his good idea; the Apostle Peter was trying to fulfill scripture by replacing Judas. 

How many of your (NT believers) ideas are initialized because you’re trying to fulfill scripture?  John 3:6 "That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.”

FYI.  Spiritual ideas can be born from the Holy Scriptures!

I charge us that we work at fulfilling the scripture in our lives.

2)  Acts 1:21-22  "Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, "beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection."

Gods promotions usually come from faithful men and women!  Check out the appointment of the first deacons (Acts 6:1-7);  1 Cor 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

Looking for a godly promotion?  Check out your faithfulness!

3) Acts 1:24 And they prayed…  Check your ideas against the backdrop of prayer.

Acts 1:24-25 And they prayed and said, "You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen "to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell,

1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing to get the mind of Christ (1 Co 2:16, Php 2:5). Why? because Jeremiah 17:9 "The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?

Preparing to Minister

  1. Always strive to do better than the last time.
    • Beware of mediocrity:
    • if you didn’t study enough before, study more
    • if you didn’t include enough scriptures before, gather more scriptures
    • if your thoughts were not clearly arrange last time, take more time to arrange your thoughts.
  2. Perform in the Spirit and not in the flesh
    • Obey the Holy Spirit in all things, do only what God directs
    • ministering the word is not your one time to get the Pastor/Elders told!
  3. Know that God has you here to affect people’s lives
    • Obey the Holy Spirit in all things, do only what God directs
    • Especially practice listening to the Holy Spirit before and after a sermon.
  4. Manage your time wisely (especially the week you have to minister the word)
    • Ephesians 5:15-16 (NIV) 15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
    • Spend some quality time outside of ministry that week (go golfing), do not make work of the Lord drudgery; do not preaching anxiety (similar to testing anxiety).
  5. Do your homework.
    • Prepare the minister not just the message!
      • Some ministers get breakthrough by fasting, some by singing, some by reading their word; Know which method works for you and do it.
      • Study some scripture you’re NOT teaching on! This avoids tunnel vision in only study to teach.
    • Ask God who and how He wants you to ministers
      • Be prepared to do your job when you show up!
  6. Maintain personal enthusiasm for what God has called you to do.
    1. If you’re enthused, the hearers will be enthused.
    2. You set the atmosphere
  7. Dress neatly and stay well groomed!
    1. God Love things in decency and order.
    2. God Love ministers/saints who represent Him well.

DAY 212 - Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads

Psalm 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah

DAY 153 - Psalm 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills From whence comes my help? http://ping.fm/XwjR1

Psalm 121 (New King James Version)

A Song of Ascents.
1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
         From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
         Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
         He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
         Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The LORD is your keeper;
         The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
         Nor the moon by night.
7 The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
         He shall preserve your soul.
8 The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
         From this time forth, and even forevermore.

6/2-Cheryl Ellis: Do you know Him as Father?

Tis So Sweet
As performed by Shea Norman

So Daddy, Daddy
How I trust You
How I prove You more and more
Daddy, Daddy, oh Daddy
My precious Daddy

I thank You for the grace
To trust You more
I thank You for the grace
To trust You more

LOVE Outruns all; it is a faster remedy!

John 20:2 (New King James Version)

2 Then she ran and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid Him.”

John 20:4 (New King James Version)

4 So they both ran together, and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

Just as John (the disciple whom Jesus loved) outran Peter (the Rock = truth, or the disciple that walked on water ~ faith), LOVE outruns, outshines (or rectifies) all other principles in the bible.  Love is the greatest commandment.

Matthew 22:36-40 (New King James Version)

36 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’[a] 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it:‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Got a problem today?  Put a little love on it!

More Than Anything - Lamar Campbell and Spirit Of Praise

You say rightly that I am a king

John 18:37 (New King James Version)

37 Pilate therefore said to Him, “Are You a king then?”
Jesus answered, “You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

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