DO WE CAUSE GRIEF?

Ephesians 4:30 (TLB) - Don't cause the Holy Spirit sorrow by the way you live.  Remember, he is the one who marks you to be present on that day when salvation from sin will be complete.

What exactly is this grief, or sorrow, that the Apostle Paul is speaking about in Ephesians 4:30?  I decided to check it out and found that it made me sad but, in a good sense, because it further opened my eyes to the way to live the abundant life and be pleasing to the Lord.  The sad thing is that many times, you and I have probably grieved the Holy Spirit!  We have distressed Him and caused Him to be sad.  To be sorrowful.  To be in heaviness.  In grief.  I sure know, from a personal point of view, what it means to grieve.  I'm sure you do too.  But, I just wonder how it is for the Holy Spirit.  There are so many of us that have known His kindness and received His gifts.  You'd think that we would be so grateful that we would never think of causing Him grief!  But, it seems that God's children have been doing that for ages!  Look what the prophet, Isaiah says about God's children in this passage.   Isaiah 63:8-10 (NLT)  ⁸ He said, “They are my very own people. Surely they will not betray me again.” And he became their Savior. ⁹ In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. ¹⁰ But they rebelled against him and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he became their enemy and fought against them.  The original word used here for, "grieved," means exactly that plus so much more.  It has the connotation of carving.  Oh my!  Could it be that the very people to whom God has given so much could carve on and grieve and pain His Spirit?  I don't like saying it, but it is true.  It is our choice to grieve the Holy Spirit or to submit to Him and walk in and with Him.

You might be asking, right about now, "So, how do we do this walking in and with Him?"  As I have been going through the book of Ephesians I have seen the Apostle, Paul, trying his best to let us know what we do to grieve the Holy Spirit.  There's a great deal of it spelled out in Ephesians 4.  God has sent his Spirit to us to guarantee our salvation.  All by itself, that is reason enough to want to keep from causing Him sorrow!  2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (NLT) ²¹ It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, ²² and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment that guarantees everything he has promised us.  Look at this verse from Ephesians 1:13-14 (TLB)  And because of what Christ did, all you others too, who heard the Good News about how to be saved, and trusted Christ, were marked as belonging to Christ by the Holy Spirit, who long ago had been promised to all of us Christians.  His presence within us is God's guarantee that he really will give us all that he promised; and the Spirit's seal upon us means that God has already purchased us and that he guarantees to bring us to himself.  This is just one more reason for us to praise our glorious God.  Okay, now we have a motive and reason not to bring sorrow to the Holy Spirit.  He is the very one in whom we are sealed so that we will one day finally see all the good that God has in store for us! 

Paul begs us to live and act in a way that is worthy of those who have been chosen.  That's us!  I remember that from Ephesians 1!  So, let me go back to the beginning of Ephesians 4 and, come with me if you will.  I know we all know all of these things already but, with all the distraction and loud voices coming from the world, it never hurts to have a little refresher course.  How to live as a believer, 101.  Be humble and gentle.  Be patient with each other.  Let your love make allowances for the faults of others.  Be at peace with one another.  Remember that we're all a part of one body and you and I are attached to each other somewhere along the line!  Remember that God has given us each special gifts and remember to use them to build up His Body.  Grow up in Christ (this is one that is certainly ongoing).  Don't be childish but be childlike in your faith.  Follow the truth, speak it and live it.  Don't be bound by blindness and confusion; keep your mind open to God and His Light.  Throw off your old evil nature, which includes lust and falsity.  Constantly be changing your attitudes and thoughts for the better.  (another one that is ongoing, for sure).  Be holy and be good.  Be clothed with a new nature.  Don't sin in your anger.  Give it up by nightfall.  Don't hold grudges and thereby give the devil a foothold.  Don't steal.  Be an industrious worker.  Give to others in need.  Don't use bad or crude language.  Say things that are uplifting and helpful to others.  Bless those around you!  Oh my goodness!  That is one big refresher course!!  I used the word, "you," many times in this paragraph and just because I may be pointing at you, you have to know that four other fingers are pointing right back at me.  All of us have an opportunity to grieve the Holy Spirit by the way we live.  We can choose to forget or ignore the fact that we are sealed by Him.  What does it mean to be sealed?  We are, in effect, stamped with God's personal signet, just as an earthly king might seal something with his signet.  The Maker of Heaven and Earth has placed His private mark on you and me so we can never be taken from His possession!  That's why this, "refresher course," is necessary for each and every one of us.  We also have the opportunity to live and act in a way that is worthy of being a child of God.  We don't have to grieve His Spirit.  We can be pleasing to His Spirit and walk in Him every step of the way.  Isn't it interesting that God always gives us a choice?  What is your choice today?

DO YOU REALIZE THAT YOU ARE A MINISTER?

Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)  ²⁹ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Most of us think, "clergy," when we hear the word, "minister."  We think about the ones who preach publicly and encourage the flock of God.  They put together lots of words in a logical and spiritual way and then speak them to those who attend church services.  But, I think that I see here in Ephesians 4:29  that you and I are ministers too.  We can either minister grace to our hearers or we can minister something less productive!  The word, "minister," simply means, "to give."  It can also mean, "to grant," "deliver," "bestow," "offer," and a few other things according to Strong's Dictionary.  An example can be of "seed yielding fruit," according to Vine's Dictionary.  As believers, we are supposed to be givers, and cheerful givers at that!  We are also supposed to bear fruit.  What can you and I give cheerfully today to God and others?  What is one way we can bear fruit?  We can do it with our words.  No wonder the Apostle, Paul, is telling us here to watch what we say!  The word, "corrupt," not only means, "corrupt," it also means, "worthless."  The main meaning is, "rotten," and it comes from a root word meaning, "putrify," and "perish."  Surely, as we speak to one another and even to ourselves, we must be careful of our words.  Not only those three and four letter words, but words that bring death to the hearer (and ourselves) instead of the grace that we are told to minister.  I was listening to a sermon just this morning and the preacher described words that are less than graceful as, vain, stupid, useless, powerless, and negative.  Obviously, this sort of talk will not be uplifting to the listener!

You and I are to speak life to the hearer (and the hearer includes our own self-talk).  God is the giver of life, the giver of good and fruitful words.  The enemy is the one who is out to steal, kill, and destroy - negative words if I have ever heard any negative words!  Proverbs 18:21 (AMP) ²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].  God is good!  He has given us great power in our tongue.  Power that can kill or give life.  The fact that we have such power is awesome but the prideful person is going to get into a mess here. The one who is meek will have the victory.  Meekness is power under control.  Our tongues are small but James says that when we misuse them, we're in for trouble!  James 1:26 (NKJV)  ²⁶ If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.  It appears that useless words make the user useless!  Not only is the user useless, he or she is deceived and he or she has done it to themselves!  I hate to say this and so I'm going to say that the Bible literally says that this person's worship is in vain.  It's profitless.  It's empty.  How many of us use idle words and then try to worship the Almighty God of the universe?  I have done that.  In fact, I spent the afternoon playing Scrabble with my daughter and we used some pretty idle words as we tried to think of words to play and found that we could think of lots of words that were not edifying.  Pretty scary when I realize that I will be held accountable for every idle word I speak!

Here's what Jesus says:  Matthew 12:35-37 (KJV)  ³⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  ³⁶ But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. ³⁷ For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.  Going back to Ephesians 4:29 again, this is how it is translated in the Amplified Version:   Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it.  Every one of us is a minister.  Every one of us speaks words.  What kind of words do we minister to others (and to ourselves)?  I know I have lots of work to do in this area, renewing my mind to speak only words that build up and add to my own and others spiritual growth.  Certainly, crude and abusive language is out of place in the life of any believer.  But then there are also those profitless, useless and idle words.  Proverbs 10:31-32 (NLT) ³¹ The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.  ³² The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.  Be encouraged today.  You are a minister! Minister words of encouragement to others to build them up!  Minister grace.  I'll be trying to do that right along with you! 

STEALING AND WORKING

Ephesians 4:28 (KJV)  ²⁸ Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.

Even though the times are economically hard today, work is a necessity.  When people don't work, they are tempted to steal.  This is a sad affair.   I am reminded of what the writer of Proverbs asked of the Lord.  Proverbs 30:8-9 (KJV)  ⁸ Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: ⁹ Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain.  This is a request by the writer to God to help him stay away from vanity and from telling lies.  I notice how this goes right along with what Paul has said in Ephesians about telling lies.  Proverbs 30:9 demonstrates that, if one is very poor, that one will be tempted to steal.  I also notice that, here in the King James Version, taking God's name in vain is right there with stealing.  If we say we believe, we need to stay away from all sorts of stealing!  My dad used to bring home pencils from the office.  At the time, I didn't realize that was stealing.  I know someone who has been known to take towels from hotel rooms and didn't feel that there was anything wrong with it.  I have been raised in a world that thinks it's all right to do this sort of thing.  As a result, when I started working, guess what I did?  I brought home pencils, tablets, notebooks, etc.  Then I learned from the Word of God that this was stealing!  Oh my, what a shock!  You see, I felt like I was a good upstanding person because I was ignorant of the Word of God in that area.  I just did what everybody else did!  Isn't it interesting that, when many people are doing something, it doesn't seem to be so wrong?  But, it is wrong to steal anything!

Well, I looked up the word, "steal," in the Greek.  Guess what it means?  It means - are you ready for this?  "Steal."  Nothing else but steal!  Whoever has stolen anything needs to work to make money to give to those in need.  Now, there's a novel reason for working!  We also have to work to sustain ourselves here on earth with food.  Again, if one doesn't work, that person will get hungry and be tempted to steal something to eat.  But, the Word of God says this:  2 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (NLT) ⁶ And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.  ⁷ For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.  ⁸ We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.  ⁹ We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.  ¹⁰ Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”  Ouch!  Work is necessary while we live on earth.  Someone in the family must work in order for the family to have food!  This may be a reminder to us to pray for those who are unemployed and homeless during these times.  Paul's words in verse eight remind me of when I was a young wife and mother.  My dad worked right next door to the apartment building in which I lived.  Sometimes he would come for lunch.  He always insisted on leaving me a little bit of money for the lunch I had prepared for him!  I didn't really want to take the money but, now I realize that he was teaching me a good principle!

Are you stealing?  Am I?  We can steal from one another and we can also steal from God!  Malachi 3:8 (KJV)⁸ Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  Oh my goodness!  This is a hard saying for some but I'm so glad that I didn't say it.  God did!  If we tithe on what we earn (that is giving a tenth), it will make a difference whether we work or not, won't it?  If we don't work, we won't have anything to give!  If we do work, and don't give back to the One who has given us the employment, we are stealing from God!  And, stealing may not just have to do with money.  How about your time?  How do you use it?  Are you idle (as Paul was talking about in 2 Thessalonians 3:6?  Without becoming religious about it, how much time do we give to God and others, compared to the time we spend for recreation?  It's just a thought - and one that I have to ask myself all the time.  My grandfather used to say, "Time is money."  It's very true that, from the moment you click that time card (if that is the way your place of employment records your work hours) until the time you click it again to go home, you are earning money!  It was your time in exchange for their money.  Now, what are we going to do with it?  First, we give a portion to God in thanksgiving for what He has given to us.  Secondly, we buy the food we need and provide for our family.  1 Timothy 5:8 (AMP) ⁸ If anyone fails to provide for his relatives, and especially for those of his own family, he has disowned the faith [by failing to accompany it with fruits] and is worse than an unbeliever [who performs his obligation in these matters].  After that, it's time to think about others who may not be as fortunate as ourselves.  I like the way the Living Bible paraphrases 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12:  This should be your ambition:  to live a quiet life, minding your own business and doing your own work, just as we told you before.  As a result, people who are not Christians will trust and respect you, and you will not need to depend on others for enough money to pay your bills.  Yes, working and stealing are used within the same verse in the Bible, Ephesians 4:28.  Working was not originally designed for us to amass toys and stuff.  I am not going to preach here because I would be preaching to myself.  I just wonder if our minds have been turned around by the enemy, in some cases, in this area.  The Apostle, Paul, says it like it is.  As I get further into the book of Ephesians, his words get harder and harder.  Yet, it is this same Paul that was willing, because of his love for God and others, to be chained in a dungeon and go through enormous hardship so that the message of the Gospel could get to the whole world!  So far, God has not asked me to make tents and spend what money I made to send the Good News out.  But, if He did ask me to do that, would I?  Would you?  Thank God, not many are called to such a task but we are all called to live as is described in 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.  If we are not living that way, it just may be that we are stealing from God and stealing the opportunity from others to hear about the salvation that Jesus offers! 

DON'T OFFER THE DEVIL A FOOTHOLD! 

Ephesians 4:26 - ²⁶ Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:   Neither give place to the devil.

There is one thing I know in this life, from experience.  If you give the devil an inch, he'll take a mile.  If we offer him a foothold in our lives, it will soon become a stronghold and, without repentance, and the grace and mercy of Jesus, we will not be able to break free.  Maybe you're reading this and thinking, "I wouldn't think of giving the devil a foothold!"  I wouldn't think of doing it either, but sometimes I do!  From my earliest years, a weakness in me has been to hold a grudge.  I believe I am growing out from that as Jesus reveals those places in my life; but I certainly do know that staying angry for a long period of time has many detrimental effects on our bodies, our minds, our relationships, and just about everything in our lives!  It all starts out with anger.  Have you met any really angry people?  They can explode at a moment's notice and you never know when it's going to happen.  It's quite like a terrorist attack!  By  the way, it's really a good idea not to be close friends with that kind of a person.  Proverbs 22:24-25 (KJV) ²⁴ Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go:  ²⁵ Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul.  You see, anger tends to be contagious!  If you stay around an angry person you will tend to become angry too!  Don't hang around with people who spill poison into the air with their outbursts of anger.  It's okay to be angry but harboring anger and showing outbursts of temper is not a way to handle that anger.  All that does is give the devil an open invitation to our lives!

God has given us a little formula here in Ephesians 4:26.  Don't lie down to go to sleep if you are still angry about something.  Exasperation, fury and indignation don't make for good bed fellows.  While you are sleeping with them, they will multiply and they will take over, making you sick in mind and body.  As I'm writing, I'm thinking of what we talked about yesterday, in that we should tell the truth in love.  Has someone offended you?  Has someone made you angry?  Before the sun goes down each day, make a choice to either just forgive that person or to go to them and tell them the truth, in love, about what they did to hurt you or cause offense.  Either way, let love be your guide.  Love for yourself and love for the other person.  After all, you may be going to bed being angry at someone who isn't even aware that they did anything wrong!  You let it eat away at you and, pretty soon, you're sick and the other person is going along merrily through life never knowing they have been a stumbling block in your life.  Never having the opportunity, if they so choose, to make amends and receive your forgiveness!

One commentary that I read says that Paul is saying that we should deal with any anger immediately so that relationships are built rather than destroyed.  Can you remember any time in your life when you stayed angry so long that a relationship broke apart?  And, just maybe, you can't even remember the incident that started it!  Oh, doesn't the enemy love that!  Now, he has a foothold in at least one person's life and maybe two!  And, maybe neither of you can remember what started the whole thing. You just bottled up that anger, refused to confront the situation in loving truth and kept feeding it.  Now, the enemy may even have a stronghold because that anger will spill over into ever facet of your life.  I know this for sure.  I have been an angry person, I have lived with angry people, and I have seen many relationships corrupted by anger!  Here's an interesting Biblical admonition regarding anger.  Ecclesiastes 7:9 (AMP) ⁹ Do not be quick in spirit to be angry or vexed, for anger and vexation lodge in the bosom of fools.  Oh my! Why make a fool out of myself by being angry and vexed?  Jesus said an interesting thing about anger too.  Matthew 5:21-26 (NLT)  ²¹ “You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ ²² But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.  ²³ “So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you,  ²⁴ leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God.  ²⁵ “When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison.  ²⁶ And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny.  Well, after reading this, it looks like an angry person may fall into the category of, not only a fool, but that of a murderer too!  Venting anger in the wrong way can surely destroy another's esteem.  It can effectively kill their person hood, making them unable to meet their God-given potential.  It looks like God doesn't even want our offerings if we are at odds with another person.  He wants us to be right, not only with Him, but with others also.  Some of us are more prone to anger than others.  It will take a bit more discipline on our part, if we are prone to anger, to get everything settled before we go to sleep at night.  Is there someone that you need to talk to before night falls?  The Lord will bless us and Satan will have to leave us alone if we will be sure to turn an angry situation around before we go to sleep!

FOR THE SAKE OF UNITY 

Ephesians 4:25 (NLT)
²⁵ So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body.

I am just sitting here trying to imagine what would happen if my wrist allowed the wrong message to pass through to my hand as I type.  If that happened, I doubt if the message I am trying to send you here would come out right!  My body would not be working right so there would be some malfunction somewhere along the line.  Do you think that's the way it is with the Body of Christ?  As I have thought, and said, many times before, if one part is not working right, the rest of the body suffers!  1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (AMP)  ²⁵ So that there should be no division or discord or lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in and care for one another.  ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it.  ²⁷ Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].

Ephesians 4:25 is translated this way in the King James Version: Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Lying doesn't just include telling a bold-faced lie.  What about the woman that buys that new dress and puts it in the back of the closet for six months.  The first time she wears it, and her husband says, "Is that new?", she feels okay to say, "No, it's not new, I've had it for quite a while!"  The truth might be that she knew she shouldn't have bought it at the time she purchased it and she didn't want to risk her husband's wrath or disapproval.  I've done that!  However, that is included in the word, lying.  Deception is included in the word lying.  If we purposefully deceive another, we are using the same tactics the enemy used in the garden with Eve.  We are either not telling the whole truth or perhaps just saying what will please the listener.  It's interesting that this can become a pattern within us and we can begin to believe our own lies!  Have you ever met anyone like that?  I certainly don't want to be that person and I'm sure you don't either.  Falsity, as the Amplified version translates this portion of scripture, is very detrimental to ourselves, as well as the whole Body of Christ.  The, "old person," that we have been talking about lately in the Morning Manna, will deceive themselves.  God has already told us that the heart is deceitful above all things!  Jeremiah 17:9-10 (KJV)  ⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? ¹⁰ I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.  That's why we have to guard our hearts against deception.  Proverbs 4:23 (AMP)  ²³ Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.   It's bad enough when we deceive our own selves, but, worse yet, when we become less than transparent and deceive someone in the Body of Christ, putting up a veil or a blockage in the flow of the whole body!

Everything that is in our heart will one day come out our mouth.  Matthew 12:34-36 (AMP)  ³⁴ You offspring of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil (wicked)? For out of the fullness (the overflow, the superabundance) of the heart the mouth speaks.  In this passage, we hear Jesus talking to the Pharisees.  He's not happy with them because they don't walk their talk.  They, for the most part, are living a lie.  We don't want to be in that crowd!  But, here is how Jesus compares the good person and the evil person.  ³⁵ The good man from his inner good treasure flings forth good things, and the evil man out of his inner evil storehouse flings forth evil things.  If the good man flings forth good things, that obviously does not include deception or lies!  One day we will all have to give account for every inoperative or nonworking word we speak.  A lie will not qualify for something that works in the Kingdom of God.  ³⁶ But I tell you, on the day of judgment men will have to give account for every idle (inoperative, nonworking) word they speak.  So, for our own good, and for the good of the Body, we need to encourage one another to speak the truth at all times.  We belong to Jesus, who is the Truth, so deception and falsehood are totally opposed to the One we claim to follow!  All through the Bible, God lets us know that truth is to be spoken.  Zechariah 8:16-17 (KJV) ¹⁶ These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:  ¹⁷ And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.  The Lord hates lies!  And, no wonder!  It brings division, strife, and dis-unity to His children!    Colossians 3:9-11 (KJV)  ⁹ Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; ¹⁰ And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: ¹¹ Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  All of us believers are in this Body together.  We can either be a healthy part of the Body and help the Body to function correctly.  Or, we can fail to put off the deception and lying that we might have done before we were made a part of the Body.  It's not always easy to tell the truth!  Some people are put off by the truth, especially if it hurts.  Just telling the truth can be dangerous and even hurtful.  But, since most of us love our bodies and would do nothing to not purposefully hurt them, so also ought we to love the Body of Christ enough to tell the truth in love!  Ephesians 4:15-16 (KJV)  ¹⁵ But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: ¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  Wonder of wonders!  When we stop all lies and deception and tell the truth in love, we will begin to grow up into Christ!  We will begin to actually look like the One we follow and be effective in making Him known to the world! 

DOES THIS DESCRIBE YOU?

Ephesians 4:24 (TLB) - Yes, you must be a new and different person, holy and good.  Clothe yourself with this new nature.

Would you describe yourself as a new and different person?  Would you describe yourself as holy and good?  Even if you can't see it yet, that's how God describes you if you are a follower of Jesus and you have made Him the Lord of your life.  Now the enemy will try to tell you differently.  He will try to drudge up your past and convince you that you can't possibly be new, different, holy and good!  Let's not forget that the enemy is a liar and He has been that before and since his garden encounter with our sister, Eve.  He tried to tell her that she was not good enough the way she was, even though she lived in the perfect environment and had close communion with God.  He tried to tell her that she was not a new person.  But, she was a new person. She was the first woman that lived on earth - new.  He tried to tell her all sorts of twisted things.  Yes, some of the things he told her were true, but he was speaking out of context.  He's an expert in twisting the truth!  In this case, as the Apostle, Paul, speaks to us, we see that he is saying that we must be a new person.  A person that is different than the person we used to be.  Does that describe us? New?

This is how Ephesians 4:24 is translated in the King James Version of the scripture.  Ephesians 4:24 (KJV)  ²⁴ And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  The word, "new," in this verse indicates, "freshness."  Are you and I new in the sense that we are a person that we are unaccustomed to being?  Are we new in the sense that we are now a person that is new and usable to God?  This has nothing to do with our age but it does have to do with our form and the quality of our lives.  When we receive Jesus, our spirit is made brand new.  A new character begins to form in us and continues to form in us as we go through the events of life.  God is using everything in our lives, past, present and future, good and bad, to work it altogether for good so that we will be conformed to the image of His Son.  Romans 8:28-29 (NLT) ²⁸ And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.  ²⁹ For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.  Do we really believe that?  Some of us have done some really awful things in our BC (before Christ) lives.  Some of us have had to endure great hardship.  Some of us have been able to accomplish great things in our lives.  All the good and the bad are being dumped into God's big mixing bowl and stirred, molded and shaped into a masterpiece.  A new creature.  A fresh creature.  Does that describe us?  It does if we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior.

God is not working this thing by Himself though.  He tells us, through Paul, to do something.  What is that thing that we need to do?  What is our part in this new creation?  We have to "put on," this new creation.  What does that mean?  Literally, it means that we have to be willing to sink into this new garment!  Does that describe us?  As God molds, are we willing to "sink in," to the new person He is creating?  The one that looks just like Him?  Have we arrayed ourselves with this new person that God has made for us to be and wear?  We do have a choice here.  God can give us all things but it's up to us to receive these things and put them to use.  He doesn't want just a form of a new person.  He wants that new person that will fully buy into His will and conform to His plan!  In our, "old person," state, this was not possible, so God has offered us new clothes.  Clothes that look good both from the inside and the outside!  Fresh, clean clothes.  But, have we put on this garment? This new person?  How can we tell?  How will other people tell?  How can God tell?  Well, we, others, and God, will begin to see within ourselves the following:  righteousness and true holiness! This righteousness will not be, "self-righteousness," that we sometimes find within ourselves and others.  It will be the righteousness of Christ, which will enable us to have actions and motives like those of Christ.  Our character will be changed for the better.  Much better!  This word was formerly spelled, "rightwiseness."  That makes lots of sense!  We will be wise in our motives, thoughts, and actions!  Just like Jesus!  It will be very evident that we are truly holy.  Not like those who just look holy, those who may do lots of good things but without pure motives.  This will be a true, pure and transparent holiness that reveals our Savior!  Have we done our part?  Have we put on this new man (new person)?  Does this describe who I am?  Does this describe you?    

RENEWAL REQUIRES REFUSAL

Ephesians 4:23 (KJV)  And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.

Have you renewed your mind lately?  It should be a constant process.  I know, for sure, that it is with me and I really don't like it when I am prompted to renew my mind because it has gone wandering back into things from the past.  It requires a decision on my part which is not always easy!  The Apostle, Paul, had much wise advice for us!  He said that we need to forget the things of the past!  Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)  ¹³ Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,  ¹⁴ I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  Well, he did not exactly command us to do this.  Instead, he set an example for us to follow, like any true and good teacher would do.  It is logical that we can't press forward if we're clinging to the past.  Both the good and bad of the past!  Since renewal of our minds is a process, every day we should be farther along in our spiritual walk than we were the day before!  Can you look back on your former days and see that you are different now than you were then?  For the better?  That's what happens when we continually renew our minds in the Word of God.  If you don't feel that you have made much progress when you look back for a moment, or if you find that you have actually gone backwards, can you remember how much you have purposed to open the Word of God and renew your mind?   Romans 12:1-2 (KJV)  ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  Our progress in walking with the Lord is partly based on our decision to follow what He says about being transformed by the renewing of our minds!  This transformation cannot occur unless we have been studying and meditating on His Words to us.

Earlier in Ephesians 4, Paul has been admonishing us to refuse to live like those who do not believe.  Yes!  Refusal is a big part of renewal!  Is that what we are really doing?  Refusing the ways of the world that are in opposition to the ways and plan of God for our lives?  Paul talks about the ways of unbelievers but then he says this:  Ephesians 4:20 (KJV) But ye have not so learned Christ;  In other words, we should have learned better ways from Jesus if we were really listening to, and following, Him.  Have we learned the truth that comes from Jesus by opening His Word and reading each day?  Not just reading, but even hiding that Word within ourselves?   Psalm 119:11 (KJV)  ¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  When His Word is stored in our minds and its roots grow down deep into our hearts, we won't need a Bible in order to show someone the way to Jesus!  We will be living epistles of His salvation and goodness!  How can that happen?  By the constant renewal of our minds.  Our thinking is going to determine our actions.  When we feast on His Word, we will constantly be nourishing the, "new man," sometimes even surprising ourselves with a brand new set of actions! 

In order to show that we have really heard Jesus, and that we're really following Him, we do have to refuse the old ways of the world and take off our old nature.   Ephesians 4:22-23 (AMP) ²² Strip yourselves of your former nature [put off and discard your old unrenewed self] which characterized your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion; ²³ And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude],  Most of us would willingly take off a piece of clothing that was filthy, tattered, didn't fit right, or really made us look bad.  All the more, we should be willing to take off our former nature and begin or continue in the process of renewing our minds so that we start to think, look, and act, more and more like our Savior.  Paul talks about the refusal of worldly ways many times in the scripture. Romans 6:6-8 (AMP)  ⁶ We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin. ⁷ For when a man dies, he is freed (loosed, delivered) from [the power of] sin [among men].  ⁸ Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him,  Jesus has done the work for us.  He took all of our old, "selves," to the cross and they were destroyed there.  Now, it's our turn to live in the abundant life He has purchased for us.  Like Lazarus had to get the grave clothes off after Jesus raised him from the dead, we have to encourage one another to take off our former nature.  No more wearing stinky grave clothes that smell of death!  We are new creatures in the process of becoming more and more like Jesus.   2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV)  ¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  Now, we have a choice.  We can refuse to renew by not throwing away our old ways and becoming new, as we let God's Word transform us.  Or, we can refuse and renew by refusing our old thoughts and ways, by refusing to walk and think like the world, letting God's thoughts constantly renew our minds.  Which one of these things are you and I doing as we live out each of our days?

Ephesians 4:19 (KJV)
¹⁹ Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

ARE WE WITHOUT A SENSE OF SHAME?

Have you noticed that the word, "shame," is not really a popular word in today's culture?  Most people want to do exactly what they want to do without regard to God's principles.  Modern psychology pretty much tells us not to feel shameful.  I totally agree!  However, if we're going against God's Word, there is something to feel shameful about!  When we totally disregard God's Word and have no sense of shame, we're in a dangerous place!  Please tell me if I'm wrong about the fact that the majority of the world today should feel some shame and do something about it, but they don't.  I wonder if there are areas in my own life where I should check my own sense of shame.  In Ephesians 4:19, Paul speaks of those who are past feeling.  Do any of us believers find places in our lives where we get beyond feeling?  Beyond a sense of shame when we go against God's Word?  How does this come about?  Ephesians 4:17 (KJV)  ¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  According to Paul, it happens when we don't refuse to walk a different way than those who do not believe.  We insist in walking in the vanity of our own mind!  I'm going to paint this word picture for myself (and for you) once again, even though it is really disgusting.  If we walk in our own ways, we walk in the vanity of our own minds.  We end up without purpose and not useable.  We have a sense of wandering and we open ourselves to all sorts of false teaching and even awful sin.  We end up morally depraved.  Taking this word down to its root, we find that  we are empty, profitless, idol and vain.  Ouch!  God doesn't do this to us.  We do it to ourselves!  Ephesians 4:18 (KJV)  ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  Why would anyone choose to do something like that to themselves?  Do we ever refuse to open our eyes?  I mean the eyes of our hearts.  As the saying goes, "If you don't use it, you lose it."  We can become blind in our heart by not opening our heart's eyes to God's Word and His ways!  We might think we're pretty smart, but, in actuality, we become ignorant!  Blind!  Not of any use!  Shameful but not realizing it!

Paul speaks of this same principle in Romans 1.  He shows the downward spiral of those who do not acknowledge God and then, in a process, become totally morally depraved.  It's a very slippery slope!  There was a time in my life that I prayed and I thought I was right but I was doing shameful things!  Praise the Lord, He opened my eyes to this error and has had me in a process of regeneration for years, slowly giving me back my heart's vision.  I certainly don't recommend this road in life!  No!  It is better to make the choice to realize that there are some things that are shameful.  God gives us a choice.  We can think, those things, watch those things, and do those things.  But, the final result will be that we end up with the understanding of our hearts darkened.  Have you ever met anyone like that?  They may say thy are a Christian but their actions don't add up.  Dangerous.  I know!  Been there, done that!  As one who has received understanding in our hearts from the Lord, it is our job to see if we can restore these that are on their way down because they feel no shame about the things they are doing that displease the Lord.  Galatians 6:1 (AMP)  ¹ BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also.  Just because we may have the understanding of our own hearts enlightened, we must remember that it is only by the grace of God that we do not walk in the vanity of our minds.  Yes, we have made the choice to follow him, but we all still have our souls calling us, from time to time, to shameful things.  As they say, and rightly so, when we see someone walking in the wrong direction, even without any feeling of same, "There, but for the grace of God, go I."

I didn't know this until I looked up the word that the New Living Translation names as, "shame," and the KJV translates as, "being past feeling," actually means to become apathetic.  In other words, we stop feeling pain when we walk on the rocks of sin, we become callous and insensible to shame!  The very sad thing is that we do have a choice.  As I mentioned in an earlier, "Morning Manna," there is scientific proof that we actually have a physiological place in our brain that allows us free will.  We can think what we will, but if we feed the wrong thoughts, they will become permanently implanted in our brain.  Scripture says that people who have no sense of shame do it to themselves.  How God must grieve at our wrong choices!  But, but, He is always waiting to extend grace when we turn to Him in repentance.  He's not willing that any of us should slide down that slippery slope of sin until we are totally apathetic and ignorant and don't even know it!  2 Peter 3:9-14 (NLT)  ⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. ¹¹ Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, ¹² looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames.  ¹³ But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.  ¹⁴ And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.  We have a choice as to live in repentance and encourage one another to stay away from being lascivious (having filthy behavior, uncontrolled speaking, and disregarding decency).  We have a choice to live in repentance and encourage one another to live pure lives, or not.  We have a choice to live in repentance and encourage one another to stay away from  greediness (which includes fraud and extortion).  Let us not be past feeling and ignore the fact that some things are shameful.  But, if we are in Christ and truly following Him, we can rejoice in the fact that He took all of our shame upon Him and forgiveness is available to anyone who will choose it!  Hebrews 12:2 (NLT)  ² We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.  Yes!  All of our shame was carried by Jesus to the cross.  Let's determine to live in thankfulness and repentance, knowing that we can receive understanding in our minds and live out God's Word instead of being like those who love darkness more than light and are not willing to have their heart's enlightened by His Light.  While we are living in the Light, let's try to let it shine on others so that no one will have a darkened mind and heart, but that all around us will come to repentance!

WITH WHAT IS YOUR MIND FILLED?

Ephesians 4:18  (KJV)  ¹⁸ Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

Many years ago, I wanted to see what it would be like to be blind; so I walked around with my eyes closed in my bedroom and into the dressing room and bathroom to see if I could function.  It's not that easy!  I'm glad I did not try to descend the stairs just outside my bedroom door!  It's not great to walk in blindness.  I have great compassion for those who have never had, or  have lost, their physical sight.  Because I have problems with my eyes, I can relate somewhat, but not totally.  But, worse than physical blindness is spiritual blindness.  Or, as the King James Version translates it, having the understanding of your mind being darkened.  Having blindness of heart.  Yesterday, I mentioned that all thoughts are either fear or faith based.  Fearful thoughts are full of darkness.  Faith-filled thoughts (that is faith in the one true God) are full of The Light!  The great thing is that we have the choice of which thoughts we will think!  According to the original meaning of the word, "understanding," if our understanding is darkened we will be incapable of deep thought.  Things we should be able to see and understand will be obscured.  This is what happens when we deliberately choose to think thoughts of fear instead of faith.  When we fail to constantly renew our minds in God's Word.

God is not a dictator.  He is a loving and compassionate Lord but He will not put up with stubbornness forever.  He does not have to punish us.  We can bring on punishment ourselves by thinking these wrong thoughts which will eventually come through in wrong actions!  The Apostle, Paul, in Ephesians 4 is urging us not to walk as those who do not believe in Christ.  We are not to walk in the vanity of our minds.  If you want to see that ugly picture, go back to yesterday's, "Morning Manna."  When we insist on the wrong thoughts and follow the vanity of our own minds, we become alienated from the life of God.  Let me say one thing here.  There is no  real life without God.  He is the life giver.  It is only because of Him that you and I can sit here and read this today.  That we have another breath.  That we have the eyesight to read.  That we have any life at all.  Acts 17:28 (KJV)  ²⁸ For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.  But, if we walk in the vanity of our minds, we alienate ourselves from God.  Being alienated from God means that we are far from Him, estranged, and a non-participator with Him.  Pretty scary!  Probably thinking that we are wise and intellectual (or perhaps just through ignoring God because we're distracted by other things), the alienation takes place.  God will not force us to acknowledge or worship Him.  At least not just yet but there is coming a day when everyone will be forced to do that, even those who have ignored God.   Romans 14:11 (AMP)  ¹¹ For it is written, As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God [acknowledge Him to His honor and to His praise]. 

 Why not do it today, by deliberate choice?  2 Corinthians 6:2 (NLT) ² For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.  Why choose to be dead in sin and the vanity of our minds when the Life-Giver offers us abundant life?  John 10:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.

So!  What are our hearts filled with?  Faith or fear?  Darkness or Light?  It's our choice.  The New Living Translation states it this way:  Ephesians 4:18 (NLT) ¹⁸ Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him.  From all that I can glean out of these few scriptures in Ephesians 4, you and I have a choice as to what we will fill our hearts with!  Jesus has promised to shed His Light within our hearts.  How does He do that?  With His love and by the Holy Spirit.  Romans 5:5 (KJV)  ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  Praise God, His love and His light are in you and me if we have chosen to walk with Him and keep our thoughts directed in His direction!  Do we want to be what Jesus said we are?  The light of the world?  We can't give what we don't have so, if our hearts are filled with darkness, we can't be the light of the world and so many others will go astray, especially if we are claiming the name of Christ and walking in the darkness at the same time.  Jesus gave his disciples a clue.  He told them to ignore such people. Matthew 15:13-14 (NLT)  ¹³ Jesus replied, “Every plant not planted by my heavenly Father will be uprooted, ¹⁴ so ignore them. They are blind guides leading the blind, and if one blind person guides another, they will both fall into a ditch.”   The disciples knew to ignore such people.  However, the world out there doesn't know who it ignore.  That is evidenced every night in the news!  Somebody is listening to what you and I say and then they are watching what we do.  Because our hearts and understanding are enlightened with the Light of the world, will those around us be drawn to His Kingdom? Or, because we are saying one thing and doing another, will they (whose minds are already darkened) continue to walk in confusion and ignorance?  What fills our hearts today?  May it be that the Light of the world shines forth from each one of us as we go about our daily business.  Just think how much brighter the world would be if only those of us reading this would let our light pour from our hearts, taking the risk of letting it shine on everybody with whom we come in contact!  Is it time to give it a try?

HOW IS YOUR WALK? 

Ephesians 4:17  (KJV)  ¹⁷ This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,

How and where are you walking today?  We know, from scripture that we are to walk in a certain way, which will be pleasing to God and demonstrate to those around us that we are His people.  So, the Apostle, Paul, says to us that the Lord does not want us to walk in certain ways.  That is, He does not want us to follow after or be occupied with things that occupy the minds of those who have not experienced the salvation of Christ.  So, what is your mind occupied with this morning?  We have a choice as to what we will occupy our minds with and, what we occupy our minds with will determine how we walk!  Wow!  I just realized that I cannot think about going shopping while writing the Morning Manna!  Great news!  I have chosen to think about this and not that!  You can do it too.  There is a scientist, Dr. Caroline Leaf, who explains that we actually have a physical part in our brain that God has given us where, when a thought comes into our mind, we have free will to receive it or discard it!  What are you and I doing in that little God-placed and given center of our brain about how we think?  How and what we think about will determine what we are occupied with.  According to Dr. Leaf, we have four days to change a thought when it comes in and in twenty-one days, we can change a whole thought pattern!

Paul is telling us not to have set thought patterns, and consequently walk like, people who have not received Christ, had their minds renewed by His Word, and walk in the calling and gift that God has given them!  It's pretty easy to get caught in this type of thinking and walking today because it seems that the voices and the draw of this world is much louder and stronger than that of Christ.  However, there is nothing more powerful than someone who has received Christ, renewed their mind in His Word, walks in the gift and calling God has placed on them, and is accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit!  These people can do all things, as Christ strengthens them to walk in the right way and be occupied with the right things!  Here is what the New Living Translation says about those who walk outside of Christ and His Way.  Ephesians 4:17 (NLT)  ¹⁷ With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused.  I don't know about you, but I don't want to walk around confused all the time.  I've been there, done that, still do it sometimes, but sure don't want to.  God doesn't want that for us either.  Thoughts that go unchecked create chaos in our brain.  This is something that Dr. Leaf writes about in her book, "Who Switched Off My Brain?".  Because God always equips us, somehow, to do what He has asked us to do, I am excited about the fact that He has equipped our brains with certain centers that allow us to decide what to think and how long to think it, either creating toxic formations in our brain or creating good healthy formations!  Paul says that we need to create those good healthy connections to be able to walk the right way on this earth.  God has given us a sound mind.  2 Timothy 1:7 (AMP)  ⁷ For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.  Yes!  God has given us a sound mind but it is our choice to walk in it or not!  We are not robots.  We're made for relationship, by choice!

So, Paul is telling us to choose not to walk in the vanity of our minds like those who have not received Christ.  Have you ever met anyone who says they belong to Christ but walk just like the world walks?  We all do that to some extent and, for some, who are infants in Christ, we need to help them along to walk in the right way.  The best way to help is to walk the right way ourselves and take them on the walk with us so they can see how to do it, rather than trying to beat them over the head with it.  Now, in this modern age, science can help us to prove that God has not asked us to do anything that He has not equipped us to do.  In that little place in our brain where free-will is given, we can make the choice about which things we will be occupied with and which things we will discard!  Dr. Leaf also explains that all thoughts in our brain are either fear or faith based.  Now, we know that faith pleases God. Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)  ⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out].  So, spiritually, we should choose only thoughts of faith and none of fear.  Even science and anatomy prove this conclusion!  Is that exciting or what!  Our walk, and our actions, will be a product of what thoughts we choose to take in and whether we choose to think thoughts of faith or thoughts of fear.  God wants you and me to make the right choice!  He gives us the spiritual power and the physical anatomy to do it!  The choice we make will determine whether or not we walk in the vanity of those who have not received Christ.  Do you want to know what vanity means, as Paul describes how we are not to walk?  I thought I wanted to know so I looked up the Greek word.  Now, I'm not so sure I really wanted to know.  It's not very pretty, but thank God, we have a choice!  Vanity, according to Strong's Dictionary means, "inutility, transientness, and moral depravity."  It is not God's will that we should behave like that!  He tells us not to.  But, He leaves the choice to us.  What will it be?  I certainly do not want to be caught walking in the vanity of my mind.  I want my mind to be utilized for God's purposes and pleasure.  I don't want to be transient, never focusing on what God wants.  I, for sure, do not want to be caught in moral depravity (which I believe goes far beyond sexual depravity and includes such things as pride, greed, bitterness, etc.).  That being said, let me say that I do fall from time to time into one or another of these things because I have not made a clear and on-purpose choice to only think faith thoughts and walk in them.  Walking along a fear-based path will always lead to a fall because there are rocks of sin along the way that will make us stumble over and over again.  Walking along a faith-based path will lead us closer and closer to and into the purposes of God for our lives; and these purposes will never disappoint us.  They will be more than we can ask or believe (Ephesians 3:20) and they will be good.  (Jeremiah 29:11)  Not only that, His goodness and mercy will follow us all of our lives! (Psalm 23:6)  How we walk is our choice.  Making the right choices along the way will make our paths straight and level!

STOP BEING TOSSED! 

Ephesians 4:14 (KJV) ¹⁴ That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Have you ever been an a quandary?  Are you ever like the character, Tevia, in "Fiddler on the Roof," when he was talking to God and saying, "God, on the one hand, but then on the other hand........."  Why do we sometimes get like that?  We become tossed like a sail boat adrift on a rough ocean.  That's not the way God wants us to live.  What He would like in our lives is that we live in order.  That we operate in whatever gift He has given us to help complete His Body.  No.  The Lord doesn't want His children to be tossed to and fro.  To be confused as to which teachings are really true.  To be deceived by others.  It's not His will that we be immature, childish, simple-minded, or a "minor," in the Spirit.  Being tossed to and fro will cause us to fluctuate in our beliefs.  We may stray from the One who says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." It is not God's will that we should be carried around to different doctrines.  We need to be rooted and grounded in Jesus!  We need to stay fixed on the Rock of our salvation, immovable, and steadfast.  Do you ever feel like you're being carried around, drifting and even being stuck in a raging sea of doubt?  That's why Paul writes that we should not be infants in the faith.  It is only ye staying in His Word and staying connected to other rooted and grounded believers that we can be mature in Christ and discern the difference between true and false teaching.  Yes, Satan is working through people who say that they are of God, but they are really wolves in sheep's clothing.  They do not teach according to the scripture.  They are crafty and they are just waiting to try to deceive one of God's chosen ones.  We are told by the Lord not to be children any more.  In other words, "grow up."  

What does it mean to grow up, spiritually?  Ephesians 4:15 (KJV)   But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  For one thing, we need to begin speaking the truth of God's Word to ourselves and to others.  We don't need to speak the Word in condemnation like we see that Job's friends did.  They spoke what was right but not at the right time or in the right place and they spoke it in order to put Job down instead of build him up.  Job 2:11 (KJV)
¹¹ Now when Job's three friends heard of all this evil that was come upon him, they came every one from his own place; Eliphaz the Temanite, and Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite: for they had made an appointment together to come to mourn with him and to comfort him.  As we see in Job 2:11, his, "friends," made an appointment to meet him and mourn with him and comfort him.  Now, they were really skilled at telling the truth but not skilled at using it for the right reasons and for telling it in love!  Job 32:1-5 (NLT)  ¹ Job’s three friends refused to reply further to him because he kept insisting on his innocence. ² Then Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite, of the clan of Ram, became angry. He was angry because Job refused to admit that he had sinned and that God was right in punishing him.  ³ He was also angry with Job’s three friends, for they made God appear to be wrong by their inability to answer Job’s arguments.  ⁴ Elihu had waited for the others to speak to Job because they were older than he.  ⁵ But when he saw that they had no further reply, he spoke out angrily.   Elihu's first mistake was probably to speak out in anger instead of in love.  What a mess!  Poor Job!  He was hearing truth but it was being used against him instead of used to comfort him and build him up again.  If you have ever been down and been condemned or had people around you arguing amongst themselves, you know how discouraging and hurtful that can be!  We need to be able to build each other up in the body of Christ and tell the truth (even the hard  to take truth) in so much love that it cannot possibly be denied!

Telling the truth in love helps us stick together properly, each supplying what the other needs according to our spiritual gifts!  This is how it's stated in the New Living Translation  Ephesians 4:16 (NLT)  ¹⁶ He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love.  We all know what happens when we don't take care of our physical bodies.  They fall apart.  If we are too hard on one part or another, it begins to wear out and the rest of our parts have to work harder at things they were not meant to do in order to compensate for the damage to the injured or worn out part!  Just think of that in the Body of Christ!  Each one of us is a part.  Are we broken or weakened to the point that we can't do our jobs?  Then, the rest of the body will suffer.  It will force the Body to focus on itself rather than doing the will of God in the world!  God wants us to work closely together building ourselves up just like a body-builder would build himself or herself up.  The only difference is that they use weights and we count on love.  God is love.  So, we first have to look to God for the love that will create unity and proper function.  It is God who fits the whole body together perfectly.  Maybe He has placed you as a wrist and you want to be a foot.  You're not going to function very well and neither is the rest of the body if you insist on acting like a wrist.  Aren't you glad to have each working part of your physical body in just the right place?  We usually try to keep it all looking good and working right.  All the more, we should work together to see the Body of Christ work properly. We can't do that if we act like children, always being tossed around with all the new spiritual ideas that come down the pike.  We've got to grow up!  Grow up in Christ! We've got to know and speak the truth, not to put each other down but because we love one another enough to stick together as a Body, doing what we're called to do!  Babies are cute but a fifty year old person that acts like an infant is not pretty at all!  Infants are totally dependent on someone else to carry them around, but watch out when they start walking!  Then they are less apt to want to be picked up and carried because they have grown out of that stage!  Don't be tossed and carried by every wind of doctrine.  Let's grow up in Christ!

GRACE - WE'VE ALL BEEN GIVEN SOME 

Ephesians 4:7 (KJV) ⁷ But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

Grace!  We have all been given grace, even grace in abundance.  It is in proportion to the measure of Christ's gift, which is rich and bounteous.  Grace is also defined as divine influence upon our heart.  Paul tells me in Ephesians that I have been given an abundance of divine influence on my heart.  I notice it says, influence.  It doesn't say that I have to receive it, only that the influence of God is there ready to work in my heart, if I will receive it.  Wow!  Grace is given to every one of us!  In abundance!  Have we received it all?  Every day, I see and experience more of God's grace in my life and heart.  Because we are given this grace out of the abundance of Christ, as a gift, we ought to, maybe, be more thankful for every time we realize that grace is working in our hearts and lives!  This grace that we each have been given is also totally free and unmerited.  There is nothing we can do to buy it or to earn it.  But, we do have to receive it in order to have a relationship with our Father.  We have to realize that, in our natural state, we are sinners and that it is only by this unmerited favor, or grace, that we can be brought back into the family of God and become useful family members, receiving all the abundant blessings that come with such position!

Paul goes on to say that Jesus led captives captive when He ascended to Heaven.  That is, He, according to Vincent's Studies, led His enemies captive (Satan, sin, and death).  Several commentaries link this activity to what is mentioned in Colossians 2:15:  Colossians 2:15 (NLT)  ¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  In Colossians 2:14, it says that Jesus canceled the record of charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross (NLT).  Grace caused you and me to have the charges of sin against us dropped (if we have received His grace through Jesus).  It also was the weapon that disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities and shamed them publicly!  There is nothing that they can now bring against a believer!  They are disarmed so that they cannot force condemnation on us any longer!  Romans 8:1-2 (NLT)  ¹ So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  ² And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.  Grace has given us freedom while it allowed Jesus to take as His captives sin, death and Satan (with all of his followers)!

When Jesus got the evil powers taken care of, He gave gifts to men and women.  Matthew Henry says that every believer is given some gift of grace.  It is not for us only, but so that we can be of mutual help to one another as a family in Christ.  Ephesians 4:8 (KJV)   ⁸ Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  There is no greater gift that Jesus could give to us believers than the gift of His Spirit!  And He has poured this gift upon all who will receive Him!  He did it through the Apostle, Peter, and He is still pouring today!  Acts 2:33 (NLT)  ³³ Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today.  Is His Spirit flowing out of us too so that others can receive?  Jesus has ascended to Heaven where He sits once again at the right hand of our Father.  He is pouring out gifts upon us who are ready to receive them.  But, before He ascended, He descended.  Ephesians 4:9 (KJV)   ⁹ (Now that he  ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  Why did He have to do that?  Ephesians 4:9 (AMP)  ⁹ (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  It was so that He could fill everything in the universe with Himself!  Ephesians 4:10 (KJV)  ¹⁰ He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  So!  No wonder the scripture declares that the whole earth will be filled with His glory.  Numbers 14:21 (AMP)  ²¹ But truly as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord,  No wonder in another place in scripture God is declared to be over all in the heavens and the earth!  1 Chronicles 29:11-12 (NLT)  ¹¹ Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty. Everything in the heavens and on earth is yours, O LORD, and this is your kingdom. We adore you as the one who is over all things.  ¹² Wealth and honor come from you alone, for you rule over  everything. Power and might are in your hand, and at your discretion people are made great and given strength.  Everything that you and I enjoy today comes from God and from His grace which is poured out on us who believe!  No one needs to be left out but the only way to have the measure of grace God has provided for us is to receive it through Jesus Christ!  If we are believers already, each and every one of us has some grace.  We all have some!  Now, let's go share it with others! 

ONLY ONE

Ephesians 4:6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Ephesians 4:4-6 shows me in three short verses that God is all about unity.  Yet, in our world today, it's almost like it must have been in  Isaiah's day.  Isaiah 53:6 (KJV)  ⁶ All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  Today, everybody, and his brother, has a different idea of how things should be.  The way to God.  The way to salvation.  Actually, there is only one way.  And, His name is Jesus.  Jeremiah explained how we get off of the narrow way.  But, just because this scripture refers to shepherds, let us not think that it doesn't apply to us.  We all shepherd someone.  Whoever you are and whatever you are doing, someone is watching you and following.  That's just how sheep are.  They like to follow.  So much so that if one walks off the edge of a cliff many may step over the edge following after that one.  But, the shepherd is supposed to keep the sheep from falling over the cliff!  Jeremiah 50:6 (AMP)  ⁶ My people have been lost sheep; their shepherds have led them astray [to favorite places of idolatry] on mountains [that seduce]. They have gone from [one sin to another] mountain to hill; they have forgotten their [own] resting-place.  Who is your resting place?  Who is your Shepherd?  Because men and women are fallible, ultimately we need to look to Jesus as our Shepherd.  He's the only one who will never lead us astray.  Psalm 23:1 (KJV)  ¹ The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  Only He can lead us in the paths of righteousness.  When the Lord is our Shepherd and we take everything we learn from those we follow on earth  before Him for review, we will not be in want, nor will we be led astray.  Even those who shepherd us here on earth, such as pastors, evangelists, and teachers are all under One.  There is only One.  Only one way.  Only one truth.  Only one life to be desired.

There is only One.  Ephesians 4:5 (KJV)  ⁵ One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  If there is only one Lord, how do we find Him?  In His Word.  If there is only one faith, where do we get it?  From His Word.   Romans 10:17 (NLT)  ¹⁷ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.  There's only one baptism.  Mark 16:16 (KJV)  ¹⁶ He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.  In the Strong's Talking Dictionary, "baptism," means to be, "fully wet."  We, who believe, are baptized with water symbolizing our death to sin and our resurrection with Christ in His righteousness.  We are saturated with water, physically.  But, perhaps another way to look at it would be to look to His Word and be so saturated with it that we are fully clean and pure.  Ephesians 5:25-27 (NLT)  ²⁵ For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her ²⁶ to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. ²⁷ He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.  In this context, Paul is speaking to husbands about how they should love their wives but he is really trying to show us how Christ loves us, as His Church, as His own body, His Bride.  There are lots of pools in the world in which we can immerse ourselves and be baptized.  If we choose those, we will find ourselves unclean and tainted instead of fresh and clean!  John the Baptist told those being baptized at the time that Jesus would soon baptize them with the Holy Spirit.  Matthew 3:11 (AMP) ¹¹ I indeed baptize you in (with) water because of repentance [that is, because of your changing your minds for the better, heartily amending your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins]. But He Who is coming after me is mightier than I, Whose sandals I am not worthy or fit to take off or carry; He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.  While water baptism is a symbol of a changed heart, baptism by the Holy Spirit is a completion of the water baptism because only the Holy Spirit in us (and hopefully we are immersed in Him) can give us the power to live lives that show that we have found the One Way!

Now, no matter what the sign says over the door of the building in which you or I may go for corporate worship, there is only one God.  Ephesians 4:6 (AMP) ⁶ One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all [Sovereign over all], pervading all and [living] in [us] all.  There is only one Father.  There is only one Way to the Father.  His name is Jesus. John 14:6 (KJV) ⁶ Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. Since there is only one Father and the His Word is the standard for those who believe, there is only one way to become reconciled to Him (because we were once dead in our sins and trespasses).  That Way is through Jesus.  The only Way!  I am more and more seeing that God shows how we can have the unity Jesus prayed for.  John 17:11 (NRSV)  ¹¹ And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.  When Jesus was on earth, He explained that He and the Father were one.   John 10:30 (AMP) ³⁰ I and the Father are One.  I believe that's the kind of oneness Paul is promoting here in Ephesians 4:4-6.  I remember a song from a while back entitled, "Let The Walls Come Down."  Right now, for practical reasons, we worship in different places, but there is only one God, one Father, one Savior, one Way!  Jesus is pulling His Church, His body, together and I believe we will be surprised to find that when it's all complete we just may be sitting next to someone who wasn't in our denomination or in our local church.  There is only one Head, one Shepherd, and He is leading His sheep along right now through the stony paths of this world.  They are placed all over the world.  Hopefully, each of the sheep are following Him and no other!  When it comes right down to it, there's only One!  Do you know Him today?  As another song says, "Please don't turn Him away." 

THE WAY TO LIVE 

Ephesians 4:3  ³ Try always to be led along together by the Holy Spirit and so be at peace with one another.

We sure have lots of self-help books out there on the shelves today and magazines have a myriad of articles teaching us how to live.  There are even, "life coaches."  Of all of those things, some are good, if their foundation is centered on Jesus and on the Word.  Paul gave us a few words to help us know how to live.  He was an excellent, "life-coach," in my opinion.  He didn't just write or spout of a bunch of things for us to do.  He wrote and preached as he, himself, went through.  He gives us things to do, and we need to do those things, but it is never by our own power that we do them.  For instance, Paul wanted us to be at peace with one another.  So does Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is well able to lead us but He doesn't make it happen for us without our participation!  It's Paul's conclusion that we need to live peaceful lives with one another, led by the Holy Spirit because of all the benefits he has told us about in the first three chapters of Ephesians, such as being:  blessed, adopted, favored, redeemed, forgiven and chosen.  Ephesians 4:1-3 (TLB)  ¹ I beg you—I, a prisoner here in jail for serving the Lord—to live and act in a way worthy of those who have been chosen for such wonderful blessings as these.  Our lives are to be filled with the fruit of the Spirit so that we will be acting in a way that is worthy of having been chosen!

Essentially, Paul is letting us know that we should live in a way that is worthy of our calling.  Ephesians 4:1-3 (KJV)
¹ I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  Being interested in, and wanting to know more about what Paul meant when he used the word, "vocation,"  I found that it meant, "invitation."  The Lord has invited us to be a part of His Kingdom and of His family.  We each have an individual, "invitation," but it is all for the glory of God and the good of His Kingdom.  This word is used basically as an invitation to us to accept the benefits of salvation.  The same word is used in   Romans 11:29 (KJV)  ²⁹ For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  When God invites us in, He doesn't change His mind.  We may wander from our calling and from Him, but God has not changed His mind.  So, it is well for us if we make up our minds to walk in what God has called us to do!  One thing we are all called to do, as evidenced in Ephesians 4:1 is to be led by the Holy Spirit.  Another thing is to live at peace with one another.  A third thing might be to be witnesses to the gospel just by the way we live.  We don't have to worry, thinking we're not worthy to be called of God!   1 Corinthians 1:26 (KJV)  ²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  Most of us who are called are not the most famous or the wisest, strongest or the most influential by worldly standards.  One writer writes that it is not usually the, "brightest and the best," according to the world's standards.  God doesn't look at you and me like we look at ourselves and others.  It is in The Message, that the writer writes that many times God uses the  men and women that our culture may exploit and abuse.  The explanation for that idea is that God, "chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies."  Remember when all of the sons of Jesse were passed over and young David, just a shepherd boy, was made the king?  Perhaps we don't see ourselves as worthy (and no one is really worthy in and of themselves), but God decides who to call, what to call them to do and when to call them.  What has He called you to do?

All of us are called to do some of the same things, such as living a life led by the Holy Spirit and living at peace with one another.  In an effort to help us see how we ought to live as called and chosen children of God, Paul says this:  Ephesians 4:2 (TLB)    ² Be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.  Here is the translation from the King James Version of the Bible.  Ephesians 4:2   ² With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  Oops!  This part isn't so easy for some of us but we are all called to do these things.  We're all called to be humble.  That means, "having lowliness of mind."  Do our lives show that we have humility?  We're all called to be patient with one another.  Have you been out driving lately?  I wonder if we could pick out the ones who are truly followers of Christ by their driving habits?  Or, have you ever let someone elderly or feeble get in front of you in a grocery line even though you had your mind racing with your own agenda?  Are we patient with our children and with our spouses when they don't quite meet our expectations?  Like I said, for me there are a lot of, "oops," in this area.  We are all called to, "put up," with one another.  That's what the word, "forbearing," means in Ephesians 4:2 (KJV).  How much do we, "put up," with in those around us because our love for mankind is based on our Father's love for mankind?  Tough questions.  Why look for any self-help books out there.  The Apostle, Paul, hits the nail right on the head.  We are all called to love.  Love so much that we are patient, peaceful people who are willing to put up with the faults and weaknesses of others because we know that God puts up with a lot in us, yet He still chooses us and calls us to Himself!  In just three short verses, Paul has given me enough to work on for a lifetime in the way of learning how to live in love.  Do you know how to live the way God wants us to live or do you listen to the way the world says to live?  These two ways of living are worlds apart!  How many things can you pick out of these three verses in Ephesians 4:1-3 that you need a little tune-up on?  If you can't think of any while you're sitting here reading this, you will find opportunities to think of it when you are kept too long on hold on the phone, when someone cuts in front of you in traffic, when your spouse does the very thing that irritates you most, when your children push you to the limits, when, when, when....................  We have no excuse for not knowing how to live but do we practice what we know? 

FOR A GOOD CAUSE

Ephesians 3:14 (KJV)  ¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

We really like to hear of those who will do something for a good cause, don't we?  The Apostle, Paul, was one of those people.  Because (or for the good cause of) what he had been given to do for the Lord, Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus and it came right down through the ages in scripture for you and me too!  Paul gives us many good examples in scripture and this prayer is just one of them.  For the good cause of the Good News of Christ, Paul is willing to bow his knees (perhaps sometimes on a cold, filthy prison floor, to our Father, God.  Paul did this for us.  He proclaims that this family of God on earth and in heaven is named after Jesus!  Aren't you glad this morning, if you have received Jesus as your Lord and Savior, that you are in this family named after Him?  Ephesians 3:15 (KJV)  ¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.  There's just something about being a part of the family of God that is comforting.  We feel secure.  We know we are loved with an everlasting love.  That's the way our own families should be here on earth, but, alas, we sometimes have trouble.  Why not use this prayer that Paul prayed for those in Ephesus and for us and pray it for those in our biological families who may not be where they should be?  We can pray it for one another too.  Everybody can use what's in the prayer that Paul prayed for a good cause.

Here's how we can pray, just like Paul, for one another.  We can ask God for strength in the inner man, in the heart of those we love (and we ought to be praying for our enemies, as well -   Matthew 5:43-45 (NLT)  ⁴³ “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
⁴⁵ In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.  Paul prayed the following:  Ephesians 3:16 (KJV)  ¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  Now, anybody who is granted strength in his inner person according to the riches of God's glory is going to be one strong person!  No one can exhaust the riches of God's glory!  But, Paul continued to ask for more.  He prayed that Jesus would dwell in our hearts by faith and that we would be rooted and grounded in love.  Ephesians 3:17 (KJV)  ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, Are our hearts rooted and grounded in the love of Christ who is dwelling within us?  And, are we praying that for those around us?  When we have both feet firmly planted in God's love, we can begin to do even more and Paul continues to ask for more.  God is certainly able to do very much more than we can ask or believe!  (Ephesians 3:20)  

Have you ever wished you could understand more?  I have.  There are lots of things I don't understand, but wish I did.  Well, Paul prayed in that direction for you and me and we can do it for others too!  Ephesians 3:18 (KJV)   ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  The love of Christ has many dimensions.  Paul is asking that we be able to comprehend, to understand, with all believers, every dimension of the love of Jesus.  When this happens, it will surpass mere knowledge.  In fact, we will be given understanding, more and more as the days go by.  We will not understand it all until we see Jesus.  But, it will open the door for us and those we pray for to be filled with all the fullness of God!  Wow!  That's a life-long process.  Let the process begin, because we know that God is able to do way, way more than we can ask.  He said to come boldly to Him and that's just what Paul did.  That's what we should do to.  There's not a thing that God cannot do.  We can think as hard as we can and we will never be able to really know just how far-reaching His power in us can be!  He is able to do ever so much more than we can ask or even think to ask!  Ephesians 3:10 (KJV)  ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  If we just asked these things that Paul prayed for us, here in Ephesians, can you imagine how different the world would be?  I think it is said that we don't have things because we don't ask for them.  God said that.  Not just for ourselves, but for others too.  For a good cause.  For the cause of Christ and the salvation of others.  Of course, God will get much glory out of answering all those prayers that we dare to ask, out of faith, believing that He can do that; and lots more!  Ephesians 3:21 (KJV)  ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. For all of you who are reading this now, I stand in agreement with Paul that you would receive all of this and more.  I know it's for a good cause!  Glory to God!  As a very special person in my life always says, "Have an Ephesians 3:20 day!"

CAN GOD USE ME?

Ephesians 3:8 (NLT)   ⁸ Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.

Do you, or have you ever, wondered whether God could use you, maybe because you don't feel that gifted or maybe because you have done some pretty bad things in your life?  As I read Ephesians 3:8, I realize the none of us are deserving of being used by God for anything.  Without His redeeming, transforming power, we are useless to Him.  However, like the Apostle, Paul, we, too, can now consider ourselves as the, "least deserving," yet very, very privileged to be usable by God!  Ephesians 3:7 (NLT)   ⁷ By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.  Just knowing that we are undeserving is a very good place to start!  Pride will get in the way of service to the Lord every time.   1 Peter 5:6 (AMP) ⁶ Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,    First of all, we can do the very same thing Paul was doing as he was speaking in Ephesians, Chapter 3.  We can tell others (both Jews and Gentiles) about the endless treasures that God has been waiting to give them when they receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and Messiah.

Paul had lots of reasons to be proud of himself but he was literally forced to humble himself before the Lord so he could be made usable. Acts 22:6-7 (NLT)  ⁶ “As I was on the road, approaching Damascus about noon, a very bright light from heaven suddenly shone down around me.  ⁷ I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’  The Lord found Paul on the Damascus Road but Paul's heart had definitely been on the wrong road!  He had been gathering Christians together to persecute them and some even were killed.  Paul stood idly by while they stoned Stephen to death!  Paul admits this of his own accord.  Acts 22:20 (NLT) ²⁰ And I was in complete agreement when your witness Stephen was killed. I stood by and kept the coats they took off when they stoned him.’  Does today find any of us on the wrong road?  Are any walking apart from the Holy Spirit, instead of with Him?  Are there things in our lives today or in the past that we need to admit before God, of our own accord, in order to receive His forgiveness and become useable?  If we have sinned, we definitely have an advocate who will bring forgiveness and open the way for us to be used (used again if we have once tried and fallen).  1 John 2:1-2 (KJV)   ¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  ² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.  Maybe today is the day you hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

Paul was willing to go through much hardship so that we could benefit and he didn't seem to mind at all!  He wrote letters of encouragement from dark prison floors, letting us know that we should not lose heart.  He told us to rejoice always.  He even told us that we should be honored and encouraged that he was willing to endure suffering so that we could get the message of Christ!  Ephesians 3:13 (NLT) ¹³ So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.   In the Amplified Version of the Bible it says that we should not become despondent or lose heart through fear because we know what Paul suffered.  We know what other believers have suffered in the past too.  Maybe the question is, "Are we willing to suffer for Christ or for another, joyfully?"  For me, that's a tough question because, like many in America, I am addicted to comfort.  I am really a wimp when it comes to suffering.  I don't know that I would choose to do it unless the Holy Spirit put it on my heart and gave me the strength!  Somehow, in His own way, that's what God did for Paul and, if and when, necessary, He'll do it for us too if we are keeping in step with His Spirit.  God can and will use us if we are submitted to Him but we need to want to be used.  Hearing about Paul's struggles can put some fear in our hearts as to just how God is going to use us.  But, whatever it is, He will put the encouragement in our heart that He put in Paul's heart to do His will.  Paul was excited about being chosen, even chosen to suffer!  The message far outweighed the suffering in Paul's mind because he, undeserving as he was, was being used by God.  I doubt if Paul knew at the time just how influential he would be!  And we don't know what God's power can and will do through us either.  We may not even know till we get to "the other side!"  Ephesians 3:9-11 (NLT)  ⁹ I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.  ¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.  Not only did God use Paul to influence us, He used Paul to display His wisdom to the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.  God used Paul to spread the news that His plan was completed in Christ.  Do you still wonder if and how God will use you?  All we have to do is ask.  God will show us His wisdom in rich variety too.  He has something for each one of us to do for Him.  He's as close as your faith will allow you to believe.  Believe it.  Go boldly before the Lord and just ask, "Can You use me?  What can I do for you?"  Ephesians 3:12 (NLT)  ¹² Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.  It may be that He asks you to do little things but don't be surprised when those little things you do every day for Him become a lasting legacy of His love and grace!  Like Mary, the mother of Jesus, told the servants at the wedding feast, "Whatever He (Jesus) tells you to do, do it."  God wants to, and can, use you and me too! 

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN TO ME!

Ephesians 3:6 (NLT)  ⁶ And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.

The Apostle, Paul, had the great pleasure, privilege, and responsibility of revealing a secret from God to those of us who are not Jewish, by physical birth.  God revealed His plan for all of us through Paul, and His plan included us!  We get to share equally now in the promises of God with those Jewish people who have received Jesus as their Messiah.  In fact, we're so close that we're all in one Body - the Body of Jesus.  We all belong to Him.  Now that's a good security plan!  As, the song says, "When I call on Jesus, all things are possible."  And scripture confirms that!  We ought to call on Him always in ever situation but some of us only call on Him when we're in trouble.....  Many people have alarm systems in their homes and cars today.  When someone tries to break in, the alarm center is notified and then they call you and you have to give them your password and then they ask you if you are all right.  It's not that way with the security system we have in God's plan.  When we call on the Father, the only, "middle-man," is Jesus.  Just calling His name will show us that God takes care of those who have become a part of His family.  I know.  This has happened to me more than once and I found that Jesus doesn't ask a lot of questions, He's just right there to save and protect you!  Why?  Because we are His heirs and He's going to protect what belongs to Him!  Here is how it is translated in the King James Version:  ⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:  Sounds like a plan to me!  God's plan.  And, His plans are always good!  (Jeremiah 29:11)  

Even though Paul had the great privilege of revealing God's long-hidden, "secret," he considered himself a prisoner of Jesus so that we could have the benefit.  Ephesians 3:1 (KJV)  ¹ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,  Now, we know how good God is and that His plans for us are for good and not to harm us.  But, think about the Apostle, Paul, for a moment.  He gave his whole life so that us Gentiles could have the knowledge that we're included in the good plans of God and heirs to everything He has promised to the Jews.  Paul considered himself to be a prisoner of Jesus Christ for us!  He was a voluntary prisoner in his spirit but this many times led him to be a real prisoner, found in a dungeon.  When we look at great people of the past, we have to wonder, "What am I doing for Jesus?"  Granted, God is not going to call every one of us to be like Paul.  But, He does call us.  When you're part of a family, you have your own personal chores that you need to do (if your family is functioning properly).  What has Jesus called you and me to do?  It will probably be different things, but He has called each of us to do something within the Family.  Ephesians 2:10 (KJV)  ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.  Now, please don't get caught up in condemnation or go on a guilt trip because I wrote this.  You cannot decide, nor can I, what God has called us to do.  So, don't just go out there and try to do good stuff, thinking that what you are doing is pleasing to God.  It may be good, but it may not be pleasing to Him because it is something someone is called to do and not you!  We have to have such a close relationship with the Lord that we keep in step with His Spirit.  He will tell us where to go and what to do if we are just listening!  Isaiah 30:21 (AMP)  ²¹ And your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way; walk in it, when you turn to the right hand and when you turn to the left.  We have to walk so close to the Lord that we, not only hear Him, but we make the turns He says to make.  We have a choice.  Paul chose to be a prisoner of Christ in order that we might benefit.  Are there people that might benefit if we also chose to be a prisoner of Christ?

In the times before Paul, us Gentiles didn't know a thing!  But, because Paul became a prisoner of Christ, he was given the privilege of letting the, "secret," out!  Ephesians 3:4 (NLT)   ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.  ⁵ God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.  But now, we are all allowed to know God's plan because God is good and because Paul was obedient to do what God called him to do by the Holy Spirit!  What if us believers had never been given this Good News?  We would be a sorry lot, indeed.  But now!  We know the plan.  Now, we, too, can participate in making the Good News known to everybody, not matter what their race, nationality, ethnicity, color, gender, etc.  Have we such a grateful heart that we will become a voluntary prisoner for Christ?  That's a very serious question, and one I have to ask myself.  Oh, there are many trials and responsibilities to become a prisoner of Christ, but there are also many blessings in store for us and only God knows what we will leave behind for future generations, just as Paul did.  There is a song that says, "And may all who come behind us find us faithful."  Yes, it has always been God's plan that the current generation should tell the future generations about Him and about His good plans for them.  Psalm 22:30-31 (NLT)  ³⁰ Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. ³¹ His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.  If we are not telling the Good News to our children in this generation, who will tell them?  Basically, what Paul was telling us all is that we are not doomed to die!  God has a plan!  Psalm 102:18-20 (NLT)
¹⁸ Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.  ¹⁹ Tell them the LORD looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven ²⁰ to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.  God wants His plan recorded for people who have not yet even been born.  Paul participated in that.  How are we recording God's goodness in our own lives and for the future benefit of others?  Are we walking closely enough to Him to hear His directions and are we obedient enough to follow, joyfully?  If not, we might want to start practicing so that the, "recording," of our lives will be of benefit to others.  I would think that God would be pleased if we did that. Sounds like a plan to me! 

A, "BEFORE AND AFTER," PICTURE

Ephesians 2:11-22 (KJV)
¹¹ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands;

As usual (like we see in advertisements), the, "before," picture is pretty bad.  However, this is not an advertisement with trick photography and airbrushed people.  This is for real.  God put aside His chosen people for a while so that you and I, heathens, could have a, "before and after," picture of ourselves to remind ourselves of where we would be if it weren't for Jesus.  It's also a reminder to others that they can have the, "before and after," pictures of themselves too!  God says that we should remember that once we were without Christ.  We really didn't stand a chance out there in the cold.  ¹² That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:  We were strangers to God's chosen people and strangers to His covenants of promise, which are so very important to us believers!  We had no hope.  That was the, "before," picture and it was pretty grim and quite ugly.

However, there is an, "after," picture too and this is what we look like now.  ¹³ But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.  We've been brought into God's own family covered by the blood of Christ.  I just thought of the fact that, when a new baby is born, it is covered with some blood too!  God re-birthed us right into His own family!  Wow!  He ignored His chosen people for a time so that we could share in His love and covenants but He has not forgotten them all together.  He's trying to get them to come to Him still by making them jealous of the fact that we can now share in all that belongs to our Father.  Romans 11:13-16 (NLT)  ¹³ I am saying all this especially for you Gentiles. God has appointed me as the apostle to the Gentiles. I stress this,  ¹⁴ for I want somehow to make the people of Israel jealous of what you Gentiles have, so I might save some of them.  ¹⁵ For since their rejection meant that God offered salvation to the rest of the world, their acceptance will be even more wonderful. It will be life for those who were dead!
¹⁶ And since Abraham and the other patriarchs were holy, their descendants will also be holy—just as the entire batch of dough is holy because the portion given as an offering is holy. For if the roots of the tree are holy, the branches will be, too.  If God's chosen people had not been so, "stiff-necked," we would not have the opportunity to receive Christ!  Our, "after," picture would look the very same as our, "before," picture - not very good at all!

Now, we're in the, "family picture."  There is nothing separating us from anyone else who will receive Jesus as Savior.  ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: ¹⁷ And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh.  Now, we all can be in the "family picture" because we all have access to the Father by His Spirit!  ¹⁸ For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father.  Now, we are all in the same house built on a great foundation of which Jesus is the cornerstone.  We're secure with no reason to fear because we're living in the house built on the Rock!  ¹⁹ Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; ²⁰ And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; ²¹ In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: ²² In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.  Along with the, "before and after," picture there's good news.  We have all the blessings in the temple of the Lord, of which He is making us a part.  But, there could be bad news too.  It's really up to us.  Romans 11:17-21 (NLT)
¹⁷ But some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.  ¹⁸ But you must not brag about being grafted in to replace the branches that were broken off. You are just a branch, not the root.
¹⁹ “Well,” you may say, “those branches were broken off to make room for me.”   ²⁰ Yes, but remember—those branches were broken off because they didn’t believe in Christ, and you are there because you do believe. So don’t think highly of yourself, but fear what could happen.  ²¹ For if God did not spare the original branches, he won’t spare you either.  We can't be like we were when we were children and we got something that maybe someone else was really wanting.  What did we say?  "Na-na-na-na-na" (remember that little tune?).  We are, of all people, most blessed because the Holy Spirit has drawn us to salvation.  Our prayer should be that of a mature child, a sensitive child, a compassionate child, wanting all to be saved because that is the desire of our Father.  Is that our desire too?  It will be if we remember that we are now all the things that our, "after," picture looks like!  We might even want to get out the, "family picture," to remind ourselves of just how we've been blessed to be a part of the Body of Christ! 

WE WERE DEAD

Ephesians 2:1-10 (KJV)  ¹ And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

Right now, you and I who have received Christ are blessed. We're chosen.  We're adopted.  We're favored.  We're redeemed.  We're forgiven.  That's what some of the lyrics say in the song, "Ephesians, Chapter One."  I got so excited checking out the whole of Ephesians, Chapter One, after singing the words to that song that I went through as much as of it as I could in the last few days.  Now, I've decided that, Ephesians, Chapter One was so good, I'll just keep going on into Ephesians, Chapter Two.  Paul prayed in Ephesians 1 that we would understand just who God really is and that we would know that He is in us and that He is above all power and authority.  We're covered.  And, we're made whole from the inside out because Jesus lives in us!  If you are like me, you sometimes forget that this is a process.  Some days just don't feel good.  It's on those days that I have to feel around for my faith.  It's in here somewhere!  I am blessed, chosen, adopted, favored, redeemed and forgiven whether I feel like I am or not.  God said so and He did it all.  His power is far greater than any of my feelings.  He is also fully able to start and finish the work of faith He started in me and in you.   Hebrews 12:2 (KJV)  ² Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

There was a time in the past when I walked just like the world is walking.  Ephesians 2:2 (KJV)  ² Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:    I was listening quite closely to the devil (the prince of the power of the air).  Right here in the, "now," I don't want anything more to do with that liar!  He tried to make me think that I could do what the world did and have all that the world had and then I would be happy.  Not so.  I remember walking into the little apartment of a nun one day for a visit.  There was one couch and one table.  Nothing else.  Such peace!  I'm not saying that we should not have things.  I am saying that the greater part of us must be progressively Holy Spirit-led.  The junk and the clutter of our lives has to be cleaned out and we need to let in the fresh air of the Holy Spirit and take a big breath.  His peace will fill the house and He will be our focal point.  Disobedience clutters up our lives so much so that we, not only can't see Jesus, we can hardly begin to find out who we are!  It blocks the knowledge and peace of knowing we're blessed, chosen, adopted, favored, redeemed and forgiven.  God did not want to leave us where we were so He sent Jesus.  We were as dead, spiritually, as Lazarus was physically.  Our sins and worldly walking had killed us instead of doing what the enemy told us it would do.  John 10:10 (KJV) ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  Jesus came so we could be made alive again!  There will be a process and it's possible that we will fall down a few times before we start walking with mature steps but, if we are trusting the power of Jesus to make us fully alive and mature, He will take care of all of that.  The secret is not to give up and stay down!   Proverbs 24:16 (KJV)   ¹⁶ For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.  Because we have traded our sin and shame for the righteousness of Jesus, we are the ones who may fall but we will rise again if we don't get discouraged and quit.  Those who refuse the life that Jesus offers will fall and stay down (even going down further).

When we walked like we see the world walking, we were walking in death instead of life.  Did you ever behave like the world?  Hopefully not, but I think, if we are honest, all of us still buy into some worldly stuff now and then.  Ephesians 2:3  
³ Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  Just as it says at the beginning of Ephesians, Chapter 2, we were dead in sins and trespasses.  We were immersed in the ways of the world and we followed all of the sinful, selfish, destructive ways of our own fleshly desires.  Yet, I love this phrase:  "But God."  Ephesians 3:4 (KJV)  ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,  ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  Yes!  God looked down and saw that we had fallen into a pit and, in fact, we were dead.  But God.  God raised us up together.  He gave us the best seat in the house.  Because we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, we are above all because He is above all!  Ephesians 2:6 (KJV)  ⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  Now, we are not, "squished," down under our circumstances.  We are seated way above them with Christ.  He will pull it all together.  He will finish the good work He has started in us!  Philippians 1:6 (KJV) ⁶ Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  Yes!  Not only did He raise us from death from sin, He began a good work in us and He will not fail to complete it!  As He works it out, there will be days that just don't feel too good.  That's the process.  We are being molded and conformed to the image of Jesus.  Sometimes our flesh gets just a bit stubborn in the process and it hurts a lot more than it would if we would just submit to the molding, then go look in the mirror and see what a beautiful thing God is doing.  He is doing this so that He might get the glory.  And, if you have been redeemed, really redeemed, you are going to be itching to give Him the glory because you know in your heart of hearts that you could not have saved yourself!  Everything is by the grace of God!  Ephesians 2:7-8  ⁷ That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  ⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

If you have never received Jesus or you have fallen or you are in a painful process, look up, reach up, and get up by the power of God.  It's only by His power that we can be made fully alive!  ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.  ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. No matter what you feel like today, if you have received Jesus, you are fully alive and He is doing a great work in and through you.  He is leading you into the good works He created for you to do before you even knew about it.  If you have not received Jesus, He is waiting to lift you from the pit of death and destruction and make you alive again - really alive.  We were dead.  But now, by His love and power alone, we are fully alive in Him and in the process.  Remember, He never fails to complete a project so count on the fact that you are blessed and all those other things too!  By faith, trust in the fact that He has chosen and adopted you and He's not about to give up on you or abandon you.  You are no longer dead but fully alive in Christ! 

^{ABOVE ALL} 

^{Ephesians 1:21 (KJV)  21} Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

If you have given your life to Christ, you are in and covered by the One who is far above everything in this world.  Including all of your problems and my problems.  In fact, powerful enough to solve the world's problems and He will!  Yesterday, I was amazed again to be reminded of the mighty power that He has put in us.  That same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  You can't get much more powerful than that!  God has shared that power with us and reminded us, through Paul's prayer for the people in the church of Ephesus (and us), that God wants to open the eyes of our understanding to these great truths.  To the great power and authority under which we are covered and by which we operate in cooperation with the Holy Spirit!  There are lots of powerful leaders in the world today saying lots of threatening things.  Lots of boastful things.  They really think they are something.  Yet, none of us are really anything without Christ.  Some may boast that they will do this or that but have they forgotten that Jesus is far, far above them when it comes to power?  To might?  To dominion?  Jesus is far above any ruler or authority or leader.  That's how the New Living Translation describes Him in Ephesians 1:21.  He's above everything and, not just in the world where we live at the moment, but in the world to come!  If we listen to the news, we can be terrorized without even enduring a physical terrorist attack.  Men and women around the world are trying to build their own kingdoms and they think they're pretty powerful.  We hear about plots and plans.  But, soon, and probably very soon, the One who is above all of them will show them a thing or two!  It's not going to be pretty for those who have tried to usurp His power.  Nobody's name is going to matter any more.  Only the Name of Jesus!

Jesus is the King of the Kingdom in which you and I have citizenship if we have received Him as Lord and Savior.  We win, if we are following Him!  God has given Him all authority over everything!  God has made Him the head of the church (not just the Baptist Church, or the Church of God, or the Nazarene Church, or the Charismatic Church, or the Pentecostal Church, etc., etc.).  All of these will fade away as He brings His Body, The Church, together.  God has given Jesus this authority so that you and I would have a secure place in Him.  It's for our benefit and the benefit of all those within His Body.  He's going to make His Body complete.  What is He reminding you of today?  Has He placed some faith in you that you need to exercise to bring others to the Kingdom or display His healing power?  What is your function within the Body?  It's His Name that will last and none other.  Everything and everyone is going to have to bow to His Name.  Why not bow right now?  Philippians 2:10-11 (KJV)  ¹⁰ That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; ¹¹ And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Why not confess His Name now so that others can be made aware of His power and authority?  That's what we should be praying.  Something akin to the prayer that we find in Ephesians, Chapter One.  That all of our brothers and sisters in Him should understand exactly who He is and operate fully under His power and authority.  That all of our brothers and sisters in Him should realize that He deserves all the honor and glory in our lives and in whatever we do or have done for Him.  There isn't a dictator in this world that can withstand the coming King.  He truly is King of Kings and Lord of Lords! 1 Timothy 6:15 (NLT) ¹⁵ For at just the right time Christ will be revealed from heaven by the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.  That's what Paul was praying that we would see, and know, now.  The world, as a whole, does not see this yet.  But, by faith, we, not only see, we can understand His power and authority.  We not only see and understand it, we can operate in it so that the world will get a glimpse of this, soon to be revealed King, and perhaps some will come to Him before it's too late! 

Ephesians 1:22  ²² God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church.  What Paul is praying for us and what we should pray for others is that everyone should know that God has put everything under the authority of Jesus and made Him the head of all things.  Whether we're a pastor, evangelist, church member, or whatever, the only authority we have is in Christ.  It's His Body and His Church.  All of our churches and ministries are wonderful as long as we remember that Christ is the head and what we do must benefit the whole Body of Christ.  When the eyes of our understanding are opened by the Holy Spirit, unity will begin to form in the church.  Ephesians 1:23  ²³ And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.  We will begin to understand that no one person and no one ministry has to all together completely.  We are all a part of something bigger, the Body of Christ, of which He is the head and no one else.  We will all begin to work together for the good of the whole Body and those who are without will be won to Christ because they see how lovingly and powerfully He works through each part of His Body.  It was, and is, the desire of Jesus who has all power over everything now and forever that His Body (which is us) should be in unity with Him and with each other.  John 17:21 (NLT) ²¹ I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.  When we pray for each other that we will all grow in the knowledge and understanding of all that God is, we will begin to come into unity under Him through Jesus.  What are you praying for and for whom are you praying?  I'm so glad that, even though I know I have only skimmed the surface of the depths of Paul's prayer in Ephesians, Chapter One, I have learned more of His power and authority and more of His Lordship over all.  That's what I want for those around me too, my family and my friends.  Really, for everyone who will believe.  While we all have specific needs, the contents of this complete prayer, when answered, will help us to know, on a deeper level, how to get through trials and troubles of this life and give us hope for the next.  It will give us confidence that Jesus truly is Lord over all and that nothing at all can change the fact that He is in control and always will be.  Since we are in Him and He in us, all of this is ours now and forever.  Lord, help us to understand this more and more as we look to You to have our spiritual eyes opened wider and wider! 

^{IT'S HIS POWER} 

^{Ephesians 1:19-20   19} And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,  ²⁰ Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

Well, Paul goes on to pray for those in the church in Ephesus and for us.  We should also go on praying for the believers in our lives (and of course for those who have not yet believed).  However, sometimes we, especially I, tend to give God advice about what others need specifically.  While I do think that the Holy Spirit will lead us to pray something for someone that is specific in nature, I believe He wants us to pray like Paul prayed - for the deep things.  Paul prayed that we would know the overwhelming magnitude of the dynamite power of God toward us who believe!  This dynamite power is that same power that raised Jesus from the dead.  Is that how we pray for those believers around us?  That they might know that God has flung dynamite power in their direction that is so powerful that nothing can stand against it?  Do we believe that for ourselves?  If we believe it for ourselves and pray it for others, we can, not just get through life, but get through with a, "bang."  The world around us will be moved too as all of the dynamite power explosions of our prayers and actions rock and shake things around us - for the good.  And, for the glory of God. 

God's mighty power still works and it will work wonders through us if we will have the faith to know and believe the exceeding greatness of it.  To know that that greatness is dwelling in us just waiting for an opportunity to make a difference in this world.  We, in our own strength cannot change much of anything (unless, of course, to make a mess of things).  But, when we know God's power and have the faith to let it be released through us, miracles will happen.  People will be healed.  Lives will be changed.  Relationships will be restored.  All the yucky stuff will be blown up by God's power and He will step in and make everything new!  2 Corinthians 5:17-19 (KJV)¹⁷ Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. ¹⁸ And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; ¹⁹ To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.  Yes!  God's power within us has the potential to help us in the ministry of reconciliation so that he can reconcile the world back to Himself.  Some of us know what it is not to have our children around us or to have them wandering rebelliously.  Such grief!  God surely must be grieved at the state of the world today but you and I can pray for each other and others that His power will work in and through us to make us ministers with Him in reconciling His children back to Him.  Oh, how it must please God when we are courageous enough to let some of that dynamite power go!  And, lest we should think that we're so good when we do that, we are nothing.  We can do nothing of ourselves but God's Spirit working through us will set off the fuse that will change everything - including us! Zechariah 4:6 (NLT) ⁶ Then he said to me, “This is what the LORD says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.

Oh, how God wants us to recognize the fact that we have His power (which is really so much greater than dynamite) living in us.  The power to move mountains if we will believe and use it.  Matthew 21:20-22 (KJV) ²⁰ And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away! ²¹ Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  ²² And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.  Moving a mountain requires quite a bit of dynamite so, we must remember that all of that is dwelling in us and seek to use it at the discretion of the Holy Spirit.  We must pray for one another and encourage one another to know that power that God has put in them and to be willing to use it for God's glory.  This is what God told Zerubbabel.   Zechariah 4:7 (NLT) ⁷ Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’”   Are we seeing mountains that keep us and others from where God would like them to be becoming level plains because we are believing in and using the power God has put into us?  Are we praying for others that they will use the power.  Are we linking our power and faith together and making a difference in this world to the glory of the Lord.  If not, we need to give it some thought.  What has God called you to do?  I'm realizing that it may just be the little things that will make the biggest difference.  God has given you His power.  Go, use it wisely, be an ambassador for Him in what He has called you to do.  Don't be discouraged because His power will remain the same forever!  Isn't it awesome that He has given it to us!!

^{HOW ARE YOUR EYES?} 

^{Ephesians 1:18 18} The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Yesterday, I started thinking about who I pray for and began to think of how important it is that we pray for other believers to have more and more of the spirit of wisdom and revelation from our Lord.  Today, I am thinking more about how God wants us to pray for others.  I'm still looking at the prayer that Paul prayed for the church in Ephesus and, of course, it's for us too since God saw fit to include it in the Holy Scripture!  Jesus is concerned about our eyes and the eyes of other believers.  He proved that, in the physical, when He healed the physical eyes of people as He went about doing good.  There was a particular blind man in scripture, the eyes of whom Jesus opened.  Here is his statement.  John 9:25 (KJV)  ²⁵ He answered and said, Whether he (Jesus) be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.  Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I'm found.  Was blind but now I see.  Just think how hard it would be to get around in life if we could not see.  I have had trouble with my eyes before and it is a great hindrance.  Jesus healed the physical eyes of the man mentioned above but He healed the spiritual eyes of the writer of, Amazing Grace.  How are your eyes today?  Paul has prayed that the eyes of our understanding may be enlightened.  How can that happen?  It can only happen when we invite the Light of the world into our hearts and let Him light up our understanding.  No more walking around like blind people in the dark!  We can walk in understanding.

But, we do have a part in this healing as we always have a part in the work of the Lord.  We have to choose to renew our minds by His Word and cast out the worldly thoughts and reasoning by which we once tried to walk, tripping along the way!   Romans 12:2 (KJV)  ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  To renew our minds in God's Word is not always easy.  As one of my friends has said, "I have lived a 'soulish' (worldly way of thinking) way of life for a long time."  The Lord is waiting today to open the eyes of our spiritual (as opposed to our soul) eyes through the renewal of our minds (our soul, will, emotions, feelings, reasonings).  Both soul and spirit must agree!  When the eyes of our understanding are opened by the Lord and His Word these two that are often opposed to each other will disagree until our soul comes into line with our opened spiritual eyes of understanding.  When they agree, we will feel much better and make much better decisions in life.  Even our bodies will have to come in line when spirit and soul agree!  I'm not saying that I'm all that today but I want to be more of, "that," every day.  I also want that for those I love and for every believer in Christ.  We can be a believer and still be oppressed by feelings and circumstances because we have not received the gift of God.  The opening of the eyes of our understanding.  Proverbs 4:7 (KJV)  ⁷ Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.  The writer of Proverbs has told us to get understanding and God has promised to open the eyes of our understanding, if we will ask for it!  Not just for ourselves but for all of His children!  Because we are chosen and taken into the family of God, we have a rich inheritance but we won't see it unless we have wide open eyes of understanding!  It's a glorious inheritance!  Do we understand it?  Maybe not all of it now.  It's too big to get all at once but, as God opens the eyes of our understanding day by day, we will be more and more hopeful and more and more confident in what He has given us, what He has done for us and what He wants us to do for others.  Today, will you pray for others that the eyes of their understanding will be opened to these glorious truths of God.  Moreover, if you are having trouble seeing, receive Paul's prayer down through the ages that your own eyes of understanding will be opened and then open your Bible and participate in that healing as you renew your mind with Jesus!

He wants us to have open and clear vision and understanding so we can lead a life of freedom and the ability to think, not only of ourselves and our own problems, but about others too.  To pray for them, not just for their specific problems, but that they eyes of their understanding will be opened.  After all, if you can see, you're much more likely to be able to find a solution to your problems!  God wants our eyes of understanding to be opened so that we can know what is the hope of His calling.  He wants us to remember that He has given us a confident hope.  He has called us to Himself.  Chosen us.  John 15:16-17 (NLT)
¹⁶ You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.  We're chosen and God wants our eyes of understanding to be open to that fact.  We didn't have anything to do with it but we do have something to do with it now.  We have a choice.  We can ask and allow God to open the eyes of our understanding by reading His Word and communing with Him or we can go blindly on our way, stumbling over all the worldly rocks in our way.  We can also pray, like Paul did, for those believers in our lives and all over the world that eyes of understanding will be opened all over the place!  That hope will be restored.  That confidence will flow. And, most importantly, we can show that we love others by praying this prayer for them! 

WHO DO YOU PRAY FOR?

Ephesians 1:15-16 (KJV)  ¹⁵ Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
¹⁶ Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; ¹⁷ That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Do we stop to give thanks for those believers that God has placed in our lives?  After all, it is those very people that encourage us along the way!  I'm so thankful that many people have offered prayers for me to our Lord!  They have taken the time to make mention of me - and God has heard and answered!  Because we have so many blessings from God, Paul prays for us.  It's easy to forget, from time to time, that we are blessed, chosen, adopted, redeemed and forgiven.  It's easy, with all that the world hurls at us to forget that God has a good plan for our lives and that His plans never fail.  Paul had heart for the faith and love in the people in the church of Ephesus.  He kept them in his prayers and, his prayers, through the scripture, have gone to God for us down through the ages.

OK, let's be like Paul and remember to pray for those we know are faithful believers. No doubt, they have their trials too!   James 5:16 (KJV) ¹⁶ Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.  There's not a one of us believers that is perfect yet.  We all need the prayers of righteous people and we all need a healing touch from Jesus in some area of our lives.  Will we be that righteous one (righteous in Jesus, of course, and nothing on our own) who will pray for others?  We need to remember one another in prayer so that we will remember, even through our trials, that God says that we're blessed and all those other things too.  If He says it, it has to be true!   Numbers 23:19 (KJV) ¹⁹ God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?  Who has loved and supported you in prayer?  Thank God for them this morning and call their name to Him in prayer too.  You know, Job prayed for his, "friends."  When Job was down and out, his, so-called, "friends," came to support him, but really all they did was insult and depress Him.  Oh, they knew the Word of God but, in this case, they did not have a spirit of wisdom and revelation and they did not rightly divide the Word of God.  Poor Job.  Nevertheless, he determined in his own mind, even though he was in destitute condition to pray for his friends.  Job 42:7-10 (NLT) ⁷ After the LORD had finished speaking to Job, he said to Eliphaz the Temanite: “I am angry with you and your two friends, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.  ⁸ So take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer a burnt offering for yourselves. My servant Job will pray for you, and I will accept his prayer on your behalf. I will not treat you as you deserve, for you have not spoken accurately about me, as my servant Job has.”  ⁹ So Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite did as the LORD commanded them, and the LORD accepted Job’s prayer.  ¹⁰ When Job prayed for his friends, the LORD restored his fortunes. In fact, the LORD gave him twice as much as before!  Maybe some people you considered friends have disappointed you.  They may be believers but have just not been discerning toward your situation.  Go ahead and, like Paul, pray for them, give thanks for them.  Like Job, pray for them anyway.  See God bring changes in their lives and in yours!  When Job prayed for His friends, God gave him twice as much as He has lost.

Paul kept on praying for the spirit of wisdom and revelation for the Ephesians and for us.  That's what we should pray for our fellow believers.  What is the spirit of wisdom and revelation? In the Strong's Dictionary, it means wise in a general sense of the word.  We must be wise in spiritual things and also in everyday practical things here on earth.  Jesus became wisdom for us, so His Spirit gives us the spirit of wisdom.  Don't you want that spirit of wisdom so you can make proper decisions in life and say and do the, "right," things?  And, how many times do we pray for those we know who are believers?  They all need the spirit of wisdom too.  May I say that we especially need to pray for those who minister the Word of God to us?  They need that spirit of wisdom to lead the flock in the right direction.  Have you noticed that when, unfortunately, a leader in the Christian world may not operate in the spirit of wisdom, a whole lot of other folks go down with him or her?  They lose the little faith they might have had.  Besides that, the Name of Jesus is brought down in the world's eyes.  Jesus has not changed.  Hebrews 13:8 (NLT) ⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  But, the way He is seen by unbelievers and those weak in the faith changes - and not for the better.  So, we need to pray for one another.  We need to pray for salvation for unbelievers but especially for the spirit of wisdom for those who teach us and preach to us.  We also need to pray for the spirit of wisdom to fill parents today so that they can raise up a generation of people who will trust in and believe in the "real," Jesus.  Not the Jesus that the world would like to tell us is weak and just a, "crutch," for wimps.  No!  Jesus is wisdom, itself.  With wisdom, comes power and He has all the power in the world and in Heaven!  We need to pray, like Paul, also for the spirit of revelation.  That is that God will reveal Himself to those we pray for, more and more.  God has revealed Himself in scripture and the more we renew our mind with His Word, the more revelation we will have.  There is even a book at the end of the Bible which is called, "Revelation."  It is the revelation of the person of Christ.  We ought to be praying for our leaders and for other believers that they would have this spirit of revelation.  That they would renew their minds constantly in God's Word so that unbelievers would see that we, as the Body of Christ, are living proof that He wants everyone to be blessed, chosen, adopted, forgiven and redeemed.  Who do you pray for? 

HIS PLANS FOR YOU ARE GOOD AND HERE'S THE PLAN

Ephesians 1:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth.

I'm so glad that, long ago, God declared that His plans for those who would follow and obey Him are good!   Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NLT)  ¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.  ¹² In those days when you pray, I will listen.  ¹³ If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.  ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” says the LORD. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”   If you have been bound in captivity by a sinful lifestyle, come to Jesus.  Let Him restore you.  Hear the good plans He has for you.  He says they are good and that He's not out to harm us, but to give us a future and a hope.  He said, back in Jeremiah's time, that, if we would look for Him wholeheartedly, we would find Him.  He will allow Himself to be found by us.  He will end our captivity to whatever is binding us and holding us captive.  Maybe you have never received Jesus.  He's knocking at your heart's door right now.  Just open the door and let Him in.  Maybe you have slipped into the pit of some addiction.  You might not want to admit you're there.  After all, you are a Christian!  That's not enough really.  You need to be honest with yourself and with God.  He doesn't want you to be captive to anything or anyone but Him; and He's able to deliver you!  2 Kings 17:39 (KJV) ³⁹ But the LORD your God ye shall fear; and he shall deliver you out of the hand of all your enemies.  God wants us to fear Him because He is so mighty that He can do anything, including deliver us from any and all of our enemies.  He wants us to follow Him, be transparent with Him and trust Him to help us obey.  Then, at the right time, His time, He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ!  In the meantime, in your life and in my life, at the right time, His time, He will answer our prayers and let His answer be manifested in our lives.  We must learn to look for Him wholeheartedly.  We may find Him in the most unlikely of places.

I heard a story on the radio the other day about a little boy who packed a little bag for himself with some twinkies and a six-pack of root beer.  He left the house, telling his mother that he was going out to see if he could find God.  He went to the park.  There on the park bench, sat a haggard old man so the boy sat down beside him and the old man smiled, happy to have a young boy's company. They talked together and the boy noticed that the old man was hungry and thirsty, so he shared his stash of twinkies and soda with the man.  The man smiled his toothless smile again.  At the end of their visit, both returned to their own homes.  The boy's mother asked if he had seen God and the boy answered, "Yes!  And God's smile is so wonderful!"  When the old man returned home, he told his son, to his son's amazement, that he had lunch in the park with God. Then he said, "You know, I  never realized that God was so young!"  When we're looking for God wholeheartedly, we, too, may find that we see Him where we didn't expect to find Him and that He looks and acts a whole lot differently than we might have expected.  We can't expect to find God in a little box somewhere, neatly contained.  He just may be waiting in the park for us to take time to sit down with Him and have lunch! 

There's a, "furthermore," or a, "moreover," to God's Word to us in Ephesians, chapter one.  ¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan.  I already see that His plans are good for those who will trust Him and follow Him.  Sometimes His plans don't feel very good to us, but, by faith, we know that they are good.  He makes everything to work out according to His plan, in His time.  With me, are you counting on the words from Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans for us are good and not to harm us?  What feels like harm at times can only turn out for good if we're looking for Him and His plan and purpose in our situations.  Here is God's purpose.  Ephesians 1:12  ¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God.   It was God's purpose that the Jewish people would bring praise and glory to God and they will because God has ordained it, in His time.  But, since the Jewish people, as a whole, did not recognize Jesus as their Messiah, God gave us Gentiles a chance, a wonderful invitation to be grafted into the Vine (Jesus).  Ephesians 1:13  ¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago.  God has graciously revealed the Messiah to us and given us hearts to receive His Spirit.  We have a guarantee, because of His Spirit, that He will give us eternal life, as He promised.  We are adopted, just as if we were His own people but He looked across time and chose us.  Then He purchased us so that we could become His own people!  Why would He do such a thing for such an unlovely bunch?  Because it would bring Him praise and it would glorify Him.  How would it do that?  It would do it when we open our mouths and sing, with gusto,"  God says, I'm blessed, I'm chosen, I'm adopted, I'm favored, redeemed, yeah, I'm forgiven.  Makes me want to sing, I'm a child of the King and now I'm really livin' - Ephesians One  ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.  If today finds you pressed down, on the ground, thinking you might lose your mind,  refuse that!  Renew your mind.  The song, "Ephesians One," also says I opened up the Bible and found I could rely on Ephesians Chapter one."  Yes, you can rely on every Word that God has given us in scripture and you can let those Words override anything that is coming against you right now.  You are blessed according to His plan and God never makes a plan that He doesn't carry through.  Besides that, its a good plan!  If you need to, get your Bible right now and open it to Ephesians, chapter one.  Read each word slowly letting the Word sink into your spirit and bring healing and restoration to your soul and your body.  That's His plan for you!  Me too.  I just want to thank Him today for loving me and you through His Word and carrying out His good plans for us at just the right time!  As my sister would say, "Sounds like a plan to me!" 

^{YOU ARE FORGIVEN BECAUSE OF HIS GOOD PLEASURE!} 

^{Ephesians 1:7 (KJV) 7} In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

You and I are redeemed and forgiven.  That's more than a mouthful and more than enough to reflect on without ever getting to the very depth of the significance of it!  The very strange thing about it (according to worldly standards) is that it is God's good pleasure to forgive us!  No matter what we've done.  To redeem us, no matter how filthy we are when He picks us up out of the pit.  It's all because of, and according to, the riches of His divine influence on our hearts (his grace).  Now, if we had done anything to deserve it, it might be fathomable that God would maybe think about giving us forgiveness and redemption but we did not do anything to deserve it and, moreover, we would never be able do anything to deserve it!  However, God desires and delights to do this for us!  He not only does this out of the kindness of His heart.  He adds all wisdom and understanding!  Ephesians 1:8 ⁸ Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;   We are truly blessed! Jesus, Himself, is our wisdom and He lives inside of us if we have asked Him in.  1 Corinthians 1:30-31 (NLT)  ³⁰ God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin.  ³¹ Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the LORD.”  This freedom we enjoy from being redeemed through the blood sacrificed by Jesus is simply that.  Through the blood of Jesus; and there is no other way to have that kind of freedom.  If you haven't repented of your sins and asked Jesus to redeem and forgive you, it's time to do it right now.  It's His good pleasure. It's His desire.  It's His delight to save you!

He has given us minds with which we can understand this simple, but profound, invitation.  He has also given us Himself to be our wisdom in life.  He'll be there to guide us into making right decisions if we will listen.  I have a little problem in that area.  Sometimes, I listen.  I hear.  Then, I go the other way!  Wrong!!  That only means I am not fully accepting this priceless gift that God has given me.  Maybe you can relate to that.  God has given us wisdom and understanding too but we have to take it and then use it!  James 1:22-24 (KJV)  ²² But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
²³ For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
²⁴ For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  Since the Apostle, Paul, was speaking to Christians, I suppose it is possible that we can deceive ourselves by just hearing the Word and then refusing or forgetting to do it.  It's not just what we know but what we do with what we know that counts.  God has done all the hard part.  He has redeemed us, forgiven us, given us wisdom and given us understanding.  He has even given us faith.   Romans 12:3 (KJV) ³ For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  The more of God's Word we know, the easier it is to fall into that trap of thinking of ourselves more highly than we should.  God has given us everything we have, even that measure of faith, but faith without works is not really faith at all.  We have heard but we have not acted on what we heard.  James 2:17 (AMP)  ¹⁷ So also faith, if it does not have works (deeds and actions of obedience to back it up), by itself is destitute of power (inoperative, dead).

How awesome is it that the Almighty God, Creator of this universe, has done all of this for us.  It wasn't a random act of kindness.  He purposed it in Himself and it was according to His own delight!  Now He has let us in on the secret!  He has let us understand the mystery of His will if we will walk according to the Word that we know!  Ephesians 1:9 (KJV) ⁹ Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:  It was with purpose and determination that God carried out the plan of redemption for us, unworthy though we are, without Christ.  God is a God of purpose and we, because we are made in His imagine, need to be people of purpose.  Our pastor spoke this past Sunday of two of the purposes we should have in our lives.  These two purposes will help us to be doers of God's word.  One is to be salt.  Matthew 5:13 (NLT)  ¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.  Here's something we can do.  We can function as salt and flavor and preserve the world around us.  But, if we get diluted too much with worldly thinking, we won't be salty any more and we will be good for nothing.  How sad.  Our purpose has come to an end.  We need not let this happen!  We must set our thoughts on God's Word so that what we do will be directed by what He says.  The other thing we can do is to be light.  Here again, it is good and right for the world to see the glory of God in the way we live (what we do).  Matthew 5:14-16 (NLT)  ¹⁴ “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  ¹⁵ No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.  ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.   Don't put your light under a basket.  It will only start a fire and burn up the basket with you inside.  Stand up on the hilltops of the world and let the world see that God has redeemed you and forgiven you.  Let the world know that God wants to do the same for them!  His great desire is that all should come to repentance. But, unless we are doers of the word and not just hearers, others will not know of His love.  They will not see the changed lives of those God has redeemed and forgiven.  God says I'm blessed, I'm chosen, I'm adopted, I'm favored, redeemed, yeah, I'm forgiven.  Makes me want to sing, I'm a child of the King and now I'm really livin' - Ephesians One  Yes, God said all of that.  Now it's time to show the world it's true by the things we do and the way we live with understanding and wisdom!

YOU ARE REDEEMED!

Ephesians 1:7 (KJV)  ⁷ In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it.  Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  Redeemed through His infinite mercy.  His child , and forever, I am.  Maybe you know that old hymn that speaks of the redemption that Paul tells us about in Ephesians, Chapter One.  Songs and hymns are a great way to remind ourselves of who we are in God's eyes, through our Lord Jesus Christ.  If you have never trusted your life back to your Heavenly Father, through the blood of Jesus Christ, today is the day to do it.  God says that today is our day for salvation (if we will receive it).  2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NLT)  ¹ As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it. ² For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation.  Yesterday, here in America, we celebrated our independence.  We celebrated the fact that we are free.  But, freedom has a cost and it has a responsibility, as well as all of the privileges we get to experience.  Our Pastor spoke about freedom and how we have been given freedom for a purpose, not just to make us feel good and go about doing whatever we please.  As a citizen of whatever country we live in, if we are free to worship, we should thank God and take advantage of that freedom.  If you live in a free country I would venture to guess that God made it that way so you could worship Him, praise Him, live for Him, and tell others of the good news of the Gospel.  Do you find that to be your purpose if you are living in a free country?  And, most of all, do you complete that purpose?

You and I were born into bondage because of the original sin of our ancestors, Adam and Eve.  Yet, God did not want us to stay that way.  So He sent a Redeemer.  If we receive Him, we become a part of the Body of Christ.  We become a part of the bride of Christ.  This Redeemer was foreshadowed in the person of Boaz, in the book of Ruth.  If you have a moment, read the very small book in the Bible and see Jesus in the person of Boaz.  See how God did not forget Naomi, who had become bitter after losing her sons and her husband to death.  See how God honored Ruth, who was loyal to her mother-in-law and followed Naomi's God instead of the idols of her own country.  See how a foreigner could become one of the top citizens in a different country and be part of the Kingdom of God.  All because of a redeemer-kinsman, which Boaz was.Ruth 3:9 (NLT)
⁹ “Who are you?” he asked. “I am your servant Ruth,” she replied. “Spread the corner of your covering over me, for you are my family redeemer.”   In this story, Ruth follows her mother-in-law, Naomi, back to her homeland.  In those days, if a woman was widowed, a person from the family could redeem that widow in order to keep the family going.  To make a long story short, that's what happened with Boaz and Ruth and, boy, did the family keep going, for we find Ruth, a very unlikely choice, in the lineage of Christ Jesus, our Redeemer.  Ruth could have stayed with her idols, met a man in her own country and remained as she was - in bondage to idolatry.  Instead, she chose Jehovah God, followed Naomi to where she could find her kinsman-redeemer and the rest is His-story!

It's important that we remember that we are redeemed and just who our Redeemer is.  We can fall into idolatry if we think our jobs, position, fame, inheritance, spouse, parents, or any other person or thing can free us - redeeming us from the curse of sin.  All of these things listed above are only gifts from God but the greatest gift God ever gave us was a Redeemer.  There will be times in life that we don't feel redeemed.  Job certainly must not have felt pretty "unredeemed," when all the awful things started to happen in his life.  If you have more time, read the book of Job.  Then, if you have something going on in your life that is uncomfortable or painful, you won't feel so bad!  Everything awful that you could think of happened to Job.  He lost his children.  He lost his wealth, He lost his health.  His friends insulted him.  His wife discouraged and abandoned him. And, on and on.  Yet!  Job was resolute.  He knew he had a rRdeemer.  He didn't understand why all of these awful things were happening in His life, but he chose to trust that this Redeemer was there and that he would, one day, see Him and then understand.  Perhaps, because Job chose to trust in his Redeemer even though he could not see Him or understand Him, Job was blessed in the end, very much more than he had been before (and before, he was number one in the land in wealth and integrity).  Job 19:25-26 (AMP) ²⁵ For I know that my Redeemer and Vindicator lives, and at last He [the Last One] will stand upon the earth. ²⁶ And after my skin, even this body, has been destroyed, then from my flesh or without it I shall see God,  Job, "kept the faith," as they say and he did not even know what we know today about the Redeemer!  Here in America, we pay homage to the man brave men and women who have given their lives so that we could live in this free country.  How much more should you and I remember that the Lord is the King who sacrificed Himself so we could have the freedom from sin that we now enjoy.  This is how the write of The Message paraphrases this.  Ephesians 1:7 (MSG)  ⁷ Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free!   Did you know that you can live in a free country and still be bound?  You can live in a free country and not be free at all!  You are only free if the Son (the Redeemer) has set you free.  Then you are free, indeed.  Are you free and do you remember that He has set you free, not only to enjoy His blessings, but to serve Him with all that He has given you?  God says I'm blessed, I'm chosen, I'm adopted, I'm favored, redeemed, yeah, I'm forgiven.  Makes me want to sing, I'm a child of the King and now I'm really livin'" - from the song, Ephesians One.  If you have received the Redeemer, you are redeemed and all of these other things go with your redemption.  Does it make you want to sing?  It should because you are a redeemed child of the King!

YOU ARE CHOSEN! 

Ephesians 1:4 (KJV)
⁴ According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

God says I'm blessed, I'm chosen, I'm adopted, I'm favored, I'm redeemed, yeah I'm forgiven.  Those are part of the lyrics of the song I mentioned in the Morning Manna a few days ago, "Ephesians One."  Well, the writer of this song didn't just pick words out of the air that rhymed and went with the beat (although the song will make you dance for joy).  These words are the writer's expression of what is mentioned by God to us in Ephesians, Chapter One.  Yesterday, we were reminded that we are blessed. Here in Ephesians 1:4, we see that God chose us before the foundation of the world.  Pretty amazing. Especially for me, since I was always the last one chosen for the team in PE class.  He chose us to be holy and without blame before Him in love.  The only way we can do that is through Jesus.  He is the only One who lived a perfect life and can stand before His Father holy and without blame in love but God has given us, as chosen, adopted children, the same privilege!  We are set apart for God's use.  That's holy.  We are justified if we have received Jesus, just as though we had never sinned.  That makes us without blame.  If we love Jesus, we will obey His commandments and stand before God in love.   John 14:15 (NLT)
¹⁵ “If you love me, obey my commandments. 

Just as the song says, we are adopted.  That may sound as though we might be second class citizens but it is just the opposite.  Someone who is adopted is really, really wanted.  Ephesians 1:5 (KJV)  ⁵ Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,  God had two perfect children in the beginning.  Adam and Eve.  However, they sinned and left the rest of us to be born with a sin nature that would keep us forever from God.  I imagine that thought really grieved God's heart of love for His creation so, although I don't pretend to understand predestination, I do understand that God loves me and He loves you too.  He knew what was going to happen to humankind because He can't help it that He knows everything.  Yet, somehow, He planned to adopt us as His children by Christ Jesus.  Now when He looks at those of us who have received Jesus, He doesn't see the sin nature.  Only the nature of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ.  God wanted us so much that, way ahead of time, He designed a plan to adopt us back into His family by giving up Jesus to be crucified, dead and buried after living a perfect life.  The amazing thing is that He rose again and now we, too, as adopted children through Jesus, will rise again one day to live forever in the presence of our loving Heavenly Father.  All of this pleased God.  His will is that all of His children should return to Him and now He has made a way! 2 Peter 3:9 (KJV) ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.  Yes, Jesus is coming back for us chosen and adopted children to take us all to be with Him forever.  God is not willing that any should be absent when we all are taken back to the perfect Paradise.  His perfect will is that we should all come to repentance.  Have you stood in agreement with God that you are a sinner and that you need to turn around and go in His direction instead of the direction the enemy and the world is trying to lead you?  Jesus would probably come back right now but God is patient because there are still some that need to repent and He doesn't want anyone to be left behind.  Are you one of those He is patiently waiting for? 

God is delighted that He has offered us the invitation of adoption back into His family.  He is even more delighted when someone accepts that invitation.    Luke 15:10 (KJV)  ¹⁰ Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.  Really, God is satisfied, even delighted in the fact that He has made a way to choose and adopt us.  I'm sure He is blessed when we stand before Him in love.   Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)   ⁶ To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us  accepted in the beloved.  Our Father has done all this to the praise of the dignity and honor of His graciousness toward us.  He has purposed to offer us His divine influence on our heart so that we will want to live by His principles and live in love with Him and with others.  He has chosen, by adopting us, to show His graciousness, to show His dignity and honor.  Then He has chosen to highly favor us by bestowing these things on us.   We're blessed, we're chosen, we're adopted, we're forgiven (if we have repented) and  we're also favored.  There's a whole lot to think about in those few phrases.  When we really meditate on these things, it will change the way we think about ourselves and the way we think of others.  It will definitely change the way we think about God because we will realize that when we had no chance at all (except Hell), God bought us back by paying the price of the blood of His Son.  Then He brought us back into His family.  Many times children are biologically born that are not wanted or loved.  But, when you're adopted, you know for sure that you are wanted and that you are loved, especially since God chose you. Makes you want to sing doesn't it?  You really should sing because you're a child of the King.  Nothing can hold you back from living the abundant life that Jesus died to give you! 

Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)
³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

YOU ARE BLESSED

First of all, let us all do what Paul did in his letter to the Ephesians.  All together now, let's say, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ."  It's really all about Him and He is so much more than we are that it is amazing that He should even pay any attention to little old us.  Have you ever wanted anything really badly, gotten it, used it for a while, and then forgotten about it or maybe even decided you didn't like it any more (especially if it didn't do or look like what you had expected)?  Well, God certainly could feel that way about humankind.  He made us beautifully, wonderfully, perfectly, and gave us everything we needed and then we wanted more.  We wanted the one thing we shouldn't have.  We messed ourselves up in sin.  We took of what God said, "Do not eat."  (Of course, this could go into another Morning Manna, "Do not eat," since many of us have a problem with that temptation and often fall prey to it, including me!)  When you think of the way God made us and what He expected of what He made (even though He gave us free choice to listen to Him or go our own way), you (or at least I) might think that, since we didn't do what we were supposed to do and, because of that, we don't look the way we should look, my interest would wane and I would go on to creating or getting myself something better.  After all, if He gave us everything and we blew it, what was to keep God from either ignoring or just destroying us?  I'll tell you what it was.  It was His love for us.  It was His love for His creation.  You see, He creates things with a potential for life and abundance but we sometimes think we know better and expect something forbidden to give us our potential and our abundance.  Never mind that.  God is merciful.  He is forgiving.  He loved us imperfect creatures so much that He gave His perfect Son so we could be forgiven.  He blessed us beyond our wildest imagination and He still continues to do that when we seek Him.  Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV)  ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.  Yes, blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.  We should have blessed Him before He gave us anything, but He has now given us everything we need to operate in His Kingdom way far more than we could ever ask or think!  Bless Him now.  Give Him the glory!

God has blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places with Christ.  First of all, let's be sure we are with Christ.  Have you given Him your life, repented of your sin and made Him King of your heart?  If not, just do it now.  He's patiently knocking at your heart's door but only you can open the door because the door knob is only on the inside.  Revelation 3:20 (KJV)  ²⁰ Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  Besides that, our God is gracious.  He is a gentlemen.  He's not going to force His way into your heart and force you to receive abundant life and all of His other almost unbelievable promises.  He's not going to force you to accept, receive and use all spiritual blessings in heavenly places!  But, He really wants you to!  There is a condition though.  You have to be willing to live a life in close communion with Him.  If you reread what you have just read, who would  need to be forced?  Do you like to have your things stolen?  Do you like to operate under a curse where you have to watch out for your life all the time for fear of destruction or death?  I really doubt it.  So, if you have not already made Jesus the King of your life, won't you do it now?  He won't disappoint you.  You just have to ask Him in.  Are you feeling hospitable today?  When you open that door. you're going to get so much more than you bargained for!  John 10:10 (KJV)  ¹⁰ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.  One more thing.  Once you have invited Him in (and you may have done that years ago), perhaps you have not given Him full run of the house?  If there is a drawer (you know those drawers we through stuff in when company's coming and then forget it's in there), let Him help you clean it out.  There may be stuff in there that's not good for you or even rotten stuff.  Maybe you have a closet in your heart where you have been storing resentment, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness, etc.  You put it in there and close the door and then try to sit at the kitchen table with Jesus and share a meal.  It's going to be uncomfortable.  Since He already knows your heart, let Him into that closet.  Give all that deadly clutter to Him.  Let Him turn your closet into a place of peace and prayer.  He's willing, but are we?  It could be that you have a whole room in your house where you stuff things, especially when company is coming.  Then you close the door and declare that room, "out of bounds."  I know.  I have done that much of my life!  But, when there is a room in our heart like that, Jesus may not feel completely welcome and comfortable.  Is Jesus comfortable and blessed in your heart?  Is your heart orderly, every drawer, every closet, every room?  Have you allowed Him to see everything, get rid of the extra clutter and dirt and help you redecorate?  He's here to bless us but, first, this morning, let's just bless our loving Father who loved us enough to send Jesus down to help us clean our houses and keep us company, even eating joyfully with us!

Just what all has he given us?  Only everything in Heaven.  Salvation.  The gifts of the Spirit.  Power to do His will.  The hope of eternity with Christ.  An intimate relationship with Christ.  These are all things that are in Heaven but God has chosen to give them to us now through Jesus Christ.  Are you enjoying Jesus today?  Do you feel the impact of all those things He has given you?  When you have your heart (house) in order, you can find any one of those things, and more, at a moments notice.  They all look like and work just as God intended and they are all at your disposal.  You are blessed.  I am blessed! Here's more confirmation from The Living Bible. Ephesians 2:4-7  But God is so rich in mercy; He loved us so much that even though we were spiritually dead and doomed by our sins, He gave us back our lives again when He raised Christ from the dead - only by His undeserved favor have we ever been saved - and lifted us up from the grave into glory along with Christ, where we sit with Him in the Heavenly realms - all because of what Christ Jesus did.  And now God can always point to us as examples of how very, very rich His kindness is, as shown in all He has done for us through Jesus Christ.  Wow!  Are we ever blessed.  Lifted up from the grave into glory, along with Christ!  Sitting with Him in His house (and He in ours) and enjoying everything that is at His disposal (which, by the way, is everything).  So, what will it be for us today?  Will we be the example that God can point to, demonstrating the fact that He has been more than kind to us through everything He has done for us through Jesus Christ?  Or, will we go into some of those drawers, closets, and rooms that have not been cleaned out and lead a life of depression, oppression and doom?  What's the first step to being an example of how good God is?  It's to bless Him with our mouth and with our life.  As they used to sing, "When the praises go up, the blessings come down."   Let me be careful to say here that the praises that come from just singing in corporate worship are not what brings the blessings from God down and they don't lift us up into the Heavenly places with Christ where we can sit at peace.  They are merely a result of living a life of praise all week long!  God does all for us when we choose to live for Him and bless Him by the way we live.  He's more than willing to give you and me everything in the Heavenlies.  Are we more than willing to live consistent lives that bless God?

PAUL HAS PRAYED THAT YOU HAVE GRACE AND PEACE FROM THE LORD

Ephesians 1:2 (KJV)
² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Have you started your day yet or are you just getting started by doing what we should all do first, reading the Word of God and communicating with Him?  I'm still thinking about the "Ephesians Chapter One" song.  Boy, does it rev up your spirit and get your soul to start agreeing to who God says you are!  But, in the meantime, I decided to carefully go through the chapter and see what else I could find.  I want to share that with you.  I don't know what you have to do today (or what you think you have to do).  I do know, though, that God has provided you and me all the grace and peace we need to go through the day (and probably more since Psalm 23 says that our cups run over).  Since we have stuff running over in our saucer, why not pass it along to somebody else?  Perhaps somebody that looks and acts like their cup is empty, if not crushed and broken?  The Apostle, Paul, prayed that you and I would have grace and peace from God.  Not just somebody in the great somewhere that we call God, but God our Father.  Our perfect father.  We may not have had a dad on this earth that promoted grace and peace in our family but, now that we have believed in Jesus, we have the Perfect Father and in this family, grace and peace reign.  It reigns because the Lord Jesus paid the price for it.  John 14:27 (KJV) ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  There may be some things that are coming your way today that you do not expect or you may be right smack dab in the middle of something so difficult that you feel like you're not going to make it through!

When we really think about it, we were not going to make it through to eternity and peace and joy forever with the Lord.  Until.  Until Jesus came and paid the price for us so that we could be saved by grace. Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV) ⁴ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, ⁵ Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) ⁶ And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:   Yes, we are saved by grace and nothing else.  All by the blood of Jesus. Right now a praise and worship fest should be bursting forth from all of us reading this.  But, this grace did not just save us.  The meaning of grace is show to us in the Strong's Dictionary:   from <G5463> (chairo); graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude) :- acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy). Strong's Talking Greek & Hebrew Dictionary.  So, each and every day, with its joys and trials, we have God's divine influence on our heart to reflect on as to how it will show us just what to do in every situation.  We can be thankful that we have His gift of favor, joy, liberality, His pleasure and we need to be so thankful for all of this!  Whatever it is you are doing today and, if you are going through a trying time, remember that you have God's divine influence on your heart.  Reflect on it.  Open your spiritual ears and see what He is saying about what you need to do.  Be thankful that He has given you the gift of His favor.  You have His benefits and as some would say, "And don't you forget it."  Psalm 103:2-5 (KJV)  ² Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: ³ Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; ⁴ Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; ⁵ Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

God has answered Paul's prayer right down through the ages and we are the benefactors.  We have peace that Jesus said He gave us.  We have grace which was supplied when Jesus paid the price on the cross.  Maybe we should just stop today and, at every turn, no matter what it looks like, say, "Thank you Lord for the peace and grace that You have given me. Thank You for Your define influence on my heart that will help me through anything if I will just receive that influence.  Thank you that I can breathe in Your peace every moment and that it lives inside me so that I can call it to rise up in any situation."  Thank you Lord for your benefits and your favor on my life.  Lord, I don't feel good about my situations sometimes but thank you that You heard Paul's prayer for me and for anyone who will receive You and You're still answering each individual who is calling on You.  You have enough favor, grace, peace, benefit, wisdom, and joy to go around (and more).  You are the giver of everything I need and you give liberally.  Help me to give to others as my cup overflows with all these things. Thank you for forgiving my iniquities, for healing my diseases and redeeming my life from destruction.  Thank you for Your lovingkindness and the tender mercies you have shown in my life.  Thank you for the physical and spiritual food You have given me.  Good things so that your promise can be completed in my life that my youth is renewed like the eagle's!"  Oh my, some of the words to the song, Ephesians One are these. "GOD SAYS I’M BLESSED I’M CHOSEN I’M ADOPTED I’M FAVORED I’M REDEEMED YEAH I’M FORGIVEN"  That's a lot of benefits right there.  We have grace and we have peace.  It's already been given to us by the Lord and He paid the great price for it!  Maybe we should stop praying for peace within ourselves and boldly thank God for putting it there.  Maybe we should stop praying for more grace and thank God for the grace He has already put inside us and walk in it.  Everything God does is complete.  Nothing missing, nothing broken, except maybe our way of thinking because we have not renewed our mind through the Word enough to know that, no matter what happens in this life, we have been given grace and peace by our Father.  You're blessed, chosen, adopted, favored, redeemed and forgiven!  Me too.  I don't always walk like that in confidence but I'm working on it.  How about you?    

CAN YOU BE DEFINED AS, "EVER LOYAL TO THE LORD?"

Ephesians 1:1 (KJV)
¹ Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:

In these past few weeks, I have been concentrating on who I am in Christ.  How God defines me.  And, how God defines you, if you are a believer in Christ.  There are so many positive ways that God defines us in the scripture and all of them are because He did it for us.  I have been encouraging myself by singing a song called, "Ephesians One."  It's all about what is said about us in Ephesians Chapter one.  It's great because it's got a beat that makes you jump for joy if you're singing it.  Even if you're not singing, you'd probably jump for joy because of the reminder of all the things that God says we are just in one chapter in the Bible.  So, I began to read Ephesians, chapter one, with a close eye to ask God what all He was saying.  Lots was said in the song but I have found even more in the scripture.  First of all Paul, the Apostle, is writing to the church at Ephesus.  However, some have described this as a circular letter that probably was read at all the churches where Paul had influence.  And, it certainly has proved to be a circular letter because it is in the scripture and it speaks to you and me today just as it spoke to the first readers!

Paul tells us who he is.  An apostle of Jesus Christ.  He clarifies the fact that he did not appoint himself as such, but that it was by the will of God.  There are many who call themselves apostles today.  May it be that they really all are apostles by the will of God.  However, we are told that we must watch out for wolves in sheep's clothing so we might watch the, "apostles," of today to see if their lifestyle is in line with the Word of God.  You can't be an apostle unless you are in line with the Word.  Paul is writing to the saints in Ephesus.  Now, you might think that he is writing only to those who perfectly keep the law, but no.  He is writing to those who believe and who have trusted their hearts and lives to Jesus.  In the same way today, he is writing to you and me and calling us saints.  The Word is inspired by God so it is really God that is calling us saints.  Only He knows our hearts but, if He looks in there and sees Jesus, He sees you as a saint.  That's how He defines you.  All of us saints are not in the same place as far as the renewal of our minds but our spirits are safe and sealed by the Holy Spirit of God.

Then Paul includes all who are faithful in Christ Jesus.  Does that include you?  Are you, "ever loyal," to the Lord?  Does this description define you and me?  On this one, it's a choice.  God will define us as ever loyal and faithful to him if we will do what it takes to define ourselves as such.  Because we have given our lives to Jesus, we are saints, set apart and consecrated for the Father.  But, Paul says, in the Amplified Version, "who are also faithful and loyal and steadfast in Christ Jesus."  There is the choice.  This is where we make the choice as to how God can define us.  Are we faithful?  Are we loyal?  Are we steadfast?  You may say, "I am faithful to my spouse," and that is definitely God's will and it is a wonderful thing.  But, this is not the depth Paul is talking about.  Are you as faithful to Jesus as you are to your spouse?  If Jesus has given you instructions through His Word or by Holy Spirit revelation, are you faithful to follow?  If others around you are denying Him with their words and their actions, are you faithful to Him, or do you join right in?  Are you loyal?  Many are loyal to the country in which they reside.  This weekend, being the fourth of July, a celebration of America, I can say that I am loyal to my country.  I may not like everything that is going on now and I do know that the people of God need to seek His face and turn from their wicked ways so that our land can be healed and blessed.  So, are you loyal to your country because you like the way it is, even if it is not following God's principles?  Or are you loyal to Jesus Christ, being a living example in your country of Kingdom living and loving?  This is what Paul is talking about.  Loyalty is a great thing but, unless our full loyalty is in Jesus, the rest is inconsequential.  Are you steadfast?  You may be steadfast at your career with dreams of climbing the corporate ladder.  You may even be steadfast at your career because you know you must provide for your family.  Providing for your family in a material way is necessary and it is a Godly trait.  However, Paul is speaking about those who are steadfastly growing in the knowledge and revelation of the Lord.  Those who are steadfast and loyal and faithful, even when faced with the severe trials we go through on this earth.  As a matter of fact, when Paul wrote this to us, he wasn't just telling us to do these things.  He was being an example.  This letter was written while he was in prison being loyal to the Lord and steadfastly and faithfully giving testimony to the power of the Lord both to his captors and to us!  This was his choice.  God wants to define us as "ever loyal to Him," but He cannot do so without our permission.  We have to make the choice to put all of our loyalty in Him and steadfastly stay in His Word and in prayer.  We have to faithfully walk in the Spirit and keep in step.  So, what is our choice today?  How do we want God to define us?  How do we want our children to define us?  How do we want society to define us?  Hopefully, our answer will be that we will be among those who are spoken of as being "ever loyal to Jesus."    

SOMETIMES YOU JUST DON'T FEEL REDEEMED! 

 Colossians 1:¹⁴ In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins.

Just how would you describe yourself?  You may come up with quite a few negatives and some positives too.  Hopefully, one of your definitions of yourself will be how God defines you.  That is, you are redeemed!  You know, some days, though, I just don't feel redeemed.  I have a good idea that I'm not the only believer who has days when they wonder why they feel like they feel.  Not very redeemed.  It doesn't matter how we feel, God says we're redeemed if we have received Jesus as our Savior and Lord.  So it's settled.  You are redeemed and I am redeemed!  That is who we are.  It didn't come at little cost either.  We have our redemption through the blood of Jesus.  There is power in the blood.  Power to forgive sins and power to heal.  But, are there some days that you just don't feel like you have much power?  I have to admit that this is one of those days for me.  I, not only don't feel redeemed, I feel like having a melt-down!  Maybe some of you can relate.

Even though we're redeemed, that doesn't mean that we won't go through challenges. Some days are harder than others. The writer of The Message writes that:  Colossians 1:11 ¹¹ We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, ¹² thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
¹³ God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He's set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, ¹⁴ the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.  On those days when we don't feel redeemed, God reminds us that we are redeemed.  That means we don't have to grit our teeth.  We can count on God's strength to get us through everything and anything.  That's part of our redemption.

Even though we are delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred into the Kingdom of Jesus, we will go through days where it feels like that is not true.  That's when it's so important that we know that we are redeemed.  That we know who we are.  The redeemed of the Lord.  I started out my day today with a good attitude and stayed balanced for the first part of the morning.  Then I was sure that God would bless my day so much that I would feel it.  Well, let me tell you that just the opposite happened.  Most of my day was wasted on hold on the phone trying to get satisfaction with a service I have purchased and for which I have paid a high price.  As the day wore on and nothing I had planned to do got done, I found myself feeling not quite redeemed.  Resentment and anger filled my soul.  I tried to be kind to those I spoke to but still the thoughts were there.  It just wasn't fair.  Paul prayed in Colossians 1:11 that we would have all the endurance and patience we need.  I'm so glad he prayed that because God never forgets a prayer and I was certainly in need of some endurance and patience today.  Ever had one of those days?  I hope you don't have one but I do have to admit it is an opportunity to lean into God when you feel like you're going to fall apart and you are getting nowhere fast!  Paul also prayed that we would be filled with joy.  No wonder he prayed that.  The joy of the Lord is our strength!  We have reason to be joyful.  We are redeemed and we should always be thanking God that He has allowed us to share in the inheritance that belongs to His people.  By the way, on dark days, we need to remember that the redeemed live in the light.  Always.  Even the darkness is light to God!  Psalm 139:12 (AMP) ¹² Even the darkness hides nothing from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.  We share in that because of who we are - redeemed!  May this day find you knowing you are redeemed and living in the light even if circumstances make you feel like you are not redeemed and living in the darkness.  The enemy just loves to make us feel worthless and unredeemed but let me remind you, redeemed person that you are, greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world.  No matter what anybody says and no matter how we may feel at times, we are redeemed.  Praise the Lord!  If you know this hymn, start singing:  "Redeemed how I love to proclaim it, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb.  Redeemed through his infinite mercy.  His child, and forever I am."  God said it. So be it! 

DID YOU KNOW THAT GOD DEFINES YOU AS DEAD?

Colossians 3:3 (KJV)
³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

The title of this Morning's Manna sounds a bit spooky to me.  Yet, it is true.  God defines us as dead.  But, not the kind of dead we might think of.  Just dead to the things of this world dead to sin.  If we received Jesus and He did not protect us, the world and the devil would be too much for us to handle (not to speak of our own vain imaginations).  So, God considers us dead as far as this world and the sin of the world is concerned.  But, He considers us very much alive in Christ, hidden there in secret, protected from the destruction from the world, the devil, and even from our own selves.  We are still physically alive but it is Jesus that lives in us and through us now that we believe.  He is our life.  He is just waiting to return to this earth and allow us to appear with Him in glory, unspotted by sin because God has carefully hidden us away with Christ in God.  One day Jesus will return and, when He does, if we have allowed Him to live in us and through us, we will look just like Him.  Perfect in every way (except He will be the only one with the scars that He received so that we could be hidden with Him and made perfect)!  Colossians 3:4⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Imagine that!  You and I will appear with Christ in glory.  We have been hidden for a purpose, for preservation and perfecting for this wonderful time that we will stand with Christ, just as He is, in glory!  It's not so spooky when I think about it that way.  In fact, it's encouraging and uplifting.  Even though we are hid with Christ in God, Jesus said he would give us life and life more abundantly.  So dead, in this sense, is much better than the world's idea of life!  (John 10:10)

I have done a lot of things in the past that I regret.  From bad attitudes, to wrong thoughts, to wrong actions.  But, because of Jesus and the price He paid on the cross, it's just as if I never did those things.  I'm still trying to wrap my mind around all of that.  I'm sure you have done things that were not right also.  God's Word says that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God.  We have all failed and missed the mark but, if we have received Jesus and repented of our sins, He has justified us and by faith we believe it.  Romans 5:1  (KJV)  Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  God has forgiven and forgotten our sins and He tells us so.  He wants us to enjoy peace with Him.  By faith we believe His Word and such a peace overwhelms us to know that. because of Jesus,  we don't have to dwell on or keep on regretting our past sins.  God has forgiven them and justified us.  It's just as though we never did any of those things.  Enjoying the privilege of knowing we are justified will free us from living in a sea of regrets from the past.  It will free us to forget what is behind, and move on toward the goal God has for us.  What a privilege and what a gift.  Justification of our sins.  What things might you have done in the past that you have repented of and God has forgiven you?  It's just as though you never did them!  So, if you're still dwelling on them, cast them on Jesus, be free, and move on to where He wants to lead you.

You and I because of this justification also, by faith, can access the grace of God and that's good reason to rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.  Romans 5:2 (KJV)  ² By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.    Remember, Jesus is coming back and we will stand with Him in His glory!  Yes, we are justified, we are hidden with Christ in God and we have access to the grace of God, all by faith.  We also rejoice in the hope of the glory of God and know we will stand with Jesus when this glory is manifested.  In the meantime, although our spirits are hidden with Christ in God, we still live in a world that seems to be spinning out of control.  People are now calling evil good.  Isaiah 5:20 (KJV) ²⁰ Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!  In a whole discourse of, "woe's," this is just one listed in a discourse from the prophet Isaiah.  You'd almost think he was speaking to the world today, wouldn't you?  A, "woe," from God is not something I want to hear!  But, because we live in a world that does not like the light or the good or the sweet, we will endure some trials in our physical circumstances, since we represent those very things.  We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God but here, in this world, we many times see just the opposite of the glory of God.  We see trials, troubles, griefs, challenges, tribulations.  The Word of God says that we not only rejoice in the hope of the glory of God, we also rejoice in all of these things listed above because, as always, God is in the business of turning all things meant for evil to good for His children.  He is working all things together for good so that we can look just like Jesus and stand with Him in His glory when He comes.  Romans 5:3-5 (KJV) ³ And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; ⁴ And patience, experience; and experience, hope:   ⁵ And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.  As I put these facts together, I realize that I, as a believer am hidden with Christ in God.  Whatever I have done in the past is forgiven and I am justified.  I have the abundant life that Jesus promised in spite of tribulations because, through these problems, Jesus is not only hiding me and protecting me, He is growing my hope and faith in the love of God.  He is allowing my hope to grow by the power of His own Holy Ghost which He has given me.  I live a, "no lose," life because of Jesus.  And so do you if you have received Him.  Yes, we will feel some pain and trouble at times but greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world.  We are hidden in the greater One and we can go through knowing that our patience, experience and hope is being built.  The enemy may have meant something in our lives for evil but He can't get all the way to us.  We are hidden in Christ with God.  Hard as He may try, the enemy is only going to succeed in helping us grow as we hope and trust in our God.   Yes, part of who we are is, dead to this world of sin.  But, the other part of who we are is justified and hidden, filled with faith and hope for which we will never find ourselves ashamed before God!  Defined as being dead doesn't seem so bad after all when I think about it like this! 

WE'RE ONE COMPLETE TEMPLE OF GOD

1 Corinthians 6:20 (KJV)
²⁰ For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

In these days where people are trying to, "find themselves," and use that as an excuse to do all sorts of strange things, we as believers, do not have to look far.  Those still trying to find themselves need to stop looking at the media, TV, movies, and the latest "who done somebody wrong song," and find Jesus.  He's not far from any one of us and He's just waiting for us to notice that He's there and let Him remake us into a complete and majestic temple.  If you are a believer, that is how you are defined.  A temple of the Holy Spirit.  Complete in Christ. 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (KJV) ¹⁶ Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? ¹⁷ If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.   So, right about now are you feeling the awesomeness of the fact that God's Spirit dwells in you?  1 Corinthians 3:17 says that if any man defile the temple of God (that's you and me, as believers), God will destroy that man for the person has defiled something holy.  You and I are holy, by the blood and grace of Jesus Christ.  We are His temple.  The scripture says, "if anyone," defiles the temple, that person faces bad news!  Does this say to you that we need to be sure that we are living righteous lives in order not to defile God's temple?  That's the way I see it.  However, I also see it saying that if anyone else chooses to defile or try to destroy us (as God's temple), that person will suffer greatly.

This temple, of whom we are, is truly magnificent.  Would God want to live anywhere but a holy and magnificent place?  He paid a great price for His home.  We, as mere sinful human beings, are not worthy to have God make us the home of his spirit.  He cannot live in sin and unrighteousness.  Why would He want to anyway?  God is a God of order and I don't think He appreciates the clutter and filth of sin.  He doesn't want to live in a garbage dump!  Just now, I am thinking about order in my physical home.  There are some places that need to be cleaned out.  I find it rather peaceful to live in a home that is not cluttered and disorderly (notice that I did not say that I always, or maybe ever, achieve this goal).  However, even psychologists have said that people who live in organized and orderly homes are much more peaceful people.  I can relate.  Imagine now, God's holy temple (of which we are).  Is it orderly inside?  Have we kept things put in their proper place?  I'm speaking about our priorities and how much time we spend taking care of the inside of the temple in all ways.  Spiritually, emotionally, and physically.  Are we known by God as people who treasure the temple or people who trash the temple?  I would hope that it would be the former.  If you are now or have ever been feeling a little bit insecure or like you don't measure up to what the world says you are supposed to be, take a second look through God's eyes.  Your head will raise up and you might even through up your arms in praise.  God made you His magnificent home and He desires to live in and with you!  Can you see Him now?  Are there a few rooms you need to clean up a little bit so He will be comfortable there?  He will work right along with you until it is just right!

Okay, so now you know what a beautiful palace you are if you have trusted Christ as your Savior.  And, even though there may be a few rooms that need a little cleaning, you are also complete in Christ.  That's how God sees you and me.  Colossians 2:10 (KJV)  ¹⁰ And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:  What a freeing and restful thought to know that God sees us as complete in Christ.  Don't we struggle here on earth to be all that we expect ourselves to be and all that we perceive others expect us to be?  We don't have to strive or struggle, because God sees the finished picture of this temple.  He sees us as complete in Christ.  Nothing missing and nothing broken.  Every cleaning job finished and ready for company!  Christ is the head of all principality and power.  Don't you know that the enemy would love to come in and destroy this temple of God?  He'll come around any way he can, especially if we leave the temple unguarded.   Proverbs 4:23 (AMP) ²³ Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.  The enemy would just love to defile this temple!  When reading in the Amplified Bible concerning 1 Corinthians 3:17, I found that defilement can come in many different ways.  It can be corrupted with false doctrines so be careful just who you invite into your living room for fellowship and teaching.  Check out what comes into you (God's temple) through your eyes and your ears.  Make sure it is in accordance with God's Holy Word.  Don't just let anyone into the temple.  God does not fellowship with unrighteousness.  He will forgive it and make Himself at home in a clean temple but He's not going to participate in unholy activities in one whom He calls His temple.  Does this seem harsh to you?  Maybe it is a little straight-forward.  But, on the other hand, what a blessing.  What a privilege.  We are the home of God's own Holy Spirit.  Along with that comes the responsibility of working with God to maintain that temple.  Deferring maintenance can lead to a condemned building.  God's definition of us is correct.  It is marvelous.  We are His complete temple.  Our job is to live there peacefully with Him and keep it clean and organized, making it exactly the way He wants it.  Or, we can choose to defile it and destroy ourselves.  As they say, the choice is a, "no-brainer."  Walk today in who you are with your head held high and your heart open to others who need to see God in you.  Don't show off but let God show off in you!  You are a complete and beautiful temple of the Lord!

UNDER THE CARE OF THE MASTER GARDENER

John 15:1 (KJV)
¹ I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

I'm still reminding myself (and hopefully you too) of who I am in Christ.  One of the most important things is that you and I are branches from the true Vine.  I have been experimenting with growing some cuttings, herbs, tomatoes and such.  I'm not a great gardener.  But, I belong to the Master Gardener and I am a branch on His Vine (Jesus).  He knows just what I need as one of His, "branches."  Working in my garden a little bit has shown me that some things need different kinds of soil to grow effectively and produce fruit.  If the soil is deficient, they will be dwarfed, not produce, and even die.  As the gardener, I need to know just what kind of soil they need and how to feed them.  Our God is not only the Master Gardener, He is the Soil.  He is the Source of the Vine.  He is also the Vine.  John 10:29-30 (AMP) ²⁹ My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand. ³⁰ I and the Father are One.  He is the great I AM.  He is fully grounded in every way.  Being a branch on the Vine is to be able to get the nutrients from the Soil.  It is being watered with Living Water.  It is being fed with the Word.  These things will allow us to bear fruit.  It will be fruit in accordance with the Vine.  Living, sweet fruit.  Nutritious fruit.  Encouraging fruit.

It is possible to ignore the Master Gardener and be like a "sucker," on a rose bush or a run-away weed intertwined around the vine trying to suck the life out of it.  But, if we have really have not  given our lives to the Gardener and the Gardener finds that we are not bearing fruit the way we should, He will know that we are a fake.  A sucker, if you will.  Today, there is great discussion about cleansing of the body in natural medicine.  Every so often, they say we should take something that will totally clean out our intestinal tract, making it able to absorb the nutrients we need to live a healthy life and have energy (be able to bear fruit).  If the Gardener has looked into our lives and found that we are fruitful, there will be some "purging," done for our own good.  We will be cleansed and revived so we can bear more fruit.  John 15:2 (KJV)   ² Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.  Purging can be uncomfortable.  However, if He finds that we are not bearing any fruit, His Word says that He will take us away.  I just now read that this does not mean that Jesus takes away actual parts of His body (actual branches) but only those that have pretended to be branches, those were only acting out the part.  Of course, if there is no nourishment coming from the vine, that "actor," will not last long!  Jesus said that those of us who believe are now clean through the word he spoke to us.  John 15:3 (AMP) ³ Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.  It is the water of the Word that allows us to grow as branches and become one with the Vine just as God instituted marriage and says that the man and woman will become one.  It is the water of the Word that flows through us helping us to bear fruit as those rivers of living water flow through us branches refreshing all of those around us. John 7:38 (KJV)  ³⁸ He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.  The Master Gardener is also the Water that keeps the Vine and the branches alive.  He keeps the fruit coming.  Luscious, mouth-watering fruit, full of juice!  All we have to do is cling to the Vine. 

John 15:4 (AMP)  ⁴ Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.  There's not a thing we can do to bear fruit except abide in and draw nourishment and guidance from the Vine.  John 15:5  ⁵ I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.  At times, I get grand ideas in my head about all the fruit I can bear.  I can be a missionary.  I can go feed the homeless.  I can prayer walk around my neighborhood or the neighboring schools.  I can volunteer at a soup kitchen.  There are lots of things I can do (in my mind) to bear fruit but, unless I am contentedly abiding in the Vine, I can do none of those things.  Besides that, maybe that is not the fruit He has in mind.  The fruit comes from Him and His purposes; not from me personally and my own idea of whether I should be a peach or an apple!  When we stop abiding in Him or have never really been abiding in Him, the Master Gardener will cast that branch away and it will be used for fire wood.  John 15:6 ⁶ If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.  Not a pleasant thought but then, that is not who we are in Christ if we are abiding in Him and His Words are abiding in us.  John 16:7 ⁷ If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.  It is the unity between us and the Vine and the Master Gardener that brings forth the perfect fruit.  No wonder Jesus said that His Father would be glorified by having our prayers answered.  If we are truly abiding in the Vine, we are in agreement with the Vine who is in agreement and obedient to the Master Gardener.  John 16:8 ⁸ Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.  The truth is that we are a branch of the true vine and, as the e-mail I read says, a channel of His life, if we are abiding in Him and His Words are abiding in us.  That's pretty awesome.  We don't have to worry about the fruit.  We just have to be One with Him and the most perfect fruit will appear for His perfect purpose!  Sometimes branches don't seem that important.  After all there are lots of branches in this world on lots of vines and trees.  But, you and I are special branches nurtured by the Master Gardener and grafted into His very own Son, the Vine.  Did you remember this morning that you are a true branch of the Vine and He wants to use you to be a vessel to carry His fruit into this hungry and dying world?  Don't worry about what it is.  Just abide in Him and it will appear before your very eyes, you knowing that you had nothing to do with it.  It was just Him flowing through you to do something awesome that will encourage another and bring Him glory!

WHO ARE WE?  FREE, FRUIT BEARERS, CONFIDENT, AND STRONG!

Proverbs 14:26 (KJV)
²⁶ In the fear of the LORD is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge.

God has made us so amazingly well and full of good stuff but do we sometimes take it for granted?  We are free to approach God with confidence.  A humble confidence, if you will, in what He can do.  Not an arrogant confidence that shows self aggrandizement.  Ephesians 3:10-12 (NLT) ¹⁰ God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord. ¹² Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.  It is completely through God's grace in Christ that we have the privilege of freely going to God in boldness and confidence.  Not in our own strength or boldness or in our own confidence but in the strength, boldness, and confidence that comes through Jesus, who takes up residence in us.  Taking God for granted just because we are given such privileges and because He has defined us as free, fruit bearers, confident, and strong, is absolutely wrong!  We need to remember to have a reverential fear of the Lord.  That is what will keep us in confidence.  That is what will give us the confidence that we will never be left unsheltered.  We will always have a place of refuge with our Father because we are His child (John 1:12).  

This morning, as I was pondering on the fruit bearing part of this Morning's Manna, I asked the Lord how to bear fruit.  It was a simple conversation in which I just got the feeling that I would go about my day and He would find the opportunities for me to bear some fruit.  Well, I had to go to the doctor.  I don't really like going to the doctor but I am thankful for the wisdom that God has given to some of them.  Oh that they would all look to the Great Physician for healing anointing and gifting!  Not only did I have to go to the doctor, I had to go to an office that he has to which I don't like to drive.  He has an office near my home but I couldn't get an appointment there in a timely manner.  Anyway, I went (a bit resentfully to tell the truth).  However, God created clear roads for me with not much traffic.  God is good to us in so many ways.  I opened the door and there sat a woman that I was sure I knew.  Before I had a pulmonary embolism last September, I went to some nursing homes and sang with and for them and encouraged them with visits and the Word of God.  Since that time, I have not done it because I have not felt physically able - yet.  Anyway, this woman was a patient from the nursing home and she had an appointment at the same time I did.  She was sitting alone and I began to talk with her, she remembering me (amazingly).  We had a wonderful reunion and she asked why I didn't come back to sing.  All of a sudden, I realized that God had given me the chance to bear some fruit.  It wasn't in a place that I had chosen but a place He had chosen.  Another of His children was placed right next to me in a very (as the world would say) coincidental way.  It was no coincidence.  I was able to chat with her, bless her and she me.  God allowed some fruit bearing to go on right there in the doctor's office (which, by the way, often tests my patience because I don't like to wait).  Did you know that you are chosen and appointed to bear fruit?  John 15:16-17 (NLT) ¹⁶ You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.  ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.  The garden could be anywhere:  a doctor's office, the grocery store, your employment, school, just any place.  Why?  Because the Master Gardener lives in us and He knows who and where the fruit needs to grow.  As I left the office, my friend took my hands and kissed them.  That is what Jesus commanded as we bear fruit - to love one another.  We can't decide to bear fruit.  We just cling to the vine and remember that He has chosen us to produce fruit.  As we do that, it will just pop out sweet and fragrant, at His appointed time and will.

Speaking of going back to a ministry in the nursing home.  Perhaps this was God prodding me to step out in faith even though I don't physically feel like I can do it.  What is it that He may be prodding you to do and arranging the circumstances to both encourage you and urge you?  I don't know yet what the purpose of that meeting I had this morning was but I know it wasn't to leave a urine specimen.  Oh, I did that.  But, the real purpose was that divine meeting that will bear lasting fruit and have lasting consequences.  You see, a few hours after I left the office, they called and said they had thrown the specimen away by accident so I have to go back tomorrow to leave another one.  I wonder what God has in store for tomorrow.  For today, a urine specimen was not on His mind, obviously.  It was my friend, "Quin," and an opportunity for me to be an encouragement to her and her to me!  If I am supposed to go back to doing ministry at the nursing homes, here is what God promises. Philippians 4:13 (NLT) ¹³ For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. It's for sure that I cannot do this ministry at this time in my own strength or frame of mind.  If I do it, it will have to be totally by faith in the fact that I can do whatever it is that God is calling me to do, by faith.  He is saying the same thing to you this morning.  There may be something you would like to do but fear or weakness has kept you from stepping out to do it.  If God calls you, He will equip you with the strength and courage you need to do it!  I am now preaching to myself but I'm sure that there are some of you out there who just might get the drift of what I am saying.  God defines us as people who are free, able to bear fruit, confident and strong.  And, oh, there is so much more.  It's all because of Him.  It is in Him that we live and move and have our being.  No need for getting a swelled head because we are all that!  Just a need to reverentially fear the God who has made us all that and also has the power to take all of that from us!  He wants to give us more and more if we will humbly, gratefully, and fruitfully use what He has put in us!  In the fear of the Lord we have strong confidence and a permanent refuge.  He takes care of what He makes! 

WHO WE ARE IS PRETTY AMAZING!

Psalm 8:3-5 (AMP)  ³ When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established,  ⁴ What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? ⁵ Yet You have made him but a little lower than God [or heavenly beings], and You have crowned him with glory and honor.

"Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.  I once was lost but now I'm found.  Was blind but now I see."  Some of the old hymns say so much in just a couple of lines.  We sometimes think of ourselves as less than we are.  Of course, sometimes we think of ourselves as more than we are too.  Romans 12:3 (AMP)   ³ For by the grace (unmerited favor of God) given to me I warn everyone among you not to estimate and think of himself more highly than he ought [not to have an exaggerated opinion of his own importance], but to rate his ability with sober judgment, each according to the degree of faith apportioned by God to him. We are warned not to think too highly of ourselves.  I think the key word here is, "ourselves."  We've got to remember that we are just dust balls, created out of a lump of clay.   Psalm 103:14-18 (KJV)
¹⁴ For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. ¹⁵ As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth. ¹⁶ For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.
¹⁷ But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; ¹⁸ To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.  The miracle of it all is that God can take, even a dust ball, and make something magnificent out of it and that is exactly what He has done for you and me.  We must not think highly of ourselves because, without our Creator, we are nothing.  However, with Him, we are quite amazing!

Did you remember when you woke up this morning that you are established, anointed, and sealed by God? 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 (KJV) ²¹ Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; ²² Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.  To be quite honest with you, that wasn't the first thought on my mind this morning.  In fact, I can hardly remember the first thought on my mind except that I needed to wake up and I was having a hard time.  This is not the greatest frame of mind to be in when opening your eyes to the miracle of a new day and seeing that God has been faithful to make the sun come up for you once more!  If I could remember, all of the time, that I am established, life would go more smoothly.  The little glitches that come along wouldn't make me stumble because I know that I am established by the King of Kings, Himself!  And, yes, I am anointed (even though there are times when my faith waivers and I wonder about that fact).  I should not wonder.  I should just remember it and trust in God that the anointing He has placed in me is unique and to be used just for His purposes.  There is no one else on this earth that has the same anointing as I do and no one else that has the anointing God has given you either.  We have this anointing from Him so that His Kingdom will work well and function as it should.  Yes, we are anointed and we need to remember that and be satisfied with the anointing God has chosen to give us.  No comparing with others.  His anointing on us is for good and it will work marvelously when we cooperate with Him in it!  Established.  Anointed.  And, sealed!  Because of the Holy Spirit, you and I, if we have received Jesus as our Lord and Savior, are sealed.  What does that mean?  In general terms it means we are stamped (as with God's signet ring or His private mark).  We are secure and preserved.  Another thing that interested me about this word sealed is that, by implication, we are kept secret.  I don't pretend to know or try to tell you what that means but I am thinking that God has kept me secret and invisible sometimes when it comes to the devil's attempts to get me to forget who I am in Christ.  I believe God has kept me secret and invisible when an accident was about to happen and I escaped!  Although it may not mean that at all, I am feeling secure this morning that I am established, anointed, and then sealed (so that anointing can't get away) by my God!  If things don't look so good, I've got to call on what I know and so do you.  We're quite amazing because God has been mindful of us and kept us for the duration.  Secretly established sealed, anointed and all, within His loving Hands!

Because I am anointed and established, I also know that all things are going to work out for the good in my life and for God's Kingdom as I walk in the anointing (the purpose God has for me.)  Romans 8:28 (KJV) ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  Of course, none of this would be possible if I did not recognize Jesus as my Lord and Savior and love Him!  Why do you suppose that God is working out everything for good in our established, anointed, and sealed lives?  It's because He is conforming us to the image of His own Son!  Romans 8:29-30 (KJV)  ²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. ³⁰ Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  For starting out as dust balls, God has been doing some amazing and miraculous things in us, hasn't He!  There are things that come into our lives that help conform us to the image of Christ that we don't always appreciate.  Even though Jesus took our sin and gave us abundant life, we sometimes forget that He was called a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Isaiah 53:3 (AMP)  ³ He was despised and rejected and forsaken by men, a Man of sorrows and pains, and acquainted with grief and sickness; and like One from Whom men hide their faces He was despised, and we did not appreciate His worth or have any esteem for Him.  We want all the good stuff, don't we?  We don't really like it when the Potter has to break us and put us back on the wheel again to make us more like His Son.  Jesus took the full load of all of these things but He also said that, in this world, we would have trouble.  John 16:33 (AMP)  ³³ I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have [perfect] peace and confidence. In the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world. [I have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you.]  Being established, anointed and sealed is a great privilege and it makes us know we are secure.  However, we might not always feel secure as the conforming process takes place in the secret place of the Potter's wheel.  We may have to face some sorrow, grief, pain, and sickness.  Jesus did.  But, He promised to take the greater load.  If today, you are sure that you are established, anointed and sealed, but things don't seem to be lining up the way you think they should.  Keep knowing.  If God said it, it's true.  If you are weary, come to Jesus.  He said He would carry the heaviest part of the yoke (or burden).  He said, He would lead the way.  He would be the head of the team.  It's for sure, because God said so.  All things will work together for good because the amazing thing is that us, "dust balls," are established, anointed, sealed, loving God and walking according to His purpose, being conformed to the image of His perfect Son!  What an amazing and miraculous change - from dusty to glorified!  Praise the Lord for His Word that assures us of who we are in Him. Not who we are by ourselves or who we are according to the world's definition, but who we are, as we are being conformed to the image of Christ.  The neat thing is that, right now, God sees the finished product.  Be encouraged!  Be all that God has made you to be and be thankful that He has done all of this for us because of His great love!  Pretty amazing! 

YES, WE ARE ALL THAT AND MORE!

Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV) ²⁶ And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. ²⁷ So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. ²⁸ And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

The Lord didn't make junk when He created us.  Admittedly, we can take what He made and turn it into something it was not made to be, but that, of course, is not His will.  In the past two days we have discussed who we are in Christ.  Who we are if we have received Jesus as our Savior and found that we now have a restored relationship with our Father.  We've already discussed at least eight positive things that we are but sometimes we forget the power, love, and other things that are in us, that make us who we are so I'm taking time to remember some of those things.  Today, I will remember, and hopefully you will want to remember with me, one more of those things that define who we are.  One of the things I forget quite often is that I am no longer under any condemnation.  Romans 8:1-2 (KJV)  ¹ There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.  ² For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.  Because God has placed His Spirit within us,  we have the power to walk in the Spirit and not after the flesh.  That does not mean that we will not falter at times and need to ask for forgiveness.  1 John 2:1-2 (KJV)  ¹ My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:  ² And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.   Thank God, Jesus did not come to condemn the world, but to save it.  To save you and me.  John 3:17-18 (KJV) ¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
¹⁸ He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  Jesus came to offer us forgiveness and love.  To save us from condemnation which comes from the evil one.  Jesus says that you and I are no longer under condemnation (although the enemy will try to whisper otherwise in your heart if you perceive that you have made a mistake.)  If we miss the mark, we must repent immediately and not make a practice of sin.  The Holy Spirit will convict us to do this but He will not condemn us if we believe.  If we remain condemned, it is only because we have made the choice not to believe.

One thing that defines you and me is forgiveness.  There is NOW no condemnation in us.  How could there be if Jesus lives within us?  If we choose not to believe in the power of His love and grace to forgive and save, we are condemned.  We will continue a pattern of evil which will end up in death and eternal destruction.  Psalm 34:21-22 (AMP) ²¹ Evil shall cause the death of the wicked; and they who hate the just and righteous shall be held guilty and shall be condemned. ²² The Lord redeems the lives of His servants, and none of those who take refuge and trust in Him shall be condemned or held guilty.  Because you and I are choosing to believe in Jesus and His love and forgiveness for us, we won't be condemned or held guilty.  He will redeem our lives.  On the other hand those who choose to ignore such a gift will condemn themselves by their continual wickedness and their hatred for the just and righteous.  They shall be held guilty and condemned.  Think of all the, "religions," in the world (including those who have called themselves Christians). Have many religions chosen to condemn those who do not believe as they do and then carried out wickedness upon people who are just and righteous?  In case you are not sure of this answer, the answer is, "yes."  Jesus did not come to condemn the world.  He did not come to kill people.  He came to save them.  That is our job as His follower.  Because we believe that He has freed us from all condemnation, we have the power through the Holy Spirit to resist condemning others even if they don't believe the truth of the gospel.  We don't need to condemn them any more than Jesus did.  We need to pray that they will stop condemning themselves and truly believe.  That's what defines us.  We are forgiven, free from condemnation and then sent out to take the saving gospel message of forgiveness to the rest of a dying world.  If they choose to believe, they will be saved.  If they choose otherwise, they will have condemned themselves.  How sad to live under condemnation when forgiveness and eternal life is offered.  We are truly blessed because we are no longer under condemnation.  We believe in Jesus and His forgiveness.  Like any child, we will make a mistake but our Heavenly Father is quick to forgive a chid who comes to say, "I'm sorry and then turns the other direction."  It is the conviction that comes out of who we know we are - a child of God - that causes us to repent.  It is the refusal of those who are bent on unbelief and wicked living that causes them destruction.  Aren't you glad that you are defined this day as one upon whom there is no condemnation?  Now, that's a big one!  The next time the devil, the accuser of the brethren, tries to tell you to give up because you didn't quite live up to what you knew you should as a Christian, tell him who you are.  You can agree with him that he's right about the thing you might have done but then you can also tell him that you have given it to Jesus, repented and it is under the blood.  Then put one foot in front of the other, continue walking in righteousness through the Holy Spirit and show the world (and the devil) who you really are in Christ!  We are made in God's image, the image of love and forgiveness.  It is His will that we should live in freedom from condemnation and freedom from the condemnation of others.  That's who we are!

MORE OF REMEMBERING WHO WE ARE

Psalm 119:16 (KJV)
¹⁶ I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Yesterday we talked about five scriptural definitions of who we are in Christ.  There are lots more.  Today I want to remind myself and remind you of some more of them lest we look to the world or listen to the devil's lies and get a sort of amnesia about who we really are.  Who we really are is great.  It's not about our own ability or anything we have done to achieve greatness.  It's about who God says we are and it's about Who He is!  He has made us personal witnesses of who He is and of His Word (which is Jesus).  That's one definition of who we are.  We can be a witness because we have seen what He has done in our lives.  He has given us salvation when we were less than deserving. He has stepped in and made a way out of no way when we were sure we were about to go under.  He has healed.  He has touched.  He has refreshed.  He has relieved.  We are a witness to all of these experiences we have had with our Friend.  We are also witnesses of what we have read and studied in His Word.  Psalm 119:11-12 (KJV) ¹¹ Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.
¹² Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.  We can't be a witness to something we have not seen or do not know. That is why it is important for us to read God's Word and study it.  It will not only make us a witness, it will constantly reassure us of who we are!  We are powerful, Holy Ghost filled, witnesses of Jesus Christ and our witness can go all over this world, especially in this age of technology!    Acts 1:8 (KJV)   ⁸ But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

We are not only witnesses of Jesus, we are the evidence of Who He is in this world.  We are salt and light!  Matthew 5:13-16 (KJV) ¹³ Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.  ¹⁴ Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. ¹⁵ Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ¹⁶ Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.  You know, the devil knows who we are and he is constantly trying to get us to lose our saltiness by trying to get us to  cave into the traditions and ways of this world!  We've got to remember that we are the salt.  We must remain salty or we will be worth nothing according to God's Word.  Salt is there to preserve.  This earth and it's people need preservation. That's for sure!  Salt is also good for helping things to taste better.  The witness we are will taste much better to the world if there is a bit of salt added!  We're not just salt. We're light.  Oh, how the devil hates the light. He can't stay in it so what does he do?  He tries to get us to hide ourselves under a bushel so we can't shine.  No way!  God says to let our light shine on everyone.  Let everyone see that He is the Light working through these little lights of ours.  Let them see that we are going about doing good just like Jesus (who is the true Light of the world did).   Acts 10:38 (AMP)  ³⁸ How God anointed and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the [Holy] Spirit and with strength and ability and power; how He went about doing good and, in particular, curing all who were harassed and oppressed by [the power of] the devil, for God was with Him.  Jesus has given us His Spirit that we might go about doing good, just as He did.  He lives within us, therefore God is with us.  That's who we are.  We are powerful, anointed, consecrated people with strength and ability and power that comes from the Holy Spirit that lives within us!  Do we remember that often?  More importantly, does the world see who we really are so that they can see who He really is?

Being a witness and being salt and light in this crazy world seems like a big job but that's exactly who God says we are!  He does help us by giving us another definition of who we are and this helps us with the privilege and responsibility we have of being witnesses and salt and light.  He says that we are members of the body of Christ.  1 Corinthians 12:27 (AMP)
²⁷ Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct [each with his own place and function].  We definitely are important and special people to God and He put us in this world with His power to live inside of us so we could enjoy the privileges that come with being special and so we could meet the responsibilities of being important.  Then He did something even greater and helpful for us.  He made us members of His own Body.  Each of us has a purpose.  We don't all have the same purpose.  The salt, light, and witness in us comes through in different ways, just as feet don't do the same thing as hands.  But, all the parts, working together in unity, create a healthy body which has even more power and ability than just one part of the body.  So, even though we are unique and wonderfully made individuals, we are each a part of something (or Someone) so much bigger.  A part of the body of Christ.  He has something special for each of us to do that only we can do as we bring salt and light to the world and witness to the power of Christ in us and the power of Christ to change others and bring the salvation, peace and abundant life.  As I am writing this, I am realizing that I do not always define myself in these ways.  Sometimes, I guess I forget who I really am.  I concentrate on my weaknesses, my mistakes, my sins, or my shortcomings.  Do you ever do that?  None of those things are what defines us.  We are God's child.  We are a friend of Christ.  We are united with the Lord.  We are bought with a price.  We are saints!  We have a personal witness of Christ.  We are salt and light.  We are an indispensable member of His body!  That's not all!  More later.  But, just think of how our lives can change and how we can make a positive influence in our world for Christ if we remember the truth about who we really are, according to God's holy Word!  

REMEMBER WHO YOU ARE

2 Peter 1:12-13 (NLT)
¹² Therefore, I will always remind you about these things—even though you already know them and are standing firm in the truth you have been taught.  ¹³ And it is only right that I should keep on reminding you as long as I live.

There is so much to remember in this life!  As we grow from babies to pre-schoolers, we learn to sit up, to crawl, to walk, we learn words and concepts of life.  Then we go to school and learn about many subjects.  We are expected to remember all these things and are quite often tested on them.  For me, the only way to really remember things is to keep on being reminded of them, to meditate on them and get them fixed down deep in my heart.  Peter didn't seem to think it was wrong to remind the saints of the scriptures over and over again.  He considered that to be part of his, "job," until God called him home.  I would encourage you today to remember who you are.  The world will try to tell you who you should be, what you should look like, how you should act, what you should say.  The world will try to define you through deceptive media and make you feel less than worthy if you do not meet those expectations.  The devil is right in there, whispering all of these things to you too.  Trying to tell you who and what you are without any real factual basis.  He is interested in getting your emotions so mixed up that you don't know who you really are.  We may even have our own ideas of who we are and try to live out those ideas.  Usually, at some point, we will find that this doesn't work either.  It could even lead to a meltdown.

An e-mail has been circulating for a long time and I am going to use that e-mail today to remind you and me of who we are.  The only One qualified to tell us who we really are is the One who made us!  Do you believe that?  If you have given your heart to Jesus, I will now remind you of who you are.  And, the truth is that this is not all you are, but it's enough to get you started out on a positive foot this morning and help you through each day knowing that you don't have to compare yourself to anyone else and you don't have to meet your own impossible expectations.  You are who you are and this is what God says about that.  You are God's child. John 1:12-13 (NLT) ¹² But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. ¹³ They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.  Now, you may have been born into unfortunate earthly circumstances.  You may not have had the best parents or you may have been abused, neglected or even abandoned by your parents.  But, God's word says that you are His child.  Because of Jesus, you have been born again.  You are no longer defined by that biological family who may not have met your needs or nurtured you.  You now have the most Perfect Parent anyone could have.  You are God's child.  You are also God's friend.  John 15:14-17 (NLT)  ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command.  ¹⁵ I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. ¹⁶ You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name.  ¹⁷ This is my command: Love each other.  It may be that you have some earthly, "best friends."  Love them and bless them whenever you get the opportunity.  They are truly God's treasure to us.  Love your enemies too because that's what Jesus commands.  But, the greatest treasure is that, whether we have an earthly friend at all, we have Jesus to be our friend if we follow His commands.  There can be no better friend than Jesus.  Our dearest earthly friends can fail and disappoint us without even knowing it.  We are all weak and we don't have the capacity that Jesus has to meet every need of our friends.  Jesus is a Friend that will meet every need we have with consistency and love.  You may have had some wonderful earthly friends that have deserted you, so to speak.  They have had to move to another geographical location or the Lord may have taken them Home to be with Him.  This will leave a void in your life but our best Friend, Jesus, has promised never to leave us or forsake us.  He will fill whatever void we have in our lives if we will let Him in.  

You and I are united with the Lord. 1 Corinthians 6:15-17 (NLT) ¹⁵ Don’t you realize that your bodies are actually parts of Christ? Should a man take his body, which is part of Christ, and join it to a prostitute? Never!  ¹⁶ And don’t you realize that if a man joins himself to a prostitute, he becomes one body with her? For the Scriptures say, “The two are united into one.”  ¹⁷ But the person who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him.  Being united with the Lord is a most holy privilege. We need to realize that He is not united with just anybody.  Only those who will confess Him as Lord.  We should, therefore, not engage in things like prostitution, pornography, crude speaking, negative thinking or any other thing that is not something that would go against Jesus, the one to Whom we are united.  Being united to Jesus is both a privilege and a responsibility!  We are bought with a price!  If the price would not have been paid, we would belong to the devil and end up in destruction but Jesus paid the price!  A great price, indeed.  That just shows us how much He loves us and how special we are to Him.  1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (NLT) ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.  We have received such a great gift of salvation and the privilege of being the home of the Holy Spirit but our responsibility is to keep this, "temple," in order.  We must honor God with our body and everything we do with it!  Another thing we are is a saint.  Lots of people would disagree with this and not receive it but if God says it, I believe it.  And He does say that you and I are saints.  The Apostle Paul wrote to the, "saints," in the church in Ephesus and his writing was passed along to us in the scripture.  Ephesians 1:1-2 (KJV)   Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.  Just what is a saint?  It is, according to Vine's Dictionary, a believer.  Not just someone of exceptional holiness or someone who has died and been deemed to be a saint.  2 Thessalonians 1:10 (KJV) ¹⁰ When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Jesus is coming again to be glorified in his saints (that's us believers).  That's who we are, saints! Now, these are just a few things for us to remember to keep us encouraged and to keep our mind focused on who we really are.  We are Gods child, His friend, united with Him, bought with a price and a saint!  That's five things that describe who you really are.  If today, the devil or the world tries to tell you anything contrary to those things, refuse those thoughts and take the captive.  Give them to Christ and let Him remind you of these five things that you really are.  More is coming but, for today, this is enough to focus on.  It may make us take some thought as to what we have been thinking of ourselves and about who we are that is contrary to the truth of God.  As my mother used to say, J'ever think about that?"  Remember who you really are!  God is the One who defines who we really are! 

WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING?

Exodus 14:14 (AMP)
¹⁴ The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace and remain at rest.

Just what are you holding today?  Are you holding grief?  Are you holding anxiety about a financial situation?  Are you holding jealousy?  Are you holding anger against something that someone has done to you?  Are you holding on to the past (either the good things or the bad things)?  Are you holding on to your own strategies for fighting life's many battles?  Look what the Lord  told Moses to tell the people of Israel (Exodus 14:14)  They were to hold their peace!  Don't you think that is what the Lord is telling you and me today?  It's pretty hard to hold peace (for the peace of God is great and spiritually heavy) when we're trying to hold on to all those things I mentioned above and I'm sure I didn't even begin to describe some of the things I have been trying to hold on to!  Maybe you too!  God wanted His people to know that, in their battle (and in all of our battles,) He will fight for us.  All we need to do is hold our peace and remain in His rest.  Jesus has so graciously called us all who are weary from the battles that seem to come from everywhere to come to Him and find rest.   Matthew 11:28 (AMP)  ²⁸ Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls.]  When we're busy trying to hold on to and control everything but the peace that God gives and the rest and relief He offers, we can't even receive it.  The enemy has distracted our minds so much that we have forgotten that Jesus said we would have trouble in this world but that He had overcome the world and given us His peace.  The peace that we are supposed to hold is in Him, in spite of the battles we face! John 16:33 (NLT)  ³³ I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”   What are you holding on to right now? Is it His peace or the many trials and sorrows this world has to offer.  You can't hold on to both at the same time!

God is fighting for us and if God is for us, nobody and nothing else can be against us!  Romans 8:31 (AMP)
³¹ What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?]  While it is true that we do have an enemy (who doesn't acknowledge yet that he has already been defeated), God is on our side.  God already did the fighting for us through Jesus on the cross and defeated that enemy.  We need to walk in thankfulness and walk, by faith, in the victory that has already been won!  Colossians 2:13-15 (NLT) ¹³ You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins.  ¹⁴ He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.
¹⁵ In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.  God, through Jesus has made peace for us.  For all of us.  His peace that we can and must hold on to.  Everything else must go.  We cannot carry the world's bad news in our hands and hearts when God has offered us the Good News of the gospel of peace!  Colossians 1:19-20 (NLT)   ¹⁹ For God in all his fullness was pleased to live in Christ,
²⁰ and through him God reconciled everything to himself. He made peace with everything in heaven and on earth by means of Christ’s blood on the cross.  Since it is true that God made peace, what are we choosing to hold on to today?  Are we holding on to the peace that God told Moses to tell the children of Israel to hold on to or something flimsy that the world has offered to us?  Or, our own problems which cause us to remain in our own private peaceless pity party?

One translation puts it this way:  Exodus 14:13-14 (NLT)  ¹³ But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the LORD rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. ¹⁴ The LORD himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”  What is it that might be causing you fear today?  God says, "do not fear."  What is trying to make you yield to that fight or flight syndrome?  The Lord says, "just stand still."  What is it that makes you think that you are so much, "all that," that you can rescue your own self from any problems you might have?  God is the only One who is "all that."  God is the One who will fight for you if you will receive His peace and rest and get out of His way!  What is causing you anxiety?  God says, "just stay calm."  Yesterday, I received a call from a very close family member who is dealing with anxiety issues that are affecting many members of the family.  The Spirit of the Lord reminded me that this person has always dealt with unfounded fears.  But, God has not given us a spirit of fear.  Instead, He has given us a sound mind.  I can let myself get caught up in this anxiety-ridden situation or I can cast all these cares upon the Lord and know that He cares for me and for every member of my family.  I can remember for myself and for those who will listen that God has promised His own peace that will pass all of our human understanding.  He is fully able to step into this situation and insert His peace in place of pandemonium.  Philippians 4:7 (AMP) ⁷ And God’s peace [shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.  God has given us His peace to guard (just like body guards guard an important person) our minds and our hearts.  I choose that peace.  Do you?  What are you holding right now?  Anxiety over family members or other issues in your life?  Drop them in favor of that peace that you won't even be able to understand but, suddenly, you will know that God's angels of peace have surrounded your heart and mind until you almost have that feeling that you don't even care any more!  That's it!  Cast all your cares on Him.  He cares for you.  You are an important person.  So important that God wants to guard your heart and mind with His own peace.  Will you drop everything else and let Him do that?  He has offered you and me, if we believe in Him, a peace that we could never find in this world. John 14:27 (AMP)  ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]  The Israelites were in a precarious situation and so might you and I be this morning.  However, Jesus said that He left HIS peace with us.  Nowhere in the world will it be found.  It is only found in the hearts of those who trust Him.  Therefore, we don't need to be troubled or afraid - of anything or anyone!  We need to stop allowing ourselves to be agitated and disturbed, cowardly and unsettled.  We need not be intimidated or fearful for God has told us numerous times in scripture not to be afraid.  He has promised that He has not given us that spirit of fear.  If you have that, it is from the devil.  Drop it.  Cast it down in Jesus name and hold your peace that comes from Jesus!  What a relief.  His peace is so full of everything that we need that it's very heavy in a glorious way.  On the other hand, it is so light that we will find ourselves being relieved of burdens that we are not supposed to be holding on to because Jesus said to give them to Him.  What are you holding this morning? 

THE WORD FOR THE DAY IS, "FAITHFUL."

Genesis 39:21 (NLT)
²¹ But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden.

Yes!  The word for today (and everyday), is, "faithful."  I have had that confirmed several times in listening to sermons and in conversations with other believers lately.  There are two ways to think about the word, "faithful."  One is God's faithfulness to us. The other is our faithfulness to God.  In Genesis 39:21, I doubt whether Joseph was feeling like God was faithful to him.  He was in prison for something he didn't even do.  But, but..... The Lord was with Joseph, even in the prison and the Lord showed Joseph His faithful love!  Today, with all the stuff going on in our lives and around us, we may feel like we're in some sort of prison.  There may be figurative bars that keep us from doing what we feel we need to do.  They may hold us back from something we feel God has told us to do.  They may cause depression and cause us to just sit in the corner of that cell and feel sorry for ourselves and helpless.  Or, they may cause us to be angry and beat our head against those bars in an attempt to break them; which will only cause us a bloody head, along with a headache.  If you are feeling like you're in some sort of prison that is keeping you locked out of real and abundant life, remember this.  The Lord was with Joseph in the prison and the Lord showed Joseph His faithful love.  Now, whether you are sitting in a corner looking down and feeling left alone and depressed or whether you are the angry one butting your head against those bars, STOP.  Open your eyes!  Look up!  God is faithful to you and He wants to show you His faithful love but you won't be able to see it if you're focused on your depression or anger.  Jesus came to set the captives free. Luke 4:18-19 (NLT) ¹⁸ “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free,  ¹⁹ and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”   So, if there are some sort of bars in your life, ask for that freedom.  As He sets you free, you will be free indeed.  John 8:36 (KJV) ³⁶ If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.

Now, hopefully, if you have never received Jesus and asked Him for freedom from the captivity of your sin, you will have just done so in this moment.  In the case of Joseph (and sometimes in our own prisons), the bars do not fall down right away.  God did not deliver Joseph from the prison walls right away but He did show Joseph His faithful love right there inside the prison.  There's no greater testimony than us being faithful to God even in the midst of a great test!  We can do that because God's faithfulness to us is never ending.  It may not always feel like it, but it is. We may not see the effects of the good He has in store for us right at the moment we want to see it, but His faithfulness is there! Deuteronomy 7:9 (AMP)  ⁹ Know, recognize, and understand therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, Who keeps covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations,  Joseph had been through many tests in his young life; awful things that will probably never happen to you and me.  However, Joseph did not give up on God.  He was faithful to God in obedience.  Twisted as it sounds, that's why Joseph was in prison!  Many are in prisons all over the world today and tortured unmercifully because of their faithfulness to God and, if you asked them if He was faithful to them, they would undoubtedly answer, "Yes."  Despite what they are going through their faith would tell them that God is faithful to them and they determine to be faithful to Him, even unto death, if need be.   Revelation 2:9-11 (NLT)  ⁹ “I know about your suffering and your poverty—but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. ¹⁰ Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life.  ¹¹ “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.  Would that be my faithful response?  Would it be yours?

Getting back to Joseph, who was in prison, God showed Joseph His loving faithfulness.  If we look around today, no matter what situation we might be in, we will be able to see God's faithfulness toward us.  If you woke up today and you are able to read this, God is showing you His faithfulness.  It probably was not easy for Joseph to be in prison but God's faithfulness can even override the uneasiness in our problems and trials, even in those prisons (which, by the way, we sometimes create all by ourselves).  God showed special favor upon Joseph because God is always faithful to His children.  God gave Joseph favor with the warden of the prison.  Now, Joseph had special privileges that the other prisoners did not have because God was being faithful to Joseph who had refused to be unfaithful to God!  Even in unpleasant situations, we must remember that these are temporary seasons.  Joseph would not remain in prison forever.  It probably felt like it to him, but it was not so because God's children are always triumphant because of His faithfulness.  Sometimes our prisons are pre-arranged, not to hurt us, but to put us in a position for promotion.  That's the way it was for Joseph.  The story turns out better than anyone could imagine but Joseph had to trust God's faithfulness, even during the times he had to press through terrible situations and Joseph had to remain faithful to God and obedient to His Word (which he did).  So, no matter what the situation for us is today, tomorrow or any day, "faithful," is the word for the day.  God's faithfulness to us is always going to be there.  Our faithfulness to Him depends on our ability and willingness to get out of our pity party, open our eyes to the Light of His faithfulness and then step into that Light and be faithful to Him.  Will it always be easy?  No sirree!  It wasn't for Joseph but will God give us the strength to remain faithful even before He lets down the bars of those prisons?  You betcha!   Philippians 4:13 (KJV)   ¹³ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  If you find yourself in some sort of prison today (even if it is one that you have made all by yourself), and, if you are still having trouble remaining faithful to God and remembering that He is always faithful to you, remember the following verses.  Then lift up your eyes, take in His loving faithfulness and pour out your faithfulness to Him.   Luke 1:37 (AMP) ³⁷ For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment. And this one,  Matthew 19:26 (KJV) ²⁶ But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.  Not even prison bars can keep God's faithfulness from you and me or keep our faithfulness from reaching Him!  The word for the day is, "faithful."  

WHOM DO WE EXALT?

⁹ And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, ¹⁰ but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would.

It doesn't really matter which earthly nation we belong to if we are believers in Christ.  Our true  citizenship is in Heaven.  However, the way the government of our earthly nation chooses to operate does make a difference.  Also, the way we, as individuals, choose to operate will make a difference.  There is not a nation that exists in our world, or ever has existed, without God allowing it to exist.  It is His will that all nations (all individuals, since nations are made up of individuals) pay homage to Him and exalt Him.  Not just with what they say or write on their currency but with the way they live and by the goodness of Christ in their heart.  Matthew 15:7-9 (KJV)  ⁷ Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
⁸ This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
⁹ But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Yesterday was flag day here in America but does that really mean anything any more as far as God's blessing is concerned?  Please don't get me wrong and stop reading right here.  I have a very large American flag hanging in my window.  I am blessed to live in America.  It has long been a land of freedom and opportunity.  However, many have forgotten the fact that it was God that blessed us with such things.  Some think that it is their own intellect and new world thinking that will save America.  Let me say here, unashamedly, that only Jesus can save America and those who live here.  And, lest you think I am being elitist, only Jesus can save and bless any nation as they turn to Him.

The Lord wants to do good to His children, all of His children from America to Zimbabwe and in between.  But, He does want them to recognize that they are His children and to obey Him as any good child would obey a parent.  His gifts are great and more amazing than we can ask or believe.  That's just the kind of Father He is.  He desperately wants to shower the world with those gifts if they will recognize that He alone is God.  Deuteronomy 10:21 (NLT) ²¹ He alone is your God, the only one who is worthy of your praise, the one who has done these mighty miracles that you have seen with your own eyes.  Right now, it may be that some of you are saying to me (or yourselves), "Yes, but God was talking to Israel."  Yes.  You are right.  He was, but there is are principles involved.  God alone is our God whether we believe it or not.   Acts 17:28 (NLT) ²⁸ For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’  It is because of God that you and I are living, moving and breathing!  God is the only one worthy of our praise.  He is worthy of our praise because He is just and His principles for living are good for His children.And, He loves us!  However, some people have decided that they know what's best for themselves and they are bringing destruction on themselves and their nations (no matter what nation we might be talking about).  Romans 1:24-25 (NLT) ²⁴ So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies.  ²⁵ They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen.  Large groups of people have begun to abuse their own bodies and the bodies of others, to live in unnatural ways.  Even to kill innocent children before their little eyes have a chance to see this world that God created for them.  God is not pleased with any nation that turns away from Him in such a manner and, in His own time, if the individuals of that nation, do not repent and seek Him, He will bring judgment and destruction on them.  

God is the one who has done mighty miracles in our lives, whether we be from Israel or America (or anywhere else in this world).  The blessings we have all experienced, wherever we live, are from Him.  That's why He, alone is worthy of our praise.  We should have a balanced respect and love for the country we live in and for its flag but we should never exalt our own rules and intellectual ideas over those that God has given us in scripture.  We can say anything we want to say about being Christian, but if we don't follow God's principles, it's going to show in the way we live.  Whether anyone else sees it or not, God is going to see it.  We can even go to church and raise our hands in a show of worship to exalt God but, if our hearts are not right, it will mean nothing to Him.  In fact, it just may bring more judgment upon us because we will be proving that we are living a lie.  How many of us, when we were children, did not believe that our parents would discipline us for doing something that they said was unacceptable?  I would say, not many!  How much more do we think that, as created beings of God (His beloved created children), our Father does not mean what He says when He asks for obedience and for us to exalt Him above everything else?  Yes, everything and everyone else.  Everything from our country and it's flag to the name of our church denomination, to our children, to our spouse, to our pets, to our material possessions, etc.  You name it!  These principles are outlined in Jeremiah 18:5-13 (NLT) ⁵ Then the LORD gave me this message: ⁶ “O Israel, can I not do to you as this potter has done to his clay? As the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand. ⁷ If I announce that a certain nation or kingdom is to be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed, ⁸ but then that nation renounces its evil ways, I will not destroy it as I had planned. ⁹ And if I announce that I will plant and build up a certain nation or kingdom, ¹⁰ but then that nation turns to evil and refuses to obey me, I will not bless it as I said I would. ¹¹ “Therefore, Jeremiah, go and warn all Judah and Jerusalem. Say to them, ‘This is what the LORD says: I am planning disaster for you instead of good. So turn from your evil ways, each of you, and do what is right.’”  ¹² But the people replied, “Don’t waste your breath. We will continue to live as we want to, stubbornly following our own evil desires.”  ¹³ So this is what the LORD says: “Has anyone ever heard of such a thing, even among the pagan nations? My virgin daughter Israel has done something terrible!  Just how do you want God to look at the nation in which you live?  Certainly not as He looked at those Israelites who ignored their Father, living in their own stubborn ways.  Is it time to re-think our priorities?  Is it time to truly exalt God in our lives and in our hearts?  Is it time to pray for the nation we live in and become exemplary citizens as we live out God's principles?  This may sound negative and not encouraging but, folks, the blessings of God come to the good and the bad but they are poured out without measure on His obedient children.  So, please take this as an encouragement and study and meditate on His Word, giving Him the exaltation He deserves with your heart and with your life.  I am going to try to do the same thing.  When He sees such a turn from the evil ways of this world, He just may postpone  or cancel judgment and pour out some of the blessings we desperately need today!  Just whom do we exalt?  Ourselves and our own ways?  Or, God and His ways that please Him and bring His blessings upon us? 

WE CAN'T GIVE WHAT WE DON'T HAVE

John 7:38 (KJV)
³⁸ He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.

If you are like me, you would like to give someone who is a homeless a home, someone who has never been on a vacation, a cruise, someone who has no food, food enough to last a lifetime.  If you have ever watched the TV programs that show children having to drink dirty water that gives them disease and creates early death, then you would like to give them clean water.  When you see a person in need of something material, you would like to provide it.  Sometimes, when you walk away, unable to provide it, you feel heart-broken.  You can't provide the thing they need because you don't have the means.  You don't have what it takes.  You can't give away something that you don't have.  Jesus proclaimed that He was the living water when He spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well.  John 4:10-11 (KJV) ¹⁰ Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.  He is that water, so He had no trouble giving that water away, as much as anyone would need.  ¹¹ The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?   Of course, like we do most of the time, the Samaritan woman was thinking in natural terms.  She had to go to the well each day and carry that heavy water pail from the well back to the town.  Now she is looking at Jesus, realizing that He doesn't even have a bucket to draw water from the well.  What could He possibly be talking about?  Have you ever thought you heard Jesus talking to you about you doing something impossible and wondered what He could possibly mean?  The woman didn't understand right away.  She had to have more conversation with Jesus before she really realized what, "living water," was.  Before she realized who HE was!  But then, she understood, received that water and ran to the town without her bucket, but full of water that would satisfy many people!

It's interesting, isn't it that Jesus chose to reveal Himself as the living water and as the Messiah to a woman?  A woman of a different race, and a woman who wasn't exactly the model citizen of the town she lived in?  Jesus will reveal Himself to anyone who will stay long enough to get to know Him!  Once we stay with Him, talk to Him for a while, realize all that He is, including the living water, we know exactly where to get the provision we need.  Not just for ourselves, but more than enough to share with others.  So, this morning, it doesn't matter who you are or what you've done in life, there is living water for you and all those around you if you will just stay at the Well long enough to learn about it and receive it!  We may not be able to give homes to the homeless, vacations to those who need a rest, or other material things that we so desire to give, but we can give living water to anyone who is thirsty because Jesus said that, when we receive His Spirit, that living water will flow from us.  I mean really pour, if we are willing to let it out.  It will come out of us in rivers.  This morning I heard someone say that it could be a river of healing, a river of financial help, a river of reconciliation of relationships.  Whatever we need, that living water will flow and bring it.  Nothing is impossible with God.  It very well could be that He will bless us so much that we can start giving homes to the homeless and food to those who are hungry.  There is nothing missing in God's Kingdom.  He has more than enough for everyone and everything He created.  But, we have to be willing to be vessels from whom things can flow.  There can't be a plug in the pipeline so that we end up keeping everything God gives us!

But, the truth is, that we can't give what we don't have.  This has to do with the living water that God want's to make flow through us in mighty rivers.  It also has to do with love.  Do you remember that God loves you so much that He gave His only Son for you, even though you were His enemy at the time?  Romans 5:10-11 (NLT) ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.
¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.  When we do remember that, we can rejoice just as the scripture says.  Then comes the next step.  We can't just revel, individually about how much God loves us and what Jesus did for us.  We have all of that love inside and now it's time to give it away.  If we don't have that love, and know that we are loved, we can't give it away!  John 13:34-35 (KJV)  ³⁴ A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. ³⁵ By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. When we know we are loved, we can give love away because Jesus has given us love that is overflowing.  When God pours something into our cup, He doesn't just fill it up.  It overflows!   Psalm 23:5 (NLT)   ⁵ You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.  I notice that the Psalmist says here that his cup is overflowing with blessings from God.  Not only that, God is pouring those blessings into his cup right in front of his enemies.  Yes, times are hard right now.  The enemy is trying to steal from God's people but God has more than enough to restore to us what the enemy might temporarily take from us.  One of the ways God restores is to allow rivers of living water to pour through us into the cups of others.  Do you see someone with an empty cup today.  Has Jesus given you whatever it is that is needed to fill their cup?  Then put the devil to flight and fill the cup!    You can't give away what you don't have but there is nothing (but Satan's temptation to keep it for yourself) to keep you from letting all the living water pour from you, in whatever form it comes from Jesus, in order to bless someone else and give them water so they can keep on giving to others.  It's just like that little stone we through into a still pond.  The ripples just get bigger and go farther.  If you have received the living water from the One who is the living water, let it flow today.  Be a refresher to others.  If you have not received that water, go to Jesus right now.  He's just waiting to pour it on (and into) you!  Then you will have something to give away! 

WHO'S YOUR BEST FRIEND?

Proverbs 18:24 (KJV)
²⁴ A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

Friends are very important to have and they are fun to have.  They share your joys and your tears and, if they are good friends, they will be there even when you find yourself in a mess of your own making.  One of my daughters was a, "social butterfly," in her younger years.  No matter that she had several brothers and sisters.  She was interested in friends.  She always wanted to be out with her, "friends."  However, these so-called friends were always in some turmoil.  It was more like a clique or a few cliques.  You were either, "in," or, "out."  It could have been just because you didn't have the right designer jeans.  She was always crying over what so and so said about her.  They did have some fun together but these friends seemed to be the center of her life.  Of course, if she really needed something, I doubt if any of them would have been there to help.  They were young and most of them had families that provided everything they needed so I'm assuming that the other little girls would run home to their parents crying the blues about what one of the others said about her or how she was overlooked at the latest get-together. 

As we get older, friends get more important, I think.  I know lots and lots of people but there are only a few that I can really talk to know that they will accept me just where I am.  I have grown to treasure these few friends.  A few years ago, my friend, whom I had known since we were two years old were getting close to celebrating our sixtieth birthdays.  Even though we were aging, we still had plenty of life and were looking forward to sharing with one another of the joys of our families and life experiences.  Then, just before she turned sixty, a brain tumor took her life.  She is now with the Lord.  When I turned sixty, it wasn't so much fun because I couldn't share it with her.  There is a little part of my life that is empty now because I can't e-mail her or pick up the phone and call her.  When things didn't look so good, the Lord told me to go to her.  She was in a California hospital and I had just moved to Texas where I was busy and tired unpacking boxes.  The urge from the Spirit was so strong that I purchased airline tickets, left the next day, was picked up at midnight by her son-in-law, and ushered into the ICU ward where she lay unable to do much of anything.  But, when she saw me she struggled to say, "I love you."  As we talked a little while, her strength came up a bit and we laughed over old times like when we cut each other's hair when our mom's were not looking and other such funny things.  It so happened that, when I got to the hospital, I didn't think they would let me in, in the middle of the night, so I said to the nurse in charge, "I'm her best friend."  Now that was quite pretentious on my part since I don't really know if she considered me to be her best friend.  In actuality, she was my best friend.  She was the one who always went the extra mile.  From the time we were two years old, she had cared for me, helped me through financial hard times, emotional hard times and we had our share of fun times together.  I was in awe that she would use her last bit of energy to tell me that she loved me!  I'm glad I followed the urging of the Lord because, the next day she was unresponsive.  Her family let me stay in her room alone with her while they went out for a break and I sang the old hymns to her and reminded her of scripture even though I did not see a response.  I believe we were still connected by the Holy Spirit.  That evening she went to be with the Lord.  

Who is your best friend?  Are there not times in some of our lives when we feel like we don't really have a best friend?  However, if we have received Jesus, we have that, "best friend." He will stick closer than a brother.  Sometimes we're not as close to our siblings as we would like to be and sometimes they can't or won't help when we really need someone.  But, there is One who will.  His Name is Jesus.  He is my best Friend.  The wonder of it all is that He calls us His friends!   John 15:14-17 (KJV) ¹⁴ Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. ¹⁵ Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.  ¹⁶ Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
¹⁷ These things I command you, that ye love one another.  We didn't choose Him as a friend.  He chose us!  Like my friend, Gloria, she was my best friend, even though I had said, "I'm her best friend," in an attempt to get in to see her before she left this earth.  She did stick with me.  She was an example of Jesus and how He will stick with us through thick and thin!  I miss Gloria.  Even though we lived far apart from one another most of our adult lives, we knew that we were there for one another, especially she for me!  When she knew she was about to leave this earth, she said, "I love you."  You know, Jesus lived on this earth for a while demonstrating the love of friendship, as well as the love of the Father.  When He left this earth, He did so on a cross of pain and suffering.  Basically, He was looking across history at you and me saying, "My friends, I love you this much."  And then He spread out his arms and died for our sins.  He is still our best friend if we will enter into that relationship.  He is with us in every joy and trial on this earth.  He will be there to usher us into Heaven when our work here is done.  We will live with this Friend who has stuck with us closer than a brother for eternity.  We will also live with those we have seen go on before us.  Friendship is made of love.  My friend Gloria proved that to me by her friendship.  Jesus proved that to you and me by His Friendship and He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us.  We are not part of a clique where some are left out and some are hurt by others.  We are part of God's family and our Big Brother Jesus has and will stick by us forever.  His desire is to be our best friend. Who's your best friend?  If it is not Jesus, He's waiting right now for you to ask Him to be that Friend that sticks closer than and brother and that Friend who will never, ever leave you.

IT IS WHAT IT IS

Exodus 3:14 (AMP)
¹⁴ And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!  

I have often heard people use the phrase, "It is what it is."  This phrase has most often been a sort of negative way of coping with things that do not go the way people think they should be going.  I want to turn that around in my life today.  Yes, it is what it is!  It is not what it feels like.  It is not what it looks like.  It is what it is!  So, what is it?  The answer is the same no matter what situation we are going through and no matter how we feel.  It is not an it.  He is a He.  He is the "I AM," of whatever it is that we need at any given moment.  Yes, the circumstance is what it is.  The feeling is what it is but the great, "I AM," can and will circumvent the circumstance and feeling if we will ask Him!  How awesome is that - that, "It is what it is," can be turned around to the Creator of the world trumping that statement by telling us individually, "I AM what I AM.  The circumstances may not seemingly be going in our favor.  Our feelings may be obstinate and try to keep us in a depressed mode but is it really what it is?  Or, have we looked to the "I AM what I AM?

Actually, it is what it is in a positive way.  His Word will always be true and it is what it is.  It does what it says.  Are you fearful today?  It is not what it feels like.  It is what it is.  God has not given you that spirit of fear.  (2 Timothy 1:7)  In fact, God has not created you to be a coward and cringe at every challenging situation.  It is what it is.  God has given you a spirit of power and of love and of a clam and well-balanced mind!  That's what it really is!  How about the economy we live in in this world?  Although we live here in the earth, we, as believers, are actually citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.  There is no economic downturn there and there never will be!  Just because we are believers does not mean than we will not have economic challenges.  Some of them may come from our own ignorance and even willful disobedience concerning our spending habits.  However, God's principles do not change.  God told Israel eon's ago that He is the One who gives the power to get wealth.  Our power to get wealth does not come from our government, nor our place of employment.  It comes from God Himself as He pours His favor out upon us.  It is what it is.  God is our Provider and we will do well to remember that.   Deuteronomy 8:17-18 (AMP) ¹⁷ And beware lest you say in your [mind and] heart, My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth. ¹⁸ But you shall [earnestly] remember the Lord your God, for it is He Who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.  Now, if we choose to forget that it is God who has provided all that we have and given us the power to get them, we will fall into idolatry.  It is what it is.  And, the following was told to the Israelites if they chose to forget.  Deuteronomy 8:19-20 (AMP)  ¹⁹ And if you forget the Lord your God and walk after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. ²⁰ Like the nations which the Lord makes to perish before you, so shall you perish, because you would not obey the voice of the Lord your God.  God is Who He is.  Willing to provide for us and give us the power and favor to get the wealth we need to survive.  But it also is what it is if we choose to think that we have done this for ourselves and start to worship our stuff instead of our Savior!

Are you one of those unfortunate people that have been hurt extremely badly by another?  Of course, it is what it is.  You can't change the past.  You can also hold a grudge against that person for the rest of your life because of what happened to you.  Nobody would blame you for that.  Nobody except for God.  Because it is what it is.  God said that we need to pray for our enemies, pray for them and even bless them!  Ouch!  But, it is what it is because God said what He said.  Matthew 5:43-48 (KJV) ⁴³ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. ⁴⁴ But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; ⁴⁵ That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.  ⁴⁶ For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?  ⁴⁷ And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?   ⁴⁸ Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.  Not only has God said that we need to love our enemies and bless them but also that we have to forgive them.  It is what it is.  He said that He cannot forgive our sins unless we forgive the ones who have sinned against us.  Matthew 6:14-15 (NLT) ¹⁴ “If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. ¹⁵ But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins.  There are so many things that are what they are in this world and those who do not know the Lord just muddle through as best they can in their own power.  However, the above examples are just the tip of the iceberg concerning what you and I might be facing today or some time in the future.  These things are not what they look like.  They are not what they really feel like.  They are things that have to fall in line with God's Word which is really the only thing that is what it is!  It is what it is because it came from the mouth of the One who is the great "I AM," of everything we could ever want or need.   What are you going through today?  Whatever it is, open up your Bible, ask God to lead you to a scripture that will allow you to speak His Word over your  situation.  Don't just sit back and negatively pout, saying, "It is what it is."  Hold your head up high.  You're not walking alone.  God is right there with you.  Whatever He has said about your situation in scripture is what it is!  You are righteous if you have Jesus as your Savior.  You are powerful in every situation because the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you.  Your mind is balanced.  You are not fearful.  You love others and forgive them just as God has forgiven you your many trespasses.  When God looks at you, He doesn't see your many sins, He sees the blood of Jesus who has made those scarlet sins as white as snow.  You may feel grief but you have joy that is so much deeper than your grief because God put it in you.  You can do anything God gives you to do because it is He that will strengthen you to do it.  There's lots more there in the Bible for you to cling to!  When the world says, "It is what it is," in a negative way, you just respond within your heart, God said, (repeat the scripture He has given you) and, "It is what it is because He is Who He is."  Go for it.  God wants to bless you with what it really, truly is. 

IT'S NOT ALWAYS HOW IT FEELS

Isaiah 59:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ We grope like the blind along a wall, feeling our way like people without eyes. Even at brightest noontime, we stumble as though it were dark. Among the living, we are like the dead.

First of all, let me say that I am not writing this to discourage us but to encourage us.  In Isaiah 59:10, the Israelites complained about having to grope through life, clinging to anything that was stable.  The Word says that they, "felt," their way like people without eyes stumbling through the dark.  They felt like they were dead people stumbling blindly and hopelessly among the living.  Are there days you feel that way?  Some of us are more prone to depression than others.  Others of us operate chiefly on our feelings rather than what we know in our minds.  As they say, "they wear their feelings on their sleeve."  When we think of these people, who act mostly on feelings that have been hurt, we can usually see that they are people with, "a chip on their shoulder."  God gave us feelings and I don't think feelings are good or bad in general.  I think they can be good or they can be bad.  They are most definitely not totally reliable because they can change at a moment's notice with the change of a circumstance.  We can let our feelings run away with us instead of us being in control of our feelings.  There is no doubt about it, our feelings will get hurt at some point even if we are not one of those that wear them on our sleeve.  As believers, we are people of love and people who love often get hurt but, as another saying goes, "It is better to have loved and lost (gotten our feelings hurt) than never to have loved at all.  There will be times in our life that we feel like no one understands how we feel!  But, there is always One who does understand how we feel because He has felt everything that we could possibly feel.  He has felt everything that everyone who has ever lived has felt!  Hebrews 4:15 (AMP) ¹⁵ For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.  If we let our feelings run away with us instead of keeping them in check, we will find ourselves in a mess every time.  Unlike Jesus, we will end up sinning.  All feelings, good and bad, should be run through the filter of God's Word and then only acted upon at the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Feelings of pain can feel really bad.  When we have surgery, the pain is intense, yet it is the surgery that is going to bring us relief from whatever problem we had.  Sometimes we have to feel spiritual pain because God, in His mercy, is not willing to leave us in the sickness of sin until we eventually succumb to death.  That's the way the Israelites were feeling in Isaiah 59:10.  They had turned away from their Father and found themselves depressed, blinded, and lost.  The only thing God could do was to let them experience that pain that would eventually turn them back to their Great Physician who could and would open their blinded eyes, give them joy for mourning, and strengthen their weak legs.  When we wander from God's ways and then feel the pain (which we might call, "consequences,") this can be a good pain. It is a mercy from God to let us know that we have a Way to get relief from that pain but we have to turn around and head for the Doctor.  It's not always how it feels.  Feeling badly in this case can lead to feeling better than we have ever felt before as we get into line with God's Word!

Sometimes God is showing us something that is within us just as He showed Jonah through a worm and a bush.  This was a very painful feeling for Jonah but it gave Him a better perception of His God.  God, through pain, showed Jonah His love for others while Jonah was just intent on his own feelings of comfort.  It isn't always what it feels like.  Jonah 4:7-11 (NLT)
⁷ But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. ⁸ And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.
⁹ Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”   ¹⁰ Then the LORD said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly.  ¹¹ But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”  Jonah felt sorry for only himself but God showed Jonah that He has a heart for every person He created!  It was a painful lesson but a good one.  Just as surgery may leave it's scar and leave us feeling painful for a time, God's surgery may do the same thing.  We may have to feel worse before we feel better!  2 Corinthians 7:9-10 (AMP) ⁹ Yet I am glad now, not because you were pained, but because you were pained into repentance [and so turned back to God]; for you felt a grief such as God meant you to feel, so that in nothing you might suffer loss through us or harm for what we did.  ¹⁰ For godly grief and the pain God is permitted to direct, produce a repentance that leads and contributes to salvation and deliverance from evil, and it never brings regret; but worldly grief (the hopeless sorrow that is characteristic of the pagan world) is deadly [breeding and ending in death].  It really is not always how it feels!  Godly grief and pain is permitted by God to help us come to true repentance, bringing salvation and deliverance from evil.  It may feel bad for the moment and it may even feel like the pain will never end.  But, God says it never brings regret.  It is different from the worldly sorrow that just feels badly as a result of getting caught in a dastardly deed.  This is just a selfish feeling of sorrow.  When God works with us through pain, it is to make things better.  To bring life instead of the death that worldly self-pity can bring.  It's not always how it feels.  Have you felt rejection?  It hurts.  But, if you know you are in the hands of your Savior, you know He has something better for you ahead.  Are you feeling the sting of the financial downturn?  That hurts too.  Just today, I heard of someone who was very well off and now has lost just about everything.  Unfortunately, this person does not have faith in Jesus Christ.  We, who do have faith, know that He has promised to meet all of our needs so we need not feel so much pain, even though the journey can be hard.  Our feelings can lead us totally astray because it's not always how it feels.  Something may feel good to us when it is really bad for us and, on the other hand, something can feel very bad when God is in the midst of doing something wonderful for us.  There is one thing for sure, if we are rooted and grounded in God's Word, our feelings will line up with what He says.  Ephesians 3:14-21 (KJV) ¹⁴ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
¹⁶ That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; ¹⁷ That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  ¹⁸ May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  ¹⁹ And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  ²⁰ Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,  ²¹ Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.   Only then will our feelings be accurate. 

IT'S NOT WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE

Romans 1:17 (KJV)
¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

What does your life look like this morning?  For you all, I hope it looks real good.  However, there may be some of us who have some things in our lives that don't look so good.  That is why I want to say this morning, and every morning for that matter, if it's negative,  "It's not what it looks like"  Romans 1:17 tells us that the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith.  It says that the just shall live by faith.  First of all, there is an, "if," in this statement.  The righteousness of God will be revealed from faith to faith.  He reveals His righteousness but we have to be looking for it and discern it when He reveals it.  Not only do we have to be looking for it and discern it, we have to walk in it.  Today may bring us into a test of faith because we are looking at something from the natural point of view.  If it is negative, it's not what it looks like.  Here's another, "if."  When the Bible says that the just shall live by faith, it implies that, if we're not living by faith, we can't look at a thing that looks negative in the natural and know that God is really going to turn it to the positive!  If we have received God's righteousness through Jesus Christ and God is revealing it to us, we must live by it!  The just shall live by faith.  Just who are the just?  According to the Strong's Dictionary, they are  equitable (in character or actions).  They are, by implication, innocent and holy (both absolutely and relatively).  The are righteous.  If the just shall live by faith (if the righteous shall live by faith), they will relate to the righteousness of God as He reveals it to them.  

Does that mean that everything will look sweet as pie in our lives?  Not so!  There will be those times when God is revealing His righteousness to us and leading us from faith to faith.  The road from one level of faith to another is not always an easy road.  There are pot-holes, confusing road signs, distractions from worldly billboards and a host of other things that may try to get us to detour from one level of faith to another.  But these tests that come from faith to faith are only to make us more just.  This is a good thing.  We will become more like Jesus as we travel from faith to faith, discerning God's revelation of His righteousness.  Yes, there will be trials as we go from faith to faith.  There will be things that look bad.  But, again, it's not what it looks like in the natural for the believer.   Romans 8:28 (KJV)  ²⁸ And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.   God has designed us uniquely for His own purposes and, ultimately, for our own good so that we can meet the potential that our Creator had in mind.  Anyone who has ever trained for a skill, or worked for a high degree in school or even started kindergarten, knows that some days are harder than others.  Some days, it looks like we can't make it.  That's the same way it is in the life of the believer.  The Devil (the liar) is always trying to get us to focus on what looks bad in our lives so that we forget that "it's not what it looks like."  He wants us to live by sight so he can keep us down, confused and unproductive.  But, he truly is a liar and we have the Truth living in us so, as we live just lives and watch for God's revelation through these tests of faith leading to new levels of faith, the devil can have no place in us, in our lives, or the lives of our families.  In John 14:30, Jesus says that the prince of this world is coming.  In the Amplified Bible, he calls the devil an evil genius and ruler of the world.  But, but, but.....Jesus says that the devil doesn't have anything in common with Him and that nothing in Him belongs to the devil.  We belong to Jesus!  Therefore, we are protected by Him from the devil since nothing in Jesus belongs to the devil!  Jesus also says that the devil has no power over Him.  Because we are in Jesus, the devil has no power over us either!  It may look like it sometimes, but, again, "It's not what it looks like!"  If there is anything negative that is affecting your thoughts or actions this morning, know that you are not powerless.  These negative things are not what they look like.  They are just difficult, character building places in the road from faith to another level of faith.  God has given us Himself and He has given us His power, even that power that raised Jesus from the dead.  If you see something with your eyes that looks bad, put on your spiritual glasses and look again!  You will see that it was not really what it looked like to you and that God has promised to take what the devil has meant for evil in your life and turn it into good.  Into life and prosperity!  Genesis 50:20-21 (KJV) ²⁰ But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.  ²¹ Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.  By faith, we know that things are not always what they look like! 

RELATIONSHIP NOT RUTS

Exodus 34:14 (NLT)
¹⁴ You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you.

First of all, let me begin by saying that, even though I do not personally know some of you who read the, Morning Manna,  I feel like I do know you.  Romans 12:4-5 (AMP) ⁴ For as in one physical body we have many parts (organs, members) and all of these parts do not have the same function or use, ⁵ So we, numerous as we are, are one body in Christ (the Messiah) and individually we are parts one of another [mutually dependent on one another].  I think of you when I am writing.  I think of you more than you might know.  I always pray to the Lord that, if just one person, is blessed, encouraged or miraculously saved by reading this, I will be willing to do it.  I love to do it, but there has been a time in my life recently when earthly responsibilities and the stresses associated with them plus physical challenges have caused me to get behind and to get tired.  Not tired of sharing the Lord and His goodness but physically tired and much more stressed than I should be about earthly things.  I hope you will all forgive the fact that you have not received your, "Morning Manna," (supposed to be breakfast), at breakfast time.  I do hope that if you were really hungry for the Word, you just opened your Bible, read another devotional, or went straight to Jesus had a little talk with Him.  I sing a song called, "Just A Little Talk With Jesus."  It says we can tell Him all about our troubles and tells us he will hear even our faintest cry.  All of us have some seasons where we know that our cry to Him is pretty faint.  My friend calls it a, "bleat," instead of a "baaaa."  I want to tell you the truth.  This past three weeks has been one of the most blessed times of my life but I have become faint.  Even so, I did cry out to Jesus and He heard my cry.  So, if you're finding yourself a little faint, don't give up.  The enemy loves to try to tamper with God's children when they get faint.  He's always looking for somebody weak and tired so he can try to devour them.  1 Peter 5:8-9 (KJV) ⁸ Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:⁹ Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.    But just that faintest call to the Shepherd and it will bring Him running.  He will pick you up and  carry you if He has to, right back to where He can give you the rest and safety He promises and nurse you back to health.  Matthew 11:28-30 (KJV) ²⁸ Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

Some times it just feels like we can't go on.  Am I right?  We know we have been trying to do all the right things, yet time gets away from us, earthly cares (such as financial, relational, and health) try to hold us down and distract us.  Right at this moment, I am confessing that I am having that little talk with Jesus about whether I have let any of these things come into conflict with His will for my life and with the continuation of the Morning Manna.  Quite honestly, I would be empty without it because I love the fact that I get to take the time to sit and talk with Him about what to write.  I love the fact that I am not trying to teach or preach, necessarily, but that He is teaching me how to live and then allowing me to share with you.  We are having a sort of cyber worship time.  I have asked Him if this is a new season in my life and there is something else He has for me to do or whether I have just let my mind and emotions  get caught up in the running of the practical worldly issues so much that I have not spent enough time relating to Him, trusting Him, listening to Him and putting Him first in my life.  I would appreciate it so much if those of you who are reading this, would take a moment, to pray that He will help me figure out what I may be doing wrong or if there should be a change in the format of the Morning Manna.  I know many of you read it because I get comments even from those I don't know.  Rarely is there a negative comment.  Almost always, the comments are that you can relate and the scriptures contained herein are just what you needed that day.  That is what blesses me so much.  That is one of the things that helps me want to encourage and uplift my brothers and sisters in Christ.  So, if after praying, you would want to send a note of suggestion, I will prayerfully consider it.  Before I neglect to do so, thank you all so much for sharing the scriptures with me.  We are all members of the Kingdom of God, whether we know each other or not, no matter whether we are male or female, no matter what color our skin is and whether we live in the same country or not.  Having believed in Jesus, we have His blood running though us and we are all related!  For those of us who will believe, we will all live in the same Country one of these days, and Jesus will reign as King!  As we continue to live our lives on earth here, let's strive to let Him reign as King of our lives so that we will be at peace with Him and with ourselves and be a testimony to the world that He is alive and well and He is our Provider and Sustainer.

So, while it is my great desire to write, sometimes I just feel empty.  I do not feel led to simply repeat what I have heard preached or read in a book, although I do share that many times.  There's an urging down deep inside to share life with you.  To have a relationship.  Not just get into the rut of writing.  There's a desire to reach the broken-hearted, rejoice with those who rejoice, share the practical problems of life and how our Savior wants to enter into them too and help us.  There's that desire to be one with Him and one with you through His Word as we grow through these times when we feel in a, "funk."  I know that was not a very spiritual word but, in all practicality, it does happen at some time or other as we live through the perplexities of earthly life.  It is my desire to repeat over and over again the promises and conditions of the Lord so that we will not lose our way and give in to things that make us feel weak and tired.  Ready to give up.  Galatians 6:9 tells us not to grow weary in well doing, for in season we shall reap, if we do not lose heart."  Whatever we do for Jesus should never become a rut.  A ritual.  It should be something alive that enhances our relationship with Him and with others.  Something that actually introduces others into a relationship with Him!  I have been having that little talk with Jesus about the Morning Manna.  He has not told me to stop.  He has only told me to ask for your patience and understanding while His Spirit gives me a, "second wind."  As they say, "I'm peddling as fast as I can peddle."  That reminds me of another story of a tandem bike ride.  Jesus is in the front seat and you or I are on the back seat.  We travel up rocky trails that overlook deep valleys and dangerous drops into the deep ocean.  As we look down and over to the side, we begin to shake in fear.  All that we can see when we look ahead is the back of Jesus.  We might even slow up on the peddling from fear and distraction.  However, the story goes that, as we begin to ask Jesus where we are going and what this hard thing we are doing is all about, He just says, "Shut up and keep peddling."  He's the One in control.  He's the one doing the steering in our lives and keeping our, "bicycle," on the narrow, though sometimes rocky paths of eternal life.  He knows the way and it is He that will get us there safely.  He made the path, He made the bike, and He made us! All He wants is for us to do the part He has asked us to do, without fear and without giving up or complaining.  Are you suffering in a bit of an earthly, "funk?"  That doesn't even mean that things are necessarily going badly in your life.  It just may mean that there is a little talk that Jesus wants to have with you and, as the song goes, "Just a little talk with Jesus makes it right."  He's that friend that watches day and night.  He's the friend that knows our every care, allowing us to bring them to Him in prayer.  Has your life become a series of ruts instead of glorious relationship with Jesus and with others?  Are you emotionally, physically, or spiritually tired?  He's right ready to change that now, if we will just ask! As Exodus 34:14 says, He is very jealous about His relationship with us.

GOOD-BYE'S

1 Thessalonians 4:13 (KJV)  ¹³ But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

Good-bye's are usually not easy.  Especially if you are leaving those you love the most.  Many of you my still be grieving the death of a loved one.  The Apostle, Paul, is speaking to you in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.  However, we have to say some good-bye's many times during life that are very hard.  Today, I am leaving all of my children and grandchildren and going back to where I live fifteen hundred miles away.  Believe me, I have a lump in my throat and I have shed some tears.  We have no guarantee when we say, "good-bye," whether it will be for a while on earth or whether one of us will  go to be with the Lord before we see each other again.  It is not easy to hold a loved one in your arms and say, "good-bye."  I was not feeling well during this trip and was asleep when one of my daughters and her daughter left my son's house, where I was staying, after a visit.  I had fallen into a deep sleep and thought I had missed saying good-bye to them.  My heart felt heavy.  Today, I spoke to my daughter on the phone and she told me that she and her daughter had come up to my bed to say, "good-bye."  They were thinking about not waking me up but then my daughter remembered something.  The last time she saw her daddy alive was when we were delivering some Christmas presents to him.  He happened to be asleep so my daughter went in and put the presents on the floor near him and we left.  She had felt she should wake him up and tell him she loved him and give him a kiss.  But, she didn't.  That was the last time she saw him alive.  She has lived with that regret all of her life.  Lesson here - let those you love know that you love them every time you can do so.  So, she had her daughter wake me up to give me a hug and a kiss good-bye.  Apparently, I was so, "out-of-it," that I did not remember that; but my daughter assured me that I told the little one that I wanted to squish her forever and that I loved her.  (Squishing is what most people might call a, "bear hug," in our family).  Boy, did I feel better knowing that we had said proper, "good-bye's!"  Right about now, I feel some grief as I sit in the airport alone.  However, I have the assurance that my Jesus is with me and that He will never leave me.  No, "good-bye's," with Him!

I do grieve somewhat because many of my children and grandchildren do not really have a relationship with Jesus.  However, even in this, I do not grieve without hope because I have dedicated and committed them all to the Lord.  He has told me in His Word (and you too) that He is able to keep that which we have committed to Him.  He has also said that whatever we asked, believing, we would receive.  I know I am asking for all of their salvation and service to Him within His will because He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  So, though I leave not knowing how God will work all of this out, I leave with hope!  Hope that will never leave me ashamed because God never fails on any of His promises!

If there is anything you are grieving over this morning, please remember that God knows how you feel.  We have a High Priest that is acquainted with everything we ever feel.  Jesus as a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.  His Spirit, who is our Comforter, will keep us in peace and filled with His joy even through the earthly grieving we may have to endure.  If you have a loved one that has gone to be with Jesus, remember that it is only a short time before we finish our work here on earth and find ourselves seeing our Lord Jesus face to face and being reunited with our loved ones.  If we happen to go home before our wayward family members manifest the salvation we have asked God for, we can know that He will not stop working and we will eventually be reunited with them to after He finishes His work of salvation in them!  There are other things we tend to grieve over such as lost jobs, bankruptcy, death of pets, children or friends moving far away from us, etc.  However, if any of those things (or a host of other things that can make us sad), are bothering you this morning, Remember that you are not without hope!  Keep looking up and know that all that you have committed to the Lord is in His strong, safe Hands.  He is aware of your feelings and is just waiting for you to turn to Him and His Spirit who is called your Comforter!  That's what I'm doing now.  If you need to do that too, please feel free to join me.  There's room for anyone who will come!

IN EVERYTHING VICTORIOUS

Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)
¹⁰ Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

God's right hand is His hand of power.  There could be nothing more secure than being upheld by His right hand.  That's what makes us victorious.  Thee are times that I do become afraid, although, I  must remember that God has not given me a spirit of fear.  When I find myself giving in to the temptation of fear from the evil one, I must remind myself that fear has no place in me because God has promised me power.  That power is from His own right hand holding me up.  He has also given me love.  His love that is unconditional and never-failing. On top of all that, even when things appear to be scary, I have a sound mind.  All of these things given to me by the God who upholds me (and you) with His victorious right hand.

Besides sometimes feeling fearful, I many times feel discouraged.  Maybe that happens to you too.  This week, you may have noticed that I am somewhat behind in getting the Morning Manna to you in a timely manner.  I have been traveling and then found myself with a host of heavy responsibilities requiring more finances than expected.  As we all know, juggling finances is a stressful situation.  On top of that, I found myself weak and suffering some of the symptoms that I experienced last year during a pulmonary embolism that would have taken me out if it hadn't been for the victorious right hand that held me up and kept me alive against all odds.  Are there things that are fearful in your life this morning?  Are there things that make you tempted to feel discouraged and forget that God will make a way where there seems to be no way?  If we can just get a vision of the Creator of the earth holding us up above our circumstances with His victorious right hand, we an find the will to keep on keeping on even when it seems like there are no solutions.  Victory is always ours through Christ Jesus if we will trust Him.

Not only will we be held up by God's victorious right hand, He promises that He will strengthen us.  Even this moment, as I write, I am feeling without strength.  I'm totally aware that I need help.  It is so comforting to know that God has promised to strengthen me with His victorious right hand!  No matter what it feels like, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  He is my strength.  His Spirit is that One who comes along side and helps me when no one else is there.  Or, sometimes, He directs people into my pathway who have the means to give me the help I need.  No matter what, you and I must not give in to discouragement and fear.  Not over finances, relationships, grief, health, careers, school, the bad news we hear every day in the media or anything else.  We have the God who created the earth, who tells us He is our Father, who promises to uphold us with His victorious right hand.  The same hand He used to form us and sustain us every day.  If today finds you a bit discouraged or faced with something fearful, get a picture in your mind of God's victorious right hand with you right in the center of it, being held high above your circumstances.  Know you are secure there because He will never let us go!  Know that the victory is yours, no matter what things feel like or look like.  1 Corinthians 15:57 (KJV)  ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

NEW LIFE

1 Peter 2:2-3 (AMP)
² Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation,

Today we are going to have a baby shower.  We are celebrating two new births in our family.  One, Sofia, a granddaughter, born on the 13th of May.  The other, Cohen, a great grandson, born on the 14th of May.  We are truly a very blessed family.  Watching these new babies makes me think so much of the goodness of the Lord.  I know that they have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalms 139:14-16 (KJV)  ¹⁴ I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. ¹⁵ My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.  I know that, even though we could not see them being perfected before they were born (except for the sonograms), God was carefully watching them and keeping a record of everything that He was creating in them.  Psalm 139:16 ¹⁶ Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.  Now their days on earth have started and we can see all the wondrous ways God has made them.  Unique little human beings with perfect fingers, toes, and bright eyes that seem curious to find out just where they have been placed.  Eyes that check out each adult that is anxious to hold a brand new creation of life.   A new life.  A miracle of the Lord.  However, these unique little creatures have another feature that can make a new mommy and daddy very tired.  They are quite hungry for their mother's milk or their formula. They sometimes wake up every couple of hours craving some milk because they are growing and, if they are not fed, their little tummies hurt; and after a time of not being fed they will become, sick and malnourished.  If not fed at all, they will die.  We wil also die spiritually if we are not fed. 

God says we should be like newborn babies, spiritually when we first learn about Him.  We should literally cry out for His Word.  For the spiritual milk of His Word that will sustain us and grow us and nurture our spirits.  We will feel this spiritual hunger within our spirits, just as a new baby feels the pangs of hunger within themselves.  They do not hesitate to let their parents know either.  When it's time to eat, there's no stopping a new baby from crying.  They cry louder and louder the longer they have to wait for their milk.  Are we that way?  Do our spirits cry out often for the milk of God's Word so that we might grow and become nurtured and completed in our salvation.  Do we cry out for the pure milk of God's Word and not some twisted deception of the scripture that Satan has out there to lure us when we're really hungry?  One thing a new baby must do is stay close to its parents.  That way the perfect milk is always available.  We, too, must stay close to our Heavenly Father.  When I am distracted by this world, it seems like I am not as close to my Father as I should be.  My spiritual self hungers for His Word and, although I have read and meditated on His Word so many times, sometimes I still need some of the milk of His Word to keep me going.  There are times when I have not taken the time to just sit and meditate on His Word and my spirit feels sick.  Like having the stomach ache that babies get when they are hungry.  At those times, even though I should be desiring the meat of the word, I really need the milk of the Word to rejuvenate me and make me feel satisfied spiritually.1 Corinthians 3:1-2 (KJV)  ¹ And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. ² I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.  The Apostle, Paul, compared the members of the church at Corinth to babies in Christ.  They were still carnal creatures.  Paul wanted to give them the meat of God's Word but they could not digest it, just as new born babies cannot digest meat.  In no way would we try to feed a tiny baby steak and potatoes!

Why could Paul not give the Corinthians the meat of God's Word?  1 Corinthians 3:3-4 (KJV) ³ For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?  ⁴ For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?   Like brand new babies, they were very self-centered.  You can't blame or judge a new baby for being self-centered because it is helpless and totally dependent upon its parents for all of its needs in life.  That's the way these Corinthians were.  When a parent is blessed twins, triplets, or more, the babies cry at the same time for milk.  They don't care that the others are crying and hungry too. They just want theirs.  If their diapers are dirty, they want theirs changed and they don't even notice or care that the others are also uncomfortable.  They look to their parents and care takers for help and they are still at the point of thinking that they are the center of everyone's world.  We sometimes help them think that way because they are so cute as they try to decipher the world around them.  These people in Corinth were looking to Paul and Apollos to be their providers when they should have been looking higher.  They should have already received the milk of God's Word from Paul and Apollos and begin to chew on the meat of the Word from their Father, God.  Still they were not able to eat the meat of the Word because their sights were not set high enough.  They were still looking to men instead of God.  New born babies are a blessing and they are so adorable.  They need to be fed and nurtured but, if they become twenty, thirty, forty and so on and still have to drink milk because they cannot digest meat, they have a problem.  Christian new babies can still be carnal because that is the way they have lived.  They are used to that "dog-eat-dog," lifestyle.  But, as they grow on the milk of the Word given out by those who have learned to eat meat, they will begin to mature from "cry-babies," to strong men and women of God, eating the meat of His Word and giving it out to those who are just being born-again and perhaps to those Christians who have become weak spiritually and need  some milk to get them going again - back to basics, so to speak. Hebrews 5:11-14 (NLT) ¹¹ There is much more we would like to say about this, but it is difficult to explain, especially since you are spiritually dull and don’t seem to listen. ¹² You have been believers so long now that you ought to be teaching others. Instead, you need someone to teach you again the basic things about God’s word. You are like babies who need milk and cannot eat solid food.¹³ For someone who lives on milk is still an infant and doesn't know how to do what is right.¹⁴ Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong. Where are you and I today.  Are we new-born babies in Christ, are we those who have been suffering spiritually or are we those who are mature in the Word, eating the meat of the world and being trained by it.  Are we able now to recognize the difference between right and wrong?  The writer of Hebrews suggests that some may be spiritually dull?  Is that what we are?  Or, are we eager to start eating more and more of the rich Word of God and then teach it to others?  New-born's are cute and the world does seem to revolve around them but they do have to grow up and then start nurturing other young ones.  It is the same with us believers.  Where are we in this process?  God is the gracious giver of new life, both physically and spiritually and He is also the sustainer, by His Word, making us older brothers and sisters partners in spreading the milk and meat of His Word.

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

John 20:22²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

A long time before Jesus was born, Isaiah testified about Him.  Here is part of what he said:  Isaiah 42:5-7 (NLT)
⁵ God, the LORD, created the heavens and stretched them out. He created the earth and everything in it. He gives breath to everyone, life to everyone who walks the earth. And it is he who says, ⁶ “I, the LORD, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness. I will take you by the hand and guard you, and I will give you to my people, Israel, as a symbol of my covenant with them. And you will be a light to guide the nations.  ⁷ You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.   God indicated in Isaiah 42:5 that He gives breath to all people on the earth.  I can testify to that after having blood clots clog both of my lungs leaving me unable to breath.  It was the Lord who saved me and allowed me to recover and be able to breath again.  Truly, it is God who gives us all physical breath and it is He that can take it away from us in the twinkling of an eye!

However, God also gives us spiritual breath through the Holy Spirit.  He is the One who breathes His own Spirit into us giving us counsel, consolation, and he power to live His life through us so that others may also realize that it is God that sustains them physically and spiritually with His own breath.  It wasn't long after Jesus had been crucified that the disciples were meeting in  a locked room because they were afraid of what might happen to them because they were followers of Jesus.  And then, one of those, "suddenly's," happened.  John 20:19 (NLT)  ¹⁹ That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.  If you are in some situation in your life where you are sort of, "locked in," by the spirit of fear, remember that Jesus has breathed the words over you that He has not given you a spirit of fear.  He's given you power, love, and a sound mind.  If you and I will turn to Him at the first thoughts of fear, we, too, will have a, "suddenly," in our lives!  His Spirit will rise up in us and cause us to remember all the words He has breathed over us in the past.  By faith (and sometimes by vision) we will see the Lord.  John 20:20 (NLT)  ²⁰ As he spoke, he showed them the wounds in his hands and his side. ²² Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  They were filled with joy when they saw the Lord!  The disciples could not help rejoicing when they saw the Lord!  They were filled with joy and so will we be when we realize that He is with us by His holy spirit.  Even through tears and temptation to fear, we can be filled with His joy because He has breathed His Spirit into us and has breathed His Word through the scriptures.  Just as he did for the disciples, He will bestow His peace on us in any and every situation.  As He continued talking to the disciples he gave them a commission which you and I also have, seeing that we have also received His Spirit if we have asked for Him.  John 20:21 (NLT)  ²¹ Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.  In the very beginning, God breathed His breath into the first man, Adam.  Then sin entered into the world by the disobedience of Adam and Eve.  Now, because Jesus, the second Adam, has lived a perfect life, died, risen again, and sits on the right hand of the Father to take away our sin, we can receive His Spirit just as the disciples did that day. He is constantly breathing on us.  It is His great desire that we should receive that breath and take in His Holy Spirit.  As He said to the disciples of that day, I believe He is saying to us today, "Receive the Holy Spirit."  He is offering us life.  His life.  Will we make the choice to receive Him?  Will we breathe in that spiritual breath and then go into a spiritually dying world and breathe out the words of life as prompted by His Spirit? 

ASK AND CONTINUE TO ASK

Luke 11:13  (AMP)  ¹³ If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good gifts [gifts that are to their advantage] to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask and continue to ask Him!

If you are anything like me, you have a hard time living for the Lord at times.  Oh, your spirit is so willing but your emotions and body don't always stay in agreement with that willing spirit!  I'm so thankful that we have such a loving Father.  His faithful love endures forever. 1 Chronicles 16:34 (NLT) ³⁴ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.  Some of us have had wonderful parents with Godly values and others of us have had parents that did not follow the Lord.  Some have even been abandoned by their parents, either physically or emotionally.  Some have had the awful experience of the death of their parents at a very early age.  None of us have had perfect earthly parents because we are all human.  But, all of us have a perfect Heavenly Father who has promised that He will be with us always and never abandon us if we will invite Him into our lives through His Son, Jesus Christ.  Psalms 27:10 (NLT) ¹⁰ Even if my father and mother abandon me, the LORD will hold me close.

If we have been blessed with loving parents, we will feel secure in having our needs met and asking for what we need (even what we want).  This is the way our Heavenly Father is.  He made us and he knows that a good earthly parent loves to give good gifts to their children.  All the more He, being the perfect Parent, greatly desires to give the best of gifts to His children.  What could be a better gift than the gift of His own Holy Spirit?  The Lord is telling us to look at ourselves and how we desire to give good things to our children.  We are far from perfect.  If we like to give such gifts to our children, we cannot even imagine the desires of our Father to give us good gifts.  After all, if we woke up this morning. we have been given the gift of a brand new day with His brand new mercies!

Now, of course, a good parent will not give a gift to their child that they know will harm them.  Neither will our Heavenly Father.  If we are following Him, His gifts for us are to do good to us all of our lives, to give us hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11)  Sometimes, as parents, we want our children to ask for what they want so that we know we are giving them something that will make them happy, as well as be good for them.  That's what God wants us to do regarding His Spirit.  He wants desperately for us to have the good gift of His Spirit but He also wants to know that we really want that gift.  That's why we need to ask for the Holy Spirit and all of His power to live a life of righteousness, love, and boldness.  Not only do we need to ask but we need to keep asking.  I can testify to that myself at this moment.  I am so very blessed, but, with great blessing, also comes great responsibility and seasons of challenge.  I want to be led by the Holy Spirit but I can get easily distracted, especially when I'm emotionally and physically spent.  Therefore, all the more, I need to ask and keep asking for the infilling of the Holy Spirit to give me the strength I need to keep going and, more than that, keep going with a good and Godly attitude!  Can anyone relate?  How extremely loved and blessed we are that the Creator of the earth is our own Heavenly perfect Father and that He listens every time we ask for more of His Spirit!  No matter what season you are in, ask and continue asking for the Holy Spirit.  Your Heavenly Daddy loves to hear your request and He will certainly grant it!

JESUS REJOICED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Luke 10:20 (AMP)  Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirit are subject to you but rejoice that our names are enrolled in heaven.

I'm sorry this, "Morning Manna," is so late.  It will also be short.  I have had some extra responsibilities that made me feel as though there was just no way.  But, like you, when you have those times, I remember that God will make a way when there seems to be no way.  Also, with God, nothing is impossible!  I cling to the fact that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  Jesus always gives us the victory but sometimes we get tired as we go through the process.  Spiritual warfare takes place leaving us tired emotionally. If physical work is involved, we also get tired physically.  How convenient for the devil to think he can come in and convince us to just, "give up."  However, we have the victory in Christ, according to His Word.

I would encourage you today, just as one of my good friends encouraged me, this morning, to read and remember all of those promises of the power and grace you have if you are going through something that seems way too hard for you.  If it is too hard for you, it is just right for God.  He will make a way for you if you trust Him.  It may not be the way you expected but it will be the best way.  Never give up.  Do not lose heart.  God says that, if we don't get discouraged and give up, we will reap a harvest.  God never lies.  So, if this is a hard time for you, hang in there in faith.  Cling to the Vine and know your strength and life is coming from Him.  I am doing that too and I know our God will never, ever fail us.  During these times, we are growing in faith and endurance.  When the next season of testing comes, we will be all the more ready with strength, courage and determination.  Jesus is Lord and He has promised to give us strength and to be with us to the end of the age!  Be encouraged!  Know you are loved by your Father and that His plans for you are for good.  Nothing that feels bad at the moment is meant to ultimately hurt you.  Your future is secure in Him! 

We need to keep our spiritual armor on and do spiritual warfare as the enemy tries to take us down and we will win; but the biggest miracle is that our lives are written in the Book of Life and we will have a glorious life with the Lord for ever and ever where no more troubles and trials will come our way.  Rejoice, if you have believed in Jesus.  Your name is written in the Book of Life and, today, you have the power to claim the victory over whatever the enemy might be trying to do in your life.  Here's what Jesus said about that:  Luke 10:21 (AMP)  In that same hour He rejoiced an gloried in the Holy Spirit and said, I thank You, Father., Lord of heaven and earth, that You have concealed these things (relating to salvation) from the wise and understanding and learned, and revealed them to babes (the childish, unskilled, and untaught). Yes, Father, for such was Your gracious will and choice and good pleasure. Even in the hardest of times, Jesus lets us know that He has revealed His presence and victory to us, as well as all that our salvation does for us now and forever.

GOD HAS GIVEN US HIS HOLY SPIRIT

Romans 5:5  ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

Lots of times you and I run into problems and trials.  Troubles and things that cause us anxiety.  Of course when we do run into those things, they don't feel good but they are for a purpose if we are following Christ.  Therefore, they are reason to rejoice!  Romans 5:3 (NLT)  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance.  What is happening when we are being put through these difficult times?  God is using then to help us develop endurance.  Everyone goes through difficult times but those of us who are willing to hang on to our faith and keep on trusting the Lord will be developing endurance.  There's no doubt about it, once we get through one problem and come out of it with the Lord's help, we will be strengthened.  Then, after a time, there will be another problem just because we live in a world of problems caused by sin.  So, if you are not in a problem or coming out of one, know that your time is coming and remember that God is using each one to help us develop endurance.  That is reason for rejoicing.  I have found myself rejoicing even when I don't feel like rejoicing because my circumstances seem so impossible.  But, as I open my mouth and sing praises or speak out loud to the Lord about how good He is and begin thanking Him for His power in my life, I begin to feel better.  I begin to feel hope building up in me.

Romans 5:4 (NLT)  ⁴ And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.  How wonderful is it that God uses the difficult things of this world to grow us and develop in us strength of character?  Then that character in us strengthens us to have confident hope of salvation.  The salvation we have is what helps us through this world and into the next.  The hope that we have in salvation will never make us disappointed.  Not now and not for eternity!  Romans 5:5  ⁵ And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.  Why will we never be disappointed?  Because we know that God loves us so much.  Much more than we could ever imagine.  And, we know that He has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.  This will help us to show, by our speech and actions, His love to others around us.  There are many around us that don't know the love of Jesus.  If we have gone through hard times victoriously because God has used those times to strengthen and grow us, we will be able to show a non-believing world that salvation is offered to everyone.

There was a time when we couldn't help ourselves.  Romans 5:6  ⁶ When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. We were sinners unable to help ourselves out of the pit of sin but, just at the right time, Jesus came and died for us so that we could be set free from sin.  We didn't deserve to be saved and we could not do it by ourselves.  Most people would not be willing to do anything to save us, much less die for us!  Romans 5:7  ⁷ Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good.   Not a single one of us is, or was, especially good.  We have all missed the mark of God's standard. Romans 5:8 (NLT)  ⁸ But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.  ⁹ And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation.  God has given us His Holy Spirit to instill in us the hope that we have salvation, both now and for eternity.  We used to be God's enemies when we followed the ways of Satan and this world.  But, God loved us so much that, instead of destroying us, He loved us into His Kingdom by giving us His Son and then giving us His Holy Spirit.  Romans 5:10 (NLT)  ¹⁰ For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son.  We now have a wonderful new relationship with God, through the Holy Spirit, because Jesus went through death and resurrection to make us friends with God!  Romans 5:11 (NLT)  ¹¹ So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.  Hope is ours, no matter what the situation.  And, that hope will never make us disappointed because God has loved us freely and without measure.  He has loved us so much that He has given us His Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with His love.  Now, it seems logical to me that, if God loved us that much and gave us so much hope and love, including the power of the Holy Spirit in our hearts to give love, we should be looking for those who need hope, love, friendship with God, the filling of the Holy Spirit and spread these things that God has given us to others. 

EVERYONE WAS AMAZED

Acts 10:45 (AMP)
⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.

Peter, like you and me, was just an ordinary person but he was called of and committed to God.  One day he went up on to the roof of  a house, (which was a normal thing to do in that day) and he began to pray.  He did not know it but another man, Cornelius, had a vision of an angel. Acts 10:3-8 (AMP) ³ About the ninth hour (about 3:00 p.m.) of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God entering and saying to him, Cornelius! ⁴ And he, gazing intently at him, became frightened and said, What is it, Lord? And the angel said to him, Your prayers and your [generous] gifts to the poor have come up [as a sacrifice] to God and have been remembered by Him. ⁵ And now send men to Joppa and have them call for and invite here a certain Simon whose surname is Peter;  ⁶ He is lodging with Simon a tanner, whose house is by the seaside.
⁷ When the angel who spoke to him had left, Cornelius called two of his servants and a God-fearing soldier from among his own personal attendants. ⁸ And having rehearsed everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.

As is always true with the Lord, He was working with just Cornelius.  he was working with Peter also. Peter was up on the roof praying, he became hungry.  Acts 10:9-16 (AMP)  ⁹ The next day as they were still on their way and were approaching the town, Peter went up to the roof of the house to pray, about the sixth hour (noon). ¹⁰ But he became very hungry, and wanted something to eat; and while the meal was being prepared a trance came over him, ¹¹ And he saw the sky opened and something like a great sheet lowered by the four corners, descending to the earth. ¹² It contained all kinds of quadrupeds and wild beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the air.  ¹³ And there came a voice to him, saying, Rise up, Peter, kill and eat. ¹⁴ But Peter said, No, by no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unhallowed or [ceremonially] unclean.  ¹⁵ And the voice came to him again a second time, What God has cleansed and pronounced clean, do not you defile and profane by regarding and calling common and unhallowed or unclean.  ¹⁶ This occurred three times; then immediately the sheet was taken up to heaven. Peter was probably pretty confused about the whole vision.  In fact, that's just what the scripture says. Acts 10:17-18 (AMP)  ¹⁷ Now Peter was still inwardly perplexed and doubted as to what the vision which he had seen could mean, when [just then] behold the messengers that were sent by Cornelius, who had made inquiry for Simon’s house, stopped and stood before the gate. ¹⁸ And they called out to inquire whether Simon who was surnamed Peter was staying there.  Aren't there times in our lives when we hear the Spirit speaking to us but we are not exactly sure what He is saying?  At first it doesn't make sense.  But God doesn't leave us in the dark.  Acts 10:19 (AMP) ¹⁹ And while Peter was earnestly revolving the vision in his mind and meditating on it, the [Holy] Spirit said to him, Behold, three men are looking for you!  Isn't it interesting that the vision Peter had happened three times and that there were three men looking for him?  

Peter continued to listen to the Holy Spirit and went down to see the men who had come to see him.  Acts 10:20-21 (AMP)  ²⁰ Get up and go below and accompany them without any doubt [about its legality] or any discrimination or hesitation, for I have sent them.  ²¹ Then Peter went down to the men and said, I am the man you seek; what is the purpose of your coming?  Right about this point, God was ready to reveal how he had been working in Cornelius and in Peter, neither of which knew each other!  Peter invited them in and they spent the night with him and the next day they and some of the men from Joppa went with them to the house of Cornelius.  (Acts 10:22-24 )  Don't you just love it when God puts you together with other believers and, even though you don't know them, you find that you are connected by the Holy Spirit!  God was about to cause amazement among the people that knew Him.  He was about to show his love, grace, and power.  As these men traveled to the home of Cornelius, he was waiting for them with a group of his family and friends.  Peter explained that, under Jewish law, he was not allowed to enter the house of a Gentile but that the Holy Spirit had him, basically, that all people were of equal value to God,  (Acts 10:25-29).  As Peter spoke of God's will to bless anyone from any nation who revered Him, the Holy Spirit fell upon Cornelius and those with him.   Acts 10:44-45 (AMP)  ⁴⁴ While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all who were listening to the message. ⁴⁵ And the believers from among the circumcised [the Jews] who came with Peter were surprised and amazed, because the free gift of the Holy Spirit had been bestowed and poured out largely even on the Gentiles.  All those that saw this wonderful even were amazed.  We should be amazed also, that God, even though He knows us through and through, is willing to pour our His Spirit on us too.  He will do whatever it takes to bring His people together to bless them and allow His Spirit to flow!  Everyone was amazed at what they saw and heard!  Acts 10:46-48 (AMP) ⁴⁶ For they heard them talking in [unknown] tongues (languages) and extolling and magnifying God. Then Peter asked, ⁴⁷ Can anyone forbid or refuse water for baptizing these people, seeing that they have received the Holy Spirit just as we have? ⁴⁸ And he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah). Then they begged him to stay on there for some days.  Jews and Gentiles, men and women, were praising God and moving as the Spirit led.  Of course no one wanted to leave this event.  When we find ourselves in the presence of the Holy Spirit, we tend to want to stay there! Time seems to stand still.  They stayed for a season and then God began to do His work through each of them as only He can do!  There are no words adequate to express the work and power of the Holy Spirit or the love and mercy of God in allowing Himself to flow through such as us!  There is nothing impossible with God when it comes to uniting people of all sorts in Himself and allowing them all to praise Him together.  Really, it is amazing! 

IT IS NOT YOU THAT WILL BE SPEAKING

Mark 13:11 (NLT)
¹¹ But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

As believers, we have many opportunities to tell others about Jesus.  This is because Jesus said that the gospel had to be preached in all the world.  We, who are His followers, have that privilege and great responsibility.  He did not say it would always be easy.  In fact, Jesus said that we would have trouble in this world.  If He said it, it's a promise!  However, most people don't really like to claim that promise as much as they like to remember the promises of provision, protection, prosperity, etc.  Thankfully, Jesus finished those words about us having trouble in this world with the words for us to be of good cheer because He had overcome the world.  He also told us that He would  never leave us or forsake us and that He would be with us until the end of the age, as we told others about him and made disciples.

In the passage in Mark 13, Jesus was talking about people being arrested and standing trial just because they were believers.  In Mark 13:9,  He said that this would be their opportunity to tell others about Him.  It's pretty obvious that, if we were dragged into court, and even beaten for being a Christian, it would be a difficult scenario.  Many of us, I fear, would want to retaliate.  Some of us might want to do what Peter did in the Garden of Gethsemane and get out our swords or other weapons.  After all, there is nothing wrong and everything right about being a follower of Jesus! So, why not do something to prove that we are right?  Why not fight back?

First of all, we are told to pray for our enemies and do good to them.  For another reason in Mark 13:9, we are told that this is an opportunity to tell others about Jesus.  What He did say about this situation was that thy should not worry in advance about what they were going to say.  They were just to count on God to tell them at the time they were questioned.  Then Jesus assured them that it would not be them speaking but the Holy Spirit would speak through them.  How's that for a test of faith?  Would I pass?  Would you pass?  That's an interesting question to ponder.  But, what about our everyday life? We probably have many opportunities to tell others about Jesus.  Some of us have learned from,"scripts," that others have made of how to tell someone about Jesus.  This is good so that we know what His Word says and that we rightly use it when speaking to others but there are times when a, "script," is not what someone needs to hear.  They need to hear something directly from the Holy Spirit.  These people may be very challenging and unruly people that we would rather just, as they say, give them a good hit, "up side of the head."  However, if the opportunity arises to meekly, but with authority, open our mouth and let the Holy Spirit speak, lives will be changed (including our own as we submit to God's agenda, rather than our own intellect).  The next time we find ourselves not knowing what to say in a difficult situation, I wonder what would happen if we would just cease to worry about what to say, believe that God will tell us instantaneously, and trust that it will not be us speaking but that the Holy Spirit will use us to speak His own Words that will cut to the heart of the listener? I'm anxious to give this a try!  I want to be led and fully surrendered to the Holy Spirit.  I think my mouth is the part that needs the most practice!  Will we let the Holy Spirit speak through us in all instances in life?

MONEY CAN'T BUY THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS

Acts 8:18 AMP) ¹⁸ However, when Simon saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he brought money and offered it to them,

There are so many things that we are told that we should have today.  From airplanes to zebra skin coats and everything in between!  We are made by the world and the devil to think that the more money we have the happier we will be and the more things we can get.  The trouble with that is that all those things and just more money does not bring happiness.  It brings depression and chaos.  When you have lots of money, people always want it and are looking for a way to take it from you even if they have to lie about you in court to get some sort of settlement for something that never even happened.  When you have lots of stuff, you have to take care of it, find places to store it and move it around.  Most of life is filled with taking care of and trying to hold on to our toys!  However, there is another thing that money can temporarily buy for you if you know the right people.  That is power.  Worldly power.  Political power.  There are many people who crave that power and will lie, cheat, and steal to get it.  Worse than that is that there was a certain person by the name of Simon who saw that great power came to people upon whom the apostles laid their hands.  It was the power of the Holy Spirit.  Now for power-crazed people, you can't get any greater power than that.

Simon saw that others were receiving this power. Acts 8:14-17  (AMP)  ¹⁴ Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,  ¹⁵ And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit; ¹⁶ For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus. ¹⁷ Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.  Now, instead of submitting himself to the Lord and humbly asking to receive the Holy Spirit, Simon, being most likely a man of worldly thinking, thought he could certainly just purchase this power and be done with it.  So  he proceeded to offer money to the apostles so he could receive this incredible power.  Acts 8:19 (AMP)  ¹⁹ Saying, Grant me also this power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit. Of course, this probably incensed the apostles to think that anyone could be so brazen as to think that the Holy Spirit could be bought with money.  So, they gave a proper, but very terse, response to Simon.  Acts 8:20-23 (AMP)  ²⁰ But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the [free] gift of God with money! ¹ You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God’s sight [it is not straightforward or right or true before God]. ²² So repent of this depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and forgiven you. ²³ For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in a bond forged by iniquity [to fetter souls].

Right about now, I'm going to say something that may be offensive to some, but hopefully, not.  Today, we have all sorts of power crazy people in the world.  They are in the political field and in the corporate world; but, yes, they are also in the religious arena.  Some are good people with proper motives and some are not.  It is the power of the Holy Spirit within us, as believers, who will give us the discernment to tell the difference.  Perhaps you have heard religious ministries asking for money (an offering so to speak) so that you might have the infilling of the Holy Spirit.  Nothing at all is wrong with an offering and God is pleased with our offerings that come from joyful and willing hearts.  But, when someone tries to get you to give something out of compulsion in order to receive something from God, I do not believe this is from the Holy Spirit.  In fact, I do believe that, like Peter told Simon, destruction might just overtake us and our money, including the ministry that erroneously told us we could bring an offering to receive anything from God.  God does not need our money.  What He wants is our hearts and lives.  We could never give an offering big enough to receive anything from God.  Simons heart was not right with God.  He had his own agenda in mind and intended to us the power of the Holy Spirit for his own purposes.  Peter rightly told Simon that the Holy Spirit was a free gift from God.  There is absolutely nothing we can give to receive this gift except for our hearts!  When our hearts are right, we will want to give offerings, not to receive something, but in gratitude for all that we have received and for who God is.  We will want to give offerings, not to get something but to give so that the Gospel message can be given to everyone who will listen!  If anyone is making you feel guilty or that you might be missing the fullness of the Holy Spirit because you don't give a certain amount of money, turn quickly to the Lord, Himself, and ask Him, by His Spirit to show you what to do.  We don't want to end up like Simon!  We do, however, want to be filled with the Spirit of the Lord so that we can have the power to do mighty things for Him, beginning with loving others, giving to those in need, spreading the Gospel and so many other jobs within the Kingdom of the Lord.  There are some things money cannot buy.  The Holy Spirit is one of those things.  I guess Simon didn't ask how much it would cost but he should have.  As the saying goes, if you have to ask how much it costs, you can't afford it."  How true.  We cannot afford the Holy Spirit or any other of God's wonderful gifts.  But, we can have them because He loves us  and wants to give us gifts if we have a heart and mind surrendered to Him.  Forget money!  You may be the poorest person in the world but be so filled with the Spirit that you will change the world.  You may be the richest person in the world, but if you have not surrendered your life and your money to the Lord, you will end up in destruction.  God isn't as interested in our money as He is in our lives.  He isn't interested in our political or corporate power.  He's interested in bestowing a greater power within us - that of His Holy Spirit.  Today, we can receive that gift, if we just ask! 

I HAVE HEARD OF YOU

Daniel 5:14 (AMP)
¹⁴ I have heard of you, that the Spirit of the holy God [or gods] is in you and that light and understanding and superior wisdom are found in you.

During the days of Daniel, people had noticed that he was a man of God and that the Holy Spirit was with him.  They may not have understood, but they did notice.  Belshazzar, who was a king and also was a descendant of Nebuchadnezzar, had made a great feast for the nobles in his kingdom.  He had served the finest of wine, but he served it in the things that had been taken from the temple of the Lord.  Vessels that had been set apart as holy but then stolen by Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel 5:2-4 (AMP) ² Belshazzar, while he was tasting the wine, commanded that the gold and silver vessels which his father Nebuchadnezzar had taken out of the temple [out of the sacred area—the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies] which was in Jerusalem be brought, that the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines might drink from them.³ Then they brought in the gold and silver vessels which had been taken out of the temple, the house of God which was in Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives, and his concubines drank from them. ⁴ They drank wine and praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.  First of all they were using things that were set apart for God for their revelry. Secondly they praised the gods of gold and silver, of bronze, iron, wood, and stone.  Unfortunately, that sounds a lot like things that are happening in our day to me.  We, as believers, are set apart for God.  We are made holy by the blood of Jesus.  We are chosen vessels.  Yet, how many of us have some habits that are not holy.  How many of us use our minds and bodies for worldly revelry?  How many of us would be unwilling to let go of the things we have collected that are made of gold, silver, bronze, iron, wood, and stone?  Hopefully, we are all aware of how set apart we are and we are living lives that compared to Daniel's life.

At one point, Nebuchadnezzar realized that he needed some counsel about a dream and all of his wise men and magicians could not help him.  Daniel 4:4-9 (AMP) ⁴ I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house and prospering in my palace. ⁵ I had a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts and imaginations and the visions of my head as I was lying upon my bed troubled and agitated me. ⁶ Therefore I made a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream. ⁷ Then the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the astrologers came in, and I told them the dream, but they could not make known to me the interpretation of it. ⁸ But at last Daniel came in before me—he who was named Belteshazzar, after the name of my god, and in whom is the Spirit of the Holy God—and I told the dream before him, saying, ⁹ O Belteshazzar, chief of the magicians, because I know that the Spirit of the Holy God is in you and no secret mystery is a burden or troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen and the interpretation of it. After exhausting all of his worldly wise men and counselors, Nebuchadnezzar found that Daniel could help him.  Why was this so?  Because Daniel had the Spirit of the Holy God in him.  Daniel did not necessarily tell Nebuchadnezzar anything pleasant, but he told him the truth and it came to pass.    When we are filled with the Holy Spirit and led by Him.  When we keep in step with the Spirit,  He will speak through us and people notice!  Not only will they notice, but they will remember!

Now, Belshazzar was needing some help.  As he and his partying friends drank from God's holy vessels and praised everything but God, a finger wrote on the wall.  Pretty scary!  Daniel 5:5-17 (AMP)  ⁵ Immediately and suddenly there appeared the fingers of a man’s hand and wrote on the plaster of the wall opposite the candlestick [so exposed especially to the light] in the king’s palace, and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote. ⁶ Then the color and the [drunken] hilarious brightness of the king’s face was changed, and his [terrifying] thoughts troubled and alarmed him; the joints and muscles of his hips and back gave way and his knees smote together. ⁷ The king cried aloud [mightily] to bring in the enchanters or soothsayers, the Chaldeans [diviners], and the astrologers. The king said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever will read this writing and show me the interpretation of it will be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put about his neck and will be the third ruler in the kingdom. ⁸ And all the king’s wise men came in, but they could not read the writing or make known to the king the interpretation of it. ⁹ Then King Belshazzar was greatly perplexed and alarmed and the color faded from his face, and his lords were puzzled and astounded. ¹⁰ Now the queen [mother], overhearing the exciting words of the king and his lords, came into the banquet house. The queen [mother] said, O king, live forever! Do not be alarmed at your thoughts or let your cheerful expression and the color of your face be changed. ¹¹ There is a man in your kingdom in whom is the Spirit of the holy God [or gods], and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom like the wisdom of the gods were found in him; and King Nebuchadnezzar, your father—the king, I say, your father—appointed him master of the magicians, enchanters or soothsayers, Chaldeans, and astrologers, ¹² Because an excellent spirit, knowledge, and understanding to interpret dreams, clarify riddles, and solve knotty problems were found in this same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation. ¹³ Then Daniel was brought in before the king. And the king said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?  Now, it had been a while since Daniel interpreted Nebuchadnezzar's dream for him.  Nevertheless, the queen mother remembered that Daniel was filled with God's Spirit.  Then Belshazzar called for Daniel and said, "I have heard of you."  Well, I'm sure that Belshazzar had heard of lots of people but he had heard that Daniel had the Spirit of the holy God in him.  Because the Spirit of God rested in Daniel, he was filled with light, understanding and superior wisdom!  That's the way it will be with us if we allow the Holy Spirit to rule and reign in our own lives.  I don't know how long it was between Daniel's audience with Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar.  It may have seemed to Daniel like nobody really knew him.  He might have almost felt invisible.  But, because of the Holy Spirit, people remembered him.  They heard of him and, in God's timing, Daniel was called and used mightily.  It may be that you are going through a time of feeling like nothing is happening in your life.  Like you are not really being used of God.  Trust in the fact that the Spirit moves as it will and no one really knows from where it comes or where it goes - just like the wind.  Daniel was able to help Belshazzar and Belshazzar thought he should make some sort of payment to Daniel for his insight.  But, Daniel was wise and He knew that the glory belonged to God.  Daniel 5:16-17  ¹⁶ But I have heard of you, that you can make interpretations and solve knotty problems. Now if you can read the writing and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold put around your neck and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.¹⁷ Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be for yourself and give your rewards to another. However, I will read the writing to the king and make known to him the interpretation.  Daniel knew that he was endowed by the Spirit of God and he did not want any earthly reward for helping the king.  As we find opportunities to help others by operating in the gifts and love of the Holy Spirit, we should not ask for earthly rewards because we know that God will reward us in ways we can not even ask or believe!  (Ephesians 3:20)  Be encouraged!  Walk in the Spirit.  Help those in need.  Know that people will notice you and remember you but, better than that, God notices and remembers! 

HOW SAD TO GRIEVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Isaiah 63:10 (KJV)
¹⁰ But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

 In the days of Isaiah, as he recounted the Lord's care for the children of Israel, he also recounted the fact that, despite the miraculous care of the Lord for His children, they rebelled against Him!  They were bitter and unpleasant toward Him.  They resisted Him and provoked Him even though He had consistently, lovingly and carefully provided for them!  They disobeyed Him and turned against Him.  If that wasn't bad enough, they vexed the very core of God - His Spirit.  The word, "vexed," really means, "to carve."  If you have ever had a broken heart or felt yourself cut to shreds by the rejection or abuse of someone you have loved with all of your heart, then you know a little bit about how God felt when the Israelites vexed His Spirit.  They caused him worry, pain and anger.  They really displeased him.  They grieved Him.  They hurt Him.  Everything they did made Him sorry.  If you are a parent and your child has ever turned against you, you know a little bit about what God felt when all of His children rebelled against Him and vexed His Holy Spirit!

While it is true that God loves us with an everlasting love and His patience is unparalleled, it is also true that He is a God of anger and wrath when He encounters sin.  He is a just God and sin must eventually be dealth with.  He always gives us the choice of whether to obey and have a heart that pleases Him; but He won't make us do that.  If we are determined to rebel against Him and, figuratively, put a sword through our Heavenly Father's heart, at some point we will encounter His wrath.  That's what He told the children of Israel.  Of necessity, He had to turn away from the children He loved because of their sin.  He had to fight against the sin in them and, essentially, He became their enemy.

There is no way that I want God to fight against me!  I doubt that you do either!  First of all, we wouldn't stand a chance!  Secondly, we would experience total destruction and separation from our Creator.  Not a good scene at all.  Today, if we have received Jesus, we have His righteousness and His Spirit.  We have these things, not because of anything good we have done or because of how good we are.  We have them simply because our Father is the giver of good gifts and He loves us more than we could ever imagine.  We have them to help us live lives of love, power and discipline.  We have them to give us the boldness to share His goodness with others.  Still, even in the New Testament, we are warned about grieving His Spirit.  Ephesians 4:30-32 (KJV) ³⁰ And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. ³¹ Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: ³² And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.  We don't want to imitate the rebellious and bitter children of Israel and grieve the Holy Spirit as they did.  Will there be days when we are tempted to do so?  Yes!  There will.  Our carefully made plans may be changed in a moment and we may find ourselves in challenging and difficult situations.  Even painful situations.  However, it would be, to put it bluntly, just plain stupid, to grieve the only One who can give us power, love and a sound mind with which to get through these things.  We will have trouble in this world.  That's a promise from Jesus that most of us do not want to claim!  However, Jesus has also promised that His Spirit would be with us giving us everything we need to get through those troubles in victory.  Do we ever grieve the Holy Spirit (maybe even in ignorance)?  The list in Ephesians 4:31-32  gives us a list of things from which we can make a "spot check."  Are we bitter in any way?  Are we prone to rage, anger, and chaotic living?  Is our language crude and do we speak positively instead of negatively?  Do we wish anyone harm?  Are we kind to one another?  Are our hearts sensitive to the feelings of others?  Do we forgive one another easily.  Do we remember how many times God has forgiven us over and over again?  These are just a few things that we can use to see how we're doing in the area of either pleasing or vexing the Holy Spirit.  May it be that every day finds us more and more led by the Holy Spirit, walking in joyful obedience because of all that He has done for us!  How sad to grieve the Holy Spirit! 

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

Isaiah 61:1 (NLT)
¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon me, for the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed.

The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus and now He has offered that same Spirit to us.  He brought us the good news of the gospel when we were poor and didn't even know it.  There are many people living today that have a multitude of things and property who would be considered to be very rich by most people in this world but they are really poor because the have never heard of Jesus and His redeeming power.  Money and things cannot buy the eternal joy of the gospel.    The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord that was upon Jesus is offered to us today, as believers, so that we might also bring the good news of the gospel to those who are poor and without any spiritual foundation.  We, too are anointed to bring good news to the spiritually and materially poor of our generation. 

Jesus, by the Spirit of God also comforted the broken hearted.  There is so much tragedy and confusion in our world today because of rampant sin.  There is rejection and abuse.  There are people walking around with smiles on their faces but inside their hearts are broken.  You and I could very well be one of those people.  In any case, Jesus is the answer.  He was. is, and always will be anointed to heal the broken hearted.  And you and I, if we have received His Spirit, are also equipped to comfort those whose hearts are breaking.  I was in a market check out line two days ago and the checker told me of her own broken heart because her friend had just been diagnosed with terminal cancer.  I was able to share with her about how the Lord works in the hearts of those who are distressed and how He can be the Comforter in the midst of the hardest times. I told her I would pray for her and her friend, Joanne.  She was so appreciative.  This is how the Spirit works.  He offers us opportunities in the strangest places to bring His comfort to the broken hearted.

I have people in my own family who are still prisoners and captive to the world and to the lies of the devil but, because Jesus has given me His Spirit, I believe that, as I am led by that Spirit, these people will be freed.  They will no longer be captives or prisoners.  The Truth that they know because, by the Holy Spirit, I introduce them, will set them free.  I don't see this happening on a moment by moment basis but, by faith, I believe it is being done.  As the Spirit brings opportunity, I pray that I will let His anointing come over me and share the good news that Jesus has come to set the captives free.  Not just those in my family but also those in other families whose loved ones are praying for them.  And then, of course, there are those lost souls out there for whom no one is praying.  John 8:32 (AMP)  ² And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.  And how will those in the world who are prisoners and captives know the truth an be set free?  This will only happen when we receive the Spirit of the Lord and walk in power and anointing, spreading the good news of the gospel, comforting the broken hearted and preaching the person of Jesus, who is the Truth, who will set the captives free!  Are we up to the task?  If we are willing, we can do this.  We can do all things through Christ who will strengthen us!  (Philippians 4:13)  Today is a great day to watch for those opportunities and take advantage of them!   

GOD'S PROMISE TO HIS CHOSEN ONES

Isaiah 44:3 (KJV) ³ For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Because I have been meditating on the Holy Spirit and the season of Pentecost, this scripture from Isaiah 43 caught my attention.  Not just because I was dwelling on the Holy Spirit, but because I happen to be visiting my children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  As I see these new born babies and small children growing up in such a harsh world, I am drawn to the promise that God made to Jacob.  In the King James Version, the heading of this section of scripture refers to God's comforting promise to the church.  Let me tell you, I am comforted when I look at the blessing of children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and then look at Isaiah 44:3 where God says He will pour out his Spirit upon my children and their children and their children!

God is speaking here to Jacob here, His chosen one.  However, as believers in Christ, we are all chosen of God and it is His desire that all of our children walk in His ways and receive His Spirit.  Now, it is true for many of us that we do not see that happening yet with our physical eyes; but we must continue to walk by faith and be prayer warriors for our children and all that come after them. God does not do for one what He will not do for another of His own children. Like Jacob, if we believe and follow in God's ways and His Word, the blessing is for us too.  Before we ever knew it, there were others praying for us.  Our parents, our grandparents and other loved ones.  Sometimes people who don't even know us have prayed for us.  God has His people in place and He, by His Holy Spirit, prompts people to pray for others.  We, though some of us may like to think we are, are not self-made.  God tells Jacob.  "I made you and formed you from the womb and I will help you.  Fear not because I have chosen you."  (My paraphrase of Isaiah 44:2)  There are things in life that really tempt us to fear.  Such things as how our children and grandchildren will fare in this life and whether they will be lead astray by the evil one and so on.  

I am so comforted by this verse in Isaiah 44:3.  I know that I can trust God to watch out over all my children and those that come after them.  I know I can pray with confidence for their salvation and blessing because I am chosen (not because I deserve it but because of God's mercy).  I know I can pray that they will come to repentance, and be praying within God's will, because His Word says that He is not willing that any should perish.  I'm thinking that He is especially not willing that any of those He has chosen to believe on Him will have children or grandchildren upon whom, at some point in their  lives, will not turn to Him and receive His Spirit!  Not only am I comforted in these words of the Lord, I am also made confident.  As I read on, here is what I read: Isaiah 44:6-8 (NLT) ⁶ This is what the LORD says—Israel’s King and Redeemer, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies: “I am the First and the Last; there is no other God. ⁷ Who is like me? Let him step forward and prove to you his power. Let him do as I have done since ancient times when I established a people and explained its future.  ⁸ Do not tremble; do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim my purposes for you long ago? You are my witnesses—is there any other God? No! There is no other Rock—not one!”   God is God and there is not other!  He has established us and our families and explained our future in His Word.  We need not fear.  God has written down His purposes for us long ago!  And His purposes for our children, their children, and their children!  We, who have believed in Christ are truly His witnesses.  By His Spirit, we live and move and have our being.  We proclaim Him as Lord as the Spirit fills our mouths with His Words.  We can pray with confidence to our Rock of ages that His Spirit will surely be poured out on the children which He has so graciously blessed us and loaned to us for a season here on earth.  May it be that they see His Spirit in us as they watch us live and experience the love that flows from us by the power of the Holy Spirit!  Let us never forget the promises God has made to His chosen ones nor forget that we are His chosen ones through Christ Jesus!

I HAVE PUT MY SPIRIT ON HIM

Isaiah 42:1 (KJV)
¹ Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

We are so fortunate that God saw fit to let us know years before the fact that Jesus would come to earth.  The one in Whom the Father's soul would delight.  Jesus would have God's Spirit upon Him!  And Jesus would send that same Spirit into us after He was crucified, buried, raised, from the dead and ascended into Heaven.  John 14:26 (AMP)  ²⁶ But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.  Today, if we will ask to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He will come in and His Spirit will live within us.  God will take delight in us just as He takes delight in Jesus.  Before the Holy Spirit was poured out on those still in the world who would receive Him, they would have to wait.   Luke 24:49 (NLT) ⁴⁹ “And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.”  For me, as much as I want to walk in and be led b the Holy Spirit, certain situations come into my life when I just can't seem to hear Him.  Times when maybe, quite honestly, I just want to get myself out of the situation however I can.  Those that were first to receive the infilling of the Holy Spirit were told to wait.  Waiting is not always easy.  There's that small doubt that what we are waiting for will not actually materialize.  As in all of God's Words, they always accomplish what He says.  So, the people waited just as they were instructed.  They obeyed the Words of Jesus and it happened just as Jesus had said.

The people obediently waited and here is what happened.Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)  ¹ And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. ² And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  ³ And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.  We may have been believers for a very long time and, yet, there are times when Jesus may be saying to us "Wait until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with the power from Heaven." There are many situations in our lives that will not be solved unless we have waited for and received the power from Heaven.  Are we willing to wait on Him even though the enemy is constantly urging us to take things into our own hands?

Jesus, who was God's delight and upon whom he Spirit of God rested, was not a boisterous and arrogant person.  He did not cry out in the streets.  He didn't have to.  God's Spirit was so strongly upon Him that He attracted crowds wherever He went.  People flocked to Him.  They knew there was something different about him and they wanted to see what it was.  Isn't that the way it should be with us, who are believers in Christ?  We should not have to yell in the streets or media trying to get people to some to our churches and flock to our ministries.  All we need to do is be like Jesus.  When God's Spirit is upon us, people will naturally be drawn to Him. who lives n us.    Isaiah 42:2 (KJV) ² He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. Also, Jesus would be, and still is, very gentle.  When we're bent and broken, just about on our last legs,  He will not bruise us more.  When we see people down and out, what is our first reaction?  To crush them because they are a frustration to us?  Or to help hold them up and work to heal them because that is what Jesus wants to do for them through us.  Isaiah 42:3 ³ A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. And, finally, Isaiah 42;4 (KJV) ⁴ He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set judgment in the earth: and the isles shall wait for his law.  Yes, finally Jesus will be consistently and totally energized to finish His mission of letting the nations of the world know His truth.  All will be given the choice of receiving Him and His mercy and salvation or receiving judgment.  How are we dong in the world for Jesus toady?  Are we waiting carefully for His Holy Spirit to grant us power form Heaven before rushing out there and making a decision?  Are we lifting up and helping those who are broken and bruised?  Are we spreading the truth of His Word so that all will have the opportunity to respond to it receiving salvation?  God delighted in Jesus and God's Spirit was upon Him because that's what Jesus did.  Are we doing the same because God's Spirit is in us also?  We can have His Sprit if we will ask for Him, receive Him and wait for Him to fill us with His power and love. 

NOBODY IS EQUAL TO THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

Isaiah 40:13-14 (KJV)   ¹³ Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him?  ¹⁴ With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?

Do you ever tend to "advise," the Lord when you are praying?  I have to admit that I do.  I tend to think I know what I need and what others need instead of submitting my problems and the problems of others to the wise counsel of the Holy Spirit.  Isaiah asks us the question, "Who has taught the Spirit of the Lord."  Obviously, no one has taught Him.  He promises to teach us if we will listen.  John 14:26 (KJV)  ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.  As I live out my everyday life, I am more and more aware that there is nobody equal to the Spirit of the Lord.  I am more and more aware that I need to listen to His teaching and follow His directions even when they seen illogical.  They may even seem to be contrary to what my mind thinks needs to be done.

For instance, today, I had the opportunity to share the Lord with several members of my family.  The times and opportunities were inconvenient when I thought about how I really wanted to write the, "Morning Manna."  I didn't have a whole lot of time to myself to think about what I thought the Lord would have me write.  Instead, I had a lot of interruptions which I would normally consider to be just that.  Interruptions distracting me from the, "mission," that the Lord had given me.  To write.  To convey His Word.  This is very important.  But, what the Lord is showing me, as I age, is that it is so much more important to live what we know than to know a lot and just talk about it or write about it.  God is all about people.  He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  He loved everyone in the world so much that He gave His own Son to die for even those who would mock Him and refuse to receive the gift of eternal life.  God's Spirit knows everything and He doesn't need any advice from me.  He just needs me to be aware of His presence, receive His power, and operate in His love wherever He puts me, no matter who He brings across my path.  

So, what is our, "mission," in life? Of course, we all know it is to serve the Lord.  Just how do we serve Him?  We love what He loves and spread that love to those who come into our pathway.  The Holy Spirit knows just when to bring the opportunities to speak words of love and words of affirmation to those who are broken and have lost their way.  He knows the word each one will need to help them get on the right path.  The narrow path that leads to the Lord. He sees the young children that somehow know He's there but have not had anyone to explain just how He wants to be their Heavenly Father.  He sees the older people who have seen His works in the past but are noticing that He is constantly being left out of the busy lives of today's young families. He so carefully and lovingly places us in these situations where we get to, and need to, give up our own, "mission," in favor of loving each of these people just as Jesus loves them.  To be His hands, His feet, His heart to a world who hardly knows Him any more.  It was my desire to put much more scripture in this morning's,  "Morning Manna,"  but the Spirit of the Lord, of Whom there is no equal, and Who needs nothing from me except my surrender, has given me the opportunity to live out some of the scripture I have been writing about in days past.  He has allowed me to speak His Words of love and encouragement into lives from the newborn to the very elderly and sick, all in one day!  We must study God's Word.  We must know God's Word and meditate on it.  But, most of all, it must become our lifestyle.  Whatever it is that the Holy Spirit has taught us through His Word, He will also teach us to live out in the practical world.  I am so blessed today and I pray that you are too.  Today, I gave up advising the Holy Spirit (hoping I will remember this for the rest of my life).  I just saw Him work and flowed with Him.  It was wonderful.  Everything went with the scripture I have already learned and the Spirit blew from person to person bringing love, encouragement, affirmation, tears, laughter - yes Life!  After we have studied  and meditated on scripture, there are times when we just need to flow in all of it as the Spirit leads.  This is one of those days for me.  A day of peace, contentment and confidence that God is working in and through my life and in and through the lives of those He loves, and I love, to bring us all closer to Him.  I cannot direct the Spirit of the Lord and neither can you but, oh, it is glorious when we realize that His Spirit is directing us, giving us understanding and counsel that will change hearts and lives, including our own!  Nobody, not a one of us, is equal to the Spirit of the Lord, yet He graciously allows His Spirit to flow through the likes of us!  Who will you meet today that may require that you stop what you were intending to do in order to give them a world of love, affirmation, encouragement, peace, hope, or whatever the Holy Spirit puts within your spirit.  Will you stop?  It may be the word that changes a life for the better, gives new hope and even release from suicidal thoughts.  Who knows what the Holy Spirit has in mind?  We do know that it is good!  And, we never know if this will be our last opportunity to share with others the love of Jesus.  May the Holy Spirit flow through each of us today like never before as we cease from advising Him and flow with His direction.

NOT OF MY SPIRIT

Isaiah 30:1 (KJV)  ¹ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin:

Today, it is so important that we are led of the Holy Spirit.  It is important that He, alone, is our Counselor.  If we trust in our own understanding, we can get into big trouble and end up being rebellious.  None of us want this to happen because we know that God says that rebellion is the sin of witchcraft. 1 Samuel 15:23 (KJV)  ²³ For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.  We can see what happened to Saul when he was stubborn and rebellious against God. Now in Isaiah 30:1, we see the Israelites doing the same thing.  They think they know best.  I've been in situations where I thought I knew best too but that wasn't the case because I hadn't consulted the Holy Spirit.  All I succeeded in doing was making a mess. Thank God, that even when we make mistakes and get ourselves into a mess, God is able to turn it into a message if we will come back to Him and take counsel from Him. How many times have we taken counsel from the world instead of going to God with a problem?

God says that His children walked down into Egypt without asking Him.  Isaiah 30:2 ² That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!  Doesn't what we see with our eyes sometimes lure us away from the Holy Spirit?  We tend to forget that we walk by faith and not by sight.  Those Egyptians looked pretty good to the Israelites.  They seemed strong and secure.  So, instead of checking it out with God's Spirit, they went back there expecting to find security and protection.  What did they really find?  Shame.  Confusion.  When we get distracted by the world and the things of the world, they can look like the strength and security the Israelites thought they saw in Egypt.  We can get pulled back into those things so easily.  There is a song that says something like this:, "God, You took me out of Egypt, now take Egypt out of me."  The glitzy and soulish things of this world can have a big pull on us, even as believers, when we are not walking by faith and seeking the counsel of God's Spirit.  If we venture back into the world expecting to find happiness and peace, we will only find what the Israelites found in Egypt.  Shame and confusion.

The Devil would love us to "go back to Egypt."  To put our confidence in the things of this world.  He knows that his work would then be a whole lot easier.  All we would find is disgrace and shame.  When we make our own plans, disregarding the Spirit of the Lord and His plans for us, we will only be piling up our sins.  (Isaiah 30:1)  We can make that choice if we want to but God has such a much better offer for us!  The world will only offer us, "quick fixes," that will wear off quickly.  God's Holy Spirit offers us permanent help and security.  Galatians 5:24-26 (NLT)  ²⁴ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. ²⁵ Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.  Do you think the Israelites may have been jealous of what they thought the Egyptians had because they saw with their eyes instead of with their faith?  Do you think that the Israelites lost sight of the Spirit of God even though they had been blessed with so many miracles in the past?  Were they tempted to go back to their very captors in search of security and protection?  All of those temptations can be so great for us in this world today, can't they?  Everything we see and read tells us we will be happy if we just have so and so.  We will be secure if we just live in this place or that.  We will be, "covered," by all the things of this world.  But, just sometimes, we may forget to see if that fits in with the counsel of the Holy Spirit.  Are we running back to something that will only add sin and pain to our lives when we could be running to Someone who will bring peace, joy, and unfailing love into our lives.  Freedom from condemnation.  Truth that will set us free?  Galatians 5:16-23 (NLT) ¹⁶ So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. ¹⁷ The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions. ¹⁸ But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.¹⁹ When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,  ²¹ envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God. ² But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!  This is our answer.  No going back to Egypt, looking for safety, security, and stuff!  No going back to the world to satisfy our needs only to find that we have fallen into shame and confusion!  No!  Instead of going off on our own like the Israelites did, let us let the Holy Spirit guide our lives.  His counsel is always best!

THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD

Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)  And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord;