Humility Part Three

Humility won’t get you into heaven, but you can’t get there without it. Humility is the prerequisite to Repentance. Humility is the opposite of Pride. To come to salvation through Christ, we must first empty ourselves of ourselves in order to come humbly before the throne of grace. A prideful heart cannot turn from self. Repentance is to turn from self and to turn toward God to seek God’s salvation, forgiveness, and deliverance. But what doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.

Two men came into the synagogue to pray. One prayed, “God thank you that I’m not like those sinners over there… that tax gatherer and that prostitute.” The other man, the tax gatherer prayed, “God have mercy on me a sinner.” Jesus said, “Which of those prayers do you think God heard? For every one that lifts himself up shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.” Humility is an ironic concept… as soon as you acknowledge that you’re humble, you’ve lost it because at the point you you’re no longer humble, you’re lifted up with pride. In the spiritual battle, whose side are you on? When you’re lifted up with pride, you’ve switched sides in the spiritual battle. Our prayer is not that God is on my side, rather my prayer is that I am on God’s side. Humility is the key to staying on God’s side in the midst of the spiritual battle.

There is a sin of “false humility.” Men of this world are stuck in the world’s criteria for success: accomplishments, accolades of others, money, materialism, fame and power. On the other extreme is false humility… men who acknowledge that they are without merit and without worth. These men condemn themselves and are acutely aware of their sin nature. When Moses was called by God with the voice from the burning bush, Moses said, “I can’t speak to Pharaoh as you’ve commanded me. I can’t speak and I’m not worthy.” The choice is to make decisions based on fear or based on believing in the Word of the Lord.

God called Gideon to lead the army of Israel against the Mideanites. God called Gideon a mighty man of valor. Gideon said, “who me? I’m from the least tribe of the house of Israel. I cannot do the assignment that you’ve called me to do.” Either Philippians 4:13 is true or it’s not. Is God at work within you to will and to do of his good pleasure? Are your decisions fear based or faith based?

Caleb and Joshua were the only two of the twelve spies that gave a good report after seeing the promised land of Canaan. They were the only ones willing to make a faith based decision. Are the giants in your life bigger than the God you profess to serve? The antidote to fear is to keep your eyes focused on the Lord. Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, and the things of this world will become strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace. Not by our own might, but by God’s power alone will we will defeat the Lord’s enemy. God alone is worthy and sufficient. In my own strength I can do nothing. Fear based decisions result in defeat. However, to trust in the Lord, I must humble myself under the mighty hand of God because my God is able. Therefore, casting down imaginations and every high thought that exaulteth itself against God, bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.

Our battles belong to the Lord… our families, our jobs, our relationships. We have been called not in our own strength, but in his strength alone. As the Apostle Paul said, “Thy grace is sufficient for me.” Thy strength is made perfect in my weakness. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God. Humility according to Jeremiah 9:23 says, “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might; neither let the rich man glory in his riches; but him that glorieth, let him glory in this: that he understandeth and knoweth me… that I am the Lord who exercises lovingkindness, and judgement, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight says the Lord.

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,

Michael

Grace to the Humble

Pete’s friend Buck Murphy was a man who was successful by the standards of the world. He started a popular and practical magazine called the Pennysaver. Buck also built and staffed dental centers as a profitable business venture. He decided to dedicate his life to Christ and became involved with Junior High children’s ministry directing camps at Hume Lake for about 10 years. After many years in ministry, Buck moved to Hawaii to start dental practices. He did not plug into a church and instead bought a Penthouse and joined a local tennis club. At the club he started dabbling in the use of cocaine. Once someone came up to him and asked Buck if he would get him a bag of cocaine. Buck was eager to please and hated to say no, so he sold a bag to the person that asked him. The buyer turned out to be a narcotics officer. Although this was his first offense, Buck was convicted and spent two years in prison. Before his conviction, people perceived Buck as the life of the party… gregarious, engaging, and an easy conversationalist. Buck wrote, “please hear what I’m saying… you think that I’m confident and self assured, but I’m hiding behind a mask so that you won’t think of me what I think about myself. In reality, I’m insecure, hiding behind a facade of false bravado… I’m afraid that if you laugh at me, I’ll be devastated because I need your validation. You alone can break down the wall and the mask behind which I’m hiding. However, a lifetime of building strong walls is difficult to penetrate.” Buck used his prison time as a time of solitude and reflection… to set his heart upon the things that really matter in life. He found deliverance in an Alcoholics Anonymous twelve-step program at Pete’s church and by returning to fellowship with other men who knew that they were sinners who were broken. Shame and humiliation produces humility to turn from from darkness to the light of the Word and the fellowship of believers.

Men in times of introspection, understand that “in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.” Men who profess to believe often are burdened beneath a load of guilt and shame. Even though the Bible says we’re worthy, our own hearts often condemn us… However, according to 1 John, “even if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart and knoweth all things.”

Humility results from the brokenness in the flesh. God has made us as jars of clay, vessels that need to be broken in order for God to mend us and reconcile us back to himself. Therefore be sober, be vigiliget for your adversary prowls about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. The question is not whether we will fall but what we allow God to do in us and through us when we fall. God will allow the devil to bring us down when we allow pride to lift us up. Pride goes before the fall. God resists the proud but gives grace unto the humble.

O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from this dead body? The answer is that there is no pit so deep, but that the love and grace of God isn’t deeper still. Therefore, because of the debt Jesus paid with the price of his innocent blood on our behalf, there is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit. For the spirit of life in Christ has made us free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin condemned sin in the flesh that the righteousness of the law may be fulfilled in us who walk not after the flesh but after the spirit.

According to Philippians 2, put ye on the mind of Christ. The mind of Christ is the mind of humility, for Jesus humbled himself, took upon himself the form of a servant and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God has highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every other name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the father.

The prayer of the humble says I must decrease that he may increase. Not that we are sufficient of ourselves but our sufficiency is of God. A humble heart allows us to be not conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,

Michael

Why Influencers?

Brian Craig is the new executive Director of Influencers. Influencers is a Christian mission organization that started 16 years ago in Arkansas. It started as a fellowship of executives and workers from companies in western Arkansas including Tyson foods, Walmart, and Hunt-Wesson. Rocky Fleming had a heart for fellowship but did not see fruit and increase in men’s lives. God revealed to Rocky, “you need to connect men’s hearts with my heart.” We’re all nodes in the network of God’s fishing net as he has made us “fishers of men.” God is raising up men in distant places who will stand up under the pressure of this world to be men of God… faithful men who will rise to the occasion for such a time as this. Influencers is not an organization but an organism whose DNA is Christ in us the Hope of Glory, whose identity is in him.

Rocky’s question to God was “how do I become the man you want me to be?” God answered, “you need to abide in me.” For apart from me you will not bear fruit. Outside of my presence you think you’re following me but unless you surrender yourself and abide with me and within me through personal abandonment and absolute trust, you’ll never be the man you knew to be. God will remake us only after we have been broken through trials and tribulation when we surrender to him totally and absolutely. We cannot be a disciple until we make disciples… that which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. You teach what you know but you reproduce who you are. Biblical transformation in a man’s life comes only by close proximity with Jesus Christ. The organism is the body of Christ… in whom the whole body fitly framed together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth according to the effectual working of every part unto the edifying of itself in love.

Brian’s message

Many men find their purpose in their work. However, what is the real purpose and meaning of life? Most men are “refugees” upon the road of life. In moments of introspection as we reflect about our lives: our families including our wives, our sons and daughters; our work and our possessions, one question emerges: “what really matters as I’m living this ‘American dream?’ Why do I do what I do and for what purpose am I living? Why are some men in the crowd a little different? They seem to have a peace and a genuine caring about me. These guys are refreshing to be around instead of the guys at work who are concerned only about money, success, and pleasure. Where can I find real fulfillment in this life? I’m a refugee in this life looking to be rescued. Even though I look successful on the outside, I’m really desperate inside to find something meaningful.

There is a process for changing men’s lives and rescuing them form the bondage of this world. Influencers is designed to bring men into proximity with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We’re here to pick up other men so that they can become self-feeders on the true word of life… so that they can develop a hunger and thirst after righteousness… so that they can press toward the mark of the hight calling of God in Christ Jesus. Influencers and the Journey groups are ways to connect men’s hearts with God’s heart. The Journey Groups are a process to transform men’s lives… According to Romans 12:1-2, 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 of worship. 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.

Influencers is a ministry that enables men to draw closer to God as they draw closer to one another. According to 1 John 1:3-4, That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship iswith the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.

May God richly bless you as we Influence one another to press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus along the Journey of this life which our Lord has foreordained that we should walk us as his disciples.

Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Oh Lord It’s Hard to be Humble

The world’s definition of success says “be all that you can be.” The American ideal is to be “self sufficient.” However, the Bible says, “not that we are sufficient of ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.” The devil uses the same tactic today that he used to seduce Eve in the Garden of Eden: “You don’t need God. Go ahead and indulge your flesh, disobey God’s commandment and eat of the forbidden fruit. Then you shall be as God knowing good from evil.” The fall of man was when Eve believed the devil’s lie that “God’s not God, you are.” Mankind has had a problem with pride ever since the fall. The antidote to pride is humility.

Let’s review the five reasons to be excited about Jesus Christ. The first is forgiveness. The second is purpose: for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works which he has prepared in advance for us to walk in them. The third is character: when we became Christians we were born again not of the flesh but of God’s holy spirit… we have received a new nature. Jesus Christ is the vine and we are the branches… He in me and I in him. The fourth is security, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to keep that spiritual deposit which he’s committed unto me against that day of judgement. The fifth is peace for Jesus said, “My 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.”

Humility is the prerequisite to forgiveness. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Before we can be forgiven, first we must realize that we are poor, broken, and unworthy in light of his righteousness. Sin is the nature of the carnal flesh that we inherited from Adam… However, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly. Even you hath he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins… for Jesus Christ who was without sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Humility means that we maintain a spirit of deference, willing to place ourself in a lowly position so that we can put others before ourselves… ultimately so that we can receive from God, that which we are lacking. Humility is giving up the right to ourselves… we must decrease that he may increase. Jesus Christ himself was an example of humility. He was born, not in a palace, but in the stall of a lowly barn. He was not esteemed of men. He had none of the worldly credentials that normally accompany greatness. Humility is freedom from the need to impress others and freedom from the need to compete. Humility never puts itself first. Jesus said that the one who is in the deepest darkness is the one who mistakenly thinks he’s in the light but is really in the dark. Jesus said, blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. The world tells us that our goal is to be “self actualized” with the emphasis on self. However true humility is the opposite of the world’s definition of success. True humility says “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake, for great is your reward in heaven.” As Rudyard Kipling said in the poem “If”… If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two imposters just the same… then you shall be a man, my son.

First Corinthians 13 is often referred to as the “love chapter.” Love is also the character of Jesus Christ himself. Love is patient, love is kind. Love behaveth itself not unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked. Love beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Love never fails. Love and Humility go hand in hand. Humility never takes advantage of others to get ahead. Humility is the opposite of pride. According to Proverbs 16:18, Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

According to the world, revenge and retribution is our “right” to recompense those who have wronged us. However the scripture says, bless them that revile you and unjustly accuse you and despitefully use you… for great is your reward in heaven. To follow the Master means to give your heart to him in a fresh new way. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. The Lord is at hand. The Lord gives us grace to ask forgiveness for those to whom God has called us to minister. Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing. If any man comes to bring his gift to the altar and has anything against his brother, Jesus said, “first go forgive your brother and then come and bring your gift to the altar.”

Jesus Christ himself set the example of humility. According to Phillipians 2:7-11, Jesus Christ made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ isLord, to the glory of God the Father.

The prayer of the humble says, “Have thine own way, Lord. Have thine own way. Thou art the potter, I am the clay. Mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,

Michael

Oh Holy Night

Jesus Christ is the reason for the season. It’s hard to keep our minds focused on the things that really matter amidst the distraction of the festivities around us. However the Word of God says, thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusteth in thee. According to Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” and of his kingdom there shall be no end end…

Some people don’t look forward to the Christmas season because broken relationships bring back painful memories. When we understand that in this life we will have tribulation, then life will be less difficult. We have but one life… Jesus said, “in this life ye shall have tribulation. Be not discouraged, be of good cheer for I have overcome the world.” Jesus came so that we would be clothed not in the filthy rags of our sin nature, but that we could be clothed in the robes of his righteousness… for though your sins were as scarlet, ye shall be as white as snow.

Christmas is a painful time for many people because it forces them to associate with “friends” and relatives they haven’t seen during the year. They feel uncomfortable when they think that they have not lived up to the expectations of others. However, when the crisis comes God expects his men to be the reliable ones who rise to the occasion to prove his power in their lives… for it is God which worketh in you to will and to do of his good pleasure. Our peace is in fellowship with the prince of peace. For surely our fellowship is with our Father, his Son Jesus Christ and one with another in the household of faith.

God wants us to spend time in his presence and in the presence of Jesus Christ so that our hearts will be pure as he is pure and so that our focus would be on him and not on the things of this world that come to nought. He said if we confess our sin, our broken fellowship, he is faithful and just to forgive us of all unrighteousness. He came to give us his character… therefore Jesus said, “abide in me and I in you, then shall you bear much fruit.” When we abide in him, his character will influence and infuse our character… that we may become the righteousness of God in him.

God doesn’t count righteousness to us by what we’ve done. Any man can claim his human “rights” and any demon will make sure he gets them. Righteousness is not of the flesh, but only in him… there is none righteous (in the flesh) no not one. He did not come with a mighty whirlwind… rather, he came like winter snow falling softly. Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given… he came that we would be reconciled to God. For he who knew no sin was made the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf, that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

The lyrics of a popular Christmas song says “Mary did you know that one day your baby boy would walk on water?” This is the theme of the paraphrase of an essay “One Solitary Life” by Dr. James Allan Francis:

He was born in an obscure village…
The son of a peasant woman espoused to a lowly carpenter.
He did none of the things that usually accompany greatness.
He had no credentials but himself.

Nineteen centuries have come and gone…
Of all the armies that have ever marched,
all the navies that have ever sailed,
of all the governments that have ever ruled…
Nothing has changed the course of the history of mankind as much as this one single solitary life.

For he who knew no sin humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him and given him a name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the father.

That in everything he might have dominion over the sin that separates us from the righteous judgement of almighty God. For Jesus Christ, who knew no sin, paid the price for our sin nature when he became the sinless sacrifice on our behalf, that we who were dead in trespasses and sin, may receive life and become the righteousness of God in him.

In him all things hold together… in the unity of the spiit in the bond of peace. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. There is always hope in this world. He is our hope. The love of God beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

May God richly bless you as we celebrate the birth of our Lord. Oh Holy night… Christ the Savior is born!

Your Brother in Christ,
Michael

Why are you excited about being a Christian? When the storms of life rain on our parade, our challenge is not to hunker down during the storm but to dance in the rain. We’re excited because Jesus Christ came to rescue men like us.
He came to build our character by using every trial in this life to develop and nurture his character in us. The great commission is that our lives would model the life of Jesus Christ himself. He called us not to deliver the message, but to be the message. Therefore preach the Gospel, when necessary use words.

Jesus Christ is the Rock of Ages. He is our sure foundation. Our Security is only in him. We’re either missionaries or a mission field. We’re either influenced by Him to influence the world, or we’re influenced by the world around us. God called us to give and not to take. To know the security we have in him we must first know insecurity. Insecurity is to rely on the things of this world and to understand that they can be gone in an instant. The things of this world will take wings and fly away. They have a short shelf life in light of eternity. However, Jesus said, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven… for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” For that which is seen is temporal, but that which is unseen is eternal. We need to learn to keep a light touch on the things of this earth. Jesus said that whosoever saves his life shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall save it.

God created man to rely on something. For many it is their material possessions, their money, their families, their prestige, their worldly credentials, and the accolades of others. In John Chapter 2, when the crowds tried to exalt Jesus and to follow him like the rock star of his day, he did not commit himself to them. He “knew what was in the heart of man” and that the only reason they followed him was because they were entertained by the miracles that he had done.
Men often ask “Lord, why have you allowed pain and suffering in my life and in this world?” Those who don’t know God always question God’s motives. They judge God and his Word by the corrupted culture of this fallen world. Isaiah and Jeremiah preached about idols. The people had created gods after their own fallen natures. They judged the true God by their own corrupted view of the Gods of their own making.

Those who do not know God’s security think that God’s commands are “negotiable.” Some say “God, I’ll do what you want me to do if you’ll do what I want you to do.” Others say, “I’ll do what you want me to do if it agrees with what I want to do.” Still others say, “Lord, I’ll do what you want me to do as long as it’s comfortable and convenient.” For those who are secure in the Lord, the only response to God’s command is: “God, I’ll do what whatever you want me to do. Thy wish is my command. Here am I, Lord send me.“ God is still in control. There is nothing that God can’t handle… God was not made for man… man was made for God. According to Psalm 100, “It is he that has made us and not we ourselves. We are his people and the sheep of his pasture. Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise. Be thankful unto him and bless his name. For the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting, and His truth endureth to all generations.”

If you don’t have a trusting relationship with God, you may not really know God. Either Jesus Christ is Lord of your life or he’s not. We have to decide whether or not our confidence is really in him. The things of this world are fleeting. They are here today and gone tomorrow, but God and his Word are always faithful. The Lord is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of trouble. Our security is in God himself. According to Joshua 1, “Be strong and of a good courage. Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee withersoever thou goest.” God encourages us to remember that he is the source of our security.

The things of this world of “Vanity Faire” are insecure: my job, my paycheck, my spouse, my family, my bank account, my assets and material possessions. If ye the Lord returns today, a pile of earthly treasure will be worthless. You can’t take it with you. How can we serve God with our material possessions? We can honor him by giving back to God’s work, a portion of that with which he has blessed us. In giving, we acknowledge that God is the source of our sufficiency. The act of giving is an act of joy… to abandon the things of this world to focus and to rely on his great and precious promise that he himself is our provider and that he is our provision. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves, but our sufficiency is of God.

Jesus said, abide in me and I will abide in you to the point that you will be the dependable ones in the time of crisis. All things work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose… When we delight ourselves in the Lord, it is God who works in us to will and to do of his good pleasure. In him we live and move and have our being.

The Christmas season reminds us that “Christos mas” in Spanish means more of him and less of me. Therefore rejoice not in Christmas presents, but in Christmas presence… the presence of God in Christ in you the hope of glory. Our security is in him, for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that spiritual deposit which he’s committed unto me against that day.

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,

Michael

In Everything Give Thanks

We will never be the men of God that we should be or could be unless we have other godly men in our lives. Men who will come along side and encourage us to make the right decisions, not based on emotions and fear, but rather based on wisdom from above. We are Christ centered, faith based, and grace driven. We as Men of God need to keep our eyes on the prize of the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and our hearts on his mission.

We have so much for which to be thankful. An attitude of gratitude is the key to keeping on mission.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 exhorts those called of God to “Rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks, for this is the will of God concerning you.“

The theme of Philippians is keeping a joyful heart. Joyfulness is a deliberate decision. Joy is not the result of worldly circumstances. Rather joy is the result of the work that God has already done in us and through us when we were born again of God’s spirit. We have joyfulness despite the bad news that the world throws at us. We can rejoice because God is working in us behind the scenes to will and to do of his good pleasure… For that which the adversary meant for evil, God meant for good. According to Romans 8:28, “All things work together for good to those who love God… to those who are called according to his purpose.” Therefore Psalm 100 says that we can “enter his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise, be thankful unto him and bless his name… for the Lord is good, his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth to all generations.”

We must deliberately decide to rejoice in his name. Then the other two commandments will flow from a joyful heart… pray without ceasing and in everything give thanks. To maintain the joy that he gave us when we were born again, we must offer ourselves a living sacrifice, holy and wholly acceptable unto him which is our reasonable service.

We must keep foremost in our minds that for which we are thankful. An attitude of gratitude will offset the things for which we are angry and resentful. Anger and resentment focus on the things and the people we perceive as having violated our “rights.” Chambers said, “any fool can claim his rights, and any demon will make sure he gets them.” We have two foundational documents that govern our rights as Citizens of the United States: The Bill of Rights and The Constitution. However, both documents are only as good as those who interpret it. As Americans, we are jealous of our “rights” documented in the law of the land. It’s a privilege to have rights. Americans think that rights are are worth fighting for. In our nation, we as dual citizens of America and of Heaven, must have a firm foundation of the Word of God from which to interpret our rights. This foundation starts with a joyful, prayerful, and a thankful heart before our heavenly Father.

When you ask someone, “Do you read your Bible?,” often the answer is, “yes but not enough.” God is not concerned so much with how much you read it, but whether you abide with him and within him. God is most concerned about your relation with him as your Heavenly Father. If I abide in him and he in me, when I’ve just sinned, the holy spirit will hold up the righteous standard of the Word of God before my eyes. Seeing according to the Word of God, allows God to work with me and through me to will and to do of his good pleasure in contrast to the good pleasure of my fallen sinful nature.

Give thanks always for everything and in everything. God loves a grateful heart. Sin springs from an ungrateful heart. The opposite of being grateful is to be upset, irritated, angry, impatient, and resentful. The devil knows that often only one barb of an unkind comment will burst our balloon of happiness. Therefore deliberately, intentionally and purposefully set your affections on things above and not on things of this world. According to Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” Our prayer is “not my will, but thine be done.” Paul wasn’t prepared for God to answer his prayer when he prayed twice, “Lord remove this thorn from my flesh.” If you don’t know the Word of God, you don’t know the will of God. The Word of God is the will of God. The Lord finally answered Paul the third time he prayed for God to remove his thorn in the flesh. God’s answer was, “my grace is sufficient for you.”

God’s will for our life is for us to be blessed. The beatitudes are about being blessed. Blessed are they… who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. The key to being blessed is to seek the Blessor and not the blessing. Seek the Lord, so shalt thou prosper and be of good success. This is the will of God for you in Christ. He has given us the power to rejoice in all things, to be prayerful in all things, and to be grateful in all things.

Don’t stop struggling. Can God count on us? When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to be the reliable ones who are faithful to his will. We must remember that we are works in process… O Lord, mold me and make me after thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.

There is nothing in life that God can’t handle. Thy grace is sufficient for me. Therefore, rejoice evermore, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of God concerning you.

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,

Michael