You have all the love you will ever need

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

Such hope [in God’s promises] never disappoints us, because God’s love has been abundantly poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5)

Recently we have been talking about spiritual maturity and how it’s measured by how much we love God and others, not on our efforts, knowledge or giftings.

So if the above verse declares that God has abundantly poured out love within our hearts, then it stands to reason that everything we need to be spiritually mature already resides in us.  It’s not anything we have to strive to produce or manufacture.

All we need to do is rely on the Holy Spirit to produce spiritual maturity in our lives.  We need to believe and be confident in His ability in us.

The bible teaches us that God is love (1 John 4:8) and that God dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:16), so all the love we will ever need is already within us.  It was abundantly poured out into our hearts at salvation.

We just need to choose every day to walk in love.  How do we do that?  By relying on God.

Isn’t it just like God to give us a command to love Him and others and then equip us with everything we need to carry out that command?

You only need to apprehend that truth and believe it with all your heart.  God has poured His unending supply of love into our hearts.  We have all the love we will ever need.

You were created to love.  You are equipped to love. Your destiny is to love.

The next time you don’t feel like showing love, stop and say “spirit of love within me, rise up!”

Do You Love Me?

“I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me;

remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you].”

John 15:9

 

 

I am certain I have made this point in the blog before but here I go again...

Our ‘love’ too often has innumerable strings attached.

I will love you if...

I will love you when...

I will love you only because...

We stipulate the terms of our commitment and then wonder why the relationship didn’t last.

If a small child doesn’t get their way we may be in for a tantrum from them.

The same is true for an adult even though the ‘tantrum’ may not unfold by rolling on the floor accompanied with screaming and crying.

It is immature behavior regardless of the age of the one exhibiting it.

An evidence of our spiritual maturity is when we continue to love God even when we don’t get our way.

“Not my will, but yours be done.”

Have you ever heard those words before?

Jesus did not make that declaration lightly.

He wasn’t facing a day without lunch.

We all know what He was facing and yet His love for the Father never faltered.

I cannot say the same and be honest with you.

God loves me and He continues to love me even when I am less than perfect and less than willing to obey.

But do I love Him when He doesn’t do what I want or expect Him to do?

Ouch!

You see, He will bring us to that place of decision.

Not once, but many times.

Do you love me?

Even when the job you wanted doesn’t come through?

Do you love me?

Although your friend or loved one died unexpectedly?

Do you love me...

 

He Who Has Begun...

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

Philippians 1:6

 

That’s a pretty small word underlined above.

Just two letters but don’t underestimate the importance of those two letters when it comes to your spiritual maturity.

It is God who is working in you to bring you to a place of maturity.

All you have to do is cooperate!

He began the good work.

He will continue the good work.

He will complete the good work.

We like to take credit for stuff.

It’s easy to claim for ourselves the work that God is doing in us.

After all, why should He get all the credit?

Because He is faithful when we are not!

Because He perseveres when we are ready to throw in the towel!

Because – remember what it says – His work in us is a good work!

 

Please click on the link below for a song by Aaron Shust that will encourage you to give God alone all the glory for the work He is doing in your life...

 

https://youtu.be/dfZMKfu86z0

Convinced and Confident

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

Philippians 1:6

 

 

Are you ‘convinced and confident’ that God is working in you to make you spiritually mature?

Is that an attitude you hold too?

Or

Is it ‘maybe’, ‘perhaps’, ‘I think so’?

Are you a ‘Wishy-Washey Wally’ or a ‘Hem’n and Haw’n Hannah’ when it comes to that conviction?

Paul left no doubt when he wrote his epistles to the church at Philippi.

He was convinced and confident.

You see, one attitude builds hope and expectation while the other only doubt and double mindedness.

Don’t approach your walk with halfhearted commitment.

Instead be convinced and confident of His work in you!

 

 

From Cradle to Grave

“I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].”

Philippians 1:6

 

 

Have you ever met an ‘overnight’ sensation?

Usually they are not you know!

Spiritual maturity is the same.

You don’t just wait 24 hours and voila!

It is a life looooooong process.

Call it cradle to grave if that helps you to picture it.

From the cradle of the new birth to the grave of the physical body

(or Christ’s return if that comes before physical death for any of us).

There is not some ‘magical’ arrival point where we declare to others:

“I’m done! I’ve arrived! God’s work in me is finished!”

Much as we might want it that way.

It takes time to perfect you and me.

How often we have wished for some season or trial in our life to be over but to end it before it has completed what God intended for us is to short circuit the process of spiritual maturity.

But the good news...

...it’s His good work in us.

He gets the glory!

And He knows just what is needed to mature the areas of my life where I am not quite as mature as I need to be.

The same is true of your life.

Will you trust Him with the process?

True spiritual maturity is….

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)

It’s easy to love God when things are going well.  But how about when things are not going well?

Do we withdraw from God when things don’t go our way or do we choose to love Him anyway as commanded by scripture?

The sign of true spiritual maturity is when we love God even when are lives are turned upside down.

On the flip side, spiritual immaturity is demonstrated when our love for God is dependent upon our circumstances. 

Doesn’t God choose to love us unconditionally, regardless of our many sins and shortcomings?  Doesn’t He continue to love us even when our behavior deserves nothing but His wrath?

While beaten, bruised, and nailed to a cross, Jesus chose to love.  He could have thumbed His nose at God or spewed hatred at those who put Him on the cross, but instead, an incredible declaration of love came from His lips – “Lord, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Hours earlier in the garden of Gethsemane and knowing what lay ahead, Jesus demonstrated love for His Father by saying “not my will, but your will be done,” even though He knew it was His Father who orchestrated the path He was about to walk.

Jesus’ love for His Father and us never waned, even in the midst of incredible pain and suffering.

The best way we can demonstrate our love towards God is to love Him even in the midst of difficult or unwanted circumstances.

Such a reaction blesses the heart of God and reassures us that we are on the path to spiritual maturity.

Majoring in What Matters Most

“If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains,

but do not have love, I am nothing.”

I Corinthians 13:2

 

 

 

Suppose you had the ability to memorize the entire Bible!

You quickly find any verse or any topic and share it with others.

Not only that, but you can righty apply the word to bring wisdom, insight and revelation to problems people present.

Others seek you out for your biblical knowledge.

Is that the epitome of spiritual maturity?

You need look no further than I Corinthians 13:2 for the answer.

While ignorance of scriptures is no badge of honor, neither is a competence in biblical knowledge alone the barometer of spiritual maturity.

Pride lurks closely when we believe otherwise.

While God possesses all wisdom and knowledge it was love that brought us back into fellowship with Him...

...for God so loved the world that He gave...

Love, not knowledge or wisdom, moved the heart of God to action.

Love should motivate us as well.

Lord:

May your love in us motivate and inform our actions toward others.

May we grow daily in our love for you and for others.

May we major in what matters most and not in the ‘minors’.

Let our love be evident to anyone and everyone we come in contact with.

We ask this in Jesus Name

Amen.

 

Are You Too Immature For God’s Love?

“We love because he first loved us.”

I John 4:19

 

 

 

It’s Quiz time!

True or False:

If I am mature spiritually – God loves me more than when I was immature?

Soooooo, how did you answer that?

False?

Right you are.

So you understand that God loved you just the same before you answered correctly as He does after you answered.

He is the Lord, He does not change and God is love!

We tend to think God loves us more or less based on our behavior or our actions.

In his book Think Like Heaven author Bob Hazlett writes this:

“When we are fearful, or when we believe that God is mad at us, we frustrate our ability to hear from heaven.”

I believe we also convince ourselves that God is mad at us when we are less than perfect and that He loves us less.

The opposite can also be true; we come to believe that the more mature we are the more He loves us.

But if that is true, doesn’t that make Gods’ love dependent on us and our behavior rather than who He is?

If you are a parent, do you love your child less when they behave in an immature way?

Of course not!

You may not be pleased with their behavior, they may even disappoint you but that does not mean you no longer love them or that you love them less.

How much greater is the love of God toward you and me!

A Measuring Stick No Bigger Than a Four Letter Word!

“He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ.”

Colossians 1:28

 

Are you spiritually mature?

“Why, yes I am. Thank you very much.”

How do you know?

“I just do!”

How did you grow? How did you become mature?

“Well, I’ve been saved 40 years!”

So, are you saying spiritual maturity is just a function of time?

“No, there are other things. Every time the church doors are open I am there.”

I see. So the oldest member of the church who never misses a Sunday is the most mature?

“Are you making fun of me? Because if you are, you should know my spiritual maturity won’t allow me to get mad – but I will get even! I don’t like these questions and I am starting not to like you!”

 

Alright – let’s end this fictional conversation.

But let’s not end the pursuit of understanding spiritual maturity.

What is it and what is it not...

The ‘nots’ just might kill a few of your sacred cows!

(or as I like to call them holy moo’s)

Forgive me.

I’ll give you a hint ahead of the next few posts –

Spiritual maturity is best measured by a four letter word...

Tune in tomorrow for more!

The ‘Blameless and Pure’ Generation

“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”

Philippians 2:14-16

 

It seems that something new to the last hundred years is that we like to ‘name’ our generations.

Baby Boomers and Generation X come to mind first.

Look again at today’s verse and you will discover that it is not new.

Paul spoke of a warped and crooked generation in his day.

Today we would be so easily offended by such a label and would fall right into the pattern Paul spoke of.

We would grumble and argue about it!

There is little left to the imagination that we are not offended by.

Look and listen and before long you will hear of this or that ‘group’ who ‘grumble’ and ‘argue’ that they have not been treated fairly.  

We, as believers, are no different.

We have raised our flag up the pole of ‘our right not to be offended’ and unfurled it loudly to be sure that the world hears us.

But adding our voice to the clamor already out there is not what we are called to do.

Paul says we will “...shine among them like stars in the sky...” when we do this...

“...hold firmly to the word of life.”

 Let our pattern of life – that is you and me living in the world blameless and pure because of Christ in us – be the most effective witness to todays warped and crooked generation.

We are not called to be warped and crooked but blameless and pure.

Something to think about...  

Kept

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fades not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4-5)

 

Slow down.  Take a deep breath.  Relax.  Rest.  Cease striving.  Let go.  Stop worrying.

If you’re like me, those words are music to your ears.  But they are much easier to read in a blog than live out in our day to day frantic lifestyle.

But if we can grab a hold of five little words in the above verse, we will find the power we need to live such a life.

“Kept by the power of God” is a promise to every child of God.

When we can grab a hold of that truth, we understand that our lives are not dependent on our ability to hold onto God, but on His ability to hold onto us.

That takes immense pressure off us to constantly “perform” to stay in relationship with God.  The striving ceases and rest comes because we know that we are securely in His grip and He will never let us go.

Can you imagine any force strong enough to pry open His hand and snatch you out of it?

I pray God will give you rest this week from your striving and endless activity.  I pray that God will give you a revelation that you are kept by His power for all eternity to enjoy an inheritance reserved for you that will never become defiled or fade away.

Resourced From Heaven

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8

  

Elijah fed by Ravens

I Kings 17

 

The Five Thousand fed with a few loaves and fishes

Matthew 14 and John 6 

 

The widow with the pitcher of oil

II Kings 4

 

Hannah’s Prayer for a Child and a Prophet Given to Israel

I Samuel 1

It’s time for you to talk back to me...

How have you been Resourced From Heaven recently?

When we tell of His provision, we honor Him!

His Words Becoming Our Means

“The Spirit of the Lord spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.”

II Samuel 23:2

 

 

“It is time to live beyond our means!

It is time for the sons of God to be revealed!”

Those two sentences were the closing sentences of yesterday’s post.

What are some of the areas of our lives where we can live in His means and not our own?

Where we live from heavens’ resources to us rather than out of our own strength and power?

How about the words we speak?

What if we began to close our mouth and not speak until we had the Father’s words?

Do you suppose that might have an impact, not only on you, but on those you spoke to as well?

Let these 365 days be filled with His words spoken through you.

To your spouse, to your children, your boss and your neighbor!

I can already feel the atmosphere changing just thinking about what happens when we truly surrender our tongues to the means of heaven.

While others curse, you bless.

When the first inclination is to say “I can’t” but instead we wait on the Father and we confidently declare:

“I can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens me.”

When someone’s hurt is met by words of comfort and encouragement.

May we begin to stand in that place where our ‘language’ is resourced from heaven!

 

Living Beyond Our Means

“And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him

in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus,”

Ephesians 2:6

 

Have you ever lived beyond your means?

Have you ever seen more go out than comes in?

I think we all have.

It is not a wise place to be in the natural.

But in the spiritual realm most of us live well below our ‘means’.

We live far, far below the inheritance we have in Jesus Christ.

Let me make a declaration.

In 2016 the church is going to begin to understand and appropriate the inheritance that was made ours through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We are going to stop living in our own strength and begin to live according to all that is ours in Jesus Christ.

As we begin to do that, rest assured that heads will turn and people will begin to take note of what God is doing in the earth through His people.

It is time to stop living off of our resources and to begin to appropriate heavens’ resources for the advancing of God’s Kingdom in the earth.

It is time to live beyond our means!

It is time for the sons of God to be revealed!

 

 

A New Year, a new beginning

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Genesis 1:1

We are “in the beginning” of a new year, a year formless and empty.  As we create the pages of this year, let’s take into consideration the two cautions we have been given:  celebrate what matters – the fact that our name is written in heaven, and focus on our relationship with Jesus, not good deeds.

It is so easy to get swept up in the worldly things to celebrate.  As you move forward in your ministry, be careful not to celebrate the acts that you perform or see performed.  Instead, celebrate who you are in Christ.  Instead of forming your year with “good deeds”, consider forming your days by spending time in His presence.  As you bask in His presence and draw nearer to Him, you will see fruit produced as a result of that relationship, not a result of anything you could ever do or imagine.  Enjoy forming this year!

Lord, Lord

Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?” Then I will tell them plainly, “I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!” (Matthew 7:21-23)

Today's blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

 

It’s a great feeling to be used by God, but we need to be careful not to let it go to our head.  I don’t know about you, but I can very easily slip into that “beat-my-chest” mentality after being used by God.

But the above verse is a sobering reminder that our works or spiritual exploits will not get us into heaven.  Only Jesus, and Jesus alone, can do that.

2 Corinthians 2:21 says that “Jesus became sin on our behalf, so that in Him we would become the righteousness of God.”

The key words being “in Him.”  Our salvation is never secured by our behavior.  It is only secured by the righteousness of Jesus imputed (credited) to us.

Apart from Jesus, even are best works fall very short.  As a matter of fact, Jesus likened those who prophesy, drive out demons, and perform many miracles to “evildoers” if their works aren’t an extension of a life surrendered to Jesus and motivated by love for Him.

When we say “Lord, Lord,” may it never be followed by a list of accomplishments, but instead, spoken from a heart that is broken over our sin and understands it is bankrupt without Jesus.

Whose work are you doing?

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:

 

What have you done for His Kingdom lately?  Notice the question wasn’t where have you served, what committees are you involved with, how many hours did you volunteer, or how many meals did you serve at the shelter. While each of these works is good, they may not be what God is calling you to do.  In fact, you might be so tied up in good deeds that you miss all that God has planned for you!

The second caution we were presented is this:  Make sure your works are His good works.  We advance the Kingdom best when we are doing exactly what our Father has called us to do.  Instead of focusing on what we should be doing for His Kingdom, we should be focusing on our relationship with Jesus.  This relationship will produce fruit in our lives. 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith— and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:8-10

Celebrate!

Today's blog post is contributed by Denise Friedman:

What are some things you celebrate?  Birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, holidays perhaps  even accomplishments are all things celebrated in our society.  Maybe as the song suggests, you celebrate “good times.” 

As wonderful as each of these events is to celebrate, one of the cautions we have received is to be sure we are celebrating what matters.

The seventy two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.” He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.  I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

Luke 10: 17-20

When we step out in ministry, amazing things may occur.  People may be healed, the dead may raise, the blind may see, and the deaf may hear.  If we are not careful, we may celebrate these miracles, rather than celebrate what truly matters, that our names are written in heaven.  As you go through your week, take a moment before you celebrate and consider, what is it I truly celebrate? Remember to focus on what Jesus has done, not what I am doing.

 

Caution Has Purpose

“Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;

    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning.”

Proverbs 9:9

 

 

Drive near a playground and you just may see a traffic sign like the one in the image shown here.

Of course the caution is to look out for those who may not always be able to look out for themselves.

Caution is not the same as Danger.

Like the driver behind the wheel on the road next to the playground you may drive by the children enjoying the slide, jungle gym or swing sets a hundred times with no problem.

But the risk is always present that one of the children, perhaps chasing an errant ball, runs out in the path of your car.

The need for caution is valid.

Life is filled with words of ‘caution’ and our walk with the Lord is no exception.

Danger can lurk when caution is not taken.

The definition of the word caution makes this clear –

to state a warning about the possible danger, problem, or risk of something so you can take the necessary action to avoid harm, loss, or injury. 

When the possibility of danger exists, it is a wise person who heeds the caution signs posted by the Lord or those who shepherd His people.

Let’s take a look at some of those cautions we received this past Sunday.

We do this not to sow seeds of fear but to equip us against harm, loss or injury from the enemy and our own ignorance.

 

Please let the words of this song sink into your spirit -

https://youtu.be/UqQ7-sxFEw0

 

God Keeps His Promises

“For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ.”

II Corinthians 1:20

 

 

Have you ever broken a promise?

Unless you are a newborn not yet brought home from the hospital the answer to that question is “Yes!”

We all make and break promises.

The “we all” of that last sentence is all inclusive with one exception.

God never breaks His promises.

He does not make a promise and then forget He made it.

His Word is too valuable for that.

His promises don’t get lost in the long list of promises He has made either.

“God is not human, that he should lie,

not a human being, that he should change his mind.

Does he speak and then not act?

Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Of course the answer to that last question is a resounding “No!”

If you can be assured of nothing else in 2016 rest in this assurance:

God promises and God fulfills those promises.

What reassurance, what hope that brings into my life each and every day!

There are many who promise and fail.

God is not one of many.

God will keep His promises to you.  

Allow that wonderful truth to encourage you today!

 

 

May Your New Year

Be a Season of Renewed

Love for the Lord

and

May Your Time, Talents and Treasures

Be Used to Advance

His Kingdom on the Earth!