HOW TO PRAY

HOW TO PRAY

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 “If you abide in Me and My Words abide in you,

you shall ask what you will and it shall be done.”

John 15:7 

We have to be in a right relationship with God before we can bring anyone else into a right relationship with Him!

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“Men ought always to pray, and not to faint”

Luke 18:1

PRAY about everyone and everything

based ONLY on Redemption ~ not out of sympathy!

REDEMPTION: The Reality ~ Jesus was born in the flesh to redeem the whole world from sin, and place it unimpaired and rehabilitated before the throne of God.

REHABILITATION means the putting back of the whole human race into the relationship God designed it to be in, and this is what Jesus Christ did in Redemption. Anyone can enter into union with God on the ground of what Our Lord has done on the Cross.  (Re-created into a new being by The Spirit of God.)

Lord, thank You for clearer understanding about how to pray. 

The prayers You honor come from those who Love You and have been redeemed and know this is the only answer for every person and situation.  Thank You for more power as I pray for these You have brought to my heart and mind this morning. Thank You for what You are going to do to reveal Yourself.

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“We know mot what we should pray for as we ought

but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.” 

Romans 8:26

INTERCESSION is unity in prayer with God’s Heart!

Pray that His Atonement may be realized in other lives as it has been in yours. 

Prayer is the working of the miracle of Redemption in me which produces the miracle of Redemption in others by the power of the Spirit of God which is in me prompting me to pray. 

It is my life in God empowered by The Spirit of God that enables me to bring others to Him.!

Thank You, Lord for this new day as a fresh beginning to set apart my conscious will to be totally Yours; so that I can consciously intercede for those who are part of my circumstances.  My part is vital for Your Indwelling Spirit to take my prayers and intercede according to Your will.  I am in awe at the importance of my relationship with Your Spirit.  Help me to guard my conscious life from defilement by making it a shrine of the Holy Spirit.

LOOKING UNTO HIM

This was yesterday's "My Daily Delight" and I felt like I was armed and ready for a beautiful day.  I was holding the Lord's hand and looking at Him while I had my quiet time with Him.  I felt His Presence throughout the morning as I worked with my Boss Pastor to get a LOT of work out before Thanksgiving.

 As the day progressed and the questions needed answers from people who weren't responding to the modern technology; and my creative mind began to be challenged  and the clock began to speed up, I became distracted by the duties at hand.  I began to feel pressured...and then in a whisper for help, my sincere prayer during my morning Delight began to be fulfilled.  I reached people that I called for info; my cell phone rang with someone returning a call and things began to come together.

 It was 7 o'clock when I finished and started for home.  It rained all the way, it was dark (I don't see good at dark), I blinked my eyes at what seemed like dozens of lights.  Finally reaching Nashville, I stopped by church to take turkey out of the freezer and see if some money for the co-op was there - it wasn't!  I went by the Farmer's Market to pick up the money from there, and there was one.  I NEEDED to make the deposit so that I could pay the bill before our next co-op on Monday.  I went home tired and hungry and realizing I had a ton of stuff to do and only had the evening and the next evening to get it all done before leaving on Wednesday afternoon to spend time with family for Thanksgiving.

I tried to reach another person who hadn't paid me yet and couldn't reach through our modern technology.  I received a call saying I had not paid for eggs from two weeks ago, that I felt sure I had.  All of a sudden I became overwhelmed with the things that I had no control over and the many things I knew I needed to do to be ready to meet my children I was riding with at 2 o'clock on Wednesday...I had food to prepare, clothes to get ready, the deposit to make, and it looking like there just wasn't going to be enough time!  I would like to say that I felt the hand of The Lord more securely and that the cares of the world weren't pressing in, and that I was calm and assured ALL was working together for good.  However, I began to put my eyes on me and my problems and felt defeat and fell apart while talking with my sweet Daughter- in- Love.  I got the deposit ready with what I had, I wrote a check from my other bank account to help cover the unpaid amounts, I took out the egg money I have obviously overlooked, put my dishes in the sink, got my clothes ready for in the morning because I knew I had to go to the bank early and make it to work on time.  I went to bed praying for rest...and it came.

This morning I had to hurry to get dressed, get my lunch together and get to the bank by 8 o'clock to meet someone bringing me their check.  I put everything in the van, locked the door and got in the van.  I turned the key and NOTHING happened!  It would not even turn over.  I called the person I was to meet at the bank and asked her to come to my house so we could jump off my battery.  She came; she was gracious to help, she had the check, she prayed for me.

I got in the van and went to the bank, and started driving toward Adel.  I began to pray and ask the Lord to show me what I needed to see that I wasn't seeing and what I needed to do.  In the quiet of my heart and mind that was listening, I heard Him say:  "you took you eyes off Me and put them on yourself and your storm."  I knew He was right and I asked Him to give me His Word to fill my arsenal so that I would be properly armed for the attacks that were inevitable.  I began to listen to Him tell me all the precious promises that I know and have claimed.  I carefully recited each one and put it in my ammunition bag.  I began to praise and sing and let The Words of my Lord pour over me and soak in.  I asked that Love, Joy and Peace be my banner and that Praise not leave my heart, mind and lips.  "He restoreth my soul; my cup runneth over; surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the day long and I will dwell in the Presence of the Lord forever."

MISSION UNIQUENESS

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

“As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you.”

John 20:21

“Go ye therefore, and teach [disciple] all nations.”

Matthew 28:19

Continuing my thoughts from the previous blog on Creative Unigueness, I want to connect the “so that” and look at “by all means.”  Just as I am uniquely made with design and purpose, so I am spiritually unique.

Oswald Chambers says on the subject of being useful to God:  “All God’s men are ordinary men made extraordinary by the matter He has given them.  Unless we have the right matter in our minds intellectually and in our hearts affectionately, we will be hustled out of usefulness to God…it is the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God’s wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.”

Jesus said that “we would receive power, after the Holy Spirit comes upon us; and we will be witnesses” unto Him on mission wherever we go in the world. (Acts 1:8)  We are given more specific details on the “You-niqueness” of how we will be empowered (gifted; equipped; have the means) in 1 Corinthians 12; Romans 12 and Ephesians 4.  We learn that The Holy Spirit empowers us with abilities that are fitted to our created design and purpose.  These are not natural abilities, but supernatural abilities that can only be done in the power of God.  This gift is not for selfish means.  They are to be administered in the Love of God.  They are for building up, strengthening and encouraging other Believers; and for demonstrating God’s Love to unbelievers.  Believers are referred to as The Body of Christ; likewise, each Believer is a Body part with Jesus as The Head.   Our gift will fit our body part; i.e. a mouth will be a teacher or preacher with the gift to deliver the Word.  Shoulder – administration that calculates details of how to deliver the Word..  Hands – Workers that put the Word into action.  Feet – Leaders that give direction on where to take the Word.  Knees – Prayers that make intercession on behalf of the whole Body to be in oneness of the Word.  I think you get the picture. 

Just as the body needs each body part to function effectively, each body part has a specific function and needs all the other parts to be efficient.  I need you and your section gifts and you need me and my special gifts.  We all must continually seek the Head (Jesus) to know how to co-ordinate and work together.

One thing that we are ALL to do is to be a Witness unto Jesus and His saving grace.  That is to tell how we met Him, believed and was changed by Him.  We can ONLY do this by knowing His Word and telling what we know about it by the power of The Holy Spirit who knows the hearts of all men.  We do it because it is His unique plan to tell the whole world that they are redeemed from the penalty of their sin.  Jesus has paid the debt.  He uses our “You-niqueness” as a tool to attract to Him.  He knows who needs to hear my story.  They are waiting; will you go… The Spirit of God is with you!

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some…as My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you…go ye therefore, and teach [disciple] all nations.”

How marvelously made we are!  We are, each one, a one of a kind, “You-nique” and the only one who can be me and do what I am made to do in the power of The Word and The Spirit of God…for His glory; and so that the world, that doesn't know Him, might believe.

     Lord, this seems to be an impossible task – to be sent as Jesus was sent!  He came to shed His blood to redeem the world from sin!  I hear You, Lord…You have given me the same Holy Spirit and power as You did Jesus, to tell the world they are redeemed!

     Lord, help me to believe that “all power lives within me” and You will teach me and bring to my memory so that I can teach others wherever I am.  Thank You for 20+ years of learning and teaching Your Word verse by verse.  I should have sufficient for You to work with. 

     Love is the motive.  You Love us so that we can Love them so that they can know Your redemptive Love so that we can all Love You and live with You forever! Amen…

~Betty Nunes

CREATIVE UNIQUENESS

“I am made all things to all men,

that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

“I am made”…indicates to me that there is design and purpose in my being.  My ego and intellect curiously wants to know more specifics!  Normally when we want to know more about any subject, we look for information from those who are experienced and knowledgeable on the subject; either in person or from written accounts.  Is that not true?

So, where does one go to find out how and why they were made?  I know that this brings up numerous thoughts of simple and complex reasoning.  If I remain simple; such as I am, I would begin with the obvious.  I was made by my parents.  When I ask them about how and why I was made, they will either give me a biological explanation or a heart-warming affectionate story.  Neither of these will truly satisfy but bring up more questions because they don’t give specifics about me personally.  My parents didn’t create me, they birthed me.  Their love or affectionate desire for a child didn’t create me, it desired me.  (I realize that not all people are birthed because they were desired and wanted…just bear with me.)  My “simple” mind asks:  If I’m created from my parents, where did they come from?  If I’m created from a desire of the heart, where did it come from?  I want specifics!

I know that you have probably run ahead of my thinking and established that the answer will be either one from the view of Evolution or Creationism.  My simple mine, once again, is what I have to function with.  In my search of finding experienced and knowledgeable on the subject of creation is that evolution has not produced anyone who can explain by experience the process of being created without using already pre-existing matter.  I found that the intelligence of these who believe that we were created by chance really aren’t intelligent at all.  I could probably make them go mad with my simple reasoning.  A child wouldn’t accept circular reasoning; and the intelligent minds of evolution have written volumes on the ridiculous to only prove how dumb they really are; and only proves that their theory requires more faith than the opposing view!

On the other side of reasoning, I find experienced and knowledgeable people who have proven with detailed masses of intelligent information how intricately and purposely designed all of creation is.  Only a Perfect Creator could design and produce such perfect creations…from NOTHING but His imagination.  He has given His record to us in His Book, The Holy Bible.  The Bible has been proven to have no errors!  The facts that are given in The Bible have been experienced by knowledgeable people from the beginning of Creation.  The Bible has been preserved throughout thousands of years because the truths contained in it are Eternal.  The Creator GOD became personally involved with His creation so that we could have relationship with Him and experience all the marvel of His creative purpose. 

I have learned from the intelligence of science, that I am a Miracle that cannot be explained except by faith; I am Priceless because there is NOTHING or NO ONE who can make another of me the way I was made; I am a Perfect Masterpiece of a Perfect Master Creator.  My Creator has etched His personal identifying signature in my newly discovered DNA and my original fingerprints.  These identify my “YOU-niqueness” to all the intelligent world.

More specifics on how and why I was made, is that “I” have experienced the reality of my Creator GOD by His Holy Spirit living within me and causing me to behave just like HIM!  I KNOW that The Bible is true because every word of it has been proven in MY life.  My Faith is built on the reality of what I experience daily that can’t be explained any other way than by Perfect Design.

I cannot stop here because the Best part of Who I am comes from The Reality of GOD coming to Earth and demonstrating His Love by taking on flesh for the sole purpose of shedding His perfect blood to redeem sinful mankind from the bondage and penalty of choosing to disbelieve.  By my faith in Him, His Spirit now lives in me so that I can have the power to overcome sin and tell the world that still disbelieves that they are REDEEMED!

“I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.”

1 Corinthians 9:22

Lord, thank You for Your design – each one is unique in creation and “You-nique” in service and mission; and in mind and heart.  We are “You-nique” in purpose and relationship with You.  May I choose daily to be Your partner in the life You have planned for me…so that I may bring some to You.  I want to be Your woman in all things, to all people, using all the unique means (matter) You have blessed me to be ME!  Amen.

WALKING WITH GOD

“Enoch walked with God…”

Genesis 5:24

My interpretation of this could be summed up simply.  Enoch had a close intimate relationship with God – a real personal Love Relationship.  He was at leisure with God.  It appears that God was his only interest and delight.  I sense that when they walked, they never hurried.  I also think that they had a lot to talk about; and I also think they spent much time when they said nothing, just enjoyed each other’s presence. 

Part Two of my impression of Enoch walking with God is that it was his lifestyle!  He didn’t just have times of walking with God, I think he started His day talking with God about His Plans for where they were going to walk and what they were going to do along the way!  I think they were such partners that Enoch knew how to keep stride with God, letting Him set the pace for when to hasten redeeming the time and when to slow down or linger for fun and fellowship interacting with others along the way; or stopping to feast on the beauty of God’s Creations.

I think in God’s Promise of being with us always that He walks at our pace with us until we learn to walk with Him at His pace! 

Conclusion:  I think, one day when Enoch and God were walking that God said to him, “Instead of us going to your house tonight, why don’t we just go to Mine and spend all Eternity together?”  I think God totally delighted in Enoch wanting to walk with Him!

Thank You, Lord for walking with me

and setting the pace.

As I walk daily with You,

I delight in learning to Love You

like Enoch did.

I know I will get more in stride with You

as I spend more time with You

 so that I can walk with You at Your pace,

 giving my very best ~ like a second wind

when you think you can run forever.

I want to delight You and feel Your pleasure.

 “Enoch walked with God…and he was no more.”  He went with God home!

OBEY WHAT YOU KNOW

“I thank Thee, O Father…because Thou hast hid these things

from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.”

Matthew 11:25

Babies are very smart.  They learn very quickly about love, trust, and obedience.  They are selfish, demanding and innocent.  They are shaped and molded by their surroundings, what they see and hear.  It will remain with them the rest of their lives!  This is why it is so important to introduce them to Love because Love teaches them to be unselfish, trusting and obedient. 

Babies do exactly what they are taught; and the first thing they probably learn is obedience.  It comes by way of learning what is acceptable behavior and what is not.  Whether the teaching is done in Love or not determines whether the obedience will be out of delight or duty!

Matthew in God’s Word says that God reveals Who He is, His ways and His purposes to babies; not to the wise and prudent.  Is it not obvious why?  Think about it…

Help me, Lord, to see the truth about being wise and prudent.

I have been in Your Word for over fifty years

and teaching it for thirty.

I know a lot,

which makes me accountable

to a lot of obedience.

You have blessed me greatly

with wisdom and revelation of Your Word,

Please protect me from spiritual pride

and keep me simple and obedient,

bringing us both delight.

Amen.

WHAT AM I RICH WITH?

"And when he heard this,

he was very sorrowful:

for he was very rich."

Luke 18:23

In this portion of Scripture in Luke 18, a rich man comes to Jesus desiring to find out what he needed to do to inherit eternal life.  When Jesus tells him to sell all he has and give it to the poor, the man was discouraged and left...and Jesus let him go!

We learn that he was a good man, obeying God's Word, and believing in Jesus...but, he loved his wealth more than he loved God.  Jesus told him he lacked one thing.  It was mainly keeping the 1st Commandment.   His money had become his god.

I wonder if we came to Jesus for assurance of Heaven if he would tell us something that we are very rich in that we are loving more than Him.  Consider personality; possessions; relationships; intellect; or spirituality.  I can be so rich in poverty that I think I'm nobody and unworthy to belong to Jesus.  I can be so rich in being somebody that I have left Jesus out of my life and only want His blessings.  Consider how I spend most of my time...then see if Jesus is part of that time.  He has promised to be with us always; but are we with Him?

If He said to get rid of the thing(s) that I am rich in and come empty handed and follow Him...would I?

Here's my heart about this:

Lord, do I have anything or anyone that I am rich with, and that I haven't given to You?  I have heard Your hard words before about some things that had a hold on me and robbed me from the fullness of getting to know You and bringing You glory.  When I found myself in the pig pen and cried out to You that I wanted to become my best for You that it is possible for me to, I lost everything that wasn't my best for You.  I have never regretted the loss even though it was very difficult.  I have been blessed with so much more, and now my heart only wants more of You.

I now consider again what I am rich in...

I am rich in friendship, but they are all in You.  Wealth or poverty has no hold on me.  I have no love or desire for myself, except to be totally Yours and have Your Spirit be unhindered and radiant.

I am rich in grandchildren, and blessed they are all also Your Children.  May I only love them with Your Love and teach them to love You.

I am rich with Your blessings; help me to give them back to You as my very best to delight You and bring You glory.  Your Love is MORE than enough! Amen ~Betty

"YET LACKEST THOU ONE THING"

“Yet lackest thou one thing;

Sell all that thou hast…

And come, follow Me.” ~Jesus

DISCOURAGEMENT

A definition that I once heard or read some place:  Discouragement is disenchanted self-love.  Perhaps more mildly put is that it’s the result of a deep personal desire to do or be something that would bring great satisfaction.  It is the result of giving your very best and failing.  I don’t think it is always from self-centeredness.

My experience with discouragement is that it comes when I have exhausted myself from trying to get something that I really want. 

As I write this and try to remember some examples I realize that I have mostly reached discouragement over very simple and unimportant things.  For instance, trying to make a recipe for something I ate someplace and wanting it to taste exactly the same.  Being on a team that doesn’t care whether they win or lose…just having fun!  Not me, fun is winning!  I do not want to be part of a losing team, even if it is bowling or putt putt or volleyball!

I suppose my greatest discouragement has come from people.  People who have stopped trying, given up on themselves or a relationship or education or a job or a habit…and have shut the door to any help. 

Today, as I meditated on the Scripture above and listened to the Lord, I more clearly saw about the meaning of “all”   It wasn’t how much the rich young man had, it was about the ONE thing he did not have!  However, all that he had was more important to him than the one thing he didn’t have.  We also learn that he was a good man coming to The Good Master or Teacher.  If you read the whole story (and please do) we learn that the rich man came to Jesus wanting to know what he could do to inherit eternal life.  Jesus said “Why do you call me good?  None is good but God.”  The he quoted some of the 10 Commandments.  The young man said he had done these all his life.  Jesus said “but there’s one you lack!  Sell all you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven:  and, come, follow Me.” 

Then we read that when he heard this, he was very sorrowful:  for he was very rich.  He was discouraged because he was a good man doing what he believed was excellent, but he wanted assurance that it was sufficient to merit him eternal life.  The one thing he lacked was the 1st Commandment:  “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”  Remember, Jesus said:  “None is good but God.”  Without God you cannot be “good” enough for heaven!  The rich young man believed in Jesus as the authority on heaven.   He knew the Scripture.  He was a good man.  He didn’t want God, he already had one, he wanted rewarding…and Jesus let him go!

Lord, I do see more clearly about giving all – it’s “Come, follow Me.”  It’s not about the doing, it’s about enthusiastic devotion – being in Your Presence!  To be in Your Presence with You; sitting at Your feet; anointing You with my very best, with my all; it’s going with You into Your world.  Help me, Lord.  Fill me with Your Love.  Thank You for the assurance of eternal life because of our relationship…I am Your Child.  Amen. ~Betty

STEPS TO ACQUIRING DIVINE CHARACTER

'SO THAT..."

Matthew 28:18-20 KJV

¹⁸ And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

¹⁹ Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

²⁰ Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Acts 1:7-9 KJV

⁷ And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.

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.

⁹ And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Hebrews 13:5-7 NCV

⁵ Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be satisfied with what you have. God has said,

“I will never leave you;
    I will never abandon you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6)

⁶ So that we can boldly say,

“I will not be afraid, because the Lord is my helper.
    People can’t do anything to me.” (Psalm 118:6)

⁷ Remember your leaders who taught God’s message to you. Remember how they lived and died, and copy their faith. 
⁸ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We know these words of Jesus as The Great Commission.  The writer of Hebrews reminds us of  how and why we should obey Jesus’ instructions…”so that.”  We can boldly, confidently, without fear tell all those we have opportunity as we go about in the world about Jesus because His Spirit is within us to empower and help us…so that, we can tell about Him! 

Jesus said to tell them everything He has told us about Who He is, where He came from, why He came, what He did and why He left.  He also said to tell how knowing Him has changed your life and how He can do the same for them. 

Jesus came from Heaven to earth to redeem mankind from the bondage of SIN.  He ONLY could give His blood as the perfect sacrifice because He was without sin.  He did this by dying on a cross.  Then He rose from the dead 3 days later to a new life He had never known before and would be changed forever!  We are to tell the world that they are redeemed and that they can be set free from the bondage of sin by believing in what Jesus did and asking Him to give them a new life they have never known before that is changed forever! 

He promised He was preparing a place for those who believe in Him and have received His Spirit and would come back for them and take them to be with Him in the place He had prepared.  We are to tell others until He comes!  Scripture indicates that ALL things have been fulfilled and we are the last generation to tell that He is coming SOON!

So…why aren’t we doing what He said we should be doing until He comes?  Not telling is NOT preventing Him from coming, it is only preventing you from hearing “well done, good and faithful one” when He comes!

You know how to tie a gift, Lord!  You are with us in The Holy Spirit “so that” we can do Matthew 28:18-20 and Acts 1:8 – Your way for Your glory; “so that” we can give You our best; to boldly witness, teach, disciple and baptize with water and The Word “without fear…” because I have Almighty God as my Helper!

O Lord, I love You, and Your Word sustains me.  Your Word today has become my life handle and confidence.  Thank You for proving Your Presence and for pursuing a Love relationship with me full of reality.  May the passion of loving You draw others in – “so that” You will be a reality to us all!  Amen.

SEEK...KNOCK!

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you."

Luke 11:9

So you've come to The Lord in prayer "asking" and "believing" that you will receive; but so far you haven't received the answer you were looking for.  What's the problem?  Maybe you're not asking... seeking... knocking with the right mind; heart or motive!

A few questions:  Are you asking selfishly?  Are you asking with your whole heart?  Are you coming out of need?  Are you seeking because you haven't found on your own?  Have you given your very best?  Are you knocking at the right door?  

 ^"Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up".

James 4:7-10

James says there are some conditions that need to be met if you haven't received results to your asking, seeking and knocking.

A few more questions:  Are you asking for what Jesus would ask for?  Are you seeking because you don't know the way, or you don't like your situation?  Are you coming to God's door with a purified heart and clean hands; broken and afflicted from striving to make things work?  Is there any self-pity or pride in your life?  Are you desiring to satisfy your heart...or God's?

On a personal note, I have experienced asking, seeking and knocking and left discouraged and broken-hearted because God didn't seem to be listening or caring!  God has something much greater at heart than just answering our requests, He wants to give us His Best - that which is perfectly designed to fit my created purpose.  So, He let's us exhaust ourselves until we are ready to desire and receive Him!

This is my prayer today: 

O Lord, I have experienced the knocking of an afflicted life and received cleansing.  I've experienced the knocking of an afflicted faith of self-righteousness and received revelation.  I've experienced the seeking and knocking of an afflicted spirit and received a new life and insight.  Recently I have heard You knocking for me to open the door and invite You to dine and fellowship with me. I have received sweet communion and the delightful life of abiding in Your Presence free of all affliction.  I desire nothing more.

SACRAMENT

 March 10, 2014 during My Daily Delight

“Have a Message and be One!” ~ “GOD INFLESHED”

*Dictionary definition:  Religious action or symbol in which spiritual power is believed to be transmitted through material elements or the performance of ritual. 

*Oswald Chambers states it this way:  "The natural heart will do any amount of serving, but it takes the heart broken by conviction of sin, and baptized by the Holy Ghost, and crumpled into the purpose of God before the life becomes the sacrament of its message."

*My impression:  The practices of Christ evidenced by the outward display of a changed life empowered by The Holy Spirit of Almighty God.  ("an outward sign of an inward grace gift/transformation.")   A Child of God demonstrating the Word and Presence of God as a living message and as a witness unto Him. 

Paul, who demonstrated so well said to preach the Word in Spirit and life.  Hear his words:

2 Timothy 4:1-5   I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

 ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 

³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 

⁴ and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 

⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

John 1:12 “to those who believe and receive He gave the right to become children of God.”

Children of the Word that became flesh are “GOD INFLESHED”!

When we are born again in the Spirit we become a child of God…and, as the Father sent The Son, so has He sent His children!

  ~ to be a witness unto Him

  ~ to be a messenger to the world that they are redeemed from the payment of sin – by

     living proof; the message demonstrated.

  ~ to be a Child (Daughter) of God just like Jesus – in Spirit and life.

SACRAMENT (definition from Oswald Chambers statement)

 ~ the heart broken by conviction of sin

 ~ baptized by the Holy Spirit

 ~ crumpled into the purpose of God –

Then, the life becomes the sacrament of the message.

DAUGHTER ~ MESSENGER ~ WITNESS OF GOD       

Lord God, I am listening with a pounding heart and searching for clarity to what I’m hearing – “God infleshed!”  Why does that paint a different picture to me than “Spirit filled” or indwelling Spirit”?  That’s POWER!  And with it, the life is to be the Message…the power of resurrection and Pentecost living in me!?  I’m overwhelmed.

MARY & NEW BIRTH

Mary, the mother of Jesus ~ The Holy Spirit came upon her and created a new life of God in flesh.  When we are born again it is the Holy Spirit coming upon us and creating a new life of God in flesh.  We are just like Jesus when we become born again.  He was a baby having all the needs of a baby.  He needed someone to take care of him; providing his mental, emotional, spiritual, physical and social needs…until he could do for himself.  As a newborn Christian we need the same care until we learn how to love God our Father with all our heart (emotional), soul (spiritual), mind (mental), and strength (physical) and to love one another (social). 

We are given The Spirit of God to live within us to help us; but we also need others who are mature spiritually to help us learn how to live in the faith and discipline of a Child of God.

Jesus was 100% man and had all the temptations such as us, but he didn't sin.  He didn't sin because He listened to The Holy Spirit of God, His Father and said "no" to sin.  If we listen to the same Holy Spirit that lives within us, we also will not sin.

Do we truly believe that it is the same Holy Spirit of God that lived in Jesus that lives in us?  If so, what is the evidence?  Do we need some help?  Ask The Lord to bring you to someone who will nurture/mentor you.

My Prayer:  Thank You, Lord, for the new life in You – it is new with every new day.  Thank You that my sinful life is dead, and I don’t want to revisit it even in a memory. Thank You for bringing so many into my life to teach and nurture me.  I desire more intimacy with You and the joy it brings, so that I can be more like You.

February 18, 2013 My Daily Delight

PUT GOD FIRST!

My Daily Delight ~ May 31, 2014

Today as I delighted in time with my Lord, He shared some insight into trusting.  Using the words John recorded for us, He tells us that He trusted no man!    Life experience tells us that if we put our trust in human beings, we will end in despairing of everyone and become bitter.  Why?  Because I have insisted and believed that people will do what is absolutely right.  “Jesus knew what was in the heart of man.”

Jesus put God first and trusted absolutely in what God’s grace could do for anyone!  (See John 5:19; 8:28-29 for His Words.)  Our Lord’s obedience was to the will of His Father.  He only trusted God!

We must put God first!  We cannot trust God until we know Him; until we have a real and personal love relationship.  Jesus said:  “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God…and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father.  He came unto His own, but His own received Him not.  But as many as received Him, to them He gave power to become the sons of God., even to them that believe in His name; which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”  (John 1:1; 14; 11-13.)

When we trust God, He trusts us!  God’s trust is that He gives me Himself by the indwelling life of the Son of God.  God’s ultimate purpose is that His Son might be manifested in my mortal flesh...born of the Holy Spirit of God!  He promises to be with all who trusts Him forever!  For assurance of this trust, read chapters 14-16 of John and learn all about the Holy Spirit and what He will do to, in and through you!

So, as I trust God and He directs my life, can I ever trust man?  I would say:  only the person that has His Holy Spirit.  Not the one who says he does, but the one who shows the evidence! 

My Life Handle of Trust:  Jesus said:  I will never leave you, nor forsake you, so that we may boldly say, “The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.”   (Read Hebrews 13:5-6)

Lord, empower me according to Your will to resist the clever tactics of the spirits of darkness.  Open my eyes to see and my heart to trust in Your will.  Bring Your glory fuller  into my life so that I can glorify You.

ABANDONMENT

My Daily Delight ~ April 28, 2014

*Notes from My Daily Delight for several years

"Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee."

Scriptures:  Mark 10:28; John 3:16; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 2:20; Jeremiah 45:5

ABANDON ~ A-BAND-ON ~ “A Band On” another life - Jesus!”

ABANDON ~ Leaving ALL; giving up ALL to be identified with another life!

“BRAND” ~ Mark of Ownership

THE MARKS OF A CHRISTIAN (Bro. Billy Southerland’s Sermon 3/1//2012 with my impressions)

 ~ BIRTHMARK (I.D.) ~ LOVE

 ~ BOOK MARK (Passport/Ownership) ~ BIBLE/GOD’S WORD

 ~ COLLAR MARK (Partner) ~ YOKE OF JESUS/HOLY SPIRIT

 ~ KNEE MARK (Power/Strength) ~ PRAYER

CHRISTIAN’S ABANDON ~ 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.  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.”

Galatians 2:20 ~ “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless…”

Identified – Activated

“…nevertheless, I live…and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God.”

Set apart for God – Holy by the Holy Spirit

~The identical faith of the Son of God

~The life I now life

~The life man can see

~The Holy Spirit of God living in me ~ activated!

GOD’S ABANDON ~ John 3:16

 ”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.”

   God so loved the world that He gave His only Son (ALL)!

   God gave up ALL of Heaven to be identified with another life!

   A BAND ON ~ Identifying Marks of Jesus:

      He was named JESUS  (Savior)

      He had all the marks of a Christian more profoundly because –

          HE IS LOVE  

          HE IS THE WORD OF GOD

          HE IS THE SPIRIT THAT WALKS WITH US & GIVES US POWER

      He was BRANDED with the nail prints in His hands and feet & pierced side.

      He ABANDONED Heaven to be identified with us and was branded so that we could be identified with Heaven/God/Jesus!

SEALED with Delightful Life!  ~ Jeremiah 45:5 HCSB

”Are you looking for great things for yourself? Do not look for such things. For I, the Lord, affirm that I am about to bring disaster on all humanity. But I will allow you to escape with your life wherever you go.”

Oswald Chambers says in My Utmost for His Highest ~ “If you abandon entirely to God.  He says at once, ‘Thy life will I give thee for a prey.’  The reason people are tired of life is because God has not given them anything, they have not got their life as a prey.  The way to get out of that state is to abandon to God.”

O Lord, thank You for the revelation that ABANDON is the sealing of my life by the indwelling Holy Spirit; it’s Romans 12:1-2 “a living sacrifice…transformed by the renewing of the mind.”  I am abandoned and my “band” is the Holy Spirit, and as I go…to the ends of the world being a witness and making disciples, teaching God’s Word, there is no fear ~ I have delightful Life! 

Prayer:  O Lord, as I meditate on these marvelous truths, I realize that I can’t comprehend enough to relate to Your abandonment for us – to be identified with mankind so that we can become identified with Almighty God.  Our life should be branded with Jesus so that it is very obvious who the owner is!  Grant that I may prove Your ownership with abundant Love to You and Your Body for Your delight and mine.  Amen.

'IN JERUSALEM"

“Tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.”

Luke 24:49

The disciples were to wait “in Jerusalem” for the promised Holy Spirit.

Why were they back “in Jerusalem”?

Jesus had told them after His resurrection to go to Galilee.  He ministered and taught them for 40 days between His Resurrection and Ascension in Galilee.  Now, they are back in Jerusalem!

Pause

Lord, show me what I need to see here; direct my thoughts to Yours and reveal the power of this Word of Yours.  Amen. ~Betty

They were originally “in Jerusalem” for the ¹Passover – this is where all good Jews went for Passover, if possible.  The next reason for returning to Jerusalem would be to celebrate or observe ²Pentecost.  However, Pentecost was 10 days away.  

Why Jerusalem?  (See my blog May 26 Building The House of God for some foundation)

1~God chose Jerusalem to be the city of His dwelling place – The House of God – The Temple of God. 

2~King David’s heart was to give the Ark of the Covenant of God a resting place and as he talked to God about it, God gave David His ideas and approval, with some conditions.  David would do the work of making preparation and gathering all the materials and assigning all the tasks so that it would be built during the reign of his son, Solomon.

3~All the instructions for the Tabernacle in the wilderness were applied to the Temple.  (Read Exodus for facts.) There was 40 years of peace while the Temple was being built unto God.

*Injection ~ David was appointed king of Judah by God with his throne in Jerusalem; and God told him that there would be no other king of Judah but from his sons, with the final king being His Anointed One, Messiah.  [You might want to read the whole story in 1 & 2 Kings and 1 & 2 Chronicles]

  

¹PASSOVER commemorates God bringing the Israelites out of Egyptian slavery by saving those who put the blood of a lamb on the doorpost and the Death Angel passed over.  It is a feast of remembrance observed every year. 

²PENTECOST commemorates God giving the 10 Commandments to Moses 50 days after the Exodus.  It is observed 50 days after Passover. 

So why did they return so early?

Personal thought:  I think it brought Jesus back to the Holy City of God to leave from because He promised to return to the same place.

(I just learned in my preparations to go to The Holy Land, and specifically to the city of Jerusalem for 4 days and then Galilee for 6 days, that the Ascension took place on the back side of the Mount of Olives and that the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was arrested was at the entrance to the Mount of Olives.)

Since the Jews don’t believe the story that Jesus arose from the dead, and because of this disbelief, I think Jesus stayed with His disciples in Galilee which was His home of ministry life; and so that His disciples would be safe.  For the same reason of safety and avoiding crowds, I think He went to the far end of the Mount of Olives to ascend into Heaven.

So, why 10 days before Pentecost?

Again, I think, because it gave the disciples time to assimilate all that had happened and all Jesus told them; as well as a time to prepare mentally and spiritually for Pentecost and the mysterious coming of the Holy Spirit.  There were 120 of them gathered in the upper room praying, sharing and discussing what to do while they waited.  (See Acts chapter 2.)  They didn’t show any signs of surprise or fear when The Spirit came in as a rushing wind and tongues of fire; they were excited and changed!  [I have another sermon about what happens today when one receives the Holy Spirit.  Selah.]

Why Jerusalem?

There were many dedicated (believing) Jews who lived in Jerusalem but were from every known nation at that time.  They heard their languages coming from these excited people and they wanted to know how unlearned men from Galilee could be speaking to them in all their languages.  Peter answered in The Spirit explaining God’s Word and what they had witnessed and afterwards they asked him what did they need to do?  They confessed belief and were baptized and united with the disciples.  There were 3,000 and more were added daily!

This is how the good news of Jesus began to spread to all the world.  These new Believers who were changed now were excited to return to their people and tell what they had witnessed and experienced.

Why Jerusalem?

It is God’s Chosen City.  It is the Birth place of The Church!