WORKING WITH GOD

April 24, 2017

“Laborers together with God.”

1 Corinthians 3:9

A great many Christian workers worship their work!

Beware of any work for God that causes you to evade concentration on Him.  Passion that does not glorify God is selfish desire!  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

When once the concentration is on God, all the margins of life are free and under the dominance of God alone.

There is no responsibility on you for the work.

Your only responsibility is to stay in living constant touch with God and allow nothing to hinder cooperating with Him. 

(John 15:7)

“Watch to see where He is working…and join Him in the work He is already doing!”

Become yoked together with Him and be as one.  “His yoke is easy and His burden is light!” (Matthew 11:30)

Be absolutely devoted to your Co-worker rejoicing in the honor of working with Him.

Working for Him is carrying a heavy load because you are trying to give your best with your own strength… without the strength and power that only He can give!

Working for Him is exhausting because you don’t know His plans.  He says:  “I know the plans I have for you…”  (Jeremiah)

NEW THOUGHT:  Giving my best until I can give no more isn’t giving until I drop (that’s working for Him), but working with Him to the joyous completion and His pleasure! 

Oh what joy and delight!  (Philippians 1:6)

Giving my best apart from Him counts for nothing and causes me to miss the best He has planned that counts for Eternity!  (John 15:5)

Additional Notes: 

“…in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you.”

Luke 10:20

Jesus told his disciples, not to rejoice in successful service. 

Never court anything other than the approval of God. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Our work as His disciples is not salvation ~ that’s His job!

Our work is to disciple lives until they are wholly yielded to God!  (Matthew 28:19-20)

Discipleship carries an “if”!

~Not everyone you spend energy on will become yielded, but they need to know the options.

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LETTER FROM JESUS ABOUT CHRISTMAS

Letter from Jesus about Christmas --
 
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking My Name out of the season. 

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate My birth, just GET ALONG - AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
 
Now, having said that, let Me go on ... If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting My birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all My followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square, because there would be many of them all around town.
 
Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree, instead of a Christmas tree. It was I Who made all trees. You can remember Me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining Who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1-8.
 
If you want to give Me a present in remembrance of My birth, here is my wish list. Choose something from it:
 
1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way My birthday is being celebrated, write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know - they tell Me all the time.
 
2. Visit someone in a nursing home. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
 
3. Instead of writing the President complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sent out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family this year. 
 
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of My birth, and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.
 
5. Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
 
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take his own life this season because he feels so alone and hopeless?  Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
 
7. Instead of nit-picking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas," that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then  - stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day, they'd close and let their employees spend the day with their families and My Family in My house.
 
8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary-- especially one who takes My love and Good News to those who have never heard My Name.
 
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in Me, and they will make the delivery for you.
 
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to Me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in My presence . Let people know by your actions that you are one of Mine.
 
Don't forget; I am God and can take care of Myself. Just love Me and do what I have told you to do every day not just at Christmas. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love, and remember :

I LOVE YOU,

JESUS

GOD'S STORY

GOD’S STORY

GOD CREATES A WORLD

Genesis 1-3

GOD CHOOSES A PEOPLE

Genesis 12-15

GOD DELIVERS HIS PEOPLE

Exodus 3, 12 & 14

GOD INSTRUCTS HIS PEOPLE

Exodus 20 & 24

GOD DWELLS AMONG HIS PEOPLE

Exodus 26, 29-40

GOD ESTABLISHES A KINGDOM FOR HIS PEOPLE

2 Samuel 8

GOD DISCIPLINES HIS PEOPLE

2 Kings 17

GOD RESTORES HIS PEOPLE

Ezra 1, Nehemiah 8, Jeremiah 29

GOD PROMISES THE MESSIAH

Isaiah 53

GOD SENDS HIS SON

Matthew 4, John 1

GOD REDEEMS THE WORLD FROM SIN

Mark 15-16, I Corinthians 15

GOD CHOOSES A BRIDE

Luke 24, Acts 1

GOD’S FAMILY LIVES FOREVER!

John 14, Revelation 21-22

God created His world and the people in it to be in relationship with Him.  His heart’s desire is for His people/children to live with a constant awareness of His Love and Presence in their lives by giving Him glory…so that the world may know!

THE TRAGEDY AND ENERGY OF GOD

November 26, 2016

THE CROSS represents the tragedy of God.  It is Himself clothed in flesh making the Ultimate Sacrifice for His created beings; to put to death SIN!   Taking on that which is the very thing that is opposed to Him…that which is His ENEMY!

The Tragedy is that ALMIGHTY GOD desired a Being, if given the choice to choose Him, would choose Him.  In His foreknowledge, He created that Being knowing that he would not choose Him, so that He could FREE them from the results of their choice, and give those who did receive and believe THE TRUTH, a NEW LIFE, Forever free of THE LIE and THE LIAR!

The Energy of God is released in The Cross because it was the place of ATONEMENT – The Place where the penalty of SIN, which is Death that separates from God, was PAID by GOD’S SON born into Flesh so that He could buy us back!  What made it tragic is that God HAD to take on His own Creation so that He could have PURE HOLY BLOOD to give!  HE was the ONLY ONE who could do that.

The sacrificial system of the shedding of blood in remission of sin was set up so that mankind could have a means of living without the guilt of sin and receive Grace …for forgiveness…until the PERFECT SACRIFICIAL LAMB OF GOD was born and give HIS LIFE BLOOD in Remission of Mankind’s SIN and give Mankind Freedom to choose again!  

God made the first sacrifice by shedding the life blood in killing animals and making clothes of skin to cover Adam & Eve’s shame, for they saw that they were naked.  *Before sin they didn’t see that because they were innocent and pure; now their eyes were opened and they saw each other differently; in the lust of the flesh!

In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve (who represent all of Mankind) made the initial choice by listening to the lies and deception of God’s Enemy who initiated SIN, and brought SIN into God’s Perfect Creation.  As a result Death began and they were separated from the place God had made for them to commune with Him and have life Forever; because in the middle of the Garden was the Tree of Life which they could have freely eaten from and lived Forever in the Garden with God.  God had to send them out of the Garden and protect them from eating of the Tree of Life and living Forever in the fallen sinful life they had chosen. 

When Adam, Eve and the Serpent received the Curse from God for their decisions, God said that the seed of the Serpent and the Seed of the woman would be in conflict.  God gave the Promise of a Redeemer to come Who would crush the head of the Serpent Satan.

The Cross was the crushing of the head of the Serpent Satan… Mankind has been redeemed!

“For He hath made Him to be sin for us,

who knew no sin;

that we might be made

the righteousness of God

in Him.”   

(2 Corinthians 5:21)

The Energy of God is released in The Cross because it was the place of ATONEMENT – the Place where the penalty of SIN was PAID by GOD’S SON.  Once the debt was paid The Energy of God surfaced in the RESURRECTION of Jesus Christ from the Dead!  

THE CROSS & PREACHING/TEACHING

November 25, 2016 

The history of the Cross, from the Bible point of view, is more important than all the empires of the world. Oswald Chambers

Galatians 6:14 – “But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The foolishness of the Cross and preaching

1 Corinthians 1:18-21  “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God…the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”

The knowledge about the Cross may be very interesting but it has no power; it does not convey the energy of God to man.  But, preach the Cross and the energy of God is let loose! 

1 Corinthians 1:23–25   “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness.  But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.  Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

For you see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:  But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; and base things of the world and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:  That no flesh should glory in his presence. (So that we can’t say we know it or we are strong!)

But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:  That according as it is written, He that glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

DISTRACTIONS OF THE MIND FROM GOD

November 23, 2016

“Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy upon us; for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.”

Psalm 123:3

Tempers of mind that distracts us from faith in God and distracts our attention from God.  The enemy that penetrates right into the soul and distracts the mind from God.  Our confidence in the flesh and in human ingenuity begins to rule.

#1 ~  “the cares of the world and deceitfulness of riches”

 (Matthew 13:22) the weeds that choke out The Word!   There seems to be an enormous power in simple things that distract from God!  Refuse them!  They are the things that produce a wrong temper of soul.  Things that consume our time that does not glorify God!  “Whether we eat or drink or whatsoever we do; do it all to the glory of God.”  I. Cor. 10:31

Things that sap our Vine life and cause us to become unfruitful! It is caused by unbelief and it is a dangerous condition!  John 15:2

#2 ~ the lust of vindication – “I must explain myself.  I must get others to understand.”  The Lord never explained anything; He left mistakes to correct themselves!  “…the tree is known by its fruit…For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned!”  (Matthew 12:33,37)

“O Lord, deliver me from this lust of always vindicating myself.”

#3 ~ criticism – when we allow discernment to turn to criticism.  God never gives us discernment that we may criticize, but that we may INTERCEDE!

Intercession is seeking God’s heart about the person or subject!  Never abuse prayer by sharing a request as means to criticize…even if it’s the truth!

Holy Spirit, You are with me always to be my Helper so that I will not fear what man may say!  Help me, Lord.  Forgive me for allowing distractions from spending time in Your Word, from spending time in Prayer interceding for others, from thinking I must explain and justify my words and actions.  Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me – Your Spirit; so that, in ALL things I may glorify and bring pleasure to The Father.  Amen

THE CHURCH AND IT'S MESSAGE

OCTOBER 2, 2016 ~ TODAY WAS A VERY SPECIAL DAY AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH NASHVILLE, GEORGIA ~ THE CHURCH IS 164 YEARS OLD & THE MAGNIFICENT SANCTUARY IS 100 YEARS OLD! IT WAS A REALLY WOW DAY!

The former Pastor of FBC Nashville, Bro. Stanley Luke brought a great message to the congregation entitled "The Church and It's Message!" from focal Scripture in Luke 24:44-49.  Here's some of my notes that inspired me:

*The church today is in trouble because we have an identity problem - Who God is and who we are because of Who He is. Hundreds of Southern Baptist Churches (and others) are closing their doors! What is wrong?

In this Scripture passage, Jesus is speaking to his disciples between His Resurrection and Ascension, and He is defining to them "who the Church is."

Why are we still stumbling and the message not clear? We, as Christians have been on this planet longer than any people!

The ONLY person who ever ascended to Heaven is Jesus and we ought to hear what He had to say before leaving.  Verse 44 says He opened their eyes to the Scripture. Every Christian is to be a preacher (proclaimer)! Understanding comes from Scripture. We need to know what we believe!

Bro. Stanley quoted his son-in-law who made this statement: "The future of the Church is in the lost people not reached yet!"   *Think about it!

We don't need to see different colors and nationalities, we need to see people as saved or unsaved!

We've got to take the whole Word of God to the whole world. The Devil will do everything to distract the Church and keep them distracted from The Word of God!

*Verse 47 gives the substance of the message of the Church.

Repentance and remission of sins should take place…and be preached among the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

THE MESSAGE:  The Savior has come!

EVERY Christian is to be a Witness in His Name.

Everything that Christian leadership does in the Church is to declare Jesus Christ; and our vision should be to reach this city and county for Jesus…we should be breathing Jesus Christ!  Something’s wrong when we don’t have that objective!

*The Scope of the Church and Message – beginning at Jerusalem.  Nashville, Ga. and Berrien County is our Jerusalem.  Refer to Acts 1:8 and Luke 24:48 ~ “ye are witnesses.”  How does that apply to us today?  In John 17 Jesus says we are the product of his disciples witness, and so will be those who believe because of our witness.

Verse 49 – The Promise gives power from on high.  Refer back to Acts 1:8  “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We don’t have to leave America to go to the ends of the earth, they are coming to us!  We should see the opportunity to tell them about Jesus Christ.

Do you think FBC Nashville could die?  Yes!  When it stops telling the Good News of Jesus Christ!

We should ALL be missionaries on mission as we go about everyday!