“It’s For A Purpose”

‘We know that all things work together for good…’ Romans 8:28

When you know God‘s plan for your life, you won’t permit things that are contrary to it. You won’t be quick to get discouraged when situations bring conflict and disorder. You won’t become frustrated or overwhelmed by those things you can’t pray away, confess away, or speak away. Why? Because you know that if it’s in your life, and it’s not caused by disobedience, God has allowed it and He wants to use it to produce in you the nature of Jesus. ‘All things’, not some things, work together for good to those who love the Lord. You say, ‘But I can’t see any real purpose in it.’ Hold on, you will! God is building a foundation under you. He’s equipping you to handle a level of success you can’t cope with right now. Out of this pressure will come the power to do what He, not others, desires in your life. He’s teaching you in the wilderness so that when you get to the Promised Land and people become unco-operative, resentful, or jealous, you won’t be afraid to cut those unhealthy ties. He wants you to know that your help comes from the Lord, not people. Do you understand that? If you don’t, you’d better ask somebody! But don’t ask just anybody, ask the Lord. His Word says, ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know’ (Jeremiah 33:3 NKJV). Don’t be afraid to ask God, ‘Why?’ Men and women in the Scripture asked that question often. But be ready when God answers, ‘It’s for a purpose!’ Pastor E. Mutai Kenya Africa

He’s Lying

By Overseer Christopher J. Harris

 

One of the most painful things in life is to be accused of something that you’re not guilty of. It can literally be overwhelming and consume your thoughts when someone has shared untruths about you. You feel defenseless against it and all kinds of frustrations, ideas and thoughts fill your mind on how to react, what to say, and if the problem has a solution.

 

I’ve learned the hard way that if a person wants to spread lies on you, there is nothing that can over-ride lies but the truth. The truth always prevails. This must be a constant reminder for us when satan attempts to plant certain thoughts and ideas in our mind. Everything that comes from him is a lie that is far from the truth. Quite frankly, if it comes from satan, we must remind ourselves – He’s lying.

Scripture reveals his resumé and his mode of operation. He lied to Adam and Eve. He lied to Jesus Christ. And he is still lying. Because of his inability to speak truth, he hurls accusations at God’s children to get them to doubt and dismiss God’s Word, God’s promises, and God’s principles.

Our enemy’s goal is to get us to focus on our sins and become blinded by God’s forgiveness. His second goal is to tempt us to sin further. He can only do this by his lies. And very similarly, the only defeat to these lies is the truth.

The question becomes, have you equipped yourself with the truths that you need to counteract each lie that you hear, may have believed, or even created patterns around?

Very much like the child who waited for his Daddy after school while being teased by the other children whose parents had already arrived. They would yell insults to get him frustrated.

“Your pops forgot about you!”

“I thought you said your Dad loved you? He’s got you sitting out here by yourself.” 

The insults were coming so fast that the young boy started crying. And in a moment of frustration he yelled, “My daddy’s never forgotten before and he can’t start now!”Although he said it out of frustration, he actually spoke a powerful truth. He didn’t realize it, but he spoke to his father’s character and past performance. And quite naturally, he stood on that.

We would be wise to follow this young man’s example. Look to our spiritual Father’s character and past performance. In every area of our life, God’s character is solid and his past performance is glorious.

Deuteronomy 32:4 shares, “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.” Additionally, Numbers 23:19 provides this insight: “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

Both of these passages shed light on God’s ability to be trusted. He can be trusted to tell us the truth, back that truth up with promises, and get all of heaven and earth behind that truth. This good news should be our focus, while simultaneously overriding the lies from our enemy. Truly, I’d rather focus on my Father’s faithfulness, than my enemy’s lies.

Scripture Of The Day: “Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, ‘Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down.” – Revelations 12:10 (NKJV)

.http://www.ChristopherJHarris.com…

God Is For Me

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

“I will cry out to God Most High, to God who performs all things for me”
(Psalm 57:2, NKJV).

I believe in a God who performs,
Who can deliver my feet from falling
And sustain me through every calamity.
When I am afraid I will trust in Him.
He will deliver my soul in peace
From the battle that is against me.

I will call on God
And He will save me.
He will bottle my tears
And mark my every step.
When I cry to Him,
My enemies will be turned back
Because God is for me.
In Him I put my trust.
I will not fear what man can do unto me;
My heart is fixed.
I will sing and give praise;
My soul shall be satisfied.

He will bring me through fire and flood
Into a desired haven.
He will cause His face to shine upon me
And daily load me with His benefits.
His face He will not hide,
But will hear me speedily.
He will never put me to confusion,
For He has given commandment to save me—
Because God is for me.

Why God Answered David’s Prayer!

Image by CatDancing via Flickr

By David Wilkerson

[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

David tells us why God answered his prayer: “He also brought me out into a
broad [large] place; He delivered me because He delighted in me” (Psalm
18:19, NKJV).

Delight here means “to take pleasure or joy.” David was saying, “I bring
pleasure to God. He delivered me simply because He takes pleasure in me!”
And, beloved, He takes pleasure in you and me, as well!

You see, we who trust in the Lord are His holy Zion, His holy remnant. Remnant
means, simply, “those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.” They are
those who have been called out of a lazy Christendom and are totally devoted to
Jesus.

To the chosen of Zion, God says: “You shall also be a crown of glory in the
hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God. You shall no
longer be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land any more be termed Desolate; but
you shall be called Hephzibah [My delight is in her], and your land Beulah, for
the Lord delights in you” (Isaiah 62:3-4, NKJV).

Why does God come to my rescue, so willing to deliver me? It is because He
delights in me! I am a pleasure to Him and He enjoys my friendship!

A precious young man told me: “I have never been convinced that I have truly
been accepted by the Lord. I seldom feel good enough for God—like I just do
not measure up. I keep trying to appease Him by doing something good for
others.”

So many Christians feels this way! Over the years I have known many older
Christians who never had assurance in the Lord. They felt unworthy, unclean,
unloved. They never believed they were a delight to the heart of God, so they
were always trying to work out something in their lives to please Him. If they
failed in one area, they did three things in another area to try to make God
happy.

Beloved, this can never be! When you come to Jesus, you cannot make up anything
to Him. No, He makes it all up to you because that is who He is! He says, “So
I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the
crawling locust, the consuming locust, and the chewing locust, my great army
which I sent among you” (Joel 2:25, NKJV).

No matter what your failure or shortcoming, God makes it all up to you!

Does God See What I’m Going Through-Does He Care?

David Wilkerson Today

[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011] 

God asks, “Do you truly believe that I see exactly what you are enduring
right now?” Perhaps as you read this, you are going through something that
calls for Him to act on your behalf. The very nature of your problem demands an
answer.

Beloved, do you believe God monitors your every move, as a father does his
infant child? Do you know in your heart He is interpreting every thought you
think? Do you believe He is at work—bottling every tear, hearing every sigh,
hovering over you, loving and caring for you?

The Bible describes Him as doing just that!

“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their
cry . . . . The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of
all their troubles” (Psalm 34:15, 17, NKJV).

“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show
Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him” (2 Chronicles
16:9, NKJV).

Do you believe God is absolutely, totally aware of your every thought, grief,
pain, trial, financial burden, family problem—and that He wants to see you
through them all?

The psalmist tells us, “As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities
those who fear Him” (Psalm 103:13, NKJV).

The Hebrew word for pity here means “to fondle, to cuddle, love, be
compassionate.” Scripture is saying the Lord cuddles in His arms those who
fear Him. God puts His arms around you, He strokes your cheeks, He holds you.
He says, “I know your thoughts, your concerns, every battle you face and I
care!” No matter what you are going through, no matter how you feel, the Lord
sees it all! He feels the very feelings of your infirmities. He knows every move
you make—all you say and do.

God is not mad at you right now. No! He is thinking precious, cuddly, loving
thoughts about you. He knows the way you feel—and He cares! He is saying,
“Yes, you are going through a great trial; you are being tempted and tossed.
But you are My child and I will never allow the enemy to ensnare you. I am
going to bring you through!”

Does God Have The Answer To All Of My Questions?

By David Wilkerson
[May 19, 1931 – April 27, 2011]

Any believer who wishes to please God with his prayer life will have to settle
this question: “Does God have all I need? Or do I need to go elsewhere for my
answer?”

This appears to be a simple question—one that should not even need to be
asked. And most Christians would immediately answer, “Yes, of course I
believe God has all I need.” But the fact is, many are not fully convinced!

We say we believe it. We sing hymns and preach about it. But when a crisis hits
and God does not seem to answer, we do not really believe He has what we need!

Paul states: “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches
in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19, NKJV). The Lord has a storehouse
of abundance with which to meet our every need!

Why did the troubled woman in Jesus’ parable keep bothering the unjust judge,
asking him for justice? It was because she knew that he alone had the power and
authority to solve her problem. She could go to no one else (see Luke 18:1-8).

Oh, if only we had such an inner knowledge that God alone has all we need, we
would never turn in vain to any other source. The Lord is a just and holy judge
and He has all the wisdom, power and authority to solve any problem we face.

God spent forty years trying to convince Israel they would never lack
anything—that He would be their constant source and supply: “For the Lord
your God has blessed you in all the work of your hand. He knows your trudging
through this great wilderness. These forty years the Lord your God has been
with you; you have lacked nothing” (Deuteronomy 2:7, NKJV).

God was saying, “There is no scarceness, no shortage with Me. I have all you
will ever need!”

“For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land . . . in which you
will lack nothing . . . when you have eaten and are full . . .” (Deuteronomy
8:7-10, 12, NKJV).

Today, the Lord has brought us into our Promised Land—Christ! Jesus is to us
an abiding place where there is never any lack. He represents the fullness of
the godhead bodily.

The Benefits Of Struggle

“The Word For Today” with Bob Gass…

 “… that you may be… fully developed… ” – James 1:4 AMP

Overcoming obstacles is what develops in us the qualities needed to fulfil God‘s will for our lives. The truth is, it can’t happen any other way. In 2 Corinthians 1Paul spells out the benefits of going through hard times. Yes, there are actually benefits! Let’s take a moment and look at some of them.

First, ‘… so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction… ‘ (2 Corinthians 1:4 NAS). When people know you’re qualified to speak, they listen. Otherwise, they politely tune you out. Built into every problem that forces you to grow are the answers those around you need. When you can say, ‘I have been there,’ people respect you and pay attention. Experience is one of your greatest assets and God will use it. Second, ‘… that we would not trust in ourselves… ‘ (2 Corinthians 1:9NAS). Anything that causes us to turn to God and lean harder on Him is an asset, not a liability. It’s when we lose a job, a marriage, a loved one, our health or our peace of mind that we turn to God and discover what He can do. Third, ‘… that thanks may be given… ‘ (2 Corinthians 1:11 NAS). Do you remember what your life was like before you met the Lord? The Psalmist wrote, ‘He… brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock… ‘ (Psalm 40:2 NKJV). Come on, lift up your voice and begin to praise God for what He has done for you! After all, where would you be without Him? It doesn’t bear thinking about, does it?

Watch What You Say

“The Word For Today” with Bob Gass…  “Stephanas, Fortunatas, and Achaicus… have been a wonderful encouragement to me.” – 1 Corinthians 16:17-18 TLB Most of us have no idea how much other people’s emotions, self-esteem and hopes are influenced by what we say. Paul said, ‘Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus… have been a wonderful encouragement to me.’ If you’ve never heard of them, it’s because most encouragers hate being the centre of attention. They’re happy to work in a supporting role. But without them very little would get done. The opposite of giving encouragement is spreading discouragement, and Paul says, ‘Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up… that it may benefit those who listen’ (Ephesians 4:29 NIV). Jesus said, ‘… [You’ll] give account… by your words you will be justified, and… condemned’ (Matthew 12:36-37 NKJV). What you say can never be taken back, and it’ll be used as evidence for or against you one day. Dr Thomas Blackaby points out, ‘Words… can leave scars for a lifetime, and many people will never forget some of the things you’ve said to them, both good things, such as words of encouragement, and bad things, such as criticism and rebuke… Make the best possible use of words so they bring blessings on others.’ So, are your words encouraging? Can it be said that there’s ‘… nothing crooked or perverse… in them’ (Proverbs 8:8 NKJV)? Ask God to ‘Set a guard… over [your] mouth… ‘ (Psalm 141:3 NKJV) so whatever you say glorifies Him and lifts others up.

The Left-Hand Tests

The Word For Today” with Bob Gass…

 “On the left hand… I cannot see Him.” – Job 23:9 AMP

A Christian author says, ‘When our daughter was born… she learned to hold her bottle in her right hand. But when she grew older she held her cup in her left hand. To this day the hand she uses depends on what she’s trying to accomplish. She’s ambidextrous.’ Spiritually speaking, so is God! There are times He will move ‘on the left hand’ and it appears He’s not there. The Bible says, ‘… Jacob awoke from… sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it”‘ (Genesis 28:16 NKJV). That night God showed Jacob in a dream that there was more at stake than finding a wife, that he actually had a major role to play in fulfilling God’s covenant with Abraham and Isaac. What we really believe gets put under the microscope in the school of ‘left-hand tests’. For example, would your attitude be different if you knew for sure that the job, the location or the relationship you’re in right now are part of God’s comprehensive plan for your life? During his darkest hours Job said, ‘I go forward… but He is not there; I go backward… but I cannot perceive Him; on the left hand… where He works… I cannot see Him.’ When God’s working on the right hand it’s easy to see Him, but when He’s at work on the left hand and you can’t see the big picture, you can get discouraged and think He’s forgotten you. He hasn’t! It’s just that in order to accomplish certain things in your life He needs to switch hands. The bottom line is, you can trust God no matter which hand He’s working on.

It Happens to the Best of Us!

The Word For Today with Bob Gass..

“… these things happened… as examples… ” – 1 Corinthians 10:11 NKJV

A pastor was building a fence while the neighbour’s 12-year-old son watched. The pastor smiled and said, ‘Are you interested in carpentry?’ ‘No,’ the boy replied. ‘I just want to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer!’ You are the only Bible some people will ever read, and they’re watching to see how your life lines up with what you profess. Some are hoping for confirmation of the life-changing power of Jesus; others for a chance to say, ‘See, Christians are all hypocrites!’ We want to set a good example, but sometimes we fall short. And as humbling as it is to mess up, God uses those failures to ‘… [make] it clear that our… power is from [Him], not… ourselves’ (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT). God doesn’t glaze over the shortcomings of even the most notable saints. They’re ‘… all… written down so… we don’t repeat their mistakes… ‘ (1 Corinthians 10:11 TM). Abraham, the ‘friend of God’, lied about Sarah being his wife (Genesis 12:10-20). Moses, the mighty leader, got angry and disobeyed God. David, a man after God’s heart, committed adultery and then tried to cover his tracks with murder (2 Samuel 11:15). Peter, head of the church, denied Jesus not once but three times (Luke 22:54-62), and John Mark gave up and went home during a missionary trip (Acts 15:38). They’re all in there, warts and all, and Paul says, ‘… we are just as capable of messing… up as they were… ‘ (1 Corinthians 10:12 TM). So don’t get discouraged when you stumble. Admit your mistake, apologise to the people involved, ask God for forgiveness, forgive yourself, learn from what happened, and move on.