Seek ye first the kingdom of God...
@panamakent
When I was broken, without hope, defeated and given up for dead - I called out to Jesus. I said "If you are real, and you love me, I need you Jesus!"
We had a very full conversation after His Holy Spirit arrived to my room. I had a lot of questions.
I will make another post when the time is right and detail my encounter with Christ Jesus, which lasted for what seemed longer, but was a solid 30-45 minutes. It literally changed me, my life and everything. Hallelujah!
One critical instruction that He gave me was to put Him first. To get my spirit lined up with Him first thing after waking up. To start the day off thankful - even for the smallest things. The world, Satan and his children on earth are all working diligently against Christ and His kingdom - against us Who believe. We can't be successful in our own strength or wisdom. We need Jesus' Holy Spirit and truth.
So here I will share, weekdays and time permitting on weekends, my Faith Devotional (Dennis Burke Ministries) that I read before I dive into anything else. I will accompany it with one Chapter (King James Version) from the Word of God.
I hope it blesses you, too. PK @panamakent
Monday, July 16, 2018
Your God-Given Assignment
There is no lasting satisfaction in accomplishing anything outside of ideas inspired by God. The only means of accomplishing the desires and goals most important in human life is through establishing a relationship with God as He originally intended it.
Diligence is an inward attitude expressed first in a deep desire for intimate relationship with God. Then it works its way out into the activity of serving others.
This kind of inward longing to know God more intimately never stops. The deeper our fellowship with the Lord, the deeper we long to know Him.
There are many people who outwardly have all the appearance of diligence, yet who are inwardly starved and stagnant in their relationship with the Lord. Such people have not been diligent with what they have received from God. The Lord does not bless slothfulness, but rather He rewards diligence.
Shortly before Jesus was to be taken away and crucified, He began teaching the disciples about the responsibilities that would be placed on them after He had ascended to the right hand of God the Father.
In the parable of the talents from Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus gave a clear illustration of His attitude toward the diligent as well as the slothful.
In this parable, a man set out on a journey and gave three servants talents according to his ability—five talents to one servant, two to a second servant, and one to a third servant. The first servant invested his talents and doubled his investment. The servant with two talents also doubled his investment. But the servant with one talent hid it in the ground.
When the master settled accounts with his servants, he praised both of the servants who doubled their talents. But he rebuked the servant who hid his talent and took it away from him and gave it to the servant with ten talents.
We can clearly identify the "man" who set out on a journey, leaving behind certain assets in the hands of his servants. The "man" in this parable represents God. The servants are the disciples who would be entrusted with the man's goods. God would entrust to these disciples, as He has to us, His very life and nature. That nature of super-energized life that has been deposited in our spirits is the "talent." The decision to entrust different amounts to each servant was determined by the "man," based upon his knowledge of the individual servant.
God gives individual assignments to us based upon His knowledge of us. He never asks anyone to do anything that cannot be realistically accomplished.
If we are trying to do something so far-out that it is beyond our capacity in God to complete, we had better re-evaluate our assignment to make certain it is really from God.
Through this parable, God reveals to us that He is a Creator Who has not stopped creating. However, now He has called us to become co-creators with Him. But to fulfill the assignment God has given each of us, we cannot neglect the life and nature of God that has been deposited in our hearts.
Matthew Chapter 25
25 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, Give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, Not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord's money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:
33 And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.
34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?
45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
Friday, July 13, 2018
Harvest Belongs To You
When we are a sower, we qualify as a reaper. It is time for the reapers to cry out to receive what belongs to them. It is time for us to receive what belongs to us.
James 5:3 says that the rich "...have heaped together treasure for the last days" (AMP). Proverbs 13:22 says, "But the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous." Wealth is made to be handled by the righteous. We can begin to apply this to the sowing we have done over the years.
Harvest does not come out of the field on its own. We must bring the harvest into the barns. When the reapers cry out, something different begins to happen. The seed sown, the wages withheld, and the increase that is due begins to witness to the Father God that harvest must come into the reapers' hands.
Our enemy will steal from us and hold our goods as long as we allow. We are the ones who can cry out to the Lord of the harvest and begin to reap where we have sown.
Galatians 6:7 tells us how far-reaching this sowing and reaping can go: "A man's harvest in life will depend entirely on what he sows" (Phillips). Every aspect of life is affected by the seed we sow.
We can begin to harvest in every possible area if we will sow, determine to reap, and not tolerate our enemy stealing our harvest.
Some do not receive their harvest because they do not sow. But to be a reaper something must first be sown. Some do not receive because they leave their increase in the field. We must put in the sickle and reap. There is power in a decision. When we decide to press in and receive our harvest, there is power released to receive. Reaping is not automatic. Mark 4:27-29 tells how the sower sows:
"...and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. For the earth yields crops by itself; first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come" (NKJV).
We may not know how God will cause our harvest to come, but He makes our seed grow, and we put in the sickle to reap. We must lay claim to our harvest with the words of our mouth. Declare that harvest is ours. We have sown the seed and the harvest is ours for the reaping. We must stir ourselves up to receive it.
Mark Chapter 4
4 And he began again to teach by the sea side: and there was gathered unto him a great multitude, so that he entered into a ship, and sat in the sea; and the whole multitude was by the sea on the land.
2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine,
3 Hearken; Behold, there went out a sower to sow:
4 And it came to pass, as he sowed, some fell by the way side, and the fowls of the air came and devoured it up.
5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth:
6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away.
7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit.
8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred.
9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.
10 And when he was alone, they that were about him with the twelve asked of him the parable.
11 And he said unto them, Unto you it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables:
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.
13 And he said unto them, Know ye not this parable? and how then will ye know all parables?
14 The sower soweth the word.
15 And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.
16 And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.
18 And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word,
19 And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.
20 And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.
21 And he said unto them, Is a candle brought to be put under a bushel, or under a bed? and not to be set on a candlestick?
22 For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad.
23 If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.
24 And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
25 For he that hath, to him shall be given: and he that hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he hath.
26 And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground;
27 And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how.
28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.
29 But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.
30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
33 And with many such parables spake he the word unto them, as they were able to hear it.
34 But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things to his disciples.
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Restore What's Been Stolen
The most abundant harvest the world has ever seen is in the fields right now. It's time for us to lay claim to our harvest. This is the time we can discover how to reap all that we have sown and see the multiplying impact of God's laws for harvest. It is time to put in the sickle and reap abundantly.
First we must understand what this harvest is all about. The biblical principle of harvest primarily refers to people knowing Jesus and becoming His disciples. But there are other aspects of harvest, and those who reap will be those who understand the rules for reaping. One of the basic conditions for reaping is that if we sow, we can reap.
The problem is that many times people are sowing their seeds with their tithes and offerings, but they are not reaping. To see the increase become a reality, we must allow the same Word that stirs us up to sow to also stir us up to reap.
We must understand how to sow in faith and reap in faith as well. Proverbs 8:21 says, "That I may cause those who love me to inherit wealth, that I may fill their treasuries" (NKJV).
God's desire is clear; He wants us to increase in wealth. His way to our increase is through His wisdom, and His way to wisdom is through His Word. By walking in it, we find the wisdom to bring wealth and increase into our lives.
According to God's Word, we are to reap things which we have been defrauded from us—things withheld from our possession. James 5:1-4 gives an open rebuke to those who are rich whose priorities are ungodly:
"Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days.
"Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth" (NJKV).
Notice what is crying out: the wages that are not paid. Money cries out! When we have earned wages and are not paid those wages, the money is still ours. Though it is not in our hands, it is part of our harvest and it cries out.
The laws of God recognize what should have come to us but was withheld from us. That money owed us becomes a witness against whoever holds it wrongfully.
Part of our personal harvest is the money and things that have been kept back from us by the kingdom of darkness. The seed we have sown in the Kingdom of God that has not brought increase is still our seed, and the harvest remains ours. It is time to get our harvest out of the grasp of the enemy and into our hands.
If we have been defrauded, it may feel like we have been beaten. But even the courts of the land are not our final word. We have the High Court in Heaven and our Heavenly Father as the Judge. The money itself is a witness in that court. We can still win and see God restore anything that has been defrauded from us.
James Chapter 5
5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you.
2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.
3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
4 Behold, the hire of the labourers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of sabaoth.
5 Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter.
6 Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you.
7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.
9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door.
10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.
11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
12 But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.
13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.
14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months.
18 And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth brought forth her fruit.
19 Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him;
20 Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Let Overflow Begin!
The second foundation to staying on the road to lacking nothing is demonstrated in Mark chapter 10. It is the story of the rich young ruler.
This young man was hungry for more of God in his life. He asked Jesus what he could do to inherit eternal life. When Jesus told him to keep the commandments, he said he had kept them from his youth. Then Jesus said something remarkable:
"One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me" (v. 21 NKJV).
Jesus loved this man and asked him to become one of His disciples. Just one thing remained to be learned. He must learn to be a giver. He must learn the power of giving.
The very heart of God is in giving. John 3:16 begins, "God so loved the world that He gave..." (NKJV). Giving is the central part of godly living. This man only needed to shift his priorities in this area and he would make a powerful disciple.
Jesus didn't want this man to be poor. Poverty is a curse, and God is not bringing poverty on anyone. Proverbs 19:17 says, "He who has pity on the poor lends to the Lord, and He will pay back what he has given" (NKJV). This man would have received back anything he had given. God's Word guaranteed it. But this man walked away from Jesus sad because he valued his possessions more than God.
When we embrace the power of giving, we embrace God's promise of increase for all that we give. Mark 10:29-30 says,
"Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My sake and the gospel's, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time—houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions—and in the age to come, eternal life."
To continue on the road to lacking nothing will take wisdom from God. James 1:5 says, "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (NKJV).
After James referred to lack, the first thing he indicates is the need for wisdom. If we lack wisdom, ask for it.
Wisdom is to know the real need and the right answer. Wisdom gives us the ability to accurately use knowledge. The wisest man to ever write his thoughts, Solomon, said, "Wisdom is the principal thing..." (Proverbs 4:7 KJV).
God will bring stability to us from His wisdom. Isaiah 33:6 says, "Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the Lord is His treasure" (NKJV).
God's wisdom is available to us for the asking—wisdom for any lack we face in our marriage, finances, health, or personal peace. Anything that is lacking can be brought to a place of abundance.
Jesus said He has come for this reason, "...that they may have life and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)" (John 10:10 AMP).
Overflow. That's where lack comes to an end. We were made for His overflow. It is in us and available to us now. Attack lack and let the overflow begin!
Mark Chapter 10
10 And he arose from thence, and cometh into the coasts of Judaea by the farther side of Jordan: and the people resort unto him again; and, as he was wont, he taught them again.
2 And the Pharisees came to him, and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him.
3 And he answered and said unto them, What did Moses command you?
4 And they said, Moses suffered to write a bill of divorcement, and to put her away.
5 And Jesus answered and said unto them, For the hardness of your heart he wrote you this precept.
6 But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female.
7 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife;
8 And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh.
9 What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.
10 And in the house his disciples asked him again of the same matter.
11 And he saith unto them, Whosoever shall put away his wife, and marry another, committeth adultery against her.
12 And if a woman shall put away her husband, and be married to another, she committeth adultery.
13 And they brought young children to him, that he should touch them: and his disciples rebuked those that brought them.
14 But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
16 And he took them up in his arms, put his hands upon them, and blessed them.
17 And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?
18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
19 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother.
20 And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth.
21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.
22 And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.
23 And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!
24 And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God!
25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
26 And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved?
27 And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.
28 Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee.
29 And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's,
30 But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life.
31 But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.
32 And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,
33 Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:
34 And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.
35 And James and John, the sons of Zebedee, come unto him, saying, Master, we would that thou shouldest do for us whatsoever we shall desire.
36 And he said unto them, What would ye that I should do for you?
37 They said unto him, Grant unto us that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory.
38 But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?
39 And they said unto him, We can. And Jesus said unto them, Ye shall indeed drink of the cup that I drink of; and with the baptism that I am baptized withal shall ye be baptized:
40 But to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it shall be given to them for whom it is prepared.
41 And when the ten heard it, they began to be much displeased with James and John.
42 But Jesus called them to him, and saith unto them, Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and their great ones exercise authority upon them.
43 But so shall it not be among you: but whosoever will be great among you, shall be your minister:
44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.
45 For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.
46 And they came to Jericho: and as he went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging.
47 And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou son of David, have mercy on me.
48 And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me.
49 And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth thee.
50 And he, casting away his garment, rose, and came to Jesus.
51 And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.
52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
Attack Lack
Lack on any level is an enemy.
We were not created by God to struggle with lack throughout our lives. This is seen in the way God placed Adam and Eve in a garden where every need was met. We see it in God's covenants. The knowledge of those covenants caused David, a former shepherd, to make this bold declaration: "The Lord is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack." (Psalm 23:1 AMP).
God's dream is that His family live without lack. Lack is at the opposite of the abundant life Jesus came to give us. Jesus said, "The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10 NKJV).
Yes, we do face adversity and struggles. Every trial, tribulation, or trouble has the potential of leading us into unbelief, frustration, or confusion. The way we handle these times of trouble determines our success in coming out of lack and into abundance. James 1:2-4 says,
"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (NKJV).
Now that we are in Christ, we are on a God-given course to lacking nothing. But to continue on the road to lacking nothing, we must not be distracted by the trials that arise.
Our part is to walk in Biblical principles that will empower us to attack the lack. The first vital priority toward lacking nothing is to put God and His Word first in our lives—before busyness or business. God must be first before our family, ourselves, our job, or our personal interests. Put Him first in all that we do, and He will direct us. Proverbs 3:6 in The Living Bible says, "In everything you do, put God first, and he will direct you and crown your efforts with success."
Jesus settled this issue when He dealt with Mary and Martha. Martha had invited Jesus to her home. When her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus' feet listening to His words, it upset Martha. She said to Jesus: "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40 NKJV).
Jesus answered Martha saying, "...Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (v. 41).
Martha wanted to serve the Lord, but she was distracted by many things. Her self-imposed sense of responsibility kept her from the most important thing she could have done—listen to Jesus.
Many times the greatest thing we can do is to sit down and let Jesus teach us in the depths of a quiet heart. Busyness does not mean we are accomplishing what God wants. Jesus did not come to Martha's house to eat; He came to impart something. Mary was the one who had chosen to receive what He came to give.
Let's make the decision to put God's Word first place in our lives and receive what He has come to impart to us. He will not disappoint us!
Luke Chapter 10
10 After these things the Lord appointed other seventy also, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself would come.
2 Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
3 Go your ways: behold, I send you forth as lambs among wolves.
4 Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way.
5 And into whatsoever house ye enter, first say, Peace be to this house.
6 And if the son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon it: if not, it shall turn to you again.
7 And in the same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the labourer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house.
8 And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you:
9 And heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
10 But into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you not, go your ways out into the streets of the same, and say,
11 Even the very dust of your city, which cleaveth on us, we do wipe off against you: notwithstanding be ye sure of this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh unto you.
12 But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city.
13 Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which have been done in you, they had a great while ago repented, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.
14 But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment, than for you.
15 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted to heaven, shalt be thrust down to hell.
16 He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.
17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
18 And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
19 Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight.
22 All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him.
23 And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see:
24 For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.
25 And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
26 He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?
27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.
29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.
32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.
33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?
37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.