Have you praised Him today? Have you thanked Him?
When my son thanks me for buying him something, it gives me so much joy I just want to give him more.
We being in His image… think about it. Get your Father’s attention this day. Thank Him for waking up, thank Him that your heart is beating, thank Him for the car starting up- and if the car didn’t start up- thank Him for all the days it did.
This is a short one- but I’m just in the mood to thank Him. With every breath praise ye the Lord!
So how is life currently looking?
Are you above or beneath? Are you the head or the tail? Are you the lender or the borrower?
If your apart of the colony of the kingdom then you’re supposed to be above, the head, and lenders only… ONLY!
So- if you’re in the kingdom and you’re not above, the head and lenders only- Get ready for change- because your status is illegal in the kingdom so something has to change.
If you don’t expect that- don’t expect anything to change. If you expect to be broke, enjoy being broke. You activate your faith for what you believe. But my prayer is
“LORD, LET THY KINGDOM COME, LET THY WILL BE DONE- ON EARTH– JUST AS IT IS IN HEAVEN- THROUGH ME AND IN MY LIFE.”
Our number one concern in life should be the kingdom of Heaven. After all the bible says seek ye first… (Matthew 6:33)
God’s original plan was to inhabit the earth with his children and impact the world through us so that the earth becomes just like Heaven. (Please see the Lord’s Prayer for proof of this)
So God created all of us with a purpose, a work, a gift that we are supposed to serve the earth with. After all He creates everything with a purpose. However a lot of the time we get sidetracked with the cares of this world instead of the purpose of God. We get caught up in its affairs and lose vision of the original intent. When we do this we end up putting more faith in the normal outcomes of this world than the results the kingdom culture promises. We wind up putting more faith in things sustaining us than God. Take a look at what God showed me the other day- this blew me away when I read it.
John 12
3) Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
4) Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him,
5) Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?
6) This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
I have read through these verses so many times but never looked at this verse this way and will never see it the same again. Jesus and His disciples knew that Judas was a thief. They knew he stole, they knew he was dishonest, and Jesus knew because of Judas’s heart that he would betray Him… yet Jesus allowed him to stay. Not only that but they allowed Judas to ‘keep the bag’. He kept the bag with the money box, and their belongings! Judas… the thief… held the money!
You never see a dispute in the bible between Judas and Jesus over missing money or belongings. You never see Jesus distraught because Jesus and the other disciples couldn’t eat or provide themselves with provisions because of missing valuables. The stuff in the bag did not sustain them, nor does the lack of stuff in the bag hinder His purpose. And there is our problem.
We get so involved with the work of getting the resources to carry out purpose that we never get to purpose. We’re hindered by the contents of the bag, or lack there of, that we never start the work. Our priorities are out of order. Remember “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these other things I will add unto you.” What a promise! But we fail to grasp the understanding.
Jesus asked the disciples a question one time “Why do you worry what you will eat or what you will wear?- the Father knows you have need of these things.” Quit worrying about where the resources are going to come from and be focused on the purpose. God will provide the resources for His will EVERYTIME! David said ‘I have never seen the righteous forsaken nor His seed begging bread.” He is a faithful God who provides for His people and is committed to seeing His will carried out in the earth. But when we seek the other things first… we are out of order and God can’t bless disorder. He created this law and wants us to line up with it so we can see the kingdom manifest in our lives. We are confused sometimes by God and His ways. We act like God is surprised or caught off guard by what’s in the bag. (Wallet, Bank Account, Net Worth, Current Resources, Current Position, Current Status) God says “You are about to get promoted” and you were just fired- “I am giving you a helpmate in life”- and you just separated from your girlfriend or boyfriend. God says “It’s time to start a business”- and you’re broke. God sees which kingdom we trust in more- the kingdom of God or the kingdom of man.
This is so important for everyone to hear- please read this next part carefully. Your purpose is not tied to things. Your purpose is not tied to resources. Your lack of abilities and skills has nothing to do with your purpose- it can’t keep you from your purpose. The enemy gets us so involved with what’s in the bag that we look to the bag as a sign of who we are in life. We look to the bag wanting God to fill the bag instead of looking to God. The bag has limits, the bag has a maximum capacity- the bag cannot hold what you need to carry out God’s purpose so quit looking in the bag for a sign of God’s will. Seek the kingdom first and the rest will be added. Get to work on the purpose and the provisions will be provided. God is not concerned with where you were or what you have. Moses was a prince in Egypt, but after fleeing from Egypt He become a keeper of his father in laws herd’s. You never hear Moses saying “What? But I was a prince in Egypt.” God was taking him through a process to train him- by leading the herd’s he was preparing him to lead the children of Israel. Moses did not lose his purpose when he become an employee of his father in law- it was just a part of the plan. Oh how many times we wind up getting stuck in a phase of God’s plan thinking it’s the end of it. It’s just a phase, a season.
Jesus was never worried that Judas would steal something that would keep Him from His purpose. He was never worried that because of Judas’s character that they would be without. Jesus never looked to the bag as the source. The contents of the bag did not sustain them, the Father in Heaven did. IN FACT the very one the enemy would use to hinder Jesus would be a tool to elevate Him and actually be a tool in fulfilling His purpose.
I prophecy to you that the very people that the enemy would use for destruction God will use to bring out His purpose in you. The very ones who try to hold you down will be the ones God uses to push you higher. They will not realize that they are pushing you to the next level but remember it’s not about them but about God’s purpose. God will exalt you, not by going around the storm, but by going through it. The storm, the enemy, is the door to God’s purpose. Remember God has allowed this to come against you and so it has been ordained to lift you higher. Praise God! David could testify of this- that sheppard’s cannot become king’s without their Goliath’s.
Just remember it’s not about the resources in the bag, but about your source in Heaven. The Father will provide and sustain His people. He will add unto those who seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Amen!
In this lesson we study when the bible says the kingdom will come. Is the kingdom now? Where is the kingdom? We also take a look at the prodigal son parable. Who are you? Are you the prodigal son who has returned and received gladly what your father has given you? Or are you the religious elder son who has been saved a long time but never takes on the purpose your father meant for you to have?
Are you caught off guard when the power bill arrives every month? Not because of the bill itself, but just because the power company sent you one?
Are you surprised by Christmas just showing up?
No. We expect to receive bills for our utilities- and we know that Christmas is on December 25th every year. We expect it.
However we seem surprised every time a trial hits our lives. Like we just totally didn’t expect it. I mean what is a trial doing, showing up, in our lives when we serve God?
We love to claim the good things in the bible- blessings, favor, overcoming…
But in order to have blessings you have to have went through rough storms, in order to have favor you had to have been at the bottom. How could you recognize overcoming if there wasn’t something to overcome?
We claim the good- but we skip over the parts in the bible that tell us to be prepared for the trials. Jesus said ‘you shall suffer persecution’. Why do we think we are exempt? Why are we surprised by attacks of the enemy.
It would be like getting my paycheck and spending every bit of it- and then be surprised when bills show up at my house and I say “Where did these come from? How am I going to pay these?”
We cannot be ignorant of satan’s devices. We have to know that trials will come. We have to be prepared for the storms that will hit. But there is good news in a storm’s arrival. It means it’s testing time. It means God sees you are ready for the next level- and you only get to the next level by way of an enemy or a trial. -Don’t focus on the perilous sea, Peter!-
Realize that these times must happen- but you are GUARANTEED to win! You are guaranteed to overcome. There is a parable which most should know. Two men built houses, one on the sand, one on a rock. The same storm hit both homes- the same rains came down upon them, the same winds blew against their homes- but only one stood. That is the guarantee we have. If we build upon the foundation of God’s word, we can ‘outlast’ any storm or trial.
We worry when we doubt God’s promises. We expect thing’s not to change- and so we are caught unaware- and we suffer for it. If we prepare our self with prayer, the Word, and good management in our lives- then we will be ready when bad times come. We will see an increase when others are barely keeping their heads above water or sinking.
God and His word are the only constant in life. God will not change, and His word will not change. So don’t hold onto comfortable places or positions in life- they WILL change. It is inevitable that change will come. Your life will change. Your job situation will change. Your friends will change. Your family will change. Your finances will change. This is all for the good and the bad.
Enjoy the good times and stock up during them for the bad that will come. In the bad times don’t fret, after all you should have known it was going to come, the good thing is it’s guaranteed to go. Everything changes. Praise God it changes. If we hold onto material, earthly things because we think it’s ours forever we are going to be distraught when that stuff leaves us. But if we live in the kingdom everyday- then everything we have belongs to the King. Even the time belongs to the Lord. The place in our life is His and He does not change. I can still trust His word in the midst of every battle. I can still trust Him when everything is stacked against me. So if finances begin to dwindle, but I have been managing correctly, it’s OK. Because He owns that too. He’s allowing that time to hit, that storm to come my way. But I will get promotion on the other side, an increase when I make it through- I am guaranteed to come out of the situation. It’s just a season. It’s temporary.
He’s the God of change- but He Himself will not change- so all I need is His word. His promises. Him. After all He IS everything. He is the I AM.
Be thankful for the promise of change.
Who are you supposed to be?
What’s keeping you from becoming?
What’s stopping you from being?
Sometimes we think people decide who we are, or at least we act that way. We don’t take risk because of the fear of criticism. Because if we fail at trying, then maybe it would mean we are not who we thought we were. But that’s not true.
The enemy doesn’t want you to realize who you are. If you realize then you might discover something that would save millions of lives and that would be more purposes that could be fulfilled. You might discover some new way to grow crops that is healthy and causes people to live longer lives and the devil would have to deal with them on the earth that much longer. But being successful is the product of many failures. It’s diligence and perseverance that brings the fruit. Look at this scripture the Lord brought to me this morning.
1 Corinthians 2:8
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
If they had known who He was they would not have treated Him the way they did.
So don’t worry about those around you- what they say, or how they treat you. If they knew what you were going to become they wouldn’t do it. If they knew who you were they’d follow you for the leader that you are going to become. Jesus didn’t let them persuade Him. He knew who He was and what He was here to do. Find out your purpose- you have one! We all do.
So I challenge you- seek purpose everyday until you find it. Then once you have vision, TAKE IT! You might have to hear some things you don’t want to hear, you may have to push on even though the balance is tipped against you- but be diligent.
When the odds seems against you, your coworkers are negative, or even if family and friends seem doubtful, just remind yourself with this saying-
“It’s OK, If they only knew who I was… -But they’ll find out”
I know it’s a simple title, but it is something we really need to realize whether we give enough attention to or not. Let’s look at some definitions.
These definitions come from Dictionary.Com
I really love the second one- “the cultivation of a particular branch of learning.”
A farmer will cultivate his crops in order to promote growth in them. He will give much labor and attention to them in order to get the best result. Can you say you cultivate your self for the kingdom? Do you give much attention to who you are supposed to become?
You know I’ve never met a wealthy person who got rich by being lazy.
Proverbs 10:4
Lazy hands make a man poor,
but diligent hands bring wealth.
Do you think “Being wealthy is ungodly!”. That’s not what God says. It’s in the bible! So this scripture needs to be looked at two ways: Physical wealth (money, property, assets)- and most importantly mental wealth (knowledge, wisdom, understanding).
Remember lazy hands make you poor -in every area- but diligent hands bring wealth -in every area-. If you are diligent in your studying you are GUARANTEED to be wealthy, and not because God likes you… Think about that. You are guaranteed to be wealthy because it’s God’s word and remember a king is bound by his decrees.
God spoke these things for our benefit, but so many times we choose to let them work against us. How? By being lazy. Waiting for God to do a miracle. Expecting God just to MAKE you smart, make you intelligent, make you rich. That’s not what God said in his word. Where do we get these concepts?
Read God’s word, study it, and make it work for you. Citizens know the laws and benefits their country provides- yet we choose to ignore the laws of the kingdom of God which are the most rewarding benefits any country has ever provided for any citizen ever! So study-study-study! Cultivate your mind with knowledge of God’s word.
God will reward those that diligently seek Him. He will reward your efforts of diligence in every area of life if you understand this concept and put it into practice. You will ‘do a little thing for a long time’ and then BOOM! God comes gives you a supernatural increase in that area of study. We’ve all had it happen. We’ve worked hard at something and then all of a sudden we get a boost in a short period of time that reaps more results then all the work we had done up to that point. That’s called a Breakthrough! Remember- one plants, one waters, and God gives the increase. He’ll give you an increase in your job knowledge, your skill of expertise, your business, your relationships- everything! You just have to show you mean business and put forth effort. God will give you such an abundant increase because He wants people to see you and see what it’s like to be in His kingdom. God wants His citizens to represent what it’s like to be in the kingdom of God.
Study – Study – Study – Cultivate – Cultivate – Cultivate and watch the Lord work!
You were born for a purpose. You were created in the image and likeness of the Father in heaven for a reason. God created you with the intent on making you a ruler on earth. You were born to dominate the earth. So why are we letting life dominate us? Why do we continue to live in sin? We are out of order. It’s time to return to the natural order of things. The way God originally made it. The way He originally intended for things to be. Ruling under His authority. Carrying out His will. Return to the Creator’s natural order for your life!
What if we were concerned more about our relationship with God than our relationship with people? We seem to have this backward most of the time. We spend hours with people and very little with God.
If we looked at the kingdom for what it is, the government of Heaven, than we would want to stay in right standing with our home government. We would want to keep our relationship with the government healthy. After all if you are not getting your intelligence daily from the government- what do you know?
We are after all ambassadors for Christ…
(Definition from Dictionary.com)
1.) the state or quality of being earlier in time, occurrence, etc.
2.) the right to precede others in order, rank, privilege, etc.; precedence.
3.) the right to take precedence in obtaining certain supplies, services, facilities, etc., esp. during a shortage.
4.) something given special attention.
–adjective
5.) highest or higher in importance, rank, privilege, etc.: a priority task.
Take a look at these definitions for the word priority. Now ask yourself…
Is God your priority, first thing, every day or do you put everything else ahead of spending time with him because “you’re just too busy”?
Well with our refreshed understanding of the word “priority” let’s take a test and see.
Is the occurrence of prayer the first thing on your agenda?
Does God precede all other people, events, and order in your life or do you ever say “I will pray later”…?
Would the Lord say you rank him first in your life? (*Remember- not because you ‘say so’ but by your actions, attitude, and by example)
Does God take precedence in your giving, thoughts, and ways? (*Basically do you discuss with God the plan for distribution and use of resources He has provided you? [money, house, land, personal property])
I love this one
Does God receive special attention each day from you? (Do you carefully strive to be in his will and favor even if it goes against your own?)
Is God of the highest importance each day of your life?
Well how did you do?
I’m looking at these myself and saying ‘Ouch!’ on a few.
If you run a business there are things you do to make sure you are running it well.
-You arrive early in order to make sure everything is clean and in order.
-You make sure the business is ready for production of goods or services as soon as the customer shows up.
-You make sure you are present when the customer walks in the door and ready to serve.
-You make sure to keep good accounting of the business financial records.
-You make sure to keep good inventory of your resources to run the business efficiently and effectively.
After all, if the customer is not pleased with your service, there is no reason for you bothering even to come in. Why would they want to use you as a vendor if your business is dirty, you do terrible upkeep, your goods or services are mediocre, you never open the door on time, you treat them like a bother, and you don’t keep anything in stock they can use? And you want them to reward you with their money?
Let’s look at another perspective…
Jesus is a king. Get religion out of your ahead. Religion let’s you fluctuate your level of service based on your emotions, how you feel, or what kind of day you have had. If He is king- then what gift are you bringing Him each day? Are you bringing Him an offering first, or a basketful of complaints? Sometimes we treat God like that only, a complaint department. A complaint department is a place we really dislike going, we feel we should not have to be there because the product -(life)- should have worked the way we thought it should, and we only finally go there out of last resort because we can’t deal with the problem any longer.
So here we are. Coming to God to pray -(complain)- about your life and God is thinking “I did not know they even came to this place.”
You ever lost a receipt and ‘thought’ you bought something from a store but after going to that business they scan the tag and tell you it did not come from there? Many times we blame God for our product… life.
But God says “I didn’t produce this. This has your brand on it- not mine. Oh and by the way I see the evidence of some horrible material in your design of the product” Who do you get your material from?” Hmmmm…
When we realize that Jesus is a king, and he is from a country (heaven), and heaven is a government -(kingdom)- then we will finally understand you cannot come to God and blame Him for a product He had no business with. It’s time to make a change in your day. It’s time for a reconfiguration of priorities. It’s time to put first things first. After all we plan then design, we discuss then implement, we get the blue prints then follow them.
God wants to put you at the head of everything you are involved with. He wants to establish you at the top of every field in life. He wants to assign you as the leader in each profession on the earth. But He only uses those that are good representatives of the kingdom. After all it’s His kingdom that is being represented through you. Are you a good representative of the kingdom? If you are taking on the role as an ambassador for Christ – are you fulfilling your reasonable duty and service with the up most standards and quality? or are you an example of an official who should be recalled?
I want to stay in right standing with my government.-(heaven)- I want to keep the lines of communication clear.-(prayer)- I want the government to be happy with my work.-(favor)- I want to have access to all of the benefits my government provides.-(covenant)-
I’ve got to keep first things first.
