DARE TO BE DIFFERENT

Rom. 12:2- And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The enemy has the world centered on bringing everyone into the conformity of the lusts of the flesh.  Hollywood has done more than its fair share to make this purpose more of a reality every day.  Sex and violent rule what we watch on TV, and these two things have made millionaires of those who use their imaginations to purposely titillate the desires of the flesh.  All of this is taking place at the expense of desensitizing people all around the world.  Wrong is called right, and right is called wrong!  They frowned on a professor this week that had a couple do a live sex act in front of his consenting class, but pornography is readily available for free on the Internet.  What’s the difference?

My fellow Christians, we must not conform to the ways of the world.  The Will of God is that we shun the tastelessly sinful ways of our society, and incorporate kingdom living on earth.  To be different is a great challenge.  And the way to begin the journey is to be transformed in our minds.  Our minds must be renewed by the Word of God every single day.  We are what we eat.  So, what are we eating?  Jesus said, “It is written, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matt. & Luke 4:4).  If we are to be different, to make a difference, the people of the world must see a difference between what they do, and what we do.  

REST

Matt. 11:29- Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

A yoke is a large device used around the necks of two animals so that they may plow a field together.  When a farmer yokes two animals he will make sure they are of the same species.  If a farmer yoked a bull and a mule together, the bull is obviously stronger than the mule.  This inequality will work against the mule.  The bull has the advantage.  So if the mule gets tire and decides to activate his stubbornness, the bull can pull a tired mule to his death. 

We can get eight hours of sleep, but this does not confirm that we have gotten the rest that was badly needed.  To rest is to be spiritually and mentally at peace.  The cares of this life can send our minds into the tornados of agitation.   Those who get rest are not easily aggravated, and speak from an angle that will bring the winds of confusion to a halt. The profound truth of being yoked with Jesus is that He will not drag us to our death.  Rather, He will give us rest!  However, this rest comes at the price of learning of Him.  Studying and meditating on the life of our Lord, and conforming into His image by aspiring to be everything that He is.  Give God thanks!  Put on the yoke of Christ and allow Him to share with you how to handle the different situations of your life.

THE POWER OF GOD’S FAVOR

II Cor. 12:9- And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, confessed our sins before God, believed on the finish work of the Cross, and received the Jesus Christ into our hearts through the person of the Holy Spirit, we automatically walked into the “Grace of God.”  The grace of God is God’s favor upon His children.  I consider the unsaved God’s creatures (John 5:37-40; 8:42-44), but the saved are God’s Children (John 1:12; I John 3:1-2).  God’s grace is His “undeserved favor,” which He graciously bestows on His sons and daughters.  So while the world is fearful, in a state of confusion, worried about the economy, overly concerned about world peace, etc… the people of God can rest in God’s grace and know that it is sufficient for all of our needs! 

God had to remind the Apostle Paul of the power of His grace.  When we are going through it is easy to get consumed by what is going on around us, or inside of us.  Our humanity is quick to surrender itself to the desire of our emotions, imaginations, or reasoning.  However we must walk in the Spirit and not succumb to our feelings, and think on the favor God has freely given to us!  Are you going through?  Be strong and of good courage!  Someone once said, “Favor just ain’t fair.”  So smile: God’s favor is with you.

CAN FAITH AND DOUBT CO-EXIST

Mark 9:24- And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

Imperfection is what it is until it surrenders to or is overcome by perfection.

Oh!  if we could only hush the little voices in our minds that seems to put our faith in jeopardy.  Or if the negative ones would be silent until our faith bring the thing to pass.  Unfortunately, this is the thoughts of a wishful thinker.  A faith that is not challenged must be questioned as to whether or not it is faith at all.  Our doubt will interrogate our faith; but our faith mustn’t wavier.  Faith cannot have inconsistencies in its story.  If it is asked the same question one million times, it must emphatically and relentlessly say the same thing every time: “I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:25).  There is no way to stop, shut off, or shut down thoughts of doubt; but we overcome as we continue to believe God in spite of the circulating and circumstantial evidence of doubt. 

The thing that you have asked God for—is it within His Will for you to have?  And if you are within His Will—then although you know doubt, know beyond the shadow of doubt God has worked things out in your favor.  Come hell or high water, hold on to the promises of God.  

PLANT A SEED

Zech. 8:12- For the seed shall be prosperous; the vine shall give her fruit, and the ground shall give her increase, and the heavens shall give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to possess all these things.

Planting a seed of money is a good thing.  But let’s not limit our thinking to a seed can only be money.  Most plant money because they are looking for a financial return.  But your return may be healing in your body, reconciliation with a family member, divine direction, etc… the list would be endless.  Anyway we should give out of our hearts, and not for the purpose of being financially well-off.  Jehovah Jireh will provide for our needs on the basis of motive.  If your intent is for the wrong reasons, God will know.

God loves a cheerful giver (II Cor. 9:7).  However giving of your time, effort, prayers, and encouragement is important also.  “For the seed shall be prosperous if planted out of our hearts, and not for selfish gain.  God in heaven will stamp your seed with His seal of approval and a blessing will be coming from a number of roads.  The world is charging us for land that belongs to the Lord, but God has already promise us that we shall possess all things!  So plant the seed you have purposed in your heart, with the right motives, and watch it increase.    

CLOSE THAT DOOR

Eph 4:26- Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: 27. Neither give place to the devil.

Having been a landlord at one time in my life, I know how much rights the tenants have over the owner of their building.  I promised myself and my wife that we would not return to being landlords.  She emphatically agreed!  A few tenants agitated our spirits.  When tenants do not pay their rent, the bills still have to be paid.  Many nights I went to bed angrier than a pit bull on a diet of red peppers.  The sun went down, but not the heat of my anger!  To me it was so unfair that I couldn’t put out what was agitating me.

“Whoever angers you, controls you.”  When I heard this quote in my landlord days, it made me look back in retrospect of how I handled my tenant matters.  I recognized my wrong.  I allowed my situations to control my state of being.  So along with the tenants seemingly from hell, I had rented space to the devil in my mind also!  He did a good job of bringing me evil thoughts of what I should do.  Now—although I never followed through on my ill-feelings, the fact that I entertained them was sinning nonetheless.  I asked the Lord for forgiveness and repented of my unpleasing thoughts to the Lord. 

Whatever unoccupied space we give to the enemy, he will take it!  And anger is usually the best way for him to become a squatter.  So—get angry, but do not let it fester to long.  Choose to control it, rather than it controlling you.  Close the door of your house (your body, which is the temple of God), and put up a no vacancy sign.   

BLESSED!

Ps 1:1-2: Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  2. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

There are so many thing in this world that we can take delight in.  Some of us have over two-hundred channels we can access on our television sets.  A few might even have the pleasure of watching two shows on one TV.  Many find satisfaction in their cells phones, the Internet, or any of the other thousands of gadgets available today.  Yet, is this not the enemy’s plan to keep us so preoccupied with “things” that we forget the most important thing?  Is satan not the master of deception?  Does he not believe in supply and demand for the purpose of us not focusing on the Will of God for our lives?

Hear me!  There is nothing wrong with using the electronic equipment this world has to offer.  But, does it commandeer our time?  One of the hardest things to do is to retrain our minds; especially when it is set on what it wants to do.  And some of our modern day gadgets offer so much ungodliness, we can miss our blessings because we refuse to censor what we indulge in.  The blessed man or woman delights himself more in the Word of God, than in the enjoyments of this life.  They find comfort, joy, peace, knowledge, understanding, and the wisdom of God, when focusing on the Word of God more than their fleshly desires.  Remember our Lord:  He came not to do His Will, but the Will of Him that sent him (John 6:38).  Because of his decision, He was blessed!  Make the right choices and you will be too.

THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

II Cor. 3:17- Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

The forecast for America right now is not promising at all: a weak economy, jobless rates are off the hook, states are talking about cutting essential services, policing the world is just not working out, people are losing their homes at rates never seen before, etc… paper would fail me if I listed all the other day to day thing which are going on right here in the so called “land of the free.”  While we do enjoy privileges and services other countries do not, the state of our nation is very questionable, and rightfully so!  

It is more than comforting to know that whom the Son makes free, is free indeed (John 8:36)!  Although we the believers are in this world, as it is with our Lord, we are not of this world (John 8:23).  This world is not our source, and our currency is faith and not paper money.  Our peace is not based on what we have, but to whom we belong (Phil. 4:7).  Joy is not founded in the foundation of materialistic things, but in what pleases the Lord God (Neh. 8:10).  So, walk into the presence of the Lord where the fullness of joy is (Ps. 16:11).  Bask in what delights Him and watch how your faith, trust, confidence, and dependency soar like an eagle in a storm!  Because surely!  Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.     

FOCUS ON THE GOAL

John 10:10- The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

The terrible thing about having an option is that it gives us license to give up.  So when the obstacles appear too big to overcome the logical thing to do is stop the pursuit.  However, when we look back from the future we will become greatly disappointed over the things we gave up on.  This has reaped havoc and placed an unnecessary strain on the lives of many.  Marriages, parenting, friendships, etc… have suffered or ceased to be because of one’s decision in the past to stop chasing a dream or what could have been accomplished.  

Our Lord stated his cause for coming to earth in our topical verse, and He never lost focus of His mission.  Though He was persecuted, hated, rejected, and threatened numerous times, Jesus was undeniably fixed on His intended goal.  On the cross, as horrible as the way to accomplish the mission was, the Savior would not be deterred from His purpose!

We, too, must have the same resolve if we are to reach our goals.  If our minds are not set the way our Lord’s mind was, the enemy will rob us of our purpose—kill our joy—and destroy all hopes of bright and better future.  What are you seeking to accomplish for God, yourself, your family (the body of Christ or immediate family)?  Stay focus and press towards the goal!  Phil. 3:14)       

APPOINTED AND ANOINTED

Acts 13:2- As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them.

A drunken vagabond who walked in off the street, which the ushers were to scornful of to approach, attempted to get to the front of the church but was stopped by the church deacons and rudely told to sit in the back.  Not long afterward—a well-to-do man walked in with a briefcase and was promptly escorted to the pulpit, without even showing or mentioning his credentials.  He sat by the pastor.  Little did the ushers and deacons know—they walked the devil to the podium; and sat their future pastor, the vagabond, in the back of the church.  The same vagabond was later appointed and anointed to rebuild the assembly that the briefcase toting man nearly destroyed with his deceitful practices.

When the Holy Spirit commanded that Paul and Barnabas to be separated, second only to our Lord, the greatest evangelist of all times was about to be released into the world!  Paul’s unforgettable accomplishments were successful because he was appointed and anointed for the job.  There are those who are self-appointed to certain positions in our assemblies that may be effective; but those who God appoints and anoints for a position will excel them all!

You may be appointed to do something at your church; but if you are not anointed by the Holy Spirit for the task, you are wasting your time.  Don’t be prideful!  Ask to be placed in a position or spot where you are anointed to serve God best.