Discernment Pt.3: Is God First in Your Life or Is Your Family?

Is God First in Your Life or Is Your Family?

One of our reciprocal duties to God is our allegiance to Him. Allegiance means that nothing or no one is put before Him. There are times when the enemy will use our love for our family to pull us away from God or try to take us off the path of our destiny. We must also be aware of deception that can take place within our families and within people we have relationships with.In these last days, our allegiance to God must be clear, even if it means we stand alone. One of the best pieces of advice I ever received is to trust no man, but God only. We need our discernment to be on high alert in these times we are living in. Recognize that no member of your family is above falling into deception. Walk in love with everyone, but entrust your heart to God.

Matthew 24:9 WNT "At that time they will deliver you up to punishment and will put you to death; and you will be objects of hatred to all the nations because you are called by my name.”

Jeremiah 12:6 NIV “Your relatives, members of your own family-- even they have betrayed you; they have raised a loud cry against you. Do not trust them, though they speak well of you.”

Matthew 10:21 NLT “A brother will betray his brother to death, a father will betray his own child, and children will rebel against their parents and cause them to be killed.”

Matthew 10:34-35 “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.” “For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.”

Mark 13:12-13 NASB “Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all because of My name, but the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.”

Luke 12:51-53 NLT “Do you think I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I have come to divide people against each other! From now on families will be split apart, three in favor of me, and two against--or two in favor and three against. 'Father will be divided against son and son against father; mother against daughter and daughter against mother; and mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.'"

Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, said he to you; but his heart is not with you.”

Micah 7:5 GWT “Don't trust your neighbors. Don't have confidence in [your] friends. Keep your mouth shut even when a woman is lying in your arms. A son treats his father with contempt. A daughter rebels against her mother. A daughter-in-law rebels against her mother-in-law. People's enemies are the members of their own families.”

Discernment pt.2

Discernment Pt.2

We are continuing in our series on discernment. We need to be knowledgable of what is taking place in the world today. We also need to have discernment to be able to navigate today's world with wisdom from God.
It is important to know what discernment is based on in its definition. The Merriam-Webster dictionary describes the worddiscern as a careful analysis, to be able to detect with senses other than vision, the ability to identify right from wrong and to sift apart the useful out of the rejected.
We are bombarded on a daily basis with situations that need to be discerned. As Kingdom citizens, we need to be able to look at a contrary situation and see it for what it is. The enemy is looking for a way to manifest his will into this situation. We have to allow God to manifest His will through us so that God's will is done here in the situation.
 1 John 4:1 NLT “Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.”
 We cannot test the spirit if we are not familiar with the Word of God. As a Kingdom citizen, the study of God’s Word is not an option. How will you know if something you hear is false if you don’t study it for yourself?
 2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”
 Knowing God’s Word is necessary to be able to discern when something is false. God’s Word always points us to the truth. Knowing God’s Word protects us from those who would try to take the Word and twist it.
 Hebrews 4:12 KJV “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
 ASV “For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Discernment

Discernment We are beginning a new series of lessons covering topics that I believe will help us live affectively in the times that we are in. These are the last days, but God’s expectations toward us, as His Kingdom citizens, has not changed. We are here to impact the earth with Heaven’s culture. Recognizing the times we are living in, we want to be aware and allow the Holy Spirit to lead us in discerning what we come in contact with on a daily basis. I was prompted by the Holy Spirit to look at this subject in greater detail because too many believers are being thrown off course by people who name themselves as Christians, but have never been converted. We are seeing the Apostate church in action.  We are living in the days described in: 1 Timothy 4:1-2 “Now the Spirit speaks expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;” Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;” We can see these scriptures fulfilled in everyday life in every spectrum of life. People lie on tv and other public arenas daily. The sad thing is that there is no consciousness of wrong done.  2 Timothy 3:1-7 NLT “You should know this, Timothy, that in the last days there will be very difficult times. For people will love only themselves and their money. They will be boastful and proud, scoffing at God, disobedient to their parents, and ungrateful. They will consider nothing sacred. They will be unloving and unforgiving; they will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends, be reckless, be puffed up with pride, and love pleasure rather than God. They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that! They are the kind who work their way into people’s homes and win the confidence of vulnerable women who are burdened with the guilt of sin and controlled by various desires. (Such women are forever following new teachings, but they are never able to understand the truth.)”   2 Timothy 4:3-4 NASB “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” This is that time. People do not want to hear that God has a standard and that His Word is uncompromising.  Jude 1:16-19 NASB “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage. But you, beloved, ought to remember the words that were spoken beforehand by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.” These are the ones who cause divisions, worldly-minded, devoid of the Spirit.” Be aware of those with divisive spirits, especially in churches among the body of Christ. If someone calls themselves a Christian and is not Christ-like, don't be fooled. There is a prevalence of deception throughout society. Jeremiah 9:6 NIV “You live in the midst of deception; in their deceit they refuse to acknowledge me," declares the LORD”. Because of this, we need to be even more sober and alert so we can hear the voice of the Lord and understand His Word clearly. We need to be able to clearly discern whether or not what we hear spoken by people is the Word of God or what lines up with the Word of God.  As believers and Kingdom citizens, we do not have to be anxious or fearful of the times we are in. God expects us to be well equipped to handle whatever we happen to encounter. Be encouraged that you are aware of the schemes of the enemy and rejoice in the fact that his time is short. We already have the victory.  2 Timothy 4:2 NLT "Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching."

Great Expectations

I have great expectations for 2016! I want you to have great expectations for 2016 as well. I expect this year to be the biggest year of manifestation we have ever experienced.  Things will look bad in the world, but we will continue to increase.

There is a law at work concerning our expectations. Whatever we focus on is what we attract in our life.

*Your expectation will determine what shows up in your life. 

Mark 11:24 NLT "I tell you, you can pray for anything, and if you believe that you've received it, it will be yours.”

 

*If you do not expect anything, you won’t ask for anything in prayer, therefore, you won’t receive anything.

Matthew 21:22 NIV "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."

*God has great expectations for each of us. 

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

*But those expectations will only be realized with our cooperation.

Ephesians 3:20 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,"

2 Corinthians 9:8 "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."

*God wants to give you the desires of your heart. But, you have to have faith to believe you will receive them.

Psalms 37:4 ISV "Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

1 John 5:14-15 NASB "This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.

*If you have an expectation that you want to see come to pass in your life, you will continue to do what is necessary to see it come to pass."

Matthew 7:7-8 NASB "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you." "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

*An expectation places a demand on you to do something in line with what you are believing for.

James 2:17 NIV "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

*Your expectations will either be realized through faith or your expectations will be stopped by fear.

Proverbs 10:24 "What the wicked fears will come upon him, But the desire of the righteous will be granted."

*Do not allow your expectations to be fear based.

Job 3:25 NIV "What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me."

*We cannot walk around in condemnation and expectation at the same time.

1 John 3:21-22 NASB "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight."

*We cannot have wrong motives concerning our expectations.

James 4:3 NIV "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

*If you have someone you can trust and agree with regarding your expectations, then you can experience the power of agreement.

Matthew 18:19 NIV "Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven."

What Do You Do When What You Believe Has Not Manifested? Pt.3

Romans 4:17-21 AMP ” As it is written, I have made you the father of many nations. [He was appointed our father] in the sight of God in Whom he believed, Who gives life to the dead and speaks of the nonexistent things things that [He has foretold and promised] as if they [already] existed. [For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he  had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be.He did not weaken in faith when he considered the [utter] impotence of his own body, which was as good as dead because he was about a hundred years old, or [when he considered] the barrenness of Sarah’s [deadened] womb. No unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised." (Gen.17:5; 15:5; Heb.11:12; 1:14; 6:10-18 NLT; Dan.10:11-21)

Our prayers are answered from the moment we speak them. Don't ever believe the enemies lies that God has not answered your prayers.
Dan.10:12
Acts 10:31
Is.65:24

When we prayer according to God’s will which is His Word, the answer is always yes. You don't have to play a guessing game regarding whether or not God has said yes or no to your prayer. If you are praying according to His Word, you know what God's will is.
2 Cor.1:20
1 Jn.3:21-22
1 Jn.5:14-15

We must be aware of the spiritual warfare that takes place concerning our answered prayers. Dan.10:11-21
Eph.6:12-18

Make sure you dispatch angels of proper rank and authority to do warfare on your behalf and to bring God’s Word to pass.
Heb.1:14; Jude 9

The Benefits of Process to the Kingdom pt.5

Greetings! We are continuing in our series on the benefits of process to the Kingdom. There is a season where you may feel that things are not happening in your life as quickly as you would like or not in the way you would like them to. Process may not always be a pleasant experience, but it is purposeful. Think about what God has spared you from based on the path you are on. We must see the blessing and benefits in the process. We are going to look at how process protects you from the enemy. 8. Process protects - us from the enemy’s attack. A. It keeps us hidden until we are in the right place at the right time. Sometimes, when you are in a season where you are unknown and very little is taking place in the natural, God has you in hiding. He is doing a work on you and in you to prepare you for where you are going. Ps.31:20 DBY "Thou keepest them concealed in the secret of thy presence from the conspiracies of man; thou hidest them in a pavilion from the strife of tongues." Ps.27:5 DBY "For in the day of evil he will hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tent will he keep me concealed: he will set me high upon a rock.” B. God giving us what we desire and need in seed form is also a form of protection. It takes faith to manifest the seed. God is the best Steward. He gives each of us opportunities to see how we will handle the seed He gives us. God is not going to give you something you can't handle. Mt.13:23 NET “But as for the seed sown on good soil, this is the person who hears the word and understands. He bears fruit, yielding a hundred, sixty, or thirty times what was sown." C. God is guarding and protecting you through process so when you come out on the other side, He will be glorified. God is purposeful in everything He does. His focus is on the expansion of His Kingdom. When you manifest His will, He is glorified. Protection is necessary for that to take place. Prov.2:8 NLT "He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him” Ps.31:8  NIV "You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place." Ps.23:5 NLT "You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings." D. God will use your time of process while you are protected and hidden to sharpen you for when He reveals you. God is so good. He actually gives us the opportunity to prepare for our assignment. We have to be cognizant of the fact that we are in a season of preparation and use our time wisely. Is.49:2 Douay-Rheims Bible "And he hath made my mouth like a sharp sword: in the shadow of his hand he hath protected me, and hath made me as a chosen arrow: in his quiver he hath hidden me.”

Questions   1.  Are you patient enough to wait until God reveals you or do you think you have to promote yourself? 2.   Do you recognize the potential in the seed God gives you?

The Benefits of Process to the Kingdom pt.6

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” 2 Timothy 1:7 AMP “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (of cowardice, of craven and cringing and fawning fear), but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of calm and well-balanced mind and discipline and self-control.” One of the biggest hindrances to us manifesting is fear. We have to attack this issue head-on. I can tell when people are dealing with fear in their lives by what comes out of their mouth. Your speech will betray you. We are continuing in this teaching on process dealing with the issue of fear so that we can boldly walk into the manifestation God has for us. 9. Process removes – fear, which tries to hinder us A. Process will break the spirit of fear and cause to walk out your purpose boldly, even if you don’t have what the world says you need to do what you do. Acts 4:13 NLT "The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.” B.    Process will embolden you to the place that even in the face of threats, you will obey God. Acts 4:29 ISV "Lord, pay attention to their threats now, and allow your servants to speak your word boldly “ Acts 23:11 ISV "That night the Lord stood near Paul and said, "Have courage! For just as you have testified about me in Jerusalem, you must testify in Rome, too.” 2 Chron.15:8 "And when Asa heard these words, and the prophecy of Oded the prophet, he took courage, and put away the abominable idols out of all the land of Judah and Benjamin, and out of the cities which he had taken from mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the LORD, that was before the porch of the LORD." C.    Process will bring you to a place where fear is no longer an option. It will cause you to not care what anyone thinks as long as God is glorified. Phil.1:20 NLT "For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.” Ps.112:8 NLT "They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly. In these times we are living in, as the body of Christ and citizens of His Kingdom we must stand boldly on the Word of God and cast out the spirit of fear. We must not compromise or give into fear based on what we see, but live by God's Word. This is the greatest hour of the true Church. Be aware that there is an apostate church that is very active in the world today. Do not compromise God's Word. Stand boldly in the power, love and sound mind God has given you! ,

Questions   1. Do you care more about what people will think or what God thinks? 2. Is a spirit of fear operating in your life in any area?