Can I come to you as a friend tonight? Or even as a
fellow sister in Christ?
I have taken note of several things that trouble me in my
spirit. I don’t come to you in a seat of
judgment but in a seat of concern because My Father in heaven has been showing
me (for months now) what His sheep look like and it is truly disturbing.
He showed me a picture of His flock, which are supposed to be in peace and unity
but, instead are biting each other.
You know, I have to examine myself quiet regularly
because I am not perfect by any means but, I do try to stay humble before the
Lord regardless of what is going on around me.
You know, when we come out of sin or bondage. We go
through steps of cleansing and through a reprogramming of our mind with the
Word and through spending time with God.
It doesn't happen overnight
because I believe truly, that if we were to be broken all at once that our
bodies wouldn't take it.
Just like when Moses was leading the Israelites out of
bondage. I found it interesting in this one passage
Exodus
13:17 AMP
When Pharaoh let the people go, God led them not by way
of the land of the Philistines, although that was nearer; for God said, Lest the people change their
purpose when they see war and return to Egypt
Here is that same verse in another translation
Exodus
13:17 ESV
17 When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although
that was near. For God
said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to
Egypt.
Now, why would God do
that????
I believe these were an example of baby Christian’s that had just been freed from slavery and
they didn’t know how to LIVE free yet.
I don’t believe that these people knew how to fight because they had been
under the bondage of Pharaoh for so long.
They had GOTTEN
USE TO BEING
SLAVES.
Our God is a merciful God.
He is a deliverer and redeemer but, He is also full of grace and mercy.
He didn't want to deliver these people just so that they would go back
into bondage.
So, He guided them to a place that would increase their trust in Him and
not hurt the trust that He had gained. He knew they weren't prepared for war
just yet.
He is a HOLY & RIGHTEOUS God and He alone is the one that knows the
spiritual state anyone is in and unless “we”
get past ourselves, the backbiting, gossip, and preconceived notion of things “we” will NEVER see through the eyes of
our Savior because HE looks on the inside and not on the APPEARANCE of things.
That doesn't just mean the appearance of a person but, the appearance of
a situation as well.
A very wise man brought to my attention a scripture the other day that
truly touched my heart because it really made a whole lot of sense to me.
When we come out of that old life that we use to live. Our mind has to
be renewed daily through the washing with water of the Word. It takes time and
it is a daily thing.
I believe until we get to the
point where God has broken things off our mind from our past that our mind
remains contaminated with our old thought life.
At least until we learn how to overcome it.
How long does this
take?
Well, since the Word says that we grow from Glory to Glory. I believe
that this is a lifelong process.
I believe that we can either be
an on fire Christian or a content Christian.
I desire to always be growing from Glory to Glory and how I do that is
by not putting God in a box because ALL THINGS are
possible with Christ.
NOTHING has to remain un-changed or un-overcome in us. The only way it
does that way is when we give up on what Christ can do and let the devil wear
us out.
The Word says that the devil desires to sift us like wheat but that
doesn't mean that he can because what lives in you saints is SO MUCH bigger
than the devil.
You just have to stand and endure through all the trials and
tribulations. Don’t give up just because you read those words about the
adversary.
Someone once told me
that the devil walks around waving a gun but it doesn't have any bullets!
Before we become renewed or purified in our hearts and mind in The Word
it says in;
Titus 1:15 AMP
To the pure [in heart and conscience] all things are pure, but to the
defiled and corrupt and unbelieving nothing is pure; their very mind and consciences are defiled and
polluted.
Another Version Says;
Titus 1:15 ESV
To the pure, all things are pure, but to the defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure; but both their minds and their consciences are defiled.
I
know what you’re thinking but, “Now,
Sarah I’m a new creation in Christ I’m not defiled.”
You know what? YOU’RE RIGHT! You
are a new creation in Christ but, your conscience and mind were defiled in your bondage and
because of this you have to die daily as Paul would say and you have to LEARN to
operate as this new creation.
I have had days where I “felt”
so condemned that I thought I was lost all over again but, those were
accusations from the enemy and I believe they were also from my old man.
The old man was trying to rise up and until I got enough of the Word in
me the battle was pretty rough some days but, through God’s WORD I have been
set free indeed but this has been a CONTINUAL setting free.
He sets me free daily through
every word of wisdom I receive in His Word. He sets me free daily because I
walk with Him daily and LEARN something NEW daily.
He gives me a FRESH breath daily because His mercies are NEW every
morning.
I’ve been on that side of the fence that looked down my nose at others
and thought that this one or that one should be doing things a lot differently
but, something I came to realize through God’s Word and His Spirit is I was
GRIEVING HIM by playing judge when there is only one Judge.
No matter what we try to call it, whether fruit inspecting, listening
through the grape vine, calling it for what it is, or “speaking truth”…
You know
what Holy Spirit showed me???
That it is STILL JUDGING because we are supposed to show mercy as we
have been FREELY shown
mercy.
In Romans 3:3-4
Paul says, “What does
it matter, then, if some weren’t faithful? Their lack of faith won’t cancel God’s
faithfulness, will it? Absolutely not! God must be true, even if every human
being is a liar, as it is written: So
that it can show that you are right in your words; and you will triumph when
you are judged”
That means that no stone will be left un-turned or un-judged on that day
but, we put ourselves in greater judgment by
becoming the one doing the judging.
WITHOUT EXCUSE! WE ARE ALL without excuse so let ever man or woman
work out his own salvation in fear and trembling and let us be full of mercy
and love for others because the blood of JESUS CHRIST is the only reason we are
justified at all!
The two “laws” or commandments that the Lord requires of us is that we
love God above anything else and the next one is LOVE OTHERS as you love
yourself and in doing so we will fulfill the whole law. There is no greater commandment then these.
We will never fulfill the law through WORKS through a heart of stone and
through a perspective of judgment.
WE WILL full-fill it if we will allow God to turn our hearts of stone
into flesh, let the LOVE of JESUS overflow to God, and to those around us.
We won’t go wrong with that!
When we do this we will understand His grace. We will understand how
much He loves us and we will seek after Him as we would treasure and will be
rewarded with so much peace, love, and joy and you won’t be able to contain it.
So, what is
my point?
What is the purpose of me coming to you tonight? Because I believe “we” have “all” fallen short of the glory of God and have
sinned with our pride and arrogance…
I’m asking you to repent with me because the scriptures that the Lord laid
on my heart broke me to pieces and I know that His word is truth.
We can’t go wrong in His word. Let these words tonight bring a sweetness
and victory to you. Don’t allow it to create bitterness but let it bring a
renewal and change.
Here are a few scriptures for you to meditate on tonight with me.
Let me just
tell you I love you all from the depths of my heart and God loves you so much
and He wants to see you overcome and break away from all of this.
The first few verses are going to tell us what pride and arrogance looks
like to the Father.
Obadiah
1:3 ESV
The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,[a]
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?”
Psalms
5:5 AMP
Boasters can have no standing in Your sight; You Abhor all evildoers
Psalms
10:4
In the pride of his face[a] the
wicked does not seek him;[b]
all his thoughts are, “There is
no God.”
-Note: I believe we can deny God in our actions (Not
just with words) by not showing others the same mercy we have been shown by our
Heavenly Father
Proverb 29:23 CEB
Pride lays people low but those of humble spirit
gain honor.
Proverbs 18:12 NKJV
Before destruction the heart of a man is haughty,
and before honor is humility.
Proverbs 16:19 NKJV
Better to be of humble spirit with the lowly,
Than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Job 35:12 CEB
Then they cry out; but he doesn’t answer, because
of the pride of the wicked.
Isaiah 2:11-12
CEB
People’s proud gazing will be stopped and
humanity’s arrogance brought down; the LORD alone will be exalted on that day.
The LORD of heavenly forces has planned a day;
against all that is prideful and haughty; against all that is lofty, and it
will be laid low;
Isaiah
13:11b CEB
I will end the pride of the insolent, and the
conceit of tyrants I will lay low.
Psalms
138:6 NKJV
Though the LORD is on high, Yet He regards the
lowly; But the proud He knows from afar.
** I just
want us all to realize what pride and arrogance looks like before God. He wants
to reveal to you tonight what He desires. He wants to show you how to approach
Him because if we will approach Him according to His will He will show up. His
blessing is in His presence. His favor is in His presence. His love is in His
presence. His restoration is IN HIS
PRESENCE.
Now, let’s
take a look at what He desires.
One thing
I want you to note about Paul. He didn't come at his fellow servants in hate. He always preached with love. He wanted others to grow into maturity and he
knew that they would grow more easily through love and grace then through
hatred and judgment.
Philippians
2:3-10 CEB
Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with
humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person
watching out for their good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude (mind) that was in
Christ Jesus:
Though he
was in the form of God, he did not consider being equal with God something to
exploit. But he emptied himself by taking the form of a slave and by becoming
like human beings. When he found himself in the form of a human he humbled
himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Therefore, God highly honored him and gave him a name above all names, so that
at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might
bow and ever tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
***Jesus
emptied himself of all but LOVE.
Romans
2:10-11 CEB
But there will be glory, honor, and peace for
everyone who does what is good, for the Jew first and and also for the Greek;
God does not have favorites.
1
Corinthians 13:4-8 CEB
Love is patient, love is kind, it isn’t jealous
it doesn’t brag, it isn’t arrogant, it isn’t rude, it doesn’t seek its own
advantage, it isn’t irritable, it doesn’t keep a record of complaints, it isn’t
happy with injustice, but is happy with the truth. Love puts up with all
things, trust in all things, hopes for all things, and endures all things.
Love NEVER
FAILS.
Galatians
6:1-4 CEB
Brothers and sisters, if a person is caught doing
something wrong, you who are spiritual should restore someone like this with a
spirit of gentleness. Watch out for yourselves so you won’t be tempted too.
Carry each other’s burdens and so you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone
thinks they are important when they aren’t, they’re fooling themselves. Each
person should test their own work and be happy with doing a good job and not
compare themselves with others. Each person will have to carry their own load.
Psalms
34:18 CEB
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he saves
those whose spirits are crushed.
Matthew 5:2-12English Standard Version
(ESV)
The Beatitudes
2 And he
opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
3 “Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed
are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed
are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed
are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.
7 “Blessed
are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed
are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed
are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons[a] of God.10 “Blessed are those who are
persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are
you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil
against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for
your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who
were before you.
I encourage you tonight to
humble yourself with me before the Lord tonight and let’s start off this New
Year without pride and without arrogance and let’s (with God’s help) radically
change our perspective and open our arms and show mercy at ALL times. God is
the one we will stand before on judgment day. It doesn’t matter what other’s
think about our actions. It matters that we LOVE GOD above all else and extend
that love to others and show the agape kind of love that Jesus showed us. That
while we were yet sinners He chose to die for us….Let’s do that together in
this New Year.
Love In Christ from your fellow bondservant ~Be Blessed, sarah
