Can this be Our New Years Resolution?

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