Give God the Password to Your Life - December 19, 2015

In Joshua 6, Jericho was defeated. The walls fell down, Israel was able to go ion and the captives were able to get  out. A great victory of a fortified city.

In Joshua 7, Ai was a very small city. Yet on the initial engagement, Israel was defeated, routed by this small, seemingly nothingless city. How does this happen?

A thought within a thought: Sometimes after the greatest victories that God gives us, we can experience our greatest defeats. Why? Because we haven't given God the password into our lives. By that I mean, we haven't let God have access to our entire lives.

A man by the name of Achan started our devoted to God. Bu then he became distracted (saw the plunder of Jericho), and he was then defeated and ultimately destroyed. Why? He had hidden things in his life. He had not let God have the password/access into his life.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 139, "search me an try me, Lord... and see if there be any wicked way in me."

Today we need to be sure to live a life surrendered to our Father in Heaven. We need to give Him access to every area of our life. Nothing hidden.

When we do, we can enjoy the better life that He has prepared for us.

May God Bless It!

Zechariah 4:6

6 Then he said to me, “This is what the Lord says to Zerubbabel: It is not by force nor by strength, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. 7 Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’[a]”

The rebuilding of God’s temple! God let’s the people know that they need to depend up on Him and trust Him and not their might or abilities.

Three things: Not by force, nor by strength but my His spirit.

The answer is coming!!!

Not by force – referring in this verse to military; today we would say any outside resources that are available at our touch. But sometimes God says, not even by all of your resources. Not by force!

Not by strength – referring to one’s individual strength. This work that God’s people needed to do would not be finalized in their own individual strength or ability. It is not to be done by our own understanding.  Sometimes when we need that breakthrough, God reminds us that it’s not to be accomplished by our own strength because ultimately the flesh, our strength is too weak (Matthew 26:40-42).

By MY Spirit – God’s work – the building of this temple or in your life what God is doing or about to bring about – is ultimately going to be accomplished by His Spirit. By His Spirit mountains are turned to molehills.

It is by God’s Spirit that what God has planned will be accomplished.

1 Corinthians 12:9New Living Translation (NLT)

9 The same Spirit gives great faith to another, and to someone else the one Spirit gives the gift of healing.

Note verse 7 – Nothing not even a mighty mountain will stand in the way – it will be a level plain!   -- Also note – “When”.. not maybe .. but “when” .. it’s going to happen. God’s temple is going to be rebuilt.  “when” God is going to do that work in your life if you will just let HIM.

Don’t rely upon outside resources or your own abilities.. but let His Spirit work in your life – and every thing that seems insurmountable and huge will be overcome!

“When” God bring the work to completion – the result is that the people will rejoice. They’ll shout “May God Bless it!, May God Bless it!”

So today, let the Lord work in whatever your situation! When He accomplishes His work, be ready then to share and shout “May God Bless it!!”

Getting Close to God - Psalm 27:1-5 - December 5, 2015

Many believe that Psalm 27 was written by David during a time of turmoil, suggesting that perhaps it was during the revolt led by David’s son Absolom, in trying to take the leadership of Israel.

Going through this time of trouble, David writes:

Psalm 27:1-3New Living Translation (NLT)

1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
    so why should I tremble?
2 When evil people come to devour me,
    when my enemies and foes attack me,
    they will stumble and fall.
3 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
    my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
    I will remain confident.

David is going through some stuff!!!  But despite the stuff that David is going through, David responds with this great prayer in verse 4:

The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.

Notice: David didn’t pray venegence upon his enemies. He didn’t pray that he would get his pound of flesh from those enemies. He didn’t pray “may the flees of 1000 camels invest my enemies armpits.” :)

He focused on getting closer to God during tumultous times.  He prayed – the one things he desired the most – to live in the house of the Lord all the days of his life.

He just wanted to get close to God!

When life hits us, may that be our prayer, “that we would just get close to God.”

When we do get close to God, there are benefits.  David shared what the benefits were of getting close to God:

Verse 5

5 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
    he will hide me in his sanctuary.
    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

The benefits:

1)   the KJV says “in his pavilion he will hide me.” It is believed that this is the shepherd’s tent where the sheep were brought in for healing of injuries, or to be restored (from cold, or ill health, etc.). It was a place of healing, restoration and warmth.  We can get close to the Lord and have that calm and healing.

2)   We are put in His sanctuary – a place of guaranteed protection.

3)   We are put on a high rock out of reach from trouble.

So when times of trouble are around us, let’s get close to God. Let’s not pray vengence upon our enemies but let’s just take refuge in Him and experience these wonderful benefits.