Not Yesterday or Tomorrow BUT TODAY!

An Ultimate Question - The Great Commission, Part 48

Week 48, 2014

Rick Joyner

       

         Jesus was crucified between two thieves—yesterday and tomorrow. One of these was in bondage to his past—things he had done. The other was in bondage to the future—asking Jesus to remember Him when He came into His kingdom. While on the cross, Jesus honored the second thief’s amazing faith but corrected his understanding. He said, “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.” Many can only see Jesus in the past, the biblical, historical Jesus. Others focus almost entirely on His coming again. Yet to see Him as He is, we must see Him TODAY. His name is not “I was,” or “I will be,” but “I AM.” Yesterday no longer exists and neither does tomorrow. The only thing we truly have to live in is the present, and that is where we must see Him and walk with Him.

         I appreciate the wristbands that say, “What would Jesus do?” I wore one for years and still try to apply it to my life, but I think what we really need is one that says, “What is Jesus doing?” So an ultimate question should be, “What is the Lord doing in the world today?” Are we a part of this? If not, why not?

         A second ultimate question would be, “What is the Lord doing in my life today?” This really needs to be asked before asking the previous question. The Lord is doing many things in the world today, and no one is capable of being a part of them all, but we should understand them and know where we fit in.

         When the Spirit is first mentioned in Scripture, He is moving. I have never found a verse that says He has stopped. Therefore, to walk with the Lord in the present almost always involves being part of a movement. A movement is moving, going somewhere. This is the nature of the word of life—it is a river, not a lake or a pond. A river is moving, going somewhere.

         Where are we going in our spiritual lives?

I have finished my morning chores. The animals are all fed, the chickens are roaming in the newly fallen snow and I am in my comfy chair reading the desire of my heart, words of God. This Rick Joyner devotional is a weekly email sent to my inbox. Often I feel moved by the words Rick shares and today's devotional is no exception. It really is, for me, another confirmation about waiting on what Father has in store for me to do to further His Kingdom. It is not about yesterday or tomorrow but what He is doing today; what I am doing for Him today...

While I wait I will praise and glorify Him. 

Blessings,

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Making Intercession

I encourage you my brothers and sister in Christ Jesus to pray all kinds of prayer to Father. We have the promise of the Holy Spirit to intercede for us as we pray, taking our prayers and bringing to Father what we cannot say.

Below is one of my morning devotionals from My Utmost For His Highest that really encouraged me. You can check out the devotional by clicking on the link.

We know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Romans 8:26

We realize that we are energized by the Holy Spirit for prayer; we know what it is to pray in the Spirit; but we do not so often realize that the Holy Spirit Himself prays in us prayers which we cannot utter. When we are born again of God and are indwelt by the Spirit of God, He expresses for us the unutterable.

"He," the Spirit in you, "maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God," and God searches your heart not to know what your conscious prayers are, but to find out what is the prayer of the Holy Spirit.

The Spirit of God needs the nature of the believer as a shrine in which to offer His intercession. "Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost." When Jesus Christ cleansed the temple, He "would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple." The Spirit of God will not allow you to use your body for your own convenience. Jesus ruthlessly cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and said - "My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."

Have we recognized that our body is the temple of the Holy Ghost? If so, we must be careful to keep it undefiled for Him. We have to remember that our conscious life, though it is only a tiny bit of our personality, is to be regarded by us as a shrine of the Holy Ghost. He will look atter the unconscious part that we know nothing of; but we must see that we guard the conscious part for which we are responsible.

Blessings,
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Grieve

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Ephesians 4:30 NIV
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Grief, defined by dictionary.com

1. keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret.
2. a cause or occasion of keen distress or sorrow.

The Holy Spirit is our helper and when we follow the flesh we cause the Holy Spirit mental suffering. This thought breaks my heart in two.

My Freshly Brewed Life

I'm linking up with Barbie for Fresh Brewed Sunday.

God Bless,
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Sinner Living in the Truth

John 14:15-22 NIV

Google Ima

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”

The Holy Spirit is all about Truth and He awakens the Truth in us, authorizing us to live in the Truth and will bring about the fruit of the Truth that we live. Jesus tells us four things about the Holy Spirit, He is the friend that God sends to us, unbelievers cannot receive the Spirit of Truth, the Spirit of Truth will be inside the followers of Jesus Christ and the presence of the Holy Spirit reminds us that Jesus will come again and claim His followers.

All people are sinners and the only difference between a non Christian and a Christian is a life that is sanctified by the Holy Spirit; a forgiven sinner that is being shaped and remolded by the Spirit of the Living God on a second by second basis. 

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Romans 8:9 NIV

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.






Life can be a very rough ride with storm after storm after storm. The power of the Holy Spirit allows us to ride on top of that storm just like a surfer riding the waves. Keep the faith and believe. Even though a Christian still sins, there is happiness knowing when we repent and change our ways we will be forgiven. Does this gives us a free ticket to keep on sinning? No way! The more we know who Jesus is the less we will sin, but this is usually followed by attacks from Satan in our vulnerable spots. Praise God for sending us Jesus, where would we be without Him? I seem to be failing a lot lately and all I can say is thank you Jesus for loving someone like me.

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Blessings,
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Spirit & Wind

John 3:8 NIV

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"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

Wind and Spirit share some of the same qualities here, both are invisible to our sight and neither of them can be controlled by people. Each being ruler and independent of its own actions.

The wind does as it pleases and people cannot control where it is going or where it has come from. Even though the wind is invisible, the effects of it can be seen. You can hear it, see the changes of its movement by watching the trees sway or the grass billow. In the same way you can see the effects of the Spirit by the fruit that it produces in the life of a born again. The bitter person becomes happy and joyful, anger turns into praise and hate turns into love. When we yield to the calling of the Holy Spirit, He will produce fruit in us that will be seen by all.

John 4:24

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

God is Spirit and He is Holy, who can direct His path and He does as it pleases Him. His business is Self-governing and He has power over the most hardened of sinners. Like the wind, who can order Him about and direct His path? 

We may be confused by how the Spirit works, but if we yield to His teachings His fruit will show in our personalities and our lives. 

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Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Blessings,

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Empowered by the Holy Spirit

Jesus is conceived through the Holy Spirit in Mary's womb, anointed  by the Holy Spirit at His baptism, empowered by the Holy Spirit through His wilderness temptations, and emerges from the temptations full of the Spirit. 

Luke 4:18-19 NIV

 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

   because he has anointed me
   to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
   and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,

      to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 

John 14:12-14 NIV

Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus' ministry was empowered by the Holy Spirit therefore as followers of Jesus we too should be empowered by the Holy Spirit. Jesus commissioned us to preach the Gospel. I believe when we preach the simple truth of the Gospel miracles will follow in the tracks. The greatest miracle is the healing of a soul. Once the soul is healed the physical healing will follow. The ultimate goal of Jesus is not a healthy body but a healthy soul resulting in a healthy body.

Hebrews 4:12-13 NIV

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account. 

The Gospel is sharp and is capable of cutting away the lies that man attaches to it. Spread the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ and many people will come to know Christ for the Holy Spirit will divide the lies from the truth and He will be known; Praise God!

Blessings,
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A Matter of the Heart

Matthew 7:21-23 NIV

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“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

This is a tough word to take in and digest. Just yesterday during pre-church prayer time the Holy Spirit laid this prayer on my heart and a river of tears pour out from me causing everyone in the room to cry, not because of me but, I believe, because of the grieving from the Holy Spirit. How many people claim Jesus as Lord yet they really do not know Him. How many Christians are fooling themselves? One thing for sure and that is you cannot fool the Holy Spirit for He knows the essence of our heart and what motivates the drive within us.

All people have some sort of values they follow, but do they line up with God's values? Just take a look at the 10 commandments and what God cares about to know what His values are. As society changes the common values change also. We as Christians are to focus ourselves on putting God first and loving our neighbour, treating others the way we want to be treated. How many Christians actually do this? I know many people who claim Christianity yet they are sleeping around or living together with the opposite, or same sex in a marriage situation saying it is fine. Or what about the Christian business man who adjust the numbers on his income tax, is this right? Or the employee who takes from the employer saying he can do this because the company has lots and they deserve it. Is this not considered stealing? Sad, but I know of people who do this and they call themselves Christians. Oh how this grieves the Holy Spirit.

Our time here on earth is short and I believe Jesus will be returning soon to claim His church, do you believe you will be raptured along with His church? Or will you be left behind for the tribulation? Do you believe the people from the situations mentioned above will be rapture, or left behind? Obama is pushing the peace talks between Israel and Palestine. Could this be the signed peace treaty that the Bible talks about? If so, then it won't be long before Jesus returns. Will you be ready?

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 NIV

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

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Now concerning a pre-trib rapture to a post-trib rapture, the Bible does not say directly what will happen, but I personally believe in pre-trib rapture for I believe God does not want to punish His church but those who refuse to honour Him. How, as Christians, do we honour Him? Know God and care about what He cares about and live by His rules. Feed the orphans, look after the widows, love your neighbour. When someone has angered you, forgive them and turn the other cheek. Walk an extra mile to help someone out and become a servant, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stay away from immorality, adultery homosexuality, debauchery and such.  When you sin seek forgiveness first from God then from the person you offended. God's rules are simple and easy to follow, repent and love. 

Look at King David, he messed up a ton. He committed adultery, murder and took a census when he was told not to, showing that he didn't trust God's strength. Yet he was called a man after God's own heart. Why? Because when he did wrong he repented and took his sin to God for forgiveness and willingly took the punishment for the wrong he did. He lived in an active relationship with God. David is a very good example for us to follow.

Now what if you are not a Christian? Ask Jesus to be the Lord and Saviour of your life. Repent of your sins and ask the Holy Spirit to live inside of you and start living for Jesus. It really is not hard but we first need acknowledgement of the fact that no we are not good people we are sinners, every single one of us. The Google image that I have put up is one of the Tsunami that took place in Japan this past March. This will be nothing compared to what the tribulation will be like, believe me you don't want to be around for it. So please, Christians and non-Christians make yourself right with God soon. Make sure you have an active relationship with Jesus for there is no other way but through Jesus, that one can be saved from the devastation that will be coming to this earth. 

Praying and praying,

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R-I-S-E-N INDEED!

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John 20:1-23 NIV
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
  
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
   “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.
He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
   Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
   She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.
  
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

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Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”





This past 40 days has been very emotional for me. I have walked through the 40 days of fasting with Jesus and spent time mourning His death but today I celebrate for He has conquered death! He is RISEN! The chains are broken and Satan has been defeated. All who call on the name of Jesus will be saved, Praise GOD! He did it! He has given us the Holy Spirit and through the power of His name, Jesus Christ, we can proclaim His gift to all. We can be Spirit filled! Come on world wide church praise our King!

If you haven't made the decision to follow Jesus Christ I invite you now to say a prayer of faith. All you need is faith and Jesus will do the rest. Believe in your heart on the work that Jesus did on the cross, confess with  your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord of your life. Renounce your old ways and choose to follow His way of truth and love. 

Romans 10:8-10 NIV

But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 

                 He has risen indeed! 

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Controlled by the Holy Spirit

Romans 8:5 NLT

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful

things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think 

about things that please the Spirit.

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There is freedom in the Spirit! It is like being unshackled from heavy weights that burden ones heart, mind and soul. When the Spirit comes in and releases you from guilt, anger, hatred and self centeredness there is an amazing wholeness and lightness that flows through, around and out of you. It is a feeling I wish everyone could experience and all can for it is free to all who seek Jesus and ask for a baptizing in the Holy Spirit.

Life goes on around us and things happen that are not always in our control but if we walk in the Spirit of Truth looking at these events with love, kindness, peace, forgiveness with the Word of the Lord ready on our tongue then we can change the outcome of events that happen around us. We cannot change people but we can change how we respond. 

Life is too short to waste in anger and unforgiveness. Seize the moment and live for Jesus! Be makers of peace.

Jesus, come into my life and change me. Make me in Your image and free me from the lies of the world. Give me the freedom of the Holy Spirit so I can worship You in Truth!! In Your precious Holy Name, Jesus Christ I ask and pray. Amen.

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How does your garden grow?

Man's garden

This past week has been a week full of prayer for people in need and there have been times that I felt I wasn't praying enough or in the right way; I felt inadequate. Yesterday I was at a loss and was feeling very overwhelmed by the weight of my brothers and sisters who are suffering. To top it off I was having a few family issues to deal with and as I prayed my mind was flying from one prayer request to another without even completing the previous. Seriously, I was stopping mid word to only start praying for someone else. I cannot say that I felt the responsibility of the weight on my shoulders, no; it is on God's shoulders but I just didn't feel like I was praying properly.

God is so faithful and He reminded me that it was the Spirit of God leading me in prayer for those He loves and cares about. Romans 8:26-27 NIV

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. 

Really how could I forget this?! Satan and his sneaky ways came in and aimed his fiery arrows at the right spot in me to make me question myself. He made me feel inadequate with myself in prayer so I would give up and focus on me and feel bad about myself! But, God is in control and He showed me that this was His leading and His Spirit took up where I left off and jumped into another urgent prayer. I have been in prayer groups where the Spirit is thick and when I start praying He will lead me all over the map and someone who is a bystander would think me a little more than scattered brained but God knows exactly what I  am saying for He is the one directing.

God's garden

Abandoning ourselves to God can be a very scary thing as we let go of control and give it to Him. I love how Paul Young, author of 'The Shack' likens it to a wildflower garden planted by God as opposed to a flower garden planted by man. This image, for me, is very powerful in trying to understand how God directs and leads. People like to have things organized in straight lines and patterns but God doesn't do things the way man does. Just look at nature and you see the wild beauty of God. God likes to come in and dig up man's garden, which by the way really can hurt, then when the soil is well worked He throws a handful of flower seeds everywhere. When they take root and grow the beauty that beholds the eye far surpasses the beauty of a well planned, organized garden. The wildness of God's garden is thrilling yet scary at the same time.

I am so thankful that God cares enough about us that when we are willing to give control to Him, He will step in, tear up our lives and plant His seeds. If we are patient and willing to leave the control in His hands then the garden that grows will be unique and all together exotically beautiful beyond belief.

God Bless,
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                                     Photo courtesy of Nikon Sniper: Mount St. Helen's