Believe, Receive, Have

Mark 11:24--Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.


This was Jesus' lifestyle and this is what He taught. Let's break it down into the original Greek.
Believe--pisteuo-to think to be true, to be persuaded of
Receive--lambano-to take with the hand, lay hold of
Have--esomai-"I will be." This Greek word is the future first person plural of 'to be.'


What Jesus is literally saying here is, When you pray, be persuaded that I will give you the things you are asking for, take ownership of them in your heart and that's where I will be. 


How deep is that promise? In verse 23, He declared to His disciples that even if they were to command a mountain to be cast into the sea, it would happen. Does that sound far-fetched? Let's see.


Like a lot of other folks, I get paid twice a month. Today is July 22, 2012. I am scheduled to get paid on the last day of this month. Technically, that's nine days away. We believe that the company we work for is truthful and even though we do not physically have the money in our hands, we have laid hold of that event in our hearts, souls and minds. We go a step further. We have already planned and settled into our hearts what we will do with those funds when the 31st gets here. And, you do the same thing. We lay hold of something on the inside and we are convinced of something before it manifests. The more often it happens, the stronger our faith in the fact.


Jesus says that answered prayer is the same way. You become persuaded that it is yours, you lay hold of the future fact-------then did you notice what He said?
He said, when you are persuaded of and lay hold of the promise----THAT IS WHERE I WILL BE. Jesus, Himself takes charge of the outcome.


As this promise takes hold of us, let us rise like a mighty army and TAKE BACK our families, our communities and a lost world. Let us take back our finances and the future of our children. Let us take back our well bodies and the health of anyone we pray for.


Be persuaded, lay hold and know where Jesus is. He said He would be right in the middle of our answer.


That's good stuff. Pass it on.

What Was The Key To Jesus' Miracles?

I guess you could say that we're still talking about Phil 2:1 and Heb 12:2. If you would take a good look at the Author and Finisher of our faith, you would see that He spent a good deal of His time talking about the goodness of His Father and the extreme value of His Father's Word. He never praised the devil, He never complained of His circumstances and He always knew the right thing to do. The only thing that angered and/or exasperated Jesus was when people refused to believe His Father's Word and when they taught other's to do the same by their actions.


As I have mentioned in previous blogs, if you desire to fellowship with the Spirit, then you should talk about the things He wants to talk about. You already do this in your daily life. If you really, really want someone to take up some time with you, you begin a conversation about something they have a passion for.  Everybody has 'hot' buttons. For some it would be football, for some it may be cooking, for some it could be fishing, but everyone has a 'hot' button. Me? If you want to bring a smile to my face and desire a spirited conversation, ask me something about the books I write. I love my characters, I love the Godly meaning that is instilled in the stories and I love the outcome of the book I am writing now. Just ask me one question and a thirty minute conversation comes blurting out of my heart. BECAUSE IT'S MY PASSION.


Read about God's passion in Dt. 6. He says something that He promises will make us live a long time and give us a mighty increase. His passion is to bless man in every way possible. As you read through the chapter He says things like, "give thee great and goodly cities," " houses full of good things," and "when thou shalt have eaten and be full." That sounds like someone who is excited about blessing you, doesn't it?


What does God say will bring these things. One is to love the Lord with all of your heart, soul and strength. The other it to talk about His Word and not your circumstances. This is why Jesus was able to overcome oppressive forces, work miracles and bless so many lives. His Father's passion became His. He talked about His Father's passion when He prayed. He talked about His Father's passion when He talked to the disciples. He talked about His Father's passion to the crowds. And, He showed His Father's passion when He healed and delivered the multitudes.


Sharing God's passion with Him in fellowship increases the love bond between you. As you continue to fellowship with Him and His Word, the love bond becomes a part of Your lifestyle. That love bond begins to come out in your home life for your children to see. That love bond comes alive where you work, you shop and you worship. Through fellowship with Him, His love begins to manifest through you in healings both physical and emotional.


It is so vital that we learn how to fellowship with Him correctly. This world desperately needs to be taught about the real Jesus in a real way. That comes through constant correct fellowship with Him.

Jesus Talk

I'm still on the subject of fellowship with the Spirit from Phil 2:1.

What we talk about constantly is an indicator of what we have been thinking about. So before you go opening your big mouth again....well let me say it like this. When someone ELSE shoots off their mouth, NOW you'll know EXACTLY what they have been thinking about. Notice what people say when they are put under a little bit of pressure. Uh-huh. You'll know where the phrase 'Open mouth insert foot' comes from. The mouth is just the overflow of your thought life. Change your thought life and you change your mouth and actions.

Heb. 12:2, let's look at Jesus. He talked some kind of talk, but He also walked some kind of walk. That's because 'the words of His mouth and the meditations of His heart' were acceptable to God. Jesus gave satan His life plan when satan tempted Him in the wilderness. The Henry version of what Jesus told him is this, "I am going to live by every Word that comes out of my Father's mouth, unlike what you did you loser."

It is evident satan chose to meditate on and act in disobedience to God's Word. Look what it got him. Don't you know that Jesus' words were a dig into satan's soul. And very well they should have.

Long story short, when Jesus had fellowship with the Father, He always brought up the death, burial and resurrection. On the mount of transfiguration, He talked to Moses and Elijah about his resurrection. Very early in His ministry, He began to teach the disciples about His death, His burial and His resurrection. What did Jesus wind up with? He was crucified, just like His Father said. He died and He was buried just like His Father said. He rose from the dead just like His father said. There's a message there somewhere.

Psalm 19:14--David must have had a clue to fellowship with the Father when he wrote, "Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer." When David QUIT thinking in line with God's Word and STARTED meditating on things he shouldn't have---POOF--there was Bathsheba. 

'Nuff said. But, saints, we have NOT been vigilant  enough in meditating and walking in the Word. That is what we have in common with the Holy Spirit. Fellowship with Him in accordance to God's Word strengthens our relationship with Him and one another. It also straightens our path.

I Paid For That With My Hard Earned Money

That's generally the statement that will come out of our mouths when one of our children breaks a window or dents the car. We'll be the first to tell them in no uncertain terms that they have broken something that they did not have to pay for. And, true enough, children often learn a big lesson about responsibility when they have to work to buy their own possessions.


When we fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and begin whining about what we don't have and what we desperately need, Jesus has every right to step in and say, "I bought that with my very own blood." If you'll pause and think about His Word, He has declared that every need is met according to His riches in glory. Remember a few blogs ago when I made mention that to fellowship with the Spirit, you had to have something in common to talk about? That should be one of the first and foremost of the 'talking points.'


Whatever you need has already been bought by His blood. The blood from the crown of thorns, the lashes that ripped his back apart, the nails that held him to the cross and that flowed out of his side. You will have to admit, dying on a cross was not the easiest thing in the world to do.


Before you begin bringing your petitions to the Lord, spend some time meditating on the price He has already paid for your needs. As the thought of His shed blood becomes a reality in your heart, you'll approach the throne of grace with more boldness knowing that your need has already been bought and paid for.


Think about it.

You Would Want To Marry Somebody Like That

We're still on the subject of 'Fellowship of the Spirit.' Today, let's take a look at Phil 2:1 and break it down phrase by phrase.

If there be any consolation in Christ

The Greek word for consolation actually means:

A calling near, encouragement, that which affords comfort or refreshment.

Wouldn't you want your lover to be one who is always wanting to be near you and was constantly encouraging you? What if every time you were around your lover every care went away and your strength and joy were renewed? You'd want to marry somebody like that.

If any comfort of love

The Greek word for comfort actually means:

Persuasive address

Does that sound strange? How many of you have had a lover that you changed your habits for simply because they asked you to? The love that had DEVELOPED between the two of you caused you to do that. Chances are, you married someone like that.

We're discussing 'Fellowship of the Spirit.'

If any bowels and mercies

The Greek words for bowels and mercies mean that His whole heart is filled with kindness, benevolence, compassion, tender mercies and affections.

Again, you would jump at the chance to marry someone like that.

That's who Jesus is. The reason you don't know Him like this is because you haven't stopped long enough to fellowship with Him. You spend two or three minutes, or even an hour pouring out your heart to Him. But, you have never given Him a chance to speak to you. He doesn't come down with a big booming voice, or write you a message on your living room wall. Just like any lover, He desires to spend some quality time with you and you alone. His desire is to show by experience how much He loves you and not by words only.

Fellowship of the Spirit.  Paul knew the advantages of living in His love. He had to to be able to go through what God's will brought him to. 

Spend some time with the One who is your Lover as well as your Lord. You'll find that He's one you would want to spend the rest of your life with.

Fellowship of The Spirit--Love Who You Are Talking To

When you think of fellowship, you think of talking, you think of laughing, you think of exchanging ideas, you think of interaction, and you think of coming away from a time of fellowship feeling great.

You never think of talking to a washing machine, overheated car, telephone poll or your tomato bush as fellowship. Why? Because they don't and can't interact with you. When somebody just sits there and listens to you, you don't call that fellowship.

Meaningful and enjoyable fellowship is a two-way conversation. Do you rush to have fellowship with someone you do not enjoy talking to? No. When you and your spouse were just dating, did you go through your day with a pep in your step as you anticipated a meaningful and enjoyable time of fellowship later on that day? Of course you did.

Paul is saying in Phil 2:1 that he found some enjoyable and relaxing time in conversing with the Holy Spirit. Am I saying that we should be sitting around listening for some mystical voice? Of course not. You see, God has already started the conversation thousands of years ago. He has told us that He loves us. He has already said that He would meet our needs. He has already said that He would be with us. 

Back when you were dating, and the conversation lagged, invariably one would say, "I love you" and the other would answer, "I love you, too." Since He has already told us of His love, why not get to your quiet place and start a time of fellowship with Him by relaxing and saying, "I love you, too." Say it enough that you start enjoying His presence and the rest of the conversation will take care of itself.

Fellowship of The Spirit-What Are You Talking About?

Phil 2:1 mentions the phrase 'fellowship of the Spirit.' That began to roll around  inside of my spirit as I was working today. When I came home and looked it up, I found several blogs worth of stuff. So, right now, let me just deal with one aspect--communication.


Fellowship between two people involves conversation, among other things. But, if we tried to converse with someone of a different nation, we would come to exasperation pretty quickly. Neither of us would understand what the other was trying to say. Therefore the fellowship would be short and unproductive.


Fellowship with the Holy Spirit is the same. The Holy Spirit knows only ONE language, and that language is identified in the Word of God. When we start thinking or talking in ways that are contrary to God's Word, the Holy Spirit is unable to fellowship with us.


Here's a surefire way of proving the point. Sit still and start thinking about all of the things that have hurt you, irritated you or drove you to distraction this week. After a few minutes, do you sense His presence? Obviously not.


Now take a few minutes and meditate on how much He loves you, what He has done for you on the cross and how much He means to you. It won't take too long before you know that you have His attention and that the two of you are sharing a conversation.


A relationship between two humans builds during pleasant conversation. The same with God. The more you talk His language, the more your relationship with Him will deepen. The more time you take to spend with Him in fellowship and worship, the stronger your faith in Him will grow. It all starts by speaking his language.

Fuel Your Faith More Than You Fuel Your Doubts

Great is Thy Faithfulness, O God my Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.


Summer and winter, springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join in all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.


I hope this is one of your favorites as it is mine. The title to today's blog has been going through my heart all week. You will have to agree that we are 'prisoners' of our thoughts. Our thoughts govern the course of our actions just like the steering wheel on a car. Too often, wrong thoughts lead to serious and hurtful accidents.

When we dwell on the past hurts, mistakes, jealousies, and anger we are actually trying to steer our lives while driving in reverse. We are constantly looking at our past, mulling over who did what, when and how. It's no wonder we wind up going nowhere or getting to our desired destination so slowly. Instead of thinking about where we are going, our minds 'eyes' are locked on things that happen 40 years ago, if you're that old---or maybe just 5 or 10.


Do you realize that the words to this great hymn are enjoyed by unbelievers and ungodly just as much as they are by the 'saints.' Maybe even more so. Take, for example this hot summer weather. Saint and sinner alike can be heard to say, "I can't wait until the fall brings cooler weather." And, in the winter, we say, "I can't wait for warmer weather." They are actually praising and believing God in THINKING about His great faithfulness.


What are we as Christians, real "Bible believers" doing? Are we fueling our faith more than we are fueling our doubts. Bad stuff happens alright but God said in Jer. 29:11 that He is planning on doing something good. When we dwell on our past, we are fueling our doubts and are not looking 'forward' to anything else but continued failure.


Hot weather doesn't stay and cold weather doesn't last forever. I have already got plans for what I want to do in my flower garden when October and November get here to have a prettier spring. You probably do, too. God promised us that we did not have to build a home in the valley of the shadow of death. He said He would be with us as we go THROUGH it.


Think about how much time you spend looking backwards. Turn your faith car around and fuel you faith more than you fuel your doubts.

That Is Totally Uncalled For

I know that everyone has had things that have happened to them that we could classify as TOTALLY UNCALLED FOR. Friends have wronged us. Relatives have wronged us. Life itself by it's very sinful nature is going to wrong us time and time again.


I've been in one of those funks for several months. You've probably been there, yourself. As hard as I try, either present 'uncalled fors' or a myriad of past 'uncalled fors' come buzzing around to tear my mind up. For all of you grammar buffs I know that I just wrote a no-no twice. But, folks when doo-doo is thrown on you, you step in it and can't shake it off and you have to smell it while others around you smell good, you could care less about correct grammar. Can I get a witness?


During my worship time this morning, I was listening to Jeremy Camp sing 'Overcome.' I began to think about the sacrifice that Jesus made for all of us. The rejection, the envy, the hatred, His arrest, the crown of thorns, the lashes, and the cross were totally uncalled for. Or were they? 


Yes, they were called for. My sins called for His blood to be shed. He didn't deserve to die, I did. He did the hard part. He took all the disrespect and pain that the world could ever inflict for one reason, to free a sinful world of everything that was totally uncalled for.


The answer is in the Word of God repeated several times in that song. "We shall overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony." You know, He did the hard part and left us the easy part to do. We can ALL overcome by the word of our testimony. Let His Word and not our worry be on our lips. Let His Word change whatever is wrong in our lives today. It really is the easiest part.

Jesus, Be More Real To Me Than What I'm Going Through

Jesus, be more real to me than my problems.
Jesus, be more real to me than my doubts and fears.
Help me to find more to praise You about than to complain about.
Help me to be more concerned about lost souls than what someone else has done to me.
Help me to learn the lessons You are teaching me.
Help me not to teach others what anger and doubt are all about.
Jesus, help me sing Your praises more than I feel sorry for myself.
Help me to give people more of Your love and less of my mind.
Let folks see more of Your beauty and less of my ugly.
Be glorified in all I do. In Jesus name, Amen

Don't Balk at Your Lessons. Learn to Finish Them

Gal 4:1--Now I say [that] the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all,
2--but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father.


It is true that out of all Jacob's sons, Joseph was unfairly persecuted by his brothers. Other than being a typical, overzealous younger brother and his father's favorite, there was nothing that he did to deserve the junk he had to endure for years. But, as we look to what Joseph was called by God to do, we realize that what he went through was just a training ground for him. God had a purpose for everything Joseph went through. He was  under tutors and governors until the time appointed by the Father. 


Think of it like this. None of the other brothers had to go through what he did. I dare say that no one in Egypt had to go through it either. HOWEVER, because Joseph remained faithful to God in ungodly circumstances, none of his brothers got the great blessing that he got, neither were they allowed to share in Joseph's prestige. They got to stay in a land that God had prepared for them alright. BUT, they didn't share in his position in the country or his continuous wealth. Joseph got the girl, the power, the castle AND he got to see his father until Jacob died.


Everybody forsook Jesus and left Him to suffer and die alone. Yes, this was prophesied. But, as Jesus remained an obedient Son under ungodly tutors and governors as well as to His Father, He received a resurrection no one else could share.


Think about it for a minute. When it seems like no one else shares the burdens you are under, no one else will share the glory of His blessings on you, either.


What about the time?  Paul, who also suffered greatly, declared from experience that the Father's time was an appointment. You know, like your doctor's appointment at 10:30. It is our Father's appointed time that he has set aside just to bless you like He's not going to bless anyone else around you?  Why not? Because, nobody else has had to go through what you are going through right now.


Live in His Grace, my friend.