San Diego has been invaded by a series of rain storms that have some talking like they are living in Seattle. As I was driving across a bridge I happened to notice a bird on top of a light pole. My heart went out to the poor little fellow, but with a second thought I realized he is OK and can easily handle this. Then I thought about the verse that says, “Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.” (Matthew 6:26). I smiled as I realized that our Heavenly Father is taking care of them.
Later I realized as much as God provides for his critters, He also takes care of us. I reflected on the rest of Matthew 6:26: “... Are ye not much better than they?”
As we live our lives day by day and moment by moment it is easy to forget the presence of the Creator of the heavens and earth. He is my Father and loves me and cares for me even better than the birds. Other verses started to come to mind:
Jeremiah 29:11:
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Romans 8:28-32:
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
What an awesome privilege to be a child of the most High God. He is so loving and caring that not only does He take care of his birds, but even little old me as well!
As I traveled on my way I started singing that familiar hymn:
I’ve found it true, so very true,
My father cares for me.
His promise holds, His love unfolds,
I know He cares for me.
Chorus:
I know He cares for me (cares for me),
I know He cares for me (cares for me)
His way is best, I’ve proved by test,
And I know He cares for me.
Agape,
Bob
On the last Bless Net I introduced a subject that started my New Year: “The Joy of Serving."
Unfortunately, many Christians see living the Christ in you lifestyle as almost a burdensome sacrifice. Many are taught you have to suffer if you are really serving the Lord Jesus Christ. Some denominations even connect salvation to the works that you do. My Bible teaches the joy of the Lord is my strength. Yes, you may have to handle a phone call at 2:00 AM or give financial help beyond what you normally share. But if you are serving with the right attitude, and in spite of what sacrifices occur, we can still experience the joy of the Lord in our service.
I know this may sound like an oxymoron or a conflict of statements, but there is one verse that settles it all for me.
Hebrews 12:2:
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
"Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross." How could it be joy to go through what He did? Didn't He go to the Father in the prayer in Gethsemane and ask if "this cup could pass from Him?" What is it to have such a joy and yet go through such pain and suffering?
First of all, joy is not an outside expression like happiness. Joy is an inside experience of great delight as caused by something exceptionally satisfying. Godly joy resides in the depth of your heart and gives you a satisfaction unrealized in any other way. Joy is one of the fruits of the spirit. For Jesus Christ the "joy set before Him" was the realization that God would raise Him from the dead and sit Him at His own right hand in the heavenlies far above all principalities and powers. The price would be paid and He would have a new spiritual body that even we would someday have.
For us who serve today, we must look to the rewards that will occur in the future not the inconvenience or suffering at the time. As Christians we know the spiritual realities far outweigh the physical ones. We take on the burdens of service to others because of the vision we have of the future.
The one great perspective that motivates us to believe and serve with joy is the knowledge that Christ will be returning soon.
I Peter 1:7 & 8:
That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
Agape,
Bob
This Holiday season was a glorious time. The saints gathered a week before Christmas to fellowship and share a scrumptious dinner. On Christmas day we had a dinner for people in the community that did not have a place to go. We had some 30 guests with about 10 helpers. A number of them were homeless, others were staying in local hotels (In fact, one of the hotel owners attended along with one of his workers and his son.) One person was walking by and came in and others arrived from seeing our flyers. God’s Word with the love of God and testimonies were shared. It was one of the finest giving times I have witnessed in a long time (Thank you servers!).
This New Year’s Eve we had the privilege of having Ken Petty share the Word of God and Scott Powell and Warren Seames perform a music program. It was streamed live on our “Acts Now Fellowship” facebook. (It is still there if you are interested). It too was one of those memorable times that God got the glory and many got immensely blessed.
Now, what is up for 2017?
Here is what has been put on my heart in light of praying for this New Year: The Joy of the Lord in Service! We have been emphasizing service within our fellowships the last several months. God has blessed us with many new people to love and serve.
One important aspect we never want to forget is the “Joy of Service.” Despite the rigors of getting out of our comfort zone and dealing with unusual situations, we must never forget the proper heart of service, in that we serve with joy. “The joy of the Lord is our strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). Happiness is a nice feeling that lasts for a little time, but joy is a happy feeling in the depth of one’s heart that stays for a long time. God wants us to experience joy when we serve with Him and pray.
Philippians 1:4:
Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
When we have joy or we rejoice (have joy over and over again) in the things of God, it makes for a fulfilling lifestyle with our Heavenly Father. Enjoy these verses in light of this:
Philippians 2:16-18:
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me.
What a lifestyle to develop in our hearts, to “rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice” (Philippians 4:4). Remember, “in Thy presence is fullness of joy,” Psalm 16:11. Our Heavenly Father living in us via the gift of holy spirit, via Christ in us, should not only excite us, but provide a joy of joys!
A practical example of someone who serves having the joy of the Lord evident in his life is Ken Petty. When Jeanie and I dropped him off at the airport to fly home after blessing us for two days of teaching, and joining us on our “Agape Now Outreach,” reflected the “joy of service” when he said, “Perhaps my most favorite thing I did this weekend, was when we reached out to the homeless people.” He had a beautiful sincere smile when he said that. I thought, “That is serving with the joy of the Lord.”
Agape,
Bob
There was a colossal party Sunday of Heavenly Proportions. Mike got born again!
There is one thing that catches the interest of God's angels, like nothing else, and that is when someone confesses Jesus as Lord and believes that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Luke 15:10:
Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
It is quite an experience to see someone not too sure what they want in life, turn to the Heavenly Father and join the family of God. Mike was visiting San Diego, troubled about his life and not sure what he was going to do next. What made the difference? The love of God manifested by all the saints and the truth of God's Word.
I Peter 1:23:
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Ephesians 2:19:
Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;
One of the most glorious acts of man is to help someone get born again. Helping them from death unto eternal life. There is nothing quite like it. In this situation with Mike, everyone made an impression. From Michael, Mary Ruth, Jeanie, Frank, Barney, Al, the Victory House crew and many others, they exhibited and shared the incredible love of God. It is the miracle of all miracles - the New Birth!
As we live our lives and go through this Holiday season, let's remember the reason for the season. And not only remember Christ's birth, but our new birth in Him. Let's look forward to celebrating with the angels as others we come in contact with, make the glorious decision to get born again of God's spirit!
I John 5:20:
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
Agape,
Bob
Your thoughts play an important role in how you walk with God. Our thoughts lead to believing action either positively or negatively. It determines what kind of faith we exhibit, be it fearful or with confidence and trust.
Hebrews 11:6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
What feeds our thoughts are words, be they spoken or written. We are the gatekeepers of our mind. As a born again one, we take the Word of God in our mind to overcome negative, devilish temptation.
We all get negative thoughts that are temptations. Remember that temptations in themselves are not sin. Jesus said He was tempted in all things but without sin. Temptations become sin when we act on them and let them build a home in our thinking or in our mind.
Do you remember how Eve handled the temptations she was dealt with from the devil? She tried to debate the adversary and justify her errors. She obviously did not handle the temptations with God's Word.
How did Jesus Christ handle temptation? As we read in Matthew, Chapter 4 we discover that Jesus handled the temptations with "It is written." He replaced the temptation with a more powerful thought: the Word of God.
That is the key: Use the Word of God to replace the temptation. Many times we take on the temptation and exert great effort to throw it off or get rid of it. The key is to replace it with God's Word. For example when you have the devilish thoughts of being in self condemnation, we replace it with God's Word by saying, "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Romans 8:1). If we are tempted with fear, we replace it with God's Word: "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind" (II Timothy 1:7). This technique works every time, if we allow God's Word to have preeminence in our lives.
It is amazing how much our thoughts control how we feel. God invented our minds and its process. He has given us His Word to plant in our minds and to believe. There is nothing the devil can throw at us that we do not have His Word to overcome it.
What we need to do is fill our minds with God's Word so that we can take on any pitch the adversary may throw at us. We can slug it out of our mind and replace it with the truth of God's Word.
Agape,
Bob
PS: What reminded me of this technique, that I had been taught in the past, but in different ways, is a wonderful YouTube segment by Jimmy Evans, a minister who teaches this. It is a 30 minute YouTube called “A Mind Set Free” – Jimmy Evans. Do a search on YouTube to find it.