God does not do idle things. In other words, everything He does has purpose and design. When He fashioned you, He did so for a specific reason.
Ephesians 2:10:
For we are his workmanship [masterpiece], created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Now, as some of us get a little older, we need to realize that our Heavenly Father did not invest all His time training us in service to have us sit on the sidelines cheering others to serve.
Put yourself back in the game. Maybe in your younger years you were a quarterback or running back handling the ball a lot, now you may be a blocker or kicker contributing essential duties for the success of the team. The point is: Get back in the game!
Satan aims his temptations at everyone. Perhaps with the older saints, he picks on our age, or if we had marital problems, or if we are experiencing health issues, or attacks our financial condition since we may be retired or not making as much money as in the past. Regardless what he tempts us with, we can handle anything he throws our way. “Greater is he that is in us than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4).
Remember Paul, when he declared he knew, “how to be abased [without] and how to abound...” (Philippians 4:12). The next verse shows he was not focused on the circumstances around him, but it was all about who he was in Christ. “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13).
Christ in us, makes us more than conquerors (Romans 8:37), regardless of our age, marital status, physical condition or financial position. We put on the whole armor of God to stand against the methods of the devil, which includes praying in the spirit, which is speaking in tongues (Ephesians 6:10-18). We also do James 4:7: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”
As God’s children we serve for a lifetime. We are faithful to the end. We stay in the game regardless of what position we play. And when the trumpet sounds and we stand before our Lord, we anticipate hearing: “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:23).
Agape,
Bob
My Dear Heavenly Father:
You are so awesome and magnificent! You keep me in astonishment for Your consistent and loving care for me.
Today is a special day of celebration for the liberties my country has enjoyed for over 200 years.
Oh, how thankful I am for the men and women that came before me, that molded this grand land. Thank you for my fore-fathers and fore-mothers (We too often forget how important the role the women played, such as Abigail Adams, Dolley Madison, Mercy Otis Warren and Cathrine Moore Barry) that were instrumental in the whole scheme of things.
I am thankful Father that the Word of God and Biblical principles of right living and right ruling that were sown in the hearts of these men and women are evidenced in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
I am thankful Father that they expressed their trust in You as witnessed in the close of the Declaration of Independence saying, “...with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence. We mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our Sacred Honor.”
Father, I too pledge myself to You, in light of Your redeeming work through Jesus Christ and Your calling me to function in the Body of Christ. I give You my whole body, soul and spirit, to serve You forever.
Amen and Agape,
Bob
Galatians 5:13 For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.
If I could only pray like Jesus Christ. He walked in confidence knowing what an amazing relationship he had with His Father. He knew His Father would respond to Him and answer His prayer.
Jesus Christ obviously recognized the value of prayer to His Father. He prayed often, “And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed” Mark 1:35. Obviously, prayer was a priority with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I have thought so many times, that I wish I could pray like Him. How could I ever reach the level of prayer that He did?
There is something we need to realize to help us reach a point of praying like Jesus Christ. First, we are sons of God too. We have a relationship with God Almighty like Jesus did that makes us heirs of God and co-heirs with Jesus Christ.
Romans 8:17
And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Such a relationship reality should excite our hearts. Our new lifestyle should be one of practicing our authority and confidence in Christ.
Another exciting truth we should realize in light of the gift of holy spirit is our association with Christ. Jesus Christ talked about those in the future who had the gift of holy spirit would be able to do the works that He did and more! This monumental truth should get us thinking of what we can do as sons of God.
A new manifestation of the spirit that came on the Day of Pentecost was speaking in tongues. This unique prayer ability is the spirit within us praying. Colossians says, the spirit in us is “Christ in us.” When we pray in the spirit it is a perfect prayer, because it is the spirit that gives the words. Really when you think of the Christ in us and we can pray in the spirit, it is as if Jesus Christ was praying.
When Jesus prayed, it was a perfect prayer. Really, speaking in tongues, is like Christ praying. It is Christ in us the hope of glory. So, when we speak in tongues it is the Christ in us praying. When you think about it, we are praying in Jesus Christ stead!
So, you want to pray like Jesus Christ? Pray in the spirit, speak in tongues much!
Agape,
Bob
We live in the culture of our times. What we see, hear, smell, taste and touch mold the lives we live. Our five senses sets the stage of how we function.
These lifestyle influences dictate so much of how we act. It seems in our times we are more intrigued by what
is happening with media personalities than with more important life issues, such as family, and spiritual matters.
For example: We are more concerned about what is happening with the Kardashinans than other people that really affect our lives. In a recent editorial article in the newspaper, it indicated we live in a “Celebrity Obsessed Culture.” influenced by entertainment celebrities.
As every Psychologist will declare, we are a product of our surroundings and what we feed on mentally. Our culture is loaded with an amazing amount of influences. These are what makes us who we are.
Thankfully there is another influence that we can allow to affect our lives that can change everything. The greatest celebrity of all time is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one we want to focus on. There is nothing more spectacular than what Jesus Christ did for us and who we are as sons of God with Christ in us.
God knew what He was saying when He said, “Man cannot live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Incorporating the Word of God in our lives as the dominating influence is one of the most challenging tasks man can take on. Few allow themselves to break away from the worldly influences to bask in the light of God’s glorious Word.
What we believe determines who we are and who we will become in the future. If we want to live as a Son of God, with incorruptible seed, filled with the spirit of God, having eternal life, we must start with 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.
Abideth means to have residence within.
Realizing that God is Spirit, we must adjust our thinking to be spiritually minded not five senses minded.
Romans 8:6 & 8:
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
Thankfully God has given us His word which is spiritual food, that can
sustain us, regardless of the onslaughts of the worldly influences.
Hebrews 4:12:
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
God wants us to know the depth of His love. He wants us to live a fulfilling and fruitful life. The world’s way soon gets frustrating and self serving. Those who have the most things tend to be the most stressed.
People tend to seek an exciting life as portrayed in the movies and on TV. “ I want to experience the thrill of great relationships and adventures with meaningful accomplishments,” many will cry out.
When you look at what is available for the born again son of God in living this way, the world is no better than a B-rated movie filled with more commercials than content!
Look at what the Christian lifestyle consists of:
God has truly called us to live a marvelous life for Him. Our challenge is to control what lifestyle influences enter in our brains and incorporate the ones that allows us to function as sons of God with power and love.
God’s Word is loaded with an abundance of resources to tap into to live a purposed filled life that is a glory to God and a blessing to others.
One section I would like to recommend for your reading pleasure is II Corinthians 3:17 & 18 to II Corinthians 5:21. Here is the first and last Scriptures in this section to stir your spiritual appetite:
II Corinthians 3:18 & 5:20:
But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
For he hath made him to be sin [sin offering] for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Let the truth of God’s Word be the only dominating influence in your life.
Bob Lindfelt
Jeanie and I were praying and reading the Word of God this morning and she pointed out a recent letter sent to us from the Joyce Meyer Ministries. She shared it with me and had a big smile on her face in light of what I have been working on and what she has been proof reading.
First, what she has been proof reading was the sharing in this newsletter on pages one and two, titled “Lifestyle Influences.” The letter she shared with me from the Joyce Meyer Ministries was very similar. Of course it reflected her dynamic style of presentation and ability to hit the mark on subjects.
Here are some excerpts from it:
You see, God didn’t create you to look or act like everyone else. You don’t have to conform to the world by doing what the rest of society is doing. In fact, the very opposite is true.
You’re not called to be a people pleaser. You weren’t created to just fit in with the crowd. No, God has destined you for something greater...something different!
The world is broken and dysfunctional...but you are different!
The world is dark and depressed ... but you are different!
The world is full of fear and frustration ... but you are different!
God didn’t want me to constantly be focused on myself and my problems. He wanted me to be different. As He started changing my heart, I began to see there were hurting, broken, confused people all around me ... and this is why my passion in life is to share the love of Christ with as many people as I possibly can.
In an ungodly world, you can stand out and be different no matter where you are or what you do. Your life can encourage others by showing them the love of God, not just by what you say, but by how you live.
Above all else, we walk as sons of God, with God in Christ in us! Walk boldly!
- Bob Lindfelt