spiritual

It’s Possible!

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It’s possible to have so many gifts wrapped and stacked under the tree at Christmas to actually miss one. Or it’s possible you hid the gift and couldn’t find it when the time came to give it. Gifts get misplaced and sometimes forgotten, then months later or even years later they are found. Not only is this possible but it’s probably more common than we know. Some of that can be explained by just having too many gifts that you have forgotten what was purchased. It may also have something to do with the value of the gift. The greater the value, the less likely it is to be lost or forgotten.

Just like it’s possible to miss a gift when the opening frenzy begins, it’s very possible that followers of Christ haven’t discovered all the spiritual gifts God has so freely given them. Think about it, if you had a spiritual gift from God you haven’t discovered up to this point, wouldn’t you want to know what it is? We know we have at least one spiritual gift and it shouldn’t surprise us that we have more than one knowing the generosity of our Father and the kingdom purpose behind those gifts.
1 Corinthians 12:1 Now concerning spiritual [gifts,] brethren, I do not want you to be ignorant:, 7-11 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit [of all:] 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another [different] kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.
When it comes to spiritual gifts, we should be as children and wonder, have I missed a gift? Why not take another look, there may be one more gift you have yet to discover. To look, tell the Father how thankful you are for the gifts He has already given you, then ask Him if there are any more. I can promise you He will not be upset, but He will be delighted in you.

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You’re in the Wrong Party

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It is highly possible that you could split our nation in half by our strong political affiliations. Americans are party people who for the most part stand for either the Republican or Democrat values and goals. There are some Independents mixed in, but all in all it is one of the two parties. Our news networks understand that and constantly feed one party’s perspective against the other, thus being a major driving force of strife and division. Political parties have long existed, but have you ever considered that you may be in the wrong party? I can promise you that the news stations could care less about the division and strife in our nation because their stations run on ratings and the more heated arguments they can televise the higher the ratings they receive. But have you considered you are in the wrong party?

When you become more Republican or Democrat politically than you are God-centered spiritually, you are in the wrong party. What a tragedy when Christians prefer their political views over the compassion and care for people. What a tragedy when a Christian talks more about their political party because they believe they have the answer to our nation’s problems than talking about Jesus Christ who alone has the answer. I have heard people say, “You can be too heavenly minded to be any earthly good.” I don’t believe that personally, but I do believe you can be too politically minded to be any spiritual good. Have you chosen your side? Are you a staunch Republican or Democrat? Why not believe we are all being intentionally divided against ourselves and join the Christ-followers party? The truth is our political parties thrive in the confusion and chaos. Look at what Jesus said in Luke 11:23.

“He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters.”

You might be wondering if I am rejecting party affiliations. What I am saying is that if you are a child of God, born again and filled with the Holy Spirit, you better be known to be one who lines up with the Jesus party. What I am wanting you to evaluate is if your desire and passion is expressed more politically than it does spiritually. Only Jesus knows the way for us, the truth among us, and has the life for us, only Jesus! I am with Jesus Christ!

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Suddenly

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Life was very different just two weeks ago.  Two weeks ago we were still freely moving about without fear and fully engaged in our community and church activities.  But now all of that has changed and the change has come by the day and hour as with the rise of the coronavirus.  This sudden change didn’t take much effort at all, but only with  news reports of the spread of the virus and recommendations and executive orders by our government officials.  The sudden and drastic change we have experienced should alert us spiritually.  Because of these global events, not just local, we should make a note of what time it is.  Let me ask you, do you know what time it is?  Your phone or watch or clock will be of no use in telling what time it is concerning this global event.  Is this not a spiritual hour we live in when sudden global change has taken place?  I certainly believe so!  Look at what Solomon wrote about things happening suddenly.  

 “I returned and saw under the sun that– The race [is] not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all. For man also does not know his time: Like fish taken in a cruel net, Like birds caught in a snare, So the sons of men [are] snared in an evil time, When it falls suddenly upon them.” Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

This global event is explained away by so many as only “time and chance.”  But then it says, “man also does not know his time.”  At any time of the day you can look up at the sun and give a good estimate on the time, but have you considered observing the activities of men to tell the spiritual time?  Spiritually it is time to wake up and return to God and call on Him.  Amazingly, there are so many Christians who are still sleeping because they don’t know the time, and to them this virus is like a bad dream.  Let me encourage you to wake up and know and believe that what has happened globally is a great indicator of what time it is spiritually.  Draw near to God and live like you understand the times. 

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Shut-Ins

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Churches have certain people they call “shut-ins.“  These are the people who are physically not able to make it to church.  Many shut-ins live in their homes with 24-hour care, while others live in assisted living or nursing homes.  The shut-ins did not all of a sudden decide they were done with church and no longer wanted to attend, but because of age or failing health or accidents, they no longer have the ability to be in church.  Of all the places most of these shut-ins want to be on Sunday morning, it is with their church family.  But churches have another kind of shut-in today.  Look at this, “Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.”  John 20:19

The disciples were shut in because of their fear of the Jews.  It is definitely biblical for Believers to come into the house, shut the door and close the world out.  But what happens with many is they receive Christ as Savior and remain shut in and never go out.  Jesus said in John 10:9 “I am the door.  If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.” 

God has called every Believer in Christ to go in and-out.  Christ did not save us to be spiritual shut-ins. Strangely, a Believer can go out and still be shut in if they never speak a word about Jesus.  Walking out of a church building does not mean you are not a shut-in.  Spiritual shut-ins are those who never let the light of Jesus shine through their lives.  Yes, shut yourself in to be alone with Jesus and have fellowship with the body of Christ, but then go out and be the witness God has made you to be.  

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At Risk of Fading Away

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You may be at risk! This is not a warning about catching some kind of disease or virus that is spreading around. I’m not talking about being at risk of a stroke or heart attack. But you may be at risk spiritually of falling away from a close intimate relationship with God. How long have you been in the church? How long have you had a walk with God? The longer the walk, the greater the risk of falling away and fading out spiritually. I will say it again, the longer the walk, the greater the risk of falling away and fading out spiritually. What you had at the beginning of your walk with God, the love, passion, and desire to seek Him has a tragic tendency to disappear. When it does, two things can happen. You can still check into church every Sunday, but your heart never shows up. If this has happened to you, then you don’t need to blame the devil and you don’t need to blame those you once went to church with, you just need to look inside. This is a call to revival! Get the shine back in your walk with God. God hasn’t gone anywhere, and He is ever waiting for those to return to Him.

At one time, He was your first love, but what about today? Is He constantly on your heart and mind? Has He ever been? When my wife and I were first dating in the two years before our marriage, we pursued each other. Twenty-eight years later, we still pursue each other. This is how our relationship with God is supposed to be. What I’m saying is that your relationship with God does not have to fade, but it can grow and be your all-consuming passion every day. It’s not just for a few, but this dynamic is available to you. I told a group of people last week, “You are as close to God as you want to be.” It’s true. So how close are you? Why not close the distance and fall in love with Jesus again! I can tell you, there is not a microcell in your flesh that wants to get closer to God, so if this relationship is worth anything, you’ll have to fight for it with everything you’ve got.
Here how to get your relationship back with God. “Nevertheless I have [this] against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place–unless you repent.” Revelation 2:4-5

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Labor in Prayer

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When you can pray more, you become eligible to work less and stress less.  Look at this verse, Matthew 6:6 (NKJV) “But you, when you pray, go into your room/closet, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who [is] in the secret [place;] and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.”

Praying is spiritual work, and it’s a labor every believer in Christ should give themselves to more.  It means you have an inside job.  It means that whatever you need done in your life, you should labor over it in prayer.  Believers work so hard trying to push their agendas and make things happen, when all they really need to do is pray in the closet and invite God to do it.  

A few things can happen when you pray this way.  First, God can answer your petition just as you have asked.  He can also test you to see if you really want what you are petitioning Him for.  God wants you to see that the major part of our spiritual work is done alone with God in the closet or quiet place in prayer.  God sees you when you go to your closet for prayer.  God can also lift a burden off of you when you pray.  You can’t change someone’s heart, but God can, and He hears our petition.  You can’t make a schedule come together or a meeting take place or two friends who are at odds with each other come to reconcile, but God can.  Prayer to God is a labor of love to see God’s will be done.  

Sometimes it’s a labor just to get to the prayer closet, but once you’ve seen God move on your petition and bring the answers that glorify Him, you start signing up for more shifts.  The next time you go to your prayer closet to pray, tell God that you would like to do all your labor there, and watch Him work.  That’s how the Believer’s life was meant to be.  Labor in prayer over your family and over your lost friend.  Labor in prayer for your community and your church.  Labor in prayer to the point that you enjoy the work, because God meets you there and God works there.  

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