Are You Willing and Obedient?

Recently, the Lord has been talking to me about listening more intently to Him. He brought me to Proverbs 4:1-6. It says:

Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father and attend to know understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake you not my law. For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments and live. Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not and she shall preserve thee: love her and she shall keep thee.

The Bible is a living Word given to us to learn how to live, overcome and have joy in this fallen world. Nothing can substitute what the Holy Spirit can speak to us, both individually and as a corporate body through divine revelation of the Word. When God speaks to us through His Word and through those whom He uses to teach us His Word, its best that we take heed to what He is trying to get across to us.


One thing I have noticed in the last couple of years is that God is preparing His people to go home. He wants a pure and spotless bride that is ready to stand before Him. He is dealing with us in areas that many of us have desired to be left alone. It’s too hard, emotionally and physically to deal with…or so we have allowed the enemy to convince us.

We must make a choice to believe and trust God to help us let go of the things that hold us back or that seem too painful to deal with. We have to believe that just like ripping a band aid off of a sensitive area – it will only be painful for a few moments, but then we are free of it and can finally move forward without fear or pain!

In Isaiah 1:19-20 it says:  If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

But if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured with the sword: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.

The Lord made it very clear to me that you need to be both willing and obedient when He speaks to you about changing things in your life. If you are not willing you will not be obedient and if you are not obedient then you are not willing.

If you truly have a desire to do what God is calling you to do in these last days and to do it with the Power of God flowing through you…isn’t it time to face those things holding you back and have victory over them?

Philippians 4:13 AMP version says: I have strength for ALL things in Christ (*the Anointed One and His anointing*) which empowers me (I am ready for anything through Him Who infuses inner strength into me; I am self sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency).   * added from the Greek

He will give you the strength, courage and boldness to do ALL that you need to do and the grace (the supernatural ability) to overcome.

Be Blessed

Pastor Kathy Mosier
Life Church and Training Center
www.lcindy.com

What Are Your Intentions?

The Lord has really been impressing upon me lately that my intentions need to be in the right place.

He has also been teaching me to praise him regardless of the circumstances around me.

As I have meditated on these two things, I have come to realize how much they are related. They both bring glory to God, and the both demonstrate that He is first in my life.

I believe, now more than ever, that God’s intention for my family is to have nothing but the best. He wants us to be in good health. He wants us to have good finances, and he wants us to enjoy the best that life has to offer.

I know why he wants these things for me. It is the same reason why I want my children to live a good life. No one wants to see their children struggle, but what I am starting to understand is that it is much more than just living a good life.

God has recently taught me that it is not possible to fully walk in His will if I am concerned with the things of this Earth.

Do you think that Pastor Keith Moore worries about how his bills are going to get paid? Do you think Pastor Kenneth Hagan worried about his health or what the people around him were up to?

Not only are the concerns of the world a hindrance to a person’s spiritual walk, but a person cannot tangible full-fill their call. If a person were to be called to be an oversees missionary, how would they be able to do so if they were struggling with their health or their finances. God wants us to be free from those worries so that when He calls us for the Kingdom we don’t have to worry about worldly affairs. Without hesitation, we are able to believe God and act.

Everyone desires good health, financial freedom, and a worry free life, but why should we desire those things?

According to the Bible, we should desire the will of God.

The will of God is also for us to have good health, financial freedom, and a worry free life so that we can be ready to act when called.

I used to want good health because I did not want to go to the doctor, and I don’t like not feeling good. I used to want financial freedom because I wanted to be able to purchase what I want when I want and go where I want when I want.

My prayer has now changed from obtaining these worldly things to: number one; believing and thanking God for them, and number two; asking God to change my heart so that the reason I desire these things is so I may praise Him, honor Him, and give Him all the glory.

I can be living what seems to be the greatest life there is, but if I am not honoring God, it is pointless. There is one thing that I know for sure. The reasons that I use to have did not bring me a blessing that I cannot contain, and until I have received a blessing that I cannot contain, I am falling short of where I need to be. And until I receive a blessing I cannot contain, I cannot be the blessing to others that God wants me to be.

Written by Christian Carlisle

Fruit

Fruit Your Deeds Actions Are They Rotten or Good?

Fruit – what is it?

Are you thinking apple, orange, blueberries or watermelon? Those are yummy but when God speaks of fruit in John 15:2 and Matthew 12:33, this is not the ‘fruit’ He is talking about.

He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.

John 15:2

The fruit He is talking about is a deed, action, result, or profit.

In the Strong’s it’s #2590 - everything done in true partnership with Christ, i.e. a believer (a branch) lives in union with Christ (the Vine). By definition, fruit (2590 /karpós) results from two life-streams – the Lord living His life through ours – to yield what is eternal

So our ‘fruit’ will be what we are doing, how we are speaking, how we are treating people; what our actions are, are we lazy, do we keep our word when we say we will do something? What is the result of our actions? Do we profit, does the Kingdom of God profit?

It says He prunes the branches that bear fruit.

Prune in the Strong’s #2508 - make clean by purging (removing undesirable elements); hence, "pruned (purged)"; eliminating what is fruitless by purifying.

I’m not sure about you but when I’m getting ‘pruned’ sometimes I let out a yelp! There are times I know I need to let go of a relationship because it draws me away from God or I need to stop watching a certain program because it causes wrong emotions to rise up in me and that affects the relationships in my home.

Sometimes He prunes me because I’m speaking negative things to myself and believing the lies rather than the truth of who God says I am and the power I have to change because ‘the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in me’. WOW I want to understand that more. I ask for wisdom on this one verse Lord. That’s power!

The ‘more fruitful’ is awesome too, it is greater, of higher value.

So as I (we) are pruned, we repent and let go of the bad fruit and begin to see increase. This increase can come in the form of better relationships, finances, health, peace and faith.

When God begins to prune the bad fruit of laziness and over eating, it doesn’t feel comfortable at first and it does take some work to move forward. But as you begin to give it over to God, rely on Him knowing you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you and then you begin to see the positive results – you begin to desire those pruning’s! You can even see an increase in your finances because you are not eating out as much or buying all those cookies and cakes you thought you couldn’t live without.

Then in Matthew 12:33 I looked up ‘good’

"Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit.

Good - Definition: beautiful, as an outward sign of the inward good, noble, honorable character; good, worthy, honorable, noble, and seen to be so.

In Strong’s - 2570 – attractively good; good that inspires (motivates) others to embrace what is lovely (beautiful, praiseworthy); i.e. well done so as to be winsome (appealing).

Don’t you want to be ‘good’, one that inspires, one that embraces what is lovely and praiseworthy? Don’t you want a person to know you as one that has honorable character? I sure do.

Now when I looked up ‘bad’ --

Definition: rotten, useless, corrupt, depraved.

In Strong’s - 4550 – properly, rotten (putrid), over-ripe; (figuratively) over-done (ripened); hence, corrupt. --, expresses what is of poor quality, unfit for use, putrid"– "of poor or bad quality"

Do you (do I) express what is of poor quality?

I looked up ‘poor quality’ in the dictionary (The Free Dictionary on-line) and it said - Not adequate in quality; inferior Lacking in value; insufficient.

I know if this is where I am at it's because I’ve started believing/living a lie. God tells me in His word that I have value, I am not useless! Satan wants me to have this ‘bad’ fruit so I’m too ‘self-centered’ to be ‘others-centered’. The evil one knows if he can keep me in the poor me or even in the pride arena, I will have rotten fruit because I’m stuck in the ‘me, me, me, it’s all about me’ syndrome. Anything I do will not be in excellence, it will begin to stink because it doesn’t inspire anyone. Living the way God tells me (us) to live is the good fruit, fruit that inspires and motivates and blesses!

Now on to ‘is known’ (is recognized).

Definition: I am taking in knowledge, come to know, realized.

1097 ginṓskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand acquaintance).

You will be known by your fruit, there is no way around it. As people begin to know you, especially outside the Sunday sermon, will they be intrigued by your good fruit or repulsed by the rotten, bad fruit?

Remember your fruit will show through in the way you treat your spouse, your children, people you work with, the way you handle a frustrating cashier, etc. Are you the loudest AMEN on Sunday and then Sunday night or Monday morning you are belittling and controlling your spouse? Or maybe talking about someone because they are not on the same faith level you are? Do you gossip or whine? I could go on and on but I think you get the picture. I know I do and just in writing this I have had a conviction and have repented – ouch got pruned again, but thank You Lord because I know the good that will come from it. Good in my life and in the life of others, because You are Light in me for all to see!

If any of this has spoken to you and you need to repent and turn away from the bad fruit – do it now. So with eyes opened or closed, you’re your hand folded or lifted up to the Lord; however you are called to do it – cry out to God now, tell Him you know you have fallen short in this area and you are sorry. Ask Him to forgive you, He will. Then ask Him to give you the strength to change whatever it is, as you read His word He may give you Scriptures He wants you to dwell on so they become alive in you and give you what you need to change your bad fruit to a good fruit.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. 2 Corinthians 13:14

The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children

If you are in the Indianapolis, Indiana or surrounding areas, please mark your calendars for this awesome study on praying for your adult children.

'The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children" by Stormie Omartian

The following is a report on the practical applications of Stormie Omartian's new book, The Power of Praying for Your Adult Children (Harvest House, 2009).

You want to continue to support your adult children while still giving them the freedom to make their own choices. But where do you draw the line between helping them to build their own lives well and enabling them to remain dependent on you? And how do you deal with all of your many concerns about them – from their friendships and romantic partnerships, to their career pursuits and financial management?

We will begin this study on June 11th, Saturday, at 10:30am and meet every other week.

We will meet at LIFE Church and Training Center, 5895 E. Thompson Rd., Suite D, Indianapolis, IN 46237

Our website ) www.lcindy.com