There Is A Work To Be Done

The Wrestling Match

In the last couple of years, the Lord has really been moving in this body of believers to become pure and holy before Him. There is a work to be done that requires us to be willing and obedient to leave behind anything from our past including separating emotional ties with it. For most people that is a difficult thing to do, but if we will simply trust Him to help us, we will complete the work that is set before us and finish the race capturing the prize our King longs to give us!

Jacob was a man that loved God and honored Him. Unfortunately, he was given a name that he heard every day and that name meant: supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler. That is how Jacob lived his life at times. Let’s take one instance to illustrate the point I wish to convey. Jacob tricked his father into believing he was his brother Esau and as a result swindled Esau out of his birthright. The choice he made in that moment caused him to live in fear of his brother for a good portion of his life and make choices rooted in fear.

Now the time has come that he must face his brother and he doesn't know what to do, so he seeks God for an answer. Go to Genesis 32 to read about this. Verse 7 tells us that Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. In Verse 12 God assured him that he would prevail. Now with God telling him that, it would seem like he could relax and listen to how God wanted to go about restoring their relationship. But Jacob is really no different than most of us.

Being motivated by fear, Jacob decides to come up with his own plan on how to soften Esau’s heart before he faces him. Isn't that like our flesh? We tend to take things into our own hands instead of taking time to listen to God’s solution for our problems.

Jacob ends up in a Wrestling Match with God because he was too stubborn to listen and change. God ultimately had to put him in a position in order for him to listen and quit fighting Him. God was not his enemy, but just like Jacob that’s how many people view Him.

 Jacob’s mindset of what had been spoken over him daily had to be changed in order for God to get through to him. Once he realized that, released the fear and listened to God, God gave him a new name, Israel….one that spoke blessing over him the rest of his life.

Oh…the end of this story goes…God restored Israel’s relationship with his brother Esau.

 If only he would have listened in the first place and trusted God completely, he could have saved himself so much heartache.

So…Are you wrestling with God about something? It’s time to repent, release it and move forward as God shows you.

 He has your solution. Seek Him and when He answers you…do it!

         

          

Mind Renewal

Mind Renewal

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

For the most part, a lot of people would like to believe the decisions they make pose no real threat to their well being.  

The Bible says otherwise in Proverbs 14:12.  

How we view things in life determines how we make our decisions.  If we make bad financial decisions, how do we view money?  Is money something we are a slave to or should we have command over it?  Whether it is finances, relationships, work, or health every Christian needs to have their mind renewed to what the Bible says about these topics.  



Of course, those are just a handful of topics I mentioned and the Bible addresses every issue one needs to know to live a full and successful life. 

If given a choice, people do not want to live in misery.  Jesus said, in John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. 



 Jesus did not come to give us a life of misery.  He came so we may have life and have it more abundantly.

 In order to have that life, our decisions have to line up with God’s Word.  We need to see, think and act like Jesus and the only way to do that is meditate on His Word.  This is beyond just saying what would Jesus do and coming up with something that isn’t even scriptural.  We need to have our minds renewed to His Word.  When our minds are renewed to His Word we can see what Jesus would see.  We can think like Jesus would think and we can act like Jesus would act.  Does this sound impossible?  It really isn’t.  

The Bible says in Psalm 1:2-3 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 

 Note what it says here, “His law doth he meditate day and night” and “whatsoever he doeth shall prosper”.  

That law the Bible is speaking about is God’s Word.  If I were to meditate on God’s Word it means I would ponder, imagine, speak, study, talk, utter, converse with myself, declare, muse, pray, speak, and talk with God in prayer about it. This process literally changes your mind to think like Jesus.  

If you know anything about the Bible, Jesus never made bad decisions.  It is time that we start mediating on God’s Word in areas that are holding us in captivity.  For example, if you are having trouble forgiving others, meditate on Matthew 6:14 because if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  And also Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  After some time, your thoughts will turn to forgiving whoever wronged you so you won’t live in bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.  That decision will free you from a life of bondage.  

We all need to make right decisions but in order to do that we need to renew our minds with the Word of God.



                                             

Faith, Hope and Love

Faith, Hope, and Love

What mountain must faith move to find where we stand?

Where must hope go to gain entrance to our hearts?

What must love do that it may come close?

For the only mountain faith must move is our own desires to allow it to work in us.

Hope must go nowhere; for, it lies in the Scriptures waiting for us to receive it.

Love must only draw near once we submit and likewise have drawn close.

For these things are the individualities of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

by: Nick Mosier

Secrets to Success Part 1

Secrets to Success
Part 1
By Mitch Mosier

The disciples asked Jesus a question in John 6:28 “What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?” Jesus answer was very simple and straight to the point. In John 6:29 He said, This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He hath sent.”

What did Jesus mean by that? He simply was saying “If you want to do the works of my Father you must believe on me.” What does believing on Jesus involve? It involves believing in God’s Word. John 1:1 says “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:14 says “And the Word was made flesh….” Jesus is the Word! If I believe on Jesus, I believe the Word of God!

What did Jesus tell the disciples to do? BELIEVE! He was telling them that their belief system was important. What do you believe in? Are you always looking for disaster or do you go back to God’s Word and agree with Mark 9:23 Where Jesus said, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”

Let’s take a look at the “Works of God”. What are the works of God? Jesus said in John 8:29 “I do always those things that please Him.” Whatever Jesus did was the result of what His Father wanted him to do. What did Jesus do? Acts 10:38 describes Jesus ministry. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.” His ministry was a reflection of the “Works of God.”

What you believe in is important! The Bible tells us how to change our belief system in Romans 12:1-2.
Rom 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Start today by being a doer of God’s Word. Give God’s Word priority and final authority in your life. Say “I believe God’s Word. God’s Word is true.”


LIFE Church and Training Center
www.lifechurchandtraining.org