GOD'S BLESSING-BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY

I know that if you will take time to read this, you will in fact be blessed.  We can know for certain that our God is a God that desires to bless us and see us increase in every area.  He said be fruitful and multiply and he has given us the ways and means to see that happen!  Be blessed as you read about God's plan to increase you!

Genesis 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

HE SAID TO BE FRUITFUL AND MULTIPLY

Part of the initial blessing spoken over man was to be fruitful and multiply.  To be fruitful and multiply means so much more than to just have children which was part of it but it means to increase in number and become great!  It means to increase in livestock or livelihood.  It means to bring others up under you teaching them to be fruitful and staying connected.  It means to increase in the "likeness" of God, demonstrating and spreading his goodness throughout the earth.  It means to increase in wealth as well, as we labor with our efforts and supply others with our abundance.  It does not mean to become greedy and love money and wealth above God but as we pursue a life of godliness, a blessing from God is that we have no lack.  Even in the New Testament, which is the better covenant full of better promises we see a God that desires to do far more for us than we can ask or think.  He desires to do it for us and he desires that we glorify him for it!

Ephesians 3:19-21 (New King James Version)

19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. 20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

God's desire is to bless us and increase us more and more in a never-ending perpetual blessing that we might spill over.  I'm not only talking about a financial blessing but a life that is blessed and is a blessing in every area!  It includes finances and again, the subject is way to large of a subject to cover in detail here, but we must realize God's salvation covers spirit, soul and body! It's about being blessed and not cursed!  It's about being a blessing that can reach out and help others.  The best thing we can do is share eternal life with someone.  That's what I mean by perpetual.  The blessing is now but this blessed life spills over in every area and reaches into eternity.  It's in this life and in the life to come.  It's a never ending perpetual blessing!  In the above passage, he said, "to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

INCREASE MORE AND MORE

1 Thessalonians 4: 9-12  9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

What a wonderful passage that sums up a life in Christ:  loving one another, doing good toward all, increasing more and more, living a hard working life with no lack!

It is not God's will that his children have lack but rather that his children are able to bless others! 

ABOUND MORE AND MORE

This passage in fact starts in verse 1 stating it is God's will that we abound more and more:

1 Thessalonians 4:1  Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more

Now it is true this is talking about the love and ways of God but it's also true that the love and ways of God are that we have no lack that we may be a blessing to others.  The passage ends in verse 12 saying "that you may lack nothing."  What is nothing?  It is no-thing.  Nothing! Nothing! Nothing!  It is God's will that we lack no-thing!  When the passage said it is his desire that we abound more and more, it meant to become and be great, just as the blessing spoken of in Genesis says to multiply. It means the same thing- become great!  Abound in the Greek and in the English means to be great and be abundantly supplied in both flow and overflow.  To abound is to have something come to you and flow outward to others.  It is to be fully furnished, to have in abundance, to be in affluence, to be pre-eminent and to excel and exceed beyond original measure.  It means to be furnished richly so as to have to give out!  Again, I can't over-emphasize that we serve a God of abundance in every area!  He is good in every area! He is loving in every area!  He is merciful beyond imagination!  He is kinder than any other, sweeter than any other, more beautiful than any other, more powerful than any other, and yes, he is wealthier than any other!  He's the creator and the owner of all things.  He is just beyond imagination and he has spoken over you that you also should be blessed, be fruitful, multiply, take dominion and increase more and more and more! It is his will that you abound and be like him!  This IS the will of God for your life!

OVERFLOW BY EMPTYING OUT

In the same way that God is a God of abundance and his abundance flows outward from himself to bring increase to you, it is his will that we, from our abundance flow outward to others.  This is the way you multiply!  You multiply by giving out! That's how God multiplies.  He multiplies by the very nature of creation!  He made us in his image.  Now he has a family with many children.  Through God giving his son, he has multiplied exponentially as a family!  Oh my, I am seeing how long this study could be!  Now you know for sure why I have a very hard time writing short teachings!  Just see it!  God increased when God gave and we too increase when we give.  When we give, God can trust us to be givers so he refills our cup so we can keep on giving.  If you are not a giver, you will not be replenished by him.  He refills us when we give out!  We increase more and more so we can share our increase more and more.  When we give, we take on the very nature of God and become just like him and so he continues to refill us!  It's his nature!

Luke 6:53  Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

Well you can't get any plainer!  Give AND it will be given to you.  When you give, a pressed down, shaken together, running over blessing comes back to you! The secret is to keep being filled to overflowing, you must keep spilling out all around you.  This is the exact nature of seedtime and harvest which God said would always be.  A natural and spiritual law that was set in place in the beginning of time, applies in every area! 

SEEDTIME AND HARVEST

Seed produces.  Anything given out, multiplies and comes back.  Sowing and reaping is a natural and spiritual law of God.  Things do come back to you but it's not because of a law of some made-up religion! It's the seed-time and harvest law of a super-natural, ever existing, God, the creator of all mankind and the creator of the earth he gave us to live on!  God was the first person to mention seedtime and harvest or sowing and reaping:

Genesis 8:22  “While the earth remains, Seedtime and harvest, Cold and heat, Winter and summer, And day and night Shall not cease.”

Seedtime and harvest is not a man-made religion.  It's a God-made law!  It applies in every area.  Whatever is sown, is reaped!  Look at how the New Testament states the same principle:

Galatians 6:7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.

WHAT DID HE MEAN WHEN HE SAID "BE FRUITFUL"

Fruit comes from seed sown

Part of the spoken blessings is fruitfulness.  Let's just look at a quick list of some of what the bible calls fruit:

Fruit & vegetation: Genesis 1:11

Reproduction: Genesis 1:28

Labors: Exodus 23:16

Ways of Man: Proverbs 1:31

Souls: Proverbs 11:30

God's Wisdom: Proverbs 8:19

Spoken Words: Proverbs 12:14; 13:2; 18:20,21

Thoughts: Jeremiah 6:19; Philippians 4:8

The Word of God:  Matthew 13:23

The Fruit of the Spirit: love, is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control.

Offerings: Philippians 4:17

Good works: Colosians :10

Discipline: Hebrews 12:11

Praise: Hebrews 13:15

MAKE SURE WE'RE PRODUCING GOOD FRUIT- YOU'RE KNOWN BY IT

Just because a person calls themselves a Christian doesn't make them one!  It's fruit that tells the story.  The bible says we are known by the fruit we produce!  That fruit is produced by a Spirit- led life that walks and talks in the ways of God in obedience to him!  It is the outcropping of the life of God flowing out of them from an inward change, a work of the Holy Spirit himself.  Man can try with all of their might to produce a fruitful life on their own but at the end of the day, it's a work of the Spirit that will be lasting and produce true change!

Matthew 7:16  You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thorn-bushes or figs from thistles?

Matthew 7:20
Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

Let's make sure we are filled with the wisdom, words and ways of God that we might produce fruits of righteousness, ever increasing more and more.  Let's make sure we are living spirit-filled, spirit-led lives that we might first be changed!  Let's make sure we live hard working lives, not expecting things to fall from the sky but knowing that God will bless the work of our hands. Let's truly be fruitful in the fruits of the spirit!  Let's make sure we are continually living a life that is planting good seed through giving, charity, acts of kindness and righteous living that we may be influential in the lives of others.  If God can trust you to be a giver, God will refill you.  The blessing of God will make you great.  God will give to you because he can trust you to give to others.  It is through God's laws of seed-time and harvest that the blessing comes! Let's sow good seed and be blessed! Be fruitful, multiply and subdue the earth! Remember, in exercising patience, you will see the fruit of all of your seed sown! Amen!

James 5:7  Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.

GOD'S BLESSING- SPOKEN OVER MAN

THE BLESSING SPOKEN OVER MAN

Genesis 1:28 (New King James Version)

²⁸ Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 

The verse says man was blessed but what does that mean?

THE BENDED KNEE

The Hebrew language is the original language of the Old Testament.  In Hebrew the word bless means:

To bend the knee and adore and to bless.

The blessing is and was in the garden invoked by speaking.  It was given by no other reason that God choosing to bless his creation by bending the knee, coming to them, adoring them and speaking a blessing over them.  All he had to do was say it and it was!

THE INVOKED AND SPOKEN BLESSING

He said with his mouth:

Be fruitful.  Multiply.  Replenish the earth. Subdue it and have dominion over the earth, including every living thing.  The blessing came because God said it with his mouth!

The Hebrew word picture in the word "saying" is:

To bring something to light by saying it!  Before it was spoken it was in the heart but by saying it, it is brought to light.  It means not only to say someone is blessed but to call them blessed.  God calls us blessed.  It is because he said it! When he SAID multiply, he never withdrew the statement.  His will for us is to be ever increasing, ever multiplying and we are forever blessed because he has bent the knee, come to us in adoration and invoked by speaking a blessing over us! We have reached nearly 7 billion people on this earth simply because God said, "Multiply!" His blessing is for heaven but also for earth.  He said to subdue and have dominion over the earth and every living creature!  Because he spoke it, man is not dominated by any living thing!"   Now we just have to believe it and walk in it by faith!  We can see this same blessing in every area of our life, family, emotions, health, finances, joy, purpose, etc. The list goes on! God's will is to bless!

WHAT ADAM LOST, JESUS REDEEMED

While Adam lost the blessing through disobedience, Christ has bought it back through his obedience.  He has brought the ability to walk in God's fullness as Adam did!  By accepting Christ, you once again enter into the blessing spoken over Adam.  By faith, you accept his redemption and receive his blessing once again.  Abraham is the best example of a man who walked by faith, believing, following and obeying God and as a result received his blessing!

Ephesians 1:3:  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ

Galatians 3:9  So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham.

Have faith in Jesus and have faith in God.  Believe his Word and apply it to your life!  Be blessed! Be fruitful! Multiply! Subdue and have dominion in Jesus name! 

FORWARD MOTION: MOVED BY THE SPIRIT

FORWARD MOTION: MOVED BY THE SPIRIT

Text: Acts 9:1-17

Acts 17:28  for in Him we live and move and have our being....

We're Leading Them to a Good Land

As I've studied about getting up and going, I've seen the parallel that in the same way God lead the children of Israel to take territory and take their inheritance, he is leading us into promises, not only for us but for others.  They were called to take over kingdoms in the natural and we are called to take over kingdoms in the spirit realm.  We have to good news and we're led by the one and only good God!  The news of Jesus Christ is good!  The kingdom of Jesus Christ is good!  We are called to lead people out of the kingdom of darkness and the rule and reign of the devil and bring people into the kingdom of light, the rule and reign of Jesus.

Now you might say, "Where can I go?  What can I do?"

You Aren't Alone-You're Being Led

The story of Saul who became Paul is the perfect example of how the Holy Spirit orchestrates events in the journeys of our life. (See Acts 9:1-7)

Saul was a persecutor of the church.  He was actually on his way to kill disciples of Jesus, when suddenly, he was interrupted by a bright light that blinded him.  This happened on his journey down the road in his everyday life! This happened suddenly- it was the last thing he was expecting!  God was leading Saul when he was still in sin. Saul didn't know it but he was being set up for a future God knew about but Saul was still in the dark.  Saul was blinded but he didn't know, the same light that blinded him was opening his eyes.  Saul was being translated into the kingdom of light but it wasn't a man's doings!  We need to know there are people God is dealing with and setting up.  The Lord spoke to Saul and told him to go!  He told him to go to a city and there he would be told what to do!  There were men journeying with him who heard God's voice but didn't see the light!  As God deals with us, keep in mind, when we are encountered on our journey he is dealing with those around us too!

   

While Saul was on his way, God began to speak to a disciple named Ananias.  He told Ananias exactly where to find Saul and what to do.  He was told what to say to Saul.  Ananias had questions but he was willing.  He was a willing, and yielded vessel who received instruction from the Holy Spirit.  Here are two men, one a sinner and one a saint, both being dealt with and set up for the conversion of the man who would write 1/3 of the New Testament; a former persecutor!  If that could happen in the early church it can happen today!  In fact, if it happened in the early church, it is our model of how things should happen today!  When we are yielded to the Holy Spirit, we don't have to worry about where to go.  We will be lead. We just need to do what he tells us.  God will tell us where to go, who to talk to and what to do!

It All Comes Together

When they met, Ananias had the right words and actions for the right man at the right time!  He knew things he wasn't supposed to know about Saul because the Holy Spirit told him.  Truly neither of them had planned a single part of this day!

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

After Ananias laid hands on Saul, he received his sight back only this time, he was a member of a different kingdom!  All of this happened without the planning of man! It was the planning of God, leading submitted vessels by his Holy Spirit.

As we live submitted to him, he'll use us, lead us, orchestrate and set us up for divine appointments!  It's all about being willing to be moved by a Spirit who is moving and working in the earth today. There are people he  is leading by an unseen hand for a suddenly in their life and there are those of you appointed to speak the Words of Life that bring sight to these ones that are loved by God!  Our confidence is not in our own ability but in his. We just yield and obey!  Amen!

Acts 17:28  for in Him we live and move and have our being....

FORWARD MOTION: GOD SAYS GO!

FORWARD MOTION- GO!

Joshua 8:1 Then the LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai. For I have delivered into your hands the king of Ai, his people, his city and his land. 2 You shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king, except that you may carry off their plunder and livestock for yourselves. Set an ambush behind the city.”

GOD CAN LEAD YOU IN EVERY AREA

I love the scriptures because they give us wisdom that can be applied to every area of our life.  In the same way that God spoke to Joshua to get up and go, he also speaks to Christians about going into the world to tell the good news of his gospel.  He's so multifaceted that we can also see that if our message is good, there is a way to get the word out!  If believable, people will follow.  I'm just throwing this in for good measure because maybe you like me have a business life.  My husband and I are in roofing and if we sit around inside our house and wait for work to come in, it never comes but when we begin stepping out of our comfort zone, advertising, telling and spreading the news about what we do, our phone starts ringing!  I also am the Director for Blessed Living Magazine and in order to get advertisers I have to tell people what I'm doing!  I have to tell people what advertising in this magazine can do for them!  In this blog, I'm going to talk about spreading the good news- about not standing still but getting up from where we are and spreading the news.  While this is primarily about the work of God, I thank God that when I read his word, I find truths that are applicable to me!

GOD NEEDS YOU FOR HIS PLAN

After failing at Ai, Joshua must have been wondering if he was fit to keep going or if he should continue this fight.  His posture at this point was at a standstill.  I'm sure he didn't know exactly what to do next after what appeared to be a failure but God told him to get up and move forward.  That's exactly what we should do! We as Christians also need to realize that not only do we need to move forward for our own good but God needs us to co-labor with him in his plan.  The past is the past and God's not looking at the past.  He told Joshua to "Get up!"  He told Joshua to "Move Forward!"  I know this is Old Testament but the bible says we are to read these stories and learn from them!  We can see the way God dealt with men in the Old Testament and connect that story to a New Testament truth which is to come into the promises of God, we must not only believe him and have faith but we must be on the move! We also must keep going after we encounter a bump in the road.  This wasn't the first bump the people would encounter and it wouldn't be the last but at the end of the day and in the end of the book (a true historical story,) they inherited their promises!   God will bring to pass promises and dreams that he's given.  That's why it's important to be in relationship with him.  In the same way he spoke to Joshua telling him what was ahead for his life, he will speak to you and tell you what's in your future.  He also spoke to Joshua about the people he was influencing and he'll do that with you too!  Everyone has a sphere of  influence, even if it's only yourself.  The first person you must reach is you!  He'll continue to add to you and as you are faithful, he'll lead you into greater influence!   He's also called us to co-labor with him on this earth in fulfilling his plan and bringing people into his perfect kingdom.  We are on this earth to be used as vessels in spreading his Word.

In this age that we live in and with the widespread use of technology, we are able to be used by God in even greater fashion. The Word of God is spreading into places previously closed- all because of technology.  The potential to be used by God is not something we should wait on but rather something we should be doing!  We can be used in the marketplace, the home, the church and yes, even the world!  We can speak to people in our sphere of influence.  We need to be led by the Holy Spirit in our daily lives and get up from anything that's been hindering us and move forward!  The past is the past! There's a plan and there's a people he wants to reach and we are called to play a part!

Get up and move forward!  God says , "Go!"  Here's some interesting statistics on the word go:

In the King James version

the word - go - appears 1492 times
the word - goest - appears 46 times
the word - goeth - appears 135 times
the word - going - appears 92 times
the word - goings - appears 26 times
the word - gone - appears 213 times

As for "stay" -
the word - stay - appears 33 times
the word - stayed - appears 31 times
the word - stayeth - appears once
the word - stays - appears 4 times

Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_times_is_the_word_go_used_in_the_Bible#ixzz1JQLZ4gOO

We are New Testament Christians with a New Testament Commission and that is to GO! 

Sometimes a definition isn't necessary but sometimes even a simple definition brings clarity!

GO DEFINED

go- move, proceed, either to or from something, leave, depart, keep in motion, function.

There is a time to sit still, deal with things, reflect, gather yourself, and seek God but there comes a time when no more reflection, no more seeking and no more standing still is necessary. We need to get up and depart from the place of standing still and function!  We need to be functional rather than dysfunctional.  The good news is that with God's help there is no dysfunction.  With God's help and in his hands, he leads us into functionality!  The great commission as a Christian is to go and the great Helper in that is the Holy Spirit!

A FEW EXAMPLES

We can go the extra mile:

There are quite a few scriptures that teach us to go about our lives doing unto and for others. 

Matthew 5:41 And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.

We can go in faith:

There are quite a few scriptures that teach us to go about our lives in faith and we can have what we believe for!

Go in your faith and let it be done according to your faith! 

Matthew 8:13 “Go your way; and as you have believed, so let it be done for you.” 

We can go and learn:

We are without a doubt encouraged to go and learn of him, especially to learn why he has made himself known on earth!

Go and learn why Jesus came! Matthew 9: 13 But go and learn ......

We can go and tell:

With all the scriptures there are on going, the most important message is that of going into all the world with the "good news" message of Christ.

Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.

Go preach the kingdom of God!

Luke 9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” 

THE MAIN THING TO GO AND DO IS TO GO AND BECOME A LABORER IN HIS HARVEST

Go and be a laborer! Go where he sends you! 

Luke 10: 2 Then He said to them, “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.

Go find lost sheep! This makes heaven happy!

Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ 7 I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance.

Go and speak the words of life!

Acts 5:20 “Go, stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life.” 

Go where the Spirit leads! 

Acts 8: 26 Now an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise and go toward the south along the road which goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is desert. 27 So he arose and went. And behold, a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who had charge of all her treasury, and had come to Jerusalem to worship, 28was returning. And sitting in his chariot, he was reading Isaiah the prophet. 29 Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.” (It's not a coincidence the man was reading from the book of Isaiah the prophetic book foretelling the Messiah!)

THE MESSAGE IS CLEAR

Yes, the message is clear.  God has a work to do and he wants to use you.  He has someone in mind he wants you to speak to.  He wants to use you as a vessel to pour out his spirit through.  God is into forward motion, not only in his plan for us but in his plan for others!  He's calling us to go into the world and be used.  It doesn't matter what we've done or where we've been but where he's leading us.  Let's get up and go hand in hand with him!  Look for the next post to be about how as we go, his Spirit both leads into divine appointments and fills us with power to be used.  God will use you in every area of your life if you will submit it to him, get up from  your standstill and go forward in his power and strength! Amen!

FORWARD MOTION: ONE BODY, ONE ARMY

FORWARD MOTION: GOD'S STRATEGY- ONE BODY, ONE ARMY

Joshua 8:1b-Take the whole army with you, and go up and attack Ai

God told Joshua to take the whole army.  To take something, you have to reach out to grab it.  To take involved wrapping your hand around it and to wrap your hand around something you have to reach out.  You have to actually grab it and accept it in your hand before you can carry it with you.   God was telling Joshua to reach out to the entire army, not just part. 

In the previous chapter, he had grown overly confident and had not even sought the Lord.  He had seen how easily Jericho had fallen and only sent a partial army into Ai.  You know, with God's help a partial army could win.  The point wasn't that the army was partial or full, but rather that Joshua had moved without seeking and he had not included the whole army which was God's will at the time.  Had he sought the Lord first, I'm sure God would have told him there was something to deal with first.  In each of our undertakings in life, we need to seek God first for his will and second for his leadership.  In this case it was strategy.  We have strategy in our undertakings in the same way an army has strategy for a mission.  If we will seek the Lord, he'll give us a strategy.  

TAKE THE WHOLE ARMY- ONE BODY- ONE ARMY

Here he says to take the whole army.  God wanted the whole army involved in this victory!  Maybe he didn't want one warrior to feel as if he didn't play a part!  God's army today is made up of an entire body of believers and not one is without significance!

Romans 12: ³ For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, ⁵ so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; ⁷ or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; ⁸ he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

1 Corinthians 12:¹² For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. ¹³ For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into^[c] one Spirit. ¹⁴ For in fact the body is not one member but many. 
¹⁵ If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? ¹⁶And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body?¹⁷ If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would bethe smelling? ¹⁸ But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. ¹⁹And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
²⁰ But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. ²¹ And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” ²² No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. ²³ And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, ²⁴ but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, ²⁵ that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. ²⁶ And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

THE PROBLEM OF DIVISION

I believe one of the biggest problems in the body of Christ today is division.  We divide ourselves according to our likenesses and that's probably to some degree normal.  However, rather than recognize the strengths in others, we often hear Christians criticizing one another. Denominations divide and cut off communication with anyone except their own.  It creates a schism in the body where there is no longer flow between strengths but a severing according to beliefs.  These two passages teach that every member has something to offer and one member shouldn't say to another, "I have no need of you."

This principle can be applied to relationships and businesses as well.  When strengths are recognized and appreciated, a unit is actually stronger.  Instead of focusing on differences, we need to ask, "What strength does that person have?"  Another question would be, "What strength can I bring out of that person."  The most successful companies are those that recognize the strengths of individuals and utilize them to the fullest. 

UNITY DRAWS

I believe as the body of Christ stops dividing and starts uniting as a whole army we will see more people come to Jesus.  When the world looks on and sees divisions and disharmony, what do they see that is worth following.  The bible says the world knows us because we love one another.

John 17:20-23  ²⁰ “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will^[e] believe in Me through their word; ²¹ that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. ²² And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: ²³ I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. 

In fact, according to this passage, it is our unity and our love for one another that causes the world to believe in Jesus.  It's God's presence inside of us that is the draw and yet the church continues to argue over who's right!  Let's make it a point to join together with other believers with one heart and mind and that is to make him known among the people!  Keep in mind that if every person in every city found a church there wouldn't be enough seats to hold all the people.  Maybe rather than divide over differences, we need to join together and make his name known among the people!   Let's take the whole army and go up for he has given us victory!  Amen!

FORWARD MOTION: STATION YOURSELVES FOR VICTORY!

Station Yourselves for Victory

1 Chronicles 11: 11 And this is the number of the mighty men whom David had: Jashobeam the son of a Hachmonite, chief of the captains; he had lifted up his spear against three hundred, killed by him at one time. 
12 After him was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite, who was one of the three mighty men. 13 He was with David at Pasdammim. Now there the Philistines were gathered for battle, and there was a piece of ground full of barley. So the people fled from the Philistines. 14 But they stationed themselves in the middle of that field, defended it, and killed the Philistines. So the LORD brought about a great victory.

David was called to be king; he was destined for greatness.  Many have a call on their lives and it seems sometimes that it takes forever to realize it.  Many have a dream or a vision that has been placed there by none other than God himself, yet you turn this way and that to see it fulfilled and it seems walls close in on you rather than doors and passages open.  These visions can be in the realm of ministry, business, family, or any area of your life!  God does place dreams, visions and callings on individuals lives and there's always a temptation to back away from it when it's not realized in the timing you thought it would happen.   That's because God has a specific plan and a specific passage and he is faithfully leading you to a moment where you suddenly find yourself standing in the place you're destined for.  In this passage, David was finally coming into the kingdom God had anointed him for.  For 13 years David had run from Saul joined by a company of men that were considered outcasts and rebellious.  David had been anointed king by Samuel the prophet.  He had not asked for this- it was God's doing.  David was forced to run from Saul, the king when Saul began throwing javelins at him.  Sometimes it seems we are more on the run than we are walking in the victory God's called us to.  Sometimes you have to run from situations when there are spears being thrown at our heart.  Sometimes you have to make a change in your life that is made in survival mode! This also can apply to business, ministry or any area.  There are times when you are in survival mode and it's in those times  vision fulfillment seems more like a dream than a reality.  In David's case, he was forced to draw back just to survive!  Saul called him rebellious but history calls him smart! We must know that just because we experience, delays and detours, that does not mean we are denied or defeated!


This company of faithful men had instances where they had to stand and fight!  In the instance mentioned here in 1 Chronicles 11, it says they stationed themselves in battle.  All of these battles in the Old Testament are indicative of the battles we face in life!  These battles are enemies to forward motion.  It's in taking a stand and moving forward that we come into victory and dream fulfillment!  While they had been running, they found a field full of barley and stationed themselves there.


What does it mean to station yourself in battle?  Stationing yourself is what you must do when you are being pursued by an enemy.  It's what you must do when everyone around you is running!  It's what you do when circumstances dictate that you run! God will give you a place you can station yourself and from there you stand and win a victory if you don't back down!


To station yourself means:
To take a stand; to stand with someone; to present yourself; 
It is the place you face the enemy head on and stand up for yourself.
In the past they had been running and hiding but in this place they ran no more.
It's a place of collision with what's pursuing you.  That can be fear or circumstance which can only be defeated when you take a stand!
They turned on the enemy, stood against him and defeated him.
These mighty men of God stationed themselves with David, risking their own lives and reputation to stand up for what was right.  That's what stationing is.  It is standing up for what's right.  It is defending yourself and those with you when the circumstances of life come against them.  It's not backing down.   In this place of standing is where they won! Amen!


Remember, it's not time to quit! It's time to station yourself, present yourself to God and stand strong in the Word that has been spoken to you!  Stand strong in your God given callings and your God given visions and dreams!  The bible says you are kings and priests in the body of Christ and in Christ you are victorious!
Amen!

THE VOICE OF GOD: The Prophetic Word

God's Right Now Word to You- The Prophetic Word

2 Peter 1:19:
19 And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

Did you know that God is still speaking today?  He wants to have a relationship with you.  He wants to speak to you just as any other friend, husband, relative or even acquaintance wants to speak.  God is alive and well and is a speaking God.  He'll talk to you to give you light on the path of your journey- through the day and through the night!  The prophetic word, when spoken by the Spirit of God is a sure Word for you today!  Although there have been abuses, we must learn to hear the voice of God for ourselves and we must not throw the baby out with the bath water.  We must learn for ourselves how to be a listener to the voice of God.  Keep in mind, we must also rely on the written Word of God which has been given to us.  In fact, God's prophetic Word oftentimes comes to us through the written Word.  Any prophetic Word should always agree with the written Word because God is not confused and he does not contradict or disagree with himself.   Although this isn't an exhaustive blog on the prophetic word it's a good quick note. Giving credit where credit is due, I was inspired by Kim Clement's email on the same subject today!  Blessings!  Hold fast to what you've heard!

A quick note on the prophetic word:

If You Know Him, You Can Hear His Voice

John 10: 1-5

 ¹ “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. ² But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. ³ To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴ And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. ⁵Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 

We Have It and We Hold It

My opening text says we have the prophetic word confirmed.  This means not only do we hold it but we hold fast.  When a Word truly comes from God, we must hold to it no matter what things look like in the natural.  That's why this passage says, "you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place."  The prophetic Word gives you something to hold onto when everything looks contrary to what was spoken.  You can see what isn't seen yet with natural eyes.  As the passage says, it's light in the darkness until the light comes.

You Can't Make the Prophetic Word Happen

You can't make a prophetic word come to pass- that's the mistake many make in dealing with prophecy.  God brings it to pass.  Isn't that the way the Words of the Old Testament prophets were?  Many took a long time to come to pass.  Some still have yet to come to pass.  Some came to pass 100 years or more after they were spoken.  These prophets could not go out and make what they said would happen come to pass.  It was their job to speak and hold.  In fact, they actually only knew a partial picture so it's important to let God bring about the entire picture.  Trust me!  We'll mess it up if we try to make it happen!  It's our job to speak, hear, have, hold, and believe!  We can't make these words come to pass but they can allow us to see into the future so we know what to look at, to believe, and to hold onto.  They can allow us to see into the future when all of our circumstances look contrary to what was spoken.  Was this only talking about the written Word of God?  No, this was talking about the prophetic Word!  At the time Peter said this, the entire Word of God, the bible had not even been completely given or written.  The prophetic Word if a true Word from God is a very real word.  It is God communicating with you on a personal level and in real time.  

The Sure Word

Peter said it was confirmed.  God may be speaking to you for the very first time on a subject but he will confirm what he says to you.  The bible says he confirms the Word of his servants so if you've heard something for yourself or if someone claims they're speaking to you by the Spirit, God will confirm it!  This confirmation may come by way of fulfillment or by God speaking the same thing to you over and over.  The word confirmed actually means sure.  A sure word in the Greek means a word that forms a base; a stable, secure and firm word.  Be sure, if the Word has come by the Spirit of God and if you have received it when moved upon by the Holy Spirit, it is a sure word and it will come to pass!  Again, we can't make it come to pass but we can be sure it will come to pass.  God's Word, whether written or spoken will come to pass.  To think that God is not speaking today would be like putting tape on a live person's mouth.  God is alive and God is communicating with you today!  His communication to you is his prophetic Word to you!  Amen! Be blessed and tune in today!