Building....

One of my church members started building a restaurant a few months ago. I saw him in service on Thursday with the official logo of the company that he built. In modern technology, 3 months is no time when building a major edifice or infrastructure.

I thought about this and how it applies to our spiritual walk with Christ. When we come to Him we are washed clean, sins erased and names transferred from the Book of Death to the Book of Life. It takes nothing more than our simply asking for forgiveness and moving forward with the life that God has intended for us to live.

The Daily Battle

Often times, as believers we understand fighing the big fights....those larger than life sins that we know not to commit--adultery, murder, etc.  What happens with those little things?  Being short with a friend, or failing to tell the whole truth when asked a question?  How do those indiscretions challenge our daily lives and our walk with Christ?  In one of my bathrooms, I had a small leak in my old house.  Over time, the small dripping of the leak led to having to have the floor replaced.  I kicked myself, thinking, if only I had caught the small leak....that's how sin is in the body of Christ.  While we watch for the large things, its the small things that often have us bound....just my thoughts.  You don't have to agree.

Generosity...the Killer of Pride

Pay it forward.” This popular phrase describes the importance of taking the good things one receives and giving to others. Paul realized this principle as he challenged the Corinthians to consider the purpose of God’s provision.




You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God (2Corinthians9:11).



God’s blessing and provision bring much joy to our lives. Many believers received exactly what they need at precisely the right moment. Other believers seem to receive much more than they need. The key principle lies in the purpose for the provision God gives us. God desires that we “pay it forward” in generously giving as He directs.



Regardless of how we might feel about our personal wealth, God gives us the means to bless His kingdom and those around us. He wants us to look for opportunities to pass on His great blessings

Renew Your Mind...

As I sat in class, my mind wandered off...I wondered, how is it that we really renew our minds?  Of course, I researched, and here is what I found....

What does it mean to 'renew'?  To renew:

1. to begin again; recommence.



2. to renew a lease, note, etc.


3. to be restored to a former state; become new or as if new again.
 
Again, this  was a revelation to me.  I liked the 3rd definition especially.  It just speaks that there was once chaos and now there is a calm that comes over a person. 

 Romans 12:2 states "2Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. AMP 

 To me, to renew the mind according to Romans and dictionary.com is to become new to the former state from whence an object [person] has come.  Often we talk about restoration, meaning to bring back.  Renewing has more of a powerful impact in my opinion, because this implies that we are able to be made 'new' again.  When we sin, we have the ability to repent of those sins.  Immediately, God forgives us of that sin and it is as if the sin never occurred.  We are RENEWED in Christ.  We are free from that sin, and able to move in the things of God.  The only person that would hold us back is....us.  We are often held back by our own guilt, shame, and fear.  From those three things our purpose is held.  This is not the intent of our Creator.  It is our duty to live out what it says in Romans 12:2....renew our minds, make our minds new.  This has to be done daily....renew our minds, make our minds new....Selah...

How to Walk the Path of Deliverance

1. Conversion,Repentance and Confession

 

• Conversion-come to a saving relationship
• Repent-repent for sin with a heart not to return to the sin
• Confess-confess sin (fault) to trusted accountability partner

   

2. Get back to Your Rightful Place in Christ

 

Begin to fill those empty spaces with the things of God. This not only includes reading the Word, but having faith to engage in activities (spiritual gifts) that edify the body. Flee those things that are not of God (relationships, friendships, other distractions, etc.)

 

3. Know who You are in Christ

 

Have an understanding of who you are and what you are called to do within the body of Christ and operate in those gifts. Cast out the spirit of fear when it comes to those areas with which you are not familiar. Refuse to succumb to the lies of the enemy (mindset change, which is DAILY).

 

  

4. Remain humble.

 

Resign to the will of God for my life (personal, spiritual, etc). This includes leadership in all respects.  BE OPEN TO HOWEVER GOD WILL USE YOU!

  

 

5. Remove pride, rebellion and unforgiveness in your life.

 

This goes along with remaining humble and repenting of sin.  Do not hold on to offenses but rather release those to God.

 

 

 

6. Personal deliverance

 

Continue to cast down those spirits and things that are not of God, rather than succumb and allow those things to remain in my life. Continously walk out the process, rather than sit and fall.

 

 

 

7. Remain faithful and free.

 

 

Need help in this area?  Pray this prayer:

 

God I fully accept you as my Lord and Savior, and I accept that Your Son, Jesus Christ, died on the Cross, was buried, and rose on the 3rd Day.  I acknowledge that I am a sinner, and repent of those ways in order to turn my life totally and completely over to You.  I repent of _______ and turn from that sin. (Name all sins, etc).  I submit to Your plan for my life.  In Jesus' name,  Amen.

 

Successes and Failures

Heard this and thought it bared repeating...if you want to impress someone, tell them of your successes.  If you want to impact them, tell them of your failures....

I honestly think that we all need that one person with which you can be totally transparent.  This person knows all of your high points, as well as all of your dirt.  And even when they know...they will never uncover or expose you.  Do you have that person in your life?

The Potter and the Clay

This morning, I was curious as to how pottery is made...what are the processes that clay undergoes to become something beautiful?  Of course I googled and this is what I found:

Pottery is made by forming the clay body into objects of a required shape and heating them to high temperatures in a kiln which removes all water from the clay, which induces reactions that lead to permanent changes including increasing their strength and hardening and setting their shape. A clay body can be decorated before or after firing. Prior to some shaping processes, clay must be prepared. kneading helps to ensure an even moisture content throughout the body. Air trapped within the clay body needs to be removed. This is called de-airing and can be accomplished by a machine called a vacuum pug or manually by wedging. Wedging can also help produce an even moisture content. Once a clay body has been kneaded and de-aired or wedged, it is shaped by a variety of techniques. After shaping it is dried and then fired.



This is straight ministry to me!  Think about it:

"Pottery is made by forming the clay body into objects of a required shape and heating them to high temperatures in a kiln which removes all water from the clay, which induces reactions that lead to permanent changes including increasing their strength and hardening and setting their shape."

When we are striving to be like Christ, our likeness forms to be that of what He requires.  This process is not immediate, as we strive to be like him DAILY.  When we go through trials, this is similar to going through the fire.  Remember the 3 Hebrew boys?  Once we have gone through the fire, permanant changes in our character occurs that shapes us to be more like Christ.


A clay body can be decorated before or after firing. Prior to some shaping processes, clay must be prepared. kneading helps to ensure an even moisture content throughout the body. Air trapped within the clay body needs to be removed. This is called de-airing and can be accomplished by a machine called a vacuum pug or manually by wedging.

When we are in the world, our likeness can take on that which influences us...our decorations.  Some of us even have masks after we come to the knowledge that is Christ simply because this has become habit, commonplace for us.  There are some some things that are immediate for our deliverance.  However, other things take time.  The clay does not cease to become clay simply because it is going through a shaping process.  In that respect, just because we are going through processes of deliverance, that does not mean that we are any less anointed or have the ability to do what we are called to do.  In order for the clay to be refined, all impurities must be removed.  That process is similar to the stripping process we undergo when striving to be like Christ.

Wedging can also help produce an even moisture content. Once a clay body has been kneaded and de-aired or wedged, it is shaped by a variety of techniques. After shaping it is dried and then fired.

In order for the clay to be properly molded, it has to be even throughout.  We have to get to a point where we are willing to be molded, and are even throughout...this speaks to humility.  The Psalmist David spoke of his own transgression in Psalms 51, saying "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right, persevering, and steadfast spirit within me..." (v.10 AMP)  David was the ultimate worshipper because he understood the repentant heart, and was willing to be humble before God.  Even with the clay, the text simply says, "once a clay body has been kneaded and de-aired or wedged, it is shaped by a variety of techniques."  Once we have been shaped by the areas of our lives and become humble, we recognize our ability to be used even more.  As the text says.."after shaping it is dried and then fired."  David said this so eloquently in Psalms 51, saying, "My sacrifice [the sacrifice acceptable] to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart [broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent], such, O God, You will not despise.

Wow!  The Potter and the Clay.  Feel  like you need to be molded?  Pray this prayer today.

Father I come to you asking you for your forgiveness for my sins.  I ask today that you mold me into Your image, Your likeness for Your glory.  I strive to be like You, and if there are any areas in which I am not like You, I ask that you begin to cleanse those areas, like You did for David.  Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right, perservering and steadfast spirit within me.  And in my process, God, help me to have a broken spirit, a humble spirit, as this is the sacrifice You desire.  All things will work for Your glory, and in Your son Jesus' name I pray.  Amen.