Monday’s Blog: Pursuing Godliness “Faith Leads to Godlinessâ€
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
This is the fourth message in our series on “Pursuing Godliness.†Today, I want to focus on faith, believing God to help us live godly lives.
2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.â€
God’s divine power, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead, has given (meaning we already have it) us everything we need to live godly lives through our knowledge of Him (faith in Him).
Romans 8:11 says, “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.â€
Faith is the doorway to God’s promises. If God promises He will give us everything we need to live godly lives here on earth, we must believe it to receive it.
I am currently hosting a powerful Bible study in my home titled: “Believing God†by Beth Moore. The study focuses on Romans chapter four, which explains how we are justified by faith, not by works. In the course of the study we will have read the chapter at least twenty times. The purpose is to meditate on it until it lives in us.
Romans 4:2-8, 23-25 explain:
“If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.’
Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works:
‘Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.’
The words ‘it was credited to him’ were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.â€
After turning my heart to Christ twelve years ago, I tried for many years to live a godly life. When I read the Bible I would get overwhelmed because I failed every command. I would write notes with verses and put them all over my house to help me. I would set reminders on my phone with the verses I struggled with most. I would surround myself with God’s Word through Bible studies, church, books, and teachings on the radio and television. But no matter what I did, I only seemed to act worse. I was bewildered that those I knew who rarely opened their Bibles had more godly characteristics than I had. I thought to myself, “Something isn’t right. I must be doing something wrong.â€
After years of frustration, I had an emotional breakdown while sitting in my church parking lot waiting to pick my daughter up from summer camp. I was tired of trying to be godly, and tired of failing miserably. I cried out to God telling Him I had enough. I couldn’t do it anymore. God spoke to me that moment through a minister on the radio. It was a message I had heard many times before, but it hadn’t registered in my heart until that moment. The message was about believing God to change me. A message so simple, yet it took me so long to receive it. Once I surrendered and stopped trying to obey His Word on my own, my heart finally opened up to receive God’s help.
Once I learned God has given us everything we need to walk in godliness, by the fruit of His Spirit, a burden was lifted from me. I was then able to joyfully receive God’s Word by faith, instead of feeling overwhelmed thinking His Word was a hammer pounding me down with every command. Once I started walking in faith, believing I would walk in godliness by His Spirit, my actions began to change.
I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?
Galatians 3:2-5
It’s a wonderful feeling knowing we have everything we need to live a life of godliness. We don’t have to worry about how to develop godliness. We already have it in our spirits. It just needs to manifest in us.
Awhile back, I needed healing in an area. I had been dealing with this hurt for a long time. I cried out to Jesus one evening with all my heart. I told Him I had enough of that pain and I needed His healing. I cried, “If You were here on earth today, You’d touch me and I would be healed instantly! I know You haven’t changed! I know You are still the same today! You are here! Touch me and I will be healed!!â€
In the middle of the night, I awoke from my sleep and saw that my husband was awake. I hadn’t told him I was still hurting in this area. He didn’t know what I had prayed. Before we went back to sleep, my husband said, “Oh, by the way, I don’t know what’s going on, but God told me to tell you that you are healed. Whatever you needed healing for, you’ve got it!â€
I was elated! Knowing that God told me I was healed increased my faith to believe Him for that healing. From that moment on, I had no doubt that I was healed. I didn’t see my full healing manifest right away, but whenever the problem arose I just smiled and reminded myself that I was already healed. God’s power, working through faith, weakened the power of that stronghold, and then my healing began to manifest in me.
I believed God because He spoke to me. We can also believe God because He spoke to us in His Word. If God tells us something in His Word, we can believe it will happen just as He promised.
Blessed be the LORD, that hath given rest unto his people Israel, according to all that he promised: there hath not failed one word of all his good promise, which he promised by the hand of Moses his servant. The LORD our God be with us, as he was with our fathers: let him not leave us, nor forsake us…
1 Kings 8:56-57
I want to encourage you to believe God to help you walk in godliness. He will never leave you. He will never give up on you. He will never stop working in you. He will transform you into a vessel for His glory. Don’t ever give up believing Him. He will do just as He has promised!
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Ephesians 1:17-23
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for cleansing us from all our sins, and giving us everything we need for life and godliness through our faith in You. Help us to live by faith and walk in step with Your Holy Spirit. We surrender our lives to You. Transform our lowly bodies, and make us into vessels for Your glory!
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
Have a blessed week believing God!
*Come back next Monday for more in this series. You can subscribe below to receive an email reminder of new posts. You can also use the share tabs below to help spread the word of this series to bless others.
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Pursuing Godliness Series and tagged God, Godliness, Holy Spirit, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Pursuing Godliness “Retaining the Word in Our Heartsâ€
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
This is the third message in our series on “Pursuing Godliness.†Follow this link if you missed the last two messages in this series.
Last week, I talked about renewing our minds with the Word of God. Today, I want to focus on keeping His Word in our hearts.
Proverbs 4:23 says to: “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life†(NLT).
Our hearts will either lead us to sin or lead us to godliness. Luke 12:34 says, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.†In order to follow Jesus’ example and live godly lives, our hearts must be consecrated to God. He must be the only treasure we seek after in life.
But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Â Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
1 Peter 3:15-16, KJV
I can always tell when God is first in my heart when I want to follow His commands. I want to do what is right. I was asked by a Christian once why I wouldn’t do something that seemed minor to him. I told him because I knew God wouldn’t want me to. He replied, “You are not going to go to hell if you do it.†I was saddened by his response. I wanted to obey God, not because I felt forced too, but because I sincerely loved Him.
The reason many Christians are not living godly lives is because God is not first in their hearts. In last week’s message, I shared a study I once did on renovating my mind. I kept a journal during the fifty days it took me to complete the study. On the first day, while examining my thoughts, I wrote in my journal:
“I didn’t realize how often I think about picking up my phone and checking my messages when I’m studying with God. Is He really first in my mind and heart?â€
There are so many things vying for our hearts today. During my summer break, on three separate occasions God showed me my heart was drawn away and left unguarded. Once was when my family and I went on a long vacation with my parents, my siblings and their families. About halfway through our vacation, I realized I hadn’t opened my Bible since I left home. I was so distracted by family and all the things to do on vacation that I almost forgot about God.
The second time was during the Olympics. To keep up with all the events on our DVR, my husband and I spent hours watching them everyday. I stopped when I realized how much time I had wasted, and how easily worldly entertainment can keep us from pursuing God and doing His will.
The third time was when I was remodeling my house. I started with the intention of only transferring my kids’ rooms around. But then I decided I needed an office room to do my writing in. When I saw how nicely the freshly painted walls and moldings looked after remodeling those rooms, I decided the rest of the house needed to be painted and remodeled. Everyone room in my house is a different color and most rooms have two colors, not including the ceilings and moldings. This project took most the summer to complete, and left me with very little time to spend with God and to do His will.
In Luke 8, Jesus talked about the parable of the sower and the seed, with the seed being the Word of God. In verses 12-15, He explained the different ways the Word planted in us can be choked and prevented from producing fruit in our lives:
- V12: “Those along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved.”Â
When we are busy pursuing the things of the world instead of God, we leave the door open for Satan to snatch away the Word sown in us.
- V13: “Those on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they fall away.”Â
To retain the Word in us, we must be rooted in Jesus. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing†(John 15:15). We stay rooted in Jesus by communicating with Him, studying His Word and seeking His will daily.
- V14: “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures, and they do not mature.”
As with my summer examples, we can’t push God aside while we do our own thing. When we choose our own path, the worries, desires and pleasures of this world will choke the Word in our hearts and prevent it from developing fruit in us. 1 John 2:15-16 says, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever†(KJV).
- Â V15: “But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop.”
When we continuously renew our minds in God’s Word, and keep Him first place in our hearts, we will reap a harvest of spiritual fruit in our lives.
in [exercising] knowledge [develop] self-control, and in [exercising] self-control [develop] steadfastness (patience, endurance), and in [exercising] steadfastness [develop] godliness (piety)…For as these qualities are yours and increasingly abound in you, they will keep [you] from being idle or unfruitful unto the [full personal] knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One).
1 Peter 1:6-8, AMP
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for Your love for us. Help us to always put You first and continually seek You with all our hearts, souls, minds and strength. Let us know when our hearts are unguarded. Help us to lay down our will and stop pursuing the things of this world over You. We praise You that You hear this prayer.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
*Come back next Monday for more in this series. You can subscribe below to receive an email reminder of new posts. You can also use the share tabs below to help spread the word of this series to bless others.
Have a blessed week seeking the Lord with all your heart!
*All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the NIV.
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Pursuing Godliness Series and tagged Godliness, guarding our hearts by Amanda Beth with
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8 comments.
Monday’s Blog: Pursuing Godliness “Renewing Our Mindsâ€
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
1 Timothy 4:7-8
I am continuing our series on pursuing godliness. Last week, I talk about the importance of living godly lives as examples to those we minister to. The Apostle Paul exhorted, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ†(1 Corinthians 11:1).
So how do we follow Christ’s example? How do we train ourselves to be godly?
The answer is in Romans 12:1-2:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
We are transformed only by the renewing of our minds. The Greek word for renewal in the above verse means “renovation.†When you renovate something, you restore it to a better state. The Bible says if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone and the new has come (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Ephesians 4:22-24 instructs us, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.â€
The only way to put off our old self (ungodliness) and put on our new self (godliness) is to renew our minds. During the summer, God led me to reorganize my house to make it easier to manage with my family and ministry. While going through my house, I was amazed how many notes with teachings and Scriptures I wrote down through years. I had stacks of notebooks, Bible study workbooks, and piles of odd items such as napkin pieces with Scriptures written on them. When I first started walking with God I was desperate for change. I was hungry for His holiness. I pursued godliness by taking every opportunity I had to feed on and meditate on His Word.
Through the years, God’s done an amazing transformation in my life, and sometimes I take it for granted. Looking through the piles of Scriptures reminded me I can never stop pursuing godliness. If I don’t diligently stay connected to God and seek His Word, I will easily fall back into my old pattern of behavior.
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!
1 Corinthians 10:12
I did a study once on renovating my mind, using Nehemiah 1-6 about rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. My intention was to strip off my old carnal mind and replace it with the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16).
Just as Nehemiah inspected Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 2:11-13), I began the study with inspecting my thoughts. I identified and made a list of every carnal thought I had. I was astonished how many negative thoughts I had even though I was already following Christ for many years. In my journal for the study I wrote: “My mind is like that broken down wall (Nehemiah 2:13). It lies in ruins (Nehemiah 2:17).â€
After identifying the carnal thoughts, I got to work tearing them down and rebuilding my mind with God’s Word (Nehemiah 2:18). Each day, I focused on a different negative thought from my list. I wrote down every verse I found pertaining to that thought, and prayed and meditated on them.
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; Meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it.
Joshua 1:8
The tearing down and rebuilding wasn’t easy. I did the study for about fifty days, close to the amount it took them to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls (Nehemiah 6:15). It took me fourteen days to go through my list. Then, I had to re-examine my thoughts to see where I still needed help. After the first re-examination, the list was about a third of what it was when I started the renovation. The last few carnal thoughts were strongholds, and they took longer to tear down.
I gathered some of the notes I wrote in my journal during those fifty days. It provides insight into some of the ups and downs we can experience as we pursue to renew our minds in God’s Word.
Rebuilding the Walls of My Mind Journal
Day 2: I have been having a lot of bad dreams, revealing the strongholds I have in my mind. Last night, I dreamt an evil woman was chasing me while I was trying to protect a child. I got tired of running and turned around and commanded her to stop in the name of Jesus. She stopped instantly and changed as the demon left her. A great reminder to stop running from the devil. Make him flee.
Day 3: I’m being attacked big time. I’m sick. I’ve had bad dreams and I’m having negative thoughts like crazy.
Day 4: The enemy is angry and greatly incensed that I am renovating my mind (Nehemiah 4:1-7).
“When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews …‘What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?’†(v. 1-2)
Day 7: I acted so badly yesterday. I am ashamed. I was rude to the lady at our new church. This isn’t me. I can’t believe all the junk in me. Help me Lord! Cleanse my mind and rebuild it with pure thoughts so my actions will follow.
“The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us†(Nehemiah 4:19-20)!
Day 9: Things are looking brighter today. I feel my joy returning and my outlook expanding.
Day 14: I feel my mind getting better. The power of the strongholds seems to be weakening and it’s not taking as much effort on my part. God is healing my mind. Â
“When word came to …  our enemies that I had rebuilt the wall and not a gap was left in it…. They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, ‘Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.’ [But I prayed,] ‘Now strengthen my hands’†(Nehemiah 6:1-9).
Day 17: I don’t want to give up. God, renew my strength. Change my thinking. Renew my mind.
Day 24: I need to check and pay attention to every thought. I feel like I’m falling backward now.
“Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully†(2 John 1:8).
Day 25: The devil is fighting and attacking me greatly because he doesn’t want me to renew my mind and tear down the stronghold’s he’s worked so hard to build.
Day 27: I feel great today. God’s grace is tearing down my strongholds. God’s showing me the lies I believed.
Day 30: Just as with a house renovation, once it is finished, I can’t leave it alone or it will return to its old state. I need to keep it up. Care for it. Catch the small repairs so they don’t turn into large projects.
Day 34: I’ve been fasting from junk food for over 30 days. Because I fasted so long from it, I don’t desire it anymore. If I fast from carnal thoughts, I will no longer desire them. I would be foolish to return to the junk I no longer desire.
“Of them the proverbs are true: ‘A dog returns to its vomit,’ and, ‘A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud’†(2 Peter 2:22).
Day 39: I have a fire in my spirit. My mind is being rebuilt with Jesus and the Word of God as my foundation!
 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts (Colossians 3:16, AMP).
Day 40: Lord, use me as an instrument to bring revival to your church and to carry your name before the world (Acts 9:15).
 Day 47: God is doing an amazing work in me. I feel alive and energized and full of the Holy Spirit.
“Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’
Then all the people went away to eat and drink, to send portions of food and to celebrate with great joy, because they now understood the words that had been made known to them†(Nehemiah 8:10, 12).
As you were reading the journal entries, did you notice a pattern? The first part (majority) was spent putting off my old self. Once those carnal thoughts were brought to light I was then able to put on my new self: God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus, ready to do the good works God prepared in advance for me to do (Ephesians 2:10). As God helps us put off our old worldly mindset, He can rebuild our minds and fill them with spiritual things.
We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:
“For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?â€
But we have the mind of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:12-16
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for washing away our sins by the death and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are new creation! The old is gone! Help us to take off our old self and put on our new self. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth†(John 17:17). Help us to diligently seek Your Word and continually renew our minds by the truths we learn from the Bible every day.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
*Come back next Monday as the series continues. You can subscribe below to receive email reminders of new posts. You can also use the share tabs below to help spread the word of this series to bless others.Â
Have a blessed week seeking the Lord and renewing your mind in His Word!
Steve Sawyer is doing a series titled “Brokenness†on Tuesdays. Steve’s series goes along with my series on pursuing godliness. Follow this link to his blog.
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Posted in Monday's Blogs, Pursuing Godliness Series by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Pursuing Godliness
I am starting a new series today titled “Pursuing Godliness.†I just returned from a four month break. I am amazed how much God taught me during that short period of time. I expected to spend most of the time working on my next book. But God had greater plans. The main thing God had me focus on this summer was godliness.
Paul instructed Timothy to:
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.
1 Timothy 4:7-12
I took a cross-fit class last spring. It was once a week for six weeks. But in order to keep up with the level of intensity of the class, I had to also workout at home several days a week. My reason for taking the class was probably different than others in the class. I took it to be pushed beyond my limit to strengthen me spiritually, not physically.
If you haven’t taken a cross-fit class, it is best described as a boot camp workout. Our instructors told us they specifically design the workouts to torture us. At the first class, my friend who introduced me to cross-fit said, “See that guy over there? He threw up four times his first day!â€
At the end of my first class, I text my husband to tell him I didn’t think I could drive home. I could barely lift my foot from the gas to the break. It was physically the hardest six weeks of my life. After the six weeks, my friend asked me if I was going to continue taking cross-fit, but I said I already received what I set out to obtain: motivation. Seeing the strong commitment and devotion from these men and women for something that is only temporary, strengthened me in my spirit to make that same devotion to pursuing godliness.
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
2 Peter 3:10-12
Sadly, we don’t see godliness being a predominant focus in the body of Christ today. It seems that being in style and hip are the main focus. I received a flyer the other day from a new church. They advertised that their music rocked. Their seats were comfortable, and they wore flip-flops to their service.
I went to a Christian conference last month. It was more entertaining than spirit filled. They had dance music, comedic skits and an average message in between. When the conference ended, I left with the desire to dance more than the desire to run home and read my Bible.
I don’t understand why so many ministers and churches feel they have to entertain people to draw them in. Jesus didn’t act like the world to reach them. He was so filled with the Spirit that people were drawn to Him. The power of the Holy Spirit in Him didn’t entertain people. It transformed their lives!
Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.
Matthew 4:23-25
If we follow Jesus’ example, the Spirit of God will be so powerful in us that it will draw people to us, eager to find out what we have. We won’t have to entice them to come into church. They will be running to church!
Jesus said:
“Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
“Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.
Luke 6:39-42
The church is trying to reach the world to “clean them up†when they haven’t even cleaned themselves up. I remember a famous preacher coming to town once, preaching about not giving up on the church and giving them another chance. His message was about not looking at the church leaders who are unholy, but instead looking at God who is Holy.
His message wasn’t completely wrong. We are to look to God, but the Bible also shows us that church leaders are to live godly lives as examples to those they minister to (Read 1 Timothy 3:1-12).
In Acts 6, the twelve disciples gathered all the other disciples together and said to choose seven men from among them who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom, just to distribute food to the poor. It isn’t just the preachers and teachers that are to be godly examples. We are all called to be.
The Apostle Paul exhorted, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ†(1 Corinthians 11:1).
How many of us today would have the confidence and courage to say to others, “Follow my example because I am following Christ’s example!â€
In this series, we will focus on learning how to follow Christ’s example by pursuing godliness. I pray this series will bless and encourage all of us to seek the Lord with all our hearts.
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for Your love for us. Lead us in this series and help us on our pursuit of godliness. Teach us through Your word and help us follow Christ’s example by living the life You created us to live.
In Jesus’ precious name, Amen!
*Come back next Monday as the series continues. You can subscribe below to receive email reminders of new posts. You can also use the share tabs below to help spread the word of this series to bless others.Â
Have a blessed week seeking the Lord!
Steve Sawyer is starting a series on his blog tomorrow titled “Brokenness.†Steve’s series goes along with my series on pursuing godliness. He talks about realizing how wretched our sin is and how true brokenness is the only way for Jesus to get rid of it, not forgive it, because He did that anyway, but get rid of it. Follow this link to his blog.
*Do you want to pursue godliness in your marriage and raising your family? I recently revised and republished “You Can Have a Happy Family.†The ebook version is FREE TODAY ONLY at Amazon. Follow the link below.
“The LORD will perfect that which concerns me: your mercy, O LORD, endures forever: forsake not the works of your own hands.”
Psalm 138:8, AKJV
Posted in Monday's Blogs, Pursuing Godliness Series and tagged God, Godliness, Holiness, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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10 comments.
I’m Back From My Break!
Hi everyone! I wanted to drop a quick note that I’m back from my summer break. I will start blogging again next Monday and sharing what God has put on my heart these past few months. It’s been an interesting break that didn’t quite turn out the way I expected. God’s plans are not always our plans. I’ll be talking more about that next Monday.
I missed you all so much! I hope you had a wonderful summer! I tried to keep up with answering emails and messages on social media, but I know I missed many. If you sent me a request or message, sorry for the long delay in responding. I’m glad to be back and look forward to sharing what God teaches me. Have a blessed week! See you next Monday!
God bless you,
Amanda Beth
“I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.“
Acts 20:24
Posted in Monday's Blogs by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Is It God’s Will To Heal You?
I am starting a series today on healing. I usually only post on Mondays, but next week I will be taking a four month leave from the internet to work on my next book. I am going to post every day this week. Today and tomorrow I will share what God has taught me about healing and my experiences with it. Wednesday through Friday, I will share guest posts and testimonies on healing. You can follow this link to read all the messages in this series.
I believe this series will be life-changing for anyone seeking God’s will on healing. Please share this series with others by using the share tabs below.
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DOES GOD HEAL EVERYONE?
Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—who forgives all your sins and heals ALL your diseases.
Psalm 103:1-3
I am overwhelmed with grief at all the sicknesses and suffering I see around me. But I am even more grieved at the ignorance and lack of belief I see in the body of Christ today regarding healing.
A lot of teachings today don’t support the truth that God heals through His Holy Spirit dwelling in His people, just as His Holy Spirit did through Jesus and His Disciples. Many Christians (including many pastors) believe God chooses who He wants to heal. But in my heart I can’t accept that teaching, because in the Bible Jesus healed ALL who came to Him to receive healing.
“Many followed him, and he healed ALL their sick†(Matthew 12:15).
“…and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them ALL†(Luke 6:19).
“…and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed ALL the sick†(Matthew 8:16).
“…and people brought to him ALL who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them†(Matthew 4:24).
Jesus never said to anyone who came to Him, “I can’t heal you, because it’s God’s will for you to remain sick,†(neither did His disciples). On the contrary, Jesus was quick to respond to those who needed healing (Matthew 8:3).
Isaiah 53:4 says, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows…†The original Greek word translated in the NIV as “infirmities†in this verse is “choliy,†which means “sickness†(see reference).
If the Bible says Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:7), and if it says He carried our sicknesses, why wouldn’t it apply to us today? Why would God only work His healing power through His Disciples in the Bible, but not through His Disciples today?
I’ve had many experiences with God’s healing. My first experience came shortly after giving my life over to Christ. My daughter was about 6 months old at the time. My husband accidentally left a battery charger with the cord hanging down off his tall dresser. It was about ten years ago, so the battery chargers weren’t thin and light like they are today. My daughter crawled over to the dresser, pulled the cord, and the charger came crashing down and left an indent in her head.
Panicking, I quickly laid my hands on her head and cried out to God to heal her. After praying, I opened my eyes and saw that her head was healed completely. There was no indent, mark or bruise. After that incident, I was filled with faith knowing God heals us.
Through the years, God’s taught me a lot about healing. I don’t have all the answers, but I will share with you what I have learned so far. I want to also encourage you to seek God’s heart and ask Him to show you His will on healing. I’ve heard and read many teachings on this subject. God always leads me to check them with His Word to keep me free from deception. I encourage you to do the same. Don’t just accept every teaching. Seek God’s truth for yourself.
“Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.â€
Acts 17:11
Through my experience, and God’s Word, I’ve learned several things that can hinder our healing.
UNBELIEF
 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.”
Luke 18:42
Those who didn’t receive healing in the Bible were those who didn’t come to Jesus for healing, because either they didn’t understand, or they didn’t believe. In His hometown, Jesus couldn’t do many miracles because of their unbelief.
Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown, among his relatives and in his own house is a prophet without honor.†He could not do any miracles there, except lay his hands on a few sick people and heal them. And he was amazed at their lack of faith†(Mark 6:4-6).
We can’t receive something we don’t believe is available to us. I was talking to a Christian woman recently. She told me her son needs surgery this summer. I said I would pray for his healing. She replied “No, it’s already been diagnosed. They already scheduled it.â€
I was shocked that she didn’t even consider it was possible that God could turn things around and heal her son. How could she receive God’s healing if she didn’t believe it?
In Acts 14, before healing a crippled man, Paul observed him intently to see if he had the faith to be healed before commanding him to stand up: “And in Lystra a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother’s womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed,  said with a loud voice, ‘Stand up straight on your feet!’ And he leaped and walkedâ€Â (Acts 14:8-10).
A couple years ago, my brother and sister-in-law were told that their daughter had cerebral palsy. The doctor scheduled them to see a specialist to confirm this diagnosis. At the time, my niece was 11 months old and still hadn’t been able to stand on her legs. Normally after birth, when you hold an infant up, they stretch their legs out firm. My niece’s legs were like Jell-O. She had no strength in them.
A week before their appointment with the specialist, I noticed my sister-in-law was overwhelmed with grief and hopelessness. I told her not to accept the diagnosis just yet. There was still hope. I told her I saw her daughter through God’s eyes, not through the doctor’s eyes. I told her I saw her as a beautiful, healthy, normal baby, just as God saw her.
I believe that sparked a little faith in my sister-in-law. A few days later her mother was watching her daughter when suddenly she stood firm on her legs. She continued to stand on her legs and even started walking along the furniture. It was a miracle. Everyone was amazed!
My brother and sister-in-law took my niece to the doctor. The doctor was shocked. He said he never witnessed that kind of improvement in such a short time. They also went to specialist to be sure. The specialist couldn’t find anything wrong with my niece. She was completely healed.
Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”
John 11:40
SIN
…but each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
James 1:14-15
Sin doesn’t just affect our spiritual health. It also affects our physical health. When Jesus healed the man at the pool, He said, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you†(John 5:14). Our poor physical health could be a result of our poor spiritual health.
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body.
Proverbs 4:20-22
In the past, God opened my eyes to sin many times through a sickness, either in me or a loved one.
My daughter passed out in my arms when she was two years old and had to be rushed to the hospital. It was the most horrifying experience. I thought I lost her. At the same time, it was also a big awakening. I had been ignoring the Lord’s conviction on a certain sin in my life. I don’t believe God brought the sickness on my daughter, but I do believe He allowed it to open my eyes and turn me from my sin.
 UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLE
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
We can’t test God by purposely doing things that are harmful to our health, and expect Him to always heal us. I read a message by a preacher recently on how Paul instructed Timothy in 1 Timothy 5:23 to: “Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for your stomach’s sake and your often infirmities†(AKJV).
The preacher suggested that the water was causing the frequent illness, possibly due to contamination. So the preacher suggested that Paul was saying, “Don’t be foolish! If you know what is causing it, stop it!â€
My husband recently heard a Christian radio show host use that same verse, and ignore all the many other verses that support healing, to say that God does not heal everyone who comes to Him because Timothy was sick. We can’t take one Scripture and twist it around to support our own beliefs. We must look at the Bible as a whole and seek God for His knowledge, not settle for our own understanding.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
Sometimes when we are sick, it can also be an indication that we need rest. In our drive-through society, we want a quick fix for everything. We run to the doctors every time we’re sick and expect them to give us a pill to quickly make us better. Those who believe in God’s healing will often run to God and expect Him to instantly heal every cold, flu, virus, etc. I have experienced many sudden healings, but I’ve also had to wait out many sicknesses because my body needed rest.
 GOD’S PLAN
“Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.â€
John 9:3
My husband was sick for many years with a stomach ulcer. His sickness affected our lives greatly. The doctors tried everything they could to heal him, but nothing worked. My faith started to wither as I became discouraged and thought my prayers were no longer effective.
God was still faithful despite my struggle with doubt. He eventually led my husband to a natural doctor. The doctor put my husband on a program with natural vitamins and it completely healed his ulcer.
I believe God led us to the natural doctor to teach us to take care of our bodies, and not neglect our health.
I also believe God led us that route in order to help others. Since then, God’s used us to lead many people to natural medicine. My husband recently referred his co-worker’s sister to his natural doctor for an ulcer problem. She is now on the same program he was on.
In the book “The Heavenly Man-The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun,” God delivered many miracles in and through Brother Yun. At one point, he was sick in prison and kept in the hospital for a period of time. He said he believes he wasn’t healed right away to keep him in the hospital to share the gospel. Each time he experienced a delay in healing, there was always a reason, and God always worked it out for his benefit.
AN ATTACK FROM SATAN
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. … When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,†he said, “I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.â€
Mark 9:17, 25
My husband and I attended a marriage Bible study at a couple’s home years ago. Shortly before the study began the woman became ill. Despite her illness, she felt led to start the study to help save another couple’s marriage.
The study was going well. We were enjoying great fellowship, and drawing closer to the Lord and our spouses. Then one day, her doctor told her to enjoy her family because she didn’t have long to live.
She was devastated. My heart ached for her and her family. I didn’t know much about healing at the time, but I was confident God wanted her to be healed. So I turned to God and sought His Word. I was determined to find answers to help her. In my heart, I felt the sickness was an attack from Satan and it was not God’s will to take her life that way.
After searching all the Scriptures on healing, and studying how Jesus healed and His disciples healed, I started sharing what I learned with her. She was optimistic at first, until her husband didn’t accept it. He insisted IF it was God’s will, God would heal her. Because of her husband’s unbelief, I called my natural doctor and asked if they could do anything to help her. They were confident they could help her, so I shared the information with her and even offered to pay for her treatment.
But after talking to her husband again, she declined the offer. Because of her poor health, she had to cancel the study. And sadly, a couple from the study divorced shortly after.
Satan will try anything he can to keep us out of the will of God. When I started writing my first book, my family was attacked greatly. It so obvious that even others noticed we were being attacked. One attack was sores all over my kids’ bodies. I tried everything I could to get rid of the sores.
I laid hands on them. I prayed to receive healing. I believed by the blood of Jesus they were healed and even shouted it out loud many times to keep me from doubting. But nothing changed.
I took my kids to the doctors. The doctors couldn’t diagnose the sores. They had no idea what they were. They kept giving us different medicines and creams to try, but they only made them worse. I also went the natural route and spent a fortune trying to get rid of the sores. But nothing worked.
My kids had to have Band-Aids on their sores and wear socks on their hands and feet. They looked like mummies covered head to toe in bandages. After two months of praying, changing bandages daily, applying creams, and forcing my kids to drink nasty concoctions, I realized the sickness was consuming my life. It left me no time to work on my book. At that moment, I knew the sickness was an attack to keep me from the will of God.
I handed the sickness over to God. I told Him I couldn’t fight it anymore. I wasn’t going to let it stop me from doing His will. I took off the bandages, stopped the creams, medicines, and nasty concoctions. The next day, the sores started clearing up. By the following week, the sores were gone completely and they never returned.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7
I pray these stories encourage you to take hold of your healing bought to you by the precious blood of Jesus. I heard someone say recently, “Faith trumps facts.†It may be a fact that you have a sickness. But faith can change that fact!
A woman recently told me that she is believing God for the healing of marriage. She said the healing already took place although she doesn’t see it yet. She said she is walking by faith and not by sight.
Believe your healing has already taken place. Put your trust in God. Don’t listen to what others say. Listen to the Holy Spirit. He will guide you into all truth (John 16:13) and lead you to your healing.
Heavenly Father,
We praise You that Your Word is true. If You healed through Your Spirit in Jesus and His disciples, You will heal through Your Spirit in us. We receive Your healing over any sickness or stronghold we are carrying today. We know that healing has been giving to us in our spiritual bodies, let it manifest right now into our physical bodies. Glorify Your Son, Jesus, through Your power flowing through us. Help us with our doubts. If we don’t see the result yet, help us to hold on to your Word and continue believing that You have already healed us. It will manifest!
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!!
Â
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
Posted in Healing, Monday's Blogs and tagged God, healing, health, Holy Spirit, Jesus by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Ignite The Fire In Your Spirit – Loving Others
We end our igniting the fire in our spirits series today with the second greatest commandment—loving others.
In Matthew 22:36, one of the religious experts in the law tested Jesus with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?â€
Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself†(Matthew 22:37-39).
Why is loving God and loving others the greatest commandment in the law? Because love covers all sins (Proverbs 10:12). It fulfills the rest of the commandments in the law.
Romans 13:8-10 explains:
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “Do not commit adultery,†“Do not murder,†“Do not steal,†“Do not covet,†and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: “Love your neighbor as yourself.†Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.â€
I’ve been reading a wonderful book called “The Heavenly Man: The Remarkable True Story of Chinese Christian Brother Yun.†The sacrifices Brother Yun made and the love he had for others, despite the horrible persecution he experienced, humbled me. I recently told my husband that this book is showing me I am not where I need to be in my love walk. I have been burnt out lately and am not loving others like I should.
My husband suggested that I ask God to give me opportunities to show His love to others. I realized I am exhausted because I am trying to do bigger things for others. I take on too many tasks, and it overwhelms me and slowly hardens my heart. Instead, I should follow the Holy Spirit and do only what God leads me to do.
Most of my time is spent loving and caring for my family. So I will get burnt out if I try to do too many things for others. God showed me there are many little things I can do that don’t have to take a lot of my time.
I started thinking about all the people in my life God’s used to bless me through the years. The blessings that stand out to me are the little gestures of kindness and encouragement I have received from others. For example, a woman on Facebook “like’s†every comment I post. It may seem like a small thing, but it puts a smile on my face every day I see her name on my wall.
I have friends who send me messages of encouragement every so often to tell me they are praying for me. I’ve had people I don’t know email me a Bible verse at just the right time.
My husband sends me text messages from work to tell me he loves me. I have family and friends who bless me with a grocery, clothing, or household item. Those small gestures are what I treasure the most, because God uses them to remind me that He loves and cares for me.
God can even use our love for Him to show His love to others without us saying a word. When I didn’t know Christ, a woman with a bright countenance and gentle spirit came into the restaurant I was working at. I remember what a relief it was to wait on her after a stressful lunch rush. Her order was simple. She was very kind. Her meal couldn’t have cost more than $10, and she left me a $20 tip.
It wasn’t unusual to receive a big tip at this restaurant. So it wasn’t just her tip that touched me. It was her spirit. I saw God in her even though I didn’t know Him. Her generosity, accompanied by her loving spirit, planted a seed that later led me into the arms of the Lord.
I read a message by Andrew Wommack recently. He talked about Peter’s mother-in-law ministering to Jesus and His disciples in Mark 1:31, “And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.â€
Andrew wrote:
How did Peter’s mother-in-law minister unto Jesus and His disciples? Did she sit them down and preach to them? Certainly not. Yet sometimes people think the only way we can minister to another is to admonish them with the scriptures.
Peter’s mother-in-law apparently ministered to them by serving them. The word translated “minister†is the same word that was translated “deacon†twice in the New Testament, and “serve, served or serveth†eight times.
We can minister for the Lord by doing some of the menial tasks that many consider to be unimportant. Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given in His name would not go unrewarded (Matthew 10:42).
Many people are waiting for the important jobs to come along where they can make a big impact or receive a lot of recognition, while they pass by many lesser opportunities every day. But in the kingdom of God, we won’t be given any great opportunities until we are proven faithful in the small things (Luke 16:10).
We don’t have to do something amazing or preach to show God’s love to others. And we don’t need to burn ourselves out trying to do everything for others. If we follow the Holy Spirit, God will show us little ways we can reach others with His love.
“If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.â€
—1 Corinthians 13:3, NLT
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for Your unconditional love for us. Bring Your love to life inside of us. Help us to see others as You see them. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Give us opportunities each day to show Your love to others. Keep Your fire continually burning in our spirits for the lost and broken-hearted, so our lives draw others to You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
I pray God used this series to bless you and re-ignite a fire in your spirit! If you would like to learn more about the love walk, follow this link to my series last year on “Love” as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.
*If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, please click on the “SALVATION†tab at the top of the website. Don’t wait another day!
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
*Follow my new facebook page to receive reminders of new posts.
Posted in Ignite The Fire Series, Monday's Blogs and tagged God, Ignite the fire, Jesus, love by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Ignite The Fire In Your Spirit – Renew Your Mind
We continue our series on igniting the fire in our spirits. Last week I talked about the wilderness. This week I want to focus on the temptations Jesus experienced, and the Israelites experienced, in the wilderness. We’ll compare how Jesus handled those temptations differently than the Israelites.
1st Temptation:
- JESUS
After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.â€
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’â€
—Matthew 4:2-4
- ISRAELITES
The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.â€
—Exodus 16:1-3
The Bible tells us to set our minds on things above, not on earthly things (Colossians 3:2) Heaven and earth will pass away, but God’s Words will never pass away (Mark 13:31). Jesus knew His spiritual body was more important to feed than his earthly body. The Israelites, on the other hand, cared more about their physical needs than their spiritual needs.
God led the Israelites through the wilderness to renew (renovate) their minds and teach them to stop relying on and following their flesh, and start relying on and following the Holy Spirit.
Before I knew Christ my mind was set on my flesh. Consequently, after I received Christ I continued to follow my flesh even though I no longer wanted to.
God had to work with me to renovate my mind. He had to help me tear down the lies the enemy sowed all those years and replace them with the Truth. He had to teach me how to set my mind on what the Spirit desires, instead of what my sinful nature desires. As my mind is on the Spirit, I am able to put to death the things in my flesh that once controlled me (Romans 8:13).
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
—Romans 8:5-8
The Israelites were hostile to God because their minds were set on their flesh. Jesus was able to remain in peace in the face of temptation because His mind was set on the Spirit.
2nd Temptation:
- JESUS
Then the devil took him to the holy city and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,†he said, “throw yourself down. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you, and they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’â€
Jesus answered him, “It is also written: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
—Matthew 4:5-7
- ISRAELITES
… They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. So they quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water to drink.â€
Moses replied, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?â€
But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, “Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?â€
… And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?â€
—Exodus 17:1-3, 7
The Devil tried to tempt Jesus into testing if God was truly with Him. But Jesus knew God would never leave Him, as Deuteronomy 31:8 explains: “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.â€
It amazes me how the Israelites saw God was with them when He parted the Red Sea and rescued them from their oppressors, but they didn’t trust God would be with them through the wilderness. Every time they had a need, they wanted God to prove He was with them.
I think sometimes we allow our minds to be consumed with our trials that we forget all the things God’s done for us. I was worrying about my finances one day when I came across this note I wrote in my journal seven years ago:
“We have been struggling lately with bills and have to charge our groceries and the rest of our Christmas presents, and our credit card is close to maxing out. Yesterday, I wasted an hour trying to win $1,000 on the radio. After wasting my time, I thought to myself, ‘Why am I trying to make God bless me the way I think He needs to. He will provide for us. He will help us pay our bills.’ The next day, my husband got a surprise $1,000 Christmas bonus. He has never gotten a Christmas bonus from this company before. God is real! He is in control! We are now able to pay for our groceries and the rest of our Christmas presents without charging them!â€
God used this past victory to remind me if He provided then, He will provide now. He is the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
If the Israelites would have remembered what God already did for them, they would’ve been at peace and trusted God to provide for their needs.
I remember the days of long ago; I meditate on all your works and consider what your hands have done. I spread out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land.      Â
Selah (pause and think about that)
—Psalm 143:5-6, emphasis mine
3rd Temptation:
- JESUS
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. “All this I will give you,†he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.â€
Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.’â€
—Matthew 4:8-10
- ISRAELITES
When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.â€
Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.†So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.â€
—Exodus 32:1-4
An idol is anything apart from God that we serve and rely on for fulfillment.
Romans 12:1-2 explains how we worship and serve the Lord:
“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.â€
We live in a drive-thru society. We don’t want to reach the Promise Land God’s way. We don’t want to wait around for Him. We want to skip the hard training, so we leave His path and find a quicker, easier, and more fulfilling way. Or so we think.
I see this happen a lot in the ministry. In my earlier years of following Christ I often felt pressured by others in my church to help out with the youth. I taught Sunday school for a short time, but I dreaded every minute of it. In my heart I knew I was not ready to minister to anyone yet. God was working a lot out of me and I knew I wouldn’t be the light the children needed to lead them to Jesus. So I stepped down and followed God, waiting until He was ready to use me in ministry.
My heart aches whenever I see a worldly-minded Christian in an influential ministry position. The Bible says that we who teach will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). We are held more accountable because of all the lives we are influencing. Jesus said, “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit†(Luke 6:39)?
God doesn’t want us chasing anything, including ministry, apart from Him. When we offer our bodies, minds, and hearts to God, He will lead us into His good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives…in His timing, not ours.
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for never leaving us, even when we’ve strayed from Your will. Help us to continually renew our minds in Your Word. Help us to set our minds on Your Spirit and not our flesh. Lead us through the wilderness and into Your good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives. Make us into a vessel fit for Your glory so we can shine Your light, and lead many to Christ.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
Next Monday will be the last message in this series. I appreciate all the wonderful comments you have shared! Thank you so much! Please continue to share whatever the Lord puts on your heart in the comment section below. I will be using some of the comments in my book.Â
*If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, please click on the “SALVATION†tab at the top of the website. Don’t wait another day!
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
*Follow my new facebook page to receive reminders of new posts
Posted in Ignite The Fire Series, Monday's Blogs and tagged Boredom, Christ, Christianity, God, Holy Spirit, Promised Land by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Ignite The Fire In Your Spirit – The Wilderness
We continue our series on igniting the fire in our spirits. Follow this link if you missed any messages in this series.
Jesus said, “The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).
—John 10:10, AMP
Are you living life in abundance to the full, till it overflows to others? Or, are you stuck in the wilderness on a never-ending journey, going from one pit to the next?
In the first message of this series, someone commented, “I think people get stuck in the wilderness because they don’t recognize they are not living life to abundance, or just think that the abundant life is reserved for heaven. There are very few people who seem to be living the abundant life here on Earth, and most of those who do don’t broadcast the fact. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a sermon on ‘What the Wilderness Looks Like.’ We don’t see the wilderness for the scrub-brush, so to speak. And once we recognize that we’re in the wilderness, we may or may not have a Moses or Joshua to lead us out (or, when we realize we have to fight our way out, we go back to what we are used to).â€
For the next couple weeks, I want to focus on the wilderness. This week we’ll examine why it’s necessary for us. To answer this, we first need to know when God takes us through the wilderness.
Matthew 3:16-17 says, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.â€
After Jesus was baptized and received the Holy Spirit, “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil†(Matthew 4:1, KJV).
When I first started following Christ, life was wonderful. God showed Himself to me in amazing ways. Prayers got answered. My life began changing. It was an exciting time.
Once I saw God was real I wanted to surrender my life to Him. So I followed Jesus’ example and got baptized, again (I was also baptized as a baby). Baptism was an outward expression to show the world I was going to serve the Lord with all my heart. It was a wonderful experience for me.
After making that commitment to follow Christ, no one informed me what God was going to do next. As God led me into the wilderness, things slowly began to change. I didn’t know it then, but God was taking me through the wilderness to test me, teach me, purify me, and prepare me for His calling on my life.
I don’t believe I would have resisted the Lord’s working so much and stayed in the wilderness as long as I did had I known that God was preparing me for something greater.
Deuteronomy 8:1-6 explains the purpose of the wilderness (desert):
“Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers. Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you. Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and revering him.â€
Jesus was in the wilderness for forty days. He submitted Himself to God and stood firm against the devil. The devil fled, and then angels came and ministered to Jesus and He left the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). Then, the Bible says, “From that time on Jesus began to preach, ‘Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near’†(Matthew 4:17).
God uses the wilderness to prepare us for our higher calling. If we can’t stand against the devil’s temptations in the wilderness, we won’t be able to stand against the greater attacks and temptations he will throw at us in the Promised Land. The greater the calling on our lives, the greater the responsibility.
God appointed Jeremiah “over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant†(Jeremiah 1:10). When Jeremiah complained and questioned God, God answered, “If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses? If you stumble in safe country, how will you manage in the thickets by the Jordan?†(Jeremiah 12:5)
The Bible says that no discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it (Hebrews 2:11). Whenever I start to get down from my trials, I am reminded that my life is not my own. God has a purpose and plan for all of us. We are His vessels carrying His glory to a world that desperately needs to see the light and know the Truth.
We are encouraged to endure hardship like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. “No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules†(2 Timothy 2:3-5).
If the Israelites would have “competed according to the rules,†surrendering their will over to God, allowing Him to work in them and prepare them for the Promised Land, they wouldn’t have wandered aimlessly in the wilderness for forty years.
“The Israelites had moved about in the desert forty years until all the men who were of military age when they left Egypt had died, since they had not obeyed the LORD. For the LORD had sworn to them that they would not see the land that he had solemnly promised their fathers to give us, a land flowing with milk and honey†(Joshua 5:6).
Next week, we’ll look at how the temptations Jesus experienced in the wilderness were the same the Israelites experienced, and why that generation was disqualified from entering the Promised Land.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
—1 Corinthians 9:24-27
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for always knowing what is best for us. Help us through the wilderness times. Help us not to fight against Your discipline. We open our hearts to You. Work in us and train us for our higher calling. Lead us into the Promised Land, where we are completely surrendered to Your will and purpose for our lives.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!Â
 Questions for my book:
I would love to hear your wilderness experiences.
When did God take you through it, and what did you learn through it?
*I appreciate your responses. I will not use any personal information in my book (name, email, website).
*If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, please click on the “SALVATION†tab at the top of the website. Don’t wait another day!
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
*Follow my new facebook page to receive reminders of new posts.
Posted in Ignite The Fire Series, Monday's Blogs and tagged Boredom, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Promised Land, Righteous living, wilderness by Amanda Beth with
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Monday’s Blog: Ignite The Fire In Your Spirit – Fear God
But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,†his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
—Jeremiah 20:9
We continue our series on igniting the fire in our spirits. Follow this link if you missed any messages in this series. I am using this series in my next book: Escaping Boredom in Christianity. I am also using some of your comments in my book. I ask a couple questions at the end of each post. Feel free to answer whatever the Lord puts on your heart. Your comments are greatly appreciated.
Last week I talked about guarding our hearts against sin. I believe one reason many Christians don’t guard their hearts against sin is because they don’t fear the Lord. I heard a preacher recently say that God loves us and He is our friend, but we can’t forget that He’s also God. We will all stand before God and give an account of our lives (Romans 14:12). That’s not something we should take lightly.
One time, while reading the Bible, I came across several verses that said to fear the Lord. At the time, I hadn’t heard anything about the fear of the Lord, so it intrigued me to look up all the verses I could find that talked about it. I was amazed how many verses I found that instructed us to fear God, and even more amazed at all the blessings that followed.
As I learned the importance of fearing the Lord, I was eager to find out how to fear Him.
God showed me through Proverbs 2:1-5:
- VERSE 1: “My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,â€
To accept God’s Words we need to believe EVERYTHING in the Bible is TRUE. I believe the reason I’ve had a fire in my spirit for the Lord, from the moment I started following Him, is because I have never read a verse and doubted it was true. Even when I am struggling with doubt in a situation, I never doubt God’s Word and His faithfulness. My doubt is always about my ability to receive God’s Truths and knowing how to apply them to my life.
When we read God’s Word, and accept it as Truth, we store up His commands in our hearts. Then, when a temptation or trial comes, the Holy Spirit brings to remembrance the Truth we have stored in our hearts, and we are equipped to overcome it (John 14:26).
- VERSE 2: “turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding,â€
We need to listen and take heed to the training and instruction of the Lord. Psalm 86:11 says, “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.†The Bible warns us not to merely listen to the Word, and so deceive ourselves. We are to DO what it says (James 1:22). God can do a wonderful work in us when He has our full undivided attention.
-  VERSE 3: “and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,â€
Do you have trouble understanding the Bible and applying it to your life?
God says, “Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know†(Jeremiah 33:3).
Proverbs 1:6-7 says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. And it is the only way to understanding the proverbs and parables and the sayings of the wise. God is the only One Who can reveal His Word to us and give us understanding.
I am not book smart. I don’t have any degrees. I am not a Bible scholar. The things I learn in His Word don’t come from my own wisdom. Even as I write these blogs, I am amazed how God gives me His wisdom to share His Word.
-  VERSE 4: “and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,â€
I read a wonderful message recently by Lori Hatcher, author of the blog: “Be Not Weary.†She shared how at one time she wasn’t sure she really loved God. As she searched her heart, she discovered she was grateful to God. She feared and respected God. And she even desired to please and serve God. But she said, “I thought about the people I love and the warm, affectionate, and sometimes almost painful intensity of emotion that I feel toward them, and I had to admit that I did not feel that level of intense emotion toward God.â€
She thought back to her dating years and what made her fall in love with her husband. She decided to apply some of those principles to God and seek out His love.
She expressed, “I started spending time with Him in prayer (speaking and listening). I became a student of Him in order to learn all about Him. I began reading the Bible, often called God’s Love Letter to the world, looking for aspects of His character. I started a list in the front of my Bible of every adjective I found that described God.
I read about what made Him laugh and what made Him cry. I started spending time with His family–the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ, and I saw His family traits demonstrated through them. I learned what motivates Him, which ultimately boils down to one word:
LOVE
and I fell madly in love with Him.â€
She hungered to love God. She looked for His love as for silver and searched for it as for hidden treasure. And she found what she was looking for. She fell madly in love with God.
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.â€
—Jeremiah 29:13
- VERSE 5: “THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God†(emphasis mine).
When we accept God’s Words as Truth, and store up His commands in our hearts, and listen to His instructions, and when we cry out for insight and understanding of His Word and His will, and we seek Him and search for Him with all our hearts, we will find Him and understand what it truly means to fear the Lord.
Fearing God isn’t about walking on pins and needles before Him, feeling like we have to do everything right. The verses following those in Proverbs 2 explain how the wisdom of God, found only through the fear of the Lord, protects us, preserves us, and keeps us from following the wrong path.
Verses 9-10 say, “Then you will understand what is right and just and fair—every good path. For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.â€
When we revere God, He gives us His wisdom and understanding. Then, we begin to see life through His eyes. We begin to see the reasons behind God’s instructions. We begin to see why God tells us to do and not to do certain things. We begin to see that all God’s instructions are for our own benefit.
I once heard a preacher say, “The law was given for two reasons: 1) to fear God’s punishment so we don’t let Satan get an inroad in our lives 2) to show us we can never follow it and save ourselves.â€
God wants us to fear Him because He loves us and wants to protect us. How great is our God that He wants us to fear Him for our own good! His love is more amazing than we can even imagine. How much our lives would change if we would learn to truly fear the Lord and walk in His wisdom.
The Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him [who revere and worship Him with awe] and each of them He delivers. O taste and see that the Lord [our God] is good! Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man who trusts and takes refuge in Him.
—Psalm 34:7-8
Â
Heavenly Father,
We praise You for loving us more than we can imagine. Teach us to always walk in reverence to You. Unite our hearts with Yours so we can truly fear You. Give us wisdom and knowledge of Your Word and Your will for our lives. Help us to walk humbly before You so our spirits are continually on fire for You.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!
 Questions for my book:
Do you think many Christians today don’t fear God?
If so, what do you believe hinders them from fearing God?
Is there anything you would like to share about the fear of the Lord that I didn’t address?
*I appreciate your responses. I will not use any personal information in my book (name, email, website, etc.). Remember to come back next week as the series continues.
*If you have never accepted Christ as your Savior, please click on the “SALVATION†tab at the top of the website. Don’t wait another day!
*All Bible verses are taken from the NIV, unless otherwise noted.
*Follow my new facebook page to receive reminders of new posts.
Posted in Ignite The Fire Series, Monday's Blogs and tagged Boredom, Christianity, fear of the Lord, God, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Righteous living by Amanda Beth with
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