Good Morning,
I am being
prompted to “shot-gun” a few truths to you this morning. I hope that as you
read these, you will find the common thread that ties these thoughts
together. I mean the obvious one is being obedient to God and His calling.
But, as usual, I like to bring out subtle things that, while tied to the
original theme, extend out into the realm of the imagination, making us
search our hearts to find the truth. Maybe while searching hearts, we might
search the Word—which by anyone’s standards including our Lord’s, is what
Paul wrote to Timothy—“Study, to show yourself approved!” Please, enjoy!
Matthew 6:33—“But
seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things
shall be added to you.”
I know each
one of us have heard this over and over and the message, to say the least,
is simple to understand. I mean it is pretty easy to understand that in
order to get the good things from God, we must seek or look for His Kingdom
and righteousness first and when we find it or at least as we seek, we
inheritantly receive goodness from our Heavenly Father.
However, with
that being said, there is still some of you out there, like me, who are just
rebellious enough to say, “ Ok, Pastor, it says to seek first the Kingdom of
God and His righteousness—JUST WHAT DO WE SEEK—REALLY?” Glad you asked!
As Christians,
we must seek Christ first and foremost and find righteousness in Jesus and
look for the power of His resurrection. I say this based on Philippians
1:21—“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Also, look at
Philippians 3:7-11—“But what things were gain to me, these I have counted
loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence
of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss
of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be
found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but
that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God
by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the
fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if by any means,
I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.”
We must also
look for Christ-like humility and find God’s Will in the believer.
Philippians 2:5-7—“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who, being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with
God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant,
and coming in the likeness of men.” Take a look at Philippians 2:
12-13—“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my
presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation
with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to
do for His good pleasure.”
We must seek a
divinely appointed goal and find the prize of eternal salvation.
Philippians 3: 14—“I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call
of God in Christ Jesus.”
Finally, we
must look for and find these things to meditate
on: Philippians
4: 8-9—“Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are
noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things
are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and
if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things
which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do and the God
of peace will be with
you.”
Luke 8: 1-3—“Now
it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village,
preaching and bringing glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve
were with Him, and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities—Mary called Magdalene, out of whom had come seven demons, and
Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who
provided for Him from their substance.”
I think this
passage of scripture is interesting to say the least. Jesus had quite a
following wherever He went. In almost every Biblical account of Him except
when He was alone with the woman at the well, and a couple of other
situations, He was covered up with multitudes of people. Men, women, and
children thronged Him from every side. He had to be ministered to. Jesus,
remember, was the Perfect Man, and His ministry was probably beyond
scrutiny. He was upfront with every thing His ministry required. But, the
truth of the matter is the fact that while He was God in every way, He was
still very much flesh and blood and bone. He got tired, He got hungry, He
got dusty and dirty, thirsty and emotional. This scripture shows me God’s
great love for His Son. The Father provided, through those Jesus had
ministered to, a way for His Son to get the physical things He needed. AND
THEY WERE NOT YOUR ORDINARY, RUN OF THE MILL, JEWISH MEN! They were women
who provided for Jesus out of their own substance. They don’t even sound
like they belong to “the fold” does it? (Mary of Magdalene—Susanna, and
Joanna, the wife of Chuza, King Herod’s Steward—I’m sure Herod gave his
approval for this lady to help in Jesus’ ministry!) They were giving Him
substance from what they had an abundance! It didn’t say money—it said from
their substance. One may have been an excellent cook, one may have been a
“mother” type and was meeting His physical needs in a motherly way. I don’t
know, I just know it says they provided for Him from their substance!
From what
substance are we providing to the King of kings and Lord of lords, today?
You mean, Pastor, Jesus needs things today? Yes, He needs your mouth, your
hands, your feet, your finances—HE NEEDS YOU! Why? To be His mouth to
witness of His great love to a lost and dying world! He needs your hands to
lay on someone who is sick! He needs your feet to go where He is needed!
He needs your financial support to further His kingdom in souls! He needs
you and your obedience!
A few months
ago a lady—FROM ANOTHER CHURCH—was obedient to her Savior and gave our
church a substantial gift! I mention this because, like this scripture,
women are giving to His ministry out of their own substance. Praise God! I
say this not to get my reward now, but to encourage you to be obedient in
everything! The Father wants you and only you!
John 6: 60-61—“Therefore
many of His disciples, when they heard this, said, ‘This is a hard saying;
who can understand it?’ When Jesus knew in Himself that His disciples
complained about this, He said to them, ‘Does this offend you?’“
I know I
started this right in the middle of something, but believe me; I have not
taken this out of context. This whole chapter 6 of John has a few signs and
wonders in it, but mainly it is dealing with Jesus—The Bread of Life! When
Jesus brought it to our attention that men were seeking Him for the miracles
He does, especially the feeding of the five thousand, He took the
opportunity (I think He knew this was the time to bring it out—nothing,
remember, is by chance with God!) to reveal to us the true Bread of Life.
The Pharisees, Sadducees, and Scribes and even some of the hundreds of His
disciples were taken aghast by His statement that in order to receive
eternal life, one must eat His flesh and drink His blood. And in the
natural, we would even think—“What kind of nut is this?” But remember,
Jesus was very plainly spoken on this subject! I believe they were sincere
in verse 28 when they asked, “What
shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Jesus replied, “This is
the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”
And then, in their ignorance, they asked for a sign. The brought up the
past by telling Jesus that Moses gave manna from Heaven to eat. Jesus knew
their thoughts and said,
“Moses did not give you the
bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true Bread from Heaven, For
the Bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the
world.” And even though they asked
for this bread, Jesus knew they didn’t fully understand what this “eating of
The Bread of Heaven” would entail. So, He told them.
The Holy
Spirit, through meditation and re-reading this over and over and
assimilating it into my spirit, has revealed to me that even though
countless folks that day understood Jesus to be talking physically, He was
really talking Spiritually and the eating of the Bread of Life was a “PLACE”
we enter into when we Pray in tongues, Meditate His Word, Confess His Word,
Worship Him from our inner sanctuary, and Fast. Eating His flesh, drinking
His blood is His presence—that place where all petitions, prayers, desires,
and needs are met! It’s that anointing that only comes when we enter Him,
eating His flesh, drinking His blood, consuming every bit of God we can!
“No, Jesus,
this does not offend me—in fact, it only revives me! It builds me up into
You; it is here, in this place, that my will matches Your will! It is in
this place where the people You love so much are healed, saved, and
restored!” PLEASE, LET ME BE OBEDIENT!
Psalms 1:1-3—“Blessed
is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly; nor stands in the
path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in
the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be
like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in
its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall
prosper.
There are not
many passages of Scripture in the Bible which clearly, without doubt, state
we have need of meditation more than this one. As one of the five keys we
use to find out God’s Will for our lives, Meditating and assimilating His
Word is one which leads us into the path of learning the language of God.
Now, I didn’t say we would be learning that beautiful prayer language! That
comes without our understanding. The Bible is clear on this. Only those
anointed ones who spend hours with God, His Word, and His presence would
ever hope to interpret our prayer language as we use it for personal
edification. There are those who do—Pastor Dave Roberson for one, but it
took years of self-sacrifice and “digging” in to accomplish it! And from
what I can tell in Pastor Roberson’s teachings is that this interpretation
is given to him for further understanding of what he is teaching us!
This is a
challenge--I would like for everyone to re-read Proverbs. This time,
however, read it a verse at a time, making sure we understand every verse.
Once we have understanding, move on to the next verse. Let’s do this until
we re-read Proverbs fifty times. Once we do this, and we really have to
have the understanding for each verse, we will gain so much insight on God’s
language to us, from His prospective other than our own. There are times
when I read several verses, but then a sense of consciousness comes over me
and I realize I haven’t remembered reading those last few verses. It’s like
what used to happen to me in my younger days, driving. I would drive a
considerable distance, but because my mind was pre-occupied, I didn’t
remember how I got to where I was when I “woke” up! Scary? Yes, especially
if hundreds of miles have not been retained in your memory! What do we do
if this happens when we are reading God’s Word? We go back to the place
where we do conscientiously remember and re-read it! We may have to make
our minds—our soul—cooperate, but it will soon enough and finally, when we
sit down to read, then “ALL” of us, mind, body, spirit, and soul, are
reading and assimilating every word.
After reading
Proverbs fifty times, try 1st John, 2nd John, 3rd
John, Jude one hundred times. Then try 1st Peter, 2nd
Peter one hundred times. Read James one hundred times. It may take many,
many times, but eventually, revelation will come. The scriptures will start
becoming alive! For me, revelation or illumination of the Word came after
reading sixty to sixty-five times.
I hope you
have enjoyed this “shot-gun” teaching today. Remember, obedience it the
key! Obedience is what will cover many mishaps we daily encounter when we
try to do things ourselves.
Have a
Christ-filled, Spirit-led month,
Pastor C
Let's get with The Lord today! A
good way to do this is to click on
Charlie Roger's Website and listen to some wonderful teaching.
Also,
Gary Carpenter's Website is full of wisdom and truth. Here, in
these places we can take a few moments and let Him reveal more knowledge and
wisdom into our inner man!
