CONTENTMENT

JAMES 1:6-8 – BUT LET HIM ASK IN FAITH, NOTHING WAVERING. FOR HE THAT WAVERETH IS LIKE A WAVE OF THE SEA DRIVEN WITH THE WIND AND TOSSED.

          FOR LET NOT THAT MAN THINK THAT HE SHALL RECEIVE ANYTHING OF THE LORD.

          A DOUBLE MINDED MAN IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS WAYS.

PRAYER IS NOT REAL UNLESS IT IS THE EXPRESSION OF FAITH. IT MUST ISSUE FROM A “LIVING SOURCE WITHIN THE WILL,” AND BE INSPIRED BY PERFECT CONFIDENCE IN GOD’S READINESS TO HELP.

THERE IS SO MUCH UNBELIEF IN THIS DAY AND TIME ON THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER! THE SCIENTIFIC TONE-DOWN OF THIS AGE MERELY ALLOWS A MAN TO PRAY TO GOD , “IF THERE IS A GOD—–TO SAVE HIS SOUL,—– IF HE HAS A SOUL.”

AND THE FORCIBLE WORDS OF JAMES, IN THESE THREE VERSES, SUGGEST—-THAT STILL, IN THE CASE OF VERY MANY CHRISTIANS, AN IMPERFECT FAITH IN GOD’S READINESS TO RESPOND TO THEIR PRAYERS, IS ONE OF THE GREATEST DEFECTS OF THEIR SPIRITUAL LIVE.

WE OFTEN SPEAK OF EVIDENT ANSWERS TO PRAYERS AS UNUSUAL, AND —-WHEN THEY DO OCCUR—-AS REMARKABLE!!

THE GIFT OF WISDOM IS PROMISED ONLY TO HIM WHO ASKS IT WITH A STEADY FAITH, AND WHO MANIFESTS THE REALITY OF HIS FAITH BY A LIFE OF CONSISTENT PURPOSE.

GOD, OUR FATHER, DEMANDS THE CONFIDENCE OF HIS CHILDREN. “NOTHING DOUBTING” SHOULD BE THE CHRISTIAN’S MOTTO IN PRAYER. THE PETITIONS SHOULD NOT SHIFT BACKWARDS AND FORWARD BETWEEN FAITH AND DOUBT, LIKE A TUMBLING BILLOW OF THE SEA. HE MUST NOT SWING LIKE A PENDULUM BETWEEN CHEERFUL CONFIDENCE AND DARK SUSPICION. 

IT MUST BE FIXED PERSUASION THAT GOD IS, AND THAT HE IS A HEARER OF PRAYER. WE MUST EXPECT ANSWER TO OUR REQUEST.

IT IS THE MEN AND WOMEN WITHIN WHOM FAITH IS THE DOMINATE POWER WHO TAKE THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BY FORCE. GOD IS SIMPLICITY HIMSELF, AND HE GIVES WITH SIMPLICITY: SO HE HAS NO SYMPATHY WITH AN UNSTABLE DOUBLE MINDED SOUL. 

A MIND THAT IS “WISHY-WASHY” IN IT’S CHOICE, WILL BE PRONE IN THE END TO FAIL IN BOTH OF THE PURPOSES BETWEEN WHICH IT HAS HESITATED.

IT IS LIKE A “SPLIT PERSONALITY,” PART OF HIM WANTS TO BELIEVE, WHILE PART OF HIM DOES NOT. HE IS UNRELIABLE ABOUT EVERYTHING HE THINKS, FEELS, AND DECIDES (V. 8).

TEMPORARY EMOTIONS ARE NOT RELIGION OR GODLINESS.

STEADFAST FAITH,  AND THAT ALONE, WILL GIVE A MAN OR WOMAN, SINGLENESS OF EYE, MAKE HIM OR HER STRONG TO KEEP HOLD OF THE COVENANT, AND DRAW DOWN UPON HIM, THE RICHEST BLESSINGS  OF GOSPEL GRACE.

THERE IS A SECRET TO CONTENTMENT.  IT IS A RARE AND PRECIOUS CHRISTIAN GRACE. 

IT IS A QUIET RESTFULNESS IN THE MIDST OF ALL KINDS OF CHANGING EVENTS.

IT IS A GRAND ACCOMPLISHMENT TO BE ABLE TO ADAPT TO, AND BEHAVE ONE’S SELF IN EVERY STATE OF FULLNESS OR NEED.

CHRIST IS THE ONLY ONE THAT CAN BRING US TO THIS PLACE OF CONTENTMENT.

HE ENABLES US TO  LIVE IN FAITH, BELIEVING, THAT EVEN NOW, ALL THINGS ARE ORDERED WISELY AND KINDLY BY OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, THAT THEY ARE WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOOD NOT YET SEEN.

THEY ARE WORKING FOR US A MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY, SO WE LEARN TO BEAR THE PRESENT MYSTERY OF TRIAL, IN HOPE OF THE FUTURE REVELATION OF BLESSEDNESS.

CHRIST LEADS US TO LIVE IN THE SPIRITUAL.

THIS IS THE REAL SECRET.

EXTERNAL CIRCUMSTANCES ARE CONSTANTLY CHANGING.

AT THEIR BEST, THEY WILL NOT SATISFY THE SOUL’S DEEP HUNGER.

WHILE WE LIVE IN THOSE CHANGES , WE ARE OFTEN DISAPPOINTED AND DISCONTENTED.

BUT BY RESTING IN GOD, WE WILL BE CONTENT IN EVERY VARIETY OF EARTHLY AFFAIRS.

PHILIPPIANS 4:19, 23 – BUT MY GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL YOUR NEED ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY BY CHRIST JESUS.

          THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BE WITH YOU ALL.  AMEN.

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GOING THROUGH THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE

SO MANY WITH CALLINGS ON THEIR LIVES DON’T GO THROUGH WHAT I CALL PREPARATION PERIOD.

THEY RECEIVE THE CALL, AND DON’T WAIT ON GOD, BUT GO HEAD-ON INTO DISAPPOINTMENT, IF THEY DON’T STOP AND ASK GOD TO LEAD.

ACTS 14:22 – CONFIRMING THE SOUL OF THE DISCIPLES, AND EXHORTING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AN THAT WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHO WENT THROUGHT THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE.

HE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO WAITED ON GOD.

I CAN SEE HIM ENJOYING HIS LIFE AS A SHEPHERD, AND KEEPING HIS SHEEP SAFE FROM THE BEAR AND THE LION, WHILE HIS SLING WAS IN REACHING DISTANCE, AND SPENDING TIME WITH GOD UNDER THE STARS: SINGING HIS INSPIRED PSALMS TO THE LORD, WHILE PLAYING THE MELODIES ON HIS HARP.

THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SCRIPTURES THAT COULD MAKE US THINK THAT GOD HAD A PURPOSE IN MIND FOR HIM TO BE KING DAVID (AT THIS POINT AND TIME), NOR THAT EVEN GOD WOULD CALL HIM …A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART…

HE WAS PROBABLY JUST AS SURPRISED AS ANYONE.

WHEN KING SAUL WAS TROUBLED BY THE EVIL SPIRIT, IT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR DAVID TO BE THE ONE TO PLAY HIS HARP.

THE SAME THING FOR DAVID BECOMING A MIGHTY WARRIOR.

IT WAS GOD’S PLAN FOR HIM, BUT NEVER DO WE SEE DAVID TRYING TO MAKE A BIG NAME FOR HIMSELF.

MY FRIEND, DAVID PASSED THROUGH THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE FROM THE ENEMY OF HIS SOUL.

THE ONE HE HELPED AND HONORED, TURNED AGAINST HIM, AND EVEN DESIRED TO TAKE HIS LIFE.

THESE EVENTS JUST CAUSED DAVID TO BE STRONGER AND MORE PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE AHEAD.

HE LEARNED WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN HE BECAME THE MIGHTY LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE.

HE WAS ANOINTED KING BY SAMUEL:  I SAMUEL 16:1,13 – AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SAMUEL, HOW LONG WILT THOU MOURN FOR SAUL, SEEING I HAVE REJECTED HIM FROM REIGNING OVER ISRAEL? FILL THINE HORN WITH OIL, AND GO, I WILL SEND THEE TO JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE: FOR I HAVE PROVIDED ME A KING AMONG HIS SONS.

          THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL, AND ANOINTED HIM IN THE MIDST OF HIS BRETNREN: AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME ON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. SO SAMUEL ROSE UP, AND WENT TO RAMAH.

SO DAVID TAKES OFF TO THE PALACE OF SAUL, PUTS SAUL OUT ON THE STREET, AND MOVES IN THE PALACE AND THEY ALL LIVE HAPPY EVERY AFTER????  

NO! THAT’S NOT THE WAY GOD DOES THINGS.

DAVID WENT THROUGH MANY BATTLES, WAS ON THE RUN FROM SAUL, AND HAD TO HIDE OUT IN CAVES.

THE LIFE OF ALL GREATLY USED MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD THAT I KNOW ABOUT, HAVE SUFFERED MANY BATTLES, BUT AS THEY WON EACH BATTLE, IT MADE THEM STRONGER TO FACE THE NEXT ONE WITH GREATER VICTORIES EACH TIME.

IT SEEMS THAT THEIR FAITH BECAME STRONGER AND STRONGER TO KNOW GOD’S WILL AND THEIR PURPOSE IN GOD’S KINGDOM WOULD BE FULFILLED.  

 

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IF YOU SAY IT YOU MUST BELIEVE IT

THE LORD SAID TO ME, “YOU KNOW HOW I MOVE ON YOU, BUT YOU ARE NOT IN A PLACE TO JUDGE ANY OF MY REASONS FOR DOING WHAT I DO. THERE IS SOMETHING I WANT TO SHOW YOU ABOUT MY WAYS THAT WILL BEGIN TO UNLEASH THOSE DESIRES FOR SERVICE IN YOU. YOU SAW WHAT I DID FOR THAT WOMAN LAST NIGHT ON TV, WHO FELL SUCH A LONG DISTANCE DOWN, AND THE MIRACLES THAT SURROUNDED HER FALL. WELL, SHE KNEW MY WORD, AND CLAIMED IT EVEN WHEN SHE WAS NOT IN TROUBLE, AS THOUGH SHE COULD BE. IT WAS A FEAR FOR HER THAT SHE COULD GET INTO TROUBLE SOMEHOW, BUT, NEVERTHELESS, SHE HAD MY WORD AND EVEN USED IT IN HER TROUBLE. SHE NOW HAS A FIRE FOR MINISTRY. SHE HAS A SUPERNATURAL TRUST IN ME THAT WAS RELEASED AS SHE SPOKE AND CLAIMED MY WORD IN HER SITUATION OF LIFE, AND DEVELOPED A SUPERNATURAL REALM OF FAITH.

WHAT I WANT TO SHOW YOU, IS THAT WHAT YOU SAY IS STILL VERY IMPORTANT. TO DEVELOPE THIS IN YOUR LIFE, I WANT YOU TO BEGIN A MESSAGE CALLED: IF YOU SAY IT YOU MUST BELIEVE IT.”

“TURN IN YOUR BIBLE AND I WILL GIVE YOU THE VERSES TO START WITH. I LOVE YOU AND I WILL DEVELOPE YOU INTO WHAT I WANT YOU TO BE. TRUST ME, I AM YOUR LORD, AND GOD. I BLESS THIS MESSAGE..”

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT COME OUT OF OUR MOUTH’S THAT WE DON’T REALLY BELIEVE WHEN WE SAY THEM, BUT WHEN WE BELIEVE WHAT WE SAY, WE HAVE THE RECIPE FOR ACTION TO TAKE PLACE. IT WILL HAPPEN!

MARK 11:22,23 – AND JESUS ANSWERING SAITH UNTO THEM, HAVE FAITH IN GOD.

          FOR VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN, BE THOU REMOVED, AND BE THOU CAST INTO THE SEA; AND SHALL NOT DOUBT IN HIS HEART, BUT SHALL BELIEVE THAT THOSE THINGS WHICH HE SAITH SHALL COME TO PASS; HE SHALL HAVE WHATSOEVER HE SAITH.

A MOUNTAIN, IS ANYTHING IN YOUR PATH THAT THAT BLOCKS YOU FROM REACHING THE GOALS YOU WANT OR NEED.

          …WHOSOEVER SHALL SAY UNTO THIS MOUNTAIN…I HEAR PEOPLE ALL THE TIME SAY, “YOU GET WHAT YOU SAY.” I’VE MADE THIS STATEMENT BEFORE MYSELF, BUT THANK GOD! I HAVEN’T GOTTEN EVERYTHING THAT HAS COME OUT OF MY MOUTH; AND NEITHER HAVE YOU!

THIS MIGHT SOUND LIKE A CONTRADICTION TO YOU, BUT WE ONLY GET WHAT WE SAY IF WE BELIEVE WHEN WE SAY IT, THAT IT WILL COME TO PASS.

WHEN THERE IS A DISAGREEMENT GOING ON, SOMETIMES PEOPLE SAY WHAT THEY MEAN, AND THEY GET WHAT THEY SAY; AND SOMETIMES THEY SAYWHAT THEY DON’T MEAN, AND LATER, AFTER ALL IS OVER AND THE AIR SETTLES, EVEN IF THE HURT IS STILL THERE, THOSE PEOPLE DON’T GET WHAT THEY SAY.

A CHILD MIGHT SAY IN ANGER, “I WISH YOU WERE DEAD!!” OR “I HATE YOU!”  BUT MOST OF THE TIME, AFTER THEIR ANGER IS OVER, THEY ARE HUGGING AND SAYING, “I LOVE YOU.”

WHAT HAPPENED?

THEY DIDN’T LIKE WHAT WAS GOING ON, SO THEY SAID THOSE COMMON WORDS FOR A CHILD IN ANGER.

SINCE OUR UNIVERSE WAS CREATED WITH WORDS, AND ALSO, I BELIEVE THE LAST BATTLE WILL BE FOUGHT AND WON WITH WORDS COMING OUT OF THE MOUTH OF OUR KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

WORDS HAVE TO BE A POWER SOURCE OF ACTION.

WE CALL THE BOBLE THE WORD OF GOD, AND THIS IS TRUE, BECAUSE THE BIBLE MADE UP OF WORDS.

BUT  THE BIBLE DIFFERENT FROM ALL OTHER BOOKS, IS THAT IT IS SUPERNATURAL. IT IS INSPIRED BY GOD ALMIGHTY, AND THE WORDS WERE FORMED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT UPON THOSE WHO PENNED THEM.

GOD BELIEVES WHAT HE SAYS, SO ALL OF IT HAS TO COME TO PASS. THERE IS NO DOUBT ABOUT IT! AND IT IS CONTINUALLY COMING TO PASS.

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