In Matt6:24 - 33 Jesus speaks of serving 2 masters, either you will love the one and hate the other, or you will hold to the one and despise the other. He then goes on to say, "Therefore I say to you take no anxious thought about ..."
Therefore is quite significant because it connect the previous thought with the next one. In other words when we are taking anxious thoughts saying we are serving, loving and holding to or being loyal to a master. That master is mammon.
So how do you serve mammon?
By stressed out, worrying thoughts that you speak out about living your daily life.
The opposite therefore has to be; The Father knows what I have need of therefore I take this thought - Word thoughts- and I speak them regardless.
Refuse to take anxious thoughts; rather take Word thoughts from Gods word regarding your life.
Refuse to speak these thoughts; rather speak of your Fathers love and care.
Refuse to serve mammon as a master; rather serve the Lord Jesus.
Allowing fear, because that is what stress and worry and anxiety is, to rule your thinking and speaking, is allowing mammon to be your master. But when we allow faith thoughts based on God's word to fill our minds and speaking we are seeking and establishing His kingdom and righteousness.
As you enter 2011 with its challenges and opportunities be sure you know which master you choose to serve and be loyal to.
May the favour and blessing of the Lord Jesus rest upon you in this new year.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Are you receiving?
Jas 1:7 If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord.
An essential requirement for what we believe that we often do not quite get right is the ability to stay focused and single-minded. We often get side-tracked, distracted, and influenced by others and circumstances so that we do not consistently apply the principles of our faith.
So we should:
1. Make up my mind on what is the will of God for me.
How do I know what that is? Ask the Lord for wisdom and spend time in His word until it is clear what you need to pray and believe for in your situation.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Spending that time getting a clear mind what is the will of the Lord is for you and what you should pray for will count for the long haul.
2. Then decide that is what you are believing for.
The power of a decision is amazing, but if there is any doubt about whether it is right or wrong thing for you will show when trials come or when distractions come.
Make a firm decision.
What is it that God has given in your heart to desire?
What desires has He laced there?
When you know the desires the Lord has given you make a clear firm decision to believe for that.
3. How do I know I'm double-minded?
You constantly hesitate between 2 opinions, ideas, desires. Jesus said you are to believe with all your heart and not doubt at all in your heart (Mark 11:23). It means a clear firm commitment to what you believe is the will of God for you. Because if we don't we will receive nothing from the Lord. That's what the Word says; You must not think you will receive anything from the Lord.
4. You have to know that there will always be distractions and influences.
As sure as you make stand in your faith to believe the Lord, something or someone will come along with a doubt, with a better idea, with an opinion that will distract you from what you believe is the will of the Lord. You just begin to make your positive confessions and make a firm stand and then...
But you have to be clear up front; this is it and I will not be moved.
So many times I have had this battle, especially when its like a desperate stand where I need God to come through for me - which is most of the time.
5. Don't change your mind.
Know that the first voice the first desire that first impression you had from the Lord is the desire of God for this situation.
6. Absolutely make sure your have scripture.
Take your time to find the scriptures that relate to what you are believing for,
If its healing - 1 Pet 2;24
If its financial or economical - Phil 4:19
If its strength - Phil 4:13
Search the Word of God for you.
What scripture is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart?
You cannot stand on nothing. Your decision has to be based on the Word of God otherwise it has no foundation.
Believe and receive today.
An essential requirement for what we believe that we often do not quite get right is the ability to stay focused and single-minded. We often get side-tracked, distracted, and influenced by others and circumstances so that we do not consistently apply the principles of our faith.
So we should:
1. Make up my mind on what is the will of God for me.
How do I know what that is? Ask the Lord for wisdom and spend time in His word until it is clear what you need to pray and believe for in your situation.
Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Spending that time getting a clear mind what is the will of the Lord is for you and what you should pray for will count for the long haul.
2. Then decide that is what you are believing for.
The power of a decision is amazing, but if there is any doubt about whether it is right or wrong thing for you will show when trials come or when distractions come.
Make a firm decision.
What is it that God has given in your heart to desire?
What desires has He laced there?
When you know the desires the Lord has given you make a clear firm decision to believe for that.
3. How do I know I'm double-minded?
You constantly hesitate between 2 opinions, ideas, desires. Jesus said you are to believe with all your heart and not doubt at all in your heart (Mark 11:23). It means a clear firm commitment to what you believe is the will of God for you. Because if we don't we will receive nothing from the Lord. That's what the Word says; You must not think you will receive anything from the Lord.
4. You have to know that there will always be distractions and influences.
As sure as you make stand in your faith to believe the Lord, something or someone will come along with a doubt, with a better idea, with an opinion that will distract you from what you believe is the will of the Lord. You just begin to make your positive confessions and make a firm stand and then...
But you have to be clear up front; this is it and I will not be moved.
So many times I have had this battle, especially when its like a desperate stand where I need God to come through for me - which is most of the time.
5. Don't change your mind.
Know that the first voice the first desire that first impression you had from the Lord is the desire of God for this situation.
6. Absolutely make sure your have scripture.
Take your time to find the scriptures that relate to what you are believing for,
If its healing - 1 Pet 2;24
If its financial or economical - Phil 4:19
If its strength - Phil 4:13
Search the Word of God for you.
What scripture is the Holy Spirit speaking to your heart?
You cannot stand on nothing. Your decision has to be based on the Word of God otherwise it has no foundation.
Believe and receive today.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Even If He Kills Me
If you are prepared to stand forever you won’t stand for long.
Kenneth Hagin Snr
Believing and trusting God is not something you just try. People have sometimes said to me: “Well, I’ll try that brother Shaun”. But trying is just trying to get the water without getting wet. Like Abraham you have to commit to the promise of God with all your heart.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart...”
With all your heart is an all out commitment, an uncompromised stand from which you are not prepared to back away from, a single-minded decision to trust God to be the Source of your situation, need and life.
A man once said that when he died they should write on his gravestone : “Here lies ...., He believed God”.
Believe right through to the end and be prepared to believe even beyond that. Make an unqualified commitment to believe and make a stand for the rest of your life. The Word of God stands forever, Jesus said, so we should make our stand on it, forever. Don’t be wavering and hesitating. The time will come in your believing when it ‘feels’ as if nothing is happening, when your stand seems totally futile, when it appears that what you have decided to trust God with is getting worse.
The Jewish boys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could have got to the open furnace door and said “Oh dear it doesn’t work” and asked to be taken out the fire, but they said :
“Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up. “
They were trusting God with their lives and chose to believe regardless. It didn’t quite turn out as many would like, but we know the story that the Lord did deliver them.
Nebuchadnezzar had the answer to their deliverance:
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His Angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, ...”
They ended up in the fire, but they had made a commitment to believe God forever, to trust in Him. The result was that although they did end up in the fire they experienced a deliverance that has filled the story telling annals.
Job said:
(KJV) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
Trusting and believing God is not a temporary attempt to get Him to do something for you, even though He will, but its about making that stand that comes from a heart committed to the Lord and His promise.
When we make that stand with all our heart we will ‘see’ God move on our behalf, but He does want our heart, He does want us to trust Him with ALL our heart.
Kenneth Hagin Snr
Believing and trusting God is not something you just try. People have sometimes said to me: “Well, I’ll try that brother Shaun”. But trying is just trying to get the water without getting wet. Like Abraham you have to commit to the promise of God with all your heart.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart...”
With all your heart is an all out commitment, an uncompromised stand from which you are not prepared to back away from, a single-minded decision to trust God to be the Source of your situation, need and life.
A man once said that when he died they should write on his gravestone : “Here lies ...., He believed God”.
Believe right through to the end and be prepared to believe even beyond that. Make an unqualified commitment to believe and make a stand for the rest of your life. The Word of God stands forever, Jesus said, so we should make our stand on it, forever. Don’t be wavering and hesitating. The time will come in your believing when it ‘feels’ as if nothing is happening, when your stand seems totally futile, when it appears that what you have decided to trust God with is getting worse.
The Jewish boys Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego could have got to the open furnace door and said “Oh dear it doesn’t work” and asked to be taken out the fire, but they said :
“Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up. “
They were trusting God with their lives and chose to believe regardless. It didn’t quite turn out as many would like, but we know the story that the Lord did deliver them.
Nebuchadnezzar had the answer to their deliverance:
“Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His Angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, ...”
They ended up in the fire, but they had made a commitment to believe God forever, to trust in Him. The result was that although they did end up in the fire they experienced a deliverance that has filled the story telling annals.
Job said:
(KJV) Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:
Trusting and believing God is not a temporary attempt to get Him to do something for you, even though He will, but its about making that stand that comes from a heart committed to the Lord and His promise.
When we make that stand with all our heart we will ‘see’ God move on our behalf, but He does want our heart, He does want us to trust Him with ALL our heart.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Are You a Believer
Trust is a definite component of what we as believers are made of.
Jesus however used the word "Believe" way more than the word trust.
To believe: to have faith in; trust; be persuaded; implying knowledge or assent to; confidence in.
We can see that the word 'trust' was used 107 times in the Old Testament; 27 times in the New; but 'believe' was used only 17 times in the Old and 114 times in the New - 69 times in the gospels and 45 times in the other books from Acts onward.
Just some unimportant information really; however what it shows is that to believe has become part and parcel of who we are as "believers". It actually is the distinguishing mark of the Christian. We believe!
Trust, as we saw last time is the really the same thing; but I personally see it as a component of believing.
Matt 8:13(GNB) Then Jesus said to the officer, "Go home, and what you believe will be done for you." And the officer's servant was healed that very moment.
It seems from some scriptures in the gospels that what people believed actually 'directed', in a sense, the ministry of the Lord Jesus. This Centurion was distraught over his servants physical condition, comes to Jesus to implore Him to do something. Jesus states His willingness to go to his home to heal the servant, but the Centurion reveals tremendous confidence and persuasion in the authority and ability of Jesus by requesting that He speak only a word and that would be sufficient to do the job.
Jesus is so impressed with what this man believes and his level of trust and confidence that His answer to the request is "What you believe WILL be done for you."
You see we shouldn't frown upon the 'believer' ie those that make a decision to believe, they are actually directing the ministry of Jesus; directing the power of God toward something; channeling Heavens ability (not man's) toward a focused result.
Jesus said what you believe is what you will have.
Can you see this is a powerful ability we have as believers that we CAN believe and move the power and ministry of the Lord on our behalf?
These Old Covenant saints received from the Lord what they requested, how much more the New Covenant believers who dare to trust in; have confidence in; are fully persuaded and lean heavily upon Him for their all; for focused results.
The fact is this Centurion was not even an Old Covenant saint, but He had heard enough about Jesus to place his trust and confidence in Him.
Will be done...
Will be done...
Mat 9:28 When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I can heal you?" "Yes, sir!" they answered.
Mat 9:29 Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Let it happen, then, just as you believe!"---
Let it happen JUST AS you believe.
It's time for the believers to believe. This is something that obviously connects us to the ministry and power of Jesus' ministry. We need to believe; We must believe.
Jesus asked the blind men:"Do you believe I am able...?"
What was He looking for?
What their focused result was that they were persuaded about.
What they were connecting to His power and ministry for.
What they expected to result as they trusted and leaned on His resources.
Believing releases the ability of God. It is the measure of what will happen in your life.
Just as ...
You can believe - You are a believer! Its the substance you are made of.
Jesus however used the word "Believe" way more than the word trust.
To believe: to have faith in; trust; be persuaded; implying knowledge or assent to; confidence in.
We can see that the word 'trust' was used 107 times in the Old Testament; 27 times in the New; but 'believe' was used only 17 times in the Old and 114 times in the New - 69 times in the gospels and 45 times in the other books from Acts onward.
Just some unimportant information really; however what it shows is that to believe has become part and parcel of who we are as "believers". It actually is the distinguishing mark of the Christian. We believe!
Trust, as we saw last time is the really the same thing; but I personally see it as a component of believing.
Matt 8:13(GNB) Then Jesus said to the officer, "Go home, and what you believe will be done for you." And the officer's servant was healed that very moment.
It seems from some scriptures in the gospels that what people believed actually 'directed', in a sense, the ministry of the Lord Jesus. This Centurion was distraught over his servants physical condition, comes to Jesus to implore Him to do something. Jesus states His willingness to go to his home to heal the servant, but the Centurion reveals tremendous confidence and persuasion in the authority and ability of Jesus by requesting that He speak only a word and that would be sufficient to do the job.
Jesus is so impressed with what this man believes and his level of trust and confidence that His answer to the request is "What you believe WILL be done for you."
You see we shouldn't frown upon the 'believer' ie those that make a decision to believe, they are actually directing the ministry of Jesus; directing the power of God toward something; channeling Heavens ability (not man's) toward a focused result.
Jesus said what you believe is what you will have.
Can you see this is a powerful ability we have as believers that we CAN believe and move the power and ministry of the Lord on our behalf?
These Old Covenant saints received from the Lord what they requested, how much more the New Covenant believers who dare to trust in; have confidence in; are fully persuaded and lean heavily upon Him for their all; for focused results.
The fact is this Centurion was not even an Old Covenant saint, but He had heard enough about Jesus to place his trust and confidence in Him.
Will be done...
Will be done...
Mat 9:28 When Jesus had gone indoors, the two blind men came to him, and he asked them, "Do you believe that I can heal you?" "Yes, sir!" they answered.
Mat 9:29 Then Jesus touched their eyes and said, "Let it happen, then, just as you believe!"---
Let it happen JUST AS you believe.
It's time for the believers to believe. This is something that obviously connects us to the ministry and power of Jesus' ministry. We need to believe; We must believe.
Jesus asked the blind men:"Do you believe I am able...?"
What was He looking for?
What their focused result was that they were persuaded about.
What they were connecting to His power and ministry for.
What they expected to result as they trusted and leaned on His resources.
Believing releases the ability of God. It is the measure of what will happen in your life.
Just as ...
You can believe - You are a believer! Its the substance you are made of.
Saturday, July 24, 2010
Trusting God.
Another fundamental element to our walk that we must be taught as disciples is to trust in the Lord with all our hearts.
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
Its amazing to me that when approached many times by Christians about certain aspects of my life, when my answer is "I am trusting God", I get this look of "Yeah right!" I look into their eyes to see their reaction to the statement.
Have we lost something?
Have we become so immersed in the systems of this world that we do not know what is to trust in the Lord anymore?
Have we become so 'real' that we despise those that do thrust in God? has our heart become so hardened by the hurts and fears of life that we are scared of trusting the God of the universe?
About 70 times in the Bible we find the term trust in the Lord in one form or fashion or another. To trust means
trust (noun): 'confidence, strong believe in the goodness, strength, reliability of something or somebody', 'responsibility'
have trust in (verb): 'believe in the honesty and reliability of someone of something', 'have confidence in', 'earnestly hope'
As believers, because that's what we are, are we not supposed to be trusting in the Lord?
Pro 28:25 Selfishness only causes trouble. You are much better off to trust the LORD.
You are much better off!! Wow!
There is something about trusting in the God of heaven Who is bigger and mightier than anything else we can imagine on this earth.
So why do we have this problem?
Never should we hinder the trust a disciple has in the Living God. We Should be challenged by it and agree with them in that trust. Over and over again we see the Word tells us not to trust in man, in our own ability, in princes, horses, chariots, idols and other stuff, but to trust in the God of heaven. There are promises to this.
Isa 57:13 When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off ! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple."
Isa 12:2 God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The LORD gives me power and strength; he is my savior.
When we trust the Lord we are having confidence in His goodness, strength, and reliability; earnestly having expectation in Him who gives power, strength and salvation. It is a heart issue - with ALL your heart. It's boldness and confidence. Its not about being more spiritual than others, its purely that you have or will come to the place where you are learning to trust in Him, have confidence in Him, being bold to lean on, rely on Him for your life.
Now I know there have been many who have used this as some excuse but let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. As disciples let us learn daily to trust in Him for everything.
Put your trust in God today!
Confess that you are trusting in Him; and then do it! Trust Him!
Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know.
Its amazing to me that when approached many times by Christians about certain aspects of my life, when my answer is "I am trusting God", I get this look of "Yeah right!" I look into their eyes to see their reaction to the statement.
Have we lost something?
Have we become so immersed in the systems of this world that we do not know what is to trust in the Lord anymore?
Have we become so 'real' that we despise those that do thrust in God? has our heart become so hardened by the hurts and fears of life that we are scared of trusting the God of the universe?
About 70 times in the Bible we find the term trust in the Lord in one form or fashion or another. To trust means
trust (noun): 'confidence, strong believe in the goodness, strength, reliability of something or somebody', 'responsibility'
have trust in (verb): 'believe in the honesty and reliability of someone of something', 'have confidence in', 'earnestly hope'
As believers, because that's what we are, are we not supposed to be trusting in the Lord?
Pro 28:25 Selfishness only causes trouble. You are much better off to trust the LORD.
You are much better off!! Wow!
There is something about trusting in the God of heaven Who is bigger and mightier than anything else we can imagine on this earth.
So why do we have this problem?
Never should we hinder the trust a disciple has in the Living God. We Should be challenged by it and agree with them in that trust. Over and over again we see the Word tells us not to trust in man, in our own ability, in princes, horses, chariots, idols and other stuff, but to trust in the God of heaven. There are promises to this.
Isa 57:13 When you cry for help, let those idols of yours save you! A puff of wind will carry them off ! But those who trust in me will live in the land and will worship me in my Temple."
Isa 12:2 God is my savior; I will trust him and not be afraid. The LORD gives me power and strength; he is my savior.
When we trust the Lord we are having confidence in His goodness, strength, and reliability; earnestly having expectation in Him who gives power, strength and salvation. It is a heart issue - with ALL your heart. It's boldness and confidence. Its not about being more spiritual than others, its purely that you have or will come to the place where you are learning to trust in Him, have confidence in Him, being bold to lean on, rely on Him for your life.
Now I know there have been many who have used this as some excuse but let us not throw the baby out with the bathwater. As disciples let us learn daily to trust in Him for everything.
Put your trust in God today!
Confess that you are trusting in Him; and then do it! Trust Him!
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Fundamental
Fundamental to a life in Christ is worship.
The contention in everything is who wants and contends for our worship.
Dan 3:5 at the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
Dan 3:6 And whoever does not fall down and worship, at that moment they will be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar the king sets up an image, of gold, and what does he demand for the image of himself, ... worship!
Exo 32:2 And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.
Exo 32:3 And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.
Exo 32:4 And he took them from their hand, and fashioned it with an engraving tool. And he made it a molten calf. And they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow is a feast to Jehovah.
When Moses was delaying, quickly the people turned to an image and Aaron built an altar with sacrifices which of course means ...worship!
Luk 4:5 And the Devil, leading Him up into a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luk 4:6 And the Devil said to Him, All this power I will give you, and the glory of them; for it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whomever I will.
Luk 4:7 Therefore if you will worship me, all shall be yours.
The devil shows Jesus what many want, all the splendor and glory of the world but what does he want from Jesus ... worship!
Rev 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. And it had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And it exercises all the authority of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and those dwelling in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Satan lusts the worship, but he will even get you to worship the image as long as the worship does not go to God.
1.Worship is not just a song.
It means to give devotion, homage, respect and adoration, To recognize as the source. Its the Greek word, proskyneo.
When we turn to the worship, giving time and devotion, respect and sacrifice to any image other than the Lord we are saying that that is where we need to receive from. That is where our source of whatever it is we need can be found.
Worship can be utterances in song, but its not just a song we sing on Sundays or during the week. Songs assist us to express our devotion and love and reverence, but its not the only ingredient of worship.
2. What you worship will be the nature or form you take on.
When we worship God we become more like Him. We take on His form and experience His presence. Once the Israelites began to worship the image in the wilderness, the camp fell into an orgy type atmosphere that Moses could not even stop. He had to send in the tribe of Levy to begin executing those that were indulged. (Turn off your churchy view). The beast in Revelation wants the whole earth to take on his form by the worship of the image.
3. Where your trust is there is your worship.
Dan 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His Angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and have changed the king's words and have given their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.
In the God whom we trust we will worship. God delivered these three boys who trusted in God and would not worship any other God. They knew who they served and loved and who was the provision of their lives.
4. Its going to mean you have to take a stand where you worship.
Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Mat 4:8 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Mat 4:9 And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
Mat 4:11 Then the Devil left him.
Boy when we make our stand on Who we worship, Satan will not and cannot stick around.
Seek in your own heart today
Are there any images you are worshiping?
Is there any other source of provision in your mind other than the Lord?
Are there any 'images' that you give more sacrifice ie worship to other than the God of heaven?
The contention in everything is who wants and contends for our worship.
Dan 3:5 at the time you hear the sound of the horn, the pipe, zither, the lyre, harp, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king has set up.
Dan 3:6 And whoever does not fall down and worship, at that moment they will be thrown into the middle of a burning fiery furnace.
Nebuchadnezzar the king sets up an image, of gold, and what does he demand for the image of himself, ... worship!
Exo 32:2 And Aaron said to them, Break off the golden earrings which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them to me.
Exo 32:3 And all the people broke off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron.
Exo 32:4 And he took them from their hand, and fashioned it with an engraving tool. And he made it a molten calf. And they said, These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.
Exo 32:5 And when Aaron saw, he built an altar before it. And Aaron made proclamation and said, Tomorrow is a feast to Jehovah.
When Moses was delaying, quickly the people turned to an image and Aaron built an altar with sacrifices which of course means ...worship!
Luk 4:5 And the Devil, leading Him up into a high mountain, showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
Luk 4:6 And the Devil said to Him, All this power I will give you, and the glory of them; for it has been delivered to me. And I give it to whomever I will.
Luk 4:7 Therefore if you will worship me, all shall be yours.
The devil shows Jesus what many want, all the splendor and glory of the world but what does he want from Jesus ... worship!
Rev 13:11 And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth. And it had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.
Rev 13:12 And it exercises all the authority of the first beast before him, and causes the earth and those dwelling in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.
Satan lusts the worship, but he will even get you to worship the image as long as the worship does not go to God.
1.Worship is not just a song.
It means to give devotion, homage, respect and adoration, To recognize as the source. Its the Greek word, proskyneo.
When we turn to the worship, giving time and devotion, respect and sacrifice to any image other than the Lord we are saying that that is where we need to receive from. That is where our source of whatever it is we need can be found.
Worship can be utterances in song, but its not just a song we sing on Sundays or during the week. Songs assist us to express our devotion and love and reverence, but its not the only ingredient of worship.
2. What you worship will be the nature or form you take on.
When we worship God we become more like Him. We take on His form and experience His presence. Once the Israelites began to worship the image in the wilderness, the camp fell into an orgy type atmosphere that Moses could not even stop. He had to send in the tribe of Levy to begin executing those that were indulged. (Turn off your churchy view). The beast in Revelation wants the whole earth to take on his form by the worship of the image.
3. Where your trust is there is your worship.
Dan 3:28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke and said, Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who has sent His Angel and has delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and have changed the king's words and have given their bodies that they might not serve nor worship any god except their own God.
In the God whom we trust we will worship. God delivered these three boys who trusted in God and would not worship any other God. They knew who they served and loved and who was the provision of their lives.
4. Its going to mean you have to take a stand where you worship.
Dan 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to return a word to you on this matter.
Dan 3:17 If it is so that our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, then He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.
Dan 3:18 But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor worship the golden image which you have set up.
Mat 4:8 Again, the Devil took Him up into a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory.
Mat 4:9 And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then Jesus said to him, Go, Satan! For it is written, "You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve."
Mat 4:11 Then the Devil left him.
Boy when we make our stand on Who we worship, Satan will not and cannot stick around.
Seek in your own heart today
Are there any images you are worshiping?
Is there any other source of provision in your mind other than the Lord?
Are there any 'images' that you give more sacrifice ie worship to other than the God of heaven?
The Process: Conformed and Transformed
Discipleship is not the end in itself.
If we are just to stay disciples then the process has no meaning. No, the process has an end.
The end is son-ship.
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers.
This is the design, this is the outcome: conformed to the likeness of the Son.
Conform means to be changed into His substance, into His likeness, into His image.
Likeness means: Implies what is derived from an original type, cast as a direct expression of an original. It would be like a figure head, a likeness, impressed on a coin, the image of the Son impressed upon us as man. Jesus being the likeness means He is the prototype, so that we do not just resemble Him but from which the impression, the representation, the image is drawn and is the standard by which it is measured.
Of course, we know the verse that says : The creation waits in eager anticipation for the sons of God to be revealed. Rom8:19
Sons here are the mature, grown up sons that resemble, are a direct expression of, a copy of, a likeness of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Discipleship is about the process of imprinting Christ's worldview, Heavenly view, values and constitution ie. the Word of God, in someone until they resemble and are changed into the substance of who He is. This is a work of the Spirit.
We are transformed by the Spirit into His likeness. 2 Cor 3:18
It means we are being altered fundamentally, having our inner man changed into His image.This verse tells us its the Lord who is the Spirit who takes or reveals this glory in ever-increasing measure in us.
Basically, all this means is that we are to be changed, to be imprinted with the image of the Son of God so that we too become and act like God's Son, who is the prototype whose image we take on.
So, the process has to be carried through until we are more and more a representation of who He is. Jesus is the prototype, the original pattern or type from which all sons are to be copied, on which our substance is to be based. Jesus Christ is the model or first form - that's why He will be the first among many brothers!
I don't believe we will ever end in the transformation process, because when we see Him (only then) will be as He is.
But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2b
Is discipleship necessary?
Yes! Jesus commissioned us to go into all the world and make disciples.
Is there a point to it?
Yes! The maturing of the sons of God until they reflect His son-ship.
Conformed and Transformed in to His likeness:
This is our goal!
Paul said that his contention and labour with all the energy of the Spirit was to bring every man to maturity. He knew the task and the focus, and the end goal. (Col 1:28-29)
If we are just to stay disciples then the process has no meaning. No, the process has an end.
The end is son-ship.
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the first born among many brothers.
This is the design, this is the outcome: conformed to the likeness of the Son.
Conform means to be changed into His substance, into His likeness, into His image.
Likeness means: Implies what is derived from an original type, cast as a direct expression of an original. It would be like a figure head, a likeness, impressed on a coin, the image of the Son impressed upon us as man. Jesus being the likeness means He is the prototype, so that we do not just resemble Him but from which the impression, the representation, the image is drawn and is the standard by which it is measured.
Of course, we know the verse that says : The creation waits in eager anticipation for the sons of God to be revealed. Rom8:19
Sons here are the mature, grown up sons that resemble, are a direct expression of, a copy of, a likeness of the Son of God, Jesus Christ.
Discipleship is about the process of imprinting Christ's worldview, Heavenly view, values and constitution ie. the Word of God, in someone until they resemble and are changed into the substance of who He is. This is a work of the Spirit.
We are transformed by the Spirit into His likeness. 2 Cor 3:18
It means we are being altered fundamentally, having our inner man changed into His image.This verse tells us its the Lord who is the Spirit who takes or reveals this glory in ever-increasing measure in us.
Basically, all this means is that we are to be changed, to be imprinted with the image of the Son of God so that we too become and act like God's Son, who is the prototype whose image we take on.
So, the process has to be carried through until we are more and more a representation of who He is. Jesus is the prototype, the original pattern or type from which all sons are to be copied, on which our substance is to be based. Jesus Christ is the model or first form - that's why He will be the first among many brothers!
I don't believe we will ever end in the transformation process, because when we see Him (only then) will be as He is.
But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is. 1 John 3:2b
Is discipleship necessary?
Yes! Jesus commissioned us to go into all the world and make disciples.
Is there a point to it?
Yes! The maturing of the sons of God until they reflect His son-ship.
Conformed and Transformed in to His likeness:
This is our goal!
Paul said that his contention and labour with all the energy of the Spirit was to bring every man to maturity. He knew the task and the focus, and the end goal. (Col 1:28-29)
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