FOLLOW YOUR DREAMS

“And Moses said unto God, Who Am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt? And He said, “Certainly I will be with thee.” (Exodus 3:11-12)

Have you ever had a Holy Spirit inspired dream of doing something really great for Jesus? A dream of being so prosperous, for instance, that you can finance a nationwide revival? A dream of leading thousands of people to Christ the Lord?
At one time or another, you probably have had such dreams, but perhaps you backed away from them. Maybe you thought, “Oh my, I couldn't do that! Satan's kept me defeated for so long I have a poor self- image.”
If so, I have some good news for you. If you'll believe God, even a poor self-image won't keep you from success. Look in the book of Exodus and you'll see a man who proved that. His name was Moses.
Moses didn't have a very good self-image. He'd made a terrible mistake early in his career. It was a mistake that drove him into the wilderness and kept him there for 40 years herding somebody's else's sheep.
He'd once dreamed of being a deliverer of God's people, but no more. As far as he was concerned, he was finished . . . a failure . . . a flop!
What are your dreams? As kids, we dream of being all sorts of things – of doing great things! But like Moses, slowly those dreams died as life took over.
But God didn't think the dreams were impossible. In fact, when God came to Moses in that wilderness, He didn't ask for Moses' credentials. He didn't mention his shady history. He just told him to go see Pharaoh and tell him to let God's people go!
Moses, however, was still wrestling with his poor self-image. “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh?” he stammered.
You know what God said in response. He just said, “Certainly, I will be with thee.”
You see, it didn't matter who Moses was. What mattered was that the living God was with him. The same thing is true for you today. You don't need a history of success behind you to answer God's call. You don't need a string of spiritual credentials. All you need is the presence of the Holy Spirit living within you.
Think about that when the devil tells you you're a failure; when he says you'll never amount to anything – or be able to do what God has put in your head to do. Put him in his place. Tell him it doesn't matter who you are because the living God is with you! . . . and follow your dreams!
Scripture Reading: Exodus 3:1-14

Vessels of Mercy

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins." Matthew 6:14-15

The Bible seems to speak of forgiveness in at least two different ways. In an ultimate sense, forgiveness refers to God's eternal pardon of all our sins when we look to Christ as the only One who can make us right with God (John 5:14; Romans 8:1; Ephesians 1:7). No action on our part - I'm going to say that phrase again. "No action on our part" can make that happen. This is the mystery of grace - God's undeserved favor to sinful men (Ephesians 2:8-9). Theologians call this "justification." Fully forgiven, we enter into relationship with a holy God.

Another kind of forgiveness mentioned in the Bible is the ongoing cleansing we need in order to maintain daily intimacy with God (1John 1:9). It is this second kind of forgiveness that Jesus speaks of in the verses above. If we refuse to show mercy to those who have wronged us, we distance ourselves from God and will cease to experience and appreciate his wonderful love.

As you come to know God and receive mercy for daily wrongs, ask yourself, "Have I forgiven all those who have wronged me?" Remember, "Forgiveness begins at home."

Let us pray: Today, Lord remind me of the shocking way in which you cancelled my debt of sin, and let that undeserved mercy move me to treat others with similar mercy. Amen.

Stepping Over the Line

“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” (Romans 8:37) The Bible calls us kings and priests (Rev. 1:6) and world overcomers (1 John 5:44). For many of us, those phrases are still becoming real in our lives. We’re still learning who we really are! If you’ll look in 1 Chronicles, Chapter 14, you’ll read that David had a similar problem. He’d been anointed king by the prophet Samuel when he was just a teenager. He’d known for years that someday he’d rule over Israel. Yet and still somehow, it hadn’t really sunk in. But look at what happens in verse 2: “And David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel, for his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel.” Ah-h! Finally, it dawned on him! David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king. I can just imagine David saying to himself, “I’m king. I’m actually king! I AM KING!” At that moment, being king ceased to be something David had only thought about. It became something he really was. He could actually see himself as king. What does that have to do with you and me? Much like David, you and I have been given a royal office. But it’d not until we believe it that we can exercise the power and authority that goes with that office. If you’re sick, you can yell, “By His stripes I’m healed,” 50 times a day. You can hope for healing. You can try to believe for healing till your hair turns gray or silver. But if you don’t see yourself as “the healed” instead of “the sick,” you won’t get any supernatural help. Yet once the realization hits you that you are, in fact, “the healed,” no one – not even the devil himself – will be able to keep you from getting well. Likewise, if you come into a marriage and cannot perceive yourself as “wife” or “husband,” – supernatural power and authority were given to you because God ordained marriage - you will not be able to stand when the world comes against the marriage. I challenge you to step over the line from trying to believe to actually knowing by dwelling in the Secret place of the most high (Psalm 91), and meditating on the Word until the reality of your royalty in Christ Jesus rises up in you! Scripture reading: Ephesians 1:3-23

Are You "Sin Stained" or "Blood Washed"?

This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my Laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write; And their sins and iniquities will remember no more." (Hebrews 10:16-17) The Bible tells us that under Levitical Law, an animal had to be offered every year to "atone" for the sins of the people. That word "atone" means "to cover" and it's used continually throughout the Old Testament. But let me tell you something exciting!!! That word is never used in the New Testament. The Greek word used to describe what Jesus did for us on the Cross is different altogether. It is called "redemption." Redemption doesn't just mean to cover, it means to remit - to do away with altogether. Do you know what that means? It means there is no longer a sin problem? Jesus solved it! If you are saved, you made Jesus your Lord and Savior - the head of your life! When you made Him head of your life, He didn't just cover your sins, He put you into right standing with God the Father and recreated your Old Man (Old Spirit) by the Spirit of God - and made it as if sin had never existed. Many believers have never grasped this magnificent truth! You see, beloved, we have no problem believing that God is all powerful, all loving, and can do anything! The problem comes in our relationship with Him. What we have a problem believing is that God will use His power to save and bless us. We know we don't deserve it, so we can "God can, but God won't for me!" That's called being conscious of sin. It's also called being continuously under the domination of satan - rather than under the authority and Lordship of Jesus Christ. Now here's the question. Do you keep thinking of yourself as "sin stained" or "blood washed?" Well, you say, Pastor Wilson, "I'm just an old sinner saved by Grace." Well, I beg to differ with you - respectfully of course. I invite you to read the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 "THEREFORE if any man be in Christ Jesus, he is a new creature, old things are passed away, behold, all things are become new." When the devil throws another guilt trip at you, quote the Word of God and say, "According to 2 Corinthians 5:17, I was an old sinner, but grace changed me into the righteousness of God. I am now His workmanship created in Christ Jesus. As far as I am concerned, my past life is forgotten. I died the death of the Cross. Now it is no longer I that lives, but Christ who lives in me." Now think about what you just said. Let it sink deep within your consciousness until you rise up boldly and receive the freedom that is rightfully yours in Christ Jesus! Until you are able to let this truth sink deep within your consciousness, you cannot be an effective witness to the saving power of Jesus Christ. You will shrink back every time you are challenged, and satan is satisfied with stopping your witness. His reasoning is that he may have lost you, but he can stop you from allowing God to use you to save and bring others into the Kingdom of God. I say to you, "Let Christ breathe on you anew and receive the boldness that only the Lamb of God can give to you." Hallelujah!!!

A Prayer of Protection from Psalm 91

Abba (Father), I praise You that I dwell in the Secret Place of the Most High and that I shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].

 I will say of You, Lord, "The Lord is my refuge and my fortress, my God; on Him I shall lean and rely; and in Him I confidently put my trust."

For then You will deliver me from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.  You will cover me with Your pinions (feathers), and under Your wings shall I trust and find refuge.  Your truth and Your faithfulness are a shield and a buckler to me.

I shall not be afraid of the terror of the night, nor of the arrow (the evil plots and slanders of the wicked] that flies by day, nor of the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor of the destruction and sudden death that surprise and lay waste at noonday.

A thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me.  Only a spectator shall I be [inacessible in the secret place of the Most High] as I witness the reward of the wicked.

Because I have made You Lord, my refuge and the Most High my dwelling place, there shall no evil befall me; nor any plague or calamity come near my tent.  For You will give Your angels special charge over me; to accompany, defend and preserve me in all my ways of obedience and service.  Your angels shall bear me up on their hands, lest I dash my foot against a stone.

I shall tread upon the lion and the serpent shall I trample under my foot.  Because I have set my love upon You, therefore will You deliver me.  You will set me on high because I know and understand Your name.

I have a personal knowledge of Your mercy, love and kindness.  I trust and rely on You knowing You will never forsake me; no, never.  I shall call upon You and You will answer me.  You will be with me in trouble.  You will deliver me and honor me.  With long life will You satisfy me and show me Your salvation!

                                                                   [Interpretation taken from the  Amplified Bible]

Christmas' Basic Requirement

Scripture: "Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Jesus saith unto him . . . Until seventy times seven." (Matthew 18:21-22) Remember when . . .? That's a question we hear a lot this time of year - especially when we gather with family and friends. We browse through Christmases gone by enjoying the memories, until we inevitably stumble across the memories we would rather forget. Suddenly, the pain comes rushing back. The sting of a parent's criticism, the broken promise of a friend, the rejection, the disappointments, the heartaches, the betrayals . . . . What should we do with memories like that? Do we have to drag them along, like so much baggage, from year to year? As the years go by, they seem to get heavier and heavier. The answer is "no, we can leave them behind for good." In fact, we must leave them behind! And there's only one way to do it - through forgiveness. Forgiving someone sounds like a simple thing to do. Yet few of us actually do it. We treat forgiveness as if it were one of life's additional options, something we can take or leave alone. But its not. It's a basic requirement for every believer. In fact, as far as God is concerned, unforgiveness is wicked. In Matthew 18, Jesus tells us a parable that illustrates the terrible consequences of it. The parable involves a servant who owed his lord a debt equivalent to millions of dollars. When the debt came due, he pleaded with his master, "Lord have patience with me and I will pay thee all." His master was so moved that he cancelled the entire debt! Soon thereafter, that same servant sought out a man who owed him $15. Finding him unable to pay, he ignored the man's pleas for mercy and had him cast into prison. When his lord heard about what he had done, he was outraged! He called him a "wicked servant" and delivered him to the tormentors until he paid all that was due. Look again at the size of that unforgiven debt. Fifteen dollars! The man was not thrown into jail because of what he owed but because of the actions brought about by the unforgiveness he harbored in his heart. The little debts are the ones that most often trip us us. The petty resentments between husbands and wives, between brother and sister, between children and parents, between bosses and coworkers. Tiny bits of unforgiveness that seem too insignificant to bother with. BEWARE! Those are the kinds of debts Satan uses to torment you. After all, Jesus paid off a mountain of debts for you. You can afford to be generous about the nickel and dime debts of others. Spend time with the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to reveal the unforgiveness areas in you. (Yes, sometimes we know and sometimes we've forgotten the areas that need cleansing.) Whatever it is, repent and release it - really let go, which is your reasonable service. Make this Christmas more than a time to remember. Make it a time to forget. . . . Scripture reading: Matthew 18:21-35

Thanking God!

Gratitude builds a healthy relationship with God and is a safe haven where we can relax and recuperate from the tensions of everday life. Just as we need to hear positive things from God, He needs to hear positive things from us! Here are some suggestions. I hope you will add to them with thoughts of your own.... "Good Job while you walked amongst us here on earth! " "The Cross was a great idea!" "You are wonderful." "I don't feel complete without you." "I appreciate all the things you've done for me over the years." "Thank you for creating me." "Thank you for loving me." "You come first in my life before spouse, kids, career, friends, anything else." "Thank you for instructing me and teaching me in the way I should go." "Thank you for sustaining and rescuing me." "You're the best friend that I have." "If I had it to do all over again, I'd still come to you." "The smartest thing I ever did was turn to you." "I never have to miss you because you're always here." "I'm glad you're always on my mind." "It's nice to wake up with you." "I will always love you." "I trust you." "I can always count on you." "It's nice to go to sleep with you." "You make me feel confident." "I'm proud to be married to you." "You make me feel at peace." "I'm sorry when I make you sad." "I was wrong." "Tell me what is on your mind." "I want to listen to you." "You are so special." "I can no longer imagine life without you." "I wish I were a better child." "What can I do to help?" "Pray for me and I'll pray for you." "I cherish every moment we spend together." "Thank you for not giving up on me." "Thank you for accepting me just as I am." "Thank you for being my God." "Thank you for walking with me." "Thank you for strengthening me." "Thank you for upholding me with your righteous right hand." "Thank you for treating me justly and not forgetting me." "Thank you for making me your own." "You make every day worth living." by Rev. BrenGandy Wilson