Thou Shalt Not Sweat It

My first pastor, in whose church I came to know the Lord gave us a direction he called the eleventh commandment:

“Thou shalt not sweat it”.

In the book of Ezekiel, the priests of God were given the following command in chapter 44, verses 17-18:

“When they enter the gates of the inner court, they are to wear linen clothes; they must not wear any woolen garment while ministering at the gates of the inner court or inside the temple. They are to wear linen turbans on their heads and linen undergarments around their waists. They must not wear anything that makes them sweat“.

If you are born again, you are a priest of the Most High God.

Is there anything that you are currently wearing in God’s presence that is making you sweat?

We, as God’s priests who live in His presence are to dress light and not wear heavy garments that cause us to worry, doubt, fear and be anxious. Are you currently wearing some type of garment that doesn’t “breath” in the Spirit but instead, restricts your faith in God and His Word?

If you are wearing such a restrictive garment, change it immediately! We who live so close to God with a view so close should be aware of our freedom in Him. There is no reason to bear heavy “clothing” that causes us to doubt what we see in the inner court. Wearing “heavy” clothing that doesn’t breath in the Spirit in His presence is a sign of double-mindedness. If you have something pressing on you that isn’t light, cast it off and change it for light Spirit garments which breath and move easily in His presence.

Let me ask again, what is causing you to sweat? An ungodly relationship? A fear of death? A fear of lack? Other people’s opinions? You fill in the blank!

You don’t have to pray about what you should do: take off the restrictive, heavy weight which is causing you anxiety and put on garments that breath in the Spirit!

When you see God for who He really is, what compares with Him? Of what should we be afraid? What should we allow to control our lives and make us miserable?

Thou shalt not sweat it!

Dress “light” today and enjoy the presence of the Lord!!!

 

Stepping on the Enemy

The world has experienced hard times over the last couple of years. Municipalities and countries in many different places have been tottering on the brink of collapse.America has not been exempted from these difficulties. The people of the world are suffering from a lack of connection to God. Failure to connect to God causes despair. Many are able to handle that despair through some type of distraction or medication – making life manageable but not fulfilling. A simmering despair bubbles just below the surface of those who have no connection to Christ. When times become difficult, things that were “manageable” through distraction or medication boil over into full fledged anger. Then, people begin to feel “ripped off” and begin a search for the culprit. In America, we are now pointing fingers at each other – the “have nots” accusing the “haves” of stealing from them and not pulling their fair share of the load.

Many leaders in our current government are encouraging this division, while in their hypocrisy they live at the same level of those they condemn as the problem. The Bible clearly tells us that in judging others, we are condemning ourselves (Rom. 2). It is past time for us to wake up from our deception and begin to look at the only thing we truly control and begin to make the necessary changes.

What do we truly control?

Our own behavior and attitudes.

Instead of trying so hard to change others, thinking that will fix us, we should be taking a hard look at ourselves and identifying the destructive forces at work that destroy our own lives.

Does our government need to be changed?

No, our government was set up to run successfully but every system is only as good as those in it. We need to be changed so that we can see clearly the problems outside of our personal lives.

For those who have ears to hear: this is the year of change. The Spirit of God is saying that it is time to go on the offensive and take back what has been stolen. This will not occur through “Occupy” protests staged by unchanged people. This will not occur by changing leaders and electing the unchanged. Yes, violence is needed but not against flesh and blood. We must attack the real problem – our indifference toward God. Our problems have been “simmering” for a long time. They just didn’t “appear”. We’ve sown to the wind and now we are reaping a whirlwind.

We can free ourselves and our possessions if we will attack the real problem.

“But this is what the Lord says: ‘Yes, captives will be taken from warriors, and plunder retrieved from the fierce; I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save.’” Isaiah 49:24-25

God is ready to unleash vengeance upon that which has been stolen from you. The qualifier is your return to Him as first love. Your captives and your plunder and the salvation of your children – our children as a nation depend upon us focusing on what we have control over – our own souls. This year is not like last year or the year before – it is a new time with different outcomes!

Victory is within grasp! Now is the time, this is the place, and we are the people!

“Through our God, we shall do valiantly. It is He who will tread down our enemies.”

Get the Jesus Habit

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 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 1:13-15

God did not send along that thing or person in your life which is tempting you to sin. No matter how much it “seems” to be meeting a need; no matter how much you are attached to it emotionally – if it is enticing you to sin, it is not from God.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17

But, you say, the thing/person in my life is good, it helps me in some way, so it must be from God. Gifts from God are perfect in character; that is they are gifts given that are intended to lead us closer to Him and not farther away. God does not tell us not to sin and then send something along that entices us to do that exact thing! He does not change like shifting shadows – one day this way, the next, this way.

It you are doing evil, it is because a desire in you has turned to evil for its fulfillment. You have allowed yourself to be dragged away from the truth of the Word and the all sufficiency of God and are depending upon an object/person to meet your desire. Continuing to allow this enticing object/person to be your focus causes evil to conceive and give birth to action – sinful action.

And, if you allow this action to continue – to say, “I will do what I want”, then immediately, spiritual death sets in, a sense of separation from God and soon, it will be followed by emotional death – the slow process of the loss of sensitivity.

“So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more.” Ephesians 4:17-19

Continuing in behavior that seeks to meet needs/desires through sinful actions causes us to lose sensitivity to God’s voice. Excusing harmful behavior leads to excusing more harmful behavior. You are ruled by what controls you.

My advice – If there is something in your life that looks like it will meet a need/desire but it requires sin as its price, avoid it! That is not a solution sent by God. If you already have a similar situation going on, change it immediately! God will provide for all your needs and desires according to His riches in glory and these solutions will not be laced with poison!

I’m praying for you today. You can do this! As your fellow traveler in this life, I encourage you – don’t allow counterfeit solutions and past or present failures stop you from receiving what is best for you.

Kick the habit of depending upon “counterfeits” and pick up the Jesus habit! You’ll be glad you did!

Who in Hell are You?

The question who are you is an interesting one. It can be asked as part of casual conversation, for instance when two people meet each other for the very first time. It can also be asked in a more provocative way – when one person is questioning another’s authority to say or do a certain thing.

In Luke, chapter four, Jesus appears at the synagogue in Nazareth, his home town, and reads from the book of Isaiah. He finds the place where this is written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

He finishes reading and all eyes in the room are up0n Him. Then He rocks their world by saying, “Today, this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

All were amazed at the authority announced and released through this statement. Their response?

“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” In essence, they are saying, “Who are you to make such a statement of power, intention and authority?” It’s very sad to see that the people most familiar with Him did not even recognize who He was, nor were they glad to hear His message.

A few days later, Jesus goes to Capernaum. Just as He did at Nazareth, He enters the synagogue on the Sabbath and begins to speak to the people. In the synagogue, there was a man who was possessed by an evil spirit, who upon hearing Jesus speak, cried out at the top of his voice:

“Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!”

How amazing! The people closest to Jesus didn’t recognize His purpose, power, or authority but the demon did! Demons are rogue agents with their own agenda. They don’t respond to anything other than authority. Jesus’ power was apparent to them, yet hidden from His closest friends.

Isn’t that how it often is?

The people around you, those most familiar with you often don’t see you in the Spirit. They simply can’t get past the past and continue to view you as you always were – little brother – kid sister – small child – sinner – incompetent.

The Bible tells us that when spiritual transformation takes place we are to:

“Regard no one from a worldly point of view. If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” 2 Corinthians 5:16

If there are people in your family or friends or co-workers who can’t see your new identity in Christ, don’t be discouraged, Jesus experienced the same thing!

But, rest assured – the devils DO know who you are and must bow their knee to the Name you carry!

So, press ahead!!! Use the Name and follow the Spirit! Man’s opinion and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee at a cheap motel. That’s all the opinions of man are worth! You are a child of the Most High God! You have a covenant with your God!

In the end, all things will be revealed for what they are. Until then, my heart will go on singing!!! And, so will yours! I would rather be known in heaven and hell then here anyway. How about you?

Imagine the Extraordinary

A new year has arrived!!!

Don’t drag the same thought patterns and expectations into 2012 that framed 2011.

I know, you are tired of hoping and praying for things that have not come to pass. It’s easier just to give up on them. But, when you do, a part of your faith dies. Oh, you may continue to serve the Lord but you do so at a substandard level: one in which you just don’t believe in the supernatural as much as you did before.

So, what is the “life consequence” of a partially dead faith?

You resort to doing things yourself and giving lip service to your belief.

There are seasons in the spirit just as there are in the natural. Sometimes we pray “spring” prayers in “winter” season. If they don’t come to pass, we get discouraged. “Winter” will pass and “spring” will come and then, your prayer will be answered. God’s timing is perfect. Keep your faith and you will see God move.

If we cease to believe in the supernatural, we are no different than unbelievers. Think about that one!

Ecclesiastes tells us that there is a time and season for all things. Seasons come and seasons go – just be sure that you don’t pass away with the season! Dare to pray the impossible! Dare to believe for the extraordinary! Dare to try for the unreachable!

God is looking for a people who can imagine things that come from another level – a supernatural one. Natural imaginations produce natural results. Supernatural imaginings produce the supernatural! Look to the throne of God and see what is happening there and ask for those things to be manifest in your experience!

2012 is the year of God’s government – His authority. Let’s bring that perspective into our prayers and our actions and see what happens in 2012!