4GIVEN

Christian leader and Anglican cleric John Stott once posed a question, “How did Jesus expect His disciples to react under persecution? In Matthew 5:12 Jesus said, “Rejoice and be glad!” Stott continues, “We are not to retaliate like an unbeliever, nor sulk like a child, nor lick our wound in self-pity like a dog, nor just grin a bear it like a Stoic, still less pretend we enjoy it like a masochist [self denial]. What then? We are to rejoice as a Christian should and even “leap for joy” (Lk. 6:23).” Well, Stott’s observation is correct. In Matt 5:11 Jesus said, “God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers.” Now then, leaping for joy is a tough thing to do especially when you really want to leap on the person (s) that’s causing the injury. One thing is for sure, suffering does produce perseverance (Romans 5:3) and scripture confirms when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:4).

Do you really know how much God loves you? God loves us with an audacious kinda love. His love for us is immeasurable, incomprehensible, uncommon, unfailing, unconditional, and everlasting! The world, our flesh, and the enemy will attempt to diminish the light of God’s love for us, however, God’s love is persistent! David describes this love in Psalm 23:6, stating, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life” (NLT). So today remember that in all circumstances that God is there for you and He loves you…….immensely!!

Do you really know how much God loves you? God loves us with an audacious kinda love. His love for us is immeasurable, incomprehensible, uncommon, unfailing, unconditional, and everlasting! The world, our flesh, and the enemy will attempt to diminish the light of God’s love for us, however, God’s love is persistent! David describes this love in Psalm 23:6, stating, “Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life” (NLT). So today remember that in all circumstances that God is there for you and He loves you…….immensely!!

Every aspect of our lives were perfectly planned out by God. However, this doesn’t mean we will live a perfect life. At some point each of us will take a few detours. Occasionally, we have the tendency to believe we know more than God. Flesh driven detours undoubtedly create unnecessary delays in completing our God ordained itinerary. There are numerous stories throughout biblical history where God by His grace used flesh driven detours to accomplish His will, plan, and purpose. Tony Evans said,”Friend, if you have bitter things in your life—things that look like they have diverted you onto a detour from your destiny, they do not have the final say. They are not the defining factors in who you are. Your detours are simply God’s perfect plan to get you exactly where He wants you to be. Trust Him, He knows the way to your destiny.”

“God has chosen what is insignificant and despised in the world—what is viewed as nothing—to bring to nothing what is viewed as something, so that no human can boast in the presence of God” (1Cor 1:28-29). God is impartial and it doesn’t matter if you are oozing riches or you smell like you haven’t bathed in 20 years, God sees everyone the same. In the above scripture Paul reminds us that God is in the humbling business. No one nor no thing will ever be greater than Him and once we understand this fact, James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” Biblical scholar John Gills said, “This is God’s usual way to lift up the meek, and exalt those that humble themselves; he lifts them from the dunghill, to set them among princes; he gives them a place, and a name in his house, better than sons and daughters; he adorns them with his grace; he clothes them with the righteousness of his Son, he grants them nearness to himself; and at last will introduce them into his kingdom and glory.”

Is it all worth it? I am referring to the struggle of life’s ups & downs and highs & lows! After James told us to count our pain joy, he later said in 1:12, “God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him!” Max Lucado put it this way, “God never said that the journey would be easy, but He did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.” James and Max are on the same page, I think we ought follow their tracks too! If it’s not good our good Father will cause it to work together for our good and His glory!
#CrownOfLifeThroughHisCross

You cannot lose what was never yours to begin with, if things didn’t worked out, move heart and soul towards a better place. God makes it possible for us to walk through the disappointments in life with a knowledge that His provision for us works. His grace and His comfort are ours as we find rest in Him. Psalm 62:5, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from Him.”

The moment you realize the missing piece should have been you nailed to that rugged cross BUT God had different plans (Hebrews 2:17)!!!

#GLORYHALLELUJAH!!!!

#THANKYOUJESUS!!!

#PROPITIATION!!!!

Heavenly and Righteous Father, Your Word says when a thief is found he MUST restore everything that he has taken sevenfold. Satan the WORD of GOD declares you came to steal, kill and destroy, and the Holy Spirit has exposed  everything that you have taken away. Therefore, according to God’s Holy Word you are COMMANDED in  the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth to RESTORE EVERYTHING you took away SEVENFOLD.  The name of Jesus Christ commands you take your hands off of my finances, cars, jobs and my home right now in the name of Jesus.  Father, your word says that whatever we bind on earth is bound in heaven; whatever we loose on earth is loosed in heaven.  Therefore Father, in the name of Jesus, bind all the strongholds of the enemy that have been holding back our financial blessings, family unity, vocational blessings, deliverance, healing, rest, peace, and in the name of Jesus loose prosperity in every area of our lives according to your riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  Father, we call forth every blessings You reserved for us right NOW in the name of Jesus, amen and amen!!

How do you win favor and a good name in the eyes of God and man? The answer is found in Proverbs 3:3(NIV), “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.” Other translations use the words kindness/truth, loyalty/kindness, and truth/mercy. Jesus understood the concept of binding and loosing. He said in Matt 16:19, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Love and faithfulness affects every relationship we have. The Bible says it is a gift from God. When we receive Christ as Lord, the Holy Spirit indwells us and brings the blessings of love, joy, peace and faithfulness (Galatians 5:22). There is no doubt when love is bound together with faithfulness righteousness and peace have kissed each other (Ps 85:10).