4GIVEN

There are 5 reasons Christians fail to walk in power and authority. Sin, fear, unbelief, prayerlessness, and ignorance. How many times throughout scripture did Jesus say, “Go sin no more, don’t be afraid, and because you have so little faith?” Paul wrote in his Pauline epistles to the church at Thessalonica and Timothy, “Pray without ceasing and God didn’t give us a spirit of fear.” Samuel Chadwick said, “The church is the body of Christ, and the Spirit is the Spirit of Christ. He fills the Body, directs its movements, controls its members, inspire its wisdom, and supplies its strength. He guides into truth, sanctifies its agents, and empowers for witnessing. The spirit has never abdicated His authority nor relegated His power.” So today don’t give in to any of the reasons above. Stand strong and remember your sins have been forgiven and that Christ has given us authority over all the power of the enemy, and we can walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure us. (Luke 10:19)
#RECLAIMEDAUTHORITY

We lack security because we don’t fully grasp our true identity. Our familial status, relationships, education, and vocations don’t completely define who we are. Galatians 3:27-28, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” It’s only when we truly embrace ‘whose’ we are in Christ that we will find security in our identity in Him. Additionally, our faith will grow stronger as we focus on our identity in Him. (Galatians 2). Rick Warren said, “This “identity issue” is an important part of living the abundant life. Jesus was able to face the incredible demands of his mission because he knew exactly who he was. He knew that he mattered to God, and that gave him confidence to move purposefully in faith.” Yes, the concrete, solid, gospel truth is that we are who God says we are, and no one else has a vote in the matter.

A fair weather person in a relationship will stick by you when times are good but will bail or dump you at the glimpse of turmoil, hardship, and/or unmet expectations. Our horizontal relationships in a way mirror our vertical relationship with God. When was the last time you stop communicating with your spouse or significant other because of troubled waters? Now ask yourself, “When was the last time you stop communicating (praying, praising, serving, meditating, and worshipping) with God because he sent or allowed the troubled water.” I get it, we are all pre-wired to either fight or flight in times of difficulty. However, the bible teaches that when times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider this: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, no one can discover anything about their future.” (Ecc 7:14)God desires for us to give thanks in the difficult times because it is an act of faith. When things are tough it takes faith to thank God for our circumstances. We must really believe that God has a plan we do not see. We must really believe that His wisdom is beyond our own. Giving thanks in difficult times requires something more than superficial faith or fair weather tendencies. Yes, life and our relationships are much like a roller coaster. But, if we learn to depend on God, life will be steady and we will find peace even in the confusing times.

“And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.” (Eph 3:18) This was Paul’s prayer then but does anyone truly understands the width, length, height, and depth of God’s love? I think to start the ‘understanding process’ we would first need to define width, length, height, and depth. According to the Jamieson-Fausett-Brown Commentary, “The “breadth” implies Christ’s world-wide love, embracing all men: the “length,” its being extended through all ages (Eph 3:21); the “depth,” its profound wisdom which no creature can fathom (Ro 11:33); the “height,” its being beyond the reach of any foe to deprive us of (Eph 4:8). Yes for some, God’s love will most likely be an incomprehensible mystery until the day we meet him. But, for now it behooves us to be thankful that He cares enough for us to share His amazing and unconditional love with us! 

God tailors our blessings much like we tailor our blessings to our children. What does this mean? Well, if your child wanted you to buy he/she a 1954 Mercedes Formula 1 race car for their 16th birthday, you would most likely opt out for alternative selection. Obviously, the child is not ready nor capable to care for and manage a $29.6 million dollar vehicle. You see, God manages our blessings very similar to the way we manage our children’s blessings. We know when our children are ‘ready’ based on their maturity and behavioral patterns. Bottom line, is the timing of blessing is based on our maturity. If we’re not ready, then he most likely will not release them. God prepares his blessing much like his leaders, in a slow-cooker, not in a microwave oven. More important than the awaited God’s blessing is to recognize the work God does in us while we wait. Know this, waiting deepens and matures us, levels our perspective, and also broadens our understanding.   

I got good news; long before you were born & became a part of history, you existed in the heart and mind of God! So don’t let no one or nothing tell you anything different! Have a favored filled weekend!!  

LOVE bring people together but it’s GRACE that keep people together. Look at it this way, love can’t truly exist without grace. It is the grace of God that fuels our love for him, our families, our relationships, and God’s ministry. Grace is the only element that has the capacity to take the powerful nature of love to the next level.  

There is no problem God can’t solve. There is no pain or hurt He can’t heal. We unequivocally believe this whenever we’re praying for others. However, how do we respond when that problem, pain, or hurt is invading our lives? We undoubtedly ask God, “WHY ME?” We forgot that 2 Corinthians 12:9 promises that God’s grace is sufficient for us and that His strength is made perfect in weakness. 
Life’s unexpected twists and dangerous valleys teaches us there is something far more important to God than reengineered circumstances. 

Our problems may not be as severe as what Paul experienced (See 2 Corinthians 11) but all pain hurts no matter the severity. So if you lost your job….God’s grace is sufficient. If you are going through a divorce….God’s grace is sufficient. If your kids are acting crazy….God’s grace is sufficient. If you angry with your spouse or significant other….God’s grace is sufficient. If you are dealing with a death in the family….God’s grace is sufficient. If you are going through an addiction related circumstance….God’s grace is sufficient. If you are dealing with an illness….God’s grace is sufficient.

It is the Lord’s immeasurable grace that see us through all life’s test, trials, and trouble. 

Lord, there are times when we are engulfed with stress, worry, and anxiety. In these semesters/seasons it’s often difficult for us to trust that you are standing with us. Partly because we focus way too much on the problem rather than the problem solver. Therefore, we ask that in moments of disdain, despair, and disappointment that you remind us that our present troubles are small and won’t last very long because they are producing for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! (2 Cor 4:17) Help us O’God to hear the stillness of your voice even in the midst of life’s tumultuous storms that tries to wreak havoc in our families, relationships, and vocations. By faith, we believe that no storm is greater than our Lord! Father God, we lay everything at the feet of Jesus and we humble ourselves before your holy presence. In Jesus’ life restoring name, amen and amen!!

The gospel message is not that difficult to embrace and accept once you understand the reason ‘why’ Jesus died for you. Here’s the reader’s digest version; Adam and Eve sinned against God in the garden which resulted in the first ever death penalty and a severed relationship. Approximately 4,000 years after man’s fall Jesus was born and 33 years later He died on Mt. Mount Calvary for all sins (past, present, and future). Jesus’ selfless sacrifice reconciled our relationship with God and exonerated us from the penalty of death! At the end of our life we will have to stand before God to be judged. God will be reviewing our game day tape and everything we did good, bad, and indifferent will be exposed. Having said that, it would be better to stand before God in Christ than without Christ. 
#SAYYES2CHRISTTODAY