Friday, August 21, 2020

With Eyes Wide Open for God

Was out doing some yard work and we had taken our dog outside with us. It was a cloudy misty morning and cool and a real break from the harsh temps of the summer like 95 degrees!    While out there, we mowed the lawn which is  half green and a harvest color of tans and browns. Still a groomed yard looks better than an over grown lawn with loose fallen leaves and small twigs that had been knocked loosed by a gusty wind earlier in the week.
 As we worked, I had made several rounds on the far end of the lawn and my husband was using the weed eater around trees and the such when he did not see our dog. As I worked, He continued to look around the patio to find her for  she had some how climbed out of her "gooby" harness and it still laid attached at the end of the long leash that had been wrapped numerous times around the swing on the patio. 

My husband walked back around to what is the north side of our patio and he found our dog huddling next to the house by the water faucet outlet just waiting. So after I had finished the backyard, my husband cut the grass in the front yard and then together we transplanted some plants into bigger pots. At this point, rain started to fall. And we began celebrating the Lord's goodness for rain  by giving praise to Him for the abundance of rain and that any fires would be put out in His name and to His glory. We sat on the swing under the patio cover and we talked about the heavy downpour and he told me about our dog and her dilemma.

 I then thought of how many people are chained to something, stuck in a place that is not God supported, not God planned and they continue to try to go and do something without asking the Lord for His guidance and asking His steps for them to be ordered that day and that week.  Going around the same obstacle that is already a problem gets you no where. I would say ask my dog, but she is not a speaking dog! My husband was amazed she did not leave the area and we talked about that as well. When stuck in a place, like our dog is for her safety. But for people it can be detrimental. Going round and round something that takes you no where is just wrong for a person. We are made in the image of God and we have been given salvation that was not merited nor is it earned, but by faith we confessed our sins, and we are forgiven to receive a Lord and a Savior. Our eyes are to be opened and when faith floods in, we take which Lord has given us. We believe for long life even though "family" history tells us others have died before 90 years, but the word tells me 120 years, so we believe for 120 years that is strong in the Lord, strong in our bodies and we look as good as we did the day we received Jesus as Lord! 
Our dog stayed where she is fed and cared for and she waited. We pray that you find the Lord while He can be found. We pray your eyes are opened to His light, His truth and the way in which to walk. May faith arise and may you take the kingdom of God by believing your best days are ahead and not behind you in Jesus' name. 
Take the first step into the Lord, move with action by speaking that you see His will done in you and through you today!


 Faith enters with eyes wide open to God: Hebrews 11: 20-29  Amp. Bible  20 [w/eyes of] faith Isaac, looking far into the future, invoked blessings upon Jacob & Esau. 21 [Prompted] by faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons & bowed in prayer over the top of his staff. 22 [Actuated] by faith Joseph, when nearing the end of his life, referred to [the promise of God for] the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt & gave instructions concerning the burial of his own bones. 23[ Prompted ] by faith Moses, after his birth, was kept concealed for three months by his parents, because they saw how comely the child was; & they were not overawed & terrified by the king’s decree.    24 [Aroused] by faith Moses, when he had grown to maturity & become great, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 because he preferred to share the oppression [suffer the hardships] & bear the shame of the people of God rather than to have the fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life.  26 He considered the contempt & abuse & shame [borne for] the Christ (the Messiah Who was to come) to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward & away to the reward (recompense), Heb. 11:27 [Motivated] by faith he left Egypt behind him, being un-awed & undismayed by the wrath of the king; for he never flinched but held staunchly to his purpose & endured steadfastly as one who gazed on Him Who is invisible. 28 By faith (simple trust/ confidence in God ) he instituted & carried out the Passover & the sprinkling of the blood [on the doorposts], so that the destroyer of the firstborn (the angel) might not touch those [of the children of Israel]. 29 [Urged on] by faith the people crossed the Red Sea as [though] on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do the same thing they were swallowed by [by the sea]. 

                                                                                                         

Faith is a catalyst: Jesus works where faith is present (Luke 5:20).Luke 5:17-26 Now it happened on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. 19 and when they could not find how they might bring him, in because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed though the tiling into the midst  before Jesus. 20 When He saw their faith,  He said to him, “Man, your sins are forgiven you.” 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, He answered and said to them, “Why are reasoning in your hearts? 23 Which is easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven you,’ or to say, ‘Rise up and walk’? 24 “But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”---- He said to the man who was paralyzed, “I say to you, arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” 25 Immediately he rose up before them, took up what he had been lying on, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed and they glorified God and were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen strange things today?”

1.   Faith is determined: Four men arrive late, carrying a paralyzed man on his bed & realizing that they cannot possibly get him through the door, they carry their helpless paralytic friend upstairs to the roof to lower him on the bed in front of Jesus as He is speaking.

2.   They display their faith that he would be healed.

3.   Faith is not deterred by the problem of the crowds for faith has eyes to see through situations and to the possibilities for solving it.

4.   Faith always involves God in it! They persevered with efforts for their paralytic friend to see his spiritual healing as well as his physical healing. Their actions are an example of the apostle James' statement in James 2:18: "I will show you my faith by my works."

 

 Faith is manifested where wisdom of God is applied. Faith is trust in Him the Creator of all things. Faith is the persistent. It moves through anything that might appear as an obstacle to healing. Faith is that which is sacrificial. It takes time and some effort to bring a paralytic before Christ Jesus. Faith found is one that is not intimated by circumstances nor of people. Faith speaks boldness for God in the face of persecution or hostility! Faith is that of humble people and of a loving people. They gave work to see their friend placed before Jesus for the paralytic ‘s help would come from. Faith is always active. It will not be in those who complain nor grumble about the terrible condition of their friend, no they would be about speaking faith of him rising from that bed of affliction to live for God with a life of joy and mercy!

Jesus could perform His work regardless of any human faith, but certainly he chose to act with those with eyes of faith to see.  For in Matthew 13:58 we find this: Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. 2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. 3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world----our faith. ( 1 John 5:1-4)

Faith is what overcomes and it is in Christ Jesus! We are to activate spiritual weapons and not those silly carnal ones.

2 Corinthians 10:3-6 NKJV For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, 6 and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

Behind every stronghold is a lie----a place of personal bondage where God’s word has been dominated or controlled to an un-scriptural idea or personally confused belief that is held true. Behind this lie is a fear and behind the fear is an idol!


Whatever is the lie will be of the false nature! That which is false will either deter you or stop your life in its tracts. It will wrapped you up tightly in something you will not be able to get out of by yourself!


Jesus cursed the fig tree…Mark 11…., not because it was fruitless, (for the season of figs was not yet, and if it had been leafless He would not have sought fruit on it!  But the fig tree was boasting a falseness to its bold claims. With leaves appearing, fruit should be found under the leaves……again as to righteousness producing fruit worthy of giving out to others, or unrighteousness…are the dishonest, untrustworthy, separated from God


In this we find what is evil, versus good, the false against truth, so that what is showing, either by a mask or leaves is hypocrisy!

 

In Jesus’ speaking, the fig tree represented Israel, & it’s bold claims that it followed God was without merit.  From the early beginnings with men who followed God closely & held on to the promises of God, these in Jesus’ time had slipped into that un-fruitfulness that was deceptiveness. They LIED! They believed they had no flaws! And men can do this even today. They speak of things that happened a hundred years ago that has nothing to do with them today. They must live in this day and this hour. Yesterday is gone.

Jesus saw the prolific display of leaves on the Fig Tree, and anyone who has cared for fruit trees knows the flower appears first & then fruit and leaves last. We know that Jesus addressed those Pharisees who operated by THIS  pretentious show and hypocrisy.

 

We must want God more than some passed around word of history or some tradition from the past within our own families. God should be more important to us than anything or what others may believe to be true, but in the end is only the false....that pretentious show of leaves and is only a lie! People are to be noble people and have regard for being responsible to what has been given them in their own life and within their family. Being responsible is working with your own hands to make a living and provide food on the table, and not wait for the man to give you a check to life. It is one thing if you are a dog and waiting for their food in their dish, but it is another if you are a man or woman and waiting for a handout as well!


No, no man can keep you down, but lies as a stronghold can and so man can be held by that belief system they hold on to. If you believe you are still in slavery, guess what, You are still in slavery. You can be in slavery to what your parents taught you but was not God’s wisdom or had anything to do with God. You can be held by "old" family traditions and not the real truth as God purposed for you in a wonderful plan for your life.

Faith is what holds us in truth and if you do not know the truth, then destruction is all around you.  God is faithful and He will reveal truth to us when we search for Him. It is not looking for a particular place, for any closet will do. But what is important is that with eyes wide open we look for God in our heart and when He is seated there, no devil in hell can hurt you ever!

 And when He is more important to us than life itself, then we have arrived in that place in Him....that is home with great love and presence where joy and peace reign. And we find ourselves a part of His kingdom forever indeed. Amen!

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CONSUMING FIRE

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Enoch Whose Name is Dedication


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