Alive
Our past, it has an awful way of interfering in our present and often becomes a roadblock to our future. The good news is there is a way out, a way to overcome our past, its done in Christ.
Paul in (Philippians 3:13-15) reminds us that we need to put the past in its proper perspective, he says that we need to forget it, and starting focusing on what is ahead, set our eyes on (Christ) the goal. See Paul is talking to some athletes so he uses sports metaphors, "set your eyes on the prize, the goal," he really gets the point across, "forget about you failures," think about the success you will have now that Christ is in your life.
In Galatians 2:20 he puts it this way:
- My Past has been buried with Christ, it no longer has power over my life.
- This new life I don't have to do on my own, but rather with the power that Christ brings to my life.
- This new life has brought about a change that will effect my future for the better.
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ~Galatians 2:20
06/08/16 05:46:00 am, 
Following Him
Today I was reminded that the Lord is faithful, He keeps His promises for a 1000 generations the Bible says. If you and I follow the Lord with all of our Heart there will be nothing to hard for us, nothing that God can't do for us.
Caleb's faithfulness reminds us that if we follow the Lord wholeheartedly then:
- Nothing will be too big for us to accomplish
- No Giants will be able to stand in our way
- We will see a big God rather than big Challenges
- We will come to rely on a strength bigger than our own
- We will take possession of the promises that God has for us.
Today:
- Trust in Him
- Lean on His understanding
- Follow His direction
- And you will find your way, you will overcome, you will rise above
Hebron still belongs to the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite because he wholeheartedly followed the lord, the God of Israel Joshua 14:14
Emanating Christ
- What sets you apart from this world?
- Does anyone see Christ in you?
- Are you diffusing the "words" of Christ
GOD'S LOVE IS INTENTIONAL
When Jesus looked down from the cross, this is what He saw:
The Roman soldiers were casting lots for His clothing
(John 19:23–24).
The criminals on the crosses to either side of Him were
insulting Him (Matthew 27:44).
The religious leaders were mocking Him
(Matthew 27:41–43).
The crowd was blaspheming Him (Matthew 27:39).
Something to "REMEMBER"
I don’t think people actually get this, but these events:
The cross
The conviction
The punishment
The ridicule
The pain
The suffering
The crucifixion
The death
The resurrection.
“THEY WHERE INTENTIONAL”
Imagine this scene:
We find Jesus and a man name Barabbas standing opposite sides, and Pilot between them.
See Pilot thinks that he holds the destiny of these two men in his hands! But he doesn’t!
Pilot tells the crowds this “I know the Jews have a tradition on the Holy day to release one of the prisoners, so today!
I will release one of the prisoner on death row”
One side he has Jesus, son of the living God and on the other Barabbas the thug and rebel, murderer.
He tells the crowd “Alright who do you want?”I don’t know about you, but when I see this scene, I think this is “outrageous”, there is no comparison, the answer should be easy, see I believe because Pilot knew that Jesus was innocent he thought he would give an easy choice to the crowd, they would have to chose Jesus.
The silence breaks“Give us Barabbas” What! “That’s Outrageous!
Barabbas, a rightful prisoner, a man who should be on death row, he is a rebel, he murders people, he’s a bad man, on the other side we have the Son of God, healer, miracle worker, all he’s done is restore, deliver, set free, open deaf ears heal the lame and the leper,
Barabbas went free that day, but it wasn’t the people nor was Pilot that set him free, he was a murderer, a rightful prisoner deserving of death.
It was Jesus who set him free,..
It was “INTENTIONAL
No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. ~John 10:18
NO MAN TAKETH IT FROM ME, BUT I LAY IT DOWN MYSELF
JESUS SET BARABBAS FREE
- HE CAN SET YOU FREE
- HIS WORK IN BARABBAS LIFE WAS INTENTIONAL
- HIS WORK IN YOUR'S IS INTENTIONAL
FORGIVENESS IS THE VEHICLE THAT:
- RESTORES
- REALIGNS
- REVIVES
- RESETS
- RENEWS
God My God
When we look at Jacob's life, we see its marked by a struggle with God, even his name marks his struggles. You and are not too far off from these kinds of struggles, we struggle with God, ours being unique in our own situation, but all of us have struggles with God.
But for Jacob, he came to a place, where he decided he would no longer struggle with God, but that he would strive with God and not against Him. God would become His God, just like He was His fathers, and His grandfathers.
We must, all decide to turn over the areas of struggle to God, allow Him to work in them, ask Him to bless us, ask Him to change our names, the change our identity as one who "strives with God."
Today may God be your God
- May Your Struggles Belong To God
- May Your Heart Be Surrendered To Him
- May you allow God to Lead You Victoriously
Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’
~Genesis 32:9
And he set up an altar there and called it “God, the God of Israel ~Genesis 33:20
