Friday, August 3, 2012

Obedience is a True Sign of Love

John 14:23
23Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Did you know that obedience to the Lord is a true sign of love? Many say they love the Lord but when He says to do something they won't do it. That's not you is it? Jesus spoke to the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit. Judas had just asked why Jesus would show himself to them and not the world. Verse 23 was the answer. Of course Judas was the one who betrayed Jesus. He didn't love Jesus but turned his back on Him for money. He sold Jesus out because he was more in love with money than he was with God. The Lord knows your heart and He knows if you're not willing to obey Him that you're not in love with Him as much as you claim to be in the public eye or even in church on Sunday. Maybe you're just not at that level yet you say? But if you're not even willing to work at it, then you don't even want to be. It's the same as what the apostle Paul talks about in a marriage in Ephesians 5:21. Many do not know but a true marriage is supposed to replicate the relationship between Christ and the church. There is a mutual submission/obedience that takes place. Not doing so to one another is saying to each other and to the Lord that you're not really in love with the person you married. It's a true sign of love. A husband who does what his wife asks does so because he's in love with her and wants to see her happy. The wife who obeys her husband does so because she's in love with her husband and wants to see him happy. The obedience to the Lord is not a means to an end neither is obedience to your husband or wife. You do it out of love. Your relationship with Christ or the lack their of will reflect in every area of your life. How many times have you said you love the Lord? Do you know when you submit to Him you're saying you're faithful to Him? He will return that love as well. That's what Judas didn't understand. All he saw was money even with the bottle of perfume that was used on Jesus' feet.

Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Network on www.live365.com!

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Revelation in Dreams

1Kings 3:5
5At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you."

Solomon had just taken the reign as king when David died. Solomon was young as many kings were during that period. But this isn't really about Solomon's reign. It's more about revelation brought forth  in a dream. In psychology, it is taught that dreams are the way your subconscious mind speaks to you. And while some of that is true, especially if you are listening to the radio or watching TV just before you fall asleep or thinking of the events of the day, what your mind is receiving can be played back in a dream. But scripture says that it can also be a way the Lord speaks to you as said by Job's friend Elihu in Job 33:14-15 "For God does speak-now one way, now another- though man ma not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night when deep sleep falls on men as they slumber in their beds,"  In Genesis 37 Joseph has several dreams and one revealed his future and what his brothers would be doing. Joseph telling the dream was the catalyst to him being sold to the Egyptians but was still part of his destiny that God worked for his good that ultimately led him right to where God showed him in the dream. Joseph not only had prophetic dreams but God gave him the ability to interpret them as He did Daniel after the Israelites were captured by the Babylonians. God gave revelation to Aaron and Miriam at the tent regarding dreams In Numbers 12:6 he said, Listen to my words: "When a prophet of the Lord is among you, I reveal myself to him in visions, I speak to him in dreams."

Yes, there are many references to dreams in the Old Testament but there are references in the New Testament as well. In Matthew 1:20 Joseph was going to rid himself of Mary after it was found that she was with child but she was carrying our Savior, Jesus Christ. The angel spoke to Joseph son of David in a dream to console him. In acts 2:17 which is a reference to Joel 2:28 talks of dreams being more prevalent in the last days. The purpose of all of this is not to say that if you have a dream you are a prophet. The office of a prophet is completely different. There is a gifting of prophecy that God can bestow upon anyone at any given time to reveal what God is doing and His direction but also a warning that requires a person's actions to change. The best way to tell if what you've seen in a dream is real is to inquire of the Lord. He says in His word that when you ask it will be given to you. This is as long as you believe and ask with the right intentions. The Lord desires to speak to you. The way in which He speaks to you is decided on 1) His preference and 2) what you are most receptive to. Remember, the Lord knows you better than anyone because He created you so He knows what you will respond to. If a dream is the way He gets your attention, then it will be so.

May you be blessed and receive comfort.

Please join me on Thursday, August 2nd at 8pm ET as I will be on WordThirst Radio with Ashea Goldson for an interview to promote my book, Get Your JOY In The Morning!

Monday, July 30, 2012

Who's Making it Happen?

Philippians 4:13
13I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

The apostle Paul was very thankful to the church of Philippi for all their wonderful kindness in providing gifts to him. There was a slight delay as his travels were not set in stone. But he noted to them that he was content regardless of receiving them or not. Many of us have heard this scripture often use to justify the agenda of the one saying it. But here's a question for you. Is Christ making it happen or are you? Remember the apostle Paul says "through him". So we are not to do anything on our own accord without Christ. But how many do? When you are the one doing it and not Christ, quite frankly, it's short lived. Remember Christ is from ever lasting to ever lasting. Before Abraham was, "He is". Present tense. It is Christ who outlasts the world and Satan. So therefore, anything done in Christ's strength is guaranteed to last. Just saying this verse doesn't make it so. It must be the Lord's plan for you. If it is not His plan for you nor His time for you, then whatever has been done can blow away like the wind. The Lord stated in Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Remember the key words, "For I know the plans". Are you working on the Lord's plans for you or your own? If they are your own then you are not doing them in His strength but yours. Therefore you are making them happen. When you are following the Lord's plan for your life, they outlast what you could ever do on your own. See, when it's temporary, it doesn't have to necessarily come from God. You could be receiving assistance from the enemy and not even know. The enemy is a liar, cunning and seeks to steal, kill and destroy. What better way to set you up then to let you think, "you got it" like that, only to find out that if Christ had done it, you would be fine. So again, Who's making it happen? Is it you or Christ?

Remember to check out my man V on the Artist to Artist Show today on www.Qliveone.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!