The Role of Disciplinarian

Hebrews 12:9

9Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live?

The context of this scripture is about the role of God as the disciplinarian. When His children are not obedient He disciplines as a way to show love. And so a trial of chastening comes as a way to develop or bring that son or daughter to a place of development and maturity. God our heavenly Father is compared to that of earthly fathers.

On last Sunday, our assistant pastor facilitated a discussion on the role of a nurturer and how God can be both mother and father in His qualities. Even scripture references how we can lean on Him when forsaken or there is an absence of human roles in Psalm 27:10. And it was brought up that a nurturer doesn't always have to be a woman. I was reading something else and God brought to my attention the role of disciplinarian. In the days of old, earthly fathers played the role of disciplinarian. The statement of, "wait til your father gets home," when a child was in trouble signifies this idea. However, God brought to my attention those who had no father or the father figure present may have lacked in the area of discipline.

Now I know for me, when my late dad came into the picture I was very grateful and actually respected his authority. Looking back I believe it was because he treated me as though I were his own and I was in need of something I lacked. Within two years of him entering my life, I had accepted Christ and I was learning obedience from a different perspective. But what God showed me was that there are many who reject His will and way because of the absence of a disciplinarian in their life. They are not used to being corrected for the things done in error. Therefore, being corrected or being obedient to anything other than their own desires seems outrageous. Some people have gone so left field in their actions in life because no one has corrected them or they lacked in the area of correction for whatever reason. It then becomes understandable how the resistance to God's discipline is even possible. But God is always victorious in His ways.

What God also reminded me was about how two of the apostles were in a situation where there was a conflict between what God commanded of them and what an earthly authority figure was demanding of them. And the response of the apostles was that they would stay obedient to God. The apostles were aware of the final authority in their lives and they stood by it.

Who has been the role of disciplinarian in your life? Who is the final authority in your life? Did you know that you may be in a trial now because what God wanted to display you did not respect so now you are learning the hard way? Did you know that it is only because He loves you that you are in it and it is meant for you to come out better than when you went in it?

Want a Friend?

Proverbs 18:24

24A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

Have you ever noticed that someone who has a lot of friends usually smiles a lot and often looks happy? Have you ever noticed that someone with a lot of friends is usually a very kind and sweet person? A person who is kind, sweet, dependable and fun and who reaches out to others will indeed attract such. Yes, if you want a friend you must first display qualities that are worthy of friendship. It is not say that others who are not so friendly won't come your way but those who are not good for you, God will show them. You just have to have enough godly wisdom to know when you must let them go. But no matter what, God is with you and has your back. He too displays qualities of a friend. God is kind, He reaches out by seeking us in our heart and yes He has a sense of humor. When you begin to trust Him, He will get closer to you and even reveal secrets to you as a friend would. And He wants to know that you will return His friendship. We are made in His image, why wouldn't He want to befriend us?

Seeking friendship to use someone doesn't last long. When you seek to use and manipulate you often get it in return. Want a real friend? Look at who you are first and be one.

P.S. Join me on Saturday, June 15th from 3-5pm at Caribou Coffee House in Gambrills, MD for a Pre-Release Book Signing and Reading of my new book, Shh Don't Tell!

Main Ingredients

Acts 19:15

15And the evil spirit answered and said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"

The apostle Paul had gone through the region Ephesus and performed many miracles. God, through His Holy Spirit, allowed  the faith of Paul to be transmitted into handkerchiefs and aprons to heal the sick and those with evil spirits. Now the word says there were Jewish exorcists that took it upon themselves to call on the name of the Lord over those who had evil spirits. And the response in verse 15 is what they received. The exorcists were overtaken by the evil spirit. But why?

The Jewish exorcists were not acting per the prompting of the Holy Spirit. They were acting in their own accord and then desiring the blessing of the Holy Spirit which is a "recipe for disaster".  On top of that, they lacked the faith necessary for the miracles to be performed. The disciples went through through a similar scenario early in Jesus' ministry. The Holy Spirit and faith are the main ingredients for anyone working a miracle in the name of Jesus. If there is no faith in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit which He sent to us on the day of Pentecost (50 days or 7 weeks after the resurrection), then they are just words.  Anything you are doing in the name of Jesus must be at the prompting of the Holy Spirit in order to work, not by you. For you and I can do nothing on our own accord. If God didn't say through His Holy Spirit to do something, you doing it on your own can create a train wreck. Jesus said He would send the Holy Spirit to be our guide and our comforter. How is He the guide if you are not listening? How is He the guide if you are stepping into anything without His direction? Jesus said the Holy Spirit knows all things and searches all things. Doesn't that mean the Holy Spirit knows more than you? But if you are operating anything like the Jewish exorcists, the steps are off. Moving in faith by the Holy Spirit's direction brings victory.

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show Monday-Friday 10am-12pm ET on www.lofnetwork.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!

You Cannot Keep Quiet

Jeremiah 20:9

9Then I said, "I will not make mention of Him, Nor speak anymore in His name." But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, And I could not.

The prophet Jeremiah was frank with the Lord about his unpopular ministry assigned to him. The false prophets around Jeremiah were uttering whatever the king and God's people wanted to hear not what God said will be. Have you ever been in a situation where you gave the unpopular answer or message? Sometimes when you say what people don't want to hear you are mocked or ignored. Jeremiah was in such despair that he attempted to keep quiet and not speak what the Lord put on his heart. But just as Jeremiah said, when the Spirit of the Lord hits you, you cannot keep quiet. It does feel like fire. And it will burn in you and eat at you til you speak what He says to speak.

Too many of us have feared man or desired to please man more than God. But Jesus said it himself, we ought to be more concerned with the one who has the ability to destroy both body and soul.

The Benefits

Psalm 5:12

12For you, O Lord, will bless the righteous; With favor You will surround him as with a shield.

God's love is like no other. Those who desire to do His will He blesses beyond measure. When you desire to do God's will, you put on "His righteousness". None of us is righteous in our own right. It is only when we seek to do His will. And when you  do so, His favor rests on you. Like a king who grants a request of one who stands in His presence, so God grants favor to those who honor Him. What is favor? Favor as defined by Merriam-Webster's Dictionary is friendly regard shown to another, partiality, approval, gracious kindness, effort in one's behalf, a token of love, a special privilege. So favor of God is a gift and effort on your behalf and partiality as a friend. Now that is a a blessing!

The word also says that He will surround as with a shield. He is Jehovah Nissi, the God who protects. A shield is a piece of armor that protects. So when you walk in His will you not only receive favor but you receive protection from your enemies and the enemy of your soul. That ought to be enough right there to want to walk in His will. When you don't desire to do His will, you are exposed to unnecessary elements of life. You put yourself in harms way and likely those connected to you by God. There is so much to be said about favor and protection from God. The benefits with God outweigh any benefits you can ever receive by living without Him.

P.S. Remember to tune into the S.H.A.R.E. Broadcast LIVE Saturday, May 18th from 9:30am-10:30am ET on Baltimore's Spirit 1400AM WWIN or www.mybaltimorespirit.com as I sit down for an awesome time in the Lord with my friend, Brenda Leigh Wells! The dial in number is 410.481.1400.

Your Eyes Will Be Opened

Luke 24:31

31Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.

The disciples were on their way to a village and during their journey they met a man. They enjoyed his company and during the visit they spoke of Jesus. The disciples were saddened because they were hoping Jesus was the redeemer of Israel and once He was condemned to death, their hopes had vanished. The disciples had no idea the man they met on their journey to the village was Jesus. Jesus did not look the same and their eyes were closed from seeing His true nature. The begged the man to stay a while. And while he ate and broke bread with them the word says, "their eyes were opened." The moment they recognized that the man in their presence was Jesus, He was gone.

He told the disciples before his crucifixion that He would come back. The disciples had no idea who they really had in their presence until that moment.

Sometimes we have no idea who Jesus has placed around us and that He is in the midst until He allows our eyes to be opened.  Here's an example. This is my birthday week and I had originally made plans to leave town. I am talking flight booked, hotel reserved and rental car booked. And I was all excited and then I kept feeling the Holy Spirit say that I had to postpone my trip. I was a little upset too as I was looking forward to it. And I said, "God please let there be a good reason for this postponing." The answer appeared the next day. I received a phone call from my dear friend Brenda Leigh Wells. In March we had just celebrated her birthday, CD release, book to come and the announcement came during her celebration that she would be the host of the S.H.A.R.E. Broadcast on Baltimore's Spirit 1400AM WWIN. She said, "Joy, God told me I have to have you on my show this Saturday, May 18th. Are you free from 9:30am-10:30am ET? I began to PRAISE GOD! I told her what I said to God and how He had said I had to postpone my trip. But my eyes were not opened until that moment as to why I had to delay the plans. So I bless God for He is faithful!

When Jesus is ready to reveal himself in the relationships He has ordained in your life and your situation, your eyes will be opened.

P.S. Join me this Saturday, May 18th on the S.H.A.R.E. Broadcast with my friend Brenda Leigh Wells on Baltimore's Spirit 1400AM WWIN from 9:30am-10:30am ET. You can also listen by logging onto www.mybaltimorespirit.com and the call in number is 410.481.1400.

Stay Focused on the Mission

Genesis 37:10

10So he told his father and his brothers and his father rebuked him and said to him "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?"

Jacob loved Joseph more than all his other sons because he was the off spring of the love of his life, Rachel. But as much as Jacob loved Joseph, even he could not see or understand the vision that God revealed to Joseph. Joseph was envied by his brothers already and then he revealed what was given unto him which made them envy him more. Envy and jealousy differ in that jealousy may be turned inward but envy is turned outward and can be the root of violence/harassment on the invoked party. In the story of Joseph the focus is usually on Joseph and his relationship with his brothers.

Jacob didn't get it either. The one person who should've likely received what was being said because the potential he saw in Joseph would eventually come to pass. But even Jacob missed the mark. The only one who understood was God who gave Joseph the vision. Jacob was an old man before he saw Joseph again. And when he did, the vision had come to pass.

There will be times when even those that should see and understand what you are doing won't until the mission you are on is complete. Do not be angry with them. Love them and let it and them go. Move on and let God do the revealing. God has to do a work in them first to get them to the place to even receive what He has destined for you. Bishop T.D. Jakes recently told a story in a Potter's Touch broadcast online that he had naysayers when God first told him to leave West Virginia and move to Texas to start a church. The naysayers he described were more comparable to Joseph's brothers. He said he knew what God told him and he didn't waste his time trying to justify what God told him nor did he try to explain it. He stayed focused on the mission.

Staying focused on the mission keeps you from getting caught up in someone's blind spot. Listening to them blurs the vision God gave you. If you are not careful, it will turn to dust.

P.S. Remember to check out my girl Stubbs on the Leap of Faith Show Monday-Friday from 10am-12pm on www.lofnetwork.com and listen for the Get Your JOY In The Morning segment!